It Is Who You Know Series

IT IS WHO YOU KNOW

Philippians 3.1-11

S: Jesus

C: Salvation

Th: Toward the Goal

Pr: Personally know and follow Jesus.

CV: “We will passionately pursue full devotion to Jesus Christ.”

Type: Inductive

I. REJOICE (1)

II. WATCH OUT (2-3)

III. PROFIT (4-6)

IV. LOSS (7-8)

V. FOUND (9)

VI. KNOW (10-11)

PA: How is the change to be observed?

• Focus on the Lord to keep your perspective.

• Be on your guard for those twisting the Word.

• Realize the weakness of works.

• Place your faith in Jesus alone.

Version: ESV

RMBC 06 July 08 AM

INTRODUCTION:

You have probably heard the saying…

1. Who do you know?

It is often an important question when you are looking for a new job or position, isn’t it?

If you have a connection with someone the other person knows, it can help you get noticed and perhaps even interviewed.

All because you know someone…

As many of you know, our son JJ has taken the director position at LeTourneau Christian Camp.

Not long after he arrived, he received a call from the pastor of First Baptist Church of Naples.

And this pastor wanted to know what was going on with the transition there at the camp.

JJ then explained that he was the new director.

And the pastor was peppering JJ with questions about himself and his experience.

And then, the pastor asked JJ, “What was your last name again?”

“Decker”

“Oh, I have a pastor friend whose last name is Decker – Paul Decker. You don’t happen to know him?”

“Yeah, that’s my dad.”

And in that moment, the pastor relaxed, “And your grandfather is Jim Decker?”

“Yes, that’s my grandfather.”

This pastor and JJ became immediate friends because of who they both knew.

Sometimes, it is who you know that will give you credibility.

We have been studying Paul’s letter to the Philippians under the theme “Toward the Goal.”

And for Paul, getting to that goal, well, it is all in who you know!

OUR STUDY:

Paul’s first command in this section is to…

I. REJOICE (1)

Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.

You see…

2. Joy is a priority.

Paul sees that joy is a priority because if you are always rejoicing, you will not go astray.

Your heart will be centered on the blessings of God.

You will always be seeing God at work in your life and surroundings.

ILL Perspective (S)

Rejoicing in the Lord gives the Christian believer a different perspective of life than what the world offers, for example:

"A Coloradan moved to Texas and built a house with a large picture window from which he could view hundreds of miles of rangeland. ’The only problem is,’ he said, ’there’s nothing to see.’

"About the same time, a Texan moved to Colorado and built a house with a large picture window with a great view of the Rockies. ’The only problem is I can’t see anything,’ he said. ’The mountains are in the way.’"

Rejoicing in the Lord will bring contentment — no matter where you are or what is happening to you.

For…

3. Joy gives perspective.

When you see God at work in you, you see that God is blessing you.

And so, you find contentment no matter what the situation is.

Paul leads this section with the command to rejoice, because he knows that potential trouble is about at Philippi.

So, he tells them to…

II. WATCH OUT (2-3)

Watch out, guys.

Don’t let them steal your joy.

Paul writes…

Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh.

Paul’s warning is…

4. Be on your guard for those that twist the meaning.

Be on your guard for those that twist the meaning of the good news.

Paul’s warning here is meant to be no compliment.

When he uses the word dogs here, he is not talking about our domesticated pets.

No, he is referring to wild dogs that run the street.

They are mangy, flea-bitten, and vicious scavengers, who will attack humans.

Paul is referring to the Judaizers.

They were snapping at Paul’s heels, following him from place to place, barking their false doctrines.

As far as he was concerned, they were carriers of a dangerous infection.

He did not like the Judaizers because he was convinced that they were distorting the good news of the gospel.

They were requiring Christians to keep the letter of the law – including circumcision and the dietary law.

Their confidence was in the flesh.

In other words, they believed that what they did pleased God.

So Paul uses an interesting argument here.

He says if you believe that your circumcision is what brings you close to God, it is in reality spiritual mutilation.