(Philippians 3:10-12)…..that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
Never choose to be a worker! What are you saying Pastor Dan? Never choose to be a worker; but when God puts His call on you, woe to you if you turn to the right hand or the left. We don’t work for God because we decide to do so, but because God has laid hold of (apprehended) us. There is never any thought of, “Oh, well, I am not fitted for this.” What you are to preach is determined by God, not by your own natural inclinations. Remember that, as a Christian, you are called not to bear testimony only, but to preach the gospel. Every Christian must testify, but when it comes to the call to preach, there must be the agonizing grip of God’s hand on you, your life is in the grip of God for that one thing. How many of us are held like that?
Listen, never water down the word of God, for anyone, or for anything. Preach it in its undiluted sternness; there must be unflinching loyalty to the word of God by everyone that bears the name of Christ. When you come to personal dealings with your fellow man, remember who you are, not a special being made up in heaven, but a sinner that has been saved by grace.
(Philippians 3:13-14)…..13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Paul says this is the great motive of his life. He is not referring to the resurrection, he is referring back to verse 10. Not that I have exhausted the riches of knowing Christ. Not that I yet know all the power of his resurrection, or have been perfected so that I no longer need the fellowship of his sufferings. No, but I press on to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has laid hold of me.
Why are you existing? What are you here for? Have you discovered that for which God has laid hold of you? That part of his work he has in mind for you, for which he has laid hold of you? And power by which to live it, the power of his indwelling life? And an unshakeable platform of morality which can stand any examination? That is adequate living. May God grant we discover that.
‘Who am I?’ ‘Why am I here?’ We might also ask: ‘Who owns me?’ Do we respond with Paul: ‘Christ Jesus has made me his own’? Do we press on to lay hold of him and of his purpose for our lives?