Experiencing Jesus
Philippians 3:1-11
Introduction: What was the happiest day of your life? One of mine was the day I married Amy. I often remember the moment she stepped into the sanctuary of the church we were married in, that April day almost 25 years ago….
What was the greatest achievement of your life to date?
What is the thing you are the most proud of in your family heritage? Did you have a forefather who fought valiantly in the Civil War or was one of your family members a famous person? What is the one thing you live for in life? If you could have all the free time in the world, what is the one thing you would probably do more than anything else? What is your life vision? What are you doing here on earth?
Without a vision, the people perish! Not having a clear vision produces weak Christians, weak Christian families, weak LifeGroups, and weak Churches. Without a clear vision for our lives, we will flounder in the difficulties we face and never know how to walk in the joy of Christ. They say if you aim at nothing you will hit it every time. We will never be satisfied in life unless we have the right target, and we hit that target with own life. We will never have a joy-fill journey in Christ Jesus. So what does the bible say about developing a personal destiny? A personal vision?
I. Make sure you are not like the _Pharisees_: Put no confidence in your natural abilities, achievements, wealth or heritage. Philippians 3:1-7
A. Religious people tend to rely on their good deeds, performance and
spiritual heritage.
B. Revelation of Christ delivers us from a performance based faith.
Note: the comparison of dogs, those men who do evil & who mutilate their flesh.
Show the picture of the latrine in Philippi.
Circumcision & Paul’s play on the words in the Greek here.
Paul’s summarization of all his natural ability, achievements, wealth & heritage is in Vs 7.
II. Make sure you are like _Paul_: Value Jesus so much everything else pales in comparison with Him! Philippians 3:8-11
A. Anti-experiential faith
B. Experiencing Jesus
Progression:
My own ability, achievements, wealth & heritage are all loss in comparison
to the supreme value of knowing Christ.
Defining knowing Christ: experiential knowledge, not fact gathering.
Knowing Christ is a supernatural encounter with God. Hunger to experience more of Jesus’ power, more of Christ daily is theologically laid out right here! Never let people tell you that because you have everything
you need in Christ, that you should not seek for more of Christ. That is
the error of emphasizing what you already have to the exclusion of seeking
more. The same error occurs when people pray for healing only in the realm
of declaring healing to the exclusion of asking for healing also! We are to
affirm who we are in Christ and hunger for more of Christ! That is Paul’s
example. The Kingdom which is to come, has already come. The Kingdom which has already come we are also to pray for that very Kingdom to come…
These truths are NOT mutually exclusive. We must be inclusive.
So thank Christ for what He has done for you. Ask Christ…seek Christ for what He will do for you & in you!
Back to Philippians 2: If Christ counted the laying aside of the throne of heaven to become a man, something He would do to reach us, then how can
we value anything on this earth over knowing Christ? Now that we see who
Jesus really is, that He is God living inside us, how can we value anything as
much as knowing Him? Everything is a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Jesus.
All I have lost is ‘skubalon’ in exchange for gaining & being found in Christ!
(contrast a legalistic righteousness to the free righteousness by personal faith
in Jesus). ‘Skubalon’ is either human excrement or dog dung or scraps of food thrown out for dogs to pick through. It is a vulgar term, like a curse word.
Hunger for Christ:
Power of his resurrection
Fellowship of sharing in His sufferings
Conformation to His death
Attaining the resurrection from the dead
Sunday, October 23, 2005
Monday, October 17, 2005
Kingdom Serving Philippians 2:19-30
Slave-this term had a different connotation in Paul’s day than it does in modern America. For one thing there was no race attached to slavery in Paul’s day. Some slaves were temporary and others were life long slaves. They all were considered ‘living tools’ of their masters though with no personal rights. That was in common with America’s slave history.
Ephesians 6:5-9 instructions to slaves
Philippians 2:22 Same word…to serve as a slave
ESV 1 Timothy 6:2 Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved. Teach and urge these things.
ESV Titus 3:3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.
ESV Romans 6:6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.
The parallels with slavery in scripture tied to the physical practice in their day of real slavery. It also tied to the real condition of slavery to sin & the freedom to move from slavery to sin now to a new slavery…slavery to Christ.
ESV Romans 6:15 What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. 19 I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification. 20 When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? The end of those things is death. 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
We were bought on the slave market of sin…the auction block…when no one would buy us…Christ purchased us to make us slaves of righteousness!! Freed to be slaved…
Genuine concern for others vs concern for ourselves
Review a couple key points:
ABS
Advance-Put the advance of the gospel first. Put the gospel first.
Believers-Put your fellowship with believers around the gospel first.
