Exhibiting Discipline I

 

Phil 3:12, 15-16

 

SUBJECT: Spiritual Progress

THEME: Fulfill God’s purposes as we exercise discipline to run our race. 

RELEVANCE:

We must not allow our behaviors to be unruly, disorderly, disobedient, uncontrolled, disingenuous-not serious, or of embarrassing manners that derail our progress in Christ. To be winners who fulfill God’s plan, we must remain discipline throughout our race. 

INTRODUCTION:

Having seen achievement, we look now at the final ingredient in this formula for spiritual maturity and progress. Discipline is necessary to reach new heights in spiritual triumphs and finally reach the finish line of life as a winner.

Again, we are considering our need to grow spiritually by making continual progress. All of us want to be “winners” and fulfill the purposes for which we have been saved. But what is essential for winning?   

MESSAGE:

THE ESSENTIAL QUALITY OF DISCIPLINE. (Phil. 3:15-16)

ILLUSTRATION:  Frederick the Great of Prussia was walking on the outskirts of Berlin when he encountered a very old man proceeding in the opposite direction.

“Who are you?” asked Frederick.

“I am a king,” replied the old man.                                                                                      

“A king!” laughed Frederick. “Over what kingdom do you reign?”

“Over myself,” was the proud reply.

“Reigning” over yourself requires personal discipline.  – John Maxwell

     1.  Note the Extreme Importance of Discipline to a Christian.

 Temperance– Discipline, or Self-control is the ability to resist immediate gratification for the sake of a higher goal– Self Restraint.  (Ac. 24:25; Ga. 5:23; 2 Pe. 1:6).

         A.  Great Christians Always Have Self-discipline—without Exception.

Galatians 5:22-23, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, [23] Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

2 Peter 1:6, And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

               1. Discipline is Produced by the Spirit.

Ga. 5:23 shows that “temperance” is produced by the Holy Spirit.

               2. Discipline is Produced by Personal Effort.

2 Pe. 1:6 shows us that it is a product of the Christian growth experience. 

APPLICATION: Therefore, we must diligently invest our hearts and minds to experience a development of temperance throughout the course of our lives by the power of Holy Spirit.  This wonderful quality will solve the Christian’s struggle with emotional outbursts such as wrath, rage, anger, fear, and jealousy and cause us to avoid emotional excesses of any kind. We will have the ability to say “no,” to sinful desires and we will know when to say, “enough” to too much of anything. Thus the Spirit-controlled believer will be consistent, dependable, under control, disciplined, and well ordered.

         B.  Unfortunately, Our Society Seeks Instant Gratification Rather than Self-discipline.

ILLUSTRATION: We want instant breakfast, fast food, movies on demand, phone apps for immediate transactions, and quick cash from ATMs. But spiritual success doesn’t come instantly. Neither does the ability to consistently grow in Christ.

QUOTE:  As General Dwight D. Eisenhower said, “There are no victories at bargain prices.”

APPLICATION:   Because we live in a society of instant gratification, we cannot assume that most Christians have self-discipline—that they will be willing to pay the price of greater growth, ministry, and responsibility.

         C.  When it Comes to Self-discipline, People Choose One of Two Things:       

               1. The Pain of Discipline Which Comes from Sacrifice and Growth or     

               2. The Pain of Regret Which Comes from the Easy Road and Missed Opportunities.

Each person in life chooses.

QUOTE:  In Adventures in Achievement, E. James Rohn says that “the pain of discipline weighs ounces. Regret weighs tons.”

Once again let’s turn our hearts to Christ, His Word, and the example of Paul— a Christian who was truly a higher achiever— as he shares more of the secrets to his personal success in growth and development.

     2. Discipline Yourself to Run by the Established Rules.  Vs. 15

Philip. 3:15, Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

It is not enough to run hard and win the race; the runner must also obey the rules. In the Greek games, the judges were very strict about this.

          A.  Beware of Disqualification.

Any infringement of the rules disqualified the athlete.

