Well, settling in - sort of. I moved into my new home in Fuquay-Varina on August 16 with help from an incredible group of men and women! My daughters and a couple of their friends got everything in boxes and ready to go. A group of men packed it all on a truck (including furniture) and moved me into my new home (with a few additional male and female workers) all in four to five hours. A great deal has been unpacked, but there is much that remains to be done, including furnishing a good bit of the house. Fortunately, my cousin Phyllis Lane, is helping to decorate with input from Liz and Autumn.
One of the benefits of moving has been the partial dispersing of the cloud of sorrow that has hung over me since Linda graduated. Well, I did not intend the irony of the last sentence, but once written, it was immediately apparent. There is NO more sorrow for Linda! Sorrow continues to linger for all of the rest of us (children, parents, siblings, other family and friends), but it has lifted a bit for me with this move. It is not gone, mind you, but it has been mitigated to a degree. I was not aware of the sadness associated with the Buies Creek house. It was home for us for ten years. I continue to struggle with memories of the last 13 months of Linda's life here with all the suffering she endured in that time. Of course I remember the days before her illness, but thoughts of wheelchairs, shots, and doctors' visits are the most prominent memories in my mind.
I did not move because of the difficulty of living in the home I had shared with my bride for so long, but so far it has been a good move. The benefit of less sorrow was unexpected, but much welcome. Of course, the easing of sorrow could be partially due to the passing of time, though the process may have accelerated due to the move. It remains to be seen whether or not it will be the same once I am fully settled and life slows back down to the terrifyingly fast pace (you should be on the ride, now!) that I normally keep.
I would like to say that I have drawn (or, been drawn) closer to the Lord during this time. That ultimately is the desire of my heart, but the sense of loss has left me, as I have told you before, lethargic. Maybe the best way to describe the way I have felt for much of these past (almost) six months is a numbness in my soul. Relationship with the Lord suffers in such a state. The only thing I know to do in such a place is to be faithful to reading God's Word and praying - even though I feel as though God is distant. It would seem to me that faith is at its best when feelings are absent. The problem with confirming such a notion is that there is little pay-off in the immediate. One thing is absolutely certain - GOD IS FAITHFUL!
In a few days I hope to publish (here) a paper that Linda wrote in her application to an ESL certificate program. Autumn recently found Linda's paper - a good time of the year to talk about teaching children!
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Saturday, August 2, 2008
I'm Moving!
I will be moving this month, from Buies Creek to Fuquay-Varina. Before I go any further, let me say that I WILL NOT be seeking a change in ministry! Grace Community Church is my family, and as long as they will have me, I will be there! I know it is wise to "never say never," but I have absolutely no intention of leaving Grace Community Church before I retire.
That said, please allow me to address this move. I am not changing my address because of an emotional reaction to the loss of my lovely wife. Linda and I had talked for years about moving to Fuquay-Varina. Our church has a number of families that live in Fuquay. My father, who is struggling with dementia, and his wonderful wife live in Fuquay - it will be good to be closer at hand. I will also be closer to Brian and Autumn (my son-in-law and daughter) who live in Raleigh. When all the children and grandchildren come to visit, the new home will accommodate the family much better than the current one. God allowed me to sell my house in Buies Creek and I am set to close on the Fuquay house on August 15 - at an extremely good price, I might add. Please pray that no snags will arise because if the loan falls through, I will have to come live with YOU (and that would be quite a commute if you live in Michigan)! Family and good friends are already gearing up to help me design and decorate the home, making it ministry ready and friendly.
I am continually amazed that so many of you continue to check this site. Perhaps I will be able to be a more consistent blogger when I settle into my new home. The energy that has been required for this move (that is being accomplished in record time) and for numerous church activities and issues has allowed (forced?) me to be less focused on grief that at any time this year. I anticipate more times of extended sadness, but God has allowed me a bit of a respite from overarching (and at times, overwhelming) sorrow. Thank you for continuing to pray!
Even though it will take almost a month to get settled - during one of the busiest times of the year our church experiences - I will do my best to update the blog as the Lord gives me insight to share. God bless you!
That said, please allow me to address this move. I am not changing my address because of an emotional reaction to the loss of my lovely wife. Linda and I had talked for years about moving to Fuquay-Varina. Our church has a number of families that live in Fuquay. My father, who is struggling with dementia, and his wonderful wife live in Fuquay - it will be good to be closer at hand. I will also be closer to Brian and Autumn (my son-in-law and daughter) who live in Raleigh. When all the children and grandchildren come to visit, the new home will accommodate the family much better than the current one. God allowed me to sell my house in Buies Creek and I am set to close on the Fuquay house on August 15 - at an extremely good price, I might add. Please pray that no snags will arise because if the loan falls through, I will have to come live with YOU (and that would be quite a commute if you live in Michigan)! Family and good friends are already gearing up to help me design and decorate the home, making it ministry ready and friendly.
I am continually amazed that so many of you continue to check this site. Perhaps I will be able to be a more consistent blogger when I settle into my new home. The energy that has been required for this move (that is being accomplished in record time) and for numerous church activities and issues has allowed (forced?) me to be less focused on grief that at any time this year. I anticipate more times of extended sadness, but God has allowed me a bit of a respite from overarching (and at times, overwhelming) sorrow. Thank you for continuing to pray!
Even though it will take almost a month to get settled - during one of the busiest times of the year our church experiences - I will do my best to update the blog as the Lord gives me insight to share. God bless you!
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Creeping Along
I have never been one to live in the past. It is not that I had a bad childhood or young adult life, but I have always tended to be far more interested in the present and curious about the future than attracted to memory lane. Alas, I am stuck in the past. And it is the oddest mixture of sweetness and pain. It is not as though I live in a fantasy land where all is right in the world. While I fully expect to be reunited with Linda in a place where life will be realized at its fullest capacity, I have no illusions about the particular life we shared together being over.
Even as I sit, this morning, at the kitchen table around which we shared so many wonderful moments together, I remember my lover. But, to my dismay, I remember the days of sickness more than the days before. I will be so glad when the sick days fade from my memory and thoughts of the salad days come flooding back. Even so, reflecting on the times we shared this last year bring fond and sweet memories, such as thinking about the pleasure Linda received looking out the window watching the birds dancing on the rail of our back deck.
All in all, it is OK in this place. Even though I recognize the enormity of my loss – well, it is good to know the loss was so great, isn’t it? I look back at how good life was with my bride, how she made me SO much a better man and I give thanks to the Lord. And, I cry. I know the pain will ease and I imagine life will take on its more pleasant hues once more, but that day is in the future.
I met with Linda’s parents last week. Linda’s mother said “I want to get past this pain and I don’t want to get past it.” I know exactly what she means. It is not that it would be a betrayal of a loved one to laugh freely again, but you want to hang onto those memories, and indeed, memories consume a disproportionate part of my day. It is especially out of balance since it is my day (b/c of the way I am natured).
I suppose the most difficult aspect of my current state is that life is slowly creeping along. Life has always moved at a rather quick pace for me. On my side of the hill, in fact, life can really roll! But, it came to a screeching halt a little over four months ago. Everyone else moves on, and though I can see you and I can interact with you so that you think I am keeping pace, in reality I am rather stuck. Once again, it’s OK.
As children of the Enlightenment we tend to want life tied up into neat packages that can be fully comprehended and explained. Since God will never be confined in the manner we desire, we construct new explanations for the circumstances that do not fit in our neat and tidy world. We say things like, “God sometimes does His most important work in our lives when we sense His presence the least, when we are in our darkest moments.” I agree! Sometimes it seems, though, that we love to hear the stories of those who have learned this truth – in the past. We are not as good at allowing people to go through such times – in the present. I suppose our reluctance is due to the reality that such a place constitutes an ugly package under the tree in our pristine world.
PLEASE do not think this is my situation. My brothers and sisters at Grace Community Church and all over the world are very patient with me as I walk through this long valley. But, there may be some in your world that is in another valley that looks a good bit like the one I am presently traversing. If so, please be patient. Also, walk with them for a bit. Even though you cannot experience the level of pain they feel, you can ask the kind of questions that allows them to process their experiences and helps you to understand their struggles at a deeper level – if so, everyone benefits! This topic is fodder for a future post – but in the meantime, ask the tough questions. People want to talk about their loss more than you might think they would.
So, time creeps along. There are moments when I think that I am coming out of the valley only to discover my ascent was only a small hill along the way and I have far to go, yet. It is not the way I want it to be, but there are blessings all along the way. I am confident the old “Footsteps” poem is in play! So, if God wants this time to creep, let it creep. Thank you for slowing down long enough to enter my world for a spell.
Even as I sit, this morning, at the kitchen table around which we shared so many wonderful moments together, I remember my lover. But, to my dismay, I remember the days of sickness more than the days before. I will be so glad when the sick days fade from my memory and thoughts of the salad days come flooding back. Even so, reflecting on the times we shared this last year bring fond and sweet memories, such as thinking about the pleasure Linda received looking out the window watching the birds dancing on the rail of our back deck.
All in all, it is OK in this place. Even though I recognize the enormity of my loss – well, it is good to know the loss was so great, isn’t it? I look back at how good life was with my bride, how she made me SO much a better man and I give thanks to the Lord. And, I cry. I know the pain will ease and I imagine life will take on its more pleasant hues once more, but that day is in the future.
I met with Linda’s parents last week. Linda’s mother said “I want to get past this pain and I don’t want to get past it.” I know exactly what she means. It is not that it would be a betrayal of a loved one to laugh freely again, but you want to hang onto those memories, and indeed, memories consume a disproportionate part of my day. It is especially out of balance since it is my day (b/c of the way I am natured).
I suppose the most difficult aspect of my current state is that life is slowly creeping along. Life has always moved at a rather quick pace for me. On my side of the hill, in fact, life can really roll! But, it came to a screeching halt a little over four months ago. Everyone else moves on, and though I can see you and I can interact with you so that you think I am keeping pace, in reality I am rather stuck. Once again, it’s OK.
As children of the Enlightenment we tend to want life tied up into neat packages that can be fully comprehended and explained. Since God will never be confined in the manner we desire, we construct new explanations for the circumstances that do not fit in our neat and tidy world. We say things like, “God sometimes does His most important work in our lives when we sense His presence the least, when we are in our darkest moments.” I agree! Sometimes it seems, though, that we love to hear the stories of those who have learned this truth – in the past. We are not as good at allowing people to go through such times – in the present. I suppose our reluctance is due to the reality that such a place constitutes an ugly package under the tree in our pristine world.
