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.

In Christ Alone, Our Hope Is Found (Phil. 3:2-11)

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

A man one day was writing the love of his life … her name was Betty. He wrote:

My dearest Betty,

I love you beyond words. Webster does not have in his dictionary the necessary vocabulary to explain the depth of my love for you. Thoughts of you dance across the portals of my mind. You are my all-consuming passion. So enraptured am I regarding my love for you that the Pacific Ocean would be like a pond if I had to swim it. I could do it as long as I knew you were awaiting me on the other shore. The heat of the Sahara Desert would never impede my progress to you, knowing that you would be the oasis that would refresh me when I arrive. There would be no inconvenience I wouldn’t endure for you. Climbing Mount Everest would only seem like getting over an ant’s hill if I knew you were at the precipice. All I’m simply saying to you, my darling … is that my love for you transcends time and space.

Signed, Sam.

P.S. I’ll see you Saturday night if it doesn’t rain.

Now I’m sure you would agree with me, Sam was only full of a bunch of noise. Sam could talk a good game but he didn’t go very deep. While he could verbalize overcoming the elements to get to his love, a little bit of rain would keep him away. It’s easy to verbalize being an overcomer. It’s easy to say the words, “I am victorious. I’ve been made victorious in Christ.” But it’s a whole different thing to not let the rain slow you down. It’s a whole different thing to take your position as an overcomer and turn it into your practice of overcoming.^[1]

We are preaching through Philippians. As we begin today, are we committed to Christ? Are we trusting in faith in Him for salvation or our good works? Are we ready to suffer to know Him more? Paul addresses those subjects in today’s passage.

My theme today is:

In Christ alone, our hope is found.

