The Gift of Suffering

“For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in Him but also suffer for His sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have” (Philippians 1:29-30).

I’m not gonna lie. I love getting gifts. Christmas. Birthday. Anniversary. Fathers’ Day. Arbor Day (okay, nobody’s ever given me a present for Arbor Day but a guy can dream, can’t he?). Wrapping paper. Bows. Ribbons. Gift bags. It doesn’t really matter. There’s nothing quite like someone you love going has thought enough of you to bring you something you will like. So it’s really cool that our God is so incredibly generous. He gives and He gives and He gives. He gives us life. He gives us food. He gives us His Son. He gives us a supernatural inheritance that would make Warren Buffett blush. 

But God gives us something else that we’re not so crazy about at first. He gives us the privilege of suffering for the sake of Jesus. Suffering? A gift? At first glance, that’s kinda like opening that three-pack of underwear as your first present on Christmas morning. But Paul tells his friends back in Philippi that this is one of the coolest presents you’ll ever unwrap. They saw him suffer with their own eyes when he first rolled into their town. And now he lets them know Jesus has given him the gift of suffering for his Savior in Rome. 

The apostle starts by reminding his readers of the incredible privilege God has given the followers of Jesus of believing in Him. “For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should…believe in Him” (v29). God has given you the gift of trusting in Jesus. This is a big deal. A VERY big deal. The only other option we have to be saved is through perfect obedience. Not only do we have to NOT sin but God’s standard says we must flawlessly follow every one of His rules and commands. And if you’re cocky enough to think that’s a walk in the park like the rich, young hipster (Mt 19:16-20), Jesus’ kid brother makes it clear that if we slip up on one little law, we’ve violated them all (James 2:10). Okay, so option one isn’t really an option for me. 

That’s why God has given me the gift of believing in Jesus. I can place my trust in what He did on my behalf. Christ lived the perfect life that I failed to live. He died the death on the cross for my sin that I should have died. He rose to a spectacular new life that I don’t deserve. Jesus does for me what I could never dream of doing for myself. A few hundred years ago, a dude named Martin Luther called this the Great Exchange. We get Christ’s spotless obedience in an incredibly lopsided trade for our sin and rebellion (2Cor 5:21). Here in his letter to the Philippians, Paul reminds us what an incredible gift this is. The man from Tarsus uses the verb form of the noun that translates as grace. Charizomai means to show great favor or extend an overwhelming blessing. God has given us the gift of Jesus (2Cor 9:15). He’s given us the gift of trusting in His Son’s perfect life and substitutionary death. Talk about the gift that keeps on giving!

Did you ever open one present and then the giver tells you there’s another one that goes along with it? That’s exactly what Paul does here. Not only does God gives us the gift of believing in Jesus but he also gives us the gift to “suffer for His sake” (v29). If you’re like me, you’re checking the tag on the wrapping paper to see if you’ve accidentally opened somebody else’s present. Nope, this one’s for me. Suffering? As a gift? I’m pretty sure I’d rather get a gift card to Target. We might not see it now, but the apostle wants us to know that this is really one of the best things we’ll ever open.

Suffering for placing our trust in Jesus is a huge theme throughout the Bible. Christ Himself made it a key point of His most famous sermon. “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Mt 5:12). James wanted to his Brother’s followers know that God uses hard times to deepen our faith. “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:2-3). The disciple Jesus called Rocky made the connection between our suffering and our Savior’s. “When you do good and suffer for it you endure, that is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His steps” (1Pet 2:20-21). And later in this same letter, Paul makes it clear that sharing in Jesus’ sufferings is a lock to “attain the resurrection of the dead” (Phil 3:10-11). Suffering for Jesus really is the gift that keeps on giving.

Paul knows from personal experience what a powerful present suffering really is. Let’s just say he wouldn’t give his first trip to Philippi five stars. In Acts, the apostle’s traveling companion Dr. Luke goes into detail about those crazy days in Macedonia (Acts 16:12-40). When God used Paul to not only free a young woman from human trafficking and shut down a profitable (and “prophet-able”) business, a riot broke out like something we’ve seen in Ferguson and Baltimore. Local merchants charged Paul and his posse with disturbing the peace and practicing weird religious customs. They publicly flog the apostle and his sidekick Silas and throw them in the slammer. God used an earthquake to open the cell doors and unlock their restraints. But the Lord opened more than the jail doors. He also threw open the warden’s heart and gave him and his entire family the gift of knowing Jesus. The Philippians were eyewitnesses to Paul’s suffering. He reminds them that “the same conflict that you saw I had” is happening again in Rome (v30). 

Two thousand years later, this is a reminder that Jesus won’t waste one ounce of your suffering for placing your trust in Him. He won’t drop one drip of your tears. Now let’s be clear about what it means to suffer for our Savior. We’re not talking about enduring the pain of first world problems. You’re not suffering for your faith when your wifi goes on the fritz. It doesn’t mean getting pulled over for speeding when you’re late for work. We suffer for Jesus when we face opposition for our faith. Chances are ISIS won’t be rolling into the ‘burbs anytime soon. But in 21st century America, following Jesus isn’t exactly what all the cool kids are doing. If and when your beliefs become somebody’s punchline on Facebook, that’s the perfect time to love them unconditionally. That’s the gift Somebody gave you.

Rainbows, Unicorns, and Fairy Dust

“and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God” (Philippians 1:28).

What do rainbows, unicorns, and fairy dust all have in common? Easy. They have absolutely nothing to do with following Jesus. Zip. Zilch. Zero. Life doesn’t suddenly become a leisurely skip down the garden path once you place your trust in Christ. Far from it. The Bible makes it clear that believers are headed into battle. There’s an enemy and he’s nasty. While we’ve got a fight on our hands, we can take it to the bank that we’re going to win. As a matter of fact, Jesus made sure it was over before it started. Because of that, Paul tells us there’s no reason to freak out when we go face-to-face with our opponent. As a matter of fact, our lack of fear is a sign of three things. One, they will lose. Two, we are saved. Three, God is behind it all.

In the previous verses, the apostle encourages his friends back in Philippi live Gospel worthy lives by playing together as a team. A church must be “standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, striving side by side for the faith of the Gospel” (Phil 1:27). As teammates, we must play together. The enemy is NOT fellow believers. As Walt Kelly famously said in his comic strip Pogo, “We have met the enemy and he is us!” Can we be blunt for just a moment? Too often we spend all our energy fighting what we think are enemies inside the church when these folks are actually our teammates. We get hot and bothered about the music. We get worked up over how we do communion. We fly off the handle about what the pastor wears. Stop it! We are NOT the enemy! 

Our attacker loves it when we’re fighting in our own locker room before we take the field. In the movie “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” the bad guy gets the Avengers on the ropes by fooling them into fighting themselves. If you think Ultron is a bad mamma jamma, he’s little league compared Satan. He’s not known as the deceiver for nothing (Rev 12:9). The devil uses every trick in the book to get the followers of Jesus fighting each other. Jesus made it crystal clear to His posse that our enemy  “comes only to steal and kill and destroy” (Jn 10:10). Before we realize what’s happening, we’re so focused on music volume that we’ve lost sight of the lost and dying world right outside our front door. We are NOT the enemy!

Spoiler alert! If you read the end of the Book, Jesus wins. And because He wins, we win too! But that doesn’t mean the devil and gang of thugs aren’t scary. Paul tells the Philippians that we should stand strong and “not frightened in anything by your opponents” (v28). He uses a powerful Greek word here: pturo. It means to terrify, intimidate, and scare. The verb actually comes from a root word mean to spit. Our opponent is so intimidating that he’ll scare the spit out of you. Think of stepping into the octagon. You look across at your opponent. The dude outweighs you by 150 pounds. He’s a foot taller than you. You have every reason to freak out. Except for one. Jesus has already kicked his tail. That’s actually the lesson behind David’s one-on-one showdown with Goliath. It’s NOT that God helps who slay the giants in your life. The purpose of the passage is that the Son of David has whooped Satan, sin, and death once and for all. Don’t let him scare the spit out of you.

