Podcast 29 - In Jesus' Name Press On

Please remember me and the missions work in prayer . We certainly appreciate you . Once again , if you have any questions , prayer request , your testimonies , please let me know at jasondemarscom . May God richly bless you . Greetings . Thank you for tuning in to listen to Equipping the Bride podcast .

I'm brother Jason DeMars from Buford , south Carolina , a minister at Bethel Tabernacle . New episodes of this podcast are posted every Friday . You can watch this podcast on YouTube and listen to it on Apple podcasts , google podcasts and Spotify . If you have any questions , testimonies or prayer requests , please let me know at jasondemarscom .

I also have free books and tracks available at my website , and shipping is free as well . May the Lord richly bless you . Amen , that's what my sermon is going to be . Press On , amen , that's what we're going to do . Is we're going to press on ? You know , I love the words to those verses . When the valley is deep , forget the next part .

When your body is weary when we spent our resources . What do we do ? Give up ? No , say I ran out of resource . I can't go on . No , because we're serving the God whose resources are unlimited . You say I'll press on , even when all odds are against me . It looks impossible . I'm going forward with Christ . Amen . Let's pray , father .

We come to you , lord , and we're so thankful .

We're so thankful , lord , that you have given us the Holy Spirit , that you've given us your word , the revelation of that word , lord , and a true understanding , and we're sealed into this Holy Spirit , lord , this Holy Spirit revelation that's leading us and guiding us into all truth , that's teaching us , lord , and correcting us and convicting us and strengthening us .

Lord , we look to you . We ask that you would , as we gather that you would do those things which are needful in us . Lord , move by your Holy Spirit , speak to hearts , grant strength , grant deliverance , grant healing . We look to you , lord . You sent your word and healed us . Lord , we want to have Gentile faith .

Lord , we want to just look straight at your word and , regardless of circumstances , say I believe it , I accept it as mine . We ask that your Holy Spirit would come and take each one of us out of the way that you would flow and you would use us as you'd see fit . We commit ourselves to you in Jesus' name , amen .

While I have you standing , we'll read our text in Hebrews , chapter 12 . If you want to bring up the PowerPoint , brother Mark appreciate that I'm going to read the first two verses there .

Wherefore , seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses , let us lay aside every weight and the sin which does so easily beset us and let us run with patience the race that is set before us , looking unto Jesus , the author and finisher or perfecter of our faith , who , for the joy that was set before him , endured the cross , despising

the shame , and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God . May the Lord add the blessing to the reading of his word . You can be seated . I just want to ask everyone to remember me in prayer . I'll be leaving tomorrow on a Savannah for a mission's trip to the Middle East .

I'll be gone for two weeks , so prayer for myself , traveling mercies , and that the Lord would have his way in the services and meetings and ministry there and he would open new doors . Also , please remember Sister Amy and the girls in prayer as well . So two weeks is when you're going into it . It looks like a long time .

It goes by fast when you're in it , but busy we just need the Lord's strength . I'll be going to Turkey and also to Israel to minister to the word , minister the word to them there . So prayers appreciated . We're running a race . That's what Paul likens the Christian walk to here in Hebrews . This is what we're talking about . We're not literally running a race .

It's a metaphor for your walk with God . It is a race . There is a prize , there is a goal , there's a mark that we're going towards and there's a way to go about this .

And this is the pitfalls that the Christian world ends up in all the time is they try to go after God and pursue this race according to their own way of thinking and own way of doing things . We're not to do that . We're to lean not to our own understanding , but in all our ways acknowledge him and he'll direct our paths .

And so we look at this whole whole picture of the Christian walk and it can't be based on our own thinking . It isn't going through the seven sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church that we run the Christian race . It isn't by attending church regularly . That's fine , much of the world does that . It doesn't mean you're saved .

It doesn't mean you have the Holy Ghost . It doesn't mean you're following the word in your life . It just means you go to a building and you attend a place . It isn't looking the part , it isn't look like you look the part .

It isn't trying to fit in with the people around you or just do what the other people are doing , but what it is a completely different thing . It is a race that we are running and we have to do it according to the way God calls us to do it . What does he say ?

Looking unto Jesus , not looking unto the church , not looking unto the five-fold ministry though we thank the Lord for that and Jesus puts himself on display through that . But that's not what it says here . It says looking unto Jesus , looking unto the word . Men will fail , men will make mistakes . Men will disappoint you .

Even if they did nothing wrong , they might disappoint you anyway , because your expectations are wrong . And so we're not to look to men to meet our needs . We're look to Jesus . He's our example .

Now each of us is to live as an example and to not put a stumbling block in front of other people , but ultimately , we're not look , I'm not looking to Brother Brad . Maybe Brother Brad makes a mistake . Should I follow Brother Brad's mistake ? No , we just say God bless Brother Brad . We pray for Brother Brad and we keep moving forward .

