TO KNOW HIM
PHILLIPPIANS 3
THIS MORNING I WANT TO ASK YOU A QUESTION.
DO YOU “KNOW HIM” ?…REALLY KNOW HIM ?
CHRISTIANS CAN BE UNIQUE TO SAY THE LEAST! THINK ABOUT IT, CHRISTIANS BUY & WEAR SOME OF THE STRANGEST THINGS….
T-SHIRTS, COFFEE CUPS, TAGS, BUMPER STICKERS, READ ABOUT HIM, SING ABOUT HIM, TALK OF HIM, BUT AGAIN, DO YOU KNOW HIM?
IF GIVEN THE OPPROTUNIY YOU MIGHT SAY OH YES I KNOW JESUS. I CAN TELL YOU WHO HE WAS, WHAT HE DID, I CAN EVEN TELL YOU WERE HE IS RIGHT NOW!
BUT THAT’S NOT WHAT I’M ASKING YOU!
WHAT I’M ASKING IS THIS… DO YOU KNOW HIM PERSONALLY, INTIMATELY, PASSONATELY?
IS JESUS YOUR HOPE, SALVATION, YOUR EVERYTHING?
THERE IS A BIG / HUGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN KNOWING ABOUT JESUS ……AND KNOWING JESUS!
• ONE IS INTELLECT ……….tHE OTHER IS INTIMACY
• A MATTER OF THE HEAD…..A MATTER OF THE HEART!
• ONE IS RELIGION……..tHE OTHER IS A RELATIONSHIP!
Through out the world today there are people WHO LONG “TO KNOW HIM”?
They sense there is a God, He exists, that He’s there, and that they need a relationship w/ HIM!
Yet they’ve no idea how to get to Him, let alone how to know Him!!!
This need for God has stirred the religions of the world causing many to believe a lie.
• Men want to be right w/ God!
• They want to be accepted by God.
• They want Him to look after them, and they want to spend eternity w/ Him.
• And so, they set out to do what they fell is necessary to please God and know God, and in the process they miss HIM!
The Apostle Paul speak of this…Romans 1: 19-23 (turn w/ me)
19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. 21 for although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and there foolish hearts were darkened. 22 although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. 24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts …25 they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised. Amen.
Paul’s say’s look, God has revealed Himself, in and through His creation, for us to see & understand who He is because, He wants us to know him.
• If there had been no prophets, no Jesus, no Word of God, men are still w/o excuse for creation testifies to the existence of God.
25. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator. --
THIS IS STILL TRUE TODAY!
I’M NOT TALKING ONLY ABOUT THE OCULT or NEW AGE, BUT PEOPLE WHO CALL THEMSELVES CHRISTIANS, WHO HAVE EXCHANGED THE TRUTH FOR A LIE.
BELIEVING THEY CAN GET TO HEAVEN THROUGH”SELF- RIGHTEOUSNESS”. IN OTHER WORDS “I’M GOING TO BE GOOD AND DO GOOD AND GOD WILL ACCEPT ME IN TO HEAVEN”.
THE VEHICLE OF THIS SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS IS CALLED RELIGION!
RELIGION OF…
• works…...doing good being good…...legalism / law…...religion……ritual
These are but a few of the religions of self-righteousness. Trying to become a good and righteous person,
To earn God’s favor and forgiveness.
In other words I’m going to earn & work my way to Heaven.
There’s only one problem w/ the religion of self-righteousness
“IT DON”T WORK”
ROMANS 3:10 as it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one;
ROMANS 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
ISAIAH 64:6 …all our righteous acts are like filthy rags…
Only God is perfect! Holy! Righteous! No person can do enough of anything to become perfect, holy, and righteous no matter what they do!
In fact, man is imperfect, and once perfection is lost, it’s lost. Imperfection can never become perfection.
Not by human efforts!
The point is this: no person can ever earn or merit the right to live in presence God. If a person is going to live in His presence, it will be because God loves that person enough to forgive & accept.
This is exactly what God does through Jesus Christ. He accepts men and women through the love and grace of His son, who died on Calvary for their sins! Through Jesus we are made perfect, & acceptable to God.
It was the gospel of Jesus Christ that the apostle Paul had missed. And it is this same gospel many miss today. Early in Paul’s life he did not understand the will of God, or the ways of God! Yet above all men, Paul long to know Him! Thus he tried to do well and be good in order that God would accept him.
