https://www.bible.com/events/49092711

Church of the Nazarene – Harrisonburg

Living The Jesus Life: Part 7

Philippians 3:12-21

Living The Jesus Life

This series is a part of our annual practice of spending time focusing on one book of the Bible. In this case, the study is of Philippians – the letter Paul wrote from a Roman prison to the church at Philippi, the first church Paul started in Eastern Europe (see Acts 16). The people at Philippi were facing the resistance of Rome but remained a vibrant community of faith.

Philippians is a letter that speaks to living life as a disciple of Jesus in 2023. That’s why we’ve entitled the series, ‘Living the Jesus Life’.

Today’s focus is Philippians 3:12-21‭‭

Philippians‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬-‭21‬‬

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained. Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

What is the goal?

1. The heavenward call-Life on earth may be important, obedience on earth may be important, but let’s never forget the goal.

2. Our citizenship in Heaven-Philippi was filled with individuals who were proud to be Roman citizens. But Paul is declaring that we are ultimately citizens of heaven, which speaks of our identity, our heritage, our family.

3. Awaiting the return of the Savior-Jesus is coming back! The resurrected Jesus, sitting at the right hand of the Father, will return again.

So this is the goal: the promise of heaven, the call to be citizens of His Kingdom, and the promise of the soon coming King, returning to transform us completely and finally.

So how do we arrive at the goal?

-In pursuit of the goal there is one thing Paul does. Interestingly, the one thing is actually two things that happen together, in unison.

-Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.

Forgetting what is behind

-Paul is not saying that the past is bad and he’s definitely not saying the past doesn’t matter. The problem is that if we allow ourselves to stay there, the consequences will be costly.

-An important truth from God’s Word: Your past has no more power over you than what you give it.

-In this text, Paul is not literally forgetting, rather he is removing the power of what’s behind to hinder him in the now.

Straining towards what is ahead

-While forgetting about what is behind, we must strain towards what is ahead.

-We don’t walk toward what is ahead, or run toward what is ahead, we strain toward what is ahead.

-You can’t strain toward the future without choosing to forget what is behind.‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭3

‬‬Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

As we run this race, there will be things holding us back:-in Philippians 3 it was the past, focusing on what’s behind, losing focus and getting our attention focused on the wrong things.-in Hebrews 12, it’s the entanglements, the sin, and the things that weigh us down and hold us back.

Why was this so important to Paul?

Why was focusing on the goal so important?

What was the church in Philippi missing?

What might we be missing today?

Ultimately, Paul was saying, “Don’t quit”.

Verses for further study/reflection:

Proverbs 21:5

Habakkuk 2:2-3

2 Corinthians 5:17

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If you ever have questions or need help with online giving, please let us know:

finance@cotnaz.org

Thank you for your partnership in the Kingdom of Christ!

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https://www.bible.com/events/49091013

Church of the Nazarene – East Rock

Living The Jesus Life: Part 7

Philippians 3:12-21

Living The Jesus Life

This series is a part of our annual practice of spending time focusing on one book of the Bible. In this case, the study is of Philippians – the letter Paul wrote from a Roman prison to the church at Philippi, the first church Paul started in Eastern Europe (see Acts 16). The people at Philippi were facing the resistance of Rome but remained a vibrant community of faith.

Philippians is a letter that speaks to living life as a disciple of Jesus in 2023. That’s why we’ve entitled the series, ‘Living the Jesus Life’.

Today’s focus is Philippians 3:12-21

Last week we examined Chapter 3:1-12 and Paul’s rather impressive trophy case from his past. Before he met Christ, you might have thought he had it all going for him.

But for Paul, all those things he used to count on- Things that he thought made him in right relationship with God- he now considers them like garbage.

Paul learned what we all must learn: Religion has no power to save anyone.

As we continue in our text today, Paul also wants his readers to understand- He is not putting himself on a pedestal as if he has checked all the boxes.

Quite the opposite. He makes it perfectly clear that he has not arrived, and he is not taking his eye off the prize.‭‭

Philippians‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬-‭14‬‬

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Throughout chapter 3 Paul has been using his own life, his own story as a teaching example for his friends in Philippi. With all he had accomplished for the Lord, with all the suffering he had endured- it would be easy to imagine that he had just decided to take it easy. Nobody would blame him.

But far from taking it easy- He’s giving it all he’s got, like an Olympic runner in a race.

He has not arrived, he doesn’t feel like he’s made it to any superstar status, he is striving to fulfill his calling in loving and serving the Lord.

“But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind”

The Apostle boils it all down to ONE THING. That should speak volumes to us. Paul had gotten to witness enough track meets to know the truth that the Miracle Mile and John Landy proved in 1954

You cannot look back.

“Forgetting what is behind” meant no counting of past achievements, and not being burdened by past failures. Focus forward!

As necessary and true as it was for Paul, it is true for you and me.

We cannot live the life God has calls us too, we cannot lean into the future, and we cannot hope to win the prize, if we are stuck or chained down by the past.

