Just so our guests know, quitting
time is when I get done. Alright, turn to Philippians
chapter 3, if you're following along. Philippians chapter 3, I'll just
read the first three verses. Philippians chapter 3, the Apostle
Paul says, Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you,
to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. Beware
of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. For
we are the circumcision which worship God in the spirit and
rejoice in Christ Jesus and have no confidence. in the flesh. What I want to try to speak about
this morning is the same things. Same thing. Some have said, possibly
about me, I know they've said it about others, all they do
is preach Christ. Sad to hear any individual even think, let alone say such
a thing. As though it's bad to preach
Christ? Always? All the time? Tim James once said, you preach
what you think is best. We know Christ is best. That's
why we always preach Christ. The Apostle Paul here being moved
by the Spirit of God. Remember, this man when he wrote
this was inspired of God. In other words, he wrote down
exactly what God intended to be said. Word for word, thought
for thought, truth for truth. No variation. It's absolute. Apostle Paul being moved by the
Spirit begins what we have as chapter 3. Finally, my brethren. Now a couple things here. In our day, the word finally
usually has the connotation of the last thing. Or here's the
end. Right? That's not the meaning. What Paul has to say here in
chapter 3 is not just kind of a summary. It's not just the
end. He's not just filling in space
to kind of get finished with this thing. It's not the last thing. As a
matter of fact, he goes on and says it again in what we have
as chapter 4, verse 8. Finally, brethren. You see it? Remember, he's spirit moved.
So here's two finalists. How can you have two finalists?
If you're simply talking about, okay, here's the end of what
I had to say to this. That's not what he's talking
about. Now, whether the translator, whether that word maybe in the
old English had a little different connotation, I don't know. It
doesn't matter. That doesn't really matter. But
notice what he says again, finally, chapter 4, verse 8. Finally,
brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest,
whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things
are lovely, Whatsoever things are of good report if there be
any virtue if there be any praise think on these things He's not
talking about puppy dogs yellow chicks at Easter time and daisies
That's not what he's talking about. He's talking about the
things of the person and work of Jesus Christ That's what he's
talking about Paul's message is none other than a person and
Now this finally actually comes from the Greek word which means
the rest. It's an associated word with which we get the word
remnant. Remember Paul talked about the remnant according to
the election of grace. In other words, the remainder.
There was the whole of humanity in the mind and purpose of God
in eternity. But God chose a remnant. I heard a fellow say the other
day, I think I mentioned it to you, the other day, he said,
you've got these people that says God just chose this little
bitty handful. They lie on God, they lie on
us, they lie on everything. We don't believe God chose just
a little handful. That glorious multitude in the
book of the Revelation of every what? Tribe, kindred, ton and
people, something like that. Every, a number which no man
can number. It doesn't mean it's infinite.
But it's a massive number that God has chosen out of the world.
But that's where this word finally, it means the rest or that which
remains. In other words, let me move.
Here, what Paul says, here is what always remains. Things come
and go. Things in this world are fickle
and changing. They change all the time. But
here's one thing that always remains. Finally, my brethren,
rejoice in the Lord. That's what he's talking about.
Rejoice in the Lord. Now a couple things here. This
is not Paul merely towing the party line. You know what I'm
talking about? Look at, you know, politics. There are people who believe
this way or that way simply because they're of a certain ilk. And
you wonder, does everybody really believe all these things? You
know? The Democrats believe what the
Democrats believe. The Republicans believe what
the Republicans believe. And rarely do you ever find a
Republican believing what a Democrat believes or a Democrat believing
what a Republican believes. And usually when you do, they're
usually fence riders. What I'm talking about though
is this. It's not just the party line. Rejoice in the Lord. Because
even false Christianity talks about rejoicing in the Lord.
Everybody says that. It's not a mere talking point.
It's not a talking point. Here's why. There is no new message. There is no new instruction.
