"Keep Running the Race”
Paul’s letter to the Philippians offers some key elements to “Maintaining the Joy of the Lord No Matter What”.
I. ADOPT THE RIGHT AXIS -- SUPERIOR PERSPECTIVE
The Exaltation of Christ in Everything
Passion to Praise Jesus
II. MAINTAIN THE RIGHT ATTITUDE -- SUPERIOR PATTERN OF LIVING
Humble Obedience and service modeled by Jesus
Passion to Please Jesus
III. PURSUE THE RIGHT AIM – SUPERIOR PURSUIT 3:1-21
Knowing Christ
Passion to Pursue Christ above all else
A. Paul warned against false Christianity 3:1-2
B. Paul affirmed genuine Christianity 3:3
C. Paul shared his own passionate pursuit of Jesus 3:7-14
1. Paul devalued EVERYTHING to gain something more valuable
He counted things personally beneficial to him as loss for the sake of Christ
He counted ALL THINGS to be loss compared to something of greater value.
He considered ALL THINGS to be as worthless refuse next to being like Jesus.
Paul listed six things for which he was willing to lay aside everything and count them but doggy doo in order to achieve.
? Gain Christ
? Have the righteousness of God through faith in Christ.
? Experientially know Christ
? Experientially know the power of Christ’s resurrection.
? Experientially know the fellowship of His suffering
? Attain to resurrection from the dead.
2. Paul expended EVERYTHING to become more like Christ
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.
Paul affirmed he had not yet attained the full measure of those six things. They were in process.
I noticed somethings I missed in this passage. Paul considered the attainment of those things as spiritual maturity. He wanted them to know that he was not yet fully mature. This interesting thing about his expression is that he used a passive voice for the word mature. Here is the difference. An active voice would be understood as I have not yet become mature. A middle voice would be understood as I have not yet made myself mature. The passive indicates realize he had not yet been made mature. This clearly demonstrates both God’s involvement our involvement. God ultimately does the maturing but we also do the “pressing towards.”
As we discussed last time, Paul exercised his volition to its fullest by expressing his forgetting the things behind and stretching forward to the ultimate moment when God calls us to himself.
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, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
D. Paul invited the Philippians to join his pursuit of Christ 15-17,20
1. The invitation to imitate Paul 3:15-17
a) Think right 3:15
Let those of us who are perfect (mature) think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.
Paul clearly maintained a laser focus on pursuing a deeper firsthand knowledge of Jesus and a daily walk that increasingly reflected His work in him. He wanted to increasingly lay hold of the purpose for which Jesus called him. Paul quite often called his readers to “live worthy of the calling with which they were called.” Such a change in living begins with a change in thinking. Therefore, Paul instructed them to adopt the same thinking Paul demonstrated. He addressed “as many as are perfect”. This served as a double reference. One, it referred to those who thought that were in some state of perfect because of their adherence to the Jewish laws and customs. Two, it recognized the standing granted all genuine believers.
For by that one offering He (Jesus) forever made perfect those who are being made holy. Hebrews 10:14
Either one, Paul confidently expected that God would deal with their hearts.
What thinking did Paul encourage? The same kind of thinking expressed in the previous verses; the single minded focus on knowing Jesus. Peter taught that God equips us for life and godliness through an experiential knowledge of Jesus.
His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence… 2 Peter 1:3
The term translated “attitude” by some and “thinking” in others refers to the inner reflection that regulates outer action. Paul used this term seven times in his letter. 1:7; 2:2,5; 3:15,19; 4:2,10. It is definitely a clue to the source of genuine joy no matter what.
Paul clearly taught the transformation of our life comes from renewing of the mind.
Stop being conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind (thinking), so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2
Our brains come pre-programed to view life from an earthly perspective. Such thinking come naturally. Our thinking needs renovation, renewing, reprograming.
Later Paul will lament those who end up to be enemies of the cross. The last of five characterizations has to do with their thinking.
“Who set their mind (same word) on earthy things”
Paul chose to shift his thinking from earthly to heavenly.
For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:5-8
Jesus rebuked Peter for a wrong focus.
But turning around and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind Me, Satan; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's." And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it. "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? "For what will a man give in exchange for his soul? Mark 8:33-37
Notice the emphasis on radical pursuit of Jesus. Paul called the Colossians to do the same thing as the Philippians regarding their mental focus.
Since then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Colossians 3:1-4
He followed that call to right thinking with a call to right living.
Here, Paul called the Philippians to adopt his reasoned decision to put NO confidence in the flesh and consider all things as having no value compared to the surpassing value of really knowing Jesus…
To gain Him and all that comes with being IN Him.
To receive His righteousness through faith in Him.
To actually know Him more deeply.
To fully appropriate the same power that raised Jesus from the dead
To know the joy of suffering for and with Christ.
