CHOOSING EXCELLENCE Over Loss—Php. 3:7-16
Wal-Mart Photo shop worker is approached by a teenaged girl who wanted her boyfriend’s picture duplicated.
She wanted the back of the picture inscribed with—‘My dearest Tommy, I love you with all my heart. My love for you grows stronger with each passing day. I will love you forever & ever. I am yours for all eternity. With all my love , Diane’
But, Diane also had a P.S.(post script) hastily scribbled on the message which read—‘If we should ever break up, I want this picture back!’
It seems Diane was unable to maintain a worthwhile level of commitment to Tommy!
?Are You unable to maintain the level of commitment necessary to honor Jesus?
Need:
1Sam. 7:3— “And Samuel said to the whole house of Israel, "If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods & the Ashtoreths & commit yourselves to the LORD & serve him only, & he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.”
Paul told the Philippian Christians the value & means of maintaining a high level of commitment to Christ.
Christians are expected to maintain their commitment to Christ.
How can Christians maintain their commitment to Christ?
4 secrets to maintaining commitment to Christ.
To maintain your commitment to Christ...
1—Those who maintain their commitment to Christ...
SEPARATE TRASH From TREASURE(:7-8)
Explanation:(:7-8)Learn to Discern/Divide/Untangle/Gain vs. Loss
:7—“But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.”
There are “things” which we CAN afford to lose.
Conversely/Oppositely there are “things” which we CANNOT afford to lose.
Likewise, there are “things” which bring downfall & detriment to the child of God. And there are also things which bring him/her great benefit.
For the lost man, the “things” which are ‘of the flesh’ are “counted”/considered to be beneficial(“gain”) to him & his secular society/culture.
However, these same “things” which I at one time(in my lostness) considered as beneficial(“gain”), I now(in my saved state) consider to be detrimental or as “loss.”
The “things” of the world are only considered “loss” if & when they are correctly assessed/evaluated in the light/reality of Christ. The determination of “loss” vs. “gain” can only be reckoned as such in the mind & heart of the disciple of Jesus. Jesus’ disciples prioritize Jesus & make decisions based upon that commitment!
A supposed or perceived “gain”(by a deceived heart) can actually in reality be a “loss.”
“But”(See :8, 9)—alla—Conjunction—1) But—1a) Nevertheless, notwithstanding, 1b) An objection, 1c) An exception, 1d) A restriction, 1e) Nay, rather, yea, moreover, 1f) Forms a transition to the cardinal matter. Strong—neuter plural of allov[else, i.e. different]; properly--Other things, i.e. adverbially--Contrariwise(in many relations). RWP—Perhaps, "nevertheless," in spite of the difference just noted.
“What Things/Whatever Things”—ostiv, including the feminine--htiv & the neuter--o,ti—Pronoun—1) Whoever, whatever, who. Strong—Which some, i.e. Any that; also(def.)--Which same.
“Gain/Profit”—kerdov—Noun Neuter—1) Gain, advantage. Strong—of uncertain affinity; Gain(pecuniary or genitive case). Used 3X.
“Me”—moi—Pronoun—1) I, me, my. Strong—the simpler form of emoi; To me.
“These”—tauta—OR—ta auta—Pronoun—1) These. Strong—nominative or accusative case neuter plural of outov, outoi, auth, autai; These things.
“Counted/Consider/Esteemed”(See :8)—hgeomai—Verb—1) To lead—1a) To go before, 1b) To be a leader—1b1) To rule, command, 1b2) To have authority over, 1b3) A prince, of regal power, governor, viceroy, chief, leading as respects influence, controlling in counsel, overseers or leaders of the churches, 1b4) used Of any kind of leader, chief, commander, 1b5) The leader in speech, chief, spokesman; 2) To consider, deem, account, think. Hgeomai & nomizw denote a belief resting not on one's inner feeling or sentiment, but on the due consideration of external grounds, & the weighing & comparing of facts. Hgeomai denotes a more deliberate & careful judgment than nomizw. Strong—middle voice of a (presumed)strengthened form of agw; To lead, i.e. Command(with official authority); figuratively--To deem, i.e. Consider. Used 28X.
