FAITH BIBLE CHURCH - www.faithbiblechurch.net

RAY RUSS - PASTOR-TEACHER

TITLE: FOCUSING FOR THE PRIZE IN 2003

TEXT: PHILIPPIANS 3:12-14

INTRODUCTION: (1) IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS REPEATEDLY COMPARED TO EVERYDAY THINGS, EVENTS AND PRACTICES.

* SEVERAL TIMES, FOR EXAMPLE, CHRISTIAN LIVING IS COMPARED TO WARFARE. PAUL COUNSELS US TO ENDURE HARDSHIP "AS A GOOD SOLDIER OF JESUS CHRIST" IN II TIMOTHY 2:3 AND TO PUT ON THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD IN EPHESIANS 6:11.

** PAUL ALSO USES BOXING AS A COMPARISON, HE SAYS, "I BOX IN SUCH A WAY, AS NOT BEATING THE AIR" IN I CORINTHIANS 9:26.

(2) ON TOP OF THAT, THE CHRISTIAN IS OFTEN SPOKEN OF AS A SLAVE OF JESUS CHRIST. PAUL FREQUENTLY REFERS TO HIMSELF AS A SLAVE, OR BOND-SERVANT OF CHRIST.

* AND IN SEVERAL OF HIS LETTERS HE INTRODUCES HIMSELF FIRST OF ALL AS A BOND-SERVANT IN ROMANS 1:1, PHILIPPIANS 1:1 AND TITUS 1:1. ** NOW JESUS ALSO USED FIGURES OF SPEECH TO DESCRIBE CHRISTIANS. HE SPOKE OF HIS FOLLOWERS AS LIGHTS AND SALT IN THE WORLD IN MATTHEW 5:13-16 AND AS SHEEP IN JOHN 10.

*** AND EVEN PETER USES FIGURES OF SPEECH.

**** PETER REFERS TO CHRISTIANS AS BABES AND AS LIVING STONES IN I PETER 2:2&5. SO THERE ARE A LOT OF FIGURES OF SPEECH USED IN THE N.T.

(3) BUT ONE OF THE MOST USED FIGURES OR ILLUSTRATIONS IN THE N.T. IS THE FIGURE OF RUNNING A RACE.

* IN FACT, PAUL USES THIS ILLUSTRATION OFTEN. HE USES SUCH PHRASES AS RUN TO WIN IN I CORINTHIANS 9:24, RUNNING WELL IN GALATIANS 5:7, TO RUN IN VAIN IN PHILIPPIANS 2:16, AND RUNNING WITH ENDURANCE THE RACE THAT IS SET BEFORE US IN HEBREWS 12:1-3.

** AND PAUL USES THIS SAME FIGURE, THIS SAME ILLUSTRATION IN PHILIPPIANS 3:12-14. HE TALKS ABOUT PRESSING ON, REACHING FORWARD, PICTURING A RUNNER STRETCHING EVERY MUSCLE TO REACH THE GOAL BEFORE HIM.

*** PAUL TALKS ABOUT THE FACT THAT A RUNNER RUNNING A RACE MUST FOCUS HIS EYES ON SOMETHING AHEAD, HE CAN'T LOOK BACK BUT MUST FOCUS ON THE GOAL STRAIGHT AHEAD, THE FINISH LINE.

(4) AND OUR FINISH LINE, OUR GOAL AS BELIEVERS IS SPIRITUAL MATURITY, CHRIST LIKENESS, GROWING IN GRACE.

* AND IN THE SPIRITUAL RACE THAT WE'RE RUNNING TO ACCOMPLISH GOD'S GOALS, WE MUST BE FOCUSED.

** FOR YOU SEE RUNNERS THAT SUCCEED ARE FOCUSED, THEY CONCENTRATE, THEY ARE DISCIPLINED, THEY ARE COMMITTED AND PUSH THEMSELVES AND DO A LOT OF THINGS THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE DOING, THE REASON BEING THEY HAVE A GOAL IN MIND, THEY ARE LOOKING FORWARD, PRESSING ON TO ACCOMPLISH THEIR GOALS.

*** BECAUSE OF THAT, THEY RUN WHEN THEY DON'T WANT TO RUN, THEY RUN FARTHER THAN THEY WANT TO RUN, THEY RUN WHEN IT HURTS, THEY RUN WHEN IT RAINS, THEY RUN WHEN IT SNOWS, THEY EVEN RUN WHEN IT'S DARK OUTSIDE. THEY SACRIFICE FOR THEIR GOALS.

