1 00:00:31,939 --> 00:00:32,219 Amen. 2 00:00:32,219 --> 00:00:34,939 If you have your Bibles this evening, we're going to be in the 3 00:00:34,939 --> 00:00:37,139 Book of Philippians, chapter three. 4 00:00:37,379 --> 00:00:38,899 Philippians, chapter three. 5 00:00:40,339 --> 00:00:43,659 I don't know if we're supposed to have favorite books of the Bible 6 00:00:43,659 --> 00:00:47,099 or not, but if we are, Philippians is definitely up there 7 00:00:47,099 --> 00:00:47,699 for me. 8 00:00:48,179 --> 00:00:50,939 It's a really unique book of the Bible. 9 00:00:50,939 --> 00:00:52,179 One of Paul's letters. 10 00:00:52,579 --> 00:00:55,699 A lot of the New Testament books are letters written by Paul, 11 00:00:55,939 --> 00:00:59,539 but Philippians is a little different because a lot of times 12 00:00:59,699 --> 00:01:02,659 if, if the Apostle Paul was writing you a letter, it wasn't always 13 00:01:02,659 --> 00:01:03,379 a good thing. 14 00:01:03,939 --> 00:01:06,819 You have some of these times he was having to write to a church 15 00:01:06,819 --> 00:01:09,659 because they had members living in sin and things were just 16 00:01:09,659 --> 00:01:12,579 all kinds of out of order and he had to write and correct things, 17 00:01:12,579 --> 00:01:15,019 or maybe they had some doctrinal errors that he was having 18 00:01:15,019 --> 00:01:16,259 to write to them to correct. 19 00:01:16,259 --> 00:01:18,339 But the book of Philippians is a little bit different. 20 00:01:18,819 --> 00:01:22,379 As far as we can tell, there's no problem in the church of Philippi. 21 00:01:22,379 --> 00:01:24,979 There's not a serious issue he's having to address. 22 00:01:25,539 --> 00:01:28,299 Toward the end of the book, he tells a couple of ladies they need 23 00:01:28,299 --> 00:01:28,779 to get along. 24 00:01:28,779 --> 00:01:30,499 And that's the same in every Baptist church. 25 00:01:30,499 --> 00:01:30,739 Right. 26 00:01:30,739 --> 00:01:34,239 But he, he doesn't have a major problem he's needing to address. 27 00:01:34,719 --> 00:01:37,719 In fact, he's writing the book of Philippians really as a thank 28 00:01:37,719 --> 00:01:38,199 you note. 29 00:01:38,199 --> 00:01:41,279 He's writing to this church because they had heard that he was 30 00:01:41,279 --> 00:01:43,039 imprisoned for preaching the Gospel. 31 00:01:43,359 --> 00:01:46,799 And when they heard about that, he says that no church sent 32 00:01:46,799 --> 00:01:50,239 to him except for this church at Philippi, and they sent some gift 33 00:01:50,239 --> 00:01:50,719 to him. 34 00:01:50,719 --> 00:01:54,279 We don't know if it was money or resources or something, but whatever 35 00:01:54,279 --> 00:01:56,519 it was, he wanted to thank them for it. 36 00:01:56,519 --> 00:01:58,639 And so the book of Philippians is a thank you note. 37 00:01:58,719 --> 00:02:02,699 It's just a really long theological, inspired thank you note. 38 00:02:02,699 --> 00:02:06,859 And when we look at Philippians chapter three, what I'm 39 00:02:06,859 --> 00:02:10,619 going to entitle this message is Paul's roadmap to Christianity. 40 00:02:11,179 --> 00:02:13,939 As we read through the back half of this chapter, beginning in 41 00:02:13,939 --> 00:02:15,819 verse 12, we're going to read all the way down through the first 42 00:02:15,819 --> 00:02:17,099 verse of chapter four. 43 00:02:17,419 --> 00:02:21,899 But really he's laying out a path that any Christian can follow. 44 00:02:21,899 --> 00:02:26,699 Whether you've been saved for 10 days or for decades, you can follow 45 00:02:26,699 --> 00:02:28,819 this path that the Apostle Paul lays out. 46 00:02:28,819 --> 00:02:30,939 So if you're there In Philippians chapter three, I'm going 47 00:02:30,939 --> 00:02:35,319 to begin reading in verse 12, he says, not as though I had already 48 00:02:35,319 --> 00:02:40,679 attained either, were already perfect, but I follow after if that 49 00:02:40,679 --> 00:02:45,399 I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 50 00:02:45,879 --> 00:02:49,079 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended. 51 00:02:49,319 --> 00:02:52,919 But this one thing I do, Forgetting those things which are 52 00:02:52,919 --> 00:02:55,959 behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 53 00:02:56,439 --> 00:02:59,679 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of 54 00:02:59,679 --> 00:03:00,999 God in Christ Jesus. 55 00:03:01,769 --> 00:03:04,809 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded. 56 00:03:05,049 --> 00:03:08,609 And if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal 57 00:03:08,609 --> 00:03:10,009 even this unto you. 58 00:03:10,409 --> 00:03:14,289 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by 59 00:03:14,289 --> 00:03:15,209 the same rule. 60 00:03:15,289 --> 00:03:16,969 Let us mind the same thing. 