JRS 77
9/7/2025
Excelling in Endurance; Excel Still More (Part 6)
Philippians 3:12-14
Jesse Randolph

Well, today is a day that is marked by both beginnings and endings. 
Beginnings . . . in that with todayÕs service, of course, and our Fall Kickoff event later this afternoon, weÕre officially launching a new ministry year at Indian Hills.  And then, endings, because the Excel Still More series that weÕve been going through in the month of August weÕll be wrapping up with this morningÕs message. 

This is message six or six and of course, in the first five messages weÕve considered a variety of different topics. WeÕve looked at ÒExcelling in ExaltationÓ, that was our first week, where we considered how easy it is in a Bible teaching church like ours, to wane in our attention and devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ. We must be careful to maintain that focus on ÒRemembering Jesus ChristÓ as II Timothy 2:8 commands us. 

Then we considered the importance of ÒExcelling in EmbracingÓ where from Romans 15:7, we were reminded of that responsibility we each have to ÒacceptÓ or ÒwelcomeÓ Òone another, just as Christ also [welcomed] accepted us to the glory of God.Ó We were charged to overcome whatÕs maybe normal or convenient, and always be mindful of being a welcoming church, in every respect. 

After that, we considered the importance of ÒExcelling in EngagementÓ. That sermon was rooted in Romans 15:14, which reminds us that as believers who have been Òfilled with all knowledgeÓ and that certainly describes us here at Indian Hills. We have a responsibility now to Òadmonish one another.Ó To be human conduits of the truth that we know from GodÕs Word, to encourage and exhort, and counsel one another with a heavy emphasis on the words Òone anotherÓ. A healthy faithful church is always going to have a core commitment to ministering to Òone another.Ó To carrying out the Òone anotherÕsÓ given to us in the New Testament. 

Then we considered the importance of Excelling in EquippingÓ where we looked at Titus 2:1-8, and were given some key reminder from that text, about how important it is to have older-to-younger relationships happening throughout the church. Mentoring, training, discipleship relationships where those relationships are not the exception in the church, but rather the rule. 

Last week, we considered the importance of ÒExcelling in Evangelism.Ó Where we looked at Romans 6:23, ÒFor the wages of sin is death.Ó We stared death in the face, as it were using the reality of death as a prompt to remind us of the urgency of our mission. To tell sinners all over this town, that salvation from sin, and the hope of eternal life, can be found through faith in Jesus Christ alone.

Now, today in sermon number six in this series weÕre going to consider the importance of ÒExcelling in Endurance.Ó As a church which is committed to ÒExcelling Still MoreÓ, weÕre going to consider how important it is to adopt the mindset of the Apostle Paul, of endurance, of perseverance as heÕs going to lay out for us in a passage of scripture that weÕll be working through this morning. 

In fact, go ahead and turn with me, in your Bibles to Philippians 3. That will be our text for this morning. It was actually read in the scripture reading, a portion of it. But weÕre going to be looking at Philippians 3:12-14 this morning. GodÕs Word reads, ÒNot that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brothers, I do not consider myself as having laid hold of it yet, but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.Ó

This is a wonderful text of scripture. It is a text which is really all about endurance in the Christian life. As the follower of Christ knowing what awaits him, knowing what awaits her in glory, aims to grow progressively into the SaviorÕs image. ItÕs a text in which Paul uses this very vivid athletic imagery to help us focus our eyes, as it were, on the prize. My goal this morning is to unleash this text on all of us here this morning and then let the word do its work. Then IÕll bring it back to some application later, for us to chew on and think about as a church. 

We have four points this morning. Four points that correspond to these three verses that capture PaulÕs flow of thought here. In verse 12, the first part there, weÕre going to look at the call to Sensibility. In the second half of verse 12, thereÕs a call to Strive. Verse 13, thereÕs a call to Singularity.
And verse 14, thereÕs a call to have Stamina. So, Sensibility, Striving, Singularity and Stamina.

Now, before we get into our first point here. You know, weÕre not in this regular series in Philippians right now. I canÕt wait to preach through the book as a whole one day. But letÕs give some time to review whatÕs going on in this letter. PaulÕs letter to the Philippians is likely written sometime around 61 A.D. At this time, Paul is imprisoned in Rome. If fact, you can go with me back to Philippians 1. WeÕll get some of the context here, by putting our eyes on the page. Philippians 1:12 gives us some clues as to the situation Paul is in, as he writes our words in Philippians 3. He says, Philippians 1:12, ÒNow I want you to know, brothers, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, so that my chains in Christ have become well know throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else, and that most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord because of my chains, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear.Ó Now, those two references that you see there in those verses to ÒchainsÓ highlight the fact that Paul is in prison as heÕs writing these words. The mention of Òthe whole praetorian guardÓ points to the fact that Paul was in prison in a specific place namely, Rome. Because the Òpraetorian guardÓ during this time in history, was a group of troops that was assigned to protect Caesar the Emperor in Rome. So, Paul is imprisoned in Rome, and from Rome, heÕs writing to this church in Philippi. 

