God. Never. Lies.

“in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began” (Titus 1:2)

Who’s let you down? Who’s failed to deliver on their promise? Who’s used you to get what they want by selling you a load of fecal matter? Let’s run down the list of the usual suspects. First of all, there are politicians. You can tell when their lying because their lips are moving. Then you’ve got the used car salesman. He’ll tell you what you want to hear so he can put you behind the wheel of that car today. Ever fallen for the sleazy pitch of cable infomercial? If you’re in the market for a pill to melt away your love handles or the secret to flipping houses on somebody else’s dime, operators are standing by! 

But I have some good news. Some VERY good news! When it comes to liars, God is THE Outlier. He’s the one we can always trust to be truthful. In the beginning of his letter to his protege Titus, the Apostle Paul wants him to be absolutely sure of God’s truthfulness, especially when it comes to His promise of everlasting life. “In hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began” (v2). I don’t know about you, but if there’s one thing I don’t want anyone fudging on the truth, it’s eternal life. That would be the ultimate bait and switch. Paul tells us we can relax because our Heavenly Dad isn’t pulling our leg when it comes to our eternity. 

God. Never. Lies.

First let’s back up and get a little context for what’s going on here. God has been using Paul and Titus to tell everyone on the island of Crete about the Good News of Jesus. Through Christ, God has thrown open the doors of His kingdom to every race, culture, language, and socio-economic group. Back in the day, the only way to get an invite to the party was becoming Jewish. Not any more. As a result, the Gospel is absolutely blowing up on this Mediterranean island. God has another assignment for Paul back on the mainland in Nicopolis in what we know today as Greece (Titus 3:12). Since there is still a boatload of work left to do on Crete, he hands the ball to his boy Titus (Titus 1:5). What a great lesson of trusting in Jesus to accomplish what needs to be done through others! For all you workaholics out there, stand down. There’s only one Savior. While He’s graciously invited you and me to be part of His work, He was doing this for a couple of thousand years before we got involved. Paul is totally confident Christ will use Titus to get the ball across the goal line. 

A huge part of this incredible Good News is the mind-blowing benefits package. In Jesus, we have “hope of eternal life” (v2). It’s all part of God’s overflowing love for you and me (Jn 3:16). Everlasting life is available to anyone and everyone who places their trust in the Son of God. Christ did for us what we could never do for ourselves. He was completely obedient to every single command of God. Jesus lived the perfect life I failed to live. He died the death for my disobedience and sin I should have died. He rose to a glorious new and eternal life I don’t deserve. 

First of all, we need to know that eternal life starts NOW!! Don’t believe me? How about Jesus? Well, He said exactly that. “Whoever hears My words and believes Him who sent Me HAS eternal life” (Jn 5:24 emphasis added). Once Christ gets us in His supernatural Kung Fu grip, He won’t let us go (Jn 6:39-40). We can be absolutely sure of this because God has “sealed us with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance” until the day it is fully realized (Eph 1:13-14). So this everlasting and overflowing life isn’t a pie-in-the-sky-sweet-by-and-by sort of deal. Eternal life starts the moment we place our faith in the resurrected Rabbi/Carpenter from Galilee. Eternal life starts right here, right now. 

This “hope of eternal life” (v2) is a game changer and brings with it endurance, patience, and perseverance. I don’t know about you, but life on this side of eternity is incredibly hard a lot of the time. It’s not exactly a skip down the primrose path with my pet unicorn under a Skittle rainbow. But our relationship with Jesus allows us access to His resurrection power to handle everything our fallen world throws our way. As a result, we can share in His sufferings, die with Him and fully experience the resurrection of the dead (Phil 3:10-11). The garbage we face in this fallen world pales in comparison to our glorious eternity with Jesus (Rom 8:18, 25). God promises to guard our eternal inheritance and guarantees it to be “imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you” (1Pet 1:3-5). 

But how can we be sure God isn’t just selling us some heavenly swamp land or an eternal time share? Paul wants us to be sure that He’s our “God, who never lies” (v2). This is no supernatural switcheroo. We can take it to the bank. One of the big ideas throughout the Bible is that God is the source of truth, He can’t do anything but tell the truth. King David praised God because “Your words are true” (2Sam 7:28). Even a slimy prophet for hire named Balaam had to admit, “God is not a man that He should lie” (Num 23:19). The writer of Hebrews goes so far as to say it’s absolutely impossible for God say anything but the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth (Heb 6:18). Jesus had the audacity to say He IS the truth (Jn 14:6)! So it’s not surprising when Christ describes the Third Person of the Trinity as “the Spirit of Truth” (Jn 14:17).

God. Never. Lies.

This is going to be a big deal to Titus in wrapping up his mission. You see, Cretans are known liars (Titus 1:12)! The followers of Jesus should stand out from the crowd because we are truth tellers. Remember, He created us in His image and commands us to stop fudging the facts and shading the truth (Ex 20:16). Speak truth. Stop lying. Stop spinning things to make yourself look better. Just so you’ll know, the book of Proverbs promises that liars won’t get away with it in the end (Prov 19:9). Thought you’d like to know.

Our truth telling God wants us to count on this eternal life which was “promised before the ages began” (v2). This wasn’t some idea He cooked up for the New Testament. We’re talking so long ago that God hadn’t even invented time at the time. Over in his letter to the church in Ephesus, Paul explodes in praise for all that God has done for us in an incredible run-on sentence of worship. In the original Greek, Ephesians 1:3-14 is actually one incredibly long sentence. In it, the apostle cranks up the Flux Capacitor to let us know how God “chose us in Him before the foundation of the world…In love He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ…In Him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined” (Eph 1:4, 5, 11). Without going into a mind-numbing explanation of Calvinism and election, the best picture here is that God has been loving you and me long before He got around to creating the universe. God actually saved us in an incredible expression of His descending, one way love “which He gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began” (2Tim 1:9). Think about that for just a second. God loved you and planned to come to your rescue long before Adam and Eve fell for the lies of that satanic snake. 

God’s love for you and me won’t run out. He promises to finish what He started in our lives (Phil 1:6). He promises a spectacular life in His presence for all eternity. And we can take it to the bank. He doesn't have His fingers crossed behind His back. He's not going back out on His pledge. We can trust Him BECAUSE His lips are moving!

God. Never. Lies.

Me Third

“Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth which accords with godliness” (Titus 1:1).

Great servant leaders realize they can’t do it alone. They understand the importance training others and eventually handing off the work to someone else. They understand they serve those in authority by serving those they shepherd. In the opening lines of his letter to Titus, the Apostle Paul gives us a classic picture of “Me Third” leadership. “Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth which accords with godliness” (v1). He’s serving God as Jesus’ official representative. The Godhead sends him to serve Jesus’ followers and build up their trust in Him. The apostle doesn’t want to be number one. He’s not looking to be ranked second. His rightful place in the polls is third. 

And now the apostle has handed off the very important project on Crete to his boy Titus. We’ll dig a little deeper into Titus’ bio and his relationship with the apostle down in verse four. At this point, just know Paul understands that he’s not only serving His Savior, the Christ followers of Crete, but also his handpicked replacement for this critical mission. It’s not about Paul. Not even close. This is about making Jesus famous on this Mediterranean island. This is about growing the faith of His followers there. This is about allowing a young gun named Titus to spread his wings as a leader. Yeah, this is NOT about Paul.

