WEBVTT 00:00:08.480 --> 00:00:11.599 We do study through books of the Bible here at TVC. 00:00:11.759 --> 00:00:17.519 If you want a paper copy of the scriptures, someone will be passing one along back there and up here as well. 00:00:17.760 --> 00:00:24.320 And if you don't have a Bible at home, or if you know somebody who could use one, feel free to take that as our gift to you this morning. 00:00:24.559 --> 00:00:27.760 Also want to welcome all those who are worshiping with us online. 00:00:27.920 --> 00:00:33.119 Last week we had folks from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in uh also from South Korea. 00:00:33.200 --> 00:00:37.759 I'm not gonna try to pronounce that city, but also Wichita, Kansas. 00:00:37.920 --> 00:00:41.359 So we have folks from all over, wherever the Lord has placed you this morning. 00:00:41.600 --> 00:00:44.399 May the Spirit continue to move among you as He is here. 00:00:44.880 --> 00:00:59.280 Well, just for this weekend, we are gonna pause our study of the Book of Acts in order to give our focus to Paul's letter to the Philippians, the church at Philippi, as we finish up our four weeks of prayer and the all-church retreat, which we finished last night. 00:00:59.520 --> 00:01:02.960 The Lord was present and moved among us, as we've already mentioned today. 00:01:03.200 --> 00:01:06.640 We're giving our attention to the book of Philippians, and I actually think it's quite fitting. 00:01:06.799 --> 00:01:18.400 Just over a month ago, we immersed ourselves, if you've been with us, in Acts chapter 16, two weeks, in fact, on Acts chapter 16, which gave us a window into the founding of the church at Philippi. 00:01:18.640 --> 00:01:22.000 We'll put up a map here on the screen just to remind us of where we were. 00:01:22.159 --> 00:01:25.599 So Paul and Silas uh set out on a journey there on the far right. 00:01:25.680 --> 00:01:32.640 You can see Antioch, Assyria, and they go all the way through what we would call Turkey, modern-day Turkey, that's Phrygia and Galatia and so on. 00:01:32.799 --> 00:01:35.519 And they land in a place called Troaz. 00:01:36.000 --> 00:01:38.159 Now, Paul was a planner. 00:01:38.319 --> 00:01:40.000 Do we have any planners in the room here? 00:01:40.079 --> 00:01:41.359 We have planners and free spirits. 00:01:41.599 --> 00:01:43.200 You can divide the world pretty much that way. 00:01:43.359 --> 00:01:44.719 Any planners in the room? 00:01:45.040 --> 00:01:45.760 All right, cool. 00:01:45.920 --> 00:01:47.359 And you're at the 11 o'clock service. 00:01:47.439 --> 00:01:48.560 That's amazing. 00:01:49.519 --> 00:01:57.280 Paul was a planner, I think, and he had grand plans, grand missionary itinerary, until the Holy Spirit said no. 00:01:58.400 --> 00:01:59.040 Twice. 00:01:59.280 --> 00:02:03.120 In fact, the Holy Spirit said no, because he wanted to go up to Bithynia. 00:02:03.439 --> 00:02:12.879 He had plans to go up to Bithynia, and the Spirit said no, and then he plans to go to Asia, and the Spirit said no, and so that's why they ended up in Troaz, and they waited there for a while. 00:02:13.120 --> 00:02:19.280 Until one night in Troaz, which I think sounds like a country song, Paul received a vision. 00:02:19.439 --> 00:02:20.719 One night in Troaz. 00:02:22.400 --> 00:02:26.319 He received a vision after being told no twice. 00:02:26.639 --> 00:02:33.120 Come over to Macedonia, which for us would be modern-day Greece, and they make their landfall. 00:02:33.199 --> 00:02:40.319 This first stop, their first stop there is the Roman colony of Philippi, a hub for Roman retired military. 00:02:40.800 --> 00:02:45.199 And this is the first time the gospel had reached the shores of the European continent. 00:02:45.439 --> 00:02:49.520 So many of us in this room here today have a direct connection to this story. 00:02:49.759 --> 00:02:52.560 The core group of that church would be established there. 00:02:53.120 --> 00:02:55.199 We know these from Acts chapter 16. 00:02:55.360 --> 00:03:04.400 The first person that they meet, actually, it's a group of folks, Paul and Silas and Timothy and Luke was also there, go outside the city for prayer, and they meet a group of women. 00:03:04.800 --> 00:03:10.960 And Luke pulls out Lydia in particular, the successful businesswoman, and she comes to faith. 00:03:11.039 --> 00:03:12.800 The Holy Spirit opens up her heart. 00:03:12.879 --> 00:03:22.319 And then later, this unnamed demon-possessed slave girl, enslaved twice, spiritually enslaved by the demon possession, and also enslaved by her owners. 00:03:22.400 --> 00:03:25.120 She was a fortune teller and made money for her owners. 00:03:25.360 --> 00:03:27.360 She's set free by the name of Jesus. 