PLEASE do not think this is my situation. My brothers and sisters at Grace Community Church and all over the world are very patient with me as I walk through this long valley. But, there may be some in your world that is in another valley that looks a good bit like the one I am presently traversing. If so, please be patient. Also, walk with them for a bit. Even though you cannot experience the level of pain they feel, you can ask the kind of questions that allows them to process their experiences and helps you to understand their struggles at a deeper level – if so, everyone benefits! This topic is fodder for a future post – but in the meantime, ask the tough questions. People want to talk about their loss more than you might think they would.
So, time creeps along. There are moments when I think that I am coming out of the valley only to discover my ascent was only a small hill along the way and I have far to go, yet. It is not the way I want it to be, but there are blessings all along the way. I am confident the old “Footsteps” poem is in play! So, if God wants this time to creep, let it creep. Thank you for slowing down long enough to enter my world for a spell.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Peace That Doesn't Make Sense
Thank you for coming to this spot. I will be posting something new in the next few days. For the meantime, I wanted to publish the sermon I preached earlier today. The truths found in this particular text have been a significant help to me these last several days. God bless!
Peace That Doesn’t Make Sense!
Philippians 4:4-9
Have you ever needed to be in two places at once? Of course you have! There was your child’s sixth birthday, but there was also a business commitment or opportunity that was almost unavoidable. Or, you couldn’t decide whether to go with your friends to the beach for the weekend or go to the concert of the year at Walnut Creek. I could go on, but you get the picture.
Well, I need to be at two places this morning. First, I need to be preaching this message. I have studied and prepared and our text today is a great one – this is good stuff. At the same time, I need to be sitting with you – I need to hear what I am going to say this morning.
I suppose the most prominent emotion or state of being that I find myself engaging during this period of grief is lethargy. I wrote on the blog several weeks ago about The Many Faces of Grief, and I will not review what I said there, but I still feel pretty much the same way I did when I posted my thoughts then. I am still lethargic. It is like I am seeing black and white in an HD world. What is it going to take to get beyond this joyless place in my life? Two things, I think.
The first is time. As much as I would like to cast off my sorrow and move on, it just takes time to get over such an incalculable loss. In spite of all that I know and believe about God’s promises, it takes time for the pain to ease when a loved one is lost. We do not grieve as the world grieves, but we grieve, nonetheless.
The second portion of the remedy for grief is Scripture. Just because God’s promises do not eliminate the sorrow of losing the one with whom God fashioned you as one flesh, they do mitigate the pain, when believed, and God’s Word certainly brings eternity into focus. Our text this morning, Philippians 4:4-9, speaks of a peace that surpasses all understanding, or a peace that doesn’t make sense. God is, of course, the one Who provides such peace. If you are familiar with this text, you may tend to think of prayer as the only vehicle of consequence in securing God’s peace. The verses surrounding verses 6 and 7 have their place in the process, though, and if you are willing to apply what you see in Scripture this morning, I can assure you that this will be a good day for you! We will not be breaking a great deal of new ground, but the truth that we already know will take us to a place of peace. Would you please stand as we read Philippians 4:4-9 together?
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.
5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;
6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 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.
9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me – practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
In this letter to the Philippians, over and over the Apostle Paul emphasizes the importance of unity for the sake of the gospel. In the familiar verses we will examine today, our hearts and minds immediately go to one’s personal relationship with Jesus. While that is certainly a primary focus of the text, even here Paul ties his teaching to our relationship with one another. We will, though, concentrate primarily on the way we relate to the Lord as individuals. There is a threefold formula that allows us to receive this divine gift of perfect peace. We are, first of all, called to:
I. Rejoice in Jesus’ blessings
Well, it makes sense right away, doesn’t it, that rejoicing in the blessings we receive from Jesus will improve our state of mind? Paul says right at the beginning of his new thought, “Rejoice in the Lord, always; again I will say, Rejoice.” This verse does begin our new section – but, it also completes the section we have just finished that began in Philippians 3:1. You will recall that Paul started that section the same way he concludes it: “Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord.” If there is a theme of Philippians 3:1-4:4 it is JESUS! It is to the Savior we first look as we consider the peace that doesn’t make sense and that is promised in verse 7.
When Paul uses the term “Lord,” he is almost always referring to Jesus. So, we are being told, here, to rejoice in Jesus. And why wouldn’t Paul say that? He had staked everything on his relationship with Jesus. As we have read in our previous section, the blessing of salvation comes through a relationship with Jesus. The blessing of intimacy with the Divine comes through Jesus. The blessing of purpose in this life comes through Jesus. The blessing of a future that not only brings an eternity with Jesus, but also brings complete and permanent deliverance from the sin to which these lowly and fleshly bodies subject us, comes from Jesus. The blessing of unity with our brothers and sisters in Christ come through Jesus. So we should rejoice, right?
Well, that depends on whether you understand the practice of rejoicing from a biblical perspective or from a worldly one. Most people tend to think of rejoicing in the same way they think of love – as a feeling. But, like love, God’s Word teaches us that rejoicing in Jesus is a commitment and an attitude that does not depend on circumstances, but rather is our response to God’s promises, which inform us of all the blessings that are ours because of our relationship with Jesus.
The Philippians were going to need to rejoice in spite of circumstances because they were facing persecution. In verse 5, Paul tells them to let their reasonableness – or, gentleness – be known to everyone. Much of the bulk of Paul’s letter has been to encourage the Philippian Christ-followers to get along with one another in Jesus. Now he says for these Christians to make sure that the on-looking world sees a gentle response to the mocks and taunts that are unloaded on them. How can one rejoice in the midst of persecution? On the basis of the knowledge that “the Lord is at hand.”
The Lord is at hand, or the Lord is near – does that mean that Jesus’ presence is near or that His return is near? It appears that Paul has both meanings in mind! He intentionally uses this double entendre as a transition from one thought to another. In the first place, we can endure persecution because the Lord’s return is near. Believers have expected Jesus’ return for two millennia, beginning with the members of the first churches in Jerusalem and around the Roman Empire. Since Jesus has not yet returned, should we look for Him only half-heartedly? Absolutely not! A heart that expects Jesus to return at any moment is a heart that has an eternal focus, thus enabling one to look beyond the painful present to the hope of eternity with Jesus. That’s what it means that the Lord is at hand. But, it means more, as we will find in our second point in which you will be encouraged to:
II. Give your troubles to the Father
On the one hand, we are to look for Jesus’ return when our hope will be realized and we will live with Him for eternity. But when Paul says that the Lord is near, he also means that the Lord is quite near in heart and presence to our current difficulties and will respond to our prayers for help. What a comforting encouraging promise we find in verses 6 and 7:
6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
“Do not be anxious about anything.” That’s a tall order, isn’t it? I mean, just look at the economy and the price of gas. That’s enough to keep you awake at night and those concerns are not nearly as troubling as some of the issues in your life. Everyone is worried about something. But, not everyone has a relationship with God. Those who do are invited to bring their troubles to Him.
Notice that Paul switches from “Lord” to “God.” He moves from focusing on God the Son to a focus on God the Father. Does it surprise you to learn that the NT almost always directs us to pray to the Father rather than to Jesus or to the Spirit? We pray in Jesus’ name and the Holy Spirit helps us in our weaknesses as we pray, but we direct our petitions to God the Father. We will look more specifically about how our prayers are directed when we get to our study about the Trinity.
Paul uses three different terms that essentially mean the same thing – prayer, supplication, requests. He is not trying to be clever or to be precise about different aspects of prayer, he is simply telling us to bring our troubles to the Father. To pray is to acknowledge our absolute dependence on the Lord. But we should not come moaning and groaning. We are to bring thankful hearts. Thankfulness is an element that is often missing in our prayers. Oh, we may express our gratitude for God’s provisions, but our words are often more obligatory than heart-felt.
When we pray with a thankful spirit, we look back on all of God’s blessings, expressing our appreciation for being a part of His family. That is very much the way it is for the Christ-follower. When we understand what a privilege it is to be God’s child and a part of His family, it automatically causes us to see our troubles in a different light. Since Paul always has the community in mind, that is part of the truth, here.
When we are willing to bring our troubles to the Father, He, in turn, gives us a peace in our hearts that does not make sense. It is a peace that the world can never understand, but one of which the world takes notice and leans ever closer to believing in a God they cannot see. Even though they cannot see this God, they see evidence of Him in the lives of those whose hearts are focused on Him and who have peace when they should not, according to a secular mindset. In fact, the hearts and minds of those who pray in this manner are guarded, protected by the peace of God.
It is clear that this peace first blesses the hearts of individuals, but it is doubtful that Paul was ignoring peace within the community. Paul often wrote about the peace of God, or about the peace of Christ, or about the God of peace, as we will see in verse 9. We will not take the time to look at the different places, but trust me when I say that whenever he used those terms, unrest in the church was not far from Paul’s readers. It certainly fits here since Paul had just finished admonishing Euodia and Syntyche to get along and to quit disrupting the unity of the church with their bickering – let peace prevail, Paul said. But, it would not be a humanly engineered peace; it would be from the Father.
I know that you would be grateful for a peace that passes understanding. God has promised it when you rejoice in Jesus’ blessings, when you are willing to give your troubles to the Father, and last of all, when you:
III. Yield your mind to the Spirit
Now, granted, our text this morning does not specifically mention the Spirit of God, but the NT clearly indicates that if are going to think in a biblical manner, then our minds will have to be controlled by the Holy Spirit. There is no way we can think, love, and live as we should if we seek to do it in our own strength. Verse 8 reads like a list of the fruit of the Spirit. It was actually, interestingly enough, a list of moral qualities held in the highest esteem in Greek and Roman cultures. The end of verse 8 and all of verse 9 tell us that Paul viewed these qualities in light of the cross. You will remember that when Paul told the Philippians to imitate him, he meant that in addition to following his behavioral patterns, they should also believe and promote the doctrine he preached, and in that, the cross was the center of everything. Look at verses 8-9:
8 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.
9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me – practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Whatever is true – not from a humanistic, secular understanding, but from a biblical worldview. There is no question that a biblical worldview helps bring peace to the heart and mind because we learn that God is sovereign, in control, and that what we see is not all there is.
Whatever is honorable – that which is of a noble character and worthy of respect. Christ followers should aspire to such a lifestyle.
Whatever is just – or that which is right according to God’s standards. We do not think and act based on how the world operates, but according to what God has designated as just.
Whatever is pure – not just sexual purity, but all areas of moral purity in thought, speech, and action.
Whatever is lovely – not just moral loveliness, but also that which is aesthetically beautiful, from a beautiful sunset to a symphony to caring for the needy.
Whatever is commendable – the kind of conduct that brings the deserved admiration of others.
To conclude Paul’s admonition for right thinking, he moves the command from a cultural mandate to a biblical worldview when he says if there is any excellence, if anything worthy of praise – to God, of course – then, think about these things. A mind controlled by the Holy Spirit will help to guard our hearts and minds with a peace that is beyond comprehension.
