The Press, The Mark, and The Prize
The ultimate prize for a saint of God is to be in His Bride.
This company will be His chosen, live in His New Jerusalem, and represent Him to the world of the New Heaven and the New Earth. Everywhere they go they will be acclaimed, adored, and honored.
Apostle Paul could not have represented this Bride more eloquently than in his own confession: “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3: 14) He called this “prize of the high calling” the greatest challenge a redeemed soul could reach for and he truly believed it was available. No one can doubt that this converted mad man was clearly a choice candidate for the Prize. He was on his way to “finish his course.”
We live in a theologically compromising world that has little appreciation for the many levels of rewards so clearly seen in Holy Scripture. We have allowed cheap grace to put all Christians on a level plateau. This kind of unbiblical grace has blurred the great calling of God to go on unto perfection, to climb the ladder of spiritual maturity and to press our way to the high calling of righteousness and spiritual greatness. I weep because I see so few believers that have any desire to pursue the “High Calling of Jesus Christ.”
The passion of most religious people is worldly acclaim and even worldly wealth. To multitudes of hyper-Charismatics it is unbridled wealth and prosperity. Jesus Christ in the end is but steps to earthly glory. Post-Millennialism is a dark result of seeing Christianity as a road to ruling the world.
This kind of thinking is anathema to the servants of Jesus Christ in our New Testament. The book of Philippians is God’s answer to this foolishness. The Apostle Paul, as well as other early disciples, lived lives that were sold out to spiritual abandonment and lived with a passion to be with Christ; either in death or when He returns to rule the world. They saw the high and excellent joy of a relationship with the crucified Savior. This deep fellowship they experienced with Him literally enabled them to turn the world “upside down.”
Here is the context of a Holy Ghost perspective for the great life: “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ. And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death. If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:7-14)
Let’s consider the Press, the Mark, and the Prize.
1. The Press
God’s infallible word has made plain the pursuit of excellence in this wonderful faith. Jesus said, “The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.” (Luke 16:16) It is warfare when you begin to challenge the flesh and the world. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” (Ephesians 6: 12-13) We must understand that we are warriors in the faith.
The Spirit speaks over and over about the sanctified life. Death to self comes at a remarkable price, but it is worth every struggle to be set apart by His purifying graces. To the church at Thessalonica, the Spirit said, “Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” (I Thessalonians 5: 22-24) The joy of a sanctified life is beyond description.
The Roman’s Road used often by those that teach cheap grace is filled with the deeper life. “What shall we then say? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in the newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” (Romans 6:1-6) This is far beyond the kind of living known by our present church world.
2. The Mark
Apostle Paul was very clear about the identity of this mark that he was pursuing. “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.” (Philippians 3:10) This was not a Pharisaical list of standards or to simply be different, but a passionate relationship.
I believe our Lord Himself understood best what would issue into Kingdom greatness. His Kingdom was far above what the Jewish converts to Christ had known in the legalistic past. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.” (Matthew 13: 45-46) He is the “Pearl of Great Price” that the lofty saint should pursue at all cost.
The apostle understood the “prize” but did not make that his goal. He knew the “prize” was the result of reaching the mark. Two of Christ’s disciples with their mother sought to sit on His right and left hand. His answer is proof that our Father will give the honors of the prize. “…Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.” (Matthew 20:23) We seek Jesus Christ and His sovereign mastery of our life. The Father will give us the prize.
3. The Prize
I believe that the Apostle Paul sought Jesus Christ and knew that the prize was sure if Jesus Christ was the “Mark” to which he gave all. Somehow our church world has become so humanistic that we consider “gain as godliness.” We have been clearly warned of this fallacy. To Timothy we hear these awesome words: “He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmising, perverse disputing of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.” (I Timothy 6: 4-7) Things can be so pretty at a distance, but so empty in your hands.
There must be a “Bride” of the higher order to be celebrated at the Marriage Supper. This Bride is described by Solomon with the most eloquent of words: “There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, and virgins without number. My dove, my undefiled is but one; she is the only one of her mother, she is the choice one of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and blessed her, yea the queens and the concubines, and they praised her. Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners?” (Song of Solomon 6: 8-19) This Bride is the Queen of the Bridegroom and “clear as the sun.”
