Text: Philippians 3:12-14Text: Philippians 3:12-14

= Paul’s Advice from Prison: = Paul’s Advice from Prison:

Philippians 4:4-7 - Philippians 4:4-7 - RejoiceRejoice in the in the Lord always. I will say it again: Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!Rejoice! Do Do not be anxiousnot be anxious about about anything, but in everything, by anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the requests to God. And the peacepeace of God, which transcends all of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Jesus.

Topic: One Thing I do.Topic: One Thing I do.

= Paul’s Character in Life: = Paul’s Character in Life: Vs. 13 - But one thing I do: Vs. 13 - But one thing I do:

Forgetting what is behind and Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,straining toward what is ahead,

= Paul’s Focus in Life: = Paul’s Focus in Life: Vs. 12a - Not that I have Vs. 12a - Not that I have

already obtained all this, or already obtained all this, or have already been made have already been made perfect,perfect,

(1) Knowing Christ(1) Knowing Christ - vs 7-8 - - vs 7-8 - But But whateverwhatever was to my profit I was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I of Christ. What is more, I consider consider everything everything a loss a loss compared to the surpassing compared to the surpassing greatness of greatness of knowingknowing Christ Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost have lost all things.all things.

(2) Gaining Christ(2) Gaining Christ - vs. 8 - I - vs. 8 - I consider them rubbish, that I consider them rubbish, that I may may gain Christgain Christ

(3) Knowing Christ(3) Knowing Christ - vs. 10 - I - vs. 10 - I want to want to knowknow Christ and the Christ and the power of his resurrection and power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings,sufferings, becoming like him in becoming like him in his death,his death,

How Can We Live How Can We Live A Focused Life in the A Focused Life in the

Year 2011? Year 2011?

1. Focus out of the 1. Focus out of the ThoughtsThoughts

Vs 12 - Vs 12 - Not thatNot that I have already I have already obtained all this, or have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, been made perfect, butbut I press I press on to take hold of that for which on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.Christ Jesus took hold of me.

= What Kind of Perceptions = What Kind of Perceptions does the Bible Caution Us does the Bible Caution Us from Our Life? from Our Life?

Vs 12 - Not that I have already Vs 12 - Not that I have already obtained all this, or obtained all this, or have have already been made already been made perfect,perfect, but I press on to take hold of but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. took hold of me.

(1) 1Corinthians 3:18 - Do not (1) 1Corinthians 3:18 - Do not deceive yourselves. If any of deceive yourselves. If any of you thinkyou think you are wise by the you are wise by the standards of this age, you standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that should become “fools” so that you may become wise.you may become wise.

(2) 1Corinthians 10:12 - So, if (2) 1Corinthians 10:12 - So, if you thinkyou think you are standing you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t firm, be careful that you don’t fall!fall!

(3) 1Corinthians 15:58 - (3) 1Corinthians 15:58 - Therefore, my dear brothers Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, and sisters, stand firm. Let stand firm. Let nothing move you.nothing move you. Always Always give yourselves fully to the give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because work of the Lord, because you you knowknow that your labor in the that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.Lord is not in vain.

= How Can We Avoid Every = How Can We Avoid Every Wrong Idea about Our Wrong Idea about Our Life? Life?

Philippians 3:15-16 - All of us Philippians 3:15-16 - All of us who are mature should take who are mature should take such a view of things. And such a view of things. And if on if on some point you think differently,some point you think differently, that too that too God will make clear to God will make clear to you.you. Only let us live up to what Only let us live up to what we have already attained.we have already attained.

““The search for the purpose of The search for the purpose of life has puzzled people for life has puzzled people for thousands of years. If you want thousands of years. If you want to know why you were placed to know why you were placed on this planet, on this planet, you must you must begin with God.begin with God. You were You were born by his purpose and for his born by his purpose and for his purpose.” (Rick Warren from purpose.” (Rick Warren from Purpose-Driven Life)Purpose-Driven Life)

(1) What Christ Jesus takes (1) What Christ Jesus takes hold of you for?hold of you for?

(2) Why You have to take hold (2) Why You have to take hold of that for which Jesus took of that for which Jesus took hold of you?hold of you?

(3) How to take hold of that for (3) How to take hold of that for which Jesus took hold of you?which Jesus took hold of you?

2. Focus out of the 2. Focus out of the PastPast

Vs 13 - Brothers, I do not Vs 13 - Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I taken hold of it. But one thing I do: do: Forgetting what is behindForgetting what is behind and straining toward what is and straining toward what is ahead, ahead,

= What has to be Cautioned = What has to be Cautioned about our Past? about our Past?

Vs 13 - Brothers, I do not Vs 13 - Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I taken hold of it. But one thing I do: do: Forgetting what is Forgetting what is behindbehind and straining toward and straining toward what is ahead, what is ahead,

A Case StudyA Case Study of the Parable of the Parable of the Workers (Mt. 20:1-16)of the Workers (Mt. 20:1-16)

Vs. 1-2 - “For the Vs. 1-2 - “For the kingdom of kingdom of heavenheaven is like a landowner who is like a landowner who went out went out (1) early in the (1) early in the morningmorning to hire men to work in to hire men to work in his vineyard. He agreed to pay his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. sent them into his vineyard.

(2) About the (2) About the thirdthird hour hour (3) About the (3) About the sixthsixth hour hour (4) About the (4) About the ninth ninth hourhour (5) About the (5) About the eleventheleventh hour hour Vs 10-12 - So when those Vs 10-12 - So when those

came who were hired first, came who were hired first, they they expected to receive expected to receive moremore. But each one of them . But each one of them also received a denarius.also received a denarius.

