Matthew C. Mitchell's Blog, page 36
June 14, 2020
"Rejoice in the Lord!" [Matt's Messages]
“Rejoice in the Lord!”Lanse Evangelical Free Church
June 14, 2020 :: Philippians 3:1-11
I invite you to open your Bibles to the Book of Philippians chapter 3, but before we read it, I want to mark this occasion as special.
June 14th, 1998 was the very first Sunday that I preached from this pulpit as the brand new pastor of Lanse Evangelical Free Church. 22 years ago to the day!
Today, I want to thank the search team chaired by Wally Kephart and the whole congregation chaired at that time by George Leathers for bringing us together, 22 years ago this day.
And do you know what was the first book that we went through together as a church with this brand new pastor?
The first two Sundays I preached from Isaiah 40 to remind us Who our Awesome God truly is. But the first book that I picked up to preach all the way through was the little missionary letter of the Apostle Paul to his beloved church friends at Philippi.
The book of Philippians.
Now, if you had told me in 1998 that I would still be the pastor here 22 years later and preaching a message June 14, 2020 on Philippians chapter 3 “posted” to the Internet on something called “YouTube” and “Facebook” and also to 2 different worship gatherings one where everybody is wearing a facemask and where at both everyone is sitting at 6 foot spacing from one another to mitigate the spread of a virus attacking the entire globe, I would have said, “You’re crazy!”
“There’s no way they’ll put up with me for 22 years!”
And yet, here we are.
In Philippians chapter 3.
And though many things have changed in those 22 years, the Word of the Lord stands firm.
Even though we’ve already made it half way through the book, the Apostle Paul has not swerved from his focus on joy.
Week after week (and this is the 9th week we have studied Philippians this year), Paul keeps talking about joy, joy, joy, joy, joy.
He always prays with joy.
He rejoices that Christ is preached.
He continues to rejoice no matter what happens to him because to live is Christ and to die is gain.
He asks them to make his joy complete by putting each other ahead of themselves.
And He rejoices with the Philippians because he knows that they are going to obey Jesus whether or not they see Paul ever again.
And, last week, he told them to honor Timothy and Epaphroditus and welcome them with great joy.]
So what do you think Paul is going to tell the Philippians next?
Chapter 3, verse 1.
“Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord!”
Now, that “finally” is kind of funny because Paul still has a lot of letter left to go.
This is kind of like when I say, “finally” in a sermon, and there’s still a lot of sermon left to go. Don’t close your Bible yet! “Finally...”
It’s not even the last time in the letter he’s going to say, “Rejoice in the Lord!” This isn’t our Hide the Word verse! That’s in chapter 4.
But Paul is getting back to the main point of his letter. That’s what “finally” means here. He’s done telling them about his plans to send Timothy and Epaphroditus, and now he wants to make sure they. get. the. point.
And he wants to warn them to make sure to get the point.
So he tells them straight up to “Rejoice in the Lord!”
That’s the whole message right there.
If you get that, and you get the reasons for that, and you get the way to that, and you start to do that, you’ve got the point.
“Rejoice in the Lord!”
There’s clearly two parts to that, and they are clearly both important.
Rejoice! This is about our joy. This is about our satisfaction and eternal happiness.
This is about our hearts. That’s where the rejoicing happens.
But he doesn’t just say, “Don’t worry. Be happy. Get your smile on.”
He says, “Rejoice IN THE LORD.”
And he means Jesus.
Rejoice in the Lord Jesus.
Why and how?
Paul goes on to issue a warning to the Philippians.
Because, you see, there is another threat looming over them.
We’ve learned about 2 threats already the Philippians faced.
One threat was persecution. They were being attacked from outside. Paul was in prison for preaching the gospel and might lose his life for it. And the Philippians were not immune from those same external attacks.
But another threat was from inside. The Philippians seemed to be struggling internally with potential conflicts bubbling up in the church family.
And now Paul says there is another threat they have to watch out for, and he reserves the strongest language for this one.
The persecution doesn’t bother him that much. "So you kill me, so what?"
The conflict can be solved by having a Christlike attitude and putting others ahead of yourself. “You before me.” Like Timothy and Ephaphroditus were so good at.
But this threat? It threatens your very soul.
Because it’s a threat to the gospel.
And the answer to this threat is to rejoice in the Lord. Look at verse 1 again.
“Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.”
He’s said these things before. When he was with them and maybe in another letter we don’t have. It’s no trouble for him to repeat himself, and they need to hear the warning. V.2
“Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh.”
Who’s he talking about? They sound bad! That’s some strong language there.
Dogs were not cute cuddly house-pets in that time and place. They were wild, dangerous scavengers. And they were unclean. The Jews often derogatively called the Gentiles, “dogs.”
Which here is ironic because Paul is talking about false Christians who are trying to get the church to go back to Judaism. These “dogs” probably were actually Jewish like Paul was.
It’s the same type of people that Paul was fighting in the book of Galatians. (Do you remember that from a couple of years ago?)
We sometimes call them the "Judaizers." They insisted upon circumcision and following the Law and that to be saved you have to first become Jewish.
Salvation comes through law-keeping.
Now the reason why Paul has to warn the Philippians is that these guys look really good on the outside.
These guys seem like the good guys. They are moral. They are religious. They are straight-laced. They are good citizens. They wear the white hats. They go to church. Their lifestyles look very attractive.
But Paul says that they are “dogs.” They are (truly) men who do evil. They are mutilators of the flesh. He’s talking about circumcision. Their’s isn’t real because it doesn’t get to the heart. It’s just about the flesh.
So watch out! V.3
“For it is we [Christians] who are the circumcision [the true circumcision, of the heart], we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh...”
That phrase “glory in Christ Jesus” is parallel to “rejoice in the Lord.”
That’s what true Christians do. They glory in Christ Jesus. The boast in Him.
They put their faith and find their joy in Jesus.
I’ve got two diagnostic application questions for us to consider from today’s passage.
Two questions (and they are related). Here is the first one:
#1. WHAT AM I TRUSTING FOR SALVATION?
Where do I put my confidence and faith?
What am I trusting for salvation?
That is such an important question!
Be careful to make sure you can answer it rightly!
Because these guys did not.
Paul says that real Christians (v.3), “put no confidence in the flesh.”
And by flesh there, he means circumcision. They put no confidence that circumcisions will save them. And he also means “flesh” in the broader sense of all human effort, all human ability, all human performance and achievement.
“Flesh” here is shorthand for the actions we do to get right and stay right with God.
Do, do, do.
Especially the religious ones.
Paul says that true Christians put no confidence in the flesh. But catch verse 4!
“...though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.”
That’s amazing that he goes there.
Paul says that if this was the way to be saved, he was there.
He had impeccable religious credentials. He was even born right!
And he did everything right (externally, outwardly).
If you looked up “Legalistically Righteous Jew” in the dictionary, Paul’s picture would be there!
Paul was a great religious success.
If you could get to heaven on your own, Paul was the poster child.
And yet, Paul says to watch out for people like he was!
What you are you trusting for salvation?
Are you trusting in your good works?
Are you trusting in your baptism?
Are you trusting in your church-going?
Are you trusting in your generosity?
Are you trusting in your being a good person, a good citizen?
Are you trusting in your family? In having come from a good religious family?
Paul says, “Watch out for people like that.”
Those are the kind of people that Jesus was always fighting with.
And Paul says, “That’s the kind of person I used to be.”
But now I put no confidence in the flesh. I rejoice in the Lord. Verse 7.
“But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.”
Financially imagery, right? Paul is moving those things from the profit category to the loss side of the ledger.
“But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.”
All of those things! (And some of them were good in and of themselves but they weren’t trustworthy. They won’t save!)
They are now loss. V.8
“What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.”
Everything goes in the loss column. Every single thing that could be trusted in gets tossed over there.
And all for the sake of knowing Jesus.
Here’s the second application question:
#2. WHAT AM I THINKING IS THE GREATEST THING?
What am I trusting in for salvation and what am I thinking is the greatest thing in the whole universe?
You can see how these two question are related. The answer should be the same for both.
It’s Jesus Christ.
“What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.”
There is no greater thing that knowing Jesus Christ!
And Paul came to believe that.
It’s not just that Jesus is better than those other things.
Those other things are worthless compared to knowing Jesus!
Paul had a complete and total change of mind!
That’s what we call “repentance.”
See how often he used the word “consider?”
He used to consider these things great. Now, he considers those things, “loss.” Worse than “loss;” verse 9.
“I consider them rubbish [street trash, dung, worthless junk], that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ–the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.”
It’s so much better than “do, do, do.”
“It’s done!”
Jesus has done it for us on the Cross and has given us His own righteousness as a gift!
And we just receive it by faith.
That’s so much better!
Do you know Jesus like that?
As your Savior? As the One who gives you His righteousness? Not by your own works, but by God’s gift?
What are you trusting in for salvation? Trust in Jesus Christ and nothing else!
Especially not your good works.
And when you do, you find out that knowing Jesus is the greatest thing in the universe! Being united to Christ, what Paul call, “being found in him,” is the greatest reality in the world.
There is no greater thing.
Paul calls it, “the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”
Do you know Him like that?
Is there something else that you are considering as greater?
What could it be?
We all do. We get our eyes off of the ball.
We start thinking that the greatest thing is some other experience.
It’s some other thing we’re chasing.
Popularity, possessions, relationships, jobs, money, politics, sports, books, whatever.
Paul says, “I used to value all of that.”
But now I know what is the greatest thing in all of the universe. And I just want more. V.10
“I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.”
We’re going to look at those 2 verses more in-depth next week, Lord-willing, but I just want to point out that by this time, Paul has probably known Jesus for about 30 years.
And this is what he wants right now in his life.
He wants more of Jesus.
More of His power. More of his suffering (if it means more fellowship with Him), and more of knowing Him forever.
Because there is no greater thing than knowing Jesus.
Do you know Jesus that way?
If you don’t, I invite you to start right now. Change your mind. Paul did. You can, too. Don’t listen to those guys. Stop putting your confidence in your flesh. Don’t try to do a righteousness of your own. Put that in the loss column.
Put your confidence in Christ alone.
And if you do, then see what you have to rejoice in?!
If you have Jesus, you have everything.
For the last 22 years, I’ve been saying it every chance I can get.
If you have Jesus, you have everything.
Rejoice in the Lord!
***
Previous Messages in This Series:
01. "I Always Pray with Joy"
02. "Because Of This I Will Rejoice"
03. "I Will Continue To Rejoice"
04. "Whatever Happens"
05. "Make My Joy Complete"
06. "Your Attitude"
07. "I Am Glad and Rejoice With All Of You"
08. "With Great Joy"
June 10, 2020
June 7, 2020
“With Great Joy” [Matt's Messages]
“With Great Joy”
Lanse Evangelical Free Church
Worship At Home Video Message
June 7, 2020 :: Philippians 2:19-30
I invite you to open your Bibles to the Book of Philippians chapter 2. The Apostle Paul’s missionary letter to his beloved church friends in the Greek city of Philippi.
