Keith Battle - Goal Requirements

Philippians chapter 3 is where today’s message will come from. I will read verses 12 to 16 and then get into this. Father, please speak to us from Your Word. Give us helpful information and transforming inspiration today so that we will be changed, improved, and better. We pray for everyone who is joining us from all around the world, wherever someone is watching or listening to this. We pray that You will reach them in a very personal way. I give myself to You so that You can think through me, speak through me, feel through me, and talk through me. At the end, will You make this a very helpful time for us? In Jesus' name, Amen. Verse 12 says, «I don’t mean to say that I’ve already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection, but I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.» Verse 13: «No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead. I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling me.» Let all, verse 15, who are especially mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you, but we must hold on to the progress we have already made.

We’ll stop right there. One of the things that is clear to me in this passage, as I walk through it and research it, is that Paul is focused on a goal—actually, it’s more than one goal. He is focused on a goal, and I want to walk through this passage and give you what I’m calling, by way of topic today, «Goal Requirements.» What are goal requirements as we look at this passage through the lens of goal-setting, goal-achievement, and goal-accomplishment? What can we learn from how Paul approached his goals? How can we practice those things in our lives as well?

Now, when I use the term «goal,» I am talking about, by definition, a desired end—something that we are striving to accomplish and reach. The goal should be measurable; it is usually quantifiable. It is also often something that has a timeframe on it—like wanting to achieve a certain status within a specific duration. That’s a goal.

I want to be clear that I assume you have some goals in your life. The point of this message is not to tell you what your goals should be. The point of this message is to give you a framework from this biblical passage on how to accomplish and achieve those goals. I believe there should be goals we have in various parts of our lives. You should have relational goals, financial goals, domestic goals, spiritual goals, physical goals, professional goals, and organizational goals.

So, what is the framework? I am going to outline five things from this passage that I think will help us achieve our goals. Y’all ready? Let me just say this: I do this every week, all day. Sometimes when I come here, I’m tired—as in, I didn’t get a good night’s sleep! I have a granddaughter running around, so sometimes I’m worn out. But you know what? I give y’all energy every week, so I want some energy back! Elbow someone and say, «Give him something!» You get back what you put in. Whatever you want to grow in your life, you have to feed it.

My message is like this: things don’t grow when you don’t feed them. Plants won’t grow unless you water them. If you want to grow followers on social media, you have to be active on social media; you have to engage with people. If you want to grow your business, you have to put effort into it. If you want to grow your marriage, you have to nurture it. I can look at my marriage for 21 years and see the difference when I didn’t feed it. Thanks be to God!

You want your pastor to give you a good word? You have to engage with me. Act like I’m doing something! Say, «Wow! Come on, preach! You’re the man!» That’s what I’m talking about. So, let’s not sit there looking at me like I’m crazy. Now, are y’all ready?

I don’t like speaking to a dead audience. Just like you don’t want to hear a dead sermon, I’m not here to watch you go to sleep. I could stay home and do that! I’m allergic to quiet! Now, number one: listen to what Paul says in verse 12. He basically states, «I have not arrived. I don’t mean to say that I’ve already achieved these things or that I’ve already reached perfection.» He’s saying, «I am NOT there.» In verse 13, he reiterates, «No, my dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it.» The first thing you’re going to have to…