A few years back, you never would have never dreamed this kind of servant leadership from Paul. Back then everyone knew him as Saul, one of the rising stars in the Jewish faith. I mean the dude was Hebrew hot stuff (Phil 3:5-6). He was born and raised in Tarsus (Acts 22:3), a town on the southeastern coast of modern day Turkey. He eventually went off to school and studied under greatest rabbis of the day, the great Gamaliel (Acts 22:3). The young stud completely flips out when Jesus and His followers challenge much of what he believes. Saul becomes so passionate about wiping the Way off the face of the planet that he runs the coat check table at Stephen’s stoning (Acts 7:58-60). Before you know it, he begs Jewish leaders to let him go a search-and-destroy mission for the folks who actually believe the Rabbi/Carpenter from Galilee is the Messiah (Acts 8:1-3). As a one-man wrecking crew, Saul doesn’t just arrest Jesus’ followers. He hunts them down and murders them (Acts 22:4). 

That all changed on one of his patented black ops missions to Damascus to rub out another pesky rebel cell. The resurrected Jesus personally blindsides Saul. He simultaneously blinds the man from Tarsus and opens his eyes to the truth of who He is (Acts 9:1-9). Christ turns Saul’s life upside down. He goes from murderer to missionary. Jesus transforms this assassin to an apostle. Just in case you think Jesus can’t turn a life around, remember what He did with Saul. When Christ gets His mighty mitts on you, anything is possible. He specializes in selecting rejects and using them in ridiculous ways (1Cor 1:27-29). He did it with Paul. He can do it with you. 

Paul describes himself as “a servant of God” (v1). In other words, he plays the God card in a very humble way. He doesn’t puff out his chest and say he’s a vice president with the company or some sort of big shot. Nope. He’s a servant. Just in case you’re unclear on just exactly what comes with that position, it does NOT include a corner office, a key to the executive wash room, and private elevator. On the other hand, Paul lets us know that he’s working for the Ultimate Authority. He may only be a servant, but he comes with some serious cred. 

The former Pharisee is also “an apostle of Jesus Christ” (v1). So just what is an apostle? This title has kind of lost its original meaning over the centuries. One reason is that we don’t exactly run into apostles at Starbucks these days. Back in the first century, this word “apostle” (Gr. apostolos) described anyone who was a handpicked delegate serving as a someone’s official representative. In other words, the person doing the sending gives them the same power and authority of the sender. So when the Apostle Paul speaks or writes, his words carry the same oomph as our Savior. He starts a lot of his letters by letting folks know he’s writing as the Lord’s official rep (Rom 1:1; 2Cor 1:1; Gal 1:1; Eph 1:1; Col 1:1; 1Tim 1:1; 2Tim 1:1). And he does it again here. Yeah, so being one of Jesus’ apostles is a pretty big deal. 

While there are no longer any living capital “A” apostles, every follower of Jesus is His official representative. Just as His Heavenly Dad sent Him into our world on the greatest rescue mission the universe has ever seen, He sends you and me. He sends us with His gracious invitation to be part of His kingdom. He sends us with the message of forgiveness and grace found only in Christ. You and I may not be apostles, but He personally sends us out into the world as shiners of His light and spreaders of His salt. 

Paul says God has given him this specific assignment “for the sake of the faith of God’s elect” (v1). In other words, the Lord is using Him to build up the trust of those who have placed their trust in Jesus. On this side of eternity, our faith is going to struggle at times. Like the dad who went running to Jesus to heal his boy, we both believe but desperately need help with our unbelief (Mk 9:23-24). The apostle’s role is to help folks grow their faith in God. Like Hans and Franz, he’s here to pump…you up! Who are those people God has placed in your life to pump up your faith in Jesus? Maybe Christ has put you in a position to build up the trust of others. Never miss a chance to point folks to who Jesus is and what He’s done. As we’ll read a little bit later, faith not backed up by action is dead as a doornail. 

We build up the faith of others by helping them with “their knowledge of the truth which accords with godliness” (v1). By truth, Paul means Jesus. Christ Himself had the audacity to claim He is the personal embodiment of “the Truth” (Jn 14:6). Not just A truth. But THE Truth. So just what is the truth about the Truth? Jesus lived the perfect life we failed to live. He died the death for our disobedience and sin we should have died. He rose to a spectacular new life we don’t deserve. In other words, Jesus did for us what we could never dream of doing for ourselves. 

The truth of Jesus and His Gospel changes everything. It “accords with godliness” (v1). Godliness stands out. The more we trust and obey our Lord, the more we stand out from culture. Do you do what Jesus tells you to do? Does your life of obedience to Christ contrast with the world around you? Do you handle money differently than others? Do you love your family differently from others? Do you work at your job differently than your coworkers? Do you interact with your neighbors differently than the rest of the people on your cul-de-sac? If you’re trying to remember His instructions, they’re pretty simple. Love God. Love others. According to Jesus, that’s the perfect way of obeying everything in the Old Testament (Mt 22:35-40).

We see here that Paul’s bottom line has nothing to do with Paul It’s about serving god. It’s about being sent by Jesus. It’s about building up God’s people. It’s “Me Third.” In college sports, everybody is working their tails off to get to the top spot in the polls. Not Paul. He’s fine finishing third. And in God’s rankings, that’s last. God first. Others second. Me third.

Grace Comes Full Circle

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit” (Philippians 4:23).

All great stories finish where they started. The end of the movie or book wraps up with a strong connection to the opening scene. Everything that’s happened to the main character in the beginning has a whole new meaning in light of all that’s occurred. Think about Rosebud in “Citizen Cane”. There’s the box of chocolates in “Forrest Gump”. How about the opening and closing cemetery scenes in “Saving Private Ryan”? 

Our man Paul loves ending his letters in the same place he starts them. Philippians is certainly no exception. Once again, he bookends his note with God’s amazing grace. “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit” (v23). The very last verse mirrors the opening lines. “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil 1:3).  Bookends of grace. That only makes sense. God’s glorious Gospel starts with grace and it ends with grace. The apostle wants us to know that Jesus’ grace always comes full circle. What goes around comes around.

Paul kicks off every single letter with greetings of grace. And he ends each one with more of the same. Every. Single. One. Don’t believe me? Let’s take a quick tour just to be sure. 

Romans 1:7 and 16:20. 

1 Corinthians 1:3 and 16:23. 

2 Corinthians 1:2 and 13:14.

Galatians 1:3 and 6:18.

Ephesians 1:2 and 6:24.

Colossians 1:2 and 4:18.

Philippians 1:2 and 4:23.

1 Thessalonians 1:1 and 5:28.

2 Thessalonians 1:2 and 3:18.

1 Timothy 1:2 and 6:21.

2 Timothy 1:2 and 4:22.

Titus 1:4 and 3:15.

Philemon 3 and 25.

Be sure this is no quick cut-and-paste. The apostle isn’t wasting his time with some generic throw-away filler. One reason is that each and every word of Scripture is inspired by God’s Spirit (2Tim 3:16). Second, you didn’t just swing by Office Max for a pack of the papyrus used by authors like Paul in the first century. He’s not just scribbling randomly. There’s no waste when it comes to grace.

