Phil 3:1-16 says:
Philippians 3:1 - 16 (NIV) 1Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. 2Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. 3For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— 4though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless. 7But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8What is more; I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 15All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
1. Brief intro into the Judaizers.
We see here in this text that the church in Philippi was having a problem. There were some people who were going around confessing Christ but at the same trying to get people the keep the law. In this case particularly it was circumcision. These people were simply called the Judaizers. They were saying that salvation does not come just through faith in Jesus Christ but at the same time you must keep the customs and traditions of the law. They were saying that Salvation doesn’t come from faith alone in Christ alone, but It comes from faith in Christ plus. These people are called the Judaizers. Paul here is dealing with this issue as he writes to the church in Philippi.
He actually calls these people dogs. Now it’s important to note the impact of this term “dog would have” The term dog was used by the Jews when they would reference gentiles. You see to the Jews the gentiles were not under the covenant with God and were therefore worthless and sub human if you will so they called them dogs. It is interesting to see here how now Paul used this same term for the Jews because they now are not part of God’s covenant but the gentiles are because of their faith in Christ. You see we who put our faith in Christ worship Him in Spirit not in the religious customs set forth by the law. We don’t put confidence in such things as these because we know that the only true way to a relationship with God is to renounce these works of the flesh and accept his free gift of salvation and although it is free it cost him everything.
2. I want to focus in a certain verse 8 and 10
8What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord,
10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death
The word picture here in the Greek screams out of a continually deep intimate fellowship. When Paul says “knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” He is saying getting to know Christ through experience. Not head knowledge, but to have a personal acquaintance or experience with Him.
When I read this portion of scripture all I can do is imagine and envy this immense hunger Paul had in his heart to get to know God. Here is a man who gave up everything he had for Christ. He walked away from his whole life. When we read about Paul on his way to kill some more Christians in Damascus being confronted with the words from Jesus “Paul Paul why do you persecute me? We see Paul become so hungry for Christ that everything he ever counted as important in his life he now counts as loss.
1. Question: The thought that has been going through my mind so much lately has been what has happened to our hunger to know and experience God. Where has it gone?
All of all that has come to a true saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ can attest to the fact that we were set free from our sins we have a passion for God. We had zeal to follow Him, to know Him. I can remember when I first got saved boy was I on fire. I carried my bible everywhere. I had a big one for church and a small one for my pocket. Because you never know when I would have a chance to read the living word of God. I couldn’t wait to read and learn. I told everyone I knew about Jesus and who he was. I was trying to get everyone saved.
Story (Telling Jenan I was a Christian)
As time went by I fell away some and then got married. I remember telling Jenan that I was a Christian but not a good one and that one day I would come back to my faith. She said O.K. but nothing could have prepared her for what was going to take place. I went to a church called new hope foundation. It was a word of faith church, I am not sure if anyone has ever attended a word of faith church but it is exciting in a service. People were fired up for Jesus. Now regardless of the doctrinal differences I met Jesus again there and boy was I on fire. I was filled with so much passion for Him Jenan thought Ii was in a cult or something. She ended up called my mother and telling her that I joined a cult and was playing with snakes or something.
All of us that have truly experience salvation and have had our own Damascus road experience can look back to that zeal, passion and hunger that filled us.
Story: I was sitting with pastor and we were talking about this type of stuff and he mentioned that he was worried that I might have lost my passion for God;
That hit deep to the bone because he couldn’t have been further from the truth and then again at the same time he couldn’t have been so right. I want to share my heart with you tonight. There is nothing I want more then to know and experience God. I want it more then anything in this world.
Pause:
But sometimes I get so hung up in the details of church and all the work that goes into it making it all happen that I get stuck in business mode. And before you know it months have gone by and I have lost focus on my first love. One day I turned around and realized I have been going through life on my own power; I woke up one morning and realized that I haven’t prayed in days. Or haven’t picked up my Bible with intent to see what God has to say to me. I look at myself and discovered I hadn’t even attempted to memorize scripture. All this to my shame.
2. My fear is that there might be many of us that might be experience this same thing right now.
We know mentally that we need God and hunger for God, but in reality it has been so long since we actually had a true deep passion and hunger Him, A hunger where we are willing to give everything up just to experience a brief glimpse of Him.
The desire to be in His presence that we had days gone by. That desire we had when we first came to know Christ.
3. Paul is very clear here. He isn’t leaving any room for anyone to think that they can somehow receive a true relationship with Christ because of the things they have done in the past.
He says it is by faith to such an extent that he counts everything he has ever done as a loss. As dung, rubbish, trash. He gives us a big resume of all that he has accomplished in his life and realizes that none of it is to any profit. He says none of it can save me. He actually says I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus My Lord. Of having a deep abiding intimate, daily, experience with the risen Savior.
