To Live for Christ

With you all again The last time I was here. I was able just to bring one of my boys

And so today I have my whole family with me again, and so that is a great joy to me

I'm so thankful for them, and you know it's been a real pleasure for me to be here with you

I have the opportunity to serve at Valley Bible Church with pastor Joe Shrive ice there and And we have had just a great time

Getting to know Laurel Bible Church and praying for you We are excited for Rob as he's getting ready to come and be full -time

And so we have been praying for you and praying for him But what an what an exciting time to Look into God's Word this morning as we continue through the book of Philippians if you would turn in your

Bibles to Philippians chapter 3 Philippians chapter 3 And without further ado, let's go to the

Lord if we would in prayer Gracious Heavenly Father We thank you for this day

We thank you because you are our creator. You are our Lord. You are the one and only true

God Who has created all things You have brought forth this day where we may gather together as a body of believers to worship you

To be encouraged with your word To learn more about who you are that we may father

God live for you and for your glory Lord I thank you for Laurel Bible Church I I thank you for each and every one here this morning.

I Pray that Lord God you would work in my heart and in their heart in our hearts this morning that Lord God We would learn more about who you are

And that Lord we would be strengthened to live our lives for your glory and for your honor

For you alone are worthy of our worship and honor and praise and it is only by your grace and by your mercy

You have given us this opportunity to worship you For we were once dead in the trespasses of our sin unable

To give you the praise and adoration that is due your holy name for we were once enemies of you

But now Lord God as believers through your son Christ Jesus our

Lord you have reconciled us you have brought us Into a right relationship with you

Lord we thank you for your word for it is the authority for all life and godliness we thank you for the opportunity to study your word this morning together to learn more about who you are and How we can live for your glory and for your honor

Lord I ask that you would mold and shape our hearts I Pray that you would be with me this morning

Lord God That I would deliver your word Lord God clearly and accurately for your glory

Lord not to us Oh Lord not to us but to your name give glory because of your loving kindness because of your truth

All these things are because of your hand And we asked Lord God this morning that you would be honored that you would be blessed

We praise you and thank you Father God for your son Christ Jesus our Lord who has made it possible

For us to know you in Christ's name we pray Amen Well as you know we are in Philippians chapter 3 and This morning we are in Philippians chapter 3 12 through 16 and so if you would like to turn there

That's where we'll begin As you are turning there What is it that comes to your thoughts?

Are you concerned with the affairs of this world there are many things we think about each day we live

Mother's Day was a few weeks ago a Mother's thoughts seemed to be uncaring for the needs of her children young or old health and well -being

What will I feed my children, how are they feeling are they growing physically mentally are a few thoughts a

Father may be thinking how to provide For his family. Do I have a place for my family to live a

Son a daughter may be thinking how they can spend time with their friends What fit fun things they can do?

What job will I have what college will I attend what will I do for the rest of my life as A business owner may be thinking about the work that needs to be done, or what is not getting done

Am I able to keep my commitment to get the job done on time with little expense

Do I need more workers am I keeping up with the demand of higher costs?

The employee may be concerned about how he or she is to please his employer

Or how to get along with his or her co -workers How can one perform the tax given to accomplish each day?

for others It may be health concerns Coming up procedures test results

Conflict with friends or family The joy of friends and family these are just a few of the mountain of things people think about each day

Do some of these thoughts consume your life What do you find your mind easily running to or dreaming about?

For the Apostle Paul there is but one thought There is one thing his mind runs to one focus that dominates dominates his thinking one consummating reality as All other thoughts fade it is to live his life for the glory of God He lives to know

Christ the hope that we have as believers has been given to us in Christ Jesus That one day we will be made complete

Having attained to the resurrection from the dead Paul in his one -mindedness is willing to lay down his life for the building up of the church the body of Christ the

Bride of Christ Every believer God has drawn to himself has brought forth

Redemption through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ our Lord on the cross as he took the wrath of God upon himself

To redeem us from the penalty of our sin We were once enemies of God dead in our sins unable to rise above our enslavement to sin

We were once enemies of God dead in our sin but God drew us out of our enslavement and Has given us a new heart

He has removed the heart of stone and given us a heart of flesh That will be molded into the image of Christ Ezekiel 36 26 a

Work that God has done in us the lust of the flesh the lust the eyes and the prideful way of life no longer enslave the believer as Believers you and I have the power to put these desires to death

In a way of reminder Paul begins his letter to the church in Philippi by proclaiming his thankfulness to God For the joy that he has for them as they have believed the gospel of Jesus Christ there is a

Great joy in praying to God on their behalf as he remembers their conversion

Their hope in Christ as God will complete his work in the life of all believers until Christ returns

They too like Paul and Timothy are partakers of God's grace

His prayer and desire for them is twofold in chapter one as he calls believers or praise that the believers

Would abound as they know God more and that they would be sincere and blameless in Christ Paul having fixed his eyes on the author and the perfecter of our faith has one ambition to live

For Christ Philippians 121 This is not self -absorbed.

