Philippians Chapter 3 - - THE SPIRITUAL MIND or THINGS ROB OUR JOY
"Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe."
As we move into chapter 3 of Paul's letter, he gives them some basic reminders. We all need basic reminders from time to time. The first reminder Paul gives his fellow Christians is to "rejoice in the Lord." This world we live in is not so very different from the world Paul lived in when we are referring to the basics of life. People are just people . . . no matter when or where they live. Strip away the technology of today, set aside the modern conveniences and just compare apples to apples. People are the same. We all have the natural tendency to focus on ourselves. We look at every situation from the perspective of "how does this affect ME?" We are the center of our own little universe. Remember Lucifer the Angel of Light? He was all about his own agenda. When you sit back and really think about it, the people you know who are the most self-centered or self-focused are NOT the happiest people you know. They are always offended, always suspicious of the intentions of others, and most often just not happy.
Now think about the people you know who are the happiest or the most content. They are the people who are dedicated to serving others! The mom who is working to train her children is much happier than the mom who is always reacting to the bad behavior of her children. The volunteer who serves others but receives no paycheck is far happier than the person who is paid a very high wage but hates their job. When our focus is on the Lord Jesus Christ and we are doing things with His kingdom in mind, we will always be much more at peace and have much more genuine joy.
Because Paul's focus was on helping these Christians grow in the Lord, he did not even mind going over the same lessons again and again if that is what they needed. I remember when my kids were little and I was working and tired and stressed out with their natural behavior. I would become so frustrated and so impatient when I had to keep telling one of them to do the same thing again and again. "Sit down in the shopping cart. I said, 'Sit down.' I'm not telling you again. Sit down in the shopping cart. You better listen to me!" Yes, there was the concern for their safety, but when they didn't listen and obey me I became focused on the reactions of others around me. Were they judging me? Did they think I was a bad parent? Later on when I learned some better behaviors about training my children, I didn't lose my patience with them or my temper nearly so often. When I changed my focus to training their hearts I didn't mind telling them the same thing over and over until they mastered it. Paul is doing the same thing here. He is reminding them of some things he knows they know, but he is patient about it.
Rejoice in the Lord. Look at things from a new perspective! That person who cut me off in traffic . . . didn't just inconvenience me because I had to touch the brakes a little. Perhaps they are having a really rough day and just weren't paying attention. That person at the store who is pitching a blustery fit . . . just maybe they are scared and hurting and their behavior is their attempt to control at least one little situation in their day. When I stop filtering everything through the filter of "how does this affect me" and turn my thoughts around to "what does Christ think of this situation" MY reactions will be utterly and completely the opposite of what they were before!
There was a science focused TV show that our son loved to watch. One of the hosts of the show often said, "I reject your reality and substitute my own." Try that today in your own life. Take a deep breath and stop reacting to how people treat you. Look at them and their actions through the filter of "Jesus loves that person." It's pretty hard to be aggravated with someone when you realize their behavior is caused by self focused sin. It is far easier to be patient with someone when you remind yourself that Christ died on the cross for that crouchy bugger. Did you get a flat tire? Rejoice! Perhaps God wants you to cross paths with a certain person at the garage. Did someone give you a dirty look? Rejoice! You have an opportunity to witness to them through your reactions! Is your spouse or your child jumping on your very last nerve? Rejoice! God is trusting you to respond in a manner that points them back to God.
Paul didn't mind going back to the simple lessons and teaching them again, because his focus wasn't "Why can't they just learn what I've taught them a thousand times?" But his focus was "They are trying and I have another opportunity to guide them."
When I am looking at everything through a spiritual filter instead of a selfish filter, I can rejoice in anything. "Great peace have they that love Thy law, and nothing shall offend them" Psalm 119:165
Friday, September 13, 2013
Friday, September 6, 2013
Jesus -- Others -- and You
Philippians 2 -- THE SUBMISSIVE MIND - - or - - PEOPLE CAN ROB YOUR JOY
Phil 2:19 "But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort when I know your state."
We all know what a fast-paced world we live in. We have drive-thru everything including wedding chapels and funeral homes. Instant coffee, instant gravy, instant mashed potatoes. I can even send you a text message faster than I can call you! But during Paul's lifetime, it might have taken weeks or months for a letter to arrive. He had no instant messaging to keep track of his friends in Philippi. Just like us, he wondered and worried about those who were dear to his heart. Remember, Paul knew exactly how rough the Roman government could be on Christians. He wanted an account of how they were doing from someone who understood the perspective that mattered most to him. Timotheus, or Timothy, was the only person who could do this for him. Verse 20 mentions that there is no other person who will "naturally care for your state." Timothy obviously had a love for the Philippian people just like Paul.
Verse 21 "For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's." People in leadership can be insincere and go through the motions of taking care of someone without really caring for that person. It is sad when you can feel that fakeness or emptiness of someone's actions. Paul could see that some who said they were serving Christ were just going through the motions with the intention of earning brownie points, so to speak. Or sometimes people in charge just don't take the time to really get to know the person they are serving. Paul knew that others could go check on this precious church and they might ask "how are you doing?" and they might say "do you need anything" and those people would probably do a very good job of giving a report. But he wanted Timothy to go because he knew Timothy's heart and he knew Timothy would really look into people's eyes and take time to listen to them and Timothy would be able to come back and tell Paul how each individual was growing or struggling or praising God or pleading in prayer.
Verse 22 "But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel." Timothy had grown up with a sound Christian influence from his mother Lois and his grandmother Eunice. He had sat under Paul's teaching and served with Paul. The apostle Paul was not someone who strolled into a town, smiling and shaking hands just to deliver an eloquent speech and be on his way to the next place. He came to a town and stayed for a long time. He was in the trenches with people, getting to know them, praying with them, sitting with them in hard times, rejoicing with them and crying with them. This is the setting of Timothy's training. He was a spiritual son to Paul. It is a sweet picture to stop and think of the apostle Paul taking time with Timothy when they were alone to explain how to teach and how to minister to specific people. The "great and mighty" Paul was also a tender man who was sincerely concerned about people's hearts.
