WEBVTT 00:00:02.665 --> 00:00:05.232 Well, good morning, Valley View. 00:00:05.232 --> 00:00:07.732 How's everybody today? 00:00:07.732 --> 00:00:08.199 Good. 00:00:08.199 --> 00:00:16.100 We'll be continuing our study in the book of Philippians today and today in particular, we're looking at the topic of focus. 00:00:16.699 --> 00:00:18.666 How do you live a life of focus. 00:00:18.666 --> 00:00:19.899 And you've all experienced this. 00:00:19.899 --> 00:00:21.865 You know, the incredible power of focus. 00:00:21.865 --> 00:00:23.932 You give me an hour of focus time. 00:00:23.932 --> 00:00:27.500 I can accomplish way more than eight hours of distracted time. 00:00:27.500 --> 00:00:33.466 I think probably one of my favorite examples of this is from the Old Testament book of Nehemiah. 00:00:33.466 --> 00:00:42.533 Nehemiah was charged with rebuilding the walls of Israel, and over and over again foreign leaders would come and say, hey, we need to meet with you and talk with you about this. 00:00:42.533 --> 00:00:44.600 And they didn't like that Israel was rebuilding the wall. 00:00:44.600 --> 00:00:45.566 They were trying to stop it. 00:00:45.566 --> 00:00:47.200 Hey, just come down and meet with us for a little bit. 00:00:47.200 --> 00:00:47.899 Let's talk about this. 00:00:47.899 --> 00:00:50.133 And he said, I am doing a great thing. 00:00:50.133 --> 00:00:53.600 I cannot come down four times. 00:00:53.600 --> 00:00:55.700 The fifth time they come, they threaten. 00:00:55.700 --> 00:00:57.133 I'm doing a great thing. 00:00:57.133 --> 00:00:58.165 I cannot come down. 00:00:58.165 --> 00:01:03.500 I'm staying focused on getting this wall built and he gets it built. 00:01:03.500 --> 00:01:07.066 There's something about staying focused that we all want. 00:01:07.066 --> 00:01:08.000 We all long for. 00:01:08.000 --> 00:01:11.400 Everybody wants to live a focused, intentional, purposeful life. 00:01:11.400 --> 00:01:14.865 Well, we got a million distractions pulling us a million different directions. 00:01:14.865 --> 00:01:17.865 How do we live a life of focus? 00:01:17.900 --> 00:01:23.066 Especially, and the case that Paul's going to make today is how do we live a gospel focused life? 00:01:23.066 --> 00:01:25.900 That's what our burden is as Christians. 00:01:25.900 --> 00:01:27.965 How do we focus on Christ in all we do? 00:01:27.965 --> 00:01:32.266 How do we make sure he's at the center of all that we do, and all our life is focused around him? 00:01:32.266 --> 00:01:34.733 So we're going to look at this in Philippians chapter three. 00:01:34.733 --> 00:01:37.733 Today will be in verses 12 through 16. 00:01:37.832 --> 00:01:40.099 And if you don't have a Bible, we'd love to give you one. 00:01:40.099 --> 00:01:44.299 You can slip out in the lobby anytime and grab one will be reading from that today. 00:01:44.299 --> 00:01:46.832 You'll want to follow along as we read. 00:01:46.832 --> 00:01:49.200 And that's on page 921 In the Church Bible. 00:01:49.200 --> 00:01:53.799 Any page number on the screens tied into that Bible in particular. 00:01:53.799 --> 00:01:55.700 But turn to Philippians chapter three. 00:01:55.700 --> 00:02:05.900 I'm going to read verses 12 through 16, and then from that we're going to draw seven aspects of a gospel centered life, seven aspects of a gospel focused life. 00:02:05.900 --> 00:02:13.032 I think there are seven things in particular, and here that Paul is emphasizing in terms of how do we focus on the gospel in all of our life? 00:02:13.032 --> 00:02:22.165 So follow along as I read Philippians chapter three, verse 12, not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect. 00:02:22.165 --> 00:02:26.566 And by the way, we probably should read a couple of verses before that, because what is this? 00:02:26.566 --> 00:02:28.832 What has he not obtained already? 00:02:28.832 --> 00:02:32.233 Well, this is verse ten, that I may know him. 00:02:32.233 --> 00:02:40.432 The power of his resurrection share in his sufferings, become like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. 00:02:40.432 --> 00:02:45.332 So he's talking about resurrection from the dead, following Christ, sharing in life with Christ. 00:02:45.332 --> 00:02:57.466 Now he say in verse 12, not that I've already obtained this or I'm already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 00:02:58.265 --> 00:03:01.400 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. 00:03:01.400 --> 00:03:16.099 But one thing I do forgetting what lies behind, straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 00:03:17.165 --> 00:03:21.032 But those of us who are mature think this way. 00:03:21.032 --> 00:03:26.000 And if in any thing you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. 00:03:26.165 --> 00:03:31.332 Only let us also hold true to what we have attained. 00:03:31.332 --> 00:03:40.532 So here in verses 12 through 16, we're going to see seven aspects of a gospel centered life, a gospel focused life. 00:03:40.532 --> 00:03:45.466 And the first here shows up in these first couple of verses. 00:03:45.466 --> 00:03:49.432 In fact, I've put those in your notes to help draw out the contrast contrast. 00:03:49.432 --> 00:03:56.000 But the main idea is to start with, you need to know what matters and what doesn't. 00:03:56.000 --> 00:04:01.099 If you're going to focus on anything, you got to know what matters and what doesn't. 00:04:01.099 --> 00:04:02.599 Both are important. 00:04:02.599 --> 00:04:11.233 In fact, I remember when my dad retired, he was an attorney, and when he retired a few months later, I said, dad, how's it going? 