"All that looks like reality to us is dependent on God. There is a creation and a creator, nothing more. And creation gets all its meaning and purpose from God." John Piper
Let's go over the gospel message
- There is a standard.
- You don't meet that standard.
- Conviction from hearing that standard.
- Repentance and forgiveness from the author of that standard.
- Salvation and indwelling Spirit from the God of that standard.
The concepts in Philippians are based securely on the unity you have with Christ upon salvation. Of which immediately following is a battle within you of light overcoming the darkness in your heart. The reality of the very spirit of God being in you is a bit overwhelming but this explains the transformation of your desires to God and righteousness. You have become an outcast to society and joined the brotherhood of believers, you now are a Christian.
Philippians has always been a family favorite around our home, there are allot of great themes and exhortations. The fact that they are very practical really helps. It is a good compass for the soul.
We left off with an encouragement to be mature Christians worthy of the gospel of Christ. Paul says we should be striving for the faith of the gospel. What comes next is a brief overview of just that.
Ph 2:1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from Love, any participation in the spirit, any affection and sympathy,
What is salvation? Has it had any effect on you? The Gospel is not of this world it is supernatural! I say take joy in these things. You have got to take joy.
- There is a kinship that runs deeper than any worldly host can know
>>--------Encouragement in Christ?-
Important because –Ecclesiastes 4:10 – two are better than one...If one falls the other will lift him up. Paraphrase
As a young man I despised emotions, seeing them as a hindrance to good order and weakness to those controlled by them. Obviously we are not to be controlled by our emotions but they are indeed a gift of God. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that I indeed had emotions and not only that as I matured in Christ the more prominent they had become. I cry much easier now than before and it's for two things especially.
- God's mercy 2. Children in need.
"Rugged individualism may work for us being Americans; it doesn't work for us as Christians." Dr. Voddie Baulchum J.r.
When I read this it shouts to me take Joy in the Christian life! Very God of Very God suffered and died to purchase this for us. If you are awe struck by that then it is the Spirit of the living God in you.
I have heard this analogy –"emotions are like seasoning, you don't eat them alone --but they make a good steak a whole lot better."
- Emotions are here for our blessing even our health. Proverbs 17:22 a merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
- The world says joy is having what I want when I want it. They can't help but be self serving in their view. When they receive it then quickly they move onto something else: poor wicked heart - no contentment no peace.
- Joy is a proper motivation for the Christian life.
Hebrews 12:2. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
The word joy here in Greek sounds like Ha-ra
- Participation in the spirit
- Affections and sympathy
- Comfort of Love
- Encouragement in Christ
Let's march at the same PACE so as to fight as one.
Do you hear the whisper? It's speaking of joy in Christ. When Jesus Christ is the object of your joy- It is immovable
inextinguishable
invincible
Romans 8:16 "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God"
Ph 2:2 Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
Ha-ra- Paul says that this is his joy or – grace recognized (As Strong's concordance puts it)
See Paul's Heart? He desires to see Christ in us. These things are accomplished by the grace of God in you. The path to mature selflessness unto God is paved with love and humility.
>>-----------Comfort of Love
- Love is multifaceted and always clothed in a proper attitude.
- Love is care and compassion that compels us to serve.
- Love is always righteous.
Look at 1 Corinthians 13
It's not just what we say, know, or do; it's the attitude and motivation coupled with it.
Notice patience is first on that great list of love. This causes us to look at our motivations, then take our sin to the cross and serve in peace.
- Love is care and compassion that compels us to serve.
Back to Philippians 2:2
- Notice that it says same mind then love and then one mind. – Mind- love- mind. If we get this wrong we can go terribly wrong, remember the sixties? Debauchery abounded in the name of Love and Jesus.
But the key question is what this "same mind" is?
- Romans 12:16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited
- If we simply followed this in the church a lot of problems would be gone.
The problem is we're seeker sensitive and success oriented and not obedient to God – in the American church arena.
- Having this heart sets the stage for service of one another.
Remember same mind has the strong sense of humility.
Paul uses phroneō 9 times and 5 of them are humility.
Ph 2:3 Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
>>----------Affections and Sympathy
- We can kill joy (Grace) with rivalry. Competing for superiority. Consumed with self and rejecting the struggles of others.
