Are We Worthy? ("An Ode to Joy" Sermon Series on Philippians)

ARE WE WORTHY?

 

Evaluations are an ongoing part of our shopping experience. You are often asked to rate how the store did in meeting your expectations. I purchased some material from a store recently and received an online survey asking me to rate from 1-10 how likely it is that I would recommend this store to others. And when you buy off of Amazon, you are asked how many stars you would give for the product and its delivery. 

            Imagine then, if we were to rate our church. On a scale of 1-10, how likely is it that you would recommend our church to a friend? How many stars would you give to RFC? 

            That’s uncomfortable. We know we fall short. We know that there is room for growth. We know that there are people who have fallen through the cracks and whom we have not sufficiently embraced in our community. 

            So, the question posed, “Are we worthy of the gospel of Christ?” is unfair. The Bible tells us and preachers have long taught us that we are not worthy of the gospel of Jesus, and we never have been. We cannot earn our salvation, and we cannot live up to the grace that has been shown us in Christ. Why then would Paul instruct the church at Philippi (and us by extension) to “conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel”? Are we worthy? NO! All our good deeds are like filthy rags according to the prophet.

            Let’s not misunderstand what Paul is proposing. He knows we cannot live up to the gospel of Jesus Christ, and he is not suggesting we earn our salvation. He is not talking about living in such a way that we earn the benefits of the gospel. What Paul is asking of the church is that we live in such a way that we reflect the reality that God has forgiven you in Christ. 

            It is true – we contribute nothing to our salvation. But Paul believed and taught that the gospel changes our lives and that we are no longer the same. We are not perfect, but we are repenting – turning from the old life and turning to the new. What is a life worthy of the gospel and why does it matter?

1. What it means to be gospel-worthy (1:27-28a)

 

After Paul wrestled with the question of life and death, whether to stay alive and teach or to die be with Christ, he says this, “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ,” (27a). 

            Eugene Peterson in the Message words it like this, “Live in such a way that you are a credit to the message of Christ.” That’s fine, except he leaves out an unusual and important word that is found nowhere else in scripture. The ESV can only translate it as “manner of life.” It’s a word in Greek that gives us the word “politics.” 

            The word means “to live as a citizen of a free state” and implies that you take an active part in the state. But why is Paul using it here? Because the Philippians as a whole were very proud of their status as a Roman colony. Outside of the Italian boot, they were the only colony that had the right to live as if they were Romans. 

            You know I grew up in Winnipeg. I cheer for the Bombers and Jets. I know the city’s history. I’m pretty loyal to my city. When the CBC show, Murdoch Mysteries, completely dissed Winnipeg in one of its episodes, I stopped watching. 

            Paul appeals to that loyalty in Philippi saying, “Think about your feelings for the city of Philippi and the loyalty you feel towards Rome. Then remember this, you are actually citizens of a heavenly city-state, the New Jerusalem.” Your true loyalty is to the Kingdom of God. That’s where your citizenship lies so live like it. Conduct your lives in such a way that people know where you come from and who your King is.

            This way of living is then unpacked in three ways. Paul writes, “Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you,” (27b-28a). What does it mean to be worthy? 

a) It means to stand firm – There are a couple of word-pictures that help us to grasp standing firm. One is having your feet solidly planted on a rolling ship. As the ship bobs in the fifty foot waves of the sea, you are not rolling all over the deck but standing firm in the security maintained by the Spirit’s grip on you. You can face the adversities of life with the maturity that comes from knowing God is with you.

            The other picture describes a Roman military formation with the soldiers standing shoulder to shoulder and back-to-back with their shields and spears outward. I always picture that scene from the movie Gladiator where Maximus tells the others that they need to fight together. Stand as one versus standing alone. When the church stands together, when we are united, we stand firm. Paul says that we stand firm in one Spirit, in the power of the Holy Spirit. It is only in that power that individuals with little in common can be intimately connected in Christ.

b) It means striving together – To strive or “contend” for the faith does not mean personal subjective belief but the gospel truths we all share from the Bible. There are secondary teachings that we may disagree about, but we must agree that Jesus is the Son of God and that he died and rose again. We are saved by grace through faith. To “strive” comes from the athletic world – think of a running back straining to get the ball across the goal line. We exert maximum effort for the gospel.

c) It means being fearless – the word for “fear” that Paul uses describes a herd of stampeding horses, wild and out of control in their panic. Horses be crazy. I love them, but they have strange minds. If they look into a puddle and see the sky, they think they’re falling. A horse is a prey animal so when it feels threatened by something in its environment, it is hardwired to run away first and ask questions later. 