People who are not really genuine in their service to others can rob our joy. No one likes to be asked "how are you doing?" only to start answering and then realize that the one who asked is distracted and not really listening. That is such a hollow and disappointing feeling. We must remember not to be the person who robs someone else's joy because we aren't really paying attention.
Verse 23 "Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me." Paul intended to send Timothy to the church soon. But he wanted Timothy with him when he found out how his trial would end. Maybe that was for his own comfort or maybe it was for Timothy's sake. But Paul definitely had plans that Timothy would be with this church soon. And in verse 24 he says "But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly." He cared about these dear folks and wanted to be with them himself. He also had confidence enough in the Lord to make plans beyond his current circumstances if the Lord willed!
Verses 25-26 introduce us to Epaphroditus. He was a brother in Christ who had accompanied Paul and laboured with him. Notice that when Paul talks about Epaphroditus he describes him as a fellow soldier. They were not just visiting people to shake hands and smile. The picture of a soldier for me is quite clear. Epaphroditus had given up everything back home in Philippi and was sacrificially working for the gospel. He wasn't just along with Paul to see the show, he was right in there working and serving and ministering to Paul's wants.
Verses 26-27 "For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick. for indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow up upon sorrow." Epaphroditus had quite literally worked himself almost to death. He had put the needs of Paul and others ahead of his own basic needs even. And he felt bad that the church back home had heard about his illness and been worried about him. He didn't want the attention on him especially for being sick. And Paul emphasizes that Epaphroditus really really was sick and nearly died. Paul felt that God had mercy and spared Epaphroditus and that he, Paul, had benefited from this also. Paul surely loved and mentored Epaphroditus as they worked so hard together. Those who served so faithfully with Paul were his family. It would have been such sorrow for Paul if Epaphroditus had died that Paul wasn't sure he could deal with his imprisonment and that sorrow as well from a human standpoint. As a church we are a family also and should be able to picture this emotion from the apostle.
Verses 28-30 "I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful. Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation: Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me." Paul sent Epaphroditus home with this letter. He told the people in Philippi to remember how sick Epaphroditus was and how he had nearly worked himself to death. For the work of the gospel he had set aside caring about himself. He had sacrificially served Paul on behalf of the church at Philippi. The whole church couldn't go with Paul. There were others in their town who needed to see the church thriving and others needed to be there to do the work of the gospel in a church already established. The day to day living of our lives is vital to the spread of the gospel too! The mom who is raising little ones, the young people who are being rooted and grounded in the gospel, the older ones who are faithful examples to their families and anyone watching are ALL vital to the work of the ministry. Every one of us has a place to fill in our church and its ministry of the gospel. If one part of your body is getting sickly it affects the whole. If a part is amputated there is a long recovery and adjustment period. We must all be certain that we know our part and fulfill our part faithfully or we are certainly affecting the health of the whole body. People can rob our joy with their actions, intentions, and words. We must be certain that we are not the people robbing someone else's joy.
Song: "Jesus and Others and You"
Phil 2:19 "But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort when I know your state."
We all know what a fast-paced world we live in. We have drive-thru everything including wedding chapels and funeral homes. Instant coffee, instant gravy, instant mashed potatoes. I can even send you a text message faster than I can call you! But during Paul's lifetime, it might have taken weeks or months for a letter to arrive. He had no instant messaging to keep track of his friends in Philippi. Just like us, he wondered and worried about those who were dear to his heart. Remember, Paul knew exactly how rough the Roman government could be on Christians. He wanted an account of how they were doing from someone who understood the perspective that mattered most to him. Timotheus, or Timothy, was the only person who could do this for him. Verse 20 mentions that there is no other person who will "naturally care for your state." Timothy obviously had a love for the Philippian people just like Paul.
Verse 21 "For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's." People in leadership can be insincere and go through the motions of taking care of someone without really caring for that person. It is sad when you can feel that fakeness or emptiness of someone's actions. Paul could see that some who said they were serving Christ were just going through the motions with the intention of earning brownie points, so to speak. Or sometimes people in charge just don't take the time to really get to know the person they are serving. Paul knew that others could go check on this precious church and they might ask "how are you doing?" and they might say "do you need anything" and those people would probably do a very good job of giving a report. But he wanted Timothy to go because he knew Timothy's heart and he knew Timothy would really look into people's eyes and take time to listen to them and Timothy would be able to come back and tell Paul how each individual was growing or struggling or praising God or pleading in prayer.
Verse 22 "But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel." Timothy had grown up with a sound Christian influence from his mother Lois and his grandmother Eunice. He had sat under Paul's teaching and served with Paul. The apostle Paul was not someone who strolled into a town, smiling and shaking hands just to deliver an eloquent speech and be on his way to the next place. He came to a town and stayed for a long time. He was in the trenches with people, getting to know them, praying with them, sitting with them in hard times, rejoicing with them and crying with them. This is the setting of Timothy's training. He was a spiritual son to Paul. It is a sweet picture to stop and think of the apostle Paul taking time with Timothy when they were alone to explain how to teach and how to minister to specific people. The "great and mighty" Paul was also a tender man who was sincerely concerned about people's hearts.
People who are not really genuine in their service to others can rob our joy. No one likes to be asked "how are you doing?" only to start answering and then realize that the one who asked is distracted and not really listening. That is such a hollow and disappointing feeling. We must remember not to be the person who robs someone else's joy because we aren't really paying attention.
Verse 23 "Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me." Paul intended to send Timothy to the church soon. But he wanted Timothy with him when he found out how his trial would end. Maybe that was for his own comfort or maybe it was for Timothy's sake. But Paul definitely had plans that Timothy would be with this church soon. And in verse 24 he says "But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly." He cared about these dear folks and wanted to be with them himself. He also had confidence enough in the Lord to make plans beyond his current circumstances if the Lord willed!
