PHILIPPIANS 3:3 -16 (NASB)
3 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you.
2 Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision; 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, 4 although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless.
7 But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of 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 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; 16 however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.
Keeping New Year’s Simple
Philippians 3:3 -16 (NASB)
Sometimes New Year's resolutions create more opportunities for failure than success in our lives. I may tell myself, "This year I'm going to turn over a new leaf. I'm going to exercise regularly & lose weight. I'm going to do all kinds of things to improve myself physically & spiritually." But then somehow I forget.
So for a New Year's resolution that we ought to be able to remember and keep. Let's make this one simple resolution we're going to:
DEVELOP A POSITIVE ATTITUDE TOWARD THE CHURCH
So how do we make the necessary changes and what are they?
DEVELOP A POSITIVE OUTLOOK TOWARD LIFE
1. OUR OCCUPATION
Three key issues in life: SHELTER, CLOTHING, FOOD
We are prone to focus on these concerns more than any other.
“So I tell you, don’t worry about the food or drink you need to live, or about the clothes you need for your body. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothes.” – Matt 6:25 Expanded Bible
2. OUR OPTIONS
There are two priorities on which we can focus our life.
1. POSSESSIONS as our goal.
2. RIGHTEOUSNESS of GOD as our goal.
Generally, we are motivated in life by our appetites and passions. As a result, we pursue self-fulfillment and give small attention to the spiritual things of life. We expect that somehow spiritual things will take care of themselves.
3. OUR OBJECTIVES
We can place the priority for our energies and efforts into our comfort.
Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 There was not a needy person among them,
ILL. Jim Valvano was head coach of the N.C. basketball team. He rose to fame when his team started winning championships. Everybody liked him. He was always cracking jokes & had a winning way of dealing with people.
But in 1991 Valvano learned that he had inoperable bone cancer. During Christmas time, 1992, he said, "It's difficult to be thankful this Christmas because I'm not sure I'll be here next Christmas." And he wasn't. He died in 1993. "But," he said, "this Christmas I'm getting down on my knees & thanking God for every day of the 46 years of my life."
He was positive about life because he realized that life is a very precious gift God has given us. It must sadden the Lord that oftentimes we take this gift He has given, & don't treasure it for the precious thing
ILL. John Wesley was a great English preacher of the 1700's. He was considered a rather spiffy dresser. One Sunday morning he wore a bow tie that had long ribbons that hung downward. After the sermon was over a lady walked up to him & said, "Brother Wesley, are you open to some criticism?"
He said, "I guess so. What would you like to criticize?" She said, "The ribbons on your tie are entirely too long & inappropriate for a man of God." And she took out her scissors & cut them off.
A hush fell over the people standing there as Wesley calmly asked, "Now may I borrow the scissors for a moment?" As she handed them to him, he said, "Ma'am, are you open to some criticism?"
She answered, "Well, I suppose I am." He said, "All right then, please
ILL. Robert Schuler wrote, "It would amaze us how many people we could influence for Christ if we would just treat people nicely."
ILL. When Terry Bradshaw was inducted into the Football Hall of Fame he mentioned other players who had played with him & said, "This honor would mean nothing to me at all if I didn't have people like that who loved me."
JAMES L. KRAFT
When Dr. W.A. Criswell, pastor of the largest Southern Baptist church in the world at one time, was preaching in the North Shore Baptist Church in Chicago, he was entertained at the home of deacon JAMES L. KRAFT, who was superintendent of their Sunday school and founder of Kraft Foods.
Kraft said that as a young man he had a desire to be the most famous manufacturer and salesman of cheese in the world. He planned on becoming rich and famous by making and selling cheese, and began as a young fellow with a little buggy pulled by a pony named Paddy.
After making his cheese, the youth would load his wagon, and he and Paddy would drive down the streets of Chicago to sell the cheese. As the months passed, young Kraft began to despair because he was not making any money, in spite of his long hours and hard work.
One day he pulled his pony to a stop and began to talk to him. He said, "Paddy, there is something wrong. We are not doing it right. I am afraid we have things turned around. Our priorities are not where they ought to be. Maybe we ought to serve God and place Him first in our lives."
Kraft then drove home and made a covenant that for the rest of his life he would first serve God and then would work as God directed.
Many years after this, Dr. Criswell heard James Kraft say, "I would rather be a layman in the North Shore Baptist Church than to head the greatest corporation in America. My first job is serving Jesus."
How about you? What is the first priority of your day, of your life? For 2012 would you consider seeking 1st the kingdom of Christ and His righteousness? I would encourage to come forward at this time and we will seek God’s loving-kindness for you so that your priorities and life will be different in 2012. You come forward as we stand to sing....
OPENING ILL. Have you heard about the man who moved into a retirement community to spend the rest of his life there? It wasn't long until he had made a number of friends among the other residents.
There was one lady he was especially attracted to, & she was attracted to him, also. So they spent a lot of time together. Finally one evening he proposed, asking her to marry him.
The next morning he woke up remembering his proposal, but he couldn't remember her answer. So he went to her & said, "I'm really embarrassed. I proposed to you last night but I can't remember if you said `Yes' or `No."'
"Oh, thank goodness!" she replied. "I remembered saying `Yes' but I couldn't remember who asked me."