The Jesus life Is not lived looking back.

“Straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

As much conscious effort and decision it takes to forget the past- it takes that much more to lean into the future that God has for you.

Paul likens himself to an athlete straining, stretching, pushing themselves to the absolute limit in competition. He is holding nothing back in pursuit of the prize

And it’s not a floral wreath, a trophy, or Nike endorsement that he’s straining for- It’s the realized hope of God’s redemption plan in Christ Jesus.

The hope of eternal life, of a new resurrection body, a new heaven, and a new earth, where the believer will be present with Jesus for all eternity.

The beautiful and compelling truth for us today: We are running for the same prize as Paul!

Why do we forget the past? Why do we give Jesus our absolute all? Because we are a people of hope, a people of promise. Paul is inviting his readers to look up! Don’t quit! There’s a prize ahead!

Question for you today: Is that the prize you are living for?As you make decisions about school, work, relationships- is it with an eye on the prize of eternity? Or on the eye of security and pleasure?

When you make decisions about what to do with your money, which prize is in sight?

When you consider a conflict with someone close to you, which prize is in view?

For all the encouragement in this passage, he also issues a warning- a life lived with a worldly mindset, is destined for a different prize.‭‭

Philippians‬ ‭3‬:‭18‬-‭19

‬‬For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.

Paul has set up a clear contrast between those who focus on Christ and those who focus on earthly things.A mind set on earthly things is governed by the pursuit of fleshly desires.

Without an eye on the Lord, we lose sight of righteousness and right living- we take pride and glory in things we should be ashamed of.

And the prize for living with a mind set on earthly things? Destruction. A far cry from the hope filled reality of life in Christ.The importance of this matter to Paul and for his friends becomes clear as he doesn’t fail to warn them about running with a different focus.

How would you say your race going today?

Maybe you are running ok today- eye on the prize, leaning into the life God has called you to. We celebrate that today- Don’t quit! Don’t give up! Don’t take your eye off the prize!

Perhaps you started out that way, but a few laps in, you aren’t so sure.

Maybe sin has tripped you up again.

Perhaps you have lost focus of why you are running this race in the first place.

Life has gotten in the way, and you feel alone and left out.

Maybe you imagine everyone else is running a better race than you, like it’s not even worth it-Friend, will you hear the encouragement of our friend Paul today?

Don’t quit! Don’t lose focus! You might be down but it’s not over!

The prize is worth it! Finish the race!

Giving at COTN

If you ever have questions or need help with online giving, please let us know:

finance@cotnaz.org

Thank you for your partnership in the Kingdom of Christ!

Giving

https://www.bible.com/events/49087214

Church of the Nazarene – Harrisonburg

Living The Jesus Life: Part 6

Philippians 3:1-11

Living The Jesus Life

This series is a part of our annual practice of spending time focusing on one book of the Bible. In this case, the study is of Philippians – the letter Paul wrote from a Roman prison to the church at Philippi, the first church Paul started in Eastern Europe (see Acts 16). The people at Philippi were facing the resistance of Rome but remained a vibrant community of faith.

Philippians is a letter that speaks to living life as a disciple of Jesus in 2023. That’s why we’ve entitled the series, ‘Living the Jesus Life’.

Today’s focus is Philippians 3:1-11.

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭11‬‬

Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

-Paul is arguing against those who would require Gentiles to become Jews before they could become Christians. They were steadfast in their belief that every person must adhere to strict Jewish laws in order to be saved.

-Whenever someone requires Jesus plus something, you know there’s a problem.

-Paul was one of the most impressive Jews who ever lived before he was interrupted by Christ. In many ways, he was the king of religion.

-As impressive as Paul’s list was, he considered it all a loss compared to knowing Christ.

One of the biggest dangers today for individuals who are lost in religion is that it exists beneath the surface, unopposed, unquestioned, and unchallenged.

It appears beautiful. But it’s actually deadly.‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭3‬:‭2‬-‭5‬‬

People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

Why do we settle for religion when we could have a real relationship with Christ?

1. It’s easier

-It’s easier to adapt some form of religion where you check the box. ‘Do this’ and ‘don’t do this’.

-In a world that has become all about fast and convenient, religion offers you an ‘easy’ solution.

2. It’s safer (at least, we think it is)-While religion may require discipline, you can pursue religion and still play it safe. As long as it’s not too hard, or doesn’t require too much sacrifice, then it’s fine.

-Jesus said “if you want to follow after me, take up your cross and follow.”

3. It’s convenient-We keep God in a box and only allow Him to have access to certain parts of our lives.-Our mentality is, “I’ll call you when I need you.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭22‬-‭23‬‬

Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

Bottom Line Suggestions

Religion will never save you. It never could.

Verses for further study/reflection:

2 Timothy 3:5

James 1:26

Malachi 1:10

Galatians 2:21

Matthew 15:9

Giving at COTN

If you ever have questions or need help with online giving, please let us know:

finance@cotnaz.org

Thank you for your partnership in the Kingdom of Christ!

Giving