Press On Phil 3:12-4:1

Sermon Nuggets Oct 25

Theme- Press On

Verses- Phil 3:12-4:1

Press On

Have you heard about the sophomore philosophy? The word sophomore is a combination of a couple of Greek terms- sophia means wisdom, and moros means moron. A wise fool is a transliteration.

In high school we sang this song- "The more you study the more you know. The more you know the more you forget. The more you forget the less you know- so why study?" And it works the other way. "The less you study the less you know. The less you know the less you forget. The less you forget the more you know; so why study?"

Information and technology advances continually. We would not want to go back to the horse and hand plow days in farming. The old cars may be nostalgic but hardly efficient. How many would want to live without electricity?

With all the advances in various areas of our lives and world how about advances in your Christian walk? Have you advanced in your knowledge and experienced maturity? Do you realize that the things you learned when you first accepted Christ are not where God wants you to be in your spiritual life?

Paul writes, Phil 3:12,13 “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

13 Brothers, 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,”

The Bible keeps calling us to grow in our knowledge faith, understanding and holiness. The closer one gets to know the Lord the less he feels he knows. It is a humbling experience, but a rewarding one.

When you're saved you receive salvation, you receive the righteousness of Christ, you receive the power of Christ in your life, you receive the fellowship of Christ in communion with Him. You might say, "If I'm already entitled to heaven and I already have these things guaranteed to me and promised to me, and I will some day enter into the fullness of them in the presence of God, why bother to grow?" Well in one sense if you're a new creation in Jesus Christ you will desire to grow or I question if you have a real relationship with Christ. But growth glorifies God. And that's what a Christian is supposed to do with his life. It also serves as a witness to salvation to the unsaved and people see Christ in you. The Bible also teaches that it grants you assurance of salvation. There is the knowledge you belong to God and you struggle less with doubt. Paul also teaches it produces joy and usefulness in your life.

Press on to the goal of your salvation. He compares our life in Christ to the athlete in training. This week we will study ways in which we can keep progressing and pressing on.

Pastor Dale-

Sermon Nuggets Tues Oct 26 –

Verses- Phil 3:12,13 “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

13 Brothers, 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,”

Forgetting the Past

Paul uses either a runner or a chariot racer for his analogy. Either one works. When you are in a race you can't let the past get in the way. One Olympic runner made this comment. "The only way to win a race is to forget all previous victories which would give your false pride, and all former failures which give you false fears. Each race is a new beginning. Pressing on to the finish tape is all that is important.”

That is what the Bible says about growth. We must lose the past. There can be a tremendous pride in Paul for all the great things he accomplished in his Christian life. He had special revelations, which he referred to in 2 Corinthians. He started many churches. He was the tool used of God to bring many to saving faith. He was persecuted for Christ's sake. He was the author of most of our New Testament. If anyone can be called a success in the Christ life Paul was it; but he is saying that not enough. I cannot rest on the past.

"Forgetting what lies behind, I strain forward to what lies ahead," Paul says. I get frustrated when I hear people say, "I've been confirmed, or baptized so I don't have to worry about my soul.” I get equally frustrated when Baptists say, "I have accepted Jesus as my personal Savior when I was kid. So I don't really have to go to church anymore.”

In Timothy Paul calls such people spiritual babies.

Dr. Bruce Theilemann told about an artist some 400 years before Christ, whose name was Timanthes. He took instruction from a well talented tutor. After several years the budding young painter created an exquisite picture. When he was commended for his accomplishment he became so enraptured with that he had produced that we sat day after day just gazing at the portrait. He mistakenly believed he would never be able to advance beyond that point.

One morning when he went to admire his work, he discovered that the master had blotted it out with paint. Angry and in tears, Timanthes ran to him and asked why he had done such a horrible deed. "I did it for your own good. He responded. "That pointing was retarding your progress. While it was an excellent piece of art it was not perfect. Start again and see if you can't do even better. "

So he did and produced his masterpiece called The Sacrifice of Iphigenai" which was regarded as one of the finest paintings in all of antiquity.

The point is not: never look back. The point is: only look back for the sake of pressing forward. Never substitute nostalgia for hope. Memories of successes can make you smug and self-satisfied. Memories of failure can make you hopeless and paralyzed in your pursuit of God. Never look back like that. Give humble thanks for successes; make humble confessions or failure; then turn to the future and go hard after God.