            The reality for the Christian and the church is that you will be opposed. We are going to run into opposition but stand your ground and hold on to the gospel. Keep speaking Jesus. Even as we cherish certain values like traditional marriage and the dignity of the unborn child, we will face resistance. We must not let fear sway us on the matter of our convictions or cave to the popular opinions of our society.

Stand firm.

Strive together.

Don't be afraid of those who oppose us and threaten us with changing laws or customs. 

2. How Suffering is a Gift from God (1:28b-30)

 

So, to live worthy of the gospel of Christ, we need to stand firm in the Spirit together, strive for the gospel truths which have convicted us, and fearlessly speak the gospel. Okay. What’s Paul getting at? 

            Living for Jesus means expecting opposition. And opposition comes with a heaping side dish of suffering. Isn’t that strange? It’s strange that a gospel of love and forgiveness should reap opposition from our unbelieving neighbors. Why is that?

            I read a quote from Miroslav Volf this week (a Croatian theologian) where he said that we forgive because God is a forgiving God. So, we extend forgiveness to those who sin against us. We offer Christ’s forgiveness to a sinful world. But forgiveness names the other as a criminal. It claims an injustice. If we say that people need the forgiveness of God, we point out that they are imperfect, insufficient, helpless to better themselves. They don’t like that. This is why we suffer.

            And Paul makes a gift out of the suffering. He said, “For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have,” (29-30). 

            The phrase “it has been granted” comes from the word “grace.” Paul is saying that God has graciously given us a gift as an expression of love and favor. Just as Jesus graciously gave sight to the blind or he graciously forgives sin, we have been given the gift of believing in Jesus and suffering for Jesus. Great gifts, eh?

            A gift is something you are typically happy to receive. If it’s given out of love you say, “thank you.” Suffering is a gift of God’s grace. It’s not punishment for sin. It’s not because you failed in your Christian walk. It’s a gift! Are you serious? 

            Actually, the Bible does teach that suffering is a gift that Jesus might be glorified in our lives. “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted…” (2 Tim. 3:12). And Jesus said, “A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you,” (John 15:20). But make no mistake, we take no pleasure in pain; God is not expecting us to go, “Oh yay, more pain!” We give thanks to God not for what suffering is but for what it does.

            First, the gift of suffering does something in you. James wrote, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing,” (1:2-4). Did you see what he said about “trials of various kinds”? Not just opposition for the gospel; trials that cover a broad range of health, personal, work and other issues we face are the training ground for perfection.

            Second, the gift of suffering does something in you for others. When we go through tough times, we grow in our understanding of what others suffer. As Paul shared with the Corinthians, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too,” (2 Cor. 1:3-5). 

            Recently I met with Daniel from Indonesia through an Engage Today representative. Something Daniel said impacted me in terms of "comfort." He said that when Westerners who love Jesus come and visit the Indonesian church, the hearts of the people are encouraged and comforted to know that there are others in the world who believe in Jesus too. It never really occurred to me how important visiting these churches was for them; I had only thought in terms of what it meant for me. My thought previously had been, why spend so much money to visit halfway around the world and speak through an interpreter when sending money is more efficient? But this is where being present in the flesh brings a message of fellowship (koinonia) to the brothers and sisters in far off places.

            And third, the gift of suffering does something in us for the glory of Jesus. Verse 29 says “for the sake of Christ” or “on behalf of Christ.” Paul testified that the troubles he faced led almost to his death, but God used those trials as an opportunity to save him and to show Paul and his team that they can hope in God (2 Cor. 1:8-11). In our weakness and in our inability to heal ourselves, help ourselves, or climb out of the hole we are in, we learn the truth about ourselves and Christ, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness,” (2 Cor. 12:9). We can boast in our weakness as a result. Not that we celebrate being helpless, but that Jesus makes up the deficit in my life; where I lack strength or ability, or where I am just not enough for others, Christ Jesus fills in my weakness with his power. 

            I don’t enjoy suffering. I’m sure you will agree that suffering is the last thing you wish for or want for others. Pain is to be avoided. But pain and suffering will come. And part of our pain comes because we love Jesus and believe he is the way, the truth, and the life. The gift of suffering for his sake is not about proving how tough we are or to show how committed we are to Jesus. Suffering is a gift from God given to grow in us a childlike faith and a belief that he fulfills his promises. 

