The Life of Christ Continues #7 (Studies in Philippians)
Text: Philippians 4:8-23
Peace is the dream of so many people in our world today. We long for the day when nations will no longer be at war with one another. When neighbours in the world can treat each other as brothers and sisters in human family. We greatly desire that our own lives and homes be one of peace. We can become so conflicted in an all too complicated world and we just want a little peace. At times we make efforts in our career choices or with our financial aspirations just so we can live comfortably and then we sit and worry over those very things that are supposed to make our lives more peaceful.
Who has not known the burden of the things of this world burning us out?
We don’t have time, we don’t have resources, we don’t have and you can fill in the blank. Just look at the things our world says you need to have:
enough time at work to build up enough financial resources so you can retire comfortably or survive a tragedy of some kind. Enough quality family time so your kids can grow up functional and your spouse and you do not drift apart. Enough time by yourself because you deserve a break and you will just simply go crazy if you do not. Enough time with God so you can remain grounded and don’t get thrown off course in this great ‘wind in every direction’ kind of world. (Yes, the world today does allow you to fit some time with God into your schedule: just not too much because you won’t get the most out of life). Enough time with others at large because you need your social standings to tell you who you are.
Is it any wonder we live in a world that is short on peace?
It seems we are short on everything but peace! And, when one or many of these things are not being met the only thing we can do is sacrifice something else. It all comes down to what is really top priority?
Is it more important that my kids have a good inheritance when I die or have a good part of me as I live?
Is it more important that I take enough time for myself so I can remain sane longer or give of myself to others even if I die 5 years earlier?
But then we meet Jesus and he brings us a different slant on how to view life in this world. You might say he brings to us an ‘out of this world-view’ of things!
In the gospel of Mark chapter 10 Jesus had a very outrageous conversation with his disciples where he flat out told them that it is very difficult for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven! He makes no apologies and gives no slack:
how difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! (See verse 23-27)
Then he talks about how with men it is impossible to receive salvation but with God all things are possible.
Which leads us to Peter’s great statement! Self-denial! People who give up everything in this world to follow Jesus. Look at what he says (vs.28)—what did they leave?
All!
What does Jesus say in return? Those who give up for my sake and the gospels will receive a hundredfold in this time and eternal life in the age to come!
Listen, giving up some things in this life is better or greater.
Paul’s letter to the Philippians is a letter on how the life of Christ is to continue in the church. He speaks in there about the life of self-denial. This is really important for people of faith today.
He spoke about how the finished product is still to come. Because of this there are things that can happen to you in this life that maybe not what you would order but can work out as a blessing. Paul was in prison and some people might have thought it was devastating but he saw it as an avenue for God to do some greater work.
How can you have peace in a world that does not give you everything you want?
When things do not work out the way you want?
You look at things differently; you look at things like Jesus would. Jesus gave up every thing that was his by right (the glory in heaven) and allowed himself to be humiliated through the death on the cross. If Jesus could do that????
This is a good question for Christians to ask.
We now come to the end of this wonderful letter. The apostle wants his favourite church to experience the peace of God and know what it is like to live life ‘in the Lord.’
My friends, follow my example because we are citizens of heaven and we are going to be with Jesus one day.
Last week he spoke about a conflict between two women in the church there that really needed to be dissolved. Paul wasn’t necessarily concerned with who was right and wrong (some people will justify almost anything said or done to another if they are in ‘the right’) but he is concerned with the family of God acting as God would have them act.
Remember, they were to be anxious over nothing, rejoice in the Lord always and remember to show their reasonableness to all (not just some). A key in all of this was prayer to God.
The peace of God will act as a guardian over your hearts and minds. While this is true Paul has some more insight into the joyful & peaceful lifestyle of the Christian.
4:8,9- the problem with conflict is that we have a choice to make with how we are going to think. We can choose to always think about the negative stuff when we think about the person we are in conflict with. You can decide for yourself if that is the path of joy & peace. Or, Paul says there are other ways to think. (NLT—Fix your thoughts)
Notice what Paul suggests here: we are responsible for the way we think. He also puts forward that the right thinking will shape proper conduct. So, what does he ask us to think about:
true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and commendable. Imagine if when thinking about our brothers and sisters in Christ we thought about these traits:
what would that do to our church spirit?
