{"id":1116,"date":"2019-04-07T14:59:11","date_gmt":"2019-04-07T21:59:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/?p=1116"},"modified":"2019-04-07T15:00:55","modified_gmt":"2019-04-07T22:00:55","slug":"get-ready-for-easter-keep-your-eyes-focused-on-the-goal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/2019\/04\/07\/get-ready-for-easter-keep-your-eyes-focused-on-the-goal\/","title":{"rendered":"Get Ready for Easter&#8211; Keep Your Eyes Focused on the Goal!"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><font color='black' size='2' face='arial'><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>  <w:WordDocument>   <w:View>Normal<\/w:View>   <w:Zoom>0<\/w:Zoom>   <w:TrackMoves\/>   <w:TrackFormatting\/>   <w:PunctuationKerning\/>   <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas\/>   <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false<\/w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>   <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false<\/w:IgnoreMixedContent>   <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false<\/w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>   <w:DoNotPromoteQF\/>   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style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The Fifth Sunday in Lent<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">April 7, 2019<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Philippians 3:12-14<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Get Ready for Easter\u2014<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Keep Your Eyes Focused on the Goal!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\">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.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But one thing I do:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>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.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(NIV1984)<\/span><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">What do Michigan State University, Texas Tech, Auburn and Virginia all have in common?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Well, for starters, back when the 2018-2019 college basketball season first started all four of these teams had the exact same goal\u2014 beat enough of their opponents so that they could earn a spot in the NCAA tournament.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>When they reached that goal they and their fans celebrated!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span>Before that celebration was over, however, their new goal was to beat their next opponent so that they could make it into Round One of the tournament.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Once they achieved that goal they and their fans celebrated!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Before that celebration was over, however, their new goal was to beat their next opponent so that they could make it into Round Two of the tournament.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Once they achieved that goal they and their fans celebrated!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Before that celebration was over, however their new goal was to beat their next opponent so that they could be one of the Sweet Sixteen.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Once they reached that goal they and their fans celebrated!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But before that celebration was over they had a new goal\u2014 beat their next opponent so that they could be one of the Elite Eight.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Once they reached that goal they and their fans celebrated!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Before that celebration was over they had yet another goal\u2014 beat their next opponent so that they could move on to the Final Four.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Once they reached that goal they and their fans celebrated!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But before that celebration was over they had one final goal\u2014 beat their next opponent so that they could play in the championship game and be crowned NCAA Champions! <\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">I couldn\u2019t help but think of the NCAA tournament as I was preparing our sermon for today.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Why?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Well, it kinda helped that our television was very often tuned in to whatever game was on.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But more importantly, our text for today reminded me of all those players, all those coaches and all those fans who had a very specific goal in mind\u2014 beat their next opponent so that they could become the champions!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Here in our text for today the apostle Paul does not talk about \u201cbeating\u201d a brother or sister in the faith so that we can become a \u201cchampion,\u201d but he does talk about having a very specific \u201cgoal\u201d in our lives as the children of God.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Today then let\u2019s study these inspired words under the theme:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">Get Ready for Easter\u2014Keep Your Eyes Focused on the Goal!<\/i><\/b><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>There are two things Paul encourages us to do as we continue to get ready for Easter by keeping our eyes on the goal.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>First, Paul encourages us to:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Forget what is behind!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Second Paul encourages us to:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Strain toward what is ahead!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Paul was in prison when he wrote this letter to the Christians living in the city of Philippi.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Yet, the predominant theme of this letter can be summed up in the word:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Rejoice!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Over and over again Paul encourages the Philippian Christians to rejoice in the amazing grace of God!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The joy that Paul personally experienced because of the amazing grace of God is the joy that enabled Paul to say in the opening verse of our text, <i>\u201cNot 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.\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">What is Paul referring to when he says, <i>\u201cNot that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect\u201d<\/i>?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We find the answer to that question in the verses that directly precede our text. In Philippians 3:10-11 Paul writes, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cI want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection of the dead.