PHILIPPIANS 3-4 3:15-4:12006 Teaching by Jerry B Simmons

Teaching Transcript: Philippians 3-4 3:15-4:1

You are listening to FerventWord, an online Bible study ministry with teachings and tools to help you grow deeper in your relationship with God. The following message was taught by Jerry Simmons in 2006. This morning as we look at this portion of scripture, it's continuing what Paul has been talking about in

Chapter three of the book of Philippians for me is one of those chapters that is just mind blowing every time I study through it, because chapter one and chapter two, they're very important and significant. And we talked about some heavy things. But in chapter three, Philippians,

Paul just really seems to lay it on us. I mean, he just, boom, knocks everything out of our way and says, look, this is how you're supposed to live. And he really applies all of the things that he's been teaching and his example to our lives. If you remember a couple of weeks ago, as we looked at the first 11 chapters of chapter three, and Paul was dealing with our relationship and how it needs to be the most important thing in our life, how

Paul considered everything lost in order to gain Christ. He counted all things lost and got rid of everything in his life that would hinder him and keep him from relationship with Jesus Christ. He put Jesus on the first priority and foremost in his life and it really did a huge impact in the way that he lived. Well,

Last week, as we looked and some of you ladies were at the retreat, but for those who are here, we looked at verses 12 through 14 and and talked about Paul then with his attitude, his incredible attitude of forgetting everything that's behind and not considering himself to attain to perfection or attain to exactly where God wants him to be, but perfecting.

pressing forward and continually, constantly. And he said it over and over again to make sure we got the point. I'm pressing on, I'm pressing towards, I'm pushing forward, reaching and trying to attain to the things which God has called me to. And so Paul's

and Paul's challenge to us is very incredible and very heavy as we look at these things. I want to encourage you this morning as we prepare our hearts for communion later this service, that it all happens at the foot of the cross. As Paul challenges us to follow his example,

It will take place and it can happen. It can take place in your life. You can be the person that God wants you to be at the foot of the cross. That's where it all happens. That's where we have the power to live the life that God has called us to live. We must come to the foot of the cross. And that's what communion is all about.

Well, verse 15 this morning, Paul starts off with these words. Therefore, let us, as many as are mature, have this mind. And if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.

Now, I want you to take a second and notice the change that takes place in verse 15. Up to this point in chapter 3, Paul's been referring to himself. In verse 12, what we saw last week, he says, Not that I have already attained. I press on that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Verse 13, I do not count myself to have apprehended, but one thing I do. Verse 14, I press toward the goal.

Verse 15, therefore, let us. Paul changes the pronoun. Now he's been talking about himself, but then he brings it all the way around back to our lap and says, here you go. Have the same mind. He brings it now to our life and says, you are to be exactly the same way. He's making it personal for us and calling us to have the same mind that he has. He says, let us have.

Have this mind. And what mind is he referring to? Well, the things he's just been talking about. Allow me, please, to read again to you verses 13 and 14 of chapter three. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended. But one thing I do for getting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Paul is calling us to have this mind, to have the same mind that he has, not counting ourselves to have apprehended, forgetting the things which are behind and reaching forward, pressing forward to the things that God has called us to. Paul's example is

Man, last week as we looked at it, it gave us some really great challenges. And for those of you who were at the ladies' retreat, I would encourage you to talk to one of the guys in the sound booth and get a copy of last week's service. I know that you'll be blessed and challenged, even though you studied it at the retreat as well.

But Paul is teaching us the need for us to put Jesus first, to keep pressing on and forgetting about what is behind. He was teaching us about the warning and the danger of complacency and just being comfortable and lukewarm in our relationship with God. But in our passage today, Paul is telling us to not be that way, but instead to follow his example. He's telling us that we need to have the same mind that he had. Now, this example,

scripture that we're looking at, he says, therefore, let us have this mind. It's not an optional thing. It's a command. He's telling us, have this mind. This is the obligation for you and I. It's what you and I are expected to obey by the apostle Paul, as well as the Lord. It's not an optional thing, but something Paul is telling us we must have. We must have this mind. The

Not that there will be those who have this mind or some people have those mind or maybe hopefully one day you'll have this mind. But he's calling us to put on this mind and set our mind in the same direction with the same priorities that the Apostle Paul had. Do you have that same mind currently right now as you sit here? You know, as you read or I read verses 12 through 14.

Does that describe you? Does that describe your life? Would the person sitting next to you say, yeah, that's true of so-and-so's life. We need to be challenged in this because it's a command we're called to obey, to put on the mind that Paul had, the mind of Christ. In giving us a command, Paul eliminates all of our excuses.

