Encouragement to Unity and Faithful Service to One Another (Phil 2:1-4) NOTE: Phil 2:5-11 flows from this and that should be explained.

Prepared and preached by Pastor Steve Rhodes for and at Bethel Friends Church in Poland, OH on July 30, 2023

We have been walking through Philippians.

Swindoll writes:

“What’s the secret to a great life?” People have pondered this question for millennia—since long before there was a self-help section at a bookstore … or twinkle-eyed preachers trading in shallow “believe in yourself” platitudes … or cabinets full of supplements and drugs to increase our energy or enhance our effectiveness.

The Bible’s answer to that question isn’t long, convoluted, or complex. As already indicated, we can sum it up in two words: selfless humility. Not the kind we conjure through mantras or summon through meditation or instill through methods of behavior modification. This is a supernatural kind of selfless humility that has its source in our identification with and imitation of Christ. It results in love, fellowship, affection, compassion, unity, service, and joy. Of all the virtues Christ embodied, selfless humility seems to sum up well His overall character.^[1]

This is what we will get into today.

A flight attendant one day wanted to go on a trip and she received a seat that was available in first class. At no cost to her, she was able to fly to Europe. An emergency occurred on the airplane that made it so that they were in need of another flight attendant. She raised her hand and let them know she was a fight attendant, and even though she was on vacation taking a trip to Europe, she would be glad to serve as the additional help that was needed. She was not serving to get to Europe; that had already been taken care of. It was part of the package of being a flight attendant for the airline. But she had no problem serving on the airplane either, because she was just so grateful for the benefit to be able to ride to Europe at no cost to her. That service was a joy and not a complaint.

It is unfortunate today that many people are serving Christ in order to earn brownie points to make sure they’re saved, rather than serving Christ out of the overwhelming joy of the free ride. God wants your service not as validation for your salvation. He wants your service out of your joy for the assurance of your salvation.^829[2]

Now Paul continues the theme of unity.

My theme today is:

Paul urges the Philippians to be united, thinking of others as more important than ourselves, and serving one another.

1. The experiences that lead to unity (Phil. 2:1).
   1. 2:1: So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy…
   2. Paul begins with “so” or “therefore.” He is continuing from what he had written about. The “so” or “therefore” points back to what he has already written.
   3. In the previous verses, Paul was writing about suffering. Paul wrote about how it was granted to them to suffer for Christ. In Phil. 1:27 Paul wrote about their life being worthy of the Gospel. In that same verse, Paul wrote exhorting them to be of the same mind. Paul was encouraging unity.
   4. This could begin with “since” or “because of.”
   5. Jesus changes us. Jesus changes the way we act toward one another.
   6. Jesus changes our responses.
   7. That is what Paul is getting into now.
   8. “Because of the encouragement in Christ…”
   9. “Since” or “because” there is encouragement in Christ…
   10. “Since” or “because” there is comfort from love…
   11. “Since” or “because” there is participation in the Spirit…
   12. “Since” or “because” there is affection…
   13. “Since” or “because” there is sympathy…
   14. Jesus changes us.
   15. In Christ we can have encouragement. This means that we are emboldened. “Encourage” means an act of emboldening another in belief or course of action, encouragement, exhortation.^[3]
   16. “Encouragement” is from the Gr. word that means “to come alongside and help, counsel, exhort.”^[4]
   17. Jesus does that for us through the Holy Spirit.
   18. Are we leaning on Jesus through the Holy Spirit?
   19. Remember that in the previous verses Paul was writing about suffering for Jesus. Paul is in prison.
   20. Listen, we cannot live the Christian life on our own. Sure, we can if we stay complacent, but if we are to grow up in Him it only happens through Jesus.
   21. We must spend time with the Lord. We must stay connected to the Vine. Jesus is the true Vine (John 15:1-5).
   22. We also have comfort in Christ. “comfort” means to be “consoled” or “encouraged.” Actually, it is translated as “consolation” in the NASB. MacArthur shares: The Gr. word translated “consolation” portrays the Lord coming close and whispering words of gentle cheer or tender counsel in a believer’s ear.^[5]
   23. We have participation in the Spirit. This is translated “fellowship” with the Spirit in the NASB. I like that. This means that as Christians we all have a partnership because we have the same eternal life provided by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
   24. That is powerful. We are all connected with one another as Christians. The Holy Spirit networks the church together (Eph 4:25).
   25. Affection is a word that means “bowels” or “intestines.” It is like we say, “I love you with my whole heart.”
   26. God has given us all deep affection. Because of Jesus, we can love like that.
   27. We also have sympathy, or the NASB says “compassion.” The word means to have concern for one another, pity, or sympathy.
   28. In Christ, we have compassion, sympathy, and pity for one another. This compels us to be united.
2. Be of the same mind (Phil. 2:2)
   1. 2:2: …complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
   2. So, Paul has written about the conditionals, and now he picks up on that.
   3. Hopefully, they have encouragement from Christ. Hopefully, they have comfort from His love, fellowship in the Spirit, affection, and sympathy. Now, complete Paul’s joy by being of the same mind. Paul goes through great detail to show what this means.
   4. Have the same mind and the same love.
   5. Notice then he says to be in full accord and of one mind. The NASB says “united in Spirit” instead of “full accord.” So, he repeats the idea of having the same mind.
   6. Paul says this will complete his joy. In other words, this will make him smile. This is not uniformity but is unity.
   7. In the book, The Divine Conspiracy Dallas Willard asks, “Why are Christians so mean?” He answers because they always have to be right. Listen, we do not always need to be right. Sure, there are critical issues of doctrine that we must separate over, but other times, actually most of the time, we must let things go.
   8. The content of his exhortation is that they be “like-minded.” The verb used here occurs ten times in Philippians (of twenty-three times in the Pauline corpus). It speaks to the intellect (i.e., a way of thinking), but it goes beyond that. It incorporates the will and emotions into a comprehensive outlook which affects the attitude.^[6]
3. Be of self-sacrificial mind and actions (Phil. 2:3-4).

