April 28

Abound: Their End

Text

Beware the Enemies of the Cross

Philippians 3:17-19

English Standard Version (ESV)

¹⁷ Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. ¹⁸ For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. ¹⁹ Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.

Context
Abounding Love & Broken Hearts

Matthew 5:43-48

English Standard Version (ESV)

Love Your Enemies

⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I say to you,Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.⁴⁶ For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?⁴⁷ And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? ⁴⁸ You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Connect

Keep Your Eyes...

Pressing On

Pressing On

Philippians 3:12-16

Most Christians are looking for ways to have verbal agreement with what God says, as long as He allows us to stay land-locked. No risk...no threat...no change to what we have been doing.

Here is an attitude check.

Keep in mind what he's written about. Here are just a few highlights.
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Paul has set the stage. He's saying it's time to move ahead, press on, advancing the Father's plan and desires. The target is "the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

Let me give you some practical advice which comes from this message.

First, God's People Respect the Past, They don't live in it.

They forget (read: they don't get trapped in the events of the past) ie. An example is Eurodia and Syntyche.

There are always two kinds of people in the church:

1. Those who have Christ's mindset and want the best for others and
2. Others who want the best for themselves. Christianity for some is just a means of getting ahead in this world.

Some hang onto the hurts of the past and their ways of doing things, their idols either physical or mental. Hebrews 6:1 provides us an excellent transition here. What is it that you seem to want to retreat backwards to?

Some reach forward (1 Corinthians 9:24) They purposeful run. What has you reaching ahead? In contrast, all of our training motivates us to the upward call.

We need to remember what God has called us to do.

Secondly, Our Attitude reflects the Standard we have already set...

Consider Paul's insight in verse 15. If you have the right attitude and the right standard, simply put... "God will confirm it." If you don't, he will confirm that as well.

Luke 9:62, "No one after putting his hand to the plow and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God."

Our Calling:

• To be holy and blameless before him in love - Ephesians 1:4
• To be one with him and the Father - John 17:22
• To be one in spirit with God - 1 Corinthians 6:17
• Everything is going to be commenced and concluded in Christ Jesus - Ephesians 1:7-10

To elevate our standard is our calling. 

Whatever God is calling you to leave behind is nothing so dear as what he is calling you to do and to be.

Adopt Heaven's Peace

Revelation 21:1-3

English Standard Version (ESV)

The New Heaven and the New Earth

21 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. ² And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.³ And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.

Revelation 22:1-4

English Standard Version (ESV)

The River of Life

22 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb ² through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. ³ No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. ⁴ They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.

1 Corinthians 15:55

English Standard Version (ESV)

⁵⁵ “O death, where is your victory?
    O death, where is your sting?”

Revelation 22:5

English Standard Version (ESV)

⁵ And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

2 Corinthians 5:17-19

English Standard Version (ESV)

¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. ¹⁸ All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; ¹⁹ that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.