Paul concludes his remarks on this subject, and for all practical purposes, he concludes his remarks in the body of the letter in verse 9. Once again, he calls for the Philippians to imitate him. Paul is challenging the Philippians to live out their faith. Why? Because Christianity in theory only was not something that Paul could support. Instead, Paul wanted them to practice truth, honorableness, justice, purity, loveliness, and that which is commendable – and then, he promised, “the God of peace will be with you.” There is as much about living as there is thinking in these verses.I think all followers of Jesus long for that – for the God of peace to be with them. That’s what you want, isn’t it? That is certainly what I want! It will happen when we rejoice in Jesus’ blessings, bring our troubles to the Father, and yield our minds to the Holy Spirit.
Peace That Doesn’t Make Sense!
Philippians 4:4-9
Have you ever needed to be in two places at once? Of course you have! There was your child’s sixth birthday, but there was also a business commitment or opportunity that was almost unavoidable. Or, you couldn’t decide whether to go with your friends to the beach for the weekend or go to the concert of the year at Walnut Creek. I could go on, but you get the picture.
Well, I need to be at two places this morning. First, I need to be preaching this message. I have studied and prepared and our text today is a great one – this is good stuff. At the same time, I need to be sitting with you – I need to hear what I am going to say this morning.
I suppose the most prominent emotion or state of being that I find myself engaging during this period of grief is lethargy. I wrote on the blog several weeks ago about The Many Faces of Grief, and I will not review what I said there, but I still feel pretty much the same way I did when I posted my thoughts then. I am still lethargic. It is like I am seeing black and white in an HD world. What is it going to take to get beyond this joyless place in my life? Two things, I think.
The first is time. As much as I would like to cast off my sorrow and move on, it just takes time to get over such an incalculable loss. In spite of all that I know and believe about God’s promises, it takes time for the pain to ease when a loved one is lost. We do not grieve as the world grieves, but we grieve, nonetheless.
The second portion of the remedy for grief is Scripture. Just because God’s promises do not eliminate the sorrow of losing the one with whom God fashioned you as one flesh, they do mitigate the pain, when believed, and God’s Word certainly brings eternity into focus. Our text this morning, Philippians 4:4-9, speaks of a peace that surpasses all understanding, or a peace that doesn’t make sense. God is, of course, the one Who provides such peace. If you are familiar with this text, you may tend to think of prayer as the only vehicle of consequence in securing God’s peace. The verses surrounding verses 6 and 7 have their place in the process, though, and if you are willing to apply what you see in Scripture this morning, I can assure you that this will be a good day for you! We will not be breaking a great deal of new ground, but the truth that we already know will take us to a place of peace. Would you please stand as we read Philippians 4:4-9 together?
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.
5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;
6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 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.
9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me – practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
In this letter to the Philippians, over and over the Apostle Paul emphasizes the importance of unity for the sake of the gospel. In the familiar verses we will examine today, our hearts and minds immediately go to one’s personal relationship with Jesus. While that is certainly a primary focus of the text, even here Paul ties his teaching to our relationship with one another. We will, though, concentrate primarily on the way we relate to the Lord as individuals. There is a threefold formula that allows us to receive this divine gift of perfect peace. We are, first of all, called to:
I. Rejoice in Jesus’ blessings
Well, it makes sense right away, doesn’t it, that rejoicing in the blessings we receive from Jesus will improve our state of mind? Paul says right at the beginning of his new thought, “Rejoice in the Lord, always; again I will say, Rejoice.” This verse does begin our new section – but, it also completes the section we have just finished that began in Philippians 3:1. You will recall that Paul started that section the same way he concludes it: “Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord.” If there is a theme of Philippians 3:1-4:4 it is JESUS! It is to the Savior we first look as we consider the peace that doesn’t make sense and that is promised in verse 7.
When Paul uses the term “Lord,” he is almost always referring to Jesus. So, we are being told, here, to rejoice in Jesus. And why wouldn’t Paul say that? He had staked everything on his relationship with Jesus. As we have read in our previous section, the blessing of salvation comes through a relationship with Jesus. The blessing of intimacy with the Divine comes through Jesus. The blessing of purpose in this life comes through Jesus. The blessing of a future that not only brings an eternity with Jesus, but also brings complete and permanent deliverance from the sin to which these lowly and fleshly bodies subject us, comes from Jesus. The blessing of unity with our brothers and sisters in Christ come through Jesus. So we should rejoice, right?
Well, that depends on whether you understand the practice of rejoicing from a biblical perspective or from a worldly one. Most people tend to think of rejoicing in the same way they think of love – as a feeling. But, like love, God’s Word teaches us that rejoicing in Jesus is a commitment and an attitude that does not depend on circumstances, but rather is our response to God’s promises, which inform us of all the blessings that are ours because of our relationship with Jesus.
The Philippians were going to need to rejoice in spite of circumstances because they were facing persecution. In verse 5, Paul tells them to let their reasonableness – or, gentleness – be known to everyone. Much of the bulk of Paul’s letter has been to encourage the Philippian Christ-followers to get along with one another in Jesus. Now he says for these Christians to make sure that the on-looking world sees a gentle response to the mocks and taunts that are unloaded on them. How can one rejoice in the midst of persecution? On the basis of the knowledge that “the Lord is at hand.”
The Lord is at hand, or the Lord is near – does that mean that Jesus’ presence is near or that His return is near? It appears that Paul has both meanings in mind! He intentionally uses this double entendre as a transition from one thought to another. In the first place, we can endure persecution because the Lord’s return is near. Believers have expected Jesus’ return for two millennia, beginning with the members of the first churches in Jerusalem and around the Roman Empire. Since Jesus has not yet returned, should we look for Him only half-heartedly? Absolutely not! A heart that expects Jesus to return at any moment is a heart that has an eternal focus, thus enabling one to look beyond the painful present to the hope of eternity with Jesus. That’s what it means that the Lord is at hand. But, it means more, as we will find in our second point in which you will be encouraged to:
II. Give your troubles to the Father
On the one hand, we are to look for Jesus’ return when our hope will be realized and we will live with Him for eternity. But when Paul says that the Lord is near, he also means that the Lord is quite near in heart and presence to our current difficulties and will respond to our prayers for help. What a comforting encouraging promise we find in verses 6 and 7:
6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
“Do not be anxious about anything.” That’s a tall order, isn’t it? I mean, just look at the economy and the price of gas. That’s enough to keep you awake at night and those concerns are not nearly as troubling as some of the issues in your life. Everyone is worried about something. But, not everyone has a relationship with God. Those who do are invited to bring their troubles to Him.
Notice that Paul switches from “Lord” to “God.” He moves from focusing on God the Son to a focus on God the Father. Does it surprise you to learn that the NT almost always directs us to pray to the Father rather than to Jesus or to the Spirit? We pray in Jesus’ name and the Holy Spirit helps us in our weaknesses as we pray, but we direct our petitions to God the Father. We will look more specifically about how our prayers are directed when we get to our study about the Trinity.
Paul uses three different terms that essentially mean the same thing – prayer, supplication, requests. He is not trying to be clever or to be precise about different aspects of prayer, he is simply telling us to bring our troubles to the Father. To pray is to acknowledge our absolute dependence on the Lord. But we should not come moaning and groaning. We are to bring thankful hearts. Thankfulness is an element that is often missing in our prayers. Oh, we may express our gratitude for God’s provisions, but our words are often more obligatory than heart-felt.
When we pray with a thankful spirit, we look back on all of God’s blessings, expressing our appreciation for being a part of His family. That is very much the way it is for the Christ-follower. When we understand what a privilege it is to be God’s child and a part of His family, it automatically causes us to see our troubles in a different light. Since Paul always has the community in mind, that is part of the truth, here.
When we are willing to bring our troubles to the Father, He, in turn, gives us a peace in our hearts that does not make sense. It is a peace that the world can never understand, but one of which the world takes notice and leans ever closer to believing in a God they cannot see. Even though they cannot see this God, they see evidence of Him in the lives of those whose hearts are focused on Him and who have peace when they should not, according to a secular mindset. In fact, the hearts and minds of those who pray in this manner are guarded, protected by the peace of God.
It is clear that this peace first blesses the hearts of individuals, but it is doubtful that Paul was ignoring peace within the community. Paul often wrote about the peace of God, or about the peace of Christ, or about the God of peace, as we will see in verse 9. We will not take the time to look at the different places, but trust me when I say that whenever he used those terms, unrest in the church was not far from Paul’s readers. It certainly fits here since Paul had just finished admonishing Euodia and Syntyche to get along and to quit disrupting the unity of the church with their bickering – let peace prevail, Paul said. But, it would not be a humanly engineered peace; it would be from the Father.
I know that you would be grateful for a peace that passes understanding. God has promised it when you rejoice in Jesus’ blessings, when you are willing to give your troubles to the Father, and last of all, when you:
III. Yield your mind to the Spirit
Now, granted, our text this morning does not specifically mention the Spirit of God, but the NT clearly indicates that if are going to think in a biblical manner, then our minds will have to be controlled by the Holy Spirit. There is no way we can think, love, and live as we should if we seek to do it in our own strength. Verse 8 reads like a list of the fruit of the Spirit. It was actually, interestingly enough, a list of moral qualities held in the highest esteem in Greek and Roman cultures. The end of verse 8 and all of verse 9 tell us that Paul viewed these qualities in light of the cross. You will remember that when Paul told the Philippians to imitate him, he meant that in addition to following his behavioral patterns, they should also believe and promote the doctrine he preached, and in that, the cross was the center of everything. Look at verses 8-9:
8 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.
9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me – practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Whatever is true – not from a humanistic, secular understanding, but from a biblical worldview. There is no question that a biblical worldview helps bring peace to the heart and mind because we learn that God is sovereign, in control, and that what we see is not all there is.
Whatever is honorable – that which is of a noble character and worthy of respect. Christ followers should aspire to such a lifestyle.
Whatever is just – or that which is right according to God’s standards. We do not think and act based on how the world operates, but according to what God has designated as just.
Whatever is pure – not just sexual purity, but all areas of moral purity in thought, speech, and action.
Whatever is lovely – not just moral loveliness, but also that which is aesthetically beautiful, from a beautiful sunset to a symphony to caring for the needy.
Whatever is commendable – the kind of conduct that brings the deserved admiration of others.
To conclude Paul’s admonition for right thinking, he moves the command from a cultural mandate to a biblical worldview when he says if there is any excellence, if anything worthy of praise – to God, of course – then, think about these things. A mind controlled by the Holy Spirit will help to guard our hearts and minds with a peace that is beyond comprehension.
