The ‘Knowing Jesus’ Equation What’s it Worth to You? The ‘Knowing Jesus’ Equation

Remember The gospel was the center of Paul’s life and the ‘north star’ of his life purpose; => he had great joy in and friendship with the Philippians because they shared that purpose with him.

Remember He was willing to embrace every circumstance God brought to him, including life or death, as long as the gospel was proclaimed and Christ was glorified!!

Remember Let the gospel shape your heart (interior attitudes life those of Christ) let it shape your life (outward actions of a disciple of Jesus). Philippians 2:12-16

Remember “The Gospel deserves to be the singular focus of our lives and the only reasonable response to the mandate of the gospel is discipleship” personal (following Jesus) lifestyle (helping others follow Jesus)].”

Remember Live as disciples; selfless and joyful and pure! Shining lights in the darkness of a world completely lost without the gospel. Their darkness – Isaiah 8:20-9:1a and 9:2 Our light ***Philippians 2:12-16a***

‘as for the rest’ Inward to Outward inward again

If that is your focus, your heart’s preoccupation, you will be FINE! “rejoice in the Lord” If that is your focus, your heart’s preoccupation, you will be FINE!

Watch out for those ‘dogs’ A false circumcision and a false gospel.

Circumcised by JESUS HIMSELF! True Circumcision Circumcised by JESUS HIMSELF! Worship by the Spirit of God (John 4) Glory in Christ Jesus Put no confidence in the flesh

Speaking of Confidence in the flesh Paul’s list of ‘credentials in the flesh’ What is your list?

Another way to Ask the Question When you are challenged or feel unworthy or insecure, afraid, where is your refuge? When you feel powerful or important or very effective, where is your strength?

Another way to Answer the Question What is it that you are appealing to, resting on IN YOUR HEART? Who are you appealing to? Who’s opinion is important to you?

What ‘System’ do we buy? These things may WELL have clout or importance in the world and its value system!!! They May be the way we ‘get things done’, get what we want or protect ourselves

The heart of the matter This is the essence of the danger that Paul is warning about – the danger to our hearts.

The heart of the matter IF we are fooled into buying the worlds answers or those of false religion, then they take us further from Jesus – we will know Him less, understand His love for us, His heart, His will, less and less.

The heart of the matter IF we only find our strength and safety and worth and hope in Jesus, if we turn our hearts toward Him when we need, then whatever we face will only take us TO Him, deeper into His heart for us, His love for us, His will for our lives.

It’s all about knowing Jesus The heart of the matter It’s all about knowing Jesus

What kind of value will you Place on knowing Jesus Better and better What’s it Worth to You? What kind of value will you Place on knowing Jesus Better and better

Profit and loss Spiritual Balance Sheet Profit (benefit) Loss (Detriment) World’s Assessment Christ’s Assessment Christ’s assessment World’s Assessment

Paul’s perspective About The past

About The present And always Paul’s perspective About The present And always

What does he want people who observe his life to see? Paul’s perspective What does he want people who observe his life to see?

Not having a righteousness of his own that comes from the law But only a righteousness that is through faith in Christ Righteousness that comes from God and is by faith!!!

All the fullness of the life of Christ in Paul To sum it up All the fullness of the life of Christ in Paul

To sum it up To personally and experientially know Jesus – deep relationship Nothing is worth Letting it get in the way of knowing Him

To sum it up His resurrection flowing through his life To have the power of His resurrection flowing through his life Able to live like Jesus by His power alone

To share the sufferings which Christ experienced in this world To sum it up To share the sufferings which Christ experienced in this world

To sum it up Becoming like Him in his death – living that denial of self, death to the self life which Jesus lived Jesus not only died on the cross, but his entire life on earth was one of self-emptying and living as blessing to others Philippians 2:5-11

the aroma of Christ to God What’s it Worth to You? To attain to the ‘out-resurrection’ from the dead living out the fragrance of Christ as one alive from the dead and living in the midst of those still dead spiritually (II Cor. 2:14-16;) the aroma of Christ to God The smell of death the fragrance of life

What kind of value will you Place on knowing Jesus Better and better What’s it Worth to You? What kind of value will you Place on knowing Jesus Better and better