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Pressing On · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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back together to a reading in Philippians chapter 3. We're going to look at verse 12 to verse 16.
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Just to get it in context we can read again at verse 10.
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That I may know him and the power of his resurrection and may share his sufferings
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becoming like him in his death that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the
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dead. Not that I have already obtained this or I'm already perfect but I press on to make it my own
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because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers I do not consider that I have made it my own
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but one thing I do forgetting what is behind and straining forward to what lies ahead.
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I press on towards the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
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Let those of us who are mature think this way and if in anything you think otherwise God will
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reveal that also to you. Only let us hold through to what we have attained.
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As we look at these verses what we find is Paul in many ways examining himself and looking at his life
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and where he is, what he had, what it was worth and what he needed in his life.
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As you read from the beginning of the chapter you see he's going through what he once was.
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We've looked at this in the past, the start of chapter 3.
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How he thought he was on the right track, how he thought he was doing everything right
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to please God in his own eyes and yet all the time he was on the wrong path entirely,
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heading in completely the wrong way.
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But what changed for him?
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What great change happened in his life?
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Well he tells us in these verses that we've read in verse 12.
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Because Christ Jesus has made me his own.
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Another version of that word translation would be Christ Jesus has taken hold of me.
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So this is the great change that has happened in his life.
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Everything that he saw as righteousness by himself, he now sees as just filthy rags, rubbish,
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compared to the righteousness that there is in Christ through faith.
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And so this is what has changed in him.
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And as we look at ourselves, as we think of ourselves, here we are, the last Wednesday meeting of this year.
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As we think looking back over the year that's gone and God willing looking ahead to the year that's about to come our way.
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It's often a time when we reflect and look on ourselves.
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And wonder just where we are.
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And any examination of ourselves probably always leave us, maybe should always leave us,
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feeling that there's always room for improvement.
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We are not perfect.
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None of us.
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And that's what Paul says here in verse 12.
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Not that I have already obtained this, or I'm already perfect.
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He doesn't see him as the perfect Christian in any way, shape or form.
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But what he says is, I press on.
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I press on.
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And so that's what we are to do as well.
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We as a people are to be a people who recognise we're not perfect,
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recognise how often we fall short in so many ways,
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but to take heart through these words too and to press on.
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So whether we're looking back as to what has gone,
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looking at where we are in the present situation,
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or whether we're looking ahead, God willing, to what lies ahead of us,
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that we take this from Paul himself to us.
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We press on.
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We may often say this time of year,
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well, things are going to be different.
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I'm going to change my life.
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Starting the 1st of January,
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I'm going to start doing things differently.
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We can all have our great plans,
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but how many of them last?
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January is often the time of year when most people join a gym.
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They think we're going to start the year in a new way.
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Join a gym, get healthy, get fit.
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By the end of January,
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50% of those who have joined a gym
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will have cancelled their membership.
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They don't keep going.
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They don't press on.
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They can't get into it.
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They almost can't be bothered with it.
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It's too much like hard work.
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But here, Paul is speaking about the Christian
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in this sense of our physical strength as well.
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He's talking about this in the way of being an athlete.
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Pressing on towards the goal.
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Pressing on towards the prize that is before us.
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Like someone who is running a race.
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And when we think of our lives
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and the things that we would long to change,
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what is it that we would want to change most about ourselves?
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If you look at Paul and the way his life has changed,
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what is it that he is pressing on towards?
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To be more like Christ.
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And to recognise in all of his shortcomings,
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he's not obtained it,
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he's not already perfect,
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but this is what he is pressing on towards.
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And for ourselves,
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as we examine our lives just now,
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as we, God willing,
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go into a new season in our lives,
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our attitude could be one of so easily
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just to be like those who join a gym,
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but less than a month later,
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they've given up.
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We could have that kind of attitude as well.
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But instead,
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we are to have this attitude of Paul.
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And to live in this race.
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This race that the Lord has set out before each of us.
