“God-powered Humility & Helpfulness”

Philippians 2:1-13  Oct.25/20

PARTNERSHIP OR PARTISANSHIP? BATTLING THE VANITY VIRUS

Our focus today is HUMILITY – now humility is not thinking less of yourself in the sense of putting yourself down, but rather thinking of yourself less – by focusing more on Jesus and, consequently, others as well. Because as we’ll see, Jesus leads the way for us in humbling Himself, and in fact His Spirit indwelling us becomes the engine that empowers humility.

Have you heard of the three secrets of French cooking? Butter, butter, and butter! Similarly, if you’re looking for the recipe for ‘what makes a top-notch Christian’, we might say – humility, humility, and humility!

The famous Reformed theologian John Calvin quoted St.Augustine when writing Institutes of the Christian Religion. "When a certain rhetorician was asked what was the chief rule of eloquence he replied, 'Delivery.' What was the second rule, 'Delivery.' What was the third rule, 'Delivery.' So if you ask me [Augustine says] concerning the precepts of the Christian religion, first, second, third, and always I would answer, 'Humility.'" (Augustine, quoted by John Calvin, Institutes 2.2.11)

What’s the opposite of humility? Well, we might say someone is very “full of himself” or “full of herself”, stuck up. Such a person is proud, conceited, vain, self-focused, often to the point of being arrogant, others seem to mean little to them. It’s hard to reason with them: their mind’s made up, and it’s “their way or the highway”. Not partnership but partisanship.

A current illustration of partisanship is, of course, the election south of the border, vividly represented by Thursday night’s debate between two candidates. At the end of the day the public will have to choose one or the other but not both. I found this debate much better to watch than the first one because they stuck better to the content and answering the questions posed by the moderator, instead of just attacking the other candidate. The “mute” button was a good innovation; all they need now is a “fact-check buzzer” that sounds loudly whenever someone speaks an untruth. However then I should probably install the same thing here for my sermons! (Ha)

Partisanship may belong in politics but not in the church. In Paul’s second chapter to the church at Philippi he urges them strongly to develop unity and oneness. 2:1-4 “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

Being UNITED with Christ; FELLOWSHIP with the Spirit – that’s koinonia, sharing in common, participating together. He goes on to say be like-minded, have the same love, be one in spirit and purpose. Does this sound like a church near you? It ought to!

Unfortunately, church history is riddled with the carnage of denominational splits and doctrinal splinters. “There’s no fight like a church fight” – probably because both parties feel they have God on their side! Paul in these verses lists several enemies of unity and oneness, things that contribute to partisanship instead of partnership.V3 selfish ambition or vain conceit; v4 looking only to your own interests.

Hold on a minute! Isn’t that the way the world EXPECTS us to be? If we’re all just random molecules bumping into each other evolving from primordial soup, what’s to prevent big fish from eating little fish, the survival of the fittest? Our capitalist consumer culture grooms us through endless advertising to ask, “What’s in it for ME?” “We do it all for you!” sounds like it’s very legitimate for us to want everybody else to cater to our creaturely desires.

But Scripture teaches that ‘selfish ambition’ is one of the deeds of the flesh. [omitting quite a bit in this list] Gal 5:19ff “The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity...witchcraft; hatred, discord...SELFISH AMBITION, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness...I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” That’s stern talk! Persist in selfish ambition and you’ll miss out on being eternally with God. Or as CS Lewis observed, the doors of hell are locked from the inside. Hell’s theme song is “I did it MY way.”

“Vain conceit” (v3) is literally empty-glory, NLT “try[ing] to impress others”. We love to make ourselves look good. We fill our Facebook or Instagram stream with only the most flattering selfies that portray us and our lifestyle in the best possible light. It’s seems foreign to our culture, unthinkable, for Paul to say in v4 “Each of you should look not only to your own interests...” Wouldn’t our economy dramatically slow down or even collapse if we started looking to others’ interests instead of just our own?