We’ve reached the words now marked in our Bibles as chapter 2, verse 19. Big number 2. Little number 19. Paul didn’t put those numbers there. That’s how we know where to find things now. Philippians chapter 2, verse 19.
This is the 8th message in the book of Philippians for Lanse Free Church to use for Worship at Home, and it’s the 12th message in this pre-recorded video format we’ve been using during the novel coronavirus outbreak.
Right now, I want to tell some of you to turn this video off right here.
Don’t watch this video if you are coming to worship on campus on Sunday morning June 7th at least until after you have come to worship on campus on Sunday morning June 7th!
Because this is the message I’m planning to preach to you folks in that building right there on Sunday morning!
So you can keep watching if you want, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.
{By the way, it’s Pew Bible page #1162.}
The Apostle Paul has just finished an important section of his missionary letter to his beloved Philippians where he has encouraged them to work out their salvation with fear and trembling, to stand out in their generation by not complaining and not arguing, to hold out the word of life, and to be willing to pour out their lives in worship of Jesus Christ.
And that’s all because of what Jesus did for all of us when He let go of the high perks of divinity and humbled Himself into the servanthood of human death for us. And then was exalted to the highest place and given the highest name.
Do you remember that?
So in verse 19 of chapter 2, Paul resumes his missionary letter by telling the Philippians about his plans.
Paul is planning to send 2 of his associates, 2 members of his ministry team to the Philippians, one at a time. And both of these guys are guys they know. One is actually from the Philippian church himself.
And in the very middle of this letter, Paul has a lot to say about these 2 men.
I think that Paul (and the Holy Spirit inspiring him) is putting these 2 men forward as examples for the Philippians to follow, to model themselves after.
He’s not just telling them facts about these 2 guys. He wants them to become like these 2 guys.
At the end of the chapter, Paul tells them the “honor men like” these.
And he also tells them to welcome them in the Lord “with great joy.”
By now the emphasis on joy should not be surprising.
Philippians is Paul’s letter of joy.
He always prays with joy.
He rejoices that Christ is preached.
He continues to rejoice no matter what happens to him because to live is Christ and to die is gain.
He asks them to make his joy complete by putting each other ahead of themselves.
And He rejoices with the Philippians because he knows that they are going to obey Jesus whether or not they see Paul ever again.
Joy, joy, joy, joy, joy.
And now, Paul tells the Philippians to welcome these 2 guys with great joy.
Literally, “with all joy.”
And we’ll quickly see why. It’s because these guys were worth rejoicing in. They were worth honoring.
They were quality Christian men.
So, this is a perfect passage for us for at least two reasons this particular weekend.
The first is that Sunday June 7th is Graduation Sunday, and we have 5 young men who are our Class of 2020. 5 young men who have just graduated from high school:
Thomas, Dalton, Tyler, Andrew, and Ben.
I have had the privilege of being their pastor for most if not all of their school years.
I had the privilege of baptizing all 5 of them.
And this passage is perfect for Graduation Sunday because those 5 young men could learn a lot from these 2 Christian men in Philippians 2.
We all can, of course, but it’s particularly appropriate for Thomas, Dalton, Tyler, Andrew, and Ben who I hope either watch this video or catch the live version in one of the two new worship gatherings.
The other reason why this passage is particularly appropriate for this Sunday is that we got word on Friday night that our beloved missionary friend Henoc Lucien had died apparently of COVID-19.
Henoc was a special man, a dear brother in the Lord, and had shoes too big for any one else to fill.
And Henoc was a lot like these 2 guys that Paul is writing about in the middle of Philippians.
And it is very appropriate for us to honor him to fulfill verse 29.
“Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him.”
We can’t welcome him here anymore on our campus, but we can honor him.
Let’s start in verse 19, and find out more about these 2 guys that Paul is planning to send to the Philippians.
The first is a man named “Timothy.” Chapter 2, verse 19.
“I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.”
So interestingly, Paul is not sending Timothy just yet.
He hopes to send him.
He wants to send him.
The Philippians want to see him.
But Paul is holding onto Timothy until it’s clearer what is going to happen with his court case.
Remember, Paul isn’t sure if he’s going to live or if he’s going to die.
He expects to live. He expects to visit the Philippians again.
But he doesn’t know for sure, and he needs Timothy with him while we waits for the verdict.
But Paul tell the Philippians that he is planning to send Timothy soon so that he (Paul!) may be cheered when the news comes back him.
Isn’t that interesting?
Paul wants to send Timothy so that Timothy will boomerang back with news about how the Philippians are doing.
It’s fascinating how relationship-focused this letter is.
I’ve always known that, but during these days when we have been so separate from each other, I feel it like never before.
Paul feels his separation from the Philippians, and he can’t wait to use the social media of the day to find out how they really are. He’s planning to send a human being all the way across the Roman Empire to find out on his return how his beloved Philippians are faring.
And he hopes to be “cheered” by the news (v.19).
I’ve been walking 8-10 miles a day for the last 3 months and on many many of those walks, I’ve been carrying these church directories with me and making calls to you.
This is my March one. This is my April and May one. And Marilynn just made me a June one this week.
I have been longing for news about you.
That’s how Paul felt. And it’s also how Timothy felt. Listen to verse 20.
“I have no one else like [Timothy], who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.”
Now we’re getting into what makes Timothy so honorable.
Timothy didn’t just look out for himself.
Timothy was outstanding at looking out for others.
Listen closely, Thomas, Dalton, Tyler, Andrew, and Ben.
Listen closely, everyone.
“Everyone looks out for their own interests,” that’s normal.
But not everyone looks out for others for the sake of Jesus Christ.
If you find someone like that, they are worthy of honor.
If you find someone like that, they are worthy of imitating.
Does this language sound familiar to you? This language of interests and looking out for someone’s else interests?
I hope it does. Remember verse 4 of this chapter?
“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. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus...”
Timothy was like Christ Jesus!
He did that.
He put others first.
“You before me.”
“You before me.”
Here’s our first application question for today:
#1. AM I LIKE TIMOTHY?
Are you like Timothy?
Who is number one in your life?
Same questions as a few weeks ago:
Ask yourself who are you putting first in all of your relationships.
If you are a dad, does the family revolve around you and your will?
If you are a mom, is it your way or the highway?
If you are brother or a sister, do put your siblings’ interests ahead of your own?
If you are single are you focused only on your dreams and ambitions?
If you are a boss at work? If you are an employee at work? Who are you looking out for?
Drivers, who is #1 on the road?
“For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.”
Isn’t that interesting that he ends with Jesus and not with the Philippians?
“I have no one else like [Timothy], who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.”
So when a Christian looks out for other Christians and puts their interests ahead of himself, they are looking out for the interests of Jesus Christ, their Lord.
Thomas, Dalton, Tyler, Andrew, and Ben, is that you?
Everybody else? Is that you? Is that me?
Am I like Timothy?
Do we honor people like Timothy?
I think that Henoc Lucien was a Timothy. He was constantly putting the needs and interests of others ahead of himself.
My dad saw him in action in Haiti once, and Henoc carried two cell phones and could be talking on both at the same time while driving!
And he wasn’t just chatting. He was helping people with their problems.
He was putting others ahead of himself.
Welcome men like that great joy and be like them if you can.
Timothy did this over and over and over again. V.22
“But you know that Timothy has proved himself [passed the test again and again], because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel.”
Timothy didn’t just put someone ahead of himself once. He did it again and again.
And you can see how close he and Paul became if you read the letters Paul wrote to Timothy later in your Bible. Like a son with his father.
Paul says that Timothy served in the work of the gospel.
The word for served is the same one as described Jesus as the servant in verse 7.
Timothy was like Jesus. He served.
And he served in the work of the gospel. It is work. The gospel is the good news of free salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
But it’s work to share it. Henoc did that work.
And so should we.
Timothy served and served and served in the work of the gospel. He was a proven servant.
Are you and I?
Could someone look at our lives and say, “That one right there has proved himself a servant in the work of the gospel?”
Thomas, Dalton, Tyler, Andrew, and Ben, I would love it if someone said that about you!
You don’t have to be a pastor or a missionary to do it.
You just have to serve others in Jesus’ name and share the gospel with those who need to hear it.
No wonder Paul wanted to keep Timothy to himself. Soon he hoped to send him. And he also hoped to visit the Philippians himself.
But for now, Paul was going to send his friend Epaphroditus, probably bearing this very letter to them.
If the nickname for Timothy is Tim, what is this nickname for this guy?
E-Pap? Brother E-Pap!
Look at what Paul says about Epaphroditus in verse 25.
“But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs.” Stop there for a second.
This is also high praise.
Paul says that Epaphroditus is his fellow Christian (brother), fellow gospel worker (like Timothy) and fellow soldier.
That’s a word for a solid guy who can be depended upon a spiritual battle.
This is also a strong commendation of another Christian.
And Epaphroditus had apparently been sent from the Philippians to Paul.
He was a human care package!
They knew that Paul was in prison and needy. Roman prisons were not like our human American prisons with 3 squares a day and exercise in the yard.
In a Roman prison, the prisoner or his family had to supply of his needs.
And Paul had no family.
So the Philippians sent Epaphroditus with a love gift.
Just like the money we have recently sent to Pastor Henoc to help feed people on the streets of Cap Haitien.
So the Philippians sent Epaphroditus to Paul with a love gift.
But he almost didn’t make it. V.26
“For [Epaphroditus] longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow.”
We don’t know. Maybe he got a bad virus.
But he was down and almost out.
And if he had died, it would be far better for him.
But God had mercy on Epaphroditus and on Paul and spared him sorrow upon sorrow. V.28
“Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety.”
I won’t have to worry any longer about you worrying about him!
Because you’ll get to see your boy again.
Reunions are awesome, aren’t they?
Do you feel all of the longing of these loving relationships?
Verse 26 says that Epaphroditus “longs” for the Philippians.
Same word that Paul used in chapter 1, verse 8 to describe how he misses them, too.
And we, as church family, separated these last 11 weeks long for each other, as well.
Some of us get to be together in person. Some on Zoom.
But we look forward to a day when we can all be together.
And we won’t have to worry about worrying about each other!
And one day we will see Henoc again.
Right now we miss him, and we long for the Great Reunion that comes when the kingdom does.
Verse 29.
“Welcome [Epaphroditus] in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me.”
So here’s the second and last application questions for us in this passage:
#2. AM I LIKE EPAPHRODITUS?
Am I taking risks for the work of Christ?
Thomas, Dalton, Tyler, Andrew, and Ben, be like Epaphroditus.
Don’t just play it safe.
Don’t take stupid risks.
Don’t take big risks for no good reason.
Make sure you know what the risks you are taking are and what the potential benefit might be.
But don’t just play it safe in your Christian life.
Because what’s the worst that could happen?
You die? So what? If you die in Christ, you get to go be with Christ.
That’s what Pastor Henoc has done. He obviously was taking risks for the work of Christ. And he should be honored for it. And we should learn from his example.
