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well the study that we have before us today in philippians is one which is today in philippians is one which is really i think a very touching really i think a very touching and very joyful epistle and very joyful epistle it's one which really is amongst the it's one which really is amongst the shorter ones of the apostle paul and has shorter ones of the apostle paul and has really a very important background really a very important background behind it which guides us into our behind it which guides us into our consideration of this epistle and consideration of this epistle and therefore the background is fairly vital therefore the background is fairly vital to understand some of the detailed to understand some of the detailed analysis and detailed discussion that analysis and detailed discussion that the apostle gives us in this the apostle gives us in this particularly short letter particularly short letter as we read there in chapter 16 in the as we read there in chapter 16 in the acts of the apostles it really was an acts of the apostles it really was an incident involving paul's formation of incident involving paul's formation of the philippine philippian ecclesia on the philippine philippian ecclesia on his second journey the second journey of his second journey the second journey of course took him over into this region course took him over into this region region of region of europe which really crosses over the europe which really crosses over the pontus area and takes him into the pontus area and takes him into the european peninsula european peninsula in the area of trace and thence up into in the area of trace and thence up into northern greece which is called northern greece which is called macedonia macedonia now this is the beginning of the now this is the beginning of the ecclesia in europe and the beginning of ecclesia in europe and the beginning of that ecclesia comes in at philippines so that ecclesia comes in at philippines so therefore it's fairly important let's therefore it's fairly important let's just get some bit of background here as just get some bit of background here as we go through looking at the early we go through looking at the early movements of the apostle movements of the apostle and of the brethren sisters at this time and of the brethren sisters at this time as we can see in the area here on the as we can see in the area here on the map map [Music] [Music] the apostle paul was the apostle paul was basing his work basing his work in the area of antioch which we see over in the area of antioch which we see over there up to the north in palestine there up to the north in palestine in the series of events which took place in the series of events which took place here we find that the early days gave us here we find that the early days gave us the martyrdom of james under hiron the martyrdom of james under hiron the famine in jerusalem from 45 to 46 the famine in jerusalem from 45 to 46 was rather significant that famine of was rather significant that famine of course brought the apostle paul to course brought the apostle paul to consider the needs of the brethren consider the needs of the brethren sisters particularly those of poor sisters particularly those of poor circumstances in judea circumstances in judea then in 47 49 we have paul's first then in 47 49 we have paul's first missionary journey which took him off on missionary journey which took him off on that area through salamis to perger uh that area through salamis to perger uh to uh antioch iconium derby lystra and to uh antioch iconium derby lystra and then back again and then on his uh then back again and then on his uh return he went down to the council return he went down to the council in jerusalem in 49 a.d which is the in jerusalem in 49 a.d which is the content of of acts chapter 15 and then content of of acts chapter 15 and then we come to his next journey paul's third we come to his next journey paul's third journey which was from approximately the journey which was from approximately the years 52 to 56 a.d years 52 to 56 a.d and where he then takes his venture over and where he then takes his venture over into europe on his second which was an into europe on his second which was an enlarged journey enlarged journey and so that's really what we're talking and so that's really what we're talking about now following that of course paul about now following that of course paul goes back we have his third missionary goes back we have his third missionary journey 52 56 a.d rather i think we said journey 52 56 a.d rather i think we said that that that was the early one his second that was the early one his second journey was 49-52 journey was 49-52 the third journey 52-56 because he goes the third journey 52-56 because he goes straight away again after his cessation straight away again after his cessation of his second journey and then we have of his second journey and then we have paul and caesarea 56-58 paul and caesarea 56-58 and then paul finally is imprisoned and and then paul finally is imprisoned and goes off to rome goes off to rome by the year 61 a.d by the year 61 a.d so we can see the sequence of events so we can see the sequence of events there are happening fairly rapidly there are happening fairly rapidly within the decade so from 50 to 60 in within the decade so from 50 to 60 in that period of principally that the that period of principally that the works of paul in his second and third works of paul in his second and third journeys uh which eventually take him on journeys uh which eventually take him on his third journey off under rome well his third journey off under rome well let's just recall again the incidents of let's just recall again the incidents of his second journey his second journey which we see in this map here here paul had left the area of antioch and of course and of course he had a sharp dispute with barnabas he had a sharp dispute with barnabas here here barnabas wanted to take of course john barnabas wanted to take of course john mark with him paul disagreed with that mark with him paul disagreed with that council owns the failure of john mark council owns the failure of john mark during the first journey so barnabas during the first journey so barnabas went off to cyprus taking john mark and went off to cyprus taking john mark and paul took silas and went off as we see paul took silas and went off as we see on the map there over from on the map there over from to tarsus to derby lystra iconium and to tarsus to derby lystra iconium and thence over to troas thence over to troas and then he wanted to actually go up and then he wanted to actually go up north of there north of there but in fact the the spirit saved him but in fact the the spirit saved him from doing that in that record we read from doing that in that record we read in in chapter 16 chapter 16 you'll see here verse seven that after you'll see here verse seven that after they had come to maisia they are saying they had come to maisia they are saying to go into bithynia bethinia would have to go into bithynia bethinia would have taken them up into the region's north taken them up into the region's north you'll see up into asia but it was not you'll see up into asia but it was not to be that the truth was to go to asia to be that the truth was to go to asia it was to go to europe first and it was to go to europe first and foremost and in fact the truth has never foremost and in fact the truth has never really gone into asia in a big way not really gone into asia in a big way not like it did into into europe like it did into into europe and therefore the teaching of the gospel and therefore the teaching of the gospel is yet reserved for an asian exploration is yet reserved for an asian exploration another uh crossing of the mountains another uh crossing of the mountains there which must yet be done in terms of there which must yet be done in terms of spreading the word of god out to the spreading the word of god out to the areas of the asian peninsulas and of areas of the asian peninsulas and of course the uh course the uh the actual uh nation called the actual uh nation called uh sino the the sino um uh sino the the sino um scenic nations over there which scenic nations over there which derived from the name sino these are the derived from the name sino these are the ones whose isaiah mentions shall yet ones whose isaiah mentions shall yet come and worship the lord in jerusalem come and worship the lord in jerusalem and the seniors will be there and they and the seniors will be there and they will be able to worship the lord at that will be able to worship the lord at that time in the kingdom and it was not to be time in the kingdom and it was not to be that they were going to worship the lord that they were going to worship the lord now so paul is is stayed from going up now so paul is is stayed from going up into asia and the word of god does not into asia and the word of god does not really reach there and has still not really reach there and has still not reached there in a successful missionary reached there in a successful missionary exercise exercise so really that's a piece of history of so really that's a piece of history of fairly great importance to us isn't it fairly great importance to us isn't it see the the work of god going on at this see the the work of god going on at this time but nevertheless it says that in time but nevertheless it says that in verse eight uh of chapter 16 that they verse eight uh of chapter 16 that they passing by most mycea came down to troas passing by most mycea came down to troas so now they're right on the coast here so now they're right on the coast here and of course now the night vision comes and of course now the night vision comes in in the there appears to paul in the night a the there appears to paul in the night a man of macedonia man of macedonia who prays praise him saying come over to who prays praise him saying come over to macedonia and help us macedonia and help us and after and after he had seen the vision immediately we he had seen the vision immediately we endeavor to go into macedonia and then endeavor to go into macedonia and then verse 11 says therefore losing from verse 11 says therefore losing from troas we came with a straight course to troas we came with a straight course to samuthracia and the next day to neapolis samuthracia and the next day to neapolis now there you have the incident of his now there you have the incident of his change of direction you'll notice the change of direction you'll notice the reason for it is that one was standing reason for it is that one was standing there before him saying come over to there before him saying come over to macedonia and help us macedonia and help us now notice a little bit of detail here now notice a little bit of detail here which in in reading it gives us a bit of which in in reading it gives us a bit of information you'll see in verse 8 it information you'll see in verse 8 it says and they says and they passing by my seer came to try us then passing by my seer came to try us then we get the vision of this man we get the vision of this man of macedonia saying come and help us and of macedonia saying come and help us and then immediately it says then immediately it says in verse 10 immediately we endeavor to in verse 10 immediately we endeavor to go into macedonia so you've got to they go into macedonia so you've got to they in verse 8 and we change to a wee in in verse 8 and we change to a wee in verse 10 verse 10 obviously the writer of the acts of the obviously the writer of the acts of the apostles being luke apostles being luke joins the company on this occasion for joins the company on this occasion for the first time the first time salute now being the writer of this salute now being the writer of this record of the acts of the apostles he record of the acts of the apostles he quite evidently comes in at this quite evidently comes in at this particular crisis when they they went to particular crisis when they they went to over to troas and now in the morning over to troas and now in the morning there joins them there joins them luke luke and maybe luke was the one who was seen and maybe luke was the one who was seen in the vision hey paul come over and in the vision hey paul come over and help us over in in europe help us over in in europe come and help us we've learned about come and help us we've learned about this truth down here in jerusalem we've this truth down here in jerusalem we've been over there we've heard about this been over there we've heard about this now we're wanting to learn about it and now we're wanting to learn about it and spread the word over here in greece spread the word over here in greece macedonia in the european province so macedonia in the european province so maybe this was the occasion luke was the maybe this was the occasion luke was the one seen in the vision and so one seen in the vision and so immediately it says we endeavor to go to immediately it says we endeavor to go to macedonia so luke joins the company here macedonia so luke joins the company here and off they go as he says we came to and off they go as he says we came to the straight with the straight course to the straight with the straight course to samantha verse 11. so then this little samantha verse 11. so then this little connection shows us that the company has connection shows us that the company has joined paul luke has not been with paul joined paul luke has not been with paul previously previously luke of course writes the whole record luke of course writes the whole record of the life of christ that we know of in of the life of christ that we know of in the in the gospel records and therefore the in the gospel records and therefore we see now the the association of luke we see now the the association of luke with the apostle paul as they commence with the apostle paul as they commence their ministry at this time into europe their ministry at this time into europe so as you can see on the map there they so as you can see on the map there they went up through uh went up through uh neapolis there and to apollonia coming neapolis there and to apollonia coming down to the area of rather to philippi down to the area of rather to philippi before they go to amphibolus now this before they go to amphibolus now this was the area called samathracia was the area called samathracia originally it was called thrace originally it was called thrace and now it's linked with some of the and now it's linked with some of the islands as well the island of samos as a islands as well the island of samos as a province now philippi here which you see province now philippi here which you see on the map right at the top there became on the map right at the top there became a very important roman province a very important roman province philippi was actually named after the philippi was actually named after the father of alexander the greats father of alexander the greats who actually took over as a king of who actually took over as a king of macedon went down and the challenge much macedon went down and the challenge much of the the kingdom of the helenes at of the the kingdom of the helenes at this time the hellenic peninsula of the this time the hellenic peninsula of the greeks he went down took over in africa greeks he went down took over in africa took over athens and thence the great took over athens and thence the great empire of philip began to rise and of empire of philip began to rise and of course alexander the great was his son course alexander the great was his son born to him and the great works of the born to him and the great works of the illustrious warrior alexander are well illustrious warrior alexander are well known to us known to us which set up the glory of the greek which set up the glory of the greek empire which of course nebuchadnezzar empire which of course nebuchadnezzar saw in the dream by night of the uh of saw in the dream by night of the uh of that great uh uh leopard the the the that great uh uh leopard the the the power of the leopard coming over and power of the leopard coming over