Press on (1377) (dioko from dÃo = pursue, prosecute, persecute) means to follow or press hard after, literally to pursue as one does a fleeing enemy. It means to chase, harass, vex and pressure and was used for chasing down criminals. Dioko speaks of an intensity of effort leading to a pursue with earnestness and diligence in order to obtain. To go after with the desire of obtaining or in some contexts the desire to harm. It gives us the picture of going on the track of something like the hounds on the hunt and pursuing after the fox and implying a continuing effort to overtake, reach, or attain the goal. Vincent says that dioko is Stronger than "follow". A favorite word with Paul to denote the pursuits of moral and spiritual ends. See Rom. 9:30, 31; 12:13; 1 Cor. 14:1; Philip. 3:12. (Vincent, M. R. Word Studies in the New Testament. 4:307) Summary of dioko... 1) (Closely related to #2) To make to run or flee. To put to flight. To drive away (Mt 23:34) 2) To persecute - 30/45 NT uses convey the sense of the intention of doing harm. To hunt down like an animal. To run swiftly after something. To in any way whatever, to harass, trouble, molest. To carry out physical persecution, to harass, to abuse, to treat unjustly. (Mt 5:10, 11, 12, Mt 5:44, Mt 10:23, Lk 21:12, Jn 5:16; 15:20; Acts 7:52; 9:4, 5; 22:4,7, 8; 26:14, 15; Ro 12:14; 1Co 4:12; 15:9; 2Co 4:9; Gal 1:13,23; Gal 4:29; Gal 5:11; Php 3:6; 2Ti 3:12; Passive sense - to be maltreated, suffer persecution on account of something -Gal 6:12. Dioko conveys a sense of urgency and a sense of of intensity of purpose. Comment: How do we respond to persecution? We remember that suffering persecution is part of what it means---in certain situations at least---to live as a Christian (1Th 3:4; 2Ti 3:12). Like Paul, "when we are persecuted, we endure it" (1Co 4:12). We respond by loving and blessing our persecutors and praying for them (Mt 5:44; Ro 12:14). And through it all, we remember that we are surrounded by the love of Jesus. For no "hardship or persecution (diogmos derived from dioko) or famine or nakedness or danger" will ever be able to separate us "from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Ro 8:35, 39). (Richards, L O: Expository Dictionary of Bible Words: Regency) 3) To run swiftly in order to catch some person or thing, to run after; to press on; diligently follow. Figuratively used of one who like a runner in a race runs swiftly to reach the goal and thus to pursue a specific objective. To hasten, press forward, press on (Php 3:12, Php 3:14). To pursue in a hostile manner (Acts 26:11, Rev 12:13). 4) To run swiftly after, follow after here without the idea of hostility (Luke 17:23) 5) Figurative - To actively pursue some course. To seek after eagerly. To earnestly endeavor to acquire (Ro 9:30; 1Ti 6:11; 2Ti 2:22; Ro 9:31 (Pr 15:9; Dt 6:20; Ro 12:13;Ro 14:19, 1Co 14:1; 1Th 5:15; He 12:14; 1Pe 3:11. Balz & Schneider note that... The original Greek sense of the word is based on the meaning drive, set in motion, push, which then becomes persecute, banish and, used metaphorically, follow, strive for a person or a thing, push forward zealously, aspire to, be zealously behind something, endeavor with zeal. The NT uses the verb and the noun in connection with Hellenistic Judaism in the sense of religious persecution of Jesus and his followers and then, under the influence also of Greek philosophy, particularly the Stoa, as an expression for striving toward ethical and religious attitudes and goals. (Balz, H. R., & Schneider, G. . Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans) NIDNTT writes that... dioko is perhaps connected with the Homeric diemai, flee. It means literally to chase, pursue, run after, drive away, and figuratively to pursue something zealously, try to achieve something, try to obtain, prosecute. In the LXX dioko, along with ekdioko and katadioko, is used primarily of pursuit by hostile soldiers (Ex 15:9), or by anyone whose intentions are hostile (Gen. 31:23). It translates a number of Hebrew verbs, but chiefly radap, pursue; the other verbs occur only in isolated instances. This gives rise to the usage which is characteristic of the Psalms of individual lamentation (e.g. Ps 7:1, 5...cf. also Jer 15:15; 20:11), where persecution and persecutors refer to the circumstances and persons that cause the psalmist to suffer, without there necessarily being active persecution in the narrower specific sense. The OT also contains exhortations to strive for a goal. In normal Greek settings it will be the good, the beautiful, or virtue that is to be pursued. In the LXX it is relationships, e.g. social righteousness (Dt. 16:20; cf. also Josephus, Ant. 6, 12, 7), peace (Ps. 34:14), and righteousness in the sense of true honoring of God (Pr 15:9), that are to be followed. The corresponding NT usage has its roots here. (Brown, Colin, Editor. New International Dictionary of NT Theology. 