Posts that reference the book of Philippians

Intercession: Identification

Intercession is intervening. More specifically it is going to God on someone’s behalf. In the Old Testament, the priests did this. As New Testament believers, we are priests (1 Peter 2:9, Rev 5:10). We have access to God through Jesus Christ, but rather than enter the Holy Place in the tabernacle or Temple, we enter God’s presence through prayer. It a holy privilege and duty, not to be taken lightly. But it is no less strenuous and sometimes no less messy. Last week we looked at Nehemiah and his BURDEN for others. This week, let’s learn from Daniel and his IDENTIFICATION with those for whom he was interceding.

We know Daniel was a man of prayer. Habitual, heartfelt, prayer. Several are recorded in Scripture, but we are going to focus on his great prayer is in Daniel 9:4-19.

I prayed to the LORD my God and made confession, saying, “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules. Daniel 9:4-5 (ESV)

Look at what Daniel confessed. WE have sinned, done wrong, acted wickedly, rebelled and turned aside. Daniel had not done any of those things. I mean, he wasn’t perfect, but his life was exemplary. Was it false modesty? Was it delusion? Was it an overly active guilty conscience? No. None of those. He was identifying himself with his people who needed God’s forgiveness and help.

It takes humility and compassion to identify with those who have sinned and stand in need of prayer.

In the days of the Old Testament sacrifices, the one bringing the offering would first put his hands on the animal’s head in a symbolic gesture. It was a way of proclaiming, “The death of the animal is the death I should have received because of my sin.” That’s the humility part.

But it also takes a deep sense of compassion for those in sin, and sense of responsibility for their well-being. Daniel had just finished reading Jeremiah and he understood that the exile was the outworking of God’s judgment. Now the people would continue to suffer unless God showed them mercy. Because Daniel loved his people and identified with them, he interceded for God to act quickly to forgive them and restore them (vv. 16-19)

Identifying with sinners is Christlike.

Jesus Christ identified with us. Philippians 2:8 explains how He humbled Himself and became a man. Hebrews 2:9-10 shows us that His being made a little lower than the angels allowed Him to go through the death sentence for every person.

Identifying with sinners is not sinning with them.

It is intervening on their behalf before the Father. Again, Jesus did not sin. Ever. Daniel did not commit the sins that caused the captivity of Judah. But their love for others, their heartbreak at the suffering caused them to act. In an oversimplified analogy, think of it like a prince who has access to his father the king. The prince knows a group of people in his kingdom who are suffering because they rebelled against the king. But the prince goes and asks for the king to be merciful. While the king might not hear the rebels, he might be moved by the pleas of his son.

The people may never know you are interceding for them.

It is unlikely the people in Judah knew how Daniel prayed for them. We don’t know all the ways Jesus intercedes for us even today. That shouldn’t stop us. In humility, we don’t pray to win points with God or with those we pray for. We do it because we love people, we want God to bless them and we know that God cannot bless them in their rebellion against Him?

So, what situations cause your heart to break because you know God is not pleased? What injustices need to be made right for us to live as God’s people? These things, the things that move you are invitations to intercession. Take those opportunities, identify with those people, and meet God in humility and with compassion just like Daniel.

A Study in Contrasts: Noah

By Paula

But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. Genesis 6:8

Writing, editing, and teaching I work with words all the time. One of the smallest words we encounter regularly is the conjunction “but.” You may remember from beginning grammar that conjunctions are words that connect words or ideas. “But” is the conjunction that joins contrasting ideas. When “but” appears in Scripture, it highlights something God wants us to notice, to learn from. Over the next few weeks, we’ll look at some of these contrasts.

First up is Noah.

You’ve, no doubt, heard the story many times. Man, although created perfect, by Noah’s time had descended into utter depravity. The culture was godless. In verse 5, the account says that everything people thought, their every imagination was “totally and consistently evil.” (NLT) For a people heaping judgment upon themselves, God decided it was time to cut things off, to destroy the people He had made. Everyone was facing judgment.

Everyone, but Noah.