This is not self -focus. This is not self -consumed This is a life that has lived as a bond servant as a slave whose owner is

Jesus Christ himself Paul is focused on one goal that encompasses the care of believers

To be united in knowing Christ Jesus and living for the glory of God He calls believers to live a life that is worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ They are to stand firm in one spirit in one mind striving together for the gospel chapter 1 verse 27 as Individual members of the church.

We are to regard one another as more important than ourselves in chapter 2 he writes the perfect example of humility

Jesus Christ humbled himself to be obedient to the point of death even death on the cross a

Death that was despised by all men a death that was reserved for those who deserved it

Christ came to serve others that meant full obedience to the Father's will to die in our place

He was unlike any other man without sin Jesus said to his disciples my food is to do the will of him who sent me

He is nourished by doing the will of God Paul reminds them that you and I are to work out our salvation with fear and trembling

For it is God who is at work in us to will and to work for his good pleasure chapter 2 verse 13 in Philippians as Believers we are to be lights in this world holding fast the

Word of Life in Perfect obedience He is oh, excuse me as believers we are to be the lights in this world holding fast the

Word of Life the life of Christ in Perfect obedience he is

Jesus Christ is the Word of God in flesh John 1 14 as Christ is our example to follow the

Word of God is our guide as we navigate the will of God Paul illustrates the life of a believer as being in a race in Philippians chapter 2 16

Steve Lawson a pastor and seminary professor has said that the Christian life is like that being in a race

The track that we run is the will of God The Word of God directs us to run according to the will of God our prize is the upward call of God in Christ Jesus The church in Philippi would have understood

Paul's illustration of a race Just as you and I can picture a race

Runners are on the starting block. They're set in their lanes Each runner must be careful to obey the rules

These runners get one shot at the race They must run to win a false start

Could disqualify them Paul uses the illustration of a runner many times in his letters as He writes to the church in Rome.

He writes in Romans 9 16 So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs but on God who has mercy in regard to our salvation

He also writes the church in Corinth 1st Corinthians 9 24 and 27

Do you not know that those who run all run in the race, but only one receives the prize?

Run in such a way that you may win Everyone who competes in the games exercises self -control in all things

They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we had imperishable Therefore I run in such a way not without aim

I box in such a way not without beating the air But I discipline my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others.

I myself will not be disqualified Paul also writes to the church in Galatians chapter 2

As he writes about The rate of race as the Christian life after an interval of 14 years he says

I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas and Taking Titus along also it was because of a revelation that I went up and I submitted to them the gospel

Which I preached among the Gentiles But I did so in private to those who were of reputation for fear that I might be running or had run in vain

In Galatians chapter 5 or 7 Paul says you were running. Well who hindered you from obeying the truth?

in our text this morning We will see Paul reminding his readers once again that the life of Christ is like that of a race

Please take your Bibles if you would and follow along with me as I read Philippians chapter 3

Philippians chapter 3 Finally my brethren

Rejoice in the Lord To the rights of same things again is no trouble to me and it is a safeguard for you

Be aware of the dogs be aware of the evil workers be aware of the false circumcision

For we are the true circumcision who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh

Although I myself might have confidence in the flesh if anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh

I far more circumcised the eighth day of the nation of Israel of the tribe of Benjamin a

Hebrew of Hebrews as the law a Pharisee as to zeal a persecutor of the church as To the righteousness, which is in the law found blameless

But whoever things were gained to me those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ More than that I count all things to be lost in the view of the surpassing value of knowing

Christ Jesus my Lord For whom I have suffered the loss of all things and count them but rubbish so that I may gain

Christ and May be found in him not having a righteousness of my own derived from the law

But that which is through faith in Christ the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith

That I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings

Being conformed to his death in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead

Not that I have already obtained it or I've already become perfect But I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which

I also was laid hold of by Christ Jesus Brethren, I do not regard myself as late having laid hold of it yet.

One thing I do forgetting what lies behind and Reaching forward to what lies ahead.

I Press on towards the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus Let us therefore as as many as are perfect have this attitude

If in anything you have a different attitude God will reveal that also to you

However, let us keep living by the same standard to which we have attained Brethren join and following my example and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us

For many walk of whom I've often told you and now tell you even weeping that they are enemies of the cross of Christ Whose end is destruction whose

God is their appetite and whose glory is in their shame Who set their minds on earthly things?

