Being Joyful: Joy of Keeping On!

December 14, 2014

Being Joyful

Joy of Keeping On!

Philippians 3:12-19

(Advance Slide #1)

Introduction

(Advance Slide #2)

Odds against rolling a perfect 300 in the game are about 225,000 to one.

• And one bowler appropriately collapsed when he qualified to join that brotherhood of 300.
• Another bowler just couldn’t bring himself to play the final ball of an otherwise perfect game.
• Instead he silently packed his shoes and ball and walked out -- and never again set foot inside a bowling alley!
• He couldn’t stand the suspense of whether he could bowl that last strike or not.

Nevertheless, bowling a 300 game is not perfectionism. It might be to some people but not in the spiritual realm.

Text

(Advance Slide #3)

12 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. 13 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, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

(Advance Slide #4)

Paul begins by saying that he has not obtained ‘it’!

• What is ‘it’?
• It...is the resurrection of the dead.

Paul even acknowledges that he is not perfect.   

(Advance Slide #5)

• How we define perfect.
• Paul’s usage - “whole” “complete” “mature”...Paul is not there yet.
• There is room for him to continue to mature.
• Paul saw himself as a disciple in training!

(Advance Slide #6)

• IRONY - There were those who thought that they had “arrived.” - vs. 12

We too must also see ourselves as continual learners!

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Growth requires effort!

• I am saved by grace, but that grace is not a cheap grace.
• What does it require?
• It requires a commitment on my part.
• It demands that I comply with it’s implications in my life.

(Advance Slide #8)

“I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.”

• By his grace Paul is trying to hold onto Jesus as he is pulled from his sin.
• He is forgetting the things that he left behind...and he’s not looking back!
• Instead…”press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
• This ‘upward call’ is issued by God, and its in Christ Jesus.
• Jesus makes this VICTORY possible.

(Advance Slide #9)

15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. 16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

Paul again uses the word ‘perfect’ for those who have matured.

• The ‘matured’ will hear and acknowledge his words.
• They are developing the attitude that Paul wants them to have.
• God wants their eyes opened so that they will see and accept what Paul wants them to have.

(Advance Slide #10)

Paul even suggests that there are two helping one’s faith grow:

1. Must be of the same MIND.

• Think like Paul, and the way that he has taught them to think.

2. Must be of the same ATTITUDE.

• Put aside your selfish motives.

Paul revisits a theme that is he had already mentioned.

(Advance Slide #11)

• Live in a manner that is worthy, and consistent, with what God has done in Jesus!

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17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. 18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.

(Advance Slide #13)

“join in imitating me”...”walk according to the example you have in us”

• ‘us’ - is very likely Timothy and Epaphroditus.
• Paul as well as other faithful Christians have presented themselves as worthy examples.

We also need to watch out for those that are not living according to the examples.

(Advance Slide #14)

• Those who are enemies of the cross they lessen the meaning of the cross.
• The fact is that they live as though the cross does not matter.
• Who are these enemies?
• They were the opponents
• They were false teacher/preachers
• They were dogs/evil workers

Paul describes these false teachers further:

1. “god’s of their appetite” - vs. 19
2. “glory is their shame” - vs. 19

*They were boasting of things that they really should be ashamed about!

Many Philippians, like us, had set their minds on earthly things.

• True discipleship is shifting from visible to invisible, from temporary to eternal, form the outward to the inner man.
• These are followers of the flesh.

Lesson

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The pursuit of perfection. Can we ever get there in this life?

• Not really, but we can grow in Christian maturity.

How about spiritual maturity then? How can we reach a certain amount of spiritual maturity?

• I offer these 3 suggestions:

(Advance Slide #16)

Don’t think that you are there. - vs. 12

• What’s the lesson?
• Don’t get too sold on yourself in regard to anything you’ve done in this world and even in regard to your faith.
• The right attitude is, “I’m not there yet but I’m working at it.”

Forget the past. - vs. 13

• Often people and our own consciences won’t let them forget our past.
• This is something that is hard to deal with and/or overcome.
• But this is where God’s grace comes in.
• His grace not only saves us but it can also equip us for all of life, including putting our past behind us; good, bad or otherwise.

Keep going on! - vs. 14

• What does his life teach us?
• Exactly what Paul said in our text.
• “…press on toward the goal for the prize”

(Advance Slide #17)

How do we press on?

• We keep on praying, reading God’s Word, and living the life as best we can!

Conclusion

Spiritual perfection,

• NO. There is no such thing...our only perfection is in Christ.
• Spiritual growth and maturity should be our goal in life.

We only have one life, and it will past.

(Advance Slide #18)

• Only what is done for Christ will last.