Bad Influence

Can you remember when you were growing up how easy it was to be influenced by someone else? Sometimes we refer to peer pressure as a very influential thing among school children. Among these influences, we know that some are good and some are bad. We as parents know what kind of influences other children are on our children, especially those who are bad influences. While we can’t make their decisions for them, we do hope that our children will be more influenced by the good people around them and follow their advice and example. In 1 Kings chapter twelve there is a story about a king who got some good and bad advice, and we are told this king decided to follow the bad advice. Shortly after the reign of the wisest king who ever lived, being Solomon, his son Rehoboam was to be made king by all Israel at Shechem. There was an assembly of Israel which included Jeroboam who came to request that Rehoboam lighten their load from how hard Solomon had been on them by making their yoke heavy. If Rehoboam would do this, then they would serve him. Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served Solomon, and they told him to be a servant to them and grant them their petition. Unfortunately, there were some other people who influenced him. Rehoboam decided to forsake the counsel of the elders and listen instead to the young men who grew up with him and served him. They told Rehoboam: “Thus you shall say to this people who spoke to you, saying, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, now you make it lighter for us!’ But you shall speak to them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s loins! ‘Whereas my father loaded you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke; my father discipline you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.’” (1 Kings 12:10-11). Upon the unfolding of these events, we know that Israel rebelled and eventually Jeroboam the son of Nebat became the king of Israel while Rehoboam became the king of Judah, the start of what we know as the Divided Kingdom which was prophesied in 1 Kings 11:30-32. Ahijah had prohesied that the kingdom would be torn from the hand of Rehoboam and given to Jeroboam, though Rehoboam would still have one tribe. My how things can change by listening to unwise counsel from younger men instead of taking the wise counsel of elders! However, this was to fulfill what had been prophesied by Ahijah. Can you look back on your life and see where you took some bad advice? I’m sure we can all relate to this story in some shape, form or fashion. We need to be really careful about who our influences are in this life. What we are influenced to do in this life will have a direct correlation with where we will spend the next life. What are you being influenced to do?

The Father Seeks Such Worshipers

Some of you may be aware, but we are in the middle of a sermon series on worship at the North View Church of Christ. I decided to title this series "The Father Seeks Such Worshipers" based on what Jesus said in John 4:23. Last Sunday we spent time dealing with the Lord's Supper, which was titled "Commemorating Christ." I wanted to preach on that first in this series since it is such an integral part of worship. This coming Sunday the lesson will be titled "He Gave Me a Song," which will center around the singing portion of our worship to God.

I hope if you are in the Columbia, TN area looking for a church home, you will consider coming to see us. We would love to have you in Bible class and worship with us. Bible classes meet at 9:30 on Sunday mornings, followed by worship at 10:30. This Sunday evening we will meet at 5:00 which will be followed by Trunk or Treat. We have a Wednesday morning Bible class at 10:00 as well as our midweek services at 7:00 p.m. For those of you who work on Sundays which might keep you from our regular services, we also have an early morning service on Sunday at 5:30.

Make your plans to join us whenever you have the chance. We would love to get to know you.
Also, I am working on trying to get my audio sermons on the blog. I did this when I was on staff at West 7th, but now that I am at North View it has not happened yet. Thanks for your patience.

He Died with No One's Regret

We have probably all been to a funeral home at some point in time to stop by and pay our respects to the family members who have lost a loved one. When we make an appearance at the visitation or the funeral, it is a way for us to show that the individual was special to us, or it can also be a way to show our support for the family members whom we might know. What would happen if someone from our community died and no one showed up to Oakes and Nichols to pay their respects? That would be awful! It would appear that it didn’t really matter to anyone that this individual had departed from this life. Wouldn’t that be awful if no one regretted your death?

Believe it or not there was a king of Judah who died with no one’s regret. His name was Jehoram, and he wound up paying the price for being an evil king. Let us take a look at what led up to this description in 2 Chronicles 21 of Jehoram’s death. One of the first evil things that Jehoram did was kill his brothers with the sword (4). Next, he struck down the Edomites who revolted against the rule of Judah (8-9) [this was probably for the same reason that Libnah revolted against his rule, “because he had forsaken the Lord God of his fathers” (10)]. Next, he made the high places in Judah’s mountains which caused Judah to play the harlot (12).

Elijah finally writes a letter to Jehoram which told him a great calamity was going to come upon his people, his sons, his wives and his possessions and he himself would suffer from a bowel disease because of the evil he had committed (12-15). All of this plays out just as Elijah said. The Lord stirred up the Philistines and Arabs who invaded Judah and carried away all the king’s possessions, his wives and his children except Jehoahaz who was the youngest son (16-17). God struck Jehoram with the bowel disease so that his bowels eventually came out at the end of two years, which was a very painful death (18-19).

It is in the aftermath of all of this where we find the recorded words:

And his people made no fire for him like the fire for his fathers. He was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years; and he departed with no one’s regret, and they buried him in the city of David, but not in the tombs of the kings (19-20)

Because of the evil he had done, Jehoram wasn’t given a proper funeral or burial. There is a country song titled “You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone.” That wasn’t the case in this story. He literally died without the regrets of others. Let us realize the impacts that our lives have on others. I don’t know of a more insulting phrase about someone’s death than “...he departed with no one’s regret...” (20).

You Would Do What for Them?

There may be times in life when others are in a bad situation that we want to help them get out of, and we might even be able to risk our well-being to do so. Usually the person you feel that way about is a family member to whom you have a very close tie. As husbands we are to have the type of love for our wives that Christ has for the church, for which he was willing to lay down his life (Eph. 5:25). Whether we are willing to die, suffer injury, or anything else that a selfless person might be willing to do, would you be willing to go to Hell so that your kinsmen could be saved?

You may be wondering why I would ask such a question because we would never be put in such a position as this. The motivation behind this discussion lies in Paul’s desire for his Israelite brethren who had not obeyed the Gospel. In writing to the church at Rome, he says:

I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh, who are Israelites... (Rom. 9:1-4).

Paul was essentially saying that he would be willing to forfeit his own salvation if it meant that the Israelites who were lost could be saved. One of the things this statement from Paul tells me is his concern for lost souls. If forfeiting his own soul meant the attainment of salvation for many Israelites, he would be willing to do that.

What is another person’s salvation worth to you? Examining this statement from Paul ought to make us reevaluate what the souls of those who are lost are worth. 

What Are You Imitating?

Recently in a gospel meeting at Christiana I imitated a weedeater. No, I didn’t mow the people down like blades of grass; rather I did an impersonation where I sounded like a weedeater. Little did I know that it was such a hit that was what the majority of the talk was about after the sermon. When someone does an imitation of something, they are trying to look or sound like it. When the imitation is a good one, you know that it was really close to the real deal. That’s what impersonators are good at, especially when it comes to what they can do with their voices. While I don’t claim to be a master impersonator, the weedeater is probably one of my best sound effects. I know how to imitate that sound.

The apostle Paul told the church at Corinth to “Be ye imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1 ASV). The best thing we could ever imitate is the Lord. If you really stop and think about it, the name Christian means Christ-like. We are supposed to be like Christ in our actions each and every day. He came down to live on this earth to give us the perfect example of how to follow God. Even though none of us has seen God face to face, the Son of God explained Him (Jn. 1:18). There was no one better than Jesus to provide that perfect example and to show us what the Father was like by His actions and teachings. The apostle Peter says “...because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that ye should follow his steps” (1 Pet. 2:21). Though Peter was contextually speaking of persecution, I think we can see that our entire lives should be following in the steps of Christ.

