Pressing

For the Prize

January 03, 2021

Pressing

- To go beyond physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional opposition to gain a prize.

Willie Davis (5 NFL titles, 2 Super Bowls) – “The road to success runs uphill.”

For a life to have meaning, it will require pressing through challenges, pain and obstacles. The greater the pressing, the greater the meaning/significance/reward.

Though all have gifts freely given as potential, it’s only when pressing is applied that the reward of those gifts is experienced.

It is the gift that is grasped, defended, and fought for that takes the form of a reward.

The greater the perception of the prize, the greater the willingness to sacrifice for it.

Inhibitors of pressing:

  1. Laziness
  2. Ignorance
  3. Discouragement
  4. Hopelessness
  5. Faded memories
  6. Diversions
  7. Procrastination
  8. Weakness
  9. Isolation

Requirements for pressing:

  1. Focus on prize/process
  2. Letting go of the past
  3. Information/Understanding/Wisdom
  4. Fresh vision
  5. Strength
  6. Encouragement in community

God’s promise for us in the coming year – persecution/reward

2 Timothy 3:12 12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. (diōkō)

  • persecuted, 13
  • follow, 8
  • persecute, 8
  • persecutest, 6
  • persecution, 3
  • suffer, 3
  • followed, 2
  • after, 1
  • ensue, 1
  • given, 1
  • persecuting, 1
  • press, 1

What we’ve been freely given in Christ never changes. It’s our change that determines its reward.

Romans 11:29 29 For the free gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

To experience the reward of what Jesus pressed through for us, there will be a pressing on our part.

Philippians 3:10-16 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. 15 All of us, then, 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. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

Because the mark/goal of his focus was not contained in this life, it enabled him to fulfill his greatest potential in this life.

Pressing has a promise of victory/reward.

1 Corinthians 15:57-58 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Where you press will be evident in what you harvest.

Galatians 6:8-9 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Pressing to know Christ:

Draw near in worship/humility/reverence/declaration of faith.

Hebrews 10:22-23 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

Faithfulness to the same Word God is faithful to regarding who we are in Christ.

Philemon 1:6 6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

Press in prayer

Luke 18:1 1 ALSO [ Jesus ] told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not to turn coward (faint, lose heart, and give up).

Hebrews 4:16 16 Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Luke 18:8 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"

Pressing:

  • Intimacy
  • Confession
  • Communication