Thursday, 24th September 2026
Rev Xi An Poon
主題經文：「弟兄們，我還有話說，你們要靠主喜樂。」——腓立比書 3:1
引言
今天我們來到《腓立比書》第三章。在第二章裡，保羅一直帶我們去看一個人的心。他先把耶穌基督擺在我們面前，讓我們看見基督怎樣謙卑自己、順服父神，甚至順服至死，且死在十字架上；然後又把提摩太和以巴弗提放在教會面前，讓我們看見這樣的生命不是一個理論，而是真的可以活出來。
所以第二章所問的是：我的心到底像誰？
但是到了第三章，保羅好像再把問題帶深一層。如果我的心真的開始被基督改變，那麼接下來，我的生命會怎樣？我所倚靠的會不會改變？我所看重的會不會改變？我人生所追求的方向會不會改變？
所以保羅一開始就說：「弟兄們，我還有話說，你們要靠主喜樂。我把這話再寫給你們，於我並不為難，於你們卻是妥當。」——腓立比書 3:1
很特別，保羅是在被囚的處境裡講喜樂。而且他才剛剛說完「要靠主喜樂」，下一節馬上就說：「應當防備犬類，防備作惡的，防備妄自行割的。」——腓立比書 3:2
這就告訴我們，保羅所講的喜樂，絕對不是一種沒有問題、沒有壓力、沒有衝突的生活。相反，是在有壓力、有錯誤教導、有價值混亂的環境裡，仍然知道自己為甚麼喜樂。
今天這個世界也一直在教我們怎樣才會快樂。
只要我得到更多，我就會快樂；只要我做到自己想做的，我就會快樂；只要我達到自己的目標，我就會快樂；只要別人肯定我、看重我，我就會快樂。
所以世界所講的快樂，常常建立在：我得到了甚麼，我做到了甚麼，我證明了甚麼。
但保羅在第三章所講的，不是這一種喜樂。
因為他接下來整章，不是教我們怎樣得到更多，而是教我們：甚麼不要再倚靠，甚麼才是真正的至寶，我們這一生到底要往哪裡走。
所以今天我們思想的主題是：真正的喜樂。
真正的喜樂，不是所有事情都照着我的意思發展。
真正的喜樂是：當我的生命真正建立在基督裡，我的倚靠改變了，我的價值改變了，我人生的方向也改變了。
所以，如果我們要明白並活出這一份真正的喜樂，第一步，就是先分辨：我今天到底在靠甚麼？
一、真正的喜樂，從分辨我的倚靠開始
保羅接着很嚴肅地說：「應當防備犬類，防備作惡的，防備妄自行割的。」——腓立比書 3:2
當時有一些人認為，單單信靠基督還不夠，外邦信徒還需要接受割禮、遵守律法和宗教規條，才真正屬於神。
所以保羅立刻說：「因為真受割禮的，乃是我們這以神的靈敬拜、在基督耶穌裡誇口、不靠着肉體的。」——腓立比書 3:3
這裡有一句非常重要：「不靠着肉體。」甚麼叫靠肉體？
保羅接着就用自己作例子：「我第八天受割禮；我是以色列族、便雅憫支派的人，是希伯來人所生的希伯來人；就律法說，我是法利賽人；就熱心說，我是逼迫教會的；就律法上的義說，我是無可指摘的。」——腓立比書 3:5–6
換句話說，如果一個人真的可以靠背景、資格、宗教表現來到神面前，保羅甚麼都有。他的出身很好，他的宗教背景很好，他的熱心很強，他的表現也很好。
但保羅後來發現：這些東西都不能成為他真正的倚靠。
今天我們可能沒有保羅這些猶太人的宗教資格，但我們同樣很容易有自己的「肉體」。可能是我的能力；可能是我的經驗；可能是我的學歷；可能是我的經濟能力；可能是我的事奉；甚至可能是「我已經信主很多年」。
這些東西本身不一定有錯。
問題是：我有沒有開始靠它們？當我靠自己的能力，我就怕自己有一天失去能力。當我靠別人的肯定，我就很容易被別人的一句話影響。當我靠自己的表現，我做得好的時候就驕傲，做得不好的時候就灰心。
所以真正的喜樂，第一步不是得到更多，而是重新分辨：我真正的安全感到底建立在哪裡？
保羅說：「在基督耶穌裡誇口，不靠着肉體。」
真正的喜樂，不是我對自己越來越有把握，而是：我對基督越來越有把握。但是當我開始分辨甚麼不能成為我的倚靠，下一步就要重新認定：甚麼才是我生命真正的至寶？
二、真正的喜樂，是重新認定基督才是至寶
保羅說：「只是我先前以為與我有益的，我現在因基督都當作有損的。」——腓立比書 3:7
接着第八節說：「不但如此，我也將萬事當作有損的，因我以認識我主基督耶穌為至寶。」——腓立比書 3:8
保羅不是說，他從前所有的東西本身都是邪惡的。
