Partners Confident in Christ
Speaker: Chris Ashton
Date: 6th November 2010
Passage: Philippians 3:1-11
00:00:00 --> 00:00:04 Thanks for reading Joe and Gus.
00:00:05 --> 00:00:11 It would be great if you could keep Philippians chapter 3 open, that's what I'll be preaching from.
00:00:12 --> 00:00:16 Hopefully you might have all received a sermon outline as you came in.
00:00:16 --> 00:00:18 Has anyone not got a sermon outline?
00:00:19 --> 00:00:24 Or is anyone not able to look on with a sermon outline? I think that's everyone.
00:00:24 --> 00:00:34 Well, I trust that most people here are becoming reasonably familiar with Paul's letter to the Philippians,
00:00:34 --> 00:00:40 as we not only have it preached to us, but also studying it in our small groups.
00:00:41 --> 00:00:45 And if you're not in one, can I just say that you should consider joining one.
00:00:46 --> 00:00:49 Come and have a chat with me afterward.
00:00:49 --> 00:00:55 The most Elise and I have ever had in our lounge room for small group is about 18 people.
00:00:56 --> 00:01:01 But if we take out some of the furniture and stand, then we could probably get 50 or something.
00:01:01 --> 00:01:04 So there's plenty of room for you in a small group.
00:01:05 --> 00:01:12 And Elise is looking a bit concerned, so if you come to me, then I'll actually refer you to another small group.
00:01:12 --> 00:01:14 There's plenty of good ones going around.
00:01:14 --> 00:01:20 But my point is that we're studying Philippians, and hopefully you're beginning to understand it
00:01:20 --> 00:01:28 and to see why Steve chose this book to coincide with Vision Sunday two weeks ago
00:01:28 --> 00:01:32 and with Commitment Sunday that's coming up in a few weeks' time.
00:01:32 --> 00:01:38 Paul's vision for the Philippian church is one not of church numbers and logos
00:01:38 --> 00:01:43 and ministry programs, as important as these things may be,
00:01:44 --> 00:01:49 but his vision is of the glory of God and the supremacy of Christ,
00:01:50 --> 00:01:54 the exclusivity of the gospel, the righteousness of God's people,
00:01:54 --> 00:01:57 and the suffering of God's church.
00:01:57 --> 00:01:59 And that should be our vision as well.
00:02:00 --> 00:02:01 And particularly suffering.
00:02:02 --> 00:02:05 We live in an evil age.
00:02:05 --> 00:02:10 I'm not suggesting that it's necessarily more evil than 10 years ago
00:02:10 --> 00:02:12 or 20 or 50 or 1 years ago,
00:02:12 --> 00:02:14 but it's evil nonetheless.
00:02:14 --> 00:02:21 And that realisation alone should convince us of the need to be ready to suffer.
00:02:22 --> 00:02:24 But it's more than that.
00:02:25 --> 00:02:29 The path of righteousness for God's people is costly.
00:02:30 --> 00:02:34 If you haven't read Dietrich Bonhoeffer's wonderful book,
00:02:34 --> 00:02:37 The Cost of Discipleship, you should.
00:02:37 --> 00:02:38 You should read it.
00:02:38 --> 00:02:40 And I think the title says it all.
00:02:40 --> 00:02:41 The Cost of Discipleship.
00:02:41 --> 00:02:47 There's no place for cheap discipleship and cheap grace.
00:02:47 --> 00:02:48 It's costly.
00:02:49 --> 00:02:51 But it's more than that.
00:02:51 --> 00:02:53 The reality is,
00:02:53 --> 00:02:57 and this is the number one reason that the church should prepare to suffer,
00:02:58 --> 00:03:01 is that God promises that it will happen.
00:03:01 --> 00:03:03 He promises that it will happen.
00:03:03 --> 00:03:07 This is my first point on the sermon outline.
00:03:07 --> 00:03:12 And our text of scripture really won't make any sense unless you believe this.
00:03:13 --> 00:03:15 God has promised that his people will suffer,
00:03:16 --> 00:03:20 and nothing is more certain than a promise in God's word.
00:03:20 --> 00:03:27 And so you're a fool if you think that you can be a Christian and simply avoid it.
00:03:28 --> 00:03:33 And you're a fool if you're a Christian and you fail to prepare for it.
00:03:34 --> 00:03:36 And let me just give you a couple of examples from scripture.
00:03:37 --> 00:03:39 In Acts chapter 14 verse 22,
00:03:39 --> 00:03:44 Paul teaches that it is through many tribulations that we enter the kingdom.
00:03:44 --> 00:03:47 In John chapter 15 verse 20,
00:03:48 --> 00:03:49 Jesus himself says,
00:03:49 --> 00:03:53 If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.
