Doors closed. Too late. Close the door.
Good to see everybody today. Any good? You guys see William and the girls back there in their lavender outfits? I’m matching up. You look good. Good group.
Sue has the same color on. Sarah’s coordinating. All right.
Good morning, everyone. O’Brien’s right there. Yeah, we’ll have a group picture out in the yard by the— is it?
Lord, we thank You for time to be together and for sharing the fellowship of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. We thank You that we once were lost and now we’re found, and we have a new life to share with one another. We just rejoice in that fellowship today.
I pray You’d grant grace to share some things here today and that they would be of value. In Jesus’ name.
Well, I’ve been looking at the book of Philippians for a while, and I just had a few thoughts from the book of Philippians today.
The title of that book is Paul’s Epistle to the Philippians. That’s in the old New American Standard title. The new New American Standard says, Paul’s Letter to the Philippians.
It just strikes me that this is a personal letter to these folks he knew so well in Philippi. You know, some of the other letters from Paul were dealing with issues; he was dealing with principles. Ephesians was the great purpose of God, and of course we’ve been reading 1 Corinthians, which has some issues to try to deal with.
But here, he’s just writing a letter. He was in prison, limited in one way, but he wrote a letter to his church, to his friends in Christ, to his family in Christ. So it’s really good.
Has anyone ever heard the term, “the art of letter writing”? The art of letter writing. What’s the art of letter writing?
Well, first of all, how do you write a letter? The last letter writing I remember is my mother kept telling me, “Why don’t you write me a letter from college?” Your parents ever bug you to write a letter? You wrote in pen and paper—pencil, paper—made mistakes.
But you took time and you thought about it. You had to think about it: What do I want to share with these people I’m close to? It’s personal. You tell people how you’re doing, what’s going on in your life, and find out what’s going on in their situation. It’s personal.
It takes some thought, and it’s a little bit different than a text. A text is just like zip, zap—you just write it. I’m not sure there’s a lot of communication going on in texts. There are ideas going on, but it’s not communication.
Anyway, Paul communicated in this letter, and the things that he communicated were much encouragement to them. The encouragement came not merely from the things that he taught and the principles he was preaching, but I think it came from who Paul was—who he was in Christ.
Through those things he wrote, he shared his life, and it was a great encouragement to the saints. As I was thinking of how he lived his life before these ones, I’m pretty sure that the way we communicate the most of our faith in Christ is by the lives we live.
How do we live before the saints? How do we live before our family, our wives, and our children? I think we see who Paul is, and we get the greatest encouragement from who he was as expressed in this letter.
Okay, so I had six points. That seems like a lot, right? But some of them are pretty short. I always say six. I want to say six points so I won’t go home and my wife will say, “I couldn’t keep track of where you were. What were you talking about?”
Paul’s relationship with the Philippians was special. Let’s turn to Acts 16—Acts 16:6-15.
They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia.
And after they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them.
And passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.
A vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing and appealing to him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
So, putting out to sea from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace—how do you say that? Samothrace, Samothrace—and on the day following to Neapolis;
and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia, a Roman colony.
We were staying in this city for some days.
This is where Paul’s relationship with the Philippians starts.
And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to a riverside, where we were supposing that there would be a place of prayer; and we sat down and began speaking to the women who had assembled.
A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.
And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay.”
And she prevailed upon us.
So this church here in Philippi started in simple faith. Paul had a burden to share with them, and they came out to the riverside to pray and seek the Lord. He touched Lydia’s heart.
We’re going to talk about what we see of Paul. First of all, in that passage, he was listening to the Spirit of Jesus. He was listening. He had communion; he had a conversation going with the Lord.
Secondly, he got interrupted. His plans got interrupted, and he didn’t get upset. What happens to us if our plans get interrupted? I’ll tell you what happens to me. I say, “Oh, man. I can’t go to Harvey Cedars this year because I’ve got to stay here.”
Well, maybe the Lord has something better for us. So we learn from Paul: he was willing to hear the Lord and not be frustrated by a change in his plans.
We also see in this interchange that the start in Philippi was by simple faith. God was speaking, Paul was speaking what the Lord had given him, and Lydia opened her heart.
Immediately, the fruit of the Spirit came out, and she responded to him and asked him to come and stay with her. Simplicity of faith and response in spirit.
