In the End, Grace

Devotion: Philippians 4:21-23

At last gentle reader we come to the end of our time in Philippians. One of the shortest letters of the New Testament took us just shy of a year to work through. If you have been following the blog weekly, I pray and hope that as we conclude you have been blessed by God's Word. Next week I will begin time in the Old Testament book of Ruth. For now, let's turn attention to the conclusion of this letter.

"Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit."-Philippians 4:21-23 ESV

 In the Apostle Paul's day letters typically ended with greetings to/from others and a blessing. The letter to the Philippians has both of these features.
The greetings can be quite lengthy (as they are in Romans) or quite short (as they are here). The greetings fall into three parts. First, Paul greets every saint in Christ Jesus in Philippi. A saint here means one who is being made holy. A saint is one who has been saved by the grace of Christ that the Holy Spirit has set apart for God. The Apostle wants every saint--not merely the movers and the shakers, but them too--to receive his personal greetings. This is a humble act for the Apostle and both an uplifting and humbling act for the church in Philippi.
Second, the Apostle passes along the greetings of those who are with him. This is likely the brothers who have been supporting him during his imprisonment. The third greeting comes from all the saints in Rome, but especially those who are in the household of Caesar. What the Apostle is likely saying is that some of those most closely associated with Caesar (soldiers or slaves) have come to saving faith in Christ Jesus and now add their voice to the greeting. Perhaps even some of the Apostle's own jailers have heard the Gospel and come to believe. At any rate, the Apostle says hi for those who to want to say hi. These greetings show the interconnection of the Church. Though separated by time and space, we are really one in Christ. And so in a few short lines the Apostle revisits two of the letters main themes (humility and unity) before turning to the major Christological theme of the letter.
The Apostle's blessing is for the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ to be with their spirit. To call Jesus 'Lord' is not merely a theological designation (that is, Christ is YHWH), but also a political statement. To call Jesus, "Lord," is to assert that Caesar is not. This is a very bold statement for a man awaiting a hearing before Caesar. Yet it puts into perspective our own understanding of the supremacy of Christ over worldly politics. In the end, it is Christ who will be glorified, not earthly political powers. Yet, we should note, that Christ can employ these earthly powers for his own purposes. The Apostle humbly waits to see what that purpose will be (life or death, you may recall) and be strengthened by the unity of the saints in grace of Christ. In the end, it is Christ's grace that unites us all in one spirit and that should lead us to humility and graciousness. I pray that you will be so filled with Christ's grace that you too are led to follow our humble Lord.

God's Supply

Editors Note: I am glad to be with you this week after being away for the last two. I spent the week of 6/18 at our General Assembly praying and seeking the Lord's will for the EPC, our denomination. Last week I spent time with 57 youth from here in Omak and around the state at our annual Camp Chelan. Frankly, gentle reader, I am glad to be home writing to you this week. Yet, I should also note next week (the week of 7/9) I will be away again on a short family vacation.

Devotion: Philippians 4:18-20

The Apostle Paul understood the financial support he received from the Philippians via Epaphroditus to be an offering to God and, though it benefited the Apostle, completely for God's glory. As we have traced our way through this letter over the last several months, these ideas should be familiar.

"I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. " -Philippians 4:18-20 ESV