1. To start, Paul warns them to beware! (Phil. 3:2-3).
   1. We will begin this section, but first, let’s put this in context. A text without a context is a pretext for whatever you want it to mean.
   2. Last week, we looked at Phil. 3:1. That was a very encouraging passage. Paul encouraged them to rejoice in the Lord.
   3. This whole letter has been about joy and unity. I believe that is important for the section we are getting into.
   4. In Phil. 1:12-18 Paul reflected on his imprisonment, yet he had joy. The Gospel was advancing.
   5. We have that well-known passage “To live is Christ” in Phil. 1:19-26.
   6. In Phil. 1:27-30 Paul wrote about living worthy of the Gospel.
   7. Phil. 2 was about humbly serving the Lord.
   8. Then, we come to Phil. 3:1 and rejoicing.
   9. Now, why does the context matter?
   10. The context of the whole Bible is important. I have been giving you the context within this letter, but really this letter fits within the Pauline epistles, the Pauline epistles fit within the New Testament. The New Testament follows the Old Testament. All of that is important. We have to keep all of that in mind. The Old Testament points to Jesus in every book. The New Testament Gospels write about Jesus. The book of Acts gives early church history. The epistles exhort us, but they also do teach theology.
   11. We are in the epistles. Paul is writing a letter to the church at Philippi and to us. He exhorts them and us in unity, joy, and Christian living. This letter is inspired by God.
   12. He has been writing about unity and joy. So, what would threaten that?
   13. He is about to tell us what threatens their unity and their joy.
   14. Philippians 3:2–3 (ESV)
   15. ² Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. ³ For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—
   16. Paul says, “Look out,” or some translations say, “Beware…”
   17. He is concerned. If you are at a baseball game and say, “Look out,” there might be concern about a baseball coming your way. This is a concern.
   18. “Look out for the dogs,” why?
   19. As you likely know, he is not concerned about actual dogs.
   20. “Dogs” was a pejorative term for a group.
   21. I believe he is referring to a group called the “Judaizers.” This group taught that they still needed to keep the Jewish law.
   22. That is why Paul says, “Look out for those who mutilate the flesh.” He is referring to circumcision, and he calls them evildoers. This was settled in Acts 15. Gentiles did not need to keep the Jewish Law except abstain from sexual immorality, meat sacrificed to idols, things strangled, and blood.
   23. In verse 3, Paul says that they are the true circumcision.
   24. Why does he say that?
   25. He explains it. They worship by the Spirit of God. They glory in Christ Jesus. They do not put confidence in the flesh. In other words, they do not put confidence in externals like circumcision.
   26. They worship in Spirit (John 4:23-24).
   27. Paul is talking about a circumcision of the heart.
   28. This verse mentions all three members of the Trinity: “God” (the Father), “Christ Jesus” (the Son), and “the Spirit of God” (the Holy Spirit).^[2]
2. Paul’s confidence in the flesh (Phil. 3:4-6).
   1. Philippians 3:4–6 (ESV)
   2. ⁴ though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: ⁵ circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; ⁶ as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.
   3. When Paul says that they should not have confidence in the flesh, he was the right person to address it.
   4. In Paul’s past, he had some achievements.
   5. He says he has more reasons to have more confidence in the flesh than others.
   6. “Flesh” in this context means human achievements.
   7. Verse 5: circumcised the eighth day… that is how it was supposed to be (Lev. 12:3).
   8. He had not received circumcision in his thirteenth year, as Ishmaelites did, nor later in life, as many Gentiles did who converted to Judaism (e.g., Acts 16:3).^[3]
   9. He is of the people of Israel.
   10. However, Paul will be getting into the idea of circumcision of the heart, which the Old Testament writes about (Jer. 31:31-34; Ezek. 36:26ff).
   11. He is of the tribe of Benjamin. Benjamin was the second son of Rachel (Ge 35:18), and one of the elite tribes of Israel, who along with Judah, remained loyal to the Davidic dynasty and formed the southern kingdom (1Ki 12:21).^[4]
   12. “A Hebrew of Hebrews…” I believe this means that he has ancestry that is Hebrew. He was not a proselyte. Further, this could mean he can read the Scriptures in Hebrew and/or that he spoke Aramaic, the national language of Israel in his day.
   13. As far as the law goes, he was a Pharisee, which means he cared about the law.
   14. Verse 6: as for zeal, he persecuted the church.
   15. He was blameless in righteousness under the law.
   16. He knows what he is talking about.
3. Paul counts his gains as loss for the sake of Christ (Phil. 3:7-11).
   1. Philippians 3:7–11 (ESV)
   2. ⁷ But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸ Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— ¹⁰ that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹ that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
   3. In verses 7-11, Christ is mentioned by name or pronoun 10 times.
   4. Verse 7 is saying that for all those gains that he had mentioned, Paul counts them as loss for the sake of Christ. Jesus is better.
   5. In verse 8, Paul builds on this idea.
   6. He counts everything as loss for the “surpassing” worth of knowing Christ Jesus His Lord.
   7. Knowing Christ is more valuable than anything else.
   8. A little girl came to her father and asked him for a nickel. The father reached in his pocket, but he didn’t have any change. All he had was a twenty-dollar bill. He knew that was a lot of money, but he figured that his daughter had been a good girl. He decided to give her the twenty.
   9. The little girl said, “Oh no, Daddy. You don’t understand. I want a nickel.”
   10. “No, honey, you don’t understand. This is a bunch of nickels. This is a twenty-dollar bill.”
   11. But the little girl didn’t understand. She said, “Daddy, why won’t you give me a nickel?”
   12. He tried to explain. He tried to tell her how many nickels were in a dollar, and how many dollars were in a twenty-dollar bill. She wasn’t getting it.
   13. So she started crying and having a temper tantrum. “Daddy, you said you were going to give me a nickel. Why won’t you give me a nickel?”
   14. That’s exactly what we do. We settle for a nickel when God offers us twenties.^[8]
   15. Notice he says that Jesus is His lord.
   16. Is Jesus your Lord?
   17. He continues saying that he will count them as rubbish in order to gain Christ. Gaining Christ is far better.
   18. Paul continues in verse 9.
   19. He wants to be found in Christ. He wants to be found not having a righteousness of his own from the law, no, a righteousness that comes from faith in Christ.
   20. This righteousness in God depends on faith.
   21. In verse 10, Paul expands on this. He wants to know Him. He wants to know Christ.
   22. How much does he want to know Christ?
   23. It is all loss with the purpose of knowing Him. The direct object of “know” is 3 things:
       1. power of His resurrection,
       2. sharing in His sufferings,
       3. becoming like Him in death…
   24. Power first and then sharing in sufferings. He does not want power to avoid sufferings. We would think the resurrection power could make us avoid suffering, but it is not that kind of power.
   25. What power? Eph 1:16-2:6: The power that raised Jesus from the dead…
   26. Does he think sharing in Christ’s sufferings adds merit to his salvation? No, he likely thinks it is only fair since Christ suffered so much.
   27. He wants to know the power of His resurrection.
   28. He wants to share in His sufferings.
   29. He wants to become like Him in His death.
   30. In verse 11, he closes this part up, based on what he has written, he wants to attain the resurrection by any means possible.
   31. Is this about him trying to earn his salvation?
   32. He probably meant that he wanted the power that resurrected his Savior and was within himself because of the indwelling Christ to manifest itself in his life for God’s glory (cf. Rom 6:4; Col. 3:1; Eph. 2:5–6).^[9]
   33. I believe he is talking about persevering to the end.
   34. Sharing in Christ suffering means more than suffering for Christ but allowing Christ death to shape all of life.
   35. Christ took on the form of a servant, and we take on the form of Christ in His death.
4.  Applications:
   1. Can we only trust in Jesus for salvation and not in works (Phil. 3:2-8)?
   2. Or, are we thinking that we live a good life?
   3. Are we trusting in the externals, such as: baptism, church attendance, Sunday school, etc for merit with God (Phil. 3:2-8)?
   4. Can we count all of those externals as excrement compared to knowing Christ (Phil. 3:8)?
   5. Is knowing Christ the best (Phil. 3:7-11)?
   6. Are we prepared to suffer for Christ (Phil. 3:10-11)?
   7. Are we trusting that our righteousness does not come from works but faith in Christ (Phil. 3:9)?
   8. Are we prepared to persevere to the end (Phil. 3:10-11)?
   9. Are we prepared to stay close to Christ when our family excludes us?
   10. Are we prepared to stay close to Christ if the Bible is illegal?
   11. Are we prepared to stay close to Christ if it is illegal to go to church?
   12. Can we stay true to Christ if our workplace calls us to deny part of the faith? Suppose our workplace will make us condone or endorse abortion? Suppose we are a pharmacist and must sell the morning-after bill or other abortifacients. Can we stay true to Christ?
   13. Suppose we are a pediatrician, nurse, hospital employee, or counselor, and we are required to aid a teenager (or younger child) transition to another sex. Can we stay true to Christ?

