James Shepherd
Series: JOY Beyond Compare
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 31st July 2016
Passage: Philippians 3:1-11
00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 One man's trash is another man's treasure.
00:00:03 --> 00:00:07 I mean, this idiom shows how people value the same things differently.
00:00:07 --> 00:00:13 Someone might value something as trash, worthless, a waste of space,
00:00:14 --> 00:00:16 and no longer need it in their life.
00:00:16 --> 00:00:20 But another person might view the exact same thing as treasure,
00:00:20 --> 00:00:23 something that is of immense value to them.
00:00:23 --> 00:00:27 And this couldn't be more true during the time of council cleanup.
00:00:27 --> 00:00:32 I find it both amazing what people will see as trash and will throw out
00:00:32 --> 00:00:34 and what others would see as treasure and pick up
00:00:34 --> 00:00:37 as you see people drive you along the streets with their utes
00:00:37 --> 00:00:38 and their trailers and their trucks,
00:00:39 --> 00:00:41 searching for the treasure amongst all the trash.
00:00:41 --> 00:00:44 And I feel like being a poor, more college student,
00:00:44 --> 00:00:46 doing ministry on the North Shore,
00:00:46 --> 00:00:49 there's often more treasure than trash out there,
00:00:50 --> 00:00:51 dumped on those streets.
00:00:51 --> 00:00:52 It's only in my view, of course,
00:00:52 --> 00:00:55 but I see a lot of perfectly good couches and dining tables,
00:00:55 --> 00:01:00 beds, mattresses, TV, stereos that I presume actually work,
00:01:00 --> 00:01:01 they look like they work,
00:01:01 --> 00:01:06 toys, scooters, the likes, pots and pans, books, children's things.
00:01:07 --> 00:01:09 Oh, there is so much stuff that gets thrown out
00:01:09 --> 00:01:11 that I just look and go, man, is that really trash?
00:01:12 --> 00:01:16 It amazes me to the point where I reckon I could furnish a whole house
00:01:16 --> 00:01:19 with council cleanup furniture, and none of you would know.
00:01:20 --> 00:01:21 Unless you threw it out, of course,
00:01:21 --> 00:01:23 and you recognised I was yours previously.
00:01:23 --> 00:01:26 However, all these couches and dining tables,
00:01:26 --> 00:01:27 these TVs and stereos,
00:01:27 --> 00:01:29 these things were once new.
00:01:29 --> 00:01:32 These things were once considered something of valuable
00:01:32 --> 00:01:34 because they're now out of date
00:01:34 --> 00:01:36 or because they're broken or unnecessary.
00:01:37 --> 00:01:41 It has caused their previous owner to reassess their value,
00:01:41 --> 00:01:43 and now they have been considered as trash,
00:01:44 --> 00:01:48 thrown out to make room for all the better and newer things in life.
00:01:48 --> 00:01:53 I remember when the iPhone 5S came out a few years ago.
00:01:54 --> 00:01:55 I was very excited.
00:01:56 --> 00:01:57 I went to the Apple store in Castle Hill
00:01:57 --> 00:02:00 and lined up at 6 in the morning with my friends.
00:02:00 --> 00:02:02 We were in a line of about 200 of us.
00:02:02 --> 00:02:04 I was about 100th in the line itself,
00:02:04 --> 00:02:07 and everyone there was very, very excited.
00:02:07 --> 00:02:09 We were all, like, talking about the iPhone.
00:02:10 --> 00:02:12 Everyone was talking about what colour they would get as well.
00:02:13 --> 00:02:14 When the first person walked into the store,
00:02:14 --> 00:02:17 the Apple employees made an arch for them
00:02:17 --> 00:02:19 and clapped and applauded them and cheered them on
00:02:19 --> 00:02:21 as they got to their iPhone.
00:02:21 --> 00:02:23 It was very, very exciting.
00:02:24 --> 00:02:26 My friends and I, when we got our iPhones,
00:02:26 --> 00:02:28 had an unboxing ceremony at the local cafe,
00:02:29 --> 00:02:31 and I held my iPhone thinking,
00:02:31 --> 00:02:33 this is precious to me.
00:02:33 --> 00:02:36 This is amazing and invaluable to me.
00:02:38 --> 00:02:39 Three years on,
00:02:39 --> 00:02:41 I have no idea where my iPhone even is anymore.
00:02:41 --> 00:02:45 I think I sold it because it was outdated,
00:02:45 --> 00:02:47 and I was getting my new iPhone 6S.
00:02:48 --> 00:02:50 Its value did not last.
00:02:50 --> 00:02:54 It caused me to reassess the value of my iPhone 5S,
00:02:54 --> 00:02:55 and I saw it as trash,
00:02:55 --> 00:02:57 something that was broken and slowly dying.
00:02:59 --> 00:03:00 And then someone else bought it.
00:03:00 --> 00:03:03 And so my trash became someone else's treasure.
00:03:04 --> 00:03:07 This is what our society does.
00:03:07 --> 00:03:09 Because we participate in a society
00:03:09 --> 00:03:11 built on novelty,
00:03:11 --> 00:03:13 built on wanting the next best thing,
00:03:13 --> 00:03:15 we always need to reassess
00:03:15 --> 00:03:17 the value of the things in our life.
00:03:18 --> 00:03:22 And so when our gadgets and toys and cars wear out,
00:03:22 --> 00:03:24 we reassess their value.
00:03:24 --> 00:03:27 When our jobs or schooling gets really tough
00:03:27 --> 00:03:28 or too boring,
00:03:28 --> 00:03:30 we reassess its value.
00:03:31 --> 00:03:33 When our friendships and marriages get hard
00:03:33 --> 00:03:33 and the joy,
00:03:33 --> 00:03:34 which was there to begin with,
00:03:35 --> 00:03:36 begins to dwindle,
00:03:36 --> 00:03:39 we reassess its value.
00:03:39 --> 00:03:41 These things we once treasured,
00:03:41 --> 00:03:42 or began to treasure,
00:03:43 --> 00:03:46 have slowly become ultimately trash in our lives.
00:03:48 --> 00:03:49 And as Christians,
00:03:50 --> 00:03:51 the gospel of our Lord Jesus
00:03:51 --> 00:03:53 calls us to reassess
00:03:53 --> 00:03:56 what is most precious and valuable in our life.
00:03:56 --> 00:03:58 And if we truly believe the gospel,
00:03:59 --> 00:04:00 it changes our perception
00:04:00 --> 00:04:03 of what is truly valuable.
00:04:03 --> 00:04:06 But as people who are driven
00:04:06 --> 00:04:08 in the world by novelty,
00:04:08 --> 00:04:10 we are always tempted to try and build upon
00:04:10 --> 00:04:13 and develop upon the gospel itself,
00:04:13 --> 00:04:16 importing ideas and concepts from the world,
00:04:17 --> 00:04:19 making us view the gospel
00:04:19 --> 00:04:21 through the lens of the things that we value.
