Press Toward the Mark

If you have a bible, let's turn to Philippians chapter 3, verses 13 and 14.

Philippians 3:13 and 14:

(13) Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, (14) I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Tonight we're going to talk about what Paul meant when he said, "I press toward the mark." And here's the one big idea to remember:

Every child of God has a race to run, a Christ to know, and the power of holy spirit already at work in them — so press toward the mark and expect God's blessings every day.

We're going to look at three things together:

• What it means to press toward the mark

• What we need to lay aside to run our race

• What the mark really is — and the power that's already in you

But don't take my word for it. Let's dig into the Word.

Topic #1. Pressing Toward the Mark

Have you ever watched a race? Maybe it was the Olympics, or your high school or college-level track race.

But here's what you notice about real runners: they wear almost nothing. No heavy coat. No backpack. No wool hat. They strip down to shorts, a tank top, and a pair of shoes. Why?

Because every ounce of extra weight slows them down. Paul knew this. He lived in a time (2,000 years ago) when the Greek athletic games were the Super Bowl of the ancient world. Back then, everybody understood foot races. So when Paul wanted to paint a picture of the Christian life, he reached right for the racetrack.

Look at that word "press" in verse 14. It comes from the Greek word diōkō (pronounced dee-OH-koh). I use the blueletterbible.com app. Diōkō means to run swiftly after something, to pursue it, to chase it down until you catch it. It's the picture of a runner sprinting for the finish line with every fiber of her being, locked onto that goal.

Paul is saying, "I'm not strolling. I'm not window-shopping. I'm running. Hard. Toward one thing."

And "the mark" — that's the finish line. The goal. The thing we're aiming at. So what's the finish line for a son or daughter of God?

Paul tells us: "the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." We're going to unpack exactly what that means in just a minute.

Topic #2. Lay It Aside

Now, how can we apply this verse to our lives?

Paul said in verse 13, "forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before."

Let me ask you something. Do you really think Paul forgot his past? Do you think the man who wrote half the New Testament couldn't remember what he had for breakfast?

Of course he remembered.

"Forgetting" here doesn't mean completely losing your memory. What it actually means is… no longer caring for — no longer giving your attention or your time to — the things that are behind you.

Think of it this way. If you're driving down the highway, heading to the beach, you've got a rearview mirror. You glance at it now and then. But if you stare at that rearview mirror the whole trip, you're going to end up in a ditch. You'll crash!

The past is in our rearview mirror. A quick glance, that's fine. A steady stare, not a chance.

Now, what was in Paul's rearview mirror? Look at Philippians 3, just a few verses back. Paul lists his credentials. He describes who he WAS:

Philippians 3:5 and 6:

(5) Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; (6) Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

Paul was the blue-blooded, Ivy-League, top-of-his-class Pharisee. He had the resume. He was "a somebody" of the Jewish Law.

And look what he said about all of it in verses 7 and 8:

(7) But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. (8) Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.

Dung. That's the King James way of saying shit. Paul said, "All that stuff I used to be proud of? Trash compared to knowing Christ."

Here's the question for us: what are we carrying right now that's slowing us down?

For Paul, it was his religious resume. For us, it might be:

• An old hurt we keep picking at

• A habit we know isn't helping us

• A fear of what other people will think

• A distraction that eats up our time

• A past failure we keep rehearsing in our minds

Let me give you an example from my own life.

Have you ever picked up your phone in the morning… just for a quick glance, and suddenly it's forty-five minutes later, you've scrolled through a ton of videos and pics… about things… you can't control… and didn't even ask to see. I've been there.

Now, the phone can't make me lose my salvation. I'm born again. I'm a child of God. I'm righteous. And nothing can take that away from me. BUT… what it shows me… can be extra weight that I'm carrying… in the race of life.

So, maybe… I can start leaving it in another room. And instead… remind myself of God's blessings in my life, or maybe remember a favorite verse in the morning instead. It's just one small change. But a huge difference.

Whatever weight we’re carrying — let’s lay it aside. Forget those things which are behind. Not because it makes me a bad person to remember it. But because I can't run with it strapped to my back.