When they received it, they When they received it, they began to began to grumble against the grumble against the landowner.landowner. ‘These men who ‘These men who were hired last worked only were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have have made them equal to us made them equal to us who have borne the burden who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of of the work and the heat of the day.’ the day.’

Vs 13-16 - “But he answered one Vs 13-16 - “But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, of them, ‘Friend, I am not being I am not being unfair to you. Didn’t you agree unfair to you. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius?to work for a denarius? Take Take your pay and go. I want to give your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don’t I have same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you my own money? Or are you envious because I am envious because I am generous?’ generous?’ “So the last will be “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” first, and the first will be last.”

= How is “Forgetting what is = How is “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward behind and straining toward what is ahead” Compatible what is ahead” Compatible with Christians? with Christians?

Vs 13 - I do not consider myself Vs 13 - I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: one thing I do: Forgetting what Forgetting what is behind is behind andand straining straining toward what is aheadtoward what is ahead

1Corinthians 13:13 - Three 1Corinthians 13:13 - Three things will last forever— things will last forever— faith, faith, hope, and lovehope, and love— and — and the the greatestgreatest of these is of these is lovelove (NLT) (NLT)

1Corinthians 13:7 - 1Corinthians 13:7 - LoveLove never never gives upgives up, never , never loses faithloses faith, is , is always always hopefulhopeful, and , and endures endures through every circumstance through every circumstance (NLT)(NLT)

Romans 16:20 - Romans 16:20 -   The God of The God of peacepeace will soon will soon crushcrush Satan Satan under your feet. under your feet.

= How does “Forgetting = How does “Forgetting what is behind” and what is behind” and “Straining toward what is “Straining toward what is ahead” Work as One Thing ahead” Work as One Thing in Paul’s Life? in Paul’s Life?

Vs 13 - I do not consider myself Vs 13 - I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. yet to have taken hold of it. But But one thing I do:one thing I do: Forgetting what Forgetting what is behind and straining toward is behind and straining toward what is ahead, what is ahead,

Romans 12:2 - Don’t copy the Romans 12:2 - Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform world, but let God transform you into a new person you into a new person by by changing the way you changing the way you think.think. Then you will learn to know Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect good and pleasing and perfect (NLT)(NLT)

3. Focus out of the 3. Focus out of the GoalsGoals

Vs. 14 - I press on toward Vs. 14 - I press on toward the the goal to win the prizegoal to win the prize for which for which God has called me heavenward God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.in Christ Jesus.

= How is the Attitude of Paul = How is the Attitude of Paul toward the Goal in his life toward the Goal in his life Described in the passage? Described in the passage?

Vs. 14 - Vs. 14 - I press onI press on toward the toward the goal to win the prize for which goal to win the prize for which God has called me God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Vs. 12b - but Vs. 12b - but I press onI press on to take to take hold of that for which Christ hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.Jesus took hold of me.

A Case StudyA Case Study of the of the Kingdom of God: Kingdom of God:

Mt. 11:11-13 - I tell you the Mt. 11:11-13 - I tell you the truth: Among those born of truth: Among those born of women there has not risen women there has not risen anyone greater than John the anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. greater than he. From theFrom the

days of John the Baptist days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of until now, the kingdom of heaven has been heaven has been forcefullyforcefully advancing, and advancing, and forcefulforceful men lay hold of it.men lay hold of it. For all the For all the Prophets and the Law Prophets and the Law prophesied until John.prophesied until John.

And from the days of John And from the days of John the Baptist until now the the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violence, and the violent the violent take it by forcetake it by force (NKV) (NKV)

And from the days of John the And from the days of John the Baptist until the present time, Baptist until the present time, the kingdom of heaven has the kingdom of heaven has endured violent assault, and endured violent assault, and violent men seize it by forceviolent men seize it by force [as a precious prize--a share [as a precious prize--a share in the heavenly kingdom is in the heavenly kingdom is sought with most ardent zeal sought with most ardent zeal and intense exertion] (AB)and intense exertion] (AB)

= What Do You Mean by = What Do You Mean by “God Called You “God Called You Heavenward in Christ Heavenward in Christ Jesus”? Jesus”?

Vs 14 - I press on toward the Vs 14 - I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which goal to win the prize for which God has God has called me called me heavenward in Christ heavenward in Christ Jesus.Jesus.

Acts 20:22-24 - “And now, Acts 20:22-24 - “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. hardships are facing me.

However, However, I consider my life I consider my life worth nothing to me, worth nothing to me, if only I if only I may finish the race and may finish the race and complete the complete the tasktask the Lord the Lord Jesus has given me—the Jesus has given me—the tasktask of testifying to the gospel of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace. of God’s grace.

““It is not about you.It is not about you. The The purpose of your life is far purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal greater than your own personal fulfilment, your peace of mind, fulfilment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness. It’s far or even your happiness. It’s far greater than your family, your greater than your family, your career, or even your wildest career, or even your wildest dreams and ambitions”dreams and ambitions” (Rick (Rick Warren in Purpose Driven Life)Warren in Purpose Driven Life)

= What kind of Goals Do = What kind of Goals Do You Have for Your Life in You Have for Your Life in 2011?2011?

How Can We Live A Focused How Can We Live A Focused Life in the Year 2011?Life in the Year 2011?

Focus out of the Focus out of the ThoughtsThoughts Focus out of the Focus out of the PastPast Focus out of the Focus out of the GoalsGoals