Paul lived a very powerful life. Responsible for writing most of the NT, he took the news of Jesus Christ into the world with a passion and attitude more fitting a soldier than a pastor! You talk about amped??? You couldn’t keep this guy down! You could beat him, flog him, throw him in stocks, imprison him, humiliate him, spit on him, you could kill people that he loved, you could take him within an inch of his life, and he would still be talking about Jesus.
Most of us, when we think of Paul, we think of a mighty soldier, brawny, Charlton Heston-y….somebody that was intimidating in appearance. Historians tell us otherwise. It is widely believed that Paul was extremely short!
Lauren comes out (funny)
He was frail, possibly nearsighted, balding, plain looking. Paul speaks of his own frail body a few times in the bible! Yet…he led the disciples in taking the world for Jesus, starting Christianity through the work of Christ, all the while setting up church after church in city after city, as hundreds of thousands gave their lives to Jesus…all while constantly being persecuted and afflicted!!
This letter Paul writes back to his dear friends in Philippi has such a unique tone to it. It’s tender, passionate, personal….Paul really loved these people, and they loved him. They had constantly blessed him through his ministry by helping him any way they could, though Paul rarely ever excepted financial support, he got recharged by what was happening in the hearts of these people back in Philippi.
So he writes them…he starts by giving them a heart felt greeting, lets them know he’s praying for them, and quickly reminds them that they can have confidence in God that God will complete what He had started. V6
Let’s break this one down. Even though Paul was undoubtedly chained to a Roman soldier at the very moment he penned this…this letter is oozing with joy!
Our circumstance does not equal our amount of joy. Most people’s source of joy is external… good things need to happen in order for them to be happy. As a Christian, our source of joy is internal! It comes from Christ!
Be encouraged he says, God is in COMPLETE control! HE is the one responsible for starting your church, HE is the one who gives you knowledge and understanding, HE is the one who provides eternal salvation to all who call on His name… HE has a plan for your church, for your life, for your eternity…He’s not going to let you go, RELAX!!! Be filled with joy, live your life with the confidence that NOTHING will stop God Himself from
1-guiding you
2-protecting you
3-leading you
4-perfecting you
God will finish what He started! His church will never be wiped out! His children will never be lost and alone! His paintings are never left half finished, and HIS plans will NEVER leave us insufficient!!!!!!
Now that gets me fired up!!! Talk about amped?!?!?
God is saying, Through Paul…take it easy…I’ve go this! You’re not perfect, but I can use you!
The church isn’t a place for perfect people. If this is your perception…let it go, or you’re going to be eternally disappointed. Church is more of a hospital for those who are sick and want the cure.
Paul was incessantly focused on that cure!!!!! That cure drove him! It impassioned him! His fight for the cure for the sickness of man (sin) organized the revolution that Jesus Christ had given His life for! Christianity was born out of that cure….
It’s a thing called the gospel.
That’s what this message is entitled.
What exactly is “the gospel” ?
I’d be a horrible preacher if I didn’t clearly explain what Paul was living, and dying for! The gospel!
Understand first, that scripture tells us THE ONLY way to get into heaven is through Jesus Christ. You must have a personal relationship with Him! Being good isn’t good enough.
The gospel is a clear explanation that Jesus died for the sins of man, that He is God and that He paid the price for our salvation. It’s not just an explanation, it’s also an invitation! A given opportunity to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior! In doing so , the assurance is there in scripture, you are guaranteed eternal life in Heaven with the Creator!!!
Placing your faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is step one…
Paul was so dedicated to this gospel that even in his worst times of affliction and imprisonment, people came to Christ all over the place…everyone in the prison and palace guard knew exactly why he was there (v13) because he preached the gospel!!
Do People know exactly why you’re here? Do they know what your faith is all about, or are you exactly like them? Do they know what your faith is made of?
What was Paul’s secret? Sure, God was using him powerfully, giving him the strength and ability to change so many peoples lives…but something needs to be understood about Paul as we continue in this series.
And that is this…
Great theologian…yes
Deeply connected with Jesus and his heart and passion…yes
Knowledgeable…yes
But the difference in his life wasn’t his knowledge, all the big words he knew and concepts about God that he understood ( though those words doctrines have their place and play their role) …the difference was what Paul understood about LOVE!!!!
1 Corinthians 8:1 – knowledge puffs up, love builds up!!
The biggest lesson to be learned on the topic of the gospel, is LOVE!
V 9….Paul’s prayer was that the church in Philippi would learn to let their love abound! Their love of each other as believers, their love for the knowledge of the scriptures, the love for living it all out practically, Paul’s desire was for their love of the unsaved to abound as well!
Not a love that is sentimental – but one that has a genuine spiritual knowledge of God and depth of insight into His ways – Paul knew this would enable the Philippians to Love Jesus more, serve others more, and aid them in effectively telling the world about Christ.
I have seen many Christians that have parts of this passage nailed down in their lives, but not all of it.
I have met people who can run circles around me theologically, they understand things so much easier than I can…I’m envious…yet at the same time…they can’t get anyone to listen to them because they don’t understand the ‘LOVE’ part!
Hear what Paul is saying here…you need the full package! That was his prayer for these beloved friends in Philippi.
Just having love isn’t enough either! Paul is saying you need to study Gods word, understand His love for you and this world, to what extent He is willing to go for the sake of the gospel and the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ alone!!
I have met many Christians who have incredible passion, but passion without knowledge and settled Christ-centered judgment is a dangerous thing!!!! You can be passionately WRONG!!!!
You combine LOVE, KNOWLEDGE OF GODS WORD, AND DEPTH OF INSIGHT INTO HIS HEART, HIS FORGIVENESS, HIS WILL, HIS PASSION FOR THOSE WHO DON’T KNOW HIM PERSONALLY…combine that with the action of taking Christ to the world…
And you become a dangerous weapon that Satan will do anything to stop!!!!
And that’s EXACTLY where Paul was. That’s EXACTLY where God desires us to be, that’s why He sent His one and ONLY Son!!!
The gospel took priority over life itself for Paul. He sacrificed EVERYTHING for the sake of the gospel! What are you sacrificing?
Our mission statement…to love Jesus, serve others and tell the world about Christ!
Are you living this out? It drives us as a church! We keep this mission statement at the center of every decision in this church.
If we all were truly living this out..we would give some things up! We would take some things up! We would learn to never rely on yourself and rely solely on God! We would support the mission with our finances! Lee talked a few weeks ago about giving 1% more, supporting the ministry with your resources and your time!
You would serve God in whatever capacity you are gifted! You would get in the game if you’re not already! If you are in the game you would amp it up!!
If everyone in the church lived the Christian life as you do, would the church be better or worse???
Only you can answer that. Maybe you feel God tugging at your heart to step it up?
Maybe you’ve been suffering and you feel you’re just too tired to focus on him?
Maybe things have been going so great for you, you’ve forgotten who gave it all in the first place?
Maybe you’ve heard it all so many times, you’ve gotten so used to it, you’ve forgotten what it’s like to live it out for the first time?
Perhaps it’s been so long since you’ve shared Jesus with someone you’ve forgotten what that does for your faith, you’ve forgotten what’s it’s like to encounter the cure.
It’s ok.
Now is the time! This is the place. This is the moment. Give it all to Him.