1986. Zondervan) Warren Wiersbe writes that dioko... it carries the idea of intense endeavor. The Greeks used it to describe a hunter eagerly pursuing his prey. A man does not become a winning athlete by listening to lectures, watching movies, reading books, or cheering at the games. He becomes a winning athlete by getting into the game and determining to win! The same zeal that Paul employed when he persecuted the church (Phil. 3:6), he displayed in serving Christ. Come to think of it, wouldn't it be wonderful if Christians put as much determination into their spiritual life as they do their golfing, fishing, or bowling? Dioko - 45x in 44v -NAS = persecute(10), persecuted(13), persecuting(7), persecutor(1), practicing (1), press on(2), pursue(7), pursuing(2), run after(1), seek after(1). Here are the NT uses of dioko... Matthew 5:10-note "Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11-note "Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12-note "Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Comment: One who lives as a Christian and actively represents God's point of view to a lost world should not be surprised if he or she is persecuted. The same active antagonism that Jesus experienced (in one degree or another) is promised to the true believer who seeks to live a Spirit filled holy life in front of an unholy world. Matthew 5:44-note "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, Matthew 10:23 "But whenever they persecute you in one city, flee to the next; for truly I say to you, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes. Matthew 23:34 "Therefore, behold, I am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes; some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city, Luke 11:49 "For this reason also the wisdom of God said, 'I will send to them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and some they will persecute, Luke 17:23 "They will say to you, 'Look there! Look here!' Do not go away, and do not run after them. Luke 21:12 "But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for My name's sake. John 5:16 For this reason the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because He was doing these things on the Sabbath. John 15:20 "Remember the word that I said to you, 'A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. Acts 7:52 "Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become; Acts 9:4 and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" 5 And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" And He said, "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, Comment: Paul's persecution of believers was equivalent (in God's eyes) to persecution of Jesus because He was in covenant with them and thus identified fully with them. When they were persecuted, He was persecuted. Note how this fact is repeated in the passages below from Acts. Clearly this is a truth God wants believers to be know and believe, especially when they are being persecuted for His sake! Acts 22:4 "I persecuted this Way (Acts 9:2, 18:25, 26, 19:9, 23, 24:14, 22) to the death, binding and putting both men and women into prisons, Acts 22:7 and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?' 8 "And I answered, 'Who are You, Lord?' And He said to me, 'I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.' Acts 26:11 "And as I punished them often in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme; and being furiously enraged at them, I kept pursuing them even to foreign cities. Acts 26:14 "And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew dialect, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.' 15 "And I said, 'Who are You, Lord?' And the Lord said, 'I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. Romans 9:30-note What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith; 31 but Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law. Comment: The Jews were pursuing but their pursuit was like a football player with the ball running to the opponents goal line. The Jews were running the "wrong direction", by works (in contrast to faith) Romans 12:13-note contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Comment: Interesting picture - pursuing hospitality, not my strong suit. Marvin Vincent - pursuing hospitality. For a similar use of the verb compare 1Co 14:1; 1Th 5:15; Heb 12:14; 1Pe 3:11. A necessary injunction when so many Christians were banished and persecuted. The verb indicates not only that hospitality is to be furnished when sought, but that Christians are to seek opportunities of exercising it. (Ibid) Romans 14:19-note So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another. 1 Corinthians 4:12 and we toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; 1 Corinthians 14:1 Pursue (present imperative - the direction of your life. Chase after Christ-like agape love with intensity) love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 1 Corinthians 15:9-note For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 2 Corinthians 4:9-note persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; Comment: What a picture by Paul of his many enemies continually (present tense) stalking him like an animal day and night, every day (cf. Acts 9:23,24, 28,29; 14:5, 6, 19; 20:3; 23:12). When you stand for Christ, everything that stands against Him will come against (persecute) you! Galatians 1:13 For you have heard of my former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it; Galatians 1:23 but only, they kept hearing, "He who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith which he once tried to