|
Philippians 1:9-11 “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, 11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”
HOW do you decide the best thing to do in any circumstance? We act on assumptions or feelings, assuming a particular truth. You then respond with an action to fit that fact. If you have the right information, your response is generally appropriate to the circumstance. If you are misinformed, your response is more likely to be incorrect. What must you have, then, to make Christ-like decisions in your life? Of course, you must know Jesus. This sounds simple, doesn’t it? But you know it’s not. Your heart is not naturally inclined to move toward God. That’s sin’s great penalty. You know how easy it is to make excuses and to excuse yourself from knowing Jesus. For example, I was talking with someone who said his desire is to know God more. But I don’t believe his heart is in it. How do I know? He says he’s too busy to read the Bible. He’s too busy to pray and too busy to learn from others. His life stays at a distance from God because he pretends his life is too busy for his Creator. We all must be alert to prevent this undisciplined “too busy” life. There can be no such thing as being “too busy” for God. If you are, you are telling him, “I’m lord of my life, Jesus. I’ll let you know when I’m ready for you.” Yes, there are many days we are inclined to neglect spiritual disciplines. But be strong against temptation and submit to the Lord’s leading. That’s why Paul writes to the Philippians, “I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment.” He is covering their minds in prayer to purposefully seek God. You and I need to pray this for ourselves and each other, so our love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment until the day we meet Jesus. I encourage you to pray that God will empower and sustain your mind to know him more. Remember, Jesus calls you to be his disciple. A disciple is disciplined. A disciple has a daily goal to learn more of Jesus and to live more deeply into his love. You know it’s a struggle to gain knowledge of Jesus. You know you need to move more consistently into Jesus. You know you need people praying for you. You know it’s time to start. Joy Link: Turn over your “too busy” life to Jesus. Philippians 1:8 “For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.”
HAVE you ever said or heard someone say, “As God is my witness.” For example, one accused of a lie may say, “As God is my witness, I am telling the truth!” That, my friends, is spoken to be a convincing statement, isn’t’ it? To live and speak under God’s ever-watching eye must be a fearful thing. Knowing the Holy God is your witness must awaken you to a great responsibility to be true in all matters. The Apostle Paul wrote to convince Philippi he loved them as Jesus does. He is convinced of his love for Philippi. He is convinced of Jesus’ love for His church. And Paul is convinced that the church in Philippi needs to be repeatedly affirmed that Paul and Jesus really do love them. As Paul wrote, “God is my witness.” he was not merely speaking as someone who wanted to convince his wife of his love or an accuser of his innocence. He knew with such a claim that God would judge any deception. After all, our all-knowing God constantly witnesses our actions and words. Our sin confessions do not surprise him. They honor him. We respect his watchful holiness and understand his love requires full obedience. Remember, God is the eternal One of whom David wrote in Psalms 2:12 “His wrath is quickly kindled”. Every man of God knows that the Lord will judge sin in His wrath. Thus, Paul wrote, “God is my witness.” with respect, fear and love for the Lord’s truth. He knew God would surely punish any lie he spoke. Can you imagine saying, “For God is my witness.” and then you tell a lie? Did you reply, “No, I wouldn’t lie in God’s name?” Really? I urge you to consider then how you live out your faith in God each day. Do you say to the world, “I’m a Christian.” and speak of doing well while your heart has no desire to be as Christ? Be careful how you speak. Be committed with the ways you act. The Holy God is a witness to your life. Joy Link: “Christian” is being a true witness of Christ, who is an eternal witness to your life. Philippians 1:6-7 Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; 7 just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace.
