A Significant New Year!
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What is your significance?
What is your significance?
Happy new year! TIme for New Year’s resolution.
Slogan in 2019: Resurrection Power seen in 2019!
People are searching for something in life. Whether you want to call it purpose, direction, meaning or something else.. there is just a desire in each of us for our life to matter — we want our life to be significant.
Where do you draw significance from?
If you watch a game show, after the person’s name, what is the first question asked of a contestant?
“What do you do for a living?”
We live in a time where our profession, occupation is the very thing that defines us..
We live in a performance based culture.
Not necessarily just to accumulate money or build wealth, to work to establish a strong financial foundation for yourself and your family. To many, the satisfaction or significance comes from the performance of the work itself.
For many of us men, we want to be known as a hard-worker, a great provider all the days of our life. It’s what inspires many to get up in the morning and start a new day.
For many of us men, we want to be known as a hard-worker, a great provider all the days of our life. It’s what inspires many to get up in the morning and start a new day.
We live in a performance based culture. Before you notice it you are trapped on this performance treadmill, the speed slowly gets higher and higher that it becomes harder for you to get off.
Some people draw their significance..
Some people draw their significance..
"from their family” - I am leaving a legacy to my wife and children.
“their business” - I built this business from the ground up.
Others just find their significance from “what others think of them”.
I want to be seen as ....
I want to be remembered as...
I am here to tell you the story of a man who thought he found his significance.. only to find out later that it stands in the way of the only source of significance that matters.
4 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: 5 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; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.
4 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: 5 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; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 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 9 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— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. 12 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. 13 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, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
4 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: 5 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; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 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 9 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— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. 12 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. 13 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, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. 16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained. 17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.
Paul made a claim to the highest form of significance in their culture, to be a bonafide Jew, of the tribe of Benjamin, why would he even mention his lineage? Well first of all their was pride in knowing where you descended from,
4 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: 5 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; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.
people of Israel - meant that he came from God’s chosen ancestor - Jacob, not from his brother Esau - who the Edomites came from, the wicked and despised ruler King Herod was an Edomite.
Why tribe of Benjamin?
Paul made a claim to the highest form of significance in their culture, to be a bonafide Jew, member of the Jewish religion.. and states that this should not be what defines them!
Benjamin is important because of its royal roots.. that was the tribe from which the first king came from, King Saul. And also their is racial purity in that. When the nation of Israel became divided, 10 tribes stayed on the north and were eventually exiled to Assyria, now nobody really knows were these lost 10 tribes are. Some of their descendants in the time of the New Testament were in Samaria, that is why the Jews looked down on them.
The tribe of Benjamin however, stayed with the tribe of Judah when the nation split.
A Hebrew of Hebrews, Paul is speaking of being 100% Israelite from both his parents.
As to the law and his religion, a pharisee. he was not only a practicing member of the Jewish religion, he was a leader of people. He was faithful to the core..
Some say that Paul may have even met or heard Jesus. Highly possible because Paul was in Jerusalem when Jesus was there to preach many times, especially in his last week. No one is sure...
Paul is laying down a case for himself here, that he was like his enemies, the pharisees, he too believed in what they believed, and like them he persecuted the church.. actually he had power to authorize the arrest and execution of Christians. He was the one among the pharisees who gave a thumbs up to the murder of the first Christian martyr, Stephen..
He thought that these was the significance of his life, only to find out later when he encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus, that all these things that he thought should be the source of all his significance, was actually preventing him from finding the only meaning in life that matters the most.
Image here of Paul on the road to Damascus..
Later after Paul became a Christian, an apostle even, he journaled in his first letter to the Corinthians, chapter 15 that he considered himself the least of the apostles and unworthy to be called one, because he persecuted the church of God.. to Timothy he wrote, he was once a persecutor, a blasphemer, and a violent man.. but he said he obtained mercy because he did those things “ignorantly and in unbelief”.. by the overflowing grace of God he was even enabled by the Lord to do the work of ministry,, with faith and love that is in Christ Jesus.
Perhaps after Paul himself was martyred and was ushered through the gates of heaven, the first person he looked for was Stephen, the Christian he murdered, embraced him,, or maybe Stephen was waiting for him..
But the excellent part of this story is that Paul even made it to heaven to be reunited with the man who he murdered.
This is the story of grace!
That is why I am passionate about the gospel. It is the story of God changing lives, of God changing what is meant for evil into something really good. Of people on the way to hell, rescued and placed on the road to heaven.. of former enemies who couldn’t stand seeing each other’s face on earth but be reunited to be together forever in paradise ==> This is amazing church!
member of the Jewish religion.. and states that this should not be what defines them!
Paul made a claim to the highest form of significance in their culture, to be a bonafide Jew, member of the Jewish religion.. and states that this should not be what defines them!
This can be your story. It starts with a heavenward call!
To Paul that call was heard on the Damascus road. Where is your Damascus road?
Our Damascus road is where we heard our call and found our true significance.
I. Our true significance.
7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 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
7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
Philippians 3:7
Philippians 3:
Paul found his significance in Christ!
Paul found his significance in Christ!
Paul found his significance in Christ!
Damascus road.
Have you had the Damascus road experience?
The Damascus road is the road you were on pursuing your own goals apart from God and the Lord stopped you, captivated your heart and made you turn to go a totally different direction.
IN an instant your life’s direction was changed..
But you still have a lifetime to live your new-found significance!
2. Transitioning to the true significance.
You have heard many new year’s preaching about marching on to the New year with a renewed mind and a new resolution.
How do we make God the primary source.
You have to embrace the truth that there is only one life worth living and that is the life that is lived for Christ!
8 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
Philippians 3:
What Paul is saying here is that nothing in this world compares to knowing Jesus.
