Transcription downloaded from https://sermons.heritagesermons.org/sermons/6715/philippians-quality-average/. Disclaimer: this is an automatically generated machine transcription - there may be small errors or mistranscriptions. Please refer to the original audio if you are in any doubt. [0:00] Amen. Philippians chapter 3, the part of verse 8. [0:36] Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. [0:49] Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. [1:06] What a wonderful portion this is to be brought to in our own soul's feelings. For I feel if we were to truly examine our hearts before God, I wonder if any of us could truly say, I am where the Apostles were. [1:32] You know, we cleave to the comforts that the Lord has blessed us with. We highly esteem many things that are of good in their place. [1:47] And if the Lord was to come and take them away, would it find us where it found Paul? He knew it. [1:59] He entered into it. And he was supported under it by one thing only. He had his Jesus with him there. [2:13] He followed that example that is set before us in that second chapter, literally. There's not many amongst the children of God. [2:27] And especially in our present time. Who are brought to such a place of sense. For, as the closing portion of the verse says, For whom I have suffered the loss of all things. [2:49] The loss of all things. I speak this word very tenderly, but very sincerely feeling in my own heart how far away from it we are. [3:04] But do we feel some desire? Some moving within our heart. [3:15] That if it did please God to bring us to such a place of need, even in the temperament. If we are to say, I have suffered the loss of all things. [3:28] Have we got that which would take its place? Have we in our possession by faith that which was Paul's treasure? Because that made amends for all the other things that he lost. [3:42] This is the true mark of real Christianity. It might be well for us to consider this quietly in our own hearts before God. [3:58] And ask him to teach us. To show us where we are. And if we are wrong to make us wrong. [4:10] If we still cleave to those things which are really but the pleasures of this world. He will grant us grace to loosen our hold on. [4:24] Oh, it's no light thing, such a word as this, even to try and preach from. We have said here before us it is true. [4:42] And we would have it to be true. But we cannot always say that we've come where we would be in it. The things we've tasted, handled and found. [4:55] But the good word of life. Now we hope that we've been given grace at times to speak of some of those things. That we've tasted, handled and found. [5:06] We cannot speak like Paul here. I can't. We've been blessed with many blessings. Many comforts. [5:17] Our daily needs are supplied. In fact, they have been. But does it bring us any closer to this excellency of Christ Jesus? [5:35] Because we possess those things. We will be thankful for them. God has given them. If we receive them as from God's hand. And ask him to sanctify them. [5:49] And then we shall be a director. He'll have to write the use. For the glory of his name. But again, I have to confess we come short. [6:00] Very short. So often we think of things for ourselves. Now the apostle in this letter to the Philippians. [6:12] A church that he loved deeply. He writes some very wise counsel. And he could write it in sincerity and truth. [6:25] In that second chapter, you see. He writes there the way that a child of God should walk. And in why a child of God would walk. [6:39] When grace is in exercise. And faith in the Lord Jesus. And this is the measure that a true disciple of Jesus Christ is to be measured by. [6:56] And as we read