Pressing Forward
Central Thought: The ultimate target of the Believer is “the prize of the high calling of GOD in Christ Jesus.”
Text: Philippians 3:1-21
We thank God for the opportunity and privilege to be counted among the living. As we wake up every morning counting days into weeks, weeks into months, and months into years, we make progress in life’s journey. No doubt we encounter life’s challenges, some successes and failures are recorded in course of our sojourn here on earth.
However, we must realize that each tick of the clock pull us gradually towards the coming of the Lord and the end of life on earth. God therefore, expects us to move forward and give no room for complacencies.
In this study, we shall consider the attitude maintained by Apostle Paul that made him to excel for Christ, with the view to deriving some lesson there from.
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What does it mean to press forward?
The phrase ‘press forward’ has several meanings. For the purpose of this study, we shall adopt this meaning: “it is to push or move forcefully in a particular direction successfully”. While the word “forward” means the direction that one is facing or travelling, and it further means, moving towards a successful end. This, therefore, involves a continuous effort that demands complete attention and refusal to be discouraged.
Apostle Paul had to say in verse 14 of our text that “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus”. This was in spite of his many achievements; he was careful not to be carried away by them, refusing to dwell and live in his past glory, yet emphasized the need not to give up, to remain focused on the prize, i.e. eternity with God.
For an individual to press forward there must be a goal, or an aim that one seeks to achieve, else efforts would be wasted driving/pursuing shadows.
For Paul, his goal was to achieve eternity with God. He was mindful that all he had done and achieved must be put behind him, and efforts must be directed at those things that are before. He refused to live in his past glory, but looked forward to doing more things for God and the kingdom.
It is common knowledge that, not all those that run a race win the prize. Paul herein stated that he has a mark, a target, an aim, a goal, set for him to attain; to which there is a reward: “prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus.’ We as believers must have similar goals or targets, which should be the only driving force, especially in challenging times. It is only when our anchor is secured in Christ that we can remain focused on the prize.
The prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus is the reward, the gain and benefit the believer gets in Christ at the end of the race. We must therefore not focus on frivolities, but the substance. Our aim/goal should be fixed on God and what He wants us to be, where He wants us to be, what He wants us to do and when to do this.
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What lessons do we learn from Paul concerning followership? V. 17, 2 Timothy 4:7-8
Paul had the assurances that he had a right standing with God and could boldly declare it. Scriptures gave us the assurance that “the Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are the sons of God”, Romans 8:16. When our state with God is right, we know. We could succeed to deceive men, but cannot deceive ourselves and God. God cannot be deceived as he is conversant with our spiritual stand.
Apostle Paul commended the people to emulate him as their example; not only him but all that are like him, 1 Corinthians 4:16-17. He was however cautions in 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” Implying that, he could only be emulated as long as he follows Christ, i.e. once he stops following Christ, his followers should stop following him; it placed a high demand on his followers to constantly check if he was following Christ. The onus is upon us to follow our leaders, only when they follow Christ. Thus, Paul did not count himself as the ultimate to be followed; hence he pointed his followers to Christ. This he did in his letter to the Church in Ephesus. Ephesians 5:1, “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children.”
Paul further declared from his in-depth knowledge, revelation and walk with God that, he had fought a good fight, finished his course and kept the faith. No wonder he could boldly sate the reward awaiting him, and all that would live like him.
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What challenge does his attitude, as stated in v.7-15 pose to you?
Apostle Paul by his attitude in this passage redefined ‘priority setting’. Our priority in life should be God first, before self and other things. For the sake of Christ, we must be willing to let go of our personal rights and not always insist on having our own way, 1 Corinthians 10:23-24.
We must make up our minds even before the challenges come, that we shall not trade Christ for anything, be it money, fame, position, etc. Luke 12:15 must be a watch word for us, “…for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth”. It is only an individual with this frame of mind that would gladly declare as Apostle Paul did in v.7-8.