That he actually called everything else that he used to consider valuable as loss.
When he says he counts all these things as loss, Paul is actually saying that what he considered before as assets are now liabilities.
The picture is like a balance sheet, who are the accountants here?
Accountants know that a balance sheet is made up of two columns. First column is your assets (values of properties you own, cash, equity in stocks, other investments and intangible assets), the second column is your liabilities (your debt, and all your payables)..
What Paul actually means is this.. what he had as assets before has now moved into the liability column.
Why, because of all the things that he considered significant in his life were actually preventing him from getting the greatest asset he could ever gain in life… finding life’s true significance — knowing Jesus Christ the Lord.
TO Paul The religion and its traditions that he thought would make him righteous actually were stumbling blocks to true righteousness. He found out that He could not climb to God on the basis of his own merits, but only on the basis of the finished work of Christ.
What is your personal stumbling block to gaining the greatest asset in life Jesus?
The intellectual achievements you hold on to… religious heritage..
What was Paul’s attitude to these things that he used to consider valuable.. he suffered the loss of all these and count them rubbish.
count everything else loss to know Christ
rubbish means “trash”, or “refuse”, or “dung”.
The intellectual achievements you hold on to
Anything that keeps you from knowing and experiencing Christ is trash!
count everything rubbish to gain Jesus
Throw away the trash of your life!
Trash in our life is a metaphor, things that seem attractive to you but actually keeping you from living the life God wants you to live.
But there are people who hold on to actual trash!
Addiction, bad habits, and unhealthy choices
Throw away your trash to the dumpster where it belongs.
I have heard suffering as part of the Christian life but not misery.
What’s the difference? It is a matter of choice, suffering comes to the life of a Christian outside of his or her control. Sometimes undetected (a challenge brought about by persecution, or it is probably just something that was thrown your way, a sudden illness, a loss of income, a breakdown in relationships).
Misery is different from suffering in that it is someone’s choice to wallow in it.
Philippians 3:
Throw away your trash to the garbage where it belongs.
Christ should define you! Everything else is rubbish.
Be found in Jesus.
9 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—
having a righteousness that depends on faith..
Maybe your religion is your significance.. I live in the only Christian nation in Asia. I will embrace the religion of my ancestors, really?
Paul is saying here that righteousness comes from your own personal faith in Jesus..
having a righteousness
Masses of people have been deceived thinking religious piety makes them righteous, Paul found out that isn’t true...
WHat truly matters is the life of the resurrected Christ in you!
10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
know Him and the power of His resurrection
know Him and the power of His resurrection
God is experiential! Paul talks here about Jesus Who is real in His life.
Transitioning to your true significance should not be difficult, because the experience is real
God is experiential! Paul talks here about Jesus Who is real in His life.
I refuse to believe that the power has ceased.
“… and may share His sufferings.”
I have heard suffering as part of the Christian life but not misery.
What’s the difference? It is a matter of choice, suffering comes to the life of a Christian outside of his or her control. Sometimes undetected (a challenge brought about by persecution, or it is probably just something that was thrown your way, a sudden illness, a loss of income, a breakdown in relationships).
Misery is different from suffering in that it is someone’s choice to wallow in it.
And misery loves company. They like sharing their stories so people.. to bring people down with them..
There are some people who seek help but they are wasting people’s time! The answer and help is within them and they choose to remain miserable. A victim of their past...
Help me! Can’t you see I am suffering?
“You are not suffering! you choose to be miserable.”
Get up and away from your misery. You’re a child of the living God!
Until you do, you will not let the resurrection power of Jesus become real in your life.
3. Remember that you are significant to God!
12 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.
verse 12.
Making Christ your significance is a response to you being significant to HIM!
This message is not only about finding significance in God but understanding that you are significant to Him.
You are significant to God! The Bible says in
11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Most of the time when we read this verse, people are so happy about God thinking of our welfare and not our evil, that he will give you a future and a hope.
“Well I have a future and a hope. I am going to heaven someday!”
That is true but there is a part we are missing.
But the bigger part of this passage is the part that God has a plan! Yes he wants your welfare, yes He wants to give you a future and a hope, but note this.He has a plan to get you there!
He has a plan to get you there! That plan is to be carried out while you are alive on earth!
13 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! 14 Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!
There is joy in the earthly journey if we are living within the plan of God.
What is our response to God’s word today?
Are we still going to be victimized by our past?
13 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,
Forget the past..
Upward - dissect this word
“Time is like a river...”
You cannot change past but you can restructure your present and reclaim your future!
Press on towards the high calling!
14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Press on, you are no longer earthbound.
Upward - dissect this word,
Earthbound versus heavenbound!
When I said you are significant to God, whatever you are doing in your heavenward journey matters to Him!
Your family, your business, your career, your occupation, all these are important to God because you are important to Him!
These things should not drag you to remain earthbound. Your upward call propels you to be heavenbound.
It changes your perspective,:
I’m pressured at work. This is not my destiny, I press on to my heavenly call!
My co-worker wants to pick a fight. I will continue to fight the greater fight of faith!
“We’ve been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we’re not demoralized; we’re not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we’ve been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn’t left our side; we’ve been thrown down, but we haven’t broken. What they did to Jesus, they do to us—trial and torture, mockery and murder; what Jesus did among them, he does in us—he lives! Our lives are at constant risk for Jesus’ sake, which makes Jesus’ life all the more evident in us. While we’re going through the worst, you’re getting in on the best! “ ( THE MESSAGE)
Power becomes normative
Power becomes normative
You are significant to God!
Confession for the New Year:
I am a child of the living God in Christ!
Christ is my significance!
I choose to follow my heavenly call.
I choose to live a life of victory!
I want the resurrection power of Christ in my life!
That is my new normal!
I am significant to my Father in heaven!