Title: Jesus’ Birth is Foretold to Mary

Prepared and preached by Pastor Steve Rhodes for and at Bethel Friends Church in Poland, OH on December 24, 2023

As I think about the Christmas story, I wonder, “What if Mary said, ‘No?’” I wonder, “Could Mary say no?”

But again, I ask, “What if Mary said ‘No!”’

If Mary said, “No,” would there be a Savior? If Mary said, “No,” what would have happened in Bethlehem?  As you know, Mary was the mother of Jesus, and this event didn’t just happen. It was God’s foreordained plan (Gen. 3:15; Isa. 7:14; Gal. 4:4). In today’s passage, Mary was told that she was to give birth to the Christ child. You know what? She didn’t even argue. You ask, “Why would she argue?” Well, though it was an honor for her, Mary did face a lot of shame and a lot of trouble for the virgin birth. We are going to look at Luke 1:26-38 and in this passage, we will see that Mary is told about Jesus’ birth. I want you to notice Mary’s obedience.

My theme today:

Theme: Mary is told about the man Who she is to give birth, notice her obedience.

1. Mary is greeted by Gabriel.
   1. Luke 1:26–29 (ESV)
   2. ²⁶ In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, ²⁷ to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸ And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” ²⁹ But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.
   3. Notice the passage begins saying “In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy…” This is connecting this narrative with the previous narrative. In the previous verses the story is told of how John the Baptist came to be born to elderly parents.
   4. Now, the text says that Gabriel was sent to Nazareth in Galilee. Nazareth was the city, a very small city, Galilee was the greater area. Nazareth had 1600-2000 people at this time.
   5. Now, take note that an angel is involved in this event. The word for angel means messenger and here we see the angel being a messenger.
   6. Gabriel and Michael are the only angels in the New Testament; these are the most popular angels in Jewish lures.
   7. Now, the angel comes to a virgin who was engaged or pledged to be married to Joseph. The Bible says that Joseph was a descendant of David. Because Joseph was of David’s line and Jesus would be his legal son, Jesus could qualify as belonging to David’s royal house. The New American Commentary tells us that in Judaism, “virgins” were young maidens, usually fourteen or younger.
   8. Gabriel greets Mary by saying that she is highly favored and the Lord is with her.
   9. How often do you greet someone like that? Not often, and that apparently was the same for Mary because she didn’t understand the greeting.

1. Now, we see Gabriel explain why she is favored.
   1. Luke 1:30–33 (ESV)
   2. ³⁰ And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. ³¹ And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. ³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, ³³ and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
   3. Notice that the angel starts by saying, “Do not be afraid.” I like this because this verse shows that angels were warriors; they were an image that we usually don’t see. They were not fair-skinned feminine creatures that looked maternal. This angel appeared out of thin air and was something she likely had never seen before.
   4. The angel tells her that she has found favor with God.
   5. Now, let’s stop there. Now, I realize that my questions at the beginning of the sermon were not fair; obviously, God wouldn’t have chosen Mary if she had resisted. But why did God choose her? She was favored by God. I wonder, was she such a respectful, pious young lady that she was favored? Or, does favor simply mean that God will bestow on her this blessing of being the mother to the Christ child? This could be either or both.
   6. Then the angel tells her that she will conceive and give birth to a son and call Him Jesus. Look at that.
   7. She is told that she will become pregnant. That is prophetic; in verse 34 she says that she is still a virgin.
   8. She is told that the baby will be a boy. Again, this is prophetic; she doesn’t even know she is pregnant. Besides, you cannot even know the sex of a baby until about 16 weeks. Yet, the angel knows.
   9. She is told what to name the baby.
   10. Now, this is not unusual in the Scriptures. In the Bible we learn that God controls the womb. In Genesis 17:17 and 18:12 both Abraham and Sarah laugh when they are told they are going to have a baby in their old age. But, God controls the womb. In Genesis 17:19 an angel tells Abraham what to name his son.
   11. In Luke 1:8-25 John the Baptist’s father, Zacharias was told that he will have a son in his old age, and he is told the name for the son will be John.
   12. Now, Mary likely knew that God controls the womb, but she is still a woman around 14 years old who is engaged to be married. If she is pregnant, how? Then, if she is pregnant and not by Joseph, it will look like adultery, and she could be stoned (Lev 20).
   13. Mary had to be thinking: What will I tell my fiancé? Now, some of you are thinking, “Who cares? She is not married, but engaged.”
   14. The New American Commentary says the following about Jewish marriage and engagement:
   15. Marriage consisted of two distinct stages: engagement followed by the marriage itself. Engagement involved a formal agreement initiated by a father seeking a wife for his son. The next most important person involved was the father of the bride. A son’s opinion would be sought more often in the process than a daughter’s. Upon payment of a purchase price to the bride’s father (for he lost a daughter and helper whereas the son’s family gained one) and a written agreement and/or oath by the son, the couple was engaged. Although during this stage the couple in some instances cohabited, this was the exception. An engagement was legally binding, and any sexual contact by the daughter with another person was considered adultery. The engagement could not be broken save through divorce (Matt 1:19), and the parties during this period were considered husband and wife (Matt 1:19–20, 24). At this time Mary likely was no more than fifteen years old, probably closer to thirteen, which was the normal age for betrothal.^[1]
   16. Mary also must have been thinking, “What will I tell my parents?”

1. 1. In the next few verses, she is told that she will be pregnant by the Holy Spirit. I am a pastor, but if my wife or daughter told me, “I am pregnant by the Holy Spirit.” I would be suspicious.
   2. Mary must have been thinking, “What will the neighbors think? I will be the talk of the town. What does it feel like to die by stoning?”
   3. We don’t know Mary’s thoughts, but we do know that she doesn’t argue. She is obedient.
   4. Gabriel does tell Mary, ^“He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
   5. That is a major verse. He will grow up to have the throne of Israel. Now, Mary likely interpreted this to mean that He will physically be the king just as David was in the Old Testament and David was the greatest king of Israel.
   6. But David died and his son Solomon ruled Israel, then Solomon died, and Israel was split into a divided monarchy by Solomon’s children, David’s grandchildren.
   7. David and Solomon were mortal kings.
   8. Mary is told that her son will reign forever.
   9. That is a lot of responsibility. She is to be the mother of the future, eternal king of Israel. Wow!