So just what is this grace that he talks so much about? The Greek word is charis, which means undeserved kindness, goodwill, and favor. The best way to try and wrap your brain around it is as a totally unexpected gift. It’s God’s blessing from the blindside. Grace is so surprising because we’re so rebellious. It all started when our first parents fell for the lie of a satanic snake (Gen 3:1-7). We continued our terrorist campaign against God’s kingdom throughout the centuries (Rom 5:10; Col 1:21). That’s when the craziest thing happened. Instead of dropping His divine hammer and putting a stop to this ridiculous revolt, He sent His sinless Son to rescue us and bring us into His family (Jn 3:16; Rom 5:8). We did nothing to deserve to be saved. As a matter of fact, someone once said the only thing we bring to our salvation is the sin that makes it necessary. A great definition of grace is God’s descending one-way love. 

Yeah, so grace is a big deal. A VERY big deal. Paul wants us to never forget where we would be without God’s overwhelming and undeserved goodness headed in our direction. But notice the subtle difference from the apostle’s grace greeting at the beginning of this letter (and others) with what he writes here at the close. The epistle lifts off with “grace TO you” (Phil 1:2) and lands with “grace…WITH your spirit” (v23). Grace comes TO us. Grace stays WITH us. And that’s EXACTLY how it works in every one of Paul’s letters. Grace TO you. Grace WITH you. Feel free to check those verses I listed above. I’ll wait right here.

The apostle opens each letter by personally delivering the grace of Jesus. Then he signs off reminding us of the overwhelming goodness from God to us in Christ that never ends. Grace TO us. Grace WITH us. It’s this mind-bending benevolence that rescues us in the first place. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Eph 2:8-9). Once God overwhelms us with His grace and uses His kindness to turn us back to Him (Rom 2:4), all we do is place our trust in who Jesus is and what He’s done for us. He lived the perfect life of obedience to God’s Law we failed to live. He died the death for our sin we should have died. He rose to new life we don’t deserve. By placing our faith in Jesus, we embrace His grace. 

Christ’s grace is to “be with your spirit” (v23). The Greek word here (Gr. pneuma) basically means breath or wind. Think pneumatic. More specifically, Paul is talking about our very life spirit and the immaterial part of our human personality (Lk 8:55; Acts 18:25; 1Cor 5:3; 2Cor 7:1). Remember that God created us in His image (Gen 2) and He Himself is spirit (Jn 4:24). In a letter to the church in Rome, the apostle says our own soul/spirit connects with the indwelling Spirit of God in such a way that we know without a shadow of a doubt that we’re God’s very own kids (Rom 8:16). In other words, God’s grace goes deep inside us and touches us in a powerful way. Jesus doesn’t apply it topically. Or as the Message so wonderfully crafts this verse, “Receive and experience the amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, deep, deep within yourselves” (v23 The Message).

Everything starts with grace. It ends with grace. Just like it does in Paul’s letters, God’s goodness bookends our lives. It goes deep into your very soul and impacts every aspect of your life. Because of His grace, I love because I’ve been loved. Because of His grace, I give because I’ve been given. Because of His grace, I serve because I’ve been served. It starts with grace. It ends with grace. Once the goodness of Jesus pours into my life, it has to flow out. You see, grace always comes full circle. What goes around comes around.

Greetings from Caesar's Palace

“Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. All the saints greet you, especial those of Caesar’s household” (Philippians 4:21-22).

Back in a previous millennium before the days of email, texting, Facetime, and Facebook, you would drop a postcard in the mail and let folks back home know about your vacation. These handy dandy cards came with some sort chamber of commerce picture of the place and a “wish you were here!” cheesy greeting. Let’s face it, most of the time you didn’t REALLY wish they were on vacation with you. The point was to make people insanely jealous. 

Well our man Paul may be in Rome, but this is no vacation. He may be staying in Caesar’s Palace, but he’s not in the penthouse. Most likely, the apostle is in the basement. In the dungeon. He writes to his friends back in Philippi to make sure they tell everyone there that he says “hello!” He wants them to know that he’s far from lonely. Despite being in a Roman prison, but God has placed all sorts of fellow Christ followers around Paul. Greet believers wherever you are. There are more around you than you realize. The simple act of reaching out to fellow followers will let you know you’re never really alone.

Remember the scene. The apostle has spent nearly five years locked up after an angry mob nearly kills him at the temple in Jerusalem (Acts 21:27-36). He does time in Jerusalem (Acts 21:37), Caesarea Maritima (Acts 23:33-35), and, after one of the worst Mediterranean cruises on record, Rome (Acts 28:14-30). While he’s there, Paul writes a series of letters to churches in Colossae, Ephesus, and his buddy Philemon. Sometime before his release, he fires off one more note to some of his favorite folks on the planet. The church in Philippi. He’ll never forget his first crazy days when he brought the message of Jesus to Europe (Acts 16:12-40). He wants to make sure everyone there knows he’s doing just fine, thank you.

Paul wraps up this letter by telling the Philippians to “greet every saint in Christ Jesus” (v21). He certainly wants to make sure all his friends know that he says “hey” from Rome. But there’s more here than a generic shout out to his buddies in Macedonia. The apostle actually commands the church to make a point of greeting and building a relationship with each and every saint. The grammar in the original language is very specific. He could have very easily told them to greet all the believers. But he didn’t. The man from Tarsus instructs them to individually interact with each follower of Jesus. 

It’s important to remember that churches are made up of individuals. Jesus lived and died for every person who walk through the front doors of your foyer. Every. Single. One. For you. For me. For the lady in the Lexus. For the dude in the Dodge. For the weird woman and strange man who sit in the back. Paul tells us to “greet every saint in Christ Jesus” (v21). The verb “greet” (Gr. aspazomai) means to literally embrace or draw to oneself. It’s the idea of treating someone affectionately. We’re not talking about some casual, mail-it-in kind of “howdy.” Interestingly, in his letter to the Roman church, the apostle instructs them, “Greet (Gr. aspazomai) one another with a holy kiss” (Rom 16:16). You can argue all you want about cultural context, but it seems pretty clear to me that public displays of affection among the followers of Jesus should be the standard. 

If someone is a fellow believer, reach out to them. We’re not to pick and choose who we’re to greet. We’re not scouting the room, trying to pick out who we’re going to hug. If they’ve placed their faith in who Jesus is and what He’s done, that’s all we need to know. Don’t leave anyone out. This isn’t just about the people who like you or look like you. Jesus has bulldozed all the racial barriers. He’s crushed all the cultural walls. He’s knocked down every economic roadblock. If they’re saints, greet ’em up! And we’re not just talking about the awkward “meet and greet” part of the worship service.

Paul’s not the only one who sends his best. “The brothers who are with me greet you” (v21). We already know that his protege Tim is hanging with him in the Eternal City (Phil 1:1; 2:19-23). No surprise there. The apostle met the young gun in Lystra (Acts 16:1-3) on his second tour of the Mediterranean Rim. Tim joined Paul’s posse just before rolling into Philippi. These bros may include Epaphroditus, the fellow the Philippians sent to help the apostle in prison (Phil 2:25-29). There’s a good chance there are probably more guys than are mentioned by name. Paul writes about “most of the brothers” with him (Phil 1:14). This could include Aristarchus, John Mark, and Jesus Justus (Col 4:9-11). Chances are Tychicus and Onesimus would have already hit the road delivering letters to Colossae, Ephesus, and Philemon. 

