By Any Means.

(Philippians 3:7-11)

Introduction:

A. There is a game called would you rather, where you are presented with two options, and you must pick one.

B. I would like to play a round, of Would You Rather, with you this morning.

Would you rather be forced to only eat spicy food or only incredibly bland food?

Would you rather have every shirt you ever wear be kind of itchy or only be able to use 1 ply toilet paper?

C. Would you rather have everything but not have Christ or would you rather have nothing but Christ? (Philippians 3:7-11)

D. What would you give in in this world in exchange for Jesus?

Body:

I. Would you be willing to give up your physical possessions?

A. Christ Jesus gave up something even more valuable for us.

1. Jesus had glory and honor in heaven before he came to earth because he was God. (Jn. 1:1-3)

2. He gave up the very thing that we seek so that he could die on the cross. (Philippians 2:5-8)

3. He did this because of his love for us. (Galatians 2:20)

B. Things of this world are worthless in the end.

1. Paul tells us this when he writes about contentment. (1 Timothy 6:6-8)

2. There was a foolish man who held onto everything he had. (Luke 12:15-21)

3. The Lord then gives us the moral of that parable in that last verse, and the point is that there is nothing that we can take with us when we leave this earth.

C. Are we willing to give up the things that we have so that we might know Christ?

1. There was a man who had an opportunity to do just that, but he wouldn’t do it. (Mt. 19:16-24)

2. What the rich young man needed to know, and we need to remember is that those who follow Christ and are willing to sacrifice the things of this earth for him will receive more than they can imagine in the next world. (Mt. 19:29-30)

3. Are we being generous and sacrificial of our earthly blessings so that by any means we can have eternal life?

II. Would you be willing to give up your earthly ties?

A. Jesus gave up the greatest relationship in the universe for us.

1. Jesus when he came to earth, he temporarily gave up that complete oneness with God. (Phil. 2:6-7)

2. Not only that but in coming to earth he made relationships with humans here and he lost those connections too when he started his ministry. (Luke 4:16-20, 28-30)

3. In fact many in the world rejected and still do reject him and yet he still came to save those who would hear his voice. (John 10:11-18)

B. The bonds of family and friends in this world are temporary.

1. During our time on this earth these relationships are important.

2. God has given instruction on the roles of members in a household as well as how we are to treat others. (Eph. 5:22-6:9; Mt. 7:12)

3. However, sooner or later we all will die and those relationships on earth will be severed; then there will only one relationship that will matter. (Heb. 9:27)

C. Are we willing to give up family and friends so that we might know Christ Jesus?

1. Sometimes our faith might cause strife within our families here on earth but the duty we have is to Jesus our Lord. (Mt. 10:34-39)

2. There are those in this world who we may call friends who will attempt to pull us away from God and we need to be prepared to sever those ties if they come between us and our master. (2 Cor. 6:14)

3. In return Christ will add us to a family larger than any we know. (Gal. 4:1-7)

III. Would you be willing to give up your life?

A. Jesus died the death that each of us deserved to die.

1. He was never compelled or forced to come to this earth, but he did it because he loves us. (Jn. 3:16)

2. He was willing to die by one of the most awful executions that human minds have engineered. (Rom. 5:6-11)

3. All of that just so that we could have eternal life.

B. There is only one thing guaranteed in this world and that is that we die.

1. We are all mortal and whether we die, or the Lord comes again and receives us this life will come to an end.

2. Afterwards we will be raised up either to the resurrection of life, or to the resurrection of judgement. (John 5:25-30)

3. Which side of God’s judgement do you want to be on?

C. Are you willing to give your life for him.

1. In our society we generally don’t have to worry about losing our life because we follow Christ.

2. However, are you willing to put away that old life of sin to know Jesus? (Rom. 6:1-6)

3. There are many who want to cling to their old lives and ways, but if we desire to know the one who died for us then we too must die. (Gal. 2:20)

Conclusion:

A. By what means do you desire to receive that crown of righteousness? (Philippians 3:7-11)

B. Everything in this world is temporary but the salvation that our Lord brings is eternal.

C. Only through baptism can we truly begin to know Christ Jesus our Lord. (1 Pet. 3:21)