August 7, 2011
Morning Service

Philippians 3:8-21

 

Review:

 

1.                   As we awoke this morning to prepare for a wonderful Lord’s day, a day of being with friends, and relatives at our church service.  We no doubt had the breakfast of our choice, listening to our favorite radio, or tv station.  Getting prepared for a peaceful morning of praise, and worship to our wonderful God.

2.                  But not so in a lot of places around the world.

• Israel wakes up every morning with the possibility of being attacked by her neighbors.
• Syria, where the Apostle Paul, and Barnabas started their work of evangelism, in the church at  Damascus.  They woke up this morning with their government killing their own people.
• In Afghanistan, we hear of our Navy Seals unit taking a big loss over the past couple of days.
• Riots in the streets of London.
• Starvation in Somalia.  People dying for lack of food.
• Our own Government struggling to find an answer to supply jobs for the people, trying to fix a busted economy, which is still the greatest country in the world.
• The Apostle describes these situations to Timothy;  2Ti 3:1-5 KJVR  This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  (2)  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,  (3)  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,  (4)  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;  (5)  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

 

From such turn away!!  Where, or what are we to turn away too?  There is only one answer to that question.

 

3.                  In chapter 3 of Philippians the Apostle begins with;  Phi 3:1 KJVR  Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. 

• These people were having difficult times, fighting false preachers, people worshipping false Gods, being turned away from their own families because of accepting Jesus Christ as their Savior.

4.                  And then down a little bit further;  Phi 3:7-9 KJVR  But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.  (8)  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,  (9)  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

• Jesus said, “Mat 6:33 KJVR  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

THE ANSWER IS TO WIN CHRIST, TO ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR PERSONAL SAVIOR.  HE IS GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR MANKIND, AND THEN ALL THESE THINGS, FOOD, RAIMENT, A ROOF OVER YOUR HEAD, THE ESSENTIAL THINGS OF LIFE WILL BE SUPPLIED BY YOUR GOD, WHO IS IN CONTROL OF EVERYTHING.

 

When our country was first established, there were only the Pilgrims, God fearing people, and the native American  Indians.  We kept progressing toward a better life for all.  It is just here lately that our God has been kicked out of our schools, our government, and look at where it has gotten us.

 

Where Paul said it would take us:

• This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  (2)  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,  (3)  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,  (4)  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;  (5)  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

The great revival scripture of 2Ch 7:14 KJVR  If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

 

 

God, we are Your people, called by Your Name, Christian, and you are telling us to turn from our wicked ways.  Lord, do you think we are sinners?  Do we have sins to confess? 

Hopefully you can see how futile these questions I have ask are, and the answers are very obvious.  Here is our dilemma;  Just as Israel as a nation did not accept Jesus as the Messiah, there were those that did.  The same is with us today, many Christians are crying out to God, and confessing our sins, but not the whole nation.

 

Now let me get off my pale horse this morning, because it is not death, and gloom for us Christians, and notice

notice this morning as we finish chapter 3 of Philippians how the Apostle gives the solution to the church at Philippi.  Lydia, the Jailer, and their households, and the rest of the Christians meeting at Philippi.

 

Phi 3:8-21 KJVR  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,  (9)  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:  (10)  That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;  (11)  If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 

• To know Him is to understand He has promised us eternal life.  That means that even if we die before He returns, we will be resurrected, and made like unto His glorious body, to live eternally with Him.

(12)  Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect:

• To know Him is to understand that we are only perfect in the eyes of God, because of what Jesus did for mankind on Calvary.  Paul teaches us this all through his writings.

but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.  (13)  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,  (14)  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.  (15)  Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. 

• To know Him is to understand that it is a continual walk of overcoming.  I follow after, I press toward the mark of the high calling, I reach forth unto those things which are before.

(16)  Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. 

• To know Him is to understand that He wants us Christians unified in the faith, caring for each other, and mankind.

(17)  Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an example.  (18)  (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:  (19)  Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) 

• In the last days perilous times will come;  Paul gives the church the fruit to watch for, and to stay away from.

NOW HERE IT IS;

(20)  For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ:  (21)  Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

• To know Him is to understand that as we strive, and press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, this will be our reward.  Jesus is coming back after a church that has prepared herself for His coming.
• When that trumpet blows, and you are dead, you will come out of that grave, and if you are still alive at His coming, you will be changed in the twinkling of an eye, and rise to follow those who have been resurrected.
• To know Him is to understand that then the Scripture of:  Heb 11:39-40 KJVR  And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:  (40)  God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

Just to think that all these great people of faith have not attained their place in heaven, or of perfection yet!

God will make us all perfect at the same time.  Rejoice Christian, and again I say rejoice.

 

 ALMIGHTY GOD FORGIVE US OF OUR SINS, AND HELP US TO PRESS TOWARD THE MARK OF THE HIGH CALLING OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS, LOOKING UNTO THE DAY THAT WE WILL BE CHANGED, AND RESURRECTED TO A LIFE OF ETERNITY WITH YOU.