There is a difference between ‘pressing in’ and ‘standing close by’ – When you have to be rescued – you ‘press in’ to the person rescuing – you don’t ‘stand close’.
The same is true of our journey with Christ as our Savior. We are either ‘pressed in’ and absorbing everything we can to make it on this journey or we are ‘standing close by’ wishing we were closer or not understanding why we are not absorbing God like we should.
You ever been there?
Paul, in Philippians, puts it like this; “forgetting what is behind and straining on toward what is ahead” – believing God is in control of our lives and pressing into that!
THAT is where the treasure is and THAT is where the blessing is and THAT is where we get a sustaining comfort that will help us endure this life and all its trials.
Last week we studied about putting on the ‘Character Traits of Christ’ and being absorbed by them so that when we encounter problems and trials we are not acting on emotions but instead we are pressing in.
It takes time, encouragement, study and FAITH to get there!
LIFE is about the journey we are on and what we do with it ALL THE WAY TO THE END! You see it matters how you live in Christ.
Philippians 3:1-14 - Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. 2 Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence.
If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in[a] Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
12 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. 13 Brothers and sisters, 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, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
It IS interesting to note that Paul, An Apostle of Christ, notes first in this Chapter that we should REJOICE in the LORD!
He is ever the encourager to people who desperately need encouragement in the LORD. He KNOWS and UNDERSTANDS what we face in this life. He faced the same and so did the believers in his day!
Our sin has not changed through time – it is still sin. We MUST recognize that and begin to understand the ONLY way to overcome is to be clothed with Christ and His Character Traits!
It does not matter how good we feel we are – we are still the same when it comes down to it. No one is better than the other one. The addicted is no worse than the do-gooder.
It is the affection of the heart turned toward Christ that makes the difference! When Paul discovered Christ and accepted Him as Savior – his life changed – was rearranged. He no longer cared for the things he once had – the money, the prestige, the cream of the crop life he was living became as nothing when he had a true encounter with Christ!
We should be the same! Whatever our live is or was should not come close in comparison to knowing Christ! Do you feel that way?
Is becoming a Christian the BEST thing that ever happened to you?
If so, then we should be showing that in our lives. His LIGHT should be what comes through.
We get that by ‘Pressing In’.
Pressing into Christ means that you are REJOICING when you feel like a HOT MESS!
· When money problems seem to overtake you
· When the addiction is just too strong to defeat
· When the children/husband/family can’t live for Christ
· When sin abounds and you can’t figure out how to move past it
· When you have no friends
· When things are good
· When a blessing doesn’t seem to be found
· When blessings abound everywhere
There are so many scenarios I could not name them all but I know this…Pressing into Christ will cause your mind and body to obey the calling that Christ puts on your life!
How do we do this? The Bible gives us answers!
The answers are found in the Bible in Philippians Chapter 4:4-9
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
· Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice! Be THANKFUL that God loves you and gave Himself for you! (John 3:16) – Don’t be afraid to thank God in ALL things – no matter how small or large…how good or how bad! When we develop an attitude of thankfulness – it colors how we view things in Christ. The same was true of Paul – he knew in his soul, mind and heart that Christ was the BEST thing that had ever happened to him and he WANTED to grow in it! (verse 4)
· Gentleness SHOULD color our life. We studied last week how to keep from letting a harshness cover everything we do! The Character Traits of JESUS come in to play when we are pressing into JESUS – we WANT to be more like Him! Notice how Paul presses or ‘strains’ forward in believing Christ – it causes him to forget what has happened to him in the past! He encourages the believer in the gentlest of ways! Don’t be harsh any longer but filled with gentleness toward all people. When we press into JESUS – we desire to be gentle! (verse 5)
· UNDERSTAND that JESUS is near us and there for us to PRESS INTO! He is our Shepherd and Savior and King – Relying on JESUS in this life is key to be able to make it! Press into JESUS and live a life that reflects that Love and Grace that He gives you! (verse 5)
· There is no need to be ANXIOUS! When we are pressing in – we see that if we don’t have a godly answer we should pray; that we should be thankful ANYWAY – pressing into JESUS even more to gain an understanding that is supernatural! (verse 6)
· JESUS says there is PEACE when others can’t see peace! This comes from pressing into JESUS! Once we have gotten this kind of peace it guards our hearts and minds in Christ! It is not something that can be EXPLAINED it MUST be EXPERIENCED by the believer and comes through pressing into JESUS! (verse 7)
Paul ends this section of ‘Pressing into Christ’ with ‘FINALLY’ – you see when we are pressing in – we see LIFE so clearly. It transcends this world. It is a place where you are alone with God and He is molding and changing your heart and mind and TEACHING you how to have that PEACE that passes all understanding.
These things come from His Word and can be such an encouragement and guide for your life! Press into JESUS today and be changed from the inside out! It is such a peace filled place!