and destroying the power of the uh the bear destroying the power of the uh the bear and the power that was seen there with and the power that was seen there with the with the um the with the um persian empire so it was now it was persian empire so it was now it was greece that was going to rise all this greece that was going to rise all this happened of course before in fact happened of course before in fact alexander died and then as a result of alexander died and then as a result of that the empire was broken up into four that the empire was broken up into four divisions the romans came out of one of divisions the romans came out of one of those divisions and so that well-known those divisions and so that well-known peace our biblical history peace our biblical history and secular history merged together as and secular history merged together as we see the history of greece and rome we see the history of greece and rome now we find the city of philippi named now we find the city of philippi named after philip had become a principal after philip had become a principal province the romans had given the people province the romans had given the people here rights of citizenship so here rights of citizenship so citizenship was very important here they citizenship was very important here they also had as a as a result of having also had as a as a result of having citizenship they didn't have to pay citizenship they didn't have to pay taxes and they could also own slaves taxes and they could also own slaves and so this gave them quite a right to and so this gave them quite a right to be able to exercise a good deal of power be able to exercise a good deal of power in this province of philippi as if in this province of philippi as if they're almost living down here in rome they're almost living down here in rome so these were some of the important so these were some of the important events which really highlighted the events which really highlighted the visit of paul over now to the area of visit of paul over now to the area of thrace now from here of course we know thrace now from here of course we know that he goes back into that he goes back into jerusalem and then he goes on his third jerusalem and then he goes on his third journey and then without going into his journey and then without going into his third journey we now come to look at third journey we now come to look at where he is now where he is now in writing this epistle this was his in writing this epistle this was his voyage to rome voyage to rome and you can see here he goes by ship and you can see here he goes by ship from the area of caesarea where he had from the area of caesarea where he had in fact uh was confined by felix and in fact uh was confined by felix and sent by festus to rome where he appealed sent by festus to rome where he appealed to caesar so he goes up from the area of to caesar so he goes up from the area of sidon over to seleucia antioch tarsus sidon over to seleucia antioch tarsus around to myra to the town of rhodes or around to myra to the town of rhodes or to canada's to canada's and then from there they go down now and then from there they go down now into the area of crete from salami to into the area of crete from salami to lacia down to fair havens of course the lacia down to fair havens of course the area where they were shipwrecked and area where they were shipwrecked and then from there back up from quarter then from there back up from quarter over as you see to the to malta malta over as you see to the to malta malta was of course where they had that was of course where they had that shipwreck there rather and syracuse shipwreck there rather and syracuse regium and eventually up to pewter ally regium and eventually up to pewter ally through the forum of aps through the through the forum of aps through the three taverns and then cerome so this three taverns and then cerome so this was an area of the apostles was an area of the apostles final journey or it was in his great final journey or it was in his great journey over to rome he wanted to go to journey over to rome he wanted to go to rome as a free man to preach the truth rome as a free man to preach the truth he didn't go as a free man he went as a he didn't go as a free man he went as a man in chains and remember he was the man in chains and remember he was the one who went to the jews as he went into one who went to the jews as he went into rome and said for the hope of israel i rome and said for the hope of israel i am bound with this chain am bound with this chain and so he he is there not in his and so he he is there not in his expected free capacity but rather as a expected free capacity but rather as a slave and as a prisoner slave and as a prisoner and it's from here that he writes his and it's from here that he writes his epistle to the philippians so this epistle to the philippians so this becomes a rather important point of becomes a rather important point of writing as a prisoner he now writes this writing as a prisoner he now writes this particular letter now coming back to particular letter now coming back to acts 16 we just want to highlight for a acts 16 we just want to highlight for a few moments here the incidents that few moments here the incidents that really gave rise to the formation of the really gave rise to the formation of the philippian ecclesia philippian ecclesia you'll recall how he goes firstly up to you'll recall how he goes firstly up to the riverbanks and there on the sabbath the riverbanks and there on the sabbath day he talks with the women that came day he talks with the women that came there in verse 14 and here was lydia a there in verse 14 and here was lydia a seller of purple or the city of thyatira seller of purple or the city of thyatira which worship god and so here lydia is which worship god and so here lydia is converted to the truth and she besought converted to the truth and she besought us says luke as writing this record to us says luke as writing this record to remain in her house and so the formation remain in her house and so the formation of the ecclesia was actually here in the of the ecclesia was actually here in the house of lydia house of lydia now we have the incident in verse 16 now we have the incident in verse 16 uh down to uh down to about verse 22 where you get the the about verse 22 where you get the the possessed damsel with the spirit of possessed damsel with the spirit of divination who was healed by the apostle divination who was healed by the apostle paul insiders paul insiders and of course when her masters saw that and of course when her masters saw that the hope of their gains were gone they the hope of their gains were gone they set upon paul and silas drew them to the set upon paul and silas drew them to the marketplace marketplace and of course raised this uh and of course raised this uh case against them which resulted in the case against them which resulted in the multitude rising up against them the multitude rising up against them the magistrates rent off their clothes and magistrates rent off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten now these commanded them to be beaten now these beatens beatings were very very sound beatens beatings were very very sound actually many men died under the actually many men died under the beatings of the romans beatings of the romans and it says in verse 23 and when they'd and it says in verse 23 and when they'd laid many stripes upon them they cast laid many stripes upon them they cast them into prison them into prison and of course they and of course they gave them to the prisoner gave them to the prisoner to the brothers of the jailer who put to the brothers of the jailer who put them into the innermost prison them into the innermost prison and he made their feet fast in stocks and he made their feet fast in stocks now this is rather dramatic here because now this is rather dramatic here because you can see an incident where they're you can see an incident where they're placed in a prison put under the placed in a prison put under the personal charge of the jailer put into personal charge of the jailer put into the inner prison and to the stocks the inner prison and to the stocks within the prison which means they were within the prison which means they were chained in stocks legs and hands with chained in stocks legs and hands with their wall with the with the backs their wall with the with the backs against the wall and here they were now against the wall and here they were now in the innermost sanctum of a prison in the innermost sanctum of a prison obviously they weren't about to escape obviously they weren't about to escape so the jaina was charged with them don't so the jaina was charged with them don't let these men escape let these men escape so what does he do he does everything so what does he do he does everything possible to secure his own judge and possible to secure his own judge and puts them as the innermost prison in puts them as the innermost prison in stocks there's no way they were going to stocks there's no way they were going to get out of there and of course the get out of there and of course the incident was rather interesting from incident was rather interesting from there in the middle of the night there in the middle of the night what we find is that paul and silas what we find is that paul and silas praying and singing hymns to god praying and singing hymns to god and notice this and notice this and the prisoners heard them and the prisoners heard them now why does it say that why does it say now why does it say that why does it say the prisons heard them obviously the prisons heard them obviously paul was here on a preaching effort as paul was here on a preaching effort as he prayed and as he sang his songs the he prayed and as he sang his songs the prisoners were getting the benefit of prisoners were getting the benefit of what paul was doing what paul was doing we don't know how many of those we don't know how many of those prisoners if if any were actually prisoners if if any were actually baptized into the lord jesus christ i baptized into the lord jesus christ i would suggest some of them could have would suggest some of them could have been as a result of this proclamation been as a result of this proclamation effort in the middle of this prison but effort in the middle of this prison but also as a result of the jailer who was also as a result of the jailer who was later converted as we realized so this later converted as we realized so this jada was the one who heard this strange jada was the one who heard this strange thing going on what was it thing going on what was it here were two men here were two men who'd been beaten with their backs red who'd been beaten with their backs red raw they were weeping open wounds of raw they were weeping open wounds of lashes on their backs lashes on their backs their coats were thrown back over their their coats were thrown back over their backs of course as they went into this backs of course as they went into this this terrible hole i mean this wasn't this terrible hole i mean this wasn't the sort of prisons they have today just the sort of prisons they have today just remember that you know the prisons of remember that you know the prisons of today have carpet on the floor they've today have carpet on the floor they've got videos television sets they've got got videos television sets they've got everything they want you know this is to everything they want you know this is to rehabilitate them rehabilitate them these were prisons which were dark holes these were prisons which were dark holes in the earth they were thrust into in the earth they were thrust into prisoners prisons and frequently the prisoners prisons and frequently the keys were thrown away there was no keys were thrown away there was no record kept of them and if in fact the record kept of them and if in fact the magistrate that put them there happened magistrate that put them there happened to remember that they were there and to remember that they were there and happened to show grace upon them then he happened to show grace upon them then he let them out but otherwise let them out but otherwise imagine a person without a imagine a person without a citizenship without a passport a person citizenship without a passport a person unknown a wanderer a traveler nobody unknown a wanderer a traveler nobody would know if he wasted away with the would know if he wasted away with the rats in the bottom of the hole rats in the bottom of the hole there'd be no record of it there'd be no record of it even so here was paul and silas even so here was paul and silas in the innermost section of the prison in the innermost section of the prison singing praises to god now just remember singing praises to god now just remember this that the apostle himself reminded this that the apostle himself reminded us that if you are happy with merriment us that if you are happy with merriment in your heart sing praises unto the lord in your heart sing praises unto the lord sometimes uh when we start off our first sometimes uh when we start off our first hymn of a hymn of a early morning we don't hear the most early morning we don't hear the most joyful notes coming out do we i mean joyful notes coming out do we i mean we're sort of stirring we're waking up we're sort of stirring we're waking up we're getting the vocal cords going we're getting the vocal cords going we're striving against you know sort of we're striving against you know sort of sort of sleepiness and sort of sleepiness and but yet the example of the apostle is but yet the example of the apostle is when you are happy sing when you are happy sing now here's paul now here's paul with a painful neck with a painful neck his hands and his feet are hurting in his hands and his feet are hurting in the stocks in a cold dark dungeon it's the stocks in a cold dark dungeon it's midnight and paul is singing praises to midnight and paul is singing praises to god he's happy god he's happy that in itself is a remarkable testimony that in itself is a remarkable testimony to staying on course with what it's all to staying on course with what it's all about about too often brethren and sisters we become too often brethren and sisters we become preoccupied with depressing atmospheres preoccupied with depressing atmospheres or problems surrounding us we become or problems surrounding us we become very very drab in our countenance very very drab in our countenance we're sad we're sad and who wants to sing hymns when you're and who wants to sing hymns when you're sad sad and again with the apostle paul why and again with the apostle paul why would he be singing him surely he would would he be singing him surely he would be sad on such an occasion be sad on such an occasion but not paul but not paul why then was paul so happy why then was paul so happy so bright i mean so bright i mean so on course so on course so resolute in what he was doing so resolute in what he was doing because brethren sisters he could see because brethren sisters he could see his lord right before his face his lord right before his face have you thought of the connections here have you thought of the connections here for instance with paul for instance with paul and christ and christ look at the the parallels here for a look at the the parallels here for a start start though paul obviously did a work of god though paul obviously did a work of god certain at philippi didn't believe certain at philippi didn't believe but moved against him because of their but moved against him because of their own vested interests had themselves been own vested interests had themselves been threatened threatened wasn't that exactly why christ's enemies wasn't that exactly why christ's enemies moved against him moved against him he threatened the vested interests of he threatened the vested interests of the scribes the pharisees their position the scribes the pharisees their position they felt being in in threat they moved they felt being in in threat they moved against christ against christ they dragged christ before the they dragged christ before the magistrates of the romans