We have the past can also hinder us by guilt and shame and making us never feeling forgiven for our past. Christ died for all our sins. God wipes the slate clean. To think that you have sinned greater than God's forgiveness is indeed prideful. For you think that you are such a great sinner even the very blood of the creator of the universe isn't sufficient for you. That is heresy. Christ death alone takes care of the past sins and shame for us completely. There is nothing we humans can do.

Paul knew that Heb 20:1 "Their sins and iniquities I will remember no more.” 1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins and his just and will forgive us all our sins and cleanses us from unrighteousness.” All the pride of his former religion the legalism of Judiazers Paul says forget that past, leave it behind, for it will keep you from a growing, progressing faith. All the victories of the past- forget them. All the sin of the past- put them behind you. Forgetting doesn't necessarily mean that it is out of your mind and you can't even recount what happened. Paul tells us of his past sins and victories but they don't mean anything now, except to encourage us in holiness or grace.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Weds Oct 27

Verses- Phil 3: 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 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.

Looking to the Future.

The finish line is the goal of a runner. He looks forward to that gold medal. He longs for the reward or the winning of the race. Paul seems to show his head forward, body bent and angled to the tape in order to win.

Our salvation is not based on legalism, not on works, not based on traditions, it is based on a relationship, but lest we get too smug and do nothing Paul is saying that relationship is acquired when we get to heaven and we look forward to that which keeps us going. We might be under difficult situations now.

He reminds the Philippians that they are not citizens of this world, but of heaven. The joy of the Christian does what he does out of love and thankful heart to Christ. Whereas the Judiazers and legalistic religion is always restless about whether he has kept all the rules and the regulations. By trying to justify himself he is actually moving farther away from God.

Paul strains to the things which are before him, the events of that last day. The suffering that he is going through doesn't seem half as bad knowing there is a reward. Think of the prize. It will be worth it all when we see Jesus.

Looking to the future gives him the upward look. When we keep our focus and concerns on this earth we are of little use because these concerns weigh us down. Paul can't wait for the day when he will be changed. This body will no longer suffer pain. Our resurrection bodies will be like the resurrected body of Christ. It will be incorruptible, limitless and powerful.

Throughout the pregnancy the mother looks forward to the day when she will have her child in her arms. God has ordained something wonderful in the future, when the pregnancy comes to full term. But in the meantime, perseverance is required. The mother has to press on, to go through all the hard work of the pregnancy. She has to be willing to be sick, to feel unattractive, to have headaches for which she cannot take aspirin, and colds for which she cannot take antihistamine, to restrict her diet, whatever, to press on because the goal toward which she is headed is so worthwhile.

Keep looking to the reward and let that be your motivation.

Charles Spurgeon, that great British preacher of the former century, when he was a student asked for a picture of Horatus Bonar, who wrote him. "Dear Spurgeon, if you had waited a little, you would have a better likeness, for soon I shall be like him."

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Thurs Oct 28

Verses- Phil 3: 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

17 Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.

18 For, as I have often told you before and now say 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 on earthly things.

Living in the Present.

Leaving the past is a way to progress- forget it; Looking to the future provides us important motivation. But we live in the now. The illustration of the competition is still a valid one. He is not troubled, nor proud about his past failures or victories. He is looking ahead to the goal and the prize, but for now he gives it all he has. He takes one step at a time. He is pressing on, straining, living up to his potential.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if Christians could put as much determination in to their spiritual lives as they do in their sports? With all the enthusiasm of sports, one wonders what would happen if we got half as excited about Jesus.

I believe he is trying to teach that perfection in this life is a goal, not an achievement. It is something you pursue, but never reach. There are some believers that think that when you are saved you can then live a sinless life. I am not talking about justification, but rather complete sanctification. Some believe you can live a life of moral perfection. They do not believe that is a result of progress, rather a result of a momentary instantaneous second work of grace, like salvation, you are momentarily instantaneously made sinless.

Paul confesses that he hadn't reached it, he hadn't attained it, he hadn't acquired it, he hadn't arrived at perfection and this is thirty years after his conversion. And if the apostle Paul with his commitment, after 30 years had not achieved perfection, who in the world are any of us to claim such?

