PHILIPPIANS 3:15-21 (16 OF 17)
Scripture: PHILIPPIANS 3:15-21
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Philippians 3:15-21 (16 of 17)
Dr. Ernest L. Easley
Now if there is one thing we have learned from this 3rd chapter of Philippians .. it is that God had Paul's attention! His focus was upward and we know that because Paul realized he hadn't arrived spiritually.
Verse 12, "Not that I have already attained or am already perfected." I've got some exciting new for you tonight: You haven't arrived spiritually! God has some more things in store for you! God has some more ministry opportunities in store for you! God has some witnessing opportunities right around the corner for you!
I don't know anything that stunts our spiritual growth and service than thinking this is it! Oh .. don't fall into the Devil's trap in getting satisfied with your spiritual life!
I'll tell you something else about Paul: He refused to live in the past!! Verse 12b, "but I press on." Verse 13b, "but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,"
Living your life looking back over your shoulder will rob you of joy! When your attention is on God .. you're pressing forward!! Yes .. you can learn from the past .. but live in the present!!
That's what Paul did when his attention was on God! And something else .. He reached toward the future! Say .. are you facing forward? Are you looking for opportunities for ministry and witnessing? Life is exciting when you're facing forward!!
Well .. chapter 3 concludes with Paul writing about our Walking ... our Weeping .. and our Waiting.
(1) OUR WALKING AS CHRISTIANS.
Vv.15-17 ... v.15, "as many as are mature, have this mind .." What mind? Well .. verse 15 begins with the word "therefore." You cut put it this way, "In light of what I just got through saying, let us, as many as are mature, have this mind."
Now what did he just get through saying? Well .. he just finished saying that he had not arrived yet. But that he was forgetting what was behin ...
Dr. Ernest L. Easley
Now if there is one thing we have learned from this 3rd chapter of Philippians .. it is that God had Paul's attention! His focus was upward and we know that because Paul realized he hadn't arrived spiritually.
Verse 12, "Not that I have already attained or am already perfected." I've got some exciting new for you tonight: You haven't arrived spiritually! God has some more things in store for you! God has some more ministry opportunities in store for you! God has some witnessing opportunities right around the corner for you!
I don't know anything that stunts our spiritual growth and service than thinking this is it! Oh .. don't fall into the Devil's trap in getting satisfied with your spiritual life!
I'll tell you something else about Paul: He refused to live in the past!! Verse 12b, "but I press on." Verse 13b, "but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,"
Living your life looking back over your shoulder will rob you of joy! When your attention is on God .. you're pressing forward!! Yes .. you can learn from the past .. but live in the present!!
That's what Paul did when his attention was on God! And something else .. He reached toward the future! Say .. are you facing forward? Are you looking for opportunities for ministry and witnessing? Life is exciting when you're facing forward!!
Well .. chapter 3 concludes with Paul writing about our Walking ... our Weeping .. and our Waiting.
(1) OUR WALKING AS CHRISTIANS.
Vv.15-17 ... v.15, "as many as are mature, have this mind .." What mind? Well .. verse 15 begins with the word "therefore." You cut put it this way, "In light of what I just got through saying, let us, as many as are mature, have this mind."
Now what did he just get through saying? Well .. he just finished saying that he had not arrived yet. But that he was forgetting what was behin ...
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