What group are you in?

 

Philippians 2: 19-24

This part of the letter has a familiar sound to it, Paul is writing to the Philippian church, a church he founded on his second missionary journey.  It began with a few women who met by the river, one member of this group was Lydia, a seller of purple, and the Philippian jailer and his family soon joined her.  Paul is now in prison and only has the memories of these people who he introduced to Jesus Christ.

The reason for saying it has a familiar sound, all of us have had family or a dear friend move away from us or maybe we are the ones who moved, but it matters not, we want to hear how they are doing.  But verse twenty is not all that familiar, Paul and Timothy have entered into more than a disciple and discipular, more than a student to a teacher. Timothy has become a son to Paul.  Paul is going to send the one person who has great worth to him, because he needs news about his friends and fellow believers.

He wanted to send a clear message that Timothy is of great value to him and to the Church. “For 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.  But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel.”  What a letter of encouragement to that young church, to those dear friends.  Timothy is coming, he is not just a carrier of a message he has a deep concern for each of us.  What a condemnation of all the others who hung out with Paul, not one, only Timothy had a genuine concern for the welfare of the church at Philippi.

The question came into my mind, which group am I in?  Genuinely concerned for your welfare or seeking my own interests, not those of Jesus Christ!  I’m not sure about you, but I hate to be confronted with that kind of question.  I was having a great morning on the back porch, where did that thought come from?  I can assure you it did not come from the enemy of our souls.  This is what I understand, there is a battle going on for our hearts, the world system is designed to turn our heart to trusting in self or others, and not putting faith in the promises of God and His word.  Ephesians 4:17-32, is clear on the battle, and warns us that the world has trained us like bird dogs to get our needs met outside of Christ, but that choice will never make you a Timothy.  You have entered into a war zone, the old self, which belongs to your former way of life and is corrupt and deceitful, cannot and will not have a do over, and it has to die.  Its desires are for self, and yet by the grace of God we have the ability to renew our minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Do you know a Paul?

Philippians 2:17-18

Where has all the Paul’s gone?  How many people do you know that are unselfish, who love God and you see in their actions, a heart for the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the best for those in their circle of influence?  This is what Paul is saying to the churches at Philippi, “Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.”  I’ve never been where a drink offering was given, so I did a little investigating.  Drink-offering: consisted of wine (Numbers 15:5; Hosea 9:4) poured around the altar (Exodus 30:9).  Wine is a symbol of joy both to God and to man (Jud.9: 13, Ps.104: 15), and this characterizes the drink offering.

Paul’s life is an example of giving to Christ, it is a drink offering, and it is why the Holy Spirit gave us so much information on Paul’s life.  Paul’s instruction to Titus 2:7-8a, are also to everyone who desires to let go and let God do it all for you.  In Philippians 1:21 “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain”, Paul was being poured out so that the joy and peace of Jesus Christ could enter into us.

Earlier, I asked, where have all the Paul’s gone, not far, I’ve known a few, and in fact I live with one.  If you spend time with Jan, her real identity cannot be hidden, she loves God, she knows Him as her Father, and she loves His only Son, Jesus Christ.  Long ago it became clear that Jan puts others first, she puts their interest first.  Jan is not a grumbler, she trusts her Father to guide and protect our Family and His church.  Did I tell you she enjoys serving, did I tell you that she is mighty in prayer, did I tell you she very tender.   

I did not say Jan was without sin, nor was Paul, but like a Paul; her heart is to abide in Christ, and believe that in Christ she can do anything.  You may be a Paul!  The enemy of our souls is good at deception, he is good at pointing out our failures, but I bet you do more acts of righteousness than you have noticed.  We are living in a crooked and twisted generation, and your light counts, both the angels and demons are watching to see what you will do with this great gift of choice, to abide in Christ and be poured out as a drink offering, or to live the empty self life.  It’s our choice and I’m praying that you and I will choose to be a Paul.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Your a Promise Your a Possibility

Philippians 2:13-16

Have you heard the song, “I am a Promise. I am a Possibility. I am a promise with a capital "P."  I am a great big bundle of potentiality, and I am learning to hear God's voice, and I am trying to make the right choice. I am a promise to be anything God wants me to be.”  If you and I who claim the name of Christ believed that little song that is often sung by children, not adults, then we would be used of God to be world changers.  It is so important that we go back to the basics, it is said that after five world championships, Vince Lombardi began every practice with “gentlemen, this is a football.”  It was going back to the basics, the fundamentals of the game, and that is never been more needed than in today’s church.

So let’s address the fundamentals of the Christian life, verse 13 does a great job of giving us the bottom line, “for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”  Just the facts, it is not you its God, if you can do it then you have no need of God.  Not one thing is going to happen in the spiritual life of your church unless it is the will and work of God!  And I hope this does not come as to much a shock, but it happens for His good pleasure, it pleases God.  It may please God to put you in a desert for forty years as He did to His friend Moses.  It may please God to put you in prison as He did His servant Joseph, or to make you king as He did for the keeper of sheep, the man we call King David.

