THE PASTOR’S POINTS
Bible Teaching Ministry of
CEDAR LODGE BAPTIST CHURCH
Thomasville, NC
Dr. Russell Brownworth, Pastor
"But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you."
Philippians 2.17
In AD 337 the great Constantine died. He had spent his life conquering and "Christianizing" the known world. One of his grandsons was named Julian. He was not seen as intelligent or considered a threat to the throne. Julian grew up in the company and tutelage of monks and Christian scholars. He learned the faith and participated in leading worship services. His regular duties included copying religious books and building chapels for worship.
Unfortunately Julian’s main teacher was a "closet pagan." Mardonius was a Christian on the outside, but his whole mental development was based on the ideas of Greek paganism. Later Julian met Maximus, a well-known teacher of the worst kind of paganism (Neo-Platonism). Under Maximus’ influence Julian formally renounced Christianity to embrace paganism. When he ascended to the emperor’s throne in AD 361 he used his power to return the whole empire to pagan worship, beginning the active persecution of Christian believers. His grandfather must’ve turned over in his grave!
(IT IS A SMALL JUMP TO MAKE THE APPLICATION THAT WE OUGHT TO BE CAREFUL WHO TEACHES OUR CHILDREN IN SCHOOLS. OUR GRANDFATHERS WOULD TURN IN THEIR GRAVES TO SEE THE PAGAN MINDSET IN OUR SCHOOLS TODAY)
The question presents itself about Julian, as to his motivation to ditch Christ for the teachings of paganism. What was his complaint with Christianity?
What went wrong with young Julian? In his memoirs, the former worship leader, scholar and Christian builder wrote: "Have you looked at these Christians closely? Hollow-eyed, pale-cheeked, flat-breasted all; they brood their lives away, unspurred by ambition; the sun shines for them, but they do not see it; the earth offers them its fullness, but they desire it not; all their desire is to renounce and to suffer that they may come to die."
Julian had a right to shudder when he thought of Christianity; especially a faith that looked like death. For all the trappings of organized religion, Julian looked at the lives of religious people and thought just like the two little boys who were standing outside the church as they watched a long-faced preacher arguing with a sourpuss member...Said one boy to the other, "Man, if that’s what 30 years of Christianity will do for you, I want out NOW!"
As one scholar wrote about the "God is dead" movement," "Men looked at a dead church and assumed its owner was also deceased."
It is essentially true that joy AND sacrifice are part of the Christian life. The problem is we often cannot put either one in healthy perspective. Paul does it for us in this text, as he answers the vital question, "What kind of Christian experience produces great, satisfying, life-affirming and visible JOY in the life of the believer, even in the midst of sad, difficult and sacrifice-demanding circumstances? Good question!
Note three REALITIES about the life of Paul which answer it....
PAUL PRACTICED THE PRESENCE OF GOD. Php 2.12-13
Paul encouraged the Philippian believers to remember they were in the presence of a holy God. "Fear and trembling" mean reverence. I have heard since I was old enough to understand words that in God’s house you must walk and talk with reverence. Beloved, His house is the universe. If you would have joy as a Christian, practice the presence of God everywhere!
How do you do that? Understand that we are to do it. Paul said, "Work out..." What is implied is "YOU work out..." God wants us to be aware of His presence in everything. Marry that thought with the reality that there is nothing you can do to please Him without Him. It all begins with a decision to give God the first priority in your life.
Alan Loy McGinnis wrote, "The people I admire always turn out to be people who practice rigorously the habit of a daily appointment with God." Here is the key to real Christian joy -- a genuine reality of being close to God.
We are fond of claiming a Biblical promise that where two or three gather Christ is in our midst. Yet it should not be left to such gatherings. The joy of being at one with Christ is a reality that can (and
should be constant.
Checkpoint
Do you have a daily appointment with God that helps you practice His presence all day long?
A second reality about Paul’s life that helps us understand about having real joy in the midst of a tough world is...
PAUL PROCLAIMED THE POWER OF GOD Php 2.14-16
According to Paul the only thing he’d ever boast about was the testimony of the church at Philippi. They were "holding forth the word" and that made them as shin-ing stars in a very dark place. There are a lot of things to believe and be involved with these days.
The only really dependable one is the Word of God. Everything else fades and passes away, but God’s Word stands forever (Isa 40.7). Look what the joy of proclaiming God’s powerful word produces:
Certainty & Serenity 2.14
The absence of murmuring and grumbling isn’t the focus. Naturally whenever there IS that kind of thing it becomes the focus. "Do everything..." is the focus. Paul is admonishing the folks to direct their energies to constructive witnessing and living their lives in the positive mode. That provides a sure footing to live life with certainty and serenity.
Purity & Integrity 2.15
It’s difficult to make choices that honor God when you live in a society that’s doing its level-best to remove Him from view. But that’s what the light of a candle is supposed to do! A man shared with Bible teacher Keith Brooks how he’d discovered some of his potatoes sprouting in the darkest corner of the basement. That was unusual, as light is needed for growth. Then he discovered that a copper pan, hanging in the kitchen near the basement window had been so brightly polished that it was reflecting the sunlight onto the potatoes.
A person may not be a Peter to preach to thousands, or a Paul to start churches and great missionary movements -- but we CAN be who we are in Christ -- lights reflecting the power of God, filled with the joy of God. We can so live and witness that pagans and believers alike will see the reflected light.
Energy & Profit 2.16
Paul used the word "labor" in the athletic sense, an exhausting, all-out effort. As individuals to our neighbors, a church to this city, and a nation to this world, we are to "hold forth the word of life..." In the final day this will be the stand-ard upon which we are judged.
Checkpoint
Are you spending at least as much of your energy profitably proclaiming the word of God as you are entertaining yourself?
Your genuine Christian joy depends on it!
Paul was genuinely filled with joy even in his difficult circumstances because he practiced the presence of God, proclaimed His power, and:
PAUL WAS PROUD OF THE PROGENY Php 2.17-30
Paul had a great love. He loved TIMOTHY. What’s not to love in a man who was always willing to serve, and shared Paul’s passion. Paul loved EPAPHRODITUS. This great servant from Philippi had risked his own life to help. As a servant to a man condemned in chains, Epaphroditus may very well have shared in his fate. He also had great concern for the church back home.
Paul also loved THE CHURCH
The apostle saw their great sacrifice in giving and caring for him and his ministry. This was a young, poor church. Yet they gave above their means.
Checkpoint
Do you love your fellow-workers enough to sacrifice?
Joy comes in many packages. William Barclay writes: "In the days of the early church there was an association of men and women called the parabolani, the gamblers. It was their aim to visit the prisoners and the sick, especially those who were ill with dangerous and infectious diseases. In A.D. 252 plague broke out in Carthage; the heathen threw out the bodies of their dead and fled in terror. Cyprian, the Christian bishop, gathered his congregation together and set them to burying the dead and nursing the sick in that plague-stricken city; and by so doing they saved the city, at the risk of their own lives, from destruction and desolation."[1]
Joy is not automatic in the faith -- but it ought to be evident no matter the circumstances. Today some believers are wrecking the young Julians of our day, sending them running from Christianity with a scowl, a defeated outlook on life, and a spurious theology of a God who doesn’t want you to enjoy this life. May it never be so with you, my beloved!
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ENDNOTES
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1] William Barclay, The Daily Study Bible, Vol 12 (Philadelphia, Westminster Press, 1975) 50