Verses 25-26 introduce us to Epaphroditus. He was a brother in Christ who had accompanied Paul and laboured with him. Notice that when Paul talks about Epaphroditus he describes him as a fellow soldier. They were not just visiting people to shake hands and smile. The picture of a soldier for me is quite clear. Epaphroditus had given up everything back home in Philippi and was sacrificially working for the gospel. He wasn't just along with Paul to see the show, he was right in there working and serving and ministering to Paul's wants.
Verses 26-27 "For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick. for indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow up upon sorrow." Epaphroditus had quite literally worked himself almost to death. He had put the needs of Paul and others ahead of his own basic needs even. And he felt bad that the church back home had heard about his illness and been worried about him. He didn't want the attention on him especially for being sick. And Paul emphasizes that Epaphroditus really really was sick and nearly died. Paul felt that God had mercy and spared Epaphroditus and that he, Paul, had benefited from this also. Paul surely loved and mentored Epaphroditus as they worked so hard together. Those who served so faithfully with Paul were his family. It would have been such sorrow for Paul if Epaphroditus had died that Paul wasn't sure he could deal with his imprisonment and that sorrow as well from a human standpoint. As a church we are a family also and should be able to picture this emotion from the apostle.
Verses 28-30 "I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful. Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation: Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me." Paul sent Epaphroditus home with this letter. He told the people in Philippi to remember how sick Epaphroditus was and how he had nearly worked himself to death. For the work of the gospel he had set aside caring about himself. He had sacrificially served Paul on behalf of the church at Philippi. The whole church couldn't go with Paul. There were others in their town who needed to see the church thriving and others needed to be there to do the work of the gospel in a church already established. The day to day living of our lives is vital to the spread of the gospel too! The mom who is raising little ones, the young people who are being rooted and grounded in the gospel, the older ones who are faithful examples to their families and anyone watching are ALL vital to the work of the ministry. Every one of us has a place to fill in our church and its ministry of the gospel. If one part of your body is getting sickly it affects the whole. If a part is amputated there is a long recovery and adjustment period. We must all be certain that we know our part and fulfill our part faithfully or we are certainly affecting the health of the whole body. People can rob our joy with their actions, intentions, and words. We must be certain that we are not the people robbing someone else's joy.
Song: "Jesus and Others and You"
Friday, August 30, 2013
It's not just the attitude, it's the actions . . .
Philippians 2 - - THE SUBMISSIVE MIND or PEOPLE ROB OUR JOY
Philippians 2:12-13
"Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure."
Why, yes, I did just change the order of the words in the title. Just as we can go through the motions of serving God and loving others without really feeling submissive to His will in our hearts, we can have all the right attitudes but never follow through with the right actions.
The word that we are using to describe our mind for this chapter is the word submissive. It's one of the most misused and misunderstood words in Christian circles today. Especially when it is applied to wives. I personally lost all fear and resentment toward this word years ago! Submission can be defined as "surrendering to the authority of another." It helps me to think of the chain of command in the military. The lowly Private must surrender to the authority of the Sergeant. It doesn't mean that he cannot have a personality or thoughts of his own. It means that when the Sergeant comes around and gives orders, the Private is to put aside his personal agenda and obey the one in authority. Remember Gomer Pyle? That poor guy had the hardest time learning to submit to the authority of Sergeant Carter. Now, the Sarge was a bit blustery and pushy for the sake of TV. But he also had a commanding officer and when HE showed up the Sarge had to surrender his ideas and plans to the authority that was over him.
I have thoughts and plans and dreams and ideas and schemes and agendas. But I also have learned to submit to the authority of my husband in our home. When Pastor Mark decides that something needs to be a certain way, he is acting within his authority. When he is submitting to the authority of His Heavenly Father, he is following the the command of His General. It is actually quite freeing to think that someone else is responsible. God designed it this way! Now, each person must be squarely living in the right role for it all to work the way God designed, too. When my heart is right with God and I surrender to the authority of my husband, and when he is right with God and surrendering to the authority of His Heavenly Father, it just makes things go so much smoother. When Private First Class Gomer Pyle thought he had a better plan and sidestepped his orders there was always a mess. When Sergeant Carter understood his orders and clearly communicated the orders to the Private and the Private surrendered to the authority, things went so much better. And Gomer Pyle would be shocked and amazed at the end result!
The same is true in our lives. Paul says that his beloved brethren have always obeyed. He even gets quite specific and says "not in my presence only, but now much more in my absence." When we raise our children and teach them how to behave themselves, we are giving them a set of rules or guidelines to govern their actions. Pretty soon they can get it right and obey us when we are around. It is harder for them to make the right choices when they are out of earshot or out of the line of vision. More maturity and a deeper understanding of their parents' instructions eventually leads to them being able to obey the rules of their home even if mommy and daddy aren't standing right there watching them.
The end of verse 12 uses the phrase "work out your own salvation." It means to prove, to continue to prove or to develop. When we are born again, we are like babies. We have to learn to surrender and submit to the instructions of our Father just like an earthly child has to learn to obey their parents. The old saying is "the proof is in the pudding." I can tell you that I am a Christian, but is there any proof in my life? I can tell you I love Pastor Mark, but do my actions reflect that? I can say I want to spread the gospel but what am I showing in my life that makes it such "good news"? It is not enough to have the right heart attitude about things. We must have actions to back up our words. If my heart is not submissive to my husband, my actions when he is standing beside me and when he is absent will not be the same. These Christians in Philippi were known for having the actions and lifestyle that backed up what they said they stood for when Paul was with them and when he was locked away in a dungeon and couldn't be there to watch over them. They had the maturity to surrender to the ultimate plan.
