Pressing Toward the Goal with Determination and Dependence

Paul’s life was one of determination and dependence as he pressed on. Jesus is coming soon. We must renew our determination and dependence on the Lord as we encourage one another and press on toward the goal together. Let’s look together at Paul’s living example of pressing onward toward the prize and how we should join in imitating him.

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Transcript

Howard Green:
Hello and welcome to Concern of the Times. This is Howard Green. It is so great to be with you today and we have a really important topic we're going to discuss and thinking about it and this race that we're running as Christians, as people try to make it to the end, to the finish line brings me to this subject at this still early point in the new year and it is going toward the goal with determination and dependence. You see friends, you've probably heard the verse a lot Philippians 3:14 which Paul, of course, tells us that he presses on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God and Jesus Christ. And most of us know that verse. It's a well-known verse and man, we've seen that on coffee mugs and bumper stickers and t-shirts and you get the point. But what does this actually mean? And what does that mean for you and me in our daily lives as we press towards the mark, towards the goal as some translations say, towards the high call of God in Jesus. We're going to discuss that today.

As we get started, I want you to think about the place and time in history that we're at right now when there seems to be a growing divide between the people that are truly pursuing the Lord, true remnant Christians, and those who are Christians seemingly in name only because you understand dear friend, this life is not getting any easier. The Christian life is certainly not getting easier. We could vouch for that, right? But as we get closer to the Lord's return, the heat is only going to be turned up. The trials and tribulations that we face are only going to increase regardless of what you hear from smiley preachers or name it claim it type folks. The reality is we are in a spiritual battle, we're in a real-world battle for our souls and for other people's souls as we approach the return of Jesus. And the fact is Satan knows his time is short, so my encouragement to you is that having done all we can do all that we can do to stand is continue standing. Amen.

So as we go forward in talking about going toward the goal with determination and dependence, we're going to focus on Paul here for a few minutes and let's go. Paul had one overarching goal in his life and it was really to glorify Jesus and to become like him and to completely know him. How fitting it was that this dear apostle would write one of the most well-known verses in the New Testament. That's Philippians 3:14. Paul made it clear that he hadn't attained it yet, but he was pressing toward the goal of the prize of the upward call of God and Jesus. And Paul's life was one of determination and dependence as he pressed on. So let's look together at Paul's living example of pressing onward toward the prize and how we should join in imitating him. And the reason I write that is because in Philippians 7:13, Paul says, brothers, join me in imitating me and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. So it's a beautiful, it's a beautiful admonition from Paul. And yeah, we're going to do that because we know that we need one another, we need to support one another and encourage one another as we get closer toward the end of the age. And as it gets harder, frankly, to live with the Lord in this day and age.

You know, if anyone could have confidence in the flesh, it was definitely Paul. Just a few verses earlier, earlier in Philippians three, Paul spoke about his roots, his pedigree, his education and his zeal that he now counted as rubbish so that he might gain Christ and be found in him. In our day, we might hear fellow believers and even some ministers boast of confidence in the flesh instead through self-promotion, through position or title, outwardly successful churches and namesake or being named after ministries that focus on the preacher instead of the chief shepherd that's Jesus. The fact that Paul counted worldly recognition as rubbish should serve as a loving warning and a loving reminder to all of us who want to gain Christ and be found in him. Amen? But let's continue. Paul endured much for Jesus. Still, his daily pressing on wasn't a result of fleshly resolve but rather a complete dependence on God. An utter dependence on God that's a common, it's actually a common trait that I've observed in almost every on-fire Christian I've known. And I bet you found this to be true too. I mean, the Christians that I know that are really on fire for the Lord, there's a deep abiding dependence on Him. Amen? Let give you an example. Paul writes it like this, I know how to be brought low and how to abound in any circumstance. I've learned the secret of facing plenty of hunger abundance and need and then he says I can do all things because I'm such a great guy, right? No, I can do all things because I've got this great education or I've got a lot of money or a great standing in the church. No Paul says I can do all things through him through Christ who strengthens me. Amen But let's continue in utter dependence on God a common trait among these on fire Christians and and friend hopefully it's in you and hopefully it's in me. The word that comes to mind is yielding. It's a yielding of our desires, our ambitions and plans to the will of God. Yielding to and emptying ourselves before God and trusting in Him completely will help us stand and press toward the mark. Amen.

And of course, Paul says in Galatians 2:20, have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me and the life I now live in the flesh. I live, get this, by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. Friends, we owe Jesus everything as we press on it, press in and press on and press forward toward the mark. We owe our Lord Jesus everything. And this is an utter dependence on Jesus that frankly we can't put in anyone else. And here's the other thing, pressing toward the mark means that we have to forget what lays behind and not look back. Paul said it like this in Philippians 3:13, the verse previous. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead. So remember, pressing forward does not mean, pressing forward means that we have to forget what lies behind and don't look ahead. Boy, I said that backwards. Pressing toward the mark means that we forget what lies behind and don't look back. And I'm not thinking about personal reflection and remembering the faithfulness of God in the past. Those things are biblical and faith building, actually, but rather forgetting and not looking back towards anything that would impede our straining forward toward the prize. You see, dear friends, Satan is an enemy and we know he is. He's an enemy to our soul and the accuser of the Christian, the accuser of the brethren and the sisters. So forgetting what lies behind isn't a theological deep dive. Paul simply says it's an exhortation to forget and press forward. Amen. A.