真正改變的是：他的價值次序。
以前他以為自己的背景很重要，自己的資格很重要，自己的宗教表現很重要。
但是當他遇見基督之後，他明白：真正的至寶，不是我擁有甚麼，而是我得着了誰。
所以第九節非常重要：「並且得以在他裡面，不是有自己因律法而得的義，乃是有信基督的義，就是因信神而來的義。」——腓立比書 3:9
這裡不只是講價值觀。這裡是在講福音。保羅不是說：「我要努力成為一個更好的人，好讓神接納我。」
他說：我不再靠自己的義，我要在基督裡得着從神而來的義。所以基督徒生命的次序非常重要。
不是：我先努力追求基督，基督才接納我。而是：基督先接納我，我才開始一生追求祂。因此保羅接着說：「使我認識基督，曉得他復活的大能，並且曉得和他一同受苦，效法他的死，或者我也得以從死裡復活。」——腓立比書 3:10–11
保羅已經信主很多年，但他仍然說：「使我認識基督。」原來認識基督不是一次性的。不是我信主那一天認識了祂，然後就完成了。
而是：我已經屬於祂，所以我要一生更深地認識祂。而這個認識，不只是經歷祂「復活的大能」。
保羅也說：「和他一同受苦，效法他的死。」這一點非常重要。
如果我只是想要基督給我的祝福，卻不願意走基督所走的道路，那麼基督仍然沒有真正成為我的至寶。基督走過十字架，基督經過死亡，最後進入復活。
所以保羅說：我也願意跟着祂走。真正的喜樂，不是：「我終於得到所有我想要的。」
而是：我終於知道，就算很多東西會改變，基督仍然是我生命裡不能被拿走的至寶。
但當基督真正成為我的至寶，生命就不能只停在「我知道祂很重要」。
接下來，我要作一個選擇：我要把整個生命放在祂的方向裡，一生向着祂走下去。
三、真正的喜樂，是一生向着基督走到底
保羅說：「這不是說我已經得着了，已經完全了；我乃是竭力追求，或者可以得着基督耶穌所以得着我的。」——腓立比書 3:12
這句話非常重要。不是保羅先得着基督。而是：基督先得着保羅。所以保羅的追求，不是為了證明自己夠好。而是因為：基督已經得着他，所以他願意一生跟隨祂。
這就是福音生命的次序：恩典在前，追求在後。因為祂先愛我，所以我回應祂。因為祂先得着我，所以我願意一生跟隨祂。
所以保羅說：「弟兄們，我不是以為自己已經得着了；我只有一件事，就是忘記背後，努力面前的，向着標竿直跑，要得神在基督耶穌裡從上面召我來得的獎賞。」——腓立比書 3:13–14
這裡不是一句普通的勵志說話：「忘記過去，努力向前。」
保羅前面才剛剛講完自己那些可以誇口的背景和成就。所以「忘記背後」至少讓我們看見：他不再讓過去那些成就成為自己的倚靠。
同樣，我也不能一直活在過去。過去做得好，不能成為今天停下來的理由；過去做得不好，也不能成為今天不再向前的理由。
因為我的標竿不是我的過去。我的標竿是基督。但保羅也很實際。
他接着說：「然而，我們到了甚麼地步，就當照着甚麼地步行。」——腓立比書 3:16
這一句很重要。屬靈生命不是每天說很多很高的屬靈話語。
而是：神今天已經讓我明白甚麼，我就開始照着去行。如果神讓我看見我要饒恕，我就開始饒恕。如果神讓我看見我要改變自己的態度，我就開始改變。如果神讓我看見有些東西我一直緊緊抓住，我就開始學習放下。
成熟不是說：「我已經到了。」
成熟是：「我知道自己還沒有到，但我今天願意繼續走。」
所以保羅又說：「弟兄們，你們要一同效法我，也當留意看那些照我們榜樣行的人。」——腓立比書 3:17
基督徒不是一個人走這條路。我們需要看見那些真正照着基督道路生活的人，也要讓自己的生命成為別人可以看見的榜樣。
接着保羅很沉重地說：「因為有許多人行事是基督十字架的仇敵……他們的神就是自己的肚腹……專以地上的事為念。」——腓立比書 3:18–19
這裡讓我們看見，人生其實有兩個方向。
一個方向是：我想要甚麼，我就追求甚麼；我喜歡甚麼，我就滿足甚麼；我的人生最後全部圍着自己轉。
保羅說：「他們專以地上的事為念。」
但是另一個方向是：「我們卻是天上的國民，並且等候救主，就是主耶穌基督從天上降臨。」——腓立比書 3:20
這就是我們真正的身分。腓立比是一個羅馬殖民城，當時的人非常重視自己的羅馬公民身分。