With great joy.
***
Previous Messages in This Series: 01. "I Always Pray with Joy"
02. "Because Of This I Will Rejoice"
03. "I Will Continue To Rejoice"
04. "Whatever Happens"
05. "Make My Joy Complete"
06. "Your Attitude"
07. "I Am Glad and Rejoice With All Of You"
Lanse Evangelical Free Church
Worship At Home Video Message
June 7, 2020 :: Philippians 2:19-30
I invite you to open your Bibles to the Book of Philippians chapter 2. The Apostle Paul’s missionary letter to his beloved church friends in the Greek city of Philippi.
We’ve reached the words now marked in our Bibles as chapter 2, verse 19. Big number 2. Little number 19. Paul didn’t put those numbers there. That’s how we know where to find things now. Philippians chapter 2, verse 19.
This is the 8th message in the book of Philippians for Lanse Free Church to use for Worship at Home, and it’s the 12th message in this pre-recorded video format we’ve been using during the novel coronavirus outbreak.
Right now, I want to tell some of you to turn this video off right here.
Don’t watch this video if you are coming to worship on campus on Sunday morning June 7th at least until after you have come to worship on campus on Sunday morning June 7th!
Because this is the message I’m planning to preach to you folks in that building right there on Sunday morning!
So you can keep watching if you want, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.
{By the way, it’s Pew Bible page #1162.}
The Apostle Paul has just finished an important section of his missionary letter to his beloved Philippians where he has encouraged them to work out their salvation with fear and trembling, to stand out in their generation by not complaining and not arguing, to hold out the word of life, and to be willing to pour out their lives in worship of Jesus Christ.
And that’s all because of what Jesus did for all of us when He let go of the high perks of divinity and humbled Himself into the servanthood of human death for us. And then was exalted to the highest place and given the highest name.
Do you remember that?
So in verse 19 of chapter 2, Paul resumes his missionary letter by telling the Philippians about his plans.
Paul is planning to send 2 of his associates, 2 members of his ministry team to the Philippians, one at a time. And both of these guys are guys they know. One is actually from the Philippian church himself.
And in the very middle of this letter, Paul has a lot to say about these 2 men.
I think that Paul (and the Holy Spirit inspiring him) is putting these 2 men forward as examples for the Philippians to follow, to model themselves after.
He’s not just telling them facts about these 2 guys. He wants them to become like these 2 guys.
At the end of the chapter, Paul tells them the “honor men like” these.
And he also tells them to welcome them in the Lord “with great joy.”
By now the emphasis on joy should not be surprising.
Philippians is Paul’s letter of joy.
He always prays with joy.
He rejoices that Christ is preached.
He continues to rejoice no matter what happens to him because to live is Christ and to die is gain.
He asks them to make his joy complete by putting each other ahead of themselves.
And He rejoices with the Philippians because he knows that they are going to obey Jesus whether or not they see Paul ever again.
Joy, joy, joy, joy, joy.
And now, Paul tells the Philippians to welcome these 2 guys with great joy.
Literally, “with all joy.”
And we’ll quickly see why. It’s because these guys were worth rejoicing in. They were worth honoring.
They were quality Christian men.
So, this is a perfect passage for us for at least two reasons this particular weekend.
The first is that Sunday June 7th is Graduation Sunday, and we have 5 young men who are our Class of 2020. 5 young men who have just graduated from high school:
Thomas, Dalton, Tyler, Andrew, and Ben.
I have had the privilege of being their pastor for most if not all of their school years.
I had the privilege of baptizing all 5 of them.
And this passage is perfect for Graduation Sunday because those 5 young men could learn a lot from these 2 Christian men in Philippians 2.
We all can, of course, but it’s particularly appropriate for Thomas, Dalton, Tyler, Andrew, and Ben who I hope either watch this video or catch the live version in one of the two new worship gatherings.
The other reason why this passage is particularly appropriate for this Sunday is that we got word on Friday night that our beloved missionary friend Henoc Lucien had died apparently of COVID-19.
Henoc was a special man, a dear brother in the Lord, and had shoes too big for any one else to fill.
And Henoc was a lot like these 2 guys that Paul is writing about in the middle of Philippians.
And it is very appropriate for us to honor him to fulfill verse 29.
“Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him.”
We can’t welcome him here anymore on our campus, but we can honor him.
Let’s start in verse 19, and find out more about these 2 guys that Paul is planning to send to the Philippians.
The first is a man named “Timothy.” Chapter 2, verse 19.
“I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.”
So interestingly, Paul is not sending Timothy just yet.
He hopes to send him.
He wants to send him.
The Philippians want to see him.
But Paul is holding onto Timothy until it’s clearer what is going to happen with his court case.
Remember, Paul isn’t sure if he’s going to live or if he’s going to die.
He expects to live. He expects to visit the Philippians again.
But he doesn’t know for sure, and he needs Timothy with him while we waits for the verdict.
But Paul tell the Philippians that he is planning to send Timothy soon so that he (Paul!) may be cheered when the news comes back him.
Isn’t that interesting?
Paul wants to send Timothy so that Timothy will boomerang back with news about how the Philippians are doing.
It’s fascinating how relationship-focused this letter is.
I’ve always known that, but during these days when we have been so separate from each other, I feel it like never before.
Paul feels his separation from the Philippians, and he can’t wait to use the social media of the day to find out how they really are. He’s planning to send a human being all the way across the Roman Empire to find out on his return how his beloved Philippians are faring.
And he hopes to be “cheered” by the news (v.19).
I’ve been walking 8-10 miles a day for the last 3 months and on many many of those walks, I’ve been carrying these church directories with me and making calls to you.
This is my March one. This is my April and May one. And Marilynn just made me a June one this week.
I have been longing for news about you.
That’s how Paul felt. And it’s also how Timothy felt. Listen to verse 20.
“I have no one else like [Timothy], who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.”
Now we’re getting into what makes Timothy so honorable.
Timothy didn’t just look out for himself.
Timothy was outstanding at looking out for others.
Listen closely, Thomas, Dalton, Tyler, Andrew, and Ben.
Listen closely, everyone.
“Everyone looks out for their own interests,” that’s normal.
But not everyone looks out for others for the sake of Jesus Christ.
If you find someone like that, they are worthy of honor.
If you find someone like that, they are worthy of imitating.
Does this language sound familiar to you? This language of interests and looking out for someone’s else interests?
I hope it does. Remember verse 4 of this chapter?
“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. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus...”
Timothy was like Christ Jesus!
He did that.
He put others first.
“You before me.”
“You before me.”
Here’s our first application question for today:
#1. AM I LIKE TIMOTHY?
Are you like Timothy?
Who is number one in your life?
Same questions as a few weeks ago:
Ask yourself who are you putting first in all of your relationships.
If you are a dad, does the family revolve around you and your will?
If you are a mom, is it your way or the highway?
If you are brother or a sister, do put your siblings’ interests ahead of your own?
If you are single are you focused only on your dreams and ambitions?
If you are a boss at work? If you are an employee at work? Who are you looking out for?
Drivers, who is #1 on the road?
“For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.”
Isn’t that interesting that he ends with Jesus and not with the Philippians?
“I have no one else like [Timothy], who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.”
So when a Christian looks out for other Christians and puts their interests ahead of himself, they are looking out for the interests of Jesus Christ, their Lord.
Thomas, Dalton, Tyler, Andrew, and Ben, is that you?
Everybody else? Is that you? Is that me?
Am I like Timothy?
Do we honor people like Timothy?
I think that Henoc Lucien was a Timothy. He was constantly putting the needs and interests of others ahead of himself.
My dad saw him in action in Haiti once, and Henoc carried two cell phones and could be talking on both at the same time while driving!
And he wasn’t just chatting. He was helping people with their problems.
He was putting others ahead of himself.
Welcome men like that great joy and be like them if you can.
Timothy did this over and over and over again. V.22
“But you know that Timothy has proved himself [passed the test again and again], because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel.”
Timothy didn’t just put someone ahead of himself once. He did it again and again.
And you can see how close he and Paul became if you read the letters Paul wrote to Timothy later in your Bible. Like a son with his father.
Paul says that Timothy served in the work of the gospel.
The word for served is the same one as described Jesus as the servant in verse 7.
Timothy was like Jesus. He served.
And he served in the work of the gospel. It is work. The gospel is the good news of free salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
But it’s work to share it. Henoc did that work.
And so should we.
Timothy served and served and served in the work of the gospel. He was a proven servant.
Are you and I?
Could someone look at our lives and say, “That one right there has proved himself a servant in the work of the gospel?”
Thomas, Dalton, Tyler, Andrew, and Ben, I would love it if someone said that about you!
You don’t have to be a pastor or a missionary to do it.
You just have to serve others in Jesus’ name and share the gospel with those who need to hear it.
No wonder Paul wanted to keep Timothy to himself. Soon he hoped to send him. And he also hoped to visit the Philippians himself.
But for now, Paul was going to send his friend Epaphroditus, probably bearing this very letter to them.
If the nickname for Timothy is Tim, what is this nickname for this guy?
E-Pap? Brother E-Pap!
Look at what Paul says about Epaphroditus in verse 25.
“But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs.” Stop there for a second.
This is also high praise.
Paul says that Epaphroditus is his fellow Christian (brother), fellow gospel worker (like Timothy) and fellow soldier.
That’s a word for a solid guy who can be depended upon a spiritual battle.
This is also a strong commendation of another Christian.
And Epaphroditus had apparently been sent from the Philippians to Paul.
He was a human care package!
They knew that Paul was in prison and needy. Roman prisons were not like our human American prisons with 3 squares a day and exercise in the yard.
In a Roman prison, the prisoner or his family had to supply of his needs.
And Paul had no family.
So the Philippians sent Epaphroditus with a love gift.
Just like the money we have recently sent to Pastor Henoc to help feed people on the streets of Cap Haitien.
So the Philippians sent Epaphroditus to Paul with a love gift.
But he almost didn’t make it. V.26
“For [Epaphroditus] longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow.”
We don’t know. Maybe he got a bad virus.
But he was down and almost out.
And if he had died, it would be far better for him.
But God had mercy on Epaphroditus and on Paul and spared him sorrow upon sorrow. V.28
“Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety.”
I won’t have to worry any longer about you worrying about him!
Because you’ll get to see your boy again.
Reunions are awesome, aren’t they?
Do you feel all of the longing of these loving relationships?
Verse 26 says that Epaphroditus “longs” for the Philippians.
Same word that Paul used in chapter 1, verse 8 to describe how he misses them, too.
And we, as church family, separated these last 11 weeks long for each other, as well.
Some of us get to be together in person. Some on Zoom.
But we look forward to a day when we can all be together.
And we won’t have to worry about worrying about each other!
And one day we will see Henoc again.
Right now we miss him, and we long for the Great Reunion that comes when the kingdom does.
Verse 29.
“Welcome [Epaphroditus] in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me.”
So here’s the second and last application questions for us in this passage:
#2. AM I LIKE EPAPHRODITUS?
