Sermon Notes: "Keep Going"

What do you want more than anything else in the all the world?

Read along with me the writings of the Apostle Paul:

Philippians 3:3-14

"3.  For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, 

and have no confidence in the flesh,

4.  though I also might have confidence in the flesh, I more so:

5.  circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, 

A Hebrew of the Hebrews;

concerning the law, a Pharisee;

6.  concerning zeal, persecuting the church;

concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

7.  But what things were gain to me, 

these I have counted loss for Christ.

8.  Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the 

excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, 

for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, 

and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ

9.  And be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, 

but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;

10.  That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, 

and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,

11.  if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

12.  Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; 

but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.

13.  Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended, but one thing I do, 

forgetting those things which are behind 

and reaching forward to t hose things which are ahead,

14.  I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

Do you want to know more about Christ and His suffering?

We tend to focus on the things we do to keep up with the world, neighbors, friends, etc.
Paul, a pure-bred Hebrew...Paul had authority...and expensive commodity of the day...
and one day Jesus appeared to Paul on the road to Damascus  (see Acts 9)...and Paul's entire purpose and direction was changed.  He had to let go of all the things that had slowed him down...and he counted them as rubbish, that he might gain Christ...

• What do we consider rubbish...the things that we need to let go of...get rid of...so we can know Christ and be like Him?
• As we prepare for the New Year...is this the best time to assess our life's identity?  
• What is it you love above all else?

Paul's focus became heavenward...where he found peace, love, joy, confidence...once he was touched by Jesus..regardless of the hardships that he had to face...

Christ Jesus is there to carry us through whatever our hardships may be.

How much pain and suffering do we have because we drag along our pain and sorrows and refuse to let them go? 

What is it we are holding on to?

Look at verse 8: Paul was counting all things as loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus his Lord...for Whom he suffered the loss of all things...and counted them as rubbish...so that he might gain Christ.

Paul was willing to give up himself...all for Christ..."for whose sake I have lost all things"...through faithfulness of Christ...Christ's faithfulness is what saves us...See verse 9:

"And be found in Him, not having MY OWN righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith..."   

In verse 12, Paul says "I press on"

Verse 13: Paul says "one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead..."

Verse 14: "I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

• How many would be willing to give up ALL that we had to be able to have this journey alongside Christ...to see life resurrected from the dead...
• As we continue the journey, into a "Happy New Year"...with Christ working in us...
• Letting God recharge our batteries and renew and restore us...
• God is bringing you on that journey with Christ...Christ is there with us wherever we go...
• May we make a stronger commitment to follow Christ in this New Year...
• 
  
• Back to the original questions:  
• "What do you want more than anything else in all the world?"
• "Do you (I) want to know more of Christ and His suffering? 
•  What is the rubbish that I can let go of so that I can know Christ and be like Him?

I know I need to work on this.  As much as I try to live for Christ, I know there are many things that get in the way of me fully letting go and letting Him be all that I need.  I know in my heart and mind that I have to let go of these "things", but sometimes I find it very difficult and I forget all that Christ as already done for me...and that I can fully rely on Him to continue to meet ALL my needs. I can say it, I can even write it, teach it, and "preach it"...but when it comes right down to living it, I often fall short. I am praying that God will help me to let go of the rubbish and fully press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  This is a wonderful way to begin the New Year...Thank You, Lord, for walking with me on this journey of life.  Amen.

Sermon Notes: FUMC, Interlachen, FL, Pastor A.C. Myers, 12/30/2018

Please Note : I want to repeat this disclaimer here...the notes, outline, and content included here are based upon my own personal understanding of the message that was being given. I am not attempting to completely quote or reproduce this message or any other message I've shared previously. Just as each person reading these notes may glean insights and thoughts that seem to directly apply to one's own situation and interpretation, my own delivery of these messages is skewed by my hearing and translation of what is being said. Some may read my notes here and wonder if they were hearing the same message as I...and I say, God speaks to each of us as He wills...there are things He is trying to get across to each individual that may be entirely different than what the person sitting next to you in the pew is needing to hear... That is how the Holy Spirit works! He knows what we need to hear and how to apply it to our hearts. So it is with that understanding that I present these sermon notes to you.