Philippians 4

5 04 2014

Verses from this chapter seem to be everywhere I go at the moment.

We’ve just done it in church and at housegroup, and I just keep seeing it quoted on twitter, on facebook, in devotionals, all sorts of places. So I thought today I’d just read it through again in one go, and share…

It’s full of so many “quoteable” verses, so many nuggets of wisdom and things to reflect on. Each time I read it, something else jumps out at me!

I was going to bold some of my favourite bits, but actually I don’t want to influence your reading of it, so I’m just going to leave it as is… enjoy.


Closing appeal for steadfastness and unity

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!

I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.

Final exhortations

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Thanks for their gifts

I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Final greetings

Greet all God’s people in Christ Jesus. The brothers and sisters who are with me send greetings. All God’s people here send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.


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Joy

31 03 2014

I’ve posted the first definition of Joy below on here before among a longer article, but it’s come up so many times in the last couple of weeks I just wanted to share it in it’s own space.

Joy is an interesting concept. We so often think of joyful as just being happy, but it really isn’t.

In the bible it says “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: rejoice!” – Philippians 4v4. “always” would imply even when you aren’t happy.

Joy = “Unnatural reaction of deep and steady thankful trust in God”

Joy is not about how we should feel, but how we should think.

It’s almost a head vs heart thing.

When I was little my Grandma taught me the Acrostic below:

Jesus first
Others second
Yourself last

update 1st April: I’ve just added below 2 of the songs I love that focus on Joy 🙂


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Gospel Perseverance – Philippians 4 vv 1-9

24 03 2014

We had a great sermon this weekend – here’s the passage and my notes 🙂

“Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!

I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

This passage gives us things to watch out for so we can stand firm in the Lord and persevere in our faith (v1)

  • Unity with other Christians – vv2-3
    Soldiers would stand shoulder to shoulder, and if they didn’t break rank they were virtually invincible.
    The enemy is looking for cracks and divisions in the church to exploit.
    One of the most common causes of church splits is personality clashes.
    In this example Paul doesn’t take sides.

    Disagreements, disunity and unforgiveness can weaken the church and destroy our faith.
    Warmth of close Christian friendship strengthens the church and builds our faith.

  • Relationship with the Lord
    Paul gives three ways to do this

    • Enjoy the Lord – v4
      Paul mentions rejoicing 16 times in Philippians, but not a certain style of joy.
      Joy may be expressed in silence, tears, delight or peace.

      The ground of our joy can never be in our circumstances.
      If our joy is based on our circumstances, then when they change we’ll be miserable.
      Our joy and delight must be in the Lord.

      When you get down in the dumps, read the promises of Christ.
      Try reading Ephesians 1 vv 3-14 and dare to still be miserable at the end!

    • Expect the Lord – v5
      Gentleness means moderation or graciousness. Being willing to forego retaliation.
      We should expect His return at any time.

      Crowds gather with excitement for royalty or celebrity.
      We should have expectancy and excitement for the arrival of the King of kings!

      The Lord is also near through the Holy Spirit in us.

    • Petition the Lord in prayer, with thanksgiving – v6
      “When I look back on all these worries I remember the story of the old man who said on his death bed that he had had a lot of trouble in his life, most of which never happened.” – Winston Churchill
      Worry can wreck out lives.
      Paul says that we must never be anxious.
      Rather than indulging in anxiety we are to pray about everything, no matter how small the issue.
      When we are anxious, it is because a situation seems out of control and we feel we can’t fix it. Either we continue like that, or we turn to prayer.
      God promises never to leave us of forsake us.

      It can be helpful to memorise verses that relate to personal issues for us, and then speak them to your spirit when you struggle.
      Some find it helpful to keep a prayer journal or prayer diary. It helps concentration, and helps look back and see how God has answered prayers. Then we can pray with thanksgiving and have greater confidence as we go on praying!

      As we bring worries and anxieties to God and leave them with Him, He gives us His peace in exchange.
      Peace means wholeness, soundness, well-being, oneness with God, every kind of blessing!

      Others can’t understand how we can be so peaceful amidst major worries.

  • Thoughts – vv8-9
    What we think about affects every area of our lives.
    If we want to become more like Jesus then we need to set our minds on the right things.

