Pursuing the Prize

1
Pursuing the Prize

• Philippians 312-16

2
Pursuing the Prize

• Paul used 1st Century images to illustrate
  specific truths about the Christian life
• Military images (Eph. 610-17)
• Agricultural images (1 Cor. 36-9)
• Architectural images (Eph. 220-22)
• Athletic images (Phil 312-16)

3
Pursuing the Prize

• Paul gloried in Christ without fleshly confidence
  (Phil. 31-3)
• Paul listed seven things that had been a profit
  to him (Phil. 34-6)
• Paul counted these fleshly things loss for what
  he could gain in Christ (Phil. 37-11)
• Paul wanted all to know that his change was the
  start, not the finish, of a new life in Christ
  (Phil. 312-16)

4
Pursuing the Prize

• Four principles essential to the pursuit
• Personal dissatisfaction
• Steadfast determination
• Focused devotion
• Consistent discipline

5
Pursuing the Prize

• Personal dissatisfaction (312a, 13a)
• Paul reveals, that after 30 years, he had not
  crossed the finish line, but was still in pursuit
  of it Not that I have already
• Paul chose not to be self-satisfied and content
  to remain where he was spiritually
• Pursuing the prize requires that you accept the
  need to continue to grow and mature (Heb. 61 2
  Pet. 15 318)

6
Pursuing the Prize

• Steadfast determination (312b, 14a)
• Paul reveals the importance of an energetic
  running style I press on
• Paul chose to run with all his might in the
  pursuit
• Pursuing the prize requires that you put forth
  all your effort (Lk. 1324 Rom. 1211
  2 Tim. 215)

7
Pursuing the Prize

• Focused devotion (313)
• Paul reveals his deliberate concentration on one
  thing the goal the prize the high
  (upward) calling
• Paul chose to forget what was behind and
  stretch forward to what was before
• Pursuing the prize requires that you focus on
  what is ahead, not behind (Col. 218 31-2 Heb.
  1114-16 121-2)

8
Pursuing the Prize

• Consistent discipline (315-16)
• Paul reveals the importance following the same
  standard same rule let us walk
• Paul chose to follow the same rules
• Pursuing the prize requires that you keeping
  running by the same rules (truths) that have
  brought you thus far in your pursuit (1 Cor.
  925-26 2 Tim. 25 46-8)

9
Pursuing the Prize

• Four principles essential to the pursuit
• Dissatisfaction moving forward or standing
  still?
• Determination working hard or lazy?
• Devotion focused or distracted?
• Discipline following the same standard or
  changing rules of the race?