PHILIPPIANS 3:8-16 HOW TO PURSUE CHRISTLIKENESS

Philippians 3:7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.

What Paul Gained

Five Things…………knowledge, righteousness, power, fellowship, glory

1. V8   the excellence, the surpassing greatness or the surpassing value of knowing Jesus Christ

John 10 I know My sheep and they know Me

John 17:3 "This is eternal life that they may know Thee, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent

Genesis Adam knew his wife and she bore a son

Mt 7:22-23 Lord, Lord    Depart from Me, I never knew you

2.     V9   The righteousness which is of God by faith  Eph 2:8-9

Isaiah 64:6 All My righteousness is as  filthy rags

3.     V10   the power of his resurrection … Power to overcome sin, trials, and to witness

Acts 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

4.     The fellowship of his suffering.. Someone to fellowship with

2 Timothy 3:12  Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

5.     V11 Glory….  If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

1Thess 4:16 Rise to meet him in the air

This was written about 30 years after Paul's conversion so some would assume Paul was perfect

If we are truly saved then we will have a built in desire to grow spiritually

We should grow because:

1. The Bible says so, it is a command from God

2Peter 3:18 grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ Jesus

2. Glorifies God

1Peter 2:12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

3. Verifies salvation - Truly changed Colossians 1:10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
4. Grants assurance of our salvation Hebrews 10:22 draw near with full assurance, Ephesians 5:26
5. Lets others see the truth of God's Word shown in your life Isaiah 55:11 will not return void
6. Keeps the Gospel from disgrace 1Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
7. Produces joy and usefulness in your life Acts 20:22-24 22 "And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, 23 "except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. 24 "But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

 Matthew 6:19 moth and rust

8. Enhances our witness to the world Matthew 5:16 Let your light

Paul is teaching us perfection is a goal in this life, but never achievable

We are positionally perfect, but not practically

6 principles we need to know in order to pursue the prize

1. V-12 The awareness of the need to achieve a better condition

Verse 12 He says he is not what he ought to be

2Corinthians 12 Paul was given a thorn in the flesh so that his pride would not get the best of him

If you think you have arrived you are in a dangerous position

2.     Exert Maximum effort

V-12 Paul says he presses on

No let go and Let God here

He is pursuing the prize with all his spiritual muscles

1Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

Hebrews 12:1-2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

1Corinthians 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

v- 12 He says he pursues the prize that he May Lay hold of that for which Christ laid hold of him

This means his goal is consistent with Christ's for his life My will is his will

Romans 8:28- To be conformed to the image of his Son (Christ)

3.     We need focused Concentration on the one goal

Focus our eyes straight ahead on the goal like a runner in a race

4.   V-13 The Key to this whole thing is ONE THING I DO

What does he do verse 14 pursues the prize

Doing one thing means Forgetting what lies behind

What do we forget....? Everything in our past… accomplishments, sins, disasters.

Remember the things God did in your life so you can move to greater accomplishments…David

We shouldn't be distracted by the past or so focused on it that it we cannot do anything in the future.

Colossians 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

5.       Spiritual Motivation V 14 calls us to a lifelong pursuit of spirituality

V- 14 He says he continuously presses on toward the goal

Goal is being like Christ here and now- Prize to be made like Christ

Out of that pursuit everything else will flow. Ministry, love, joy, peace......

Look forward to the upward call

1Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Live in the light and expectation of heaven and God's glory

Paul was waiting for that crown of perfection or righteousness

6.       We need to recognize divine resources for spiritual growth

• The Word 2 Timothy 3:16, Hebrews 4:12, Psalm 119:11

Desire the pure milk of the word 1 Peter 2:2

• Prayer

Philippians 1:9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; 10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; 11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

• V17 Follow an example
• Trials

1Peter 1:6-7 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

V 15 as many as are perfect

As many as have this attitude or think this way

But if any of you have a different attitude

Some were hung up on the past or believe they have arrived or can live any way they want to since they are saved

Paul says God will reveal it to you ....God will discipline, chasten, allow trials, or suffering if you won't grow Hebrews 12:5, 6 &11

Only God can move us at those times and Paul is praying that he will do that

14. Need Consistency

V 16 One more thing let us keep living by that same we have obtained

In other words whatever you are spiritually live up to it and keep moving forward

TOOLS FOR SALE
It was advertised that the devil was going to put his tools up for sale. On the date of the sale, the tools were placed for public inspection; each tool being marked with its sale price. They were a treacherous lot of implements... Hatred, Envy, Jealousy, Deceit, Lying, Pride, and so on. Laid apart from the rest was a harmless looking tool, well worn and priced very high. "What is the name of this tool?" asked one of the purchasers, pointing to it. "That is discouragement," replied the devil.

"Why have you priced it so high?"
"Because it is more useful to me than the others. I can pry open and get inside a man's heart with that when I cannot get near him with my other tools. Once I get inside, I can make him do what I choose. It is badly worn because I use it on almost everyone, since very few people know that it belongs to me." Is the devil beating you down trying to discourage you?
The Lord has good news for you! But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient
for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast
all the more gladly about my weaknesses, SO THAT CHRIST'S POWER MAY REST ON
ME." II Corinthians 12:9

Phil 4:11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Are you growing or are you looking backward and defending yourself?

Are you saying I am not what I should be but I will keep trying with the help of God?

If you think you have arrived will you ask God to forgive you and start moving you forward?

Maybe you do not know Jesus, will you trust Him as Lord and Savior and start the race today?

2Timothy 4:6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Matthew 25:21 “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’