There's not one of us that can say, well, you know, I try to think that way or one day I hope to or that's just not how I think. You know, I just it just doesn't work on that way or I hold on to past things. You know, I'm just like my mom. She taught me how to do it. And so I just hold on to past things the same way and.

Paul eliminates all of our excuses. We can't talk about how we were brought up or what type of blood we have running through our veins or anything else. He eliminates all of that by giving us a command saying, listen, you're expected and able to obey this, to have this mind, to have the mind that I have in forgetting the things that are behind, not counting yourself to have apprehended and pressing forward, putting the things of God and your relationship with God first.

You do not have to be controlled by how you were brought up. You do not have to be controlled by your feelings and what might be happening within your mind or your heart. You can have the mind of Paul to not count yourself to have apprehended, to forget that which is behind and to reach forward to those things which are ahead. You can. You're commanded to do so, which means that Christ has given you everything that you need to be obedient to him.

And again, we find that strength and that power to break those habits and break those mindsets. And, you know, you can't teach an old dog new tricks. Well, in Christ, you can at the foot of the cross by the power of the blood, by the power of the spirit working in our hearts. We must come to Jesus Christ and ask him to give us this mind. It's a command we're expected to obey.

It's important, Paul says, that you develop the same mind. And he's building a connection here between our mind and our walk. There's a connection. The way that we think will carry out itself in the way that we act and the way that we live. But before we get more into that, let's take a look again at verse 15. Who is Paul calling to have this mind? Who does Paul think needs to receive this command the most?

The mature, he says, therefore, let us as many as are mature have this mind. Now, Paul is not saying that this command only applies to the mature. It does apply to everyone. He tells us many times throughout his epistles to follow his example. But I find it interesting that he singles out the mature.

Not the new believers or the backslidden Christians, not the leadership in training or those who are in charge. He singles out the mature, those who have been around for a little bit, those who have walked with God for a little bit. That word mature means adult or full grown. And it's in contrast to a child, one who is not yet of a mature age.

And so there's Christians who are mature and Paul is saying, listen, you guys, you've walked with the Lord. You've had some time with him and some experience with him. And he singles you out and he says, you need to have this mind. Why do you think that is? Why is it that the mature needs to hear this command even more than the new believer?

Well, it's because usually the older believers are the ones who become complacent in their walk, who have trouble with the things that Paul is talking about, have trouble saying, I have not apprehended. Now, again, as we talked about last week, none of us would ever say that. We wouldn't say, you know, hey, I've arrived. I've got it down. But but that's how we act.

And not looking to the Lord and not walking with the Lord and not relying upon him and begging for his spirit and searching his word and spending time with him and eagerly seeking him with all of our hearts. If we're not doing that, that's what we're saying. I don't need to. I've read the Bible before. I've done that enough. I've heard those messages. I've heard those teachings.

He says, watch out. You who are mature, especially, need to have this mind. Don't count yourself to have apprehended. Forget what is behind. Oh, and that's so often a trap and a snare for mature believers. The past things, the past successes and the past victories, the past accomplishments. And we get the feeling like I've done enough. I've accomplished enough. I've had enough. Or maybe it's past failures like we talked about.

Oh man, I just blew it. I can't do it again because I'm going to blow it. I'm going to mess up. I'm going to stumble. Especially the mature. You need to have this mind. Don't count yourself to have apprehended. Forget what is behind and reach forward. Keep pressing on. Don't get slack in your walk. Don't get slack in your relationship with the Lord. Don't get lazy in serving the Lord, but keep pressing on, pushing forward.

Older believers are more apt to say, you know, let the young people do the outreaches or I've been on the retreats. I've heard those things before. I've done those studies. I've been on mission trips. I know how to read. I know how to study. If I miss devotions, it's not a big deal and so on and so forth. And it's a downward slippery slope that we go down. And Paul says, especially you who are mature, especially those who have been around, especially those who have walked with the Lord for a little bit. You need to have this mind. You need to put on this mind.

Don't count yourself to have apprehended. Forget what is behind and reach forward to those things which are ahead. Are you mature? Great. Then have this mind.

Have this mind. And if on anything, Paul says, you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. So you say, well, I'm mature, but I don't think I need to have that mind. Well, Paul says, that's OK. God will reveal that to you if you're really seeking him or if there's anything else that that you disagree with. God will reveal even that to you. And this is what I think is so amazing about God, because if we are seeking him, he's going to reveal himself to us.