There is no better way to write the same things. Joe and I stand here and others
stand in other places and by the grace of God we just keep
saying the same thing over and over and over and over and over. What Tim James called resplendent
redundancy. And if the message of the personal
work of Jesus Christ doesn't thrill your soul, you don't know
Jesus Christ. And I don't say that to be mean.
I say that because I care about your soul. I get bored with the
message of Jesus, then you don't know the Christ of God. I mean,
you really don't. And Paul gives two reasons why
this is true. That is, there is no new message,
there's no new instruction, there's no better way, he says, to write
the same things for me as a pastor, as an apostle in particular,
I should say. But for pastors, the gospel is never mundane or
irksome. God-called pastors never get
bored with the personal work of Jesus Christ. The God-given pastor, and I say
it that way, we talk about God-called pastors, I certainly think it's
probably allowable, but it's actually God-given. Pastors are
a gift. The God-given pastor never changes
the message to fit the times. I think it was one called Robert
Trail said something along the lines, when men take the gospel
and hash it up to suit the times, it ceases to become the gospel. Because the gospel is about the
personal work of Jesus Christ. And He says, I am the Lord, I
change not. Therefore, the message can't
change. It can't change. The God-given pastor never changes
the message to fit the times. Well, we need to make it relevant
to people. To fallen humanity, it's not relevant. If all in
humanity hates the truth of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ,
if they didn't, Joe, this building would not contain the people
here. We'd have to go buy that 4-H building. And then if men
really love the gospel, that's one manifestation of it. The
God-given pastor never changes the message to fit the times.
Paul said, for me to write the same things to you is not grievous. If I ever become bored with the
personal work of Jesus Christ, I'm in trouble. I'm in deep trouble. But, He also says for you. And actually it's not really
a but. In the Greek it's an and. This is not a but, it's an and.
Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord, to write the same
things to you, to me indeed. It's not mundane. It's not grievous.
And for you, safe. But when he says safe, he don't
mean this is cautious. You ever heard of playing it
safe? Paul ain't talking about playing it safe. No. He says this is certain security. That's what he's talking about.
Preach on anything else, you've got no certainty of anything. Declare anything else, you've
got no certainty of anything. Believe anything else, you've
got no certainty of anything. Finally, my brethren, rejoice
in the Lord, to write the same things to you, to me indeed,
it's not grievous, but, and for you, safe, safe. You see, the gospel is the standard
of honoring God. You look at Galatians chapter
1, and I'm going to turn and read it, but verses 6 through
10, Paul said, if anybody, myself or even an angel from heaven,
preaches any other gospel unto you than that which you've already
heard, what I've already preached unto you. It's already established.
No other foundation can be laid than that which is laid. And
that's the personal work of Christ. He said, if anybody preaches
any other gospel, what it is indeed is a perversion of the
gospel, because there's not another. It's a perversion. He said, but
if they do, let them be accursed. That's strong language, but the
reason is is that the gospel of the person of work of Jesus
Christ is the defining standard of honoring God If you miss that
it doesn't matter how moral you are you dishonored his son And I will be as bold to say
is that is probably a greater crime against God and Greater there's so much all sin
is sin, and that's right all sin is damning But there are
some things that even God inspired writers to call certain things
what they really are and Paul says this false this other gospel
is a Perversion they take they pervert the gospel of Christ. You know what a pervert is don't
you? Huh? The gospel is the defining standard
of honoring God And if I cease to preach the gospel in this
place, you all put me out. You hear me? Put me out. That's right. This is no game. Now, this is the first definition
of true rejoicing in the Lord. Rejoice in the Lord not just
how everyone just as long as you're sincere. No you got to
talk about the same things all Over and over and over it's the
same message because it's the same person It's the eternal
God made flesh that never changes This is the first true definition
here in the text of rejoicing in the Lord. Here's the second
and Since there is but one gospel, I didn't say if. I said since
there is but one gospel. All else by default is error. By default. There are those who talk about
this gospel and that gospel, the gospel of the kingdom, the
everlasting gospel. There is but one gospel. That gospel may have several
different facets, but it's all centered around one person, Jesus
of Nazareth. Now since again, since there
is but one gospel, all else by default is error. And then it's
like out of the blue, but it's not really out of the blue, beware.
