Rejoice In The Lord
Notes
Transcript
Philippians 3:1–12
Paul tells us to “Rejoice in the Lord”
And then tells us to watch out for those who will try to tear you away from Christ, especially from those who will try to do so by wanting you to put confidence in the flesh…
Confidence in the Flesh -
meaning anything you can do, earn, or obtain on this earth except purely and soley by faith in Christ alone.
Paul then tells us that if anyone has cause to have confidence in the flesh, surely it would be him above you & me.
Why? Because he was a Hebrew of Hebrews…
Best parents.
Best upbringing.
Best practices.
Best family.
Best heritage.
Best schooling.
Best zeal.
Best religiously.
According to the fake righteousness according to the flesh and the law
- he would get a
10 out of 10!
But any of that he counts as LOSS for the sake of Christ!
He throws it all away to know Christ!
Employee of the year
- LOSS!
Straight A student
- LOSS!
Perfect church attendance
- LOSS!
Elder, Deacon, Teacher of the church
- LOSS!
He counts all earthly accolades and accomplishments as LOSS for the sake of Christ!
Why?
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
Because of the “surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord”.
He found something that was more valuable!
Knowing Christ is better and more important than anything else in your life!
Not just “knowing” Him past tense. Like a one & done kind of thing.
But KNOWING Christ!
On-going!
It’s better than Disney World!
It’s better than your academics!
It’s better than your greatest earthly achievement!
We are told to rejoice in the Lord because He is worth more than anything you could even earn!
We are told to rejoice in the Lord because you get to know Him and that is worth more than anything this world could ever give you or take away from you!
Matthew 13:44 (ESV)
“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.
Christianity is not the absence of joy…
but the ultimate fulfillment of joy!
Christianity is not giving up the fun stuff so you can go to Heaven someday.
Christianity is finding the BETTER stuff today so you can enjoy it today and forevermore!
What is it?
Knowing Jesus Christ Our Lord!!
The it is an on-going, never-ending, always-evolving loving relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
We have a relationship with Christ!
We have it.
We keep it.
We continue in it.
We rejoice in it.
The Creator of Heaven and Earth invites you to know Him and walk with Him!
Rejoice in the Lord!!
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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
Paul here does something a little crazy and offensive.
He writes that all of his earthly accomplishments, specifically the fake righteousness he felt he obtained through following the Law…
He counts it as LOSS!
Why?
Because of the surpassing worth of knowing (something he has that is his) Christ Jesus, His Lord.
But then Paul goes on to write something even more offensive in v.8…
For the sake of Christ, Paul says, he has “suffered the loss of all things”
The word here means forfeit.
I forfeit all those things… and I count those things as “rubbish”.
Rubbish
Greek = skybalon
Lit. = animal dung
I count all of my family heritage that I used to boast in…
I count all of my religious accolades that I felt confidence in…
I count all of my earthly accomplishments that I felt pride in…
I count them all as animal crap!
And that is the nicest way to translate that in a church service.
If you’re not offended, you’re not paying close enough attention.
Imagine being a Hebrew and hearing this. Imagine how offensive that might be.
You didn’t know the Apostle Paul was a Shock Preacher?
Do you know how many times this word (skybala) is used in the Bible?
Just once!
Just here!
He uses such offensive & harsh language that is never used in Biblical text anywhere else because of the extreme passion that he is trying to express here!
Not because they are “bad” or not impressive.
They are very impressive.
His greatest earthly and religious accomplishments are considered like the dog poop that you need to clean up in your back yard…
When you compare them to knowing Christ Jesus, our Lord.
“surpassing worth”
He clings to those old earthly confidences no longer because of 3 things:
1.) He found something more valuable
2.) He wants more of this. He is satisfied in Christ but always wants more
Living Water - Never thirst again but it keeps coming
3.) He wants this for the rest of his life & for all of eternity
through faith
not all of these earthly accolades and accomplishments.
Through Faith!
Faith alone!
They say that the great Reformation would not had been such an uproar if Martin Luther and the Reformers would have left out 1 simple word:
“alone”
Make it my own
Made me His own
The entire premise began with this:
Rejoice in the Lord!
Shortest verse in the Bible is not John 11.35
John 11:35 (ESV)
Jesus wept
Shortest verse in the Bible is 1 Thess. 5.16
1 Thessalonians 5:16 (ESV)
Rejoice always
It has 2 less letters in the original language :)
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My Summary of Philippians 3.7-11:
Knowing Jesus is worth more than anything in this world.
Even if I suffer the loss of all things, it's like losing nothing, and completely worth it, if I gain HIM and am found IN HIM...
Having HIS righteousness, by faith in HIM alone, to know HIM more, and know HIS resurrection power, sharing in HIS sufferings, becoming LIKE HIM in HIS death, that I may attain HIS resurrection.
Knowing that I am not yet perfect but am being perfected by HIM and looking forward to this, I press on to make this my own, because HE chose to make me HIS own.
—
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Closing Song:
“Knowing You”