The Prize Not Perfected - Philippians 3:12–16
Rejoice Always – Part 15
Philippians 3:12–16 (NKJV)
“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me… forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
The Mark of Maturity Is Not Perfection, But Pursuit
The Christian life isn’t about pretending to have arrived. It’s about pressing on. Paul, the greatest missionary in the early church, wrote this passage. And even he says:
“I have not already attained… I do not count myself to have apprehended.”
If Paul hadn’t arrived, neither have we!
Just ask Andy Ruiz, who shocked the world by beating Anthony Joshua. But he lost the rematch—and his discipline—because he acted like he had arrived.
Point 1: RECOGNIZE — Where You Really Are
Paul stayed humble and hungry:
“I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.”
He understood that he had been grabbed by grace—but there was still more to pursue.
You weren’t just saved from something; you were saved for something.
Ask yourself:
Have I laid hold of what Christ laid hold of me to do?
When I got saved, I was planning to live in America and study. But God told me:
“I am not sending you to a people of obscure speech and strange language…” (Ezekiel 3)
He was sending me to a people who speak like me—so I had to study His Word.
Point 2: RELEASE — Forget What’s Behind
“Forgetting those things which are behind…” (v.13)
If we want to grow, we must release the past.
Forgetting doesn’t mean you can’t remember. It means refusing to let your past define your future.
Some people are trapped by:
Past mistakes — causing discouragement and shame.
Past successes — causing pride and complacency.
But Paul says: Reach forward!
This word means to stretch with intensity. Real growth will stretch you beyond past victories and past failures.
Point 3: RUN — Press Toward the Prize
Imagine two runners locked in a rivalry. So focused on each other, they missed a turn and ran off track. The third runner won.
Why? Because he focused on the finish line.
“But one thing I do… I press toward the goal…” (vv.13–14)
Paul didn’t chase ten things. He was laser-focused on one: the prize of the upward call of God in Christ.
True athletes focus not just on exercise or competition. Their eyes are on the podium—on the gold medal.
As Christians, our finish line isn’t comfort, applause, or earthly success. It’s:
Hearing “Well done” from Jesus.
Receiving the crown of life.
Standing complete before our Lord.
Becoming like Christ.
“I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (v.14)
This calling is higher than the world, and greater than anything we can earn here. It’s about being with God forever, transformed in His likeness.
Final Thought
Don’t act like you’ve arrived. Don’t live off yesterday’s wins or wallow in yesterday’s losses.
Forget what’s behind. Press forward. Keep running. Stay focused.
The prize is not here yet—but it’s coming.
And it will be worth it.