by Bernard Plume

Read: Philippians 3:7-21 MSG: Paul says:

The very credentials these people are waving around as something special, I’m tearing up and throwing out with the trash—along with everything else I used to take credit for. And why? Because of Christ. Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant—dog dung. I’ve dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ and be embraced by him. I didn’t want some petty, inferior brand of righteousness that comes from keeping a list of rules when I could get the robust kind that comes from trusting Christ—God’s righteousness.

I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, experience his resurrection power, be a partner in his suffering, and go all the way with him to death itself. If there was any way to get in on the resurrection from the dead, I wanted to do it.

I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.

So let’s keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you’ll see it yet! Now that we’re on the right track, let’s stay on it.

Stick with me, friends. Keep track of those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal. There are many out there taking other paths, choosing other goals, and trying to get you to go along with them. I’ve warned you of them many times; sadly, I’m having to do it again. All they want is easy street. They hate Christ’s Cross. But easy street is a dead-end street. Those who live there make their bellies their gods; belches are their praise; all they can think of is their appetites.

But there’s far more to life for us. We’re citizens of high heaven! We’re waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ, who will transform our earthy bodies into glorious bodies like his own. He’ll make us beautiful and whole with the same powerful skill by which he is putting everything as it should be, under and around him.

Lk 9: 61-62    Jesus using the example of a ploughman made a direct call to the would be disciple , it was a solemn reminder that no distractions or seeming legitimate dispensations are allowed to detract from the Mission & Movement of a true follower of Christ.

Four lifestyle examples that we should follow from the life of Paul:

1: Holy Abandonment v7-9

Pauls Commitment to his Calling was Carefree but not Careless

Abandonment in this context is not a dereliction of rightful duty it’s a joyful renouncing of anything that might hinder Gods way forward.

Paul said the stuff that once identified  and defined him , was his reason for being, was now total rubbish, his Prestige his Pedigree his Past were now in comparison valueless, he knew when to refer to his Past

Phlipn  3:5-6  I was top of the pile, but now religious rightness is replaced by Christ’s , 2 graphic word pictures of “Trash bag” an earthy picture of “Dog Excrement”.

Key Truth: What defines you is what directs you

Do you need freedom from what defines you and hinders your progress?

Our past can trap us-  Wrong choices that led to a divorce, we live in Broken Land, a status we once held and cling to (some Ministers outstay their season) .We live in Needy Approval Land

A slight or offence, large or small and we live in Victim land. A life missed significant opportunity and we live in Regret Land

We should Consider the Road we have travelled but not miss the early warning signs or THE Exit to a new direction or we will be in an endless loop.

If you tread in the dog mess you will smell and leave an unwholesome footprint, if you leave the garbage it will foster germs and attract vermin - Its time spiritually; to clean the shoe, bin the rubbish!

Looking back with longing “Solidified Lots wife”  Gen 19:26 robbed and nearly ruined Israel”  Numbers 11:5 and has hindered/bound  many a churches and ministry’s progress, the call is to put off “every  Weight” Hebw  12:1

Our healing/ release may take many forms but we ALL are capable of making the decision as Paul did –with JOY - out with the Rubbish in with a new direction.

Conc: Holy abandonment of  the past with joy

2: Holy Ambition v 10-11

Paul, walked in privileged circles but discards this, his ambition is three fold 3  Rs he wants to stand in Christ’s Righteousness, experience a  deep personal Relationship with Christ and share in his Resurrection

Paul as a Pharisee had experienced only a works based Righteousness, a Relationship with adherence to a system, Resurrection was not as the Christian understands it.

In a nutshell it hinged on a Process whereas Christianity is all about a Person

Ambition normally = a Lifestyle that will reap benefits, better house, car financial security etc. a payback or reward for effort put in.

Paul says his ambition is focussed on the next life not THIS one.

Of course God does want to bless us with fullness in the here and now

John 10:10 Ephn 1:3 But much modern teaching focuses on this life not the next and sermons on sharing Christ suffering are few and far between.

So do we share Paul’s ambition to attain resurrection from the dead and eternity with Christ then we must Partner in his sufferings.

This does NOT mean a lifetime of being walked over and beat up-BUT

It could well include a healthy dose of challenging experiences that build up our faith and conform us to his likeness. Romn 8:29

Conc: Holy ambition should be relationship with Christ whatever the cost

3: Holy Advancement v 12-19

V14 “ I’ve got my eye on the goal , running,  and not looking back “

Paul is reaching out to his future. Scripture many examples of focus

1:Cor 9:24 “A race, a course, a prize”  Luke 9: 61-62

“A plough, a furrow, a harvest”  2Tim 2:15  A workman, the word, approval”  Ephn 6:17 “A battle, weapons, victors reward”

Call is not to maintain but to move forward with Momentum

Old Hymn “Onward Christian soldiers contains much scriptural truth

If we value the Prize we will Pursue it a v20 Citizen of heaven has different priority structure and lives under a different value system

Qoute Wendell Thomas said “some people are too heavenly minded to be no earthly use “    —But

C S Lewis said in “Mere Christianity “ “If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next”

Question—Do you value the prize and how are you pursuing it, are you a better more mature Christian now then you were  6 months - 6 years ago Immature Christians do major damage to the Churches Reputation

Conc: Holy Advancement will be evidenced by a lifestyle of pursuit

4: Holy Anticipation v 20-21

v20 Paul states clearly he is in transit/passing through a citizen of Heaven not earth

Illus; If we are in the transit lounge of an airport we may draw refreshment /rest but our eye is on the Departure board for our final destination and our boarding pass is close at hand.

Anticipation--- Implies    Preparation- Posture- Position

Airline—# Preparation-- Pass is in hand— # Posture you’re on the edge of the seat and # Position you are near that boarding gate.

Collect someone: airport-  Preparation  You make sure you know Flight Number  and gate --Posture-You visually scan the arrivals-Position you get somewhere they can clearly see you.

All the above because you are eager to be with them again.

Song of Solomon 2   Picture of Church Christ the Woman eagerly awaits her true love.

Preparation: Do we shun anything that would hurt our true love

Posture:        Is there an eagerness in our hearts to be with him

Position:       Does our lifestyle show we have a light hold on this world

Quote ; Oliver Herford “ A rolling stone gathers no moss but it gains a certain Polish”

Conc: Lifestyle must evidence we are in transition

Summary

1: Holy Abandonment

2: Holy Ambition

3: Holy Advancement

4: Holy Anticipation

Sermon in a sentence:

We are people of eternal purpose, so stay focussed and Keep Moving towards the Prize

From an Original Outline by Philip Pye AOG