In contrast:
Noah found grace. Some versions use the word favor. It is the same Hebrew word used when Esther petitions the king of Persia. “If I have found favor in your sight…” Esther 8:5.

Was it a random choice that God made? Not at all. Noah was different. What set him apart?

Noah was righteous. He was blameless, and he “walked in close fellowship with God.” (6:9 NLT)

Stop and think about the magnitude of the choice that Noah made. He was the only righteous man on earth in his day. The only one.

Now the lesson, the application, is plain. We have a choice to make similar to Noah. While our times and our society are growing more hostile to God and to His morals, we aren’t quite as far gone as in Noah’s day. People still rescue puppies and kittens, they give blood, they donate when there’s a disaster. But godliness is quickly losing ground. We may not be the last righteous person on earth, but we may be the only believer in the office where we work, or on our block, or in a college class, or on our team. We can choose to follow the culture, or we can choose to follow God.

We can choose righteousness. We can actively choose to act in a way that imitates God, that follows the standards He set out in His word. We can imitate Christ in every facet of our lives.

We can be blameless. This has to do with our relationships with others. We can interact with others with kindness and compassion. We can choose to be positive. We can see the good. We can be diligent and herd-working.

We can have close fellowship with God. We pray, study and worship daily, multiple times each day.

Paul may have had Noah in mind when he encouraged his friends in Philippi “Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 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.” Philippians 2:14-15

Be a light. Be a Noah.

Next week: The Canaanites.

Underappreciated Virtues: Contentment

By Paula

But godliness with contentment is great gain. 1 Timothy 6:6

We’re continuing our look at some underrated traits that are no less necessary in the body of Christ than some of these other fruits. We’ve covered encouragement, maturity, and equity. We finish up this week with contentment. (Which is particularly appropriate as we look forward to Thanksgiving in the U.S.)

What is contentment?

The dictionary defines it as having our desires limited to what we have. The second definition is not disposed to complain or grumble.

Contentment is a sign of maturity. It is evidence that we trust God and His care for us. We have faith in His goodness and His provision for us. We understand that what we have is exactly what we need. We don’t have to be validated by our possessions, by our position, by who we know or even by our circumstances.

Since it’s a sign of maturity, contentment is something we learn. Consider what Paul says:
Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:11-13)

Catch that? Paul, the great apostle, learned to be content. Paul had been through enough, had seen God’s hand at work and was at peace no matter what state he was in.

Contentment is a sign of having an eternal, Christ-focused perspective.
For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:10)

Paul faced more hardships than most of us, especially in our cushy, modern culture. But in each one, he saw the greater purpose – getting the gospel to as many people as possible. Because that was his ultimate goal and not his own comfort, he accepted each circumstance.

Contentment keeps our possessions in their proper place.
But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. (1 Timothy 6:6-8)

Our things aren’t supposed to control us … but they often do. We have to store them, repair them, clean them, and then dispose of them when we grow tired of them. And to be honest, in many cases, we are still making payments on them when the boredom hits. Then there’s the bigger house, the better neighborhood. Additionally, we are constantly pressed to get ahead, to be more, to do more, to experience more.

It’s no wonder we are stressed, exhausted and constantly feel inadequate. Contentment removes that pressure.

Let’s stop right here and make some important clarifications. Contentment is NOT:

Laziness – No one should be “content” with a dead-end job while his or her family struggles to meet their basics needs.

Disobedience – No one should be “content” with filling a pew when God is clearly calling them to deeper commitment or ministry.

Asceticism – No one should disavow everything just to prove a point.

How does discontent show up among God’s people?

Envy/ jealousy/ covetousness – At their root, each of these feelings reveals our belief that God is NOT fair, just, or good. If that weren’t sinful and presumptuous enough, over time, they lead to…

Bitterness – Bitterness will eat up and individual and infect the whole body. The writer of Hebrews admonishes, Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness—without it no one will see the Lord. Make sure that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and defiling many. (Hebrews 12:14-15)

Grumbling – And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, (Exodus 16:2). The Israelites wandering in the desert displayed the opposite of contentment at every turn. Not only did it result in a failure to embrace the promises God had made, it cost their leaders as well. Moses, Aaron and Miriam died in the desert with them. Each of the leaders’ sins — anger, idolatry, jealousy — can be directly traced to discontent, either their own or the pressures from a grumbling people.