00:03:54 --> 00:03:56 In 1 Peter chapter 4 verse 12,
00:03:57 --> 00:03:59 the apostle tells the churches in Asia Minor,
00:04:00 --> 00:04:06 Do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you,
00:04:07 --> 00:04:10 as though something strange were happening to you.
00:04:10 --> 00:04:11 Don't be surprised, Christians.
00:04:12 --> 00:04:13 It's not strange.
00:04:13 --> 00:04:14 It's not unusual.
00:04:14 --> 00:04:17 It's absolutely par for the course.
00:04:19 --> 00:04:23 And as Paul himself writes in 2 Timothy,
00:04:24 --> 00:04:25 chapter 3 verse 12,
00:04:26 --> 00:04:30 All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
00:04:32 --> 00:04:36 Now, you'll see on the sermon outline there,
00:04:36 --> 00:04:39 I've got a point, the prosperity gospel.
00:04:39 --> 00:04:41 I should say the prosperity so-called gospel.
00:04:41 --> 00:04:46 And sometimes people ask why I often mention the prosperity gospel,
00:04:46 --> 00:04:47 if we'll call it that,
00:04:47 --> 00:04:50 and why I preach against it and why I hate it so much.
00:04:50 --> 00:04:53 And this is why.
00:04:53 --> 00:05:01 I hate any suggestion that the Christian life is about earthly prosperity because it is anti-Bible,
00:05:02 --> 00:05:03 it's anti-Gospel,
00:05:04 --> 00:05:05 it's anti-Jesus,
00:05:05 --> 00:05:08 and it fails to prepare God's people.
00:05:08 --> 00:05:13 God's saints for the suffering that they will experience.
00:05:13 --> 00:05:24 And that they will experience more of the more they desire to live a righteous life that brings glory to God in Christ Jesus.
00:05:24 --> 00:05:28 And so, after careful consideration,
00:05:28 --> 00:05:32 you'll be pleased to know that I've decided not to preach a prosperity message tonight,
00:05:33 --> 00:05:38 but rather I think my job, given this passage, is to prepare you to suffer.
00:05:38 --> 00:05:44 And our text, as I said, is particularly helpful in that regard.
00:05:45 --> 00:05:49 So, my second point is that God graciously prepares his people to suffer.
00:05:49 --> 00:05:51 And I want to show you that from the text.
00:05:51 --> 00:05:54 Look with me from verse 5.
00:05:55 --> 00:05:56 It's about Paul's life,
00:05:56 --> 00:06:00 and it was quite a remarkable life before he became a Christian, wasn't it?
00:06:01 --> 00:06:01 Have a look with me.
00:06:01 --> 00:06:03 Circumcised on the eighth day,
00:06:04 --> 00:06:08 Paul had been sealed with the outward sign of God's grace.
00:06:10 --> 00:06:11 Of the people of Israel,
00:06:12 --> 00:06:14 he's of the correct religion.
00:06:15 --> 00:06:16 Of the tribe of Benjamin,
00:06:16 --> 00:06:19 his pedigree is without equal.
00:06:20 --> 00:06:22 He's from the tribe that King Saul came from.
00:06:23 --> 00:06:25 A Hebrew of Hebrews.
00:06:26 --> 00:06:27 Now, this is an amazing statement,
00:06:28 --> 00:06:31 and I think it shows that Paul was no mere adherent
00:06:31 --> 00:06:32 to Judaism.
00:06:33 --> 00:06:35 His life was actually the epitome of it.
00:06:38 --> 00:06:40 In regard to the law,
00:06:41 --> 00:06:41 a Pharisee.
00:06:42 --> 00:06:47 Paul was part of the highest category of law keepers that there was.
00:06:47 --> 00:06:48 And as to zeal,
00:06:49 --> 00:06:50 persecuting the church.
00:06:50 --> 00:06:53 He was so zealous for Judaism,
00:06:53 --> 00:06:55 so zealous he thought for God,
00:06:55 --> 00:06:58 that he led the persecution of God's enemies,
00:06:58 --> 00:06:58 namely,
00:06:59 --> 00:07:00 the church of Jesus Christ.
00:07:00 --> 00:07:03 And as for legalistic righteousness,
00:07:05 --> 00:07:05 faultless.
00:07:06 --> 00:07:07 All of the above,
00:07:07 --> 00:07:09 as well as his meticulous keeping of the law,
00:07:10 --> 00:07:13 resulted in him being blameless before God,
00:07:13 --> 00:07:15 or so he thought.
00:07:16 --> 00:07:19 It's arguably an incredible life, isn't it?
00:07:19 --> 00:07:21 And one that he describes, I think,
00:07:21 --> 00:07:24 without even a hint of modesty or exaggeration.
00:07:24 --> 00:07:26 But then,
00:07:27 --> 00:07:28 on the Damascus road,
00:07:29 --> 00:07:32 he met the resurrected and ascended Jesus Christ,
00:07:32 --> 00:07:34 Lord and Saviour of God's people,
00:07:35 --> 00:07:37 Messiah of Israel,
00:07:37 --> 00:07:38 Son of the living God.