Am I taking risks for the work of Christ?
Thomas, Dalton, Tyler, Andrew, and Ben, be like Epaphroditus.
Don’t just play it safe.
Don’t take stupid risks.
Don’t take big risks for no good reason.
Make sure you know what the risks you are taking are and what the potential benefit might be.
But don’t just play it safe in your Christian life.
Because what’s the worst that could happen?
You die? So what? If you die in Christ, you get to go be with Christ.
That’s what Pastor Henoc has done. He obviously was taking risks for the work of Christ. And he should be honored for it. And we should learn from his example.
With great joy.
***
Previous Messages in This Series: 01. "I Always Pray with Joy"
02. "Because Of This I Will Rejoice"
03. "I Will Continue To Rejoice"
04. "Whatever Happens"
05. "Make My Joy Complete"
06. "Your Attitude"
07. "I Am Glad and Rejoice With All Of You"
June 6, 2020
LEFC Guide to Worship - June 7, 2020
LEFC Guide to Worship
Graduation SundayJune 7, 2020$ From the Pastor$ Worship Guide$ More Links to Helpful Resources
From the Pastor Dear Church Family,
Eleven Sundays.
The last time we gathered together in-person for worship on our church campus was March 15, 2020. Because of COVID-19, eleven Sundays have passed where we have all worshipped the Lord from our homes and utilized creative technological means of encouraging Christian fellowship and spiritual growth. For the last eleven Sundays, the church has not stopped being the church. In fact, the scope of our outreach may have even grown some as many people have accessed our online resources.
But it’s been too long. We all have missed being together for the last three months. There is nothing quite like what I call, “Church at church.” So as your pastor, I’m overjoyed that the Lord is leading us back. Thank you for praying for this day to come!
I’m extremely grateful for the leaders that the Lord has given to our church family. Over the last three months, the Elders have put in many hours of unified prayer, hard thinking, and diligent shepherding. The Facilities Team has kept the building in good maintenance and improved the internet service. The Deaconnesses have compassionately cared for hurting people. The Finance Team has kept the bills current, the staff paid, and the missionaries supported. Cindy has done a deep clean of the whole building. And Marilynn has kept all of the numerous plates spinning away, including many new plates that we’ve never had to deal with before.
Please keep praying for wisdom for these leaders as there are many things to think through in the days to come including when and how to restart other in-person ministries (On-Campus Prayer Meeting begins again, Lord-willing, on June 17th!) or envision creative alternatives. There is still much work to be done, but we know the Lord’s firm and tender mercies are new every day (Lamentations 3:23).
Eleven Sundays have passed since we were all together, but now some of us get to be back together again. If you are a first-wave returnee, welcome home! I’m glad you’re here on campus for the 8am or 9:30am worship gathering, and I hope you experience the grace of our Lord Jesus as we sing, pray, and hear God’s Word together. It won’t be the same as it was, especially with all of the extra health precautions, but I’m sure that it will be good because our Lord is good.
One thing that I’m certain will be difficult is that a lot of us will still be missing one another. Some will be worshipping at a different service than others, and many are not yet free to return to worship on campus. Church will probably feel a lot “smaller” this week, and we’re still going to yearn for the people we don’t see (Philippians 1:8). As your pastor, I suggest everybody pull out your church directory on Sunday afternoon and drop a line to somebody you are missing. We are all one church family regardless of whether or not we are all together at the same time and place. I’m hoping we see more and more of each other each week as new waves of returnees come in.
Another great place to see everyone is the Family Fellowship Meeting on Zoom (Sundays at 11:00am). This week our missionaries at Miracle Mountain Ranch, Donnie and Tonya Rosie, will be joining us to share about the challenges and opportunities before MMR this summer. If all goes well, they will connect with us from the ranch barns, and we’ll get to see some horses and/or other farm animals in the Critter Corral. The LEFC Kids should especially enjoy that! We’re also going to recognize our graduates and pray for one another other. I hope you can join us.
For those at home this weekend, we have prepared another ten-step guide for your family worship time and produced another recorded video message from the book of Philippians. You’ll notice that the strong theme of rejoicing in the Lord continues to surge throughout both the book and our worship plan because unstoppable joy is exactly what we all need during these difficult days.
Over the last eleven Sundays we have added a Worship in Unity element to our worship times. Christians throughout church history have declared their faith together in essential Christian doctrine through beautiful summaries of biblical teaching often called “creeds” and “confessions.” This week we will return to the Apostles’ Creed which we regularly sing together in songs on Sunday mornings. This short overview of the Christian faith is one of the earliest statements of unified Christian belief. Reciting an ancient creed or a portion of a confession in worship may still feel a bit foreign to you, or it may remind you of experiences you’ve had in other churches. The point is not to just recite it lifelessly but to proclaim from the heart our unity in the faith with the whole church throughout the world and throughout the ages.
The Elders have been praying about how and when to resume celebrating the Lord’s Supper as a church family. At this time, we have chosen to wait until the whole church can safely partake together. The biblical teaching on Communion emphasizes church unity and waiting for each other in love (see 1 Corinthians 11:17-34). While different churches will choose to handle these things in different ways, we believe that we should postpone our celebration until the “all clear” is sounded and the full church can gather around the Lord’s Table together once again.
Starting Sunday afternoon, we will be asking everyone who is ready to reserve a household seating section for next Sunday, June 14th. This helps us to ensure that we have enough of everything ready for both services, especially spaced seating. Please pray for us as we prepare this week to gather once again in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I hope we don’t have to forego eleven Sundays ever again.
It’s a joy to be your pastor. Whether at home or on campus this weekend, let’s make sure that every single one of us in this precious church family worships the Lord Jesus Christ.
In His Grip,
- Pastor Matt
P.S. Keep singing as you go! “There’s within my heart a melody–Jesus whispers sweet and low, ‘Fear not, I am with thee–peace, be still,’ in all of life’s ebb and flow. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus–sweetest name I know, fills my every longing, keeps me singing as I go.”
Home Worship Guide 1. Welcome to Worship
Read Psalm 117 with gratefulness for God’s faithfulness as your family gathers to worship.
**Option: Parents might want to tell their children more about Psalm 117. It is the shortest in the Psalter (Book of Psalms). It has only 16 words in the Hebrew in just 2 brief verses. At the same time, Psalm 117 says a great deal, singing to all of the nations of the world about the greatness of the LORD.
Families with young children may want to have the kids shout, “Hallelujah!” after a parent reads Psalm 117 as that is the Hebrew translated “Praise the LORD” in verse 2.
Have someone pray and ask God to bless your time of worship at home.
2. Worship in Singing
As a household sing “’Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus”by Louisa Stead (1882).
**Option. Families with older adults might also or instead enjoy singing “He Keeps Me Singing” by Luther Bridgers (1910).
**Option. Families with younger children might want to repeat the song that has our Hide the Word verse in it: “Rejoice in the Lord Always.” Parents might plan to do this short song for several weeks because repetition helps us to learn something well. Don’t forget that it is also a canon your family can sing “in the round.”
3. Worship in Unity
As a household, recite together the Apostles’ Creed:
“We believe in God, the Father almighty,creator of heaven and earth.
We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,born of the Virgin Mary,suffered under Pontius Pilate,was crucified, died, and was buried;he descended to the dead.On the third day he rose again;he ascended into heaven,he is seated at the right hand of the Father,and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,the holy Christian Church,the communion of saints,the forgiveness of sins,the resurrection of the body,and the life everlasting. Amen.”
4. Worship in Lament and Thanksgiving
When the people of Israel returned from the exile and built the foundation of a new temple, they praised God with a loud shout (see Ezra 3). At the same time many of the older leaders who remembered the older grander temple wept aloud. Both responses were good and right for that moment.
As some of our church family worship on campus while others remain at home, we both rejoice and lament. As a family, give thanks for those who were ready to return and pray for all of the families who still needed to stay home.
Discuss other things your family has experienced this week, both joyful and sorrowful.
**Option. Have someone pray a prayer of lament that we are not all partaking of the Lord’s Supper together again today.
5. Worship in Bible Memory Recite our current “Hide the Word” memory verses, Philippians 4:4-5. “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.”
**Option: Look ahead at verse 6. Is your family ready to add it in?
6. Worship in Prayer
Take prayer requests and pray for each other.
Read the prayer guide together and pray for the rest of the church family and the requests listed.
7. Worship in the Word
Watch or read Pastor Matt’s message: “With Great Joy” Facebook VideoYouTube VideoRead on Pastor Matt’s Blog
[The message will be available online by Sunday morning.]
Some families may want to watch/read the message on their own and then have a Bible study and discussion together during this time.
Application Questions for Personal Reflection and Family Discussion:
1. Am I like Timothy?2. Am I like Epaphroditus?3. Do I welcome and honor leaders like Timothy and Epaphroditus?
8. Worship in Singing
Sing “Amazing Grace ” by John Newton (1779).
**Option: Some families, especially those with young children may want to sing, “Jesus Christ is the Same” from Hebrews 13:8. No matter what else changes in our world, we can count on Jesus to be unchanging.
**Option: Some families, especially those with young children who really enjoy repetition, may want to continue to sing “Jesus, Strong and Kind” by CityAlight (2019) each week.
9. Worship All Week
Have someone pray a prayer of commissioning for your family as you end this time of gathered worship and face a week of new opportunities and new challenges to serve the Lord, the church, and the world in His Name.
10. Participate in LEFC Family Fellowship Meeting on Zoom - 11am on Sunday.
Many of us are meeting through video-conference online this Sunday at 11:00am:
- See one another’s faces and hear each other’s voices.- Listen to announcements of church family news.- Interact with our missionaries at Miracle Mountain Ranch, Donnie & Tanya Rosie.- Kids, the Rosies are going to join us from the barns at MMR. We might get to see horses and other farm animals!- Pray for one another live and online.
More Links to Helpful Resources
Grief, Interrupted by COVID-19 by Marjean Brooks
AUDIO: How Do I Find Peace in the Midst of Fear? with Ed Welch A Time for Lament by EFCA President Kevin Kompelien
June 3, 2020
May 31, 2020
"Certainties" - 2020 West Branch Baccalaureate [Matt's Messages]
“Certainties” :: Pastor Matt Mitchell
Online Baccalaureate Broadcast
West Branch Ministerium
John 16:33 :: May 31, 2020
Congratulations to the West Branch Warriors Class of 2020!
You have done it! You have made it! Way to go and congratulations!
You are a special class because you have achieved what no other West Branch Senior Class has ever achieved before.
You not only completed your entire West Branch Warrior Education, you did it during a global health crisis! And that is no mean feat. Way to go and congratulations, West Branch Warriors Class of 2020.
More than two years ago, I asked to be the baccalaureate speaker for this year’s class because I know a good number of you personally. We have several of this year’s graduates who are a part of our church family at Lanse Free including Dalton and Thomas who helped lead this broadcast event this evening.
I’ve been a pastor in this community for 22 years, so I remember when you were all born, and I’ve enjoyed watching this class grow up in our West Branch Area community.
