Our Calling for Tomorrow
Philippians 3:1-15
* Over the past couple of weeks I have digested large portion of written material by a 20th century preacher/prophet/revivalist named Leonard Ravenhill. He was indeed a man, the likes of which we have not seen in many years. Witnesses say that when he preached, hearers could sense the power of God exuding from his words. For me, even in reading – his word still pack a powerful spiritual punch.
* Additionally (in the spirit of the men of Issachar – 1 Chronicles 12:32) I have also been some very disturbing material about the tracts, truths, and trends in America. In the USA Today (online) I read an article about a new group in America called the ‘apatheists’ which are those who vacillate between being apathetic and an atheist.
* Try getting a handle on these stats; 46% say they never wonder whether they will go to heaven or not, 44% say they don’t spend time seeking eternal wisdom, & 18% scoff at the thought ‘God has a plan for everyone. There is much more disturbing trends in the article and here’s the problem;
* “Churches and church members seem to dismiss this as “not our problem.” After all, this is not happening inside our building, so it’s not our problem.
* Am I the only one who has a problem with this type of theology? Where is the “Good News of the Gospel” in this mentality? And yet, church after church, church member after church member, and even preacher after preacher; seems to have embraced the concept that this is not our fight.
* We are in a fight of eternal proportions and seem to be getting beat. The USA was founded on God’s word by a group of people who demonstrated God’s word in their daily lives. Those who claimed to be followers of Jesus actually followed in His footsteps. This means that no one doubted God, Jesus, or the Bible because it was being lived out in front of their eyes.
* What message is there for ‘us’ inside the church when people of the community who have no professed belief in Christ – possess no desire to know Christ? Is it God’s fault, their fault, or is it our fault? When people have a vision of a church as only a building where people meet, sing, & fuss; whose fault is it?
* God sent Jesus to offer redemption to this sin-sick world, to change lives for eternity, and to offer best of life here on earth. Then Jesus sent us to do the same by saying, “As the Father sent me.” Here’s the truth; “It’s on us!” The blood of America is on our hands. We have had over 200 years of opportunity.
* How did it happen? How did God’s people allow ‘homosexuality to become an alternate lifestyle? How did we allow abortion to become the law of the land? How did we allow the name of Jehovah God & Jesus to become bywords? How did the “Church” become impotent and insignificant?
* In our text today, is God’s call to us to save this people. It won’t be quick, easy, or without personal pain, but it is required by our Father. (TEXT)
* Chapter 3 of Philippians gives us enough truth to change us, this church, and this community. If there is any hope, it will be because we get this right.
1. Let Us Forget – Paul writes, “Forgetting what is behind.” What are some of the things which Paul was laying down and that he called us to lay down?
a. Our Heritage – Paul’s take is this; ‘If anyone has any reason to be confident in self, it’s ME!’ His Jewish heritage was indisputable. Everyone knew that old Saul of Tarsus was a “Jew of Jews”, his lineage was big stuff, and even his abilities were unmatched. You want a reason to brag, Paul had it! Yet, Paul’s response was “So what?” He lay down & gave up his heritage.
b. Our Harm – Sometimes we can’t forget (or forgive) our own past mistakes. Don’t miss this, “Paul’s past persecution of the church was not a mistakes, it was a conscious decision.” He determined and decided to wreak havoc among the church. The harm was done & people were dead.
* Can you understand that Paul could have been kept in a mental prison all of his Christian life? I just wonder how many faces Satan would paint in Paul’s dreams and thoughts to try to make Paul question his calling. Yet Paul chose to lay it at the cross and leave it at the cross.
* There are people who simply cannot & will not allow God to deal with the sins of their past. Two truths for you: If you don’t allow God to deal with your sin, Satan will use it to keep you miserable. If you will allow God to completely deal with you and your sin, you can forget the past. When God deals with your sin, He has a way of turning tragedy into triumph. The very thing Satan uses to terrorize you, God will use as a tool for you. Give it up.
c. Our Honors – This may be the most difficult thing for us. Paul says, “As to the law I became both a Pharisee & Righteous.” Our honors before we know Christ are as filth, garbage, or rubbish. Paul counted everything he had attained as a loss, as dung, or the word ‘excrement.’ Paul was so given to Christ that he knew nothing this world had to offer could measure up.