You see that? Beware of dogs. Beware of evil
workers. Beware of the concision. Three
bewares. And I check just to make sure.
Because sometimes the translators will put that in there because
it's the force of the Greek. Certainly they probably knew
a whole lot more about that than I ever will. So I don't want
to be hypercritical. But I look and all three bewares
are there. Beware of dogs. Beware of evil
workers. Beware of the concision. You
know why? Because there are spiritual predators out there. Jude, was
it Jude? I think it was Jude 1, it said
they'll make merchandise of your souls. They'll get you to eat
a lie. They'll get you to feast upon
that perverted gospel and it'll damn your soul forever. And they
sit back and fill their pockets up, Joe, with your money while
they do it. Now don't they? I mean, folks, there are preachers
in this country alone that probably make Who knows how much more
than the president of the United States? Right? Flying around
in jets. Moving around in limousines. Beware, three times he says,
in other words, acknowledge the existence of error. Beware means,
it's literally translated in the Greek as see to. Put your
eye on it and watch it. That's what he's saying. Well
now, I wouldn't mind what y'all preach so much if you just didn't
talk about other people. Other people are predators! If
they're preaching the wrong gospel, the false gospel, the perverted
gospel, they're a spiritual predator! In other words, and I'll go ahead
and say it, I was going to title the message that, and I thought
maybe that's a little too... Pray dog them fellas! Now you know what most people
think of prairie dogging. You got them people in their cubicles
and a big ruckus takes place and all of a sudden them heads
pop up. Prairie dogging. But that's not what I'm talking
about. You ever seen a colony or what
they call a town of prairie dogs? As far as I, I mean I take people's
word for it if people have studied prairie dogs. I mean I don't
figure if somebody's getting paid to study prairie dogs. They
said they always live together. They don't like being alone.
Does that ring a bell with you? Lots of people like being together.
It's not just a command, don't forsake your assembly and yourself.
They want to be together. But these prairie dogs live in
these little towns or colonies. And you almost all, I've watched
a few of the nature shows. They're almost always, some of
them, what, up on their hodges and what are they doing? Beware
it. They're looking, aren't they? And a predator flies by, or they
see a coyote, and what happens? They start barking. And everybody
scrambles to the home. That's what Paul's talking about.
Watch them. Watch them. Acknowledge the existence
of error. Why? Because John says there's
two kinds of people in this world. Those that are of God, and those
that are of the Antichrist. Those that are of God, hears
God's word. As a matter of fact, John says, you'll hear us. And you will either believe the
gospel John preached, or you don't believe the gospel. And
he says, the world hears them, these false apostles. Why? Because
they're of the world. So acknowledge the existence
of error. As a matter of fact, as I said, it says, beware C2.
In other words, what Paul is saying is expose the error. You
remember he says, hymenatus and felidus? He called their names. They've taught that the resurrection's
already passed. They overthrow the faith of some.
Hymenaeus and Philetus. Well, just don't be that mean.
It ain't being mean. It's being honest with men's
souls. Beware. Beware. Beware of dogs. Beware of evil workers. And some
of the most evil workers in this world are standing behind desks
doing what I'm doing today. They're just not preaching the
same message I'm preaching to them. Dogs, evil workers, beware of
the concision. In other words, expose the error.