 

Last week when I led you in our benediction, we declared together, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” It was a declaration of commitment saying, “I’m all in” when it comes to Jesus. Everything I am and have belongs to Christ. 

            Many if not all of us spoke these words. Did you consider the suffering part? We didn’t get to that until this morning. Are you still “in”? 

            Maybe as a church we would not get five stars or a 10 on the line that asks if someone would recommend RFC to a friend. Are we worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ? The question does not ask for perfection in that sense. It asks rather, “Are you heading in that direction? Are we standing firm together for the gospel values of the Bible? Are we striving towards Jesus? Are we full of courage even when we read of new legislation that is woke, or progressive, or alienates Christians? Or are we skittish horses? That’s what its asking: Are we aiming for the kingdom of God in Jesus? 

            If yes, then get ready to experience turbulence when we tell people they are forgiven and God loves them. And count it all joy when we suffer the name of Jesus.

            Are you all in?

                                                            AMEN

"I'm All In" ("An Ode to Joy" A Series on Philippians)

“I’M ALL IN”

 

You are familiar with the expression, “I’m all in.” It is used by lovers of their beloved to say, “I’m committed to you for life. Marry me!” For those of you who play poker (Texas Hold’em), “I’m all in” expresses the confidence that you hold the winning cards and the assurance that you will win the pot. In this case it is a risk. You are putting everything you have into those cards. There’s no turning back. If you are wrong, you lose everything. If you are right, you win it all. 

            “I’m all in” came to mind as I thought of one of Paul’s most quoted declarations: “To live is Christ and to die is gain.” We have talked much of his condition, being in prison, dealing with envious preachers, facing his own execution. He is about to lose everything; his critics would say he already has. But for Paul, he has pushed all his chips to the center of the table and has said of Jesus Christ, “I’m all in.” Let it ride. I am confident that this will all turn out for the glory of God.

            More than an inspirational quote to plaster on a coffee cup, “To live is Christ and to die is gain,” is Paul’s life goal. It is more than a catchy slogan that we casually respond to as “cool.” Paul passionately entrusted his life and death to God and believed that to live is Christ and to die is gain.

            I want to unpack this little verse in its context and examine what it means with you. Then I will invite you to consider upon this reflection if you are willing to say, “I’m all in.” 

 

A Decision to Make?

 

Every religion has to answer two questions: What is life? What is death? Buddhism says, “To live is to achieve good Karma, and to die to is to hope for a better reincarnation.” Islam teaches, “To live is to obey Allah, and if your good deeds outweigh your bad deeds, death is to achieve a personal paradise.” The average Canadian would say, “To live is self and to die is loss.” Paul stares life and death in their faces and makes it sound like he has a decision to make.

            Whether he lives or dies was never in his hands, yet Paul philosophically reflects on the options. Here’s an image of his “Decision Matrix” (thanks to Darryl Dash).

            Paul considered the questions of his life and death like this: 

            What will honor Jesus more? Could Jesus be lifted up if Paul lived and continued to planting churches? Yes. Could Jesus be glorified in the death of Paul who suffers and dies for his faith in Jesus? Yes. So, it’s a tie. Either way Jesus is glorified. 

            What is better for Paul? He’s endured a lot of troubles and trials, he’s older, tired, and churches continue to have issues. If he dies, there’s Jesus. So, more labor, headaches, or Jesus? Paul declares that for him it is better to die and be with Jesus. That is so much better. I admire and respect those who look at death this way and confess that they just want to go and be with Jesus when their lives have been poured out.

            But which one is better for the church? Sure, to be with Jesus is better, but the church at Philippi still needs Paul. As if he had a say in the matter, Paul concedes that he will stay alive and live to serve and teach a little longer. 

            What matters for Paul is not whether he lives or dies, but that Jesus is proclaimed and believed in. 

 

1. To Live is Christ…

 

What does it mean? I have often struggled to explain exactly what it means. It is so deep that words fail to capture it all. I guess you could simply ask, “What do you live for?” 

            If someone were to ask you out of the blue to finish this sentence, “To live is _____” how would you respond? Questions like this in casual conversation take us off guard. Honestly, we may respond in the typical categories:

Comfort – If “To live is comfort” is your declaration you will avoid stress and troubles and prize freedom. Your nightmares are stress and demands. You avoid difficult situations.

