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Pastor Tom spoke about starting off the New Year with 3 words: Strangers, Revealed, Holy
Introduction
If you could accomplish one thing this year without fail, what would it be?
If you knew your New Year’s resolution would continue past January 8th and actually be accomplished, what would you do?
This is about Sanctification
(((There is something in front of us for the glory of God))
A Sanctified Dissatisfaction (12-13a)
(Realistic View of the Past)
Phil 3:12
What is the “this” and “it” that Paul is talking about here?
vs 10 - Paul talks about how he longs to know Jesus fully, to know the full perfection of the human experience that happens for believers upon their resurrection from the dead.
We, as believers, live in this strange tension of experiencing the power of the resurrection currently in our lives while we wait for the full expression of the resurrection life.
Obviously, Paul has not experienced the resurrection, nor has he experienced the full perfection of the Christian life here on earth
(some Philippians believed they had attained perfection)
Paul was living with a sanctified dissatisfaction - or a holy dissatisfaction
There is a difference between contentment in our identity in Christ and attainment our sanctification in Christ.
We can be satisfied in all that we are in Christ and still be dissatisfied with the fact that we are not yet like Christ.
A sanctified dissatisfaction is the first essential to progress in the Christian race.
Self-evaluation can be dangerous - we can think ourselves better than we really are or worse than we really are
This is neither legalism nor license.
Legalism states that I must do or not do certain things in order to be accepted or loved by Jesus.
License says because I am saved and accepted by the grace of Jesus, my actions don’t matter - whatever i do, Jesus will still accept me.
V. 12 - “Not that I have already obtained this . . .
but I press on. . .
Neither our failures nor our successes are reasons to stop moving forward.
Neither our failures nor our successes are reasons to stop moving forward.
Let this sink in.
There is no reason to not move forward.
You cannot mess up enough that Jesus will not forgive and call you to take the next step in following him.
Neither can you be so godly that there is not another step to become more like Jesus.
We are all walking together.
Paul had some of the greatest successes and as one who would chase down Christians and have them killed just for following Jesus, he had some pretty bad failures.
We can be satisfied in all that we are in Christ and still be dissatisfied with the fact that we are not yet like Christ.
Jesus called us to “Follow Him” - this implies movement.
Whether you’ve been walking with Jesus for an hour or for seventy years there is always a next step.
To all of this Paul says,
Sadly, there are many in the church that seem to think the Christian life comes with cruise control.
Many Christians think they are ok and are simply on “cruise control.”
I fear that many of us simply compare ourselves to others who are not making as much progress as we are and so we are satisfied in our discipleship.
If Paul had had this mentality, according to his resume in the first half of this chapter, he would have been doing pretty well.
Instead, Paul says,
A sanctified dissatisfaction is the first essential to progress in the Christian race.
Jesus called us to “Follow Him” - this implies movement.
Whether you’ve been walking with Jesus for an hour or for seventy years there is always a next step.
Self-evaluation can be dangerous - we can think ourselves better than we really are or worse than we really are
This is neither legalism nor license.
Legalism states that I must do or not do certain things in order to be accepted or loved by Jesus.
License says because I am saved and accepted by the grace of Jesus, my actions don’t matter - whatever i do, Jesus will still accept me.
Jesus reveals we are not perfect, and Jesus redeems us for perfection.
So, you’re not perfect.
If you were unaware of this, simply slide your worship guide notes to your spouse and I’m sure they will be more than willing to give you an itemized list of exactly how you are NOT like Jesus.
Don’t worry, you’re in good company here.
The good news is none of us here are perfect.
Even the great missionary and apostle Paul knew he was not perfect.
Paul says he himself is not perfect , but I love what he says about his motivation for moving forward toward maturity:
he
Many Christians are self-satisfied because they compare their
ILLUST - many of the cars today have radar cruise control, emergency braking assist, lane departure assist, and hands-free parallel parking.
All of this is to allow you to do as little as possible to make you as comfortable as possible.
Sadly, there are many in the church that seem to think the Christian life comes with cruise control.
Many Christians think they are ok and are simply on “cruise control.”
I fear that many of us simply compare ourselves to others who are not making as much progress as we are and so we are satisfied in our discipleship.
If Paul had had this mentality, according to his resume in the first half of this chapter, he would have been doing pretty well.
Jesus called us to “Follow Him” - this implies movement.
Whether you’ve been walking with Jesus for an hour or for seventy years there is always a next step.
Paul had a single-minded pursuit when it came to his next step:
A Single-minded Pursuit (13b-14)
(Focused View of the Future)
one thing - three parts
V13 - “one thing I do”
> What are your distractions?
For many of us, distraction can be just as dangerous as deception - both keep us from moving forward in a Jesus-first life.
Distractions can be deadly.
ILLUST - Lady at Berskshire Mall who was distracted by texting and fell into a fountain.
She was so distracted by her virtual world that it affected the way she walked.
I think how Satan would love nothing more than to do the same for us - have us so distracted by the world around us that it affects our walk with Jesus - and we fall.
She was replying to a text from someone from her church
> What are the things that keep you from moving forward in your sanctification?
From moving forward in a Jesus-first life?
What are your distractions?
Heart test: Do you long to know Christ fully?
Is it the most important part of your life?
Seriously, would you give up your career, your accomplishments, your privileges as an American in 21st C., your income, etc.
If the answer is “no,” the affections of your heart are either deceived or distracted.
You either don’t truly know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, or your heart has become distracted and your affections drawn away.
> What will you do to remove those distractions this year?
Do you have a plan in place?
Do you have someone to tell to walk with you?
Trust me, if you try to go it alone in secret you’re most likely to fail.
Good intentions has killed more New Years resolutions than fresh Amish crack.
Any good fitness coach will tell you you need a plan and a partner - that’s discipleship.
So, how are you planning to make this year any different in your walk with Jesus than last year?
(Personal Discipleship Plan?)
Paul says, “One thing I do. . .
“ He has a singular focus with a three-fold formula:
Forget the past.
forgetting what lies behind
V13 - “Forgetting what lies behind. .
.”
Lit.
“One thing!
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