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A Sermon by Dr. Bob Griffin, Teaching Elder at Sovereign Grace Church
Philippians 3:12-14 “Not that I’ve already obtained all this, or have already met the goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I don’t consider myself to have taken hold of it yet, but one thing I do – Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I pursue toward the goal: to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
I. CONCERNING THE PAST: FORGET WHAT IS BEHIND
“Forgetting what is behind”
A. THE SINS OF THE PAST MUST BE FORGOTTEN
1. GOD FORGIVES SIN (also I John 1:9; Psalm 103:12; Micah 7:19)
2. EXAMPLES (also Hebrews 10:17)
B. THE SORROWS OF THE PAST MUST BE FORGOTTEN
1. GOD HEALS SORROWS
2. EXAMPLES
C. THE SCHEMES OF THE PAST MUST BE FORGOTTEN
1. GOD UNDERSTANDS OUR MINDS (also Acts 16:7)
2. EXAMPLES (also Psalm 103)
D. THE SUCCESSES OF THE PAST MUST BE FORGOTTEN
1. GOD UNDERSTANDS OUR HEAD MIGHT BE SWAYED
2. EXAMPLES
II. PRESENT: FOLLOW AFTER WHAT IS HERE TODAY
“I am pressing on . . I pursue”
A. RECOGNIZE WHAT IS IMPERFECT IN THIS LIFE
1. WE HAVE NOT ALREADY ATTAINED
2. WE ARE NOT PERFECT
B. RECOGNIZE WHAT IS IMPLIED IN THIS LIFE
1. THINK “I don’t Have it Made”
2. THINK “I’m not perfect, just forgiven”
3. THINK “I’m doing God’s work day by day”
III. FUTURE: REACH FORWARD TO WHAT IS AHEAD
“to take hold . . straining toward what is ahead”
A. COMPREHEND THE GOAL
1. SUGGESTED GOALS FOR EVERYONE
2. PERSONAL GOALS FOR THE CHRISTIAN (also Romans 8:29; I Jn 3:1-3; Rom 6:4; 8:29; Acts 9:15-16)
3. CHURCH GOALS
B. CONTINUNE TOWARD THE GOAL
1. RUNNING THE RACE
2. GOAL IS TO WIN