00:07:38 --> 00:07:40 And Jesus told him,
00:07:40 --> 00:07:42 in Acts chapter 9, verse 16,
00:07:43 --> 00:07:45 how much he must suffer
00:07:45 --> 00:07:47 for Jesus' sake.
00:07:47 --> 00:07:51 And Paul prepared himself to do so.
00:07:51 --> 00:07:52 How did he do that?
00:07:52 --> 00:07:54 Well, he did it in the same way that Christians
00:07:54 --> 00:07:56 are to prepare themselves today,
00:07:56 --> 00:07:57 in the same way that we
00:07:57 --> 00:07:59 are to prepare ourselves to suffer.
00:07:59 --> 00:08:01 Look at verse 7.
00:08:02 --> 00:08:04 Whatever was to my profit,
00:08:04 --> 00:08:06 I now consider loss
00:08:06 --> 00:08:07 for the sake of Christ.
00:08:07 --> 00:08:08 This, friends,
00:08:08 --> 00:08:10 is how Paul prepares to suffer.
00:08:11 --> 00:08:13 This is how God wants us
00:08:13 --> 00:08:14 to prepare to suffer as well.
00:08:15 --> 00:08:16 He takes those things
00:08:16 --> 00:08:18 that are gains to him,
00:08:18 --> 00:08:20 all that are benefits,
00:08:20 --> 00:08:22 all that he bases his life on,
00:08:23 --> 00:08:24 all that he takes joy and pride
00:08:24 --> 00:08:27 and pleasure and fulfillment
00:08:27 --> 00:08:28 and value in,
00:08:29 --> 00:08:30 all that he considers profit,
00:08:31 --> 00:08:34 but instead of counting them as profit,
00:08:34 --> 00:08:36 he counts them as loss
00:08:36 --> 00:08:38 for the sake of Jesus Christ.
00:08:39 --> 00:08:40 And this is no small thing.
00:08:40 --> 00:08:43 It's a total paradigm shift
00:08:43 --> 00:08:47 and it turns Paul's world upside down.
00:08:48 --> 00:08:50 It's like the financial ledger.
00:08:50 --> 00:08:52 Do people know about financial ledgers?
00:08:52 --> 00:08:54 One of my, in fact,
00:08:54 --> 00:08:56 my only academic claim to fame
00:08:56 --> 00:08:56 is that in year 12,
00:08:56 --> 00:08:58 I came in the top 10%
00:08:58 --> 00:09:00 of two and three unit business studies.
00:09:00 --> 00:09:03 And I can't remember much of it now,
00:09:03 --> 00:09:05 but I do remember that
00:09:05 --> 00:09:07 that there's two columns happening here.
00:09:07 --> 00:09:08 There's profit and there's loss, right?
00:09:09 --> 00:09:10 Can we agree on that?
00:09:11 --> 00:09:13 There's a few people nodding here
00:09:13 --> 00:09:15 who I'm sure have just been polite
00:09:15 --> 00:09:16 and know a lot more
00:09:16 --> 00:09:19 about financial statements than I do.
00:09:19 --> 00:09:21 But before Paul was a Christian,
00:09:21 --> 00:09:24 the profit column included human glory
00:09:24 --> 00:09:27 and Jewish citizenship
00:09:27 --> 00:09:29 and diligent law keeping.
00:09:29 --> 00:09:32 And the loss column,
00:09:33 --> 00:09:34 at least for Paul,
00:09:34 --> 00:09:36 consisted exclusively
00:09:36 --> 00:09:38 of the church of Jesus Christ.
00:09:39 --> 00:09:42 And he would do all that he possibly could do
00:09:42 --> 00:09:44 to alleviate further losses.
00:09:45 --> 00:09:48 But when Paul met the risen Christ,
00:09:48 --> 00:09:49 everything changed.
00:09:49 --> 00:09:51 That which was loss,
00:09:51 --> 00:09:54 namely and exclusively Jesus Christ,
00:09:54 --> 00:09:56 became profit.
00:09:58 --> 00:10:00 And that which was gain and profit
00:10:00 --> 00:10:03 and reputation became loss.
00:10:04 --> 00:10:05 And more than that,
00:10:05 --> 00:10:08 it's not just that which had previously been profit
00:10:08 --> 00:10:10 that he put in the loss column.
00:10:10 --> 00:10:11 It's everything.
00:10:12 --> 00:10:13 Look at verse eight.
00:10:13 --> 00:10:14 What is more,
00:10:14 --> 00:10:17 I consider everything a loss
00:10:17 --> 00:10:19 compared to the surpassing greatness
00:10:19 --> 00:10:22 of knowing Jesus Christ my Lord,
00:10:22 --> 00:10:24 for whose sake I've lost all things.