In his day there were antinomians- those who felt they were saved and could do anything they wanted without regard to law or holiness. There were also Judiazers wanting to make all Christians follow Jewish rules. We have similar groups by different names today. Some say you’re saved, so live however you want. Others place before you all types of man-make rules and regulations. But Paul points us to the likeness of Christ. Don't compare yourself to those around you, but only with Jesus. We all see we have a way to go.

The churches are full of people who aren't interested in pursuing the prize. They're interested in looking at the past. They're content with where they are. And so they want to spend the rest of their life justifying the level of their attainment and convincing everybody around them that they're really very spiritual. Paul says, if you think anything other than what I've said about pursuing the prize, and you won't listen to me, then God will reveal that also to you." He simply says I have to leave you to God. If you're ever going to get the message and you won't get it from me, then you'll have to get it from God."

Most pastors do that, I think. I've done that. "Lord, I've poured out my heart, I've said all I can say, and I know there are people who continue to live non-committed lives and all I can say is, Lord, I can't do it, You're going to have to do it. You're going to have to reveal Yourself." And you know how the Lord usually does it? Through trials, suffering, chastening, things like that. Through some special circumstance of life that plunges us instantly back to spiritual reality.

Is our present state living for pleasures and worries, or living in the light of the Spirit of God who directs our steps and our future?

The call to those in the race is keep your mind on what you are doing now. Don't let the past victories and failures get in the way. Keep you eye on the goals, but keep on keeping on.

Well-known commentator and author Eric Sevarid said that the best lesson he ever learned was the principle of the "next mile." He recalled how he learned the principle:

During World War II, I and several others had to parachute from a crippled Army transport plane into the mountainous jungle on the Burma-India border. It was several weeks before an armed relief expedition could reach us, and then we began a painful, plodding march out to civilized India. We were faced by a 140-mile trek, over mountains in August heat and monsoon rains.

In the first hour of the march I rammed a boot nail deep into one foot; by evening I had bleeding blisters the size of 50-cent pieces on both feet. Could I hobble 140 miles? Could the others, some in worse shape than I, complete such a distance?

We were convinced we could not. But we could hobble to that ridge, we could make the next friendly village for the night. And that, of course, was all we had to do...

Eric Sevarid used the "next mile" principle many other times during his career, whether the task was writing a book or writing scripts for radio and television.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Fri Oct 29

Verses- Phil 3:12-21 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 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.

Phil 4:11 Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!

Looking to Jesus

I am presently reading a classic, Pilgrim’s Progress. I am challenged again by this allegory of almost 400 years of the life journey of a Christian. Throughout the journey one thing is evident. We all need to have a destination in sight. We all need to remember where we're going.

Christian seems to run into many people who travel through life without direction. Many snares and dead ends occur as they are sidelined from their journey. Their eyes are fixed on the immediate and not on Jesus the author and finisher of their faith. The main two characters in the first part of the story are named Christian and Hope. Their companionship on the journey is a help to one another as they keep reminding themselves of the truth instead of the temptations along the way.

As I considered the importance of keeping my eyes on the prize, two very opposite examples were playing out on the news. The first scenario was the suicide of a young college student who committed suicide because of humiliation. Two other college students filmed him in a homosexual encounter with another young man and posted the whole thing on the Internet. He was devastated.

But the real tragedy was that he couldn't see beyond that moment. He couldn’t see beyond the immediate humiliation and shame. He couldn't see that there was still a future that could carry him past his pain, so he chose to end his journey.

The second story was a much happier one -- the rescue of the miners in Chile. Trapped for more than two months in the collapsed mine, they were able to keep their thoughts on the future rescue. One of the men held daily Bible studies and they prayed. There was change in several men as the reports came to trust Jesus. They survived, and their joyful faces proved to be shining examples of what it looks like to reach your destination -- the joy of hope fulfilled.

I watched as one of the miners fell to his knees as he exited the pod and thanked God for his rescue.

"Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen," Hebrews 11:1 tells us. In our earthly life remember Christ and they destination He provides your journey worth the trip.

Paul completes his thought 4:1. Therefore brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown is that how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends". Paul shows his affection for the church and lives for them They become his joy and crown, that means also reward that the runner or chariot racer gets.

As believers in Christ, our faith is sure, as real in our present troubles as it will be in the future. We can trust that the finish line is there and we can keep our eyes fixed Jesus, even in our most desperate situations.