00:03:27.439 --> 00:03:34.000 And then this Roman prison guard, remember, Paul and Silas were put into prison after that slave girl was set free. 00:03:34.400 --> 00:03:36.080 The money stopped flowing. 00:03:36.240 --> 00:03:40.879 So they put Paul and Silas into prison, and God causes this earthquake to come. 00:03:40.960 --> 00:03:42.879 They're free, but they don't quite leave the prison yet. 00:03:42.960 --> 00:03:46.400 The Roman prison guard's about to kill himself, and Paul says, Stop. 00:03:46.800 --> 00:03:48.800 We're not, we haven't left yet. 00:03:49.039 --> 00:03:52.560 And he actually hears the gospel in his entire household and he comes to faith. 00:03:52.639 --> 00:03:56.960 This is the core group a fashion designer, a fortune teller, and a prison guard. 00:03:57.280 --> 00:03:59.039 Sounds like the start of a joke. 00:04:00.639 --> 00:04:10.400 But God in his great wisdom and his great mercy spread the gospel all throughout Europe because of these three folks and many more as that church continued to grow. 00:04:10.639 --> 00:04:18.720 All three of them were met by the Hound of Heaven, the initiating grace of God, and their hearts were opened by the Spirit when the name of Jesus was preached. 00:04:18.959 --> 00:04:23.279 So we're going to open up the book of Philippians, this letter to the church at Philippi. 00:04:23.360 --> 00:04:25.120 It's ten years later. 00:04:25.439 --> 00:04:35.680 So this church is actually younger than we are as a church, ten years later, and he's likely writing from another prison, a prison in Rome, a Roman prison there, chained to a prison guard. 00:04:36.000 --> 00:04:40.800 And that prison, the way that it worked, typically they would rotate every four hours, a different prison guard. 00:04:40.879 --> 00:04:44.720 And Paul would probably say they were chained to him, because he was preaching the gospel to all of them. 00:04:44.800 --> 00:04:49.040 And it was it was a good infection throughout the entire imperial guard there. 00:04:49.439 --> 00:04:51.759 Turn with me, if you would, to Philippians chapter four. 00:04:51.839 --> 00:04:53.680 That's where we're going to give our attention today. 00:04:54.000 --> 00:04:55.199 Chapter four. 00:04:56.639 --> 00:05:01.199 This letter is probably, of all the epistles, probably the most informal. 00:05:01.439 --> 00:05:03.519 It's warm, it's affectionate. 00:05:03.839 --> 00:05:05.600 He loved this church. 00:05:05.759 --> 00:05:07.920 And you'll see it in this chapter. 00:05:08.160 --> 00:05:12.639 And I would go as far as to say, and this is maybe sacrilege, but I think he had a favorite. 00:05:13.040 --> 00:05:14.879 And it was the church of Philippi. 00:05:15.519 --> 00:05:20.000 Philip, uh the Philippians, uh, this book to the Philippians is actually practical. 00:05:20.079 --> 00:05:20.959 This letter was practical. 00:05:21.120 --> 00:05:25.120 Philippians is theology with street clothes on, one scholar said. 00:05:25.360 --> 00:05:30.720 It's not primarily a corrective letter, although there is some correction he gives, but it's not primarily. 00:05:31.040 --> 00:05:37.759 It's not primarily a doctrinal letter, although doctrine is, of course, woven all throughout and certainly underneath it. 00:05:37.920 --> 00:05:44.800 But it's an affectionate letter of encouragement from their pastor, from their spiritual father. 00:05:45.199 --> 00:05:48.160 Joy, of course, throughout the entire letter is a major theme. 00:05:48.319 --> 00:05:52.399 The centrality of the gospel, unity within the church is mission critical. 00:05:52.480 --> 00:05:53.600 It's woven throughout. 00:05:53.759 --> 00:06:02.959 But the through line that connects all of those is that Paul continues to turn their attention to the person and the work of Jesus Christ. 00:06:03.680 --> 00:06:06.399 Thirty-seven times in this tiny little letter. 00:06:06.560 --> 00:06:08.720 You could read this letter in about 10 or 15 minutes. 00:06:08.959 --> 00:06:13.759 37 times Paul goes back to the name of Jesus Christ. 00:06:14.000 --> 00:06:16.319 To live is Christ, to die as what? 00:06:16.639 --> 00:06:17.279 Gain. 00:06:17.439 --> 00:06:21.680 And what he means there is to live as Christ, to die is more Christ. 00:06:22.560 --> 00:06:24.319 He's hemmed in on both sides. 00:06:24.480 --> 00:06:25.839 He can't lose. 00:06:26.160 --> 00:06:28.399 To live as Christ, to die as more Christ. 00:06:28.560 --> 00:06:30.879 My imprisonment is for Christ, he would say. 00:06:31.040 --> 00:06:38.319 Let every tongue confess Christ, the surpassing worth of knowing Christ 37 times in this tiny little letter. 00:06:38.879 --> 00:06:45.439 And as this letter continues on, he he makes, he has a logic to the way that he writes, as he often does in his letters. 