Greetings dear brothers and sisters!

Philippians 3:3 says,

  • For we are the true circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN THE FLESH.

Take a look with me at Philippians 2:7,

  • …Jesus made Himself of NO REPUTATION

As true disciples of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, we must follow Him as our prototype.  If our MASTER made Himself of NO REPUTATION, then why do we care about ours?

Even the Apostle Paul, the man who wrote 2/3rd’s of the New Testament says in Philippians 3:4-8,

  •  For if anyone else presumes to have confidence in the flesh, by far I should have confidence.
  •  I was circumcised on the eighth day, born of the tribe of Benjamin, of the race of Israel. A Hebrew of Hebrews, and a Pharisee regarding the Law.
  •  As for being zealous in my religion, I harassed, mistreated and persecuted the Ecclessia (the Church, the Called Out Ones). Regarding the Law, I was blameless.
  •  But all that I used to consider gain (like filthy lucre) to me, I now count as nothing but damage and loss.  
  •  Yes to be sure, I count it all as nothing but damage and loss because of the superiority of knowing my Master Jesus the Anointed, for Whom I have lost all the things, which were a loss for me anyway, and count them as having been worthless and detestable. I’ve cast it all away so that I can gain the Anointed One.

So, you  may be asking, “Why can’t I know Jesus and KEEP IT ALL?  Why do I have to throw EVERYTHING away?  The answer is in verse 15:

  • Let us THINK THE SAME WAY ~ If you think differently, God will reveal this to you.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:24,

  • NO ONE can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other.  You CANNOT serve God AND mammon.

Look again with me at Philippians 3:8 (LEV).  Paul said,

  • I have LOST ALL the things, which were a LOSS for me anyway, and count them as having been WORTHLESS AND DETESTABLE.

Wow, WORTHLESS AND DETESTABLE??  Yes!!!  Why?  He goes on to say,

  • I’ve cast it ALL away SO THAT I can gain the Anointed One.

Jesus says in Matthew 10:39 (NLT),

  • If you cling to your life, you will LOSE it; but if you give up your life for ME, you will FIND it.

“Father, I pray for my readers the way Paul prayed:  That they would know You, live in the power of Your resurrection, walk in the fellowship of Your sufferings and be conformed to Your death so that by all these means, through the struggle and good fight of faith, will come to the resurrection of the dead.”

You are extremely favored and greatly blessed,

Lisa Gordon

Gordon Ministries