               1.  Participate According to Established Spiritual Rules.

                     A.  A Disqualified Runner Did Not Lose His Citizenship (Though He Disgraced It).

                     B.  But He Did Lose His Privilege to Participate and Win a Prize.

ILLUSTRATION:   One of the greatest athletes ever to come out of the United States was Jim Thorpe. At the 1912 Olympics at Stockholm, he won the pentathlon and the decathlon, and was undoubtedly the hero of the games. But the next year officials found that Thorpe had played semiprofessional baseball and therefore had forfeited his amateur standing. This meant that he had to return his gold medals and his trophy, and that his Olympic achievements were erased from the records. It was a high price to pay for breaking the rules. (Thorpe's medals were reinstated in 1985 by the Olympic Committee.)

APPLICATION: We should run the race to win the prize, and this means participating by the spiritual rules laid down in this passage. We cannot loose our salvation, but we certainly can loose our reward (1Cor. 3:10-15).  Keep the Lord’s pleasure in mind as you run the race and not your pleasure.

               2. Emphasize the Importance of Obeying Spiritual Rules.

In Phil 3:15-16, Paul Emphasizes the Importance of the Christian Remembering the "Spiritual Rules" Laid down in the Word.

                      A.  The Christian Race Requires Discipline and Self Control.

QUOTE: “This word [self-control] describes people who are willing to get a grip on their lives and take control of areas that will bring them success or failure.”  — John C. Maxwell

APPLICATION:  To be disciplined means that we are “getting a handle on our self” in order to overcome sinful desires, spiritual pride, attitudes of self-reliance, spiritual laziness, extreme self-gratification, past failures and success, and overreacting.

                       B.  Spiritual Growth and Victory Requires Discipline and Self Control.

Therefore, discipline prepares us to fulfill God’s claims and will for our lives as we seek to practice what we have learned from His Word.  Discipline is the ability a person has to rule himself in following the example of Paul in Phil. 3:7-17.  It is the power to say “NO,” to rivaling desires that hinder our progress and say, “YES,” to everything God has outlines for our spiritual progress and success. This is key to our success. 

               3.  Practice Self Control–Discipline– to Remain in the Race.

1 Cor. 9:24-27, Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. [25] And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. [26] I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: [27] But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

This is what Paul has in mind in this passage. The idea is that any athlete who enters a competition prepares himself to win by rigid self-control, strict conditioning, and rigorous training.

                       A.  Spiritual Growth Results from Discipline.  “. . . striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things.”

Winning a race requires purpose and discipline. Paul uses this illustration to explain that the Christian life takes hard work, self-denial, and grueling preparation.

APPLICATION:  As Christians, we are running toward Christlikeness and our heavenly reward. The essential disciplines of prayer, Bible study, witnessing, and public worship equip us to run with vigor and stamina. Don't merely observe from the grandstand; don't just turn out to jog a couple of laps each morning. Train diligently -- your spiritual progress depends upon it.

                       B.  Spiritual Growth Results from Self-denial.  “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection:”

Any athlete who intends to win will prepare and restrict himself in all things: his diet, his activities, his associations, and probably even his friendships.  The winner knows that he must restrict himself in order to accomplish the ultimate task.

                            1.  At times we must give up something good in order to do what God wants.

                            2. Each person's special duties determine the discipline and denial that he or she must accept.

                            3. Without a goal, discipline is nothing but self-punishment. With the goal of pleasing God, our denial seems like nothing compared to the eternal, imperishable reward that will be ours.

ILLUSTRATION: Tenor Luciano Pavarotti is such a winner. He is often described by his admirers as “the new Caruso.” In a newspaper interview, the six-foot, three hundred-pound tenor asked: “Do you want to know the hardest thing about being a singer? It is to sacrifice yourself every moment of your life, with not one exclusion. For example, if it is raining, don’t go out; eat this, do this, sleep ten hours a day. It is not a very free life. You cannot jump on a horse. You cannot go to swim.”

               4. Play by the Rules in Order to Win the Race.

2 Tim. 2:5, And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.

                       A.   If the Athlete Breaks Training, He Is Disqualified.

                       B.   If He Breaks the Rules of the Game, He Is Disqualified.

Only the contestants who compete by the rules will win the crown at the end of the race.

