Author: Randall Smith

This week it happened again. I was working with great fervor, but not being a careful enough steward of my body, and my resistance to the cold and flu broke down. I hate getting sick. I don’t mind the physical symptoms as much as I hate to waste time lying around accomplishing nothing and watching the work back up. The breakdown of my resistance was the invitation for sickness to overtake me – just like it is in you. We cannot always avoid being around sick people – but we can compromise our system and rob our body’s ability to fight off invading infection by our own decisions. How? One way to do that is eat badly. (All holiday eaters say “check”.) Another way to do that is get too little sleep. (All holiday party goers say “check”). Another way to do it is live with additional stress. (All holiday shoppers say “check”). Isn’t it a wonder we don’t all just die between Christmas and the New Year celebration?

Resistance is a concept well known in modern life.

• In electricity, it is defined as “a measure of the degree to which an object opposes an electric current through it”.

• In physics, it explains “drag” on our aircraft or boat with “fluid or gas forces opposing motion and flow”.

• In medicine, the term is used to describe: ”the protective assistance gained through taking a specific medicine or following a specific regimen of treatment”.

In short, resistance is about forging the ability to stand firm in the face of pressure.

Why are we talking about it? Because God’s Word addressed a problem long ago that we are observing again in our day. Anyone paying close attention is really beginning to notice that in the world of the twenty-first century Western church – resistance is quickly evaporating.

There are increasing numbers of people who claim to follow Christ with few distinguishing marks that separate them from the culture around them.

Believers appear to be less able to stand firm in the face of the deluge of immoral thinking and outlandish behavior of our day. A wise old Pastor wrote: “If the church is to be the church, it must resist the track of the world. It must guide the world in God’s intended path, and challenge the immoral lifestyle and unconscionable cruelty of sinful expression in society.” Dear ones, God has called on His people to stand firmly on a wall of truth and resist a tsunami of lies…It is our privilege, and it can be done with great security and intense JOY – but we must be instructed on how to do it.

Look back with me into the letter of Paul to Philippi that was later divided into four chapters. Identify the call in the opening of the final chapter in Philippians 4:1 “Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.” Can you see the call? Paul had one thing he was driving home to the congregation – STOP BACKING UP. Stand on the ground God put under your feet. Resist.

Key Principle: Believers can effectively resist the moral slide of our nation when we follow the pattern God gave to us.

Before we dive too deeply into the verses of chapter four, let me ask you something. Did you notice how Paul positioned what he was about to say? The chapter opened with a “THEREFORE” – as Paul beckoned us backward in the letter, urging us to look at the setting carefully for his point. His ending instructions were rooted in the previous points he raised. When we last looked at this letter, we tried to grasp the Spirit’s call to JOY in the face of trouble as it was expressed in what is now called the third chapter of Paul’s writing to Philippi. Since it has been some time, let’s recall the three steps we observed to move from panic to peace in the face of trouble.

• The first step was to DEAL WITH OUR OWN HEARTS before anything else. A man with limburger cheese stuck to his lip thinks the whole world stinks – when the problem is that all his sense of smell is dominated by a close odor. His senses are fouled but it seems like the world is. Paul said in Philippians 3:1 to rejoice, and that he didn’t mind repeating that call at all. We have to face the fact that we cannot see all that God is doing, and we aren’t qualified to judge the day from where we sit. What we can do, and what we MUST do, is look inside and place our hearts under the light of the Master’s scrutiny. Is my attitude one of trust or of insecurity?

• The next step we observed in the letter in 3:2-11 was the call to KEEP OUR EYES AND EARS OPEN. Looking within can make one be blind without. Troubles were plaguing the early church, just as troubles plague the work today. Some problems came from the intentionally planted “dogs” (3:2) that were moving about in the churches and couldn’t be pinned down. They had great criticism for churches and believers, but offered no regular help and commitment. They FED – but they didn’t provide anything but an occasional critique. Some were plants of the enemy to disrupt, but some were simply immature believers that had not been challenged and held accountable to learn and live God’s Word. They drifted about, feeding on whatever was currently fashionable and convenient. They didn’t build anything; they just used what others were building. A third group was found in those who got terribly impressed with physical accomplishments – those who thought spiritual assessment could be accurately made in this world. In each case – dogs, drifters and deed measurers – God warned that distraction would come if His people didn’t recognize what was happening – keeping eyes and ears open.

• The third step we mentioned was found in the end of chapter three – we must KEEP PUSHING RELENTLESSLY TOWARD THE PRIZE. Paul leaned into the future – pressing to grow to be what God truly desired of him. He didn’t pull back to a monastery – but anticipated what was coming. The temptation to GIVE UP is very real, but needs to be checked. Paul didn’t say that his future goal was about ACCOMPLISHMENT IN THIS LIFE – but rather about his honest and full surrender to Jesus Christ REGARDLESS of where that would lead him. He wasn’t saying he was going to DO great things for God that other men could see – but that he would reach out to the hand of Jesus in Heaven and grab it more deliberately, more strongly. That is something you CAN do, and that is something you MUST do.

As chapter four opened, Paul had expressed that if a believer dealt with his heart before God, looked with understanding and care at the situation of the local church body, and kept his eyes focused well beyond the constraints of the physical world – they would be ready to face the challenges of troubling circumstances with assurance and stability. That would certainly set them on the right path toward offering stiff resistance to the world’s onslaught of their Biblical values. At the same time, Paul wasn’t done. He now offered six actions that construct a wall of resistance. He argued that resistance was essential to keeping the Gospel open to future generations. The wall needed to be constructed, and the Spirit used his quill to tell believers how to accomplish this vital task.

Six Ways to Build a Wall of Resistance

We can panic and run into monasticism, or we can acquiesce and accept moral ambiguity – but both would be disobedient to God. We are to stand firm in the faith. We are to live in a way that contrasts with the world. We are called to build a wall. How do we accomplish this? Here are six ways to complete the task:

First, to build resistance we must face interpersonal tension – we may struggle to harmonize.

When believers fail to get along, and become settled with the idea that division is acceptable – they say much about what they believe concerning God’s call and power. Paul told two co-workers in the Philippian church to get together.

Philippians 4:2 I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord.

The terms “auto phronein” literally translate to “be of the same mind” or literally the same “midriff or diaphragm; the parts around the heart.” The idea was to “properly, regulate (moderate) from within, as inner-perspective (insight) shows itself in corresponding, outward behavior.” Essentially, Paul is calling for discipline of inner feelings that show in harmonized outer behavior. The task comes down to one thing alone: inner discipline. We cannot expect to get along if we feel we have the right to verbalize every emotional outburst and “let it all hang out”. We MUST learn to deal with our heart within, and curb our mouth without.

Admittedly, we know little of WHO these two ladies were, or what their true role was. We DO know they fell out with one another—fueling a disagreement between them. Perhaps it began as a small slight, but it eventually mushroomed into a rift that began to hurt the entire congregation, and was reported to Paul in Rome. The women may have held responsible positions in their municipality. As a Roman colony, Philippi gave a level of independence to women that was not common in most Greek cities of the Roman period; this may account for the prominence of the women and their disagreement.

