OceanSide church of Christ

 Previous Return to Sermons Next  Click to download Audio

SEEKING HIGHER GROUND IN 2021

Theme Verse:  Philippians 3:13-14

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    Each year, OceanSide has a theme.  Our theme for 2021 is:  “Seeking Higher Ground in 2021.”

1.      It is easy for a church to get stuck at a certain point.

2.      We have to remind ourselves and encourage ourselves to move forward and upward as we continue to live in this world.

 

B.      Today, we have two lessons that will center upon our theme for 2021.

 

C.     In this lesson, we want to examine our “Theme Verse” for the year, Philippians 3:13-14.

 

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, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

 

D.    In this lesson, we will look at three points from these two verses.  However, before we do, let’s consider the context.

1.      Paul warned the Philippians of false teachers (Phil. 3:2, 18-19)

 

Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the circumcision.

 

2.      These Judaizing teachers trusted in the flesh, that is, in their Jewish genealogy and practice of the law. 

a.      This type of confidence was no longer needed (Phil. 3:3).

b.      But, if Paul needed to, he could boast about the flesh (Phil. 3:4-6).

c.       Paul, however, had given all of those things up for Christ (Phil. 3:7-8).

 

But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

 

d.      Paul now had four things in mind:

1)      To be found in Christ, having the righteousness which is of God by faith (Phil. 3:9).

2)      To know the power of Christ’s resurrection (Phil. 3:10)

3)      To know the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings (Phil. 3:10)

4)      To attain unto the resurrection of the dead (Phil 3:11).

e.       Paul had not attained the last one.  In order to obtain it, he had to do what he writes about in Philippians 3:13-14, our “Theme Verse” for the year.

 

I.                   DISREGARD THE PAST (Phil. 3:13a).

 

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended:  but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind…

 

A.    There were many things that were in Paul’s past.

1.      The Law of Moses

2.      Paul’s circumcision

3.      Paul’s genealogy

4.      His practice of the Law

5.      The benefits he received within the Law

6.      His defense of the law

 

B.      All of these things he had to forget.

1.      Strong (1950):  to lose out of mind, neglect

2.      Thayer:  to no longer care for

3.      Vine:  to forget or neglect

 

C.     The things of Paul’s past were:

1.      No longer important

2.      No longer beneficial

3.      No longer required his attention

 

D.    This could have been a very difficult thing for Paul to do.

1.      He was born into Judaism.

2.      Judaism was at one time a religion approved of God.

3.      Paul had invested years of his life in the study of the Law under Gamaliel.

4.      It was the religion of his parents.

5.      It was a religion that had a deeply honored history.

6.      It was a religion of a multitude of traditions.

7.      It was a religion that involved much pride by those involved in it.

 

E.      All of this, Paul had to forget, or, no longer care for.

1.      He had to be convinced in his mind about the truth of the gospel.

2.      He had to discipline himself not to practice the Old Law.

3.      He had to withstand all the opposition that came from giving up the traditions of his fathers.

 

II.                DETERMINATION GOING FORWARD (Phil. 3:13b-14a)

 

…and reaching forth unto those which are before, I press toward the mark…

 

A.    Notice the words:  “forth,” “which are before,” and “toward.” 

1.      The past was behind the apostle.

2.      His only concern is what lay ahead of him.

 

B.      Paul had a determination about him as he went forward.  This is seen in two words.

1.      Reaching forth

a.      Strong (1901):  to stretch forward

b.      Thayer:  to stretch out forward, to stretch out to

c.       The imagery is that of a sprinter reaching just as hard as he can trying to cross the finish line.  Some of them reach so hard that they fall as they cross the line.

2.      I press toward

a.      Strong (1377):  to pursue

b.      Thayer:  to run swiftly, of one who runs swiftly in a race to reach the goal

c.       100 meters is 328 feet.  It is just two feet under 110 yard.  That is longer than a football field.  The world’s record in running the 100 meter dash is:  On August 16, 2009, a Jamaican named Usian Bolt set the world record at 9.58 seconds.  Question:  Do you think he was “pressing” toward the mark?

 

C.     Paul understood that the Christians life was more than just love and grace and mercy. 

1.      These things were his motivators (I Cor. 15:10).

2.      However, Paul knew that Christianity involved work, labor, or, “swift running” in order to be acceptable to the Master.

3.      The writer of Hebrews spoke similar words in Hebrews 12:1.

 

Wherefore seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.

 

4.      When Paul came to the end of his life, he continues this imagery.  He says:  “I have finished my course” (II Tim. 4:7).

 

III.             DESTINATION INVOLVING A PRIZE

 

…I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

 

A.    Paul knew a prize awaits all who lawfully and diligently run the Christian race. 

 

B.      With Judaism behind him, he ran swiftly in order to reach his heavenly abode.

 

C.     Paul’s mind is focused on what lies ahead.

1.      “…to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21).

2.      “…and to be with Christ which is far better” (Phil. 1:23).

3.      “…that I may rejoice in the day of Christ…” (Phil. 2:16).

4.      “…I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead” (Phil. 3:11).

5.      “For our conversation is in heaven, from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil. 3:20).

6.      “Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body…” (Phil. 3:21).

 

D.    Paul notes that his prize is associated with “the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

1.      There is only one calling of God to lost humanity (II Thess. 2:14).

2.      It is a “high” calling.  It is over every other calling that has or will ever be made.

3.      This calling involves being “in Christ Jesus.”

a.      Only those in Christ can reap the benefits of the calling.

b.      To be “in Christ” one must be baptized into His death (Rom. 6:3-4; Gal. 3:26-27).

 

IV.             DIVIDENDS FOR 2021

 

A.    We, too, must forget the past.

1.      The past is gone.

2.      The past cannot come back.

3.      The past is no longer beneficial.

4.      The past for many of us was lived outside of Christ.

 

B.      We must develop the determination to move forward.

1.      2020 was a difficult year. 

a.      Many put their Christian service on a backburner as they tried to deal with CV19.

b.      Others have grown discouraged because so many things, including the church, are not the same.

2.      We have to resolve to look to the future.

3.      This will involve effort on our part.

a.      “Strive to enter in at the strait gate…” (Luke 13:24).

b.      “…be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord…” (I Cor. 15:58).

c.       “Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest…” (Heb. 4:11).

d.      “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure…” (II Pet. 1:10).

 

C.     Each of us needs to keep our destination constantly and vividly in mind.

1.      There is a prize that awaits each of us if we will run and complete our Christian race.

2.      I Corinthians 9:24

 

Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize?  So run, that ye may obtain.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    One of the wonderful things about life, and, especially about our Christ life is that we have the ability to do two things.

1.      First, we have the ability to start over.  We can fall backward.  We can mess up.  And, we always have the ability to begin again.

2.      Second, we have the ability to move forward and upward in all that we do.  We do not have to remain stagnate.  We do not have to remain unproductive.  We have the ability to push on and bring forth fruit in many areas of our lives.

 

B.      The key to success for OceanSide in 2021 is COMMITMENT.  Will we commit to our theme?  Will we “seek higher ground” in 2021?