HOW does it feel to be encouraged? I’m sure you have experienced this joy. “You can do it! Study hard, and you’ll be a teacher, an engineer. Practice your shot; you’ll be a great player. Run hard, and you’ll learn to run far. Be of faith. God has gifted you for his good work.” Paul weaves his letters to churches, to Timothy, to Titus, to Philemon and to others with encouraging, strengthening words. He is God’s instrument to empower Jesus’ church to be of good, firm faith, trusting what God is about to do through them. Paul personally knows about this. He has experienced how life-giving encouragement has been to him and his ministry. Barnabas (whose name means “encourager”), for example, was instrumental to teach and guide Paul in the early years of call to ministry. In Philippi it was Lydia who first encouraged Paul, “If you consider me a believer in the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my house.” (Acts 16:15) And the first church in Europe began. Paul is absolutely convinced – people who faithfully follow Jesus will have a fulfilled joyful walk with their Lord as we lovingly encourage one another. Note, I didn’t say we would have an easy walk with Jesus, and neither did Paul. Encouragement is especially necessary as we confront many daily challenges. We must praise God for the blessings and for the trials. Victories mean little without the struggle. Do you believe this for your own life? Are you perhaps feeling “out of practice” as your faith habits have slipped? Do you have a sense that you’ll never get to where God wants you to be? Are you even perhaps willing to say, “I give up.” Then stop and know this is a spiritual battle. The devil and his demons speak discouragement. Remember, your Lord has saved you! He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. This is God’s promise. God keeps his promises. His Spirit faithfully empowers you to a true life with Him. Paul’s words, “I am sure of this.” is a wonderful, “You will do it!” encouragement, isn’t it? Paul is completely confident that Christ Jesus will continue His work in those who are faithful to Jesus. Be faithful, and you will know the joy of living in Jesus’ complete work in you. Joy Link: Yes, He’s begun His good work in you! Philippians 1:3-5 “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, 5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now.”
ONE way we know joy in our lives is to be thankful. Here Paul is thankful for his partners in ministry. Good partners are good to aid us in our work, aren’t they? I’m reading a book by Mike Massimino, who became an astronaut in the mid-90’s. His story is a wonderful illustration of the power of partnership to achieve very difficult tasks. Mike explains the many obstacles he overcame to reach his goa to become an astronaut. And he relates many who helped him become an effective astronaut with various skills. His wisdom was to enlist partners to help him through the challenges and teach him how to succeed. Mike worked in unity with people willing to partner with him and his purpose. He was eager to listen, to learn and to live into teachings. When someone calls you, “Partner.” you feel honored, don’t you? You feel their trust. You want to help them because they have affirmed you. Partners work side-by-side to help each other achieve remarkable work in our culture and in the church. That’s why Paul wants the church at Philippi to know he rejoices they are his partners. Paul knows how difficult the work for the gospel is and will be. No one alone can do all that is needed. Amid the hard work, the challenges, and even conflict, partners in Christ know they must set their mind to Jesus. The church must focus on the life-transforming work God calls us to do. How do partners stay together? Partners submit to one another. They are humble to encourage and enrich each other. They focus on their purpose. Partners in the church must together pray their desires, say their hopes, and obey their Lord. And partners must know the joy of their salvation in Jesus Christ. This joy will set their minds on Jesus as their Lord, and heavenly partner. Do you have a gospel partner? Join with another to seek Jesus. Join together to care for one another in the great work He has called you. Joy Link: Partners protect and prosper God’s purpose in each other’s lives. Philippians 1:1-2 Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
WE closed our study of Philemon with a focus on grace. Now Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi begins with the same expression of God’s wondrous mercy. There are many words we use in the church and generally in Christianity that have their root in the character of God. For example, “love” is often spoken as the core of God’s character. We speak of “blessing” to describe God’s benevolent care and gifts. And we certainly talk of salvation, reminding us that we are saved into the Kingdom of God. Let’s pause now on “grace” once more. When Paul wrote, “Grace to you” you might have, as I often do, skipped right over the word. Perhaps you thought, “That’s nice.” This is a common response, I believe, to grace. But grace isn’t “nice”. It is remarkable. Grace is joyful! When we stop to wondrously acknowledge the “Grace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” we will see God. Paul reminds us that grace is God’s conduit, a passageway through which God’s power flows to mankind. Into that passageway, the Father sent his only Son, Jesus Christ of Nazareth. By grace Jesus came to submit to the Father’s will to obediently be the way by which the Father saves you. The “means of grace” regarding salvation means you don’t have to earn your salvation through a standard of perfection. In God’s grace, you are given a sin-free life before the Father as you confess, “I’m a sinner. Jesus is my Lord.” By grace you have faith to believe Christ has given himself for you. Do you pause as you go through the different moments of each day to remember, “God’s grace has come to me through Jesus.” Then, do you say to yourself, “Wow!” Joy Link: God’s grace is a WOW! (Wonder Of Wonders!) Philemon 20 I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. 