Finals are done.  School is mostly over.  And since we know that you all miss the academic life - we have a short quiz.  So sharpen your mental pencils.

Question #1:  We’re back in Philippians.  We’ve been following Paul’s teaching on…  Calvinism, prayer, fellowship, prophecy 

Fellowship.  The relationship we have together in Jesus.

Question #2:  We’ve seen two basic truths behind the purpose of our fellowship.  Which are…  Life is about God.  Potlucks, We live to witness of Jesus.  A and C  

#1 - Life is about God.  Life - given to us by God - is all about God.  His purposes.  His will.  Our lives - individually and together - our lives are to be lived for God’s glory.

#2  We live to witness of Jesus.  The great purpose of the Church here on earth is to witness of Jesus.  When eternity comes the opportunity to invite others to join us in eternity will be gone forever.

Regardless of our circumstances - harsh or holy - whatever is going on in our lives - truths #1 and #2 don’t change.  God has brought us together in fellowship as the Church - in Jesus - to support and encourage each other and to serve and worship God together in fellowship to accomplish #’s 1 and 2.

Which is astounding to consider that God would use us that way.  The potential of what all that might mean for our lives.  Philippians - to large extent - is about guarding and protecting and preserving and even deepening fellowship - all according to the purposes and to glory of God. 

Question #3:  Paul teaching about that potential - how to guard and deepen and live our God glorifying testifying of Jesus fellowship - Paul encouraged us to live in…  prayer, perfection, humility, wisdom.

Humility.  Paul gave us the example of Jesus living and dying for us.  Meaning that when we’re living focused on the interests of others and not trying to hang on to what is about us - fellowship happens - fellowship deepens.  God is glorified.  People are drawn to Jesus.

The how #1 of fellowship is humility - focus on the interests of others not just our own.

Question #4 - from last Sunday when we began chapter 3 - Paul’s next point about how to guard and deepen and live our God glorifying testifying of Jesus fellowship is to focus on…  finances, food, God, friendship.  

Answer:  Focus on God.  In 3:1 Paul wrote “Rejoice in the Lord.”  Get your focus on God - not yourself.

Which - coming to 3:12 - what we’re looking at this morning - Paul is going on with our need to stay focused on God and not us and how we can do that.

Let’s read verse 12 and grab Paul’s Point.  Where Paul is going here in these verses. 

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me His own. 

Paul writes:  “Not that I have already obtained this...”  “This” is... what?  We need to be clear on what “this” is. 

Back in 1978 - during the firemen’s strike in England one of the greatest animal rescue attempts of all time took place.  With the firefighters on strike - valiantly, the British Army had taken over emergency firefighting.  On January 14th they were called out by an elderly lady in South London to rescue her cat.  They arrived with impressive haste - very cleverly and carefully rescued the cat.  High fives and fist bumps all around.  A wonderful moment for the British Army.

Then - in typical British fashion - as they started to pack up and leave - the elderly lady - who was so grateful - she invited the squad of heroes in for tea.  Celebration.  Driving off later with fond farewells and warm waving of hands, they ran over her cat and killed it. (1)

“This” takes us back to what Paul wrote about earlier in chapter 3.  Paul listed all the things he’d achieved in life - things that he could place his confidence in - base his success on - high fives and fist bumps.  All of which was stunningly significant - respectable - honorable stuff.

Paul wrote that all that was like yesterdays trash.  Short lived and of no lasting value in comparison to the priceless eternal value of personally knowing Jesus, of having a made right relationship with God that only comes through faith in Jesus, of living with the hope of resurrection and eternity with God.  Put simply - living life focused on only on God - the fullness of life in Jesus - and not the passing away temporal stuff of this world.

Paul writes, “not that I’ve already obtained this or am already perfect” Meaning living life that way is the goal.  But I’m not there yet.

But I press on - I’m pursuing it - with passion - at the core of who I am - to make it my own.  Why?  Because Christ Jesus has made me His own. 

Let’s be clear.  Paul isn’t writing about a coming to Jesus turning our lives over to God moment of salvation.  Paul is writing - as a saved by the grace of God follower of Jesus - Paul is writing about living life focused on God who has made us His own - saved us - in Christ Jesus.

That resonates.  Doesn’t it?