Put any name in there Brother Jason , brother Matt , brother , this Brother Jason , whoever you might look at , they might fail , they might make a mistake , but we're to look to Jesus , the author and finisher of our faith , who , for the joy that was set before him , endured the cross , despising the shame , and is set down at the right hand of throne of God .

The whole process . There we have the Lord Jesus . He was , he was rejected , right . So we're , we're to look to him . What are we looking at him for ? Just to look at him ? Just look at it ? No , it's not just look at it .

There is an example , there's something we're supposed to see and then something that we're supposed to emulate , right , something that we're supposed to walk according to . He suffered , he was rejected , he didn't like it , he despised it , but he was given a reward for his obedience Amen .

You know , sometimes , as Christians , we look at it and we say , well , we have to follow our duty . We have to do our duty regardless , true . And yet God continuously , through the scriptures , points out to us and shows us that there is actually a reward for following his word , and he uses it as a motivation for us for Godly living . There's a reward .

Seek after that , right . There's heaven , really . Ultimately , there's a new body and there's a new heaven and a new earth . This is our ultimate reward and a position and a place of rulership in that new kingdom that's set up , and so this is what we should be living for . This should be motivating us , this should be driving us forward in our life , amen .

But there is also a way to seek after that that is right , and a way to seek after that that is wrong . Now let's go to Philippians , chapter three . I sure hope Brother Tony brings me that water soon . Paul is speaking of his testimony , and we're going to read the verses that proceed this later to fill in the point .

But Paul is speaking of his testimony , speaking about the fact that it is righteousness that comes by the faith of Christ and not by the law , not by obedience to the law , and that the purpose of this faith is that he would know Christ in the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings being made conformable to his death .

So he's speaking of dying to himself and then living the life of Christ through his own flesh , by knowing him . That's the purpose of knowing him , that is our purpose as Christians . Right , when Paul begins to tell his testimony , what is he showing , what is he valuing , what is he looking at ?

He's counting his past life , his past pursuits , his past desires of the law and being a Pharisee and pursuing religious greatness . I guess he lays that aside and says that's dung . I lay that aside , thank you , brother Tony . I lay that aside so that I would know Christ .

And so in order for him to know Christ , he has to lay aside everything from his past , from his history , and say that's done , that's dead and I count it as refuse , as dung . He says I do that so I would win Christ . And so he wants to .

Let's read this verse , not as though I had already attained either already perfect , but I follow after if that I may apprehend that , for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus . So he wants to arrive at a particular state .

He wants to arrive at perfection , spiritual maturity in Christ , and he connects that to knowing him , knowing him in the power of his resurrection . And remember we've preached this before it doesn't stop there . We'd like it to stop there , but it says end the fellowship of his sufferings .

So many times actually , really , the reality is we will not truly know the power of his resurrection unless we experience the fellowship of his sufferings , because it is in the midst of the fellowship of his sufferings that his power is made manifest to us to deliver us and heal us and to set us free and to take the captivity of the devil away from us .

It's in those places of suffering that we know him in power .

And so Paul is wanting to attain something he's wanting to attain . We'll just put it exactly how we would speak to it today he's wanting to attain the rapture . He wants to attain a new body and he wants to be caught up to meet the Lord in the air .

That's what Paul , that's what his aim , that's what his goal is , that's what he's moving towards , and he connects that to being perfect . So he connects that rapture to being fully mature in Christ . But then he connects that full maturity in Christ not to his moral perfection . He never relates it to moral perfection . Sinlessness . No , what is he connected to ?

Knowing him ? And this is key and this is critical to understand . We want to go on a rapture . Don't ever disconnect that from knowing him . If you disconnect that from knowing him , you're doing something Paul never did . This is what the Christian life is about . It's not achieving moral perfection , it's knowing him . And out of knowing him what happens ?

You die to yourself and the life of Christ is manifested through your life . So that's Paul's desire , not as though I had already attained . So there in his humility , saying I know I'm not where I ultimately have to be . And again , this isn't just Paul talking about himself , this is applying to the whole body of Christ . Are we still here ?

Have we been raptured yet ? Well , I know some people have that idea , but we haven't been literally physically changed and literally physically caught up to meet the Lord in the air . We haven't been yet . So we can say with Paul , not as though I'd already attained Either we're already fully mature or completed . But what am I doing ?

I'm following after , I'm pursuing a goal . What is my ? What am I pursuing ? I want to know him . I want to know him in a very specific way that leads to my attainment of perfection You're trying to attain . Paul is trying to attain perfection . That's what he's moving forward towards and that's directly connected . He's also trying to attain the rapture .

So his pursuit of perfection and his pursuit of the rapture is actually one in the same . And that word there that I may apprehend speaks of laying hold of , to take possession of . We have the word comprehend means to take hold of an understanding . That's not this word , this is apprehend . So I want to . I'm going to take a hold of a prize .

Right , there's a prize for winning the race . I'm going to take a hold of it , which is interesting because as you look at this verse , it says I'm also apprehended of Christ Jesus . So think about it that way , as Christ has taken , laid hold of you . What does that mean ? It's a parallel You're his prize , the bride is his prize , the bride is his reward .

