“The ‘SOMETHINGNESS’ of our NOTHINGNESS” ALL CHURCH RETREAT 2018 “The ‘SOMETHINGNESS’ of our NOTHINGNESS”

INTRODUCTION

PHILIPPIANS ONE: CHRIST IS OUR LIFE.

PHILIPPIANS ONE: CHRIST IS OUR LIFE. Key Verse: “For me to LIVE is CHRIST.” (1:21)

Colossians 3 3 For ye are dead, and YOUR LIFE is hid with CHRIST in God. 4 When CHRIST, who is our LIFE, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Galatians 2 20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet NOT I, but Christ liveth IN ME: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

PHILIPPIANS TWO: CHRIST IS OUR PATTERN.

PHILIPPIANS TWO: CHRIST IS OUR PATTERN. Key Verse: “Let this MIND be in YOU, which was also in CHRIST JESUS.” (2:5)

● A Simple Outline of the Chapter:

● A Simple Outline of the Chapter: 1. Christ is the PATTERN for Living the Christian Life (2:1-11)

● A Simple Outline of the Chapter: 1. Christ is the PATTERN for Living the Christian Life (2:1-11) 2. Christ is the POWER for Living the Christian Life (2:12-30)

● The Key Point of the Chapter:

● The Key Point of the Chapter: ❋ We are to live the Christian life the SAME WAY Christ lived His life.

Philippians 2 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

1 John 2 6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

Philippians 2 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

● The Key Point of the Chapter: ❋ The key is understanding the NOTHINGNESS of our HUMANNESS.

THE “SOMETHINGNESS” OF OUR “NOTHINGNESS”

▲ The PATTERN Established Through Our Lord Jesus Christ

John 5 19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do NOTHING of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

John 5 30 I can of mine own self do NOTHING: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

John 8 28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do NOTHING of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.

John 14 10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak NOT OF MYSELF: but the Father that dwelleth in me, HE doeth the works.

▲ The PRINCIPLE Repeated in the New Testament

2 Corinthians 3 5 Not that we are sufficient of OURSELVES to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of GOD;

Philippians 3 3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have NO CONFIDENCE in the flesh.

John 15 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without ME ye can do NOTHING.

NOTE Learning our NOTHINGNESS is one of the most DIFFICULT lessons of the Christian life! To come to that understanding is often through being placed in difficult CIRCUMSTANCES.

❋ The example of PAUL:

❋ The example of PAUL: Philippians 3 4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

❋ The example of PAUL: Philippians 3 7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

❋ The example of PAUL: 2 Corinthians 12 7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

❋ The example of PAUL: 2 Corinthians 12 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

❋ The example of PAUL: 1 Corinthians 1 26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.

NOTE Learning our NOTHINGNESS is often through FAILURE.

❋ The example of PETER:

❋ The example of PETER: Matthew 26 31 Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. 32 But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. 33 Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. 34 Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. 35 Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.

NOTE Learning the lesson is evidenced by our PERSPECTIVE and our SPEECH.

❋ The example of PETER:

❋ The example of PETER: Acts 3 12 And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? 13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.

❋ The example of PAUL:

❋ The example of PAUL: Acts 14 27 And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.

❋ The example of PAUL: Acts 15 4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.

CONCLUSION

To live the life God has called me to live in my human body is only possible by living MY LIFE the way CHRIST LIVED in His human body. ▲

● I MUST FOLLOW CHRIST’S PATTERN (Phil 2:5)

To live the life God has called me to live is not possible in my own STRENGTH or POWER. ▲

● I MUST TRUST CHRIST’S POWER

Philippians 2 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to WILL and to DO of his good pleasure.

Philippians 4 13 I can do all things THROUGH CHRIST which strengtheneth me.