Philippians 3
Philippians 3:15-17
15) Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
16) Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
17) Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
Three things this morning, for all of us who are perfect. It would be more correct to say, “for all those who are being perfected.” God is at work in us, changing us day by day to be more like him, and the end goal is perfection in him.
Firstly, we are to be of a mind to press on toward the goal that is Christ, leaving behind the past concerns of the world and looking only to him. Pray that God would give you the strength to do this, and reveal to you what needs to change so that you can continue to grow in him.
Secondly, we are to remember what we have already got. What has God taught you so far? When at university I had to resit some exams, in the intervening time I was looking into other things and totally forgot the things I had learned. Needless to say, that was goodbye university! However we also forget what God has already taught us. Remember, and do those things.
Thirdly, we are to seek out those putting these things into practice. The disciples learned from, and emulated Christ. They then went out with the gospel and others learned from, and emulated them. Find someone who is walking in the ways of God and follow them. Do as they do in following Christ.
Philippians 2
Philippians 2:2-5
2) Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
3) Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4) Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
5) Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Our attitude toward others is crucial in our walk with God. I know many people who believe themselves to have amazing walks with God, yet they seem to hate everyone around them. This does not add up. You can’t say, I am going to esteem everyone better than myself except him, because he is a total …! This isn’t a worldly competition where your best score is the one that counts. We are in God’s economy where in this case the worst score is the one that counts. If you are not esteeming more highly the least popular of the people you know then you have failed to obey this command of God.
Think of the mind of Christ. Did Jesus ever heal most of the people except that really horrible guy, because he murdered some people? No, he healed specific people for a purpose, or everyone, with compassion. This is the heart we need to have. help specific people for a purpose, and have compassion on everyone who is in need. Did Jesus ever decide anyone to be too bad to ever repent? Yes, but not the ones we would have thought. Scripture is littered with accounts of him reaching out to beggars, thieves, the scum of society. It was the religious leaders of the day, the ones who should have been doing likewise but had hardened their hearts that he knew would not repent. We likewise need witness to all men that by any means some might be saved! Have the mind of Christ and go do the things he would have done in your place.
Philippians 1
Philippians 1:20-21
20) According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
21) For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Is this your genuine experience in life? Do you really live for Christ, and would death be gain. There have been many martyrs over the centuries. Foxes book of martyrs records one Laurence Saunders in 1554.
In the afternoon of Sunday, October 15, 1554, as he was reading in his church to exhort his people, the bishop of London interrupted him, by sending an officer for him, a heretic he meant to prove him. After much talk concerning this matter, the bishop desired him to write what he believed of transubstantiation. Lawrence Saunders did so, saying, "My Lord, you seek my blood, and you shall have it: I pray God that you may be so baptized in it that you may ever after loathe blood-sucking, and become a better man."
After this good and faithful martyr had been kept in prison one year and a quarter, the bishops at length called him to the city of Coventry, there to be burnt. Told if he would recant, there was pardon for him. "Not I," replied the holy martyr, "but such as you have injured the realm. The blessed Gospel of Christ is what I hold; that do I believe, that have I taught, and that will I never revoke!" Mr. Saunders then embraced the stake, and frequently said, "Welcome, thou cross of Christ! welcome everlasting life!" Fire was then put to the wood, and, he was overwhelmed by the dreadful flames, and sweetly slept in the Lord Jesus.
Is death gain? Would you burn like Laurence, glad to stay true to God’s word to the end?
Ephesians 6
Ephesians 6:10-13
10) Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11) Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12) For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13) Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
When you are struggling, do you ever think about the spiritual side of things? Often the furthest we go is to blame the devil when stuff goes wrong. However scripture is clear. There is a battle going on, and it is as real as the war in Iraq was. When we seek the salvation of a friend it is spiritual, and the only way it will happen is if the spiritual battle is won, then the physical will change to match.
So, take up the armour of God and put it on. Don’t saunter through life hoping it will just work out, because it won’t. We desperately need to put on the armour, and in any attack our weapon of choice must be the word of God. it cuts deep. Even when discussing things with people who don’t believe the bible, using the words of scripture will be heard and respected. Take the gospel everywhere as messengers of God, that is why he put us in the situations we are in. Hold up the shield of faith, and faith comes by hearing the word of God. Wear truth, the word, and righteousness, which comes from Jesus, the word of God made flesh. Top is off with the helmet of salvation that you gained by listening to the word of God and believing in him. It all comes back to the word. In this spiritual battle the Word of God is our strength, and is the kit bag of the spiritual soldier.
Ephesians 5
Ephesians 5:5-8
5) For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6) Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
7) Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
8) For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
It is often hard not to define people by what they do. In this passage we are warned of the destiny of idolaters etc. and then also warned not to join with them in idolatry. Surely this would make us idolaters also! In fact, it would. I have three girls, they are all my children, and always will be, it is a fact of their birth, not of how they live their lives. One day I will die and they will inherit all my stuff, such as it is. However, if one of them decides to run off to Columbia with a drug dealer, to live with him, I most certainly will cut them out of their inheritance. They will still be my daughter, but with no inheritance.
This is the same situation we find ourselves in with God. We have come to him, and become his children. Nothing can separate us from his love, but we can chose to walk in darkness. The result will be no inheritance in the kingdom of God, that is Heaven. Some are living in darkness because they are not children of God, but of disobedience, but we who are light in God have no excuse. As it says, why are we taking part in these acts of darkness when we are light? Fair enough if a blind man walks into things, but if you can see where you are going, why put on a blindfold in order take a walk?
Pray that the blind would see, and walk in the light yourself.
Ephesians 4
Ephesians 4:11-15
11) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12) For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13) Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14) That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15) But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
I think everyone would agree that we all want to be strong, no more children. We want to speak the truth in love. we would also love to be perfect, and live in unity together. Sometimes it seems a real challenge to get anywhere close. So how do we get there. God in his wisdom has given the church pastors, teachers, evangelists and so on. These are given to help you grow in faith, in love, in knowledge and understanding.
The primary ways for pastors etc. to help you grow are through teaching in meetings. Sunday mornings, midweek studies and so on. The secondary ways include encouraging you to get involved in one-on-one discipleship, active participation in ministry, and so on. If we want to grow, and we know pastors are given for this purpose, why then do so many fail to come to bible studies, and decline to get involved in active ministry? I think it because we forget that God has appointed these men. I sometimes forget it as a pastor myself. Time to get growing, so listen to sound doctrine, and put it into practice in your life.
So, if we want to walk for God the first step is in following after Christ.
- Pray
- Read
- Worship
- Put it into practice by serving.
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