BECAUSE . . . it is actually God's plan to begin with. It is GOD Who works in us to have the right attitude and the right actions. Both are necessary to fulfill His good pleasure. I can talk about love love love all day long, but if my actions don't carry the same message, you won't be listening to me for very long. Christ could wash the disciples feet and even surrender to death on the cross, but His heart had to be submitted to the Father and the Father's will before it had any meaning.
"Be careful how you behave . . . your life may be the only Bible some people read." We must be submissive to God and those He puts in the line of authority in our lives. We must obey at all times. God wants more than just my good deeds. He wants my heart attitude. God wants more than just my heart. He wants my day to day actions. If my mind is not submissive to the Father, I can be the very person who robs my own joy.
Song: Oh, Be Careful Little Hands What You Do"
Friday, August 16, 2013
It's not just the actions, it's the attitude
Philippians 2 - - THE SUBMISSIVE MIND or PEOPLE ROB OUR JOY
vs 1 - 2
"If there be therefor any consolation in Christ . . .
if any fellowship of the Spirit . . .
if any bowels and mercies . . .
{then} Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
The Bible is full of if/then statements. God lets us know exactly what the conditions of certain situations will be. IF you want this . . . THEN you must do that. IF you do this . . . THEN you can count on this outcome.
Paul has been instructing us to keep our eyes off of the circumstances around us because that can rob our joy. Now he moves on to say "if there is any support found in Christ . . . " IF I take my eyes off of my circumstances and keep them on Christ, THEN I have Him supporting me and I will be strengthened. IF my circumstances are hard but I keep my eyes on Christ, THEN I will have the comfort of His love. IF there is any fellowship or communication between my heart and the Holy Spirit Who is God living in me, THEN I am never standing alone. IF there is any affection and sympathy available to soothe me, THEN I will not be cast down.
There is so much healing and comfort available to us through the Holy Spirit. He is God and He lives in me. The description of God the Father is often that He is a holy judge that guides us to do right and punishes when we do wrong. The description of Christ is often that He was the embodiment of God Who gave us something tangible to see and touch and help us see God's personal love to us. The Holy Spirit is the part of God that lives deep in our hearts and comforts those deep hurts and loneliness that no one else can soothe. If we need to feel support and affection and healing, we must turn to Him Who is so close to us that He is within us.
Then Paul says that IF we seek all these positive things to buoy us up THEN we will complete his joy. Sitting in prison, waiting for a probable death sentence, Paul says that the one thing that could "top off" his joy is for this church to depend on Christ for their support and affection. He further explains that to have this kind of joy we must all have the same love, have the same ambition, and be working for the same goal. The gospel cannot be effectively shared by Christians who are fighting amongst themselves or striving for personal attention or reward.
Verses 3 and 4 develop this a little further. "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory . . . " If we are competing for the approval of man in our service or constantly trying to outdo someone else, we are not going to have the joy of those who have their eyes on Christ. "Let each esteem others better than themselves." There were obviously some very petty quarrels going on in this church. When we focus on ourselves and what we think should be happening, we obviously shift our focus away from the gospel. Humans cannot truly focus on more than one thing at a time. Things can be going on all around us that we are aware of, but we can only focus on one thing. If I were to focus on who got the most or the biggest hugs from others as we come together, I am NOT focused on the gospel or on ministering to my fellow Christians. But if I set aside my petty personal "feelings" I will be far more concerned about those around me and I will be able to minister to them more effectively and much more genuinely.
So far this has been an conversational letter from Paul to his dear friends. He is speaking from his heart and having a talk with them. Verses 5-11 have a very different style. Paul here encapsulates the humanity/deity of Christ. Think about Christ the Son of God standing at the throne of Heaven. He is holy and regal. The angels adore and worship Him. They are not horsing around when they are in His presence, so to speak. They are reverent and willing to do anything He might ask of them. He is "high and lifted up."
But then think of him as a human who had dusty smelly feet and needed a bath. Think of him needing to blow His nose because of the dusty roads. Think of Him getting down on His hands and knees with a bowl of water and some rags to wash the dirty smelly feet of His disciples . . . all of whom had their own faults and failures. The job of washing the feet of guests was the job of the lowest servant in the household. Not the fine butler who stood nearby and waited on the table making mealtime effortless. Not the housemaid who polished the fine vessels of the home which brought compliments from guests. Not the cook who could impress everyone with their hard work and produce succulent dishes that sustained weary bodies or exotic dainties that impressed the eyes and the palette. No, the job of washing the dusty stinky feet of everyone else in the house and any guest who came to the home was reserved for the lowest of the servants. As people entered the home they would be talking and visiting. They would take off their sandals at the door. They would sit down and this servant was expected to come in and wash their feet without calling attention to themselves, without joining in on any conversation going on, without making faces or turning up their nose. They were to do their job in such a way that they were not even noticed and it was just taken for granted that the job was done.
Jesus Christ, the holy Prince of Heaven, not only came to earth and was limited by a body of flesh and blood, but He also went to the farthest extreme of humbleness and service that there was in His day. He had these disciples with Him for His entire ministry. He knew them inside and out as a human and as God. He had heard their grumbling out loud and in their hearts. He had settled arguments among them about who would be sitting on His right hand in Heaven. He knew that one of them would betray Him and the others would desert Him during the hours His earthly heart would need them most. And yet He washed their stinky smelly feet. What love. What peace. Even Christ Himself did not let the petty actions of those around Him shift His focus away from God's plan. How do you think those guys felt as they sat and realized that Christ was going to make His way around the whole room and wash each of their feet instead of having the servant do it. We can read the phrase "Jesus washed their feet" in about one second. But slow down and let your imagination really see how long this would take. It took time and love and humility.
What is God speaking to your heart about right now? Is there someone you are jealous of? Is there someone you are silently competing with? Are you comparing and trying to measure things that are of no real importance? You will not have joy if you are focused on the people around you. We must have a submissive heart that will do whatever God tells us to do, even if no one ever notices or cares. There is joy in serving Jesus!
