1. 1

2. Are you a friend of Christ’s cross or an enemy? Philippians 3:7–4:1
20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 3:20 (NIV84) 2 2 2

3. Daily Rest A Weekly Day of Rest
Opportunities to establish rhythms in life that keep us refocusing our lives on Him. 3

4. Your enthusiastic participation in these opportunities …
Can lead to effective ministries of encouragement and discipleship.
2. Generate and facilitate ministries of Christ-honoring engagements with people in your networks of relationships. 4

5. is the HUB for the rest of our ministries.
Our weekly Lord’s Day gathering for worship, instruction and fellowship
is the HUB for the rest of our ministries. 5

6. PARTICIPATION in a home fellowship or a small group Bible study Depth
B r e a d t h
Lord’s Day Gathering
PARTICIPATION in a home fellowship or a small group Bible study
go deeper in relationships,
in prayer,
in Bible study,
worship,
and in creating initiatives of
evangelism and outreach
Depth 6

7. Start, renew and/or revive your personal, daily Bible reading plan7

8. Get more from Pastor Micah’s Sermons
Personally set aside about 15 minutes
each week
to read, study and reflect on
the Scripture texts in Genesis. 8

9. A review of our commitment to Christ and
Sermon Today
A review of our commitment to Christ
and
a resetting of our personal goals. 9

10. The heart of Paul for people Our relationship with Christ
Philippians 1:4-6 (NIV84) 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Our relationship with Christ
is a work of Christ. His work has a destination. His work will be completed on the Day of His return.
Paul has them in his heart and that he longs for them with the affection of Christ Jesus. 10

11. Philippians 1:9-11 (NIV84) 9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
Believers to have a love that is abounding in knowledge. Love is a response of godly compassion. 11

12. Philippians 1:9-11 (NIV84) 9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
Believers to have a love that is abounding in depth of insight. Christian love has a deep desire for what is right and a strong resistance to evil. 12

13. Dual tracks for Christians
God’s track
He is working
to bring each believer
to be
His completed work
Our track
We cooperate with God’s work of forming our love 13

14. The impact of Paul’s former life during his ministry years.
By Paul staying focused on Christ in the midst of persecution, “most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly” (1:14). 14

15. Philippians 1:20-22 (NIV84) 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! 15

16. Philippians 2:8 (NIV84) 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He (Jesus) humbled Himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! 16

17. Philippians 2:14-16 (NIV84) 14 Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16 as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.
Would Paul continue to live for Christ’s honor and glory while living in this crooked and depraved world? 17

18. Philippians 3:7-8 (NIV84) 7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. 18

19. Knowing Christ meant a participation in Christ’s life.
Philippians 3:8-11 (NIV84) I consider them rubbish, 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 Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10 I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Knowing Christ meant a participation in Christ’s life. 19

20. What did Paul mean: To know and participate in the power of Christ’s resurrection?
The Holy Spirit made his relationship with Christ intimately personal (2:1).
The Holy Spirit was the power to bring Christ’s work in Paul to completion (1:6).
The power of Christ’s resurrection was evident through the production of the fruit of righteousness (1:11; 3:9)
Christ’s resurrection power came through the answers to Paul’s prayers and the prayers of fellow Christians (1:19, 20 & 26) 20

21. What was Paul thinking: To know and participate in Christ’s suffering?
Philippians 1:29 (NIV84) For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for Him, …
Suffering is part of believing in Christ. 21

22. To become like our Savior and Lord as He is right now!
Our Life’s Objective
To become like our Savior and Lord as He is right now! 22

23. Philippians 3:12 (NIV84) 12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.. 23

24. Who took hold of what first?
Philippians 3:12 (NIV84) 12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
Who took hold of what first? 24

25. Acts 9:1-6 (NIV84) 1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?”
5 “Who are You, Lord?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” He replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 25

26. Christ’s Holy Spirit is Christ’s Servant to take hold of us.26

27. There are two “taking hold of” statements!
Philippians 3:12 (NIV84) 12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
There are two “taking hold of” statements! 27

28. Paul needed to reciprocate by taking hold of Christ!
Philippians 3:12 (NIV84) 12 … I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
Paul needed to reciprocate by taking hold of Christ!
Forsaking all other gods, Paul gives himself wholly and only to Jesus Christ! 28

29. Philippians 3:13-16 (NIV84) 13 Brothers, 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.
15 All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained. 29

30. We aim to make Christ’s goals for us our goals.
Philippians 3:10-11 (NIV84) 10 I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
We aim to make Christ’s goals for us our goals.
Our goal: to become like Christ. 30

31. Philippians 2:14-16 (NIV84) 14 Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe
16 as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.
Ministry flows out of our growing and maturing relationship with Christ. 31

32. Philippians 3:17 (NIV84) 17 Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. 32

33. drawn away from Christ …
Philippians 3:18-19 (NIV84) 18 For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.
Once near to Christ
drawn away from Christ …
- a lack of self-control, - the enticement of immorality, - a craving for earthly things. 33

34. Huge Caution!!!
Be very careful! Do not set aside God’s Word in order to appear compassionate and enlightened! 34

35. Dangerous!!! “Did God really say …?”
“Let’s remove the distinctions between male and female as God created us to be.” 35

36. Philippians 3:20-21; 4:1 (NIV84) … 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.
1 Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends! 36

37. How do we keep ourselves from becoming enemies of the cross of Christ?
Never forget that because Christ is your Savior and Lord your citizenship is in heaven.
2. Every day press in to know Christ and His power to help you defeat the temptation to reject God’s truth. He has the power to enable your self-control.
3. Every day remember your physical body is destined for a glorious transformation so use your body in a way that points to that coming Day.
4. Every day set your mind on the things of God and let those things direct your steps for His glory. 37