Now, in terms of PaulÕs connection to this church at Philippi that takes us all the way back to his second missionary journey. In fact, go with me back to Acts 16, where we see some references here, as Luke is writing, about PaulÕs second missionary journey. PaulÕs second missionary journey happened about a decade earlier before he wrote the letter to the Philippians. The chapter here in  Acts 16 begins with Paul at Derbe and Lystra. ThatÕs where he and Silas link up with Timothy, thatÕs in verse 1. Then down to verse 6 of Acts 16, we see the traveling party heading in this northwesterly direction. They are going Òthrough [the] Phrygian and Galatian region.Ó And from there, we go to verse 8, and we see that they are Òpassing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.Ó 

Now, from where they started in Jerusalem on this second missionary journey, and getting all the way to Troas, by way of reference, geographical reference, itÕs about 1200 miles that separate those two regions, those two cities. So, we have a lot of distance between the two. HeÕs made some ground. Then look at verse 11, ÒSo setting sail from Troas.Ó Troas was a coastal city on the eastern edge of the Aegean Sea. And then Luke here says, Òwe ran a straight course to Samothrace.Ó ThatÕs an island in the middle of the Aegean Sea. Òand on the day following [he says] to Neapolis.Ó Which was a city on the opposite side of the Aegean Sea from Troas. So, theyÕve sailed from one side to the other, of the Aegean Sea. Now, look at verse 12, Òand from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia, a Roman colony; and we were staying in this city for some days.Ó

So, the point of laying all of this out for you, is to let you see with your own eyes that Paul did make it, at some point in his earlier ministry, to Philippi, a full decade before he wrote the letter to the Philippians. While he was in Philippi, as we keep reading on here, we see that Paul did minister in this territory, in this town. It was in this town, verse 14, that Òa woman named LydiaÓ was converted. Look at verse 14 of Acts 16. ÒAnd a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening, whose heart the Lord opened [to pay attention] to the things spoken by Paul. ÒThen PaulÕs ministry, along with Silas, there in Philippi, keeps making an impact in Philippi. We know that until then there were people in this town that were making a living with fortune telling. ThatÕs how they made their revenue and whenever you take away someoneÕs source of revenue, theyÕre not happy. ThatÕs what happened with Paul, as he kept preaching the gospel in Philippi and eventually, he and Silas were thrown into jail. Look at verses 23-24 of chapter 16, ÒAnd when they had inflicted them with many wounds, they threw them [meaning Paul and Silas] into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely, who, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.Ó It was there, while they were jailed in Philippi, we look at verse 25, that they were Òsinging hymns of praise to God.Ó Then, an earthquake struck, and this leads, as we keep looking at the text here, the prison doors swinging open. It leads to this jailer who was on duty that night, there in Philippi to ask Paul and Silas a question in verse 30, ÒSirs, what must I do to be saved?Ó ÒAnd they [verse 31] said, Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your house.Ó So, from this quick run-through in Acts, what weÕre seeing is that Paul had an impactful ministry a full decade earlier or so there in the city of Philippi. 

Now, moving back to Philippians, some ten years later, Paul finds himself imprisoned again, this time in Rome and this time, as we just looked at, under the watch of the Òpraetorian guard.Ó Paul, at this point, was facing an eventual trial at the hands of the Emperor in Rome. He knew that his life was at stake, and he knew that death could come for him soon. In fact, go back to Philippians 1 again. Look at Philippians 1:20. Paul references his Òearnest expectation and hopeÓ that what? Well, he says: Òthat I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.Ó And then come these familiar words in verse 21: ÒFor to me, to live is Christ [you could finish the sentence for him] and to die is gain.Ó

So, on the one hand thereÕs this real sense in which death is hanging over PaulÕs letter to the Philippians as heÕs writing from this Roman prison. But on the other hand, as we make our way through Philippians, we see that thereÕs this definite cord of joy that is repeatedly struck throughout this letter. In fact, PaulÕs letter to the Philippians has often been called the Òepistle of joyÓ and rightly so. Because throughout Philippians we see Paul, though imprisoned, though he was facing death, saying things like this and you can follow along with me. IÕm going to read through these really quickly.
Philippians 1:4, he says he is Òalways offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all.Ó 
Or Philippians 1:18, he says, ÒChrist is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice.Ó
Or Philippians 1:25, he knows he has work to do on this earth, to see that the PhilippiansÕ Òprogress and joy in the faith.Ó
Philippians 2:2, he asks the Philippians to Òfulfill my joy.Ó 
Philippians 2:17, we see PaulÕs eternal perspective here yet again, he says, ÒBut even if I am being poured out as a drink offeringÓ thatÕs a metaphor for death Òupon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all.Ó
They look at verse 18, he says, ÒAnd you also, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.Ó
Philippians 2:29, he encourages the Philippians to receive Epaphroditus, who was the carrier of this letter, Òin the Lord with all joyÓ
Philippians 3:1, he says, ÒFinally, by brothers, rejoice in the Lord.Ó
Philippians 4:1, he calls the believers at Philippi Òmy joy and crown.Ó 
And then we all know this one in Philippians 4:4, ÒRejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, rejoice.Ó

So, in terms of background, weÕve a lot going on here in Philippians. We have an apostle on trial. We have the reality of death hanging over him. We have him writing to this church that he had visited over a decade before. And though Paul is on trial, heÕs making these repeated references to his own joy in the Lord, not withstanding his circumstances. What heÕs doing is also spurring this church, the church at Philippi, on to greater and greater joy in the Lord, not withstanding their circumstances. So, Philippians as a whole, is just this wonderful letter. ItÕs this encouraging letter at the same time, as weÕre going to see though, is a challenging letter. 
In the middle of it all, back to our passage we have this gem of a passage. This beautifully stitched together three verses, where we see Paul modeling again: Sensibility, Striving, Singularity and Stamina. Four characteristics which any individual follower of Jesus Christ, and any church of Jesus Christ needs to possess in order to ÒExcel Still MoreÓ, and to ÒExcel in Endurance.Ó

