Past Reading Text

Philippians 3:10–11 (NASB95)
10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;
11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Reading Text

*Philippians 3:12–19 (NASB95) *

12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,
14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
15 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you;
16 however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.
17 Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.
18 For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ,
19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.

Vs 12

*Philippians 3:12 (NASB95) *

12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.

Title : Christ has overtaken My Heart, Mind, Soul

• Here he is very clear in statement. He makes it clear that he has not obtain the resurrection from the dead or become perfect [Mature].
• Key as great as Paul is / was. He wants it to be known that I’m in the same place as you.
• One of his famous words is he is Pressing On

Press : to pursue (activity) v. — to carry out or participate in an activity.
 
He says I want to take hold that

1 Timothy 6:12 (NASB95)
12 Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

1 Timothy 6:19 (NASB95)

19 storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.
with him ending this vs by stating that Christ has a hold on him

Acts 9:5–6 (NASB95)

5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,
6 but get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do.”

Romans 8:39 (NASB95)

39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Vs 13

*Philippians 3:13 (NASB95) *
13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,

Vs 13 is very interesting !!!

• In the latter Vs Paul states and declares that He has not obtained perfection / maturity.
• Key word he uses is that he is Pressing On.
• Here in this VS Paul states that he has not as of yet laid hold of it.

With that said there is something that he can do and that’s “Forgetting what has happened on the Past.”

• Paul here is making clear that he is not living in the Past.
• He is not living in the Past on his old Before Christ Past
• He is not living in the Past of his glory days as serving christ .
• He is making clear that living in the past can be a road block and can actively stop a person from moving forward in Christ .

Our response is to live in the moment . Jump for joy … but move on .

The writing here suggest that Paul is in a running position and he is laser focus on getting the prize . That is salvation.

As a person is in a running position its key that you don’t have any extra weight on you .

• In this case having extra weight in your mind. We know that Paul is not saying to deleted what happen in the past . Because he even talks about his Past .
• But don’t let your Past keep you from winning the Prize .
• If you hold on to all the souls you save and the good work you have done for the Lord you might think you have done enough and stop activity run the race to attain the prize .

Paul is trying to get us not to stop running this race

Luke 9:62 (NASB95)
62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

VS 14

Philippians 3:14 (NASB95) **
14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
 
Paul is very clear here . He is going to press on
**Press: to pursue (activity) v. — to carry out or participate in an activity.

His eyes are set on obtaining Salvation. He is letting the church know that this is what you need to be doing is setting your eyes on living with the Lord forever.
*Remember: he told us the Prize in phil 3.10-11 *

Prize

Synopsis

Something of value given to those competing in a race, which the Christian life is likened to. Though believers must accept discipline and training, a prize is reserved for everyone who is committed to Jesus Christ.

A prize is reserved for all believers

“The crown is the wreath given to the winner of a race. “

2 Timothy 4:7–8 (NASB95) — 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; 8 in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

James 1:12 (NASB95) — 12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

1 Peter 5:4 (NASB95) — 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

Requirements for winning the prize

Total dedication to God

Acts 20:24 (NASB95) — 24 “But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.

Philippians 3:7–8 (NASB95) — 7 But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,

Perseverance

*Philippians 3:14 (NASB95) *— 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 2:16 (NASB95) — 16 holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.

Hebrews 12:1 (NASB95) — 1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

Revelation 2:10 (NASB95) — 10 ‘Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Revelation 3:11 (NASB95) — 11 ‘I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown.
 

Keeping God’s rules

2 Timothy 2:5 (NASB95) — 5 Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules.

Self-discipline

1 Corinthians 9:25–27 (NASB95) — 25 Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; 27 but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.