00:04:11.233 --> 00:04:12.733 He said, life is crazy busy. 00:04:12.733 --> 00:04:16.165 I don't know how I had time to work back when I worked. 00:04:16.165 --> 00:04:17.932 Now that I'm retired. 00:04:17.932 --> 00:04:20.100 I was like, well, dad, you said no to everything else. 00:04:20.100 --> 00:04:22.233 I mean, that's how it works when you're working. 00:04:22.233 --> 00:04:23.300 You know, this is important. 00:04:23.300 --> 00:04:24.065 Not everything else. 00:04:24.065 --> 00:04:25.199 But you know what I'm saying? 00:04:25.199 --> 00:04:27.333 I've got to make sure work stays is a high priority. 00:04:27.333 --> 00:04:32.500 So I say no to a lot of things that now I can say yes to that are filling up my time. 00:04:32.500 --> 00:04:38.833 Part of the power of focus is to know what to say no to, to allow time to focus. 00:04:39.199 --> 00:04:45.065 And Paul starts this in fact, he repeats it twice, makes the case that I've not already obtained it. 00:04:45.065 --> 00:04:48.033 I'm aware of what hasn't happened. 00:04:48.033 --> 00:04:49.766 And you see this comparison in your notes. 00:04:49.766 --> 00:04:52.399 If you've got a copy of the notes, I've laid these verses out. 00:04:52.399 --> 00:04:56.199 Not that I've already obtained it, but I press on. He repeats himself. 00:04:56.199 --> 00:05:00.333 Not that I consider that made it my own, but I press on. 00:05:00.333 --> 00:05:00.565 Now. 00:05:00.565 --> 00:05:03.800 Part of the reason he does that is because of the power of repetition. 00:05:04.766 --> 00:05:06.600 He's repeating the same thing twice. 00:05:06.600 --> 00:05:08.800 I haven't figured it out, but I press on. 00:05:08.800 --> 00:05:12.966 I don't already have it figured out, but I press on. 00:05:12.966 --> 00:05:17.065 Part of that is just when you want to emphasize something, you repeat it. 00:05:17.065 --> 00:05:25.466 You keep driving it home and hopefully after you've said it the thousandth time, your spouse finally hears it, but they heard it from someone else and pretend they never heard it before. 00:05:25.466 --> 00:05:29.766 That happens sometimes in our home, maybe with me in particular sometimes. 00:05:29.766 --> 00:05:34.199 But we repeat things to emphasize them, and that's what he does here. 00:05:34.199 --> 00:05:38.600 For the comparison, I do not consider that I have made it my own. 00:05:38.600 --> 00:05:42.000 Now notice three things he says that have not happened. 00:05:42.000 --> 00:05:43.800 I've not obtained it. 00:05:43.800 --> 00:05:45.766 I'm not made perfect. 00:05:45.766 --> 00:05:48.932 I'm not made this on my own right off the bat. 00:05:48.932 --> 00:05:50.199 Three things in particular. 00:05:51.665 --> 00:05:59.565 He recognizes that even though he's saying I'm striving to follow Christ, I'm striving towards his righteousness. 00:05:59.565 --> 00:06:01.833 I know it's not about what I've done. 00:06:01.833 --> 00:06:06.500 This is in direct follow up to what Colby addressed last week. 00:06:06.500 --> 00:06:09.165 This whole resume of empty works. 00:06:09.165 --> 00:06:12.500 Paul said, I know those things didn't get me there. 00:06:12.500 --> 00:06:16.000 That's not what gives me a gospel centered focus. 00:06:16.000 --> 00:06:19.000 I can't rely on my own effort. 00:06:19.100 --> 00:06:20.699 I've got to know what matters. 00:06:20.699 --> 00:06:22.733 I've got to know what doesn't. 00:06:22.733 --> 00:06:31.399 And the beautiful part of that is it shows Paul's humility, because there was a time in life where he thought it was about him. 00:06:31.399 --> 00:06:32.565 Just a few verses ago. 00:06:32.565 --> 00:06:42.500 If you look back at verse six, he said, as the zeal persecuted the church as to righteousness under the law blameless. 00:06:42.500 --> 00:06:49.333 There was a time in his spiritual journey where he thought he was perfect without sin, blameless. 00:06:49.399 --> 00:06:51.165 And I've met people like this. 00:06:51.165 --> 00:06:53.466 I remember a conversation I had with a guy that I worked with. 00:06:53.466 --> 00:06:57.600 He said, no, I don't think I've seen in the last ten years. 00:06:57.600 --> 00:07:01.800 It's until right now, right? 00:07:01.800 --> 00:07:05.165 There was this idea that I can attain to perfection. 00:07:05.165 --> 00:07:06.600 And of course, I hope we're improving. 00:07:06.600 --> 00:07:08.365 I hope for sinning less over time. 00:07:08.365 --> 00:07:09.565 We should be growing. 00:07:09.565 --> 00:07:11.233 The fancy word is sanctification. 00:07:11.233 --> 00:07:12.600 We should be growing in holiness. 00:07:12.600 --> 00:07:14.000 That should be happening. 00:07:14.000 --> 00:07:18.500 There was a time where Paul thought, I am without sin in my standing before God. 00:07:18.500 --> 00:07:22.399 I'm perfect before him, and he knows. 00:07:22.399 --> 00:07:25.399 He knows now that is not how things are. 00:07:25.500 --> 00:07:27.899 That is not what I need to hold on to. 00:07:27.899 --> 00:07:34.033 It's important to know what not to believe, in order to know how to focus on Christ. 00:07:34.033 --> 00:07:38.365 And he starts out by emphasizing, emphasizing that very happily. 00:07:38.365 --> 00:07:52.300 Heavily and I think the important part of that is to remember for him, he has to fight the temptation to continue to put his significance in what he does. 00:07:52.899 --> 00:07:56.365 The temptation is to go back to that when times get tough. 00:07:56.365 --> 00:08:02.300 I've put my faith in Christ, but when times get tough, I'm going to lean back on where I thought I gained my significance before. 00:08:02.300 --> 00:08:05.300 I just naturally trickle back to that. 00:08:06.365 --> 00:08:13.100 And Paul's got to keep coming back to no, no, no, that is not where I gain my righteousness. 