But despite all of his achievements & efforts, Paul did not have peace w/ God! LET ALONE THE confidence and assurance of his eternity.
* Which brings me back to the question I ask earlier, do you know Him? Do you have the peace of God, are you absolutely confident to be absent from the body means to be present w/the Lord?
Philippians 3 is Paul’s Testimony:
Of how he almost missed God.
My prayer for you and for me is this. As we consider Paul’s purpose and passion to seek God, We to might be challenged and stirred w/ in our hearts “to know Him”.
And if you find that you don’t have a personal relationship w/ God that today you might invite Him into your heart as Lord and Savior! And if you already know him that you might be encouraged to know him more!
Please turn w/ me to Philippians 3:4
Now in verse 1-3 Paul writes to abide in the Joy of the Lord, and to watch out for those religionist who advocate self-righteousness, and place great confidence in of the flesh.
4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee;
6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless. 7 but whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.
8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ
9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.
10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
Before his conversion Paul believed that he could get to God…
I.THROUGH THE PRIVILGES OF HIS BIRTH: V 5
• “CIRCUMSIED ON THE 8TH DAY.”
A TRUE JEWISH FAMILY SON CIRCUMSIED WHEN HE WAS 8 DAYS OLD.
• “OF THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL”
THE JEWISH PEOPLE CHOOSEN BY GOD
• “OF THE TRIBE OF BENJAMIN”
Held in high esteem.
EXPLAINATION: PAUL ONCE BELIEVED THAT HIS
• BIRTHRIGHT, RELIGIOUS RITUAL.
• PARENTS, PEOPLE.
• SOCIAL STATUS.
ALL MADE ME ACCEPTABLE TO GOD.
THAT SURELY HE WAS RIGHTEOUS AND HEAVEN BOUND.
AT ONE TIME PAUL ACUTALLY BELIEVED IT WAS ALL ABOUT WHO YOU WERE, WHO YOU KNEW, PARENTS, BIRTH, AND RELIGION.
PAUL THOUGH AT ONE TIMES THAT HE IN AND OF HIMSELF WAS WORTHY OF HEAVEN & ETERNITY W/ GOD!
HE WAS RIGHTEOUS!
APPLICATION: YOU MIGHT HEAR THAT AND SAY, HOW COULD ANYONE THINK SUCH A THING.
MY FRIEND ALL ACROSS THE WORLD THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE DECIEVED JUST AS PAUL WAS.
THEY THINK, “I’M RIGHT W/ GOD. I’M A CHRISTIAN. CERTAINLY GOD WILL ACCEPT ME.
WHY…
• MY PARENTS & THEIR PARENTS WERE CHRISTIANS THAT MAKE ME ONE AS WELL.
• MY SPOUSE IS A BELIEVER.
• I WAS BORN IN A CHRISTIAN NATION.
• I KEEP RELIGIOUS RITUAL & CERIMONIES.
• WHY I EVEN ATTENDED A CHRISTIAN SCHOOL.
• I’M A MEMBER OF 2nd BAPTIST CHURCH.
MY FRIEND, TO BE ACCEPTED BY GOD, THAT IS, TO STAND BEFORE HIM HOLY, PERFECT, RIGHTEOUS, HAS NOTHING TO DO W/ ONE’S BIRTH, HERITAGE, SOCIAL OR RELIGIOUS STATUS, NOTHING!
AND EVERYTHING TO DO W/ JESUS, GOD’S ONLY BEGOTTEN SON WHO DIED ON CALVARY’S CROSS FOR OUR SIN. UNDERSTANDING THAT, WE REPENTED OF OUR SIN AND INVITED HIM INTO OUR HEARTS AS LORD & SAVIOR.
IT IS THEN AND ONLY THEN WE ARE ABLE TO STAND BEFORE GOD PERFECT, HOLY, PERFECT, & RIGTHEOUS, FOR WE STAND IN THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST.
PHILLIPPIANS 3:9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.
ROMANS 10:3-4 3. Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4. Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
JESUS CHRIST IS THE RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT COMES FOR GOD, AND IS AVAILIBLE TO ALL WHO BELIEVE.
TO KNOW HIM MEANS YOU HAVE HAD A PERSONAL ENCOUNTER W/ HIM.
