Joy Makes the Case for Discernment (Philippians 3:1-3)

Philippians 3:1-3

7/14/24

Introduction

Catch- Charles Spurgeon once described it: “Discernment is not knowing the difference between right and wrong; it is knowing the difference between right and almost right

It is not that hard to know not to eat dog droppings… a little harder to avoid chemical that looks like candy

There are things that like Tide Pods which will kill you if you eat them

And there are things that spiritually seem just fine, but are filled with poision designed to destroy your souls

There is a new name for an old heresy called preossgive Christianity

They unite around 3 distortions of the bible, the cross, and the gospel

The say things like Christians have disagreed about how to interpret the bible, so there is no one right way/

It’s just a travel journal that documents hwat ancient jew and christians believed about God.

The Cross is the father torturing his son in a form of cosmic child abuse.

The gospel is that a new kingdom is much bigger than a new religion and has rom for many religious traditions within it.

It’s isn’t a new way to solve the religious problem of original sin.

And while we may have heard that phrase taken out of context… Judge not

The reality is that Paul says there judgment against so called believers is necessary for their good and other people’s

Review

Paul begins v1 with finally, then continues for two chapters

Has led to many pastor jokes…

-What does a pastor mean when he says finally? Nothing at all, he just keeps going.

However, the word would be better understood as “in addition”or “Finally, I can get to this.”

or “Finally, I can get to this.”

Paul is saying after laying down all the ground work he can get to the next issue=A command for you to rejoice.

=A command for you to rejoice.& remember, that is not being happy, but having a confidence in the midst of trials and pains.

& remember, that is not being happy, but having a confidence in the midst of trials and pains.

You’ll notice on the handouts that I’ve called this march through Philippians as the Worthy Conduct of Joy

We say 1:21- to Live is christ, die is gain.

So In 1:27 he then call them to life a life worthy of the gospel= you must know the truth that you are a sinner who deserves only judgment and that christ has taken the just punishment and given you a great reward instead.

= you must know the truth that you are a sinner who deserves only judgment and that christ has taken the just punishment and given you a great reward instead.

2:12-13 informs us that we too can have humility as we work out our salvation…because it is God working in us the whole time

Then he turned to the examples of his own sacrificial life, the life of Timothy and Epahorditus.

All these men suffered because of following Christ, but in the end will be shown to be the true victors and will rejoice.

So, in light of all of that, you, the reader, are commanded to rejoice

He picks up the idea from the 2:18 where he commanded them to rejoice as he did

Happy comes from the latin word fortuna…aka fortune, meaning it depends on your good fortune.

But joy is always found in something outside ourselves and current events

So we strive after Christ and Find Joy

Joy is a result from trusting in God and believing that what he says will happen

But there is a threat to this joy in verse 1

Paul says is he writing these things to provide a safeguard, a shield

the most dangerous things to your joy is lies about God=False doctrine, false practice, misconceptions even that say wrong things about God

=False doctrine, false practice, misconceptions even that say wrong things about God

Safe- firm, sure, immoveable

He wants you to be able to be protected, so he has no problem repeating himself

AW Tozer wonderfully stated in starting the knowledge of the Holy:

What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us. The history of mankind will probably show that no people has ever risen above its religion, and man's spiritual history will positively demonstrate that no religion has ever been greater than its idea of God.

these lies about God come from people who spread them

so there are people God warns us about

The danger and design for your true joy (2-3)

3 descriptions of dangerous joy thieves (2)

Explanation

Paul gives the command to beware, or open your eyes and see.

It is the Greek command belpo

So you study the differences in a whole new way

Discernment is] a mental sense of smell that helps you notice when “something smells fishy”…

This tells us what these false brothers (gal 2:4) look like.

(they are alliterated in greek, so I did the same thing here)

The Dirty (Dogs)

These are not your fun pet dogs

these are the low life scavengers.

There is another word that refers to the dogs that eat scraps off tables or act a guards

These, though, are disgusting creatures that go through trash, even eating human bodies such as the wicked queen Jezebel in 1 Kings.

Paul was constantly chased by a group called The judaizers.

It is a term that comes from Gal 2:14

I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”

It was a group of devout jews that believed Jesus was the promised messiah, but thought that gentiles accepting Jesus had to become Jews first.

They had to be circumcised and follow all the law of Moses which had extra traditions added to it (Ie: no eating in the same house as a gentile)

Look at Gal 2:12ff

-Peter changed his actions when a certain group came who look down on him

-In Galatians the issue was following the law making you right with God?

Galatians 2:16- nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.

We might recognize Going to church is a good thing, but it does not make you a saved Christian anymore than walking into a garage makes you a christian

Paul is not just being insulting here, he is using their terminology against them

these Jews often referred to gentiles as dogs because they were unclean.

