Philippians 1:12-20

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We come to an interesting passage in this first chapter of Philippians. There are three great insights into what happens as we live in the Kingdom of Jesus. First-Our negative circumstances result in spreading the gospel.

12Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, 13so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else, 14and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear.

Paul believes that his bad situation of being held in prison is turning out to be a tool in spreading the gospel further in two ways. One is that the whole Roman guard and everyone else have heard the reason for Paul's imprisonment. It's because of his stubborn stand for Jesus as the Messiah. They would never have heard the gospel, unless Paul had been imprisoned and caused all of the gossip and talk. Second, most of the brothers and sisters have been encouraged to speak the word of God more boldly and they have been moved to trust in the Lord because of this imprisonment.

Second-We must learn to rejoice that Jesus is being lifted up, no matter who does it and no matter their motives.

15Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will; 16the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; 17the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment. 18What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice,

Even when others preach Christ with bad motives, even from envy and strife, selfish ambition, or even if it is all a show, lifting someone's ego, we ought to rejoice that Jesus, the Messiah, is being proclaimed. Now that is a tough order. All of this is to say that the person is not that important, but only Jesus. Note that this must apply to anyone who lifts Jesus up, whether we agree with them, their culture or their theology or not. How does this feel? Last week I heard a Buddhist lift Jesus up. What does he know about "my" Jesus? Then I spoke with two Muslim Imams who expressed their enthusiasm about the power and teachings of Jesus. Who do they think they are? This has stretched me beyond anything I've ever experienced! Remember that the Lord was willing for the rocks to cry out, if everyone were to have kept quiet. Or even more vivid is the picture of God speaking through a donkey. This is at the core of what we have come to know as JESUS PLUS NOTHING!

Third-We must live with a confidence that everything is going to be OK.

19for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

Note where the confidence comes from. Through the prayers of fellow believers through the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Then note the reason that the confidence hangs on that Christ will be exalted in my body, whether I live or die!

I'm reminded again of that little poem: ONLY ONE LIFE TWILL SOON BE PAST ONLY WHAT'S DONE FOR CHRIST WILL LAST.

PHILIPPIANS 1:1-11

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Philippians is one of the many epistles that follow the five Gospels-Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and Acts. Epistles are not the apostles wives, but letters written to the followers of Jesus in various cities to encourage and exhort them in their walk. The book of Philippians is one of the few actual letters written to the believers. It isn't a treatise or theological study, but a personal letter from Paul and Timothy. It's also interesting to note that it is not just Paul alone who wrote it, but with Timothy. Note how many books in the epistles mention more than one author. We seem to miss that point too often. Jesus started this dynamic of doing things together-two by two-and how powerful it can be, even promising to be in the midst of two or three who come together in His name to do anything.

1Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons: 2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Note the term "saints". This is literally "holy ones" and it refers to the believers, but especially denoting that they are those who are separated unto God for His mission. There was never an understanding in the New Testament that there was a group of believers that were not on a mission for God, just spectators, but all were to be participators!

3I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, 5in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now.

This is a wonderful letter displaying our important it is to be focused on the "others" in your life-those other believers you are encouraging and bringing along in the faith-those you are walking with to this end. These believers were always in Paul's prayers and these were prayers of joy because of their participation in the gospel.

6For 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. 7For 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 all are partakers of grace with me. 8For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.

Here is one of the 3 promises mentioned yesterday. The prayers for these other believers were prayers of confidence that God was at work in them and that He would keep working in their hearts until Jesus returns. Note they were in his heart. Paul was imprisoned while writing this letter with Timothy's help. Although there are differing views as to where he was-Caesarea by the Sea or Rome, I believe this letter was written when Paul was in prison (actually house-arrest in Rome.) What makes this interesting is that he is overflowing with this letter of joy and love while he, himself, is locked up!

9And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, Note the prayer is that their love will abound more and more and that it will abound in the full, experiential knowledge of Jesus and one another and, that their love might abound in discernment-the ability to decipher right and wrong, wise and foolish.