What are you imitating? While it is fun at times to imitate different things of this earth, our ultimate focus of imitation needs to be that of Christ Jesus. I can do a pretty good job of imitating a weedeater, but how good is my effort to imitate Christ? Just like people in the audience last night were paying attention to how effective my sound effect was going to be, even more people are watching our efforts to try to imitate the Lord.

Seeking the Lost

This morning on the news I saw a story where three elk were spotted on 840 near the Carters Creek Pike intersection at Burwood. While that may sound strange, I had a hunch that they might have escaped from captivity somewhere locally. I have seen elk kept in pens here in middle Tennessee. Sure enough, the report was that they had gotten loose from their owner, and he was unwilling to go after them. The TWRA reported that the owner would be liable if these elk caused a traffic accident. I began to wonder why he didn’t want to go after them, because they belonged to him.

As Christians, we are the sheep who are in the care of the Good Shepherd (Jn. 10:11). If any among our number strays and wanders away from the fold, we know that the Lord wants us to come back. Examine the words of the Lord when He was responding to the shepherds, the spiritual leaders of Israel who had not taken care of the sheep: “For thus says the Lord God, ‘Behold, I Myself will search for my sheep and seek them out...I will seek the lost, bring back the scattered, bind up the broken, and strengthen the sick...’” (Ezek. 34:11,16).

One of the ways the Lord seeks after His sheep who have strayed from the fold is by using His shepherds. The elders of the church are those who have the responsibility of watching after the souls of those in the congregation. In speaking of the elders’ responsibility to the church, the writer of Hebrews says “...they keep watch over your souls, as those who will give an account...” (13:17). This is a responsibility of the eldership which cannot be taken lightly, as souls are at stake. Those who are shepherds have to be concerned about the spiritual well-being of the sheep, and when they go missing a search and rescue effort must be attempted.

Another of the ways the Lord seeks after His sheep who have wandered away is by using the sheep who are still in the fold. James says: “My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth, and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death, and will cover a multitude of sins (5:19-20). Also in reference to bringing someone back to where they need to be, Paul says:

 “Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted” (Gal. 6:1).

So not only is it a prime responsibility of the shepherds of the flock of God, but it is also our personal responsibility as Christians to attempt to rescue the sheep that have gone astray. Do you know someone who has strayed from the flock? Has anybody contacted them? The Lord is concerned about His sheep, and we who are part of the flock whether as sheep or His shepherds need to be searching. Jesus said “’What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it?’” (Lk. 15:4). Let us make sure we are seeking the lost.

The Things That Are God's

Have you ever been trapped? No, I’m not talking about stepping in a trap for wild animals; rather, I’m talking about being trapped by someone in a conversation. Sometimes people can try to trap us into saying something. We know by reading the Scriptures that there were many times that the Jews tried to trap Jesus into saying something that they might use against Him. One of these passages is found in Mark 12:13-17.

In order to trap Jesus, the Pharisees and Herodians wanted Jesus to answer whether or not it was lawful to pay a poll-tax to Caesar. Jesus answered their hypocritical motives by asking them why they were testing Him, and then He proceeds to have them bring him a denarius. Upon asking whose image is on the coin, they reply Caesar. Jesus then answers by saying “’Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s’” (17).

For years I thought Jesus was referring to money, in that we pay the government and we give as we’ve been prospered to God. However, in a conversation with Chris Lockhart he talked about how we are made in God’s image. Ever since then I have looked at this passage with the interpretation that it is our lives that Jesus was talking about rendering to God.

Paul says: “I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship” (Rom. 12:1). He also says to the Corinthian church: “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body” (1 Cor. 6:19-20).

While obeying the authorities is important (Rom. 13:1-7), we need to remember that rendering our lives to God is even more important. When is the last time you contemplated that you were made in the image of God? If we are made in his image, how should that impact the way we live our lives? I hope you think of this the next time you look at a coin with someone’s image on it.

Horsing Around for Turkeys

It was a fifteen minute walk to the private property this writer had permission to hunt, because you had to travel across a WMA to get there. The lunchtime drill was real simple: don’t spend too much time looking for turkeys because it’s technically during lunch break. After parking the car, this hunter put on his camouflage, his turkey vest and took off down the trail with his shotgun. This was the first attempt at the 2013 spring season for Tennessee turkeys, and the hunter didn’t know what to expect once he reached the view of the property line back toward the river. The writer was about to have an encounter with several animals, but they weren’t turkeys.

Having neared the opening of the property line where there was a big field, the writer was about to cross a horse trail when he heard horses. There were about five or six people, possibly all family members, on a leisurely ride through the WMA. “Great” he thought, “that’s going to make for a splendid hunt,” knowing he probably wouldn’t see anything now that they had come through. No sooner had that thought left his mind, the gentleman on the front horse said “I heard a gobbler about fifteen minutes ago back toward the river, and he was pretty close!” He went on to describe to this hunter how to get back there without being detected. What he didn’t know was this writer had hunted in the exact spot he was talking about last year with his mother, Kathy Butt, veteran outdoor writer and wildlife photographer. The turkeys had given us the slip on that hunt, but this was a new opportunity.

This hunter thanked them for the information and pondered if he should go with the man’s suggestion or go check the field on the private property. Hmmm, decisions! The gut instinct was saying “listen to the man on the horse; at least he heard the gobbler, because who knows where else other birds might be.” After going with that decision, this hunter snuck up to the small circular patch of trees at the top of the corn field in order to peek around the other side to see if the gobbler was in view. When nothing was visible, a setup was procured in the same spot this writer and his mother had been last year.

Instead of putting on a facemask, this hunter decided to make a few calls on his trusty slate. With the gun propped up in the lap, a few delicate yelps and cuts were made to see if the gobbler would answer. Having made about four series of calls, it was beginning to make this hunter wonder exactly where this turkey was. About five minutes into the setup, the thunderous gobble erupted from just off to this hunter’s right from the corner of the corn field. Without any hesitation there was a desperate scrambling for the facemask which was placed on the head just in time to catch a glimpse of the tom. He was making his way toward the sound of the deceptive slate call this hunter had used just seconds ago. The time elapsed from the sound of his gobble to the time he appeared to this hunter was approximately ten seconds. There wasn’t even enough time to make sure the facemask was tied tight around the head.

The gobbler made his way closer to this hunter with a couple of other birds with him, though it was uncertain whether they were jakes or hens. This writer’s guess is that they were jakes the way they were coming in to the call. This hunter was so focused in on the tom that the other turkeys were afterthoughts. As he approached the direction in which the gun barrel was pointed, the audible tones of spitting could be heard when he would pull his neck down into his strutting body. This bird was about to be as close as he was going to get when he pulled his head down one more time as this hunter swung his gun around to take the shot at twenty-five yards. Cancel Christmas!

Approximately ten minutes had elapsed from the time this hunter sat down to the time the bird was successfully harvested. It doesn’t happen much quicker than that. When moments like that take place it makes you think about all the times you go out in the field without seeing or hearing turkeys. There are simply times when the action happens fast, so you better take advantage of those moments when they come.

Scouting for turkeys helps in preparation for the upcoming season, but who in their wildest dreams would ever think that some random horseback riders would be the ticket to helping you locate a bird? The next time this writer blows a locator call, it is very possible that the noise which actually comes to mind is the blowing of the horse on the trail. Who needs a crow or owl call when a horse will lead you to a turkey?

