Pressing towards the goal
Phil 3:12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Phil 3:12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Today as we reflect on our lives and the lives of those around us we might notice that one common thread that links us is that we all have some goal that we have not yet attained. There are things that we would like to achieve that have so far eluded our grasp.
In the main – like Apostle Paul – we are pressing towards those goals. Unfortunately, in many instances we have failed to define in clear terms some goals that are essential to successful completion of our time here on earth.
Performance enhancement professionals rely heavily on the setting of stretch targets as a means of getting the best out of people. Life without goals lacks meaning. When we decide on a destination we give purpose to the journey.
Setting goals and keeping our eyes on the objectives is an essential ingredient in successful living.
Peter sums up the core goal of the Christian:
1 Peter 1: 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
This morning I want to share with you on the subject “Pressing toward the goal” and to look at 5 areas in which each of us must seek to have clearly defined goals that we are working hard to attain.
The five spheres for development are:
Mental
Physical
Social
Material
Spiritual
Mental
In 1972, the United Negro College Fund – UNCF- partnered with the Ad Council to launch a public service advertising campaign encouraging Americans to support the fund. The campaign slogan, "A Mind is a Terrible Thing To Waste," has remained unchanged for more than three decades and has become part of the American vernacular.
The human brain is perhaps the most sophisticated device that has ever been designed. We walk around with this extraordinarily valuable asset, but how many of us truly respect its value and take steps to maximize its use and to protect and preserve it?
We need to commit to the ongoing development of our intellectual capacity. We need to take special care to enhance our mental faculties on a daily basis. We need to ensure that our capacity for thinking and reasoning is not diminished with time.
We live in a time in which the need for lifelong learning is being heavily promoted. We are in the Information Age and the bringing into being of the so-called Knowledge-based Society is a shared goal.
What are your goals for the development and preservation of your mind this morning? Are you feeding your mind with rich, healthy food? Are you exercising your “mental muscles” or are they getting loose and flabby as a result of a lack of use?
Prov 12:8 A man is praised according to his wisdom, but men with warped minds are despised.
Prov 8: 10 Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, 11 for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.
Prov 18: 15 The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out.
Can I invite you this morning to review the material that you read, watch or listen to? Can I motivate you to make a commitment to dedicate a block of time each week to learning something new or developing some skill or to challenging your minds in some way?
It may be the completion of puzzles or quizzes. Or you may choose to enrol in a course. Or you may decide to revive some skill that you once had but has now gone rusty.
Discernment is one of the platforms on which spiritual maturity is built:
Discernment is one of the platforms on which spiritual maturity is built:
Ps 119: 125 I am your servant; give me discernment that I may understand your statutes.
Deut 32: 28 They are a nation without sense, there is no discernment in them.
There is no escaping the fact that we are expected to develop and preserve our minds!
Physical
The human body is also a marvel of design. We are entrusted with its development and protection. What account can you give with respect to your stewardship of the body that has been entrusted to your care?
What are your plans for caring for your body? Do you have goals that you have set with respect to the treatment of your body?
Why am I asking these questions?
1 Corinthians 6:19 - 20
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your body.
We are mere stewards and we had better respect that fact and behave in a manner that is more reflective of how we ought to treat the property of others.
I want to prod you today to reflect on how you have been treating your body and to make a commitment to take better care of it. A songwriter speaks of “the needless pain we bear” and much of physical pain and suffering that we encounter in our lives is as a direct result of improper treatment of our bodies.
Social
Man is a social being. We live with and among others and social interaction is inevitable. I am of the view that we should prepare for those things in life that are inevitable. Since social interaction is a fact of life, it makes sense for us to be ready for it and to work at being good at it.
Too many of us see social interaction as a chore that we cannot avoid. So we go into encounter with clenched teeth and a commitment to getting it over as quickly as possible. This is not a task for which some of us would volunteer to do overtime.
The Christian walk requires us to see others as our neighbours and to love them.