• Now, we see how this will happen.
  1. Luke 1:34–35 (ESV)
  2. ³⁴ And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
  3. ³⁵ And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.
  4. Mary does ask how this can be because she is a virgin. The angel then explains that “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.^[2]
• In verses 36-37 we see a miracle has already been performed.
  1. Luke 1:36–38 (ESV)
  2. ³⁶ And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. ³⁷ For nothing will be impossible with God.” ³⁸ And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
  3. In these two verses we see that her cousin, who was elderly, was pregnant.
  4. Then, I love verse 37, “For nothing will be impossible with God.”
  5. Do you doubt God?
  6. Do you find it hard to believe in the virgin birth?
  7. Do you find it hard to believe that Jesus later would turn water into wine (John chapter 2)?
  8. Do you find it hard to believe that Jesus would heal many people (Luke 4:38-44; 7:22; etc)?
  9. Do you find it hard to believe that Jesus fed 5000 (Luke 9:12ff)?
  10. Do you find it hard to believe that Jesus raised a dead man to life (John 11:43)?
  11. Do you find it hard to believe that Jesus was resurrected and still lives (Luke 24 and other passages)?
  12. Nothing is impossible with God. God can do all things. I am convinced that we all struggle with faith sometimes, even pastors. But why do we want to believe in such a little God? If He is God, He must be greater than we are.
• In verse 38, we see Mary’s great obedience
  1. Mary doesn’t say, “Well, Gabriel, I really, really, really thank you for considering me for this task. I mean, like, I know that I am a true and godly young lady, and that is likely why you chose me, but, you know, I, like, I’m not up for this. I mean, I am still young, and I don’t want the public humiliation, and well, just ask someone else.”
  2. No, Mary accepts. Now, could Mary say no? We can’t answer that. But we do know what she says, “I am the Lord’s servant.”
  3. How is your obedience?
  4. At a certain children’s hospital, a boy gained a reputation for wreaking havoc with the nurses and staff. One day a visitor who knew about his terrorizing nature made him a deal: “If you are good for a week,” she said, “I’ll give you a dime when I come again.” A week later she stood before his bed. “I’ll tell you what,” she said, “I won’t ask the nurses if you behaved. You must tell me yourself. Do you deserve the dime?”
  5. After a moment’s pause, a small voice from among the sheets said: “Gimme a penny.” [3]
  6. God may not be calling you to give birth to His son (which is good if you are a man because that would be a bigger miracle than the virgin birth), but maybe God is calling you to buy Christmas presents for a neighbor’s children.
  7. Are you resisting something that God is telling you to do?
  8. Maybe God wants you to apologize to someone you offended this past week.
  9. Be obedient. Be God’s servant as Mary was.

So, I know, my questions were unfair. God knew what type of person Mary would be when He chose her to be the mother of the Christ. Still, we as Protestants must recognize that Mary was a blessed woman who must have been godly to be the mother of God.

Mary was obedient when she was told that she will be the mother of Jesus. Praise God! Mary did not know what we know now.

Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Would one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy
Has come to make you new?
This child that you delivered, will soon deliver you

Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Will calm the storm with his hand?

Did you know that your baby boy
Has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little baby
You kiss the face of God

The blind will see, the deaf will hear
The dead will live again
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak
The praises of the Lamb

Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Would one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your baby boy
Is heaven’s perfect Lamb?
That sleeping child you’re holding is the great, I Am

^[1] Stein, R. H. (2001). Vol. 24: Luke (electronic ed.). Logos Library System; The New American Commentary (82). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

^[2] The New International Version. 2011 (Lk 1:35). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

[3] Swindoll, Charles R. Read in Swindoll’s Ultimate Book of Illustrations & Quotes. Thomas Nelson. Nashville, TN 1998. Page 413. Exerted from Lewis and Faye Copeland, 10,000 Jokes, Toasts, and Stories.

Title: Who Is Jesus Part III

Scripture: Heb 1:8

Theme: Jesus is reigning with God in Heaven, making intercession for us.

Prepared and preached by Pastor Steve Rhodes for and at Bethel Friends Church in Poland, OH on December 17, 2023

I want to begin the sermon with the background to a beloved Christmas carol:

O COME, ALL YE FAITHFUL

Latin hymn, 18th century

English translation by Frederick Oakeley, 1802–1880

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about!” … (Luke 2:15, 20)

The songs of the Christmas season comprise some of the finest music known to man, and this hymn is certainly one of our universal favorites. It was used in Catholic churches before it became known to Protestants. Today it is sung by church groups around the world since it has been translated from its original Latin into more than 100 other languages. The vivid imagery of the carol seems to have meaning and appeal for all ages in every culture.

The original Latin text consisted of four stanzas. The first calls us to visualize anew the infant Jesus in Bethlehem’s stable. The second stanza is usually omitted in most hymnals, but it reminds us that the Christ-child is very God Himself:

God of God and Light of Light begotten, Lo, He abhors not the Virgin’s womb; Very God, begotten, not created—O come, let us adore Him.

The next stanza pictures for us the exalted song of the angelic choir heard by the lowly shepherds. Then the final verse offers praise and adoration to the Word, our Lord, who was with the Father from the beginning of time.

For many years this hymn was known as an anonymous Latin hymn. Recent research, however, has revealed manuscripts that indicate that it was written in 1744 by an English layman named John Wade and set to music by him in much the same style as used today. The hymn first appeared in his collection, Cantus Diversi, published in England in 1751. One hundred years later the carol was translated into its present English form by an Anglican minister, Frederick Oakeley, who desired to use it for his congregation. The tune name, “Adeste Fideles,” is taken from the first words of the original Latin text, and translated literally means “be present or near, ye faithful.”

O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant; come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem; come and behold Him, born the King of angels:

Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation; sing all ye bright hosts of heav’n above; glory to God, all glory in the highest:

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning; Jesus, to Thee be all glory giv’n; Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing:

Refrain: O come, let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord.

Ask God to help you and your family make this Christmas season the most spiritual one you have yet known. Worship Him—Christ, the Lord!^[1]

Jesus did come down to our level. We needed help, we needed a Savior. Jesus became one of us.

I want to show you that Jesus is the ruler. I want to show you that Jesus is now reigning as King of Kings. Lastly, I want to ask you if He is your King. First, we will return to Colossians 1:15-20, and then we will turn to Hebrews 1:8 and a few others.

We have been talking about Who Jesus Is. Three weeks ago, we talked about Jesus’ eternal past. Our beliefs of Who Jesus is begin in the Old Testament. Two weeks ago, we talked about Jesus as fully man and fully God. Today, I want to show that Jesus is reigning with God in Heaven making an intercession for us.

That is my theme:

Jesus is reigning with God in Heaven making intercession for us.

First, let’s read 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. We see that Christ is the creator, sustainer, and ruler.
   1. Though we never see the noun “ruler” used in relation to Christ in this passage, this passage is all about Christ as ruler. Allow me to show you a few amazing statements:
   2. Recall that two weeks ago we talked about verse 16. Verse 16 says: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.
   3. Look at this. The Bible says that “Some things were created by Him,” no, it says, “All things were created by Him.” (See also John 1:3)
   4. The passage says all things were created by Jesus and then it goes into detail about His creation:
   5. Things in Heaven: what does that mean?
   6. In the Bible we can see that Heaven is a term used to describe outer space.
   7. In the Bible Heaven is a term to describe our atmosphere.
   8. In the Bible Heaven is a term to describe the place where God resides.
   9. I believe since the earth is mentioned in the next verse, this use of Heaven is referring to outer space and the location where God resides.
   10. It was by Jesus that the planets and the stars were created.
   11. Jesus created everything on earth: this includes every material.
   12. Then the passage says that this includes the visible and the invisible. What is the invisible? Well, I would guess the passage is talking about the air we breathe, the radiation we don’t see, and even the spiritual realm.
   13. Jesus created the angels.
   14. Lastly, the passage talks about the thrones, powers, rulers, and authorities. These were created through Him, but also for Him.
   15. This is a strong passage. Think about it. Colossians was written around AD 60, who’s in charge? Rome is in charge, Paul is writing this from prison, but He is saying Jesus is in charge. Paul is saying, It may appear as if Rome is in charge, but Jesus is actually in charge. All of these rulers were created by Jesus, and for Jesus. This statement by Paul is a very political statement. But this statement by Paul should be very encouraging for us today just like it was for them.
   16. If Jesus is the creator, He is the King, He is the ruler, He is in charge. Jesus is reigning!
   17. Look at Colossians 2:15 (ESV) ¹⁵ He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
   18. Notice again the political imagery. This carries the idea that when Jesus hung on the cross and took God’s wrath on Him for our sins; He conquered the devil. Jesus conquered the spiritual forces of evil. Since the beginning, sin has had its way and its consequences, but Jesus took the punishment, restoring a right relationship between us and God.
   19. We still have secular rulers who are anti-God as they did in the first century. But this gives the image of Jesus going through a battlefield and taking the weapons away. Now, this could be literal in a spiritual way or a prophetic way. Some day in the future, every authority will bow to Jesus, currently Jesus reigns in a spiritual way.
   20. It may appear that certain governments are reigning and, although there are certain spiritual forces, even demonic forces at work, God will make things right, Jesus is in charge.
   21. So, I ask you, who is in charge? That is a question which I want you to answer. So, who is in charge? I think there are still a few asleep, who is in charge? Jesus is in charge.
   22. Now, verse 17 even says that all things hold together by Jesus. Think about that for a second. If Jesus stopped being in control, creation would fall apart. I tried to imagine that and the best image that I could get is this:
   23. This is a glass of water [show the water in the glass]. Currently the water is held together by the glass. But if I pour it out, [pour the water into a bowl] the water is no longer held together by the glass. Now, all analogies fail in one way or another and this one does as well because the water may be held together again, in this case by this other container. But you get the point.
   24. Jesus holds all creation together.
   25. Now, look at verse 18: Jesus is the head of the church. This means that we are His church, we are not my church or anyone’s church but Jesus’ church. We must be following His lead. We seek His lead through prayer and correct understanding of His Word.
   26. So, you can see from Col 1:15-20 that Jesus is in control and if He is in control this means that Jesus is also the ruler and King.
2. Jesus is reigning.
   1. Hebrews 1:8 (ESV)
   2. ⁸ But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.

