🗣 SPEAKER: • BISHOP ANDRE BLAKE

📍 SUBJECT: • NOT COMFORTABLE AT THIS LEVEL 

📖 SCRIPTURE: • Philippians 3:12-16

💡 SUPER-IDEA: 

• ✟ For . 

🆚 SPOTLIGHT-VERSE: •Philippians 3:12

📋 SUMMARY-OUTLINE: 

How comfortable would you be if nothing changes in your life over the next year? Would you be okay just the way things are in your walk with God today?

• I don’t know about you but I wouldn’t be comfortable at all. 

I heard someone said, “change is inevitable but growth is optional”

If any Christian had ever reached a place where he could be satisfied with his spiritual progress, it was the Apostle Paul.  Yet, he remained unsatisfied and always reached for more – Phil. 3:12-14.

✦ Philippians is a letter written by Paul to a church in the Roman colony of philippi. It is Believed to be the first church planted in Europe. It was established by Paul and Timothy – Acts 15-16. 

Paul’s focus in writing is thanksgiving and encouragement with an attitude of joy.

📖 TAKE IN: In the context of this chapter Paul makes it very clear that, 

=•> Nothing is worth more than knowing Christ. – Philippians 3:4-7

************

In Philippians 3:12 – Paul acknowledges his imperfection.

In the second half of the verse, Philippians 3:12 Paul also made it clear that the level for which he aims is not based on a selfish ambition, it is based on the will of Christ for his life.

In order to Reaching the next level of God’s plans for you there’s one thing we need to do, if nothing else, like Paul, 

• We need to have a single minded focus 

“No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past ….,” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3:13‬ ‭NLT‬‬ https://bible.com/bible/116/php.3.13.NLT 

• Don’t miss the things GOD has planned for your future because you’re fixated on the things of your past.

The second part of Paul’s focus is as he said, “and looking forward to what lies ahead,” – ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3:13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In verse Philippians 3:14, Paul seems to summarize his focus strategy, “I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3:14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/116/php.3.14.NLT 

• Paul defined the prize for which he is striving by describing it as, “the heavenly prize” to which he has been called by God through Christ.

This calling according to Paul is, 

– “the upward calling of God in Christ Jesus” NKJV, 

– “the higher calling of God in Christ Jesus” KJV

Clearly the Christian calling is no ordinary calling, it’s Next Level Calling.

Paul urges us who believe and are spiritually mature to agree and think about these things this way and if there are any disagreements he trusts that God will bring clarity to us.

Philippians 3:15 Paul said, GOD will reveal the meaning and significance of what he was saying to the believer this truth also applies to us today.

In Philippians 3:16, Paul tells believers to hold to the progress you have already made and be United.

🚸 TAKEWAY: There are three action words at the heart of today’s m

1. Practice to ‘FORGET those things which are behind

• Philippians 3:13b

1. Purpose to ‘REACH forward to those things which are ahead

• Philippians 3:13c

1. Position to ‘PRESS toward the goal for the prize…’

• Philippians 3:14

************

• It is important to always recognize that we have not yet arrived. 

In Philippians 3:13 Paul says he does not consider himself to have attained perfection.

In 1 Corinthians 16:18, Paul indicated that he wasn’t not in any illusions about his achievement.

But Paul is focused on striving for perfection in God through Christ. 

For Paul this perfection means being made like Christ. The reason I know this is what he said a few verse later in Philippians 3:20-21

 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. NKJV

This is what the reality of the righteousness, resurrection and ultimate relationship Paul seeks for in Christ will look like for us.  – 1 John 3:2; Colossians 3:4

Christ has rescued us to restore His glory in us, 2 Thessalonians 2:13-15, 16-17

God has begun a work which he will complete, but in the meantime we must press on in faithfulness and perseverance in what he has asked to do here and now. Therefore the writer of Hebrews said in Hebrews 10:35-39

Paul seems to indicates that he understood that,

• Pride will prevent you from going to the Next Level.

So we are warned in Proverbs 16:18-19

James remind us in, James 4:6-8

6 But he (God) giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.

10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

Don’t forget that God wants you to,

1. Practice to ‘FORGET those things which are behind

• Philippians 3:13b (Intentional forget)

1. Forget the Good things • Why? 

=> The good can become a hindrance to the great. 

• Don’t settle for good when God plans for you to be great.

Some of Paul good things were mentioned in Philippians 3:4-7

1. Forget the bad things • 

=> Let’s take a look at a few bad things Paul had to forget which were grievous in his past from 1 Timothy 1:12-17.

12   And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, 13 although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14 And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. 16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. NKJV

⛛ What things from your past do you need to leave behind so that you can move forward or the Next Level in living for Christ?

(2) Purpose to ‘REACH forward to those things which are ahead

• Philippians 3:13c

God’s Mercy and Grace are what’s propelling Paul forward.

In 2 Timothy 2:3-5 Paul gives an imagery of the focus required to reach the THINGS ahead. (A soldiers commitment and concentration)

⛛ In what ways has God challenged you through this verse to begin to reach for the things ahead?

(3) Position to ‘PRESS toward the goal for the prize…’

• Philippians 3:14

The next imagery Paul gave us that gives us a sense of what’s required to possess this prize is found in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27.

These analogies that Paul used in the verses mentioned before, helps us to understand what it takes to reach for the mark, the best level in Christ. 

1. Determination – 2 Timothy 2:3
2. Disconnection – 2 Timothy 2:4
3. Doing it by the rules – 2 Timothy 2:5
4. Discipline –  1 Corinthians 9:24-27

⛛ What prize is Paul pressing for? 

If we go back to Philippians 3:8, I believe we will find the answer. 

The answer is a person, His name is Jesus.

It is Jesus’ righteousness that will be completely revealed in us and his glory filling us that Paul is looking forward to, as the prize. Here’s what Paul said in 2 Timothy 4:7-8,

John gives us a unique view of what crowning day will look like. Revelation 21:3-7

Clearly, what lies ahead of us is more amazing than what’s behind us. It’s what Peter speaks of in 2 Peter 1:1-4

⛛ What things from your past do you need to leave behind so that you can move forward or the Next Level in living for Christ?

⛛ In what ways has God challenged you through this verse to begin to reach for the things ahead?

Practice challenge to get you to the next level requires

1. Unlearn some old ways of thinking or behaving
2. Stretch yourself into a new area of increased effectiveness
3. Unmask a ungodly character trait in you that God wants to transform
4. Raise your sights beyond yourself to see what God plan for you