| Philippians | |
| A Letter of Joy Paul's Chains Advance the Gospel To Die is Gain Imitating Christ's Humility Christian Example Timothy and Epaphroditus Flesh vs Spirit Paul the Zealot The Goal of Perfection True Contentment |
A Letter of Joy (Philippians 1) Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ, to the saints at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons, grace and peace to you from God our Father in the heavenly realms and Jesus, our enlightenment and beacon. I thank my God each time that I remember you, my brothers. I always pray for you with thankfulness, being confident that he who has begun good work in you will complete it, all your lives to richly bless. It is right for me to feel this way about you, my dear friends, since I have you in my heart the whole day through. Whether I am chained in prison or presenting gospel truths, you are sharers of God's grace in all I do. I long for all of you with affection of the Christ, who sanctified you with the blood he shed. May your love abound in knowledge and discernment of the truth, obeying every word our Lord has said, so you may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the Spirit's fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ - to the glory and the praise of God who gives our mission its success. For love, devoid of knowledge guided by the Holy Spirit, is just lip service - shallow, vain emotions. How can we know to keep commands when ignorant and aimless? We cannot operate on human notions. A Christian is responsible for his maturity, for depth of insight fed by God's own will. We must live in harmony with him, live by his holy standards, so that all his righteous wishes are fulfilled. In this letter of joy to Philippian saints with good and honest hearts, who were generous beyond the call of duty, Paul sends them much encouragement to stand firm in the Lord, enrich their souls with God's pure grace and beauty. § Paul's Chains Advance the Gospel (Philippians 1) "Now, brothers, I want you to know that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel of Christ. It has become clear to the whole palace guard and to everyone else around that my suffering is a righteous sacrifice." Any guard chained to apostle Paul was an audience of one who heard the gospel message, pure and true. Many were converted and baptized in the faith, becoming zealous saints, more seeds to strew. "Because of my imprisonment, most brothers in the Lord have been encouraged, fearless, preaching Christ. Though some preached out of envy and rivalry and greed, the word was spread, the precious gift unpriced. In their attempt to cause me ill, God uses it for good. The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or from true, the word of Christ is preached, and because of this my joy is full today." Rivalry, competition, self-ambition is uncalled for in spreading God's good news to those in sin. The proper spirit is good will, agape love unbounded, the magnet that will draw the stranger in. "I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Holy Spirit's awesome power, the trials I have undergone will serve as my salvation, as Christ is here exalted every hour." All things work together for good to them that love the Lord, with their fervent righteous prayers availing much. Circumstances are irrelevant to happiness and joy when a Christian knows the peace of God's own touch. § To Die is Gain (Philippians 1) "Christ will always be exalted by my body while on earth, whether by my life or by my welcome death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is blessed gain, as I preach the word until my dying breath." Paul did not pray for circumstances of his life to change, but for courage to endure whatever came. We Christians are the visible Christ, his body magnified, the temple built to wear his precious name. "If I go on living in the body, much fruit will I bear, yet if I had the choice, what would I choose? I am torn between the two: Depart and be with Christ, or remain and spread the word of God's good news. For your good, it's necessary that I remain below, for your progress in the faith, your joy and peace, so that through my being with you as often as I can, your joy in Jesus Christ will never cease. Whatever happens to me, always conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of Christ's holy will. Then, whether I come and see you or hear by word of mouth, I will know you stand firm, righteousness fulfill, contending as one man for the gospel's saving faith, not frightened by the opposition's threats. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but you are saved by God, who paid your debts. God granted you the privilege not only to believe, but to suffer trials for the name you wear. Tis grace that offers trials to make your joy complete, as you daily struggle with the cross you bear." § Imitating Christ's Humility (Philippians 2) If you are encouraged by being united with Christ, if you have any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the helpful Holy Spirit, compassion tendered by our God above, then make my joy complete by having that same mind, being one in spirit, one in purpose, holy. Do nothing out of vain conceit or selfish, cold ambition, but consider others first; be meek and lowly. Have the attitude of Christ, who showed God's loving nature by emptying himself to be a slave, being made in human likeness to live upon the earth, to die in shame, yet overcome the grave. Because of his humility, he was by God exalted to sit upon the highest heavenly throne, that every knee should bow to him and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. And he alone can save us from ourselves, from the sins we hold so dear, from our gods of greed, excitement, beauty, fame. Only in his humble attitude will you know real joy and peace, the blessings found in wearing his sweet name. Through his gospel you continue to work out your salvation, with fear and trembling of his righteous power, for it is God who works in you to will and then to act according to his purpose every hour. Do everything without complaining, being pure and blameless, God's children without fault, like stars that shine in the darkness of a crooked world, depraved and void of hope, that they can see in you the Christ divine. § Christian Example (Philippians 2) Paul knew his life was ebbing away in service to the King, yet rejoiced in all his suffering and strife, because his work was not in vain, producing many saints, looking forward in the hope of heavenly life. Questionable as his future was in his earthly tent, he was confident the Lord would see him through. No fear of death could dim his hope -- eternity with God. The better resurrection was in view. Following Christ's example of obedience to God, his constant striving, daily sacrifice were important in his struggle to strengthen all the churches he had planted in the name of Jesus Christ. The only part of humans that will remain at judgment is the soul, eternal, with