Philippians 3:7-14 – Just Keep Swimming
Illustration: Dory encouraging Marlin to press on (from "Finding Nemo")
Perseverance is an important quality in the life of a Christian. (read verses on perseverance)
Perseverance comes from under going trials.
In fact, it brings life as it flows from pain and death.
Philippians 3:10-11 – resurrection power flows from suffering first
That is, life comes after death.
2 Cor.4:10-12 – His life is seen in us when we suffer.
There is no crown without a cross first.
To have Jesus’ life, we must share in Jesus’ death.
To have life, you must first die.
To have life flow from our prayers, we must first die to ourselves.
Prayer is work.
Sometimes it’s uncomfortable and inconvenient.
But it’s part f pressing on and dying out to yourself.
To get saved, you must first say “no” to yourself.
To continue to grow (gain life),
you must continue to say no (die to yourself).
Jesus said in John 12 – life comes from death.
First you plant and watch the seed “die”.
But at the proper time, it becomes alive, and blesses others too.
