Philippians 3:12-16
"The Amazing RAce "
Gospelcom Bible Gateway

¹² Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. ¹³ Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, ¹⁴ I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.¹⁵ Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. ¹⁶ Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.

INTRODUCTION:

I think CBS stole the title for their hit reality show, "The Amazing Race" from John Newton. Newton was a repentant slave trader who wrote the famous hymn Amazing Grace. So I'm stealing it back for my sermon title! Paul loved to speak about Christianity in the terms of an athelete's running a race. In this race of life described in these verses, the competition isn't with each other, but with our own selves. To become winning champions there are five essentials:

I. The Athelete's Dissatisfaction (12a, 13a)

A. Paul said in Philippians 3:10-11 I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, ¹¹ if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

B. Yet he states here that he has not attained. This is great news for us because if anyone could have attained (remember his pedigree) Paul certainly cold have.

C. This tells us a few things

1. None of us reach perfection this side of heaven

2. Imperfection drives us upward and onward - a growing Christian is never satisfied with their current state

II . The Athelete's Concentration (13)

A. "This one thing I do" - Remember the rich young ruler, Mary and Martha, David one thing I have desired of the Lord

B. What is the "one thing" in your life?

C. Winners have a concentration on one thing

D. Don't say yes to everything that you don't have time for the "one thing"

III . The Athelete's Direction (13b)

A. Athletes always have in focus the goal and never the start

B. What are "those things"? (verses 4-5)

C. Do you live in the land of regret or the land of remiss or the land of victories & accomplishments?

D. "Reaching ahead" - at the end of the race to sprint for the finish line

IV . The Athelete's Dedication (14)

A. "Press" - to exert energy and to work hard (v6 persecuted )

B. THe same energy that Paul put into ruining the church he is now putting into running the race

C. What if you put as much dedication in your Christian life as you do in the most important aspects of your life?

D. What were the prizes that Paul was discussing? (verses 12, 14)

E. Are you exerting spiritual energy in your life? Are you really pressing into it or are you a cultural Christian?

V. The Athelete's Collaboration (15 - 16)

A. Notice the frequency of the words "Us and We"

B. There were those in Philippi that thought they believed in sinless perfection or they were apathetic

C. Paul graciously gives them space to grow at their own pace

D. Runners do better in packs. It is the pack that keeps us going on the track

E. Are you in the bleachers as an observer or an you in the race?

F. Think progress not perfection, future not past, together not alone - finish the race!

APPLICATION:

1. Ask someone who knows you very well to evaluate your running in this spiritual life (This is called accountability). Do they se potential that perhaps you are unaware of?

2. Make a game-plan: Develop (alone or with a close friend) a spiritual strategy for getting into shape and focusing in on the reason for your life here on earth.

3.How has your past shaped who you are today? How has it slowed you down? How could it be used to get you further along down the track?

MEMORY VERSE: Philippians 3:12

¹² Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.