I have been looking forward to this baccalaureate service for a number of years. And I wish we could all be together for it. Everybody wishes we could all be together for it!
But because of COVID-19, we are apart. We are at safe distances from one another.
And it’s no fun. We’re all tired of it. We’re all “over it.” And yet, here we still are...“another online event.”
We are all missing various thing from our pre-virus days.
I know that one thing people are missing is haircuts.
I made the mistake of cutting my own bangs, and look what happened!
Actually, my “corona-cut” looks like my all-the-time cut.
But we are missing various things from our pre-virus days.
And I think one of the biggest things we’re all missing is more certainty.
I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of the phrase, “In these uncertain times.”
“In these uncertain times.”
Every time I read those words now, I imagine the voice-over guy from movie trailers saying it: “In these uncertain times.”
We know these are uncertain times!
If there is anything certain right now, it’s that we are living in uncertain times.
It seems like the one thing we can count on is that there is nothing we can count on.
“Everything is canceled.”
I’m sure you feel that way as the Class of 2020.
So that’s why I chose John 16:33 in the Bible to be the passage of Scripture I wanted to give to you tonight as a graduation gift. It’s full of certainties.
Thomas read it for us already once. John 16:33. Words the Lord Jesus said to His disciples on the night before He went to the Cross.
If you knew that you were going to die the very next day, what would you want to say to your best friends? This is what Jesus said to them.
For the last 4 and half years, I have had John 16:33 printed on a piece of paper and posted at eye level on my desk in my office to remind me of these certainties all of the time.
John 16:33 again. Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
This has become for me one of the most precious passages of holy scripture, and it’s a joy to give it and its certainties to the Class of 2020.
The first certainty is peace.
The Lord Jesus said that He has told them all of “these things” [which includes everything he’s been teaching in what we call the Upper Room Teaching in the Gospel of John chapters 14-16. He’s been teaching his followers all these things...] “so that in me [in Jesus] you may have peace.”
#1. CERTAIN PEACE.
Doesn’t that sound good?
What do we need more than peace right now? Peace in our hearts during “these uncertain times.” Peace with other people. And most important, peace with God.
Peace in the Bible is more than just the absence of hostility.
It is the presence of wholeness.
Of everything being right and healthy and in its proper proportion and relationship.
The Hebrew word for peace is “shalom.” And the Greek one here is “eiraynay”
And it’s found in only one place.
Peace is found in only one person.
Jesus says, “In me you may have peace.”
Jesus’ peace is not like any other peace in the world.
That peace comes and goes depending on feelings and circumstances and changing situations.
Jesus’ peace is unchanging and forever and always available in Him.
Do you know the peace of Christ?
I know it sounds like a bumper sticker, but this totally true.
And check out my cool video effects!
No Jesus, No Peace.
But if you know Jesus, then you will know peace.
If you have never trusted Jesus as your own Savior and your own Lord, I invite you to do so right now. Jesus knew that He was going to the Cross the very next day to save His people from their sins. And all who put their faith in Him will be forgiven and given eternal life, eternal peace with God.
A certain peace that starts now and goes on forever!
A certain peace that takes up residence in the heart.
A certain peace that gives you an unshakable center no matter what trouble comes.
Because trouble will come.
That’s actually the second certainty in John 16:33.
#2. CERTAIN TROUBLE.
The Lord Jesus told His followers, “In this world you will have trouble.”
You will!
You can take that to the bank.
It is certain.
Followers of Jesus will have trouble.
The Lord Jesus Himself said so.
I don’t know about you, but that’s encouraging to me.
Because when trouble comes my way, I often think I must be doing it wrong.
“I must be doing this wrong” if it gets hard.
But Jesus knew that our world is fundamentally broken because of sin and that bad things will inevitably come.
We should not be surprised when we encounter trials, tribulations, and troubles.
On one level, that’s bad news because who wants suffering?
Let me level with you, Class of 2020. Far worse things than all of these cancellations are going to happen to you in life.
We live in a broken world. And if you haven’t encountered much of that brokenness yet, I’m glad for you, but you will. We live in a world of disease and pain and conflict and war and terrorism and disasters...and death. In time, everybody you love will die and so will you.
Our world was damaged by sin, and even if you are a follower of Jesus, you will experience that brokenness. In fact, Jesus says that His followers will have it rough with opposition and persecution on top of all of that.
“In this world you will have trouble.”
It is certain.
So it’s okay to cry.
It’s okay to not be okay.
It’s okay to hurt over this.
The Bible has a certain kind of language to express that pain, and it’s called, “Lament.”
The Bible is full of lament, but most of us haven’t been taught how to pour our sorrows to the Lord.
We think we have to keep an “Instagram selfie smile” on our faces all of the time.
But Jesus didn’t.
“Jesus wept.” The shortest verse in the Bible is John 11:35 and it just says, “Jesus wept.”
Jesus cried. He experienced the brokenness of this world. His friend had died, maybe of a wicked virus, we don’t know. And at his grave, Jesus wept.
It’s okay and right and good to weep and lament over these troubles. You don’t have to stuff it and pretend that everything is okay. Everything is not okay.
“In this world, you will have trouble.”
“...But...”
Thankfully, Jesus doesn’t end with that certainty. He ends with an even greater certainty! Listen again to the last part of John 16:33.
“In this world you will have trouble. BUT TAKE HEART! I have overcome the world.”
#3. CERTAIN VICTORY.
Jesus says that He has overcome the world. Jesus is certain of His victory before He even goes to the Cross. He hasn’t even died yet, but he’s predicting the outcome.
Jesus says knows for certain that He is going to triumph on the Cross over sin and Satan and He knows for certain that He is going to triumph over Death in His resurrection. And He knows for certain that He is going to bring a whole new world at His second coming.
Jesus has certainly overcome the world!
The Greek word for “overcome” in this verse is “nenikayka” and the root word is “Nike.” Where they got the name for the shoes. It means victory.
Jesus is proclaiming certain victory over the world of trouble. And that makes all of the difference, doesn’t it?
When you know how something is going to turn out, it changes how you experience it.
Like when you watch a scary movie a second time? You don’t jump as much. You aren’t so worried.
Back in January when we still had sports, I got to go to a Warriors boys’ basketball game and watch Dalton and Ayden and Chance and Eddie and those guys play one of their nail-biters.
I lost my voice yelling so much! It went into overtime, and it see-sawed back and forth. And then they won! We were all jumping up and down. It was nerve-wracking because we didn’t know what was going to happen.
But now, if I watched that game again on video, I would totally enjoy it, but I wouldn’t worry one bit. Because I already know the outcome. I know who “Niked.” I know who overcame. I know who had the victory.
So as I watch, I can take heart. Even when the other team is winning!
“It’s okay. I know who gets more points in the end.”
That’s what Jesus is doing with EVERYTHING in this verse.
He’s telling us how EVERYTHING ends up.
And for Jesus it is certain victory.
“I have overcome the world.”
And so Jesus says to His followers then and is saying them to us today.
“Take heart!”
That means to take stock of what is truly certain and then live like it.
If Jesus has certainly overcome the world, then you and I can live lives of peace. If Jesus has certainly overcome the world, then you and I can follow Him into hard times. We don’t have to worry. We can do hard things.
Some Bible versions translate “Take heart” as “Take courage.” Don’t be afraid. If you know the end of the story already, you can take bigger risks in the middle of the story. I like that. Some of you need to choose to take some big risks in the days ahead foro the good the world as followers of Jesus. Don’t be afraid.
Other Bible versions translate it, “Be of good cheer!” To take heart means to rejoice. If you know the end of the story already, there is no reason to wait to celebrate. That doesn’t mean we don’t weep and cry. We do that, too.
But if I’m watching that video of the boys playing basketball, I can be saying, “I love this game!” even at the parts when they are down on the scoreboard.
Be of good cheer.
In these uncertain times, we know that Jesus has certainly won, Jesus is certainly winning, and Jesus will certainly win the victory.
Jesus has overcome the world.
Class of 2020, “Take heart!”
***
Previous West Branch Baccalaureate Messages
June 2, 2005 "Don't Waste Your Life"
June 7, 2012 "Three Things I Pray"
Online Baccalaureate Broadcast
West Branch Ministerium
John 16:33 :: May 31, 2020
Congratulations to the West Branch Warriors Class of 2020!
You have done it! You have made it! Way to go and congratulations!
You are a special class because you have achieved what no other West Branch Senior Class has ever achieved before.
You not only completed your entire West Branch Warrior Education, you did it during a global health crisis! And that is no mean feat. Way to go and congratulations, West Branch Warriors Class of 2020.
More than two years ago, I asked to be the baccalaureate speaker for this year’s class because I know a good number of you personally. We have several of this year’s graduates who are a part of our church family at Lanse Free including Dalton and Thomas who helped lead this broadcast event this evening.
I’ve been a pastor in this community for 22 years, so I remember when you were all born, and I’ve enjoyed watching this class grow up in our West Branch Area community.
I have been looking forward to this baccalaureate service for a number of years. And I wish we could all be together for it. Everybody wishes we could all be together for it!
But because of COVID-19, we are apart. We are at safe distances from one another.
And it’s no fun. We’re all tired of it. We’re all “over it.” And yet, here we still are...“another online event.”
We are all missing various thing from our pre-virus days.
I know that one thing people are missing is haircuts.
I made the mistake of cutting my own bangs, and look what happened!
Actually, my “corona-cut” looks like my all-the-time cut.
But we are missing various things from our pre-virus days.
And I think one of the biggest things we’re all missing is more certainty.
I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of the phrase, “In these uncertain times.”
“In these uncertain times.”
Every time I read those words now, I imagine the voice-over guy from movie trailers saying it: “In these uncertain times.”
We know these are uncertain times!
If there is anything certain right now, it’s that we are living in uncertain times.
It seems like the one thing we can count on is that there is nothing we can count on.
“Everything is canceled.”
I’m sure you feel that way as the Class of 2020.
So that’s why I chose John 16:33 in the Bible to be the passage of Scripture I wanted to give to you tonight as a graduation gift. It’s full of certainties.
Thomas read it for us already once. John 16:33. Words the Lord Jesus said to His disciples on the night before He went to the Cross.
If you knew that you were going to die the very next day, what would you want to say to your best friends? This is what Jesus said to them.
For the last 4 and half years, I have had John 16:33 printed on a piece of paper and posted at eye level on my desk in my office to remind me of these certainties all of the time.
John 16:33 again. Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
This has become for me one of the most precious passages of holy scripture, and it’s a joy to give it and its certainties to the Class of 2020.
The first certainty is peace.
The Lord Jesus said that He has told them all of “these things” [which includes everything he’s been teaching in what we call the Upper Room Teaching in the Gospel of John chapters 14-16. He’s been teaching his followers all these things...] “so that in me [in Jesus] you may have peace.”
#1. CERTAIN PEACE.
Doesn’t that sound good?
What do we need more than peace right now? Peace in our hearts during “these uncertain times.” Peace with other people. And most important, peace with God.