In 1856, Henry Brown, a slave in Richmond, Virginia, decided he didn’t want to be a slave anymore. Henry Brown found himself a box, a small wooden crate, and postmarked it to an abolitionist in Philadelphia, which was free territory. Henry Brown got inside the box, sealed the box from the inside, and mailed himself to Philadelphia.

Henry Brown was banking on the U.S. Postal Service to deliver him. He was in slavery and needed to be delivered. The abolitionist got the crate. When he opened the box, Henry Brown stood up, after being in that box for three weeks, and said, “How do you do, sir. My name is Henry Brown and I was a slave. I heard about you being an abolitionist, so I’m entrusting my future to you.” That was a big risk. It was an oxygen risk, a risk of being discovered, and a risk of going hungry. But when Henry Brown stood up in Philadelphia, he was a free man. Henry Brown rejoiced because the risk was well worth the inconvenience. Living a committed Christian life involves taking a risk. It involves having faith that Jesus is going to come through for you. But living a committed Christian life is a risk that is well worth the inconvenience.^[12]

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), 42–43.

^[2] Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2285.

^[3] Tom Constable, Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003), Php 3:5.

^[4] John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), Php 3:5.

^[5] Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2285.

^[6] Biblical Studies Press, The NET Bible First Edition Notes (Biblical Studies Press, 2006), Php 3:5.

^[7] Biblical Studies Press, The NET Bible First Edition Notes (Biblical Studies Press, 2006), Php 3:6–8.

^[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), 43.

^[9] Tom Constable, Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003), Php 3:10.

^[10] R. C. Sproul, ed., The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version (2015 Edition) (Orlando, FL: Reformation Trust, 2015), 2113–2114.

^[11] Tom Constable, Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003), Php 3:11.

