Good evening to everyone. Let's begin our worship now by turning in our Bibles to Psalm 84. Our call to worship is from Psalm 84, beginning at verse 8. Psalm 84:8. This is the word of God. Oh Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer. Give ear, oh God of Jacob, say la. Oh God, behold our shield and look upon the face of your anointed. For a day in your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the Lord God is a son and shield. The Lord will give grace and glory. No good thing will he withhold from those who walk uprightly. Oh Lord of hosts, blessed is the man who trusts in you. Amen. >> Amen. >> Our first hymn will be Psalm 150C. Psalm 150C. Let's stand together. Single. [music] Praise the [singing] Lord. Praise God [music] for his sacred [singing] voice. Hallelu. Hallelu. [music] Praise. Praise him in his hand. [music and singing] Praise praise him for his deeds are high. [music] All praise [singing] him. All [music] praise him. Hallelu. [music] Hallelu. Hallelu. [music] Praise [music] God whose majesty abounds. Oh, praise him with your [music and singing] trumpet sound. Hallelu. [music] Hallelu. Praise [music] the Led [music] with glory. [music] All praise him. All [music] praise him. [singing] Hallelu. [music] Hallelu. [singing] Hallelujah. >> [music] >> This shall be [music] praise [singing] the Lord with crashing symbles. Praise [music and singing] the Lord. Hallelu. Hallelu. [music] >> [music] >> Let all that praise shall praise the Lord. Oh, praise [music and singing] the Lord forever more. All praise him. [music] All praise [singing] him. Hallelu. [music] Hallelu. Hallelujah. >> [music] >> Let's go to God in prayer. Let's pray. God, we thank you for this Lord's Day evening now, this time of worship that we can gather together as the saints of Christ for the worship of our great God. And we would do we would pray again that you'd help us by your spirit to worship you a right. We long to be those worshippers who do worship in spirit and in truth. And we do just pray that you'd help us in that this evening. We thank you for your word that we can hold in our hands that we can avail of the revelation of the triune God uh to the sons of men and that that revelation points to salvation by so great a savior, very God and very man, yet one Christ and the only mediator between God and man. And we do pray that you'd help us to rejoice in you this evening, to rejoice in our savior, to sing the praises of free and victorious grace. We thank you for that grace extended to us in the gospel of Jesus Christ our savior. We thank you for his the perfection of his life, death, the glory of his resurrection, the majesty of his current session where he lives to intercede, where he lives to to g up his saints and to rule uh overall for the good of his church. We do pray God that you would help us in each of these elements of worship, as we sing hymns to you, as we read the scriptures as we pray and as we engage in that central act, the preaching of your word. Do help us by your spirit to to worship you a right. We would pray for the persecuted church. Lord, we think of our brothers and sisters who uh endure such hostility for the cause of Christ. We do just pray that you'd help them and be near to them. you'd cause them to know the God of all comfort, the one that's on their side. We do pray that you'd strengthen them, give them your spirit uh to endure, to hold fast the the the the glory of their calling and help them to lean on you. Help them to be looking to Christ with those eyes of faith and finding in him their strength and and and their courage in all things. And we would pray for those who persecute them. We pray God that you would cause them by the Holy Spirit, by the word proclaimed uh to be turned from the worshippers of idols to the worshippers of the one and only living and true God. That you would by amazing grace save them and cause them uh to be uh no longer your enemies, but those who are the friends of the people of God, being uh being saints themselves. We do pray for that mighty work of salvation. And we pray once again, Lord, for those who remain in opposition to you and reprobate unbelief that you would cause such as who presently persecute the church of the living Christ to be taken out of the way that they would not bring violence upon the church of Christ. And we do just pray God for the the proclamation of the gospel throughout the world uh in here in the west, in the east, every nation under heaven. Lord, we do pray for the advance of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We do just pray, Lord, that you'd be with uh those who are with child. We thank you for these blessed gifts of children. We pray for mothers. We pray for babies in the womb. We pray for fathers as well. We do just pray for good health, for strength, and uh that in due time all of these would be brought forth uh to great rejoicing. And we pray for all of our young ones, Lord, that uh in due time and and Lord God, at an early age, we would pray that each and every one of our uh young people in our midst would uh own the name of their creator, that they would rejoice in our redeemer. And uh at a young age, you would bring them forth from the darkness of sin to life in Christ. And we pray that even this evening as the preaching of the word uh goes out from this pulpit that those uh who are in our midst both young and old who are outside of Christ would by the power of the Holy Spirit and uh by the that word proclaimed own the savior of men. We do pray Lord God that you continue with us then by your spirit help us to acknowledge that the Lord Jesus Christ walks amongst this lampstand. And we pray that we would lift our praises, that we would lift our voices, and that we would lift our souls up to you, that you might be the recipient of all honor and praise in this place. And we pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our savior. Amen. >> Amen. >> Let's stand and sing another hymn as a gathered church. This time 403. Let's stand and sing 403. >> [music] >> of [music and singing] the are city of our God. [music] He is worth a he [music] for his own [music] [music] shound. [singing] [singing and music] How is my land all my see the streams of [music] living waters free eternal love [singing and music] thy sons and daughterers and all of Through [music] the faithful such [singing] [music] praise [music] [singing] [music] to [music] criter See the power and power [music] of [singing] for [singing] so we have [music] the Lord is near [music and singing] [music and singing] by and shame I save We are [music and singing] all his gent. [music] [music] [music and singing] Let the world be your redee. [music and singing] I will glory in my name. [music] He is the worldly pleasure. All his [music] proje [music] [singing] [music] [music] in your Bibles with me to the Old Testament, 1st Samuel, chapter 1. 