magistrates of the romans they got christ beaten they got christ beaten with his back red raw with his back red raw they ensured that his cape was thrown they ensured that his cape was thrown upon him he went off down through his upon him he went off down through his his terrible maze his terrible maze look also look also paul's trial was a travesty of justice paul's trial was a travesty of justice wasn't it wasn't it because he was a roman citizen but he because he was a roman citizen but he didn't let him know at this time he was didn't let him know at this time he was a roman citizen we'll talk about that in a roman citizen we'll talk about that in a moment a moment it was a travesty of justice against him it was a travesty of justice against him they hated paul without a cause just they hated paul without a cause just like they hated christ like they hated christ they put a false accusation against him they put a false accusation against him saying he was inciting rebellion against saying he was inciting rebellion against the romans that's exactly what they did the romans that's exactly what they did to christ exactly what paul suffered to christ exactly what paul suffered and with silas he was taken from prison and with silas he was taken from prison and judgments just like christ was and judgments just like christ was and in the moment of the darkness of and in the moment of the darkness of night we also see that they were also night we also see that they were also beaten with many stripes beaten with many stripes being cast into a prison as good as dead being cast into a prison as good as dead even as christ was put into the dark even as christ was put into the dark tomb at night as good as dead he was tomb at night as good as dead he was dead dead and in order to show that paul was as and in order to show that paul was as good as dead and sinus he was in the good as dead and sinus he was in the innermost prison in stocks and chains innermost prison in stocks and chains to make sure he stayed there to make sure he stayed there so obviously his was his typical death a so obviously his was his typical death a typical present situation and then of typical present situation and then of course he's in this very deep and dark course he's in this very deep and dark hole hole and it is in fact the lord jesus christ and it is in fact the lord jesus christ who in his moment of of greatest sadness who in his moment of of greatest sadness says father forgive them they don't know says father forgive them they don't know what they're doing he lifts a moment of what they're doing he lifts a moment of of happiness to the point where he can of happiness to the point where he can see that there is to be grace shown upon see that there is to be grace shown upon some of those people he is positive and some of those people he is positive and objective on course in his mind exactly objective on course in his mind exactly as paul and silas were they sang hymns as paul and silas were they sang hymns rejoicing about all of this and you know rejoicing about all of this and you know in that on that cross and in that prison in that on that cross and in that prison area area there was there was a prisoner a prisoner there was a man attached to prisons there was a man attached to prisons the malefactor as a result of christ the malefactor as a result of christ being in his own prison and death that being in his own prison and death that malefactor was saved a man that belonged malefactor was saved a man that belonged in a prison and here is a result here in a prison and here is a result here also of paul's intercession and the work also of paul's intercession and the work of god's calling this jailer becomes of god's calling this jailer becomes saved a person who is a citizen of a saved a person who is a citizen of a jail though he's in charge of the jail a jail though he's in charge of the jail a bit like joseph was when he was down in bit like joseph was when he was down in potiphar's prison there he also was in potiphar's prison there he also was in charge of the jail he was associated charge of the jail he was associated with the jail and out of that jail he with the jail and out of that jail he came forth of course typically into came forth of course typically into resurrection to take the prime position resurrection to take the prime position in egypt similarly here we have a jailer in egypt similarly here we have a jailer we have paul we have silas all in we have paul we have silas all in together in the jail and out of this together in the jail and out of this very depressing situation this typical very depressing situation this typical death comes forth resurrection of course death comes forth resurrection of course in the case of the lord jesus christ in the case of the lord jesus christ when he died there was a great when he died there was a great earthquake earthquake and now you notice also an earthquake and now you notice also an earthquake here is the means of the releasing of here is the means of the releasing of paul and silas and so it says verse 26 paul and silas and so it says verse 26 and suddenly there was a great and suddenly there was a great earthquake so that the foundations of earthquake so that the foundations of the prison was shaken and immediately the prison was shaken and immediately the doors were opened just like the the doors were opened just like the stone was rolled back stone was rolled back and out came the prisoners and out came the prisoners and of course this is rather a beautiful and of course this is rather a beautiful type and i think the apostle paul can type and i think the apostle paul can see it in his mind's eye see it in his mind's eye he can see that he is one like as the he can see that he is one like as the pardon me as the disciples were they pardon me as the disciples were they considered themselves when they started considered themselves when they started to be persecuted that they were very to be persecuted that they were very privileged because they could suffer for privileged because they could suffer for the name of christ the name of christ that was very objective wasn't it that was very objective wasn't it and in the midst of suffering they were and in the midst of suffering they were considering the value to themselves and considering the value to themselves and the wonderful privilege they had the wonderful privilege they had that they were being linked that they were being linked with the greatest man and the greatest with the greatest man and the greatest victory that's ever walked this earth victory that's ever walked this earth jesus christ jesus christ so all of these ideas would flood into so all of these ideas would flood into paul's mind so in the most adverse paul's mind so in the most adverse conditions he is joyfully seeing hymns conditions he is joyfully seeing hymns and spreading the gospel to a captive and spreading the gospel to a captive audience audience the prisoners the prisoners heard it heard it and here he was using an opportunity and here he was using an opportunity to spread the truth to spread the truth i once remember a brother telling me i once remember a brother telling me about his opportunity he was in a dark about his opportunity he was in a dark tunnel tunnel traveling on a train the train traveling on a train the train unfortunately had to stop unfortunately had to stop uh it sort of had a uh it sort of had a minor signaling problem and now they minor signaling problem and now they lost electricity and he's in this dark lost electricity and he's in this dark tunnel the train is sort of going into tunnel the train is sort of going into this tunnel and would come out about a this tunnel and would come out about a minute later and here he's got a captive minute later and here he's got a captive audience ever all the women are audience ever all the women are screaming so he now uses this screaming so he now uses this opportunity to get up and start to opportunity to get up and start to preach security in christ jesus he had a preach security in christ jesus he had a captive audience in darkness for about a captive audience in darkness for about a minute but anyway he he made the most of minute but anyway he he made the most of it he used his opportunity with his it he used his opportunity with his captive audience to do it captive audience to do it and these are opportunities that we can and these are opportunities that we can all use on occasions all use on occasions paul used it paul used it let's see at the times when we might be let's see at the times when we might be able to spread a little bit of this able to spread a little bit of this wonderful testimony of scripture the wonderful testimony of scripture the wonderful news of liberation from being wonderful news of liberation from being incarcerated in darkness to other people incarcerated in darkness to other people around us around us making the most of an opportunity making the most of an opportunity always keen to do the work of an always keen to do the work of an evangelist evangelist now that was paul's minds that was now that was paul's minds that was silas's mind and that was the situation silas's mind and that was the situation they were now exploiting so of course they were now exploiting so of course they're able to to come out of that they're able to to come out of that prison we know that jaina was ready to prison we know that jaina was ready to thrust himself through with the sword thrust himself through with the sword and he is now given the opportunity of and he is now given the opportunity of life by paul and silas and so paul cries life by paul and silas and so paul cries out don't do this don't do yourself any out don't do this don't do yourself any harm the voice cries out and of course harm the voice cries out and of course this jailer now comes kneeling before this jailer now comes kneeling before paul and he and his household are saved paul and he and his household are saved and thus began to swell the ecclesia in and thus began to swell the ecclesia in philippine apart from lydia the jailer philippine apart from lydia the jailer is the next one mentioned here who now is the next one mentioned here who now becomes a member of the ecclesia becomes a member of the ecclesia so wasn't this a wonderful opportunity so wasn't this a wonderful opportunity an opportunity to make the most of an opportunity to make the most of adverse circumstances and the apostle adverse circumstances and the apostle paul now as we realize in the morning paul now as we realize in the morning they send forth to him to release him they send forth to him to release him out of the prison out of the prison and paul says no he says they've openly and paul says no he says they've openly beaten us and we are romans we're roman beaten us and we are romans we're roman citizens they're not allowed to do that citizens they're not allowed to do that to us and now they want to privately say to us and now they want to privately say or get rid of these men out of the or get rid of these men out of the prison prison paul paul now pulls rank now pulls rank his rank is a roman citizen his rank is a roman citizen and he says right let them come and get and he says right let them come and get us out the sergeants therefore came down us out the sergeants therefore came down and besought them look oh please just and besought them look oh please just you know move out of this prison move you know move out of this prison move out of our city um please do this out of our city um please do this don't arrange us and report us to rome don't arrange us and report us to rome now why was paul calling rank on his now why was paul calling rank on his citizenship when really as strangers and citizenship when really as strangers and pilgrims we don't normally call rank on pilgrims we don't normally call rank on citizenship do we the rights as a citizenship do we the rights as a citizen we do not really employ up the citizen we do not really employ up the front line to say well these are my front line to say well these are my rights rights why is paul demanding his rights well he why is paul demanding his rights well he isn't actually demanding his rights what isn't actually demanding his rights what he's saying is he's saying is was it lawful for you to beat a roman was it lawful for you to beat a roman citizen citizen we didn't know you were roman citizen we didn't know you were roman citizen well that's fine well that's fine you can let us go now you can let us go now and i won't report you now and i won't report you now but notice what he was doing but notice what he was doing he was making it clear he was making it clear that implied within the situation he that implied within the situation he could come back and report them at any could come back and report them at any time so what would the sergeants do time so what would the sergeants do if there was to be any arraigning or any if there was to be any arraigning or any create creating of any suffering for the create creating of any suffering for the brethren there if paul was to walk back brethren there if paul was to walk back on the scene on the scene of course they would want to do a paul of course they would want to do a paul said said but paul was rather just leaving it in but paul was rather just leaving it in the air on this occasion calling rank the air on this occasion calling rank not for his own benefits but so the not for his own benefits but so the sergeants would leave alone these other sergeants would leave alone these other brothers and sisters if they raised brothers and sisters if they raised similar charges against them similar charges against them so he was using his position to secure so he was using his position to secure the ecclesia not his own position the ecclesia not his own position i think that's very interesting i think that's very interesting it was an opportunity for the work of it was an opportunity for the work of the truth to go on without it being the truth to go on without it being suppressed and without the brethren suppressed and without the brethren being persecuted by their adversaries of being persecuted by their adversaries of the time so it was for a furtherness of the time so it was for a furtherness of the work of the truth and the occlusion the work of the truth and the occlusion of philippi grew as a result of that now of philippi grew as a result of that now all of that background brethren and all of that background brethren and sisters is vitally necessary when you sisters is vitally necessary when you come to look at the epistle of paul to come to look at the epistle of paul to the philippians well let's go over there the philippians well let's go over there now and see very briefly what he had to now and see very briefly what he had to say say now now just before doing so just before doing so just notice very briefly just notice very briefly the epistles themselves and how they the epistles themselves and how they fall in together in really to a very fall in together in really to a very simple message but an important message simple message but an important message here here you'll see how in paul's epistles the first and greatest of his epistles the first and greatest of his epistles in terms of the romans where he talks in terms of the romans where he talks about christ the power of god about christ the power of god corinthians he talks about the wisdom of corinthians he talks about the wisdom of god first corinthians the second god first corinthians the second letter he talks to the comforts of god letter he talks to the comforts of god to the galatians he talks about christ to the galatians he talks about christ the righteousness of god for us the righteousness of god for us ephesians christ the riches of god for ephesians christ the riches of god for us philippians christ the sufficiency of us philippians christ the sufficiency of god for us christ in exaltation christ god for us christ in exaltation christ is all sufficient is all sufficient for what we need we'll see this as we go for what we need we'll see this as we go through the epistle and then the through the epistle