1. 1. Hebrews 1:8 is actually a quote from Psalm 45:6, and Psalm 45:6 says this about God the Father. But you may recall that two weeks ago we showed from the Scriptures that Jesus is God in the flesh. Actually, Col. 1:15 says that Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God. So, here, the author of Hebrews affirms Christ’s deity and that Jesus is reigning.
   2. How many of you want to serve a king that will be overthrown tomorrow?
   3. There is an ironic story in Daniel chapter 5.
   4. In Daniel 5, King Belshazzar is having this gluttonous feast which was likely a drunken orgy. Note: this is the king of the mighty Babylon. Babylon was pretty much a world empire; the tops of Babylon’s walls were wide enough for several chariots to travel side by side![2] During that feast, there is mysterious handwriting on the wall, which Daniel interprets in verses 25-28. The writing said, God has numbered your kingdom and put an end to it, you have been weighed on the scales and found deficient, your kingdom has been divided and given over to the Medes and Persians. The English Standard Bible has a study note which says: “Belshazzar’s feast is exposed as the ultimate act of folly: he was feasting on the brink of the grave and either did not know the danger or refused to acknowledge it.” While he is feasting his kingdom is conquered! How ironic, God is the real king, and Jesus is the real king, even with the handwriting on the wall that is declared.
   5. Jesus’ Kingdom will not be conquered!
   6. How many of us want to serve a king who will be overthrown next year?
   7. How many of us want to serve a king who will be overthrown in 10 years? Well, maybe.
   8. But wouldn’t we prefer a King who will never be overthrown?
   9. Jesus will never be overthrown. His Kingdom will not end.
   10. Jesus is interceding. Remember from two weeks ago 1 Timothy 2:5? This passage tells us that Jesus is our mediator. As our mediator that means Jesus is interceding for us. Another passage that supports this is:
   11. Hebrews 7:24–25 (ESV)
   12. ²⁴ but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. ²⁵ Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
   13. How do we feel about that?
   14. Is Jesus our King?
   15. Have you surrendered everything to Him?
   16. You know how sometimes we don’t do a job fully? Maybe you have had children who are supposed to clean their room, so you go up, and the room looks clean until you open the closet, and everything falls on you, or something like that.
   17. Sometimes we do this with our relationship with Christ. We don’t surrender everything to Him. Instead, we hide things. In this case, you are not allowing Him to be the King of your life. This is important for all of us. If you don’t know Christ, you must submit to Him, but also, if you do know Christ, continue to surrender to Him.
   18. Is Jesus your King? Can people tell that you are celebrating Jesus’ birth this Christmas, or does it seem to be more about you and your family alone?
   19. We have made Christmas about everything but Jesus, haven’t we?

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; He is reigning with God in Heaven.

I like what Tim Keller wrote:

It’s like that song they sang in the Live Aid concert in 1985.
We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let’s start giving
That’s what most people think the meaning of Christmas is. After the Live Aid concert in 1985, Bob Dylan, who was one of all those rock stars who were singing (remember that video?), said to the press he was very uncomfortable singing a song like that. Somebody said to Bob Dylan, “Why were you uncomfortable?” He said, “I’ll tell you why. Because man cannot save himself.”
So we look today unto Bob Dylan for the true meaning of Christmas, because he got it right. The Bible says Jesus Christ came because we cannot save ourselves. There’s a problem. He had to do something about it. The way Christmas is expounded in public anymore is that Christmas means if we work hard we can save ourselves, and Bob Dylan was right.
Peace on earth and mercy mild. God and sinners need to be reconciled.^[1]

Check mate or NOT:

I love this painting:

If you know anything about the game of chess, you know it all comes down to when the King on either side can move no more. Once the king is trapped, the winning side declares “checkmate” and the game is over.

There is a painting that once hung in the Louvre museum in Paris, painted by Friedrich Moritz August Retzsch. Today, the painting is popularly known as “Checkmate.” It is now in private hands, having been sold in a Christie’s auction in 1999.

The painting depicts two chess players. One is Satan, who appears arrogantly confident. The other player is a man who looks forlorn. If Satan wins, he wins the man’s soul. You can view more of the creepy details below.

According to legend, and probably fact, the story goes like this. A chess grand master came upon this intriguing painting in the Louvre museum alongside other famous art such as the Mona Lisa.

The grand mastered stared a long time at the chess board in the painting and finally noticed something surprising. The typical interpretation of the painting (that the devil had the man in “checkmate”) was incorrect.

Though the devil seemed to be the obvious victor, he was in fact not winning. The man, who thought he was losing, was actually winning.

According to the arrangement of the pieces left on the chess board, his king had one more move. This fateful move would make him the winner of the game.

The grand master called the curator and determined that the title “Checkmate” did not fit the scene because the forlorn-looking player actually had the ability to defeat his opponent, though he didn’t realize it yet. His king had one more move.

THE SPIRITUAL IMPLICATIONS

Now think about the spiritual implications of this painting with me about what the grand master discovered.

Repeatedly in Scripture, God assures his people that there is always a way of escaping situations that seem hopeless at the time.

• When the people of Judah were deported to Babylon because of their sinfulness, God revealed that a future day of release would come.
• Just as God provided water for the Israelites in the desert, he would also provide for them on their long trek homeward.
• A little boy in John 6 only had two fish and a few loaves of bread to feed thousands of people. It looked like checkmate, but our King had another move left! They collected 12 baskets of leftover food after the meal was served.
• In the Old Testament, Daniel was thrown into a den of hungry lions. It looked like checkmate, but our King had another move left and Daniel remained safe.
• In John 8, it looked like checkmate for a woman about to be killed by angry men with stones. But Jesus told the woman to go and not sin anymore.
• On Good Friday, the criminal next to Jesus on the cross thought it was the end, yet he still repented.

So often in life, we consider the world to be a mess. With war, violence, a deadly pandemic, unemployment, struggling marriages, depression, isolation, and more … we can easily become disillusioned. People begin to feel lost. We look for direction but often end up on the wrong path. It looks like checkmate, but we need not fear—the game is not over.

