Notes from a sermon heard on Sunday 1 January 2017
Philippians 3 verses 12 - 21
"I press toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
A new goal for 2017. Maybe for someone it will be their goal. The apostle Paul has one thing on his mind - pressing towards the high calling of God. The apostle Paul often points his readers to something they can visualise, something that is seen unfolding before them. Here he uses the figure of the athlete. Paul likens the Christian walk to a race. He points to the line set before him. It is not the starting point but the finishing line. That is what is in his heart and mind. The finishing line is very important to the athlete. I am sure if you have ever been in a race, competed in a race the beginning is important and the pace is important too but there is nothing like that finishing line. From the moment the starting pistol sounds or the flag drops before you there is only one thing on your mind - the finishing line. Here is one important aspect to consider - you have got to start the race.
There is an experience Paul points to in verse 12. The apostle Paul was apprehended of Christ Jesus. The apostle Paul had already started the race. He already had begun his homeward journey. Each and every experience is different for everyone. For you maybe it was in a gospel meeting or mission or maybe when you came home from church. God came to you in that fleeting moment and God opened up your heart that somehow you might receive the word of God. Salvation is of the Lord. The Holy Spirit was speaking to you. God was working in your heart, opening up your eyes to show you your need of salvation, the depths and sinfulness of your heart. Showing you the cross of Calvary on the one side and showing you your sinfulness, on the other the sinlessness of the Saviour. Then as you thought on it you came to a saving faith in Christ. Can you look back to a time when you trusted Christ as your Saviour? The apostle Paul had many experiences he could depend on. Many thought he was ready for home. Verse 15 he was circumcised on the eighth day. He was of the stock of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews, as touching the law faultless. That is not a saving experience however. He had everything going for him. He was zealous for the Jewish faith yet it didn`t help him. He hated the name of Christians. He demanded the high priests to give him letters that if he found anyone in the way he could put them into prison, do as much as he could against them. That young man left Jerusalem breathing out threatenings and slaughter. He was as far away from God as he could get, heading to Damascus that if he found anyone believing in Christ he could take them and throw them into prison. Far away from God. Maybe that is what you are saying tonight. You have no thought in your heart for Christ. Yes you have a little bit of churchianity or christianity but that is it. Paul as he travelled along at midday was brought to his knees in the dust. Paul cried out "Lord, what will you have me to do?" The Lord replied "it is hard to kick against the pricks." (Acts 9 verse 5) Paul was coming under the hand of God. God was making himself real to him. He found him in the very dust. If you want to find Christ you have got to be prepared to step down and humble yourself. God brought him to his knees. What about that experience for you? Think of Saul in the Old Testament scriptures. Someone had left the gate open and his father`s donkeys escaped. Saul was sent after them. God had a task for Saul. He used this as an excuse to get him into the place he wanted him to be in. Why are you in this place tonight? You are here because God wants to save your soul. Saul went to look for the donkeys. They were found and sent home. God got him where he wanted him to be. He was turned into another man. The Bible tells us that is true conversion, not half hearted. He brought a man to his knees before a thrice holy God and changed his life, his attitude, his mood, his temperament, his activities. He was a complete new creature in Christ Jesus. Is that the experience in your life?
See the energy that is used. He is pressing on here, there is no turning back. One man came to Jesus realising he did not have what Jesus` disciples had. He wasn`t saved and if not saved wouldn`t be with God in heaven. He would be lost for all eternity. He came to the feet of Christ and asked "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" He was serious but when it came to the striving he stopped short. Is there that striving in your life for salvation? Salvation does not come easy. If we are to be saved we have to desire it with all our hearts. That is the soul that will be saved. Jeremiah 29 verse 13 "ye shall seek me and find me when ye shall search for me with all your heart." All the searching has to be after God. No half measures here. Jesus asked a question many a person has asked down through the years - "are there few that be saved?" Forget about the few that be saved but consider this - are you saved? What are you depending on for heaven? Luke 13 verse 24 "strive to enter in at the straight gate." Striving, pressing. "For many shall seek to enter in and shall not be able to." The word strive means to agonise with all your being. By this I am not saying there is anything we can do to earn our salvation. We must however comply with all our hearts. Maybe the Lord has put a finger on your life and you do not want to give it up. Is there something holding you back from getting saved? Maybe it is a relationship. Maybe something very simple - friends, loved ones, family. There are many different things. You are going to have to strive if you want to be saved. Think of the woman with the issue of blood for 12 years. She had one opportunity. Jesus was passing by and she reached forward and touched the hem of Jesus garment. She was saved. Are you going to look to the one who has come to seek and to save your soul? He is able to save you. He died to save you. He poured our his precious blood to save you.
Paul is estimating here on his way. He keeps a trace on the road of how far he has come on the way to heaven. He is still striving for one thing - the crown. He hasn`t given up. Ephesians 2 verse 8 "for by grace are you saved, it is the gift of God." Where are you tonight from this time last year it is a good measuring rod.
Paul`s expectancy - verse 14. The athlete in the race will stretch every sinew, make every effort to reach that final line. Peter said "when the chief shepherd shall appear ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away." (1 Peter 5 verse 4) Paul sitting in an old prison house was not feeling sorry for himself. He did not think of God coming and releasing him or of someone coming to help him escape. He said "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only but unto all them also that love his appearing." (2 Timothy 4 verses 7 and 8) Can you see yourself with that crown tonight? Have you begun that race? When he steps up to receive his prize that is the purpose of his crowning. Will you experience God`s salvation., the beginning of the Christian life? One day that will take you to heaven and home. Come to Christ and trust him as your Saviour. Do not depend on something that is not there.
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