00:04:21 --> 00:04:23 Whether we go one way
00:04:23 --> 00:04:24 and begin to think
00:04:24 --> 00:04:25 that the gospel is all about
00:04:25 --> 00:04:27 doing certain things right,
00:04:27 --> 00:04:28 that Christianity is all about
00:04:28 --> 00:04:29 obeying the law
00:04:29 --> 00:04:31 and making sure you have done enough
00:04:31 --> 00:04:33 to come before God rightly.
00:04:34 --> 00:04:35 Or whether we go the other way
00:04:35 --> 00:04:36 and say the gospel
00:04:36 --> 00:04:38 is all about receiving material blessing
00:04:38 --> 00:04:41 and living a lifestyle that's free
00:04:41 --> 00:04:43 from having to worry about your sins.
00:04:44 --> 00:04:45 These patterns,
00:04:45 --> 00:04:46 these things distort
00:04:46 --> 00:04:49 what is truly the gospel
00:04:49 --> 00:04:51 and they shape our understanding of it.
00:04:52 --> 00:04:54 We are always in danger
00:04:54 --> 00:04:56 of corrupting the gospel,
00:04:56 --> 00:04:57 distorting it,
00:04:57 --> 00:04:58 and therefore losing it
00:04:58 --> 00:05:00 when we fail to assess
00:05:00 --> 00:05:02 the things we value in this world
00:05:02 --> 00:05:04 through the lens of the gospel.
00:05:05 --> 00:05:06 The gospel needs to be the lens
00:05:06 --> 00:05:08 by which we look at the things
00:05:08 --> 00:05:09 in our life that we value.
00:05:10 --> 00:05:11 But too often,
00:05:11 --> 00:05:13 we're looking at the gospel itself
00:05:13 --> 00:05:15 through the things that we value.
00:05:16 --> 00:05:18 And this danger is ever-present
00:05:18 --> 00:05:18 and persistent.
00:05:19 --> 00:05:21 And this is why Paul writes
00:05:21 --> 00:05:22 in chapter 3.
00:05:24 --> 00:05:25 He does so for our safety,
00:05:25 --> 00:05:26 it says in verse 1,
00:05:26 --> 00:05:28 so that we might reassess
00:05:28 --> 00:05:30 our relationship with the world itself,
00:05:31 --> 00:05:32 viewing the things we value
00:05:32 --> 00:05:34 through the lens of the gospel
00:05:34 --> 00:05:36 that we might not lose Jesus
00:05:36 --> 00:05:38 and therefore our faith.
00:05:38 --> 00:05:40 And so let us open our Bibles
00:05:40 --> 00:05:42 and reassess together
00:05:42 --> 00:05:44 what it is we most value
00:05:44 --> 00:05:46 as Paul reminds us once more
00:05:46 --> 00:05:47 of the gospel.
00:05:48 --> 00:05:50 So Paul begins by warning his readers
00:05:50 --> 00:05:51 in verse 2,
00:05:51 --> 00:05:53 watch out for those dogs,
00:05:54 --> 00:05:55 those evildoers,
00:05:55 --> 00:05:57 those mutilators of the flesh.
00:05:58 --> 00:05:59 There are those in the church
00:05:59 --> 00:06:01 whom Paul considers a threat
00:06:01 --> 00:06:02 to the gospel.
00:06:03 --> 00:06:05 The third category gives us a clue
00:06:05 --> 00:06:06 as to who he's speaking of.
00:06:06 --> 00:06:08 Jewish Christians
00:06:08 --> 00:06:09 who want the law
00:06:09 --> 00:06:11 to be a necessary part
00:06:11 --> 00:06:12 of their faith.
00:06:13 --> 00:06:14 Jewish Christians consider themselves
00:06:14 --> 00:06:15 here in Philippi
00:06:15 --> 00:06:17 better than others.
00:06:17 --> 00:06:19 they consider themselves
00:06:19 --> 00:06:20 exemplars of the faith
00:06:20 --> 00:06:22 because they held the law
00:06:22 --> 00:06:23 to a high regard.
00:06:24 --> 00:06:27 They were even circumcised
00:06:27 --> 00:06:27 and therefore meant
00:06:27 --> 00:06:28 that they had the sign
00:06:28 --> 00:06:29 that they were God's people
00:06:29 --> 00:06:30 from the Old Testament.
00:06:31 --> 00:06:33 They looked down at everyone else
00:06:33 --> 00:06:34 because of who they were
00:06:34 --> 00:06:36 and how they could hold the law.
00:06:37 --> 00:06:39 These are the kinds of people
00:06:39 --> 00:06:40 in church who are proud
00:06:40 --> 00:06:42 of how much time they spend
00:06:42 --> 00:06:43 reading the Bible
00:06:43 --> 00:06:45 and looked down at other people
00:06:45 --> 00:06:45 for not doing
00:06:45 --> 00:06:47 as much as they can.
00:06:48 --> 00:06:49 Those who gossip
00:06:49 --> 00:06:50 about people's sins
00:06:50 --> 00:06:51 behind their back.
00:06:51 --> 00:06:53 Those who brag about
00:06:53 --> 00:06:54 all the missionaries
00:06:54 --> 00:06:55 they are supporting
00:06:55 --> 00:06:55 and praying for.
00:06:56 --> 00:06:57 Those who look at themselves
00:06:57 --> 00:06:58 and thank God
00:06:58 --> 00:06:59 they are not ultimately
00:06:59 --> 00:07:01 like other sinful people.
00:07:02 --> 00:07:03 Ultimately,
00:07:04 --> 00:07:04 these people,
00:07:04 --> 00:07:05 these kinds of people
00:07:05 --> 00:07:07 value being seen
00:07:07 --> 00:07:08 as better than others.
00:07:08 --> 00:07:09 They value their status
00:07:09 --> 00:07:11 above anything else.
00:07:11 --> 00:07:13 And Paul says
00:07:13 --> 00:07:14 to watch out
00:07:14 --> 00:07:15 for these kinds of people.
00:07:16 --> 00:07:17 They might portray
00:07:17 --> 00:07:18 an image of holiness.
00:07:18 --> 00:07:19 They might seem
00:07:19 --> 00:07:21 to tick all the holy boxes
00:07:21 --> 00:07:23 but they are nothing
00:07:23 --> 00:07:24 more than dogs,
00:07:24 --> 00:07:25 evildoers,
00:07:25 --> 00:07:26 mutilators.
00:07:27 --> 00:07:28 That last category
00:07:28 --> 00:07:30 is particularly offensive,
00:07:30 --> 00:07:31 particularly for
00:07:31 --> 00:07:32 the Jewish Christians.