(5) AND BELOVED PAUL'S ANALOGY OF PRESSING ON AND PUSHING AND REACHING FOR THE PRIZE IN OUR TEXT TODAY REMINDS US AS BELIEVERS THAT IN RUNNING OUR SPIRITUAL RACE WE MUST BE FOCUSED.

* WE ARE CHALLENGED TO PUSH FOR THE PRIZE OF THE HIGH CALLING OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS.

** AND THIS TEXT TO ME IS A CHALLENGE FOR US AS WE LOOK FORWARD, LORD WILLING, TO A NEW YEAR.

*** I LIKE THE FRESHNESS OF A NEW YEAR IF THE LORD ALLOWS US TO ENTER INTO IT. THERE CAN BE A FRESH START, A TIME OF NEW BEGINNINGS AND GOALS.

**** AND OF COURSE OUR ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO BE CHRIST-LIKE AND TO GLORIFY HIM.

***** AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE DISCIPLINE AND SACRIFICE TO ACCOMPLISH THAT GOAL, BUT IT WILL BE WELL WORTH IT FOR THE KINGDOM.

(6) SO AS WE FOCUS AS BELIEVERS AND RE-FOCUS AS A CHURCH, I WANT TO LOOK AT PHILIPPIANS 3:12-14 AS A CHALLENGE TEXT TO HELP US CONCENTRATE.

* AND BECAUSE OF THAT, I'VE TITLED OUR STUDY THIS MORNING, FOCUSING FOR THE PRIZE IN 2003. AND UNDER THAT TITLE WE'LL LOOK AT 3 POINTS.

** NO. 1 THE DISSATISFACTION, V. 12; NO. 2 THE DIRECTION, V. 13; AND NO. 3 THE DETERMINATION IN V. 14.

- AND WITH THAT IN MIND, LOOK AT V. 12 AS WE FOCUS FOR THE PRIZE BY LOOKING AT THE DISSATISFACTION.

I. THE DISSATISFACTION, (READ V. 12)

A. NOW FIRST OF ALL I WANT TO LOOK AT THE PHRASE, "NOT THAT I HAVE ALREADY OBTAINED IT OR HAVE ALREADY BECOME PERFECT" OR "AM ALREADY PERFECTED" IN THE NKJV.

* AND THE POINT I WANT TO MAKE FROM THIS PHRASE IS OUR SPIRITUAL RACE BEGINS WITH A SENSE OF DISSATISFACTION.

** PAUL CONTINUED HIS RACE WITH THE AWARENESS THAT HE HAD NOT ARRIVED, HE KNEW THAT THERE WERE SOME MILES TO RUN AND THAT HE HAD NOT RUN A PERFECT RACE, THAT HE WAS NOT PERFECT.

*** BELOVED, PAUL LEFT A MESSAGE THAT PERFECTION IN THIS LIFE IS A GOAL, NOT AN ACHIEVEMENT. IT'S SOMETHING WE PURSUE BUT WILL NEVER ATTAIN IN THIS LIFE.

**** AND WHAT PAUL DOES HERE IS HE DELIVERS A DEATH BLOW TO THE FALSE DOCTRINE OF PERFECTIONISM, WHICH TEACHES THAT A BELIEVER CAN BECOME SINLESS IN THIS LIFE, THAT A BELIEVER CAN REACH A POINT OF SANCTIFICATION IN THIS LIFE THAT SIN IS ERADICATED.

1. BELOVED, PAUL DENIED PERFECTIONISM BY CALLING US TO PURSUE A PRIZE THAT CAN ONLY BE FULLY OBTAINED IN HEAVEN.

* HE CONFESSED THAT HE HIMSELF HAD NOT REACHED PERFECTION, AND KEEP IN MIND THAT PAUL WROTE THE BOOK OF PHILIPPIANS ALMOST 30 YEARS AFTER HIS CONVERSION.

* AND IF AFTER 30 YEARS PAUL WAS NOT PERFECT, AND HE PROBABLY WAS THE MOST COMMITTED CHRISTIAN WHO EVER LIVED, THEN CERTAINLY NONE OF US SHOULD CLAIM TO BE.

** AND IN REALITY, I DON'T THINK THAT IS A PROBLEM FOR MOST OF US. MOST OF US REALIZE WE HAVEN'T ARRIVED AND WE'RE NOT PERFECT, SOMETIMES EVEN USING THAT AS AN EXCUSE FOR OUR SIN. NO ONE'S PERFECT, EXCUSE IT OR BLAME IT ON THE FLESH OR SATAN OR SOMEONE.