Something else we see is that they’re continuing on. What began in simple faith continued in simple faith. So let’s go back to Philippians from Acts and read Philippians 1:3-11.
I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,
always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all,
in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now.
For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you are all partakers of grace with me.
For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.
And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment,
so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ;
having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
So what began in simple faith continues and is built on simple faith in Christ. Their fellowship is in the Lord.
Just think of the way Paul regards them. His relationship with them comes out here. He says in verse 4, “Always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all.” You know, he loved them. He prayed for them.
Then in verse 6: “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” The Lord was working faith in them, and Paul acknowledged it and thanked the Lord for it.
Then later on, he says in verse 7, “I have you in my heart.” And in verse 8, “For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.” So there’s this simple, built-up fellowship in faith.
Here was a guy who had been a Pharisee of Pharisees and now was the apostle of apostles. Yet he humbled himself with his family in Christ. He did not elevate himself because of some kind of position; he just shared Christ with them. What a great lesson that is.
He chose to fellowship with them on the basis of their faith. Another thought came to mind: that simplicity of faith is expressed in 2 Corinthians 5:16.
Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer.
Paul had this attitude not to know them according to the flesh. I’m sure, like the other letters, there were probably real issues in Philippi. You know, just like we’ve got issues about issues. But he didn’t dwell on it. He shared common faith in Christ and encouraged them.
So, a couple thoughts: What did Paul do? He was stuck in prison. What would you do if you were stuck in prison and had to write a letter? What would the purpose of your letter be? Anybody?
“Complain.” “Get me out of here.” “Herb, I’ve been missing you, my good friend, buddy. Can you see how you can get me out of here?”
Paul didn’t do it. He was a prisoner of Christ, and so he turned to the Lord in the midst of it.
So, when we’re in trouble, there are two things. Paul wrote a letter to his friends. When we’re in trouble, we need to be constrained to think about reaching out to them—not be ashamed to admit that we might have an issue, but say, “Hey, Jerry, I need to talk to you. Help me a little bit.”
Don’t hide. We’re not called to hide. We all love one another and help each other. But we’re also not supposed to be obsessed with our problems.
Who remembers one of the last things about Job? After Job went through all that he went through, the Lord restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends. So we get set free from our problems and our issues when we pray.
Paul was praying for them. He was in prison; instead of being bound, he prayed for them, and he was restored.
Okay, that’s number one. There are only five more to go. Some of them are pretty short.
Secondly, what did Paul do that could be an example to us or an encouragement? He rejoiced. Paul rejoiced in prison.
From Philippians 1:18 to Philippians 4:10, he used the word rejoice. Kenny, have you studied this book? How many times did he say “rejoice”? You always remember everything.
So I counted seven times. In some other versions, I think there might be references to rejoicing seven times. This word used for rejoice is chairo. I think it’s kind of like charis—it might be the same word.
We should rejoice and be glad because of God’s grace poured out on us. His rejoicing was a direct result of God’s grace. Praise God.
What can we find about this rejoicing? Philippians 3:1:
Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord.
To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you.
Rejoicing is a safeguard for us. It’s a powerful spiritual exercise. When we rejoice from the bottom of our hearts because of our great salvation, we have to turn our eyes off the world and off our circumstances and worship the Lord.
It’s not a stirring of our soul. It’s a deep work in the spirit to rejoice in the Lord.
Paul emphasizes that elsewhere in his writings. In Colossians 3:1-4, he says:
Therefore, if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.
For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
Setting our hearts on the things above causes us to rejoice. Also, rejoicing is a choice. Paul chose to rejoice. Philippians 1:18 says, “Yes, and I will rejoice.”
In his dire circumstances, he made the choice to rejoice. It is a spiritual exercise. If we will choose to rejoice in difficult circumstances, it will be deliverance for us—for sure, for sure.
Our rejoicing is an encouragement to one another. Philippians 2:17-18. This is Paul. He says, “I rejoice and share my joy with you all.” Sharing and rejoicing.
Then in verse 18, “I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.” A mutual rejoicing, mutual encouragement.
We often talk about coming to prayer meeting and having a song—starting with bringing a song and a hymn—not just singing, but rejoicing in the Lord as we come to pray.
