Focused Life in Dark Times

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Introduction

Open your Bibles to Philippians chapter 3:7-16.

The days are getting darker. There's no doubt about it. The times are even getting more and more deceptive. AI can generate people doing a lot of things in both video and audio that are not true. The deception is everywhere.

If in fact the enemy has gotten stronger and more dangerous due to the flood of wickedness that our country has dabbled in over the last few years, wouldn't it be necessary for us to turn up the focus on what God is saying and what he has said in his word?

Many want to be in the end times, and I always wonder if they truly understand what that means for authentic saved folks. The end times is not good for us. The Bible says Satan overcomes the saints. Killing Christians is going to be something that the world is going to soon embrace if we are in fact in the end times. And we have countries right now around the world that do just that. They say that Jew hatred would be on the rise. Open a news app and take a look. So, we want to be more focused in our lives in these dark times.

But whatever gain I had, I count it as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord. For his sake, I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him. Not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith, that I may know him in the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already attained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on towards the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way. And if any of you think otherwise, God will reveal that to you also. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

— Philippians 3:7-16

The story goes that there was a hungry mountain lion and it started tracking the scent of a deer. As he followed the deer, he came across the scent of a rabbit. Rabbits taste better than deer. He turned aside and started chasing the rabbit. Then he was detracted by the scent of a mouse because for a mountain lion, a mouse is the appetizer. He really wanted that mouse. So he started following that. Then he came to the hole in which the mouse had vanished and he ended the day hungrier than what he had started the day.

That fable illustrates how many spend their lives distracted with this or that. And at the end of the day, they've accomplished little.

Philippians 3:10-16 gives us a focus for our life, a spiritual focus. I want you to see in verse 13, the second half of verse 13 of our text in verse 14, Paul wrote this:

"But one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward of what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal of the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

Paul said, "This one thing I do, not a hundred things I start or a dozen things I attempt, but one thing I do." Paul says he is putting all his energy into this one thing. Straining forward talks about pressing on towards the goal. The King James version says, "Press on toward the mark."

Does anybody else struggle with this concept? I know I do. I'm getting much better at it as I mature and as I get older, but this has been and sometimes still is a struggle for me. I shouldn't get involved in anymore in too many projects because you end up doing less than your best with some of them. But I tell myself, I have this incredible capacity. I used to also run fast. I mean, at one time I'm making movies, preaching the gospel, doing standup comedy. On and on and on it goes. Chris, can you do this? Yeah, let's do it. Let's try. It's always been a struggle.

The ancient proverb says, "He who begins too much accomplishes little." Perhaps you too have had trouble living a focused life. And if so, a study of Paul's focused life will help us both.

A lot of times people in their spirituality get unfocused. They know Jesus loves them. They walked with Christ. They've tasted salvation. And yet they turn back to the world. Some of these people have never actually been converted. We have an epidemic of false conversions in America. But some have. And that's why when they turn and they come back to Christ, a lot of times doing another baptism makes a lot of sense. See, we're filled with the Holy Spirit, but we leak. We wobble at times. In fact, that's why the Bible says daily in keeping with repentance because that's the way the human condition is.

For discussion today, living the focus life, I'm going to point out three things:

Living the focus life is a life focused on a person
Living the focus life is a life focused on a prize
Living the focus life is a life focused on people

1. Focused on a Person

Verses 10 and 11 of our text says this:

"That I may know him in the power of his resurrection and may share his sufferings becoming like him in his death. That by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead."

Eternal life is placed in our heart. It's always there. Many of us know we're immortal beings. We're going to be alive forever. It's just a matter of where. Maybe not in this body forever, of course. But that's what all of this is about. At the end of verse 11, that I may attain the resurrection from the dead by any means possible.

Knowing Christ Personally

Knowing Christ involves more than just knowing about him. It includes developing a relationship in him and with him. This means:

Spending time with him
Reading his word
Talking with him

And when this starts to happen, you miss a church service or two, and you just can't wait to get back. That's walking with Christ. And it's not the church, it's not the fellowship, it's the spirit of God calling you to these things.

See, Paul already enjoyed a special relationship with Christ, but he still longed for a deeper, richer knowledge. Why? Because of the depth of who Christ is. Knowing Christ in this life, this meant Paul wanted to know everything about Jesus. He wanted to know the power of his resurrection. How many of us have that same striving in us?

Paul wants to know the strength available through the power of the resurrection.

"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me."

— Galatians 2:20

"I can do all things through him who strengthens me."

— Philippians 4:13

That's pretty cool. Yeah. But at the same time, he felt a need for a constant renewal of that strength and power.

There's no touchdown. There's no goal line. You just get first downs. That's what you do here in this flesh. You're looking for that next first down. Touchdown comes on the other side. Constant renewal always goes much better in a group than it does alone on an island.

