Philippians 1
ZADOK PUBLICATIONS - Dr. C. R. OLIVER
November 1, 2018
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Introduction:
November 1, 2018 Philippians 1 The church at Philippi Philippi was the first European church established by Paul after he answered the, "Macedonian Call." Ten years after its inception, Paul writes to his beloved Church remembering, no doubt, the events that took place there (Acts 16). Meeting with the prayer group by the river, in the city named after the famed Philip II of Macedon (father of Alexander, the Great), had opened the door for both ministry and trouble. Philippi was a military post under Roman rule and steeped in paganism. This occasioned Paul's confrontation with the demon possessed girl, who followed him wherever he went hassling and mocking him. He cast the demon out of her, which caused her dethroned owners to file charges against him in the local court. Paul and Silas were arrested, beaten and thrown into maximum security. While singing and praising God, the now famous earthquake, which caused the ultimate conversion of the jailor and his family, led to the chance to witness to the magistrates. When the authorities found they had ill-treated Roman citizens, they humbled themselves and begged Paul and Silas to leave ex-post haste. Paul asserted his civil rights and took his time in departing. Lydia had no idea ten years later that Paul would again be held by the Romans, nor imagined the church would have grown from house status to a full functioning stronghold of faith. Paul would have never guessed he could be writing them about legalism and antinomianism (the lawlessness of hyper grace) or even addressing the fractionalizing doctrine of kenosis (did Jesus empty himself of Deity to come as a man?). Incorporated in the four chapters of this epistle are powerful promises and insights. Each chapter has primary and secondary lessons to guide its readers through encroaching error. Written as the fourth book of his First Prison Epistles in 62 AD, one can assume it contains various gems not found or fully understood in the former three. (Listing the famous quotes found in Philippians is enough to make one shout!) Chapter One: "For me to live is Christ…"
The heart of a church planter is clearly seen in these opening passages, making Philippians different in tone from Colossians. Paul, having known many of the first believers initially, explores the difference in the heart of the founder of a work versus an organizer. Walking daily with the converts and experiencing their everyday struggles, or relishing their victories, causes an unbreakable bond. Paul knows those in charge because he ordained them. Many families he had baptized or counseled and certainly broken bread with knew him. Such is the case of Lydia and her husband who extended him their hospitality by providing lodging and board from the very inception of the Philippian ministry. Paul knew their occupations, their places in society, their children and grandchildren, their mothers and fathers. He had prayed with them and knew their concerns for their neighbors and unredeemed relatives. Paul, preaching the true word and watching church growth, knew what this congregation stood for. They knew Paul, too. That is why they were not reluctant to offer their possessions and monies in assistance to his needs. Their memories were rich as well. The many times they fellowshipped with him at the Lord's table, his encouragement when persecution reared its head and his willing sacrifice of time and energy spent while guarding their well-being made for an unbreachable connectivity. They knew his zeal for the kingdom was real and so was he. His integrity was a witness to his humility-he was like Jesus! When Paul wrote, "I have you in my heart," he expressed the heart and soul of every church planter. Founding fathers share a commonality unknown to common organizers. Missionaries who have trodden rough terrain to establish a work in a remote village do not forget faces and names and locations because investments like these are forever precious. Those who plant churches know the struggles encountered when making a beachhead on unfamiliar territory. Those who overcome terrible obstacles and threats do not forget the pangs of birthing new work. No one is allowed to scathe their babies or judge their value, for they are at one with them. Who can describe the love poured out on such endeavors? Who can fathom the depth of commitment? When Paul wrote: "I long to be with you," he wrote a coded phrase known by missionaries worldwide. Their works may be spread wide and varied, but they long to visit and bless every place. No one has to remind them to pray and intercede, for they wear each place like a badge in the high calling of God.
Those, like the Philippian church, who corresponded, invested their resources and prayed, became spiritual beneficiaries with the missionary. Not only were they endorsers of his person, they shared in the lives touched through him. Souls saved, buildings built, lives changed and needs met were the works of righteousness to the credit of these saints. Heaven alone will tell the whole story about who was responsible for great outpourings of the Spirit in history. Many are dignitaries who may have not been known to the world but are well-known to God. Paul's intercession was filled with those who matched the phrase: "fellowship in the gospel."
Verse 6, no doubt, is one of the most quoted passages in this epistle. However, this confidence is built on being in the "fellowship of the gospel." Active participation in the work of the kingdom is different from the passive observer who commits nothing of himself. Ah, there is nothing like this kind of fellowship! In this communion are all the fivefold ministries and all the gifts of the Spirit. In this fellowship, there is one commanding voice, the Holy Spirit! In this fellowship is a camaraderie that unifies in a way that requires no compromise. No false humility, no personal aggrandizement, no narcissism is found within its halls. "Paul planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase" is the prevailing rational. (O' to enjoy, without jealousy, the sweetness of this union must be the goal of all the saints.)
