Strength for the Journey Series
Philippians
INTRO: (A) AD 62 .... When Paul writes this letter .... he is in Rome .... in prison .... preparing to appear before Caesar on charges of treason for spreading the gospel.
1- Paul is preparing to die .... to be executed In fact, Paul was executed not too long after he wrote this letter .... This was one of the last letters he ever wrote.
* But when you open this letter .... you don't smell prison air or feel the tension of a man facing death.
* You smell the fragrance of joy and feel the strength of a man, who may be battle scarred, but he is not worrying about living or dying .... he has peace.
(B) This is the letter of joy .... Joy is the theme of this letter.
1- Paul .... in 104 verses mentions or refers to joy 18 times .... and refers to Jesus 70 times.
2- This letter is all about the joy that Jesus can bring into your life .... no matter what you're facing.
*.... Glimpse Paul's heart ....
(Introduces the 1st hymn of the early church) ....
Philip. 1:21
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Philip. 2:1-2
If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, [2] Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Philip. 2:5
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
(The theme verse of Philippians) .
Philip. 4:4-6
Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
[5] Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
[6] Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
* This is Paul's most personal letter .... it is as if Paul opens his chest .... risks being vulnerable .... and says, "This is what I am really like."
(C) As you probe the heart of Paul .... trying to find the secret of his joy .... you have to conclude that his joy grew out of one thing .... his relationship with Jesus Christ.
1- To Paul, Jesus was in control of everything .... If hardship came -- Jesus permitted it .... If pain became his companion -- it was because Jesus allowed it .... If he was under arrest, Jesus was still in control of his life .... If there seemed to be no way out -- Jesus knew he was hard pressed .... If the pressure and pain was relieved -- Jesus was responsible.
2- This is no plastic expression of a shallow happiness with its fake smile and false mask ....
This is joy that goes right to the core of who you are and radiates from your heart through your eyes.
* This is the kind of joy that makes you strong in the journey of life.
In Gisors, Normandy .... there is an ancient castle .... that is visited regularly by tourists -- not for its rich history of princes and kings, including King Richard the Lion-Hearted.
-- But tourists come to this castle to see one of the castle's dungeon cells .... The dungeon has a small square window atop one of the cell walls .... that for a few brief hours a day casts a square of sunlight on the opposite wall ....
that passes from left to right across the wall.
-- Some unnamed saint, known only to heaven, was obviously held in that cell ... he found a rusty nail .... and in that dismal cell, he carved a little each day -- not his name, because he was not thinkinng of himself -- but he carved 3 pictures about Jesus.
-- The Birth of Jesus at Bethlehem .... His Last Supper .... and His Crucifixion.
-- He carved these pictures giving careful attention to details -- then he died and left his dungeon cell empty -- except for the pictures.
-- His obvious focus was on Jesus and not on himself .... with that focus .... he had to have joy .... so he preaches .... to the thousands that visit the castle -- they come not to see its beauty or study its history -- but to see the pictures on the cell wall.
-- The pictures that teach the 3 great truths of the world:
Jesus was born for our salvation ....
He died for our sins .... and
He is the Bread of Life for us.
-- The pictures that explode with joy .... every detail showing the strength of this saint.
-- And all this unknown saint had was his relationship with Jesus, a rusty nail, a vanishing patch of sunlight, and a dungeon cell.
-- And with those he put on display his strength in the journey of life.
Neh. 8:10
Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
* Paul understood that .... he was strong and while he lived, even in the crucible of a Roman prison, he drained every drop of joy out of every day ....
because of his confidence in Jesus.
4 CHAPTERS GIVES US THE INGREDIENTS FOR STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY
I. CHAP. 1 --THE PURPOSE
Philip. 1:21
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
.... What did he mean? .... He meant that as a result of his relationship with Jesus Christ -- he had found the purpose for his life.
.... When you know your purpose in life -- that contributes to your joy and your strength in your journey through life.
.... Jesus provides your purpose in life because He provides the 3 elements necessary for you to have a purpose:
(A) THE SOURCE OF YOUR PURPOSE 1:21
1- Before surrendering control of your life to Jesus .... you just exist .... Paul's life (like yours) begins the moment you are saved.
2- Salvation = God living in you.
3- Paul found his purpose for life when Jesus moved into his life.
.... That's why Paul said .... Phil. 1:21"For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain."
.... Not everyone can say that.
a- Some say ........ "For me to live is MONEY" .... but then they have to say "to die is loss."
Mark 8:36
For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
Luke 12:16-26
And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: [17] And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
[18] And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
[19] And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
[20] But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
[21] So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
(There are no fun and games in eternity without Jesus.)
.... "For me to live is MY JOB" .... then "to die is loss."
.... "For me to live is PREACHING" .... then "to die is loss."
.... "For me to live is FAMILY" .... then "to die is loss."
.... "For me to live is MY WIFE or MY HUSBAND" .... then "to die is loss."
