Paul's Focus (03/30/2025)

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Miss Rebecca Brooks’ cancer diagnosis

Scripture Reading: Acts 19:8-10.

Title: Paul’s Focus

Paul’s Third Missionary Journey

The last time that we were in the book of Acts was at the beginning of December.

We left off in Acts chapter 19 which is where we find ourselves this morning. Paul is in Ephesus.

In that time we have wrapped up our 2024 theme of Truth in Love and now have a new theme, for 2025, of Focus. Faith.

How, this year have you been doing with your focus?

Allow me, again, to take just a moment to remind ourselves of what focus is.

a center of activity, attraction, or attention

a point of concentration

directed attention

With those definitions in mind, allow me to ask…

What has been the center of your activity?

What has been the point upon which you have concentrated your time, effort, and resources?

Where has your attention been directed?

While the theme of Truth in Love was evident in Paul’s ministry, what about this year’s theme?

Well, let’s look again at the verses we read just a moment ago:

Turn to and read Acts 19:8-10.

In vs. 8, Paul, for three months, went into enemy territory - the Jewish Synagogue in Ephesus - and boldly spoke the Truth!

Then, when some willfully hardened their hearts to the truth - they refused to accept the truth - Paul went next door and continued to do the same thing for the next two years!

Some hardened their heart to the truth that Paul proclaimed.

They chose NOT to believe the truth that Paul proclaimed.

They badmouthed - to whomever would listen - the truth that Paul had proclaimed.

How was Paul able to maintain such consistency in his life and ministry in spite of the fierce opposition that he faced?

Before I answer that…have you ever stopped to consider how easily we can be “thrown off our game?”

I attempt to give out Gospel tracts, particularly when I go into stores, etc.

There is one place where I particularly have a difficult time giving out Gospel tracts…Starbucks.

A week ago Saturday, I went into Starbucks to get coffee for my wife and I. I purposefully took a Gospel tract with me to give to whomever took my order.

When I walked in, the young lady at the cash register was bent over doing some type of writing/figuring.

I stood there for several minutes before she finally looked up, acknowledged me, and asked what I would like to order.

That’s when I saw it.

She was wearing a knit beanie on her head.

Starbuck’s Knit Beanie

My focus immediately went to that hat and I began to believe, “She doesn’t want to hear anything about the Gospel. I’d better not give her a Gospel tract; she may get upset with me.”

So, again, How was Paul able to maintain such consistency in his life and ministry in spite of the fierce opposition that he faced?

It was his focus. It was his faith!

Do you recall what happened to Paul in Acts chapter 16, when he and his team were in Philippi?

How did Paul and Silas respond?

Acts 16:25 KJV 1900

And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

How was that possible?

It was his focus. It was his faith!

Years after the events of Acts chapter 16, Paul wrote a letter to the church in Philippi.

Turn to and read Philippians 3:7-10.

All Things

Notice, in verse 8, Paul’s use - twice - of all things.

I count all things but loss...

I have suffered the loss of all things…

Question: What is included in “all things?”

Question: Did Paul experience the usual “things” of life?

Paul had to feed himself. He went to the market.

Paul had to care for himself. If he got sick, he had to go to the doctor.

Paul had to sleep. He had to rest.

Paul had to make sure that he had some type of nightly accommodations.

Paul had to pay taxes.

And the list could go on.

However, Paul never seemed to “focus” on those things certainly not in the way in which we sometimes focus upon them.

Illustration: Right now it is tax time here in the United States. I dislike taxes; I dread taxes. I can so focus on taxes that I put myself into a sour mood because of them.

What was Paul focused on?

Vs. 8 tells us, “…that I may win Christ,”

Vs. 10 tells us, “That I may know Him…”

Then Paul records for us that which he was focused upon…

Philippians 3:14 KJV 1900

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Paul’s goal, his master passion - his ultimate focus, was Christ. Paul had met Him and now he wanted to know Him fully.

Paul wanted to know the One who created the stars;

the One who controls the universe;

the One who knows all there is to know about space technology, nuclear physics, biochemistry, and electronics;

the One who lived upon this earth, experienced life to the full, and tasted of its joys, sorrows, possibilities, and pains;

the One who fully understands, loves and cares, encourages and forgives;

the One who is good, patient, kind, and helpful.

Notice Paul’s words to the Philippians

Philippians 1:21 KJV 1900

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Do you and I have that same focus? Do we have that same passion and desire? To know Him?

Are we willing to lay aside the “all things” of life so that we might maintain that focus and that goal?

