20th Sunday after Pentecost 10/02/05 Text: Philippians 3:4-21 Title: Consider this....!
20th Sunday after Pentecost
10/2/2005
Text: Philippians 3:4-21
Title: Consider This
My fellow missionaries please join me in prayer. Eternal God, pour out your Spirit upon us that we might be aware of your presence in our midst, that we might be attentive to your Word, and that we might be always faithful to your way, through Jesus Christ our Lord we pray. Amen
I want to share with you this morning a little illustration that Pastor Don Goulding, a missionary in Africa wrote some time ago. “One Sunday morning, when God was resting he happened to look down on the earth. He saw row upon row of people sitting in the pews of a particular church. He formulated a razor-sharp communiqué and handed it off to the Holy Spirit. The Spirit breathed it into the pastor’s sermon. Charged with conviction, the message flew from the pulpit. It arced through the air, making a sharp right into the ears of those sitting in the pews. It then spiraled down the ear cannel, hit the eardrum, and bounced onto the floor.”
What had just taken place was A.S.D. (Auditory Selective Dullness), for those life giving words, those words of salvation had become words without meaning to many of those sitting in those pews. You know, Jesus is the blah, blah, blah, blah, and life goes on as before”.
Do you suffer at least an occasional bout of A.S.D.(Auditory Selective Dullness) when you hear the message of God’s forgiveness? If you do, it might be good for you to listen up, as we look this morning at Paul’s letter to the congregation at Phillipi. For in doing so you will be made wise, not as the world sees wisdom, but as God sees wisdom, which is critical for your salvation. It could also help with your occasional bouts of A.S.D. , especially while you are in church.
God wants you to be wise, especially when it comes to his Holy Words to you as you read them in his Scriptures. For the wisdom found in his Word is how we find out about him and his saving work on our behalf.
Consider this; it is impossible for us to gain Godly wisdom left to our own devices. That is why we need a Savior, for he did, and continues to do what we cannot do. We cannot keep our heart focused on the right path. So Jesus came as that perfect life that would be acceptable to God. He did not just do it as an example of how we are to live. He did it so that we would be made right before God. Paul, nor anyone in the world, is any different than the rest of us. For we are all sinners who are unable to save ourselves. We all, including Paul need Jesus..
Consider this; in all his letters to Christians throughout the Mediterranean, Paul never exalted himself as being better than others. Well almost never. There are a few times that he really bragged about himself, but not like we usually brag about ourselves.
Let’s take a look at a couple examples of his bragging as they are found in God’s Word. The first is found in his letter to Timothy the young pastor, “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners-- of whom I am the worst.” (NIV 1 Timothy 1:15)
Did Paul brag on his education, his wealth, his stature in the church, the fact that Jesus spoke directly to him, or any of the other things that he could brag on? He could you know, because they were all a part of his life. But he didn’t, he bragged on the fact that of all people, he considered himself to be the worst of sinners.
Most of us, if not all, might echo Paul’s words, if pushed hard enough, for by doing so it would show our humility, our knowledge of who we are, that is sinners, but in that little dark secret place in our heart we know that we really are not as sinful as a co-worker we know, or a friend, relative, or fellow church member. I am afraid that too many times we are just going through the motions when we confess our sins, but Paul wasn’t for he knew who he was; he knew his sinfulness. He knew that without Jesus he was doomed. He knew and so he walked his life in the shadow of the cross.
There were some in the church and outside the church in Phillip that were telling the Christian community that they had to do more than believe in Jesus as their Savior. They told them that if they were true Christians they had to follow certain traditions and regulations.
Consider this. Paul those he is writing to and thus us of the godly heritage he was raised in. After all he was circumcised on the eighth day as the law required. He came from the tribe of Benjamin. He studied under one of the most prestige’s Rabbis of the time.
Paul tells them that if keeping laws and traditions could entitle someone to stand guiltless before God he was their man. If anyone was entitled to brag about one’s zeal for the faith, he could. But Paul doesn’t stop there, he tells them that none of those laws and regulations make one a Christian as far as God is concerned. They are all rubbish, or as it is in the Greek, how can I say this nicely, dung, that is all they are worth, dung, and we all know about dung don’t we?
