WEBVTT 00:00:00.800 --> 00:00:02.799 Hello, friends, this is Pastor Creighton. 00:00:02.959 --> 00:00:06.080 Thank you for tuning in to Newsong Church's Sermon Podcast. 00:00:06.320 --> 00:00:13.359 At Newsong Church, we want to see Jesus lifted high in Port Perry, Ontario, as we worship, grow, and serve. 00:00:13.599 --> 00:00:18.800 You can learn more about us and find contact info at newsongportperry.ca. 00:00:22.800 --> 00:00:26.640 The second lesson is from Philippians, starting at chapter 3. 00:00:27.519 --> 00:00:37.119 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus had made me his own. 00:00:37.679 --> 00:00:47.280 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own, but one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead. 00:00:47.520 --> 00:00:53.840 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Jesus Christ. 00:00:54.079 --> 00:01:02.079 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. 00:01:02.479 --> 00:01:06.239 Only let us hold true to what we have attained. 00:01:06.799 --> 00:01:15.359 Brothers, join in imitating me and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. 00:01:16.239 --> 00:01:24.159 For many whom I have often told you and now tell you, even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 00:01:24.480 --> 00:01:33.599 Their end is destruction, their God is their belly, they glory in their shame, and with minds set on earthly things. 00:01:34.239 --> 00:01:50.480 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 his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. 00:01:50.959 --> 00:01:59.680 Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown stands firm thus in the Lord, my beloved. 00:02:00.000 --> 00:02:01.200 The word of the Lord. 00:02:03.599 --> 00:02:06.719 Now I want to welcome Matt to bring our word from Philippians. 00:02:06.959 --> 00:02:08.240 Please be seated. 00:02:15.680 --> 00:02:16.719 Good morning. 00:02:21.120 --> 00:02:28.159 It's funny, the f um the first time I preached, uh, the very first time I preached, I had the bishop sitting in front of me. 00:02:28.319 --> 00:02:34.000 So it's just it's just fitting that I have another high-up Anik person sitting in front of me. 00:02:36.800 --> 00:02:38.159 No, no, no, it's fine. 00:02:41.840 --> 00:02:45.759 I'm very um honored, me and Amy, my wife, are very honored to be here. 00:02:45.919 --> 00:02:52.479 We're very excited about the future and what uh that entails with New Song and in the town of Port Perry. 00:02:52.560 --> 00:02:54.800 We're just very excited and very honored. 00:02:54.960 --> 00:02:59.360 Um so if everyone could um just bow their heads in prayer, we'll just pray. 00:03:00.800 --> 00:03:06.080 Heavenly Father, um, thank you that we can gather together um in a building. 00:03:06.159 --> 00:03:08.960 Uh it is truly a privilege to have a building. 00:03:09.120 --> 00:03:15.919 Um, there's many people in this world who don't have buildings or who have to meet uh in fear of death. 00:03:16.159 --> 00:03:26.719 Um Father, I just pray um that you pour out the Holy Spirit upon us all here who are present, on those who are watching online, and also those who will be watching in the future online. 00:03:27.199 --> 00:03:40.080 Um Father, please uh take any distractions uh from this week, just let them fall away now, whether good or bad, and that we can come together and just hear your word in Jesus' name. 00:03:40.400 --> 00:03:41.039 Amen. 00:03:43.039 --> 00:03:46.319 So why do we set goals? 00:03:46.479 --> 00:03:50.639 Um the goals are very uh, everyone sets goals. 00:03:50.800 --> 00:03:56.560 Um everyone sets goals and it's very uh goals are talked about, very much promoted. 00:03:56.639 --> 00:03:58.159 Um why do we set them? 00:03:58.240 --> 00:03:59.759 What's the point of setting goals? 00:03:59.919 --> 00:04:00.719 We all make them. 00:04:00.879 --> 00:04:03.199 We can't help but make them. 00:04:03.439 --> 00:04:11.840 Whether they're health goals, whether they're fitness goals, whether they're financial goals or family goals or educational goals. 00:04:12.080 --> 00:04:15.759 Or it could be the simplest goal is just trying to go into bed earlier. 00:04:16.079 --> 00:04:17.759 Why do why do we make them? 00:04:18.000 --> 00:04:21.600 If I had to answer that question, why do we make them? 00:04:21.920 --> 00:04:33.600 I believe we make them, we make them because we want to improve areas of our lives, or we're trying to orient our life a certain way, whether maybe it's for education. 