Part One - Get on the Right Trail
There is only One Way—God’s Way—to true Joy and Blessing
Based on the text of Philippians 3:1-6
Introduction
1. I Feel Like Traveling On
My heav’nly home is bright and fair,
I feel like traveling on,
Nor pain, nor death can enter there
I feel like traveling on.
Yes, I feel like traveling on
I feel like traveling on
My heav’nly home is bright and fair,
I feel like traveling on.
The Lord has been so good to me,
I feel like traveling on,
Until that blessed home I see,
I feel like traveling on.
2. Obviously you may be wondering what a teepee, various frontier paraphernalia, and your pastor dressed like a fur trapper has to do with the preaching of God’s Word.
3. During Jesus’ earthly ministry two-thousand years ago, He used many illustrations to demonstrate the truth of the Gospel. He used a fig tree to teach about possessing the evidences of a life pleasing to God; He used relationships with a father and son to reveal aspects of our relationship with God; He used farming, animals, seeds, rocks, dirt, and a lot of other normal, regular things to communicate the truth of God’s Kingdom.
4. And so, this morning, I want to use the American frontier of 1804 to enter a conversation with you about life—your life, and mine—and how we can truly follow Christ and His teaching, even in the post-modern world that we happen to find ourselves living in.
5. In 1804 two gifted, intelligent men, led a group of other men, in a journey of a lifetime. President Thomas Jefferson commissioned William Clark and Meriwether Lewis, to lead the Corps of Discovery through the Louisiana Purchase, from St. Louis to the Pacific Ocean and back again.
6. It was a daunting, dangerous, intense task. Failure and death was a very real possibility. Success would be difficult at best. So, why do it? It was more than the thrill of adventure—staring danger in the face. It was more that the desire to achieve fame and fortune—there were no guarantees. But there was the understanding by Thomas Jefferson, Lewis, and Clark, that for the American nation to become great this journey and expedition must be successfully accomplished—there was no other option.
7. For us, life is a journey. And, there are many illustration that we can garner from the American Frontier that can help us understand Biblical truth—how we can successfully navigate the challenges, pitfalls, and dangers that an befall everyone of us. Whether you are a follow of Jesus, or an unbeliever, life is a journey. Every human being is born, lives life, and will, one day die.
8. For some, there is the belief that death is the end of the journey. Others belief it is only the beginning. There are those that believe that as long as you are a good person and sincere, then you will finish life well—your abilities acceptable to God. Others believe that there is only one way—one trail—one road—that is acceptable to God that will lead to the right destination.
9. Who’s right? The Muslim sincerely believes he is right—Islam’s way is the only way. The Hindu sincerely believes he is right—the Hindu way is the only way. The Scientologist sincerely believes he is right—Scientology’s way is the only way. And the list goes on and on.
10. Then there is Jesus. Jesus said “I am the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through me.” But, it is only Jesus, who claimed to be the Son of God, who demonstrated His authority by dieing on the Cross, and three days later, rising from the dead.
11. (Recently there was a “documentary” claiming that they had found the bones of Jesus and his family. Even unbelieving archeologist and scholars have come out and declared this accusation as completely false and devoid of scientific standards of investigation and truth).
12. It was this Jesus—who died on a bloody cross and resurrected from the dead—who revealed an important truth about living life: “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. “For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
13. According to Jesus there is only one way—God’s way! So, what does this way look like? Another follower of Jesus, who wrote many letters found in the Bible, gives us instructions on how we can experience the journey of life pleasing to God. This man—his name was Paul—wrote to a small Church located in the city of Philippi. It was a letter to encourage the believers to not loose heart, especially in the face of some difficult opposition.
14. There was the temptation to compromise their beliefs. Paul intervened through his letter. He encouraged them to stay true to the message of Christ.
15. And, that is where we find ourselves—under the pressure of a society without any love or respect for the ways of God. There is the constant pressure to abandon our life in Christ—to embrace the mantra of this world to “eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die.”
16. Just like the men of the Corps of Discovery who had to keep the goal in focus and had to work together to resist the temptation of abandoning the trail, we need to listen to the words of Paul and embrace the right way that leads to the right destination.