Now, Paul is confident. He knows that it's not just his opinion that he's sharing, but it's God's will for every single one of us that we have this mind, this heart and this attitude. Anyone who is truly seeking the Lord will come to the same conclusion. Paul is saying God will reveal it to you. He will reveal the truth to you if you allow him to.

In John chapter 16, verse 13, Jesus talking to his disciples about the coming of the Holy Spirit. He says this. When he, the spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth for he will not speak on his own authority. But whatever he hears, he will speak and he will tell you things to come.

Jesus says, listen, the Holy Spirit, he's going to guide you into all truth. And so anybody who is walking with the spirit, anybody who is receiving from the spirit and allowing the spirit to work in their hearts is going to be led to the same truth that you need to have the mind of Paul, not counting yourself to have apprehended, forgetting what is behind and reaching forward, straining forward, pressing forward in your walk to grow close to Jesus Christ, to serve him and accomplish the things that he has laid before you.

Any believer who is walking in the Spirit will come to that same mind, that same conclusion. And so, if you think that you do not need to have the mind of Paul, or perhaps you disagree with him on some other things, or to make it a little bit more personal, perhaps you disagree with some of the things that have been taught here, the decisions that have been made in this place, God will reveal the truth to you. Spend time with him and let him guide you

Into all truth because that's what he sent his spirit to do in your heart You develop your relationship with God allow the spirit to work in you and he will bring you to the same understanding verse 16 Nevertheless to the degree that we have already attained. Let us walk by the same rule. Let us be of the same mind

Paul says, listen, nevertheless, even if you do disagree, let's keep walking according to what has already been established. To the degree that you've already attained, let's walk by the same rule. Let's be of the same mind. Now, it's true, while there are certain areas that are non-essentials, and we can hold different opinions and interpretations about those things, there are other areas, bless you, that are not negotiable. They're not negotiable.

And Paul says in those areas, let's continue to walk. Don't negotiate on those things. Don't waver in those areas. Jesus Christ is God. That's not negotiable. It's biblical. It's the truth. He is God. He became a man.

And died on the cross for your sins and my sins. That's not negotiable. Salvation is by grace through faith. That is not negotiable. It's not by works that anyone should boast. The Bible is the inerrant word of God. That's not negotiable. The truth is.

clearly stated and shown in the scriptures are not negotiable. They're not things that we can waver on or just interpret differently. We must hold to those things. Paul says, hey, to the things we've already attained, to the understanding you've already reached, continue to walk by those same things. Don't waver in those areas. You're free to disagree on the non-essentials, but the doctrine that has been established, do not digress from that. Keep walking in it. Keep the same mind in it.

Again, notice the connection between the walk and the mind. We will walk the same way if we have the same mind. If we keep the same mind about those doctrines, we will continue to walk the same way.

If we keep the same mind as each other, we will continue to walk the same way. The way that we think is important. We must keep our minds in the right place, on the right things. When our minds wander, our walk is sure to follow. And so we must take captive those thoughts. We must take captive the deception and the things that come in and the things that tie up our minds and get us caught up in other things. And we must continually have the mind of Paul.

Setting aside the things of the past, not counting ourselves to have apprehended, but reaching forward in our relationship with God. I think this verse also has some great personal application for us as well. Stressing the importance of our continual growth and not going backwards. To the degree that you have already attained, keep on walking. Don't go backwards. Are there things that God has brought you out of that you found yourself involved in again?

Is there areas where God has set you free at one time, but now you're in bondage once more? Is there areas that he's dealt with you with before, but now you find yourself doing those same things involved in those same ways?

Paul says, to the degree that you've already attained, keep walking. Don't go back to those things. And again, it's a command to us which tells us you can. You have the ability. You have everything you need to walk the life that God has called us to walk. At the foot of the cross, through the power of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Stay close to him and you'll have everything that you need.

If you found yourself involved in areas where God has set you free from or you found yourself not walking to what you have attained in the past, you need to repent. You need to turn around and get back to where God wants you to be. Like the church of Ephesus, Jesus said, I have this against you. You've left your first love. You're not walking according to the degree that you've already attained. You had this love with me and this relationship with me, but now you've left that and you need to turn around. You need to repent.

Some of you may be this morning that need to repent. Turn back to God. Give up those habits. Give up those things that God has set you free from. He's set you free. You're free indeed. So walk in victory and don't go back to the old ways. Verse 17. Brethren, join in following my example and note those who so walk as you have us for a pattern. So verse 15, Paul tells us to have his mind open.