The Results of Knowing Christ

We have probably all been involved in a conversation where somebody asks us “do you know so and so?” Usually that word know is in reference to a knowledge of someone, in the sense that you either know them personally or you have heard of them before. Typically it is not a very intimate knowledge that is implied by asking that question. However, if someone was to ask you if you know Christ, that is a different ballgame altogether.

In our text for today which is found in Phil. 3:1-11 Paul puts an emphasis on knowing Christ. The text reads:

Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you. Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— 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: 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; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 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 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— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead (Phil. 3:1-11)

As we examine this particular passage I want us to realize some results of knowing Christ. This is not an awareness of who he is but rather it is an intimate, personal relationship with our Lord and Savior that Paul is discussing. Let us notice some of the results from knowing Christ.

First, knowing Christ results in draining our pride.

I’ve used this illustration before, but it’s worth mentioning again. Muhammed Ali was known for his pride as he used to go around saying “I am the greatest.” One day while on a plane flight a stewardess told him to buckle up. He said “superman don’t need no seatbelt.” She replied by saying “superman don’t need no airplane either, now buckle up” to which Ali did just that.

Prideful people put confidence in themselves. Paul uses the example of the Judaizers in this text, the Jewish Christians who were teaching falsely that at least certain aspects of Judaism must be held onto as a Christian. In Acts 15 when the council met it was over the issue of Judaizers teaching that the Gentile Christians must be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses to be saved. Reading through that text, we learn that the apostles and the rest of the brethren made sure that didn’t happen. In our text, Paul was warning the church at Philippi against these false teachers, even referring to them as dogs and evildoers (2). He makes a contrast by saying that the church, spiritual Israel is the “real circumcision” (3). Whereas these Judaizers were putting their confidence in the flesh governed by their circumcision {i.e. “mutilate the flesh” (2)}, the real circumcision was worshiping “by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus…” (3).

If anyone could put confidence in the flesh it was Paul. He basically had the perfect pharisaical pedigree. Have you ever known someone who had a pedigree that people knew? Think about people in United States history who have had a long pedigree: the Vanderbilts, the Kennedys, etc. Their name meant something when it came to power, prestige and politics. If the Judaizers wanted to put confidence in the flesh, Paul could really show them how he had a superior Jewish pedigree.

However, what Paul wants to emphasize in this text is that he put all of this aside for the sake of Christ. He was willing to drain his pride to be on Christ’s side. You’ve heard the statement leave your pride at the door. Christianity and hubris do not go together. Hubris is a word that means excessive pride. Christians cannot be a proud people and emulate Christ. We have already learned about his humility in chapter two of this letter. If we don’t fix our pride the Lord can do it for us. Nebuchadnezzar learned this lesson the hard way when he had already been warned by Daniel to repent from his proud ways. Instead, he was driven from his kingdom for seven periods of time to dwell with the wild beasts, eat grass like an ox, his body would be wet from the dew of heaven, his hair would grow like birds’ feathers and his nails would grow like birds’ claws. At the end of this time his reason returned to him and he acknowledged and praised God, and he shared that “…those who walk in pride he is able to humble” (Dan. 4:37). Don’t let God do this. If pride is your downfall now, fix it now. Paul shows us how we have to drain our pride if we’re going to know Christ.

Second, knowing Christ results in gaining our Lord.

There are many times in life when we might have a loss and gain, but we might choose to focus on the gain and not the loss. For example, when a daughter gets married  we don’t say we’re losing a daughter, but rather we are gaining a son. There is a positive way of looking at this, even though part of the change might be hard.

What Paul gained with Christ was so much better than what he had lost with Judaism. We know that Paul had a positive perspective on such a high level, and it seems that in this case it is all the more evident with what he reveals. Paul’s attitude had helped him through some tough times. When we read his words earlier from Philippians chapter one about the advancement of the gospel despite imprisonment and his rejoicing because Christ was preached despite impure motives, that had to do with his attitude and perspective (12-19). Even if Paul would wind up being killed, he would wind up rejoicing with the Philippians (Phil. 2:17).

In this text Paul says concerning the things he once viewed as making him superior he now viewed as “rubbish” (Phil. 3:8). Some translations use the word dung (KJV) and others use refuse (ASV). This word is used in essentially two ways: first, it can mean the excrement from the human body, and second, it can refer to the table scraps which can be thrown away (Vine 335-36). Interestingly enough, Paul had already referred to the Jews as the dogs, when they in actuality would use that term to refer to the Gentiles. Even more interesting, depending on if there is a connection, sometimes table scraps are thrown to the dogs. If this is the case, Paul may be saying that he is leaving all of these worthless reasons for confidence with the Jews because they didn’t benefit him anymore. Even if the word is used the other way around in dealing with human excrement or waste, that is left behind and we have no reason to go back to it; that’s why there is a handle which enables us to flush the toilet!

Paul considered this pedigree of position and power from his life of Judaism as loss and rubbish because he wanted to gain Christ. Looking back to a story that Jesus told about the rich, young ruler, you might recall that this young man focused on what he would lose rather than what he would gain. He chose to focus on the wrong things when confronted by Christ (Mt. 19:16-24). While living for Christ is to be a sacrifice, the focus should not be on what we will lose but what we will gain. Some things will be a realization in this life while others will not be realized until the next. Will you choose to focus on what you have gained by being a Christian or will you let your awareness of what you will have to leave behind keep you from gaining our Lord? Knowing Christ does result in gaining our Lord.

Third and finally, knowing Christ results in attaining our resurrection.

It is interesting at times to listen to various answers about what people’s goals are. Some want to be a big executive in a corporation, some want to be a millionaire, some want to be a professional athlete. What kind of response do you think someone would give if they heard someone else say they wanted to be resurrected from the dead? I’m sure there would be lots of weird looks from different people.

Paul tells us in this text that a goal of his was to be resurrected from the dead. He said “that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead” (Phil. 3:10-11). Paul did not have earthly goals in mind when he wrote this. He is referring to the resurrection from the dead. Upon reading this I cannot help but think about the resurrection of Christ. Paul actually points to this when he talks about knowing the power of his resurrection, sharing in his sufferings and becoming like him in his death. Christ did indeed go through all of this to get to the resurrection. If there had been no resurrection, everything else would have been in vain. With Christ’s resurrection there came the promise that we would one day be resurrected, too. It seems that Paul is referencing the resurrection of the faithful, for those who have died apart from Christ won’t have anything in common with what Paul is hoping to attain in this passage.

Is this one of your goals? People may try to resurrect their career, their image, their financial standing, etc., but a resurrection of earthly proportions is not what Paul is discussing. He is writing this letter with the final resurrection in mind. When Jesus returned to Bethany after Lazarus had died, he told Martha “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (Jn. 11:25-26). Jesus did raise Lazarus from the dead, but he wasn’t just talking about his temporary resurrection. For those who are obedient children of God there will be a resurrection from the dead to the realization of eternal life. Christ’s resurrection makes all of this possible for us.

Consider what Paul said: “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Cor. 15:20-22). With what Paul writes about the resurrection we know that it will happen, and we are hoping to attain it just like Paul. Knowing Christ results in attaining our resurrection.

Without a knowledge of our Lord these results would not happen. There would be no reason to drain ourselves of our pride because we wouldn’t care about the Lord. There would be no gaining Christ because we would be concerned about gaining things of the world. There would be no attaining our resurrection because there would be no reason to want to experience what Christ did for us. Do you know Christ? As I said earlier, this word is much deeper than a common awareness of who somebody is. There is no knowledge of Christ without a relationship with Him. When Paul said “that I may know him” (Phil. 3:10), we know he did. Based on this Scripture, we sing a song called “I Want to Know Christ.” Well, do you?