Paul concludes his remarks on this subject, and for all practical purposes, he concludes his remarks in the body of the letter in verse 9. Once again, he calls for the Philippians to imitate him. Paul is challenging the Philippians to live out their faith. Why? Because Christianity in theory only was not something that Paul could support. Instead, Paul wanted them to practice truth, honorableness, justice, purity, loveliness, and that which is commendable – and then, he promised, “the God of peace will be with you.” There is as much about living as there is thinking in these verses.I think all followers of Jesus long for that – for the God of peace to be with them. That’s what you want, isn’t it? That is certainly what I want! It will happen when we rejoice in Jesus’ blessings, bring our troubles to the Father, and yield our minds to the Holy Spirit.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
To Know Jesus
Sunday morning's sermon (June 22, 2008) that speaks to suffering - and, especially to knowing Jesus! As I mention in the sermon, last week's message really helps inform this one. You can hear it on our website: www.graceccnc.org, or, you can e-mail me and ask for a written copy: btalley5@embarqmail.com God bless you!
To Know Jesus!
Philippians 3:10-16
Do you like stories? Everybody likes stories, I think! Now, granted, we have different tastes and so we find ourselves more interested in some stories than others. But, at some level, almost all of us like stories. If you say that you don’t particularly like fiction, you probably do and just don’t know it. For instance, do you enjoy the fictitious stories that Jesus told? “Well,” you say, “He was making a point.” I think, in fact, that is the goal of most fiction – to make a point. We all like stories.
In our day, most of us enjoy the life stories of other people. Hey, we all like telling our own stories to someone else, and a lot of us like hearing other people’s stories. If you find yourself always wanting to tell your personal story but rarely wanting to hear someone else’s story, that could be a problem – pray about that, would you? Ask God to give you are curious heart about others so that you can minister to them by letting them know how interested you are in their lives.
Sometimes stories have real purpose, and then there is Jerry Seinfeld. Does your story – or testimony, if you prefer – have purpose at the end? Is your life heading somewhere?
Last week, we read part of the Apostle Paul’s story in Philippians 3:1-9. I will not take too much time in review, but if you were not here last week then let me tell you up front that today’s message will be far more meaningful if you go back and listen to last week’s message. There are CD’s in the lobby, or you can listen online at our church website. Last week we read that Paul was committed to Jesus over the OT Law in spite of his extremely impressive Jewish bloodlines and religious commitment. He concluded that all his accomplishments were rubbish, and gladly traded everything for Jesus. He was getting somewhere with his story, and this morning in our very first verse we will come to a primary reason Paul told his story in the first place. In fact, Paul’s life purpose is clearly articulated Philippians 3, 7-14, and his central focus is to know Jesus Christ at a very high intimate level. It is a good time to read our text. We will read from verse 1 through verse 16 because of the importance of the big picture. Would you please stand for the reading of God’s Word?
1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and it is safe for you.
2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh.
3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh –
4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence, I have more:
5 circumcised on the eight day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;
6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness under the law, blameless.
7 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
9 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 –
10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death,
11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
12 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.
13 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,
14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.
16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained.
The theme of the book of Philippians, as you know, is Partnership in the Gospel, which refers to the many ways Paul connected with the Philippian Church to share the gospel all over the Roman Empire. Last week’s text, Philippians 3:1-9, gave us a clear presentation of the gospel message – that our only hope for salvation is to be clothed in the righteousness of Jesus. This morning we will learn just how very relevant the gospel message is to us who already know Jesus. All of Scripture points to the ultimate conclusion about our lives that Jesus is everything and we are nothing apart from Him.
Paul begins verse 10 with those words that many of us have uttered for years, “That I may know Him.” What did he mean? Since Paul had been a believer for 30 years, we know he was not saying that he wanted to meet Jesus for the first time, trusting Him as Savior. He meant, as you would expect, that he wanted to know Jesus better. Paul had just finished saying in verses 7-9 that Jesus was everything to him – he had no confidence in his own goodness as a means of his salvation – all depended on Jesus. But at this stage of Paul’s life, he was consumed with a desire to know Jesus intimately.
A lot of us begin our Christian lives with that kind of burning desire, don’t we? Our hearts are thrilled with this new life and we are fully aware that our wonderful new life exists because of Jesus. We can’t get enough Scripture or Christian fellowship or prayer in the early days. Gradually, though, so many of us slip into the routine of the Christian life and the burning desire to get to know Jesus at deeper levels subsides. As I have said before, the more we know about the Lord the easier it is to live without Him. We know what to say and what not to say, how to act, how to play our role, and we just settle in. The problem is, we are just settling. So, before we go any further in this text, let’s stop and pray silently. Would you ask the Lord to put this desire in your heart? Just say the words, “Jesus, I want to know You more!” OK.
We probably should have talked about the rest of the verse before praying that prayer, but I am sure you knew what you were getting into when you prayed it! Paul said, “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection.” You may think that a desire to know the power of Christ’s resurrection in his life was a common theme for Paul, but there is nowhere else in the apostle’s letters that he speaks of the resurrection in this way, although you could make a case for it in Romans 6. He usually speaks of the power that is available to Christ-followers as coming from the Father or the Spirit. What a vivid picture of God’s power: to live the life to which we are called because of resurrection power! It is the power to overcome sin, to share Jesus, to – no, wait. It is the power to share in Jesus’ sufferings. That is what Philippians 3:10 says, is it not?
It is interesting that Paul lists the power of the resurrection before speaking of sharing Jesus’ suffering. To share in Jesus’ suffering is, in fact, a desire of Paul’s, and he was able to suffer well because of resurrection power. Not that he would have chosen to be in prison or to suffer all that he had endured, but he knew there was a special communion with Jesus in suffering for the gospel, so he welcomed it.
I recently ran across the following reflection by Mehdi Dibaj, an Iranian pastor imprisoned for eight years because of his faith. It was excerpted from the book Bound to Be Free.
"These days there are celebrations everywhere. People outside celebrate the day of Revolution and you, my son, are celebrating your birthday today (17 years old). Inside my prison cell I am celebrating my forty-third year of becoming a Christian and today I am celebrating the entering of the eighth year of the test of my faith in Jesus Christ our Lord. There is a celebration and joy within my heart. I thank my loving God ever so much that He accounted me worthy to be here in prison for more than seven years now because of my love and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my Christian brothers and sisters who have supported me with their prayers and love, so that the victory should belong to the Lord. Victory is Yours, risen Jesus, Son of the Creator, our Redeemer."
Mehdi Dibaj was released from prison shortly after he wrote the gentle testimony quoted above. Six months later he was murdered by anti-Christian extremists. Do we really know much of suffering for Christ? Probably not. Does suffering in other ways count? I think so. I do believe that Paul is talking first and foremost about tangible suffering that comes because of our affiliation with and stand for Jesus, but it also seems to me that Job reminds us that we don’t have any idea about the cause for the other types of suffering we endure, such as sickness, broken relationships, lost jobs and the like. If we suffer well, then we are drawn into fellowship with Jesus. That’s what the word “sharing” in our text means. In fact, it is the Greek word koinonea, which in some places is translated “fellowship” and in some places translated “partnership.” Do you see the significance of the word and the truth, here? In the same way Paul and the Philippians were partners in sharing the Good News of Jesus, those who suffer for Jesus are literally “partners” with Him. As we grow closer to Jesus, we will die to our own desires and goals to be one with Him, according to the end of verse 10.
Verse 11 is not as complicated as it seems. Paul is not saying that his own salvation is in question. He is simply saying that he does not know whether he will be alive when Jesus returns or if he will die and await the resurrection of his body at such time when Jesus does return. But Paul’s thought, here, leads to a very important point that he will make in verse 12 that has major significance in Christendom today. Look at verse 12 and the first part of verse 13: “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.”
Paul begins by saying I have not obtained this. Obtained what? Well, there are two possibilities. Paul could be simply saying that he had not obtained this intimate knowledge of Jesus for which he longs. It is also possible, though, that Paul was saying that he had not obtained the life that will be possible only after the final resurrection – that is, a life of perfection. If that is what Paul is saying, and I think it probably is, then his words contain irony and sarcasm. Remember, Paul had been a Christian for some 30 years. I think most of us would agree that he was probably the greatest Christian who ever lived. So, when he says, in essence, that I have not arrived, it means something! If the Apostle Paul had not reached the point of sinless perfection, the implication was that no one else had.
With these words, Paul was fighting one heresy and he was also fighting one badly misguided belief of some first-century Christians. First, he was putting to rest the idea of attaining heaven through the Law. Also, though, Paul was combating the prevalent idea that just as Jesus had been resurrected, so have we, thus no sickness, no sin, no troubles will plague our days any more. That is very much akin to the idea today that all we have to do is claim victory in Jesus, and all of our troubles are over – spiritual, financial, emotional, relational – it will all be OK if we just believe. But, if you will recall in verse 10, Paul had connected the power of the resurrection with suffering and death to self! Do you see how very foolish such theology is that proclaims that because we are children of the king, we will always live like princes and princesses with Jesus paving the way to happiness and spiritual perfection? Absurd! I am confident that we can conclude from these verses that we will struggle with sin until the day we die! But, as the second half of verse 13 and verse 14 show us, that is no excuse for sin: “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.”
Paul once again employs an athletic metaphor. He sees himself as a runner that is straining for the finish line. Before we break this down, it is important to note that Paul is not saying “I want to beat all other Christians and finish first.” He is the only person in the race, but he is racing against himself. It is not that personal reward awaits him at the finish line, but, rather, Jesus. You may be tempted to look at this text and say, “Oh, yeah, Paul was looking to hear Jesus say ‘Well done,’” but Paul is simply wanting to do his very best up to the very end where he will find the one for Whom he has given up everything and thrown it on the garbage heap.
How does Paul run? For starters, he doesn’t look back. That is the first rule for runners in the lead, is it not? When you look back, you will only find trouble. Without question, Paul is saying that he is not looking back on any accomplishments, but he is looking ahead to Jesus. For most of us, it is not our accomplishments that turn our heads – it is our failures. Take a cue from Paul and fugettaboudit. One of the best ways to put the past behind you is to strain forward, leaning toward the finish line when you will meet Jesus, whether it be at His return or at the end of your life.
What do you most anticipate about heaven? I have to tell you that one of the most appealing aspects of heaven to me is that I will be through with my sinful self. That is not the best focus, though, is it? As much as I want to see my precious wife and my godly mother and so many others that have gone before me, my primary desire for heaven needs to be Jesus! That is the desire in Paul’s heart that has every nerve strained in anticipation. It is the ultimate life to which God has called us. Throughout eternity, though we will engage in all the good that this life offers and much, much more, our focus will return again and again to the one Who made life possible – Jesus! Let that sink in for a moment. Now, look back at Paul’s intense focus and ask God to make it your own.
13 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,
14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
To conclude his thoughts about all he has said in this chapter, Paul urges his followers to make sure that their passion for Christ is the same as his. Verses 15-16:
15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.
16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained.
