Have A Clear Mission Series

Have a Clear Mission

YOLO Part 1

Philippians 3:10-14

Today we are starting a brand-new message series: YOLO (You only live once.)

Some people use YOLO to inspire courage and bravery.

Others use YOLO to justify doing something idiotic and embarrassing.

It is true that we only live once.

However, what does this imply?

I heard some people using this philosophy to justify their reckless lifestyle or doing some idiotic behavior.

But as Christians, how should we use our one and only life?

Should we do whatever we want to do?

Should we just relax and chill?

The Bible is very clear on this.

We only live once.

Therefore, we must invest our one and only life meaningfully.

We must use our lives to make some eternal differences.

In order to do that, the first thing that we must do is this: We must live with a clear mission.

But what is a mission?

For Christians, a mission is a commission that God gave to each one of us.

A mission is our fundamental purpose for our existence.

A mission is the reason why God has created and called us.

A mission is the reason why we live.

And without knowing our mission, we cannot live our one and only life meaningfully.

This is why in the passage that we read today, the Apostle Paul told us that we must realize these three truths regarding our mission.

I. We must find our God-given mission (vv. 10-11).

A pastor once preached a sermon from Philippians 3, and he told people that we must live to fulfill our God-given mission.

After the worship, he talked with a person and asked him whether he is running to fulfill his mission in life.

Then he said this: “Since I do not know what my mission is, I cannot run toward it.”

I visit churches and ask people, “Do you believe that you have a mission from God?”

They all say, “Amen!”

I ask another question, “Do you know what your God-give mission is?”

Then everyone becomes very quiet.

If we do not know what our mission in life is, it is impossible to fulfill that mission.

This is why in order to live a life that fulfills our God-given mission, we must know what that mission is.

Verses 10-11 say this.

10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

Paul had a clear idea why he was living.

Paul knew his mission.

That was to know Jesus, so that he can be like Him.

He wanted to know the power of His resurrection and participate in His suffering, so that eventually he can be resurrected and live eternally with Jesus in heaven.

That was his ultimate goal in life.

And this gave him a clear direction in life.

But the problem is this: So many Christians do not know what their God-given mission is.

And because they do not know what their God-given mission is, they cannot fulfill it.

But how can we find our God-given mission?

Is there a formula?

I came up with this diagram to show how we can find our mission in life.

In order to find our God-given mission, we must consider these three things:

First, the Bible.

We must find our mission passage from the Bible.

As you read the Bible, you may come across a passage that inspires you, challenges you, or moves you.

Perhaps God is giving you that passage as your mission passage.

We must find our mission passage from the Bible.

Second, God’s design.

The Bible tells us that God designed us with His mission in mind.

Check your spiritual gifts, natural talents, and personality.

That will give you a very good hint what your mission is.

Third, our core values.

Through our past experiences, we formed some values that we feel passionate about.

These values drive us.

These values energize us.

These values give life to us.

We must find these values that are embedded in us.

Where we see the Bible, God’s design, and our core values intersect, we find our mission.

If we do not know what our God-given mission in life is, we must find it.

This is the first thing that we must do.

We must find our God-given mission.

II. We must fulfill our God-given mission with passion (v. 12).

Verse 12 says this.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

Paul knew that he did not accomplished his God-given mission yet.

Therefore, he pressed on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of him.