Right , let's . I was studying last night and I didn't even make it out of three verses in two and a half hours of studying , so I just kept , kept going , and I probably have six sermons here . But we'll try to try to get through at least three verses .

But within the three verses are about 25 verses , so so this is from the Wies translation Philippians three , 10 and 11 , in order that I might come to know him in an experiential way , and to come to know him experientially , the power of his resurrection and a joint participation in his sufferings being brought to the place where my life will radiate a likeness to

his death . Oh my , if by any means I might arrive at the goal , namely the out resurrection from among those who are dead . Everyone is going to be in the resurrection . Every single person that's ever lived will be raised from the dead . Paul is giving us a separate thing here by saying this word out resurrection from among those who are dead .

That's the rapture . So Paul is connecting this in his thought his knowing Christ in power and suffering , perfection , completion , maturity and attaining the rapture . Rapture , those things are connected . If this is the only thing you get out of this sermon , I want you to understand that you're attaining to the rapture You're growing into .

Perfection is directly connected to knowing Christ in power and suffering . If that's all you get today , I've been successful . That's what I . That's one of the main things that I want you to see . So here we are , given a picture of a race being run . That's the picture that Paul is bringing . I can go back .

So he's talking about following after he's reaching forward for something . He's trying to win something . We'll look at it more detailed in the next couple of verses , but we're going to go to 1 Corinthians , chapter nine , speaking of running a race . No , you , not that they which run in a race run all but one receives the prize . So run that you may obtain .

That's that word . To lay hold of , to obtain . It's the same exact word in Philippians , chapter three to apprehend . So run that you apprehend that you lay hold of the prize . In other words , running away that you're going to achieve victory . Live your Christian life in a way that you're going to overcome .

Don't live it in a way that you're weak , you can't overcome , you can't achieve victory . No , if the Holy Spirit is in you , you will achieve victory . But you have to run in a way that you will achieve victory and you have to confess and speak in a way that you will achieve victory .

If you speak in a way that you're losing , you are losing , but if you speak in a way that I am victorious , I am more than a conqueror . Well , I'm beat down , I'm laying on the ground , I can't even move . Shut up , devil . What does that have to do with anything ?

God's word is more true than your circumstances , and every man that strives for the Master is temperate in all things . So again , he's speaking of wrestling Now he's using wrestling as an analogy . He's temperate in all things . In other words , he lives in such a way so that he's not a big old , flabby guy that can't move people .

He might be a massive dude , but he's living in a way to keep that that way , so that he can be strong when he's in the middle of wrestling , so he can do what he needs to do . Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown . Think about it , saints . Think about LeBron James .

He's an old guy now and he's been playing professional basketball for I don't even know 15 , 16 , 18 years . Well , he spends millions of dollars on his body Immediately after a game . He doesn't just go and eat a bunch of tacos Immediately after the game , he does core work , he gets in an ice bath , he makes sure that there's recovery taking place immediately .

In other words , his whole life is dedicated , from A to Z , to being on a basketball court and earning $50 million a year . That's , his whole life is dedicated and he takes money and he dedicates it to that , and he takes all of his time and dedicates it to that . That is what I'm talking about . This is how he's doing it to obtain a corruptible ring .

Right , it's corruptible . You might remember these guys in history , basketball players in history . Just imagine if this was thousands of years ago . Do you remember who won the Olympics in the year 2 BC ? Do you remember who was born in 0 BC ? Well , we do know one person , but he lived differently . Do you know who was born a little bit after that ?

Well , we're still reading these men's books . Why , what's happening here ? They're obtaining a corruptible crown that fades away . Their memory will eventually be wiped off the earth , and it's meaningless , ultimately meaningless . But we're seeking to gain an incorruptible ring , one that will not pass away , will not fade away and will be there for all eternity .

While LeBron James and Michael Jordan are completely forgotten , you'll be standing on this earth , living and walking and breathing and rejoicing and having the time of your life continuously . That's an incorruptible crown that we are seeking after . Therefore , I therefore so run , not as uncertainly , not beating the air so fight-eyed , not as one that beats the air .

So he's training , he's running . He's doing it very , very purposefully . Specifically , there's a probe . Brother Travis and I are going to a trainer . I don't know if he has a specific program , but he sure is tearing us up . But it's building strength . And so there's a purpose , there's a goal , there's a plan and there is an execution of that plan .

How about your Christian life ? How about your walk with the Lord ? Do you have a program ? Do you have a plan ? Do you have a trainer ? Are you dedicated to it ? Are you waking up early ? Are you spending your money on it , your efforts ? Are you exerting yourself towards an incorruptible crown ? How much more valuable than a body that's going to fade anyways .

But I keep under . That literally means to beat until black and blue Like a boxer . A boxer trains to take hard punches . Right , when you're a boxer , you don't just say I'm a really good boxer and get in and somebody touches your jaw and you fall to the ground Because you've never been hitting the jaw before you get hit all the time .