Remembering Christ wins the ultimate victory, we can stand confidently before anything the devil and demonic toadies sends our way. Paul tells us “this is a clear sign to them of their destruction” (v28). They are used to intimidating people and sending them scattering like scared bunny rabbits. But wait a minute. Something’s different with this crew. Why aren’t they shaking in their boots? Why aren’t they running in the opposite direction? We’re not terrified because of Who stands with us. We aren’t rattled because God didn’t give “us a spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2Tim 1:7). When we don’t bail, it tells our enemies that the jig is up. It announces loud and proud that they won’t just lose but they’ll be wiped off the map. 

By placing our courage in Christ, we also demonstrate our “salvation” (v28). Once God makes us a member of His supernatural team, we share in His supernatural victory. And nothing can ever take that away from us. Jesus tells His boys that once we’re in His grip, nobody can ever rips us out. He doesn’t just save us for a few days. He saves us once and for all time. Using the team analogy once again, God doesn’t cut anybody from his roster. Once he gives a jersey, He never takes it away. 

Finally, our tenacity in the face of demonic opposition announces to the world exactly who’s behind our salvation. Our rescue is “from God” (v28). This is proof that our Hero has come to our rescue. We only win because of what He’s done on our behalf. We don’t save ourselves. We can’t. He does for us what we could never do on our own. Jesus lived the perfect life that I failed to live. He died the death on the cross for my sin that I should have died. He rose to a spectacular new life that I don’t deserve. He saved my bacon when I had zero chance of escape. 

Following Jesus isn’t a series of rainbows, unicorns, and fairy dust. It’s better than that. It’s an enemy who has lost the power of intimidation. His defeat is a lead pipe lock. It’s certain rescue from the Hero of the universe. You can keep your unicorns. I’ll take Jesus every single time.

Gospel Worthy Lives

“Only let your manner of life be worthy of the Gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the Gospel” (Philippians 1:27).

“We’re not worthy! We’re not worthy!” Those words are very familiar if you’re a fan of “Wayne’s World.” Mike Myers and Dana Carvey created the characters Wayne and Garth, a couple of goofy high school kids from suburban Chicago. These two were a team. Whether they were playing street hockey or hosting their low budget, cable access show. And anytime something awesome would happen (like the time Aerosmith played a surprise concert in the breakfast nook), they would fawn worship and announce their unworthiness. Wayne and Garth knew without a doubt that they didn’t deserve it. But that didn’t stop them from fully enjoying it together. 

Now I’m pretty sure Paul didn’t have a prophetic view of “Wayne’s World” when he was locked up in a Roman prison. But here in this letter, the apostle encourages his friends in Philippi to live a “life worthy of the Gospel of Christ” (v27). You can almost hear the Philippians shout in response, “We’re not worthy! We’re not worthy!” Let’s face it, who really is worthy of what Jesus has done them? Go ahead and list them. I’ll wait. That’s right, nobody. But that doesn’t stop us from diving into the deep end of the Gospel pool and enjoying everything that Christ has given us. Paul let’s us know that this only happens when God’s people live in community and work together as teammates. “One spirit…one mind…striving side by side” (v27). We live Gospel worthy lives when we play hard as a team for the cause of Jesus.

After telling the folks back in Philippi that he can’t wait to hang out with them again and watch them grow in their relationship with Jesus (Phil 1:26), the apostle gives them instructions in what to do until he gets there. “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the Gospel of Christ” (v27). Sure, Paul. Piece of cake. We’ll knock that out this afternoon. At first glance this would seem to be equivalent to asking them to bail the Titanic with a teacup. Who on the planet can live a life worthy of what Jesus has done for us? In the words of Wayne and Garth, “We’re not worthy! We’re not worthy!”

But when we take a closer look at the original language, we see something very cool. In the first part of the command, the man from Tarsus encourages his readers to “let your manner of life” (v27). These five English words are actually a single Greek verb, politeuomai). It means to live as a citizen or as a member of a particular community. It’s a description of how we live in relation to others when we belong to a certain group of people. A good way of understanding this is citizenship. A little bit later, he reminds us that “our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil 3:20). We might live in a particular country but we’re actually citizens of something greater. While we’re on this side of eternity, Paul is telling us to be good citizens of God’s kingdom.  

We do that living a life “worthy of the Gospel of Christ” (v27). Seems like we’d better have a good handle on what it means to be worthy. The Greek word here (Gr. axios) talks about doing something in a manner suitable, appropriately, properly, corresponding to a particular standard. It comes from a root word that has the idea of equal weight. Does my life carry Gospel weight? Am I pulling my weight in Christ’s kingdom? No, I don’t mean have I earned my citizenship by passing some sort of test or racking up enough points for supernatural merit badge. But does my life demonstrate to the rest of the world just how much value I place on Jesus? 

What does a Gospel worthy life look like? Paul encourages Colossian believers “to walk in a manner worthy (Gr. axios) of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Col 1:10). In other words, a Gospel worthy life produces good fruit and has a growing personal relationship with God. From his Roman prison cell, the apostle writes the same idea to the church back in Ephesus and then goes on to give practical examples of what it means to Gospel worthy. “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph 4:1-3). A Gospel worthy life is humble, gentle, patient, loving, and works to keep the team together in the Holy Spirit. In other words, we’re to give the same grace, love, and forgiveness Jesus has given us. We’re to shiners of His light. We’re to be spreaders of His salt. That’s what it means to live a life that’s Gospel worthy.

Paul’s optimistic that he’s about to be released from Caesar’s superman in Rome but he can’t be 100% sure. He tells them to live Gospel worthy lives “whether I come and see you or am absent” (v27). Ultimately it doesn’t make any difference for the man from Tarsus if he never leaves the slammer. What does matter to him is the teamwork of the Philippians in and for the Gospel of Jesus. He hopes to get word that they are “standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the Gospel” (v27). They’re standing firm as a team. Nothing can knock them off their feet. “One spirit…one mind” (v27). Sure sounds a LOT like what we’ll read a few verses later. Nothing would make Paul happier than if his readers were “of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind” (Phil 2:2). Everyone’s on the same page. Everybody’s pulling in the same direction. To win the fight for the faith, we must work as a team, well-oiled, Gospel worthy machine.

Paul opens the playbook for a closer look at teamwork among Jesus’ followers. We’re to be “striving side by side for the faith of the Gospel” (v27). Once again, it takes the translators of the ESV four words to get the meaning across of one Greek verb (Gr. sunathleo). It’s compound term that means to fight together, struggle as a team, or play hard as teammates. Later Paul talks about two female teammates on the Philippian squad named Euodia and Syntyche “who have labored side by side (Gr. sunathleo) with me in the Gospel together” (Phil 4:3). I see a group of offensive linemen on a football team. When they are working their butts off opening up holes, big things happens for their team. They double team certain opponents. They pick up blitzing linebackers their teammates don’t see. They bulldoze defensive backs on a screen pass. But it’s all done together. They work as a team. If one goes rogue, the play breaks down. Five fingers together are a fist. In the same way, Jesus calls us to work our tails off as a team for the Gospel. We live Gospel worthy lives when we play hard as a team for the cause of Jesus.

Wants and Needs

“If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again” (Philippians 1:22-26).

George Bailey wanted to be anywhere other than Bedford Falls. If you’re asking “George who?”, you’re probably one of the few people on the planet who’s never seen the classic flick “It’s a Wonderful Life.” He had a burning desire to pack his bags and travel the world. But just as he was about to hit the road, something happened that changed everything. George’s dad died. Somebody had to run the family business, the Bailey Building and Loan. Suddenly, what he wanted took a backseat to what others needed. 

