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.

A Call to Follow Paul’s Example of Commitment to Jesus As Lord (Phil. 3:17-21)

Prepared and preached by Pastor Steve Rhodes for and at Bethel Friends Church in Poland, OH on October 8, 2023

One day a man was talking to an angel. The angel said, “What can I do for you?” The man said, “Show me the Wall Street Journal one year from today. This way, I will know where to invest and will become a multimillionaire.” The angel snapped his fingers and out came a Wall Street Journal marked one year in advance of the date when they were talking. The man flipped the pages of the newspaper, studying the listings and observing which stocks would be high and which ones would be low. But in the midst of his joy, a frown came upon his face and tears began to roll down his eyes because when he looked over on the next page, he saw his face. His picture was in the paper under the obituary column.

You see, this life can only offer you so much. Unless you live now in light of eternity, you are going to waste time focusing on the things of this earth. Enjoy your life, but as a Christian focused on the things that matter to God.^[1]

Today, we come to a passage in Philippians encouraging us to follow Christ with an eternal perspective. We are citizens of heaven!

My theme today is:

A Call to Follow Paul’s Example of Commitment to Jesus As Lord

1. 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 2:1-4, Paul wrote about unity and self-sacrificial behavior.
   6. In Philippians 2:5-11, Paul gave the example of Christ.
   7. In Philippians 2:12-18, Paul wrote about Christian behavior.
   8. In Philippians 2:19-24, Paul gave the example of Timothy.
   9. In Philippians 2:25-30, Paul gives the example of Epaphroditus.
   10. In Philippians 3:1, Paul exhorted them to rejoice in the Lord.
   11. In Philippians 3:2-11, Paul exhorted them that our salvation is in Christ alone.
   12. In Philippians 3:12-16, Paul wrote about progress in the gospel through Christ and not through the Law.
   13. This brings us to today’s passage.
2. Follow Paul’s example of perseverance (Phil. 3:17).
   1. Philippians 3:17 (ESV)
   2. ¹⁷ Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.
   3. Paul addresses them as “brothers,” or “brothers and sisters.”
   4. That is really good familial language.
   5. Paul writes to join in imitating him, but why? That can sound a little arrogant, can’t it? But remember in Phil. 3:12 he had written that he has not arrived yet, but he pressed on. In Phil. 3:13-14 Paul repeated how he strains forward and presses on.
   6. He was striving for holiness. He was striving for Jesus. He was striving to be conformed to Christ’s image. He wrote about that in Phil. 3:10-12.
   7. Paul is pressing on in his relationship with Christ. Paul wanted to be like Christ in suffering and death.
   8. He is imitating Christ, and we are to imitate him.
   9. In 1 Cor. 11:1, Paul wrote to imitate him as he imitates Christ, and that is the idea right here.
   10. Paul continues to write, “Keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in ‘us.’” Who is the “us”? I think it is Paul, Timothy, and Epaphroditus. In Phil. 1:1 Paul referenced Timothy as a co-writer, and we know he has referenced Epaphroditus.
   11. I believe in the next few verses Paul is going to share more about his concerns.
   12. So, following the right example matters, correct?
   13. We must follow good examples.
   14. Do you know that your brains literally change based on those you are around? It is true.
   15. Our brains literally change to be like those we are hanging out with.
   16. Paul was concerned about people who thought they needed to follow the law and get their righteousness from the Old Testament law. Paul wanted to make sure they followed the correct examples, the good example, and not people who were teaching incorrect doctrine. Again, we will see that in the next few verses.
   17. That is still true today.
   18. It is bad doctrine that hurts the church more than anything else.
3. Others are enemies of the cross (Phil. 3:18-19).
   1. Philippians 3:18–19 (ESV)
   2. ¹⁸ For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. ¹⁹ Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.
   3. Now, Paul explains more of his concern.
   4. “for” is an explanatory conjunction: A conjunction used to introduce an explanation of a previously mentioned sentential element. (References:BDF n/a; Wallace p. 673; Smyth §2808-2809, 2811.)^[2]
   5. He writes that “many” are enemies of the cross of Christ.
   6. He writes that he has told them about these enemies, and he has told them with tears.
   7. He has told them often about these enemies of the cross of Christ.
   8. How does one become an enemy of the cross of Christ?
   9. Remember the 3 most important words in Bible interpretation. Context, context, context. Remember, as I have stated in the previous verses, Phil. 3:2-11 were about people who thought they could earn their righteousness. Remember, the Apostle Paul boasted of righteousness; he could even more so. However, Paul counts all those achievements as excrement.
   10. So, teaching and promoting false teaching makes us enemies of the cross.
   11. In verse 19, Paul builds on this.
   12. Their end is destruction: for people who do not know Christ, their end is destruction (1 Thess. 1:9-10; Romans 5:9; Matthew 7:13; Matthew 5:29-30; Rev. 14:9-11; 17:8; 19:20). That is why we must share the Gospel.
   13. Further, people who are teachers will be judged by a stricter standard (James 3:1).
   14. People teaching false doctrine will even have a more severe judgment (Matthew 18:6).
   15. Their god is their belly…
   16. They glory in their shame…
   17. Their mind is set on earthly things…
   18. This is a succinct description of the lost person.
   19. They are a slave to their appetites, whether their belly or otherwise.
4. Our citizenship is in Heaven (Phil. 3:20-21).
   1. Philippians 3:20–21 (ESV): ²⁰ But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