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Going it individually,
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going it collectively,
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but running this race,
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pressing on towards the goal.
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There are several places in the New Testament
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where the Christian life is looked at in this way.
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Very often,
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it's Paul himself who's looking at it,
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whether it's in Corinthians,
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Timothy,
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Hebrews.
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You find this illustration of
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running the race with patience,
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pressing on,
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straining towards the goal.
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And so here,
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he is again in Philippians,
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writing to them here,
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this letter of joy as it's described.
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He's writing to them
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to press on,
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to strain towards the goal,
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the joy that there is in Christ,
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and seeking to be more like him.
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And in so doing,
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he gives us some principles,
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if you like,
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for spiritual growth.
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things that we can put into our practice
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in our own lives.
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Using the athletic analogy,
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he's going to speak about
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how to get in shape spiritually,
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how to keep ourselves fit
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in the Christian life,
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and pressing on towards that goal,
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and pressing on in the race set before us.
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And the first principle is this,
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be in the race.
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Be in the race.
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If you think of the analogy
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of a race,
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a sporting event,
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there's a slogan
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that's often spoken of
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and true for every competitor.
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You have to be in it
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to win it.
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And here,
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Paul is reminding the church
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at Philippi
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of the race that they are to be in.
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Not to get sidelined
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into something else,
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but to be in the race
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that the Lord has set before them.
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Because even if you just look
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at Paul's own life,
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what race was Paul in?
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He wasn't just running this race
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to find forgiveness
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for his past.
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He wasn't keeping running this race
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just because of all
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that he had done wrong
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in the past.
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He wasn't running this race
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to make himself look good
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towards others,
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to please others.
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He is running this race
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for a real purpose.
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The purpose that we read of
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in verse 10 and 11.
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That I may know him
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and the power of his resurrection
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and may share his sufferings
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becoming like him in his death
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that by any means possible
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I may attain the resurrection
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from the dead.
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This is the race that he is in.
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Striving to be more Christ-like.
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How do you know
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if you are growing in grace?
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How do you look at yourself
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and think,
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maybe many of us probably
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don't think it,
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but how would you recognise
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if you are growing in grace?
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Well, it's maybe easier to answer
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to recognise
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how you're not growing in grace.
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If you think you've arrived,
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if you think you've made it,
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if you think you have everything
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you need now
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and you will cease to grow
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in the Lord.
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You're not pressing on
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towards the goal
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to be more like him.
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If you ever come to that point
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where you think that's it,
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well, you're no longer
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growing in grace.
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And so by the same token,
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when you're willing to admit
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that you need to humble yourself
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before God,
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when you're willing to admit
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that there are things
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that could be better in your life,
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areas that you need to grow,
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that is a sign
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that you're still pressing on.
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Pressing on towards the goal,
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just as Paul is saying here.
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Not that I've already obtained it,
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not that I'm already perfect,
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but I press on.
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I press on.
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I keep going.
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I recognise the race
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that the Lord has set before me
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and I will run it with him.
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I will run this race with patience,
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with my eyes fixed on Jesus.
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We are to be in this race,
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not to become complacent
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or forgetful
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or to think
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I cannot get any better,
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I cannot improve.
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There's always areas
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where we can be better.
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There's a car bumper sticker.
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I've not seen it
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in any cars here,
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but I've seen it advertised.
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And it says this,
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Christians aren't perfect,
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just forgiven.
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Now there's elements of truth in that,
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of course there is.
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But there's a danger in it as well.
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You have that in your car
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and you're going flying past
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other motorists
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or cutting in on them
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and they're seeing that on your car.
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What kind of Christian is that?
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And this is some kind of excuse
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that you can maybe give.
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Well, Christians aren't perfect,
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but we're forgiven.
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That's not the way it is at all.
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That would be the danger
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of just becoming complacent
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in our lives
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and thinking,
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well, I'm not perfect,
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but at least I'm forgiven.
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And the danger is
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we just do as we please,
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knowing,
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well, the Lord's going
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to forgive me anyway.