That's your training is to be beaten up and you train , and you train and you train so that when someone punches you in the head , you just go okay , that happened , let's keep going . You've got to be able to take a punch . This is a spiritual likeness . We have to beat our body . Now .

This is not speaking of Catholic monks vlogging themselves , fasting for a certain amount of days , doing these things . This is talking about the life of sin that wants to have dominion over us . This is saying I beat that sinful flesh , I beat it into submission , I bring it into subjection . It literally means I enslave my body .

I enslave the body and the desires of sin . Are you making those sinful desires to become slaves to what you're trying to achieve in Christ , to the goal that you're going after ? That's what we're supposed to be doing . That's what Paul did . He wrote this . So you could just say , man , paul was a great guy , he was really cool .

He wrote this so that you would take this and say , okay , I need to apply this to my life . I need to enslave the body of this death , this flesh , to what , to what ?

To Christ , to the goal , to the purpose of the race that I'm running , lest that by any means , when I should have preached to others , I should be a castaway , in other words , that I should become disqualified . I'm training so that I can finish the race as a winner . I'm not training so that I'm disqualified from the race . I'm training so I win .

I'm going to read it from I think I put it up here , the least also just to give some some a little bit different , different layer of meaning . Do you not know that those who are running in a race are indeed all running , but one receives the victors award ?

Be running in such a manner as the one who won the won the race in order that you may obtain the victors award .

Everyone who participates in the athletic games exercises constant self-control in all things , those , to be sure , in order that they may receive a perishable victors garland , garland of wild olives leaves to be worn as a crown of victory , but , as for us , a victors garland which is imperishable . As for myself , therefore , I so run in no uncertain manner .

I so swing my fist , not as one who , when fighting , misses his opponent , merely beating the air and not striking a straight blow which finds it target , target , but I beat my body black and blue and make it my abject slave . Less , somehow , when I have preached to others , I myself should be disqualified .

I find it fascinating there that he , he , he is the eye that speaking , and he's talking about his body as the enemy , as his flesh as the enemy , and so his soul . I think that's what he's saying .

His soul is in a war with his flesh and his soul is saying I'm not just throwing wild punches , I'm throwing them with precision , to beat against that area in my life that is weak . Be precise , be precise with yourself . If you have , if you know you have , an area of weakness , start beating on it , beat on it and beat on it until it's black and blue .

In other words , be very specific with steps you take for yourself . Yes , yes , we come , and we come to the altar and we pray and we ask for deliverance . But this to me looks like a battle that we have to enter in on a daily basis . We can get strength at the altar , but we're probably going to have to learn to fight this .

This isn't just a spectator sport . Well , I have a problem . I'll go up to the healer and he'll pray for me and I'll have no problems anymore in my life , ever again . Is that how it works ? Is that how the Christian life works ?

That might give , that'll give a strength to the battle , but it's a battle , whether you want it or not , you can come to the altar and pray for no battle , but it's . The answer is no . The answer is no . I'm telling you right now If you say I don't want to fight , I'm tired , I'm done , the answer is no , you're not . You're not done .

You might be tired , but just just you wait . You haven't even learned about what tired is yet . You're going to have to keep fighting and keep battling and you don't give up . No matter what you see , no matter what you feel , you keep giving up . Travis , how many times when we're doing those workouts , you're like I'm doing it , man .

The morning comes around , I'm sleeping , I'm sleeping in my my this hurts , my that hurts and it does , and I mean so much pain . How is it possible ? And a few minutes later , we're going and we're pressing forward and you think how did I ? How am I even doing this ? And then you're more sore than you were before . But what are we supposed to do ?

We keep going . Every fiber in your muscles is burning and it hurts and you're sweating and you're you're , you're drooping , and and you feel like I can't go on . What is it ? What are you supposed to do ? Quit , give up , fall down , keep one step in front of the other . Keep going , keep fighting , keep battling . Don't let the devil beat you .

Are you kidding me ? He wants you . All he wants you to do is stop . All he wants you to do is quit . That's what he wants you to do . That's what he wants you to do . The word there in . Let me go back .

See if I go back there , forgetting those things I count myself to have apprehended , but this one thing I do , forgetting those things which are behind . Have you made mistakes ? Yeah , if you say you haven't , you're a liar . That's a mistake in itself . So I caught you . We've all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God .

We've all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and fallen short of the glory of God . We've all lived a life at some point in time that we're not very proud of at this moment and we can be limited by those things . We could say I'm a horrible person . I did this horrible thing . Yep , you did . Yep , I did .

Okay , that's what the blood of Jesus Christ is for . We forget those things that are behind . Let's bring it even further , because the devil wants us to focus on . You made this mistake . You made this mistake . You're not even worthy . Yeah , that's . I've been saying that all along . You're not worthy .