但是保羅提醒教會：你們在地上生活，但你們最深的身分不是地上的。
我們是天上的國民。所以我們今天在地上工作、生活、照顧家庭、服事，但我們不能讓地上的事情成為人生最後的目的。因為我們還在等候一件更大的事。
保羅最後說：「他要按着那能叫萬有歸服自己的大能，將我們這卑賤的身體改變形狀，和他自己榮耀的身體相似。」——腓立比書 3:21
這就是第三章真正的終點。
第十節保羅說：「我要認識基督復活的大能。」
第十一節他說：「得以從死裡復活。」
到第二十一節，保羅再一次把我們的眼光帶到將來：有一天，基督要使我們與祂榮耀的身體相似。所以我們今天向着基督走，不是沒有終點的。我們的終點不是：「我今天比昨天好一點。」
我們真正的終點是：有一天，神要完全祂在我們生命裡所開始的工作，我們要進入基督復活的榮耀。
總結
所以今天我們再回到第一節：「弟兄們，我還有話說，你們要靠主喜樂。」——腓立比書 3:1
為甚麼保羅可以在這樣的處境裡仍然說「靠主喜樂」？因為真正的喜樂，不是所有事情都照着我們的意思發生，也不是我們終於得到自己想要的一切。
真正的喜樂是：我的倚靠不再是自己，而是基督；我的至寶不再是地上的東西，而是基督；我的人生不再只是追求今天得到甚麼，而是因為基督已經得着我，所以我一生向着祂走。
所以今天第三章帶我們一步一步走過來：
先分辨：我到底在靠甚麼？再重新認定：甚麼才是我生命真正的至寶？最後作出委身：既然基督已經得着我，我這一生就要向着祂走到底。
保羅從「不靠着肉體」，走到「以認識基督耶穌為至寶」，再走到「忘記背後，努力面前，向着標竿直跑」，最後提醒我們：「我們卻是天上的國民。」——腓立比書 3:20
所以真正的喜樂，不是我終於掌握了人生。
真正的喜樂是：我知道我屬於誰，我知道誰是我的至寶，我也知道我這一生要往哪裡去。
今天我們可以重新問自己：我真正倚靠的是甚麼？甚麼是我生命真正的至寶？我今天所走的方向，仍然是不是向着基督？
真正的喜樂是：基督已經得着了我。所以無論今天環境如何，我仍然可以靠主喜樂。因為祂是我的義，祂是我的至寶，祂是我的方向，也是我最終復活的盼望。
Key Verse “Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord!” — Philippians 3:1
Introduction
Today we are stepping into Philippians chapter 3. In chapter 2, Paul was leading us to look deep into a person’s heart. He set Jesus Christ right in front of us first, showing us how Christ humbled Himself, obeyed the Father—even to the point of death on a cross. Then he held up Timothy and Epaphroditus as living examples to the church, showing us that this kind of life isn’t just a nice theory; it can actually be lived out.
So the core question of chapter 2 was: Who does my heart actually look like? But coming into chapter 3, Paul takes the question a step deeper. If my heart is genuinely being changed by Christ, what happens to my life next? Will what I rely on start to change? Will what I value most start to change? Will the direction of my life change?