and then the colossians christ the fullness of god colossians christ the fullness of god thessalonians the first letter christ thessalonians the first letter christ the promise of god to us the promise of god to us in christ's in christ's translation and in in second translation and in in second thessalonians christ the victory of god thessalonians christ the victory of god for us in christ as a compensation and for us in christ as a compensation and then we have the personal letters of the then we have the personal letters of the apostle paul from there to timothy apostle paul from there to timothy setting forth the charge and the setting forth the charge and the challenge to titus setting forth a word challenge to titus setting forth a word of caution to philemon setting forth the of caution to philemon setting forth the need for consideration for others and need for consideration for others and then of course we would suggest the then of course we would suggest the letter to the hebrews reveals the need letter to the hebrews reveals the need of faith rather than law as the of faith rather than law as the motivation for us motivation for us now looking now at the epistle of now looking now at the epistle of philippians and seeing this principle philippians and seeing this principle theme in this epistle often when you theme in this epistle often when you want to go through and look at any uh of want to go through and look at any uh of the apostles letters or any of the works the apostles letters or any of the works that we see that we see in this particular epistle it appears in this particular epistle it appears very clear very clear that the apostle paul thank you the that the apostle paul thank you the apostle paul is now highlighting a apostle paul is now highlighting a particular word or particular theme and particular word or particular theme and if we go through and look at that we can if we go through and look at that we can find what that is quite easily now look find what that is quite easily now look at the episode of the philippians and at the episode of the philippians and we'll see just looking very briefly at we'll see just looking very briefly at the theme of it what he's saying the theme of it what he's saying now now you'll see in verse 4 he commences to you'll see in verse 4 he commences to look at some of this theme and he says look at some of this theme and he says always in every prayer of mine for you always in every prayer of mine for you all making requests with joy now this is all making requests with joy now this is very important as we'll see the reason very important as we'll see the reason why they wrote to paul they said they why they wrote to paul they said they actually sent a message to paul actually sent a message to paul they were very very sorry for paul that they were very very sorry for paul that he was here in prison that he was here he was here in prison that he was here suffering in prison which they had a lot suffering in prison which they had a lot of deprivation and certainly a lot of of deprivation and certainly a lot of inconvenience and they'd sent this inconvenience and they'd sent this message via epaphroditus to them and message via epaphroditus to them and paul's epistle is responding to that paul's epistle is responding to that message message now his his message to them becomes a now his his message to them becomes a message of joy message of joy out of the midst of the prison now out of the midst of the prison now notice the way how this the word the way notice the way how this the word the way in which this word joy goes through the in which this word joy goes through the epistle so he says making a remembrance epistle so he says making a remembrance to to you with joy now come again down to to you with joy now come again down into verse 18 of the chapter singling out again this theme what then notwithstanding every way what then notwithstanding every way whether in pretense or in truth christ whether in pretense or in truth christ is preached i therefore do rejoice is is preached i therefore do rejoice is the same word and will rejoice the same word and will rejoice making it very clear that rejoicing is making it very clear that rejoicing is right in his heart again following it right in his heart again following it through verse 25 through verse 25 i know and i shall abide in the and i know and i shall abide in the and continue with you all for your continue with you all for your furtherance and for your joy of faith furtherance and for your joy of faith verse 26 that you're rejoicing may be verse 26 that you're rejoicing may be more abundant more abundant right see all the way through it's right see all the way through it's actually interesting to get a colored actually interesting to get a colored pencil and color through these words as pencil and color through these words as you go through and just see how it you go through and just see how it permeates the epistle it's a very permeates the epistle it's a very central word again it comes up for us uh central word again it comes up for us uh in verse two of chapter two in verse two of chapter two fulfill you my joy that ye be fulfill you my joy that ye be like-minded so again joy becomes part of like-minded so again joy becomes part of the theme behind his words follow the theme behind his words follow through again this time over in it's through again this time over in it's still in chapter 2 but look at verse 17 still in chapter 2 but look at verse 17 yea and if i be offered upon the yea and if i be offered upon the sacrifice in other words if i'm going to sacrifice in other words if i'm going to be an offering on the altar of god's be an offering on the altar of god's service for your faith i joy and rejoice service for your faith i joy and rejoice with you all verse 18 for the same with you all verse 18 for the same causal so do you joy and rejoice with me causal so do you joy and rejoice with me there's no doubt that he's got a a very there's no doubt that he's got a a very happy note to this epistle and just happy note to this epistle and just slipping through now to look at to slipping through now to look at to chapter 4 where he again highlights this chapter 4 where he again highlights this theme theme verse 1 therefore my brethren dearly verse 1 therefore my brethren dearly beloved and long for my joy and my crown beloved and long for my joy and my crown again verse 4 rejoice in the lord always again verse 4 rejoice in the lord always and again i say and again i say rejoice rejoice and this theme as you can see brethren and this theme as you can see brethren and sisters is a very very strong one and sisters is a very very strong one because he wants to tell them we are because he wants to tell them we are very very happy very very happy that we are here suffering for christ that we are here suffering for christ you know that in itself is quite an you know that in itself is quite an enigma enigma to the mind of the flesh to the mind of the flesh people would not normally think like people would not normally think like this i mean put ourselves in that this i mean put ourselves in that position it requires a monumental position it requires a monumental strength of spiritual insight to say yes strength of spiritual insight to say yes this adverse situation this adverse situation is an occasion to be happy and often brethren and sisters we see adversity adversity as almost being contrary to the work of as almost being contrary to the work of the truth whenever we whenever we have the truth whenever we whenever we have to suffer something whenever we have to to suffer something whenever we have to experience difficulties or the occlusion experience difficulties or the occlusion is under adverse circumstances or our is under adverse circumstances or our own lives are in turmoil because of own lives are in turmoil because of problems personal problems family problems personal problems family problems problems then how do we react to it then how do we react to it the way in which the apostle says to the way in which the apostle says to react to it is to rejoice because in the react to it is to rejoice because in the presence of adversity is the presence of adversity is the demonstration of god's love demonstration of god's love and thereby with such love it is a and thereby with such love it is a testimony that god loves us that we are testimony that god loves us that we are suffering for the sake of our lord and suffering for the sake of our lord and that he will redeem us out of these that he will redeem us out of these difficulties no worry let our faith difficulties no worry let our faith trust in him and he will lift us up in trust in him and he will lift us up in the appointed time for no tribulation the appointed time for no tribulation seems to be joyous for the presence seems to be joyous for the presence but afterwards it breeds the peaceable but afterwards it breeds the peaceable fruits of righteousness fruits of righteousness and that's where the joy is and that's where the joy is not that we're happy about the suffering not that we're happy about the suffering but we've got to be happy but we've got to be happy about the fruits that come out of about the fruits that come out of suffering and here is what what paul was suffering and here is what what paul was doing in philippi here he was singing doing in philippi here he was singing praises to god and spreading the word of praises to god and spreading the word of god and the sufferings of christ to the god and the sufferings of christ to the captive audience in the prison here was captive audience in the prison here was paul now in rome a prisoner again in paul now in rome a prisoner again in rome in chains for the hope of israel rome in chains for the hope of israel and he rejoiced by the fact that this and he rejoiced by the fact that this prison was an opportunity of spreading prison was an opportunity of spreading the word of god to all the prisoners in the word of god to all the prisoners in in in the household of caesar in in the household of caesar and what a wonderful opportunity this and what a wonderful opportunity this was because the ecclesia in rome grew was because the ecclesia in rome grew out of the ecclesia this ecclesia this ecclesia growing as it did growing as it did out of the prison house of caesar out of the prison house of caesar that was very remarkable that was very remarkable and because on account of this we can and because on account of this we can see the background to all that he's see the background to all that he's writing the philippians has to do with writing the philippians has to do with his visit to philippi where their his visit to philippi where their attitude to paul and paul's attitude to attitude to paul and paul's attitude to them unlike all of the epistles this them unlike all of the epistles this this gives us a beautiful context for this gives us a beautiful context for introduction so let's just look briefly introduction so let's just look briefly now at the purpose for his writing now at the purpose for his writing he was now sending epaphroditus back to he was now sending epaphroditus back to philippi philippi and he brought it because he brought a and he brought it because he brought a generous gift forward to them now you generous gift forward to them now you have these in the notes which have been have these in the notes which have been distributed to you distributed to you on the episode of the philippians on the episode of the philippians just on page three you have the purpose just on page three you have the purpose of his writing of his writing and it's always very important to look and it's always very important to look at the background to things like this so at the background to things like this so the second reason of his purpose of the second reason of his purpose of writing was that he was anxious to set writing was that he was anxious to set them at ease with respect to their them at ease with respect to their concern for his well-being seeing trial concern for his well-being seeing trial was imminent and he was in bonds they was imminent and he was in bonds they wrote to him and they rather sent this wrote to him and they rather sent this message via epaphroditus to really message via epaphroditus to really console paul because he must be so sad console paul because he must be so sad and so depressed about this imminent and so depressed about this imminent trial coming up and that he was here trial coming up and that he was here deprived as a prisoner and they could deprived as a prisoner and they could appreciate his confidence a appreciate his confidence a determination and faith from the words determination and faith from the words of the epistle he also writes to bring of the epistle he also writes to bring unity in the lord between eurodius and unity in the lord between eurodius and sintiki here two sisters in the ecclesia sintiki here two sisters in the ecclesia the only problem he highlights which had the only problem he highlights which had a bit of a division there and he draws a bit of a division there and he draws attention to humility as the antidote to attention to humility as the antidote to vainglory and division he also writes to vainglory and division he also writes to warn them of the judaizers now these warn them of the judaizers now these were those who'd come into the truth but were those who'd come into the truth but maintained their lives as jewish people maintained their lives as jewish people in other words they were trying to make in other words they were trying to make law the basis of salvation and not faith law the basis of salvation and not faith and thereby causing political and thereby causing political disturbances and and division in the disturbances and and division in the brotherhood brotherhood he writes also to set before them his he writes also to set before them his example of faithful striving before the example of faithful striving before the lord that they might be followers of him lord that they might be followers of him even as he was of christ and of course even as he was of christ and of course these are words we'll pick up in chapter these are words we'll pick up in chapter three uh and uh in three uh and uh in in the subsequent verses there in in the in the subsequent verses there in in the the sixth point of his reason for the sixth point of his reason for writing he writes to inform them of his writing he writes to inform them of his plans he's sending a paraphrase straight plans he's sending a paraphrase straight away then he's sending timothy when he away then he's sending timothy when he knows what his verdict is and then he knows what his verdict is and then he also hopes himself to come before too also hopes himself to come before too long as he stresses to them in chapter 2 long as he stresses to them in chapter 2 and verse 24. so this really gives us and verse 24. so this really gives us the background on this epistle now the background on this epistle now having taken all of that time of course having taken all of that time of course we now introduce chapter one but this we now introduce chapter one but this background as you can see permeates and background as you can see permeates and will permeate his epistle going through will permeate his epistle going through so so in verse one he commences chapter one in verse one he commences chapter one paul and timotheus the servant of jesus paul and timotheus the servant of jesus christ to all the saints in christ jesus christ to all the saints in christ jesus which are at philippi and with the which are at philippi and with the bishops and the deacons making the point bishops and the deacons making the point here that here are the groups of the here that here are the groups of the bishops these are those who who are bishops these are those who who are serving at the table of god and leading serving at the table of god and leading the the things of god the the things of god in the affairs of watching over the in the affairs of watching over the ecclesia those who normally in this time ecclesia those who normally in this