Contentment Comes from the Spirit

Introduction:

One of Jesus best known parables is that of the Prodigal son. The bulk of the story is focused on the young son; his leaving, his actions during those years he is away, as well as the subsequent rejoicing that occurred on behalf of his father when he returns. Today, I want us to look for a moment at the other brother. Not much is known of him aside from his displeasure of his brother’s return.

I believe the brother demonstrates a trait that is one of the most destructive to the Christian walk. That is confidence in the flesh. A desire to deem ourselves worthy based on the things we have done. The older brother was angry over his father’s joy in the return of his younger brother. He felt he deserved more for his action of staying and working alongside of his father. He wanted to be acknowledged as better for all the things he had done. The older brother thought himself better but we find within him; jealousy, anger, pride, uncharitableness, cruelty, self-righteousness, and sulkiness.

Unfortunately, he is not alone. Today, as we continue in the book of Philippians, we find Paul warning the Philippian church against those who teach from these same kinds of misguided perspectives.

Look with me at Philippians 3:1-11.

Philippians 3:1–11 NIV

1 Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. 2 Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put 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; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. 7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, 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 is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

Pray

Precious Father,

We turn to You in this moment to hear from You. Probe our hearts. Reveal in us what You see so that we may find truth. For Father, only when we look at ourselves with truth, can we understand just how incredible Your gift of salvation truly is.

Amen

I would be curious to know how much of the New Testament is written in direct confrontation with false doctrines. Jesus was constantly directing the Jews to the doctrines they had created compared with what was true. Paul in his letters was constantly rebuking false doctrines and pointing people to the truth. A few years ago, I preached from the book of 1 John and we found John confronting the teachings of Gnostics.

These false teachers were not idol worshiping pagans. These were folks teaching within the church.

In this third chapter of Philippians we find Paul putting emphasis on joy and contentment. Why? Because there were some Judaizers bending their ears and causing confusion, casting the seeds of fear among them.

When we left off, Paul was addressing issues within their congregation that were causing disunity. These were sources from within the church who were in conflict. Paul directed them to Christ’s example and then to the example of two others they are familiar with who are doing a great job of following Christ’s example. One is the young man Timothy who is a missionary among them from Paul. The other is Epaphroditus who is one of their own members. He has sacrificed and put his life on the line to serve the Philippian church and Paul.

However, there is another source causing disunity and it is coming from without. False teachers who have made it their business to follow Paul and rebuke his teachings. In chapter 3, we will be looking at...

IV. Doctrines that Create Obstacles to True Christianity (3:1-4:1)

Paul begins by reassuring them. Look at verse 1.

Philippians 3:1 NIV

1 Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.

We rarely remember something the first time it is told to us. In my college days I took some courses in elementary education. I had toyed with the idea of being a school teacher prior to entering the ministry. While doing ministry, I have taken many courses on teaching. One subject that continually comes up is the need for repetition. It takes a while for things to be remembered. It take even longer for those same things to finally click for us. In other words, we first remember them mentally but the true significance of what we have learned often comes later.

What is Paul continually repeating throughout this letter? “Joy!” We have reason to rejoice. The gospel of Jesus Christ brings us freedom eternally and that should produce joy in our lives. If we remember that, the naysayers and false teachers cannot take that from us.

Once Paul reassures them, he addresses the first obstacle to true Christianity. It comes from placing our confidence in the wrong place that being the flesh. So, let us begin by looking at...

A. False Confidence in the Flesh (3:1-11)

Jesus was a Jew. Christianity began among the Jewish ranks. For this reason, it was very easy for them to want to confuse Judaism with Christianity. The Jew put a lot of emphasis on their relationship to Abraham. Unfortunately, it was easy to put too much confidence in that relationship and not enough on the relationship with Christ. In doing so, they were placing their confidence of salvation in the flesh, that being their relationship to Abraham.

One of the ways this manifested itself was by their emphasis on circumcision. They were demanding that Gentiles had to be circumcised and enter the Jewish faith, to become Christians. Paul begins addressing this false doctrine by describing what is...

