Rejoice Always 06 - Stretching for the Tape

Reading: Philippians 3:12-4:1
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Philippians 3:12 (NIV)

I.   Not there Yet (12-16)

     A.  We haven’t Arrived yet (12a)

           1.  Are we there yet?

                 a.  Has anyone gotten there?

                 b.  Transformation: a long, slow process

           2.  No matter how far we’ve come…

                 a.  Paul wants to know it all (8b-10)

                 b.  We still walk funny.

                 c.  Perfect=mature in v.15

           3.  Hypocrite tries to fake maturity

                 a.  Hypocrites see themselves as mature

                 b.  Admit you’re growing=not hypocritical!

     B.  Straining for the Finish Line (12b-14)

           1.  In hot Pursuit of Jesus’ Purpose

                 a.  Press on (12,14) = persecute in v.6

                 b.  Paul Christianity is like a track race

                 c.  Paul urgently wants maturity

           2.  Stretching out toward Christ’s goal for him

                 a.  Possibilities:

                       (1)      The love of Christ (2:1)

                       (2)      The calling of Christ (14)

                       (3)      Christ-likeness (10)

                       (4)      Eternity with Christ (11, 20b-21)

                 b.  Why did Christ lay hold of you?

           3.  Not the start, but the finish that counts

                 a.  This is an urgent endurance

                 b.  Not like a club to join / a contest to win

     C.  Live Up to what we know (15-16)

           1.  All of us who are mature (& know we aren’t!)

                 a.  Mature: what Paul isn’t in v.12 (perfect)

                 b.   being settled; having arrived

                 c.  Paul: maturity = straining for more

           2.  A mature view of differences (15b)

                 a.  Mature person let’s God deal w/ diff’s

                 b.  No need to set them straight

                 c.  High confidence in God’s Spirit in them

           3.  Be faithful to how far we do have come (16)

                 a.  We’re all in the race somewhere

                 b.  Not judged by where we’re not yet

                 c.  Be true to the distance we have come

II.  A Humble role model (17)

     A.  This is spiritual Leadership

           1.  We must live as examples for others

                 a.  Leaders live in glass houses

                 b.  Everyone is off their game sometimes

                 c.  Still, don’t just say it, live it

           2.  It begins by admitting we aren’t perfect

                 a.  We are works in progress (like everyone)

                 b.  We don’t know it all

                 c.  It’s hard living up to what we do know!

     B.  Somebody’s Watching

           1.  Everybody is a leader to somebody

                 a.  From the oldest to the youngest

                 b.  (Yes, sometimes kids lead adults!)

           2.  You are a Bible for others to read

                 a.  How clear is your print?

                 b.  Others are following your example

     C.  Stand against the Stomach god (19, 4:1)

           1.  Watch out for the Beast of self-indulgence!

                 a.  God is stomach = slaves to appetites

                 b.  This is a vicious beast in our time/place

                 c.  Means they can’t think higher than dirt

           2.  Stand against both legalists & morally lax

                 a.  Not as if it all depends on us

                 b.  Nor as if what we do doesn’t matter!

           3.  We stand as mature/ on the way believers

                 a.  We stand firm by pressing toward God

                 b.  Not in condemnation or conformity

                 c.  Not in our strength, but His

III. Actually Citizens of Heaven (20-21)

     A.  Our Cultural center

           1.  We get our values elsewhere: Heaven

                 a.  Culture: set of values/behaviors

                 b.  What does God celebrate? Hate?

                 c.  3 things remain; the greatest?

           2.  We are aliens & strangers here

                 a.  Heaven is where we’re from

                 b.  We’re in this world as foreigners

                 c.  As citizens abroad, we’re never at home here

                 d.  George Shultz: where is your country?

     B.  Our present Orientation

           1.  We’re looking up

                 a.  Them: mind on earthly things.

                 b.  Us: on heavenly things/heaven itself!

                 c.  We see our present thru heavenly eyes

           2.  We see things from a heavenly perspective

                 a.  Heaven is where we are

                 b.  Mental health: adjusted to this reality

                 c.  Spiritual health: adjusted to God’s coming reality

           3.  We shine with Heaven’s light w/in us now

                 a.  We are the light/salt of the world

                 b.  Let your light shine!

     C.  Our future Hope (20b-21)

           1.  Jesus, our Hope, is in heaven & will return!

                 a.  Heaven is where we’re going

                 b.  Hope in human wisdom/goodness

                 c.  Hope rooted in anything here

                 d.  Our future rests securely only in God’s hands, only in Jesus’ return.

           2.  He is able to set everything right (21)

                 a.  He will subject everything to Himself

                 b.  All that needs fixing in me & the world

           3.  Our transformation will be complete (21b)

                 a.  B/4 his return we struggle to conform

                 b.  Then we will be fully transformed

                 c.  Even our bodies will be like His body

The Bottom Line:

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