The Highest Press | Philip Anthony Mitchell | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

The Highest Press

Philip Anthony Mitchell

2819 Church • Dec 14, 2020 • 70 min

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Take this message with you through a journey of Scripture, reflection, and prayer.

Summary

In this message on Philippians 3:10-21, Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell challenges believers to pursue an intimate, supreme relationship with Jesus Christ above all earthly distractions. He calls the church to practice the ethic of forgetting past failures and sins while straining forward with single-minded concentration toward God's heavenly calling. Reminding believers that earth is merely a temporary dress rehearsal and that their true citizenship is in heaven, he encourages everyone to live with an eternal perspective.

Themes

Knowing Christ IntimatelyForgetting the PastPressing Toward the GoalResurrection Power and SufferingHeavenly Citizenship

Key Points

1.
The highest endeavor and most noble pursuit of the Christian life is to know Jesus Christ intimately beyond surface-level religion.
2.
Good things, such as ministry, family, and accomplishments, can compete for supremacy in our hearts just as much as evil things.
3.
Intimacy with Christ is developed through both the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings.
4.
Fasting demonstrates how mortifying the desires of the physical body yields increased power and clarity in the spirit.
5.
Spiritual growth requires a sanctified dissatisfaction that acknowledges our current imperfections while continuously striving to become more like Jesus.
6.
Concentration is a key to spiritual power; like a dammed river that generates electricity, a focused mind generates spiritual strength.
7.
Forgetting what is behind does not mean losing one's memory, but making a deliberate decision not to be negatively controlled by past failures or trauma.
8.
Believers are citizens of heaven living on earth temporarily, called to live according to heaven's laws and cause while awaiting their Savior.

Sermon Moments

“American christianity does not embody this desire—we must push off the throne of our heart everything that competes with the Lord Jesus Christ.”

“It is not only evil or sinful things, but even good things and blessings God gives us that can begin to compete in our hearts against the Lord.”

“Concentration is a key to power; a river with no control becomes a swamp, but a river that is directed creates power to enlighten an entire city.”

“Forgetting does not mean a failure to remember, but a decision to not be negatively influenced or affected by the past you cannot change.”

“Like Harriet Tubman, who tasted freedom and returned to lead others out of slavery, Paul experienced a glimpse of heaven and spent his life showing others the way to true freedom.”

“This life is a comma, and eternity is the period; what we get in this life is a fixed amount of time to fulfill a mission for Jesus Christ.”

This Week

Identify and repent of good things in your life—such as work, ministry, or family—that have begun competing with Jesus for the throne of your heart.

Make a conscious decision this week to stop rehearsing past mistakes or sins that God has already forgiven.

Practice physical self-denial through fasting or turning down distractions to cultivate greater sensitivity to the Holy Spirit.

Evaluate your daily calendar and schedule to ensure your time is focused on the 'one thing' of seeking Christ rather than being scattered across secondary activities.

Surround yourself with mature believers, mentors, and peers who model single-minded devotion to Jesus and strain toward the heavenly prize.

Reframe past painful experiences by asking God how He can use them as part of your preparation to help others experience freedom.

Live each day with an eternal perspective, viewing current earthly trials in light of your heavenly citizenship and future resurrection.

Remember This

Our ultimate calling in life is to know Christ intimately by letting go of past failures and straining with single-minded focus toward our heavenly home.

A Challenge for You

Forget what is behind and let us together press toward whatever is ahead of us in Christ Jesus.

These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.