Matthew C. Mitchell's Blog, page 35
July 12, 2020
“I Will Say It Again: Rejoice!” [Matt's Messages]
“I Will Say It Again: Rejoice!”Lanse Evangelical Free Church
July 12, 2020 :: Philippians 4:2-5
By the time the Apostle Paul has reached the last chapter of his letter to the Philippians, he is obviously a little worried that he sounds like a broken record.
Do you know why?
Because he sounds like a broken record!
He sounds like a broken record.
He sounds like a broken record.
Paul has come back again and again to several themes which he is going to touch on once again in this last chapter full of practical application.
But there has been one theme that has been repeated again and again and again and again.
And it’s the theme of...JOY.
Joy, joy, joy, joy, joy, joy.
Paul is a broken record on the theme of joy. Go back over the previous 12 messages in this series and you will see it. Read over the previous 3 chapters in this letter and you will feel it.
Paul is a broken record on the theme of joy. And he knows that, and he owns it. And he thinks we need to hear it yet again.
Our message title for today, “I Will Say It Again: Rejoice!”
Yes, I’m going to go there once more.
“I will say it again: Rejoice!”
There must be a good reason for Paul to repeat himself so often.
There must be a good reason for Paul to repeat himself so often.
There must be a good reason for Paul to repeat himself so often.
Why do we do that?
Why do we repeat ourselves when we are trying to convey something to someone else?
Well, because we want to emphasize it, right?
If you just say something once, it’s easier to miss.
And it’s easier to forget.
And it’s easier to ignore.
But if you say it a second time...
If you say it a third time...
If you say it a fourth time, somebody might just get the message: “This is important.”
“I will say it again: Rejoice!”
Last week, we got all the way through verse 1 of chapter 4 where Paul tells his beloved Philippians, whom he calls his “joy” and his “crown” that they need to stand firm in the Lord.
And he told them how to do it. Follow godly examples and focus on heaven coming to earth.
And so now, starting in verse 2, Paul begins to wrap things up with some concluding exhortations and applications.
In other words, he’s going to tell them how to live.
He’s going to give them some basic practical instruction.
And we all love this part of the book! This is the part our Hide the Word memory verses come from. It’s so encouraging and beautiful and comforting, this section, especially verses 6 through 9.
So we’re going to take the next 3 Sundays, Lord-willing, and soak in these paragraphs. We’re going to slow down and marinate in them and ask the Lord to impress them upon our hearts.
And one thing we’re going to see right away is that as good and beautiful as they sound (and they are!), these commands are actually often difficult to do.
There’s a reason they come at the end of the book. You need the power of the gospel in the first part of this book to empower your obedience to these commands at the end of the book. They only make sense if you have the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ!
We’re going to see that right away.
In this message, I just want to focus on verses 2 through 5, and I want to do it under 3 headings.
#1. BE UNIFIED IN THE LORD.
Listen to Philippians 4, verse 2.
“I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord.”
Uh oh! This is like when your Mom calls your name from across the playground!
This is the first time in this letter when people get named who aren’t be held out as an example, at least as a good one.
There are two ladies at the church in Philippi, Paul knows them well, that apparently aren’t getting along with each other.
And Paul calls them out on it by name. Euodia and Synteche.
We don’t know what their tiff was about. It could have been anything. The color of the carpet. Some minor point of doctrine. Or whether or not they ought to ask people to wear masks in church because of the virus. Just kidding. Nobody would ever fight about that, right?!
By the way, I can joke about that here because our church family is not fighting about it. We all may have different opinions, but this church family has been unified the whole time where it counts, and not one person has been rude to anybody else here that I know of. As your pastor, I am so proud of you!
But Euodia and Syntyche were fighting with each other, and Paul was stepping in.
He urges them to fix this thing between them. “I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord.”
It’s neat how he says the same thing to both of them, isn’t it? He doesn’t take sides. He takes the Lord’s side.
“I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord.”
It’s that last phrase that is the most important. He’s not trying to talk them into seeing everything the same. He’s trying to talk them into keeping the main thing the main thing. And the main thing is the Lord.
He’s trying to talk them into living out chapter 2 of Philippians. Remember chapter 2?
“If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded [same Greek word as “agree” here in verse 2", having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose [same Greek word again]. Do nothing out of selfish ambition [Euodia] or vain conceit [Syntyche], but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus...”
Euodia, put Syntyche first.
Syntyche, put Euodia first.
Be united IN THE LORD.
Do you see how that works?
How are you doing at it?
I love it that we don’t know what they were struggling over. Paul is sure that if they focus on the Lord they have in common, they can get over their fight. Their differences might remain, but they won’t have to tussle over it any longer.
But they might need help. Not every conflict be resolved on your own. Often we need a third party to intervene and mediate and broker peace. Verse 3.
“Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.”
Paul asks this guy to step in and help two ladies. He calls him a “loyal yokefellow” or that actually could be his name, “Syzygus.”
I think Heather and should have named one of our boys Syzygus.
If that was his name, Paul was asking him to live up to his name. Be a loyal yokefellow and help these two ladies to get along.
Is there somebody you could ask to help you with a conflict you’re in?
Is there a conflict that you could help someone else in?
Notice how Paul talks about these Christian women. They are obviously important to him. They are his friends. And he calls them his co-workers. His “fellow workers” in the cause of the gospel.
That tells us something about how Paul viewed women and their role in the mission of the church.
Paul was no misogynist. Even if elsewhere he lays out differing roles for men and women in the church, right here he makes it clear that men and women are partners and co-laborers in the work of the church.
He says they have (v.3), “contended at my side in the cause of the gospel.” They were all on the front lines together. Which makes it higher stakes that these two leading ladies are battling one another.
Paul says they are all Christians, their names are in the book of life (Rev 17:8). They have the Lord in common. Therefore they need to be unified IN THE LORD.
How are you doing at that? Are you getting along with your fellow Christians? Or are you locked in an unending dispute?
It sounds good, but it’s not easy, is it? The key is the last part, “IN THE LORD.”
It’s so important right now because the world is so fractured and fractious, we in the church need to show them a better way.
#2. BE JOYFUL IN THE LORD.
I’ll say it again, “Be joyful in the Lord.” Listen to verse 4.
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”
Now, Paul has already said this in chapter 3, verse 1. He said, “Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord!”
Now he comes back and said it again in 4:4.
“Rejoice in the Lord [and then he adds...] always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”
One thing that jumped out at me this week as I studied for this message was that Paul commands rejoicing. That means that at least on some level, rejoicing is something we can choose.
There is a decisional, volitional, choosing part of rejoicing.
It doesn’t just come over you.
It isn’t just happiness as in a nice feeling, an emotion that washes over you when things are good.
Joy, at least on some level, is a attitudinal choice.
We can either obey or disobey this command.
Of course, there are parts of it that are out of our control. And rejoicing is not the only things we are called to do.
Remember elsewhere Paul says, “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:14).
There is a time for everything and whole gamut of heart attitudes that are appropriate to various situations.
But at the same time, Paul says here that we should rejoice ALWAYS.
Always.
And it bears repeating, “I will say it again: Rejoice!”
How are you doing at this one? Don’t miss this one.
“I will say it again: Rejoice!”
Now, we might be tempted to say, “Oh, that’s easy for Paul to say. He has seen the risen Jesus. And he is an apostle.”
Yes, but he’s also in prison for preaching the gospel.
And also he might be executed soon for preaching the gospel.
That’s the situation for the guy saying, “Hey, don’t forget: Rejoice!”
It’s sounds good (and it is), but it’s not easy.
It’s not so easy right now, is it?
Everybody I know is stressed right now. I don’t know anybody who is carefree.
But Paul is not saying, “Don’t worry, be happy.”
What is the key phrase in this sentence? Same as in verse 2. “Rejoice IN THE LORD always.”
“In the Lord.”
If we go back and think about what we have “in the Lord,” then we realize that we have every reason to rejoice.
It’s easy to forget, so we need reminding. “I’ll say it again: Rejoice!”
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Lord and your Savior, then it would be hard to rejoice.
