Philippians, Chapter 4

Philippians 4

1 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stay true to the Lord. I love you and long to see you, dear friends, for you are my joy and the crown I receive for my work.

• "You are my joy and the crown I receive" - Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame (Hebrews 12:2)."

2 Now I appeal to Euodia (yoo-OH-di-uh) and Syntyche (SIN-tih-kee). Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement. 3 And I ask you, my true partner, to help these two women, for they worked hard with me in telling others the Good News. They worked along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are written in the Book of Life.

• Conflict is inevitable.  It is how we handle it that determines the outcome.  These two women had been co-laborers with Paul in preaching the Gospel, yet somehow they had become divided.  Although the issue is not mentioned, and isn't important in the scheme of things, the falling out of these two Christian women was.

4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.

• A recurring theme throughout this letter, the believer is exhorted to rejoice.  It is important to remember, however, that the usage of the words "rejoice" and "joy" in the book of Philippians far transcends our limited understanding of the concepts.  At the outset of our study of Philippians, we established the meaning behind the usage here.
• From Rick Renner's "Sparkling Gems from the Greek":  The Greek word for 'joy' is chara, derived from the word charis, which is the Greek word for 'grace.' This is important to note, for it tells us categorically that chara is produced by charis of God. This means 'joy' is not a human-based happiness that comes and goes...Rather, true 'joy' is divine in origin...it is a Spirit-given expression that flourishes best in hard times. For example, in 1 Thessalonians 1:6, the Thessalonians were under great stress due to persecution; yet in the midst of it all, they continued to experience great joy. In fact, the Greek strongly implies that their supernatural joy was due to the Holy Spirit working in them. Paul even called it the "joy of the Holy Ghost".  This type of joy, the joy of the Lord, is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10).
• 5 - We should find encouragement in knowing the Lord is coming soon, whether we will be caught up with Him the clouds, or united with Him in death.  The Lord is always near, never leaving us nor forsaking us (Hebrews 13:5).

6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

• In Matthew 6, Jesus taught us, "25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?  28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?  31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.  34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today."
• What is prayer but ongoing intimate communication with the Lord?  At heart, it is an act concerning the present and future (the fulfillment of our needs), and the past (thanksgiving for all He has done).  Giving thanks serves a dual purpose of honoring God and of reminding ourselves of just how He has worked in our lives to date.  Such conscious recollection serves to strengthen and build our faith, and is a significant component of our congregational worship.
• Peace (i-ray'-nay) - "of Christianity, the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is" (biblestudytools.com)
• In describing "guarding," readers of Paul's words would have fully understood the word picture of a garrison ("A military post, especially one that is permanently established.")  It speaks of a deep, abiding peace that will sustain us through challenging times, protecting us from worry and doubt as we grow in our trust in the Lord.
• It is incumbent upon us, though, to endeavor not to worry, but to pray about everything and to maintain an attitude of thankfulness.

8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

• This is a beautiful picture of what the Christian's thought life should entail.  When determining what we should watch, what we should listen to, what thoughts we allow to take root in our minds, we should always line such things up against the Word; if it's not explicitly spoken of in Scripture, then we can apply this general guideline, and trust that the Holy Spirit will quicken us with conviction regarding these things (John 16:8).
• Romans 14:22-23 "You may believe there’s nothing wrong with what you are doing, but keep it between yourself and God. Blessed are those who don’t feel guilty for doing something they have decided is right. 23 But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not following your convictions. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning."
• Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 11 (NIV), "1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ."
• Taking charge of our thought lives is an ongoing process.  "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5)."

10 How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. 11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. 14 Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.

• The Stoic philosophers of Paul's day held the idea of contentment as a top virtue, a characteristic of the completely independent man.  Paul's words here, on the surface, paralleled contemporary thinking of the day, but where others esteemed independence of others, Paul instead indentified his complete and utter dependence upon Christ as the source of his contentment.
• Over the millennia, humankind has been fascinated with the idea of "secret" knowledge.  Paul, chained and imprisoned, bragged about his knowledge of "The Secret of Living in Every Situation."

15 As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this.16 Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once. 17 I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness.

18 At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

20 Now all glory to God our Father forever and ever! Amen.

• Paul saw the love, compassion, and generosity of the Philippians as part of God's care of him.  Part of adopting this mindset entails seeing all good and perfect things in our lives as having come down to us from God our Father(James 1:17). In sharing each other's burdens, we fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2).

