Suppose we had “best case scenario” here this morning. Suppose I loved you a whole bunch, suppose you were rather mature Christians, and suppose I knew the Lord Jesus about as well as a man can before heaven and had tremendous insight into spiritual matters. (Not all of this scenario is unrealistic.) Then what would I teach you?
Well, Philippians tells me what I would likely teach you. Who has known the Lord better than the Apostle Paul? Aside from John, Peter and James, arguably no one. The church in Philippi was rather full of mature Christians who had a long history with Paul. Paul gives this church lots of praise and very little criticism. And Paul loved these people immensely. Philippians 1:8, “For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.” So what does Paul teach them? Well, in summary he teaches them how to stand firm in the Lord. Notice Philippians 1:27, “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel.” He wants to at least hear, if he doesn’t get to see, that they are standing firm. And look at Philippians 4:1, “Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.” Notice in 4:1 he says “stand firm thus” or some versions say, “in this way stand firm…” It’s referring back, I think, to everything he’s said from 1:27 on. Everything between 1:27 and 4:1 and even a bit before and after is how to stand firm in the Lord.
That phrase “in the Lord” or “in Christ” is probably the most common description in Paul’s writings for being in a right relationship with Jesus. To be “in Christ” does not mean to be inside Christ as a crayon in a box, or clothes in a closet. I think it’s more to be united with Christ, like a finger or toe on a body of which He is the head, or like a branch connected to a vine which is Jesus. It’s to have this relationship with Christ where you are controlled by Him and cared for by Him. That’s to be in Christ. And Paul writes to long-time mature believers about how to continue in that kind of unity with the Lord.
I’m struck by the fact that Paul does not mention many of the things we would likely emphasize if we were talking about how to stand firm in the Lord. He doesn’t talk about continuing to attend church or to keep praying every day or avoiding immorality, drunkenness, dishonesty, or anything like that. In other NT books you find a lot of instructions about those things. But not in Philippians. Why not? Because they don’t need to be told to do that. They don’t need to be told not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together, like those in the book of Hebrews (Hebrews 10:25). They’ve already developed good habits of prayer. Paul says in Philippians 1:19, he knows they’re praying for him. They’re already givers. Part of the purpose of this letter is to thank them for the financial support they sent him (Philippians 4:10ff) and Paul mentions how they’ve given like that many times before. If they had any problems with immorality or stealing or something like that, Paul wouldn’t ignore it, like he doesn’t ignore it in other NT letters. But he doesn’t have to deal with that kind of thing with the Philippian church. He can say in Philippians 2:12, “As you have always obeyed…” They are an obedient bunch of people. So this is about how mature Christians stand firm in the Lord.
What we find first of all is…
Mature Christians must not become satisfied with how far they’ve come spiritually, or how much they know, or how much they’ve done. Mature Christians must not coast to the finish line.
It’s so easy though to do that, to grow up to a certain point and then plateau. Or to settle into a comfortable routine. Or worse, to go backward a bit. It’s easy to back off in our prayer life; if you’ve really been wrestling God in prayer, it’s easy to back off or to think you know enough. It’s easy to stop seeking to know the Lord better or as much as you were. I’ve heard things like, “I’m tired of dealing with other people’s problems and never having time for myself. I think I’m going to start taking better care of myself.” Or “I served in this or that capacity for years. I’ve done my fair share. It’s someone else’s turn.” It’s easy to back off on our prayers, easy to think we know enough, easy to let the fire die down, and quit being so concerned about souls.
Jesus addressed this a few times to the churches in the book of Revelation. To one church He said they lost their first love, to another he said they became lukewarm, to another Jesus said wake up your deeds are not complete in My sight. In other words, it’s like they thought they had served enough and done enough and then they went into retirement. Jesus has not called us to just do a certain amount of things, He’s not called us to just reach a certain level in our knowledge of God and our character. He has called us to live the rest of our short lives here for Him. He’s called us to take up our cross daily and follow Him. He’s called us to never stop pressing on to greater heights of love and His likeness. And this is something Paul says very clearly in this letter.