James reminds that troubles come between us because of troubles within us. James 4:1-4 offers these words: “1 What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. 4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Before you overreact to the hyperbole in James’ words, listen to the symptoms of a building conflict between believers:

• First, James said we start into quarrels and conflicts because we get hurt by the war within to have what we want, the way we want it, when we want it. We are focused on selfish pleasure so very easily, and when we are bit deeply, and our veins flow with the venom of self – it shows in our stubborn behavior toward one another.

• Second, James argued that when we are fixated with lust, and hunger for something dominates our thinking – we are more concerned about what we want then any care for the another person. We can “kill” them in our minds – their needs don’t count. We quarrel because our desire is our only passion.

• Third, James admits that we stay in a state of distance from God – either not asking Him to meet our inner needs because we know them to be debased, or allowing our hurt to even warp our view of God’s goodness.

• Finally, James ended the few verses with the recognition that we are all too friendly with the world, and that bond pulls our hearts from following God’s priorities. We don’t WANT what God desires; we want what the world offers. That poison can be seen in our comfort with an immoral world, and our bickering with the family of God.

Paul recognized what all of us in church leadership recognize: the greatest single hindrance to the spread of the Gospel is the behavior of God’s people – especially in relation to one another.

Churches can tear down in one business meeting what took generations to build in reputation in their community. Two arguing believers can reduce the great Sequoia of witness to a pile of ashes faster than felling and burning the actual great tree. The failure between us to get along is responsible for countless losses of testimony and embittering of lost men and women. Some of the people who are most avid haters of Jesus grew up in churches and saw our mistreatment of one another. We must face the fact that harmony is hard – but working for it builds the wall of resistance in a community searching for truth.

Second, to build resistance we must create systems to deal with the growing struggle, and recognize committed workers.

Philippians 4:3 Indeed, true companion, I ask you also to help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, together with Clement also and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

With the issue between Euodia and Syntyche still in mind, Paul enlisted an unnamed individual to intervene directly and assist in ending the quarrel between Euodia and Syntyche. It isn’t as easy to see in English, but in Greek both of the people in verse 2 were female. In verse three, Paul changed to masculine form and called on his “companion” to step in and help the women settle their dispute. One commentator, (Peter Toon) wrote in his commentary: “His identity is not known, but he was probably a respected and influential member of the church whose word would be heeded”. Much earlier, William Barclay, wrote: “Maybe the best suggestion is that the reference is to Epaphroditus, the bearer of the letter.” That sounds very plausible.

Regardless of WHO God used – the fact remains that the struggle needed to be solved and to do so would require intervention of someone. Paul made sure that person understood his RESPECT for both of the women and their help in times past. He made clear that they were believers, anticipating eternal life. He shared the problem out of a heavy heart, not a flippant spirit of gossip. Paul set up the necessary system to bring resolution. In fact, we possess indirect historical evidence that, perhaps, the women did reconcile and peace was restored. Tucked in the archives of the Apostolic Father, we have a letter from Polycarp of Smyrna. Early in the second century, the church in Philippi wrote to Polycarp to inquire about the fate of another minister who had been arrested and taken to Rome. Their letter appears lost in history, but Polycarp’s reply was preserved. In it, he commended the congregation saying: “have followed the example of true love and have helped on their way, as opportunity offered, those who were bound in chains.” He added: “I rejoice also that your firmly rooted faith, renowned since early days, endures to the present and produces fruit for our Lord Jesus Christ.” Scant evidence, I know… but we may be able to conclude that our dear servant ladies resolved divisions and tensions.

Beloved, we must grow up! We cannot allow divisions to foster and disgust to build. We need ways to resolve problems and we need to be insistent in doing so – so that our wall of resistance to the world’s moral deluge is buttressed. The church cannot preach unity and reconciliation with God while fighting behind the scenes amongst ourselves. I have enjoyed many years of Pastoral peace because some around me have insisted on confronting problems and resolving conflicts. It has made serving Jesus where I am much more joyful and secure.

Third, to build resistance we must recognize that the world will watch our demeanor as closely as they listen to our message.

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.

Don’t be deceived! The world isn’t listening to our doctrinal disputes as much as it is watching our expressions and listening to our tone. Look at the three truths Paul pressed in two short verses:

• He repeated the need for believers to be steady about rejoicing, not grousing. Beloved, some meetings of senior believers don’t sound encouraging or encouraged. We all recognize that things aren’t going well on the moral landscape, there is little encouragement on the governmental scene, and the financial prospects don’t appear to be improving. If we ever forget, there are news outlets on 24/7 dedicated to depression and the fostering of blame. Believers must be diligent to ward off the complaining spirit that is gripping the nation. We are to sound like the buzzing of those rejoicing. God is still on the throne. He hasn’t finished telling His story, and we want to thank Him for His endless goodness today! Drop the attitude. Shake off the negativity. Look up! God is still smiling, in spite of earth’s groans. He is readying the Bride for the soon coming wedding dance.

• Paul placed a goal before believers that they would build the reputation of gentle reasonableness. The term for “reasonable” or “gentle” in the text is well chosen. The word “epieikḗs” is a compound adjective, derived from epí, “on or fitting” and eikos, “equitable, fair”. It simply means “equitable”; and is “gentle” in the sense of truly fair- seeking to keep the “spirit of the law.” Believers must be known as people of principle, but not rigid and unbending in the complexity of life. We cannot toss aside truth, but we don’t wield it like an offensive sword. We have to try to be FAIR with people, and CARING toward them. It isn’t enough to be right, we need to be of a loving nature. Paul’s call was always to speak the truth in love. People don’t care what you know until they know that you truly care about THEM. They don’t want to be a project, or the object of your evangelism – they want to be loved and genuinely cared about. We must see people as God’s great gift, and try to HELP them see God. Pharisees hinder and hold out – followers of Jesus invite in and love. There are times we cannot, but they must be the extreme.

• He reminded them that the Master was close to them, watching and listening. We aren’t motivated simply by the eyes of the crowd. We serve One – and He is nearby. He cares what we are doing and HOW we are doing it.

If we would simply remember that our walk talks, and our talk walks but our walk talks louder than our talk walks – we would do well.

Fourth, to build resistance we must remember that the Lord only removes the stress we deliberately place in His hands.

Every time we address the subject of prayer in any text, I get concerned. It has been my experience that the subject of prayer brings much GUILT into the room, every time it is mentioned. Most believers I know well are very unsatisfied with their prayer life. I am not saying they are dissatisfied with God’s answers – quite the contrary. They are dissatisfied with the time they spend in prayer, and the very mention of it makes them feel dirty and inadequate. Stop. Listen for a minute to what the text says…

Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Can any among us truly say they have mastered worry and now stand before God without anxiousness about ANYTHING in their lives? I doubt it. If you are engaged in the battle, your mind is filled with concerns (that is the acceptable Christian word for WORRY!). Paul didn’t say what he said because he wanted believers to read it with dread for generations. He used the word DIVIDED- the term that is now translated “anxious”. Worry divides you energy and cuts your effectiveness. It keeps you awake when you should be asleep and recharging. It distracts when you should be focused. Look at the words closely.

Stop worrying. Give the cares to God. Ask for what you need. Pour out your heart. Share while you thankfully recall all that God has given you. Leave HIM with the problems, and take home the PEACE.