To have the same mind as him. In verse 16, he tells us to walk with him, to walk by the same rule to the degree that we've already attained. And in verse 17, he tells us now, follow my example. Have my mind, walk with me and follow my example. Paul is telling us here in verses 15, 16 and 17. Paul is making it so clear for us. He's saying this, I'm the model. Just look at me and follow me. Follow my example.

Now, that's something that Paul said often in his letters and to those who were under his ministry, those he ministered to. In 1 Corinthians 4.16, he says, Therefore, I urge you, imitate me.

And later in the book, in chapter 11, verse 1 of 1 Corinthians, he says, imitate me just as I also imitate Christ. And that's the key. He's following Christ. And so you can follow him and be confident that he will lead you in the right way. Second Thessalonians 3, 7, he tells them, you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, to follow our example.

Now, Paul is not just on a power trip trying to get people to follow him, but he's setting an example as he follows Christ so that you can have a better understanding of how to follow Christ by looking at the example set by the Apostle Paul. And this is something that not just Paul is called to do, but all leaders are called to do.

Paul told Timothy in 1 Timothy 4.12 to be an example to the believers. He told Titus in Titus 2.6-8 to show himself to be a pattern for good works, for right living to the believers' needs.

That Titus was ministering to the principle that Paul teaching is teaching. It is so clear and it does not just apply to him and that time. But God has placed spiritual authorities in people's lives that they would be an example to the rest of the believers, that they would show them the way to how to walk the Christian walk and how to be a

a Christian employee and how to live the right life and do devotions and love God and worship him and spend time with him and, and all things to be an example to them. God has placed spiritual authorities in our lives. And just as Paul called the believers that he ministered to, to be like minded with him, God calls us to be like minded with those spiritual authorities that he has placed in our life. We're to take on the same mindset that,

That we would walk with them and follow their example because God has placed them as authorities in our lives. We need to follow the example of those that God has placed over us. Now it's easy for us to think that we know better than our leaders.

It's easy for us to think that we know better than those who are instrumental in our walk in discipleship. Man, how quickly do we turn away from, you know, those people who are involved in our lives and those who ministered to us and shared with us and taught us how to love the Lord and walk with God. And we find ourselves as we learn to stand on our own feet. Then we think, well, now I don't need his input or her input. I don't need that input.

I know I could do my own thing and I can I can do I can figure it. I can read for myself and so on and so forth. And we begin to change our mind rather than being of one mind with those that God has placed in our lives. We begin to question our leaders. Why did they do things that way?

Why is it that they walk that way or act like that? Or I don't agree with this or that in their life and what they do. That was good for them or for their time, you know, but now we need to do this new thing. You know, it's very sad. Just kind of a side note in the Calvary Chapel movement.

God has done such a great work through that man, Pastor Chuck Smith. And yet there's many today in the senior pastor realm, I hear it all the time. You know, well, that was good for that time. But many pastors are now looking to other things and other models and trying to use different things straying away from the Word of God. It's one thing to be relevant and to minister to people, but to sacrifice the teaching of the Word of God to do so is...

It's deadly. And that's what many are doing. Many are wandering away because we know better. Times have changed. The times are different. And we have that same attitude in our hearts many times. I know better than those who God has placed in my life.

I know that they're saying this or that they taught me this or whatever, but you know, these circumstances and we always think that we're the exception. Listen, God has put spiritual leaders in your life so that you can follow their example and use them as a pattern for living. We need to take that to heart. He also ends saying, note those who so walk as you have us for a pattern.

So pay attention to those who are already following the example, Paul says. Follow my example, but also take note of those around you who are obedient to the Lord. They're like minded with me and they're walking in the same way. Now, why is this so important to Paul? Why must we join in following his example and take note of the others around us who do?

He tells us in verse 18, for many walk. Here's the reason. Here's why it's so important that you follow his example and you look around and take note of people in your life who follow the example of the Apostle Paul. For many walk, of whom I have told you often and now tell you even weeping that they are enemies of the cross of Christ.

It's so important that we take note. It's so important that we be like-minded because there are many who walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. There's many who walk as enemies. And this epistle that's so full of joy, this man, the Apostle Paul, so full of joy, we find him in this verse weeping. He says, I've told you often, and now I tell you again, weeping. Weeping.

So much about joy, but here he's weeping. Why is he weeping? You know, it's not like the Apostle Paul. Even when people were coming directly against him in Philippians 1.16, he talked about those who preached Christ from selfish ambition, supposing to add affliction to his chains, just trying to get him even more than he was already being tempted.

subject to trials and stuff. People were coming against him. People were attacking him personally. They tried to add affliction to him, but you know, it didn't bother him. He goes, I rejoice. It's just no big deal. So why here is he weeping? It's not because people are attacking him personally. He's weeping over those who are enemies of the cross of Christ. Who are these enemies? What could they possibly be doing that would cause Paul to weep?