"Sympathy= two hearts tugging at the same rope."Charles E. Woodcock
- We can kill joy (Grace) with conceit. - Thinking better of yourself than you ought.
"The hardest of all is learning- to be a well of affection and not a fountain, to show them that we love them, not when we feel like it, but when they do." Nan Fairbrother.
Both rivalry and conceit are built on Pride. Humility is paramount in our fight for joy!
- 2 Corinthians 10:12 b. But they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
- Jeremiah 17:9 The heart deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it.
---Let say for instance we had 2 great contractors building a supermall. Now the ladies are interested. These guys are diligent and just working hard on the grand scheme and lofty ideals. If they don't meet and agree on one small point, the most critical of all; nothing in the whole project will ever work. It's not plumbing, electrical or structural. It is more basic than that, they must agree on a standard of measurement. I'm just glad after all this time there is no argument that the English system is the best.
- We have 1 standard of measurement in two expressions. 1 the perfect law of God and 2 the Lord Jesus Christ – both of which drive us to repentance and not prideful self absorption.
- 2 Corinthians 10:12 b. But they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
Ph 2:4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
- We normally look to our own interests, hopefully as diligent stewards, this is Godley.
- Proverbs 12:24 The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.
- Proverbs 12:24 The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.
- Matthew 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done [it] unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done [it] unto me.
We must balance these two verses and as we obey the first one then we can obey the second.
- Act 4:32-35 32And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
33And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. 34Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, 35And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
- Common - koy-nos = a sense in being stripped of specialness, treated as ordinary or mundane.
Imagine if you will an old style scale. On one side you have your earthly goods (time & resources) and on the other side you have the family of believes in your circle of life.
It's a matter of value,
Clement (from the early church) describing the person who has come to know God, wrote, "He impoverishes himself out of love, so that he is certain he may never overlook a brother in need, especially if he knows he can bear poverty better than his brother. He likewise considers the pain of another as his own pain. And if he suffers any hardship because of having given out of his own poverty, he does not complain."
This is a far cry from the noxious concept of socialism that strips men of honor and sacred rights of property.
>>-------Participation in the spirit
Ph 2:5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
Ph 2:6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
- This is the set up and the call to arms if you will. Have this mind among you is a plea for humility. Put aside all your ideals and earthly measurements, our lord and savior who is the lord of all became a servant and you stand there considering yourself better than others -- please. It's a grand call to humility, what else could God have done. Will you respond?
Ph 2:7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men
Ph 2:8 and being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Being a servant is not optional, it the way of God. God's enemies have no defense for it. Remember the greatest among you is the servant of all.
>>------Encouragement in Christ
- Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus turned to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."
Ph 2:9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
Ph 2:10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
Ph 2:11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the Glory of God the Father.
I think these words decry the truth and I dare not tarnish them with my feeble mind.
In the midst of the battle, is there any consolation in Christ? Indeed we are to press on and press hard.
Paul's resolve is unlimited even to death. Like runners in a race or soldiers in battle.
- Phil 1:21 for to me to live is Christ and to die is gain.
- Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy,
Here he is facing his future that would be imprisonment and death.
There is a Way- There is a Truth -There is a Life and it is all in Christ!
If you are not in Him than you'll have none of it.
Colossians 3:1-17
1If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ who is youra life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
5Put to death therefore what is earthly in you:b sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6On account of these the wrath of God is coming.c
7In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old selfd with its practices 10and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave,e free; but Christ is all, and in all.
12Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Amen.
When I was a child, I was born a twin #6 out of 8 children but –
I was the "good twin".
When I was a little older some of my siblings would say that I was their
"Favorite brother".
These things having there negative effect, my grandmother who I had just met at age 11 told me that I had "Delusions of grandeur" so much for cuddles and cookies.
Not to be discouraged later as a young adult my families friends told me that I wasn't at all like my family I was "cool".
One night while hanging out with friends his father told me I wasn't like the other guys; I was "going somewhere".
As a young Christian an older gentleman in the church told me that I was going to be "used by God".
And if that is not enough my wife is constantly reassured that she got the
"Best brother".
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