SERMON OUTLINE:
• You are not alone (1:27)
• You are on the winning side (1:28)
• You are honoured to suffer for Christ (1:29-30)
• You need the mind of Christ (2:1-11)
SERMON BODY
Ill:
• Last week it was reported that;
• Chinese authorities have demolished a well-known Christian megachurch,
• Armed Police used dynamite and excavators;
• To destroy the Golden Lampstand Church,
• Which has a congregation of more than 50,000,
• In the city of Linfen in Shanxi province.
• They planted explosives in an underground worship hall,
• To demolish the building.
• The building was newly constructed with nearly $2.6m (£1.9m);
• In contributions from local worshippers in one of China's poorest regions.
The church had faced "repeated persecution" by the Chinese government, said ChinaAid:
• Hundreds of police and hired thugs smashed the building and seized Bibles;
• In an earlier crackdown in 2009 that ended with the arrest of church leaders.
• Those church leaders were given prison sentences of up to seven years.
• There are an estimated 60 million Christians in China,
• Many of whom worship in independent congregations like the Golden Lampstand.
• TRANSITION: We are an independent congregation,
• And if we lived in China, we too might be facing restrictions and persecution.
• For many Christians in the world,
• Opposition and persecution are the norm,
• About 100 million Christians are persecuted around the world.
• In our country we see it as the exception when we are mistreated,
• But for many of our brothers and sisters it is often the norm.
• It is good to remind ourselves that;
• The Christian life is not a playground, it is a battleground.
• We are Children of God, we are servants of God, but we are also soldiers of God,
• Who are engaged in a spiritual war.
• We do not fight with weapons of war,
• We are not to be terrorists like ISIS/DAISH.
• But we are in a war.
Ill:
• In another of his letters the apostle Paul described our fighting this way,
• (2 Corinthians chapter 10 verses 4-5).
“I use God’s mighty weapons, not those made by men, to knock down the devil’s strongholds. 5 These weapons can break down every proud argument against God and every wall that can be built to keep men from finding him. With these weapons I can capture rebels and bring them back to God and change them into men whose hearts’ desire is obedience to Christ”
• We use spiritual weapons to fight with,
• We use the Word of God and prayer,
• And we depend on the Holy Spirit to give us the power we need.
An army must fight together if the want to be victorious:
• And in this first section the apostle Paul reminds these Christians;
• That there are three essentials for victory in our battle to protect the faith.
(1). You Are Not Alone (CH 1 VS 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”
Note the phrase, “Conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ”
• Every Christian has dual citizenship,
• Your passport may say British Citizen,
• But your Bible calls you a Citizen of Heaven.
• We may live on earth, but we are residents of heaven,
• That is why the Bible calls us, ‘pilgrims, aliens and strangers.’
• (1 Peter chapter 2 verse 11).
• And because we are residents of heaven;
• We should behave and live people of heaven.
Ill:
• Have you ever been abroad on holiday and seen people from your own country?
• Being rude or offensive to the nationals of that country?
• If you have then you were probably embarrassed,
• Because instead of representing their country they have shamed it.
• You do not want those nationals thinking;
• That all British people are like those idiots who caused the offence!
• TRANSITION: Every Christian should;
• “Conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ”
• Therefore, we should behave and live like heaven’s citizens.
• We are not to bring trouble on ourselves by being bad citizens,
• Christians should be good citizens, an example to others.
• e.g. we pay our taxes, we keep the law of the land, we respect authority etc.
Note the phrase that links to my sub-heading is: “striving together as one”
• No Christian should ever be on their own!
• God has placed us together in community, in family, in Church.
• We are together to encourage, support and look out for each other.
Ill:
• An anthropologist was living with a tribe of people in Zimbabwe, South Africa.
• He watched the children playing and decided to play a game with them.
• He put a basket full of fruit near a tree,
• And told the kids that whoever got there first won the sweet fruits.
• When he told them to run, to his surprise,
• They all took each-others hands and ran together,
• Then sat together enjoying their treats.
• When he asked them why they had run together like that;
• When one of them could have had all the fruits for themselves they said: ''UBUNTU,
• They said; 'UBUNTU' (pronounced: UbUntA)
• “How can one of us be happy if all the other ones are sad?''
• 'UBUNTU' in the Xhosa (pronounced: Chorsa) culture;
• It means: "I am because we are"
• TRANSITION: Those children realised the importance of togetherness,
• The importance of supporting and looking out for each other.
• No Christian should ever be standing alone!
• God has placed us together in community, in family, in Church.
• We are together to encourage, support and look out for each other.
• Satan is the great divider and destroyer;
• But Christ is the great uniter and builder.
