Philip. 3:7-14 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 in order 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 in order 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.
Learning to overcome 2 men that desire to ROB you of real life. You know them well!
They have been hanging around you for years
These 2 guys will cause you to compete and compare all the days of your life.
1. The MAN you USE to be. Read verses - 13,14
2. The MAN you DREAMED youd be.
The man you use to be . . . Was -
Energetic - Athletic - Had Hair - Had Muscular Definition - Was in Shape - Had Popularity -
Had NO Real Responsibility - Had No Aches - No Pains He was LOST - He was Searching -
He was NOT ALL He thought He was
The man you dreamed youd be . . . Was somewhat-
Flawless - Perfect - Married to a TEN - A Stud - Hall of Famer - Looked like Atlas - Hair never grayed -
Had tons of money - Had plenty of friends real friends - He never aged - He had few problems -
His family and friends were rarely sick - He had an understanding wife that would tolerate about anything -
He was applauded - Loved - Needed - Welcomed by most . . .
Learning to EMBRACE the MAN that you are.
Learning to KNOW the Man that GOD has shaped you to become!
In a general sense - Paul has just given us his biographical profile.
He shares his past - present - and future!
Paul talks from a spiritual mind not a natural mind. He is looking at things from Gods point of view and not mans. Paul is not upset about the things behind him, around him or before him. Things do not rob him of the JOY of the Lord. His mind is set and focused on Christ.
Understanding the difference between
1. What were gains to me - What are gains to GOD -
2. What are losses to me - What are losses to GOD -
Lets look at what Paul - Gained Lost and Kept.
1. Gained v. 8-11
a. Knowledge of Christ / Mind of Christ v. 8; 1 Cor. 2:16; John 8:32
b. Righteousness of Christ v. 9; 2 Cor. 5
c. Fellowship with Christ v. 10,11; John 15: Rev 3:20
2. Lost
a. Prejudice Mind
b. Pride in the Law and Religious Dogma REMEMBER
c. Previous Friends Where you were -
d. Persecuting ways Where you are - and
Where you are going!
3. Kept
a. Heritage and Pedigree
b. Zeal and Enthusiasm
c. OT scholarship he did not suffer Bible amnesia
d. Basic Personality and temperament
That I might KNOW Him . . .
1. It is about knowing HIM, not me. The world concentrates on me! My! Self centered!
2. It is about HIS power, not mine. HE is the source, quit looking at
the light of men. Look to the LIGHT of the WORLD.
3. It is about His sufferings, not mine. He has gone before and we can
find comfort in suffering in Him.
4. It is about His death, not mine. Perspective my friends. He died and
rose, so will we! "That I will attain the resurrection from the dead'.
MAN CENTERED OR GOD CENTERED THINKING HELPS US UNDERSTAND LIFE!
In verses 12-16 Paul speaks of his
1. Development - v. 12 - I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet
Paul is basically saying "I have not arrived - I have much growing to do"
It has been said that a sanctified dissatisfaction is the first essential in running the Christian race.
Many followers of Christ become satisfied in the journey due to the fact of comparing themselves with others who are making little progress. This is vain and very empty.
v. 12 Perfect = has not arrived at perfection.
v. 15 Perfect = mature in the knowledge of Christ and growing in HIM.
Self evaluation can be healthy BUT - It can also be very dangerous. We can err in 2 directions:
1. We can make ourselves better than we are
2. We can make ourselves worse than we are
2. Devotion - v. 13 - This one thing I do
Paul is about to elaborate on what defines his life. THIS ONE THING - a key phrase to all Believers!
Psalm 27:4 One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life
Mark 10:21 "One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."
Luke 10:42 but only a few things are necessary, really only one -
John 9:25 Whether He is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I do know I was blind, now I see."
What is the ONE THING that makes you tick? Many Christians are too involved in MANY things!
Athletes succeed by specializing! Very few can do it all - KNOW your talent and your emphasis.
3. Direction - v. 13 - Forgetting what lies behind
The race to run is ahead - not behind! Luke 9:62 says = Dont look back!
To forget in the Bible means - "no longer to be influenced by or affected by."
1 Tim. 1:12-16 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service; [13] even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy, because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; [14] and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. [15] Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. [16] I found mercy, in order that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience, as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.
Hebrews 10:17 "And their sins and their lawless deeds - I will remember no more."
Forgetting what is behind means - to break the power of the past by living for the future.
Joseph in Genesis 45:1-15 trusted God by releasing and not reliving the past hurts.
4. Determination and Drive v. 14 - I press toward the Goal
I follow after with an intense desire to discover and uncover all that God has for me.
2 obstacles to overcome [1] I must do it all [2] God must do it all
Balance is a key in this Spiritual journey. God is at work both to will and to act according to HIS good pleasure. SO - continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. Phil. 2:12,13
1 Timothy 4:7,8 - discipline to be Godly.
Paul knew his assignment and call! We must seek God with such intensity to lay hold of the call HE has on our lives. REMEMBER - Gods will is not lost!
5. Discipline 15,16 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; however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained. Gal. 6:14-16
Any rule violation disqualified the athlete from the race. He did not loose his citizenship - but he did loose the opportunity to win the prize.
2 Tim. 2:5 if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules.
