Title Life's Highest Priority /Philippians 3:3-9
Content Title: The highest priority in life
Text / Philippians 3:3-9
3 We are the circumcision, who serve by the Spirit of God, boast in Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh. 4 But I also have confidence in the flesh, especially if anyone thinks that he has any trust in the flesh, 5 I Circumcised on the eighth day, of the house of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews, as to the law, a Pharisee, 6 as a zealous persecutor of the church, and blameless as to the righteousness of the law. For the sake of Christ I count all things as loss, 8 and all things as loss because of the noblest knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. I lost everything for him and count it as dung, so that I might gain Christ 9 and be found in him. Righteousness does not come from the law, but comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God through faith (Philippians 3:3-9).
① The first priority in life is God - God. I live on the principle that all life in life is centered on God.
② The second is Family. Many executives prioritize business, but this one was not.
③ The third priority is Service - Service to neighbors. When speaking to many executives, he said, “Don't live for success. Aim for sincerity. Success can always fail, but sincerity never fails. It is this sincerity that has made me the successful manager I am today. This sincerity is a gift from God.”
If you are looking for the greatest leader in the New Testament, the first is the Apostle Paul. The main part of the apostle Paul's confession of faith is recorded in the text.
I. Paul's Confession
① He was educated from the age of 15 as a Gamaliel cultural cadet, known as the most prestigious at the time.
② The Jewish people who were colonized by Rome had Roman citizenship;
③ As for the law, a Pharisee without blemish and a lawyer,
④ He is the author of the 13 canonical books of the Bible.
⑤ Spiritually, those who have the experience of going to the third heaven of heaven,
⑥ The apostle who was called directly by Jesus in Damascus,
II. You can find the motto of this 使徒 Paul's life in the text.
1) For Paul, the first priority in life was Jesus Christ (8-9).
8 And I count all things as loss because of the noblest knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. I lose all things for him and count them as excrement, so that I may gain Christ and be found in him. No, but through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God through faith (Philippians 3:8-9).
① Although they have the best studies and knowledge, they confess that the knowledge of Jesus Christ is the noblest (8a)
② He said that if it harms the work for Christ, we can throw away everything (8th).
③ He said that in the value of gaining Christ, all noble things in the world are regarded as excrement (8b).
2) The first of the motto in Christ is faith in the resurrection (10).
“I was conformed to his death, so that I might make known the Christ, and the power of his resurrection, and the sharing in his sufferings” (Philippians 3:10).
① It was believed that the highest blessing in Christ is participation in the resurrection of grace (10).
“I was conformed to his death, so that I might make known the Christ, and the power of his resurrection, and the sharing in his sufferings” (Philippians 3:10).
② In order to participate in this resurrection, one must have a life of sharing in the sufferings of Christ (10).
3) They say that they will do their best to pursue them until the day they die (12).
“Not that I have already obtained it, nor that it has been perfected, but I am pursuing that for which I was captured by Christ Jesus (Phil 3:12)
Ⅲ. conclusion
1) Let's live as citizens in heaven (20).
“But our citizenship is in heaven, from which we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20).
2) Let's live a life of faith running for the prize of the crown (14).
“I am pressing toward the goal for the reward of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).
3) I beg you with tears, never imitate the actions of those who were enemies of the cross (18).
“Many times I have told you, but now I say this with tears in my eyes, many act as enemies of the cross of Christ (Philippians 3:18).”