1. 1. Now, Paul contrasts those of the world with Christians.
   2. “But” is marking a contrast.
   3. Our citizenship is in heaven.
   4. We as Christians are citizens of heaven (Col. 3:1ff; 1 John 3:1).
   5. We are adopted into God’s family (1 John 3:1).
   6. We are awaiting Jesus’ return (1 Cor. 15:12-28).
   7. Jesus will transform our bodies. Notice how he says, “lowly body.” That is because we will then have a glorious body. In contrast to our resurrected bodies, we have lowly bodies.
   8. IVP BBC: Paul’s view of the resurrection is that it involves the body, but one distinct in nature from the current body (Greek culture considered the idea of a bodily resurrection vulgar superstition). As in Judaism, the resurrection occurs at the time of the ultimate battle, when God subordinates all his enemies (cf. also 1 Cor 15:25–28).^[3]
   9. Jesus will do this by the power that enables Him to subject all things to Himself.
   10. Jesus has the power. Remember Phil. 2:9-11? All creation bows to Jesus (see also Col. 1:15-20).

A man died and went to heaven. Saint Peter met him at the gate. The man wanted to know what the value system was in heaven. He said, “Peter, how much is a minute worth up here?” Peter said, “Well, in heaven, a minute is worth a million years.” The man excitedly said, “Whoa! Well, then, how much is a nickel worth up here?” Peter said, “Well, up here, a nickel is worth a million dollars.” He said, “WHOA! Well, Peter, can I have a nickel?” Peter said, “Yeah, in a minute.”

It’s all about your value system. It’s all about what you’re looking at.^[4]

Applications:

1. 1. Are we following good examples (Phil. 3:17)?
   2. Paul was concerned that we follow his example and follow the examples of those who are teaching similarly. Are we being careful of who is influencing us (Phil. 3:17)?
   3. Are we an enemy of the cross of Christ (Phil. 3:18)?
   4. Are we staying faithful to proper Christian teaching? Are we thinking that we can earn our righteousness? Are we straining forward in the gospel (Phil. 3:12-16)?
   5. Paul told them with tears of the enemies of the cross of Christ (Phil. 3:18). Are we warning people of those who go wayward of the gospel?
   6. Does it bother us to the point of tears or affect our emotions when someone is wayward? Paul warned them with tears (Phil. 3:18).
   7. Are we encouraged by our citizenship in heaven (Phil. 3:20)?
   8. Are we encouraged that Jesus will transform our body to a glorious body (Phil. 3:21)?
   9. Do we know that Jesus will subject all things to Himself (Phil. 3:21)

The reflection from the sun is supposed to let us see the brilliance of the moon, which has no light of its own. The moon is dark 24/7. The sun reflects off of the moon so that the beautiful moon is actually the result of the work of the sun.

