Series - UP, IN, and OUT

• Three directions of focus in the Christian life
• I want to talk to you about your UPWARD focus

Philippians 3:12–14 (NASB95) — 12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

1. The Upward CALLING
   1. Revelation 4:1 (NLT) — 1 Then as I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven, and the same voice I had heard before spoke to me like a trumpet blast. The voice said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.”
      1. This whole Christian experience is about moving upward!
      2. ZION - the hill of the Lord
         1. Songs of ascent - Psalms 120-134
         2. Jerusalem is set on a hill
   2. The upward calling 
      1. New revelation - from faith to faith - learning more and more
         1. Romans 1:17 (NASB95) — 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”
      2. New transformation - from glory to glory - becoming more and more
         1. 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NASB95) — 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
   3. The ascent takes WORK
      1. Going on a hike with my kids and forgetting to look at the altitude changes
      2. You may get out of breath going up! 
   4. DON’T GO BACK DOWN! 
      1. It’s easy to run down the hill
      2. Don’t go back to old HABITS
      3. Don’t go back to old LIFESTYLES
      4. Don’t go back to old UNFORGIVENESS
      5. Don’t go back to old RELATIONSHIPS
2. The Upward FOCUS
   1. I notice a problem with our current time with Christians not being focused on eternity enough! They are focused on right now! 
   2. “Don’t be so heavenly minded that you’re no earthly good” Well.. “don’t be so earthly minded that you’re no heavenly good!” 
   3. Colossians 3:1–2 (NLT) — 1 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.
   4. Do you think we are focused enough on eternity and heaven? 
   5. We need to weigh every situation next to an eternal perspective
      1. 2 Corinthians 4:17–18 (NLT) — 17 For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.
   6. See people through an eternal lens - “Will I be able to not like them in heaven”
   7. See situations through an eternal lens - “Will this matter at all in heaven”
   8. See purpose through an eternal lens - “If I accomplish this, will it have eternal consequences”
3. The Upward DUTY
   1. Now is the fun part
   2. Priesthood is something that is not discussed often
   3. “Do we have any priests in the house?”
   4. Jewish priesthood
      1. If you have been saved, you probably know of Levitical priests
      2. You imagine turban, ephod, tunics.
   5. Priests in the Bible
      1. Adam was the first priest - God to humanity or earth
      2. Abel - Blood sacrifice
      3. Melchizedek - receiving the gifts and giving God’s blessing
      4. Israel - nation of priests
      5. Aaron - a high priest 
      6. Jesus - a perfect priest
      7. US - A KINGDOM OF PRIESTS
   6. A huge shift for you is to see yourself as a PRIEST
      1. 1 Peter 2:5 (NLT) — 5 And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God.
      2. 1 Peter 2:9 (NLT) — 9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
   7. My duty is DAILY
      1. Every morning the priests had an upward duty
      2. Lift up the morning and evening sacrifice
      3. Lift up holy hands at the entrance of the tabernacle
      4. Go into the holy place and serve the Lord
         1. Bread on the table
         2. Lamps trimmed and ready
         3. Incense offered up
   8. My duty is SACRIFICE
      1. Hebrews 13:15–16 (NASB95) — 15 Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. 16 And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
      2. Romans 12:1 (NASB95) — 1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
   9. My duty is DECLARATION
      1. The blessing pronounced over God’s people
      2. Numbers 6:24–27 (NASB95) — 24 The LORD bless you, and keep you; 25 The LORD make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; 26 The LORD lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace.’ 27 “So they shall invoke My name on the sons of Israel, and I then will bless them.”