A couple of thousand years before, a guy named Paul mulls over a similar choice. He’s always dreamed of spending eternity with Jesus. There’s absolutely nothing better. Talk about the ultimate destination! Some folks dream of retiring to the Caribbean. Others long for lounging in a hammock outside a cabin in the Rockies. Not Paul. Ever since that day just outside of Damascus (Acts 9:1-9), he’s had one thing on his bucket list. Spending eternity in the presence of Jesus. That sounds especially appealing since he’s sitting in behind bars in Rome. Like George Bailey, the apostle would love nothing better than to hit the road for heaven. He can’t wait for Christ to call him home so he could start hanging out with his Savior. But realizes that his friends in Philippi have a need. They’re just coming to understand what it means to follow Jesus. They’ve only begun to wrap their brains around the overflowing life He wants for believers on this side of eternity. They desperately need to know what this looks like. So what Paul wants takes a backseat to what others need.

The apostle has just written about the ultimate win-win situation he faces. “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil 1:21). If he lives, he gets to make Jesus famous wherever he goes. If he dies, it’s face time with the Son of God. Now he teases out a few of the specifics of the win-win. It’s a tough choice. The dude is seriously torn! “Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell” (v22). I love how this reads in the New Living Translation: “I really don’t know which is better” (v22 NLT). No matter what happens, he can’t lose.

Let’s see what Paul has to say about his two choices. First of all, how ‘bout his dream of spending forever with the One who came to his rescue. “My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better” (v23). If this decision is simply about what the apostle wants, it’s a no brainer. It’s Jesus time! Being with the risen Savior is “far better” (v23). The phrase in the original language literally translates as “more better.” I can see all you grammar geeks squirming. Sorry, but that’s just how it reads in Greek. This isn’t the only time this has come up for the man from Tarsus. He tells the folks in Corinth how “we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord” (2Cor 5:8). Being with Jesus isn’t just an eenie weanie bit better. This isn’t a photo finish. It’s not even close. Paul doesn’t sugar coat what he prefers. If it’s totally up to him, he’d rather be with Jesus. 

But here’s the deal. While the apostle may want to pack his bags and head for heaven, he knows there’s a need that takes priority. A very important need. “But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith” (v24-25). Being with Jesus may be more better, but being with the Philippians is “more necessary” (v24). He drops a Greek word (Gr. anagkaios) that means urgent. The Philippians are on the front burner. Teaching these new believers what it means to follow Jesus is top priority. It takes precedence over any desire Paul has to punch out of his earthly life and be with Christ. What the apostle wants takes a backseat to what others need.

This isn’t about what Paul wants. It’s about what’s best for the Gospel. It’s about what’s best for the Philippians. Their need is more important than his want. It would be very easy for the apostle to adopt an it’s-all-about-me attitude since he’s cooling his heels in Caesar’s supermax. Let’s be honest, who wouldn’t rather be with Jesus than locked up with a jail full of Rome’s Most Wanted? He gives us a picture of what some people call a “me third” attitude. God first. Others second. Me third. Paul’s wants now rank third on his list of priorities. Glorifying God always ranks number one. That’s followed by his concern for others. That includes his friends in Philippi. He’s ready and willing to sacrifice his desire to be with Jesus so that the folks back in this little Macedonian church can fall more deeply in love with their Savior. 

When we think about what Jesus did for us, it makes perfect sense. Christ had perfect friendship with the Trinity. There was no better place to be. There was no reason to leave. But there was a need. The people God created in His image had trashed His perfect creation and given Him a spiritual stiff arm. They had sinned and rejected their relationship with Him. Something had to be done. Instead of kicking back and relaxing in paradise, Jesus saw the need and got busy. He left the comforts of heaven to come to our rescue. For the sake of our incredible need, He made incredible sacrifice. That’s exactly the sacrifice Paul talks about a little later in Philippians 2:1-11. For Jesus, it’s not about rights. It’s not about self. It’s about someone else’s needs. He counts others more important than Himself. The King of Kings becomes the Servant of Servants. 

Christ calls each one of us to the same kind of sacrifice. It’s not about our wants. It’s about others’ needs. We respond to the Gospel when we intentionally invest into the lives of others. Jesus gives to us so that we can give to others. Would it be a whole lot easier just to kick back and relax? You betcha. But the Lord calls us to get off our blessed assurance and pour into others. Who has He dropped into your life to be a firehouse of His grace? Your next door neighbor? The barista at the coffee shop? The dude in the cube behind you at work? Give to them without any expectation of anything in return. Hey, it’s what Jesus did for you me. That’s the very definition of grace. Tullian Tchividjian calls it one-way love. Folks will be surprised when you don’t have an angle. You simply love because you’ve been loved. You invest because Someone has invested in you. 

That leads us to the secret sauce of service and sacrifice: God blesses you in the process! When you put aside what you want in order to serve a need, Jesus gives you something so much better than you thought you wanted in the first place. Who saw THAT coming?!? SPOILER ALERT! After living his entire life in Bedford Falls, George Bailey finds the blessing of putting his dreams on hold while serving the needs of others. (Okay, this one’s on you if I just spoiled the big ending to a movie made in 1946.) Paul knows it too. You see, crazy things happen when what we want takes a backseat to what others need. 

The Ultimate Win-Win

“For me to live is Christ, to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).

Caesar doesn’t know it but the greatest threat to his empire is in prison just down the street from his palace. The man known as the Apostle Paul may be sitting behind bars but he’s armed and dangerous. No one has smuggled him a 9mm. He’s not hiding a shank under his pillow. The man from Tarsus is armed with the ultimate hope in Jesus. Author James A. Baldwin once wrote, “The most dangerous creation of a society is the man who has nothing to lose.” Paul would say that what he has can’t be ripped out of his hands. “For me to live is Christ, to die is gain” (v21). Armed with hope in Jesus, he has nothing to lose. As long as he’s alive, he’ll keep telling people about Jesus. When he dies, he spends eternity with his Savior. It’s the ultimate win-win situation.

 Just a few years back, people knew him as Saul. The followers of Jesus knew just how dangerous he could be. He makes it his purpose in life to wipe the planet of every disciple of this Rabbi/Carpenter from Galilee. We first meet him in the Bible running the coat check table at Stephen’s stoning (Acts 7:58). Saul gave the murder of the first Christian martyr two very bloody thumbs up (Acts 8:1). He then establishes a team to travel around the region to arrest and kill people who believe Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah (Acts 8:3; Gal 1:13). But in one of the most bizarre episodes in Scripture, the resurrected Son of God supernaturally mugs Saul on one of his patented seek-and-destroy missions to Damascus (Acts 9:1-18). The next thing you know, Jesus transforms this murderer into a missionary. Saul becomes Paul. The most dangerous man to Christ’s followers becomes the most dangerous man FOR Christ’s followers. Wherever he goes, Paul tells everyone who will listen about Jesus. Because of the hope that he has in Christ, he knows he can’t lose. Even when his faith lands him in Caesar’s supermax.

As the apostle tells folks the Good News about Jesus, he’s constantly talking about how this faith is the ultimate win-win. In his very first letter to a group of churches in Galatia he writes, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Gal 2:20). In other words, Saul died on the cross with Jesus. Saul. Dead. Jesus has traded His perfection and obedience to the former Pharisee in for his sin and defiance. Jesus’ righteousness for our rebellion (2Cor 5:21). Martin Luther calls this the Great Exchange. The result is the ultimate win-win.

Later, the new man come to know as Paul drops a note to the church in Rome containing this no lose scenario we all share as followers of Christ. “For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be both Lord of the dead and of the living” (Rom 14:8-9). I wonder if he had any idea he’d been in Rome before long. And a few years back, God used a prophet named Agabus to give Paul a heads up about his upcoming arrest. The apostle responds by telling his friends to put away their Kleenex. “I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 21:13). 

So what does all this mean for me? How dangerous am I? Let’s face it, the world is not exactly quivering at the sight of this middle aged white guy rolling up in his Hyundai. But the truth of Paul’s words opens my eyes to the fact that what Jesus has done for me can never be taken from me. Let’s take a look at just a few implications and applications of what it means to live for the One who loves me.