00:04:33.759 --> 00:04:43.759 I remember when I when I first started at seminary, I had to completely change my entire life to be focused on this direction of completing seminary. 00:04:43.920 --> 00:04:47.199 And it was very uh it was very rattling at first. 00:04:47.519 --> 00:04:49.279 So why do I bring all this up? 00:04:49.439 --> 00:04:50.879 Why do I bring up goals? 00:04:51.040 --> 00:04:59.439 Well, Paul, in the text we were looking at today, is writing to the church in Philippi, and he's talking about his one goal in life. 00:04:59.680 --> 00:05:11.040 But this goal is not a goal of self-fulfillment, it's not a goal of it's not a goal of just making himself self better. 00:05:11.120 --> 00:05:12.959 It's a goal that's in the future. 00:05:13.199 --> 00:05:19.199 So please turn with me, if you haven't yet, uh, to Philippians chapter 3, verses 12 to 21. 00:05:19.279 --> 00:05:20.560 And we're gonna look at this. 00:05:20.720 --> 00:05:31.600 And it's always important to have a Bible with you, or you can use a Bible app on your phone, because it makes sure, it makes sure that you can what I'm saying up here is actually in the Bible. 00:05:31.839 --> 00:05:37.199 It's good to keep that, um, always keep a Bible with you so you can keep in check the people who are in front of you. 00:05:37.439 --> 00:05:40.959 So just a brief context of what's going on here. 00:05:41.199 --> 00:05:46.560 The church in Philippi, the Philippian church, is being persecuted by Roman people. 00:05:46.800 --> 00:05:58.800 It's being persecuted by Jewish people, it's being persecuted by Christians who call themselves Christians, but they also try to uphold the Jewish law at the same time to make themselves feel right with God. 00:05:59.199 --> 00:06:00.720 So let's see what Paul is saying. 00:06:00.800 --> 00:06:02.000 Let's see what he's saying here. 00:06:02.480 --> 00:06:04.480 We'll start with verse 12. 00:06:05.199 --> 00:06:06.639 If I can get to the right book. 00:06:20.800 --> 00:06:23.199 Now, what do you what is he talking about here? 00:06:24.000 --> 00:06:28.399 Now we must remember that the books of the Bible are letters in the New Testament. 00:06:28.480 --> 00:06:30.639 They're most of them, all the epistles are letters. 00:06:30.800 --> 00:06:34.000 So we must remember this, and we need to read what comes before it. 00:06:34.160 --> 00:06:42.959 And if you're anything like me, I know you guys are going through the book of Philippians right now, but if you're anything like me, I tend to forget what's talked about on Sunday, like on Tuesday or Monday. 00:06:43.040 --> 00:06:44.639 So it's just good to refresh the mind. 00:06:44.720 --> 00:06:48.720 So I'm just gonna read uh Paul's testimony because he gives a testimony. 00:06:48.879 --> 00:06:59.439 And the thing about testimonies, they're very powerful, they're very good for teaching moments, and they're very good for sharing within the community to people who may not know what uh Christianity is all about. 00:06:59.600 --> 00:07:08.959 You can talk about your personal faith with people, and it's interesting, most times in one-on-one conversations, people are very interested in how, like, why do you go to church? 00:07:09.040 --> 00:07:11.839 And your testimony is a great example to use. 00:07:12.240 --> 00:07:15.839 So let's see what he says in verses four to six. 00:07:16.639 --> 00:07:22.160 If anyone else thinks he has reasons for confidence in the flesh, I have more. 00:07:23.279 --> 00:07:42.399 Circumcised on the eighth day of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews, as to the law, a Pharisee, as to zeal, a persecutor of the church, as to righteousness, uh as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 00:07:43.600 --> 00:07:46.800 Now, why would Paul give his testimony here? 00:07:47.120 --> 00:07:55.120 See, Paul at the time, in this era, he would be considered an elite of the society, of the Jewish culture. 00:07:55.279 --> 00:07:57.199 He would have, he had it all. 00:07:57.360 --> 00:08:01.120 He had what in the Victorian era you would call good breeding. 00:08:01.360 --> 00:08:04.240 He had the best education at the time. 00:08:04.399 --> 00:08:08.000 He was taught under one of the best Jewish leaders, the best Jewish Pharisees. 00:08:08.079 --> 00:08:11.360 He upheld the law, the Jewish law perfectly. 