God’s interest in your prayer life is not self-serving. He isn’t lonely. He isn’t denying you the opportunity to do it on your own because you might have too much fun. Facing anxiety is like moving your couch. It is TOO BIG for you to move alone. You can nudge it, but you can’t get it out the door without another pair of hands. That is what God offers. If you want to clear out the clutter and get back to peace – you will need His strong hands to help. He’ll take your trouble and leave you the peace you long for – but only if you let Him.

Fifth, to build resistance we must fight the battle for the mind and learn to think properly.

The battleground in the believer is in the mind. The enemy has lost your soul, and now he seeks to mute your voice and curb your influence. The fastest way to sideline a powerful force for God is confuse the thinking within. Get them caught up chasing the wrong ideas, and thinking about the wrong things. Paul said it this way:

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

Paul opened with thinking about things that are TRUE. The word “alēthḗs” is a negative – the “a” means “not” and “lanthánō” means “unnoticed, concealed. The term is “true” in terms of it being a fact or reality that is tested and cannot be hidden. The idea is that it has been tested and is truly authentic.

Paul moved to the HONORABLE. The term semnós comes from the word sébomai, “to revere, be in awe”. It refers to what is “august, dignified, weighty, deeply respected, majestic, of grave importance”.

He urged onward to what is RIGHT. The term díkaios is an adjective derived from dikē, “right, judicial approval” and literally means things “approved by God” or things “upright.”

He pushed them to think of things PURE. The term hagnós is an adjective meaning “chaste, un-adultered both inside and out; uncontaminated and undefiled from sin; not mixed with guilt or anything condemnable”.

He directed them to think on things LOVELY. The term prosphilḗs is a compound adjective, from prós, “extending toward” and philéō, meaning “worthy of personal affection” or “dearly prized”.

He called them to think on things OF GOOD REPUTE. The term “euphémos” meant “well reported of, spoken in a kindly spirit”, laudable, and reputable.

He marked out things that are EXCELLENT. This is the word arétē – the term for “moral excellence” which enriches life.

He called them to think of the PRAISEWORTHY. This is the term “épainos” from epí, “on, fitting,” and aínos, “praise”) – meaning apt praise, or accurate acknowledgment.

Let me ask you something… How should my desire to change my thinking change my actions?

• If I am to think of things that are TRUE what does that mean for the movies I watch, the books I read, and the games I play? Is fantasy that takes more of my day than reality a good thing?

• If I think of things HONORABLE, How much comedy should I build my life around? Should everything be a joke with me? Do I also feed on some ideas of substance? What have I read or watched that really took my breath away recently?

• If I think on things that are RIGHT – how much time should I spend in entertainments that encourage me to laugh at ungodly words or behaviors?

• If I think on things PURE, how many extra-marital affairs can I watch in the movie theatre before I am in disobedience?

• If I think of things LOVELY, how much gratuitous violence should be in my video gaming?

• If I think on things of GOOD REPUTE how much arguing, bashing, and shouting should I listen to on talk radio?

• If I thing of things that are MORALLY EXCELLENT, how many stations should never get turned on my TV?

Paul ended with: “These things consider”…logízomai is the word at the root of the English terms “logic, logical”. The idea is to “take into account”or “reckon” based on this thinking

Sixth, to build resistance we must stress the need for the team to be mentored and instructed to follow the recognized pattern.

Christianity is more caught then taught – but then, so is paganism. What should that mean about when and where we invest our time?

Philippians 4:9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Paul called on believers to learn, receive and practice truth together. It would bring peace to the body, and progress to the Gospel. People can’t simply get the lessons they need from a message or Sunday School class – they need PATTERNS as much as LESSONS. Consider this testimony:

“Howard Hendricks tells of a mentor who changed his life in his book Iron Sharpens Iron. Howard was from a broken family, and said, “I could have lived, died, and gone to hell without anyone bothering to care.” However, a man named Walt from a tiny church in his neighborhood cared about reaching nine and ten year old boys for Jesus. One Saturday while he was playing marbles on the sidewalks of Philadelphia Walt came by and asked him if he wanted to go to Sunday School. The very thought of school made him decline, but Walt then asked if he would like to play marbles. Howard was the best marble player on his block, and was sure he could beat Walt easy. Walt won every single game, and after that Howard wanted to follow him everywhere. Over the next several years Walt would take the boys hiking, even though he had a bad heart. His teaching and love for thirteen boys, nine of whom came from broken homes, made a difference in their lives. Eleven of those boys went on to pursue careers as vocational Christian workers, even though Walt had only gone through the sixth grade.” (Sermon central illustrations).

This is the pattern: Learn to get along. Build systems that keep us together. Watch how we act before the world. Learn to surrender worry in prayer. Think rightly. Shape through mentoring.

Believers can effectively resist when we follow the pattern God gave to us.

We are about to dive again into the pool of the School of Joy. Before we do, as we near the coming season, I am almost afraid to give you this news out loud, but I am compelled by the Word to do so. Brothers and sisters, we are sick. Some disease pathogens have spread throughout the Christian community, and we have found ourselves suffering in the ranks all across our nation. They are not entirely new pathogens – but there is a new virulent strain in them that our tried and true strategies no longer seem to slow. The world has never loved the REAL message of Jesus – they prefer the greeting card Jesus. The real One challenges us, and He is the only actual and effective treatment for the broken and the lost… Yet something is different in the time and place WE are living. Our population is dramatically changing around us. The Biblical foundations beneath us are being washed out to sea and the incoming tide is replacing them with a viciously anti-god, anti-Bible, anti-anything that seems derivative from the moral system of traditional Christianity. The difference is not in them – it is in the church’s response. It is in the church’s readiness to stand.

Now that’s a heavy set of truths, and it promises to set up a “heavy-hearted” message – but it doesn’t. All is not lost – and God is not in trouble. His grip is as firm as it has ever been on our world and our lives. JOY is the assurance of that truth – and rejoicing is the physical expression of JOY.

Key Principle: Times of trouble may be designed by the enemy to bring doubt, but God desires they to become times of renewed joy.

Before we go deep into our lesson from the School of Joy – let’s take a breath and be human, vulnerable and real with each other. Let’s honestly admit some things that are really uncomfortable…

• First, the Holiday season is a time of physical demands for many of you, and many of you will pass through a time in which you will feel physically drained.

• Add to that the season also is emotionally challenging. For some, they will pass through this Christmas and it will sting, because a loved one has gone to be with Jesus, and you, frankly, deeply miss them. Christmas feels like a family time, but only SOME of our family is HERE – and as they relocate to Heaven, we feel sweeping waves of nostalgia and pain. For some in our congregation they are at the FUNNEST time for celebration, with little children that will love both the gifts and the boxes and wrappings they come in! Do you recall that? Others will feel the stress of failing to meet expectations in others, or having to deal with that part of your visiting family that is most difficult. The fact is, for both the lonely and for all the others this is an emotionally draining time.

• We aren’t even going to mention the financial stresses that some of you are under right now, and how that plays in. In the midst of this draining time it is easy for the enemy to slip in to your life and really get you down.

I believe the enemy takes special delight in making believers sad and even mad at the time we choose to celebrate Jesus’ coming to earth.

