Philippians 3:14

"I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

Paul didn't want to fail.  He strained with every inch, every ounce, every nerve, and every part of his body to win the prize.  He had ambition.  But, it was more than just ambition, it was a holy ambition. 

He said, "I want that prize and I am going to have it.  I'm going to be like an athlete who denies himself worldly pleasures.  I am going to train like an athlete.  I'm going to stay in shape for the Lord Jesus.  I am going to do all that is necessary that I may win."

Friend, the Bible clearly teaches we ought to be ambitious, but for the right reason.  And that reason is for Jesus.  May God deliver us from pint-sized ambitions and small-time aspirations!

Colossians 1:19

"For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell."

Do you know why everything happens?  It is to bring glory to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.  In fact, God's Word tells us Jesus Christ is to have preeminence in all of history.  All of history is culminating in this one thing.

Do you know why the world was created?  Jesus.  Do you know why the Holy Spirit ministers?  Jesus.  Do you know why there is going to be a final judgment?  Because "every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:11).

Hitler and Hemingway will confess it.  Buddha and Mohammad will confess it.  None of us can change that fact--all of creation will acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord. 

Philippians 2:13

"For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure."

I can't do anything like Jesus, can you?  At least not in my strength.  But, aren't you glad that the Example of our obedience is also the Enabler of our obedience?  God is responsible for not only the desire, but also the doing.

The word "worketh" in Philippians 2:13 is the word from which we get our English word "energy."  God energizes us to do His will.  It is like the power steering in your automobile.  The power steering is there to work for you, but it waits on you to turn the wheel.  The moment you turn the wheel, you will notice the wonderful power.  The moment you decide to serve God, His power takes over.  God is waiting on you right now to serve Him.  What are you waiting for?

God's word!

"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."  Hebrews 4:12

The word "quick" means "living."  The word of God is living!  It has been said before that the word of God will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from the word of God.  A great many believers do not spend enough time in the word of God.  A great many preachers do not spend enough time in the Word of God. 

The Word of God goes down and deals with the heart.  The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked:  who can know it?  No man can, but God does.  The word of God gets down and deals with the nitty-gritty of our hearts.  It gets down and meets us right where the rubber meets the road, right down where you and I live and move and have our being.