Paul - the Apostle Paul - the great theologian - wrote tons of the New Testament - missionary to the nations - take the top ten pastors, missionaries, and apologists of our time and combine them into one person - Paul the superlative super spiritual follower of Jesus - admitting that he struggles just like we do.  In all that He desires in Jesus - that God has opened up to Him in Jesus - like us, he’s not there yet.  There is more to go as Paul learns to focus on Jesus.

So, how do we - like Paul - “press on”?  So that increasingly the focus of our lives is on God not us? 

First - coming to verse 13 - First:  To “press on” is a Process.

Let’s read verses 13 and 14:  Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own.  But one thing I do:  forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Notice first - Paul’s honesty.  Paul writes, “Brothers - which puts us all on the same level - brothers I don’t consider - not even for a moment - that I’ve made it my own.  I don’t have it all together. 

That honesty is refreshing.  Isn’t it?  It goes way beyond the way we seemingly have to live our lives.

Out there to admit failure or inadequacy is a sign of weakness.  Weak people get run over.  The world tells us that you’re okay if you think you’re okay.  Any struggles you have - or short comings in your character - any problems you deal with - they’re somebody else’s fault.  Your parents messed up.  People owe you something.  One of the predominant messages of our society is that we’re not responsible. 

Which is often how we treat sin.  Let’s not be judgmental.  Immorality is okay as long as you don’t hurt anyone else or get caught doing something really bad.  What is sexual promiscuity or self-destructive behavior is championed as a normal lifestyle.  Selfishness and pride are a strength of character.  And on and on the world goes rationalizing away sin and failure. 

All of that is just a downward spiral into the pit of hell.

The church - we’re not immune to all that.  We just get good at putting on our game face in a Christian sort of way - here on Sunday morning - or in the places where we do life.  What’s wrong is where someone else messed up.  We see other people’s issues - especially when they mess us up.  But inside we know we don’t measure up.

And yet God gives us the opportunity to honestly examine ourselves and open ourselves up for healing and growth.

This may come a surprise to some of you.  But, I’m not perfect.  There are things in my life that I’m not proud of - that are wrong before God and others.  And - let’s be honest - that’s true of everyone in this room.

Turn to the person next to you and tell them, “I’m not perfect.”  Doesn’t it feel good to admit that?

Honesty is huge.  It’s okay to admit that we fall short.  Paul goes on - admitting that I’m not there yet - But one thing I do: 

Doesn’t it seem like people think that if they keep admitting that they’re not there yet - if they’re talking about where they’re at or what they’re planning to do about it or what they’re expecting someone to do for them - that they’re really just making excuses for why their stuck where they are but have no real intention of moving forward.  Seems like so many people are just moving sideways through life and they’re not really getting anywhere.

We have to appreciate Paul.  But - meaning I know I fall short.  But, one thing I do - meaning this isn’t hopeless.  There is something that can be done and I’m taking personal responsibility to do it.

Here it is:  forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on

Try driving forward by only looking in your rear view mirror.  See how long it takes before you have an accident.  I’m not really suggesting you actually do that?  Right.  Just saying.

The same is true of us spiritually.  We spend so much time and effort beating ourselves up over sins and failures that God - in Christ - has forgiven us for and released us from.  So much focus on the past that we’re stuck - afraid or unable to move forward.

One of the joys of being “in Christ” is that when we admit our failure - that we can confess our sin - and be can forgiven by the God who knows that we do fail and loves us anyway.  The past doesn’t need to dictate how we’re going to live in the future.  It’s gone.  We need to let go.  Forget it.  Move on.

Paul says, rather than dwelling on the past, I’m reaching forward to what lies ahead, I’m pressing on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 

What God has for us in Jesus is the prize worth straining for.

The imagery is intentional.  Straining.  Goal.  Prize.

Marathon runners talk about hitting a wall.  Some people hit that wall when they try to get out of bed in the morning.

Marathon runners talk about the point in the race - everything in them - mind - body - soul - everything in them says that they can’t go on.  But, as they keep running - putting one foot in front of the other - they go on.  They find that they can finish the race.  Huge victory.  High fives and fist pumps.

We hit a wall of whatever and we’re tempted to think we can’t go on.  We start to give up hope.  Get discouraged.  We need to remember - we’re in a process of life with Jesus.

