There are many things in life that tend to get up our noses. One of those things are people who give the impression that they have made it, that they are perfect, that they never make a mistake. And I guess it's when we come across people like that we wish we had the courage to confront their behavior and put them in their place.

 There is a story I read about a worker who brought his boss home from work one day for dinner. It was the first time this boss had been to this man's place, the problem was that he wasn't the most pleasant man to have around - he was arrogant and domineering. The little boy of this family watched his father's boss for most of the evening, but didn't say a word. Finally this behavior got to the man's boss and turned to the little boy asking,

 "Why do you keep looking at me like that lad?"

 The boy answered, "Well, my Daddy says you are a self-made man."

 The boss had a grin from ear to ear having this kind of recognition and proudly admitted that he was indeed a self-made man.

 To this the boy replied, "Well, if you are a self-made man, why did you make yourself like that?"

 Last week we looked at the way Paul placed everything behind him and strove ahead to that which Christ wanted. I guess as we look at the life of Paul, and especially in his letters where he challenges the people to exemplify his life, that we could mistakenly think that Paul was so puffed up with self pride that he probably wouldn't be able to walk through a doorway. In other words, we might think that Paul was saying, "I've made it, so follow me and you might make it too." But was Paul really saying this, or is there more to the picture?

1. I'VE MADE IT…or have I?

1. Paul's Self-Perception

Well, the obvious answer is that Paul wasn't saying he had made it, although I wonder if he was concerned that some were thinking this way. I wonder this because of his words in verse 12, directly after telling the Philippians of his pursuit to put off the worldly ways and to put on Christ's ways, where he says he had not obtained this yet neither had he reached perfection.

 Instead he says, "I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me."

 Later in verse 13 Paul says the he forgets what is behind and strains for that which is to come. I think there is a warning here from Paul which is not to look back to the past.

 

2. The Danger of Looking Back

Now last week we looked at this in terms of leaving our old life of sin behind and striving ahead in our life in Christ. Well here, I think Paul is referring to his life since being a Christian. He doesn't rest on his laurels - the race hasn't finished.

 Sadly, some Christians act this way. They have the attitude that they have arrived. These people are not teachable, they are not transparent, and they give the impression they never have any problems. Instead they portray the façade of perfectionism - they've made it.

 The danger of this attitude is that this type of person does not and will not grow in their relationship with Christ. They are often distant, proud, and closed to God's working in their lives. Basically they coast once coming into a relationship with Christ.

 There is a saying that goes like this: "A nice thing about being imperfect is the joy it brings to others." Paul is not saying here that he is perfect, but he is saying he is striving to pursue Christ's call and purpose in his life.

 How is this achieved?

1. PURSUING CHRIST'S CALL

Philip. 3:18-19

Now, in previous weeks we have looked at the bad motives or false teaching Paul addresses in this letter, but let's look at this again.

 Within the church in Paul's time there were two sets of people who Paul could have been directing these words towards. There was a group of people who distorted the principle of Christian liberty, which I was talking about last week. They said that because all of the law was gone for Christianity they then had the liberty to do what they wanted. The thing is, they manipulated the meaning of Christian liberty to mean they had the license to give in to their passions and lusts. Sound similar to today's climate?

 Another group distorted the doctrine of Grace. They said that since grace was enough to cover every sin, then a person could sin as much as he or she liked and not worry about it because it would make no difference to our all forgiving and loving God.

 It troubles me that many Christians today have the same view. If they don't state it publicly, then they certainly testify to this ideology privately through the witness of the life they live.

 Yes, God is all forgiving, but that does not mean we take His grace and mercy for granted. The Bible teaches that if we are truly found in Christ our lives will testify to this fact. Jesus said in John 14:21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him." So Jesus' own words describe how a person who manipulates God's grace and love to their own selfish desire are on a road to destruction. These people are examples, but examples of the attitude and life not to live.

 What does Paul say the outcome for these people is?