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Instead of being convicted in sin,
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we just carry on in sin.
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And that's the danger
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that Paul is addressing
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here in Philippi
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and in other churches
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throughout his day as well.
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He was addressing this danger
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that people just start
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slipping back
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into their old ways.
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They forget that the race
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that the Lord has set before them
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and they just go and live
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for themselves.
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So instead of placing on
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to be more Christ-like,
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we can just say,
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well, I'm not going to be
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perfect anyway.
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So let's just leave it
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at that.
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But by having that kind of attitude,
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we're forgetting
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the very reason
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why Christ came.
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We're now in playing
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what the Lord Jesus
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has done for us.
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Because as he says here,
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I press on to make it my own,
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because Christ Jesus
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has made me his own.
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Having this mind,
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he recognizes
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what Christ has done
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for him.
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And so,
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he's encouraging us
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to be a people
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like this as well.
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There are a lot of people
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trying to run the race
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for themselves
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instead of running
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for the Lord.
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And just look at
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how Paul thought
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he was doing
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everything right.
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Verse 4 to verse 6
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of this chapter
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which we read,
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he says,
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I have every reason
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for confidence
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in the flesh also.
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If anyone else thinks
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he has reason
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for confidence,
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I have more.
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Circumcised on the
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eighth day
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of the people of Israel.
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And so he goes on.
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He had all of these
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things going for him.
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All of these things
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that he thought,
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this is me running
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the race.
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He was sincere.
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He was dedicated.
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He was zealous
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in so many ways.
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But there was
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one major problem.
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He was not running
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for Christ.
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He was not running
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looking to him.
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He was running
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for himself.
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To be seen
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by others
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and the greatness
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of all of these
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things,
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of the people of Israel,
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of the tribe of Benjamin,
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a Hebrew of Hebrews,
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all of these things
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but not running
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for Christ.
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But now he says,
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I press on
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to make it my own.
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Why?
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Because Christ Jesus
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has made me
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his own.
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And we have to just
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understand
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what these words
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mean.
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Have you ever been
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arrested?
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Well, if you are
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a Christian,
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you have been.
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Not in the sense
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of the police
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laying their hands
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on you
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and putting you
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in cuffs.
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But that's what
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Paul describes
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here of what
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Christ Jesus
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has done
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for him.
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Christ Jesus
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has taken
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hold
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of me
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is another
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translation.
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Others say
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he has
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apprehended
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me.
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It's a very
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word
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for being
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arrested.
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Taken hold
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of
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by Christ.
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That's what's
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changed
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in Paul's
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life.
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This is what
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has brought
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him into the
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right race.
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This is what
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is keeping
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him going.
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This is what
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is making
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him focus
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on what
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lies ahead.
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Pressing on
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towards
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this goal.
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It is because
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Christ Jesus
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has arrested
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me.
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Too many
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Christians today
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are resisting
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arrest.
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Resisting
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Christ taking
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hold of them
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because of
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what it means.
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Because of
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all it entails.
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Christ Jesus
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being all
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in all
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for us.
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But Paul
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is reminding
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us here
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to press
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on
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towards
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that goal.
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Not
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resisting
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but allowing
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Christ to
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transform us
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fully.
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This means
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as we are
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arrested by
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Christ we are
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no longer
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our own.
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We belong
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to Christ.
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He has
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bought us
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with a
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price.
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And so
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our aim
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is to
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please
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him.
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So
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the first
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thing is
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to be
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in the
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right race.
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To be
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running
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for Christ.
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Taking
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hold of
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by him
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and going
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forward
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for him.
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The second
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principle we
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see here is
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don't be
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distracted.
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he says
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there in
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verse 13
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brothers I
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do not
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consider that
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I have
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made it
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my own
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but one
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thing I
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do.
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Forgetting
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what lies
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behind and
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straining
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forward to
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what lies
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ahead I
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press on
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towards the
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goal for
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the prize of
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the upward
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call of
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God in
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Christ Jesus.
