ESTABLISHED THRU JESUS’ BIRTH—Philippians 2:1-13
Attention:
The TV short ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ was released in 1965.
In the movie, there is one scene which, since I’ve been saved, always brings tears to my eyes:
Charlie Brown: I guess you were right, Linus. I shouldn’t have picked this little tree. Everything I do turns into a disaster. I guess I really don’t know what Christmas is all about.
[shouting in desperation]
Charlie Brown: Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?
Linus: Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about.
[moves toward the center of the stage]
Linus: Lights, please.
[a spotlight shines on Linus]
Linus: [From Lk. 2:8-14]
“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, & the glory of the Lord shone round about them: & they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, & saying, Glory to God in the highest, & on earth peace, good will toward men.”
[Linus picks up his blanket & walks back towards Charlie Brown]
Linus: That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.
Need:
Charlie Brown’s anguished outcry, “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about? ?”
Christmas is an absolutely fantastic time of year! But most are at a loss as to how to explain its true magic.
Christmas infuses secular tradition(trees, ornaments, wreathes, lights, etc.) with Christian meaning.
Paul discloses the importance of Jesus’ birth.
Jesus’ birth is of utmost importance to the Christian.
Why is Jesus’ birth of utmost importance to the Christian?
7 significant establishments of Jesus’ birth.
1—Jesus’ birth is significant in that it...
Establishes JOY(:1-2)
Explanation:(:1-2)
:1—“Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection & mercy,”
Among those of Christ(God’s people) there is a minimal presence of “Consolation”, “Comfort”, “Fellowship”,”Affection” & “Mercy.” These are all received by the child of God with the expectation that these will be extended to others. These are all received, lived out, & offered via “Christ” & the Holy “Spirit.”
“Consolation/Encouragement”—paraklhsiv—N. f.—1) A calling near, summons, (esp. for help); 2) Importation, supplication, entreaty; 3) Exhortation, admonition, encouragement; 4) Consolation, comfort, solace; that which affords comfort or refreshment—4a) Thus of the Messianic salvation (so the Rabbis call the Messiah the consoler, the comforter); 5) Persuasive discourse, stirring address—5a) Instructive, admonitory, conciliatory, powerful hortatory discourse. Strong—Imploration, hortation, solace. Used 29X.
From—parakalew—To call near, i.e. Invite, invoke(by imploration, hortation or consolation).
“Comfort/Consolation”—paramuyion—1) Persuasive address. Strong—Consolation (properly, concretely). Used 1X.
From—paramuyia—1) Any address, whether made for the purpose of persuading, or of arousing & stimulating, or of calming & consoling—1a) Consolation, comfort.
“Love”—agaph—1) Brotherly love, affection, good will, love, benevolence; 2) Love feasts. Strong—Love, i.e. Affection or benevolence; specially (plural) A love-feast.
“Fellowship”—koinwnia—1) Fellowship, association, community, communion, joint participation, intercourse—1a) The share which one has in anything, participation, 1b) Intercourse, fellowship, intimacy—1b1) The right hand as a sign & pledge of fellowship (in fulfilling the apostolic office), 1c) A gift jointly contributed, a collection, a contribution, as exhibiting an embodiment & proof of fellowship. Strong—Partnership, i.e. literally--Participation, or social--Intercourse, or pecuniary--Benefaction. Used 20X.
“Affection/Bowels/Tenderness”—splagcnon—1) Bowels, intestines, (the heart, lungs, liver, etc.)—1a) Bowels, 1b) the bowels were regarded as the seat of the more violent passions, such as anger & love; but by the Hebrews as the seat of the tenderer affections, esp. kindness, benevolence, compassion; hence our heart (tender mercies, affections, etc.), 1c) A heart in which mercy resides. Strong—probably strengthened from splhn(the "spleen"); An intestine(plural); figuratively--Pity or sympathy. Used 11X.
“Mercy/Mercies/Compassion”—oiktirmov—1) Compassion, pity, mercy—1a) Bowels in which compassion resides, a heart of compassion, 1b) Emotions, longings, manifestations of pity. Denotes the inward feeling of compassion which abides in the heart. Hopeless suffering may be the object of oiktirmov, compassion. Strong—Pity. Used 5X.
:2—“fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.”
“If” the above are truly ours by Christ, then we are encouraged to act on them if for no other reason than to seek the “joy” of their apostolic mentors/fathers.
“Joy” for Paul was wholly contained within the genuineness & authenticity of Christian integrity among those to whom he ministered. Such integrity ensured that they would be unified in mind, love, soul & spirit, & thought.
Our lives lived out in Christ should make any Christian part of an immense family, unified in every aspect of our being. Such unity would please rather than grieve(Heb. 13:17) those chosen, such as Paul, for an apostolic capacity.