If there is any excellence or virtue & anything worthy of praise think about these.
Paul goes on and basically uses himself as their example again:
what you have learned, received, heard & seen in me- do!
What will happen Paul?
The God of peace will be with you. That unexplainable peace I spoke about is something I have.
Did Paul really do this before their eyes?
We already saw how Paul could actually rejoice over people who were trying to hurt him by preaching Christ. With Rome there was a great peace in the world. Conflicts between men had ceased for a large part of the world. The problem was that this peace was always vulnerable—it rested in the power of man. Paul tells these citizens of Rome who had become citizens of heaven—you can have the peace of God that is not vulnerable.
Vs.10- Paul gets to his final message:
what you have done for me is great. Here is a man who is questioning whether or not he is in the last days of his life in prison and his friends have sent him some gifts. They hadn’t been able to do it for awhile because they had no opportunity. What was this lack of opportunity?
- No messenger to bring it? Or
- they were extremely poor?
Vs.11,12- Paul is a smooth writer—I don’t want you to think I was under hardship because of this. Listen to what he is saying here:
I am really detached from the anxieties of this world. The situations of the world don’t take my peace away. Was this natural?
Not at all—I learned it. How did you learn it?
Through painful experience. If you look back at his instructions on how to rejoice always—maybe through praying to God (4:6).
As a citizen of heaven I have learned to be content in the world. (1 Timothy 6:6, 2 Corinthians 9:8) Socrates said ‘he who is wealthiest is he that is content with least.’
How did this learning affect him?
I have learned the secret of both plenty & hunger, abundance & need. When someone’s joy is in the Lord does this become easier?
Paul is going somewhere here. He is talking about their gift to him and he is explaining he didn’t urgently need it. Why?
Vs.13- Now, Paul clarifies something: I am not this way by myself. Only in Christ have I been able to get here. (2 Corinthians 9:7,8) I am strong only in the one who strengthens me. If Jesus didn’t, I couldn’t. This is not the football player praying before the big game. This is enabling one to be content in the situation he is faced with.
What are the real reasons to give?
Vs.14-18- Here is the question, if Paul was not really in need was he ungrateful?
Not at all—it was kind of you to share my trouble and he talks about their history together—you were the only church with me in giving and receiving at the beginning of the Gospel. Notice the giving and receiving: they gave to Paul and is he saying Paul gave to them?
Notice how Paul clears himself again—not that I seek the gift. I don’t have a direct interest in the gift. He is not giving them a hint he wants more.
Why should the Philippians give?
Why should we?
Notice: not that there is a need—we are blessed for doing so. Acts 20:35.
This is not saying we ignore needs, it’s saying we don’t just give when there is a need.
Listen to Paul—I seek the fruit increased to your credit. Your interest in heaven’s bank account.
I have received a full payment but your gift really is a sweet sacrifice to God. Listen, it is worship.
19,20- God will repay. He takes care of me. For what you’ve done for me, my God will care for you. You give to me so the God I serve will care for you. How?
According to the riches in Christ Jesus. What riches?
Will they be taken care of financially?
Spiritually?
Every need!
Therefore—to ‘our’ God (not just mine, ours) we both can praise our God & Father—what is our praise? Glory!
21-23- Paul closes this out with some final greetings.
With this letter, Epaphroditus would return home to Philippi with a greater gift for them then they had sent to Paul:
the Book of Philippians.
This book was written from a dark Roman dungeon where someone might simply wait his days in deep despair—instead Paul wrote about the incredible light of a new day. Jesus Christ is coming one day and when that day comes what we have been saved for will be realized. In the meantime, we live our lives in this world recognizing what this world really consists of:
nothing to sacrifice the truly important things for. As such we can learn to be content today knowing that the best is yet to come. Let’s stand and sing…
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