As we looked at, as I just shared in chapter one, those people who are personally attacking him, he didn't weep then because verse 18 of Philippians one says, what then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or truth, Christ is preached. And in this I rejoice. Yes, and we'll rejoice.

He didn't care being personally attacked by those who are preaching the gospel with selfish ambition because they were preaching the gospel. And he says, I can rejoice in that. And then I take joy and I take great joy. The gospel is being preached. That's the most important thing. But here he's weeping because there's people who are enemies of

of the cross of Christ, enemies of the message. They're not spreading the gospel, but they're hindering the gospel. They're keeping people from the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. They're sending people to hell, robbing them of the opportunity of the message of Jesus Christ. Paul says, I'm weeping. This is not something I'm just kind of casually upset about, but I'm weeping, brought to tears over this thought that there are those who are enemies of the gospel of Christ.

When the gospel is being preached, Paul says, I rejoice. Even if it's at my expense, I rejoice. But the enemies of the cross are opposite of this. They're hindering the message. They're keeping people from the truth. And it brings Paul to weeping. Now, who are these enemies? Let's be clear first who the enemies of the cross are not. He's not talking about the Romans who crucified Jesus on the cross. That's

That's not who he's talking about. He's not talking about the Jews who surrendered Jesus to the Romans or hated Christianity or persecuted the church. He's not talking about those who are coming against the church from the outside. He says the beginning here of verse 18, for many walk. That's Christian terminology. He's talking about people inside the church walking.

He's talking about people who call themselves Christians. He says, listen, guys, you need to take note of my example and take note of those around you because there's a lot of people around you. There's many people around you who are not walking this way. Instead, they're walking as enemies of the cross of Jesus Christ. There's people in the church who are enemies of the gospel message. Paul is saying this is heavy.

This should cause us to sober up really quickly. And Paul's saying, look, follow my example. Look around. Note others around you who follow my example. Because there's many that do not. There's many who are enemies of the cross of Christ. And that's why we need Paul's example. To compare to ourselves and make sure we're in the right place. To look around and see who we can model ourselves after. Who we can follow as examples in our lives.

We need to follow the examples of the leaders that God has given to us. But we should check it out. Does it line up? Be careful who you follow, because there's many who walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. It's a sobering thought. If Paul is talking about people in the church, could he be talking about me? You know, like the disciples when Jesus was in the upper room with them and announced that someone would betray him and they went around the room. What does it mean?

Lord, is it me? The next disciple, Lord, is it me? The next disciple, Lord, is it me? We should take a moment. Lord, is it me? Don't think that you've arrived. Don't count yourself to have apprehended. Is it me? Lord, am I walking as an enemy of the cross of Christ? Paul says it's not rare. It's not an occasional thing. It's not, you know, here and there you might run into this. But many walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.

Verse 19, whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly and whose glory is in their shame, who set their mind on earthly things. So Paul tells us, gives us a little bit of description about these enemies of the cross of Christ. First, he tells us what the end result is going to be of walking that way. Three things. He says their end is destruction. Their God is their belly and the glory is in their shame.

But who are these enemies? Who is this talking about? We find it at the end of the verse where he says, who set their mind on earthly things. The enemies of the cross of Christ are those who set their mind on earthly things. And the result will be destruction. The result will be that

Their God is their belly, which is referring to self-gratification, selfish endeavors. It's just all about self. Whose glory is in their shame. The things that they should be ashamed about, the things that they should be ashamed of, are the things that they glory in. Lord, is it me? Lord, are you speaking about me? Paul is challenging us. He's saying, let us have this mind. It's important that we have this mind because there's many who walk that are enemies of the cross of Jesus Christ.

It begins here in our mind. We need to have the mind of Paul. Where is your mind set? What is it that you think about the most? The things of this life or the things of the next? You know, I know this is heavy. I realize and understand that this is difficult. At least it is for me. But we need to examine the truth. We need to ask God to reveal our hearts to us. We need to not count ourselves to have apprehended it.

To not automatically think, can't be me. Nope, not me. I've already arrived because I've had this past. Paul says, no.

Don't count yourself to have apprehended. Take a moment and ask, Lord, is it me? Is my mindset on earthly things? Forget about what you've done in the past and where you once were with the Lord and what you've once done for the Lord. Forget about the past failures and things that you've done. Where do you stand right now? Are you reaching forward to the things of God, to the things which are ahead? Or is your mindset on this earth?