Look at what he says in the part of chapter 13, or chapter 3 here. You'd be hard pressed to find
chapter 13. Verse 17, brethren, be followers
together of me and mark them. Do you see that? This is not
stick your head in the sand. This is not, you know, to each
his own. This is not what the gospel is
about. Brethren, be followers together of me and mark them
which walk so as ye have us for an example. For many walk, of
whom I have told you often, you see it? Beware, beware. Often
I'm warning you about this. Barking, barking, barking, right? Pray dogging them, David. Watch
them, watch them. Keep your eye on them. Watch
the predators. For many walk, of whom I have
told you often, and now I'll tell you even weeping. We're
not happy because of this. Now tell you even weeping that
they are the enemies of the cross of Christ Now Paul didn't start
dispelling drunks Did all them drunks you better watch all them
drunks is that what he's talking about here? No, I'm about taken
up for drunkenness God forbid But you see the whole point the
problem here the predators don't come from the drunks it comes
from the lying preachers I whose end is destruction, whose
God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who
mind earthly sins. Watch them. Watch them. So then,
we have a positive definition, rejoicing the Lord. It's always
the same thing. Same message. We don't change
it to suit the opinions and the ideas and the emotions of fallen
mankind. We don't even change it to suit
the believer's mind. We preach who Christ is and God
bows us to who He is. So then we have a positive definition
and a positive warning. Right? Positive warning. Then Paul writes of the absolute
distinction. In other words, it's fourfold.
Fourfold these four things now listen to me if God enabled if
God is enabled if you got ears to hear hear what I'm about to
say here these four things are true of everyone who saved I'm
not talking about four things you must believe to be saved.
That's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about four things
that are true of every person that God's ever saved. I'm not
talking about somebody who professes to be saved. I'm not talking
about somebody who's been baptized and been through all the spiel.
They may or may not be saved. What I'm talking about is those
whom God has saved. These four things are true of
all of them. These four absolute distinctions of all the saved
are this. First of all, God must act first. Finally, my brethren, rejoice
in the Lord, to write the same things to you. To me indeed is
not grievous, but for you it is safe. Beware of dogs, beware
of evil workers, beware of the concision, for we are the circumcision. Do you see that? For we are the
circumcision. God must act first. I mean, even when it comes to
physical circumcision, take it away of the foreskin. People,
you don't circumcise yourself. Now, there may have been some
idiots out there that may have tried it, David, but I wouldn't suggest
it. Huh? Circumcision is something someone
else does for you, to you. Right? By default, that's what
a circumcision is. But Paul says, for we are the
circumcision. In the negative. And Joe, I thought
you were going to just run it all over me. Think of this. Acts
7.51. Joe's already quoted it to you.
What'd he say? You stiff-necked and uncircumcised
where? in heart and ears. That kind
of person, I'm ad-libbing here, but that kind of person always
resists the Holy Ghost. Two things are true, no man and
no devil in hell and not even Satan himself resists the absolute
sovereign decree of God for that which takes place on this earth. God predestinated it to happen.
It will happen even with the most vile of creatures. God will
call a ravenous bird from the east to execute his counsel from
a far country. God has his will amongst the
armies of heaven and amongst the inhabitants of the earth.
That's true. But at the same time it's also
true this, those who are uncircumcised and heart and ears, they always
resist. the Holy Ghost. So what's he
talking about? He's talking about the message as it is being set forth
by the Spirit of God through someone called of God to preach
the Gospel. And if you don't have ears to
hear and a heart to perceive, you will always resist. That's
called uncircumcision. That's the negative side. But
if you read what Paul wrote to the Colossians in Colossians
2 verses 11 through 15, He gives you the positive. It's a circumcision
made without hands. It's made by a sovereign act,
a sovereign fiat of the sovereign God of heaven and earth. And
he says, circumcise that heart, circumcise those ears, circumcise
that mind, circumcise that soul, circumcise that spirit, and it's
done. And guess what? They quit resisting. Thy people shall be willing in
the day of thy power. You see, I'm not trying to get
anybody to believe. I'm preaching, and God's Spirit
is convincing men and women that He circumcised. What that man's
preaching is the Gospel. God must first act. But, secondly,
Paul says this, spiritual circumcision And that's what he's talking
about, spiritual. Not the physical. Judaistic circumcision, not that.