Another apostle, James, warns about the true source of selfish ambition in Jas 3:14-16: “But if you harbor bitter envy and SELFISH AMBITION in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and SELFISH AMBITION, there you find disorder and every evil practice.”

Disorder – COVID, racial tensions, political differences, people being out of work – all these contribute to our current unrest and instability. Indigenous and non-indigenous lobster fishers clash in the Maritimes. Neighbours are supposed to call in illegal over-capacity gatherings on ‘snitch’ lines given COVID restrictions. So much strife and unrest, and it would seep into church fellowship too.

THE ‘NO’ IN KENOSIS

What’s the key to humility in all this crock-pot stewing selfishness? Paul points us to Jesus. In what seems to be poetry, perhaps an early Christian hymn, verses 6-11 highlight the path Jesus chose to take in order to become someone who could save us. V5 “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus...” Not just because He’s a good model, but because through repentance and baptism we have been ‘sunk into’ Him, and have His Spirit living in us and transforming us.

V6 “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped...” Jesus was ‘in very nature’ God before creation and time existed; Jn 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.” Heb 1:3a “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.” The beauty and love and goodness of God the Father is also found in God the Son, along with power and omniscience and other divine attributes. If you want to know what God is like, look at Jesus!

Yet in order to become our Saviour, Jesus divested Himself of heavenly privileges and came to earth, being born as a dependent and fragile baby, enduring hunger and tiredness and discomfort like other humans. Others put it, “He stripped Himself of the insignia of majesty.” (Lightfoot) “He did not count it a prize which must be clung to tenaciously...but was willing to lay aside His glory and make Himself a servant.”

Jesus said “no” to keeping all that pre-cosmic equality with God status and took on limited form as a human, becoming “Son of Man” as well as “Son of God”. So He can relate to us! That’s a marvel! Heb 4:15 “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are— yet was without sin.”

That saying “no” to keeping divine privilege is part of the “no” in kenosis – the Greek term we find in v7: “but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.”  Gk kenoo “to make empty, make void” from kenos “empty” like in v3 “empty-glory” / vainglory kenodoxia. There is a NO in KENOSIS, Christ “Made Himself Nothing, taking the very nature of a servant.” SERVANT? But He’s Lord, He’s the boss! What an upside-down reversal of roles!

The lowering, humbling, saying ‘no’ to privilege, didn’t stop there. V8 “He humbled Himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross!” This was no ordinary death, like passing away peacefully in your bed. Romans executed their criminals in the most torturous excruciatingly painful way possible, as a deterrent to others. And Jesus CHOSE that suffering so forgiveness would be possible for you and for me. Heb 5:7ff “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him...”

Jesus said NO in kenosis, emptying Himself, becoming a servant, humbling Himself all the way to obediently dying on the cross, suffering immensely, as a propitiation (payment) for our sins. He loves you that much! He said “no” to so much to which He was entitled, so He could say “yes” to welcoming you to heaven, a forgiven and sanctified former sinner. He said “no” to become our divine “yes”, making good all God’s promises for those who are His! 2Cor 1:20 “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ.”

The path of Christianity is the path of humility, servanthood, obedience, allowing God to BE God in your life, not yourself, not some other enticing idol that begs our worship. Jesus taught in Mt 23:12, “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” He lived it, He demonstrated it. God the Father put His ‘stamp of approval’ on the Son’s sacrifice by raising Jesus from the dead, to be seen by eyewitnesses. Then Jesus would come to His disciples and say, Mt 28:18 “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”

KEY TO RENUNCIATION: BOWING TO JESUS

Paul’s hymn describes this in vv9-11, “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” “THAT at the name of Jesus every knee should bow...” God had a purpose in raising Jesus up, exalting Him to the highest place, giving Him rank / name / title above all others: the purpose is that our knee might bow and our tongue confess Him as Lord. When people do that, God’s glory is made known, His goodness to sinners magnified, His wonderful plan to bring reconciliation to a hostile miserable world is unpacked and showcased.