For our citizenship is in heaven from which we also Eagerly wait for a

Savior the Lord Jesus Christ Who will transform the humble who will transform the body of our humble state?

Into conformity with the body of his glory By the exhortation of the power that he has even to subject all things to himself in Verses 1 to 11 leading up to our passage this morning.

Paul is excited to remind the church That salvation is not a matter of one's accomplishments

Nor is it in our? fleshly inheritance We are to put no confidence verse 3 in the flesh

Salvation is a work of Christ in whom we are to worship. In fact, our righteousness comes from faith in Jesus Christ by God's grace and mercy

We are to lay all our accomplishments down at the cross knowing that as sinners

We are only made pure through the life and death of Jesus Christ on our behalf

We have nothing pleasing to offer God before Christ Ephesians chapter 2 if you want to turn there gives us a great picture of who we were before Christ just a few chapters or One book back

Ephesians Chapter 2 verse 1 he says and you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world

According to the prince and power of the heir of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience

Among them you too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh Indulging in the desires of the flesh and of the mind and were by nature children of wrath even as the rest but God being rich in mercy because of his great love which

He loved us Even when we were dead in our transgression made us alive together with Christ by grace.

You have been saved and Raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus So at the ages to come he might show the surpassing riches of his grace in kindness towards us in Christ Jesus For by grace you have been saved through faith yet not of yourselves

It is the gift of God not as a result of work so that no one may boast

For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared

Beforehand so that we would walk in them as we turn back to our passage in Philippians Paul's desire and to know

Christ fully and To stir us up to know him more having been personally redeemed by Christ on the way to Damascus as Jesus spoke to him and and Three days later after losing his sight.

He was given the Holy Spirit Christ had redeemed him He was also given visions and revelations of the

Lord. He was caught up to paradise 2nd Corinthians Chapter 12 1 through 6

Paul most likely could be said of as the greatest Christian who ever lived

Yet he wanted to pursue Christ each day. He lived until Christ Returned or the days that had been ordained to him were over each of us

Has a day that has been predetermined by God to be our last day here on this earth

This passage should challenge the way you and I live our life

Paul was not satisfied With what he had already known He wanted to know

Christ more in verse 12 of chapter 3 Paul says Not that I've already obtained it or I've already become perfect, but I press on Again I think of a runner pushing for the finish line as he is in his lane

He's looking straight ahead as he is moving his arms and legs with all of his might as he approaches the finish line

What happens? Can you build you visualize this in your mind?

He is not distracted by who is in the stands or what the weather is like Nor does he look behind him

To see where the other runners are He is running with all his might leaning ahead looking to be the first to cross the line and break the ribbon to win the race

This is Paul's life This should be your life This should be in my life as we look forward to what we have been given in Christ Jesus In humility

Paul presses on with the view that he has not already obtained it nor has he already become

Perfect. He says in verse 12 he has Fixed his eyes on the prize as he seeks to lay hold of the perfect state of being fully redeemed

For Christ has laid hold of him and he has been given the righteousness of Christ through salvation

Paul understands that in Christ Jesus. He has been redeemed and has been made perfect positionally before God He also knows that he will give an account for his days here on this earth

He knows that on this side of redemption. No man can ever attain perfect Perfection without the full redemption of the flesh

What is driving

Paul is to know the one who has redeemed him to know him in the power of his resurrection to know him in the fellowship of his

Sufferings and to be conformed to his death as Paul continues in the race

Pressing on he says there is one thing that consumes him which causes him to forget what lies behind Verse 13

Paul is not weighed down with past sins. Nor is he distracted by past accomplishments

He is not embittered by the present sufferings as a believer He is pressing on running the race full speed ahead just as Paul had to deal with his past sins you and I must deal with our sins before the

Lord as Believers we're to confess our sins and to trust that God has forgiven them and that he has

Chosen not to bring them up again on our behalf Hebrews 8 12

How many of you? Replay your sin in your mind saying

I can't believe I did that Or how can I serve the Lord with the things I have done?

We must understand that there is no sin that we are not able to commit

We must not think of ourselves as more highly Than we are

It is only by God's grace. We haven't committed every sin under under the

Sun We are sinners saved by God's grace. We are in full need of God's redemption

There is nothing good in us apart from God You and I must put to death the lies that may fill our minds through the guidance of God's Word We must understand that as a believer.