21 Give my greetings to each of God’s holy people—all who belong to Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send you their greetings. 22 And all the rest of God’s people send you greetings, too, especially those in Caesar’s household.

23 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Conclusion

Remember: This letter was written to the church Paul had established ten years earlier, where he and Silas had been miraculously delivered from prison during their praise and prayer.  Nero's violent and bloody persecution of Christians would begin not long after this letter had been received, so his words would have had very timely meaning and application.  Our present time, although much more 'civilized', is no less fraught with discouragement and anxiety than any other time in history.  With the advent of the Internet, we now can watch wars, famine, disasters, and disease in real time, no matter where they occur.

It is just as important as ever to maintain an attitude of joy and peace in the Lord, no matter what our circumstances.

What does rejoicing in the Lord mean to you?

Philippians, Chapter 3

Philippians 3

1 Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith.

• "Rejoice in the Lord" - Paul had previously spoken of his rejoicing in all circumstances in 1:18 and in 2:17-18, and exhorted the reader to also rejoice, sharing in his joy.
• Maintaining a proper attitude is essential in safeguarding our faith.  The joy of the Lord is our strength!  Wrong attitudes, on the other hand, can work against our faith, as well as our spiritual oneness in Christ.  As the apostle James wrote, "What is causing the quarrels and fights among you?  Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you?   You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.   And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure (James 4:1-3)."
• In his letter to the church at Philippi, Paul was taking preemptive action against those who were trying to undermine, even pervert, the gospel of grace.

2 Watch out for those dogs, those people who do evil, those mutilators who say you must be circumcised to be saved.

• These are three strongly worded descriptions of the Judaizers, those Jewish Christians insisting upon circumcision and observance of the Torah as a condition of salvation.
• "Dogs" - The Jewish people thought of Gentiles as "dogs" - unclean, savage scavengers.   Paul's usage of this very term in reference to the Judaizers, then, paints a vivid image of his esteem of them.
• "Evildoers" - Given that the Judaizers believed that the requirements and laws they taught were God's will, 'evildoers' stands in stark contrast.
• "Mutilators" - The Jews held circumcision as a mark of true godliness, yet Paul is saying here that their fixation on outward actions were no different than the prophets of Baal's custom of cutting themselves "with knives and swords until the blood gushed out (1 Kings 18:28)."  In Galatians, Paul used even harsher language regarding this topic, saying, "Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished.  As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves (Galatians 5:11-12 NIV)!"
• Why is the issue of grace versus the law such an issue with Paul, and why should it be important to us?  It is important because it is a running theme throughout the New Testament, and opposes the very grace of God as displayed in Jesus Christ.  Jesus reserved his harshest words for the teachers of the law of His day, and from the book of Acts through the last epistle, the New Testament is filled with warnings and rebukes of false teachers who would arise to try to draw us away from faith in the amazing grace of God.  By emphasizing observance of the law in addition to salvation, such people are saying that the blood of Jesus was not enough to cover sin.  Paul wrote in Galatians, "If you are counting on circumcision to make you right with God, then Christ will be of no benefit to you.  I’ll say it again. If you are trying to find favor with God by being circumcised, you must obey every regulation in the whole law of Moses.  For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace (Galatians 5:2-4)."

3 For we who worship by the Spirit of God are the ones who are truly circumcised. We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort,

• True circumcision is of the heart, not of the flesh.  God spoke of this in the Old Testament.  "'A time is coming,' says the Lord, 'when I will punish all those who are circumcised in body but not in spirit…' (Jeremiah 9:25)"  Paul wrote inRomans 2:28-29, "For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the ceremony of circumcision.  No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not merely obeying the letter of the law; rather, it is a change of heart produced by God’s Spirit. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people."  To the Colossians, Paul further explains, "When you came to Christ, you were 'circumcised,' but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision — the cutting away of your sinful nature (Colossians 2:11)."
• As believers, we not to trust in our own merits or efforts to win God's favor, or to secure a special standing of God.  Rather, Jesus Christ is our righteousness (1 Corinthians 1:30 NIV).

4 though I could have confidence in my own effort if anyone could. Indeed, if others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more!  5 I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin—a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law. 6 I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault. 

