Successful Ministry, Philippians 3:7-14
Notes
Transcript
Introduction:
Introduction:
Success in the world is different than success in ministry in God’s eyes.
Every believer can be successful in God’s eyes by striving toward to the following characteristics in our service.
We must serve God with ATTITUDE, vs: 7-11
We must serve God with ATTITUDE, vs: 7-11
7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by 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 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Paul’s attitude toward his own positions (counted as loss), vs: 7.
Paul’s attitude toward his own possessions (counted as trash), vs: 8a.
Paul’s attitude toward his own purpose (gaining Christ), vs: 8b-11.
His righteousness of Christ.
His knowledge of Christ.
His experience with Christ.
Illustration: Serving with Attitude- Jim Elliot, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”
Our attitude toward others must reflect Christ’s own, Phil. 2:3-8.
3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
Application: Serving with attitude.
We must serve God with ACTIVITY, vs: 12.
We must serve God with ACTIVITY, vs: 12.
12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
Pressing on towards growth.
Pressing on towards the goal.
Example: Acts 16:6-10, even when the Holy Spirit closed the doors, Paul kept going until he wound up in Philippi.
6 Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. 7 After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. 8 So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.
Paul’s instructs Timothy to remain active:
Doing the work of an evangelist, 2 Tim. 4:5.
5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
Praying, 1 Tim. 2:1-2.
1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.
Reading/exhorting/teaching God’s Word, 1 Tim. 4:13.
13 Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
Paul instructs the Philippians to remain active:
Doing what has been learned, Phil. 4:9.
9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
Obeying, even when there is no desire, Phil. 2:12-13.
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
Illustration: Serving God with activity- Ministry during the Pandemic 2020-2021.
Application: Serving God with activity.
We must serve God with ABANDON, vs: 13-14.
We must serve God with ABANDON, vs: 13-14.
13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Forgetting the past.
Striving toward the highest calling.
Paul’s example: Acts 20:28; 2 Cor. 12:15; 2 Tim. 4:6; Phil. 2:17.
Illustration: Serving God with abandon-
Application: Serving God with abandon-