00:07:33 --> 00:07:35 For Paul would not describe
00:07:35 --> 00:07:37 them as circumcised
00:07:37 --> 00:07:38 but would use a derogative term
00:07:38 --> 00:07:39 instead,
00:07:39 --> 00:07:39 mutilation.
00:07:41 --> 00:07:42 to show that they are not
00:07:42 --> 00:07:44 truly part of God's people.
00:07:44 --> 00:07:45 He's saying,
00:07:45 --> 00:07:45 yeah,
00:07:45 --> 00:07:46 you might carry that sign
00:07:46 --> 00:07:47 on your body
00:07:47 --> 00:07:48 that you are part
00:07:48 --> 00:07:49 of God's people
00:07:49 --> 00:07:50 but that sign
00:07:50 --> 00:07:50 is no more
00:07:50 --> 00:07:51 of a mutilation
00:07:51 --> 00:07:55 like the ancient pagans
00:07:55 --> 00:07:56 who would mutilate
00:07:56 --> 00:07:57 themselves
00:07:57 --> 00:07:57 in the service
00:07:57 --> 00:07:58 of their fake
00:07:58 --> 00:07:59 and weak God.
00:08:00 --> 00:08:01 You are no different
00:08:01 --> 00:08:01 to them.
00:08:02 --> 00:08:03 Paul is saying
00:08:03 --> 00:08:04 that you are like
00:08:04 --> 00:08:05 a pagan.
00:08:06 --> 00:08:07 You are like someone
00:08:07 --> 00:08:08 who doesn't believe
00:08:08 --> 00:08:09 in a real God.
00:08:09 --> 00:08:12 His strong,
00:08:12 --> 00:08:13 offensive use
00:08:13 --> 00:08:14 of the word
00:08:14 --> 00:08:16 mutilator here
00:08:16 --> 00:08:17 is so he can
00:08:17 --> 00:08:18 be clear
00:08:18 --> 00:08:18 about the kinds
00:08:18 --> 00:08:19 of people
00:08:19 --> 00:08:20 who are part
00:08:20 --> 00:08:21 of God's people,
00:08:21 --> 00:08:22 who are truly
00:08:22 --> 00:08:23 circumcised,
00:08:23 --> 00:08:23 that is,
00:08:23 --> 00:08:24 who are truly
00:08:24 --> 00:08:26 part of God's family.
00:08:26 --> 00:08:27 And so in verse 3,
00:08:27 --> 00:08:29 for it is we
00:08:29 --> 00:08:30 who are the circumcision,
00:08:31 --> 00:08:32 we who serve God
00:08:32 --> 00:08:33 by his spirit,
00:08:33 --> 00:08:35 who boast in Christ Jesus
00:08:35 --> 00:08:36 and who put no confidence
00:08:36 --> 00:08:37 in the flesh.
00:08:38 --> 00:08:39 The true Christian
00:08:39 --> 00:08:41 is marked by humility.
00:08:42 --> 00:08:43 Unlike the proud
00:08:43 --> 00:08:43 Jewish Christians
00:08:43 --> 00:08:45 who value their deeds
00:08:45 --> 00:08:46 and status
00:08:46 --> 00:08:47 before the law,
00:08:47 --> 00:08:48 justifying themselves
00:08:48 --> 00:08:50 as exemplars
00:08:50 --> 00:08:50 of the faith,
00:08:51 --> 00:08:51 Paul says
00:08:51 --> 00:08:53 the people of God
00:08:53 --> 00:08:53 are those
00:08:53 --> 00:08:54 who humbly trust
00:08:54 --> 00:08:55 and boast
00:08:55 --> 00:08:56 in the work
00:08:56 --> 00:08:57 of Jesus,
00:08:57 --> 00:08:58 knowing only
00:08:58 --> 00:08:59 in him
00:08:59 --> 00:09:00 they can receive
00:09:00 --> 00:09:01 eternal life.
00:09:02 --> 00:09:03 And above all else,
00:09:03 --> 00:09:04 they value him
00:09:04 --> 00:09:05 and treasure him
00:09:05 --> 00:09:06 alone.
00:09:07 --> 00:09:08 And we must realise
00:09:08 --> 00:09:10 all of this so far
00:09:10 --> 00:09:11 is in the context
00:09:11 --> 00:09:12 of a warning.
00:09:12 --> 00:09:14 we are called
00:09:14 --> 00:09:14 to watch out
00:09:14 --> 00:09:15 for these kinds
00:09:15 --> 00:09:15 of people,
00:09:16 --> 00:09:17 not because Paul
00:09:17 --> 00:09:18 wants us to go
00:09:18 --> 00:09:18 on like a witch hunt
00:09:18 --> 00:09:20 and try and get rid
00:09:20 --> 00:09:20 of them out of our
00:09:20 --> 00:09:21 fold and our gathering,
00:09:22 --> 00:09:23 although he would
00:09:23 --> 00:09:23 want that.
00:09:24 --> 00:09:25 He's warning
00:09:25 --> 00:09:27 and he's out of concern
00:09:27 --> 00:09:28 for us as a church
00:09:28 --> 00:09:30 because such people
00:09:30 --> 00:09:32 can be really damaging
00:09:32 --> 00:09:34 to us
00:09:34 --> 00:09:35 and to the gospel.
00:09:36 --> 00:09:37 And the temptation
00:09:37 --> 00:09:37 for the church
00:09:37 --> 00:09:38 in Philippi
00:09:38 --> 00:09:39 was to look
00:09:39 --> 00:09:39 at these guys
00:09:39 --> 00:09:40 and be impressed
00:09:40 --> 00:09:41 by them,
00:09:41 --> 00:09:42 to see them
00:09:42 --> 00:09:43 as role models
00:09:43 --> 00:09:43 for their faith,
00:09:44 --> 00:09:45 to see the things
00:09:45 --> 00:09:46 they valued,
00:09:47 --> 00:09:48 which are status
00:09:48 --> 00:09:48 and works,
00:09:49 --> 00:09:50 and take them
00:09:50 --> 00:09:50 on board
00:09:50 --> 00:09:50 for themselves
00:09:50 --> 00:09:52 and look at the gospel
00:09:52 --> 00:09:52 through the things
00:09:52 --> 00:09:53 that they valued
00:09:53 --> 00:09:56 and then truly forget
00:09:56 --> 00:09:57 what it actually means
00:09:57 --> 00:09:58 to be the people
00:09:58 --> 00:09:59 of God.
