One Thing

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 76

Psalm 76 ESV

To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Psalm of Asaph. A Song. In Judah God is known; his name is great in Israel. His abode has been established in Salem, his dwelling place in Zion. There he broke the flashing arrows, the shield, the sword, and the weapons of war. Selah Glorious are you, more majestic than the mountains full of prey. The stouthearted were stripped of their spoil; they sank into sleep; all the men of war were unable to use their hands. At your rebuke, O God of Jacob, both rider and horse lay stunned. But you, you are to be feared! Who can stand before you when once your anger is roused? From the heavens you uttered judgment; the earth feared and was still, when God arose to establish judgment, to save all the humble of the earth. Selah Surely the wrath of man shall praise you; the remnant of wrath you will put on like a belt. Make your vows to the Lord your God and perform them; let all around him bring gifts to him who is to be feared, who cuts off the spirit of princes, who is to be feared by the kings of the earth.

Scripture Reading: Psalm 27:4-5

Psalm 27:4–5 ESV

One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock.

Sermon:

Good morning Church!

I was glad when they said to me let us go and worship in the house of the Lord!

Another way I could start this, if I wanted to Channel. My inner Lawrence benegas. Would be would be to say, greetings Saints of the most high God. But even as I say this, I I wonder and I think it's good for us to wonder How does that make you feel? To be greeted as a saint. Of the god, most high. The God, Who rules and Reigns, who created the universe with the power of his voice. The one who loved us saved us redeemed, us sent his son to save. The one who. Defeated Pharaoh in Egypt the one who saved his people and brought them through the promised land the same God that held them and cared for them. The same God that sent his son to come and heal and perform Miracles. The same God who was with the apostles, the disciples, the same God who was with Paul as he wrote The Book of Philippians

You Are a Saint meaning. Holy One. One, one who is set apart one who lives a life, worthy of the title of Saint. How does that make you feel?

For some of us sometimes. Feels good. It's good to be called, it's going to be loved. It's good to be given a job and a duty in service to the Lord. But for some of us, if we're being honest, That doesn't sound like me. I mean, I know like theologically I know I'm a saint of the most high God. That is a thing that I know and read from the Bible.

But I don't always. But I don't often. Feel that way. If someone were to come to me and say, greetings, Sinners saved by the most high God. Yeah. Yeah. I'll take that. Greetings broken. People somehow still used and loved by God, sure. I'll take that. Greetings Saints… That's a lot harder. But yet, it's true. And that's how we Are called to live. And this is why I am glad that Lawrence says that to us. We need to hear that!

But we live in the time of the phrase, we often use is the the already and not yet. Is that we are already Saints but we're not yet Saints and that's fitting. But in one of my classes, I was taking my professor said, he was more a fan of the phrase this way. Not already and not yet, But already and more to come. You're already a saint. But there's more of that to come. I think Paul would agree with that estimation, Our text for today.

03:30

Philippians chapter 3, Verses 12 through 16 this morning. Let's read God's word. Philippians 3 starting in verse 12.

Philippians 3:12–16 ESV

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.

These are the words of the Lord for us this morning. Let's open with a word of prayer.

Our Holy Father in heaven, The one who saves us, who redeems us, who calls us out of darkness and into light. Who through the work of your son and the gift of your spirit, have made us alive together with him. We pray that you would meet with us this morning. Convict our hearts where conviction needs to occur, but also encourage us lift us up. Help us to see who we are in Christ. In his work and your words. May we live according to these truths, as we are a people who chain who are changed by the hearing of your word. I asked this morning that you would speak through your servant speak to our hearts. It's in Jesus name that we pray. Amen.

So, Saints of the most high God How you feeling about that title? Well this morning, we'll be looking at how Paul felt about that title. And I would say that it is one, he wore proudly. Though. Humbly.

