Genesis 18

God asks questions. Not for His benefit, as if He were lacking some kind of knowledge or needed to understand something, but for our benefit. God’s questions to Adam, Where are you? and Who told you that?, were designed to get to the heart of epistemology: we are all accountable to God and there are voices that are not true. God’s question of Cain, Why are you angry?, was designed to get to the heart of temptation and sin. These are questions we ought to ask ourselves today.

This morning’s question jumps through the pages of Genesis to Abraham’s life and tackles the very human emotion of doubt. René Descartes once said that in order to truly examine life one must come to doubt everything. Buddhism teaches a similar belief that embracing doubt as an essential part of life. Doubt is described in Scripture, however, as the antithesis of faith.

The Setting
In Genesis 12 God calls Abram and promises to make him a great nation. He is 75 when he is called. Sarai had been unable to give her husband children in their long marriage, so you can imagine what this news did for this couple. In chapter 15 God repeats this promise and enters into covenant with Abram. Abram believes God and it is credited to him as righteousness (15:6).
In chapter 16 Sarai has lost her patience. From the end of the chapter we learn that when Ishmael is born Abraham is 86. So her patience has run out on the tenth anniversary of God’s promise. She decides that her Egyptian servant could provide an heir for Abraham and sets things in motion. She regrets this plan, treats Hagar badly, and she flees.
In chapter 17 God repeats His promise again. Abraham laughs to himself and expresses his doubt in verses 17-18, suggesting Ishmael would be his heir. God rejects Ishmael and reiterates that Sara will conceive.
In chapter 18 travelers visit the couple and they prophesy that when they return the following year, Sara will be with child. Sara overhears the conversation and laughs to herself. Her laughing prompts the question: “Is anything too hard for the Lord?”

What a question. What an indictment. What a slap across the back of the head. It implies to us that we have failed to consider God’s supernatural ability to do as He pleases.

As we consider this story, it is easy to relate to Sarai’s impatience and doubt. Ten years is a long time to wait for something you’ve wanted your entire life. When the travelers comes Abraham is 99. Another 15 years will have passed before Isaac is born. Sarah’s doubt may be understandable, but it is also inexcusable. She lost sight of God’s omnipotent hand.
God didn’t just want to begin this chosen through natural means… he wanted to use a supernatural beginning. It is said of Sarah that the way of women had passed. In other words, she had passed through menopause. God wanted to do something amazing and He had promised that He would. Sarah’s short-sightedness was that it had to happen in a time-table suitable for her. Her doubt even led her husband into sin.

Why do we doubt?
We doubt because we don’t believe or trust.

Experience can teach us to doubt: I have learned that I can’t… you have proven yourself untrustworthy...
Memories can keep us in doubt: I’ve tried that before and it didn’t work.
Lies can trap us in doubt: I’ve been told that…
My upbringing can lead me to doubt: my family has always believed or done…

There are a host of reasons that can lead us into doubt, but at the root of it all is distrust. When we doubt, we are saying something about the character of the one we doubt. And that is why doubting God - He who has perfect character - is sinful.

Mackintosh points out the following: “Believing a promise and its fulfillment and waiting patiently are two very different things.” Believing God’s promises requires faith. Holding on patiently requires endurance and hope.

Genesis 4

God asks questions. Not for His benefit, as if He were lacking some kind of knowledge or needed to understand something, but for our benefit. God’s questions to Adam, Where are you? and Who told you that?, were designed to get to the heart of the matter. And they became questions that we ought still ask ourselves today.

This morning’s question is asked of a young man, who is visibly struggling with himself. Emotions are running high and it can be read on his face.

The Setting
In Genesis four Adam and Eve become parents. Sinners have children. It is quickly evident that sin is passed from the father to his children and the truth of Genesis three is frighteningly real: death is spreading. In following the example set by their father, these two sinners offer sacrifices for their sins. God set the standard when he rejected Adam’s covering and slaughtered animals for their skins. Sin can only be covered by the shedding of blood.
God evaluates the offerings and more specifically the offerers. Throughout the Old Testament it is evident that God is more concerned with the heart of the person bringing the sacrifice than the sacrifice itself (see Hosea 6:6).
Two outcomes: Able is accepted; Cain is angry.
And then comes the question: Why are you angry?