SONG: There is Joy In Serving Jesus
vs 1 - 2
"If there be therefor any consolation in Christ . . .
if any fellowship of the Spirit . . .
if any bowels and mercies . . .
{then} Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
The Bible is full of if/then statements. God lets us know exactly what the conditions of certain situations will be. IF you want this . . . THEN you must do that. IF you do this . . . THEN you can count on this outcome.
Paul has been instructing us to keep our eyes off of the circumstances around us because that can rob our joy. Now he moves on to say "if there is any support found in Christ . . . " IF I take my eyes off of my circumstances and keep them on Christ, THEN I have Him supporting me and I will be strengthened. IF my circumstances are hard but I keep my eyes on Christ, THEN I will have the comfort of His love. IF there is any fellowship or communication between my heart and the Holy Spirit Who is God living in me, THEN I am never standing alone. IF there is any affection and sympathy available to soothe me, THEN I will not be cast down.
There is so much healing and comfort available to us through the Holy Spirit. He is God and He lives in me. The description of God the Father is often that He is a holy judge that guides us to do right and punishes when we do wrong. The description of Christ is often that He was the embodiment of God Who gave us something tangible to see and touch and help us see God's personal love to us. The Holy Spirit is the part of God that lives deep in our hearts and comforts those deep hurts and loneliness that no one else can soothe. If we need to feel support and affection and healing, we must turn to Him Who is so close to us that He is within us.
Then Paul says that IF we seek all these positive things to buoy us up THEN we will complete his joy. Sitting in prison, waiting for a probable death sentence, Paul says that the one thing that could "top off" his joy is for this church to depend on Christ for their support and affection. He further explains that to have this kind of joy we must all have the same love, have the same ambition, and be working for the same goal. The gospel cannot be effectively shared by Christians who are fighting amongst themselves or striving for personal attention or reward.
Verses 3 and 4 develop this a little further. "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory . . . " If we are competing for the approval of man in our service or constantly trying to outdo someone else, we are not going to have the joy of those who have their eyes on Christ. "Let each esteem others better than themselves." There were obviously some very petty quarrels going on in this church. When we focus on ourselves and what we think should be happening, we obviously shift our focus away from the gospel. Humans cannot truly focus on more than one thing at a time. Things can be going on all around us that we are aware of, but we can only focus on one thing. If I were to focus on who got the most or the biggest hugs from others as we come together, I am NOT focused on the gospel or on ministering to my fellow Christians. But if I set aside my petty personal "feelings" I will be far more concerned about those around me and I will be able to minister to them more effectively and much more genuinely.
So far this has been an conversational letter from Paul to his dear friends. He is speaking from his heart and having a talk with them. Verses 5-11 have a very different style. Paul here encapsulates the humanity/deity of Christ. Think about Christ the Son of God standing at the throne of Heaven. He is holy and regal. The angels adore and worship Him. They are not horsing around when they are in His presence, so to speak. They are reverent and willing to do anything He might ask of them. He is "high and lifted up."
But then think of him as a human who had dusty smelly feet and needed a bath. Think of him needing to blow His nose because of the dusty roads. Think of Him getting down on His hands and knees with a bowl of water and some rags to wash the dirty smelly feet of His disciples . . . all of whom had their own faults and failures. The job of washing the feet of guests was the job of the lowest servant in the household. Not the fine butler who stood nearby and waited on the table making mealtime effortless. Not the housemaid who polished the fine vessels of the home which brought compliments from guests. Not the cook who could impress everyone with their hard work and produce succulent dishes that sustained weary bodies or exotic dainties that impressed the eyes and the palette. No, the job of washing the dusty stinky feet of everyone else in the house and any guest who came to the home was reserved for the lowest of the servants. As people entered the home they would be talking and visiting. They would take off their sandals at the door. They would sit down and this servant was expected to come in and wash their feet without calling attention to themselves, without joining in on any conversation going on, without making faces or turning up their nose. They were to do their job in such a way that they were not even noticed and it was just taken for granted that the job was done.
Jesus Christ, the holy Prince of Heaven, not only came to earth and was limited by a body of flesh and blood, but He also went to the farthest extreme of humbleness and service that there was in His day. He had these disciples with Him for His entire ministry. He knew them inside and out as a human and as God. He had heard their grumbling out loud and in their hearts. He had settled arguments among them about who would be sitting on His right hand in Heaven. He knew that one of them would betray Him and the others would desert Him during the hours His earthly heart would need them most. And yet He washed their stinky smelly feet. What love. What peace. Even Christ Himself did not let the petty actions of those around Him shift His focus away from God's plan. How do you think those guys felt as they sat and realized that Christ was going to make His way around the whole room and wash each of their feet instead of having the servant do it. We can read the phrase "Jesus washed their feet" in about one second. But slow down and let your imagination really see how long this would take. It took time and love and humility.
What is God speaking to your heart about right now? Is there someone you are jealous of? Is there someone you are silently competing with? Are you comparing and trying to measure things that are of no real importance? You will not have joy if you are focused on the people around you. We must have a submissive heart that will do whatever God tells us to do, even if no one ever notices or cares. There is joy in serving Jesus!
SONG: There is Joy In Serving Jesus
Friday, August 9, 2013
The Distractor is not my Destroyer
PHILIPPIANS 1 - - THE SINGLE MIND of CIRCUMSTANCES ROB JOY
Verses 19 - 30
Paul is in prison in Rome for preaching the gospel. The two possible outcomes of his trial are his execution or his release. We have seen that he is not focused on the immediate circumstances of his physical situation, nor is he fretting over those who have wrong motives.
When he was persecuting the church, Saul had one mission in his life. His reputation was known far and wide and every Christian feared him. When he converted, he wanted to make such a statement about his changed life that he even changed his name. The contrast between his old life and his new life is about as drastic as I can imagine. He must have been one of those very intense personalities and the people around him were either for him or against him.
