3 For 1

OK. I missed three weeks at least in keeping up this blog. So I will now add three outlines to it and kind of make up for lost time. Time has actually been the shortage it seemed for the past three weeks.

These are messages from Philippians.

Phil. 3:1-14 - "...AND LIVE REJOICING EVERY DAY"

In these dark days before the return of our Lord, we can still live rejoicing every day.

1. FOUND IN HIM. This is the basis for all of our joy. It means that we are saved, "in Him". Ephesians 1 gives us al ist of all of the blessings that we have "in Him", as saved people. 2 Corinthians 5 makes it clear that we can be righteous only through His wonderful work on the cross. In order to have true joy, you must be found in Him, not having your own righteousness.

2. FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM. Some people were saved forty years ago, but have not continued to experience fellowship with the Lord on a daily basis. Therefore, there are many Christian people who are not experiencing the joy of their Christian faith. It is sad. Notice what Paul says in this passage about the all-consuming passion of His life, "That I may know him. . ." (v. 10). We will know Him through a daily fellowship with Him in His Word. We will know Him as we experience trials and sufferings in our lives. We will experience His tender care and learn more of what He experienced for us as we walk the dark valleys of life. The true key to fellowship is found in the phrase, "Being made conformable to his death." Only as we learn to die to self and allow His Holy Spirit to guide our lives can we experience His power in our daily lives.

3. FORGETTING. Most of us are not too thrilled about being forgetful, but this is where forgetfulness can be a blessing. We must forget the previous way of living. Instead of glorying in our sinful past and shameful practices, let us do some forgetting. Paul was forgetting the religious deadness that had been his life. Paul was forgetting the past hurts inflicted at times by those who should have loved him most, and whom he had served. Paul was forgetting his past successes and not living on faded glories. It is high time that many of us do some forgetting.

4. FOCUSING. Find out your purpose in life: glorifying the Lord! Make this the one "cause" that you live for. "I press toward the mark for the prize." There is a prize that awaits those who live for the glory of God. Look forward to your Heavenly investments and not so much toward your earthly investments. Our materialistic lifestyle has ruined the joy of many Christians. You cannot experience joy if all your living for is your 401K and retirement. Our real retirement is out of this world!

God bless you today!