00:10:24 --> 00:10:25 I consider them rubbish.
00:10:25 --> 00:10:28 He considers everything rubbish
00:10:28 --> 00:10:31 that I may gain Christ.
00:10:33 --> 00:10:36 Paul's single-minded mission to destroy Christ
00:10:36 --> 00:10:39 had now become a single-minded mission
00:10:39 --> 00:10:40 to gain Christ.
00:10:41 --> 00:10:43 And that mission is costly.
00:10:45 --> 00:10:46 Now I think we need to be careful
00:10:46 --> 00:10:48 about speaking of costs here.
00:10:49 --> 00:10:50 Sometimes I hear people,
00:10:50 --> 00:10:51 sometimes I hear ministers
00:10:51 --> 00:10:55 who were once lawyers or doctors or bankers,
00:10:55 --> 00:10:57 speaking about the sacrifices
00:10:57 --> 00:10:58 that they made
00:10:58 --> 00:11:00 to become a minister of the gospel.
00:11:00 --> 00:11:02 And I'm not really sure that such,
00:11:02 --> 00:11:05 I'm not really sure that such talk is appropriate
00:11:05 --> 00:11:08 and I'm not really sure it's in accord
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 with God's,
00:11:10 --> 00:11:11 the Bible's idea that
00:11:11 --> 00:11:13 calling is the work of God.
00:11:13 --> 00:11:14 Ministry is a calling.
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 It's something that comes from God.
00:11:17 --> 00:11:19 So what I'm talking about here
00:11:19 --> 00:11:21 is not a way to describe a particular thing
00:11:21 --> 00:11:23 or a job or an income
00:11:23 --> 00:11:27 that a Christian has lost
00:11:27 --> 00:11:30 or that being a Christian has cost you.
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 What I'm talking about
00:11:32 --> 00:11:34 is what actually should be normative
00:11:34 --> 00:11:36 for all Christians.
00:11:36 --> 00:11:38 Have a look with me in verse 17.
00:11:39 --> 00:11:39 Paul says,
00:11:39 --> 00:11:42 join together in following my example, brothers.
00:11:42 --> 00:11:45 This is the Christian life.
00:11:46 --> 00:11:47 He's calling us to follow his example
00:11:48 --> 00:11:50 of putting that which is profit
00:11:50 --> 00:11:51 and making it loss
00:11:51 --> 00:11:53 and that which is loss
00:11:53 --> 00:11:54 making it profit.
00:11:57 --> 00:12:00 It's not that as a Christian
00:12:00 --> 00:12:02 there is a slight chance
00:12:02 --> 00:12:04 that you might be called
00:12:04 --> 00:12:05 to consider everything loss
00:12:05 --> 00:12:07 for the sake of Christ.
00:12:08 --> 00:12:09 Rather, that is precisely
00:12:09 --> 00:12:11 what every Christian life
00:12:11 --> 00:12:12 should look like.
00:12:13 --> 00:12:13 And so,
00:12:14 --> 00:12:15 what does it mean
00:12:15 --> 00:12:17 to join together
00:12:17 --> 00:12:18 in following Paul's example?
00:12:19 --> 00:12:19 Let me just suggest
00:12:20 --> 00:12:21 a practical framework
00:12:21 --> 00:12:22 of three things
00:12:22 --> 00:12:24 that this might possibly mean.
00:12:24 --> 00:12:24 In fact,
00:12:24 --> 00:12:26 that this definitely means.
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 Firstly,
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 it means that
00:12:28 --> 00:12:29 if ever I have to choose
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 between Christ
00:12:30 --> 00:12:32 and anything else,
00:12:33 --> 00:12:35 I need to choose Christ.
00:12:35 --> 00:12:42 If I ever have to choose
00:12:42 --> 00:12:43 between Christ
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 and anything else,
00:12:45 --> 00:12:46 I need to choose Christ.
00:12:48 --> 00:12:48 Secondly,
00:12:49 --> 00:12:50 I need to deal
00:12:50 --> 00:12:52 with the things of this world
00:12:52 --> 00:12:53 in such a way
00:12:53 --> 00:12:55 that they show themselves
00:12:55 --> 00:12:56 to be a loss
00:12:56 --> 00:12:58 and Christ
00:12:58 --> 00:13:00 to be my only prophet.
00:13:02 --> 00:13:03 I know a few of you
00:13:03 --> 00:13:04 are writing them down
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05 so I'm going to say it again.
00:13:05 --> 00:13:05 I need to deal
00:13:05 --> 00:13:06 with the things
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 of this world
00:13:07 --> 00:13:09 in such a way
00:13:09 --> 00:13:10 that they show themselves
00:13:10 --> 00:13:11 to be loss
00:13:11 --> 00:13:13 and Christ
00:13:13 --> 00:13:15 to be my only prophet.