Our Creator God still has one move left! Our lives and future are in His hands. The Lord is the only King who can never be defeated..[2]

^[1] Timothy J. Keller, The Timothy Keller Sermon Archive (New York City: Redeemer Presbyterian Church, 2013).

[2] https://haventoday.org/blog/closer-look-checkmate/

^[1] Kenneth W. Osbeck, Amazing Grace: 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 1996), 367.

[2] English Standard Study Bible. Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Wheaton Ill. 2008.  Study note on Jeremiah 51:44; page 1470.

[3] Swindoll, Charles R. Read in Swindoll’s Ultimate Book of Illustrations & Quotes. Thomas Nelson. Nashville, TN 1998. Page 550. Quoted from A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God. 

[4] Ibid., Page 313.

^[5] Charles R. Swindoll, The Tale of the Tardy Oxcart and 1501 Other Stories (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2016), 85.

Title: Who Is Jesus Part II

Scripture: 1 Tim 2:5

Theme: Jesus Came fully man and fully God

Prepared and preached by Pastor Steve Rhodes for and at Bethel Friends Church in Poland, OH on December 3, 2023

FRIGHTENED SPARROWS
By: Paul Harvey

One raw winter night a man heard an irregular thumping sound against the kitchen storm door. He went to a window and watched as tiny, shivering sparrows, attracted to the evident warmth inside, beat in vain against the glass.

Touched, the farmer bundled up and trudged through fresh snow to open the barn for the struggling birds. He turned on the lights, tossed some hay in a corner, and sprinkled a trail of saline crackers to direct them to the barn. But the sparrows, which had been scattered in all directions when he emerged from the house, still hid in the darkness, afraid of him.

He tried various tactics; circling behind the birds to drive them toward the barn, tossing cracker crumbs in the air toward them, retreating into his house to see if they’d flutter into the barn on their own. Nothing worked. He, a huge alien creature, had terrified them; the birds could not understand that he actually desired to help.

He withdrew to his house and watched the doomed sparrows through a window. As he stared, a thought hit him like lightening from a clear blue sky: If only I could become a bird – one of them – just for a moment. Then I wouldn’t frighten them so. I could show them the way to warmth and safety. At the same moment, another thought dawned on him. He had grasped the whole principle of the Incarnation.

A man’s becoming a bird is nothing compared to God’s becoming a man. The concept of a sovereign being as big as the universe He created, confining Himself to a human body was- and is – too much for some people to believe.[1]

Today’s focus is Jesus being our mediator, Jesus being both God and man, and why that is important. I want to show you from Scripture that Jesus was fully human and fully God, and I want to show you the significance.

1. Let’s begin this discussion with the idea of Jesus being fully human.
   1. Jesus was born just as any other baby is born. We will focus on this later in the month as Christmas comes closer.
   2. We see this in the traditional Christmas passages from Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 2:1-7.
   3. I write that He was born just like any other baby, but His birth conception was different. He was conceived miraculously by the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35).
   4. One writes: Gabriel gives telltale clues about the metaphysics of the virgin birth, in that the Holy Spirit will “overshadow” (Greek episkiazō) Mary (Luke 1:35). This verb is used elsewhere for the glorious manifestation of God on earth (Matthew 17:5; Luke 9:34; Exodus 40:35), implying that God’s Spirit is the active agent of the special creation of the human body of Jesus in Mary’s womb.[2]
   5. John 1:14 (ESV)
   6. ¹⁴ And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
   7. Eugene Peterson says, “Jesus came into our neighborhood.” Remember last week’s sermon about Jesus being pre-existent? Jesus was with God and came down and took on flesh. He became a human.
   8. 1 Timothy 2:5 (ESV)For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus…
   9. Jesus is our mediator to God, and in order to be that mediator, He must be both God and man.
   10. He came fully God and fully man.
   11. Luke 2:52 shows that He grew in knowledge and stature. He went through growing pains as we do. Luke 2:52: And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
   12. Hebrews 5:8 shows He learned: Heb. 5:8: Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered.
   13. John 11:35 shows He had emotions: John 11:35: Jesus wept.
   14. John 4:6 shows Jesus was tired: John 4:6: Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour.
   15. John 19:28 shows Jesus was thirsty: John 19:28: Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.”
   16. Matthew 4:2 shows Jesus was hungry: Matthew 4:2: After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
   17. John 8:46 again shows He was sinless: John 8:46: Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me?
   18. So, Jesus is fully man, fully human. There are many other Scriptures showing His humanity, one of which would be that He died.
   19. Jesus died and was resurrected.
2. Jesus was and is also fully God.
   1. Someone has said: He was the God-Man. Not God indwelling a man. Of such there have been many. Not a man deified. Of such there have been none save in the myths of pagan systems of thought; but God and man, combining in one personality the two natures, a perpetual enigma and mystery, baffling the possibility of explanation.[3]
   2. Let’s look at a few Scriptures about this as well:
   3. In Rev. 22:13 we see Jesus speaking: Rev. 22:13: I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
   4. In Rev. 1:8 God the Father is speaking: Rev. 1:8: “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
   5. In Matthew 8:26-27, His miracles prove His deity. This shows that Jesus is omnipotent, just as God is omnipotent. This means that Jesus is all powerful, just as God is all powerful (Ex. 15:11). Matt. 8:26-27: He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. ²⁷The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”
   6. Mark 2:8 Jesus being all knowing shows that He is God. This means that Jesus is omniscient, just as God is omniscient (Psalm 139). See also John 6:64.
   7. In Matthew 18:20, we see Jesus is all present, omnipresent, just as God is omnipresent (present everywhere) (Job 26:6; Psalm 139).
   8. So, you can see from the verses that I have read that Jesus’ life shows that He is God. He showed through His life many of the attributes of the Godhead. Jesus was and still is fully human and fully God. This is a true part of the faith. The Scriptures show this. He didn’t come being fifty percent human and fifty percent God.[4]

• Why does it matter?
  1. It was necessary for Him to be fully God. Only someone infinitely God could bear the burden of the entire human race’s sins. Also, Salvation is from the Lord (Jonah 2:9). Only God Himself could save man. Only someone truly and fully God could be the one mediator between God and man (1 Tim. 2:5). This is to bring us back to God and reveal God to us (John 14:9).
  2. If you consider the cults, they usually minimize one aspect of who Christ is.
  3. In Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis wrote: I am trying here to prevent anyone from saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: “I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept His claim to be God.” That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would be either a lunatic—– on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg— or else He would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse.[6]

Do you believe in Jesus? Who is Jesus to you? I ask that you reflect on your view of Christ as we take communion. Reflect on your relationship with Christ. Are you right with God? Jesus might be speaking to you during this season, He might be saying, “follow me.” Have you made a commitment to Jesus before? Have you surrendered your life to Him? Now is the time. This Jesus who we have talked about today, He is the way the truth and the life. He is the only way to the Father, and we get to the Father by confessing our sins and accepting His free gift of salvation and committing to Jesus.

Someone once said: Like a jewel’s brilliance is displayed on a black cloth, Jesus’ love is displayed against the blackness of sin, and the filth of the flesh.[7]

How can you be encouraged today?

We see enough in Scripture to know that Jesus is God in the flesh. Jesus is Lord. I like what Charles R. Swindoll said: “The storm will come, and if you haven’t a rock to stand on, you will plunge. Jesus is that rock.”

Let Jesus be your rock this week. You can trust Him as your Savior and protector.

