Royal Race or Rat Race?

Series Title: The Book of Philippians: Rejoice in the Lord!



This morning we see the driving life motivation for the Apostle Paul - his passion to know ever more intimately the person of Christ.  He compared his quest to that of a runner in a race- running hard for the prize.  The truth is all of us chase a prize- the question for today is, "Are we pursuing the right one?"

Scriptures:


Philippians 3:7-14

 7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, 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[a] Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

 12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3: 10-11 (The Message)

10-11I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, experience his resurrection power, be a partner in his suffering, and go all the way with him to death itself. If there was any way to get in on the resurrection from the dead, I wanted to do it.

Revelation 4:9-11

 9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

 11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God,
   to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
   and by your will they were created
   and have their being.”

Philippians 1:20-24

20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.

2 Corinthians 5:5-8

5 Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

 6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

1 Corinthians 9:24

 24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

Psalm 115:1

 1 Not to us, LORD, not to us
   but to your name be the glory,
   because of your love and faithfulness.

Revelation 4:9-11

 9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

 11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God,
   to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
   and by your will they were created
   and have their being.”


Digging Deeper

  1. What does Paul mean in Philippians 3:10 when he says "the power of the resurrection?"  What is the power of the resurrection?  Read 2 Corinthians 4:10-15; 1 Peter 1:3-6 and Colossians 3:1-5.  Does that change your understanding of the power of the resurrection?
  2. Does the phrase "somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead" make you anxious about whether or not you will go to heaven?  Why or why not?  Do you think Paul meant something like "I don't know if I will get to heaven, but I'm sure gonna work hard and try and get there"?  Read the following passages, all written by Paul, with respect to this verse, 3:11.  Philippians 1:20-24, Philippians 1:4-7, Romans 8:26-39, 2 Corinthians 5:7-8.
  3. Can we know for sure that we are going to heaven? (See 1 John 5:11-13; John 3:16-18; Acts 16:30-31; Hebrews 7:20-28.)
  4. Read Philippians 3:1-8.  What did Paul give up to follow Christ?  What have you given up?  Don't try and be humble, there are things you gave up for Jesus.  Why did Paul give those things up (Philippians 3:9-11)?  Are there things you are unwilling to give up for the sake of knowing Him?  (Don't think just in terms of "stuff" - think about things like time, people, dreams, etc.)  What would happen if you give them up?  Would it be worth it?  Will you do that now?

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Posted by Tech Ministry at 8/28/2011 11:27 AM
Categories: Message Series:The Book of Philippians, 2011, Jerry Rahm
Tags: Philippians 3v7-14 Revelation4v9-11 Philippians 1v20-24 2 Corinthians 5v5-8 1 Corinthians 9v24 Psalms 115v1 Revelation 4v9-11
 
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