Run to Win · Philippians 3:12–14 · Week 6
In week six of Run to Win, Pastor Mark English of Christian Life Church in Bensalem, PA, teaches from Philippians 3:12–14 on how to keep moving forward. You can be in the race and in your lane but still feel stuck because of what’s behind you. Paul shows us how to forget what is behind, strain toward what is ahead, and press on toward the prize: Jesus Himself.
Key Highlights
What to Remember
You never drift forward. You always drift backward.
Yesterday’s manna won’t feed today’s hunger.
The race isn’t about perfection. It’s about direction.
The devil knows your name but calls you by your sin. God knows your sin but calls you by your name.
Philippians 3:12–14
Eyes Forward
The Christian life is a marathon, not a sprint. In this series we’ve learned to run with intention, throw off the weight, run with endurance, and stay in our lane. But many believers still feel stuck. Even when you’re enduring and in your lane, you can be held back by what’s behind you: past mistakes, past wounds, past seasons, even past victories.
Watch a relay runner waiting for the baton. As the teammate approaches, they start running, reach a hand back, and keep their eyes forward. The moment they turn their head, they lose momentum.
The runner who looks back loses speed. The runner who looks sideways loses focus.
The runner who locks eyes on the finish line gains momentum.
“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. 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, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 3:12–14
Paul wrote this from prison. He was physically confined, yet spiritually advancing. He was in chains, possibly facing execution, yet he wrote about progress and pursuit, and he used his own hardship to encourage others.
- “One thing I do”: a singular focus
- “Forgetting”: an intentional release
- “Straining”: an aggressive pursuit
- “I press on”: a sustained effort
His eyes stayed fixed on Jesus and on heaven.
Pastor Mark remembered visiting his grandparents as a boy and hearing the old songs of heaven, like “When We All Get to Heaven” and “What a Day That Will Be.” Those songs kept believers focused on the prize instead of the world around them. When we stay that focused, the world’s hooks don’t catch us as easily.
Point 1 · Romans 8:1
Forget What Is Behind
“Forgetting” means to neglect, to no longer be influenced by, to deliberately disregard. It doesn’t mean losing your memory or pretending something never happened. It means the past no longer controls your direction. You know it’s there, but you’ve turned your face the other way.
Many believers aren’t stuck in sin. They’re stuck in shame: “I failed. I should have known better. How can God use me now?”
Paul had a past. Before he met Jesus, he approved of the stoning of Stephen, the church’s first martyr (Acts 7:58–8:1), and dragged believers off to prison (Acts 8:3). He was the church’s fiercest persecutor. Yet he went on to write much of the New Testament and endured beatings, stonings, and shipwrecks for the gospel. He refused to let his past define his future.
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
Romans 8:1
If your past gets thrown in your face after you’ve chosen to follow Jesus, that’s the enemy trying to drag you back to your old life. It’s never Jesus condemning you. He’s more concerned with your future than your past.
The devil knows your name but calls you by your sin.
God knows your sin but calls you by your name.
Philippians 3:7
Don’t Live Off Yesterday’s Success
Here’s a more subtle danger: past successes can hold you back too. In Philippians 3, Paul lists his impressive religious résumé, then says:
“But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.”
Philippians 3:7
Yesterday’s victories can become today’s limitations. “I used to pray like that. I used to be on fire. I remember when God moved.” A church can live off what God did ten years ago instead of what He wants to do now. A success can become a ceiling instead of a stepping stone.
Yesterday’s manna won’t feed today’s hunger.
God calls us to present obedience, not past encounters.
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!”
Isaiah 43:18–19
A car’s windshield is much bigger than its rearview mirror, because where you’re going matters more than where you’ve been. What are you still carrying from your past, whether failure or success, that is slowing your progress?
Point 2 · Philippians 3:13–14
Strain Toward What Is Ahead
Many new believers feel joy at the altar, then a few days later realize something has to change, like walking away from a toxic relationship. That hurts. Moving into the new life God has for you takes effort.
“Straining” means to stretch out, to extend yourself to the limit. A runner approaching the finish line doesn’t pull back. They lean forward and give everything. Christianity isn’t passive. It’s active.
The Greek word Paul uses for “press on” is the same word he used a few verses earlier for persecuting the church (Philippians 3:6). The same intensity he once used against Jesus, he now pours into pursuing Him. Pastor Mark has friends in other countries who have been physically attacked for their faith and still refuse to give up.