^[12] 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), 42.

Rejoice in the Lord! (Phil. 3:1)

Prepared and preached by Pastor Steve Rhodes for and at Bethel Friends Church in Poland, OH on September 10, 2023

Swindoll shares:

It had been a long time since Horace Walpole smiled. Too long. Life for him had become as drab as the weather in dreary old England. Then, on a grim winter day in 1754, while reading a Persian fairy tale, his smile returned. He wrote his longtime friend, Horace Mann, telling him of the “thrilling approach to life” he had discovered from the folk tale.

The ancient tale told of three princes from the island of Ceylon who set out on a pursuit of great treasures. They never found that for which they searched, but en route they were continually surprised by delights they had never anticipated. While looking for one thing, they found another.

The original name of Ceylon was Serendip, which explains the title of this story—“The Three Princes of Serendip.” From that, Walpole coined the wonderful word “serendipity.” And from then on, his most significant and valued experiences were those that happened to him while he was least expecting them.

Serendipity occurs when something beautiful breaks into the monotonous and the mundane. A serendipitous life is marked by “surprisability” and spontaneity.  When we lose our capacity for either, we settle into life’s ruts. We expect little and we’re seldom disappointed.

Though I have walked with God for several decades, I must confess I still find much about Him incomprehensible and mysterious. But this much I know: He delights in surprising us. He dots our pilgrimage from earth to heaven with amazing serendipities.[1]

My theme today is:

Rejoice in the Lord!

1. Let’s start with the context.
   1. Let’s begin by putting Phil. 3:1 in the context of the letter of Philippians. 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. So, after writing about unity and sacrifice, he now takes one verse to remind them to rejoice.
2. Rejoice in the Lord.
   1. Philippians 3:1 (ESV): Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.
   2. Notice how Philippians 3:1 begins with “finally”?
   3. This is more of an attention word, it means “as far as the rest is concerned…”
   4. Paul is not writing out of a burden but out of joy.
   5. He is about to give a warning in Philippians 3:2ff, but first he exhorts them to rejoice.
   6. He will pick up this theme of joy again in Philippians 4.
   7. In Philippians 2:18 Paul wrote about rejoicing.
   8. This is a theme of Philippians.
   9. Notice how he continues to use the language of family.
   10. He calls them, “brothers” or “brothers and sisters.”
   11. He says to “rejoice, ‘in the Lord.”’
   12. MacArthur shares: This, however, is the first time he adds “in the Lord,” which signifies the sphere in which the believers’ joy exists—a sphere unrelated to the circumstances of life, but related to an unassailable, unchanging relationship to the sovereign Lord.^[2]
   13. Rejoice in the Lord.
   14. This is important for him to write.
   15. The verb “rejoice” has to do with being glad, or joyful.
   16. He is saying to “be glad in God.”
   17. He writes that it is okay to write the same thing again.
   18. It would be easy to think he would write to rejoice again, but more likely, he is referring to the following verses. In Philippians 1:27-30 he had already written about their opponents, and now he is about to write about them again.
   19. He writes that it is safe for them that he writes the same thing again.
   20. This is because he is able to keep the church of Philippi from succumbing to false teachers.
3.  Apply
   1. 1. Paul is in a Roman prison, and his living conditions are not that good, but he exhorts them to rejoice. How are we doing with rejoicing?
      2. How are we doing with being happy?
      3. Paul is in a negative situation from the world’s standards but says to rejoice.
      4. In the book, “Rewire Your Brain” the author shares:
      5. You can start to rewire your brain by priming a positive mood through acting as though you are in a good mood when you’re not. Let’s say that you’ve been sad recently and have been pulling back from your friends. Maybe you’ve said to yourself, “I don’t want to put on a happy face.” You should force yourself to call a friend and go out to lunch when you don’t feel like it. Once you are at lunch, even just smiling can activate parts of your brain associated with positive emotions.
      6. Further: Behavioral activation (the left PFC) is one of the principal therapies for depression. Thus, making an effort to put yourself out there helps you lift depression. In fact, “putting on a happy face ” is actually helpful. Here’s how it works: There are neural pathways that link the facial muscles, the cranial nerves, the subcortical areas, and the cortex. Information flows down from the brain to the face and also back up again. For example, if you contract the muscles on the right side of your face, that activates your left hemisphere, which creates the likelihood of a positive emotional bias. In contrast, if you contract the muscles on the left side of your face, that activates your right hemisphere, which creates the likelihood of a negative bias.
      7. Thus, when you force a smile or a frown, you’re triggering the feelings associated with happiness or sadness. By smiling or frowning you send messages to your subcortical and cortical areas that resonate with happy or sad feelings. So put on a happy face—it helps you to feel better![3]
      8. Humor is a boost to your biochemistry. It helps to lower the levels of the stress hormone cortisol while it increases immunoglobulin, natural killer (NK) cells, and plasma cytokine gamma interferon levels. Immunoglobulin consists of the antibodies that help the immune system to fight infections; it serves as one of the body’s primary defense mechanisms. NK cells seek out and destroy abnormal cells; they are a key mechanism for what is called immunosurveillance. Plasma cytokine gamma interferon orchestrates or regulates anticellular activities and turns on specific parts of the immune system. If you are able to develop a sense of humor about yourself, you’ll find that incredibly liberating. It ensures that you don’t take your current situation and yourself too seriously. Laughing at yourself allows you to see yourself as part of a greater whole.[4]
      9. So, regardless of our situation, if we try to find an optimistic attitude, if we try to smile, if we try to find humor, it will make us happy.
      10. In this way, we need to be happy in God.
      11. Paul says to rejoice.
      12. We must rejoice even in hard times.
      13. We must rejoice “in the Lord.” We can only rejoice “in the Lord.”
      14. Are we glad in God? That is what “rejoice” means.
      15. Are we happy in God?
      16. No matter what happens politically, can we be happy in God?
      17. Can we be happy in God when we do not have much (Phil. 4:11-13)?
      18. Can we be happy in God when we have plenty (Phil. 4:11-13)?
      19. Can we rejoice in God, being happy in God, when the day does not go as planned?
      20. When we have that unexpected phone call, or text message, or flat tire, can we still praise Him? Can we still rejoice? Can we still be thankful? Can we still be happy in God? Maybe without that flat tire you would have hit a deer.
      21. Can we find ways to see ways to give God praise?
      22. Can we find ways to rejoice?
      23. Can we look for the good, look for God moments?