1. 1. 2:3-4: Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. ⁴Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
   2. So, he has exhorted them to be united and have the same mind. He has exhorted them about their encouragement in Christ, the affection, and the unity of the Spirit, and now he gives real concrete actions.
   3. These will lead directly to Phil. 2:5-11. In Phil. 2:5-11 he gives the ultimate example of Jesus and later the example of Timothy and Epaphroditus as well.
   4. Do nothing from “selfish ambition.”
   5. We don’t want our ambition to be selfish.
   6. Do nothing from conceit. “Conceit” means “empty pride” and is only used here in the Greek.
   7. No empty conceit is one word in the Greek that really means to have a highly exaggerated view of oneself. This is hard to translate because Romans and Greeks put nothing on humility. It is possible that Paul coined this word.[7]
   8. This is the opposite of Paul’s opponents in Phil. 1:15-17. They were sharing the gospel for selfish reasons.
   9. Instead of selfishness and conceit we should have humility of mind.
   10. Can we have humility in our thinking?
   11. This begins with our thinking.
   12. Count others more significant than yourselves.
   13. Look at verse 4 (Phil. 2:4): Look not only to your own interests but also the interests of others.
   14. First, we change our mindset (Phil. 2:3), and then we look out for others in deeds. We do have to look out for our own needs. Notice how he says, look “not only” to your own interests… We must look out for our own needs, but he is urging us to look out for the needs of others.
   15. Psychiatrist Dr. Carl Menninger was reportedly asked what he would do if he knew that he was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. His reply: “I’d go out, find somebody in need, and help him.”^[8]

1. Applications:
   1. Jesus comes alongside and helps us through the Holy Spirit (John 14:26). Are we allowing Him to help us (Phil. 2:1)?
      1. Are we leaning on Jesus through the Holy Spirit?
      2. Remember that in the previous verses Paul was writing about suffering for Jesus. Paul is in prison.
      3. Listen, we cannot live the Christian life on our own. Sure, we can if we stay complacent, but if we are to grow up in Him it only happens through Jesus.
      4. We must spend time with the Lord. We must stay connected to the Vine. Jesus is the true Vine (John 15:1-5).
   2. Are we allowing the Lord to comfort/console us (Phil. 2:1)?
   3. Do we have the love, the affection, that comes from our inner being, from our gut (Phil. 2:1)? Do we love with our whole heart (Phil. 2:1)?
   4. Can we be united (Phil. 2:2)?
   5. Can we disagree, agreeably (Phil. 2:2)?
   6. Is our ambition selfish (Phil. 2:3)?
   7. Do we have ambitions that exalt others? Do we have ambitions that make others look better? Or, are all of our ambitions things that make us look better and others look worse (Phil. 2:3)?
   8. How is our mindset (Phil. 2:3)?
   9. Do we have humility of mind (Phil. 2:3)?

• Do we consider others more significant than ourselves (Phil. 2:3)?
• Do we look out for the interests of others?
• Do we allow margin in our day so that we have time to help others?

Close:

It was a cold, blustery January night in 1973. Senator John Stennis, the venerable hawkish Democrat from Mississippi, drove from Capitol Hill to his northwest Washington home. Although older (71), he was still the powerful chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. At precisely 7:40 p.m., Stennis parked his car and started toward his house 50 feet away.

Out of the darkness jumped two young robbers—little more than kids, really. One nervously waved a .22 caliber pistol as the other relieved the senator of his personal possessions. “Now we’re going to shoot you anyway,” one told Stennis. He did, firing twice.

For six-and-a-half hours, surgeons at Walter Reed Medical Center labored feverishly to repair the damage and save his life.

At 9:15 that same night another politician was driving home from the Senate . . . a man on the opposite end of the political spectrum, a Republican “dove” who had clashed often and sharply with Stennis. His name? Senator Mark Hatfield. The tragedy was reported over Hatfield’s car radio that wintry night. Disregarding the strong differences in their convictions and pulled by a deep admiration for the elderly statesman plus a compassion for his plight, Hatfield later admitted:

“I had no skills to offer. But I knew there was something I must do—and that was to go to that hospital and be nearby where I could be helpful, if possible, to the family.”

There was untold confusion at the hospital as fellow senators, colleagues, and curious friends and reporters overwhelmed the hospital’s telephone operators. Understaffed and disorganized, the hospital crew tried their best but were unable to handle the calls and answer the questions.

Hatfield quickly scoped out the situation, spotted an unattended switchboard, sat down, and voluntarily went to work. Much later—after recovering—Stennis related what he heard happened next: “He told the girls, ‘I know how to work one of these; let me help you out.’ He continued taking calls until daylight.” An exceedingly significant detail is that he never gave anyone his name because someone would surely suspect some political connection, some ulterior motive. Hatfield finally stood up around daylight, stretched, put on his overcoat, and quietly introduced himself to the other operators. “My name is Hatfield . . . happy to help out on behalf of a man I deeply respect,” he said as he walked away.

The press couldn’t handle that story when it leaked out. It boggled their minds! No way did it make sense for a Republican to give a Democrat the time of day, not to mention several long hours of personal assistance in some anonymous, menial task. I mean, that kind of character went out with the horse and buggy and silent movies and saying “ma’am” and “sir” to teachers. Or did it?

Politics and personal preferences and opinions on things like military involvement may vary among members of the body of Christ . . . but there is a bond deep within that binds us to one another. It is the glue of authentic love, expressing itself in compassion, fairness, willingness to support, and (when possible) coming to the aid of another. Personally. Without strings attached. Committed to the protection and dignity of human life . . . regardless of how somebody votes.

And what does it take? Bigness. Being free of grudges, pettiness, vengeance, and prejudice. Seeing another in need—regardless of differences of opinion—and reaching out in solid Christian maturity. Just because you care.

That’s bigness. It’s living above labels . . . it’s seeing beyond hurts . . . it’s caring unconditionally, helping unassumingly.

And therefore it’s rare. As rare as a hawk and a dove in the same nest on a cold winter’s night.[10]

Prayer

^[1] Charles R. Swindoll, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, vol. 9, Swindoll’s Living Insights New Testament Commentary (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2017), 39.

^[2] Tony Evans, Tony Evans’ Book of Illustrations: Stories, Quotes, and Anecdotes from More than 30 Years of Preaching and Public Speaking (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2009), 278.

^[3] William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 766.

^[4] John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), Php 2:1.

^[5] Ibid.

^[6] Richard R. Melick, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, vol. 32, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1991), 93–94.

[7] Dr Steven Lawson; Renewing Your Mind; 09.23.2022

^[8] Tom Constable, Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003), Php 2:4.

^[9] Ibid.

[10] Excerpt taken from Come before Winter and Share My Hope by Charles R. Swindoll. Copyright © 1985, 1988, 1994 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://insight.org/resources/daily-devotional/individual/bigness1

Live in unity striving side-by-side according to the gospel (Phil 1:27-30)

Prepared and preached by Pastor Steve Rhodes for and at Bethel Friends Church in Poland, OH on July 23, 2023

Think with me about suffering. What is your view of suffering? How do you reconcile suffering with life? Christianity does have a view of suffering.

Oysters suffer affliction when they get a grain of sand lodged inside their shells. No matter what they do, they can’t get rid of it. The sand gets lodged there and it’s irritating to the oyster. It’s a thorn. It drives them crazy. To bring comfort to their anguish, they begin to coat the grain of sand over and over and over again. Coating the sand doesn’t get rid of it; it just comforts them.

Over time the coating of the grain of sand over and over again produces something that costs a mint. It’s called a pearl. Do you know what a pearl is? A pearl is the result of an irritated oyster. Out of that came something women place great value on.

The pain resulted in beauty. Their pain resulted in elegance. The pain results in something of high value. When God allows us to suffer, He is producing something precious.^944[1]

We do not know what God is doing in our suffering, but we do know He is working in us. We do know that He is building us up and those around us (Romans 5).