We just have come off of. Paul telling us that he is better than us. Because he was, Laying out his case. For self-righteousness that he has thrown off, that is all rubbish. He said, because what I truly have is far far greater Self-Righteousness is worth nothing. The righteousness that comes through faith, the righteousness in Christ Jesus, that is everything. And that is what I have laid. Hold of The righteousness of Christ. I hold on to it, dearly. So, I'm a saint.

But Paul knows the feeling that we all know. When you lay your head down to bed. It's not always that. You feel like a saint instead?

Yeah, I didn't love my wife. The way she deserved today.

You know, the scripture says not to provoke your child to anger. I was probably a little bit rough. To my kids today.

You lay Head on the pillow at night. You know, I should have read my Bible. More today.

You know, my prayer life. It's probably. Not as good...It's definitely not as good as. It should be it's not even as good as I think it is some days.

You know, I had opportunities to preach the gospel to my neighbor today. I didn't take it.

I didn’t Honor God with my time.

Yeah, almost every day you lay down in bed, you could go through a list and think well, I'm not so great.

I think that was also Paul's situation.

Paul’s Situation

Verse 12, he's just said, my goal, I lay aside on my self-righteousness so that I can hold tight to the gifts. I have in Christ verse 11, that I may or verse 10 that I may know him in the power of his resurrections that I may share in his sufferings verse 11 that by any means possible. I may attain Resurrection from the dead. That's both physical in what we long for but also, I think Paul is hinting at a spiritual Resurrection here. That my life will be revived and I will look more and more like Christ.

Verse 12. How we started this morning.

Not that I have already attained this. Or I'm already perfect. But I press on. To make it my own.

Paul's situation. I truly believe is the same as yours and mine. He knows what the call is. He knows what the expectation is. He knows what the the standard we will be measured against is which is the Holiness of God. And he says, don't think for a second That I've attained this. After just telling us, On the last page of my Bible might be the same page of yours. I'm better than you.

But I haven't made it.

So I keep trying.

Paul's situation is one where he feels the weight of his failure. He hasn't made it yet. But one thing I do, He presses on. To make it my own.

Note, what Paul does not do. What Paul does not do. Is what David does. What Paul does not do is what the Pharisees certainly do. What Paul does not do is probably in my estimation in talking to a lot of people, what all of us do. This is what we do. To just say it in words. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I'm pretty close. But not that, I'm perfect. But I'm good. I'm a good person. Not that, I'm perfect. But You know. I'm definitely better. Than the guy who lives down the street. That's what we do. We lower the standard, we lower the expectation, we lower the call because we realize I can't get to perfect, right? I'm not obtaining that and I can't attain that. I'm not already perfect. So let me lower the standard so that I can achieve that. So that I can Pat myself on the back, feel better about myself.

So that when I lay down in bed, the estimation is not man. I didn't do this, I didn't do that. I could have done this, I should have done that. The estimation is I'm better.

You laying in bed next to your spouse. I messed up today but Desiree. She's worse. So, at least there's that! (note, I only get to say this because she’s not in here, shes with the kiddos!)

Well. I may not have been a witness to my co-workers, but did you hear the language they were using? See, not that I'm already perfect. But I'm better than them So that's okay.

That's not what Paul does here. Not that have. I obtained this already, perfect, but I press on to make it my own.

The way Paul estimates this then is as he lays down realizing all the times he's not been perfect. He says tomorrow. I'll do better tomorrow. I'm gonna try harder tomorrow. I'll read my Bible more tomorrow. I'll pray more. And in fact, maybe he says, I'm not even gonna wait till tomorrow. He's laying it down in bed. I haven't prayed enough, you know how you fix that. You pray then and there. You lay down in bed and you're tired. It's been a long day, anything I didn't read my Bible enough today. You know, you fix that... read your Bible.