    The world we live in is quite different to this. We are bound to be tempted daily by wrong thoughts!
    “You can’t stop a bird flying overhead, but you can stop it nesting in your hair” – Martin Luther

    “Occupy your minds with good thoughts, or the enemy will fill them with bad ones; unoccupied they cannot be.” – Sir Thomas More
    The way to get wrong thoughts out is to get right thoughts in.
    Starting the day with this from the moment we wake up is a great way to start, to set the agenda for the day.

    Our unseen thought life is like the roots of a tree – our ability to withstand the storms of life depends on the strength of the unseen parts.

The hardest part of all of this is putting it into practice!
We must practice:

  • Avoiding quarrels and staying united with other Christians
  • Avoiding worry and anxiety by bringing it to the Lord in prayer
  • Thinking about good things

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“There was no other good enough”

9 03 2014

I’ve been known to do series of blogs for Advent before, so why not Lent? I did a Friday five favourites of Easter songs a year or two ago, but I thought I’d share some of them again and some new ones too, one each week. I’ve just put together an Easter compilation CD for my car so I’m pretty just they’ll all come from there 🙂

Since I found this particular YouTube video a few days ago I haven’t been able to get enough of it, I’ve been playing it loads and it keeps getting stuck in my head! I hope you enjoy it and get something from it/find it helpful/whatever the right phrase is there!


(the song itself starts around 40 seconds in)

There is a green hill in a faraway country,
It stands near a city, outside a wall,
Where Jesus our Saviour, the King of all glory
Suffered and died to save us all.

I may not know of the pain of His passion,
But I believe that in my place he stood:
That I may know freedom and live in forgiveness,
For I am redeemed by His great love.

There was no other good enough
Willing to pay the price of sin
For he was the only one who could reach out
And unlock the gates of heav’n to let us in.

So very dearly Jesus has loved us,
And all he would ask is that we love him too,
And trust him for all that this life lays before us,
That we would try His work to do.

There was no other good enough
Willing to pay the price of sin
For he was the only one who could reach out
And unlock the gates of heav’n to let us in.


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Gospel Confidence – Philippians 3 vv 1-9

2 03 2014

There seems to have been a bit of a gap lately, not sure what happened, life just got busy and I had a few weeks on rotas, but here are my notes from this morning’s sermon!

So many people constantly feel inadequate and insecure.

Is it legitimate or possible for Christians to have confidence, and if so in what?

The answer is “yes!” – we can sing “Bold I approach the eternal throne”

But it is possible to have a false confidence in religion. Paul had that as a Pharisee.

Colossians 2 says about needing our hearts circumcised, this means having the sinful part stripped away by the Spirit when we are born again, and given a new heart.

People can think that religion gives confidence before God. E.g. having Christian parents, having being Christened, Confirmed or even Baptised. But none of these in themselves make us right before God.

People can think that living by Christian morals, keeping the 10 Commandments, or even just not breaking the law is enough. But doing good works is not enough to give us confidence before God.

Saul looked like a good religious man on the outside, but on the inside he had a burning hate of Christians. When he became Paul he found his confidence in Jesus Christ.

Jesus took our filthy rags on the cross, and we were clothed in pure white robes of righteousness. Therefore God does not see our sin. He sees us as pure, all because of what Christ did for us. At the bar of justice, we have been declared Not Guilty. We now have confidence to approach God!

The secular world sees confidence in a career, money, popularity, fame. That is not the case!

There is no more than what was poured out that He could have poured out.
There is no more than He’s given us that He could have given us.

“Confidence is a path of slow growth” – William Pitt. It’s going to take lifetime!

We’ll become confident in perfection when we meet Him on that final day, but in the meantime:: “he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1v6b.

Jesus has paid the price once and for all


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“Why doesn’t God do something?”

10 02 2014

For a couple of years now I’ve been working through the “For Everyone” Bible study books. The New Testament ones are by Tom Wright, the Old Testament by John Goldingay. The first one I ever did was Matthew for Everyone. Advent was approaching and it seemed a sensible place to start!

As I say, this was a couple of years ago now, but in that book there was one devotional that really struck me, and stayed with me. At the time I posted it on facebook, but then it was so hard to find last month when I wanted to dig it out for team devotions at work! I’ve found it again, and thought I’d share it with you on here.

The passage it’s based on is Matthew 13 vv 24-35 – The Parable of the Weeds

I don’t really want to reproduce the whole thing a) ‘cos it’s a bit long for a blog post, and b) copyright stuff, so I’ve just pulled some of the bits that stood out to me, and then the bit that really stuck with me is in bold at the end.