00:08:13.100 --> 00:08:22.899 You may remember that Jesus had this conversation with the rich young ruler in Matthew 19 and he says, you know, what do I need to do to attain salvation? 00:08:23.266 --> 00:08:25.300 Roughly thereabouts is what he says. 00:08:25.300 --> 00:08:27.033 And Jesus says, well, if you kept these laws. 00:08:27.033 --> 00:08:29.699 Yeah, then all those. 00:08:29.699 --> 00:08:35.865 And then he says to him, all you need to do now is go and sell everything you have and come follow me. 00:08:35.865 --> 00:08:37.500 That's it. 00:08:37.500 --> 00:08:38.633 In fact, he said it this way. 00:08:38.633 --> 00:08:45.566 He said, if you want to be perfect and it's the same word that Paul drives on here, I have already been made perfect. 00:08:45.566 --> 00:08:49.832 If you want to be perfect, sell all you have and come and follow me. 00:08:49.832 --> 00:08:53.466 Now that verse, by the way, the young man, what happens with him? 00:08:53.466 --> 00:08:56.466 He goes away sad because of this. 00:08:57.200 --> 00:09:02.033 That verse sometimes gets abused, misused a lot of way. It's interesting. 00:09:02.033 --> 00:09:03.966 He never says that to any of his other disciples. 00:09:03.966 --> 00:09:05.765 Even Matthew, the tax collector. 00:09:05.765 --> 00:09:09.732 So you have he does say, come and follow me. 00:09:10.033 --> 00:09:16.133 What's important there is Jesus knows there's a deeper heart issue that is keeping this guy from following me, and it's his love for money. 00:09:17.166 --> 00:09:19.700 And I've got to address that. 00:09:19.700 --> 00:09:20.932 And all of us have had to do that. 00:09:20.932 --> 00:09:28.299 If you follow Christ, there's something you've had to say no to that you thought all of life was found in it, and that was really hard. 00:09:28.299 --> 00:09:29.466 It was incredibly hard. 00:09:29.466 --> 00:09:33.566 I don't know that I can go without this God, how can I live without this? 00:09:33.566 --> 00:09:41.299 And you're calling me to set it aside and many will go away sad because of that. 00:09:41.299 --> 00:09:47.100 I cannot imagine life without this thing, or this person or this possession. 00:09:47.600 --> 00:09:49.399 And I read Bob Russell this week. 00:09:49.399 --> 00:09:57.166 I mean, the elders have been reading a book he wrote about what God did through growing the church he was at at the time, Southeast Church. 00:09:57.166 --> 00:10:07.232 And he said, because of that passage, because of Jesus addressing the issue of our hearts infatuation with money in particular, they never shied away from talking about money at church. 00:10:08.365 --> 00:10:11.600 We don't talk about it much here, but we obviously don't shy away from it. 00:10:11.600 --> 00:10:13.066 We're not trying to avoid it. 00:10:13.066 --> 00:10:24.399 Bob made the case in particular that it's become such an idol of the heart in our culture to so many put all their significance in money and possessions. 00:10:25.700 --> 00:10:28.200 That's why it's hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 00:10:28.200 --> 00:10:33.765 And no matter how bad off things are globally, we are all incredibly rich. 00:10:33.765 --> 00:10:37.932 So those are hard verses for us to read, to wrestle with the heart issue. 00:10:37.932 --> 00:10:43.566 And if we are going to focus on the gospel, there's things that have to fall away and it might be money in your life. 00:10:43.566 --> 00:10:46.100 It might be something else. I don't know. 00:10:46.100 --> 00:10:50.500 You probably know you probably know what that thing is, man. 00:10:50.500 --> 00:10:51.932 I couldn't have imagined life without it. 00:10:51.932 --> 00:10:54.365 And he took it away. 00:10:54.365 --> 00:11:00.133 So the first aspect of living a gospel centered life know what matters, but also know what doesn't. 00:11:00.133 --> 00:11:03.865 What isn't going to add to significance in life at all. 00:11:03.865 --> 00:11:07.966 Now look at the second aspect of a gospel centered life, a gospel focused life. 00:11:07.966 --> 00:11:10.899 Number two, know the source of your salvation. 00:11:10.899 --> 00:11:18.100 If it's not found in all the stuff that can do, what is the source of my salvation, the source of my joy and hope and peace and significance? 00:11:18.100 --> 00:11:18.799 Where do I find that? 00:11:18.799 --> 00:11:24.899 Look back at verse 12, because he says, not that I've already obtained his resurrection from the dead. 00:11:24.899 --> 00:11:29.765 Not that I am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own. 00:11:29.765 --> 00:11:30.500 And here's why. 00:11:30.500 --> 00:11:36.166 Because Christ Jesus had made, has made me his own. 00:11:36.166 --> 00:11:41.166 So the reason he can press on is because Christ Jesus has made him his own. 00:11:41.166 --> 00:11:42.232 This is all passive. 00:11:42.232 --> 00:11:44.299 Jesus did it for me. 00:11:45.500 --> 00:11:48.133 It wasn't that I did it. 00:11:48.133 --> 00:11:53.265 Somehow he picked me out of the crowd because of how amazing I was and all the great stuff I had already done. 00:11:53.265 --> 00:11:56.365 And he thought, I think, I think he should be on my team. 00:11:56.365 --> 00:11:58.200 Maybe he's good enough. 00:11:58.200 --> 00:11:59.899 We'll pick him. 00:11:59.899 --> 00:12:09.533 No, no, no, Jesus made me his own Many think this is Paul referring to his own conversion. 00:12:09.533 --> 00:12:11.666 And it's really important to think about Paul's conversion. 