How do we achieve contentment?

Realize you are cared for by a good God. We are all familiar with Psalm 23, but take some time to consider the tender care God has for us. For a new Testament perspective, ponder Paul’s words in Romans 8:31-32:
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

Focus on what is more important. Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5). Money, position, and stuff are all temporal. Christ is eternal and His promise to never leave us or forsake is greater than anything we could have in this life. As you do this, it may prompt you to…

Reorder your priorities. Follow Paul’s lead.

Not that I have already reached the goal or am already perfect, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:12-14)

Becoming more like Christ is our singular goal as believers. Hopefully these last few weeks we’ve been challenged to work toward that as we strive to be encouraging, to be mature, to treat others with equity and to be content.

No post next week. See you in December as we look toward the celebration of Christ’s birth!

For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, (1 Thessalonians 3:9).

Read all of the Underappreciated Virtues series

What Is Our Salvation Doing For Us?

By Paula

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6

When each of the kids was very young, we set up a special account for them at the bank. In exchange for a better interest rate on their deposits– almost double the regular rate–they can’t get any money out until they turn eighteen. Especially starting out, it was hard for them to see the bank account as much more than a black hole.

Sometimes I think we treat our salvation that way, as if it were some glorious thing held in reserve for us until we die. Which it is, but it is so much more. Jesus intended for us to benefit from our relationship with Him now, in the course of our normal everyday lives.

So what is our salvation doing for us?

It gives us unlimited access to the King of the Universe. There is no limit to the prayers we can offer, the requests we can make, the time we can spend in His presence. (Hebrews 4:16)

It gives us the indwelling Holy Spirit. The mind-blowing reality is that God Himself comes to live inside us, taking over the reins of our lives, directing us in ways that never would appeal to us before we became believers. Those acts of kindness we do, those brilliant flashes of insight, those times we step out on faith, the Holy Spirit is behind all those. (John 14:16-17)

It gives us the ability to overcome temptation. Oh, we fall for it plenty of times, but there are so many temptations we resist every single day because our salvation is at work. (Romans 6:16-19)

It gives us a purpose and the power to accomplish it. No more floating along wondering what in the world is going on and why we’re here in the middle of it. God has a unique kingdom work for every one of us, and He promises to provide all the resources we need to carry out that mission. (John 15:16)

It gives us freedom from performance. No more trying to earn God’s favor. We have it. Forever. Pressure is replaced by peace. (Ephesians 1:3-6)

It gives us the status of beloved child. We are immediately adopted into God’s own family. Not servants. Not guests. Family. Beloved family. (Romans 8:15-17)

And on and on… Here’s the thing– when we treat salvation only as a past event or even as a future hope, we miss the great work going on in our lives each and every day. Let’s make the most of it. Like Paul said, “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:19-20

Paul’s Partners: Timothy

By Paula

For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church. 1 Corinthians 4:17

Paul was the most influential figure in the establishment of the early church. However, he didn’t work alone. He had several key partners who gave him very necessary support. We’ve been taking a closer look at some of these guys and learning how we can follow their examples even today. So far we’ve studied Barnabas and Silas.

This week, let’s talk about Timothy.

Timothy was from Lystra, a city in Asia Minor. Paul had stopped there on his first missionary trip and then again early in his second trip. Timothy’s mother and grandmother were devout Jews who had taught him the Hebrew scriptures from the time he was old enough to understand them. As a result, he was fully prepared for the gospel message that Paul brought. It is reasonable to suppose that he became a believer in Christ as a teenager, perhaps during Paul’s first visit.

We meet him in Acts 16:1 at the beginning of Paul’s second trip. He was called a disciple and we learn his mother was a Jewish believer and his father was Greek. This gave Timothy unique, insider familiarity with both cultures which would prove invaluable in his soon coming ministry.