“Would people really like it if God were to rule the world directly and immediately, so that our every thought and action were weighed, and instandtly judged and if necessary punished, in the scales of his absolute holiness? If the price of God stepping in and stopping a campaign of genocide were that he would also have to rebuke and restrain every other evil impulse, including those we still know and cherish within ourselves, would we be prepared to pay that price? If we ask God to act on special occasions, do we really suppose that he could do that simply when we want him to, and then back off again for the rest of the time?
These parables are about waiting, and waiting is what we all find difficult.”

“At the heart of the parable of the weeds is the note of patience – not just the patience of the servants who have to wait and watch, but the patience of God himself. God didn’t and doesn’t enjoy the sight of a cornfield with weeds all over the place. But nor does he relish the thought of declaring harvest-time too soon, and destroying wheat along with weeds.”

“When today we long for God to act, to put the world to rights, we must remind ourselves that He has already done so, and that what we are now awaiting is the full outworking of those events. We wait with patience, not like people in a dark room wondering if anyone will ever come with a lighted candle, but like people in early morning who know that the sun has arisen and are now waiting for the full brightness of midday.”


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Categories : Books I've Read, Christian, Things that make you go hmm

Gospel Responsibilities – Philippians 2 vv 5-18

2 02 2014

Responsibility is not a popular concept these days, it’s more about “my rights”.
But as Christians, we have responsibilities:

  1. We have a responsibility to work out our salvation.
    “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed – not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence – continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfil his good purpose.” – vv 12-13

    2. We don’t use the word “Salvation” much in everyday language.
    We were born into slavery, into sin. We’re not born with God at the centre of our lives, loving Him with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength.
    We can’t free ourselves, we need Jesus to do that, through the power of the Holy Spirit.

    The concept can be thought of like marriage: on the wedding day you fully possess marriage, but it takes a life time to be worked out.

    We can’t do it on our own though, we need God to work in us. A gardener has to water and weed a garden, but only God brings the growth.

    “Fear and trembling” is a healthy honour and respect in the light of judgement day when we’ll have to stand in front of Jesus and give an account for our lives. Jesus is not just our Saviour, He’s also our judge.

    Salvation is past, present and future.
    We have been freed through the cross
    We are being freed daily
    We will be fully freed and made perfect on that final day.

  2. We have a responsibility to shine like stars in a dark world.
    “Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky” – v15b

    3. We live in a crooked and depraved generation. But this has also been true throughout the whole of history!
    Fundamentally we live in a world that does not put God in the centre.

    “Do everything without grumbling or arguing” – v14. We’ve got to get that right.
    As we gossip, slander and chatter, the stars go out and we’re left with a black sky.

    “hold firmly to the word of life” – v16a. We need to be audio and visual representations for God.

  3. We have a responsibility to offer ourselves as living sacrifices.
    “But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith” – v17a

    4. Jesus sacrificed Himself for us.

    The Philippian church, in sacrificing themselves are like the animal sacrifice, and Paul is like the drinks offering poured over it.

    We’re called to be a city on a hill, to live lives of sacrifice, with Kingdom values, committed to Him.


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Standing together in Unity – Philippians 1v27-2v11

2 02 2014

Better late than never, here’s my notes from last Sunday!

“You’re looking for the path of greatest glory to God.” – Corrie Ten Boom. In everything we do, ask what would bring Him the greatest glory?

“The weaknesses I see in me
will be stripped away
by the power of Your love”

I’m going to paste the whole reading in this time, because when it got to the end I wanted to applaud! That doesn’t happen often, but have you ever felt that at the end of a reading?

“Life worthy of the gospel

27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved – and that by God. 29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

Imitating Christ’s humility

2: Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

6 who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death –
even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.”

There is a mistrust towards Christianity in society these days. We live in a society where it’s ok to say a religious view is true for an individual, but you can’t say it’s true for all else that’s arrogant and intolerant.

The Philippians would have been proud of their citizenship in Rome, but Paul now says they are citizens of heaven and they must live a life worthy of that. Most people are drawn to the Gospel through the lifestyle of another Christian.

We must fight division, arguing, gossip, as individuals and as a church. A Roman Phalanx of soldiers were virtually invincible if they did not break rank – we must stand shoulder to shoulder in unity.

We won’t necessarily agree on every issue, but we should share a love for God and one another, and a goal of making Jesus known to others. Keeping the main thing the main thing.