61 00:03:17,449 --> 00:03:21,409 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which 62 00:03:21,409 --> 00:03:25,609 walk so as ye have us for an example for many walk, of whom I 63 00:03:25,609 --> 00:03:29,169 have told you often, and now tell you, even weeping, that they 64 00:03:29,169 --> 00:03:32,809 are the enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, 65 00:03:32,969 --> 00:03:36,649 whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who 66 00:03:36,649 --> 00:03:41,369 mind earthly things for our conversation is in heaven, from whence 67 00:03:41,369 --> 00:03:44,688 also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall 68 00:03:44,688 --> 00:03:48,689 change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious 69 00:03:48,689 --> 00:03:52,529 body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue 70 00:03:52,529 --> 00:03:53,929 all things unto himself. 71 00:03:54,579 --> 00:03:58,979 Therefore, my brethren, dearly beloved, and longed for my joy and 72 00:03:58,979 --> 00:04:03,579 crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. 73 00:04:03,579 --> 00:04:05,299 Let's open with a word of prayer this evening. 74 00:04:05,699 --> 00:04:10,019 Dear God, thank you so much for your word, Lord, that you used 75 00:04:10,099 --> 00:04:11,299 men to write to other men. 76 00:04:11,299 --> 00:04:15,179 But Lord, that you speak to us thousands of years later, that it 77 00:04:15,179 --> 00:04:16,939 is as relevant and applicable as ever. 78 00:04:16,939 --> 00:04:19,899 I pray that you would help each of us to examine our hearts, 79 00:04:19,899 --> 00:04:24,229 Lord, that we would learn to be able to follow your plan. 80 00:04:24,229 --> 00:04:27,789 Lord, if there's sin in our life, that you would reveal it, that 81 00:04:27,789 --> 00:04:29,669 we'd be able to follow you more closely. 82 00:04:29,669 --> 00:04:31,949 I pray that you would give me the words to say in this message 83 00:04:31,949 --> 00:04:32,429 this evening. 84 00:04:32,429 --> 00:04:33,989 In Jesus name, Amen. 85 00:04:34,949 --> 00:04:38,589 As we look through this passage, if we're viewing it kind 86 00:04:38,589 --> 00:04:42,109 of as a set of instructions or a roadmap, if you will, the first 87 00:04:42,109 --> 00:04:45,349 direction Paul gives is to follow the calling. 88 00:04:45,509 --> 00:04:47,509 And we see this in verse 14. 89 00:04:48,149 --> 00:04:51,509 Back in verse 13, he says this one thing I do. 90 00:04:52,299 --> 00:04:54,539 If Paul could summarize all the things he was doing. 91 00:04:54,539 --> 00:04:55,659 Cause he was involved in a lot. 92 00:04:55,659 --> 00:04:56,579 He was doing a lot of things. 93 00:04:56,579 --> 00:04:58,219 But he said this one thing. 94 00:04:58,219 --> 00:04:59,779 All of it is part of one thing. 95 00:04:59,779 --> 00:05:00,619 And what is that? 96 00:05:00,859 --> 00:05:05,659 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of 97 00:05:05,659 --> 00:05:07,339 God in Christ Jesus. 98 00:05:07,658 --> 00:05:11,979 You see, God had a calling on the life of the apostle Paul. 99 00:05:11,979 --> 00:05:15,579 But it wasn't just Paul right God used Paul in an incredible way. 100 00:05:15,579 --> 00:05:19,419 But God has a calling on each and every one of his children's lives. 101 00:05:19,659 --> 00:05:22,859 He has a plan for every single one of us to follow after. 102 00:05:22,939 --> 00:05:23,489 And it. 103 00:05:23,559 --> 00:05:25,239 It starts with a relationship with him. 104 00:05:25,239 --> 00:05:28,279 It starts with putting our saving knowledge in Jesus Christ 105 00:05:28,279 --> 00:05:31,879 that we realize we need a savior for our sins, and we put our 106 00:05:31,879 --> 00:05:32,999 faith in Jesus Christ. 107 00:05:33,319 --> 00:05:34,599 But that's not the end. 108 00:05:34,759 --> 00:05:38,039 That's the beginning of a new relationship that we now have that 109 00:05:38,039 --> 00:05:41,959 God wants us to grow in, that we would be more and more like Jesus. 110 00:05:42,199 --> 00:05:45,279 And so Paul says this one thing, follow the calling. 111 00:05:45,279 --> 00:05:48,919 But he gives several aspects of following the calling. 112 00:05:49,079 --> 00:05:51,599 The first thing I'm going to do, if I'm going to follow the calling 113 00:05:51,599 --> 00:05:55,279 of God in my life, I have to humbly admit room to grow. 114 00:05:55,599 --> 00:05:59,839 I see this in verse 12, Paul says, not as though I had already 115 00:05:59,999 --> 00:06:05,039 attained either were already perfect, but I follow after if that 116 00:06:05,039 --> 00:06:09,199 I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 117 00:06:09,919 --> 00:06:11,479 I've got some bad news for us tonight. 118 00:06:11,479 --> 00:06:11,759 Church. 