Helen Mallicoat made a real contribution to your life and mine when she wrote: I was regretting the past And fearing the future . . . Suddenly my Lord was speaking: “MY NAME IS I AM.” He paused. I waited. He continued, “WHEN YOU LIVE IN THE PAST, WITH ITS MISTAKES AND REGRETS, IT IS HARD. I AM NOT THERE. MY NAME IS NOT I WAS. “WHEN YOU LIVE IN THE FUTURE, WITH ITS PROBLEMS AND FEARS, IT IS HARD. I AM NOT THERE. MY NAME IS NOT I WILL BE. “WHEN YOU LIVE IN THIS MOMENT, IT IS NOT HARD. I AM HERE. MY NAME IS I AM.” 4″

Let Jesus be your Rock, He is with us now.

Prayer

[1]Swindoll, Charles R. Read in Swindoll’s Ultimate Book of Illustrations & Quotes. Thomas Nelson. Nashville, TN 1998. Page 294-295 quoted from Paul Harvey.

[2] https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/does-the-virgin-birth-really-matter?utm_campaign=Daily+Email&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=102976522&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8B6i-EoeTAR60_IsvW2JEK-EK_5gBu09_qv-osFdFNQozaYr1O2qItn0juk6EV3PEvE6ZPuDcnOYkNBxsLA-pH08JJ-Q&utm_content=102976522&utm_source=hs_email

[3] Swindoll, Charles R. Read in Swindoll’s Ultimate Book of Illustrations & Quotes. Thomas Nelson. Nashville, TN 1998. Page 315. (quoted from G. Campbell Morgan, The Crisis of the Christ)

[4] Grudem, Wayne. Bible Doctrine. 1999. Zondervan. Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530.

[5] Some information in this section from: Charles R. Swindoll and Roy B. Zuck, general editors. Understanding Christian Theology. Thomas Nelson Publishers. Nashville, TN. 2003. Pages 340-341. Other information from the ESV Study Bible supplemental information in the back.

[6] Swindoll, Charles R. Read in Swindoll’s Ultimate Book of Illustrations & Quotes. Thomas Nelson. Nashville, TN 1998. Page 315 (quoted from C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity.)

[7] Swindoll, Charles R. Read in Swindoll’s Ultimate Book of Illustrations & Quotes. Thomas Nelson. Nashville, TN 1998. Page 313.

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

A Response to Hardship: Rejoice, Be Reasonable, Pray, Give Thanks, Think on Good Things (Phil. 4:4-9)

Prepared and preached by Pastor Steve Rhodes for and at Bethel Friends Church in Poland, OH on October 29, 2023

I am a worrier. I can worry about anything and everything. I worry about being sick. Let me tell you the internet is not the best place to go for advice on illnesses. Misery loves company and the internet is the company for misery. Just go to google and try typing in illnesses related to a symptom you have. Well, if you are not a worrier fine. If you are, don’t try that. I remember one time in 2010 when I was feeling sick. I went to the internet. I even went to the Mayo Clinic website. It is a really good website, but it just gave me more to worry about.

Mark Twain said: “I’ve lived a long time & worried a lot & most of the things I’ve worried about never happened.”

The illness I was worried about, it never happened.

A problem with worry, or let’s call it anxiety, being anxious can steal our peace away from us. Being anxious can keep us from rejoicing.

I want to read Phil 4:4-9 and I believe that you will see that giving God our needs with thanksgiving will allow us to have peace, rejoice and be kind to others.

My theme:

A Response to Hardship: Rejoice, Be Reasonable, Pray, Give Thanks, Think on Good Things

Philippians 4:4–9 (ESV)

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. ⁵ Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; ⁶ do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

⁸ Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. ⁹ What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

1. Paul starts out by saying to rejoice and to be reasonable.
   1. He says to rejoice in some NO! He says to rejoice in all things.
   2. I understand, and I think that Paul would also understand that sometimes it is hard to rejoice. Have you had times in your life when you felt there was nothing to rejoice about?
   3. When Paul was writing this letter, he was under house arrest. There were guards around him. We know there were guards because he says so in chapter 1:13 and following.
   4. Paul is writing this to the Philippians who were persecuted for their faith in Christ.
   5. The city of Philippi was a Roman colony. They were very Roman in culture; they probably even spoke Latin which was a little rarer at this point.
   6. By this point in Paul’s life he had already been shipwrecked, beaten, stoned, and so much more (Acts 14; 2 Cor 11).
   7. Yet Paul says to rejoice. Paul even repeats it twice. He might have repeated it twice thinking that they were going to wonder how he could ask them to rejoice in the midst of their troubles.
   8. They must have thought, “How can you tell me to rejoice? Look at the persecution we are going through. Look what you have gone through!”
   9. Prayer with thanks will give them the peace to rejoice and be reasonable. Reasonable, yes, that is the next part of this passage.
   10. Paul tells them to be reasonable or let their reasonableness be known to all. Again, Paul doesn’t say to let people know you are reasonable when things are going well, and people are nice to you. No, let your reasonableness be known to all.
   11. Some translations translate that word “gentle” not “reasonable.”
   12. Of course, when we are not reasonable, we are not gentle.
   13. This reasonableness/gentleness may be exactly why Paul could be a good witness.
   14. To be gentle likely means to be kind. So, they are to be kind in all situations.
   15. Again, the Philippians have faced persecution; how could he ask them this?
   16. Several reasons:
   17. Matthew 5:44: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
   18. Matthew 5:11: Jesus says that we are blessed when persecuted for Him.
   19. But I believe Paul gives one of the best reasons at the end of this verse. Paul says the Lord is at hand, or near. This can mean one of two things or both.
   20. The Lord’s second coming is close.
   21. Or, the Lord is near in Spirit.
   22. Jesus is with us always through the church. The Holy Spirit is within us.
   23. If Jesus’ second coming is near, judgment is near. This means Paul says, “Be kind to them even when they persecute you. Their judgment is near.”
   24. Either way, they had hope. The Lord was near to them. They were not alone. The Holy Spirit was with them.
   25. But I believe their help is in the next two verses. Paul’s told them to rejoice always, Paul’s told them to be reasonable or gentle to everyone, but how? Through prayer with thanksgiving.
2. Paul tells them not to be anxious but to pray, giving their request to God with thanksgiving.
   1. Not being anxious is difficult. Like I said, I worry a lot. But Paul gives an antidote to anxiety and even to the time we are spending being anxious.
   2. The antidote is prayer, and Paul tells us how to pray.
   3. We pray in everything, not in some things but in all things. And we pray with petitions. This petition means that we have a list of needs that we are giving to God.
   4. Please understand: all prayer is not petition. Some prayer is just listening to God, worshipping God, praising God. But in this case, Paul says: pray and give your list to God. But Paul also says to do this with thanksgiving. Tell God what you are thankful for.
   5. I seriously believe that if I make lists of what I have to be thankful for I may realize how little I really need.
   6. A few years ago, I was counseling a student who was somewhat depressed. I had him list things to be thankful for; I think we thought of at least 50 things.
   7. We all have clothes, we have food, we have heat, we have a roof over our heads.
   8. But you know what, we usually forget the most important. We usually put the physical, felt needs in front of the spiritual.
   9. We have salvation in Christ. We have the Holy Spirit as our comforter (John 14). Jesus said not to fear the person who can harm our body but the person who can harm our soul (Matt 10:28).
   10. We can be thankful for our salvation, and we are to give God our needs in prayer with thanksgiving, and then God will give us peace which compels us to rejoice and be kind.
3. Paul says they will have peace from God that passes understanding as a guard.
   1. This is not a peace as the world needs. This is not a peace from war. This is an inner peace which we receive spiritually.
   2. This peace will guard our hearts and minds. I think by saying that Paul is saying that the peace will guard our whole person.
   3. The term used for guard is a military term. This type of guard has to do with a soldier on wall guarding a city.
   4. The peace of God will guard us, and the peace of God is guarding us in Christ Jesus