00:06:45.600 --> 00:06:56.879 And it begins with helping them understand who they are, their identity, who they are, who they belong to, and then he gets to practical things like how we're supposed to think and what we are supposed to do. 00:06:56.959 --> 00:07:02.240 But it starts with identity, who we are and who we are becoming in Christ, who we belong to. 00:07:02.560 --> 00:07:10.800 The Lord is near to us, and then he gets to how we use our minds, what we fill our minds with, and then what we do, how we live out this life. 00:07:11.120 --> 00:07:13.040 So turn to Philippians 4, like I said. 00:07:13.120 --> 00:07:16.800 Actually, we're gonna go just a little bit before to chapter 3, verse 20. 00:07:16.879 --> 00:07:21.199 If you want to put your finger there, I'll pray for us, and we'll go. 00:07:21.279 --> 00:07:22.720 Um we'll we'll dive in. 00:07:23.279 --> 00:07:26.639 Heavenly Father, uh, we come to you with our Bibles open. 00:07:28.160 --> 00:07:32.000 Open your word to us and open us to your word. 00:07:32.480 --> 00:07:35.199 May your spirit convict us and comfort us. 00:07:36.639 --> 00:07:40.160 And may you continue to point us to our only hope in life and death. 00:07:41.439 --> 00:07:42.800 Our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:07:43.439 --> 00:07:45.680 We all said amen. 00:07:46.560 --> 00:07:51.920 So chapter 3, verse 20, the reason we're backing up is actually Paul is making an argument, and I think it begins here. 00:07:52.079 --> 00:07:53.839 We added the chapters later. 00:07:54.079 --> 00:08:17.839 So in Paul's letter, verse 20 of chapter 3, he says, But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. 00:08:19.600 --> 00:08:32.240 Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved. 00:08:33.519 --> 00:08:38.720 So the argument starts there at verse 20, or his logic starts there at verse 20 of chapter 3. 00:08:38.960 --> 00:08:41.519 Our citizenship is in heaven. 00:08:42.080 --> 00:08:44.720 So here we have some identity language. 00:08:44.960 --> 00:08:49.519 We are a part of this kingdom, and this kingdom is sourced here. 00:08:49.759 --> 00:08:55.919 From it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body. 00:08:56.159 --> 00:08:59.759 Paul is going back to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 00:09:00.080 --> 00:09:01.679 Our identity is sourced there. 00:09:01.840 --> 00:09:03.519 We are now a part of his kingdom. 00:09:03.600 --> 00:09:09.200 And he goes on to be like his glorious body by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. 00:09:09.440 --> 00:09:12.399 And you actually could translate this the other way around. 00:09:12.720 --> 00:09:22.000 He has the power to transform our lowly bodies, our creaky bodies as they are now, into a resurrection body when he comes again. 00:09:22.320 --> 00:09:24.159 So it starts with identity language. 00:09:24.320 --> 00:09:26.320 You are a citizen of heaven. 00:09:26.639 --> 00:09:32.320 Therefore, so because you're a citizen of heaven, because of the resurrection, so what? 00:09:32.639 --> 00:09:41.039 Therefore, that's why that's therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and my crown stand firm thus in the Lord. 00:09:41.600 --> 00:09:43.200 There's identity language again. 00:09:43.360 --> 00:09:49.279 Not only are we a part of this kingdom, but we are in union with the king. 00:09:50.000 --> 00:09:55.120 And in the Lord is woven throughout all of his epistles, but also all throughout the Philippians. 00:09:55.200 --> 00:09:57.440 And then he says, My beloved, he loves this church. 00:09:57.519 --> 00:09:59.679 Like I said, I think this is his favorite church. 00:10:00.639 --> 00:10:11.840 So he continues on, based on the fact that we serve a resurrected king, that he's going to return again and our bodies will be resurrected, based on the fact that we are citizens in heaven, based on the fact that we are in him. 00:10:12.240 --> 00:10:20.000 Verse 2 of chapter 4, I entreat or I urge Euodia and I entreat Syntiche to agree in the Lord. 00:10:20.559 --> 00:10:33.039 Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. 00:10:34.000 --> 00:10:35.519 More identity language. 00:10:35.759 --> 00:10:38.879 Our names are written in the book of life in heaven. 00:10:38.960 --> 00:10:41.360 We are in his grip. 00:10:42.080 --> 00:10:48.559 Now Ephroditus had come and brought a gift to Paul, and Paul sent him back with this letter. 00:10:48.639 --> 00:10:51.759 And Epaphroditus is likely reading this to the church. 00:10:51.840 --> 00:10:53.360 So we can imagine maybe it was like this. 00:10:53.440 --> 00:10:55.200 And he's reading it to this church in Philippi. 00:10:55.440 --> 00:10:58.320 He hadn't called out anybody by name until here. 00:10:58.639 --> 00:11:00.639 So I'll just imagine everybody gathering together. 