When You Care Enough to Send the Very Best

In 1944 a sales and marketing executive for a greeting card company named C.E. Goodman jotted down a slogan on a 3 X 5 card to convey why their cards were superior to others. The slogan he came up with was “when you care enough to send the very best” (http://corporate.hallmark.com/OurBrand/Brand-Legacy).  The greeting card company is known to you as Hallmark, and that slogan has been used ever since then. It is printed on the back of their cards, and that slogan is very true in this life. It does mean so much when you send someone your best.

In Philippians 2:19-30 Paul talks about two individuals in his life that he wants to send to the church at Philippi. One of them we are very familiar with, and the other we might not be. Timothy and Epaphroditus are the two that Paul mentions in this text. We can see that Paul did care enough to send the very best, as today we will look at some of the things that are remarkable about them. The text reads:

“I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. They all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also. 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, for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 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. I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me” (Phil. 2:19-30).

Paul did send his very best to the church at Philippi. There are some things we can do as Christians to be at our very best each and every day. Let us now look at the lives of Timothy and Epaphroditus to see what some of these things are.

First, Christians are at their best when they pursue others’ welfare.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that some people are only concerned about themselves. I used to play basketball, and there were players who did not want to pass the ball to others. Even recently I saw some elementary league basketball where this happened; players would avoid passing the ball because they wanted to take the shot. This happens in sports, at work, at home and in many different scenarios, because a selfish person is like this no matter what they are doing.

Timothy was not a selfish person. In fact, Paul reminds the Philippians that he would be “genuinely concerned for your welfare” (Phil. 2:20). A selfish person would not do this, and Paul knows that he’s not sending a selfish person to the Philippians. Selfish people do not seek the interests of Christ (Phil. 2:21). Timothy is a man who was seeking the things that would be in the interests of Jesus Christ, and that’s why Paul could count on him to be a liaison to the Philippians.

When Paul tells the Philippians that he has no one else like him (Phil. 2:20), we can understand how important Timothy was to Paul. Whether you want to use the term right-hand man, best friend or adopted son, Timothy was the right man for this job because of his closeness to Paul and his unselfish nature. Timothy did the things which were in the best interest of Christ. Paul couldn’t go to the Philippians at this point since he was in prison, but he knew who he wanted to send to find out some news on this great church.

One of the ways to be at our best as a Christian is being concerned about others. Examining the life of Dorcas, we can see that she was a woman who was concerned about others. She took the time to make tunics and other kinds of garments for the widows in Joppa (Acts 9:39). People don’t do that if they are only concerned about themselves. Consider the character known as the Good Samaritan who not only stopped to take care of the man who had been stripped and beaten by robbers  but also provided the innkeeper with enough money to see to his needs (Lk. 10:30ff). Selfish people don’t show concern for others like that. One of the ways to keep us from seeking our own interests is to seek first the kingdom of God (Mt. 6:33). If we have a kingdom perspective instead of a selfish perspective we will notice the needs of others around us, have conversations with them in such a way that they can tell we are interested in them, seek ways to help them and let others know that we care about their welfare. Just like Timothy, we can be at our best when we are pursuing others’ welfare.

Second, Christians are at their best when they prove their worth.

One of my former elders, Allen Tilley used to ask me if I would ever amount to anything? While he was always joking when he said it, there is implied in that statement the idea that the individual in question had not proven anything about themselves to anybody. I told Allen one time I heard on the radio the number one insult to a man was to tell him he would never amount to anything.

Timothy had indeed amounted to something. Paul told the Philippians “But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel” (Phil. 2:22). Timothy had a proven track record in the church, especially from his dealings with the apostle Paul. The Philippians were well aware of this, and there would be no questioning this statement from Paul about Timothy.

As added proof of his claim about Timothy, Paul reminds the Philippians of the relationship that he has with the young preacher. Aside from this reference to Timothy being called his son, there are also three other passages where Paul refers to Timothy as his son or child (1 Cor. 4:17; 1 Tim. 1:2; 2 Tim. 1:2). It is very clear that there is a special relationship between these two, and evidently one of the reasons is because Timothy has proven his worth for the sake of the gospel.

One of the ways we can be at our best as a Christian is to prove ourselves. It is a great thing when we obey the gospel and commit our lives to Christ, but that is only the beginning of our Christian life. The Lord sees how you respond from that moment on, and he knows if you are living for him or living against him. You’ve heard it said before of someone that they had something to prove. We as children of God have something to prove, because we have to show others that we belong to God.

Paul discusses the outcome of sufferings when he shows what is produced in the process: “…suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope” (Rom. 5:3-4). The NASB translates the production of endurance as proven character. We prove who we are by the character that we reveal. That is how others can have proof of our worth as children of God. This is a term that was used of the testing of metals (http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/robertsons-word-pictures/philippians/philippians-2-22.html). We need to realize every day that we are alive is a chance to prove our worth. Timothy had proven his worth to the church at Philippi, and we know that one of the ways to be at our best is by proving our worth with our Christian character.

Third and finally, Christians are at their best when they perform Christ’s work.

Have you ever been around people who are allergic to work? Well, not technically allergic, but that’s our way of saying they don’t want to do it. You might remember the character played by Bob Denver on the Dobie Gillis show whose name was Maynard G. Krebs. Every time the word work was used he would repeat it in a frantic manner. It did appear that he was allergic to work. Though that was a fictional tv show, there are people in life who appear to have that same allergy. Evidently there is someone who works at the hospital who every time she hears someone say they’re sorry, she says “that’s not sorry; sorry is a man that won’t work!” Some people in life are lazy and they will not lift a finger to do anything they don’t want to do.

Paul introduces us to a man named Epaphroditus who does not have an aversion to work. In fact, he was even willing to go so far in carrying out the work of Christ that he almost died (Phil. 2:30). According to what information Paul gives in this text and what he shares later in chapter four, Epaphroditus brought a gift from the Philippians to Paul during his imprisonment. Since the Philippians had heard about his illness, Epaphroditus had become distressed (Phil. 2:26). One explanation of this situation might be that somebody told the Philippians about his illness while somebody else might have accompanied him to help him ensure the gift got to Paul (Fee 278). In other words, it seems the distress of Epaphroditus was caused by the Philippians thinking that he failed to perform this duty in getting the gift to Paul. The apostle was letting them know in the letter that it had been delivered because Epaphroditus had followed through with his task.

Because of this whole ordeal, Paul was very eager to send back Epaphroditus to the Philippians, so that he would be less anxious (Phil. 2:28). It does appear that Paul was anxious because it seems that he is defending the actions of Epaphroditus by telling them he nearly died in carrying out the work of Christ (Phil. 2:30). This kind of man is definitely worth honoring, as Paul notes in verse twenty-nine.

Though Epaphroditus is not someone that we know very well from Scripture, there is a valid lesson we can learn from him. One of the ways to be at our best is working for the Lord. We sing a song in worship often called “I Want to Be a Worker.” One of the lines in the song reveals our willingness to labor every day in God’s vineyard. This work can be done in many facets. There is preaching, teaching, meal-cooking, card-sending, phone-calling, service-working, encouraging, setting up for worship, etc. The list goes on and on as there are limitless opportunities to be a worker for the Lord.

