Sermon Central
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Fullfillment In Christ
Contributed by James Powell on Dec 27, 2006 (message contributor)
Summary: Total Fullfillment is being totally filled with Christ.
One of the most challenging courses at the University of Denver was a business law class in which the professor gave difficult true & false tests. During one of the more exasperating exams, the professor noticed another student flipping a coin. The professor approached him. "Son are you guessing on this test?" he asked.
"No sir," replied the student. "I’m just checking my answers."
APPLY: There are people who seem to live their whole lives that way. They have no direction, no purpose, no goals. They live their lives by flipping coin, drifting along aimlessly in life.
Turn to Philippians 3:9-14
Php 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
Php 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
Php 3:11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
Php 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Php 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Php 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
The apostle cautions the Philippians against judaizing false teachers, and renounces his own former privileges. (1-11) Expresses earnest desire to be found in Christ; also his pressing on toward perfection; and recommends his own example to other believers. (12-21)
I want to approach the Subject of Satisfying Our Hunger
How hungry are you for a Heavenly Moving of God?
Hunger Defined - The discomfort, weakness, or pain caused by a prolonged lack of food; To have a strong desire or craving.
When is the last time you remember a moving of God, where you were afraid to move due to being afraid of quenching his spirit? Can you remember the time when you first came to know Christ and the joy you felt? Remember when you first got saved and had a hunger to follow anything God would tell you to do? Compare that to now, how does your desire for God compare? Do you really want a deep walk with God or do you like playing around the edge?
The way to quench a thirst for something is fulfill that desire with what you desire.
1. Being Found in Christ vs 9
2. Being fulfilled in Christ vs. 10
3. Being Focused on Christ vs. 13 -14
1. Being Found in Christ vs. 9
a. Php 3:9 And be found in him…that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
b. JWN - V. 9. And be found by God ingrafted in him, (ingrafted - to join together two living plant parts so that the whole grows as one.) not having my own righteousness, which is of the law-That merely outward righteousness prescribed by the law, and performed by my own strength.
c. But that inward righteousness which is through faith-Which can flow from no other fountain.
d. The righteousness which is from God-From his almighty Spirit, not by my own strength, but by faith alone.
e. Ro 10:3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
i. ACC - Not knowing God’s method of saving sinners, going about to establish their own righteousness-seeking to obtain their salvation by means of their own plan; they have not submitted
f. Isa 43:25 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.
g. Jeremiah 31:34 it says, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”
h. Php 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
i. Greg McDonald – “Emphasizes what Paul says in (v.7).”
Paul was saying “I will not live in the past. My reason for living is to be like Jesus, and whatever happened yesterday, good or bad, is now ancient history. I will live for Jesus today.”
One thing we can know for certain is this, “God never consults your past to determine your future.”
