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. Brothers, I do not consider myself
yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do:
Forgetting what is behind and straining toward
what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win
the prize for which God has called me
heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are
mature should take such a view of things. And if
on some point you think differently, that too
God will make clear to you.
How often
are we
willingly
distracted?
•We know
these things
hurt our
productivity –
but it’s so
easy to be
distracted?
How do we…
•The bad odor of our spiritual garbage rises
into the nostrils of Almighty God.
•We all need to get rid of some trash if we
want to rise as a pleasing fragrance to God.
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This is especially important when we consider
of focus for Christ.
How do we keep from being spiritually
distracted and risk losing our souls?
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Paul recognized that he was still
pursuing his goal of spiritual
perfection.
We are to have an accurate evaluation
of our current position.
Romans 12:3 – “For by the grace given
me I say to every one of you: Do not
think of yourself more highly than you
ought, but rather think of yourself with
sober judgment, in accordance with the
measure of faith God has given you.”
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We are always advancing.
We are goal oriented
We are owned – completely by Christ.
We must reject the concept of
stagnation!

Paul refused to look back. He had to
leave the past back there.
•What did Paul
have to leave in
the past?

Paul mentions four things he was doing:
 Forgetting (what was in the past)
 Straining (toward the future)
 Pressing (toward his goal)
 Winning (the awaited prize)

Ephesians 2:1-6 –
We were all dead in our transgressions
Christ made us alive
We’ve been raised up
We’ve been seated in the heavenly realms!

How’s that for upwardly mobile?
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Romans 12:2 -- Do not conform any longer
to the pattern of this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Then you will be able to test and approve
what God's will is—his good, pleasing and
perfect will.

Ephesians 4:13 -- until we all reach unity in
the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of
God and become mature, attaining to the
whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Matthew 6:33 -- But seek first his kingdom
and his righteousness, and all these things
will be given to you as well.
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Like Paul, we must set our eyes on the prize.
We must not look back.
We must press forward.
We must win.
Is distraction holding us back?