21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask. 22 And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers. 23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. 24 And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers. 25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
PAUL, you remember, has been encouraging Philemon to have a welcoming, forgiving spirit for his former slave Onesimus. It may seem that Paul is demanding this with his words, “confident of your obedience.” as if he wants Philemon to obey him. In the language of that day, thought, Paul is confident Philemon will obey God’s will. Paul also anticipates he’ll be free from prison soon. And he is hoping to visit Philemon in Colosse, a place he has never been. Paul anticipates and hopes for restoration, renewal, forgiveness, freedom and time to visit. How will any of this occur? The last sentence tells us. Paul, of course, recognizes all is done in God’s will under the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. As Paul had also begun his letter with, Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (Philemon 3), he is reminding all that they are under the authority of God’s undeserved favor. Grace is why God acts to save, to bless, to empower his people. Without God’s grace, there is no plan of salvation, no law, no gospel, no Savior and no new birth in Jesus’ Christ. If God were without grace he would have no patience, mercy and kindness to teach us his truth. No person would desire to know God. We would be unable to recognize wrong from right. Our lives would be a meaningless journey to destruction. That is why we must daily worship God and thank him for the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. Our risen Savior has favored us with his obedience to the Father. Jesus has graciously sent the Holy Spirit to receive God’s grace of faith for the forgiveness of our sins. The Spirit awakens us to humility, submission, peace, love and forgiveness. This is what Paul hoped Philemon would experience. We don’t know the results of this letter. But we do know God’s empowered apostle wrote a grace-filled letter to a brother in Christ. He encouraged Philemon in the ways of God. He urged Philemon and the church to know and do God’s will. This is all he could do. Paul had no power to change anyone. In the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Spirit would do God’s will through God’s people. What issues do you see in your life? Do you want them resolved? Then seek the Lord’s gracious will. Perhaps as you pray, read the Bible, worship and learn, he will awaken you anew to his grace to transform broken lives. Perhaps as you draw more closely to God, you will know his grace to rest in him. And you will allow God to do his work in his time. Life Thought: May the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Mark 15:33-34 At the sixth hour darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?”-which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
JESUS’ cry from the cross rings loud and tragic through the ages. “Why, my Jehovah, the One who is Eternal, Deliverer, why have you abandoned me, your Son?” This is our sin’s cost to our Lord. Alone in agony on the cross, the Son of God cries out for an answer you and I often demand to know. “Why have you abandoned me, God? Have you left me to die? Have you allowed my enemies to triumph? Why, God, have you not saved me? You promised you would always be my God. Why am I all alone?” Sometimes the answer comes in an eye-opening moment. Sometimes there is no answer. The question lingers until the day God reveals, “I am here.” The Bible testifies to this in David’s life story. You see this in Job’s story. Dark days in Jonah’s and Daniel’s lives, today’s stories of God’s people suffering and martyred also point to God sending us into impossible, even deadly moments to exalt his purpose. God had left his Son to die on a cross, but he had not abandoned Jesus forever. As Jesus cried out, his human agony was deep in his soul, his human pain was excruciating to his body. But that was not the end. It was the beginning. His Father returned to resurrect his body. Out of Jesus’ resurrection came the new body of his church. Are you asking God today, “Why have you forsaken me?” Be of faith. Believe he is present and prepared to enrich your life. Understand his light is brighter in the darkness. See Jesus’ outstretched arms are off the cross. Now they are embracing you. Life Thought: You can believe Jesus, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20b Philemon 17-19 So if you consider me a partner, welcome Onesimus as you would welcome me. 18 If Onesimus has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. 19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back, not to mention that you owe me your very self.