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Paul could
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so easily
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have been
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distracted in
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this race.
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He could
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so easily
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have felt
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that he
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didn't even
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deserve to
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be in the
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race.
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And there's
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two ways
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that he
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describes the
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distractions
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that he
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has here.
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He speaks
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about the
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past.
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Forgetting
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what lies
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behind.
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We have
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all failed
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in the
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past.
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We've all
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fallen short
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of God's
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goals in
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our lives.
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But Paul
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looking at
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his own
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life he
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sees himself
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as failing
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in so many
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ways in
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his past.
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But what
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he doesn't
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let happen
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is that
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past to
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distract
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him.
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He says
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I'm not
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going to
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be constantly
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affected by
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it.
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I'm not
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going to
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be constantly
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held back
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or held
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down by
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my past.
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What he
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says is
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the pressing
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on is
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not being
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distracted by
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that but
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going forward
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forgetting
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what is
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behind.
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Not in
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the sense
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where it's
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all completely
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gone.
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He knows
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it's there.
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But he
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doesn't allow
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it to take
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his focus
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away.
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Just like
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an athlete
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in a race.
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If an
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athlete in a
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race is
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distracted by
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what's behind,
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if there's
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other athletes
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and the
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athlete's
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wondering how
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close are
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they behind
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me, if
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they start
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to look
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behind,
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they're going
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to fall
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away.
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They're going
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to lose
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their focus.
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And so
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Paul is
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saying here
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you fix
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your eyes
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forward.
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You realise
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what's behind
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you but
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you press
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on.
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And the
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same is
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true for
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ourselves as
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well.
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We are to
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press forward.
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Yes we know
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we all have
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things in our
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past.
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Maybe even
19:29
in this past
19:30
year we look
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at things and
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we regret and
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we wish we
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hadn't done or
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we wish we
19:34
had done.
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But we
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don't let
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that hold
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us back.
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We don't
19:39
let that make
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us feel
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we're unworthy
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to go on
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in this race.
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But we
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press forward.
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We press
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on to
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know Christ
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Jesus and
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to serve
19:50
him more.
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It's like
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someone once
19:54
said if you
19:54
always drive
19:55
the car
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looking in
19:57
the rear view
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mirror you're
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always going
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to end up in
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the ditch at
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some point.
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You've got to
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look at what
20:03
lies ahead.
20:05
sometimes we
20:06
have to just
20:07
let the past
20:08
go.
20:10
Not in the
20:10
sense of
20:11
forgetting it
20:12
completely but
20:13
not letting it
20:14
hold us
20:15
back.
20:17
There's another
20:18
way he warns
20:19
of not being
20:20
distracted either.
20:23
It's not to
20:23
think that we've
20:25
made it.
20:26
Brothers I do
20:27
not consider
20:28
that I've made
20:29
it my own.
20:30
He hasn't done
20:31
it for himself.
20:32
He could say
20:33
maybe he's
20:34
been a
20:35
Christian for
20:35
a long time.
20:37
20, 25,
20:39
30 years a
20:40
Christian.
20:40
Maybe even
20:41
more you could
20:42
think well
20:42
that's it.
20:44
I've made it.
20:46
I've given
20:46
my part.
20:47
I've done
20:48
my bit.
20:50
It's time to
20:51
maybe just sit
20:51
back and take
20:53
it easy for a
20:54
while.
20:55
But he says
20:56
no.
20:58
He's pressing
20:59
on.
20:59
He says
21:01
press on.
21:03
Keep going.
21:05
Don't think
21:06
you've arrived.
21:07
Just press
21:08
on with your
21:08
eyes fixed
21:09
on Jesus.
21:12
What he
21:13
says then is
21:14
crucial in
21:15
this as well.
21:18
He says
21:19
I press on
21:20
towards the
21:21
goal.
21:22
The one
21:22
thing I do.
21:24
One thing
21:25
I do.
21:26
Forgetting
21:26
what lies
21:27
behind and
21:28
straining
21:29
towards what
21:29
lies ahead.
21:30
I press
21:31
on.
21:32
The one
21:33
thing I
21:34
do.
21:36
Again
21:36
it's like
21:37
Paul has
21:37
this athlete
21:38
in mind
21:39
where their
21:40
focus is on
21:41
the race.
21:42
Nothing
21:42
else.
21:44
This one
21:44
thing.
21:49
Paul was
21:50
of this
21:51
mind
21:52
himself.
21:53
For me
21:54
to live
21:55
is Christ.
21:57
That's what
21:57
he says
21:58
says earlier
21:58
in
21:59
Philippines.
22:00
For me
22:01
to live
22:02
is Christ.
22:03
He has
22:03
this mind
22:04
in him.
22:05
This one
22:06
thing I
22:07
do.
22:09
One of the
22:09
problems of
22:10
the modern
22:10
Christian life
22:11
indeed all
22:12
life just
22:13
now is
22:13
there's so
22:14
many things
22:15
for us.
22:16
No one
22:16
can say
22:16
this one
22:18
thing I
22:18
do.
22:19
Because we're
22:19
all trying
22:20
to do so
22:21
much.
22:22
We're pulled
22:22
in different
22:23
directions all
22:24
the time.
22:26
But Paul
22:27
is saying
22:27
refocus.
22:30
Refocus.
22:32
And this
22:32
one thing
22:33
is what is
22:34
needful.
22:35
To press
22:36
on towards
22:38
this prize.
22:40
This high
22:40
goal.
22:41
This prize
22:42
of the upward
22:43
call of God
22:44
in Christ
22:45
Jesus.
22:45
So whatever
22:46
we do,
22:47
we do as
22:48
to the
22:48
Lord.
22:51
As it says,
22:52
Jesus taught
22:53
himself,
22:53
seek first
22:54
the kingdom
22:55
of God.
22:58
Seek first
22:58
this one
22:59
thing.
23:02
Have this
23:02
mind,
23:03
he says.
23:04
Have this
23:05
aim in
23:06
your life.
23:07
Press on
23:08
towards
23:09
this mark.
23:12
You could
23:13
say,
23:14
we don't
23:14
do things
23:15
to please
23:16
others.
23:18
Don't do
23:19
things to
23:20
please
23:21
myself.
23:21
I seek
23:23
to please
23:25
God.
23:27
And Paul
23:28
himself could
23:29
say later
23:30
on in his
23:31
life, as he
23:31
was an
23:32
older man,
23:33
as he came
23:34
to reach
23:35
this goal
23:36
in his
23:36
life, he
23:36
says in
23:37
2 Timothy 4
23:38
verse 6
23:39
and 7,
23:40
for I
23:41
am already
23:41
being poured
23:42
out as
23:42
a drink
23:43
offering and
23:43
the time
23:44
of my
23:45
departure
23:45
has come.
23:47
I have
23:48
fought the
23:49
good fight.
23:50
I have
23:50
finished the
23:51
race.
23:53
I have
23:53
kept the
23:54
faith.
23:56
And that
23:56
is a
23:57
wonderful
23:57
testimony
23:58
for any
23:59
Christian
23:59
to have.
24:01
I have
24:02
fought the
24:03
good fight.
24:04
I have
24:04
finished the
24:05
race.
24:06
I have
24:07
kept the
24:08
faith.
24:09
faith.
24:09
That is
24:10
what Paul
24:10
is encouraging
24:11
us to
24:11
hear in
24:13
these words
24:13
to the
24:14
Philippians.
24:15
That we
24:15
press on
24:16
towards the
24:18
goal.
24:19
Fight the
24:19
good fight.
24:21
Keep the
24:22
faith.
24:24
The third
24:24
and final
24:25
thing is,
24:26
the third
24:26
principle,
24:27
have the
24:28
right attitude.