“As”—Added for English clarity.
“Loss”(See :8)—zhmia—Noun Fem.—1) Damage, loss. Strong—Detriment. Probably akin to the base of damazw[To tame](through the idea of violence). Used 4X.
“For/For The Sake Of/On Account Of”—dia ton—Lit=‘Through This”—dia—a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; Through(in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional).—&—o,—OR—feminine--h, —OR—neuter--to—Article—1) This, that, these, etc. Strong—The definite article; The(sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom).
“Christ”(See :8, 9, 12, 14)—Cristov—Adj.—Christ = “Anointed”—1) Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God; 2) Anointed. Strong—Anointed, i.e. The Messiah, an epithet of Jesus.?From—criw—probably akin to craomai[to furnish what is needed; (give an oracle, “graze”[touch slightly], light upon, etc.), i.e. (by implication--To employ, or by extension--To act towards one in a given manner] through the idea of contact; To smear or rub with oil, i.e. by implication--To consecrate to an office or religious service.
: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, & count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ”
There is still more to understanding why a person would consider a previous gain as an actual loss.
He does this in view of the fact that there is a surpassing value in knowing Christ as Lord. If there is a surpassing value in knowing Christ as Lord, then it surpasses/overshadows those things that were once considered gain.
Paul has “suffered the loss of all things” that are regarded as worthwhile by the world. However, Paul(the Christian apostle) “suffered” this “loss” for good reason. He has suffered this loss for Jesus’ sake.
Those things that were lost, are “counted” by Paul as “rubbish”(‘what is thrown to the dogs’), so they are not really a loss after all since they are considered trash anyway.
*Paul’s priorities were completely changed in Christ!
“Yet/Yea/But”(See :8)—alla—Conjunction—1) But—1a) Nevertheless, notwithstanding, 1b) An objection, 1c) An exception, 1d) A restriction, 1e) Nay, rather, yea, moreover, 1f) Forms a transition to the cardinal matter. Strong—neuter plural of allov[else, i.e. different]; properly--Other things, i.e. adverbially--Contrariwise(in many relations). RWP—Perhaps, "nevertheless," in spite of the difference just noted.
“Indeed/Doubtless/More than that/What is more”—menounge—OR—menoun —OR—menoun ge—Particle—1) Nay surely, nay rather. Strong—So then at least. Used 4X.?From—men—Particle—1) Truly, certainly, surely, indeed, even, so, some, verily—&—oun—Particle—1) Then, therefore, accordingly, consequently, these things being so. Strong—apparently a primary word; adverbially--Certainly, or conjunctionally--Accordingly.—&—ge—1) Indeed, truly, at least; 2) Even; 3) If indeed, seeing that. Strong—a primary particle of emphasis or qualification(often used with other particles prefixed).
“Count/Esteeming/Consider”2X(See :7)—hgeomai—Verb—1) To lead—1a) To go before, 1b) To be a leader—1b1) To rule, command, 1b2) To have authority over, 1b3) A prince, of regal power, governor, viceroy, chief, leading as respects influence, controlling in counsel, overseers or leaders of the churches, 1b4) used Of any kind of leader, chief, commander, 1b5) The leader in speech, chief, spokesman; 2) To consider, deem, account, think. Hgeomai & nomizw denote a belief resting not on one's inner feeling or sentiment, but on the due consideration of external grounds, & the weighing & comparing of facts. Hgeomai denotes a more deliberate & careful judgment than nomizw. Strong—middle voice of a (presumed)strengthened form of agw; To lead, i.e. Command(with official authority); figuratively--To deem, i.e. Consider. Used 28X.
