Losing To Gain: A Journey With Christ
Losing to Gain: The Journey With Christ
Tuesday, December 2, 2025
Min. Brooke Gillum
To gain, you must be willing to lose.
Every loss surrendered to Christ becomes a place where His grace blossoms and His purpose unfolds.
Philippians 3: 7-8 (NLT) “I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. 8 Yes, everything is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ.”
Philippians 3:7-8 (ESV) “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 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.”
Knowing Christ is not just knowledge of Him- but relationship with Him
Gnosis (naa-sis): intimacy, experience, a personal encounter
Fleeting things cannot birth long-lasting freedom, peace and joy that is only found in Christ.
Paul wanted to be closer with the Savior of His soul. All his earthly glory didn’t matter to him.
Draw me close to you
Never let me go
I lay it all down again
To hear you say that I'm your friend
You are my desire
No one else will do
'Cause nothing else can take your place
To feel the warmth of your embrace
Help me find the way
Bring me back to you
You're all I want
You're all I've ever needed
You're all I want
Help me know you are near
© Kelly Carpenter
Acts 27: 21-26 (NLT) “No one had eaten for a long time. Finally, Paul called the crew together and said, “Men, you should have listened to me in the first place and not left Crete. You would have avoided all this damage and loss.22 But take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down.23 For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me, 24 and he said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What’s more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you.’ 25 So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said. 26 But we will be shipwrecked on an island.”
In Acts 27 losses were forced - they had to lighten their load. In Philippians 3, losses were chosen; it was a decision Paul made. BUT in both cases the losses led Paul closer to God’s purpose!
Every loss for Christ becomes a pathway for better gain.
What we lose is temporary. What we gain is eternal!
Old Identity vs. New Identity in Christ
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold ALL things have become new”
Our old identities were defined by labels of this world or by ourselves. Our new identities are defined by who Jesus says we are.
Galatians 2:20 (NLT) “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
You are chosen and forgiven in Christ Jesus.
2. Worldly Attitudes vs. The Mind of Christ
Examples:
Worldly Attitude
“I’ll never forgive them for hurting me”
Attitude of Christ
“I choose to forgive because Christ forgave me”
Ephesians 4:32 “Instead be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”
Worldly Attitude
“I’m going to cut them off” “I’m going to give them the silent treatment”
Attitude of Christ
“Let me pray for them”
James 5:16 “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results”
Examples:
Worldly Attitude
Let’s fear & anxiety rule them.
Attitude of Christ
Chooses to put their trust and future into God’s hand
Philippians 4:6 “Don’t worry about anything, instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.”
Worldly Attitude
“That’s not my job.” “I don’t get paid enough for this.”
Attitude of Christ
I work for the Lord
3. Control vs. Dependence
Control is rooted in fear. Dependence is rooted in faith
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV) “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
YOU are not Lord over your life. JESUS is Lord over your life
Jeremiah 17:7 (NKJV) “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord.”
4. Status & Reputation vs. Kingdom Citizen
Just like Paul, many people hold onto their status and achievements, not realizing that these things must be surrendered in order to gain something far greater in Christ.
Galatians 1:10 (NLT) “Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal. I would not be Christ’s servant.”
John 12:42-43 (NLT) “Many people did believe in him, however, including some of the Jewish leaders. But they wouldn’t admit it for fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue. 43 For they loved human praise more than the praise of God.
5. Worldly Relationships vs. Family in Christ
Proverbs 13:20 (NLT) “Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.”
Ephesians 2:19-22 (ESV) “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”
6. Idols of the Heart vs. The Alpha and Omega
Idolatry is not only bowing to a statue; it is loving anything more than God
Exodus 20: 3-5 (NLT) “You must not have any other gods but me. 4 You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. 5 You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected-even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me.”
God commands exclusive devotion
Exodus 32: 1-4 (NLT) “When the people saw how long it was taking Moses to come back down the mountain, they gathered around Aaron, “come on” they said, “make us some gods who can leads us. We don’t know what happened to this fellow Moses, who brought us from the land of Egypt.” 2 So Aaron said, “take the gold rings from the ears of your wives and sons and daughters, and bring them to me.” 3 All the people took the gold rings from their eats and brought them to Aaron. 4 Then Aaron took the gold, melted it down, and molded it into the shape of a calf. When the people saw it, they exclaimed, “O Israel, there are the gods who brough you out of the land of Egypt.”
When you let go of idols, you gain the one true God who reigns over all.
7. Worldly Measure of Success vs. Treasure in Heaven
Society values visible accomplishments, recognition, and material abundance. God values the condition of the heart, faithfulness, obedience, love and humility.
Matthew 6:19-20 (NKJV) “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steam 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steak, 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Ecclesiastes 2:11 (NLT) “But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless-like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere.”
Ecclesiastes 4:4 (NLT) “Then I observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. But this too, is meaningless-like chasing the wind.
Rich in All the Wrong Things:
Mark 10:21-22 (NKJV) “Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “you lack one thing: go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” 22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”
Let go
Give
Receive treasure in Heaven
Follow
Philippians 3:7-8 (ESV) “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 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.”
Paul didn’t walk away sad; the rich younger ruler did
Paul released his treasures; the rich young ruler clutched his
Paul had a surrendered heart posture; the rich young ruler had a protective one
Paul rejoiced over gaining more of Christ; The rich young ruler mourned the cost of his wealth.