1. Destined for eternal Hopelessness - that is their future. The reality of hell should be enough to prompt anyone to turn to Christ if they honestly follow Christ's commands.
2. Driven by sensual appetites. Without Christ people follow the world, because that is all they have, so the old motto, "eat, drink, and be merry" is the only approach to life. A philosophy that is spiritually destructive. I think that too often we speak of 'carnal' Christians. That is, Christians who acknowledge Christ as savior, but living as though they don't want Him to be Lord.

 Well, frankly, I don't believe scripture gives room for the term 'carnal' Christian. A Christian is known by his or her fruit and sensitivity to the Lordship of Christ in their life. A person who is not a Christian lives by the philosophy of the world. 1 John 3:8 says:

"He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work."

 Belief and belief alone in God, which is the case for 'carnal' Christians is not sufficient. James, Jesus' brother, says in James 2:18-19:

But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds. "Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. 19You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder.

 Now, at first glance, this verse seems to contradict what Paul says in Phil. 3:1-11 and Romans 3:28, that, "man is justified by faith apart from observing the law." But if we look deeper we find that the teachings of James and Paul are not at odds.

 It is true that our good deeds can never earn salvation, but true faith always results in a changed life and good deeds - in other words fruit is seen. Paul speaks against those who try to be saved by deeds instead of true faith; James speaks against those who confuse mere intellectual belief with true faith. He emphasizes this by pointing out that even demons know who Jesus is, but they don’t obey him (James 2:19). So true faith involves a commitment of your whole self to God.

 

3. The third outcome is that these people are dedicated to material things. Because there is a spiritual void or unwillingness to submit to the Lordship of Christ the only meaning to life is gained through the things that have a price tag on them; things that are owned and are tangible; things that can be owned and used at the will and whim of the owner. In other words, Paul says they have "minds set on earthly things."

 So what should we do instead, if we are to ignore these types of examples.

1. Look to good Examples

In verse 17 Paul says, "Join with others in following my example". Now we have covered this in previous weeks, so just let me say again that Paul is not speaking so much about imitating every aspect of his life as if the Philippians were to be his clones. And he had already stated that he was not perfect. What he was challenging them to do was to pursue Christlikeness by following his own pattern or example. So, as he focused his life on being like Christ, so should they. You know, despite Paul not being perfect and not being Christ Himself, the fact that Paul could still tell people to follow his example is a testimony to his character. Can you and I do the same? What kind of follower would a new Christian become if he or she imitated you or me?

 

2. Strive Ahead

In verse 12 and 13, again using himself as an example, Paul's encouragement here is to press on, look ahead, strive for the goal.

 As I mentioned previously, Paul is not referring here to not looking back on his pre-Christian days. I think he is talking about not harping on about all the things he had done and achieved as a Christian.

 I'm not sure if I have shared this story with you or not, if so then please forgive me.

 In 1992 I was at Theological College. Once a year three of the evangelical colleges in Brisbane get together and challenge one another on the sporting fields. I was looking forward to this day because I love watching and being involved in sport - I also love to take on a challenge. If a challenge is there, I find it hard to resist - just ask Julie-Ann.

 My problem was this: I lived in the past, thinking I could reinvent those wonderful days of glory.

 Many Christians err in this way in their spiritual lives. They think:

"I'm now a Christian, so I'm now free to do what I want"

"I've served my time, I've been involved in ministry, I now deserve to give myself some time"

"I know all that stuff so I don't need to go to church"

"We can't do this or that because we tried that before 6 years ago"

 Paul says to these things, "forget what is behind and strain toward what is ahead."

 Another thing that we can not let go of is pains and hurts in our lives that just won't go away.

 I was one who lived this way. What is sad is that some of the unhappiest people in the world are living their lives looking over their shoulder. So what is in the past? Either great achievements, or great failures and defeats that only bring guilt and shame.

 By recalling the haunting events of yesterday only serve to bring us down. We cannot change the mistakes of the past. If we have sought God's forgiveness, if we have repented to our sin, if we have brought to His feet our pain and hurt of a broken relationship or an abused childhood, then we need to leave those things at Christ's feet. Paul's advise is now look ahead. Look ahead to the wonderful, freeing, releasing, intimate relationship you can have as you let Christ be Lord of all your life. Don't cling on, but trust these things into His loving grace filled hands.