time had the power of the holy spirit were had the power of the holy spirit were able to uh to give that power exercise able to uh to give that power exercise that power for the benefit of the that power for the benefit of the brethren and he says grace be unto you brethren and he says grace be unto you and peace from god our father and from and peace from god our father and from the lord jesus christ wonderful tokens the lord jesus christ wonderful tokens of salutation that paul gives us and of salutation that paul gives us and when you think about each one of the when you think about each one of the words in that salutation it really words in that salutation it really highlights part of the love of god the highlights part of the love of god the gift of grace and the wonderful gift of grace and the wonderful assurance we can have in knowing god is assurance we can have in knowing god is in charge the lord the lord jesus christ in charge the lord the lord jesus christ is with us is with us and in verse 4 verse 3 he says i thank and in verse 4 verse 3 he says i thank my god everyone in remembering you my god everyone in remembering you and then he says always in every prayer and then he says always in every prayer of mine for you all making requests with of mine for you all making requests with joy that's a little aside there like joy that's a little aside there like that verses is sort of in parenthesis that verses is sort of in parenthesis always in every prayer of mine for you always in every prayer of mine for you all in every prayer i make your the list all in every prayer i make your the list of the philippian brethren and sisters a of the philippian brethren and sisters a very important part of my prayers i very important part of my prayers i rejoice in you all i thank god that rejoice in you all i thank god that you're in the truth and i thank god for you're in the truth and i thank god for the wonderful gift that you sent me and the wonderful gift that you sent me and for your well-being your concern for my for your well-being your concern for my well-being and your love that has been well-being and your love that has been expressed on this occasion expressed on this occasion and then in verse 4 he makes it clear and then in verse 4 he makes it clear that making requests with joy that making requests with joy for your fellowship in the gospel for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now this from the first day until now this wonderful fellowship which they'd had wonderful fellowship which they'd had with paul being confident in this very with paul being confident in this very thing that he which has begun a good thing that he which has begun a good work in you will perform it until the work in you will perform it until the day of jesus christ day of jesus christ so the work had commenced in in fact the so the work had commenced in in fact the formation of the philippian ecclesia formation of the philippian ecclesia when paul was there in philippi and now when paul was there in philippi and now the work would continue on and through the work would continue on and through all the trials and difficulties they all the trials and difficulties they would experience ultimately of course would experience ultimately of course god was guiding them the lord jesus god was guiding them the lord jesus christ was there nurturing them and they christ was there nurturing them and they were growing stronger all the time and were growing stronger all the time and now he says in verse 6 being confident now he says in verse 6 being confident he is confident that god will complete he is confident that god will complete this work right up until the day of this work right up until the day of jesus christ comes verse 7 even as it is jesus christ comes verse 7 even as it is right for me to think of you all because right for me to think of you all because i have you in my heart rather that i have you in my heart rather that should be rendered you have me in your should be rendered you have me in your heart i think most of the modern heart i think most of the modern translations do that in as much as both translations do that in as much as both in my bonds and in the defense of the in my bonds and in the defense of the confirmation of the gospel you are all confirmation of the gospel you are all partakers of my grace so here he is partakers of my grace so here he is defending the truth and confirming the defending the truth and confirming the gospel here gospel here others in the ecclesia of caesar's others in the ecclesia of caesar's household are coming into the truth this household are coming into the truth this is a wonderful thing you all can is a wonderful thing you all can associate with this for god is my record associate with this for god is my record he says how greatly i long after you all he says how greatly i long after you all in the bowels of jesus christ this in the bowels of jesus christ this wonderful expression paul uses wonderful expression paul uses throughout his epistles i long after you throughout his epistles i long after you all that means his heart is all that means his heart is contemplating their presence in the hope contemplating their presence in the hope of israel all the time he loves them he of israel all the time he loves them he wants to share time with him and he wants to share time with him and he finds that his bowels are moved finds that his bowels are moved now what that means is now what that means is his emotions his emotions his emotions become overcome his emotions become overcome with his love for them with his love for them and this is often expressed i suppose to and this is often expressed i suppose to us who are not generally seen as very us who are not generally seen as very emotional people in the western world we emotional people in the western world we often have to look over to the to the often have to look over to the to the middle east to see really emotional middle east to see really emotional people but you know we if we become people but you know we if we become emotional over somebody we get a emotional over somebody we get a wonderful warm feeling inside and you wonderful warm feeling inside and you know when the the girl and the boy they know when the the girl and the boy they they start to to have those little they start to to have those little sparkles germinate between them and they sparkles germinate between them and they start to feel you know in love with each start to feel you know in love with each other and you get little butterflies in other and you get little butterflies in the tummy you know that's exactly how the tummy you know that's exactly how paul felt all the time about the paul felt all the time about the brethren sisters he got butterflies in brethren sisters he got butterflies in the tummy his bowels moved his emotions the tummy his bowels moved his emotions were stirred were stirred he'd smile he'd cry he'd he'd laugh he'd he'd smile he'd cry he'd he'd laugh he'd think about them emotionally you know that's a very great part of paul because paul was often seen as the paul because paul was often seen as the intellectual giant of his day and he was intellectual giant of his day and he was a great intellectual giant a great intellectual giant he had to suffer other mortals and he had to suffer other mortals and suffer fools gladly suffer fools gladly and when people would oppose him and when people would oppose him he wouldn't come out and lacerate them he wouldn't come out and lacerate them and cutting the pieces with his tongue and cutting the pieces with his tongue he wasn't vindictive he wasn't he wasn't vindictive he wasn't destructive destructive he wasn't aggressive he wasn't aggressive he was a person who let his love he was a person who let his love overflow for situations that he really overflow for situations that he really felt for felt for so not only paul was an it was not only so not only paul was an it was not only the intellectual giant of his day the intellectual giant of his day he was really he was really the emotional caring loving person a the emotional caring loving person a monumental giant of love monumental giant of love and he showed that and he showed that to everybody to his brothers and sisters to everybody to his brothers and sisters and even on occasions to his enemies and even on occasions to his enemies but his bowels were moved for them when but his bowels were moved for them when he thought about them he thought about them when you look over the page there in when you look over the page there in verse 9 he says i pray that your love verse 9 he says i pray that your love may abound yet more and more in may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment or knowledge and in all judgment or discernments discernments and that you may approve things that are and that you may approve things that are excellent that you may be sincere and excellent that you may be sincere and without offence to the until the day of without offence to the until the day of christ being filled with the fruits he christ being filled with the fruits he says the fruits of righteousness which says the fruits of righteousness which are by jesus christ under the glory of are by jesus christ under the glory of and the praise of god wonderful words and the praise of god wonderful words here he's saying that they might have here he's saying that they might have spiritual discernment that they might be spiritual discernment that they might be sincere and not creating offense and sincere and not creating offense and filled with righteousness these are the filled with righteousness these are the qualities these are the fruits of the qualities these are the fruits of the spirit which we try to secure spirit which we try to secure but i would he says in verse 12 but i would he says in verse 12 i would break them that you should i would break them that you should understand this understand this that the things which have happened that the things which have happened under me have fallen out rather under under me have fallen out rather under the further into the gospel so that in the further into the gospel so that in my bonds my bonds in christ they're my bonds my bonds in christ they're manifest in all the palace and in manifest in all the palace and in everywhere around me he says everywhere around me he says wonderful testimony here you see that wonderful testimony here you see that written to him saying oh poor paul he's written to him saying oh poor paul he's in prison he's facing a terrible trial in prison he's facing a terrible trial he's under a lot of emotional stress he's under a lot of emotional stress he's sick he's under difficulties he's sick he's under difficulties and they wrote to him saying paul paul and they wrote to him saying paul paul paul is now responding and saying look paul is now responding and saying look thank you for your concern but look thank you for your concern but look recognize this recognize this but being here i want you to understand but being here i want you to understand that it's fallen out to the furtherance that it's fallen out to the furtherance of the gospel of the gospel i haven't been locked away and i haven't been locked away and incarcerated in some dark dungeon in incarcerated in some dark dungeon in stocks he said i'm in caesar's household stocks he said i'm in caesar's household he was under house arrest he was under house arrest there are occasions when he was put in there are occasions when he was put in chains but there are other occasions chains but there are other occasions when he was free to wander about the when he was free to wander about the praetorium now this palace here you'll praetorium now this palace here you'll notice the margin says for that caesar's notice the margin says for that caesar's caught and that was where the praetorium caught and that was where the praetorium guard lived guard lived caesar's courts the praetorium guard and caesar's courts the praetorium guard and here he is preaching to the soldiers and here he is preaching to the soldiers and the prisoners together the praetorium the prisoners together the praetorium god will seize his personal bodyguard god will seize his personal bodyguard and of course he's in a under house and of course he's in a under house arrest so there are other prisoners arrest so there are other prisoners around him too around him too so here is is paul again in an adverse so here is is paul again in an adverse situation a prisoner in rome in chains situation a prisoner in rome in chains some of the times sometimes not but in some of the times sometimes not but in these these chains he would be preaching these these chains he would be preaching the truth the truth to the prisoners and also to the jailers to the prisoners and also to the jailers to the guards the praetorium guard and to the guards the praetorium guard and what was happening there was a real what was happening there was a real ecclesia going here in the household of ecclesia going here in the household of caesar caesar what a remarkable testimony what a remarkable testimony because in fact paul was told when the because in fact paul was told when the lord called him lord called him he shall bear my name he shall bear my name before kings and princes and rulers before kings and princes and rulers and here he is now and here he is now in the household of the lord of the in the household of the lord of the whole world the emperor of rome whole world the emperor of rome and in this household incidentally it and in this household incidentally it wasn't a terribly wise caesar at this wasn't a terribly wise caesar at this time it was actually nero time it was actually nero who was the one that you know fiddled who was the one that you know fiddled while rome burns while rome burns he was the one who was really called the he was the one who was really called the madman on the throne he wasn't very madman on the throne he wasn't very bright he wasn't very intelligent he bright he wasn't very intelligent he didn't have very good reading and he was didn't have very good reading and he was the one of whom it has said that he the one of whom it has said that he actually instigated the fires in rome actually instigated the fires in rome and played his ukulele up there on the and played his ukulele up there on the the palace walls while rome burned and the palace walls while rome burned and then blamed it all on the christians then blamed it all on the christians this was the sort of man to whom paul this was the sort of man to whom paul had to appeal when he appealed to caesar had to appeal when he appealed to caesar he had to come before caesar's tribunal he had to come before caesar's tribunal he was really a man quite he was really a man quite short of all his facilities short of all his facilities and he was one that was now in charge of and he was one that was now in charge of the roman empire the roman empire but in this particular household now he but in this particular household now he gives his hands to teaching the work of gives his hands to teaching the work of the truth and what was happening then the truth and what was happening then everywhere around him in the palace that everywhere around him in the palace that is in in the praetorium guard in is in in the praetorium guard in caesar's palace and everywhere else in caesar's palace and everywhere else in the other places where in fact the work the other places where in fact the work of the praetorium god was going the of the praetorium god was going the message of paul the prisoner was going message of paul the prisoner was going forth in the midst of rome forth in the midst of rome wonderful preaching opportunity wonderful preaching opportunity not the sort of thing we would sort of not the sort of thing we would sort of plan to do like put it on next year's plan to do like put it on next year's proclamation effort proclamation effort but this is what came up as god's but this is what came up as god's opportunity opportunity for paul to preach to a community that for paul to preach to a community that really was going to respond enormously really was going to