destroy." Galatians 4:29 But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also. Galatians 5:11 But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been abolished. Galatians 6:12 Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. Philippians 3:6-note as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless. Philippians 3:12-note Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Comment: Amazing, transforming grace, is able to change a persecutor of Jesus' people (Php 3:6) into a pursuer of the Person Jesus! (Php 3:12, 14) 1Thessalonians 5:15-note See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after (present imperative - the direction of your life) that which is good for one another and for all people. Comment: The corollary admonition is that if the "direction" of your life is pursue after that which is evil, you may be saying more about your eternal destiny than you realize. Faith in Jesus is not a "fire (eternal) insurance" policy, but a "life (eternal) assurance" policy, and is manifest and validated by a changed life (direction, not perfection!). Do not be deceived. Faith alone saves, but the faith that saves is not alone. (cp 2Co 13:5). 1Timothy 6:11 But flee from (present imperative - the direction of your life) these things, you man of God, and pursue (present imperative - the direction of your life) righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. Comment: A T Robertson - Vivid verbs in present active imperative. The preacher can not afford to parley with such temptations. 2Timothy 2:22-note Now flee from (present imperative - the direction of your life) youthful lusts and pursue (present imperative - the direction of your life) righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 2Timothy 3:12-note Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. Comment: One of those "precious and magnificent promises" (2Pe 1:4) in Scripture, but not one we really like to heard! Note who will be persecuted - those who even "desire" to live godly. The lost world loathes godliness because it convicts them of their rank ungodliness. And so with the "promise" of persecution, how can a believer live godly? There is only one way beloved, and it's "in Christ Jesus". In the sphere of. In the "atmosphere" of Christ. Like a fish lives when it lives in the sphere of water. A believer can only really live, when he or she lives in the grace (power) of Christ (cp 2Ti 2:1-note). Hebrews 12:14-note Pursue (present imperative - the direction of your life. Remember - the direction, not perfection!) peace with all men, and the sanctification (holiness) without which no one will see the Lord. 1Peter 3:11-note "HE MUST TURN AWAY FROM EVIL AND DO GOOD; HE MUST SEEK PEACE AND PURSUE (aorist imperative) IT. Revelation 12:13-note And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child. Dioko - 70x in the Septuagint (LXX) - Gen 14:15; 31:23; Ex 15:9; Lev 26:7f, 17, 36; Deut 16:20; 19:6; 30:7; 32:30; Josh 2:7; 23:10; Jdg 4:16, 22; 7:23; 8:4f, 12; 9:40; 20:43; 2 Sam 18:16; 20:7, 10, 13; 21:5; 22:38; 24:13; 2 Kgs 5:21; 9:27; 25:5; Ezra 9:4; Job 19:22; Ps 7:1; 34:14; Prov 9:12; 12:11; 15:9; 21:6; 28:1, 19; Eccl 3:15; Isa 1:23; 5:11; 13:14; 16:4; 17:2, 13; 30:16, 28; 41:3; 51:1; Jer 17:18; 20:11; 51:31; Lam 1:6; 4:19; 5:5; Ezek 25:13; 35:6; Dan 4:32; Hos 6:3; 12:1; Amos 1:11; 2:16; 6:12; Mic 2:11; Nah 1:8; 3:2; Hab 2:2; Hag 1:9 Wiersbe adds that... There are two extremes to avoid here: (1) "I must do it all" and (2) "God must do it all!" The first describes the activist, the second the quietist, and both are heading for failure. "Let go and let God!" is a clever slogan, but it does not fully describe the process of Christian living. What quarterback would say to his team, "OK, men, just let go and let the coach do it all!" On the other hand, no quarterback would say, "Listen to me and forget what the coach says!" Both extremes are wrong. The Christian runner with the spiritual mind realizes that God must work in him if he is going to win the race (Php 2:12-note, Php 2:13-note). "Without Me ye can do nothing" (Jn 15:5). God works in us that He might work through us. As we apply ourselves to the things of the spiritual life, God is able to mature us and strengthen us for the race. "Exercise thyself rather unto godliness!" (1Ti 4:7, 8-note) Some Christians are so busy "dying to self' that they never come back to life again to run the race! And others are so sure they can make it on their own that they never stop to read the Word, pray, or ask for the power of the Lord. (Wiersbe, W: Bible Exposition Commentary. 