.... "For me to live is RECOGNITION or POPULARITY" .... then "to die is loss."
b- The only way you can say "to die is gain," is to say, "For me, to live is Christ."
-- C.S. Lewis said that there are 2 classes of people .... those who follow Christ and those who follow Satan
There are those who find their purpose in Christ and those who don't.
Isaiah 14 .... Satan told the Father, "Not your will, but mine be done."
.... Our Savior ....in the Garden of Gethsemane .... told the Father, "Not my will, but yours be done."
"Now, not only was your life wasted -- but your eternity is wasted."
A - THE SOURCE OF YOUR PURPOSE.
(B) THE SUSTAINER OF YOUR PURPOSE
Philip. 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
Paul knew that the circumstances were immaterial .... that nothing could rob him of his purpose as long as he stayed surrendered to Jesus.
* Not even a Roman prison could keep him from fulfilling his purpose ....because he was sustained in that purpose by Jesus.
A -THE SOURCE OF YOUR PURPOSE.
(B) THE SUSTAINER OF YOUR PURPOSE
(C) THE SUBJECT OF YOUR PURPOSE Philip. 1:12-13
But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;
[13] So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;
Paul chained to Roman guards .... guards changed every few hours ... Paul had impacted "the whole palace guard" of Caesar.
a- Paul was a one note man .... that note was Jesus.
b- Just like the man in the dungeon in Normandy.
c- Just like anyone who has truly surrendered to Jesus.
Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
a- .... Everything that happens to you .... every circumstance you face .... will "work together" for your good.
b-"work together" = to fit together like gears ... to fall into place .... like pieces of a puzzle.
c- .... The pieces of your life fit together when you are "called according to His purpose."
* Paul wrote ROMANS 8:28 some 6 years before he wrote Philippians .... This truth was already in his heart.
WE READ THIS VERSE HOWEVER HE TELLS
US THE PURPOSE IS IN VERSE 29 !
Romans 8:29
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Whatever circumstances God allows in your life, He has one primary purpose .... that you "be conformed to the image of His Son" -- Jesus.
The Father has guaranteed that His purpose for you to be conformed to the image of Jesus will be fulfilled some day .... when he takes you to heaven.
But the Father wants to start shaping you like Jesus now so that He can put His grace on display.
Paul knew that .... Joseph .... in the Old Testament .... also got it.
sold by brothers into slavery .... falsely accused by Potiphar's wife of sexual harassment .... unjustly thrown into prison .... where he appeared to languish forgotten by all .... but the Father.
-- The Father was shaping Joseph .... even then .... to be like Jesus.
-- When the Father delivered Joseph from that prison, it was so that Joseph could be a source of life to others.
-- As Joseph implemented God's purpose for his life to provide food to Egypt and the surrounding area during a terrible famine, Joseph could carry out the specific purpose for his life -- because he had already surrendered to God's general purpose for his life.
That's how Joseph could look at his brothers .... who had so cruelly treated him and say --
Genesis 50:20
But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
Do you know why you may have been unable to find God's specific purpose for your life?
Philip. 1:21
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
I. CHAP. 1 --THE PURPOSE
II. CHAP. 2 --- THE PATTERN Paul knows that our transformation to be more like Jesus must start internally; then it can be lived outwardly.
.... we must have "the mind of Christ."
The heart of Ch. 2 of Paul's joy letter .... tells us just that.
Philip. 2:2
Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
A- Vs. 5 .... We embrace the "mind of Christ."
Philip. 2:5
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
B-Vs. 6-7 ... What did Jesus do? .... He humbled Himself.
Philip. 2:6-7
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
[7] But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
How? .... He set aside His privilege of being God and became a man (while not surrendering His essence as God).
.... "made himself of no reputation" = He emptied Himself .... of the privilege of expressing His essence as God.
.... You truly know you have humbled yourself when you set aside your privileges.
.... How far did His humility extend?
C-Vs. 8 .... To the point of death on the cross.
Philip. 2:8
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
D- Vs. 9-11 .... God does the exalting.
Philip. 2:9-11
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
[10] That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
[11] And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
.... Peter understood it ....
1 Peter 5:6
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
That's why Paul went on to say --
Philip. 2:12
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
"work out" = to live out .... Live out what is in you.
Do you know how you can tell if you have truly humbled yourself and you are living out the character of Jesus?
Philip. 2:14
Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
"complain" = to grumble under your breath.
"dispute" = to question or criticize.
If you are grumbling about your situation .... disputing with God and questioning Him .... then you have not humbled yourself .... and He cannot exalt you in your situation.
The legend is told about the donkey that Jesus rode into Jerusalem on his triumphant entry ....
The donkey awakened, his mind still savoring the afterglow of the most exciting day of his life. Never before had he felt such a rush of pleasure and pride.
He walked into town and found a group of people by the well. "I'll show myself to them," he thought. But they didn't notice him. They went on drawing their water and paid him no mind.
"Throw your garments down," he said crossly. "Don't you know who I am?" They just looked athim in amazement. Someone slapped him across the tail and ordered him to move.
