PHILIPPIANS 3:13-14 BRETHREN, I COUNT NOT MYSELF TO
HAVE APPREHENDED: BUT THIS ONE THING I DO, FORGETTING THOSE THINGS WHICH
ARE BEHIND, AND REACHING FORTH UNTO THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE BEFORE, I PRESS
TOWARD THE MARK FOR THE PRIZE OF THE HIGH CALLING OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS.
PHILIPPIANS 4:11-13 NOT THAT I SPEAK IN
RESPECT OF WANT: FOR I HAVE LEARNED, IN WHATSOEVER STATE I AM, THEREWITH
TO BE CONTENT. I KNOW BOTH HOW TO BE ABASED, AND I KNOW HOW TO
ABOUND: EVERY WHERE AND IN ALL THINGS I AM INSTRUCTED BOTH TO BE
FULL AND TO BE HUNGRY, BOTH TO ABOUND AND TO SUFFER NEED. I CAN DO ALL
THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHICH STRENGTHENETH ME.
I.THE FIRST SECRET IS TO FORGET -- PHILIPPIANS 3:13 "FORGETTING THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE BEHIND..."
1.What should we forget?
Our losses: PHILIPPIANS 3:7-8 BUT WHAT THINGS WERE GAIN TO ME, THOSE I COUNTED LOSS FOR CHRIST. YEA DOUBTLESS, AND I COUNT ALL THINGS BUT LOSS FOR THE EXCELLENCY OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST JESUS MY LORD: FOR WHOM I HAVE SUFFERED THE LOSS OF ALL THINGS, AND DO COUNT THEM BUT DUNG, THAT I MAY WIN CHRIST.
Our Injuries: II TIMOTHY 4:16 AT MY FIRST ANSWER NO MAN STOOD WITH ME, BUT ALL MEN FORSOOK ME: I PRAY GOD THAT IT MAY NOT BE LAID TO THEIR CHARGE.
Our successes: ACTS 14:13-18 THEN THE PRIEST OF JUPITER, WHICH WAS BEFORE THEIR CITY, BROUGHT OXEN AND GARLANDS UNTO THE GATES, AND WOULD HAVE DONE SACRIFICE WITH THE PEOPLE. WHICH WHEN THE APOSTLES, BARNABAS AND PAUL, HEARD OF, THEY RENT THEIR CLOTHES, AND RAN IN AMONG THE PEOPLE, CRYING OUT, AND SAYING, SIRS, WHY DO YE THESE THINGS? WE ALSO ARE MEN OF LIKE PASSIONS WITH YOU, AND PREACH UNTO YOU THAT YE SHOULD TURN FROM THESE VANITIES UNTO THE LIVING GOD, WHICH MADE HEAVEN, AND EARTH, AND THE SEA, AND ALL THINGS THEREIN: WHO IN TIMES PAST SUFFERED ALL NATIONS TO WALK IN THEIR OWN WAYS. NEVERTHELESS HE LEFT NOT HIMSELF WITHOUT WITNESS, IN THAT HE DID GOOD, AND GAVE US RAIN FROM HEAVEN, AND FRUITFUL SEASONS, FILLING OUR HEARTS WITH FOOD AND GLADNESS. AND WITH THESE SAYINGS SCARCE RESTRAINED THEY THE PEOPLE, THAT THEY HAD NOT DONE SACRIFICE UNTO THEM.
2.What should our attitude be toward those that wrong us?
MATTHEW 6:12-15 AND FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS, AS WE FORGIVE OUR DEBTORS. AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL: FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM, AND THE POWER, AND THE GLORY, FOR EVER. AMEN. FOR IF YE FORGIVE MEN THEIR TRESSPASSES, YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER WILL ALSO FORGIVE YOU: BUT IF YE FORGIVE NOT MEN THEIR TRESPASSES, NEITHER WILL YOUR FATHER FORGIVE YOUR TRESPASSES.
MARK 11:25 AND WHEN YE STAND PRAYING, FORGIVE, IF YE HAVE OUGHT AGAINST ANY: THAT YOUR FATHER ALSO WHICH IS IN HEAVEN MAY FORGIVE YOU YOUR TRESPASSES.
ROMANS 12:14 BLESS THEM WHICH PERSECUTE YOU: BLESS, AND CURSE NOT.
ROMANS 12:17 RECOMPENSE TO NO MAN EVIL FOR EVIL. PROVIDE THINGS HONEST IN THE SIGHT OF ALL MEN.
ROMANS 12:19 DEARLY BELOVED, AVENGE NOT YOURSELVES, BUT RATHER GIVE PLACE UNTO WRATH: FOR IT IS WRITTEN, VENGEANCE IS MINE; I WILL REPAY, SAITH THE LORD.
ROMANS 12:21 BE NOT OVERCOME OF EVIL, BUT OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD.
I CORINTHIANS 4:12-13 AND LABOUR, WORKING WITH OUR OWN HANDS: BEING REVILED, WE BLESS; BEING PERSECUTED, WE SUFFER IT: BEING DEFAMED, WE INTREAT: WE ARE MADE AS THE FILTH OF THE WORLD, AND ARE THE OFFSCOURING OF ALL THINGS UNTO THIS DAY.