Consider this; Paul in his faith, the faith given to him by the Holy Spirit, knows that he is saved by Jesus’ death and resurrection. There is no doubt in his mind. But then when you read verses 10 through 13 it appears like he might not be too sure of his salvation, that he must have to do something else to be sure, and even then he might not know for sure until the resurrection times come.
That is what it looks like, but is that really what Paul is saying. It sure seems that way, but when you study the original language you see that he is not confused, but sure of his salvation. Starting in verse 8, you might want to follow along in your service folder so that you see the differences between the Greek and the NIV translation. “For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith- 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
What Paul is saying is that he knows that his deeds, his education, his suffering, present and past, count for nothing, as far as his salvation is concerned. He also knows that in his sinful body he will need to have all the strength he can muster so that he can live as Jesus lived and so die as Jesus died, forgiving those who were killing him.
Paul that great man of God, whom we all out to model our lives after knows that he has to continue living in his sinful body, that he is not yet perfect in that body, even though his Soul was made perfect by Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. But because Jesus called him and made him his own, he needs to try and live a more Christ-like life, not to receive more honor from God, but because he isunited in Christ
Consider this; God has done a mighty thing in you when you were brought to faith. It was truly life-changing, so life changing that your focus, like Paul is to be no longer on your personal ambitions of glory or how well you practice your Christianity, but on God’s mission that he has given to his people, the mission to tell others about him and his saving work.
God has given us a lot to consider this day, hasn’t he? And the joy of it all is that he is not done with us yet. Not as individuals, nor as a congregation, for he continues to do his work among us until our lives are through.
Consider this my fellow missionaries, and believe; you have been called by God. Have faith in his promises today, tomorrow and the rest of your lives so that others will see God’s love and forgiveness through your lives. Rejoice, I say rejoice in what God has done, and continues to do in us and through us. Amen.
10/2/2005
Text: Philippians 3:4-21
Title: Consider This
My fellow missionaries please join me in prayer. Eternal God, pour out your Spirit upon us that we might be aware of your presence in our midst, that we might be attentive to your Word, and that we might be always faithful to your way, through Jesus Christ our Lord we pray. Amen
I want to share with you this morning a little illustration that Pastor Don Goulding, a missionary in Africa wrote some time ago. “One Sunday morning, when God was resting he happened to look down on the earth. He saw row upon row of people sitting in the pews of a particular church. He formulated a razor-sharp communiqué and handed it off to the Holy Spirit. The Spirit breathed it into the pastor’s sermon. Charged with conviction, the message flew from the pulpit. It arced through the air, making a sharp right into the ears of those sitting in the pews. It then spiraled down the ear cannel, hit the eardrum, and bounced onto the floor.”
What had just taken place was A.S.D. (Auditory Selective Dullness), for those life giving words, those words of salvation had become words without meaning to many of those sitting in those pews. You know, Jesus is the blah, blah, blah, blah, and life goes on as before”.
Do you suffer at least an occasional bout of A.S.D.(Auditory Selective Dullness) when you hear the message of God’s forgiveness? If you do, it might be good for you to listen up, as we look this morning at Paul’s letter to the congregation at Phillipi. For in doing so you will be made wise, not as the world sees wisdom, but as God sees wisdom, which is critical for your salvation. It could also help with your occasional bouts of A.S.D. , especially while you are in church.
God wants you to be wise, especially when it comes to his Holy Words to you as you read them in his Scriptures. For the wisdom found in his Word is how we find out about him and his saving work on our behalf.
Consider this; it is impossible for us to gain Godly wisdom left to our own devices. That is why we need a Savior, for he did, and continues to do what we cannot do. We cannot keep our heart focused on the right path. So Jesus came as that perfect life that would be acceptable to God. He did not just do it as an example of how we are to live. He did it so that we would be made right before God. Paul, nor anyone in the world, is any different than the rest of us. For we are all sinners who are unable to save ourselves. We all, including Paul need Jesus..
