THE SPIRITUAL LIFE- DETERMINED PROGRESS
June 25, 2000 PM
Sermon Outline
Phil 3:12-14
INTRO: I wonderif many people who become unfaithful do so because of the lack of growth and change they see in themselves. It seems to be that there is a lot of emphasis these days on an almost magical and exhilarating change in ones feelings and person at the point of baptism ... and a corresponding lack of emphasis upon what real spiritual growth is. Too, there is a bit of a tendency to let up after serious years of spiritual activity ... as if to say, Ive done mine. Let someone else have a turn. The three verses we have read give sharp, unmistakable contradiction to both ideas! These verses show us The Spiritual Life: A Determined Progress.
I. A DIVINE DISSATISFACTION (3:12)
A. Paul was not satisfied that he had arrived
1. had just mentioned hope of resurrection he knew he wanted to hear Lords Well done ...
2. is not questioning assurance of salvation (2 cor 5:17)
3. but he recognized there is more growing to do!
4. folks, this is a humbling discovery -- if he was dissatisfied with his progress, are we not challenged to wonder about our own?
B. Paul was not satisfied hed accomplished Gods purpose
1. that for which also I am apprehended of Christ
2. several things come immediately to mind here
a. purpose of preaching gospel to Gentiles (Acts 20:24)
b. purpose of living ideal of Christ (Rom 8:29)
c. the whole purpose of conversion ... to give purpose, direction to his life with a final goal to obtain
3. I wonder when one is through, finished ... looking at Paul and looking at myself , I know I. am not
4. a divine dissatisfaction impels us onward to ...
II. A PLAN OF DETERMINED ACTION (3:13)
A. Honesty with self I count not ...
1. I dont know exactly what points in his life concerned him -- I know there were some (1 Cor 9:27)
2. well not grow, well not change, well not progress until we are to be honest with self (2 Cor 10:12)
B. Singleness of mind this one thing ...
1. great purposes can be halted when we become divided in mind
(Jas 1:8)
2. how many are the things in life which divert us and our attention from our purpose in Christ (Lk 8:14)
3. somehow in all of the experiences of his life, Paul was managing to keep his purpose sharply defined and that purpose as his set course of life
C. Not affected by the past forgetting ...
1. there was his past as persecutor, sinner ... people can become so immersed in guilt and so unable to accept Gods forgiveness that they grind to a halt in spiritual progress
2. there was his past to which he could have looked very longingly
(Lk 9:62)
3. there was his past as a great evangelist resting on laurels
4. point: past is past must no longer influence us
D. Utmost of effort -- reaching forth ...
1. the reaching is a word which says one is putting everything he has into the task, pursuit, enterprise
2. spiritual progress is impossible with half-heartedness
3. yet, this word probably indicts many, many Christians a half hearted, part-time pursuit
4. how devoted are we to growing spiritually? to spiritual maturity? to our purpose in Christ?
E. Challenge of the future those ... which are before
1. what concerns God is our use of the present and our resolve for the future
2. it amazes me that Paul - in prison, in peril for his life - is still thinking of and committed to usefulness, great service in the things that are before
3.. we cannot change the past but we have a great deal to do with the present and future
III. A DISTINCTIVE MOTIVE (3:14)
A. The prize at the end of our calling
B. Everything looked toward that goal
1. and only way to that goal is determined progress
2. in the word press I sense an urgency, an excitement about each day and hour of life ... and the wise use of it
CLOSE: When do we quit? When is the race over? Rev 14:13 answers. Up to that time there is a mission a work for us to do.
Cecil A. Hutson
25 June 2000