This is one of those subtle shifts in Scripture that we so often miss. Paul switches from first person singular to first person plural. No longer does Paul say, “This is my story,” but he now says, “Let’s make sure this is the story for all of us.” Paul recognizes the Philippians as mature Christ-followers. Even though he had received direct revelation from God for truth, Paul was confident that God would lead the Philippians into truth, also, though they would receive it by reading Scripture that God had led Paul to write. God’s Spirit, of course, would have to open their eyes to any areas of deficiency in their theological understanding. At any rate, Paul says in verse 16, “Let’s hold on to and act on what we already know.” That is such an important principle in the Christian life – obey what you know. Pursue Jesus at the point of maturity to which He has brought you in your relationship with Him. Always keep your eyes on Jesus.
Let’s read this passage one more time – together. Read with me, please, Philippians 3:10-16:
10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death,
11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
12 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.
13 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,
14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.
16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained.
To Know Jesus!
Philippians 3:10-16
Do you like stories? Everybody likes stories, I think! Now, granted, we have different tastes and so we find ourselves more interested in some stories than others. But, at some level, almost all of us like stories. If you say that you don’t particularly like fiction, you probably do and just don’t know it. For instance, do you enjoy the fictitious stories that Jesus told? “Well,” you say, “He was making a point.” I think, in fact, that is the goal of most fiction – to make a point. We all like stories.
In our day, most of us enjoy the life stories of other people. Hey, we all like telling our own stories to someone else, and a lot of us like hearing other people’s stories. If you find yourself always wanting to tell your personal story but rarely wanting to hear someone else’s story, that could be a problem – pray about that, would you? Ask God to give you are curious heart about others so that you can minister to them by letting them know how interested you are in their lives.
Sometimes stories have real purpose, and then there is Jerry Seinfeld. Does your story – or testimony, if you prefer – have purpose at the end? Is your life heading somewhere?
Last week, we read part of the Apostle Paul’s story in Philippians 3:1-9. I will not take too much time in review, but if you were not here last week then let me tell you up front that today’s message will be far more meaningful if you go back and listen to last week’s message. There are CD’s in the lobby, or you can listen online at our church website. Last week we read that Paul was committed to Jesus over the OT Law in spite of his extremely impressive Jewish bloodlines and religious commitment. He concluded that all his accomplishments were rubbish, and gladly traded everything for Jesus. He was getting somewhere with his story, and this morning in our very first verse we will come to a primary reason Paul told his story in the first place. In fact, Paul’s life purpose is clearly articulated Philippians 3, 7-14, and his central focus is to know Jesus Christ at a very high intimate level. It is a good time to read our text. We will read from verse 1 through verse 16 because of the importance of the big picture. Would you please stand for the reading of God’s Word?
1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and it is safe for you.
2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh.
3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh –
4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence, I have more:
5 circumcised on the eight day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;
6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness under the law, blameless.
7 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
9 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 –
10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death,
11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
12 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.
13 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,
14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.
16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained.
The theme of the book of Philippians, as you know, is Partnership in the Gospel, which refers to the many ways Paul connected with the Philippian Church to share the gospel all over the Roman Empire. Last week’s text, Philippians 3:1-9, gave us a clear presentation of the gospel message – that our only hope for salvation is to be clothed in the righteousness of Jesus. This morning we will learn just how very relevant the gospel message is to us who already know Jesus. All of Scripture points to the ultimate conclusion about our lives that Jesus is everything and we are nothing apart from Him.
Paul begins verse 10 with those words that many of us have uttered for years, “That I may know Him.” What did he mean? Since Paul had been a believer for 30 years, we know he was not saying that he wanted to meet Jesus for the first time, trusting Him as Savior. He meant, as you would expect, that he wanted to know Jesus better. Paul had just finished saying in verses 7-9 that Jesus was everything to him – he had no confidence in his own goodness as a means of his salvation – all depended on Jesus. But at this stage of Paul’s life, he was consumed with a desire to know Jesus intimately.
A lot of us begin our Christian lives with that kind of burning desire, don’t we? Our hearts are thrilled with this new life and we are fully aware that our wonderful new life exists because of Jesus. We can’t get enough Scripture or Christian fellowship or prayer in the early days. Gradually, though, so many of us slip into the routine of the Christian life and the burning desire to get to know Jesus at deeper levels subsides. As I have said before, the more we know about the Lord the easier it is to live without Him. We know what to say and what not to say, how to act, how to play our role, and we just settle in. The problem is, we are just settling. So, before we go any further in this text, let’s stop and pray silently. Would you ask the Lord to put this desire in your heart? Just say the words, “Jesus, I want to know You more!” OK.
We probably should have talked about the rest of the verse before praying that prayer, but I am sure you knew what you were getting into when you prayed it! Paul said, “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection.” You may think that a desire to know the power of Christ’s resurrection in his life was a common theme for Paul, but there is nowhere else in the apostle’s letters that he speaks of the resurrection in this way, although you could make a case for it in Romans 6. He usually speaks of the power that is available to Christ-followers as coming from the Father or the Spirit. What a vivid picture of God’s power: to live the life to which we are called because of resurrection power! It is the power to overcome sin, to share Jesus, to – no, wait. It is the power to share in Jesus’ sufferings. That is what Philippians 3:10 says, is it not?
It is interesting that Paul lists the power of the resurrection before speaking of sharing Jesus’ suffering. To share in Jesus’ suffering is, in fact, a desire of Paul’s, and he was able to suffer well because of resurrection power. Not that he would have chosen to be in prison or to suffer all that he had endured, but he knew there was a special communion with Jesus in suffering for the gospel, so he welcomed it.
I recently ran across the following reflection by Mehdi Dibaj, an Iranian pastor imprisoned for eight years because of his faith. It was excerpted from the book Bound to Be Free.
"These days there are celebrations everywhere. People outside celebrate the day of Revolution and you, my son, are celebrating your birthday today (17 years old). Inside my prison cell I am celebrating my forty-third year of becoming a Christian and today I am celebrating the entering of the eighth year of the test of my faith in Jesus Christ our Lord. There is a celebration and joy within my heart. I thank my loving God ever so much that He accounted me worthy to be here in prison for more than seven years now because of my love and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my Christian brothers and sisters who have supported me with their prayers and love, so that the victory should belong to the Lord. Victory is Yours, risen Jesus, Son of the Creator, our Redeemer."
Mehdi Dibaj was released from prison shortly after he wrote the gentle testimony quoted above. Six months later he was murdered by anti-Christian extremists. Do we really know much of suffering for Christ? Probably not. Does suffering in other ways count? I think so. I do believe that Paul is talking first and foremost about tangible suffering that comes because of our affiliation with and stand for Jesus, but it also seems to me that Job reminds us that we don’t have any idea about the cause for the other types of suffering we endure, such as sickness, broken relationships, lost jobs and the like. If we suffer well, then we are drawn into fellowship with Jesus. That’s what the word “sharing” in our text means. In fact, it is the Greek word koinonea, which in some places is translated “fellowship” and in some places translated “partnership.” Do you see the significance of the word and the truth, here? In the same way Paul and the Philippians were partners in sharing the Good News of Jesus, those who suffer for Jesus are literally “partners” with Him. As we grow closer to Jesus, we will die to our own desires and goals to be one with Him, according to the end of verse 10.
Verse 11 is not as complicated as it seems. Paul is not saying that his own salvation is in question. He is simply saying that he does not know whether he will be alive when Jesus returns or if he will die and await the resurrection of his body at such time when Jesus does return. But Paul’s thought, here, leads to a very important point that he will make in verse 12 that has major significance in Christendom today. Look at verse 12 and the first part of verse 13: “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.”
Paul begins by saying I have not obtained this. Obtained what? Well, there are two possibilities. Paul could be simply saying that he had not obtained this intimate knowledge of Jesus for which he longs. It is also possible, though, that Paul was saying that he had not obtained the life that will be possible only after the final resurrection – that is, a life of perfection. If that is what Paul is saying, and I think it probably is, then his words contain irony and sarcasm. Remember, Paul had been a Christian for some 30 years. I think most of us would agree that he was probably the greatest Christian who ever lived. So, when he says, in essence, that I have not arrived, it means something! If the Apostle Paul had not reached the point of sinless perfection, the implication was that no one else had.
With these words, Paul was fighting one heresy and he was also fighting one badly misguided belief of some first-century Christians. First, he was putting to rest the idea of attaining heaven through the Law. Also, though, Paul was combating the prevalent idea that just as Jesus had been resurrected, so have we, thus no sickness, no sin, no troubles will plague our days any more. That is very much akin to the idea today that all we have to do is claim victory in Jesus, and all of our troubles are over – spiritual, financial, emotional, relational – it will all be OK if we just believe. But, if you will recall in verse 10, Paul had connected the power of the resurrection with suffering and death to self! Do you see how very foolish such theology is that proclaims that because we are children of the king, we will always live like princes and princesses with Jesus paving the way to happiness and spiritual perfection? Absurd! I am confident that we can conclude from these verses that we will struggle with sin until the day we die! But, as the second half of verse 13 and verse 14 show us, that is no excuse for sin: “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.”
Paul once again employs an athletic metaphor. He sees himself as a runner that is straining for the finish line. Before we break this down, it is important to note that Paul is not saying “I want to beat all other Christians and finish first.” He is the only person in the race, but he is racing against himself. It is not that personal reward awaits him at the finish line, but, rather, Jesus. You may be tempted to look at this text and say, “Oh, yeah, Paul was looking to hear Jesus say ‘Well done,’” but Paul is simply wanting to do his very best up to the very end where he will find the one for Whom he has given up everything and thrown it on the garbage heap.
How does Paul run? For starters, he doesn’t look back. That is the first rule for runners in the lead, is it not? When you look back, you will only find trouble. Without question, Paul is saying that he is not looking back on any accomplishments, but he is looking ahead to Jesus. For most of us, it is not our accomplishments that turn our heads – it is our failures. Take a cue from Paul and fugettaboudit. One of the best ways to put the past behind you is to strain forward, leaning toward the finish line when you will meet Jesus, whether it be at His return or at the end of your life.
What do you most anticipate about heaven? I have to tell you that one of the most appealing aspects of heaven to me is that I will be through with my sinful self. That is not the best focus, though, is it? As much as I want to see my precious wife and my godly mother and so many others that have gone before me, my primary desire for heaven needs to be Jesus! That is the desire in Paul’s heart that has every nerve strained in anticipation. It is the ultimate life to which God has called us. Throughout eternity, though we will engage in all the good that this life offers and much, much more, our focus will return again and again to the one Who made life possible – Jesus! Let that sink in for a moment. Now, look back at Paul’s intense focus and ask God to make it your own.
13 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,
14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
To conclude his thoughts about all he has said in this chapter, Paul urges his followers to make sure that their passion for Christ is the same as his. Verses 15-16:
15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.
