Philippians 3:17-4:1 says,...
Today's verses are Philippians 3:17-4:1, which read,
v.17-19 - Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.
Paul has dropped his "duffle bag of pride" as dung and rubbish and wants to be found in Christ. Paul is sprinting toward Him not looking back but only at the finishing tape. He is calling the Christians in the Philippian church to be doing the same. We do need other mature Christian leaders to follow and to observe. As we look at these mature Christians and draw from their experiences and actions, we also have others behind us who are looking at us and our experiences and actions. We are on this continuum with believers ahead of us and behind us. We look forward at other mature Christians very aware that others are looking forward at us.
Paul is weeping as he warns them again of the false teachers who are really "enemies of the cross of Christ." What truly describes them?
They have an appetite for more but it is their appetite to be satisfied and not for the glory of God; they boast in themselves and their accomplishments; and they put priority on earthly things and physical observances. The false teacher has a god and the god is him or herself. Look at these three things and ask yourself, "What is my appetite and who do I give glory to and where is my focus?" Paul's appetite is Christ and his glory is in Christ and his focus is to be with Christ. Follow that pattern.
v.20, 21 - For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.
We need to be reminded of this in the political climate that we are in right now. Our citizenship ultimately as a follower of Christ is heaven and that is where we are headed. We may vote in a booth in November for our best thoughts on the direction of the United States but we live everyday in light of our direction in life for eternity. We wait eagerly for the second coming of our Savior and Paul names Him again so their is no confusion about who he is talking about, the Lord, the master of life to be submitted to in His words and our deeds, named Jesus, proclaimed by God as His Son, and Christ, the anointed prophesied Messiah and Savior of the world.
Our earthly bodies will be transformed from what they are now to be in conformity with His body by Him. Some of us have some physical things going on now that we won't then. I know that I have an apparatus that is attached to my side that I will love to get rid of. But beyond the physical changes that will be glorious is the spiritual changes for to be in conformity with Jesus is to be rid of the battle with sin. To be holy as He is holy will be the greatest transformation in our lives.
4.1 - Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.
Is there any doubt about Paul's affection for the believers in Philippi? He calls them "my beloved brethren" and then shares again about his longing to see them face to face. His joy and crown is seeing them mature in Christ. Paul has a button on his lapel that says "Philippians for Christ" which might be hard to get all on a button. He has a bumper sticker on his donkey that says, "Going through Philippi? Check out the Philippian church." Paul ends this section with a second, "my beloved."
In the midst of the affection is the command, "in this way stand firm in the Lord." To stand firm is to be at your military post on guard watch. All the rest are sleeping and counting on you to keep your eyes open for any advancement of the enemy and to give advance warning. You are your post spiritually strong in the Lord and serving others with your walk with Him. How is at your post? Are your eyes wide open and fixed on God or are sleeping on your watch? A sleeping guard soldier leaves others vulnerable to attack. My spiritual life matters to myself but is also connected to others. This takes us back to Paul saying "join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us." Let's pray.
"Lord, Paul has such a deep love for the Christians in Philippi. He wants them to grow and mature in You. He sees this as more important than is own physical needs. May I see those around me that are looking at me at my spiritual post and care about them so much. May I care for them beyond their physical needs to their spiritual needs. They need to see me serious about my walk with You. Amen."
Pastor Adam
v.17-19 - Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.
Paul has dropped his "duffle bag of pride" as dung and rubbish and wants to be found in Christ. Paul is sprinting toward Him not looking back but only at the finishing tape. He is calling the Christians in the Philippian church to be doing the same. We do need other mature Christian leaders to follow and to observe. As we look at these mature Christians and draw from their experiences and actions, we also have others behind us who are looking at us and our experiences and actions. We are on this continuum with believers ahead of us and behind us. We look forward at other mature Christians very aware that others are looking forward at us.
Paul is weeping as he warns them again of the false teachers who are really "enemies of the cross of Christ." What truly describes them?
They have an appetite for more but it is their appetite to be satisfied and not for the glory of God; they boast in themselves and their accomplishments; and they put priority on earthly things and physical observances. The false teacher has a god and the god is him or herself. Look at these three things and ask yourself, "What is my appetite and who do I give glory to and where is my focus?" Paul's appetite is Christ and his glory is in Christ and his focus is to be with Christ. Follow that pattern.
v.20, 21 - For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.
We need to be reminded of this in the political climate that we are in right now. Our citizenship ultimately as a follower of Christ is heaven and that is where we are headed. We may vote in a booth in November for our best thoughts on the direction of the United States but we live everyday in light of our direction in life for eternity. We wait eagerly for the second coming of our Savior and Paul names Him again so their is no confusion about who he is talking about, the Lord, the master of life to be submitted to in His words and our deeds, named Jesus, proclaimed by God as His Son, and Christ, the anointed prophesied Messiah and Savior of the world.
Our earthly bodies will be transformed from what they are now to be in conformity with His body by Him. Some of us have some physical things going on now that we won't then. I know that I have an apparatus that is attached to my side that I will love to get rid of. But beyond the physical changes that will be glorious is the spiritual changes for to be in conformity with Jesus is to be rid of the battle with sin. To be holy as He is holy will be the greatest transformation in our lives.
4.1 - Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.
Is there any doubt about Paul's affection for the believers in Philippi? He calls them "my beloved brethren" and then shares again about his longing to see them face to face. His joy and crown is seeing them mature in Christ. Paul has a button on his lapel that says "Philippians for Christ" which might be hard to get all on a button. He has a bumper sticker on his donkey that says, "Going through Philippi? Check out the Philippian church." Paul ends this section with a second, "my beloved."
In the midst of the affection is the command, "in this way stand firm in the Lord." To stand firm is to be at your military post on guard watch. All the rest are sleeping and counting on you to keep your eyes open for any advancement of the enemy and to give advance warning. You are your post spiritually strong in the Lord and serving others with your walk with Him. How is at your post? Are your eyes wide open and fixed on God or are sleeping on your watch? A sleeping guard soldier leaves others vulnerable to attack. My spiritual life matters to myself but is also connected to others. This takes us back to Paul saying "join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us." Let's pray.
"Lord, Paul has such a deep love for the Christians in Philippi. He wants them to grow and mature in You. He sees this as more important than is own physical needs. May I see those around me that are looking at me at my spiritual post and care about them so much. May I care for them beyond their physical needs to their spiritual needs. They need to see me serious about my walk with You. Amen."
Pastor Adam
Comments
Post a Comment