Rejoice in All Circumstances

January 20, 2019 Background Scripture: Philippians 1:12 – 21 Lesson Passage: Philippians 1:12 – 21 This letter bears many statements that suggest that the Apostle Paul found the key to sustained contentment. Anyone can be content in a given situation or as a result of a specific circumstance. Attempting to sustain contentment is a very different matter. Contentment is an emotional state and emotions can be very fleeting. For example, I don’t know of anyone who does not want to be happy. We invest a lot in making ourselves happy. Those investments range from time to resources—financial and otherwise. Yet, we learn the lessons that Solomon wrote about thousands of years ago concerning the seasons of human life: “a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;”. Life changes constantly and those changes put a lot of pressure on the emotional wellbeing of people. This is further complicated by interpersonal relationships. Your time of dancing is quickly dampened when you learn that a close friend is experiencing their time to mourn. So, what was the key that Paul found to sustained contentment? Paul decided to allow his entire life purpose to be the fulfillment of Christ’s purpose for him. No matter what situation or circumstances Paul was confronted with, he connected it to the ministry he had been commissioned by Jesus Christ to carry out. Paul responded to those who preached Jesus as a selfish way to criticize Paul’s persecution by the state. Paul rejoiced that the outcome was the preaching of Jesus Christ—even though it was being done for selfish ambition. Rather than being depressed because he was surrounded by prison guards to keep him from escaping or being harmed, Paul took advantage of the time to tell the guards about Jesus. Paul made sure that others understood that he was not in his situation because of criminal activity on his part. Paul’s situation was being used by God to advance the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi is threaded through with words of encouragement for them to rejoice always. From the beginning of the letter to the end, Paul spoke of rejoicing. Paul was in chains at the time he wrote this letter. Yes, this letter was written and sent from prison, and it is one of the most uplifting of all of his writings. Paul rejoiced because he was content. His contentment was the result of seeing the outworking of his ministry through his situation, because his whole life was now viewed in terms of his ministry. Paul’s ministry, simply put, was the preaching of Jesus Christ. Whether he preached the gospel, or others preached it, it did not matter to Paul. What mattered was that the gospel was being preached. If Paul preached the gospel freely without persecution, he was content. If Paul preached the gospel and as a result suffered persecution, he was content. If others preached the gospel in an attempt to add to Paul’s suffering, he was content. If others were emboldened by Paul’s rejoicing in prison and preached the gospel without fear, he was content. In all circumstances, if the gospel was being preached, Paul was content and for that he rejoiced. Robert C. Hudson December 27, 2018

Imitate Christ

January 27, 2019 Background Scripture: Philippians 2:1 – 11 Lesson Passage: Philippians 2:1 – 11 In last week’s lesson, Paul stated that he was able to find contentment in all circumstances. That is a statement that very few people I know can make. Even the most optimistic among us sometimes reach our “throw in the towel” moment. This lesson provides hope. In today’s lesson, Paul tells the Philippians how they can find contentment in all circumstances. Although Paul had found contentment, he did not use himself as the example for them in this particular situation. Rather, Paul admonished them to look to Jesus as their example. He said this would cause his joy to be made full. Paul did not ask them to give him joy but he asked them to fulfill his joy. This would require the cooperation of each member of the church at Philippi. Each person was being asked to act unselfishly, and with humility. Furthermore, each person was asked to look out for the needs of others rather than one’s own interest. That describes a very interesting environment. If each person looks at others as being better than himself, and each person dedicated himself to look out for the needs of others, then the Philippian church would be a model group that lived according to the law of love that Jesus decreed. This was a tall order, but Paul went on to tell them how to achieve it. Each of them would need to have the mind of Christ. Jesus set aside his glory and authority as God and took on human flesh and self-restraint. The gospel accounts record many occasions where Jesus could have used his divine power for his own benefit, but he did not do it. In taking on human flesh, he also humbled himself as an obedient servant of God by serving humanity. He made himself become as we are that we might become as he is. Jesus’ humility was intended to lead to our exaltation. But before we would be exalted, God first exalted Jesus. Jesus humbled himself and allowed himself to be mistreated by evil men. He submitted to them in being arrested and unfairly tried. He submitted to the worst form of capital punishment, public crucifixion on a cross along with convicted criminals. In the agony of pain and public shame, he endured it until he died. Because of this extreme humility and submission, God elevated his name above all others. His name is more than a personal title. His name demands obeisance (worship). It is at his name that every knee will bow, whether they be human or spiritual beings. Christ, who was rich in everything, became poor so that we might receive what we never could have without him: eternal life in his presence. Jesus did not surrender all so that he could be exalted. Jesus was exalted because he surrendered all. The one who would take on the mind of Christ must not be concerned with the outcome as much as he is concerned with the purpose. Submit for the sake of others not for the sake of being exalted. One variant of an 18th century quote says, “If it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it’s a duck.” Christians are admonished to walk and talk like Jesus. Robert C. Hudson December 27, 2018