W. Tozer put it like this. It is one of the devil's oldest tricks to discourage Christian believers by causing them to look back at what they once were. And was Tozer from Mornings with Tozer. A really good devotional and a really great read.

Let's continue. And friends, we have to think about what the ultimate prize is. What are we pressing toward? What are we pressing onward toward? hearing well done good and faithful servant from our Lord Jesus is exactly what we are pressing on toward. Paul told us to hold true or to walk by what we've already attained. So friend, if the ultimate price is completely knowing, being like, and being with our Lord Jesus forever, then we must hold true or some translations say hold fast. The point is the words in Paul mirror so many other exhortations by even the lord jesus to stand watch wait to conqueror To strengthen what remains and to endure to the end and that's from jesus himself So we're gonna put a lot of weight on this standing and enduring and pressing on pressing forward watching waiting Conquering strengthening what remains and enduring to the end. Well, you think about endurance, right? This is a marathon. This is a marathon to the finish. It's not a flash in the pan. It's not like the parable of the sower when some people got all excited and then fizzled out a couple of weeks or a couple of years later when the the praises stopped and they were by themselves or they got a bad diagnosis or their husband or wife left them or the money ran out or a smiley preacher lied to them. Friends, this endurance is rooted and grounded in the faithfulness of the Lord Jesus Christ to you and I. And it's reciprocated by our faithfulness to Him and our enduring with Him to the end till we see Him face to face. Amen? God help us and He will help us. He will cause you and make you stand if you give everything to Him. Amen? So we know, dear friend, that Jesus is coming soon. No doubt about that. So let's renew our determination and dependence on the Lord as we encourage one another and press on toward the goal together. And here's a little encouragement from Philippians. two one and two so if there is any encouragement in Christ any comfort from love any participation in the spirit and the spirit that's the Holy Spirit any affection and sympathy Paul says complete my joy by being of the same mind having the same love being in full accord and in one mind amen

And that's and that really is a great key to pressing on, pressing toward the mark until the end. Friends, you can't do it alone. No man is an island. We know that. No man is a separatist Christian. We need fellowship. We need the body of Christ. We need other believers to to really walk with us hand in hand and say, not this way, this way. Let's press on. We're almost there. Yeah, things are hard. But the end is going to be Jesus. We're going to meet Him face to face and hear, well done, good and faithful servant. And friends, that is not pie in the sky. That is not just sweet, sweet by and by. That is a fact. Job said, I know my Redeemer lives and I will see Him when He stands upon the earth. We are going to see Jesus. We are going to see Him face to face. And if we're faithful and we're true to Him, you, dear friend, and I are going to hear, well done. good and faithful servant. I'm going to read a few other things to you to encourage you in this. And let's see if I can find my spot here. I'm going to actually read you the text in full so you see exactly where we're coming from. I'll go actually I'll back up to Philippians 3. It's actually Philippians 3:14, but I'll back up to Philippians 3:12 and start from there. Paul says as he's straining toward the goal, Not that I've already obtained this or I'm already perfect, but I press on to make it my own because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own yet, but one thing that I do for getting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God and Christ Jesus. I'm going to continue to verse actually. Let those of us who think, excuse me, let those of us who are mature think this way. And if in anything you think otherwise, God reveal it to you also, I got to start this again because it doesn't sound right. Okay, dear friends, what we're going to do, I'm going to go ahead and read Philippians 3, 14 for you and actually probably back up to 3, 13, maybe even 12 since we have it in context. Straining toward the goal. Paul says, that I've already obtained this or I'm already perfect. Amen. Right. But I press on to make it my own because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Think about that. Brothers, I do not consider that I've made it my own. But one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God. in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Friends when do we stop? When do we stop this pressing on I? Would argue and I think I can show you from this part of scripture and other places or Paul says I've won I've won the race I've run the race the whole thing is that we don't stop and tweet me Jesus face to face and he says well done good and faithful servant We continue this race not until we get older not until we get mature in Christ Not until we get tired not until we retire not until it until we see Jesus face to face and he says, done good and faithful servant. We we've run the race. We endured to the end. Amen. Let me read you a couple more things actually. couple more verses to help you and strengthen you and strengthen me as we go forward in this race together. Isaiah 40 31 says, those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Now before we go any further, again, that's one of those things that looks great on a coffee mug or great on a poster on the wall in church or a t-shirt. But friends, think about this. They will hope. in the Lord. The Lord will renew their strength. See, this is not our own strength. This is not American or European bravado. Get up by the bootstraps and we're gonna make it. You're not gonna make it. Without Him, we can do nothing. This is all the Lord's strength. Amen.