There were plenty of people from his old life who were now against him. So much so that some were willing to "preach" the gospel just to keep things stirred up and with the hopes of making it harder on him. The government had arrested him for the impact he was having and they would surely be trying to squelch anyone else who was preaching the same gospel. But Paul did not try to dissect their motives or concentrate on the great betrayal this was to his life purpose. He focused on the gospel instead of the circumstances and found that "peace that passes all understanding."
Now Paul makes a shift in his writing to show us what is on his mind as he faces these two possible outcomes of his trial. "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." These words are not written out of despair but out of JOY! If he is released from prison he will be able to go on and give glory to his Savior. If he is killed he will be able to join his Savior. Either way he will be happy.
Paul, being human, did not know which of the two he would choose. When he says in verse 22 "I wot not" it means "I do not know" what I would choose. His life had that singular focus of Christ and he did not have a preference of how that purpose should be fulfilled. He had not planned out his whole life and made dreams. He lived each day as it came to him and was NOT trying to accomplish a certain "script" that he had manufactured in his own mind.
I imagine Paul's dilemma felt alot to him like we feel when we think of being with our Savior in Heaven or being with our families and loved ones here. Especially as a mother I have a hard time envisioning how life could possibly go on if I were not here! But I know that God would take care of my family and because He is the focus of their lives also, He would be glorified. I sometimes create the reality in my heart that my kids just couldn't go on without me or that my husband would just flounder without me by his side. But with Christ as their focus, they would not be destroyed by the circumstance of losing my influence in their lives.
Verses 25 and 26 say "...I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy and faith; That your rejoicing may be be MORE ABUNDANT in Jesus Christ for my by my coming to your again." Paul sums up this little discussion by saying that he is confident that he will not be executed by will remain on earth in order to encourage and strengthen his fellow believers.
In verse 27 the word "conversation" is not limited to talking. It actually refers to a person's very lifestyle and behavior. You know the old saying "Your talk talks and your walk talks, but your walk talks louder than your talk talks"? Paul was encouraging these believers to put actions to their words. "...that ye stand fast in ONE spirit, with ONE mind striving together for the furtherance of the gospel." He is telling them and us to stick to the one purpose that we all have in common - - the gospel. He is instructing them to keep the main thing the main thing.
Verse 28 is full of Heavenly perspective. "And in nothing terrified by your adversaries..." Paul was the expert on what the Roman government could and would do to Christians. And he does not qualify this statement but leaves it open to apply to every single person. He does not say "don't be terrified if you are having your business destroyed in the name of Christ" or "don't be terrified if you are being arrested and sent to prison." In fact he implies that everyone will have some kind of adversity from their enemies. And, of all things, he tells these Christians not to let it bother them. The enemy sends difficulties to discourage us and get our attention on the wrong thing....our circumstances. Tough circumstances are actually allowed to be sent to us so that we have an opportunity to glorify God! Adversity looks like a negative to the world, but to the Christian it is a positive!
"Heavenly logic" (so to speak) says that if Christ suffered such betrayal and physical destruction for us, it should be obvious that we as His followers will also suffer. If I like or dislike a certain person, it follows that I will either like or dislike their close friends just by association. Christ is more than just a friend to me; He is my Savior and I have made it clear that I am associated with Him. Those who are against Him will automatically be against me. The enemy is actively fighting against Christ, so he will actively be attacking me. But these attacks are just part of the circumstances of my life and if I focus on them I will be robbed of the joy my Savior bestows. And "greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world." The giver of my joy is greater than the distractor of my joy!
"The enemy is fighting, fighting, fighting . . . but the Savior is faithful, faithful, faithful!"
Song: "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus"
Verses 19 - 30
Paul is in prison in Rome for preaching the gospel. The two possible outcomes of his trial are his execution or his release. We have seen that he is not focused on the immediate circumstances of his physical situation, nor is he fretting over those who have wrong motives.
When he was persecuting the church, Saul had one mission in his life. His reputation was known far and wide and every Christian feared him. When he converted, he wanted to make such a statement about his changed life that he even changed his name. The contrast between his old life and his new life is about as drastic as I can imagine. He must have been one of those very intense personalities and the people around him were either for him or against him.
There were plenty of people from his old life who were now against him. So much so that some were willing to "preach" the gospel just to keep things stirred up and with the hopes of making it harder on him. The government had arrested him for the impact he was having and they would surely be trying to squelch anyone else who was preaching the same gospel. But Paul did not try to dissect their motives or concentrate on the great betrayal this was to his life purpose. He focused on the gospel instead of the circumstances and found that "peace that passes all understanding."
Now Paul makes a shift in his writing to show us what is on his mind as he faces these two possible outcomes of his trial. "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." These words are not written out of despair but out of JOY! If he is released from prison he will be able to go on and give glory to his Savior. If he is killed he will be able to join his Savior. Either way he will be happy.
Paul, being human, did not know which of the two he would choose. When he says in verse 22 "I wot not" it means "I do not know" what I would choose. His life had that singular focus of Christ and he did not have a preference of how that purpose should be fulfilled. He had not planned out his whole life and made dreams. He lived each day as it came to him and was NOT trying to accomplish a certain "script" that he had manufactured in his own mind.
I imagine Paul's dilemma felt alot to him like we feel when we think of being with our Savior in Heaven or being with our families and loved ones here. Especially as a mother I have a hard time envisioning how life could possibly go on if I were not here! But I know that God would take care of my family and because He is the focus of their lives also, He would be glorified. I sometimes create the reality in my heart that my kids just couldn't go on without me or that my husband would just flounder without me by his side. But with Christ as their focus, they would not be destroyed by the circumstance of losing my influence in their lives.
Verses 25 and 26 say "...I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy and faith; That your rejoicing may be be MORE ABUNDANT in Jesus Christ for my by my coming to your again." Paul sums up this little discussion by saying that he is confident that he will not be executed by will remain on earth in order to encourage and strengthen his fellow believers.
