Purpose and Passion for Christ
Scripture: Phil 3:7-14
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 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have 4apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Introduction
The Apostle is writing this letter from a prison cell in Rome (60-64AD)
He is describing his purpose and passion:
12 I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me
Can you remember a time when you were consumed with passion about something or someone?
Here is the Apostle near the end of his walk with God and he is still passionately driven in his relationship with God. How is that possible?
1. He kept his purpose before him
a. Purpose brings clarity and focus
i. This one thing I do!
b. Purpose determines what is of value and importance
i. Paul had determined that his relationship with Christ was more important to him than anything else
1. The dynamics of relationship
a. Three sided triangle
b. Passion, Intimacy, Commitment
c. A relationship is dynamic
d. All elements must be present, though in various degrees at different times
e. If you loose one through neglect you are in danger of loosing the relationship
ii. To know Him and the power of His resurrection
1. To know him
a. Experiential-grk wrd (passion)
i. Jn 10:27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
ii. Jn 17:3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
b. Relational- (intimacy) Galatians 2:20“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
c. Purpose helps us to remove what is extraneous & cumbersome
i. forgetting those things which are behind
1. Garage illustration
a. Every garage starts out empty-clean
b. Things accumulate
c. Sometimes we must clean out the garage
2. Work shop at the factory
a. Everyday started out clean and orderly
b. Through the day it was sometimes dirty, chaotic, and cluttered
c. Everyday before the end of the day we took time to clean up, sort out and put things in order
3. Things that help us keep things in order-maintain the passion, intimacy and commitment in our life with Christ
a. Regular attendance at church
b. Regular reading of the scripture
c. Regular times of prayer
d. Purpose helps determine my direction and actions
i. reaching forward to those things which are ahead
e. Purpose keeps the end in sight
i. I press toward the goal for the prize
The Apostle Paul had kept his relationship with Jesus Christ alive all those years. In fact he was just as passionate if not more so in his relationship with Jesus Christ.
How are you doing today?
What does the triangle of your relationship with Christ look like? What shape has it taken? Are all three sides present?