Topic #3. What's the Mark?

Philippians 3:14 says, "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

So what exactly are we pressing toward? What IS the mark? Well, Paul already told us. We just need to back up a few verses.

Philippians 3:10:

That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.

Right there. That's what Paul is running after. "That I may know him." Know Jesus Christ. Not just know ABOUT him, but actually know him. It's personal. It's deep.

And look what comes next in verse 10: "and the power of his resurrection." Paul wanted to know Christ AND walk in that power. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead. Paul wanted a piece of that.

Not somewhere down the road. Not in some far-off future. Right now. In this life.

Now, somebody might think, "Well, that's Paul. He was an apostle. That's not for me."

Back up one more verse.

Philippians 3:9:

And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.

You're righteous. Not because you worked for it. Not because you earned it. By faith — translated from the Greek word "pistis" — by believing.

Paul didn't press toward the mark hoping God would accept him. He knew he was already accepted. That's the foundation. Everything else is built on top of that. Faith, or believing. 

You're a child of God. You're righteous. You've got Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). You've got holy spirit on the inside. That's already true. God has already done his part.

So what's our part? Keep reading.

Philippians 3:16:

Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

Let us walk… in what we've already got. Whatever God has already made available — let’s walk in it. 

THAT is pressing toward the mark.

It's not climbing a ladder trying to reach God. He already came to you. He's already in you.

Pressing toward the mark is walking, day by day, in the power that's already there. Knowing Christ. Believing bigger. Expecting results.

Because believing equals receiving.

Every morning is a new… lap around the track. Every day is a new opportunity… to believe God for something. Every day… is a day to expect God to bless you.

Believe. Believe… God for your family. Your health. Prosperity. Love. Open doors. Wisdom. Miracles — big ones and small ones.

That's what pressing toward the mark looks like in real life. Not straining. Not striving. It's walking in what's already yours… and believing God to show up. And he always does. Because that's what a good Father does.

Now, look at how Paul wraps up the whole chapter.

Philippians 3:21:

Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

That word "working" in Greek is energeō (en-er-GEH-oh). It's where we get our English word "energy." It means power at work. Operation. Active, getting-things-done power.

Paul says this same power — the same power that will one day change our bodies to be like Christ's glorious body — is able to "subdue all things." Put everything in its place. Handle anything.

And guess where that power is right now?

In you.

That same working power. That same energeō. At work. On the inside. Ready to go.

That's what we're running toward.

Press toward the mark.

Let's Recap

Here's what we learned tonight:

"Press toward the mark" means to run, with purpose, toward knowing Christ and walking in power.

"Forgetting those things which are behind" doesn't mean losing your memory. It means no longer caring for the things behind you, so you can reach forward.

Paul laid aside his religious resume, because nothing compared to knowing Christ.

The mark isn't a far-off reward. It's knowing him, believing him, and walking in the power that's already in you.

The same energeō that raised Jesus from the dead is at work… inside of you right now.

And remember the one thing:

Every child of God has a race to run, a Christ to know, and the power of holy spirit already at work — so press toward the mark and expect God's blessings every day.

Do the Word

Here's your homework for this week. Two simple actions.

First, identify one weight. One thing you're carrying that's slowing you down. A distraction. A worry. A habit. A hurt from the past you keep staring at in the rearview mirror. Name it. Write it down on a post-it. Then lay it aside. Put the phone in another room during your time with God. Forgive the person you've been replaying an argument with in your head. Let go of the resume-item you keep thinking about. Whatever it is — stretch forward and reach for what's ahead.

Second, believe God for one specific thing this week. Pick one blessing. One miracle. One need. Something for you, for your family, for somebody you love. Write it down. Pray about it. Then believe you receive it. Expect God to show up. Because he will.

Believing equals receiving.

You've got the power on the inside to run this race and run it well. Holy Spirit… in you… is a fact. Christ in you… is a reality. And the same power that raised Jesus from the dead… is at work in you right now.

So lace up those running shoes. Travel light. Keep your head up and eyes forward.

Press toward the mark.

Amen?