Enrichment through Release

August 14, 1988 AM

Philippians 4:10-13,18-19; 2:3-11

We spoke last week about the peace of God. But perhaps even more attractive than peace is that quality of life we call "fulfillment." In this wonderful book, Paul tells us about how he has found this quality of living.

I. THE VIBRANT QUALITY OF LIFE IN CHRIST

There is more to life than mere existence. Beyond "peace" is spiritual 'vitality,' that which makes life 'sparkle.' Call it 'fulfilled living,' or 'life with purpose,' vitality is a "plus" way of living.
Granted there is no real life that does not have battles and loneliness and even temptation to boredom. And yet there is a way of living that can only be termed "spiritually vital."
Much of our energy is devoted to discovering of what that "plus kind of living" really consists. Advertising tells us "Go for the GUSTO!" "YOU deserve a break!" And as John Piper has said in his book, Desiring God, the thing that is wrong in seeking fulfillment and pleasure is not that we want it— but that WE SETTLE FOR LESSER PLEASURES AND SATISFACTIONS THAN WE ARE MADE TO ENJOY! We are never satisfied with less than GOD!
As our world "expands" our idea of what constitutes real "living" also expands, and we discard old goals and dreams for bigger ones: - one time a bottle of orange "pop" would satisfy me - then I dreamed of scoring a winning home run in front of my best girl - then came dreams of a cottage and picket fence ... and there is nothing wrong with any of these! - now my generation wants security and professional respect and community recognition — and, once again- there is nothing wrong with these ...
But Paul claims to have found something infinitely more satisfying! He claims to have found "success" and "fulfillment."
1. He does not hesitate to use himself as an example (3:17 Be followers of me! DO as I do! and 4:9 The things you have learned and seen in me, DO!)
2. His testimony is: "I am content wherever I am!" (4:11) and CONFIDENCE: "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me!" (4:13)
3. And he says: This is for YOU, too! (4:19:) "My God shall supply ALL YOUR NEEDS!
4. All this while Paul is in prison!

Is he deluded? Or is he really fulfilled, self-confident, really spiritually vital and alive?

Well, Paul accomplished more, perhaps, than any other human being except his Master. And as to memorials—there are churches all over the world dedicated to him- how about St. Paul's in London?

II. PAUL'S PRESCRIPTION FOR SPIRITUAL VITALITY: FOCUSED LIVING

The world's motto for vital and powerful living is simple: "Take life by the throat! Go for it!" And there is more than a pinch of wisdom in that idea, for nothing in life is ever won without effort and enthusiasm. But all too often this "seizing of life" is interpreted purely selfishly. And this is where Christians have to be prepared to radically part company with the world and its wisdom.
The formula Paul has for us is deceptively SIMPLE. But "simple" does not mean either "cheap" or "easy." There is NO cost involved, for it is a free gift of God's grace; and yet it costs us everything we have!
So what is Paul's prescription for real "success"? PAUL FOCUSES HIS LIFE ON A SINGLE, ATTAINABLE GOAL: (3:13 "But ONE thing I do: I press on toward the goal!)
1. All other goals must become secondary! Paul doesn't say everything else is wrong— that we should not be striving for excellence in business, education, arts, science. But he does say that every other purpose in life must submit to the master purpose!
  This is where "Enrichment" through "Release" makes sense: We can release "keeping up" as a life goal— we don't have to do like others ... and we can release "personal rights" as Jesus did, for the privilege of giving! We can even release our reputation (as important as that is!) when it conflicts with character (what people think as opposed to what God KNOWS!)
2. Success is knowing what we are made for, knowing our purpose, and doing it! Success can never (finally) be measured in money! Success can never (finally) be measured purely in Numbers or Statistics.
3. THIS MASTER GOAL is knowing Jesus and walking in fellowship with Him. Too simple? Simplistic? More about this later in this series, but for now these questions:
4. HOW DO WE MAKE THIS GOAL SUPREME?
  - DELIBERATELY! We deliberately choose a Master Goal. We cannot simply "let life happen." We seek God, His Presence, His Guidance, His purpose. This is an unfolding, wonderful thing!
  - CONSISTENTLY! We constantly re-affirm this in our prayers and in our waking moments: "Lord, I want YOUR will, regardless of how I feel, or what I think I want or need ... !"
  - LEARNING & GROWING! We learn to look to Jesus (Hebrews 12:1-3) the AUTHOR and the FINISHER of our faith! [WHICH BRINGS US TO THE HEART OF THIS MESSAGE:]
  - Text: "LET THIS MIND BE IN YOU WHICH WAS ALSO IN CHRIST JESUS!" What was/is the 'mind of Jesus?'
    Perhaps this is not possible to discuss in a few minutes at the end of a sermon; properly it is a life-study. But let me TRY to summarize:
    1. JESUS DID NOT GRASP, HE SOUGHT TO GIVE
      What was His by right He did not cling to; this is not to say He did not love life, or that He "enjoyed" pain ("O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me!"); but still He loved the Father more than He loved the good things He could SEE; His faith told Him that fulfillment was along the lines of SURRENDER TO GOD'S GOOD WILL.
    2. JESUS DID NOT SHRINK FROM THE SERVANT-ROLE
    3. JESUS WAS OBEDIENT TO THE FATHER'S REVEALED WILL

