ANOTHER NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION?
Philippians 3:1-14
The statistics on New Year’s resolutions are not encouraging!
Several surveys show that Americans are abandoning the practice of making New Year's resolutions.
Less than half of Americans (45%) will make a New Year's resolution for 2006.
This is down from a peak of 88% who used to make New Year's Resolutions.
It's not that we think resolutions do us no good; rather, we're just getting tired of breaking so many of them.
We don't want to keep disappointing ourselves
55% say they don’t keep them for the first month.
Only 20% claim to keep them for two years.
Paul reveals his life goals in his letter to the Philippians.
Those goals would make worthy New Year’s resolutions for any of us.
To understand Paul’s goals, we must understand the circumstances which motivated him to write.
The ideal church!
* Endured suffering
* Doctrinally sound
* Generous givers
Nevertheless, two problems are revealed in the letter.
First, they are discouraged. (DEPRESSION)
Everything seems to be going wrong!
Second, they are divided.
Division leads to discouragement! (Goes around in a circle!)
Discouragement leads to negative attitudes which provokes divisions.
Purpose and theme
The two problems lead to the two major purposes of the letter:
1. Paul wants to encourage them in the midst of their affliction.
Therefore he writes concerning joy.
2. Second he wants to resolve the conflicts between them.
Therefore he emphasizes unity.
INSTRUCTION CONCERNING TRUE SPIRITUALITY 3:1-21
Major issue in their division is related to Jew/Gentile divisions
The Judaizers are at work, creating problems at Philippi.
3 Kinds-
1)Salvation-For whom? Acts 10-11
2)Salvation-How? Acts 15
3) Sanctification-How? Galatians, Colossians, Philippians 3
They keep preaching that spirituality is achieved by living by the rules (keeping the Mosaic law).
Paul’s instruction focuses on the nature of true spirituality.
[He begins by warning them of the danger posed by the Judaizers.]
WARNING AGAINST LEGALISTS 3:1-2
Not complimentary
His language gets pretty strong! 3:1-2
[Paul contrasts the Judaizers' view of spirituality with a biblical view of spirituality.] 3:3
CHARACTERISTICS OF TRUE SPIRITUALITY 3:3
Here’s what true circumcision is like:
Serving God by the Spirit -NOT by the letter
Those who are spiritual serve God in spirit, not by the letter.
Boasting in Christ -and what HE has done
-NOT in ourselves and what we do.
We get excited about what Christ has done for us-NOT our accomplishments.
Not trusting our own efforts–Not Confiding in the flesh
True spirituality understands that we can't trust our efforts to produce fruit pleasing to God.
CAPACITY TO TRUST THE FLESH 3:4-6 This isn’t just “sour grapes!”
Paul isn’t speaking as an outsider
who is jealous of their accomplishments.
If anyone could boast of his accomplishments, Paul could.
Yet, he realizes his own weakness (failures).
-He could never satisfy God this way!
ATTITUDE CONCERNING ACCOMPLISHMENTS 3:7-21
Bookkeeping concept-profit and loss statement-
Paul's loss 3:7-9
He considers his accomplishments to be worthless
compared with Jesus' righteousness applied to his account.
My "profits" (2x) I "account for" (3x) as "losses" (3x)
All of his great achievements end up on the wrong side of the ledger!
They’re all negative!
This isn’t illogical accounting-he has a purpose.
He knows his business.
He has a higher category of assets!
They make these assets meaningless.
These less productive assets get in the way of making higher "profits"
They drag down the total picture.
Ill. –They’re like eating left overs–
The old ones are still considered "assets"-NOT liabilities!
The things that used to be of value-the old assets-have lost their value-the earthquake.
Their previous value has been lost.
What are Paul's best assets?
(1) To gain Christ 3:7-8
(2) To be righteous in Christ 3:9
False righteousness-"Not having . . ."
-My own -Based on the law. –This kind doesn’t “make it!”
True righteousness–the kind that’s of real value.
-God's- -Based on faith (or faithfulness) in Christ
Paul's goals 3:10-11
He doesn’t replace the old activities with different activities.
He doesn't replace them with new religious activities.
It isn’t a matter of trading activities for more meaningful activities.
