THE SOURCE OF OUR STRENGTH

Philippians 3:1-11

If you are feeling burnt out, maybe you are relying too much on yourself for your strength. We need to learn to draw our strength from God’s grace - though faith.

In the first six verses, Paul is telling the Gentiles to watch out for “grace killers”. In vs. 1, Paul is telling them it’s not a problem that he is writing to them about the same thing again to forewarn them. Paul says, “…it is no trouble to me, and is a safeguard for you.”

WHAT IS PAUL WARNING THE GENTILES ABOUT?

(v.2) “Beware of the dogs…” “…watch out for the evil workers…” “…watch out for those who mutilate the flesh.”

What Paul is saying here is the Jewish leaders were telling Gentiles they had to be circumcised to be right with God. So, Paul warns the Gentiles saying, “You don’t need to do that! They are doing that in vain. They are “mutilators of the flesh.”

In vs. 3 he says, “For we are the true circumcision, who worship in the spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh…”

Paul is saying circumcision isn’t what makes you right with God. It is those who worship in spirit and truth who are right with God. Paul is telling these Gentile people that circumcision to gain divine favor is futile; it’s simply mutilation. The flesh does not make us right with God. These Jewish Pharisee leaders were proud in the flesh. They were teaching that these religious practices and rituals of tradition would make them right with God.

Romans 3:20, “…by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.”

Paul is telling these people, “Look, compare anyone’s lists to mine and they have no chance.” What’s Paul talking about?

PAUL USES HIS LIFE AS AN EXAMPLE OF THINGS THAT CAN BECOME “GRACE KILLERS”. Paul's credentials before Christ!

· (v.4) “…although I once had confidence in the flesh too. If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more…”

· (v.5) “circumcised on the eighth day…”

· “…of the nation of Israel…” “…of the tribe of Benjamin…” “…a Hebrew born of Hebrews…”

· (v.6) “…as to the law, a Pharisee…” “…as to zeal, persecuting the church…” “…as to the righteousness that is in the law, blameless.”

SO, HOW DO WE CLING TO GRACE? --- THROUGH FAITH.
(v.7) “But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ.”

Paul is saying here that all those things do not matter anymore, because Christ is in me… and He is in YOU and Me when we receive Christ.

In verse 8, he explains it in more detail, “More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of Him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them filth (rubbish), so that I may gain Christ.”

The word “knowing” is referring to a very personal relationship. He is saying that the value of this personal relationship is far more valuable than the things he has lost. He had to learn not to rely on his own strength, but God’s. He goes on to say he considers all these things as filth (rubbish). A better translation of the meaning of this word would be a “pile of manure”. Paul says because of Christ, I consider these things a “pile of manure”.

Have you look back and say to yourself, “Why did I do that? WHY?

Let’s call it the “IT” theory. When you were in elementary school you just have to have a certain “cool” bike. In high school, you thought “If I could just get this certain car - that would be it!” Then, if I could only get in this college; if I could get the right job; the right house, the right marriage partner, and the right salary. But it never ends! You will always be looking for the “IT” until you find Jesus. Jesus is the only one who truly satisfies the “it” factor.

In vs. 9 Paul writes, “…and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own through the law, but one that is through faith in Christ - the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith.”

In Gal. 3:10 we read, “For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the Law, to perform them.’”

So, what is this curse? Paul tells us that “spiritual death” is this curse. Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death.” Everyone has sinned, therefore, everyone is under the curse of death. We can not gain righteousness through works.

Then in vs. 10 Paul writes, “My goal is to KNOW HIM…” That is how WE need to be. He goes on to say, “…and I want to know the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death…” He wants to fellowship with Christ through suffering? How many of us can say that when we suffer we say, “It’s okay I’m just fellowshipping with Christ.”

Paul says he can’t wait until the resurrection of his dead body. Paul is in prison slowly dying, yet more than anything, he longs for a deeper fellowship with Christ.

So, where are you drawing your strength from?

Are you relying on tradition, law, race, rank, religion, or sincerity?

Or do you desire to “Know Him” more than anything in life?