As the law said in Deuteronomy 23:18- “You shall not bring the hire of a harlot or the wages of a dog into the house of the LORD your God

Illus-

We ned to watch out for Dog’s sometimes to

And false teachers can be so deceptive like that.

I served on a missions trip to Mexico and there are cute little doggies liing around

But they are covered in hundreds of ticks across her body

There are those who are dirty

App:

You must realize that what may appear to be a godly life can be fake

What they say about others may actually be true about themselves like how judahizers were the real Dogs

Isn’t it interesting how someone who claims to have greater understanding of God’s expectations seems to think they are better than you are

There are whole discernment ministries that do not seek to understand and discern and just condemn that you need to watch out for

Instead, The apostle Paul who met with the resurrected Jesus Christ said he was the worse of Sinners who needed to the grace of God

That kind of humble confession is the kind of people we want to follow

Trans: but not only do they are they dirty, their actions reveal them

The Despicable (evil workers)

They are deserving to be despised because of what they do

These men are trying to make others submit to the Torah

But the problem is:

“For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.”” (Galatians 3:10–11)

No one cannot live up to this standard, you cannot live good enough

These pharisitical types are placing a unbearable burden upon others

They are trying to do good for God and have a great zeal for God but are doing so without knowledge (Rom 10:2)

So in the process steal the worship that along belongs to God.

The problem with legalism is that it’s mean or judgmental

Leagalism is not the ultimate red card we pull when someone tells we are doing something wrong

The problem is that it says you can do enough to make God happy, to appease his wrath

But the gospel message is only jesus can do that!

Illustration???

App:

Beware the men with false doctrine, telling you salvation requires this experience, or following Christ will result in you getting rich… because their lives are dirty

I am half Jewish, but there is a growing attempt to see Christian’s do everything like Jews again.. follow the same laws, eat Kosher, celebrate the Jewish calendar holidays to be real spiritual

But Israel failed in this… our family loves celebrating Passover, Hannakuhh and Yom Kippur

But that doesn’t make us any more Holy that seeking the means of grace found in God’s word

Trans: their failed attempts ot appease God is seen clearly in the 3rd description.

The Deranged (false circumcision)

They are crazy in their attempts to make themselves right with God

Here Paul makes it clear who he is talking about, those who promoted circumcision.

Some translations say those who mutilate the flesh*the word is literally those who cut the flesh.

*the word is literally those who cut the flesh.

It sounds just like the word for circumcision.

Paul’s sarcastic reference to those who are trying to follow God’s law their way and end up missing the whole picture because they missed that circumcision was supposed to reflect and inward reality.

“Circumcise yourselves to the Lord; remove the foreskin of your hearts, O men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem;.”” (Jeremiah 4:4, ESV)

& they did not have circumcised hearts

Illustration point-

There are dangers we have to watch out for because there are joy thieves out there

I’ve been asked at times Why would any professing christian be like this?

why someone would be willing to lie about one of those my child died and went to heaven books

But then months later Alex Malarkey, the boy from the boy who came back from heaven came forward to say his dad made the whole thing up

He said, “I did not die. I did not go to heaven,” he said. “When I made the claims, I had never read the Bible. People have profited from lies, and continue to. They should read the Bible, which is enough.”

And though Alex was disabled, he didn’t receive any of the money being left with very little when his father divorced his mother

So why Lie? Because there is sin going on.

A love of money

Beware those who who will dangerously steal you joyw

Application

I know many of you feel a tension in your hearts over these things because you want to believe these ministries and people you hear

And I praise God for you trust others

But God commands us to watch out… to test what people say against the word

2 key applications

You must believe there are false teachers who are lying to you

And you must run from them

2 John 10- If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting,

Today, some of the best false teachers are not actually claiming to follow the God of the Bible, they said they’ve transcended that

They say you are to follow your own heart

They say if you feel like you were born in the wrong body, you need to change it

So they cut into their bodies, not out service to some God, but to the God they want to make themselves

But it sounds so modern day holy… you define you

Brothers and sisters, we must declare that this robs joy

If you’re not a christian, I want you to know that you cannot get joy from yourself, but only the creator of all good things, Jesus Christ

And The more you dig into yourself, the more you’ll be disappointed

But Jesus died for those who are disappointing, those who’ve failed to do as we should… and he rose again showing the power to conquer the death we deserved

Jesus is better God tho serve who doesn’t require you to cut your body… instead to trust him with your decisions

But Paul also gives the good, what we are to look like.

The design to look for in others

Who are truly changed

Explanation-

Circumcision was the outward marker that said you were a jew.

In Christ we have baptism. By being baptized it says to all that you belong to christ.

By saying true circumcision Paul is not discounting Israel

Paul himself was a jew and circumcised. & Romans 11 teaches God still has a plan for Israel.

