Hello Everyone,

For the life of the believer, the end zone is Heaven.

In our focus this week, we want to look at things that will hinder us from reaching the end zone.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NIV Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 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.

Philippians 3:14 NIV “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

What is a goal?

A goal is something we work toward or an objective we have in our mind.
The members of a football team are concerned about moving the football into the end-zone.

Their goal is to cross the goal line and score points.

The objective or goal of each team member is to WIN.

Ask some KIDs the question: “What are your goals?”

Some may say, “My goal is to be a doctor, or lawyer, astronaut or nurse, etc.”
Another might say, “My goal is to go to college so that I can be a teacher.”
Whatever a person desires to do with their life is their goal.

The apostle Paul had goals in life. He was the son of a Pharisee.
He was born a Jew and he was raised in the Jewish faith.
He was taught by Gamail, one of the leading scholars of that day.
His credentials were the best that anyone of his day could possibly acquire.
Paul was proud of his heritage.

While a great heritage is and can be a good thing, a heritage is based on what someone else has done.
It is based on another’s goals and how they accomplished them.

Paul’s heritage carried great respect in man’s eyes, but God asked him, “Why do you persecute me?” His goals did not include a personal relationship with the Lord.

What are your goals, and do they include the LORD?

We can all say, “HEAVEN,” and that is wonderful, but what are we doing to make sure that we accomplish our goal of Heaven?

This week, I want to look at some things that will hinder us from winning or obtaining our goal, “Heaven.”

Greater Things Are Still To Come!

Pastor Phil