Devil , you take the very thing that's true and try to make us feel bad about it . When we should be rejoicing and say , yes , I'm not worthy , but the blood of Christ cleanses me from all sins , those things are thrown in the sea of God's forgetfulness .

I think even more let's think about the other side is the Lord has done things in my life in the past . That's good . Those are testimonies . We thank the Lord for that . But don't stop there . Don't say I had a testimony five years ago , I don't need to walk with God anymore . I don't need more testimonies , I don't need more things to happen .

I had it from the past . No , forget that . Keep going forward . There's more to enter into , there's more to press into and reaching forth unto those things which are before . Again , what is before us ? What is Paul saying in the context ? The rapture and perfection , those two things . So I'm reaching forth . That's great . The Lord did those things in my life .

Thank you , jesus . There's more for me to reach forward to . There's more for me to go forward to . How can we sit and say well , it's enough to just have faith and be born again . That's all I need . I just believe in Calvary . I don't need anything else . That's not the attitude of a Christian .

The attitude of a Christian is thank you , lord , for the new birth . Thank you for filling me with your Holy Spirit . I know there's more for me . I know there's more for me to reach unto . That's Paul's purpose of heart . Let's look at pursuing , looking backwards , looking forwards Luke 9.62, .

And Jesus said unto him no man , having put his hand to the plow and looking back , is fit for the kingdom of God . We're not to look backwards , we're to move forward with God . This is the response to someone who says let me go home and say bye to my family and take care of things at home before I serve you Lord .

No , we drop everything and we serve him now . We don't make excuses . We don't say I don't have my life figured out , I don't have this . No , that's not how salvation works .

I remember when I was , the Lord was dealing with me , trying to save me , and I said to my friends well , I'll get things , I'll get my life straightened out and then I'll serve the Lord . And they said what's the purpose of the gospel ? Then ? We're not saved by getting our life figured out .

We give our life to Christ , we put our faith in him and he figures our life out All right . Remember Lot's wife . What good was it for her to look backwards ? She looked backwards and turned to a pillar of salt and her story was over . And it's ended there and it's still being told of her story .

Looking back at Sodom , oh , I'm longing for this thing or for that thing . Don't look back , move forward with Christ . Exodus 14 . I'm going to read 10 through 16 . And when Pharaoh June , I , the children of Israel lifted up their eyes . And behold , the Egyptians marched after them and they were sore , afraid .

And the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord All right , they have left Egypt , they're marching forward . God leads him , as Brother Branham said , look to be like God was a poor general , leads them directly to a sea . And what's the response ? We totally forgot everything that God had done and totally forgot everything that God had promised them .

And we're right there in the moment looking at their circumstances and saying we're afraid , lord , what do we do ? And they said unto Moses oh , it's the prophet's fault . They looked at the prophet and say our circumstances are bad . We can't understand what's going on around us .

You must be a false prophet , said unto Moses , because there are no graves in Egypt . Has thou taken us away to die in the wilderness ? Wherefore has thou dealt thus with us to carry us forth out of Egypt ?

Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt , saying let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians , for it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in this wilderness , my goodness . And Moses said unto the people fear ye not .

Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord , which he will show to you today , for the Egyptians whom you have seen today . You shall see them again , no more , forever . So the Lord brought this as a setup . He tested them Right . He brought them as a test . Will you walk by what your eyes see or will you walk by the promise ?

And every one of you is going to face the same thing in your life and is facing it , has faced it and will continue to face it as long as you're here .

Will you walk according to what your eyes see or will you walk according to your faith in God's word and his promises and what he's spoken to you by the scriptures and by this message , the Lord shall fight for you and you shall hold your peace . The Lord will fight for you and you're going to shut up . That's what he just said .

And the Lord said unto Moses that's faith . Moses was speaking . Faith , that's good . And the Lord said unto Moses wherefore cryest thou unto me ? Speak unto the children of Israel that they go forward . And I told you to walk forward , but there's circumstances preventing me from walking forward . Yeah , and Was there some problem we had in Egypt that got solved ?

Did God solve the problem ? Did he do it ? Yeah , is he leading us here ? Well , the people got mad at Moses and said God must not have appeared to you , god must have not spoken to you . Well , didn't you forget how God vindicated his ministry ? God had proven his ministry time and time again .

And now you're faced with circumstances that are rising against you and you think must be a false prophet . It's fascinating , isn't it ? This parallels to our day today . And God says to Moses why are you crying unto me ? Speak , why cry ? Speak , tell them to go forward . But we don't have boats , we can't swim , we don't have a barge .

Go forward , go forward , saints . You might be blocked . If you're in the path of duty and God has called you to do something , walk forward . I've seen it time and time again on the missions field If God has told you to do something , though all circumstances look horrible , do what God has said to do . God will open the way .

It's up to him , it's up to us to follow clear instruction . It's up to God to take care of everything else , though the circumstance just be . Be assured of this thing God will such ordain your walk that he will make the circumstances impossible .