A TIME WHEN YOU REALIZE THAT JESUS DIED FOR YOUR SIN, AND THAT BY FAITH IN HIM AND HIM ALONE YOU CAN BE FORGIVEN AND ACCEPTED BY GOD.
THAT RELATIONSHIP ALLOWS YOU TO LIVE IN THE ASSURANCE, CONFIDENCE AND PEACE OF GOD.
PAUL NOT ONLY THOUGH HE COULD GET TO GOD TROUGH THE PRIVILGES OF HIS BIRTH BUT, ALSO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF HIS RELIGION!
II. THE PROCESS OF RELIGION: V 5-6
• “A HEBREW OF HEBREWS” HAS THE RIGHT LANGUGE & CUSTOMS.
• “A PHARISEE” V 5 I HAVE THE RIGHT RELIGION.
• “ZEAL” V 6- INTENSE ENTHUSIASM AND DEVOTION!
• “LEGALISTIC RIGHTEOUSNESS”V 6 - PAUL SOUGHT TO KEEP THE LAW COMPETELY.
EXPLAINATION: - PAUL ACTUALLY THOUGHT THAT THROUGH RELIGION, LAW, WORKS & ACTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS HE COULD EARN HIS WAY TO HEAVEN.
THAT BY BEINNING GOOD AND DOING GOOD WAS ENOUGH.
APPLICATION:
IF YOU SEEK HIM TROUGH…
• RELIGION.
• TRYING TO OBEY SCRIPTURE FOR SCRIPTURE SHAKE.
• BY HAVING ZEAL, INTENSE ENTHUSIASM AND DEVOTION,
• THROUGH LEGALISTIS RIGHTEOUSNESS. CROSSING THE T’S & DOTTING THE I’S OF THE WORD OF GOD THE WAY YOU SEE IT.
YOU’LL MISS HIM EVER TIME, TO KNOW OF HIM OR ABOUT ISN’T ENOUGH? JAMES 2:19
IT’S KNOWING HIM IN HIS DEATH AND RESSURECTION THAT MAKES US RIGHTEOUS AND ACCEPTABLE TO THE FATHER.
PAUL HAD ENOUGH RIGHTEOUSNESS TO KEEP HIM OUT OF TROUBLE, BUT NOT ENOUGH TO GET HIM TO HEAVEN!
THE LONG & SHORT OF IT IS THIS. THERE ARE ONLY 2 KINDS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.
1. WORKS BASED RIGHTEOUSNESS!
2. FAITH BASED RIGHTEOUSNESS…….IS THE ONLY ONE GOD ACCEPTS.
YOU CAN’T GET TO GOD TROUGH HUMAN EFFORT!
EPHESIANS 2:8-9
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
HEBREWS 10:11-14
11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.
12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God.
TO STAND BEFORE GOD PERFFECT, HOLY AND RIGHTEOUS WE MUST STAND IN THE RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT COMES FROM JESUS. HE ALONE IS OUR RIGTHEOUSNESS. HE ALONE IS THE WAY TO GOD!
WHEN PAUL LOOKED AT HIMSELF OR @ OTHERS, PAUL CONSIDERED HIMSELF RIGHTEOUS, SOMEONE WHO GOD WOULD CERTAINLY ACCEPT.
BUT ON THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS PAUL SAW HIMSELF AS COMPARED W/ JESUS AND IT WAS THEN THAT HE REALIZED THAT HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS WASN’T ENOUGH, HE HAD FALLEN SHORT OF GOD STANDARD OF PERFECTION.
IT WAS THAT DAY PAUL ABANDON WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD WHICH IS CHRIST JESUS!
AFTER THAT EXPERIENCE HE WOULD WRITE….
I COR. 1:30
It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.
AFTER PAUL MET JESUS HE WAS NEVER THE SAME! MY FRIEND WHEN YOU HAVE A PERSONAL ENCOUNTER W/ JESUS THERE IS ALWAYS CHANGE!
II COR. 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone the new has come!
WHEN HE BECAME A NEW CREATION THE OLD WAS GONE, EVERYTHING WAS NOW NEW.
WHEN PAUL MET JESUS ON A DIRT ROAD TO DAMASCUS HE ABANDONED ALL!
8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ
• V 7 “HAVE LOST” MEANS TO FORFEIT; TO CAST AWAY.
