Have A Happy New You
Have a Happy New You
Philippians 3:1-14
Introduction
An Indian, who was very unhappy, and disgruntled with himself, began to explain to his friend the inward battle, and struggle that he faced every day.
He said, "It seems as if two dogs are fighting within me:
One is a black dog; he is savage and very bad,
The other is a white dog, and he is gentle and very good, but the black fights with him all the time!"
His friend curiously asked him, "Which dog wins?"
The old Indian replied, "Which ever one I say 'sic him' to!"
I’m sure many, if not all of us, can relate to the inner struggle that this man fought.
As we come upon the dawn of another year, no doubt there are new goals, dreams, and ambitions that we will seek to pursue.
There are also unpleasant things of the past year that we would just as soon forget.
We talked about that last week.
Now, I want to make sure you don’t misunderstand me,
There’s nothing wrong with setting goals and dreams for the next year.
I’ve got several set for myself.
The reality is, most of the time, while we set out to make New Years' resolutions; we usually don't reach them because we've not made the essential New You solution.
Simply put, we can’t enjoy a Happy New Year, until we become a Happy New You!
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Focus on Phil 3:12-14
It is doubtful that Paul had in mind the New Year when he wrote this section of this letter to Philippi.
As a matter of fact, we know that he wrote it while serving time in a Roman prison cell.
However, I believe that in these three verses, we can glean something about Paul's new goals, that will not only help us to have a Happy New Year, but, also, to "Have a Happy New You!"
I. HE EVALUATES (Phil 3:12)
In this verse, Paul evaluates his own life.
He has come to the place where he is taking a personal inventory, and evaluation of his life.
In this evaluation we see:
He Admits (Phil 3:12a)
We see, as he's taking inventory and evaluating his life, a very honest admittance of some things.
Second, he's being honest with himself, and with God. He admits that he's not yet arrived as a Christian.
ATTAINED (lit.): "to obtain, to receive, or to arrive"
PICTURE: Of vacationers who finally reach their destination
Paul has just spelled out his goal, in verse 10, to know Christ.
However, now he admits that he's not yet achieved, or arrived at that goal.
He hasn't arrived at the point of Perfection, or total Christ likeness
He knows Him, but not to the fullest extent possible.
He's experienced His power, but not the degree he desires
He's like Christ in His death, but he can still die more
Paul admits that he's yet to achieve this state.
His position is perfect, but his condition is not.
When we're saved, at the moment of regeneration, our position is fixed and perfect in Christ.
Nothing can change that.
However, our condition of sanctification is not yet perfect, but is to be improved upon every day.
That is what Paul is saying, he is growing closer, but he's not arrived yet.
The more he knew, and saw Christ, the more he saw his shortcomings.
Spurgeon: "The man who doesn't see his defects, will never enjoy his progress!"
Ray Stedman: "The soul of all improvement, is the improvement of the soul!"
Paul is very honest in admitting that there's still room for improvement in his Christian life.
That's His Admittance!
Then we see…
He Desires (Phil 3:12b)
FOLLOW AFTER (athletic term) (lit.): "to be in hot pursuit of"
PICTURE: Of a sprinter stretching, and striving for the finish line
Paul now shows his goal, his desire, and his aspiration.
He's in hot pursuit to "apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus."
APPREHEND (lit.): "to grasp, to seize, and to lay hold of"
Paul wants to possess what he's been possessed for, and to grab on to that which grabbed him.
This isn't a half-hearted effort, but with all his heart he's in hot pursuit of this.
He desires to lay hold of Christ's purpose for his life.
His desire, his ultimate goal is to be more like Christ!
He Evaluates and then…
II. HE PRIORTIZES (Phil 3:13)
Paul has evaluated himself, now he establishes his priorities.
He hasn't yet achieved the place that he wants to be with the Lord, but yet that isn't going to keep him from putting first things first.
Regardless of that, Paul says, "this one thing I do".
No fooling around here, but with determination, he is setting his mind on getting some things done.
ILLUSTRATION:
Demosthenes, born with a serious speech defect, became the greatest of all orators.
He determined to correct his defect and did so by speaking with pebbles in his mouth against the roar of the ocean.
This was not something that came easily, but something he knew that he had to do if he was going to overcome this impediment.
In much the same way, Paul now puts his mind, and is determined to establish a priority, and we see the:
Priority Of Cancellation
". . . forgetting. . ."
This is a first step if he is to do things for God.
As painful as it may be, we may have to forget some things of the past life, or the past year if we're to do things for God, and reach new heights.
Roy Laurin: "We must deal with the past, or the past will deal with us!"
This isn't something achieved by mental magic, or by Houdini's wand.
It can only accomplished by Confession, and Correction!
Paul, had to establish this priority, before he could go on for God.
There were some things he had to forget. He had to:
Forget His Wealth (Phil 3:5, 7)
He was rich in religious credentials, but he had to forget them.