00:12:11.666 --> 00:12:13.533 This is acts chapter nine. 00:12:13.533 --> 00:12:15.500 You want to meditate on that? 00:12:15.500 --> 00:12:16.700 Read that at another time. 00:12:16.700 --> 00:12:25.899 But if you remember what Paul was about before then, before coming to know Jesus, he was all about persecuting anyone who followed Jesus. 00:12:25.899 --> 00:12:28.033 He was all about killing Christians. 00:12:28.033 --> 00:12:31.033 He hated Jesus. 00:12:32.033 --> 00:12:34.399 And Jesus met him on the road to Damascus. 00:12:35.466 --> 00:12:42.566 And in an instant, look, he was not only running from Jesus, he was trying to kill everyone who followed him. 00:12:42.566 --> 00:12:45.566 And in an instant he went from that. 00:12:46.265 --> 00:12:49.265 Yes, Lord, where do you want me? 00:12:49.700 --> 00:12:54.332 Look, this is really important to where to dwell on. 00:12:55.399 --> 00:12:57.232 Because it is so easy to get caught up in. 00:12:57.232 --> 00:13:00.500 How can Jesus forgive me for what I've done? 00:13:00.500 --> 00:13:01.832 How could he ever accept me? 00:13:01.832 --> 00:13:04.832 How could he ever love me? 00:13:05.232 --> 00:13:15.566 I don't know what you've done, but I'm guessing you didn't live a life like Paul where you were actively seeking to kill Christians, that you hated Jesus, and maybe you did. 00:13:15.566 --> 00:13:18.865 I think part of us before Christ all hated him a little. 00:13:18.865 --> 00:13:22.566 You might not have said it out loud, but you hated him trying to control your life. 00:13:22.566 --> 00:13:24.765 Stay away from me, I got this. 00:13:24.765 --> 00:13:25.832 No. Tell me what to do. 00:13:27.432 --> 00:13:30.533 Look, if you didn't live your life like Paul. 00:13:30.533 --> 00:13:32.166 Jesus forgave him. 00:13:32.166 --> 00:13:37.666 Not only forgave him, made him him his most effective missionary, he didn't just say, I'll let you in. 00:13:37.666 --> 00:13:43.033 I guess now I'm going to take the worst and make him the best. 00:13:43.600 --> 00:13:50.232 This is really important to get your mind around because no matter what you've been through, the enemy wants to keep you pressed down in that same. 00:13:50.232 --> 00:13:55.200 No matter what you've been through, he can use you in ways that you could never imagine. 00:13:55.200 --> 00:14:02.533 In fact, the worse you've been, the more that will stand out to the world as God did something in that person's life. 00:14:02.533 --> 00:14:06.566 I mean, can anyone attest to that has he used you in ways you could never imagine? 00:14:08.899 --> 00:14:10.600 We can't take credit for that. 00:14:10.600 --> 00:14:12.566 No. The source of your salvation. 00:14:12.566 --> 00:14:17.000 If you want to live a gospel focused life, you got to know what is the source of my salvation. 00:14:17.000 --> 00:14:18.200 It's not about me and what I did. 00:14:18.200 --> 00:14:23.899 It's about how great he is to rescue me from the direction I was running hard toward. 00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:24.732 So that's number two. 00:14:24.732 --> 00:14:26.033 Now, number three, look at this. 00:14:26.033 --> 00:14:29.033 Press on to make it your own. 00:14:29.332 --> 00:14:29.600 Okay. 00:14:29.600 --> 00:14:32.066 Now these statements, by the way, seem kind of contradictory. 00:14:32.066 --> 00:14:33.200 Press on to make it your own. 00:14:33.200 --> 00:14:42.533 But you're saying I don't have anything to do with it, John, you're saying Jesus rescued me, so now you're saying press on to make it righteousness, salvation in Christ, to make it your own? 00:14:42.533 --> 00:14:43.899 Seems a bit contradictory. 00:14:43.899 --> 00:14:47.600 Look at this in verse 12 again, because he emphasizes this twice. 00:14:47.600 --> 00:14:52.500 Not that I've already obtained it, or imperfect, but I press on to make it my own brothers. 00:14:52.500 --> 00:14:54.799 I did not consider that made it my own. 00:14:54.799 --> 00:14:57.299 One thing I do forgetting what lies behind, straining forward to what lies ahead. 00:14:57.299 --> 00:14:59.799 I press on twice, I press on. 00:14:59.799 --> 00:15:00.533 I keep pressing on. 00:15:00.533 --> 00:15:02.066 Even though I haven't obtained it. 00:15:02.066 --> 00:15:03.100 I keep pressing on. 00:15:05.200 --> 00:15:14.932 You remember we talked some about this in chapter two, verse 12, where he talks about the fact that we haven't grown fully into our salvation. 00:15:14.932 --> 00:15:18.500 We need to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. Trembling. 00:15:18.500 --> 00:15:23.100 That means to to grow it, to not go find it, discover it, create it. 00:15:23.100 --> 00:15:32.232 And the same emphasis is here because every one of us would say, and that's why you're here, by the way, every one of us would say, we haven't figured it all out yet. 00:15:32.232 --> 00:15:34.600 We're not where we want to be spiritually. 00:15:34.600 --> 00:15:37.500 And so we keep pressing on. 00:15:37.500 --> 00:15:39.700 There is still a burden on us. 00:15:39.700 --> 00:15:41.466 And how does that all work out? 00:15:41.466 --> 00:15:46.899 Jesus has saved us, and yet we're continue to strive towards him and continue to work and grow in him. 00:15:46.899 --> 00:15:48.000 How does all that work out? 00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:57.533 I don't know exactly, but it's clear in Scripture that we're still called to pursue him, to move towards him, to grow in him, to strive towards him. 00:16:00.200 --> 00:16:04.432 And the beautiful part is he gives us something to do in him. 00:16:04.432 --> 00:16:06.533 He gives us a role to pursue. 00:16:06.533 --> 00:16:09.799 He allows us to take part in what he's doing. 