119 00:06:11,759 --> 00:06:15,759 If the Apostle Paul is sitting in prison for preaching the gospel, 120 00:06:15,999 --> 00:06:20,669 writing inspired scripture, and he says, I have not yet apprehended. 121 00:06:20,909 --> 00:06:21,949 I haven't arrived. 122 00:06:22,349 --> 00:06:25,069 I don't think any of us here tonight get to say that we have. 123 00:06:25,069 --> 00:06:27,309 You know, Paul didn't figure it out, but I did. 124 00:06:27,789 --> 00:06:29,349 That's not the attitude we want to have. 125 00:06:29,349 --> 00:06:30,189 Sometimes it's easy. 126 00:06:30,189 --> 00:06:32,469 Well, you know, I've been in church for quite a while, and, you 127 00:06:32,469 --> 00:06:34,869 know, I've seen a thing or two in a couple different churches. 128 00:06:34,869 --> 00:06:37,989 And, you know, I've come quite a long ways and it's easy to get 129 00:06:37,989 --> 00:06:41,229 this idea that, well, I'm just the pinnacle of spirituality. 130 00:06:41,229 --> 00:06:41,709 I just. 131 00:06:41,869 --> 00:06:44,269 If everybody could just be like me, things would be okay. 132 00:06:44,599 --> 00:06:47,119 As soon as you start having that mentality, that's when your 133 00:06:47,119 --> 00:06:49,079 relationship with God starts falling short. 134 00:06:49,079 --> 00:06:50,319 That's when you stop growing. 135 00:06:50,319 --> 00:06:53,759 You're no longer following that calling that God has in your 136 00:06:53,759 --> 00:06:54,039 life. 137 00:06:54,199 --> 00:06:57,279 You have to be humble enough to realize I've still got room to 138 00:06:57,279 --> 00:06:57,559 grow. 139 00:06:57,799 --> 00:06:59,599 I still have things I need to work on. 140 00:06:59,599 --> 00:07:02,759 And so if we're gonna follow the calling, we have to humbly make 141 00:07:02,759 --> 00:07:03,319 room to grow. 142 00:07:03,319 --> 00:07:06,799 But secondly, if we're gonna follow God's calling in our life, 143 00:07:06,799 --> 00:07:08,679 we need to quickly forget the past. 144 00:07:08,919 --> 00:07:13,159 I see this in verse 13, right after he says, I count not myself 145 00:07:13,159 --> 00:07:14,199 to have apprehended. 146 00:07:14,199 --> 00:07:17,269 In verse 13, he says, this one thing I do. 147 00:07:17,749 --> 00:07:19,349 And we already saw that in verse 14. 148 00:07:19,349 --> 00:07:24,069 But part of this was Forgetting those things which are 149 00:07:24,149 --> 00:07:27,669 behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before. 150 00:07:28,389 --> 00:07:31,669 You see the Apostle Paul when he's sitting in prison writing this, 151 00:07:31,669 --> 00:07:34,549 and he says, forgetting those things which are behind. 152 00:07:35,269 --> 00:07:37,829 I think there's a couple of ways Paul could have been thinking 153 00:07:37,829 --> 00:07:38,709 back on his life. 154 00:07:39,989 --> 00:07:42,029 Maybe Paul said, forgetting those things which are behind it. 155 00:07:42,029 --> 00:07:45,339 He could have looked back and said, oh, my goodness, I can't believe 156 00:07:45,499 --> 00:07:49,419 how much time I wasted just persecuting the church and going 157 00:07:49,419 --> 00:07:52,859 against God and just imagine how much greater my life could have 158 00:07:52,859 --> 00:07:53,019 been. 159 00:07:53,019 --> 00:07:55,939 But, man, I was just so messed up and I did so many bad things, 160 00:07:55,939 --> 00:07:56,459 and I just. 161 00:07:56,459 --> 00:07:58,379 I hurt my testimony with so many people. 162 00:07:58,379 --> 00:08:00,059 And I guess I'll just do my best. 163 00:08:00,059 --> 00:08:01,579 But, man, I really mess things up. 164 00:08:01,979 --> 00:08:05,179 But he said, no, I'm forgetting those things which are 165 00:08:05,179 --> 00:08:08,459 behind, and I'm reaching forth unto those things which are before. 166 00:08:09,269 --> 00:08:11,549 But you see, at this point in his ministry, I think the Apostle 167 00:08:11,549 --> 00:08:14,229 Paul could have looked back on his past in another way, too. 168 00:08:14,789 --> 00:08:16,749 At this point, he's in prison for preaching the gospel. 169 00:08:16,749 --> 00:08:19,989 He could have looked back and said, man, remember that time that 170 00:08:20,389 --> 00:08:22,589 I was preaching in Jerusalem and people were saved? 171 00:08:22,589 --> 00:08:25,629 And man, I started bringing the Gospel to Asia Minor, and then 172 00:08:25,629 --> 00:08:26,909 even that church at Philippi. 173 00:08:26,909 --> 00:08:28,629 I went and I started that church. 174 00:08:28,629 --> 00:08:30,549 And, man, I did so many great things. 175 00:08:30,549 --> 00:08:33,829 And now that I think about it, you know, I don't think John's started 176 00:08:33,829 --> 00:08:35,269 quite as many churches as I have. 177 00:08:35,269 --> 00:08:37,949 And man, you know, I've written way more books of the Bible 178 00:08:37,949 --> 00:08:39,029 than Peter has already. 