00:08:12.560 --> 00:08:24.079 But the thing with this, how we can bring it into our culture now, is that Paul would be similar like the health officials or the government leaders that we have today, or the counselors, or anyone like that. 00:08:24.240 --> 00:08:29.040 Anyone who's in these high-powered positions, Paul was in that at the time. 00:08:29.759 --> 00:08:31.839 That's how it's similar to our time. 00:08:33.039 --> 00:08:33.840 I'm gonna move back. 00:08:33.919 --> 00:08:36.000 I seem to get feedback here. 00:08:36.720 --> 00:08:45.120 Now you might be thinking, Matt, I'm not an elite person, I'm not an influencer of the culture, so how does this apply to myself? 00:08:45.279 --> 00:08:46.480 How does this apply? 00:08:46.720 --> 00:08:52.960 Well, what Paul is getting at here is that he's getting at a human problem, the human issue of the heart. 00:08:53.120 --> 00:08:55.279 And that is this problem of privilege. 00:08:55.360 --> 00:09:01.279 And I know this is a very loaded word, privilege, in our in our cultural moment, but that's what he's getting at here. 00:09:01.440 --> 00:09:08.639 He had all this privilege, and he's trying to show the people of um of Philippi and Philippi that you have to get rid of this. 00:09:08.879 --> 00:09:13.759 Now, this human tendency is a tendency to glory in self. 00:09:13.919 --> 00:09:16.399 That's what privilege is, the glory in self. 00:09:16.639 --> 00:09:18.480 Now you might be thinking, like, what does that mean? 00:09:18.639 --> 00:09:24.480 Well, some good things that show that how people use their privilege, there are some things that they say to themselves. 00:09:24.720 --> 00:09:27.840 It could be, I got here on my own. 00:09:28.720 --> 00:09:30.879 I don't need anyone else. 00:09:31.440 --> 00:09:34.480 My truth is the only truth that matters. 00:09:35.440 --> 00:09:37.519 Glad I'm not like those people. 00:09:38.639 --> 00:09:41.759 Those Christians are less sophisticated than us. 00:09:42.799 --> 00:09:46.799 Any tradition is better, our tradition is better than their tradition. 00:09:47.039 --> 00:09:49.840 I don't need to go to church or attend a small group. 00:09:49.919 --> 00:09:51.679 I don't have the time for that. 00:09:52.799 --> 00:09:54.240 I don't need the tithe. 00:09:54.399 --> 00:09:56.559 I earn this money, it is my money. 00:09:56.799 --> 00:10:00.159 I don't need to read the Bible, I know what it already says. 00:10:00.480 --> 00:10:01.519 Why should I pray? 00:10:01.679 --> 00:10:04.080 If God is all powerful, why should I pray? 00:10:05.360 --> 00:10:09.200 I can just watch church online, it's more convenient for me. 00:10:09.519 --> 00:10:11.840 Our worship music is better than that church. 00:10:12.000 --> 00:10:13.519 Why haven't we grown? 00:10:15.919 --> 00:10:28.000 See, when we use our privilege and we try to put it on top of other people, make ourselves feel better than other people, what we're doing is we're turning our focus from God and putting it on ourselves. 00:10:28.240 --> 00:10:30.399 We're turning our focus and putting it on ourselves. 00:10:30.480 --> 00:10:33.679 We try to be the heroes of our own lives. 00:10:35.120 --> 00:10:40.960 In our culture, all of us, we're very much, we really like a hero story. 00:10:41.360 --> 00:10:49.759 Um, if you look at movies, the box office, normally the Marvel movies or any movies that have to do with superheroes or heroes, do the best. 00:10:49.919 --> 00:10:52.720 They always bring in the most money over the time. 00:10:52.799 --> 00:10:55.440 And they normally stay in the movie theaters the longest. 00:10:56.240 --> 00:10:58.000 Now, what is Paul trying to get at? 00:10:58.159 --> 00:11:00.399 What is he trying to show the Philippian church here? 00:11:00.559 --> 00:11:03.919 Well, if you look again at verse 12, we'll see. 00:11:04.720 --> 00:11:05.919 What is he saying? 00:11:06.159 --> 00:11:12.240 Not that I've already attained this or I'm already perfect, but I press on to make it my own. 00:11:13.840 --> 00:11:18.399 Because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 00:11:18.879 --> 00:11:21.360 See, that is a beautiful thing. 00:11:21.840 --> 00:11:26.559 That last part, Christ Jesus has made me his own. 00:11:26.960 --> 00:11:32.559 That is something here, if you've put your faith and trust in Jesus, that is something you should memorize. 