Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. ~ Philippians 3:17-18 ESV

These words of Paul come on the heels of his intense declaration of loyalty to Christ, urging the Philippians to follow his example to count all things as loss for the sake of Christ.

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. ~ v. 8-11 ESV

Notice that Paul longed to share in the sufferings of Christ, but what does that really mean? How can we share in the sufferings of Christ? Consider Paul’s statement regarding his own suffering.

For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him.

Herein is the secret to the abundant life that Jesus spoke of in the gospel of John. Abundant life is not found in a self serving gospel. Abundant life is found in knowing Jesus, and truly knowing him comes when you are willing to suffer loss for him, or as Paul says, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ.

The power of the cross as understood by Paul wasn’t only about what Christ had done for us, but also what Christ is able to do within us by His Spirit and power. Thus he refers to those who are enemies of the cross saying, Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. ~ 3: 10

Many Western Christians have embraced an enemy of the cross message as their Christian leaders feed their understanding with desires that set their mind on earthly things, such as riches and prosperity. They speak of destiny, and how God wants to bless them with worldly possessions, while they know nothing about the call to suffer with Christ.

Their understanding of the will of God is carnal and they do not comprehend that God’s will for them is victory over the sin that persistently keeps them from conforming to the likeness of Christ. They know nothing about suffering with Christ by laying down their lives ( their selfish ambitions,) thus their declarations about God are self centered and leave their soul thirsty, empty, and void of finding the true God.

Yet for the one who seeks to know God intimately, there is a place for you in the fellowship of the cross, in fellowship with Christ’s sufferings that will bring you intimately close to God and Christ in the power of the Spirit of God.

Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. ~ 1 Peter 4:1-2 KJV

We can arm ourselves in our thinking and bring our thinking in alignment with the power of Christ. Many of us struggle with various thoughts that rush to the forefront of our minds to condemn us, to entangle us in fear, and overwhelm us, but there is hope! We can arm ourselves against such thinking through the power of the cross.

When Christ went to the cross he surrendered himself completely to the Father and gave himself for us. This not only provided atonement for our salvation, but set the example for how we ought to walk as servants of Christ.

For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps… ~ 1Peter 2:21|

Even as Christ surrendered himself to the will of God for us, we are called to surrender ourselves to the will of God so that the cross may have its work in us by the Spirit.

In Philippians, Paul had set before them the very mind of Christ, who though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant. ~ Philippians 2:6-7

The suffering that we are called to is that of laying down our lives, following Christ’s example who laid down his life for us. Our calling is that of living sacrifices, being conformed to the likeness of Christ.

Paul’s prayer for the Philippians was, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. ~ Philippians 2:1-7 ESV

This is the will of God of which Peter speaks that will be experienced after we suffer in the flesh and cease from sin. The Christian life cannot be lived when self is on the throne, it can only be lived when self is on the cross. Those who are enemies of the cross will not deny themselves. The sad reality of the current Western Christian experience is that its gospel is often “self -centered,” and leads people into being enemies of the cross.

The cross does not give blessings to self, the cross puts to death, self. It is our selfish nature that God wants us to bring to the cross of Christ. This is the suffering with Christ to which we are called, and only through such suffering can we know the true joy of the resurrected life in our Christian experience. Without the cross there can be no resurrection. We cannot experience the abundant life if self is not crucified.

The mistake that too many of us make is we want the blessing of the Spirit of the Lord in the resurrection, but we refuse to allow the Spirit to bring us into suffering through the cross. Putting to death the old man and the power of sin that lurks in the mind is not easy and is often very painful, but the reward for obedience in this matter and life changing.

Notice what Paul says regarding Timothy in his letter to the Philippians.

I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel.  I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also. ~ Philippians 2:19-24  ESV

Notice that Paul does not say, “For they all seek their own interests, not those of others. He says, For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.

Serving the interest of others is serving the interest of Jesus Christ!
Timothy was trustworthy as a servant of the Lord, because Timothy had been transformed by the power of the cross and he served as one who genuinely cared for the welfare of the Philippians, because he was serving Christ. He was unlike those who sought their own interests rather than the interests of Jesus Christ.