179 00:08:39,189 --> 00:08:40,779 So I think it's my turn to. 180 00:08:41,009 --> 00:08:43,769 To take a step back and let some of these other apostles start 181 00:08:43,769 --> 00:08:44,609 pulling their weight. 182 00:08:45,009 --> 00:08:47,329 But that wasn't the attitude of the Apostle Paul. 183 00:08:47,569 --> 00:08:51,169 He said, I'm forgetting those things which are behind, and I'm 184 00:08:51,169 --> 00:08:53,169 reaching forth unto those things which are before. 185 00:08:54,129 --> 00:08:57,649 You see, here in 2025, we can do the same thing. 186 00:08:57,969 --> 00:09:01,929 We can look back on our past and say, oh, man, I was such a bad 187 00:09:01,929 --> 00:09:02,329 sinner. 188 00:09:02,329 --> 00:09:02,689 I just. 189 00:09:02,689 --> 00:09:05,769 I ruined so many things back before I knew Jesus, or maybe, maybe 190 00:09:05,769 --> 00:09:07,689 even after I knew Jesus, I messed up and I just. 191 00:09:07,689 --> 00:09:08,969 I did some really bad stuff. 192 00:09:08,969 --> 00:09:11,728 And I don't think God could ever really do anything through me. 193 00:09:11,728 --> 00:09:14,488 I'll try to be in church and I'll put money in the offering plate, 194 00:09:14,488 --> 00:09:16,448 but I don't think God could really use me. 195 00:09:16,848 --> 00:09:19,968 That's not the attitude the Apostle Paul tells us to have. 196 00:09:20,528 --> 00:09:22,168 That sin has already been forgiven. 197 00:09:22,168 --> 00:09:23,888 You've already been put in the past. 198 00:09:24,048 --> 00:09:26,648 It's time for you to forget those things which are behind and 199 00:09:26,648 --> 00:09:28,608 reach forth to those things which are before. 200 00:09:29,488 --> 00:09:32,568 But I think more frequently what we encounter in churches is 201 00:09:32,568 --> 00:09:34,448 people looking on their paths the other way. 202 00:09:35,099 --> 00:09:38,219 Well, I have been in this church for quite a while now, and, 203 00:09:38,299 --> 00:09:41,779 man, I've been running the VBS every year for the past 15 years. 204 00:09:41,779 --> 00:09:44,219 And it feels like I'm the only one who does anything around here. 205 00:09:44,219 --> 00:09:46,859 And, man, if I dropped over dead, this church would fall apart. 206 00:09:46,939 --> 00:09:48,699 I think I've earned a little vacation. 207 00:09:49,259 --> 00:09:51,819 I think it's my turn to take a step back and let some of these other 208 00:09:51,819 --> 00:09:52,899 church members start doing it. 209 00:09:52,899 --> 00:09:54,059 I've done my fair share. 210 00:09:54,699 --> 00:09:57,339 That's not the attitude we want to have either, right? 211 00:09:57,339 --> 00:10:01,189 He says, forgetting those things which are behind this doesn't 212 00:10:01,189 --> 00:10:02,269 mean we ignore the past. 213 00:10:02,269 --> 00:10:04,309 This doesn't mean we don't learn from our past. 214 00:10:04,549 --> 00:10:08,229 But it means our focus and our attention isn't on the past. 215 00:10:08,549 --> 00:10:09,149 It's God. 216 00:10:09,149 --> 00:10:10,429 What do you want for me today? 217 00:10:10,429 --> 00:10:12,389 What do you want for me to do in the future? 218 00:10:13,029 --> 00:10:13,349 Right. 219 00:10:13,349 --> 00:10:16,029 We have to be willing to forget the past if we're gonna follow 220 00:10:16,029 --> 00:10:18,069 this calling of God in Christ Jesus. 221 00:10:18,549 --> 00:10:21,709 The last thing that I think the Apostle Paul is doing, if we're 222 00:10:21,709 --> 00:10:24,669 following the calling, we need to make sure that we are closely 223 00:10:24,669 --> 00:10:26,229 following what is right. 224 00:10:26,569 --> 00:10:28,249 I see this in verse 16 and 17. 225 00:10:29,049 --> 00:10:34,329 He says, nevertheless, where to we have already attained. 226 00:10:34,969 --> 00:10:36,889 Let us walk by the same rule. 227 00:10:37,049 --> 00:10:38,889 Let us mind the same thing. 228 00:10:39,209 --> 00:10:41,969 What's he saying in this verse we already saw back in verse 12. 229 00:10:41,969 --> 00:10:43,729 He says, I haven't apprehended. 230 00:10:43,729 --> 00:10:44,809 I haven't arrived yet. 231 00:10:44,809 --> 00:10:49,929 But he says, whatever progress we have made, where to we have already 232 00:10:50,009 --> 00:10:53,689 attained whatever things God has used to grow you. 233 00:10:54,829 --> 00:10:56,749 Let us walk by the same rule. 234 00:10:56,989 --> 00:10:58,669 Let us mind the same thing. 235 00:10:59,149 --> 00:11:02,029 Man, I was just really faithful in my devotions last year, 236 00:11:02,029 --> 00:11:02,749 and, man, I just. 237 00:11:02,749 --> 00:11:05,629 I learned so much about God and man, I can't believe how great 238 00:11:05,629 --> 00:11:06,189 things are. 239 00:11:06,349 --> 00:11:07,829 That was great for 2024. 