How necessary it is to understand the bold face promise of verse 6. Not only is it a call to continue good works, but to realize the Lord is not the Lord of the "halfway." What He engenders in a person carries with it the grace and provision it takes to complete the task. To know, while in the fray, the outcome promising "completeness" is a significant boost to whatever endeavor He lays out. It is more than comforting, it is assurance beyond measure. Regardless of obstacles, exertion or cost-there will be a good report at the end of the journey, "until the day of Jesus Christ." Spurgeon penned it eloquently:
Paul had a great heart and from it flowed the "living waters" Jesus spoke about. Listen, as he pours himself into these words
Observe the concerns of Paul's intercession. Knowledge is more than information and discernment more than a good understanding. Both are spiritual entities and absolutely necessary for the believers of the Twenty-first Century. Congregations lack both because no one is interceding for those traits to be so endowed. Is it not time to join in Paul's prayer? Is it not a noble pursuit for the church to declare: "This we pray:" 1. That love may abound more and more in knowledge and all discernment,
Paul was anxious for them to know about a depth of love for Christ and for one another that exceeded any state they currently possessed (to abound in that love). He wanted them to comprehend the power found in the love the Lord had for them. This apostle experienced a Damascus forgiveness which saturated his being-he wanted them to know the forgiveness, the tenderness, the assurance found in the abounding love Jesus had for them. He used the prefix "epi," which meant "over and above." Combined with "gnosis," which is "knowing" or "knowledge" the word connotes knowing something or someone at a deep level. Examples would include a teacher or professor who is an expert in a field of study, or knowing a good friend, or a husband knowing (intimately) his spouse. To "over-know" something or someone is abounding in nature-to the point of overflowing. Joined with "knowledge" is a superlative state of "knowledge," called "discernment." For example, in testing and measurements there are questions posed to the student with four or five multiple choice answers-all of them correct. An excellent student will discern which answer is most correct. Robert Braun pointed out the huge lack of discernment among believers. Because of this lack, many hear a voice of direction and based on what they heard, they fly away to mission duty or carryout some strange activity -not discerning the spirit utterance's point of origin. Testing the spirits is commanded in the word. Paul rallies to a point beyond ordinary discernment in his prayer; he uses a qualifier, "all." Not just spiritual aspects are covered, for "all" includes social interaction, government and political decisions, child rearing, life occupational decisions and everyday decision making.
Paul knew that love never fails, so his main qualifier is love. Fellowship based on a deeper walk in love, knowledge and discernment would propel the body to a higher level of interaction than is found in today's churches! Preachers would have to preach differently and congregants would aspire greater arenas for testimony and prophetic utterances. Paul's ambition, based on this "abounding love," would revolutionize the current church. It would extinguish the flames of dissent and criticism, create a unity unachievable through any other avenue and cause a sweet-smelling aroma to permeate the atmosphere. 2. that you may approve the things that are excellent, This second part of Paul's prayer carries further the elements of discernment. Approving those things of the higher walk in morality, thought patterns and growth in one's spiritual pursuits need the support of others. Such approval attacks the practices of nominalism and compromise. In Philippians 4 :17, for instance, Paul encourages sound thinking by listing the criteria of the excellent. The Lord gives the acumen to reach upward in one's spiritual quest and sets before him "the high calling." 3. that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, Prayer part three speaks to a state of "being" that owns two traits, "sincere and without offence," all the way to the return of Christ.
This characterizes the higher life and should be the goal for every believer. (Thank the Lord for allowing many who qualify with these traits to cross my path and know them beautifully.) 4. being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. Topping off his prayer for a higher standard than had coursed their ranks, Paul enjoined the church to bring glory and praise to God through their works. What were these "fruits of righteousness?" Are they not all things that bring glory and praise to God? Here, the five-fold ministry has freedom to serve without inhibition or criticism. Here, the gifts of the Spirit can flourish in manifold witness. Here, the prison visit or widow's provision or Samaritan's care or the cup of cold water in Jesus' name shines forth. Here, the freedom brought by justification finds its home. Paul continues this theme of spiritual freedom in adversity-seeing chains from God's perspective. Rather than a litany on his prison experience, he calls for understanding of that which "fell out to his good." Not only did his example of faith encourage others-nay, rather it emboldened them. The gospel was being preached both by distractors and by genuine witness. As a prisoner in chains, Paul relished the fact the entire prison had heard the gospel. He mimicked the teaching of Jesus on this subject.
Guards and prisoners alike heard the Name of Jesus and understood, "He came to set the captive free."
Today, at this very hour, these two groups are part of the religious scene in the Twenty-first Century. Spiritual discernment is needed to know which flag flies over which ministry: pretense or truth! Hallelujah, the gospel is preached! Next, Paul gives vent to one of the most quoted of his writings, "for me to live is Christ, to die is gain." Tied to his hope for deliverance, this scripture is more than a statement of faith-it is key to his personal identity. Nothing was more important than being in Christ. He was not ashamed of being a prisoner for Christ's sake. It is all about Jesus. Paul breathed Jesus; his mind was always focused on Jesus and his heart beat only for Him (Many of you can truthfully identify with Paul).
Yes, in the chronology of his life, Paul would be delivered from those chains for a period of freedom in which to write I Timothy and Titus---then, another imprisonment awaited him. Although in this paragraph he says he doesn't know whether to live or die, then he makes the choice to live for their sakes. Strangely, Paul tempers his decision with a request for them to live their lives in such a way as to reflect spiritual unity.
Church unity can only be achieved by "conduct worthy of the gospel." It cannot be achieved without "standing fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel." All other attempts to bring unity are nothing more than man's desire to circumvent the criteria set forth in these verses. Fleshly organizations must compromise in order to maintain their base. Although good intentions are behind many of these unitary flings, they wind up trying to reconcile the unreconcilable. They soon become the adversary to those holding the truth. Paul knew this and postulated only two groups really exist: those of perdition and those of redemption. Each are unified in their expressed outcome.
Two elements of Paul's discourse seem to elude modern preachments-the connection between believing and suffering. Modern appeals directed to sinners or saints fail to mention the suffering part. In the next chapter, great detail is given about the suffering of Christ and why He yielded Himself to that destiny. Lastly, Paul closed the first chapter acknowledging that Christians have the same conflict he experienced. Certainly, in these early churches there was plenty of opportunities to review life or death choices. Verse thirty is not a clandestine element, but a universal dilemma. Martyrdom and risk appear on the horizon daily, but we must decide in advance the depth of our commitment-both to each other and to the Lord Jesus. Until Next month, Dr. Cosby R. Oliver, PhD. |
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Last modified: 02/07/2019