1st Samuel chapter 1. We'll begin reading at verse 19 to the end of the chapter. 1st Samuel 1:19. Once again, the word of God. Then they rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord and returned and came to their house at Rama. And Elcana knew Hannah his wife and the Lord remembered her. So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son and called his name Samuel, saying, "Because I have asked for him from the Lord." Now the man Elena and his in all his house went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and his vow. But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, "Not until the child is weaned. Then I will take him that he may appear before the Lord and remain there forever." So Elena her husband said to her, "D do what seems best to you. Wait until you have weaned him. Only let the Lord establish his word." Then the woman stayed and nursed her son until she had weaned him. Now when she had weaned him, she took him up with her with three bowls and one epha of flour and a skin of wine and brought him to the house of the Lord in Shiloh. And the and the child was young. Then they slaughtered a bull and brought the child to Eli. And she said, "Oh my Lord, as your soul lives, my Lord, I am the woman who stood by you here praying to the Lord. For this child, I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition, which I asked of him. Therefore, I also have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he shall be lent to the Lord." So, they worshiped the Lord there. Amen. Well, let us pray. God, we thank you for this reading of Holy Scripture. We thank you. As we read along uh through the Old Testament, uh we read the Lord our God bringing by farther steps that promise forward to the Lord Jesus Christ, to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, the continuation of that promise that the seed of the woman would crush the head of the serpent. And we thank you for uh for this uh initial account of Samuel. We thank you for uh the reality that he was lent to the Lord, that he was set aside unto the service of the Lord God Almighty. We thank you Lord God as this serves even as a picture of the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ as one uh who was sent from God in order to be of that service and of that highest service as a prophet, priest and king, the one who would give himself for guilty sinners. Do help us as we continue in worship. Help us, Lord God, to recognize your glory, your majesty as one who is worthy of all honor and praise and help us to have blessed reflections upon the doing and the dying and the rising again of the son of God incarnated. And we pray in his precious name. Amen. >> Amen. >> Let's sing our final hymn before the preaching, which is 476. Let's stand and sing 476 together. >> [music] [music] >> My [singing] river [music] my [singing] way and sorrows [music] my sea will [singing] flow. Whatever my [singing and music] heart, how me to say it [music] is well. It is well with my soul. [music] It is well. With my soul. [music] My soul. It is well. [music] It is well with my soul. All soul [music] [music] [music] and Christ has [singing] my helpless [music] and shed his [music] blood for my soul. It is [music] well with my [music and singing] soul. It [music] is well. It is well with my soul. I [singing and music] see all the blous [music] [singing] [music] to the [singing] cross and I bear [music] it no more. Praise the [singing] Lord. Praise [music] the Lord, oh my soul. It is [singing] well. [music] With my soul, my soul. [music] It is [singing] well. It is well [music] with my soul. Lord is the day [music] when my name shall be. The clouds [music] be [singing] as a [singing] shall resound [music] and the Lord shall stand even so [music] well with my soul. It [music] is well [music] with my soul. With my soul. It is well. It is well [music] with my soul. [music] Well, please turn with me your Bibles to Philippians chapter 3. Continue to work our way through Paul's letter to the church in Philippi, one of the prison epistles. Book of Acts ends with Paul in prison in Acts or in Acts 28, specifically in AD60-62. While he's there, he writes Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Phileiman. So he's in prison as he writes to the saints in Philippi. I'll read the chapter and then our focus will be just one verse this evening. Verse 17. And I'll explain why in a moment. Beginning in verse one. Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe. Beware of dogs. Beware of evil workers. Beware of the mutilation. For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so, circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews, concerning the law, a Pharisee, concerning zeal, persecuting the church, concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gained to me? These I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. For whom I have suffered the loss of all things. and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having my own righteousness which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith, that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death, if by any means I may attain to the resurrection from the dead, 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 re will reveal even that 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. 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 tr 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. Amen. Well, let us pray. Our father in heaven, we thank you for the written word of the living and true God. We thank you for what we have here in Philippians chapter 3. We thank you for that righteousness that comes freely from you to us received by faith. And we pray that you would help us to live in light of that. Help us to follow well the examples set forth by the Apostle Paul and other brothers and the scriptures and uh brethren and and and and church members around us and give us grace Lord God in the perseverance that we have ahead of us to be faithful to glorify to honor and to praise you and to do so in light of that great redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ. So God forgive us now for our sins our remaining corruption. We pray that you would send your spirit to guide and direct and lead us. We pray for any that are dead in their trespasses and