that second chapter then. It opened to our understanding. The reason why we should walk like him. [7:09] Let nothing be done. Through strife or vain glory. In lowliness of mind. That each esteem other better than themselves. [7:21] Look not every man on his own things. But every man also on the things of others. That's not a desire. No. No. It's looking on the things of others. [7:34] To minister to their needs. And then he goes on in this. Here is the reason of it. Let this mind be in you. [7:47] Which was also in Christ Jesus. This is what he desired in his prayer. For his Philippians brethren and sisters. He wanted for them. [7:57] He wanted for them. For the close union. With the Son of God. Which had been made known unto him. In revelation. To which. [8:09] By faith. He had been able. To clear. And go forward. Despite all that opposed him. Without hand with him. [8:23] But this example. Is a perfect example. He did not say. Do these things because I'm doing them. Because I've been brought there. [8:36] Because I've been able. So to suffer. For the loss of all things. Now. Not because he. [8:46] Was the example. Let this mind be in you. Which was also in Christ Jesus. Who being in the form of God. [8:58] Thought it not robbery to be equal with God. But made himself. No reputation. And he describes. Here are the Lord of life and glory. [9:08] God's only beloved Son. Came from his throne above. Even for this express purpose. [9:22] To find. To seek out. Poor helpless sinful wretches. To pay the price. Of their soul's redemption. [9:34] And at last. To bring them as his peculiar treasure. To their eternal home. And to do it. He must. In their room. Place and stay. [9:46] Suffer. And all hell he suffered. Shy and spitted. No reputation. They scorned him. [9:58] Even his brethren. Those of his own family. Knew him not saving them. They scorned him. [10:09] Is not this Joseph's son? The carpenter's son? But the apostle Paul. Sets before us. [10:20] In the words of our text. How he had been instructed. Even for though. He who was. [10:31] For such a mighty one. In his own estimation. Was brought by grace. To follow. Hard after his Lord. [10:41] So. But in his measure. And not a great measure. So much more. I repeat. Than we are called. To pass through. [10:52] He followed in the footsteps. Of his master. Now. I want to try. And notice a little. What he speaks of. [11:05] As the. Essence. Of this. That. Supported. And. And. Enabled him. To thus. [11:17] Wrote this word. To his fellow man. It was. According to the word. We have read. The excellency. Of the knowledge. [11:29] Of Christ Jesus. My Lord. And I separate. The last two words. Just for a moment. In our thoughts. [11:42] Oh. It's a most. Blessed portion. That last. Two words. But it will follow. The experience. [11:53] Of this. Knowledge giver. Thomas. Daring Thomas. He had to learn. Before. [12:03] He could say. My Lord. And my God. And the way. He learned. Was exceedingly. Painful. He had to prove. [12:16] How. Fable. His faith was. He had to learn. How weak. He was. His nature. His mind. [12:31] I will not believe. Except. I put my hand. In the print of the nails. Oh. You know. There was. In that. [12:42] A spirit. Of presumption. That had to be overcome. Deep lessons. Thomas learned. But not unavailing. [12:55] No. When the Lord. Teaches. He teaches. To profit. However deep. That teaching. Or painful. It may be. And when. [13:06] In his appointed time. He made known. For his purpose. Of love. To Thomas. When he spoke. To him. Personally. [13:18] When he showed. Him his hands. And his. Faith. Then. He had come. To. The conclusion. [13:30] Of that part. Of his teaching. And his heart. Was melted. Broken. And his faith. Raised