So, back to our first point here, Sensibility. Look again at verse 12, Philippians 3:12. Paul begins here with these words, he says, ÒNot that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect.Ó ItÕs been said that Òsatisfaction is the grave of progress.Ó I think Paul would agree. I mean, think what Paul already had. Going back to his pre-conversion days. Look up the page just a bit, at Philippians 3:4, you see the list here of all that Paul had in his early days. He says, ÒIf anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless.Ó

That was PaulÕs ÒB.C.Ó story. He was a noble, learned Jew who came from the right line, the right people, the right tribe. He was this man of unmatched zeal. He was this man who was relentless in his pursuit of perfection, as under the Law, at least. He was unparalleled in his pursuit of perfection, according to the Law of Moses. But then he says, verse 7, ÒBut whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.Ó Then he expands of that idea in verse 8, he says, ÒMore than that, I count all things to be loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ and be found in Him.Ó So, that was Paul the Hebrew. Paul the Israelite. Paul the Jew. According to that worldview, he had it all. But now, looking in the rearview, with eyes of faith those scales having fallen off, he calls all that he once had, all that he once was, ÒrubbishÓ . . . skubalon . . . dung. ThatÕs the idea here.

Well, we sometimes forget. We look at that passage and we think thatÕs all Paul has in view here, this B.C. state of Paul, and this new creation state of Paul. But we sometimes forget, as we look at the entire life of Paul, that even after he became a follower of Jesus Christ, he was a man of great privilege spiritually speaking, he had a lot more than you and I have going on, we can say that. Right? I mean, this is the man who had a personal encounter with the risen Lord Jesus, on the road to Damascus in Acts 9. You and I havenÕt had that experience. Right? This was a man who became an Apostle of Christ. And became an early foundation stone of the early church. This is a man who worked miracles. This is a man who peaked into the third heaven, as he says in II Corinthians 12. This is a man who planted several churches in the ancient world. This is a man who had a brilliant theological mind. This is a man who wrote 13 or our 27 New Testament letters, 14, if you want to arm-wrestle me about whether he wrote Hebrews or not. In other words, Paul had some truly incredible experiences and opportunities spiritually speaking. Yet here he is in verse 12 saying, what? ÒNot that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect.Ó

ItÕs said of Kobe Bryant, former shooting guard for the L.A. Lakers Hall of Fame shooting guard for the L.A. Lakers that man had an unparalleled work ethic, Kobe Bryant. He was always the first guy on his team, even going back to his high school days, to be in the gym. He was 16, 17 years old, and heÕd be at the gym at 5:00 in the morning, hours before his teammates. Then he gets to the NBA, and you think, oh heÕll probably throttle back a bit, and start showing up at 10:00 in the morning, right? No. He made it even earlier when he got to the NBA, he would get there at 4:00 am sometimes 3:00am to start shooting and working out. He had an unparalleled work ethic. He was intense. He was driven. He was focused. There are stories about him, that when he would play his teammates, one-on-one, they would think something like, ok, weÕre going to play to 10, right? Maybe 21? He would insist that they play to 100 every single time. There are stories about him injuring his right shoulder, his shooting arm, his shooting shoulder, and playing a whole game with his left arm. There are stories about him getting fouled, and in the process, tearing his Achilles tendon. And then popping right back up on that torn Achilles and shooting the two free throws at the charity stripe and then exiting the game before he goes on to surgery. He was an absolute machine relentlessly pursuing greatness, tirelessly pursuing excellence. He was widely considered to be one of the most excellent players in NBA history. Always striving, always looking, he had all the reasons, as much as he had to throttle it back. But he never did. He worked harder and harder and harder. He strived harder to be even more excellent at his craft. 

ThereÕs a parallel, albeit a loose parallel with the Apostle Paul. Paul, of course, was not concerned about a round orange ball making it into a hoop. Paul was not concerned about his next shoe deal, as Kobe Bryant was. But Paul had a holy dissatisfaction about him. ThatÕs the connection here. He had a sense of blessed discontentment at all times. Paul knew he had a long way to go. He knew he had a lot of room to grow. And it motivated him. 

ThatÕs what heÕs saying here in verse 12, ÒNot that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect.Ó Now, that first expression, or those first two words, Ònot thatÓ, those are words of negative disclaimer. They are right on the heels of verses 10 and 11 there. Where Paul, you see, is expressing his desire to, ÒKnow Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.Ó So, what Paul was getting after here now, in verse 12, is that, well, in this whole section, heÕs looking forward to that day, where he would be with the Lord. HeÕs looking forward to that day where he would one day pass out of this world, in death, just as Jesus did. And he would one day rise like Jesus be resurrected from the dead. 

But here, back in verse 12, we see that that day had not arrived yet. Paul had not yet arrived on the golden shores of glory. Instead, his feet were very much planted yet here on earth. ThatÕs what he means with those words, ÒNot that I have already obtained it.Ó Paul here, if I can paraphrase is saying, ÒIÕm not where I want to be.Ó ÒIÕm not with the very object of my hope Ð Jesus Himself.Ó 

And then, still in verse 12, note those next few words, he says: Òor have already become perfect.Ó Now, those words link back to those first two words, ÒNot that.Ó So, itÕs, ÒNot that I have already obtained it.Ó And
ÒNot that I have already become perfect.Ó IÕve not become; IÕve not reached moral and spiritual perfection. Paul is identifying the fact; he knows that he has this secure position in Christ. But he also knows that he hasnÕt been perfected in Christ. HeÕs saying here, ÒIÕve not been completely sanctified.Ó ÒI havenÕt reached that state of glorified perfection that I know I will one day reach, when I am with Him.Ó Paul, in other words, knew that he had many privileges as a follower of Christ.  He knew that he had many accomplishments that he could point to as an Apostle of Christ. Yet, he had this realistic assessment of himself. This sensible assessment of himself. He knew that he still had plenty of room to grow.  