Just about that time, the attacks roll in as our energy wanes… we enter the time when all the pagans rage about how entirely “too Christian” the country is, and how unfair that is to their rights. Apparently the message of the wise men kneeling before Jesus has caused serious psychological damage to some who are now coming forward and must be protected. The use of public property to celebrate traditions that ANYONE in the room might not be a part of is now deeply destabilizing to their balance. You don’t have to go far to look for the argument. In the past week the news has been flooded with dozens of examples of them.

• Hawaii News Now reported this week that a “threatened lawsuit had put a halt to what’s become a Christmas tradition for members of the Moanalua High School orchestra. For the past six years, the award-winning group together with volunteers from the New Hope Church have raised more than $200,000 for a charity that treats poor people in Africa. But that all came to a halt on Monday when the Department of Education decided to cancel the concert just four days before the event, because of “…entanglement between a public school and a Christian church”. After all, isn’t it obvious that only the government has the right to give away money in our modern day? Heaven forbid that someone who follows Jesus participate in the process of helping others…

• From Albany, N.Y. comes a story of a cadet quitting West Point less than six months before graduation says he could no longer be part of a culture that promotes prayers and religious activities and disrespects nonreligious cadets. The compromise for his mental anguish and suffering after being forced to stand silently before meals? He gets to quit, take his credits and not have to pay anything for the education. After all, all that standing in silence during prayer time has really been tough on him – so he gets rewarded with a free education worth scores of thousands of dollars – with no obligation to pay back.

• New members of our Congress in Washington describe the open threats made against the Congressional Prayer Caucus – where new members have been warned that if they join the prayer caucus, they will be sued – because the act of a public official praying is so devastatingly bad for the country. Now mixing church and state means that the man or woman of faith should stay away from Washington, because they do so much better without God’s help.

I won’t do more of the dozens of stories… we don’t need to be pushed down. Here is my point: the open full-throated attack on our faith that was at the foundation of this country at its inception is openly underway – and unless our Master blocks it from Heaven, His church is about to experience a tremendous rise of persecution. All this – and I am speaking to people who are going to be drained physically, emotionally and many, fiscally. These things are happening, and God has removed the blocks from them. What is different is the church.

What can we do? How should we handle it?

First, let’s admit the church isn’t ready. We have been feeding on light-hearted prosperity passages for so long, that many a believer isn’t a follower of Jesus as an end in itself. They follow Jesus because they see Him as a means to an end – but their end is self-fulfillment. They want to be perpetually full, and Jesus had an open bag from which they could snack. The real commitment doesn’t become clear until He closes the bag and expects something from His follower.

Now the good part of the message is at hand. Smile and open God’s Word to Philippians 3. Don’t paint the backdrop in the first century as pretty – it wasn’t. It stunk of urine and sulfur from the vats of the fullonica – the cloth cleaning center nearby. Remember that when Paul was sitting under house arrest, surrounded by a pagan populace and Christians that seemed on the whole a minor and weakened force. Yet, what Paul shared through the power of the Spirit changes us!

Step One: Deal with our Heart.

First, let’s deal with our heart – since that is where all the issues of life come from. Paul did not grumble. He dealt with their PERSPECTIVE and their HEART COMMITMENT. Paul pointed believers toward praise: keep rejoicing!

Philippians 3:1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you.

I love the part where Paul admits that this injunction to rejoice is a repetitive command. He isn’t stuttering, he is teaching… and our hearts get a new surface of hardness so very quickly when surrounded by senselessness and pagan pronouncements. We get angry, we get sad, we get fearful… and we should get back to rejoicing.

How can I rejoice when bad things happen when people are putting my faith and my Savior down? Jesus offered a hint in that very circumstance:

Matthew 5:11-12 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

In the context of persecution, attacking lies and evil words cast before a believer about his faith – he should not lose perspective. Jesus said the disciple should re-focus to gain proper perspective in the midst of painful and adverse circumstances – therein lies the clue to rejoicing. Jesus said: “Remember two important truths that will help you rejoice…

• First, remember this isn’t our permanent home – you and I are in a rental body and rental home. If they take it all, that is ok – you have a permanent one – and they cannot take that one! That isn’t ESCAPISM, it is allowing TRUTH to restore attitude. As the Master said it: “Great is your reward in Heaven!” He isn’t saying that you get a GREAT REWARD because you underwent persecution – that isn’t true. Our great reward comes because of His suffering – and all of us – those who are persecuted and those who are NOT – will still get a great reward by being in Heaven with Him! The issue isn’t what I go through in Jesus’ saying… but WHERE I WILL GO. I don’t belong here as a follower of Jesus – so my HOPE should not rest in some guarantee of a good life while this side of Heaven. My hope is in HIM, in HIS HOME, in HIS FAITHFULNESS to do what He said He would do. Believers who place their faith in Him based on peace and prosperity now won’t be prepared to stick when real persecution comes – because they weren’t taught enough of the BIG PICTURE of salvation… that Heaven isn’t here, and here isn’t my primary focus.

• Second, recognize that you and I are in GOOD COMPANY. If and when persecution comes, we must remember that many godly men and women have been persecuted before us. “So persecuted they the prophets” Jesus said. Ours is not the first generation to face a turning away from the faith – Europe did it before. We have seen this movie because it plays in other places. In a democratic country, a majority may in some sense rule, but majorities are seldom good at maintaining moral standards for very long – because of the heavy downward pull of men in an insatiable hunger to rebel against God. The “many” usually find a way to pull the standards lower. The “few” are left taking a stand once agreed to by “many” in times past… and that is approaching quickly…

The hard part of the words of Jesus and Paul like “Rejoice” and “Be glad” should sober us up in an instant. They require something of us deeper than the surface. They require discipline of the emotions and training of the heart. We must keep Heaven in view, and see ourselves as part of a long line of believers that want to please Jesus and tell His story. Don’t do it alone! Gladness and rejoicing invites Jesus’ participation in my daily walk. Sour faces come from sour hearts. Sour hearts come from doubting spirits. Trust IN Jesus flows out in praise FOR Jesus. Gladness adds the sweetness back to the journey on the way to reward.

My life is not a duty to carry, but a joyful expression of hope to come that I get to share with those around me.

• Young believer – learn that Jesus is closest when we are weakest.
• Adult believer – learn that Jesus is sweetest when troubles are largest.
• Senior believer – learn that Jesus is dearer when our own abilities fail us.

And all of God’s people – we must together learn the tenderness of a Savior that was both willingly wounded for us, and is now vigilant in defense to unfold His story. Rejoice. Let the assurance that God is still on the throne help you to carry you head high, and know that the rewards may not come in this life – but they WILL come.

Step Two: Keep your eyes and ears open.

Paul warned them to keep a sharp lookout for teachers who claimed to follow Jesus, but said and did things that weren’t Biblically sound. He immediately turned from their attention to their hearts and attitudes to warning them of INTERNAL departure from God’s Word in the ranks of believers and churches. Some were IN THE CHURCH that were disrupting it and making trouble.

Philippians 3:2 Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision; 3 for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh, 4 although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless. 7 But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; 11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Though many were causing trouble – they weren’t all doing it the same way. Paul told the Philippians:

• Philippians 3:2 says “Beware of dogs”: The term dog or koo’-ohn was literally the term for a scavenging canine that was feared and hated in the Near East, it was figuratively used as “a spiritual predator” who moves about unaccountable and uncontrolled to feed off the labor of others. There is little doubt in my mind that these were men and women that CLAIMED to be believers, but they would not align themselves with any local church accountability. They moved about, and they couldn’t be pinned down. They had great criticism for churches and believers, but offered no regular help and commitment. They FED – but they didn’t provide. They are in our town, and in virtually every town – even today. It seems unloving to point it out, but it is a direct response to the words of the text – keep a watchful eye!

