Sermons – Grace Evangelical Free Church // Wyoming, MN

Lessons from Sabbatical

It’s good to be back, Grace Church. This morning (before beginning Genesis next week) I’d like to share with you all a seven lessons from our sabbatical. None of the lessons are revolutionary. I’d heard of all of them before. I imagine every one of you have heard of every one of them as well. In other words, these aren’t lessons, as in new concepts. They are lessons, as in new levels of understanding and appreciation… kind of like moving from premarital counseling to marriage counseling.

But this was my sabbatical and not yours, my lessons and not yours. So why share them in a sermon? What does any of this have to do with you? Let me suggest three things—three ways to listen well, honor God, and be strengthened in your faith:

First, thank God with me for his kindness to our family and to all his children. It is only because our God is personal and loving and merciful and gracious that he would care about seven nobodies like us. Nothing in us deserves God’s goodness in these ways. Nothing in us deserves God’s teaching us more about himself, ourselves, and the world he made. We didn’t deserve the sabbatical or any of the grace God poured out upon us in it. We didn’t deserve a church like you all who care for us the way you do. Christian, as you hear the following lessons, I invite you to join me in praising God for his kindness in teaching them to us. Guest, non-Christian, I invite you to stand amazed at the fact that there is a God who is this personal and kind and good.

Second, would you consider how these lessons might come to bear on your life and on the life of our church? Though they were the fruit of my sabbatical, I don’t believe God impressed these things upon me for my sake alone. Hopefully one or two of them will encourage, challenge, and change you too.

Third, please pray that God would not allow them to fade, but rather, drive them in deeper and deeper into all of us. These are not lessons we want to forget or neglect. They are so simple and yet so vital that I hope they continue to shape my life and yours in increasing ways until Jesus returns.

Please pray with me then that God might be pleased to do these things and more over the next few minutes.

Hard Work Is Good and Rest Is Necessary

With that, let’s get to the seven (clearest) sabbatical lessons. First, hard work is good and rest is necessary. The primary passages that teach this lesson are found right at the beginning of our bibles.

Genesis 2:1-2 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2 And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done.

God worked and then rested. This passage and pattern are, of course, the basis for the fourth commandment.

Exodus 20:9-10 Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work…

The lesson I learned was not that God left us with a pattern of work and rest. Once again, I (along with all of you) already knew that. The lesson I learned in a deeper way is that there are dangerous ditches on each side of this pattern and command. The two ditches are laziness and workaholicness. Both are acts of rebellion against God’s design. Being lazy is a rebellion against God’s charges to steward the world toward fullness and order (Genesis 1:28) and sinners toward the gospel (Matthew 28:18-20). And being a workaholic is a rebellion against God’s having made mankind finite and in need of rest.

Of course, we want to stay out of both ditches and on the godly path of working and resting as God has demonstrated and commanded. And yet I realized how tempting both ditches are to me at times. The sabbatical helped me to see:

Philippians 4:14-23 Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. 15 And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. 16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. 18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. 22 All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.

23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Good morning. It’s good to be with you all and it has been a joy and an honor to preach regularly this summer. I’m grateful for the opportunity to not only preach, but also pastor you in a different way this Summer. Thank you for trusting me to shepherd you all. A few weeks ago I mentioned that it’s a semi-regular thing to welcome new additions to our Grace Church family. I wasn’t joking.

This last week we saw two new additions. First, Wyatt Joseph Freedman was born on Monday to Mike and Bre. What a blessing. Keep them in your prayers as they get used to a new season. If you don’t know Mike has taken a position with the ATF, and he has to be in training in Georgia for the next 9 months. Bre is staying here. So pray for them, look for ways to help practically and support them.

Next up is baby Autumn. She is a foster child to the Sivigny family and arrived on Monday as well. There is a very good chance that they will be able to adopt her. Pray for Eric and Danni and the kids as they adjust to an unexpected blessing. As we pray, please also pray that God would speak to us through his word. There’s a lot to cover in the final sermon, I pray that it would be clear, the gospel would be preached and the Holy Spirit would apply grace to our hearts.

