It's All About Him
Philippians 3:6-14
I want to bring you a message from a passage that is very near and dear to my heart. Paul addresses this subject of being all about Him. What's all about Him? We'll see. But who is Him? It's the Lord Jesus Christ! Let's go ahead and admit that we live in a selfish world, and if the truth be known, we're more selfish than we may want to admit. "It's all about ME! What's in it for me?" Me-ism is rampant today. But I want to challenge you on this brink of a new year to commit again to set your sight on living a life that is all about Him. If we're not careful, we can quickly lose that burning zeal and love for Christ that we had in the past - not because we want to, but because we allowed our life to be set by the world's agenda. So, how can we have a life that is all about Him? How can we come to the end of 2008 and say that it truly was a year that was all about Him? Listen to Paul's words,
Philippians 3:6-14
3:6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
3:7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.
3:8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ
3:9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which [is] from the law, but that which [is] through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;
3:10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
3:11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
3:12 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.
3:13 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,
3:14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
What about us is to be all about Him?
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My past must be all about Him vv 4-7
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Note a couple of things that Paul declares about his past.
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It was impressive… but incomplete. To some Paul's life may have seemed extremely impressive. But he becomes an "auditor" who opens the books to see what wealth he has, and the startling realization is that he discovers he is bankrupt!1 We might ask: "How could a sincere and "astute" man like Saul of Tarsus be so wrong?" The answer is: he was using the wrong measuring stick! Like the rich young ruler (Mark 10:17-22) and the Pharisee that pridefully prayed in Christ's parable (Luke 18:10-14), Saul of Tarsus was looking at the outside and not the inside. He was comparing himself with standards set by men, not by God. He was more concerned about what many are concerned today - what Paul calls the flesh. In fact, in verse 3 he admonished the Philippian church to have no confidence in the flesh - a point that he makes clear in verse 7 - anything that was gain to him in the flesh, he now considers it a loss, nothing of worthwhile value.
"Many people who have the things money CAN buy have lost the things that money CANNOT buy…. Few people sit down to weigh seriously the values that control their decisions and directions. Many people today are the slaves of "things and as a result do not experience real Christian joy."2 That's where Paul was. He was a slave of things - good things, yes - but not the best things. "Like most "religious" people today, Paul had enough morality to keep him out of trouble, but not enough righteousness to get him into heaven! It was not bad things that kept Paul away from Jesus-it was good things! But he would have to lose his "religion" to find salvation."3
Might this describe you? Moral person - no doubt, but still spiritually bankrupt. Religious - certainly, but still no relationship. It was impressive, but incomplete.
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It was a model life… but meaningless. It is absolutely amazing all that Paul records here. But how does he summarize all of this? Read v 7. What things were gain to him - "His own "treasures" brought glory to him personally, but they did not bring glory to God. They were "gain" to him only, and as such, were selfish."4 So, now he has the appropriate understanding of the previous accomplishments - "rubbish". You see, "one glimpse of true, heaven-sent righteousness was enough to convince Paul forever that he had spent his entire life on the wrong road traveling at breakneck speed toward the wrong destination for all the wrong reasons."5
When was the last time that you asked yourself where you were going? Your life - it may be a model life on the outside, but is it meaningful in the eyes of God? Do you live a life that is centered on loving God, loving others and serving the world? That is what will last forever. But what about the past? Some ask,
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What does God do with our past - regardless of what it is?
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He forgives. I shared with you on Christmas Eve that I'm convinced this is the greatest gift that came from the tree of Calvary. I love the picture that is painted by the Lord in Isaiah 1, "Though their sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow." Thank God for the tree of Calvary! And David declares that He removes our sin from us as far as the east is from the west! That means that when God forgives, He forgives completely. But He does more!
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He makes the power of sin futile (ineffective)- In Hebrews 10:17 we find these words, "Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more." To "remember no more" means, "no longer to be influenced by or affected by." God "is not suggesting that He will conveniently have a bad memory! This is impossible with God - Calvary shows us that. What God is saying is, "I will no longer hold their sins against them. Their sins can no longer affect their standing with Me or influence My attitude toward them."6 Some of you may feel that God gave you a second rate salvation because it seems to you that He has been holding things against you because of your past. You feel He has you marked! Friend, there is no such thing as a second-rate salvation. Could it be that you are the one that has decided to live below what God has in store for you with so great a salvation? Just because God does not remove the consequences of sin does not mean that He cares less for you. It is God alone that can make the power of sin ineffective if we are willing to trust Him. But God does more with our past.
