Standing Firm in a World of Change

Philippians 3:1-21

A Common phrase of one who is running for President is “Change We Can Believe In”….It’s interesting in our world where society has worked so hard to separate the sacred from the secular, that this candidate chooses religious language for a campaign slogan. Paul loved the Philippians Acts 16 tells us about the demon-possessed slave girl, Lydia, the seller of purple and the jailer and his family that were dramatically saved and became a church. Paul wanted the best for the Church at Phillippi, that for all indications was a healthy church. But the forces of evil are always at work….The concept of Change infers that there is something wrong with what we have now. I’m not here this morning to talk politics. I think you are capable of listening to God and making the right decision. I do believe however that we cannot accept calls to believe from politicians. There’s only one book that tells us what to believe. I think of

John 20:31
But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

1. Christians who stand firm do a risk assessment 1-6

Phil 3:1-4:1

3:1 Finally, my brothers, 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 men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh- 4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence.

If anyone else thinks he has 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 legalistic righteousness, faultless.

2. Christians who stand firm make a decision that Christ is the highest value 7-11

7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, 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 and is by faith. 10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

I am resolved no longer to linger charmed by the world’s delights

Things that are higher things that are nobler, these have allured my sights

I am resolved and who will go with me come friend without delay

Taught by the Bible, led by the Spirit we’ll walk the heavenly way

3. Christians who stand firm insist on knowing God more 12-15

12 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. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

15 All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

4. Christians who stand firm have a Heavenly citizenship 17-21

17 Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

4:1 Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!

(from New International Version)