I invite anyone listening to this message who is outside of the Lord Jesus right now, to come in to Him and ask Him to come in to your life.
Jesus died on the Cross to bring us to God.
And He came back to life to give us new life forever with Him.
So if you have him, then you have every reason to rejoice.
I don’t care if I sound like a broken record. I will say it again: Rejoice!
#3. BE READY FOR THE LORD.
Be united in the Lord.
Be joyful in the Lord.
Be ready for the Lord.
Because He is coming back soon. Verse 5.
“Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.”
Now that word the NIV translates “gentleness” is hard to translate into English.
The ESV, the English Standard Version says, “reasonableness.”
The NAS, the New American Standard says, “forbearing spirit.”
I really like the CSB, the Christian Standard Bible here. It says, “your graciousness.”
You get the picture. It’s that quality that Paul wants them all to have and for Euodia and Syntyche especially to show.
Let your “graciousness” be evident to all.
Let everybody see how other-centered you can be!
You need to get a reputation for gentleness.
Let me ask you a question: Do you have reputation for gentleness?
If there was a page on Wikipedia about you, would it describe you as well known for your reasonable, self-less disposition?
If not, why not?
Again, it sounds good, but it’s actually pretty hard to do. We need help. We need grace!
Paul says that the people on Facebook should know you and me as gracious and forbearing, evident to all. The people in our neighborhood should know you and me as gracious and gentle, evident to all. The people at our workplace should know you and me as gracious and gentle, evident to all.
And Paul gives us a key to doing it if we are struggling. Remember (v.5), “The Lord is near.”
“The Lord is near.”
Now, that could mean that the Lord is personally near through the Holy Spirit. And that’s totally true, so it’s probably part of what he’s talking about.
The Lord is near to our hearts so He will give us the strength to be gentle with others even the tough customers.
But remember what Paul just got finished reminding them at the end of the last chapter?
“[O]ur citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 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” (3:20-21).
The Lord is near!
His return is very close so that should redirect our attitudes right now.
The Lord is near. So we should live like it.
One way to get ready for the Lord’s return is to act like the Lord right now.
And the Lord has shown us the way. It’s the way of gentleness.
He says that He is “gentle and humble in heart” (Matthew 11:29). Different word, similar idea.
So that we can get ready for His soon return by imitating His heart right now and being united in the Lord putting others first.
The fact that “the Lord is near” is reason 10,000 to rejoice in the Lord.
I don’t care if I sound like a broken record.
“I’ll say it again: Rejoice!”
***
Previous Messages in This Series:
01. "I Always Pray with Joy"
02. "Because Of This I Will Rejoice"
03. "I Will Continue To Rejoice"
04. "Whatever Happens"
05. "Make My Joy Complete"
06. "Your Attitude"
07. "I Am Glad and Rejoice With All Of You"
08. "With Great Joy"
09. "Rejoice in the Lord!"
10. "I Want To Know Christ"
11. "I Press On"12. "My Joy and Crown"
July 8, 2020
July 5, 2020
“My Joy and Crown” [Matt's Messages]
“My Joy and Crown”
Lanse Evangelical Free Church
July 5, 2020 :: Philippians 3:17-4:1
The title of this message is “My Joy and Crown,” and by now in the book of Philippians we should not be surprised that Paul is talking about JOY.
In Philippians, Paul is always talking about joy.
Joy, joy, joy, joy, joy.
Three whole chapters of joy so far!
He always prays with joy.
He rejoices that Christ is preached.
He continues to rejoice no matter what happens to him because to live is Christ and to die is gain.
He asks the Philippians to make his joy complete by putting each other ahead of themselves.
He rejoices with the Philippians because he knows that they are going to obey Jesus whether or not they see Paul ever again.
He told them to receive men like Timothy and Epaphroditus with great joy.
And he told them to rejoice in the Lord because there is no greater thing than knowing Jesus.
Joy, joy, joy, joy, joy.
So we shouldn’t be surprised that Paul is still talking about joy.
“His joy.”
However we may be surprised at what Paul is saying is his joy and his crown.
Or better yet, who is his joy and is his crown.
Who do you think Paul calls his joy?
If you guessed, “Jesus,” I would have too! And we know that Jesus is His greatest joy. He rejoices in the Lord! And he’s going to tell them again: “Rejoice!”
But in chapter 4, verse 1, the Philippian church is Paul’s joy and crown.
“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!”
Do you hear all of the affection in Paul’s words?
How many different words can he use in one verse to indicate how he feels about this church?
“My brothers.”
“Whom I love.”
“Whom I long for.”
“My joy and crown!”
“Dear friends.”
Paul sure loved these folks, didn’t he?
For me, Philippians has been just a perfect book to dwell in during these last four confusing months when our church family has been scattered. Scattered out in our homes and now scattered across soon-to-be three worship times and one Zoom fellowship meeting. We are still separated from one another in significant ways.
Just like Paul was separated from the Philippians. But that didn’t stop him from loving them. He sure loved those folks. They were precious to him. They were his joy and his crown. They brought him true joy and they would somehow be his reward themselves when they all got to glory. They were his crown.
Beloved, that’s how I feel about you. Not all of the time, of course, but in the main. This church family is my joy, and you are my crown.
The Philippians were Paul’s joy and crown, and he wanted the best for them.
He wanted them to (v.1), “stand firm in the Lord.”
And I want that for you, too.
I want every person who is a part of Lanse Free Church to stand firm in the Lord.
And Paul says that he has just got done telling them how to do it. Listen to verse 1 again.
“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!”
How do you do that? He’s just got done telling them in chapter 3.
Two big ideas in this message. Here’s the first one:
#1. FOLLOW GODLY EXAMPLES.
Look with me at chapter 3, verse 17.
“Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.”
That’s a pretty bold thing to say, isn’t it?
“Do it like I do, guys!”
“Follow my example!”
And that could be a very arrogant thing to say, but what was Paul’s example?
What did Paul just get done saying? We saw it last week.
“I have not arrived.”
“I am not there yet.”
“I have not taken hold of it.”
“I have not been made perfect.”
“But...I press on.”
Paul’s example was one of humility and hunger for spiritual growth.
That’s the pattern he’s set.
That’s the example he’s trying to be.
He’s not saying that these guys ought to be like he was back when he was a Pharisee. Following all the rules. Making my own righteousness according to the Law.
No! That’s all rubbish. That’s worth less than worthless.
No, what is the greatest thing is knowing Jesus Christ.
TO KNOW CHRIST! And to know Christ MORE.
Follow that example!
It’s not just Paul’s example that Paul wants them to follow.
Paul has already told them about Timothy and Epaphroditus and how they put others first and took risks and loved people for Jesus’ sake.
Be like them!
Follow godly examples. “Take note of those who live according to the pattern [the godly gospel lifestyle that] we gave you.”
So who is that for you?
Who are you following?
Who are you keying off of?
When you look ahead of you, whose back do you see?
Because everybody is following somebody whether they know it or not.
Who are you following? Who are you trying to be when you grow up?
I have a short list of Christian men that I often say, “I want to be like _______ when I grow up.”
(I often say, “IF I grow up!” But you get the idea.)
Who do you want to be like when you grow up?
Are they godly examples who KNOW CHRIST and want to know Him more?
Because not everybody is like that. Even people who claim to be Christians.
And if we are not careful, we can begin to follow the wrong examples. That’s where Paul goes next in verse 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. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.”
Don’t let those kind of people be your heroes.
It’s easy to fall into that.
Because these folks probably look pretty attractive on the outside.
Again, you don’t have to warn somebody to not eat the old steak with maggots crawling out of it.
You have to warn somebody to eat the steak that looks and smells delicious but has been laced with undetectable poison.
These guys look good. They are probably healthy, wealthy, and successful.
But Paul says that they are bad news.
“They are enemies of the cross of Christ.” They make the Cross seem like nothing by the way that they live.
“Their destiny is destruction.” They’re lost!
“Their god is their stomach.” They are driven by their desires, their lusts, their motives, their passions that are not godly.
“Their glory is in their shame.” They may claim Christ, but they live shamefully and glory in it. Totally backwards from the way it should be.