He also shared about a young man who lost a job of 15 years for standing by his convictions. God provided, and his next job paid even more. Following Jesus will cost you something. The goal isn’t to build comfort, but character that stands when uncomfortable times come.
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”
Matthew 16:24
Only one thing happens on a cross: you die. When we die to our fleshly passions, Christ works in us with strength we’ve never known. Grace saves you, but pursuing His presence grows you.
You never drift forward. You always drift backward.
No one accidentally becomes spiritually strong.
You don’t drift into prayer, discipline, obedience, purpose, or holiness. You pursue them. What step forward is God asking you to take right now? It might be obedience, surrender, discipline, forgiving someone who hurt you, or starting again after failure.
Point 3 · Philippians 3:8, 14
The Prize Is Jesus
The prize is “the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14). The goal isn’t just heaven. The goal is Jesus.
“I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”
Philippians 3:8
“The great thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving.”
Oliver Wendell Holmes
The prize isn’t a platform, a title, or a successful life. It’s a relationship with Jesus. Pastor Mark came to the altar the night he was saved with chaos, brokenness, guilt, and shame. He walked away with peace, joy, presence, and purpose. The enemy will remind you of everything you have to give up, but he’ll never tell you that knowing Jesus is the greatest thing you’ll ever experience.
“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
Colossians 3:2
When Pastor Mark and Christie thought their parenting years were winding down, they unexpectedly adopted a baby boy within a single week. When he was learning to walk, he would hear his dad come home and come running down the hallway with his arms open. Pastor Mark didn’t hesitate. He ran to scoop him up.
As we run toward Jesus, He is already running toward us.
You aren’t chasing a distant prize. You’re responding to a Savior who has already pursued you. Ask yourself: Is my focus on what I’m doing for God, or on who I’m becoming with God? Paul said “one thing I do,” not ten scattered efforts. The race isn’t about perfection. It’s about direction.
2 Corinthians 4:17
You Don’t Run Alone
At the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, British sprinter Derek Redmond tore his hamstring about halfway through his 400-meter semifinal and collapsed in pain. He waved off the medics and began hobbling toward the finish. Then a man pushed through security, put his arm around him, and helped him finish. It was his father.
That’s what running with Jesus is like. When we stumble and fall, He says, “I’ve got you.”
The pain of the race is temporary, but quitting lasts forever.
That’s why God sent the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, the One who comes alongside, strengthens us, and picks us up. Paul called our hardships “light and momentary troubles” compared to the eternal glory ahead (2 Corinthians 4:17).
The more you fix your eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2), the more peace you’ll have and the more clearly you’ll understand your own assignment. If you don’t know your assignment, you’ll want someone else’s, get confused, and stop running. In His presence there is fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11).
So how’s your race going? Has someone cut in? Has unforgiveness slowed you to a walk? Is the enemy still bringing up your past? He’s a liar. Paul proved that over and over. And if you realize you’re not in the race at all, Jesus still says, “Come, follow me.”
Questions About This Message
Philippians 3 Explained
What does “forgetting what is behind” mean in Philippians 3:13?
The word means to deliberately disregard or no longer be influenced by something. It doesn’t mean erasing memories or pretending the past never happened. It means past failures, wounds, and even past successes no longer control your direction as you move forward with Christ.
How did Paul overcome his past?
Before following Jesus, Paul approved of Stephen’s death and persecuted the church (Acts 7–8). After meeting Christ, he refused to let that past define his future. He trusted that there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1) and pressed on in his calling.
What does “straining toward what is ahead” mean?
“Straining” means to stretch out and extend yourself to the limit, like a runner leaning toward the finish line. Paul describes an active, intentional pursuit of Christ. You never drift into spiritual growth; you pursue prayer, obedience, and holiness on purpose.
What is the prize in Philippians 3:14?
Paul presses on toward “the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” The prize is not a platform, title, or success, but Jesus Himself. Paul considered everything a loss compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ (Philippians 3:8).
Where was Paul when he wrote Philippians?
Paul wrote Philippians while imprisoned, likely in Rome. Though he was in chains and possibly facing execution, the letter is full of joy and encouragement. He was physically confined but spiritually advancing, focused on pressing forward rather than on his circumstances.
Let go of the past.
Strain toward what’s ahead.
Press on.
Jesus is the prize.
Life Group Discussion
Reflect and Respond
Use these questions to continue the conversation, reflect honestly, and let the message move beyond information into transformation.
As we run toward Jesus,
He is already running toward us.