respond enormously to the truth and often it's this way to the truth and often it's this way isn't it if we were to select the people isn't it if we were to select the people that we believe that we believe that are the best candidates for that are the best candidates for salvation who would they be salvation who would they be we look out and select people that just we look out and select people that just like us like us you know mr and mrs average you know mr and mrs average uh they sort of live a nice sort of life uh they sort of live a nice sort of life they don't have a lot of vices they don't have a lot of vices they have opportunities to to talk about they have opportunities to to talk about real things they live in nice middle real things they live in nice middle class family homes probably you know the class family homes probably you know the basic basic white uh christian uh protestant white uh christian uh protestant backgrounds backgrounds uh people that we would say are nice uh people that we would say are nice people to start with they're personable people to start with they're personable they don't they don't swear they don't they don't they don't swear they don't carry on they're not drunks and they're carry on they're not drunks and they're the sort of people we'd select saying the sort of people we'd select saying they're go and preach the truth to those they're go and preach the truth to those people you know and yet those are the people you know and yet those are the people that do not respond very well at people that do not respond very well at times times often you find as people in the most often you find as people in the most diverse circumstances the people who diverse circumstances the people who have problems that show they need christ have problems that show they need christ and therefore we end up with a situation and therefore we end up with a situation that that's the people who have the that that's the people who have the greatest need greatest need that will probably have the best that will probably have the best insights insights into what christ can do for them mr and into what christ can do for them mr and mrs average who live in their lovely mrs average who live in their lovely middle class home and have everything middle class home and have everything they need why do they need christ they need why do they need christ and often that's their attitude they and often that's their attitude they don't need christ don't need christ and so it's the people that come from and so it's the people that come from circumstances we might at least think circumstances we might at least think they would they would are the people are the people that end up being the vanguards of the that end up being the vanguards of the truth truth that's been my experience possibly yours that's been my experience possibly yours too too but here was this little community here but here was this little community here in rome in rome beginning a great work beginning a great work and paul highlights all these and paul highlights all these backgrounds backgrounds the philippine athleisure the philippine athleisure it was all necessary it was all necessary in order to prepare for the work in rome in order to prepare for the work in rome a very great work a very great work but you see the tragedy was but you see the tragedy was here was the beginning of the ecclesia here was the beginning of the ecclesia in rome in rome a very simple community of mostly a very simple community of mostly prisoners prisoners and that community grew and that community grew to become to become what is now what is now the roman church the roman church what an incredible contrast what an incredible contrast but yet here was the beginning of the but yet here was the beginning of the important teaching of the truth in important teaching of the truth in europe and we'll pick it up in our next europe and we'll pick it up in our next session

Transcript

in the notes which we've handed out to you all you'll find the structure of the you all you'll find the structure of the epistle epistle which is a very important uh part of any which is a very important uh part of any bible study program it's essential that bible study program it's essential that we really get to know the structure and we really get to know the structure and see the outline of where it's actually see the outline of where it's actually going and you'll notice in this going and you'll notice in this particular chart we've put it on the particular chart we've put it on the screen there ahead of you as well just screen there ahead of you as well just so we can see the direction so we can see the direction and the development of the and the development of the the writing that paul gives us and the the writing that paul gives us and the way in which he develops his theme so way in which he develops his theme so that he can give to us a message that's that he can give to us a message that's going to stay with us quite easily if we going to stay with us quite easily if we look at the epistle in its structure look at the epistle in its structure we'll notice his address is salutations we'll notice his address is salutations which come up in verses one to two in which come up in verses one to two in three to eight we're looking there at three to eight we're looking there at the thanksgiving for their fellowship in the thanksgiving for their fellowship in the expression of his profound love for the expression of his profound love for them which he he demonstrated there for them which he he demonstrated there for us us and then in verses 9 to 11 paul's prayer and then in verses 9 to 11 paul's prayer for their spiritual growth and for their for their spiritual growth and for their fruitfulness and the truth then he goes fruitfulness and the truth then he goes the next division in his epistle where the next division in his epistle where he's making clear now this remaining he's making clear now this remaining section of chapter one how he's set for section of chapter one how he's set for the defense of the gospel the defense of the gospel now this was his whole purpose in going now this was his whole purpose in going forth to rome was to forth to rome was to defend the gospel he wanted to when he defend the gospel he wanted to when he appealed to caesar out of caesarea then appealed to caesar out of caesarea then he was doing so not because he wanted to he was doing so not because he wanted to get himself off scot-free because he get himself off scot-free because he could have done that and as the record could have done that and as the record says and acts had he not appealed to says and acts had he not appealed to caesar he would have been set free and caesar he would have been set free and surely he could see that's what was surely he could see that's what was going to happen he appealed a season going to happen he appealed a season because this was an opportunity now of because this was an opportunity now of getting an official sanction for him getting an official sanction for him going to rome and answering right at the going to rome and answering right at the head of the government of the whole head of the government of the whole world at that time the the roman uh world at that time the the roman uh inhabitable or comedians it's known in inhabitable or comedians it's known in the greek the whole world at that time the greek the whole world at that time was now about to witness the standard of was now about to witness the standard of paul's position of witness for the truth paul's position of witness for the truth so he was holding up this standard right so he was holding up this standard right here in rome and as a result of this of here in rome and as a result of this of course many of the the things which they course many of the the things which they thought were adverse had fallen out thought were adverse had fallen out rather unto as he says the furtherance rather unto as he says the furtherance of the gospel and really this was a of the gospel and really this was a point the philippian brethren should point the philippian brethren should have really remembered shouldn't they have really remembered shouldn't they they should have remembered they should have remembered that their own background their own that their own background their own ecclesia of philippi was founded upon ecclesia of philippi was founded upon the adverse circumstances in the prison the adverse circumstances in the prison in philippi well here was paul now in in philippi well here was paul now in prison in rome they should have of all prison in rome they should have of all people people have understood the benefits that can have understood the benefits that can accrue from such a circumstance accrue from such a circumstance so here was paul in rome in adversity so here was paul in rome in adversity preaching the truth and of course the preaching the truth and of course the truth was becoming known in many truth was becoming known in many different places and now he talks in different places and now he talks in verses 14 onwards now uh concerning his verses 14 onwards now uh concerning his um um his imprisonment and the outcome of the his imprisonment and the outcome of the situation which had actually emerged situation which had actually emerged he said many of the brethren and the he said many of the brethren and the lord waxing confident by my bonds are lord waxing confident by my bonds are much more bold to speak the word without much more bold to speak the word without fear so he's making it very clear that fear so he's making it very clear that in rome they are going out confidently in rome they are going out confidently speaking the truth now we must remember speaking the truth now we must remember that rome was a cosmopolitan religious that rome was a cosmopolitan religious community community and of course unless you were a roman and of course unless you were a roman citizen you had no security citizen you had no security you could be taken off to any prison you could be taken off to any prison anywhere and maybe put amongst the anywhere and maybe put amongst the gladiators you you could be made to take gladiators you you could be made to take your part in the uh in the arenas of your part in the uh in the arenas of rome rome uh in which case you might have to fight uh in which case you might have to fight animals or fight other men for your animals or fight other men for your survival they could be taken off survival they could be taken off anywhere like that unless you were anywhere like that unless you were actually a roman citizen you had no actually a roman citizen you had no security in rome and of course most of security in rome and of course most of the brethren there would not be roman the brethren there would not be roman citizens and they would therefore go citizens and they would therefore go forth preaching the truth and they could forth preaching the truth and they could be set upon by bullies or soldiers or be set upon by bullies or soldiers or anybody who didn't like the message anybody who didn't like the message particularly when they were telling them particularly when they were telling them repent for your sins and be converted in repent for your sins and be converted in christ a lot of people get very offended christ a lot of people get very offended when you tell them when you tell them they're a sinner they're a sinner and likewise at this time the same and likewise at this time the same situation would emerge situation would emerge that there'd be many who wouldn't like that there'd be many who wouldn't like the idea of this preaching and that's the idea of this preaching and that's the reason why in fact throughout the the reason why in fact throughout the roman world and throughout the world roman world and throughout the world today even there is persecution for today even there is persecution for those who raise issues such as the truth those who raise issues such as the truth raises because it's not intended to make raises because it's not intended to make people feel better about themselves people feel better about themselves i mean the preaching of the gospel is to i mean the preaching of the gospel is to look ourselves in the mirror and say you look ourselves in the mirror and say you are a sinner you are dying what are you are a sinner you are dying what are you going to do about it going to do about it and to come and look at the face of and to come and look at the face of jesus christ and to see yes we are in jesus christ and to see yes we are in fact wretched men as the apostle paul fact wretched men as the apostle paul puts it and we're really in preaching puts it and we're really in preaching the gospel the gospel asking other people to say a wretched asking other people to say a wretched man that i am aren't we really man that i am aren't we really so that's not a very easy thing to tell so that's not a very easy thing to tell people people true the truth has itself a great true the truth has itself a great intellectual persuasion on a rational intellectual persuasion on a rational facility alone it can win in any arena facility alone it can win in any arena of philosophy or debate this is very of philosophy or debate this is very true concerning the truth in its true concerning the truth in its rational department but the bottom line rational department but the bottom line is to say somebody has to say a wretched is to say somebody has to say a wretched man that i am man that i am and people don't take and people don't take kindly kindly to that kind of message to that kind of message the flesh must be crushed in order for the flesh must be crushed in order for the spiritual power of the truth to grow the spiritual power of the truth to grow and that is really what the challenge of and that is really what the challenge of the truth is the truth is so now he talks about the time when so now he talks about the time when there would be conflict in the ecclesia there would be conflict in the ecclesia and there was conflict in the smaller and there was conflict in the smaller collision in rome here you'll see he collision in rome here you'll see he says in verse 15 but some indeed preach says in verse 15 but some indeed preach christ out of envy and strife and some christ out of envy and strife and some also of good will also of good will one preachers christ of contention not one preachers christ of contention not sincerely supposing to add affliction to sincerely supposing to add affliction to my bonds but the other of love knowing my bonds but the other of love knowing that i'm set for the defense of the that i'm set for the defense of the gospel so already in rome here is a gospel so already in rome here is a terrible situation we've got one faction terrible situation we've got one faction in the ecclesia saying are paul's out to in the ecclesia saying are paul's out to make a name for himself make a name for himself you know isn't this sad that when you know isn't this sad that when brethren may brethren may because of particular facilities they because of particular facilities they have in the in the in the work of the have in the in the in the work of the truth they can go for it and for a truth they can go for it and for a moment of time they might be in the moment of time they might be in the spotlight or in the limelight of the spotlight or in the limelight of the truth truth and others out of envy and others out of envy because they want to be in the limelight because they want to be in the limelight of the truth of the truth they raise accusations against such they raise accusations against such brethren and say look at him he's out brethren and say look at him he's out there trying to make a name for himself there trying to make a name for himself he wants to get all these disciples he wants to get all these disciples after him he's trying to take the after him he's trying to take the limelights limelights and so envy grows amongst others and and so envy grows amongst others and they end up with petty personal they end up with petty personal criticisms criticisms of the brethren who may for a period of of the