We have been walking through Philippians. This is a letter that Paul wrote to the church at Philippi. During this time he is writing from a Roman prison. He is shackled to a guard. However, in the previous verses Paul wrote about how he is ready to go to heaven, but he wants to live for their sake. He also wrote in the previous verse about him coming to them. This brings us to our passage for today.

My theme today is:

Live in unity striving side-by-side according to the gospel.

1. Strive side by side for the Gospel (verses 27).
   1. Philippians 1:27 (ESV)
   2. ²⁷ Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel…
   3. In the Greek Philippians 1, verses 27-30 are one sentence.
   4. He is urging them to let their behavior be worthy of the Gospel.
   5. Paul gives a purpose, and that is that he can hear this about them.
   6. This is likely not about him hearing about them in heaven but whether he comes or hears from a distance.
   7. So, he has just written about coming to see them again, and now, he begins with “only” which is a Greek word, monos, which means “alone” or “only.” So, he is saying this is very important. It is prefaced with “only” to specify it as special.
   8. What is behavior that is worthy of the gospel?
   9. One would think it is what follows in this verse and in verses 28-30. But I think it is also what the book is about. See Phil. 2:3-4 and 4:1-2 which are about unity and self-sacrifice which he will write about here.
   10. Notice what he writes: Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel.
   11. The Philippians lived in a free Roman city, and thus understood from their own experience what it meant to live as citizens. Paul is here picking up on that motif and elevating it to the citizenship of heaven. Cf. 3:20 (our citizenship is in heaven).^[2]
   12. Did you notice how he qualified a life worthy of the gospel?
   13. Standing firm…
   14. Side by side….
   15. Paul wants them to agree as much as possible. I have said that Philippians is about joy, but it is also about unity.
   16. This is about unity.
   17. Part of conduct worthy of the Gospel is unity and self-sacrifice as we will see again in Phil. 2:3-4 and Phil. 4:1-2.
   18. Christianity is about living as a team with other Christians.
   19. Paul says “standing firm in ‘one Spirit.’”
   20. “One Spirit” this could be one Holy Spirit who unites us but it is hard to tell in the Greek if it is the Holy Spirit or not. However, Phil. 2:1 seems to be the Holy Spirit.
   21. Striving is an offensive term. We are striving for the gospel.
   22. Paul wants to hear that they are “striving side by side.” “Striving together” is a compound word in the Greek, similar to where we get our English word athletics. Christianity is a team sport. The Gospel is mentioned for the sixth time in this first chapter.[3]
   23. Wow! There is a lot in that verse!
   24. Are we striving side by side for the Gospel?
   25. Are we standing firm?
   26. Are we making sure that our conduct is worthy of the Gospel?
   27. Are we united in one Spirit and one mind?
2. Don’t be frightened by your opponent (verse 28).
   1. Philippians 1:28 (ESV)
   2. ²⁸ and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.
   3. This is continuing from what he wrote.
   4. So, be striving side by side in unity.
   5. And now don’t be frightened by your opponents.
   6. The word “frightened” or “alarmed” could describe spooking a horse.
   7. This is a clear sign of their destruction and your salvation. What is the sign?
   8. Maybe not being frightened by them. Maybe standing strong in the faith. Maybe staying united. Maybe all three.
   9. So, when they stand strong for the gospel, it is a sign of their opponents destruction and their salvation. I like that.
   10. As John MacArthur writes: When believers willingly suffer without being “alarmed,” it is a sign that God’s enemies will be destroyed and eternally lost.^[5]
   11. Malcolm Muggeridge died in the fall of 1990. He had been a foreign correspondent, newspaper editor, editor of Punch magazine, and a well-known television personality in Great Britain. As an adult, he finally turned to Christ and wrote of his own dilemmas as a journalist-turned-believer. Among his works are Jesus Rediscovered, Christ and the Media, Something Beautiful for God, and his multivolume autobiography, Chronicles of Wasted Time. He frequently spoke and wrote of “feeling like a stranger” in the world. In an interview a few years before his death, Muggeridge was asked if he would be willing to explain that feeling. His answer is worth repeating. “I’d very gladly do so, because I’ve thought about it often. In the war, when I was in North Africa, I heard some lieutenant colonel first use the phrase “displaced person.” That phrase was very poignant to me. But it’s also a very good definition of a person who’s come to see that life is not about carnal things, or success, but is about eternity rather than time. . . . I don’t really belong here, I’m simply staying here.”[6]
   12. That is true for Christians.
3. The reminder (verses 29-30)
   1. Philippians 1:29–30 (ESV)
   2. ²⁹ For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, ³⁰ engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.
   3. This is important. We, as Christians, have a privilege of suffering for Christ. See Acts 5:41.
   4. We have the privilege of believing and suffering.
   5. Belief is a gift from God:
   6. Acts 3:16 (ESV)
   7. ¹⁶ And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.
   8. Acts 11:18 (ESV)
   9. ¹⁸ When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”
   10. John 6:44 (ESV)
   11. ⁴⁴ No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.
   12. We are also granted to suffer for Christ’s sake:
   13. Matthew 5:10–11 (ESV)
   14. ¹⁰ “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
   15. ¹¹ “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
   16. 1 Peter 4:12–14 (ESV)
   17. ¹² Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹³ But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. ¹⁴ If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
   18. In verse 30 he shares: they are in the same conflict as they observed in the Apostle Paul and know that Paul is still in.
   19. Swindoll shares: In the early days of Christianity, a scoffer once inquired, “What is your Carpenter doing now?” And the answer of the unperturbed Christian was bold: “Making a coffin for your Emperor!”[7]
4.  Applications:
   1. Are we striving side by side for the Gospel (Phil. 1:27)?
   2. Are we standing firm (Phil. 1:27)?
   3. Are we making sure that our conduct is worthy of the Gospel (Phil. 1:27)?
   4. Are we united in one Spirit and one mind (Phil. 1:27)?
   5. We must not be frightened by those who oppose the Gospel (Phil. 1:28). Instead, we must stay united and serve one another. We must stay strong in the faith.
   6. Are we living consistent with our beliefs? If not, do we really believe them?
   7. Do we fear what non-believers think or do we have a confidence in the Gospel (Phil. 1:28)?
   8. Do we allow unnecessary division or do we seek unity (Phil. 1:27)?
   9. Are we contributing members of a local church (Phil. 1:27-30)?
   10. Do we live in community? Do we have friends who will challenge and encourage us? Are we vulnerable with each other (Phil. 1:27-30)?
   11. Do we recognize that we can’t do this on our own? We need grace. We need the Gospel. We need the Spirit’s help. We need each other (Phil. 1:27-30).
   12. Do we have to always be in charge, always be right, do we divide over silly matters, are we a contentious person, always causing arguments? Are we a unifier or a divider?
   13. Are we prepared to suffer for Jesus (Phil. 1:29)?
   14. How do we prepare to suffer for Him? Pray about it. Pray that we can be like those in Acts 5:41 who rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer for Christ. Pray that God makes us bold AND loving witnesses. Study the Bible about what the Scripture says about suffering. Read testimonies of those who suffered for Christ from the Voice of the Martyrs. Pray for the persecuted church now.