& Romans 11 teaches God still has a plan for Israel.

He is saying that circumcision of the heart is what matters for Jew and Gentile,

which is exactly what the OT said

Jeremiah 9:25-26

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will punish all those who are circumcised merely in the flesh— Egypt, Judah, Edom, the sons of Ammon, Moab, and all who dwell in the desert who cut the corners of their hair, for all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in heart.””

*Everyone is guiltily before God based on their heart

True circumcision is cutting sin away at the heart, something that isn’t quick

The design is seen in those who have really changed

You all know the pain of getting a cup down, pouring your coffee into the mug

Then as you go to drink you see something nasty caked onto the inside

So what do you do with the coffee? Pour it out… no matter how good the coffee, it’s been contaminated

This is Jesus point of washing the inside of the cup

The clean cup reflects the changed person

Look to those who have really changed

Application

We need to receive god’s truth from those who have been changed by it

I know that it seems so hard when someone warns you about a teacher,

you can think of how great their teaching made you feel, or how it helped you

But the end result of false teachings is destructive

They are not the ones you should listen to.

Godly teachers will tel you that they are still seeking, still changing, still growing

Then, that seeking gets played out in life

Who are truly serving

Explanation

Who worships God can give the wrong idea.

We leave here and say wow, the worship was really good, or I dunno, it was too slow, I didn’t know the songs.

IT is easy think of worship as singing songs.

False teachers, who deny the uniqueness of jesus love to get people hooked using their exciting “worship”

The Bethel church movement and Hillsong used their music to draw people into their false prosperity gospel teaching that says my faith will make Jesus heal me

But worship is better understood as one who serves in the temple

The prophtess Anna- Luke 2:37- and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.

The word is used to describe the act of worship

Luke 4:8- And Jesus answered satan, “It is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’ ”

Someone who is truly circumcised, truly baptized doesn’t just sing songs for worship, they serve God as he wants to be served, they use their whole life for that.

Illustration

Henry Ward Beecher was a very famous and popular preacher of the 1800s. One Sunday, his brother Thomas was preaching for him in his absence. There were many, as usual, who had come to hear Henry preach, and as soon as Thomas rose to the pulpit, they started to leave. At this Thomas announced, “All those who came here this morning to worship Henry Ward Beecher may now withdraw from the church—all who came to worship God may remain.”

Application

Brothers and sisters, the ones we should allow to influence us are the ones who live to worship God

They do not care about the numbers or the praise of man

They serve for the praise of God

Look to these people

Trans: But the gospel tells us when you clean that floor, you are a 2 year old with your toy vacuum cleaner. You are doing nothing to be proud about.

Who are truly Christ focused

Glory means to give all credit for something.

You know someone who is boasting about themselves all the time. The word comes from the person who stretches out their neck, carrying themselves like they’re better than everyone b/c of what they ‘ve done.

But a Christian says Christ is better. Thus even when someone mentions how good you are, the only response can be, Praise God for his grace.

Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.” Jeremiah 9:23

Trans: and people who boast in God, have

Who are truly self-forgetful

flesh here means an outward act, a prayer, or a lifestyle. They’re hope is on God alone.

To have confidence means to rely upon something.

The Pharisees and their Judaizers relied on themselves

Luke 18:9-14… Even as they thanked God, he put his confidence in what he had done.

John 6:63 tells us that the flesh profits nothing

It is not your religious accomplishments or the family you were born into that means anything

No, but put your confidence in the one who can keep you secure

“Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” (Jude 24–25, ESV)

App

Notice the focus here is not on how great Paul is or what he has accomplished because if standing firm was up to you and me, we would be in trouble

The point is not to constantly ask if you’re doing good enough… because you can never… the point is to take another look at Jesusflesh

If you were born into a christian family, praise God for that… your parents keep you safe from so many things

But that means nothing for your standing before God

Look to Jesus alone, not even Mom or dad.. follow Him

Therefore

Since we have seen (Cohesion)- 2 simple truths

You need to watch out for those who will take you from God- the source of all joy

You need to watch those who will take you to God- the giver of all joy.

We know we must (Resolution)-

Being open to everything sounds so accepting and wonderful, but usually ends in bleeding

The famous Apple company created a new headquarter and wanted it to be so open and beautiful that they made all the walls super clean glass that was resistant to the smallest streak

The problem was Shortly after moving in , an engineer on Apple’s Siri team walked into a glass door and broke his nose . Blood ran down his face

Over the next few weeks , Apple Park security called 911 to report a host of similar incidents . One employee cut his eyebrow . Another , possibly concussed , bled from the head . A third needed paramedics . The calls became so routine that security knew how to patch the dispatcher straight through to the injured employee

If you are not discerning between the truth and error, you will end up spiritually injured and bleeding

Closing prayer