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He helps us to FIDO - forget it and drive on. God did an incredible and miraculous work in Paul. But it didn't mean that Paul was free from some ugly things in his past. Paul was a murderer. But what did God allow him to do? Paul would say in verse 13, "forgetting those things (refusing to hold those things over my own head), I press toward the goal." We cannot change the past, but we can change the meaning of the past.7
Can I give you some good advice this morning? Don't live life looking backwards! When the past is brought up in your mind, it's not brought up by God but by the enemy. And James tells us to resist the devil and he will flee. The devil is the one that brings up the past to try to trip us up. Resist him! God will give you the grace, strength and courage to move on. Trust Him.
I want to give you some great news: the past is truly past. It's under the blood, so move on! You can't change the good or the bad - so move on! I want you to see a second point that must be all about Him.
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My passion must be all about Him vv 7-10a
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Paul was very passionate about Christ. There was absolutely no mistaking that fact. In these four verses Paul refers to his Lord 10 times. He wants people to know that his passion is the Lord. So here's a question to ponder:
How do you convey to others that your passion is Jesus Christ… or not?
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By our possessions in life vv 7-8. Three times he uses the word count. He says, "What things were gain to me I have counted loss for Christ…. I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord… I count it all as rubbish." All of that good reputable stuff did not mean anything because he wanted the knowledge of Christ. He had suffered loss, but it didn't matter. It was counted as rubbish anyway! And he knew there was something of far greater value worth counting and that he couldn't hold onto both. To grasp Christ, he had to first let go of the other - it had to be counted as rubbish.
Let's get one thing straight this morning - you're going to count. But what is it that you're going to count? Are you going to count that which matters only in this life? Or are you going to count that which matters in the life to come? Do the things of the world have a grip on you? The only way I can know if I'm having victory over materialism is if I'm willing to part with what I've got. Do you possess your possessions, or do they possess you?
Paul had been using the wrong "counter" all of his life until he met Christ. And then his "counter" changed. Has your "counter" changed, or are you still "counting" according to the world's standards? When your passion is possessions, your fist becomes tight and others around you know your passion. But when Christ is your passion, and you begin to "count" those things that really matter - the hand is no longer closed but open to pass on what God has passed to you. We also convey our passion to others,
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By our position in life - "in Him" v 9. Paul wanted to be found (discovered, detected) in Christ. This was a major theme to Paul. The phrase, "in Christ" is found 87 times in Scripture - and Paul was responsible for 84 of them. What does that mean? To be IN Christ was a major point to him! No where else. Nothing else. He said that he did not want to be found in his own righteousness. Why? He just shared in verse 6 that his righteousness, although blameless according to the law, still did not satisfy because it was not God's righteousness. God's Word says that our righteousness is as a filthy rag - not fit for any use (Isaiah 64:6). Paul's position, and our position, must be in Christ alone.
There is a technical word in Scripture that describes what Paul is talking about - and how it takes place - imputation (not amputation). It means "to put to one's account." Paul looked at his own record and discovered that he was spiritually bankrupt. He looked at Christ's record and saw that He was eternally wealthy - absolutely perfect. When Paul trusted Christ, he saw God put Christ's righteousness into his own account! More than that, Paul discovered that his sins had been put on Christ on the cross (2 Corinthians 5:21). And God promised Paul that He would never write his sins against him anymore. What a fantastic experience of God's grace!8 That's what it means to be "in Christ." Is there any other position that means more to you than that one? We also convey our passion in Christ,
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By our pursuit in life v 10. He said, "that I may know Him…." Nothing else mattered more to Paul than knowing Christ. There was no greater desire for Paul than to know Christ. I want to give you a couple of details that makes these verses more meaningful. Paul was in the latter part of his ministry when he penned these words to this church that he helped start on his first missionary journey. But what's more, Paul was in prison when he wrote this letter. Here was a man, greatly used of God by this time in his ministry stating, "I want to know Him and the power of His resurrection." Paul never got too old to know more about Christ. He never took for granted serving Jesus. He never got to the point where he said; "I have arrived." He never thought of retiring from serving Jesus! Here he is, on up in years, and still desirous as ever to know Christ. There was more to know and he wanted to know Christ - regardless. If that meant "the fellowship of His sufferings" - imprisonment, beatings, scourging, mocking, shipwreck, etc. - it did not matter. He wanted to know Christ. Some of his closest associates tried to deter him from going to Jerusalem because they knew that he would be imprisoned and beaten for the gospel. Did that keep him from going? No! Why? He wanted to know His Christ and he knew that being obedient to follow His Lord, even into persecution, was the best route. Would persecution deter you from pursuing Christ? Would threat of persecution deter you from pursuing Christ? And so I ask,
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What is your passion? What is it that adds fuel to your fire? What is it that motivates you? What is it that keeps you up at night wishing and wondering? Whatever that may be, it is your passion. Is it a thing? "People who live for "things" are never really happy, because they must constantly protect their treasures and worry lest they lose their value. Not so the believer with the spiritual mind; his treasures in Christ can never be stolen and they never lose their value."9 Is it a place? Is it something that really doesn't exist - like a problem-free life?