Pastor Dale

Religion or a Relationship Phil 3:7-11

Sermon Nuggets Week of Oct 18 – Relationship

Sermon Nuggets Mon Oct 18

Theme Religion vs. a Relationship

Verses-Phil 3:7-11

7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.

8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, 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 and is by faith.

10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Contrasting of the Old and the New

Many times people give a Christian testimony before they join a church. What the core of that story usually comes down to is how someone came to the point of knowing their need for Jesus Christ to come into their life and asking forgiveness of sin and yielding to His control.

When Paul gives his testimony it included the past life, His encounter with Jesus and his response by faith to that encounter. It also included his story of what happened to his life following his commitment to Jesus. That is the basis of a testimony that the Lord could use as you tell you faith story to others. What was you life like before you committed yourself to Jesus? What was your Jesus encounter that prompted you to reach out in faith to accept Him into your life in a personal way? What has followed since that time?

Not everyone has a good story from this world’s point of view. Having read stories about conversions in the Middle East from Muslim backgrounds what happens after someone publically give their life to Christ is persecution and even death. What that didn’t matter to Paul for what He found in his new relationship with Jesus Christ wasn’t a religion to be adhered to, it was a relationship to be enjoyed that goes beyond death. Now he just want to know Jesus more in the midst of his ups and downs of life here.

When Moses met God in a personal ways he says to God: "I pray You show me Your glory" (Ex 33:18). David prays: "As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for You, O God" (Ps 42:1). And Paul says that his heart longs to "know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings" (Philippians 3:10). The greatest desire of the apostles was to know God better. Their lives before Jesus was very routine in fishing or collecting money or being a shepherd, but all that paled in significance to knowing Jesus.

Phillip, after following Jesus for a number of years, says to Him, "Lord, show us the Father." And Jesus replied, "Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me?"

Knowing God does not mean knowing facts about God. To know God is not just reciting His activities in the Old Testament or hearing what the preacher says. Knowing God involves encountering Him and finding out that He is who He says He is.

In the passage we will study this week Paul contrasts his old life with his new life. He explains his former religions to his present vital and growing relationship to a personal God in Jesus. Paul knew all about God, but Paul did not know God until he met Jesus face to face on the road to Damascus. Paul’s life changed because God revealed Himself to Paul, not because Paul had all the right answers. Paul was willing to turn his back on his human accomplishments in order to gain knowledge of Christ. He puts the things of the world far below his priority of knowing Jesus Christ.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets- Tues Oct 19 – Profit and Loss

Verses- Phil 3: 7-8 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.

8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things

Profit and Loss

Looking at finances can be a discouraging thing. Each month I look at the bank statement and realize that in the long run it is wise to be sure the income is greater than the expenses. But who can count on crashes in the stock market, or change of rules in housing finances, or job loss? Many experience the loss of a dream, or retirement, or even things they have acquired through the years. I listen to the victims of recent floods and fires and foreclosures and hear words like, “everything we have worked so hard for is all lost.”

Augsburg Fortress Press announced it cannot pay the pension retirement funds for its employees any longer. It is broke. It divided up its shrinking balance and paid out to those depending on living on that retirement. It is gone. All they saved is lost.

We see more of this type of upheaval in our financial world.

Last night Denny Hecker was placed in federal detention yesterday because he has continued to be dishonest with his financial records. His empire was lost due to greed and dishonesty, but when repeated times came to come clean with those from whom he stole he hid funds and used others through whom he can maintain financial connections. It matters not to whom from whom he stole only that he have what he wants when he wants it.

Jesus spoke on profit and loss when he asked pointedly, “What shall is profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Paul began to measure his religious profits and compared them to the gain he received in knowing Jesus Christ. We need to measure our lives in light of what is profitable for eternity and what is considered only a temporary earthly loss. To profit temporarily is no profit it’s only a permanent loss. So to make sure we are profiting for all eternity we must have a heavenly mindset and not an earthly mindset. Paul references his own personal religious accomplishments and thought he would win the approval of God since he was so zealous, but not realizes it was all in vain. He reviews his heavenly profit by faith in Jesus and compares the two and how different they are.

What does our profit and loss column look like? My TV, my ipod, my stereo, my Palm pilot, video games, or my computer all bring me profit. But there is a loss of time alone with God, the loss of time interacting with others and the development of real relationships, the loss kingdom values.