16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained.
This is one of those subtle shifts in Scripture that we so often miss. Paul switches from first person singular to first person plural. No longer does Paul say, “This is my story,” but he now says, “Let’s make sure this is the story for all of us.” Paul recognizes the Philippians as mature Christ-followers. Even though he had received direct revelation from God for truth, Paul was confident that God would lead the Philippians into truth, also, though they would receive it by reading Scripture that God had led Paul to write. God’s Spirit, of course, would have to open their eyes to any areas of deficiency in their theological understanding. At any rate, Paul says in verse 16, “Let’s hold on to and act on what we already know.” That is such an important principle in the Christian life – obey what you know. Pursue Jesus at the point of maturity to which He has brought you in your relationship with Him. Always keep your eyes on Jesus.
Let’s read this passage one more time – together. Read with me, please, Philippians 3:10-16:
10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death,
11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
12 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.
13 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,
14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.
16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained.
Monday, June 16, 2008
The Many Faces of Grief
Almost two weeks have gone by since I began to write this post. The implications of grief have marinated in my heart and mind for most of that time, but I am not sure that I am any more prepared/qualified to write anything sensible now than I was when I first began to put my thoughts on paper.
This will not be a theological treatise on grief, just so you know. Grief is a funny thing. When you think about grief, you tend to think in specific blocks of time, and even though you may say someone grieved for years, the tendency is to think of a state of grief as present when someone is sad or broken at a particular moment. But grief is really more like a state of being that has many different moods. Thus, it is accurate to say that someone grieves over a period of time, even if he or she does not seem sad for much of that time.
For me, there was the initial state of loss and sadness when, three and a half months ago, dear Linda slipped away. Although we know where she went, we lost her. I have never been more lonely at any moment in my life than I was when I followed her casket out of the church, heading for the grave site. Surrounded by several hundred friends and loving family, I was utterly alone. A few days after the funeral I descended into a deep pit. I have stated before in this space that it was a place that I did not know existed. After two to three weeks of darkness, I had to pull out. It seemed that my health was in jeopardy. After this last year of holding up rather well under stress, my body finally had its say and shouted its revenge. I am certain that God would have enabled me to endure more of the deep pit, but I intentionally pulled out, though I did not want to miss whatever God had for me in this sorrow.
Because God made me the way that I am, it is certainly possible for me to laugh and have a good time in my period of grief. Sometimes, though, the laughter is a little too loud. It is not that the things at which I am laughing are not funny - they are. It is just that they are not that funny. At other times it is far easier than it previously was to become easily agitated, and though I don't always show my impatience with people or circumstances, sometimes I do. When the pain comes, it usually comes in small doses, but it is often so intense that I cry out in sorrow. The intense sorrow usually goes away fairly quickly, but sometimes it stays for a day or two.
I suppose the most frustrating face of grief for me is the lethargy that shows up day in and day out. Again, personality allows for activity, work, and laughter, but the numbness of grief is my constant companion.
Grief seems to intensify emotions – sad becomes really sad and happy becomes a little too happy. Balance is elusive, stability only a memory. Emotions are extreme, or, they are hard to find at all. Lethargy, apathy, complacency, reticence – all present and accounted for just before the emotions explode for their moment, after which the numbness returns.
It is not that my judgment has been greatly affected – which, when you think about it, could be quite comical for me to aver at this stage. Who am I to assess my judgment in this time of grief? I feel as though I am able to think clearly enough – it is just that I do not always have the energy to engage all that is before me. I do my best to conceal my emotions, but headshots taken of me at unsuspecting moments betray my conflicted soul.
Is there any good in grief? If one is a Christ-follower, then, YES! Not that any sane person would choose grief, much less choose the loss of someone dear that causes the mourning! But, anything that draws us to Jesus can be beneficial. The Apostle Paul, in fact, stated that he longed for the fellowship that is found in sharing Christ’s suffering (Philippians 3:10). If suffering outside of persecution has no value, then please remove the book of Job from the Old Testament! All suffering can serve to bring us closer to God and make us more like Jesus if we allow the Holy Spirit to comfort and transform us.
So, is grief an acceptable emotion? The Scripture often tells of times when God’s people grieved the loss of a loved one or the loss of the nation to a powerful adversary. Although God ordered His prophet to forgo grieving when His wife died (Ezekiel 24:15-24), it was to make the case for God’s legitimate anger toward the sin of the nation of Israel, a sin that He would soon judge. The command to not grieve was clearly the exception to the normal and acceptable response for one who has lost a loved one (consider Jesus at Lazarus’ tomb – John 11:34-38).
Yes, it is OK to grieve. And grief has many faces. If grief ultimately has the effect of causing me to look more like Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:18), then I will embrace it, even though I would have never chosen it. Please be patient with me, though, as I grieve – and, pardon my many faces!
This will not be a theological treatise on grief, just so you know. Grief is a funny thing. When you think about grief, you tend to think in specific blocks of time, and even though you may say someone grieved for years, the tendency is to think of a state of grief as present when someone is sad or broken at a particular moment. But grief is really more like a state of being that has many different moods. Thus, it is accurate to say that someone grieves over a period of time, even if he or she does not seem sad for much of that time.
For me, there was the initial state of loss and sadness when, three and a half months ago, dear Linda slipped away. Although we know where she went, we lost her. I have never been more lonely at any moment in my life than I was when I followed her casket out of the church, heading for the grave site. Surrounded by several hundred friends and loving family, I was utterly alone. A few days after the funeral I descended into a deep pit. I have stated before in this space that it was a place that I did not know existed. After two to three weeks of darkness, I had to pull out. It seemed that my health was in jeopardy. After this last year of holding up rather well under stress, my body finally had its say and shouted its revenge. I am certain that God would have enabled me to endure more of the deep pit, but I intentionally pulled out, though I did not want to miss whatever God had for me in this sorrow.
Because God made me the way that I am, it is certainly possible for me to laugh and have a good time in my period of grief. Sometimes, though, the laughter is a little too loud. It is not that the things at which I am laughing are not funny - they are. It is just that they are not that funny. At other times it is far easier than it previously was to become easily agitated, and though I don't always show my impatience with people or circumstances, sometimes I do. When the pain comes, it usually comes in small doses, but it is often so intense that I cry out in sorrow. The intense sorrow usually goes away fairly quickly, but sometimes it stays for a day or two.
I suppose the most frustrating face of grief for me is the lethargy that shows up day in and day out. Again, personality allows for activity, work, and laughter, but the numbness of grief is my constant companion.
Grief seems to intensify emotions – sad becomes really sad and happy becomes a little too happy. Balance is elusive, stability only a memory. Emotions are extreme, or, they are hard to find at all. Lethargy, apathy, complacency, reticence – all present and accounted for just before the emotions explode for their moment, after which the numbness returns.
It is not that my judgment has been greatly affected – which, when you think about it, could be quite comical for me to aver at this stage. Who am I to assess my judgment in this time of grief? I feel as though I am able to think clearly enough – it is just that I do not always have the energy to engage all that is before me. I do my best to conceal my emotions, but headshots taken of me at unsuspecting moments betray my conflicted soul.
Is there any good in grief? If one is a Christ-follower, then, YES! Not that any sane person would choose grief, much less choose the loss of someone dear that causes the mourning! But, anything that draws us to Jesus can be beneficial. The Apostle Paul, in fact, stated that he longed for the fellowship that is found in sharing Christ’s suffering (Philippians 3:10). If suffering outside of persecution has no value, then please remove the book of Job from the Old Testament! All suffering can serve to bring us closer to God and make us more like Jesus if we allow the Holy Spirit to comfort and transform us.
So, is grief an acceptable emotion? The Scripture often tells of times when God’s people grieved the loss of a loved one or the loss of the nation to a powerful adversary. Although God ordered His prophet to forgo grieving when His wife died (Ezekiel 24:15-24), it was to make the case for God’s legitimate anger toward the sin of the nation of Israel, a sin that He would soon judge. The command to not grieve was clearly the exception to the normal and acceptable response for one who has lost a loved one (consider Jesus at Lazarus’ tomb – John 11:34-38).
Yes, it is OK to grieve. And grief has many faces. If grief ultimately has the effect of causing me to look more like Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:18), then I will embrace it, even though I would have never chosen it. Please be patient with me, though, as I grieve – and, pardon my many faces!
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Relevant Message
I usually do not publish sermons in this space unless they are relevant to the journey of grief in which I am immersed. Some of you have asked about the sermons - you can access them online, if you interested, at http://www.graceccnc.org/ You will only find the Sunday morning audio version there, though. At any rate, I am going to do something I have not done before - publish this sermon before I preach it, albeit, the delivery is less than two hours away, Lord willing! If you find these thoughts a bit light and wanting more, go back and listen to the other four sermons on Philippians 2 and you will find a bit more meat. I preach the text as I find it, thus I never know exactly what is coming, heavy or light.
I have been thinking about the many faces of grief and intend to share those thoughts here in the coming days. Grief can be so confounding confusing (that's not redundant, just emphatic!)!!! That is why it is taking me so long to get to it. In the meantime, for those who have a few minutes:
Sterling Examples of Humble Servants
Philippians 2:19-30
Partnership in the Gospel. That’s the theme of the book of Philippians. For several weeks, we have been reading and learning about the importance of unity in the church, which enhances the effectiveness of the gospel message that we share with the world. We have been reminded that humility is required of individuals before unity can exist in the group. That is true of any group – it is just that there is so much at stake in the church. That is one of the reasons it is so important for us to love one another deeply and get along with one another, even when it means subjugating our own ideas and desires for the sake of church unity.
In the middle of all this discussion about humility and unity, the Apostle Paul gave the example of Jesus as the ultimate model for humility. While Jesus is, indeed, the best example imaginable for humility, we may be tempted to say, “Well, I’m not Jesus, even though I want to be more like Him. No mere human can be as humble as this passage commands.” Interesting that you would say that. Here at the end of Philippians 2 and the end of Paul’s focus on humility – for the moment, at least – the apostle gives two sterling examples of humble servants – Timothy and Epaphroditus. Perhaps that is why several of you have named your sons Epaphroditus!
I almost gave this message another title in order to put the focus on the body of Christ and how much we need one another. It would have been legitimate, but I think it would have been driven more out of personal experience than examination of our present text. I have been so blessed by the circle of friends that have defended the silver lining of my dark days, as the great theologian John Mayer would say. There is no doubt that Timothy and Epaphroditus were true servants in the body, but Paul had a very specific reason for mentioning them here. I know you may wonder, sometimes, what the benefit of such personal digression is in various writings of Scripture, but I think you will see how great an example of humility we are given in these two servants of the Lord. Would you please stand as we read God’s Word together? We will be reading Philippians 2:19-30.
