"Christ is our Treasure"
Sermon Notes
The Surpassing Value of Knowing Jesus Christ our Lord
Philippians 3:1-14
The goal of this message is to boldly affirm that Jesus Christ is life’s greatest treasure and in Him we have all we need for life & godliness. We are considering together the second part of J.D. Greear’s gospel prayer: ‘Your presence and approval are all I need for everlasting joy.”
Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you. Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh (Phil. 3:1-3).
Though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless (Phil. 3:4-6).
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith (Phil. 3:7-9).
That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me His own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 3:9-14).
Notes, Quotes & Scripture References:
The Heart-cry of a Jesus-centered life …
“Your presence and approval are all I need for everlasting joy.”
“O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water” (Psalm 63:1).
So what does David do?
“I have looked upon You in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory” (Psalm 63:2).
Psalm 42 – The Cure to Spiritual Depression
“As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God” (Psalm 42:1-2a)
“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God. My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember You” (Psalm 42:5, 11).
Quotes …
“Jesus plus nothing equals everything; everything minus Jesus equals nothing” - Tullian Tchividjian
J.D.’s Idolatry Detector test …
1. What one thing do you most hope is in your future?
2. What is the one thing you most worry about losing?
3. If you could change one thing about yourself right now what would it be?
4. What thing have you sacrificed most for?
5. Who is there in your life that you feel like you can’t forgive and why?
6. When do you feel the most significant?
7. What triggers depression in you?
8. Where do you turn for comfort when things are not going well?
Is Jesus Enough for you?
Habakkuk 3:17-19 … “No matter what, I will rejoice in the Lord and find joy in the God of my salvation!”
Psalm 73:25-28 … “The Lord is my portion forever!”