00:09:59 --> 00:10:00 And Paul
00:10:00 --> 00:10:01 is all too aware
00:10:01 --> 00:10:02 of how easy
00:10:02 --> 00:10:03 it is to slip back
00:10:03 --> 00:10:04 into that mindset
00:10:04 --> 00:10:06 of box-ticking
00:10:06 --> 00:10:06 Christianity,
00:10:07 --> 00:10:08 where the impressive
00:10:08 --> 00:10:08 Christians
00:10:08 --> 00:10:10 seems to be
00:10:10 --> 00:10:11 the true examples
00:10:11 --> 00:10:12 of faith
00:10:12 --> 00:10:12 who then leaves
00:10:12 --> 00:10:13 the rest of us
00:10:13 --> 00:10:14 feeling bad
00:10:14 --> 00:10:15 and somehow
00:10:15 --> 00:10:16 less of a Christian
00:10:16 --> 00:10:16 because we're not
00:10:16 --> 00:10:17 able to be like them.
00:10:18 --> 00:10:19 The issue is
00:10:19 --> 00:10:20 that these Jews
00:10:20 --> 00:10:21 have allowed
00:10:21 --> 00:10:22 what they value,
00:10:22 --> 00:10:23 their status
00:10:23 --> 00:10:24 and their works,
00:10:24 --> 00:10:25 to creep into
00:10:25 --> 00:10:26 their view
00:10:26 --> 00:10:27 of the gospel
00:10:27 --> 00:10:28 and corrupt it.
00:10:29 --> 00:10:29 And that's what
00:10:29 --> 00:10:31 Paul is afraid
00:10:31 --> 00:10:31 will happen
00:10:31 --> 00:10:32 to the rest
00:10:32 --> 00:10:32 of the church
00:10:32 --> 00:10:33 if they continue
00:10:33 --> 00:10:34 to look at
00:10:34 --> 00:10:35 these guys
00:10:35 --> 00:10:37 as role models
00:10:37 --> 00:10:38 of the faith.
00:10:39 --> 00:10:40 However,
00:10:40 --> 00:10:41 there's another danger
00:10:41 --> 00:10:41 here as well.
00:10:42 --> 00:10:43 It's to go
00:10:43 --> 00:10:43 in the totally
00:10:43 --> 00:10:44 opposite direction
00:10:44 --> 00:10:45 and promote
00:10:45 --> 00:10:46 freedom
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 from having to
00:10:47 --> 00:10:47 live in any
00:10:47 --> 00:10:48 certain way.
00:10:49 --> 00:10:50 Believe in the mantra
00:10:50 --> 00:10:50 that Paul spoke
00:10:50 --> 00:10:51 against in Romans
00:10:51 --> 00:10:52 which is
00:10:52 --> 00:10:53 why not sin
00:10:53 --> 00:10:54 that grace
00:10:54 --> 00:10:55 may abound
00:10:55 --> 00:10:55 all the more?
00:10:57 --> 00:10:58 And that response
00:10:58 --> 00:10:59 is also dangerous.
00:11:00 --> 00:11:01 And there are
00:11:01 --> 00:11:01 people in churches
00:11:01 --> 00:11:02 who promote
00:11:02 --> 00:11:03 this kind of response.
00:11:04 --> 00:11:04 They say
00:11:04 --> 00:11:05 it's okay
00:11:05 --> 00:11:06 to sleep
00:11:06 --> 00:11:06 with your boyfriend
00:11:06 --> 00:11:07 or your girlfriend
00:11:07 --> 00:11:08 outside of marriage.
00:11:09 --> 00:11:09 It's okay
00:11:09 --> 00:11:11 to lie in your tax return
00:11:11 --> 00:11:11 to get a little bit
00:11:11 --> 00:11:12 more back
00:11:12 --> 00:11:12 from the government.
00:11:13 --> 00:11:14 It's okay
00:11:14 --> 00:11:15 to get drunk
00:11:15 --> 00:11:15 not that bad
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 as long as you
00:11:16 --> 00:11:17 don't hurt anyone.
00:11:19 --> 00:11:19 And God doesn't
00:11:19 --> 00:11:20 want you to give
00:11:20 --> 00:11:21 money to church
00:11:21 --> 00:11:21 that's okay.
00:11:21 --> 00:11:22 God just wants
00:11:22 --> 00:11:23 you to love him.
00:11:25 --> 00:11:26 Such proponents
00:11:26 --> 00:11:27 who say these things
00:11:27 --> 00:11:27 of this kind
00:11:27 --> 00:11:28 of message
00:11:28 --> 00:11:29 misunderstand
00:11:29 --> 00:11:30 the gospel
00:11:30 --> 00:11:31 because
00:11:31 --> 00:11:33 of the things
00:11:33 --> 00:11:33 they value.
00:11:34 --> 00:11:34 They are looking
00:11:34 --> 00:11:35 at the gospel
00:11:35 --> 00:11:36 through the things
00:11:36 --> 00:11:37 they value.
00:11:37 --> 00:11:38 And they value
00:11:38 --> 00:11:39 material things.
00:11:39 --> 00:11:40 They value
00:11:40 --> 00:11:41 their lifestyles
00:11:41 --> 00:11:42 and their freedoms.
00:11:43 --> 00:11:44 And so in turn
00:11:44 --> 00:11:45 looking at the gospel
00:11:45 --> 00:11:46 through those values
00:11:46 --> 00:11:48 they have corrupted it
00:11:48 --> 00:11:49 and distorted it
00:11:49 --> 00:11:51 and have led
00:11:51 --> 00:11:51 many people away
00:11:51 --> 00:11:52 from it as well.
00:11:54 --> 00:11:55 We need to watch out
00:11:55 --> 00:11:57 for these people.
00:11:58 --> 00:11:59 For people who tell us
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 that the gospel
00:12:00 --> 00:12:01 is all about works
00:12:01 --> 00:12:01 and achieving
00:12:01 --> 00:12:02 some sort of status
00:12:02 --> 00:12:03 before God
00:12:03 --> 00:12:04 that we can be
00:12:04 --> 00:12:05 right before him.
00:12:05 --> 00:12:06 But we all seem
00:12:06 --> 00:12:06 to watch out
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 for the other extreme
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 as well.
00:12:08 --> 00:12:09 Saying that it
00:12:09 --> 00:12:10 doesn't matter
00:12:10 --> 00:12:11 about how you act
00:12:11 --> 00:12:12 and how you live.
00:12:12 --> 00:12:13 Just believe
00:12:13 --> 00:12:14 and Jesus
00:12:14 --> 00:12:15 will still love you.
00:12:17 --> 00:12:17 We must
00:12:17 --> 00:12:18 clearly anchor
00:12:18 --> 00:12:19 our mind
00:12:19 --> 00:12:20 and our heart
00:12:20 --> 00:12:22 that to belong
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 to the people
00:12:23 --> 00:12:23 of God
00:12:23 --> 00:12:24 is to serve him
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 the power
00:12:25 --> 00:12:26 of the spirits.
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 to boast
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 only in Jesus
00:12:28 --> 00:12:29 and what he has done
00:12:29 --> 00:12:29 for us
00:12:29 --> 00:12:31 and to put no confidence
00:12:31 --> 00:12:33 in ourselves.