240 00:11:07,829 --> 00:11:09,709 Now I'm just gonna do something different. 241 00:11:10,029 --> 00:11:13,949 No, if God is growing you through doing the right things, don't 242 00:11:13,949 --> 00:11:14,989 stop doing those. 243 00:11:15,389 --> 00:11:16,509 Continue doing. 244 00:11:16,669 --> 00:11:18,349 Let us mind the same thing. 245 00:11:18,349 --> 00:11:18,589 Right? 246 00:11:18,589 --> 00:11:20,429 Let us walk by the same rule. 247 00:11:20,679 --> 00:11:24,759 Whatever it is God is using in your life to grow you, don't stop 248 00:11:24,759 --> 00:11:25,399 doing it. 249 00:11:25,479 --> 00:11:27,079 Continue in those things. 250 00:11:27,399 --> 00:11:31,199 But then in verse 17, he gives us another part of following what 251 00:11:31,199 --> 00:11:31,639 is right. 252 00:11:31,639 --> 00:11:36,599 In verse 17, he says, Brethren, be followers together of 253 00:11:36,679 --> 00:11:39,159 me and mark them which walk. 254 00:11:39,159 --> 00:11:41,319 So as ye have us for an example. 255 00:11:42,039 --> 00:11:46,079 Now, we already saw the apostle Paul isn't perfect he already 256 00:11:46,079 --> 00:11:50,279 told us that the goal isn't to be like the apostle Paul. 257 00:11:50,519 --> 00:11:52,599 The goal is to be like Jesus. 258 00:11:53,639 --> 00:11:57,079 We have a tendency when we look around at other people, right? 259 00:11:57,319 --> 00:12:00,119 I wanna look that way and say, well, look, I'm more like Jesus than 260 00:12:00,119 --> 00:12:02,679 they were, and I've passed them and being more like Jesus, and 261 00:12:02,679 --> 00:12:04,359 man, I'm doing a whole lot better than all these people, so 262 00:12:04,359 --> 00:12:05,479 I must be doing all right. 263 00:12:05,959 --> 00:12:08,119 Paul says, hey, you can look at other people, but don't look that 264 00:12:08,119 --> 00:12:08,439 way. 265 00:12:08,439 --> 00:12:12,599 Find somebody who's more like Jesus than you and follow their example. 266 00:12:12,989 --> 00:12:15,669 Not that they're perfect, not that they're never gonna make a mistake, 267 00:12:15,669 --> 00:12:19,469 but he says, follow me and mark them which walk. 268 00:12:19,469 --> 00:12:22,669 So as you have us for an example, look for godly examples. 269 00:12:22,669 --> 00:12:24,109 You have a great pastor here. 270 00:12:24,109 --> 00:12:25,789 You have great staff members. 271 00:12:25,789 --> 00:12:28,429 You have deacons here who have been here, been faithful. 272 00:12:28,749 --> 00:12:31,549 Find someone who's further along the path than you. 273 00:12:31,629 --> 00:12:33,549 Not that you're worshiping them or following them. 274 00:12:33,549 --> 00:12:36,749 But, hey, what can I learn from this person? 275 00:12:37,069 --> 00:12:41,069 How can I learn to be more like Jesus by watching their example? 276 00:12:41,459 --> 00:12:44,459 If I'm going to follow the calling of God in Christ Jesus, I 277 00:12:44,459 --> 00:12:46,219 have to incorporate so many of these things. 278 00:12:46,219 --> 00:12:48,019 I have to forget those things that are in the past. 279 00:12:48,019 --> 00:12:50,779 I need to be willing to recognize I still have room to grow, 280 00:12:50,779 --> 00:12:53,539 and I need to be looking for godly examples for me to continue 281 00:12:53,539 --> 00:12:54,099 to follow. 282 00:12:54,739 --> 00:12:56,819 But then the passage kind of takes a turn. 283 00:12:56,819 --> 00:12:58,499 There's even some parentheses here. 284 00:12:58,739 --> 00:13:03,699 The second point that I have for the second step of this roadmap 285 00:13:04,099 --> 00:13:09,469 is to avoid the danger on any journey, on any trip or anything. 286 00:13:09,709 --> 00:13:12,989 There's always the possibility of danger, of things going wrong, 287 00:13:13,149 --> 00:13:14,029 of some risk. 288 00:13:14,029 --> 00:13:17,269 And I remember a time back when I was in college, I had a friend 289 00:13:17,269 --> 00:13:17,949 who had a car. 290 00:13:18,269 --> 00:13:22,069 And on Sunday afternoons after the service, after our ministry, 291 00:13:22,069 --> 00:13:24,629 we usually had a good three, four hours before the evening service. 292 00:13:24,629 --> 00:13:28,229 And what we like to do, we would go to a Starbucks and drink 293 00:13:28,229 --> 00:13:30,589 probably three, four coffees in a row, work on our homework for 294 00:13:30,589 --> 00:13:30,949 the week. 295 00:13:30,949 --> 00:13:32,749 And it was a pretty good time, right? 296 00:13:32,999 --> 00:13:35,759 I remember one Sunday we were doing this, and as we pulled into 297 00:13:35,759 --> 00:13:38,079 the parking lot, my friend mentioned, he said, hey, we're going 298 00:13:38,079 --> 00:13:39,319 to have to leave a little bit early today. 299 00:13:39,319 --> 00:13:41,279 I'm going to have to stop for gas on the way back to campus. 