APPLICATION: Each of us as Christians ought to be pressing on toward the goal of Christlikeness and eternal rewards.  As maturing believers, we should understand that we could not, in our own humanity, gain perfection and acceptance by God (Phil. 3:8-10).  Salvation and Sanctification come through faith and dependance upon the Lord.  Yet because of our love for Christ, we willingly pressed on to follow his example in order to become more like him in life, all the while knowing that we are promised that we’ll know him fully upon our death or his return for us in the Rapture. (W. W. Wiersbe)

        B.  Be Aware of Revelation.  Phil 3:15, “. . . God shall reveal”

in order to play by the rules we must turn to the rule book–the Word.  This verse betrays some of the problems that faced the Philippian church.

            1.  God Will Reveal Spiritual Pride.

Spiritual pride had found its way into some of the believers;

                     A.   Apparently a Few Felt That They Had Reached a Holier Status than Their Fellow Believers

                     B.   This Was Causing Them to Look down on Those Whom They Thought less "Mature."

APPLICATION: There is never room for spiritual pride nor a ‘holier than thou’ attitude toward younger and struggling Christians. Spiritual pride is a mark of spiritual immaturity and infancy!  Spiritual maturity is marked by humility and service to others.

Philip. 2:3-4, Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. [4] Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

Galatians 5:26, Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

Galatians 6:1-2, Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. [2] Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

            2.  God Will Reveal Spiritual Maturity.  Vs. 15, “As many as be perfect be thus minded”

                  A.  Notice Some Characteristics of a Faithful Mature Saint of God.

                        1.  They Depend on God!

Paul made it clear that those who were truly mature were those who realized their dependence on God.

                        2. They Determine to Press on!

They pressed on, not to make themselves good enough or to gain credentials by their accomplishments.

                        3.  Their Devoted to Knowing Christ!

Rather then spiritual pride, they pressed on to know their Savior better. This is their goal!

                   B.  The Goal of Every Believer Is Spiritual Maturity.

Col. 1:28, Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

                         1. The Word Perfect Means Mature or Complete, Not Flawless.

                         2. Paul Wanted to See Each Believer Mature Spiritually.

APPLICATION: Like Paul, we must work as wholeheartedly as an athlete, but we should not strive in our own strength alone. We have the power of his Spirit working in us. We can learn and grow daily, motivated by love, not by fear or pride, knowing that God gives the energy to become mature.

                   C.  Jesus Christ Is the Basis and Goal of Spiritual Maturity.

Hebrews 13:20, Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

The letter to the Hebrews is a call to Christian maturity. It was addressed to first-century Jewish Christians, but it applies to Christians of any age or background.

                          1.  Christian Maturity Means Making Christ the Beginning and End of Our Faith.

                          2.  To Grow in Maturity, We must Center Our Lives on Him,

                                 *  not depending on religious ritual,

                                 *  not falling back into sin,

                                 *  not trusting totally in ourselves,

                                 *  not letting anything come between us and Christ.           

                          3.  Christ is sufficient and superior.

            3.  God Will Reveal Spiritual Misconception.  Vs. 15, “Otherwise minded”           

Whatever problem of pride threatened to divide the Philippian church, Paul stopped it.

                    A.  God Will Show and Clarify Matters Concerning Spiritual Growth.

This was the final word on the matter; Paul invoked the illumination of God himself to clarify the truth of his words to those who thought differently. Those who were mature were to be committed to what Paul had said. And to anyone who thought differently about minor points, God would clarify the truth. God would lead them to the truth if they would keep their minds open.

                    B.  Are You Aiming for a Perfect Score with God?

Sometimes trying to live a perfect Christian life can be so difficult that it leaves us drained and discouraged. We may feel so far from perfect that we can never please God with our lives. Paul used "perfect" (3:12) to mean mature or complete, not flawless in every detail. Those who are mature should press on in the Holy Spirit's power, knowing that Christ will reveal and fill in any discrepancy between what we are and what we should be. Christ's provision is no excuse for lagging devotion, but it provides relief and assurance for those who feel driven. (W. W. Wiersbe) 

CONCLUSION:

Hebrews 12:1-2,  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, [2] Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

It is an exciting experience to run the race daily, "looking unto Jesus" (Heb 12:1-2). It will be even more exciting when we experience all that the “high calling” entails when Jesus returns to take us to Heaven! Then we will stand before the Judgement Seat of Christ to receive our rewards! It was this future prospect that motivated Paul, and it can also motivate us.