Spiritual circumcision, but now don't misunderstand me. I'm not
talking about ethereal something. I'm not talking about theoretical.
Spiritual circumcision is real. It's an act that God actually
does. Heart and ears. Mind, soul, spirit. Spiritual circumcision produces
what? spiritual worship For we are
the circumcision That's the one thing every person who's ever
been saved has to first be circumcised in heart and ear by God And when
they do what they do for we are the circumcision which worship
God where? in the spirit in the spirit true God worship
True God worship. I'm not saying that everything
outward is wrong. I'm not saying that. But true
God worship is in the secret recesses of the inner person. Not for mere outward show. In
other words, those who've been circumcised by God Almighty with
this circumcision made without hands, they worship God whether
anybody's watching or not. They worship God when they're
by their self. and no other man or woman is
watching. They don't do it to be seen of
anyone. They do it because God Almighty
has opened their heart and mind to the truth of the person of
Christ. And Joe, they can't help but
worship God. He's worthy of worship. Why? I've seen His Son. And isn't
that what He says? When no one's watching, And here's the last two things.
Remember, this is true of every person that God's ever saved.
One, they are the circumcision, which worship God in the Spirit.
You can do all this, but it means nothing if it's not in here.
Isn't that what Christ said? The Pharisees cleansed the outside.
Everything looked good outside, but He said inwardly you're full
of dead men's bones. Now can men actually do that?
Who can say I've made my own heart clean? What was Christ
pointing out to them? You see, when Christ tells you,
here, clean up the inside, the more you try, the more you'll
find out what? I can't do it. The more you try,
the worse it'll get. And God will shut you up to where,
unless He acts, it won't be done. Somebody says, but I can't do
it, preacher. I know you can't. I understand. I've been there. And let me tell
you what, when He does, you said it, things will change. Things
will change. Spiritual worship has these two
defining marks. Here's the third and fourth thing.
We rejoice in Christ Jesus. Now see where the rejoicing is
now particularized. It's not just any vague worshiping
of God which, for we are the circumcision which worship God
in the spirit and rejoice in Christ Jesus. And have no confidence
in the flesh. There's the third and fourth
thing. According to our Lord in John
5 verses 17 through 23, God worship is Christocentric. Let's turn
back there, John chapter 5. It's about 12, but it won't be
much longer. John chapter 5, let me find it
here. You remember our Lord said, while
we're turning there, remember our Lord said, He that is not
for me is what? He's against me. Now, not everybody's
doing this to Jesus Christ, are they? But if Christ Himself said,
and it doesn't matter what my opinion of it is, He said, if
you're not for me, you're against me. You cannot be neutral in
this thing. Try as you might. Wish as you
will. You cannot be neutral. Because
He said you can't. Not because the preacher said
you can't. But look at what He said. Verse
19 of John 5. And notice, the Jews sought to
kill him. That's what happened when Jesus
Christ preached. People wanted Him dead. Then answered Jesus, verse 19,
and said unto them, Truly, truly, verily, verily, I say unto you,
the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father
do. Now let me just splantify, as Art Newman of Swanderer used
to say. There is a distinction here. But it is a distinction
of priority of position, not inferiority of nature. Christ
is not saying I'm inferior in nature to God the Father. No. But He did take a subordinate
position when He condescended down and was made flesh. He became
obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. But the Son can do nothing of
Himself. In other words, what he said, I'm not acting on my
own. That's simple enough. Well, what he seeth the Father
do. For what things to ever he doeth, these also doeth the Son
likewise. For the Father loveth the Son.
Now think about that. Men talk about God's love. Let
me tell you, God the Father primarily loves His Son. That's who He
loves. Everybody else who's loved by
God has to be loved in the Son. For the Father loveth the Son,
and showeth him all things that himself doeth. And he will show
him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. For as the
Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them, even so the
Son quickeneth whom he will. For the Father judgeth no man,
but hath committed all judgment unto the Son. Listen, that all
should honor the Son. even as they honor the Father.