Knowing my own heart, I can easily imagine the anger of Cain. The question God asks might even push me over the edge… Why am I angry? I gave you an offering, but you like my brother’s offering more than mine. I tried and you brushed me aside. It always has to be done your way; exactly like you say. I’m embarrassed… you made me look like a fool in front of my brother. Now he thinks he’s better than me. I’ll show him.
The internal dialogue is all too familiar isn’t it?
God’s questions wasn’t for information, though… He has a much higher aim.

Why do we get angry?
This is a good question… because when I ask this question of an angry person, the answer generally starts with: “He did…” This question is normally interpreted by the angry person as a request for information. We answer with circumstances: I have a bad boss. My wife is irrational. My kids are annoying. I worked really hard on that. I’m so very tired. I’m sick. My life is a mess. My bank account is overdrawn. We even tie a bunch of these together into a bouquet of circumstances that create a perfect storm and anger wells up within us as a result.

But that is not what God is after with His penetrating question. He doesn’t wonder about the circumstances that led to Cain’s anger, He is trying to get Cain to look deeper than that. He’s explicit about it too and continues the questioning: why is your face fallen? Do you realize this is having a visible result in your life? All you need is a right sacrifice… if you don’t do that, sin is lying in wait to pounce and take you. You can hear the voice of a father: “be careful son.” God asks this same question of Jonah in chapter four… “Jonah, do you really do well to be angry?”

God’s aim with his question is threefold:
- Take a look into your heart
- Search yourself (not your circumstances)
- Understand what is happening.

You see… there is more at stake here than mere anger. Sin is luring. Sin is coming. Sin is setting a trap. Anger will lead to murder. This bitterness of heart will result in bloodshed. God wants Cain to consider the processes that are at work here and the strategy that is unfolding. But Cain isn’t in a listening mood.

I would like to consider an Autopsy of Sin. James teaches us regarding the development of sin… the path it follows… the strategy that our enemy uses. See James 1:14-15.

=> There is a desire that lures us
=> I impregnate that desire
=> Desire conceived births sin
=> Sin grows up
=> Full-grown sin births death

It’s like any other disease… it starts small, but...

God asks a question.
Last year we visited the Creation Museum in Kentucky, USA. It was a thrilling afternoon with the boys, walking through a museum that was dedicated to scientific exploration with a biblical worldview. At the end of the walk-through you have the option to go to the gift-shop/bookstore. I have a weak spot for Bookstores. One of the books I picked up is titled Questions God asks by Israel Wayne. I wasn’t as interested in the topic of the book as I was in the concept of the book. God asks questions.

When I ask a question, it is because I don’t understand or don’t know something. Why then would God ask anyone a question? And yet throughout the pages of Scripture we encounter God asking people questions. His reasons for asking are different than our’s… He doesn’t need answers. His questions to mankind reveal that we need answers - even when we don’t know it.

We will deal with two questions this morning… both are found in Genesis chapter 3.

Question 1: Where are you?
God has created everything, formed man and instructed man. Chapter three opens with Satan seducing Eve and Adam sins. The next thing they do is peculiar: they hide.
Why do we hide? Fear, shame, and regret drive our hiding, but I think it is wrong thinking that really makes us hide: wrong thinking about the one looking for us. Honestly… when you’re in trouble with mom, does hiding make it better or worse?
Their hiding prompts God’s first question of man: Where are you?
Now God is fully aware of what has transpired. He saw it happen. Satan had to ask permission to approach Eve and it had been granted. God is surely aware of the sin that has entered into his gloriously good creation. So why the question? The question is meant to drive Adam to think correctly about two things:
- God knows what we have done
- We are accountable to Him

Hiding from God, sewing fig leaves together, covering and cowering don’t change the fact that God already knows what has happened. Later Revelation teaches us how far-reaching His omniscience is: Psalm 139 leaves no bounds to His knowing. And the fact is that at the end of it all, everyone will give an account to Him. We may think we can hide, but all will be revealed and He is the One that we will have to talk to about it.
Just like with mom and dad. Hiding doesn’t change a thing… it postpones the inevitable: they already know what I did and I have to talk to them. Where are you?
God’s second question follows quickly

Question 2: Who told you?
In explaining why they hid themselves, Adam references his nakedness and God interrupts with His second question: Who told you, you were naked?
Again, Satan had to ask permission to set these things in motion, so God is fully aware of Satan’s wicked scheme. Surely God knows the very words spoken. Yet the question remains.