1. Lastly, Paul focuses on our thinking.
   1. Philippians 4:8:
   2. ⁸ Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
   3. We change our thinking to the positive.
   4. This may be easier to do as we give things to God and as we give thanks.
   5. These verses are like a machine gun: rejoice! Be reasonable! The Lord is near! Pray! Give thanks!
   6. Redirect your thinking!
   7. Then verse 9: And what you learned and received and heard and saw in me, do these things. And the God of peace will be with you.
   8. They have likely seen this example in Paul.
   9. The God of peace will be with them.
   10. Tim Keller writes about verse 8:
   11. And Paul also uses the word logizdomai to describe how we are to think about these things. That is an accounting word, sometimes translated “to reckon” or “to count up.”Paul is saying if you want peace, think hard and long about the core doctrines of the Bible. This is so completely different from what you will find if you walk into any bookstore and go to the section on anxiety, worry, and dealing with stress. Here is what you will never see: None of the books will ever say, “Are you stressed, unhappy, or anxious? Let’s start dealing with that by asking the big questions: What is the meaning of life? What are you really here for? What is life all about? Where have you come from, and where are you going? What should human beings spend their time doing?” Never! Contemporary books go right to relaxation techniques and to the work-rest balance. For example, they will say that every so often you should go sit on a beach, look at the surf, and just bracket out worrying and thinking about things. Or they will give you thought-control techniques about dealing with negative thoughts and emotions, guilt thoughts, and so forth.
   12. Christian peace comes not from thinking less but from thinking more, and more intensely, about the big issues of life. Paul gives a specific example of this in Romans 8:18, where he uses the same word, logizdomai, and speaks directly to sufferers. He says, “I reckon that our present sufferings are not worth comparing to the glory that shall be revealed in us.” To “reckon” is to count up accurately, not to whistle in the dark. It is not to get peace by jogging or shopping. It means “Think it out! Think about the glory coming until the joy begins to break in on you.”[1]

Keller writes:

Here is a metaphor for it. If you have ever been on a coast in a storm and seen the waves come in and hit the rocks, sometimes the waves are so large that they cover a particular rock, and you think, “That is the end of that rock.” But when the waves recede, there it is still. It hasn’t budged an inch. A person who feels the “peace that passes understanding” is like that. No matter what is thrown at you, you know it will not make you lose your footing. Paul of course is the classic example. He is beaten; he is stoned; he is flogged; he is shipwrecked; he is betrayed; his enemies are trying to kill him. There is wave after wave, and yet—there he is still. “I have found a way to be completely poised under any and all circumstances,” he said. All the waves of life could not break him. And he says it isn’t a natural talent of his—you and I can learn this. That is the character of Christian peace. It is an inner calm and equilibrium but also a sense of God’s presence and an almost reason-transcending sense of his protection.[2]

This only comes through living with Jesus.

This comes through the disciplines we have talked about today. It comes through trusting in Him. In comes from a life of self-sacrificial obedience to him. Many of us want it now. It is a continual life of living the Philippians way.

We must live Phil. 2:3-4.

We must live Phil. 2:12-15.

We must live Phil. 3:13-14.

We must live this passage of Phil. 4:4-9.

Prayer

[1] Keller, Timothy. Walking with God through Pain and Suffering (pp. 298-299). Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

[2] Keller, Timothy. Walking with God through Pain and Suffering (p. 297). Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

An Appeal for Unity (Phil. 4:2-3)

Prepared and preached by Pastor Steve Rhodes for and at Bethel Friends Church in Poland, OH on October 22, 2023

Imagine yourself sitting in a worship service and you hear your name in the message. But imagine it is not in a positive way. It is not particularly negative either. It is not a personal attack. It is something going on. You see, you have a dispute with someone else in the church. You are a very important leader in the church. There is another important leader in the church as well, and both your names are mentioned. You are exhorted to unity. It is a positive exhortation. You are being exhorted to agree “in the Lord.” Further, you are a woman, and in the culture and place that you live, women would not be mentioned in writing unless they were of a higher status.

Further, you are not mentioned by the preacher in some extemporaneous sermon. Someone is reading a letter. The letter is from a leader of the churches. The letter is from the person who started the church and is now in prison. The writer says that you served side-by-side for the gospel. The writer says that your name is in the Book of Life. But you are exhorted to make peace. It is not a command but a strong request.

Now, would you be squirming in your seat? Would you get red in the face? Would you get angry? Or would you respect the person who wrote the letter so much that you reflect, pray, and obey?

As you may know, I am thinking about what the Apostle Paul urged Euodia and Syntyche to do. They were leaders in the church at Philippi, but they are not united, and it is hurting the church. Let’s look at that passage.

My theme today is:

An Appeal for Unity

1. Paul gives the appeal (Phil. 4:2).
   1. Philippians 4:2 (ESV)
   2. ² I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord.
   3. This is again a passage where we see the importance of unity in Philippians.
   4. I like what The Message says: I urge Euodia and Syntyche to iron out their differences and make up. God doesn’t want his children holding grudges.
   5. The verb “entreat” could be translated “entreat,” “encourage,” “ask,” “beg,” “invite,” or “appeal.”
   6. It has the idea of inviting for help.
   7. It is an appeal, not a command.
   8. Paul is asking them to apply the principle of Phil. 2:2-4.
   9. Francis Chan writes: Apart from the Pastoral Epistles and the book of Philemon, the only other personal exhortation like this is found in Colossians 4:17, where Arichippus is encouraged to complete his ministry, which suggests an indirect criticism from Paul. Unlike that example, however, Paul expresses a clear rebuke to these ladies (Silva, Philippians, 192).^[1]
   10. He wants them to agree “in the Lord.”
   11. Notice how he says that again. The agreement is “in the Lord.” The Lord frames this agreement. The Lord helps us agree. He is saying that we are “one in the Lord.”
   12. Witherington III shares: in Greek and Roman oratory, women were not mentioned by name unless they were very notable or notorious.² This is an important rhetorical signal that likely tells us something about the prominence of these women that Paul calls by name here.^[2]
   13. Fee: That Paul had women as coworkers in Philippi should surprise us none, since the church there had its origins among some Gentile women who, as “God-fearers,” met by the river on the Jewish sabbath for prayer (Acts 16:13–15). The evidence from Acts indicates that at her conversion Lydia became patron both of the small apostolic band and of the nascent Christian community. By the very nature of things, that meant she was also a leader in the church, since heads of households automatically assumed the same role in the church that was centered in that household. Moreover, Macedonian women in general had a much larger role in public life than one finds elsewhere in the Empire; in Philippi in particular they were also well-known for their religious devotion.^[3]
2. Paul asks a true companion to help out (Phil. 4:3).
   1. Philippians 4:3 (ESV)
   2. ³ Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
   3. Paul now inserts an interjection translated as “Yes.”
   4. Now, he asks someone whom he calls “true companion” to act as a mediator.
   5. “True companion” is literally translated as “loyal yokefellow.” Or, “legitimate yokefellow.”
   6. MacArthur: The Gr. word pictures two oxen in a yoke, pulling the same load. A companion is a partner or an equal in a specific endeavor—in this case a spiritual one. It is possible that this individual is unnamed, but it is best to take the Gr. word translated “companion” as a proper name (“Syzygos”). He was likely one of the church elders (1:1).^[4]
   7. Witherington III: I still believe the most plausible conjecture is that this is a reference to the bearer of the letter, Epaphroditus.^35,[5]
   8. Sometimes we need a mediator to help us reconcile.
   9. I like what John Piper shares regarding the phrase “Help these women”: help these women
   10. He is asking an on the ground person, maybe a pastor to help them.
   11. Paul is an apostle, and he has written this letter. He may think that should be enough, but he is saying let this letter take root in a person and put flesh and bones on this letter to help.[6]
   12. Paul says that these women labored “side by side” with him in the gospel.
   13. That could be translated as “struggle with me” or “strived.”
   14. The gospel ministry is a struggle, it is a labor, it is something we strive for.
   15. Witherington III: From a sociological point of view one must ask questions such as, What sort of women had the time, resources, or freedom to struggle side by side with Paul for the gospel? The most plausible answers are: (1) women of some social status and personal freedom; particularly (2) single women or more well-to-do women with considerable clout in their own families, who could count on their servants to take care of many of the domestic responsibilities (see Acts 16:15). And make no mistake: since Paul does not specify the problem here, and does not even bother to take sides in the quarrel (it would appear), it is probably the divisive social consequences of this dispute that concern him, not some theological or ethical matter.^[7]
   16. Paul says these ladies labored with him, and Clement and the rest of my fellow workers…
   17. We do not know who Clement is.
   18. These workers have names in “the book of life.”
   19. The book of life is a symbolic idea. It is a metaphor of those who have eternal life. Our name gets in the book of life when we accept Christ as Savior.[8]
   20. We are chosen before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4), so I believe this is anthropomorphic language. That means it is ascribing to God human attributes.
   21. MacArthur: In eternity past, God registered all the names of His elect in that book which identifies those inheritors of eternal life.^[9]
   22. Chrysostom comments on this passage: “Do you see how great is the virtue of these women, according to his testimony? As great as that which Christ told his apostles … ‘your names will be written in the book of life’ [Luke 10:20].… Did they toil with him? Yes, he says. They contributed in no small part. Even though there were many fellow-workers, yet in many affairs they also took a hand” (Hom. Phil.4.2–3).^41,[10]
3. Applications:

1. 1. Do we have someone we need to reconcile with?
   2. I encourage you to read Matthew 18:15-17 and Matthew 5:23-24 and apply those to your life this week.
   3. Do we recognize that we agree “in the Lord”? We have a bond “in the Lord.”
   4. Do we need a mediator like the one called “true companion”?
   5. Do we recognize that unity and reconciliation are very important (Phil. 4:3)?
   6. Do we labor “side by side” for the Gospel? Are we in ministry with others in the body of Christ (Phil. 4:3)?
   7. Are our names in the book of life (Phil. 4:3)?

Prayer

^[1] Tony Merida and Francis Chan, Exalting Jesus in Philippians, ed. David Platt, Daniel L. Akin, and Tony Merida, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2016), 168.

² Schaps, “The Women Least Mentioned,” pp. 323–30, here pp. 328–30.

^[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), 233–234.

^[3] Gordon D. Fee, Philippians, vol. 11, The IVP New Testament Commentary Series (Westmont, IL: IVP Academic, 1999), 168.

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

³⁵ See Witherington, Friendship and Finances in Philippi, p. 106. I follow my fellow Durhamite Lightfoot, Philippians, pp. 158–59; and also Reumann, Philippians, p. 629. On this point my old mentor Fee, Philippians, pp. 393–96, suggests it was Luke, which is possible if one reads between the lines in Acts.

^[5] Ben Witherington III, Paul’s Letter to the Philippians: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Company, 2011), 239.

[6] John Piper, Look at the Book; 01/7/2020; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jA4CLygDzCY

^[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), 237.

[8] Dr. Rydelnic, Open Line, 11.28.2020

^[9] John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), Php 4:3.

Hom. Phil. John Chrysostom, Homilies on Philippians

⁴¹ In fact in his thirteenth Homily on Philippians (13.244) Chrysostom calls these women the principal characters or “heads” (kephalion) of the Philippian church. See the discussion by Osiek, Philippians, Philemon, p. 111.

^[10] Ben Witherington III, Paul’s Letter to the Philippians: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Company, 2011), 241.

A Loving Exhortation to Stand Firm (Phil. 4:1)

Prepared and preached by Pastor Steve Rhodes for and at Bethel Friends Church in Poland, OH on October 15, 2023

Chuck Swindoll writes:

The neighborhood bar is possibly the best counterfeit there is to the fellowship Christ wants to give his church. It’s an imitation, dispensing liquor instead of grace, escape rather than reality, but it is a permissive, accepting, and inclusive fellowship. It is unshockable. It is democratic. You can tell people secrets and they usually don’t tell others or even want to. The bar flourishes not because most people are alcoholics, but because God has put into the human heart the desire to know and be known, to love and be loved, and so many seek a counterfeit at the price of a few beers.

With all my heart I believe that Christ wants his church to be unshockable, democratic, permissive—a fellowship where people can come in and say, “I’m sunk!” “I’m beat!” “I’ve had it!” Alcoholics Anonymous has this quality. Our churches too often miss it.^[1]

As we look at today’s passage in Philippians we see Paul’s love for the church. It reminds me of the story behind the hymn: “Blest Be the Tie that Binds.”

BLEST BE THE TIE THAT BINDS

John Fawcett, 1740–1817

Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. (1 John 2:10)

“We just cannot break the ties of affection that bind us to you dear friends.” As Mary Fawcett assured the little congregation at Wainsgate, England, of the bond of love that she and her husband felt for their poor peasant parishioners, Pastor John decided to express his feelings in a poem about the value of Christian fellowship.

The following Sunday, John Fawcett preached from Luke 12:15: “A man’s life consists not in the abundance of the things he possesses.” He closed his sermon by reading his new poem, “Brotherly Love.”

At the age of 26, John Fawcett and his new bride, Mary, began their ministry at an impoverished Baptist church in Wainsgate. After seven years of devoted service in meager circumstances, they received a call to the large and influential Carter’s Lane Baptist Church in London. After the wagons were loaded for the move, the Fawcetts met their tearful parishioners for a final farewell. “John, I cannot bear to leave. I know not how to go!” “Nor can I either,” said the saddened pastor. “We shall remain here with our people.” The order was then given to unload the wagons.

John and Mary Fawcett carried on their faithful ministry in the little village of Wainsgate for a total of 54 years. Their salary was estimated to be never more than the equivalent of $200.00 a year, despite Fawcett’s growing reputation as an outstanding evangelical preacher, scholar, and writer. Among his noted writings was an essay, “Anger,” which became a particular favorite of King George III. It is reported that the monarch promised Pastor Fawcett any benefit that could be conferred. But the offer was declined with this statement: “I have lived among my own people, enjoying their love; God has blessed my labors among them, and I need nothing which even a king could supply.” Such was the man who gave us these loving words:

Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love! The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.

Before our Father’s throne we pour our ardent prayers; our fears, our hopes, our aims are one, our comforts and our cares.

We share our mutual woes, our mutual burdens bear; and often for each other flows the sympathizing tear.

When we asunder part it gives us inward pain; but we shall still be joined in heart, and hope to meet again.

