Going Through Paul’s epistles to Galatia, Ephesus, Philippi, and Colossae
INTRODUCTION: We can look at disappointments, set-backs, failures with a dejected attitude and feel like giving up, giving in to disillusionment, discouragement, even bitterness. At such challenging times in our lives, we must come back around to acknowledge that the LORD is sovereign, that He has a calling and a course for each one of us His children.
NO OBSTACLE WILL BE ABLE TO KEEP GOD’s WILL FROM OUR LIVES AS WE TRUST IN HIM, YIELD TO HIM, FOLLOW HIM!
The apostle Paul was on a roll; his missionary work was flourishing! People were getting saved left and right! But then something happened that brought his work to a screeching halt: yet it didn’t keep the LORD from working through others!
This apostolic letter is one of a few “prison epistles” (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon and 2 Timothy) that, if Paul was never arrested, he might not have had the time to write them (as he was blazing from the Middle East into Europe with the Gospel of Jesus Christ). In this one instant alone, we can see where GOD brings blessing out of what appears to be an obstacle.
Continuing on now with Part 2 of Chapter One…
PHILIPPIANS 1:9-11
9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, 11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
A lot to unpack in these three verses! What Paul prayed for the Philippian saints, we can pray for one another – even for ourselves!
Prayer Point from vs. 9: That our love will “super-abound” to excessive overflowing and growing in the acknowledgement of all that Christ has taught us (and Paul) and with the right perception of what this love is truly all about. It’s all about Jesus (and not about me!)! That is to say, this isn’t a love generated by the human heart. This is a love as Almighty as the Almighty Himself! This is the power of GOD’s love, the motive, the compassion that drove Christ to the Cross, and nothing would hold Him back! This same idea is expressed here:
COLOSSIANS 2:2-3Prayer Point from vs. 10: Accepting after being tested: any doctrine and, or practice, to have wisdom and discernment for all of these things (1 THESS 5:21). That we would live in sincerity, truthfulness and purity (PHIL 2:15: “harmless” in this verse can be translated as sincere: no hidden motives or agendas; walking in truth as seen here in 3 JOHN 1:3; having love expressed from our pure hearts as saints of GOD; 1 TIM 1:5) – not allowing ourselves to be led into sin as we await the day of Jesus Christ.
2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Prayer Point from vs. 11: To grow in fruitfulness to the point of “cramming the crop in baskets to the full”, as it were. The fruit mentioned here refers of course to the fruit of the Spirit and revolves around equity of character and action; justification, righteousness are both implied. Bearing such fruit and growing in our resemblance to the LORD Jesus Christ is what brings glory and honor and all praise to the Father (JOHN 15:8), for He is the One Who gave us His “Son in Whom [He] is well pleased”!
What a prayer! Paul’s prayers are truly a powerhouse!
Check out other prayers of his in: EPH 1:15-23; 3:14-19; COL 1:9-14; 2 THESS 1:11-12!
It’s a wonderful thing to “pray through the Scriptures”! Where you may read in PSALMS about the glory and awesomeness of GOD, join in and praise the LORD with what’s described in that passage! Where you read about enduring afflictions in the Scripture, pray that GOD enables you to persevere in trials! Where Scripture talks about the Second Coming of Christ, pray for His Kingdom to come, and that you’ll be made ready (as well as others) for His arrival!
PHILIPPIANS 1:12-14
12 But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, 13 so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; 14 and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
The apostle Paul was hindered by his imprisonment, but not so for the preaching of the Gospel! This just goes to show us that none of us are indispensable in our labors for GOD’s Kingdom. That’s not at all to say that the LORD doesn’t appreciate us and rejoices to see us so used for His great purposes! But while Paul was benched, the other saints became emboldened by the apostle’s faithful example in his stand for Christ.
He wasn’t about to back down and put a black mark on his witness for his LORD! He was willing to go the distance and already went on record regarding his willingness to become a martyr for the LORD (ACTS 21:13)!
The Roman culture was quite acquainted with violence and death. The powerful Roman military believed in the motto vincere aut mori, that is, “Conquer or Die!” So, for the palace guard to see this short, slightly built Jew being so fearless in his imprisonment and facing potential execution, boldly declaring the Gospel! And that made quite an impression on them, no doubt. Some of them gave heed to this little rabbi’s words!
As it turned out, many of them, perhaps even most (?) came to faith (PHIL 4:22)!
PHILIPPIANS 1:15-18
15 Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from good will: 16 The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; 17 but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.
There were many opponents to the Gospel. It seemed that John the apostle contested Gnosticism, its variations and their adherents. With Paul it was the Judaizers. These were Jewish converts – some of them legitimate, others pretentiously desiring to make a name for themselves while seeking a compromise between faith in Christ and adherence to the Law (in order to placate somewhat the Jewish leadership).