00:11:00.720 --> 00:11:01.600 I think it's kind of funny. 00:11:01.759 --> 00:11:02.799 So he's reading all this. 00:11:02.879 --> 00:11:06.159 Therefore, my brothers are long and love for, my beloved, verse 2. 00:11:06.320 --> 00:11:10.639 So I entreat Euodia and Syntiche in everybody's eyes. 00:11:11.519 --> 00:11:14.960 Turn to Eodia and Syntiche, probably prominent women. 00:11:15.200 --> 00:11:27.759 And this is speculation, but I wonder, if you remember Acts 16, Paul and Silas and his whole band, they all come outside the city to the river for prayer, and they meet Lydia and all the other women with her. 00:11:27.840 --> 00:11:29.679 And I wonder if these two were there. 00:11:30.000 --> 00:11:33.120 I don't know for sure, but they were important women. 00:11:33.360 --> 00:11:44.960 And uh Paul here is pulling them out and saying, hey, in light of the fact that you are a citizen of heaven, in light of the fact that we serve a resurrected king and our bodies are going to be resurrected, agree with one another. 00:11:45.279 --> 00:11:46.879 And we're not told what their issue was. 00:11:46.960 --> 00:11:49.679 Maybe it was relational, uh, perhaps it was doctrinal. 00:11:49.759 --> 00:11:50.399 We don't know. 00:11:50.720 --> 00:11:56.320 But then he says, verse 3, and I ask you also, perhaps this is Epaphroditus, we're not sure, maybe it's even Lydia. 00:11:56.720 --> 00:11:59.519 Hey, help these two women agree in the Lord. 00:12:00.080 --> 00:12:04.799 So this entire book is very communal, whose names are written in the book of life. 00:12:04.879 --> 00:12:05.679 It says there at the end. 00:12:05.759 --> 00:12:06.559 Verse 4. 00:12:08.000 --> 00:12:10.399 Rejoice in the Lord always. 00:12:10.799 --> 00:12:13.039 And again I will say, rejoice. 00:12:14.320 --> 00:12:19.039 Let your reasonableness or your gentleness be known to everyone. 00:12:20.159 --> 00:12:21.679 The Lord is at hand. 00:12:23.840 --> 00:12:30.879 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God. 00:12:31.279 --> 00:12:40.639 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 00:12:41.360 --> 00:12:43.519 Back to that identity language. 00:12:44.480 --> 00:12:49.279 So not only is Paul using relational identity language, he's also using military language. 00:12:49.360 --> 00:12:55.600 Remember, Philippi is uh an outpost for retired military, Roman military. 00:12:55.840 --> 00:12:57.440 And he uses military language. 00:12:57.519 --> 00:13:04.879 If you look at verse one one more time of chapter four, I love and long for you, my joy, my crown, that's the victor's crown. 00:13:05.600 --> 00:13:16.159 When he talks about Yodi and Syntiche to agree in the Lord because they have served side by side with him in the gospel, that's gladiatorial language, like gladiators serving side by side. 00:13:16.320 --> 00:13:27.600 And then here in the text that we just read, verse seven, and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 00:13:27.759 --> 00:13:29.360 You might circle that word guard. 00:13:29.440 --> 00:13:32.799 That word guard there can be translated as garrison. 00:13:33.840 --> 00:13:46.559 The peace of God has the power to garrison your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus, to march around your hearts and your minds, to protect your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. 00:13:46.879 --> 00:13:49.039 It's a military town, they would have understood this. 00:13:49.120 --> 00:13:50.559 It's beautiful language. 00:13:51.679 --> 00:13:54.720 And then verse 8, he moves to the mind. 00:13:55.039 --> 00:14:09.919 Finally, brothers, whatever's true, whatever's honorable, whatever's just, whatever's pure, whatever's lovely, whatever's commendable, if there's any excellence, if there's anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 00:14:11.039 --> 00:14:20.639 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. 00:14:21.600 --> 00:14:27.039 The peace of God will garrison your hearts, and the God of peace will be with you. 00:14:27.360 --> 00:14:28.799 What a beautiful promise. 00:14:30.000 --> 00:14:32.559 The Christian faith is a thinking faith. 00:14:33.440 --> 00:14:34.480 Paul says it here. 00:14:34.799 --> 00:14:36.559 Think about these things. 00:14:36.879 --> 00:14:44.799 You might need to replace some things, check your diet, the diet of what you're filling your mind is, but think about things that are true and lovely and honorable and commendable. 00:14:45.039 --> 00:14:46.639 And then verse 9, I love this. 00:14:46.799 --> 00:14:51.279 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, that's pretty bold. 00:14:51.440 --> 00:14:52.799 Practice these things. 