Understanding the Mature Christian's Focus

Introduction
Previous sermon "Understanding the Need For Maturity"
Four Components taken from Philippians 3: 10 - 11:
Component 1 - Experiencing Christ's life intimately.
Achieving that deep, intimate knowledge of Christ and then experiencing it, on daily basis, in our lives.
Component 2 - Using God's power in our life.
Utilize God's power, the same power that raised Jesus from the grave.
God's power is real, and if we are to live a holy life, it must be used in our life.
Component 3 - Joining the fellowship of suffering.
Suffering will always come to Christians.
It comes at an extreme price: total obedience to God.
Component 4 - Exhibiting the new mature life to the dead.
As was Paul's desire, we are to so walk in this life, that we appear to be a resurrected person. a new person, among the spiritually dead people of the world.

As mature Christians we need to focus on three steps noted in the verses.
Step 1. Evaluate and acknowledge your present level of maturity in Jesus Christ
Discipleship
Three principles by which a mature Christian can realize their calling:
Principle A. Acknowledge that Christ Jesus laid hold of you.
Principle B. Know that God has a specific purpose in calling you.
Principle C. The calling puts an obligation on you to follow Jesus totally.
Step 2. Establish a plan of action for going beyond your present level of maturity in Christ Jesus
Step 3. Intensify your reach of the ultimate goal of maturity in Jesus Christ