brethren who may for a period of time be in the limelight time be in the limelight that's a very sad thing that's a very sad thing it's happened right through the history it's happened right through the history of the truth of the truth it's happened right back into the it's happened right back into the earliest days of genesis earliest days of genesis it really was the beginning of the first it really was the beginning of the first crime of death crime of death because abel because abel had a greater acceptability before god had a greater acceptability before god than what cain did than what cain did cain became envious of abel and he slew cain became envious of abel and he slew him him hatred hatred malice unbrotherliness very sad very sad indeed but that's what very sad very sad indeed but that's what happens in the history of the truth paul happens in the history of the truth paul is now suffering for us but nevertheless is now suffering for us but nevertheless he was looking at this division and he he was looking at this division and he said look there's one redeeming thing said look there's one redeeming thing about this if a person is out there about this if a person is out there preaching the gospel of the truth to try preaching the gospel of the truth to try and out do what i'm doing in the prison and out do what i'm doing in the prison okay let him go okay let him go after all christ is being preached and i after all christ is being preached and i rejoice in that i don't i don't mind how rejoice in that i don't i don't mind how much he opposes me in this but if he's much he opposes me in this but if he's preaching the truth i'll rejoice preaching the truth i'll rejoice what a wonderful attitude paul had what a wonderful attitude paul had here they were adding affliction already here they were adding affliction already to the bonds of paul to the bonds of paul but paul wasn't worried about that but paul wasn't worried about that though they had a petty competitiveness though they had a petty competitiveness against paul against paul he was rejoicing that they were he was rejoicing that they were preaching the truth and that's really preaching the truth and that's really one of the highlights of paul's one of the highlights of paul's wonderful mind wonderful mind what he goes on to say in verse 18 what what he goes on to say in verse 18 what then notwithstanding in every way he then notwithstanding in every way he says whether it's in the pretense or in says whether it's in the pretense or in truth christ is preached if christ is truth christ is preached if christ is being preached he says i rejoice he says being preached he says i rejoice he says and therein will i rejoice and therein will i rejoice for i know that this shall turn to my for i know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayers and the salvation through your prayers and the supply of the spirit of jesus christ supply of the spirit of jesus christ the outworking of this will always be to the outworking of this will always be to salvation no matter how much we are salvation no matter how much we are opposed by pettiness and remember this opposed by pettiness and remember this brethren assistance all the way through brethren assistance all the way through the truth we find this today it's right the truth we find this today it's right through our community as well through our community as well you know the the little backbitings that you know the the little backbitings that take place the criticisms of brethren take place the criticisms of brethren the attack upon their the attack upon their personality or the attack upon their personality or the attack upon their morals in some way trying to raise morals in some way trying to raise discredit to them discredit to them often it might be said well i wouldn't often it might be said well i wouldn't stand on that platform with that brother stand on that platform with that brother it makes it sound as if that brother is it makes it sound as if that brother is a terribly immoral person or something a terribly immoral person or something these sort of things happen it's most these sort of things happen it's most unfortunate but it goes on all the time unfortunate but it goes on all the time and inevitably brethren in the front and inevitably brethren in the front line become the the target for criticism line become the the target for criticism by either by either brethren who are competitive against brethren who are competitive against them who are also striving for the them who are also striving for the limelight or striving to get disciples limelight or striving to get disciples or followers themselves or else the or followers themselves or else the criticism comes from others in the criticism comes from others in the background who'd like to be in the background who'd like to be in the limelight they haven't got a capacity to limelight they haven't got a capacity to do that so they end up ridiculing your do that so they end up ridiculing your brother for some other charge or some brother for some other charge or some other false reason other false reason it's gone on since paul's day just it's gone on since paul's day just remember that but what our attitude remember that but what our attitude should be should be is to try and preach christ with is to try and preach christ with sincerity and truth sincerity and truth and hope that the furtherance of the and hope that the furtherance of the work will go on work will go on notwithstanding the petty oppositions notwithstanding the petty oppositions that tend to disrupt the unity of the that tend to disrupt the unity of the ecclesia in the face of the witness that ecclesia in the face of the witness that we are trying to carry forward to the we are trying to carry forward to the world as we try to show our lights from world as we try to show our lights from a beacon of the ecclesia a beacon of the ecclesia paul had the right attitude paul had the right attitude and if ever we get caught in the and if ever we get caught in the crossfire of a collegial circumstances crossfire of a collegial circumstances or ever we feel you know where we become or ever we feel you know where we become the brunt of others criticisms the brunt of others criticisms and slander or whatever it might be just and slander or whatever it might be just remember remember paul's got the right attitude paul's got the right attitude follow the attitude of paul don't take follow the attitude of paul don't take it personally and always remember that it personally and always remember that out of whatever happens god is in out of whatever happens god is in control and he will ensure that whatever control and he will ensure that whatever the outcome is it'll be for the the outcome is it'll be for the furtherance of the work of his community furtherance of the work of his community so don't be too depressed by too much so don't be too depressed by too much opposition opposition get on and do the work get on and do the work be positive be positive see the outcome of everything we do is see the outcome of everything we do is for the furtherance of god's glory and for the furtherance of god's glory and that will never fail and the lord will that will never fail and the lord will be with us be with us and so he goes on to talk now the rest and so he goes on to talk now the rest of this chapter of this chapter uh as we see in the outline there up on uh as we see in the outline there up on this screen he talks in verses 12 to 18 this screen he talks in verses 12 to 18 about of course how god had used him about of course how god had used him though a prisoner for the progress of though a prisoner for the progress of the gospel the gospel how in verses 19 to 26 though wishing to how in verses 19 to 26 though wishing to die at times their need for him confirms die at times their need for him confirms his hopes of immediate deliverance and his hopes of immediate deliverance and of course in the last few verses we have of course in the last few verses we have an exhortation for his steadfastness in an exhortation for his steadfastness in adversity and he makes this point in adversity and he makes this point in verse 27 verse 27 he said only let your conversation that he said only let your conversation that means your manner of life be as it means your manner of life be as it becomes the gospel of christ that becomes the gospel of christ that whether i come and see you or else be whether i come and see you or else be absent i may hear of your affairs that absent i may hear of your affairs that you stand fast in one spirit you stand fast in one spirit interesting term this stand fast because interesting term this stand fast because it's a military term and it means to it's a military term and it means to stand your ground ready to meet the stand your ground ready to meet the enemy enemy and of course standing fast in christ is and of course standing fast in christ is standing here not as a military enemy standing here not as a military enemy not clad with the literal armaments of not clad with the literal armaments of this world but rather clads as the this world but rather clads as the spiritual warrior of ephesians chapter spiritual warrior of ephesians chapter six you know the sword of the spirit the six you know the sword of the spirit the shield of faith helmet of salvation shield of faith helmet of salvation these are the things we need to have these are the things we need to have to be a spiritual warrior and what that to be a spiritual warrior and what that means is that when we never flag our means is that when we never flag our confidence that the work of the truth confidence that the work of the truth can go forward progressively in god's can go forward progressively in god's blessing never feel depressed never feel blessing never feel depressed never feel threatened never feel as if you are now threatened never feel as if you are now beaten beaten every good soldier will stand fast every good soldier will stand fast he'll stand his ground and he will he'll stand his ground and he will progress the truth on a broad fronts progress the truth on a broad fronts he'll stand fast in one spirit with one he'll stand fast in one spirit with one mind striving together vigorously mind striving together vigorously cooperating for the faith of the gospel cooperating for the faith of the gospel oh what a message and a challenge this oh what a message and a challenge this is to the ecclesial world today as it is to the ecclesial world today as it was in paul's day the ecclesia ends up was in paul's day the ecclesia ends up breaking up breaking up because of factional interests because of factional interests which is very sad and it happens which is very sad and it happens worldwide within various countries worldwide within various countries you'll notice there can be within you'll notice there can be within central fellowship various groups of central fellowship various groups of brethren who officially are in brethren who officially are in fellowship fellowship but they won't cooperate together but they won't cooperate together isn't that sad isn't that sad officially they're in fellowship but officially they're in fellowship but they won't cooperate together and but they won't cooperate together and but paul says striving together literally paul says striving together literally vigorously cooperating vigorously cooperating and that's not what we do we become very discontent with the standards or what others are doing standards or what others are doing yes they're still in fellowship they yes they're still in fellowship they still believe the truth but we don't still believe the truth but we don't want anything to do with them we don't want anything to do with them we don't want to associate with them unless they want to associate with them unless they in some ways contaminate us or threaten in some ways contaminate us or threaten us so we feel insecure about their us so we feel insecure about their presence so we become segmental in our presence so we become segmental in our activities we divide off we won't have activities we divide off we won't have anything to do with them and we go into anything to do with them and we go into our own little fortresses our own little fortresses and that's very sad and that's very sad but it happens throughout the world but it happens throughout the world strive together with one mind and in strive together with one mind and in nothing he says don't be terrified by nothing he says don't be terrified by the adversary that's always the first the adversary that's always the first principle of a warrior do not be principle of a warrior do not be terrified by the adversary and certainly terrified by the adversary and certainly david wasn't when he walked out of the david wasn't when he walked out of the plane of ezekiel and challenged plane of ezekiel and challenged goliath he wasn't threatened he wasn't goliath he wasn't threatened he wasn't terrified because he said very simply terrified because he said very simply the battle is yahweh's the battle is yahweh's it's god's battle it's god's battle it's not my battle it's not my battle i'm just a warrior and he is the power i'm just a warrior and he is the power and the strength behind my arm and the strength behind my arm i'll go forth to do the work of the i'll go forth to do the work of the truth and it's his battle he is my truth and it's his battle he is my strength he will give us the victory strength he will give us the victory and we thank our god through jesus and we thank our god through jesus christ our lord that he does give us the christ our lord that he does give us the victory victory so don't be terrified of the adversary so don't be terrified of the adversary but he says for unto you is given in the but he says for unto you is given in the behalf of christ verse 29 not only to behalf of christ verse 29 not only to believe on him but also to believe on him but also to suffer suffer for his sake now look the first principle of the truth is this and always remember truth is this and always remember baptism is important baptism is important it must be the beginning of a gateway to it must be the beginning of a gateway to life in jesus christ but remember this life in jesus christ but remember this there's only one person who has ever there's only one person who has ever been truly baptized literally and that is the thief on the cross he died with christ with christ our baptism a nicer you know convenience our baptism a nicer you know convenience baptism baptism into possibly warm water gives us a token of our symbolical death and suffering with jesus christ we come and suffering with jesus christ we come out of that watery grave out of that watery grave as a token of the resurrection as a token of the resurrection and yet and yet what that is a symbol of what that is a symbol of is suffering and dying with christ is suffering and dying with christ and the only person who's done that and the only person who's done that literally was the literally was the thief on the cross thief on the cross you put yourself in his position you put yourself in his position that's what your baptism is that's what your baptism is that's what our baptism is that's what our baptism is a baptism a baptism as a token of what we intend to do for as a token of what we intend to do for the rest of our lives in christ is to the rest of our lives in christ is to suffer with him suffer with him oh boy that's a problem isn't it oh boy that's a problem isn't it and where is our suffering with him and where is our suffering with him today identify the sufferings can we identify our sufferings can we identify our sufferings i don't mean the minor inconveniences i i don't mean the minor inconveniences i mean the sufferings some brethren conclude why is it that we don't suffer today you know brethren and sisters we make our own suffering our own suffering according to our dedication paul was here he appealed to caesar he made his he appealed to caesar he made his suffering suffering because he knew what the consequences of because he knew what the consequences of that meant that meant he knew