It is a fact that Epaphroditus is not as well-known as Timothy. The only book in the Bible that includes his name is Philippians, where it is mentioned twice. His name means lovely (http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/nas/epaphroditos.html) and we can see from this passage that he was doing something lovely for Christ by risking his life in taking this gift from the Philippians to Paul in prison. We don’t have to be well-known to be a worker for God. What Epaphroditus was doing was just as important as what Timothy was doing. They were both showing how we can be at our best as Christians, and that’s why Paul wanted to send them to Philippi.

God gives us the ultimate example of sending the very best, as He sent His Son to this earth on our behalf. We know that we can’t be just like He was without sin, but He is our ultimate example in living our life each day. Paul told the church at Corinth “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1). We know that Paul gave his best for Christ, but when he wrote the letter to the church at Philippi he was in prison and couldn’t come to them. Therefore, he sent them two of the best examples he could in Timothy and Epaphroditus. With what Paul wrote about them in our text, we learn what happens when Christians are at their best. We are at our best when we pursue others’ welfare, when we prove our worth and when we perform Christ’s work. The next time you feel like you aren’t giving your best for Christ, go and look on the back of a Hallmark Card. When you care enough to send the very best, you’ll show it by your actions.

Criteria of Christianity

Criteria of Christianity

Phil. 2:12-18

If you have ever seen a wanted ad describing certain criteria that must be met for a particular job, imagine if you were to run across the following:

Wanted, a man who would give up the most splendid family business as his father’s right hand man to embark on a thirty-three year mission which would affect the whole world. Requirements include having to leave the realm of Heaven for the planet earth, taking the form of a human being, working as a carpenter in the family business into whom you would be born, leaving all of that behind to begin ministry, choosing twelve immediate followers whom you will eventually promote to extreme positions of authority, teaching the people about the Father in Heaven and about the coming kingdom, put on trial by the Jews illegally, delivered to the Romans to be scourged, sacrificing yourself by being crucified between two thieves, being raised from the dead three days later and ascending back to Heaven

This would blow your mind, and I’m sure there would not be many people signing up for this job. Thankfully, Christ already answered this want ad, as Paul described last week in the preceding verses from chapter two. However, when we become a Christian, we are supposed to be a follower of Christ. As a follow up to the humility of Christ, Paul next provides some criteria for the Christian life. We don’t have the same job description as Christ, but we do need to notice what Paul says in this text:

“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me” (Phil. 2:12-18).

Though this is not an exhaustive list of requirements, Paul’s instructions to the church at Philippi should give each of us some food for thought with the Christian life. There are things we must be doing each and every day that we have in his service.

The first observation from this text is that Christianity requires individual effort.

When I was in college I remember having to do some group projects. It seemed that no matter how many people were in a group, there were almost always some people who wouldn’t do any of the work. They relied on the workers in the group to get the job done. They could get a good grade without having to do anything.

Christianity is not like that. Paul says our salvation is something that we are to be working on. We don’t depend on others for our salvation; it’s something we work out ourselves. Sometimes you get letters in the mail that says immediate action required! It’s usually something phony, but the principle is legitimate. Everything about Christianity is action oriented. Think about Christ: he went about doing good, he taught, he performed signs, miracles and wonders, he went to the cross. The early church devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer (Acts 2:42). All throughout the New Testament we see them doing things which meant they were actively living out their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul said this is to be done with fear and trembling. It has been said that this is describing “’the anxiety of one who distrusts his ability to completely meet all requirements, but religiously does his utmost to fulfill his duty’” (Jackson 83). Another way of looking at this phrase to better understand it might be “’a nervous and trembling anxiety to do what is right (http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/robertsons-word-pictures/philippians/philippians-2-12.html). Something to consider here is the explanation that at the same time we are working, God is working in us.

God created us as creatures of free will, so we are not robots. However, God works through people even though we don’t understand how this works. From a study of the Bible it seems that God can work through people even when they don’t follow Him. He worked through Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar and Pilate, so you can see how God is still in control despite people who try to go against him. Though this is not what is under consideration here, I wanted to show that God is indeed working in the lives of people. According to Paul, God is working in the lives of Christians “both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13). Paul said “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10). Christianity requires individual effort as we are to work out our own salvation.

A second observation from this text is that Christianity requires illuminating effects.

Have you ever looked up at the night sky on a clear night to see how it is lit up with starlight? It has always impressed me when I am out west at elk camp at a much higher elevation to see how much brighter they shine. When God placed the specific lights he created on day four, the greater light called the sun ruled the day and the lesser light known as the moon and stars ruled the night (Gen. 1:14-19). Whereas the moon reflects the sun’s light, the stars shine light of their own which we see in the dark of night.

Paul told the Philippians that they were shining like stars or lights in the world. Christians are to be visible to those around them. We know that people are watching us wherever we go in life, especially in a world full of darkness. John states in his gospel concerning Jesus: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (Jn. 1:5).

Since we are to be shining among a dark world, Paul tells the Philippians there are some things they need to remember. First, they are to “do all things without grumbling or questioning” (14). If you’ve ever been around an individual like this it will make you miserable having to listen to it. Some people grumble, murmur or question just about anything. It reminds me of the Israelites when they kept grumbling against God, despite God’s deliverance of them from Egyptian bondage and his protection and provision of them in the wilderness. If people see Christians as grumblers or questioners, that reflects poorly on the church. Second, they are to “be blameless and innocent” (15). It has been said this addresses both conduct and motive on behalf of the Christian (Jackson 84). Again, Christians are supposed to set an example in the world. Third, they are to be “… children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation…” This verse reminds me that we as Christians are in the world but not of the world. Jesus said this of his disciples in his prayer to the Father: “I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world” (Jn. 17:14-16).

We are to be letting our lights shine wherever we go. It doesn’t even matter if you live in an assisted living home, people are watching to see what you do. We sing the song at Vacation Bible School called “This Little Light of Mine,” and it truly is to shine everywhere we go. In your room, at your table for meals, walking the hallways and reading the paper in the lobby are all places where you are to shine like stars. There are people here who need the Lord, and you can be a great example to them. You too can have illuminating effects in a dark world.

A third and final observation from this text is that Christianity requires intentional examination.

A friend of mine was on the way back from Alabama on a holiday. He was listening to a Nascar race and speeding along without even realizing how fast he was going. All at once he saw blue lights in his rearview mirror so he pulled off to the side of the interstate. The trooper approached his vehicle and asked him if he realized how fast he was going. Upon my friend acknowledging that he was unaware the trooper told him he was driving close to 90 miles per hour and asked why. My friend replied that he was listening to Nascar and guessed he was just trying to keep up. The trooper said that was one of the best excuses he’d ever heard and let him off without a ticket, especially since it was a holiday. It is very easy to go above the speed limit if we don’t intentionally look down to examine our speedometer every now and then.

The same principle is true for life. As a Christian, we live our life by the Word of God. Paul tells the Philippians he wants them “holding fast to the word of life…” (16). This term is also translated as attention or heed, which seems to give the idea of giving attention to something (Vine 541). Right before Peter healed the lame beggar at the Beautiful Gate “…he fixed his attention on them…” (Acts 3:5). Paul told Timothy “Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching” (1 Tim. 4:16). That seems to be the same idea conveyed in our passage to the Philippians.

In order for us to do that, we need to constantly examine what God has revealed to us in Scripture. The Gospel truly is the word of life. It had given life to these Philippians, but it would also be life to those whom they would teach it to along the way. As for the Philippians, Paul tells them how this would affect him if they did hold fast to the word. It would bring him a sense of pride because his labor would not have been in vain (16). He has also communicated this concept to the church at Thessalonica when he was afraid that Satan would tempt them and make his labor in vain (1 Thess. 3:5). If the church at Philippi would hold fast to the word, his labor would not be in vain and he would have the ultimate realization of this at the second coming of Christ. Even if Paul was near death, that wouldn’t stop him from rejoicing with the Philippians, and he wanted them to rejoice with him.