2. BUT THE THOUGHT I WANT TO CONVEY IS, PAUL'S STATEMENT HERE IS THE STATEMENT OF A GREAT CHRISTIAN WHO NEVER PERMITTED HIMSELF TO BE SATISFIED WITH HIS SPIRITUAL ATTAINMENTS.

* IN OTHER WORDS A SANCTIFIED DISSATISFACTION IS ESSENTIAL TO PROGRESS IN THE CHRISTIAN RACE.

** F.B. MEYER SAID AND I QUOTE THAT "SELF-DISSATISFACTION LIES AT THE ROOT OF OUR NOBLEST ACHIEVEMENTS."

** AND FOLKS MY POINT IS PEOPLE WHO BECOME CONTENT WITH WHERE THEY ARE SPIRITUALLY HAVE REACHED A DANGEROUS POINT. THEY ARE PROBABLY INSENSITIVE TO SIN AND WILL TEND TO DEFEND THEMSELVES WHEN THEY SHOULD ADMIT THEIR WEAKNESS AND SEEK HELP.

3. AND UNFORTUNATELY MANY CHRISTIANS ARE SELF-SATISFIED BECAUSE THEY COMPARE THEIR "RUNNING" WITH THAT OF OTHER CHRISTIANS, USUALLY THOSE WHO ARE NOT MAKING MUCH PROGRESS.

* AND LET ME SAY IF PAUL HAD COMPARED HIMSELF WITH OTHERS, HE WOULD HAVE BEEN TEMPTED TO BE PROUD AND PERHAPS TO LET UP A BIT, II COR. 10:12.

** BUT PAUL DIDN'T COMPARE HIMSELF WITH OTHERS, BUT WITH CHRIST, AND WHEN HE DID THAT HE ALWAYS CAME UP SHORT, IT BROUGHT A DIVINE DISSATISFACTION.

*** BUT NOTE THAT THIS DIVINE DISSATISFACTION WAS NOT A BALL AND CHAIN, NOT GUILT THAT WEIGHED HIM DOWN, BUT MOTIVATION TO GROW MORE. FOR LOOK AT THE LAST PART OF V. 12.

B. IT SAYS: "BUT I PRESS ON THAT I MAY LAY HOLD OF THAT FOR WHICH ALSO I WAS LAID HOLD OF BY CHRIST JESUS."

* NOW THE ANALOGY OF RUNNING IS USED HERE AND PAUL WAS RUNNING WITH ALL HIS MIGHT, HE SAID "I PRESS ON."

** AND NOTE THAT THE GREEK WORD TRANSLATED "PRESS ON" WAS USED OF A SPRINTER AND SPEAKS OF AN AGGRESSIVE ENERGETIC ENDEAVOR.

1. PAUL HAS IN MIND A GREEK RUNNER STRAINING EVERY MUSCLE TO WIN, ONE WHO WANTS TO APPREHEND TO LAY HOLD OF THE PRIZE, AND THAT WOULD TAKE DISCIPLINE.

* AND PAUL USES THIS SAME ANALOGY IN I COR. 9:24-27 AND HEBREWS 12:1-3. (READ THEM)

** AND BELOVED RUNNING THE SPIRITUAL RACE TAKES MAXIMUM EFFORT USING THE MEANS OF GRACE GOD HAS PROVIDED FOR US.

*** IT TAKES DISCIPLINE AND EFFORT ON OUR PART, BUT ALSO THE RESOURCES OF GOD'S GRACE AND THE POWER OF HIS SPIRIT. IT TAKES EFFORT ON OUR PART AND THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT ON GOD'S PART.

2. NOW THE QUESTION COMES UP, WHAT WAS PAUL PURSUING? WELL, HE IDENTIFIED THE PRIZE AS "THAT FOR WHICH I ALSO WAS LAID HOLD OF BY CHRIST JESUS."

* AND NOTE THAT PAUL REALIZED THAT IN HIS SALVATION THE LORD LAID HOLD OF HIM, HE WAS APPREHENDED BY JESUS CHRIST, HE WAS SEIZED BY JESUS CHRIST, THE SEEKING SAVIOR WHO SEEKS THE LOST.