Perhaps Adam and Eve weren’t aware, but there are voices that are not God’s telling us what to do. Jeremiah even speaks of a voice inside of us that is desperately wicked: our own heart.

The realization then becomes that Adam and Eve allowed themselves to be instructed by someone or something that was not God’s voice. We aren’t surprised by this, since we live in a world which deafens us with its lies. But do you comprehend that this was never meant to be?

Adam had allowed himself to be influenced by a lie. A voice that was not from God. This remains a struggle for us today.
God has revealed His truth
We must learn to recognize lies
Peter tells us God has given us everything we need (2 Pet. 1:3) Paul tells us to test everything (1 Thes. 5:21). We must continually be looking for God’s truth and correcting the lies we hear. Who told you that? Is an important question to ask over and over again.

When God aks a question… we really ought to listen. Do you?

Life lessons from Paul
Philippians 4:14-19

This second sermon on life lessons from Paul concludes his closing remarks. In other letters he closes by taking the quill from his amanuensis, not only to show personal interest, but also to authenticate his letters. (see 2 Thess. 3:17) Perhaps that is what he has done in these last verses: personally thanking them for their gift for his need.

An important lesson from Paul is learned in these final verses that I want to expound this morning and I would like to begin where I ended last week: Paul’s life lessons are lessons learned in the School of walking with the Master and we will learn these lessons also as God gives us opportunity. What will you make of the opportunity?

Experience has taught Paul a thing or two about money and in discussing the Philippians’ gift to him, that lesson is clearly evident.

First of all, Paul speaks in peculiar terms in regards to the Philippians’ ministry to him: he speak of concern, opportunity, and reviving.

Concern 10a
These Philippians were concerned with Paul. He has already elluded to the fact that they labored together with him for the gospel (1:5) and calls them co-laborers (4:3b). They cared enough about Paul to commission Epaphroditus on a trip to Rome.
But their concern was not just now… ten years ago when Paul was planting Churches in Macedonia, they were concerned as well. (15-16)
This Church cared about this apostle and it moved them to action.

Opportunity 10c
They cared, but weren’t in a position to help… until now. An opportunity to help him arose. A textbook definition of this word is a “profitable moment”. God brought about an opportunity to act upon the care they already had for him.
Paul calls this opportunity “sharing in his trouble.” This was an opportunity that would be costly, that would be troublesome. Yet they were able to engage with him through this trouble.

Revive 10b
The verb attached to their action toward Paul is “revive”. A strange verb that is only used here in Scripture. It calls up images of a flower or plant that shoots out new roots and sprouts. It comes to life.
Their care for Paul through acting on this opportunity is described as flourishing. And Paul calls what they did “good.”

Which brings us to what Paul has learned: It’s not about the gift… it’s about the credit on their account. What account? Their account in heaven. Paul drives their attention heaven-ward: He has received their gift, he is overwhelmed, everything is filled up and their gift… he describes it as an offering given to God. Using all the Old Testament imagery, this gift they have given is well-pleasing to the Lord.
Attached to this gift they have given, then, is the promise: God will supply all you needs according to His riches.

And there you have it… Paul has learned through experience that God takes care of our needs. He uses others to do it… by causing care to grow in their hearts, by bringing an opportunity to act, and then by allowing a sacrifice to flourish in and through us.

Just because you care, though… and just because there is an opportunity… doesn’t mean that you will flourish. We must choose to give the gift, to sacrifice for others. And in no other area of life is this quite as evident as in the area of our finances. How generous are you?

Daniel Boyd
Life lessons - by Paul
Philippians 4:10-13

I almost picture Paul sitting like a grandfather passing on an important lesson to his kids. Paul is in prison, so the picture doesn’t quite fit. But he is passing on wisdom in this passage. He speaks of a lesson he has learned and urges us to prepare to learn the same lesson.

Paul has commanded his readers to confront (4:2-3), to pray (4:5-7), to think (4:8) and to apply truth (4:9). Now he turns to close this letter in a very personal way. We will finish out this book study next week.

