Text Observation
12
Not that I have
already obtained this or am
already perfect, but I press on
to make it my own, because
Christ Jesus has made me his
own.
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,
14
I press on toward the goal
for the prize of the upward call
of God in Christ Jesus.
15
Let those of us who
are mature think this way, and
if in anything you think
otherwise, God will reveal that
also to you.
16
Only let us hold true to what
we have attained.
17
Brothers, join in imitating me,
and keep your eyes on those
who walk according to the
example you have in us.
18
For many, of whom I have
Questions
*obtained means acquire, get
or secure
*already means by now
*perfect means without fault,
flawless
*press on means to continue
moving forward
*own means belonging to
oneself or itself
*Consider means think about
*forgetting means put out of
one’s mind
*straining forward means
toward what is ahead. In
Greek in can mean, ‘to reach
out’, or to ‘lay out’
*goal means the object of a
person’s ambition or effort, an
aim or desired result.
*prize means a thing given as
a reward to the winner
*mature means fully developed
physically; full grown.
*anything means emphasis
*otherwise means differently or
in another way
*reveal means to make known
to others, disclose, tell, let out
*hold true means remain true,
continue to be true
*attained means
achieve,accomplish
*imitating means take or follow
as a model
*according means as stated by
or in
*example means specimen,
sample, exemplar
*many means a large number
Application
 Is their a certain level of
perfection one should attain
in order to show approved
in Christ?
 What is Paul referring to
‘make it his own’?
 Jesus Christ made Apostle
Paul his own --- own what?
 Where to press forward?
Forget what?
Straining forward to what?
What are the things that we
need to leave behind?
*What is the upward call of
God that is found in Christ
Jesus?
*Why do we need to press
toward this goal?
*What does maturity have to
do with pressing towards the
upward call of God in Christ
Jesus
How to keep aiming/pressing
towards the upward call?
What did we attain?
Why is there a need to hold
true to what was attained?
*why do we need to keep our
eyes on those who are
walking in Christ?
Who are considered the
Pressing on dictates motion –
always continuing to move
forward.
This is not about Paul per se,
but ‘making it his own’ is guided
by the fact that Jesus made him
his own, first.
There is a repeated phrase
pressing on --
Straining forward --
Walk accordingly --
Seems like a motion started by
God, to draw near to God --
Can you leave everything
behind just to know Jesus
Christ?
Believers are given an upward
call, and the way to do it, is
following through Christ’s
example.
Those who are in the walking in
the faith should re-energize
their ‘Christian Walk’ by being
reminded of the destination
Jesus Christ’s example – was
the only way to press on
towards
Paul is saying these in tears –
often told you and now tell
you even with tears, walk as
enemies of the cross of Christ.
19
Their end is destruction, their
god is their belly, and they
glory in their shame,
with minds set on earthly
things.
*tears mean drops of clear enemy of the cross of Christ?
salty liquids, teardrop,
crying,weeping, sobbing,
wailing
*end means the furthest or The ungodly have a Ungodliness has a definite end.
most extreme part or point of determined end ----
something The godly proceed to the
*destruction means ruin more eternal things
*belly means abdomen
*glory means takes pride
*shame means a painful
feeling of humiliation or
distress

20
But our citizenship is in
heaven, and from it we await a
Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
21
who will transform our lowly
body to be like his glorious
body, by the power that
enables him even to subject all
things to himself
*citizenship means a legal Who made our citizenship in Jesus is the sole reason for our
status and relation between an heaven possible? citizenship
individual and a state that
entails specific legal rights and
duties.
*transform means change, How This is God’s promise.
alter convert or metamorphose
*glorious means having a
striking beauty and splendor

Monthly Theme
May : Progressing Towards God’s Limitless Promises

Key Text: Philippians 3:12-21

When We Move Toward God
Pre-introduction
Good morning mga kapatid, I want to give emphasis on one word from our May theme, which is Progressing
Towards God’s Limitless Promises, that is Progressing which means, moving towards. We are motion creatures. We
always move. Even if we are not moving, say we are seated, our organs are still in motion.
For today’s sermon, I want to go take us in one type of motion that we all love to do. That is walking.

Introduction:
In life, we are always walking. Getting to the destination is affected by two things:
a. Speed
b. Direction
We should be able to track our motion/speed and we should point our feet into the right direction to arrive at the
destination that we desire.
God’s Word is filled with reminders, warnings and commands with regards to our manner of walking.
Psalm 1 says, blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, but meditates God’s law day and night.

 Also, the steps of a good man is ordered by the Lord. In Psalms 23, though I walk though the valley of the
shadows of death, I shall fear no evil. In 2 Corinthians we are command to walk by faith, not sight.
 1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus
Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
 Deuteronomy 10:12
“And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in
all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul,

“Ang tumatakbo ng matulin, pag masugat ay malalim

Napakaimportante ng paglakad mga kapatid. At sa ating binasang mga verses, isang tanong lamang ang kailangan
nating i-klaro sa umagang ito.
Kamusta po ang paglakad natin sa Panginoon?
Tayo ba ay naglalakad patungo o palayo sa Diyos?
Nevermind the speed, kasi I believe daig ng slow but sure ang mabilis pero mali yung direksyon ng tinahak.
. If you want to go fast, walk alone, if you want to far, go together.
In the verses that we have read, we are reminded of three realities when we move towards God
1. Moving towards God is Moving Against the World
Paul is pressing on, straining forward – these words do not mean the road is clear, light and easy. They
require a specific effort. Following Christ in today’s world is exactly described as that ---As our Lord Jesus
Christ made us His own, we can move towards Him. But again it is not going to be EASY.

Matthew 7
13 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and
there are many who enter through it. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is constricted that leads to life,
and there are few who find it.
*narrow
*constricted
It is not easy, however it leads to life as He had come to bring life and life that we could enjoy to the full

The World Hates the Disciples

 18“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19If you belonged to the world, it would love
you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why
the world hates you. 20Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ b If they
persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 21They
will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me.

2. Moving Towards God is Putting God Above Everything that We Consider Important and Valuable

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,

This is coming from a man whose credentials and service to God is utmost. He simply said, forget whatever
I have already achieved, that is nothing compared to what I have gained – I knew Jesus, I met Jesus, I
experienced Jesus, I had the chance to be His hands and feet in the world.

Mga kapatid, what are we willing to put in the line just to know our Lord Jesus Christ?
What are we willing to put away to give way for His blessings to flow in our house?
What are the things that we can call ‘rubbish’ in exchange of knowing Jesus Christ – His sacrifice, and love
for us?

3 . Those who walk as enemies of the Cross have a rather short trip with only one route:destruction
..those whose gods are there bellies..
…those who glory in their shame..
…minds are set on earthly things…
4. When We Move Towards God, He moves us towards eternity– All through Jesus Christ
Paul was so invested in following Christ’s examples. He always pointed out that our lives as a Christian
believers will be patterned after Jesus Christ’s examples himself. The suffering, being hated by the world,
honoring God with all of our lives, strength to endure sufferings and the hope that is to come.
‘

Before we progress to God’s limitless promises, we must first establish if we are heading that direction or
not. It is not because of the limitless being used here, but God, being with him trough eternity, The Prize of
the Upward Call in Christ Jesus is God Himself.

What makes heaven habitable for eternity is God and His glory.

Citizenship is a weighty word, it puts our living here in earth sensible.

Conclusion:
Let’s pray that we are moving. Moving towards God.
Are you closer to God more than when we first began?

Let’s pray mga kapatid.