“Run to Win”

Sermon Series: LIGHT THE TORCH

(Philippians 3:12-17)

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.

ATHLETIC ANALOGIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

1 Corinthians 9:26 – I do not fight like a boxer beating the air…

Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV) – For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood…

Galatians 5:7 – You were running a good race…

One day, you will be __________________ for how you _________ the Christian race.

5 ESSENTIALS TO RUNNING WELL

1. __________________________

Verse 12a and 13a-- Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, … I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.

Describe the faith of Paul:

            Matt DeHaan – “Self-satisfaction is the death of progress.”

1. __________________________

Verse 13 -- …But one thing I do…

Other times the phrase “one thing” is used in Scripture:

Luke 18:22

Luke 10:42

John 9:25

______________ become _______________ because they concentrate on _________ thing.

E. Stanley Jones – “Your capacity to say ‘no” will determine your capacity to say ‘yes’ to greater things.”

1. _____________________

Verse 13 – Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.

______________________ not _______________________ determines _________________________.

1. _______________________

Verse 14 – I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Yesterday’s ______________________ doesn’t win the race _______________.

1. ___________________________

Verse 17 – Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters…

________________ do better with other ________________.