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.

---

^[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.

Learn from the Past

 

Phil 3:12

SUBJECT: PROGRESS

THEME: Determine to press on toward the Finish line of the Christian Race by learning from the Past.  

RELEVANCE:

As a winner, Paul is giving us His life overview, his past (Phil 3:1-11), his present (Phil 3:12-16), and his future (Phil 3:17-21). In each of these experiences, Paul is looking at things on earth from God's point of view. As a result, he is not upset by things in his history. In fact, things do not rob him of his joy! Now to be winners and fulfill God’s plan, we must learn from our past.

INTRODUCTION:

Many read biographies to satisfy their curiosity about great people, hoping also that they may discover the "secret" that made them great.                                                                     

ILLUSTRATION: “I recall sitting in a grade school assembly program many years ago, listening to an aged doctor who promised to tell us the secret of his long, healthy life. (At one time he was a physician to the President of the United States. I've forgotten which one, but at that stage in my life, it seemed it must have been Washington or Jefferson.) All of us sat there with great expectation, hoping to learn the secret of a long life. At the climax of his address, the doctor told us, "Drink eight glasses of water a day! "” — W.W. Wiersbe

Again, the secret to a joyful life is faithfully looking at things from God's point of view. As a result, joy will be constant and unchanging. 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:

I.               An Honest Evaluation of Our Past.  Phil. 3:12-13

Paul has clearly stated that his personal salvation experience brought about a new assessment of his goals and gave him the overwhelming desire to know Christ even more completely.  Paul then explains how his present life is a pursuit in this new direction. To avoid being misunderstood, he specifies that his conversion has not already brought him to his final goal. He indicates that he still longed deeply and personally strives to be brought to that perfect completeness– spiritual maturity.                                       

A.  THERE WAS A HOLY DISSATISFACTION WITH PAST ACCOMPLISHMENTS. (Phil. 3:12-13a) “Not as though I had already attained!”

   1.  Great Achievers Do Not Allow themselves to get too Satisfied.  Vs. 12

This is the statement of a great Christian who never permitted himself to be satisfied with his spiritual attainments.  No matter how much he had grown, learned, or accomplished he yet strived to do even more. This was not disheartening but enlivening!

       A.  He Was Perfectly Satisfied with Christ.

Obviously, Paul was satisfied with Jesus Christ (Phil 3:8,10).  He was thoroughly enjoying Knowing Christ, Sharing the Righteousness of Christ, and Fellowshipping with Christ. 

       B.  He Was Never Satisfied with His Christian Progress.

Paul was not satisfied with his Christian life. A sanctified dissatisfaction is the first essential to progress in the Christian race.

ILLUSTRATION:  Harry came out of the manager's office with a look on his face dismal enough to wilt the roses on the secretary's desk.

"You didn't get fired?" she asked.

"No, it's not that bad. But he sure did lay into me about my sales record. I can't figure it out; for the past month I've been bringing in plenty of orders. I thought he'd compliment me, but instead he told me to get with it."

Later in the day, the secretary talked to her boss about Harry. The boss chuckled. "Harry is one of our best salesmen and I'd hate to lose him. But he has a tendency to rest on his laurels and be satisfied with his performance If I didn't get him mad at me once a month, he'd never produce!"

    2.  Great Achievers Aim for Perfection (Maturity).   Vs. 12, 15

       A.  They Don’t Compare Themselves with Others.   Vs. 12, “I”

Many Christians are self-satisfied because they compare their "running" with that of other Christians, usually those who are not making much progress. Had Paul compared himself with others, he would have been tempted to be proud and perhaps to let up a bit. After all, there were not too many believers in Paul's day who had experienced all that he had!