That’s why Paul kicks off with this: “Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.” — Philippians 3:1
It’s striking that Paul is talking about joy while locked up in prison. And right after he says “rejoice in the Lord,” the very next verse warns: “Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh.” — Philippians 3:2
This shows us straight off that the joy Paul speaks of is definitely not a life free of stress, problems, or conflict. On the contrary, it’s knowing why you have joy even when you’re right in the thick of pressure, false teaching, and confusing values. Our modern world is always trying to tell us how to be happy: “If I just get more, I’ll be happy.” “If I achieve what I want, I’ll be happy.” “If I hit my goals, I’ll be happy.” “If people notice and value me, I’ll be happy.”
The world’s idea of happiness is built on: What I get, What I achieve, What I prove. But the joy Paul unpacks in chapter 3 isn’t like that at all. Throughout this chapter, he isn’t teaching us how to get more stuff. He’s teaching us: What to stop relying on, What the ultimate prize really is, And where our lives are actually headed.
So our focus today is Real Joy. Real joy isn’t about everything going our way. Real joy happens when our lives are truly anchored in Christ—our source of trust shifts, our values reset, and the whole trajectory of our life changes.
If we want to understand and live out this real joy, the very first step is to sort out: What am I actually relying on today?
- Real Joy Starts with Sorting Out What We Rely On
Paul pulls no punches here: “Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh.” — Philippians 3:2
Back then, some people claimed that trusting Christ wasn’t enough on its own—that Gentile believers also had to be circumcised and follow the Law and religious rituals to truly belong to God.
Paul responds straight away: “For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh.” — Philippians 3:3
Notice this crucial phrase: “put no confidence in the flesh.” What does it mean to rely on the flesh? Paul uses his own background as an example: “…circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.” — Philippians 3:5–6
In other words, if anyone could rely on background, credentials, or religious performance to stand before God, Paul had it all. Great background, top-tier religious pedigree, intense zeal, and an impeccable track record.
Yet Paul realised later on: None of these things could be his true foundation.
We might not have Paul’s Jewish religious credentials today, but we easily build our own “flesh” to rely on: Our abilities, Our experience, Our qualifications, Our financial security, Our ministry roles, Or even just “I’ve been a Christian for years.”
These things aren’t necessarily wrong in themselves. The issue is: Have I started depending on them? When I rely on my own ability, I live in fear of losing it one day. When I rely on approval from others, a single comment can throw me off. When I rely on my performance, I get proud when things go well, and gutted when they don’t.
So the first step to real joy isn’t getting more, but stepping back and asking: Where is my true sense of security built?
Paul says we “boast in Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh.” Real joy doesn’t come from growing more confident in ourselves—it comes from growing more confident in Christ. Once we start discerning what can’t be our foundation, the next step is recognizing what is our ultimate prize.
2. Real Joy Is Recognizing Christ as the Ultimate Treasure
Paul writes: “But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.” — Philippians 3:7 And continuing in verse 8: “What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” — Philippians 3:8
Paul isn’t saying his past accomplishments were evil. What changed was his order of priorities. He used to think his pedigree, credentials, and religious performance were everything. But after encountering Christ, he realized that the ultimate treasure isn’t what you have, but who you have gained.
Verse 9 is essential: “…and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.” — Philippians 3:9
This isn’t just about values; this is the core of the Gospel. Paul isn’t saying, “I need to try harder to be a better person so God accepts me.” He’s saying, “I stop relying on my own righteousness, and I receive the righteousness that comes from God through faith in Christ.” The order matters enormously: It is not “I strive hard after Christ so He will accept me.” It is “Christ has accepted me, so now I spend my life seeking Him.”
That’s why Paul continues: “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.” — Philippians 3:10–11
Paul had been a believer for years, yet he still says: “I want to know Christ.” Knowing Christ isn’t a one-off event. It’s not something that ends the day we come to faith. Because we belong to Him, we spend the rest of our lives getting to know Him more deeply.
And this knowing isn’t just experiencing the “power of His resurrection.” Paul adds: “participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.” This is a vital point. If we only want Christ’s blessings but aren’t willing to walk the path He walked, then Christ hasn’t truly become our treasure yet. Christ went through the cross, passed through death, and entered into resurrection. So Paul says: “I am willing to walk that path with Him.”