I'm gonna do better. Because…!

then this is how we think. Because if I try harder, God will love me more? If I try harder, God will owe me more. If I try harder, I'll be a better Christian. That is not Paul's argumentation here. I am not perfect. Don't think for a second. I'm perfect. I'm going to try harder, why? Because Jesus Christ already owns me. Because I'm already his. This is what Paul says, verse 12, but I press on to make it my own because Christ Jesus made me his own. Why do I strive? Why do I push? Why do I do these things? Because I'm in Christ because Christ has already loved me. He has already taken, hold of me, mind body and soul. I am already his. So I keep on pressing on

That's what he says. Verse 13, Brothers. I do not consider my made of my own as I say this. Don't think for a second. I am telling you. I'm perfect. I'm not there yet, but one thing I do, He presses off. Paul's situation is one of pressing on. Of having not made it. But trying to get there. Of living right.

You'll hear sometimes preachers. We say fancy phrases living east of Eden. But longing for the time, when we glory in heaven forever, Right. Living this side of the Fall knowing how broken I am. But longing for the time, when I am made new, So, I push on. I see the goal and I am not going to change and warp the goal. I see the reason it's not because I'm good enough or strong. And if I'm not I can't attain My Own Strength but I press on because Christ Jesus has made me his own.

I press on

This is. Paul’s solution.

Paul’s Solution

In one word, it's pressing on. Well, that's two pressing. In two words, it's pressing on. But in reality, there's more than just that Verse 13. I do not consider, I've 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. There is a. Temporal, there's a time-based aspect to what Paul is saying here that we can't miss

As we seek to serve the Lord Past present and future are all important here.

This is how he starts: forgetting What lies behind?

This is a hard one for many of us. And we have to be careful. I I want to be sensitive and tender, but also direct and truthful in how we approach this. When Paul talks about forgetting, what lies behind What is he not saying? Let's start there. What he's not saying is. You know. It's not a big deal. What? He's not saying he's like, yeah, I know I messed up, but everyone messes up. Well, Paul's not saying is You know. Like, Everyone messes up. So We just don't need to talk about it.

What Paul is saying? Is that? This is how he'd write it in, in 2 Corinthians: if anyone is in Christ. He is a new creation behold. The old is God. And the new has come.

This is how John the Apostle John would say it. In first John, if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will cleanse us. Of all unrighteousness.

He Removes our sins from us. And cast them into the sea of forgetfulness. We will be so far removed from our sins that they are as far as the East is from the West, for all, who come to Jesus and find in him a perfect, savior, your sins are forgiven. That's what Paul's saying.

He is not saying your sins don't matter. He's not saying your sins don't exist. He's not saying we just treat them like they're not a big deal. What he is saying is if you have repented and come to Christ, they are forgiven. period. You no longer carry the guilt and shame. You. No longer carry the weight of those sins. Cast them aside instead, bear the burden of Jesus Christ. His yoke is easy. His burden is light. You no longer carry your sin and shame. It was gone in the cross. So, As you estimate this thought of, I'm trying to press on towards the goal of the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. As I press on, I no longer carry the burden of my sin. So forget about it.

The estimation of the past. Paul here has is. If you are in Christ, you are new. You no longer carry your sins, so stop dragging them around. You are forgiven there is therefore now Paul will write in Romans, no condemnation. So, why are you condemning yourself? If you have repented, that's an important thought here. If you have repented Then you can forget what lies behind. That's the past. Here's the future. And straining forward. To what lies ahead. What is in store for you?

New Life. Sanctification. Ultimately, Perfection.

The past says that you don't carry that burden anymore. The future says you are called to in unfathomably High Heights in Christ Jesus so what's the present? press on One step at a time.

When I was a kid, I used to listen to cassette tapes, which already puts me. All the college kids. Cassette tapes, you'd put them in your car, you'd drive around listening to them. Are you old people? You know, I'm talking about cassette tapes. I will listen to salty the singing song book you listen to salty driving around. And this is like a. I mean, maybe Adventures of Odyssey Salty's, maybe the Lesser known. Step cousin of The Adventures of Odyssey and these stories where these kids are learning Bible lessons as they go on.

and there's one I remember keenly where they're going hiking up a mountain. And the thought that they try to teach these kids is. Yeah, the Mountain's hard. It's difficult. So, how do you climb a mountain one step, at a time? Just one step in front of the other and the next thing, you know, you're halfway up the mountain and you take one more step and one more step and the next thing you know, your three quarters up the mountain. Just one more step. It's always one more step. That's what Paul is saying. Here you press on. This is what we do in the present.

