Living Excellently for God

Living Excellently for God
Philippians 3:7-11
Mr Daniel Ho

"But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 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 and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead..." Phil 3:7-11 NIV

Introduction
God's ideal for His people – abundance, prosperous and a life of blessings.
His requirements – obedience and loyalty.
Examples of success and failures in individuals and the nation of Israel in the OT.
The NT shows how a relationship with God was possible for all people, opening a new living way through His Son, Jesus Christ. (Heb 10:20).
The example of the life of Paul, 1Cor 11:1; Phil 3:17. He was confident in telling the church "Be followers of me as I am of Christ". How is this possible for us to live excellently for God?
Choose Christ
Verse 7 - ..for the sake of Christ..
When face with decisions that will draw us from Christ, choose Christ.
Maybe costly especially in career and ambition. Choose a career that is not based on remuneration only but one that will enable you to serve in the church, be active in your family and improve society.
Choice is ours, God does not force on us His will.
The Bible is not a book of rules and regulations. It gives us principles. It shows us what happened to people who make wrong choice because they want their own will. Jesus when faced with a difficult choice was able to pray, "Not my will but yours be done".
The Holy Spirit helps us by giving us wisdom, strength and discernment.
Can never go wrong when we choose Christ.

Know Christ
Verse 8 ..surpassing greatness of knowing Christ..
How can we know God unless He reveals Himself to us? Apostle John writing to gentile believers explains this in the first chapter of John. The author of Hebrews says that God reveals Himself through his son, Jesus Christ.
Some practical ways of knowing Christ is daily reading of His Word and Prayer.
Ps 46:10 Be still and know that I am God This belief in God comes by reflection and quiet confidence in God.
The example of Mary and Martha by the author of "The cloud of unknowing" The Lord does not reject what we do for Him but better is the life of contemplation.
It is internalizing that relationship and knowledge of God; it is reflected by the serenity which is difficult for the world to understand. The Desert Fathers understood this as they retreated from the busy world into the desert.
AW Tozer, Knowledge of the Holy :"A right conception of God is basic not only to systematic theology but to practical Christian living as well"
 
Believe Christ
Verse 9 ..having a righteousness.. which is through faith in Christ..
In order to live excellently for God, it begins with faith in Christ. There will be times when we fail but we should not give up.
Wang Min Dow who suffered many, many years of imprisonment in China, failed when he was first tested with his faith in Christ. He was so ashamed the first time when he was asked to recant that he went out shouting "I betrayed my Lord".
To live excellently for God is to have faith in His son, Jesus Christ. The ancient Church Fathers when faced with death for their faith would reply, "I believe in Jesus who died for me because it is incredible. I believe He rose from the dead because it is impossible".
Our faith in Christ is visible in our attitudes, character and deeds. These are consistent throughout the day in whatever situation we may be in.
We are consistent in how we treat others, the young, the lowly and those superior to us. We are not a chameleon, the lizard that changes itself in different environment.
Our faith in Christ is tested all the time because Christ paid a price to redeem us. He is our master and which slave is greater than his master?
Our faith in Christ will mean that we live a life that will look forward to His second coming. It will also mean that we are involved in evangelism and missions. If we believe the only way to God is through the righteousness of His Son, then we must be making that known to others.
 
Conclusion
Living a life of excellence for the glory of God is expected of every believer in Christ. It begins with a choice. It involves a diligent desire to want to know Him better and living a righteous life of faith. It involves the will and may we have the courage to pray like what our lord and master prayed, "Not my will but yours be done". Amen.