Has YOUR knee bowed? Is YOUR tongue confessing “Jesus is Lord”? That’s at the very heart of becoming a Christian, repentance and the new birth, opening the door in your life to the Holy Spirit. 1Cor 12:3b “...No one can say, “Jesus is Lord”, except by the Holy Spirit.”

You see, there is a virus more deadly and devilish and widespread than the coronavirus. It’s a pride pandemic. All have sinned, we came forth sinners from our mother’s womb (Rom 3:23; Ps 51:5). But there is already a vaccine for this selfishness virus: inject yourself (not with bleach! But) with the cross of Jesus. Let the nails of His cross pierce you, the nails that held Him there for love of you, not because He deserved to die: He was absolutely pure and sinless. We can’t beat the selfishness virus on our own, by our own strength. We need His help, to be born over again by His Spirit; to die to self. Luke 9:23f “[Jesus said] If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever LOSES HIS LIFE FOR ME will save it.” Gal 5:24 “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.”

INDWELT TO ENDEAVOUR

Overcoming selfish ambition and vain conceit begins with the decision to submit ourselves to Jesus’ leading, let Him be our Lord (in control) as well as our Saviour (the One through whom we are rescued from sin and its penalty). But an amazing thing happens when we do that: God’s Spirit comes into our lives to reform our thoughts and desires and empower us to put what God wants into action.

Back up to verse 1 in our passage. Where do we get encouragement? “FROM being united with Christ.” Where do we get comfort? “FROM His love.” Whence springs fellowship? “WITH the Spirit.” It’s an organic union, God Himself coming into our lives and producing the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22f) right inside us.

In v12 enjoins the church to be obedient (which comes much more easily when you’ve latched onto humility) and to give expression to their faith through action. 2:12 “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed— not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence— continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling...” Revering God, having a proper respect for His omnipotent power and divine right to judge at the end of our lives (or when Jesus comes, if sooner), ought to motivate us to be obedient and at work for Him.

Nate Saint was one of five missionaries who were killed by the Auca Indians. He once said that his life did not change until he came to grips with the idea that "obedience is not a momentary option...it is a die-cast decision made beforehand."

But verse 13 has some jaw-dropping truth that clarifies how this is possible: 2:13 “for it is GOD WHO WORKS IN YOU to will and to act according to his good purpose.” So we’re to ‘work out our salvation’ but we’re not the only ones working!! God Himself is active in the Christ-follower both shaping their desires (“to will”) and their actions (“to act”), bringing these into conformity with His good purpose, what pleases Him.

There was once a laborer who was a mature Christian and gave a solid testimony before all who knew him. His boss came to him one day and said, "You know, whatever you've got, I want. You have such peace and joy and contentment. How can I get this?" The laborer said, "Go to your home, put on your best suit, come down here, and work in the mud with the rest of us—and you can have it." "What are you talking about? I could never do that. I'm the boss, you're the worker. I can't do that. That's beneath my dignity." The boss came back a couple of months later and said, "I ask you again, what is it that you have and how can I get it?" "I told you, go put on your best suit, come down and work in the mud with us, and you can have it." Again the boss became furious and walked off. Finally, in desperation he came back to the laborer and said, "I don't care what it takes! I'll do anything." The laborer said, "Will you put on your best suit and come down and work in the mud?" The boss agreed that he would do even that. Then the laborer said, "You don't have to."

The point had been made... The laborer knew what was standing between the boss and Christ—pride and self. Once he was prepared to swallow his pride and humble himself, getting down to work in the mud even while wearing his best suit, his desperation and submission opened the door to the abundance Christ had to offer.

I like that story too because it pictures in a way exactly what Jesus did to make salvation possible for us! He ‘put off His best suit’ – laid aside His divine glory, with all its position and privilege – and came to earth, down to a humble smelly manger to be born as one of us, here in the mud where we live. His “no” to supernatural glory made possibly His “yes” for us, opening the way to God’s most precious promises!