Well , gee , and you'll say Lord , I thought you spoke to me and I thought you told me to do this thing , but surely I must have misunderstood , because all these things are against me . We do that . Have you done it ? Some of you are smiling because you're doing it , and I'm smiling because I've done it too .

But then something rises up and says God has told me to do this and I'm going to do it , even if I'm all alone and even if I look crazy . Lift up thy rod and stretch out thy hand over the sea and divide it , and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea . God will open the door . It's up to him to open the door .

Sometime you might have to speak to the door . You might have to speak . The promise of God . See what he told you . Speak it to the circumstance and keep walking . And Moses said to the people what did I do here ? I'm all out of order . And Moses said to the people fear you not .

Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord which he will show to you this day . The Egyptians whom you have seen today , you shall see them again , no more forever . I just read this . What am I doing ? Next one oh , that's the end of it All . Right , what just happened , brother Mark , help me . So back to verse 13 is where I want to be , brother Mark .

The Egyptians 313 . So reaching forth speaks of straining forward , extending forward with the hand and foot and the body bent forward , like a runner running a race . Like you're straining to get through the finish line , you're pushing yourself forward so that you can get , put every effort into obtaining victory . Just think of that for a minute .

You're running in a race and , man , you're pushing forward so hard . You keep going and you keep going , and it seems like this race is going to take forever . Exhaustion is starting to set in . Wearing this sets in . Your muscles are on fire In your mind , thinking I got to stop , I can't do this anymore , I'm going to get injured , it's impossible .

But then you start to remember there's a prize that's ahead . Remember that there's something of value ahead . And so you look up and you remember your teammates are counting on you . Your coach has asked you to do something . You've got to do it . Every fiber of your body wants to stop .

The pain is like a fire going through your muscles , but you strain forward with everything that's in you and you refuse to give up .

That's the picture I believe that Paul is trying to paint for us here . He's saying put every effort , every exertion , every strength and when it feels like you're going to quit , just keep reaching forward , keep going . There we go . Philippians 3.14, . I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus .

There we finally got to that press . The word press there in Greek is dioko and it means to pursue or follow in haste , to press forward , to strive to do something with an intense effort to achieve a goal , to strive for a purpose . That's the same word that we saw we brought out also in verse 12 .

He says press forward to lay hold of that which Christ Jesus laid hold of us for . And the word there , where it says the mark , press towards the mark , it means a goal or a purpose , and then where it says prize , it's a gift received as a prize or a reward . Interesting way of wording that A gift received as a prize or a reward .

So we're running in a race , we're going towards a reward . But it's actually a gift Right , for by grace are you saved through faith ? That not of yourselves , it's the gift of God , not of works , lest any man should boast .

So this is a gift , but God has so ordained that to get this gift we have to run , we have to fight , we have to battle , we have to overcome . Overcoming is a gift , right ? Yes , and no . Overcoming is a reward , right , overcoming means there's a battle that you faced and you achieved victory .

But ultimately it's a gift because you're predestined to be an overcomer . It's both of those things . But it isn't just a gift by itself that you sit back and just receive , but it is a gift that requires struggle , striving difficulty . That struggling , striving difficulty doesn't earn your salvation . It proves your salvation , it vindicates that you are saved .

We're to strive . We're to press forward , to pursue . Strive towards the goal for the reward . Wouldn't it be better if we thought of our Christian life on a daily basis like this instead of becoming lazy Christians ? Too many times we become lazy Christians . We don't look at it as we're in a battle . We're in a fight , we're running a race .

It requires constant training . When you're spending time with the Lord , when you're feeding on the message , when you're studying the Bible , when you're reading godly books that point you to the Word , what are you doing ? You're training yourself for the battle . You will never have strength for the battle if you don't do that .

But when the battle comes , where's my weapon ? My grip is so weak I can't even hold the weapon . It's got to be trained constantly . You're running a race . You don't just show up to the Olympics after off the couch and this Christian walk and the battle that we're facing against the enemy is the Olympics , right , and we are ordained to victory .

But there's a process . Don't lose track of what is the overarching way to achieve victory and have the strength . It's knowing Him . You can't lose track of that . So when you're reading , you're studying , you're praying , you're listening to messages . Think of it that way . It's knowing Him . I want to know Him .

And then God brings these circumstances , these trials , these difficulties to challenge us . And what is he trying to do ? He's trying to get us to know Him more . When God says there needed to be a sinner so that I could express my attribute of salvation , well , that's fantastic . But you just do that in a vacuum . What good is it ? It's not in a vacuum .

God wants to express Himself to you as a Savior . He doesn't just want to express Himself randomly out in the world as a Savior . He wants you as an individual to know Him as a Savior . He wants you as an individual to know Him as a healer . He wants you , as an individual , to know Him as your strength .

So if you're going to know Him as a strength , everything is going to be easy for you , right ? Everything is going to be so simple in your life that you're going to have a silver spoon there and everything you touch turns to gold . It's not what it is .