It is truly a time for rejoicing when we are holding fast to the word of God. I am impressed with senior adults who have started to lose their eyesight, but continue to have the desire to stay in the word of God, which leads them to listen to the Bible on cassette or cd. I’ve got a lady at another assisted living home who has a machine that superimposes words on a screen where she can read it. She can’t see the handout I give out each week in class, but she goes back and studies it later. God wants us to hold fast to His Word, and there are lots of options to make that happen. Holding fast to the word of life does require intentional examination on our part.

For those of you who are Christians, are you meeting the criteria that Paul has laid out in this passage to the Philippians? We know that these things don’t just apply to them, but they apply to us also. The criteria of Christianity are revealed in Scripture that we are to follow each and every day. These criteria require us to put forth an individual effort by working out our own salvation. They require us to have illuminating effects in the midst of a dark world by shining like stars. They also require us to undergo intentional examination by holding fast the word of life. Paul told the church at Corinth to “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? – unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” (2 Cor. 13:5). If you stack up your life to these criteria discussed by the apostle Paul from Philippians 2:12-18, will you pass or fail the test? Let us be the people of God who are portraying these characteristics in our daily lives, the criteria of Christianity!

The Heavenly Example of Humility

Not too long after Booker T. Washington had accepted the presidency at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, a wealthy white woman saw him out walking one day. She asked if he would like to make a few extra dollars and stop and cut her some wood. Without hesitating he agreed, rolled up his sleeves and began cutting the woman some wood. He took the wood inside and stacked it neatly beside her fireplace. Shortly after that she was told who the man was who had cut the wood for her. Embarrassed, she rushed to his office at the Institute to apologize, but he assured her it was alright because every now and then he enjoys a little manual labor and he was glad to do something for a friend (http://www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/h/humility.htm). How refreshing it is when we can hear stories of humility. Booker T. Washington is not the only example of humility in history, as there are many others. However, Paul gives us the ultimate example of humility in Philippians 2:1-11, which reads:

"So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." 

Paul wanted the Philippians to display humility like that of Christ. We too should realize that humanity should heed the heavenly example of humility.

First, Paul focuses on Emulating Christ's Humility.

He begins this section with a rhetorical question: "So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy" (1). If? The resounding answer to all of these questions is YES!!! There is absolutely no reason to doubt anything Paul has asked in this passage. Since there is no doubt to all of these, Paul next makes a request for unity. Same mind, same love, full accord and one mind are all aspects of unity. This is an expectation for Christians as we're all in this together as God's people in the church. If you look at the text in Eccl. 4:9-12, it is clear that Solomon understood the value of unity. Paul elsewhere describes the platform of unity in the church in Eph. 4:1-6. Unity must take place among God's people. 

Paul next addresses what it is that makes unity possible, and that is humility. Humility has a great deal to do with our view of others. Paul gives us a couple of ways to view others from a humble perspective. First, he says "count others as more significant than yourselves" (3). We ought never to think that we are better than anyone else. We could probably all find someone in this life that we are better at something than they are, such as sports, career, financial standing, but someone else could do the same thing with us. It doesn't matter who you are, there will always be somebody who's better at something than you are. If you are tempted to think that you are better than somebody else, stop and consider what I've just said. It will humble you real quick. Whereas humility will allow us to view others as more significant than ourselves, rivalry and conceit will not. We've probably all known people who have attitudes like this, and their pictures are not listed under the heading of humility in the encyclopedia.

Second, Paul says look "also to the interests of others" (4). Humility will allow us to take the focus off of ourselves and see what is of interest to others around us. Nobody likes to be around a person who talks about them self all the time. A person who mentions the names of their best friends as me, myself and I will not be interested in others. There is no place for this in the church, and Paul makes sure to let the Philippian church know they need to be looking at the interests of others instead of always focusing on themselves.

The ultimate example of humility that Paul gives as the goal is Christ. He says "Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus" (5). The name Christian means Christ-like; if we're going to wear that name then we need to live up to it. There is no better example of humility for us to emulate than that of Christ Jesus. When you are tempted to consider yourself as more significant than someone else, think like Christ. When you are tempted to look to your own interests, think like Christ. We are to emulate His humility.

Second, Paul focuses on Examining Christ's Humility.

He conveys the idea of Christ's submission to the Father by saying "...though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped" (6). The word translated as form means the essence of a thing (http://faculty.gordon.edu/hu/bi/Ted_Hildebrandt/New_Testament_Greek/Text/Trench-Synonyms.pdf). In Jesus' response to Philip who wanted Jesus to show the disciples the Father, Jesus said "...Whoever has seen me has seen the Father..." (Jn. 14:9). Christ was not the same being as His Father, but he was in the form of God. They are both divine. We do see though that his divinity did not deter his destiny, for he was to submit to his father by leaving the glory and splendor of Heaven to become flesh and make his tabernacle among men (Jn. 1:14). We read nowhere of Christ hesitating to do what had to be done on our behalf; He willingly submitted to His Father.

In order to become the Savior he had to become a servant.  The word for servant used here means a slave or bond servant, even sometimes used of one who is devoted to the interest of another, putting his own interests aside (http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/nas/doulos.html). It has also been said that it is "frequently indicating subjection without the idea of bondage" (Vine 1019). He did this by "being born in the likeness of men" (7). Christ did not immediately come down to earth in human form as an adult. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit (Mt. 1:20), he was born and laid in a manger (Lk. 2:7), he grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man (Lk. 2:52). What an adjustment that must have been for the Son of God to put on flesh on this earth compared to what He had in Heaven! This had to be done in order for him to be a servant, and we know this was part of his mission. "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mk. 10:45). You may even recall the scene where Jesus took up the towel after the institution of the Lord’s Supper in John 13 and provided the disciples with an example of service by washing their feet. Jesus was truly a servant.

With this in mind, he became the suffering servant, which was pictured in the book of Isaiah in chapters fifty-two and fifty-three. Perhaps the cruelest death a person could die at that time was that of crucifixion. Christ became obedient to His Father by suffering on the cruel cross of Calvary. He made it clear beforehand that no person made this happen: "For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father" (Jn. 10:17-18).

As is ably noted by my good friend and preacher, Brian Gregory, we can examine the humility of Christ as He submitted to His Father, He served as a human being and He suffered on the cross.

Third, Paul focuses on Exalting Christ's Humility.

God did marvelous things with the humility of Christ. Having humbled himself before God, Christ was highly exalted by His Father. Looking at this passage, I tend to view this in two ways. First, Christ was highly exalted in his position. The Greek scholar A.T. Robertson says that Christ was exalted to a position that was above or beyond what he had before his incarnation (http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/robertsons-word-pictures/philippians/philippians-2-9.html). However, not everyone agrees with this, as it has been said this is not necessarily implied by the language used by Paul in this passage. It could simply mean that Christ was exalted “to the highest possible degree (Fee 221).  Regardless of which view is right, we know for sure that Christ was exalted back to Heaven when he ascended out of the sight of his disciples in Acts chapter one. We really can’t grasp what all this entails, but God rewarded Christ with a highly exalted position because of his humility. Second, Christ was highly exalted in his authority. He was given the name above all names, where every knee should bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord. The idea here is taken from a passage in Isaiah 45:23 which states “By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return: ‘To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.’” Jehovah God was using this of himself, but here in this text I think it shows that Christ is worthy of our worship.