“All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household” (v22). It’s also clear that there are other followers of Jesus there. Now that they’ve greeted the saints back in Philippi, Paul passes along the greetings of the other saints in Rome. When he describes “those of Caesar’s household” (v22), he’s not just talking about members of the royal family. According to John MacArthur, this also “would include courtiers, princes, judges, cooks, food-tasters, musicians, custodians, builders, stablemen, soldiers, and accountants.” This would include the very prison guards assigned to keep an eye on the apostle. Earlier, he talked about the irony of how God is using his time behind bars as a means to spread the grace of Jesus in Rome. “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. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear” (Phil 1:12-14). 

When Saint Paul talks about saints, he’s not talking about Drew Brees and the Who Dats in New Orleans. “Saints” literally means “holy ones.” While holiness certainly carries the idea of sinlessness and purity, the best idea here is that these followers of Jesus are different. You can tell them apart from everyone else in the Roman world. They live differently. They love differently. They work differently. How about you? Are you a “saint?” Are you a “holy one?” Do you stand out from the rest of the culture? When folks look at you, do they say “who dat?”

So how in the world has Paul made so many friends in Rome? Sure, he’s been in the slammer for a couple of years in the city, but that’s not the entire reason God has provided a wonderful support system for His apostle. You see, Paul has already written a letter to the church in Rome a few years back. Ironically, he told the Roman church that visiting the capital of the Empire was on his bucket list (Rom 15:22-29). He has a boatload of friends in Rome. In his letter to the Roman church, he says “hey” to not just Prisca and Aquila, but to 24 other individuals as well as two full families (Rom 16:3-15). No doubt that a lot of these same folks were wanted to send their greetings to folks back in Philippi.

There’s an old joke that asks about the difference between Presbyterians and Baptists. According to the punch line, Presbyterians will say “hello” to you in the liquor store. Paul encourages you and me to reach out and embrace the support structure that God has placed all around us. We don’t do life alone. We have brothers and sisters to encourage us, love us, and hold us accountable. Remember, following Jesus is a team sport. We’re not flying solo. There are no Lone Rangers for Christ. Reach out. They need you. You need them.

Making Father God Famous Forever

“To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen” (Philippians 4:20).

The latest Hollywood blockbuster is about to premiere. The next hot project from your favorite artist is about to drop. These are times when the PR blitz really gets rolling. Folks involved do everything they can to get the word out. TV interviews. Media tours. Talk show appearances. Email blasts. Social media campaigns. For a few days or weeks, it’s everywhere. You can’t avoid it. But suddenly, it’s over and becomes yesterday’s news. The fame fizzles. 

God has a completely different kind of media campaign. According to Paul, God’s glory never stops. Near the end of his letter to the church back in Philippi, the apostle lets us know God’s push for prominence has legs. It’s long lasting. His fame goes on and on and on and on. “To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen” (v20). You can’t stop it. You can’t even hope to contain it. Why doesn’t His fame ever fade? Because He’s the only One truly worthy of the spotlight. He’s the only One who truly deserves the applause. He’s the only One truly worthy of the standing O. Giving Him glory means making God the Father famous forever. Period.

After thanking God for His overwhelming fire hose of grace (Phil 4:19), Paul can’t write another word without celebrating. He doesn’t want anyone to misunderstand the source of this lavish love. The result is this direct response to His jaw-dropping goodness. The apostle’s words here are what smart dudes in seminaries call a doxology. When I was a kid growing up in a Southern Baptist church, the doxology was the song everybody sang from memory when the ushers carried those plates full of cash back to the pastor. But it’s a whole lot more than a 20-second tune after the offering. 

Doxology literally means “glory words.” We see them all throughout Scripture (Lk 2:14; Rom 11:36; 16:27; Gal 1:4-5; 1Tim 1:17; 1Pet 4:11; Jude 25; Rev 1:6; Rev 7:12). When Paul cuts loose with these words of glory about the goodness of God, it’s nothing like the drone I heard in church as a child. He’s so excited about what Christ is doing, he can’t contain himself. This little letter his friends in Philippi is all about his joy in Jesus. According to Bengel, “The doxology flows out of the joy of the whole epistle.” The man from Tarsus may have spent the past five years behind bars, but that can’t rip the joy of Jesus from his heart. As a matter of fact, it’s this joy of the Lord that gives him the strength to endure no matter his situation (Neh 8:9; Phil 4:11-13).

So just what is this glory Paul’s so excited about? Let’s dig into the original language. “Glory” is the Greek word doxa. which means splendor, brightness, brilliance, magnificence, excellence, splendor, or grandeur. It’s what puts the doxa in our doxology! You can be sure the apostle doesn’t throw this term around willy nilly. And why would he? He’s a eyewitness of Jesus’ glory. He’ll never forget the day he was blindsided by the resurrected Rabbi/Carpenter just outside of Damascus. Christ’s appearance was so dazzling that “I could not see because of the brightness (Gr. doxa) of the light” (Acts 22:11). That’s what happens when you catch a glimpse of God’s glory. It’s like looking into a spotlight. 

We read about this supernatural shimmering just about every time God pulls back the curtain of heaven. Just ask the shepherds outside Bethlehem the night Jesus was born (Lk 2:9). How about the time Christ took His inner circle up to the mountain? Not only does Jesus suddenly start to glow, but Moses and Elijah “appeared in glory (Gr. doxa)” (Lk 9:29-32). Jesus tells His posse that the world won’t miss His spectacular return because of His glittering glory.(Mt 24:30; 25:31; Mk 8:38; 13:26; Lk 9:26; 21:27). 

But the glory of God isn’t just about what we see, it’s about what we feel. The Hebrew word in the OT for “glory” is kavod. It carries the idea of weight or heaviness. To experience the glory of God is feel the weight and importance of God. To know His glory is to be under His heaviness. Jonathan Edwards writes that God’s glory is the weight of all He is. C.S. Lewis’ book “The Weight of Glory” goes into great detail about our response to the load of God’s incredible love for us. His grace has gravitas.

Paul doesn’t want us to miss the fact that God the Father’s glory goes on “forever and ever” (v20). He uses the little Greek word aion not once but twice. It’s a time term that means era, age, or eternity. We get our English word eon (or aeon) from it. For geologists, this is the longest continual measure of time. Astronomers define one billion years as an eon. But these scientists still don’t have a clock that will last long enough to count God’s glory. The era of God’s glory is forever. And ever. And ever. And ever. His publicity blitz never ends.

The apostle ends this never-ending doxology with “amen” (v20). For the longest time, I this was simply the way to sign off our prayers. Basically the divine equivalent to “over and out” on a walkie talkie. But this incredibly underrated word has rich implications. “Amen” means truly, so be it, certainly, let it be, this is indeed true, or that’s the way it should be. Today we might say things like “You got that right!” or “Dang straight!” or “Word!” Paul wants his friends back in Philippi to know that giving Father God all the applause for all time is the way things should be. The resurrected Jesus describes Himself as the ultimate “Amen” (Rev 3:14). When you say “Jesus,” you’ve said it all. “Amen” is a first century mic drop.

So what’s the point? What does this have to do with me? Am I supposed to do something with all this? Paul wants us to know that God the Father is forever famous. The question isn’t whether we’ll make Him famous. He’s going to get His glory. The only question is how we do it. Here’s the deal. Everything single stinking in the universe shines the spotlight on His goodness. Will I make God famous through my worship of Him? Or will I make Him look awesome through my sin and disobedience? Just in case you don’t think that’s possible just take a quick look back a Calvary. Father God took the murder of His sinless Son and transformed it into the most glorious moment in the history of the universe. He’s going to get the glory. And He’s going to get it forever. Period.