In verse 27 the word "conversation" is not limited to talking. It actually refers to a person's very lifestyle and behavior. You know the old saying "Your talk talks and your walk talks, but your walk talks louder than your talk talks"? Paul was encouraging these believers to put actions to their words. "...that ye stand fast in ONE spirit, with ONE mind striving together for the furtherance of the gospel." He is telling them and us to stick to the one purpose that we all have in common - - the gospel. He is instructing them to keep the main thing the main thing.
Verse 28 is full of Heavenly perspective. "And in nothing terrified by your adversaries..." Paul was the expert on what the Roman government could and would do to Christians. And he does not qualify this statement but leaves it open to apply to every single person. He does not say "don't be terrified if you are having your business destroyed in the name of Christ" or "don't be terrified if you are being arrested and sent to prison." In fact he implies that everyone will have some kind of adversity from their enemies. And, of all things, he tells these Christians not to let it bother them. The enemy sends difficulties to discourage us and get our attention on the wrong thing....our circumstances. Tough circumstances are actually allowed to be sent to us so that we have an opportunity to glorify God! Adversity looks like a negative to the world, but to the Christian it is a positive!
"Heavenly logic" (so to speak) says that if Christ suffered such betrayal and physical destruction for us, it should be obvious that we as His followers will also suffer. If I like or dislike a certain person, it follows that I will either like or dislike their close friends just by association. Christ is more than just a friend to me; He is my Savior and I have made it clear that I am associated with Him. Those who are against Him will automatically be against me. The enemy is actively fighting against Christ, so he will actively be attacking me. But these attacks are just part of the circumstances of my life and if I focus on them I will be robbed of the joy my Savior bestows. And "greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world." The giver of my joy is greater than the distractor of my joy!
"The enemy is fighting, fighting, fighting . . . but the Savior is faithful, faithful, faithful!"
Song: "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus"
Friday, August 2, 2013
The circumstances are NOT the main thing
Philippians 1:12-20
PHILIPPIANS 1 - - THE SINGLE MIND or CIRCUMSTANCES CAN ROB JOY
This section of chapter one begins with what I consider to be the key verse to this chapter. "But I would ye should understand brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel."
Paul was addressing his personal circumstances, terrible as they were. Remember that he was the great and dreaded Saul before his conversion. Any agent of the Roman government knew exactly who Saul was and knew exactly how much he had done to persecute these Christians. I have always had the sense that he was like a living legend worse than any pirate or henchman. He had had the single focus of obliterating these Christians. When he met Christ and converted, he had so much to live down from the human standpoint. For this same man to now be in prison for preaching the very gospel he had worked so hard to destroy was BIG news in that day!
Verse 13 tells us that everyone in the palace was talking about Paul being in the prison and what he had done to get there. And it isn't too much of a stretch to say that everyone everywhere was talking about this and trying to understand it. The arrest, the beating, the imprisonment with its deplorable conditions, were all things that Paul could have been despairing about. But he had the single focus of deflecting the attention from himself to Christ. He said every single part of this was worth it because if people were talking about it, they were actually talking about the gospel.
He goes on in this passage to describe how some people began preaching with more boldness. But then he also describes that some people began preaching with envy and strife. Some of them actually preached hoping to make it worse on Paul. I have often struggled to understand this part of the chapter. I couldn't imagine someone preaching the gospel out of strife. But I think I can picture it this way . . .
My husband preaches the Word of God and does not back down from giving a clear presentation of salvation or from addressing sin. There are some TV preachers who talk about being a follower of Christ but who never talk about repentance. It is easy to see that people would come to know the Savior in the setting of hearing the straight talk of the Bible. But there really are people who have gotten saved while listening to a TV preacher. Most of these "tel-evangelists" have the reputation (deserved or not) that they are in it for the money and the prestige. They are criticized for having a soft and flowery view of the Christian life. But at least some of them are presenting enough of the Word of God that the Holy Spirit of God can speak to hearts and people can come to a conversion.
Isaiah 55:10-11 "For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from Heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing wherto I sent it."
How do we apply this lesson to our lives today and to the idea of having a single mind? James 3:16 says that "...where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work." The single mind of God is the gospel. It has nothing to do with the instruments chosen to deliver it.
Our church has recently had two different men come and sing for us. One has a very polished style and sings with gusto! The other is a cowboy singer with a simpler style and a more mellow delivery. Both of these men sing to the glory of God. As the audience we can compare these two styles and prefer one over the other even to the point of criticism. And then we will become aggressive or judgmental in our conversations. Perhaps it will even get to the point of being defensive of our favorite style. But the heart that has the single focus of spreading the gospel will be able to "keep the main thing the main thing." We absolutely should decide if the message is clear in each case, but aside from that we must not be distracted by the differences of the the presentation.
One piano player is not not better than another piano player in God's eyes if they are both playing for His glory. One teacher is not guiding his students better than another because of the tie he wears or the color of his Bible. One singer is not more spiritual because of he has training and another singer is not less spiritual because he does not have training. We must keep our hearts from competing and we must not be caught up with the details of the "package." Our focus should be the gospel of Christ and then all these other circumstantial things will not draw us into contention. "Keep the main thing the main thing" and you will see the beauty of the Lord in all things!
SONG: "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus"
PHILIPPIANS 1 - - THE SINGLE MIND or CIRCUMSTANCES CAN ROB JOY
This section of chapter one begins with what I consider to be the key verse to this chapter. "But I would ye should understand brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel."
Paul was addressing his personal circumstances, terrible as they were. Remember that he was the great and dreaded Saul before his conversion. Any agent of the Roman government knew exactly who Saul was and knew exactly how much he had done to persecute these Christians. I have always had the sense that he was like a living legend worse than any pirate or henchman. He had had the single focus of obliterating these Christians. When he met Christ and converted, he had so much to live down from the human standpoint. For this same man to now be in prison for preaching the very gospel he had worked so hard to destroy was BIG news in that day!
