Built to Press On

As we continue this study in the Book of Philippians, for those who are just joining us, this is a very personal and powerful letter meant to encourage the believers in this church in Philippi, to have joy in their lives regardless of their circumstances – because they could be confident in the work that Christ has begun in them. Remember, they didn’t start the work, they couldn’t sustain the work, and they couldn’t finish the work. God started it, He sustains it, and He will finish it. And if anyone could say that, it was the Apostle Paul, as he is writing this letter of joy and encouragement chained up as a prisoner in a Roman Prison – yet Paul realized he was not a prisoner of Rome – but a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

As we continue in this study, let me preface today’s message with this Ice Breaker Question: Have you ever started something strong, but somewhere along the way, you lost momentum?

I mean, you were fired up in the beginning. You had passion. You had direction. But then life hit – Distractions came – and you found yourself weary. And before you knew it, you weren’t moving forward anymore. You haven’t quit – but you’re not growing. You’re Just stuck.

And if we’re honest, that’s where a lot of believers live.

• Saved – but stalled.
• Moving – but not progressing.
• Riding – but not advancing.

And here’s the truth: The Christian life was never meant to be parked – it was meant to be pursued.

In Philippians 3:1–11, Paul told us what it means to know Christ. Now in verses 12–16, he shows us what it looks like to chase after Him daily.

And here’s the big idea this morning: Real faith doesn’t coast, it presses on. So the question is: Are you still pursuing Christ… or have you stuck in neutral?

YOU PRESS ON BY REALIZING YOU HAVEN’T ARRIVED (v.12a)

Paul says, “Not that I have already reached the goal or am already perfect . . .” Let that sink in. This is Paul talking.

• The same Paul who wrote most of the New Testament.
• The same Paul who planted churches.
• The same Paul who suffered, preached, and lived boldly.

And he says, “I haven’t reached the goal, I haven’t attained, I haven’t arrived.” If Paul hasn’t arrived – you haven’t either. And neither have I. But here’s the problem … A lot of people live like they have.

• They get comfortable.
• They get complacent.
• They stop growing.

They think, “I’ve been in church long enough.” “I know enough Scripture.” “I’ve done enough.”

But real faith stays hungry. Let me put it in biker terms: That’s like riding a few miles and saying, “I’ve mastered it.”

No – you haven’t. There’s always more road. More to learn. More growth ahead.

Paul says, “I haven’t arrived… but I press on.” That word means:

• To pursue aggressively.
• To chase it down.
• To go after it with everything you’ve got.

So let me ask you, Are you still growing… or just maintaining? Because real faith never says, “I’m good.” It says, “There’s more of Christ to know.”

YOU PRESS ON BY PURSUING CHRIST WITH PURPOSE (v.12b)

Paul says, “But I make every effort to take hold of it (to apprehend it) because I also have been taken hold of (I have been apprehended) by Christ Jesus.”

That’s a powerful statement. Paul says, “I’m chasing the very purpose Christ saved me for.” In other words, Jesus didn’t just save you FROM something…He saved you FOR something.

You weren’t just rescued from sin – you were called into purpose.

Let me say it like this, Jesus didn’t pull you out of the ditch just so you could sit on the side of the road. He pulled you out so you could ride; so you could move; so you could live on mission. But too many believers stop at salvation. They get saved…but never step into purpose.

Paul says “Not me. “I’m going after it.”

Let me ask you, “Do you know why God saved you? Are you pursuing His purpose for your life? Or are you just coasting? Because real faith doesn’t just believe – it pursues.

YOU PRESS ON BY LETTING GO OF THE PAST (v.13)

Paul says, “This one thing I do… forgetting what is behind behind…”

Now don’t miss this. Paul had a past. A rough one.

• He persecuted Christians.
• He made mistakes.
• He had regrets.

But he says, “I’m not living back there anymore.” And some of you need to hear this today, because you’re stuck in your past.

• Past failures
• Past sins
• Past regrets

And every time you try to move forward – you keep looking in the rearview mirror.

Let me tell you something: You can’t move forward if you keep looking back. Try riding like that – you’ll wreck.

Now listen, it works both ways. Some people are stuck in their failures…But others are stuck in their successes. Living off what they used to do for God. Talking about “back in the day…” But not doing anything now.

Paul says, “This one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead.” In other words, Paul is saying, “I’ve got one focus – not looking back, but moving forward.” Paul determined that he wasn’t gonna let his past hinder his present!”

So, let me ask you: What are you holding onto that’s behind you? Because whatever it is – it’s slowing you down.

YOU PRESS ON BY PURSING THE GOAL (v.14)

Paul says, “I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus.”

This is the heart of the passage – “I pursue, I press…”

• That’s intensity.
• That’s focus.
• That’s determination.

Paul is saying, “I’m not drifting, I’m driving.” He’s locked in on the goal. And what’s the goal? CHRIST.

• Knowing Him.
• Becoming like Him.
• Living for Him.

Let me put it in biker terms: That’s like locking your eyes on the road ahead, not the distractions around you. Because if you start looking at everything else…You’ll drift.

• You’ll lose focus.
• You might even crash.

And that’s what happens spiritually. People get distracted:

• By the world
• By comfort
• By other priorities

And before they know it, they’re off course. Paul says, “No. I’m pressing toward the mark.”

So let me ask you: What direction is your life headed? Because whatever you’re focused on, that’s where you’re going.

YOU PRESS ON BY WALKING IN UNITY AND MATURITY (vv.15–16)

Paul closes with this, “Therefore, let all of us who are mature think this way (be like minded)” In other words: “This is how we become mature Christians.”

• By growing.
• By pressing.
• By pursuing Christ.

And then he says, “In any case, we should live up to whatever truth we have attained.” The King James Bible says, “Let us walk by the same rule… mind the same thing.”

• That’s unity.
• That’s alignment.
• That’s the body moving in the same direction.

Let me say it like this: You don’t want to ride with a group that’s all going different directions. That’s chaos. A healthy church is moving forward together. Growing together. Pursuing Christ together.

So let me ask you: Are you aligned with what God is doing? Are you growing in maturity? Or, are you just along for the ride? Because the greatest sign of a maturing, growing church is when it is moving forward in its faith – together.

Let me bring this home. Picture two riders:

One is coasting…

• barely moving…
• no direction…
• no urgency.

The other is locked in…

• Eyes forward.
• Throttle steady.
• Moving with purpose.

Only one is making progress. So here’s the challenge this morning:

• Get out of neutral.
• Stop settling.
• Stop looking back.

And press on. Because there’s more of Christ to know. More growth ahead. More purpose to live out. Like Paul, Don’t allow your past to hinder the present! You weren’t saved to sit still – You were saved to move forward. Let me finish by reading verse 16 in the NLT, “We must hold on to the progress we have already made.” So church, let’s stop giving up ground, and Let’s move forward Full Throttle with Jesus.