00:13:20 --> 00:13:21 And thirdly,
00:13:21 --> 00:13:21 the third thing
00:13:21 --> 00:13:23 of this practical framework
00:13:23 --> 00:13:26 is if and when
00:13:26 --> 00:13:28 I lose any
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 or all of the things
00:13:29 --> 00:13:30 of this world,
00:13:31 --> 00:13:32 I need to remember
00:13:32 --> 00:13:35 that in Paul's words,
00:13:35 --> 00:13:36 I'm losing rubbish
00:13:36 --> 00:13:37 and my prophet
00:13:37 --> 00:13:39 is still in Christ.
00:13:40 --> 00:13:42 If and when
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 I am called
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 by God
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 to lose
00:13:45 --> 00:13:45 any
00:13:45 --> 00:13:47 or all
00:13:47 --> 00:13:47 the things
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 of this world,
00:13:48 --> 00:13:51 I'm losing rubbish
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 and I need
00:13:52 --> 00:13:52 to remember that.
00:13:54 --> 00:13:56 Because Paul says,
00:13:56 --> 00:13:56 I consider
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 everything loss
00:13:57 --> 00:13:58 compared
00:13:58 --> 00:13:59 to the surpassing
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 greatness
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 of knowing
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 Christ
00:14:02 --> 00:14:02 Jesus
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 my Lord.
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 Now it's worth
00:14:06 --> 00:14:06 reiterating here
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 that I'm
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 still on,
00:14:09 --> 00:14:09 is it the first
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 or the second
00:14:10 --> 00:14:10 point?
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 I think I'm still
00:14:13 --> 00:14:13 on the second
00:14:13 --> 00:14:13 point.
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 And that is
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 that Paul
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 prepared himself
00:14:19 --> 00:14:19 to suffer
00:14:19 --> 00:14:21 and that we must
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 do the same thing.
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 Every Christian
00:14:23 --> 00:14:23 must count
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 as loss
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 all that is
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 not Christ
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 for he
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 is their
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 only gain.
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 And that
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 is preparation
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 for suffering.
00:14:33 --> 00:14:33 How do you
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 prepare for
00:14:34 --> 00:14:34 suffering?
00:14:35 --> 00:14:35 You count
00:14:35 --> 00:14:36 everything as
00:14:36 --> 00:14:36 loss
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 and make
00:14:37 --> 00:14:37 Christ
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 your only
00:14:38 --> 00:14:38 gain.
00:14:40 --> 00:14:40 And so
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 you should
00:14:41 --> 00:14:41 count as
00:14:41 --> 00:14:41 loss
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 those things
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 which
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 are pleasurable
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 and which
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 bring you
00:14:46 --> 00:14:46 glory
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 and in which
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 you find
00:14:48 --> 00:14:48 your identity.
00:14:49 --> 00:14:49 Everything
00:14:49 --> 00:14:51 is loss
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 apart from
00:14:52 --> 00:14:52 Christ.
00:14:53 --> 00:14:53 Money,
00:14:54 --> 00:14:54 jobs,
00:14:55 --> 00:14:55 friendships,
00:14:57 --> 00:14:57 university
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 degrees,
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 qualifications,
00:15:00 --> 00:15:01 marriage,
00:15:02 --> 00:15:02 family,
00:15:03 --> 00:15:03 children,
00:15:05 --> 00:15:05 health,
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 strength,
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 sex,
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 sports,
00:15:10 --> 00:15:10 hobbies,
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 possessions
00:15:12 --> 00:15:14 or if
00:15:14 --> 00:15:14 you like
00:15:14 --> 00:15:14 Paul,
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 religion,
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 Anglicanism.
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 Not that
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 Paul was an
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 Anglican but
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 the traditions
00:15:21 --> 00:15:21 here at
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 St. Paul's
00:15:22 --> 00:15:22 Church,
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 your Bible
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 study group,
00:15:27 --> 00:15:27 the church
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 music you
00:15:28 --> 00:15:28 like,
00:15:30 --> 00:15:30 you need to
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 count it all
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 as loss
00:15:32 --> 00:15:34 for the sake
00:15:34 --> 00:15:34 of knowing
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 Jesus Christ.
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 Now
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 losing some
00:15:38 --> 00:15:38 of these
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 things is
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 never a big
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 deal,
00:15:41 --> 00:15:41 it's never
00:15:41 --> 00:15:41 a great
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 loss.
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 But losing
00:15:44 --> 00:15:44 some of
00:15:44 --> 00:15:44 them
00:15:44 --> 00:15:46 really is.
00:15:47 --> 00:15:47 And I
00:15:47 --> 00:15:47 don't want
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 to in
00:15:48 --> 00:15:48 any way
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49 trivialise
00:15:49 --> 00:15:51 the loss
00:15:51 --> 00:15:51 of a
00:15:51 --> 00:15:51 family
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 member
00:15:52 --> 00:15:52 or a
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 friend.