        B.  They Do Compare Themselves with Christ.   Vs.  12, “I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.”

But Paul did not compare himself with others; he compared himself with himself and with Jesus Christ!  He understood with sharp precision what God required and expected of him and stretched himself to achieve it. Such a process focuses on maturity as the target.

             1.  Pursue Perfection (Maturity).

The dual use of the word "perfect" in Phil 3:12 and 15 explains his thinking.

                    A.  He Had Not Yet Arrived at Perfection (Phil 3:12). 

                          1.  The Christian Life is a Process of Growth.

Paul saw the Christian life as a process. While believers are considered righteous when they accept salvation, their entire lives are marked by growth toward Christlikeness. Complete perfection will not be obtained until Christ's second coming, when he will take his people with him.

2 Peter 1:5-8, And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; [6] And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; [7] And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. [8] For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

                          2.  The Christian Life is Pursuing More Christlikeness.

While Paul may have seemed like a nearly perfect Christian to his Philippian friends, he emphasized that he had not obtained perfect “knowledge of Christ,” the “power of his resurrection,” the “fellowship of his suffering,” and conformity to his death (Phil.3:10).  All of these were part of the process of sanctification -- of getting to know Christ better and better as he lived the Christian life.—W. W. Wiersbe

                    B.  But, Paul Was "Perfect" [mature] (Phil 3:15). 

One mark of this maturity is the knowledge that he is not perfect! The mature Christian honestly evaluates himself and strives to do better. And even Paul, despite all his sufferings and victories for Christ, still had much to learn. He had not yet been made perfect. He knew that only upon Christ's return would all believers be made perfect in knowledge and experience, but he was willing to press on to take hold of the goal -- living and working for Christ -- because of what Christ had done for him.

             2.  Evaluate Honestly.

Often in the Bible we are warned against a false estimate of our spiritual condition. (Rom. 12:3)

                 A.  The church at Sardis had "a name that thou livest, and art dead" (Rev 3:1). They had reputation without reality.

                 B.  The church at Laodicea boasted that it was rich, when in God's sight it was "wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked" (Rev 3:17).

                 C.  In contrast to the Laodicean church, the believers at Smyrna thought they were poor when they were really rich! (Rev 2:9)

                 D.  Samson thought he still had his old power, but in reality it had departed from him (Judg 16:20).

We must have times, especially after failures and great success where we learn what can from our history. In failures we must learn what to avoid, and in successes we can learn what to carry forward. There is no time for envy, jealousy, self-pity, and excessive introspection!

             3.  Press Onward and Upward!  Phil 3:12, “but I follow after, if that I may apprehend”

The evaluation of our growth and fellowship with Christ must involve a determination to press onward and upward toward the goal of finishing the race and securing the prize. But, self-evaluation can be a dangerous thing, because we can err in two directions:

                  A.  Making Ourselves Better than We Are, or

                  B.  Making Ourselves Worse than We Really Are.

                  C.  Taking Initiative to Improve and Progress.

Paul had no illusions about himself; he still had to keep "pressing forward" in order to “apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.”

APPLICATION: A divine dissatisfaction is essential for spiritual progress in the Lord. Do you have this? Psalm 42:1-2, As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. [2] My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?

True Christian faith is often called a "personal relationship" with Jesus Christ, and verses like Phil. 3:10,12-14 describes it best. A relationship requires two persons, each actively searching, seeking, and building a bond between them. We must seek after God like a thirsty deer hunting for a watering hole and refreshing drink!  We should actually “pant” for the Lord— our souls should be yearning, craving and heavily throbbing for fellowship and time with God. There should be and anxiousness in our soul—a spiritual kind of addiction to God in which we literally MUST have time alone with Him!

APPLICATION:  God is already in deliberate pursuit of fellowship and sharing life with you!  In your spiritual life, God really takes the initiative (“I am apprehended of Christ Jesus”— Christ takes hold of us with a goal in mind), then we enter into it (“I press toward the mark”– pressing on) to pursue all that our new friendship and fellowship offers. We are truly relating to each other, together pursuing God's goal for all creation—eternal life free of all pain, all death, all sin. Are you pressing on, taking responsibility for your progress in faith and character? What steps are you taking to know Christ better?