In order to know God as your strength , it means that there needs to be something in your life that's producing weakness , because His power is made perfect in your weakness , when you're just strong and everything's fine and I'm good , is God being known in strength . You are being known in strength .

God is known in strength when you are at the end of yours and we can go on with every attribute of God love and mercy and justice and holiness . Every one of His attributes is not to be in a vacuum . It's meant to be expressed and known by you , brother Steve , personally , individually , in a way that no one else could .

You could explain it to us , try to explain it . We say that's good doctrine , brother Steve , it's not supposed to be just good doctrine . You're supposed to know that doctrine because you've walked in it and you've experienced it and you've lived it and it's manifested through your life .

We should put our daily effort , our strength , our power , our time , our money , the focus of our life , is training yourself for this purpose . The high calling of God in Christ Jesus , our Lord . It literally means the upward calling of God . I think no , I don't have it there . Literally , the upward calling of God . So it's speaking of the rapture .

What is the upward calling ? We're to be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air , and so that is the prize that we're straining and striving for . If you examine your life and look at your life , would you say it's characterized by straining and striving and pursuing and putting all exertion and effort into obtaining this prize ?

Or do you think it's just going to be offered up to you on a silver platter without any effort or strength or anything put into it ? I think sometimes , as Americans , we think everything should be given to us without anything . And certainly salvation is a gift . That is without question . But salvation is manifested in a life and you don't .

Unless there is a life manifesting salvation , there is no salvation . And so if you have that gift abiding in you of eternal life , it's going to be expressed in this way

. Paul is not trying to make you know a certain level of super Christians and everybody else just does what they want to , sits in the pew and comes to church and does nothing . This is for every Christian to live and to walk in . You need to exert yourself , you need to put your strength into this , you need to put your time into it . It takes time .

You're not going to get quick fixes with God . Sometimes he'll give that to you , but usually it's when you've spent a lot of time , when you've given your heart and given your life to study . Brother Jason gives his life to study in the Word of God and his life exudes that . What about you ?

That's not just for your pastor to do , that's not just the pastor's job . We're not Baptists , we're not Catholics . We don't show up and stick our tongue out and Brother Jason slaps a Eucharist on our tongue . We don't believe in that . We don't . Study to show thyself approved unto God Isn't just for a specialized class of people .

Every one of us should be studying , should be feeding , should be feasting , should be praying , should be dedicating our time and our efforts to God . And if there's things that are preventing that , throw them away . Reprioritize your time .

You know how many of you , as the new year comes around , you look at your schedule and the things you're committed to and you say I've got to fix this , I got to fix this , so it's right , prioritized . Do that . We should be doing that every day .

Reprioritize your time , not so your business can be successful , but so that the word can be successful in your life . James 1 , verse 12, . Blessed is the man that endures temptation . My goodness , happy literally means happy is the man , the divine favor , the deity . The favor of the deity rests on the man that endures temptation .

How many of you talk like that ? Oh man , you know , you see somebody , they got a lot of money and they got nice cars and you say , oh , they're blessed .

I'm gonna say , stop that , knock it off , because James says blessed is the man that endures temptation , for when he is tried so it's speaking of a trial , speaking of another place that Paul Peter calls it a fiery trial . Blessed is the man that endures fiery trials . Can we talk like that ? Can we make that our speech ? You guys are dumbfounded by this .

I'm gonna break this down a little bit . Just think of it and put flesh on it . The person that's there and he's struggling under a heavy weight but he's striving and he's fighting to overcome the devil with all that his being is . Everything is set against him . Blessed is that man .

That's the person that's blessed , not the guy that has everything that he wants and ever needs . Feel sorry for him . Feel sorry for that guy . We have so much in America , even our poorest people have so much , but nevertheless , think differently . It isn't necessarily the blessing of the Lord to have prosperity .

It can be , it can be a curse , it can be a horrible thing . It can take you far away from God , and Jesus says that's the norm . Is that riches take you far away from God .

Blessed is the man that endures temptation , for when he is tried and I think it goes without saying and overcomes he shall receive the crown of life which is promised the Lord has promised to those that love him . Can't we just receive a crown of life if the Lord loves us ? Why do we have to have the first part of the verse ?

Because the ones that the Lord loves , he tries them and chasens them and rebukes them . Why ? Because we need to be more like Christ . We are in a condition where our lives need to be conformed unto him , and so we need chastening , brother Brad . You need chastening , brother JD . You need chastening Looking in the mirror .

We need chastening Every one of us to be more like Christ , and he does that because he loves us . We have a high calling . We have an upward calling that's coming . We're waiting for the rapture . We're going to be caught up together with the dead saints in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air . That's the heavenly calling we have .

It's a glorified body and then , ultimately , on a fully renewed and restored earth and heaven . Every atom in this universe is going to be renewed by Christ . He's going to even change natural laws in order to bring restoration to this entire universe and we're a part of that . But we need to run the race in a specific way to get there .