00:14:53.919 --> 00:15:02.159 Let's remember ten years before, Paul was beaten, and Silas likely along with him, and put into a prison there in Philippi. 00:15:03.039 --> 00:15:04.159 And they had seen him. 00:15:04.240 --> 00:15:05.600 And what does the text tell us? 00:15:05.679 --> 00:15:09.679 But that Paul and Silas were singing and praying in the middle of prison. 00:15:10.399 --> 00:15:14.159 In the middle of their suffering, this cruciformed life that they had. 00:15:14.399 --> 00:15:15.360 Practice these things. 00:15:15.440 --> 00:15:16.559 I think that's what Paul is saying. 00:15:16.639 --> 00:15:18.159 Do you remember what happened there? 00:15:18.639 --> 00:15:19.600 Practice these things. 00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:24.799 He learned, we're gonna see, he learned contentment through the kind of suffering that he experienced. 00:15:25.039 --> 00:15:26.080 Verse 10. 00:15:27.200 --> 00:15:32.799 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you've revived your concern for me. 00:15:33.360 --> 00:15:36.159 You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 00:15:36.320 --> 00:15:43.519 Not that I'm speaking of being in need, for I have learned, you might circle that word, he's grown in grace, if you will. 00:15:43.840 --> 00:15:47.279 I've learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 00:15:49.600 --> 00:15:52.480 I know how to be brought low and I know how to abound. 00:15:52.799 --> 00:15:58.480 In any and every circumstance, I've learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger and abundance and need. 00:15:58.799 --> 00:16:02.240 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. 00:16:04.159 --> 00:16:07.120 And we have to read that text in context. 00:16:07.519 --> 00:16:12.080 I can do all things through him who strengthens me, through him, via him. 00:16:12.320 --> 00:16:20.320 That's the idea of a road that's sourced in Christ, that I can abound, that I can be lowly. 00:16:22.240 --> 00:16:24.960 Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. 00:16:25.200 --> 00:16:35.200 And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. 00:16:36.240 --> 00:16:42.080 Even in Thessalonica, you sent me to help, you sent me help for my needs, and once again. 00:16:42.320 --> 00:16:46.639 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. 00:16:47.600 --> 00:16:48.559 And this is beautiful. 00:16:48.639 --> 00:16:52.000 What he had he has actually using accounting language here. 00:16:52.399 --> 00:16:56.320 And I think what he has in mind is I want to see you grow. 00:16:56.480 --> 00:16:59.440 There's something about generosity that actually changes you. 00:16:59.519 --> 00:17:03.519 There's a blessing in generosity, and it's not always material blessing. 00:17:03.759 --> 00:17:06.559 And we know that because sometimes he didn't have what he needed. 00:17:06.640 --> 00:17:07.839 He's talking about that here. 00:17:08.000 --> 00:17:12.720 It's not always material blessing, but there's something about generosity that sets us free. 00:17:13.039 --> 00:17:16.319 Sets us free from thinking that we have security in the things that we have. 00:17:16.480 --> 00:17:17.279 No, no, no. 00:17:17.359 --> 00:17:21.279 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. 00:17:21.759 --> 00:17:25.119 But he wants to see them grow, and he uses the word fruit there. 00:17:25.279 --> 00:17:29.119 The first chapter, he also prays that they might grow in the fruit of righteousness. 00:17:30.000 --> 00:17:32.880 They might have a vital life that's growing and flourishing. 00:17:32.960 --> 00:17:35.039 And here he's ending with that kind of a fruit. 00:17:35.200 --> 00:17:41.920 And part of it is actually having a generous heart, being set free from uh over-reliance on possessions. 00:17:42.079 --> 00:17:43.039 Verse 18. 00:17:44.319 --> 00:17:46.319 I have received full payment and more. 00:17:46.400 --> 00:17:56.400 I'm well supplied, having received from apaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 00:17:57.279 --> 00:18:00.640 I don't know, maybe they had some essential oils there as part of their offering. 00:18:00.960 --> 00:18:02.079 It was fragrant. 00:18:03.599 --> 00:18:04.720 Verse 19. 00:18:05.839 --> 00:18:12.160 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches and glory in Christ Jesus. 00:18:12.400 --> 00:18:15.759 To our God and Father, be glory forever and ever. 00:18:16.240 --> 00:18:16.880 Amen. 00:18:18.079 --> 00:18:20.960 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. 00:18:21.119 --> 00:18:27.119 The brothers who are with me greet you, and all the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar's household. 