Sermon 29th June 2008
Today, our Associate Vicar, John Itumu, delivers his sermon, based on the reading from Philippians 3:12-27
New Ambition 1
We were encouraged last time that the goal of everything, should be to know Christ; a goal that every human being is called to consider and to pursue. It is a goal that that the apostle Paul chose to follow, and with great benefits. His Jewish ancestry, his privileged upbringing, his education credentials and societal status could have given him every earthly reason to be confident and proud, but compared with the joy of knowing Christ, these things were just garbage, refuse, a total loss in life, according to Paul.
The goal of everything, should be to know Christ.
For those who have been following this series closely, I wonder what you make of that bold, almost provocative statement. If this is your first time to hear this, I wonder what you make of the assertion that – the goal of everything, all life, is to know Jesus Christ.
I ask because it is a big deal since that is not how we pre-occupy our lives. Many goals compete for our attention – education, career, acquisition of wealth, good family, good health, a good life (whatever that means), etc Any effort to know Christ has often been left to when we are at the end of our tether, or when it is most convenient.
Not so with Paul. Since tasting this new life in Christ, his worldview and priorities had been totally transformed. This man who had already attained most aspirations that many men in his day could have wished for, chose to make his goal in life to know Christ. And interestingly, he says, he cannot compare that old life with his new found one. Why?
What is it about knowing Christ that makes this difference?
Not too long ago, Jesus of Nazareth, had told people ‘come to me who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest’ Matthew 11:28. In my view, this single statement encapsulates the mission of Jesus Christ. In John’s gospel 10:10, Jesus re-emphasizes this when he states that he came so that human beings may live full lives.
It is this rest, this full life that Paul had finally found in Christ after many yeas of labour as a Pharisee, an overzealous religious Jew who obeyed the whole law but lived a miserable and deprived life. Until he met with Jesus he did not know the meaning of freedom. Freedom and hope in Christ is something we only experience personally. Just as we carry our own burdens and loads and pains individually, so do we enjoy that freedom individually.
And that is what really makes the difference for those who have a relationship with Jesus Christ. They have a freedom and a hope that nothing else in this world can offer.
Paul had already tasted a bit of the joy of this new dispensation, but he also knew that there was more to come. This was only the beginning. He was on journey, and he couldn’t wait to enjoy the more that he knew was waiting for him. That is why he says in v12…
Not that I have already obtained all this or have arrived at my goal, (NIV)
I do not claim that I have already succeeded or become perfect… (GNB)
Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it….
There was a motivation in wanting to continue to run this race; to continue to know Jesus Christ more. He talks about pressing on… v14
And he employs athletic imagery to paint a picture of a determined runner who will stop at nothing to win the prize. His zeal for persecuting the church had been turned into a new ambition of knowing Christ more and more – talk about a complete overhaul. But just what gave him this kind of motivation? What is it that keeps the believer going, wanting more, trying harder, not giving up?
Friends, unless we are motivated to achieve, it is easy to fall on the wayside and give up. I wonder what motivates you in life.
For Paul and for the recipients of this letter in Philippi, for all who have tasted and embraced the gospel of Jesus over generations past to date, and that includes us today, there is still a future that is not yet, and that is why we press on.
That is, and ought to be our motivation in enduring, keeping on, working hard. We’ve got to press on!
There is an ultimate; a finale, the finish line. This is the consummation, the revealing of all the glory and splendour of God in a place the bible calls heaven. The bible teaches us that this is the ultimate.
Jesus one day talking to his disciples assured them:
I am going ahead of you to prepare a place for you – and one day I will come back for you… John 14:1ffd
It is the dwelling place of God that we pray about when we say ‘Our Father in heaven hallowed be your name your kingdom, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven…
And Paul is keen to remind the Philippians that he presses on to win the prize for which God has called him heavenwards v14. He continues to stress – our citizenship is in heaven v20. This finale is never far from Paul’s new life. At the beginning of this letter he had urged them:
Whatever happens as citizens of heaven live in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ 1:27
Paul had grown to know and develop very close relationship with this community of believers in Philippi. The city of Philippi boasted of a privileged status as a Roman Colony. It was very strategically placed along the major highway which connected Rome with Asia Minor (east). Philippians were proud to be of Roman citizenship with all the protection, stability and prosperity it brought them.
But this came at a heavy price. One historical record states that citizens were required to bow to the emperor with the acknowledgement that Nero was ‘lord and saviour’. The Philippi Christians found this preposterous because since believing, their utmost allegiance was now to another Lord, Jesus Christ. They could no longer then, in that respect, join in as citizens of Rome in Philippi. Consequently, those other citizens of Philippi begun a methodical persecution of these ‘foreigners’ living among them.