One Bible teacher wrote:

Exploring Ephesians & Philippians: An Expository Commentary (b) He Wrote off All His Human Resources (3:8)

If we were able to ask Paul if he ever felt the loss of the things he gave up, he would look at us in astonishment and say: “Loss? Of trash? What loss? I have seen Christ face to face, bright as the morning, fairer than the day, lovely beyond all loveliness. I have looked into His eyes and that is all I ever see. I have heard His voice and that is all I ever hear. It rings like the sweetest music in my soul. I love Him with all my heart and with all my soul and with all my strength. I live only for Him. In the strength of the heavenly vision I live on and on, anticipating the day when I shall see that face and hear that voice again. All I want is to win Christ, to hear Him say, ‘Well done, Paul!’ ”

Because of this focus, what did Paul accomplish? What was he able to accomplish?

Acts 19:9 KJV 1900

But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.

Acts 19:10 KJV 1900

And this continued by the space of two years…

For two years, Paul’s daily life in Ephesus was consumed with one thing: proclaiming the way of Jesus Christ to any and all who would gather with him; who would listen to him!

Paul was so consumed with proclaiming the way of Jesus Christ because He was so consumed with knowing Jesus Christ!

Paul so knew Jesus Christ that he wanted everyone to know Him!

What consumes you? Are we consumed with knowing Christ? Are we consumed with making Him known?

Notice the results of this kind of focus:

Acts 19:10 KJV 1900

And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

Would it not be wonderful to say that, within the space of two years that everyone living in Pineville had heard of the Lord Jesus? That would be over 8,000 individuals!

Would it not be wonderful to say that, within the space of two years that everyone living in the Charlotte metro area - over 2 million individuals - had heard of the Lord Jesus?

How did Paul do that?

It began with his focus; a focus that he became consumed with to the point of suffering the loss of all things.

Question: Where is our focus? Who is our focus? What are we consumed with? What are our “all things” that we need to let go of?

Exploring Ephesians & Philippians: An Expository Commentary (b) He Wrote off All His Human Resources (3:8)

Oh, that we might see Christ as Paul saw Him! This world would lose all its power to attract us or distract us.

“Uncle” John Vassar

“Uncle” - as he was called by others - John Vassar was born in New York in 1813 and lived during the Civil War.

He suffered an accident as a young man that left him with a limp for the rest of his life.

He was saved in the Baptist church of Poughkeepsie, New York in his twenty’s.

As a layman, after his salvation, he became one of the finest personal soul winners that our country has ever known.

It is written about him that…

He travelled from Maine to Florida, from the Atlantic coast to the Pacific, on foot, on horseback, by rail, and by steamer, resting not in summer or in winter, in the one intense, eager pursuit of lost souls…

A preacher who knew John Vassar wrote of him…

Is it possible for one to live for a single end—the glory of God in the salvation of souls, and to pursue that end with all the ardor and enthusiasm with which the merchant pursues a fortune or the politician an office? - This man knew nothing else, thought of nothing else, asked for nothing else, but this one thing.

It was written of him that…

He would constantly forget the claims of bodily hunger when engaged with an inquiring soul.

He seemed at times entirely insensible to every earthly thing, in his overmastering and consuming desire to get the souls saved for which he was laboring.

An individual who personally knew John Vassar said…

The all-absorbing passion of his soul was love to God and the perishing around him.

To what can we attribute this “all-absorbing passion” in the life of John Vassar?

His love of God, for prayer and for God’s Word!

In Uncle John’s heart the deepest emotion was love for his Savior. Deeper than the love of home, deeper than the love of kindred, deeper than the love of country, aye deeper than the love of life, was his affection for that Redeemer who had first loved him and given Himself for him.

“He absolutely prayed day and night. Prayed about every thing. Prayed over every thing. Prayed for almost everybody, and prayed with almost everybody whom he met. He prayed when he went out, and when he came in. He prayed before every religious service, and then prayed all the way through it.”

On a shelf near by, or else in his pocket, was kept a small Bible, and when there was an unoccupied moment that would be in his hands. Evenings, when no religious service claimed his time, over that same book he would bend for hours, sometimes on his knees.

Finally, one pastor that knew John Vassar wrote…

“One thing seemed to occupy his thoughts and to engross his life, and that one thing was the salvation of sinners and the glory of God. You could not meet him even on the street for five minutes without seeing what was the great absorbing interest of his soul.”

Again, as I said just a few moments ago…

Exploring Ephesians & Philippians: An Expository Commentary (b) He Wrote off All His Human Resources (3:8)

Oh, that we might see Christ as Paul saw Him! - As “Uncle” John Vassar saw Him! This world would lose all its power to attract us or distract us.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus Look full in his wonderful face And the things of earth will grow strangely dim In the light of his glory and grace