And then Paul says, Let's what else we could find here. Actually, this isn't Paul. This is David, Psalm 20, verse 7. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. Let's continue. I got a few more for you. James 4 8 says come near to God and he will come near to you and I'm gonna tell you and you know it dear friends and you've probably felt this in your life there at times and my walk with the Lord He feels far away. No, he's not. He's right there with you. Jesus promised to never leave you. You hear what I said, friends? Jesus promised to never leave you nor forsake you and that he would be with you always until the end of the age. So it might feel like he's not near, but don't trust your feelings. Trust in the Word of God. It'll never lead you astray. If God feels far from you, My strongest admonition to you would be to pray, read your word, and seek the Lord. Friends, he will reveal himself. He'll reveal himself by his Holy Spirit, through his word, and through prayer. Amen? And oftentimes through encouragement from another brother or sister. I'm going to read you a couple of quotes from one of my favorite writers, a wonderful preacher from yesteryear, but this is Oswald Chambers. We all know his famous book, his famous devotional, My Upmost for His Highest. Here's a couple of things from Chambers that I think would really encourage you as we continue to press on toward the goal.

A Christian is one who trusts the wits and wisdom of God and not in his own wits. Amen. Let's see what else we got. Chambers says, is a deliberate confidence in the character of God whose ways, let's see, I gotta say that again, I'm sorry. Here's another quote by Chambers. He says this, faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God whose ways you may not understand at the time. Again, when you're going through something, when this life seems hard, when you're pressing toward the goal and feel like you'll never get it, remember, You may not understand what you're going through at the time, but your faith has to be in not what, but in who is going to lead you all the way to the end. Here's another one from Oswald Chambers. Faith never knows where it's being led, but it loves and knows the one who is leading. It's amazing. the final one, lay it out all, lay it all out before Him, and in the face of difficulty, bereavement, and sorrow, hear Him say, and listen to this friends, this is the words of Jesus, He would say to you, or to me, let not your heart be troubled. What a beautiful, beautiful verse.

And I'm going to leave you this. I said, it's a shorter podcast today, but I think this is really important. We talked a lot about running the race, finishing well, straining toward the mark, pressing toward the goal. If the goal is Jesus, the goal is to ultimately see Him, to hear, well done good and faithful servant, to be more like Him and to know Him completely, friends, we have to endure to the end. 

You say, Howard, you got a scripture in verse to back that up? Yes, I do. Because in Matthew 24 13, the Bible says, Jesus said, those who endure to the end will be saved. And dear friend, the Bible has a lot to say in Matthew 24, Matthew 25, Revelation 2 and 3, letters to the seven churches, to our church, this church, in this world today, the church worldwide. The Bible has a lot to say about enduring to the end, conquering, enduring, finishing well, standing, strengthening what remains, you think about the words of Jesus. You think about the parable of the talents, the foolish and wise virgins. Friends, we have to endure to the end. We have to finish well. Halfway, two-thirds of the way, 10 % of the way is not going to make it. You can't make it on your own. But friends, the Lord will help you stand. He'll see you through to the end. He won't let anybody snatch you out of His hand, but you have to be faithful. You have to be obedient and you have to walk with him hand in hand and finish well. Jesus said, those who endure to the end will be saved. Amen. So that's my encouragement to you today is as we press on toward the goal, as we press on toward the mark of the high call of God in Christ Jesus, friends, we've got to finish well. 

And I want to remind you that, at least on my website, We have many resources to encourage you as you press on toward the goal with determination and dependence. We have over 100 articles, numerous resources, and links on the website. That's concerningthetimes.com. So if you get a chance, go over there, check it out, look at some of the articles, look at some of our resources, and also don't forget to subscribe to our, I'm gonna say this all again. Friends, I wanna remind you that we have many resources to encourage you. as you press towards the mark, towards the goal with determination and dependence. We have over hundred articles, numerous articles and resources on our website and links that will help you as you endure to the end and serve Jesus every day. And the website address is concerningthetimes.com and you can read our articles there and look at the resource page. 

And also, if you would get a chance to go over to our Concern of the Times YouTube channel, Check out some of the videos we have there's a lot of discipleship resources and teaching and training there another source another resource to help you finish well and endure to the end and 

Finally if you're listening to the podcast today, I know you know this but we do have the concern of the times podcast and friends since you're on the podcast today Would you take a moment as I'm speaking to go like and rate and subscribe to the podcast? See what your rating does it increases our rating in the algorithm? and gets this gospel podcast out to other people in the world who desperately need it and desperately need to hear about the hope and the salvation in Jesus Christ alone. Amen. So if you give me a rating and you remember to subscribe to the podcast, that would help us out tremendously with reaching others with the gospel. Friends, have a wonderful week. I want to encourage you as you endure to the end, as we endure to the end together, and press on toward the mark of the upward call of Christ. of God and Christ Jesus. 

And one last thing, if you have a prayer request, like I said, you can go to Concernedatimes.com and go to contact us, and I would love to hear about your prayer request so we can stand in prayer with you. 

God bless you, dear friend. Have a great week. We'll talk to you soon on the next episode. Bye-bye.