Some of the so-called “dogs” seem to be unbelievers that make their way into Christian circles but keep their lifestyle untouched. They learn our language, but not obedience to our Savior. Revelation mentions them in 22:15 “Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.” Notice that in that case they are involved in spiritual darkness, immoral lifestyles, hateful abuses and self-made gods. Notice what binds them together is that they LOVE LYING. They don’t just forget to tell the truth – they CHOOSE lying because it is something they LOVE. They sneak into the “religious community” and try to confuse people by saying things from the Bible, but not speaking, leading or acting Biblically. They open a Bible, quote some of its words and then deliberately LIE about what they read. They aren’t uninformed – they are deliberate. Be careful about what you hear!

We must be painfully clear: Christianity is NOT simply a thankful response to the message that Jesus loved us and died for us. We must be clear that Jesus requires REPENTANCE for salvation, and then SURRENDER for Christian growth.

Those who choose to live wrongly should be loved and invited by us. They should enter because of genuine warmth. At the same time, they should not feel comfortable continually living wrongly among God’s people very long – or the church is not properly addressing the real issues of lost life and sinful behavior. We have seen it: platitudes will draw crowds – calls to commitment will drive them away. We can peak interest with slogans, but growth comes with substance from Scripture. Few want to be told they aren’t good – but even fewer that they must yield in brokenness to God to experience Him as He desires for us. Don’t get caught in the trap that clear teaching of Scripture regarding yielding to God is some form of legalistic thinking… it is NOT! Rather, it is a fair and honest representation of the truth – that God loves us as we are, but won’t let us stay that way. His love IS the answer to our need, and our growing surrender to Him is the response to grabbing His hand in love.

Using the analogy again – not all the so-called “dogs” are of that same unsaved litter, however. Some are plants of the enemy to disrupt, but some of them are simply immature believers that have not been challenged and held accountable to learn and live God’s Word. They drift around in Christian circles, feeding wherever it is currently fashionable or convenient. They don’t build anything, they just use what others are building.

Let me plead plainly so that is cannot be misunderstood. Get involved, share your life, and become accountable, stable and useful as a believer in our town. Don’t drift about. Get off the edge – and pull your weight in a local congregation. Do it here or do it in another – as God directs. Don’t hop around and bop around and “just make friends” and not tie your life down to a body. You weren’t saved just to get your destiny changed, but to become an active tool in the hand of your Savior. Don’t just witness while at work and float around with no tied connection to a church body…I don’t want to stand before Jesus as a professional Christian tourist, that went from one place to another to see the sights and sample the spiritual food, offering a fickle critique when there was too much salt for my taste. I want to share life with others, pour myself out to share the Word and be accountable to brothers and sisters. I want others to lean their weight on me, as I do on them. When I hurt, I need them. When they hurt, I want them to know my heart will be with them.

• Next Paul warned the Philippians to “beware of the evil workers”: The terms “kakos ergatas” are directly translated, and refer to people who work at doing wrong. They are tunneling under congregations, and chipping away at foundations. They are in churches quietly teaching in small classes that the Bible isn’t really God’s Word. They are busy introducing questions into the lives of young believers and causing them to stumble by confusing them. They are deliberately seducing Christian workers and drawing them out of their active roles as leaders. They are offering temptations to trip disciples… and yes, I have met some of them. They have introduced false teaching simply by placing “religious” but unbiblical literature in the racks at the entryway, or pulled people aside and tried to pull apart their beliefs after a Bible study. They don’t connect with people who can answer their query – because they don’t work that way. They head for the weaker and try to trip them. I have a friend who called me after a woman came over his desk trying to grab him as he ran out of his office screaming for his assistant, and got the janitor instead. He said he never closed another door in counseling again! They are all over the place, and every elder and every deacon will need to PAY ATTENTION. They are on the prowl, and they are dangerous. This past year, at a Youth Conference, one man snuck in to tear apart the faith of young people – and he was a college professor at the school where the conference was held. He didn’t believe the Bible, and he wanted to be sure the youth that attended the conference didn’t leave that “naïve” either…so he said until we sat with him and made it clear that he stop or leave. He left.

• The third group Paul warned about were “beware of the false circumcision; 3 for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh”.

There are two worlds: the temporal or physical one and the real or spiritual one…but that isn’t how the ungodly person thinks. Sadly, it isn’t even how many believers think on a daily basis… It is easy to get distracted. I am easily duped into believing the physical world is the one I need to pay attention to. The spiritual world seems distance. That sets us up to measure reality in the wrong way.

Look at what God instructed Philippi through Paul to watch. They were to be vigilant about the work or false teaching and EVIL men – those who set their focus on the wrong world and put confidence in the physical world’s accomplishments, understandings and way of thinking. These were people who put confidence in OUTWARD ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

Paul’s argument was not to discourage righteous living or accomplishment – it was NOT TO TRUST IN THAT for righteousness before God. Paul lived in opposition to that kind of thinking. Look at what he said:

• I don’t rely on anything I accomplished in the past, and I count them as a “distraction” or hindrance to right thinking (3:7).

• Every accomplishment is deliberately pushed aside in my thinking and replaced with one more important thought: “Am I knowing the Savior better today?” (3:8). I want to gain a growing knowledge, and a deeper relationship with HIM. (3:9-10).

• I delight in knowing Him more deeply when He is empowering my hands and work or ministry. I learn when I am hurt what His hurts were like. The more I see the other world as the REAL ONE, the more I understand what Jesus went through to come from that one to this one.

The aim is to get passionate about the inner man and the spiritual world! Our prayers should be MOSTLY for the spiritual lives of people – not just their physical pains. Our testimonies should be filled with how God is building our relationship with HIM, strengthening our inner man in spite of the failing outer man. Our encouragement to the younger believers must vitally center on the spiritual delight to walk with the Savior.

Step Three: Keep Pushing to the Goal!

Paul leaned into the future – pressing to grow to be what God truly desired him to become. The temptation to GIVE UP is very real, but needs to be checked…

Philippians 3:12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; 16 however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained. 17 Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. 18 For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21 who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself. 4:1Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.

Focus on the reality of the spiritual world allows me to live an OPTIMISTICALLY and focused on the FUTURE GOALS in this life. I live with Christ, and when I die it only gets BETTER!

• Maybe you are asking: How can I press on, when I can’t walk very well – because my body is giving way… ask how Paul intended to press on without the ability to leave the house he where he awaited a meeting with Emperor Nero.

• Maybe you are asking: What prize can I seek, since I am not a person who is famous or incredibly talented… ask how Paul intended to seek God more fervently and love Him more fully without the ability to stand before the crowds right then – or perhaps EVER again.