When we think about the idea of God highly exalting Christ, consider the passage in Ephesians 1:20-22: “…he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.” It seems that this passage helps us get a clearer picture of what Paul is discussing in our passage from the Philippian letter. God’s exaltation of His Son should result in our acknowledging His lordship. We have two options: we can do it now in this lifetime voluntarily, or we will do it under compulsion in the next lifetime. Paul quotes the previously mentioned passage from Isaiah to show that every knee will bow to Christ at the final judgment (Rom. 14:11).

The crux of the matter for us knowing that God has highly exalted Christ is what we decide to do with it. Paul told the church at Philippi that they were to emulate the humility of Christ by looking at others’ interests instead of their own and considering others as more significant than themselves. He also provided an examination of the humility of Christ where he showed his submission, service and suffering upon this earth. He finally revealed to them the exaltation of the humility of Christ to which all of us have a decision to make in this life. We sing the song at times “What Will You Do with Jesus?” We are to have the mind of Christ by being humble individuals. We are to realize what his humility prompted him to do for the sake of humanity. We are to acknowledge what God has done with His Son because of His humility. Jesus is Lord whether we acknowledge Him or not, but if you’re not a child of God now is the time to respond to the exalted Savior. Humanity should heed the heavenly example of humility!

Living a Life Worthy of the Gospel

In a recent article on SI.com, Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson says he's worthy of a first round pick in the upcoming NFL draft. He says "My natural ability to throw the ball has always been my signature. But it’s also my ability to move around a little bit and buy myself some time to make throws other guys wouldn’t make because I’m tough and will hang in there a little longer, and I can make throws while I’m being pressured" (http://nflspinzone.com/2013/02/20/nfl-draft-2013-arkansas-qb-tyler-wilson-says-he-is-a-first-round-pick/). Tyler Wilson is using the word worthy in regard to his athletic performance on the football field, but did you know there is something that matters much more than sports of which we can be considered worthy?
Paul talks about living a life worthy of the gospel in Phil. 1:27-30. Our text reads: "Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have."
As we examine this text at the conclusion of the first chapter of Philippians, let us consider what Paul says about living a life worthy of the gospel. It is my aim with this lesson to have us evaluate our lives as Christians in order to see if our current life measures up as being worthy of the gospel.
First, a gospel worthy life includes standing firm in one spirit.
As I notice what Paul is saying here, it seems there is a twofold emphasis on unwavering perseverance and unified spirit. The phrase used in the text where Paul says "standing firm" (27) entails perseverance. We've all heard the phrase "keep on keeping on." The Christian life is one of perseverance. It's not a sprint, but it is a marathon. When Paul tells them to stand firm "in one spirit" he is talking about their unity. It does not appear that this is the same thing as the unity of the Spirit in Ephesians chapter four because there is an absence of an article "the" before it , so it seems this is simply talking about the human spirit (Jackson 61).
Perseverance and unity are two big themes in the New Testament. Paul says later in this letter "I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:14). There is an idea of perseverance portrayed by Paul in this statement. In this life we keep going until our lives are taken from us or Jesus comes back, whichever comes first.
In the movie Rocky III, Clubber Lang punished Rocky in their first fight. When they had their rematch later in the movie, Rocky allowed his opponent to repeatedly give him blows, but this was on purpose. Rocky was trying to wear Clubber Lang out, and by doing this Rocky was able to persevere through the fight and take the victory. We are in a constant fight against our enemy, the Devil. We need to understand that it takes perseverance to withstand all of his tactics. When Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness, it says "...he departed from him until an opportune time" (Lk. 4:13). Satan did not stop with these temptations of Christ, and he does not stop with us either. We have to do what it takes to persevere through all the temptations that Satan throws our way. We can live a life worthy of the gospel when we stand firm in one spirit both by an unwavering perseverance and unified spirit.
Second, a gospel worthy life will have us striving side by side.
The phrase translated as "striving side by side" is also used in another form as "to engage in an athletic contest" (Fee 166). Paul is saying that the Philippians are participating together in the Christian life. Another way this phrase is used is in the sense of contending along with others (Vine 634). We are told in the New Testament that we as Christians are to contend for something special. When Jude wrote his letter he changed directions from talking about the common salvation to an appeal "...to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 3). Whether you are striving or contending for the faith, this is not something you can do passively. This is an active word that requires Christians to be proactive in their faith each and every day.
Not only does this denote an active faith, but it also requires us to partner with our fellow Christians as we do this. Christianity is not an isolated lifestyle. I've never figured out why monks feel like they are doing what God wants them to do by traveling far away to an isolated monastery where they don't have any contact with the outside world. How can they be striving together for the faith of the gospel when they are where they can't share their faith with others? Jesus sent his disciples out two by two ahead of him to towns where he would eventually travel (Lk. 10:1). It is a great thing when Christians can strive for the faith side by side, partnering together to share the good news.
In Philippi there did seem to be the problem of two women who had labored side by side in the gospel with Paul and others, their names being Euodia and Synteche (Phil. 4:2-3). Whatever disagreements they had needed to be resolved so they could go back to striving side by side for the faith of the gospel. The church is made up of people so there will always be problems in the church until the Lord comes back. However, we need to make sure that we don't let things get in the way of our efforts together in the Lord. If things are left unresolved this can lead to a refusal for some people to work together. How can we strive side by side when we can't stand to be next to each other? If we want to live a life worthy of the gospel we will make sure we are striving side by side for the faith of the gospel.
Third, a gospel worthy life means we must be suffering for his sake.
It was clear that the first century church did not diminish because of persecution, but rather it dispersed. While persecution was meant to suppress the church, it actually progressed the church. If you actually look at church growth in the first century, it progressed the most during persecution. Not only did the church progress during persecution, we also see such a godly perspective during it all. After the apostles were beaten and charged not to speak in the name of Jesus they were "...rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name" (Acts 5:41). Not only were the apostles suffering for his sake, but they were looking at their suffering as an evidence that God considered them worthy. Jesus had already given his apostles instructions before he left that they would be persecuted. He said "'...If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you...'" (Jn. 15:20).
Paul told the Philippians not to be frightened by what their opponents might try to do to them, and by doing this it would be a sign of their opponents' destruction but of their own salvation (28). Christians can be confident in the midst of suffering at the hands of their opponents because they know what their ultimate destiny is in contrast with the destiny of those who are opposed to God. The eternal fire has been prepared for the devil and his angels, and those who follow them will wind up there also (Mt. 25:41). An eternal home in Heaven with the Lord is waiting for those who follow Him (Mt. 25:34).
He told the Philippians "For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake" (29). Paul told Timothy "Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (2 Tim. 3:12). Granted that persecution here in the United States of America does not take the same form as what would have happened to Christians in the first century. Followers of Christ were told not to speak in the name of Christ, beaten, mocked, flogged, crucified, beheaded, burned at the stake, fed to wild beasts, etc. However, if we live a Christian life as expected of us we will still experience family conflicts, emotional and verbal persecution and other things that won't necessarily bring bodily harm or physical suffering on us. There are other places in the world where people are still suffering persecution in a physical sense which we do not experience here. Even if we don't experience that here, are you willing to suffer for his sake? If we want to live a life worthy of the gospel we will be willing to suffer for his sake.
In the movie Wayne's World there is a scene where the two main characters are invited by a rock star to spend some time with him, but they reply by bowing down to him repeating the phrase "we're not worthy, we're not worthy!" We know even today that we were unworthy of the sacrifice that God made on our behalf by sending his Son to die for us on the cross. Paul says "For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person - though perhaps for a good person one might dare even to die - but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom. 5:6-8). Though we were not worthy, we are called to live our lives worthy of the gospel by standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side for the faith of the gospel and suffering for his sake.

