Text:
Philippians 3:9-14:
9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ,
the righteousness which is of God by faith:
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable
unto his death;
11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for
which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and
reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Theme:
Going To The Next Level
Introduction:
- The Epistle to the Philippians was written by Paul during the two years when he was “in bonds” in Rome, probably early in the year A.D. 62 or in the end of 61. The church at Philippi, of Macedonia, was the first-fruits of European Christianity.
- Therefore, Paul was close to the church in Philippi, as he frequently writes, and the church in Philippi was close to him.
- Although a typically poor community, the church at Philippi alone of all the churches helped him by their contributions, which he gratefully acknowledges.
- The least giving the most
- The fewest giving the greatest
- There’s always the faithful few!
- Paul wrote this letter to the Philippian church as a point of encouragement to a well-established congregation.
- Walking the path of Truth and Righteousness can be a toilsome journey and leave you weak.
- We need the Word of God to revive us!!
- Paul gives in this pericope of scripture his testimony of aspirations, goals, and intentions that drive his walk as a believer in Jesus, the Christ…
- To be FOUND I HIM (Verse 9)
- To KNOW HIM (Verse 10)
- To ATTAIN THE RESURRECTION (Verse 11)
- To FOLLOW AFTER (Verse 12)
- To FORGET WHAT IS BEHIND (Verse 13)
- Then when find the topic of this study…
- To PRESS TOWARD THE MARK FOR THE PRIZE OF THE HIGH CALLING (Verse 14)
- However, we are going to “go deeper” as a good friend of mine, Pastor Barney Jackson, would say. We will meditate on…
- Going To The Next Level
Body:
- There are three key terms in verse 14 that have frequented the sermon outlines of preachers for YEARS!!!!
- PRESS
- The Word of God teaches us that we must PRESS…exert force against opposing forces
- So, being a believer is WORK
- So, being a believer has expected OPPOSITION
- So, being a believer is for those who are STRONG and not for the weak of faint of heart
- But this is not all that is found in the rich Word from God!
- The Word of God teaches us that we must PRESS…exert force against opposing forces
- MARK
- The Word of God teaches that He has a “mark” or DESTINY for us…where we are headed!
- There is a DESTINY that God intends for us
- There is a DESTINY that we have been prepared and designed for
- There is a DESTINY that awaits our arrival
- But this is not all that is found in the rich Word from God!
- The Word of God teaches that He has a “mark” or DESTINY for us…where we are headed!
- CALLING
- The Word of God teaches that He has a CALLING…what we are to do!
- There is a CALLING that God gives to get started
- There is a CALLING try to avoid but can’t
- There is a CALLING that is to help God’s people
- But this is not all that is found in the rich Word from God!
- The Word of God teaches that He has a CALLING…what we are to do!
- However, in this study we will explore a word and Word that is conveyed in this scripture that is often overlooked ore misinterpreted or simply undervalued…HIGH
- PRESS
“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling….”
- 1 à There is MORE THAN ONE calling
- Here are some scenarios that can help you to realize and understand that there is MORETHAN ONE calling on your life!
- Have you found that God has led you to different callings in your life
- Have you realized that God has employed you to multiple activities at one time
- Have you noticed that God leads people to you for more than one reason
- When there seems to be MORE THAN ONE calling in our lives, it means that there is a HIGH CALLING not realized yet!
- Where we are looking, it means we need to look HIGHER
- Where we are reaching, it means we need to reach HIGHER
- Where we are living, it means we need to live HIGHER
- Don’t stop working…just RISE ABOVE the details, minutia, little things…and live toward your HIGH CALLING
- Here are some scenarios that can help you to realize and understand that there is MORETHAN ONE calling on your life!
- 2 à There is ONE high calling
- It is HIGHER than any other calling
- It is STRONGER than any other calling
- It is ALL ENCOMPASSING
- Impacts ALL life and living and not just some
- We COVER and CONNECT all other callings
- It is ALWAYS PRESENT
- It DEFINES you and doesn’t just identify you
- We don’t have to know what the High Calling is in our life…we just need to know that there is one
- Knowing a High Calling exists is enough to help us to RISE ABOVE
- Knowing a High Calling exists is enough to help us to NTO GET DISTRACTED
- Knowing a High Calling exists is enough to help us to stay in the RIGHT DIRECTION
- We are instructed to “press TOWARD the high calling”
- We are NOT THERE
- We are NOT IN
- We are NOT UNDERSTANDING
- But we still PRESS TOWARD it!!!!
- 3 à Some callings are just MILESTONES on the way to the High Calling
- Just like people are sometimes for a SEASON and not for a REASON…Callings are the same
- There are times when God calls you to do something RIGHT NOW and not for a lifetime
- The unctioning in a certain calling can be for an appointed time and reason
- What do we mean by MILESTONES?
- One calling may be a PREREQUISITE from another calling
- Gotta act on this one before the next one will surface
- One calling may be PREPARATION from another calling
- Doing this one call will get you ready for one about to begin
- One calling may be a SUBSTANTIATION for another calling
- This calling is needed to give substance to this other calling
- Once again…all is just WORKING TOGETHER for the…High Calling!!!
- One calling may be a PREREQUISITE from another calling
- 4 à Just cause it’s a GIFT doesn’t mean it’s a calling
- A key point of distraction and misunderstanding for the believer is the fact that we often mistake our GIFTS for our CALLING
- God gives us GIFTS to serve as resources in performing our CALLING…but they are not necessarily calling!
- Just because you are gifted to sing does not necessarily mean that you are called to sing
- Just because you are gifted to speak publically does not necessarily mean that you are called to preach
- Just because you are gifted to count money does not necessarily mean that you are called to run the church (smile)
- NOTE: This misunderstanding between a GIFT and a CALLING is couched in our misunderstanding between a GIFT and APTITUDE/ABILITY!
- God gives us GIFTS to serve as resources in performing our CALLING…but they are not necessarily calling!
- Let’s make it all plain…
- Just because you CAN do something does not mean that you are GIFTED to do something
- Just because you are GIFTED to do something does not mean that you are CALLED to do something
- Just because you are CALLED to do something does not mean that it is ultimately your HIGH CALLING
- We must PRESS TOWARD THE HIGH CALLING in our lives!!!
- A key point of distraction and misunderstanding for the believer is the fact that we often mistake our GIFTS for our CALLING
- Just like people are sometimes for a SEASON and not for a REASON…Callings are the same
- We are instructed to “press TOWARD the high calling”
- It is HIGHER than any other calling
Conclusion:
- PRESSING TOWARD the HIGH CALLING is critical because…
- It CONNECTS the other experiences of life
- Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his”
- It gives us a REASON to press our way through life
- We have a reason to PRESS
- We have a reason to STRUGGLE
- We have a reason to TOLERATE
- We have a reason to SACRIFICE
- It PICKS ME UP…
- above CONFUSION
- above PAIN
- above DISTRACTIONS
- above MY OWN FLESH
- Thank you, Father, for my High Calling!!!
- When I am at my LOWEST, You point to my High Calling!
- When I FALL, You point to my High Calling!
- When others PUT ME DOWN, You point to my High Calling!
- When I PUT MYSELF DOWN, You point to my High Calling!
- Thank you, Father, for my High Calling!!!
- It CONNECTS the other experiences of life
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