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!
We are called to live as good citizens of the Kingdom of God in a manner worthy of the Gospel.
To the Colossians:
“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life [walk] worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: (Col 1:9-10)
And to the Thessalonians:
“For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.” (I Thes 2:11)
And to the Ephesians, he wrote:
“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” (Eph 4:1)
We are to live in such a way that Jesus would be the very center, joy, and worth of our lives.
I had a friend in Mississippi that we will call Larry. Larry was in my Sunday school class and was on fire for Jesus. In his mid-twenties with a wife and two young kids.
He bought a WWJD bracelet, very popular back then, and started praying that someone would ask him about it. [If someone asks, you explained the Gospel and gave it to them]
The problem was no one asked him about it all. His company sent him to Mexico and he was going with a group of guys and we prayed that he would be able to share the Gospel while there.
He also was worried that he might be tempted to follow the crowd in Mexico so we prayed about that as well.
He did fine the whole week, although some of the guys did make fun of him. But the last night, everyone was going out and he decided that it wouldn’t hurt to have some fun.
Long story short, he was arrested for fighting (he was drunk) and put into the back of a paddy wagon. As he sat there, one of the young police officers leaned over and in perfect English said, “What does your bracelet mean? WWJD?” Larry burst into tears.
To his credit, Larry did try to share the Gospel with him and gave him the bracelet but he was broken and learned a very valuable lesson.
Paul Gilbert wrote these lines:
You’re writing a “gospel,”
A chapter each day,
By the deeds that you do,
By the words that you say;
Men read what you write,
Whether faithless or true;
Say, what is the “gospel”
According to you?
Point to Ponder: Are you defined more by your allegiance to Jesus or your country or political affiliation? Nietzsche once said to Christians, “Show me your redeemed life, and I will be inclined to believe in your redeemer.”
Consistency
Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel.
How do we conduct ourselves as citizens of heaven?
By our consistency and our unity.
When Paul was in Philippi, the church obviously was excited to have him there and wanted him to be proud of them. They were on their best behavior.
But just like parents want their children to behave well whether they are present or not, Paul says that it doesn’t matter.
Whether he is released and makes a return visit or whether he is executed and departs to be with Christ, he urges them to be consistent in their Christian conduct.
Paul then gives two ways of doing this:
standing firm in one Spirit.
Standing firm is a military term for standing a one’s post. It's a word picture of a soldier standing, feet apart, rapt attention, not willing to give an inch, even if it means losing his life.
This is a committed conviction that is only possible through the power of the Holy Spirit.
We are to hold our ground in the battle against the world, the flesh, and the devil.
The Christian life is not a playground but a battlefield.
In 1521, Martin Luther was summoned to appear before the church council known as the “Diet of Worms.” This was a general assembly of the estates of the Holy Roman Empire. Martin’s 95 theses, and his writing after that, had sparked the beginning of what we now know as the Protestant Reformation and the mother church was not happy.
Johann Eck laid out all of Martin Luther’s books and pamphlets on a table and asked if he was the author and if he stood by their contents. Martin confirmed that he was the author but asked for a day to pray before giving his second answer.
The next day the chamber grew quiet as Martin Luther stood and said:
“Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Scriptures or by clear reason (for I do not trust either in the pope or in councils alone, since it is well known that they have often erred and contradicted themselves), I am bound by the Scriptures I have quoted and my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and will not recant anything, since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience. May God help me. Amen”.
striving together as one for the faith of the Gospel.
The phrase striving together is the Greek word “sunathleo.” The prefix “sun” means “with or together.” “Athleo” is where we get our word athlete.
Paul is saying that teamwork (side by side) is absolutely vital for a church to be effective.
Scottie Pippin has been in the news lately trashing his former teammate Michael Jordan as “a terrible player” and “one of the worst teammates ever.”
This is not exactly true. Jordan did eventually learn to trust his team but when reminded that there is no “I” in team, he shot back, “But there is in ‘win.’”
The other night, after the Miami Heat defeated the Boston Celtics to make it to the NBA Finals, Jimmy Butler was asked about the “role players” on the team. His answer went viral:
“I don’t call them role players. I call them teammates.”
Later in the letter, we will learn that two women were in conflict with each other and the church was taking sides.
