Your One Thing
Pastor Erickson preaches from Philippians 3:13-14 and walks through the places the Bible speaks of one thing: Mary at the feet of Jesus, the man born blind, David's desire to dwell in the house of the Lord, and the rich young ruler. He calls each listener to name the one thing holding them back, to keep forgetting what is behind and reaching forward, and to press toward the mark through repentance, baptism and the Holy Ghost.
The message in 6 points
Paul's one thing
He reads Paul's words, this one thing I do, and asks every listener to think about their own one thing. Drawing on Gary Keller's book The One and the proverb that if you chase two rabbits you will catch neither, he warns that people who try to do everything never perfect anything.
57:10Mary chose the one thing
In Luke 10 both sisters first sat at Jesus' feet, but Martha left, cumbered with much serving. Jesus gently tells her that one thing is needful, and Mary's one thing was simply that Jesus was in the house and she would be found at his feet.
1:03:35Once blind, now I see
The man born blind could not explain who healed him, but one thing he knew: he was blind and now he sees. Pastor Erickson says he was spiritually blind from birth until he met Jesus, and he urges anyone who has never been filled with the Holy Ghost to find salvation.
1:11:02David's one desire
Hiding from Saul, David wrote that one thing he desired was to dwell in the house of the Lord and behold his beauty. He reads Psalm 42 and calls those who are hurting and questioning God to let their hope rise in him.
1:17:48What is distracting you
The rich ruler had kept the commandments from his youth, yet Jesus said he lacked one thing, and he went away sorrowful because he loved his riches. Pastor Erickson asks what one thing, if fixed, would put each person where they need to be with the Lord.
1:29:39Forgetting and reaching
Paul counted his credentials as nothing and kept forgetting what was behind and reaching forward. Past successes can trip a person up just like past sins, since our righteousness is as filthy rags, so he calls people to name their one thing, repent, be baptized in Jesus' name and receive the Holy Ghost.
1:34:36
In his words
“And that one thing was simply, Jesus is in the house, and if Jesus is in the house, I'm not gonna be found anywhere but at his feet.”
“If you are going to take the next step in your walk with God, you got to focus on one thing. Don't try to focus on multiple things, just find that very next step that you need to take.”
“When you can start forgetting what's behind you, it clears up your mind enough to where you can start focusing on what's in front of you.”
Taken word for word from the video, with punctuation added.
Scripture
He reads
Philippians 3:13-14
13Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
King James Version.
Luke 10:38-42
38Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 39And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. 40But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. 41And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
King James Version.
John 9:24-25
24Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner. 25He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.
King James Version.
Psalms 27:1-4
1The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 2When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. 3Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. 4One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.
King James Version.
Psalms 42:1-11
1As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. 2My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? 3My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? 4When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday. 5Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. 6O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar. 7Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. 8Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the day time, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life. 9I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? 10As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God? 11Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
King James Version.
Luke 18:18-20
18And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 19And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God. 20Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.
King James Version.
Philippians 3:10-12
10That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 12Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
King James Version.
He also points to
Related messages
Also about purpose, discipline
Also about purpose, salvation, hope
What Happened To The Other Half?
Also about purpose, salvation