24:32
Let those
24:33
of us in
24:33
verse 15
24:34
who are
24:34
mature think
24:35
this way.
24:36
And if
24:37
anything you
24:37
think otherwise,
24:38
God will
24:39
reveal that
24:39
also to
24:40
you.
24:41
Only let
24:41
us hold
24:42
true to
24:43
what we
24:44
have
24:44
attained.
24:48
When we
24:49
think of
24:49
athletes and
24:51
sports people,
24:52
we so often
24:53
think of the
24:54
difference that
24:54
the right
24:55
attitude makes.
24:57
The attitude
24:58
makes a
24:58
difference between
24:59
defeat and
25:00
victory,
25:01
success and
25:02
failure.
25:03
So often
25:04
you see maybe
25:05
an athlete or
25:05
even teams
25:06
who lack
25:07
the same
25:08
talent as
25:09
others,
25:10
but because
25:11
of the
25:11
right mindset,
25:13
because of
25:13
the right
25:14
attitude going
25:15
into it,
25:16
they come
25:16
out on top.
25:18
Attitude is
25:19
crucial in
25:20
sport and
25:21
Paul is saying
25:22
it's crucial in
25:23
our lives too.
25:25
In the life of
25:26
the Christian,
25:27
our attitude
25:27
is crucial.
25:29
He speaks
25:30
here so often
25:31
in this letter
25:32
of having
25:33
this right
25:34
mind.
25:37
Verse 15,
25:38
let those of
25:38
us who are
25:39
mature think
25:40
this way.
25:42
Have this
25:43
mind, he's
25:44
saying there.
25:44
He said it
25:45
already in
25:45
this letter,
25:47
for example,
25:48
chapter 2,
25:48
verse 2,
25:49
complete my
25:50
joy by being
25:51
of the same
25:52
mind.
25:53
Chapter 2,
25:53
verse 5,
25:54
have this
25:55
mind among
25:56
yourselves,
25:56
which is
25:57
yours in
25:58
Christ Jesus.
26:00
The word
26:01
for mind
26:03
is used
26:04
ten times
26:05
in
26:06
Philippines.
26:08
Nearly
26:08
half as
26:09
much as
26:09
it's used
26:10
in the
26:10
New Testament,
26:11
it's used
26:12
in this
26:12
letter,
26:13
the letter
26:14
of joy.
26:15
And so
26:15
you see
26:16
here,
26:17
linked to
26:17
joy is
26:18
having this
26:18
mind,
26:19
this attitude.
26:20
The two
26:21
go hand
26:22
in hand.
26:23
And so
26:24
Paul,
26:24
as he's
26:25
summing up
26:26
here,
26:26
would be
26:26
saying,
26:27
have this
26:27
right attitude,
26:29
have this
26:30
mind in
26:30
you,
26:31
pressing on
26:32
towards the
26:33
goal.
26:34
Not seeing
26:34
this as
26:35
something that's
26:36
just,
26:37
oh,
26:37
I've just
26:37
got to
26:38
try and
26:38
do it.
26:39
It's not
26:39
what I
26:40
really want
26:40
to be
26:41
doing it.
26:42
It's to
26:42
have this
26:43
right attitude,
26:45
the joy
26:45
of the
26:46
Lord,
26:47
knowing that
26:48
we are
26:48
doing it
26:49
for him,
26:50
knowing the
26:51
privilege that
26:52
is ours,
26:52
as was said
26:53
in the
26:53
prayers this
26:54
evening as
26:55
we sang in
26:55
Psalm 122,
26:58
I
26:59
joyed when
27:00
to the
27:00
house of
27:01
God
27:01
go up
27:02
they said
27:03
to me.
27:03
I went
27:04
there with
27:04
joy.
27:05
I went
27:05
there to
27:06
be with
27:06
God's
27:07
people.
27:08
I went
27:08
there to
27:08
be with
27:09
a praying
27:09
people,
27:10
a fellow
27:11
people,
27:11
brothers and
27:12
sisters in
27:14
Christ.