Here’s where the rubber meets the road for Jesus’ followers. When we give God the glory, it’s a good thing for us. We’re blessed that whatever brings God glory also brings us the most good. R.C. Sproul says, “Because you and I are in Christ Jesus, His glory and our good are linked together. Because we are united with Christ, whatever is for His glory is also for our good. And whatever is for our good is for His glory.” According to John Piper, we’ll find the ultimate satisfaction and happiness when we’re making God famous and finding our total satisfaction in Him. “The pursuit of our interest and happiness is never above God’s, but always in God’s. The most precious truth in the Bible is that God’s greatest interest is to glorify the wealth of His grace by making sinners happy in Him—in Him!” Piper drops the bottom line. “Our interest and His glory are one.” 

So if you and want to experience the overflowing and abundant life that Jesus talks about (Jn 10:10), let’s hop on the bandwagon and give God the glory He rightly deserves. His glory=our good. His fame rolls on and on and on. It’s not some short term publicity campaign that’s gone in a few weeks. The Message really sums up this idea. “Our God and Father abounds in glory that just pours out into eternity. Yes” (v20 The Message). He’s the only One truly worthy of the spotlight. He’s the only One who truly deserves the applause. He’s the only One truly worthy of the standing O. Giving Him glory means making God the Father famous forever. Period.

God's Fire Hose of Grace

“And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

Too many times my prayers sound like Oliver Twist begging for more gruel. “Please, sir. I want some more.” I’m willing to ask God but for some stupid reason I picture Him as a stingy Mr. Bumble from Charles Dickens’ classic novel. Where did I get this horrible picture of my amazingly generous Heavenly Dad?!? He’s a far cry from some heavenly tightwad who only dolls out room temperature porridge by the thimbleful. 

Here in the closing verses of his letter to the church in Philippi, Paul paints a picture of God’s overwhelming grace to His kids. “And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (v19). This isn’t some kind of twisted fundraising letter from some prosperity gospel televangelist promising you a six-figure salary if you just send him a check for his new private jet. Far from it. This is a letter from a prisoner in Rome (Phil 1:7, 13) to one of the most broke congregations around (2Cor 8:1-2). 

Now read this verse one more time. God won’t just give you a little bit here and there. He’ll “supply EVERY need” (v19 emphasis added). And He’s not looking at a limited budget during financial crisis. He’ll make it happen “according to His RICHES in glory” (v19 emphasis added). It’s just another stunning example of one of the Bible’s mega-themes. Paul desperately wants us to know and experience God’s mind-blowing generosity. When we rely on God, buckle up. He’ll blow us away with His fire hose of grace.

Every. Single. Time.

The man from Tarsus starts off this jaw-dropping idea by pointing back to his intimate and personal relationship with Almighty God. The one behind all this is “my God” (v19). He doesn’t just know a guy. He’s got the Creator of the universe on speed dial. When he writes to his various recipients, Paul always thanks “my God” for his friends and for how the Lord is  working in and through them (Rom 1:8; 1Cor 1:4; Phil 1:3, Phm 4). He’s already made it clear that pursuing anything other than a deeper relationship with Jesus is total waste of time (Phil 3:7-11). For the apostle, He’s “my God” (v19). Are you able to make the same claim? Is Christ your God too? 

Paul’s God is the ultimate source who “will supply every need of yours” (v19). When he talks about this supernatural provision, he’s NOT talking about God dolling out a few bread crumbs or making minimum payments. When we see “supply” in the ESV, the apostle uses the Greek verb plero’o. It means to fill up completely, cause something to become full, and provide the complete amount. We’re talking fill to the top. Supply liberally. Gorge. Stuff. Fill full. To the brim. Overflowing. God is ready and waiting to provide an endless supply. He loves it when His kids belly up to His divine all-you-can-eat buffet.

We’ve just read the very same word in the previous verse. Paul tells his friends back in Philippi “I am well supplied (Gr. plero’o) having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent” (Phil 4:18). Back in the opening moments of this letter, Paul prays that his friends in Philippi will be absolutely “filled (Gr. plero’o) with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ” (Phil 1:11). He also encourages them to fill his joy to the rim by being united in the Gospel (Phil 2:2). Check out a few other appearances of this fill-it-to-the-brim-and-overflowing verb. Jesus says God’s kingdom is like a net so full of fish it’s about to break (Mt 13:48). When our Savior first pours out His Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the jet engine roar completely filled every corner of the house (Acts 2:2). Sometimes when you go to a wine or beer tasting the amount in your glass barely gets your tongue wet. When God does the pouring, He doesn’t hold anything back. Talk about a generous pour!

One reason for God’s lavishness is His unlimited goodness. He’s able to do this “according to His riches in glory in Jesus Christ” (v18). You see, it’s not up to Paul. And it’s not up to the Philippians. It’s not based on what’s in their checking account or their 401k. The source of this over-the-top supply is God’s glorious riches. If you’ve not been paying attention, let’s take a quick look at His divine portfolio. He owns the universe. Take a look around. If you see it, it’s His. Cattle on a thousand hills, check (Ps 50:10). As a matter of fact, He owns the hill the herd is standing on (Lev 25:23). He also holds the minerals rights to His creation (Hag 2:8). Just in case you something might slip through the divine cracks, King David wrote a hit song about God’s total ownership (Ps 24:1). And if you’re a follower of Jesus, He paid a high price for you too (1Cor 6:19-20). So it’s not like He’s running out of grace. Jesus isn’t worried about having too much month left at the end of His money. There’s no budget crisis when it comes to Christ. And He’s ready to share. He wants to make His endless resources available to you and me.

This verse is STRONGLY related to Paul’s earlier statement about how he’s learned the secret of surviving and thriving in any and all situations (Phil 4:11-12). By finding his satisfaction in his Savior, the apostle is like an ATV of contentment. “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Phil 4:13). He desperately wants the folks back in Philippi to realize the very same truth. Our incredibly gracious and liberally generous God will absolutely blow our socks off when we find our contentment in Christ.

Maybe you’ve still got your doubts about God’s totally reckless generosity. I get it. I’ve been there. But just check out what His Word has to say. The whole deal starts with one of the most over-the-top acts of grace in history. Creation (Gen 1-2). The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are completely and totally satisfied relationally in the Trinity. God certainly didn’t create the universe and humanity in His image because He was bored and lonely. He did it out of His amazing grace.

His radical goodness starts on the opening pages of Scripture and rolls like a tsunami of generosity. David sings, “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want…My cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life” (Ps 23:1, 5-6). Later the same king cranks up another rock anthem about the party at God’s house. “They feast on the abundance of Your house, and You give them drink from the river of Your delights” (Ps 36:8).

God’s one-way love we call grace keeps flowing into the New Testament with the gift of His Son on our behalf (Jn 3:16). Jesus told His followers that if you really want to see His Dad get crazy with His goodness, start being generous yourself. “Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put in your lap” (Lk 6:38). Our Savior didn’t come to put us on a tight budget of limited resources. “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (Jn 10:10).