up. [13:41] Lifted up. In adoration. And praise. And he could say. My Lord. My God. For we do. [13:51] Want. As the Lord. May favor us. In prayer. And supplication. To seek. This one blessing. To come. And say. [14:02] Unto the dear. Lord Jesus. My Lord. And my God. But there must be. The knowledge. And it's an excellent. [14:14] Knowledge. It's perfection. Of truth. He. Of whom. It is declared here. The knowledge. [14:24] Of Christ. Jesus. My Lord. Is. Is. The truth. The life. The way. And that. Perfect. [14:35] In the sight of. A holy God. The law. Fulfillers. He. Who satisfied. That law. And made it. Honorable. [14:47] On behalf. Of those. Who should. Learn of him. And be brought. Where Paul. Was brought. There's only one. Real place. [14:58] Where this. Excellence. See. Of the knowledge. Of Christ. Jesus. My Lord. Is. Given. And that's. At his feet. The apostle. [15:08] Lived. In a day. When. There was. Much. Manifest. Opposition. To the truth. As it is. In Christ. Jesus. [15:20] And he. Himself. Had been. One of those. Who was. So opposed. And in these. Days. And. [15:30] By all. The signs. About us. We feel. That. It is. The latter days. But. In all. The last. Trials. [15:41] That the church. Must pass through. The church. Of the living God. Amidst. All the calamities. That are. Taking place. About us. [15:52] Which are. Clearly. Fulfilling. The word. Of God. As it's set. Before. His church. We see. [16:03] Signs. And evidences. Of much. Knowledge. Boasted of. But that's not. The knowledge. Of our text. [16:15] The knowledge. Today. That is. So widespread. And so. Esteemed. Science. Literature. All. [16:26] Types. Of learning. That cause. Man. To boast. Of his attainments. These. Things. Are not. [16:37] The excellency. Of the knowledge. Of Christ Jesus. They're. An opposite. Paul. And. The. Apostle. Would. [16:49] Desire. To. Warn. His. Hearers. Against. Trusting. In these. Things. They're. All. Attained. By the. [16:59] Efforts. And wisdom. Of man. When their. Breath. Files. Their. Wisdom. Files. And. More. So. [17:10] The. Wisdom. Of man. In these. Things. Is. Turned. To. Wrong. Uses. And. Brings. To. The. Church. Of God. The. Children. Of. [17:21] God. In. Many. Cases. Oppression. Brings. Disorder. It. Brings. Those. Things. That. [17:31] Are. Contrary. To. Grace. In. The. Heart. We. Have. To. Look. At. The. Children. In. The. Schools. [17:42] With. What. Is. Turned. Knowledge. That. Is. Imparted. To. Them. And. How. Careful. And. How. Prayerful. [17:53] And. Do. The. Parents. Of. Our. Children. Need. To. Be. In. These. Days. As. Those. False. Things. Are. Set. Before. Lives. Denial. [18:04] Of. The. Scripture. Of. Truth. And. It's. Called. Improving. Their. Journey. We. We. We. We. We. We. Were. Talking. [18:14] With. Some. Friends. On. Saturday. Concerning. The. Education. Of. Children. Today. And. They. Have. Grandchildren. As. We. Are. How. [18:25] Difficult. It. Is. To. Instruct. Them. As. To. What. And. How. They. Should. Receive. This. Teacher. But. [18:37] That. Is. By. The. Why. But. Nevertheless. It. Has. An. Important. Factor. It. Is. An. Important. Factor. In. The. Noise. Of. Our. Dear. Children. And. [18:47] Only. The. Grace. Of. God. Only. The. Excellency. Of. The. Knowledge. Of. Christ. Jesus. As. Revealed. By. The. Holy. Ghost. Will. [18:57] Preserve. Them. In. His. Fear. And. Enable. Them. To. Deny. The. Untruths. That. Are. Instilled. [19:09] Into. The. Apostle. Was. Well. Aware. Of. These. Things. This. Knowledge. That. He. Sets. Before. The. Philippian. [19:19] Church. Here. And. Which. Means. Or. Which. Is. Used. By. The. Holy. Ghost. To. Teach. All. The. Living. Family. [19:29] Of. God. Now. This. Knowledge. Is. Excellent. And. It. Fits. The. Soul. That