PaulÕs sensible realistic assessment of himself comes out in many different writings of his. Like in I Corinthians 13:12, Paul admits that his knowledge at that time is incomplete. There, he says, ÒNow I know in partÓ but then he says, Òbut thenÓ meaning in the future ÒI will know fully just as I also have been fully known.Ó So, heÕs conceding there in that passage that he was imperfect in his knowledge. 

Paul also was the one that would call on his followers to imitate him, as he imitated Christ; I Corinthians 11:1. But then he would also say in other places like II Corinthians 7:1, that he was Òperfecting holiness in the fear of God.Ó ThatÕs a statement that he had not yet arrived. Then thereÕs this, in Ephesians 3:20. Paul would speak of the Òpower that work[ed] with in [him].Ó Philippians 4:13, the verse that athletes write on their sneakers. Paul would say: ÒI can do all things through Him who strengthens me.Ó
On the other hand, though, he would say in other places that he was still battling, and still weak in various areas. He had this thorn in his flesh and it was through that thorn in his flesh that GodÕs Òpower [was] is perfected II Corinthians 12:9, in his weakness.Ó He hadnÕt yet arrived and then thereÕs this. Paul was the one, when it comes to prayer, who would tell others that they needed to be Òpraying in the SpiritÓ Ephesians 6:18. That they needed to be Òpray[ing] without ceasing,Ó I Thessalonians 5:17. But on the other hand, Paul was also the one who, in Romans 8:26 signifies that he doesnÕt always know how to pray as he ought. He says in Romans 8:26, Òwe do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.Ó

So, what each of those examples reveals to us that IÕve just rattled off, is that though Paul had been given a lot and though Paul had experienced a lot. Though Paul certainly knew a lot. He had not yet arrived. You know, Paul, of course, was satisfied with Jesus Christ Himself. Paul, of course, was satisfied with his position in Christ. Paul, of course, would have known, heÕs the one who gave us these words that thereÕs no better place to be than to be Òin Christ.Ó But what Paul was not satisfied with was his progress in Christ. He wasnÕt satisfied with his own life in Christ. He wasnÕt striving for a better position there could be no better position, than to be in Christ. But he was continually striving for a better walk. He was continually striving for a stronger walk. He hadnÕt yet attained the prize. He hadnÕt yet become perfect. He hadnÕt yet reached the goal. And so, with these many imperfections that he still had, which the Lord was, you know, progressively buffing out of him that was motivation for Paul. He has, throughout the New Testament letters he wrote, this obvious sense of holy dissatisfaction, blessed discontentment, it continually fueled him. 

Now, we carry over to our day and we have to ask the question if the Apostle Paul had that degree of holy dissatisfaction. If the Apostle Paul had that degree of humble, honest dissatisfaction. How dissatisfied ought we be with our progress in the faith? Right? I can use an illustration. The Apostle Paul is like a brand-new Mercedes wagon with a couple of scratches on it. WeÕre like a Õ75 Plymouth Duster, with those pie-tin hubcaps and the muffler falling off. Right?
We need to be sensible. Sensible about our weaknesses. Sensible about our shortcomings. Sensible about how much further we must go as individual believers Ð and by extension, as a church. You know that sensibility like the sensibility Paul is demonstrating right here is going to be an essential ingredient in Excelling Still More. Because if we donÕt have that sensibility. If we donÕt have that sensitivity. If we donÕt have that sense of awareness. You know, if we ever get to the place where individually or as a collective body of believers, we get to that place of thinking: ÒIÕve prayed enough.Ó ÒIÕve read enough Bible.Ó ÒIÕve heard enough sermons especially from you.Ó ÒYou know, IÕve given enough.Ó ÒIÕve sacrificed enough.Ó ÒIÕve shown up enough.Ó ÒIÕve shared enough.Ó ÒIÕve served the Lord enough.Ó ÒIÕm about as godly as I need to be.Ó If we ever get to that place, any one of us, what an absolutely dangerous place that is to be. To think that we donÕt need to progress, to advance, to grow. And to do so under the banner of so-called ÒmaturityÓ, is actually shining light on immaturity. 

What we need to learn from PaulÕs words in verse 12 here then, the beginning part is the importance of being sensible. The importance of always being aware that weÕre not where we need to be, spiritually. The importance of being clued into the fact that we havenÕt been perfected. We have much to learn. We have many areas where we still need to grow. The importance of being sensitive to the truth, that the Spirit has a lot of work to do yet in every single one of us. Individually, of course, as He molds us and shapes us into the image of Jesus, GodÕs Son. And of course, corporately, as He makes us the church, He wants us to be.

That takes us to our second point. WeÕve considered Sensibility here from the passage. Now, we want to look at:

STRIVING	
Striving is point 2, if youÕre taking notes. After saying, ÒNot that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect.Ó Paul next says this, still in verse 12, Òbut I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.Ó

So, while believers who seek to ÒExcel Still MoreÓ and ÒExcel in Endurance.Ó are first marked by their sensibility. They are also marked by striving. Striving as they recognize that they havenÕt reached the goal of being like Christ. Like a runner in a race, they are earnestly striving to pursue that goal. ThatÕs exactly what Paul is describing here. 