In addition, Paul wanted to know the sharing of his suffering in verse 10. King James calls it the fellowship of his suffering. Sharing and fellowship. This means a joint participation.

Paul felt no one could fully know Christ until that person shared in his suffering. That's hard cheese for us in America. We want comfortable over uncomfortable. We want our best life now. Can't you teach me something out of the Bible that's going to make me a better salesperson, a better housewife, give me a better jump shot? No. I'm going to tell you that we're going to suffer together. And in the middle of some of our suffering, we have joy because others are walking through it with us.

You cannot know Christ fully unless you know his sufferings. And when everybody suffers, you suffer together. And guess what the other byproduct is? When something good happens to somebody, you get excited. You don't put on your fake face. "Well, that's good for you." No, you're genuinely jacked that something good happened to somebody. I love it when people get to travel. I love it when people get a new car, when they have good things happen to them in their life. I'm not that way naturally, but because I want to know Christ fully. That's a byproduct.

"From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus."

— Galatians 6:17

And Paul did.

"Always carrying in the body the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus's sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our mortal flesh."

— 2 Corinthians 4:10-11

What's he saying? Through suffering for the cause of Christ, Paul came to understand more clearly what the Lord had suffered for him. Paul concluded in his thoughts that being like him unto his death—I hope it never happens. I hope we get called home before we are actually put on that trial. But there are many that have gone before us that have had to go to their death to suffer like Christ.

You know, I lament to the Lord about the change in our circumstances over the last five to seven years. COVID ruined a lot of stuff for us. But I can imagine being there in heaven and somebody saying, "Yeah, I got my head cut off. Yeah, I was burned at the stake." And yeah, somebody ran a sword right through me for my faith in Christ. And I'd be like, "I had to drive a used car." A used car. Do you see what I'm saying? There's a deeper place for us to go. And when we're called to go to that place, if that ever happens here in America, I want to be around strong believers who link arms and stand firm for the gospel of Jesus Christ and that Jesus means more to them than this life.

Dying to Self

See, with the help of God, what Paul is telling us is that he's dying to himself. Now, relook at Galatians 2:20. Just slow down and just absorb Galatians.

"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me."

See, Paul's desire to know Christ more fully had at least four facets:

It was a personal experience: "That I may know him."
It was a powerful experience: "And the power of his resurrection."
A painful experience: "In the sharing of his suffering."
A practical experience: "Being like him unto his death."

Now, as we continue our quest to know Christ, we should always remember and notice the emphasis on Christ's suffering and resurrection. And the Bible tells us we need to conform to his death. Why? Why? Why do we have to do that? Because when we do, we naturally look forward to knowing Christ in the next life. Paul looked forward to knowing Christ in the next life. I think this is what Paul had in mind when he wrote verse 11 of our text today. By any means possible, I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Any means possible.

Looking Forward to Resurrection

Let's take a quick look at it from another angle today. Jesus is talking in John chapter 5:28-29:

"Do not marvel at this for an hour is coming when all who are in the tomb will hear his voice and come out. Those who have done good to the resurrection of life and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment."

Jesus is not teaching justification by works. In the context, "good" is believing on the son and the new nature you received. A nature that produces good works not because you want to but because you can't help it because of who you are now in your new life. While the evil done is to reject the sun and hate the light which is the result of evil deeds. In essence, works merely is evidence of one's nature as saved or unsaved is what's being said here. Human works never determines one's salvation.

Jesus doubles down on this concept one chapter later in John chapter 6:28-29:

"And then they said to him, 'What must we do to be doing the works of God?' Simple question straight up. What should we be doing? Not what should we think, what should we believe, what should we confess, what should we be doing. And Jesus answered, this is the work of God that you believe in him whom he sent."

Why? Why would he take "I want to do something" and say "you must believe first"? Because the belief generates the work. The nicest race car in the world. Camber set to the exact amount. Tire pressures right side, left side, just right on track. Don't even have to hardly turn the wheel. You just glide through the corners. It's just the most magnificent, easy riding car you're ever going to be in. But there's no gas in it. What's it worth? You have to have gas to take the thing out on the track. Yeah, it's the same for our lives. It's all by believing faith. So simple yet so elusive to the dark sinful human heart. We need the father to draw us in.

What Jesus is also saying here is we should look forward to the time when we can know Christ fully. This is why some people want to be rebaptized. They were baptized as an infant or a child and they didn't really even know what they were doing, or even after an age of accountability they were baptized but they did not really know Christ more fully and now they do and they want another proclamation of their new life. They want a testimony to it.

So whatever your walk in life is, if you want to pursue the resurrection it means putting your complete trust in Jesus and through him you might attain the resurrection of the dead.

2. Focused on a Prize

Verses 12-14 of our text:

"Not that I've already attained this or I'm already perfect, but I press on to make it my own. Because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on towards the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

When we reread these verses, I hope you see what's being told to us here regarding this present time. We need to have a form of humility. "Not that I've obtained this." How many times have you had to open the window to let smugness out when certain Christians walk in? They're just so smug. No, it's a humble thing. "I have not attained this" in the first part of verse 12 and then he would go to the second part. "Nor am I already perfect."