Stand United-Put unity for the sake of the gospel as a premium priority.
Focus on the cross! Put the gospel first.
Adopt Jesus’ death as the test of your outlook!! Put the gospel first.
How do we know if we are self centered or Gospel centered?
Center yourself on others because of Christ, His Kingdom & the Gospel!
Make Spirit –led plans for the benefit of others first!
Listen to and emulate worthy Christian leaders
Emulate those who are sincerely concerned for others
Emulate those who have proven themselves during hardship
Not the untested
Not the headstrong strutting peacocks who promote themselves
Christ
Paul
Timothy
Epaphroditus
Philippians
Now it’s your turn!
Amy’s constant example for me regarding myself and the children.
Always thinking of what the other person will need first!
The examples of true Christianity come from home life more often than we realize.
We are called to care for those we preach the gospel to as a mother cares for her children.
We are called to train faithful men who will train faithful men as a father teaches his son his favorite hobby or a job skill.
Five dimensions of teammates shown in Epaphroditus:
Five ways to emulate Paul & his team
Use uplifting labels for each other in the ministry:
1) My brother First we are called family.
2) My co-worker Laborers for the harvest field (spiritual vision, work & profit)
3) My fellow soldier Discipline, Unity & Combat in the field (mission trip)
4) Your messenger Courier to encourage the missionary Paul
5) Your minister Dispensing financial aid to the missionary Paul
Ephesians 6:5-9 instructions to slaves
Philippians 2:22 Same word…to serve as a slave
ESV 1 Timothy 6:2 Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved. Teach and urge these things.
ESV Titus 3:3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.
ESV Romans 6:6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.
The parallels with slavery in scripture tied to the physical practice in their day of real slavery. It also tied to the real condition of slavery to sin & the freedom to move from slavery to sin now to a new slavery…slavery to Christ.
ESV Romans 6:15 What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. 19 I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification. 20 When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? The end of those things is death. 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
We were bought on the slave market of sin…the auction block…when no one would buy us…Christ purchased us to make us slaves of righteousness!! Freed to be slaved…
Genuine concern for others vs concern for ourselves
Review a couple key points:
ABS
Advance-Put the advance of the gospel first. Put the gospel first.
Believers-Put your fellowship with believers around the gospel first.
Stand United-Put unity for the sake of the gospel as a premium priority.
Focus on the cross! Put the gospel first.
Adopt Jesus’ death as the test of your outlook!! Put the gospel first.
How do we know if we are self centered or Gospel centered?
Center yourself on others because of Christ, His Kingdom & the Gospel!
Make Spirit –led plans for the benefit of others first!
Listen to and emulate worthy Christian leaders
Emulate those who are sincerely concerned for others
Emulate those who have proven themselves during hardship
Not the untested
Not the headstrong strutting peacocks who promote themselves
Christ
Paul
Timothy
Epaphroditus
Philippians
Now it’s your turn!
Amy’s constant example for me regarding myself and the children.
Always thinking of what the other person will need first!
The examples of true Christianity come from home life more often than we realize.
We are called to care for those we preach the gospel to as a mother cares for her children.
We are called to train faithful men who will train faithful men as a father teaches his son his favorite hobby or a job skill.
Five dimensions of teammates shown in Epaphroditus:
Five ways to emulate Paul & his team
Use uplifting labels for each other in the ministry:
1) My brother First we are called family.
2) My co-worker Laborers for the harvest field (spiritual vision, work & profit)
3) My fellow soldier Discipline, Unity & Combat in the field (mission trip)
4) Your messenger Courier to encourage the missionary Paul
5) Your minister Dispensing financial aid to the missionary Paul
Sunday, October 09, 2005
Kingdom Humility Philippians 2:1-18
1)Focus on the cross.
Yesterday at En-Gedi (VCFBN's Leaders training seminar) we learned about people who lose their focus.
Maintaining focus as people of God is critical. If we lose our focus
we will meander through the desert of life.
People out of focus creates a myriad of problems.
Stagnation results. Unproductiveness.
Values start to slip. Complaining rises.
Worship is not about us….it is about treasuring Jesus!
Bringing Jesus to the center of our focus is critical.
Our vision should be to ‘Experience Jesus’!
The cross is the ‘apex’ of Christ’s life work. Therefore, we should focus on the cross of Christ.
Note Philippians 2 immediately leads us to His obedience,
even unto death,
even unto death on a cross.
The apostolic focus was on the cross. Like a great tether ball, never straying from its pole, the apostolic letters regularly wind up back at the cross. The pole
That centers truth in Christianity. It is the focus that brings fruitfulness for all of us!
