OUTLINE
The Way of Joy
Philippians Chapter 3
Steele Creek Church, Eastfield – Dr. Tom Bartlett
March 15, 2020
Philippians 3:1-21 (ESV)
Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you. (Vs. 1)
HOW TO GROW STRONGER SPIRITUALLY
Give no thought to your own strength
Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. (Vs. 2-6)
Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts. Zechariah 4:6 (ESV)
Resolve to make Jesus your priority
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. (Vs. 7-11)
You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13 (ESV)
Daily
• Word
• Prayer
• Worship
Overcome your past and press forward
Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained. (Vs. 12-16)
• Confess and repent of sins
• Receive and offer forgiveness
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10 (ESV)
Walk after other godly examples
Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. (Vs. 17-21)
walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him. . . Colossians 1:10 (ESV)
MANUSCRIPT
The Way of Joy
Philippians Chapter 3
Steele Creek Church, Eastfield – Dr. Tom Bartlett
March 15, 2020
Philippians 3:1-21 (ESV)
Good morning Eastfield campus. To say that we are living in unprecedented times for our generation would be accurate. Never in my lifetime have I seen people so afraid with the combined closing of so many major events. I remember the Iraqi war, Y2K, and numerous viruses that have come and gone, but never have I seen the responses and the fear like I do today.
I have good news for you. “THIS TOO SHALL PASS!” While that phrase is not actually in the Bible, we do read this,
For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (ESV)
As believers we live with the reality that God is the Lord of all things. We act responsibly, we use the intellect He has given us and we follow godly leaders who seek Him first. Our sincere hope is that this current situation will strengthen your home and cause each of us to strengthen our relationship with the Lord.
Now, we’re in a timely series in Philippians called, The Way of Joy. Paul, through many journeys and struggles in his life and ministry work for the Lord, has had few people that he could count on for support and true concern for him. Of these few he would count those in Macedonia particularly the Philippians. When he was in need, they took care of him. They even supported the work like none other financially. Beyond that they sent to him one of their own to care for him, Epaphroditus.
So, as he moves forward with this encouraging and relatively short letter he does so with theme of joy and great appreciation for these believers.
Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you. (Vs. 1)
When he writes the words finally here, he really doesn’t mean in conclusion, the translation could easily read, furthermore. It’s a continuation of the expression of appreciation he’s just brought in chapter 2.
Now Paul’s concern is always for the strengthening and faithfulness of those he has contact with. In Chapter 3 we see this highly relational emphasis of spiritual growth through the ability to know Jesus Christ.
This idea of knowing a deity is foreign to the ancient world. Yet as we look back at the Hebrews, God established a relationship with Abraham and said that his offspring would be the light to the world to carry His name to the world. At some point, they forget the name of God and fell into idolatry and out of this personal connection with their Creator.
Paul teaches that not only can we know the name of God, we can know Him personally through His Son, Jesus Christ, and that knowledge would empower us to emulate or become like Him in actions and attitudes.
Paul comes to this chapter with a desire to strengthen the resolve and focus of the Philippians to grow in this relationship. We call it spiritual growth, knowing AND becoming like Jesus Christ.
The biblical term for this is DISCIPLESHIP. Today, as we have this cozy discussion on Philippians chapter 3, I want to share with you from the Apostle Paul. . .
HOW TO GROW STRONGER SPIRITUALLY
I can remember over the years standing in front of the church or a group of people after a youth camp or some encounter session where I was away from the rest of the world for a period of time and then came back to tell what happened. My response would typically be how I was going to be a better person as a result of this experience. That I was, in essence, going to try even harder at following Jesus and living like He intended for me to live. As I look back now, I see this up and down pattern that only lasted for a while till I needed a new shot in the arm or a great motivational speech to do better again.
Paul gives the answer to that issue. At first, he tells them. . .
Give no thought to your own strength
If you’re going to grow mature in Christ Jesus, it will be a spiritual reality that makes the difference not a physical one.
Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. (Vs. 2-6)
If this Coronavirus has taught us anything, it’s that our bodies are frail and weak.
Still, fighting a spiritual battle with the flesh is like have a sword fight with someone on your TV screen. You’re not gonna stop him, but eventually
you will lose something!
Paul says, those who come along and put their confidence in how strong they are, or depend on their skills or impress with what they can do, stay away from that. Everything we can accomplish will only draw attention to us, unless it is motivated and empowered by the Lord Himself.
If anyone could boast in achievements, it’s Paul. He had the pedigree, the credentials. Not even he would dare do that. Why? Because he knew the primary battle is a spiritual one fought beyond the bounds of mere eye sight.
In expressing to the prophet Zechariah, a message to the king Zerubbabel, God tells the prophet about the future and how God will accomplish His work of rebuilding the temple.
Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts. Zechariah 4:6 (ESV)
Paul brought a similar word in chapter 1 when he said that God would complete His work in you, Phil 1:6
DON’T FIGHT SPIRITUAL BATTLES WITH YOUR PHYSICAL STRENGTH. Do what you can as God commands, but know that He must ultimately do it.
Resolve to make Jesus your priority
After we say, ok it’s not in me to win this battle, to experience the presence of God on my terms, then I say if it’s all about Him, then I must be all about Him and make knowing Him my priority. That means dropping the accolades and successes as a banner for honor.
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. (Vs. 7-11)
Paul dropped a life of luxury, a place at the table of importance, a sense of fear in others when they saw him.
He dropped it all because he found something better.
Now Paul writes these words after numerous beatings and imprisonments and while being imprisoned for his faith. In spite of all of that he found something of surpassing value.
If you lost it all and still had Jesus, you’re better off.
If you had it all and didn’t have Jesus,
you’re in deep trouble and I promise no real joy!
He is the creator, the sustainer of all. He is the One who is above and beyond all circumstances. Striving after Him is the greatest pursuit in a life, Paul found this to be true, have you?
The Lord spoke through the prophet Jeremiah to the exiles in Babylon about returning to Him form their bondage these words.
You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13 (ESV)
Have you ever considered your pursuit of prestige, possessions, and position may be your bondage? That in seeking them, you don’t seek the Lord?
YOU MIGHT ASK, HOW DO I SEEK THE LORD? Well it starts with a daily focus. At Steele Creek Church we teach a basic start to each day.
Daily
• Word
• Prayer
• Worship
Now, if you’re going to grow to know the Lord Jesus you will have to. . .
Overcome your past and press forward
I’ve seen this over and over again, but people struggle not because of God’s love, but because they can’t accept that God would know them and love them because of what they’ve done. It is imperative that you overcome your past because until you do, our enemy will continue to use it against you.
You might think, “I’ve been this way for so long, I’ve wasted so many years!” That’s not true. It’s only wasted if you don’t use it for God’s glory. God never wastes a hurt, we do. Paul had a lot that could have sidetracked him. He persecuted the early Christians, separated families, imprisoned people because of their faith and had them killed. What a weight!
Do you have that kind of a weight? Even impregnate someone and then take off? Ever have an abortion? Ever steal from others, abuse others, hurt others?
We all have. That point of hurt if hidden is that it will imprison you, but released and brought to light to trusted friends, a life group, it becomes a source of empowerment that says, all this evil I did that the devil was so happy about, guess what devil, God’s about to use it as he forms in me this relationship with Christ that overcomes even that!
Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained. (Vs. 12-16)
If you focus on your past, you’re not past it! If you press forward,
it’s now truly your “past”.
Here’s a plan.
• Confess and repent of sins
• Receive and offer forgiveness
The reality is that God has the ability to recreate a new spirit, a clean heart in you, to wipe away the guilt and shame, and even the penalty of your sin. He does it in the places where relationship with God thrive; your heart and spirit. He clears them out to make room for His love and forgiveness. David prayed this prayer after murder,
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10 (ESV)
Finally, as we grow to know and allow the changes that God wants to make, we recognize that God has placed people down this road just a little bit further than us that we can follow.
Walk after other godly examples
Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. (Vs. 17-21)
Your life is a journey. You’re walking to God or away from Him.
Toward Him, your mind is on spiritual things that change us from the inside out. Away from God, toward self, your mind is on the pleasures and successes and accomplishments of this world. This end, relationship with Him is forever!
All we see will one day be gone, but our relationship with Christ lasts forever, don’t make this world your focus, we’re only here a while.
walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him. . . Colossians 1:10 (ESV)
Closing illustration
Hector – I’ve become acquainted quite well recently with a young man who at an early age lacked guidance. Growing up he sought to take the world by storm. By the time he reached 17 he had already impregnated 2 girls, had a daughter by one girl, and the other aborted. He was struggling looking for direction in life. His testimony is that he was selfish and sought only for what he wanted, then he kicked people to the curb.
To appease his mother, he went to a church service. In a short while, the Lord completely changed this man’s life. Today he is the father of 4 children, happily married and as recently as a week or so ago was a main speaker at a conference for pregnant teen girls. His ministry now involves leading young people to a better path n knowing Christ.
He has the credentials, wounds healed by the power of God. Forgiveness that only God could give and a sense of freedom he would have never known apart from his relationship with Christ.
Now, would he change all that, maybe, but what he knows for sure, none of it was wasted.
How about you? Struggling to find forgiveness? It’s offered, it’s there for you.
Prayer
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