** "IN ORDER THAT I MAY LAY HOLD OF THEM FOR WHICH ALSO I WAS LAID HOLD OF BY CHRIST JESUS."

*** AND PAUL KNEW THAT WE AS CHRISTIANS ARE SEIZED, LAID HOLD OF, APPREHENDED, WHEN WE ARE CONVERTED BY THE POWER OF CHRIST TO BE EMPLOYED IN HIS SERVICE. HE APPREHENDS US, WE DID NOT APPREHEND HIM.

3. AND WE ARE APPREHENDED, SAVED FOR A PURPOSE, WE ARE SAVED TO SERVE. WE ARE SAVED TO GLORIFY CHRIST AND BE LIKE HIM, READ ROMANS 8:28&29 AND EPHESIANS 2:8-10.

* ALSO II THESSALONIANS 2:14 SAYS: "IT WAS FOR THIS HE CALLED YOU THROUGH OUR GOSPEL, THAT YOU MAY GAIN THE GLORY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST."

** AND BELOVED OUR LIFELONG PURSUIT IS TO BE LIKE CHRIST AND SERVE HIM WHICH GLORIFIES HIM. IT WAS CHRIST-LIKENESS THAT PAUL WAS PURSUING AFTER, RUNNING FOR, GIVING THE MAXIMUM EFFORT FOR. 4. AND BECOMING LIKE CHRIST IS A WORTHY GOAL THAT REQUIRES A LIFETIME COMMITMENT, AND WE MUST RUN FOR THAT PRIZE WITH MAXIMUM EFFORT IN 2003, KNOWING THAT WE'VE COME A LONG WAY, BUT HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.

* AND WITH THAT IN MIND, LET'S MOVE ON TO V. 13 WHERE WE'LL SEE OUR 2'D POINT THIS MORNING, THE DIRECTION.

II. THE DIRECTION, (READ V. 13)

* NOW PAUL AGAIN REMINDS THE PHILIPPI AN CHURCH THAT HE HAS NOT ARRIVED YET, HE HADN'T LAID HOLD OF HIS GOAL IN HIS RACE, HE WAS NOT YET MOLDED INTO THE IMAGE OF CHRIST THAT OUR LORD WANTED FOR HIM.

** PAUL NEEDED TO GROW MORE IN THIS LIFE AND THEN ULTIMATELY HE WOULD BE TOTALLY LIKE CHRIST IN HEAVEN.

*** BUT NOTICE THAT HE IS TOTALLY FOCUSED IN ACCOMPLISHING THIS GOAL FOR HE SAYS, "BUT ONE THING I DO." NOW THAT IS CONCENTRATION, THAT IS FOCUS.

**** AND ONE THING IS A PHRASE THAT IS IMPORTANT IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE AND IN SCRIPTURE.

1. FOR EXAMPLE, "ONE THING THOU LACKEST" SAID JESUS TO THE SELF-RIGHTEOUS YOUNG RULER IN MARK 10:21.

* "ONE THING IS NEEDFUL" JESUS EXCLAIMED TO BUSY MARTHA WHEN SHE CRITICIZED HER SISTER IN LUKE 10:42.

** AND "ONE THING I KNOW!" SAID THE MAN WHO HAD RECEIVED HIS SIGHT BY THE POWER OF CHRIST IN JOHN 9:25.

*** AND "ONE THING I DESIRED OF THE LORD, THAT I WILL SEEK AFTER" TESTIFIED THE PSALMIST IN PS. 27:4.

2. AND FOLKS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT HERE IS FOCUS, SINGLE-MINDEDNESS, ONE HOLY PASSION, CONCENTRATION ON A GOAL. AND THE WINNERS, RUNNERS WHO SUCCEED, ARE THOSE WHO FOCUS, WHO CONCENTRATE, WHO KEEP THEIR EYES ON THE GOAL AND LET NOTHING DISTRACT THEM.

* IT WAS LIKE NEHEMIAH WHEN HE WAS FOCUSING ON BUILDING THE WALL IN JERUSALEM, WHILE HE WAS DOING THAT GREAT WORK THERE WERE MANY DISTRACTING INVITATIONS TO HIM.

** BUT HIS RESPONSE IN NEHEMIAH 6:3 WAS "I AM DOING A GREAT WORK, SO THAT I CANNOT COME DOWN." HE WAS FOCUSED ON THE WALL.

** AND PAUL WAS FOCUSED FOR THE GOAL, THIS ONE THING I DO, AND PAUL'S REMARKABLE CONCENTRATION WAS THE RESULT OF TWO THINGS; FORGETTING WHAT LIES BEHIND AND REACHING FORWARD TO WHAT LIES AHEAD.