10so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; 11having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Note the purpose of the prayer is "so that you may approve the things that are excellent". This literally means that they might TEST OUT you would a metal for its genuineness. Don't waste time with the things that don't matter, but test out everything in order to be walk more faithfully with Jesus and with one another until Jesus comes back.

QUESTION: Who are the others in your life and are you keeping them in your prayers? It is simply to easy to live your life ALL ABOUT YOU with a self-centeredness that ultimately becomes destructive to you. As a follower of Jesus, you are meant to be different from the world's ways. You are separated unto the Lord for His mission and His mission is for you to love Him and His people. WHEN YOU ARE ALL WRAPPED UP IN YOURSELF, YOU MAKE A VERY SMALL PACKAGE!

THREE PROMISES

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Before moving into the letter Paul wrote to the believers in Philippi, I feel the need to share with you three promises that can get you through your day-every day! I not only frequently use these for myself, but I also share these with people everywhere with great success! Let's walk through each one briefly.

FIRST-THE PROMISE OF GOOD ENDINGS. This is found in Romans 8:28-"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."

This promise is all about PROCESS which takes time to unfold. God will take all of our failures, crises and circumstances and work them together with something else for our good. "Together" is the operative word. The loss of a loved one is not good in itself, but God will cause this loss to work together with something else to bring about good. Divorce is not good. An addiction is not good. A disease is not good, BUT GOD intervenes and uses it to bring about good in your life. IF, you love Him (your heart is bent toward Him) and you are called according to His purpose (you are plugged into His will and His purpose or, that you are walking with Him).

SECOND-THE PROMISE OF GREAT ESCAPES. This promise is found in I Corinthians 10:13-"No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it."

This promise is all about PERSEVERANCE which is the most important ingredient when going through difficult times. When your life situation seems insurmountable like you are facing a high mountain range that blocks you from getting through it, God offers you a mountain pass. Note this is not a bailout, but it is the escape provided so that you will be able to get through it (endure it). You see, contrary to public opinion, THE BEST WAY OUT IS THROUGH!

THIRD-THE PROMISE OF GREAT EXPECTATIONS. This promise is found in Paul's letter to the gathering of believers in Philippi (Philippians 1:6)-"For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus."

This promise is all about PERMANENCE which is a welcome sight for those of us who live within a temporal world system. Paul expresses his confidence to the believers in Philippi that what God began in their experience (in their hearts) He will complete. And He will complete it in this life up until Jesus returns. This is an amazing earthly promise, not in the sweet by-and-by, but in the nasty now-and-now. What God began in the hearts of your family, He will complete in your friends, in your fellowship. The vital issue here is "WHAT GOD BEGAN", not what you began. It is speaking about the work of God in your heart.

Maybe the greatest problem in recognizing God's work in your life is that you are: 1. Out of touch with Him and insensitive to His promptings. 2. Out of touch with His fellowship and indifferent to the touch of His people. 3. Out of control in your life and find yourself wandering aimlessly.

NOTE that the promises are only as good as the Promiser! It's too easy to be caught up with the promise without being captivated with the One Who promises. The same is true of blessing. We embrace the blessings in our lives without being totally grateful to the One Who blesses! It is our nature to go for the prize without the process, without the perseverance and therefore we don't sense His permanence and presence in our lives.

HEAVEN TO EARTH CONNECTION-5

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We are moving through 5 movements that demonstrate what God sees as most important for us in relation to Him.

First--GOD WANTS TO WALK WITH MAN. Second--GOD WANTS TO DWELL AMONG US. Third--GOD HAS DEMONSTRATED HIS PHYSICAL, VISIBLE PRESENCE TO RELATE TO US. And the ultimate visible, presence of God is in Jesus! All the fullness of God dwells in Him! Fourth--GOD SENT HIS SPIRIT TO INDWELL BELIEVERS AS AN ALTAR, A TABERNACLE OR TEMPLE.

And now today, we come to the fifth movement. Fifth--GOD WANTS TO WALK WITH YOU--TO SHOW UP AMONG US.

