http://www.unlockingthebible.org/resolved/ Pastor Colin Smith preached this sermon at The Orchard Evangelical Free Church, in Barrington, IL. http://theorchardefc.org/ To download the series or order these sermons on CD, see the link at the top of the description. Resolved! Life Commitments for a New Year Philippians 3:12-14 Dec. 31st 2011 / Jan. 1st 2012 by Pastor Colin S. Smith Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Philippians 3:12 The New Year is a good time to refocus our priorities and renew our efforts in pursuing the things that matter most. First, I want to offer six exhortations from Philippians 3. Then I want to share three resolutions that are on my heart and invite you to join me in them. Six Exhortations for the New Year 1. Face the fact that you have not yet lived as you want to Not that I have already obtained this... Philippians 3:12 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own... Philippians 3:13 It's hard to imagine someone more committed to Christ than the apostle Paul. He had abandoned a lucrative career. He had given himself to the most demanding work of pioneer evangelism. He had endured a catalogue of abuse, suffering and persecution for the sake of Christ. This man is in prison for the Gospel as he writes this, and yet still Paul feels that he has not yet lived as he wants to. He says, "I'm not there yet! Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own" (3:13). I can identify with Paul, and I hope you can too. I've been a Christian for nearly 50 years, but I haven't yet lived the Christian life as I want to. Some of you have followed Christ much longer and you feel the same. The mark of a true believer is that you feel you want to do better. Only the shallow Christian feels that he or she is doing well. 2. Don't give up on becoming the person God calls you to be I press on to make it my own. Philippians 3:12 It would be easy to say "I've not yet lived as I want to, and I guess I never will." Paul doesn't go there. He says, "I have not yet lived as I want to, so I press on!" 3. Energize your passion from the redeeming work of Christ I press on to make it my own because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Philippians 3:12 I love that—"Christ Jesus has made me his own!" That happened for Paul when he was on the Road to Damascus. Christ swept into his life and made this angry young man His own. That's grace and, if you are a Christian, this is what has happened to you. Christ has made you His own. The Father drew you, the Son redeemed you and the Spirit gave you new birth, new life. Paul says, "When I look at what Christ has done in making me His own, it energizes my passion to press on and live a godly life. I press on to make it my own because Christ Jesus has made me his own!" Read the whole transcript through the top link.
