Our Highest Calling

Philippians 3:12-14 NKJV
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. 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, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 

Philippians 3:12-14 MSG
I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.

Looking Back/Review
He Chose Us —> We Delight In Him —> We Press Towards our High Calling

---

Don’t Look Back

• Have we allowed the reality of the Gospel to affect every situation and circumstance of the past?
  • Victories
  • Failures
  • Relationships
  • Hurts

High Calling

• Ephesians 4:1-4I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with long-suffering, bearing with one another in love,  endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

• Romans 11:29For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

• 1 Corinthians 1:27-31 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”
  • One writer paraphrased Paul this way, “God often uses the cheesy to confound the sophisticated. He regularly honors those who are confused about his leading as if they have nailed it.” (Mark Galli)
    
    
• The HIGH CALLING is NOT about:
  • POWER
  • POSITION
  • PEOPLE

• The HIGH CALLING is about HIM, it brings hope and isn’t given based on our great qualification or performance. It is given by GRACE.
  • John 17:3And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
  • Hebrews 11:5-6 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him,for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. 
  • Philippians 3:7-10But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 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, 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: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

Press On

• Press – “To urge with force or weight;  denoting the application of any power, physical or moral, to something that is to be moved or affected.” 
• There will be obstacles
  • Woman with Issue of Blood – Luke 8:43-48 (She knew that is she could but touch him…)
• Giving ourselves entirely
  • 1 Timothy 4:14-16Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you. 
    • What does progress look like?
      • It means God’s hidden work in us is oozing out. It does NOT mean that we are becoming more and more like each other – that’s peer pressure.
• We WILL NOT arrive
  • Palm Sunday
    • Matthew 21:4 – Fulfilled prophesies from Zechariah 9: