Living a Fulfilled Life

If we think about our lives, and all of the things that we try to put our assurance in… both as Christians and non-Christians... To this day we will put our hope in parents, leaders, pastors, coaches. We put our hope in our savings account, our education. We put our hope in our talents, our abilities our gifts. Parents put your hope in your children, and as long as your children are well-behaved, respectful, and successful, you are content. We put our hope in our participation here at Church. Some of us are prayer warriors, super helpers, and even Bible scholars, and we have put our hope in each of these characteristics about ourselves. And even these are not guaranteed to us…

We get on Social Media and we see all of the amazing things our family and friends are doing. We look at the pictures, and we read the stories and all we see all the perfect parts of their lives and we think to ourselves just how great it would be to resemble that in some way.

We see others with large salaries, homes, cars and we think to ourselves if we just had a little more then maybe we could be a little more secure and not have to be constantly thinking about those issues.

We even put our hope in our own feelings/emotions/contentment… Do we feel fulfilled? Do we feel as if we have a sense of accomplishment in this life?

The Greatest Showman (From Now On)—> Led me to thinking about my own life. It is so easy to watch these uplifting movies and just wish our lives could work out in such a way…

It

As i was reflecting after the movie, it hit me… Right now, I am kind of living the life of my dreams. I realized that my entire life I have wanted to make a difference, impact others, and help spread the gospel. Granted, I am young and dumb and still in the beginning stages of learning… But it hit me, I am living out my dream! And right then, I was content. I was satisfied. And i was pleased with myself. I thought i had found the answer. I thought i was golden and i could make a sermon on what it means to find your assurance in doing what God is calling you to…

Don’t get me wrong, we should be at peace with what God calls us to, and we should be joyful at where He currently has us…

But then… as i was preparing what if I should get fired? What if I should become unable to preach or teach anymore? What if something should happen where I would no longer be able to attend the seminary or pursue a career of ministry anymore… Where is my satisfaction? Where is my contentment and assurance?

The answer to ultimate fulfillment is in the humanity of Jesus Christ, the divinity of Jesus Christ, and the actions Jesus Christ and the love of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 3:4–11 NIV

4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. 7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

Paul, who is, on paper, the elite of the elite considers these characteristics to mean nothing.

As far as he is concerned, anything outside of the complete, and utter dependence on God is pointless.

How often do we get distracted with looking at others around us, even our fellow brothers and sisters?

Paul is telling us it does not matter! Nothing in this world is a guarantee… Friends, money, success, talents, abilities… It will all come and go… It is a harsh reality when something has to come to an end… We can fall into the temptation of seeing something that will last for awhile and put our faith into that… Sometimes success can be the biggest danger in our lives! Unfortunately, it’s in the pain, the loss, the brokenness that we realize we had forgotten our first love.

Prayer

Philippians 3:12–16 NIV

12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

Anecdote

Philippians 3:4–11 NIV

4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. 7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

Paul, an apostle amongst apostles, years and years after his conversion still had not obtained the full knowledge of Christ.

Paul continued to grow and grow in His faith. He didn’t look at the past, whether it was his failures, successes… He continued to push forward. He didn’t stop. His fulfillment came with the ever growing knowledge of Christ.

So we should be… Sometimes we can get in a place so low, or a place so high that we simply have no desire to keep moving. But just like with anything else, our satisfaction fades and we move off the path… The knowledge of Christ promises to continue feeding our desire and growth… Not without obstacles in the way… But it is the only way we can continue truly growing.

As we grow in our faith, God will continue to reveal areas of our life that need to have an attitude change. There are things in my life today that God is continually showing me need improvement… Things I would have never discerned as a high school student, or even an undergrad student.

Philippians 3:17-4:1

Philippians 3:17–4:1 NIV

17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. 1 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!

Paul recognizes there are people among us who claim to be followers of Christ, and yet they find their true satisfaction in something other than Christ. Just as I talked about before… We need to be wary of these people. They have found their fulfillment in things that will ultimately lead them down a road where Christ is not at the end...

As we continue to dive deeper into our relationship with Christ, we continue moving forward with Christ in our foresight! We can be confident and sure… Jesus Christ is our Savior and He is our prize! Jesus has pursued us with everything, and we get to pursue Him and His love

Philippians 4:4-9

Philippians 4:4–9 NIV

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

People will fade. Things will fade. They break, they fail, they go away. The knowledge of Christ is not only a knowledge of something beyond comparison to anything else, but it is something that will never fade away. Digging ever deeper into the Word doesn’t have to be numbing, or exhausting. The message of the Word, the knowledge of Christ is life giving. The more we chase after Him, the more we desire Him.

From now on These eyes will not be blinded by the lights From now on What's waited till tomorrow starts tonight Tonight Let this promise in me start Like an anthem in my heart From now on From now on

People will fade. Things will fade. They break, they fail, they go away. The knowledge of Christ is not only a knowledge of something beyond comparison to anything else, but it is something that will never fade away. Digging ever deeper into the Word doesn’t have to be numbing, or exhausting. The message of the Word, the knowledge of Christ is life giving. The more we chase after Him, the more we desire Him.

The here. The right now. Now, is perfect moment. no more waiting. no more pushing until tomorrow. Loving God with everything. Loving our neighbor as ourselves. Looking like and representing Christ. The time is now. Everything else is loss, if it is not driving us closer to Him.

What are we waiting for? The promises of Christ are available right now. Some of us have been Christians our entire lives, but we have forgotten what it looks like to continue diving deeper into the person and love of Jesus Christ.

I saw the sun begin to dim And felt that winter wind Blow cold A man learns who is there for him When the glitter fades and the walls won't hold 'Cause from then, rubble What remains Can only be what's true If all was lost There's more I gained Cause it led me back To you

We need to seek, to dive, to dig

From now on These eyes will not be blinded by the lights From now on What's waited till tomorrow starts tonight Tonight Let this promise in me start Like an anthem in my heart From now on From now on

The continuing and patient endurance of knowing Christ is of ultimate fulfillment.

Living a Fulfilled Life

Living a Fulfilled Life

The Knowledge of Christ… Is incomparable to anything else.

The Knowledge of Christ… Allows for continual growth.

The Knowledge of Christ… Leads to ultimate fulfillment.

When we know Christ… We are able to Rejoice in His promises!