Approval – You love affirmation. You want love. You want relationship. Your greatest nightmare is rejection. You need to be recognized and thought of in the best possible terms.

Control – You value self-discipline, certainty, standards, rules, order. Your greatest nightmare is chaos and confusion; people not making good decisions (in your opinion). You worry a lot.

Power – You love success and winning. Your joy is having the ability to influence others and their decisions. You can’t handle humiliation and the feeling of helplessness. 

            When these goals are at the centre of your universe and everything revolves around you, “To live is self.” To live is my comfort. To live is to be affirmed. To live is have control. To live is to hold all the power. But Paul said, “To live is Christ.” 

            To live is Christ is Paul’s all-consuming passion. Jesus is at the centre of his universe, and everything revolves around Jesus. A great commentary on “To live is Christ” is found in Gal. 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” In this scenario I am no longer the centre of my own universe, Jesus is. I no longer seek that which comforts me because Christ is greater than comfort. He comforts me better than any “thing.” 

            The craving for approval? I struggle with this one. The truth is that if you want approval and affirmation, think on this: Christ died for you when you were at your worst. When no one else thinks much of you, Jesus chooses you. When no one else applauds your service, Jesus says, “Well done.” 

            To live is Christ! How can I explain it? When we surrender control of our circumstances to Jesus, we will find the space to rejoice. Paul said, “Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance…” He’s not talking about getting out of jail, but of being vindicated…you know…proven right…for trusting in Jesus and going “all in.”

 

2. To Die is Gain

 

Are you afraid of death?

            We said the average Canadian says, “To live is self and to die is loss.” In this case, if you die, you lose something. To live this way will kill you. People who live by this mantra will be killed by it because to live for self alone defies the created order of life. Jesus said that the greatest commandment is to love God and to love your neighbor as yourself. This is not just some verse in the Bible – the God who created the harmony and order of the universe has ordained that this is how life works best. This is life. To ignore this order is death without God and thus without hope.

            For Paul, however, death is gain. Paul fully expected that with death everything would get better. Why? Because he would gain Christ. Between life and death, Paul was torn. He said, “I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far…” (23).

            The word “depart” is used in other Greek writings to describe a ship being released from its moorings. As a ship would weigh anchor and sail off into the sea, so Paul envisioned death. He saw his duties and responsibilities of ministry as a rope that kept him fastened to the dock of life in this present world. When the waves of the sea swelled and pulled on those ropes, he felt the tug of his heart to set sail and go home to Jesus. 

            I had a friend who has now gone on to be with Jesus. Early on in his mission work he had a vision from God, he said. The Lord told him that tonight he would die and go home to Jesus. He was so excited, he put on his best suit and lay down on his bed and waited. His wife was not thrilled, but she too waited. Then the Lord spoke to him again and blessed my friend for his willingness to wait in such expectation. You may think it crazy – we did when we heard the story – but you cannot fault a man for loving Jesus so much. 

            Paul had that beautiful sense of abandon. It made him invincible. It can make us invincible too. Take my comfort. Take my power. Take my control. Take my money. Beat me. Take my life. I’ve got Jesus. And I’m going to live in the presence of Jesus forever. That’s real freedom. I’m free because to live is Christ. My life isn’t based on those things; it’s based on Jesus Christ who died and rose again and took away my sin. 

            Josiah Queen has a great anthem for this truth:

Can’t steal my joy

What the world couldn’t give, no, it can’t take away

Sorrow may come but it can’t steal my joy

In the high highs, in the low lows

You fill my cup; you fill it up until it overflows

I remember, I’ll keep holding on to hope

‘Cause you’re the King of rolling stone. 

Can’t steal my joy

 

There are three words we have left off Paul’s motto: “For to me…” Those three words make it a personal conviction. 

            “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” 

            This is what drives his life. And that is why he can look at prison and suffering and death and say, “Yes, and I will continue to rejoice…” and “I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith.” 

            This is an invitation to give up the world’s motto “To live is self” and to declare “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” And with that declaration to receive the joy that Jesus wants to give. 

            Do you crave such a joy? I have no formula for knowing this joy, but I can pray that we all receive joy.

            Will you say with me to Jesus, “I’m all in”? 

AMEN

The Gospel's Chain Reaction ("An Ode to Joy" A series on Philippians)

THE GOSPEL’S CHAIN REACTION

 

A “Chain Reaction” is a series of events so related to each other that each one initiates the next. In other words, one event triggers another and then another and yet another.