Salvation is a gift.  As we come to God trusting in Jesus as our Savior He gives us the gift of salvation.  But life in Christ - “the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” - is a prize to be run after.  That’s where this process is going - our becoming the person God has created us.

Paul encourages us - don’t look back - don’t get stuck in the past - keep going.  Its worth it.  Life in Christ is a process of continuous improvement.  The fullness of that life - we’re not there yet.  But in Christ we will be.

Pressing on is a process of choosing to Trust God

Let’s read verses 15 an 16:  Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.  Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

Anyone remember who this is?  Junior Samples.  Used car salesman turned consumer advocate.  The great philosopher Junior Samples - speaking on Hee Haw - remember that?  Junior Samples once said, “Size ain’t got nothing to do with it.  If it did, a cow could outrun a rabbit.”

Sometimes we get stuck on size - on what we think makes us adequate as Christians.  We default to seeing ourselves broken and useless - small and insignificant - damaged goods.

Question:  Do we really trust God for what He has given us in Jesus?

We really need to be clear on how we’re answering that question.

I have no idea who said this.  But, I like what it says about trusting God.  “Has the enemy come and swept away the trophies of remembrance of God’s good hand on you?  Focus on what has been achieved, not on what has not.”

Take a moment and just think about your life.  Where you’ve come from.  Of what that reality includes.  Just think about that for a moment.

Then think about this:  God has brought you here.  Here - to this moment in your life.  And all that reality includes.  What has been achieved by God.  Marinate on that.  Praise God.

When we make the decision to press on - to engage in the process of forgetting the past and to strain forward - who do you think is not happy with that?  Satan.  Our Adversary.  Who do you think is going to remind us of the past?  Where we’ve come from.  To work at keeping us in bondage - imprisoned by our feelings of inadequacy?  Our spiritual size?

Guilt and shame isn’t of God.  If we’re bound by feelings of guilt and shame over where we’ve been those feelings aren’t coming from God.  Guilt and shame comes to us as an awareness of our sin and Satan’s accusations.

God isn’t hung up on our past.  God isn’t caught off guard by our inadequacy.  God dealt with what shames us.  Dealt with our guilt - what comes by our sin that separates us from God.  God dealt with all that once for all time by the work of Jesus on the cross.  Our guilt has been borne by our Savior and its been nailed - crucified and crushed and buried.  Done deal.

Paul writes in verse 15 that that same God is waiting to reveal our inadequacies to us.  Not to shame us or guilt us - but so we can be honest about them - confess them - and move forward.  That same God desires to lead us forward - revealing - correcting - healing - stretching - enabling.  Process. 

Over and over Scripture records God saying to His people - His people that He saved - as messed up as they were - be strong, be fearless, be confident, stand firm.  Hang on to what I’ve promised you.  Keep obeying Me.  Keep following Me.  I am your God,  I will be with you.  I won’t leave you.  I will go before you.  Trust Me.  (i.e. Joshua 1:5-9)

What are Satan’s first words?  Spoken to tempt Eve?  “Did God really say…?”  Can you really trust what God says?  Does He really love you?  Does He really forgive you?  Will He really be there for you?  (Genesis 3:1)

Paul encourages those who are mature - meaning those who have a relationship with God through Jesus - Paul encourages us to “hold true to what we have attained” - what is ours in Jesus.

“Hold true” translates the Greek verb “stoicheo” - which has the idea of rows of planted fields.  Not hard to picture around here.  It has the idea of order - of being in alignment.  In other words:  Keep your mind in alignment with the truth of who you are in Jesus.

Which is a choice to trust God.  To align our minds with God’s truth.  When we get nailed by our circumstances - that our Adversary will use to bring us face to face with our adequacy and so our feelings of failure and guilt and shame.  In process - daily - always the question is before us:  Will we choose to trust what God has said about who we really are in Jesus - and to keep moving forward - pressing on in this process continuing to trust God.

That’s not easy.  Circumstances are harsh.  Guilt and shame are powerful feelings.

Which is one reason we can greatly appreciate Paul - in process with us - Paul writing to us:  Don’t worry so much about where you fall short - but - verse 16 - keep living - keep trusting God - keep obeying God with your whole heart - according to what you do know - according to where you are in Him - and He will lead you forward.  In trust turn to God and say, “Here it is.  You asked for it.  You got it.  Do what you need to do in my life.”