300 00:13:41,279 --> 00:13:42,519 I said, ok, sure, no problem. 301 00:13:43,079 --> 00:13:45,759 I figured the gas light must have turned on when we turned into 302 00:13:45,759 --> 00:13:46,759 the parking lot or something. 303 00:13:47,319 --> 00:13:48,679 It had been on since we left campus. 304 00:13:48,679 --> 00:13:52,279 It had probably been on before that so we're working on our homework, 305 00:13:52,279 --> 00:13:55,879 and we finally get time to leave and we go get in the car. 306 00:13:55,879 --> 00:13:58,319 My friend turns the key and nothing happens. 307 00:13:58,319 --> 00:13:59,079 He turns it again. 308 00:13:59,439 --> 00:14:01,399 Pretty soon we realized completely out of gas. 309 00:14:01,399 --> 00:14:04,919 And so we had to walk like a mile down the road to a gas station 310 00:14:04,919 --> 00:14:05,719 that had a gas can. 311 00:14:05,719 --> 00:14:07,759 And we made it back in time, right? 312 00:14:07,759 --> 00:14:08,999 When the song service was ending. 313 00:14:08,999 --> 00:14:11,119 We were a little late, but we made it for the preaching, right? 314 00:14:11,279 --> 00:14:14,079 That was a silly situation for us to be in. 315 00:14:14,719 --> 00:14:15,119 Why? 316 00:14:15,999 --> 00:14:17,199 We had a warning light. 317 00:14:18,879 --> 00:14:20,999 This wasn't something that should have taken us by surprise. 318 00:14:20,999 --> 00:14:21,479 This wasn't. 319 00:14:21,479 --> 00:14:23,359 The engine blew up out of nowhere, right? 320 00:14:23,679 --> 00:14:26,159 There was a light that told us, hey, you need to put some gas 321 00:14:26,159 --> 00:14:26,639 in the car. 322 00:14:26,639 --> 00:14:26,999 Right? 323 00:14:27,559 --> 00:14:29,879 What we're seeing in this passage is a warning light. 324 00:14:30,439 --> 00:14:32,599 There's nothing wrong in the Church of Philippi, per se. 325 00:14:32,759 --> 00:14:35,039 There's not a problem that he's saying, you guys need to do 326 00:14:35,039 --> 00:14:35,879 this right now. 327 00:14:36,039 --> 00:14:39,879 But he's saying, hey, make sure as you're following Jesus, stay 328 00:14:39,879 --> 00:14:41,559 on guard against this danger. 329 00:14:41,559 --> 00:14:43,079 So what's this danger that we have? 330 00:14:43,079 --> 00:14:47,239 In verse 18, he says, for many walk, of whom I have told you often 331 00:14:47,799 --> 00:14:51,519 and now tell you, even weeping, that they are the enemies 332 00:14:51,519 --> 00:14:52,999 of the cross of Christ. 333 00:14:53,999 --> 00:14:55,279 That's a heavy accusation. 334 00:14:55,359 --> 00:14:58,639 That's the enemies of the cross of Christ. 335 00:14:58,879 --> 00:15:02,759 We read that and we say, this must be like the Romans that put 336 00:15:02,759 --> 00:15:03,839 Paul into prison, right? 337 00:15:03,839 --> 00:15:05,599 Those are the enemies of the cross of Christ. 338 00:15:06,479 --> 00:15:08,879 No, that's not who he describes in this next verse. 339 00:15:10,159 --> 00:15:12,159 This must have been those Jewish people that were following 340 00:15:12,159 --> 00:15:14,719 Paul and telling people they had to keep the whole law and they 341 00:15:14,719 --> 00:15:16,199 were contaminating the Gospel, right? 342 00:15:16,199 --> 00:15:17,919 Those are the enemies of the cross of Christ. 343 00:15:18,239 --> 00:15:19,919 It's not who he describes in verse 19. 344 00:15:21,409 --> 00:15:25,369 Verse 19, he says, whose end is destruction, whose God is their 345 00:15:25,369 --> 00:15:31,329 belly, whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things. 346 00:15:32,209 --> 00:15:35,409 What is this danger that we have to avoid in our Christian life? 347 00:15:35,729 --> 00:15:39,089 What is this that makes people enemies of the cross of Christ? 348 00:15:40,129 --> 00:15:41,329 It's carnality. 349 00:15:42,769 --> 00:15:47,569 It's fleshly living, living for the things of this world, this 350 00:15:47,569 --> 00:15:51,769 life, more than the things of Jesus, than the things of heaven. 351 00:15:52,569 --> 00:15:54,649 Just a couple of notes here about this danger. 352 00:15:54,649 --> 00:15:59,849 Number one, carnality is diametrically opposed to spirituality, 353 00:16:00,809 --> 00:16:01,129 right? 354 00:16:01,129 --> 00:16:04,169 He says they are enemies of the cross of Christ. 355 00:16:04,329 --> 00:16:07,369 This isn't just, well, you know, I take two steps this way and 356 00:16:07,369 --> 00:16:09,729 then I take one step this way, and, you know, I'm kind of doing 357 00:16:09,729 --> 00:16:11,449 some spiritual things and doing some bad things. 358 00:16:11,449 --> 00:16:13,609 And overall it's going to kind of balance out in the end. 359 00:16:13,609 --> 00:16:13,889 No. 360 00:16:13,889 --> 00:16:16,729 When you're living in, you know, for the things of this life, 361 00:16:16,729 --> 00:16:18,929 he says, you're an enemy of the cross of Christ. 