Just one more step. This is the heart behind my answer. How much should you pray more? So tomorrow pray. Just a little bit more than you did today. How much should you read your Bible more? Read it and love it, just a little bit more tomorrow than you did today. That's the call. Press on. Often this life of pressing on is two steps forward and one step back and five steps forward, and 36 steps back, and five steps forward, and three steps forward, and one step back. It's not as linear as we would want it to be, but I press on That's the solution.

And then at the end, we find here. Paul's suggestion.

Paul’s Suggestion

I just wanted three words that started with “S” suggestions much too nice. Uh, this is Paul's exhortation in command. Verse 15. Let those of us who are mature, think this way. This is the point. If you are mature in Christ, this is how you think. If you are mature in Christ, you do not think you are perfect. Let's, let's pause there for a second. If anyone thinks they are perfect. I don't think you're as mature in Christ. As you think you are, because the standard he has called you to, it takes some maturity to realize It's really hard to be first Peter 1 15 as holy as God is. Holy

If you're mature, you realize I have not made it and this side of Eternity you cannot and will not make it. So, the first way we think is, if you think you have arrived, You're not mature. But wait, if you think you can't press on, you're not mature, you can be more holy tomorrow than you were today. You can be more holy today than you were when today started. Come to Christ push on towards the upward, call of the prize of God in Christ. Jesus push on.

That's how you should think. And if you think otherwise, if you think, if you're disagreeing with me, that's fine. God will show you. Where you're wrong. So Paul says, let those of us who mature, think this way. And if and in anything you think otherwise God will reveal that to you.

For me as a pastor one of the most liberating thoughts was when I realized I cannot change your heart. I do not have the power. I do not have the authority to change your heart, that is up to God.

So push on to be more like God, that's my call to you. And if you think you've made it or you think you can't make it either way, God will show you. Where you're wrong. So hold true to what we have attained.

This idea of holding true to what we have attained. What Paul is saying is we push on, but we have to be very careful because I've been doing this for a while, I’ve been in the pastorate, if you add up a Associate Pastor, youth pastor or here, all the time here you add it all together. I’ve been a pastor for about 17 years now… and you know what, this is the nice thing about turning 40 here in a few weeks… I finally feel old enough and that I have enough time in to say things like this more boldly...

This is what I have learned in that time. You are never standing still. In your Christian walk. You are either pressing forward. Or falling behind. And so in verse 16, when Paul says only let us hold true to what we have attained, what he is saying is Push on. And don't look back.

The writer of Hebrews says it this way. Therefore since we are surrounded by so great, a cloud of witnesses. Let us lay aside this, the sin that so easily entangles. As we as we mature as we grow, as we continue to look more and more and more and more and more and more and more like Christ. Keep on holding on to what you have. Don't push on today and then do nothing tomorrow. Hold fast to what we have attained.

Here's the other, this is the simple way. I have to try to illustrate to this to you as much as I can.

We looked at this. Paul's writing very personally here. He's right into the church. He loves. Right. Not that I have already attained this but I press on. This is what I want you to do. I want you to take your notes.

And the first line, were it says “paul’s Situation” And I want you to cross out. The word Paul.

And then write your own name. And then, And then it's not Paul's situation. It's David's. Situation. Here's my situation that I find myself in and it's the one you find yourself in too! I'm not perfect. I have not obtained this. But I'm going to press on because Jesus made me his own. It's my situation. That's a glorious situation.

And then cross out Paul's solution, right? and now put your name, so it is now, for me David's solution. So what do I need to do? Forgetting? What lies behind? And straining forward to what lies ahead. I David press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Think this way. Let those of you who are mature, if you think you are mature in Christ, this is how you will think. So think this way.

Let's pray.