Why Jesus? Breaking Free- To Live Beyond
“Not that I have now attained [this ideal], or have already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of (grasp) and make my own, that for which Christ Jesus (the Messiah) has laid hold of me and made me His own. I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward." Philippians 3:12-14 (AM PC)
Coming to the end of anything reminds us of this never-ending truth – life goes on.
Someone has well said – the art of “letting go” is the best of all the arts.
The beauty of life taught by the running water of a river is – it only moves forward.
Spain once stamped on her coins the Pillars of Hercules and took as her motto – Ne plus ultra.
Nothing is more detrimental to your faith walk, more unworthy of God, or more draining to your life than being content to abide as you are.
Paul was forever striving to move onward, forward, reaching beyond his grasp. His ruling passion was to be found in Jesus, to know Him more intimately, to grow up into Him, to serve Him, and to be complete in Him. That was His dominant purpose – His aim.
He was driven by the “law of effort,” which says “we must do or we die. We must press on or we perish.”
Our spirit craves spiritual advancement, spiritual activity.
This was Paul’s most dominant goal, purpose in his life.
“I admit that I haven’t yet acquired the absolute fullness that I’m pursuing, but I run with passion into his abundance so that I may reach the purpose that Jesus Christ has called me to fulfill and wants me to discover. I don’t depend on my own strength to accomplish this; however I do have one compelling focus: I forget all of the past as I fasten my heart to the future instead. I run straight for the divine invitation of reaching the heavenly goal and gaining the victory-prize through the anointing of Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14 (TPT)
Paul is creating a spiritual capacity to fulfill his Heavenly calling. This transformation into His image is so that He can, with our cooperation, activate our divine purpose.
God wove your purpose into your DNA – He caused it, you discover it. Your destiny is determined by you, by your choices, decisions and how you respond to life.
Your potential in His Kingdom and in life is determined by your ability to access His resources. You break free from your past and live beyond your human limitations as you harness the transformational power of His Word and His Spirit. It is then you lay hold of your God-inspired, purpose-filled vision.
Here is Paul’s formula for breaking free and living beyond yourself:
1. Realize that you have not yet arrived.
Philippians 3:12 (TPT) – “…I haven’t yet acquired the absolute fullness that I’m pursuing…”
2. You must run with passion into God’s abundant provision.
Verse 12 – “…so that I may reach the purpose that Jesus Christ has called me to fulfill and wants me to discover.”
3. You must have one focus, your heart fixed on Jesus, your future, your prize.
Verse 14 – “…I forget all of the past…I fasten my heart to the future...reaching the heavenly goal and gaining the victory-prize…”
4. You must align yourself with His vision of you and for you.
Remember – He is never disappointed in you – but disappointed for you.
Always keep your eyes focused on “who” you are created to be. You have an upward call of God on your life – not a backward call or sideward call. Refuse to be complacent. Live your purpose with confidence.
You are unique – one-of-a-kind. No one else is like you. Live beyond yourself – tap into His amazing resources.
“Everything we could ever need for life and complete devotion to God has already been deposited in us by his divine power. For all this was lavished upon us through the rich experience of knowing him who has called us by name and invited us to come to him through a glorious manifestation of his goodness.” II Peter 1:3 (TPT)
Discussion Questions:
1. What things from your past are impeding your forward progress?
2. What goal are you focused on in 2020?
3. What is in you, at the deepest part of your life, that you need to discover?
4. What are you willing to "give up" in order to move forward?
Prayer Focus
I pray that as my spirit craves spiritual development, spiritual advancement and spiritual activity, I will break free from my past and take hold of the purpose God has for me and live beyond myself!
Next Steps
Daily align your life-- your choices, decisions, your relationships, your responses to circumstances- to His best for you so that you can live your purpose with confidence!
Coming to the end of anything reminds us of this never-ending truth – life goes on.
Someone has well said – the art of “letting go” is the best of all the arts.
The beauty of life taught by the running water of a river is – it only moves forward.
Spain once stamped on her coins the Pillars of Hercules and took as her motto – Ne plus ultra.
Nothing is more detrimental to your faith walk, more unworthy of God, or more draining to your life than being content to abide as you are.
Paul was forever striving to move onward, forward, reaching beyond his grasp. His ruling passion was to be found in Jesus, to know Him more intimately, to grow up into Him, to serve Him, and to be complete in Him. That was His dominant purpose – His aim.
He was driven by the “law of effort,” which says “we must do or we die. We must press on or we perish.”
Our spirit craves spiritual advancement, spiritual activity.
This was Paul’s most dominant goal, purpose in his life.
“I admit that I haven’t yet acquired the absolute fullness that I’m pursuing, but I run with passion into his abundance so that I may reach the purpose that Jesus Christ has called me to fulfill and wants me to discover. I don’t depend on my own strength to accomplish this; however I do have one compelling focus: I forget all of the past as I fasten my heart to the future instead. I run straight for the divine invitation of reaching the heavenly goal and gaining the victory-prize through the anointing of Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14 (TPT)
Paul is creating a spiritual capacity to fulfill his Heavenly calling. This transformation into His image is so that He can, with our cooperation, activate our divine purpose.
God wove your purpose into your DNA – He caused it, you discover it. Your destiny is determined by you, by your choices, decisions and how you respond to life.
Your potential in His Kingdom and in life is determined by your ability to access His resources. You break free from your past and live beyond your human limitations as you harness the transformational power of His Word and His Spirit. It is then you lay hold of your God-inspired, purpose-filled vision.
Here is Paul’s formula for breaking free and living beyond yourself:
1. Realize that you have not yet arrived.
Philippians 3:12 (TPT) – “…I haven’t yet acquired the absolute fullness that I’m pursuing…”
2. You must run with passion into God’s abundant provision.
Verse 12 – “…so that I may reach the purpose that Jesus Christ has called me to fulfill and wants me to discover.”
3. You must have one focus, your heart fixed on Jesus, your future, your prize.
Verse 14 – “…I forget all of the past…I fasten my heart to the future...reaching the heavenly goal and gaining the victory-prize…”
4. You must align yourself with His vision of you and for you.
Remember – He is never disappointed in you – but disappointed for you.
Always keep your eyes focused on “who” you are created to be. You have an upward call of God on your life – not a backward call or sideward call. Refuse to be complacent. Live your purpose with confidence.
You are unique – one-of-a-kind. No one else is like you. Live beyond yourself – tap into His amazing resources.
“Everything we could ever need for life and complete devotion to God has already been deposited in us by his divine power. For all this was lavished upon us through the rich experience of knowing him who has called us by name and invited us to come to him through a glorious manifestation of his goodness.” II Peter 1:3 (TPT)
Discussion Questions:
1. What things from your past are impeding your forward progress?
2. What goal are you focused on in 2020?
3. What is in you, at the deepest part of your life, that you need to discover?
4. What are you willing to "give up" in order to move forward?
Prayer Focus
I pray that as my spirit craves spiritual development, spiritual advancement and spiritual activity, I will break free from my past and take hold of the purpose God has for me and live beyond myself!
Next Steps
Daily align your life-- your choices, decisions, your relationships, your responses to circumstances- to His best for you so that you can live your purpose with confidence!
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