Brothers, 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,Brothers, I don’t regard myself as yet having taken hold, but one thing I do: forgetting the things which are behind and stretching forward to the things which are before,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,Brethren, I count not myself yet to have laid hold: but one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before,
5 sermons cite this verse
… nothing. I wonder what your it is today. And I want to give you a verse before we sit down out of Philippians chapter three, verses 12 through 14. This is what Paul has to say about it. Say it. it just isn't the trash it is also the trophies because Paul said man I've got a lot of things that I've been running after the goal of my life was to be noticed to be a person of fame he lists his inheritance and his accomplishments and that used to be it and then he had such a profound encounter with Christ it changed I wonder how God wants to upgrade your it today I wonder the it of putting in your pocket is the thing you've been motivated by I wonder if somebody else's praise who might not even be watching is the it you're working for and Jesus is over here saying I'm it I'm all you need I'm all you need if you just run towards me but you gotta forget it Paul says this not that I've obtained all of this or have already arrived at my goals but I press on to take hold for that which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 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 in, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ …
… She was not distracted. Paul had this same singular aim, this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth to those things that are before. David as well had this clear singular direction. He said, one thing I have desired of the Lord and that will I seek. Do you have purpose? Are you living in a rhythm of purpose? Or do you walk around every day saying, I don't really know what I'm supposed to be doing. I have no idea what I'm called to do or what I was put on this earth for. If the devil can't destroy you, he'll distract you. If he can't destroy you, he'll distract you. Why? Because you're no longer a threat. Sure, you're going to heaven. Sure, you come to church, but you're distracted by all these other things. You're not living in your purpose, which means that you can't be a threat to the enemy or to the kingdom of darkness. The second you stop becoming distracted and awaken to your purpose, you're a threat to the enemy. …
… trying to get where you think you need to be or trying to get to what you think you wanted. Paul said, I want to know Christ. I'm clear about the outcome. I want to draw closer to him. If I have to suffer to get to know him, I would rather suffer and know him than succeed and forget him. I would rather go through something hard and have him than to be far from him and everybody else think my life is wonderful. I would rather have Christ. I would rather have him. I don't want to miss him on the way to it. It's so important that you understand whatever you're going through in your life, that God hears your cries. What do we mean when we say that? Well, let me break it down for you. I can't exactly explain this to you, but when I describe it, the Holy Spirit will help you to know what I'm talking about. Sometimes God answers your prayer by putting something in your path that looks like what you prayed for. That happens. …
… HAVOC OF THE CHURCH, BUT I AM WHAT I AM BY THE GRACE OF GOD. HE WAS ABLE TO LET GO. HE SAID IN PHILIPPIANS 3 VERSE 13, BRETHREN, I COUNT NOT MYSELF TO HAVE APPREHENDED, BUT THIS ONE THING I DO FOR GETTING THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE BEHIND AND REACHING FORTH UNTO THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE PRESENT, I PRESS TOWARD THE MARK FOR THE PRIZE." HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO LET GO OF THE PAST? YOU SAY, WHAT A FOOL I WAS, WHAT A FOOL I WAS. WHY DON'T YOU START SAYING, WHAT A FOOL I AM FOR SAYING, WHAT A FOOL I WAS? LEARN THIS, YOU CAN FAIL AND NOT be a failure. The perfectionist can't let go of the past. Let me ask you this. Do you resent criticism or do you learn from it? Well, if you really want to make a perfectionist angry, criticize him or her. Now, he deeply resents criticism because it only affirms and confirms his most painful thought, that I am not perfect. …
… into a burning focus and had got proper priorities. and the apostle Paul said in Philippians chapter 3 and verse 13, I count not myself to have apprehended, but this one thing I do, one thing, one thing I do, for getting those things which are behind and reaching forth to those things which are before, I press toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Now Paul had just, Paul had learned a proper priority. That is that Jesus Christ is number one. The secret of true success in any realm, are you listening? The secret of true success in any realm is to bring your life into a burning focus. Jesus Christ said, no man can serve two masters. The apostle James said, a double-minded man is unstable in all of his ways. To be successful, you've got to narrow your interest. In your life, someone or something is going to be number one. The Bible says, Jesus says, Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. …