362 00:16:18,929 --> 00:16:21,569 You're going the completely wrong way. 363 00:16:21,809 --> 00:16:22,249 You are. 364 00:16:22,249 --> 00:16:25,729 You, you can't follow Jesus and also be living for the flesh. 365 00:16:26,049 --> 00:16:28,809 You, you, you can't follow Jesus and also be concerned with 366 00:16:28,809 --> 00:16:30,369 the things of this world most. 367 00:16:30,849 --> 00:16:32,369 It's one or the other, right? 368 00:16:32,369 --> 00:16:35,489 So he says, you need to watch out for this because it's so, so 369 00:16:35,489 --> 00:16:35,849 serious. 370 00:16:35,849 --> 00:16:40,419 But the second point is more important, says carnality is deceptive, 371 00:16:41,129 --> 00:16:42,649 easy to surrender to. 372 00:16:43,529 --> 00:16:45,849 The sins that Paul describes in verse 19, right? 373 00:16:45,849 --> 00:16:49,449 Whose God is their belly, whose glory is in their shame, who 374 00:16:49,449 --> 00:16:51,449 mind earthly things. 375 00:16:52,649 --> 00:16:57,529 These aren't the most extreme, gross forms of sin that we can imagine. 376 00:16:58,089 --> 00:17:01,049 These aren't the really, really bad sins, right? 377 00:17:01,289 --> 00:17:03,889 These are the sins that we tell ourselves aren't that big of 378 00:17:03,889 --> 00:17:04,249 a deal. 379 00:17:05,049 --> 00:17:08,529 Well, you know, I was raised in an angry family and I just kind 380 00:17:08,529 --> 00:17:09,569 of lose my top sometimes. 381 00:17:09,569 --> 00:17:11,289 And that's just kind of my personality. 382 00:17:11,779 --> 00:17:12,499 It is what it is. 383 00:17:13,219 --> 00:17:16,179 Doesn't change the fact that anger is a sin, right? 384 00:17:17,139 --> 00:17:19,059 Well, you know, it's 20, 25. 385 00:17:19,059 --> 00:17:20,699 Everybody battles lust a little bit, right? 386 00:17:20,699 --> 00:17:22,339 It's just kind of part of the culture now. 387 00:17:23,139 --> 00:17:24,979 It doesn't make it not a sin. 388 00:17:25,219 --> 00:17:25,539 Right. 389 00:17:25,539 --> 00:17:30,099 These are the temptations of your flesh that draw you away, right? 390 00:17:30,099 --> 00:17:32,499 This is your natural inclination. 391 00:17:33,059 --> 00:17:36,619 And yet Paul says you have to resist that because if you're giving 392 00:17:36,619 --> 00:17:40,418 into this temptation, you're an enemy of the cross of Christ. 393 00:17:40,738 --> 00:17:44,698 You have to be willing to recognize this and turn from it. 394 00:17:44,698 --> 00:17:46,178 You have to be on guard against it. 395 00:17:46,178 --> 00:17:49,258 If I'm following the calling, I have to be prepared that I'm going 396 00:17:49,258 --> 00:17:50,098 to face temptation. 397 00:17:50,098 --> 00:17:53,858 I'm going to have to battle against this desire to live life 398 00:17:53,858 --> 00:17:56,978 my own way, to be more concerned with my retirement fund 399 00:17:56,978 --> 00:18:00,418 than giving to missions, to be more concerned with the things of 400 00:18:00,418 --> 00:18:03,458 this life than the things that relate to Jesus Christ. 401 00:18:04,489 --> 00:18:07,569 And this is a danger that we can't just take lightly. 402 00:18:07,569 --> 00:18:08,729 This is very, very serious. 403 00:18:08,729 --> 00:18:12,049 That's why Paul says they can become enemies if they don't watch 404 00:18:12,049 --> 00:18:12,649 for this. 405 00:18:13,129 --> 00:18:17,089 But the last step of this roadmap I see is the end of this 406 00:18:17,089 --> 00:18:18,889 chapter, remember? 407 00:18:18,889 --> 00:18:23,569 The end if we look in verse 20 or, yeah, verse 20, he says, for 408 00:18:23,569 --> 00:18:27,009 our conversation, that word conversation, it's more than just 409 00:18:27,009 --> 00:18:27,889 me and you talking. 410 00:18:27,889 --> 00:18:31,609 It has to do with our whole lifestyle, everything about us, our 411 00:18:31,609 --> 00:18:36,059 conversation is in heaven, from whence also we look for the 412 00:18:36,059 --> 00:18:38,059 Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. 413 00:18:38,619 --> 00:18:39,699 He turns their attention. 414 00:18:39,699 --> 00:18:42,299 He says, hey, we're not living for the things of this world. 415 00:18:42,539 --> 00:18:44,499 Remember what we're seeking. 416 00:18:44,499 --> 00:18:47,099 We're seeking the calling of God in Christ Jesus. 417 00:18:47,099 --> 00:18:48,859 He points their attention to heaven. 418 00:18:48,859 --> 00:18:51,219 He points their attention back to their Savior. 419 00:18:51,219 --> 00:18:53,379 If we're gonna remember the end, we have to remember that our 420 00:18:53,379 --> 00:18:54,299 home is in heaven. 421 00:18:54,379 --> 00:18:56,739 We're not saving things up for here and now. 422 00:18:56,739 --> 00:18:58,299 We don't get to take it with us. 423 00:18:58,379 --> 00:18:59,859 We're instead living with. 424 00:19:00,009 --> 00:19:02,649 We have all of eternity to look forward to in heaven. 