Right here today now or the next how many ever years you have in this life? Is that where your mind is or is it on eternity? Where's your focus? Where are your goals? Where are your dreams? Where do you spend the most of your time thinking about this life or the next? Paul says the enemies of the cross of Christ are people in the church who have their minds set on this life. Either we have the same mind as Paul or

or we have our minds set on earthly things. Either we have obeyed the command of Jesus to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow him, or we are enemies of the cross of Christ. There's no middle ground. There's no gray area, no room for us to be lukewarm. We need to be. We need to be the same as the Apostle Paul. We need to have that same mindset and not set our minds on the things of this earth. Turn with me, please, very briefly to Romans chapter 8.

Romans chapter eight. I want to look at verses five through nine with you this morning. Romans chapter eight, verses five through nine. Verse five says this. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh. But those who live according to the spirit, the things of the spirit for to be carnally minded is death. But to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Because the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Verse nine. But you are not in the flesh, but in the spirit. If indeed the spirit of God dwells in you. Now, if anyone does not have the spirit of Christ, he is not his. Here in Romans chapter eight, Paul lays it out again very clearly for us.

We need to understand Jesus did not come and preach a light, fluffy message. He says, look, if you want to follow me, you have to deny yourself, take up your cross.

walk with me. Follow me. You have to live life like I did. You have to take on my heart and my characteristics. I'll do it in you. I'll do the work, but you must come to me and be willing. You must ask me. You must allow me to work this way in your heart. You must look and ask for the power in the Holy Spirit to walk the way that I've called you to walk. But you have to deny yourself. You have to take up the cross and you have to follow me. It

It's the same message that Paul's preaching. You cannot live the Christian life with your mind set on the things of this earth. Here in Romans chapter 8, he says, those who live according to the flesh, this life, this world, are natural tendencies, set their minds on the things of the flesh. But those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. It's right here. If you're living according to the flesh, it's because your mind is on the things of the flesh. If you're living according to the Spirit, it's because you've set your mind on the things of the Spirit.

It's where we put our mind. It's where we spend our time. It's what we ask God to do in our hearts. Too many times. Too many times. We're just comfortable. We're complacent. It's okay. We get caught up in this life and consumed. And all we think about is this life. Our careers, our 401ks, our retirement, our houses, our friends, our cars, our successes, whatever.

All we think about is right now. And Paul says, you need to let go of that mind. Put it off.

Don't count yourself to have apprehended. You're not there yet. Forget the things that you've done and the failures that you've had in the past. Reach forward. Set your mind on the things above. Set your mind on the things of the Spirit. Strive to be closer to the Lord, to walk with the Lord, to do more for the Lord, to accomplish the things that He has set before you. If you live according to the flesh, your mind is set on the things of the flesh. But if you live according to the Spirit...

Your mind is set on the things of the Spirit. He goes on to say that to be carnally minded is death. Enemies of the cross of Christ. The carnal mind, he says, is that enmity with God. Enemies of God. When we focus on this life, right here, right now. That's not where our mind is to be set. That's not where our goals are to be. That's not what we're pressing forward towards. The enemies of the cross of Christ are

Colossians 3, verses 1 and 2.

Seek those things which are above where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. Where's your mindset? Where's my mindset? It determines how we walk. It determines if we're like Paul striving forward or if we're striving against as enemies of the cross of Christ. Turn with me back to Philippians chapter three.

So Paul is saying, follow my example. Note those who walk the same way who are already following the example, because there's many who walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. And we're not to be that way. Verse 20, for our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to his glorious body, according to the working by which he is able even to subdue all things evil.

to himself. This is the turning point. It's the flip side of the coin. Yes, it's heavy to look at and to think about, to examine our life under the microscope the Apostle Paul has given to us. But here's the flip side. Here's what we look forward to. Here's what we set our minds on and here's what we do it for. We're going to be with Jesus.

It's going to happen soon. Our citizenship is in heaven. So why consider and consume ourselves with the things of this life? Why be so concerned with them? Why have our mindset here? Our citizenship is not here as believers. This is not where we belong. We're just passing through. It's just a temporary place that God has given to us so that we can store up treasures in heaven and reach others for him. But this is just passing. It's just a pit stop.

And we're going to be with Him. Our citizenship is there. That's where God has called us to spend eternity. And so that's where we need to be focused. That's where our heart needs to be. That's what we need to be longing for. That's why we need to be reaching and pressing forward because that is the goal. That is the object of our affection. Eternity with Jesus Christ. Our citizenship is in heaven. He says, "...from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior." Eagerly wait for the Savior.