And ultimately here’s where they have gone wrong, “Their mind is on earthly things.”
“Their mind is on earthly things.”
They act and behave and talk and really believe that this world is really what is important.
Don’t let those guys be your examples.
Now, I want you to notice Paul’s tears in verse 18.
Don’t miss those tears.
There is a strong lesson here about how to talk about enemies of the Cross of Christ.
Notice that Paul is not full of bravado. There is no arrogance here. There is no judgmentalism. No pride and looking down his nose at these folks.
He calls them out. He calls a spade a spade.
He does not mince words about how bad these folks are and how dangerous they are.
But he says it with tears in his eyes.
Too often when we talk about our enemies, and the church does have enemies, we don’t do it with these tears. We don’t get broken up over their destiny being destruction. We tend to gloat and be giddy that they will get their comeuppance.
And yes, we can rejoice in God’s righteous judgments.
But while they are living and there is still hope for repentance, we should have tears.
Paul doesn’t just long for the Philippians to know Christ. He longs for their enemies to know Christ, too.
At the same time, Paul is very clear that the Philippians should follow his example and not these other guys.
Who are you following? Who do you want to be when you grow up in Christ?
Follow godly examples, my joy and my crown! That’s how you stand firm in the Lord.
Yes, follow me. As I follow Paul, and we both follow Christ, I invite you to follow me. I’m trying to live according to this pattern that he gave us, and I invite you to watch and join in.
I don’t do it perfectly. But Paul didn’t either!
And yet he said, “Follow my example.”
But don’t follow these other guys. Because (v.19), “Their mind is on earthly things.”
That leads us into second big idea for this message. Number two of two.
#2. FOCUS ON HEAVEN COMING TO EARTH.
Last week I asked you one of my “Pastor Matt trick questions.”
“Is it possible to be too heavenly minded to be of any earthly good?”
Did you think about that question this week?
“Is it possible to be too heavenly minded to be of any earthly good?”
The answer to that question is obviously, “It depends!”
It depends on what you mean by “heavenly minded.”
If you mean someone who all they talk about is heaven, all they think about is what heaven will be like, and they never talk or think about any other subject than heaven, then yeah, I can see how that person would be of no earthly good.
I mean Paul has thought about and talked about all kinds of other things than just “heaven” in the book of Philippians so far.
But Paul thought a lot about heaven. And here Paul says that heaven is our true headquarters. Look at verse 20.
“Their mind is on earthly things.” That’s where they focus. They are too earthly minded to be of any heavenly good! V.20
“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 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.”
That’s the right kind of heavenly minded. Right there.
Where heaven is the focus. Heaven is the center because that’s where God is.
And that’s where Jesus is, and from where Jesus is coming!
That’s the kind of heavenly minded that is of great earthly good.
Because it focuses on heaven coming to earth.
This kind of heavenly-mindedness reminds Christians of how things really truly are.
And how they really truly will be.
When we focus on earthly things, we forget was is ultimately true, and we forget what will ultimately be coming.
I love it that the Lord sovereignly arranged for this to be our passage for this Independence Day weekend. I didn’t plan this, but the Lord did.
Paul says, “Our citizenship is in heaven.”
As Christians in America, we need to keep that in mind. We are, first and foremost, Christians. That’s where our true citizenship lies. That’s our first allegiance. Above all others. We are citizens of the kingdom of heaven.
Now, Paul was a Roman citizen. And he says that in the book of Acts. He doesn’t pretend that he isn’t a Roman. And we don’t have to pretend that we are not Americans.
We are. And we can be glad for that. Happy for the good things that can mean and owning our part of the bad things that can mean. America is both blessed and broken.
And we are Americans, blessed and broken.
But deeper and more fundamental and more important and all encompassing is our citizenship in heaven–which is blessed but not broken!
In fact, our citizenship in heaven should determine how we view and use our citizenship on earth. Because that citizenship is ultimate.
Don’t let your focus be on earthly things including even your American citizenship.
Think about it this way: We are actually on foreign soil where it counts the most.
“...our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, [and here’s what’s going to happen when heaven comes to earth] by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, [He] will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”
Paul has resurrection on the brain!
Remember he wants to know the power of Jesus’ resurrection, “and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.”
And get a new glorious body like Jesus’ resurrection body!
D.A. Carson likes to say “There is nothing so very wrong with me that a good resurrection won’t fix.”
That’s what’s on the way!
Heaven is coming to earth.
The Kingdom of heaven is coming to earth.
Because the King of Heaven is coming to earth.
And we eagerly await Him.
Right? Are you eagerly waiting for the return of Christ?
Are you longing for His kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven?
Where is your focus?
Is it just on the upcoming election?
Is it just on standing up for your rights?
Is it just for building your financial portfolio?
I have to regularly ask myself if I am just trying to building my own personal kingdom. Maybe trying to get more people to come to MY church or follow ME on social media.
Where is my focus?
Where is your focus?
Is it on earthly things?
The people who have their focus on heaven coming to earth are the people who are the most earthly good.
And they are the ones who stand firm. Chapter 4, verse 1 again.
“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!”
Here’s how:
Follow godly examples who are humble and hungry to know Christ and know Him more.
And focus on the King of Heaven and the Kingdom of Heaven coming to earth.
That is how you and I can stand firm.
My joy and my crown.
***
Previous Messages in This Series:
01. "I Always Pray with Joy"
02. "Because Of This I Will Rejoice"
03. "I Will Continue To Rejoice"
04. "Whatever Happens"
05. "Make My Joy Complete"
06. "Your Attitude"
07. "I Am Glad and Rejoice With All Of You"
08. "With Great Joy"
09. "Rejoice in the Lord!"
10. "I Want To Know Christ"
11. "I Press On"
11. 11
Lanse Evangelical Free Church
July 5, 2020 :: Philippians 3:17-4:1
The title of this message is “My Joy and Crown,” and by now in the book of Philippians we should not be surprised that Paul is talking about JOY.In Philippians, Paul is always talking about joy.
Joy, joy, joy, joy, joy.
Three whole chapters of joy so far!
He always prays with joy.
He rejoices that Christ is preached.
He continues to rejoice no matter what happens to him because to live is Christ and to die is gain.
He asks the Philippians to make his joy complete by putting each other ahead of themselves.
He rejoices with the Philippians because he knows that they are going to obey Jesus whether or not they see Paul ever again.
He told them to receive men like Timothy and Epaphroditus with great joy.
And he told them to rejoice in the Lord because there is no greater thing than knowing Jesus.
Joy, joy, joy, joy, joy.
So we shouldn’t be surprised that Paul is still talking about joy.
“His joy.”
However we may be surprised at what Paul is saying is his joy and his crown.
Or better yet, who is his joy and is his crown.
Who do you think Paul calls his joy?
If you guessed, “Jesus,” I would have too! And we know that Jesus is His greatest joy. He rejoices in the Lord! And he’s going to tell them again: “Rejoice!”
But in chapter 4, verse 1, the Philippian church is Paul’s joy and crown.
“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!”
Do you hear all of the affection in Paul’s words?
How many different words can he use in one verse to indicate how he feels about this church?
“My brothers.”
“Whom I love.”
“Whom I long for.”
“My joy and crown!”
“Dear friends.”
Paul sure loved these folks, didn’t he?
For me, Philippians has been just a perfect book to dwell in during these last four confusing months when our church family has been scattered. Scattered out in our homes and now scattered across soon-to-be three worship times and one Zoom fellowship meeting. We are still separated from one another in significant ways.
Just like Paul was separated from the Philippians. But that didn’t stop him from loving them. He sure loved those folks. They were precious to him. They were his joy and his crown. They brought him true joy and they would somehow be his reward themselves when they all got to glory. They were his crown.
Beloved, that’s how I feel about you. Not all of the time, of course, but in the main. This church family is my joy, and you are my crown.
The Philippians were Paul’s joy and crown, and he wanted the best for them.
He wanted them to (v.1), “stand firm in the Lord.”
And I want that for you, too.
I want every person who is a part of Lanse Free Church to stand firm in the Lord.