Father, thank you for this morning. You are holy and we can only offer acceptable worship because of what the Son first offered up. You are holy and should rightly consume us if not for Christ’s perfect atoning sacrifice. God we thank you for the blessings of children. Thank you for Wyatt and Autumn. Thank you for Mike and Bre and Eric and Danni. We ask your blessings and provision on these families as they work to make the gospel clear and train their children what it means to follow Jesus. Help us as a church to support the Freedman’s and Sivigny’s as they get used to new routines, to pray for them, to provide whatever needs they might have. I also pray for the expecting moms in our church. Please keep them safe, healthy and free of anxiety. Father thank you that you have given us family as a way to better understand your relationship with us. Help us to better appreciate your Fatherly care towards us as we as parents.

Lord, I am grateful for your church. This is your plan A to complete your mission and we get to participate in this work. Thank you for your word and the means you accomplish through preaching. I am amazed at the work you have done through us this summer in Philippians. Please speak to us this morning. Please convict us of wrong attitudes, make the text clear to us and cause our affections for Christ to grow. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Amen.

This is our final week in Philippians. I titled the series “Joyfully following Jesus together ‘til the end.” If you are a visitor this morning, welcome. Our steady diet of preaching is to work our way through books verse by verse and allowing the biblical authors to te...

Philippians 4:14-23 Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. 15 And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. 16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. 18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. 22 All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.

23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Good morning. It’s good to be with you all and it has been a joy and an honor to preach regularly this summer. I’m grateful for the opportunity to not only preach, but also pastor you in a different way this Summer. Thank you for trusting me to shepherd you all. A few weeks ago I mentioned that it’s a semi-regular thing to welcome new additions to our Grace Church family. I wasn’t joking.

This last week we saw two new additions. First, Wyatt Joseph Freedman was born on Monday to Mike and Bre. What a blessing. Keep them in your prayers as they get used to a new season. If you don’t know Mike has taken a position with the ATF, and he has to be in training in Georgia for the next 9 months. Bre is staying here. So pray for them, look for ways to help practically and support them.

Next up is baby Autumn. She is a foster child to the Sivigny family and arrived on Monday as well. There is a very good chance that they will be able to adopt her. Pray for Eric and Danni and the kids as they adjust to an unexpected blessing. As we pray, please also pray that God would speak to us through his word. There’s a lot to cover in the final sermon, I pray that it would be clear, the gospel would be preached and the Holy Spirit would apply grace to our hearts.

Father, thank you for this morning. You are holy and we can only offer acceptable worship because of what the Son first offered up. You are holy and should rightly consume us if not for Christ’s perfect atoning sacrifice. God we thank you for the blessings of children. Thank you for Wyatt and Autumn. Thank you for Mike and Bre and Eric and Danni. We ask your blessings and provision on these families as they work to make the gospel clear and train their children what it means to follow Jesus. Help us as a church to support the Freedman’s and Sivigny’s as they get used to new routines, to pray for them, to provide whatever needs they might have. I also pray for the expecting moms in our church. Please keep them safe, healthy and free of anxiety. Father thank you that you have given us family as a way to better understand your relationship with us. Help us to better appreciate your Fatherly care towards us as we as parents.

Lord, I am grateful for your church. This is your plan A to complete your mission and we get to participate in this work. Thank you for your word and the means you accomplish through preaching. I am amazed at the work you have done through us this summer in Philippians. Please speak to us this morning. Please convict us of wrong attitudes, make the text clear to us and cause our affections for Christ to grow. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Amen.

This is our final week in Philippians. I titled the series “Joyfully following Jesus together ‘til the end.” If you are a visitor this morning, welcome. Our steady diet of preaching is to work our way through books verse by verse and allowing the biblical authors to te...

