Havasu Christian Church
April 27, 2025
Study in Philippians
Philippians 3:15-21
“Adjust your attitude!”
INTRO: We’ve all probably been told one time or another to “adjust our attitude!” Perhaps we were acting all “self-important.” Or maybe we were being too timid. It could be that you tried to talk back to your mother and she “helped you” adjust your attitude. You may have even seen fit to realize your mistake and adjust your own attitude!
In Philippians 3:15-21 we see a call for an attitude adjustment. Let’s see what this means.
- First, we are called by the Apostle Paul to make an “attitude adjustment!”
Philippians 3:15-18 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained. Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.
- The “attitude adjustment begins with being “perfect.”
- Is this even possible?
Definition: Brought to completion; fully accomplished, fully developed, fully realized, thorough, complete, entire, as opposed to what is partial and limited, full grown of ripe age, fully accomplished in Christian enlightenment, perfect in some point of character, without shortcoming in respect of a certain standard, perfect, consummate, of higher excellence and efficiency.
- Many translations give us “Mature” or “Spiritually Mature” at this verse.
- So, if you are growing toward maturity, you are, in the sense of this word, perfect… Spiritually mature.
- Exactly how am I supposed to accomplish this attitude adjustment?
- “Keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.
- Don’t “backslide.”
- It’s easy to “coast.” To have the same depth of character that we did last year.
- But we are not called to “coast.”
- When “Coasting” we eventually stop, and will even go backwards.
- We are called to keep moving forward, even when it’s difficult!
Youth group trip years ago… we went to a high sand dune. If you were brave enough to do so, you could climb to the top of the dune, then launch yourself out into the air, and tumble down the dune.
It was a really stupid activity, & yes, I did it!
Our light, nimble high school kids scampered up the sand. I, weighing about 220, and already past scampering, trudged up the sand dune. For every foot forward, I probably slid backwards 8 inches. It was a long, hard climb, but I made it. The reward for this was a pretty spectacular leap, roll and slide… and a long ride home with sand in many uncomfortable places!
- When we look at some people, it seems they are scampering up the sand dune of growing in Christ.
- They may be struggling far more than you know.
- Even if they aren’t, it doesn’t give you and me an excuse to quit!
- Keep trudging! Don’t quit!
- Listen to God!
- Read HIS WORD!
- Why should I expect God to “Whisper in my ear” when He’s already seen to it that I have detailed instructions written down in print?
- “Dig in” to God’s Word!
- Read it for yourself.
- Pick a time, start small, grow!
- Join our Sunday school class.
- Come to one of the several Bible Studies that happen throughout the week.
- Tuesday night at 7 pm, at Mark & Joy’s house. Wednesday night, 7 pm, here at the Church, Thursday at 10 am. (ladies’) Sunday afternoon at Verne & Kay’s house at 4 pm. Sunday afternoon at the Waltons’ house at 5 pm.
- Look for God’s guidance in your life.
- This may come from circumstances.
- God puts you in a position where you have the opportunity to serve and witness. DO IT!
- God may have other Christians “speak into your life.”
- They may see an area where you would be effective in Ministry.
- They may work up their courage and kindly confront you about something in your life you are doing wrong.
- It may take an attitude adjustment, but LISTEN TO THEM!
- Look for good examples to follow!
- There are other Christians in our lives that we can look at and say “I should live more like they do in this area of their life!”
- Look for these people!
- Know that they won’t be perfect, but we can still learn from them.
- Paul sets himself out as a good example to follow.
- We should all aspire to be good examples, that others can follow.
- When we fail as examples, we should admit it!
- We can also learn how not to live from the examples of those who are “enemies of the cross of Christ.”
Philippians 3:18-19 For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.
- These examples should break our hearts.
- Paul has told them about these folks and it makes him cry.
- They have chosen to be in opposition to Jesus!
- There were many kinds of people in Paul’s day that fit this description.
- Jews who didn’t want to accept Jesus as their Messiah and Lord.
- Often very moral and righteous, but determined to “stay the way they are.” “I’m just not going to change!”
- Gentiles and Jews who chose to ignore the challenge to change that the teaching of Jesus brought.
- When Paul was imprisoned, before he was sent to Rome, he spoke before the Roman governor, Festus, King Agrippa, and his wife, Bernice.
Acts 26:24–29 While Paul was saying this in his defense, Festus *said in a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind! Your great learning is driving you mad.” But Paul *said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I utter words of sober truth. “For the king knows about these matters, and I speak to him also with confidence, since I am persuaded that none of these things escape his notice; for this has not been done in a corner. “King Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets? I know that you do.” Agrippa replied to Paul, “In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian.” And Paul said, “I would wish to God, that whether in a short or long time, not only you, but also all who hear me this day, might become such as I am, except for these chains.”
- Festus told Paul he was crazy!
- “I just can’t bring myself to believe what you are saying is true!”
- King Agrippa put Paul off.
- “If I keep listening to you, I’m going to have to do something about it.”
- “I just don’t really want to change how I live,” so I’ll just ignore you!
- These folks’ “end is destruction!”
- This is not good news!
- If they don’t Change, DESTRUCTION!
- How do we recognize them?
- They worship their own appetites!
- Whatever brings them temporary pleasure, that’s what they are after.
- They take glory in things they should be ashamed of doing!
- They will happily tell you, “I must have had a good time this weekend, my bank account is empty, and I don’t remember anything about what went on!”
- They set their mind on earthly things.
- It’s all about the “here and now.”
- No thought of what lies beyond.
- Perhaps a wishful, soft hope of “grandpa looking down on us,” but no real hope in this.
- Why do wo do all this?
- Why would we change our attitudes and change our behavior?
Philippians 3:20-21 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.
- We don’t really belong here!
- We live here now, but Heaven is our real home.
- We are waiting for Jesus’ return!
- Consider your time on earth as training for Eternity With the Lord in Heaven!
- One day, we will be transformed!
- No longer in our earthly “humble state” body, but into an eternal one!
- A body like the one Jesus now has!
1 Corinthians 15:42–44 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
- Our body is sown Perishable… It can be destroyed, it rots!
- Raised imperishable… no more destruction!
- Sown in dishonor…. You bury a corpse because they aren’t very pleasant to have around!
- Raised in Glory! The New body will be glorious! Perfect forever!
- Sown in weakness… Our bodies are never as strong as we would wish, and as we age that becomes all the more apparent. Then we die. Absolute weakness!
- The new body is raised in POWER!
- Dunimas! The same word from which we get the word Dynamite!
- Sown a natural body.
- It’s what we all have right now.
- Raised in a Spiritual body! The body that will live forever with Jesus!
- Jesus will give us this marvelous, glorious, new, forever body by His Power!
- WHAT A PROMISE!
- Eternity like that, in exchange for choosing to follow Jesus!
CONCLUSION: Adjust that attitude!
