we press on | neil bester | 03 july 2016
TRANSCRIPT
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