AMBITION

Philippians 3:5-6 (MSG) 5 a legitimate birth, circumcised on the eighth day; an Israelite from the elite tribe of Benjamin; a strict and

devout adherent to God's law; 6 a fiery defender of the purity of my religion, even to the point of persecuting

Christians; a meticulous observer of everything set down in God's law Book.

Philippians 3:7-8 (MSG) 7 The very credentials these people are waving around as something special, I'm tearing up and throwing out with

the trash—along with everything else I used to take credit for. And why? Because of Christ. 8 Yes, all the

things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought

I had going for me is insignificant—dog dung. I've dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ 9

and be embraced by him. …

13 Brothers, 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, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has

called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

1 Corinthians 9:26-27 (NIV) 26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27 No, I beat my

body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified

for the prize.

“Ultimately, in life, there are only 2 controlling ambitions – one is our own glory and the other is

God’s glory.” John Stott

It’s not what you do.

It’s who you do it for.

God’s Glory – Jesus centered ambitions

Here’s how Paul describes a person with Godly ambition

10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his

sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

1. They want to know Christ

“I want to know Christ”

‘Adam knew Eve his wife and she conceived and bore Cain’ Gen 4:1 – RSV

2. They want to know the power of His resurrection

‘and the power of his resurrection”

Romans 8:11 (NIV) 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the

dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.

3. They want to share in His sufferings & death

“and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,”

4. They want to share His destiny

11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Philippians 3:15 (NIV)And if on some point you think differently, that too

God will make clear to you.

It’s not what you do.

It’s who you do it for.

Our Glory - Self centered ambition

Here’s how Paul describes a man with ungodly ambitions

18 For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the

cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame.

Their mind is on earthly things.

2 Corinthians 6:4-5 (NIV) 4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots;

in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger;

1. Appetites determine their lifestyle

“their god is their stomach,”

2. They boast when they should blush

“their glory is in their shame”

3. Their minds are locked into this planet

“Their mind is on earthly things.’

20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,

Colossians 3:1-2 (NIV)1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set

your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things

above, not on earthly things.

“I was ambitious and I am ambitious today, but I hope it

is not for Chuck Colson (though I

struggle quite a lot as a matter of fact). But I am ambitious

for Christ.” Chuck Colson

It’s not what you do.

It’s who you do it for.