To one day experience complete redemption in the resurrection of the body.
Is that true of us?
Paul didn’t know if it was true of the Philippians any more than I know what’s going on in your heart.
So I join take a cue from Paul and defer to the enlightening work of the Holy Spirit.
I only ask that you be willing to hear what He has to say.
and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.
The word reveal means “take the cover off”
The picture is that something has been covered in our life and God comes in and tears the lid off.
What would we find if God tore the cover off some areas of our thinking?
What if our true thought appeared in a PowerPoint presentation?
Many have successfully kept some of those secret thoughts covered for some time.
The problem is that we hide our true thoughts like fish frozen away in a freezer.
One day the power goes out or God pulls the plug.
Eventually all will realize that something is “fishy”.
My prayer is that God will first expose our true motives and thought for us to see.
David prayed.
Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! Psalm 139:23-24
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? “I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” Jeremiah 17:9-10
For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before His eyes, and He is the one to whom we are accountable. Hebrews 4:12-13
b) Live Right 3:16-17
Paul shifted from thinking right to living right.
If we truly chose to passionately pursue knowing Jesus a passionate pursuit of Christlikeness would naturally follow.
However (in addition), let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained. Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.
“keep living” is a term meaning “keep in line, live up to, follow in line”. The Christian life should never be static. We should always be moving forward.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the Founder and Perfecter of our faith, Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured from sinners such hostility against Himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. Hebrews 12:1-3
To hope this focus, we not only have Christ, Paul but others who model a godly walk. All of us should seek out healthy models of godly living. Read biographies of faithful Christians.
Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith. Hebrews 13:7
2. The Incentive to imitate Paul 3:20-21
a) We are Citizens of heaven 3:20a
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ…
I appreciate my American citizenship but there is nothing that can match my heavenly connection and privilege.
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. Ephesians 2:19-22
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 1 Peter 2:9-10
Appreciation of our heavenly citizenship should motivate a passion to better know the King of this heavenly kingdom. We should live as a worthy ambassador in a foreign land.
Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. 1 Peter 2:11-12
b) We are eagerly awaiting Jesus’ return 3:20b
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;
Paul continually nurtured an expectancy of Jesus coming. Earlier he expressed his desire to be with Him. What difference would it make in the way we live if we lived with the expectation of Christ’s return at any time?
The King is coming!
The Bible frequently cites the imminent return of Jesus as a motivation for godly behavior.
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. 2 Peter 3:10-13
Are we eager for His return?
c) We are eagerly awaiting final transformation 3:21
who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.
For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Romans 8:22-24
Thought of our glorious destiny should motivate our daily pursuit.
Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who thus hopes in Him purifies himself as He is pure. 1 John 3:2-3
E. Paul lamented those not pursuing Christ 3:18-19
For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.
The realization of those who distorted and mutilated the message of the cross rather than stir anger deeply affected Paul emotionally.
1. Enemies of the cross
Paul counted these individuals as enemies of the cross because their teaching eliminated the necessity of the cross. They taught relationship with God could be gained by adherence to a self-righteousness. The work that Jesus accomplished on the cross was Paul’s primary focus.
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void. 1 Corinthians 1:17
But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Galatians 6:14
Certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. Jude 1:4
2. End is destruction
They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His might, when He comes on that day to be glorified in His saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. 2 Thessalonians 1:9-10
3. God is their appetite
Paul identified the ultimate focus of these false teachers. They were only concerned with the fleshly side of things. “God is their belly” referred to unbridled passions of any kind. There were those who believed only the “spiritual” mattered and “matter” didn’t. That thinking broke into two camps. One practiced severe treatment of the physical body to appear spiritual. The other put no restrictions on bodily practices. The Bible teaches that the body is intricately connect to our whole person. As we just saw, God has plans for the body.
In a similar fashion there is a teaching today that comes dangerously close to this abominable teaching.
It goes like this. Since we are forgiven and Jesus paid for all our sins it doesn’t matter what we do.
We are free to do whatever we want.
“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. “Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. 1 Corinthians 6:12-14
4. Glory is in their shame
They were actually proud of their perversions. Some today actually boast in their wickedness. What is shameful in the eyes of God is applauded in the eyes of men. During the time of the Judges every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
5. Set their mind on earthy things
We touched on this characteristic already.
Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever. 1 John 2:15-17
Since then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Colossians 3:1-4
Get your thinking right – Passionately pursue knowing Jesus more than anything. Get you living right – Passionately pursue living like Jesus more and more.
Why??
• You are citizens of heaven, children of God, His masterpiece create in Christ.
• Jesus is coming soon.
• We look forward to our full transformation into His glorious image.
I can speak words to you mind. Only God can stir you heart. I can hopefully give you things to think about.
Only the Holy Spirit can transform how you think. Repentance is a change of thinking. The key is surrender.