Piper:

No one had ever taught me that God is glorified by our joy in him — that joy in God is the very thing that makes our praise an honor to God, and not hypocrisy.

But Jonathan Edwards said it so clearly and powerfully:

God glorifies himself towards the creatures also [in] two ways: (1) by appearing to . . . their understanding; (2) in communicating himself to their hearts, and in their rejoicing and delighting in, and enjoying the manifestations which he makes of himself. . . . God is glorified not only by his glory’s being seen, but by its being rejoiced in. . . .

[W]hen those that see it delight in it: God is more glorified than if they only see it. . . . He that testifies his idea of God’s glory [doesn’t] glorify God so much as he that testifies also his approbation of it and his delight in it.

This was a stunning discovery for me. I must pursue joy in God if I am to glorify him as the surpassingly valuable Reality in the universe. Joy is not a mere option alongside worship. It is an essential component of worship. Indeed the very essence of worship — being glad in the glories of God.[5]

Prayer

[1] Taken from Day by Day with Charles Swindoll by Charles R. Swindoll. Copyright © 2000 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. Used by permission of Thomas Nelson. www.thomasnelson.com. https://insight.org/resources/daily-devotional/individual/expecting-the-unexpected1

^[2] John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), Php 3:1.

[3] Arden, John B.. Rewire Your Brain (pp. 50-52). Wiley. Kindle Edition.

[4] Ibid., 53.

[5] Devotional excerpted from Desiring God, pages 22–23 https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/the-most-liberating-discovery?utm_campaign=Daily%20Email&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=77388006&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-80hlIdQ7oOE_HGobjYMoEmBtPHH06nmtlSOuEUD3Bt_4rTpGw_Su-AraQzfeZIhZ-tU0l2sdTiWnDMf-VMUH6mX9l24g&_hsmi=77388006

Epaphroditus, Another Example of Self-Sacrifice (Phil. 2:25-30)

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

What a friend we have in Jesus,

All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer!