 Unfortunately, many of us, including myself, sometimes try to live a perfect Christian life. The problem is, this can be so difficult that it leaves us drained and discouraged. We may feel so far from perfect that we can never please God with our lives. Paul used perfect in Phil. 3:12 to mean mature or complete, not flawless in every detail. Those who are mature should press on in the Holy Spirit’s power, knowing that Christ will reveal and fill in any discrepancy between what we are and what we should be. Christ’s provision is no excuse for lagging devotion, but it provides relief and assurance for those who feel driven.

So, it is here that we need to build sensitive hearts.

1. BUILD A SENSITIVE HEART

1. In the midst of outer pressure and pain we can have peace. Listen what Jesus says in the following verses:

John 14:15-17

• Jesus intercedes on our behalf
• The Holy Spirit lives within us and so will always be with us

John 14:26

• The Holy Spirit will teach and remind us of what Jesus said.

John 16:13

• The Holy Spirit guides us in truth
• He will tell us what is to come.

Therefore:

1. Jesus intercedes for us
2. The Holy Spirit:

• Indwells us
• Teaches us
• Reminds us
• Guides us
• Makes known what is to come

But also take note of John 16:33

The fact is Christians won't be sheltered from life's blows. We will and do have the aches and pains of life. We can be and will be unfairly treated by some. Like anyone else we can be assaulted, robbed, or even murdered. We can and do suffer financial difficulty and be taken advantage of. I cringe when I hear a person say to another person, "Oh, you must be being tried by God because of some unconfessed sin in your life", or, "If you just believed a bit harder, if you had more faith, then things will get better". Now, sometimes this may be true, but more often then not these statements are not true. Jesus says himself "In this world you will have trouble".

Listen to Jesus speaking again in John 17:11-15

The fact is we are in this world and are subject to the garbage of this world as much as anyone else. That's why we are told to resist the devil, to obey Christ, to live Godly lives, to be transformed by the renewing of our minds etc.

 So, Jesus isn't saying, get them out of there. He is saying though, bring them peace in the midst of the difficulties surrounding them. Not just a surface peace that gets us from day to day, but a deep inner peace that saturates our hearts and lives. By the work of the Holy Spirit, God gives us the power and strength to live this life under His protective cover.

 With this confidence then, Paul says in verse 20 to live as citizens of Heaven.

1. Live as Citizens of Heaven - stand firm but not still

This means that although we live in this world, don't live as the world does.

James 4:7 says

James 1:22

Romans 12:2

So, being a citizen of Heaven means to:

• Submit ourselves to god - Lordship
• Resist the temptations that satan wants to bring us down with
• Obey God's word, don't just read it and forget it
• Be transformed by the new mind set that we have in Christ - renewal

It is as we obey Christ in these things that we will then know how to let go of the fears and hurts and pains we have carried in our lives. We will know how we can forgive, how we can trust, how we can love again.

 As we discover this freedom as we allow the Holy Spirit to work within us that Paul says in Phil. 4:1 "now stand firm in these things". That is the things he has spoken about in Chapter 3. But note, Paul says, stand firm, NOT stand still.

 Paul says here, "don’t let the highs and the lows sway you,. Instead, get a firm grip on the eternal relationship you have with the Lord and don't let go. He will give you the strength to go on, and He will continue to bring to your attention the thoughts and heart that will keep you on track.

Can I encourage you to be all that you can be in this world that is searching for meaning to life in all the wrong places. God has chosen us to be his vessels, His witnesses, to His love and grace to a lost world. Earlier I read John 17:15 where Jesus' prayer was that the Father not take us out of the world. He said this because there is a purpose for us and that purpose is found in Matthew 28. That is, we are to evangelize, establish and equip people into a commitment to Christ.

By Scott Douglas, Burdekin Baptist Church, 29^th November 1998