00:11:32.799 --> 00:11:34.960 Christ Jesus has made you his own. 00:11:35.200 --> 00:11:37.440 You should preach it to yourself every day. 00:11:37.679 --> 00:11:41.120 You should pray it to yourself that Christ Jesus has made you his own. 00:11:41.200 --> 00:11:48.320 You should tell other people here that you are surrounded, your family, your Christian family, that Christ Jesus has made you his own. 00:11:48.639 --> 00:11:57.919 See, God so loved the world that he sent his only son into it, that whoever would put their faith and trust in him will not perish but have eternal life. 00:11:58.720 --> 00:12:03.440 And this Christianity is different from all other ideologies and religion. 00:12:03.919 --> 00:12:05.600 And what do I mean by that? 00:12:05.840 --> 00:12:14.399 You see, any other ideology or religion always makes that you have to earn your way to either salvation or a betterment of yourself. 00:12:14.639 --> 00:12:25.759 But Christianity teaches that it's already been done for you, that Jesus died on the cross, he said it is finished, that all you have to do is put faith in him and you are saved. 00:12:27.279 --> 00:12:34.720 But if we struggle with this, if I struggle with trying to put my faith and trust in Jesus, what am I to do? 00:12:34.960 --> 00:12:39.039 Well, Paul says it in the next verses, so let's look, let's take a look. 00:12:39.360 --> 00:12:41.840 In verses 13 to 14. 00:12:44.879 --> 00:12:46.639 Now, what is he saying? 00:12:47.759 --> 00:12:52.399 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider that I've made it my own. 00:12:52.639 --> 00:13:06.000 But one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 00:13:07.919 --> 00:13:22.720 See, what he's teaching here is that we must forget everything that hinders you, anything that hinders you from running the race, whether it's us trying to make ourselves better over other people or making ourselves our own little gods, we must get cast that off. 00:13:23.039 --> 00:13:28.559 Any hero story we try to make of our life, you must hit anything that hinders you, you must get rid of. 00:13:28.720 --> 00:13:31.440 Things you struggle with, whether it's money, give it away. 00:13:31.679 --> 00:13:32.320 Tithe. 00:13:32.480 --> 00:13:39.120 If you struggle with jealousy, talk to people about it, have people pray with you so you can work through that. 00:13:39.360 --> 00:13:44.720 If it's materialism, dealing with collecting things, hoarding things up, get rid of it. 00:13:44.879 --> 00:13:50.720 Anything that hinders you, that takes you your eyes off of God, cast it off. 00:13:52.159 --> 00:13:58.960 Paul says in verse 8, when he was talking about his testimony, he says, it is all rubbish. 00:13:59.360 --> 00:14:01.120 He counts it as rubbish. 00:14:01.360 --> 00:14:03.759 In the original translation, it's done. 00:14:03.919 --> 00:14:06.080 It's what animals do for their business. 00:14:06.240 --> 00:14:12.639 He counts it all as rubbish for because of the glory it is to know Jesus Christ, to run after him. 00:14:13.360 --> 00:14:18.879 You might be thinking now, oh, this is my this is one of my big issues with Christianity. 00:14:19.759 --> 00:14:21.440 You have to be faceless. 00:14:21.679 --> 00:14:24.399 You have no identity, you have no personality. 00:14:24.559 --> 00:14:27.200 It tells you right here you must get rid of it. 00:14:27.759 --> 00:14:35.279 Well, Paul's testimony, another part he uses in Galatians, he talks about how he used to persecute the church. 00:14:35.519 --> 00:14:36.960 He promoted killing. 00:14:37.200 --> 00:14:41.679 In Acts it says he held the coats of those who stoned Stephen. 00:14:42.080 --> 00:14:49.360 And now he's in jail for a thing, for a thing, for the thing he killed people for, and that's a fact. 00:14:49.600 --> 00:14:54.639 He's in jail because of a fact that Christ Jesus rose from the dead. 00:14:54.960 --> 00:14:56.879 That is what he's in jail for. 00:14:57.200 --> 00:15:01.200 He's in jail because he holds on that Christ Jesus has made him his own. 00:15:01.519 --> 00:15:08.000 And there's no way he doesn't remember the things that he used to do in the past or where he comes from. 00:15:08.240 --> 00:15:10.000 That's not what he's saying. 00:15:10.320 --> 00:15:15.919 See, we've all done things in the past that that we that may haunt us or that we hold on to. 00:15:16.159 --> 00:15:18.639 But he's saying you need to forget those things. 00:15:18.799 --> 00:15:20.159 You need to look forward. 00:15:20.399 --> 00:15:25.600 He's not saying you have to be faceless or you can't be proud of your heritage or where you do come from. 00:15:26.399 --> 00:15:31.519 He's saying anything that hinders you from remembering, he has made you his own. 00:15:31.759 --> 00:15:34.399 Forget it, get rid of it, cast it off. 00:15:34.639 --> 00:15:38.159 See, it's like the parable in Matthew, and Jesus is talking. 