Of course there is profit in religious activity if it effects our heart- regular church attendance, involvement in church programs, Bible reading at home, prayer time, and Christian service. These things speak very loudly to our children. The lack of them speaks loudly too. But even with all that activity without a heart relationship with Jesus profits us nothing.

Paul was of the people of Israel. Paul had pure racial ancestry, from the tribe of Benjamin. We would say that Paul attended every meeting. Every time the door was open. There is a Bumper Sticker which reflects a works mindset: Jesus is coming---Look busy! Paul considered all his religious activity as some kind of spiritual profit until He discovered Christ. That’s when his thinking and values changed. That’s when he discovered the meaning of true profit in life.

Paul gained a personal knowledge of Christ as his Lord. He had a vibrant daily walk with Jesus. He studied again the prophets and writings of Moses and saw the coming Messiah in them.

His prayer life changed dramatically. It was not reciting the liturgy, but a opening up his heart before God. Spiritual food will provide profit to our spiritual being but we will suffer loss of appetite for the ways of the flesh.

But Paul wasn’t only talking about gain from a heavenly perspective, Paul was so blessed to be apart of seeing and participating in the spiritual change of others. This is what brought him great joy. Living for self was no longer an option compared to the gain of letting Christ live through you.

Paul’s revelation of Jesus on the Damascus road cost him profit and loss in life.

Peter was comparing his profit and loss balance sheet recorded in Matt 19:27-30 Peter answered him, "We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?"

28 Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.

30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Weds Oct 20 – Rubbish and Greatness

Verse- Phil 3:8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ

Rubbish and Greatness

How can Paul get the idea across of the unsurpassable greatness of knowing Jesus Christ? How can we begin to understand heavenly concepts and Spiritual truths except by figurative comparisons? We tell what we know to compare it to something that doesn’t have words. Similes use phrases “like” “as” and “sort of”. “The kingdom of God is like a treasure hidden in the field.” “As a deer pant for streams of water, so my soul pants for you.”

Another figurative term Paul uses is rubbish. The life he lived in passion for his religion was rubbish. But the relationship with Jesus in comparison is greatness. This term is literally street talk - a vulgarity - that refers to excrement. The translators of the KJV did a better job in that translation. It reads, “… and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,” It is perhaps even a stronger term.

All of his credentials and religious education compared to knowing Jesus is worth throwing in the garbage can. He was willing to throw away his standing with Jewish leaders and the prestige that came from being a Pharisee. As far has he was concerned is honorable position in the synagogue he was willing to flush down the toilet.

Paul is making a dramatic statement to get a tremendous truth across. He had many friends, he had a respected career; he had financial security. This religious training and his passion for the law was his life. Now it reeks and stink to him compared to the greatness and gain of knowing Jesus. That is a treasure compared to his life which he described as a manure pile.

What was the greatness in comparison that he gained? A vital relationship with Jesus Christ and a right standing with God. He gained forgiveness from all his sin. The guilt of murder was removed. He gained a new life that will last forever in glory. He will participate in the resurrection from the dead. He had a purpose for his life that was far beyond the 60-70 years on earth.

Pride was replaced with humility, Envy of others was replaced with contentment. Self centeredness was replaced with sacrifice. Greed was replaced with spiritual riches. The craves for the things of eh world was replace with the cravings for things of heaven. Instead of self he was focused on others.

Add to that the gain and greatness of joy. That is what this letter is about. It was worth it. Even in his suffers compared to the worth of Jesus resulted in inner joy. It filled the emptiness of his heart. There was nothing in the world that mattered any more to Paul. He found the more he lost the more he gained. How can he put that in words we would understand?

Mayo Matters in a magazine article told about the first time she saw Keith sitting alone in a pew at the back of the church. He wore a biker’s T-shirt and tattoos decorated each arm. Only 36, he was more faded than his jeans with a worn out, lived-out look in his eyes. He seemed puzzled, as if he wasn’t sure how he ended up in that tiny country church. He was there because someone has invited him. Someone wanted to introduce Keith to Jesus Christ. Someone yearned for him to come to know Christ in a life changing way. Keith certainly needed the Lord. From the first time of his marriage at age 15, his life had gone steadily and tragically downhill.