sins that you would awaken them, that you would convict them, that you would show them Christ as that one alone in whom there is forgiveness and a righteousness. And we ask this in Jesus name. Amen. Well, as I said, our focus will be simply on verse 17. Structurally, it's a pretty simple section. Basically, you have the necessity of faithful examples set forth in verse 17 and then the reasons for such examples in verses 18 to 21. So in 18 and 19 there's a an abundance of bad examples. So he calls us to follow his example and others example because there are many who walk that are enemies of the cross of Christ. We want to avoid their conduct. But then as well the possession of kingdom citizen citizenship in verses 20 and 21. So in terms of just focusing on verse 17, it occurs to me that we live in a day and age where oftent times people and oftentimes young people are looking for examples. In fact, there's an industry based on that even now called the influencer. And as I've gotten older, I've wondered if my parents complained about the younger generation the way that I do. And I'm going to confess that some of this is probably a complaint. The idea that somebody can live on YouTube and make millions of dollars a year is truly baffling. But it does show that in the grand mass of people out there, they're looking for direction. They're looking for help. They're looking for influencers to set forth examples for them that they may follow. And I think that's the ethos of the Apostle Paul in this particular section. Remember it's a PMIC section. Initially he's condemning Judaizers. He says beware of dogs. Beware of evil workers. Beware of the mutilation. And then he says we are the true circumcision. We worship God in the spirit. We rejoice or boast in Christ Jesus having no confidence in the flesh. And then he says of himself in verse four, if ever there was a man who could have confidence in the flesh, and what he means is acceptance with God, it would have been the Apostle Paul. And then he highlights what he was prior to his conversion in verses 5 and six. And then he mentions what happened to him on the road to Damascus in verses seven and 8. There was a great contrast. The things that at one time he valued and prized, he now counted as dumb. everything was lost for the excellence of Christ Jesus my Lord. He shows or explains why that was the case in verse 9 through justification by faith alone. And justification necessarily is followed by sanctification and glorification in verses 10 and 11. But as well wedged in between justification or rather sanctification and glorification is perseverance. Perseverance of the saints. And he indicates that specifically in verse 12. Not that I've 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. So, justification, sanctification, the perseverance of the saints, glorification. Now in verse 17 he gets very practical in terms of encouraging his readers his uh the church in Philippi and he gives them himself as an example but not just himself but others within the context of the local church. So I want to look first at the example of the apostle Paul in the first part of verse 17 and then secondly the example of other faithful Christians in verse 17b. But with reference to his own example, he first exhorts them. Notice in verse 17, "Brethren, join in following my example." Now, there's an obvious contrast because he doesn't want people to follow his example that he's already alluded to with reference to his preconversion life. He doesn't want you to be the sort of 4 through six kind of person that has confidence in the flesh that thinks based on their ethnicity, based on their tribal uh connection, based on their their their relationship to the law, based on their zeal in persecuting the church. He doesn't call upon people to be examples that way. He doesn't want you to think that you have acceptance with God by virtue of the confidence of your own flesh. But here now as a man of God, as a persevering saint, as one justified freely by God's grace, as one being sanctified by the spirit, and as one in route to heaven or glory to come, he says, "Brethren, join in following my example." John Gill says, "Not that the apostle set up himself as the head of a party, which is what he always blamed in others. He did not assume a dominion over the faith of men or seek to lord it over God's heritage. Nor did he desire any to be followers of him any further than he was a follower of Christ and in what he was whether in doctrine or practice. He desires to be followed in. I think that gets at the text. I think that's the exposition. I think that's the unfolding of what's in view here. Join in following my example. In other words, if Paul had YouTube and he would have been an influencer, he would have said, "Look at me and my doctrine and my practice." I don't think Paul would have done that. In fact, I'm going to argue later that when it comes to examples, I would say beware of the one who parades themsself as an example because humility is part and parcel of a good example. And if somebody has I'm an example.com as their YouTube page, then it probably is safe to say that they've got a problem with reference to humility. But as far as his example is concerned, I want to look at a few things. First, the example of his conversion. The example of his conversion, not the road to Damascus recorded for us in Acts chapter 9. That was unique. That was unique in redemptive history. We're not going to be walking down the street and have Jesus appear to us and ask the question, "Who are you, Lord?" and Jesus say, "I am Jesus whom you are persecuted." But in terms of the theology of his conversion, in terms of the the the doctrinal and experiential emphasis, we noted uh we know notice specifically in verse six uh uh verse four rather his bankruptcy before God. He understood by way of contrast what he was did not commend him to God. So he had a proper understanding of that sinfulness, a proper understanding of that wewardness, the recognition of the excellency of Christ Jesus. verses 7 and 8. All things are loss for the Apostle Paul in view of not knowing Jesus Christ as Lord. In fact, he would count things as done so that he might know or gain Christ. The affirmation of justification by faith alone. Join in following Paul's example by affirming not just doctrinally but experientially the truth that by God's grace those who believe the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ are justified. that is they are forgiven of their sins. They receive a righteousness. It is imputed to us. It's received by faith alone. That is