00:16:09.799 --> 00:16:13.166 We're not just passively sitting around waiting for him to move. 00:16:13.166 --> 00:16:16.166 He uses us to. 00:16:17.399 --> 00:16:19.500 Press on, I press on. 00:16:19.500 --> 00:16:28.466 It seems like a contradiction because in chapter three, verse nine he said, I have a righteousness not found on my own from the law, but it comes through Christ. 00:16:28.466 --> 00:16:31.265 But we press on in the midst of that. 00:16:31.265 --> 00:16:34.265 Number four, notice what he says here. 00:16:36.332 --> 00:16:44.966 A gospel focused life is not stuck in the past, not stuck in the past. 00:16:45.799 --> 00:16:49.000 We're aware of the past, but we're not controlled. 00:16:49.000 --> 00:16:49.765 We're not stuck there. 00:16:49.765 --> 00:16:51.500 Look back at verse 13. 00:16:51.500 --> 00:16:55.100 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. 00:16:56.033 --> 00:17:00.865 But one thing I do forgetting what lies behind. 00:17:02.600 --> 00:17:14.599 That's an important phrase for us to recognize here when it comes to straining forward, when it comes to pressing on, when it comes to having a gospel focused life, part of that is forgetting some of what lies behind. 00:17:14.599 --> 00:17:18.432 Now, forgetting here doesn't mean I've completely erase it from memory. 00:17:18.432 --> 00:17:18.500 It. 00:17:18.500 --> 00:17:22.333 In fact, I think there's three ways I didn't outline these in your notes. 00:17:22.333 --> 00:17:24.766 So you may want to capture these, but I think there's three ways. 00:17:24.766 --> 00:17:31.432 In particular, Paul will be forgetting what lies behind as he presses forward. 00:17:31.633 --> 00:17:38.465 One of the things he does is that he is forgetting his past confidences, his past confidences. 00:17:38.465 --> 00:17:45.932 And this is directly following off what, again, Colby addressed last week the empty resume of works he's going to forget. 00:17:45.932 --> 00:17:49.400 He's no longer going to turn to putting his confidence in the things he did. 00:17:50.665 --> 00:17:53.133 I'm going to turn away from that. 00:17:53.133 --> 00:17:59.232 That's one I think also, he's going to turn away from his past victories that control him. 00:18:00.299 --> 00:18:04.333 We're not going to let past victories control us now. 00:18:04.333 --> 00:18:12.165 God did work in the past in our ways and in this church in amazing ways, and we're going to celebrate that, but not let that control us. 00:18:12.165 --> 00:18:19.766 And I think I put in your notes, Zechariah, I think there's a passage in Ezra that I think is equally powerful to illustrate this. 00:18:19.766 --> 00:18:21.266 Ezra chapter three. 00:18:21.266 --> 00:18:29.900 When the foundation of the new Temple Israel had been in exile, they come back to the Promised Land, and they lay the new foundation of the temple. 00:18:29.900 --> 00:18:32.599 And there were two very different reactions there. 00:18:32.599 --> 00:18:34.732 One is from the young people. 00:18:34.732 --> 00:18:36.032 They celebrate. 00:18:36.032 --> 00:18:37.133 They rejoice. 00:18:37.133 --> 00:18:38.833 The temple is built again. 00:18:38.833 --> 00:18:40.165 Look at what God is doing. 00:18:40.165 --> 00:18:42.133 Look at the new thing he's doing here. 00:18:42.133 --> 00:18:43.599 We get to see him at work. 00:18:45.365 --> 00:18:48.665 But then one of the old people do. 00:18:48.766 --> 00:18:51.133 They wept. 00:18:51.133 --> 00:18:55.232 This isn't as glorious as it was long ago. 00:18:55.232 --> 00:18:57.532 We remember the day when the temple. 00:18:57.532 --> 00:18:58.799 This doesn't compare. 00:18:58.799 --> 00:19:03.432 This isn't even close to even a small portion of what the temple was like. 00:19:03.432 --> 00:19:06.432 We know how glorious that day was. 00:19:06.865 --> 00:19:10.333 And so you get the rejoicing and the celebration, and you get the weeping. 00:19:10.333 --> 00:19:18.200 And by the way, I think part of that is healthy the weeping of realizing our nation has strayed from God. 00:19:18.500 --> 00:19:20.032 Part of that is good. 00:19:20.032 --> 00:19:23.633 Part of that is sometimes we do get stuck in the past. 00:19:23.665 --> 00:19:26.299 This isn't the way it was before. 00:19:26.299 --> 00:19:27.333 Not just old people do it. 00:19:27.333 --> 00:19:30.032 Sometimes media makes people do it. 00:19:30.032 --> 00:19:32.099 It happens. For a lot of us. 00:19:32.099 --> 00:19:36.965 You get stuck in the past and you realize this isn't the way it was before. 00:19:38.165 --> 00:19:43.000 Valley View isn't the same church it was when I was here as a little kid. 00:19:44.000 --> 00:19:47.799 We won't say how many years ago a number of years ago. 00:19:47.799 --> 00:19:50.133 It's not the same church. 00:19:50.133 --> 00:19:56.766 30, 40, 20, ten, four years ago. 00:19:56.766 --> 00:19:57.333 This month. 00:19:57.333 --> 00:19:58.932 I've been here four years already. 00:19:58.932 --> 00:20:00.532 Can you believe it? It's gone so fast. 00:20:00.532 --> 00:20:01.700 It's crazy. 00:20:01.700 --> 00:20:04.700 Well, thank you. 00:20:04.900 --> 00:20:08.032 It's not the same church it was four years ago even. 00:20:08.032 --> 00:20:09.200 It's always changing. 00:20:09.200 --> 00:20:12.400 And so we can't stay stuck in the past. 00:20:14.232 --> 00:20:16.400 Not in the victories, not in the confidences. 00:20:16.400 --> 00:20:20.299 And then also not in past sin. 00:20:20.299 --> 00:20:21.599 Paul hasn't stayed stuck. 00:20:21.599 --> 00:20:23.333 And by the way, can you imagine how many times. 