Sermon Tone Analysis

Since early September we’ve been exploring the book of Philippians.

We’ve discussed how this is a book about joy; but it is also a book about faith, about humility, about God’s sovereignty, and ultimately for me it is a book of encouragement to all of us who seek to live by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Our text today is .

Before we dive in, let’s pray.

Let’s read Paul’s words to us:

This is the word to us from God’s word this morning.

Let’s begin at vs. 12 - this for me is one of my life verses.

What I mean by that is that this for me is one of those verses that sums up so much of the Gospel for me that I’ve commited it to memory and I hold on to this.

If you’ve received an email or a letter from me, I may have signed off with “in His Grip,” and this is what I mean by that.

Previously in this chapter, vs. 8-11, Paul has been talking about how he has suffered the loss of all things to gain Christ, to be found in Christ, to know both his suffering and his resurrection, and to attain the resurrection from the dead.

Some might have concluded that he had reached spiritual perfection and he adamantly says, “NO!”.

“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect...”

Paul recognizes that he is incomplete in what God would have him be.

He is “working out his salvation...” see 2:12.

One of the key phrases in this verse is the juxtaposition of what Paul is trying to do and what Christ has already done.

“I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.”

Let’s look at some different translations of that verse:

The idea of taking hold, gripping, clasping, seizing, claiming...

Phil 3:12

Back to the translation I’m using, the ESV

One of my favorite scenes from the Gospels is found in Matthew where Jesus is walking on the water and Peter cries out to him.

You likely remember this story.

The disciples have been rowing for hours against the wind and the waves.

Suddenly appearing in the distance comes Jesus walking on the water.

The disciples see him and are frightened.

Peter calls out and says, “Lord if it is you, command me to come out on to the water.”

And Jesus does just that.

The story continues that Peter began to sink, and Jesus reached out...

Matthew 14:31

AMP

The verb there is to take hold, grip, seize, claim.

Earlier in our study of this book we discussed the difference between justification and sanctification.

Justification is past and present - it is what we’ve got already in Christ.

Sanctification is the process from present to future to the day of glory.

As Christians we recognize that Jesus already has us; and at the same time we recognize that we have a long way to go to be like Christ.

That is our upward call, and that is what Paul refers to in the next couple of verses.

It’s not about where we are today, it’s about the ultimate prize of glory - press on toward that goal, the upward call of Jesus Christ!

Our maturity will help us recognize several things:

We have not arrived yet.

It’s not by the works we think are good that save us, it is God who does that work.

We owe everything to Jesus.

Following Jesus is holding true to what Jesus has already done for us.

One of the things that is important for all of us is that we have people that we can follow - that are more mature than ourselves in Christ.

As a mentor has shared with me we all need a Timothy, a Barnabas, and a Paul in our lives.

What’s that mean you ask?

Well, Jesus example, and Paul’s example was that they had people they were discipling.

For Paul on of the obvious people was Timothy.

More than that we need to recognize that we need encouragement.

Jesus sent out his disciples in pairs.

Paul, when the other disciples were not willing to go with him to the gentiles had Barnabas who stepped up.

Barnabas name actually means, “Son of encouragement.”

Barnabas was Paul’s encourager.

Lastly, we all need a Paul in our lives.

As Paul is encouraging us now through his letter, we all need mentors who are doing that in our lives.

Who do you look up to spiritually?

How are they specifically challenging you as a person?

KNOW....

you are loved by Jesus

you are held by Jesus

you are empowered by Jesus.