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

In 1981 a band called "The Clash" performed a song they wrote called "Should I Stay or Should I Go?" A midst the chorus you find the lines "if I go there will be trouble, but if I stay it will be double, so come on and let me know, should I stay or should I go?" In this song which I have heard many times in the past it seems this individual is in a lose lose situation. He has a hard decision to make about whether to leave or stay  put, but either way it's not going to turn out for his well-being. When you are put in a situation where whatever choice you make is going to be bad, it is not a pleasant decision to make.
On the flip side of that, imagine what it would be like to have to make a decision between two good choices. In Philippians chapter one we see a difficult decision he is faced with, which is actually not up to him, but he is clear if he had to make the decision it would be very hard. Paul had already brought up the issue of his life and death, so we see a follow up to that discussion in Phil. 1:21-26 which says:
"For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again."
We will determine from a study of this text that Paul was having a really hard time as he reflects on what his ultimate desire would be verses what would be better for the church at Philippi. Let us examine his question, should I stay or should I go?
Let us first notice that Paul had an unusual dilemma.
He viewed both life and death as positive for him. He said "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Phil. 1:21). We could observe that Paul had a powerful perspective of life and death that allowed him to make that statement. He knew that in his life he could bring Christ glory, but he also knew that in his death he would experience the glory of Christ. He was a man who was not afraid of death. How many of us can say that? I have heard many older people in the church make similar statements saying they are ready to depart from this life.
Paul knew this was a win win situation for the Lord. If he did remain alive, then he would continue to be fruitful. As a Christian, the Lord expects us to bear fruit. Jesus discusses this in John 15 with the expectation that we as his followers must bear fruit. Those which do not bear fruit are gathered up and burned in the fire. We know this is a reference to Hell, so this inspires us to bear fruit for Him. Paul describes the fruit of the Spirit in Gal. 5:22-23. Paul is a great example to us of how to be fruitful for the Master until our life is over or Jesus comes back first.
Though it was a win win situation as described by Paul, this was a very difficult decision for him. Well, in reality it wasn't a decision by him, because he didn't have any control over it. He is stating it in such a way that if he had to choose, he is telling them it would be very hard. He makes the statement that he is "hard pressed between the two" (Phil. 1:23). One of the definitions of this phrase is one farmers would be familiar with: it was used "of a cattle squeeze, that pushing in on each side, forcing the beast into a position where it cannot move so the farmer can administer medication" (http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/nas/sunecho.html).When Paul makes this statement about the two possibilities, he is saying he is hemmed in, or being pressured from both sides (http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/robertsons-word-pictures/philippians/philippians-1-23.html).
In the midst of this dilemma, Paul discussed the positives of the possibilities. If you had a dilemma that would would turn out positive regardless of which decision you made, which way would you choose? We ought to remind ourselves that there are some serious matters we ought to consider. Paul did have a extraordinary view of death, but he also displayed a positive outlook on life from a spiritual perspective. He didn't say if I remain I can go hunting some more or go to the lake or watch some more sports. He was going to use the remainder of his life being fruitful for the Lord. We should take a page out of Paul's book when it comes to how we view life.
We should also notice that Paul expresses his ultimate desire.
He says "My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better" (Phil. 1:23). His ultimate desire was to die so he could be with Christ. When he says that it would be better, he is talking about for himself. Why would it be better? You mean being executed in prison is better than being released from prison? That is the attitude Paul had when he was in the situation. Paul could face the force of the executioner's ax knowing that would free him from this life to go on to the next. 
The concept conveyed in the word depart is seen in the phrases weighing anchor or loosening threads (http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/robertsons-word-pictures/philippians/philippians-1-23.html). There is a similar phrase used in 2 Cor. 5:1ff. which Paul uses to describe death as a tearing down of our tent. He goes on to say that "we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord" (2 Cor. 5:8). To Paul death was simply the transition where he would leave this life to go on to the next. 
When we stop and consider the ultimate desire of Paul, let us reflect on something that could have been on his mind when writing this letter. Paul wrote about a man who had a very interesting experience by taking a field trip to a heavenly  realm. 2 Cor. 12:2-4 says: "I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven - whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up into paradise - whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows - and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter." The view is widely held that Paul is describing himself. If indeed it is Paul, the time frame could be traced fourteen years from the writing of the second Corinthian letter (57 A.D.) which takes us back to 43 A.D., probably at the time that Paul was stoned in Lystra and left for dead (Acts 14:19ff). If this is truly the case, what vivid colors it adds to the picture that Paul is painting when he says that his desire of going to be with Christ would be far better!
Can you say you desire death like Paul? I am confident there are many people who don't have this positive view of death as he does, but we should. We are all transient beings here on this earth for a short time. As we sing the song "This World Is Not My Home" we realize this is not our permanent destination. You might have had a family member who is a faithful member of the Lord's body say they don't want to go on living. They are simply expressing their desire that they long to be with the Lord. Let us all be able to express this as our ultimate desire.
A final observation from this text is that Paul makes an unselfish decision.
I saw a commercial several years ago where a brother and sister wanted a cookie but there was only one left. The older sister opted to let the younger brother eat it. All of a sudden one of the Keebler elves put another cookie back where the package had been empty, rewarding her for unselfish behavior. There are lots of opportunities for us to do something better for someone else, but we're not talking about sharing cookies.
Even though it would be better for him to depart and be with Christ, Paul knew it would be better for the Philippians if he remained in the flesh. Though we have already said that it was not his decision to make either way, you can still see his unselfish attitude in wanting what's best for them. We see him give two reasons why this would be more necessary for them. First, it would be better for their progress. This word for progress was originally used of a pioneer cutting his way through brush (Vine's 468). He wants to see them continue their progress in Christ, and Paul's presence on earth would allow him to help them with their spiritual development. Second, it would be better for their joy in the faith. It seems that this is tied to their personal feelings for him. It would leave a rather large void if Paul was not around to aid them spiritually. That's not to say that Paul was the only way they could progress and rejoice. It seems from the text that this would give them an extra measure of these qualities.This would give them cause to glory in Christ when he returned to them in person. He didn't just want to see them and enjoy their company; he wanted to help them be better than they already were.
Have you ever made a decision where you had a choice to do something better for you or do something better for another person? The type of love that is so prevalent in the New Testament is agape. It is love that shows us putting the interests of others ahead of our own interests. God demonstrated this by giving us His Son as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." Christ demonstrated this by giving himself for the church (Eph. 5:25) and husbands are to love their wives in the same way according to this verse.
When Paul is faced with this problem in Philippians chapter one, it was a good problem to have; that's why we called it a win win situation. Whether or not he should stay or go was an issue he faced from a heavenly perspective. Paul had an unusual dilemma of whether to stay or go, and he expressed his ultimate desire of wanting to be with Christ though he states to the Philippians his unselfish decision was to remain with them in the flesh. Paul recognized that it was best for him to put the church's spiritual development before his desire. Earlier when Paul said "I thank my God in all my remembrance of you...", we can see how precious a people they were to him for him to make such an unselfish statement to them. God help us to be more like that in our lives!