00:18:27.200 --> 00:18:30.319 And I think he just says that in a giddy kind of a way. 00:18:31.200 --> 00:18:35.839 As he's chained to Roman prisoner, prison guard there in Rome. 00:18:36.960 --> 00:18:38.559 And he ends verse 23. 00:18:39.119 --> 00:18:42.880 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. 00:18:44.160 --> 00:18:45.839 Well, this is the word of the Lord. 00:18:46.160 --> 00:18:47.519 Thanks be to God. 00:18:49.279 --> 00:18:56.000 Paul began his letter to the Philippians with grace and peace be to you. 00:18:56.400 --> 00:18:59.920 And he completes his letter here with more grace and peace. 00:19:00.160 --> 00:19:01.359 Right back where he started. 00:19:01.440 --> 00:19:02.319 I'll put it up on the screen. 00:19:02.480 --> 00:19:06.319 It'd be good for us to see chapter one if you weren't with us this weekend. 00:19:06.559 --> 00:19:10.400 He says, Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:19:10.640 --> 00:19:18.400 I thank my God and all my remembrance of you always and every prayer of mine for you all, making my prayer with joy. 00:19:19.440 --> 00:19:22.319 And if you have your Bible open to chapter one, I'd circle joy. 00:19:22.400 --> 00:19:26.559 That's the first time he mentions joy 16 times throughout the entire letter. 00:19:26.880 --> 00:19:28.079 And what is this joy? 00:19:28.640 --> 00:19:30.240 What's the why behind the joy? 00:19:30.400 --> 00:19:35.839 Because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 00:19:36.000 --> 00:19:36.640 I just love that. 00:19:36.720 --> 00:19:37.279 It's beautiful. 00:19:37.599 --> 00:19:40.640 He's thinking about that first day, and we have a record of it. 00:19:40.880 --> 00:19:47.680 The first day they landed on the shore there, and they came to Philippi, and he walked outside the city of Philippi and met Lydia. 00:19:48.079 --> 00:19:51.839 And then the demon-possessed girl and the Roman jailer. 00:19:52.079 --> 00:19:55.279 And from the first day until now I have joy, and I'm sure of this. 00:19:55.359 --> 00:19:56.160 Here's this promise. 00:19:56.240 --> 00:19:57.039 I'm sure of this. 00:19:57.119 --> 00:20:03.200 I'm confident that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 00:20:04.000 --> 00:20:05.599 That's how he begins his letter. 00:20:05.759 --> 00:20:11.519 The God of every grace began a good work in you ten years ago. 00:20:11.839 --> 00:20:17.200 And I am confident that he's going to complete it at the day of Jesus Christ when he returns again. 00:20:17.279 --> 00:20:20.799 He's brought you to life and he has you in his grip. 00:20:23.119 --> 00:20:27.039 The order of Paul's argument or his logic throughout the letter is really important. 00:20:27.119 --> 00:20:28.400 I'm going to summarize here. 00:20:28.640 --> 00:20:31.440 So God began a good work in you. 00:20:31.920 --> 00:20:36.720 Therefore, and later on in the letter he says, let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel. 00:20:36.880 --> 00:20:38.400 But let's get the first part right. 00:20:38.720 --> 00:20:44.240 God began a good work in you, therefore, let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel. 00:20:44.480 --> 00:20:46.079 God began a good work in you. 00:20:46.240 --> 00:20:48.319 Rejoice in the Lord always. 00:20:48.400 --> 00:20:50.240 We have so much to rejoice for. 00:20:51.200 --> 00:20:53.920 Practice the ways of God that I have taught you. 00:20:54.000 --> 00:20:54.240 Why? 00:20:54.400 --> 00:20:56.720 Because God began a good work in you. 00:20:57.359 --> 00:21:01.039 If we flip that around, we have a different religion altogether. 00:21:01.359 --> 00:21:02.960 We have a different gospel. 00:21:03.680 --> 00:21:07.039 Live your life worthy of the gospel, and then God will begin a good work in you. 00:21:07.119 --> 00:21:08.480 No, no, no, that's not how it works. 00:21:08.720 --> 00:21:12.000 God began a good work in you, therefore live in light of it. 00:21:12.240 --> 00:21:18.240 I'd love for us to briefly trace the shape of Paul's encouragement to the Philippians. 00:21:18.400 --> 00:21:22.720 Maybe you walked in longing for peace or for joy, for contentment this morning. 00:21:22.799 --> 00:21:26.400 Maybe you couldn't articulate it, but I think many of us want more of that. 00:21:26.799 --> 00:21:27.920 And don't miss the order. 00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:30.240 I'm going to put up our points here on the screen. 00:21:30.480 --> 00:21:34.559 The order of Paul's logic, he begins with identity, who I am. 00:21:35.759 --> 00:21:38.480 Then he moves to who is near. 00:21:39.359 --> 00:21:48.000 So before we ever get to what we do, he begins with identity, who we belong to, who I am, who is near, how I think, and then what I do. 00:21:48.160 --> 00:21:50.799 Who I am, who is near, how I think, and what I do. 00:21:50.960 --> 00:21:52.079 We'll start with number one. 00:21:53.200 --> 00:21:54.160 Who I am. 00:21:54.480 --> 00:21:57.440 Look with me again, if you would, at uh chapter three, verse 20. 