Marty Sloan – Living the Dream

Quest Series Part 4 (Final) – Who is chasing who?

3 31 10 HT PM

Philippians 3:12-20 NLT

Tonight we close out our series called the Quest – our search for the lost soul of Christianity. Last week I sowed this verse to you as a seed for us to talk about tonight – I also gave you five key words in this passage ( Phil 3:12-20)  to think about and mediate upon.  Here are those keywords – lets review, then we will come back and break down each one and this passage.

Keys to keeping up the chase:

1. Press

2. Past

3. Prize

4. Progress

5. Pattern

Philippians 3:12 NLT

I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.

Philippians 3:13

No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,

Philippians 3:14

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 3:15

Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you.

Philippians 3:16

But we must hold on to the progress we have already made.

Philippians 3:17

Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example.

Philippians 3:18

For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ.

Philippians 3:19

They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth.

Philippians 3:20

But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.

Lets breakdown these five key words in this passage and create some keys for keeping up the chase–

1. Press

I asked the question – who is chasing who?  Are we after God or is He after us? Notice in this passage the phrase Paul uses  - vs. 12 “But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.” “

Possessed in this translation is “apprehended” in the original – meaning (Strong’s #2638)

• to lay hold of

• to lay hold of so as to make one’s own, to obtain, attain to, to make one’s own, to take into one’s self, appropriate

• to seize upon, take possession of

• in a good sense, of Christ by his holy power and influence laying hold of the human mind and will, in order to prompt and govern it

• to detect, catch

• to lay hold of with the mind

• to understand, perceive, learn, comprehend

You will have to push through some things in order to obtain Christ- Christ did not obtain us the easy way and we will not obtain Him the easy way. This idea of pressing brings us to a word called work – some folks are simply allergic to work.

1 John 4:19 NKJV

We love Him because He first loved us.

When we understand the value of Christ it increases our passion for the pursuit of Him.  When we really begin to understand that He is actually after us what does that do to our value?

2. Past

Let it be said that possibly the single biggest challenge you will have in your Quest for Christ is how to file your past. Your life before Christ and even your life issues after Christ with the fallen world around us and the brokenness inside of us.

2 Corinthians 5:14 NKJV

For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died;

2 Corinthians 5:15

and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

2 Corinthians 5:16

Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Check out the book of Romans in this context..

Romans 5:1 NKJV

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Romans 5:2

through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Romans 5:3

And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;

Romans 5:4

and perseverance, character; and character, hope.

Romans 5:5

Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Romans 5:6

For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

Romans 5:7

For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.

Romans 5:8

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:9

Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

Romans 5:10

For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

3. Prize

Question: Do you live with an outcome in mind?

Question : Do you do things to move you toward that outcome?

2 Timothy 4:7 NKJV

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

2 Timothy 4:8

Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

Hebrews 11:6 NKJV

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Hebrews 11:7

By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

Hebrews 11:8

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

Hebrews 11:9

By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise;

Hebrews 11:10

for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Statement – the Christian life is NOT a sedentary lifestyle!  There is an expectation of pursuit!

2 Timothy 2:5 NKJV

And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.

2 Timothy 2:6

The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops.

2 Timothy 2:7

Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.

• The athlete expects a prize because he competed

• The farmer expects a harvest because he planted

• You expect ____________ because you did ________

4. Progress

Question: Are you growing?

Hebrews 5:12 NKJV

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.

Hebrews 5:13

For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.

Hebrews 5:14

But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

• Need to develop a student to teacher mindset (Show a visible example)

• Taught then teach

• Freed to free

• Strengthened to strengthen

5. Pattern

1 Corinthians 11:1 NKJV

Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.

Thoughts:

• Everybody follows somebody

• We can choose who we follow

• We are responsible for who we follow

• We should judge fruit to pick who we follow

• We should seek to follow those more advanced than we are.

Final thought – never stop chasing Christ – He will never stop chasing you!