This is what the apostle was referring to when he said, “preach Christ even from envy and strife… [with] selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains”. When the cat’s away, the mice will play – and with Paul in prison, these Judaizers were having a field day, promoting salvation through Christ AND the Law of Moses.
This question was settled at the Jerusalem Council more than a decade previously, namely – do Gentiles have to follow the Law of Moses and circumcision in order to be saved? The conclusion of that Council was, “No, they do not!” And the Holy Spirit was in agreement with that decision (ACTS 15:1-32; note especially vs. 28)!
Apologetics is the study of Scripture with a view to provide a defense of its veracity with various internal and external proofs. In vs. 17 it speaks of “the defense of the Gospel” and the Greek word apologia is used for defense.
Then there were other preachers of the Gospel who preached “from good will”; among these, certainly members of Paul’s entourage as well as members of the Philippian church. These latter preachers were motivated by “love, knowing that [Paul was] appointed for the defense of the gospel.”
PHILIPPIANS 1:19-20
19 For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20 according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.
Paul was certain of the outcome where his deliverance was concerned (though he recognized that this could be the end of the proverbial road for him). Why? Because the saints were praying. Because the Spirit of GOD would provide all that was needed for his deliverance (pulling the right strings here and there, was it were).
He had an “earnest expectation” that is to say, an intense anticipation of [and looking for] the desired outcome. This is the same word used in ROMANS.
ROMANS 8:19But how would the LORD deliver Paul? That was the question.
For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.
Would he be acquitted of all the charges against him and released?
Or would those charges stick, and as a result, the apostle executed for his ‘crimes’?
Hence, his declaration: “…Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death”.
But either way, he would be delivered! Either from prison, released so that he could continue serving Christ in preaching the Gospel, ministering to the church and being the “light unto the Gentiles” (ACTS 13:47; 26:23) that GOD called him to be or, delivered from this wicked world and be received by his LORD and Savior Who no doubt would greet the apostle with a “well done, good and faithful servant! Enter into the joy of your LORD!”
We can rest in the sovereignty of GOD and never be “ashamed” (disappointed) at how life turns out. Maintaining the eternal perspective is the key and so we can agree with Shakespeare that “all’s well that ends well”!
The ultimate end of the saints is eternity spent in the presence of the LORD, worshiping and serving Him forever and ever! Whatever happens between now and then is in the solid grasp of the Almighty Who is our Abba Father!
PHILIPPIANS 1:21
For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
How often have these words passed the lips of saints throughout the church age! For the born again disciple of Christ, Jesus isn’t a slice of our life, He is the whole pie! He is our life, the beat of our heart, the very breath we breathe. He is the One to Whom we are wholly devoted. To ever even think of the phrase, “No, LORD!” would be inconceivable. This is what separates the truly righteous Christian (having the righteousness of Christ imputed to us) from the religious, unconverted Christian.
I like to compare the two with a wagon wheel and a matchbox cars carrying case (I know, just go with me here…).
Just as a wagon has its many spokes that lead from the rim to the hub, so every aspect of a righteous Christian’s life goes from Christ our hub (Who is at the very center of our lives) to the rim, that is – to where Christ within affects our lives without and into every facet of our lives (at home, church, work, social life, finances, etc.).
For the religious Christian, their life is rather like one of those carrying cases children use to carry all of their little Matchbox (or Hot wheels – or other) toy cars. In the case there are two or three stacked trays, with several compartments each where one can place the various cars. The religious Christian has all of the facets of their lives in neat, convenient compartments, and in one of them, they place Jesus. He has no real affect on any of the other compartments. You can leave Him there, or remove Him – it doesn’t matter, the other compartments aren’t influenced either way. And they can easily replace Jesus with a Buddha or a Mohammad, or Krishna or Wicca or any variety of religious persuasions.
Try removing Jesus from the wagon wheel of a righteous Christian’s life, and like taking away the hub of a wheel, the spokes have no support and the whole thing collapses.
This is why I believe the great “depart[ing] from THE faith” as mentioned in 1 TIMOTHY 4 does not refer to the wagon wheel Christian, but the Matchbox Car type of pseudo-Christian who will replace the real Jesus for the antichrist.
Falling away from “the faith” does not refer to the loss of salvation but refers rather to not adhering to the doctrinal truths of the Bible, particularly the New Testament, and especially the Gospel, but embrace “doctrines of demons and seducing spirits” which are part and parcel to the false church so described in REVELATION 17 (See also REV 18:2).
The righteous have always been persecuted by the religious from the days of Cain and Abel, to nearly all of the Old Testament prophets, to Christ Himself being the paramount example, and on throughout the church age. It’s been said that “the blood of the martyrs is the seedbed for the church”, which is to say, persecution has never really been an enemy of the church. Every instance had separated the true from the false professors, and those that remained faithful only grew the stronger, resulting in real converts.