It's good to have goals and ambitions and to say, "That would be nice to have…." But for things, places, positions to be the passion of a life is to live the rest of life in a miserable state.
Paul's passion was not a "what" but a "Who" - the only Who that can bring peace and life and joy - Jesus. And He never got over that desire. There's something else that must be all about Him,
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My power must be all about Him vv 10b-13
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Not only does Paul proclaim that he wants to know Christ, but he also wants to know the power of His resurrection. Paul cared not for his strength, but for His Lord's. He was not interested in seeing what he could do for His Lord; he wanted to experience the power of God upon his life. And because Christ was his passion, Christ would also be his power.
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Oh for Christ - the ONLY One who is able - to be the power of every Christian - and every church! To measure all we do and all that we are in Christ would change so much today. I want to say this to you this morning within the sound of my voice, and for many of you, this isn't the first time you've heard this. It is a sin to live this life in your power alone. And what's worse is to do God's work in your power alone. Oswald Chambers said, "It is the saddest thing to see people in the service of God depending on that which the grace of God never gave them, depending on what they have by… heredity. God does not build up our natural virtues and transfigure them, because our natural virtues can never come anywhere near what Jesus Christ wants. No natural love, no natural patience, no natural purity can ever come up to His demands."10
Do NOT go through the motions of church; do NOT go through the motions of serving in your power alone. To do so is for heaven to get NO glory and for you to get NO blessing. Set goals that you cannot do in your own strength and power. Set some spiritual goals that are going to stretch you. And many of you have done just that. Take a look at how God has grown some of you over the past year! It's awesome to see what He has done in your life! Thank God for the lives we have witnessed changed over the past year! In fact, I want you to raise your hand if you have been saved in the last year… if you have joined our church over the past year… if you have started attending Maysville Baptist Church over the past year. We're grateful that you're here. Some of you have signed up to be a part of FAITH beginning in January. Praise God for the number of Sunday School classes that have doubled over the past year. Praise God for the need to go back to 2 services on Sunday mornings again. Praise God for being in this building!
With what we've seen in the past, I want to give you some challenges for this coming year.
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Give God a hand. The challenge and expectation is still clear - we're asking every member to give God five hours a week through the ministries of Maysville Baptist Church. 2 hours in worship - Sunday morning and Sunday evening. I can't tell you everything you need to know on Sunday morning. 1 hour in Sunday School. That is the place where you will build relationships. 2 hours serving in a ministry or ministries.
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If you're not a member of MBC, join! Listen, you can come in and sit, then get up and get and not many people will know. But I want you to understand that there will come some crises in your life - maybe in 2008 and you're going to need a church family. You're going to need the regular contact and follow up of a Sunday School class. And you're not going to have it because you just didn't want to make a commitment. We're missing out on the gifts and abilities that God has given to you. And you're missing out on the eternal blessings and benefits of making a difference in the kingdom of God through the local church.
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If you're a new or prospective new member, go through the New Member's class which will start up next Sunday in both Sunday School hours. We want you to know about Maysville Baptist Church and that will be a great opportunity for you to take 8 weeks on Sunday mornings in the Sunday School setting to get to know the heart of our church. Conrad Westbrook and David Settle will be teaching those classes and it will be an incredible help and benefit to you.
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Already pray for the upcoming capital campaign in February. Listen, you can look down on it. You can even skip church! You can give every reason in the world that you cannot and will not participate. Or, you can ask the Lord what He wants you to do that WILL get you out of your comfort zone and right into the middle of His will. "What's the goal preacher?" The ultimate goal? Pay off this building in 3 years! We're going to need more space! "How much is that?" We expect our old facility to sell this year to the church that is meeting there and it will bring our need to $2.7 million. Will it happen? I don't know, but at least you know of the need!
Here's what I want you to understand. Christians really are like rubber bands - not effective until stretched. Church, let's get to and remain in the position where we are totally dependent on our Lord. The only way that this world will know Christ and by which we will help to make Him known is through the power that comes from above. Our power must be all about Him - and that begins with a simple obedience and a dependent trust. But understand a final area that is all about Him.
