Title: All things loss for the excellency

Text: Philippians 3:7-10

Purpose:
That those who do not know Jesus as their Savior would come to know him, and that
those who have put their trust in Christ would see that their relationship with God is the most
important thing in life and that they would be equipped practically to know how to develop
that relationship.

Introduction:
What should be our aim in life? For what were we made? What is the eternal life that
Jesus gives? (John 17:3) What is the best thing in life, bringing more joy, delight and
contentment than anything else? (Jer 9:23-24)
Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in
his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: 24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he
understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and
righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.
I want to invite you on a journey with me, to know God. The greatest journey ever.

Many of us know about God, but how can we turn our knowledge about God into knowledge of
God? The way to do this is simple, but demanding. It is that we turn every truth we know about
God into matter for meditation before God, leading to prayer and praise to God.
What is meditation?

Knowing a living thing is more complex than knowing an inanimate object. Knowing a living
thing is not just to know its history, but how it is likely to react and behave under certain
circumstances.

Paul counted all thing dung. Not only does he consider them not having value, but he does not
spend his time thinking about them. What normal person sits around dreaming about manure?
This in effect is what many of us do though; it shows how little we truly know God.

We come to know God through Jesus Christ the Lord, because of His cross and mediation, on
the basis of His word of promise, by the power of the Holy Spirit, through a personal exercise of
faith. – J. I. Packer

How do we know God?

We know God through knowing Jesus. (John 14:6)

I. He loves you.
II. He came to earth to pay the punishment for our sins.
 III. He rose from the dead and we have life through Him.

What does knowing God involve?

I. Listening to God’s Word and receiving and applying it to ourselves.

II. Noting God’s nature and character as His words and works reveal.
III. Accepting His invitations and doing what He commands.
IV. Recognizing and rejoicing in the love that He has shown you.

Evidences of knowing God:

I. Those who know God have great energy for God. (Dan. 11:32)
a. Daniel and his friends’ diet
b. Daniel praying with an open window
c. They are sensitive to situations in which God’s truth and honor are being directly
or tacitly jeopardized and force the issue on man’s attention seeking to compel a
change of heart even at great personal risk.
d. It is not just in public gestures, and it does not start there either. “People who
know their God are before anything, people who pray.
II. Those who know God have great thoughts of God.
III. Those who know God show great boldness for God.
a. Fiery furnace. (Acts 5:29; 20:24)
IV. Those who know God have great contentment in God.
a. Romans 5:1 Chapter 8 “There is now no condemnation for those who are in
Christ Jesus.... The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s
children. . . heirs of God. . . We know that in all things God works for the good of
those who love him. . . Those he justified, he also glorified. . . If God is for us,
who can be against us?...Who will bring any charge against those whom God has
chosen?...Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?...I am
convinced that neither death nor life. . . neither the present nor the future. . .
will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord”
(vv.1,16-17, 28, 30, 31, 33, 35, 38-39).
b. Daniel 3:16-18

Conclusion:
Do we desire such knowledge of God? Then there are two things to do. First we must
recognize how much we lack knowledge of God. Measure yourself not by how much you know
about God, but by how you pray and what goes on in your heart. Ask the Lord to show you.
Second, we must seek the Savior. (Jer. 29:13) Luke 11:9-10
Ps 34:8 O taste and see that the Lord is good
If you do not know Jesus as your Savior, would you settle that tonight? Some may be saying, “I
haven’t put my trust in Jesus to save me; I don’t know if I'm going to Heaven but I would like to
know for sure and to have that personal relationship that Paul had. If that’s you, would you
raise your hand. For the Christian listening, if God has spoken to you specifically about your
relationship to Him and knowing Him more, would you raise your hand? I would like to pray for
you.