Essential Priorities in Determining the Right Direction
1. Rejoice in the Personhood, Authority, and Work of God.
a. Text: Philippians 3:1a “Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord.”
b. “Rejoice in the Lord” is worship. It is the Fundamental spiritual truth that our Joy is nestled, not in our circumstances or this world, but in our relationship with God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
i. We rejoice that Jesus died for our sins and rose again for our justification.
ii. We rejoice that God pierced through our wall of unbelief and revealed His grace and mercy to us.
iii. We rejoice that God is sovereign—the King of creation and Lord of life.
iv. We rejoice that God gave us His Word and has shown us the way to a life worth living.
v. We rejoice that God loves us, cares for us, ministers to us, and knows us more than we know ourselves.
c. So, how do we rejoice in the Lord? What does rejoicing in the Lord look like?
i. We rejoice through singing of His wonderful works and His majestic attributes.
ii. We rejoice by obeying His Word.
iii. We rejoice by loving and valuing one another.
iv. We rejoice by telling others of our faith in Christ.
v. We rejoice by giving of ourselves for His purpose.
2. Guard Your Faith with the Word.
a. Text: Philippians 3:1b “To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you.”
b. What Paul wrote to the churches was inspired by God—it was God’s Word. And God spoke through Paul to give instruction for the church and for the follower of Jesus Christ—member of that Church.
c. It is God’s Word that shines the light of truth—it is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.
d. The Bible is God’s plan for man and His revelation of Himself. It is this Word that guards our heart—protects our heart from the dangers that are prevalent in life.
i. It is God’s Word that defines sin and instructs us on how we can be victorious over its power.
ii. It is God’s Word that builds our faith to withstand the fiery darts of the enemy.
iii. It is God’s Word that provides encouragement, help, and insight so we can face life with confidence, courage, and strength.
3. Beware of Misplaced Confidences.
a. Text: Philippians 3:2 “Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision.”
b. There are teachings, beliefs, and positions that sound impressive and reasonable that are simply wrong according to God’s Word.
c. Paul “picked up is riffle, took aim, and shot straight.” There were those attacking the church’s belief that God’s grace alone was sufficient. These “false” teachers taught that Christ’s work on the Cross was not enough for eternal life. They “added” added the work of obeying the Jewish Law—especially circumcision.
d. This infuriated Paul. He labeled these Jewish “Christians” as dogs. Dogs were considered an unclean animal that any “good” Jewish person would not even come close to. He said they were dogs and evil workers—leading people astray—putting a burden on people that these “dogs” and “evil workers” were themselves not even able to carry.
e. However, sometimes it seems that God’s grace and believing in the bloody Cross and Empty Tomb is too simple. There is always the temptation to place our confidence in other things rather than in God.
i. Our talents
ii. Our intellect
iii. Our possessions
iv. Our position and rank
v. Our appearance
vi. Our relationship (people we hang with)
4. Understand who you are in Christ.
a. Text: Philippians 3:3 “For we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh.”
b. Illustration: Lewis and Clark new who they were and under what authority they belonged to. They were Americans commissioned by the President of the United States of America to discover a way to the Pacific.
c. As followers of Jesus Christ, we have been given authority—not because of who we are, but because of who Jesus Christ is.
d. Recently the Christian has been the object of ridicule and contempt. The Christian is considered foolish to place their faith in Christ. Even though we supposedly life in a society that promotes diversity and respect—books, movies, and numerous groups have attempted to discredit the claims of Christ and the Word of God.
e. We can easily become intimidated—slowly rejected every tenant of our faith—including the humanity and divinity of Jesus Christ.
f. However, we have nothing to be ashamed of—Jesus died for us—Jesus defeated Hell, death, and the grave—the bloody Cross and the empty tomb are the reality of our faith and the centrality of the Gospel.
g. 2 Corinthians 4:7-9 “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; 8 we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.”
h. 2 Timothy 1:12 “For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.”
i. Our faith is not in us, it is not in politics, or even in our great government. It is in Jesus Christ alone. And because of this truth, the pressure is off for us to be defensive. The Bible does tell us to clearly demonstrate and communicate the Gospel—but it is God who will use the Gospel shared to touch lives and change people.
j. And so, we have a confidence, not in ourselves, but in Christ, who indwells those who trust in Him by faith.
Conclusion
1. As the Corp of Discovery made its way westward, discipline, knowledge, and confidence was critical for Lewis, Clark, and their band of compatriots to complete the journey successfully.
2. As the follower of Christ journeys through this life, we need to understand that there is only one way—God’s way—that will lead to success—and hearing those thundering words of God, “Well done My good and faithful servant. Enter in into the joy of the Lord.
a. Remember to bathe the journey in worship—Rejoice in the Lord—always!
b. Remember to guard your heart and faith with God’s infallible, inspired Word!
c. Remember to beware of false teachers that will attempt to through you off the path—and to tempt you to journey on the popular road that will eventually lead to destruction.
d. Remember to who you are in Christ—you are an heir of God and a co-heir with Jesus Christ!