Do I live FOR Christ? Jesus calls me to make Him my priority. According to the Son of God, all of my relationships take a backseat to Him (Mt 10:37; Lk 14:25-26). On this side of eternity, I’m to be a living sacrifice (Rom 12:2). The only problem with living sacrifices is that they keep wiggling off the altar! Living for Jesus means telling others about His incredible offer of overwhelming grace and unconditional love.

Do I live THROUGH Christ? This is the rock solid security of knowing what He’s done for me that I could do for myself. He’s lived the perfectly obedient life that I’ve failed to live. He’s died the brutal death for my sin on the cross. He rose to a spectacular new life that I don’t deserve. He died so that I never will. Once I’m in His kung fu grip, no one can ever pry me out (Jn 10:28-29). Talk about bulletproof!

Do I live TO Christ? He’s the Target. He’s the Goal. The author of Hebrews says that whenever you and I don’t know what to do, we need to lock our eyes on Jesus, the Starter and Finisher of our faith (Heb 12:2). This means to keep my eyes up. Keep my focus on Him and NOT my problems. When the storms hit, remember Who is in my boat. When life drops a huge pile of crap on my doorstep, it’s minuscule compared to the size of my Savior.  

Do I allow Christ to live THROUGH me? I need to constantly remember to get out of the way and let Him do what He wants. My selfish wants and needs died on a Roman cross 2,000 years ago. While they pop up once and a while, Jesus calls me to play a little game of Whack-A-Mole. Just in case I think God can’t use me, I simply need to take a quick look at the list of people He used in the Bible. Murderers. Adulterers. Rebels. Hookers. Knuckleheads. Weirdos. Goofballs. Losers. Hmm, looks like I’m right at home! As Tullian Tchividjian says, God uses bad people because bad people is all He has to work with. Let Him live through me.

All that is on this side of the graveyard. That’s what I can do without the fear of death through Jesus. For Paul, Jesus Christ is his reason for living. His reason for breathing. His reason for being. The apostle desperately wants us to know that physical death isn’t eternal death. Death actually relieves us of our earthly garbage and allow us the privilege of being in Jesus’ presence forever. Life gives us the privilege to keep telling people about Jesus. Death takes us into the His presence.

It’s the ultimate win-win. 

Making Jesus Famous

“Yes, and I rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as alway Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life for by death” (Philippians 1:18b-20).

Jesus is a game changer. He brings hope where there should gloom. He brings joy where there should be tears. There’s no greater example than the life of Paul, especially during his four years behind bars for telling everyone who would listen about Jesus. I mean there must have been some absolutely crazy stuff going on in the Roman prison where the apostle was in custody. Jesus used Paul to transform this place of pain and suffering into a joyful joint. You see, the man from Tarsus knew that no matter what happened to him during his time in the pen, Christ would use it to make Himself more and more famous. 

Let’s be honest. This little letter to a tiny group of believers in Philippi just doesn’t make sense. Jesus’ top spokesperson is locked up. The church he planted in the Macedonian seaport sent their current pastor to help but he nearly died making the trip to Rome. Yet this note absolutely drips with joy. Yeah, you read that right. Joy. If Paul had a boom box, he may have had Pharrell’s “Happy” cranked to 11. Here in the darkest dungeon of the empire, the apostle feels like a room without a roof. He knows that Jesus has given him something so incredibly awesome that Caesar’s supermax can’t take away. That’s the reason for his joy. As a result, God uses the apostle to turn the slammer into a greenhouse for Good News. Paul is telling everybody who will listen about the resurrected Rabbi/Carpenter from Galilee.

We pick things with Paul’s joy on repeat. “Yes, and I will rejoice” (v18). He’s just said that he’s absolutely stoked to know that no matter what the motives are of the various messengers, they’re spreading the message of Jesus. Because “Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice” (v18). His joy keeps jumping he knows one way or the other Jesus will spring him from prison. While the apostle’s praying for his friends back in Philippi (Phil 1:3-11), they’ve been praying for him too. God is up to something “through your prayers” (v19). Their concern for their founder isn’t just lip service. Their prayers have clearly resulted in action. They’ve sent very practical help in the form of their pastor Epaphroditus (Phil 4:18). The Big E nearly died on his mission to aid Paul (Phil 2:30).

Do you pray for your friends and family? Do you know of fellow believers who are, in the words of Ulysses Everett McGill in “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”, are in a tight spot? Do you ask the One who’s in charge of the universe to help them out? That’s a huge part of God’s gift of prayer. It’s not an intercom so God can be some sort of supernatural butler to freshen your drink. John Piper sees prayer like a walkie talkie on the battlefield. We use it to call in the ultimate air support. We call on God when we’re in real trouble. We call on God when we know the ones we love are in real trouble. Who needs your prayers right now? Call HQ and get Jesus involved. That’s what the Philippians have done for Paul. 

The prayers of the Philippian followers of Jesus sound the alarm for “the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ” (v19). No, they’re not baking a cake with a file in it. There’s no plan to bust Paul out of the joint through an elaborate jail break. Paul knows that there’s something, or should I say Someone much greater at work. The Holy Spirit has something up His sleeve. The Third Person of the Trinity provides “help” (v19). Paul uses the Greek word epichoregia here. This describes a large supply, a rich provision, and overwhelming assistance. God’s Spirit just won’t give what Paul needs to squeak by on the cellblock. He’s giving him more than he could ever dream of wanting or needing (Eph 3:20). Later, the man from Tarsus proudly writes, “And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:19). In this particular instance, he knows that the combo of their prayers and God’s Spirit “will turn out for my deliverance” (v19). One way or the other, prisoner Paul will be a free man soon.

You would think it to be bad press when God’s top missionary is locked up in prison. Wrong. It’s not that any publicity is good publicity. It’s because Paul knows that he “will not be at all ashamed” (v20). He knows that as long as he is obedient to God’s call on his life and in willing submission to the Lord’s leadership, Jesus’ glory will continue to roll around the world. In the big house in Rome, I wonder if Paul remembers his words to the Roman church that he sent them a few years back. “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Rom 1:16). He’s not ashamed to broadcast the Good News of Christ because it’s more than powerful enough to change the lives of everyone who hears it. “Hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been give to us” (Rom 5:5). Something tells me that Paul not only remembers these words, but is giving them very practical application in this Roman prison.

Here’s where the rubber meets the road for the apostle. He’s completely confident “with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body whether by life of or death” (20). Check out the word he drops that the folks at the ESV translate “honored.” Megaluno. It means to magnify with great intensity, enlarge greatly, make incredibly conspicuous, or even to make famous. Check out a few other times writers of the NT use this term. Mary sang about how her very soul was a magnifying glass of God’s glory (Lk 1:46). When God’s Spirit bum rushes Gentile believers right before Peter’s eyes, they couldn’t stop enlarging Jesus’ rep to everyone who would listen (Acts 10:46). God used Paul’s preaching about Jesus to turn Ephesus upside down to the point that Christ’s name became known all throughout the city (Acts 19:17). It’s a stone cold, lead pipe lock that God will use whatever happens to Paul in order to make Jesus famous.

So from the comfort of my suburban life in America, do I have the same confidence as Paul does in prison? Am I honoring Jesus with my life? Am I making Him famous? Am I using my soul as a magnifying glass of God’s glory? Am I doing everything I can to tell the world about the One who has come to my rescue? I need to remember the incredible cost Jesus paid to make me His and what I should do about it. “For you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body” (1Cor 6:20). There’s also a mammoth point here that God calls us to worship with so much more than our minds. We’re to “present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship” (Rom 12:2). I’m not saying that I need to do P90X for Jesus (then again, this particular “temple” could certainly use a little renovation). But there is certainly a physical component to following Christ. 

When it’s all said and done, Paul knows that no matter what happens to him the Lord will use it as part of the worldwide campaign to spread the Gospel. And that includes whether the apostle walks out through the front door of the prison or whether he dies behind bars. Jesus will be honored “whether by life or by death” (v20). That’s not something most American believers are facing these days. But there are those around the world that bring glory to our Savior as they face death at the hands of terrorists like ISIS and Boko Haram. Paul doesn’t let the possibility of dying in jail steal his joy. He knows more than most that Jesus is a game changer. God will use whatever happens to make sure Christ is the lead story in every newscast. 

