we press on | neil bester | 03 july 2016

We Press On

What has God been ‘saying’ to us

Beingcommunity(Romans12:9-21)•   Love•   Morality•   Workethic•   Spirituality•   Socialimpact

Buildingcommunity(Acts19)•   Purpose•   People•   Prac7ce•   Place•   Progress•   Power

Our future does not lie in the past. Our future lies in Christ.

Philippians 3:4-6 NIV

…thoughImyselfhavereasonsforsuchconfidence.Ifsomeoneelsethinkstheyhavereasonstoputconfidenceintheflesh,Ihavemore:circumcisedontheeighthday,ofthepeopleofIsrael,ofthetribeofBenjamin,aHebrewofHebrews;inregardtothelaw,aPharisee;asforzeal,persecu7ngthechurch;asforrighteousnessbasedonthelaw,faultless.

•   Paul had a serious religious pedigree.

•   He could have had confidence in his past.

•   He could have allowed his past to define his

relationship with God.

Paul’s past

Philippians 3:7-9 NIV ButwhateverweregainstomeInowconsiderlossforthesakeofChrist.Whatismore,IconsidereverythingalossbecauseofthesurpassingworthofknowingChristJesusmyLord,forwhosesakeIhavelostallthings.Iconsiderthemgarbage,thatImaygainChristandbefoundinhim,nothavingarighteousnessofmyownthatcomesfromthelaw,butthatwhichisthroughfaithinChrist–therighteousnessthatcomesfromGodonthebasisoffaith.

Paul’s present

•   Paul’s balance sheet.

•   Completely redefined by ‘gaining Christ’.

Philippians 3:10-11 NIV

IwanttoknowChrist–yes,toknowthepowerofhisresurrec7onandpar7cipa7oninhissufferings,becominglikehiminhisdeath,andso,somehow,aOainingtotheresurrec7onfromthedead.

Paul’s overriding desire

•   To know Jesus in power and in suffering.

•   To know Jesus on the mountain tops and in

the valleys of life.

Philippians 3:12-14 NIV

NotthatIhavealreadyobtainedallthis,orhavealreadyarrivedatmygoal,butIpressontotakeholdofthatforwhichChristJesustookholdofme.Brothersandsisters,Idonotconsidermyselfyettohavetakenholdofit.ButonethingIdo:ForgeRngwhatisbehindandstrainingtowardwhatisahead,IpressontowardthegoaltowintheprizeforwhichGodhascalledmeheavenwardinChristJesus.

Paul’s future

•   I press on …

•   ‘to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus

took hold of me.’

Paul’s future did not lie in the past. His future was in Christ.

Our future does not lie in the past. Our future lies in Christ.

We are not trying to become who we were.

Our future lies in Christ.

We Press On