19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you.
20 For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare.
21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.
22 But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel.
23 I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me,
24 and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.
25 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,
26 for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill.
27 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.
28 I am more eager to send him therefore, that you may rejoice in seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious.
29 So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men,
30 for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.
We make a lot of excuses for not following God’s plan for our lives. “After all, I’m just human. That’s just the way I was made.” Indeed, this Christian life is not an easy charge! It comforts us to know that others struggle just like we do. If we are not careful, though, we will assume that no one can ever live anything close to the way God has commanded us to in His Word. But, every now and then we see someone who comes closer than we have seen in a long time, or maybe someone who is more like Jesus than anyone we have ever known. We are skeptical, of course, and say, “Just give him a little time. He will show his true colors soon enough!” And, it’s not that your new friend is perfect, but he or she has a walk that begins to make you think that maybe it is possible to live a spirit-filled life of humility, grace, and power. Paul gives us a few examples in our text. The first example is Timothy. Look again at verses 19-24:
19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you.
20 For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare.
21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.
22 But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel.
23 I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me,
24 and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.
Paul had planned to send Timothy to Philippi. This would have been well received in Philippi because the people knew him well, as Paul reminded them in verse 22. When Lydia became the first European convert, Timothy was on the scene. There is no doubt that there was a genuine affection between Timothy and the Philippian Church and since he was so very close to Paul they would have loved to have seen him. The reason Paul wanted to send Timothy was that he was more selfless and giving than anyone Paul knew. Paul’s desire to send such a one to Philippi speaks not only of his admiration for Timothy, but it also speaks of his love for the Philippians.
Verses 20 and 21 are quite a testament to Timothy’s heart and service for the Lord. I don’t think Paul was employing hyperbole here when he said that there was no one in the entire area like Timothy. Why? Because everyone else was bound to the natural way of things, but Timothy lived a supernatural life. It is natural to look out for oneself. In fact, that is our default position – looking out for number 1. Timothy, on the other hand, exhibited exquisite care for others. If it were not true, Paul could not have said it and retained his credibility. The Philippians knew Timothy, and I am sure when the letter was read to the church, many heads shook in affirmation and “amen’s” were heard all over the room.
Paul and Timothy had a special relationship. It was, as Paul said, a father and son connection. Sinclair Ferguson muses that this was far more than a formal relationship, it was instinctive. Timothy was beside Paul through many of his most difficult days and he was with Paul during the days when God’s glory shone on earth in fruitful ministry. It was, of course, more than a spiritual relationship, but it was, first and foremost, a spiritual kinship that these two servants of the Lord shared – they served in the gospel.
May I ask you if there is someone in your life who is like a spiritual father or mother to you? For those of you who are more mature in the faith, is there someone who is like a spiritual son or daughter to you? Do you think such a relationship would be beneficial to you? The only way we could possibly say no is out of arrogance or apathy.
You see what Paul was doing, don’t you? He was saying, “Remember I told you about Jesus and how He cared so much for us that he did not do what was convenient and pleasant for Himself, but rather, He gave Himself wholly for us. You may be tempted think it is impossible to live like that. Have you considered Timothy?” Timothy was so important to Paul that he refused to send his spiritual son to Philippi. Even though Paul expected to be released from prison, he wanted Timothy there for the verdict. After that, Paul said, you may see Timothy and I may get to come your way, also. Since Paul needed to send someone to Philippi, he chose someone else, and what a replacement – it was Epaphroditus!
We are told in chapter 4 of Philippians that it was Epaphroditus who had brought the financial gift from Philippi to Paul. Paul now sends his friend back home with a report from Rome. When word got out that Paul had written a letter to the church, I imagine the believers gathered in eager anticipation to hear from their friend. I doubt that Epaphroditus read the letter to them, but I imagine he was in the audience when it was read. As we read verses 25-20, I want you to think about how embarrassed Epaphroditus probably was when he heard what Paul had written. I want you to think about something else – something we often say, “Oh, don’t let so and so hear you bragging on her or she will get the big head.” As noble as that sounds, Paul must have not been aware of that particular spiritual nugget. Notice how he brags on Epaphroditus, knowing that he would hear the praise while the letter was being read to the congregation!
25 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,
26 for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill.
27 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. (SLIDE 8)
28 I am more eager to send him therefore, that you may rejoice in seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious.
29 So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men,
30 for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.
High words of commendation. Epaphroditus was, in Paul’s estimation, a man worthy of honor. Look at how Paul describes his friend. He begins by calling Epaphroditus his brother. This was not mere lip service, but a spiritual bond that united Paul and Epaphroditus together as family in the same way that Timothy was Paul’s spiritual son. He was also a fellow worker. Epaphroditus was not on vacation in Rome – he worked hard! He was also a fellow soldier, giving priority to kingdom matters. He was willing to engage in spiritual warfare with a relentless enemy. Paul concludes his initial assessment of Epaphroditus by saying that he was a representative of the Philippian Church and a minister to the Apostle. The Philippians could be proud of their missionary. I wonder if any of us went on a mission trip whether or not a similar report would come back about our ministry endeavor?
One of the things that made Epaphroditus’ service to Paul so extraordinary was that he was likely physically weak when he ministered to Paul. On the journey to bring the financial gift to Paul, Epaphroditus had fallen ill along the way. No doubt, there was a contingent of church workers with him. Someone in the group probably went ahead to Rome to tell Paul that his friend was sick and that the illness was serious. Word had gotten back to Philippi, also, and that distressed Epaphroditus because he knew that the congregation in Philippi would worry about him.
Should we worry about our brothers and sisters who are sick? Well, you are permitted to be concerned about your brothers and sisters’ physical condition unless you are more spiritual than the Apostle Paul! You get the sense that Paul was greatly disturbed with the news that his good friend was near death. If Epaphroditus had died, would God have been loving and merciful? Absolutely! But, Paul expressed his gratitude to the Lord for His mercy in sparing Epaphroditus. How would Paul have responded had his friend gone to be with the Lord? He would have had sorrow upon sorrow. I get that. That is a very good description of the emotions one experiences when losing a loved one – layers of sorrow. It is not unspiritual to grieve. People do not die because they or others do not have enough faith for them to be healed. Of course God heals some people! In fact, in our day of modern medicine we may think little of Epaphroditus’ recovery, but not many people came back from death’s door in the first century like Paul’s friend had. Paul realized how close to death his friend had been – and he knew the grief he would have endured if he had died. But now after a short recovery, Paul was sending him back to Philippi. He was sending him back as an example of the humility and selfless service to which Paul had called the entire church.
So, Paul said, receive him in the Lord with all joy and honor. Your friend almost died because of his service to me. In verse 30, it is almost certain that Paul was not criticizing the Philippians for a lack of care, but rather he was saying that Epaphroditus had served him in their absence. In saying so, Paul was reminding the Philippians of their partnership in the gospel with him. Oh, how we need each other! We are the body of Christ known as Grace Community Church. We partner with one another and with our missionaries all over the world to bring the gospel message to those who do not know Jesus! It is a crucial work and we must serve in unity if the gospel message we preach is to be effective in our community. Of course, group unity and gospel witness begin with each one of us. Not only do we have the example of Jesus before us, but also the examples of Timothy and Epaphroditus who cared more about Jesus and others than they cared about themselves.
As we bring our time together in the Word to a close, I want to point your attention to a brief passage in an excellent book that I have told you about before: A Passion for God – Prayers and Meditations on the Book of Romans, by Ray Ortlund, Jr. Please write down the title of this book. I would love it if every one of you went home and ordered it from Amazon or Christianbook.com. It is a great devotional if you want to use it as such. Ortlund did his own personal translation of the book of Romans – well, actually, it is a paraphrase, but it is a well-informed paraphrase since he used the Greek text as his starting point. The format of the book is to write a paraphrase for a passage, which may be one verse or 15 verses, and then offer a prayer in response to the Scripture. There is also usually a section with some instruction from another Christian, almost always someone who ministered in another era.
The section on Romans 1:11-15 is so closely tied to what we have been covering from Philippians 1:27 through the end of the second chapter that I wanted to share it with you here. Again, I also hope to whet your appetite for this jewel of a book. Ortlund’s paraphrase goes like this
“For I long to come visit you, so that I may strengthen you with some gift of spiritual benefit, as your needs may require. I mean, of course, a mutual exchange of blessing, since you will contribute to my faith as well. Please do not get the wrong impression, dear friends. My absence from Rome is not due to indifference toward you. I have often planned to come – so far, every attempt frustrated! – so that I may reap a spiritual harvest among you, just as I aim to do among all the Gentiles. I have a responsibility to bring the gospel to everyone everywhere, both to the civilized and to the uncivilized, to the sophisticated and to the simple. It is this sense of responsibility, not mere ambition, that explains my urgency to come minister the gospel to you in Rome.”
Now, for the prayer of response:
“O Lord, how trivial are my aspirations and desires. I pursue the amusements and toys and carnality of the modern world, while the higher longings of my soul weaken from neglect. What do I need to remove from my life, in order to throw myself without reserve or impediment into the great cause of the gospel? This is my brief moment in history. I do not have forever. Now is my time to speak to my generation. Purify my heart, Lord. Energize my desires. Open my eyes. Compel me with my personal responsibility to serve the interests of the gospel in the world today. O Lord, let me spend my life for you, disregarding all risks, accepting all consequences. Let the power of the gospel so grip me that I act upon it, come what may. Let me recover the power to live and to die for my faith. In the holy name of Christ. Amen.”
Finally, this brief poem by the 20th century Presbyterian theologian, Francis Schaeffer:
To eat, to breathe
to beget
Is this all there is
Chance configuration of atom against atom
of god against god
I cannot believe it.
Come, Triune God Who lives,
Here am I
Shake the world again.
I will leave these powerful words on the screen while you respond to the Lord’s calling to your heart this morning.
I have been thinking about the many faces of grief and intend to share those thoughts here in the coming days. Grief can be so confounding confusing (that's not redundant, just emphatic!)!!! That is why it is taking me so long to get to it. In the meantime, for those who have a few minutes:
Sterling Examples of Humble Servants
Philippians 2:19-30
Partnership in the Gospel. That’s the theme of the book of Philippians. For several weeks, we have been reading and learning about the importance of unity in the church, which enhances the effectiveness of the gospel message that we share with the world. We have been reminded that humility is required of individuals before unity can exist in the group. That is true of any group – it is just that there is so much at stake in the church. That is one of the reasons it is so important for us to love one another deeply and get along with one another, even when it means subjugating our own ideas and desires for the sake of church unity.