00:15:38.320 --> 00:15:43.440 And he's talking about that there's a field with great treasure hidden within it. 00:15:43.679 --> 00:15:52.399 And then someone comes and he finds this treasure, and right away he sells everything he has and buys that field so he can hold on to the treasure. 00:15:52.799 --> 00:15:55.279 See, that's what the Christian walk is like. 00:15:55.440 --> 00:16:01.440 That we need to hold on to the treasure of the gospel, of the future glory that we will come face to face with Jesus. 00:16:01.519 --> 00:16:03.279 So we need to hold on to that. 00:16:05.200 --> 00:16:11.919 Now, the Christian walk, as it says here, as it's talking about, is this already and not yet moment. 00:16:12.799 --> 00:16:18.559 See, when you put your faith and trust in Jesus, you live in this tension of already not yet. 00:16:18.799 --> 00:16:22.559 So you're justified instantly through Christ's work on the cross. 00:16:22.720 --> 00:16:25.759 But then you have to also live out your whole life right after that. 00:16:25.840 --> 00:16:31.360 So you're and wait until either you die or Jesus returns to become face to face with him. 00:16:31.440 --> 00:16:36.080 So you're in this already tension, already not yet tension, and you need to work through that. 00:16:36.159 --> 00:16:40.240 And you need to always have your life oriented towards a certain direction. 00:16:41.679 --> 00:16:46.639 The Christian life is like a long race, it is like a pilgrimage. 00:16:47.279 --> 00:16:55.440 If you've ever read the book, The Pilgrim's Progress, if you haven't read it, I would highly recommend you read the book, The Pilgrim's Progress, by John Bunyan. 00:16:55.919 --> 00:17:02.960 This book is an excellent example of the pilgrim's race towards the celestial city, heaven, at the end. 00:17:03.039 --> 00:17:05.200 Um there's it you can get it in the old language. 00:17:05.279 --> 00:17:07.920 I really like the old language, or you can get it in the newer language. 00:17:08.079 --> 00:17:10.000 I would just highly recommend this book. 00:17:10.079 --> 00:17:12.640 It's called The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan. 00:17:12.799 --> 00:17:14.240 Highly recommend it. 00:17:14.960 --> 00:17:21.119 Charles Spurgeon would read it every year, and he's it very influenced his life deeply. 00:17:21.599 --> 00:17:31.119 And one of the best examples, I think, um, for the Christian life, a lot of people use the running race of a runner running towards the finish line or anything like that. 00:17:31.200 --> 00:17:34.799 But I think a really good example is a mountaineering expedition. 00:17:35.039 --> 00:17:40.400 I personally, me and Amy really like rock climbing, so I can really relate to anything that does with climbing. 00:17:40.559 --> 00:17:44.400 Um, but the thing with mountaineering is that you train for years. 00:17:44.799 --> 00:17:48.240 You train for years for this one objective goal. 00:17:48.720 --> 00:17:51.920 And you sacrifice much to obtain this goal. 00:17:52.160 --> 00:17:57.359 Unfortunately, mountaineering, mountaineers tend to sacrifice a lot of bad things. 00:17:57.440 --> 00:18:00.480 If you read um in the books, they sacrifice their families and everything. 00:18:00.559 --> 00:18:01.519 I'm not saying that. 00:18:01.680 --> 00:18:06.079 Um I'm just saying there's this thing with mountaineering that there it's the one focus. 00:18:06.160 --> 00:18:10.559 The Christian life is like a mountaineering expedition, and it's done in a team. 00:18:10.799 --> 00:18:13.279 It's not done alone, it's not a solo race. 00:18:13.440 --> 00:18:15.680 You have to do it in a team to get to the top. 00:18:15.839 --> 00:18:17.519 Everyone's helping each other. 00:18:17.759 --> 00:18:20.400 And then there's these mountaintops experiences. 00:18:20.799 --> 00:18:31.440 But that's just the thing that's interesting about this illustration is that there's the mountaintop experience, but the climb is not over yet. 00:18:31.680 --> 00:18:33.119 You still have to get down. 00:18:33.359 --> 00:18:38.480 And the way down is normally the hardest part of the mountaineering whole expedition. 00:18:38.559 --> 00:18:43.920 It's the most dangerous, it's normally the part where most people die, unfortunately. 00:18:46.079 --> 00:18:48.000 See, that's why we need small groups. 00:18:48.160 --> 00:18:52.640 Just like mountaineering is done in a team, we need small groups and we need to go to church. 