absolutely crucial. You don't get Paul's sanctification. You don't get Paul's perseverance without Paul's justification. And that is always the beginning point. That is always the starting point. Yes, a recognition of our bankruptcy. Yes, an understanding of our sin and misery. And then that recognition that Christ alone is the altogether lovely, the chief among 10,000, the one in whom alone there is forgiveness and that righteousness. You don't get sanctification and glorification without verse 9, justification. This ought to be all of our confession and be found in him positionally, not having my own righteousness which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith. For those of us who have been justified freely by God's grace, we join in following Paul's example by confessing the doctrine that he took pains to make clear. The book of Romans and the book of Galatians are wonderful expositions of the doctrine of justification by faith alone. If you are not a believer here tonight, let me tell you that verse 9 is the answer for your sin problem. Verse 9 is what you desperately need. You don't need your own righteousness because you have not, but rather you need desperately that righteousness which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith. So believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved. That's the case for everyone in here that is actually heaven bound. Those being sanctified, those persevering by God's grace, those who will be glorified. It's not because we're smart. It's not because we're wise. It's not because we're good. It's not because we chocked up a bunch of righteousness units that we can present to God on that great day. It is because by God's grace, he showed us our sin and he showed us the savior. He showed us that one who is prophet, priest, and king. He showed us Christ, the mediator, and by grace, we have tasted and seen that he is good. So there's no sanctification, there's no perseverance, there is no glorification without a verse 9 justification. And then we have his life as a believer. His life as a believer again he is not I am an example.com Paul but rather he does exemplify what the Christian life looks like in the pages of the New Testament. I think there's a general principle that that Solomon uh sets forth in Proverbs 277:17. As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. I'd suggest that familiar friendship with the Apostle Paul in the pages of holy scripture will do your soul well. Iron sharpens iron. The Apostle Paul has the ability to do that because by the spirit of God, he penned a lot of the New Testament scriptures. Familiarity with Paul's epistles, familiarity with Paul's life in the book of Acts is going to be a sharpening influence upon your life. Much better, dare I say, than some of the influencers populating Instagram and YouTube. In terms of the particulars, go back to 1 Corinthians 11. Probably one of the most familiar passages where we see something obvious and something that is uh consistent with 3:17 in Philippians. Notice in 11:1, imitate me just as I also imitate Christ. Now, obviously Christ is the supreme example. Obviously, we follow the lamb wherever he goes. But in so far as we have human assistance to show us the way, we ought to follow. He says, "Imitate me just as I also imitate Christ." back in 1 Corinthians chapter 4. 1 Corinthians chapter 4, specifically at verse 14. I do not write these things to shame you. But as my beloved children, I warn you. For though you might have 10,000 instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, I have begotten you through the gospel. Therefore, I urge you, imitate me. For this reason, I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ as I teach everywhere and in every church. So, as Gil says, nor did he desire any to be followers of him any further than he was a follower of Christ. That's the emphasis in so far as the Apostle Paul sets forth a faithful example of following Jesus. The Apostle Paul functions as a faithful example for us to follow Jesus. That's the emphasis in Philippians 3:17. I would suggest thirdly, the example of his ministry. We've got his conversion. We've got his life as a believer, but specifically his ministry. Turn to Acts 20. Acts chapter 20. Very important for us as we enter into a new phase in the life of our church. Perhaps a transition. Well, definitely a transition phase. We saw Jesus' emphasis in John 21 in the restoration of Simon Peter. He does it three times with the backdrop of Simon Peter's denial of the Lord three ch times. Simon Peter, do you love me? Yes, Lord. You know that I love you. Well, feed my lambs. He said to again a second time, do do you love me? Well, Lord, of course you you know that I love you. Tend my sheep. And then he said a third time, Simon Peter, do you love me? And now Peter's grieved not because of the different choice of words used. I tried to explain that's not the issue. He's grieved because he asked him three times, Lord, you know all things. You know that I love you. What does Jesus say? Feed my sheep. So the emphasis on the mission of the church in 21 1-14 in John's gospel. The mission or the ministry, the ministers in the church in verses 15 to 19. Simon Peter is to feed the flock. Paul got the memo. Paul got the instruction. Paul understood all too well the contours of pastoral ministry. For in this first pastor's conference, he addresses the elders in Ephesus or the E uh elders from Ephesus. Notice in verse 17, from Myitus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church. We're in Acts 20. And then there are several things that he says. as I don't want to be here all night with just this, but notice his doctrine in verse 21. Testifying to Jews and also to Greeks repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. Now, if you comb through the New Testament epistles, the ones written by the Apostle Paul, you'll note that there's a lot of things that he does address. He deals with husband wife relationships. He does deal with parent child relationships. He deals with childto parent relationships. He deals with the place of employees. Deals with the place of civil government. deals with a whole host of things. Christian liberty. What's the primary emphasis in the life and ministry of the apostle Paul? I determine to know nothing among you except Christ Jesus and him crucified. So as he's addressing these Ephesian elders in my leadus, he gives them that emphasis in terms of his doctrine testifying to Jews and also to Greeks repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. In other words, the