RESTORING PURPOSE

Philippians 3:7-14

Purpose is a very wonderful thing. Without purpose, a person life is without direction and ultimately without hope. When one loses hope then they lose reason for living.

We live in a society today that is losing its purpose. There is a real problem, not only in America but in many first world nations around the world where men and especially, young men are becoming disaffected. Where they are no longer connecting with or see their purpose in society. Where they are so put down or put out, that they have given up and live in their own world to varying degrees.

That is why you see so many mass shootings, pornography, sin, drug and alcohol abuse and vice - because they have lost their purpose. This is for another message but another reason for disaffected young men is because of the attack on masculinity, the refusal of women to submit to any leadership in their lives, the blurring of roles not only in marriage but in society. So young men are being taught that male and female genders are simply social constructs.

Listen, it is not a social construct when you watch a boy toddler vs. girl toddler in our nursery. We have to get back to biblical roles again. We have to get back to finding our real purpose in this life, and that is only found in Christ and His will for our lives.

There is an important message this morning - so I want to quickly do an overview of the verses we read until we get to the message.

In verses 7-8 we see Paul counting everything a loss, everything as worthless when compared to the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Oh, if only we would have such a value in the things of God, to be willing to do depart from anything in order to have a closer relationship and walk with the Lord.

In verse 9 we can see Paul realizing that there was nothing good in himself, there was nothing to glory in himself about, but rather he showed that the only righteousness he could have was by faith in Jesus Christ.

Verse 10 shows a great statement concerning our walk after Christ and what it will take to have a close relationship with him. In the first part of the verse is says “that I may know him.” Isn’t that our desire today, isn’t that why we come to church, that we might know the Lord. Here is what everyone quotes, “That I may know him and the power of his resurrection.” Boy they want the power of God on their lives, but they always forget the rest of the verse which is needed in order to have the power of God on your life. It says “and the fellowship of sufferings being made conformable unto his death.” In order to have the power of God on our lives we need to be willing to suffer for him and with him, dieing to ourselves.

Now from verses 12-14 we get into the heart of the message this morning.

I. THERE IS PURPOSE FOR YOUR LIFE IN THE LORD

Paul believed there was a purpose of God for his life.

His purpose was not in or according to his former life.

In his former life he did many things

He was of the Jewish nation, God’s chosen people

He was citizen of Rome by birth

He was zealous for the law

He was a Pharisee of Pharisees

Paul knew that God had something for him now that was different

2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

We need to understand that God does have a purpose for our life as well

Ephesians 5:17 KJV

Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

II. CONTINUE IN GOD’S REVEALED WILL

Paul knew that he needed to continue on in God’s purpose for his life

He had to follow on in order to apprehend that purpose

A. Some people get to impatient in their lives.

People get tired of doing the same thing, they are looking for something new

People will be faithful at church for a while and then start looking to get bored when the newness wears off

Paul was willing to go down the path that was given to him, that upward path of obedience to the revealed will of God in his life.

A. It is a clear path

This world and society may be seeking to marr it, but it is clearly spelled out in God’s Word - follow His will for our life.

Let me give you a few verses that show how clear the path is to see and understand.

Matthew 6:33 KJV

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Proverbs 3:5–6 KJV

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Matthew 22:37–38 KJV

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.

Matthew 22:37–39 (KJV)

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

B. The path is well worn

Proverbs 4:26 KJV

Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.

The path of righteousness is a well worn established path. Ponder here means to to roll flat, i.e. prepare (a road); also to revolve, i.e. weigh (mentally):--make, ponder, weigh

This gives the idea that we must continually do the right thing, though at times it loses its excitement, though at times it could get monotonous, we still need make flat that path.

It also gives the idea of laying the path flat and easy for others to follow, our children and our family, our friends, our co-workers, and those we witness to.

He did not know what that ultimate purpose was in his life.

1 Corinthians 2:9 KJV

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

Yet Paul continue pondering and wearing down that path, doing God’s revealed will for his life.

We also must continue doing the revealed will of God in our lives also

If you are young and in school, what is God’s will? Be the best student you can be, finish and be a witness for Christ as you go.

If you are working a job, continue in doing the job you have doing the best you can and be a witness as you go until God reveals something different.

III. PURPOSE IS NOT FOUND IN LOOKING BACK

Paul said that he let go of the past in order to go ahead.

We are all the result of our past upbringing and experiences. Everywhere you have been, everything you have seen has resulted in what you are today.

Did you know that there a lot of things in the past, both good and bad, that can hold us back from doing God’s will.

- By the way, it is a concerted effort to do God’s will. It needs to be goal in your mind, something that you wake up in the morning planning to do in the day, those things which please the Lord.

But we need to let go of our past.

A. Paul let go of his religion

a. These were things that he had been taught since he was a baby, things he knew to be true by tradition and things that were often backed up in the Word of God.

B. Paul let go of the “righteous works that he had done.”

C. Paul let go of his accomplishments

D. He also did not let his past sin stop him

E. He did not let his failures dissuade him

F. He did not let his former friends discourage him, whether good or bad

IV. PURPOSE IS FOUND IN LOOKING AHEAD

Paul wanted to only reach ahead to the things that were before him

He had left those things behind and now was reaching forward to what was in the future.

I love the Bible because it gives us so much hope and comfort.

Ecclesiastes 9:4 KJV

For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

The Bible teaches that there is still hope for you. You can still make it, you are still useful to God and he wants to use you

We need to reach forward, reach ahead, and seek to accomplish something for Christ

Our church is moving ahead, we don’t know what the future holds, but we need to keep reaching ahead doing more.

We need to move ahead in our personal lives as well.

a. Move ahead concerning salvation

b. Move ahead concerning baptism

c. Move ahead in church membership

d. Move ahead in being a witness for Christ

V. NEVER STOP PRESSING TOWARD THE MARK

That is what Paul did. Was Paul in the center of God’s will? I believe he was.

Was Paul doing what the Lord had commanded him? Yes, that would be a true statement.

So what was he pressing towards. He was on a continual climb in his life and service for the Lord.

I believe that Paul never fully knew his complete purpose, he knew his job was just to keep pressing.

He wanted to continually do more:

To be the better Christian

To be the better preacher

To be the better witness

To be the better worker

To be the better pastor

We also need to our best to seek to achieve more in those areas.

Seeking to be a better witness

Seeking to have a better attitude

Seeking to be a better member at church

Seeking to be more faithful in:

Church and its activities

Giving our tithes and offerings

Telling and inviting others to church

Seeking to have a better devotional life.

And on and on.

Paul was probably the best Christian who ever lived. Yet, one of the things that made him great was the fact that he never stopped trying to be a better Christian, he continue to look to make sure that He Apprehended that for which he was apprehended.

My Last Question is, Have you been apprehended yet?

Does God have you; have you repented of your sin and your way in life and turned to Him in faith as your Lord and Savior? You need to my friend.

How long does He have to search for you. How long does he have to plead for you; how long does he have to convict you and show you your need of Him? How long will you make Him wait – by the way, he won’t wait forever.

2 Corinthians 6:2 KJV

(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)