00:18:52.799 --> 00:18:53.839 It's very important. 00:18:54.000 --> 00:18:59.680 And you need to come together and read scripture, you need to pray together and talk about the things we're struggling with. 00:18:59.920 --> 00:19:01.920 And we need to be disciple makers. 00:19:02.079 --> 00:19:03.599 We need to disciple one each other. 00:19:03.680 --> 00:19:08.240 We need to become a church that just wants to make disciples to go out into the community. 00:19:08.400 --> 00:19:10.960 And then we can tell people about Jesus. 00:19:11.519 --> 00:19:18.000 The only way to do proper evangelism is that the community reaches the community that it's surrounded in. 00:19:18.079 --> 00:19:19.200 It's the only way. 00:19:19.680 --> 00:19:29.440 And as you read about, unfortunately, uh the mountaineering expedition has gone wrong, the there's tends to be some people who try to go off on their own. 00:19:29.759 --> 00:19:40.000 And they try to go off on their own either to make the ascent, to get to the top after a certain time, or they get or they try to go off on their own on the way down and they get lost and they perish. 00:19:40.720 --> 00:19:54.880 The Christian pilgrimage is a pilgrimage unified in the cross of Christ, journeying towards the goal, the goal for the upward, upward call of God in Christ Jesus, as Paul says here in these verses. 00:19:55.920 --> 00:19:57.440 But how do we do this? 00:19:57.599 --> 00:19:58.799 Well, let's see. 00:20:01.839 --> 00:20:05.359 In verses 15 to 19, let's take a look. 00:20:05.519 --> 00:20:08.480 So look with me again at the at what we're looking at here. 00:20:08.720 --> 00:20:10.720 Verses 15 to 19. 00:20:11.759 --> 00:20:14.640 Let those of us who are mature think this way. 00:20:14.960 --> 00:20:20.720 And if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. 00:20:21.200 --> 00:20:24.240 Only let us hold true to what we have obtained. 00:20:25.039 --> 00:20:32.960 Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. 00:20:33.359 --> 00:20:41.119 For many of whom I have often told you, and now tell you, even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 00:20:41.359 --> 00:20:48.559 Their end is destruction, their God is their belly, and they glory in their shame with minds set on earthly things. 00:20:49.680 --> 00:20:54.960 Now you might be thinking, Well, Matt, sure, I can agree with some of this. 00:20:55.200 --> 00:20:58.079 It's good not to be held back by my by your past. 00:20:58.480 --> 00:20:59.920 I can agree with that. 00:21:00.480 --> 00:21:09.680 But now you're telling me I have to copy someone, I have to imitate somebody who used to who used to promote the killing of people. 00:21:10.079 --> 00:21:11.599 And now is in jail. 00:21:11.839 --> 00:21:13.839 You're telling me I have to copy that. 00:21:15.359 --> 00:21:32.319 The second time that I was sitting in a cell watching the bars close in front of me, not knowing what if I was gonna face five to ten years sitting behind the jail cell, the last thing that was on my mind was writing letters of encouragement to people. 00:21:32.880 --> 00:21:41.920 See, the letter to the Philippians is a letter that overflows with joy, with love, with encouragement, with thanksgiving. 00:21:42.400 --> 00:21:48.160 Paul literally is in a Roman prison not knowing if he will live or die. 00:21:49.440 --> 00:21:50.960 So, how do we imitate people? 00:21:51.039 --> 00:21:52.079 What do we look for? 00:21:52.319 --> 00:21:59.759 In Galatians chapter 5, verses 22 to 23, Paul gives a perfect example of what we are to look for. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:03.119 For you don't need to turn there, I'll just read it really quick. 00:22:04.400 --> 00:22:19.200 He says, But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. 00:22:20.079 --> 00:22:21.440 And these are just some of them. 00:22:21.599 --> 00:22:23.200 These are the things we need to look for. 00:22:23.359 --> 00:22:27.759 We need to look for that in people, the people that we're surrounded with here in church. 00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:30.640 See, if we look for this, you look for the fruit. 00:22:30.880 --> 00:22:35.039 We need to look for those who put Christ first, and we need to imitate them. 00:22:36.079 --> 00:22:37.119 We want to be like this. 00:22:37.279 --> 00:22:45.920 We want to pray this daily, that the Lord will use the Holy Spirit to have this fruit come out of us, to bear it daily in our lives. 00:22:46.160 --> 00:22:49.759 But notice the language that Paul uses here in these verses. 