With that first statement, ÒBut I press on.Ó ÒI press onÓ he says. HeÕs using a Greek word Ð dioko Ð which literally means Òto follow after.Ó But it was often used in the context of athletics. To describe some sort of aggressive, energetic endeavor like running or sprinting.  Paul here, by using that word, is saying that merely being aware of, sensible about oneÕs need to grow spiritually, thatÕs not enough. No. There must be action. There must be diligent pursuit of the goal. There must be this focused pursuit of the prize. ÒI press on.Ó Paul wasnÕt a ÒJesus take the wheelÓ kind of guy. No. He pursued Christian growth with all of his strength. He urged others to do the same. You can jot down a few references here:
Colossians 1:29, Paul in describing the Christian Walk there, is not describing it as Òa walk in the park.Ó Instead, he uses the word ÒlaborÓ and Òstriving.Ó Another passage, I Timothy 6:12, where Paul is charging Timothy not to Òlet go and let God.Ó But to Òfight the good fight of faith.Ó
Or hereÕs another one, Acts 14:22, where weÕre told that Paul, as heÕs going to places like Lystra and Iconium, and Antioch is saying things like: ÒThrough many afflictions we must enter the kingdom of God.Ó

In other words. Paul was not only sensible, in the sense that he was realistic. But he knew of his need to keep his feet moving. He knew that he had not reached, in the ultimate sense, true spiritual maturity, so he was pressing on. He was running the race. He was striving to win. He was pursuing the goal of sanctification with all of his might. Straining every spiritual muscle to gain, to win the prize. His language here is very reminiscent of what he would say elsewhere, like in I Corinthians 9:24, 
ÒDo you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.Ó His language echoes what the author of Hebrews would write in Hebrews 12:1-2,
ÒTherefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, laying aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith.Ó Paul wasnÕt Òpress[ing] onÓ in his flesh. You know, he wasnÕt a self-willed kind of guy. That would be more like the Kobe Bryant example. He wasnÕt doing any of this for himself. No. Look at the next part of our passage, still in verse 12. After saying Òbut I press onÓ he gives us the Òwhy.Ó He says, I press on Òso that [thereÕs the purpose statement, so that] I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.Ó

That was the goal of PaulÕs striving. That was the aim of all of his strenuous efforts. HeÕs using an intentional bit of wordsmithery here sanctified wordsmithery with his double use of that expression Ð Òlay hold ofÓ or Òlay hold.Ó HeÕs saying here that just as Jesus Christ had laid hold of him. Just as Jesus Christ had captured him and gripped him when He saved him. Just as Jesus Christ had made Paul His prize as a trophy of His grace. Paul was now seeking to run after His prize. He was now seeking to be more like Christ. He was seeking to be more like Christ, as he looked forward to one day being with Christ. Paul had been captured by Christ. Now his own thoughts were captive to obeying Christ and growing in Christ and growing to be more like Christ. 

See, Jesus didnÕt save Paul because He needed Paul. Right? Jesus didnÕt save Paul because He thought heaven might be empty without Paul. ThereÕs a song about that somewhere donÕt listen to it. No. Jesus saved Paul, to sanctify Paul. He saved Paul, to purify Paul. He saved Paul, to conform Paul into His own image. In fact, go with me over to Romans 8. WeÕll just look at one passage here, one verse 29. Romans 8:29, Paul, of course, is writing here by means of the Holy Spirit, and he says, ÒBecause those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son.Ó WeÕll leave it right there.

Now, everybody and their grandmother wants to debate the first few words of that passage, right? Everybody wants to debate those words about divine foreknowledge. They want to debate predestination. They want to debate election. ThatÕs all well and good. I will say this. Note how those concepts, as Paul lays them out here in Romans 8:29 Ð foreknowledge predestination. They are simply taken as a given by Paul in this passage. HeÕs not making a case for it. HeÕs just stating it. So, these arenÕt Calvinistic doctrines, these are Biblical doctrines. 

But bigger picture and keeping it on track here. The main purpose of this passage, as you read it in its fullness, verse 29, in the full context of the thought here is that GodÕs purpose in saving us, is that we would become conformed, made into, the likeness of His Son the image of His Son. God chose Paul. God saved Paul with the ultimate purpose of conforming Paul into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. And if God chose you, here this morning, if you are in Christ, He did the same thing for you. He gave you the same purpose.

God saved us not only for heaven. He saved us for holiness. Now that we are in Christ what we have lying before us is this lifelong pursuit of holiness of Christlikeness. Our goal, in other words, in this life, as Christians, with the Spirit living in us, aligns completely with ChristÕs goal in saving us. We strain ourselves spiritually, in our pursuit of holiness, in our pursuit of godliness. In our pursuit of Christlikeness and our pursuit of sanctification. Because Christ saved us for that very purpose. We, to employ the language here of verse 12, Òpress onÓ, IÕm back in Philippians 3. We Òpress on so that [we] may lay hold of that for which also [we were] laid hold of by Christ Jesus.Ó

ThereÕs an alignment with His will in saving us, and our purpose in this life. ThatÕs a loaded term, if there ever was one in our day Ð purpose. A lot of people these days are asking ÒWhat is my purpose here on earth?Ó ÒWhat is my purpose in this life?Ó There are books with those very titles ÒThe Purpose Driven Life.Ó Right? Well, if you are in Christ. If you are already firmly within the grip of His grace. YouÕve already been given that answer. Your purpose is to bring glory to God by becoming more like His Son by the power of His Spirit. That is your purpose in this life. Christians who are ÒExcelling Still MoreÓ, are Christians who are growing in godliness and churches which are committed to ÒExcelling Still MoreÓ, are filled with members who share in that common aim of Christlikeness. To become more and more like their Savior. 