00:12:34 --> 00:12:34 It's a call
00:12:34 --> 00:12:36 to humbly trust
00:12:36 --> 00:12:36 in Jesus
00:12:36 --> 00:12:38 and in him
00:12:38 --> 00:12:38 alone.
00:12:40 --> 00:12:40 However
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 the antithesis
00:12:41 --> 00:12:43 of humbleness
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 is pride.
00:12:45 --> 00:12:45 And the world
00:12:45 --> 00:12:47 would feed our pride
00:12:47 --> 00:12:48 by having us think
00:12:48 --> 00:12:49 we are capable
00:12:49 --> 00:12:50 of our own salvation
00:12:50 --> 00:12:51 whether it's eternal
00:12:51 --> 00:12:52 or simply just
00:12:52 --> 00:12:54 to live the good life.
00:12:54 --> 00:12:55 the world
00:12:55 --> 00:12:55 would use
00:12:55 --> 00:12:56 the things
00:12:56 --> 00:12:56 we value
00:12:56 --> 00:12:58 to infiltrate
00:12:58 --> 00:12:58 our thinking
00:12:58 --> 00:13:00 twisting our
00:13:00 --> 00:13:01 perception of them
00:13:01 --> 00:13:01 making us view
00:13:01 --> 00:13:02 the gospel
00:13:02 --> 00:13:03 through the lens
00:13:03 --> 00:13:04 of what we value most
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05 and therefore
00:13:05 --> 00:13:06 opening us up
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 to being distorted
00:13:07 --> 00:13:09 and misunderstood.
00:13:11 --> 00:13:12 And hence
00:13:12 --> 00:13:13 what you get
00:13:13 --> 00:13:14 is the dogs
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 in Philippians.
00:13:16 --> 00:13:17 You get
00:13:17 --> 00:13:18 the liberalist
00:13:18 --> 00:13:18 Christians
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 of then and now
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 who say
00:13:20 --> 00:13:20 you can do
00:13:20 --> 00:13:21 whatever you want.
00:13:21 --> 00:13:24 Paul knows
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 all too well
00:13:25 --> 00:13:25 this danger
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 and how easily
00:13:26 --> 00:13:28 the gospel
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 can become corrupted
00:13:29 --> 00:13:29 and distorted
00:13:29 --> 00:13:30 and so he puts
00:13:30 --> 00:13:31 himself forward
00:13:31 --> 00:13:33 as a case study
00:13:33 --> 00:13:33 that we might
00:13:33 --> 00:13:35 truly grasp
00:13:35 --> 00:13:36 but there is no
00:13:36 --> 00:13:36 benefit
00:13:36 --> 00:13:38 in being like
00:13:38 --> 00:13:38 those
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 he's opposing
00:13:39 --> 00:13:39 here
00:13:39 --> 00:13:41 and there's no
00:13:41 --> 00:13:41 benefit
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 in looking at
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 the gospel
00:13:43 --> 00:13:43 for the values
00:13:43 --> 00:13:45 of those
00:13:45 --> 00:13:45 lifestyles
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 and freedoms
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 of the liberalist
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 type Christians
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 that we would
00:13:49 --> 00:13:50 not be tempted
00:13:50 --> 00:13:52 by these things.
00:13:52 --> 00:13:52 From verse 4
00:13:52 --> 00:13:54 Though I myself
00:13:54 --> 00:13:55 have reasons
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 for such confidence
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 if someone else
00:13:57 --> 00:13:58 thinks they have
00:13:58 --> 00:13:58 reasons to put
00:13:58 --> 00:13:59 confidence in the flesh
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 I have more
00:14:00 --> 00:14:02 circumcised
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 in the eighth day
00:14:03 --> 00:14:03 of the people
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 of Israel
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 of the tribe
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 of Benjamin
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 a Hebrew
00:14:07 --> 00:14:07 of Hebrews
00:14:07 --> 00:14:09 in regards
00:14:09 --> 00:14:09 to the law
00:14:09 --> 00:14:11 a Pharisee
00:14:11 --> 00:14:11 as for zeal
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 persecuting
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 the church
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 as for righteousness
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 based on the law
00:14:15 --> 00:14:17 faultless.
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 As he so often
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 does
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 Paul applies
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 the logic
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 to himself
00:14:23 --> 00:14:23 You know
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 these Jewish
00:14:24 --> 00:14:24 Christians
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 they might have
00:14:25 --> 00:14:25 a lot to boast
00:14:25 --> 00:14:25 about
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 they might have
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 done a lot
00:14:27 --> 00:14:27 of good works
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 and they are
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 circumcised as well
00:14:29 --> 00:14:29 so yeah
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 they might be
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 pretty good Jews
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 but no one
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 compares to Paul
00:14:33 --> 00:14:35 Paul is the Jew
00:14:35 --> 00:14:36 he is the
00:14:36 --> 00:14:38 Jew you want to be
00:14:38 --> 00:14:38 pretty much
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 he doesn't get
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 much better
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 he's almost
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 perfect
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 and so if anyone
00:14:43 --> 00:14:45 could know God
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 as a Jew
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 it would be Paul
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 and if you had
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 the credentials
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 that Paul had
00:14:50 --> 00:14:50 as a Jew
00:14:50 --> 00:14:51 you'd be thrilled
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 you'd be stoked
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 because you knew
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 that Paul
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 was someone
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 who could know God
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 and yet
00:14:57 --> 00:14:59 in a sharp reversal
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 the treasure
00:15:00 --> 00:15:02 becomes the trash
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 verse 7
00:15:03 --> 00:15:24 the terminology
00:15:24 --> 00:15:26 here Paul uses
00:15:26 --> 00:15:26 of loss
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 and gain
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 is basic
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 commerce language
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 and he's borrowing
00:15:30 --> 00:15:30 it to help
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 him describe
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 how much
00:15:32 --> 00:15:32 he considers
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 Jesus to be
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 the ultimate
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 thing he values
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 and how his
00:15:36 --> 00:15:36 credentials
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 his status
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 his past life
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 as a Jew
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 is ultimately
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 just worthless
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 and therefore
00:15:42 --> 00:15:42 trash
00:15:42 --> 00:15:44 so if you think
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 of a balance sheet
00:15:45 --> 00:15:47 before Paul
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 heard the gospel
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 all his credentials
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 were listed
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 as positive
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 as profit
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 as gain
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 you know
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 as a Jew
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 it looked immensely
00:15:56 --> 00:15:56 profitable
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 you probably
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 want to invest
00:15:58 --> 00:15:58 in Paul
00:15:58 --> 00:16:00 he was a very
00:16:00 --> 00:16:00 good investment
00:16:00 --> 00:16:02 but then when he
00:16:02 --> 00:16:02 heard the gospel
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 it all changed
00:16:03 --> 00:16:05 he came to know
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 something of
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 unprecedented value
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 that was now
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 his
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 and this calls
00:16:10 --> 00:16:12 Paul to reassess
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 everything
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 in his balance sheet
00:16:14 --> 00:16:16 and without
00:16:16 --> 00:16:16 question
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 or pondering
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 he straight away
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 gets his list
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 of credentials
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 and strikes them
00:16:21 --> 00:16:21 out
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 as a loss
00:16:22 --> 00:16:24 their asset
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 value had
00:16:25 --> 00:16:25 dropped
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 significantly
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 to the point
00:16:27 --> 00:16:27 where they
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 were no longer
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 profitable
00:16:29 --> 00:16:29 and more
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 than that
00:16:30 --> 00:16:30 they weren't
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 just no longer
00:16:31 --> 00:16:31 profitable
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 they were now
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 a liability
00:16:33 --> 00:16:35 they are now
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 costly
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 to Paul
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 and so he
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 has to strike
00:16:39 --> 00:16:39 them out
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 and get rid