What a great thing. Choose to rejoice. It sets us free from all our circumstances, washes our feet from the things of this day, and sets our hearts on the Lord. So when we come to pray, rejoicing is a great thing.
Just a little bit of a personal testimony on rejoicing: I’ve felt that singing unto the Lord is a great, powerful thing in my own life. It’s just wonderful.
Sharon and I started, let’s say, four or five years ago, singing a couple hymns together in the morning. Those hymns will fill your mind for most of the day. It’s a good thing to sing unto the Lord. It’s a powerful tool.
Of course, I’ve been kind of organizing—or reminding us about—the Making Melody time on Saturday night. That’s not because somebody assigned me a duty to do these times; it’s because I think it’s wonderful to be together and make melody together.
It’s a great encouragement to me. So that’s a little selfish, but I think the testimony coming out of songs and hymns is really powerful.
We’ve looked at this passage in Ephesians 5:15-21:
Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise,
making the most of your time, because the days are evil.
So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,
speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord.
It’s a most powerful thing we have. We had this little leadership conference here for these few days, and to hear some of these men sing with their whole heart unto the Lord was a great encouragement.
Standing there close to Dana, just singing away—and you know who’s a great singer, Kenny? You probably didn’t hear him. Ezra was really singing unto the Lord—Ezra and Helen. So it’s a great thing to sing unto the Lord.
Just a little aside: I’m often familiar with hymns. Some of the old hymns are really not—they’re kind of dead, you know. They’re kind of— But some of the hymns are really good.
The hymns were written as a way to communicate the gospel and given lively tunes. So I love to sing the hymns, and I love to sing a lot of the new choruses.
But let me just say one little thing about the new choruses. We need to be careful that the thought in the choruses is accurate and based on the Word. We also need to make sure that they don’t just stir up our souls.
I can’t answer that for anyone, but there’s a danger, or a possibility, of just stirring up our souls. We’re meant to sing in the spirit to the Lord.
Some of my favorite songs are Chorus 324, “We Will Glorify the King of Kings,” by Twila Paris—sitting at her piano singing that song. That’s a modern song.
Hymn 6, “How Great Thou Art.” These hymns really get us off ourselves and looking to the Lord. Hymn 78, “Rejoice, the Lord Is King.” Great songs of worship.
In Ephesians, Paul says, “Rejoice in the Lord always.” I mean, in Philippians—I wrote the wrong one. Philippians 4:4-5:
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!
Let your gentle spirit be known to all men.
The Lord is near.
So the hymns really get our attention off ourselves and give us a good anchor. But rejoicing—whatever it is—rejoicing, and particularly rejoicing in song.
The third thing, number three of six: just a couple comments on humility. Paul makes a real point of humility in this letter. Roger shared on humility recently in Ephesians.
Philippians 2:1-4:
Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion,
make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.
Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit,
but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;
do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
Humility is the currency of the faith. Humility is the currency of the faith.
Paul was a Pharisee of Pharisees, right? He was a great man. He was also an apostle called by God. But by this time, his natural strength had been dealt with, and he could humble himself before the saints.
Just writing this letter shows that he was a humble man. He valued the love of the saints.
That was number three. Number four: I’ve always been struck by Paul’s attitude in this book, particularly as we go on in chapter 3.
His gift to the church, his ministry, was just measureless. It seemed like he had arrived. How could you do anything more than the apostle Paul did? What do you think his last name was? We never know, do we? All the apostles. Anyway.
It seemed like he could just rest and coast, take it easy, even quit. But what he did was seek the Lord. I think this thing is unbelievable.
You know, I’m seventy. I’ve been a believer for—not fifty years—but some days you just like to coast and give up.
But he says, in Philippians 3:1-6, he talks about his history as a Pharisee of Pharisees and counting it all as loss. So let’s read Philippians 3:7-14.
But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord,
for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,
and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law,
but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith.
I thought he already gained Christ—that I might gain Christ.
That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;
in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect,
but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do:
forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
As I said, this is a real encouragement to me, being my age and seeing that there is no coasting, no quitting—pressing on to know the Lord.
What a great word he had: “the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus”; “that I might gain Christ”; “that I might know Him”; “I might press on.”
Obviously, this is a word to us who are older, but I think there’s a similar word and application to those who are younger.