Paul says this very clearly in Philippians 3:12ff. After speaking of his ambition to know Christ better and be like Him and attain to the resurrection of the dead in the new creation, he says, “Not that I have already obtained this [in other words, though I’ve come a long way spiritually and done much for the kingdom, it’s not irrevocably mine yet] or am already perfect [I’m still not all I should be yet], but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.”
Paul was getting old when He wrote Philippians. If anyone knew Christ enough, was good enough, had done enough, had endured enough, to sort of settle down and take it easy, it was Paul. But He said, “No way am I easing up, no way am I backing off in my prayers, no way. I’m pressing on. I’m straining forward, I’m stretching myself further.”
Jesus hasn’t called us to just complete a certain number of chores, or to reach some level of knowledge and character that’s good enough. He’s called us to live the rest of our short life here for Him. He’s called us to take up our cross daily and follow Him. He’s called us to never stop pressing on to greater heights of love and His likeness.
Remember when the prophet Elijah was throwing a pity party for himself under the Juniper tree saying, “Lord, I’m handing in my resignation. I’m so sick of being a prophet. Nobody listens. Nobody changes. Nobody is faithful anymore. I’m done! In fact Lord I’m sick of life all together, if you could just not let me wake up when I fall asleep, I’d appreciate it.” How did God respond? Well, God was very patient, sympathetic and compassionate. God said, “I know it’s hard on you, Elijah. Here’s some food and drink.” God’s not necessarily angry with us if we get discouraged or burnt out for a bit. God let Elijah take a little retreat to Mt. Horeb. Sometimes we might need a little break to reevaluate and rejuvenate. But then gently, God started asking, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” And eventually God said, “Elijah, go back. You still have work to do.”
Let’s do as we sing, “We’ll work till Jesus comes.” “Pressing on the upward way, new heights we’re gaining every day.”
From Philippians, I want to point out five heights for mature Christians to press on toward. The first you see in chapter 1. It’s basically…
Not caring what happens to you as long as Christ is exalted before people.
Paul wrote this letter from prison. He may have been there a couple of years by now. Can you imagine not being able to just get out and go for a walk, for a couple years? He’s there awaiting a trial for no other reason than trying to share the gospel with lost souls that needed to hear it. He could possibly be sentenced to execution at his upcoming trial. He doesn’t think that will happen because he thinks Jesus still has work for him to do on earth. But he acknowledges the possibility. Can you imagine years of prison for doing what was right?
But in the middle of chapter 1 Paul explains that he is so happy, because his imprisonment has resulted in the whole imperial guard, which was 10,000 select soldiers stationed in Rome, hearing the good news of Jesus. Paul otherwise probably would have never had a chance to share the gospel with these guys. They weren’t the type to voluntarily go listen to some troublesome little Jew share his religious ideas. But until Paul’s trial, many different soldiers had to take a shift being chained to Paul. So Paul would have had a captive audience with them. And when people came to visit Paul these soldiers would hear the conversation, the teaching and prayers. They’d marvel at his unusual kindness and joy and courage. Then they’d go tell their buddies and families about the weird guy and his amazing message. Paul says he’s “so happy because my circumstances have resulted in Christ being introduced to all these soldiers and their families. And not only that, but my imprisonment has inspired some brothers in Christ in the area to be more bold themselves in sharing the gospel.” So he’s fine with being in prison because Christ is being proclaimed and honored through it. He’s rejoicing in it.
And another reason he is rejoicing is in verse 19, where he says, “for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance…” At first reading you think he means deliverance from prison and execution. But that’s not what he means by deliverance. The next verse explains, “20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.” He’s not worried about that. Deliverance for Paul was not deliverance from prison or execution. Deliverance for Paul was deliverance from the shame of not honoring Christ well. Deliverance for Paul was honoring Christ in his body, whether by life or by death. He so loved his Savior… the one thing he wanted to do with the rest of his life was not retire by a golf course, it was not travel and eat good food. The one thing he wanted was just to honor the Lord Jesus who had had such mercy on him. For him to live was Christ, to die was gain.
After giving himself as an example, he says at the end of chapter 1 that he wants to hear the Philippians are attaining to this height of love for Jesus. Philippians 1:27, “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents.”
So he wants to hear that they, like him, are not afraid of what people might think of them or do to them.
