Philippians 3_1_21 The Proper Influence

Philippians 3:1-21 “The Proper Influence”

Intro: A mother took her young son shopping. After a day in the stores, a clerk handed the little boy a lollipop. “What do you say?” the mother said to the boy, to which he replied, “Charge it!”

This world has many influences unfortunately they are not the proper influences! Etc etc

What this world needs today more than ever is the proper influence and the proper influence is the everyday man and woman of God who lives by faith in the present tense but who eagerly awaits what he/she shall one day become in Christ Jesus.

CPS: Today I want you to understand that only you the Christian can bring eternal influence to the world around you and that it is our duty to do just that.

In order to bring proper influence to the future generation you must live a life of Christian Faith. 1-11

Idea: The only life that can bring eternal influence to this world is the Christian life. The life of faith in Jesus. You must have a life in Christ Jesus to truly positively influence the future

Explanation: The proper influence is a godly influence based on a relationship with God (the creator and sustainer of the universe) through Christ Jesus. This right relationship is only attained through faith. The apostle Paul had all the right prerequisites (according to a worldly perspective) to influence the future but what he lacked was the only prerequisites that matters, Christian faith. He was from great stock (the chosen people of God (chosen to lead the world in the proper relationship with God, He had great training (Rabban Gamaliel), He had great works (keeper of the law as much as humanly possible), zealous for God (defender of his faith Judaism, very religious man) Then he came to know Christ Jesus though faith. What is faith? The Bible defines faith in Hebrews 11:1. “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Faith is forsaking all other things and clinging to the promises of God to deliver.

Illustration: During an especially trying time in the work of the China Inland Mission, Hudson Taylor wrote to his wife, “We have twenty-five cents—and all the promises of God!

When Paul came to faith in Christ Jesus all the things that he once valued he discarded as garbage. All those things did not put in him into proper relationship with God. Once he came to know Jesus through faith the goal of his life was to know him much more intimately than the day before. WHAT ABOUT YOU?

Application: Every person has faith in something, either his riches, his efforts, or faith it’s self. But only the person who has faith in Christ Jesus enters into the right standing with God and can influence the world in an everlasting way. Where is your faith?

In order to bring proper influence to the future generation you must live a life in the present tense. 12-16

Idea: You must live in the present time to truly influence the future generation not a life of despair over past failures and mistakes and not in depression for what should have been. Enjoy your life in Christ Jesus. Paul had joy because of his daily walk not his past walk!

Explanation: The apostle Paul was a man who was never satisfied with his spiritual attainment. The fact that he understood that he was not perfect and could never be perfect while on earth did not keep him from striving forward in perfection. What is meant by perfection “being complete in Christ.” His goal was to know Christ more and more each day and to be molded into the image of Christ Jesus (Romans 8:29). Here Paul tells the secret to living a life dedicated to knowing Jesus and being an effectual servant of Jesus. “This one thing I do,” I forget the past and I look forward to lies ahead.” The apostle is not stating I bypass the present but he lives in the present as he runs the life of faith. His past is gone with the wind, His failures, His sins, and His Success are behind him. He no longer focuses on them but what is presently before him.

You must break the power of the past if you want to live a life that influences the future. Put your past behind you and live the example of godliness in the present. As Paul presses on in his Christian life he lives in between the steps.

Illustration: “A university professor tells of being invited to speak at a military base in December and their meeting an unforgettable soldier named Ralph. Ralph had been sent to meet him at the airport; and after they had introduced themselves, they headed toward the baggage claim. As they walked down the concourse, Ralph kept disappearing — once to help an older woman whose suitcase had fallen open, once to lift two toddlers up to where they could see Santa Claus and again to give directions to someone who was lost. Each time he came back with a big smile on his face. “‘Where did you learn to do that?’ The professor asked. “‘Do what?’ Ralph said. “‘To be so helpful and considerate to others.’ “‘Oh,’ Ralph said, ‘during the war, I guess.’ “Then he told the professor about his tour of duty in Vietnam, about how it was his job to clear minefields, and how he watched his friends blow up before his eyes, one after another. ‘I learned to live between steps,’ he said. ‘I never knew whether the next one would be my last, so I learned to get everything I could out of the moment between when I picked up my foot and when I put it down again. Every step I took was a whole new world, and I guess I’ve just been that way ever since.’

Application: If we want to influence the world properly for Christ Jesus we must live our life in the present moment; forsaking the hurt, the pains, the failures of our past; pressing forward in the moment living for Christ Jesus. Work at your work, play at your play. Shed your tears. Enjoy your laughter. Now is the time of your life not yesterday.

In order to bring proper influence to the future generation you must live a life of eager anticipation for what the future has in store for you. 17-21

Idea: The life that brings true positive influence is the life that eagerly awaits the removing of their flesh and the gaining of perfection in Christ Jesus.

Explanation: The apostle lived the life of faith, he lived for Christ in the moment but he positively knew that he was not of this world. His true citizenship was in heaven so as he lived his life of faith in the moment he eagerly awaited the moment when he met the true savior Jesus face to face and received what he was promised, a body like Jesus.’ A body that was not corrupted by sin, one that did not experience sorrow or pain but was in complete perfection and unity with Jesus Christ forever and ever. Paul may have been a Jew with Roman citizenship but he was determined to live a life as a citizen of heaven while on earth.

Illustration: The person who will influence the future generation understand that he may be living in this world but this world is not his home. If there was a man who influence the future for Christ Jesus in the past one hundred years it was Billy Graham, he influenced, preachers, teachers, and government officials all over this world. I’ve listened to his sermons, I have read his books, and what I have taken with me from the life of Billy Graham is this quote… My home is in heaven. I’m just traveling through world.

Application: To influence the future generation resolve today to live a life of Christian faith, live for Jesus in the moment, and live as though your true home is in heaven because it is!