Moving on to verse 13 and our third point this morning. Look at verse 13. Philippians 3:13, Paul here says, ÒBrothers, I do not consider myself as having laid hold of it yet, but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead.Ó Our third point this morning, if youÕre taking notes, is Singularity. WeÕve looked at Sensibility. WeÕve looked at Stiving. Now, itÕs:

SINGULARITY
Specifically, that singularity of focus that we are all called to have, as we fix our eyes on Christ, and our blessed hope through Him. To get us started here, look at the first half of verse 13. He begins with ÒBrothersÓ. ThatÕs a term of endearment and affection. And then, ÒI do not consider myself as having laid hold of it yet,Ó Paul is being intentionally redundant here remember, he said something very similar back in verse 12. Verse 12 he says, ÒNot that IÕve already obtained it.Ó and here in verse 13, ÒI do not consider myself as having laid hold of it yet.Ó Meaning, he had not yet laid hold of or grabbed onto his prize of glory to be in his glorious, one-day resurrected body to be in the presence, one-day of his glorious, resurrected Savior to be finally in that state of sin-free glorious perfection. Through intentional repetition here Paul is underscoring the truth that he wasnÕt there, yet he hadnÕt yet arrived. Though we enjoyed a 68-to-nothing drubbing last night we also havenÕt arrived. WeÕre still here. Last night was fun on the Big10 network, but we are very aware, day by day, of where we are, and how much further we have to go. 

Then, still, verse 13, Paul makes this important turn in his train of thought, with this language. He says, ÒBrothers, I do not consider myself as having laid hold of it yet, [ then look at this] but one thing I do.Ó ÒBut one thing I do.Ó That is a crystal-clear statement of singularity. Paul wasnÕt going to give here a laundry list of things he had to do. He wasnÕt going to mention a whole host of things he wanted to do. ItÕs: ÒBut one thing I do.Ó D.L. Moody once said, ÒIt is better to say, Ôthis one thing I doÕ than to say, Ôthese forty things I dabble in.Ó That was Paul, he had one driving compulsion, which was to be more and more like Christ. ÒForgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead.Ó

ThereÕs a famous story thatÕs been told, in fact I was hesitant to tell it, thinking itÕs probably been told here many times. Or youÕve heard it at some point, as you listen to various programs. But thereÕs this famous story that comes from the world of competitive running. The story involves two men Roger Bannister and John Landy. In the 1950Õs, these were two men who had individually and on different tracts, been the first two to break the four-minute mile mark. Like two heavyweight prize fighters Bannister and Landy were scheduled to race each other in 1954, in Vancouver and it was this much-heralded event. You can actually find the video of this later, not now. But for most of the event, Landy was in the lead and Bannister was strategically trailing him. Just sort of conserving energy until he was going to do the final burst at the end. But on the final lap Bannister clearly began gaining ground on Landy. He started getting very close to Landy. Then Landy, apparently feeling BannisterÕs footsteps behind him, or maybe even the breath on his neck, Landy, famously, looked back. He looked over his left shoulder, as heÕs making the turn and wouldnÕt you know it, Bannister flies by him on the right and wins the race. Well, LandyÕs peek over that left shoulder is a fitting illustration. ItÕs one, like I said, has been used many times in preaching this text to explain what Paul is getting after here in Phillipians 3:13. Where he says, Òforget[ing] what lies behind and reach[ing] forward to what lies ahead.Ó Landy looked back. Paul did not. 

Now, to be fair. ItÕs not like Paul was ignorant of what was behind him. ItÕs not like he had somehow deleted, robotically his past. We know thatÕs not true. We know from Philippians 3; he recalled that he was circumcised on the eighth day. He was of the nation of Israel. Of the tribe of Benjamin. Hebrew of Hebrews. As to the Law, a Pharisee ect., ect. So, itÕs not like Paul was ignorant of his history. ItÕs not as though he thought, ÔItÕs just not there. I donÕt even think about it anymore or contend with it anymore.Õ But what heÕs communicating here is that he needs to Òforget[ting] what lies behind and reach[ing] forward to what lies ahead.Ó All those personal accomplishments of Paul. All of what he had done before. It didnÕt matter anymore. ThatÕs what heÕs saying here. His sights were now set higher. His focus was now even sharper on what he needed to do today and where he needed to go in the future, for the sake of Christ. He was now a man, Paul was, with a single purpose. A man with one aim. A man with one ambition, which was Òto reach forward to what lies aheadÓ he says. 

