Text:
Philippians 3:7-14:
7: But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
8: 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,
9: And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of
Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
10: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable
unto his death;
11: If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
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.
13: 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,
14: I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Theme:
Anyhow
Introduction:
- The Epistle to the Philippians was written by Paul during the two years when he was “in bonds” in Rome, probably early in the year A.D. 62 or in the end of 61.
- The church at Philippi, of Macedonia, was the first-fruits of European Christianity.
- Paul was close to the church in Philippi, as he frequently writes, and the church in Philippi was close to him.
- Although a typically poor community, the church at Philippi alone of all the churches helped him by their contributions, which he gratefully acknowledges.
- The least giving the most
- The fewest giving the greatest.
- There’s always the faithful few!
- In the 3rd chapter we find Paul expounding upon his unyielding desire to be found in Christ…to be rooted in Christ…to be grounded in Christ.
- No matter what the cost or obstacle, Paul is willing to surrender and endure all…comforted and empowered by the God that he served.
- Paul proclaims his victory in spite of the situation.
- Anyhow
- Like the old folks would say, “I’m gonna make it…ANYHOW!”
- I can so well remember my Grandmama saying, “I’m gonna make it…ANYHOW!”
Body:
- Why ANYHOW?
- 7, “things were gain to me”
- In spite of what I think that I have
- Zacchaeus went out of the way to climb a tree to see Jesus. His reward was Salvation being brought to his house. Although he was a rich man, he said to Jesus in Luke 19:8,
“Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.”
- Just because you have THINGS, don’t think that you have JESUS!
- 8, “I have suffered the loss of all things”
- In spite of what I lose along the way
- We are reminded of Job who, after the loss of all of his possessions and the death of his family, cried out in Job 13:15:
“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.”
- Like the songwriter wrote, “Whatever it takes for my will to break…that’s what I am willing to do!”
- 9, “not having mine own righteousness”
- In spite of not always doing what’s right
- As Paul said in Romans 7:19:
“For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.”
- Then in Romans 3:23:
“For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
- We are our worst enemy. We keep messing upJ.
- 10, “That I may know him”
- In spite of not loving Him as much as He loves us.
- John 3:16 says:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
- He loves us that much!
- 11, “If by any means”
- In spite of my victory not being comfortable, convenient, or clear to me
- Not Comfortable – I don’t have to like it.
- Not Convenient — I don’t have to want it.
- Not Clear – I don’t have to understand it.
- I am here to let His Will be done and NOT my own!
- 12, “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect”
- In spite of me being not worthy of His salvation in and of myself
- We are like Isaiah when he spoke in Isaiah 6:5:
“Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips”
- Like the old folks used to say, “He didn’t have to do it, but He did!”
- 13, “forgetting those things which are behind”
- In spite of my past
- In Luke 9:62, Jesus addresses the issue of one’s past when He says:
“No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
- Jesus died as the final atonement for our sins. Don’t look back!
- REPENT, ACCEPT, BELIEVE, RECEIVE, and never look back.
- ADMIT, COMMIT, TRANSMIT and go forward!
- I yet have a purpose and a destination
- 13, “reaching forth unto those things which are before”
- Struggles
- Victories
- Heaven
Conclusion:
- How am I gonna make it?
- 14, “I press”
- Through the problems
- Through the frustrations
- Through the trials
- Through the tribulations
- Through the joys
- Through the pains
- Through the laughter
- Through the sorrow
- Through the praise
- Through the ridicule
- Through the success
- Through the failure
- I PRESS daily
- That’s why I’m gonna make it…ANYHOW!
- In spite of my job
- In spite of my enemies
- Anyhow…THANK YOU, FATHER!!!
#93