1. True vs. False Circumcision (vv 2-3)

Philippians 3:2–3 NRSV

2 Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of those who mutilate the flesh! 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and boast in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh—

These Judaizers considered themselves Christians yet notice how Paul describes them. He does not treat them with brotherly love. Why? Because they are not brothers of the faith. They are trouble makers that are guiding people to a false faith. In verse 18 of this chapter, Paul refers to “enemies of the cross of Christ.” They have not received the full message of Christ. They have taken it and added to it.

Paul is so emphatic regarding the danger they are to believers that he emphasizes what he says by saying “beware” three times.

a. Beware of the dogs

He refers to them as dogs. These are not those cute little pets that we think of when we mention dogs. In their day, dogs ran in packs and were feral. In town they were a nuisance. They scavenged and nipped at people’s heels. The Jews referred to Gentiles as dogs yet here Paul says the Judaizers are the dogs. These Judaizers literally are following close upon Paul’s travels sowing dissension and false teachings much like the feral dogs nipping at folks heels as they pass by.

b. Beware of the evil workers

These Judaizers are not working for Christ but against Christ. Not only do they believe these false teachings, but they are working hard to promote them.

Romans 16:18 NIV

18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.

Philippians 3:19 NIV

19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.

c. Beware of those who mutilate the flesh

The word used here is concision. It had to do with the fact that the circumcision they were calling for had no spiritual significance. It was just a senseless cutting of flesh. Circumcision had served its purpose with the Jew but for the Gentile Christian it was a useless act.

Paul then turns in verse three to describe the true Christian circumcision. It is a circumcision of the heart. Look at Colossians 2:11.

Colossians 2:11 NIV

11 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ,

The cross of Christ was not enough for the Judaizers. They were trying to attach more to it. Yes, Christ died for your sins, but that is not enough. You have to do this and this and this.

Things have not changed much today. People are still trying to attach outward actions to the work that Christ has done on our behalf. Yes, Jesus died for your sins, but you are not saved unless you are also baptized. Yes, Jesus died for your sins, but you are not saved if you have not spoken in tongues. Yes, Jesus died for you, but you have not been saved it you cut your hair, if you wear jewelry, if, if, if, if....

Folks, we are only saved through the actions of Jesus Christ. If someone is telling you it takes something more, then it is time to stop listening to them. The minute we bring flesh and things of the flesh into it, we also bring in confusion, fear, uncertainty. These are all things of Satan. Satan wants us to wrestle with fear, confusion and uncertainty. He does not want us to live in joy and contentment because we are safe there in the hands of our Lord.

The problem with these kinds of external endeavors is that they promote fear or give us a false confidence because we have...

2. False Confidence From False Righteousness (vv 4-7)

Philippians 3:4–7 NIV

4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put 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; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. 7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.

These Judaizers were zealous to keep the Jewish practices. However, if anyone had reason to be zealous it was Paul and he had once been zealous for the same things as these Judaizers.

Paul had done all things right by the Law of Moses. Not only was he a child of Abraham, but he was from the tribe of Benjamin. This gave him status among Jews since Joseph and Benjamin were sons by Rachel, Jacob’s chosen and favorite wife. In Jacob’s mind, he considered her his true wife, the wife of choice.

He was taught by Gamaliel who was highly esteemed as a doctor of Jewish law. It was a privilege to be one of his students and that would be cause for many to respect Paul.

Paul was a Pharisee. We think of Pharisees as hypocrites but in Paul’s day it was great status to be a Pharisee. They were respected as the “most righteous” among the Jews. They were leaders among the Jews because of their diligence to maintain the law in their own lives. Paul did all things right as far as the Jews believed.

Not only did he do all things right, but he was passionate to the degree that he was willing to kill those who he felt were threats to the Jewish faith, including Christians. He lead the charge and traveled distances and went to great lengths to wipe Christians off the face of this earth until that day that Christ took hold of him personally.

If we put our confidence of salvation in the things we achieve, we are on a wrong path. Somewhere this week I read something that stated, “Many people have enough morality to keep them from trouble, but not enough to get them into heaven.”

The sad part of that statement was that it was not talking about people outside the church but people inside the church. Many people know and understand the law of consequences. They try making good moral choices in order to prevent consequences. For this reason they may feel blessed but they are not necessarily blessed by God but blessed due to their understanding of making moral choices. However, making moral choices does not get you into heaven. A relationship with God does. A relationship with God does not come from shooting a daily prayer up to God and making wise moral choices.