This world will take everything you’ve got. It will take all your attention and your affection, even if you’re younger. I just want to encourage those who are younger not to waste the days God has given you.
Whatever age we are, let’s not waste our days, but let’s be pursuers of God in Christ Jesus.
So, a great testimony. We talk about Paul—what he did and what he said more than what he taught. He just shared. That was a letter, and he shared that he was pursuing Christ. What a great thing.
The fifth one is a passage we’re probably all familiar with: Philippians 4:6-9.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Another word there is garrison—your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus; guard or garrison.
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute,
if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
I don’t know if we can say this, but I think Paul was familiar with dealing with anxiety. We don’t see that in him, but he says, “What you have seen in me.” He’s encouraging the saints here.
What you’ve seen and heard in me—and isn’t anxiety a huge issue today? You hear about it on the news, tied into this world and its cares and all the places and situations we’re in.
But his encouragement was, “Be anxious for nothing.” It’s an issue, being anxious, and there is a way to be dealt with.
The first thing we can do is tell the Lord about it. Communicate with the Lord. Don’t just take it in and hold on to it, but release it to the Lord.
Prayer and supplication—that’s a pretty strong thing, supplication. That’s a real crying out to the Lord: prayer and supplication.
Some of us have that personality where we want to control things tightly, but this is to no avail, and we get anxious.
I want to use an example that Brother Kong has used over the years. I think it came from one of the Watchman Nee books. Anybody who remembers where it is can tell me later, but I can’t remember.
He drew a picture of scaffolding in China, and they were building a brick wall. They didn’t have heavy equipment, so they had a series of scaffolds.
One guy down below would pass all the bricks up to me. I’d pass them up to the next level to Kenny, and then Kenny would pass them up to Jerry.
But if Kenny starts passing me bricks and I don’t pass them on, what happens?
Nothing gets built, or I get buried in bricks. I just get buried in bricks because—did I say you were sending them to me? I forget. But Jerry’s a good worker, so he’d probably pound me.
So I’ve got to take those bricks and move them on up. Got to keep moving the bricks up.
It’s the same thing with our anxieties and our cares and so forth. We need to let go. Let go.
We also need to do it in a spirit of thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is another form of rejoicing. So: prayer and supplication with thanksgiving.
I just want to read what happens, the result of letting everything go. God will garrison our hearts. If we hold on to the things—He says, “Don’t dwell on them.” First of all—wait a minute, wait, wait, wait. I got messed up.
Okay, so we need to let go of the things. If we have that interchange with the Lord, the peace of God will guard our hearts. This word garrison—we talked about this Friday night.
I couldn’t remember where that translation of the word guard was garrison, and one of the sisters found it in the Amplified—one of the choices in the Amplified.
But Strong’s says it is “to be a watcher in advance; to mount guard as a sentinel; to protect.” And Thayer says, in a military sense, “to guard, protect by a military guard; prevent hostile invasion; or keep the inhabitants of a besieged city from flight.”
So if we give our things to the Lord, it’s going to keep the enemy out from pouring more bricks on us, and He will garrison our hearts and minds. It’s a great thing.
But then the last point of this anxiety is that we have a responsibility, right?
We have a responsibility because it says here:
Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute,
if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
If we’re anxious, we rehearse things. We dwell on them; our minds race, and we give ground to the enemy. So the Lord is calling us to dwell on the positive things of the faith.
Set your minds on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. Dwell on these things. Our minds get stuck in a pattern, and we dwell. Dwell on the Lord. He’ll garrison our hearts and minds.
Well, now this is six—six and final. Yeah. Anyway, I want to share about the grace of giving.
Do you ever share about giving here? Not much. I don’t tend to have a ministry on giving. There is a great ministry on giving, and I don’t have it.
But I brought some books out here by Brother Kong—I always forget—on 2 Corinthians, and that’s on 2 Corinthians 9. Thanks, Sharon. My knee hurts.
Spiritual Life by Stephen Kong. There are some copies over there. Everybody’s welcome to one. He has a great section.
Let’s read Paul’s attitude toward giving. We’ll read a lot of verses, but then—Philippians 4:10-20.
But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity.
Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.
That’s a great lesson. It’s a great lesson from Paul: “I’ve learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.”
I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity;
in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction.