This is all part of God’s incredibly promiscuous plan to save you and me. Almighty God doesn’t use threats to soften our rebel hearts. It’s His incredible kindness that leads you and me to repentance (Rom 2:4). Once our Heavenly Dad entices us back into relationship with Him through His Son, He doesn’t suddenly cut us off. “He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?” (Rom 8:32). And His grace just keeps on coming. “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work” (2Cor 9:8). At one point, Paul seems to give up trying to write about God’s overwhelming grace because he can’t wrap his feeble brain around it. “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the work within us” (Eph 3:20). 

Paul wants us to know God is anything but Mr. Bumble. He’s NOT greedy. He’s NOT stingy. As a matter of fact, He’s anything but!! You see, when we rely on God, buckle up. He’ll blow us away with His fire hose of grace.

Every. Single. Time.

The Sweet Smell of Sacrifice

“I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God” (Philippians 4:18).

Men have a strange and wonderful relationship with cologne. It all started back when they were teenagers. Sometime around middle school, they actually want to be around girls and not keep them out of the treehouse. That’s also when they start using cologne for the first time. It usually starts with a quick splash of Dad’s Old Spice. But things escalate quickly. Before you know it, we buy our first bottle of Brut. That’s also when we guys buy into the lie that if a little smells good then a lot oughta be GREAT! (Hopefully, you’re not a middle age man and just hearing this for the first time!) The result is their aroma arrives about five minutes before we do. We also have a radioactive afterlife of almost an hour. Our aroma may be fragrant. But it is neither acceptable or pleasing.

In chapter four of his letter to his friends back in Philippi, Paul lets them know exactly what sort of fragrance God loves. “I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God” (v18). No, the Philippians didn’t send him a bottle of Drakkar Noir or Axe Body Spray. They’ve dug deep in order to provide their founding pastor some practical help during his time behind bars. The result is a beautiful aroma that rises all the way to God’s nostrils in heaven. And He absolutely loves it. You see, there’s no sweeter smell to Jesus than when we sacrifice for others. What's that cologne you're wearing? Is that "Acceptable Offering"?

In many ways, this book is actually Paul’s thank you note to a little church he started a few years back. When he and his crew first rolled into this Macedonian seaport and began telling everyone about Jesus, things got crazy very quickly. His personal physician Dr. Luke writes all about it (Acts 16:12-40). The story includes a fashionista named Lydia, a demon-possessed girl who’s a victim of human trafficking, and a brutal prison guard. Throw in a citywide riot, a little torture, a dungeon, some midnight worship in the cellblock, an violent earthquake, a prison break, and a suicide attempt. I’m telling you, you REALLY need to read your Bible! There’s some whacky stuff in there!! When you Google “how to start a church,” this probably wouldn’t be the model you’d follow. But God uses the apostle to plant the first fellowship in Europe. 

When these Philippian believers get wind that Paul’s doing time in Caesar’s Supermax, they send their man Epaphroditus to Rome with a care package. He writes and thanks them, “I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus fate gifts you sent” (v18). Earlier in this letter, the apostle expresses his sincere appreciation for sending the Big E to his side. Now it’s time for him to go home. “I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need” (Phil 2:25). The Philippians didn’t just sacrifice to send this man to Paul, it almost cost him his life! “He nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me” (Phil 2:29). Now that Epaphroditus’ has recovered, the apostle stuffs this note of thanks into his pocket and sends him home.

A quick read of verse 18 might lead you to believe the Philippians gave Paul a bottle of Polo. He talks about how they’ve sent him “a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God” (v18). The original Greek language here centers on the sense of smell. “Fragrant” is osme, which means odor, fragrance, and a sweet-smelling scent. Remember Mary’s extravagant act of worship for Jesus? She took a bottle of designer fragrance she had been saving and dumped it all over Christ. She “anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance (Gr. osme) of the perfume” (Jn 12:3). Imagine the beautiful bouquet in that house! 

Next the ESV translators use “offering,” but it’s actually another word (Gr. euodia) that makes you want to take a whiff of a sweet aroma. Interestingly, the other times we see this term in the NT, it’s always associated with a sacrificial act of worship. In his note to the Ephesian church, Paul says that Jesus’ love for us by offering Himself in our place is “a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Eph 5:2). And we see how God spreads the scent of our Savior everywhere we go. “But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance (Gr. osme) of the knowledge of Him everywhere. For we are the aroma (Gr. euodia) of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance (Gr. osme) from death to death, to the other a fragrance (Gr. osme) from life to life” (2Cor 2:14-16). The next time someone asks you what cologne you’re wearing, just say “Jesus.”

Unlike a teenage boy headed to a date, this particular aroma won’t choke a mule. It’s “a sacrifice acceptable to God” (v18). He actually LOVES the smell of the Philippians’ gift to Paul. When we give a present to someone, we always hope that it’s appropriate. We go out of our way to make sure it’s the right size and right color. Well, when we give sacrificially to help others, it’s always an appropriate gift to God. Giving to others is actually an act of worship. By giving to others, we actually are giving to God. Don’t believe me? Jesus told His posse that when we reach out and do something for those on the fringes of society, we’re actually doing it for Him even when we don’t realize it (Mt 25:35-40).

The Old Testament is full of sacrifices that smell great to God (Gen 8:20-21; Ex 29:18; Lev 1:9, 13, 17). The prophet Micah makes it clear that the Lord’s not looking for a barbecue grill full of steaks and burnt offerings (Mic 6:6-7). “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God” (Mic 6:8). Doing justice and loving kindness means doing for those who need help. On this side of the cross, we’re able to offer spiritual sacrifices that please God because of who Jesus is and what He’s done (1Pet 2:5). As a matter of fact, the writer of Hebrews directly connects many of the big ideas in the OT with Jesus and His followers. He says NT believers offer sacrifices similar to those at the temple. “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God” (Heb 13:16). He just loves the sweet smell of sacrifice.

Grown men learn to go easy on the cologne (hopefully). Paul says we don’t have to worry about putting on too much when it comes to a pleasing aroma to God. We can splash on all the sacrifice or giving we’ve got. Our Savior offered Himself for you and me. His Dad absolutely LOVED it! Feel free to splash on as much as you want. Go crazy. Our Heavenly Father can’t get enough of the sweet smell of sacrifice. What's that cologne you're wearing? Is that "Acceptable Offering"?

The Blessing Blocker

“Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit” (Philippians 4:17).

Ever known somebody who doesn’t get it? No, I don’t mean a person who doesn’t understand your dazzling wit or how to work the cable remote. I’m talking about somebody who simply refuses to receive something offered. A friend wants to help them out but instead of accepting their offer, they give it a stiff arm that would make the Heisman Trophy proud. They don’t get it because they won’t get it.

Accepting assistance can be hard. Nobody likes admitting they need help. We like to show the world just how tough and self-sufficient we are. When sucker punched by circumstances, there’s this weird game we play where we act like we’re some bizarre combo of Bear Grylls, MacGyver, and Rocky Balboa. I’ll show everyone how I can survive all on my own. I’m sure I can disarm this nuclear warhead with a thumbtack and drier lint. I believe I can go the distance if Mickey will just cut my eyes. I don’t need help. I got this. 