JOY IN... (verse 10)
Paul rejoices in the concern of the Church. They had provided for him. He applauds them for seeing the opportunity and acting upon it. Notice the direction of his joy. It is directed to the Lord. Paul’s rejoicing, even when others do for him remains “in the Lord”. I think this informs how we should receive complements and gracious acts from others: we ought to be thankful and rejoice in the Lord for the opportunity God provided.

SATISFIED WITH (verses 11-12)
Paul speaks of a lesson learned. He has learned to accept the circumstances God places him in. That implies that there have been a lot of circumstances, which is the experience he speaks of in verse 12: he has run the gamut of circumstances and learned to be content.

LEANING ON (verse 13)
This verse is a favorite among Christians. Paul speaks of his ability (see Mat. 26:40 and James 5:16)... his ableness to accomplish something and in this context it is related to circumstances… and handling those circumstances. Secondly, he describes the sphere of operation: in Christ. Actually, Christ is not mentioned… it says “Him”, but everyone knows who strengthens Paul. (See 1 Tim. 1:12 and 2 Tim. 2:1 and 4:17 for further usage of “strengthened”).
The original sentence structure places “me” at the end of the sentence… the placement of least importance. It is Christ’s work in and through Paul to strengthen Him for the task at hand.

Paul’s life lessons are lessons learned in the School of walking with the Master and we will learn these lessons also as God gives us opportunity. What will you make of the opportunity?

Daniel Boyd
Praying and Thinking
Philippians 4:5b-9

We have been working through the imperatives of this final section. Paul exhorts his readers to be mimickers in 3:17, to stand firm in 4:1 (repeated from 1:27), and to rejoice in 4:4 (repeated from 2:17-18 and 3:1).

The verses we’ll cover this morning are perhaps some of the most familiar passages of Scripture. I think after John 3:16 these were some of the very first verses I committed to memory. This is a precious passage of Scripture, which has encouraged me at many times in my life and it has been refreshing to study these verses again this past week. I hope that you are equally blessed this morning.

Wisdom for Every-day Life

THEOLOGY (verse 5b)
Verse 5b is grammatically unconnected to the previous statement about “your kindness”, which is why I did not include it in the last sermon. However, it is equally unconnected to verse 6. This statement about the nearness of God stands as a grammatical Island between two topics: Disagreement in the Church (2-5a) and Prayer (6-7).
This statement, however, introduces Paul’s discussion on prayer and stands as a heading over this next section of Pauline exhortations. God is near. This theological truth has tremendous practical implications, which he develops in verses 6-9.
Another example of a Pauline theological construct
In chapter one Paul introduces a theological statement about God’s sovereign work in our lives (1:6) and applies that truth to His own situation: being jailed has resulted in a gospel witness throughout the Roman Praetorian Guard (1:12-14).

PRACTICE (verse 6)
Paul places two statements opposite each other. The first is negative: do not do this; the second is positive: do this. The first naturally leads into the second.
Do not be anxious about anything
The word for anxious is the same that he used of Timothy and his genuine concern for the Church (2:19). In that context it was a positive concern for the Church. The context here clearly leads us to a negative concern. It reminds me of Christ’s words in the sermon on the mount to not be concerned about the things of tomorrow - what do I wear; what do I eat?
The “anything” is all encompassing… there should not be anything that takes us so captive that it dominates our concern. My counseling professor has a statement that I think is particularly helpful here: worry is the sinful application of the creativity God built in us.
Connecting this to the theology of verse 5: God’s nearness should have profound implication for our worries: why worry when God is so near to us?
Let your requests be made known to God.
Following the “but” is the positive action. God’s nearness should drive us to relating to Him. The passive voice of this verb is interesting to me. Paul is deliberately describing a situation where we reveal something to God. It is impossible for us to reveal something to an omniscient God… and yet for the sake of relationship this is exactly what Paul describes. And he is very specific in how we should do this: through prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving
- Prayer and supplication. The first term is the general term for prayer, the second is a more urgent pleading. Both describe actions of prayer.
- Thanksgiving is the attitude that oversees the prayer and supplication (never ask without saying thank you).
- The content of the prayer is called “your request”, which simply refers to the content of your communication.
- And God is the direct object: He is who we pray to.