One of the fundamentals is coming to the Father as a child; many of us have become grumblers, we question everything, we know what we like and do not like, and many of us are so polluted by the world and it’s system that we believe God is like us.  But verse 15 is clear on these basic fundamentals; we must come to God as blameless and innocent children.  “Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.” (Philippians 2:14-16)

Paul is telling us that someday you and I and he will stand before Christ, and his hope and prayer is that his investment in the churches of Philippi and all who read this will not try to invent some new way to be light in this crooked and twisted generation, but will go back to the basics.

You’re a Promise. You are a Possibility.  You’re a promise with a capital "P."  You’re a great big bundle of potentiality, and my prayer is that you and I are learning to hear God's voice, and in doing so, we make the right choice to believe that you and I can be anything God wants us to be.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Work out your own Salvation

Philippians 2:12-13

When the apostle Paul spoke these words, under the authority and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”  Before you hear the voice in you mind that sounds a lot like your voice, that is saying, “see, it is all up to how much you can do for God.”  We should look at Scripture on what it does not mean.

Scripture is clear, your flesh and we are not talking skin, cannot please God, in fact he equates it to filthy rags.  If you have flesh that needs to perform to earn acceptance please stop and ponder on this verse, “For by grace you have been saved through faith.  And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8,9)  So what does the Holy Spirit want us to take away from; “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling?” 

It is always good to ask the question, has Jesus addressed this subject?  Often Jesus used examples of light, or darkness, of bread, and of the vine to give us insight into truth like, “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling”.  Jesus said, “I am the true vine and my Father is the vinedresser.  Every branch of mine that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” (John 15:1,2)  It is of the utmost importance to understand the branches Jesus is referring to, are those who by faith have entered into a relationship with Jesus Christ by grace.  Verse three tells us because of God’s grace and our receiving it by faith we are clean before God.  It is the exchanged life; the blood of Christ has covered your sin. 

When Jesus states, “Every branch of mine that does not bear fruit he takes away” nowhere where can I find in Scripture that God is cutting that person out of the vine, but is cutting then off, or as the English Standard Version states, “he takes always”.  I would encourage you to read 1 Peter 1:3-9, if you believe that what Jesus paid for in full and cleansed by His blood can be cut out of the vine.

How we get to the pruning, and as one who grows peaches, I have some understanding of the requirement of pruning.  Jan has learned to just stay in the house when I begin to prune our trees, it requires removing many branches, and opening the center of the tree up to light, or the next peach season will have little fruit.  Jesus said, “every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”   Pruning is not something I look forward too, but I enjoy seeing the peach tree full of fruit, and God the Father loves seeing His children abiding in Him and in doing so bearing much fruit.  I believe that is what Proverbs 3, is telling us that by abiding in Christ, “the Vine” we  “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”

This past Sunday one of our Associate Pastors, Steve Peace shared this wisdom, “Knowledge without application = Pride” that is what happens to many of us and God hates pride, so if you are one of those who goes to every Bible study, but never applies the truth of the study, you are in for some pruning.

From The Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Being Significant

 

Philippians 2:3

What have you learned about being significant?  Is it not something you hope for and desire, is it not the one thing that gives us a dream, the desire to study, to give time to a problem that is not yet solved?  Some words that might come to your mind when you think of the word “significant” are; notable, noteworthy, worthy of attention, remarkable, important, of consequence, just to list a few. That came to mind when I read Philippians 2:3, “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”  You have got to be kidding!

New flash, drop everything and go to the parking lot of any Christian church building on Sunday and watch the Christian put others first as they try to be the first one to their favorite restaurant for Sunday lunch.  That scene can be more dangerous than a Houston freeway at rush hour.  The only difference is they are not using the sign language that may be used later in the week, because it is the church parking lot.

I never took a class in school on humility, or in counting others more significant that myself, but I do recall mother and dad requiring me to show politeness to adults and be kind to stray dogs, but that is so far from, “but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”  I am not sure about you, but I may have a problem, not with the apostle Paul, but with self.  It is verse five that tells me, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,” is he saying, that Jesus, who is my life according to the gospel, has given me a mind to die to self, and be like my Lord?  If you have any doubt of this pick up your Bible and read in Philippians 2:5-11.

For me this is a day of self-examination, and I came to Proverbs 25:27, it has meaning for me because for many years I was a beekeeper.  When you are taking the honey the capping and the honeycomb are full of honey and many times I’ve almost made myself sick by eating too much honey.  That is why it is such a good comparison, “It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable to seek one’s own honor.”  So why do you do it, sorry, why do I do it?  The psalmist has this to say in Psalms 36:2, “For in his own eyes he flatters himself too much to detect or hate his sin.”  It is also easy to be conceited, but to date I’ve not met anyone who would own up to that truth, but Galatians 6:3, state it maybe a good place to begin this self-examination.  My friend James the apostle may have hit it on the head; “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says.” (James 1:22)  In your examination check out Revelations 3:17, it may not be the way you think it is.