It is God that works in us for his glory Philippians chapter 2 verse 13

We cannot run the race alone in our own strength We must run in the strength of his might

Ephesians 6 10 We are to put on the full armor of God as believers as we run this race

We're to have our minds saturated with the truth of God's Word Putting on the breastplate of righteousness and prepare preparing our feet to proclaim the gospel

We are to put on the shield of faith The helmet of salvation and the sword of the

Spirit which is the Word of God We are to pray at all times according to God's Word That he would that we would know him and that we would know

What is the breadth length height and depth of the love of Christ? We must not as believers grieve or quench the

Holy Spirit by living according to the flesh first Thessalonians 5 16 through 21

We are to be rejoicing in the work of Christ and giving thanks that we may pursue

The day that we will one day leave this earth and be fully sanctified in him

We are to speak to one another with words of edification and not of flattery

We are to lay aside all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander and malice the scripture says

We are to forgive one another as Christ has forgiven us We are to lay our lives down in order to build one another up in Christ We are to labor hard to know the

Word of God and teach it to others in Verse 14 of our passage this morning

Paul reminds us that this one thing that he is consumed by Striving for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

This one thing is What he lives for?

This one thing is what we are to live for. This is one thing is what you and I are to live for The upward call of God in Christ Jesus in Verse 15

Paul comes back to a statement in verse 12 to remind them that perfection in Christ is only personally

Or excuse me positionally We are to continue to grow in obedience and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ We're given the righteousness of Christ positionally, but we are to work out our salvation with fear and trembling

This is not to be saved But to show that we have in fact been saved by God for as God who has at work in us

To will and to work for his good pleasure. He says It is only

God in us That we have the power to put to death sin and live a life that is pleasing to him a

True believer is one that lives a life that is fully devoted to the Lord God is not one we can have a casual relationship with We are redeemed by the blood of Christ not our works or heritage the

Judaizers in Galatians taught that salvation was to keep the law and embrace grace for salvation, but Paul rebukes them with strong words and says that anyone that teaches a false gospel are

Accursed rejected by God Galatians 1 6 through 9 You cannot fully trust in the work of Christ if in any way you are looking at your past accomplishments to bring about salvation

Paul asked the question to the church in the Galatian region. Did you receive? The spirit by the works of the law or by hearing with faith

He spoke to them earlier in chapter 2 verse 21 as he said

I do not nullify the grace of God for if righteousness comes through the law then Christ died needless needlessly

Christ did not die in vain We are saved by grace through faith alone

True believers will run pressing on towards the goal Those that are trusting in their own works will one day be confronted by God revealing the truth

To them most likely at the great white throne of judgment where all unbelievers will be judged

We are to reach forward to what lies ahead of us as believers It is the upward call of God in Christ Jesus in verse 16 of our passage

Paul reminds the church in Philippians Philippi once again to put on the blinders like a horse in a race

Or put to the plow His only focus is on what is ahead of him

You and I are not to be distracted by those around us teaching false doctrine We're to reach forward to what lies ahead for there is but one goal for us as a believer to hear the upward call of God Well done good and faithful servant

We are not asked to do the unattainable, but that which as believers we have already obtained by Christ the author and the finisher of our faith in humility, we are to press towards and lay hold of the prize and run

By being in constant prayer studying the Word of God and living in obedience to the

Word of God For to know Christ is the greatest pursuit man could ever be given in life

For it holds the promise of eternal blessing for God is worthy to be worshipped all the days of our lives

Let's pray gracious Heavenly Father we thank you once again for the opportunity

To look at Philippians chapter 3 12 through 16 as we are reminded that Paul has one focus one goal and That is to pursue knowing

Christ That he would know Christ That he would know the power of his resurrection the fellowship of his sufferings and that Lord God one day as We leave this earth.

We will know what it means to be perfect without sin Lord we know that you are the only one who has the power over death

For you died in our place and rose again conquering sin and death on the cross

Lord we thank you again for the reminder that as believers We will never be perfect on this side of heaven

We are to pursue perfection We are to look to Christ who is our perfect example who lived a life without sin

Who died in our place? Who was obedient to the point of death even death on the cross your word says?

Even though we will not reach perfection. We are to continue to press on as your word says

That we would lay hold of what Christ has already done for us in salvation

He has granted us hope that one day we will be with you in heaven We will be rewarded that which we do not deserve

None of us deserves your grace none of us deserves your mercy But Lord you demonstrate your love towards us as Romans 8 teaches

That you demonstrate your love towards us that while we were yet sinners you died for us

Romans 5 8 Lord thank you for demonstrating your love to us.

Thank you. Father. God for giving us your written word That we would continue

To pursue you that we would look forward Lord God To one day being with you in glory

Lord help us Lord God to live this life in a way that is pleasing and honoring and glorifying to you

Lord we praise you and thank you for your word. We praise you and thank you father. God for this reminder

Thank you. Lord. God for your son Christ Jesus our Lord who has made it possible

For us to be in this race we ask Lord God that you'd be glorified this morning in Christ's name we pray