God’s nearness gives us someone to talk to about the things in life that would cause us worry. He asks us to tell Him about it, share our feelings, and then to deposit them as thankful requests.

RESULT (verse 7)
God’s nearness and our acknowledging of His nearness brings God’s peace. A peace that guards our hearts and minds and surpasses understanding. What a wonderful description of what God does for us. The word used for “guard” is the same that Peter uses in his description of God’s power guarding our inheritance in heaven.
Worry takes place in our minds and captures our heart (we can make really bad decisions when we are worried)... these are the areas that God’s peace guards us. Right where we need it. God is near.
Secondly, this peace rises above (literally) our comprehension. Peace in the midst of the storm… a calm in the middle of struggle… God is near and worry isn’t gone, but He calms my heart.

Verses 8-9
We can get really difficult about verse 8 or we can simply realize that Paul is widening the scope concerning our thinking and suggesting that in life we should think about the things God wants us to think about. Since so much of our trouble starts in our thinking, Paul suggests we coach our thinking.
Secondly he enjoins us to apply the things we have learned. Just like he has done here… apply theology to life.

The last statement in verse 9 seems like it could be conditional, as in: if you do these things the God of peace will be with you. That is not what the original language dictates… is it rather a connective statement, as in: and (in case you forgot already) the God of peace will be with you. He reaches back to the theology of verse 5 and brings it all full circle.


Paul gives us great encouragement in the midst of life… wisdom for every-day life… don’t worry: pray. And when you finish praying: think God’s thoughts. Peace will surround you and guard you. God is near.

Daniel Boyd
HARMONY AND JOY
Philippians 4:2-5a

A theme that Paul has carried since chapter 1 is standing firm (or standing strong).
As a general rule we are enamored with people, who are able to stand strong like that. Persons that are unwavered by the opinions of others, unmoved by the circumstances that frighten others and boldly charge ahead, whether that be in business, in politics, in family relationships, or middle of the jungle adventures.
A case study on disagreement
The unavoidable problem with standing firm is that sinful tends to get entrenched over things that aren’t a matter of separation. That’s what brings about the passage we are going to study this morning. Paul introduces us to yet another set of people that we do not know, but can learn a great deal from.
The Situation
Euodia and Syntyche aren’t getting along and their situation has reached the ears of Paul. I imagine Paul learned about their situation from Epaphroditus and not that their quarrel had become well-known throughout the Roman empire… that would be a bit embarrassing. We can surmise from these four verses that this isn’t too different a situation from what we still face today in our Churches.
Two prominent women 2a
The fact that these two women are mentioned by name indicates that they were well-known persons in the Church. In Acts 16:11-23 we read about Paul’s first missionary journey to Philippi and learn that he could not go to a synagogue first (as was his custom), since there were not enough Jewish men. Paul ends up at the river outside city limits and finds Jewish “women” that were gathered together on the Sabbath. Lydia is also introduced to us in Philippi.
In Philippians 4:3 Paul remembers that these women had labored together with Paul in the gospel.
Two strong opinions 2b
The matter of disagreement must not have been theological, for Paul would have laid that discord to rest by explaining which one of the two women was right. So this is a personality or preference conflict.
Two serious dangers 2b, 5a
Prominent figures have a following among people, so this conflict, though not theological, could result in people picking sides and factions arising in the Church. This is contrary to Christ’s design for the Church and the teaching that Paul has been laying out since chapter 1.
Secondly, verse five draws our (and their) attention to the reputation of the Church: let your reasonableness be known to everyone. We tend not to think of how fightings and disputes in the Church can look to the unbeliever on the outside looking in.
The Approach
Paul adopts a very direct and simple approach and we can learn from his example in dealing with conflict in the Church.
He faces the situation head-on 2a
He is clear about the problem and solution 2b, 3b
He engages the Church 3a