In the end, the Apostle is claiming that God provides. After all, the Apostle can now count among the mighty acts of God in history his own reception of funds crucial to his ongoing survival. Paul realizes that even if the Lord had not provided, he would still give glory to God, just like the three young men about to be tossed into the furnace (see Daniel 3:16-18). Like those three young men, the Apostle had seen Christ with him in his most trying time (in his case, the Christ came in the form of the Philippians generosity). The Apostle sees that God has worked to provide for him through the Philippians and, in the end, this is Christ at work.
Now it may seem that the Apostle then shifts in tone in the following verse. Torn out of context we could mistakenly conclude that Paul is promising the Philippians a reciprocal blessing, giving credence to the heretical prosperity gospel. Yet, this is not the Apostle's point. Paul is giving witness to 'God's provision and in giving witness he is assuring the Philippians that God will also provide for their needs--needs not wants--out his great riches in glory in Christ Jesus. What we need most is relationship with this God, a relationship that is alive, maturing and growing. The Philippians had demonstrated by their generosity that just such a relationship existed and the Apostle is now assuring them that God will provide more of Himself in that relationship to meet the growing need.
And that is how every relationship with God is shaped. As we grow in our relationship with God we come to realize just how dependent we are on God and in realizing this dependence, we already have the provision of the infinite God to meet our growing sense of dependence. God is always more than we could need, yet we need infinitely more of him as we grow in faith.
The Apostle concludes, appropriately enough, with a doxology. We sometimes can read these prayers of praise and not really fit the prayer into the wider context. Here, in this doxology the Apostle is assuring the Philippians that they share the same God and Father, and this one is to receive all the glory. The same God who came to the Apostle's aid through the Philippians is the very same God who can met the Philippians' need through the proclamation of the Gospel by the Apostle Paul. Indeed, a God who can weave together people who can supply the needs of each other is to be glorified forever.
When I return in a week we will conclude our time in Philippians. In the meantime, think how God has supplied for your need and how God, through you, has supplied the needs of others.

The Fruit of Compassion

Devotion: Philippians 4:15-17

The Apostle Paul was grateful for the assistance he received from the Philippians. Thankfulness, indeed, is one of the themes of his letter to the Philippians. Yet, the Apostle does not want the Philippians to think that he is only writing to them because he has received their financial support. As the letter begins to draw to a close, the Apostle wrote:

"And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit." -Philippians 4:15-17 ESV

The Apostle takes time to remind the Philippians about his own story. The Apostle had, in a sense, prided himself on being self-supporting in his ministry efforts. He worked with his hands in the tent-making trade (see 1 Corinthinas 4:12 and Acts 18:3), which meant, more broadly, that he worked with leather and canvas. While in Corinth, to avoid being beholden to moneyed interests, the Apostle had refused support from the congregation there (see 1 Corinthians 9), but later stated that he had "robbed other churches by accepting support from them in order to serve [the church in Corinth]" (see 2 Corinthians 11:7-11). It seems the congregation that Apostle had, 'robbed,' was the Philippians congregation as they financially supported him during his evangelistic efforts in Corinth and later in Thessalonica (see 1 Thessalonians 2:5), even though he mentioned some earlier trouble in Philippi to the Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 2:2, referring to the events of Acts 16:16-40).
The Apostle, assured that the Lord will provide and give endurance for any circumstance, is grateful for the support of the Philippians in the past and in the present. Yet, what he is most thankful for is not the gift, but the fruit of his ministry that is being demonstrated by the Philippians' generosity toward him. In essence, Paul is heartened because the Philippians, motivated by the Gospel of Jesus Christ, have shown him compassion.
It is at this point that the Scripture intersects our lives. Where are you being moved by the compassion born of the Gospel to help others? If the answer is, "Nowhere and with no one," perhaps it is time to prayerfully examine your heart and let the Spirit once more apply the saving work of Christ to turn you out to the needs of others. Keep in mind that it is Christ Jesus who looks upon you with compassion as your Lord and Savior. If we are disciples of Christ how can we but long to be like him?

News for You:

Camp Chelan registration is open for all students completing 6th-12th grade in June to join us for a week of fun, fellowship and maybe something deeper. Check out more: http://cpcomak.org/Camp-Chelan-2017

Thanks for Sharing

Devotion: Philippians 4:10-14
One of the purposes of Paul's letter to the Philippians is to thank them for their financial support while he is in prison. The context of Paul's imprisonment must not be lost when seeking to understand this passage, especially in understanding Philippians 4:13-a verse frequently taken out of context and, therefore, completely misunderstood.