CONCLUSION:

It is an exciting experience to run the race daily, "looking unto Jesus" (Heb 12:1-2). It will be even more exciting when we experience all that the “high calling” entails when Jesus returns to take us to Heaven! Then we will stand before the Judgement Seat of Christ to receive our rewards! It was this future prospect that motivated Paul, and it can also motivate us.

Successful people are willing to do things unsuccessful people will not do. One of those things is learning from our past.

Finally, consider our NEED for God’s forgiveness, salvation—a relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ.

     1. Every Person that Ever Lived Has Been Impacted by Sin– We All are Sinners.

Isaiah 53:6, All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Romans 5:12, Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

So, you see we all are sinners—transgressors of God’s law and under the divine death penalty. We are guilty and desperately need God’s forgiveness. Do you sense your need for God’s forgiveness for your life of sin? Remember, confession is acknowledging God's standards of morality and the truth that we have not lived up to his requirements. It is admitting, "I don't measure up...either." 

     2.  The Results and Consequences of a Life of Sin is Death. 

Ezek 18:4, Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

If you spend your life serving Master Sin, then you can expect to receive the wages of Master Sin. The wages of Sin are the death penalty!

              a.   Physical Death—Rom. 5:12,14

              b.   Spiritual Death—Eph. 2:1; 4:18

              c.   Eternal Death—Rev. 20:15

The evidence that we all have sinned is the fact that we die physically. Physical death is also indicative of pervasive spiritual separation from God as a human condition. Eternal death is nothing short of suffering forever in the Lake of Fire. When deciding it is best to have all the necessary information.

     3. We Greatly NEED to be Born Again, Born by God in a Spiritual Manner!

We all were born spiritually dead in sin with our first earthly and natural birth (Eph. 2:1).  In the new birth we are finally made alive to the living reality of God and brought into a relationship with Him who is “life!” The Lord Jesus insisted upon this fact in John 3:5-6, “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6, That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” He continues in John 3:7, saying to Nicodemus, “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” Firmly our Lord asserts this requirement. The life-giving element of the new birth is aptly communicated by the Apostle Peter in 1 Peter 1:23, where he says, “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” We safely conclude that the new birth comes from God’s Word also. Accordingly, theses verses tell us our new birth is the product of the Spirit and the Word of God. The Spirit uses the Gospel (God’s Word) to bring about regeneration in the soul and spirit of the repentant/believing person. Being born again is the impartation of a new and divine nature-life; a new creation; the production of a new thing deep within (2 Cor. 5:17). It is a New Birth from above, from God—the new life-giving Source! Now instead of being lost, separated from God, and in the death of our sins, we are saved, alive to God, and free of the guilt and responsibility for our sins.

     4. The Key is Trusting Christ as our Savior.

Paul outlines this in Romans 10:9-10, writing, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10, For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” We cannot simply believe anything about Jesus, we must believe that the Son of God, died for our sins, was buried, and God raise Him up again the third day for our justification before The Father. It is crucial that we understand that it is faith in Jesus Christ and His Gospel that is the power of God that saves us (Rom. 1:14-17).

I have given you all you need to know to understand your guilt before a holy God. I know how this must feel. I am not good enough for God to accept me without me embracing his forgiveness. God promises to save all who will acknowledge their sins to Him while trusting Jesus Christ as our Savior. Remember sin is defined as violations of God's Laws. We have put idols before the true and living God. We are guilty of taking God's Name in vain. We have not honored our parents fully and always. We have not treated people with real love and respect exclusively. We do not measure up to the perfection of God's standard of morality. We stand before a completely All-knowing Judge as guilty of sin-crimes against Him. We NEED His forgiveness...He offers us forgiveness not condemnation. With this being the case...condemnation is something you chose by refusing Christ.

I encourage you to trust the Lord Jesus Christ as your very own Savior to recue you from the penalty of sin in the Lake of Fire. Repent and believe on the Lord today.