Concentrating on Moving Forward

 Phil 3:12-14

SUBJECT: Joy of Progressing

THEME: In the Christian Race, We Must Press on toward the Finish line of God’s plan for Our lives.

RELEVANCE:

In Phil 3:12-16, Paul is partly focused on our present experience, our immediate concentration. His aspirations are set on knowing Christ daily, experiencing the power of Christ resurrection, and identifying with Christ’s sufferings (Phil. 3:9-11). This points to the need for growth and spiritual progress. As a result, he is not allowing fears, distractions, or temptations to throw him off course. So, to be winners and fulfill God’s plan, we must remain focused in the present moment.                          

INTRODUCTION:

Paul the athlete is envisioning a chariot race. The ancient Greek chariot from the Olympic Games was merely a small platform with two wheels. The driver had very little to hold on to as he raced around the course. He had to lean forward and strain every nerve and muscle to maintain balance and control the horses. The words “reaching forth” in Phil 3:13 literally means "stretching as in a race.”

It is important to note that Paul is not telling us how to be saved.

   A.  This Would be a Contradiction.

If he were, it would be a picture of salvation by works or self-effort, and this would contradict what he wrote in the first eleven verses of Phil 3.

   B.  The Race Required Citizenship.

To participate in the Greek games, the athlete had to be a citizen. He did not run the race to gain his citizenship. In Phil 3:20, Paul reminds us that "our conversation [citizenship] is in heaven." Because we are already the children of God through faith in Christ, we have the responsibility of "running the race" and achieving the goals God has set for us. “But this one thing I do” (Phil. 3:13) portrays a single purpose, one aim and ambition.

This is another Illustration of the “Divine & Human Cooperation Dynamic!”

This is a graphic picture of Phil 2:12-13: "Work out your own salvation ... for it is God which worketh in you."

     *  Each believer is on the track– Save Participants Only.

     *  Each has a special lane in which to run– God’s Specific Will and Plan for You.

     *  Each has a goal to achieve– God’s Goals for You and Your Ministry.

     *  If we reach the goal the way God has planned, then we receive a reward —Prize.

     *  If we fail, we lose the reward, but we do not lose our citizenship– salvation. (Read 1 Cor 3:11-15 for the same idea, only using architecture as the symbol.)

All of us want to be “winning Christians” and fulfill the purposes for which we have been saved. What are the essentials for winning the race and one day receiving the reward that is promised?

MESSAGE:

CONCENTRATING ON FORWARD PROGRESS IS ESSENTIAL.  Phil. 3:13-16

Just as we need an honest evaluation of the past and present, we also need a good concentration for the present and future.  One of the primary reasons we would do an evaluation is to discover what areas require special or more attention.  All of this will help us to reach our goals in the Lord. Again, all of us want to be "winning Christians" and fulfill God purposes for which He saved us.  

       *   As Christians, we know we will be saved ultimately, yet we must pursue perfection–spiritual maturity–as our goal. Matthew 5:48, Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

       *  At the same time, we do not want to pretend that sin does not exist in real believers. 1 John 1:8, If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

Like Paul, we should not dwell on the past, but concentrate on forward progress.                          

CONCENTRATE ON DIRECTION FOR YOUR FUTURE (Phil. 3:13) “reaching forth unto those things which are before” …. The unsaved person is controlled by the past, but the Christian running the race looks toward the future.

    1.  Concentrate on the Future.

After an honest evaluation of ourselves and our spiritual progress, we need to begin to concentrate on the areas of need to strengthen them to continue in our race of faith.

        A.  Stop Looking Back!

Luke 9:62, And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

              1.  The Future is Not in the Past nor in Second Guessing.

While it is correct to evaluate our past, we must not second guess the commitments we have made to run our race in the Lord.

ILLUSTRATION: Imagine what would happen on the race course if the charioteers (or the runners) started looking behind them! It is bad enough for a plowman to look back (Luke 9:62), but for a charioteer to do so means a possible collision and serious injury.  If we continue to run while looking back, we will keep stumbling and getting in the way of others who are trying to run the race.

              2. View Life as Flowing from the Future.  

We are accustomed to saying “past, present, future,” but we should view time as flowing from the future into the present and then into the past.

        B.  The Past Should Not Be Used as a Barrier to the Future!

              *   Past Failures Are Not an Excuse for Dropping out of the Race!

Proverbs 24:16, For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

             *   Past Successes Are Not Reasons for Neglecting Proper Spiritual Behavior in Our Relationship with God.

             *   Believers Should Be Devoted to God Whatever Our Present Circumstances (Luke 9:62; 17:31-32; Ps. 37: 23-25).                    