Paul isn’t talking about uniformity, where everyone thinks the same things. That’s how cults are formed.
He is stressing unity. “For the faith” literally reads, “In one soul.”
He told the Colossians the secret of unity:
“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” (Col 3:13-14)
David wrote: “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1)
We need you on the team. This is a little church with a big heart and we need all hands on deck.
Make every effort to be here on Sunday mornings. You can watch it online if you are sick or on vacation.
I was struck by something that Dane Ortland posted on Twitter this past week:
“Staying home to ‘watch church” is like staying home from a friend’s wedding to watch the ceremony virtually. And keeping the wedding gift with you.
Your presence and solidarity and love and hugs and eye contact and singing are needed. It’s not just about passively receiving something. It's about being an embodied part of the celebration. The whole event is diminished by your absence. And you have a gift to give.”
There are huge fir trees in California that can withstand hurricane-force winds because their roots are so tangled together.
Whereas, standing firm is a defensive stance, striving together is offensive in nature.
We have a mission. There are people in our community that don’t know Christ. We cannot afford to fight over lesser battles.
We have to be united in our common goal to share the Gospel and make disciples of all nations.
Jesus prayed for us: “May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (John 17:23)
Point to Ponder: Are you making “every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace?” (Eph 4:3)
Courage
without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God
Paul then gives them, and us, another way to conduct ourselves as citizens of heaven. By the courage, we show in the face of opposition.
The word “frightened” here is a word picture of a horse being spooked and throwing its rider off. Those horses were called “battle-shy.” In other words, don’t panic when opposition comes.
Unlike when we studied Galatians, the opposition wasn’t composed of Judiazers or false teachers. Philippi was thoroughly pagan and claiming that Jesus was Lord was tantamount to treason against Caesar.
Remember that Paul and Silas were falsely accused, beaten, and put into prison in Philippi for casting a demon out of a slave girl.
Paul writes that this opposition is a two-fold sign. First, it’s proof that you are doing something right. It’s been said that satan only shoots at moving targets.
It also is evidence that the people opposing us are lost. Darkness always rages against the light.
Sometimes it only takes one person to stand up or sit down in Rosa Parks’ case.
Telemachus was a Syrian 4th-century monk who attended the gladiator games in Rome. These nights were filled with people being fed to lions and gladiators fighting to the death.
He made his way down to the floor of the coliseum and tried to separate the gladiators. He addressed the crowd, telling them “in the name of God forbear.” A gladiator stepped forward and thrust his sword into him, killing him.
The crowd erupted in applause but not everyone was amused. Some people got up and left. The next week, there were fewer people, and within three months, on January, 1, 404 AD they ended for good.
?All because one little Syrian monk stood up.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have been in the news all week for their invitation to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a blasphemous drag queen group to be their special guest on pride night.
Pitcher Blake Trienen released a statement that reads in part:
"I am disappointed to see the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence being honored as heroes at Dodger Stadium. Many of their performances are blasphemous, and their work only displays hate and mockery of Catholics and the Christian faith.”
I understand that playing baseball is a privilege and not a right. My convictions in Jesus Christ will always come first. Since I have been with the Dodger they have been at the forefront of supporting a wide variety of groups. However, inviting the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence to perform disenfranchises a large community and promotes hate of Christians and people of faith. This single event alienates the fans and supporters of the Dodgers, Major League Baseball, and professional sports.
People like baseball for its entertainment value and competition. The fans do not want propaganda or politics forced on them. The debacle with Bud Light and Target should be a warning to companies and professional sports to stay true to their brand and leave the propaganda and politics off the field…
He ends with these courageous words:
"I believe Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins. I believe the word of God is true, and in Galatians 6:7 it says, ‘Do not be deceived, God cannot be mocked; a man reaps what he sows.' This group openly mocks Jesus Christ, the cornerstone of my faith, and I want to make it clear that I do not agree with nor support the decision of the Dodgers to "honor" the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.”
"'But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.' Joshua 24:15.”
We may not be called to give a statement like Blake, but we are called to be fearless in the face of opposition to the Gospel.
Point to Ponder: Maybe you are feeling like Joshua when he took over for Moses. God had to remind him and us:
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)
Crucible of Suffering
“For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.”