"I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble." -Philippians 4:10-14 ESV

The Apostle's points are basically these:

1. The Apostle rejoices (as he instructed the Philippians to do in 4:4) in the Lord, specifically because they have given him financial support. His financial need has provided an opportunity for the Philippians' need to express their concern for him. This is win-win, in other words.
2. Next, the Apostle wants to assure the Philippians that with or without their support, he would still have rejoiced in the Lord because it is the Lord's strength, and not his own, that would see him through regardless.
3. Finally, the Apostle thanks the Philippians for sharing in his trouble none-the-less.

There are a few common misinterpretations of this passage that should be cleared up. First the Apostle is not ungrateful for the the Philippians' financial support. He is not rebuffing their gesture nor is he being snide in 4:14 when he thanks them for sharing. Paul is genuinely thankful, but not merely for the financial contribution. The Philippians, in giving of their own resource, have incurred loss on his behalf. That loss, however minor it may have been, represented self-inflicted trouble. Much like tithing at the local level means that the tither has less financial resources for other things, so the Philippians' support of the Apostle meant less for themselves. This principle is true of supporting missionaries to this day. Since this is trouble/suffering for the Philippians, the Apostle recognizes their gift not merely as a sign of support, but rather as making the Philippians co-sufferers with him in his chains.
Second, the often misunderstood Philippians 4:13 needs to be addressed. The Apostle wrote, "I can do all things through him who strengthens me." The Apostle is NOT saying that he is capable of doing anything he would like and that God will give him the resources need to accomplish it. Such a thought would be so foreign to the man blinded on the road to Damascus as to be unrecognizable in his theology and, perhaps more importantly, life. The Apostle, you may recall, was frequently thwarted in his own plans (see Acts 16:6-10 or his lackluster success in Athens in Acts 17:32-34 or his failed desire to go preach the Gospel in Spain in Romans 15:22-24). The Apostle is not claiming to be able to do anything he wants and God, like some kind of cosmic butler, will support his every desire. No, the immediate context states that so long as Paul has the Lord, he has everything that he needs. This allows him to find contentment in any number of circumstances and not fail to the particular temptations of that estate (pride in plenty, despair in lack).
So what do we take from this all? First, like the Apostle we can enter into and partner with the suffering and ministry of other Christians through our direct support-especially financial support. Second, God is not our cosmic butler, but so long as we trust in him and find our heart's desire in his presence, we will always be supplied with the strength to endure any situation. Finally, we should be thankful when others come alongside us in support thank them for sharing with us.

News for You:

Camp Chelan registration is open for all students completing 6th-12th grade in June to join us for a week of fun, fellowship and maybe something deeper. Check out more: http://cpcomak.org/Camp-Chelan-2017

What to Think

Devotion: Philippians 4:8-9

One of the dangers of confronting sin is that it becomes the center of our thought. As a pastor, both personally and professionally, I have seen the danger of focusing on sin by either trying to excuse sin (while the Bible may say "No" to X, when I do X, it is not a violation of God's revealed will) for whatever reason or concentrating so thoroughly on the turning away from sin that the more important part of repentance, the turn to God is forgotten.
Whether one glories in sin by indulging the flesh or focuses on sin by seeking its eradication, the result is the same--sin is the center. This simply will not do for the sinner redeemed by Christ.

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." -Philippians 4:8-9 ESV

In contrast to the centrality of sin, the Apostle Paul told the Philippians to think on what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely and commendable, adding excellence and praiseworthiness. Further, as we saw in an earlier post, the Apostle puts himself forward as a positive example. What is being commended is not merely positive thoughts for hard times, but rather a rewiring of the brain as a practice. We concentrate not on sin (in any way), but rather on the one who is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent and praiseworthy, i.e. our Triune God.
Joy and peace come when we receive what we desire and we tend to focus on the object of our desire with almost singular attention. The call, then is to place the focus on God in whom we delight and find that His peace washes over us. Who can you encourage today? What sin can you confront and turn back to your focus upon God?