HOW do you see Jesus in these three verses? As Paul has opened this letter by confirming his binding relationship to Jesus, “Paul, a prisoner for Christ.” He now demonstrates Jesus’ sacrificial heart to Philemon. Declaring he and Philemon are partners, Paul is speaking of a true fellowship between the two as they both confess Jesus is Lord. Consider, as you declare, “I follow Jesus. I am his disciple.” you are confessing a relationship that demands a love-centered obedience to your Savior. You live in partnership with him as you know his teachings, trust his words, obey his commands and serve him with your gifts. This, then, is how you partner with others in Jesus’ church. A Christ-centered partnership is a love-commitment to others in Christ. It is not an obligation based on your own personal gains. Partnering with Jesus’ disciples is drawing together in unity to advance the kingdom of God. See how Paul is willing to pay Onesimus’ debts. Paul is as Jesus, who paid our sin debts to the Father. Paul is willing to be Onesimus’ substitute to receive any penalty Philemon may wish to charge to his former slave. Jesus, of course, is our substitute on the altar of sacrifice. Jesus has died for your sins to pay the penalty, the debts, you owe the Father. Paul offers a Christ-like commitment. He will do this. This is his decision to stand in Onesimus’ place. In turn, he is willing to forego and to forgive any debt Philemon has to him. Paul desires all to be reconciled. In Jesus’ words on the cross, Paul is saying, “It is finished.” As he refers to any dispute between Philemon and Onesimus. Paul is the go-between. He is the mediator and the reconciler. His love for both men causes him to commit himself to their future partnership. Follow your Lord in the ways of reconciliation and peace. Help people in conflict resolve their issues. Remind them the Father has resolved his conflict with mankind by sacrificing Jesus on a terrible cross in an excruciating death. Whatever the issue, people need to let go and declare, “It is finished.” Life Thought: Move on from conflict. Forgive your debtors as the Father has forgiven your debts. Philemon12-16 I am sending Onesimus, who is my very heart, back to you. 13 I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. 14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do will be spontaneous and not forced. 15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good 16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.
WHEN you read some of Paul’s words in other letters, you see some hard words. For example: 1 Corinthians 5:5 hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord. And in Romans 1: 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. Is this the same man who wrote the humble words of love and honor to Philemon? Of course it is. In each circumstance, Paul was obeying the Lord Jesus, demonstrating our Lord’s active love for us. In 1 Corinthians, he is protecting the church. An unrepentant sinner was influencing a church against God’s truth. Sin must be confronted in the church, so repentance and reconciliation keep the church in unity with God. In Romans, Paul defined sin in a very immoral culture. Jesus’ church needs to know wrong from right, so we will live right. As Paul, then, wrote to Philemon, he is giving up his own desires to honor a friend. Paul needed help as he was under Roman guard. A prisoner’s friends provided his food and care. They would also supply Paul with writing materials. Their presence would comfort his heart. Paul had grown to love Onesimus, who had responded to the gospel to become Paul’s close associate. But now it was time to send Onesimus back to Philemon, so the former slave could reconcile with his one-time master. Paul loved his neighbor as himself. He did what he would want another to do for him. His honoring words pointed Philemon to honor Onesimus. The unity of God’s church requires we live in God’s words. We often talk of loving one another as the second Great Command. And, indeed, it is. Our purpose is to live in that command, even if it means putting others’ needs and desires above our own. Life Thought: Loving others as yourself solves many relationship problems. Philemon 8-11 Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, 9 yet I appeal to you on the basis of love. I then, as Paul, an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus, 10 I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. 11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.
WE remember that Paul is writing from a prison house in Rome to a man named Philemon. Philemon is a wealthy man who lives in Colosse. Paul has praised Philemon for his gracious, loving work for the church. He compliments Philemon on his kindness. Then Paul gets to the point of his letter. With the word “therefore”, he connects Philemon’s good work in the church to point Philemon to do good for his former slave Onesimus. Onesimus had run away from Philemon and stolen from his master. Paul urges Philemon to forgive Onesimus and receive again the one who has become useful both to you and to me. Note Paul’s language. He is a man of great authority in the church. As an old man and prisoner for Jesus Christ, Paul could have essentially ordered Philemon to forgive and restore Onesimus. But Paul appeals as a father to Philemon and as a father of Onesimus. He is hoping for a brotherly love in Christ between master and former slave. The apostle who did not have his own children, was certainly a spiritual father to many. He led them to Christ, then watched over them with a Christ-like heart. Loving one another under the Father’s love is the goal and essence of being Jesus’ church. Paul’s loving guidance included encouragement, rebuke, support and praise. He instructed churches through false teachings and disruptive members. Paul stood firm for the church as he faced persecution and severe physical trials. Paul learned of fatherhood from his Father in heaven. He lived it out in is ministry. These are good lessons for parents and grandparents, church leaders and church members. Recognize that as parents and Jesus’ disciples, you have authority in Jesus Christ. You are to use such authority – the Lord’s truth – with tenderness, love, encouragement and firmness. Know what’s right. Live in the right. Help others know, too. Life Thought: Leading for God requires our Father’s character. |
AuthorBob James Archives
November 2024
Categories |
RSS Feed