00:20:23.333 --> 00:20:27.165 Here's the sentence that would have happened when someone meets Paul for the first time. 00:20:27.165 --> 00:20:30.000 Imagine if this goes before you everywhere you go. 00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:33.266 I'd like to introduce you to our new missionary. His name is Paul. 00:20:34.532 --> 00:20:36.200 Okay, I've heard about this guy. 00:20:36.200 --> 00:20:39.633 Isn't that the guy that used to want to kill us all? 00:20:39.865 --> 00:20:44.299 Imagine if that was the sentence that preceded you everywhere you went. 00:20:44.833 --> 00:20:46.165 Every time. 00:20:46.165 --> 00:20:47.766 Yes, that was me. 00:20:47.766 --> 00:20:50.766 Imagine the shame and the guilt. 00:20:52.266 --> 00:20:54.965 Not Paul. 00:20:54.965 --> 00:20:57.965 Thank you Jesus, you changed me. 00:20:57.965 --> 00:21:00.133 And I put that confidence in you. 00:21:00.133 --> 00:21:02.766 And I'm leaving that sin behind. 00:21:02.766 --> 00:21:08.465 And the enemy would love nothing more for you to be weighed down with the shame and guilt of things you've done wrong in the past. 00:21:08.465 --> 00:21:09.965 And every one of us has done something wrong. 00:21:09.965 --> 00:21:13.165 He would love nothing more than to keep you stuck there. 00:21:13.165 --> 00:21:16.333 Look, if Paul can get past it, you can too. 00:21:16.333 --> 00:21:18.965 You can. You don't have to stay there. 00:21:18.965 --> 00:21:23.900 You might choose to, but over and over again, dwelling on it. 00:21:24.400 --> 00:21:26.500 Walk in the freedom that you have in Christ. 00:21:26.500 --> 00:21:29.500 If you know him, he has forgiven you. 00:21:30.200 --> 00:21:33.200 You have freedom in him. 00:21:33.833 --> 00:21:34.965 He's forgiven you. 00:21:34.965 --> 00:21:38.432 There may be consequences that result from our sin. 00:21:38.432 --> 00:21:40.566 Look, we all have to live with some of that. 00:21:40.566 --> 00:21:41.865 But he has forgiven you. 00:21:41.865 --> 00:21:43.932 You don't have to walk in the shame of that anymore. 00:21:43.932 --> 00:21:47.000 And he can use you in ways you could never imagine. 00:21:47.000 --> 00:21:50.566 So don't stay stuck in the past if you have a gospel focused life now. 00:21:50.566 --> 00:21:53.299 Number five, look at this. 00:21:53.299 --> 00:21:57.066 Stay forward focused. 00:21:57.066 --> 00:21:59.365 I mean, this is the opposite of staying stuck in the past. 00:21:59.365 --> 00:22:01.000 We want to stay forward focused. 00:22:01.000 --> 00:22:07.200 We want to stay pressing forward, looking forward in all that we do. 00:22:07.799 --> 00:22:11.299 Christianity is inherently a forward focused religion. 00:22:11.299 --> 00:22:18.400 Yeah, we look back to the Bible written a long time ago, but all of us long for the day when Jesus comes back. 00:22:19.865 --> 00:22:20.732 That's our hope. 00:22:20.732 --> 00:22:22.833 Our hope is not just in what he did long ago. 00:22:22.833 --> 00:22:27.799 It's what he will do, is doing when he comes and sets everything right. 00:22:27.799 --> 00:22:30.799 Because sin still reigns in the world. 00:22:30.932 --> 00:22:32.732 Yeah, he came in forgiveness of sin. 00:22:32.732 --> 00:22:38.400 Sin still exists, but there will be a day when he comes and death will be no more. 00:22:38.400 --> 00:22:41.766 Neither will there be mourning or crying or pain anymore. 00:22:41.766 --> 00:22:46.365 For the old things have passed away when he comes, when he shows up. 00:22:47.133 --> 00:22:52.400 We have a forward focused mentality and this shapes every aspect of your life. 00:22:52.400 --> 00:22:55.266 By the way, I was at a funeral home recently. 00:22:55.266 --> 00:23:07.333 Gary Gordon’s and Lori Basham's mother passed away and he [Gary] said to me, John, I don't know how anyone gets through this without hope in Christ. 00:23:08.532 --> 00:23:10.432 I don't know how you could get through this. 00:23:10.432 --> 00:23:14.900 I know there'll be a day when I get to see her again. 00:23:15.066 --> 00:23:17.333 You know, I'll often quote almost at every funeral. 00:23:17.333 --> 00:23:18.833 13. 00:23:18.833 --> 00:23:19.633 It's so powerful. 00:23:19.633 --> 00:23:20.900 We do not grieve as those. 00:23:20.900 --> 00:23:26.000 If you know Christ, we do not grieve as those who have no hope. 00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:26.599 Our grief. 00:23:26.599 --> 00:23:29.432 There's still grief, but it's different. 00:23:29.432 --> 00:23:30.333 We have hope. 00:23:30.333 --> 00:23:35.200 We know there'll be a day when we get to see them again. 00:23:35.665 --> 00:23:41.432 And if they didn't know Christ, you know your significance isn't fully tied up in that. 00:23:41.432 --> 00:23:43.700 You know it's in him. 00:23:43.700 --> 00:23:52.965 And so we press on, we point forward, we depend on him in all that we do. 00:23:52.965 --> 00:23:55.965 It's a forward focused faith. 00:23:56.165 --> 00:24:02.500 And then number six, remain teachable. 00:24:02.500 --> 00:24:03.432 Remain teachable. 00:24:03.432 --> 00:24:05.165 So we have all this language. 00:24:05.165 --> 00:24:06.032 I haven't attained it. 00:24:06.032 --> 00:24:08.599 I'm pressing forward. 00:24:08.599 --> 00:24:10.400 I'm forgetting what lies behind. 00:24:10.400 --> 00:24:12.333 I'm pressing on. 00:24:12.333 --> 00:24:14.766 But look at verse 15. 00:24:14.766 --> 00:24:16.099 He says this. 00:24:16.099 --> 00:24:20.133 Let those of us who are mature think this way. 00:24:20.133 --> 00:24:25.400 And if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal this also to you. 00:24:26.299 --> 00:24:27.865 Remain teachable. 00:24:27.865 --> 00:24:29.700 Remain teachable. 00:24:29.700 --> 00:24:33.465 That's another aspect of a gospel focused life. 00:24:33.465 --> 00:24:37.633 And here Paul is saying to them, I hope you understand this, what I've been laying out. 00:24:37.633 --> 00:24:41.333 I hope you understand that it's not about what you do that earns you salvation. 