Conduct Yourselves Series

Technicolor Joy: A Study in Philippians

Philippians 1:27-30

Pastor Jefferson M. Williams

Chenoa Baptist Church

6-04-2023

Alexander the Great

Alexander the Great was one of the greatest military generals who ever lived. One night when he couldn’t sleep, he got up and wandered around the encampment. He came upon a soldier who was supposed to be standing guard but he was asleep. Alexander roused the young man who immediately recognized him and began to tremble. The punishment for falling asleep could be death.

Alexander asked him what his name was. Alexander, he replied. Three times he asked and three times the boy responded.

Finally, Alexander the Great looked the young man in the eyes and said, “Soldier, either change your name or change your conduct!”

Review

Today we will come to the end of chapter one in the book of Philippians.

Last week, we saw Paul in a dilemma. He wants to depart and be with Christ but decides that it is far better to stay and help the Philippians grow in their faith and joy.

This morning, Paul turns his attention to the Philippians and gives the first of many commands.

Our creed and our conduct are inseparable. Our beliefs should affect our behavior.

Maxine and I have been watching the new Hillsong Church documentary and the word that came up again and again was “hypocrite.” The pastors were preaching one thing and living something totally different, much darker."

Paul writes to the church at Corinth:

"So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it." (II Cor 5:9)

Turn with me to Phil 1:27-30.

Prayer

Conduct

“Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.”

After writing about their Gospel-centered fellowship, and his Gospel-centered prayer for the Philippians, and a report of his Gospel-centered ministry, Paul turns the corner and addresses the church members at Philippi.

He begins “Whatever happens.” Your translation may say, “only” or “just one thing.” He wants to make sure that they are paying attention to what he is about to write.

When Paul writes about how we should conduct ourselves as Christians he usually uses the term “walk.”

In one of my favorite old Steven Curtis Chapman songs, he sings:

“You can run with the big dogs/you can fly with the eagles/you can jump through all the hoops and climb the ladder to the top/but when it all comes down……are you walking the walk?”

But here in Philippians, he uses the word “politeuo,” where we get the word polis or state.

Philippi had been founded by Philip of Macedon in 386 B.C. It was located at a strategic and military crossroads in what is now northern Greece. It was located literally where the East (Asia) met the West (Europe).

It was a Roman colony and they were very proud of their Roman citizenship. The architecture was Roman, they dressed in Roman fashion, the coins were Roman, and the leadership and elite spoke Latin.

Many Roman soldiers retired there and weren’t really happy about Paul’s declaration that Jesus was Lord.

When Paul and Silas were brought before the magistrates in Philippi, the owner of the slave girl who they cast a demon out of said:

“These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice.” (Acts 16: 20-21)

There was a big hit song back in that time:

I’m proud to be a Philippian

Where at least I know I’m free

And I won’t forget the Roman soldiers who died

To give that right for me

And I’ll gladly stand up next you and defend her in the fire

Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land. May the gods bless

The Roman Empire.

[It was number one for eight weeks in a row!]

This is Paul’s first imperative, command of the letter. He’s saying, I know you are proud of being a Roman citizen. I get it. I’m a Roman citizen as well but “our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ…” (Phil 3:20)

Their identity was not to be found in their Roman citizenship but in the fact that their names were written in the Lamb’s Book of Life!

They were to be ambassadors for Christ in a pagan culture that considered them, strangely enough, “atheists” because they didn’t worship the gods.

Their lives were to reflect their allegiance to Christ and his Kingdom.

The same can be said for us today in our culture. We are Christians before we are Americans. As we start another election cycle, let me remind you that we do not worship an elephant or a donkey. We don’t look to either for our salvation. We worship the lion of Judah who is the lamb who was slain!