425 00:19:02,889 --> 00:19:04,889 That's what we're supposed to be living for. 426 00:19:04,889 --> 00:19:06,969 That's what we're supposed to be investing in. 427 00:19:07,129 --> 00:19:09,609 And he points their attention there in verse 21. 428 00:19:09,609 --> 00:19:10,409 It's really interesting. 429 00:19:10,409 --> 00:19:14,889 He says, who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned 430 00:19:14,889 --> 00:19:16,649 like unto his glorious body? 431 00:19:16,809 --> 00:19:20,089 He's reminding them that flesh that you're tempted to give into, 432 00:19:20,329 --> 00:19:23,689 that flesh that you're battling against, it's temporary. 433 00:19:23,849 --> 00:19:26,499 You're going to receive a glorified body one day and. 434 00:19:26,729 --> 00:19:29,489 And in that moment, you're gonna regret every single time you 435 00:19:29,489 --> 00:19:31,289 gave in to that temporary flesh. 436 00:19:31,289 --> 00:19:34,449 It's never fulfilling, it's never satisfied, and yet we give 437 00:19:34,449 --> 00:19:35,009 into it. 438 00:19:35,009 --> 00:19:36,369 He says, don't do that. 439 00:19:36,369 --> 00:19:37,289 That's temporary. 440 00:19:37,369 --> 00:19:40,929 Your vile body will be changed in that last day. 441 00:19:40,929 --> 00:19:42,369 You're gonna receive a glorified body. 442 00:19:42,369 --> 00:19:43,689 He reminds them of this. 443 00:19:43,769 --> 00:19:47,449 And then the key here is that our Savior is worth it. 444 00:19:47,769 --> 00:19:52,889 I include chapter four, verse one in this sermon passage because 445 00:19:53,709 --> 00:19:55,549 it begins as this word therefore. 446 00:19:55,949 --> 00:19:58,829 I went to Bible college and I learned a lot of really fancy Bible 447 00:19:58,829 --> 00:19:59,869 study rules, right? 448 00:20:00,029 --> 00:20:01,949 One of the most fancy ones I know. 449 00:20:02,109 --> 00:20:06,629 When you see the word therefore, stop and ask, what's it 450 00:20:06,629 --> 00:20:07,229 there for? 451 00:20:07,709 --> 00:20:09,709 Really deep stuff we have here at West Coast. 452 00:20:09,709 --> 00:20:09,989 Right? 453 00:20:09,989 --> 00:20:11,229 But it's spot on. 454 00:20:11,229 --> 00:20:15,389 The word therefore means because of everything else, I just 455 00:20:15,389 --> 00:20:17,069 said this. 456 00:20:17,389 --> 00:20:18,509 And so what does he say? 457 00:20:18,509 --> 00:20:20,859 Because of all of this that I've just laid out there. 458 00:20:21,009 --> 00:20:25,449 Therefore, my brethren, dearly beloved, and longed for my joy and 459 00:20:25,449 --> 00:20:25,969 crown. 460 00:20:26,529 --> 00:20:30,129 So stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. 461 00:20:30,129 --> 00:20:35,409 He says, your Savior is worth it by keeping your attention on everything 462 00:20:35,409 --> 00:20:38,849 that he's done for you, on where this is all gonna end up. 463 00:20:38,929 --> 00:20:42,649 That's how we keep our focus, following the path that God has laid 464 00:20:42,649 --> 00:20:43,489 out for us. 465 00:20:44,049 --> 00:20:46,689 And so this evening, I don't know where you're at. 466 00:20:46,689 --> 00:20:49,829 Which of these steps maybe applies most to you. 467 00:20:50,709 --> 00:20:54,029 Maybe you've never really recognized that God has a plan for 468 00:20:54,029 --> 00:20:54,469 your life. 469 00:20:54,469 --> 00:20:58,549 Maybe you've never really asked God to show you what he wants 470 00:20:58,549 --> 00:20:59,189 you to do. 471 00:20:59,269 --> 00:21:03,029 Maybe tonight you need to say, God, I want to follow that calling. 472 00:21:03,268 --> 00:21:05,989 I want to seek to be more and more like you. 473 00:21:06,149 --> 00:21:09,909 God, help me to follow your plan for my life this week. 474 00:21:10,549 --> 00:21:14,389 Maybe tonight you wouldn't have described yourself this way 475 00:21:14,389 --> 00:21:14,949 coming in. 476 00:21:14,949 --> 00:21:18,059 But based on the description Paul gives, maybe you've become an 477 00:21:18,059 --> 00:21:19,299 enemy of the cross of Christ. 478 00:21:19,859 --> 00:21:23,779 Maybe there's some fleshly temptation that you've given up fighting, 479 00:21:23,779 --> 00:21:24,659 you've just given into. 480 00:21:25,139 --> 00:21:27,899 Maybe tonight you need to turn from that sin and say, God, I want 481 00:21:27,899 --> 00:21:28,979 to follow your plan. 482 00:21:29,699 --> 00:21:31,539 Maybe tonight you just needed that reminder. 483 00:21:31,699 --> 00:21:34,259 Maybe you've just been going through and you just needed to remember, 484 00:21:34,339 --> 00:21:37,939 hey, the end is so worth it if we follow Jesus. 485 00:21:38,499 --> 00:21:39,939 Let's close with a word of prayer. 486 00:21:40,099 --> 00:21:40,349 Did you.