PRESSING TOWARDS THE MARK-  (PHILIPPIANS 3: 13-14).

PRESSING TOWARDS THE MARK-  (PHILIPPIANS 3: 13-14).

By

Rev. Tamunoibi Rogers Miller

revtr.miller@yahoo.com; revrandymiller66@gmail.com

INTRODUCTION

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,   I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 3:13, 14 KJV

Paul is the stated author of the book of Philippians. It was written to the Christians in the Roman colony of Philippi. Among Caesarea, Ephesus and Rome suggested by scholars as the place of writing, Rome around fits most likely considering the importance of mention of the praetorium and “Caesar’s household” c A.D 62. (1:13;4:22).

Paul’s prison letter written to the first Church he founded in Europe is intended to encourage them to live out their lives as citizens of a heavenly colony, as evidenced by a growing commitment to service to God and to one another. Paul’s letter to the Philippians was prompted by  his reception of their last gift sent through Epaphroditus who was also sick but now recovered (2:25-30), to encourage them in their growth in the faith and the hope that God will vindicate them on the day of Christ’s return. The text for consideration fell within the account of Paul’s progress in the gospel through Christ and not the law (3:12-16).

EXPLORING THE TEXT:    In Philippians chapter 3, Paul speaks of his personal life before meeting Jesus Christ. He was carrying around lots of things that he once was proud of, but at coming to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ was happy to let them go. They were considered nothing as far as his new found faith and passion is concerned. 

Verse 13a: “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended” This statement presupposes that;

1. You can only come into the Race before you talk about apprehending: The truth is that there are lots of people who are trying to run in a race they have never entered. No wonder, some are not sure of their faith and when asked if they are Christians will say “I don’t know, only God knows or I am trying”. You do not try to be a Christian. You are either one or you are not. Paul on his way to Damascus (; Acts 9:1-8; Phil.3:4-6) had the true encounter that brought him into the race. He thought that he was doing everything he needed to do in order to be pleasing unto God. He was sincere; he was dedicated; he was zealous and energetic. But there was one major problem: he was not genuinely converted to Jesus Christ. You cannot win any price when you have not been enlisted in the race. Paul says that the reason he runs in this race is because Christ Jesus chased him down, seized him, and put him in the race.  Are you born again? When did you experienced the encounter that transforms your life? Now is another time for you to experience salvation.  
2. The Christian Growth is a Lifelong Experience: At the time Paul wrote the letter to the Christians at Philippi, he was about 25years old in the faith. There is no question that he is one of the outstanding believers of all times. Still he constantly has revealed that he is still in the process. In verse 12 he notes; “Not that I have already obtained it”. What he implies is that I am yet to know in a complete or total manner Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings and conformity to His death. We need to develop the right attitude for development. This is because;
3. As humans, we have the tendency to want quick fixes and easy answers to difficult problems. Your struggle against sin or wrestle with stubborn emotional problems reveals that the flesh is still dominating. Life in the Spirit is effortless and easy once you’ve discovered the secret of the “exchanged life – dead to sin” 
4. We need to be discipline for the purpose of godliness (1 Timothy 4:7). To remain under the control of the Spirit, you need to work at it every day.
5. We need to be patient (James 5:8):  Just as it takes years for a child to grow to maturity, in same manner we need to patiently walk with Christ in the Spirit. We must develop the “not-having- arrived-attitude”. We must continually move ahead. The question is, am I actively involved in the growth process?

Consider the man Paul who did not count himself to have apprehended;

1. A man of great religious and academic qualifications (Act 9:11; Phil. 3:5-6)

A Pharisee from Tarsus, Circumcised on the eight day, A zealous persecutor of the Church, In the righteousness of the law- blameless. A great lawyer who learned under the great teacher Gamaliel.

• A man who labours and suffers more for  the sake of the gospel (2 Cor.11:22-28)
• A Hebrew, An Israelite of Abraham’s descend, A servant of Christ, Work harder that other apostles, Received 39 lashes, five times from the Jews, Beaten three times with rod, Stoned once, Suffered shipwreck three times, Spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea, Experienced danger from bandits, Jews and Gentiles, at sea and false believers, Experience hunger and thirst, faced with the pressure for concern for the churches.
• A man of great Spiritual Gifts and achievements. 1 Cor.14:18;
• Had a revelation of the third heaven (2 Cor. 12:2); Speaks in tongue more (1 Cor 14:18);By his word Elymas the sorcerer went blind (Act13:10-11); At Lystra a lame man from birth walked (Acts 14:8-10); At Philippi he delivered a slave girl (Acts 16:18); By praising God prison gates were open (Acts16:25-26); By laying on of hands people received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:6); At Ephesus handkerchief and aprons that had touched him heals the sick (Acts 19:12); Demons recognize him as a true servant of the Lord (Acts19:15); At Troas he raised to life  Eutychus who fell from 3-storey building and died (Acts20:9-11); He was ready to die for the name of the Lord (Acts 21:13).