“All things”2X—pav—Adj.—1) individually—1a) Each, every, any, all, the whole, everyone, all things, everything; 2) collectively—2a) Some of all types. Strong—apparently a primary word; All, any, every, the whole.
“Absent in NKJV/To Be/But/A”[Present in all Greek texts]—einai—Verb—1) To be, to exist, to happen, to be present. Strong—present infinitive from eimi; To exist.
“Loss”2X(See :7)—zhmia—Noun Fem.—1) Damage, loss. Strong—Detriment. Probably akin to the base of damazw[To tame](through the idea of violence). Used 4X.
“For/In View of/On Account Of”2X—dia—Prep.—1) Through—1a) of place—1a1) With, 1a2) In, 1b) of time—1b1) Throughout, 1b2) During, 1c) of means—1c1) By, 1c2) By the means of; 2) Through—2a) The ground or reason by which something is or is not done—2a1) By reason of, 2a2) On account of, 2a3) Because of for this reason, 2a4) Therefore, 2a5) On this account. Strong—a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; Through(in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional).
“Excellence/Surpassing value”—uperecw—Lit.=‘To hold above’—Verb—1) To have or hold over one; 2) To stand out, rise above, overtop—2a) To be above, be superior in rank, authority, power—2a1) The prominent men, rulers, 2b) To excel, to be superior, better than, to surpass. Strong—To hold oneself above, i.e. figuratively--To excel; participle(as adjective, or neuter as noun)--Superior, superiority. Used 5X.?From—uper—1) In behalf of, for the sake of; 2) Over, beyond, more than; 3) More, beyond, over. Strong—“Over”, i.e. (with the genitive case)of place--Above, beyond, across, or causal, for the sake of, instead, regarding; with the accusative case--Superior to, more than.—&—ecw OR scew—1) To have, i.e. To hold; 2) To have i.e. Own, possess; 3) To hold one's self or find one's self so & so, to be in such or such a condition; 4) To hold one's self to a thing, to lay hold of a thing, to adhere or cling to. Strong—a primary verb; To hold.
“Knowledge/Knowing”—gnwsiv—Noun Fem.—1) Knowledge signified in general intelligence, understanding—1a) The general knowledge of Christian religion, 1b) The deeper more perfect & enlarged knowledge of this religion, such as belongs to the more advanced, 1c) Especially of things lawful & unlawful for Christians, 1d) Moral wisdom, such as is seen in right living. Gnwsiv denotes knowledge by itself, sofia denotes wisdom as exhibited in action, gnwsiv applies chiefly to the apprehension of truths, sofia adds the power of reasoning about them & tracing their relationships. Strong—Knowing(the act), i.e. by implication--Knowledge.
“Christ”2X(See :7, 9, 12, 14)—Cristov—Adj.—Christ = “Anointed”—1) Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God; 2) Anointed. Strong—Anointed, i.e. The Messiah, an epithet of Jesus.?From—criw—probably akin to craomai[to furnish what is needed; (give an oracle, “graze”[touch slightly], light upon, etc.), i.e. (by implication--To employ, or by extension--To act towards one in a given manner] through the idea of contact; To smear or rub with oil, i.e. by implication--To consecrate to an office or religious service.
“Jesus”(See :12, 14)—Ihsouv—Noun Proper Masc.—Jesus = “Jehovah is salvation.”
“Lord/Owner”—kuriov—Noun Masc.—1) He to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord. Kuriov has a wider meaning[than despothv], applicable to the various ranks & relations of life & not suggestive of either property or of absolutism. Strong—from kurov(supremacy); Supreme in authority, i.e. as noun--Controller; by implication--Mr.(as a respectful title).
“Suffered”—zhmiow—Verb—1) To affect with damage, do damage to; 2) To sustain damage, to receive injury, suffer loss. Strong—To injure, i.e. (reflexively or passively)--To experience detriment. Used 6X.