• “ALL THINGS” NOT ONLY HIS RELIGIOUS POSITION, BUT ALSO SOCIAL, FINANCIAL, INTELLECTUAL AND POLITICAL GAINS HE HAD MADE AS WELL.
IN ORDER TO TRULY “KNOW HIM” ONE MUST COME TO THE PLACE OF TOTAL SURRENDER AND COMPLETE ABANDONMENT. REALIZING THAT W/O JESUS YOU ARE HEPLESS AND ALL IS HOPELESS NOT ONLY IN THIS LIFE BUT THE ONE TO COME AS WELL!
YOU MIGHT SAY, “THAT’S ASKING A LOT”.
LUKE 18:29-30 …"no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God 30 will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life."
QUOTE: JIM ELLIOTT
“HE IS NO FOOL TO GIVE WHAT HE CANNOT KEEP TO GAIN WHAT HE CANNOT LOSE.”
FROM THE DAY PAUL MET JESUS; IT WAS NO LONGER HEAD BUT HEART, INTELLECT BUT INTIMACY, RELIGION BUT RELATIONSHIP.
DAVID HOW CAN YOU BE SO SURE OF THAT?
10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
I’M SURE BECAUSE OF WHAT PAUL WRITES IN VERSE 10
• AS PAUL WRITES THIS LETTER TO THE CHURCH AT PHILLPI HE’S IN PRISON.
• PAUL HAD A PROBLEM. HE COULD NOT BE QUITE ABOUT JESUS.
• THE RESULT OF ALL THIS PRISON LANDED PAUL IN PRISON.
• AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME IN HIS LIFE 30 YEARS.
• NO DOUBT AS HE PENNED THESE WORDS HIS THOUGHTS TOOK HIM BACK TO THE FIRST TIME HE MEET JESUS.
• I’M SURE HE THOUGH BACK OVER THE YEARS OF SERVICE & SACRIFICE, PREACHING & PERSECUTION. FOR THE NAME OF CHRIST AND THE SAKE OF THE GOSPEL PAUL HAD BEEN.
• BEATEN…..STONED…..SHIPWRECKED…..IMPRISONED.
• GONE W/O FOOD & WATER, ALL BECAUSE OF HIS FAITH AND THE MESSAGE HE PREACHED.
HE’D SPENT THE PRIME OF HIS LIFE AS AN APOSTLE & MISSIONARY FOR THE LORD.
THE POINT I’M TRYING TO MAKE IS THIS! IF ANYONE EVER KNEW JESUS, IT WAS PAUL! BUT LOOK AT WHAT HE WRITES V 10
“I WANT TO KNOW HIM”.
• 30 YEARS OF SERVICE.
• BEATEN 7 STONED BECAUSE OF JESUS.
• IMPRISON FOR HIS FATIH.
• MISSIONARY JOURNEY AFTER MISSIONARY JOURNEY, SERMON AFTER SERMON.
• SHIPWRECKED GONE W/O HAD MET THE LORD JESUS TWICE FACE TO FACE, YET HE WRITES…
“I WANT TO KNOW HIM!”
IT WAS THE BURDEN & DESIRE OF HIS HEART TO KNOW GOD.
IT’S INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT THE VERB PAUL CHOSE IN VERSE 10 FOR KNOW IS IN THE PRESENT TENSE. IT’S MEANING GOES BEYOUND KNOWING SOMEONE FROM FACT OR PRINCIPLE.
IT LITERALLY MEANS TO KNOW SOMEONE FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.
IT NOT ONLY POINTS TO A PARTICULAR POINT IN THE PAST, BUT THE PRESENT AND FUTURE AS WELL. IT IS A VERB OF CONTINUOUS ACTION. IT NEVER ENDS.
WHAT PAUL WAS SAYING IS THE GREATEST THING THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED.
PAUL’S DESIRE WAS TO KNOW HIM IN SUCH A WAY THAT JESUS WOULD LIVE IN AND THROUGH HIM.
GALATIANS 2: 20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
JESUS IN THE FLESH, JESUS BE JESUS IN ME!
IT WAS PAUL’S PASSION & PURPOSE TO SEEK, SERVE, AND SHARE HIS SAVIOR.
IS THAT YOU DESIRE? DOES THAT SAME PASSION BURN W/IN YOU.