And Paul says that he has just got done telling them how to do it. Listen to verse 1 again.
“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!”
How do you do that? He’s just got done telling them in chapter 3.
Two big ideas in this message. Here’s the first one:
#1. FOLLOW GODLY EXAMPLES.
Look with me at chapter 3, verse 17.
“Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.”
That’s a pretty bold thing to say, isn’t it?
“Do it like I do, guys!”
“Follow my example!”
And that could be a very arrogant thing to say, but what was Paul’s example?
What did Paul just get done saying? We saw it last week.
“I have not arrived.”
“I am not there yet.”
“I have not taken hold of it.”
“I have not been made perfect.”
“But...I press on.”
Paul’s example was one of humility and hunger for spiritual growth.
That’s the pattern he’s set.
That’s the example he’s trying to be.
He’s not saying that these guys ought to be like he was back when he was a Pharisee. Following all the rules. Making my own righteousness according to the Law.
No! That’s all rubbish. That’s worth less than worthless.
No, what is the greatest thing is knowing Jesus Christ.
TO KNOW CHRIST! And to know Christ MORE.
Follow that example!
It’s not just Paul’s example that Paul wants them to follow.
Paul has already told them about Timothy and Epaphroditus and how they put others first and took risks and loved people for Jesus’ sake.
Be like them!
Follow godly examples. “Take note of those who live according to the pattern [the godly gospel lifestyle that] we gave you.”
So who is that for you?
Who are you following?
Who are you keying off of?
When you look ahead of you, whose back do you see?
Because everybody is following somebody whether they know it or not.
Who are you following? Who are you trying to be when you grow up?
I have a short list of Christian men that I often say, “I want to be like _______ when I grow up.”
(I often say, “IF I grow up!” But you get the idea.)
Who do you want to be like when you grow up?
Are they godly examples who KNOW CHRIST and want to know Him more?
Because not everybody is like that. Even people who claim to be Christians.
And if we are not careful, we can begin to follow the wrong examples. That’s where Paul goes next in verse 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. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.”
Don’t let those kind of people be your heroes.
It’s easy to fall into that.
Because these folks probably look pretty attractive on the outside.
Again, you don’t have to warn somebody to not eat the old steak with maggots crawling out of it.
You have to warn somebody to eat the steak that looks and smells delicious but has been laced with undetectable poison.
These guys look good. They are probably healthy, wealthy, and successful.
But Paul says that they are bad news.
“They are enemies of the cross of Christ.” They make the Cross seem like nothing by the way that they live.
“Their destiny is destruction.” They’re lost!
“Their god is their stomach.” They are driven by their desires, their lusts, their motives, their passions that are not godly.
“Their glory is in their shame.” They may claim Christ, but they live shamefully and glory in it. Totally backwards from the way it should be.
And ultimately here’s where they have gone wrong, “Their mind is on earthly things.”
“Their mind is on earthly things.”
They act and behave and talk and really believe that this world is really what is important.
Don’t let those guys be your examples.
Now, I want you to notice Paul’s tears in verse 18.
Don’t miss those tears.
There is a strong lesson here about how to talk about enemies of the Cross of Christ.
Notice that Paul is not full of bravado. There is no arrogance here. There is no judgmentalism. No pride and looking down his nose at these folks.
He calls them out. He calls a spade a spade.
He does not mince words about how bad these folks are and how dangerous they are.
But he says it with tears in his eyes.
Too often when we talk about our enemies, and the church does have enemies, we don’t do it with these tears. We don’t get broken up over their destiny being destruction. We tend to gloat and be giddy that they will get their comeuppance.
And yes, we can rejoice in God’s righteous judgments.
But while they are living and there is still hope for repentance, we should have tears.
Paul doesn’t just long for the Philippians to know Christ. He longs for their enemies to know Christ, too.
At the same time, Paul is very clear that the Philippians should follow his example and not these other guys.
Who are you following? Who do you want to be when you grow up in Christ?
Follow godly examples, my joy and my crown! That’s how you stand firm in the Lord.
Yes, follow me. As I follow Paul, and we both follow Christ, I invite you to follow me. I’m trying to live according to this pattern that he gave us, and I invite you to watch and join in.
I don’t do it perfectly. But Paul didn’t either!
And yet he said, “Follow my example.”
But don’t follow these other guys. Because (v.19), “Their mind is on earthly things.”
That leads us into second big idea for this message. Number two of two.
#2. FOCUS ON HEAVEN COMING TO EARTH.
Last week I asked you one of my “Pastor Matt trick questions.”
“Is it possible to be too heavenly minded to be of any earthly good?”
Did you think about that question this week?
“Is it possible to be too heavenly minded to be of any earthly good?”
The answer to that question is obviously, “It depends!”
It depends on what you mean by “heavenly minded.”
If you mean someone who all they talk about is heaven, all they think about is what heaven will be like, and they never talk or think about any other subject than heaven, then yeah, I can see how that person would be of no earthly good.
I mean Paul has thought about and talked about all kinds of other things than just “heaven” in the book of Philippians so far.
But Paul thought a lot about heaven. And here Paul says that heaven is our true headquarters. Look at verse 20.
“Their mind is on earthly things.” That’s where they focus. They are too earthly minded to be of any heavenly good! V.20
“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 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.”
That’s the right kind of heavenly minded. Right there.
Where heaven is the focus. Heaven is the center because that’s where God is.
And that’s where Jesus is, and from where Jesus is coming!
That’s the kind of heavenly minded that is of great earthly good.
Because it focuses on heaven coming to earth.
This kind of heavenly-mindedness reminds Christians of how things really truly are.
And how they really truly will be.
When we focus on earthly things, we forget was is ultimately true, and we forget what will ultimately be coming.
I love it that the Lord sovereignly arranged for this to be our passage for this Independence Day weekend. I didn’t plan this, but the Lord did.
Paul says, “Our citizenship is in heaven.”
As Christians in America, we need to keep that in mind. We are, first and foremost, Christians. That’s where our true citizenship lies. That’s our first allegiance. Above all others. We are citizens of the kingdom of heaven.
Now, Paul was a Roman citizen. And he says that in the book of Acts. He doesn’t pretend that he isn’t a Roman. And we don’t have to pretend that we are not Americans.
We are. And we can be glad for that. Happy for the good things that can mean and owning our part of the bad things that can mean. America is both blessed and broken.
And we are Americans, blessed and broken.
But deeper and more fundamental and more important and all encompassing is our citizenship in heaven–which is blessed but not broken!
In fact, our citizenship in heaven should determine how we view and use our citizenship on earth. Because that citizenship is ultimate.
Don’t let your focus be on earthly things including even your American citizenship.
Think about it this way: We are actually on foreign soil where it counts the most.
“...our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, [and here’s what’s going to happen when heaven comes to earth] by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, [He] will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”
Paul has resurrection on the brain!
Remember he wants to know the power of Jesus’ resurrection, “and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.”
And get a new glorious body like Jesus’ resurrection body!
D.A. Carson likes to say “There is nothing so very wrong with me that a good resurrection won’t fix.”
That’s what’s on the way!
Heaven is coming to earth.
The Kingdom of heaven is coming to earth.
Because the King of Heaven is coming to earth.
And we eagerly await Him.
Right? Are you eagerly waiting for the return of Christ?
Are you longing for His kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven?
Where is your focus?
Is it just on the upcoming election?
Is it just on standing up for your rights?
Is it just for building your financial portfolio?
I have to regularly ask myself if I am just trying to building my own personal kingdom. Maybe trying to get more people to come to MY church or follow ME on social media.
Where is my focus?
Where is your focus?
Is it on earthly things?
The people who have their focus on heaven coming to earth are the people who are the most earthly good.
And they are the ones who stand firm. Chapter 4, verse 1 again.
“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!”
Here’s how:
Follow godly examples who are humble and hungry to know Christ and know Him more.
And focus on the King of Heaven and the Kingdom of Heaven coming to earth.
That is how you and I can stand firm.
My joy and my crown.