Close:

The reason a woman can endure the pain of childbirth is because something good is coming down the pipe. She can endure because the pain will be worth it in the end as she celebrates the new birth of her child. She bears the suffering because of the joy before her. It is in weakness that God does His greatest birthing.^943[9]

We cannot see things from God’s viewpoint, but He is working even in our suffering.

^[1] Tony Evans, Tony Evans’ Book of Illustrations: Stories, Quotes, and Anecdotes from More than 30 Years of Preaching and Public Speaking (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2009), 314–315.

^[2] Biblical Studies Press, The NET Bible First Edition Notes (Biblical Studies Press, 2006), Php 1:27.

[3] Dr Steven Lawson; Renewing your mind; 09.21.2022

^[4] Biblical Studies Press, The NET Bible First Edition Notes (Biblical Studies Press, 2006), Php 1:28.

^[5] John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), Php 1:28.

[6] Swindoll “Laugh Again” pages 73-74

[7] Swindoll, Laugh Again, page 72

[8] https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/god-given-foes-and-god-given-faith?utm_campaign=Daily%20Email&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=94074571&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9hbAG0qM3E3WA5nRh1ujD-1qFldL9ScViCie4kW5Z6uRJydWdZHa1iMNaqv3z_lVkN_PVsPo7taY5_4oJT8qPr-Nyp_A&utm_content=94074571&utm_source=hs_email

^[9] Tony Evans, Tony Evans’ Book of Illustrations: Stories, Quotes, and Anecdotes from More than 30 Years of Preaching and Public Speaking (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2009), 314.

Prospects for the Future, to Live Is Christ (Phil 1:19-26)

Prepared and preached by Pastor Steve Rhodes for and at Bethel Friends Church in Poland, OH on July 16, 2023

Many handle death through humor. A bumper sticker read, “Don’t take life so seriously. You won’t get out of it alive.”^[1]

Harry Truman told the story of a man who was hit on the head and fell into a deep coma. He stayed there for a long time. People thought he was dead so they sent him to a funeral home and stuck him in a coffin. At two o’clock in the morning, all alone in this dimly lit room, he sat up and looked around. “Good night!” he said. “What’s going on? If I’m alive, why am I in a casket? And, if I’m dead, why do I have to go to the bathroom?”^[2]

We are in a series on Philippians. As we get to Philippians 1:19-26 we see a passage in which Paul is confronting his own death.

My theme today is:

Paul desires to live for the Philippians, but knows if God calls him to heaven, he is better off.

