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Text: Philippians 3:17-21
Ensamples of redemption (vs 17)
- Confidence to lead
- Be followers together of me…
- Paul led a holy life. Paul is followable.
- Paul knew where he was going.
- Parents say I just want my kids to make up their own mind. Well they will. What they need is direction from someone older who has lived life.
- I can understand you not leading if you don’t know where you’re going, or you don’t know how to show someone else how to get to the right place. But if you’re not able to lead anyone else in the right direction, you need to be following someone who’s going in the right direction. N doing that you’ll become someone that can be followed.
- Now, imagine saying that to someone; follow me
- It may be tough because you know you aren’t followable.
- What if everyone in the church was like you? Or as uncommitted? Or worldly? Or stingy? If some of you took an honest assessment of yourselves you’d realize there wouldn’t be any place for you to go, or your kids or your grandkids. Because everyone had your attitude about Jesus Christ and his words and his church. There wouldn’t be enough money to keep the lights on.
- Course of leadership
- John 10:4-5, 27
- 1 Peter 2:21-23 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
- 22 Who did no sin,
- neither was guile found in his mouth:
- 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again;
- when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
- Concentrate on others following the Lord
- …and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
- People are followed and celebrated because they are athletes.
- People are followed and celebrated because their images are on big screens.
- People are celebrated because they were religious garments and administrate over religions.
- None of those are reasons to follow men. If a man will follow the Lord, you can follow that man.
- It’s not following the right men, it is following Paul who is following Christ.
Enemies of redemption (vss 18-19)
- Companions who are lost
- There are more professing Christians than actual Christians.
- For many walk…
- And notice Paul is weeping, so these are people he loved. This isn’t just some anonymous group.
- Course of destruction is set
- Notice also each of these four descriptions is headed for a fire.
- Destruction is their end – End is destruction
- If you’re not redeemed, then you’re heading to punishment.
- Destruction is the future of their God – God is their belly
- 1 Corinthians 6:13 Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them.
- Consumption is the priority. That may be religious consumption as in a mass where God is suppose to go into the belly, or it can be the goal of everyman working to feed himself. Ecclesiastes 6:7 All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.
- Hunger and thirst after righteousness.
- Matthew 6:31-34 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
- Destruction is what they exalt – Glory is their shame
- Exodus 32:25 And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:)
- Shame is exposure; the first instance is exposure of the body. That leads to the broader meaning of exposure to the enemy or accuser. It’s being conscious of guilt.
- But this group glories in their shame. There is no blushing, but a celebration of guilt. The more clothes come off, the more popular they are. The higher you can get the better the party. The drunker you get the more fun they have.
- And all the things that make men guilty before God are exalted, partied over, celebrated.
- Destruction is the end of their hopes and dreams – Mind earthly things
Expectation of redemption (vss 20-21)
- Cares are heavenly cares
- …our conversation is in heaven from whence also we look for the Savior…
- Set affections on things above…, walk by faith not by sight…, life is hid with Christ…, lift up your heads…
- Christ is the only hope and salvation
- No one else and nothing else even offers redemption, forgiveness of sins.
- Corruptible changed to incorruption
- Who shall change our vile body…
- Birthed with an incorruptible seed – 1 Peter 1:4, 23 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, … 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
- Conquered sin
- …he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
- The fashion of his body is a victorious body.
- Mohammed is unable to sudbude all things unto himself.
- Pope unable to subdue all things unto himself.
- Your family members are unable to subdue all things to themselves.
- Your children are unable to subdue all things unto themselves.
- Your religion or your denominational leaders are unable to subdue all things unto themselves.
- 1 Corinthians 15:52-55 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