Have we reached that height of love? Are we unhindered in our efforts to help people know Christ by the fear of what others might think or say or do to us? I don’t think I’m there yet. I think sometimes I’m still too concerned about being liked and what might happen to me, that it slows me down in helping people see the goodness and greatness of Christ. So I’m going to pray about it and work toward that height of love for Jesus.
Here’s another height for mature Christians to press on toward.
Prioritizing the interests of others.
This is what most of chapter 2 is about. Philippians 2:1, “So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy…” Most of them already possessed these blessings and qualities: encouragement, comfort, the Spirit, affection and sympathy. They’d grown into that point. But Paul doesn’t want them to stop there. He didn’t want them to get to that point and then plateau. He says in verse 2, “complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.” All of them in complete unity is a blessing they’ve yet to experience. And how it’s attained, the next verses explain. Verse 3, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” What are your interests or concerns? Your health, the welfare of your kids, your house, your car, your marriage, your reputation, your deadlines, your career? Have we reached the height of love where we truly concern ourselves with other people’s health, kids, their deadlines and their schedule and the condition of their house and cars, and their marriage? This is what we’re to press on to, where we’re not really worried about ourselves so much, we know Jesus is taking good care of us, and we’re free to think about what others are dealing with in their life and we give ourselves to them.
Then beginning at Philippians 2:5, we have our ultimate example, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God [Though He had the right not to serve. He is the Creator. He should be served by us.], did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. [For our good, he became a peasant boy and grew up to be a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief, careful for 33 years to never sin.] 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. [Why? He prioritized our interests.] 9 Therefore [because of His amazing love and obedience] God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
“12 Therefore [because this is the path Jesus has left us], my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out [or it could be literally translated “achieve” or “attain”] your own salvation with fear and trembling, [What he’s saying is, “Now you follow the path of Jesus, the path of humble sacrificial love and obedience, and you will attain your salvation, God will exalt you as He exalted Jesus. Not that we have to be perfect like Him, but press on that path, we press on to be like Him. There’s grace for how we fall short, as long as we’re pressing on and we’re not satisfied with falling short.]13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” You don’t have to go at it alone. God wants you to be successful and He will enable you to be so. But you have to want to and try.
Another example he mentions in chapter 2 is Timothy. Philippians 2:19, “I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. 20 For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. 21 They all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel.” Notice that part, “I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. They all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.” He’s not saying he doesn’t have any other Christians around. There are other Christians around as he mentioned in chapter 1. But even most Christians are still rather self-centered, caring more about their own stuff, their own appearance, their own schedules, more than anybody else’s? But Timothy, Paul found to be uniquely unselfish. He says Timothy served with me like a son with a father. I picture a dad lying underneath the car in the garage and his son sitting by the tool box. Dad sticks his hand out and says, “Wrench.” The boy puts the wrench in his hand. “Screwdriver.” The boy puts the screwdriver in his hand. “Son, go inside and ask mom for a paper towel.” So he goes inside and brings back a paper towel. That was Timothy in relation to Paul. You see it in the book of Acts and Paul’s letters. Paul would say “Timothy, I need you to go check on this church.” And there Timothy would go. “Timothy, I need you to take this letter over here.” So he would head over there with the letter. “Timothy, I need you to come meet me over here and bring my coat and some parchments.” So Timothy would pack up and head over there. He was Paul’s errand boy. He was a servant. The interests of Christ and people were his priority.
Have we reached that level? Are we free from worrying about ourselves, because we know Jesus has us taken care of? Are we free to concern ourselves with the interests of others?
Here’s another height for mature Christians to press on toward. Philippians 2:14,
“Do all things without grumbling or disputing.”
It’s one level of love, to unselfishly serve and inconvenience yourself for others. It’s another height of love to do it without any complaining or arguing about who should do what, who’s turn it is, and who gets to lead… to just give cheerfully and serve gladly.