Motives and the Message

“Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the Gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice” (Philippians 1:15-18).

TV journalists come in all shapes and sizes. They have all sorts of motivations. Some have a spotless reputation and are totally trustworthy. For these men and women, the story is the star. They get out of the way in order to get the message out. Edward R. Murrow is the poster boy. On the other end are those whose motivations are, shall we say, not so pure. They’re out to make a buck. They want to make themselves the star, not the story. But here’s the deal. In the end, the basic message gets out despite the motivation. The folks watching at home don’t know what’s driving the anchors, reporters, videographers, and producers.  

Stuck behind bars in Rome, Paul sees the same thing going on. No, he’s not critiquing Scott Pelley and Brian Williams on the network news. He’s watching God use the various messengers tell others about Jesus. Some are greedy. Some are hucksters. Some are conmen. Others broadcast the Good News because it’s the greatest news anyone will ever hear. They make it the lead story because Jesus is the real Hero and His story is truly the star. From his spot in the cellblock, the apostle can see something crazy. As long as the truth about Christ is the central part of the message, the motivation  doesn’t matter. He doesn’t care if they have mixed motives. He’s excited because they’re making Jesus famous!

Let’s quickly take a look inside these two news operations. Paul tells his friends back in Philippi, “Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry” (v15). These preachers are more concerned about beating other preachers. They see other churches and ministers as rivals and the competition. They define winning by having more success than the church down the street. These knuckleheads don’t understand that sharing the message of Jesus is a team sport. They miss the point that we’re all playing for the same squad. This isn’t Duke-Carolina. It’s not Cubs-Cards. Same team. Same Jesus. Same message. 

Paul also understands that on one end of the spectrum some “proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict my imprisonment” (v27). They might be telling the world about Jesus but their intentions are, shall we say, less than honorable. They’re selfish. A little bit later, the apostle makes it clear that the followers of Jesus are to “do nothing from selfish ambition” (Phil 2:3). That’s exactly the opposite of the kind of life Christ calls us to live. His amazing grace motivates us to lead a “me third” life. God first. Others second. Me third. When you’re hoping that Jesus’ handpicked apostle stays in jail even longer, you’ve got issues.

The man from Tarsus wants his readers to know that these greedy preachers have a hidden agenda. They preach “in pretense” (v18). The Gospel is just a front for their con. Ultimately, it’s just a scam. But they’re not pulling a fast one on the Sovereign God of the universe. He knows EXACTLY what they’re up to. And He’s using grift to spread the Gospel. 

Here’s where Paul’s 2,000-year-old letter gets rather personal. This sort of rivalry and competition still goes on today among churches. We measure our success by our individual size. There’s this crazy idea that megachurches compete against each other in some sort of MMA octagon. The other church is NOT the enemy! We can’t let Satan dupe us into fighting our teammates. We’re playing for the same team! We’re following the same Lord! Stop trying to rustle sheep from the other flock and start sharing the love of Jesus with a lost and dying world. Don’t you think this was a big reason why Christ told His boys that our love for one another will announce to the world that we’re His followers (Jn 13:34-35). We’re not loving each other when we’re trying to defeat each other. 

Let’s take a quick look at those who have Paul’s endorsement. They’re broadcasting the Good News “from good will” (v15). They want God’s best for others (note the “God first, others second, me third” priority!). These preachers “do it out of love” (v16). Robertson encourages us to shine the flashlight of 1st Corinthians 13 on this verse for a better idea of what these folks did. They share the Gospel with patience and kindness, without arrogance and pride. Ultimately, these men and women pursue their mission “in truth” (v18). This is in stark contrast to the con of the greedy preachers. These folks are transparent, open, and honest. They’re willing to share their own shortcomings, failures, and sins. That’s because their message is about Jesus, not about how cool and together they are. 

What’s my motivation for sharing the Good News? Is it so I can add another notch to my Gospel gun belt? Or do I tell others about our Hero out of “good will” (v15)? Am I inspired “out of love” (v16), my love for Jesus and my love for others? Finally, do broadcast the Gospel to those around me “in truth” (v18)? Am I honest and open about my own struggles and battles? Am I transparent about who I am without Jesus? 

In the end, motivations don’t matter to those receiving the message. As long as Jesus is the point of the story, that’s what matters. God will see to that. Twice Paul uses the Greek verb kataggello in this passage (translated proclaim in verses 17-18). It means to announce, declare, make known, or report. It literally describes speaking a message from or about something or someone. In this case, that something is the Gospel and that Someone is Jesus. Dr. Luke uses this word when describing how Paul and his posse announce story of Christ all around the Mediterranean rim. On the island of Cyprus (Acts 13:5). At Antioch in Pisidia (Acts 13:38). On his second tour (Acts 15:36). In Philippi (Acts 16:17, 21). Over in Thessalonica (Acts 17:3). Down the road in Berea (Acts 17:13). On Mars Hill in Athens (Acts 17:23). Even before King Agrippa (Acts 26:23).

No matter the motive, God is going to use the message being preached. When folks tell others that Jesus is our Hero and our only means of rescue, that’s what matters the most. Some of these messengers may be motivated by greed, status, or power. Others burn with a deep and passionate desire for everyone to hear the life-changing and life-saving grace of Christ. For the listener, motive doesn’t matter. It’s all about the message.  

Boldness Because of the Bars

“And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear” (Philippians 1:14).

It’s like a scene out of “Locked up Abroad.” You’re a long way from home. A VERY long way. More than a thousand miles. You’re held captive in the the capital of a brutal dictatorship that has a zero tolerance policy on insurrection. If that’s not enough, you’re in the slammer because of your faith. Persecuted for what you believe. I don’t know about you, but that doesn’t exactly sound like a situation that’s going to win friends and influence people. Not a time when you think others would be standing in line to take a similar stand. But a funny thing happens when Jesus gets involved. He turns Paul’s time in the joint into a time of overflowing joy. And if that’s not crazy enough, people are coming to faith in Christ left and right precisely BECAUSE he’s doing hard time. They have big time boldness to tell others the Good News precisely BECAUSE the apostle’s behind bars. 

That’s exactly the scene Paul’s describing to his friends back in Philippi. As his teammates in the Gospel, he wants them to know exactly what God is up to in Rome. Despite being in prison for what he believes, that hasn’t stopped Jesus from using His apostle right under the nose of the emperor. He’s just told the Philippians “that what has happened to me has really served to advance the Gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ” (Phil 1:12-13). Paul’s made a habit of writing to various churches to either warn them or correct them. But not the letter to Philippi. The apostle might be in prison but he’s just so full of God’s joy he’s gotta tell somebody. That just happens to be the Philippians. They just won’t believe what’s happening in Rome. People are placing their faith in Jesus and courageously sharing the Gospel because he’s in jail. You probably know folks who drink liquid courage when they go to bars. Not the case here. Christ followers have courage because Paul’s behind bars.

Nearly all of his spiritual brothers and sisters in Rome have apparently come to place their trust in Jesus because Paul is in the big house. Most of them have “become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment” (v14). The apostle describes this confidence using the Greek verb peitho, which means to be convinced, to be persuaded, believe, or assured. Their courage grows faster than the crabgrass in my front yard. But it’s NOT because of Paul. It’s because of what Christ is doing THROUGH Paul. These Roman believers are trusting in what Jesus has done for them that they could never dream of doing for themselves. He’s lived the perfectly obedient life that they’ve failed to live. He’s died the death for their sin that they should have died. He’s risen to a glorious new life that they don’t deserve. They’ve come to follow the resurrected Rabbi/Carpenter because He alone wants God’s best for them. His love has convinced them. His mercy has persuaded them. His grace has won them. 