No matter what we know about the Lord, there’s still a lot more to learn of Him. We must, like Paul, seek to know more of Him; the deeper and the more we think we know of Him, the more we shall realize we have little knowledge and need more of Him.
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From Philippians 3:13, How should the believer view his achievements and or failures?
The fact is, we are God’s handiwork, and God is the husbandman. God keeps working in us and through us to the extent we permit Him. We are to be like the palm tree, Psalm 92:12a, which keeps bearing fruits, the older we are in faith, the better we should be, i.e. the closer we should walk with God. Most times, because of what we have done in the kingdom’s business, we feel or are made to feel, that we are better than others. ‘holier than thou’ attitude; this must stop. We are all called to the same race, with God as the ultimate Judge, and we must constantly remind ourselves about Paul’s injunction in 1 Corinthians 10:12, that ‘let him that thinks he stands, take heed lest he falls’.
Paul who made the statement in Philippians 3:13-14 suffered many things for the kingdom. Many of the epistles in the New Testament were written while he was in prison, yet he counted it joy to go through pain for the gospel. The pains he went through did not in any way deter him from pressing on. He was always willing to do more for God, hence when warned by Prophet Agabus, that “the owner of the belt would be imprisoned in Jerusalem”, he undermined the warnings and pressed on, Acts 21:10-14.
We must be quick to state that, success as judged by men is not supposed to be the standard of God’s people. For in the world, men would do anything, whether legal, illegal or dirty, so long they succeed in their endeavor. It is not so with believers. Our success must come within the limits laid down by God, Joshua 1:8. These days, it is however sad, that the people of God, compare themselves with themselves, and the world. Paul did not judge his achievements based on material things, but things that were of eternal value.
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Highlight the areas we can improve in our walk with the Lord as individuals or as a congregation.
There must be the realization that there is need to improve in our walk with the Lord. Then the individual can do the following:
-Be more prayerful by dedicating more time to pray. Luke 18:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:17
-Devote more time to the study of God’s word. 2 Timothy 2:15; Hebrews 4:12; Psalm 1
-Forsake not the assembly of the saints. Hebrews 10:25, as iron sharpeneth iron.
-Cultivate the habit of going on evangelism: this helps you go grow in grace as you study and pray before, during and after the evangelism. It also acts as a check to our lives thereby, keeping us form sin.
The church should seek the face of God for divine instruction on how its walk with God would be improved. This is particularly so as the peculiarities of churches differ.
The church should ensure that people are disciple, spend more time in aggressive follow up, and show more concern on a brethren’s welfare. When these are done, there will surely be an improvement in our walk with God. However, where the individuals that make up the congregation, imbibe all that are stated above, the church would be a better place.
The class should mention others.
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In the light of Philippians 3:13 and Luke 15:17-21, discuss in practical terms how to put behind our past failures and reach out to a new and proper position in Christ.
Paul laid down the principle to put behind our past failures and reach out to a new and proper position in Christ. To forget our past, it requires a deliberate and conscious refusal to dwell on the past, and eliminate all self-pity. Jesus in Luke 9:62 said, “no man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God”. We must put behind us anything that works contrary to the will and purpose of God and then keep our focus on Christ.
In Luke 15:17-21, the prodigal son came to a state of self-realization, went to his father and asked for mercy. We, like him, must realize from whence we have fallen and repent; and go back to God our Father, and ask for mercy to be restored. Going back to God is all we need to be able to reach out to a new and proper position in Christ.
We must also develop a personal relationship with God, and daily ask Him for the way forward in everything; nothing is too small or big to be discussed with our Father, who alone knows the way. Whatever the matter is, we should go to God in prayers.
Daily Living Application:
Let us put our past failures and successes behind us and press onward and upward as we cannot afford to miss the mark. We should be determined to excel for Christ and always see our best works as still ahead, for it is obvious that the room for improvement is the largest room in the world. Be all you can in God.
Memory Verse:
Philippians 3:13-14 – “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” KJV