TOMS: Philippians 4

For an introduction to this series, click here.

September 28, 2007

Paul wraps up this book with a variety of encouragements. 

"I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life." (4:2-3)

I cannot imagine what Euodia and Syntyche must have thought when they heard their names mentioned in Paul's letter as it was read aloud. There were no doubt some interesting looks around the room. But people arguing and not getting along in the church can be worse than open sin. At least that can be dealt with easily, if the church leadership has the guts to do it. But small personal arguments can tear a  church apart. The word translated "true companion" is an interesting one. According to the marginal note, the words can also be translated "loyal Syzygus" meaning it could be someone's name that is mentioned, a name that means "companion."

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me— practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." (4:4-9)

These are some of the hardest verses in Scripture to actually live out in our daily lives. It is hard to rejoice in all things, because not everything that happens in life makes us happy. It's hard to rejoice when bad things happen, at least things that seem to be bad. Of course we know that all things work together for our good, but we can't see it all the time. It's definitely hard to not be anxious about anything. Worry comes so easily to us. But the Lord doesn't want us to be that way. Worry and anxiety is hard on us physically, emotionally and spiritually. But we all do it. It is hard to think only of things that are lovely, pure, commendable, excellent, and so on, because the world we live in is full of things that are ugly, dirty, despicable and poor. I think they key to this passage is the last verse, where Paul reminds us that the God of peace will be with us. The Lord does not want us to be pollyannish about life, but He offers us peace, contentment and joy in the midst of our troubles.

I should mention in passing that I have heard people use verse 8, the "think on these things" verse, as a club to make people ashamed of their music, entertainment, whatever. Of course there is vulgar entertainment out there, but the way I have heard that verse preached, people shouldn't read their Bible, especially the Old Testament, because it includes many of those things that are preached against.

"I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me." (4:10-13)

Of course verse 13 is one of the most popular verses in all the Bible. Paul's statement is a statement of confidence based on a lifetime of experience learning what the Lord can do.

"Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen." (4:14-20, ESV)

Giving is a teaching in Scripture that is mentioned a lot, but unfortunately is rarely preached upon Biblically. Instead of laying a guilt trip on people, like most sermons I have heard, Paul points to the rewards of giving. The Lord blesses those who honor Him, and we are foolish if we ignore that fact. We are commanded to give, but we are not commanded in the normal sense of the word. We are commanded because it is the best thing for us, not commanded because of an arbitrary rule or because we will be punished if we don't.

TOMS: Philippians 3

For an introduction to this series, click here.

September 27, 2007

Paul begins this new section with an important warning against the Judaizers, whose influence would not go away: 
"Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh" (3:2-3) 

I'm sure the Judaizers did not appreciate being called dogs, but that is what Paul calls them. Notice that Paul says the true circumcision, the true followers of God, are those who put no confidence in the flesh.

I don't like to break up a contextual thought, but I did in this case, just so you can better see the introduction Paul gives to this next section: 
"Though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted 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" (3:4-9)

If anybody had Jewish credentials, it was Paul. And he fervently pursued Judaism for many years. But after he gave his life to the Lord, all that was put behind him. Paul's point is that the Philippians need to do the same thing, and not get trapped into following religious dogma trying to please God. A life truly committed to God is always a life of faith: always has been, always will be.

"Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you." (3:12-15, ESV)

Paul took the Christian life seriously, and he tells the Philippians to do the same. We are not on a pleasure cruise here. I know that our vision of our reward in heaven is too small. If we could see this life the way God does, we would take it way more seriously. God has so many good things He wants to do for us and that He has in store for us in heaven, and we get stuck trying to live a "normal" life here. How foolish. C.S. Lewis compared this attitude to a child who wants to keep playing in a mudhole instead of taking the offer to go to the beach.

TOMS: Philippians 2, Part 2

For an introduction to this series, click here.

September 26, 2007

"Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." (2:12-13)

This is the most profound juxtaposition of two seemingly contradictory statements that I can think of in Scripture. First of all, Paul tells us we are supposed to work out our own salvation. Clearly this does not mean that we are to do good works to stay saved, because if that was necessary, none of us would make it to heaven. 