Peace in the Bible is more than just the absence of hostility.
It is the presence of wholeness.
Of everything being right and healthy and in its proper proportion and relationship.
The Hebrew word for peace is “shalom.” And the Greek one here is “eiraynay”
And it’s found in only one place.
Peace is found in only one person.
Jesus says, “In me you may have peace.”
Jesus’ peace is not like any other peace in the world.
That peace comes and goes depending on feelings and circumstances and changing situations.
Jesus’ peace is unchanging and forever and always available in Him.
Do you know the peace of Christ?
I know it sounds like a bumper sticker, but this totally true.
And check out my cool video effects!
No Jesus, No Peace.
But if you know Jesus, then you will know peace.
If you have never trusted Jesus as your own Savior and your own Lord, I invite you to do so right now. Jesus knew that He was going to the Cross the very next day to save His people from their sins. And all who put their faith in Him will be forgiven and given eternal life, eternal peace with God.
A certain peace that starts now and goes on forever!
A certain peace that takes up residence in the heart.
A certain peace that gives you an unshakable center no matter what trouble comes.
Because trouble will come.
That’s actually the second certainty in John 16:33.
#2. CERTAIN TROUBLE.
The Lord Jesus told His followers, “In this world you will have trouble.”
You will!
You can take that to the bank.
It is certain.
Followers of Jesus will have trouble.
The Lord Jesus Himself said so.
I don’t know about you, but that’s encouraging to me.
Because when trouble comes my way, I often think I must be doing it wrong.
“I must be doing this wrong” if it gets hard.
But Jesus knew that our world is fundamentally broken because of sin and that bad things will inevitably come.
We should not be surprised when we encounter trials, tribulations, and troubles.
On one level, that’s bad news because who wants suffering?
Let me level with you, Class of 2020. Far worse things than all of these cancellations are going to happen to you in life.
We live in a broken world. And if you haven’t encountered much of that brokenness yet, I’m glad for you, but you will. We live in a world of disease and pain and conflict and war and terrorism and disasters...and death. In time, everybody you love will die and so will you.
Our world was damaged by sin, and even if you are a follower of Jesus, you will experience that brokenness. In fact, Jesus says that His followers will have it rough with opposition and persecution on top of all of that.
“In this world you will have trouble.”
It is certain.
So it’s okay to cry.
It’s okay to not be okay.
It’s okay to hurt over this.
The Bible has a certain kind of language to express that pain, and it’s called, “Lament.”
The Bible is full of lament, but most of us haven’t been taught how to pour our sorrows to the Lord.
We think we have to keep an “Instagram selfie smile” on our faces all of the time.
But Jesus didn’t.
“Jesus wept.” The shortest verse in the Bible is John 11:35 and it just says, “Jesus wept.”
Jesus cried. He experienced the brokenness of this world. His friend had died, maybe of a wicked virus, we don’t know. And at his grave, Jesus wept.
It’s okay and right and good to weep and lament over these troubles. You don’t have to stuff it and pretend that everything is okay. Everything is not okay.
“In this world, you will have trouble.”
“...But...”
Thankfully, Jesus doesn’t end with that certainty. He ends with an even greater certainty! Listen again to the last part of John 16:33.
“In this world you will have trouble. BUT TAKE HEART! I have overcome the world.”
#3. CERTAIN VICTORY.
Jesus says that He has overcome the world. Jesus is certain of His victory before He even goes to the Cross. He hasn’t even died yet, but he’s predicting the outcome.
Jesus says knows for certain that He is going to triumph on the Cross over sin and Satan and He knows for certain that He is going to triumph over Death in His resurrection. And He knows for certain that He is going to bring a whole new world at His second coming.
Jesus has certainly overcome the world!
The Greek word for “overcome” in this verse is “nenikayka” and the root word is “Nike.” Where they got the name for the shoes. It means victory.
Jesus is proclaiming certain victory over the world of trouble. And that makes all of the difference, doesn’t it?
When you know how something is going to turn out, it changes how you experience it.
Like when you watch a scary movie a second time? You don’t jump as much. You aren’t so worried.
Back in January when we still had sports, I got to go to a Warriors boys’ basketball game and watch Dalton and Ayden and Chance and Eddie and those guys play one of their nail-biters.
I lost my voice yelling so much! It went into overtime, and it see-sawed back and forth. And then they won! We were all jumping up and down. It was nerve-wracking because we didn’t know what was going to happen.
But now, if I watched that game again on video, I would totally enjoy it, but I wouldn’t worry one bit. Because I already know the outcome. I know who “Niked.” I know who overcame. I know who had the victory.
So as I watch, I can take heart. Even when the other team is winning!“It’s okay. I know who gets more points in the end.”
That’s what Jesus is doing with EVERYTHING in this verse.
He’s telling us how EVERYTHING ends up.
And for Jesus it is certain victory.
“I have overcome the world.”
And so Jesus says to His followers then and is saying them to us today.
“Take heart!”
That means to take stock of what is truly certain and then live like it.
If Jesus has certainly overcome the world, then you and I can live lives of peace. If Jesus has certainly overcome the world, then you and I can follow Him into hard times. We don’t have to worry. We can do hard things.
Some Bible versions translate “Take heart” as “Take courage.” Don’t be afraid. If you know the end of the story already, you can take bigger risks in the middle of the story. I like that. Some of you need to choose to take some big risks in the days ahead foro the good the world as followers of Jesus. Don’t be afraid.
Other Bible versions translate it, “Be of good cheer!” To take heart means to rejoice. If you know the end of the story already, there is no reason to wait to celebrate. That doesn’t mean we don’t weep and cry. We do that, too.
But if I’m watching that video of the boys playing basketball, I can be saying, “I love this game!” even at the parts when they are down on the scoreboard.
Be of good cheer.
In these uncertain times, we know that Jesus has certainly won, Jesus is certainly winning, and Jesus will certainly win the victory.
Jesus has overcome the world.
Class of 2020, “Take heart!”
***
Previous West Branch Baccalaureate Messages
June 2, 2005 "Don't Waste Your Life"
June 7, 2012 "Three Things I Pray"
“I am Glad and Rejoice with All of You” [Matt's Messages]
“I am Glad and Rejoice with All of You”
LEFC Message for Worship at Home
May 31, 2020 :: Philippians 2:12-18
I invite you to open your Bibles to the book of Philippians, the Apostle Paul’s missionary letter to his beloved church friends at Philippi, the book of Philippians chapter 2.
Next Sunday, Lord-willing, I’ll get to announce the page number in the Pew Bible once again (to some of you)! Because we are planning to resume in-person on-campus worship gatherings starting June 7.
However, space is limited so we need everybody who is planning to come to make a reservation for their household’s seating section in one of the two new worship gatherings.
But this weekend, still none of us have a Pew Bible in our hands. We have to grab our own Bibles and find Philippians chapter 2.
It shouldn’t surprise you by now with this seventh message in Philippians to learn that Paul is going to talk again about JOY.
In Philippians, Paul talks about joy again and again and again.
In our passage for today, he ends by saying (v.17), “I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.”
Joy, joy, joy, joy, joy!
Paul says that both the Philippians and he himself have many reasons to rejoice.
And to rejoice with each other.
That’s important. They can and should rejoice with each other.
What is the logic here that leads to this shared rejoicing?
What is the reason?
It actually might surprise you.
But I’m getting ahead of myself. We want to start with verse 12.
Paul has just asked each of the Philippians to put other people first. He knows they have been struggling with one another so he encourages them to “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves” (2:3).
And then he gave them the greatest example of that kind of humility and service, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself who let go of his exalted privileges to become one of us and die on the Cross.
And then was exalted! And given the name above every name. “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow...and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord...” (vv.10-11a).
And then Paul writes our starting verse for today. Verse 12.
“Therefore [because of all that], 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, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” Stop there for a second.
I want to make four points of application from this passage.
And they all have the word “out” in them. See if you can remember them all by the end. Here’s number one.
#1. WORK OUT YOUR SALVATION.
Do you see that in verse 12? Paul tells the Philippians (and by extension us) to work out your salvation.
Now, what does that mean?
That might sound a little dangerous to our theological ears. “Work out your salvation.” And it almost doesn’t sound like Paul. Paul is the guy who insists that we cannot be saved by works, right?
Well, this is Paul. And it’s important to hear what he’s saying and note what he’s not saying.
He’s not saying that we need to WORK FOR our salvation.
We could never earn our way to God.
And he’s not saying that we need to WORK TO KEEP our salvation.
As if God has gotten it started but it’s up to our good works to remain worthy of it.
It doesn’t work that way.
Paul is saying that we need to WORK OUT our salvation. We need to live out the potential of it. We need to work out the details. We need to live out the implications of our salvation.
We have salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Now we need to work out that salvation, actualizing it in everyday life.
We do need to do good works, but they are the fruit of our faith.
Working from the changed-inside out.
And the good news is in the next verse. Verse 13 tell us how it’s possible.
“...for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”
We work out, but God works in!
Notice that this both/and not either/or.
We tend to think that the work in our salvation is either God’s our ours.
But it’s both, isn’t it?
We work out, but God works in.
If God didn’t work in, then we could never work out.
But because God has worked in our hearts, we must work out our salvation with fear and trembling. Does that make sense?
Before we move on to the second application, I want to dwell for a second or two on what Paul about his personal presence back in verse 12.
He says, “As you have obeyed–not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence...work out your salvation.”
Paul is not with them. I feel that in Philippians like I never have before. I think because we have been so separated from each other these last 3 months.
I’ve been making these videos, but we’re not together.
So Paul writes them a letter, the preeminent communication technology of the day.
And he says, “Beloved, I know that you will do this because you obey not just when I’m with you but when we’re apart.”
Work out your salvation.
I think this raises the application question, “Do I tend to live as a Christian only when others are watching or all of the time?”
We need each other.
But we also need to remind each other to keep obeying the Lord Jesus whether we are present with each other or absent from each other.
And here’s why. Because God is present no matter what.
That’s why Paul says to work out our salvation with fear and trembling.
Not scared that it won’t work. But in awe and wonder and reverence that GOD is at work inside of my heart. At the desire level. At the level of the will. And at the behavior level. To act according to his good purpose. Work out your salvation.
Now, what does that look like in practical terms. Are you ready? Verse 14.
“Do everything without complaining or arguing...”
Ooh. I wonder if there is a loophole around this one?
I mean maybe it doesn’t mean what I think it means in the original Greek!
No. I looked it up, and it means, “Do everything without complaining or arguing...”
Man, is that hard to do. Especially right now when so many things are not as we would like them to be.
Do everything without complaining. No grumbling. No murmuring. No running on about our discontentment. No whining.
And no arguing. No quarreling especially with other Christians. This is probably what was going on back at Philippi, and Paul was trying to nip it in the bud.
He’s not saying that they must agree on every single thing, but no fighting.
“Do everything without complaining or arguing...”
If all of the Christians started to do that on, let’s just say social media, what difference would that make?