00:15:54 --> 00:15:54 I would
00:15:54 --> 00:15:54 never
00:15:54 --> 00:15:54 suggest
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 that the
00:15:55 --> 00:15:55 end of
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 a marriage,
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 however that
00:15:57 --> 00:15:57 end occurs,
00:15:58 --> 00:15:58 is anything
00:15:58 --> 00:15:58 less than
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 tragic.
00:16:00 --> 00:16:00 Even
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 losing the
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 ability to
00:16:02 --> 00:16:02 participate
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 in a
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 hobby or
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 a sport
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 that you
00:16:06 --> 00:16:06 love,
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 that can
00:16:08 --> 00:16:08 be a
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 painful
00:16:09 --> 00:16:11 occasion and
00:16:11 --> 00:16:11 an occasion
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 for tears.
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 But the
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 Christian should
00:16:15 --> 00:16:15 be prepared
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 not only
00:16:16 --> 00:16:16 for the
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 loss of
00:16:17 --> 00:16:17 the
00:16:17 --> 00:16:17 things of
00:16:17 --> 00:16:17 the
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 world,
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 but also
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 for the
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 gain of
00:16:21 --> 00:16:21 Jesus
00:16:21 --> 00:16:21 Christ.
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 And we'll
00:16:22 --> 00:16:22 look at
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 that shortly.
00:16:25 --> 00:16:25 Now up to
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 the middle
00:16:26 --> 00:16:26 of verse
00:16:26 --> 00:16:26 8, it
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 looks like
00:16:27 --> 00:16:27 there's a
00:16:27 --> 00:16:27 lot of
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 preparation
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 going on,
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 but not a
00:16:30 --> 00:16:30 lot of
00:16:30 --> 00:16:30 suffering.
00:16:32 --> 00:16:32 As I
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 thought about
00:16:33 --> 00:16:33 that, it
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 reminded me
00:16:34 --> 00:16:34 of this
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 kid at my
00:16:35 --> 00:16:35 primary school
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 who was in
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 the Scouts
00:16:37 --> 00:16:39 and who
00:16:39 --> 00:16:39 took the
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 motto of
00:16:40 --> 00:16:40 the Scouting
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 movement
00:16:41 --> 00:16:43 very seriously.
00:16:43 --> 00:16:43 The motto
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 is be
00:16:44 --> 00:16:44 prepared,
00:16:44 --> 00:16:46 and he
00:16:46 --> 00:16:46 took it
00:16:46 --> 00:16:46 very seriously
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 indeed.
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 Despite
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 living only
00:16:49 --> 00:16:49 one street
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 away, he
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 never came
00:16:51 --> 00:16:51 to school
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 without a
00:16:52 --> 00:16:55 compass and
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 two analogue
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 wristwatches
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 so that even
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 if a compass
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 and one of
00:17:00 --> 00:17:00 the watches
00:17:00 --> 00:17:02 failed, he
00:17:02 --> 00:17:02 could still
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 find due
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 north at
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 least in
00:17:05 --> 00:17:05 daylight hours.
00:17:07 --> 00:17:07 He wanted
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 very much to
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 be prepared
00:17:09 --> 00:17:09 even if this
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 was to his
00:17:10 --> 00:17:12 social detriment.
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 Although I
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 must say that
00:17:16 --> 00:17:16 the social
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 detriment no
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 longer existed
00:17:18 --> 00:17:18 when a few
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 of us worked
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 out that being
00:17:20 --> 00:17:20 prepared also
00:17:20 --> 00:17:22 included carrying
00:17:22 --> 00:17:24 emergency flares
00:17:24 --> 00:17:26 and an array of
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 hunting knives as
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 standard issue.
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 But the point
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 is that not
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 much was going
00:17:32 --> 00:17:32 to happen to
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 this boy in
00:17:33 --> 00:17:33 the bad
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 lands of
00:17:34 --> 00:17:34 Neutral
00:17:34 --> 00:17:38 Bay, not
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 so the
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 Christian life.
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 Being prepared
00:17:42 --> 00:17:42 for suffering,
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 being prepared
00:17:43 --> 00:17:43 for suffering
00:17:43 --> 00:17:45 rather, is not
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 just an abstract
00:17:46 --> 00:17:48 concept like
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 being prepared
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 to need to
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 kill your own
00:17:51 --> 00:17:51 dinner at
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 Neutral Bay.
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 It's something
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 that the Bible
00:17:56 --> 00:17:56 for the
00:17:56 --> 00:17:58 Christian promises
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 will happen.
00:18:00 --> 00:18:00 And the
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 Apostle Paul
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 experienced it.