gospel, whatever else a man must preach in sc in terms of scripture and I think the whole council of God, there must be a heavy emphasis on the gospel. That's the job to make known Jesus Christ. Go therefore make disciples of all the nations. Baptize those disciples. Teach those disciples to observe all things that I have commanded you. Go out and fish. How do you fish? You preach the gospel to them. But as well with reference to the saints of Christ, they don't need weekly to be scolded. They don't need weekly to be lambasted. They don't need weekly to be heranged. They need weekly to be reminded of chapter 3 in Philippians verse 9 and the glorious truth of justification by faith alone because that's the foundation upon which true sanctification will proceed. Paul says that in Romans 6, reckon yourself to be dead to sin and alive in Christ Jesus. It's based on that reality, the fact of our forgiveness and our uh receiving a righteousness that we then do not present our members as instruments of unrighteousness. For Paul, the gospel was central. Notice as well his commitment in verse 24. But none of these things move me. Well, verse 23, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. But none of these things move me, nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. That's commitment. The Holy Spirit testified that in every city chains and tribulations await him. What does he do? Does he go on holidays? Does he go on vacation? Does he say, "Well, I'm going to resign. I'm going to go be a plumber. I They make good money. They get good time off. I'm going to pursue something. No, he's committed to the task at hand. Why? Because he's given over to preaching Christ and him crucified. The man has commitment. Notice his conscience in verses 26 and 27. Verse 26, therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men, for I have not shunned to declare to you the whole council of God. He says something similar. We see something similar in Acts 18:6. But the backdrop is Ezekiel the prophet chapter 3 and chapter 33. What does God say to that son of man? If you don't warn them, I will require their blood at your hands. But if you warn them, there is no such requirement. So the apostle has a clear conscience. Why? Because of the things we've already seen. He's single focused. He's about feeding sheep and he's about preaching that truth that is most necessary for the sheep of Christ. Notice his exhortation to the elders in verse 28. Other words, when you want to know what a man thinks is important, listen to what he tells others is important. Therefore, take heed to yourselves and to all the flock among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to shepherd the church of God which he purchased with his own blood. Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock. shepherd the church of God. It's exactly John 21:15-19. Tend my or feed my lambs, tend my sheep, feed my sheep. The apostle had that conviction in terms of his pastoral or apostolic ministry. But then as well, notice his perseverance there. We can turn to 1 Corinthians 9. Not that we don't see it there in Acts 20:24, but notice in 1 Corinthians chapter 9, specifically in verse 24. Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it, and everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore, I run thus, not with uncertainty. Thus I fight, not as one who beats the air, but I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. The brother persevered. We see it on the pages of scripture. So that when we get to Philippians 3:17 and he says, "Brethren, join in following my example." We shouldn't scratch our heads and say, "I wonder what he's talking about." Of course, we know what he's talking about. Proven faithfulness along the way. I would suggest as well with reference to that example set forth by the Apostle Paul is something our generation desperately needs as well is courage. Courage and boldness. He's already called upon the church of Christ here in Philippi to have something of that. Notice in chapter 2 at verse 15, that you may become blameless and harmless children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain or labored in vain. The Apostle Paul had courage and he expected the churches to have courage as well. You're to shine as a light. You're to hold forth the word of truth. You're not supposed to shrink back. You're not supposed to compromise. You're not supposed to rethink sexual ethics. You're not supposed to rethink the various cultural uh influences within the church. You're not supposed to rethink things. You're simply supposed to obey God and hold forth his word to a lost and dying world. Paul's courage is seen in his preaching in the book of Acts, Jewish synagogues. Remember, the Jews were not friendly to Jesus at all. In fact, Jesus promised in John 15:18 to John 16:4 that if the world hated you, it's going to hate if it hated me, it's going to hate you also. The master servant paradigm, if they can't stand and despise and destroy the master, they're going to come after the servants. He's speaking specifically of unbelieving Jews because in chapter 16 he says they'll they'll cast you out of the synagogue. They'll kill you thinking they do service to God. That is what the Apostle Paul experienced in the book of Acts when he would go to Jewish synagogues. You've got them in Damascus in Acts 9, Solomus in Acts 13, Pacidian Antioch in Acts 13, Iconium in Acts 14, Thessalonica in Acts 17, Berea in Acts 17, Athens in Acts 17, Corinth and Ephesus in Acts 18. He would go to the synagogues and there he would preach Jesus as the Christ to unbelieving Jews. He would preach Jesus as the Christ to God-fearing Gentiles. He would call sinners to repentance and faith. Turn back to Acts 13 for one sample of this. Acts chapter 13, just to see something of the opposition that the Apostle Paul received and how nevertheless courageously he continued forth. This didn't sideline him. This didn't sidetrack him. This didn't cause him to shift careers, but rather he continued steadfastly. Notice in Acts 13, this is after preaching in Pacidian Antioch. Verse 42. So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. Always love that. The Gentiles are begging to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Jews by and large reject it, resist it, despise and disdain him. The Gentiles are begging that they may hear the word of God. Brethren, do we beg to hear the word of God? We have the prevalency of the or the prevalence of the word of God in terms of public means of grace. We got, you know, all kinds of resources, all kinds of means. Maybe it's become old hat to us and we don't value it and prize it as these Gentiles in Pacidian Antioch. It's an incredible statement. They begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. Verse 43. Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout procelites followed Paul and Barnabas who speaking to them persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. Note verse 44. On the next Sabbath, almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. When's the last time you read of that in Canada? When's the last time you read of that in USA? When's the last time you read of that anywhere? This is what revival looks like. This is what awakening looks like. When people desire the word of God, when people crave the word of God, it's a beautiful statement. On the next Sabbath, almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. The preaching of the Apostle Paul with reference to redemptive history, that's what he does in Acts uh Pacidian Antioch and how it terminates or rather uh uh culminates in the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. People begged for that. People changed schedules for that. People went to synagogue for that or wherever the people of God were assembled. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy and contradicting and blasphemy and opposed the things they oppose the things spoken by Paul. Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, "It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first. But since you reject it and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us. I have set you as a light to the Gentiles that you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth. So he invokes the prophet Isaiah in one of the servant songs of Isaiah specifically applicable to our Lord Jesus and by extension to the apostolic ministry and preaching the Lord Jesus. It's beautiful. Isaiah 496426. Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad glorified the word of the Lord and as many as had believe uh been appointed to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all that all the region. But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and expelled them from their region. But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and came to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. Paul didn't get turned off course because of a bit of opposition. Paul didn't get turned off course because a few people didn't like him. Paul persevered courageously to the bitter end. Come what may. Notice Iconium. Verse 1 14. Now it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews. And so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren. Therefore, they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. But the multitude of the city was divided, part sided with the Jews, part with the apostles. And when a violent attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews with their rulers to abuse and stone them, they became aware of it and fled to Lististra and Derby, cities of Lyonia, and to the surrounding region. And they were preaching the gospel there. Again, not one whiff of this passivity that is often manifested when people are afraid. Paul courageously stood up. I would suggest his preaching in pagan contexts. We won't continue, but in Lististra initially, they're not favorably responded to. What about the Aropagus in Acts chapter 17? Same sort of a situation. I mean, no violence broke out. Nobody was throwing stones or dead cats at him, but it nevertheless took courage for him to go before the stoic and Epicurian philosophers and preach Jesus in the resurrection. Brethren, if we're going to follow Paul and ex uh join in following his example, part and parcel of that is courage, the boldness to hold forth the word of truth, the boldness to shine his lights in a crooked and perverse generation. His confrontation as well with other believers. Acts 15 records where Paul and Barnabas come to not blows, but they they part ways. What about Galatians 2? You know, Peter was sending the wrong message relative to the gospel. So, I bit my lip because I didn't want to cause any waves. No, I rebuked him to his face. These confrontations don't demonstrate a narcissistic man bent on his own way. They rather demonstrate a man committed to courageously standing up even to those within his own camp that would compromise certain doctrinal realities and and Paul would navigate the truth or to the truth. And then we've already looked at this so we won't spend a lot of time here. I would suggest fourthly under the example of Paul conversion believer ministry his suffering. the example of his suffering. If you want to look at this later, 2 Corinthians 11 pretty much sums it all up, but it's all over. It's all over the place. Acts 23. What happens to those who oppose the Apostle Paul or with those who oppose the Apostle Paul? They take an oath. They swear they're not going to eat or drink until they kill Paul. What about Acts 22? After Paul preaches to the Jews that there's mercy for the Gentiles, there's outrage and then the Romans come and beat Paul. Go figure. [laughter] Go figure. They beat Paul. That's when Paul invokes his Roman citizenship. Oh, you're going to just beat a Roman citizen. You think that's somehow okay? I don't think he probably said it that cheekily, but nevertheless, that's what he does. Paul the Apostle suffered for the cause of God and truth. So when he says, "Brethren," Philippians 3:17, "Join in following my example, it can't be peacemail meal. It can't be just a bit." Well, I really like that kind when he stands up at the Aropagus and he puts those stoic and Epicurian philosophers, you know, uh uh uh down in terms of philh philosophy and theology. No, it it's all of Paul. He followed Christ. He followed him earnestly. He persevered. Imitate me as I imitate him. Brethren, it's not just selective. Well, I I kind of like what Paul has in terms of justification by faith. Verse 9, I'm going to confess that. I'm going to own it. I'm going to receive it. And praise God, you should receive it. Everybody should come to the Savior. Everybody should look to the Lord Jesus Christ and live. But upon justification, there's sanctification, there's perseverance, there's glorification. And brethren, it's God at work in us both to will and to do according to his good pleasure. But it is us getting up. It is us being faithful. It is us being courageous. It is us suffering if called upon with reference to our commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ. We don't just pick and choose. Well, I really like the Paul that's out there, you know, blasting