Making the present count for the future!
Philippians • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 13 viewsRunning towards the prize, to be more like Jesus, doesn't make us perfect but but makes us more like him and more blessed in his sight!
Notes
Transcript
Let’s get right into it today. Take your bible to...
that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.
Introduction:
Introduction:
A leading seminary did a survey with its graduates to find out where they could improve on in their program. They only asked one question and this is what it was. “What is one area they wished they had recieved better instruction in.”
Remember this is a seminary of 3-4 years where they would study the original languages of the bible, systematic theology, Bible exposition, and many other things about the bible.
the most repeated answer, to their surprise was this. “How do I live my Christian life?”
I believe that this may be the question many of you may of asked yourself at one time in your life. Knowing how to become a Christian is very simple a child can understand it. The scriptures are very clear on the matter.
However, there isn’t just one passage that gives us a complete synopsis on how to live after we are saved. this is why studying the bible and the whole counsel of God is so important in our lives!
Unlike salvation, that happens instantly when we get saved, the process of sanctification, like we spoke about a few weeks ago, is a life long process of the saints (us) becoming more like Christ.
In this passage in Philippians Paul gives us some practical things to grow by in our Christian life. Now like i mentions this isn’t everything we need to know but are some very practical thing to remember and to help us in our race to the prize, in our journey to become more like Christ.
Let’s take a look at what Paul has to teach us from this passage.
1. More like Jesus (vv10-11)
1. More like Jesus (vv10-11)
Explanation:
Here Paul wanted nothing more than to know Christ more. He wanted to know the power of God in his life! This verse is seen all through this passage. It is a verse I would recommend memorizing or reading often!
Illustration:
Trying to explain God is like trying to explain a kiss. you can look up the definition in the dictionary: “A caress with the lips; a gentile touch or contact.”
But does that really capture the essence of what a kiss is? Does that describe what a mother does when she tenderly places her lips on the forehead of her newborn baby? Is that what the husband does when he kisses his wife goodnight?
Just as a word cannot completely capture all that is involved in what we know by experience and attempt to describe a “kiss,” we also cannot fully comprehend, explain, or define “God.” We can, however, know him through experiencing his revelation of himself to us in his Word and in the person Jesus Christ.
Application:
To know Christ means 3 things according to this verse.
To know Christ is to know the power of his resurrection.
which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
As Christians we are to experience the power of God. The same power that raised Christ from the dead! When God raised Christ from the dead it showed us that 1) God has the power to conquer all the trials and temptations of life. 2) God has the power to give man a new life and the power to live a new life before Him. and 3) God has the power to raise men from the dead. (and one day, if we die before the return of Christ, we will experience the resurrection as well!)
2. To know Christ is also to know the fellowship of His sufferings.
Most of us want to share in the blessing of Christ but we want nothing to do with his suffering. But the scriptures tell us that if we live for Christ and proclaim the Gospel- then we will suffer persecution. But why? Why would the world persecute us when we are just trying to share eternal life with them? Because sinners want to live life their way! After all, sin is fun! but only for a season. As believers tho, if we are going to live for Christ we will suffer persecution.
strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”
For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,
Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.
For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
Despite all this God promises that even in the middle of all of the persecution he will draw close to us! Because we are suffering for him!
If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.
Thirdly
3. To know Christ is to be made conformable to His death.
Paul is a perfect example to how we must be conformed to his death.
Paul sought to deny himself and take up the cross of Christ daily.
Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
Paul sought to crucify his old man with Christ.
knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.
Paul sought to count himself dead to sin but alive to God.
Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Paul sought to kill himself all day long.
As it is written:
“For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”
Paul sought to die daily.
I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
Paul sought to be always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake.
For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
Paul sought to be crucified with Christ.
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Paul sought to be dead with Christ.
Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations—
This is a faithful saying:
For if we died with Him,
We shall also live with Him.
What are you doing to live for Christ? are you doing what ever it takes to make him known in and through your life?
Quickly look with me at point number two.
2. More time we still have. (vv. 12-16)
2. More time we still have. (vv. 12-16)
Explanation:
We see that Paul admits that he isn’t perfect. Perfection for us as sinners means the end of the road for us here in earth. The reason God saved us is to perfect us so we may live for Him and worship Him.
Many times Paul mentions often in the scriptures how short he falls.
For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.
Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God,
To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
Here we have Paul whom many consider to be the greatest Christian, apart from christ, to ever live admitting that he isn’t perfect. If Paul was so short of perfection how short are we?
Illustration:
Someone once said. The closest to perfection a person ever comes is when he fills out a job application form!
Application:
Note here that Paul says 5 significant things!
He followed after perfection
Although he knew he would never obtain perfection here on earth he still strived to do all he could to be more like Christ and serve Him. He was going to run his race! Paul had to time to lay down in comfort because there was a job to do!
There is no such thing as a GENUINE Christian being still after they get saved. A believer must not get comfortable, lazy, wait time or opportunities. We must never think because we are coming to church on Sunday that we are doing ok. NO! we must be active for our Lord every day striving to become more like him!
Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
I must hurry
2. Paul worked at forgetting the past.
This is a great verse for those of us who have failed God. Satan like to bring us our past our failures and try to discourage us. But we have to forget those things of the past. But this is a hard thing to do! how do we forget the past? by focusing on the prize ahead of us and working on what we have now.
“Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.
Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.
I’m almost out of time si ill just mention the last three things quickly.
3. Paul pressed on toward the goal, toward God’s purpose in Christ Jesus.
What is the purpose of God in our lives? That we will be conformed into the image of his son.
For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
4. Paul kept his mind on growing and maturing in Christ.
As Christians we are commanded to be perfect and we do this by growing in our relationship with Christ!
Mateo 5:48
Sed, pues, vosotros perfectos, como vuestro Padre que está en el cielo es perfecto.
5. Paul maintained the growth he had already achieved.
Too many Christians want to live like a yo-yo. they are up and down in their Christian life. one day they are in fire for God then the next they are living for the Devil. Lying, stealing, cheating, not reading your bible, not praying, not testifying.
We need to build on our faith and grow. Note the strong exhortation of the scriptures.
For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,
He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
Running towards the prize, to be more like Jesus, doesn't make us perfect but but makes us more like him and more blessed in his sight!
How is your walk with God? are you moving towards the goal? Is God showing you that maybe your Christian life and walk with Him isn’t what it should be? Have you been half-hearted to witness to the lost? Have you stopped you daily bible reading and study? how is your prayer life? Maybe it’s not hot or cold but somewhere in the middle. remember what God said
“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.
If God is speaking to your heart today will you be quick to change? to start again in your pursuit to the goal? Trying to become more like Christ till the day we cross the finish line and enter into his presence in heaven?
This is too big of a prize to lose! If you have stopped or even are sitting down in the track, then get up and start running again!
If you have never started your race in the Christian life by being born again then you can make today your start! you just need to turn to Christ, repent of your sins, trust the finished work of Christ on the cross and call out to him to save you and he will! The decision is yours!
and Church, the decision to get back up and run the race God intended for us to run is yours too!