Five Perspectives on the Cross
A) God’s perspective-Propitiation (14 times God reveals He hates evil doers...in first 50 psalms)
B) Christ’s perspective-High point of unqualified obedience!
C) Satan’s perspective-Revelation 12 appeal to the blood of the cross to overcome the devil.
D) Sin’s perspective-Stain cleansed. Debt paid off.
E) Our perspective-Our attitude: unqualified obedience possible in Christ because the one who unqualifyingly obeyed His Father dwells in us!!!
2) Adopt Jesus’ death as the test of your outlook1:27-30 Teaches that we are called not only to believe on Christ, but also
to suffer for Him!
2:1-4 Teaches that we are not only to enjoy the comforts o the Gospel, but are to
also pass them on by embracing Christ’s mindset! Paul appeals to experience. Conversation-put a button on it! Listen and watch out for others interests…not only your own!
The Son’s self-denial 2:5-8 “Christ did not take the form of God…He was in the form of God”. He took the form of a human being without leaving the form of God. Illustration: Sun & clouds (As the sun is hidden when the clouds cover the earth...so the Son of God's divine nature was hidden from our view when He clothed himself in human flesh. He always was, and is and will be Divine, AND He took on human flesh when He entered Mary's womb.
The Son’s vindication 2:9-11 The Father has exalted Christ to the highest place.
What principle operates here?
Trust in the Father. The way down is the way up in God’s Kingdom!
2:12-18 Teaches we are called to do our best to grow in our salvation!
Outline blended from ACC Vol. VIII & Basics for Believers by Carson
Yesterday at En-Gedi (VCFBN's Leaders training seminar) we learned about people who lose their focus.
Maintaining focus as people of God is critical. If we lose our focus
we will meander through the desert of life.
People out of focus creates a myriad of problems.
Stagnation results. Unproductiveness.
Values start to slip. Complaining rises.
Worship is not about us….it is about treasuring Jesus!
Bringing Jesus to the center of our focus is critical.
Our vision should be to ‘Experience Jesus’!
The cross is the ‘apex’ of Christ’s life work. Therefore, we should focus on the cross of Christ.
Note Philippians 2 immediately leads us to His obedience,
even unto death,
even unto death on a cross.
The apostolic focus was on the cross. Like a great tether ball, never straying from its pole, the apostolic letters regularly wind up back at the cross. The pole
That centers truth in Christianity. It is the focus that brings fruitfulness for all of us!
Five Perspectives on the Cross
A) God’s perspective-Propitiation (14 times God reveals He hates evil doers...in first 50 psalms)
B) Christ’s perspective-High point of unqualified obedience!
C) Satan’s perspective-Revelation 12 appeal to the blood of the cross to overcome the devil.
D) Sin’s perspective-Stain cleansed. Debt paid off.
E) Our perspective-Our attitude: unqualified obedience possible in Christ because the one who unqualifyingly obeyed His Father dwells in us!!!
2) Adopt Jesus’ death as the test of your outlook1:27-30 Teaches that we are called not only to believe on Christ, but also
to suffer for Him!
2:1-4 Teaches that we are not only to enjoy the comforts o the Gospel, but are to
also pass them on by embracing Christ’s mindset! Paul appeals to experience. Conversation-put a button on it! Listen and watch out for others interests…not only your own!
The Son’s self-denial 2:5-8 “Christ did not take the form of God…He was in the form of God”. He took the form of a human being without leaving the form of God. Illustration: Sun & clouds (As the sun is hidden when the clouds cover the earth...so the Son of God's divine nature was hidden from our view when He clothed himself in human flesh. He always was, and is and will be Divine, AND He took on human flesh when He entered Mary's womb.
The Son’s vindication 2:9-11 The Father has exalted Christ to the highest place.
What principle operates here?
Trust in the Father. The way down is the way up in God’s Kingdom!
2:12-18 Teaches we are called to do our best to grow in our salvation!
Outline blended from ACC Vol. VIII & Basics for Believers by Carson
Sunday, October 02, 2005
A.B.S. Philippians 1:12-30
“Joy through life’s storms”
A.B.S. (Strengthening your ABS?...or God’s Anti-lock Braking System?)
Sermon by David Bielby from October 2, 2005
The maturing of apostolic ministry results in a gospel focus. The more mature a believer becomes in the Lord the clearer their life focus on the gospel becomes.
The test of fire proves what is really in the heart of a man. God allows us to be offended to reveal what’s in our hearts and minds.
“There is nothing that will test our beliefs more than suffering for them.” Donald Baker
A.B.S.