             *   We Should Strain and Stretch Forward in the Lord’s Will to What Lies Ahead.

“Forgetting those things which are behind would mean not only his sins and failures but also his natural privileges, attainments, and successes which he had described earlier in this chapter, and even his spiritual triumphs.”^[1]

APPLICATION:  Paul encourages us to forget our past with all its credentials, accomplishments, failures, and sins, and like a charioteer or runner in a race reach for the finish line with your whole body—press on toward the goal of becoming a “winning Christian” (Phil. 3:14). “The privileges and responsibilities of the Christian life, whether worship, service, or the personal development of Christian character.”^[2]

APPLICATION: Christ can relieve our guilty conscience. 1 John 3:19-20, And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts [the voice of God’s assurance] before him. [20] For if our heart condemn us [the accusing voice of our conscience], God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

Many are afraid that they don't love others as they should. They feel guilty because they think they are not doing enough to show proper love to Christ. Their consciences bother them. John has these people in mind in this letter. How do we escape the gnawing accusations of our conscience? Certainly not by ignoring them or rationalizing our behavior, but by setting our heart on God's Word, grace, and love. When we feel guilty, we should remind ourselves that God knows our motives as well as our actions. His voice of assurance is stronger than the accusing voice of our conscience. If we are in Christ, he will not condemn us (Rom 8:1; Heb 9:14-15). So, if you are living for the Lord but feeling that you are not good enough, remind yourself that God is greater than your conscience.  Receive assurance from the Lord.

Romans 8:1, There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Hebrews 9:14-15, How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? [15] And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.                                                                                            

     2.  Cease to Be Controlled by the Past.   Vs.  13                       

We as believers should be future-oriented, "forgetting those things which are behind." Using the metaphor of a chariot race, Paul describes his Christian life as involving the continual forgetting of those things “which are behind,” and the never dying focusing of his energies and interests on the course that is ahead of him.

        A.  Be Future Oriented.

Philip. 3:14, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Philip. 3:20-21, For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: [21] Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

Paul outlines the purposes of God in the future of every true child of God.  Our complete salvation, conformity to Christ, joint--heirs with Jesus Christ, rewards at the Judgement Seat of Christ, a new spiritual body, a wonderful home in Heaven, and countless other spiritual blessings. (from W. W. Wiersbe)

APPLICATION:  When God reveals the future, his purpose goes beyond satisfying our curiosity. He wants us to change our present behavior because of what we know about the future. Forever begins now; and a glimpse of God's plan for his followers should motivate us to serve him, no matter what the rest of the world may do. Then "forgetting those things which are behind” must be set aside and "those things which are before" must take their place.

        B.  Not by Literally Forgetting the Past.

What does Paul mean by forgetting?

               1.  It is Impossible to Literally Forget Some Things in the Past.

                    A.   Please keep in mind that in Bible terminology, "to forget" does not mean "to fail to remember." Apart from senility, hypnosis, or a brain malfunction, no mature person can simply forget what has happened in the past. We may wish that we could erase certain bad memories, but we cannot.

                    B.   “Forgetting” does not mean forever eliminating the memories of the past (Paul has just recalled some of these things in Phil. 3:5-7).

               2.  It is Possible to Literally Limit the Influence of the Past.

                    A.  "To forget" in the Bible means "no longer to be influenced by or affected by."     

ILLUSTRATION: When God promises, “And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.” (Heb 10:17), He is not suggesting that He will conveniently have a bad memory! This is impossible with God. What God is saying is, “I will no longer hold your sins against you. Your sins can no longer affect your standing with Me or influence My attitude toward you.”                                                      

                    B.   “Forgetting” Is a Choice to Refuse to Let Past Memories Fill Our Attention and Hinder Our Progress.

                           1)  Paul never allowed his Jewish heritage (Phil: 3:5-7) to hinder his running of the race.

                           2)   Paul never allowed his previous Christian achievements (Phil. 3:9-12) to hinder his running of the race. No present attainment could lull him into thinking he already possessed all Christ desired for him. (from W. W. Wiersbe)

        C.  But, by Literally Living for the Future.

So, "forgetting those things which are behind" does not suggest an impossible feat of mental and psychological gymnastics by which we try to erase the sins and mistakes of the past.

                   1.   It Simply Means That We Break the Power of the Past by Living for the Future.

ILLUSTRATION:  There were things in Paul's past that could have been weights to hold him back in his race (1 Tim 1:12-17), but they became inspirations to speed him ahead. The events did not change, but his understanding of them changed.  1 Tim. 1:12-17, And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; [13] Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. [14] And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. [15] This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. [16] Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. [17] Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Instead of his past ignorance, sinfulness, and misguided zeal discouraging him, it inspired him to continue as an example of what the God of grace can do with even the worse of sinners.  He did not allow the shame of his past to stop him from reaching new heights in the Lord and his service.

