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In a Video produced by Daily Bread on Losing Everything, they shared the opening statement of a Book by Tom Wolf in his 1980’s novel entitled “Bonfire of the Vanity.” They Called the ambitious Wall Street traders “Masters of the Universe” These were people who racked up great wealth during that time period.
Those men feared almost nothing. They thought they had it all. But with the 2008 financial crisis, the masters of the Universe became masters of a whole lot less.
We are in a similar situation today....
With the Covid-19 virus it feels like we are staring down a catastrophic change like the financial collapse many of us remember in 2008. But it’s not just financial, it job related, relational related, loved one related. It’s facing change… a New Norm so to speak; one that we really don’t know what it will look like even in a year from now. The good news, is that We are all facing them - together. So how do we live a life of purpose in the midst of trials? How do we live a life of loss as Paul described it?
For Paul it wasn’t to focus on what he had lost, but on what he had gained.
Jim Elliot is known for the quote, “He is no fool to lose what he cannot gain, to gain what he cannot lose.”
I remember the first time I saw this phrase in writing. It was at Wheaton College on a classroom wall, during an Evangelism conference. The challenge was for us to value what it means to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ at all cost.
Jim Elliot was one of 5 missionaries who were trying to reach the Auca Natives, an Ecuadorian indigenous people considered dangerous and violent, who lost their lives on January 8, 1956.
In his journal dating back to October 28, 1949, He expresses his belief that work dedicated to Jesus was more important than his life (giving reference to Luke 9:24. "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.") That’s when he wrote that quote, "he is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain that which he cannot lose."
The Apostle Paul, like Jim Elliot believed that the most important purpose in life was to live for Jesus, even if it cost him everything.
Turn with me in your Bibles to Philippians 3:1-11
So how do we live a life of purpose in the midst of loss?
Paul states in verse 1… Finally Brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.” Philippians 3:1
I. Look to the one who can bring you joy!
I. Look to the one who can bring you joy!
many people look for instant gratification - satisfaction. They look to find happiness in things, such new cloths, new jobs, new homes, new cars…
For some it can also be in relationships… People look to marriage to bring them happiness and indeed it can, does, and should. But in marriage there are trial, with one another. One is better at spending money, the other at saving. This can cause conflict. Some are better at confronting conflict, the other likes to avoid it.
In verse 19 Paul writes, “Their god is their belly and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.” So Earthly things do not bring us fulfillment or satisfaction. People will also disappoint us from time to time, even those closest to us.
The Bible also makes it clear that being a follower of Jesus doesn’t always mean things will be easy…
The Apostle Peter, in another letter, said, “Don’t be surprised as if some strange thing we’re happening to you when you encounter hardships” (1 Peter 4:12).
The Apostle Paul said to Timothy,
“All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” (2 Timothy 3:12)
We all desire to live a godly life, but how do we do this in times of trouble? Paul says, “Rejoice in the Lord.” How is this possible while living under stress of the unknown?
Rather than focusing on earthly things or in other people, in verse 20 Paul writes, “But our citizenship is in heaven and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables Him even to subject all things to Himself.”
Our future hope is to be in the Lord. When we face the struggles of stress, the unknown… we must remember who our faith is to be in (Jesus)and what our faith is in (God is in Control).
In the Book of Revelation 21:3-4 “… Behold the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall their be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore for the former things have passed away.”
So our joy is not to be centered on worldly things, but things of eternity. Things that are, but are not yet… things that will be in eternity, but that which we must wait for.
Now this can be a challenge for many of us, because by definition, faith is “The assurance of things hoped for, and the conviction of things not seen.”
We cannot see the virus. But we know by way of evidence it is there and it has taken its toll. We cannot see God physically, but we can see the beauty of creation. The evidence of seasons in life, spring, summer, fall and winter, reveals change but also the one who does not change… God. Each season brings its own beauty and God says, “I am the creator of all. He call us to put our faith in him.
This brings us to the second things Paul tells us to look for...
II. Look at that which robs your joy.
II. Look at that which robs your joy.
In the case of the Philippian church, it was false teaching…
Paul says, “Look out for the dogs.” Not a very flatter statement. But false teaching was nipping at the heels of all who believed in Jesus, leading them into a false hope of religious expectations such as circumcision and good works.
An interesting fact is that the Jewish people use to call Gentile people unclean ‘dogs.’ Now, Paul is turning the table and calling those false teachers… who demand that you must be circumcised before you become a Christian, dogs; mutilators of the flesh.
When Paul is talking about ‘Dog’s’ he is speaking about evil people. People who are described in Revelation 22:15
Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
The Bible is very clear that faith and hope is not found in the physical aspect of circumcision, but of the heart.
In Romans 2:29 we read
29 No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.
Paul said, if anyone has reason to put hope in the flesh, it is me. I lived the most godly jewish life anyone has ever seen. But now, I want you to know that even then I was wrong salvation comes through the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ. Later in the book of Titus he writes...In Titus 3:3-5 we read…
3 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,
Paul said, “if the fleshly part of us was worthy of being righteous, he would be the first - blameless - because he lived by the Law.
He then says in Philippians 3:7 “Whatever I did to gain God’s favor or whatever i had because of who I was in the flesh, I count as loss for the sake of Christ.
In today’s news we are faced with the question, “What is facts or fiction. One News started with the phrase, “Facts, Not fear.” We need to be aware of facts and not let fear rob us of what we do not know and or have.
What are the facts? When it come to the Corona disease, we are discovering new things every week… first it was Fever; Cough; Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing; Then Other symptoms began to appear… Tiredness; Aches; Chills; Sore throat, loss of smell, Loss of taste, Headache, Diarrhea Severe vomiting
The severity of COVID-19 symptoms can range from very mild to severe.
