Joy in Letting Go

Guest Pastor: Darryl DelHousaye

Thursday, August 7th, 2025

Sunday, August 10th, 2025

Key Passage:

Philippians 3:1-11

Is it what I do that makes me who I am?

Is life all about performance and some of us do and some of us don’t?

OR

Is there something else that has to do with the fact we all bear the image of God?

I. PAUL’S WARNING (3:1-3)

● He’s a bit harsh but he’s talking about those who would have you believe it is all about your performance.

● We’re told you are what you can do and that’s a lie!

● Paul wants us to know who we really are and how we got there. He warns of those you want to mess with your thinking about this and convince you that you are something less.

II. PAUL’S PERFORMANCE (3:4-6)

● No one went for it more than Paul himself. His performance was intended not only to impress others but to impress God as well.

● If anyone could blow smoke about being exceptional, it was Paul. He gives us his pedigree.

1. Circumcised on 8th day (Gen. 17:12)

2. Nation of Israel (chosen people)

3. Tribe of Benjamin (Tribe of Kings)

4. Hebrews of Hebrews

5. A Pharisee

6. Persecutor of the church

7. Blameless in law abiding

III. PAUL’S REALIZATION (3:7-11)

● Paul ends up calling it all “rubbish”. It’s not about performance, it’s about relationship.

● The answer to the question “Who Am I?” has nothing to do with “righteousness derived from the law.”

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS:

● THIS IS WHO I AM: A CHILD OF GOD WITH A DESIRE TO HONOR MY HEAVENLY FATHER AND THIS IS WHAT DEFINES ME.

● WE DON’T HAVE AN IDENTITY CRISIS. WE KNOW WHO WE ARE; WHY WE ARE; AND WHERE WE’RE GOING. I AM A CHILD OF GOD; HERE TO HONOR MY HEAVENLY FATHER; AND HEADED FOR ETERNITY WITH HIM IN A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH.

● IT’S HARD TO LET GO OF THOSE THINGS THAT MAKE WE FEEL “BETTER THAN YOU” BECAUSE HOW ELSE WILL ANYONE RESPECT ME? BUT THIS IS THE JOY OF LETTING GO! GIVE UP THE ESTEEM BY PERFORMANCE GAME AND EMBRACE WHO YOU REALLY ARE.