Consider this; in all his letters to Christians throughout the Mediterranean, Paul never exalted himself as being better than others. Well almost never. There are a few times that he really bragged about himself, but not like we usually brag about ourselves.
Let’s take a look at a couple examples of his bragging as they are found in God’s Word. The first is found in his letter to Timothy the young pastor, “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners-- of whom I am the worst.” (NIV 1 Timothy 1:15)
Did Paul brag on his education, his wealth, his stature in the church, the fact that Jesus spoke directly to him, or any of the other things that he could brag on? He could you know, because they were all a part of his life. But he didn’t, he bragged on the fact that of all people, he considered himself to be the worst of sinners.
Most of us, if not all, might echo Paul’s words, if pushed hard enough, for by doing so it would show our humility, our knowledge of who we are, that is sinners, but in that little dark secret place in our heart we know that we really are not as sinful as a co-worker we know, or a friend, relative, or fellow church member. I am afraid that too many times we are just going through the motions when we confess our sins, but Paul wasn’t for he knew who he was; he knew his sinfulness. He knew that without Jesus he was doomed. He knew and so he walked his life in the shadow of the cross.
There were some in the church and outside the church in Phillip that were telling the Christian community that they had to do more than believe in Jesus as their Savior. They told them that if they were true Christians they had to follow certain traditions and regulations.
Consider this. Paul those he is writing to and thus us of the godly heritage he was raised in. After all he was circumcised on the eighth day as the law required. He came from the tribe of Benjamin. He studied under one of the most prestige’s Rabbis of the time.
Paul tells them that if keeping laws and traditions could entitle someone to stand guiltless before God he was their man. If anyone was entitled to brag about one’s zeal for the faith, he could. But Paul doesn’t stop there, he tells them that none of those laws and regulations make one a Christian as far as God is concerned. They are all rubbish, or as it is in the Greek, how can I say this nicely, dung, that is all they are worth, dung, and we all know about dung don’t we?
Consider this; Paul in his faith, the faith given to him by the Holy Spirit, knows that he is saved by Jesus’ death and resurrection. There is no doubt in his mind. But then when you read verses 10 through 13 it appears like he might not be too sure of his salvation, that he must have to do something else to be sure, and even then he might not know for sure until the resurrection times come.
That is what it looks like, but is that really what Paul is saying. It sure seems that way, but when you study the original language you see that he is not confused, but sure of his salvation. Starting in verse 8, you might want to follow along in your service folder so that you see the differences between the Greek and the NIV translation. “For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith- 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
What Paul is saying is that he knows that his deeds, his education, his suffering, present and past, count for nothing, as far as his salvation is concerned. He also knows that in his sinful body he will need to have all the strength he can muster so that he can live as Jesus lived and so die as Jesus died, forgiving those who were killing him.
Paul that great man of God, whom we all out to model our lives after knows that he has to continue living in his sinful body, that he is not yet perfect in that body, even though his Soul was made perfect by Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. But because Jesus called him and made him his own, he needs to try and live a more Christ-like life, not to receive more honor from God, but because he isunited in Christ
Consider this; God has done a mighty thing in you when you were brought to faith. It was truly life-changing, so life changing that your focus, like Paul is to be no longer on your personal ambitions of glory or how well you practice your Christianity, but on God’s mission that he has given to his people, the mission to tell others about him and his saving work.
God has given us a lot to consider this day, hasn’t he? And the joy of it all is that he is not done with us yet. Not as individuals, nor as a congregation, for he continues to do his work among us until our lives are through.
Consider this my fellow missionaries, and believe; you have been called by God. Have faith in his promises today, tomorrow and the rest of your lives so that others will see God’s love and forgiveness through your lives. Rejoice, I say rejoice in what God has done, and continues to do in us and through us. Amen.
posted by Pastor Rhoads | 2:01 PM
|
0 comments