Paul didn’t say that his future goal was about ACCOMPLISHMENT IN THIS LIFE – but rather about his honest and full surrender to Jesus Christ REGARDLESS of where that would lead him. He wasn’t saying he was going to DO great things for God that other men could see – but that he would reach out to the hand of Jesus in Heaven and grab it more deliberately, more strongly. That is something you CAN do, and that is something you MUST do. Put the past down! If you did great things, set the trophies aside. If you did little, stop focusing on past inadequacies…look to the future and grab His hand. What is He calling for from your life? What part of you is resisting God’s hand? Give Him your whole life, because you are a citizen of HIS REALM. Be honest about the need to truly follow Him. Men have lived LIES for centuries, and called them truth –don’t waste your life following that path. Listen to these wise words:

“The fundamental problem Jesus was exposing to Pilate and to the world is not the scarcity of available truth; it is more often the hypocrisy of our search.” —Ravi Zacharias

Truth is in His hands, and given in His Words. Sure, the tide may well turn against His message – but the rising tide may also be broken. That is in God’s hands to accomplish. What is in MY HANDS is to recognize the truth about trouble…

Times of trouble may be designed by the enemy to bring doubt, but God desires they to become times of renewed joy.

Who knows if our joy won’t once again challenge the lost world – it did in the past. Listen to this:

Achieving our ends in a post-Christian nation will require us to step out of our boats and onto the shore of an unclean culture… And if we, like Jesus and His earliest followers, are willing to do that, the time may come again when Christianity topples a secular empire. – John Stonestreet.

That’s true. We have to stretch to reach them. But it will only work if we do it with JOY, not fear, blame and anger.

The beginning of army service is called “basic training” – a time where the body and mind are both relentlessly pushed to shape a straggler into a soldier. We all understand that shaping a life is a process. For most of us, the important lessons we learned in life were learned young, and are now so basic we barely think about them. At the same time, they were vital lessons – even though they are ASSUMED. Think about learning to TIE YOUR SHOES. How important is that lesson for your personal safety? Think about LEARNING TO READ ROAD SIGNS. You cannot imagine how dangerous it would be if someone were driving down the road with you but knew nothing of the word “STOP” or what a red light meant. You don’t think about the BASIC RULES unless something goes wrong… and that is what I want to talk to you about in this lesson.

I mention these basic lessons because we have a problem in the foundational thinking of our modern church. Many leading in American Christianity have made a wrong turn, and masses are following. Many a ministry and many a Christian has lost their way in the process – mimicking the culture rather than being changed by the Spirit. They have overwritten some basic ideas of the Word that are adversely affecting everything from the true understanding of the Gospel, to the very intent of God in daily life. Some are teaching openly that Jesus came for our comfort, and God is deeply concerned about our sense of success and self-image. The truth is, many are being sucked in to a Gospel of self-interest and self-discovery – at the expense of the Gospel of the Word of God. Let me set up the problem for a moment…

Paul was nearing the end of five years under arrest, sitting by the Tiber River awaiting his trial before Emperor Nero. we can surmise a number of things about what he was going through:

• Progress was slowed. After traveling much of the 10,000 land miles that made up his journeys, Paul was stopped and held to a single house near the Tiber River. He couldn’t physically check on the churches, or practically show love to them.

• Attacks increased. Both existing churches and new believers were under attack, both in the public square and by sub groups within the church. Gentiles felt they were second class citizens of the Kingdom of God, while Judaizers moved about.

• Divisions began to show. Cracks in the church were evident. People who should have been mature were picking at each other and the harmony was being interrupted by dissonant notes.

The Apostle had every reason to be discouraged – but he wasn’t. He was energized and positive – because his heart was NOT HIS OWN. His surrender gave him his strength…

He gave his heart to the One who had given His life’s blood for Paul – the Savior. The key to Paul’s current JOY was found in his previous surrender – but it was a LONG and HARD battle for his heart, played out in stages – the most recent of which were inside imprisonment. Last time we saw that a surrendered heart allows God to reposition us in places we would not choose to go, but those places may be the most useful ones for God’s service. Because Paul surrendered to God’s hand, God used him to send a series of letters under the Spirit’s command. The one to the Philippians contains (by my reckoning) three essential thematic parts:

As we open what has become chapter two in the letter – we can see an important truth that is both SIMPLE and HARD…

Key Principle: Growing Christians are being transformed by God, often reshaped against the forces of their culture.

Today I want to see this is terms of two very important transformations that can be practically measured. This message isn’t difficult to understand – but it is incredibly difficult to DO.

Transformation #1: Get out of the center of the circle

The very first transformation that must happen smacks against every impulse we have from the message of this world. We were raised to believe we were at the center of the story, and that we were to be constantly encouraged to see ourselves as important. Here is the truth from God’s Word…Philippians 2:1 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

There is no other way to read this and try to “soften” the words. They offend me. God has the audacity to simply state that I AM NOT THE CENTER OF THE WORLD. How rude! I mean, doesn’t He know what a treasure I am? Sure He does. But the plain fact is this:

I cannot be the center of my life if Christ truly is. He comes first, and others around me second… I am third.

• The passage opens with some statements that anticipate an affirmative response. The first one is: “if there is any consolation in Christ” – assuming there surely IS. What does that mean? The term “encouragement” is the Greek word paráklēsis – which is properly, a call (urging), done by someone standing “close beside” and is related to the legal term for your DEFENSE LAWYER in court – paráklētos (“legal advocate”). Paul anticipated that ALL BELIEVERS would immediately understand that in Christ we have a legal advocate that stands beside us. That is why he wrote to the Romans that “There is therefore now no condemnation to them who are IN Christ Jesus. The Law that required death as the penalty of sin has been satisfied in Him. A short way of saying the opening phrase then is this: “If we are free because our lawyer successfully advocates for us…” AND…

• “If there is any consolation of love” a combined Greek term paramýthion referes to a high level of comfort produced by using soothing words or actions. The second hrase could be said this way: “And if God’s love offers us real comfort..”

• “If there is any fellowship in the Spirit” is a translation of the term koinōnía which is properly, something that is shared in common as the basis of fellowship, partnership or community. This could be said this way: “If there is any real deep bond holding us together…”

• “If any affection and compassion” which contains two words – “affection” (splágxnon –the internal organs or figuratively a “gut-level compassion, sympathy, or empathy.) and “compassion” (oiktirmós, as in a type of compassion like pity, also used of the deep feelings God has for all of us). This could be said: “If there is any deep emotional bond of love from God to us…”

Paul is basically offering these three conditions: If Jesus is effectively standing beside us to free us of all condemning charged, and the love of God that is deep and rich is extending comfort to us, and we are truly bonded together… then I want to ask you to do something…fill up the completion of my joy by GETTING TOGETHER IN PURPOSE AND AGREEMENT to fulfill the work God wants to do through all of you. Put selfishness away. Stop concentrating on yourself, your needs, your desires, your fulfillment…and put the others around you before yourself.

“Other person centered living” was the standard modeled by our Savior, and the standard we are to learn to live.

Paul is calling for “BIBLICAL HUMILITY”. Humility is defined differently in our culture than in our Bible. In our culture it is “the quality of being modest, and respectful”, derived from the Latin word for “from the earth”, or “low” (derived from humus, or earth). It can be an “aw shuks” quality of feeling low or insignificant. Biblically speaking, it is something far from that. Humility in the Bible is OTHER PERSON CENTEREDNESS. It is that quality of losing one’s self in something greater than self-directed thought. It is thinking of another because they are more important than you – to you!

