Session 2: Eyes on the PRIZE

Today we’re about to DIG DEEP, but before we do…how bout some jokes?

Termite walks into a bar and asks “Is the bar tender here?”

Hear about the scarecrow who won the award? He was OUT-STANDING in his field.

Here about the pirate celebrating his 80th birthday? “I’m eighty”

I want you to think about something and let this sink in: You will see Jesus SHORTLY - within your lifetime.

Either: 1) Jesus will return 2) or your body will die and your spirit will go to be judged by Him. If every person here lived to be 85 years old, That - DEATH - WILL HAPPEN for every person here, within the next 70 years - and it might be much sooner for many of us - including teenagers who die every year.

We’ll spend a lot more time focusing on this next session, but the reality of eternity was a driving force for the early church. What about us?

I know some Christians who can’t wait to go to heaven. And some of them are so heavenly minded that they’re no earthly good.

They are sort of like the person who looks forward to moving into a new home far away. Rather than fixing up the home they live in now, they pack their stuff up and are preparing to leave. They can’t have people over because of all the moving boxes.

I know others who rarely think about life after this life. Success, health, and pleasure here is what they live for. When that focus is derailed then they are thrown into a tailspin.

The apostle Paul had this BALANCE figured out. He lived like each day was his last, with this mindset:

Philippians 1:21–26 (NLT)

For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live. Knowing this, I am convinced that I will remain alive so I can continue to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith.

With this mindset, Paul kept his EYES on the PRIZE.

PRAY

Runners are discouraged from watching those running beside them. Instead, they are taught to keep their eyes on the Prize - the finish line.

Comparatively, is it any wonder that many of us are discouraged because we are constantly watching the news and focusing on what is going on around us INSTEAD of keeping our eyes on the PRIZE - the One who stands at the finish line waiting to welcome us on the other side of eternity?

On Thursday, on the way up here, I received a phone call from a guy who lives in my community, who claims to be a Christian, but is NOT plugged in a local church. He is frustrated by all the junk he is hearing on through the media. His attitude is cruddy - mad at God and the world - instead of running the race and keeping his eyes on the PRIZE, he is distracted by everything else.

Hebrews 12:1a–3 (NIV)

...let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

What’s distracting YOU - HINDERING you from keeping your eyes on Jesus?

Is it something sinful? A sin that easily entangles - something you need to throw off?

Sexual thoughts or actions, slander/gossip, mistreating people made in the image of God, disobedience to authorities God has put in your life, pride, materialism

OR…is what is hindering you actually a GOOD THING…that has become a GOD-THING, replacing Jesus as the One you are PURSUING?

I was just talking with a young lady who said that during her golf season, she spent very little time seeking Jesus in the Scriptures. Golf can be a GOOD THING....but sometimes it becomes a GOD-THING…what someone lives for instead of something he/she enjoys.

Growing educationally & athletically are good things…but they can become GOD-things.

Let’s dig in and see HOW & WHY Paul kept his EYES ON THE PRIZE. There was a time when Paul was distracted by other things.

Philippians 3:4b–6 (NIV)

If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.

From Paul’s perspective, he HAD been blameless in following the teachings of the law, which included sacrifices for sins. So, this isn’t a claim of sinlessness, but a claim that he was obedient to all the 613 laws, not discounting any of them. While Paul, of course, had his own rabbinical traditions that had developed, he was so sold out to keeping the law that he went after Jewish Christians who - from his perspective - were blaspheming God.

But when Jesus confronted him on the road to Damascus, all that changed. While being briefly blinded, Paul suddenly saw who Jesus really was - the Lord of all things.

Philippians 3:7–8a (NIV)

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for Whose sake I have lost all things.

Paul takes all his trophies and throws them in the trash.

The things he used to live for are now discarded as worthless compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.

Like people battling a storm at sea casting all their belongings overboard to lighten the ship, in order that their lives might be saved.

What had Paul thrown overboard?

Prominence among his people. As you read through Acts you see how the Jews who once applauded Paul were now chasing him from city to city and trying to kill him (read Acts 21-23).

Earthly Riches, Safety, & Comfort. Following Jesus cost Paul dearly - often running for his life, often without adequate food, clothing, or shelter (2 Cor 11:27), and working hard as a tent-maker rather than totally relying on others to provide for him (Acts 18:1-3).

Self-Righteousness. As we will read in just a moment, Paul gave up leaning on his own goodness.

What was Paul gaining?

Knowing Jesus. This was Paul’s goal. We’ll talk more about that in a moment.

There’s something else Paul gained.

Faith Family & Eternal Impact. Paul tells the Church in Thessalonica -

1 Thessalonians 2:19 (NIV)

For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you?

When Paul thought of these precious people, I doubt he thought, “You know, my prominence, earthly riches, safety & comfort isn’t really worth all these folks.”

Paul continues:

Philippians 3:8b–11 (NIV)

I consider them garbage, 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 is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of His resurrection and participation in His sufferings, becoming like Him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

What the NIV translates as garbage others translate as “dung” - “excrement” - a pile of poo. It’s stuff he willingly throws away for the sake of gaining & knowing Jesus!

What are you GIVING UP to KNOW JESUS and make Him known to others?

What GOOD THING that has become more like a GOD THING needs to be thrown off the throne of your heart so that Jesus can have His rightful place there?

As the apostle Peter writes to believers facing persecution, he reminds them that Christ, not comfort, is to sit on the throne of our hearts.

1 Peter 3:15 (NET)

But set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts...

To set Christ apart as Lord means that no one else holds that position in your life.

If Tonya - my wife - was here, I could set her apart from the rest of you by saying, “I love all of you, but THIS ONE alone…is my wife.”

No one else holds that position in my life.

So too, you and I are to set Christ apart as Lord - the Ruler, Own, Master, Boss of our lives - and NO ONE and NO THING should be competing for that position in our lives.

Jesus was Lord in Peter’s life & in Paul’s life. He continues writing:

Philippians 3:12–15 (NIV)

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

[v13-15a] Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the Prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things.

Does that sound like YOU? Are you straining to reach the finish line as you keep your EYES on the PRIZE?

WHO or WHAT is COMPETING for the throne of your soul?

OR…are you just going with the flow - wavering back and forth in your commitment to Jesus?

FEET2FAITH

We will talk more in depth about all this tonight.

Stay in the Scriptures. Make reading the Scriptures your 1st priority each day. You have 144 10-minute segments each day. Give the first 10 minutes to the Lord.

“This Book will keep me from sin and sin will keep me from this Book.”

Pray throughout the Day. It’s amazing how real God becomes when you actually talk to Him throughout the day.

Walk with the Wise. Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future. You weren’t meant to do this alone and you probably WON’T.

Stiff-arm Sin. We can’t continue to walk in sin and expect to sense the PEACE and PRESENCE of God. When we sin we are telling God “I don’t trust You.”

Share the Good News! You have family & friends that are headed for hell. That should concern you and me. Tonight I’ll share a simple way to share the Gospel with them.