"Miserable heathens!" he muttered to himself. "I'll just go to the market where the good people are. They will remember me." But the same thing happened. No one paid any attention to the donkey as he strutted down the main street in front of the marketplace.
"The palm branches! Where are the palm branches?" He shouted. "Yesterday, you threw palm branches!" Hurt and confused, the donkey returned home to his mother. "Foolish child," she said gently.
"Don't you realize that without HIM, you are just an ordinary donkey?"
-- Without Jesus .... you are nothing .... Follow His Pattern -- humble yourself .... rather than seeking to make a name for yourself.
-- By humbling yourself -- you find joy and strength for the journey of life.
I. CHAP. 1 --THE PURPOSE
II. CHAP. 2 --- THE PATTERN
III. CHAP. 3 --- THE PASSION
(A) Paul catalogues his worldly accomplishments Philip. 3:5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
Paul was educated at Jerusalem under the famous Gamaliel.
By choice, Paul had joined the sect of Judaism that was strictest in its view of the Law .... the Pharisees.
Philip. 3:6
Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
*Paul did what he did with his whole heart -- he was passionate about it.
But Paul experienced a change of passion ....
Philip. 3:7-8
But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
[8] Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
....Paul says, "I have a new passion -- JESUS."
That's why Paul could say --
Philip. 3:13-14
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
[14] I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Paul is saying, "I am passionate about being like Jesus."
God has a purpose for you -- to be conformed to the image of His Son ....
God has a pattern -- JESUS -- humble yourself -- adopting Jesus as the Pattern for your life.
God has a Passion of your life .... Everything else is meaningless!
* That Passion fuels your joy and your strength for life.
An old Mississippi country preacher believed in his bones that the Word of God is a two-edged sword. One Sunday morning he mounted the pulpit and prayed: "Oh, Lord, give thy servant this mornin' the eyes of the eagle and the wisdom of the owl, illuminate my brow with the Sun of Heaven, possess my mind with love for the people, turpentine my imagination, grease my lips, electrify my brain with the lightnin' of the Word, fill me plumb full of the dynamite of Thy Glory, anoint me all over with the kerosene of salvation, and set me on fire. Amen."
Socrates .... approached by a young man .... pompous, proud: "I come to you for wisdom, Oh, great one." Socrates .... took him down to the ocean -- dunked him: "Now what do you want?&"
-- "Knowledge." .... Dunked him two times more ...."Now what do you want?" .... Young man gasping: "Air!" Socrates: "When you want wisdom as passionately as you want air -- you can have it."
Jeremiah 29:13
And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
Your passion for the Father is birthed out of your intimacy with Him.
Psalm 37:4
Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
"delight" = to be intimate with.
"desires" = the passions of your heart.
Christians have done the one thing to Christianity and Christ that even Christ's enemies couldn't do. Christ's enemies scourged Him, mocked Him, beat Him, tried Him falsely, hung Him on a cross, jammed a crown of thorns on His head, stuck a spear in His side, and finally seated Him in a stone-cold tomb. After His resurrection, His enemies even denied that he had ever existed.
But with all this, we Christians have done Christ a worse service.
We haven't killed Him, but we have made Him boring.
C.S. Lewis .... The devil's instructions to one of his demons, "Give me people that don't care (no passion); I'll get them to do evil."
Rev. 2:4
Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
Have You lost your Passion ?
I. CHAP. 1 --THE PURPOSE
II. CHAP. 2 --- THE PATTERN
III. CHAP. 3 --- THE PASSION
IV. Chap. 4 --- THE POWER
Philip. 4:13
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
"do" -- not in the original language .... verb uused here literally means "I am able" or "I am equal to anything."
How? "through Christ who strengthens me."
a- It is Jesus who makes you equal to anything .... through Jesus, you and I are able .... we have strength for the journey.
b- Jesus strengthens you and me.
c- In fact, look at the context in which Paul says this:
Philip. 4:11
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
Because you are equal to anything through Christ who strengthens you.
And should there be something you need to fulfill God's purpose for you that you are unable to provide
Philip. 4:19
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Whatever you NEED is supplied by Jesus .... not whatever you want.
* God will never ask anything of you that He hasn't already given you.
Have you lost your joy? .... your strength for the journey of life?
Many years ago, a little boy was given a priceless possession; his deceased grandfather's gold pocket watch. How he treasured it!
But one day, wile playing at his father's ice plant, he lost the watch amid all the ice and sawdust.
He searched and scratched, becoming frantic, but no watch. Then he suddenly realized what to do.
He stopped scurrying around and became very still. In the silence, he heard the watch ticking.
God has given each of us a priceless gift of joy in Jesus. How easy it is to lose our joy in the scurrying around of life. Yet it is always there to find, if we will but pause and listen to the beautiful presence of Jesus in our hearts.
Slow down long enough to let Him touch you with His joy .... So you, too, can have strength in the journey!
-- God may only give you a dungeon -- a rusty nail -- and a patch of sunlight .... but you can still make a difference for His kingdom.