Repeatedly the Apostle Paul prayed asking God to take away a “thorn in the flesh” that was causing him some undisclosed pain. Jesus’ answer to him was this, 2Cor 12:9f “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." [Paul concluded] Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me...For when I am weak, then I am strong.” May you this week submit your life to God and find out for yourself how His power can accomplish much through you, giving you both the desire and the power to do what pleases Him! Let’s pray.

Gracious Lord, Thank you Jesus for setting aside so much heavenly power and glory all for the sake of becoming human so You could take our sin-penalty on Yourself. We confess our reluctance at times to let You be Lord: we’re so ‘bent’ in the tendency to want to run our own show. Yet we know how much that has hurt others and cut us off from You. Have mercy on us; forgive us, Heavenly Father; send Your Holy Spirit to direct our hearts and help us choose and then do what’s best in Your eyes. Thank You for loving us so, and blessing us with Your unity, Your love and comfort and compassion. May others see You through us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“Not Rivalry, but Partnership in Grace” (Philippians 1:3-11,19-26) - sermon Oct.4/20 Worldwide Communion Sunday

ENVY SETS THE WRONG STAGE

It’s Worldwide Communion Sunday. “Communion” basically in a non-religious sense means having something in common, taking part in a similar experience. There’s a oneness shared by multiple people. For Christians, we find this oneness in Jesus who has torn down the walls that tend to separate and divide people on account of differences in gender or background or temperament.

Envy and rivalry are the enemies of communion. If you feel envious of someone, that drives you away from them, not toward them. Envy compares yourself to them and notes the differences, the other’s perceived advantages, not what draws you together or you have in common.

Billy Graham once said, “Envy can ruin reputations, split churches, and cause murders. Envy can shrink our circle of friends, ruin our business, and dwarf our souls...I have seen hundreds cursed by it.” 

Erwin Lutzer notes, “Envy is rebellion against God’s leading in the lives of His children. It’s saying that God has no right to bless someone else more than you.”

There’s a danger of the world’s competitive spirit filtering into even the hearts of Christian workers – pastors and preachers and writers – who become envious of another’s success. Gordon MacDonald writes about this. Citing a passage from Henri Nouwen, he describes an actor who noticed the terrible hypocrisy of his compatriots during a particular play in which he had a role. While rehearsing the most moving scenes of love, tenderness, and intimacy, the actors were so jealous of each other and so apprehensive about their chances of ‘making it’ that the backstage scene was one of hatred, harshness, and mutual suspicion. Those who kissed each other on the stage were tempted to hit each other behind it, and those who displayed such love before an audience felt nothing but hostile rivalry as soon as the footlights were dimmed.

Today we begin a several-week series looking at Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi. At the outset, it seems Paul has every right to be angry, upset, and envious of others. After all, he’s stuck under house arrest in Rome, chained to a soldier night and day, while others are free to come and go. In fact some other Christians are even preaching with ulterior motives – to make things worse for Paul, or to draw a bigger following than him, as if it’s a competition. They’re in it for selfish reasons.

But instead of becoming envious, Paul is able to maintain an attitude that’s joyful and not bitter. How? He’s ever conscious of sharing in GRACE with the churches he’s planted. On this Worldwide Communion Sunday, we note he shares a deep oneness or commonality with other Christian believers. Philippians 1:5 “because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now...” The word translated ‘partnership’ in the original Greek is koinonia: partnership, fellowship, a commonality.

Again in v7B, “...for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me.” To “share with” is a single compound word with the same root as partnership / koinonia. Sharing together in God’s grace.

In this passage, grace is seen not so much as just the usual meaning of forgiveness for our sins on account of Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf. Grace goes beyond redemption to sanctification, our growth as a follower of Jesus, and can be unpacked in five ways: joy, strength, affection, purpose, and fruitfulness.

JOY DESPITE CHAINS

It seems Paul can’t mention ‘joy’ often enough in this letter! Even though he’s stuck under house arrest, he refers to joy in some form 15X in his letter, at least twice in each chapter.

Here we find it in 3 places. Vv4f “In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now...” The Philippian church has once again sent their missionary a financial gift to help meet his needs, so of course that would be encouraging.

