Subtopic: “The Attitudes Of A Growing Saint: Do I Have The Right Attitude”

Sermon Notes by Pastor Arthur H. Coleman Sr. For Sunday May 25,2014

Text: Phi. 3:7-15"But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. (vs8) Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.(vs9) And be found in him, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God  by faith:(vs10) That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; (vs11) If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. (vs12) Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. (vs13) Brethern I count not myself to have apprehended; but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, (vs14) I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God  in Christ Jesus. (vs15) Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you".  

DEFINITIONS

Salvation means deliverance from sin, its penalty and effects.(2) perseveration from destruction, ruin, loss , or calamity.

Attitude  is a way of thinking, acting or feeling.

Philippians 2:5-8 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (vs6) Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: (vs7) But made of himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: (vs8) And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

Subtopic : "He Knoweth The Way That I Take"

Sermon Notes By Pastor Arthur H. Coleman Sr. For Sunday April 13,2013

Text: Job 23:8-14 "Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: (vs9) On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: (vs10) But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. (vs11) My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. (vs12) Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food. (vs13) But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth. (vs14) For he perfometh the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him."

Philippians 3:11-15 "If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. (vs12) Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. (vs13) Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, (vs14) I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (vs15) Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

PREMISE

The Pulpit Commentary, Vol.7,Page 404, a commentary on Job 23:10-- GOD'S KNOWLEDGE AND MAN'S DISCIPLINE. "Job has just been owning his difficulty in finding God. He searches in all directions, forward and backwards, on the left hand and on the right, and he cannot discover God (vers.8,9). But although it is so hard for him to attain to a knowledge of God, he is quite certain that God knows him. We are known by God before we think of acknowledging him, and when we are bewildered with the mystery of life all is clear and open to God. God knows the way that his servants take. (1) Past experiences. He knows what we have had to contend with, and why our lives have been vexed and tried. (2) Present circumstances. At the very moment when we have some new difficulty to face, some new height to climb, or some new snare to avoid, God is with us, perfectly understanding the whole situation. (3) Future scenes. One step is enough for us, because God knows all that lies before us. Although our way may seem to be leading to impossible regions, he who sees the end from the beginning can lead us through. If God knows our way, we have not to travel like Columbus, over untried seas. The whole route has been mapped out by God. We cannot be lost if he who knows our way is our Guide."

Subtopic:   The New Ambition Of My Rededication: “This Is My Year”

Sermon Notes by Pastor Arthur H. Coleman Sr. for Sunday January 5, 2014

Text: Ezek. 36:26-27 " A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.(vs. 27)And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments and do them".

Phi. 3:7-15 "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.(vs8) Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord; for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.(vs9) And be found in him, not having my own righteousness which is of God by faith: (vs10) That I might know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; (vs11) If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.(vs12) Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.(vs13) Brethren I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,(vs14) I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.(vs15) Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything  ye be otherwise  minded, God shall reveal even this unto you". 

Premise

The Pulpit Commentary page 119 on Phi.3:12-14 "The most advanced Christian is always the humblest. The nearer we draw to Christ, the more we feel our own unworthiness. The light of Christ's holiness, manifested in the heart of his saints, brings into clearer light the exceeding sinfulness of sin. But he is striving after perfection. The Christian knows his own weakness and sin, but he knows also that he is really following Christ. If we are doing so, we must know it; we must be conscious of real effort in the spiritual life. This very sense of imperfection urges the Christian to sustained effort. He is never satisfied with himself,  therefore he presses onwards. He does not dwell with complacency on his own attainments, but forgets the progress he has made; in view of the far greater height which remains to scale, he throws himself into the work with ever-increasing energy".

Subtopic: Lord Take Me Higher

Text: Phi. 3:7-15"But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. (vs8) Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.(vs9) And be found in him, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God  by faith:(vs10) That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; (vs11) If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. (vs12) Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. (vs13) Brethern I count not myself to have apprehended; but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, (vs14) I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God  in Christ Jesus. (vs15) Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you".  

Eph.3:16-19 " That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; (vs17) That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye being rooted and grounded in love, (vs18) May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breath, and length, and depth, and height;(vs19) And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God".

Heb.6:1-3 “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, (vs2) Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.” (vs3) And this will we do, if God permit.”

PREMISE

The Pulpit Commentary pages118-119 on Phi. 3:12-16 "The nearer we draw to Christ, the more we feel our own unworthiness. The light of Christ's holiness, manifested in the hearts of the saints, brings out into clearer light the exceeding sinfulness of sin. This very sense of imperfection urges the Christian to sustained effort. He is never satisfied  with himself, therefore he always presses onward. He does not dwell with complacency on his attainments, but forgets the progress which he has made; in view of the far greater height which remains to scale, he throws himself into the work with ever-increasing energy. The crown of righteousness is laid up for all who love the appearing of the Lord. God is calling us thither, calling us upward, to higher degrees of the spiritual life now, to the perfection of that life in heaven. The prize of that upward calling is the heavenly glory. It is the end for which the Christian lives, which makes life worth having, worth living".

Subtopic : "He Knoweth The Way That I Take"

Text: Job 23:8-14 "Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: (vs9) On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: (vs10) But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. (vs11) My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. (vs12) Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food. (vs13) But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth. (vs14) For he perfometh the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him."

Philippians 3:11-15 "If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. (vs12) Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. (vs13) Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, (vs14) I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (vs15) Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

PREMISE

The Pulpit Commentary, Vol.7,Page 404, a commentary on Job 23:10-- GOD'S KNOWLEDGE AND MAN'S DISCIPLINE. "Job has just been owning his difficulty in finding God. He searches in all directions, forward and backwards, on the left hand and on the right, and he cannot discover God (vers.8,9). But although it is so hard for him to attain to a knowledge of God, he is quite certain that God knows him. We are known by God before we think of acknowledging him, and when we are bewildered with the mystery of life all is clear and open to God. God knows the way that his servants take. (1) Past experiences. He knows what we have had to contend with, and why our lives have been vexed and tried. (2) Present circumstances. At the very moment when we have some new difficulty to face, some new height to climb, or some new snare to avoid, God is with us, perfectly understanding the whole situation. (3) Future scenes. One step is enough for us, because God knows all that lies before us. Although our way may seem to be leading to impossible regions, he who sees the end from the beginning can lead us through. If God knows our way, we have not to travel like Columbus, over untried seas. The whole route has been mapped out by God. We cannot be lost if he who knows our way is our Guide."

Subtopic:   The New Ambition Of My Rededication

Text: Ezek. 36:26-27 " A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.(vs. 27)And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments and do them".

Phi. 3:7-15 "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.(vs8) Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord; for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.(vs9) And be found in him, not having my own righteousness which is of God by faith: (vs10) That I might know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; (vs11) If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.(vs12) Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.(vs13) Brethren I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,(vs14) I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.(vs15) Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything  ye be otherwise  minded, God shall reveal even this unto you".

Premise

The Pulpit Commentary page 119 on Phi.3:12-14 "The most advanced Christian is always the humblest. The nearer we draw to Christ, the more we feel our own unworthiness. The light of Christ's holiness, manifested in the heart of his saints, brings into clearer light the exceeding sinfulness of sin. But he is striving after perfection. The Christian knows his own weakness and sin, but he knows also that he is really following Christ. If we are doing so, we must know it; we must be conscious of real effort in the spiritual life. This very sense of imperfection urges the Christian to sustained effort. He is never satisfied with himself,  therefore he presses onwards. He does not dwell with complacency on his own attainments, but forgets the progress he has made; in view of the far greater height which remains to scale, he throws himself into the work with ever-increasing energy".