If anybody had the right to refuse help it was the Apostle Paul. The guy is an absolute spiritual stud. We’re talking about the person that God used to write most of the New Testament. Have you read his bio (2Cor 11:23-28)? Scourged by the religious police not once, but FIVE times. Beaten with rods three different times. Nearly rocked to sleep with real rocks. A three-time shipwreck survivor. Spent more nights behind bars than he can count. I’m telling you, the dude is nails. 

If that doesn’t convince you he doesn’t need your help, Paul tells his friends back in Philippi that he’s figured out the secret of satisfaction in every situation. Thanks to his trust in Jesus, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Phil 4:13). Sure sounds like a guy who doesn’t need a cotton pickin’ thing from anyone. Not from you. Not from me. Not from the Philippians. Not so fast.

Despite the apostle’s contentment in Christ, he readily accepts the care package delivered from the Philippians when Epaphroditus came to visit him in a Roman prison (Phil 2:25; 4:18). As a matter of fact, they have a long-running relationship of supporting the man from Tarsus as he tours the Mediterranean Rim telling folks about Jesus (Phil 4:15-16). Here in chapter four, Paul tells us that one of big reasons he readily receives support from the Philippians is for the blessing the givers are going to get from giving. “Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit” (v17). It’s not being selfish but being selfless. God does crazy stuff when we’re crazy generous. He loves to bless the one doing the blessing.

Paul makes it clear he wasn’t dropping hints to the folks of the Philippian church for help. “Not that I seek the gift” (v17). No passive aggressive ploys from the apostle. You know exactly what I’m talking about, don’t you? I’m pretty sure I would give anyone who would listen all sorts of not-so-subtle messages. “Do I need anything? No, I’m fine. Really. I’ve really come to enjoy my cold, dark dungeon. All the long, lonely months have given me time to catch up on writing the Bible. Some folks might be upset about the total lack of food. Not me. I’m back to my high school playing weight! I may be cold, lonely, and hungry, but I’m fine. Really, I’m fine.” I’m sure you’ve never resorted to such disgusting manipulation. Yeah, I didn’t think so.

You see, this isn’t about what Paul can get the Philippians. It’s all about what the Philippians will get from God. “But I seek the fruit that increases to your credit” (v17). The word translated as “fruit” (Gr. karpos) can actually just as easily be read as “profit.” The apostle talks like a certified financial planner to his client about building up their 401k. Instead of piling up cash for retirement, he’s all about helping his friends pile up God’s blessings. And the key to growing the Philippians’ profit is through the Philippians’ own generosity. Could Paul turn down their gift? Sure, he could. But he would be standing in the way God’s blessing to the funky church back in Macedonia.

So just how big a blessing are we talking about here? The apostle is looking for a supernatural windfall for his friends. He’s all about a profit “that increases your credit” (v17). Paul uses a Greek verb (Gr. pleonazo) that means to be more than enough, greatly abound, or overflow. In a letter to another Macedonian church just down the road in Thessalonica, he’s incredibly thankful to God at how “your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing (Gr. pleonazo)” (2Th 1:3). This isn’t a microscopic increase. You don’t have to squint to see the growth. It’s over the top and overflowing profit. It’s been super sized. God has decided to “go large” in His blessing to the Philippians because of their generosity. 

Paul wants us to see that God’s economy turns everything upside down. It’s not about being selfish, but selfless. This is not about what I can get. It’s about what I can get…for YOU. By receiving the generous gift from the Philippians, whether he truly needs it or not, the apostle understands he’s playing a key role in building their spiritual account (Prov 11:24-25; 19:17; Lk 6:38; 2Cor 9:6). Jesus calls this storing up “treasures in heaven” (Mt 6:20). It’s the gift of receiving. When the giver gives generously and the receiver receives gratefully, the Lord flips it around by turning His firehose of grace back on the ones who gave in the first place. Paul may not have asked for this gift, but he’s certainly not blocking their blessing. 

It’s just one more demonstration of how the Gospel does some absolutely whacky stuff for you and me. It’s a reminder of our spiritual condition before Jesus came to the rescue. We try to do it alone. We try to save ourselves. We spend our lives working our tails off to try and follow the rules to earn God’s approval. But we can’t. He demands perfection. That’s where Christ comes in. He lives the perfect life we failed to live. He dies the death for our sin we should have died. He rises to new life we don’t deserve.  Only when we humbly receive what Jesus has done for us do we gain entry into God’s kingdom. 

As a Pharisee, Paul spent his early life trying to dot all the i’s and cross all the t’s of the Old Testament’s rules and regs. Eventually he came to the difficult realization that his religious resume was no better than a big steaming pile (Phil 3:8). He came to learn the only thing to do is admit we all need a Savior and position ourselves under the waterfall of His grace. It’s only when he accepted outside help from Jesus that he received God’s ultimate blessing.

So how about you? Do you see yourself as you a stud of self-sufficiency? Do you continually turn down offers of help because you’re determined to relationally live off the grid? Have you ever considered how you’re impacting the lives of those around us? When we accept assistance, God allows us to play a critical part in His blessing of the giver. Whether we need it or not. Take a lesson from Paul. Don’t be a blessing blocker. 

Philippian Philanthropy

“And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the Gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for needs once and again” (Philippians 4:15-16).

Sometimes help comes from the most unexpected places. Somebody who would never imagine comes through in just the right way and at just the right time. Paul knows all about that. The Roman colonial seaport of Philippi may be in his rearview mirror, but the support of the local believers continues to drop in his lap. These brand new followers of Jesus aren’t exactly rolling in cash. Despite their poverty, they bankroll the apostle’s Good News road trip. Call it Philippian philanthropy. They give so much because they’ve been given so much. 

Paul begins by flipping back through the scrapbook and remembering those crazy days when he first rolled into Philippi. “And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the Gospel” (v15). This was during his second Mediterranean tour and the first time anyone in Europe ever hears about Jesus. Breaking news! The God of Israel is now throwing the doors open to His kingdom to the entire world, not just the Jewish people. Dr. Luke wrote all about how the time Jesus used the Gospel to turn Philippi upside down in his sequel we call the book of Acts (Acts 16:12-40).

Think about the Gospel Paul brought to Macedonia for just a minute. God makes salvation available to anyone and everyone by placing your trust in the resurrected Rabbi/Carpenter from the boondocks of Galilee. Jesus lived the perfect life of obedience to God’s commandments that we failed to live. He died the brutal death for our sin we should have died. He rose to jaw-dropping new life we don’t deserve. The risen Christ gives us what we could never ever dream of getting for ourselves. That’s the “beginning of the Gospel” and 2,000 years later, it hasn’t stopped. 

Yeah, it was a whole scene in Philippi. Conversions. Riots. Public flogging. A supernatural prison break. Even a bizarre confrontation between Paul and city officials where the apostle demanded public ceremony as his team left town. But Paul’s connection to the Philippian church didn’t end the day he packed up and hit the road. “When I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you” (v15). You see, the goofy little church in Philippi had Paul’s back like no other.

They give. They receive. By writing “giving (Gr. doseus) and receiving (Gr. lempseus)” (v15), the apostle uses financial terminology. He’s describing debit and credit. He’ll use that same language a little later in verse 17. Think QuickBooks. Picture a spreadsheet. Dave Ramsey would be proud. If the apostle was keeping a profit-and-loss statement for churches who provided financial support, he only had to keep one at this point. They do it out of gratitude. They do it out of love. Paul says this is the only kind of debt we should have. “Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law” (Rom 13:8). The fellowship at Philippi stood alone. Later, the Thessalonians and Bereans also gave significant cash to the cause (2Cor 11:8-9).