            The Gospel of Jesus Christ has the power to do just that in a person’s life. When the gospel takes hold of you and begins to change you, others will be affected by what has happened or is happening to you.

            On the other hand, if you do not allow the gospel to change your life, others may not give your Christianity much weight. Don Carson, president of the Gospel Coalition, wrote a sarcastic little piece about such persons. He mimics their attitude saying, “I would like to buy about three dollars’ worth of gospel. Not too much – just enough to make me happy, but not so much gospel that I learn to really hate covetousness and lust. I certainly don’t want so much that I start to love my enemies or cherish self-denial and contemplate missionary service in an alien culture. I want ecstasy; not repentance…

            “I would like to be cherished by some nice, forgiving, broadminded Christian community, but I myself don’t want to love those from different races – especially if they smell. I would like enough gospel to make my family secure and my children well-behaved, but not so much that I find my ambitions redirected or my giving too greatly enlarged. I would like about three dollars’ worth of gospel, please.” 

            Paul’s life was a life drastically changed by the gospel of Jesus. He went from a hunter of Christians imprisoning and killing them to a “fisher of men” preaching the gospel all over the place. That change caught people’s attention. It spoke of genuine conversion and transformation of the heart.

            But would this testimony hold up in dire circumstances? What does suffering and opposition do to a person’s faith in Jesus? How do others respond to a Christian’s suffering and trouble? What do they learn about our faith in Jesus when hard times fall on us?

1. Are Life’s Challenges “Chains” or Opportunities? (1:12-14)

 

I mentioned that Paul was in prison for two years. It should be added that Paul spent two years in prison in Palestine, and after appealing to Caesar, Paul is sent to Rome where he sits for another two years in prison. So, he sat chained for 4 years.

            It is in this context that Paul makes a very profound observation to the Philippians: “Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel,” (12). He’s not just thinking about his present circumstances either. Paul had endured beatings, shipwrecks, stoning’s, assassination attempts, and so much more (2 Cor. 11:24-28). 

24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.

He looks at these “troubles” as a way of advancing the gospel.

            The word “advance” is a military term that means “to strike forward” and was used to refer to an army of woodcutters that went ahead of the regular army to cut a road through the forest. They made a “way” through the terrain. With remarkable insight, Paul saw that his difficulties and impediments were being used by God to prepare a way to accomplish his purposes. His chains opened a door to spreading the gospel to an unlikely audience. 

            This audience was the palace guard or “Praetorium.” He writes, “As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard…that I am in chains for Christ,” (13). The palace guard was a contingent of 9000 elite soldiers who served as Caesar’s bodyguard in Rome. They were a cross between the Secret Service and Navy Seals. They were highly paid and highly influential. Many went on to political service after their stint in the army. How would Paul have ever had opportunity to speak the name of Jesus to these guys?

            Think of the math: Paul was chained to a guard 24 hours a day; they changed guards every 6 hours; Paul was in contact with four different guards a day, 28 times a week, which means he could reach 3000 guards in 2 years. In all that time they watched him dictate letters, chat with visitors, and share Jesus with the guards themselves. Paul was such a dynamo that it took prison to slow him down to write the letters we are reading today. 

            What else did the guards witness about Paul’s life? His patience? His gentleness when treated unfairly? His courage? His willingness to endure these hardships for Jesus? The fact that his “crimes” were no crimes at all but that he saw it as an opportunity to speak of Jesus? They heard him sing and pray but they did not hear him complain (see complaints slide). 

            When the believers in Rome saw how Paul reacted to his “chains” as opportunities, they began to understand how God was sovereign and how his will was being achieved. They said, “If Paul can preach in prison, we should use our freedom to preach in the streets.” Why be afraid? Paul wasn’t. As Carson said, “A whiff of persecution sometimes puts backbone into otherwise timid Christians.” 

            In 1997, Hong Kong was handed over by the British to China. This meant trouble for the house churches. Pastor Lamb, a man in his 70s, spent over half his life in prison for the gospel. When asked if the government officials still observed his activities, he said, “Not so much now…every time they threw me in prison, the church grew.” 

            Paul said, “Because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear,” (14). What are your chains? Your health may feel like a chain holding you down. Your marriage or your friendships seem to limit you in ways you can’t explain to others. Your employment feels like a limitation to serving God. Are they chains? Or are they opportunities? 