Let me tell you a well kept secret. A relationship is not something that happens easily. It is something that is struggled with and fought for. It is a battle and you choose each day whether you are going to stay in that relationship or bail on it. Now you may say, “that is no secret. I knew that.” However, let me ask you this. Have you thought of that along the lines of your relationship with God?

One of my favorite lines in the book of Christy was along these lines. I was unable to find it so allow me to paraphrase. Christy was having a crisis of faith. Something bad had happened and she was feeling like God had let her down. He had not kept death away. To which Miss Alice said, “I do not know of any one who knows God unless they have wrestled with God.” Jacob accepted God as his God, yet he continually tried to manipulate circumstances to get what he wanted. He was constantly struggling. Then one night, when he is afraid of what he is facing, he literally wrestles with God. It is interesting to note that there was a very significant change in Jacob from that point forward. God gave Jacob a new name in that moment signifying a new start for Jacob in his relationship with God. Jacob had believed in God yet struggled but now Jacob won the battle because he was finally putting his trust in God. Jacob, or Israel I should say, really seemed to find peace in his relationship with God at this point.

Paul had been zealous believing in God, but after Paul’s encounter with the risen Christ, Paul had moved from believing in God to putting his trust in God. Now all those other things that had been so important to him meant nothing.

Philippians 3:7 NIV

7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.

In following Christ, Paul lost it all. His Jewish faith he had worked so hard for, his honor among the Jews, his wealth, his dreams and ambitions. He most likely was rejected and dispossessed by his family. Yet Paul rejoices. Why? Because Paul has...

3. True Confidence From True Righteousness (vv 8-9)

Philippians 3:8–9 NIV

8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, 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 is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.

Paul has lost it all but Paul has also rejected it all. It does not matter what he has lost as he understands that it was false. It gained him nothing. He was unable to possess the thing he truly desired through all those things. What did he desire? True righteousness. To be able to stand before his God in right relationship. To know God personally. This is what he had gained. The rest was nothing more than garbage. The translators are being really polite here. The word is actually “dung” and it encompassed garbage and well I think you know. When was the last time you visited the dump or a dung heap? I have not been to the one here, but I have been in others. The dump wreaks of decay, wrought, death and a sewer? Well, we won’t even address that in polite company. :-)

That is how Paul viewed his fleshly achievements. No matter how hard he worked, no matter how much success he had achieved, it could not make him righteous in the eyes of God. Oh, it may make him righteous in the eyes of men, but that did not achieve the true goal: That being God’s pleasure in him.

So how do we achieve this pleasure of God? It is not achieved, it is only accepted. It is a gift God extends to us and all we have to do is receive the gift. When we receive the gift, true righteousness is imputed to us. Imputed is not a word we are usually familiar with. But here is what it means.

Christ’s righteousness has been put to our account. Our sin has been put to Christ’s account on the cross.

When we receive Jesus as our personal Savior, literally, our sin becomes His. When He dies on the cross for sin, our sin is being paid for. That clears our debt and in its place, we are accounted with Christ’s righteousness.

What is righteousness? Being in right relationship with God. Standing before Him in right relationship with Him.

Look at Romans 4:1-8.

Romans 4:1–8 NIV

1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? 2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. 3 What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. 5 However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. 6 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: 7 “Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them.”

Abraham was not righteous because of anything he had done. He believed God and God “credited” it to him. Now this is not belief as in, “yes, I believe there is a God.” This is the kind of belief that says, “Not only do I believe there is a God, but I trust Him and seek His will for my life.”

Paul’s life changed drastically and he had no regrets! He found what he was truly seeking…a relationship with his God. He had moved from a false righteousness that gained him the praise of men, to a true relationship that gained him the praise of God. Now he has a different goal.

Philippians 3:10–11 NRSV

10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, 11 if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

What is Paul stating here? Does he really want to go through all the suffering Christ went through? Paul is willing to go through anything if it means he will someday be with God forever and be completely free of the sin that entangles our lives.