00:18:03 --> 00:18:03 He speaks in
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 more detail
00:18:04 --> 00:18:04 elsewhere,
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 doesn't he,
00:18:05 --> 00:18:05 about his
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 suffering.
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 But even in
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 the passage that
00:18:09 --> 00:18:09 we're looking at
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 tonight, we get
00:18:10 --> 00:18:10 a glimpse of it.
00:18:10 --> 00:18:12 What is more, I
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 consider everything
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 a loss compared
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 to the surpassing
00:18:15 --> 00:18:15 greatness of
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 knowing Christ
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 Jesus my Lord,
00:18:17 --> 00:18:20 for whose sake I
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 have lost all
00:18:21 --> 00:18:21 things.
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 I consider them
00:18:23 --> 00:18:25 rubbish that I
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 may gain Christ.
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 Paul really did
00:18:27 --> 00:18:27 suffer.
00:18:27 --> 00:18:29 For Jesus' sake,
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 he lost all
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 things.
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 So friends, the
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 godly life is one
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 of suffering.
00:18:36 --> 00:18:36 It happened to
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 Paul and it
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 happened to
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 Peter and it
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 happened to
00:18:40 --> 00:18:40 Job.
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 It happened
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 to Stephen.
00:18:42 --> 00:18:42 It happened
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 to James.
00:18:43 --> 00:18:43 It happened
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 to Jesus.
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 And so, if
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 nothing else, the
00:18:47 --> 00:18:47 Christian is in
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 excellent company
00:18:48 --> 00:18:50 when he suffers
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 and prepares to
00:18:51 --> 00:18:51 suffer.
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 But the
00:18:53 --> 00:18:53 Christian can
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 also suffer
00:18:54 --> 00:18:56 not only
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 prepared to
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 do so, but
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 in the knowledge
00:18:59 --> 00:18:59 that suffering
00:18:59 --> 00:19:01 has a goal
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 and a purpose.
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 Through our
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 suffering, we
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 know Jesus.
00:19:07 --> 00:19:07 Jesus.
00:19:10 --> 00:19:10 And when we
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 suffer as a
00:19:11 --> 00:19:11 Christian, we
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 don't just
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 know Jesus, but
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 we know him in
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 a unique and
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 special way.
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 Think back with
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 me to Acts
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 chapter 9 when
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 Jesus says to
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 Saul, who
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 becomes Paul, who
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 wrote this letter
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 to the Philippians,
00:19:24 --> 00:19:26 Saul, Saul, why
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 do you persecute
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 me, says Jesus.
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 Now, Jesus
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 wasn't personally
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 suffering, but his
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 people were.
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 And Jesus
00:19:34 --> 00:19:36 identifies with
00:19:36 --> 00:19:38 and knows his
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 suffering people in
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 a really special
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 and unique way.
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 Or in Acts
00:19:43 --> 00:19:43 chapter 7 when
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 Stephen is about
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 to be stoned to
00:19:45 --> 00:19:47 death for his
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 witness to Christ.
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 Verses 55 and
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 56 say, but
00:19:51 --> 00:19:53 Stephen, full of
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 the Holy Spirit,
00:19:54 --> 00:19:54 looked up to
00:19:54 --> 00:19:56 heaven and saw
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 the glory of God
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 and Jesus standing
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 at the right hand
00:19:59 --> 00:19:59 of God.
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 Look, he said,
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 I see heaven
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 open and the
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 son of man
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 standing at the
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 right hand of
00:20:05 --> 00:20:05 God.
00:20:06 --> 00:20:08 There's a special
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 revelation of
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 God's care and
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 comfort and
00:20:11 --> 00:20:13 compassion to
00:20:13 --> 00:20:13 those who
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 suffer.
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 Or in 1
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 Peter chapter 4
00:20:17 --> 00:20:19 verse 14,
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 if you are
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 insulted because
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 of the name of
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 Christ, you are
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 blessed for the
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 spirit of glory
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 and of God
00:20:26 --> 00:20:28 rests on you.
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 And in
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 tonight's text,
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 Paul makes it
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 clear again and
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 again that in
00:20:34 --> 00:20:36 suffering we can
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 know Christ
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 more.
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 And that's
00:20:39 --> 00:20:39 something that
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 every Christian
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 should want and
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 that's why every
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 Christian should
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 prepare.
00:20:45 --> 00:20:45 But have a look at
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 Paul talking about
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 this deep relationship
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 with Jesus.
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 Verse 7, I now
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 consider loss for
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 the sake of
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 Christ.
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 Verse 8, the
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 surpassing greatness
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 of knowing Christ
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 Jesus my Lord.
00:20:58 --> 00:20:58 Verse 8, again, I
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 consider all things
00:20:59 --> 00:21:01 rubbish that I may
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 gain Christ.