Now, remember, there is difference between groaning and grumbling. The Israelites groaned when things got bad, and the Lord heard their prayers of lament. We can and should groan when things are not as they ought to be.
And so much in our world right now is not as it ought to be!
But when the Israelites grumbled, then the Lord disciplined them.
“Do everything without complaining or arguing...”
If all of the Christians started to do that on what difference would that make?
Wouldn’t we look stunningly different from the rest of the world?
Here’s application point number two.
#2. STAND OUT IN YOUR GENERATION.
What happens when we work out our salvation by doing everything without complaining or arguing? V.15
“...so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe...”
Here’s where I get to talk about Cook Forest.
Some of you have been waiting for a Cook Forest illustration for a while.
On a clear night at our house in Lanse, we can see a lot of stars.
But at Cook Forest on a clear night, you can see like whole Milky Way.
I love to go out into the middle of field at the campground just stare up into space.
The stars really POP. They stand out against the blackness of the night sky.
That’s what Paul is talking about in verse 15. If we live out verses 12 through 14 we will stand out against the backdrop of our sinful society.
And big point here is not whether or not we lie or steal or murder.
We shouldn’t do that either.
But whether or not we complain and argue.
Do we complain or argue just like the world does?
Or do we stand out?
Ask yourself that application question right now. Is my life marked by complaining and arguing right now? What would my social media feed say about that? To whom might I need to apologize?
Because if we’re doing this right, we will be different from the world in our attitude and our words and our relationships, and people will notice and that will give us a chance to share the gospel with them.
It will create opportunities for evangelism. Look at verse 16.
“[you shine like stars in the universe] as you hold out the word of life”
That’s application point number three.
#3. HOLD OUT THE WORD OF LIFE.
Here! Here’s the words that lead to life.
Here! Here is the gospel. The good news of Jesus’s death and resurrection.
Here! Here is why my life is different. Why I don’t complain and quarrel all of the time and apologize when I do.
Here!
Remember our focus as a church in 2020 is not to just survive 2020.
Our focus is BOLD EVANGELISM. Sharing the good news about Jesus Christ with everyone who needs to hear it.
To whom could you hold out the word of life this coming week?
I’ve been giving away these books. Where Is God in a Coronavirus World? by Oxford Professor John Lennox.
Our church family gave one to each of the graduating seniors at West Branch this year.
It is full of the words of life.
We still have a small pile of them in the breezeway at church if you want to pick one up and give it someone. Or a Bible. We’ve got those too.
How are you sharing the gospel with those need to hear it these days?
Hold out the word of life.
Last but not certainly not least. Number four.
#4. POUR OUT YOUR LIFE AS A JOYFUL SACRIFICE. V.16
Live this way, Paul says, “in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. 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. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.”
This is all about their relationship, isn’t it?
Paul wants them to work out their salvation in such a way that he won’t be ashamed to have invested all of this time in their spiritual growth.
If they turn out to be real genuine Christians, then all of his sacrifices along the way are worth it.
He didn’t “run or labor for nothing.”
Even. if. he. dies.
Remember, Paul is in prison for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
And it’s quite possible that he might be executed for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Eventually, he will be.
But Paul says, “That’s okay. Helping you all to know and live for Jesus is worth it.”
It’s worth dying for.
I think that’s what he means when he talks about being poured out in verse 17. He is drawing on the Old Testament sacrificial system. You can read about it in Exodus [29:38-41 for example].
The morning and evening offerings that were sacrificed on the altar included a drink offering (a libation) that was poured out on top of the sacrificial lamb. The drink offering added something meaningful, but it was really worth nothing if there was no lamb.
[Maybe it’s a good thing we aren’t in the auditorium today or I might pour out some big drink on floor of the platform!]
Paul is saying that if the Philippians [whom he loves but is separated from] work out their salvation, and stand out in their generation, and hold out the word of life–then their service will be a sweet sacrifice to God and his service of ministry to them will be a drink offering poured out on top–a meaningful–“worth it” kind of sacrifice.
Even if he dies.
Can you relate to that?
Let me ask it to you this way. If the Lord were to return or you were to die this week (and either one is possible!), could you rejoice that your life had been lived in worship of Jesus Christ and ministry to others in His name?
Again Paul is happy to die.
In chapter 1, he was happy to die because he’d get to be with Christ.
In chapter 2, he is happy to die knowing that he had poured out his life in worship of Jesus and ministry in Jesus’ name.
That’s why he says, “I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.”
Not because we are all healthy and prosperous and #blessed.
But because we have Jesus, and we have one another.
And even over the distance, we can be glad and rejoice with one another!
Because Jesus is worth it.
***
Previous Messages in This Series:
01. "I Always Pray with Joy"
02. "Because Of This I Will Rejoice"
03. "I Will Continue To Rejoice"
04. "Whatever Happens"
05. "Make My Joy Complete"
06. "Your Attitude"
LEFC Message for Worship at Home
May 31, 2020 :: Philippians 2:12-18
I invite you to open your Bibles to the book of Philippians, the Apostle Paul’s missionary letter to his beloved church friends at Philippi, the book of Philippians chapter 2.
Next Sunday, Lord-willing, I’ll get to announce the page number in the Pew Bible once again (to some of you)! Because we are planning to resume in-person on-campus worship gatherings starting June 7.
However, space is limited so we need everybody who is planning to come to make a reservation for their household’s seating section in one of the two new worship gatherings.
But this weekend, still none of us have a Pew Bible in our hands. We have to grab our own Bibles and find Philippians chapter 2.
It shouldn’t surprise you by now with this seventh message in Philippians to learn that Paul is going to talk again about JOY.
In Philippians, Paul talks about joy again and again and again.
In our passage for today, he ends by saying (v.17), “I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.”
Joy, joy, joy, joy, joy!
Paul says that both the Philippians and he himself have many reasons to rejoice.
And to rejoice with each other.
That’s important. They can and should rejoice with each other.
What is the logic here that leads to this shared rejoicing?
What is the reason?
It actually might surprise you.
But I’m getting ahead of myself. We want to start with verse 12.
Paul has just asked each of the Philippians to put other people first. He knows they have been struggling with one another so he encourages them to “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves” (2:3).
And then he gave them the greatest example of that kind of humility and service, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself who let go of his exalted privileges to become one of us and die on the Cross.
And then was exalted! And given the name above every name. “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow...and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord...” (vv.10-11a).
And then Paul writes our starting verse for today. Verse 12.
“Therefore [because of all that], 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, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” Stop there for a second.
I want to make four points of application from this passage.
And they all have the word “out” in them. See if you can remember them all by the end. Here’s number one.
#1. WORK OUT YOUR SALVATION.
Do you see that in verse 12? Paul tells the Philippians (and by extension us) to work out your salvation.
Now, what does that mean?
That might sound a little dangerous to our theological ears. “Work out your salvation.” And it almost doesn’t sound like Paul. Paul is the guy who insists that we cannot be saved by works, right?
Well, this is Paul. And it’s important to hear what he’s saying and note what he’s not saying.
He’s not saying that we need to WORK FOR our salvation.
We could never earn our way to God.
And he’s not saying that we need to WORK TO KEEP our salvation.
As if God has gotten it started but it’s up to our good works to remain worthy of it.
It doesn’t work that way.
Paul is saying that we need to WORK OUT our salvation. We need to live out the potential of it. We need to work out the details. We need to live out the implications of our salvation.
We have salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Now we need to work out that salvation, actualizing it in everyday life.
We do need to do good works, but they are the fruit of our faith.
Working from the changed-inside out.
And the good news is in the next verse. Verse 13 tell us how it’s possible.
“...for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”
We work out, but God works in!
Notice that this both/and not either/or.
We tend to think that the work in our salvation is either God’s our ours.
But it’s both, isn’t it?
We work out, but God works in.
If God didn’t work in, then we could never work out.
But because God has worked in our hearts, we must work out our salvation with fear and trembling. Does that make sense?
Before we move on to the second application, I want to dwell for a second or two on what Paul about his personal presence back in verse 12.
He says, “As you have obeyed–not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence...work out your salvation.”
Paul is not with them. I feel that in Philippians like I never have before. I think because we have been so separated from each other these last 3 months.
I’ve been making these videos, but we’re not together.
So Paul writes them a letter, the preeminent communication technology of the day.
And he says, “Beloved, I know that you will do this because you obey not just when I’m with you but when we’re apart.”
Work out your salvation.
I think this raises the application question, “Do I tend to live as a Christian only when others are watching or all of the time?”
We need each other.
But we also need to remind each other to keep obeying the Lord Jesus whether we are present with each other or absent from each other.
And here’s why. Because God is present no matter what.
That’s why Paul says to work out our salvation with fear and trembling.
Not scared that it won’t work. But in awe and wonder and reverence that GOD is at work inside of my heart. At the desire level. At the level of the will. And at the behavior level. To act according to his good purpose. Work out your salvation.
Now, what does that look like in practical terms. Are you ready? Verse 14.
“Do everything without complaining or arguing...”
Ooh. I wonder if there is a loophole around this one?
I mean maybe it doesn’t mean what I think it means in the original Greek!
No. I looked it up, and it means, “Do everything without complaining or arguing...”
Man, is that hard to do. Especially right now when so many things are not as we would like them to be.
Do everything without complaining. No grumbling. No murmuring. No running on about our discontentment. No whining.
And no arguing. No quarreling especially with other Christians. This is probably what was going on back at Philippi, and Paul was trying to nip it in the bud.
He’s not saying that they must agree on every single thing, but no fighting.
“Do everything without complaining or arguing...”
If all of the Christians started to do that on, let’s just say social media, what difference would that make?
Now, remember, there is difference between groaning and grumbling. The Israelites groaned when things got bad, and the Lord heard their prayers of lament. We can and should groan when things are not as they ought to be.
And so much in our world right now is not as it ought to be!
But when the Israelites grumbled, then the Lord disciplined them.
“Do everything without complaining or arguing...”
If all of the Christians started to do that on what difference would that make?
Wouldn’t we look stunningly different from the rest of the world?
Here’s application point number two.
#2. STAND OUT IN YOUR GENERATION.
What happens when we work out our salvation by doing everything without complaining or arguing? V.15
“...so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe...”
Here’s where I get to talk about Cook Forest.
Some of you have been waiting for a Cook Forest illustration for a while.
On a clear night at our house in Lanse, we can see a lot of stars.
But at Cook Forest on a clear night, you can see like whole Milky Way.
I love to go out into the middle of field at the campground just stare up into space.
The stars really POP. They stand out against the blackness of the night sky.
That’s what Paul is talking about in verse 15. If we live out verses 12 through 14 we will stand out against the backdrop of our sinful society.
And big point here is not whether or not we lie or steal or murder.
We shouldn’t do that either.
But whether or not we complain and argue.
Do we complain or argue just like the world does?
Or do we stand out?
Ask yourself that application question right now. Is my life marked by complaining and arguing right now? What would my social media feed say about that? To whom might I need to apologize?