away the pagans with gospel truth. I like that Paul, too. But we sometimes need to be the Paul in Galatians 2 and rebuke a brother to his face because he's misleading others about the nature of the gospel. We don't like that Paul as much or we don't like it enough to be that. We'll just let a lot of things slide. Paul didn't let things slide. Well, he let a lot of things slide actually. Compare first Corinthians and Galatians. First Corinthians, I mean, he he over, you know, flows with his love and the greetings to the Corinthians. And the Corinthian church was a mess. Sanctification wise, it was a mess. Galatians quick greeting. And then I'm amazed. I'm amazed that you were so quickly turning from him who called you in the gospel to another gospel, which is not a gospel. So the apostle Paul took his stand when he needed to but he was very gracious with others. So the example of Paul 17a and the example of other faithful Christians. Notice in 17b brethren join in following my example. And note those who so walk as you have us for a pattern. The responsibility involved is upon us as individuals to note those who so walk. Let let me just try and explain this. The believer is looking for examples. That's it's an imperative when he says note those. Scope out those, focus on those, search out those. What happens with believers sometimes? Sometimes believers think like this. Where are all the examples? Why aren't they calling me and taking me out for coffee so that I can learn their wonderful wisdom that they've acred in their Christian life? The onus of the text, I hate to do this, but it's on you. Note those who so walk. He's not saying, "Okay, now I want to talk to that class of influencers in Philippi. I want you, my team, to go out and fix that Mley crew. I want you to go out and take them for coffee. I want you to go out and ooze exampleness all over them. That that's not the point of the text team. Go example. No believer. Find examples. Take them out for coffee. Invite yourself over to their home. Tell them, "I've noticed and observed certain traits of faithfulness that I myself would like to acrue." perhaps we can have a sandwich together and you can pass on some of this wisdom. That's the onus of the text. It's not sit around and wait or worse sit around and whine because nobody ever comes to function as your example. Brethren, much of the Christian life is up to you. I know that's tough. You mean we can't just lay there in front of our red light therapy eating sourdough and getting holy? I wish. That sounds like a good path of sanctification to me. I picked that. But you have to get up. You have to open your Bible. You have to pray. You have to come to church. You have to listen. You have to find examples. You have to insert yourself into their lives. Don't wait for examples to parachute into your living room to show you how to be holy. That's not the point of the text. Brethren, join in following my example. And note those, scope out those, focus on those who so walk. That's the onus. That's the emphasis. That's the specific. The responsibility in the text is for believers to ask for help. Doesn't have to be a formal request prepared in triplicate. Just say, "Hey, can we get together for coffee? You seem to have it together, and I want to have it together, and maybe you can ooze some of your togetherness upon me. I I think this is what it should be about. Now, notice what he goes on to say in the text because it's not just willy-nilly. Note those who so walk as you have us for a pattern. So, in other words, within the context of the church in Philippi, as you're noting, as you're scoping, as you're focusing, as you're looking around and scanning, it's not just who's the most successful, is not who's the prettiest, or who's the most handsome, but it's who's the most like Paul, who's the most like the apostles, who's the most like Jesus. That that's who you're looking for. I would suggest, brothers, that it may not be the guy who's doing his devotions while he's chomping on a ribeye benching 350 and investing in Bitcoin. I mean, you might learn some good things from such an influencer, but but maybe he just means some older dude in your church that has faithfully loved his wife for 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 years, who's faithfully managed his household, who's faithfully worked his job, who faithfully comes to church. It lacks some of the pizzazz of the guy, you know, pumping weight, eating ribeye while he's bit, you know, investing in Bitcoin, but there's nothing wrong with the normal and the ordinary and the regular. Ladies, you might learn lots of good things from certain influencers, but again, it may not be the girl in the bikini doing her devotions. It may be some old lady, some old mother of Israel in the context of the church who was with the same man for 60 years, who raised several decent functioning human beings that are able to walk and chew gum, not kill ostriches or take people's private property, and is faithful in church. Isn't this Paul's point in 1 Timothy chapter 5 when it comes to the widow's list? It's faithfulness. Kids, athletes, musicians, movie stars may not be the focus in the text. It's faithful people like your parents. You know, kids, unless you got some cool arrangement that I've never seen, these athletes, these movie stars, these you I guess it's YouTube stars. I mean, these guys are making bank doing videos that look just fun. I've always wondered about that. Baseball. I like baseball. Could you imagine making millions of dollars a year doing playing baseball? But but a YouTube guy, unless he's coming over every week and bringing you groceries and putting clothes in your closet and and that roof over your head. It's your parents who do that. It's your parents who exemplify church attendance. It's your parents who exemplify devotions at the at the family altar. It's your parents. We we want all the rasmataz. We we want the ribe eyes. We want the bitcoin guy that's holy as he's reading Romans. We want that super mom trad, you know, 25 kids and loaves of food and all the, you know, and she's, you know, workout clothes. That's not reality. It's fake. I mean, it's not fake because it's somehow done, but it's performative. This is where you need to note out your examples. This place is where you need to be looking. This is where you need to scope it out. And again, don't say, "Well, if only this wonderful example of Christianity would would reach out to me, I'd happily be taken for coffee." Take them. Call them. email them, text them, and if they say, "I don't have time for