“Fulfill/Make...Complete”—plhrow—1) To make full, to fill up, i.e. To fill to the full—1a) To cause to abound, to furnish or supply liberally—1a1) I abound, I am liberally supplied; 2) To render full, i.e. To complete. Strong—To make replete, i.e. literally--To cram(a net), level up(a hollow), or figuratively--To furnish(or imbue, diffuse, influence), satisfy, execute(an office), finish(a period or task), verify(or coincide with a prediction), etc.
“Joy”—cara—1) Joy, gladness. Cheerfulness, i.e. Calm delight.
“Like-minded/Same mind”—to auto fronhte—fronew—1) to have understanding, be wise; 2) To feel, to think—2a) To have an opinion of one’s self, think of one’s self, to be modest, not let one’s opinion (though just) of himself exceed the bounds of modesty, 2b) To think or judge what one’s opinion is, 2c) To be of the same mind i.e. Agreed together, cherish the same views, be harmonious; 3) To direct one’s mind to a thing, to seek, to strive for—3a) To seek one’s interest or advantage, 3b) To be of one’s party, side with him (in public affairs). Strong—To exercise the mind, i.e. Entertain or have a sentiment or opinion; by implication--To be (mentally) disposed (more or less earnestly in a certain direction); intensively--To interest oneself in(with concern or obedience).
“One accord”—sumqucov—1) Of one mind, of one accord. This word is made up of two words "sun"(together with) & psuchos(soul, self, inner life, or the seat of the feelings, desires, affections). So the word refers to being united in spirit or harmonious (A&G). Paul desired the Philippians to be united in their affections - one in Christ in all desires! Strong—Co-spirited, i.e. Similar in sentiment. Used 1X.
“Of One Mind”(See above)—to en fronountev— “Thinking the one thing.” Like clocks that strike at the same moment. Perfect intellectual telepathy. Identity of ideas & harmony of feelings.”—RWP
Argumentation:
Php 2:14-16—“Do all things without complaining & disputing, that you may become blameless & harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked & perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.”
2Cor. 1:23-2:3—“Moreover I call God as witness against my soul, that to spare you I came no more to Corinth. Not that we have dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy; for by faith you stand. But I determined this within myself, that I would not come again to you in sorrow. For if I make you sorrowful, then who is he who makes me glad but the one who is made sorrowful by me? And I wrote this very thing to you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow over those from whom I ought to have joy, having confidence in you all that my joy is the joy of you all.”
Col. 2:1-5—“For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you & those in Laodicea, & for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, & attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father & of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom & knowledge. Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order & the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.”
*1Thes. 2:17-20—“But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire. Therefore we wanted to come to you--even I, Paul, time & again--but Satan hindered us. For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For you are our glory & joy.”
*1Thes. 3:6-13—“But now that Timothy has come to us from you, & brought us good news of your faith & love, & that you always have good remembrance of us, greatly desiring to see us, as we also to see you-- therefore, brethren, in all our affliction & distress we were comforted concerning you by your faith. For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord. For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God, night & day praying exceedingly that we may see your face & perfect what is lacking in your faith? Now may our God & Father Himself, & our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you. And may the Lord make you increase & abound in love to one another & to all, just as we do to you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God & Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.”
Philemon :10-21—“I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains, who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you & to me. I am sending him back. You therefore receive him, that is, my own heart, whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel. But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary. For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave--a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh & in the Lord. If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me. But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account. I, Paul, am writing with my own hand. I will repay--not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self besides. Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord. Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.”
Our “Joy” is tied to the “Joy” of those who minister & vice-versa!
1Jn. 1:1-4—“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, & our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life-- the life was manifested, & we have seen, & bear witness, & declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father & was manifested to us-- that which we have seen & heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; & truly our fellowship is with the Father & with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.”
2Jn. :4—“I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received commandment from the Father.”
3Jn. 3-4—“For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came & testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”
Illustration:
Calm satisfied delight:
We had 2 new tires put on our minivan Friday Nov. 30th/Mc ‘N’ Tires in Rockwell, NC/Back tires needed replacing/Shifted the front ones to the back & replaced the front ones with new ones/The guy who installed them seemed to be satisfied with his work/His relationship with the boss was not just business but relational/A certain satisfaction with his employment & Robin’s(the owner-manager) satisfaction with his employee was apparent/Exemplifies JOY which is Established thru Jesus’ birth!
Likewise we experienced a satisfaction knowing that our family was safer on the road with new drive tires/Because of the installer’s competence, our JOY is Established/Exemplifies JOY which is Established thru Jesus’ birth!
Application:
?Has Jesus’ Birth significantly Established JOY in & thru you?
?You missed the Significance of Jesus’ Birth?
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
Charlie Brown’s lament— “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about? “
Action:
Jesus’ birth is significant in that it Establishes...
1. JOY(:1-2)
Presented 12/03/2012am to:
Needmore Baptist Church
1620 Mt. Vernon Rd.
Woodleaf, NC 27054