Advance____: Philippians 1:12-18a…Put the advance of the gospel at the center of your life. Put the gospel first.
PAST: Paul looks back at his past in these verses and here recognizes what has happened to him…(He is in prison for preaching Christ and His gospel). Paul defines the spiritual effect of his ‘reversal’.
Paul’s example is impressive and clear: Put the advance of the gospel at the center of your aspirations. Our own comfort, our bruised feelings, our reputations, our misunderstood motives-all of these are insignificant in comparison with the advance and splendor of the gospel. As Christians we are called to put the advance of the gospel at the very center of our aspirations. ….D.A. C arson
Aspirations_____: Delight in Christ, His Kingdom & His Gospel Central over all else…even yourself!!! Put the gospel first.
The trap is that if we chase happiness we will never find it. If we delight in the gospel of Christ…and if we give ourselves to advancing it then we will find joy in it’s advancement even if it costs us tremendously. Recognize the sovereignty of God in your life. See how He can gain glory even in the very worst of situations.
Believers_____: Philippians 1:18b-26 Put the believers of the gospel at the center of your principled self-denial. Put the gospel first.
Present: The gospel is being proclaimed all around Paul…and so he delights in that.
Even though motives of some men in preaching are designed to cause Paul trouble, Paul still delights. He refuses to be discouraged by the impure motives of those who oppose him…instead choosing to delight in the present advancing gospel of Christ’s Kingdom!!!
Future: Paul faced his future by evaluating it simply in the light of what is best for the advancement of the gospel!! So live for the gospel. Make it the center of your purpose for living. Spiritual self-denial has at it’s roots not some sort of spiritual state that we can gain for ourselves, but a true motivation of gaining spiritual good for those around us.
Stand__ United: Philippians 1:27-30 Let your contending for the faith drive you to unite with other believers, avoiding division whenever possible. Be a steadfast church! Put the gospel first.
*Concepts adapted from “Basics for Believers” by D.A. Carson, The Message of Philippians by J.A. Motyer, and Philippians ‘Jesus our Joy’ by Donald Baker.
A.B.S. (Strengthening your ABS?...or God’s Anti-lock Braking System?)
Sermon by David Bielby from October 2, 2005
The maturing of apostolic ministry results in a gospel focus. The more mature a believer becomes in the Lord the clearer their life focus on the gospel becomes.
The test of fire proves what is really in the heart of a man. God allows us to be offended to reveal what’s in our hearts and minds.
“There is nothing that will test our beliefs more than suffering for them.” Donald Baker
A.B.S.
Advance____: Philippians 1:12-18a…Put the advance of the gospel at the center of your life. Put the gospel first.
PAST: Paul looks back at his past in these verses and here recognizes what has happened to him…(He is in prison for preaching Christ and His gospel). Paul defines the spiritual effect of his ‘reversal’.
Paul’s example is impressive and clear: Put the advance of the gospel at the center of your aspirations. Our own comfort, our bruised feelings, our reputations, our misunderstood motives-all of these are insignificant in comparison with the advance and splendor of the gospel. As Christians we are called to put the advance of the gospel at the very center of our aspirations. ….D.A. C arson
Aspirations_____: Delight in Christ, His Kingdom & His Gospel Central over all else…even yourself!!! Put the gospel first.
The trap is that if we chase happiness we will never find it. If we delight in the gospel of Christ…and if we give ourselves to advancing it then we will find joy in it’s advancement even if it costs us tremendously. Recognize the sovereignty of God in your life. See how He can gain glory even in the very worst of situations.
Believers_____: Philippians 1:18b-26 Put the believers of the gospel at the center of your principled self-denial. Put the gospel first.
Present: The gospel is being proclaimed all around Paul…and so he delights in that.
Even though motives of some men in preaching are designed to cause Paul trouble, Paul still delights. He refuses to be discouraged by the impure motives of those who oppose him…instead choosing to delight in the present advancing gospel of Christ’s Kingdom!!!
Future: Paul faced his future by evaluating it simply in the light of what is best for the advancement of the gospel!! So live for the gospel. Make it the center of your purpose for living. Spiritual self-denial has at it’s roots not some sort of spiritual state that we can gain for ourselves, but a true motivation of gaining spiritual good for those around us.
Stand__ United: Philippians 1:27-30 Let your contending for the faith drive you to unite with other believers, avoiding division whenever possible. Be a steadfast church! Put the gospel first.
*Concepts adapted from “Basics for Believers” by D.A. Carson, The Message of Philippians by J.A. Motyer, and Philippians ‘Jesus our Joy’ by Donald Baker.
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