Room to Grow

Paul knew he was not all he could or should be. This is the Apostle Paul. What chance do I have then? If he's not all he could be, how am I ever going to get there? See, Paul is telling us he had room to grow. So, we have room to grow, too.

The Bible's challenges us to grow.

"Rather speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ."

— Ephesians 4:15

"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen."

— Second Peter 3:18

Letting Go of the Past

You want to know what's been said as one of the biggest barriers to your growth in Christ, to knowing him more fully? It's regarding the past. Folks struggle to let go of the past, good or bad past. Many times it's forgiveness that's needed.

So what did Paul forget when he says "I'm forgetting what's behind"? What is he forgetting?

1. Forgetting Past Successes

Well, first of all, he's forgetting all of his past successes. As we've seen earlier in this chapter, we cannot rely on our past laurels. We must continue to prove ourselves. I have a sign in my office. It's a quote from Winston Churchill and I read it almost every day. It's just so truthful what's contained in it. This is what it says:

"Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts."

2. Forgetting Past Failures

Paul forgot also his past failures. He admitted he was not perfect and he had not laid hold. Paul did not spend his time regretting. You know what he did? He repented and moved forward. Holding on to your past successes is bad, but what's worse is holding on to your past failures. Many of us are at Fresh Encounter because it's a comfortable place because we know what our past was and it still dogs us. And it shouldn't—repent and move forward.

Many allow the past to destroy their present and their future.

"For I will be merciful toward their iniquities and I will remember their sins no more."

— Hebrews 8:12

That should help align the future, find the needed progress. When we dwell on the past, many times we become distracted and discouraged. Paul said, "This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, I reach forth unto those things which are before me. I follow after. I press on. I follow it. I push for it." There's an intensity that's seen, a focus, if you will. He had a great desire to reach his spiritual goal.

Pursuing the Mission

What was he reaching for? He was reaching for the prize. Paul knew, and so should we, that this can only be done as we faithfully, fully carry out our mission. What's our mission? Jesus told us, "Go into all the world and make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit." We must live faithfully and bring as many to Christ as we possibly can. Share the gospel any way you can.

"I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day. Not only to me, but also to all who have loved his appearing."

— 2 Timothy 4:7-8

The whole party's going to be there. Most of you are going to party in the new Jerusalem forever. How's that not worth pursuing with a little bit of our free time?

3. Focused on People

In verses 15 and 16 of our text today, it said:

"Let those of us who are mature think this way. And if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained."

You got to let people figure it out. And if they leave and don't ever come back in your world, in your Christian space, they may not have been a part of you to begin with. Some of you have been praying over relatives or close friends and family members who had a knowledge of Christ and have walked away. Just keep praying. Keep trusting God to have the spirit break through.

Genuine Concern

What do you see in these two verses 15 and 16? You see genuine concern. See in verses 4-14 Paul remained focused on his own life. I, me, my, myself. In verse 15, though, he shifts to the plural. Let those of us. Paul's focus in life was also on others. He wanted everyone to have the attitude he's been describing. And he offers such an awesome gentle correction.

"If any of you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you."

One trait of immaturity is an inadequate grasp of God's word. You can run into 70-year-old babies in the spirit life. It has nothing to do with age. It has to do with growing and maturing in the Lord Jesus Christ, living a focused life. But a sign of immaturity is a lack of a grasp of God's word.

Paul was confident that they would get the instruction they needed to make proper decisions. He was confident that the denters would soon learn better. And that's got to be our approach. We got to leave it in God's hands. We got to just stay true to teaching the good spiritual doctrine, serving up good spiritual food.

Spiritual Unity

And he even closes the thought with a general command. He says:

"Only let us hold true to what we have attained."

Others want to say, "Walk by the same rule, mind the same thing." We hold true to what we have. To be spiritually united, we must have a common authority. And for us, it will always be the word of God. If it says it in the word, that's what we're going to go by. God's will for us will be plain if we stay and obediently adhere to his written word. It's really as simple as that.

You want God to speak to you, open the Bible. God speaks to you through his word.

Conclusion

Let's end by looking at where living the focus life finds us. I want to end with just two things about living the focus life:

We must remain focused on the spiritual task before us.
Many matters in life are important, but none are as important as following Jesus with all your heart, your mind, and your soul. Nothing's more important than that.

Being forgiven and redeemed and set free, it's just awesome. And there's this contentment with godliness which is great gain in spite of some awful circumstances that many of us find ourselves in over and over and over again.

May the Lord Jesus bless you. May he reach into your life and give you that light that you hold on to that you have the joy of the Lord because you have new life because you are forgiven. And that beats any kind of so-called happiness this world can offer.

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