* The old song says, “I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold. I’d rather be His than have riches untold. I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands; I’d rather be led by His nail-scarred hands. Than to be the King of a vast domain or be held in sin’s dread sway. I’d rather have Jesus than anything this world affords today.”
* The only way the words of that song have a chance of being true for any of us is for us to forget some things, turn them loose, and let them go.
* Just one more thought; think about driving a car. From time to time you glance in the rear-view mirror to see what is behind you. Will you look back over the last 12 months and ask yourself some questions:
* How did my life count for the God? Or maybe “DID” my life count for Him?
* Am I closer to God and more like Him today than I was last year?
* Is the Lord pleased with how I lived and the words I spoken in 2011?
* Did I share my faith with anybody and did anyone come to faith because of me?
* Do people see Jesus or at least the desire to be like Jesus in me?
* This quick look back will tell you many things about yourself.
* But I want to encourage you to take your eyes out of the rear-view mirror! We glanced back there to be reminded of what is behind, buy now;
2. Let Us Focus – Paul follows forget with focus. He says, “Reaching forward I pursue my goal.” To unpack this text we must grasp what it means to set our sights on something. A professional football team sets their sights on winning the Super Bowl, a deer hunter sets his sights on that big buck, and a believer must set his sights on the things of God. Is this you? What have you set your sights on for 2012? Is there another that calls?
* What are we focused on versus what does our God want us focused on?
a. On God’s Prize – Paul said, “This ONE THING I DO.” Paul’s goal was the prize! He pursued it, pressed toward it, and ran swiftly to gain the prize. His language paints a picture. Picture a runner leaving the starting block (when he leaves them, he forgets them). He is now reaching, leaning, and stretching toward the finish line because HE WANTS TO GET THERE FIRST. In the Greek games, the one who won received the prize. Later Paul would write to Timothy, “I have finished the race.” You can’t win the prize if you don’t finish the race. And most of the time you will not finish the race if you are not focused on the prize.
* God need people and this world needs to see people who are focused on the prize of God. One reason so many think God, Jesus, and the Church, are so irrelevant is that so few who claim to follow Christ have their sights set on the prize. “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look FULL in His wonderful face, (and when you do that) the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of HIS Glory and Grace.” Where are you looking? On what are you focused? We can say, “I’m focused on Jesus” – does our schedule prove it?
b. On God’s Promise – God’s promise is this: Those who respond to HIS call of salvation is guaranteed the prize. God delivers on His promises.
* Have you considered what it means for God to be true to His promises? I mean, how does that affect YOU? (2 Peter 1:3-8) Did you catch all the things which Peter tells us is a part of the promises of God? When God stirs our heart and we respond to Him in faith, it is more than a fire insurance policy. Being saved FROM HELL is just a fringe benefit, there is so much more. This much more is what God’s people need to be living and sharing with this sin-sick world! For those who think this is much ado about nothing, let’s read verses 9-11.
* Know what these words say to me? To follow Jesus means I have to walk like Jesus walked where Jesus walk while doing what Jesus did. Following Jesus never leads to a Sunday only, inside the four-walls, or like me – focus.
* To receive God’s promise of abundant and eternal life is to receive the prize which ultimately waits for me is to let the world see Jesus in me. My focus.
c. On God’s Plan – Simply put, God’s plan is our divine calling. Babbie Mason wrote and sang the song, “Each One, Reach One” and this is HIS plan. Jesus came to save that which is lost and leave us with these words, “As the Father sent me, I send you.” If this world is to be reached, if this country is to be turned around, and if our community is to be set right; God’s people have to forget the past and focus on the Father