CAN YOU SAY…
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
IS IT YOUR PURPOSE AND PASSION TO KNOW JESUS?
COULD BE YOUR MUCH LIKE PAUL. HE WAS SEEKING GOD BUT HE WASN’T SURE HOW TO FIND HIM, LET ALONE KNOW HIM.
TO KNOW HIM IS…
A. PERSONAL: V 10 “I WANT TO KNOW CHRIST”
IT WAS A PERSONAL ECOUNTER & EXPERIENCE.
MY FRIEND DO YOU KNOW HIM? AGAIN, HAS THERE BEEN A TIME IN YOUR LIFE WERE YOU HAVE ACCEPTED HIM?
HAVE YOU ABANDONED ALL FOR HIM? DO YOU DAILY SEEK TO ABIDE IN HIM? DO YOU KNOW HIM PERSONALLY? IT ALL START W/ REALIZING I CAN’T EARN OR WORK MY WAY TO GOD, THE ONLY WAY TO HIM IS THROUGH HIS SON.
JOHN 14:6
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
TO KNOW HIM IS…
B. POWERFUL: V 10 “THE POWER OF HIS RESSURECTION”
GALATIANS 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.
MY FRIEND YOU CAN’T LIVE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IN AND OF YOURSELF. BUT IF YOU ALLOW JESUS TO LIVE IN AND THROUGH YOU, NOT ONLY CAN YOU KNOW HIM, BUT ALSO YOU TO CAN EXPERIENCE THAT SAME RESURRECTION POWER THAT WILL HOLD AND KEEP YOU IN THIS LIFE COME WHAT MAY!
TO KNOW HIM IS…
C. PAINFUL: V 10 “SHARING IN HIS SUFFERINGS”
PAUL WASN’T REFERRING TO THE SUFFERING CHRIST ENDURED ON THE CROSS-, RATHER PAUL LONG TO SHARE IN CHRIST SUFFERINGS FOR THE SAKE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS & THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST.
PHILIPPIANS 1:29-30 29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him,
30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.
II TIMOTHY 3:12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
ILLUSTRATION: “I NEVER PROMISE YOU A ROSE GARDEN” LYN ANDERSON
WELL NEITHER DID JESUS! PEOPLE CURSED, MOCKED, REJECTED AND KILLED HIM, WHAT MAKE US THINK THEY’LL TREAT US ANY DIFFERENTLY.
HIS PROMISE HOWEVER, BRINGS GREAT COMFORT TO HIS CHILDREN!
…And, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matt. 28:20
TO KNOW HIM IS…
D. PARCTICAL: V 10 “BECOMING LIKE HIM IN HIS DEATH”
PAUL LIVED FOR CHRIST BECAUSE HE DIED TO SELF. DAILY HE TOOK UP HIS CROSS, DAILY HE FOLLOWED CHRIST AND THE RESULT WAS AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP W/ JESUS.
JEUS HAD DIED TO HIS DESIRES, FLESH AND NATURE IN ORDER TO DO THE WILL OF THE FATHER. PAUL’S DESIRE WAS TO DO THE SAME, LEARNED FROM, LOOKED TO AND LIVED AFTER THE EXAMPLE CHRIST’S HAD SET, THUS BECOMING LIKE HIM IN HIS DEATH!
2 TIMOTHY 2:11
Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him;
MY FRIEND TO KNOW WE MUST WALK W/ HIM.
• KNOW HIM IN YOUR TIME.BEN FRANKLIN: don’t
• KNOW HIM IN YOUR TALENT.
• KNOW HIM THROUGH YOUR TREASURE. CLOSING ILLUSTRATION: AN ARTICLE IN THE U.S. NEWS DATED JUNE 28, 1999 ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PRESIDENCY, AL GORE…
IT’S NOT WHO YOU ARE, BUT WHAT YOU APPEAR TO BE THAT MATTERS.
MY FRIEND W/ GOD IT’S JUST THE OPPOSITE,…
IT’S WHO YOU ARE NOT, WHAT YOU APPEAR TO BE THAT COUNTS.
ARE YOU HIS, DO YOU KNOW HIM, IS IT…?
• HEAD OR HEART
• INTELLECT OR INTIMACY
• RELIGION OR A RELATIONSHIP
• RITUAL OR REVIVEAL