27:15
This
27:15
right
27:15
attitude.
27:17
So
27:18
whatever we're
27:18
doing,
27:18
if we're
27:19
serving the
27:19
Lord,
27:20
it's doing
27:21
it for
27:21
him.
27:23
Not doing
27:24
something because
27:25
the ministers
27:26
asked.
27:26
not doing
27:28
something to
27:28
try and
27:29
please others,
27:30
but doing
27:31
it as a
27:31
sense of
27:32
joy for
27:33
the Lord.
27:35
Let those
27:36
of us who
27:36
mature think
27:37
this way.
27:38
And if in
27:39
anything you
27:39
think otherwise,
27:40
God will
27:41
reveal that
27:41
also to
27:42
you.
27:43
He is
27:43
saying,
27:44
press on
27:45
in this
27:46
way.
27:47
Go
27:47
forward in
27:48
this strength,
27:49
in this
27:50
right attitude
27:51
of joy to
27:53
the Lord.
27:55
It was a
27:55
story told
27:56
about when
27:58
Sir
27:58
Christopher
27:59
Wren was
27:59
constructing
28:01
cathedrals in
28:03
London.
28:04
Not sure how
28:05
many of the
28:05
churches in
28:06
London he
28:07
built, but
28:07
there are
28:07
enormous amount
28:09
of them were
28:09
designed and
28:10
built by
28:10
Sir
28:11
Christopher
28:11
Wren.
28:13
And there
28:14
was people
28:14
working on
28:15
these cathedrals,
28:17
these churches,
28:18
when they were
28:18
being built.
28:20
And it was
28:20
something that
28:20
was being
28:21
spoken about
28:22
quite a lot
28:23
in the
28:23
time.
28:24
And a
28:27
journalist
28:27
thought that
28:28
he would
28:29
go and
28:29
interview some
28:30
of the
28:31
workers that
28:32
were working
28:32
on the
28:32
buildings.
28:34
And he
28:35
asked three
28:35
different people
28:36
who were
28:37
working,
28:38
what is it
28:39
that you're
28:39
doing?
28:41
The first
28:42
person he
28:42
replied to
28:43
him asked
28:44
the question,
28:45
what are you
28:45
doing?
28:46
He said,
28:46
I'm cutting
28:47
stone for
28:48
ten shillings
28:49
a day.
28:49
second person
28:52
he asked
28:53
the same
28:53
question to,
28:54
what are
28:54
you doing?
28:56
I'm putting
28:57
in ten
28:57
hours a
28:58
day on
28:59
this job.
29:01
The third
29:02
person he
29:03
asked,
29:04
what are
29:04
you doing?
29:06
He said,
29:06
I'm helping
29:07
Christopher
29:07
Wren construct
29:08
one of
29:09
London's
29:10
greatest
29:11
cathedrals.
29:13
You see
29:13
the difference
29:14
in the
29:14
attitude.
29:16
One saw
29:17
it as
29:18
working for
29:19
money.
29:20
One saw
29:21
it as
29:21
just a
29:22
hard day's
29:22
labour,
29:23
ten hours,
29:24
but one
29:25
had a
29:25
greater
29:26
vision,
29:26
a better
29:27
vision,
29:28
a vision
29:28
that encouraged
29:29
going on
29:30
and gave
29:31
them an
29:31
attitude
29:31
that was
29:32
right for
29:33
going forward.
29:34
I'm
29:34
helping
29:35
Sir
29:35
Christopher
29:35
Wren
29:36
construct
29:37
one of
29:37
London's
29:38
greatest
29:38
cathedrals.
29:40
So what's
29:41
our attitude
29:42
and service
29:43
for the
29:44
Lord?
29:46
Are we
29:46
thinking to
29:47
ourselves
29:47
just putting
29:49
in a
29:49
ten-hour
29:50
day here?
29:51
Are we
29:52
thinking to
29:52
ourselves
29:52
I'm just
29:53
putting my
29:53
money into
29:54
this and
29:55
nothing else?
