Prize Worth Fighting For – Michele Wrigley
The Three Things
1. Know Christ
2. Share in Christ’s suffering
3. Be like Christ in His death
Philippians 3:12-21 (NIV)
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.
Some of Paul’s Sports Analogies
Eph 6:12 Fight the spiritual battle like a wrestling match
1 Cor 9:24-27 Train well in order to win the prize.
1 Tim 4:7-10 Exercising our spiritual muscles leads to growth in character
2 Tim 4:7-8 Fight the good fight and persevere to the end.
Heb 12:1 Throw off everything that hinders and run the race with perseverance.
Gal 5:7 Keep running a good race, don’t be sidetracked
Phil 3:12-14 Focus all your energy on winning the prize
1. Training for the Race
2. Running the Race
3. Winning the Prize
Training for the Race
Point 1. Spiritual maturity includes:
- humility
- an understanding that perfection is out of our reach
- an attitude that we will never stop pursuing it
Philippians 3:6a (NIV)
As for zeal, persecuting the church.
Philippians 3:12-14 (NIV)
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
DIOKO = Persecuting = Press on
Philippians 3:12-14 (NIV)
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I PRESS ON to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and STRAINING TOWARD what is ahead, I PRESS ON toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Point 2. We are called to “PRESS ON” through hard things through the power of the Holy Spirit when we encounter opposition.
Things to PRESS ON THROUGH
Rejection/Betrayal
Abandonment
Hard Times
Temptation to: Self-Pity, Jealousy, Offense, Unforgiveness,
Self-Centeredness
Discouragement
Disappointment
Desire for Revenge
Depression
Fear of Man
Fear of Death
Trauma/Abuse
Running the Race
Context of Sanctification
Philippians 3:16 (NIV) Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
Romans 4:12 Living a life of faith
Galatians 5:22-25 Fruit of the Spirit
Galatians 6:15-16 Living a life that God Himself has recreated
Ephesians 5:27 (NIV)
“To present her to Himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.”
Point 3. “Pressing On” leads to spiritual strength and maturity.
Philippians 13b: (NIV)
But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.
Winning the Prize
Philippians 1:6 (NIV)
Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:10 (NIV)
So that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.
Philippians 3:21 (NIV)
By the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.
Lyrics from “Prize Worth Fighting For”
by Jamie Kimmett
When every day is just another struggle
And every choice is an act of war
Gotta pray, gotta press on
To the prize worth fighting for
But You help me see again
This world is not the end
Jesus, my sweetest friend
You're worth the suffering
Training for the Race
- Humility
- Spiritual Maturity
- Press On!
Running the Race
- Don’t Look Back
- Follow Wise Examples, Walk in Community
- Power of Holy Spirit to overcome hard things
- “To Live is Christ”
Winning the Prize
- The three things!
- Citizens of Heaven
- Day of the Lord
- “To Die is Gain”
PRESS ON!
1. Spiritual maturity includes:
- humility
- an understanding that perfection is out of our reach
- an attitude that we will never stop pursuing it.
2. We are called to “Press On” through hard things through the power of the Holy Spirit when we encounter opposition.
3. “Pressing On” leads to spiritual strength and maturity.