In the event that Christians some time in the future (read: NOW) begin to buy into the idea that they are the center of everything – we may start to see things like this in the body of Christ..

• I didn’t go to the service because there wasn’t something specifically “for me” that night.
• If they aren’t going to put more songs I know into the worship, I am just not going to go. It isn’t pleasant to try to learn new ones – I like the old ones!
• I don’t really feel led to support missionaries, I think we have a lot of issues right here at home that we should take care of first!

Paul made the definition of other person centeredness painfully clear. He carted out the best picture of this behavior EVER on the planet… the picture of what Jesus did for us… Philippians 2:5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

No matter what one says of the historical picture of Jesus left by the evangelists of the first century, they are forced into understanding this: Jesus was HUMBLE. He didn’t think He was less than God said of Him. He wasn’t LOWLY in the sense of misunderstanding His own importance. He was OTHER PERSON CENTERED in His actions – therefore Biblically humble. Paul used that truth to reveal something that is only offered in a shadow elsewhere in Scripture: That Jesus consciously chose to come to die for us in a dialogue with the Father BEFORE He put on skin in the form of a baby. The clearest place to see this is the text of Philippians 2. Paul’s point was that they should : “Fill out the joy you have begun in me by becoming servants one of another. Look at Jesus’ model of emptying Himself and adopt His way of thinking about yourselves. In obedience, show His changes in your life reverently, knowing that God can change multiply your work and even change your heart.”

Paul argued that in light of God’s lifting, loving, bonding together of His people – believers should JOIN THEIR THINKING TOGETHER – BE OF ONE MIND. What did he mean? How would that unity look in a practical way? Would everyone like the same things, choose the same desserts and music? NO… but they would STOP BEING SELFISH. They would stop thinking that things should be done in the group that would make them happy, or they will fuss about it…. Why? Because the opposite of selfishness was Biblical humility. Obedient believers want to be like Jesus – and put the other people in their lives ahead of their own comfort, preferences and desires.

Selfishness is never seen more clearly than a spirit of entitlement. Fiona Smith, in her blog wrote these words in 2007: ”Although born in Britain, I lived for many years in South Africa, with all its massive social problems. So when I finally ‘came home’ a few years ago I had little patience with people who moaned and complained about poor housing, transport, policing, education and healthcare. When I pointed out that compared to many other parts of the world we have it good, I was told, bluntly, that in Britain ‘we deserve more.’ The American constitution defines certain ‘inalienable rights’, while the British social welfare system sets out to deliver them. We live in an age of entitlement. We demand and expect a certain standard of living: a good house, a decent education, an above-inflation salary, streets free of crime and grime, must-have appliances, designer décor, fashionable clothes, continental holidays… And why not? We’re British. We deserve it….Psychologists and sociologists are linking this sense of entitlement to the rise in violent crime and inappropriate social behavior. If we don’t get what we think we deserve – materially and emotionally – we are easily overcome by a sense of injustice. And this can bubble over into rage: date rage; road rage; sports rage; shopping rage; parking rage … spiritual rage? ….When I was at university a young man called Graeme was very active in our Christian Union. Like Jacob, he struggled with God, and I was drawn by his passion and refusal to let go until God blessed him. But one day he just gave up and pinned his reasons for doing so to the Christian Union notice board. I wish I’d kept a copy of his declaration of the death of God. But I remember the opening sentence: ‘This is why I no longer believe in God.’ Graeme went on to list a series of promises that God had made in His word, promises that Graeme held on to, believed in and prayed for, and how they failed to materialize in his life. ‘There are only two possible conclusions I can make,’ said Graeme (and I paraphrase), ‘either there’s something wrong with me or there’s something wrong with God. I know that I’ve done everything I can, so I’ve kept up my side of the bargain, but God has not come through on His. I can only conclude that God has lied, and seeing God can’t lie, this leads me to the inevitable conclusion that He cannot really exist.’ Graeme left soon after that, and I have no idea what happened to him. I can only pray that he realizes there was a third conclusion he didn’t consider: that his understanding of God’s promises might have been wrong.”

What Graeme didn’t understand was that he was not equal with God, and he was not ENTITLED to anything… but that is not our culture. We live in a culture where the soloist better be ME or I quit the church choral group. My child better be highlighted in the bulletin or I will let you know how deeply hurt I was.

Pastor Newland wrote these words, and I found them helpful: “Do you ever ask yourself on Sunday morning, “Why am I going to church? Am I going because I feel I owe a debt to God, so I’m trying to pay it back? Or because I’m carrying a heavy burden that I hope will be lifted? Or because I like the music and the fellowship and even the preaching? Why am I going?” Why should we go? Well, if we’re genuinely interested in others, the church becomes a training ground where we learn how to help one another. So when you come to church, be on the lookout. Over there is a mother with both hands full, trying to herd her kids through the door. Maybe she could use your help. Or you’re sitting near a guest, here for the first time – introduce yourself and encourage them by saying, “I’m glad you came.” And let them know that if we can help them in any way to grow in their faith, that’s why we’re here. Or when you look at the prayer list and learn of someone who is having a difficult time – get a card & write them a note, and let them know that you’ll be praying for them. Or if someone you know is struggling with a heavy burden of grief or loss, hold their hand, & maybe weep with them. Just let them know that you care.”

Paul didn’t make the Philippians WONDER about what humility looked like. He opened the door to show us a room that was long hidden by God… the room of the discussion between Jesus and His Heavenly Father before the Incarnation.

• Jesus had the conscious attitude of other person centeredness before He had a human body (2:5-6).

• Jesus existed in completion on the throne of God Most High and made a conscious choice (2:6).

• Jesus deliberately “emptied Himself” – a state of self-imposed limitation of comfort and control– to redeem us (2:7).

• His act of humility met the need for our salvation through His death (2:8)

After Paul assured his readers that God accepted and honored the sacrifice of Christ as the Preeminent One, he returned to his main point. They were to work out the salvation they received from God through accepting Jesus, by changing their behavior that was so naturally inclined to think of SELF FIRST.

A youth minister was attending a Special Olympics where handicapped children competed with tremendous dedication and enthusiasm. One event was the 220-yard dash. Contestants lined up at the starting line, and at the signal, started running as fast as they could. One boy by the name of Andrew quickly took the lead, and was soon about 50 yards ahead of everybody else. As he approached the final turn he looked back and saw that his best friend had fallen and hurt himself on the track. Andrew stopped and looked at the finish line. Then he looked back at his friend. People were hollering, “Run, Andrew, run!” But he didn’t. He went back and got his friend, helped him up, brushed off the cinders. And hand in hand, they crossed the finish line dead last. But as they did, the people cheered, because there are some things more important than finishing first.

That is a picture of what Jesus did. Though a VICTOR, He became a SERVANT. Though a SON, He became a SLAVE – and He did it because He had opportunity to please His Father, and to save His creation… As a result, Jesus gave God the Father a public opportunity to celebrate before all the cosmos the character of the Son, wrapped up in other person thinking and action. Do you see it?

Philippians 2:9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus obeyed His Father, laid aside His comfort and preferences, saw our need – and filled it at great personal expense to Himself. As a result, God used His testimony as the platform of celebration and adulation that will one day soon belong to the Savior.