Now, that word Òreach forwardÓ is highly descriptive in Greek. It means to Òstretch out after.Ó ItÕs again, describing the athletic contest. ItÕs describing a race. It means Òto stretch a muscle to its limit.Ó ItÕs what I canÕt do in a tight suit this morning. Right? To stretch all the way out into that first row right there. The picture here is of a runner, exerting extreme effort stretching every muscle in his body to reach what is in front of him, the prize. That was Paul. He was like this athlete in pursuit of Christ stretching forward leaning forward exerting himself, in order to cross that finish line having run his race. But to do that, note what he says here, to Òreach forward to what lies ahead.Ó He had to be this man of singular devotion and focus. Meaning, as it says, verse 13, he had to be committed to Òforgetting what lies behind.Ó He couldnÕt be like John Landy that man that was looking back over his shoulder. He couldnÕt be a man like John Landy, as he looked back over his shoulder, was getting past on the other side. There was no looking back for Paul. He couldnÕt look back. His past, all of it, was in rearview. No good runner, as far as I know, runs around with a rearview mirror in their hands. No, they are running forward. They are aiming for the prize. 

Carrying that over to our context, to land the point. Those who seek to ÒExcel Still More.Ó Those who seek to run the race faithfully as individual followers of Christ and together as a church. They donÕt allow themselves to be slowed down by the shadows of their past. Meaning, your past, my past, our churchÕs past. Really has nothing to do with our call right now, to be faithful to the Lord today. It really has nothing to do with our call to be, right now, faithful to the Lord as we seek to do whatever He would have us do in the future. 

This is where believers, especially those believers who have been believers for a good long while. Believers who would consider themselves mature tend to really get tripped up. TheyÕll say things like, ÒYou know, there was that one time I led someone to the Lord.Ó Great! Have you shared the gospel since the Internet was invented? Or, theyÕll say things like, ÒWhen I first got saved, I couldnÕt put down my Bible. Great! Why are those Bible pages stuck together? Why is it so hard to get into the word, like it once was before? TheyÕll say things like, ÒYou know, let me tell you, I used to be so on fire for the Lord.Ó Wonderful! But what about today? 

Then, on a church-wide scale there can be that same paralysis thatÕs induced by an undue focus on our past.  That mentality can come out in a whole number of different expressions, ÒYou Know, itÕs just not the way it used to be around here anymore.Ó ÒThings were better back whenever.Ó
ÒWasnÕt it great when?Ó ÒDo you remember when?Ó Let me tell you, that is not only unhelpful to be unwilling to wriggle ourselves out of this straitjacket of the Ð ÒweÕve always done it this wayÓ mentality. ItÕs unbiblical. What does Paul say in verse 13? That he continually looks behind to see whatÕs behind, that heÕs emphasizing what lies behind. That he needs to regularly consider and consult with what likes behind? No! He says, Òbut one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind.Ó He was committed to forgetting what lay behind him. And thatÕs because what lay behind him had nothing to do, in his context, with the work he had to do for the Lord that day, and in the future.  

LetÕs put this back in its athletic context, this text. By going back to what this picture Paul is painting of this race. This athletic contest. He clearly has a race in view here and what the picture heÕs painting with his words, are runners standing on the line or maybe squatting, sitting on the line. I was never a runner. They are getting ready to start sprinting, whatever that race involves. Right? TheyÕre getting ready. I think I know enough about running, to know that a successful runner when he crouches down in that in that thing I think itÕs called a block? Or is it called Òthe blocks?Ó You can be responsive now ÒblocksÓ, I heard an ÒsÓ. So, he gets down in those blocks, right? I hope thatÕs right. Ethan can edit it later. But he gets down in those blocks and thereÕs no way that runner, as he does so, looks left and right and says to the guys flanking him, ÒYou know, I used to be a really good runner.Ó Or ÒYou know, you should have seen me five years ago or ten years ago.Ó Right? No! He has one aim which is to get to the end of that race, victorious. No matter what he did before. No matter how many years ago he experienced racing glory. 

ThatÕs what our text is communicating to us today. That our call is to run todayÕs race. Not yesterdayÕs race. If weÕre not committed to that, then thereÕs no way to move forward. If weÕre still functioning here in the church as though itÕs 1987 or 1997 or 2007, fighting the battles of the mid-nineties, letÕs say thatÕs like being that runner whoÕs looking sideways and not looking forward. Looking back and not looking forward. That runner is totally distracted. That runner is totally hampered. That runner will be running as though he has a ball and chain tethered to his ankle and heÕs not going to go anywhere. Our call is to put our hand to the plow today. To pursue the prize today.  Not looking back, but looking forward, today. Our call is to crouch down, to get into those you said they are blocks to get into those blocks. Get into position and start running straight ahead. 
ÒForgetting what lies behind reaching forward to what lies ahead.Ó ThatÕs what Paul is picturing for us in this text. 

That brings us to verse 14 and our fourth point this morning. Note the language there, verse 14, ÒI press on [he says] toward the goal for the prize of the upward call or God in Christ Jesus.Ó
HereÕs our fourth point:

STAMINA
So, itÕs Sensibility, Striving, Singularity, Stamina. Now, weÕve already seen those words ÒI press onÓ back in verse 12. Again, the Greek word is dioko. It means Òto follow after.Ó But in the athletic realm, itÕs used to describe running a race. As he repeated himself here, Paul was stressing the importance of running this race running this race in a specific direction, Òtoward the goalÓ he says. ÒI press on toward the goal.Ó  And the ÒgoalÓ that which he sought to Òlay hold ofÓ, back in verse 12 was Christlikeness, as we saw. ThatÕs what Paul wanted. That was his goal. If he couldnÕt be with Christ right away, he wanted, at least, to made more like Christ, while he waited to be with Him. 