Appreciate anew your Christian friends and fellow church members. Seek to show, as John Fawcett did, a loving concern for the needs of others.^[2]

My theme today is:

A Loving Exhortation to Stand Firm (Phil. 4:1)

1. Let’s begin with the context:
   1. In Philippians 1:1-11, Paul greets them and prays for the Philippians.
   2. In Philippians 1:12-18, Paul writes that his imprisonment has meant progress for the gospel.
   3. In Philippians 1:19-26, Paul writes about how he will live for Christ.
   4. In Philippians 1:27-30, Paul encourages them to walk worthy of the gospel.
   5. In Philippians 2, Paul wrote about unity and self-sacrificial behavior.
   6. In Philippians 3:1, Paul exhorted them to rejoice in the Lord.
   7. In Philippians 3:2-11, Paul warned them about people trusting in their righteousness. They were trusting in the Old Testament law.
   8. In Philippians 3:12-21, Paul wrote about progress in the gospel through Christ and not through the Law.
   9. That brings us to today.
2. Paul’s love for the Philippians (Phil. 4:1).
   1. Philippians 4:1 (ESV)
   2. Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.
   3. This verse begins with an inference translated as “therefore” or “so then.”
   4. He is making an inference based on the previous verses.
   5. In the previous verses, he was writing about progress in the gospel through Christ.
   6. Given that he was writing about progress, now he writes about standing firm.
   7. This is mainly related to Philippians 3:15-16 regarding progress in the gospel because Philippians 3:18-21 is a concluding thought.
   8. Then, in the next few verses, he will get very practical about unity.
   9. Notice he calls them “brothers” or “brothers and sisters.” He is using familial language.
   10. This is also communal language. He is addressing the church. This makes sense when we see the exhortation to unity in the next few verses.
   11. Paul says that he loves them.
   12. Paul then says that he “longs” for them.
   13. He loves them. He longs for them.
   14. He is saying, “I love you Philippians.”
   15. In Phil. 1:8, he writes something similar.
   16. Paul emphasizes that his Christian brothers and sisters are “beloved” by repeating the word “beloved” twice in the same sentence. A major theme in Paul’s letters is how God demonstrates divine love for all believers in Christ. But here Paul is expressing his own all-inclusive, unconditional love for his brothers and sisters. Paul repeatedly tells his friends, “I love you. I really love you.” Not only does he love his family at a distance, but because of the distance they are longed for. This is the only time that this term occurs in the NT. “Its rarity perhaps adds intensity to the emotion of ‘homesick tenderness,’ especially to the pain of separation that Paul feels and expresses here.”^[3]
   17. Remember, he is in a Roman prison. He is away from them.
   18. Paul calls them “his joy” and “his crown.”
   19. He also calls them, “his crown.”
   20. He is using a lot of modifiers to describe them. Fee: This profusion of modifiers reminds them once again of his deep feelings for them and his deep concern for their present and future.^[4]
   21. How are they his crown?
   22. Could it be that they are his crown because they are evidence of God’s ministry through Paul?
   23. The Philippians’ spiritual success would be Paul’s “crowning achievement” (cf. 1 Thess. 2:19–20), and their perseverance and final salvation will bring him great joy (cf. Phil. 2:17).^[5]
   24. The combination of joy and crown, my joy and crown, indicates that “Paul envisions a grand celebration, perhaps like that at the end of the Olympic games, where the victors are given their wreaths and there is much rejoicing.”^[6]
   25. Since Paul refers to his friends in Thessalonica as “the crown in which we will glory in the presence of the Lord Jesus when he comes” (1 Thess 2:19), he may have the time of the Lord’s return in mind when he refers to his the Philippian friends as his joy and crown. ^[7]
3. Stand firm in the Lord.
   1. He now exhorts them to “stand firm.
   2. Why?
   3. He is making the application from the previous chapter about persevering in the Christian life.
   4. He is building on what he has written.
   5. He is about to get very practical about unity (Phil. 4:2-3), anxiety, prayer, and living on less (Phil. 4:4-13). This means they must remember to “stand firm.”
   6. Stand firm recalls Roman soldiers who never retreated for fear of being killed while under assault.^[8]
   7. How do we stand firm?
   8. We must stand firm “in the Lord.”
   9. We must stand firm in dependence on the Lord.
   10. We must stand firm in submission to the Lord.
   11. We must stand firm in the pattern of the Lord.
   12. Again, this means living the Jesus way. This means persevering in the faith.
   13. This means living Phil. 3:14-16.
   14. Philippians 3:14:
   15. ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 
   16. Hold true to the gospel.
   17. Hold true the idea that we are not saved by works, not saved by the law, not saved by being moral, but saved by the grace of Jesus (Eph. 2:8-9).
   18. We must live the Jesus way of Phil. 2:3-4, 14-15, etc.
4. Applications:
   1. Paul calls them “brothers and sisters.” Paul writes, “whom I love.”
   2. Can we talk to other Christians as those we love?
   3. Can we address each other as those whom we love?
   4. Do we love each other?
   5. Are we a family with other Christians?
   6. Are we loving people?
   7. Paul says that he longs for them. Do we long for each other?
   8. Do we find joy in other people? Do we find joy in our Christian brothers and sisters? Paul called them “his joy.”
   9. Do we stand firm in the faith? Do we stand firm in the Lord?
   10. Can we hold true to Christ’s teaching?
   11. Can we hold true to the gospel?
   12. Can we hold true to the Christian way of not grumbling or complaining (Phil. 2:14-15)?
   13. Can we hold true to considering others more important than ourselves (Phil. 2:3)?
   14. Can we hold true to look out for the needs of others (Phil. 2:4)?
   15. Can we stand firm in unity (Phil. 4:2-3)?
   16. Can we stand firm?

IN ORDER for God to bring out the best in His children, He brings about scenarios in our lives to build strength and character.

When building our physical bodies, development takes on the form of pumping weights, running on a treadmill, and participating in activities that require tennis shoes. Workouts involve some sweat, heavy breathing, and perspiration because something is being developed. God allows trials and adversity to put us in gymnasium situations. Just like the Father did with His Son Jesus, He creates a workout scenario that includes a difficulty that we must work through.

A lady came to work out at the gym. Everything about what she had on said she was going to go for a killer workout. She wore the typical attire, the headband around her head, wristbands around her wrists, and had a water bottle on her side. She stepped into a clear area and bent down to touch her toes in order to stretch. This woman looked very serious about working out. She grabbed some dumbbells, walked over to a bench, and sat down. Lifting the weights, she did a couple of bicep curls, put the weights down, and wiped herself off with a towel. In an exasperated voice she said, “Whoof! That’s enough for today!” This lady looked the part but she had not truly come to the gym for a workout.

Many Christians come to church every Sunday looking like they are ready for a workout. We wear the right clothes, sing the right songs, and talk the right talk, but building real strength requires real effort and a little sweat.

God figures that we will not voluntarily go to a spiritual gym so He brings the gym to us. Adverse circumstances, cross-bearing situations, difficult scenarios, and problematic encounters all serve as opportunities for Christian growth.^[9]

^[1] Charles R. Swindoll, The Tale of the Tardy Oxcart and 1501 Other Stories (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2016), 92.

^[2] Kenneth W. Osbeck, Amazing Grace: 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 1996), 66.

^[3] G. Walter Hansen, The Letter to the Philippians, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2009), 279–280.

^[4] Gordon D. Fee, Philippians, vol. 11, The IVP New Testament Commentary Series (Westmont, IL: IVP Academic, 1999), 167.

^[5] Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2286.

^[6] G. Walter Hansen, The Letter to the Philippians, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2009), 280.

^[7] Ibid.

^[8] Richard R. Melick Jr., “Philippians,” in CSB Study Bible: Notes, ed. Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 1888.

^[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), 14–15.