It's all about being the church! God indwells you--His presence on earth is in you who are followers of Jesus. And, when you come together with other followers of Jesus, you are assembling (or churching) in His name. So every time you gather together in His name you are practicing being the church of Jesus. This doesn't mean at all that followers of Jesus are not to attend local churches. There is so much value within the organized church.

- Children's ministries - Youth ministries - Bible study series - Corporate worship together - Challenging messages from gifted teachers

However, there are two primary dangers: 1. When you "show up" at a church service and take in all of the wonderful ministries, it's too easy to think that this will suffice in growing you up spiritually.

2. When you "attend the show" without participating in a smaller, tight fellowship of followers of Jesus, you will miss what God's intent has been since the Garden. He wants to dwell among us and walk with us personally! The greatest epidemic today is to be addicted to going to church--checking in and checking off your responsibility to the Lord. There is so much more than this.

I've noticed something over the last few years that is astounding to me. I have watched people who have sat under some of the best Bible teaching ever, even sat under this teaching for years. Then, when that same person starts walking with another follower of Jesus (or 2 or 3), it's like he experiences a shot of spiritual adrenaline and it's life-changing!

Just today at lunch a few of us were discussing how a young couple in our little fellowship of Jesus followers is growing so much in their relationship with each other and with the Lord. What's interesting is that it isn't that they are hearing such wonderful teaching (including mine), but they are experiencing the power of the few.

Don't miss the power of the few. Jesus says, "Where 2 or 3 are gathered together in My name, I will show up there in their midst." This brings us right back to what God initially wanted to do with man--to be present with him and walk with him.

I ask you one more time. "If you knew Jesus was going to show up somewhere, wouldn't you do anything you could do to go there to be with Him?" So, link up with another follower of Jesus (or 2 or 3) and learn to walk together--to do life together. Jesus Who dwells within ya'll will show up among you! Try it out for yourself!

HEAVEN TO EARTH CONNECTION-4

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We are moving through 5 movements that demonstrate what God sees as most important for us in relation to Him.

First--GOD WANTS TO WALK WITH MAN. Second--GOD WANTS TO DWELL AMONG US. Third--GOD HAS DEMONSTRATED HIS PHYSICAL, VISIBLE PRESENCE TO RELATE TO US. And the ultimate visible, presence of God is in Jesus! All the fullness of God dwells in Him!

And now today, we come to the fourth movement... Fourth--GOD SENT HIS SPIRIT TO INDWELL BELIEVERS AS AN ALTAR, A TABERNACLE OR TEMPLE.

Just as God ordered Moses to build an altar and later directed that a portable tabernacle be built for traveling, then the Temple in Jerusalem was to be built--all dwelling places for God be present among His people.

Then when Jesus was teaching His disciples in during their last gathering together, He broke some interesting news to them. He said, "If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever-the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you."

The news? Jesus will be departing and the disciples will be given the Spirit of truth Who has been with them, but will not live in them--forever!

Later on in one of the letters written to the Corinthians we find Paul saying, "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? Therefore honor God with your bodies."

Paul with great emotion identifies the news Jesus announced to His disciples. It is simply this. The Spirit of God will now dwell within the disciples of Jesus permanently. The disciples of Jesus are now to serve as the altar, a tabernacle or the Temple--the actual dwelling place of God.

Now, do you remember the reason why God wanted to dwell in an altar, tabernacle or Temple? It was so that God could dwell among His people.

I hope you get this. All you have to do is to meditate on this for about 30 seconds and this truth could change your life and your lifestyle forever! You are now the very dwelling place of God on earth. This is why it is so false to think in terms of going to church or of visiting God at some building with a constructed altar in it. HE IS NOT THERE! He lives in the disciples of Jesus today. These disciples are the church. There is no sanctuary that people can "attend" on a Sunday. The disciples of Jesus--each one of them--are the "sanctuaries" of God--where God dwells.

Don't you get it? The same God of gods Who walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden, Who was in the burning bush, Who was in the cloud by day and the fire by night, Who was revealed in His fullness in bodily form in Jesus of Nazareth. This same God dwells in you who are followers of Jesus. Do you get it? So that He might bring His presence to earth and dwell among us.