00:24:41.333 --> 00:24:43.333 It's about what Christ has done on your behalf. 00:24:43.333 --> 00:24:47.333 And yet we still strive to honor him and live a life that honors him in all that we do. 00:24:47.333 --> 00:24:53.532 I hope you understand that if you are in fact, he says, if you are mature, that word matures. 00:24:53.532 --> 00:24:58.799 It's a very a different version, but it's the same root word of the word he said perfect earlier. 00:24:58.799 --> 00:25:00.032 I'm not perfect yet. 00:25:00.032 --> 00:25:03.432 I hope you are moving towards maturity, towards. 00:25:03.432 --> 00:25:06.133 Another way to translate it is completeness. 00:25:06.133 --> 00:25:09.799 Sometimes in athletic context that word will be translated. It is fit. 00:25:09.799 --> 00:25:10.732 I hope you're fit. 00:25:10.732 --> 00:25:12.500 I hope you're ready. 00:25:12.500 --> 00:25:13.566 You're not perfect. 00:25:13.566 --> 00:25:18.500 There's no perfect athlete, but that you know the difference between I'm ready for this competition or I'm not. 00:25:18.500 --> 00:25:19.200 I hope you're ready. 00:25:19.200 --> 00:25:20.400 I hope you're perfect. 00:25:20.400 --> 00:25:21.365 I hope you're mature. 00:25:21.365 --> 00:25:25.700 I hope you're complete, equipped, ready for this moment. 00:25:26.333 --> 00:25:34.932 Part of that is remaining teachable because he says right after that, and if you're not, I hope you can seek out God. 00:25:35.633 --> 00:25:42.299 And this is so important for every Christian, by the way, so critical for every one of us to be teachable. 00:25:42.299 --> 00:25:49.599 Because at every stage of your Christian life and your growth and your journey, you're going to hit a point where you go, I don't know how I feel about that. 00:25:49.599 --> 00:25:52.665 God, I've never thought of that before. 00:25:52.665 --> 00:25:58.400 I encounter this new truth and I'm not sure I like it at every stage. 00:25:58.400 --> 00:26:00.500 Again, it happens to me. 00:26:00.500 --> 00:26:04.200 It happens to Larry Peercy, who I'm pointing towards, he’s not over there. 00:26:04.200 --> 00:26:07.833 He's probably out praying about something he's wrestling with right now. 00:26:07.833 --> 00:26:09.400 It happens to every one of us. 00:26:09.400 --> 00:26:13.965 You think I got it all figured out and then God hit you with something new. 00:26:14.365 --> 00:26:16.566 I don't know how I feel about that. 00:26:16.566 --> 00:26:19.400 The immature says that can't be true because I've never thought of it. 00:26:20.799 --> 00:26:21.799 That can't be true. 00:26:21.799 --> 00:26:22.700 I don't want any part of that. 00:26:22.700 --> 00:26:25.700 My God would never do that. 00:26:25.700 --> 00:26:30.200 The mature says, I'm going to bring it to him. 00:26:30.200 --> 00:26:31.700 I'm going to pray. 00:26:31.700 --> 00:26:34.566 I'm going to ask him, God, are you in this? 00:26:34.566 --> 00:26:36.465 Would you show me? 00:26:36.465 --> 00:26:38.599 Would you reveal yourself in this? 00:26:38.599 --> 00:26:39.965 I'm hearing this for the first time. 00:26:39.965 --> 00:26:41.299 I've never thought of this. 00:26:41.299 --> 00:26:44.965 Could you be at work trying to show me something new? 00:26:44.965 --> 00:26:46.032 And I've been praying. 00:26:46.032 --> 00:26:47.900 In your notes, I listed James four two through three. 00:26:47.900 --> 00:26:53.032 I've been praying that more this year than I've ever prayed that passage before. 00:26:53.133 --> 00:26:54.000 And that whole section. 00:26:54.000 --> 00:26:59.133 You've heard the language you do not have because you do not ask. 00:26:59.299 --> 00:26:59.599 All right. 00:26:59.599 --> 00:27:03.165 Sometimes we use that in jest, in parenting or something, right? 00:27:03.165 --> 00:27:08.900 Or maybe at work, you might quote that verse when someone acts like they should have something, they've never even asked for it. 00:27:08.900 --> 00:27:10.700 You do not have because you do not ask. 00:27:10.700 --> 00:27:13.432 And so look, he says to ask, ask me. 00:27:14.665 --> 00:27:18.732 And so I'm praying more and more for the things specifically God, would you provide this? 00:27:18.732 --> 00:27:19.700 Would you open this door? 00:27:19.700 --> 00:27:22.066 Would you do this? 00:27:22.066 --> 00:27:31.932 But I'm also praying the second half of that verse, which is really important, you ask, but you do not have because you ask with impure motives. 00:27:33.665 --> 00:27:41.900 Now, sometimes because we're concerned and maybe fearful that I'm going to naturally ask for things, I'm not sure I can trust any of my motives. 00:27:41.900 --> 00:27:45.165 I have found that verse suffering because here's what I'm doing now. 00:27:45.165 --> 00:28:01.932 I'm going to ask Lord, and if my motives are wrong, when my motives are wrong, I'm going to trust that you're going to reveal that that you're going to expose that I'm going to keep asking, and I'm going to trust that you're going to expose my impure motives when I ask wrongly. But I'm going to ask. 00:28:04.000 --> 00:28:07.633 And stay teachable, remain teachable. 00:28:07.633 --> 00:28:13.099 Remain open to what he wants to show you until you and do in your life. 00:28:13.099 --> 00:28:16.599 That's why our theme this year was grow, grow. 00:28:16.599 --> 00:28:18.465 We all want to grow. We all need to grow. 00:28:18.465 --> 00:28:23.932 No matter where you are spiritually, we got to keep growing, remain teachable. 00:28:23.932 --> 00:28:32.032 And then lastly, number seven, remember or celebrate the wins, the victories. 