1989. Victor or Logos) Steven Cole writes that Paul exemplifies... An attitude of moving ahead in the present: Keep moving!... (Ed: Even though Paul had been converted some 25 years prior to writing Philippians, in this section he reveals his mindset that he was still in process and had not yet arrived. He’s been at it for 25 years, but he doesn’t view himself as having arrived!) Paul had a holy dissatisfaction with where he was at, so he kept pressing on. Yesterday’s blessings or experiences wouldn’t do for today. He walked daily with the Lord, always wanting more, always learning, always growing, never treading water or coasting. (Philippians 3:12-16 Christian Growth Process) J.C. Ryle the devout 19th century theologian said that... Zeal in religion is a burning desire to please God, to do His will & to advance His glory in the world in every possible way. It is a desire which no man feels by nature... (A zealous man) will always find a sphere for his zeal. If he cannot preach, or work, or give money, he will cry, and sigh, and pray. Yes; if he is a pauper, on a perpetual bed of sickness, he will make the wheels of sin around him drive heavily, by continually interceding against it... If he is cut off from working himself, he will give the Lord no rest till help is raised up from somewhere else, and the work is done. This is what we mean when we speak of zeal in religion... See him (Paul) from the day of his conversion, giving up his brilliant prospects-forsaking all for Christ's sake-and going forth to preach that very Jesus whom he had once despised. See him going back and forth throughout the world from that time-through persecution-through oppression-through opposition-through prisons-through chains-through afflictions-through things next to death itself, up to the very day when he sealed his faith with his blood and died at Rome, a martyr for that Gospel which he had so long proclaimed. This was true Christian zeal. (Practical Religion) C H Spurgeon described the zeal that presses onward and upward writing that... If you never have sleepless hours, if you never have weeping eyes, if your hearts never swell as if they would burst, you need not anticipate that you will be called zealous. You do not know the beginning of true zeal, for the foundation of Christian zeal lies in the heart. The heart must be heavy with grief and yet must beat high with holy ardor. The heart must be vehement in desire, panting continually for God's glory, or else we shall never attain to anything like the zeal which God would have us know...As well a chariot without its steeds, a sun without its beams, a heaven without its joy, as a man of God without zeal. Onward and Upward In his exposition of this verse Spurgeon wrote a believer should be... Always making progress, — throwing himself into it, having the reward before him, the prize of perfection in Christ, and running towards it with all his might. David Livingstone, pioneer medical missionary to Africa upon returning to Great Britain was asked, “Where do you want to go now?” Without hesitation, like the good Christian racer he was, Livingstone replied... “I am ready to go anywhere provided it be forward.” (Amen!) Stephen Charnock a respected Puritan theologian (The Attributes of God) wrote... ‘As there is not a moment but we are under His mercy, so there is not a moment that we are out of His presence (Pr15:3). Let us therefore look upon nothing, without thinking who stands by, without reflecting upon Him in whom it lives, and moves and hath its being... Let us not bound our thoughts to the creatures we see, but pierce through the creature to the boundless God we do not see: we have continual remembrances of His presence; the light whereby we see, and the air whereby we live, (all things) give us perpetual notices of (God)... Yea, what a shame is our unmindfulness of (God), when every cast of our eye, every motion of our lungs, jogs (our memory of God)... How shall we do to be (more) serious? Mind God’s presence. How shall we avoid distractions in service? Think of God’s presence. How shall we resist temptation? Oppose to them the presence of God.’ C H Spurgeon explains that the metaphor of a Christian race implies progress onward writing that... So far as acceptance with God is concerned a Christian is complete in Christ as soon as he believes. But while the work of Christ for us is complete, that of the Holy Spirit in us is not complete, but is continually carried on from day to day. The condition in which every believer should be found is that of progress. Nearly every figure by which Christians are described implies this. We are plants in the Lord’s field, but we are sown that we may grow. “First the blade,” etc. We are born into the family of God; but there are babes, little children, etc. Is the Christian a pilgrim? Then he must not sit down as if rooted to a place. Is he a warrior, wrestler, etc.? These figures are the very opposite of idleness. J C Philpot wrote has the following devotional thoughts on Phil 3:13,14 ... Press on to know the blessed mysteries of the gospel as the food of your soul; press on to know the Son of God, not only as a crucified man, not only as sweating blood in Gethsemane's garden, and agonizing on Calvary's tree; but press on to know him as the exalted God-man Mediator at the right hand of the Father, ever living to make intercession, able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him; and press on to enjoy him as your living Head, distilling into you as a living member of his mystical body, what the Psalmist calls, "the dew of his youth;" that is, the fruits of his resurrection, ascension and glorification, as manifested by the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit. Press onward to know the power of the precious gospel you profess, to enjoy it more in your soul, and to manifest its reality more in your conduct, your conversation, and your life. (J. C. Philpot. Daily Words for Zion's Wayfarers) Wiersbe notes that... Each believer is on the track; each has a special lane in which to run; and each has a goal to achieve. If we reach the goal the way God has planned, then we receive a reward. If we fail, we lose the reward, but we do not lose our citizenship. (Wiersbe, Be Joyful) Bruce Demarest writes that... God has called us to gain the heavenly prize. Our divine vocation is not a life of ease and pleasure, but one of self-denial as we strive for the heavenly goal. The great apostle Paul expressed his life’s goal in these words: “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:13,14). (Demarest, B. A. The Cross and Salvation : The Doctrine of Salvation. Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books) Here are a few quotes on zeal that might stimulate us to ponder what it means in our personal life to truly press on toward the goal... It's easier to cool down a fanatic than warm up a corpse. - Brother Andrew Attempt great things for God; expect great things from God. - William Carey As well a chariot without its steeds, a sun without its beams, a heaven without its joy, as a man of God without zeal. - C. H. Spurgeon I cared not when or how I lived, or what hardships I went through, so that I could gain souls for Christ. - David Brainerd It is better to wear out than to rust out. - Richard Cumberland A zealous man in religion is a man of one thing. He only sees one thing, he cares for one thing, he is swallowed up in one thing; and that one thing is to please God. - J. C. Ryle We need an outbreak of holy heartburn, when hearers shall be doers, when congregations shall go out from meetings to do things for God. - Vance Havner One live coal may set a whole stack on fire. - John Trapp Get on fire for God and men will come and see you burn. - John Wesley I have one passion only: It is he! It is he! - Nicolas von Zinzendorf If by excessive zeal we die before reaching the average age of man, worn out in the Master's service, then glory to God, we shall have so much less of earth and so much more of heaven. - C. H. Spurgeon I am never better than when I am on the full stretch for God. - George Whitefield O Lord, make me an extraordinary Christian. - George Whitefield Zeal is like fire; in the chimney it is one of the best servants, but out of the chimney it is one of the worst masters. - Thomas Brooks Give me the love that leads the way, The faith that nothing can dismay, The hope no disappointments tire, The passion that will burn like fire. Let me not sink to be a clod; Make me thy fuel, Flame of God. Amy Carmichael Tozer in The Root of the Righteous says... Progress in the Christian life is exactly equal to the growing knowledge we gain of the Triune God in personal experience. And such experience requires a whole life devoted to it and plenty of time spent at the holy task of cultivating God. God can be known satisfactorily only as we devote time to Him. Without meaning to do it we have written our serious fault into our book titles and gospel songs. "A little talk with Jesus," we sing, and call our books God's Minute, or something else as revealing. The Christian who is satisfied to give God His "minute" and to "have a little talk with Jesus" is the same one who shows up at the evangelistic service weeping over his retarded spiritual growth and begging the evangelist to show him the way out of his difficulty. A thousand distractions would woo us away from thoughts of God, but if we are wise we will sternly put them from us and make room for the King and take time to entertain Him. Some things may be neglected with but little loss to the spiritual life, but to neglect communion with God is to hurt ourselves where we cannot afford it. God will respond to our efforts to know Him. The Bible tells us how; it is altogether a matter of how much determination we bring to the holy task. Tozer in the Size of the Soul has an interesting discussion on how to have a personal revival... I have previously shown that any Christian who desires to may at any time experience a radical spiritual renaissance, and this altogether independent of the attitude of his fellow Christians. The important question now is, How? Well, here are some suggestions which anyone can follow and which, I am convinced, will result in a wonderfully improved Christian life. 1. Get thoroughly dissatisfied with yourself. Complacency is the deadly enemy of spiritual progress. The contented soul is the stagnant soul. When speaking of earthly goods Paul could say, "for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content" (Philippians 4:11); but when referring to his spiritual life he testified, "I press toward the mark" (3:14). "Thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee" (2 Timothy 1:6).17 2. Set your face like a flint toward a sweeping transformation of your life. Timid experimenters are tagged for failure before they start. We must throw our whole soul into our desire for God. "The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force" (Matthew 11:12). 3. Put yourself in the way of the blessing. It is a mistake to look for grace to visit us as a kind of benign magic, or to expect God's help to come as a windfall apart from conditions known and met. There are plainly marked paths which lead straight to the green pastures; let us walk in them. To desire revival, for instance, and at the same time to neglect prayer and devotion is to wish one way and walk another. 