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition” – v3
Ambition = the desire to succeed
There’s nothing wrong with it as long as it’s in God’s will and for His glory.
Selfish ambition is entirely for our own ends.

“In humility consider others better than yourselves” – v3
This doesn’t mean everyone else is more gifted.
Andy Murray doesn’t have to say we’re better tennis players than him.
This also doesn’t mean everyone else is morally better than ourselves.
Read it as “consider others as more important than yourselves”

Jesus attitude had no selfish ambition, no self centred-ness. He demoted Himself rather than climbing the ladder of achievement. He is the opposite of a ‘rags to riches’ story.

His death was that reserved for slaves, the lowest order of society.
He became like us so that we might become like Him.
He became a slave so that we might go free.
He died so that we might have life.
He went from the light of God to the darkness of death.
From the highest height to the deepest depth.

And our attitude should be like His.

Children inherit abilities from their parents. We are adopted as God’s children, we share in the inheritance of Christ. We inherit His blessings and we have the example of Jesus to follow. It will take a lifetime of transformation for us to become like Christ.

Jesus’ example of servant-hood may not be great in the eyes of the world, but it is in the eyes of God.

If we read secular books and watch secular tv, our minds will fill with worldly values (this isn’t to say they’re all bad!).
We need to spend time with the Word and in the Spirit – there is no shortcut.
“Habit” and “Discipline” are almost dirty words in modern day Christianity, but they shouldn’t be.
We need to root out bad attitudes and habits in our hearts and minds and ask for forgiveness.


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Categories : Christian, From Church

Covenant

19 01 2014

Today was Covenant Sunday at our church, this meant that all members recommitted to, remade the promise they made when they first became church members there.

When I first became a church member of the church I grew up in, the process was such that I had a chat with a couple from the church, they asked me questions and got to know me a bit better, then they fed back at the church meeting and I was voted in. After that, at the first communion service following the meeting, I was welcomed into membership formally.

When I became a member at Heathervale, on top of the process above, at that communion service I was asked to make a promise. That promise is a covenant, that each church member makes with one another, and is renewed at the start of each year.

Here is what we said:

“Having been led, as we believe, by the Holy Spirit to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour and on profession of our faith having become a member of His Church, we now enter into a covenant relationship with Him and with each other.

By God’s grace we endeavour:

  • To lead a holy life and to walk together in Christian love according to the command and example of Jesus Christ.
  • To strive for the spiritual advancement of this church, to sustain its worship, ministry and discipline by our presence and means.
  • To behave before the world according to the teaching and example of Jesus Christ as recorded in Scripture.
  • To bring up our children with a knowledge of Christ’s love and Christian values.
  • To act in a way that promotes fellowship and unity.
  • To remember each other in prayer.
  • To support each other in sickness and difficult circumstances.
  • To endeavour by all means to share the gospel with those who have not committed their lives to Christ.”

I think it’s great that firstly we make these promises as part of our membership, but secondly, that we recommit each year, and are reminded afresh what it is we have promised, covenanted, to do and to be.

Does your church make promises as members? What do you promise if so?


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Fellowship in the Gospel of Jesus Christ

15 01 2014

This Sunday we started a new series on Philippians, starting with Philippians 1vv1-11 – here are the notes I took!

We should be constantly praying for opportunities to share the gospel.

Many of us lose our passion, we need to recover the joy and unity that Paul has in this passage. It’s written from a prison cell, not an easy place to have joy!

Paul’s primary purpose is making Jesus known. If as Christian’s we want to get more passionate, we need to get passionate about the Gospel, and sharing it.

Fellowship is so much more than a chat over tea and a biscuit.
Fellowship = Partnership.
Partnership is working together for a common purpose and vision. In this case, spreading the Gospel.

The church is a diverse group of people, unified by the Gospel. It’s not just a case of sharing the Gospel, but growing in it.

As Christians, we have been given the power of the Holy Spirit, God has begun something in us that He will finish, so have confidence – one day we will be perfectly like Jesus!

People feel like they know about Christianity, and tend to be cynical of it. They need to see us walk the walk as well as talk the talk – not in our own strength, but in the power of the Holy Spirit.

People need to see us united, as something different from the world.

A passion for God gives us a joy that curries, xbox and football cannot. [Can you tell our pastor is male?!]

There is no greater joy than leading someone to Jesus. What are we really passionate about?

“Don’t let my love grow cold, I’m calling out, light the fire again.”


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