00:22:50.079 --> 00:22:53.839 He says, I press on, I strain forward. 00:22:54.319 --> 00:22:56.319 He walks towards the goal. 00:22:56.559 --> 00:23:00.960 See, it's hard work, this Christian walk, this Christian pilgrimage. 00:23:01.200 --> 00:23:03.440 But it's not what makes you right with God. 00:23:03.680 --> 00:23:05.279 That's already accomplished. 00:23:05.519 --> 00:23:08.240 Christ has already made you his own. 00:23:08.640 --> 00:23:10.319 He's already done it. 00:23:10.640 --> 00:23:12.160 So this walk is hard. 00:23:12.319 --> 00:23:13.359 It is a hard walk. 00:23:13.440 --> 00:23:15.039 It is a hard race that you run. 00:23:15.119 --> 00:23:19.279 It's a hard mountaineering expedition that you do together as a family. 00:23:19.599 --> 00:23:21.519 But it's already won. 00:23:22.079 --> 00:23:23.759 It's hard, but it's already won. 00:23:23.839 --> 00:23:25.680 It's a great thing to remember. 00:23:26.559 --> 00:23:30.480 But notice here what Paul says in verses 18 to 19. 00:23:31.599 --> 00:23:38.720 He's talking about people who have fallen away, people who were a part of this race, the part of the expedition, but they have fallen away. 00:23:38.960 --> 00:23:42.000 And he writes, he talks about them with tears. 00:23:42.880 --> 00:23:51.200 You see, these people that have walked away, we, like I personally know lots of people who have, I'm sure many of you do as well. 00:23:51.440 --> 00:23:56.079 It is hard, it is heart-wrenching to see people walk away from the faith. 00:23:56.319 --> 00:24:00.720 But we are to look at them with love and kindness. 00:24:00.880 --> 00:24:02.480 We are to pray for them. 00:24:03.039 --> 00:24:08.000 See, what Paul's doing here, he's giving a warning and a call. 00:24:08.720 --> 00:24:11.839 Through not running the race, you can lose your way. 00:24:12.559 --> 00:24:17.279 But at the same time, with tears, we need to pray for those who have run the race. 00:24:17.440 --> 00:24:18.400 That's the call. 00:24:19.599 --> 00:24:20.799 We need to pray for them. 00:24:20.880 --> 00:24:25.680 We need to reach out to them and remind them of the gospel to welcome them into our lives. 00:24:26.480 --> 00:24:29.119 Because they are people made in the image of God. 00:24:29.359 --> 00:24:32.000 But unfortunately, their end is destruction. 00:24:32.720 --> 00:24:38.559 Now you might be you might be thinking, ah, Matt, this is something I don't like about Christianity. 00:24:38.799 --> 00:24:40.960 That your God sends people to hell. 00:24:41.279 --> 00:24:45.839 I know you guys have just gone through, I believe a couple months ago, a series on hell. 00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:47.920 Um, so I'll just give a quote. 00:24:48.240 --> 00:24:49.599 See, I believe it's C.S. 00:24:49.680 --> 00:24:59.759 Lewis, I can't remember who said it, but he says, See, the thing with hell, that it's not a God who's just throwing people in, laughing as they go in. 00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:02.640 See, hell is locked from the inside. 00:25:02.720 --> 00:25:04.319 It's not locked from the outside. 00:25:04.559 --> 00:25:07.440 See, it says here in the verses that they glory. 00:25:07.680 --> 00:25:08.720 They glory in it. 00:25:08.880 --> 00:25:14.480 They want, they the people who go, unfortunately, to hell, they want to be there. 00:25:14.640 --> 00:25:15.839 They glory in it. 00:25:16.000 --> 00:25:17.279 It's locked from the inside. 00:25:17.440 --> 00:25:18.319 They could go. 00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:20.960 Like it is a great example, I believe C. 00:25:21.119 --> 00:25:21.200 S. 00:25:21.279 --> 00:25:22.160 Lewis says. 00:25:22.319 --> 00:25:25.119 Now, Paul does something really interesting here. 00:25:25.519 --> 00:25:27.759 He brings up citizenship. 00:25:28.799 --> 00:25:37.200 The thing with the in the context of the church in Philippi is that citizenship, the Roman citizenship, was highly valued. 00:25:37.440 --> 00:25:42.799 It was a it was this citizenship that had special things with it in this in the Philippi. 00:25:43.039 --> 00:25:49.039 Because it was a emperor conquered it and became this almost special port city. 00:25:49.839 --> 00:25:57.359 So the people in Philippi had this privilege that they were exempt from certain taxes other Roman people would have to pay. 00:25:57.519 --> 00:26:00.079 So this citizenship was very prized. 