Their financial support continued to flow “even in Thessalonica” (v16). This was Paul’s next church-planting stop after leaving Philippi (Acts 17:1-10). Apparently things blew up after just three weeks of telling Thessalonian Jews that Jesus is indeed the Messiah they’ve been waiting for. Some believed, including many Gentiles as well as a significant number of powerful women. However numerous Thessalonian Jews didn’t buy what he was selling. Think Ferguson. Think Baltimore. As a result, the city erupted in mob violence and rioting with vigilante Jews going house to house, hunting down Jesus’ followers. Thessalonian believers were able to slip the apostle out of town one night down the road to Berea. 

During the those dangerous days in Thessalonica riots, the little Philippian church provided significant financial support to Paul. They “sent me help for my needs once and again” (v16). The money flowed from Philippi to their founding pastor not once, but twice. The apostle kept moving. The Gospel kept spreading. The money kept flowing. During his legendary stop in Athens and his amazing message on Mars Hill, the Philippians had his back. During his 18 months in Corinth, the Philippians had his back. And it’s not like they’re rolling in the cash. Their support for the apostle and his road trip was a huge sacrifice. In one of his letters to the Corinthians, he describes how the Macedonian churches’ poverty didn’t stop their generosity (2Cor 8:1-3). 

Macedonian tour stops include places like Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea. Jesus uses Paul and his posse to plant churches in each of these cities. After that, the apostle headed south on the Grecian Peninsula to the Athens and eventually Corinth (Acts 17:6-18:18). While the names of the cities continue to change as the Gospel tsunami washes across the Mediterranean Rim, there’s one constant. God’s love and support for Paul through the Philippians. And nobody saw the philanthropy of the Philippians coming. 

The Philippians give because God has given so much to them. Our incredibly giving God has placed them under the waterfall of His grace and they know it. He gave us His Son (Jn 3:16). His Son gave us His life (1Jn 3:16). He gave us His Spirit (Jn 14:16-18, 26; 15:26; 1Jn 4:13). God is remaking us in His image. There is no great Giver in the history of the universe. He’s making each one of us into overflowing givers too. 

The Philippians get that. How about you? Stop and think for just a moment just how amazingly generous God has been to you. As the old hymn says, “Count your blessings, name them one by one.” Do a little accounting of God’s goodness in your life. Family. Job. Health. Home. Church. I don’t know about you, but it sure seems like I’ve been on the receiving end of the firehose of His grace. I can’t help but give because I’ve been given SO much! That’s what it means to be a giver. I’m to be generous with my money. I’m to be generous with my time. I’m to be generous with my talents. And if you knew me a few years back, you would have never seen that coming. Talk about help from an unexpected source.

The Philippian Rickroll

“Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble” (Philippians 4:14).

Nobody likes to be under pressure. Oh, there are a few people who perform well when the chips are down. Let’s be honest, there’s not a person on the planet who has a smile on their face when they suffering is inevitable. We’ve given it a variety of names. Oppression. Affliction. Distress. Misery. Hardship. No matter what we call it, it’s still unwelcome and unwanted. 

Yet here’s the deal when we’re in the meat grinder of life. It reveals who are true friends are. It sorts out who’s really standing by our side. Remember the words of Ulysses Everett McGill in “O Brother Where Art Thou?”. “I guess hard times flush the chumps.” Let’s face facts. Life is anything but rainbows, unicorns, and an endless supply of Skittles. It’s hard. Sometimes VERY hard. When you get the crap kicked out of you, who’s there to pick you back up? 

Paul knows about pressure. He writes his letter to the church in Philippi from a cellblock of Caesar’s Supermax in Rome (Phil 1:7, 17). All indications are that he’s been locked up for about five years. He tells his friends how he’s uncovered the secret of satisfaction no matter his situation (Phil 4:11-12). Because he has everything he’ll ever need in Jesus, no one can ever take away his contentment (Phil 4:13). Because the Philippians have gone out of their to help their brother out (Phil 2:25; 4:18), the apostle wants them to know he’s INCREDIBLY grateful for all they’ve done. “Yet it was very kind of you to share my trouble” (v4). When people put the squeeze on the former Pharisee, he found out quickly that his friends back in Philippi wouldn’t ditch him. They are partners under pressure.

The apostle points out how he didn’t have to do his prison bid all alone. Despite being 800 miles away from their founding pastor, the Philippians “share” in his situation. He uses the Greek verb sugkoinoneo, a compound word that we can literally translate as teammates together. It describes how we participate together in something or take part in a joint activity. This term paints a picture of faithful partnership and sympathetic attitude. 

Think of a football team. When the opposing receiver beats the cornerback on a deep ball for a touchdown, the entire defense gives up the points. You win as a team. You lose as a team. That’s exactly how Paul sees his relationship with his brothers and sisters back in Macedonia. They win together. They lose together. They are his teammates in spreading the amazing story of Jesus to everyone who will listen. 

The apostle thanks the Philippians for standing strong by his side in “my trouble” (v14). I’m sorry, but “trouble” seems to be a serious understatement of his situation. The Greek word here (Gr. thlipsis) describes intense pressure. This is suffering brought about by outward circumstances. We’re talking affliction, oppression, distress, suffering, and hard times. Remember, Paul is behind bars. We do know that for part of his two years in Rome, he lived under house arrest but was chained to a prison guard (Acts 28:16, 30). But Paul’s still a prisoner who’s feeling the pressure. 

It was just a few years back that Paul was known as Saul and was personally putting the squeeze on the followers of Jesus. The up and coming Jewish superstar from Tarsus ran the coat check table at Stephen’s stoning (Acts 7:58-8:1). He then became a one-man wrecking crew against the Way (Acts 8:3). Dr. Luke uses the very same word when describing “the persecution (Gr. thlipsis) that arose over Stephen” (Acts 11:19). At one point, Saul applies the pressure. It won’t be long before Paul is feeling the pressure. 

But a funny thing happens to the apostle. He comes to understand that God won’t waste one bit of the stress and strain of these hard times on His children. “We rejoice in our sufferings (Gr. thlipsis), knowing that the suffering (Gr. thlipsis) produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Rom 5:3-5). And a big part of that is because we don’t face it alone. We have partners under pressure.

Long before Rick Astley musically pledged his faithfulness, Paul’s spiritual family showed their love and support over the long haul. “Never gonna give you up. Never gonna let you down. Never gonna run around and desert you. Never gonna make you cry. Never gonna say goodbye. Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you.” Call it the Philippian Rickroll. 

Who’s always there for you and stays there with you? Who’s that friend you always find at your side not just when the bottom falls out but stays out for a long, long time? Turn it around. Are you the one who hangs in there for the long haul? When a buddy finds himself between a rock and a hard place, do you crawl in there with him and stay awhile? 

We do this because Jesus promises to never ditch us or turn His back on us (Mt 28:20). Our Savior didn’t just swing by for a quick drive-by rescue. He’s Immanuel, the God who is with us right here, right now (Mt 1:23). He’s right by our side when we “walk through the valley of the shadow of death” (Ps 23:4). Christ is never gonna give you up. He’s never gonna let you down. Never gonna run around and desert you. He’s your Partner under pressure.

Call it the Philippian Rickroll.