00:28:32.032 --> 00:28:36.766 Okay, we leave behind the victories in terms of that they control or define us. 00:28:36.766 --> 00:28:42.599 But yet also we need to know when to celebrate and remember the fact that God has been at work in our life. 00:28:42.599 --> 00:28:44.932 Remember the wins. 00:28:44.932 --> 00:28:46.365 Look at verse 16. 00:28:46.365 --> 00:28:49.266 Here's how the passage ends. 00:28:49.266 --> 00:28:56.266 Only let us hold true to what we have obtained, attained. 00:28:56.266 --> 00:28:59.165 Only let us hold true to what we have attained. 00:29:01.432 --> 00:29:09.400 You know, if you know Christ, if you've walked with him, there are things he's done in your life that you should hold on to. 00:29:13.400 --> 00:29:16.333 This is why journaling is so powerful, because it is. 00:29:16.333 --> 00:29:21.532 Our natural tendency is to just forget what God has done in our lives. 00:29:21.532 --> 00:29:24.532 We might remember for a few days. 00:29:25.799 --> 00:29:28.766 And then it's just gone. 00:29:28.766 --> 00:29:33.500 That's why I try to each morning, most every morning, even if it's just a few sentences, write down. 00:29:33.500 --> 00:29:34.700 Here's what happened yesterday. 00:29:34.700 --> 00:29:35.599 Here's what God was showing me. 00:29:35.599 --> 00:29:36.400 Here's what he did. 00:29:36.400 --> 00:29:38.766 And then usually, occasionally, I'll look back over it. 00:29:38.766 --> 00:29:40.865 I try to go back a year and look what was he doing a year ago? 00:29:40.865 --> 00:29:42.766 Sometimes two years ago. 00:29:42.766 --> 00:29:48.032 And every time, how did I forget that he did that? 00:29:48.032 --> 00:29:49.266 How did I forget? 00:29:49.266 --> 00:29:50.566 I had completely forgotten. 00:29:53.599 --> 00:29:54.833 Remember the wins. 00:29:54.833 --> 00:29:56.032 Remember the victories. 00:29:56.032 --> 00:29:59.032 Remember that he has provided so much. 00:29:59.833 --> 00:30:06.465 And this is especially important when life gets hard and you feel like he's against you. 00:30:06.965 --> 00:30:15.532 We got to go back and be intentional to remember what we have already attained, both what he's done in your life but the truth of the gospel. 00:30:15.532 --> 00:30:17.133 He's already moved in your life. 00:30:17.133 --> 00:30:19.965 If you know him, you know what he's rescued you from. 00:30:19.965 --> 00:30:22.965 Go back and remember. 00:30:23.599 --> 00:30:29.900 This is part of living a gospel focused life, a life solely focused on him. 00:30:29.900 --> 00:30:35.500 In fact, right here in the middle of the passage in verse 13, he says, but one thing I do. 00:30:37.799 --> 00:30:40.865 In fact, in the original language, this is five words. 00:30:40.865 --> 00:30:48.165 But one thing I do in the original language was two words, but one, but one. 00:30:48.165 --> 00:30:49.232 But first. 00:30:49.232 --> 00:30:59.965 But only Paul knows to live a gospel focused life, there can only be one thing that can't be seven things. 00:30:59.965 --> 00:31:02.000 Although that's was our list today. 00:31:02.000 --> 00:31:03.165 Ignore that. 00:31:03.165 --> 00:31:03.900 You understand. 00:31:03.900 --> 00:31:06.566 It's all pointing us to one thing. 00:31:06.566 --> 00:31:10.099 There's one thing the gospel has to be at the center of your life. 00:31:10.099 --> 00:31:27.833 If you want to experience the fullness of knowing Christ, if you want the hope and the peace and the joy and the purpose and the significance and the meaning and the freedom. 00:31:28.900 --> 00:31:32.599 He's got to be your sole focus now. 00:31:32.599 --> 00:31:35.932 He'll bring other things into your life around that. 00:31:35.932 --> 00:31:38.299 But that's at the center, that's at the bullseye. 00:31:38.299 --> 00:31:41.299 And nothing else should compete. 00:31:43.165 --> 00:31:44.932 Recently, my dad told me his story. 00:31:44.932 --> 00:31:52.700 My oldest son lives in Colorado, and he lives in Aspen, which I think is one of the wealthiest cities on the planet. 00:31:52.700 --> 00:31:54.066 Okay. He's there. 00:31:54.066 --> 00:32:02.500 He lives in like an old, rundown dormitory for Forest Service workers that they set up so that some poor people can actually live there and work in the city. 00:32:02.500 --> 00:32:05.532 But it's one of the wealthiest cities on the planet. 00:32:08.465 --> 00:32:15.965 And my dad wisely said to him, hey, John has to be careful living in that environment. 00:32:16.066 --> 00:32:20.299 Don't let all that wealth draw your heart away from Christ. 00:32:20.299 --> 00:32:21.500 Don't let that tempt you. 00:32:21.500 --> 00:32:26.465 Don't end up thinking that's where joy and hope and peace is. 00:32:26.833 --> 00:32:29.932 And he said, oh grandpa, don't worry, don't worry. 00:32:29.932 --> 00:32:32.932 None of those people are happy. 00:32:33.799 --> 00:32:35.633 None of those people are happy. 00:32:35.633 --> 00:32:40.365 I see it, I'm not tempted. 00:32:40.365 --> 00:32:44.665 To have that wisdom at 21 years old, I wish I had wish I had that. 00:32:44.665 --> 00:32:45.700 They're not happy. 00:32:45.700 --> 00:32:48.465 They're looking for peace and hope and joy and fulfillment. 00:32:48.465 --> 00:32:49.266 They're not finding it. 00:32:49.266 --> 00:32:53.000 And I'm sure there I know he goes to a church there, so I know there are Christians there in general. 00:32:53.000 --> 00:32:57.299 He's saying what they're seeking to find peace and hoping they're not finding it. 00:32:59.500 --> 00:33:04.700 One thing, only one. 00:33:04.833 --> 00:33:07.299 Christ alone is where you'll find it. 00:33:07.299 --> 00:33:07.799 Let's pray.