Executing Joy in the Spiritual Mind

Philippians 3:1–3 (KJV 1900)

1 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.

2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.

3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

Philippians 3:4–6 (KJV 1900)

4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:

5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

Philippians 3:7–8 (KJV 1900)

7 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,

Calculate Your Loss

Begins with:

A Personal Assessment

Paul and his past life—v. 4–6.

Philippians 3:4–6 (KJV 1900)

4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:

5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

If anyone had a reason to hope they could make it based on their birth and their religious background, it was Paul! All of this Paul accounted to be a loss.

Philippians 3:7 (KJV 1900)

7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

The word “loss” means “damage or injury”

In Paul’s life, what he thought were assets were really liabilities!

All those things worked against him to prevent him from trusting a source outside his religion or outside himself. That made them very dangerous!)

Friend, the same is true for you this morning!

Just because you come from a Christian heritage does not buy you a ticket to Heaven.

Being raised in the church and being a good person all your life will not save your soul!

You still must be born again—John 3:3!

John 3:3 (KJV 1900)

3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Many times, what we consider to be assets in the religious realm are actually liabilities, hindering and preventing us from perusing a genuine, saving relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ!

A Present Accounting

Philippians 3:8 (KJV 1900)

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,

Paul used present tense verbs to describe what he does with those things that he used to consider assets.

He counts them as loss and he views them as dung! He is telling us that he lays all he is and has alongside Jesus and sees it all as garbage compared to Him!

In other words, nothing in Paul’s life was nearly as important as being a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Is there anything in your life that hinders you from having a focused, vital, growing relationship with the Lord Jesus?

Is it really worth the price of being hindered in your walk with Him?

Just as a world class athlete must lay aside certain things if he is to be at the top of his game, the believer who wants to be all he can be for Jesus must lay aside everything but Jesus in order to know Him better!

A Prized Acceptance

Notice why Paul did this,

Philippians 3:7 (KJV 1900)

7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

Philippians 3:8 (KJV 1900)

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,

Paul was willing to turn his back on everything that was important to him so that he might be saved!

He saw Jesus as worth more than everything else!

Notice that he uses the language of “personal relationship” in these verses!

The whole point of these verses is to cause us to see that knowing Jesus is more valuable than anything else in this life, or in the life to come! If you have all the religious attainments and miss Jesus, you have lost everything!

Matthew 16:26 KJV 1900

26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Have you come to the place where you have calculated your losses?

Have you seen the truth that you can have everything, but without Jesus, you have absolutely nothing?

Philippians 3:8–9 (KJV 1900)

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:

Consecrate Your Life

Persistance in Consecration

When Paul came to Jesus, he counted all his assets as losses and this he continues to do day by day!

This is talking about a mind set that says “Jesus Christ is first in my life and I will allow nothing to come between me and Him!”

Philippians 1:27 (KJV 1900)

27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

Philippians 2:2 (KJV 1900)

2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

Philippians 2:5 (KJV 1900)

5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Friend, it is easy to allow things to cloud your vision of Him!

In fact, just about anything in life has the potential to eclipse Jesus if it is given an opportunity!

The faithful, growing Christian is the one who is always looking for ways to deepen his relationship with Jesus and is constantly on the look out for things that would hinder that relationship, Heb. 12:1–2 !

Hebrews 12:1–2 (KJV 1900)

1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Philippians 3:15 (KJV 1900)

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.

Philippians 3:16 (KJV 1900)

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

When we see the Savior like Paul saw Him, it helps us to live this kind of life.

He saw Him as Christ—“The Holy, Anointed One, the Messenger, Messiah and Prophet of God”

Jesus—“The Savior Who gave Himself for all those trapped in sin.”

Lord—“The Sovereign Ruler and ventral authority of all of life, the One Who hates sin and is set against it.”

Pleasure in Consecration

Philippians 3:8 (KJV 1900)

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,

Paul speaks of the “excellency of the knowledge.”

The word “excellency” means “superior, above and beyond the ordinary.”

Paul says that his just being able to “know” Jesus is a privilege beyond compare. Here, he is referring to the knowledge that comes by experience.

It is one thing to hear someone else speak of Jesus, Who He is and what He can do. It is quite another to experience Him for yourself!

Paul says that knowing Jesus is worth more than anything he may have given up to come to God.

To know Jesus in a personal, intimate way is a blessing beyond compare! He is more than just a story in dusty old book. He is a Friend that sticketh closer than a brother! He is the shade on my right hand. He reveals Himself in the storm and in the sunshine. He shows His glory on the mountain of victory and in the valley of defeat. To know Him in salvation is just the beginning! Every mile reveals more of His glory to the seeking pilgrim! Every valley proves His sweetness. Every burden His grace. Every step is fragrant with His power and presence in the life of the believer. Yes. All of life is but dung compared with the knowledge of Him!

Do you know Him? Not just know about Him, that is never enough!

Do you know Him personally, intimately and experientially?

Payoff of Consecration

There may have been those who questioned Paul’s mental state when he turned his back on family, fame, fortune and future to follow this man named Jesus. Surely he gave up a lot from human perspective.

Note: He was probably disowned by his family. Sometimes Jews would hold a funeral for those who had converted to Christianity. He lost his fortune, his friends, his heritage; pretty much everything of value to him before he met Jesus!

But, for Paul, what he gained far outweighed what he may have left behind!