He’s tried most of what the world had to offer but nothing brought him the happiness, and meaning and peace he craved. Keith was a drug user; an ex-con and he constantly battled alcoholism

Keith returned to church the next week… and the next… and the next. People lovingly reached out to him, accepted him, and prayed for him. Eventually Keith accepted Christ as personal Savior and Lord. He began his new life in Christ with an astonishing passion, yearning to know Christ better and better. Keith devoured his Bible; fellowship became a priority. He faithfully prayed and worshiped. And he grew and grew in Jesus. Oh, he had his difficulties, failures, and setbacks; it was not all-smooth sailing; he lost some battles along the way. But, my, did his life ever change.

Keith’s main passion was his motorcycle. It was his life, his passion; it was all he really had. When challenged to give something to God, he sold his motorcycle and gave the money to the Lord. Needless to say, Keith’s hunger to know Christ and His transforming power had an impact on those around him, both in and out of the church.

The author was moved and wrote: “After Keith gave his motorcycle to the Lord, I realized that I had forgotten the feeling of such dedication…passion… and hunger for Christ. I stared at Keith, fascinated by his life. He looked like a new man; now I was he one who looked faded.”

Many can see how someone miserable would give that up for Jesus. But the blindness come when we fail to see how miserable we are in our earthly commitments, riches and pleasures compared to a vital relationship with Jesus. We understand the trash of smelly garbage and fail to see the crumpled, worn gift wrapping paper also worthy of throwing away.

Indeed. Look at what captures your time, attention, and priorities. Compared to Christ I pray we see it as it is.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Thurs Oct 21 –

Verses- Phil 3: 8b-9 I consider them rubbish, 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 and is by faith.

Self Righteousness and God’s Righteousness (works and grace)

A young man was asked about his great wealth. He started his story by sharing how he worked as a janitor of a shop and learned to save his money. Because of his hard work and diligence the shop owner promoted him to stock boy and then in time to work in one of the departments. The man continued to save and advance to a larger store and eventually became a manager within 10 years.

Then he added, “My rich uncle died and left me over 3 million dollars.”

The certainly is nothing wrong with hard work, savings, and diligence, but his wealth was inherited.

Paul tried very hard to gain his righteousness with God through hard work, and diligence. But from it came pride, and self righteousness judging others based on the law he so meticulously kept. He would compare himself to others and find he was better according to the standards of the Jewish religion. But then Paul met the living Lord and was in the shock of his life. Righteousness came by faith in the works of Jesus, not by his own works. It came through a gift and trusting and receiving it, not by self works. It's not what you know, but it's all in who you know, that determines if we're going to be saved.

Try as hard as he could, righteousness did not come by following the law. Obeying the 10 commandment and more is wonderful, but it cannot save us for we have failed. We have set up our own righteousness and our own religion when we justify ourselves and we cannot keep all the law. The only sinless one was Jesus Christ who died to pay for our sins. God by his mercy allows us to come to him by faith and gives us a gift that we did not deserve, earn, or acquire. It is a gift by be received by faith. What wonderful news.

Yet salvation by faith just does not make sense to most people. By their hard work, they feel that deserve the favor of God more than those who make a mess of their lives. They feel it is not fair when they work so hard and others just get a free gift.

He is considered righteous and made clean and pure with all sin removed because of what Jesus has done for him. He did not impress God one bit by all his good works and zeal because such religion is all about him. That is what it is an offense to God. God want us to look to Him for our salvation, not ourselves.

That is why he is so bombastic with false teachers and their attempts to add anything to this simple message of faith. It corrupt the core of the gospel that in Christ God’s love and forgiveness is free and ready.

He says vs. 9 “And be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own…but that which is through faith in Christ…”

It was 493 years ago this month that a monk who taught at the University of Wittenberg nailed for public view his objections with the Roman Catholic Church and the correction that was needed by Scripture. Martin Luther was an excellent monk, but remained for years deeply troubled by an overwhelming sense of religious guilt. He entered church life hoping that would be good enough. He taught the Bible and theology to think he might gain righteousness. But deep down there was a gnawing guilt he was going to hell.

Luther would wear out the superiors listening for hours his confessions of sin to be rid of them only to be back again where he started. His confessor warned him that excessive confession was itself a sin of pride.

He out-did all the other monks in devotion and study. He put himself through every rigor and test, including frequent fasting, long prayer vigils, and self-flagellation. But for all the vigils and fasts and penances, he never really believed he was righteous before God. Yet the church assured him he was a good Christian.