. Inbiades. This. Knowledge. For. [19:40] An. Internal. For. For. An. Eternal. Inheritance. It. Prepares. Them. For. An. Abode. To. Which. They. Shall. Enter. [19:51] And. This. Knowledge. Thus. Imparted. Written. In. The. Heart. Sealed. By. The. Spirit. Will. Bring. [20:02] Them. To. That. Inheritance. To. With. A. A. Right. They. Have. There. The. [20:12] Means. As. They. Walk. In. This. Knowledge. Under. This. Teaching. As. They. Come. To. The. End. Of. Their. Earthly. [20:22] Pilgrimage. Knowledge. Why. Their. Faithful. Love. To. That. Which. They. Shall. Attain. To. And. It's. All. [20:33] In. Christ. Jesus. Heaven. Is. Christ. You. Remember. That. Again. It. Is. Written. We. Shall. Be. Like. Him. [20:44] That. Was. A. Comfort. And. Is. A. Comfort. Of. A. Child. Of. God. Who. Has. Received. Of. This. Knowledge. And. This. Place. [20:55] That. Is. It. Is. It. Is. At. Jesus. Feet. The. Apostle. Knew. Well. What. He. Was. Speaking. About. He. Proved. [21:07] That. His. Knowledge. That. He. Had. Obtained. Before. And. He. Was. A. Wise. Man. In. The. Eyes. Of. The. World. He. Obtained. His. Knowledge. [21:17] As. A. Pharisee. Of. The. Pharisees. When. It. All. Came. To. That. Great. Moment. When. The. Lord. [21:27] Called. In. Boys. Christ. All. That. Wisdom. All. That. Knowledge. Had. No. Comfort. For. His. Soul. At. All. There. [21:38] Was. No. Deliverance. There. Boy. That. Very. Knowledge. That. He. It. Sought. To. Destroy. The. Followers. Of. The. Lord. Jesus. Christ. [21:49] Now. It. Must. More. Other. Than. That. Type. Of. Teaching. At. The. Fate. Of. Gamaliel. It. Took. Him. Away. From. Christ. [22:00] And. The. Things. Of. God. It. Took. Him. So. Far. Away. That. He. Was. Completely. Satisfied. With. [22:11] His. Human. Attainments. When. The. Lord. Wrought. In. Him. When. He. Called. Him. By. His. Grace. When. Slew. [22:21] Him. And. Then. Raised. Him. Up. To. Everlasting. Life. In. His. Soul. By. His. Quickening. Power. He. Could. Say. That. [22:32] I've. Suffered. The. Lots. Of. All. Things. His. Knowledge. Now. Nothing. To. Boast. Of. There. Rather. He. Was. Ashamed. Of. It. And. He. [22:42] Admits. It. And. Confesses. It. So. Then. If. We. Are. Taught. This. It's. [22:54] Great. Mercy. If. We. Are. Brought. Up. Leaning. Upon. Our. Carnal. Atainments. In. The. Things. [23:05] Of. Learning. And. Who. Brought. Us. Humble. Seeking. Sinners. To. The. Feet. Of. Jesus. Christ. Desiring. To. Know. [23:15] Hell. All. The. Atainment. Of. The. Knowledge. Of. Christ. Is. Of. Vast. Importance. Because. With. This. Without. This. [23:26] Knowledge. We. Shall. Remain. In. Everlasting. Dark. We. Should. Be. Lost. We. We. We. Read. [23:38] In. The. Word. Of. God. Of. Those. Amongst. His. Dear. Children. To. Join. With. The. Apostle. In. This. One. Desire. [23:49] For. Instruction. For. This. Excellency. Of. The. Knowledge. Of. Christ. Jesus. Now. David. [23:59] Desired. One. Thing. About. Desire. Of. The. Lord. Mary. Who. [24:10] Sought. At. The. Feet. Of. Jesus. Desired. That's. What. Bored. To. The. House. And. The. Lord. Jesus. Commended. Her. Before. [24:20] Her. Desire. She. Has. Desired. Oh. Martha. You're. Careful. And. Troubled. Over. Many. Things. But. Mary. Desires. [24:32] That. Better. That. Is. Why. Now. She. Sits. At. My. Feet. To. Hear. My. Word. One. [24:43] Thing. Need. Dearest. Lord. Is. To. Know. The. As. Our. Chapter. Declare. Whom. To. Know. His. Life. Eternal. That. [24:53] I. May. Know. Him. And. The. Power. Of. His. Resurrection. New. Life. Though. Dead. Before. Ah. This. At. Time. And. I. Say. [25:04] That. Is. Most. Need. People. All. All. All. All. All. Says. One. Thing. I. Do. Forgetting. Those. Things. Which. Are. [25:14] Before. And. Reaching. Forth. Unto. Those. Things. Which. Are. Before. I. I. I. I. Press. Toward. The. Mark. For. The. Prize. Of. The. High. Calling. [25:25] Of. God. In. Christ. Jesus. How. Did