So what sort of goofy stuff is going on in a cellblock of Caesar’s supermax to convince correction officers and convicts to come to Christ? It’s something you just don’t expect to find in a place where hope and happiness go to die. It’s joy. The man from Tarsus has the joy of Jesus. This little letter oozes with it. Every time you turn the page, you read of the joy can only come from above. He prays prayers of joy (Phil 1:3). He rejoices because folks all around him are falling in love with Jesus (Phil 1:18). He knows his readers back in Philippi have a joyful faith (Phil 1:25). He loves the fact that they’re full of joy because they’re unity (Phil 2:2). He’s stoked when these Philippian followers sacrifice joyfully (Phil 2:17-18). He wants them to know the joy of seeing their pastor in the flesh after nearly dying on his prison visit to Rome (Phil 2:28-29). At times he just can’t contain his joy and wants his friends to join in (Phil 3:3; 4:4). He even calls this church as his joy and crown jewels (Phil 4:1). He’s full of joy because their continued concern for him (Phil 4:10). 

It’s this overwhelming and overflowing joy of Jesus that’s sloshing all throughout this particular Roman prison. A few hundred years back, two guys named Ezra and Nehemiah told the citizens of Jerusalem how “the joy of the LORD is your strength” (Neh 8:10). The incredible gladness God gives you and me when He ambushes us with His grace provides an immovable confidence that refuses to be swayed in the nastiest of circumstances. That includes the particular dungeon Paul currently calls home. It’s the joy of the Lord that’s rockin’ the joint. It’s the joy of the Lord that’s changing lives. It’s the joy of the Lord that’s transforming the Roman Empire from the inside out.

This Jesus joy is also having a strange effect on those who have placed their faith in Him. It’s seems they can’t shut up about their Savior. They “are much more bold to speak the word without fear” (v14). By using the Greek word tolmao, Paul lets us know of the courage, bravery, and guts they display in telling others about Jesus. They demonstrate the willingness to step out into potential danger. Getting the word of God out is that important. Remember, it’s the reason the apostle is locked up. But this is a time to step up. It’s a time to speak up. People’s lives are at stake. Their eternities are on the line. 

What makes a follower so gutsy for the Gospel? Jump back about 30 years from the days of Paul’s imprisonment to the very first church in Jerusalem. Their founding pastor Peter is a prime example. One moment he denies even knowing Jesus when confronted by a rough, tough middle school girl (Lk 22:56). Six weeks later he’s not only preaching a sermon that God uses to convert 3,000 people (Acts 2:14-41) but telling religious heavy hitters they murdered their Messiah (Acts 4:8-12). What’s the difference maker? I’m glad you asked. His name is the Holy Spirit. Once the Third Person of the Trinity falls and fills Pete as well as every other believer, they suddenly become the brave and bold. The Spirit-powered courage wasn’t limited to the dude Jesus called Rocky. The entire church was audacious when it came to telling people the Gospel. “And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31). That’s the very same Spirit who empowers the apostle formerly known as Saul (Acts 9:17-18).

Guess what. That very same Spirit that brought boldness to believers in the Bible is available to you and me, here and now. God gives Him to each and every person who places their trust in His Son (Rom 8:8; Eph 1:13). Let’s face it, if the power of God’s Spirit has the juice to raise Jesus from the dead (Rom 8:11), He’s got the goods to give us the grit to share the Good News. Remember that when we freak out just thinking about it, that fear doesn’t come from God (2Tim 1:7). Something incredible happens when God’s Spirit goes to work among His people. Take the situation in Rome. Followers of Jesus have big time boldness to tell others the Good News precisely BECAUSE the apostle’s behind bars. 

Knocking It Down the Fairway

“I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the Gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ” (Philippians 1:12-13).

I grew up on the golf course. My parents put a club in my hand from a very early age. As a child (and many times as an alleged adult), I would get frustrated when I would mishit my drive. I expected to grip and rip it like Jack Nicklaus 300 yards down the fairway. Too many times, my ball happily skipped down the fairway about 100 feet, burning worms along the way. It’s NOT the shot I expected to hit. It’s NOT the shot I wanted to hit. I would stomp my feet and slam my driver into the ground. That’s when my mom simply ask, “Is your ball closer to the hole? Then go hit it again.” While I would grumble about my performance, she wanted me to focus on my progress. She knew that knocking the ball down the fairway was the most important thing.

While I’m pretty sure Paul didn’t have golf in mind when he wrote his friends back in Philippi, he’s certain that God is using him to advance the Gospel forward. He’s getting closer and closer to the goal. The apostle knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that people in Rome are hearing the life-saving message of Jesus even though he’s behind bars (v12-13). The man from Tarsus has dreamed of hitting the big time in the capital of the Roman Empire for quite a while. He wrote to believers in Rome that preaching the Gospel there was on his bucket list (Rom 1:10-15; 15:22-23, 28-29,32). 

I’m not sure if Paul pictured himself doing the Billy Graham thing to a packed house at the Colosseum. That would be the equivalent of ripping a monster drive down the center of the fairway. But God had other plans for the former Pharisee. Ludicrous plans. Instead, the Lord puts Paul in prison to transform Rome from the inside out. That’s seems like the equivalent of pulling out a sand wedge on the tee box of a par 5 and then hitting it toward another hole but eventually making an eagle. Doesn’t. Make. Sense. It’s NOT what Paul expected. But it IS ultimately what he wanted. Miraculously God used his imprisonment to knock the Gospel down the fairway. 

So where am I getting this crazy comparison of the spread of the Good News with golf? From a cellblock in Rome, Paul writes the Philippian church how “what has happened to me has served to advance the Gospel” (v12). When translators of the ESV use “advance,” the apostle drops the Greek word prokope. It means progress, promotion, forward movement, or to ultimately make things better. The term literally describes the process of beating something forward. An act of force to smack an object closer to the goal. Knocking it down the field. Paul never saw it coming, but he knows now that God has sovereignly used his prison bid to knock the Gospel down the fairway.

If you’re a golf fan, you’ll remember Bubba Watson’s ridiculous shot out of the pine trees in a playoff to win the Masters in 2012. The dude was dead in the water. Actually, he was snookered behind a a wall of tree trunks and azalea bushes. Ironically, golfers call this no-win situation “jail.” That’s when Bubba pulls off one of his sports’ most memorable shots to win one its most memorable tournaments. Paul is LITERALLY in jail. He doesn’t seem to have a shot. The Gospel would seem to be snookered behind bars. But Jesus specializes in just these situations. In a move that makes Bubba’s sick hook with a gap wedge look easy, God goes to work in the Roman prison. Suddenly, the message of Christ is spreading like wildfire “throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest” (v13). The apostle isn’t one bit shy about telling anyone who will listen that “my imprisonment is for Christ” (v13). He tells fellow prisoners about Jesus. He tells the guards about Jesus. God uses Paul to pull off a miracle shot when there was no shot. He doesn’t just knock the Gospel down the fairway, He knocks right next to the hole! No golf clap here. The gallery is going WILD!!

So what crazy shot is God about to hit with the Gospel in your life? Do you feel like you’ve shanked your life in the trees? Duck hooked your drive out-of-bounds? Sliced your three-wood into a pot bunker? Just when you think you’re out of it is when Jesus does His best work. This idea is incredibly personal for me. I threw everything I had planting a church. I was a small group leader, worship leader, and elder. Despite the efforts of some incredible people, it crashed and burned. This happened not once, not twice, but three times. The wreckage of three failed church plants are in my rearview mirror. I figured I was done. If I was playing golf, this was time to tear up the scorecard and sell my clubs.

But that’s just when Christ cranks one of His miracle recovery shots that He’s known for. Just when I thought my days in ministry were behind me, He leads me and my family to an amazing church and places me in a position of servant leadership. What I thought was the end was really the beginning. Jesus makes sure that absolutely nothing is wasted! He uses it all! What a fantastic reminder that whatever we face or endure is to move the Gospel closer to His goal. He uses everything for His glory. He’s going to promote His awesome name around the world. Jesus will use every club in His bag to make sure everyone knows about our incredibly gracious God and Savior. And here’s the crazy thing. It’s not only for His glory but our good (Rom 8:28). 

