# Family Bible Hour
Speaker: [[Nick Weaver]] 

When were you most on fire for the Lord? For some, recent.  For others, 5, 10 or 15 years ago.

The story of a man who never lost his zeal: [[Philippians 3]] 

This Philippian church loved Paul.  He's writing this letter in prison in Rome to thank them for the gift they sent him.

[[Philippians 3#1]] is one of the biggest turning points in the book.  He turns from encouragement to warning them of threats to the church.

Why does Paul start with "finally"? Not necessary a "final thought".  

[[Philippians 3#2]] who are the "dogs"? Paul didn't got to the synagogue ([[Acts 16]]) in Philippi probably because there wasn't one.  Otherwise, he _always_ went to the synagogue first.  So, hard to know if Paul is warning them of things to come or things already happening--Judaizers having come into the city since the church was established.

The issue Paul is highlighting men who have confidence in the flesh.

[[Deuteronomy 10#12]] something that the Jews missed regarding circumcision. 

[[Romans 2#28]] a Jew is one who is one inwardly, not outwardly.  Circumcision of the heart is the most important thing. Circumcision was an outward expression of what had already happened inwardly.  Circumcision happened for the first time in [[Genesis 17]], _after_ Abraham had believed.

[[Philippians 3#8]] Paul was confronted with Christ and had to decide then if he would consider all of his upbringing and qualifications or would he rest completely in Christ? He himself was wrong, in his current efforts.  Would he humble himself and admit it? Would he give up trying to obtain righteousness from the law? Or, would he turn to Christ for righteousness?

[[Philippians 3#10|Phil 3:10]] "knowing" experientially. Paul was not content and never was to "only" know Jesus has his savior.  He wanted to know him experientially in all things.  Could this be the cause of our lose of fervor? Do we want something else? Or, do we want to know Jesus in all ways and in all things?

In order to display the power of his resurrection, Christ had to die first. Perhaps we miss this. We don't want to "die" first, to experience Christ's power in our lives. We hold comforts, ideas, other things too dearly in this life. This keeps us from knowing Christ fully.

[[Philippians 3#14]] - we have to have the same goal to press on forward and know Christ and his power.

# Events
[[Ian Barnes]] passed away today at 1:30 pm.  [[Todd Ericson]] and [[Valeria Ericson]] were there, at their house, bringing them lunch when he passed.