 

2. Are you focused on your chains or the gospel? (1:15-18)

 

When I face challenges or trials, I have a hard time seeing the positives. I’m a “glass half-empty” guy. I wish I were more like Paul. He had the ability to see what was important. He looked at his problems as part of God’s program and shared Jesus in his words and attitude. That encouraged others to be bold too. He even saw past the poor motives of other preachers and could say, “At least they’re preaching the gospel.” (see vv)

            There were two kinds of preachers who responded to Paul’s chains. One cohort loved him and appreciated his mentorship; the other cohort were envious of him and took advantage of his being out of commission to press their own agenda. 

            We may speculate that these envious preachers were Jewish Christians who promoted circumcision for Gentiles. But Paul doesn’t say that and there is no evidence for it. It simply says they were envious and wanted to cause Paul trouble. What I suspect is that they were what we call “influencers” today, and that they wanted to be the ones that people listened to, not Paul. 

            Part of their frustration with Paul was his view that his captivity promoted Christ’s saving work. How could someone who called himself an apostle of Jesus Christ be in such dire straits? In their minds, a genuine apostle was a living demonstration of the transcendent power of Christ. They had visions; they performed miracles; they were dominant personalities. They DID NOT get arrested and sit in prison. 

            These people “…preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains,” (17). What are they hoping to do to him? Break him? Make him show his “true colors” and admit he’s a fraud? 

            Do you have people who seem to want you to fail? Are they watching to see you mess up so they can “be your hero”? That’s code for telling you what a real Christian says or does. Or do you have people in your life who just always have to compete with you and show you that they are better at everything? 

            How does Paul respond to these preachers? Meh! The NIV says, “But what does it matter?” In Greek this is two words amounting to “So what?” or “Whatever!” Paul cares about one thing and that is the preaching of Christ.

            Three times in this text he writes “preach Christ.” That’s the focus. From what we can tell, their message was sound. These are not pagans or heretics spreading a false teaching. They are not preaching another ‘Jesus’ or another gospel. They preach Christ. They preach Paul’s gospel.

            Paul wrote Timothy about this gospel. He said, “Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained,” (2 Tim. 8-9). The gospel is the story of how God called a people to himself (Israel) and promised to deliver them through his Son (Jesus) who is their true king (David’s heir). 

            Some of us struggle when someone on the “wrong team” is used to present the gospel. I will admit that when I was younger, I was suspicious of mainline denominations and of charismatics. Paul would say, “Wait a minute. Are they preaching Jesus? Are people learning that their sins are forgiven?” Yes? Then what’s the problem? 

            One of the best commentaries I have ever read was written by Frank Matera, a Catholic priest. Some of my favorite writers, John Stott, NT Wright, and Michael Green, are Anglicans. Gordon Fee is a Pentecostal. One of my doctoral students was Greek Orthodox…and his prayers were so meaningful. What we all have in common is a love for Jesus and a belief that the world needs to know about this gospel. We all play for the same team; we just have different styles. No need for a competitive attitude.

            

I want to learn from Paul’s perspective on chains:

·      God’s purposes are often accomplished through our “chains” – our problems.

·      The example of our brothers and sisters in chains – who praise God even while suffering or in dire straits, should encourage us to be bold in our faith.

·      And the message of Christ is all that matters.

 

I want to conclude with this question for us to consider:

Would anyone be interested in Jesus Christ after having watched how I reacted or listened to my words while I suffered _________? 

I pray that our response will cause a chain reaction for the gospel.

 

                                    AMEN

A Prayer That Shapes the Church ("An Ode to Joy" A series on Philippians)

A PRAYER THAT SHAPES THE CHURCH

**Note: This series is entitled "Ode to Joy" based on Beethoven's music and Henry Van Dyke's lyrics. Paul wrote this letter from prison where he languished for two years. Yet, even while in chains, Paul rejoiced and found reasons for joy because of his faith in Christ Jesus and God's assurances to which he clung. The themes of Philippians are appropriate for our times when new crises on the world stage keep emerging and old ones flaunt their effects on us in rising costs and persistent anxieties. Paul will teach us that the Christian can find joy in the midst of trouble through Christ who strengthens him.

 

When a church opens itself completely to Jesus and makes him the center of its life, it finds itself overwhelmed by grace in the love of God. A church that seeks Jesus finds a new way to live together and more reasons to love one another, even when there are no natural connections to do so. 

