“My State of the Union”
Text: Philippians 3:12-16
“12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
15 ¶ Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.”
(KJV)
Introduction:
At the start of my message this morning I would like to ask you all a question. “Are you willing to do whatever it takes to succeed in your life for the Lord?” Now I am going to rephrase that question in a little different way. “Are you willing to do whatever it take to see God’s work here at Bloserville God’s Missionary Church succeed?” Now don’t misunderstand me, I know that some of you already give a lot by the way of monetary giving to the Church, but there is more to it than just money. I would like us to look more closely at our text.
First of all there is a two word phrase in verse fourteen that says, “I press”. To be able to press you need to have something to press after or toward. We need to set some reasonable goals to reach toward in 2008 and press toward those goal with all our hearts. Paul writes in First Corinthians 9:14 “Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.” I believe we could charge the word preach to profess and the verse would read like this. “Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which profess the gospel should live the gospel.” The word gospel means Good News. The Good News of God’s word has shows us several goals that we as individuals and us as a corporate body of Christ. Matthew 16: 24 says, “...If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” If we ready profess the gospel, then we should be living what this verse says. We should be willing to follow Him into whatever avenue He may lead us down whether as an individual or as a Church Body. Mark 16:15 says, “...Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Our main goal as professors of the Gospel is to tell everyone we meet up with daily about the gospel of Jesus Christ and His saving power. Revelation 12:11a says, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony;...” The testimony here does not just mean at church but any where we are either in action or word or both.
We need to press on towards see the church grow. Last year we lost some in numbers, which was sad, we gained more. First half of last year it was just talked about starting a Children’s Outreach Ministry, by the last half of the year we saw it become a reality. We are going to press on to see that Ministry grow in 2008. Are WE? In 2008, I would like to see the parents from the children in our Children’s Outreach Ministry start coming on a regular basis. In 2008, I would like to see a Pray Chain formed, where when someone has a problem a call can be made and people of the church can start to pray. In 2008, I would like to see more souls saved. There is a lot more that could and can be done in 2008, but I do not want to make the task over whelming for us with it all at once. So let us go on and look at another part of our text.
Secondly there is a phrase in verse sixteen that says, “let us mind the same thing.” In the New King James it says it this way, “let us be of the same mind.” Acts 2:1 says it this way, “...they were all with one accord in one place.” We need to be united as one body in these causes for 2008. If we are not united as one body, heading in the same direction, we will go no where for the Kingdom of God. God’s word say, “Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Matthew 18:18-20
We need to have a greater vision for Bloserville God’s Missionary Church. Will you bind together with our Pastor to see that vision grow greater? Solomon wrote in Proverbs 29:18 “Where there is no vision, the people perish:...” I do not want to see the people of this community perish. Do you? If you agree with me, will you vow with me to work together to see God’s Kingdom go forward here in Bloserville. If you do agree to work together with our pastor would meet me at the alter for a time of prayer for guidance, help, strength and unity?