Paul ends this section by highlighting two gifts that God gives us as we stand firm, strive together, and live fearlessly in the face of opposition.
The word “granted” literally means “graced,” a free gift of unmerited favor.
What has God graced us with?
He has given you the faith that you need to place your faith and trust in Christ.
Remember, we don’t accept Christ, He accepts us. We can’t save ourselves, He saves us.
“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God - children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” (John 1:12-13)
Not only are we graced to have faith in him but also to suffer for Jesus.
Wait, what? That’s not a gift I asked for or would even want. Why would He give us the gift of suffering?
In chapter three, Paul actually says that he longs for the fellowship of his sufferings:
“I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.” (Phil 3:10-11)
This is not general suffering but suffering for the sake of the Gospel.
If you were to flip through the religious programming on TV or the web, you would find a lot of the preachers hawking what we call the “prosperity Gospel.” In this false Gospel, God is a cosmic vending machine that bows to your every whim and wants. His main desire is to make you happy, healthy, and wealthy. If you just do the right things in the right way, which usually requires you to send them money, then a Lexus will drop out of the sky and your apple tree will start growing $50 bills. If you just have enough faith you will never be poor, or sick, or have anyone mistreat you.
The Bible just doesn’t teach this. Contained in the pages of Scripture is actually a very different gospel than that – the Gospel of persecution.
Jesus said, “If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.” (John 15:20)
Jesus said,
“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“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.” (Matt 5:11-12)
Peter wrote:
“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.” (I Peter 4:12-16)
Sometimes people are “persecuted” for the wrong reasons. In fact, they are persecuted not for being a Christian but for being an obnoxious jerk.
Ryan Foley, a Christian Instagram Influencer, decided that he would preach the Gospel in a gym and film it. Afterward, he talked about how persecuted he was. Nope. He screamed, berated, insulted, and, in the end, called them all cowards and security removed him.
Paul isn’t talking about Ryan Foley.
He’s talking about Garrison Green. Garrison is a young man who grew up in our youth group and now is a nurse in Seattle. He was running a nursing assisted living community when his boss asked him to start adding “ghost charges” to the clients’ invoices.
Garrison said, “I love this job. I love the clients. We are doing well financially. Please don’t make me do something against my conscience and what I consider unethical and wrong.
His boss fired him. I told him that he did the right thing and I, and God, were proud of him.
?He’s talking about Mehdi Dibaj, who was imprisoned by the government of Iran for becoming a Christian. For ten years, he waited for the trial, and when it came, his defense ended with these words:
“Jesus Christ is our Savior and He is the Son of God. To know Him means to know eternal life. I, a useless sinner, have believed in His beloved person and all His words and miracles recorded in the Gospel, and I have committed my life into His hands. Life for me is an opportunity to serve Him, and death is a better opportunity to be with Christ. Therefore I am not only satisfied to be in prison for the honor of his Holy Name, but am ready to give up my life for the sake of Jesus my Lord…”
He was sentenced to be executed but he was released under pressure from the U.S. State Department, only to be found murdered in a nearby park.
Paul wrote to his young preaching protégé Timothy:
“In fact, everyone who wants to live a Godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted…” (2 Tim 3:12)
Suffering is a crucible that God graciously puts us through in order to make us more like Jesus. It produces patience and perseverance.
James wrote:
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4)
It also makes us more sensitive to others who are suffering.
Maxine went through ten years of medical problems and chronic pain. After they finally got that under control, she discovered she was addicted to the opioids they had prescribed her.
She says experiencing that kind of long-term chronic pain has made her much more sensitive to those who are suffering. And dealing with the withdrawal has made her much less judgmental toward people struggling with addictions.
Communion
A missionary in China once told of Jesus for the first time to a group of people in an inland town. When he finished, someone said,
Oh yes, we knew Him. He used to live here.”
Somewhat surprised, the missionary tried to explain that Jesus
had been on earth 2,000 years ago.
The man still insisted that he had met Jesus saying, “Not so, He lived in this village, and we knew Him.”
The crowd then took the missionary to the village cemetery and showed him the grave of a medical missionary who had lived, loved, served, healed, and died in that community.
Would anyone ever confuse you for Jesus?