The Greek word translated as, ‘striving together’:
• Gives us our English word ‘Athletics.’
• The apostle Paul pictures the Church as a team,
• And it is team work that brings victory.
(2). You Are on The Winning Side (ch 1 vs 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.”
Ill:
• If you have ever watched Dad’s Army the British TV comedy programme,
• You will be familiar with the character Lance Corporal Jack Jones.
• One of his many his catchphrases are "Don't panic! Don't panic!"
• TRANSITION: That is what the apostle Paul is telling these Christians;
• “Don’t let the enemy frighten you!”
Ill:
• The word used in the Greek text has twofold meaning:
• First: of a horse shying away from battle,
• Second: of a horse so terrified it becomes uncontrollable starts to stampede.
• TRANSITION: These Philippian Christians lived during a violent period of history,
• They had enemies who had resorted to persecution and mistreatment;
• Because they cannot win any other way!
• These tactics work in the short-term, but time will always show them to be failing.
• So, the apostle Paul encourages them to stand firm.
Ill:
• I mentioned China at the start of my sermon;
• So, let me use the Chinese Church for another illustration.
• Officially, the People's Republic of China is an atheist country,
• But that is changing fast as many of its 1.3 billion citizens seek meaning and spiritual
• Comfort that neither communism nor capitalism seem to have supplied.
• During the Cultural Revolution in the 1960s and 1970s,
• All religions were repressed. Churches, temples and mosques were destroyed,
• And many people were killed and tortured to drive people from religion
• Following Chairman Mao's death in 1976,
• Which signalled the end of the Cultural Revolution?
• Christian congregations in particular have skyrocketed,
• And China is on course to become 'world's most Christian nation'.
• Persecution may hinder and slow down the work of God in a country;
• But history testifies that Christianity grows stronger and numerically,
• In many of these situations.
• TRANSITION: The apostle Paul here is telling these Christians;
• “Don’t let the enemy frighten you!”
• The enemy has to resort to persecution and mistreatment;
• Because they cannot win any other way!
• These tactics work in the short-term, but time will always show them to be failing.
Ill:
• Imagine a city under siege.
• The enemy that surrounds they city will not let anyone, or anything leave.
• Supplies are running low, and the citizens are fearful.
• But in the dark of the night, a spy sneaks through the enemy lines.
• He has rushed to the city to tell the people,
• That in another place the main enemy force has been defeated;
• The leaders have already surrendered.
• The people do not need to be afraid.
• It is only a matter of time;
• Until the besieging troops receive the news and lay down their weapons.
• TRANSITION: we may seem now to be surrounded by the enemy forces;
• The forces of evil, disease, injustice, oppression, death.
• But the enemy has actually been defeated at the cross of Jesus.
• Things are not the way they seem to be.
• It is only a matter of time until it becomes clear to all that the battle is really over.
• We are on the winning side.
• Men may win the battle, but God will and has won the war!
(3). You are honoured to suffer for Christ (1: 29-30).
“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.”
Quote: The New Living Translation says it like this:
“For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him.”
Ill:
• We are familiar with the expression, “No pain, no gain”
• We normally hear it in the context of exercise and going to the gym.
• I have a friend who refuses to go to the gym,
• If you ask him why he smiles and says; “No pain, no pain!”
• Well, at least he is honest!
• TRANSITION: Most of us do not want any pain and suffering,
• Life gives everyone (Christian & unbeliever) enough of that all by its self,
• Yet, in these verses the apostle Paul says if you follow Jesus expect some more!
• That is part of the package of belonging to him!
Notice that every Christian has been called to two things:
• They were called “to trust (believe in) Jesus Christ.”
• They were called “to suffer for His sake.”
• Not one of us here today has a problem with that first truth.
• But we all have a problem with the second!
• We want to be blessed by God, we want the positives of the Christian life,
• We don’t want sufferings, whatever form that suffering may take!
Ill:
• In the UK we will probably never be imprisoned for our faith in Jesus Christ.
• In the UK we may never be beaten, or have our children taken from us,
• In the UK we may not be denied employment or refused legal rights,
• Because of our Christian faith.
• Although the way things are going in the next 20 years that may all change!
• But you will at some time suffer for Christ:
• We may lose friends, we may be ostracised at work from certain groups of people.
• We may be ridiculed and even bullied for our beliefs.
• Even in the UK some Christians are given the hard choice;
• Following Christ means losing your family
• (especially if they convert from a religious background).
Ill:
• In football a true supporter sticks with their team through good times and bad,
• Anyone can support a team that wins all the time,
• But those loses, those defeats, those heartaches,
• Reveal who the true supporters are.