• Although Paul normally avoided discussion of such things, he felt it necessary to list his qualifications as a Jew in order to minimize any legitimacy the Judaizers may have held in the Philippians' eyes.  His impressive qualifications were established by birth, by tradition, and by merit.
• Of note, Paul had previously been a Pharisee; if anyone should have had a drive and a passion for observance of the law as a means of worshiping God, it was Paul.  He had been present at Stephen's death (Acts 8:1), and later, aggressively persecuted Christians (Acts 9:1-2).
• We often pride ourselves on our accomplishments, on our social status, and esteem others based upon their titles, positions, achievements, and accolades.

7 I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. 8 Yes, everything else 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 9 and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.

• Paul brings his impressive list of qualifications crashing down by comparing them to garbage in the light of knowing Jesus.  This is what Jesus meant when He said, "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field (Matthew 13:44)."
• To put this into further context, 'garbage' is translated from the Greek word 'skubala,' a vulgar word used only once in scripture.  It would have had a certain shock value at the time of its writing, as Bible.org elaborates, "This word is used primarily for excrement, especially human excrement; secondarily for rubbish, dirt, leavings, etc."

10 I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, 11 so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead! 

• The more that we are interested in, or in love with, someone, the more we long to know them and everything about them.  We want to emulate our heroes, to identify with them.  Remember Philippians 1:29, "For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him."  Elsewhere in the New Testament, Paul writes, "For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives (Romans 6:4).

12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

• Story of Roger Bannister and John Landy - British Empire Games in Vancouver, Canada on August 7th, 1954, mile run, both under 4 minutes.  Landy had the lead at the third lap, prompting Bannister to push himself even farther.  By the final lap, they were dead even.  Approaching the home stretch, however, Landy made the mistake of looking back to see where Bannister was, and lost his focus.

15 Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you. 16 But we must hold on to the progress we have already made.  17 Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example.

• Again, we are exhorted to "hold on."  Additionally, we are instructed to learn from and to model the lives of other Christians.

18 For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth.

• Jesus said, "Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter (Luke 7:21)."
• And what is the will of God?  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 offers some insight: "Always be joyful.  Never stop praying.  Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus."

20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. 21 He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.

• As mentioned back in Philippians 1:27, "Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ."
• Remember that we are foreigners here, fellow sojourners only passing through.  Although we may encounter the occasional valley or wilderness, we are destined for a far greater place than we can imagine.
• Like Roger Barrister, let us keep our eyed firmly fixed upon the goal, not looking back, but running the race with patient perseverance and determination.  May we always be joyful, always be praying, always be thankful.  And like the man who sold all he had to gain the treasure, may we count all else as loss for the sake of knowing Christ.  Let our hearts truly cry out, "That I may know You!"

Philippians, Chapter 2

The first part of this letter (v 1-11) addresses the attitude that Paul wanted the church at Philippi (and us) to adopt and to model their lives around.

1 Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? 

• These rhetorical questions serve to remind the reader of the truths they had learned, and of the fruit they had borne in their growth as Christians, and set the context for the following passages.

2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.

3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

• 2 - The first three instructions are part of the "one another" commands scattered throughout the scriptures. It is critically important that we see each other as part of the bigger picture, not as isolated islands unto ourselves.
• 3 - Selfishness is the polar opposite of the love and compassion that we are called to live out toward others. Rather, true humility manifests itself in considering others as "better than yourselves".
• 4 - We're not to deny our own needs, but to keep them in balance with helping to meet the needs of others. Remember, verses like these are not only instructions to you as to how you are to treat others; they are also instructions to others as to how to treat you. Again we see the recurring theme of "do unto others as you would have them do unto you." This command is not conditional, however, but we are required to live out this kind of love even if it is not reciprocated.
• Verses 5-11 are thought to be adapted from an early Christian hymn, and serves as a powerful doctrinal statement on Christ, as well as a model of the sort of attitude we must strive for. There is no denying the proclamation of deity declared within these seven verses.

6 Though he was God,
      he did not think of equality with God
      as something to cling to.
7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
      he took the humble position of a slave
      and was born as a human being.
   When he appeared in human form,
    8 he humbled himself in obedience to God
      and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
      and gave him the name above all other names,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
      in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
      to the glory of God the Father.

• This is a beautiful fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy concerning the future Messiah (Isaiah 53).
• If this is God's attitude toward us as manifested in the person of Jesus Christ, should it be so difficult for us to be able to humble ourselves in relation to others?

12 Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

• 13 - Where do we derive the desire and power to do what pleases God? This passage tells us that God Himself works within us to give us these things. Hebrews 3:7-8 reads, "That is why the Holy Spirit says, 'Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled, when they tested me in the wilderness.'"

