No Matter What Part 3

Russell Jeffares
No Matter What  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
0 ratings
· 17 views

We can have joy when we reject our own efforts and joy killers by resting in what Jesus has accomplished for us.

Files
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
View more →

Introduction

Happiness, we’re all seeking it.
Illustration: Declaration of Independence, “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Happiness is not a right … just the pursuit of happiness.
But happiness is elusive. (Ill. Keeping ice cold in a cooler)
Paul’s Challenge: Paul remarkably challenges the Philippian church to have joy. The remarkable part of that is his situation. He has a joy in the face great suffering, loneliness, uncertainty, and fear of death.
Week One: Hope beyond this life, greater purpose in this life
Week two: Joy is found in genuine humility
Main Idea: The key to joy is considering the human achievements of this world as a loss compared to the “surpassing value”of knowing Jesus.
We can experience joy by …

Rejecting the Value Human Achievement

a. Rejecting Our Status and Acheivments
Paul tells us in verse 3, that He (and other believers) no longer “put confidence in the flesh.”
In other words, he is saying “no longer putting our trust in our human achievements, human “credentials” [for joy]
In verse 7, Paul says, “Whatever gain I had, I counted loss ...”
Paul certainly had something to consider gain [looked to for joy]
He list these credentials here:
PAUL’S CREDENTIALS (See other page)
At the most fundamental level, our society is structured on everyone having a resume (list of achievements, qualities, or assets) that makes them acceptable (“in”)
At the most fundamental level, our society is structured on everyone having
a resume (list of achievements, qualities, or assets) that makes them
acceptable (“in”)
Friendship
 Romance
Romance
 How we look at ourselves … setting standards for ourselves that
How we look at ourselves … setting standards for ourselves that determine how we feel about ourselves —Pride vs. beating ourselves up
determine how we feel about ourselves (“beat yourself up”)
These are things that we “glory in” or “boast in”
These are things that we “glory in” or “boast in”
I’ll. High school popular people (doesn’t stop then—FB)
Paul says he “puts no confidence in the flesh” (no longer trusting)
Paul ultimately rejects what he could consider a positive for him
I’ll. High school popular people (doesn’t stop then—FB)
this results on pride on one hand, or despair on the other
one of greatest gifts God can give us is failure
Paul says he “puts no confidence in the flesh” (no longer trusting)
Paul ultimately rejects what he could consider a positive for him
Paul ultimately rejcts
b. Rejecting joy thieves
Add to this problem there is always going to be pressure to compare, to measure up, to perform
Paul says in verse 2, “Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh.”
the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
I’ll. High school popular people (doesn’t stop then—FB)
Paul challenges us to reject all of this!
Paul challenges us to reject all of this!
We can experience joy by Rejecting the value of human achievement and …
this results on pride on one hand, or despair on the other

Receiving the “surpassing value” of Knowing Christ

Paul challenges us not just to reject what we might consider a gain, but to actually compare anything that we might add to our resumes to the “surpassing value of knowing Christ”
He’s saying, “It might at first seem like the best thing, the thing that will make you look or feel good. But there is something so much better: Knowing Jesus!!
It is so much better that the best possible resume, pedigree, status possible for a Jewish man during his day (he was a rising star)—is to be considered “rubbish” — this is the closest that Paul gets to cussing in the Bible
What does this this “knowing Jesus” mean?
Having a righteousness that is not our own (great exchange) we are acquitted, declared guiltless (Vs. 9 read)
[Because of this] A solid, sure hope in the resurrection (finding death a gain) (Vs. 10 Read)

Conclusion

Illustration: experience in Memphis
What are you considering gain? Where is your joy found?
Unbeliever: Do you know Jesus? Have you received him?
Believer: Are you listening to the “dogs”? Are you trying to add to what Jesus has already done for you?
Related Media
See more
Related Sermons
See more