Choosing Excellence Over Loss-1 Series

CHOOSING EXCELLENCE Over Loss—Php. 3:7-16

Wal-Mart Photo shop worker is approached by a teenaged girl who wanted her boyfriend’s picture duplicated.

She wanted the back of the picture inscribed with—‘My dearest Tommy, I love you with all my heart. My love for you grows stronger with each passing day. I will love you forever & ever. I am yours for all eternity. With all my love , Diane’

But, Diane also had a P.S.(post script) hastily scribbled on the message which read—‘If we should ever break up, I want this picture back!’

It seems Diane was unable to maintain a worthwhile level of commitment to Tommy!

?Are You unable to maintain the level of commitment necessary to honor Jesus?

Need:

1Sam. 7:3— “And Samuel said to the whole house of Israel, "If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods & the Ashtoreths & commit yourselves to the LORD & serve him only, & he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.”

Paul told the Philippian Christians the value & means of maintaining a high level of commitment to Christ.

Christians are expected to maintain their commitment to Christ.

How can Christians maintain their commitment to Christ?

4 secrets to maintaining commitment to Christ.

To maintain your commitment to Christ...

1—Those who maintain their commitment to Christ...

SEPARATE TRASH From TREASURE(:7-8)

Explanation:(:7-8)Learn to Discern/Divide/Untangle/Gain vs. Loss

:7—“But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.”

There are “things” which we CAN afford to lose.

Conversely/Oppositely there are “things” which we CANNOT afford to lose.

Likewise, there are “things” which bring downfall & detriment to the child of God. And there are also things which bring him/her great benefit.

For the lost man, the “things” which are ‘of the flesh’ are “counted”/considered to be beneficial(“gain”) to him & his secular society/culture.

However, these same “things” which I at one time(in my lostness) considered as beneficial(“gain”), I now(in my saved state) consider to be detrimental or as “loss.”

The “things” of the world are only considered “loss” if & when they are correctly assessed/evaluated in the light/reality of Christ. The determination of “loss” vs. “gain” can only be reckoned as such in the mind & heart of the disciple of Jesus. Jesus’ disciples prioritize Jesus & make decisions based upon that commitment!

A supposed or perceived “gain”(by a deceived heart) can actually in reality be a “loss.”

“But”(See :8, 9)—alla—Conjunction—1) But—1a) Nevertheless, notwithstanding, 1b) An objection, 1c) An exception, 1d) A restriction, 1e) Nay, rather, yea, moreover, 1f) Forms a transition to the cardinal matter. Strong—neuter plural of allov[else, i.e. different]; properly--Other things, i.e. adverbially--Contrariwise(in many relations). RWP—Perhaps, "nevertheless," in spite of the difference just noted.

“What Things/Whatever Things”—ostiv, including the feminine--htiv & the neuter--o,ti—Pronoun—1) Whoever, whatever, who. Strong—Which some, i.e. Any that; also(def.)--Which same.

“Gain/Profit”—kerdov—Noun Neuter—1) Gain, advantage. Strong—of uncertain affinity; Gain(pecuniary or genitive case). Used 3X.

“Me”—moi—Pronoun—1) I, me, my. Strong—the simpler form of emoi; To me.

“These”—tauta—OR—ta auta—Pronoun—1) These. Strong—nominative or accusative case neuter plural of outov, outoi, auth, autai; These things.

“Counted/Consider/Esteemed”(See :8)—hgeomai—Verb—1) To lead—1a) To go before, 1b) To be a leader—1b1) To rule, command, 1b2) To have authority over, 1b3) A prince, of regal power, governor, viceroy, chief, leading as respects influence, controlling in counsel, overseers or leaders of the churches, 1b4) used Of any kind of leader, chief, commander, 1b5) The leader in speech, chief, spokesman; 2) To consider, deem, account, think. Hgeomai & nomizw denote a belief resting not on one's inner feeling or sentiment, but on the due consideration of external grounds, & the weighing & comparing of facts. Hgeomai denotes a more deliberate & careful judgment than nomizw. Strong—middle voice of a (presumed)strengthened form of agw; To lead, i.e. Command(with official authority); figuratively--To deem, i.e. Consider. Used 28X.

“As”—Added for English clarity.

“Loss”(See :8)—zhmia—Noun Fem.—1) Damage, loss. Strong—Detriment. Probably akin to the base of damazw[To tame](through the idea of violence). Used 4X.

“For/For The Sake Of/On Account Of”—dia ton—Lit=‘Through This”—dia—a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; Through(in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional).—&—o,—OR—feminine--h, —OR—neuter--to—Article—1) This, that, these, etc. Strong—The definite article; The(sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom).

“Christ”(See :8, 9, 12, 14)—Cristov—Adj.—Christ = “Anointed”—1) Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God; 2) Anointed. Strong—Anointed, i.e. The Messiah, an epithet of Jesus.?From—criw—probably akin to craomai[to furnish what is needed; (give an oracle, “graze”[touch slightly], light upon, etc.), i.e. (by implication--To employ, or by extension--To act towards one in a given manner] through the idea of contact; To smear or rub with oil, i.e. by implication--To consecrate to an office or religious service.

:8—“Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, & count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ”