Who Is Jesus?

Title: Who Is Jesus Part I

Prepared and preached by Pastor Steve Rhodes for and at Bethel Friends Church in Poland, OH on November 26, 2023

The Christmas season has officially begun…

Can you share with me one of your favorite Christmas movies? Just shout them out…

How many of you have seen Frank Capra’s holiday classic It’s a Wonderful Life?

One author writes:

Hollywood rarely aids the life of the mind—and in truth, the movie’s theology is really messed up—but when it comes to the importance of historical context, this film gets it right.

If you haven’t seen it (if so, what’s the matter with you?), the story begins on Christmas Eve 1945, as countless prayers waft toward heaven on behalf of the protagonist, down-on-his-luck George Bailey. In response, the senior angels, Franklin and Joseph, call for George’s guardian angel, an “angel second class” named Clarence Odbody. When they explain that George is seriously contemplating suicide, Clarence offers to rush immediately to his aid, but his mentors stop him short with a rebuke. “If you’re going to help a man, you want to know something about him,” Joseph scolds, and for the next hour and a half they provide Clarence with historical context for the present crisis. All told, fully two-thirds of the movie consists of flashback, powerfully driving home the message that we can’t comprehend any moment in time without knowing what has preceded it.

But not everything that has gone before will be relevant. In briefing Clarence, Franklin and Joseph practice what one historian calls the principle of selective attention. Rather than overwhelm Clarence with a flood of facts, they choose the events and circumstances in the past that have been most influential in shaping the man George has become. In turn, this helps Clarence to comprehend what George’s current circumstances mean to him. In reviewing George’s life, furthermore, the senior angels remind us that our lives unfold within multiple contexts. Some of the circumstances that they review are intimate details quite particular to George—for example, his rescue of his brother, Harry, and his longstanding yearning to see the world and build modern cities. Others grow out of George’s family context—for instance, the centrality of the family savings and loan business or his father’s decades-long struggle with “old man Potter.”[1] Most of the movie is a senior angel giving a narrative past to Clarence. Why does this matter? Today, I want to begin a three-part sermon series on who Jesus is.

[1] McKenzie, Robert, The First Thanksgiving. Pages 40-42.

Today is the first Sunday of Advent. The term “Advent” has the idea of waiting or expecting. They were waiting for the Christ, the Messiah, the anointed King to come. We celebrate Jesus’ birth during the Advent season. For the next few weeks I want to talk about Jesus. I want to talk about Who Jesus is.

Today, I want to talk about Jesus in the Old Testament. I want to show you that Jesus didn’t have His beginning in the New Testament. Further, I want to show you some prophetic passages about Jesus in the Old Testament. Jesus was not an afterthought; God knew what He was doing. Then, I want you to reflect on your view of Jesus; your view of Jesus must be bigger than a baby in a manger. I hope your view of Jesus shapes a reality that Jesus is the Lord of your life.

My theme today is:

Jesus is outside of time, eternally active, the creator and sustainer of everything.

Let’s start by reading Colossians 1:15-20

Colossians 1:15–20 (ESV)

¹⁵ He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. ¹⁶ For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. ¹⁷ And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. ¹⁸ And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. ¹⁹ For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, ²⁰ and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

1. The Son is the image of the invisible God (verse 15).
   1. Jesus is the Son. Jesus is who this text is written about. Jesus is the image of the invisible God. So, this text is rich, it is full of content.  Let’s break it down.
   2. This text is saying that God is invisible. You may recall that Jesus said, “God is Spirit,” in John 4:24. But image means more than that. This word carries the idea of a visible representation of an invisible reality. Jesus was and is the visible representation of God the Father. In Heb. 1:3 Jesus is called the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being.
   3. This text further says that Jesus is the firstborn over all creation. What does that mean? Does this mean that Jesus was born?
   4. No, it doesn’t. This is figuratively using the adjective “firstborn.” This passage is saying that Jesus has the right, the privileges of the first born. In that society generally the firstborn had different rights and privileges than the rest.  This idea goes all the way back to the Old Testament when Jacob deceived Esau out of his birthright. That is in Genesis 27. Jesus has all the rights and privileges of a firstborn. This means that Jesus has authority over all creation.
   5. Look at verse 16: In Jesus all things were created, things in Heaven and earth and it goes on. If things were created by Jesus that means that Jesus was not “born.”
   6. Look with me at John 1:1. John 1:1 (ESV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
   7. The Greek term for Word is Logos; to the Greek culture this carried the idea of all reason, of all reality, of all the rational principles that govern things. John is talking about Jesus; we can especially see this as we look at the rest of the passage. In the beginning was Jesus, and Jesus was with God, and Jesus was God. Through Him, all things were made… (John 1:3)
   8. So, when we read Genesis 1:1-3, we see “In the beginning God created, and now this text is saying that Jesus was with God and was God and Jesus created. Then, Colossians 1:15 says that Jesus is the image of God.
   9. Now, this is language of what we call the Trinity. The Trinity means that God exists in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Each person is fully God, and yet all three are one being.
   10. Christianity is not a polytheistic religion. This means we believe in one God, not many Gods. I would be happy to give you reading on this, if you would like. But what I want you to take away is that Jesus’ beginning was not as a baby in a manger.
   11. In Rev. 22:13 Jesus says, “I am the alpha and the omega the beginning and the end. Yet, in Rev. 1:8 and 21:6, God the Father says the same thing. Alpha and Omega were the bookends of the Greek alphabet. The point is that God the Father and Jesus are both beyond time.
2. Now, let’s talk about prophesies.
   1. In Mark chapter 1, he starts out his gospel account quoting Isa. 40:3 about John the Baptist. John the Baptist was a voice in the wilderness crying out to people to prepare for the Lord.
   2. Isaiah 42:6 (ESV) ⁶           “I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you;    I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations…
   3. This is another prophetic passage. This passage is written some 700 years prior to Jesus, but it is about Jesus coming to institute a new covenant for the people, a light for the Gentiles.
   4. Isaiah 53 is quoted in various places in the New Testament and it is strikingly how much it prophesies Jesus.
   5. That chapter tells who Jesus would come to be and what He would do.
   6. I have one more passage about Jesus in the Old Testament. In Genesis 3:15, right after sin entered the world, God said to the devil: Genesis 3:15 (ESV) ¹⁵I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
   7. Sin had just entered the world, and Jesus came to conquer the consequence of sin. God had a plan from the beginning. Satan never takes God by surprise.
   8. His plan was that this Jesus would come and be born in a manger. He would grow up and live a sinless life, then die on the cross for our sins.
3. In the Old Testament, Jesus was a gift still to come. Certainly, He was active in creation, but He hadn’t come and become a man. He hadn’t graced us with His presence. Now He has come.
   1. What is your view of Jesus?
   2. Do you view Jesus as 6 pounds 18 oz or whatever He would have weighed?
   3. Do you think of Jesus as a little baby?
   4. Do you think of Jesus as the man who walked with the disciples through three years of ministry?
   5. Do you think of Jesus as the carpenter?
   6. Maybe you think of Jesus as the man hanging on the cross?
   7. Yes, Jesus came as a baby, but He no longer is a baby. Yes, Jesus worked as a carpenter, but He no longer is a carpenter. Yes, Jesus walked with His disciples, but not anymore. Yes, Jesus hung on the cross, but He died and rose again. Jesus is no longer dead.
   8. I don’t mean to minimize His earthly life; Jesus lived a fully human life.
   9. I simply want to get you thinking of Jesus as Lord of Heaven and earth.
   10. Next week’s sermon will be about Jesus as fully human and fully God, and why.
   11. In three weeks, the sermon will be about Jesus reigning with God in Heaven.

Close:

A mother was having a gathering to celebrate the birth of her newborn son. She invited a bunch of friends over to celebrate his arrival. She welcomed her guests, and they all had a great time celebrating, eating, and drinking.

After a while, one of the ladies said, “Well, bring the baby out. Let us see it.”

The mother went to get the baby from his crib—he was nowhere to be found. She started to panic and feel fearful. Suddenly, she remembered that the baby was still at her parents’ house, where she had left him that morning. She and the guests had been having so much fun they had forgotten what the party was about in the first place. During the Christmas season, many people get busy with celebration and forget that the birth of Jesus Christ is the reason for the season.^147,[1] 

We have talked about Jesus. We have talked about Who Jesus is. Jesus wants to be deeply involved in your life. The other day we were driving and one of my daughter’s said, “where are we going?” I began to sing the Simon and Garfunkel song: “Homeward Bound.”

Homeward bound
I wish I was
Homeward bound
Home where my thought’s escapin’
Home where my music’s playin’
Home where my love lies waitin’
Silently for me

That made me think of some other songs by the group:

I Am a Rock:

A winter’s day
In a deep and dark December

I am alone
Gazing from my window to the streets below
On a freshly fallen silent shroud of snow
I am a rock I am an island

I’ve built walls
A fortress deep and mighty
That none may penetrate
I have no need of friendship, friendship causes pain
It’s laughter and it’s loving I disdain

I am a rock I am an island

Don’t talk of love
Well I’ve heard the word before
It’s sleeping in my memory
I won’t disturb the slumber of feelings that have died
If I never loved I never would have cried
I am a rock I am an island

I have my books
And my poetry to protect me
I am shielded in my armor
Hiding in my room safe within my womb
I touch no one and no one touches me
I am a rock I am an island

And a rock feels no pain
And an island never cries[1]

Such a catchy song… But not the Christian way…

We have talked about Jesus. Jesus wants to be there for us. Jesus wants to be our rock (Psalm 18; 1 Cor. 10:1-12). Jesus does not want us to isolate ourselves.

This week, go, but go with Jesus. Walk with Jesus. We walk with Jesus through spiritual disciplines— our prayer life, time with the church family, time in the Scriptures.

Prayer and blessing

[1] Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Paul Simon

I Am a Rock lyrics © Paul Simon Music, Sony/atv Songs Llc, Lorna Music Co Ltd

Prayer and blessing

^[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), 60.

God Supplies Every Need and He IS Rich (Phil. 4:19-23)

Prepared and preached by Pastor Steve Rhodes for and at Bethel Friends Church in Poland, OH on November 19, 2023

 A man needed his pants ironed. His wife, as she ironed the pants for him, burned the pants. These pants were brand-new pants that he was looking forward to wearing. Her husband started to get mad but stopped to think before reacting and said, “Lord, thank You that my leg wasn’t in those pants.” There is always a reason to give thanks. (“Be anxious for nothing, but in prayer and supplication with thanksgiving.”)^433,[1]

Today, we are wrapping up Philippians.

My theme today is:

God supplies every need and He is rich.

1. First, we see that God supplies (Phil. 4:19).
   1. Philippians 4:19 (ESV)
   2. ¹⁹ And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
   3. Why does this passage begin with “and”?
   4. We have to look at the context.
   5. In the previous verses, Paul talked about how the Philippians had provided for him.
   6. In verse 18, Phil. 4:18, he says he has received full payment and is well supplied.
   7. So, the “and” links this passage with the previous section. Paul tells them that he is well supplied, and then Paul continues with verse 19 about God supplying every need of theirs.
   8. We are wrapping up Philippians.
   9. Now, “who” provides for the needs?
   10. The Lord.
   11. He says, “My God.”
   12. God is the actor.
   13. What needs does the Lord take care of?
   14. Romans 8:35-37 begins with “who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” The answer is no one and nothing.
   15. Then Paul lists things: tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, sword and others.
   16. God supplies for our needs in these circumstances.
   17. Remember just 13 verses earlier in Phil. 4:6-7 Paul said not to be anxious but to pray with thanksgiving.
   18. It is like now he is saying God will provide for those needs. Don’t worry. Pray. Be thankful.
   19. How does God provide for every need?
   20. Paul says, “According to His riches in glory, in Christ Jesus.”
   21. God provides in Jesus.
   22. God provides from His riches.
   23. The Lord is rich.
   24. The Lord is not limited.
   25. Romans 11:33–36 (NASB95)
   26. Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! 34 For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? 35 Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again?
   27. For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.
   28. Romans 11:35 is quoting Job 35:7 and 41:11.
   29. The Lord is rich, and He provides.
2. Paul now speaks glory back to God.
   1. We have a doxology (Phil. 4:20).
   2. Philippians 4:20 (ESV)
   3. ²⁰ To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
   4. Now, Paul inserts a doxology.
   5. Doxology is based on the word “doxa” which means glory, and logos which means to speak. “To speak glory back to God.”
   6. This is to God, “our” Father.
   7. He is positioning himself with the church, not above the church.
   8. God is our Father; He is our caregiver.
   9. Paul just talked about needs and reminded them that the Lord is our Father.
3. Now, we see greetings (Phil. 4:21-22).
   1. Philippians 4:21–22 (ESV)
   2. ²¹ Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. ²² All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.
   3. This is a typical closing for Paul.
   4. The greeting is “in Christ Jesus.”
   5. We are bound together in Christ.
   6. Paul calls them “saints.” This means “holy ones.”
   7. He includes “every” saint.
   8. MacArthur: Instead of using the collective “all,” Paul used the individualistic “every” to declare that each saint was worthy of his concern.^[3]
   9. Paul also includes the brothers who are with him greeting them.
   10. MacArthur: They certainly included Timothy and Epaphroditus (2:19, 25). Others who were preaching the gospel in Rome were present (1:14). It is possible that Tychicus, Aristarchus, Onesimus, and Jesus Justus were also there (Col 4:7, 9–11).^[4]
   11. Paul references Caesar’s household: A significant number of people, not limited to Caesar’s family, which would include courtiers, princes, judges, cooks, food-tasters, musicians, custodians, builders, stablemen, soldiers, accountants. Within that large group, Paul had in mind those who, through the proclamation of the gospel by members of the church at Rome, had been saved prior to his coming. Newly added to their number were those led to Christ by Paul himself, including those soldiers who were chained to him while he was a prisoner (1:13).^[5]
   12. Isn’t this exciting? The citadel of Rome has the gospel.
4. Benediction (Phil. 4:23).
   1. Philippians 4:23 (ESV)
   2. ²³ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
   3. Paul ends every one of his letters with “grace be with you,” and he begins every one of his letters with “grace to you.” There are no exceptions. All 13 letters (see Phil. 1:2).
   4. Piper suggests the reason is that as he begins to write a letter and walks through the letter grace is going to them as they listen. Then as the letter ends, they go back into the world, and grace goes with them.[8]
   5. Witherington III shares: …benedictions are also not a regular feature of ancient letters; rather they reflect the practice of these letters of Paul being presented in an oral fashion as an address to the gathered assembly in the context of a worship service, hence the final benediction once the address is over. This discourse was meant to be heard in the order in which we find it, and it has a cumulative effect.^[9]
5.  Applications:
   1. Do we know that God provides? Can we trust Him to be our provider (verse 19)?
   2. Do we know that He provides our needs, not our wants? We may have to do without.
   3. Do we see that Paul writes God will provide “every” need?
   4. Are we going to the Lord with our needs?
   5. What need are we holding back from asking the Lord for? I mean real needs.
   6. The Lord always answers prayers based on what we would ask if we knew what He knows.
   7. Do we realize how rich the Lord is? He owns it all. He owns us.
   8. Do we worship God as we ask for needs? Paul did that with verse 20.
   9. Do we need to remember that God is our Father? He loves us.
   10. Do we value the body of Christ? Paul includes everyone as he greets them.

The sun is a light twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. All year long, all decade long, all century long, the sun just keeps on shining. The problem, however, is that the earth gets dark. How can there be all that light and the earth still gets dark? It’s because the earth turns. The earth gets dark because the earth is spinning on its axis. Therefore the side that faces the sun gets light and the side that is facing away does not.

If there is darkness in your life, it’s not because God, the Father of Lights, is turning; it’s because you are turning. He is the Father of Lights and in Him there is no shadow. There is no darkness in Him. Because God is faithful, He’s consistent. Just like the sun, He is always shining and in His light, there is no shifting or moving shadow. We just have to make sure we are turned toward Him.^384,[10]

^[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), 144.

⁶⁸ See the famous Res Gestae column 6 in Sherk, The Roman Empire, p. 50; on the use of “Father” language in Roman Imperial propaganda see B. Witherington, Conflict and Community in Corinth (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1995), pp. 295–98.

⁶⁹ See rightly Fee, Philippians, p. 17 and Flemming, Philippians, p. 235.

^[2] Ben Witherington III, Paul’s Letter to the Philippians: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Company, 2011), 281.

^[3] John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), Php 4:21.

^[4] Ibid, Php 4:21.

^[5] Ibid, Php 4:22.

⁸ Horsley, NewDocs 2, p. 28.

⁹ See Flemming, Philippians, p. 253.

¹⁰ Thurston, Philippians and Philemon, p. 162.

^[6] Ben Witherington III, Paul’s Letter to the Philippians: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Company, 2011), 284.

^[7] Ben Witherington III, Paul’s Letter to the Philippians: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Company, 2011), 283.

[8] Piper, John, Look at the Book, May 5, 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHJE0_LtEx8

^[9] Ben Witherington III, Paul’s Letter to the Philippians: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Company, 2011), 282.

^[10] 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), 128.

Paul’s Gratitude for the Philippians (Phil. 4:14-18)

Prepared and preached by Pastor Steve Rhodes for and at Bethel Friends Church in Poland, OH on November 12, 2023

As Christmas was approaching quickly, a young man started thinking about what he could give his father, who lived far away. He wanted to get him something special—something that would manifest how much he valued him. He looked around and found something he thought would be unique, special, and unusual. It was an exotic parakeet. It was so unique that it could speak five different languages and it could sing “The Yellow Rose of Texas” standing on one leg. It was a most unusual bird.

He thought to himself that his father would surely think a bird like this was extra special. In addition, it cost ten thousand dollars. This guy thought for sure that this most unique bird would show his father how much he loved him. He purchased the bird and had it shipped to his father. He couldn’t wait to hear his dad’s response to this most phenomenal gift.

He called his father on Christmas Day. He said, “Dad, did you get my gift?” His father said, “I certainly did, son.” The man said, “Well, Dad, how did you like it?” His dad replied, “Oh, it was delicious!”

His dad obviously missed the point. He didn’t understand the nature of the gift and because he didn’t understand the nature of the gift, he treated it in a way other than how it was to be utilized.

Unfortunately, many Christians miss the point of the gift of giving.^350,[1]

Today, we look at a passage in which Paul shows gratitude to the Philippians for their support.

My theme today is:

Paul’s Gratitude for the Philippians

1. Let’s look at the context:
   1. In the previous verses, Paul wrote about knowing how to live on less. Paul wrote about how he can do all things through Christ Who strengthens him.
   2. In the previous verses, Paul had minimized his dependence on them.
   3. Now, he is sharing how he is grateful for them.
   4. He did not want them to get the wrong idea. He was just saying that the Lord has provided for them.
   5. This is why verse 14 begins with “yet.” He had said that he can do all things through Christ Who strengthens him… Now, he transitions with basically “yet” he is grateful for their concern.
2. The Philippians supported Paul’s ministry (Phil. 4:14-16).
   1. Philippians 4:14–16 (ESV)
   2. ¹⁴ Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. ¹⁵ And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. ¹⁶ Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again.
   3. They shared his trouble.
   4. What kind of sharing? I think we will find out in the next few verses. They are sharing in material needs.
   5. Look at verse 15: they were the only church to partner with him.
   6. This was in the beginning of his gospel ministry. He writes, “in the beginning of the gospel” by which I think he means when he left their area of Macedonia.
   7. Macedonia was the broader region around Philippi, Thessalonica, and probably Berea.
   8. He left that area, and the only church to partner in giving, and receiving, was the church at Philippi.
   9. Look at verse 16: Paul gets more specific, “even in Thessalonica you sent help for my needs once and again.”
   10. They sent gifts more than one time.
   11. It seems like this was a big deal. This was significant.
   12. Paul preached in Thessalonica for a few months. This was after he left Philippi. We can see that in Acts 17:1ff.
   13. Their gifts sustained his ministry.
3. Paul desires to see the fruit from the gift which is a sacrifice to God from them (Phil. 4:17-18).
   1. Philippians 4:17–18 (ESV)
   2. ¹⁷ Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. ¹⁸ I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.
   3. Now, Paul is saying that it is not just about money for him.
   4. There will be fruit from the gifts, and that fruit is to their credit.
   5. So now he is saying I am not after your money.
   6. Does it bother us if people think we are just after money? Do we also want to go to great lengths to show we are not after money?
   7. This is what Paul always says.
   8. 1 Thess 2:5; Acts 20:33-34; 2 Cor 2:17; Titus 1:11; Titus 1:7; 1 Peter 5:2.[4]
   9. What credit? Piper shares: That love of giving is a credit… presumable an account or credit in Heaven. It is the Greek word “logon” which means “word” but in this case means “account.”[5]
   10. They will be blessed in heaven for their giving.
   11. Do we realize that we are blessed in heaven when we give to the Lord’s ministries?
   12. Do we realize that when we do not give we are robbing God?
   13. Going back to Abraham in Genesis 13, we see the tithe, which is 10%.
   14. In the Old Testament, the Israelites had several tithes to the temple and the community that added up to about 23 and 1/3^rd percent of their income. Plus, they had other things like not gleaning the corners of their fields.
   15. In Malachi God rebuked the people for not giving (Malachi 3:8–10).
   16. God owns everything, and when we hold it tight-fisted we are robbing Him because He owns it to begin with.
   17. Then in 2 Corinthians chapters 8 and 9 Paul addressed giving.
   18. In 2 Corinthians 8:15 (ESV) it says: ¹⁵ As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.”
   19. That is a reference to Exodus 16:18. In Exodus, God provided Manna and Quail in the wilderness for people to eat. If people gathered too much and tried to hoard it, it soured.
   20. Paul’s point is that if we try to hoard and sit on our money and not give to the Lord, it will sour our lives.
   21. So, the church at Philippi invested in the Lord’s ministry through Paul, and Paul says there will be fruit and they will be blessed in heaven.
   22. Then, the corollary is true, when we do not invest in the Lord’s work, we are robbing God because He owns it anyway, and we are robbing ourselves of blessings in heaven.
   23. Stealing from God is like robbing the local police station—not a good idea.^348,[6]
   24. MacArthur shares: The Philippians were in effect storing up for themselves treasure in heaven (Mt 6:20). The gifts they gave to Paul were accruing eternal dividends to their spiritual account (Pr 11:24, 25; 19:17; Lk 6:38; 2Co 9:6).^[7]
   25. So, are we like the Philippians investing in the Lord’s Kingdom at Bethel Friends?
   26. Look at verse 18: Paul says that he has received their gifts in full. He is well-supplied.
   27. They sent their gifts through Epaphroditus, and he has received them.
   28. He compares their gifts to an offering. It is acceptable and pleasing to the Lord.
   29. Paul is gushing with thanks, but also how important their offering is to God.
   30. I like how Piper builds on this:
   31. Paul now returns to his high praise of them. He has now received everything he needs. He is well supplied. Their offering is a “fragrant offering.” There is one other time that is used, which is Ephesians 5:2. So, Paul compares their offering to Christ’s sacrifice. This sacrifice was acceptable and pleasing to God. Sometimes we think nothing can please God but Jesus’ sacrifice, not our works. But this shows that our works can be pleasing to God.
4.  Applications:
   1. Do we partner with missionaries to give and support them?
   2. Are you partnering with Bethel Friends in your giving?
   3. They partnered with Paul. Do we realize that if they did not partner, it is possible we would never have received the gospel? People were saved because the church at Philippi partnered with him. Are you investing in the Lord’s Kingdom?
   4. They sent gifts multiple times to support him in Thessalonica (Phil. 4:16). Are we investing in God’s kingdom?
   5. When we give to the Lord’s work we will be blessed in heaven (Phil. 4:17). Do we realize this?
   6. Do we realize that when we do not give to the Lord’s work we are robbing God (Mal. 3:8)? How are we robbing God? We are robbing God because He owns our money anyway.
   7. Do we realize that we please the Lord in our offerings (Phil. 4:18)?

There is the story about the guy who was giving and he gave one thousand dollars per week in the offering when he was first saved. Later on in his Christian walk, he went back to his pastor and said, “Pastor, when I was first saved, I was so excited about Jesus Christ—so excited about the Word; I was being so blessed. I was growing so much. There were so many changes taking place in my family when I was first saved and I wanted to thank God with all I had because of the amount of money He allowed me to make. I gave one thousand dollars every week to the offering because I was just so thankful for His goodness. However, the more I grew, the less I gave. Now I’m not appreciating His grace anymore and I only give fifty dollars a week even though I make more money.” He said, “Pastor, pray for me.”

The pastor said, “Heavenly Father, right now my brother is in trouble because You know when he was first saved, he loved You enough to give one thousand dollars. But now he’s going downhill and he only gives You fifty dollars. My prayer right now is that You take him back to when he was making only a few dollars.”^345,[8]

A little boy was given the assignment of planting a seed. His project was to then take it home with him so he could watch his plant develop and grow. He placed it carefully in the windowsill in the kitchen. The next morning the boy ran into the kitchen with great excitement only to stop suddenly at the windowsill with a curious frown on his face. Very upset, he questioned his mother about the state of his plant and the fact that nothing appeared to be happening. His mother carefully explained to him that seeds didn’t grow up to plants overnight.

It’s the same way with the principle of sowing and reaping. Reaping doesn’t occur immediately after sowing. Reaping, many times, doesn’t even occur a month after sowing. Reaping occurs when the season is right.^343,[9]

Prayer

^[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), 117–118.

⁵² The grammatical structure does not favor the suggestion that what Paul means is “when you first became acquainted with the gospel,” because surely this began while Paul was with them, but the next clause says “when I left Macedonia” rather than “when I came to Macedonia.” Against Flemming, Philippians, p. 243. But see 1 Clem. 47.2.

⁵³ See Sumney, Philippians, p. 115.

^[2] Ben Witherington III, Paul’s Letter to the Philippians: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Company, 2011), 277.

^[3] Biblical Studies Press, The NET Bible First Edition Notes (Biblical Studies Press, 2006), Php 4:14–16.

[4] https://youtu.be/HPiZdIlZ1Ww

[5] https://youtu.be/XgLmbRNU7So

^[6] 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), 117.

^[7] John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), Php 4:17.

^[8] 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), 116.

^[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), 115–116.

Learn to Be Content (Phil. 4:10-13)

Prepared and preached by Pastor Steve Rhodes for and at Bethel Friends Church in Poland, OH on November 5, 2023

Several years ago, when I was in seminary, I was required to watch a video called Affluenza. This video is a PBS documentary, and their website defines Affluenza as: “The bloated, sluggish and unfulfilled feeling that results from efforts to keep up with the Joneses.”[1] Let’s look at some startling statistics that were shared in the DVD:

• “…the Average North American consumes five times more than a Mexican, 10 times more than a Chinese person and 30 times more than a person from India…”
• The gap between rich and poor Americans is now the widest of any industrial nation.
• One-fifth of the world’s population lives in dire poverty, slowly dying of hunger and disease. Millions of others desperately need more material goods. Yet, were they to consume as Americans do, the result would be an environmental disaster.
• Americans throw away 7 million cars a year, 2 million plastic bottles every hour and enough aluminum cans annually to make 6,000 DC-10 airliners.
• Eleven percent of teenagers own their own credit cards and 40 percent use their parents’ cards.
• Americans have more than one billion credit cards.
• Fewer than one-third of all Americans pay off their credit card balances each month. In fact, the average cardholder is $2,700 in debt and is paying 16 percent interest.
• More Americans declared bankruptcy in 1996 than graduated from college.
• Arguments about money play a major role in 90 percent of divorce cases[2]

Those are simply a few of the statistics from that documentary, and they have likely changed for the worse since the documentary was made over two decades ago. But aren’t the statistics startling? We live in an affluent society. I believe that Philippians 4:10-14 addresses some of our problems. Now, I realize that those statistics are simply trends, and many people, many of you, and many of us, are struggling to make ends meet without affluence. If that is the case, God bless you, and my prayers are with you. Still, Paul’s attitude in Philippians 4:10-14 will help all of us. As we look at Philippians 4:10-14, we will see proper gratitude and a proper attitude for living. Mainly, we will all see that Paul was grateful for God’s provisions but also willing to live on little as well as much. Paul knew that with God’s help, he could do without. As we look at this passage, I hope we can all take that lesson from verse 14. I hope we can all recognize that with God’s help, we can live in any circumstance.

My theme today is: Learn to be content.

Read with me:

Philippians 4:10–14 (ESV)

God’s Provision

¹⁰ I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. ¹¹ Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. ¹² I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. ¹³ I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

¹⁴ Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble.

1. First, notice that Paul is content (verses 10-12 and 14).
   1. Notice in verse 10 that Paul rejoices that the Philippians have concern for him. More than that, Paul rejoiced greatly that their concern for him has been restored. Paul says that they never lost that concern for him; however, they were not able to help for some time.
   2. Are we rejoicing when others have concerns for us? Paul modeled thanks and gratitude in this verse and later in verse 14. In verse 14, Paul will say that they shared in his troubles. In his troubles, they helped him out.
   3. In 1 Cor. 12:26, the Bible says that as a church, if one part suffers, we all suffer together. I believe as a church, holistically, we do this pretty well. This is one of our strengths, but only you can evaluate how you are doing with this. We need to support each other in prayer, as well as help in other ways when possible.
   4. Then as we are supported, be thankful, as I am sure many of you are.
   5. Now, the Philippians helped Paul, but let me tell you a little about their situation and Paul’s situation:
   6. The Philippians have faced persecution.
   7. By this point in Paul’s life, he had already been shipwrecked, beaten, stoned, and so much more (Acts 14; 2 Cor 11).
   8. Paul wrote this around A.D. 61. He was in prison, likely on house arrest in Rome (Acts 28:14-31). This was likely his first imprisonment. He will be in prison later in the Roman dungeon (2 Timothy), but not yet.
   9. So, even though the Philippians had faced persecution, they still were willing to reach out to assist Paul. Now, here Paul is in prison, writing his gratitude.
   10. Now, notice in verse 11 we see that Paul is content in all circumstances. Paul says it just like that too. But Paul says that he has learned to be content… This makes it sound like this has not come easy. Through the school of hard knocks and through struggles, he has learned to be content.
   11. Have you learned that lesson? I can honestly say that God is still working on me with this.
   12. Remember the statistics I shared at the beginning of this message. Did you hear the statistics about credit cards? I think I got my first credit card at the time this was made. And I know that many, if not all of you, don’t have problems with credit card debt, but it is a significant problem in our society. I remember being in college, and money was tight, and I was married. So, when the car needed to be fixed, we used the credit card. When we needed gas, we used the credit card. When I needed books, we used the credit card. Of course, some are needed, but what about eating out? What about movies? What about other things?
   13. Are we really content in all circumstances when we use credit, and other means to purchase things that we do not need?
   14. Now, as we look at verse 13, we can see why Paul was content.
2. Notice that Paul is content because the Lord gives him strength (verse 13).
   1. Some call verse 13 the “Superman passage.” Tim Tebow put this verse under his eyes for the games, and there is nothing wrong with that as long as we have the verse in its proper context. People take this verse out of context and think that God will help them with anything they want. But that is not at all what this verse is saying. Paul had just talked about being content in riches and poverty, so now he brings up why he can be content. He can be content because God gives him the strength to be content.
   2. God gives us strength, but He is not giving us strength for whatever we want, no God gives us strength for what we need. Did you hear the statistic at the beginning of this message: One-fifth of the world’s population lives in dire poverty, slowly dying of hunger and disease? Millions of others desperately need more material goods. Some would hear that statistic and think, “Yes, but me doing without is not helping them.” That is somewhat true, though we can always support missions. But the main point is that we live with affluence all around us, don’t we? Because of what we see all around us, we think we need things that we just don’t need. Then we end up in financial trouble, or our children and grandchildren end up in trouble because we spend money on our wants, not our needs. No, when we put it in proper perspective, God will give us strength to fulfill His calling, and He will help us be content on less to fulfill His calling.
   3. Of course, it is easy for us to get confused with our wants versus our needs. The documentary: Affluenza states the following:
   4. The average American spends one year of their lives watching TV commercials.
   5. Children are the fastest growing segment of the consumer market. In 1995 alone, companies spent $1 billion marketing their products to young people.
   6. Each year advertisers spend millions of dollars trying to convince people to buy products. Most people don’t know that advertising is not free to the buyers of products. This business expense is added to the cost of the product so that we pay more at the store. In fact, you are paying for products you don’t buy!
   7. There are other, less obvious ways we “pay” for advertising. Ads play on our feelings of envy and anxiety. Ads often suggest that a person could be more successful, attractive, even lovable if they use “Brand X.” People, both young and old, need tools to separate the message from the advertiser’s intention to make a sale.
   8. I recently heard someone say that television is not there for the shows, but for the commercials. Also, please know that I am not being critical of society. People must sell and make money, but we must know the difference between wants and needs.
   9. So, let me get back to the passage at hand: Paul says that Christ gives him strength. Christ gives Him strength to do without.
   10. What about you and what about me? As we recognize wants versus needs we also can rely on Christ to give us strength to do without. We can rely on God’s strength. We are not living the Christian life alone. But God may call us to sacrifice.
   11. Then and always, we can rejoice greatly, and we can give great thanks to God, Who provides for our daily needs, and we can ask God to help us as we try to make ends meet and as we try to rejoice while doing without.

Closing:

So, remember that God will help us, but He may not help us with all our wants, but with all our needs. And remember that God will help us with contentment.

Remember Paul wrote Phil. 4:13 under persecution to a persecuted church. Phil. 4:13 is not about God helping someone score touchdowns, but it is about God helping us live the Christian life during times of suffering.

Philippians 4:13 (ESV)

¹³ I can do all things through him who strengthens me. 

Pray

[1] http://www.pbs.org/kcts/affluenza/

[2] http://www.pbs.org/kcts/affluenza/treat/tguide/tguide1.html