Conclusion:

Paul is sharing this with church people. Paul knows that people in the church are vulnerable to deception. There are constantly people trying to sell them a different story. A different objective.

In the story of the prodigal son I believe we find two deductions of the flesh that can turn our sites from our true objective of righteousness. The first is demonstrated by the younger son who hungered over wealth and possession.

I enjoy the TV series, “The Voice” but it breaks my heart how many pastors, worship pastors, and folks from church worship teams come on the show seeking fame and wealth. More often than not, these people find themselves on a treacherous path that takes them on a road away from God.

I enjoy the TV series, “The Voice” but it breaks my heart how many pastors, worship pastors, and folks from church worship teams come on the show seeking fame and wealth. More often than not, these people find themselves on a treacherous path that takes them on a road away from God.

The second seduction is demonstrated by the older son. These are people in the church who are still working to achieve righteousness through their works. The heart break in this is that there is nothing they can do to achieve it. It can only be given by God. The gift from God brings peace, joy, rest, satisfaction and contentment as well as many more blessings. However, when we are working to achieve it there is restlessness, fear, uncertainty. A person like Paul faces death with joy and peace ready to receive the prize. A person like the Judaizers face death fearful and uncertain if they have achieved the goal and are not looking forward to finding out the answer.

What is your relationship with God marked by? Do you look forward to the day you see Christ. Is your life marked with peace and joy? Or are you critical and concerned, comparing yourself with others to see how you measure up?

Has this current pandemic revealed uncertainty in your life? Has it caused you to feel frightened and concerned about tomorrow? Consider where you put value. Is it on your goals and dreams for this life on earth? Those are the things of the flesh that Paul talks against. But if you can say with Paul.

Philippians 3:10–11 NIV

10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

Than you have your sight on the right goal and you will find peace and contentment as Paul did.

Dear Father,

It is easy in this world to allow our sights to slip from the true goal to the goals of our world around us. There is a seige taking place against our thoughts everyday as we watch television, listen to the radio, work and listen to co-workers or unsaved family members. In this moment, as we sit before you, talk to our hearts. If there be anything we need to set straight in our lives, we give you permission to bring them to mind so we can address them with You today.

We repent of the things we have allowed to take first place in our lives before You and in this moment, we wish to make sure you are number one in our lives.

In just a moment, we are going to take communion. As we do so, we remember all that you suffered on our behalf so that we may be freed from sin and through your gift be made saved and made righteous so we can stand before you and commune with you. Thank you, Jesus for dying on the cross for us. Thank you Holy Father for being willing to allow your Son to do that for us. Thank you Holy Spirit for the way you work within us each and every moment of every day.

Now, Father, as we close this prayer, we set our communion elements before you. We ask your blessing on them and upon us as we partake of them. In Jesus name we pray, amen.

The Communion Supper, instituted by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is a sacrament, which proclaims His life, His sufferings, His sacrificial death, and resurrection, and the hope of His coming again. It shows forth the Lord’s death until His return. The Supper is a means of grace in which Christ is present by the Spirit. It is to be received in reverent appreciation and gratefulness for the work of Christ. All those who are truly repentant, forsaking their sins, and believing in Christ for salvation are invited to participate in the death and resurrection of Christ. We come to the table that we may be renewed in life and salvation and be made one by the Spirit. In unity with the Church, we confess our faith: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.

Father, it is our prayer that...

By your Spirit we will be made one in Christ, one with each other, and one in the ministry of Christ to all the world, until Christ comes in final victory. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen.

The Bread:

The body of our Lord Jesus Christ, broken for you, preserve you blameless, unto everlasting life. Eat this in remembrance that Christ died for you, and be thankful.

The Cup:

The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, shed for you, preserve you blameless unto everlasting life. Drink this in remembrance that Christ died for you, and be thankful.

In closing Father, once again we thank you. This service is ending but your presence is ever with us. May we go forward renewed in our resolve to follow You and You alone. May our sight be fixed upon You, Your glory, and Your promises and may we demonstrate Your peace to a world that is experiencing everything but peace. In Your blessed name Jesus we pray. Amen.

To each of you watching this video, I pray God’s peace go before you! Good bye.