Philippians 3:1-21
Philippians 3:3 (LB) "…We Christians glory in what Christ Jesus has done for us and realize that we are helpless to save ourselves."
 
1. Relax in God’s grace daily.
  • Religion is what you do for God; a relationship is what God has done for you.
  • One of the traps that will take away your happiness is legalism.
  • It's not a performance, but it's because of His grace.
2.  Remember what matters most.
  • It's easy to lose your joy over the small stuff.
  • Philippians 3:7 "All the things that I once thought were so important to me, I now consider worth nothing because of Christ."
  • How do you know if you’ve been saved?
  • Your values will change.
  • TRAP – Culture will try to change you back.
  • I remember what matters most.
  • Philippians 3:8 "Yes, everything else is worthless when compared to the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I may have Christ and become one with Him."
3. Get to know Jesus better.
  • Get to know Jesus a little better.
  • There is a big difference in knowing about someone as opposed to knowing someone.
  • "For my determined purpose is that I may know Christ – that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more strongly and more clearly…"
  • You won't go deeper into the Lord accidentally.
  • TRAP – Busyness.
  • Psalm 46:10 "Be still."
4. Discover where I need to grow.
  • Psalm 139:23-24 "Search me O God and know my heart. Try me, test me, and know my thoughts. See if there is anything evil or wicked in my life. And lead me in the way that's everlasting."
  • Following Jesus is a decision and then it is a process.
  • "I stayed too close to where I got in."
  • I'm still growing.
  • TRAP – Pride will hinder that process.
  • Humility leads to happiness because it makes you teachable.
5.   Forget what can’t be changed and focus on the future.
  • Because the past is the past.
  • You will never know the beauty of a liberated future until you quit staring into the rearview mirror.
  • Happiness and joy require letting go and learning to forget.
  • TRAP – Tradition.
  • "Well, I don't care"
  • In culture, tradition calls for getting even when you can.
  • Isaiah 43:17-18 "Forget the former things and do not dwell on the past; see, I am doing a new thing!"