TOPIC: PRESSING ON TO VICTORY

Golden text: “... forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before” (Phi 3:13)

Introduction:
It’s impossible to succeed without going through adversity. If you're successful and haven’t experienced it, you can be sure that someone else has experienced it for you. If you're experiencing it without succeeding, there's a good chance somebody else will succeed one day because of you. Either way, there's no success without endurance (taken from Word for you today by Bob Gass).

The fact that we have to press on toward victory implies there would be stumbling blocks in our way. As in a race, only persons who are determined, make it to the end. Perhaps it’s time we asked ourselves the question, yet again, “how are you running the Christian race”?
 

1. Ruth 1:1-18. Ruth and Orpah both had the opportunity of leaving Naomi and return to their homeland, but only Orpah returned - Ruth remained with Naomi.
a) What factor(s) possibly influenced the decision of Orpah to return?
b) What factor(s) possibly influenced the decision of Ruth to press on with Naomi?
c) What made the difference between Ruth and Orpah?
 
 

2. lCor 15:55-58, Ephesians 6:12, John 10:10

a) What is the Christian constantly fighting?
b) From whom could we expect distractions as we run the Christian race?
c) What is the victory the Christian is pressing towards? How does this compare to ‘worldly victory’?
 
 

3. Philippians 3:13, Daniel 3:8-15. Genesis 39:2-9, Judges 16:4, 16-20.
a) What things tend to hinder us in the Christian race as we press on towards the victory?
b) How could our socio-political positions affect our walk with the Lord?
 
 

4. Luke 9:50-55; Colossians 3: 10-16; Ezekiel 36:26,27
a) How can we keep pressing on to victory in the midst of worldly distractions?
b) What Christian virtues are especially essential to help us ‘weather through the storm’?
c) If one’s heart is hardened, how could such person overcome the tricks of the enemy?
 
 
 

Conclusion:
“The true test of your character is seeing what it takes to stop you! Dr. G. Campbell Morgan tells of a man whose shop had been burned in the great Chicago fire. He arrived at the ruins the next morning carrying a table. He set it up in the rulings, and put a big sign above it that read, “Everything lost except wife, children and hope-business will resume as usual tomorrow morning!” Think about it!.