• TRANSITION: I think there is a spiritual parallel there:
• Following Jesus in times of difficulty reveals that our faith to be genuine.
• We are the real deal and not just ‘fair-weather’ believers.
• The apostle Paul indicates that those who suffer in the will of God;
• Are doing it for the Lord.
Quotes:
“Suffering for faith is an opportunity to show the world that the Lord Jesus is more precious to us than anything else in this world.”
• Christ suffered for us;
• And a willingness to suffer for him;
• Is the very least we can do to show our love and gratitude!
Note:
• Did you notice the word “Granted” (vs 29)?
• “Granted” reminds us that suffering for Christ is actually a gift to us from God.
Ill:
• The Scottish Baptist preacher, evangelist and teacher, Oswald Chambers;
• Used to express it this way.
• He would describe how God is purposely working to make us into fine wine,
• But that we can never happen,
• If we keep objecting to the fingers, he uses to crush us.
• We could accept it if God would just use his own fingers to make us fine wine,
• But when he uses someone we dislike;
• Or certain circumstances that we do not want to allow, we push back.
• Wise is the Christian who does not argue with God over this:
• If we are ever to be made fine wine to drink, we simply must be crushed.
• Grapes cannot be drunk.
• They only become wine once they submit to the crusher.
• TRANSITION: When suffering comes because of Christ,
• We should accept it as an overwhelming sense of privilege;
• Realising that he knows what is best for us.
Notice in verse 30:
“since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.”
• The apostle Paul reminds these Christians in Philippi;
• That they are not alone in their suffering.
• He is going through something very similar.
• The word translated from the Greek text into English as ‘Struggle’
• Is the term from which we get our English word ‘agony’
• And agony is agony, pure and simple;
• At times we will struggle, and we will hurt for our faith in Jesus Christ.
Ill:
• Life is not a playground but a battlefield.
• We are not on a cruise ship expecting a smooth sailing,
• We are on a battle ship, so we need to expect some conflict from the enemy.
(d). You Need The Mind of Christ (ch 2 vs 1-11).
• In verse 1 the apostle Paul talks emphasises the need for union and unity;
• He does that by asking four rhetorical questions:
• (vs 1a): “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ”
• (vs 1b): “If any loving comfort from his love”
• (vs 1c): “If any common sharing in the Spirit”
• (vs 1d): “If any tenderness and compassion”
They are rhetorical questions because the answer is obvious;
• In fact, it is probably better and wiser to translate the word “if” as “since”.
• Because every Christian has been encouraged by being joined with Christ,
• Every Christian has been comforted by his love.
• Every Christian enjoys the enabling and the fellowship with the Holy Spirit.
• Every Christian has experienced tenderness and compassion,
• All this is true ‘since’ or because they belong to Jesus Christ!
The key words in verse 1 are “with Christ” (or “in the Lord”, or “in him”, etc.)
• This phrase is used over 170 times in the New Testament.
• Our salvation is totally dependent on our relationship with Jesus Christ.
Ill:
• A little boy fell out of the bed in his sleep.
• His father picked him up and put him back in bed.
• He asked him, "Son, what happened?"
• The little boy responded, "I fell asleep too close to where I got in."
• TRANSITION:
• I believe that describes too many Christians today;
• They have fallen asleep too close to where they got in.
• They are not in danger of falling out of salvation;
• But they have not made very much spiritual progress since they were saved.
Note:
• The apostle Paul makes a clear connection between unity and union in Christ,
• He links that with the unity and union of believers.
• In other words, if we belong to Christ, then we also belong to each other.
• Our friendship should show itself in unity.
• This is not an optional extra - it is an essential that we must all strive for!
Notice: In verse two the apostle Paul emphasis having the attitude.
Ill:
• Two shoe salesmen arrived on a tropical island.
• The first one looked around and saw that the natives wore no shoes.
• He thought to himself, "Why'd they send me here? There's no market for shoes here!"
• The second one looked around and saw that the natives wore no shoes, and thought,
• "Wow! Everybody needs shoes - and the whole market is mine."
Quote: Martin P. Simon (‘Your Child and You’).
“Attitudes are taught. Attitudes are caught.
Attitudes are better taught if caught, and better caught if taught.”
Now in view of the tremendous blessings that these Christians have received in Christ:
• The apostle Paul urges them in verse 2 to be united in harmony.
• Notice Paul calls for this unity in four ways: he wants the Philippians:
• (1st) to have the same mind or the same thinking (vs 2a)
• (2nd) to have the same love (vs 2b),
• (3rd) be joined together in spirit (vs 2c),
• (4th) be of one mind (vs 2d).