00:21:58.880 --> 00:21:59.759 We can hang out here all. 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:02.559 Day, verse 20, but we won't, I promise. 00:22:02.640 --> 00:22:04.240 We'll give it, we'll get to lunch. 00:22:04.480 --> 00:22:06.480 Our citizenship is in heaven. 00:22:07.920 --> 00:22:10.400 If you if you're writing in your Bible, just put it in the margin there. 00:22:10.480 --> 00:22:12.400 This is the beginning of this logic flow. 00:22:12.559 --> 00:22:19.759 Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, will transform our lowly bodies to be like his glorious body. 00:22:19.839 --> 00:22:26.319 So he's mentioning here the resurrection of Jesus by the power that enables him to even subject all things to himself. 00:22:26.640 --> 00:22:33.839 Therefore, in light of that, my brother, stand firm in the Lord. 00:22:34.079 --> 00:22:38.720 In light of that, Euodia and Syntiche, reconcile. 00:22:39.440 --> 00:22:43.039 In light of that, let your gentleness be known to everyone. 00:22:43.200 --> 00:22:46.480 May your reputation be known as one who is gentle. 00:22:46.799 --> 00:22:48.880 A church that is gentle. 00:22:50.319 --> 00:22:54.400 I love John Stott, and it's been said that John Stott had a gentle seriousness. 00:22:54.559 --> 00:22:59.200 And I've always loved that about his personality, a gentle seriousness seriousness. 00:22:59.599 --> 00:23:10.240 So, in other words, you and I have been gifted a new identity because of the precious blood of Jesus Christ, and because he busted out of his grave on the third day. 00:23:11.200 --> 00:23:15.039 So we have been given a new identity in the Lord, a new nature, a new being. 00:23:15.200 --> 00:23:17.759 In other letters, he calls it a new creation. 00:23:18.480 --> 00:23:20.079 Not kind of new creation. 00:23:20.160 --> 00:23:21.680 No, we are a new creation. 00:23:21.839 --> 00:23:23.359 So live like it. 00:23:23.599 --> 00:23:24.240 Live into it. 00:23:24.319 --> 00:23:24.640 Why? 00:23:24.799 --> 00:23:28.720 For your joy, for your flourishing, for your contentment, for your peace. 00:23:29.680 --> 00:23:34.880 There's a logic to the way that Paul writes who you are comes before what you do. 00:23:35.119 --> 00:23:38.559 Grace precedes peace. 00:23:40.079 --> 00:23:42.480 We touched on this at the retreat this weekend. 00:23:42.720 --> 00:23:47.920 But the Bible often talks about spiritual growth and vitality in agricultural terms. 00:23:48.160 --> 00:23:53.759 The seed of God's word takes root, and then the spirit nourishes it. 00:23:54.319 --> 00:24:00.640 The world and the flesh and the devil try to choke it out, but the spirit produces fruit within us, vitality. 00:24:00.720 --> 00:24:02.960 We talked about the vital life this week. 00:24:03.200 --> 00:24:12.960 Psalm 1, if we go back to the Old Testament, the first Psalm said, Blessed is the one who comes back every day, every night to the Word of God. 00:24:13.119 --> 00:24:20.480 He's like a tree planted by a stream of water, and its leaves don't wither, and it bears fruit in its season. 00:24:20.720 --> 00:24:22.720 A tree doesn't plant itself. 00:24:23.759 --> 00:24:28.559 A tree is planted by a stream of water and it drinks of that nourishment. 00:24:28.799 --> 00:24:31.279 All of that life-giving growth is a gift of grace. 00:24:31.440 --> 00:24:34.960 Who you are comes before what we do. 00:24:35.200 --> 00:24:37.119 Grace precedes peace. 00:24:38.079 --> 00:24:38.559 J.I. 00:24:38.720 --> 00:24:40.880 Packer says it so beautifully. 00:24:41.519 --> 00:24:50.400 There's no peace like the peace of those whose minds are possessed with full assurance, but they have known God, and God has known them. 00:24:50.640 --> 00:24:56.400 And that this relationship guarantees God's favor to them in life through death and on forever. 00:24:58.000 --> 00:25:03.039 So he starts with identity, who I am, and then moves to who is near. 00:25:04.160 --> 00:25:06.640 We live in a highly anxious day. 00:25:06.880 --> 00:25:08.720 I'm not saying anything that we don't already know. 00:25:08.880 --> 00:25:13.200 Dallas Willard would call it a covert state of alarm. 00:25:13.599 --> 00:25:15.279 I thought that was pretty good. 00:25:16.079 --> 00:25:24.880 The CDC reports that one in five adults have felt symptoms of anxiety in the last two weeks, and for teenagers, the stats are even higher and they're climbing. 00:25:24.960 --> 00:25:26.640 And again, most of us know this. 00:25:26.799 --> 00:25:29.200 They've been called the anxious generation. 