Real joy isn’t “I finally got everything I wanted.” Real joy is “I finally know that even if everything else changes, Christ is the one treasure in my life that can never be taken away.” When Christ is truly our treasure, we can’t just stop at knowing He’s important. We need to make a choice: to orient our entire life in His direction and press on toward Him.
3. Real Joy Is Pressing On Toward Christ for a Lifetime
Paul says: “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” — Philippians 3:12
Notice the order here: It wasn’t Paul who took hold of Christ first. Christ took hold of Paul first. Paul’s pursuit isn’t about proving he’s good enough. Because Christ has already gripped his life, he willingly spends his life following Him. This is the order of the Gospel life: Grace comes first, pursuit follows. Because He first loved me, I respond.
Because He took hold of me, I follow Him with my life.
Paul continues: “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 3:13–14
This isn’t just generic motivational advice like “forget the past and push forward.” Paul had just listed all his past achievements. “Forgetting what is behind” means he refuses to let past successes become his current crutch or self-worth.
Likewise, we can’t live in the past. Past successes aren’t an excuse to coast today. Past failures aren’t an excuse to give up moving forward. Because our goal isn’t our past. Our goal is Christ. Paul is grounded and realistic. He adds: “Only let us live up to what we have already attained.” — Philippians 3:16
Spiritual maturity isn’t about using fancy spiritual language. It’s about putting into practice what God has already shown us today. If God shows us we need to forgive, we start forgiving. If God shows us we need to change our attitude, we start changing. If God shows us we’re gripping onto something too tightly, we start learning to let go. Maturity isn’t saying “I’ve arrived.” Maturity is saying, “I know I’m not there yet, but I’m willing to keep walking today.”
Paul continues: “Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.” — Philippians 3:17
We aren’t meant to walk this road alone. We need to look out for those living out Christ’s way, and let our own lives become an encouragement for others to see. Then Paul speaks with a heavy heart: “For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ… Their god is their stomach… Their mind is set on earthly things.” — Philippians 3:18–19
There are really two ways to live life:
- Self-centered: Chasing whatever I want, indulging whatever I feel like, making life all about me. Paul describes this as having their minds set on earthly things.
- Kingdom-focused: “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ…” — Philippians 3:20
This is our true identity. Philippi was a Roman colony, and locals were fiercely proud of their Roman citizenship. But Paul reminds the church: You live on earth, but your ultimate identity isn’t earthly. We are citizens of heaven.
We work, live, look after family, and serve here on earth, but we can’t let earthly things become our ultimate end goal—because we are waiting for something far greater.
Paul concludes: “…who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” — Philippians 3:21
This is the ultimate destination of chapter 3. In verse 10, Paul spoke of knowing the power of Christ’s resurrection. In verse 11, he spoke of attaining the resurrection. Here in verse 21, he points our eyes to the future: one day, Christ will transform us to be like His glorious body.
Pressing on toward Christ isn’t an endless, aimless grind. Our ultimate end isn’t just “being a slightly better version of myself than yesterday.” Our real destination is that God will finish the good work He began in us, and we will share in the glory of Christ’s resurrection.
Summary
Returning to verse 1: “Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord!” — Philippians 3:1
How could Paul talk about joy in a place like prison? Because real joy doesn’t depend on everything going our way, nor does it come from getting everything we ever wanted.
Real joy is when: My confidence is no longer in myself, but in Christ. My ultimate treasure isn’t earthly things, but Christ. My life isn’t just about what I can get today, but about walking with Christ for a lifetime because He has taken hold of me.
Chapter 3 walks us through these steps:
- Sort out: What am I actually relying on?
- Recognize: What is the true treasure of my life?
- Commit: Since Christ has taken hold of me, I will press on toward Him all the way.
Paul moves from “putting no confidence in the flesh” to “considering knowing Christ as surpassing worth,” to “forgetting what is behind and pressing on toward the goal,” and finally reminding us: “Our citizenship is in heaven.”
Real joy isn’t feeling like you finally have life under control. Real joy is knowing who you belong to, knowing what your ultimate treasure is, and knowing where your life is headed. We can ask ourselves today: What am I truly relying on? What is the real treasure of my life? Is the direction I’m walking today still heading toward Christ?
Real joy is found here: Christ has taken hold of me. Whatever our circumstances look like today, we can rejoice in the Lord—because He is our righteousness, He is our treasure, He is our direction, and He is our ultimate hope of resurrection.
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