3. AND FIRST OF ALL, "FORGETTING THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE BEHIND." AND THAT REFERS TO EVERYTHING IN THE PAST.

* NOW I BELIEVE EVERYTHING IN THE PAST WITH THE CONTEXT OF PAUL REFERRED TO GOOD AND BAD.

** BAD, WHAT HE DID BEFORE HE WAS A CHRISTIAN, PERSECUTING THE CHURCH, HAVING A PART IN THE STONING OF STEPHEN, BEING THE CHIEF OF SINNERS, READ I TIMOTHY 1:15.

*** BUT IT WOULD ALSO REFER TO HIS PEDIGREE, HIS RELIGIOUS HERITAGE AS A JEW. PAUL WOULD HAVE TO PUT ALL THOSE THINGS BEHIND HIM - PRIDE.

4. BUT ALSO HE WOULD NEED TO PUT ALL THE GOOD THINGS, THE SPIRITUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND SUCCESSES BEHIND HIM, FOR IF HE DIDN'T HE COULD BECOME PROUD AND BE SELF-SATISFIED.

* AND BELOVED I WANT TO MAKE APPLICATION HERE THAT AS INDIVIDUAL BELIEVERS AND AS A CHURCH WE MUST REFUSE TO DWELL ON OUR VIRTUOUS DEEDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS IN MINISTRY, AS WELL AS OUR SINS AND FAILURES.

** YOU SAY WHY RAY? BECAUSE THE PAST HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW. WE CANNOT EVALUATE OUR USEFULNESS BY OUR PAST VICTORIES, NOR SHOULD WE BE DEBILITATED BY OUR PAST SINS AND FAILURES.

5. AND UNFORTUNATELY, MANY CHRISTIANS ARE SO DISTRACTED BY THE PAST THAT THEY CAN'T FOCUS NOW.

* YET ON THE OTHER HAND, SOME THINK THAT BECAUSE THEY TAUGHT A BIBLE STUDY OR DIRECTED SOMEONE TO THE LORD IN THE PAST, THEY DON'T NEED TO MINISTER NOW, THEY'VE DONE THEIR PART, LET SOMEONE ELSE DO IT, I'VE DONE MY PART.

** NOW THE OTHER EXTREME IS OTHERS ARE HUNG UP ON GUILT FROM THE PAST, THINKING THEIR MISTAKES WERE SO BAD THAT GOD CAN'T FORGIVE THEM OR USE THEM.

* NOT SO. YOU MUST RECEIVE GOD'S FORGIVENESS AND STAND ON THAT, PSALM 86:5, PROVERBS 28:13, I JOHN 1:9.

** SO IT'S NOT A MATTER OF FORGIVING YOURSELF BUT RECEIVING GOD'S FORGIVENESS, TAKING HIM AT HIS WORD. LEARNING FROM THE PAST, BUT DON'T LIVE IN THE PAST.

*** AND NOTE THAT I BELIEVE TO FORGET HERE MEANS NO LONGER TO BE INFLUENCED OR AFFECTED BY IT, NOT TO FAIL TO REMEMBER BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO TOTALLY FORGET.

6. FORGETTING THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE BEHIND DOES NOT SUGGEST AN IMPOSSIBLE FEAT OF MENTAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL GYMNASTICS BY WHICH WE TRY TO ERASE THE SIN AND MISTAKES AND SUCCESSES OF THE PAST. WE ARE NOT COMPUTERS WHERE WE CAN ERASE A DISK.

* IT SIMPLY MEANS THAT WE BREAK THE POWER OF THE PAST BY LIVING FOR THE FUTURE, REACHING FORTH UNTO THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE BEFORE.

** BELOVED, WE CANNOT CHANGE THE PAST, BUT WE CAN CHANGE THE MEANING OF THE PAST. WE CAN LEARN FROM THE PAST.

7. AND OUR NEED AS A CHURCH AND AS A FAMILY IS TO REACH FORWARD TO THAT WHICH LIES AHEAD, TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE AHEAD OF US AND WE HAVE MANY.

* AND THE THINGS WHICH ARE BEHIND MUST BE SET ASIDE AND THE THINGS WHICH ARE BEFORE MUST TAKE THEIR PLACE. AND THAT IS THE DIRECTION THAT WE MUST HAVE, WE MUST GO FORWARD.

** AND THAT THOUGHT LEADS TO OUR LAST POINT TODAY, THE DETERMINATION TO DO IT. (QUICKLY WE'LL LOOK AT V. 14).

III. THE DETERMINATION, (READ V. 14)

A. NOW PAUL SAID I PRESS ON (FORWARD) TOWARD THE GOAL. AND THE WORD PRESS HERE IS THE SAME VERB USED IN V. 12 WHERE IT SAYS I PRESS ON.

