I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.I press on toward the goal for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
6 sermons cite this verse
… and pressing forward to the things that are before I press toward the mark for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus but also a happy person will be a peacemaker Look at verse nine. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Now this is not talking really about people that march for peace or work for peace. So that is a good thing if it's done right. But having said that, this verse is really talking about a person who is spreading the gospel of peace. Seeking to introduce people to the prince of peace. The gospel is called the good news of peace through Jesus Christ in Acts 10.36. In Romans 10.15 it says, how beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things. But I have to warn you, when you preach the gospel of peace, some people are going to revolt. Sometimes people need to get mad at you before you can get them happy with you. …
… but I press on. I press on toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. This is the Apostle Paul. This is a man who prayed for someone to be raised from the dead. This is a man who prayed for people to be healed. This is a man who literally went to heaven and returned to earth. This is a man who wrote epistles or letters that we call the Bible today. And this man said, I have so far to go. I'm not there yet. And the moment you cross your, fold your arms, everyone's with their arms so close, not me. And you say, I pretty much know this. I've heard this. You're not in a good state. When the Bible says we should become like a child, it doesn't mean that we should be childish. It means we should be childlike. And it means we should always be growing, always learning. And sometimes it's relearning things that we forgot. …
… 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 …
… Paul said, I didn't forget about Paul, forgetting what is behind me and reaching toward what's ahead. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Paul wrote about the prize from a prison, which goes to show me God's got me right where he wants me, and I'm still going to get there. Well, y'all used up all your shout, or you will be shouting about this Red Sea in front of you. You would be shouting about your problem if you knew the nature of your God. It's that he leads us to impossible situations. He leads us to the deep end so that we might learn to depend on him. He leads us to the water because he knows we're not ready for war. So God sees what you're fighting against. God sees what you're up against. God sees you're outnumbered for it. God sees you're too young to do it. God sees you're too old to carry it. …
… through Christ who strengthens me Paul Paul was not about to let anybody turn him around. Paul says, I ain't perfect, but I'm pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. And I'm not backing down because I know in whom I believe, and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I've entrusted to him that day. It was not easy. In fact, it was impossible to turn Paul around. He had been through too much. He had seen too much, and he had experienced a personal experience with Jesus Christ. So, Paul was a man who had passion, but Paul was not only a man of passion, Paul was also a man of keen intellect. Apparently, he was the recipient of a grade A education. Paul not only had the best of education, but he also bragged about being able to sit at the feet of the famed Rabbi Gamaliel. Not only had a Hebrew education, but he was also educated in the ways of the dominant culture, in the ways of the Greeks. And so Paul was an intelligent man. And let me just pause and parenthetically and point out the fact that I'm glad somebody like Paul was a man of intelligence because it means that you don't have to leave your head in the vestibule in order to have worship. …
… 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. That means where the king is supreme. People say, don't put all your eggs in one basket. Friend, put all your eggs in one basket. And watch that basket. Listen, Jesus is L-O-R-D, Lord. Concentration is the secret of power in any realm. …