4. Is that the frame of mind you are in this evening? Are we in such a close relationship with Christ that we are striving to know Him more and more each and everyday?
Paul explains it this way: He says he is forgetting what is behind and straining forward to what is ahead. The picture here for straining forward is a metaphor of a runner stretching forward at the last few steps of the race to gain that extra inch to win.
Does that mark your spiritual condition right now? Or are we counting on the days gone by when we used to have that passion.
Listen close.
I am not trying to offend any one. I am not trying to put a guilt trip on anyone. I am just trying the best way I know how to make a point. We just had camp meeting not too long ago. Boy was it wonderful. I just love camp meeting. The preaching is good. The fellowship is good. Oh and so is the snack bar.
The best thing about camp meeting is that the scripture tells us that where two or more are gather in God’s name he is in the midst. One thing for certain when people come together with the intentions to encounter the risen Lord He promises us that he will be there. And When I go to camp meeting there are a few hundred people who have come out with the intent to meet and experience God.
This I can’t miss. I can’t miss PK. I can’t miss men’s retreat. Because I know that God will show up and I want to be a part of that. The question is: why did you go to camp meeting? Why do you go to women of faith, why do you come to church? What drew you there? Was it to have an encounter with a god you so desire to be close to? Was it because you long to come face to face with Jesus? On the other hand: what kept you from camp meeting? What led you to stay home? Was it because you had a deep personal appointment to meet with God at home? That’s O.K. if it’s true. But is it?
Please understand I am just trying to get us to look inside of ourselves at our motives, at our intensions and ultimately our Heart and hunger for God.
5. Where has the passion gone to know Christ? Have we let life and the things of this world so consume us that we have lost our true sight of our fist love?
6. Paul talks about wanting to be found in Him. When someone looks at him and sees him what do they see? Someone who has been caught up in the world? Or someone who is caught up in Jesus.
7. When someone looks at us what do they see? Do they see Christ in us? Or do they see Christ was in us? Do they see a real continual relationship with our first Love? With our risen savior. With the only one that can save us from our sins.
8. Where has the hunger for God gone?
9. What things in this world can be more attractive to us then knowing Christ deeply and personally on a daily basis?
What types of things do we trade off or relationship with Him for? Television? Our Jobs? Our forms of entertainment? What things do we put in front of us that become stumbling blocks for us that hinder us from a true daily relationship with Christ?
11. We must all understand it’s not what you did 5 years ago that helps become part of the kingdom.
I am sorry we can’t bring these things to the bargaining table and say hey look Jesus remember that day that I went on that mission trip. Or do you remember when I read my bible, or when I went on a PK trip to find you.
We can’t bring to the bargaining table don’t you remember God I was raised in a Christian home. In that case you are probably held more accountable because you should have known better. To whom ever has been given much. Much will be expected.
We can’t say yes God remember when. Yeah I know its been a long time but trust me Jesus, I really do want to know you, just check back with me tomorrow I have you scheduled in for a 12:30 appointment, but oh you have to understand it has to be brief because I am real busy around that time.
10. Where did our hunger and passion to know God go? Is it because we get worried about the world and things we need?
The scripture tells us
Matthew 6:33 - 34 (NIV) 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
God is going to care for us we don’t have to care for ourselves. So its no excuse when we say I have been to busy working to support my family. You know deep in your heart that this doesn’t fly. Oh its gets you past someone asking where have you been. But it doesn’t get past God. Because He knows your heart. He knows the truth.
11. God is standing there waiting to meet with us. He has done his part.
Matthew 5:6 (NIV) 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
12. The best thing about God is that He is always there willing to give us what we need. We just have to respond to the grace that he has given us.
It is my belief that God is constantly calling all people everywhere to himself. You, me, the person down the road, the person in Uganda. It doesn’t matter. He is calling us all to Him. And when we finally hunger and thirst after Him and his things we will truly be filled.
That’s the God we serve. That’s the God who wants us to hunger for Him. He hasn’t stopped hungering for us. As a matter of a fact He wants us to be close to Him so bad that he came and died for us.
Paul
So lets Forget what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, Lets all press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who have been around for awhile should see it this way. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.
16Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
FOCUSED ON THE GOAL
12I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. 13Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. 14I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.
15So let’s keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you’ll see it yet! 16Now that we’re on the right track, let’s stay on it.
17Stick with me, friends. Keep track of those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal. 18There are many out there taking other paths, choosing other goals, and trying to get you to go along with them. I’ve warned you of them many times; sadly, I’m having to do it again. All they want is easy street. They hate Christ’s Cross. 19But easy street is a dead-end street. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and all they think about is this life here on earth.
20But there’s far more to life for us. We’re citizens of high heaven! We’re waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ, 21who will transform our earthy bodies into glorious bodies like his own. He’ll make us beautiful and whole with the same powerful skill by which he is putting everything as it should be, under and around him.