            The Church at Philippi was a mystery in this way. Acts 16 tells us how the church began. The founding members were a rich fashionista, Lydia, a young girl who had once been possessed by a fortune-telling demon, and a hardened prison guard and his whole family. Nothing would bring these three people together in normal circumstances. They were from different social circles and interests. All they had in common was the gospel of Jesus Christ, but they had allowed this gospel to transform them – Jesus changed them! Even though they were different people from different cultures, Jesus gave them a new culture to unite them – a gospel culture. 

            Paul loved this church. He loved all the churches, but I believe he felt a special kinship with Philippi. With most churches, Paul had to defend his apostleship. In writing to Philippi, he opens with, “Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus…” Not servants. Not apostles. Slaves! A slave, they knew, had no freedom apart from what the owner allowed them. Paul joyfully gave himself to Jesus as a slave to God’s will. 

            In these opening verses, we also see a focus on “Christ Jesus.” “Slaves of Christ Jesus…To all God’s holy people (saints) in Christ Jesus…” To refer to Jesus as “Christ Jesus” is a way of saying “King Jesus.” He is the Anointed One, the Son of God, the promised King in David’s line. You ‘re going to see that this is revolutionary and dangerous for Christians; you will also see it is the foundation for the gospel culture of the church.

            Paul prays for this church. It’s this opening prayer we want to focus on this morning, for it is a prayer for the gospel culture to shape the church. It is a prayer we also want to pray. 

 

1. Thank God for YOU! (1:3-6)

 

Paul’s prayer is a model I often follow. I am thankful for this church for so many reasons. Paul puts into words what is so important to him. 

            First, he says, “I thank my God every time I remember you,” (3). You can imagine that when someone mentions Philippi, Paul smiles and has warm fuzzies. With some congregations, Paul may have to think harder as to why he is thankful for them. Philippi is easy.

            There is more to this sentiment though. The Greek will leave you wondering. For Paul may be saying, “I thank God that you remember me.” And that makes more sense in some ways because this letter is a “thank you” to the church for their financial and prayer support for Paul’s ministry. Most commentators can’t decide which it is – it could go either way. It will make more sense in our next point to be sure.

            Skipping to verse 6 for a moment, we see a second reason for Paul’s joy over this church. If we consider that Paul is thankful for their remembrance of him financially and prayerfully, it is because it is evidence of God’s work in them. He prays with this assurance, “…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus,” (6).

            Memorize this verse. When you feel like you are not progressing in your faith-walk, when you feel like you are not doing enough or good enough, remember this. Paul is confident of this: God started the work in you. God took the initiative to give us Jesus and to demonstrate his love for us in his cross. Think of Lydia (Acts 16:14) where it says that the Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. If God did not begin the work in you, you would never have come to him. God continues his work in you. He did not call you to know Jesus and said, “good enough.” God is at work in you, making you to be like his Son continually. Even when you can’t see him, he’s working. Even in our suffering and in our pain and our trials, God is working in us. And we know that God will complete his work in you. Nothing will keep God from completing his work in you, even if you mess up. On the Day of Christ Jesus when we stand before his throne, what we are and who we are will be finished, an extreme makeover.

            What a thing to say: I am confident of this; God is doing a great work in you. Isn’t that an awesome thing to say to a sister or brother in the Lord? And I say this to you now, I am thankful for you RFC, and I am confident that God is working something amazing in us all.

 

2. The Joy of Partnering with You (1:7-8)

 

What makes this prayer so meaningful is Paul’s attitude towards the Philippians. He is not condescending to them like an “owner” of the church to his renters; he calls them partners.

            Let’s return to verse 5 and link it with 7-8. Paul says, “I thank my God…because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now…” That theme continues in 7-8 when he says, “…all of you share in God’s grace with me.” 

            The word he uses in both instances is a word I would like you to get used to: koinonia. It is a Greek word that means “fellowship” (but not coffee and donuts). Koinonia (fellowship) means “to partner together.” 

            Ray Pritchard said that the word “fellowship” originally held commercial overtones. If two men bought a boat and started a fishing business, they were said to be in koinonia – a formal business partnership. They shared a common vision, and each put their money into the venture to make it a reality. 

            True Christian fellowship or koinonia means sharing the same vision of Jesus, of sharing the good news with the world, and investing in this kingdom venture to make it a reality. When Paul thanks God for the “partnership” of the Philippians, he is thanking God that from the first day they heard about the gospel, they got busy, they rolled up their sleeves and helped advance the good news of Jesus. They put the gospel first as the controlling motivation of their lives and did whatever it took to bring this message of Jesus to everyone.