Philippians 4:10-13 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Good morning, it’s good to be with you this morning and to have the privilege to preach God’s word. I want to thank Kyle, Mat and Grant for helping with the preaching load this Summer. I know many of you have been fed and helped through their preaching. I appreciate Kyle’s ability to really zero in on one truth and drive it deep. For Mat, I don’t know if you know this, but he’s very passionate. But what I really appreciated about his preaching was the way he was able to take his passion and marry it to the texts he preached. And Grant did a great job articulating our need for unity in a clear, organized way. I appreciate each of you and the ways God has gifted you all to preach.

We are well into chapter 4 of Philippians. Only two weeks left in Philippians. I’m sure if feels like we should slow down and camp out in select spots, but the schedule was tight for the Summer and we have to keep going. I would encourage you over the next 2-3 weeks to spend time reading Philippians. Find those areas where you wish we could dive deeper, and either by yourself or with someone else, dive in.

Next week I hope to do a wrap-up of the book and cover the final section. The week after, August 25th, we will have friend of Grace Church, Darren Carlson from TLI preach. Then in September Pastor Dave will be back in the pulpit. Pastor Dave has only two weeks left of his sabbatical. I talked to him this week and he feels like this has been the right amount of time and he and Gerri are both ready to get back into ministry here at Grace. Would you join me in prayer as we pray for the VanAckers, but also that God would speak to us through his word this morning?

As Paul has done several times in Philippians, he begins this final passage in the letter by returning to his personal update. But he takes the opportunity to make a parenthesis and jump into a teaching moment. We’ve seen this at other spots too. In chapter 1 he had a personal update about his imprisonment and how the gospel is advancing, but then he moves into a teaching on his willingness to die for Christ. Chapter 2 he tells the Philippians, “have the same mind, the same love and be in full accord.” Which reminds me of Christ’s humility. And he expands on that. Eventually he returns to his personal update on Timothy and Epaphroditus. Then chapter 3 he begins warning the church of the dogs who insist on circumcision. And Paul jumps into a discussion of treating his resume as rubbish compared to knowing Christ. Chapter 4 he implores the church to agree in the Lord, which gives Paul a chance to talk about peace and anxiety, thinking and practicing excellent things. It’s not that he has a short attention span, he just has a lot to pack into a short letter and uses his personal relationship with the church to unpack other related thoughts and actions.

Now, in verse 10 we have another of these springboards. He gives the personal update to commend the Philippians for their concern for Paul, but then gets into a discussion on contentment.

That’s what verses 11-13 are, and where we’ll spend most of our time this morning. The title of the sermon is The Secret of Contentment, which is the focus of Paul’s springboard. The main point of the text this morning is In life’s changing circumstances, the secret of contentment is found in the unchanging power of God.

My outline tries to first set up the background and how Paul gets to a discussion on contentment,

Philippians 4:10-13 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Good morning, it’s good to be with you this morning and to have the privilege to preach God’s word. I want to thank Kyle, Mat and Grant for helping with the preaching load this Summer. I know many of you have been fed and helped through their preaching. I appreciate Kyle’s ability to really zero in on one truth and drive it deep. For Mat, I don’t know if you know this, but he’s very passionate. But what I really appreciated about his preaching was the way he was able to take his passion and marry it to the texts he preached. And Grant did a great job articulating our need for unity in a clear, organized way. I appreciate each of you and the ways God has gifted you all to preach.

We are well into chapter 4 of Philippians. Only two weeks left in Philippians. I’m sure if feels like we should slow down and camp out in select spots, but the schedule was tight for the Summer and we have to keep going. I would encourage you over the next 2-3 weeks to spend time reading Philippians. Find those areas where you wish we could dive deeper, and either by yourself or with someone else, dive in.