he view. Brought. To view. This. Why. As he saw. The. Excellency. Of. [25:35] The. Knowledge. Of. Christ. Jesus. The. Excellency. Of. Jesus. A. Subject. And. A. Theme. Which. Only. The. [25:45] Holy. Ghost. Can. Enlighten. Us. Man. May. Speak. Of. Excellency. But. They. Can. Only. Speak. Of. It. In. The. Measure. That. [25:56] They. Have. Been. Instructed. It. It. A. Fine. Thing. To. Speak. Of. The. Excellency. If. We. Really. Know. Nothing. [26:06] About. It. What. Is. The. Excellency. Of. Christ. Jesus. To. Your. Soul. And. To. Mine. Is. It. Eternal. Life. Is. [26:18] It. The. Essence. Of. Mercy. Is. It. The. Wonder. Of. Grace. Is. It. The. Fullness. Of. Compassion. Is. [26:29] It. This. The. Forgiveness. Of. Your. Sin. And. The. Preparation. Of. Your. Soul. For. Eternal. [26:39] Glory. And. To. Dwell. With. Him. Forever. This. Is. The. Excellency. Of. Christ. In. Some. Part. Of. It. And. That. Is. Only. A. Little. [26:51] But. Oh. If. We. Have. That. Little. It. Will. So. Cause. Us. To. Pant. After. Him. It. Will. Create. That. Appetite. To. Know. More. The. [27:02] One. Thing. Needful. My. Soul. Pants. After. God. The. Living. God. When. Shall. I. Come. And. Appear. [27:13] Before. Him. Why. That. Was. The. Psalmist. Prayer. Is. It. Heirs. There. Something. The. Apostle. Views. [27:24] As. He. Writes. His. Epistle. That. It. Is. Far. Above. Time. Thing. For. Time. Atain. Here. Is. The. Glory. [27:34] Of. The. Lord. Prepared. For. His. Suffering. Signs. And. He. Knows. Having. The. Witness. And. Sail. Of. The. Spirit. In. [27:45] His. Own. Soul. That. He. Is. A. Partaker. In. It. Therefore. He. Could. Write. With. Authority. A. Verily. Of. [27:56] The. Things. He. Had. Tasted. Hundred. And. Fell. Of. The. Good. Word. Of. God. That. Had. Brought. Him. To. This. Favoured. Spot. I. [28:10] Came. To. All. Things. But. Lost. For. The. Excellency. Of. The. Knowledge. Of. Christ. Jesus. My. Lord. I. [28:21] Fear. I. Slough. To. Be. Grieved. Tonight. And. We. Must. We. Should. Leave. Much. Unsied. But. As. We. Try. To. Close. Our. Few. Thoughts. On. This. Word. [28:32] Let. Us. Dwell. On. This. My. Lord. God. That. That. That. That. That. Is. The. Greatest. Blessing. That. Can. Be. Afforded. To. [28:42] A. Seeking. Sinner. As. They. Travel. In. This. Way. To. For. If. By. Precious. Faith. We. [28:52] View. Him. Under. This. Teaching. And. View. Just. A. Little. Of. The. Excellency. That. Enables. Us. To. Ligh. Clive. My. Lord. [29:02] My. God. Why. What. Then. Will. There. Be. To. Fear. All. These. Events. Taking. Place. About. Us. Will. [29:13] Be. Put. In. Their. Right. Perspective. Oh. There. Might. Be. Oppression. Yet. We. Know. Not. What. Lies. Before. Us. There. Might. Be. Deep. [29:23] And. Strong. Persecution. But. If. By. The. Grace. Of. God. We. Know. A. Jesus. As. [29:33] Our. Lord. Our. Saviour. Our. Friend. Our. Redeemer. Our. God. Why. [29:44] We. Have. Treasure. That. He. Is. Excellent. Indeed. And. It. Will. Make. Us. Very. Jealous. For. Him. To. [29:54] Hold. To. It. It. Will. Be. Like. That. As. We. Might. Term. It. It. Might. Be. The. The. Light. Bell. In. The. Midst. Of. All. [30:04] The. Storms. It. Was. Something. That. Cannot. Be. Destroyed. The. Apostle. Speaks. Of. In. Another. Aspect. When. He. Speaks. [30:15] Of. It. As. That. Anchor. Of. The. Soul. Sure. And. Steadfast. And. It. Enters. Into. That. Within. The. Veil. [30:25] There. Is. The. Excellency. Of. Christ. Jesus. That's. Why. He. Writes. As. He. Did. That. I. Might. Know. Him. In. A. Power. Of. His. Resurrection. [30:36] The. Fellowship