Chuck Swindoll shares:

The words of that old hymn “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” remind us that Jesus is not just our God, Savior, and King, but also our close, personal friend. He’s available to anyone at any time. He exemplifies selfless humility, sacrificial love, and patience toward people who could never repay His affection.

In the body of Christ we’ve also been given others who reflect in real, tangible ways the immeasurable friendship of Christ. For Paul, Timothy and Epaphroditus were such friends who exhibited Christlike character. Let’s consider the two kinds of friendship encountered in Philippians.^[1]

Today, we look at Phil. 2:25-30.

My theme today is:

Epaphroditus, Another Example of Self-Sacrifice (Phil. 2:25-30)

1. First, let’s talk about the context.
   1. In Phil. 2:1-4, Paul wrote about unity and self-sacrificial behavior.
   2. In Phil. 2:5-11, Paul gave the example of Christ.
   3. In Phil. 2:12-18, Paul wrote about Christian behavior.
   4. In Phil. 2:19-24, Paul gave the example of Timothy.
   5. Now, Paul gives the example of Epaphroditus.
2. Epaphroditus, the soldier (Phil. 2:25).
   1. 2:25: I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need…
   2. Paul says that he thought it necessary to send Epaphroditus. It is as if he is thinking out loud.
   3. He calls him a “brother” as well as a fellow worker.
   4. He also calls him a “fellow soldier.”
   5. He is not a literal “soldier” but a “soldier” in his work. He works for the faith like a “soldier.”
   6. He ministers to Paul’s need.
   7. These modifiers describe Epaphroditus: brother, fellow worker, fellow soldier, messenger, and minister.
   8. One shares: Paul is playing chess, not checkers. With Chess, you must be a few moves ahead; with checkers, you just must be one move ahead. He thinks about sending Epaphroditus, but he knows how they will receive him (Phil 2:29).[2]
   9. It is possible, maybe probable, that Epaphroditus would be carrying the letter with him.
   10. Swindoll shares: Epaphroditus had been sent to Rome to minister to Paul, but shortly after arriving the man became terribly ill. Ultimately he recovered, but not before a long struggle where he lingered at death’s door. News of his illness might have traveled back to Philippi, and the man was concerned that his friends back home would be worried about him. Furthermore, when he returned earlier than expected, some might think he returned as a quitter, so Paul was careful to write strong words in his defense.[3]
   11. In Phil. 4:18 Paul references him again.
   12. Phil. 4:18: 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.
   13. One source shares: The name Epaphroditus, meaning “charming” or “handsome,” was common in the Graeco-Roman world. Epaphroditus is mentioned twice in the New Testament—both times in the Letter to the Philippians (Phil 2:25; 4:18). Epaphroditus seems to have functioned as a leader in the church in Philippi. Paul calls him the church’s messenger (ἀπόστολος, apostolos, “one who is sent”), brother (i.e., he was a Christian), fellow worker, and fellow soldier (Phil 2:25).^[4]
   14. When Epaphroditus first arrived, he brought a gift of money from the Philippians. This tells us the people back home trusted him completely. When he gave the gift to Paul, he brought enormous encouragement to the apostle . . . but shortly thereafter, Epaphroditus fell ill. So the apostle writes with deep affection, referring to him as, “brother . . . fellow worker . . . fellow soldier . . . messenger . . . minister to my need.” I’d call those admirable qualities in a friend.[5]
   15. Bishop Lightfoot says that Epaphroditus was one in “common sympathy, common work, and common danger and toil and suffering”[6]
   16. It does seem that Epaphroditus is a good friend to the Apostle Paul.
   17. The great Roman statesman Cicero said, “He, indeed, who looks into the face of a friend beholds, as it were, a copy of himself.”^[7]
   18. Epaphroditus is a good friend.
   19. It was risky even to visit a prisoner. The visitor would be prejudged for visiting the prisoner.
   20. In the early church there were societies of men and women who called themselves the parabolani, that is, the riskers or gamblers. They ministered to the sick and imprisoned, and they saw to it that, if at all possible, martyrs and sometimes even enemies would receive an honorable burial. Thus in the city of Carthage during the great pestilence of A.D. 252 Cyprian, the bishop, showed remarkable courage. In self-sacrificing fidelity to his flock, and love even for his enemies, he took upon himself the care of the sick, and bade his congregation nurse them and bury the dead. What a contrast with the practice of the heathen who were throwing the corpses out of the plague-stricken city and were running away in terror![8]
   21. Are we self-sacrificing friends to others? Can we be counted on? Paul is in prison; it was risky to visit him, but still, Epaphroditus was willing. What are we willing to do and sacrifice for those in need? Can we sacrifice our status?
3. Epaphroditus’s sickness (Phil. 2:26-30):
   1. Philippians 2:26–30 (ESV) ²⁶ for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. ²⁷ Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. ²⁸ I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. ²⁹ So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, ³⁰ for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.