When it comes to facts about faith and Christianity, what are they? We just finished celebrating Easter, the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. How do we know this event actually took place? We know by... Eye witness accounts; verification of events; archeological finds; Ancient Biblical , as well as Historical manuscript that verify facts of events.
When it comes to our own joy, what robs us?
Fear of the unknown.
Fear of the unknown.
Doubt as to what to believe.
Doubt as to what to believe.
People who may shame you for the action you’ve taken concerning faith.
In Paul’s case he was ridiculed for his faith; what he believed about Jesus.
The Bible tells us he suffered greatly for his faith. At this time in his life he was in prison because of his faith. But he did not let his circumstances or people dictate his joy!
He wouldn’t even let those who tried to use the preaching of Jesus to hurt him more, dictate his joy in Jesus.
Be aware of what robs you of your joy… fear, doubt, lack of confidence, the feeling that you have lost all control in your life. The truth is you have not lost control… not when you put your faith in the fact that God is in control. You control your faith; what you believe; what is true; what is of value to God and to you.
Which brings us to the third point of how to live a life of loss… what does Jesus value?
First it is found in rejoicing in Jesus
Secondly if it found in knowing the facts… not living by fear.
Thirdly, it is valuing what Jesus values.
Thirdly, it is valuing what Jesus values.
What does Jesus Value? The answer to that question is not ‘What’ but ‘Who.’ That ‘Who’’ is ‘You’
Paul considered everything in his life to be loss compared to knowing Jesus–even the good stuff!
One lesson that Paul had learned, and that he shared with those in Philippi (and that he shares with us today) was that we should lay all of our accomplishments (righteousness) on the altar of God.
The prophet Isaiah understood this well when he said that our righteousness was as “filthy rags.” (Isaiah 64:6) The gospel does not care about our achievements or about our failures. The gospel cares only for you, and what will happen to you for eternity.
Notice, too, Paul’s list of those things which he still wants to know and experience:
the power of his resurrection;
the fellowship of sharing suffering with Jesus;
becoming like Jesus in his death;
and attaining a new quality of life both now and in the resurrection.
God has a purpose for our lives. Every day is a new opportunity… What opportunities has God given you and what have you received through those opportunities?
To live a life of loss is to be aware of where our joy comes from.
To live a life of loss is to be aware of the falsehoods; the lies Satan has used and is still using today, to lead people away from the truth of Jesus; even of who you are meant to be in Jesus.
To live a life loss is to live a life of purpose knowing that God created you for a reason; to live a godly life for others to see so they too would know the resurrection power of Jesus Christ. He had you in mind when he created this world.
Listen what Paul says in Philippians 3:12-16
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.
My encouragement to you through the scriptures today is to press on knowing that you matter to God.
Paul understood that Jesus had taken hold of him for a reason. And it was Paul’s personal mission in life to lay hold of “that” for which Christ Jesus took hold of him. Do you see this one simple word: “that”? We should all mark this simple word in our Bibles. This simple word reveals the fact that God lays hold of each one of us for a reason. He has a purpose in mind for us.
Jesus had something in mind when he picked you! Paul knew the secret of his life would be revealed as he followed hard after Jesus. And notice the connection between Christian maturity and discovering our purpose: mature people trust that God will reveal His purpose for them. Do you long to know the purpose for your life? We can confidently follow Paul’s example: that in joyful obedience to Jesus we will discover that for which he laid hold of us. This is a tremendous comfort, whether in times trouble or times of ease. What would the world see if they watched us as we discovered—and fulfilled—the purpose for our lives? And the good news is that Jesus will reveal our purpose. He did it for Paul and he will do it for us.
What a beautiful letter we have in Philippians! Paul was writing from prison in order to encourage those who were not in prison. First Paul pointed to Jesus as one example of living through difficult times. And in chapter 3, Paul asks us to consider his life as well. This is the final application for us today: could we point to our own lives as a model for living through tough times? I believe that it is possible to demonstrate a joyful union with Jesus that is living and vibrant whether in good times or in bad.
Next week, we will look at the generous gift that the Philippian church sent to Paul while he was in prison. What a fitting way to conclude this letter in this series: living a life of generosity, even in hard times. See you then!
Paul has been crucified to the world. Galatians 6:14
The gain is the Kingdom of Heaven… Matthew 13:44
Boasting is in the Lord Jer 9:23, 24
All to gain Christ… Psalm 73:25
He is the Lord our Righteous one… Jer 33:16
Our Righteousness is pursued by Faith Romans 9:30-32
Our Comfort comes through Jesus 2 Corinthians 1:5
Fight the good fight, take hold of eternal life 1 Tim 6:12
We will be changed. Read from the New Living Translation…
It’s not unusual to hear phrases like, “whatever flows, goes,” as if following Jesus is just a ride down a lazy river. But the path of least resistance makes both men and rivers crooked
The true Christian has experienced a spiritual circumcision in Christ (Col. 2:11), and does not need any fleshly operations. Circumcision, baptism, the Lord’s Supper, tithing, or any other religious practice cannot save a person from his sins. Only faith in Jesus Christ can do that.
Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 85). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
Perhaps you have heard a gospel that says God will never let anything bad happen to you. Many people’s faith can be on the verge of folding simply because they begin to face hard times. The promise of instant wealth, health, and happiness may sound like good news, but the true good news is that Jesus will be with us through whatever we face, in good times or in bad times.
It is all too easy for religious people, Christians, to settle into trusting lives of comfortable religious habits instead of knowing Jesus more and more and more.