Paul knew that all his credentials and all his family associations and religious achievements would amount to nothing when he stood before the Lord. He wanted to stand before the Lord, not in his own works and goodness, but in the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Paul knew that is he appeared within himself and within what he had done, he would be condemned, Isa. 64:6 .

Isaiah 64:6 (KJV 1900)

6 But we are all as an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; And we all do fade as a leaf; And our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

But, he also knew that if he appeared there in Jesus, he would be accepted in heaven as if he were Jesus Himself, Eph. 1:6.

Ephesians 1:6 (KJV 1900)

6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Paul knew that the instant he trusted Jesus as his personal Savior, the righteousness of Christ was imputed (applied) to his account, Rom. 4:24 .

Romans 4:24 (KJV 1900)

24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;

He knew that what Paul was would be judged as worthy of Hell, but that what Jesus was would be accepted by God. Therefore, Paul wanted to be “in Christ.”

Philippians 3:9 (KJV 1900)

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:

This he was because he had placed his faith in Christ for salvation. He plainly tells us that this righteousness is given on the basis of faith alone.

Note:

Where will that day find you?

We are all going to stand before the Lord some day, Rom. 14:12 ; 2 Cor. 5:10.

Romans 14:12 KJV 1900

12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

2 Corinthians 5:10 KJV 1900

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

You can either stand there as a Christian at the Judgment Seat of Christ, or you can stand there as a sinner at the Great White Throne.

Where you appear will be determined by what you do with Jesus Christ! You see you are born into this world in “Adam”, Rom. 5:12. All of Adam’s children are under a death sentence because they are all sinners, Rom. 3:10; 3:23; 6:23. When a sinner trusts calls on Jesus by faith for salvation, that person is removed from Adam and placed in Jesus, 1 Cor. 12:13. If you have trusted Jesus as your Savior, then you are saved by faith and you are in Jesus and not Adam. Everyone who is found in Adam will die and go to Hell! Every one who is in Jesus will be saved and will go to Heaven.

The only way into Jesus is by faith, Eph. 2:8–9; Rom. 10:9, 13; Acts 16:31.

Where are you today?

If you are in Adam, you need to get into Jesus. You can only do this by repenting of your sin and calling on Jesus for salvation by faith.

Note: Just as a side note, living a clean life will never save the sinner. Salvation comes only through faith in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ as Paul himself says in verse 9.

Philippians 3:9 (KJV 1900)

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:

Number 1 - Calculate Your Loss.

Number 2 - Consecrate Your Life.

and Number 3 -

Philippians 3:10–11 KJV 1900

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.

Change Your Longings

Philippians 3:10 (KJV 1900)

10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

Long For A Personal Experience

—Paul says that he wants to know Jesus. He has already talked about his experience of Jesus in salvation. Now, he relates that he wants to grow in his experience of the Lord Jesus day by day. The normal Christian life is one that continually learns about Jesus and grows in grace day by day, 2 Pet. 3:18. You see, as we go through the experiences of life, we have the opportunity to learn more about Jesus Christ. As we experience His grace, His presence, His power, His glory and His blessings, we will develop a desire to know Him even better. The normal Christian life is one that cannot exist without Him.

Long For A Powerful Experience

“The power of His resurrection”, refers to the power of the life of Christ living through him. You see, Paul has learned what so many people never figure out: you cannot live the Christian life! It cannot be done! If a life is to be changed and lived in the newness of His power, then it must be lived through the Christian by the Lord Himself. This is just what Paul himself said that he desired in Gal. 2:20. The genuine, consecrated life is one that longs for the power of Christ to be in control of every aspect of life!

Long For A Painful Experience

—“The fellowship of His sufferings”

This phrase calls to mind a readiness to go all the way with Jesus, even to the point of death! Far too many believers view themselves as a victim! Everything in life is against them and they are so pitiful! They have it so hard all the time. The consecrated life is one that sees genuine suffering as a means of growing closer to the Lord. A truly consecrated life reacts to suffering like Jesus said, Matt. 5:44; James 1:2–3; 2 Cor. 12:10.

Long For A Practical Experience

—“being made conformable unto His death”

This phrase speaks about coming to the place where we reckon ourselves dead with Christ. This is the challenge to every believer! To die to sin and to self is to be more alive in the Spirit than ever before, Rom. 6:6, 11. The consecrated life is one that has ceased to live for itself. In fact, it has died to itself, its lusts and its attractions. It is dead to the world, but it is alive to God, His word and His will. All it wants is what God wants.

Long For A Pleasant Experience

Philippians 3:11 (KJV 1900)

11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

—Verse 11 is about Paul’s desire to leave this world in the rapture. He longs to be with the Lord and to return with Him to glory! This is the heartbeat of every consecrated life! It longs for the return of the Lord Jesus. It throbs with anticipation over His return. Therefore, it lives a holy, dedicated, consecrated and expectant life, looking and longing for the return of the Lord from glory, 1 John 3:1–3.

1 John 3:1–3 (KJV 1900)

1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

When you take all this into consideration, does it sound like the life you are living?

Conc: In light of these verses, would you have to say that your Christian life is normal or abnormal?

The church and the world have seen enough abnormal Christians to last for many life times. Don’t you think it’s time that people like you and me showed this world what Christianity is all about? That it isn’t about church buildings and denominations; that it isn’t about offerings, rules and regulations; but that it is about a life changing encounter with Jesus Christ. We need to get real before the world and show them the difference Jesus makes!

There are some here this morning who do not even know Jesus. Like Paul, you are religious, but you are lost. I would like to invite you to come to Jesus today and lose your religion.