***
Previous Messages in This Series:
01. "I Always Pray with Joy"
02. "Because Of This I Will Rejoice"
03. "I Will Continue To Rejoice"
04. "Whatever Happens"
05. "Make My Joy Complete"
06. "Your Attitude"
07. "I Am Glad and Rejoice With All Of You"
08. "With Great Joy"
09. "Rejoice in the Lord!"
10. "I Want To Know Christ"
11. "I Press On"
11. 11
July 3, 2020
July 1, 2020
June 28, 2020
"I Press On" [Matt's Messages]
“I Press On”Lanse Evangelical Free Church
June 28, 2020 :: Philippians 3:12-16
For the last two weeks, we have been following Paul’s train of thought as he has told the Philippians his deepest aspiration, the greatest goal of his heart.
We said it could be summed up in the 3 word phrase, “TO KNOW CHRIST!”
For Paul that is the greatest thing. And there is nothing that even comes close.
In the first few sentences of chapter 3, Paul shared a little bit about his own story with the Philippians. Before he became a Christian, Paul was a religious success story as a Pharisee. If someone could be justified before God by following all of the religious rules, Paul would have been the one to pull it off.
But whatever was to his profit, he now considered loss compared to what he called “the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”
Now, Paul rejoiced to be found in Christ and have a righteousness (not through his own following the law but a righteousness) that comes through trusting Christ.
All for the ultimate goal of knowing Christ.
Knowing Christ fully.
Knowing Christ in His resurrection power and even in the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings if that’s what it takes to fully know Christ.
To know Christ. There is no greater thing. Amen?
Paul wants to make sure that the Philippians don’t get the wrong idea about Paul’s progress in knowing Christ.
Paul has said that he wants to know Christ more and more.
He wants to know Christ fully above all things. But he is not there yet.
And so, he presses on. Here’s the three word phrase for this week’s message; get this, and you’ve got it all: “I Press On.”
“I press on.”
Listen to Philippians 3, verse 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.”
I’ve got four points today to show you what I think is the flow of Paul’s thought.
Here’s the first one:
#1. I AM NOT THERE YET.
Paul doesn’t want the Philippians to think that he has arrived. In fact, he says it twice to make sure they get it. Verse 12, “Not that I have already obtained all of this [full knowledge of Christ] or have already been made perfect.”
And then he goes there again in verse 13, “Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.”
Paul knows that he’s not there yet.
He is not perfect. He does not have the full knowledge of Christ that he has been talking about.
Yes, he’s started to know Christ; has for 30 years. But he not only wants more, he needs more. He’s not there yet.
To the use the big theological words we’ve be learning:
He has been justified.
But he has not yet been fully sanctified.
Because he has not yet been glorified.
That’s still to come.
In the words of verse 11, he has not yet attained somehow to the resurrection!
He’s still “in process.” He’s still a “pilgrim.” He’s still imperfect in (everything but especially in) his knowledge of Christ.
And I don’t think he’s alone. Let’s take a test: raise your hands (yes, you on the other side of this screen)if you are perfect.
I thought so. By the way, if you do raise your hand, you don’t belong at Lanse Free Church. Our church is for non-perfect people. People who have not arrived yet. You’ll have to go somewhere else if you have been perfected already!
Paul says, “I’m not there yet,” and we have to say the same thing of us.
Now, what do we do with that? What’s the application?
Well, one thing we could do with it is to take comfort in it. If the great Apostle Paul didn’t reach perfection, then it’s probably okay on some level that I’m not there yet, myself. That is helpful. No need to lie to ourselves or think that we’re totally on the wrong track because we haven’t arrived yet. There’s something to that.
And we could definitely cut some other people in our lives some slack realizing that they’re not there yet either. Giving other people grace would probably be a good thing to do with this truth.
But Paul does something else with it, doesn’t he?
And I think what Paul does with it needs to be our main application.
It’s point #2.
#2. I PRESS ON.
Paul says, “I am not there yet, so I press on.”
He repeats this idea, too. Verse 12. “I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”
And then verse 13: “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
“I press on.”
Paul says that it’s the one thing he does. And he does with every muscle straining.
There’s a race theme running here, isn’t there? Paul is talking like an athlete who forgets what’s behind him and races for the finish line with every fiber of his being.
He fervently, passionately pursues his goal.
“I press on.”
Because he is not there yet, Paul focuses his efforts on getting there.
He passionately pursues perfection. He fervently chases after the full knowledge of Christ. And he lets nothing hold him back.
“One thing I do: Forgetting what is behind...” That’s not memory loss. That’s not letting bygones be bygones. That’s putting everything in verses 4-6 in the loss category like he does in verses 7 through 9.
That kind of pursuit of legalistic righteousness is all in the rear view mirror now for Paul. And he’s not going back.
He’s going forward towards the knowledge of Christ.
How about you?
Do you press on?
Are you passionately pursuing the full knowledge of Christ?
Everybody agreed that none of us have yet arrived.
But can we all raise our hand that we are straining toward what is ahead?
Here’s some good news for you: You don’t have to do this on your own.
Jesus has taken all of the initiative. Did you notice that in what Paul says here?
This kind of pressing on is nothing like the legalism that Paul was formerly engaged in.
Some people get worn down by Paul’s passion in verse 12 and 14 because they think that this pressing on is just another kind of legalism, another kind of works righteousness, another kind of religiosity.
But Paul says that kind of thing is in his rear view mirror.
This is just working out what Christ has already worked in us.
Remember that from chapter 2? “...work out your salvation...for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose” (vv.12-13).
Paul never gets the order of these things wrong.
Christ has done all of the hard work in saving us. But instead of de-motivating us to also do hard work, His works motivates our work to know Him fully.
Let’s see it. Look at verse 12.
“...I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”
I love his play on words. I take hold of that for which I was taken hold of.
I can only take hold of it because He already took hold of me!
He does the same thing in verse 14.
“I press on toward the goal to win the prize [that’s the full knowledge of Christ] for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
God has done the calling.
God will see me through.
It’s like "Amazing Grace."
“Thru many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come;
‘Tis [God’s] grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.”
So, does that mean I don’t have to go home?
Because He’s given me His grace? I don’t have to do anything. No! Of course not.
Because He’s given me His grace, I can now run home!
“I press on toward the goal to win the prize [that’s the full knowledge of Christ] for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
By the way, Paul is very heavenly minded. We’re going to see that even more next week, Lord-willing. Paul has heaven on the mind. Let me ask you a question that we’ll come back to next week, “Is it possible to be so heavenly minded that you are no earthly good?”
Think about that this week. Paul was very heavenly minded.
He had been called by God to go to heaven, and by God’s grace, He was straining to get there.
“I press on.”
Whatever it takes.
“I press on.”
Not in my own strength, but with all of my own strength.
“I press on.”
Could you say the same?
Because Paul says that we all should. That’s point #3.
#3. WE ALL SHOULD PRESS ON.
Look at verse 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.”
We should all press on. This isn’t just for the super-Christians. For the apostles. For the saints. For the full-time Christian workers. This is for everybody.
“All of us who are mature should take such a view of things.”
We should all have this mindset.
Paul is being playful here with this word the NIV translates “mature” because in Greek it’s the same word as “perfect” in verse 12 which he says he’s not yet.
I think he means that everybody who is truly mature knows that they are not truly mature (yet). Everybody who is “perfect” knows that they are not yet “perfect” but are in hot pursuit. (Thanks to the ESV Study Bible’s notes for this insight.)
“All of us who are mature should take such a view of things.”
Is that your view?
Does this describe every single person in Lanse Free Church?
I want it to.
I would love it if every single person who calls this church family their church family would be able to say with Paul, “I want to know Christ!” and “One thing I do: I press on!”
Paul knows that they aren’t going to agree on everything. And there is plenty of room for disagreement on lesser matters. V.15, “And if on some [lesser] point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.”
Give it time. God is working out His salvation in you, and He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion for the day of Christ Jesus (1:6).
We don’t have to agree on all of the finer points.
Maybe they were having that trouble at Philippi. Maybe that was part of their problems back home. Paul says, “Don’t worry. God will take care of that.”