“Rubbish/Dung”—skubalon—Noun Neuter—Lit.=‘Thrown to dogs’—1) Any refuse, as the excrement of animals, offscourings, rubbish, dregs—1a) Of things worthless & detestable. Strong—What is thrown to the dogs, i.e. Refuse(ordure). Used 1X.?From—a presumed derivative of—eiv—1) Into, unto, to, towards, for, among. Strong—a primary preposition; To or Into(indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or figuratively--Purpose(result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases.—&—kuwn—1) A dog; 2) metaph.--A man of impure mind, an impudent man. Strong—a primary word; A dog[“hound”](literally or figuratively).—&—ballw—1) To throw or let go of a thing without caring where it falls. Strong—a primary verb; To throw(in various applications, more or less violent or intense).
“That/In Order That”—ina—Conjunction—1) That, in order that, so that. Strong—probably from the same as the former part of eautou(through the demonstrative idea; compare o, h, to); In order that(denoting the purpose or the result).
“Gain/Win”—kerdainw—Verb—1) To gain, acquire, to get gain; 2) metaph.—2a) Of gain arising from shunning or escaping from evil(where we say "to spare one's self", "be spared”), 2b) To gain any one i.e. to win him over to the kingdom of God, to gain one to faith in Christ, 2c) To gain Christ's favor & fellowship. Strong—To gain(literally or figuratively). Used 17X.
Argumentation:
Hos. 14:9—“Who is wise? Let him understand these things. Who is prudent? Let him know them. For the ways of the LORD are right; The righteous walk in them, But transgressors stumble in them.”
1Cor. 2:14—“But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
Mat. 13:24-30, 36-43—“Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; “but while men slept, his enemy came & sowed tares among the wheat & went his way. “But when the grain had sprouted & produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. “So the servants of the owner came & said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ “He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go & gather them up?’ “But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. ‘Let both grow together until the harvest, & at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares & bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”.....“Then Jesus sent the multitude away & went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.” He answered & said to them: “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, & the reapers are the angels. Therefore as the tares are gathered & burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. The Son of Man will send out His angels, & they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, & those who practice lawlessness, & will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing & gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
Mat. 13:44—Jesus said—“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found & hid; & for joy over it he goes & sells all that he has & buys that field.”
Mat. 13:45-46—Jesus also said—“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, “who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went & sold all that he had & bought it.”
Mat. 13:47-50—“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea & gathered some of every kind, “which, when it was full, they drew to shore; & they sat down & gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, & cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing & gnashing of teeth.””
Mat. 13:51-52—“Jesus said to them[His disciples], “Have you understood all these things?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” Then He said to them, “Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new & old.”
Jesus brings a “new” spiritual life/spin to “old” realities!
Illustration:
In seminary, we lived in seminary housing on Rice Circle/There was a tree on the NW side of the street from us which bore blackberry-like fruit/The next spring I ran the blooms thru the key in Radford & Belle(a key to plant characteristics) to figure out whether the fruit was edible or poisonous/I discovered it was a Mulberry!--an edible fruit—We could make pies or cobbler with them!/SEPARATE TRASH From TREASURE
Christ is the Key to determining characteristics of both righteousness &/or sin & gives us the ability to definitively identify both!
Application:
?Can you SEPARATE TRASH From TREASURE?
?Can you tell God’s Truth from Man’s Error?
?Are you maintaining your commitment to Christ Jesus?
?Have you risen above the ‘natural man’?
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
Teen’s Post Script—“If we break up give the picture back!”
Action:
Those who maintain their commitment to Christ...
1. SEPARATE TRASH From TREASURE(:7-8)
Pt. 1 only! presented 01/07/2017am to:
FBC Cbelle
206 Storrs Ave. SE(SE Ave. A)
Carrabelle, FL 32322
Pts. 1-4 Presented 11/27/1998am to:
PENIA Baptist Church
3738 Old Penia Rd.
Cordele, GA 31015