14 Do everything without complaining and arguing, 15 so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. 16 Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless.

• These three verses provide additional instruction on the Christian life.
• 16 - As is the case elsewhere in Scripture, we are exhorted to take action to "hold fast" or to "cling to" the knowledge and faith we have gained.
• Paul compares his life to a race, not a competition, but a marathon, one in which all who reach the finish line win. His goal is Christ, but also to present others to Christ as well. He gladly endured his sufferings for the sake of the lives he was ministering to. The author of Hebrews also made this comparison: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame (Hebrews 12:1-2)."

17 But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy. 18 Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy.

• 17 - A liquid offering was typically a measure of wine poured out to accompany the other sacrifices to God, as a sweet aroma to Him. Paul saw his life, as well as the lives of other Christians, as not being contained, but as being poured out, or emptied, as a living sacrifice to God. In the previous passages, he clearly portrayed Christ's incarnation and subsequent death as the ultimate expression of this. As he would write to Timothy during a later, and final, imprisonment, "As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near.  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful (2 Timothy 4:6-7)."
• Psalm 51:16-17 "You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God."
• Romans 12:1 "And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him."

19 If the Lord Jesus is willing, I hope to send Timothy to you soon for a visit. Then he can cheer me up by telling me how you are getting along. 20 I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare. 21 All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ. 22 But you know how Timothy has proved himself. Like a son with his father, he has served with me in preaching the Good News. 23 I hope to send him to you just as soon as I find out what is going to happen to me here. 24 And I have confidence from the Lord that I myself will come to see you soon.

25 Meanwhile, I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you. He is a true brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier. And he was your messenger to help me in my need. 26 I am sending him because he has been longing to see you, and he was very distressed that you heard he was ill. 27 And he certainly was ill; in fact, he almost died. But God had mercy on him—and also on me, so that I would not have one sorrow after another.

28 So I am all the more anxious to send him back to you, for I know you will be glad to see him, and then I will not be so worried about you.  29 Welcome him with Christian love and with great joy, and give him the honor that people like him deserve. 30 For he risked his life for the work of Christ, and he was at the point of death while doing for me what you couldn’t do from far away.

• Timothy and Epaphroditus were both important not only to Paul, but also to the spread of the Gospel.
• We may not be called to a ministry like Paul's, having so great an impact, paying the price of such suffering and score, but like Timothy and Epaphroditus, we can serve God in so many different capacities.
• The common denominator among the three of these men, however, is their attitudes of deep love and commitment to God and to others. Timothy "genuinely cares about your welfare," and Epaphroditus "has been longing to see you, and he was very distressed that you heard he was ill."

Close with a proposition of walking a narrow beam between two tall buildings. How much would you be willing to risk your life for? A dollar? A hundred? A thousand? A million? What about if your child's life was at stake? Suddenly, the money and the potential risks no longer matter. This is the attitude of Christ as described in this chapter, as well as the attitude of Paul as he progressed throughout his missionary call, and as Christians, it needs to be our attitude as well.

We may not be at that place just yet, but God is doing the work within us. Fix your eyes upon Jesus, and run the race with perseverance. "So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up (Galatians 6:9)."

Philippians, Chapter 1

"You've got mail!"

Imagine the book of Philippians as a letter addressed to us, as Christians in the 21st century, composed by a dear friend and mentor who had previously spent time among us, teaching and instructing us, and equipping us to stand on our own as Christians and as a church body.  In a manner of speaking, that's what the book of Philippians and the other epistles are.  Although originally written almost 2000 years ago, they still hold incredible relevance and application for our lives today.  Compiled together as the Holy Bible, the Word of God "is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires(Hebrews 4:12)," and it "is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.  God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17)."

Philippians 1

1 This letter is from Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus.

   I am writing to all of God’s holy people in Philippi who belong to Christ Jesus, including the elders and deacons.

2 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

3 Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. 4 Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, 5 for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. 6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

• 6 - This is one of those verses we may know by heart, and quote regularly, but hear it again in the voice of a man imprisoned for his faith, writing it as an encouragement for others.
• It is God who began the work with us.
  • Romans 9:16 - "So it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it."
  • Ephesians 2:10 - "For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."
  • Ephesians 4:13 - "This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ."

7 So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News. 8 God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus.  9 I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. 10  For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. 

• 10 - What really matters?  Romans 12:2 - "Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."

