My Summer with Paul
Philippians 1 | May 23, 2021
Welcome to a brand new series where we are tracking the life of one of the most important figures in the Bible. His name was Paul and of the 27 books in the New Testament, Paul wrote 13 of them. He was a brilliant attorney that studied under the most brilliant minds and the most prestigious schools of his day. He had a radical experience with God, became a Christ-follower, and began starting churches all over the Mediterranean.
Q: Why would we spend so much time tracking the life of an ancient Biblical figure…well Paul actually answers this question in one the greatest leadership verses in the Bible….
1 Cor. 11:1 - Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ…
A: Following Paul's life teaches us how to live our life.
Paul invited us to follow his example……Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ…the only way we do this is by diving into his life and exploring the way he lived.
So this week we find Paul writing a letter:
To a church in a city in northern Greece called Philippi.
On his second missionary journey, founded this church.
This city, Philippi was the first Eastern European Church in a community of retired Roman Soldiers.
The people in this church are facing extreme persecution and suffering
Twelve years later, while he is in jail in Rome on trial for his life pens 4 encouraging chapters that conclude by SAYING REJOICE, AGAIN I SAY REJOICE!
And the big idea of the book of Philippians is:
No matter what circumstance you are facing, you can live every day with authentic joy.
This was a book of encouragement:, a book saying you can do this! I believe in you. And here is why I believe that this is a critical conversation for us to have…
Nothing is more damaging to God’s Kingdom than misery.
I don’t mean suffering, hardships, difficulties, that is the soil the Kingdom of God grows in, what I mean to say is: Nothing has been more detrimental to the cause of Christ than mean, angry, crusty, judgmental, hateful, negative (raise your hand jk) miserable Christians.
This is a critical conversation to have because I believe that the world is watching us live our lives and they are not concerned with how much money we make, what kind of house we live in or car we drive. The world is watching closely to see what comes out of us on our darkest days. I believe people are watching how we respond to difficulties, divorces, cancer, storms, sickness and when hate, and anger, and discouragement come out of us…they say, “See, they are no different.” But when joy, love and peace come out of our lives they say, “The God they claim must be real.”
And here is Paul, writing a letter of encouragement, full of Joy, from a prison cell.
He is reminding us of an important truth found in Nehemiah 8:10 that The joy of the Lord is your strength.
You see: Joy is the Christ Followers’ secret weapon!
What I mean by joy is: Joy is an EXCITED PEACE that rests in the fact that GOD IS GOOD
and GOD IS IN CONTROL.
So how in the world could a guy who was in prison pen a letter of encouragement in the face of so much discouragement:
The secret is buried in the first chapter….21st verse….12 words that say everything!
21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Paul was showing us that the secret to authentic joy is razor-sharp - focus.
I know what you’re thinking, the people who have joy, they DON’T CARE ABOUT ANYTHING! They are free-loving people who don’t care about what happens to them….
The people who have authentic joy have the ability to FOCUS on what matters and FORGET about what doesn’t.
This statement in Philippians 1 says it all.
Jesus in life, Jesus in death, Jesus is jail…..Jesus at the center of everything.
Paul was so serious about this focus that in another passage…..he says
1 Cor. 2:2 - For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
What was Paul saying: I am determined to ONLY FOCUS ON the life, the work, and the mission of JESUS! Jesus is going to be the center of my heart, my life and my message and Im trusting that when I put Jesus in the center, everything else takes care of itself.
And because of that what happens in Philippians 1 is extraordinary! Paul teaches us two things:
1) Razor sharp focus on Christ gives us a new perspective on people:
Funny: Nobody can steal my joy like other humans. I could have some real joy, if it were not for the people. I might be willing to bet that some of the greatest frustrations in your life come from people.
Paul in this chapter has a powerful perspective on people: It is as if his focus on Christ gives him the ability to SEE AND BELIEVE THE BEST IN OTHERS. Look at the language:
3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In every prayer for all of you, I always pray with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart. For in my chains and in my defense and confirmation of the gospel, you are all partners in grace with me. 8 God is my witness how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
The power of believing in someone: Paul was saying I believe in you….do you know how powerful a tool belief is…
(Personal Story: when I was 17 years old I was baseball player at Daphne High School…..I played for a man named Lloyd Skoda, he was like another dad to me, when we fished together, I would drive to his house on fish river, pick him up and drive to grand hotel, pull my Jon boat through the sand and fish the lights…one day we were at practice as seniors and we had some of the most talented players n the county, Chris Tramel - Fl St, Cam Walters - Alabama, Courtney Duncan - Chicago Cubs ……and they were sharing what the plans and opportunities and I was just sinking…and coach Skoda bumps me on the shoulder and looked at me and said, “Don’t worry, I have a plan for you to.”
When I was 21 years old…..I was playing baseball at Columbus State University..God called me into the ministry ….. I was riding down the street with my mom and told her I was leaving baseball to go to Bible College….with tears running down her face she says, I have always loved to watch you play baseball but I will support fully you in any decision you make.
I would not be standing here if it were not for people who believed in me!
When you read this chapter that’s the sense you get from Paul, he is saying to this church, I believe in you, I know God will complete His work in you! You can do this!
Believing the Best in people is a powerful tool! And the only way to do that is to keep a razor-sharp focus on Jesus!
2) Razor Sharp focus on Christ give you a new perspective of God’s plan:
If there is anything that can be discouraging and steal our joy, it’s when the plan that you thought was going to happen doesn’t happen.
Think about where you are now, its likely that 30 years ago you didn’t know you would experience this moment, or this pain, or this wife, or this town…..or this job and I know so many people who look to heaven and shout, I didn’t know it was going to turn out like this….
Now think about Paul, his lifelong dream was to go to Rome and preach the gospel. He is arrested, he is taken to multiple judicial courts, he appeals his case and asked to see Caesar. He’s transported by ship, the ship encounters a storm, he is shipwrecked, bitten by a snake, destitute on an island with a pandemic of dysentery or deadly diarrhea, and has to find another way to get to his “dream destination.” He ends up in Rome in prison when he is writing these words…talk about seeing with a different perspective: Look at what he says
12 Now I want you to know, brothers, that my circumstances have actually served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14 And most of the brothers, confident in the Lord by my chains, now dare more greatly to speak the word without fear.
15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16The latter do so in love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel.c 17The former, however, preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can add to the distress of my chains.
18 What then is the issue? Just this: that in every way, whether by false motives or true, Christ is preached. And in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 because I know that through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, my distress will turn out for my deliverance.
When you have Razor sharp focus on Christ, it helps you to see a bigger story taking place than just the momentary struggle you are in…..
Action: Make Jesus the CENTER with razor-sharp focus.
I know what you’re thinking, Tim, life is more complicated than that, there’s bills, kids, problems that focus can’t fix and truthfully, Jesus is a part of my life but Im afraid to make Jesus the center of everything…..because I’m afraid, HE IS NOT ENOUGH! This is a moment where it takes faith to say, I am willing to FOCUS on Him and FORGET everything else trusting that when I seek the Kingdom of God first…..God takes care of the rest.