1. Paul’s dilemma (Phil. 1:19-22)
   1. Whether through life or death Paul wants Christ to be glorified.
   2. 1:19-22: ¹⁹ for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, ²⁰ as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. ²¹ For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. ²² If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell.
   3. Paul explains the connection with their prayers and the help of the Holy Spirit.
   4. This is powerful. He is making a link with the outcome of his situation and their prayers.
   5. Paul is confident that this will turn out for his deliverance.
   6. What deliverance is he speaking of?
   7. The Greek word is the basic word for salvation but it can also mean “well-being” or “escape.”
   8. Does he think he will be delivered from prison, or from this life?
   9. There are different thoughts on that. Some think Paul is intentional in being ambiguous. It could apply to both. He might first have in mind deliverance from prison, but he wins if he is delivered from this life.
   10. Look at verse 20. Paul has expectations, and they are eager expectations. Paul also hopes that he will not be ashamed.
   11. What would he be ashamed of?
   12. I think he would be ashamed if he denies Christ, or curses God.
   13. In other words, if he curses God while in prison, or denies Christ, he would be ashamed. He explains that more in the rest of the verses.
   14. He writes, “but with full courage…” Another translation says “by my speaking with all boldness…”
   15. He says, “now, as always…” In other words, he can say that he has always tried to honor Christ. He wants this to continue.
   16. He wants Christ to be honored through him, whether in how he lives or how he dies.
   17. Do we think about magnifying Christ as we live and “as we die”?
   18. I recently read about a young mom dying of cancer. Even in her last 30 minutes, she was suffering and vomiting. John Piper answered the question, “How does that glorify God?” He said it glorifies God because even in her suffering, she did not curse God.[4] Like Job in the Old Testament, she did not curse God (Job 1:22; 2:9-11).
   19. Do we ever think about that? Do we ever pray, “Lord no matter what, don’t let me turn my back on you”? Remember the Lord’s prayer says, “Deliver us from evil” (Matthew 6:13). Remember Jesus taught us to pray “lead us not into temptation” (Matthew 6:13). God will not tempt us, but He will test us (James 1:3, 13). However, God can prevent us from being tempted. God can give us the strength to endure temptation (1 Cor. 10:13). God can deliver us from evil.
   20. It is very Biblical as a Christian to think and pray about standing strong in suffering and the tests. Often, we prepare for everything but not the spiritual. Christians will suffer persecution, and Christians will suffer other trials connected to a world of sickness.
   21. 2 Tim. 3:12 says the Christian pursuing godliness will suffer persecution.
   22. Here is Paul in prison, chained to a guard, saying that he wants to honor Christ whether he lives or dies.
   23. Warren Wiersbe: “The believer’s body is a ‘lens’ that makes a ‘little Christ’ look very big, and a ‘distant Christ’ come very close.”^97[5]
   24. But we can do this because we are never alone.
   25. Verse 20: Piper reminds us that Jesus is always with us. So Jesus says, “Behold, I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20). I think “always” is even more important than the phrase “to the end of the age.” It’s one thing to say he’ll be with us to the end of the age; it’s another for him to say, “I’ll be with you every minute of your life.”
   26. John Paton was a missionary to what’s now the New Hebrides. He was driven up into a tree as 1,300 aboriginal natives were trying to kill him. As they were beneath him, he laid hold of the promise of Matthew 28:19–20: “All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. . . . I am with you always.”
   27. And here’s what he wrote later, because he survived: Without that abiding consciousness of the presence and power of my dear Lord and Savior, nothing else in all the world could have preserved me from losing my reason and perishing miserably. His words, “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world,” became to me so real that it would not have startled me to behold him, as Stephen did, gazing down upon the scene. I felt his supporting power. . . . It is the sober truth, and it comes back to me sweetly after 20 years, that I had my nearest and dearest glimpses of the face and smiles of my blessed Lord Jesus in those dread moments when musket, club, or spear was being leveled at my life. (John G. Paton, 342)[6]
   28. Look at verse 21: For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
   29. Verse 21: “Is” is not in the original language.
   30. Literally: to live Christ…
   31. Then literally
   32. “To die gain” again there is no “is.”
   33. The greatest gain in heaven is to be with Jesus Christ.
   34. Death is our passageway to be with Jesus.
   35. NONE of this is about suicide. I think he is simply thinking about whether he prays for survival or not. When it seems like God is calling us home to heaven, there is nothing wrong with saying, “Lord, take me when you are ready.” This is when we can tell death is near.
   36. We must remember that our life is in God’s hands. God is the owner. When death seems near, we can ask him to take us, but we cannot ask others to take us. Maybe Paul is having this conversation with the Lord?
   37. Swindoll in Laugh Again, page 56:
   38. Those are the words of a man whose image was secure and whose reputation was not in need of being protected, massaged, or defended. His mind was firmly fixed on essentials, so much so that nothing brought him anxiety. “Whether by life or by death,” his focus was concentrated. He concerned himself only with things that mattered. For all he knew, death might be right around the corner. That thought alone provides an excellent filtering system, enabling us to separate what is essential from what is not. As dear old Samuel Johnson once stated, “When a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight, it concentrates his mind wonderfully.”[7]
   39. Now, verse 22: If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell.
   40. We see Paul is torn. He knows to serve Christ in the flesh is better for the church at Philippi.
   41. He could’ve thought he might die in prison, or maybe he knew he would be released.
   42. One source shares: Paul’s remaining would help them by virtue of his continuance as a teacher, and perhaps also for legal precedent. Nero was not particularly interested in legal questions, and in d. 62 he freed Jewish hostages that the procurator Felix had previously sent him. Paul was likely released at this time.^[8]
   43. We will see that he continues this in the next few verses. We see that Paul wants to remain in this life for them, for those he serves at the church in Philippi.
2. Paul will remain for them (Phil. 1:23-26).
   1. Verse 23 (Phil. 1:23) seems to be the middle theme of this section.
   2. Look at verse 23 (Phil. 1:23): ²³ I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.
   3. So, he strongly desires to let the Lord take him home to heaven.
   4. He has faced a lot of persecution. He has been shipwrecked, beaten, stoned, and left for dead, and now he is in prison (2 Cor 11:16-33; Acts 14:19-20).
   5. He knows how awesome Heaven is. In 2 Cor. 12, Paul talks about going to heaven and seeing things that he was not permitted to speak about. He knows how awesome it will be to be physically with Jesus.
   6. There is a lesson here. There are several of them. How often do we cling to this life like this is all that matters? No, when God calls us home to heaven, we do not miss out on anything. It will be far, far better than anything we are going through. The Christian idea of a bucket list, things we want to do before we die, diminishes the awesomeness of heaven.
   7. Now, look at Phil. 1:24-26: ²⁴ But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. ²⁵ Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, ²⁶ so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.
   8. He thinks it is better for them if he remains on Earth. If he keeps trying to live.
   9. I want to repeat: NONE of this is about suicide. I think he is simply thinking about whether he prays for survival or not. When it seems like God is calling us home to heaven, there is nothing wrong with saying, “Lord, take me when you are ready.” This is when we can tell death is near.
   10. Paul is living for them. He wants to live for others.
   11. As we look at this passage, we see his argument.
   12. Verse 25: “Convinced of this…” “Convinced of” what? He is convinced of what he said in verse 24. He is convinced it is better for them if he lives.
   13. He has been convinced. He had an inner turmoil about giving up and the Lord calling him home, or staying, but he was convinced it is better for them if he stays. So, he will stay and continue with them. He will continue for their progress and joy in the faith.
   14. He wants to continue living. However, not for him, but them.
   15. There is no retirement for Paul. There is no complacency in Paul. His life is for them. That applies to us as well.
   16. He is continuing for their progress. He is continuing for their growth in the faith. He is continuing for their joy, but it is joy in the faith.
   17. Statements in the later Pastoral Epistles, as well as in the writings of some of the early church fathers, indicate that Nero released Paul from his first Roman imprisonment in A.D. 62. The apostle then resumed his missionary labors and returned to Macedonia—and probably to Philippi. However the Romans arrested him again, imprisoned him in Rome a second time, and then executed him there. He died as a martyr in A.D. 68. If this historical sequence is accurate, Paul probably did contribute to the spiritual progress and joy of the Philippians in their faith as he said here that he expected he would.^[11]
   18. Let’s wrap this up with verse 26: so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.
   19. He wants to come to them again, and he wants them to glory in Christ Jesus. Because of his persistent ministry, he wants that to point to Jesus. He wants all that he does to bring more glory to Christ. It is likely that no one would think he could visit them again, but he wants to visit them. Then he wants them to give God glory for making it happen.
   20. He does not want them to look at him and say great things about him but great things about Christ’s work in him.

Close:

How is death gain for the Christian?

John Piper shares:

How is it “gain” to die?

1) Our spirits will be made perfect (Hebrews 12:22–23).

2) We will be relieved of the pain of this world (Luke 16:24–25).

3) We will be given profound rest in our souls (Revelation 6:9–11).

4) We will experience a deep at-homeness (2 Corinthians 5:8).

5) We will be with Christ (Philippians 1:21–23).

 Christ is a more wonderful person than anyone on earth. He is wiser, stronger, and kinder than anyone you enjoy spending time with. He is endlessly interesting. He knows exactly what to do and what to say at every moment to make his guests as glad as they can possibly be. He overflows in love and with infinite insight into how to use that love to make his loved ones feel loved. Therefore Paul said,

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. [Devotional excerpted from “It Is Great Gain to Die”][12]

Prayer

^[1] Charles R. Swindoll, The Tale of the Tardy Oxcart and 1501 Other Stories (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2016), 136.

^[2] Ibid.

⁹⁴ Lightfoot, p. 91.

^[3] Tom Constable, Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003), Php 1:19.

[4] https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/not-dead-yet

⁹⁷ Wiersbe, 2:69.

^[5] Tom Constable, Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003), Php 1:20.

[6] Ibid.

[7] Swindoll in Laugh Again page 56

^[8] Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993), Php 1:24–26.

[9] Dr Lawson; Renewing Your Mind; 09.19.2022

^[10] Biblical Studies Press, The NET Bible First Edition Notes (Biblical Studies Press, 2006), Php 1:25.

¹¹⁰ Walvoord, p. 43. Cf. Lightfoot, p. 94.

^[11] Tom Constable, Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003), Php 1:25.

[12] https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/five-reasons-death-is-gain

The Advance of the Gospel (Phil 1:12-18)

Prepared and preached by Pastor Steve Rhodes for and at Bethel Friends Church in Poland, OH on Sunday, July 9, 2023.

We have been preaching through Philippians. In Philippians we have the apostle Paul writing from prison. Listen to what Joni Eareckson Tada shares:

I’m not like Paul; I’m not in prison—far from it! But I can identify with the bolts and bars of a prison cell. This wheelchair is made of a lot of metal, and in a way it’s confining. I suppose that’s why so many prisoners write me. My testimony has encouraged them, and they look at my bolts and bars and understand.

Even though I know nothing of the kind of imprisonment the apostle Paul went through, I do know I like his attitude. In the Scripture for today he basically says, “Okay, so I’m in chains? My bolts and bars help me spread the Good News. Every time they chain me to another guard, he gets an earful of the gospel. And my imprisonment helps others to become bold.”

I’ve read letters from prisoners who say the same thing. “Okay, so I’m behind bars? It’s a chance for me to draw closer to Christ.” I can say the same thing. “Okay, so I’m in a wheelchair? These bolts and bars give me a chance to spread the Good News to anyone who experiences confinement and limitations.”

What are your chains? Maybe you feel manacled to the kitchen sink. Maybe you feel chained to your desk, with just enough slack to reach the rest room and coffeemaker. Maybe you feel imprisoned in a difficult marriage. Goodness, we all can name the bolts and bars that confine us. Look at today’s verse again. Has what happened to you served to advance Christ’s gospel? It should. It’s the locale from which God wants to work.

Help me today, Lord Jesus, to rejoice in the confinements of my life. Enable me to see my circumstances as boundaries you have erected to work within.[1]

My theme today is:

The Gospel advances and for that Paul rejoices.

1. The gospel cannot be stopped (Phil. 1:12-14).
   1. 1:12-14: ¹² I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, ¹³ so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. ¹⁴ And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
   2. Okay, so we are in the beginning of Philippians.
   3. Paul has been praying for them, and now he is moving on from the prayer.
   4. Paul begins saying that what has happened to him has advanced the gospel.
   5. One source shares: This verse [verse 12] is a topic sentence for all that follows through verse 26. Whenever Paul wrote, “I want you to know,” he introduced something important (cf. 2 Cor. 13:6; 2 Tim. 3:1).^[3]
   6. Notice that he calls them “brothers”.
   7. He is talking in family language.
   8. He is saying, I want you to know “brothers.” This could be translated “brothers and sisters.”
   9. He is saying, don’t worry about what I have gone through because it has advanced the gospel.
   10. HE had been shipwrecked (Acts 27 and Acts 28; he was bitten by a viper).
   11. He had gone through a lot. Yet, he is not saying “my bed is hard.” He is talking about the advance of the Gospel. See also 2 Cor. 11 and all that he has endured.
   12. How are we doing with this?
   13. Do we care most about the advance of the gospel?
   14. In verse 13 he talked about witnessing to the whole praetorian guard. Those guards switched shifts every 3-4 hours. Paul talked about Jesus so much that the whole praetorian guard knew that his imprisonment was for Christ.
   15. ESV SB: The Latin word praetorium could refer to a governor’s residence and by extension those living in the residence. Those who believe that Paul wrote from Caesarea would understand the word in that sense here (see Acts 23:35). However, the word could also refer to the special guard of the emperor in Rome, as the translation above suggests. ^[4]
   16. This group of guards were like the navy seals of their day.
   17. IVP: No army was allowed in Italy, but the Praetorian Guard consisted of about thirteen to fourteen thousand free Italian soldiers. They were the emperor’s elite bodyguard under the praetorian prefect. Viewed as clients of the emperor (thus part of his household), they were kept loyal with the highest pay in the Roman military; they were also kept loyal by the leadership of a prefect who could never legally become emperor (being a knight rather than a senator).^[5]
   18. In Phil 4:22 Paul says that all the brethren greet you, especially those in Caesar’s household. How would they know? He talked about them.
   19. Two groups of people heard of his imprisonment: The praetorian guard and everyone else.
   20. One source shares: “The soldier to whom he was chained day-to-day might have been in Nero’s body-guard yesterday; his comrade who next relieved guard upon the prisoner, might have been one of the executioners of Octavia [Nero’s wife], and might have carried her head to Poppaea [Nero’s mistress] a few weeks before.”^80[6]
   21. Look at verse 14: Most of the brothers are more confident about the Lord, but why? Because of his imprisonment.
   22. They are much bolder to speak the Word without fear.
   23. The “Word” would be the gospel.
   24. They think if Paul can do it, so can they.
   25. They are more confident and they are confident in the Lord.
   26. Are we confident in the Lord?

• Are we confident in the Lord even in difficult times?

1. Paul rejoices that Christ is proclaimed (Phil. 1:15-18a).
   1. 1:15-18a: ¹⁵ Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. ¹⁶ The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. ¹⁷ The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. ¹⁸ What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.
   2. Grammatically, this is a chiasm.
   3. Paul starts with the people who preach out of envy (verse 15).
   4. Then others who preach out of love (verse 16).
   5. Then comes back to those who preach out of envy (verse 17).
   6. A Chiasm is a grammatical device used to emphasize what is in the middle. What is in the middle here? It is emphasizing those that preach Christ out of love.
   7. So, look at verse 15: Some are preaching Christ, proclaiming the gospel, out of envy.
   8. Notice in this passage Paul is happy as long as the gospel is preached, but they are not preaching bad doctrine. This may be different if the doctrine was wrong. In Galatians he confronts bad doctrine. Here it is their motives.
   9. Why are they preaching Christ out of envy or rivalry? I wonder if they are envious of him. I wonder if they are competing (see 1 Cor. 1:12ff). Verse 17 does seem to show that it has something to do with Paul.
   10. In verse 16 we see that others are preaching out of love. That is what we want. They love Paul. They know that he is there for defending the gospel.
   11. In verse 17, we see that those who are envious are selfish. They want to afflict Paul.
   12. The beginning of verse 18: even if the motives are wrong Christ is preached and that is what matters.
   13. Whether in pretense, which means false motives, hypocrites, or pure motives Christ is preached.
   14. Paul rejoices.
   15. This verse goes into the next section so we will talk more about verse 18 next Sunday.

• Applications:
  1. Do we use what happens to us to advance the Gospel? That car trouble, hospital visit, or whatever else may be God’s providence to advance the gospel.
  2. Paul is in jail…
  3. Things are not as coincidental as we think. Can we see everything for the advance of the gospel? In 2013 I had many things to do, and I had it scheduled in my head. The senior’s group of the church went to a Christmas tree show in Akron and I was going along. We then had lunch at the Hartville Kitchen. I then planned to visit someone in the hospital. As is usual my schedule did not allow enough time. I was leaving the hospital about an hour later than I had hoped. I was walking down the stairs and I saw the hospital chaplain. I knew him and knew some things that he was going through. I asked him about them. We talked awhile and prayed. I don’t believe it was a coincidence that I was leaving the hospital later than I wanted to. I think I had my schedule for me, and God had His schedule for me. God made my schedule fall in line with His schedule.
  4. Are we willing to speak the word of God without fear? Do we pray about this (verse 14)?
  5. Do we care more about what others think or what God thinks?
  6. Do we seek to build up or tear down?
  7. Do our actions during difficult times encourage others to be bolder in their faith?
  8. Can we stop being envious of others (verses 15 and 17)? Can we just be happy to serve and proclaim the gospel? Can we pray about that? Can we pray that God helps our motives to be pure and teaches us humility?
  9. Can we proclaim Christ out of love (verse 16)? We love others and we want them to know Jesus.

One source shares:

Verses 12–18 present Paul as a positive model for all believers. Rather than valuing his own comfort, reputation, and freedom above all else, he put the advancement of God’s plan first. He discerned what was best (v. 10). He could maintain a truly joyful attitude, even in unpleasant circumstances, because he derived his joy from seeing God glorified, rather than from seeing himself exalted. His behavior in prison had been pure and blameless (cf. v. 10).^[7]

Carrot, egg, coffee beans

• CARROT: First, what happens when we put a carrot in hot boiling water? That’s right it turns soft like this carrot I have here. It is no longer hard but soft.
• EGG: Now what happens when an egg is boiled in water? That’s right it has the opposite effect of the carrot. While this egg is fragile and will break if dropped, this egg now has a hard shell and is less fragile.
• COFFEE BEANS: Does anyone know what happens when we boil coffee beans? The beans not only change the color of the water but also spreads a delicious aroma.
• APPLICATION: So here is how each of us are either like the carrot, egg or coffee beans.
• The boiling water symbolizes problems and trials in our life.
• The carrots, eggs, and coffee beans symbolize our different reactions to these problems or pressures.
• The soft carrots represent people who grumble, complain, and pity themselves when faced with problems.
• The hardened eggs represent those who become stubborn, rebellious, and angry at God during tribulations.
• But the coffee beans represent people who obey and trust God, changing the atmosphere around them while spreading the fragrance of Christ.
• So see, God offers each of us faith that is greater than any problems we may face. It doesn’t matter how big or small the problem is but what is important is how we react to the problem.
• Our faith determines how we will respond as we meet the challenges of daily life — as a carrot, a hard-boiled egg, or a coffee bean.
• God wants to use us like coffee beans when we face difficulties. Paul is in prison and he rejoices for the spread of the gospel. Let’s do the same.

Prayer

[1] Taken from More Precious than Silver By Joni Eareckson Tada; Copyright © 1998

Published in Print by Zondervan, Grand Rapids

⁷⁵ Martin, p. 67.

^[2] Tom Constable, Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003), Php 1:12.

^[3] Ibid.

^[4] Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2281.

^[5] Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993), Php 1:13.

⁸⁰ Conybeare, p. 734.

^[6] Tom Constable, Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003), Php 1:13.

^[7] Tom Constable, Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003), Php 1:18.

Come, Lord Jesus! (Matthew 6:10; John 18:36; Rev. 22:20)!

Prepared and preached by Pastor Steve Rhodes for and at Bethel Friends Church in Poland, OH on Sunday, July 2, 2023

It is the time of year that we celebrate our nations independence. We celebrate the commitment of our founding fathers separating from England. Our founding fathers were committed to the cause. One of them who was committed was John Adams. John Adams was so committed that he did not want to focus on the arts as that was a distraction. In a biography about him David McCullough writes:

The conflict between the appeal of the arts and the sense that they were the product of a luxury-loving (and thus corrupt) foreign society played heavily on his mind. Delightful as it was to stroll the gardens of Paris, enticing as were science and the arts, he, John Adams, had work to do, a public trust to uphold. The science of government was his duty; the art of negotiation must take precedence.

Then, in a prophetic paragraph that would be quoted for generations within the Adams family and beyond, he wrote:

I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history, naval architecture, navigation, commerce, and agriculture in order to give their children a right to study paintings, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain.[1]

America has changed a lot since that time, though I still believe we are the greatest country in the world. Two years ago on July 4, I spoke about God’s providence in our history. Last year, I talked about praying for our leaders. Today, I want to talk about seeking the Lord’s Kingdom.

I believe it is right to be patriotic. I really do. I think it is right to serve the country, I really do. I think we need to vote. I think we should care about our country. However, we must pray “thy Kingdom come…” and seek the Lord’s Kingdom above all else.

Today, my theme is:

Come, Lord Jesus!

