TOTAL DEVOTION

READING: Phil 3:7-14

7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for
whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung , that I may win Christ,
9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the
faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made
conformable unto his death;
11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend
that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are
behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

I. LET’S BE TOTALLY DEVOTED TO CHRIST.

A. Then He will have the preeminence.
1. Col 1:11-20
11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with
joyfulness;
12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in
light:
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether
they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all
things he might have the preeminence.
19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I
say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

B. We cannot be taken away from Christ.

1. Phil 3:7-14
7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for
whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung , that I may win Christ,
9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the
faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made
conformable unto his death;
11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend
that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are
behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
 2. 2 Tim 1:11-12 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have
believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that
day.

C. We can have that power within us.

1. Eph 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think,
according to the power that worketh in us,

2. 2 Tim 3:14-17 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of,
knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures,
which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is
given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

II. LET’S BE TOTALLY DEVOTED TO GIVING.

A. As commanded.
1. 2 Cor 9:6-7 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth
bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him
give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

B. We have our priority, don’t we?

1. Ex 36:3-5 And they received of Moses all the offering, which the children of Israel had brought for
the work of the service of the sanctuary, to make it withal. And they brought yet unto him free offerings
every morning. And all the wise men, that wrought all the work of the sanctuary, came every man from
his work which they made; And they spake unto Moses, saying, The people bring much more than
enough for the service of the work, which the LORD commanded to make.

2. Mark 12:41-44 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into
the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she
threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them,
Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the
treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even
all her living.

III. LET’S BE TOTALLY DEVOTED TO AGAPE LOVE.

A. As commanded by Christ.
1. John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved
you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have
love one to another.

B. As demonstrated by Paul.
1. 2 Cor 11:24-28
24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been
in the deep;
26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by
the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and
nakedness.
28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
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 C. How to put it into practice.
1. 1 John 3:16-18 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we
ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother
have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

IV. LET IT NOT BE A MILD DEVOTION..

A. God deserves our all.
1. Rev 3:14-22
14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true
witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that
thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou
mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that
thou mayest see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him,
and will sup with him, and he with me.
21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down
with my Father in his throne.
22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

2. Col 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks
to God and the Father by him.