Forget His Wickedness (Phil 3:6)
He was the chief persecutor of the church, he had to forget it
Forget His Way (Phil 3:9)
He realized that he couldn't get in on his good living.
He realized that adherence to the law wasn't good enough anymore
We too, like Paul, must put off, and cancel the past, if we're to do things for God in the future.
Illustration:
Two old college roommates met downtown one night.
They sat down in the lobby of the hotel and began to talk about old times.
Before they knew it, it was way past midnight.
They went home, both fearful of what their wives would say about their coming in so late.
The next day they met again.
One asked, "How did your wife react to your coming in so late?"
The man replied, "Oh, I explained it to her, and it was all right."
The other man asked, "How did your wife react?"
He replied, "Well, when I came in she got Historical!"
His friend questioned, "Historical, don't you mean Hysterical?'
"No, she got Historical," he replied.
"She brought everything that had happened over the past thirty years!"
If we're to do anything in our service for the Lord, it may require us to put off, and establish the Priority of Cancellation of the past.
When Winston Churchill visited the U.S. during the war years he remarked in the course of a conversation,
"If the present quarrels with the past, there can be no future!"
Paul has set his mind to make the Priority of Cancellation.
Priority Of Continuation "reaching forth"
He has gone back down memory lane.
He has remembered the good days, and the bad.
However, now he throws off the past.
He puts it behind him, and cancels it, so that he can continue on for the future.
His new motto could easily be summed up by the words of Sabine Baring-Gould who wrote:
Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus, going on before!
He's established the Priority of Cancellation, so that he can pursue the Priority of Continuation.
That’s how he defined his priorities!
Finally...
III. HE DEFINES HIS PURPOSE (Phil 3:14)
He now concludes this section by explaining his purpose for the days ahead.
In this explanation of his purpose he:
Defines his course "...mark of the prize...”
MARK (lit.): "the goal, the point aimed at"
IDEA: of the mark at the end of the race
He quickly narrows his purpose down.
Paul’s purpose isn't just getting off to a good start, or getting through uninjured, but reaching the mark, the goal.
What mark is he referring to? He unveiled it to us in:
(Phil 3:8) the mark is to Win Him
(Phil 3:9) the mark is to be Found In Him
(Phil 3:10) the mark is to Know Him
(Phil 3:21) the mark is to Be Like Him
Just like the runner who sets his eye on the tape strapped across the finish line, Paul has set his eye upon the course in front of him.
If that runner turns aside, or takes his eye off it, then he'll miss the mark.
Paul knows this and so he says his eyes are fixed totally upon that mark of coming into a deeper relationship with Christ.
However, there's something more, he refers to it as the "mark of the prize."
PRIZE (lit.): "a recompense, a reward"
PICTURE: of the ancient Grecian games where the victor had a wreath placed his head
This prize isn't heaven,
Heaven isn't a prize won by our efforts. It is a free gift of God's grace.
This prize isn't salvation,
Salvation isn't a prize won by our efforts.
It’s also a free gift of God's grace.
Salvation isn’t something to think of as in the future, It’s ours right now, here in the present!
The prize being referred to is found in II Timothy 4:7-8:
"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, that the Lord, the righteous judge shall give me at that day. . ."
From the we can see the prize is a well-fought fight,
A well-run race and a well-kept faith!
The prize is the Joy of attaining that mark that will come at that glad crowning day.
This all is part of the mark of Knowing Christ more, which is Paul's purpose.
The calling that he's referring to is no ordinary calling.
It's a Call From Heaven, and a Call To Heaven!
It's a Call to be like Christ, and a Call to, one day, Be with Christ.
The prize Paul is talking about has been made available only through the Divine Calling of God.
We, as believers, have received a Divine Summons, a Divine Call to Salvation, to Sanctification, and to Service.
Because of that we can set our eyes upon the goal, the mark, and the prize.
Illustration:
The great song writer, Frances Ridley Havergal, penned a poem, which was later put to music:
Another year is dawning, Dear Father, let it be,
In working or in waiting, Another year with thee.
Another year of progress, Another year of praise,
Another year of proving, Thy presence all the days,
Another year of mercies, Of faithfulness and grace,
Another year of gladness, The glory of thy face.
Another year of leaning Upon thy loving breast,
Another year of trusting, Of quiet, happy rest.
Another year of service, Of witness for thy love,
Another year of training, For holier work above.
Another year is dawning, Dear Father, let it be,
On earth, or else in heaven Another year for thee!
No doubt, each of us, desire to have a Happy New Year.
However, in order for that to happen we must focus on having a Happy New You!
This may require us to, like Paul,
· Evaluate Our Self,
· Establish Our Priorities, and
· Define Our Purpose.
If that is done, no doubt about it, we will have a HAPPY NEW YOU, as well as a Happy New Year!