 |
These are the concluding thoughts to Paul’s letter. He
returns again to where he began: his appreciation for their support over the
years. This relationship clearly has had a spiritual (and physical) impact
on Paul’s understanding of God and the Christian life. He knows that
God has used the Philippians to do the very things in Paul’s life that
Paul wants to see done in the church. Joy, dependence, thankfulness, gentleness,
cooperation in service, a global focus of ministry: these dynamics come from
the willingness to work side-by-side in following Jesus. He recognizes that
God was the source of both his provision and their blessing. He wants them
to be able to experience the full measure of God’s joy and fellowship.
Paul’s aim in recounting their partnership and the realities
surrounding it is to strengthen and encourage this group of people. Spiritual
partnership in ministry is mutually edifying. The word “communion”
or “community” means “to build one another up”. The life
of the church is this mutual sharing of meaning and purpose. This is consistent
with all of the Christian experience and history. God calls out people groups,
communities that move into the world and in their relationships and service
communicate to the world the presence of a holy God. This is the most pleasing
act of worship to God, the community of faith actively obeying him through
holy service to the world. (Exodus 19:1-6)
As the tenor of both Paul’s life outside of this letter
and his exhortations inside of it affirm, the world we are called to serve
together in is no easy place—it is a battleground. But the promise of
God that was borne out in Paul’s life is offered again to the Philippians
through Paul’s testimony: God will take care of you and give you the
victory in life as you obediently follow Him! That’s the clincher to
the letter. In whose hands are these beloved friends of Paul’s? God’s.
And who will provide what they need as they face their world for Him? The
Holy Spirit. And why is Paul so certain of this? Because they’ve all
experienced it together as a result of their partnership in ministry.
At any point in history, the church both as a global organization
and as small local entities has thrived and flourished when persecution and
crises were met head-on with a unified and passionate commitment to a clear
identity as priests to the world. In micro and macro ways, believers today
face constant challenges to the welfare and productivity of community life.
Any well-meaning group of believers wants to be able to stand tall and strong
and have an impact on their community. Any family wants this; any individual
wants this.
Personally and corporately, we hunger for our activities and
energies to mean something and to have some positive impact. There is nothing
more depressing and deflating than muddling along year after year in a local
church that seems to be invisible and impotent to make a difference. What
are the ingredients that give dynamic spiritual life to a community? When
we pray for revival, what is it that the Holy Spirit wants to come in and
revive? This isn’t a question here about how we go about getting life
back; it’s a question of what that life looks like when it comes.
Just before his ascension, Jesus promised His Bride, the Church,
that “you shall receive power . . . and you shall be witnesses to Me
. . . to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) This is just as true today.
The Holy Spirit is the agent that turns wandering, lost people who preferred
slavery over freedom into God’s special possession that are holy priests
to the world and a light to the nations. Becoming this kind of people involves
a radical change, a transformation into holy people. Holy people are those
that with every aspect of life and relationship embody the basic truth of
all of Scripture: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
soul, and strength . . . you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Implicit
in this two-part command are two basic attitudes that run contrary to the
sinful heart but are normative in the holy heart: a deep, deep trust of God
that leads to willing obedience, and a compassion for others that leads to
selfless service.
In the Philippian letter, Paul’s relationship with this
church is a fleshed-out example of this in action. From his concluding thoughts
he states some basic axioms that characterize the spiritual healthy community
of faith. The healthy community demonstrates compassion for others. The healthy
community demonstrates contentment in all circumstances. The healthy community
demonstrates confidence throughout daily living. These three axioms produce
a community that has an impact of their world . . . an impact being talked
about two millennia later.
When holiness is taken seriously and is experienced by the community,
it transforms the way everything gets done. The holy life that is shared brings
clarity of purpose, mission, and spiritual identity that stands strong in
the face of difficulty and trial. Radical individualization is a hallmark
of western and American culture. That individualism has too often been co-opted
into the church. Too much of modern Christianity’s thinking is “me
and Jesus”; getting biblical often means just adding “Paul”
to that mantra. However, Paul is clear. Faith in Christ means entering into
the daily lives of others and as a family becoming like him together. The
appropriate response is to evaluate our community in light of Paul’s
exhortation and act in whatever ways necessary to live up to the Philippians’
example.
(For the full manuscript of this sermon
go to www.preachersmagazine.org and click on “Sermons”)
This sermon is a good opportunity to paint an inspiring picture for your church of what the Body of Christ can be like. The characteristics described in here get beyond strategized programming and structure. They imply a body where compassion, confidence, and contentment, even through rough times, are natural and normative. Draw from current situations in the church family or immediate community. What examples can you find there of people experiencing contentment in time of need or making sacrificial investments for the sake of the ministry? What effects or impact was experienced as a result?