V18B “...whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached.And because of this I rejoice.Yes, and I will continue to rejoice...” Paul’s keen hope to see the message about Jesus spread is being realized, even if it’s not by him, and even if the motives of the preachers are not completely unselfish. To hear that Christ is preached gives him joy.

In v26 he mentions how being together again in future hopefully with the Philippians would cause their “joy in Christ Jesus” to “overflow” on account of him. Knowing they’re supportive of his ministry, and wanting to see him again, would help Paul to rejoice.

Paul was in house arrest, locked up, not free to move about. This past week we’ve seen COVID daily new case numbers in Ontario rise and wonder if we’re headed for another lockdown given the ‘second wave’ of infection. It’s been most of a year since it began in mid-March - six and a half months - and it can wear us down, nerves are getting frayed, people are grumpy, we just want it all to be over but that’s not likely to happen soon. Can we find joy in Jesus the way Paul did, despite confinement? Is contact with fellow believers made even more precious by the limitations on handshakes and hugging and being able to meet and worship freely together? Paul and the Philippians couldn’t get together but they used what means they could: the church sent a messenger, Epaphroditus; Paul sent a letter in return. We can still have joy from fellowship with other Christians, whatever the arrangement creatively worked out.

STRENGTH DESPITE CHALLENGE

Another aspect of grace besides joy that Paul’s revelling in is God’s STRENGTH. V6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” “He who began a good work” - that’s God He’s talking about, saving the believers. That day a “good work” began in those who put their trust in Jesus – a good work that Paul says will be carried on by the Lord to completion when Jesus returns. Your sanctification (being made holier, more like Jesus) is work, an effort that the Holy Spirit’s making in you day by day. It doesn’t stop at “once saved, always saved” – God is ever urging you on in growing more mature, more filled with the outflow of His Spirit. God’s strength is at work in you.

See also v19A, “for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ...” Help given by WHOM? The Holy Spirit, here interestingly connected more with the second person of the Trinity, Jesus. Paul perceives God’s strength is helping move events toward his deliverance (we think he was released from this house arrest before a final missionary tour visiting the churches). God gives His people strength, in the face of challenges. Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

It has been a challenging couple of weeks for students and teachers getting back to school. Many are facing new circumstances - different classes, new facilities, new modes of learning such as all online, new devices, new operating systems to catch onto – it can be quite overwhelming. There’ve been more than a few tears. There are some bloodshot eyes from staring at a screen all day. But keep trusting the Lord and He will help you through the challenge – you will even grow in your skills and your confidence.

When Paul was preaching at Philippi at first (see Acts 16), God’s power had become very evident. They cast a fortune-telling spirit out of a slave girl so she was freed of having to do that for her owners. A riot ensued and Paul and Silas were stripped, beaten, and thrown into prison. That night God used a violent earthquake to bust prison doors open and the prisoner’s chains were loosed. Paul and Silas didn’t run off, but stopped the jailer from killing himself and led him and his household to become Christ-followers. So God’s power had been very evident to Paul and the people in Philippi.

AFFECTION DESPITE DISTANCE

Many miles separated Paul under arrest in Rome from the believers back at Philippi in Macedonia. But even though the distance was great, the hearts were nonetheless fonder. God puts an affection for each other in their hearts. We see here some of the most tender language in the whole Bible.

V7A “It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart...” NLT “...you have a special place in my heart.” (AWW!) And v8, “God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.” NLT “God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus.” (And this is a MAN talking? Yes guys, it’s all right to be genuine in expressing your affection without being afraid you’ll be criticized for being ‘mushy’!) Say it now, say it often, before it’s too late and you wish you’d said it more.

Paul is careful to point out it’s “the affection of Christ Jesus” not just plain human emotion. Affectionate feelings can be God-given, godly, and with sanctified motivation – if they’re good and appropriate.