Now on some days we can see a full moon, on other days we can see a half moon. On yet another day, only a quarter of the moon is visible, and then at times we can’t see the moon at all. How come we don’t always get the full moon? Because whenever there is less than a full moon, it means the Earth is in the way. The Earth has gotten between a portion of the moon and the sun. The moon’s reflection is interrupted as Earth moves in its orbit. Earth simply keeps getting in the way.

Many of us are not able to move forward in our lives, because Earth keeps getting in the way. We are so focused on time, and so foggy about eternity, that the benefits of eternity are not able to penetrate the realities of time and we are stuck with what we see.^[5]

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), 87.

^[2] Albert L. Lukaszewski, The Lexham Syntactic Greek New Testament Glossary (Lexham Press, 2007).

^[3] Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993), Php 3:21.

^[4] 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), 88.

^[5] Ibid.

Paul’s Progress in the Gospel: Through Christ, Not the Law (Phil. 3:12-16)

Prepared and preached by Pastor Steve Rhodes for and at Bethel Friends Church in Poland, OH on October 1, 2023

Reggie Jackson was a baseball player known as “Mr. October.” He got his nickname because he was known to shine when his team played in the postseason playoffs. Reggie would come up to bat, and the ball was going over somebody’s fence. Reggie Jackson said once in an interview that he lived for the postseason because that is when he would shine. But Reggie Jackson, in order to get to the postseason, had to get through the regular season. His secret to shining in the regular season was to keep his eye on October. God is looking for some Mr. and Mrs. Octobers—people with their eyes on eternity who faithfully play the regular season because they’re looking forward to postseason glory.^[1]

We are continuing our trek through Philippians. In today’s passage we see Paul’s eternal focus. We also see his focus on becoming like Christ.

My theme today is:

Paul’s Progress in the Gospel: Through Christ, Not the Law (Phil. 3:12-16)