that." Okay, that's not the example I'm looking for. I'll go to the next one. Brethren, the Christian life, for the most part, is the normal and the ordinary and the routine. when you come to the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Yeah. We're not, you know, squatting four plates out in the parking lot and then coming in to sing, you know, eating ribeye for our fellowship lunches, which let's not rule that out, by the way. We eat sandwiches and soup. We sit on hard chairs, sit on hard pews, wonder if we should replace the pew. This is the normal and the ordinary. And this is the bank or the the the the the pool rather that you are to note those who so walked. Find examples, ask questions, invite people over. That's the emphasis here in the apostle and an encouragement to all of us. There's no perfect example except Jesus. I I know this is going to sound cynical and I'm going to apologize at the outset, but it's said from a position of Romans 7 and Galatians 5, you will always be let down by other human beings. If if you think it it in fact, if you're destroyed because somebody let you down, you may not get the pastoral sympathy from me that you'd like. Sure, I'll hug you. And I'll say, "Yeah, that's a bummer." But but but what do you expect? We're all prone to wander and prone to leave the God that we love. We put men on pedestals. What happens? They fall off. If you ever review the documents called the Old and New Testaments, you'll only find one hero. Why do you think we're told of David's sin? Why do you think we get to see the warts and the blemishes of the judges in Israel? Why do you think we get to see the warts and the blemishes and the problems of the good kings of Judah? What is the Old Testament impressing upon us? There's one champion. There's one hero. There's one holy, harmless, and undefiled. Brethren, your best examples that are that are men and women at some point are going to do something that rubs you the wrong way. If you don't believe that, hang out with me for, you know, a day. You'll probably learn that lesson very quickly. So, note those note those who so walk. I'll just move to conclusion here. I would say there is other examples within the the the the Bible obviously in Philippians 2:1 19- 24 Timothy functions as an example of devotion Philippians 2:25-30 Apaproditis functions as one who is selfless Romans or rather Hebrews 11 and 12 we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses what do they witness what do They testify that God is faithful no matter the situation, no matter the condition, no matter the issue. So there's a plethora of biblical examples and within the context of the church, we should seek to be good examples. Again, not so we can be influencers, not so that we can charge people in our church every time they click on a link on our Instagram account. Could you imagine doing that? Like you've that that I just I can't it's just I can't imagine it. It doesn't it Oh yeah, the brethren really like my videos. I better do another one. Cutting edge. I'm investing in Bitcoin. Hey, how I'm reading Hebrews. It's just weird to me. But with reference to to to to being examples, it's not so that we can parade ourselves examples, but the church needs good men. Now, I'm not saying there aren't good men here. I love you, Matt. This is a general sort of an encouragement. Good men. As men go, so often goes the family, goes the church, goes the society. We need good women. Proverbs 31, Titus chapter 2. What are the old women supposed to do in the context of the church? They're supposed to teach the younger women to love their men to be homemakers to be diligent and industrious to f fritter away their time on social media. We need faithfulness in each of these areas. If we want a church here for coming generations, it in large part obviously it's the grace of God. But instrumentally or by means, we as God's people need to be faithful. We need to be the sorts of men and women that our kids can say, "Hey, that's a good choice of a life. faithfulness as a man, faithfulness as a husband, faithfulness as a father, faithfulness as a worker, faithfulness as a citizen. Those are good things. I should want to pursue that. And of course, with reference to ladies as well. And I would suggest finally with reference to this particular emphasis, the need for good pastors. Paul tells Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:12 to to show himself as an example. Titus 2, Hebrews 13, 1 Peter chapter 5. In fact, Zanki seems to focus primarily on the pastoral element in verse 17. And he says this, it is characteristic of pastors to maintain their people in Christ and to edify the church by their own example. And this happens by doctrine and morals. There are four kinds of ministers. some among whom were Paul and many others. Edify with both their words and their lives. Concerning these, Paul said, "Focus on those who walk thus." Others edify with healthy doctrine, but tear down with morals what they build up. Conversely, others seem to edify with their holy life, but having been imbued with depraved opinions, they kill churches. And there are those who utterly destroy the whole of whatever had been built by others with both bad doctrine and the wickedest of hearts. Rightly then, Paul wants the Philippians to be focused on those who are like him, but to avoid those who are not. That's the point of the text. Why? Because many walk who are enemies of Christ. Verses 18 and 19. Why? Because our citizenship is in heaven. verses 20 and 21. So may God help us to be those who ask for help, those who seek out good examples, and may God help us to be good examples to those around us. Well, let us pray. Our father in heaven, we thank you for this very simple statement in Philippians 3:17. We thank you for what you did in the life and ministry, the courage of the Apostle Paul. Help us, God, to follow that example in so far as he followed Christ. And we thank you that Christ ultimately lived and died and rose again for us, not simply as an example, but as a representative, as a substitute, as the shity of a better covenant. And we rejoice in that glorious gospel. And pray that we would find much joy and comfort and stability and peace in it. And we ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. Well, let us stand and sing 568 in praise to our triune God. [music] [music] Praise God. All blessings. Praise [music and singing] all creatures here. Praise [music] [singing] God. [music] Praise Father, Son. [music] The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. Will be seated for a brief time of meditation.