Going on.  Pressing on is a process of choosing to trust God as we Follow Jesus.

Let’s read verses 17 to 21:  Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.  For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.  Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.  But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, Who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body, by the power that enables Him even to subject all things to Himself.    

Paul tells the Philippians to follow the example they saw in “us” - plural.  When Paul was in Philippi he was accompanied by Timothy, Silas, and Luke.  In Rome, Paul is with Epaphroditus - a leader in the Philippian church.  “Us” means that - when we’re learning how to move forward in our Christian walk - there are Godly people - mature in Jesus - that we should choose to imitate.

Not to be like them - little Paul and Epaphroditus clones.  But, to follow their example - the pattern of their life - as they seek to follow Jesus - to move forward through life with Jesus.

Which is a significant reason why coming together as the church is so crucial.  People who say, “I’m a Christian but I don’t go to church” are in serious trouble.  Body parts severed from the body… die.  Fellowship is essential.  Worship and study and play and prayer and discipleship and sharing our faith - doing that together.  We’re created for this.  We need each other for this.

A pattern involves repetition.  A noticeable consistent behavior.  We need to look for that pattern to help each other follow it.  There are people in this congregation that are worth imitating because they’re following Jesus and the evidence of maturity in Him is consistent - recognizable.  We need to ask them, “How do you do that?  What are you learning about moving forward with Jesus?  How can I do that?”

The contrast comes in verse 18:  For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.  Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. 

Its sad - tearfully sad - but these were probably people in the church.  Maybe even people of position and influence and prestige.  Maybe even educated in the things of God.  Yet people who were living out lives influenced by the world.  Focusing on themselves.  Not the interests of others.  Focusing on themselves and not God.  The death of fellowship. 

Easy to do.  Sometimes we look at what someone may have - things that we’d like - a game system, a Lamborghini or BMW i8 - just saying - a nice house, an “I” something or other.  They might be living a life style that we might very easily see ourselves slipping into.  Vacations they take.  What their family life is like.  They might look to us like they’re being blessed of God.  They talk like Christians and for the most part act like Christians.

But inside where it counts - over the long haul - the pattern of their life - do they have a heart broken before God?  Do they have a heart that seeks after the things that are close to heart of God?  What’s the fruit of their lives?  Are they pressing on in the process of choosing to trust God as they follow Jesus.

Sadly, even in the Christian community there are enemies of the cross.  They’re headed for destruction.  Paul writes. “Choose to follow people who are following Jesus.”

Verse 20:  But our citizenship is in heaven - those who are following Jesus through life are on a totally different trajectory through life - different prize - different destination.

Philippi was a Roman colony.  In Philippi they lived by Roman law.  They dressed like Romans.  Spoke Latin.  Philippi was like Rome because Philippi was a Roman colony.  When in Philippi do like the Romans.  It’s not hard to imagine that the Philippians would have understood - we live here - but our citizenship is there.

and from it - because we’re citizens of heaven - we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, Who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body, by the power that enables Him even to subject all things to Himself.

The church lives here.  But our citizenship is up there.  We live in this world of death and destruction.  But we long to go home.  We’re longing for Jesus to come to take us there.  To transform us - these bodies that are falling apart into bodies that never wear out.  To realize our eternal life in Him.  The fullness of all that.  For Him to reign - to end all this failure and sin.  To set right all that is wrong - even in us. 

That is where we are following Jesus to - trusting God in this process - that He will bring us there.  When we’re discouraged by personal failure think about Heaven - the big picture of what God is doing.  That’s what God is preparing us for.  That’s the life He’s working out in us today.

Keep that vision before you - long for it - desire it with all your heart - and it becomes so much easier to let go of the dead past - to trust God to deal with issues of our inadequacy - to make spiritually healthy choices of what or who influences us.

4:1 fits to this section… and the next.  But, we’ll take it here.  Verse 1 is Paul’s Encouragement to the believers - and us.

Therefore - because of the process and the promise of what is ours in Jesus - therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.

My beloved brothers.  Those whom I love.  Those whom I long for.  Those who are my joy and my crown - meaning I have join in seeing you press on and celebrate victory as I see yours.  Those whom I deeply love.  Can we hear the deep affection in that?  The affinity?

