Worship’s “W’s”

It was a month ago now, just a few days after we had celebrated communion that I received these pictures from my friend Ethan Leavitt of the church he had served in Ukraine worshipping and celebrating communion in their sanctuary.

A sanctuary, not only set aside for worship, but a sanctuary for those who had lost their homes due to seemingly indiscriminate Russian bombing. A sanctuary from those who had lost their home. A sanctuary for those fleeing the fighting on their way to somewhere, anywhere else.

It was during our conversation that I learned that even during what was being reported to be a cease fire, bombs were falling on their city…and my heart felt heavy.

Worship’s “W’s”

In our text this morning we catch the Apostle Paul sort of mid-thought stream, as he begins the latter half of his letter to their church. He reminds them to rejoice in the Lord, and to look out for those who would only seek to look the part, being confident in their appearance to others.

He then goes on to list his pedigree, if you will.

Philippians 3:5–6 ESV

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; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

So by all appearances, by the “religious” people’s of the day opinion, Paul would have seemed to have been the standard by which they should compare themselves. He had attained it, hadn’t he?

No!

He recognizes in himself that this is nothing, because he is not nor can he live up to the righteous requirements of the law.

Philippians 3:7–8 ESV

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 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

Think of it. Everything in his life he had worked so hard to achieve he counts as a loss! “For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things...”

Everything is a loss in comparison to Christ.

He counts them as Rubbish - the word here in the Greek can mean, “dung”, it’s worthless. As one speaker put it once, “It’s cow pies.” And why does he do this?

Philippians 3:8 (ESV)

...in order that I may gain Christ

What does that mean? Paul goes on to explain this a bit in verse 9

Philippians 3:9 ESV

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—

So here’s Paul, someone that if anyone of us were to compare himself to would be considered far more righteous than we are, telling us that he considers all of his efforts, all of his accomplishments to be nothing but what is thrown on the dung heap, rubbish, and for what?

Philippians 3:10 ESV

that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

That’s powerful. To know Him, to know God, to know Jesus and the power of his resurrection in our own life. And the only way that any of us come to understand the power of resurrection is to come to understand the meaning of our own death. The dying to oneself, the dying to sin, the dying of this body that we may have confidence not in our own accomplishments but in the One who died in our place for our sins. That He is the One who paved the way for our resurrection.

Philippians 3:11 ESV

that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

In the world we live in, the afterlife, heaven, whatever you want to use to talk about what happens after our life here on earth is complete, is talked about as if resurrection and heaven are a foregone conclusion. That everybody goes to heaven.

IF that were true, then why the need for Jesus to come?

IF that were true, then why the need for faith?

IF that were true, then why the need for Jesus and his death on the cross?

IF that were true, then what is Paul talking about?

Our culture has long forgotten, and it often seems that many churches have forgotten that God calls us to live a life of righteousness. We are told, “Be Holy” (Leviticus 11:44, 45; 1 Corinthians 7:34; Ephesians 1:4; 1 Peter 1:16, among others).

Paul goes on in verse 12-14:

Philippians 3:12–14 ESV

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. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Even the apostle Paul recognizes that he has not arrived yet. “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect...” He’s not, and neither are we...

But, - and note that contradicts what came before. We’re not perfect…yet.

Philippians 3:12 (ESV)

... but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.

The NIV puts its another way

Philippians 3:12 (NIV)

...but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

The word being translated from the Greek there as “to make it my own” or “to take hold of” is a form of the same word that is used when Peter is walking on the water...

Matthew 14:30–31 (NIV)

But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him...

I’ve preached on this before, but note that it was when Peter was beginning to sink, and that Jesus caught him. He couldn’t have done that had he not been present.

I love that Paul tells us that he’s a work in progress, “[pressing] on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” He goes on:

Philippians 3:13–14 ESV

Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

When we come to worship, we are called by faith. It is important for us to think of the W’s of worship:

Who - Who is it that we worship?

What - What is it that we worship?

Why - Why is it that we worship?

Where - Where is it that we worship?

When - When is it that we worship?

Who? - it’s Jesus.

What? - It’s the Messiah

Why? - Because the Holy Spirit has called us to worship! Because Jesus is LORD! He saved us! He has opened the way to God again! He loves us....

Where? - Everywhere

When? - Always, at all times.

Worship’s “W’s”

This is why we come. This is why we’re here. And today, as we celebrate communion, we have something tangible representing his presence in the bread and the cup. Yet, everyday we have something tangible in seeing each other as bearers of God’s Holy Image.

To God be the Glory.

AMEN