APPLICATION:  LET IT GO! We have all done things for which we are ashamed, and we live with the tension of what we have been and the stress of what we want to be. Because our hope is in Christ, however, we can let go of past guilt and look forward to what God will help us become. Don't dwell on your past. Instead, grow in the knowledge of God by concentrating on your relationship with him now. Realize that you are forgiven, and then move on to a life of faith and obedience. Look forward to a fuller and more meaningful life because of your hope in Christ. Again, too many Christians are shackled by regrets of the past. They are trying to run the race by looking backward! No wonder they stumble and fall and get in the way of other Christians! 1 John 1:6-9, If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: [7] But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. [8] If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. [9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

                   2.  It Means We Cannot Change the Past, but We Can Change the Meaning of the Past.

ILLUSTRATION:  Another good example of this principle is Joseph (Gen 45:1-15). When he met his brothers the second time and revealed himself to them, he held no grudge against them. To be sure, they had mistreated him, but he saw the past from God's point of view. As a result, he was unable to hold anything against his brothers. Joseph knew that God had a plan for His life - a race for him to run - and in fulfilling that plan and looking ahead, he broke the power of the past.  Genesis 45:7-9, And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. [8] So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. [9] Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt: come down unto me, tarry not:

Genesis 50:19-21,  And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? [20] But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. [21] Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.

                   3.  It Means We Should Not Become Distracted by Past Successes.

This is clearly illustrated in the life of Samson (Judg 15:9-19).

                          A.  Personal Achievements Do Not Reduce Our Need for God.

Judges 15:18, And he was sore athirst, and called on the Lord, and said, Thou hast given this great deliverance into the hand of thy servant: and now shall I die for thirst, and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised?

Samson was physically and emotionally exhausted. After a great personal victory, his attitude declined quickly into self-pity -- "now shall I die of thirst?" Emotionally, we are most vulnerable after a great effort or when faced with real physical needs. Severe depression often follows great achievements, so don't be surprised if you feel drained after a personal victory.  Continue to walk with the Lord with respect, faith and submission.

                          B.  Even Our Achievements Should Remind Us to Be Thankful to God.

During times of vulnerability, avoid the temptation of thinking that God owes you for your efforts. It was his strength that gave you victory. Concentrate on keeping your attitudes, actions, and words focused on God instead of yourself.

APPLICATION:  Some Christian runners are being distracted by the successes of the past, not the failures; and this is just as bad. "Those things which are behind" must be set aside and "those things which are before" must take their place.  You cannot progress while resting on your laurels and talking about what you use to do.

Paul’s salvation experience had taken place about 30 years before he wrote to the Philippians. He had won many spiritual battles in that time. He had grown much in those years, but he candidly confessed he had not obtained all this, nor was he yet made perfect (v. 12). He still had more spiritual heights to climb. This testimony of the apostle reminded the saints at Philippi—and it serves to remind believers today—that there must never be a stalemate in their spiritual growth or a plateau beyond which they cannot climb.

Paul pursued Christlikeness with the enthusiasm and persistence of a runner in the Greek games. Unlike the Judaizers, whose influence was prevalent among the Philippians, the apostle did not claim to have attained spiritual maturity. He was still pressing on, pursuing that for which Christ Jesus took hold of him.^[3]

CONCLUSION:

Paul was used greatly by the Lord to bring the gospel to the Gentiles, and each one of us should seek to develop the same fervent longing to press on to know Him more and to strive with our whole being to press on to what lies ahead of us. Presently, this single-minded fervor points to sharing the gospel as a part of carry out the will of the Father, in all His ways.

The complacent Christian does not have an urgency to be about his Father’s business and the proud believer has an alternative agenda, while those that are lukewarm in their faith seem indifferent to their spiritual growth. But as a child of God who seeks to magnify the Lord Jesus and to glorify His name, is zealous of the task ahead and resolutely sets his eye on the finishing line, the goal, of this earthly race. Such a one does not rest on his laurels but strains his spiritual muscle. He puts his body under subjection, harnesses his time, employs his talents, and fine-tunes his actions and attitude for the glory of God.

Such a person keeps his eye on the goal of his calling as he runs the race of life through its many pitfalls and problems. Such a believer trusts his Lord with all his heart and understands that God’s grace is sufficient for all his needs. He will lay aside all other considerations and press on to finish the task the Lord has given him to do – knowing that Christ is his sufficiency and Christ is his strength.

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^[1] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 1975.

^[2] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 1975.

^[3] Robert P. Lightner, “Philippians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 661.