Man, when Jesus talked about his coming again, he always included a warning to watch, to be ready, to have your bags packed and ready to go at all times. He told the parables of the wise and the foolish virgins there in Matthew chapter 25 to emphasize the point you need to be ready. Have the oil with you at all times. Be ready to go. Eagerly wait.

For the coming, the appearance of Jesus Christ. He could come right now. He could come this moment. He could come anytime. Be ready. Eagerly wait. Paul says, look, don't be an enemy of the cross of Christ. Have the same mind that I have because our citizenship is in heaven. We're going to spend eternity there. And that's what matters. And that's what counts. This life is only to be used for the things of God.

And we're not to set our minds here and have our goals and our focus be here. But we should be here eagerly waiting for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He's going to come. Our citizenship is there. He's coming. And not only that, but verse 21, He will transform our lowly body and we'll be conformed to His glorious body. He's going to change our bodies. Now, some of us who are younger, that doesn't mean so much. But some of you other guys...

He's going to change our bodies. Now, that doesn't mean, okay, so we can play sports again. That's not the point. We're going to be conformed to His image. We're going to be like Him. We're going to have perfect, complete fellowship with Him. For any true believer, for anybody who knows what it's like to experience the presence of God, that is the greatest thing that we could hope for. To be able to worship Him again.

Without the worry, without the struggle with sin. To be able to spend time with him in his pure presence and purity of heart. Without sin affecting our lives. Without our sinful nature continually wandering away and pulling us away from God.

To have a perfect body conformed into His image. That we can spend eternity with Him. Because our citizenship is there and He's coming soon. He's going to make us like Him so that we can enjoy the rest of eternity. With things beyond description awaiting us there. Those who have their minds set on the earth are enemies of the cross. Because our citizenship is in heaven. We have eternity in store for us. And so let's live our lives for that eternity.

And not for this. He gave us this life to store up treasures in heaven. He's given us a short time to serve him and accomplish the things that will reap for us benefits in the ages to come. There's a saying often quoted, don't be so heavenly minded that you're no earthly good. It's not a biblical saying. That's not what we should live our life by. Greg Laurie counters it by saying that those who have accomplished the most in this life are the ones who thought the most of the next.

And it's true. We can look at example upon example. Set your mind, set your heart on eternity. If you don't know what to set it upon, what eternity is all about, get into the Word. Read the words of the Apostle Paul. Spend time and look at what God has in store for us as believers. There's much for us to live for, but not in this life. That's not where our goals and our hopes, our dreams need to be. That's not where our minds should be set.

We must be eagerly waiting for the Savior. Watching, waiting. I like how he says eagerly waiting. Not just, well, you know, casually waiting or impatiently waiting, but eagerly waiting. Like, oh man, he's going to come at any time. It's an excitement. Does that describe you? Are you excited about the coming of Jesus Christ? If he came today, would you be excited about that? Do you wake up the next day or tomorrow, will you wake up and be excited? Man, Jesus could come back today.

I'm going to be with him soon and very soon. We're going to see the king. We're going to be with him. It should be something that excites us. It should be our our hope. Where is your hope? Is it in this life or is it in the appearing of our savior? In Hebrews chapter nine, the author of Hebrews tells us it's appointed for men to die once. And after this, the judgment is

But Christ was offered to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for him, he will appear a second time. You're going to appear before the Lord or he's going to appear before you if you're eagerly waiting. But we need to have our hopes set. We're going to die. Everybody is going to die. It's appointed unto man to die once. You just have this little bit of time. Spend it eagerly waiting for the time that you stand before God. Run the race to win. That you may hear the words, well done, good and faithful servant.

When he appears, we're going to be caught up together with him in the clouds. Our bodies will be transformed like his glorious body and we will be with him for eternity. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15, Behold, I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed.

1 Thessalonians 4, For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord. That is our hope. That is our joy. That is what we look forward to. That's where our minds need to be set. We need to be eagerly awaiting.

looking for that day, that glorious day that we're with Jesus Christ. Anything else is to be an enemy of the cross of Christ. It's one or the other. We're either waiting or we're caught up in this life. We're either waiting or we're sleeping. We need to be eagerly waiting. It's going to happen. We're going to be with him one way or another. Rapture, death, it's all pointed to every single one of us. We're going to stand before the Lord.

Live this life for him. Verse 1 of chapter 4, he finishes by saying, Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved. Here's the hope. You're eagerly waiting. Set your mind on the things like I've set my mind. Paul is saying, walk with me. Pay attention to those around you who are walking with me because there's many enemies of the cross of Christ. But our citizenship is in heaven. He's going to make us like him. So stand fast.