Think you’ve got no shot? Think you’re snookered behind a tree? Think it's time to sell your clubs and give up golf? Jesus is going to use everything in your life to advance the Gospel. He won’t waste a thing. He won’t waste a single tear. He won’t waste one bit of heartbreak. He’ll use it all to knock the Gospel down the fairway. In the words of Bruno Mars, “Don’t believe? Just watch!”

Fruit Filling

“So that you may approve what is excellent, and so pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God” (Philippians 1:10-11).

I’m pretty sure there’s not a sweet treat out there that’s not made even more tasty with fruit filling. Donuts. Pies. Cupcakes. And who doesn’t love the steaming glory of a pop-tart fresh out of the toaster?!? Cherry. Strawberry. Raspberry. It really doesn’t matter to me. The Apostle Paul tells his friends back in Philippi that there’s nothing better in a follower of Jesus than fruit filling. Specifically, the fruit of righteousness. When we place our trust in Christ, He promises to load us with His holy goodness. 

We can’t let all this talk of baked goods and desserts distract us from the reality of Paul’s situation. He’s been behind bars about 4 years. He’s spent the last 2 yeas in Rome waiting for Caesar to hear his appeal (Acts 25:10-12; 26:32; 28:19, 30). Not that 21st century prisons are any pleasure cruise, but what the apostle faced was more like a dungeon. It’s the kind of experience that would leave the best of us filled with bitterness and bile. Not Paul. This former Pharisee once so full of himself is now filled to overflowing with the joy of Jesus. 

The apostle opens his letter to the church in Philippi with a full paragraph of prayer. He lets them know that he’s always thanking Jesus for them and the memories of their crazy days together (Phil 1:3-5). How crazy were they? Check out Dr. Luke’s account over in Acts 16:12-40. He’s constantly telling the Lord how grateful he is that they’re all on Team Grace (Phil 1:7). Paul prays that God will cause the folks in Philippi to not only love more but love smart (Phil 1:9). And he knows it’s a stone cold, lead pipe lock that what Jesus has begun in them, He will finish (Phil 1:6).

The man from Tarsus prays that God gives his friends the wisdom so “that you may approve what is excellent” (v10). You can also translate the original text here as “discover what is best.” This is coming to see life through the lenses of Jesus. We see what’s truly important to God. We see what breaks His heart. In a letter to the church in Rome, Paul tells his readers that this happens when God renews our minds when we read His word. When we do that we will “be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Rom 12:2). In essence, God gives us a mind transplant. I’m pretty sure this is nothing like those whacky scenes from those sci-fi movies where they put goofy metal hats on two people and they swap personalities. But I digress. But what it does mean is we’ll begin to see and interpret life as Jesus sees it. The folks who produced the NLT like to translate this verse in Philippians like this: “For I want you to understand what really matters” (v10 NLT). Allow God to show us how He sees the world. Then we discover what’s best. Then we’ll understand what really matters.

When that happens, Paul says God will continue to do His amazing work of making us “pure and blameless” (v10). This is certainly great news for somebody like me. Somedays my life is filled with nothing but spin. I’m constantly telling half truths and white lies in an effort to get people to like and respect me. I’m continually stumbling and failing in my attempts to live up to the ridiculous image I’ve tried to create. But Paul says that can stop, right here and right now. Jesus is going to make me “pure and blameless” (v10). No more lying. No more double dealing. No more spin. No more stumbling. No more guilt. 

While I can’t circle a specific date on the calendar, the apostle says that I can take it to the bank that it will happen on “the day of Christ” (v10). He’s already mentioned that spectacular day earlier in his letter (Phil 1:6). He’s talking about Jesus jaw dropping encore. That’s the day the resurrected Son of God returns to the stage and come to our ultimate rescue. Good wins. Evil loses. Jesus literally brings heaven to earth. I don’t know about you, but I’m more than ready (that might have something to do with the fact that I’m writing on a Monday morning!). 

One other amazing blessing of His Second Coming is the fact that each of His followers will be “filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ” (v11). Paul uses the Greek verb plero’o, which means to complete, fill to the top, and liberally supply. And the grammar here tells us that we don’t do the filling. We’re on the receiving end. Jesus fills us to overflowing. To the brim. He tops off the tank. All we have to do is be ready. The best way for me to prep for being filled by Jesus is stop being so full of myself. I’ve been told many times that I’m full of it. Actually, what I’m full of is me. I need to drain that tank and allow Jesus fill me.

Paul tells us that God is filling us with the “fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ” (v11). Just what is this delicious fruit filling? Jesus told His posse that He’ll handle the fruit production if we just stay connected and close to Him (Jn 15:4-5). The apostle writes to the disciples in Colossae that God will cause an incredible fruit harvest in their lives as they come to know Jesus more and more (Col 1:6, 10). We’ll recognize this as what Paul calls Spirit fruit. That’s “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law” (Gal 5:22-23). That’s the kind of fruit God fills in you and me when we’re connected to Christ. 

Once we’re chockfull of this wonderful “fruit of righteousness,” God gets the applause. This happens “to the praise and glory of God” (v11). I know this may not be what you want to hear but you and I are not the point. The spotlight and standing ovation is reserved for God alone. He’s the One doing the work. He’s the One doing the filling. He’s the One doing the heavy lifting. We’re simply the one being filled. Rightfully, the Fruit Filler is the One gets the praise. 

Love Smart

“For it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment” (Phil 1:9).

There are smart phones, smart TVs, smart watches and even smart cars. These amazing inventions are smart because they do a lot of the thinking for us. Don’t get me wrong, it’s great to fire up Shazam to figure out who’s singing that song or have Siri tell me the nearest place to get a pizza. But these are just technological toys compared to the smart love Paul prays about. From behind bars in Rome, the apostle tells his friends back in Philippi that he’s continually asking God that they would love more and love smart. How ‘bout you? Are you looking to increase the level and efficiency of your love? I’ve checked online. There’s not an app for that. But there is a God who specializes in it. 

Our man Paul writes to the followers of Jesus in the Macedonian seaport of Philippi. He swung by the city several years ago as part of his tour taking the message of Jesus around the Mediterranean rim. Who can forget those crazy days in Macedonia? Dr. Luke sure can’t. The apostle’s personal physician and traveling partner wrote all about them in Acts 16:12-40. God used Paul and his team to shower His unconditional love on all sorts of folks. A fashionista named Lydia, a demon-possessed young lady caught in human trafficking, and a brutal prison warden all placed their trust in the resurrected Rabbi/Carpenter from Galilee. These are just three of the people who were on the receiving end of God’s love who are now on the receiving end of the apostle’s letter.

The man from Tarsus lets them know that they are the repeated focus of “my prayer” (v9). Paul spends this entire paragraph (Phil 1:2-11) telling the Philippians how he is praying for them. He thanks God for the memories of those wild times when he first rolled into town (Phil 1:3; Acts 16:12-40). They’ve remained teammates in grace ever since (Phil 1:4-8). Because of their shared experience in sharing and living out the Gospel, these Philippian believers have carved out a special place in Paul’s heart. Do you make a point of praying for folks you’re on mission with? Are their people God brought into your life in the past but are separated from now? Here’s an idea. Pray for them. Write down their names. Go to the Lord on their behalf regularly. And then let them know. How would you like a friend to let you know they’ve been praying for you? Yeah, that would be pretty awesome.

Their old friend says he prays that their “love may abound more and more” (v9). Is Paul simply asking God to amp up the warm fuzzy feeling these folks have in their hearts? That’s part of it, but it’s SO much more! He uses that wonderful Greek word agape. If you’ve spent any time growing up in Sunday School or going to a Christian youth camp, you’ve heart this word so much that it’s actually lost any real meaning. Agape describes unconditional love in action. It’s a love that does. A love that lasts. A love with legs. These Philippian Jesus followers are already world class when it comes to practical expressions of love. They’ve provided practical support for Paul during his time behind bars (Phil 4:14-20). But to paraphrase the boys from Spinal Tap, the apostle prays that God would take their love to 11.