EPHESIANS 4:32 AND BE YE KIND ONE TO ANOTHER, TENDERHEARTED, FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER, EVEN AS GOD FOR CHRIST'S SAKE HATH FORGIVEN YOU.
I PETER 3:9 NOT RENDERING EVIL FOR EVIL, OR RAILING FOR RAILING: BUT CONTRARIWISE BLESSING; KNOWING THAT YE ARE THEREUNTO CALLED, THAT YE SHOULD INHERIT A BLESSING.
LUKE 23:34 FATHER FORGIVE THEM, FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO.
II.THE SECOND OF THESE SECRETS: TO PRESS ON PHILIPPIANS 3:14 "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
TOWARD A BETTER UNDERSTANDING:
EPHESIANS 5:17 WHEREFORE BE YE NOT UNWISE, BUT UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE WILL OF THE LORD IS.
II TIMOTHY 2:15
I PETER 3:15
MATTHEW 5:6 BLESSED ARE THEY WHICH DO HUNGER AND THIRST AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS: FOR THEY SHALL BE FILLED.
TOWARD A GREATER USEFULNESS IN GOD'S KINGDOM
I CORINTHIANS 10:31-33 WHETHER THEREFORE YE EAT, OR DRINK, OR WHATSOEVER YE DO, DO ALL TO THE GLORY OF GOD. GIVE NONE OFFENCE, NEITHER TO THE JEWS, NOR TO THE GENTILES, NOR TO THE CHURCH OF GOD: EVEN AS I PLEASE ALL MEN IN ALL THINGS, NOT SEEKING MINE OWN PROFIT, BUT THE PROFIT OF MANY, THAT THEY MAY BE SAVED.
I CORINTHIANS 15:58
MATTHEW 28:18-20
II TIMOTHY 3:16-4:4
TOWARD PERFECTION
Philippians 3:12 NOT AS THOUGH I HAD ALREADY ATTAINED, EITHER WERE ALREADY PERFECT: BUT I FOLLOW AFTER, IF THAT I MAY APPREHEND THAT FOR WHICH ALSO I AM APPREHENDED OF CHRIST JESUS.
HEBREWS 6:1 THEREFORE LEAVING THE PRINCIPLES OF THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST, LET US GO ON UNTO PERFECTION;
III.THE THIRD OF THESE SECRETS: TO BE CONTENT Philippians 4:11-12 "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need."
1.With what should we be content?
Not with sin -- III JOHN 10 WHEREFORE IF I COME, I WILL REMEMBER HIS DEEDS WHICH HE DOETH, PRATING AGAINST US WITH MALICIOUS WORDS: AND NOT CONTENT THEREWITH, NEITHER DOTH HE HIMSELF RECEIVE THE BRETHREN, AND FORBIDDETH THEM THAT WOULD, AND CASTETH THEM OUT OF THE CHURCH.
With food and raiment -- I TIMOTHY 6:8 AND HAVING FOOD AND RAIMENT LET US BE THEREWITH CONTENT.
MATTHEW 6:24-33 NO MAN CAN SERVE TWO MASTERS: FOR EITHER HE WILL HATE THE ONE, AND LOVE THE OTHER; OR ELSE HE WILL HOLD TO THE ONE, AND DESPISE THE OTHER. YE CANNOT SERVE GOD AND MAMMON. THEREFORE I SAY UNTO YOU, TAKE NO THOUGHT FOR YOUR LIFE, WHAT YE SHALL EAT, OR WHAT YE SHALL DRINK; NOR YET FOR YOUR BODY, WHAT YE SHALL PUT ON. IS NOT THE LIFE MORE THAN MEAT, AND THE BODY THAN RAIMENT? BEHOLD THE FOWLS OF THE AIR: FOR THEY SOW NOT, NEITHER DO THEY REAP, NOR GATHER INTO BARNS; YET YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER FEEDETH THEM. ARE YE NOT MUCH BETTER THAN THEY? WHICH OF YOU BY TAKING THOUGHT CAN ADD ONE CUBIT UNTO HIS STATURE? AND WHY TAKE YE THOUGHT FOR RAIMENT? CONSIDER THE LILIES OF THE FIELD, HOW THEY GROW; THEY TOIL NOT, NEITHER DO THEY SPIN: AND YET I SAY UNTO YOU, THAT EVEN SOLOMON IN ALL HIS GLORY WAS NOT ARRAYED LIKE ONE OF THESE. WHEREFORE, IF GOD SO CLOTHE THE GRASS OF THE FIELD, WHICH TO DAY IS, AND TO MORROW IS CAST INTO THE OVEN, SHALL HE NOT MUCH MORE CLOTHE YOU, O YE OF LITTLE FAITH? THEREFORE TAKE NO THOUGHT, SAYING, WHAT SHALL WE EAT? OR, WHAT SHALL WE DRINK? OR, WHEREWITHAL SHALL WE BE CLOTHES? (FOR AFTER ALL THESE THINGS DO THE GENTILES SEEK:) FOR YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER KNOWETH THAT YE HAVE NEED OF ALL THESE THINGS. BUT SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD, AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS; AND ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE ADDED UNTO YOU.