Mark 12: 28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"
29"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'31The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'There is no commandment greater than these."
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your body.
We are mere stewards and we had better respect that fact and behave in a manner that is more reflective of how we ought to treat the property of others.
I want to prod you today to reflect on how you have been treating your body and to make a commitment to take better care of it. A songwriter speaks of “the needless pain we bear” and much of physical pain and suffering that we encounter in our lives is as a direct result of improper treatment of our bodies.
Social
Man is a social being. We live with and among others and social interaction is inevitable. I am of the view that we should prepare for those things in life that are inevitable. Since social interaction is a fact of life, it makes sense for us to be ready for it and to work at being good at it.
Too many of us see social interaction as a chore that we cannot avoid. So we go into encounter with clenched teeth and a commitment to getting it over as quickly as possible. This is not a task for which some of us would volunteer to do overtime.
The Christian walk requires us to see others as our neighbours and to love them.
Mark 12: 28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"
29"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'31The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'There is no commandment greater than these."
Social interaction may appear to be uncomfortable or inconvenient to many of us. However, setting goals for the development of our social skills is an essential element of our march to maturity. This needs to get at least as much attention and devotion as we give to our academic and other pursuits.
Can I invite you today to take the bold step to connect in meaningful ways with more persons? Can I prod you to put your feelings of being shy behind you and open up to others?
Can I convince you today to make a commitment to set aside more time in your busy schedule for social interaction?
Material
In this life we are not only stewards of a mighty fine brain, a wonderfully made body and a vast company of neighbours, we are also entrusted with material resources.
2 Cor 9: 9 As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever."10Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
This passage supported by the parable of the talent is sending us the message that our responsibilities in this life include the management of material resources. We are expected to convert that with which we have been blessed in such a manner as to be able to show generosity to others….on every occasion.
Many of us as Christians are so focused on the spiritual realm that we fail to recognize our material responsibilities. The passage in 2 Cor that we just read seems to suggest that in the material realm our responsibilities extend beyond ourselves and our immediate families. There is an indication that in the overall context of loving our neighbour as ourselves, we need to make provision for extending generosity to others.
When we look at things from that perspective then some of the spurning of material gains that is manifested in the attitudes and behaviour of many Christians seems to be at odds with this more expansive view of the Scriptures.
We are challenged to move beyond just not being idle.
2 Thess 3:
11We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. 12Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat. 13And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right.
11We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. 12Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat. 13And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right.
Our charge is to be the very best that we can be and to maximize the returns from that which has been entrusted to us – mind, body and material blessings – so as to better serve God and our neighbour. Anything less is similar to burying our talents and gifts.
Can I challenge you this morning to awaken from your slumber and to take serious, proactive control over the opportunities for material development that have been made available to you?
Will you commit now to putting yourself in a position where in the words of the Apostle Paul “…11You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”?
When you reflect on your stewardship of material resources will you lament over the fact that you have been less than responsible and will now earnestly set about making the best of the opportunities and assets with which you have been blessed?
Spiritual
Ecc 12:13 Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
The wise man indicates the critical importance of the spiritual component of our lives. If fearing God and keeping His commandments is our WHOLE duty then what is our response to discharging our responsibility?
How do we approach the responsibilities that are given to us in other areas of our lives? Do we seek to have a clear understanding of what is required of us and how we are to go about completing the tasks?
Do we try to put in place measures to determine if we are in fact doing what is required of us? If not, how will we know if our performance is up to the mark?
As we reflect on the spiritual side of our lives we can start by trying to better understand the God who we are to fear and whose commandments we are to obey.
John 4: 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."
The problem that mankind had is graphically presented in Romans 3:
10As it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one; 11there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. 12All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one."13"Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.""The poison of vipers is on their lips."14"Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness."15"Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16ruin and misery mark their ways, 17and the way of peace they do not know."18"There is no fear of God before their eyes."
But there is a solution:
Romans 5:
12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned— 13for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. 14Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come.