This past week the death toll due to coronavirus in the United States passed a grim milestone, the 200,000 mark. COVID-19 can be a deadly disease, and any proven vaccine is still a ways off (though advances are being made). This whole pandemic challenges our Western confidence in our own invulnerability bolstered by wealth and hospitals and medicine and pharmaceuticals. Life suddenly seems fragile again, something we need to take pains to protect, we find ourselves deciding whether or not to go somewhere, evaluating the risk. Can the pandemic persuade us to be more affectionate, more expressive toward those we love? Can it prompt families to be more intentional about spending time together, turning off the screens and enjoying some healthy fun bonding activities together? Yes our gatherings in society need to be physically distanced – for now; but that doesn’t need to mean affection cannot be expressed, intentionally, verbally. Do those you care about truly know how much they mean to you? Tell them; show them.

PURPOSE DESPITE UPHEAVAL

It must have seemed to Paul his ministry plans to take the Gospel message far and wide had been suddenly put on hold, being in the ‘lockdown’ of house arrest. But he is nonplussed: his sense of purpose comes through loud and clear despite the unexpected change in circumstances. Instead of audiences in the marketplaces, Paul realized he had a captive audience in the soldiers rotating watch on him, and as he notes in 1:12f - “Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.” Paul was in chains, but God’s word was not! Paul’s purposes were still finding an outlet in whoever happened to be next to him.

For many in our society, living for comfort and pleasure would sum up their purpose in life, their chief goal. But as we read through this chapter we find several clues as to Paul’s main purpose in life. For example, v 11 talks about “filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ— to the glory and praise of God.” For a Christian, we want to live in a way that brings God praise and glory, makes God ‘look good’ / attractive to those around us.

V13 “...I am in chains for Christ.” Paul wasn’t just locked up: he was locked up for a reason – not on account of any crime, but on account of broadcasting the Good News about Jesus. He saw his own afflictions as an extension of Christ’s afflictions (see Col 1:24).

While he’s in custody, various people are preaching

the Gospel: some out of pure motives, others out of selfish motives or to undermine Paul. He could have gotten really upset at this! But what helps Paul keep his cool, despite other’s attacks? V18 “But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.” What’s most important for Paul? His reputation? Getting out of jail? Having his accusers silenced? No, the ‘important thing’ is that, from whatever motives, Christ is preached. Jesus is his reason for being.

Again, in v20: “I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.” Exalting Christ, magnifying Him, making Him great - “mega”. And that’s even an awesome thought - sheer grace - that we can conceive of Christ being exalted ‘in my body’, by the way I conduct myself, bear up, serve God and others. For Paul it’s going to happen whether he lives or dies – which way is (in some respects) irrelevant.

V21 sums it up: 1:21 “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” See how believing in Jesus shapes the purpose of Paul’s whole life? “To live is Christ” – that’s Who he’s living for. To die would be even better, for then he would - V23 - “depart and be with Christ, which is better by far” (literally, ‘very much better’, the highest superlative).

Paul’s reason for living was all wrapped up in Jesus’ death and resurrection for him and Jesus’ call upon Paul’s life. This provided Paul with a sense of purpose that gave meaning to his existence even in the worst suffering. Paul was writing to those in Philippi, a Roman colony where much of the population consisted of retired military men who had been given land in the vicinity. Canada’s population is seeing a ‘squaring of the triangle’ where relatively more people are retired compared to the youngest segment. But for some retirees, life revolves around going to the coffee shop, buying lottery tickets, spending an afternoon on the golf course, and watching sports or a show in the evening. We’re just idling time away until we die, if that’s our daily pattern! There’s got to be more to life than that. Find your purpose in living through Jesus, who gave His life to save you for Himself and His Kingdom enterprise.

FRUITFULNESS DESPITE SELFISH TENDENCIES

Last, Paul experienced God’s grace at work in his life making him FRUITFUL. Paul’s prayer for the church at Philippi in v11 is that they may be 1:11 “filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ— to the glory and praise of God.” NLT “filled with the fruit of your salvation – the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ...” What’s the ‘fruit of righteousness’ look like? Back up to v10: part of it is to “be pure and blameless”.