Next week I hope to do a wrap-up of the book and cover the final section. The week after, August 25th, we will have friend of Grace Church, Darren Carlson from TLI preach. Then in September Pastor Dave will be back in the pulpit. Pastor Dave has only two weeks left of his sabbatical. I talked to him this week and he feels like this has been the right amount of time and he and Gerri are both ready to get back into ministry here at Grace. Would you join me in prayer as we pray for the VanAckers, but also that God would speak to us through his word this morning?

As Paul has done several times in Philippians, he begins this final passage in the letter by returning to his personal update. But he takes the opportunity to make a parenthesis and jump into a teaching moment. We’ve seen this at other spots too. In chapter 1 he had a personal update about his imprisonment and how the gospel is advancing, but then he moves into a teaching on his willingness to die for Christ. Chapter 2 he tells the Philippians, “have the same mind, the same love and be in full accord.” Which reminds me of Christ’s humility. And he expands on that. Eventually he returns to his personal update on Timothy and Epaphroditus. Then chapter 3 he begins warning the church of the dogs who insist on circumcision. And Paul jumps into a discussion of treating his resume as rubbish compared to knowing Christ. Chapter 4 he implores the church to agree in the Lord, which gives Paul a chance to talk about peace and anxiety, thinking and practicing excellent things. It’s not that he has a short attention span, he just has a lot to pack into a short letter and uses his personal relationship with the church to unpack other related thoughts and actions.

Now, in verse 10 we have another of these springboards. He gives the personal update to commend the Philippians for their concern for Paul, but then gets into a discussion on contentment.

That’s what verses 11-13 are, and where we’ll spend most of our time this morning. The title of the sermon is The Secret of Contentment, which is the focus of Paul’s springboard. The main point of the text this morning is In life’s changing circumstances, the secret of contentment is found in the unchanging power of God.

My outline tries to first set up the background and how Paul gets to a discussion on contentment,

Philippians 4:1-9 Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.

2 I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. 3 Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Intro

I want to personally thank everyone here for praying for the Panama team. Your prayers were felt and gospel progress was made with the Ngobe people. On top of people in the villages hearing the Gospel, gospel progress was made in the hearts of each member on our team. We have seen so far in the book of Philippians the overwhelming emphasis for gospel partnership and unity within the church in order to accomplish the task of reaching the nations with the Gospel and I want to assure you that through your prayers and support Gospel unity was on display in Panama.

I debriefed with Mike for a couple minutes earlier this week, and I mentioned that it is one thing to be unified with fellow members of your local expression of faith, which is glorious no doubt and honoring to God, but to be able to share space and meals with strangers, namely the other YWAM team that was also serving at the Outpost, is even more glorious. The desire for everyone on base to serve each other was seen and experience and I think I speak on behalf of team when I say this.

To experience gospel unity with strangers is truly a work of the Holy Spirit. The passage from Ephesians 3:10 regarding the global church came to mind after reflecting on this trip, “so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers, authorities, in the heavenly places.” God’s glory and wisdom is on display to the universe when the church, big C church and little C church, are living in unity under the authority of Christ and fulfilling the great commission to bring the Gospel to the ends of the earth.

The world can not make sense of this type of unity. How is it possible that 20 people from all over the world, with different life experiences, different conversion stories, different gifts, different cultural backgrounds, different languages all work together for one cause with ZERO team building exercises and ZERO prayer sessions prior to working together? The answer is simple, the indwelling Spirit, which makes us alive together with Christ and unities every believer under the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Would you pray with me as I thank God for his answer to our prayers and as we open up his word to hear from him this morning?

Well, we are in the final chapter of Philippians this morning. Last week Mat helped us see that the prize and goal of christian living is holiness. Chapter 3 closes with the call to have a mature mind that thinks like Christ. Mat also helped us see the deadly warning for those that chose to not pursue holiness in this life. The upward call of the Christian life is sober, mature thinking that is grounded in the example of Christ’s death and resurrection.

