Out with the Old, In with the New

Philippians 3:7–16 NIV84

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, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 15 All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

1. Jesus Christ over everything else

Whatever was to your profit means nothing without Christ

Status means nothing

Your identity means nothing without Christ

Salvation is our goal but we can’t get there without Christ

We rejoice because of Christ’s finished work

1 Pet 1:6-7 “6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”

Your zeal for God means nothing if it is not in accord with Christ

Rom 10:2-4 “2 For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. 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.”

Submit to God’s righteousness

Christ is our Righteousness

Without Christ, Righteousness is impossible

Everything doesn’t matter

2. Forget what is behind, continue to the goal

Stop living on yesterday’s victories

Stop living on yesterday’s blessings

To move ahead you must leave the past behind

Time to move out the old and make room for the new

Is 43:19 “19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”

A way in the desert

Desert: arid land with usually sparse vegetation; especially : such land having a very warm climate and receiving less than 25 centimeters (10 inches) of sporadic rainfall annually

Wasteland: Barren or uncultivated land; an ugly often devastated or barely inhabitable place or area; something (such as a way of life) that is spiritually and emotionally arid and unsatisfying

San Antonio is finishing the year with 11.51” rainfall

The average is 32.38” rainfall

We have been in a natural desert-like year

Forget what is behind—God is making a WAY in the desert

Is 35:5-8 “5 Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. 6 Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. 7 The burning sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground bubbling springs. In the haunts where jackals once lay, grass and reeds and papyrus will grow. 8 And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way; wicked fools will not go about on it.”

Get ready for a FLOW from God

3. Fight to the finish

Jesus came to earth to die a sinner’s death

Jesus completed His task

Jesus said, “It is Finished!”

2 Tim 4:7 “7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

Fight a good fight: remain faithful to God and the Gospel message despite opposition

1 Tim 1:18 “18 Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight,”

1 Tim 6:12 “12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

Finish the race: Follow Jesus even when you want to give up

Jn 6:68 “68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”

Keep the Faith: Stay faithful to the end; Faithfully preach the Gospel message—the Good News

Answer the bell

4. Live up to what you’ve attained

Attained: succeed in achieving (something that one desires and has worked for); Attain means to “reach, achieve, or accomplish” through the means of hard work. After months of studying, I finally attained a passing grade on my final exam. Obtain means to “get or acquire something.”

Walk in line with your attainment

Presidents are still presidents even after they are no longer in office

Champions are still champions even when they are no longer champions

There is a standard reached through hard work

Live up to that and continue to strive for better

You have worked hard to be a Christian—don’t live like unbelievers

1 Cor 9:26-27 “26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”

Live in harmony and mutual cooperation in spite of whatever difference of opinions may exist

Out with the Old way of doing things

In with the New way of the FLOW of the Spirit of God