But everyone should do this: Everyone should press on.
Are you pressing on?
The worse thing that could happen is that we give up or go backwards. And that’s our fourth and last point.
#4. WE SHOULD NOT GO BACKWARDS.
Look at verse 16.
“Only let us live up to what we have already attained.”
Only! Whatever else we do, let’s make sure of this. That we don’t go backwards.
Whatever knowledge of Christ we have, let’s live that out today.
We need to put into effect what we know already.
Don’t float backwards.
Press on. Press on.
Are you pressing on?
Are you running the race?
Are you striving towards perfection?
Are you running towards sanctification?
Are you pursuing spiritual growth?
Are you disciplining yourself for godliness?
Are you chasing after Christlikeness?
Are you straining to know Christ?
Are you pressing on?
Or are you just sitting there?
Or are you even actually in reverse?
Press on.
Let’s go!
***
Previous Messages in This Series:
01. "I Always Pray with Joy"
02. "Because Of This I Will Rejoice"
03. "I Will Continue To Rejoice"
04. "Whatever Happens"
05. "Make My Joy Complete"
06. "Your Attitude"
07. "I Am Glad and Rejoice With All Of You"
08. "With Great Joy"
09. "Rejoice in the Lord!"
10. "I Want To Know Christ"
June 24, 2020
June 21, 2020
“I Want To Know Christ” [Matt's Messages]
“I Want To Know Christ”
Lanse Evangelical Free Church
June 21, 2020 :: Philippians 3:10-11
We actually looked briefly at these very words last week, but we didn’t have time to really consider them carefully. These words are the beating heart of this Bible book and the beating heart of its apostolic author, so you don’t want to just pass over these words quickly or lightly. You want to linger.
Now, having said that, I also have to admit that nothing I say today can do these words justice.
These words are sublime. They are beautiful, and they beautifully sum up the beauteous aspiration of the heart of the Apostle Paul.
And nothing I will say today can do them justice.
But I’m still going to try! Because I want us to get a glimpse of the heart of Paul for the heart of Christ. To get a sense of what he really felt and what really he wanted so that, Lord-willing, we might feel and want it ourselves.
“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, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead" (Philippians 3:10-11, NIV84).
Do you hear his heart?
Do you hear his aspiration? What Paul really wants?
The Greek construction here that the NIV translates, “I want to know Christ” emphasizes that this is Paul’s deepest purpose for everything he does.
It literally could be translated, “TO KNOW HIM!”
That is it! That is the goal! That is the ultimate experience.
“To Know Him!”
Paul says, “That’s what I want!”
We saw last week how much Paul was willing to give up to know Him.
In his earlier life, Paul was a religious success story. And if you could be justified and saved by doing good works and being a good boy and outwardly following the Law, then Paul would have pulled it off.
But Paul said that he has thrown that all away. From the profit column to the loss column. Remember this?
V.8 “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 [street trash, worse than worthless], that I may gain Christ 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.”
Why? To what end? To what purpose? V.10 again.
“[TO KNOW HIM] and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.”
Paul wants to know Christ. There is no greater thing.
Can you and I say the same thing?
Now, notice that Paul doesn’t just say that he wants to know God.
This is about knowing Christ. Verse 8 made it very clear. It’s “the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”
Some people want to just know “God,” a generic God.
A Creator God, perhaps. God in nature. God up there in the sky. Something like that.
But Paul has a very specific God in mind. He wants to know the Lord Jesus Christ.
The One we’ve been learning about in the Gospel of Matthew the last few years. The most compelling Person who ever lived and ever will live! Paul want to know Him.
And he doesn’t just want to know ABOUT Him. His goal is not just to gather facts about Jesus and have a good mental database of factual knowledge of Jesus.
This is not just an academic exercise. This is relational. This is the language of personal relationship.
Paul wants to know Christ. Paul wants to relate to Christ.
Paul wants to have fellowship and connection and personal knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
And he wants more and more of it!
I said last week that if I’m doing the math right (which is always a question!), the Apostle Paul has known Christ now for about 30 years of his life.
And he just wants more! He. just. wants. more.
On Thursday of this week, Heather and I celebrated our 26th wedding anniversary. The first one we’ve had during a pandemic! We both bought each other books that we knew the other would like. And she fixed me Eggs Benedict for supper, and I baked her Chocolate Chip Cookies for dessert. 26 years of joy!
Yesterday was my parent’s 50th wedding anniversary! A half-century of wedded bliss. Which is an even greater achievement and gift.
You know what? After 26 years, Heather and I still hunger to know each other better. And so do my parents.
We aren’t content to just know about each other or to have known each other.
We want to know each other! ... MORE!
That’s kind of how Paul felt about Christ. He wanted MORE.
He was hungry to know Christ more.
Can that be said of you and me?
Do you want to know Christ?
Around here at Lanse Free Church we like to say that our purpose is “to glorify God by bringing people into a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ.”
I remember when our elders formulated that statement. It was more than 20 years ago. We had a retreat where we prayed and brainstormed how to articulate what we believed was what the Lord had us here for as a church family.
And that’s what we came up with. “...bringing people into a relationship with Jesus Christ.” One of the key passages of Scripture that we studied that weekend and really inspired us was this one: Philippians 3:10 and 11.
This is what drove Paul, and it’s what drives us as a church.
A life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ. “TO KNOW HIM!”
In these 2 verses, Paul goes into two different ways that he wants to know Christ.
Two different aspects of knowing Him.
Let’s look at them more closely. Verse 10 again.
“I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection...”
That’s the first aspect of knowing Christ, and it’s worth throwing away everything else for.
#1. TO KNOW THE POWER OF HIS RESURRECTION.
Whenever Paul wants to talk about extraordinary power, he almost always turns to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
What kind of power does it take to bring a dead man back to life?
I know we didn’t get to have Easter together this year as a church, so I’ll remind you what happened:
Jesus Christ was executed, crucified on a Roman Cross. And he was buried. He was really dead. Dead on Friday. Dead on Saturday. Dead on Sunday.
And then on Sunday morning, the third day, Jesus Christ came back from the dead!
What kind of power does it take to do that?! That’s what Paul wants to know!
He wants to know the power of Jesus’ resurrection.
Not just about it. He wants to know it. He wants that power at work in his life.
Why would he need that kind of power?
Well, we’ll see in a minute that he will need it for his own resurrection after he dies.
But he also needs it for the work that we often call “sanctification.” Which is becoming more and more holy. More and more like Christ.
Verse 9 talks about what we call “justification” which is being declared righteous, having righteousness–not of our own from the law but that which is through faith in Christ alone–the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.
But verse 10 goes beyond justification to sanctification. Not just being declared righteous but increasingly becoming more and more righteous.
Are you becoming more and more righteous?
In your heart, from your lips, at your hands, from your feet?
Are you becoming more and more like Christ?
It takes power to do that. Extraordinary power. The kind of power it takes to bring the dead to life.
I want to know that power, don’t you?
Not power without Christ, apart from Christ but resurrection power from knowing Christ.
However, before you experience a resurrection, you have to experience a death. Look again at verse 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...”
That’s the second aspect of knowing Christ.
#2. KNOWING THE FELLOWSHIP OF HIS SUFFERINGS.
That one doesn’t sound as appealing, does it?
I think we often forget this side of it, or at least we try.
But Paul does not try to avoid it. He says that he WANTS to know the fellowship of sharing in Christ’s sufferings.
What does that mean?
Well, that word “fellowship” in verse 10 is the same word we learned about back in chapter 1 back in March. It’s the word “koinonia,” and it shouldn’t be translated “coffee and donuts.”
It’s more like “partnership” or “in-it-togetherness.”
Paul wants to have in-it-togetherness with Jesus’ suffering.
He wants to share in Jesus’s suffering. What does that mean?
Well, I don’t think it’s a death wish. And I don’t think it’s masochism either.
Paul doesn’t love pain for pain.
But he does want to have deep fellowship with Jesus even if it means going through hard things for and with Jesus.
If that’s what it takes to really know Christ, then count me in, Paul says.
Of course, Christ’s sufferings were unique and one of a kind. He died like we never will.