1. Paul is not yet there but pressing on (Phil. 3:12-14).
   1. Philippians 3:12–14 (ESV): ¹² Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. ¹³ Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
   2. Okay, how did we get here?
   3. We are over halfway through Philippians.
   4. In Philippians 3:2-11, Paul was warning them about people who were trusting in their righteousness. They were trusting in the Old Testament law.
   5. These were likely a group called “Judaizers.” This group thought that gentile converts needed to keep the Old Testament law.
   6. Paul then wrote about how he has many more reasons to boast in his own righteousness. Paul wrote about all of his achievements. Paul said that he counts them all as waste. He counts all his human achievements as waste in order that he may gain Christ. He can’t gain Christ from those human accomplishments.
   7. At the end of the section of Phil. 3:2-11 Paul expanded on wanting to know Christ and how deeply he wants to know Christ.
   8. He wants to know Christ even by participating in His sufferings and attaining the resurrection from the dead (Phil. 3:11). This brings conformity to Jesus’s death through refining obedience, and a believer will attain the resurrection.
   9. Paul is eager to attain the resurrection, but that whole section is about how he really wants to know Christ and be conformed to His Image.
   10. That leads to Phil. 3:12-14.
   11. In Phil. 3:12 he writes: Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.
   12. He has not already attained this… He has not attained the resurrection. We know that he has not died yet. He has not attained sharing in Christ’s sufferings and becoming like Him in His death.
   13. Against his legalistic opponents who claimed perfection, Paul denied that he had already become perfect (v. 12) or laid hold of the prize (v. 13).^[2]
   14. Steven Lawson shared: ‘“this” or ‘it’ refers back to the Christian life, the knowledge of Christ (Phil. 3:10), the full conformity to Christ’s death. Paul knew that he had not arrived.
   15. Further, the closer you are to Christ, the more you realize you have not arrived.”[3]
   16. Do you think about that? As we grow in Christ, we realize how much growing we still need?
   17. In the book, “Pastors and Critics” the author, Joel Beeke, quotes Spurgeon: “Brother, if any man thinks ill of you, do not be angry with him; for you are worse than he thinks you to be. If he charges you falsely on some point, yet be satisfied, for if he knew you better he might change the accusation, and you would be no gainer by the correction. If you have your moral portrait painted and it is ugly, be satisfied; for it only needs a few blacker touches and it would be still nearer the truth.”[4]
   18. Then, in the endnote, there is another quote: “Charles Simeon said similarly, ‘My enemy, whatever evil he says of me, does not reduce me so low as he would if he knew all concerning me that God does.’”[5]
   19. We have too high a view of ourselves. However, as we grow in Christ, as we become more like Him, we realize that we are not there yet.
   20. So, here Paul is saying that he is not there yet. He does not know Christ like he wants to. He has not been conformed to Him. He is growing in Christ. He knows Christ, but he is not where he wants to be.
   21. Paul says that he has not been made perfect. He means perfect in Christ.
   22. But he presses on…
   23. We will see that word come up again in verse 13.
   24. Look at the rest of verse 12 (Phil. 3:12).
   25. He presses on to make it his own because Christ Jesus has made him His own.
   26. He belongs to Christ.
   27. If you know Christ, you belong to Christ. But he wants to make the Christian life his own. He wants to make knowing Jesus, the sufferings of Jesus, the death of Jesus, and the resurrection of Jesus his own.
   28. But what is he referring to? The context makes it clear, but I think he refers to spiritual growth. Others think he is referring to the resurrection.
   29. How will he do this?
   30. Now, verses 13-14: ¹³ Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
   31. He is telling us about his growth plan, or part of it.
   32. “Brothers” could be translated as “brothers and sisters.”
   33. He repeats that he has not made it his own yet. He is saved, but he is still growing.
   34. He forgets the past to strain forward.
   35. This is like a runner reaching for a baton or the finish line.
   36. What is the past that he forgets? It is what he mentioned in verses 4-6 of this same chapter. He is forgetting his achievements within Judaism. They could not save him or make him righteous.
   37. This is about progress, not perfection.
   38. Swindoll shares: I was reading to Cynthia [his wife] from Sports Illustrated about a ninety-year-old basketball scout that still does work for the Detroit Pistons. That’s right—the man is ninety years old! He still gets on a plane, checks those prospects out, and brings back a reliable report. I love it! He said he flew past sixty-two without even a thought of retirement. Strong determination.
   39. I read somewhere, “We wonder at the anatomical perfection of a da Vinci painting. But we forget that Leonardo da Vinci on one occasion drew a thousand hands.” Leonardo possessed that same strong determination Paul modeled in Rome. Thomas Edison came up with the modern light bulb after a thousand failed attempts. By the man’s own admission, it was mainly strong determination that gave the incandescent light to the world, not an inventor’s creative genius.
   40. But we’re not talking about college athletes or persistent, brilliant inventors. We’re talking about being a determined servant of Christ. There’s no easy route to spiritual maturity. It doesn’t happen overnight. Remember, it’s a grueling journey at times. So, don’t bother to publish a pamphlet on all the obstacles you face. Don’t become famous for complaining. The apostle says, “Forget the past; reach for the tape. Keep running.” Develop and maintain an attitude of strong determination.[6]
   41. Then, in verse 14, he writes again that he presses on. He is pressing for the prize. What is the prize? It is the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. The prize is knowing Jesus. The prize is the call of Jesus on his life. The prize is eternal life with Jesus, but I think it is also a deeper life with Jesus now.
   42. The verb “press on” is in the present tense. It is a continual, habitual life, every moment of every day.
   43. Lawson shares: It is NOT a momentary fleeting desire. It is a lifestyle. This is also in the active voice. This means he takes responsibility. It is not just waiting for God to do it.
   44. This verb means to run swiftly in order to catch another person. It is like in track trying to catch another person.
   45. Toward the goal- the preposition “toward” means to bear down. Paul is not shuffling his feet.
   46. The goal is to know Christ more intimately.
   47. The prize is at the finish line.
   48. As we focus on the prize, we are pulled like a magnet.
   49. The prize is the “upward” call of God.
   50. God causes or allows all things in our life, and we cannot let it slow us down. Don’t be content with where we are.[7]
   51. MacArthur: The Gr. word was used of a sprinter, and refers to aggressive, energetic action. Paul pursued sanctification with all his might, straining every spiritual muscle to win the prize (1Co 9:24–27; 1Ti 6:12; Heb 12:1).^[8]
   52. Now, let’s transition to his message for others.
2. Paul’s message for the mature (Phil. 3:15-16).
   1. Philippians 3:15–16 (ESV): ¹⁵ Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. ¹⁶ Only let us hold true to what we have attained.
   2. Notice he writes about the mature. He does consider himself within the mature group. He has not achieved where he wants to be, but he is a mature believer.
   3. So, he directs mature believers to “this” way. What is “this” way?
   4. It is what he was writing about.
   5. We all need to think about pressing on in the Christian life.
   6. We all must think about forgetting the past. What is the past that we forget? He was referring to verses 3-6. Like Paul, we must forget the human accomplishments we thought would save us. They won’t save us.
   7. Like Paul, we forget and press on to know Christ more intimately. That means being conformed to Him. We must think that way.
   8. Now, why would he write this?
   9. Partly because that is how much he loves Jesus.
   10. Additionally, he was concerned about those trying to make them rely on their human achievements for salvation. Remember, in verse 2 (Phil. 3:2), he warned them about this group.
   11. Paul does make an exception. If you think otherwise, God will reveal that to you. So, he is leaving this for them to seek the Lord about.
   12. MacArthur: Paul left in God’s hands those who were not pursuing spiritual perfection. He knew God would reveal the truth to them eventually, even if it meant chastening (Heb 12:5–11).^[9]
   13. Now, verse 16 (Phil. 3:16): “Only,” which means this is really important. Hold true to what we have attained.
   14. Let’s not go backward in the Christian life. Hold on to your spiritual growth. Hold on to the higher levels of obedience.
   15. MacArthur: The Gr. word for “living” refers to walking in line. Paul’s directive for the Philippian believers was to stay in line spiritually and keep progressing in sanctification by the same principles that had brought them to this point in their spiritual growth (cf. 1Th 3:10; 1Pe 2:2).^[10]