            A couple of things make this partnership pop. The Philippians were not ashamed of Paul’s chains. He said, “…whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel…” We may have a very different view of Paul’s chains today – as a mark of his commitment no matter the obstacle – but in those days, to be imprisoned was seen as failure. It made the gospel look weak. It made Paul look like a criminal, a fraud, a telemarketer. The Philippians didn’t see it that way. They knew that it was for the sake of Jesus that Paul ended up in a cell. 

            Another amazing thing, this church was not wealthy, but they gave more money to the cause of Christ than the rich churches. They were the first to give to Paul’s mission. Paul praises them for giving out of their meagreness in 2 Corinthians. This is why Paul loves these people – he can see that Jesus got a hold of them. He says, “God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ,” (8). The word “affection” refers to the heart generally, but more specifically it means the intestines, the kidneys, and the heart. In other words, I love you with all my “guts.” 

 

3. Our Ongoing Prayer for the Church (1:9-11)

 

I thank God for you! I am so thankful that we are partners in the sharing of Jesus with each other and the world! What joy there is being a church together.

            Let’s continue to make Paul’s prayer a prayer we pray for our church as he did for the Philippians. This is a great text for praying scripture over each other. Paul says, “And this is my prayer…”

The Focus: “…that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight…” (9). Paul’s focus in this request is that we would have a limitless love that abounds more and more. The picture is of a river rushing over its banks and flooding out over the land. I know that’s a painful imagery for us living in a flood zone. But think of the implication: the ’97 flood and its far-reaching coverage – the flood of the century. Imagine praying that God’s love would so fill us that our love would pour out over every believer and infect every unbeliever. This “love” is agape love – a kind of love that is unconditional and finds its source only from God. It’s not driven by emotion or impulse; it’s a matter of the will. To love for love’s sake. 

The Hope: “…so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ…” (10). Paul’s hope in this request is our hope. Imagine praying this for someone you know, praying that God’s love would help you to love them. Then when God’s love abounds more and more in you, you will be able to discern what is best. We don’t think of love leading to discernment, but God’s love helps us to identify what is good and what is evil, or between what is good, better, and best. 

            The Greek word for “discern” was used for testing counterfeit money. I read a story about testing pottery in those days. Good pottery was made as thin as possible. Sometimes the pottery cracked, and the potter would use a wax colored like the pottery to cover the imperfection. A discerning buyer would hold up pottery to the light to see if there was any deception. We pray for discernment so that the love of God in us will help us to choose what is best for ourselves and others. 

The Goal: “…filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God,” (11). Finally, we pray that our lives would be fruitful. Do we pray this for our church? What would this look like?

            When a church opens itself up to Jesus, it is swept away by grace. Jesus is allowed to be Lord here, his love fills this community, and his purposes become our goal. The church becomes a place where people of all backgrounds and cultures and ethnicities can come and find Jesus. Barriers aren’t thrown up, they are destroyed. There is no competitive spirit except to outdo each other in serving one another. There is no fear in confessing sin because no sin shocks us, and no sin is unforgiveable – Jesus forgives all. You won’t experience a retracted hand but a warm embrace. Where the sharing of a concern is responded to with “let’s pray.” The church becomes a place of true friendship, and it blossoms and grows and is fed by the Spirit of God. Where God’s glory is the goal and everyone is so happy in Jesus, they can barely stand it. And people who are seeking him, find Jesus here. This is the fruit of righteousness. 

            If that is not your experience here, then you have a blueprint for prayer in Paul’s prayer for the Philippians. 

 

Have you ever started something that you didn’t finish? I started a seminary course from Regent in Vancouver. It was a home course that cost 1000 dollars. I barely got into it and then quit – it was too hard at the time. I wanted to get into a hobby and started building a balsam wood airplane that I hoped to fly. I quit that too. I have started a few things that cost me money and effort but never finished. It feels like defeat. God has started something in you, and he will not stop until he completes that work. This is a promise.

Paul’s words in the opening to his letter to the Philippians remind us of a simple but profound truth: The Christian life is not a solo journey. We are partners together in the Good News of Jesus Christ. And whatever we are now, we are not what we were – we have grown, we have become more like Jesus. And we can be confident of this; God is still working in us so that we are not yet what we will be. God is faithful to finish what he began in us. Let’s pray that we continue to grow in the love that points to Jesus.

            

                                                AMEN