4. Do a thorough job of repenting. Do not hurry to get it over with. Hasty repentance means shallow spiritual experience and lack of certainty in the whole life. Let godly sorrow do her healing work. Until we allow the consciousness of sin to wound us, we will never develop a fear of evil. It is our wretched habit of tolerating sin that keeps us in our half-dead condition. 5. Make restitution whenever possible. If you owe a debt, pay it, or at least have a frank understanding with your creditor about your intention to pay, so your honesty will be above question. If you have quarreled with anyone, go as far as you can in an effort to achieve reconciliation. As fully as possible make the crooked things straight.18 6. Bring your life into accord with the Sermon on the Mount and such other New Testament Scriptures as are designed to instruct us in the way of righteousness. An honest man with an open Bible and a pad and pencil is sure to find out what is wrong with him very quickly. I recommend that the self-examination be made on our knees, rising to obey God's commandments as they are revealed to us from the Word. There is nothing romantic or colorful about this plain, downright way of dealing with ourselves, but it gets the work done. Isaac's workmen did not look like heroic figures as they digged in the valley, but they got the wells open, and that was what they had set out to do. 7. Be serious-minded. You can well afford to see fewer comedy shows on TV. Unless you break away from the funny boys, every spiritual impression will continue to be lost to your heart, and that right in your own living room. The people of the world used to go to the movies to escape serious thinking about God and religion. You would not join them there, but you now enjoy spiritual communion with them in your own home. The devil's ideals, moral standards and mental attitudes are being accepted by you without your knowing it. And you wonder why you can make no progress in your Christian life. Your interior climate is not favorable to the growth of spiritual graces. There must be a radical change in your habits or there will not be any permanent improvement in your interior life.19 8. Deliberately narrow your interests. The jack-of-all-trades is the master of none. The Christian life requires that we be specialists. Too many projects use up time and energy without bringing us nearer to God. If you will narrow your interests, God will enlarge your heart. "Jesus only" seems to the unconverted man to be the motto of death, but a great company of happy men and women can testify that it became to them a way into a world infinitely wider and richer than anything they had ever known before. Christ is the essence of all wisdom, beauty and virtue. To know Him in growing intimacy is to increase in appreciation of all things good and beautiful. The mansions of the heart will become larger when their doors are thrown open to Christ and closed against the world and sin. Try it. 9. Begin to witness. Find something to do for God and your fellow men. Refuse to rust out. Make yourself available to your pastor and do anything you are asked to do. Do not insist upon a place of leadership. Learn to obey. Take the low place until such time as God sees fit to set you in a higher one. Back your new intentions with your money and your gifts, such as they are. 10. Have faith in God. Begin to expect. Look up toward the throne where your Advocate sits at the right hand of God. All heaven is on your side. God will not disappoint you. If you will follow these suggestions you will most surely experience revival in your own heart. And who can tell how far it may spread? God knows how desperately the church needs a spiritual resurrection. And it can only come through the revived individual. TOWARD THE GOAL: kata skopon dioko (1SPAI): Toward the mark. "In the direction of the mark" THE PURPOSEFUL LIFE - EVER TOWARD THE GOAL Toward (2596) (kata) literally means "down" so it could be translated "down upon the goal". Eadie says it means "in the direction of the mark". What a powerful picture Paul paints - it's the idea of a runner straining every fiber “bearing down upon” the goal. Everyone has seen the Olympic sprinters bearing down as they near the tape seeking to edge out the competition. They run for an earthly goal and an earthly glory. Saints bear down on the goal which is Christ Jesus Himself, the One to Whom we must continually look to as we run (cf He 12:1, 2-see notes He 12:1; 12:2). The prize is Christ likeness. What a high calling and worthy goal God has given to His redeemed! "Copy and paste the address below into your web browser in order to go to the original page which will allow you to access live links related to the material on this page - these links include Scriptures (which can be read in context), Scripture pop-ups on mouse over, and a variety of related resources such as Bible dictionary articles, commentaries, sermon notes and theological journal articles related to the topic under discussion." http://www.preceptaustin.org/philippians_314.htm#pr