Look, he that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father which
hath sent him." God worship. Every person who's ever been
saved by God worships God and rejoices in God, in the Lord,
in Christ Jesus and nowhere else. In other words, Christ is saying
God's worship is centered around me. Not me, Him. Myself. It's centered around Christ.
You miss Christ, you don't worship God. It doesn't matter how much
you go to church. It doesn't matter how much you
pray. It doesn't matter how much you read your Bible. It does not matter! You miss Christ, you insult God. you miss Christ, you insult God.
We rejoice what all say people. We are the circumcision which
worship God in the spirit and rejoice in Christ Jesus. And
what? And have no, no confidence in
the flesh. Listen, for the sake of argument,
I don't care if you have a free will. That free will is of your
flesh. That which is born of the flesh
is flesh. That which is born of the spirit is spirit. Now
either you got a free will or you don't. But even if you got
one, it don't do you any good. But let me be straight forward.
You ain't got one. Your will is no more free than
your heart is. And our hearts by nature are
desperately wicked. I know that even standing here
behind this desk preaching this message to you, my heart by nature
is just as corrupt as Satan himself. Uncircumcised heart always resists. Rebellion is what we are by nature
and we can't stop ourselves save God himself stop us. Well, that's a cop-out no, that's
the truth That's the truth No God worship excludes the flesh
altogether right Turn if you're still in John 5 turn back a few
pages John chapter 1 you know it Verse 11, he came unto his own,
and his own received him not. They're talking about the Jews,
and that was some of the Jews, not all the Jews. There was the
remnant according to the election of grace. He came to his own,
his own received him not. But as many as received him.
Men do receive him. But as many as
received him, to them gave he power. That is authority, right,
and even ability. But as many as received Him,
to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them
that believe on His name, which were born. Not of blood. What's that? Flesh. That's what
blood is. Human ancestry adds nothing,
adds nothing to your spirituality. Becoming spiritual, being made
spiritual, or staying spiritual. I don't care if your mom and
dad are both Christians, you're not born a Christian. You're
born flesh. You're born lost. You're conceived
in iniquity. And you're just as depraved as
the rest of us. Even if your mama and your daddy
and your brother and your sister and your grandpa and your grandma,
paternal, maternal, are all believers in Christ, they added to you
by nature, by ancestry, nothing. Not of blood. Not, not, not,
not just a whole lot of blood. Not of blood. It's excluded.
But what else? Oh, now wait a minute. Nor the
will of the flesh. Go on. Go on with your will.
Go on with it. You'll perish with it. You'll
perish with it. Not of the will of the flesh. Why? It's not that the wheel,
it's not that man doesn't have a wheel. Man's wheel is corrupt. It's corrupt. Now I know I keep saying it over
and over, but as Tim James said, it's resplendent redundancy because
eventually, if God opens your ears, I'll say it a hundred times
and you'll come to me and say, I'm glad you said that. That
was so true. And I remember Henry Mann said,
I've been saying that for 15, 20 years. You just now got it? But I'm
glad you got it. You see what I'm saying? You
just keep saying the same thing over and over. Not of the will
of the flesh. Man has a will, but it's corrupt. And even our Lord, who was not
less than the Father. He said, I'm the Father of one.
He prayed this prayer, not because he was adverse to the Father.
We done read he wasn't. Right? Whatever the Father does,
the Son does likewise. But what did He say? What did
even He pray? Not my will, but Thine be done. Now, if the Son
of God Himself would pray that prayer, Joe, who am I to say,
God, I want my will to be done. Because if I get my will, you
know what will happen to me? I'll perish without Christ forever. Why? Because it's not of blood.