What cultural background or experiences do we have that can open kingdom doors for us?
Your job, your hobbies, your education, where you go on vacation, your hometown, your life experiences … every single one can connect us with someone around us. Those relationships we build are foundational to sharing the gospel.

In the very next verse, we find out Timothy was highly regarded by the believers in Lystra and Iconium (a nearby town). This wouldn’t be possible unless Timothy was active and vocal about his faith.

Do we have a good reputation among other believers?
Are we known for our strong testimony? Can others count on us to participate in the work of our church? Are we generous? Does our character reflect positively on the gospel and on Christ?

In Acts 16:3, we learn that because of Timothy’s reputation and character, Paul wanted the young man to accompany him on the rest of the trip. This was not a casual invitation. No doubt they all remembered what happened the last time Paul was in Lystra when he was stoned and left for dead. (Acts 14:19). This would be gritty, hard work. Timothy took the opportunity.

Do we pass on ministry opportunities because they are difficult, or even dangerous?
Do we prefer the comfortable and the familiar to the unknown and living by faith? I admit I’m pretty fond of the comfortable and the familiar. But what are we missing when we shy away from taking a step of faith?

Acts 16:4 tells us Timothy hit the ground running. Paul immediately put him to work teaching. (After having him circumcised to give him the proper credibility with the Jews they would encounter.) And the following verse says the churches were strengthened and grew.

Do we eagerly take on new ministries God moves us into?
This was undoubtedly a challenging, faith-stretching opportunity for Timothy, but reading between the lines of Scripture, he seems to have taken right to it. Do we have that same enthusiasm and confidence?

Paul sent Timothy to Philippi as his proxy since he was in prison. In Philippians 2:20-22, Paul explains that no one else cares for their welfare like Timothy. Paul further said Timothy was a man singularly devoted to the things of Christ.

Are we known first and foremost for our compassion and for our unswerving commitment to Christ?
Paul also said Timothy was a man of proven worth. Have we proven ourselves as valuable team members when it comes to spreading the gospel?

In his deeply personal letters to Timothy, now a young pastor of the church at Ephesus, Paul calls him beloved and his true son in the faith.

Are we being mentored in the faith? Are we mentoring someone?
Jesus modeled that mentoring relationship first with his disciples. Paul followed that example with his young associates. We thrive when we learn from Scripture, then from others, then from practice and experience.

Paul loved Timothy like a son, and from his faithful loyalty to Paul, we know Timothy felt the same way. In chasing the references about Timothy, his character kept coming up as his distinguishing characteristic. When Paul charged him to be an example of the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity (1 Timothy 4:12) Timothy took that charge seriously. What kind of example are we? Hopefully one like Timothy.

Next week: Titus

Precious Son

By Paula

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 1 Peter 2:4 ESV

Peter was the most outspoken of Jesus’s followers. He was a blue-collar guy. Hard working, but rough-hewn. So when a guy like that tells you something is precious, it’s worth stopping and considering his words. In his first letter, Peter quickly mentions several things that precious. (Or of great value or great worth, depending on your translation.)

We have looked at the genuineness of your faith which is even more precious than gold. Last week, we considered the precious blood of Christ.

This week we find what is precious to God Himself – Jesus Christ, the living stone.

In this context, the Greek word for precious means highly valued or esteemed. Why?

First is because of His relationship. The is the beloved Son. God affirms this at Jesus’s baptism. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17

Second is because of His position. Christ is the head of all things, and especially the Church.
And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, Ephesians 1:22

The third is because of His function. He is our great high priest and intercessor.
Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, Hebrews 3:1

Most importantly, it is because of His work. Christ left glory. Lived as a man. Took our sins upon Him and died a horrible death on the cross. Because He loved US too much to abandon us to the consequences of our sin.

And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:8-11

Because He accomplished the work the Father gave Him to do, He is the living stone, elect and precious.

But it is even more amazing. In the next verse, Peter says, “You also as living stones.” He made us able to be like Him.

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: John 1:12

That makes Him precious to the Father. And because of Jesus Christ, so are we.