. Of. His. Sufferings. Being. May. Conformable. Unto. His. Death. If. By. Any. Means. I. Might. Attain. Unto. [30:47] The. Resurrection. Of. The. Dead. Well. With. His. Excellency. That. He. Had. Imparted. To. Him. By. The. Holy. Spirit. As. [30:57] He. Was. Led. Close. In. The. Path. Of. His. Master. We. Still. Find. That. Humility. The. Example. [31:08] That. The. Lord. Jesus. Had. Set. For. His. Children. Is. Wonderfully. Expressed. In. The. Experience. Of. Paul. [31:18] The. Apostle. Here. For. He. Doesn't. Bove. He. Doesn't. Rest. Content. Because. This. Knowledge. Has. Been. Given. This. Excellency. [31:29] Of. Christ. Jesus. No. Not. Even. That. He. Can. Say. My. Lord. Brethren. [31:41] I. Care. Not. Myself. To. Have. Apprehended. But. This. One. Thing. I. Do. I. Press. On. Not. [31:53] As. Though. I. Had. Already. A. Time. Either. Were. Already. Perfect. But. I. Follow. After. If. [32:04] That. I. May. Apprehend. Christ. Apprehend. That. For. Which. Also. I. Am. Apprehended. Of. Christ. Jesus. The. Lord. Had. [32:14] Made. Known. To. Him. His. Will. His. Love. His. Purpose. And. He. Made. Now. To. This. Dear. Apostle. [32:25] Of. The. Gentiles. The. Glory. That. Was. Prepared. Ah. You. Remember. He. Was. Able. [32:35] To. Wrote. That. Which. He. Saw. For. Him. Through. The. Excellency. Of. Christ. Jesus. There. [32:46] Is. Therefore. Now. Light. Up. For. Me. A. Crown. Of. Lord. Oh. He. Viewed. That. As. His. Own. There. [32:58] Is. The. Strength. Of. His. Life. His. Spiritual. Life. Here. Was. The. Comfort. Of. His. Life. A. Crown. But. [33:09] Not. For. Me. Only. Oh. No. He. Viewed. The. Whole. Church. Of. God. As. Partakers. [33:20] In. This. Knowledge. In. This. Excellency. Of. The. Knowledge. As. Entering. Into. Thy. Glory. Prepare. Not. For. Me. Of. [33:30] Me. But. For. All. Those. That. Serve. The. Lord. That. Worship. Him. In. Spirit. And. In. Truth. That. Love. Him. [33:41] All. The. Love. Of. Christ. It. Must. Show. Forth. When. It. Comes. Into. A. Poor. Sinner's. Heart. It. Must. Reflect. A. Little. Of. This. [33:52] Excellency. There's. Something. Sadly. Wrong. If. There's. Never. A. Glimpse. Of. Christ. In. Those. Who. Profess. To. Follow. It. It. [34:02] Will. Be. Seen. In. The. Temporal. Path. As. Those. Things. We. Mention. A. Right. Spirit. A. Gracious. [34:12] Spirit. A. Forgiving. Spirit. A. Loving. Spirit. These. Are. All. From. Christ. And. Are. To. Be. [34:23] Esteemed. And. Follow. As. Grace. Is. Give. I. Doubtless. He. [34:34] Had. No. Question. On. The. Matter. At. All. I. Came. To. All. Things. But. Loss. For. This. One. Thing. The. [34:44] Excellency. Of. The. Knowledge. Of. Christ. Jesus. My. Lord. Oh. Do. We. Cry. Unto. The. Lord. That. We. Might. Be. Blessed. In. This. To. [34:54] Catch. A. Glimpse. One. Dead. Who. Wrote. That. Lovely. Then. The. Sands. Of. [35:04] Time. Are. Sinking. He. Had. A. Glimpse. Glory. Glory. Dwell. In. Emmanuel. Land. And. [35:16] By. Faith. He. Saw. Himself. There. So. Did. The. Apostle. Another. One. You see. Another. Evidence. [35:27] That. The. Lord. Does. Teach. And. Lead. His. Children. In. One. Path. There. Only. One. Way. To. Heaven. Christ. Said. I. [35:37] Am. The. Door. By. Me. The. Sheep. Enter. In. As. They. Enter. In. They. Become. Partakers. [35:47] With. Him. Of. His. Glory. Well. We. Must. Leave. These. Few. Thoughts. May the. Lord. Pardon. Anything. Said. Or. Thought. Of. [35:57] This. We. Have. Hardly. Entered. Into. The. Subject. But. If. There. A. Word. There. That. Creates. A. Longing. [36:07] In. Our. Soul. And. To. Be. Fall. Walking. In. This. Same. Path. Oh. To. Bring. Us. To. Say. This. Is. The. Way. I. Long. Have. Saw. Morn. [36:19] Because. I. Found. It. Now. Then. I. Be. Ever. Say. Amen.