00:25:29.839 --> 00:25:36.079 Paul, if we look there at verse 6, though, exhorts the church at Philippi not to be anxious about anything. 00:25:36.160 --> 00:25:38.160 And it actually is a command. 00:25:38.640 --> 00:25:41.279 He's issuing exhortations here. 00:25:41.759 --> 00:25:46.400 And I think what's going on here is anxiety is a battleground. 00:25:46.559 --> 00:25:53.599 Some scholars actually connect that the word anxiety there in the original Greek, merit nao, is a root. 00:25:53.839 --> 00:25:56.160 It's this idea of a divided mind. 00:25:56.240 --> 00:25:58.720 It's a tearing apart of the mind. 00:25:59.680 --> 00:26:02.319 That's that idea of anxiety, a divided mind. 00:26:02.480 --> 00:26:09.119 In other words, anxiety can be a battleground in the mind between what is true and what is not true. 00:26:10.400 --> 00:26:11.920 A tearing apart. 00:26:12.240 --> 00:26:14.160 Some things, though, we should be anxious about. 00:26:14.240 --> 00:26:20.160 We have a friend who came home and he actually walked upstairs and there was a snake on the floor in his house. 00:26:20.400 --> 00:26:22.559 It's okay to be anxious about that. 00:26:22.880 --> 00:26:26.880 We're supposed to have that kind of a fear, that kind of acute anxiety. 00:26:27.519 --> 00:26:35.920 But chronic anxiety, which is probably a little bit more in line with what Paul is talking about here, is constant, it's unrealistic, and it's outside of our control. 00:26:37.599 --> 00:26:40.799 And there are many reasons for clinical anxiety, of course. 00:26:40.880 --> 00:26:46.240 There's physiological reasons and chemical, so I don't want to overly collapse that, so don't hear me saying that. 00:26:46.480 --> 00:26:49.599 But also, Paul is not pie in the sky. 00:26:50.480 --> 00:26:53.759 He's not just giving us Pollyanna kinds of answers. 00:26:53.920 --> 00:26:56.160 He endured unimaginable suffering. 00:26:56.480 --> 00:26:58.960 He's writing from a jail cell. 00:26:59.359 --> 00:27:06.559 He's attached to a Roman prison guard, and he offers this anxious church and us, I think, a way of freedom. 00:27:07.839 --> 00:27:10.000 He offers a way of freedom. 00:27:10.160 --> 00:27:14.720 And sometimes, by the way, that freedom comes with help from doctors and counselors and pastors. 00:27:14.960 --> 00:27:19.759 Doesn't mean we have a lack of faith there, but there is a way of freedom, and he tells us about us about it. 00:27:20.000 --> 00:27:22.559 Remember who is near. 00:27:24.160 --> 00:27:25.839 Look at verse 5. 00:27:26.480 --> 00:27:29.359 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. 00:27:29.839 --> 00:27:31.359 The Lord is at hand. 00:27:32.400 --> 00:27:34.720 Don't be anxious about anything. 00:27:36.000 --> 00:27:40.480 On the coffee mug that I have, it says, Don't be anxious for anything. 00:27:40.880 --> 00:27:46.480 But we have to connect that first part in order for that to make any sense. 00:27:47.119 --> 00:27:49.599 The Lord is at hand, the Lord is near. 00:27:49.839 --> 00:27:55.759 God Himself, the creator God who came down, who dwells among us, is near. 00:27:55.920 --> 00:27:57.920 Therefore, don't be anxious about anything. 00:27:58.079 --> 00:27:59.119 Look at verse 9. 00:27:59.279 --> 00:28:01.519 The God of peace will be with you. 00:28:01.680 --> 00:28:03.920 We have that nearness language again. 00:28:05.359 --> 00:28:11.759 One pastor I follow tells a story, I think I've said it here before, the story of this little boy who was afraid one night. 00:28:12.000 --> 00:28:18.240 It was a terrible thunderstorm that night, and he cried out in his fear in fear, and his father came to try to bring him some comfort. 00:28:18.400 --> 00:28:20.640 And his father said, You don't need to be afraid. 00:28:20.880 --> 00:28:22.880 Don't you know that Jesus is with you? 00:28:23.119 --> 00:28:27.119 And the little boy said, Yeah, but I want somebody with skin on. 00:28:30.640 --> 00:28:32.160 I relate to him. 00:28:33.599 --> 00:28:47.759 Yet Paul reminds us over and over again, and he started there in verse 20 of chapter 3, that we serve a resurrected Jesus who is alive now and is reigning now. 00:28:48.720 --> 00:28:51.279 And his spirit has indwelled all who come to him. 00:28:51.519 --> 00:28:54.720 And what makes it all the sweeter is the prescription that Paul gives. 00:28:54.799 --> 00:29:01.440 When we do wrestle with anxiety, and we will, and he talks about his own anxiety in chapter 2, and a little bit here even in chapter 4. 00:29:01.680 --> 00:29:06.559 We will wrestle with anxiety, but we turn to the God who is there. 00:29:07.440 --> 00:29:09.519 We turn to the Lord who is at hand. 00:29:09.599 --> 00:29:13.119 And prayer, he says, supplication with thanksgiving. 00:29:13.279 --> 00:29:15.440