Introduction: I like the life story of Glen Cunningham. When he was eight years old, his legs were badly burned in a schoolhouse fire. The doctor said he would never walk again. He claimed Isaiah 40:31 as his life’s verse. “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” After years of painful stretching and exercise, he began to walk, then run. With determination, he went on to set a new world record for the fastest mile. The Apostle Paul had a similar spiritual goal.
Transition: As we look at Paul’s goal for his life, I find three challenges that each of us ought to put into action.
1. We Must Believe That God Has a Plan for Our Lives (v.12)
A. God had a plan for Paul’s life
(1) God’s plan was “that for which he was apprehended of Christ Jesus.” The word “apprehend” means to lay hold on or to take possession of. When Paul got saved, God took hold of his life and had a plan for his future.
(2) In Paul’s case, God clearly told him what that plan was. He was sent to the Gentiles “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” (Ac 26:18)
(3) His goal in life was to apprehend (lay hold on) that for which God had appointed him.
(4) When he was on death-row in prison he wrote, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:” (2Ti 4:7)
B. God also has a plan for your life and mine.
(1) Many Christians live one day at a time trying to make ends meet and give no thought to God’s plan for their lives.
(2) You belong to God. “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1Co 6:19-20)
(3) God saved you to serve him. He wants you to live a godly separated life that looks, acts, and sounds Christ-honouring. He wants you to tell others about him. He wants you to get involved in this local church. He wants you to live for eternity. “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Col 3:2)
(4) Each of us must daily seek God’s will and then follow it. To the best of your knowledge, are you fulfilling God’s plan for your life? If not, start praying.
2. We Must Run Toward the Mark (v.13-14)
A. Paul pressed toward the mark
(1) He first admitted he had not yet taken full possession of God’s plan for his life (v.13). The race is still on.
(2) Paul began with preparation.
(a) He forgot the past – credentials, failures, successes
(b) He reached forward to the future – he desired to please God, live for eternity, serve the Lord, and fulfil God’s plan for his life.
(c) He then pressed toward the mark. To press means “to run swiftly,” “to strive to catch,” “to pursue,” “to seek after eagerly.” It is the exact Greek word translated “follow after” in (v.12).
(3) He had a single focus – to press toward the mark. If you told a group of young people to “Run,” the result would be confusion. They would run here and there with no purpose. But if I said, “Run around that big tree and back” they would run with purpose. To run with purpose, we need a mark to run towards.
(4) His goal was that of fulfilling God’s plan for his life. He had his eyes on pleasing Christ.
(5) He ran swiftly to win the prize. The prize was not the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. The race was the high calling. The prize is a crown of honour given to the winner. He longed to hear God’s “Well done!”
B. God also wants us to press toward the mark.
(1) We must learn from Paul’s passion. We are in a race to fulfil God’s plan for our lives.
(2) Do as Paul did.
(a) Forget the past. Looking back distracts the runner. If you have got distracted by a past failure, a past problem, or even a past victory, you must forget the past and get your eye on the goal.
(b) Reach to the future. Stretch forward. Get going in the right direction.
(c) Run swiftly toward the mark. Run toward the goal of fulfilling God’s plan for your life. Make it your life’s passion.
(3) Do these describe your life’s passion?
3. We Must Let Paul’s Example be Our Rule (v.15-16)
A. Based on these facts, Paul calls for submission
(1) Therefore – we too must run toward the mark.
(2) Those who are perfect (mature) should be of this understanding.
(3) Those who don’t see it yet, will if they submit to the Lord’s leading.
(a) Sometimes we just do not see Bible issues like more mature Christians do. It’s like a year three student trying to do geometry. They just don’t understand it yet, but in time, if they keep studying maths they will understand.
(b) When a preacher challenges you to raise your standard for God’s glory, don’t get upset. Dig in the Bible yourself and if the standard is God’s, then obey God!
(c) Submitting even when you don’t understand is good, but understanding and establishing a personal conviction is far better.
B. Based on previous cooperation, Paul calls for unity.
(1) He challenged his readers to walk orderly by this same rule.
(a) The word “rule” speaks of a “standard” or a “measuring rod.”
(b) The rule or standard was that Christians ought to press toward the mark to fulfil God’s plan for their lives.
(c) Paul challenged them to follow this rule and walk orderly.
(2) He also challenged them to be thinking the same. You see, our thoughts and actions must go together. If you do right to please your pastor, but in your heart you think differently, there will not be true unity. The same is true in a marriage. You may get along, but if you don’t think alike, you will never have true unity. Our thinking will unify as we yield our hearts to follow the Bible.
(3) On another occasion Paul wrote, “yea, let God be true, but every man a liar.” (Ro 3:4). If that is our desire, we will be unified around the Bible.
Conclusion: In our text we are challenged to believe that God has a plan for our lives, to run toward the mark, and to make this our rule. Do you know God’s plan for your life? If not, surrender all and ask him to show you what he wants. Are you running toward the mark or have you got distracted by things of the past? Focus on doing God’s will and run for the prize. Make this your rule of life.