Verse 13b: “One thing I do, Forgetting those things which are behind”.

We are daily confronted with issues of attractions and distractions. We must however be focused, concentrate and work at keeping our minds on the goal of knowing Christ and becoming more like Him just like Paul. We must be focused like an Olympic champion who has only one focus which is to win. Every day, he sets and keeps his mind on the goal, to win the gold. People who are focussed are bound to succeed.   Paul’s single attitude of always moving ahead can be considered as; developing an attitude of moving ahead from the past. Forgetting those things which are behind could imply forgetting the fleshly privileges, and legal righteousness which he pursued, valued, and trusted in before conversions, but now dropped, renounced, disregarded, and counted as loss. We need to develop an attitude of moving ahead from the past, not to be controlled by the past, moving towards the future by aiming for the goal and to keep moving.

Note:  All of our personal goals are trash, there is nothing of real value that can come to us by accomplishing them. The emptiest moment in a person’s life comes the moment after he has accomplished the goals that are set that he thought would bring him great satisfaction. “Alexander the great conquered the then known world and cried there are no nations to conquer” The most fulfilling moment in life is when you suddenly realize that God used you to accomplish His purpose. To realise that God’s hand was on your life guiding you to fulfil His purpose.

Verse 13c: “Reaching out unto those things which are before”.

While Apostle Paul called and en couraged us to forget our past fears, our past focus, and our past failures, he encourages us to reach out to the things which are before. We must remember that we have been called into;

1. A New faith that overcomes fear (Romans 8:15). Fears are today’s lies about tomorrow’s promise: They are denials of hope rooted in doubts about God’s power, presence, promise, and workings. God always offers us the guarantee of His presence, and that is enough to cast fears aside.
2. A New value that overcome self (1Timothy 4:8): We are to give our lives away because when we try to save it, we will inevitably lose it. Our high calling is to a new value which is to serve others in the wisdom of the Lord’s way.
3. A Great Grace that overcomes failures (Colossians 4:6): You are never to give up but to lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us … to run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2). Keep your eyes on him even when you stumble, he will carry you on. 

Verse 14a “I press toward the mark“ The expression “I press on” is from the Greek word dioko which is in the present tense which emphasizes the habit to pursue. We are to pursue with earnestness and diligence in order to obtain. It is a burning desire to please God, to do His will and to advance His glory in the world in every possible way. Paul from the day of his conversion, gave up his brilliant prospects-forsaking all for Christ’ sake, went forth to preach that very Jesus whom he had once despised. This attitude must be kept until like Paul we can say “I have finished the race, I have kept the faith in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2Timothy 4:7-8)

How do we Press on?

i. Complacency should not be given a place: Be dissatisfied with yourself. Complacency is the deadly enemy of spiritual progress. The contented soul is the stagnant soul. When speaking of earthly goods Paul could say, “for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content” (Philippians 4:11); but when referring to his spiritual life he testified, “I press toward the mark” (3:14). “Paul said to Timothy “stir up the gift of God, which is in thee” (2 Timothy 1:6).

ii. Crave for continues Transformation and Sanctification of your Life( 1 Thessalonians 5 :23). We must throw our whole soul into our desire for God. “The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force” (Matthew 11:12). To desire revival, for instance, and at the same time to neglect prayer and devotion is to wish one way and walk another.

iii. Let there be True Repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10).  True repentance reflects true spirituality. Let godly sorrow do her healing work. Until we allow the consciousness of sin to wound us, we will never develop a fear of evil. It is our wretched habit of tolerating sin that keeps us in our half-dead comatose condition. We must flee from sin.

iv. Make Restitution whenever Possible. If you owe a debt, pay it, or at least have a frank understanding with your creditor about your intention to pay, so your honesty will be above question. If you have quarrelled with anyone, go as far as you can in an effort to achieve reconciliation. As fully as possible make the crooked things straight.

v. Walk in the Way of Righteousness. An honest man with an open Bible and a pad and pencil is sure to find out what is wrong with him very quickly. I recommend that the self-examination be made on our knees, rising to obey God’s commandments as they are revealed to us from the Word.

vi. Begin to Witness. Find something to do for God and your fellow men.  Make yourself available in your pastor and do anything that is necessary for you to do. Do not insist upon a place of leadership. Learn to obey. Take the low place until such time as God sees fit to set you in a higher one

vii. Demonstrates Strong Faith in God. Walk by faith not by sight or your feelings.. Look up toward the throne where your Advocate sits at the right hand of God. All heaven is on your side. God will not disappoint you.