I mean, what a great attitude. “I don’t have too much. You guys, maybe you could send me a little bit.” No.
You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone;
for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs.
Paul always worked, right? He was always willing to work and make tents.
Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account.
But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent,
a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.
Their giving and supporting Paul was a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, and well-pleasing to God.
And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
“My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches.” That’s right in the middle of the giving. It’s not a method, but—anyway.
This whole message of giving and receiving was much a part of Paul’s ministry here.
I think one of the things that happens with this matter of giving is that most of us have probably come out of an organized church, and we’ve probably reacted to a lot of the things that go on there.
When I was a young man, my father was—I don’t know what he was on. I think when I was a boy he was probably on the church board of directors. Every year they had the “every member campaign.”
That was to go out and get pledges from everybody, get everybody to fill out a pledge card. Then you had little envelopes you filled out, and you wrote in how much you were going to give.
Then they had a treasurer who kept track of it, I think, and let you know if you were getting behind on your pledge.
I think that was probably pretty common. That wasn’t just—you know, because the church outfits print all those envelopes and give you a whole little system to keep track. I can understand reacting to that.
Years ago, I was asked by someone if I wanted to buy a brick to build a church building, to be part of building a church.
And one of the greatest things is passing the plate. Boy, does that put pressure on you. Everybody else watching how much you put in?
Jim, do you remember they had little envelopes on the back of the pew, and you could get one, seal it, write your name on it, and stick it in empty? Nobody would know.
Oh, yeah—well, they know you.
I know one guy used to take a larger bill and wrap it around a bunch of ones and throw it in the plate. Did you ever hear that?
We had a little girl, now a grown woman, who met with us, and she went off to a wedding somewhere or went to some other church, and they passed the plate. She took some out. She helped herself.
Anyway, another great place where we always got the handout is the televangelist. Oh my goodness. “Invest. Invest in this ministry.”
Okay. But we’ve come out of that system, and the controlling thing in our giving ought to be, first of all, giving to the Lord.
Our lives are given to the Lord and serving Him. Giving financially is not an issue. Romans 12:1-2 gives some perspective for that.
Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,
so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly:
if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith;
if service, in his serving;
or he who teaches, in his teaching;
or he who exhorts, in his exhortation;
he who gives, with liberality;
he who leads, with diligence;
he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
Giving is part of our spiritual life. Paul was really thankful. He rejoiced over their gift. He said they had done well to share. The profit increases to your account. It is a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, and God shall supply all your needs.
But if we’re set free from the form of giving, isn’t that great? What we’re left with is more difficult, right?
In the Lord, how are we going to be responsible with what He’s given us? How are we going to give? It’s more of a challenge. It’s a challenge to each one of us personally to consider what the Lord would have us be giving.
If you ever looked at the financial summary up here, we’re just a small little dot in Christianity. But most of what we give out here is given to others locally and extra-locally, and it pays for the building.
We’ve helped people in tragedies, and we’re not paying for any preachers or directors of Christian education. But there is a place to be giving, sharing, and supporting the Lord’s work.
All right, so what have we said today? We want to look at Paul’s life and see that, more than teaching in this book of Philippians, he expressed his life in this letter before the Philippians.
We see what encouragement we can get from a brother who was very much given to the Lord and close to these saints.
So, of the six things: his relationship with the saints was really wonderful. It began and centered in simple faith in Christ.
Number two: Paul rejoiced and shared his rejoicing spirit with the saints. Rejoicing is powerful.
He was humble before them. As I stated, humility is the currency of our faith.
Number four: his attitude, at the end of his days, was that he might press on to know the Lord. That’s encouragement to young and old.
The fifth thing was that he gave us the antidote to anxiety. Then finally, the grace of giving.
So Paul encouraged and built up the saints by how he lived his life before them. Our greatest effect will be how we live our lives in Christ before one another.
Let’s close, and we can prepare for ham and green beans and potato Easter dinner.
Lord, we thank You for Paul being transparent with the saints in Philippi and just sharing who he was by writing this letter. He didn’t hide. He had nothing to hide. He just shared Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, in his life, and he was an encouragement.
I just pray that we might be those who encourage one another by how we live our lives before each other.
Lord, You get the increase. May we be those who live a life of pursuing Christ and gaining Christ. In Jesus’ name.