18 Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. 19For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
20The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned— 13for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. 14Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come.
18 Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. 19For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
20The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
A review of all the conversions in the New Testament and supporting passages point to the following process for accessing grace through Christ:
We must hear the good news of Jesus, His atoning sacrifice for our sins and His resurrection. Rom 10:14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?
You must also believe the good news.
Heb 11: 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Faith is not enough. We are called to act on our belief and to make a decision to no longer let sin reign in our lives but to seek to live in obedience to God. This is the very important act of repentance.
Luke 13: 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.
You then have to confess Jesus as Lord of your life. This is a public declaration of your belief that Jesus is the Son of the Living God:
Rom 10: 8-10 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
Another major step is that you must be baptized for the removal of our sins. This is a step that is either left out completely or is comprised in attempts to make salvation more convenient.
We must hear the good news of Jesus, His atoning sacrifice for our sins and His resurrection. Rom 10:14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?
You must also believe the good news.
Heb 11: 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Faith is not enough. We are called to act on our belief and to make a decision to no longer let sin reign in our lives but to seek to live in obedience to God. This is the very important act of repentance.
Luke 13: 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.
You then have to confess Jesus as Lord of your life. This is a public declaration of your belief that Jesus is the Son of the Living God:
Rom 10: 8-10 But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
Another major step is that you must be baptized for the removal of our sins. This is a step that is either left out completely or is comprised in attempts to make salvation more convenient.
Gal 3:26 For ye are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus. 27For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ.
1 Peter 3: 17 It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, 19 through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison 20 who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
At that point you have put on Christ and you are in Christ. Many opportunities are now opened to you. One is that you are added to His Church. There you are able to access the exclusive blessings that are in Christ. Now your soul is protected by the atoning blood of Jesus, the Christ.
Through your obedience in following the plan of salvation you would have demonstrated that you do fear God and you have taken very important steps to demonstrate that are willing to obey His commandments.
Ez 18: 20 The soul who sins is the one who will die. The son will not share the guilt of the father, nor will the father share the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous man will be credited to him, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against him.
If you are in any doubt about whether you are in Christ, do not delay, do something about it now. This must be your most important objective at this time. Remember, nothing can be more important since obedience to God is in fact your whole duty.
For those who have already obeyed the gospel, what are your spiritual goals? Are you clear about what you would like to achieve with respect to your personal spiritual development?
1 Peter 3: 17 It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, 19 through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison 20 who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
At that point you have put on Christ and you are in Christ. Many opportunities are now opened to you. One is that you are added to His Church. There you are able to access the exclusive blessings that are in Christ. Now your soul is protected by the atoning blood of Jesus, the Christ.
Through your obedience in following the plan of salvation you would have demonstrated that you do fear God and you have taken very important steps to demonstrate that are willing to obey His commandments.
Ez 18: 20 The soul who sins is the one who will die. The son will not share the guilt of the father, nor will the father share the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous man will be credited to him, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against him.
If you are in any doubt about whether you are in Christ, do not delay, do something about it now. This must be your most important objective at this time. Remember, nothing can be more important since obedience to God is in fact your whole duty.
For those who have already obeyed the gospel, what are your spiritual goals? Are you clear about what you would like to achieve with respect to your personal spiritual development?
Do you have clear commitments with respect to your role in the spiritual growth of others?
Have you really given serious thought to issues related to spiritual development and worked out game plans that you are actively implementing?
Have you really given serious thought to issues related to spiritual development and worked out game plans that you are actively implementing?
Most of us have clear career development plans or plans to acquire a car or a home. Is that level of detail and commitment present with respect to the spiritual areas of our lives?
I want to challenge you this morning to pay special attention to developing an Action Plan for your spiritual development and the spiritual growth of others…remember this is our whole duty!
I want to challenge you this morning to pay special attention to developing an Action Plan for your spiritual development and the spiritual growth of others…remember this is our whole duty!