And 2 weeks ago Kyle pointed us to the justifying faith that is found only...

Philippians 4:1-9 Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.

2 I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. 3 Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Intro

I want to personally thank everyone here for praying for the Panama team. Your prayers were felt and gospel progress was made with the Ngobe people. On top of people in the villages hearing the Gospel, gospel progress was made in the hearts of each member on our team. We have seen so far in the book of Philippians the overwhelming emphasis for gospel partnership and unity within the church in order to accomplish the task of reaching the nations with the Gospel and I want to assure you that through your prayers and support Gospel unity was on display in Panama.

I debriefed with Mike for a couple minutes earlier this week, and I mentioned that it is one thing to be unified with fellow members of your local expression of faith, which is glorious no doubt and honoring to God, but to be able to share space and meals with strangers, namely the other YWAM team that was also serving at the Outpost, is even more glorious. The desire for everyone on base to serve each other was seen and experience and I think I speak on behalf of team when I say this.

To experience gospel unity with strangers is truly a work of the Holy Spirit. The passage from Ephesians 3:10 regarding the global church came to mind after reflecting on this trip, “so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers, authorities, in the heavenly places.” God’s glory and wisdom is on display to the universe when the church, big C church and little C church, are living in unity under the authority of Christ and fulfilling the great commission to bring the Gospel to the ends of the earth.

The world can not make sense of this type of unity. How is it possible that 20 people from all over the world, with different life experiences, different conversion stories, different gifts, different cultural backgrounds, different languages all work together for one cause with ZERO team building exercises and ZERO prayer sessions prior to working together? The answer is simple, the indwelling Spirit, which makes us alive together with Christ and unities every believer under the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Would you pray with me as I thank God for his answer to our prayers and as we open up his word to hear from him this morning?

Well, we are in the final chapter of Philippians this morning. Last week Mat helped us see that the prize and goal of christian living is holiness. Chapter 3 closes with the call to have a mature mind that thinks like Christ. Mat also helped us see the deadly warning for those that chose to not pursue holiness in this life. The upward call of the Christian life is sober, mature thinking that is grounded in the example of Christ’s death and resurrection.

And 2 weeks ago Kyle pointed us to the justifying faith that is found only...

Philippians 3:12-21 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. 15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. 16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained.17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. 18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

Good morning Church,

If you’re just visiting us. We are preaching through Paul’s letter to the Philippians and we are nearing the end of the sermon series called Joyfully Following Jesus ‘til The End, which Pastor Mike has been so good in organizing and executing while Pastor Dave, our preaching pastor, is on a sabbatical. We only have a couple weeks left. We’ve learned many things so far about the Christian life, the value of knowing Christ and gaining him, rejoicing in suffering, working out our salvation, looking to our elders, partnering with God on his mission. Today we are going to look at the mind of a Christian. What does Paul want us to think and focus on?

I believe Paul’s main point in our passage this morning is…

Mature Christians know that the path to future perfection (glorification) is persevering on the narrow road of suffering which is our present perfecting (sanctification).

Remember the two paths? The wide easy road that leads to destruction and eternal damnation. And the narrow difficult path leads to glory, the prize, as Paul calls it. And that path is laden with trials and suffering, it’s unpopular so people don’t want to choose it. But being on this path produces a lasting joy in us that can’t be taken away and persevering on it makes us more like Christ, which is becoming more and more mature, being perfected as we move toward our eventual perfection. Choosing this path is how we glorify God, while choosing this path is walking away from God and is called sin.

In this passage, Paul is giving us warnings and assurances and the Christian believes them both, and that mindset, or belief, keeps them on the path to life.

Before we go through the whole text, I want us to jump to v. 15 to see where I’m getting this main idea of the Christian’s mindset.

“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. 15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.”

I. The Call to Mature Thinking

Yes, there are commands in this passage, but we’ve covered those in previous chapters. Yes, he’s giving us assurance that our salvation is secure in Christ. But more than that, he’s confronting our earthly mindset.