So Paul employs this word play in dual citizenship. He recognizes that the Philippians have worked hard to identify with Roman citizenship, an ideal that now brings them immense benefits but also persecution.
Paul recognizes the magnitude and value of being considered a Roman citizen for these folk. He nevertheless urges them not to allow their present suffering to distract them from their higher goal. The greater reality is that they are subjects of the heavenly Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Enjoy your temporary citizenship, he implies, but use it to prepare for the permanent! In other words, they were to function as a colony of heaven in this outpost of Rome called Philippi.
The way that you have chosen, he reminds them, leads you elsewhere. This is not it! Look beyond!
Now in this heavenly citizenship there is a sense in which it is a not yet – yet it is presently real and true. You see, when we accept Jesus’ invitation to come to him with our pains and burdens, so that he may give us rest, he begins to transact business with us immediately. Our journey of restoration by him begins. And he continues to change us, as we allow him to be more and more involved in our lives; as we make knowing Him the goal of our lives.
He is also the only one, according to verse 21 who has the power to bring everything under control. He even walks alongside us as we struggle and confront our unhelpful addictions. According to recent statistics, one in three of us struggle with an addiction; that recurring compulsion to engage in some specific activity and which has become unmanageable.
Christ wants to heal us from all these things, which we might feel unable to put down. He wants to restore us to sanity; put us back on the driving seat. And we should not carry any shame about our helplessness, our powerlessness, because he has the power that can bring everything under control. When we yield to this power, it begins to transform us gradually to the original design that God intended. And all this is in eager anticipation of the ultimate, heaven, meeting him face to face.
Paul’s concern and prayer is that the Philippians would understand how to conduct themselves in anticipation of this citizenship.
This is also my invitation today. For those who haven’t started this journey yet, would you consider allowing your life to be influenced by the God who is revealed in the person of Jesus Christ? He says, come as you are, I love you. Come to me, and you will live to the full - get your life back. Your present life cannot compare with what I offer. And that is what it is – an offer that we accept or reject.
For those who have started this journey, how are you doing? Do you feel detached lately? Don’t give up! Whatever happens, don’t quit! Let us press on. He who begun this good work in you is faithful to see you through Phil 1:6. He will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Amen.
New Ambition 1
We were encouraged last time that the goal of everything, should be to know Christ; a goal that every human being is called to consider and to pursue. It is a goal that that the apostle Paul chose to follow, and with great benefits. His Jewish ancestry, his privileged upbringing, his education credentials and societal status could have given him every earthly reason to be confident and proud, but compared with the joy of knowing Christ, these things were just garbage, refuse, a total loss in life, according to Paul.
The goal of everything, should be to know Christ.
For those who have been following this series closely, I wonder what you make of that bold, almost provocative statement. If this is your first time to hear this, I wonder what you make of the assertion that – the goal of everything, all life, is to know Jesus Christ.
I ask because it is a big deal since that is not how we pre-occupy our lives. Many goals compete for our attention – education, career, acquisition of wealth, good family, good health, a good life (whatever that means), etc Any effort to know Christ has often been left to when we are at the end of our tether, or when it is most convenient.
Not so with Paul. Since tasting this new life in Christ, his worldview and priorities had been totally transformed. This man who had already attained most aspirations that many men in his day could have wished for, chose to make his goal in life to know Christ. And interestingly, he says, he cannot compare that old life with his new found one. Why?
What is it about knowing Christ that makes this difference?
Not too long ago, Jesus of Nazareth, had told people ‘come to me who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest’ Matthew 11:28. In my view, this single statement encapsulates the mission of Jesus Christ. In John’s gospel 10:10, Jesus re-emphasizes this when he states that he came so that human beings may live full lives.
It is this rest, this full life that Paul had finally found in Christ after many yeas of labour as a Pharisee, an overzealous religious Jew who obeyed the whole law but lived a miserable and deprived life. Until he met with Jesus he did not know the meaning of freedom. Freedom and hope in Christ is something we only experience personally. Just as we carry our own burdens and loads and pains individually, so do we enjoy that freedom individually.
And that is what really makes the difference for those who have a relationship with Jesus Christ. They have a freedom and a hope that nothing else in this world can offer.
Paul had already tasted a bit of the joy of this new dispensation, but he also knew that there was more to come. This was only the beginning. He was on journey, and he couldn’t wait to enjoy the more that he knew was waiting for him. That is why he says in v12…
Not that I have already obtained all this or have arrived at my goal, (NIV)
I do not claim that I have already succeeded or become perfect… (GNB)
Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it….