With such things as we have -- HEBREWS 13:5 BE CONTENT WITH SUCH THINGS AS YE HAVE.
2.If more would be content, more marriages would stay together, more children would be properly reared, and more mental institutions would close! Worry less about money and more about God and your lie will be happier.
IV.THE FOURTH OF THESE SECRETS: TO BE CONFIDENT Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me".
1.This confidence leads us to put our trust in God: II TIMOTHY 1:12 FOR THE WHICH CAUSE I ALSO SUFFER THESE THINGS: NEVERTHELESS I AM NOT ASHAMED: FOR I KNOW WHOM I HAVE BELIEVED, AND AM PERSUADED THAT HE IS ABLE TO KEEP THAT WHICH I HAVE COMMITTED UNTO HIM AGAINST THAT DAY.
(1).Having put our trust in Him, we should be motivated to live for Him!
(2).We have every reason to be confident in Him:
COLOSSIANS 1:6 WHICH IS COME UNTO YOU, AS IT IS IN ALL THE WORLD; AND BRINGETH FORTH FRUIT, AS IT DOTH ALSO IN YOU, SINCE THE DAY YE HEARD OF IT, AND KNEW THE GRACE OF GOD IN TRUTH:
HEBREWS 1:3 WHO BEING THE BRIGHTNESS OF HIS GLORY, AND THE EXPRESS IMAGE OF HIS PERSON, AND UPHOLDING ALL THINGS BY THE WORD OF HIS POWER, WHEN HE HAD BY HIMSELF PURGED OUR SINS, SAT DOWN ON THE RIGHT HAND OF THE MAJESTY ON HIGH
2.Having confidence in God, we should commit to Him:
Our Way -- PSALM 37:5 COMMIT THY WAY UNTO THE LORD, TRUST ALSO IN HIM, AND HE SHALL BRING IT TO PASS.
Our Soul -- I PETER 4:19 WHEREFORE LET THEM THAT SUFFER ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD COMMIT THE KEEPING OF THEIR SOULS TO HIM IN WELL DOING, AS UNTO A FAITHFUL CREATOR.
Our Heart -- PHILIPPIANS 4:7 AND THE PEACE OF GOD, WHICH PASSETH ALL UNDERSTANDING, SHALL KEEP YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS THROUGH CHRIST JESUS.
Our Works -- PROVERBS 16:3 COMMIT THY WORKS UNTO THE LORD AND THY HEARTS SHALL BE ESTABLISHED.
3.This confidence we have placed in Him ought to:
Encourage us to duty -- DANIEL 3:17-18 IF IT BE SO, OUR GOD WHOM WE SERVE IS ABLE TO DELIVER US FROM THE BURNING FIERY FURNACE, AND HE WILL DELIVER US OUT OF THINE HAND, O KING. BUT IF NOT, BE IT KNOWN UNTO THEE, O KING, THAT WE WILL NOT SERVE THY GODS, NOR WORSHIP THE GOLDEN IMAGE WHICH THOU HAST SET UP.
Strengthen us for life's conflicts -- II CORINTHIANS 12:9 AND HE SAID UNTO ME, MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR THEE: FOR MY STRENGTH IS MADE PERFECT IN WEAKNESS. MOST GLADLY THEREFORE WILL I RATHER GLORY IN MY INFIRMITIES, THAT THE POWER OF CHRIST MAY REST UPON ME.
Enable us to endure persecutions -- ROMANS 8:37-39 NAY IN ALL THESE THINGS WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS THROUGH HIM THAT LOVED US. FOR I AM PERSUADED, THAT NEITHER DEATH, NOR LIFE, NOR ANGELS, NOR PRINCIPALITIES, NOR POWERS, NOR THINGS PRESENT, NOR THINGS TO COME, NOR HEIGHT, NOR DEPTH, NOR ANY OTHER CREATURE, SHALL BE ABLE TO SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD, WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD.
4.In what should we place confidence?
The Lord's ability -- PHILIPPIANS 1:6 BEING CONFIDENT OF THIS VERY THING, THAT HE WHICH HATH BEGUN A GOOD WORK IN YOU WILL PERFORM IT UNTIL THE DAY OF JESUS CHRIST
The Lords Faithfulness -- HEBREWS 10:23 LET US HOLD FAST THE PROFESSION OF OUR FAITH WITHOUT WAVERING; (FOR HE IS FAITHFUL THAT PROMISED;)
The God-sent Gospel -- ROMANS 1:16
GALATIANS 1:11-12 BUT I CERTIFY YOU, BRETHREN, THAT THE GOSPEL WHICH WAS PREACHED OF ME IS NOT AFTER MAN. FOR I NEITHER RECEIVED IT OF MAN, NEITHER WAS I TAUGHT IT, BUT BY THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST.
CONCLUSION:
1.Remember: forget, press on, be content, be confident!
2.When life is lived in this way, it is truly lived.