It isn’t a matter of trading programs for more effective programs.
The answer isn't religious activities-of any kind!
He isn’t seeking to accomplish more or to perform better.
Now he has a new set of goals (new resolutions for his life!).
The goal Paul sets for himself is a fuller experience of Christ's resurrection life, bringing vitality and power to his life today.
Paul points us toward the most important goals for our life:
1. To know Christ better 3:10a
The rest of his goals flow out of this one.
His focus is on a relationship–a personal experience of Christ.
He already knows Him-he wants to know Him better.
2. To experience God’s life-transforming power
–the power of the resurrection– in our daily life. 3:10b
This isn’t a hope for “pie in the sky bye and bye.”
It’s a focus on the presence of God’s power now, transforming our life daily.
3. To enjoy the participating (fellowship) with God and other godly people that results from suffering for His name. 3:10c
There’s a level of fellowship that comes from sharing together in suffering that can’t be understood by non-participants!
Suffering binds God’s people together.
4. To experience in our own life, in a practical way, the results of being resurrected with Him. 3:11
–being identified with Him in His resurrection–having new life together with Him!
Paul's longing-that of great men and women of God: TO KNOW HIM BETTER
Moses saw God in a way no one else ever had, and yet he asks to see Him "face-to-face."
David-psalmist, worshiper-"man after God's heart"-is thirsty to be with Him Psa. 42, 63
Paul-Missionary, apostle, teacher-expresses his goal: "to know Him"
Paul's progress 3:12-14
How does he evaluate his own progress?
He hasn't reached the goal yet! 12a, 13a
He's still pursuing it 12b, 13b-14
Paul recognizes that he has not arrived at perfection but he has his eyes on the goal and is progressing toward it.
He forgets the past-whether positive or negative
He stretches out to what still lies ahead
Christian testimony meetings-always the past
Front runner in a race
Ice skater–Janet Lynn– 1964 Olympics 1974 visit to Japan
For us, it doesn't matter what lies behind–whether good or bad–
We must forget the past, and stretch out for the goal still ahead.
Ill. –the track meet
WHAT GOAL?
The prize (which is)
The high calling of God (which is)
TO BE LIKE CHRIST!
Main idea: The most important goal for our life this year is to deepen our relationship with Christ, and to experience His life-transforming power daily.
To press on toward the goal, to win the prize.
The issue is not where we are in the race,
but whether we’re making progress in the race.
How did the past year go?
Are you closer to the goal now than you were a year ago?
Is your walk with God more intimate?
Have you experienced more of His life-transforming power this year than ever before?
What does God want to change in your life this year?
WHAT GOALS/RESOLUTIONS DOES GOD WANT US TO PURSUE
DURING 2006?
1. To walk in a closer relationship with Him–to get to know Him better!
To spend more time with Him
–Talking to Him
–Listening to His voice
–Meditating on His Word
–Thinking about Him
2. To experience His life-transforming power
--power which only He can provide to enable us to live a transformed lifestyle.
The focus is not on externals, but on internal transformation.
Nevertheless, it can’t involve less than a lifestyle which pleases God.
That kind of life only comes from the power of the Spirit at work in us–NOT our efforts.
3. To press on toward the goal of Christlikeness
–to win the prize, God’s heavenly calling.
The issue isn’t where we are in the race but, ARE WE MAKING FORWARD PROGRESS?
Back to the main idea: The most important goal for our life in 2006 is to deepen our relationship with Christ and to experience His transforming power in our daily life.
How did 2005 go?
Are you closer to the goal now than you were a year ago?
Is our walk with Him more intimate?
Have we experienced more of God’s life-transforming power this past year than ever before?
What is there in our life that God wants to change this year?
Let’s lay aside the past, whether good or bad, [Heb. 12:1 => ]
Let’s lay aside every weight–anything that might slow us down, or trip us up!
Let’s press on toward the goal–straining every muscle, in order to win the prize.
A model prayer– I desire to know you better
I acknowledge my weakness
Some days I don’t even want to do what pleases you!
Change my heart, O God.
Give me the WILL to want to obey You.
Give me the ABILITY to obey you–the power of Your Spirit.