Because if we’re doing this right, we will be different from the world in our attitude and our words and our relationships, and people will notice and that will give us a chance to share the gospel with them.
It will create opportunities for evangelism. Look at verse 16.
“[you shine like stars in the universe] as you hold out the word of life”
That’s application point number three.
#3. HOLD OUT THE WORD OF LIFE.
Here! Here’s the words that lead to life.
Here! Here is the gospel. The good news of Jesus’s death and resurrection.
Here! Here is why my life is different. Why I don’t complain and quarrel all of the time and apologize when I do.
Here!
Remember our focus as a church in 2020 is not to just survive 2020.
Our focus is BOLD EVANGELISM. Sharing the good news about Jesus Christ with everyone who needs to hear it.
To whom could you hold out the word of life this coming week?
I’ve been giving away these books. Where Is God in a Coronavirus World? by Oxford Professor John Lennox.
Our church family gave one to each of the graduating seniors at West Branch this year.
It is full of the words of life.
We still have a small pile of them in the breezeway at church if you want to pick one up and give it someone. Or a Bible. We’ve got those too.
How are you sharing the gospel with those need to hear it these days?
Hold out the word of life.
Last but not certainly not least. Number four.
#4. POUR OUT YOUR LIFE AS A JOYFUL SACRIFICE. V.16
Live this way, Paul says, “in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. 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. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.”
This is all about their relationship, isn’t it?
Paul wants them to work out their salvation in such a way that he won’t be ashamed to have invested all of this time in their spiritual growth.
If they turn out to be real genuine Christians, then all of his sacrifices along the way are worth it.
He didn’t “run or labor for nothing.”
Even. if. he. dies.
Remember, Paul is in prison for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
And it’s quite possible that he might be executed for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Eventually, he will be.
But Paul says, “That’s okay. Helping you all to know and live for Jesus is worth it.”
It’s worth dying for.
I think that’s what he means when he talks about being poured out in verse 17. He is drawing on the Old Testament sacrificial system. You can read about it in Exodus [29:38-41 for example].
The morning and evening offerings that were sacrificed on the altar included a drink offering (a libation) that was poured out on top of the sacrificial lamb. The drink offering added something meaningful, but it was really worth nothing if there was no lamb.
[Maybe it’s a good thing we aren’t in the auditorium today or I might pour out some big drink on floor of the platform!]
Paul is saying that if the Philippians [whom he loves but is separated from] work out their salvation, and stand out in their generation, and hold out the word of life–then their service will be a sweet sacrifice to God and his service of ministry to them will be a drink offering poured out on top–a meaningful–“worth it” kind of sacrifice.
Even if he dies.
Can you relate to that?
Let me ask it to you this way. If the Lord were to return or you were to die this week (and either one is possible!), could you rejoice that your life had been lived in worship of Jesus Christ and ministry to others in His name?
Again Paul is happy to die.
In chapter 1, he was happy to die because he’d get to be with Christ.
In chapter 2, he is happy to die knowing that he had poured out his life in worship of Jesus and ministry in Jesus’ name.
That’s why he says, “I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.”
Not because we are all healthy and prosperous and #blessed.
But because we have Jesus, and we have one another.
And even over the distance, we can be glad and rejoice with one another!
Because Jesus is worth it.
***
Previous Messages in This Series:
01. "I Always Pray with Joy"
02. "Because Of This I Will Rejoice"
03. "I Will Continue To Rejoice"
04. "Whatever Happens"
05. "Make My Joy Complete"
06. "Your Attitude"
May 30, 2020
LEFC Guide to Worship at Home - May 31, 2020
LEFC Guide to Worship at Home
Pentecost SundayMay 31, 2020$ Introduction$ Home Worship Guide$ More Links to Helpful Resources Introduction Dear Church Family,
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”
Because of Jesus, we have so much to rejoice in as a congregation. This week, I got to share the good news of our plan to resume some in-person ministry on our church campus starting, Lord-willing, next Sunday, June 7th. To meet the diverse needs of our church body, we are launching 2 new shorter/smaller worship gatherings with different levels of health precautions.
To make this work, we are asking everyone to reserve a seating section for your household in advance. If you haven’t yet, please read the instructions to orient yourself to this strange new way of preparing for on-campus worship.
Even though things are going to remain weird for a while, I am eagerly looking forward to greeting the first wave of returnees!
Please continue to pray for wisdomfor our church leaders as we make the necessary preparations for next Sunday.
Please also pray for those who it is not yet their time to return. Thankfully, we can all still stay connected through the use of our church directory and all of these Worship at Home resources that we will continue to provide.
We have prepared another ten-step guide for your family to use in worship at home this weekend, and I will be posting another recorded video message from the book of Philippians. You’ll notice that the theme of rejoicing continues to bubble to the surface.
This Sunday is Pentecost Sunday when we traditionally focus on the Person and work of the Holy Spirit. For the Worship in Unity portion this week, we are reciting a section of the Lausanne Covenant (1974),a statement of belief drawn up for a global conference on evangelism and world missions initially spearheaded by BillyGraham and John Stott . I love how the Lausanne Covenant ties together the work of missions with the power of the Holy Spirit.
On Sunday at 11am, many of us are going to connect again using Zoom for a Church Family Fellowship time (I’ll be there by 10:45 to welcome folks and help people get set-up). This week Jim & Kay Panaggio will be joining us from their home in Michigan. We have partnered with the Panaggios since 1997 to reach and teach the peoples of Latin America.
Zoom definitely has its limitations, but it also has given us some neat opportunities, too, which we might not ever have enjoyed without it. Parents, I would love to have your kids do some show-and-tell from your homes this week. Would they be willing to show us on Zoom something they love at their house, perhaps a favorite toy or stuffed animal?
Next Sunday (June 7th) will be “Grad Sunday” when we celebrate the accomplishments of our church family’s recent graduates, especially from area high schools. While we won’t be able to have a pizza party together, we will be doing some special things across all of our on-campus and at-home ministries to recognize these young people. Their names are listed in the church family news below in case you want to send them a note or card.
This Sunday night (May 31st) is the West Branch Area Baccalaureate which will be an online event. Two of our own young men have a part in leading it, and I have the privilege of giving the message. I asked to be speaker a few years ago because the Class of 2020 is special to me. I have known them for all of their school days, and one of them is my oldest son! We have much to rejoice in.
What time are you going to gather your household this weekend to worship the Lord Jesus Christ?
In His Grip,
- Pastor Matt
P.S. I will say it again: Rejoice! I hope your family is singing together to express your joy in the Lord. Ephesians 5:18-19 closely ties together being filled with the Holy Spirit and making music in your heart to the Lord through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. There are many good songs to sing about the Holy Spirit. I had a hard time settling on just a few for this guide. Some other favorites of our church family include,““Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart,” “Sweet, Sweet Spirit,” and “Breathe on Me, Breath of God.” Perhaps you could search the music out on YouTube or Spotify and sing along.
Home Worship Guide 1. Call to Worship
Read Psalm 96 with jubilation in your heart and voice as your family gathers to worship.
**Option: Families with young children may want to have the kids shout, “The LORD reigns!” after a parent reads each verse.
Have someone pray and ask God to bless your time of worship at home.
2. Worship in Singing
Remind your family that Pentecost Sunday is traditionally a day for Christians to focus on the Person and work of the Holy Spirit.
As a household sing “Holy Spirit” by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend (2006).
**Option. Families with older adults might also or instead enjoy singing “The Comforter Has Come” by Frank Bottome (1890).
**Option. Families with younger children might want to repeat the song that has our Hide the Word verse in it: “Rejoice in the Lord Always. ” Parents might plan to do this short song for several weeks because repetition helps us to learn something well. Don’t forget that it is also a canon your family can sing “in the round.”
3. Worship in Unity
As a household, recite together Article 14 of the Lausanne Covenant (1974): “We believe in the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Father sent his Spirit to bear witness to his Son; without his witness ours is futile. Conviction of sin, faith in Christ, new birth and Christian growth are all his work.
Further, the Holy Spirit is a missionary spirit; thus evangelism should arise spontaneously from a Spirit-filled church. A church that is not a missionary church is contradicting itself and quenching the Spirit. Worldwide evangelization will become a realistic possibility only when the Spirit renews the Church in truth and wisdom, faith, holiness, love and power.
We therefore call upon all Christians to pray for such a visitation of the sovereign Spirit of God that all his fruit may appear in all his people and that all his gifts may enrich the body of Christ. Only then will the whole Church become a fit instrument in his hands, that the whole earth may hear his voice.”
4. Worship in Lament and Thanksgiving
Share with your family both the good and the bad that you all have experienced this week and express them both to the Lord in prayer.
For example, you might rejoice that some in our church family will be able to return to campus for corporate worship next weekend but lament that others will not get to be a part of the first wave of returnees.
You might also lament the more than 100,000 virus-related deaths in the United States in just four months and at the same time rejoice that the number of new cases appears to be trending downward in our whole our country and that COVID-19 has had as yet minimal invasion into Clearfield County.
5. Worship in Bible Memorization Recite our current “Hide the Word” memory verses, Philippians 4:4-5. “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.”
**Option: To improve your memory, try separating the two verses and say them out of order. Say verse 5 and then verse 4 and then verse 5 again.
6. Worship in Prayer
Take prayer requests and pray for each other.
Read the prayer guide together and pray for the rest of the church family and the requests listed.
7. Worship in the Word
Watch or read Pastor Matt’s message: “I Am Glad and Rejoice With All Of You.” Facebook VideoYouTube VideoRead on Pastor Matt’s Blog
[The message will be available online by Sunday morning.]
Some families may want to watch/read the message on their own and then have a Bible study and discussion together during this time.
Application Questions for Personal Reflection and Family Discussion:
1. Do I tend to live as a Christian only when others are watching or all of the time? Why?2. Is my life marked by complaining and arguing right now? To whom might I need to apologize?3. To whom could I hold out the word of life this coming week?4. If the Lord were to return or I were to die this week, could I rejoice that my life had been lived in worship of Christ? If not, what all needs to change?
8. Worship in Singing
Sing “Spirit of the Living God” by Daniel Iverson (1935).
**Option: Some families, especially those with young children who really enjoy repetition, may want to continue to sing “Jesus, Strong and Kind” by CityAlight (2019) each week.
9. Worship All Week
Have someone pray a prayer of commissioning for your family as you end this time of gathered worship and face a week of new opportunities and new challenges to serve the Lord, the church, and the world in His Name.
10. Participate in LEFC Family Fellowship Meeting on Zoom - 11am on Sunday.
Many of us are meeting through video-conference online this Sunday at 11:00am:
More Links to Helpful Resources
“Can the Pandemic Be an Answered Prayer?” by Rosaria Butterfield
“High School Senior, Lament Your Loss But Trust the Lord” by Adam Morris
“The Holy Spirit and the Gospel” by David Wells
NEW PODCAST: “Gentle and Lowly: A 14 Day Devotional” by Dane Ortlund
NEW PODCAST: “The Big Picture Bible for Families” by David Helm