   2. About verse 28, one writes: But Paul’s anxiety reflected his love for them. As C.S. Lewis said, “To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken” (The Four Loves, 121).[9]
   3. In verse 26, we see that Paul continues to write about Epaphroditus.
   4. He has been longing for them.
   5. We learn that he is ill. We learn that he is distressed because he heard that they knew he was ill. They knew he was sick, and that caused him distress.
   6. Fee: How the Philippians had learned of Epaphroditus’s illness cannot now be known. It is usually assumed that he took ill in Rome and that a courier, going by way of Philippi, carried the news to them. But another scenario seems more promising. Given that Epaphroditus was probably carrying a considerable sum of money, it is altogether unlikely that he was traveling alone (cf. 2 Cor 11:9, where the same Philippian service to Paul is brought by “brothers,” plural). Very likely Epaphroditus took ill on the way to Rome, and one of his traveling companions returned to Philippi with that news (which is how Epaphroditus knew they knew) while another (or others) stayed with him as he continued on his way to Rome, even though doing so put his life at great risk (Phil 2:30). This view is favored in particular by the way Paul phrases verse 30: risking his life in order that he might fulfill his mission on behalf of Philippi.^[10]
   7. Maybe he was one who did not like to draw attention to himself. He wanted to serve them, not the other way around.
   8. Verse 27 gives more detail about his illness. His sickness was near death, but God spared him.
   9. Swindoll: This was the man who risked it all for the sake of his call to the service of Christ. Are you willing to join the ranks of Epaphroditus? Truth is, every time you minister to someone in need, you risk something. Every time. You risk being taken advantage of. You risk being misunderstood. You risk being ostracized. In fact, there is no ministry without some kind of risk, great or small. It seems to me that we’ve become a complacent people, seeking comfort and control over our lives rather than taking even minimal risks for the gospel. Are you willing to start risking for Christ? Have you felt the Spirit nudging you toward certain ministry decisions that might rock your world? Let me tell you, the risk is worth it.
   10. How do you respond to an Epaphroditus in your life? You hold that person in high regard. You don’t scold him. You don’t despise her. You don’t say, “Why are you wasting your time and risking everything for this? Think about your future!” Instead, you lend your prayers, your support, and your encouragement. Of course, when you do that, you step into the Order of Epaphroditus yourself, because inevitably somebody will say to you, “You’re a fool to waste your time on somebody as reckless as that!”^[11]
   11. Do we realize that when we are spared, we are spared because of God?
   12. Paul says that God spared him. Paul would have been sorrowful if God had called Epaphroditus home. This speaks to Paul’s love for his co-worker in ministry.
   13. Notice also that God did not heal Epaphroditus dramatically. It seems that this verse speaks to God giving the body the ability to gradually fight off the illness.
   14. Look at 2 Tim. 4:20: Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus.
   15. Sometimes we act like everyone must be Divinely healed or their faith is weak. The Apostle Paul had healed the sick and raised the dead (Acts 14:8; 20:7-12), but sometimes people were not healed or not healed dramatically. In 2 Cor. 12, Paul was not healed.
   16. We must pray for God’s will and trust Him (James 4:15).
   17. In verse 28, Paul is “more eager” to send him. This is because they will rejoice at seeing him again.
   18. This is a great example of close companionship.
   19. Of course, this makes more sense if he was one of the leaders in their church.
   20. Do we rejoice to see each other?
   21. Paul says that he will be less anxious when they see him. This has caused some thinking and writing because in Phil. 4:6-7, we are exhorted NOT to be anxious. However, “anxious” can be translated as “concerned.” Paul is concerned for them. It is good to be concerned, but worry is unhealthy.
   22. Although Timothy’s departure for Philippi will await the resolution of Paul’s legal appeal, Paul is dispatching Epaphroditus immediately, probably bearing this epistle, to reassure the Philippians’ concerns over Epaphroditus’s health and Paul’s situation, to express thanks for the gift Epaphroditus had brought, and to address other pastoral concerns.^[12]
   23. In verse 29, they are exhorted to receive him, how? Receive him “in the Lord.” It is the Lord Who binds us together.
   24. They are to receive him with joy.
   25. They are to honor men like him. Why? It is because of his service for the gospel (1 Tim. 3:1; Hebrews 13:7, 17; James 3:1).
   26. In verse 30, Paul gives more reasons to honor him. This clues us into his sacrifice. He almost died for the gospel. He risked his life to complete what was was lacking in their service to him.
   27. Epaphroditus had faced this peril on behalf of the Philippians, who had desired to send gifts to support Paul but had not been able to do so (what was lacking in your service to me) until Epaphroditus made it possible (see 4:10, 18).^[13]