• Applications:
  1. Like Paul, do we realize that we have not been fully conformed to Christ (Phil. 3:12)?
  2. Do we realize that we have more growth ahead of us?
  3. Is God exposing new things we have to work on in our life?
  4. Is it that anger?
  5. Is it the anxious thoughts?
  6. Is it fear? Maybe we cannot trust God with our children or grandchildren. Suppose one of your children feels called to serve the Lord in Iran as a missionary? Or maybe China? Or maybe Russia? Or maybe North Korea? Can we trust Christ with our children and grandchildren? Trusting Christ is part of discipleship.
  7. Are we spiritually content with where we are, or are we eager to grow (Phil. 3:12-14)?
  8. What accomplishments have we or do we think of as earning our righteousness? We need to forget about those (Phil. 3:13).
  9. What new habits are we developing to help us grow in Christ?
  10. How do we hear from God?
  11. Are we fasting?
  12. Are we in the Word?
  13. Are we with the church family in small groups, Sunday School, Bible study?
  14. Celebrate Recovery will help. If we have trouble trusting God, really trusting God, Celebrate Recovery can help. If we have trouble with anger, even occasional, Celebrate Recovery can help.
  15. How are we growing in Christ?
  16. How are we pressing on?
  17. I encourage us to pray about these questions this week.

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), 86–87.

^[2] Gerald W. Peterman, “Philippians,” in The Moody Bible Commentary, ed. Michael A. Rydelnik and Michael Vanlaningham (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2014), 1863.

[3] Steven Lawson; Renewing Your Mind; 10.22.2022

[4] Beeke, Joel R.; Thompson, Nicholas J.. Pastors and Their Critics: A Guide to Coping with Criticism in the Ministry (p. 53). P&R Publishing. Kindle Edition.

[5] Ibid., 61.

[6] Taken from Great Days with the Great Lives by Charles R. Swindoll. Copyright © 2005 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. Used by permission of Thomas Nelson. www.thomasnelson.com. https://www.insight.org/resources/daily-devotional/individual/an-attitude-of-strong-determination1

[7] Steven Lawson; Renewing Your Mind; 10.22.2022

^[8] John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), Php 3:12.

^[9] John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), Php 3:15.

^[10] John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), Php 3:16.