But mysteriously, we were united with Him in His death. Paul says that elsewhere.
And as we are united to Him, Christ brings new meaning to whatever suffering you and I experience today.
We follow Christ’s pattern when we suffer in faith.
I think that’s what he means when he says, “becoming like him in his death.”
We are conformed to Christ’s image when we suffer as Christians.
And mysteriously we find ourselves knowing Him more and more and more.
Last year, I read this book by Paul Miller. The guy who wrote, “A Praying Life,” and it’s all about this concept of being conformed to the image of Christ through dying and rising with Jesus in everyday life.
He calls it the “J-Curve.”
J for Jesus, but also for the shape of our movement as we are conformed to Christ.
Remember in chapter 2 (over there on the big slide) when Paul said that Jesus went down down down, giving up His rights and privileges and prerogatives.
And that we need to do the same?
That will mean some suffering, won’t it?
Going down, down, down and putting other first will mean suffering.
For Jesus it meant the cross.
And Paul says that we should have the same attitude.
But Jesus didn’t stop there, did He?
No, God exalted Jesus to the highest place and gave Him the highest name!
Up, up, up!
That’s the pattern. Down in suffering like Christ. Up in exaltation like Christ!
You don’t get the one without the other.
So Paul says, “Count me in.”
I want to know the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in his death.
Do you want that?
Do you choose that?
Paul Miller shows us that this pattern gets repeated over and over and over again the New Testament.
It is what it means to know Christ.
Some people want you to think that you can know Christ without suffering.
And there’s big theological word for that, “Baloney!”
Don’t listen to anyone who says that Jesus just wants you to be happy, healthy, and wealthy.
No, Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
And Paul said, “I want to know that guy!”
“TO KNOW HIM and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, [verse 11] and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.”
That’s not just a metaphor. That’s a real, literal expectation.
Paul expects someday somehow to be resurrected from the dead himself.
And that’s when we move from justification to sanctification to glorification! Which he’s going to talk more about as the chapter goes on.
Down, down, down even to real death.
And then one day up, up, up from the grave!
All because we know Christ.
Do you know Christ?
Is Jesus your Savior and Lord?
Is He your Rescuer and King?
Knowing Christ is worth giving up everything.
Knowing Him is worth throwing everything else away. Taking up your cross.
If you have never come to know Him, then let today be the day.
Turn from your sin and put your all of your faith and trust in Jesus Christ.
He crucified for your sin. And He offers the gift of His righteousness.
And He offers for you to be spiritually united to and found in Him.
There is no greater thing!
That doesn’t mean it won’t hurt. Following Jesus means embracing pain. Painful love, painful repentance, trusting God when bad things and trials come.
But you get to know Him better as you trust Him through those bad things.
You get the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings.
So it’s worth it!
And the suffering doesn’t last forever. After death comes resurrection. Somehow.
And knowing Him is worth it all.
Do you know Christ that way?
Have you told somebody else about it?
Knowing Him is so good. We can’t keep it to ourselves!
Paul is telling us how good it is. We need to tell somebody.
Who could you tell this week how much you want to. know. Christ. and the extraordinary power of His resurrection and the sweet and deep fellowship of sharing in His sufferings.
Not just about Him.
But knowing Him. More and more and more.
Forever!
***
Previous Messages in This Series:
01. "I Always Pray with Joy"
02. "Because Of This I Will Rejoice"
03. "I Will Continue To Rejoice"
04. "Whatever Happens"
05. "Make My Joy Complete"
06. "Your Attitude"
07. "I Am Glad and Rejoice With All Of You"
08. "With Great Joy"
09. "Rejoice in the Lord!"
Lanse Evangelical Free Church
June 21, 2020 :: Philippians 3:10-11
We actually looked briefly at these very words last week, but we didn’t have time to really consider them carefully. These words are the beating heart of this Bible book and the beating heart of its apostolic author, so you don’t want to just pass over these words quickly or lightly. You want to linger.Now, having said that, I also have to admit that nothing I say today can do these words justice.
These words are sublime. They are beautiful, and they beautifully sum up the beauteous aspiration of the heart of the Apostle Paul.
And nothing I will say today can do them justice.
But I’m still going to try! Because I want us to get a glimpse of the heart of Paul for the heart of Christ. To get a sense of what he really felt and what really he wanted so that, Lord-willing, we might feel and want it ourselves.
“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, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead" (Philippians 3:10-11, NIV84).
Do you hear his heart?
Do you hear his aspiration? What Paul really wants?
The Greek construction here that the NIV translates, “I want to know Christ” emphasizes that this is Paul’s deepest purpose for everything he does.
It literally could be translated, “TO KNOW HIM!”
That is it! That is the goal! That is the ultimate experience.
“To Know Him!”
Paul says, “That’s what I want!”
We saw last week how much Paul was willing to give up to know Him.
In his earlier life, Paul was a religious success story. And if you could be justified and saved by doing good works and being a good boy and outwardly following the Law, then Paul would have pulled it off.
But Paul said that he has thrown that all away. From the profit column to the loss column. Remember this?
V.8 “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 [street trash, worse than worthless], that I may gain Christ 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.”
Why? To what end? To what purpose? V.10 again.
“[TO KNOW HIM] and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.”
Paul wants to know Christ. There is no greater thing.
Can you and I say the same thing?
Now, notice that Paul doesn’t just say that he wants to know God.
This is about knowing Christ. Verse 8 made it very clear. It’s “the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”
Some people want to just know “God,” a generic God.
A Creator God, perhaps. God in nature. God up there in the sky. Something like that.
But Paul has a very specific God in mind. He wants to know the Lord Jesus Christ.
The One we’ve been learning about in the Gospel of Matthew the last few years. The most compelling Person who ever lived and ever will live! Paul want to know Him.
And he doesn’t just want to know ABOUT Him. His goal is not just to gather facts about Jesus and have a good mental database of factual knowledge of Jesus.
This is not just an academic exercise. This is relational. This is the language of personal relationship.
Paul wants to know Christ. Paul wants to relate to Christ.
Paul wants to have fellowship and connection and personal knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
And he wants more and more of it!
I said last week that if I’m doing the math right (which is always a question!), the Apostle Paul has known Christ now for about 30 years of his life.
And he just wants more! He. just. wants. more.
On Thursday of this week, Heather and I celebrated our 26th wedding anniversary. The first one we’ve had during a pandemic! We both bought each other books that we knew the other would like. And she fixed me Eggs Benedict for supper, and I baked her Chocolate Chip Cookies for dessert. 26 years of joy!
Yesterday was my parent’s 50th wedding anniversary! A half-century of wedded bliss. Which is an even greater achievement and gift.
You know what? After 26 years, Heather and I still hunger to know each other better. And so do my parents.
We aren’t content to just know about each other or to have known each other.
We want to know each other! ... MORE!
That’s kind of how Paul felt about Christ. He wanted MORE.
He was hungry to know Christ more.
Can that be said of you and me?
Do you want to know Christ?
Around here at Lanse Free Church we like to say that our purpose is “to glorify God by bringing people into a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ.”
I remember when our elders formulated that statement. It was more than 20 years ago. We had a retreat where we prayed and brainstormed how to articulate what we believed was what the Lord had us here for as a church family.
And that’s what we came up with. “...bringing people into a relationship with Jesus Christ.” One of the key passages of Scripture that we studied that weekend and really inspired us was this one: Philippians 3:10 and 11.
This is what drove Paul, and it’s what drives us as a church.
A life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ. “TO KNOW HIM!”
In these 2 verses, Paul goes into two different ways that he wants to know Christ.
Two different aspects of knowing Him.
Let’s look at them more closely. Verse 10 again.
“I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection...”
That’s the first aspect of knowing Christ, and it’s worth throwing away everything else for.
#1. TO KNOW THE POWER OF HIS RESURRECTION.
Whenever Paul wants to talk about extraordinary power, he almost always turns to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
What kind of power does it take to bring a dead man back to life?
