INTRO: Our church motto is here at our church is WE.GROW. HERE. literally suggesting that as your Pastor and church I'm very intentional about the numerical and spiritual development our church. Which means it is Not God plan for any of us to remain the same when come. you may come to church one way but there should a desire for growth and development. And Not only in our personal life but even in the life of church collectively we should not desire to stay the same way. Theres a quote that says

‘progress is found in the courage to move forward, even when the path is unclear. Stagnation is the enemy of growth, But perseverance turns every step, no matter how small,into a victory.”

Literally suggesting that we should always find our self pursing progress moving onward and forward to what God has called us to do. No matter what we are to keep pressing on.

Summary: In Philippians 3:14, The Apostle Paul expresses his determination to press on towards the ultimate goal of the Christian life – the prize of the heavenly calling in Christ Jesus. This verse encapsulates the essence of perseverance in faith, emphasizing the importance of forward motion in our spiritual journey despite challenges.

Application: This sermon encourages Christians to remain focused on their spiritual goals, no matter what our past victories are or failures we should constantly be moving onward and forward to the place that God is calling us

1. Persistently Forgetting the Past

Philippians 3:13

13 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,

Exegesis: The Philippians looked on Paul and he is aware as the typical christian, but more than ever now. When he was offering his life for his religion he stood out as their great example to them, yet he confess that when he examines his life own life.

He still finds that that he has a long way to go. Paul who is one who has done great and mighty things.

When we back up to verse 4-6 Paul gives us his trophy case and accomplishment.

Lets us know he was a true Israelite by race and descent he was member of the the nation of Israel he was not a not racial half-breed but he was full blood Jew.

in other words he came from the right stock out of the tribe of Benjamin.

Not Only that but Paul would have receive the great mark of the circumcised-on the 8th day.

But he didn't stop there he lets us knows that he even when to the right school and had education he was a pharisee which he was taught by the right people and not only that he was Hebrew of Hebrews was keeper of the law. Paul was one of mant accomplishments but not many wins paul had to deal with some failures in his life and some wrong doing he would be the one who drag out and persecute christian.

Again Paul disclaimed having attained conformity to Christ.

He viewed his experience as similar to a runner's.

He did not look back.

The apostle did not mean that he refused to remember things that had happened to him in the past, which included past failures as well as past successes.

He had just reviewed some of those things. He meant that he did not rest in his heritage (v. 5) or in his past attainments (vv. 5-6).

He had abandoned the unworthy goal that he had pursued in the past. Now he had a new goal toward which he was looking and running.

Application: Brothers and sister here the word for us that no we should never put out of our mind our our past victory and past failures because there are lesson we can learn from them but God does not want us to live there.

Heres the truth of the matter many time we allow the past victories or failures to make us become stagnant in our development and growth in christ.

even in past Failures we can sometimes allow past failures to cause us to lose confidence in our self to press forward in The direction in which God has called us to be.

2. Straining and pressing forward

Philippians 3:14 :I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Exegesis: He has spoken of one aim and now imagines a race in which is focus on a single goal. Paul says says the runner is lost if he or she is constanly looking back but must be fixed on and focused on the end result and that is the prize of Jesus christ.

Paul is pressing hi was way to the Goal hes not letting nothing stop him or detour he him but he is pressing his way. Paul here uses the word press. now this word in its original meaning to actively pursue.

In other words he was not just going day by day barely making it. with the attitude of if i make it i make it if i don't i don't but he is pressing his way he is pursuing with all his heart his mind and soul to obtain the prize that he is going.

Application: Like Paul we must be one tracked mined and that is having the mind to obtain the goal that God has for us. pursing it with all of our might stretching forward and reaching with all our might. Even if we have Opposition we must press through hard times press through disappointment press keep pressing until reach the Goal in which we we are set out to accomplish.