Philippians 3:17-4:1 "Enemies of the Cross"

            “Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so they will be like his glorious body. Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!”

            The new school year is upon us! Whether we go to school or not, every day we encounter many people living as enemies of the cross of Christ. Though they may seem to have their life altogether, and everything seems to be work for their good—popularity among peers, money, good looks, a good job, grades in school, etc.—we know that such a path only leads to destruction. Their god is their stomach. Their mind is focused on what would make them happy, what they want, what will bring them pleasure. None of the things they strive to achieve will ever bring them lasting joy, but yet they still seek to fill their stomachs with temporary pleasures. What glory they think they have found is empty, meaningless, because they find glory in the shame of their sin. The man with a pretty girlfriend may pride himself on always having a pretty girlfriend, but he treats them as disposable, leaving broken hearts behind him. A young woman may pride herself on being a part of the “popular” girls a school, but the burned friendships she left behind loved her more than her “friends” do now. Where those who are enemies of the cross live with their mind on earthly things, our minds should be firmly fixed on the things of God. Let us stand firm this year in the Lord, looking not to the enemies of the cross as an example, but to others following the Lord.

Psalm 73:2-3, 16-17, John 16:33 "Life Isn't Fair"

            “But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.”

            “When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destination.”

            It is very likely that someone has told you before that, “Life isn’t fair.” Things happen to use that we feel we don’t deserve. Though we are following God, it still seems like those who aren’t have easier lives than we do. It is when we begin to envy those with earthly ease and wealth, however, that we begin to stumble. Christ tells His disciples in John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” If we are following God, we will be in direct opposition to the things of this world, and it will bring us hardship. However, we have God-given peace that we will be taken care of –that God is in control and has control of everything. Though, “life isn’t fair,” we have eternity in the presence of God to look toward. But the prosperity of the wicked will not last.

Psalm 27:4, Matthew 6:33, 6:10 "Seeking"

            “One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.”

            “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

            Once we accept the free gift of grace purchased by Christ’s blood and begin following after God, there is one thing we ought to be seeking above anything else. The kingdom of God may often seem like some far off end goal in our lives, something attainable after we have lived out our lives, but the Lord’s prayer teaches us to pray for, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” If we are constantly seeking His kingdom, to dwell with Him and desire His will in everything we do, delighting in His power and glory, everything else will fall into place as we become more like Him. The more we spend time with Him desiring what He desires for our lives, the more we begin to reflect Him in our actions and speech. When we seek God’s kingdom, we are seeking Him and His will.

John 15:19, Isaiah 66:17-23 "New"

            “If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.”

            “The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind…”

            We do not belong to this world. Like the rest of God’s creation, we were made for His glory, so that He could love us and we could love Him. Our earthly home is imperfect and the people in it sinful. Because we have God’s love living in us, all the pain and suffering around us should break our hearts on a daily basis. Children die before they even have a chance to live. Cancer often takes people much sooner than the family they leave behind could wish. People lose their jobs and families go through divorce. People lie, cheat, and steal from others. But we still have hope! “Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.” Though this world may break our heart, and life seems unfair, though we cry now for the people we have lost, the Lord says, “I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more.”

Hosea 13:14, Matthew 28:5-6, 1 Corinthians 15:26 "Resurrection"

            “I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. Where, O death, are your plagues? Where, O grave, is your destruction?”

            “The angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.”

            “The last enemy to be destroyed is death.”

            …but He has risen from the grave, having conquered death.

Isaiah 53:4-6, Matthew 27:51, Romans 5:25 a "Death"

            “Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has gone his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

            “At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.”

            “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood…”

            …taking our sins upon Himself, being separated from God so that we could have access to Him…

Psalm 22:16, Mark 15:25-26, Romans 5:8 "Crucifixion"

“Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet.”

“It was the third hour when they crucified him. The written notice of the charge against him read: THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Christ died for every single person…