Verse 14b: “The Price of the High Calling of God in Christ”:  The price is the incorruptible crown; the crown of life, of righteousness, and glory, that fadeth not away (James 1:12)  This prize of the calling of God is what God in the effectual calling calls his people to, even to a kingdom and glory, and to eternal glory and happiness of which they have a sight, though but a glimmering view of it now.  It comes with blessed hope and joy.  Paul used “prize” and not goal. Is there a real difference between goal and prize? In a sense goal and price are the same. Nevertheless, goal and prize represent different aspects of perfection;

 a. When this perfection is called goal, it is viewed as the object of human striving. When it is called prize it is viewed as the gift of God’s sovereign grace. God imparts everlasting life to those who accept Christ by living faith (John 3:16). He imparts perfection to those who strive to attain it. Though it is true that this believing and this striving are from start to finish completely dependent on God’s grace, nevertheless we must embrace Christ and salvation in him. We must also strive to enter in. God does not do the believing and striving for us.

b. The goal rivets the attention on the race that is being run or was run; the prize upon the glory that will begin in the new heaven and earth. Thus, bringing sinners to Christ, and doing this with perfect devotion, pertains to the goal. Perfect fellowship with these saved ones on and after the day of the great consummation pertains to the prize.

Paul used a similar athletic metaphor in 1 Corinthians 9:26, I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air. Paul painted a picture in the reader’s mind of the Olympic runners flying toward the finishing line, seeking to be the first to break the tape and win the coveted (but perishable) olive branch wreath initially (which was associated with great honor and latter in 1904 with financial reward represented in the three medals of Gold, Silver and Bronze of the following composition.

Gold Medal: -1% gold, 92.4% silver, 6.5% copper ………..$620.2 value

Silver Medal: – 92.5% silver, 7.5% copper  ……. …………$330 value

Bronze Medal:- 97% copper, 2.5% zinc, 0.5% tin………….$4.70 value

Note:

1. God’s call is to all: To sinnersthe call is  for them to become saints and for Christians to be like Jesus; to know Him, to love Him better, to resemble Him more completely.
2. It is a High Calling: . It is a high calling because it comes from God; the conception of it has emanated from His heart. It is a high calling because it is so much above the ideals of men. Men strive to get money, forgetting that there are no pockets in a shroud; seek for pleasure, forgetting that the pleasures of this world are like the snow upon the river, “a moment white, then gone for ever”; strive after fame and supremacy, forgetting that there must come a moment when their remains will lie beneath the pall on which the crown and sceptre of empire rest, to be assumed by another. When once the eye has caught sight of this vision, it is attracted by a light above the brightness of the sun of wealth, above the brightness of the sun of fame, above the brightness of the sun of rank, above the brightness of the sun of worldly power. The lofty ideal glistens before each of us of becoming like our Master, knowing Him, feeling the power and fascination of His resurrection, tasting the fellowship of His sufferings, and being conformed to Him in His death, rising day by day higher and nearer to Him in His royal beauty, the Divine Man, God’s ideal for us all.
3. It is a calling above our Highest Aspirations: The value or worth of the calling is much more than anything great you think you have achieved. It is eternal, no  perishable, and the greatest thing to desire for in this life and beyond.

Works Cited

Achtemeier, P., ed. (1985). Harper’s Bible Dictionary. San Francisco: Harper & Row.

Arnold, C.E., ed. (2002). Zondervan illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary: Romans to Philemon. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

Bruce, F. F.(1988) The Book of the Acts. NICNT. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.

Calvin, J. (1965). Calvin’s New Testament Commentaries: Acts of the Apostles 1-13.

Transl. by J.W. Fraser & W.J.G. McDonald. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.

Douglas, J. D. and Merrill C. Tenney.(2000) The NIV Bible Dictionary. Grand Rapids:

Zondervan

Freedman, David Noel. (1992). The Anchor Bible Dictionary. New York: Doubleday.