Dustin Blumer Sermon 428 - Philippians 3:12-14 Million Reasons Hey welcome to Amazing Love as we kick off our brand new series called Playlist. It’s a series where we are going to pick out some popular songs, and draw out some spiritual truths. And because it’s a series all about music, let’s talk about music. If I asked you who is the King of Rock and Roll or more simply the King. I would of course be referring to. Elvis Presley. And has anyone ever been to Graceland or toured his home in Memphis? Some of you grew up with the King, me I didn’t know him much or grow up with him but share his affinity for sideburns. But did you know he was not always considered the King of Rock in Roll. In fact in his very first performance at the Grand Ole Opry theater he was kicked off the stage, and it’s reported the manager told him “he ought to go back to driving a truck.” And what if Elvis listened to that advice. We would know nothing of Jailhouse Rock, Blue suede shoes, or sideburns. Or perhaps you heard of these guys. The Beatles. When they were looking for their first label, one told them that they wouldn’t cut it because guitar music was on the way out. Shows you what that label knew. I tell you these stories because both Elvis and The Beatles would have had enough reasons to give up, but imagine if they did? Imagine all the people, they wouldn’t have reached. I can relate to wanting to give up on a dream. The dream for me was becoming a pastor, proclaiming the message of Jesus and his love. Being an instrument in the hands of God to bring people from death to life. And there weren’t a million reasons to give up on the dream, but there were 4 identifiable ones. Namely Latin, German, Greek and Hebrew - these were the languages I needed to study to get there. Or 8 reasons, the 8 years after school it would take to get there. Or consider this church, we’re in a new day. A day of completed renovations and expansion. A great day and great season. But there have been periods in our history where we had enough reasons to give up. Outreach efforts, relational efforts, gospel sharing efforts that seemed to produce no fruit. But what if we had given up? And so welcome to this place members, guests and visitors. And though we haven’t met here is what I know about you, you also have had reasons to give up on something meaningful. Perhaps something that mattered a great deal. It could be school for some kids, a team, a relationship, a job. For you Christians it could be giving up on the strides of sanctification. In fact some of you have come in here with a laundry list of reasons. You can share all the reasons you have to call it quits. And in some cases they are justifiable reasons that maybe should ‘cause you to go a different direction. That happens. Like I quit a team once, ‘cause the coach was a jerk that’s ok. Sometimes we even have Biblical reasons to give up. But sometimes we’re prompted to quit on things that really matter. A relationship with a child, our connection with God, the difference we’re striving to make for a cause higher than ourselves, a better marriage. And it’s those things I want to talk about with you. And the first thing I want to make you aware of is a spiritual battle. See in Ephesians 6 it says, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” See there is a real enemy against you for making a difference, and yes we do believe there is a real devil. And here is the first point. The devil works that we might give up on what matters most. He gives us a million reasons why things that matter, that have significance, that have long term impact, should no longer matter. And why they are not worth it. But we need to see his attacks for what they are, we need true wisdom past his reasons, and strength from God. So we’re starting this new series called Playlist. And we’ll pick out some popular songs, in order to draw out spiritual truths. Today our song is a million reasons. And we’ll listen to that song in a bit, but first let’s go to the true source of our teaching, and the power of this place. That is the powerful Word from the greatest artist our God. And while you may be new to Christianity or have some questions about this book. We do believe in a miraculous way God preserved these words so we could be guided in this and every age. And today God is riffing through the artist known as Paul, not Mccartney, but of Tarsus. And Paul is describing the one reason he has to continue to do what he’s doing. The reason he will not give up on following Christ, living for Christ, and telling people about Christ. Let’s read it as we turn to Philippians. We see Paul’s reason, and now I invite you to turn to the person next to you and say, “I’ve found a reason.” So we’re digging in to a song in which there seems to be highlighted a relationship to give up on. And I found a video produced by lifechurch same church who came up with the playlist series. And I want to share with you the song for today. So the artist talks about being stuck in a cycle, of not knowing what to believe, of it being so bad all she wants to do is run away. And in the chorus it says, the lyrics say, “I've got a hundred million reasons to walk away. But baby, I just need one good one to stay.” I know all the reasons to give up, but if you just give me one. That one may just be enough. Paul had reasons to give up, not on a relationship but on mission to share Jesus and live for him. Can I share with you some of his reasons, “24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?” He’s got some reasons to give up and call it a day. To say it’s not worth it this life for Christ, this mission to the Gentiles. He has another reason even as he writes this letter, for as he writes he is stuck in prison for his faith. You think you have reasons to give up on what matters most, he had more. And what if, what if Paul had given up? Where would we be? What would our world be like, how far would this message of Jesus have spread? I remember a conversation I had with another pastor friend of mine. He had just had a year of tremendous blessing given by God to the church he was pastor of. But right before that year he had an opportunity to leave and go somewhere else. And he was reflecting on all the things he would have missed if he had left and taken that call. And yes it is God’s kingdom and it would have still went on, but I could sense in him this acknowledgement he was glad he didn’t go at that moment. And then I look at Jesus, came down from heaven on a mission to save the world. And he had reasons not to do it. His reasons were the nails, the thorns, the spear. His reasons were the desertion of his disciples, and the mocking of the crowd. And in his foreknowledge as God he knew they were coming. And the pressure was intense. Yes, he had his reasons but what if gave up in that moment? We’d be lost. And we look at those stories with the benefit of hindsight. But what about our lives and the important matters before us that we think of giving up on. Is it possible that thing in this moment has bigger implications than we can see right now. Is it possible that the thing hanging in the balance is more significant that we can see. Is it possible we are far too short-sighted about what we’re tempted to give up on.