Three Elements of Genuine Christian Service

Intro

Text - Philippians 3.12

Philippians 3:12–14 NASB 2020

12 Not that I have already grasped it all or have already become perfect, but I press on if I may also take hold of that for which I was even taken hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Title - The Three Elements of Genuine Christian Service

Introductory questions

how long have been serving the Lord as a Christian?

Did you have a vision of what you wanted to be or become when you started serving the Lord?

How many of you have attained or reached that goal today?

Main Idea

The importance of a goal

“To fail to plan is to plan to fail.”

A goal is destination, or at least a partial destination going to your final destination.

A life without a goal is a “drifter”.

Drifters have no destination.

Drifters only go where the river flows, or where the waves roll.

But having a goal does not guarantee success.

There are other factors that must be considered before you can achieve your goal.

Paul had a goal in life

Philippians 3:14 NASB 2020

14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Notice the keywords here -

press on - this what Paul did as a Christian in pursuit of your goal

goal - this is what Paul was reaching forward

prize - this is the reward that Paul was expected when he reaches the goal

upward call - this is the call that Got you started in the Christian life; this is where the pressing on happens!

How did Paul reach his life’s goal?

he did reach it - 2 Tim 4.7-8

2 Timothy 4:7–8 NASB 2020

7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; 8 in the future there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

GOD SET THE GOAL FOR US.

OUR TASK IS TO REACH THE GOAL USING AVAILABLE RESOURCES PROVIDED BY GOD.

PAUL GIVES US THREE ELEMENTS THAT LEAD US TO SUCCESS IN OUR CHRISTIAN SERVICE

True conversion

True values

True zeal

True Conversion - Philippians 3.1-6

Philippians 3:1–6 NASB 2020

1 Finally, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble for me, and it is a safeguard for you. 2 Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision; 3 for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and take pride in Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh, 4 although I myself could boast as having confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he is confident in the flesh, I have more reason: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless.

Paul warns against evil workers

Evil workers bring in “false circumcision”

Paul gave them the true circumcision

“circumcision” signifies conversion

becoming a believer of God

Abraham received the circumcision as a “sign” of the covenant between him and God

we are to be circumcised in the heart - Deut 10.16-17

Deuteronomy 10:16–17 NASB 2020

16 So circumcise your heart, and do not stiffen your neck any longer. 17 For the Lord your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who does not show partiality, nor take a bribe.

Romans 2:29 NASB 2020

29 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from people, but from God.

the reak Jew is the real worshipper of God

Three components of true conversion - Philippians 3.3

Philippians 3:3 NASB 2020

3 for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and take pride in Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh,

worship in the Spirit of God

glory in Christ

have no confidence in th flesh

TRUE CONVERSION SETS THE TONE OF YOUR LIFE.

IT IS THE FOUNDATION FROM WHICH YOU BUILD YOUR CHRISTIAN LIFE

IF CONVERSION IS NOT GENUINE, EVERYTHING IN YOUR CHRISTIAN LIFE BECOMES SUPERFICIAL/HYPOCRITICAL

IF CONVERSION IS GENUINE -

REAL TRANSFORMATION BEGINS

TRANSFORMATION IS UNSTOPPABLE AND INEVITABLE

TRUE CONVERSION SETS THE TONE FOR THE NEXT COMPONENT OF YOUR CHRISTIAN SERVICE - TRUE VALUES IN LIFE.

True Values - Philippians 3.7-11

Philippians 3:7–11 NASB 2020

7 But whatever things were gain to me, these things I have counted as loss because of Christ. 8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them mere rubbish, so that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; 11 if somehow I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

value - worth, merit, importance

Paul’s values in life changed when he was converted!

the achievements of the old life have become lost their worth

true conversion SHOWED HIM what’s more important in life

Paul’s new values in life

the knowledge of Christ

being found in Christ and clothed with His righteousness

knowing the power of Christ’s resurrection

becoming a partaker of Christ’s sufferings

YOUR VALUES IN LIFE WILL HELP DETERMINE THE THINGS THAT WILL MAKE YOU HAPPY

YOUR VALUES IN LIFE WILL HELP DETERMINE THE THINGS YOU WILL PURSUE

True Zeal - Philippians 3.12-16

Philippians 3:12–16 NASB 2020

12 Not that I have already grasped it all or have already become perfect, but I press on if I may also take hold of that for which I was even taken hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore, all who are mature, let’s have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that to you as well; 16 however, let’s keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.

Paul’s zeal was clearly demonstrated here -

“not that I have already grasped it all… but I press on…”

Humility

Continuing hunger for God

“I press on…”

Perseverance

ZEAL MUST BE GUIDED BY RIGHT UNDERSTANDING

Israel had zeal but not according to knowledge - Romans 10:1-4

Romans 10:1–4 NASB 2020

1 Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. 2 For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. 3 For not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

TRUE ZEAL IS FOUNDED ON TRUE CONVERSION.

TRUE ZEAL IS GUIDED BY TRUE VALUES.

Paul used to have misguided zeal - Gal 1:13-14

Galatians 1:13–14 NASB 2020

13 For you have heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it; 14 and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions.

ZEAL WILL DRIVE YOU FORWARD IN YOUR BATTLES

Conclusion

What makes you press on today?

SONG

point of no return