Imitate Me Series

Technicolor JOY: Philippians 3:18-4:1

Pastor Jefferson M. Williams

Chenoa Baptist Church

08-27-2023

Can I See Your Passport?

I’ve spent the last week getting my passport renewed for the trip to the Dominican Republic in January. It’s always good to have a valid passport because you never know when God might open a door of opportunity overseas.

I was standing in line to get some chips at a retreat and Eric Elder was standing behind me. He said, “Do you have a passport?” When I said that I did, he replied, “Do you want to go to Trinidad with me and speak at a Pastor’s Conference?” Several months later, I found myself in Trinidad ministering to a group of pastors.

You can’t just walk into another country. You have to go through customs and they will ask for your passport. A passport identifies me as a citizen of the United States.

Some people have dual citizenship. Alistair Begg, a pastor whom I greatly respect, is a citizen of the US and a citizen of his homeland, Scotland.

Did you know that if you are a Christian, you have dual citizenship? Yes, we are US citizens but Paul tells us today that our real citizenship is in heaven.

Review

Last week, in response to false teachers who were claiming that it was possible to be spiritually perfect, Paul made clear that he had not “already obtained all this or arrived at my goal.”

He is saying that he hadn’t arrived spiritually. He is confident that he will experience resurrection and glorification but, after walking with Christ for 30 years, he’s not there yet.

Paul had a holy dissatisfaction. He wasn’t content with where he was spiritually. After 30 years, he was just scratching the surface.

It takes humility to admit that you aren’t there yet. If you think you have already arrived, then you will stop growing.

We will never reach perfection here, but our discontent with our imperfections can drive us toward the goal. Perfection is to be pursued but it will never be attained in this life.

He writes:

"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.”

The writer of Hebrews encourages this kind of concentrated effort as we run the race of faith:

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, 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.” (Heb 12:1-2)

Paul’s heartbeat is to passionately pursue Christ. He forgets what is behind. He doesn’t let past sins or circumstances hold him back. He strains, stretching with every fiber of his being, toward the prize.

What is the prize? That’s actually the wrong question. Who is the prize? The prize is Jesus! It is full and complete knowledge of our Savior.

Each of us that has been born again is called onward and upwards!

Let’s turn to our verses for this morning Philippians 3:17-4:1.

Prayer

Imitate me

“Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.” (v. 17)

Isn’t Paul being arrogant encouraging these believers to imitate, literally co-mimic, him?

No, Paul has made it clear that he wants them to have the same passion and desire to pursue their relationship with Jesus that he had but he also wanted them to live it out in their homes, schools, jobs, and culture.

Paul wrote to the Corinthians

“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” (I Cor 11:1)

Later, in chapter four of Philippians, Paul writes

“Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice.” (Phil 4:9)

Whether by reading his letters, listening to his preaching, or watching his life, the Philippians were to walk the walk of faith.

It’s been said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. That is how we learn. Babies will watch others and then mimic their behaviors.

Doctors learn how to operate by watching experienced surgeons.

Plumbers learn how to fix pipes by watching people like Les, who has been at it for over fifty years.

People walking the 12 steps have a sponsor to show them the way.

Artists, dancers, and musicians learn by watching others, especially Barry Manilow.

Last weekend, a group of ladies learned to meal prep by watching Maxine.

Most things are better caught than taught.

And we grow spiritually by imitating those people around us who are walking in a manner worthy of the Gospel.

A student sat at our counter and asked me, “Do you know why I came over to your house?” I said, “To eat all our food?” She laughed and said, “I come over here to watch you and Max be a loving couple and watch you guys be a family. I don’t have that at home. I need to learn it from someone.”