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 of them
00:16:41 --> 00:16:41 lest these
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 liabilities
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 would now
00:16:43 --> 00:16:43 affect
00:16:43 --> 00:16:45 or even
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 take away
00:16:46 --> 00:16:46 what he has
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 gained
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 as something
00:16:48 --> 00:16:48 so precious
00:16:48 --> 00:16:50 in Jesus
00:16:50 --> 00:16:52 indeed he
00:16:52 --> 00:16:52 feels so
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 strong
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 seeing
00:16:54 --> 00:16:54 seeing
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 the things
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 not only
00:16:56 --> 00:16:56 as he
00:16:56 --> 00:16:56 wants
00:16:56 --> 00:16:56 valued
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 as
00:16:57 --> 00:16:57 merely
00:16:57 --> 00:16:57 lost
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 but also
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 as
00:16:59 --> 00:16:59 trash
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 and garbage
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 in verse
00:17:01 --> 00:17:01 9
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 now the
00:17:02 --> 00:17:02 translation
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 here is
00:17:03 --> 00:17:03 probably
00:17:03 --> 00:17:03 not strong
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 enough
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 the word
00:17:05 --> 00:17:05 used
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 is
00:17:06 --> 00:17:06 skubala
00:17:06 --> 00:17:08 it's
00:17:08 --> 00:17:08 more or less
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 of an
00:17:09 --> 00:17:09 ancient
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 swear word
00:17:10 --> 00:17:12 and the
00:17:12 --> 00:17:12 early church
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 fathers
00:17:13 --> 00:17:13 who were
00:17:13 --> 00:17:13 reading
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 Paul
00:17:14 --> 00:17:14 were so
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 embarrassed
00:17:15 --> 00:17:15 by Paul's
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 use of
00:17:16 --> 00:17:16 the word
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 they tried
00:17:17 --> 00:17:17 to kind
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 of soften
00:17:18 --> 00:17:18 it a little
00:17:18 --> 00:17:18 bit
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 saying no
00:17:19 --> 00:17:19 Paul
00:17:19 --> 00:17:19 didn't
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 really
00:17:20 --> 00:17:20 mean
00:17:20 --> 00:17:20 that
00:17:20 --> 00:17:20 he more
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 meant
00:17:21 --> 00:17:21 just
00:17:21 --> 00:17:21 you know
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 not very
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 nice
00:17:23 --> 00:17:23 not very
00:17:23 --> 00:17:23 good
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 worthless
00:17:24 --> 00:17:26 but in
00:17:26 --> 00:17:26 reality
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 the word
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 describes
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 something
00:17:29 --> 00:17:29 vulgar
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 and abhorrent
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 it's better
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 understood
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 as someone's
00:17:33 --> 00:17:33 excrement
00:17:33 --> 00:17:35 dung
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 and crap
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 are probably
00:17:37 --> 00:17:37 the strongest
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 words I could
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 use in front
00:17:39 --> 00:17:39 of you right
00:17:39 --> 00:17:39 now
00:17:39 --> 00:17:41 but that's
00:17:41 --> 00:17:41 how he
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 considers his
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 past credentials
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 crap
00:17:44 --> 00:17:47 it might
00:17:47 --> 00:17:47 seem so
00:17:47 --> 00:17:47 drastic
00:17:47 --> 00:17:49 and offensive
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 and it
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 should
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 but Paul
00:17:51 --> 00:17:51 is so
00:17:51 --> 00:17:53 deeply
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 convicted
00:17:54 --> 00:17:54 that if
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 he doesn't
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 draw the
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 line
00:17:57 --> 00:17:57 to such
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 an extreme
00:17:58 --> 00:17:58 if he
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 gives
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 even some
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 value to
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 his past
00:18:02 --> 00:18:02 credentials
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 then he
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 will be
00:18:04 --> 00:18:04 giving them
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 a foothold
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 into his
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 heart
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 he'll be
00:18:08 --> 00:18:08 giving them
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 a chance
00:18:09 --> 00:18:11 for him
00:18:11 --> 00:18:11 to then
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 view the
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 gospel
00:18:13 --> 00:18:13 through
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 his
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 credentials
00:18:15 --> 00:18:15 the lens
00:18:15 --> 00:18:15 of his
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 credentials
00:18:16 --> 00:18:18 and that's
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 just not
00:18:19 --> 00:18:19 worth it
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 for Paul
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 so much
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 so that he
00:18:22 --> 00:18:22 sits in
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 prison
00:18:23 --> 00:18:23 writing
00:18:23 --> 00:18:23 these words
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 having
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 truly lost
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 everything
00:18:26 --> 00:18:26 that he's
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 ever had
00:18:27 --> 00:18:29 but having
00:18:29 --> 00:18:29 kept and
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 having always
00:18:30 --> 00:18:30 gained
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 Jesus
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 which is
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 all he
00:18:33 --> 00:18:33 needs
00:18:33 --> 00:18:35 you see
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 the danger
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 for Paul
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 is that
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 if he
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 places any
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 value in
00:18:41 --> 00:18:41 these things
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 he'd be
00:18:42 --> 00:18:42 tempted to
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 also place
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 his confidence
00:18:44 --> 00:18:44 in these
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 things as
00:18:45 --> 00:18:45 well
00:18:45 --> 00:18:48 and therefore
00:18:48 --> 00:18:48 his confidence
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 for them
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 in salvation
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 and that's
00:18:51 --> 00:18:51 the primary
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 issue for us
00:18:52 --> 00:18:52 here
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 it's the
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 temptation to
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 look at the
00:18:55 --> 00:18:55 things we
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 value in
00:18:56 --> 00:18:56 our life
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 and place
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 our confidence
00:18:58 --> 00:18:58 and our
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 trust in
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 them above
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 Christ
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 allowing
00:19:02 --> 00:19:02 them
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 allowing
00:19:03 --> 00:19:03 them
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 for the
00:19:04 --> 00:19:04 gospel
00:19:04 --> 00:19:04 to become
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 corrupted
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 and distorted
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 it's a
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 subtle danger
00:19:08 --> 00:19:10 but one
00:19:10 --> 00:19:10 that comes
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 at great
00:19:11 --> 00:19:11 cost
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 if it's
00:19:12 --> 00:19:12 left
00:19:12 --> 00:19:14 unchecked
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 indeed
00:19:15 --> 00:19:15 what's at
00:19:15 --> 00:19:15 stake
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 for Paul
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 was the
00:19:17 --> 00:19:17 knowledge
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 that came
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 by gaining
00:19:19 --> 00:19:19 Christ
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 a knowledge
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 unsurpassed
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 in value
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 verse 9
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 and be
00:19:24 --> 00:19:24 found in
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 him
00:19:25 --> 00:19:25 not having
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 a righteousness
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 of my own
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 that comes
00:19:28 --> 00:19:28 from the
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 Lord
00:19:29 --> 00:19:29 but that
00:19:29 --> 00:19:29 which is
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 through faith
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 in Christ
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 the righteousness
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 that comes
00:19:33 --> 00:19:33 from God
00:19:33 --> 00:19:33 and the