He asks the Lord that their love increase and “abound more and more” (v9). Most English translations use “abound” to translate the Greek verb perisseuo. Maybe it’s just me, but that just doesn’t seem to scratch the surface on the original text. This paints a picture of an overflow (which both the NRS and NLT use). It’s the idea have way more than enough, to increase in abundance, or exceed lavishly. Paul’s not praying for just a little more love from his friends. He asks God to cut loose the Philippian fire hydrant of agape! And why not? In some of His final instructions before His crucifixion, our Savior told His boys that our priority is to love each other. It’s a sure sign to the world that we’re His followers (Jn 13:34-35). When lawyer tried to ask Him a trick question about what was the most important commandment to obey, Christ said it was simple (Mt 22:34-40). Love God. Love people. That’s the kind of love that Paul prays that God will crank up among God’s people. Love for God. Love for people.

The apostle doesn’t just pray for more love but smart love. He asks the Lord to not just jack up their love to new levels but that it happen “with knowledge and discernment” (v9). In other words, he’s not praying their love get more sappy but wise. Think of expressing God’s love in a directed and concentrated way. Like a fire hose. It’s focused. It’s pinpointed. Think laser love. A laser is simply a super-duper concentrated beam of light. Instead of Dr. Evil’s infamous Death Ray, Paul prays that God would transform us into a Love Laser. 

When it comes to smart love, God isn’t telling us to pick and choose WHOM we love. Remember, we’re to love God and we’re to love people. That pretty much covers everybody from what I can tell. It’s not about WHO but HOW. Paul asks God to give the Philippian believers the “knowledge and discernment” (v9) on how they should love others. Practical acts of love look different from person to person. Your spouse needs a separate sort of love than your buddy at work. Your child needs something different from one of your parents. Some need a hug. Some need money. Some need your time. Some need a meal. Some need help moving. Some need a ride. Some need bail. But they ALL need love. Let God’s Spirit give you the wisdom and discernment on how fire the Lord’s Love Laser.

Don’t think that the expiration date ran out on this love smart idea just because the apostle wrote these words 2,000 years ago. This is a timeless truth. Take a look around. God has placed folks in our lives to be recipients of His love through you and me. Your spouse. Your kids. Your neighbors. Your coworkers. The people that you meet when you’re walking down the street. Your love will look very different depending on the one on the receiving end. That’s what Jesus’ love looks like when it overflows through us and into the lives of those who come into our path. Smart phones are cool. Smart TVs are all the rage. But when comes to you and me, God calls us to smart love.

Teammates in Grace

“It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the Gospel. For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:7-8).

The soldiers of “Easy” company went to hell and back during World War II. Thanks to historian Stephen Ambrose, we know these battle-hardened boys as the Band of Brothers. Their shared experience and commitment to a cause bigger than themselves sealed their relationships forever. That’s the kind of bond Paul has with his friends back in Philippi. They’ve been to hell and back. As a matter of fact, the apostle is still there. He’s more than 800 miles away, stuck in a prison cell in Rome. Yet he makes it clear that there’s nothing that can tear them out of his heart. They are a Band of Brothers. Because once you’re teammates of grace, you’re always teammates of grace.

Paul makes it clear that it’s “right for me to feel this way about you” (v7). He’s already told them how he thanks God as he remembers them (Phil 1:3). He’s always overjoyed to pray for them (Phil 1:4). They’ve been his partners in sharing the Good News from the very first day (Phil 1:5). Paul and the Philippians have been through the ringer together. God sent the apostle and his team to this Roman seaport during his second world tour. Dr. Luke was a member of that expedition and wrote all about their crazy days in Philippi in Acts 16:12-40. 

Jesus works through Paul to open the heart of a fashionista named Lydia, then freed a young lady from both demon possession and human trafficking, and even a grizzled prison warden and his family. It just goes to show you that Jesus doesn’t need a team of five-star, blue chip, first round draft picks to build a winning team! In the process, the Gospel turns Philippi upside down. There are riots that make Ferguson look tame. Paul and his traveling team go from shackled in chains to given the key to the city. Yeah, it’s a CRAZY story! Their shared experience in sharing the Good News makes them teammates of grace forever.

Fast forward some ten years later to somewhere around AD 61. Paul’s been in Roman custody for more than four years. After spending some time in Palestine, he’s appealed his case to Caesar. Now he’s in the capital of the empire waiting for his hearing. All the while, his Philippian teammates have never turned their backs on their friend and founder of their church. That’s why he tells them, “It is right for me to feel tho way about you all, because I hold you in my heart” (v7). Once a teammate, always a teammate.

The apostle calls his buddies “partakers with me of grace” (v7). Grace. Ah, there’s that word again. Jesus absolutely rocked Paul’s world with His descending one-way love. Grace isn’t just some throwaway Bible word. It describes God’s amazing goodness to His enemies. And if you’re wondering who those enemies would be, we would be them. You don’t have to tell Paul twice about grace. Once known as Saul, he was a one-man wrecking crew dedicated to wiping Jesus’ followers off the face of the earth. But a funny thing happened on one particular mission. Christ blindsides the man from Tarsus. The the number one murderer of Christ’s disciples becomes the number one missionary of His Gospel. You can’t make this stuff up! Grace became such overwhelming theme in his life that he starts and ends every letter with grace. Philippians is not exception (Phil 1:2; 4:23). 

Paul loves his teammates. They’re “partakers with me of grace” (v7). He uses a Greek term (Gr. sugknoinonos) that describes a joint partner, a fellow participant, or a teammate. In his letter to Roman believers, the apostle talks about how God grafted Gentiles into the goodness of His kingdom and we all now “share (Gr. sugknoinonos) in the nourishing” (Rom 11:17). In another letter, he tells the Corinthians that he will use every trick in the book in order to tell others about Jesus, “that I may share (Gr. sugknoinonos) with them in its blessings” (1Cor 9:23). Grace makes for interesting teammates. Grace makes for timeless teammates.

The man from Tarsus is in the joint (Acts 26:29; Col 4:18; Phm 10, 13). He makes it very clear that he’s a “prisoner for Jesus” (Eph 3:1). But his friends back in Philippi always had his back and are right there with their founding pastor every step of the way (Phil 4:14). While he’s behind bars, the Philippians show their love for Paul in very practical and tangible ways. They not only send him money but as their pastor too in order support the man that God used to tell them about Jesus (Phil 2:25). Because God has given them so much, they give so much in their generosity to Paul. That’s what it looks like to be teammates in grace.  

They’ve been there all throughout his “defense and confirmation of the Gospel” (v7) These are two legal and judicial terms. The Philippians stand by Paul during his seemingly endless wait for trial. But the apostle understands that his legal defense is actually so much more than that. It’s also the defense of his faith in Jesus. His buddy Peter encourages every follower of Christ to “always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect” (1Pet 3:15). It may not be in a court of law, but let’s all be locked and loaded to tell anyone who asks about the One who has come to our rescue.

Just in case the Philippians may have underestimated Paul’s feelings for them, he lays it all on the line. “I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus” (v8). This is not just a warm fuzzy feeling. We’re not talking Hallmark greeting card sentimentality here. While most translations use the term “affection,” it’s actually a little more graphic than that. Paul uses the Greek anatomical term splagchnon. It means bowels, intestines, or guts. In the Greco-Roman world, this word describes the human seat of passion. The apostle is expressing a gut-busting, life-sacrificing love for his Philippian family.

So who has God used to stand by you during dark days and hard times? Who has been there through the wars? Through the storms? Through the bankruptcies? Through the divorce? Through the chemo? Who has shown you gut-busting love? Who are your teammates in grace? And let’s turn it around. Who has Jesus placed in your life to stand with when life kicks the crap out of them? When the fecal matter hits the whirling device for a friend, that’s NOT the time to walk away and say “stinks to be you.” Stand with them. Sit with them. Be there. In another letter, Paul tells folks that God helps us through our mess so that we can be there with others in their mess (2Cor 1:3-5). That’s what it means to be a teammate of grace. Because once you’re teammates of grace, you’re always teammates of grace.