WARNORD: Excersize Rejoice

CIT: How should the believers express their faith? They should rejoice together and be on guard against those around them who would deceive them.

CIS: Rejoice: You are known by Christ. Be Alert: There are those who would deceive you.

SO: Explain: Your faith should make you shout. Your faith should make you set a look out.

Introduction:

Mobility Guardian, not knowing what to expect and not being as prepared as we could have given access to the witheld information.

Transition: We have some tips on what to expect in our faith walk. Christians should know how to express their faith. Let’s take a look at how Paul explains it to the Philippians

Philippians 3:1–12 ESV

1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you. 2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— 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.

Context

Paul (Tim/Ephaph)

Philippi

Philippians Slave Girl Acts 16:16ff. / Pagan

Rejoice and Look Out

Philippians 3:1–3 ESV

1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you. 2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—

Instead of Concern, Rejoice

What’s to give pastoral encouragement.

Who are these D,E,MoftheF?

Jews?

Pagans?

Cynics?

Called dogs, aspired to be “dogs” - Philo Planter 151

Cult of Cybele

Castrated themselves in the open “like dogs’

People who did not “worship by the Spirit” and Christ (v.3).

Believers are “the circumcision”

App: Your faith should put you on the look out!

Are there those who would take what you know and twist it? - Stand Alert

Surrender Your 1206

Philippians 3:4–8 ESV

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

Paul’s Creds:

Circumcised

Benjamin Hebrew

Model Citizen

Pharisee: Influential Religo-Political Reformer

Zealous/Persecutor

Blameless in Law

Why does Paul list this?

Self-Promotion?

The Opponent’s Values

Worthless compared to relation with Christ!

Pursued Christ at his own (?) expense.

Ill: Writing 1206’s...

App: Is the value of knowing Jesus greater than your highest life aspirations?

Is Jesus your Lord?

Faith = Salvation, Righteousness, Suffering, and Resurrection

Philippians 3:9–12 ESV

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.

The benefit:

Knowing Christ (v.8, 10)

Found By Him

Righteousness that depends on faith, not works of the Law

Suffering like Christ

Knowing and Attaining the Power of Resurrection

App: Rejoice: You are known by Christ. Be Alert: There are those who would deceive you.

Your faith should make you shout. Your faith should make you set a look out.

Response

Salvation:

Believers: Rejoice during Advent - Jesus is coming back; Discern where could the world seek to deceive you? Look out!