Pressing Forward Series

Welcome and good morning everyone ! So blessed to see everyone here today! If you do not know me, my name is Pastor Steven and I am one of the Pastors here at Family of Christ.

This morning we are continuing to navigate through the book of Philippians. I have been really enjoying reading and studying through this book. As we mentioned in week one, this book really show us another side of Paul and gives us a glimpse into his heart.

As a recap from last week, we talked about how the major theme that runs through chapter two was the fact that Paul was calling on the believer to grow to maturity in their faith. We talked about how important it is to have a spiritual unity with each other and that can only be accomplished through having a active relationship with Jesus. We talked about working out our salvation with fear and trembling and how God is calling us to be an active participant in our faith. We were encourage to not run away from challenge in our lives but rather, to embrace those moments that will be beneficial to others coming to know the Saviour.

This week the title of our message is gaining Christ and pressing forward to reaching our goals.

You may have heard about the industrialist Andrew Carnegie. Carnegie was a in the steel business in the late 1800 and early 1900. Through shrewd business deals, he was able to amass a huge fortune which when adjusted for inflation was estimated to be in the tune of 310 billion dollars which would make him the 4th richest human of all time. It was in 1889 that Carnegie composed an article entitled :”The Gospel of Wealth” and in this article he called for those that were wealthy to donate their finances for the betterment of society.

So after accumulating all this wealth, Carnegie proceeded to give away in the later years of his life. We gave towards the building of several museums, various libraries, and into higher education. Later in life, Carnegie softened his firm opposition to the Lord and rejoined the Madison Avenue Presbyterian church. Andrew Carnegie was a driven man to acquire as much knowledge as he could and use that knowledge to obtain wealth and then give that wealth away.

While much of Andrew Carnegie life was built around wealth, the Apostle Paul’s life prior to conversion was built around being the best Jewish Rabbi.

I. Laying down the past

A. Old ways

a. In the start of chapter three, Paul provides and encourage to the church to rejoice in the Lord and to place no confidence in the flesh or worldly things.

b. Paul proceeds then to talk about what he left behind in order to follow the Lord.

c. If you have your bible, turn with me to Philippians Chapter 3(NKJV) and we are starting in verse 4 though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

d. Truly, Paul was a religious zealot. He followed the law to the T and worked hard to motivate others to do so as well.

e. Paul used many different techniques and tactics but one of those was to persecute those that did not follow as he did.

B. Interrupted by Jesus

a. While Paul was going about his business, his life was interrupted by Jesus.

b. Then in verse seven Paul shares that something happened to change his perspective in his religious pursuits.

c. Philippians 3:7-8 NKJV 7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 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, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ

d. Paul had built his entire spiritual life on the wrong foundation. He was a teacher of the Pharisees who were known to be very legalistic and would add laws upon laws to try to protect them from sin.

e. These laws upon laws became so burdensome and so unrealistic for anyone to follow.

f. The laws that they were written were on paper, when God law was written on the heart.

C. Legalism

a. Legalism is a set of rules that if you follow those rules, you will can earn salvation.

b. Paul was blinded to the fact that there was more to having a relationship with Jesus than following some rules.