“Those that are in this same process with me.  Because of everything that is ours in Jesus, stand firm in the Lord.  Do not be moved off of the truth.  Stay in the process.  Trust God.  Follow Jesus.  You are not alone.  We press on together.  Focus on the prize that God has for us in Jesus.”

When we get our focus off of us and on to God - fellowship happens.  Its guarded.  Its deepened.  We become the people God has created and called us together to be for His glory.

Processing all that…

Anyone know who this is?  Nick Wallenda - one of the “Flying Wallenda” family.

June 24, 2013 - Nik Wllenda tight rope walked on a 2-inch-thick cable across the Little Colorado River Gorge - about 1,500 feet up - just slightly higher than the Empire State Building.  He covered the distance of about 1,400 feet in 22 minutes and 54 seconds.

For almost the entire walk - step-by-step - Nik was heard praying to Jesus.  Prayers like:  “Thank you Lord.  Thank you for calming that cable, God.  Oh, yeah, that’s my Savior.  That’s Jesus.”

Nik - who grew up in a born-again - Bible-believing - God-fearing - praying Christian home - Nik says, “My life is based on my faith.  I guess the biggest role that it plays is that if I do fall and die I know where I’m going.”   “Often there will be challenging times in your journey with Jesus, when your eyes may not be able to see the way ahead of you….  But then these are the times you got to walk by faith and not by sight…”  (2)

Psalm 119:105 says… “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”  In the days this was written people had little lamps on their shoes.  So when they traveled at night they could see the path in front of them.

We want search lights.  Lights that illuminate long distances in front of us.  High beams on our cars instead of low beams so we can go faster at night.

But if we’re walking at night - traveling through a valley of the shadow of death - through the darkness and drama of life - with our way uncertain - with danger and death on either side - cliffs and pits and traps.  We don’t need to know what’s 20 miles ahead or 5 miles or even 1 mile down the path.  All we need to know is where to safely put our next foot step.

We don’t need a searchlight.  All we need is to trust God for what He’s already revealed to us in His word and start walking.

On a 2-inch cable or the process of trusting God and following Jesus through the drama of life.  Its all the same thing.  One step at a time following - trusting - seeking out - what God has for us in His word - even in the Word made flesh - Jesus Christ.  Trust.  Never doubt God’s word.

Remember the disciples in the boat?  The storm?  Jesus on the water?  Calling Peter out?  Peter’s got a choice.  Right?  Stay in the boat - think personal comfort zone no matter how tenuous.  Stay in the boat or step out.  The wind and waves are really whipping it up.

We know how this goes.  Right?  Peter gets out.  Takes a couple steps.  Takes his eyes of Jesus.  Essentially doubts Jesus - God’s word.  Starts to sink like a rock.  Jesus grabs Peter,  They get back in the boat and Jesus rebukes Peter for his doubting.  Then Jesus calms the sea.  (Matthew 14:22-33)

Are we together?  At some point we need to get out of the boat.  At some point we need to step out on to the wire.  Whatever metaphor we want to use.  Point being:  We need to choose to get out of our comfort zone and start walking. 

That requires choosing to trust God.  His word.  For each step of the way. What God says about us.  What God says about life and each step of the way through that life.  What God says about what He has for us forever with Him.

That requires choosing to focus our lives on Jesus - to strain forward towards Him.  To reorientate our lives on Jesus.  Not our doubts.  Not what’s behind us.  But on what God has for us in Jesus.

All of which could be seriously frightening.  Except that we do that one step at a time - in steps laid out for us by God in His word.  We do that together.  Because God has given us each other.  And we do that knowing that even if we sink - or fall - God has that covered.  The prize is ahead and He has promised to get us there.

Have you ever heard this?  The longest journey begins with one small step.  What will be your next STEP?

______________________

1. Charles Swindol, Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life

2. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/25/nik-wallenda-jesus-praying-tightrope-walk_n_3499346.html

http://www.christianpost.com/news/nik-wallenda-constantly-prayed-to-jesus-during-successful-grand-canyon-tightrope-walk-98616/#saTwtkZElyqz2yqd.99

http://www.christianitytoday.com/gleanings/2012/june/faith-of-daredevil-nik-wallenda-who-walked-across-niagara.html

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®  (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.