Paul’s Road to Greatness

Phil 3:3-11

 

3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— 4 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: 5 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; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 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 9 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— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

 

In many ways Paul is the greatest of Apostles. His missionary service, his enduring letters have had a great positive and lasting impact on our lives and on human history. In this passage today we see things in Paul’s experience that led to his greatness. In viewing his attitudes and actions we see things to emulate that will increase our impact in the kingdom of God, that will help us to follow Jesus Christ.

Paul says of himself: I Cor 11:1

1Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

 

  1. What Paul Was Before Following Jesus

 

  1. A Hebrew of Hebrews

He knew who he was and was proud of it.

Ethnic, religious identity confirmed.

He knew his personal religious history

He was proud of his identity!

        We are all about identity in our culture!

        If you are born again, you have a different identity.

       

  1. A successful follower of the law

        His family is observant: Does Paul get credit for being circumcised on the 8th day?

Of the tribe of Benjamin: also Paul has no impact on this.

Paul says: as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

                This is a wow. Who would say this?

 

  1. A blind guide

        Paul was a Pharisee: What are Pharisees? They are the religious         conservatives of their day. They are Bible people. They hold to     the teachings of the OT and to the interpretations of those         teachings by the Rabbi’s.

The Pharisees fight with Jesus over Who Jesus claims He is. The         Pharisees’ idea of what Sabbath rest is is in conflict with Jesus’     actions and life.

Matthew 23: 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, 3 so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. 4 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. 5 They do all their deeds to be seen by others. 6 and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues 7 and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. 8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10 Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. 11 The greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Paul was fully committed and full of faith in what he was         pursuing in his life toward God.

 

Acts 7:

58 Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.

Acts 8:1-3 And Saul approved of his execution.

And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. 3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.

 

  1. What Changed Paul’s Foundation in Life?

7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 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     

 

  1. Paul met Jesus I Cor 15: 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.

           

Acts 9: But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”

 

  1. Paul has become a servant of Christ II Cor 11:

22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they offspring of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death.

24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.

 

  1. Paul is empowered by the Holy Spirit

This is above human effort!

10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; 19 and taking food, he was strengthened.

God provides the doer with the energy to do His will.

John 14: 15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

 

III. Paul Pursues Christ and His Life Above All

8 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 9 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— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

  1. I want to know Christ Jesus my Lord

v.8-10 This is personal knowledge, but it is also knowledge of what to do with his life. Paul was extremely knowledgeable, extremely zealous and committed and extremely wrong. He will not move away from this idea in his life. That is why he says about his life, “To live is Christ.”

 

  1. Paul wants to fellowship with Christ

        In a fallen world, this will invariably mean a fellowship in suffering. People who follow Christ have different priorities. Those who Paul came out from followed him, persecuting him, causing him constant physical pain. They attacked those that Paul converted by trying to draw them away from the grace of God in Christ. Paul knew suffering. But He knew Christ in that suffering.

In life, when we suffer for righteousness sake, we gain insight into the heart of God. We understand that patience is costly, that grace is costly, that love is costly. We understand that we cannot protect ourselves from injury, pain, suffering and still love, serve and give. And we find something that is even more profound. We find that there are things worth suffering for. And we find that avoiding personal suffering is not what makes life good.

  1. Paul learns that dying leads to life

Do not be afraid to die to things that you desire. Be afraid of missing that which is most worth desiring. God is not a masochist. The world is full of conflict against Him. There are many different forces seeking to defeat God.

Revelation 12 for example please.

  1. A woman delivering a child, a dragon seeking to destroy the child:

5 She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, 6 and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days.

Who wins? Is there trouble? Provision?

  1. Angelic war in heaven:

7 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, 8 but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. 11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. 12 Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”

Who wins? Not Satan! Is there trouble? Provision? He is conquered by those who are covered by the blood of the Lamb and they have a testimony of God’s grace.

  1. Pursuit of the woman again:

13 And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. 14 But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time.

Who wins? The woman. Is there trouble? Provision?

  1. Attempt to flood the woman:

15 The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood. 16 But the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth.

Who wins? Is there trouble? Provision?

 

This pattern is repeated over and over! Trouble and hardship, deliverance and life, who wins?

I want to know Christ, the power of His Resurrection, the Fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.

Suffering causes us to prioritize. What is really important in life? It is knowing Christ. Period.

Romans 8:

16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.