00:26:00.319 --> 00:26:05.039 But what Paul is talking about here is that there's two citizens citizenships in this world. 00:26:05.119 --> 00:26:07.440 And you have to decide which one you want. 00:26:07.759 --> 00:26:11.200 But there's eternal consequences with that decision. 00:26:12.240 --> 00:26:13.440 It's like this. 00:26:13.920 --> 00:26:16.319 This is a great illustration that I've heard before. 00:26:16.640 --> 00:26:19.519 See, it's think of two people lost in a forest. 00:26:19.680 --> 00:26:22.720 One has a compass and one doesn't have a compass. 00:26:22.960 --> 00:26:29.839 The one who doesn't have a has a compass, one who does not have a compass can only see the trees in front of them. 00:26:30.079 --> 00:26:35.200 But the one who has a compass can look, has this thing that directs them beyond the trees. 00:26:35.359 --> 00:26:37.200 They have this thing for the end. 00:26:37.440 --> 00:26:39.680 And that's what it's like walking the Christian walk. 00:26:39.839 --> 00:26:41.039 You have this compass. 00:26:41.200 --> 00:26:46.319 You have this citizenship, the future citizenship of seeing Jesus face to face. 00:26:46.720 --> 00:26:47.680 You have this. 00:26:47.920 --> 00:26:49.680 The Bible is your compass. 00:26:50.000 --> 00:26:50.559 Read it. 00:26:50.720 --> 00:26:52.000 Read it together. 00:26:52.240 --> 00:26:54.079 Walk this life with people. 00:26:54.480 --> 00:27:14.160 If you're here and you feel like you've become slack in the race, or you feel like you've haven't been running it at all, or you don't believe this at all, I would encourage you, now is the time to put your faith and trust in Jesus, to reaffirm your faith and get on that race again. 00:27:14.799 --> 00:27:16.240 Now is the time. 00:27:17.279 --> 00:27:21.759 See, we all have to face death at some point and stand before God and give account. 00:27:21.920 --> 00:27:27.680 But the beauty of the Christian walk, the Christian pilgrimage, is that it's just the beginning. 00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:30.960 Christ has already made you his. 00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:39.599 Timothy Keller was a great writer, a great thinker in the Christian faith who recently passed away. 00:27:40.400 --> 00:27:46.880 But before he passed away, one of the last things that was recorded that he said was, I'm ready to see Jesus. 00:27:47.119 --> 00:27:49.039 I can't wait to see Jesus. 00:27:49.359 --> 00:27:50.640 Send me home. 00:27:50.880 --> 00:27:55.680 You see, when you put your faith and trust in Jesus, you don't need to fear death. 00:27:56.000 --> 00:28:00.400 Because when your eyes close in this life, they will open in the next life. 00:28:00.640 --> 00:28:03.200 And the first thing you will see is Jesus. 00:28:03.440 --> 00:28:09.039 And the first thing you'll hear is, Well done, good and faithful servant. 00:28:09.200 --> 00:28:10.480 I know it's been hard. 00:28:10.640 --> 00:28:11.920 This race has been hard. 00:28:12.079 --> 00:28:13.279 This life is hard. 00:28:13.519 --> 00:28:14.720 But come and rest. 00:28:14.960 --> 00:28:16.960 Well done, good and faithful servant. 00:28:17.279 --> 00:28:18.799 And let us pray. 00:28:20.000 --> 00:28:25.440 Heavenly Father, all we can do is just praise you for Jesus. 00:28:25.759 --> 00:28:34.240 All we can do is just come before you and worship you as a God of true love, a God of perfect love, of perfect humility and power. 00:28:34.480 --> 00:28:41.039 Father, I pray that you would unify us as we continue in this walk, this race, the Christian race. 00:28:42.559 --> 00:28:44.720 Father, just guide us by your Holy Spirit. 00:28:44.880 --> 00:28:48.559 Help us to cast off those things that are so easily entangle us. 00:28:48.720 --> 00:28:55.599 Help us to forget those things and to just keep pressing forward towards the upward call in Christ Jesus. 00:28:55.759 --> 00:28:57.519 And I pray us in Jesus' name. 00:28:57.759 --> 00:28:58.400 Amen. 00:29:00.160 --> 00:29:01.759 Thank you for listening today. 00:29:01.920 --> 00:29:07.359 We worship a generous God who calls us to follow Him in giving willfully, cheerfully, and sacrificially. 00:29:07.599 --> 00:29:14.000 Newsong Church's mission and ministry is 100% funded by the generous gifts of those worshiping and journeying with us. 00:29:14.240 --> 00:29:21.839 If you'd like to offer a gift towards Newsong's ministry, please visit newsongportperry.ca slash giving for more information on how to do that. 00:29:22.079 --> 00:29:25.119 May God bless you and keep you today and every day.