Be strong. Continue on. Don't waver. Don't go back. Stand fast in the Lord. Stand fast in your relationship with God. This is our hope. This is where our mindset right there in eternity with him. It can happen at any moment. So stand fast. Don't get caught up in this life. Don't let your mind get set on the things of this world. The end of that is destruction.

Your God becomes your belly, your self-gratification. You live for yourself when your mind is on this world. You live for the flesh at enmity with God and your glory is what you should be ashamed of. Don't set your mind on the things of this life, but stand fast in your relationship with God and striving forward. There's another saying, very popular as well. You have one life to live. It will soon be passed. Only what is done for Christ will last. What are you doing for Christ?

Are you eagerly waiting? Are you walking with him? 1 Corinthians 15, 58, Paul says, Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

Be steadfast, stand fast, be immovable, abound in the work of the Lord. Press on. Keep on going because you know it's not in vain. Eternity is in store. That's what you're eagerly waiting for. That's what you're hoping for. That's where your mind is set. And so you'll be pressing forward. Which life are you living for? Paul says, therefore, let us have this mind. Don't count yourself.

to have apprehended. Forget what is behind and reach forward to those things which are ahead. This morning we are partaking of communion together as we always do once a month. And the ushers can come forward, the worship team can come forward as they prepare for that. But I want to look at these things briefly in respect to communion. The mindset that called Paul's us to, number one, to not count ourselves to have apprehended.

In 1 Corinthians 11, verse 28, Paul tells us to examine ourselves and then eat of the bread and drink of the cup. Before we do this, Paul says you should examine yourself. Don't count yourself to have apprehended. As we come to the communion table this morning, let the words that God has been speaking to you sink in. Let them be real. Let this be an intimate time between you and him. As you come together,

And partake of communion this morning. Don't count yourself to have apprehended. You have not arrived. You're not complete or perfect yet. So examine yourself. Check your heart. Is your mind set on the things of this life? Are you caught up in other things? Have you wandered away? Have you gone back into things that he has once delivered you from? Don't count yourself to have apprehended as you come to the table this morning. Don't take it in vain. Let this time of communion for you be a confession.

directly from your heart that I have not apprehended. Jesus, I need you to work in my heart. I need you to set me free. I need you to change my heart and make it ever true, to make me like you. Jesus, I need you. Don't count yourself to have apprehended, but when you partake this morning, let it be confession of your heart that you need Jesus Christ. The second mindset that Paul was talking about was to forget what's behind.

Past failures, past successes, other people's past, the way someone treated you, the way that you were brought up, the things you suffered. Let it all be in the past. As you come to the table of communion this morning, leave it all at the foot of the cross. Forget what's behind. It was all taken care of. It was all paid for at the cross. No longer let those things hinder your life today.

Forget what is behind. Leave it at the foot of the cross. Jesus died for that person who makes you so mad. And he died for that sin that they did to you. He died to cover and pay for the thing that you've done. He paid the price. There's no need to be held back. Forget what's behind. It's taken care of. It's covered by the grace of God. Hallelujah. Praise the Lord.

It's no need to let that hinder you in your life today. Forget what's behind. As you come to the table this morning, as you partake of communion, let it be recognition of the Lord saying from your heart, Lord, I don't want to look back. You died so that nothing could hold me back. And so I choose to forget what is behind and leave it here at the foot of the cross. A third mindset, the apostle Paul is teaching us to reach forward to those things which are ahead.

As you come to partake of communion today, press on, press forward, reach forward in your relationship with God. Stay close to him. Draw close to him more now than ever before, because that's what really matters. That's what's worth living life for. Set your mind on the things above, on the things of communion. Jesus Christ. Paul says, as you partake of this, you proclaim his death till he comes.

Set your mind on the things above, the things yet to come. He is coming. You're going to be with him because of what he did for you on the cross. Set your mind on the things to come. Let this time of communion be a renewing of your mind, a renewing of your mind, flooding it, setting it on eternity with him. As we worship the Lord in this time,

I encourage you to allow these things to speak to your heart. They're going to lead us in song. They're going to pass out the bread and cup. Hold your portions together. We'll partake together as a family. But spend this time with you and the Lord. Don't count yourself to have apprehended. Forget what's behind and reach forward because God wants to be with you for eternity. Let's worship the Lord.

We pray you have been blessed by this Bible teaching. The power of God to change a life is found in the daily reading of His Word. Visit ferventword.com to find more teachings and Bible study resources.