With that ÒgoalÓ in mind. Paul knew that eventually, when he crossed that threshold of eternity. When he finished his race. He would receive his Òprize.Ó ÒI press on toward the goal, for the prizeÓ and note, itÕs the Òprize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.Ó That upward call of God language is describing each of GodÕs purposes in choosing us before the foundation of the world. That is the upward call of God. That wraps into it, everything from Him saving us from our sin.  His making us joint heirs with Christ His preparing for us an eternal home in glory and His giving us a goal right now, in these bodies, on earth. And in the meantime, which is to pursue Christlikeness. 

What about the ÒprizeÓ itself? What is the Òprize?Ó WhatÕs the ÒprizeÓ heÕs referring to in verse 14? I donÕt think the ÒprizeÓ is actually a ÒwhatÓ, I think the ÒprizeÓ is a ÒWho.Ó Yes, a day is coming when, in glory, Paul was and we will receive victorÕs wreath, a crown of righteousness.  Yes, a day is coming when, in glory, where Paul would be given his eternal reward, for running his race well. But the real prize was the fact that he would one day be with his Savior. That he would one day be with Jesus, the One he was earnestly striving to follow in his life. 

HeÕs the prize, folks. Jesus is the prize. Our prize, ultimately, isnÕt about escaping the miseries of this world and sickness and death and sadness. Our prize, ultimately, isnÕt even about reuniting with loved ones who have gone on before us, who knew the Lord. Our prize isnÕt streets of gold, ultimately. Our prize isnÕt having tears wiped away from our cheeks, so to speak. That isnÕt the ultimate prize. Our prize, fundamentally, is Jesus Himself. The prize is to be able to worship Him in His presence. To stand before Him. To see His face. To the glory and praise of God. I John 3:2, ÒBelove, now we are children of God, and it has not been manifested as yet what we will be. We know that when He is manifested, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.Ó Amen. Those words, like Phillipians 3, ought to motivate everyone of us to run this race well. To Excel Still More. To Excel in Endurance. Speaking of which, and with that. It is time for me to formally wrap up and wrap up this series. 

Now, for some of you, as I say, weÕre going to wrap up this series. WeÕre done with Excel Still More. ThatÕs going to come as a word of relief for you. For some of you, this series has not been your cup of tea. You havenÕt appreciated the challenges that have been coming forth from this pulpit the last five Sunday mornings. IÕll say this, if you find yourself in that group, I do want to remind you that we all need to hold up the mirror from time to time to see what itÕs revealing. I also want to say, by way of encouragement, that there is no doubt that we have members in our church who are excelling in a variety of areas. And we have members of our church who do excel in their exaltation, daily, of their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We do have members who excel in how the welcome people into this church. And we do have members who excel in how they minister to one another. And we do have members who excel in training and investing in the next generation. And we do have those who excel in evangelizing, ensuring the hope thatÕs within. 

But if youÕre a truly humble follower of Jesus Christ, even if you are excelling in certain categories, like weÕve worked through over the past few weeks. The truly humble here, the truly mature here. Will, of course be aware of the fact that thereÕs still room to grow. There is room to Excel Still More.  You will adopt that mentality:
ÒI do need to be mindful of my tendencies to wane in my devotion to Christ.Ó
ÒAnd I do need to be better about getting to know some of the new people here.Ó
ÒAnd I do need to have a few people over for dinner this year. To invest in them, and to pour into them.Ó
ÒAnd if IÕm older, I do need to pour into somebody whoÕs younger in this church.Ó
ÒAnd I do need to step out of my comfort zone from time to time.Ó
ThatÕs all something any mature believer would get behind. 

So, thatÕs my encouragement to you. If you were in that category. If youÕve been a bit sour on this series, either because itÕs not our normal verse-by-verse exposition through a book of the Bible. Or you just donÕt think itÕs my place to step on toes. Or you think IÕve been mean-spirited. Whatever it is, fine. We can have that debate later. You can send me an email. We can talk about it, as brothers in Christ. But letÕs as least have you be willing to hear the Biblical charges that have been made from the scriptures. Be praying the Holy Spirit would soften your heart, to see where those areas are in your life, that you still do need to grow as we all do.

Now, for those who are in the other category. Maybe youÕve been more encouraged by the series. And you think, this series has shed some needed light on where we need to go as a church, here at Indians Hills. Well, my encouragement to you, if youÕre in that camp; would be, to not forget these sermons. To not let them fly away. Instead, go back to them. Listen to them down the road. Do so with an open Bible. See all the scriptures that were referenced. Hear the heart that was behind them and let them spur you on. I have to say that if this series and whatÕs been communicated in this series, is forgotten by Christmas you know, elbowed out of the way, because weÕre back into the routine of the normal programs that we run around the church. I fundamentally believe that we will have missed a major opportunity, as a church, to Excel Still More. 

LetÕs not let that happen. Instead, letÕs take whatÕs been preached these past six weeks, letÕs commit to doing something about it. LetÕs remember that God is not done with the good work that He is doing here at Indian Hills. LetÕs reach forward to what lies ahead. LetÕs pray.

Father, thank You for this time this morning. Thank You for the privilege it is to work through text like these and be reminded of how much more we have to go. How much more distance we have to run, as we run our race. I do pray that this series has been an encouragement, a challenge. I do pray it has pricked where it needs to prick, pinched where it needs to pinch, but lifted up where it needed to lift up. God, I pray that we would come away from this series, a better church a stronger church a healthier church. One that is vibrant and alive through the ministry of the Word of God. One that is set up of a successful future of bringing You praise, as Your Word goes out. Thank You for these dear people. Thank You for their commitment to You, and their commitment to Jesus Christ. ItÕs in His name we pray. Amen