If you're looking for a solid philippians 3 12 14 sermon to help get your head in the right place, you've likely realized that life often feels like a treadmill moving just a little too fast. We spend so much time looking over our shoulders at what we did wrong or staring at our feet wondering if we're even making progress. Paul's words in this letter to the Philippians are like a refreshing splash of cold water to the face. He's not talking from a place of "I've got it all figured out." Instead, he's right there in the thick of it with us, showing us how to keep moving when the finish line feels miles away.
The Reality of Not Being Finished
Let's be honest for a second: most of us feel a weird pressure to act like we've reached some level of spiritual "arrival." We think that after a certain number of years of following Jesus, we should have all our habits sorted, our tempers managed, and our faith unshakable. But look at verse 12. Paul says, "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me."
This is coming from a guy who started churches, survived shipwrecks, and wrote a massive chunk of the New Testament. If anyone could claim they'd "made it," it was Paul. Yet, he's the first to admit he's a work in progress. There's something incredibly freeing about that. It means that being a Christian isn't about being perfect; it's about being in motion. If you feel like you're failing because you're still struggling with the same old stuff, take heart. You're in good company. The goal isn't perfection today; it's pursuit.
The Art of Forgetting
One of the hardest things about moving forward is the baggage we insist on dragging behind us. In verse 13, Paul mentions one of his most famous strategies: "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead."
Now, he's not talking about literal amnesia. He hasn't forgotten the things he did, and he certainly hasn't forgotten what God has done for him. When Paul talks about "forgetting," he's talking about breaking the power that the past has over his present.
Think about it this way. We usually get stuck in one of two ways. First, we get stuck in our failures. We replay our mistakes, our "coulda-woulda-shoulda" moments, and we let shame act as an anchor. We think, God can't really use me after what I did. But Paul had a pretty dark past—he literally persecuted the church. If he hadn't learned to "forget" that version of himself and embrace his new identity in Christ, he never would have left his front porch.
The second way we get stuck is actually by our successes. Sometimes we rest on our laurels. We think about that one "mountain top" experience we had ten years ago and try to live off the fumes of that old fire. But you can't run a race today while looking at a trophy you won yesterday. Whether it's past sin or past glory, Paul says we have to let it go so our hands are free to grab what's next.
Straining Toward the Goal
There's a very physical, visceral feel to the language Paul uses here. When he says "straining toward what is ahead," he's using the imagery of a runner in a sprint. If you've ever watched the Olympics, you've seen that moment at the finish line where the runners lean their chests forward, muscles bulging, eyes fixed on the tape. They aren't jogging; they're giving every single ounce of energy they have.
In our spiritual lives, it's easy to get lazy. We settle into a "maintenance mode" where we just show up to church, say a quick grace before dinner, and hope for the best. But this philippians 3 12 14 sermon reminds us that the life of faith is supposed to have some "strain" in it. It's supposed to cost us something. It requires effort.
Now, don't get me wrong—we aren't earning our salvation. Paul is very clear that Christ "took hold" of him first. We don't run to get God to love us; we run because He already does. The "straining" is our response to His grace. It's the excitement of knowing there's more of God to experience, more of His character to reflect, and more of His kingdom to build. It's an active, daily choice to say, "I'm not staying where I am. I'm going for more."
The Prize of the Upward Call
Then we get to verse 14: "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
What exactly is the prize? Sometimes we think the prize is just "getting to heaven" when we die, like it's a retirement plan. But if you look at the context of Paul's whole life, the prize is Jesus Himself. The prize is intimacy with the Creator. It's knowing Him, experiencing His power, and being transformed into His likeness.
The "upward call" is a beautiful phrase. It suggests that God is always calling us to something higher than our current circumstances. If you're in a valley right now, there's an upward call. If you're feeling stuck in a rut of mediocrity, there's an upward call. It's an invitation to live a life that actually matters, one that isn't defined by the temporary junk of this world but by the eternal reality of Christ.
How Do We Actually Do This?
It's one thing to talk about "pressing on" in a sermon, but it's another thing to do it on a Tuesday morning when the kids are screaming, the boss is stressed, and you're exhausted. So, how do we practically apply these verses?
First, check your focus. Are you looking at the ground (your problems), behind you (your past), or at the finish line (Jesus)? It's almost impossible to run straight when you're looking at your feet. We need to intentionally set our sights on Christ every single morning. That might mean a few minutes of prayer before you check your phone, or listening to worship music on your commute. Whatever it takes to get your eyes on the Prize.
Second, be okay with the "not yet." Give yourself some grace. You're going to stumble. You're going to have days where you feel like you're running backward. That's okay. The race isn't over until God says it's over. Paul didn't say he was perfect; he said he was pressing on. As long as you're still moving toward Jesus, you're doing exactly what you're supposed to be doing.
Third, drop the weight. Is there something you're holding onto that's making the run harder than it needs to be? Maybe it's a grudge. Maybe it's a habit you know is dragging you down. Maybe it's just the constant need for approval from people who don't really matter. Whatever it is, ask God for the strength to "forget" it—to let it go—so you can strain toward what's ahead with a lighter load.
Closing Thoughts
At the end of the day, this philippians 3 12 14 sermon is really about hope. It's about the fact that our story isn't finished. We aren't defined by our worst days, and we aren't limited by our current struggles. There is a goal, there is a prize, and there is a Savior who has already "taken hold" of us.
So, take a deep breath. Shake off the dust from the last mile. Don't worry about how far you still have to go; just focus on taking the next step. Keep pressing, keep straining, and keep your eyes on Jesus. The finish line is closer than you think, and the prize is going to be worth every bit of the effort. Don't quit now—you were made for the finish line.