Verse 13 tells us that everyone in the palace was talking about Paul being in the prison and what he had done to get there. And it isn't too much of a stretch to say that everyone everywhere was talking about this and trying to understand it. The arrest, the beating, the imprisonment with its deplorable conditions, were all things that Paul could have been despairing about. But he had the single focus of deflecting the attention from himself to Christ. He said every single part of this was worth it because if people were talking about it, they were actually talking about the gospel.
He goes on in this passage to describe how some people began preaching with more boldness. But then he also describes that some people began preaching with envy and strife. Some of them actually preached hoping to make it worse on Paul. I have often struggled to understand this part of the chapter. I couldn't imagine someone preaching the gospel out of strife. But I think I can picture it this way . . .
My husband preaches the Word of God and does not back down from giving a clear presentation of salvation or from addressing sin. There are some TV preachers who talk about being a follower of Christ but who never talk about repentance. It is easy to see that people would come to know the Savior in the setting of hearing the straight talk of the Bible. But there really are people who have gotten saved while listening to a TV preacher. Most of these "tel-evangelists" have the reputation (deserved or not) that they are in it for the money and the prestige. They are criticized for having a soft and flowery view of the Christian life. But at least some of them are presenting enough of the Word of God that the Holy Spirit of God can speak to hearts and people can come to a conversion.
Isaiah 55:10-11 "For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from Heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing wherto I sent it."
How do we apply this lesson to our lives today and to the idea of having a single mind? James 3:16 says that "...where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work." The single mind of God is the gospel. It has nothing to do with the instruments chosen to deliver it.
Our church has recently had two different men come and sing for us. One has a very polished style and sings with gusto! The other is a cowboy singer with a simpler style and a more mellow delivery. Both of these men sing to the glory of God. As the audience we can compare these two styles and prefer one over the other even to the point of criticism. And then we will become aggressive or judgmental in our conversations. Perhaps it will even get to the point of being defensive of our favorite style. But the heart that has the single focus of spreading the gospel will be able to "keep the main thing the main thing." We absolutely should decide if the message is clear in each case, but aside from that we must not be distracted by the differences of the the presentation.
One piano player is not not better than another piano player in God's eyes if they are both playing for His glory. One teacher is not guiding his students better than another because of the tie he wears or the color of his Bible. One singer is not more spiritual because of he has training and another singer is not less spiritual because he does not have training. We must keep our hearts from competing and we must not be caught up with the details of the "package." Our focus should be the gospel of Christ and then all these other circumstantial things will not draw us into contention. "Keep the main thing the main thing" and you will see the beauty of the Lord in all things!
SONG: "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus"
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Drama can rob your joy...
The Book of JOY is a letter written by the Apostle Paul while he was in prison awaiting trial for preaching the gospel. One possible outcome of this trial could be his being sentenced to death. He opens the letter with loving words about the church at Philippi and how he is thankful for them every single time he thinks of them.
Philippians 1 ***The Single Mind*** or ***Circumstances Rob Joy***
Philippians 1:9-11 "And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God."
Judgment = discernment. Discernment is the ability to see things for what they are. Do you remember the old saying "She can't see the forest for the trees"? Some people can only see the drama around them. Others can see through the drama and realize what the real issues are. Discernment is the opposite of drama! Discernment is a mark of maturity; drama is a mark of childishness. A child can be mislead much more easily than an adult simply because of maturity.
Paul wanted the Philippians to be able to discern the things that are excellent. He wanted them, and us, to be able to tell the difference between the important things and the distractions. He didn't want them to get sidetracked with things that really didn't matter. It was more important to him WHY he was in prison than the fact THAT he was in prison. Instead of focusing on the horrible situation he was in, he wanted to redirect their attention to spreading the gospel of Christ.
Verses 10 and 11 also talk about being sincere and without offense and having the fruits of righteousness. When you think of a drama queen exaggerating and being the victim and straining to outdo everyone around her . . . or him . . . you do not think of words like pure or blameless. I certainly do not think of the word righteousness. Being a drama queen is about being selfish and focused on how YOUR situation impacts YOU. Being a drama queen is about steering everyone's attention back around to you. Being pure and blameless and righteous is about keeping the focus on the most important Person.
If we can keep our mind singly on the gospel of Christ, even the worst of circumstances will not be able to rob our joy!
Song: Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
Philippians 1 ***The Single Mind*** or ***Circumstances Rob Joy***
Philippians 1:9-11 "And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God."
Judgment = discernment. Discernment is the ability to see things for what they are. Do you remember the old saying "She can't see the forest for the trees"? Some people can only see the drama around them. Others can see through the drama and realize what the real issues are. Discernment is the opposite of drama! Discernment is a mark of maturity; drama is a mark of childishness. A child can be mislead much more easily than an adult simply because of maturity.
Paul wanted the Philippians to be able to discern the things that are excellent. He wanted them, and us, to be able to tell the difference between the important things and the distractions. He didn't want them to get sidetracked with things that really didn't matter. It was more important to him WHY he was in prison than the fact THAT he was in prison. Instead of focusing on the horrible situation he was in, he wanted to redirect their attention to spreading the gospel of Christ.
Verses 10 and 11 also talk about being sincere and without offense and having the fruits of righteousness. When you think of a drama queen exaggerating and being the victim and straining to outdo everyone around her . . . or him . . . you do not think of words like pure or blameless. I certainly do not think of the word righteousness. Being a drama queen is about being selfish and focused on how YOUR situation impacts YOU. Being a drama queen is about steering everyone's attention back around to you. Being pure and blameless and righteous is about keeping the focus on the most important Person.
If we can keep our mind singly on the gospel of Christ, even the worst of circumstances will not be able to rob our joy!
Song: Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
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