Nor the will of flesh. of the will of man. Now that's
what it says. And yet people, I mean, free
willers quote that and then talk still about free will. That's
called blindness, ain't it? That's called being uncircumcised
heart and ears. You can sit and see, but you
don't see. Remember what Christ said about
that? You hear, but you don't hear. Right? In other words,
they can't get it. It's beyond the pale of their
ability. No, when Paul says, here is one
of the four absolute distinctions, or here are the four absolute
distinctions of everyone that God has ever saved. One, God
circumcises their heart and ears. He has to. And until he does,
they'll keep resisting and resisting and resisting. And they'll resist
right on into hell. Unless he circumcises their heart
and ears. But when he does, what are they going to do? They're
going to worship God in the Spirit. And their rejoicing will be centralized
in Christ Jesus. And they're going to say about
themselves, no confidence. Joe, that was a good one. And
I'm going to write that down and use that sometime. How would
you say that again? Whatever opinion you have of
yourselves is too high? That's true. That's a proverb,
Joe. And that's close to inspired.
You know why? Because it's the truth of God.
I'm not putting you down. I'm in the same boat with you
by nature. I'm not preaching down to you.
It may feel that way, but I'm not preaching down to you. At
best, I hope that I'm preaching up to you. See, I'm raising my hand. Uh-oh. Let me tell you, there's nothing
wrong with a hallelujah and an amen. This ought to make you
happy. And if you ever went through
it, you'll rejoice in Christ Jesus. And you'll have no confidence
in your flesh. And God will keep reminding you
of that. You know that? You'll start to have this little
inkling of, well, I can make my flesh a little better. Let
me show you once again what it's really like. and you'll fall
flat on your face and you'll say, woe is me. Not woe is you. Woe is me. It is no wonder that Paul says. Let me go through it. I'll wrap
it up here. Philippians chapter 3. I've got a bookmark. Finally,
my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. Isn't it any wonder he said that? Is it any wonder that he says
in verse 7, but what things were gained to me? No confidence in
the flesh. He said, you want to talk about
the flesh and bragging in it? Here's what I had. Here's what
my flesh was. And look at what he says sometimes.
Look at who he was. But what things were gained to
me, those I counted lost for Christ. Yea, doubtless that I
count all things but lost for the excellency of the knowledge
of Christ Jesus my Lord. Paul, you're stuck on Jesus. Good For whom I've suffered the
loss of all things now Paul didn't mean I sold everything gave it
to the poor What's he saying nothing that I have by nature
is of any value to me? For whom I've suffered the loss
of all things and do count them dumb, that's a strong word That I may win Christ and be
found, Joe, in Him. not having, not having mine own
righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through
the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith, that
I might know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the
fellowship of His sufferings being made conformable unto His
death, if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection
of the dead." And look at it, he keeps saying, Christ, Christ,
Christ, doesn't he? Doesn't he wonder then when he
gets to what we have in chapter 4? Therefore, my brethren, dearly
beloved and longed for, joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord. And then in chapter 4 and verse
4, rejoice in the Lord always. And again I say, rejoice. It's good. It's okay. It is God honoring. to brag on
Jesus Christ. It's alright to brag on the person
and work. It's alright to be stuck on the
person and work of Jesus Christ. David, it's alright to be hung
up on the person and work of Jesus Christ. Because if you
by God's grace have Him, you have it all. Though you have
nothing in this world. Though God takes everything from
you in this world, Joe, and lays you in a bed, bedfast, and you
can't even move, if He puts you in Christ Jesus, you are complete
in Him. Isn't that a glory? If that don't
rejoice you, I hope God opens your heart and your mind. I hope
He circumcises your heart and your ears. And when He does,
The next time somebody comes along and preaches what I just
preached to you, you'll say, ah, there it is. Him, whom to know, is life itself. Physical and spiritual. Right? It's all of it. It's all
of it. Father, thank you for your grace. And thank you for your son. forgive
us wretched sinners. Thank you for that grace and
that song. In Christ's name I pray. Amen.
That's it folks.