One of my heroes in defending the faith through apologetics was Ravi Zacharias, who died not long ago. But then this past week allegations have come forward from 3 women who worked at a spa in which he was part owner regarding unwanted touching and advances and other immoral behaviour. If true, these allegations are so disappointing... It’s a fight for even the most well-known Christian leaders to stay ‘pure and blameless’. Be on guard, the devil prowls and would love to eat you for lunch! (1Peter 5:8)

So there’s the fruit of righteousness - righteous character that Jesus produces in us, with the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22f). Another form of fruitfulness is found in v22: “If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labour for me.” Paul’s commissioned field of labour was spreading the gospel, caring for the churches he planted, training up evangelists and pastors and elders to carry on after he was gone. And he is very conscious of the Philippians’ partnership in this ‘fruitful labour’: v5 “your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now”. Paul is glad that this work is going ahead even if he’s sidelined temporarily through house arrest; v14 “Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.” Speaking God’s word is going to take more courage for us as society increasingly chafes at the boundaries set forth by the Christian worldview – although those very boundaries are meant by the Lord for our own protection in our relationships and in future judgment of sin.

And in v16, Paul sees himself “put here for the defense of the gospel”. That’s now his life-work; and it resulted not just in churches being planted, but here we are reading about it and being edified by him today, through Scripture, this sacred deposit of God’s truth guarded and transmitted down through the centuries.

One more aspect of fruitfulness is found in v9: “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight...” NLT “I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.” The verb is abounding, literally ‘overflowing’ – does that describe how much love is issuing forth from our lives? Robertson’s Word Pictures renders it, “may keep on flowing, a perpetual flood of love.” 

That’s GOT to be grace, the Holy Spirit’s work in our life, because in our original sin-fallen self-preoccupied evil-infected state it would never happen! But let God turn on the tap of His love in your life, and let it spread to others. When you don’t feel loving, repent, yield it to Him, wait for Him to flood your heart. Be praying who the ‘neighbour’ is, the person near you, that He wants to touch through you with “the affection of Christ Jesus” (v8).

COMMUNION: FLOWING FROM THE CROSS

As we prepare now to take communion (even if it’s a bit strange not being able to physically pass the trays and so on), we are reminded how we are partners in grace, sharing together in the richness of love that Jesus has for us – God’s love demonstrated through the cross. Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” 

This is a sharing in grace that ought to be happening on the horizontal level as well as vertically. We see this deep bond between Paul and the church he’s writing to that has been supporting him so faithfully by their gifts. People’s New Testament comments, “The Philippians sympathized with him, prayed for him, and sustained him by their offerings, thus becoming partakers.” The apostle could tell they were one in supporting his missionary endeavours.

The bread and cup in communion are symbols pointing us to a greater reality, the cross of Jesus, where He poured out His life to bring us to Himself, to purchase us for a loving and holy Heavenly Father. Remembering His sacrifice helps encourage us in difficult circumstances, and gives us grace to forgive and bear with other people even when they disappoint us or hurt us.

A man in Dundee, Scotland, was confined to bed for forty years, having broken his neck in a fall at age 15. But his spirit remained unbroken, and his cheer and courage so inspired people that he enjoyed a constant stream of guests. One day a visitor asked him, “Doesn’t Satan ever tempt you to doubt God?”

The man replied, “Oh, yes, he does try to tempt me. I lie here and see my old schoolmates driving along in their carriages and Satan whispers, ‘If God is so good, why does He keep you here all these years? Why did He permit your neck to be broken?’”

The guest asked, “What do you do when Satan whispers those things?”

The invalid replied, “Ah, I take him to Calvary, show him Christ, and point to those deep wounds, and say, ‘You see, he does love me.’ And Satan has no answer to that: he flees every time.” Let’s pray.

Precious God, thank You for beginning your good work in us, a work you are carrying on until it’s complete when Jesus returns. Thank You for your grace in both forgiving our sins and giving us purpose and fruitful labour in this life. Grant us courage to keep testifying about this wonderful grace, fill us with Your joy and strength to carry on, deepen our affection for one another as Your love overflows into our lives by Your Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.