She must be chosen from the good company, His Body or the church. Her devotion is never in question and her faithfulness has no limits. Jesus Christ speaks of her after He had questioned the guest that had no wedding garment. “And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away and cast him into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22:12-14) Every soul that is saved has been called but “few are chosen.” What a warning this should be to every believer.
I challenge you to pursue the great life of separation and total surrender to Christ. Search His holy scripture for all these truths that literally fill the pages. We are called over and over to seek His fullness, to be partakers of His holiness, and to live only for Him. Sing these words penned by a song writer long ago in a more spiritual climate in His Church:
HIGHER GROUND:
Verse 1: I’m pressing on the upward way, New heights I’m gaining ev’ry day; Still praying as I’m onward bound, “Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”
Verse2: My heart has no desire to stay where doubts arise and fears dismay; Tho’ some may dwell where these abound, My prayer, my aim, is higher ground.
Verse 3: I want to scale the utmost height, and catch a gleam of glory bright; but still I’ll pray till heav’n I’ve found, “Lord, lead me on to higher ground.”
CHORUS: Lord, lift me up and let me stand, By faith on Heaven’s table land, A higher plane than I have found; Lord plant my feet on higher ground.
SuperCounters
Peter in Australia
Beautiful, Amen
Ed Wood
Those who preach the false “prosperity gospel” or a “works-based salvation” share something in common – they are materialists who have deiced to focus on the creation rather than the Creator. This is nothing new because it was present in Paul’s time. Here is p[art of what he had to say about such people:
Romans {1:22} Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,{1:23} And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
What is all adds up to is IDOLATRY which is simply making anything in one’s life more important to God.
You would think after 2000 years we would have figured this out by now but if anything it’s worse today than when it was in pagan times because it too often is very successfully promoted by charlatans who claim to be speaking for God.
Sammy
Praise God for churchs that are still teaching the word of God and on fire for the Lord.Please pray for my only Son,Joshua, who has been attacked severly by the enemy in his body.He is 32,and has broke his back,and almost died with a severe heart attack from a abcessed tooth,and endocarditis,an infection of the heart.Only God,kept him alive.Now a bone lesion on his pelvic bone,enlarged thyroid,bad pain from buldging discs,neck damage,had horrible headaches..more! Then he saw a dark figiure bend over him in bed,pushing his shoulder down.We were
jaimie
Dear Pastor,
Good article
Passion is a sin in almost everything except the pursuit of Jesus Christ.
This world wants us to be absorbed in the worries and riches, just as the seed sower parable states.
It is good to hear that we must overcome ourselves and not give the appearance of evil.
A focus needed for myself as well.
God Bless
jaimie
Renee
It’s such a blessing to read these words. It is a great honor to be the Bride of Christ and these messages are timely indeed.
Sammy, I’m sorry about your son, Joshua, and am praying for him. Please pray for me as I am also struggling with bad health.
Sean
A works-based religion? You must mean Pelagianism – something we Catholics have condemned for centuries.
Faith and works work together – as St Paul says, “I make up in my body what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ for the sake of His Body, the Church.” Col 1:24.
beijing
I like your website content very much,can I on my website reprint your article?
YES. PLEASE DO!!!!!!!!!! Pastor
Stacey Walsh
I know that I am putting a lot of information on you here, but you must be warned. You will understand in time. The Bible says that there will be a great falling away at the end of time before the Lord Jesus comes back. We have already entered this falling away. The visible church has fallen away from the scriptures and many who call themselves Christians are actually unwitting agents of the spirit of antichrist as they teach their false doctrines to other people. Perilous times have come, but fear not, little one, for greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world (ref. I John 4:4). Your safety is in reading the word of God so that you can know the truth for yourself–and the truth shall make you free. The Lord may be preparing someone right now to hold on to your hand. But even then, you will examine that person and their teachings based on the word of God–that includes me and my writings on this website. However things work out for you, the Lord Jesus will personally be there with you until the end of the world (ref. Matthew 28:20). .