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Zion Bread of Life Christian Church

Philippians 3:12-4:1 Live on the Earth as the People of the Kingdom of Heaven 腓立比書 3:12-4:1 在地上天上國民的生命

Wednesday, 21st February 2024

Rev Daniel Xi An Poon

Philippians 3:12-16 Forgetting the Past Pressing on Forward 忘記背後努力面前

“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.”

Once we received Jesus, it doesn’t mean the end, but like what Paul said, to strive to go forward. What are we striving for? The prize of the upward call of Jesus. We must know that we can become a Christian today, not because of a great worship, or a great preaching. We are all called and chosen to be the people of God, not by our own strength, and not by people’s help, but from above. Our Heavenly Father chose us, called us, and saved us.

So how do we press on forward? Paul said we must forget the past, the best strategy from the devil to drag us back is to attack us with the identity. The world looks at our birth, our hometown, where we are from… just like how the people attacked Jesus with where He was from, but Jesus knew who He is in the Kingdom of God. Do we know who we are? Do we believe the Words in the Bible? We are the chosen people, holy nation, royal priests, and children of God? When we believe in our identity, we will not be afraid, on the other hand, if we live in shame and fear, then we will have no motivation, we will be like dead bodies, and we will not be able to press on.

Jesus is with us, we don’t need to be afraid, He is with us, we can receive the glory together with Him. Paul taught us to forget the past and press on forward, only see the things that’s ahead, not just walking but running. Because when we walk, we will easy to turn back, so we must run, don’t let ourselves stay in the same place. Nobody knows when will be Jesus’ second coming, nobody know when will be their last day on the earth, therefore we must run, keep on pressing forward, and live out the life of Christ. We live by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, not by our own flesh desires.

Philippians 3:17-21 Wait Upon the Saviour Be Careful of the Enemy 等候救主慎防仇敵

“Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.”

Our lives are so important, we must live a truthful life, don’t be different people at work, at home, at church, on the stage, off the stage… people are learning from us, we are to disciple the nations, this is the instructions from Jesus. The disciples are looking at our lives, they learn from us, and we must be extra careful. Our lives are displayed in front of people. There are also people who bring others to them instead of bringing them to God. This is a problem, we should not let the people always come to us when they have problems, but to know God and go to God for their life problems.

Also some others use God to satisfy their own selfish desires. They would not see the glory of God and they will surely fail. We must be careful not to become these people, to stop people coming to God, and to put the worldly matters before God’s Will. Jesus’ second coming is for us to judge the world together with Him, we are God’s children, our identity is to judge the world together with Jesus. But if we don’t see our true identity, then we cannot hold onto the authority given to us. We must be careful and be alert, do not let the enemy comes to our lives and deceive us.

Philippians 4:1 Rejoice in the Lord, Stand Firm 靠主喜樂站立得穩

“Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.”

Joy comes from within, and when we have joy, people will draw near us and come closer to us. Only when our lives are aligned with God, then we can have true joy. If our lives only align with the things of the world then we cannot have joy and we cannot attract people to come close to us. God wants us to be joyful and to bear fruits. We are not to bear fruits by our own strength and desires, but by the Lord. Then we can live a life on earth as the people of the Kingdom of Heaven.