Philippians 3:12-21 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. 15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. 16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained.17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. 18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

Good morning Church,

If you’re just visiting us. We are preaching through Paul’s letter to the Philippians and we are nearing the end of the sermon series called Joyfully Following Jesus ‘til The End, which Pastor Mike has been so good in organizing and executing while Pastor Dave, our preaching pastor, is on a sabbatical. We only have a couple weeks left. We’ve learned many things so far about the Christian life, the value of knowing Christ and gaining him, rejoicing in suffering, working out our salvation, looking to our elders, partnering with God on his mission. Today we are going to look at the mind of a Christian. What does Paul want us to think and focus on?

I believe Paul’s main point in our passage this morning is…

Mature Christians know that the path to future perfection (glorification) is persevering on the narrow road of suffering which is our present perfecting (sanctification).

Remember the two paths? The wide easy road that leads to destruction and eternal damnation. And the narrow difficult path leads to glory, the prize, as Paul calls it. And that path is laden with trials and suffering, it’s unpopular so people don’t want to choose it. But being on this path produces a lasting joy in us that can’t be taken away and persevering on it makes us more like Christ, which is becoming more and more mature, being perfected as we move toward our eventual perfection. Choosing this path is how we glorify God, while choosing this path is walking away from God and is called sin.

In this passage, Paul is giving us warnings and assurances and the Christian believes them both, and that mindset, or belief, keeps them on the path to life.

Before we go through the whole text, I want us to jump to v. 15 to see where I’m getting this main idea of the Christian’s mindset.

“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. 15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.”

I. The Call to Mature Thinking

Yes, there are commands in this passage, but we’ve covered those in previous chapters. Yes, he’s giving us assurance that our salvation is secure in Christ. But more than that, he’s confronting our earthly mindset.

Philippians 3:1-11 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you. 2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. 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.

I love the book of Philippians. There is an intensity and earnestness in the language Paul uses throughout the book that emphatically puts Jesus on display as the supreme treasure that he really is. There is a sharp edge to the way in which he wants the Philippians to live a life with the singular purpose of making Jesus the center of everything. Paul is all in on Jesus and spends 4 chapters showing what that means. He writes in such a way that these verses ought to grab us by the shoulders and shake us. Chapter 3 is dialing up the intensity of us seeing what his life looks like as a follow of Jesus.

These eleven verses show the exclusivity of Christianity. Other religions lay out ways to make yourself right with God through outward acts of good deeds. One afternoon I had a Mormon show up at my door to share with me about his religion. Some of what he said sounded Christian, yet all of what he was saying was leading towards having a better life. Become a Mormon and you will do better in business, your family will be more moral, and you will have a happier life.

When he finished, I said I had one question about what he believed. How do I get right with God? How can my relationship with God be restored because of what sin has done to cut it off? He said that you live a good, moral life that is pleasing to God. My follow up question to that was, if I were to die in the next few days, how would I know if my good deeds were good enough? He didn’t have an answer.

He didn’t have an answer because he was putting confidence in the flesh. The exclusivity of Christianity is that we put no confidence in the flesh. Our salvation is not based on doing. Jesus did the doing. We bring nothing to the table. We offer nothing. Jesus offers everything. May we never become so familiar with this amazing truth, that we cease to be in wonder of it.

Paul is writing to people that know the gospel. Paul started the church in Philippi. He has taught them the gospel, yet here he is reminding them of the snares of putting confidence in anything else other than Jesus. There will always be the subtle pull and danger of putting our confidence in the flesh.

When I was a teenager I was in an orienteering course, learning how to use a compass and a map to navigate through the woods. I learned that it is really important to shoot a straight bearing as I was walking through the woods. If I was off slightly, over time I would get way off from where I was supposed to get to. Paul is warning the Philippians to continue to be on guard against putting any confidence in the flesh.