Pursuing Excellence in Worship

Explanation: Paul points out his Jewish pedigree and his credentials. He shows that in relation to other Jews, he was at the top of the list. Paul would have the Number One spot in the Who’s Who for Jews! Nobody had more going for them than Paul did. AND if it were possible to be declared righteous through bloodlines and accomplishments, Paul would have had heaven sewed up! BUT, Paul understood the truth that no one is justified by the works of the flesh; therefore, he considered all his accomplishments as garbage.

Illustrate: picture of an award I received at CNSY back in the late 1980’s; I don’t even remember what it was for. Who won the 2018 High School wrestling championship for the state of Nebraska? Who was #1 in sales/ performance at your company 5 years ago?

Argument: We live in an atmosphere in which we are continually bombarded with the message to achieve. The siren call is to get more. The messaging is that if you don’t have the latest & greatest thing (car, house, cell phone, vacation package, whatever) you are being left behind. You only get this one life so make it count! Experience as much as you can while you can!

It is true that we only have this one physical life here on earth, but, and more importantly, eternity is in front of each of us as well. And, yes, we are to make this one life count. BUT, and this is crucial, our one life only truly counts in eternity when this life is lived for Christ.

Application: Paul gave up a tremendous amount when he began to live for Jesus. He was at the top of pyramid, he had power, prestige, and respect. But Paul understood that the poorest beggar who is in Christ, is better off than the wealthiest person who is headed for a Christless-eternity.

What are you seeking and searching for? In what pursuit do you experience validation as a person? in things? position? wealth? No of these things are capable of bringing true satisfaction. Only in Christ do we find true peace and contentment; only in Christ do we find true worth and lasting value

True Worshipers Desire to Experience the Power AND the Sufferings of Christ ()

Explanation: A careful look at v. 10 may surprise us. Paul is expressing a desire that he might know Him. Paul already knew Jesus. Jesus supernaturally appeared to Paul on the Damascus Road () and the Holy Spirit had already empowered him for mission work (). What does it mean, this wanting to know Him and the power of His resurrection? Paul understood the truths of the Christian life. He knew finite humans can never fully come to know and comprehend the majesty and glory that is in God. He was hungry for more

Illustrate: Teachers who pursue cont ed opportunities; successful surgeons who attend medical workshops; mechanics who purchase more tools so they can do better work. Those who strive for excellence know there is more to learn.

Argument: Paul also understood another truth that we as modern believers try our best to avoid. Paul understood that just as the Master suffered in this walk of life, so too would the disciple suffer. Paul had the desire to be likened to Jesus in His death. This is not some weird death wish that Paul had, and he certainly did not seek suffering for the sake of suffering. Paul did however, know that just as Jesus was focused on accomplishing the Father’s will, regardless of the consequences (scourging, rejection, and death on a Cross), so he too was willing to endure what came his way as a result of being sold out to Jesus. He did not change his message to avoid hardship

Application: How much of Jesus do you really want? The disciples path is not the easiest to walk, but it is the most rewarding. Too many American Christians want a Cushion, not a Cross, but a Cross is the very thing Jesus commands us to lay hold of in order to follow Him ()

True Worshipers Continually strive to increase in Christ-likeness ()

Explanation: Paul also realized he had not yet arrived at the goal; he was striving to achieve for the LORD. This is the man who was used of God to write about 25% of the New Testament, he was the man who planted countless churches, he was the man who was beaten, stoned, and shipwrecked on account of his faith, and he was in prison while he was writing this letter. If anyone could say, “I have done enough for Jesus,” it would have been Paul.

Instead of coasting on past accomplishments, Paul was still pressing on to the goal that was in front of him. He was still in the race and he was staying focused on what was out in front. He wasn’t dwelling on the past, even the good things done for Jesus. Paul realized there was more to do for the Master, and he wanted to keep on being used for the Glory of God

Illustrate: Don’t celebrate too early videos. Someone who has the race won and lets up and begins to celebrate and gets beat. Landon Strickland in the Apple Bowl: he had a touchdown, but got tackled at the 2 yard line because he let up so he could celebrate.

Argument: The gift of life is precious, and we can be thankful to God for what He allows us to experience. The one thing we should not do with this precious gift is waste it. Too many of us are pursuing the things of this world instead of the Creator of this world. Our goals are mainly shallow and self-centered instead of Christ-centered.

True Worshipers have different goals. True Worshipers live their lives focused on the prize because they want to win in this life and the one to come. So, what does it mean to win as a believer? It means that each day we are becoming more and more like Jesus. It means we are pursuing Him, not some empty achievement such as having the best-looking yard in the neighborhood. Winning the race is shown in the example of Moses. The prophet was known by God, and God spoke with Him, but Moses wanted more. He cried out to God “Please show me your Glory!” () Winning the journey is expressed by Paul when he claimed, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” ()

Application: Don’t waste your life. Share story of John Piper at Passion Conference in 2000.

Piper tells the crowd of 40,000 young people the story of 2 ladies in his church at Bethlehem. Both were in health care, and one was in her early 80’s and the other was in her late 70’s. They had been serving as medical missionaries in the country of Rangoon for several years. Pastor John then told the crowd how the brakes on the jeep they were driving failed and they went off a cliff and were killed instantly. Piper then asks the crowd, “Is this a tragedy?” [NO, it is not]

Piper then pulls out a page from a Reader’s Digest and states, “I will tell you what a tragedy is. THIS is a tragedy. And then he proceeds to read the story about a man and his wife who took an early retirement (he was 59, she was 51). They had lived and worked in the Northeast so they retired to Florida. They purchased a 30 foot trawler, placed softball, and collected shells.

Piper then states, “This is the tragedy: standing before God with a sea shell collection and telling God about how your swing had improved.”