I know we didn’t get to have Easter together this year as a church, so I’ll remind you what happened:
Jesus Christ was executed, crucified on a Roman Cross. And he was buried. He was really dead. Dead on Friday. Dead on Saturday. Dead on Sunday.
And then on Sunday morning, the third day, Jesus Christ came back from the dead!
What kind of power does it take to do that?! That’s what Paul wants to know!
He wants to know the power of Jesus’ resurrection.
Not just about it. He wants to know it. He wants that power at work in his life.
Why would he need that kind of power?
Well, we’ll see in a minute that he will need it for his own resurrection after he dies.
But he also needs it for the work that we often call “sanctification.” Which is becoming more and more holy. More and more like Christ.
Verse 9 talks about what we call “justification” which is being declared righteous, having righteousness–not of our own from the law but that which is through faith in Christ alone–the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.
But verse 10 goes beyond justification to sanctification. Not just being declared righteous but increasingly becoming more and more righteous.
Are you becoming more and more righteous?
In your heart, from your lips, at your hands, from your feet?
Are you becoming more and more like Christ?
It takes power to do that. Extraordinary power. The kind of power it takes to bring the dead to life.
I want to know that power, don’t you?
Not power without Christ, apart from Christ but resurrection power from knowing Christ.
However, before you experience a resurrection, you have to experience a death. Look again at verse 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...”
That’s the second aspect of knowing Christ.
#2. KNOWING THE FELLOWSHIP OF HIS SUFFERINGS.
That one doesn’t sound as appealing, does it?
I think we often forget this side of it, or at least we try.
But Paul does not try to avoid it. He says that he WANTS to know the fellowship of sharing in Christ’s sufferings.
What does that mean?
Well, that word “fellowship” in verse 10 is the same word we learned about back in chapter 1 back in March. It’s the word “koinonia,” and it shouldn’t be translated “coffee and donuts.”
It’s more like “partnership” or “in-it-togetherness.”
Paul wants to have in-it-togetherness with Jesus’ suffering.
He wants to share in Jesus’s suffering. What does that mean?
Well, I don’t think it’s a death wish. And I don’t think it’s masochism either.
Paul doesn’t love pain for pain.
But he does want to have deep fellowship with Jesus even if it means going through hard things for and with Jesus.
If that’s what it takes to really know Christ, then count me in, Paul says.
Of course, Christ’s sufferings were unique and one of a kind. He died like we never will.
But mysteriously, we were united with Him in His death. Paul says that elsewhere.
And as we are united to Him, Christ brings new meaning to whatever suffering you and I experience today.
We follow Christ’s pattern when we suffer in faith.
I think that’s what he means when he says, “becoming like him in his death.”
We are conformed to Christ’s image when we suffer as Christians.
And mysteriously we find ourselves knowing Him more and more and more.
Last year, I read this book by Paul Miller. The guy who wrote, “A Praying Life,” and it’s all about this concept of being conformed to the image of Christ through dying and rising with Jesus in everyday life.
He calls it the “J-Curve.”J for Jesus, but also for the shape of our movement as we are conformed to Christ.
Remember in chapter 2 (over there on the big slide) when Paul said that Jesus went down down down, giving up His rights and privileges and prerogatives.
And that we need to do the same?
That will mean some suffering, won’t it?
Going down, down, down and putting other first will mean suffering.
For Jesus it meant the cross.
And Paul says that we should have the same attitude.
But Jesus didn’t stop there, did He?
No, God exalted Jesus to the highest place and gave Him the highest name!
Up, up, up!
That’s the pattern. Down in suffering like Christ. Up in exaltation like Christ!
You don’t get the one without the other.
So Paul says, “Count me in.”
I want to know the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in his death.
Do you want that?
Do you choose that?
Paul Miller shows us that this pattern gets repeated over and over and over again the New Testament.
It is what it means to know Christ.
Some people want you to think that you can know Christ without suffering.
And there’s big theological word for that, “Baloney!”
Don’t listen to anyone who says that Jesus just wants you to be happy, healthy, and wealthy.
No, Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
And Paul said, “I want to know that guy!”
“TO KNOW HIM and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, [verse 11] and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.”
That’s not just a metaphor. That’s a real, literal expectation.
Paul expects someday somehow to be resurrected from the dead himself.
And that’s when we move from justification to sanctification to glorification! Which he’s going to talk more about as the chapter goes on.
Down, down, down even to real death.
And then one day up, up, up from the grave!
All because we know Christ.
Do you know Christ?
Is Jesus your Savior and Lord?
Is He your Rescuer and King?
Knowing Christ is worth giving up everything.
Knowing Him is worth throwing everything else away. Taking up your cross.
If you have never come to know Him, then let today be the day.
Turn from your sin and put your all of your faith and trust in Jesus Christ.
He crucified for your sin. And He offers the gift of His righteousness.
And He offers for you to be spiritually united to and found in Him.
There is no greater thing!
That doesn’t mean it won’t hurt. Following Jesus means embracing pain. Painful love, painful repentance, trusting God when bad things and trials come.
But you get to know Him better as you trust Him through those bad things.
You get the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings.
So it’s worth it!
And the suffering doesn’t last forever. After death comes resurrection. Somehow.
And knowing Him is worth it all.
Do you know Christ that way?
Have you told somebody else about it?
Knowing Him is so good. We can’t keep it to ourselves!
Paul is telling us how good it is. We need to tell somebody.
Who could you tell this week how much you want to. know. Christ. and the extraordinary power of His resurrection and the sweet and deep fellowship of sharing in His sufferings.
Not just about Him.
But knowing Him. More and more and more.
Forever!
***
Previous Messages in This Series:
01. "I Always Pray with Joy"
02. "Because Of This I Will Rejoice"
03. "I Will Continue To Rejoice"
04. "Whatever Happens"
05. "Make My Joy Complete"
06. "Your Attitude"
07. "I Am Glad and Rejoice With All Of You"
08. "With Great Joy"
09. "Rejoice in the Lord!"
June 18, 2020
Far More Than Rubies - 26 Years of Joy
Happy 26th anniversary to my wonderful wife, Heather Joy!
"A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies." Proverbs 31:10
Valentines 2020
Engagement Photos circa 1993
Photo by Isaac Mitchell.
Photo by: Nate Weatherly Photography, Used by Permission
The Happy Husband
Oft, oft, methinks, the while with thee
I breathe, as from the heart, thy dear
And dedicated name, I hear
A promise and a mystery,
A pledge of more than passing life,
Yea, in that very name of wife!
A pulse of love that ne'er can sleep!
A feeling that upbraids the heart
With happiness beyond desert,
That gladness half requests to weep!
Nor bless I not the keener sense
And unalarming turbulence.
Of transient joys, that ask no sting
From jealous fears, or coy denying;
But born beneath Love's brooding wing,
And into tenderness soon dying.
Wheel out their giddy moment, then
Resign the soul to love again;
A more precipitated vein
Of notes that eddy in the flow
Of smoothest song, they come, they go,
And leave their sweeter understrain
Its own sweet self-a love of thee
That seems, yet cannot greater be!
Samuel Taylor Coleridge [poemhunter.com]
"A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies." Proverbs 31:10
Valentines 2020
Engagement Photos circa 1993
Photo by Isaac Mitchell.
Photo by: Nate Weatherly Photography, Used by Permission
The Happy Husband
Oft, oft, methinks, the while with thee
I breathe, as from the heart, thy dear
And dedicated name, I hear
A promise and a mystery,
A pledge of more than passing life,
Yea, in that very name of wife!
A pulse of love that ne'er can sleep!
A feeling that upbraids the heart
With happiness beyond desert,
That gladness half requests to weep!
Nor bless I not the keener sense
And unalarming turbulence.
Of transient joys, that ask no sting
From jealous fears, or coy denying;
But born beneath Love's brooding wing,
And into tenderness soon dying.
Wheel out their giddy moment, then
Resign the soul to love again;
A more precipitated vein
Of notes that eddy in the flow
Of smoothest song, they come, they go,
And leave their sweeter understrain
Its own sweet self-a love of thee
That seems, yet cannot greater be!
Samuel Taylor Coleridge [poemhunter.com]
