The text for this morning sermon comes from Paul's letter to the Philippians, chapter 3

verses 2 through 16. Paul writes, look out for the dogs, look out for the evil workers, look out for those who mutilate

the flesh. For we are the true circumcision who worship God in spirit and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh.

Though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also,

if any other man thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more.

Circumsized on the 8th day of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews, as to the law of Pharisee, as to zeal, a persecutor of the church, as to righteousness

under the law, blameless.

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord.

For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as refuse, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having

a righteousness of my own based on law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith.

That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and may share His sufferings becoming like him in his death, that if possible I may

attain the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.

Brethren, I do not consider that I have made it my own, but one thing I do, forgetting what lies

behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Let those of us who are mature be thus minded.

And if in anything you are otherwise minded, God will reveal that also to

you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained. Our theme for the week of prayer that is today closing has been going

hard after the Holy God.

Last week we looked at the Holy God and today I want us to think about going hard.

Why and how?

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