News for You:

Camp Chelan registration is open for all students completing 6th-12th grade in June to join us for a week of fun, fellowship and maybe something deeper. Check out more: http://cpcomak.org/Camp-Chelan-2017

Anxiety, Prayer, Peace

Devotion: Philippians 4:5-7

As the Apostle Paul called the Philippians to unity in Christ through the settling of disagreement he thought it was a good opportunity for the Church to show its reasonableness in witness. As disagreements can often lead to explosive display of base emotions, so agreement should lead to a calming display of reason. What follows this idea is the reason that reasonableness should be on display in the church:

"Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." -Philippians 4:5-7 ESV

The Philippians were to know that the Lord was near. This nearness could refer to time or space, but in the current context I lean toward the space understanding. When the Lord Jesus Christ draws near in Scripture to people who are afraid, anxious or worried, he brings peace. Indeed, in the upper room following his resurrection he repeats that he is giving peace twice (John 20:19-21), bringing the calm of his authentic presence into a tense situation.
So how do we practice the nearness of the Lord? The Apostle's short answer is prayer. We pray to our God let him know our need, giving thanks for His provision, and lifting up the needs of others. Never underestimate the power of prayer. Just today I was speaking with a man who was thankful for the prayers on his behalf from our congregation. He endured quite the ordeal in hospital for over two months, but he credited the prayers of the faithful for both the peace he had with the Lord and his survival. Prayer is the means by which God ordains to give us what He wills and this should bring peace.
Peace is exactly what the Apostle says is the consequential state of the Christian in prayer. This peace of the nearness of our God, even when it seems to defy all outside reason, is what we need to remain in Christ Jesus in both heart and mind. The peace of God that comes through prayer is like a guard that keeps secure in the presence of our God. Are you anxious today? Pray and let God set that guard of peace, holding you close to Jesus.

News for You: 

Camp Chelan registration is open for all students completing 6th-12th grade in June to join us for a week of fun, fellowship and maybe something deeper. Check out more: http://cpcomak.org/Camp-Chelan-2017

Rejoice

Devotion: Philippians 4:4

One point I find myself making often is that most of the Scripture, especially the letters of the New Testament are written to a plural audience. Many of those 'you' statements in Scripture are plural. Our friends in the south would say, "y'all" and our friends in the northeast would say, "yous guys." This is especially important to remember when we approach commands in the New Testament, like we have in our quite famous passage this week:

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice." -Philippians 4:4 ESV

After urging the Philippians to greater unity (see last week's post), the Apostle turns to exhortation and begins with rejoicing. To be sure, he is writing to a community that is going through deep conflict and seeking resolution. In my experience, following resolution of conflict what I long for is rest and perhaps retreat. Yet, and this is crucial, the Apostle says that not just at the resolution of conflict, but perhaps even in the midst of it, we are to rejoice.
So what if I do not feel much like rejoicing? Ah, this is where the plural becomes important. I once had a friend going through an extremely difficult period in his life. As we talked together, it became apparent that he was not doing much praying, let alone much rejoicing. As a brother in Christ I encouraged him to pray and even to find reasons to rejoice in the Lord, yet even if he could not, I assured him that the Church would be praying and rejoicing on his behalf until such time as the Spirit restored his joy.
If there was anyone who had reason to complain and avoid rejoicing, the Apostle Paul had more. Indeed, even as he wrote to the Philippians he was imprisoned awaiting a trial with an uncertain outcome, but could very well result in his execution. Yet, it is the Apostle who urges rejoicing. It is the same Apostle who assured the Romans, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." [Romans 8:18]. With that assurance, the Apostle had every reason to rejoice even in the midst of suffering and conflict because he knew that he had a bright hope in the resurrection in the Kingdom of God.
So what in your life is keeping you from rejoicing? Do you need someone to come alongside you in prayer and support to rejoice with you? Do you need to seek the Spirit to restore your sense of joy in salvation in Christ. Whatever the case, listen to the Apostle and rejoice in the Lord again and again.

News for You:

Camp Chelan registration is open for all students completing 6th-12th grade in June to join us for a week of fun, fellowship and maybe something deeper. Check out more: http://cpcomak.org/Camp-Chelan-2017