There are three New Testament books that are letters written from jail: Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians. I don’t know if anyone here has been to jail or prison, but I have... not as a resident or inmate, but as a minister. My cousin Phillip Melson, whom some of you may remember when he came to live with us for a little while, spent time in prison in Alabama. He wrote to me while he was there and we corresponded several times. I don’t remember his letters sounding much like the ones Paul wrote.
Think about it, what kind of letters would you expect coming from someone in prison? What might they say?
I find it amazing that the most positive letters of Paul were written by him while he was spending time in prison, and what is more, he was unsure of whether he would be executed or not.
Today, lets start a study of what is perhaps the most positive letter of Paul: the letter of Philippians. This lesson will be introductory. I was tempted to simply read the entire letter without comment and then extend the invitation. That would be an excellent thing to do if everyone here were spiritual meat eaters, and comfortably familiar with Paul’s densely packed writing style, but I think that some of us are not. For those who are not that would be sort of like turning a fire hose on someone who is asking for a sip of water.
In fact, reading most of Paul’s letters presents certain problems for us. Even the Apostle Peter said that some of the things Paul writes are hard to understand. 2 Peter 3:15-16. Peter says that the untaught and unstable twist Paul’s words to their own destruction. So, I suppose, if it was hard for Peter to understand Paul’s writings, and there is a danger of taking them wrongly, it’s ok for us to take time to work through them carefully and prayerfully as well. But... you do have to read it! No one can study the Bible without actually reading it. Now, if you want to go to Vanderbilt and get a Ph.D. in theology, you can do that without ever having to actually read the Bible. But this is not Vanderbilt. Forgive the reflection on Vanderbilt, but other elite colleges offer similar degrees without ever requiring their students to look into the book and read it. We MUST be different. We MUST take time to read God’s word, or at least listen to it read. Faith comes by hearing the words of God. We’ve got to get the word of God off the page and into our hearts and minds. And, yes, we’ve got to do what God tells us and not do what God forbids.
So... Let’s read a few of the familiar and encouraging sections of Philippians now and simply make note of at least four ways Paul Pictures Christ. To make it as simple as possible, they all start with the letter "p". Open to chapter 1. Earl read this for us just a few minutes ago. Look at it again.
The central theme of Paul’s writings is Christ. Phil. 1:1-11 consist of four Greek sentences. Our English Bibles break it down into more sometimes. The NIV and NASV have six, ESV has five, and the NKJV has four. Anyway, the name Christ occurs seven times in those first four sentences or eleven verses. That’s a dead give away that this letter is going to tell us things about Christ. By the way, add to that Paul’s reference to God, Jesus, the Father and Lord and there are 19 references to the Divine Being in these first 11 verses.
Paul’s world view was so spiritual we can hardly fathom it. It is a challenge to us to begin to grasp how richly present God is in his mind and how all encompassing Christ has captivated Paul’s every imagination and every thought. By the way, that’s what he expects all of us who believe in Jesus to do. Don’t believe me? Just listen to his Holy Spirit inspired words -
Go to Phil. 3:7-16.
7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
15 All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
17 Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.
What pattern did Paul give them? It was the pattern of a person. It was seeking to know and follow and find life in Jesus Christ as we walk through this dying dark and sinful world.
The theme is Christ, one picture Paul gives us of Christ is this: Christ is our pattern. Look at chapter 2:5 - What is the pattern for our attitude and actions here? Jesus is the ultimate pattern for life.
What is your pattern for life? Who is shaping your attitudes and actions? Where do you learn how to talk and walk spiritually?
Jenny and I recently attended a church that had divided over and over throughout the years of its existance. This had become a pattern for them.
How do you help that situation? What can you do? Paul would say, "Preach Christ!"
Look at chapter 1:12-18. Christ is the pattern, Christ is the proclamation! Christ is what pours out of my mouth, says Paul. Why? Because Christ is in my heart and mind!
What do you talk about mostly? What topics of conversation most interest you? How much of your daily conversation is about Jesus Christ? How many words a day come out of your mouth? How many of them are about Christ? Does anyone here really think that you can live for Christ and not mention him regularly? The world talks about Christ. They think he’s a joke. Have we become so ashamed of Jesus that we have stopped confessing our faith in him? Or, worse, is Jesus Christ just someone we can ignore and move on to more important and interesting topics of discussion?
Parents: how much do you talk about Jesus Christ with your children? On the other hand, how many things do you think your kids hear on a daily basis that are contrary to Christ?
We recently visited Hiwaii. Our trip home was revealing. You hear and see a lot when you take a 20 hour trip across the country through airports and on planes. You see that people are walking and talking according to patterns they have learned, listening and learning the language of the liar’s proclamation. At an airport restaurant Jenny and I were sitting next to three young women who were getting drunk and discussing their personal lives and interests loudly and openly. On the last leg of our trip another young couple sat behind us discussing their college adventures of carousing and drunken experiences.
You see, people of the darkness are not ashamed or afraid to proclaim what they love and are interested in. The people of God, who know the light of the world have a different proclamation to preach. It is never well received to preach Christ unless He is believed upon. Paul would say Christ is his pattern and Christ is his preaching. Is this true for us?
The third picture of Christ is here in chapter 1:19-26. Christ is our purpose: for me to live is Christ. Jesus Chris is why I live and in whom I want to die.
What is our purpose? What are you living for? What are you dying for? If your answer is anything other than Christ, you need to read Philippians.
Do any of us really believe we are Christians if we are not living for Christ? Is that not the very definition of the word: Christian? Paul is clear: our pattern is Christ, our proclamation is Christ and our purpose is Christ.
What else? Let me give you two more and the lesson is yours.
Listen to chapter 3:1-14 one more time. See if you can pick out the next picture Paul presents for Christ.
Christ is our pattern, Christ is our proclamation, Christ is our purpose, and Christ is our prize!
Some want to win the mega bucks. God wants you to win the One who holds existence in his hands. The ultimate prize. The eternal prize. In whom are all the treasures of eternal heavenly riches and glory! Christ is our prize.
What do you give your time and energy trying to get? What are you working so hard for? What? What is your prize?
Jesus said, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures here on earth where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but store up for yourselves treasure in heaven where moth and rust to not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Is Jesus Christ your treasure?
Where is your treasure? That’s what your prize will be. Where your prize ends up... that’s where you are going to end up too. When Christ is your prize that’s where you fix your eyes!
Ok, last one... ready? Chapter 4:4-13. See if you can find the final picture of Christ for this lesson.
Did you find it? There’s a lot of good things in there. We could have said, Christ is our peace, which is true, but that’s not the one I’m thinking about. We could have said, Christ is our provider, and that would be true too, but that’s not what I’m thinking about. The picture of Christ I want to end with today is in verse 13. I like the NKJV translation here. It says, "I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me." Christ is our power!
None of us can be what God wants us to be or do what God wants us to do or say what God wants us to say or think what God wants us to think or love like God wants us to love, or obey like God wants us to obey... apart from Jesus Christ.
Christ is our power!
What do you rely on for strength? Where do you go to get what you need? We live in a world where power comes in a can. A power drink. Is that the source of your energy... a liquid filled with caffeine? Or maybe steroids? Yeah, that will make you strong enough to perform.
What gives you the power you need to face the challenges you face?
Jesus Christ has all power. He has all authority. He has it all.
Christ is our pattern, our proclamation, our purpose, our prize, our peace, our provider...
And Christ is our power.
Jesus Christ turns on the lights for your life. He has the power to save you and he has the power to condemn you. He is going to do be the one you ultimately face as judge. Are you ready?
Phil. 2:9-11.