1. Whose Kingdom do you seek?
   1. As I said, I believe in being patriotic.
   2. I believe it is good to be patriotic.
   3. I have preached that, but ultimately, whose Kingdom do we seek?
   4. Do we seek the Lord’s Kingdom?
2. Let’s look at John 18:36.
   1. John 18:36 (ESV) ³⁶ Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”
   2. Notice that Jesus did not have them fighting Rome. That passage is Jesus before Pilate. Jesus could have taken down Rome, but He did not. His Kingdom is different. Jesus has a different way.
   3. Does that mean that we should not do anything and just wait for Jesus’s way?
   4. No, that is not what the early church did and that is not what we are to do.
   5. No, we are to continue to make this world a better place.
   6. We must remember that the ultimate Kingdom is Jesus’s Kingdom.
   7. But we still live in this kingdom (little k).
   8. One source writing about legislation and political involvement shares the following: “…for most of the Church’s history, Christians have agreed that civil laws should in some way reflect biblical morality. Neither Catholics, Orthodox, nor most Protestants believed that being apolitical was a good or godly thing. While there were occasions over the centuries when Christians shunned political involvement for a variety of reasons, often because they were prohibited from any involvement, it wasn’t until the Radical Reformation and movements like the Anabaptists in the 1500s that swearing off politics gained traction as a principle for following Christ. Even then, it was a minority opinion. On the contrary, for most Christians, being a civil magistrate has always been seen as a high and noble calling.   
   9. This, of course, makes a lot of sense since there is really no such thing as not legislating morality. No matter who writes the laws of a land, those laws always reflect someone’s moral beliefs. Protecting innocent lives from deadly violence, something that occurs in abortion and other forms of murder, is the central function of good government. God created government to serve that purpose. 
   10. …many theologians have noted over the years: that when Jesus said, “my kingdom is not of this world” in John 18:36, He did not mean “my kingdom has nothing to do with this world.” Rather, He meant that His kingdom is not from this world, does not use this world’s methods (such as violent revolution), and does not aim at the world’s ends.
   11. In A.D. 325, the Emperor Constantine ended the official persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire. Just decades later, in the year 380, Emperor Theodosius declared Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire. As a matter of simple historical fact, Christians did take over Rome! 
   12. Early Christians showed intense interest in impacting governments in everything from the outlawing of infant exposure to ending persecution to the ending of the gladiatorial games. 
   13. The assault of the Church against the gates of Hell progresses, of course, through the preaching of the Gospel and the conversion of souls—what the Apostle Paul called “spiritual weapons.” But by advocating for good and just governments—especially when it comes to protecting innocent lives—Christians are loving their neighbors and fulfilling the other half of our calling in this world: to pray and obediently work so that God’s kingdom will come and His will be done “on earth as it is in Heaven.” 
   14. We are saved for a purpose. Along with evangelism and worship, we are to be good citizens and to love our neighbors. This will involve supporting righteous laws and opposing wicked ones.[2]
   15. Those are VERY important thoughts as we continue this message.
   16. But, again, whose kingdom do we seek?
   17. Jesus does say that His Kingdom is different. Jesus did not overthrow Rome through a battle, though He could have. He had a different way. He went to the cross to save us, and then His church organically, by the power of the Holy Spirit changed the world.
   18. So, when Peter was prepared to do battle, cutting off a servant’s ear (John 18:10-11), Jesus had a different way.
   19. We must seek His Kingdom.
   20. We must pray as He taught us to pray: “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).
   21. Again, I must emphasize, this does not mean we do not do anything. No, we should be the best citizens, the best servants, we should be Christians and that means that we love one another. That means that our love has arms and legs that serve. But in the end, we are seeking Jesus’s Kingdom. Jesus’s Kingdom calls us to love our neighbor (Matthew 22:37-39).
   22. Now, let’s turn to the last prayer in the Bible.
3. The last prayer in the Bible (Rev. 22:20).
   1. Revelation 22:20 (ESV)
   2. ²⁰ He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Come, Lord Jesus!
   3. Here is John on the island of Patmos for the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ (Rev. 1:2; 6:9; 12:17) . Here he is being persecuted.
   4. Jesus communicates with him this prophetic message.
   5. Jesus gives him these letters for the seven churches (Rev. 2-3).
   6. Jesus tells him things to take place and maybe some that are already taking place in the heavenly realm. They are being persecuted.
   7. They are in a nation that is allowing and even encouraging persecution of Christians.
   8. Yet, the Gospel is spreading.
   9. The Gospel will continue to spread. I already shared with you how Christianity later became the religion of Rome.
   10. How did that happen?
   11. It happened by the Holy Spirit leading Christians to be Christians.
   12. It happened because Christians did not try to tackle Rome, but kept living as Christians one day-at-a-time.
   13. It happened because they lived for Christ’s Kingdom in this kingdom.
   14. Then, after John sees this whole vision, how does he respond?
   15. Come, Lord Jesus! (Rev. 22:20).
   16. John is not the only one who prayed that. In 1 Cor. 16:21 Paul wrote, “Our Lord Come.”
   17. Do we seek the Lord’s coming?
   18. Do we recognize that His Kingdom is ultimate?
   19. Or, do we think His Kingdom is penultimate and the current kingdom is ultimate?
   20. No! His way is best. His Kingdom is ultimate.
4. This is many prayers in one.
   1. I like how one writer said that this is many prayers in one.[3]
   2. Realize that when Jesus comes, there will be judgment (Rev. 19-20).
   3. Realize that when Jesus comes, He will dry our tears (Rev. 21:4). In this world we will have tribulation (John 16:33), but one day He will make it right.
   4. Rev. 21:4: He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
   5. Realize that when Jesus comes, He will end our pain (Rev. 21:4).
   6. Realize when Jesus comes, He will put “death to death.”[4]
   7. Realize when Jesus come, he will get rid of sin. We will be like Him (1 John 3:2).
   8. Matthew 13:41-42: The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
   9. When Jesus comes, He will make all things new (Rev. 21:1).
   10. Come, Lord Jesus is many prayers in one.
   11. Come, Lord Jesus is a prayer for Him.
   12. Do we desire Him?
   13. He will bring about His ultimate Kingdom with the New Heaven and the new earth and it will be the ultimate Kingdom.
   14. I like what one writer shares: The burning heart of John’s three-word plea is not for what Jesus does, but for who he is. This is clear throughout the book of Revelation. The world to come is a world to want because Jesus lives there. John’s prayer, after all — “Come, Lord Jesus!” — is a response to Jesus promising three times in the previous verses, “Behold, I am coming soon. . . . Behold, I am coming soon. . . . Surely I am coming soon” (Revelation 22:7, 12, 20).[5]
   15. Randy Alcorn shares: Nothing is more often misdiagnosed than our homesickness for Heaven. We think that what we want is sex, drugs, alcohol, a new job, a raise, a doctorate, a spouse, a large-screen television, a new car, a cabin in the woods, a condo in Hawaii. What we really want is the person we were made for, Jesus, and the place we were made for, Heaven. Nothing less can satisfy us. . . . We may imagine we want a thousand different things, but God is the one we really long for. His presence brings satisfaction; his absence brings thirst and longing. Our longing for Heaven is a longing for God. (Heaven, 166, 171)
5. Come, to Jesus.
   1. Look back at that passage in Rev. 22:20, but look up a few verses:
   2. Revelation 22:17 (ESV)
   3. ¹⁷ The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.
   4. This is an allusion to:
   5. Isaiah 55:1 (ESV)
   6. 55 “Come, everyone who thirsts,
   7. come to the waters;
   8. and he who has no money,
   9. come, buy and eat!
   10. Come, buy wine and milk
   11. without money and without price.
   12. When Jesus comes, He will make all things right. First, we will have the millennial reign, but when He comes and the New Heaven and the new earth come, all will be made right and He is calling for us to come.
   13. Jesus’s Kingdom will be awesome!
   14. Marshall Segal writing on Desiring God shares: When Jesus comes, we will eat and drink and enjoy without end. Hunger and thirst will become distant memories. If sorrows have robbed you of sleep, if pain has made even normal days hard, if death has taken ones you love, if life has sometimes seemed stacked against you, if you can’t shake a restless ache for more, then come and eat with him. This world may be the only world you’ve known, but a better world is coming — and there’s still room at the table.[6]

I began this sermon with the quote from John Adams. I find it an important quote. It does not only apply to the founding of our country. It applies to us as people. The diligence of our founding fathers must be appreciated. God used them to build up an amazing country. Of course, it would not have happened except by God.

So, we are to pray and seek His Kingdom. But this does NOT mean we bury our head in the sand and do not do anything now. I believe the United States is the greatest country in the world. I believe we should be patriotic. We are to pray for God’s Kingdom and while we pray and seek God’s Kingdom we should live as good citizens in our current kingdom.

However, in the end, we must seek God’s Kingdom. We must cry out, “Come, Lord, Jesus Come!” That will be when everything is made right.

Will you be there? Have you received Him as Lord and Savior? Are you treasuring Him as your Savior?

Prayer

[1] McCullough, David. John Adams (pp. 284-285). Simon & Schuster. Kindle Edition.

[2] https://www.breakpoint.org/what-not-of-this-world-doesnt-mean-why-christians-are-called-to-politics/

[3] https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/the-prayer-to-end-all-prayers?utm_campaign=Daily%20Email&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=207260996&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9i77U4mWhPBsbEE1hQ5E4uF7OMo0x-OWhDCfQh1MR4Wm-XhiY1f4n-G8fZTlkvYOxUqhvJeRRU2x-huH_Oa6p9oES36w&utm_content=207260996&utm_source=hs_email

[4] Ibid.

[5] Ibid.

[6] Ibid.