What If

Philippians 3 (ESV)

Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.

Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 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 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

Philippians 4:10–13 (ESV)

I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Introduction

Obviously,for us, today is a very different day than many Sundays when we come to church here.

A different feel, a different atmosphere

A different format,

Though the same spirit and same body...

And this week, for many in this room, has been very different as well..

Tuesday

Krista, Myself and the kids, along with a few of you, were here tuesday around 4pm

and I was standing outside, looking at the sunny blue skies

when my phone went off, and a tornado warning came through..

Minutes

Within minutes the weather was extremely different

One gage measured 86 mile an hour winds here in cleveland..

Four tornados were confirmed in northern ohio..

Trees fell, power lines broke, electric was lost

Life was lost

Still, right now in this moment there are people in this room who dont have power.

Park

We were here getting ready to go to night out against crime at halloran park..

they were set up..

the park was full..

When we made our way home we drove by and there was carnage and destruction everywhere..

Thankfully.

Thankfully, our church is fine, though we still have no power..

We lost one basket ball hoop…

nothing compared to many..

Worse

And honestly, in the biggest picture

things could have been much much much worse.

much of our loss was convience this week..

our houses still stand, soon we will move on and most likely forget about all of it..

because it really wasnt as bad as many storms that have hit our country through the years…

What if

but in the wake of my sermon on humility last

the current circumstances got me thinking..

and i feel like God Dropped something special into my heart for this morning..

and this moment..

So for the week I amd going to step aside from our current series on being Christ like and I want to talk about something a little different..

and i want to ask this question this morning to us all.

and I want us to ponder this question this morning..

The Question

What if, It all went away..

…

What if we were devastated by destruction..

or military powers of the world..

what is life changed in an instant..

even just on your own personal level..

what if life instantly and dramatically changed..

as it has for so many through history..

And we were not able to have church as we know it here in america..

or we didnt have the blessings we have each and every day here in our lives..

What if we lost everything..

what is your possecions were gone..

no more money..

no more luxury..

no more comfort and convienceince..

no more fast food or reastaurants...

Church differently

what is to come to church..

had to walk great distances because their were no more cars....

and sit in the dark or naturally lit rooms..

without a sound system

without visual displays..

without air conditioning..

without the modern conviences of our day..

just us, others, and our voice and the word of god..

What if that was the case..

Would Jesus Still be enough?

IF EVERYTHING WAS STIPPED AWAY IN YOUR LIFE..

AND LIFE WAS ALL YOU HAD...

if we received no material blessing for serving God..

and it cost us greatly to worship him..

Would he still be worthy of worship in our lives?

Would he still be important to us?

Temporary

Its easy for us to sit here today..

contemplaiting that..

and anwser that yes, he would,

when we know full well and good that today is only a temporary thing..

next week things will most likely return to normal..

All over

But there are people all over the world..

who gather on sundays like we do..

in wall less huts…

places with no power or convience..

they walk miles to get there..

What we have this morning with our building..

our hand fans

our soft chairs

and our cold water

are the highest of luxery for them..

because they dont have these things..

Fear

some of them are gathering to worship in fear…

not of god..

but of the fact that they will be found out..

that governments will come in and raid them…

and jail them..

and maybe even march them out to the streets and kill them..

all because of their willingness to gather and serve christ..

not for the convience of church culture…

not for the material blessing they receive as a follower of christ..

but because he is the pearl of great price that they have given everything for..

Because they realize he is the most important thing regardless of everything else in life..

Because they have determined that he is more important and more costly than everything else in their lives..

Yet..

while on normal sundays

we gather in churches all over this country..

and complain about having to get up early to get to church..

or that they didnt play our style of music..

or that the preacher spoke too long..

or someone looked at me funny..

and we get all bent out of shape about little silly and petty things..

and forget the reason we do all of this..

Not for culture..

not for Church..

not for blessings..

not for status..

but because Jesus is the most valuable piece of our life..

let me ask you again..

Is Jesus on his own, enough?

If he was all you had left..

would you be miserable or content?

Paul

I find it fitting that we spent last week in philippians 2

and this week we are in philippians 3..

Paul

Paul is writing to the philippains.

and hes righting to encourage them, and correct some of their thought processes..

Jail

And I think we need to understand this morning

that the paul that is writing these words..

is a paul that is imprisoned at this moment in history..

awaiting trial by ceasar..

keenly aware he is most likely going to lose his life..

and he will..