There was a motivation in wanting to continue to run this race; to continue to know Jesus Christ more. He talks about pressing on… v14
And he employs athletic imagery to paint a picture of a determined runner who will stop at nothing to win the prize. His zeal for persecuting the church had been turned into a new ambition of knowing Christ more and more – talk about a complete overhaul. But just what gave him this kind of motivation? What is it that keeps the believer going, wanting more, trying harder, not giving up?
Friends, unless we are motivated to achieve, it is easy to fall on the wayside and give up. I wonder what motivates you in life.
For Paul and for the recipients of this letter in Philippi, for all who have tasted and embraced the gospel of Jesus over generations past to date, and that includes us today, there is still a future that is not yet, and that is why we press on.
That is, and ought to be our motivation in enduring, keeping on, working hard. We’ve got to press on!
There is an ultimate; a finale, the finish line. This is the consummation, the revealing of all the glory and splendour of God in a place the bible calls heaven. The bible teaches us that this is the ultimate.
Jesus one day talking to his disciples assured them:
I am going ahead of you to prepare a place for you – and one day I will come back for you… John 14:1ffd
It is the dwelling place of God that we pray about when we say ‘Our Father in heaven hallowed be your name your kingdom, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven…
And Paul is keen to remind the Philippians that he presses on to win the prize for which God has called him heavenwards v14. He continues to stress – our citizenship is in heaven v20. This finale is never far from Paul’s new life. At the beginning of this letter he had urged them:
Whatever happens as citizens of heaven live in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ 1:27
Paul had grown to know and develop very close relationship with this community of believers in Philippi. The city of Philippi boasted of a privileged status as a Roman Colony. It was very strategically placed along the major highway which connected Rome with Asia Minor (east). Philippians were proud to be of Roman citizenship with all the protection, stability and prosperity it brought them.
But this came at a heavy price. One historical record states that citizens were required to bow to the emperor with the acknowledgement that Nero was ‘lord and saviour’. The Philippi Christians found this preposterous because since believing, their utmost allegiance was now to another Lord, Jesus Christ. They could no longer then, in that respect, join in as citizens of Rome in Philippi. Consequently, those other citizens of Philippi begun a methodical persecution of these ‘foreigners’ living among them.
So Paul employs this word play in dual citizenship. He recognizes that the Philippians have worked hard to identify with Roman citizenship, an ideal that now brings them immense benefits but also persecution.
Paul recognizes the magnitude and value of being considered a Roman citizen for these folk. He nevertheless urges them not to allow their present suffering to distract them from their higher goal. The greater reality is that they are subjects of the heavenly Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Enjoy your temporary citizenship, he implies, but use it to prepare for the permanent! In other words, they were to function as a colony of heaven in this outpost of Rome called Philippi.
The way that you have chosen, he reminds them, leads you elsewhere. This is not it! Look beyond!
Now in this heavenly citizenship there is a sense in which it is a not yet – yet it is presently real and true. You see, when we accept Jesus’ invitation to come to him with our pains and burdens, so that he may give us rest, he begins to transact business with us immediately. Our journey of restoration by him begins. And he continues to change us, as we allow him to be more and more involved in our lives; as we make knowing Him the goal of our lives.
He is also the only one, according to verse 21 who has the power to bring everything under control. He even walks alongside us as we struggle and confront our unhelpful addictions. According to recent statistics, one in three of us struggle with an addiction; that recurring compulsion to engage in some specific activity and which has become unmanageable.
Christ wants to heal us from all these things, which we might feel unable to put down. He wants to restore us to sanity; put us back on the driving seat. And we should not carry any shame about our helplessness, our powerlessness, because he has the power that can bring everything under control. When we yield to this power, it begins to transform us gradually to the original design that God intended. And all this is in eager anticipation of the ultimate, heaven, meeting him face to face.
Paul’s concern and prayer is that the Philippians would understand how to conduct themselves in anticipation of this citizenship.
This is also my invitation today. For those who haven’t started this journey yet, would you consider allowing your life to be influenced by the God who is revealed in the person of Jesus Christ? He says, come as you are, I love you. Come to me, and you will live to the full - get your life back. Your present life cannot compare with what I offer. And that is what it is – an offer that we accept or reject.
For those who have started this journey, how are you doing? Do you feel detached lately? Don’t give up! Whatever happens, don’t quit! Let us press on. He who begun this good work in you is faithful to see you through Phil 1:6. He will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Amen.
posted by Parish Administrator at 12:39 pm
0 comments
