Sunday Sermons at the Una Church of Christ

Sunday, December 14, 2014

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!

(Advance Slide #7)

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:

Must be of the same MIND.

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

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!

(Advance Slide #12)

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:

“god’s of their appetite” - vs. 19
“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

(Advance Slide #15)

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.

Sunday, December 7, 2014

Being Joyful: What Really Matters

December 7, 2014

Being Joyful

What Really Matters

Philippians 3:1-11

(Advance Slide #1)

Introduction

In the movie ‘City Slickers’ Billy Crystal and a group of his executive city friends decide it was time to take an adventure vacation.

An adventure vacation is not just laying on the beach it’s doing some activity with a guide that takes you out to the edge...it was a cattle drive in the wild west.
The character played by Billy crystal has problems at work and problems in his marriage - he has having a midlife crisis.
The guide for this adventurous cattle drive is Curly played by Jack palance.
Near the end of the movie, nearly being killed Curly said the Billy: “It’s the one thing.”
Billy said what’s the one thing? Curly said “that’s for you to discover for yourself.”

That that matters most to you...you need to decide!

(Advance Slide #2)

Today we will be discussing what really matters.

This is a great time of year to hear this.

We are bring so inundated with things that we "need."
We have this toy and that gadget, but which is the most important?

Paul would say, "None of it is...do you know The Lord?"

(Advance Slide #3)

Text

1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.

Paul begins this chapter with something a word we would usually end with.

(Advance Slide #4)

“Finally” - this is Paul’s way of saying “the heart of the message is…”

NOTICE - once again Paul calls the Philippians to rejoice!

Why repeat this?

It was something that they needed to hear.
Also, joy was something that would safeguard them!

(Advance Slide #5)

2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also.

There is a significant shift in the tone that Paul uses.

While he addressed some possible sources of division, the letter has been upbeat and positive.
Paul is now going to come down hard on false teachers!

(Advance Slide #6)

These false teachers are apparently boasting about their spiritual credentials and heritage.
Paul calls them ‘dogs.’

(Advance Slide #7)

We must not think of Rover...domesticated dogs.

Dogs were used to describe something that was worthless and vulgar...it was used of mongrels!
This is always used as something contemptuous.

Paul is arguing that these Judaizers (Jews or proselytes trying to win Christians at the synagogue) are the real Gentiles.

(Advance Slide #8)

These false teachers are ‘evil workers.’
They are the ‘false circumcision.’
They were boasting of their deeds, heritage, and their righteousness.

(Advance Slide #9)

If anyone else thinks he has reason for 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; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

(Advance Slide #10)

Paul, unlike the false teachers, has a right to boast!

His heritage was that of a Jew.
He came from the right, wealthy family.
He had all the right training and the right connections

(Advance Slide #11)

There are two areas in which he might have boasted:

FIRST - regarding his birth!

Circumcised on the 8th day.
He was not a proselyte but a part of the nation of Israel...tribe of Benjamin!

SECOND - about his choices!

Paul declares that he was a Pharisee.
Not all Pharisees were hypocrites...they were dedicated to the oral and written law!
Paul is saying, “Check my record!”
He could never be convicted as a ‘law breaker’...he lived in conformity to the OT.
He even acknowledges that in all that ‘zeal’ he was also a ‘persecutor of the church.’

(Advance Slide #12)

7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 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 9 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— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

(Advance Slide #13)

Many suggest that these verses are the ‘essence of Pauline thought.’

He does not elevate his Christian life by putting down his own heritage.
He doesn’t go so far as to call his heritage bad/worthless, but that knowing Jesus was more important!

Paul describes what really matters.

(Advance Slide #14)

True circumcision is an inner thing...it was never the external mark that God really wanted.

It was suppose to be a symbol of an inner commitment.
The real prize comes from ‘knowing Jesus.’

(Advance Slide #15)

Knowing Him is more than intellectual knowledge...it is experiencing Him deep within your life!

NOTICE - what Paul gave up for his knowledge of Jesus was ‘rubbish.’

Lesson

What do we learn from Paul here?

(Advance Slide #16)

Justification - vs. 9
Sanctification - vs. 10
Glorification - vs. 11

This is all about righteousness!

(Advance Slide #17)

However, this is not a righteousness based on Paul’s accomplishments.

This is righteousness that comes from an identification with Christ’s death.
Paul has learned the meaning of faith and it’s being found in Him
Our lives are shaped in the pattern of the cross.

Because Christians are in union with Christ, there will be suffering and service.

The difference difference between Paul and the false teachers is the fact that he had learned what really matters.

CONSIDER - Jesus’ parables in Matthew 13:44-46.

(Advance Slide #18)

44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.