THIS IS A PAUL WHO ARE ALREADY LOST EVERYTHING..

his possessions..

His freedom

many of his friends and family..

and soon, his life..

and its in this context that he pens these words

Philippians 3:7–11 (ESV)

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 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 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

I was a Somebody

Paul says listen..

If anyone could have had confidence in what they were or had in this life it was me..

My parents riased me right..

I kept the law..

I was one of the high religious leaders..

I had it made in life..

I was a somebody..

a hebrew of hebrews..

full of zeal and purpose..

Lost

But I gave all of that over…

I lost it all…

I counted it as lost and turned my back on it..

Because of the SURPASSING WORTH… of KNOWING JESUS....

Paul says..

I counted all… that was a choice.. as loss..

BECAUSE KNOWING JESUS WAS MORE IMPORTANT…

Garbage

he goes on and says..

I didnt just count those things as loss..

But I consider them garabage..

worthless, ment to be thrown out..

IN ORDER THAT I MAY GAIN CHRIST AND BE FOUND IN HIM..

and look at verse 10…

Philippians 3:10–11 (ESV)

that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

wow…

Says

Paul says..

everything I had in this life..

I count it as loss..

that I may know Jesusu..

and attain resurected life..

According to paul..

Jesus is not just enough..

he is everything..

eVERYTHING ELSE IS GARBAGE COMPARED TO KNOWING HIM AND HAVING RESURECTED LIFE…

Work torwards

Verse 12

Paul goes on to say..

I havnt gotten their yet…

But I make it my daily missions..

to press on to make sure I get thier..

BECAUSE JESUS MAKE ME HIS OWN..

and then he says..

So this one thing I do..

Verse 13…

Philippians 3:13-14 (ESV)

Philippians 3:13–14 (ESV)

Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Paul says..

This one thing..

This is the most important thing I do in regard to this..

I forget what I have lost..

I forget what Ihad to give up..

I dont give it a second though..

and I push hard torwards Jesus and Jesus alone..

Instruction

And then he gives instruction..

and tells us in verse 15..

If your mature, referingt to maturity in our following of Jesus..

THINK THIS WAY..

what way?

that Jesus is not only enough..

HE is everything..

and to have him it will in the ned cost us everything..

like it did paul..

Contrast

Paul ends this chapter by telling us to stay focused..

and to make sure the poeple who we set as our examples are people who are living this out..

People that have given everything for Jesus..

People who have prioratized Jesus above all..

WHO DONT JUST SAY.. BUT LIVE THIER LIVES WITH JESUS BEING ENOUGH…

because if were not careful we can become enemies of the cross with the way we live..

look at his warning..

Philippians 3:18–19 (ESV)

For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.

Paul says their there is another kind of poeple..

who their goal is not Jesus at all costs..

but rather its their belly…

and its desires…

Its glory.. and reknonw..

and its earthly things..

Caution

Hear me clearly..

We serve a god of blessing..

and abundant provision..

BUT WE DO NOT SERVE GOD FOR BLESSING AND ABUNDANT PROVISION..

whats the difference?

the difference is, if you only serve god for blessing and provision..

when he doesnt bless you the way you want.. you will stop serving him..

those things are side benifets..

WE SERVE JESUS BECAUSE HE IS KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS..

HE IS THE CREATOR FO THE UNIVERSE AND THE RIGHTFUL RULER..

HE IS THE SAVIOR OF OUR SOLE..

THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO HEAVEN BUT THROUGH HIM..

AND ON THE CROSS HE ALREADY PAID THE ULTAMITE PRICE..

WE SERVE JESUS BECAUSE INSPITE OF WHAT WE HAVE OR DONT HAVE HE IS ENOUGH..

AND HE WILL ALWAYS BE ENOUGH..

Heaven

In the end..

paul says..

my god is resurected life..

and I want to point out..

all of the things we fight over and for here are fleeting..

We wont take any of them to heaven..

But Jesus is required for heaven..

Earthly posessions are temporal..

Heavenly life is eternal..

so why are we so focused on the things that will only last a few years..

decades at most..

insted of pursuing Jesus, the one who will keep us for eternaty?

The Pearl of Great Price

Matthew 13:45–46 ESV

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

Jesus is the pearl..

is he important enough to you that you would count everything else as loss just to have him as paul did?

is Jesus enough for you?