11 May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.

• 11 - The fruit of our salvation is the right standing with God we have through Jesus Christ, not by our own works.
  • 1 Corinthians 1:30 - "God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin."
  • Philippians 3:9 - "I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith."

12 And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. 13 For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. 14 And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear.

• Paul had personally witnessed, and benefited from, God's miraculous deliverance in the past.  By this point in his ministry, he had truly knew and trusted that "God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them (Romans 8:28)."
• He chose to see his imprisonment not as unfair, but as part of a bigger picture.  As a Jew, he would have been keely aware of the story of Joseph's imprisonment in Egypt, and of the resulting circumstances (Genesis 39:19-50:21).  Joseph told his brothers, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people (Genesis 50:20)."

15 It’s true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives. 16 They preach because they love me, for they know I have been appointed to defend the Good News. 17 Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to make my chains more painful to me. 18 But that doesn’t matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice. 19 For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance.

• Like the parable of the sower (Mark 4:26-29), the key piece here is the seed being planted -- the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  The "farmer" may have any number of motivations to plant, but ultimately, it is God who causes the seed to take root and grow (1 Corinthians 3:6-7).
• Can you see this happening today?  Have you ever discerned a minister or televangelist to be preaching out of financial motivation or out of a desire for fame?
• The question that matters is -- Is Jesus Christ being preached?
• Mark 9:38-41 John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he wasn’t in our group.”  39 “Don’t stop him!” Jesus said. “No one who performs a miracle in my name will soon be able to speak evil of me. 40 Anyone who is not against us is for us. 41 If anyone gives you even a cup of water because you belong to the Messiah, I tell you the truth, that person will surely be rewarded.

20 For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. 21 For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. 22 But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. 23 I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. 24 But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live.

• Paul's attitude was that of looking at his circumstances as a win-win situation, effectively eliminating any fear of death.  Jesus had said, "Dear friends, don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that. But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, he’s the one to fear (Luke 12:4-5)."

• If you know that you have right standing with God, then you should have no fear of what lies beyond death.  In the Old Testament story of Daniel's friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, this attitude was dramatically exemplified as they faced possible death in the fiery furnace for refusing to worship King Nebuchadnezzar’s gold statue.  They boldly and confidently declared, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you.  If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty.  But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up (Daniel 3:16-18)."
• Paul's desire to be with Christ was secondary to his longing to see others saved, even to the extent of being willing to be "cut off from Christ" if it would have the result of saving his fellow Jews (Romans 9:3).
• Do we have that kind of love and passion for others?

25 Knowing this, I am convinced that I will remain alive so I can continue to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith. 26 And when I come to you again, you will have even more reason to take pride in Christ Jesus because of what he is doing through me.  27 Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News. 

• 27 - Although we live here on earth, we are already citizens of Heaven, by way of adoption.  Jesus told His disciples they were "no longer part of the world (John 15:19)."  One of these disciples, John, later went on to write in one of his letters, "Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.  For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.  And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever (1 John 2:15-17)."

• What does it mean to conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ?  Paul clarifies this in his letter to the Colossians, "We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.  Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better (Colossians 1:9-10)."

• The good fruit our lives produce include the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22).  It is this growing fruit in our lives, in our attitudes, in how we handle our circumstances and relationships, that speak of our faith in far greater ways than our mere words ever can.  Jesus said, "You'll know them by their fruit (Matthew 7:16-20)."

28 Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself. 29 For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him.

• 29 - Trusting in Christ is a privilege, but so is suffering for Him.  This type of suffering doesn't necessarily refer to all suffering in general, but any type of suffering associated with being a Christian, be it physical persecution, mocking, scorn, or losing friends.

30 We are in this struggle together. You have seen my struggle in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of it.

• Paul's letter to the church at Philippi, written from his bonds and his solitary cell, communicated a message to all of us that we would do well to take to heart in our journey of faith.  No matter our status or position in life, no matter how great or terrible our present circumstances, no matter where we've been or what we've yet to go through, always remember "we are in this struggle together."

As we are beginning to see, Paul's attitude toward his circumstances set the tone for his letter to the Philippians, a book that is sometimes referred to as "The Gospel of Joy," for the deep joy permeating Paul's words.  Next week, as we look at chapter 2 of Philippians, we will discuss the attitude of joy that enabled him to endure his sufferings, and that was a motivating factor in Jesus' patient and meek endurance of the cross.

We're in this together, and the joy of the Lord is our strength.