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 basis of
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 faith
00:19:35 --> 00:19:35 I want
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 to know
00:19:36 --> 00:19:36 Christ
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 yes
00:19:37 --> 00:19:37 to know
00:19:37 --> 00:19:37 the power
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 of his
00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 resurrection
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 and participation
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 in his
00:19:40 --> 00:19:40 sufferings
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 but becoming
00:19:41 --> 00:19:41 like him
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 in his
00:19:42 --> 00:19:42 death
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 and so
00:19:43 --> 00:19:43 somehow
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 attaining
00:19:44 --> 00:19:44 to the
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 resurrection
00:19:45 --> 00:19:45 from the
00:19:45 --> 00:19:45 dead
00:19:45 --> 00:19:47 the knowledge
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 of Christ
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 that we
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 are made
00:19:50 --> 00:19:50 right with
00:19:50 --> 00:19:50 God
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 through faith
00:19:51 --> 00:19:51 alone
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 that we
00:19:52 --> 00:19:52 are made
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 righteous
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 through
00:19:54 --> 00:19:54 Christ's
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 own work
00:19:55 --> 00:19:55 itself
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 that we
00:19:56 --> 00:19:56 partake
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 not only
00:19:57 --> 00:19:57 in his
00:19:57 --> 00:19:57 suffering
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 but in his
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 resurrection
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 that we
00:20:00 --> 00:20:00 can one
00:20:00 --> 00:20:00 day be
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 assured
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 that our
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 own
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 resurrection
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 as well
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 all of
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 this
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 our
00:20:05 --> 00:20:05 knowledge
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 in Jesus
00:20:06 --> 00:20:06 is at
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 stake
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 for Paul
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 when we
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 fail to
00:20:10 --> 00:20:10 consider
00:20:10 --> 00:20:10 everything
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 loss
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 a liability
00:20:12 --> 00:20:14 to gain
00:20:14 --> 00:20:14 Jesus
00:20:14 --> 00:20:18 what are
00:20:18 --> 00:20:18 the things
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 in your
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 life
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 that are
00:20:21 --> 00:20:21 potentially
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 becoming
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 more and
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 more of a
00:20:24 --> 00:20:24 liability
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 to your
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 faith
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 is it
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 your desire
00:20:28 --> 00:20:28 to be
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 seen
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 as holy
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 and good
00:20:30 --> 00:20:32 are you
00:20:32 --> 00:20:32 beginning to
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 think that
00:20:33 --> 00:20:33 to be
00:20:33 --> 00:20:33 saved
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 and right
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 before God
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 you need
00:20:35 --> 00:20:35 to be at
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 least this
00:20:36 --> 00:20:36 good
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 or have
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 done this
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 in your
00:20:38 --> 00:20:38 life
00:20:38 --> 00:20:38 and have
00:20:38 --> 00:20:38 never done
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 that
00:20:39 --> 00:20:42 is it
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 your desire
00:20:43 --> 00:20:43 to be
00:20:43 --> 00:20:43 comfortable
00:20:43 --> 00:20:45 and happy
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 are you
00:20:46 --> 00:20:46 beginning to
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 think that
00:20:47 --> 00:20:47 it's
00:20:47 --> 00:20:49 unimaginable
00:20:49 --> 00:20:49 that God
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 would ever
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 ever take
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 away good
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 things from
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 you
00:20:52 --> 00:20:52 that he
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 would ever
00:20:53 --> 00:20:53 let you
00:20:53 --> 00:20:53 suffer
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 and then still
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 be good
00:20:55 --> 00:20:55 somehow
00:20:55 --> 00:20:58 these
00:20:58 --> 00:20:58 things
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 are
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 liabilities
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 the gospel
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 calls us
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 to consider
00:21:02 --> 00:21:04 garbage
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 lest
00:21:05 --> 00:21:07 we lose
00:21:07 --> 00:21:07 our faith
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 in the
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 true knowledge
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 of Jesus
00:21:09 --> 00:21:12 they have
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 potential
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 to shipwreck
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 your faith
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 and make you
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 lose sight
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 of the truth
00:21:18 --> 00:21:18 they have the
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 potential to
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 destroy your
00:21:20 --> 00:21:20 knowledge
00:21:20 --> 00:21:22 of what is
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 true
00:21:22 --> 00:21:24 what in
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 your life
00:21:25 --> 00:21:27 that you
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 value
00:21:27 --> 00:21:29 is becoming
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 more and
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 more of a
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 liability
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 what is it
00:21:31 --> 00:21:33 as you sit
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 here now
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 reassessing your
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 relationship with
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 the world
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 what are the
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 things in your
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 life
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 the things
00:21:39 --> 00:21:39 that you
00:21:39 --> 00:21:39 value
00:21:39 --> 00:21:41 that might
00:21:41 --> 00:21:41 become your
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 liability to
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 what you
00:21:43 --> 00:21:43 should value
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 most
00:21:44 --> 00:21:44 Jesus
00:21:44 --> 00:21:48 how do we
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 continue to
00:21:49 --> 00:21:49 not lose
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 sight
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 of Jesus
00:21:51 --> 00:21:53 how do we
00:21:53 --> 00:21:53 stop everyday
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 things in our
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 life becoming
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 too valuable
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 because reality
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 is we're
00:21:58 --> 00:21:58 bombarded
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 every single
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 day by a
00:22:00 --> 00:22:00 world that
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 tells us to
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 value this
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 or value that
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 value your own
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 comfort
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 value your own
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 happiness
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 value your own
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 life above
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 anything else
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 it's hard to
00:22:09 --> 00:22:11 keep Jesus at the
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 centre of our
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 life
00:22:12 --> 00:22:12 it's hard to
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 continue to
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 see him as
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 the most precious
00:22:15 --> 00:22:15 and valuable
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 thing in our
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 life when the
00:22:17 --> 00:22:17 world is saying
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 otherwise
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 and we only
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 gather here
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 once a week
00:22:21 --> 00:22:21 the world is
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 bombarding us
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 six other
00:22:23 --> 00:22:23 days of the
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 week 24
00:22:24 --> 00:22:24 7
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 so how do
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 we not
