Philippians 3:8-9
8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ
9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;

In verse 9 the phrase “be found in Him” means to obtain Christ. When we put our faith in Jesus we should no longer strive to obtain things, or human status, we have obtained all we need in Christ Jesus. Our sole worth in life should now only be found in Him and nothing else, and like the apostle Paul we should count all things loss and focus on knowing Jesus. Paul knew something about pursuing the wrong things in life.

From an early age Paul thought what he was pursuing in life was the right thing. Raised in a culture where knowing and keeping what had become a man-made religion, as the Jews had added many of their own laws to what God had given to them, this was considered a life to be envied. It was a deceiving way to live life thinking if you could live up to the standards that man had made you could become righteous and know God. Paul upon meeting Jesus on the Damascus road found out he had placed his value in life on the wrong thing.

Many believers still do so today. They may value their possessions, money, or their status in a position as something to chase after. Paul found out all such things including man-made religion were as rubbish compared to knowing Jesus, for they cannot give you what really matters in life, being found in Him. It comes from faith in Christ, and a daily pursuit of knowing Him. All other things will simply leave you empty, but knowing Jesus personally and pursuing Him will fill your life to the full, to overflowing.
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cffchurch #PastorDarrylBaker

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-k7p74-d430ec

Learning to live a life of love is crucial for the believer. Our faith works through love, you cannot have the kind of marriage God wants for you without His love. Love is a very misunderstood subject. Learn more about the love of God and how to live in that love as Pastor Darryl and Kathy Baker share some important insights on this very important subject.

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-5vfwh-d430c1

God has given us a simple model for marriage, and when we learn how to follow that model we can have the kind of marriage God has designed for us. In this message, you will learn about this model and how to apply it to your marriage.

Ephesians 1:4
just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,

God in Christ chose us (picked us out) for Himself and He has called us to live a holy life. Holy means set apart unto Him. We are called to be holy as He is holy, walking in His example. We are in the world but not to be of the world. We do so not because of God’s law, but because of our love for Him. If you love God with all your heart, soul, and strength, you will live a holy life. There are several reasons God calls us to live a holy life.

One reason is because of the harmful and destructive things that happen to those who live a life of sin. The wages of sin is death. Death is being separated from the God-kind of life that our Father desires for us to live. A life filled with the love of God, true peace, and the joy of the Lord. Sin robs us of the life God has for us to live. Sin is making the choice to turn away from walking with God, and choosing to go in the opposite direction. If we sin, 1 John 1:9 tells us to confess our sin and God will forgives us and cleanse us of all unrighteousness.

Another reason to live a holy life is so that we do not break fellowship with God. The primary reason Christ died for us was to restore our relationship with our Heavenly Father. He provided the way for us to know Him, and knowing God not just knowing about God will make all the difference in this life we live. He loves us and wants to have fellowship with us, helping us through this life we live; but if we choose to turn away from Him He cannot help us. Choose to live a life set apart to God. Don’t turn away from the One who loves you with an everlasting love, walk with Him and you can live the God-kind of life He has for you.
http://www.cffchurch.com

cffchurch #PastorDarrylBaker

Hebrews 13:17
Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

Ever since I began my walk with God and now after pastoring for over 29 years, I have seen the impact of this verse over and over again. There are three types of people in the body of Christ. There are those who have never really acknowledged who their spiritual leaders are because they have no relationship with a spiritual leader, those who have found such leadership and biblically submitted to them; and those who have not submitted to the leadership God has given to them.

There are many in the body who say, “So and so is my spiritual leader”, but they may often be referring to someone they have never met, nor do they sit under their teaching ministry. All who have never established who these leaders are, and all who may have done so but do not submit to the Word of God they are taught, do not experience the profitable life God has for them. They don’t get stronger spiritually, they tend to stay in spiritual limbo. Why? Because God’s Word teaches you cannot fully mature without the spiritual leadership He has provided for you, and by submitting to the Word of God He brings through them.

But I have seen many examples of believers in my own life, and in other churches where people have obeyed this verse and the results are obvious. They continue to grow spiritually, their marriages become better, their children walk with God, and they live a much more stable life. They have built upon the rock of God’s Word and their foundation is solid. Our spiritual welfare in life has much to do with having spiritual leadership and submitting to the truths God brings to us through those who watch out for our souls.
http://www.cffchurch.com

cffchurch #pastorDarrylBaker

2 Corinthians 5:21
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

By Jesus becoming sin for us we have become the righteousness of God, we now have right standing with Him. This right standing is what gives you the right to all that Jesus Christ has purchased for you. Many times I have asked people when sharing the Word of God if they were working on becoming right with God to raise their hand. Hands always go up when you ask this question.

I would then tell them they are trying to do something that is impossible, for if you could make yourself right with God you would not have needed Jesus to come and give you His righteousness. This is what hinders many from receiving what God has for them because they don’t think they are right with God. But if you are born again you are as right with God as Jesus Himself.

He became sin so that we could become righteous. He took our sin and He gave us the free gift of righteousness. Once born again we are as right with God as we will ever be. We are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. Walk in your rightful place with God by acknowledging who you are, what you have, and what you can do in Christ Jesus.
http://www.cffchurch.com

cffchurch #pastorDarrylBaker

2 Corinthians 1:20
For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.

Everything we have been promised through Jesus Christ is available to us. Many people today think God only heals or blesses certain people as if He shows favoritism toward certain ones but that is not what scripture reveals. In Acts 10:34 the bible reveals that He does not show special favor to anyone. If you have ever had questions concerning any of God’s promises if they are available to you, the answer is yes.

Every promise we have in Christ is available to anyone. We must give our “Amen” to receive it. The word amen means so be it unto me. It is a statement of faith. You see God is no respecter of persons but a respecter of faith. To walk by faith you have to see the promises of God as a present day reality, for faith is present tense. Hebrews 11:1 declares, “Now faith is…”. Most believers are not walking in bible faith.

Many put what they say they are believing God for off into the future. For example when someone says they are believing for God to heal them that is future tense and that is not faith. The bible says you were healed. When you give your amen to what God has promised you see it as already done, for God Himself calls those things which do not exist in the natural as though they did. Believe it in your heart, confess it as already yours, and you can walk in the reality of His promises for you.
http://www.cffchurch.com

cffchurch #pastorDarrylBaker