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 Verse 9, Paul
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 suffers so as to
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 be found in him,
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 so as to be found
00:21:07 --> 00:21:07 in Jesus.
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 In verse 10, Paul
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 suffers the loss of
00:21:10 --> 00:21:12 all things to know
00:21:12 --> 00:21:12 Christ.
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 Are you seeing a
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 pattern here,
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 friends?
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 It's all about
00:21:17 --> 00:21:19 knowing Christ and
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 knowing him more.
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 And in verse 10,
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 Paul explains what
00:21:23 --> 00:21:23 that means.
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 It's about knowing
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 the power of his
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 resurrection, knowing
00:21:26 --> 00:21:28 the fellowship of
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 sharing in his
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 sufferings, becoming
00:21:30 --> 00:21:32 like him in his
00:21:32 --> 00:21:34 death, and somehow
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 to attain the
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 resurrection from
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 the dead.
00:21:37 --> 00:21:39 It's only in Christ
00:21:39 --> 00:21:39 Jesus that we may
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 attain the
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 resurrection from
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 the dead, and that
00:21:42 --> 00:21:44 is Paul's goal in
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 suffering and God's
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 purpose in suffering,
00:21:46 --> 00:21:48 to know Jesus that
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 he might live
00:21:49 --> 00:21:49 forever.
00:21:51 --> 00:21:53 And it's only by the
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 grace of God, through
00:21:54 --> 00:21:56 faith in Christ, that
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 we are made righteous
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 and able to share in
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 Christ's resurrection,
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 and in any of these
00:22:01 --> 00:22:01 things.
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 Just before we finish,
00:22:04 --> 00:22:04 let's have a quick
00:22:04 --> 00:22:06 look at verse 3, where
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 Paul talks about
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 confidence in the
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 flesh, which
00:22:09 --> 00:22:11 essentially means being
00:22:11 --> 00:22:13 saved by works.
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 It's ironic that we
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 even use the term
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 saved by works,
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 because no one's
00:22:17 --> 00:22:19 works have ever
00:22:19 --> 00:22:19 saved them.
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 The opposite, of
00:22:21 --> 00:22:23 course, to saved by
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 works is the
00:22:24 --> 00:22:26 gospel, saved by
00:22:26 --> 00:22:26 grace.
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 And that's what
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 Paul wants you to
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 know in verses 1 to
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 4, and in verses
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 9 and 10.
00:22:31 --> 00:22:33 Even your faith in
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 Christ is by the
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 grace of God.
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 And because it is
00:22:37 --> 00:22:37 from God, Paul is
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 able to say to the
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 suffering Christian,
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 and to those who
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 prepare to suffer, and
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 I'll close with these
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 words from verse 13,
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 and then we'll pray.
00:22:47 --> 00:22:47 Paul's able to say to
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 the suffering Christians,
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 brothers, I do not
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 consider myself yet to
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 have taken hold of it,
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 to have taken hold of
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 the resurrection, but
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 one thing I do,
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 forgetting what is
00:22:57 --> 00:22:59 behind and straining
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 toward what is
00:23:00 --> 00:23:00 ahead.
00:23:00 --> 00:23:02 I press on toward
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 the goal to win the
00:23:03 --> 00:23:05 prize for which God
00:23:05 --> 00:23:05 has called me
00:23:05 --> 00:23:07 heavenward in Christ
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 Jesus.
00:23:10 --> 00:23:13 Dear God, we thank
00:23:13 --> 00:23:15 you for your word,
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 and that it contains
00:23:17 --> 00:23:19 not just that which is
00:23:19 --> 00:23:21 required for salvation,
00:23:21 --> 00:23:23 but that which you
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 require of those to
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 whom salvation has
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 been given.
00:23:27 --> 00:23:29 Please, God, please,
00:23:29 --> 00:23:31 God, prepare us to
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 suffer as Christians.
00:23:33 --> 00:23:35 Help us count as loss
00:23:35 --> 00:23:37 all that brings us
00:23:37 --> 00:23:39 pleasure and meaning
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 and satisfaction and
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 happiness.
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 Help us count as loss
00:23:42 --> 00:23:45 everything that is not
00:23:45 --> 00:23:45 Christ.
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 And in doing so,
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 please prepare us for
00:23:49 --> 00:23:51 the suffering that you
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 promise to your
00:23:52 --> 00:23:52 people.
00:23:53 --> 00:23:55 And help us count only
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 Jesus as prophet,
00:23:56 --> 00:23:58 that we may be found
00:23:58 --> 00:24:00 in him, knowing him
00:24:00 --> 00:24:02 and the power of his
00:24:02 --> 00:24:04 resurrection, and
00:24:04 --> 00:24:06 somehow, somehow by
00:24:06 --> 00:24:09 your grace, attaining
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 the resurrection of the
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 dead.
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 In Jesus' name,
00:24:13 --> 00:24:13 Amen.