CONCLUSION:

In practical terms, how can we move toward this spiritual vitality?

KNOW THAT FULFILLMENT IS POSSIBLE!
BUT YOU MUST MAKE A DELIBERATE DECISION! YOU can be spiritually VITAL. It is not just for a few chosen ones! You don't have to become a monk, or go out of this real world— in fact our Master has commanded us to stay in this world of computers and rocket weapons and be salt and light! But YOU have to be selective! You have to RELEASE secondary goals: (1) disciplines and (2) great things and (3) power or glory for myself.
KNOW THAT THIS IS A HIGH CALLING! RE-INFORCE YOUR SELF-WORTH IN JESUS CHRIST!
To be deeply spiritual does NOT mean to accept second-class status; we are to have Christ's mind! We are NOT to be obscurantists! We are NOT to ignore facts! But Jesus is the Lord of TRUTH! He is not second class! And our source of self-worth is in God! And our source of vitality is in Him!
Look again at Paul's statements of confidence: "I can do all things ..." and "My God will supply all your needs ..." PAUL ENCOURAGES US, HIS LOVED ONES!**** Give your loved ones permission to win! Tell them they are precious!
A recent PBS documentary about children who failed revealed the fact that they were verbally abused by their parents! "I hate you! I wish I'd never had you! You'll never accomplish anything!"
"YOU can do anything you want!" versus "You'll never amount to anything!"
VERBALIZE SELF-WORTH to yourself and to others. But even with yourself: don't "put down God's child!" NEVER say "What a dummy!" It may be all right to say: "That wasn't very smart!" Or, "A stupid thing to do!" But don't talk to yourself.
EVERY OBEDIENT CHRISTIAN IS A FULFILLED CHRISTIAN
1. The only way to contentment and to confidence and to fulfillment is the mind of Christ! A fulfilled person is a rich person, whatever other people may think.
2. "Success" has a dimension that can only be understood by God, too. James the brother of John was killed with the sword. Paul reached the ends of the earth. Which was more successful? God knows.
3. Jesus was the most successful person who ever lived. "It is finished!" Jesus made a way to get sinful man and holy God together— a way for us all to reach the un-reachable. Jesus was a builder of bridges.
  Paul exalts in Christ's success; he sees Jesus highly exalted! Paul grasps the spirit of success: it is yielding to the Father's will!

Epilogue: The world's success is found in GRASPING. The success that enriches life is found in YIELDING. And so Paul says, "If you want to know spiritual vitality! If you want to know what made me the world-shaker I am: "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus ..."