a choice to make. The question will not be, "What emotions did you feel?" but, "What kind of loving action did you take?" Reflect God's light through your good works, enlightening the world, make changes that influence those you meet, striving toward perfection in all you say and do, serving as Christ's mouth, his busy hands and feet. Master the essential concepts of Christianity by controlling that old enemy, the tongue. Taste well your words before you speak, as you may have to eat them, besoiled by the filthy mud you've slung. God works in you through the gospel, conforming your will to his. Don't murmur or complain of his commands. Repent and turn from wickedness, obey all that is holy to receive great blessings from the Father's hands. His word is our authority for daily life and worship. Self must be sacrificed to know his peace. As Jesus gave up everything to die for our atonement, agape love for others must increase. Both Christians and demons have faith in God, but only the Christian obeys the works of faith commanded by Christ, and follows in all his ways. § Timothy and Epaphroditus (Philippians 2) I hope in the mighty Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I, Paul, also may be cheered when I receive news about you. I have no one else like him who genuinely cares about the church at Philippi and about your souls' welfare. Looking out for selfish interests is the normal human way, but Timothy walks the path of Christ despite his feet of clay. You know that he has proved himself, is like a son to me, has served with me in the gospel work, a hard-driving devotee. I hope, therefore, to send him when I see how my case goes, and am confident that I will also come, but only the good Lord knows. I will send Epaphroditus whom you sent to care for my needs, a fellow worker in the faith, a Christian brother indeed. He risked his life for the work of Christ, was ill and almost died. But God had mercy on us both to keep him by my side and spare me even more sorrow as I serve the Lord in chains. Therefore, I am eager to send him to you. My loss will be your gain. Welcome him in the Lord with joy, and honor men like him who give their all to follow Christ, more precious than costly gems. § Flesh vs Spirit (Philippians 3) Paul seems to look for a stopping place, which, for a preacher, is hard. “Finally, my brothers,” his sentence starts, “rejoice in the Lord.” He is reminding them again of things he wrote before, to watch out for those Christians who have evil things in store, who would go back to the Jewish faith that was nailed upon the cross. Christ’s law needs no additions; any changes are but loss. WE are the circumcision, who glory in Jesus Christ, who worship by the Spirit of God, our own will sacrificed. We put no confidence in the flesh. No amount of mutilation can make us worthy of his blood that offers full salvation. The church is the spiritual Israel, circumcised in heart and soul, raised from baptism to walk anew, becoming like Christ our goal. No longer Jew or Gentile, a new man walks the earth, known only as a Christian since the miracle of rebirth. National, secular Israel hated Christians with a passion, and even in our modern world, hating Christians is the fashion. Like Paul, we must remind ourselves and learn by repetition, hold God’s word deep inside our hearts, our souls to recondition. § Paul the Zealot (Philippians 3) Circumcision began with Abraham and was part of the Jewish law, a sign of covenant with Israel, but the only thing they saw was that they were chosen people and could do just as they pleased. They thought if they kept the outward rites, God’s wrath would be appeased. Paul was a zealous Pharisee, the strictest sect of the Jews, a Hebrew of Hebrews, in regard to the law, legalistic in all his views. He kept the old law to perfection, helped murder those folks of “The Way” who said Moses’ law was negated and Christ’s law now held sway. But when Christ appeared to him on the road, convicting him of sin, he considered his old way of life as dung, and set out, new converts to win. “Whatever was to my profit, I consider now as loss compared to the greatness of knowing Christ who paid the awful cost. I consider my loss as rubbish that I may be found in him, not having a righteousness from the law where alone I could sink or swim. But my righteousness is through the faith of Christ, through every word he spake, that I may know him, share his strength and suffer for his sake, becoming like him in his death and so attain resurrection, to walk the walk and talk the talk, partaking of his perfection.” § The Goal of Perfection (Philippians 3) Paul says he has not reached the goal of maturity - perfection, but presses on against all odds, aimed in the right direction, to take hold of the promised prize, forgetting what is behind, and straining toward what is ahead with righteousness in mind. Maturity should change our ways as we digest Good News, to see the way more clearly, Christ's loving, selfless views. Let us live up to perfection we have attained through him, following Paul's example, even risking life and limb. Many live as hateful enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, no hope for paradise, because their sensual appetites become the god they serve. They glory in their works of shame, and will get what they deserve. But we leave the earthly things below for citizenship in heaven, there to meet our loving Savior who gives our life its leaven. He will transform our dust bodies to glorious works of art if we stand firm til the very end, from his way never depart. § True Contentment (Philippians 4) Paul thanks the church at Philippi for their thoughtful gifts, their generosity to help a brother. Epaphroditus came to bring yet one more contribution to show their love again, as with the others. They were a fragrant offering, pleasing unto God, a sacrifice acceptable and blest. It showed their great concern for this special missionary whose constant work left little time for rest. "I have learned to be content," he says, "in spite of circumstances. I know just how it feels to be in need. In any situation, whether hungry or well-fed, it's the bread of life in Christ that strengthens me. I'm not looking for a gift, but what I'm looking for is good work accredited to your account. With the money you have sent, I am now well supplied, and am thankful for this generous amount. My God will meet your needs from his glorious supply, the riches in abundance that you share in knowing Christ as Savior and being one with him, adopted sons and now the Father's heirs." God has promised to supply our needs if we walk with him, but more than that might risk our very souls. Wealth can become our god, the measure of our worth, and gaining more becomes our lifelong goal. Only when we put God first can we expect his blessings, contentment in whatever circumstance. Our doom is spelled out vividly on the judgment day if we dare to leave anything to chance. cgtrent@att.net Home |