You can't do it the way you want to do it . Sorry , you can't figure out . Figure this out with your own plan and with your own purpose . You can't live your life the way you want to live . You have to be a prisoner to Christ .

You have to live in the manner that he asks you to live , not a little bit the way Jesus wants you to live and then a little bit the way I like to live . No , you surrender all of it , all of your pride , all of the way you want to dress , where you want to live , what job you want to have , what car you drive .

Every aspect of your life must be surrendered to Christ . Otherwise you haven't surrendered to Christ . Take up your cross and follow me . Jesus says . That's the only option . There's not another option . Take up your place of torture and death and follow me . That's the walk that he's called us to and that's the race that we are running together .

We're trying to attain something , and Paul uses this terminology purposefully . I believe we know that going in the rapture is not something that we achieve by our own works . You understand that right . You are not going to good yourself into the rapture . You never could .

You would never be good enough , you'll never be good enough , because the object is the holiness of God , and the holiness of God is absolutely infinite . It's so far beyond anything that you could ever achieve or do . It's unimaginable . But God has so ordained that we run a race . He didn't ordain that we be spectators in the stands .

He ordained that we be participants in the life and manifestation of Jesus Christ . And if you're not get into it , how do I get into it ? By one spirit , we're all baptized into one body . Receive the Holy Ghost . I want to go back . I think is next Philippians , chapter 3 , verse 8 . This is the start of Paul's testimony .

Ye , doubtless , and I count all things , but lost 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 done that I may win Christ and be found in him , not having my own righteousness .

See , this is not our own achievement , the achievement of our righteousness , which is of the law , but that which is through the faith of Christ . It doesn't even say your faith , but it's the faith of Christ , the faith that belongs to Christ , the righteousness of God which is by faith , and we remember that righteousness is imputed to us through Christ .

In other words , it's Christ's righteousness , given to you as a gift , and the means of obtaining it is faith , and you can't have faith in yourself . Faith is a gift from God given to you . No man can come to me unless my father , except my father , draws him first .

Right , but God has ordained that those who have faith would persevere in their walk with him , that would run the race with patience , that they would fight the battle . They might lose battles , but they're gonna win the war as a whole . You might fall over and over again , but you get up and you keep fighting and you don't quit and you don't give up .

You keep enduring to the end , and this is the purpose being found in him , not having my own righteousness , but then he goes on . For what purpose , paul ? That I may know him . So this is the purpose that's going on . This is Paul's purpose . As a Christian that I may know him Now . I didn't say it was the prize , I said it was the purpose .

It was Paul's purpose . I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his suffering being made conformable unto his death . So he counted all things as lost and done and he says he was found in him . He received the Holy Ghost and this put him in Christ . How do you get found in Christ ? You got to receive the Holy Ghost .

Because of this he had the righteous . He had musicians . If you come , I got I don't even 30 more pages probably of this . So he counted all things as loss and as dung . He was found in Christ Because of this . He had the righteousness that was imputed to him by the faith of Christ comes by faith .

The purpose of all this was knowing him , and this is our race , that's , this is what our race , this is your race knowing him fully by experiential knowledge , not dot , not merely doctrinal knowledge , but experiential knowledge of the doctrine in your life , laying hold completely of that revelation of Christ that he laid hold of us to receive .

The goal , the purpose , is knowing Christ . The prize is the upward call , the prize is the rapture . The prize is a new , new body on a new earth . The means of pursuing that goal I said this before on a repeated , in closing the means of pursuing that goal is not achieving moral perfection through law based righteousness .

The means of pursuing that goal is to know him , both in the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings , being made conformable to his death . Or , as we says that we would radiate the death of Christ . Think about that , that our life would radiate his death , his sufferings . Think about that .

We're supposed to radiate his life , right , but here Paul says we should radiate his death , that we have died to ourselves , that his life , him being raised up , his life would be manifested in and through us . Let's , let's pray , heavenly Father . We come before you now , lord , and we ask this , lord , that you would move in every heart and every life .

Give each one this , this grit to run this race , to press forward , to press on . Give them that , that determination in their soul , not just their spirit , in their mind , but , lord , in their very depths of their soul . They would have a determination to press on , to pursue , to give all their efforts and exertions unto this purpose of knowing you .

Lord , I pray that your Holy Spirit would move upon every heart . Now with our heads bowed , may your presence come and just speak to us and deal with us , lord , as deal with each one on a one , on one level . Well , speak into their hearts the things that you're desiring them to die to , that you're calling them to put in place in their life .

And give them the strength , lord , not just to make some pledge , but that their conversation and their conduct , their life , would be reflective of running this race . We look to you , lord . Our desire is to know you and all that you are . We ask it in Jesus name , amen .

Thank you for listening to equipping the bride podcast . New episodes are posted every Friday . I want to remind you that if you have any questions , testimonies or prayer requests , please let me know at JasonDomarscom . I also have free books and tracks available at my website and shipping is free as well .

Please , I ask you to remember the believers and the missions work in the Middle East in prayer . May the Lord richly bless you .