Jesus Is All We Need

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Jesus is who we need

Intro:

In dealing with people I have come to learn that we all live our lives according to our priorities.

The priorities that we set dictate to us how we live,

what we do,

who we see and interact with.

For some people work is their priority.

Everything they do seems to center around their job.

For others it's family,

everything that is done is some how related to their family.

For others their priority is themselves.

They think of other people's needs and feelings but only about themselves

They seek pleasure for themselves at times at the expense of others.

For others money is the priority.

They will Do anything for more money.

People will work hours and hours,

neglecting their families,

their friends

and whatever else they have to

all in the persuit of more money.

But a few have made God their number one priority,

and rightfully so,

Because when God is number one in our life,

Then everything else just kind of falls into place.

So if you will just look at your life then you as well as everyone else can see exactly what your priorities are simply by the way in which you live.

Today I want to look at the apostle Paul and see what some his priorities were,

Both before and then after meeting the Lord Jesus Christ.

We can see these priorities by noting three things from our passage for today.

First What Paul had,

Second What Paul lost,

and then third What Paul gained.

So if you have your bibles with you then turn with me to Philippians chapter 3:4-9

4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

As we get started I want to first say that I believe that the mark of true Christian is that they put no confidence in the flesh but that their confidence is strictly in Jesus Christ.

And the apostle Paul basically confirms that throughout our scripture reading for today were he is basically saying hey look, if anyone has a right to have confidence in the flesh it’s me.

If anyone has a right to brag about their self-rightouseness it’s me.

Paul then proceeds to list the things that he could brag about

if salvation came by good works that is

Which we all know that it does not

But Paul make a list of those things which he had.

He first says that he was "circumcised on the eighth day".

Here he makes a reference to the command given in Gen. 17:12,

which stated that all Hebrew males must be circumcised on the eighth day after they was born.

This was the seal of the covenant that God had made with Abraham.

What Paul is saying here is that he was not a Jewish convert,

but that he was a Jew from the day he was born.

Now Those who converted to Judaism would certainly not have been circumcised on the eighth day.

But Paul was.

He was raised in Jewish home.

He was a pure Jew.

He also states that he is "of the stock of Israel".

Here Paul notes that he belongs to the race of God’s chosen people.