Paul names their names and does it in a public fashion (their disagreement has been public, why not their correction?). The goal is clear-cut: agree in the Lord. Paul calls upon someone specific to help these women get to where they need to be.
There is a question about the words “true yokefellow”in verse 2. Many translations for the word suzegos have been suggested, but since Paul has been to clear in naming all parties involved and goes on to mention Clement in just a moment, it seems perhaps best NOT to translate this word, but instead the capitalize the first letter and make it someone’s name. Paul called upon Suzegos to help these women.
When Paul adds the adjective “true” to this man’s name, he is entreating him to be true to his name… Suzegos means to “bring under one yoke” and so Paul is asking him to be a real Suzegos and to help these women to get into the same yoke together and be of one mind.
Confrontation
The Bible is very clear about confrontation in the Church and I would like to finish our study of God’s Word this morning by thinking about four Biblical principles in regards to confrontation. We tend to shy away from it, because we’ve seen it go awry too often, but confrontation is intended to be a loving process whereby fellow believers help each other to walk worthy of our calling in Christ.
The Principle of Confrontation
The principle is found in many places in Scripture, but perhaps clearest in Galatians 6:1 and Hebrews 10:24-25. We are told to consider one another, to look into the lives of fellow brothers and sisters and if necessary to say something. Sometime we can be blind to our own faults and we need faithful brothers and sisters in Christ to point out our blind spot.
The Steps of Confrontation
No passage is as clear as Matthew 18. Jesus Himself addresses this issue and instructs us to always confront one-on-one. If he doesn’t listen, you broaden to net and go with another brother or two, so that by the testimony of two or three he can be convinced. If he doesn’t listen, you broaden the net again and make it known to the Church. Why? So that all of the members may have opportunity to lovingly confront this person, so that by the testimony of the entire Church that person may see his folly. If he chooses not to listen to the Church, he has removed himself from the Church’s influence and authority and the Church responds in kind.
The Goal of Confrontation
The goal is always restoration: to save that person from their sin. Or as Christ puts it: to win that person. This process has become belabored because it has been labeled “Church discipline”, but it need to be difficult and heavy… it is simply intended to help in love.
The Sadness of Confrontation
If a person refuses to listen, Paul instructs us (as does Jesus and James) to let that person go, to treat them as not a part of the Church. Their going will result in their own condemnation (perhaps not eternal, but evidencing their own sin). They would not listen.


I want to conclude this sermon by pointing out one last thing about this passage and that is the ever-present sphere of living: in the Lord! Paul command us to stand firm in the Lord, to be of one mind in the Lord, and to rejoice in the Lord. How are we to walk? As followers of the cross… or constantly in the Lord.

Harmony and joy are possible when the Lord is our focus.

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WALKING WITH HOMESICKNESS
Philippians 3:17-4:1

In the passage we will look at today Paul finishes out a theme that he has carried through the entire epistle. Allow me to give you a brief overview of the first three chapters of Philippians:
Paul’s thanksgiving prayer 1:3-11
A discussion of life and death and the gain of either 1:21
Walking worthy of the Gospel of Christ 1:27a
Stand firm in one spirit 1:27b
Jesus our prime example of humility 2:5-11
Spiritual examples - men worth emulating 2:19-30
Bad examples - men to avoid 3:2-6
Jesus our goal and prize 3:8-11
pursuing and grasping 3:12-14

Paul brings the worthy walk back into focus and starts connecting the dots in this wonderful concluding statement that introduces chapter four.

Paul draw a black-and-white picture; there are only two ways of walking. Walking is a euphemism for the conduct of one’s life and in 1:27 he challenged the reader to walk as a worthy citizen. Now he lays out two options:

IMITATORS OF THE CROSS
ENEMIES OF THE CROSS
Enemies of the Cross
Though Paul introduces imitating first, he explains enemies first in verse 19. Paul describes four things about those who walk this way:
Their end is Destruction
Their lives and pursuits don’t end well. Their gaze is short and their investment in temporary things. None of their pursuits have eternal value.
Their God is their Belly
Their worship is directed inward. Their passions and lusts are what they strive for and grasp. If it feels good, it must be good. This is the central ideology of hedonism - do what pleases you… whatever makes your inward parts tingle. It is this way of thinking - this way of walking - that leads to rampant sex, binge drinking, violence and homosexuality. As the writer of Judges put it: Everyone does what is right in their own eyes.
They glory is their Shame
They are proud of that which they should be ashamed of. That which brings feelings of guilt and failure to the Christian, brings a sense of accomplishment to the unregenerate man. They become proud of their accomplishments in sin.
They mind earthly Things
Does anything need to be said? They are not spiritually minded, but only think of things they can see and touch. “Show me the proof!” is the indictment so often hurled against us.

Imitators of the Cross
Paul then switches gears to “us”: our citizenship is in heaven. He draws a sharp contrast between this and the latter.
Our end is Eternal
Citizenship brings our mind back to walking worthy… as a good citizen (1:27). What a joy to already (as we sung this morning) have our passport stamped. We are registered in the heavenlies, our name is written in His Book of Life. All our investments have lasting value and our pursuit of Christ will continue beyond our own deaths.
Our God is Christ
It’s not what I want, but what He wants. He began a good work (1:6) and will accomplish it, He humiliated Himself to the point of obedience (2:5-11), He grasped us first (3:12). I no longer live for me and my passions, but I submit my passions to His perfect plan and will for my life.
He honors us
What He performs in me pales in comparison to what I could do in me.
He draws us by His power
His eternal power draws our attention and our gaze beyond what is terrestrial into what is extra-terrestrial. God is able to do so much more than what we can see here on earth. We ought not to be earthly-minded, but Christ-minded.

In 4:1 Paul brings back the verb he introduced in 1:27b: stand firm. This heavenly-mindedness, ought to make us stand firm now… we should walk with a healthy dose of home-sickness… we don’t belong here, we belong with Him.

And that brings Valentine’s Day into focus for me. I explained to my boys this morning that Valentine’s Day is a day when you tell the person you love that you love them… and try to show it. Guys… this afternoon, right? But how about we tell the One who saved our soul, ransomed our lives, traded his own, left His glory, reached for you, grasped your hand and has granted you heavenly citizenship that you love Him!

English Outline
Purpose driven living
Philippians 3:10-16

Paul continues his thoughts from last week. Remember? He’s discounted all his own righteousnesses, tossing them on a heap and calling them garbage. Everything pales in comparison to knowing and winning Christ.

Our passage this morning isn’t difficult to understand, but immensely difficult to put into practice. It is significant for us to understand this passage, however. And understanding this passage hinges on the two verbs that Paul uses in verse 12, so I want to begin our study there and then place these two verbs in their context.

I prefer the NASB translation of the verse, since it brings out those verbs the clearest:
Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. (Phi 3:12, NASB)

I press on
Paulus uses this same verb in verse 6 when describing his former zeal: persecuting the Church. This word carries the idea of relentless pursuit.

I apprehend
This verb is better translated “grab ahold” and I tend to picture a person dangling off the side of a cliff, holding on to a shrub

Putting it back into context
What is Paul pressing on towards? He identifies it in verse 12. He has not attained perfection, but he presses on toward it.

It is fascinating to see how Paul uses "apprehend". Actively and passively... he apprehends and has been apprehended by Christ. So Paul wants to apprehend what Christ apprehended Him for.
Imagine us dangling off of a cliff and Christ reaches down and grabs our hand to save us. The picture is completed with Paul reaching his other hand up and grabbing ahold of Christ arm as He pulls us up.
Paul’s imagery is vivid. Christ accomplished the work of salvation and holds on to us, but we can choose to reach around for what the world has to offer with our other hand... or we take that free hand and hold onto Christ.

How do we accomplish this? Paul tells us in verse 14: forgetting what lies behind and stretching ourselves to what lies ahead. Pursuing the goal - listening to God’s voice from above - winning the prize. Don't get stuck in your past. If anyone could have... it was Paul: how many believers did he murder before he set out for Damascus? Was he haunted by the faces of Christians in the arena looking down the throat of a lion? I don't know if that happened, but Paul calls himself the chief of sinners (1Tim. 1:15). He left his past on the trash heap and turns to look for what Christ has for him.

The context also looks back to the verses we haven’t studied yet. What is perfection? What is it that we strive to attain? Verse 10. To know Him. To know His power. To know His fellowship through suffering. To know. To know. To know. And then he follows that with “to conform” - to follow His lead into death. Why? To be raised again to new life.

Paul instructs us to invest all our energies to pursue that for which Christ pursued us: eternal life. Relationship with Him.