My history is full of failing tests as a student, and as an adult, and I have many bought lessons, some repeats, and a few that left deep scars, but I’ve done the examination of 2 Corinthians 13:5, and I passed.  It is the most important test you have ever taken, when it is passed, your life, your heart and mind will be free.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Go tell, that is the goal

Philippians 2:1-4

If I was given only one word to describe my occupation it would have to be “sales,” I spent 40 years of my life in exploring the art of sales.  One thing I’ve noticed about sales people they are goal oriented, most great ones can work on a team but would prefer to have the freedom and the challenge of developing a plan to penetrate the account.  Everyone who is in sales works for the ability to make money.  I’ve come to believe money is not the main motivation; there is great satisfaction in developing the plan and carrying it to victory, and that is a factor but not the driving force.  Most great sales people are driven by recognition, they need the appreciation or fame earned by an achievement. 

The challenge to management of this type of personality is to show appreciation and give recognition, and money is always a good scorecard, but the challenge is giving recognition for the past, but not to keep visiting the past.   A smart leader will encourage that person with new goals with new challenges.  So how does that fit into Philippians 2:1-4?  I believe, to some degree, most of us have grown up into a culture of self, we want to do it our way and we want others to respect our thoughts and do what we do.  It’s called building your own group; people who are in like mind with you, and that may give us some understanding of why we have so many groups we call denominations.  What is the definition of a denomination: “a section of the Christian church that has specific beliefs and practices that differ from those of other groupings and its own system of organization.”

It is not a new thing; that is precisely what the apostle Paul was writing to the church at Philippi.  “So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.  Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.  Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

When I was blessed to find a great salesperson who would put aside self, and allow me to engage their thoughts and methods, I did not have a spirit of rivalry with them, but I was humbled, knowing that they put the goal above themselves.  To my surprise a few were very young, and a few were not in the sales game.   If we have that in the pagan world of sales, that encompasses competition, why will we not put aside self in our local church?  Your local church is not in competition with a sister church down the street, or one of another denomination that also is proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ.  It always has to happen at home before you take it on the road, so begin in your home first and also in your local church.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

If Christian only believed the Scriptures

Philippians 1:28-30

If Christians only believed the Scriptures, our actions would be different.  In the book of Romans 8:37-39, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am sure that neither death nor life, not angels nor rulers, not things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us for the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  It is a big “if” because Christians have been taken captive by the world system.  We do not stand firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side-by-side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by our opponents.  The Christian church needs to be a light to a dark world.

The American church has no understanding of suffering, and when the apostle Paul tells us it has been granted to us not only to believe in him but also to suffer for his sake, we do neither very well.  Moses gave us the example to follow, it is recorded in Hebrews 11:24-26, he chose to be mistreated with the people of God, rather than enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin.

There are seven things that are keeping the American Church captive: 1) Persecution, we want no part of being uncomfortable, we do not even want to be inconvenienced, but Jesus said, when you are persecuted because of Him, comes blessing in Matthew 5:11.  2) Hatred, no one desires to be hated, but Jesus said that, “all men will hate you because of me.”  (Matthew 10:22)  3) Loss of Life, no one in their right mind wants to lose their life, but Jesus said; “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 10:39)  If we only understood the exchanged life, that when we ask Christ into our hearts, we changed places with the Lord and He now lives in our body, it is His temple.  If we abide in Him, we will bear much fruit. 4) Renunciation of Worldly Treasures, Jesus said, “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.” (Matthew 19:29)  5) Suffering, we know so little about this subject, but as stated above, it is not the most popular of the Bible studies at the local church.  But it may be of value to read what a man who knew suffering for the name of Christ has to say in 1 Peter 3:13-17.  6) Loss of Reputation, once more not something the average Christian sets out to do, not even if they understand what the apostle Paul is saying in 1 Corinthians 4:10, “We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ!  We are weak, but you are strong!  You are honored, we are dishonored!”  7) Death, if you look at the average Church in America, we spend more time praying for someone who claims the name of Christ to not go home to be with Jesus than we pray for our family, friends and neighbors who are without Christ and will spend eternity in a place only designed for the devil and his angels.  Once more the apostle Paul states, “For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. (2 Corinthians 4:11)

The average American Church has no authority, it’s full of people who say one thing but so many never act out their faith, and it seems clear to me that we just do not believe the Scriptures.  We do not live, “as if Jesus tells the truth.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

 Life without God is like an unsharpened pencil...it has no point.