In the middle of all this discussion about humility and unity, the Apostle Paul gave the example of Jesus as the ultimate model for humility. While Jesus is, indeed, the best example imaginable for humility, we may be tempted to say, “Well, I’m not Jesus, even though I want to be more like Him. No mere human can be as humble as this passage commands.” Interesting that you would say that. Here at the end of Philippians 2 and the end of Paul’s focus on humility – for the moment, at least – the apostle gives two sterling examples of humble servants – Timothy and Epaphroditus. Perhaps that is why several of you have named your sons Epaphroditus!
I almost gave this message another title in order to put the focus on the body of Christ and how much we need one another. It would have been legitimate, but I think it would have been driven more out of personal experience than examination of our present text. I have been so blessed by the circle of friends that have defended the silver lining of my dark days, as the great theologian John Mayer would say. There is no doubt that Timothy and Epaphroditus were true servants in the body, but Paul had a very specific reason for mentioning them here. I know you may wonder, sometimes, what the benefit of such personal digression is in various writings of Scripture, but I think you will see how great an example of humility we are given in these two servants of the Lord. Would you please stand as we read God’s Word together? We will be reading Philippians 2:19-30.
19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you.
20 For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare.
21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.
22 But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel.
23 I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me,
24 and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.
25 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,
26 for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill.
27 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.
28 I am more eager to send him therefore, that you may rejoice in seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious.
29 So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men,
30 for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.
We make a lot of excuses for not following God’s plan for our lives. “After all, I’m just human. That’s just the way I was made.” Indeed, this Christian life is not an easy charge! It comforts us to know that others struggle just like we do. If we are not careful, though, we will assume that no one can ever live anything close to the way God has commanded us to in His Word. But, every now and then we see someone who comes closer than we have seen in a long time, or maybe someone who is more like Jesus than anyone we have ever known. We are skeptical, of course, and say, “Just give him a little time. He will show his true colors soon enough!” And, it’s not that your new friend is perfect, but he or she has a walk that begins to make you think that maybe it is possible to live a spirit-filled life of humility, grace, and power. Paul gives us a few examples in our text. The first example is Timothy. Look again at verses 19-24:
19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you.
20 For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare.
21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.
22 But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel.
23 I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me,
24 and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.
Paul had planned to send Timothy to Philippi. This would have been well received in Philippi because the people knew him well, as Paul reminded them in verse 22. When Lydia became the first European convert, Timothy was on the scene. There is no doubt that there was a genuine affection between Timothy and the Philippian Church and since he was so very close to Paul they would have loved to have seen him. The reason Paul wanted to send Timothy was that he was more selfless and giving than anyone Paul knew. Paul’s desire to send such a one to Philippi speaks not only of his admiration for Timothy, but it also speaks of his love for the Philippians.
Verses 20 and 21 are quite a testament to Timothy’s heart and service for the Lord. I don’t think Paul was employing hyperbole here when he said that there was no one in the entire area like Timothy. Why? Because everyone else was bound to the natural way of things, but Timothy lived a supernatural life. It is natural to look out for oneself. In fact, that is our default position – looking out for number 1. Timothy, on the other hand, exhibited exquisite care for others. If it were not true, Paul could not have said it and retained his credibility. The Philippians knew Timothy, and I am sure when the letter was read to the church, many heads shook in affirmation and “amen’s” were heard all over the room.
Paul and Timothy had a special relationship. It was, as Paul said, a father and son connection. Sinclair Ferguson muses that this was far more than a formal relationship, it was instinctive. Timothy was beside Paul through many of his most difficult days and he was with Paul during the days when God’s glory shone on earth in fruitful ministry. It was, of course, more than a spiritual relationship, but it was, first and foremost, a spiritual kinship that these two servants of the Lord shared – they served in the gospel.
May I ask you if there is someone in your life who is like a spiritual father or mother to you? For those of you who are more mature in the faith, is there someone who is like a spiritual son or daughter to you? Do you think such a relationship would be beneficial to you? The only way we could possibly say no is out of arrogance or apathy.
You see what Paul was doing, don’t you? He was saying, “Remember I told you about Jesus and how He cared so much for us that he did not do what was convenient and pleasant for Himself, but rather, He gave Himself wholly for us. You may be tempted think it is impossible to live like that. Have you considered Timothy?” Timothy was so important to Paul that he refused to send his spiritual son to Philippi. Even though Paul expected to be released from prison, he wanted Timothy there for the verdict. After that, Paul said, you may see Timothy and I may get to come your way, also. Since Paul needed to send someone to Philippi, he chose someone else, and what a replacement – it was Epaphroditus!
We are told in chapter 4 of Philippians that it was Epaphroditus who had brought the financial gift from Philippi to Paul. Paul now sends his friend back home with a report from Rome. When word got out that Paul had written a letter to the church, I imagine the believers gathered in eager anticipation to hear from their friend. I doubt that Epaphroditus read the letter to them, but I imagine he was in the audience when it was read. As we read verses 25-20, I want you to think about how embarrassed Epaphroditus probably was when he heard what Paul had written. I want you to think about something else – something we often say, “Oh, don’t let so and so hear you bragging on her or she will get the big head.” As noble as that sounds, Paul must have not been aware of that particular spiritual nugget. Notice how he brags on Epaphroditus, knowing that he would hear the praise while the letter was being read to the congregation!
25 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,
26 for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill.
27 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. (SLIDE 8)
28 I am more eager to send him therefore, that you may rejoice in seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious.
29 So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men,
30 for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.
High words of commendation. Epaphroditus was, in Paul’s estimation, a man worthy of honor. Look at how Paul describes his friend. He begins by calling Epaphroditus his brother. This was not mere lip service, but a spiritual bond that united Paul and Epaphroditus together as family in the same way that Timothy was Paul’s spiritual son. He was also a fellow worker. Epaphroditus was not on vacation in Rome – he worked hard! He was also a fellow soldier, giving priority to kingdom matters. He was willing to engage in spiritual warfare with a relentless enemy. Paul concludes his initial assessment of Epaphroditus by saying that he was a representative of the Philippian Church and a minister to the Apostle. The Philippians could be proud of their missionary. I wonder if any of us went on a mission trip whether or not a similar report would come back about our ministry endeavor?
One of the things that made Epaphroditus’ service to Paul so extraordinary was that he was likely physically weak when he ministered to Paul. On the journey to bring the financial gift to Paul, Epaphroditus had fallen ill along the way. No doubt, there was a contingent of church workers with him. Someone in the group probably went ahead to Rome to tell Paul that his friend was sick and that the illness was serious. Word had gotten back to Philippi, also, and that distressed Epaphroditus because he knew that the congregation in Philippi would worry about him.
Should we worry about our brothers and sisters who are sick? Well, you are permitted to be concerned about your brothers and sisters’ physical condition unless you are more spiritual than the Apostle Paul! You get the sense that Paul was greatly disturbed with the news that his good friend was near death. If Epaphroditus had died, would God have been loving and merciful? Absolutely! But, Paul expressed his gratitude to the Lord for His mercy in sparing Epaphroditus. How would Paul have responded had his friend gone to be with the Lord? He would have had sorrow upon sorrow. I get that. That is a very good description of the emotions one experiences when losing a loved one – layers of sorrow. It is not unspiritual to grieve. People do not die because they or others do not have enough faith for them to be healed. Of course God heals some people! In fact, in our day of modern medicine we may think little of Epaphroditus’ recovery, but not many people came back from death’s door in the first century like Paul’s friend had. Paul realized how close to death his friend had been – and he knew the grief he would have endured if he had died. But now after a short recovery, Paul was sending him back to Philippi. He was sending him back as an example of the humility and selfless service to which Paul had called the entire church.
So, Paul said, receive him in the Lord with all joy and honor. Your friend almost died because of his service to me. In verse 30, it is almost certain that Paul was not criticizing the Philippians for a lack of care, but rather he was saying that Epaphroditus had served him in their absence. In saying so, Paul was reminding the Philippians of their partnership in the gospel with him. Oh, how we need each other! We are the body of Christ known as Grace Community Church. We partner with one another and with our missionaries all over the world to bring the gospel message to those who do not know Jesus! It is a crucial work and we must serve in unity if the gospel message we preach is to be effective in our community. Of course, group unity and gospel witness begin with each one of us. Not only do we have the example of Jesus before us, but also the examples of Timothy and Epaphroditus who cared more about Jesus and others than they cared about themselves.
As we bring our time together in the Word to a close, I want to point your attention to a brief passage in an excellent book that I have told you about before: A Passion for God – Prayers and Meditations on the Book of Romans, by Ray Ortlund, Jr. Please write down the title of this book. I would love it if every one of you went home and ordered it from Amazon or Christianbook.com. It is a great devotional if you want to use it as such. Ortlund did his own personal translation of the book of Romans – well, actually, it is a paraphrase, but it is a well-informed paraphrase since he used the Greek text as his starting point. The format of the book is to write a paraphrase for a passage, which may be one verse or 15 verses, and then offer a prayer in response to the Scripture. There is also usually a section with some instruction from another Christian, almost always someone who ministered in another era.
The section on Romans 1:11-15 is so closely tied to what we have been covering from Philippians 1:27 through the end of the second chapter that I wanted to share it with you here. Again, I also hope to whet your appetite for this jewel of a book. Ortlund’s paraphrase goes like this
“For I long to come visit you, so that I may strengthen you with some gift of spiritual benefit, as your needs may require. I mean, of course, a mutual exchange of blessing, since you will contribute to my faith as well. Please do not get the wrong impression, dear friends. My absence from Rome is not due to indifference toward you. I have often planned to come – so far, every attempt frustrated! – so that I may reap a spiritual harvest among you, just as I aim to do among all the Gentiles. I have a responsibility to bring the gospel to everyone everywhere, both to the civilized and to the uncivilized, to the sophisticated and to the simple. It is this sense of responsibility, not mere ambition, that explains my urgency to come minister the gospel to you in Rome.”
Now, for the prayer of response:
“O Lord, how trivial are my aspirations and desires. I pursue the amusements and toys and carnality of the modern world, while the higher longings of my soul weaken from neglect. What do I need to remove from my life, in order to throw myself without reserve or impediment into the great cause of the gospel? This is my brief moment in history. I do not have forever. Now is my time to speak to my generation. Purify my heart, Lord. Energize my desires. Open my eyes. Compel me with my personal responsibility to serve the interests of the gospel in the world today. O Lord, let me spend my life for you, disregarding all risks, accepting all consequences. Let the power of the gospel so grip me that I act upon it, come what may. Let me recover the power to live and to die for my faith. In the holy name of Christ. Amen.”
Finally, this brief poem by the 20th century Presbyterian theologian, Francis Schaeffer:
To eat, to breathe
to beget
Is this all there is
Chance configuration of atom against atom
of god against god
I cannot believe it.
Come, Triune God Who lives,
Here am I
Shake the world again.
I will leave these powerful words on the screen while you respond to the Lord’s calling to your heart this morning.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