There are two great examples of this in chapter 2. One is Paul himself. Verse 17, “But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all.” I think he’s talking about the possibility of being executed soon. He pictures it as being poured out as a drink offering. In the OT sacrifices a drink offering was a portion of wine that would be poured out beside the altar usually after a burnt offering was offered. Paul pictures the sacrifice and service that he’s already done to bring about faith in others as like a burnt offering that he offered to God. And now if he is to be executed, it will be like the drink offering that is added after a burnt offering. A drink offering even resembles the kind of death that Paul would die if he was to be executed. Being a Roman citizen he would be spared from crucifixion. Instead he would be beheaded and his blood would pour out of his neck onto the ground like wine out of a cup beside the altar. You know, a guy might complain about that, “I’ve lost everything for doing what’s right. I don’t deserve this. Now I may lose my life. This stinks.” But far from complaining, Paul says, “I am glad and I rejoice.” He sees what he sacrifices and suffers for Christ as worship and honoring to Christ. It’s like he knew he was going to die someday anyway and how awesome to be able to leave this world in a way that really honors Christ before you meet Him face to face.
Another great example is Epaphroditus who was a member of the Philippian congregation. We learn from chapter 4 and here, that he was sent by the Philippian church to bring the financial support to Paul and to stay there in Rome with him and take care of him until his trial. Paul probably could use someone to prepare meals for him and get a change of clothes and run errands and deliver messages. Epaphroditus came a few hundred miles from Philippi to Rome to do that for Paul on behalf of the Philippian church. But apparently, either along the journey or there in Rome, Epaphroditus became very sick, like it was unsure he was going to make it, kind of sick. And Epaphroditus didn’t want people worrying about him so he tried to keep his health problem on the down low. Don’t do that, by the way. If you’re sick, tell us so we can pray for you. But word got out and the Philippian church found out he was sick. And Paul says in 2:26, “for he [Epaphroditus] has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill.” Far from complaining, Epaphroditus was distressed they found out he was sick.
Do you love people so much that you don’t want to bring them down by informing them of your problems? You don’t want them to feel worse, so you don’t complain?
A fourth height to press on to if you’re not there yet:
Always glory only in Christ.
What you glory in is what you boast and brag about, what you feel makes you really somebody special and exalts you above others.
Paul mentions in Philippians 3:3, we glory in Christ Jesus. In 3:4-6, Paul talks about what he used to glory in: his prestige in the Jewish community and his exceptional obedience to the Jewish Law. Of the Jews, he was as Jewy as they come, and he used to think that really made him somebody great. But since he’s come to know the Lord, he doesn’t glory in any of that anymore. He glories only in Christ. The reason we have a relationship with God is because of Christ. In Philippians 1:11, he says the fruit of righteousness comes through Jesus Christ.
The reason we live pure lives, the reason we’re free of our old sinful habits, the reason we love people now and do good deeds, the reason we have God’s favor, the reason we are gifted in various ways, the reason we have a measure of wisdom, is because Christ died for us and He worked in our lives and He called us through the gospel and He changed us and He motivated us and He’s empowered us and He’s been protecting us and guiding us. Without Christ we would be nothing and could do nothing. So however far we’ve come, we glory only in Christ.
Here’s one more height to press on toward:
Seeing the unseen and the hereafter things so well that earthly things become but rubbish.
Philippians 3:8, “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.”
The word in the Greek text translated ‘rubbish’ here was a word that referred to the most detestable kind of garbage and waste. KJV actually translates this word here as “dung.” It doesn’t bother you when you lose rubbish. Imagine if I visited you at your house and before I left I went through your garbage can and took out some of your rotting food scraps and dirty paper towels and wrappers and got a big arm’s full of your garbage and went and put it in my car and drove off with it. Would it upset you much? Well, you might be concerned about my mental health, but it wouldn’t upset you to lose that stuff. Sounds like that’s how Paul saw earthly things.
There’s a height of knowledge and understanding and perception of unseen things and what we have in Christ, that makes the things of the world insignificant. If we could see the value of knowing and having Christ as well as Paul could see it, it wouldn’t bother us much to lose our house or our cars or our health or our head. I’m not there yet. I’d have a hard time if I lost my house or my health or other things.
Do you have room to grow? I know I do. I want to press on toward loving Jesus and people so much that I don’t care what happens to me as long as Christ is exalted before people; and I prioritize their interests over mine, and I do it all without any complaining, and I glory only in Christ, and the things of the world are but rubbish to me because I can see the surpassing value of knowing Christ.
– James Williams