Then he tells of one night in his study his Bible lay open before him and his eyes fell on a Romans 1:17 "the just shall live by his faith." As he read the passage, he saw that all of his fasting and penance counted for nothing, and that the only thing that would save him was simple faith. He finally understood that individuals were able to meet God's justice, by faith alone. Good works, penances, priests, the whole system developed during the Middle Ages, all of it was irrelevant. In Latin the phrase was "sola fide."

From then protests began against the false doctrines of works based religions and the Reformation began. It was not a new teaching. It was an old teaching brought to light again by the Scriptures. It is the same story for Paul and for you and for me. We are made righteous by our faith in the works of Jesus. It is a gift.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Fri Oct 21 Resurrection

verse Phil 3: 10-11 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Death and Resurrection

There is delight in the relationship Paul had with Jesus that was personal. He wasn't in the boat with the apostles or on the seashore when Jesus taught, but he met Him on the road to Damascus, and with Ananias gave his heart to Christ. He knew Jesus. He knew and experienced the power of the Holy Spirit. He knew what to write to the churches as he was led by God. He knew Jesus and wanted to know him even more intimately. Does that sound surprising?

I know about President Obama and Gov Pawlenty. But not like I know Judi, my wife. How did I get acquainted with Judi? Some friends introduced us. And then I wanted to get to know her better.

Do you know what I did? I talked with her. When we met we didn't just stand by and make goggle eyes at one another. We shared about ourselves and asked not only what each other did, but how we felt about various things. We opened up our thoughts and then our emotions to one another. We discovered what was important to one another and what wasn't. Then we decided to make a commitment to one another and tested that commitment through engagement and talked and shared times together until that day came that changed our lives forever on this earth. We both said “I do” at the same time. And just to be sure, she invited a lot of her friends to prove I said it and made me sign on a piece of paper-that was it.

The same might be said about Jesus. My dad introduced me to Him along with lots of others who told me a lot about Him. But I came to that place and opened up my heart and confessed my sin and invited Jesus into my life and it hasn't been the same since.

Now Judi surprises me often and there I times I think I don't know her at all. But Jesus is that way too. I can know him intimately but then He throws me a curve to make me realize that I got a lot more to learn about Him. Not because he changes, but because I do.

Paul wants to know more of Jesus and be even more intimately. He wants to know the power of the resurrection. Who has that type of power?

I am surprised as to the threat of North Korea or Iran who claim are developing nuclear warfare weapons. It has the potential of killing millions of people. But that is nothing compared to the power of Jesus Christ. You see, the power in destruction is only powerful enough to kill and destroy. Jesus has one better- to bring to life again. That's power. After all the suffering and destruction and killing Jesus is the over comer because He came to life again and that is the power no one else can give. Paul realizes it is of the Spirit.

Because Jesus rose from the grave we can be saved from the ultimate power of death. It released us from Satan's power and from the grasp of sin. It revives our hearts and makes us new creatures in the Lord.

Then there is another phrase that Paul mentions. He wants the fellowship of his sufferings becoming like him in his death, and so somehow to attain to the resurrection from the dead?

There is no such thing as a painless commitment. First of all Paul had to die to himself. Gal 2:20 - I have been crucified with Christ and I know longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God who loves me and gave himself for me."

Christ suffered the attacks of Satan. In the same manner our identifying with Christ will open us up to the attack of Satan. One missionary shared the average life span of a Muslim who converts to Christianity in Saudia Araba is 18 months. So often we see someone make a commitment to the Lord in a safe country and it isn't long after that the devil is causing problems and suffering so as to make them turn from the Lord. In hell's game plan, sleeping saints are allowed to lie; but once they get up they are targets for attack.

The saint who suffers understands others and is better prepared to stand and walk with them through their valleys of temptation and death. The people who live for things of the earth must constantly protect these treasures and worry lest they lose their value, and when they are dead there is nothing. But Christ has the power of resurrection!

Whatever Paul gave up or suffered in following Christ was nothing compared to what he received at the end of the road.

There’s a very ancient hymn that St. Patrick of Ireland is credited with writing, and the chorus communicates what Paul is trying to say –

Christ be with me, Christ within me,

Christ behind me, Christ before me,

Christ beside me, Christ to win me,

Christ to comfort and restore me, Christ beneath me,

Christ above me, Christ in quiet,

Christ in danger, Christ in hearts of all that love me,

Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

Pastor Dale