Even in the last days, the astounding vision that apostle John received of the Mother of Harlots saw that she was “…drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus” (REV 17:6a).
MATTHEW 23:35PHILIPPIANS 1:22-24
"…that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.
22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. 24 Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.
This is the dilemma facing every Christian, especially those who are dying of some terminal disease. The instinct for survival runs strong in human nature; above and beyond that, an extended time in this world is often sought in order to right certain wrongs, to complete what’s perceived as unfinished work in the kingdom of GOD, to be there for family, particularly for wife and children.
I used to hear many Christians confess something like this: “It’s not that I don’t want the LORD to come back, I DO! But…” and they would speak of finishing college first or finding a spouse or have children – or any number of things that they want to accomplish or experience first.
I don’t hear this nearly as much as I used to! As this world gets darker and deeper into depravity, more and more truly committed Christians (those who are born again and serious about discipleship) are divesting themselves of this world, and all the more eagerly awaiting the coming of the LORD, in order to see the wickedness of this world come crashing down and eviscerated without a trace!
We are longing for the day when human trafficking is a thing of the past, where the strong are no longer victimizing the weak, where people will no longer go to war, no longer know hunger, sickness, suffering.
Inasmuch as we long for the LORD’s return, we DO desire to go and be with Him but also feel the tug to remain with our loved ones here. Paul said it for all of us: to be “with Christ is better, but to remain is more needful [for those]” that surround us and provides us the opportunity to produce more fruit for Christ and thereby greater glory for our Father. See 2 COR 5:8; 2 TIM 4:6.
PHILIPPIANS 1:25-27
And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, 26 that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again.
Paul repeated this conviction of remaining in this life in PHIL 2:24; it was his intention to continue pouring into the saints at Philippi for their progress, their benefit and edification. His great desire was to see their advancement in spiritual maturity as described elsewhere:
EPHESIANS 4:12-16Show me a Christian who has learned to balance truth and love in perfect harmony, and I’ll show you a spiritually mature saint!
12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect [complete, mature in moral integrity] man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ-- 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
PHILIPPIANS 1:27-28
27 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God.
Conduct counts, not just doctrinal purity. Those who have pure doctrine (1 PET 2:2) have good orthodoxy (adhering by faith to the doctrinal truths as found in the Word of GOD). What is also necessary is orthopraxy, which is right practice or conduct. This is in obedience to the Word, not merely hearing/reading/studying the Word. To do all of this without obeying (doing) the Word will prove disastrous for the Christian:
MATTHEW 7:26-27Would you like to stormproof your life?
26 "But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 "and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."
In areas of our nation where hurricanes are prevalent, weather authorities are on watch for storms, and when the storm watch turns to a storm warning, people will board up their windows, secure property that could go flying once the storm hits, stock up on necessities, etc. Because they’ve taken these precautions, it does NOT mean that they won’t experience the storm! It means that they’ll be (relatively) safe in the storm!
Making preparations in life that enables us to endure the storms of life requires the following:
MATTHEW 7:24-25The person who hears the Word properly and precisely taught (orthodoxy) and applies the Word to their own life (orthopraxy) is considered wise by the LORD. Would you like that kind of commendation from the LORD Jesus? Such a person’s life will (“stand fast” and endure in the face of detrimental, destructive influences. This doesn’t mean there won’t be damage to one degree or another, but the essential foundation of one’s life will successfully survive and thrive beyond the storm!
24 "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 "and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
One Christian adhering to orthodoxy and orthopraxy is powerful. Two are more so; an entire church is a powerhouse that Satan cannot defeat (“not in any way terrified by your adversaries” whether human or demonic)! Such a church will have a congregation “in one spirit, with one mind” to engage in the ministry of the Gospel.
Having such a mindset, with such objectives of singlehearted, singlemindedness in regard to the Gospel and godly living is a testament to the validity of true spirituality in Christ.
PHILIPPIANS 1:29-30
29 For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, 30 having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me.
In these final verses we find the theme of this epistle – “joy through suffering”. We are appointed to eternal life in the kingdom of GOD that shall outlive the universe! We are also appointed to suffer in all of its various flavors – whether it’s persecution, health issues, financial stresses, familial strife (particularly when there is division because some members express faith in Christ (MATT 10:34-37), trials of all sorts that also includes dying to self, to sin: a cross-carrying lifestyle that declares with John the Baptist “He must increase, I must decrease”.
No one ever died quickly on the cross, much less survived it. But no Christian ever need doubt the resurrection life that grows in us, the more we die to self! Paul was a living example of this (“…I die daily” 1 COR 15:31b).
We'll begin Chapter 2 next time! Until then may the LORD bless you way too much!!
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