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp;<\/span>Even though Paul had come to know Christ and the power of Christ\u2019s resurrection on the road to Damascus (Acts 9) Paul realized that he had a long ways to go as a child of God!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Paul knew that his entire life would be spent \u201cgrowing\u201d\u2014 growing in his faith, growing in his knowledge, growing in his love for his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Even though Paul had already endured great suffering for the sake of Christ and the message of the Gospel (remember that Paul was in prison when he wrote this letter; also, see 2 Corinthians 11:16-33) at the same time Paul understood and willingly accepted the fact that there would be even greater suffering in store for him.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Paul never allowed himself to think that he already \u201cknew enough\u201d and therefore didn\u2019t need to keep reading and studying the Truth of God\u2019s holy Word.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Paul never allowed himself to think that his faith was already \u201cstrong enough\u201d and therefore he didn\u2019t need to receive the strength of the Lord\u2019s holy Supper on a regular basis.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Instead, Paul kept his eyes focused on the goal. Instead, Paul says, <i>\u201cI press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">As Paul kept his eyes focused on the goal, as Paul <i>\u201cpressed on\u201d<\/i> in his life as a child of God he sets a beautiful example for us to follow when he says in our text, <i>\u201cBut one thing I do:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>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.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Let\u2019s break this down step-by-step, shall we?<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The picture that Paul uses here in our text is the picture of someone who is running in a marathon race.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As this person is running it is absolutely essential that they keep their eyes focused on the goal\u2014 the finish line.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Keeping one\u2019s eyes focused on the goal, however, also includes <i>\u201cforgetting what is behind.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span>If a runner stumbles or falls down in the race, they need to get back up and put it behind them.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>If a runner has an especially difficult time making it through a certain part of the course, they need to keep on going and put it behind them.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">It\u2019s not difficult to see how <i>\u201cforgetting what is behind\u201d<\/i> applies to a child of God, is it.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>For example, if Paul were to look back on his own life what would he see?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He would see two things.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>First, he would see a life that was totally and completely dedicated to working one\u2019s own way in to heaven.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As a Pharisee Paul (then known as Saul) was absolutely convinced that he had \u201cearned the right\u201d to enter into heaven because of the righteous life he had lived.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In Philippians 3:6 Paul says that when it came to <i>\u201clegalistic righteousness\u201d<\/i> he was <i>\u201cfaultless.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>How could God <b>not <\/b>be impressed with that!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>At the same time, when Paul looked back on his life he saw a life that was unparalleled in its zeal to destroy this new religious movement that is now known as the Christian church.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Paul (then known as Saul) was willing to do whatever it took to literally hunt down and get rid of as many of these \u201cChristians\u201d as he possibly could.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That\u2019s the type of thing that Paul had in mind when he said that keeping his eyes focused on the goal included <i>\u201cforgetting what is behind.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That\u2019s the part of his life that Paul now considered <i>\u201crubbish\u201d<\/i> when compared to the <i>\u201csurpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord\u201d<\/i> (Philippians 3:7-8).<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">What does <i>\u201cforgetting what is behind\u201d<\/i> need to include for you, my friends?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>What part of your past does Satan love to hold before your eyes in an effort to prevent you from keeping your eyes focused on the goal?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>What personal weakness does your old sinful nature love to fan into a flame in an effort to convince you that you can play with fire and not get burned?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Whatever it is\u2014 leave it behind!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Whatever it is\u2014 consider it rubbish!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Whatever it is\u2014 let the cross of Jesus Christ (Pointing to the cross) assure you that it <b><i>has been<\/i><\/b> paid for, that you <b><i>are <\/i><\/b>forgiven, and therefore purely by the amazing grace of God you can <i>\u201cforget what is behind\u201d<\/i> and let the past stay in the past!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The second part of keeping your eyes focused on the goal is found in Paul\u2019s words, <i>\u201c\u2026straining toward what is ahead.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The word that is translated here as <i>\u201cstraining\u201d<\/i> can also be translated as <i>\u201cstretching toward what is ahead.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><\/i>Picture once again a runner who is <i>\u201cstraining\u201d<\/i> or <i>\u201cstretching\u201d<\/i> toward the finish line.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Every muscle in their body, every ounce of their energy is focused on that one goal.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>They are determined to make sure that nothing and no one keeps them from crossing that finish line and completing their race!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Isn\u2019t that a beautiful picture of our life as a child of God here on this earth\u2014 <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cstraining\u201d<\/i> or <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cstretching toward what is ahead\u201d<\/i>!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Unfortunately, it doesn\u2019t always seem to work that way, does it?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Unfortunately, all too often it is so easy for us to get caught up in the \u201crat race\u201d of this life.