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My Prize is all about Him vv 12-14
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Paul had not arrived. He was quick to say that he had not attained the final goal or the final prize. This is what can be called sanctified dissatisfaction. The problem with most believers today is not Paul's sanctified dissatisfaction, but rather UNSANCTIFIED SATISFACTION! They are used to eating stale bread and drinking stagnant water. They don't mind eating once or twice a week. But sanctified dissatisfaction is a mark of a great Christian who never permits himself to be satisfied with previous spiritual attainments. You see, our problem is that we spend most of our time comparing ourselves to other Christians, "usually those who are not making much progress. Had Paul compared himself with others, he would have been tempted to be proud and perhaps to let up a bit. After all, there were not too many believers in Paul's day who had experienced all that he had! But Paul did not compare himself with others; he compared himself with himself and with Jesus Christ!10
Paul planned on achieving the goal. How would he do that? "I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." In other words, "I'm staying the course!" Christian, you can't be fickle in your commitment. It's yea or nay. Make up your mind and stick with it. Burn your bridges. Paul did, and he attained. He refused to lower or compromise the standard. So many people start well, but do not finish well. But Paul finished well. He said to Timothy, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."
What a finish Paul experienced! Christian, we too will experience what God desires when we make Him our passion.
What does it require of us to have a year and life all about Him?
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Commitment to that which lasts. Paul was incredibly focused. He knew that his life and ministry and being must be all about his Lord. Here's how he put it, "One thing…." Warren Wiersbe wrote, "Too many Christians are too involved in "many things," when the secret of progress is to concentrate on "one thing."12
Christian, are you trying to go in 100 different directions at the same time? We must be focused on Christ. And Church, the same admonition is for us. We must be about Christ. And that's why our purpose statement is simple - to remind us that a great church isn't doing many things - rather few things well. Maysville Baptist Church, we must be focused on loving God, loving others and serving the world. That's it. Every ministry, every person - our purpose and direction are clear - loving God, loving others, serving the world.
What else will it take? Not only commitment to that which lasts, but also,
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Conviction. Paul said, "I press on!" This same verb is translated "I follow after" in Philippians 3:12, and it means intense endeavor."13 Boy, is this a great need today - and the lack of it is so evident in the Church. Why is it that conviction wanes in the Church today? There is no passion. One pastor in the 17th century said it like this to other pastors; "O sirs… how earnestly should we deliver a message of such moment as ours, when everlasting life or everlasting death of our fellowmen is involved in it!… There is nothing more unsuitable to such a business, than to be slight and dull. What! Speak coldly for God, and for men's salvation? Can we believe that our people must be converted or condemned, and yet speak in a drowsy tone? In the name of God brethren, labor to awaken your own hearts before you go to the pulpit, that you may be fit to awaken the hearts of sinners…. Speak not one cold or careless word about so great a business as heaven or hell."14
Listen Christian, when we go throughout life having been transformed and given forgiveness and hope and eternal life, but our lives show only a half-hearted commitment; I ask where is the passion? If Christ has saved you, live Him! Obey Him! Follow His Word passionately and wholeheartedly and do what He says how He says it! And I'm telling you that there will be many days that in order to achieve this you're going to just have to plod along. But whatever you do, don't tuck tail and run - plod on for Jesus!
How can you tell if you have a deep conviction for the ways of God? You're doing everything you can to live for Him. Listen, don't jerk God around. If you're living outside the bounds of what God says is right - you're out of bounds! Return to Him - now! Do you have things out of order in your life? Get them in the right order! God, help us to be people of deep conviction!
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Comradeship. We need the Lord - we know that. And I want you to understand that we need others - loving God, loving others. In the latter part of the chapter Paul brings up that he wants others to join him on this journey. "The world is full of discouragers. We have a Christian duty to encourage one another. Many a time a word of praise or thanks or appreciation or cheer has kept a man on his feet. Blessed is the man who speaks such a word."15
Can I simply say to you again the great need to have some others around you that you can encourage as well as be encouraged by? Sunday School is where that will best happen. But also, when someone crosses your mind, call them, email them, visit them. Don't pass on it.
Our life must be about Him. You want to know another reason why? Because our eternity will be determined with what we did with the Lord. Have you not yet trusted Christ as Savior? Your eternity will be a reminder of that. I read yesterday morning that those that never trusted Christ will be thrust into the lake of fire where they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Christian, we have only this life to store up treasure in heaven. Will you have much (or any) when you get there? You will, if your life is all about Him.