To me this means a couple of things. First, we have to come to our own conclusions in our faith. If we try to live our lives exactly like someone else, we are not being true to ourselves nor to the Lord. Preachers or other leaders who try to press everybody into a mold to look just like them are doing a disservice to those who follow them. I have way more respect for someone who disagrees with me on several things but I can tell they came to their own conclusions after their own study than I do for someone who agrees with me on almost everything but they only think that way because their family or their church told them to think that way.

Secondly, it means that we are responsible for our growth. Yes, God is at work in our lives, as we will discuss in a second, but He is not going to drag us into something we do not want to do. We have to be willing to follow the Lord wherever He leads.

Now the second part. Thankfully, we do not have to generate spiritual maturity on our own, because we would never get there. And the few who did would be so proud of themselves that they would be useless. Thankfully the Lord is patient and works together with us to bring us to where we need to be. God is faithful and will do His work in our lives.

"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. I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me." (2:19-30, ESV)

In context, Paul uses Timothy and Epaphroditus as further examples of selfless service, expanding on the example of the Lord Jesus earlier in this chapter. Timothy is a very interesting character. Paul seems to baby him at times. Timothy clearly had some problems with self-esteem, with taking the initiative as a leader in the church, and apparently physical problems as well. But yet Paul could see that Timothy had a heart for the Lord and worked with him for years. Epaphroditus seems to have been a wonderful man. He was probably the man Paul left in charge of the church at Philippi.

TOMS: Philippians 2, Part 1

For an introduction to this series, click here.

September 25, 2007

This is one of the richest chapters in all the Bible. We will see if I have to divide this into two. (I know it is not very long, but there is so much here.)

"So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from participation in the Spirit, any love, 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 rivalry 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 made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (2:1-11, ESV)

There is no way I can cover everything in this passage here. First of all I want you to notice that Paul is telling us that Christ is our example of humility and love for each other. It is so easy to get our minds off of the Lord Jesus and on our neighbors. We want to prove that we are somehow better than them as if everyone is ranking one another on some other sort of competition or comparison. Thankfully Jesus did not come to earth with that kind of attitude. It is also important to note that late in Chapter 1 Paul talks about those who preached the Gospel out of spite. Paul said earlier that he rejoiced that the Gospel was being preached, but here he says that it is still wrong to do things to stir up strife or to lift ourselves up in pride.

The last section, which tells us about the humility of Christ, is probably an early Christian hymn that Paul immortalized forever in the Bible. Some people twist this passage, saying that the fact that Jesus did not "count equality with God a thing to be grasped" means that He was not really God. But of course these arguments only work on those who do not read for themselves. When you look at this passage in context, it is clear this phrase means that He did not hang on to His privileges as God, but humbled Himself to become a man. 

Now I always wonder what it meant to be God and man at the same time. I don't think we will ever fully comprehend what Jesus went through, and there really is no reason we should, but it has always been fascinating to me: how Jesus could be all-knowing and all-powerful and yet be a man. I guess Jesus kind of got used to it and was able to put it out of His mind and concentrate on the moment. We know that Jesus told Nathaniel that He saw him under the fig tree, so that means He must have been just as aware of an Indian huddled over a campfire on the banks of the Missouri River. Seems like that would be a lot of background noise that Jesus had to put behind Him in order to function.

Oh well. I have a lot I want to say about the next section, so I guess I will save that for tomorrow.

TOMS: Philippians 1

For an introduction to this series, click here.

September 24, 2007

Philippians is another of the prison epistles, along with Ephesians, Colossians and Philemon. 

Paul starts off his letter with some words of reassurance: 
"I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God." (1:3-11)

I am thankful that the Lord is at work and will continue to work in my life. It is wonderful that the Lord does not give up on us, even when we stray from his plan.

The next section is very interesting: 
"I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of rivalry, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice." (1:12-18)

This is interesting to me. I would like to know what exactly was happening when these people were preaching out of envy and rivalry. But Paul was going to rejoice that the Gospel was being preached, even when people were preaching for the wrong motives. I think this can apply to those who hold odd beliefs but still preach the Gospel. Yes they have problems, but they are still preaching the Gospel and carrying forward the work of God, so in that we can be glad.

"Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again." (1:18-26, ESV)

Paul was never the same after his vision of heaven. He knew what he was missing by staying here. But he also knew that once we get to heaven, it is all over. He wanted to do more for the Lord on this earth. So he was in an odd situation. But this is the way any true believer should feel. Our true home is heaven, and we should be looking forward to being there, because that is where our heart is.