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Like a dog chasing its own tail we run around in circles all day long and then drop into bed completely exhausted at night\u2014 only to get up and repeat the same silly scenario all over again tomorrow!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>What have we accomplished?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Where are we headed?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Where does it end?<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Keeping our eyes focused on the goal, straining and stretching like a runner striving to cross the finish line keeps us from simply running in circles until we drop dead\u2014 whether that be figuratively or perhaps even literally.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>How can keeping our eyes focused on the goal keep us from running around in circles here in this life?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The answer to that question is quite simple\u2014 especially when we stop to remember that for us, for the saved children of God, the <i>\u201cfinish line,\u201d<\/i> the <i>\u201cgoal,\u201d<\/i> the <i>\u201cprize\u201d<\/i> is none other than a glorious eternal life in heaven!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">I once read a hypothetical conversation that takes place between a Christian and a non-Christian.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>It goes like this:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The Christian begins:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><i>\u201cWhat will you do after college?\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>\u201cGo to grad school.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><i>\u201cWow.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Then what?\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>\u201cProbably get a job.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><i>\u201cThen what?\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>\u201cGet married probably.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><i>\u201cGood.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Then what?\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>\u201cHave kids.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><i>\u201cThen what?\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><\/i>\u201cGet a house.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><i>\u201cThen what?\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>\u201cGet a bigger house.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><i>Impressive.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Then what?\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><\/i>\u201cGet a cabin on a lake.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><i>\u201cSounds warm and cozy.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Then what?\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><\/i>\u201cProbably retire.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><i>\u201cThen what.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><\/i>\u201cWell, I guess I\u2019ll eventually get sick and die.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><i>\u201cOh, really,\u201d <\/i>says the Christian. <i>\u201cThen what?\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Heaven gives us the ultimate \u201cThen what?\u201d my friends.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>When our eyes are focused on the goal of heaven, life here on this earth becomes so much more than just a job or a house or a cabin in the mountains.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Keeping our eyes focused on the goal of heaven, forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead doesn\u2019t turn us into \u201cday-dreamers.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>To the contrary, keeping our eyes focused on the goal of heaven, forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead provides us with a clear view of the ultimate destination\u2014 the destination that gives true meaning and purpose to our life, the destination brings everything in this world into clear focus and puts it into proper perspective!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">If you watched the games last night or caught the news this morning then you know that there are only two teams left with the exact same goal\u2014 beat their final opponent and be crowned the 2019 NCAA Champions!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Those two teams are Texas Tech and Virginia.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>While they and their fans are celebrating there are many many people who are very very sad because they failed to achieve their goal.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Praise God, my friends, that our quest as Christians does not work that way!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We don\u2019t need to \u201ccompete\u201d against each other; we don\u2019t need to \u201cbeat\u201d our fellow Christians so that we can become \u201cchampions.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Instead, we help and encourage each other; we support and pray for each other so that we <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">all <\/i><\/b>reach the very same goal!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">May the good Lord grant that as you and I continue to get ready for Easter, as we keep both the cross and the empty grave of our Savior clearly in view that we will indeed follow both the encouragement and the example that Paul gives to us here in our text for today.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Forget what is behind, my friends.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Let the past stay buried in the past.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Strain toward what is ahead.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Keep your eyes focused on the goal remembering that purely by the amazing grace of God the Lord Himself has called <b><i>you<\/i><\/b> heavenward in Christ Jesus your Lord!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">To God be the glory!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Amen<\/span><\/div>\n<p> <\/font><\/p>\n<div class=\"postie-attachments\">Download sermon audio ::  <a href=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Lent-5-04-07-19.mp3\">Lent-5-04-07-19.MP3<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Fifth Sunday in Lent April 7, 2019 Philippians 3:12-14 Get Ready for Easter\u2014 Keep Your Eyes Focused on the Goal! &nbsp; 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.&nbsp; Brothers, I do not [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1116","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermon"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1116","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1116"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1116\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1116"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1116"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1116"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}