The point is clear: Jesus was exalted by God by not exalting His own desires over the needs of others and the delight of His Father – and we must heed the pattern. Christianity is not about self-exaltation. Its point is not in MY SUCCESS or in MY COMFORT – it is about being transformed into a SERVANT. “Self-service Christianity” is a culturally created infantile and self-centered religion of self worship cloaked in “God words” to sound genuine. Jesus willingly laid down His life, His comforts, and His exalted status to be beaten by His own creation – because we needed a Savior. We are told to define our calling by the same standard. Christianity is about seeing the honor of my Father as much higher than my own. It is about seeing the broken and lost hearts of men as reason to lay aside comfort and self-exaltation – and become a friend to the friendless, and helper to the lonely, a comfort to the broken. As the winds of our culture begin to bite like frost against our faith – we will be tested on humility. A church suckled to believe that God exalts the SERVANT above THE MASTER is a church that will fall away in the face of such cold winds.

That sounds un-American, and is in some circles even un-Christian – but it is thoroughly Biblical. Paul didn’t suggest it – he COMMANDED IT:

Philippians 2:12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

We need to see our ability to lay aside our comfort and desire as a part of working out our relationship with God in a way that pleases Him. We need to remember that we will need HIM to help us to surrender at that level – and that is why Paul assured the people at Philippi that God is ON THEIR SIDE if they will work to yield.

Let me cut right through all the verbiage:

• I am not an obedient and mature believer if I make my choices chiefly based on what is most comfortable to me, what advances me, and what pleases me – rather than seek God and ask Him what He wants me to choose. That includes every area of life – home, work, school, relationships, careers, etc.

• I am not an obedient believer if I make up my schedule solely based on the work I MUST do to make a living, and fill in all the other slots with WHAT MAKES ME HAPPY – rather than deliberately factoring in the needs of others around me – and intentionally trying to help.

• I am not an obedient believer if my salvation is all about my FIRE ESCAPE from Hell and not about bringing delight to my Heavenly Father with my daily life and daily choices.

Transformation #2: Join the Team

Surrender has its own SOUND. It is distinct from the world…

Phil. 2:14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing; 15 so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain. 17 But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all. 18 You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.

The SOUND of surrender is never whiny. Our obedience and maturity is found in how we handle the pressures of daily life, and the stresses of interpersonal relationships one with another. Hold back your complaints over one another, and increase your prayers FOR one another.

• Someone has written: “On the seventh day God rested….and on the eighth day God started answering complaints.” Some days it feels like that may be true – even when you are serving God. It is easy to get negative, isn’t it?

• Someone astutely observed: Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

Many of us have developed the habit of WHINING AND COMPLAINING at the first sign of discomfort. Paul unfolded the simple truth: We need to work together without verbalizing all our selfish immaturity. We need to LIFT the discussion above whining – so that we can be SHINING EXAMPLES of what God wants to show. Let me offer this rule: “If you KNOW you are not an example of what God wants others to see, don’t verbally criticize others who are trying to be!”

There are three very practical tests I can use to see if I am walking in unity:

• The first was the CONCERN TEST:

Philippians 2:19 But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition. 20 For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare.

First, it was an effort for Paul to send Timothy, rather than have Timothy take care of things in Rome for Paul. Sending Tim was not simple – it was painful. Paul was more concerned about their growth than his comforts. Concern that is only talk is just a mental exercise. Do you find yourself doing that? Do you find yourself coming up with things you SHOULD do for others, but never seem to find the time?

The concern test is this: Am I deeply concerned for other believers in my service to the King?

• The second akin to it is the COOPERATION TEST:

2:21 For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus. 22 But you know of his proven worth, that he served with me in the furtherance of the gospel like a child serving his father. 23 Therefore I hope to send him immediately, as soon as I see how things go with me; 24 and I trust in the Lord that I myself also will be coming shortly.

The cooperation test is about the ability to practically serve one another. Those who serve their own interests were fickle when times were hard. They were at one time with the Apostle – and then defectors when self benefit ran its course. We must be ever so careful not to allow self interest to dictate our involvement. Where do you hear it? “I’m not going to that, because I don’t feel like it really touches me, or meets my need!” Could it be that it meets a need in someone else for you to be a part of it?

Note also that the work of Timothy was advancing the Gospel by serving the one that God called to lead him. He served Jesus by serving Paul. Cooperation, not an entrepreneurial self adventure, was the evidence of God’s building up of Timothy to a worthy help in the Kingdom. Tim bent his life around what God was doing in and through Paul – not expecting Paul to conform a program to himself. Those who desire to learn should work to change their lives to conform to the offerings of the trainer – launching out more slowly and helping with greater fervency.

The cooperation test is this: Am I willing to practically serve other believers who God has put before us to lead us to maturity?

• The third is the COMMITMENT TEST:

2:25 But I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my need; 26 because he was longing for you all and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. 27 For indeed he was sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I have sent him all the more eagerly so that when you see him again you may rejoice and I may be less concerned about you. 29 Receive him then in the Lord with all joy, and hold men like him in high regard; 30 because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was deficient in your service to me.

We are living in a generation that hate responsibilities and ignore commitments. Say anything you want about Epaphroditus, you cannot argue that he was uncommitted to the work. Paul called him a BROTHER, a FELLOW LABORER, a FELLOW SOLDIER, a MESSENGER and a MINISTER. No wonder he almost died. The guy had so many jobs in the ministry, he couldn’t fit them on his Latin business card. Saving Epaphroditus’ life was a genuine prize to Paul who was worried he would be buried in administration and service if his companion died! Paul would have lost a right arm in ministry, and been sorrowful and weighted down. Paul sent him (presumably with the letter we are now studying) to assure people their prayers were answered for his restoration to health.

The commitment test is simple: “Will they miss me if I am gone?” If there would be no functional change in the body of believers because of your absence, something is desperately wrong with your commitment – and that is burning a wound in the unity of the body.

Chuck Swindoll wrote these words: “Imagine, if you will, that you work for a company whose president found it necessary to travel out of the country and spend an extended period of time abroad. So he says to you and the other trusted employees, “Look, I’m going to leave. And while I’m gone, I want you to pay close attention to the business. You manage things while I’m away. I will write you regularly. When I do, I will instruct you in what you should do from now until I return from this trip.” Everyone agrees. He leaves and stays gone for a couple of years. During that time he writes often, communicating his desires and concerns. Finally he returns. He walks up to the front door of the company and immediately discovers everything is in a mess–weeds flourishing in the flower beds, windows broken across the front of the building, the gal at the front desk dozing, loud music roaring from several offices, two or three people engaged in horseplay in the back room. Instead of making a profit, the business has suffered a great loss. Without hesitation he calls everyone together and with a frown asks, “What happened? Didn’t you get my letters?” You say, “Oh, yeah, sure. We got all your letters. We’ve even bound them in a book. And some of us have memorized them. In fact, we have ‘letter study’ every Sunday. You know, those were really great letters.” I think the president would then ask, “But what did you do about my instructions?” And, no doubt the employees would respond, “Do? Well, nothing. But we read every one!” – Charles Swindoll, Living Above the Level of Mediocrity, p. 242.

Do something about God’s Word today.. let it change you. Growing Christians are being transformed by God, often reshaped against the forces of their culture.