"a New Focus"

Title: “A New Focus” Scripture: Phil. 1:21-26

Type: Expository series Where: GNBC 5-28-23

Intro: One of the best parts of being a pastor is the opportunity I have to perform wedding services. I have been very blessed to be involved in the service for both of my married sons, and soon, my daughter, Mary. Weddings are usually beautiful occasions with a radiant bride and nervous groom. The pastor has the special vantage point and unique privilege in the wedding service of being the person closest to the bride and groom. He can see their every glance, smile, tear, and affectionate looks. When the vows are made, it becomes very obvious that to the bride and the groom the whole center of their lives are changing. “I Luke, take thee, Mary, to be my wedded wife…” At marriage both a man and a woman change the center of their lives. Each finds that previously the center of their individual lives had been themselves. Now, in an instance, the focus changes and shifts to the other. The same is true when a couple has their first child. The focus, the center of their lives change. Paul states in Phil. 1 that our focus our center is to change when we come to Christ. In fact, he encourages us to focus our attention.

Prop: In Phil. 1:21-26 Paul encourages the Philippians to Focus on Three Locations as Believers.

BG: 1. Paul ministered at Philippi during his second missionary journey, spending about three months in the city. 2. Of the four Prison Epistles, Paul likely wrote Philippians last, near the end of his Roman imprisonment in AD 61 or 62. 3. The apostle Paul did not write Philippians in response to a crisis, as he did with Galatians and Colossians. Instead, he wrote to express his appreciation and affection for the Philippian believers.

Prop: Exam Phil. 1:21ff we realize the 3 Locations Paul wanted Phil. believers to Focus.

I. 1st Location: Focus on Your Starting Place. V. 21a

A. As Believers in Christ we Must Know the Location of our Starting Place. V.21

1. Paul Clearly Defines his “Starting Place” – “For to me, to live is Christ…”

a. Illust – It was a lot of fun getting to watch my kids run track. Each race has a specific starting place whether individual or group race. Some mid distance races, like 800 meters, depending on your lane, and if you are closer in or further out, the starting points appear to be different, but they are marked with precision so that everyone goes an equal distance. In relays there are transition/hand off zones in which the baton must be passed from one relay member to the next otherwise there is a violation and the team DQed. Imperative to know the location of for a race.

b. Saul of Tarsus clearly realized his starting point when he dramatically me the Lord on the Damascus Rd in Acts 9:4-5 (read). The Lord struck Saul with blindness so his eyesight could match his spiritual condition. What took place that day eternally changed his focus, his starting place. Now, after that crisis encounter with Christ, Paul had a new starting place! Now for him, to live was Christ! Christ became the hub of his life from which the entire wheel was built around.

2. Certainly Christ had not been Paul’s “starting place” until he had encountered the Savior personally.

a. As a young man, Saul of Tarsus had been schooled in the law under the best of teachers. He was schooled as a Pharisee. He was prominent. He was zealous. He was pursuing the law. He was outpacing others who were his own age. (See Gal. 1:14; Phil. 3:4-7) He was a real up and comer! Paul thought he was serving God. He was persecuting the Church. There on the Damascus Rd. the Lord Jesus Christ kicked the stool of spiritual security out from under the proud Pharisee’s feet. He came face to face with Christ.

b. “For to me…” – I want you to think about that little phrase. “For to me…” What was Paul saying here? “For to me.” Me, my individual decision. I believe. I trust in Christ. In Acts 9:7 we read that there were other men traveling with Saul on his murderous mission. However, the Bible very clearly says that they too heard the voice of Jesus. However, in the rest of the account we never read if these men, like Paul, trust and believe in Christ or not. Friend, like Paul, you and I have to come to a place, regardless of our friends, our families, or even our foes, we come to a place of conviction about the Person of Jesus Christ.

B. What Does it Mean for Me to Say w/ Paul: “To live is Christ.”?