What Do You Really Want

We just went through Black Friday, and as we were going through the Holiday, we were bombarded with advertisements for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The lure of the advertisements is it gives the impression that once you get this item, your life will be better. The thing that we are really looking for is the thing that those items always fail to deliver.

Philippians 3:7 – 7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain[b] to the resurrection from the dead.  12 Not that I have already attained,[b] or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have [c]apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already [e]attained, let us walk by the same [f]rule, let us be of the same mind.

1)  Discover God’s Purpose

In verses 4-6, Paul begins by recounting his pedigree, yet he counted it all loss for Christ. God’s purpose for us is to know Christ.

We see in verses 8-10 that Paul says he wants to,

• Gain Christ
• Be found in Christ
• Know Christ

Mark 8:36-37 – 36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?37 Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

“My concern about the Church is that Jesus is not enough.” – Pastor Billy Johnson

2)  Direct Our Pursuit

In verse 12, we see Paul saying that he presses on to that which Christ Jesus has laid hold of him. The questions is, what are you going after? What are you pursing? Who are you pursuing? Is Christ your pursuit.

3)  Determine My Priorities

Sometimes I realize my heart is not rightly prioritized. God I need you to prioritize my heart, so that you are the important thing; that there is no close second to you! In verse 13 and 14 we see Paul saying forget those things which are behind and reach for the call of God in Christ Jesus. What’s ahead of you? There is a destination in Christ.

“What you are trying to get apart from Him, is much better through Him.” – Pastor Billy Johnson

4)  Develop Your Practices

Once you’ve determined your purpose, pursuit, and priority, you have to change what you do. In verse 15, we see Paul saying to “have this mind.” And as we develop this mind, the way we process everyday situations will change.