• The apostle Paul wants these Philippian Christians;
• To think the same way and have the same mind;
• That is, to have similar attitudes, concerns and intentions.
Ill:
• On the day before the Battle of Trafalgar,
• Lord Nelson was aware that two of his captains;
• Were constantly arguing and at variance with each other;
• So, he called them to a meeting on the deck of the ship;
• They stood where they could see the fleet that opposed them.
• "Yonder," said the Admiral with a sweep of his hand, "are your enemies."
• The two captains shook hands and put aside their differences;
• In the face of their common enemy.
• The apostle Paul asks these believers to make his joy full and complete.
• By being like-minded, working on being harmonious and united together.
Notice the emphasis in verse 3 is myself and others
Ill:
• Many years ago, William Booth, the Founder of The Salvation Army,
• Was preparing to send his annual Christmas message to Salvationists around the world
• In those days, communication was by telegraph,
• And you paid for each word that you sent.
• Times were tough and the Army was short on money,
• So, William Booth sent a one-word telegram. The word he sent was: ‘OTHERS’.
These verses could be summed up with one word: “Others”:
• To follow Jesus Christ means to “die to self”.
• Jesus himself said in Luke chapter 9 verse 23:
"Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves
and take up their cross daily and follow me.
• Please note that “dying to self” is not necessarily grim.
• Because “Dying to self” means living for God and for his will;
• Which can often be joyful, satisfying and very rewarding!
• Part of our journey towards spiritual maturity;
• Is that we continue to live for God and for other people,
• Instead of following other, ultimately empty and meaningless ambitions.
• So, the apostle Paul teaches us to live like Jesus:
• Verse 3: “Regard one another as more important [or better] than yourselves”
• Verse 4: They “Do not merely look out for your own personal interests,
• But also the interests of others.”
Note in verses 6-11 the apostle Paul shows this Church the perfect example:
Ill:
• An American guide in Arizona was asked;
• ‘How long does it take to see the Grand Canyon?’
• The guide replied;
• ‘Some see it in five minutes others want to stay for days or weeks’.
• TRANSITION: Now these verses are a preacher’s dream;
• We could probably have a full sermon based on each line and stay for weeks,
• Because they tell us so much concerning the unique person of Jesus.
• Instead we will do the whistle stop tour;
• And just highlight the key truth in each verse.
(a).
• They talk about his deity (vs 6):
• He was and is God. The supreme being. The Almighty. Creator of heaven & earth!
• Quote: “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.
(b).
• They talk about his incarnation (vs 7):
• He became a human being and lived among us.
• Quote: “Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, hail the incarnate deity”)
(c).
• They talk about his death, a shameful, disgraceful death on a cross (vs 8);
• (ill: He died like the lowest of the low).
• Quote: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree”
(d).
• Then they talk about his exaltation;
• How he was ‘raised, ascended and now reigns in the heavens’ (vs 9);
• ill: In Grand Prix terms he is, ‘On the winning podium’.
(e).
• They talk about his kingship (vs 10-11)
• ‘Every knee will one day bow and acknowledge him’!
• We do that voluntarily now or one day we will be summoned to stand before King Jesus!
Quote:
• David Jeremiah gives this outline to those verses.
• Jesus took six steps as he made his round trip from glory to glory.
• Step 1: he relinquished his place.
• Step 2: he refused his prerogative.
• Step 3: he renounced his privileges.
• Step 4: he restricted his presence.
• Step 5: he realised his purpose.
• Step 6: he received his promotion.
Note:
• The reason we have this great hymn of truth and doctrine,
• Is according to verses 1-5 is to “be like minded”.
• In other words, to ‘Look and learn’.
• The apostle Paul tells these Philippian Christian’s ‘Look and learn’.
• Look at Jesus and seek to “be like minded”.
Ill:
• The word "ex-ample" comes from Greek elementary education.
• It describes the way Greek boys learned to write.
• They were given a tablet (no, not electronic);
• This was usually a shallow box filled with soft wax.
• A student wrote with a stylus that was sharp on one end;
• And flat on the opposite end for erasing so the wax,
• This way you could repeatedly use the tablet.
• The teacher would prepare the student's tablet by writing a line of letters at the top,
• He then drew parallel lines across the tablet to keep the student's work straight.
• The student was to reproduce this top line of letters,
• Until he got close to what the teacher had written.
• In time the boy’s hand writing would become better and better.
• TRANSITION: We will not become like Jesus overnight;
• But like that student we can practice each day,
• And we will get better and better and better.
SERMON AUDIO:
https://surf.pxwave.com/wl/?id=vhThhxqUy2c3kiiPzFRyN4EeSHyTRWs2