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 lose sight of
00:22:27 --> 00:22:27 Jesus and
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 how do we
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 continue to
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 value him
00:22:30 --> 00:22:30 above all
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 else that we
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 might not let
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 liabilities in
00:22:33 --> 00:22:33 our life
00:22:33 --> 00:22:35 take that away
00:22:35 --> 00:22:38 it's very simple
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 actually but
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 very hard to
00:22:40 --> 00:22:40 do
00:22:40 --> 00:22:42 and at the
00:22:42 --> 00:22:42 beginning of
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 the first
00:22:43 --> 00:22:43 verse
00:22:43 --> 00:22:45 he says
00:22:45 --> 00:22:45 Paul at the
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 very beginning
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 further my
00:22:47 --> 00:22:47 brothers and
00:22:47 --> 00:22:49 sisters rejoice
00:22:49 --> 00:22:51 rejoice in
00:22:51 --> 00:22:51 the Lord
00:22:51 --> 00:22:53 Paul's command
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 to watch out
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 for those in
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 the church who
00:22:56 --> 00:22:56 might warp our
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 understanding of
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 the gospel stems
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 from his ultimate
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 purpose for us
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 his ultimate
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 command for us
00:23:02 --> 00:23:02 as a church
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 and that is to
00:23:03 --> 00:23:05 rejoice rejoice
00:23:05 --> 00:23:07 always in Jesus
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 to never forget
00:23:08 --> 00:23:11 who and what
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 is at the
00:23:12 --> 00:23:12 centre of your
00:23:12 --> 00:23:14 life of our
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 life to choose
00:23:15 --> 00:23:17 daily to make
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 the object of
00:23:18 --> 00:23:18 your joy and
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 of your delight
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 your passion
00:23:20 --> 00:23:22 Jesus who
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 is supremely
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 more valuable
00:23:24 --> 00:23:24 than anything
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 you could ever
00:23:25 --> 00:23:27 gain in this
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 life he has
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 made a way for
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 you to know
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 God he is the
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 one who can
00:23:32 --> 00:23:32 give you what
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 the world is
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 searching for in
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 all the wrong
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 places eternal
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 life he is the
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 one who gives us
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 hope in times of
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 suffering and
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 despair and in a
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 chaotic world we
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 can hold on to
00:23:43 --> 00:23:46 him knowing that
00:23:46 --> 00:23:46 he will bring
00:23:46 --> 00:23:49 us through and
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 so daily choose
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 him choose to
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 take joy in
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 him choose to
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 rejoice in
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 him continue to
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 make him the
00:23:56 --> 00:23:58 object of joy in
00:23:58 --> 00:24:00 your life make
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 reading the word
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 a priority make
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 prayer a priority
00:24:03 --> 00:24:03 make gathering
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 together in small
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 group a priority
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 that you might
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 continue to look
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 at the world for
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 the lens of the
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 gospel and not the
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 world through the
00:24:11 --> 00:24:16 gospel the world
00:24:16 --> 00:24:16 will always be
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 there to feed our
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 pride to tempt us
00:24:18 --> 00:24:20 to find value in
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 things of the
00:24:21 --> 00:24:24 world and so it
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 will always bombard
00:24:25 --> 00:24:25 us and it will
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 always be difficult
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 but that's why we
00:24:27 --> 00:24:29 have this right
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 now that's why we
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 gather together
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 because what we're
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 doing here right
00:24:33 --> 00:24:35 now is reminding
00:24:35 --> 00:24:35 each other of the
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 good news of
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 Jesus we gather
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 here each Sunday
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 to continue to
00:24:39 --> 00:24:41 reassess our life
00:24:41 --> 00:24:41 against the
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 gospel itself to
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 continue to tell
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 each other the
00:24:44 --> 00:24:44 good news of
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 Jesus that we
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 might continue to
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 place him in our
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 life as the most
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 valuable thing there
00:24:49 --> 00:24:52 is we remind each
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 other of this good
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 news so for those
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 of us who doubt
00:24:55 --> 00:24:55 that good news we
00:24:55 --> 00:24:57 can be encouraged
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 encouraged to
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 continue trusting
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 in Jesus as the
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 most ultimate and
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 valuable thing and
00:25:02 --> 00:25:02 for those of us
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 here who have
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 forgotten that who
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 have begun to
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 value other things
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 in the world we
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 come to him remind
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 each other that no
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 Jesus is the most
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11 valuable thing and
00:25:11 --> 00:25:13 so repent and turn
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 back to Jesus that
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 we might continue to
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 rejoice in him and
00:25:16 --> 00:25:18 him alone because he
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 is the most satisfying
00:25:19 --> 00:25:21 thing the most worthy
00:25:21 --> 00:25:23 thing of our time and
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 our praise there is
00:25:24 --> 00:25:26 nothing better in this
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 whole world than
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 gaining and keeping
00:25:28 --> 00:25:30 Jesus which is yours
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 today and this
00:25:31 --> 00:25:34 evening so continue to
00:25:34 --> 00:25:37 rejoice in him let me
00:25:37 --> 00:25:41 pray heavenly father we
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 thank you so much that
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 in your word you are
00:25:43 --> 00:25:45 merciful to us and
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 you reveal to us how
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 we can know you through
00:25:47 --> 00:25:49 your son we pray father
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 that we would not be
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 tempted by this world
00:25:51 --> 00:25:53 to value other things
00:25:53 --> 00:25:55 to look and to read the
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 gospel through the
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 things of this world
00:25:57 --> 00:25:59 that we value but father
00:25:59 --> 00:26:01 we continue to reassess
00:26:01 --> 00:26:03 ourselves always through
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 the lens of the gospel
00:26:04 --> 00:26:06 would we always see how
00:26:06 --> 00:26:08 incredibly wonderful it
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 is the gift of your son
00:26:09 --> 00:26:11 that he has come to save
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 us and to die for us
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 that we might know you
00:26:13 --> 00:26:16 father we pray that we
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 would never take our
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 eyes off of him that we
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 would continue to always
00:26:19 --> 00:26:21 trust in him and to see
00:26:21 --> 00:26:23 him as the most valuable
00:26:23 --> 00:26:25 thing in our life that we
00:26:25 --> 00:26:27 would always keep him for
00:26:28 --> 00:26:30 all eternity and we pray
00:26:30 --> 00:26:32 this in your son's precious
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 name amen