Sacrifice, Swindoll writes:

This reminds me of the six-year-old girl who became deathly ill with a dread disease. To survive, she needed a blood transfusion from someone who had previously conquered the same illness. The situation was complicated by her rare blood type. Her nine-year-old brother qualified as a donor, but everyone was hesitant to ask him since he was just a lad. Finally they agreed to have the doctor pose the question.

The attending physician tactfully asked the boy if he was willing to be brave and donate blood for his sister. Though he didn’t understand much about such things, the boy agreed without hesitation: “Sure, I’ll give my blood for my sister.”

He lay down beside his sister and smiled at her as they pricked his arm with the needle. Then he closed his eyes and lay silently on the bed as the pint of blood was taken.

Soon thereafter the physician came in to thank the little fellow. The boy, with quivering lips and tears running down his cheeks, asked, “Doctor, when do I die?” At that moment the doctor realized that the naive little boy thought that by giving his blood, he was giving up his life. Quickly he reassured the lad that he was not going to die, but amazed at his courage, the doctor asked, “Why were you willing to risk your life for her?”

“Because she is my sister . . . and I love her,” was the boy’s simple but significant reply. So it was between Epaphroditus and his brother in Rome . . .[14]

Prayer

^[1] Charles R. Swindoll, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, vol. 9, Swindoll’s Living Insights New Testament Commentary (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2017), 59.

[2] Dr. White, Cedarville University Chapel, 01.25.2021

[3] Swindoll, Charles R.. Laugh Again (pp. 118-119). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.

^[4] Jeffrey E. Miller, “Epaphroditus,” ed. John D. Barry et al., The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016).

[5] Swindoll, Charles R.. Laugh Again (p. 119). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.

[6] Ibid.

^[7] Charles R. Swindoll, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, vol. 9, Swindoll’s Living Insights New Testament Commentary (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2017), 60.

[8] Swindoll, Charles R.. Laugh Again (p. 120). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.

[9] https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/safe-to-feel-deeply?utm_campaign=Daily%20Email&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=73918595&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_ClWbI80SKZvKf5rALtivl-pb4rUjn1BxpnEERoeggSQQT3Fh-DLaUCP9iK7juTTt6s79yZIYR_9CPOy0moEtmLRp5dQ&_hsmi=73918595

^[10] Gordon D. Fee, Philippians, vol. 11, The IVP New Testament Commentary Series (Westmont, IL: IVP Academic, 1999), 123.

^[11] Charles R. Swindoll, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, vol. 9, Swindoll’s Living Insights New Testament Commentary (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2017), 60.

^[12] R. C. Sproul, ed., The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version (2015 Edition) (Orlando, FL: Reformation Trust, 2015), 2112.

^[13] Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2284.

[14] Swindoll, Charles R.. Laugh Again (pp. 120- 121). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.