* AND HERE'S WHERE WE GET THE DETERMINATION, THIS WORD AGAIN COMMUNICATES AN INTENSE ENDEAVOR, TO STRETCH FORTH AFTER, TO PURSUE. IT IS A DETERMINATION.

** AND PAUL'S PURSUIT, HIS GOAL, WHAT HE WAS DETERMINED TO DO WAS TO BE LIKE CHRIST. AND PAUL REALIZED HE WOULD RECEIVE HIS REWARD WHEN GOD'S UPWARD CALL CAME, WHEN GOD CALLED HIM HOME.

1. AND BELOVED, THE UPWARD CALL OF GOD IS OUR MOTIVATION TO RUN THE RACE. WE SHOULD LIVE IN LIGHT OF BEING CALLED OUT OF THIS WORLD AT ANY TIME INTO THE PRESENCE OF GOD, WHERE WE'LL RECEIVE AN ETERNAL REWARD, SOMEDAY PAY DAY.

* IT WILL BE WORTH IT ALL WHEN WE SEE JESUS, IT WILL BE WORTH THE PRESSING, THE PURSUING OF THE GOAL, FOR THEN WE WILL BE TOTALLY LIKE HIM.

** AND LET ME REMIND ALL OF US THAT KNOW CHRIST THAT WE WERE VILE, GODLESS SINNERS ON OUR WAY TO HELL WHEN THE LORD LAID HOLD OF US, WHEN HE APPREHENDED US AND QUICKENED US THAT HE MIGHT ETERNALLY MAKE US LIKE HIS OWN SON.

2. WHAT GRACE!! AND PAUL LIVED WITH THAT HOPE IN MIND, THE UPWARD CALL AND AT THE END OF HIS MINISTRY HE WROTE: (READ II TIM. 4:6-8).

IN CLOSING THIS MORNING: (1) LET ME SAY A MAN OR WOMAN DOES NOT BECOME A WINNING ATHLETE BY LISTENING TO LECTURES, WATCHING MOVIES, READING BOOKS AND CHEERING AT GAMES. THOSE THINGS CAN HELP YES.

* HE OR SHE BECOMES A WINNING ATHLETE BY GETTING INTO THE GAME AND TRAINING FOR THE GAMES, PRESSING ON, BEING DISCIPLINED, SACRIFICING.

** AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE MUST DO IF WE ARE GOING TO FOCUS FOR THE PRIZE. IT'S GOING TO TAKE DISCIPLINE, SACRIFICE, AND COMMITMENT TO FULFILL OUR GOAL. WORDS THAT ARE NOT POPULAR.

(2) AND OH TO GOD THAT WE AS BELIEVERS COULD BE AS COMMITTED AND DEDICATED TO CHRIST AS ATHLETES ARE TODAY TO SPORTS, FOR FAME THAT WILL PASS, FOR MONEY THAT WILL NOT SATISFY, AND FOR THINGS THAT WILL PASS AWAY.

* BELOVED, LET'S FOCUS AND REFOCUS AS BELIEVERS. LET'S FOCUS AND REFOCUS AS A CHURCH.

** AND IN DOING THAT, LET'S FORGET THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE BEHIND AND REACH FORWARD FOR THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE BEFORE, PRESSING TOWARD THE GOAL OF THE UPWARD CALLING OF CHRIST JESUS. (LET'S FOCUS FOR THE PRIZE!!)

*** AND IN DOING THAT, LET ME MAKE SOME PRACTICAL SIMPLE SUGGESTIONS - SOME BASICS.

(3) NO. 1 SET ASIDE A TIME EACH DAY TO BE IN THE WORD AND PRAYER. AND READ IN A SYSTEMATIC WAY.

* NO. 2 MAKE THE CORPORATE GATHERINGS OF THIS FAMILY A PRIORITY IN YOUR LIFE.

** NO. 3 COMMIT YOURSELF IN DOING A RED BOOK WITH AT LEAST ONE PERSON THIS YEAR.

**** AND NO. 4 COMMIT YOURSELF TO BE A BETTER STEWARD OF YOUR TIME, YOUR TALENTS AND YOUR TREASURE.

***** READ VV. 13&14.

(4) BELOVED, MAY WE FOCUS ON THE PRIZE IN 2003. (PRAY)