29:57
Or do we
29:58
see it as
29:59
being involved
29:59
in the
30:00
kingdom of
30:00
God?
30:01
I am
30:02
serving the
30:03
Lord with
30:04
all my
30:05
heart that
30:06
his kingdom
30:07
may be built
30:08
and come in
30:09
power here.
30:11
Attitude
30:12
makes such
30:13
a difference.
30:15
So Paul
30:17
is saying
30:17
to us
30:18
here in
30:19
all of
30:19
these
30:20
principles
30:20
be in
30:23
the right
30:23
race.
30:25
See
30:25
yourselves
30:26
as running
30:27
for Christ.
30:30
Don't be
30:31
distracted
30:32
as you
30:33
go on.
30:34
Don't let
30:34
the past
30:35
or the
30:35
present
30:36
hold you
30:37
back but
30:38
press on
30:38
towards the
30:40
goal.
30:42
And then
30:42
finally just
30:43
see who
30:44
you are
30:45
doing it
30:45
for.
30:47
See
30:48
that this
30:49
is all
30:49
for Christ.
30:51
We are
30:52
part of
30:53
his
30:53
kingdom.
30:54
We are
30:55
part of
30:55
his
30:56
church.
30:57
And we
30:57
have that
30:58
promise
30:58
that his
30:59
church
31:00
will be
31:01
built.
31:02
So let's
31:03
not be
31:03
discouraged.
31:05
But let's
31:05
go forward
31:06
pressing on
31:07
encouraged
31:07
with the
31:09
right attitude
31:09
with the
31:10
right mindset
31:11
that God
31:12
can and
31:13
will
31:13
do great
31:14
things for
31:15
us as
31:16
we look
31:16
to him
31:17
and trust
31:18
in him.
31:20
May God
31:21
bless his
31:22
word to
31:23
us.
31:25
We are
31:26
going to
31:27
sing in
31:27
conclusion to
31:28
God's
31:28
praise in
31:29
Psalm
31:30
119.
31:34
It's
31:34
the
31:35
Sing
31:35
Psalms
31:35
version,
31:36
page 159,
31:38
verse 33.
31:39
Psalm
31:40
119 at
31:41
verse 33.
31:42
Teach me to
31:43
follow your
31:44
decrees,
31:44
and I will
31:45
keep them
31:46
to the
31:46
end.
31:47
Give
31:47
insight,
31:48
and I'll
31:48
keep your
31:49
law,
31:50
with all
31:50
my heart
31:51
to it
31:52
attend.
31:52
We'll sing
31:53
this section,
31:54
verse 33
31:54
to 40,
31:56
to God's
31:56
praise.
31:57
teach me to
32:06
follow your
32:09
decrees,
32:12
then I
32:14
will keep
32:17
them to
32:19
the end.
32:22
give in
32:24
give in
32:25
sight,
32:26
and I'll
32:29
keep
32:30
your
32:31
law,
32:32
with all
32:35
my
32:36
heart
32:37
to
32:38
it
32:40
attain.
32:42
lead me
32:45
in
32:47
your
32:48
commandment
32:52
path,
32:54
for
32:55
then,
32:57
O Lord,
32:59
delight
33:00
I
33:02
find,
33:04
word high,
33:05
hypersive,
33:05
lift me
33:20
toward my
33:21
eyes,
33:22
regardless of
33:25
O turn my eyes from worthless things, give life according to your word.
33:48
To meet your servant, keep your pledge, so that you may be feared, O Lord.
34:09
Remove from me the shame, my friend.
34:21
Your laws excel in a bright red.
34:32
O how I long for your dequease.
34:43
Preserve me in your righteousness.
34:52
Amen.
34:55
Now may grace, mercy and peace from God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit rest upon and abide with you all now and forevermore.
35:05
Amen.
35:05
Amen.
35:22
Amen.
35:23
Amen.
35:25
Amen.
35:26
Amen.