for a start he would be put in a he knew for a start he would be put in a chains chains paul the prisoner paul the prisoner he'd have a long arduous hard and he'd have a long arduous hard and difficult journey from caesarea to rome difficult journey from caesarea to rome he'd go into the queue for months and he'd go into the queue for months and months into the queue of all those months into the queue of all those people and prisons that were now under people and prisons that were now under house arrest that appeal to caesar they house arrest that appeal to caesar they must have a long prison term before they must have a long prison term before they can appeal to caesar and if the outcome can appeal to caesar and if the outcome is against them they're executed he put himself into that position knowing he was probably about to get off knowing he was probably about to get off scot-free scot-free and he could have said look i'm getting and he could have said look i'm getting a bit old a bit old i've got arthritis in my fingers i've got arthritis in my fingers gout on my in my toe i've got a saw back gout on my in my toe i've got a saw back i've after all i've had all these i've after all i've had all these beatings five times i've been flogged by beatings five times i've been flogged by the jews let alone the romans the jews let alone the romans had a very sore back had a very sore back i'm just going to i'm just going to scale down my preaching efforts look scale down my preaching efforts look young timothy you go out there and do it young timothy you go out there and do it timothy i'll scout it i'll sit back and timothy i'll scout it i'll sit back and write epistles write epistles nice soft chair near a nice warm fire in nice soft chair near a nice warm fire in winter winter and somebody can look after me you see that could have been paul's attitude couldn't it attitude couldn't it he was threatened enough he was threatened enough he'd suffered enough he'd suffered enough he'd had three he'd had three difficult journeys in which he'd been difficult journeys in which he'd been stoned to death more than once stoned to death more than once he could have sat down and taken it easy he could have sat down and taken it easy in jerusalem in jerusalem said to james and the other apostles said to james and the other apostles there well there well you you take up the work of the vanguard you you take up the work of the vanguard of the truth brethren i'll sit back into of the truth brethren i'll sit back into the rear guard and i'll answer the the rear guard and i'll answer the questions i'll be a counselor i'll i'll questions i'll be a counselor i'll i'll sit down and write letters i'll do all sit down and write letters i'll do all these things but these things but but i won't go into the terrified ground but i won't go into the terrified ground of the frontier of the frontier that wasn't paul's attitude paul created that wasn't paul's attitude paul created his suffering in christ because he went his suffering in christ because he went forward to continue the work as forward to continue the work as vigorously as he believed his lord was vigorously as he believed his lord was with him to do it and as he had received with him to do it and as he had received command and commission and as he command and commission and as he believed that he was able to perform believed that he was able to perform that work of god he went into it that work of god he went into it he didn't sit down and take it easy he didn't sit down and take it easy like a lot of us have like a lot of us have we really have we've become a very very we really have we've become a very very soft community soft community the convenience of the times has taken the convenience of the times has taken us over us over we fit the truth in to our otherwise we fit the truth in to our otherwise busy busy careers our busy life our busily family careers our busy life our busily family preoccupations our busy preoccupations our busy capital acquisition programs capital acquisition programs and the truth becomes second fiddle and the truth becomes second fiddle to the primary life of just living and to the primary life of just living and getting on with life in this world getting on with life in this world that wasn't paul's attitude that wasn't paul's attitude he went into a life of deprivation a he went into a life of deprivation a life of great difficulty a life of life of great difficulty a life of striving a life of conflict amongst striving a life of conflict amongst false brethren being vilified and false brethren being vilified and eventually crucified in his own life eventually crucified in his own life because he stood for the truth because he stood for the truth and look at us and look at us we have no suffering do we we have no suffering do we and yet paul says and yet paul says we've been called to believe on him not we've been called to believe on him not only believe on him but suffer for his only believe on him but suffer for his sake sake and if we're not suffering and if we're not suffering perhaps it's because we've backed off so perhaps it's because we've backed off so much in our work of the truth that we're much in our work of the truth that we're not even exposed to the opportunity of not even exposed to the opportunity of suffering suffering perhaps we've sat back to take it easy perhaps we've sat back to take it easy and of course the soldier can very well and of course the soldier can very well ease his exposure to danger by getting ease his exposure to danger by getting out of the battlefields out of the battlefields and we can do the same thing and we can do the same thing and i think brethren a lot of us have and i think brethren a lot of us have done the same thing done the same thing we've backed right out we've backed right out of course we won't receive any petty of course we won't receive any petty persecution if we don't speak the truth persecution if we don't speak the truth if we don't take it to the if we marketplace our words we won't receive any persecution will we receive any persecution will we we can back off to the point where we we can back off to the point where we can say well i won't preach the truth can say well i won't preach the truth i'll just be ready to give an answer to i'll just be ready to give an answer to every person that asks me about the hope every person that asks me about the hope that's in within me and we can quote that's in within me and we can quote scripture to defend this rather negative scripture to defend this rather negative attitude attitude well that wasn't paul's attitude it well that wasn't paul's attitude it wasn't paul's example and it's not wasn't paul's example and it's not paul's words paul's words he goes on in chapter two he goes on in chapter two if there be therefore any consolation in if there be therefore any consolation in christ if any comfort of love if any christ if any comfort of love if any fellowship of the spirit if any bowels fellowship of the spirit if any bowels of mercies he appeals to the brethren of mercies he appeals to the brethren here and says look fulfill ye my joy here and says look fulfill ye my joy brethren and you know what my joy is brethren and you know what my joy is for you to be like-minded for you to be like-minded having the same love being of one accord having the same love being of one accord and one spirit and one minds and one spirit and one minds you know the the biggest concern and you know the the biggest concern and care of paul when he writes to the care of paul when he writes to the corinthians he gives us that list of all corinthians he gives us that list of all the things he'd been deprived of you the things he'd been deprived of you know in shipwrecks often in in in know in shipwrecks often in in in difficult circumstances and difficult circumstances and flagellations in perils of false flagellations in perils of false brethren perils of the highways and all brethren perils of the highways and all the perils he had he said look the the perils he had he said look the greatest peril i've got the greatest greatest peril i've got the greatest preoccupation i have is the care of all preoccupation i have is the care of all the ecclesiastic they're just not the ecclesiastic they're just not unified and now he appeals to the philippine brethren sisters who had a division in brethren sisters who had a division in their midst and had a little fight going their midst and had a little fight going on between two sisters and had obviously on between two sisters and had obviously different flavors of performance in the different flavors of performance in the work of the truth there were divisions work of the truth there were divisions yes yes he rejoiced that they were in the truth he rejoiced that they were in the truth but nevertheless he said look if you but nevertheless he said look if you really want to really want to take away my sufferings take away my sufferings you've written to me saying look poor you've written to me saying look poor paul he's suffering here he's a prisoner paul he's suffering here he's a prisoner in rome he's afflicted he's sick he's in rome he's afflicted he's sick he's cold he's he's not very well looked cold he's he's not very well looked after his his well-being is suffering after his his well-being is suffering now look he says if you think about me now look he says if you think about me give me a note of joy in my hearts give me a note of joy in my hearts take away my afflictions he says take away my afflictions he says be like-minded be like-minded have the mind of have the mind of christ get unified together in the work christ get unified together in the work you're doing you're doing say the same things put love in your say the same things put love in your heart for one another he says and that heart for one another he says and that nothing be done through strife or vain nothing be done through strife or vain glory but in lowliness he says humbly he glory but in lowliness he says humbly he says says let each person esteem the other person let each person esteem the other person not as a competitor not as a competitor but but better better than themselves notice that in verse 3 than themselves notice that in verse 3 there let each esteem other better than there let each esteem other better than themselves and really themselves and really that expression has to do with treating that expression has to do with treating each person each person with dignity with dignity treating your brother and sister with treating your brother and sister with dignity dignity seeing them as a dignified person treat seeing them as a dignified person treat them in a dignified manner them in a dignified manner often we look at them and we see a often we look at them and we see a competitor competitor we tend to set ourselves at war with our we tend to set ourselves at war with our brethren instead of at war with the brethren instead of at war with the flesh and the world around us flesh and the world around us the unity of mind escapes us the unity the unity of mind escapes us the unity of purpose the love of the truth the of purpose the love of the truth the mind of christ gets lost mind of christ gets lost in the competition of the collegial life in the competition of the collegial life look not every man on his own things look not every man on his own things but every man also on the things of but every man also on the things of others don't take self-concern of what others don't take self-concern of what you're doing you're doing what about your consideration for the what about your consideration for the welfare and the work in the truth that welfare and the work in the truth that your brethren are doing what about their your brethren are doing what about their work their care their program of work their care their program of activities activities get involved for them and with them get involved for them and with them that's a very simple message that's a very simple message but notice how the apostle paul but notice how the apostle paul highlights it now as he goes into this highlights it now as he goes into this study as he does of the like-mindedness study as he does of the like-mindedness with jesus christ so you'll see there with jesus christ so you'll see there our section commences in chapter two our section commences in chapter two with his impassioned call for unity with his impassioned call for unity through self-forgetfulness and love on through self-forgetfulness and love on the basis of christ's example look not the basis of christ's example look not every man on his own things but look on every man on his own things but look on the things of others the things of others how best to do this how best to do this than to remind us in verse five about than to remind us in verse five about the mind of christ oh this is absolutely the mind of christ oh this is absolutely beautiful he says let this mind be in beautiful he says let this mind be in you you which was also in christ jesus now it's which was also in christ jesus now it's interesting to see incidentally the interesting to see incidentally the single mindedness that he talks about to single mindedness that he talks about to us comes right through his epistle us comes right through his epistle we saw it in verse two of chapter two he we saw it in verse two of chapter two he says be like-minded says be like-minded but at the end of that verse he says but at the end of that verse he says with one mind with one mind then he says as we said in verse five then he says as we said in verse five let this mind be in you look over the let this mind be in you look over the page there in chapter page there in chapter three and he says in verse 15 there three and he says in verse 15 there looking at the same theme let us looking at the same theme let us therefore as many as be perfect and that therefore as many as be perfect and that word means mature word means mature be thus minded with the same mind look be thus minded with the same mind look in the end of verse 16 in the end of verse 16 let us mine the same thing the same mind let us mine the same thing the same mind again verse two of chapter four i again verse two of chapter four i beseech you odious and zentiki that they beseech you odious and zentiki that they be of the same mind in the lord one mind be of the same mind in the lord one mind so necessary in the truth so necessary in the truth now that's the unity of the mind of now that's the unity of the mind of christ it's to have the mind of christ christ it's to have the mind of christ in us in us the same mind that christ had and what the same mind that christ had and what does that mean the mind we can talk does that mean the mind we can talk about a brain we can talk about a about a brain we can talk about a thoughts we can talk about a mind thoughts we can talk about a mind now the mind has to do with now the mind has to do with the quality the quality of thinking of thinking the quality of thinking the quality of thinking so we can talk about a person being of so we can talk about a person being of the same mind as we are the same mind as we are we're referring to the person's thoughts we're referring to the person's thoughts as having the same quality of ours as having the same quality of ours now if christ has got equality minds now if christ has got equality minds isn't it so brother sisters that that is isn't it so brother sisters that that is the mind which has to be in us all the way through paul's epistles he talks about it talks about it think with jesus thoughts think with jesus thoughts and what we do in effect when we come to and what we do in effect when we come to baptism is we determine war on baptism is we determine war on serpent thinking serpent thinking the mind of the flesh the mind of the flesh which means which means effectively in a process of time effectively in a process of time we cut off the literal head we cut off the literal head and we put christ's head on there and we put christ's head on there instead instead and it changes the management and it changes the management like a shop you know under new like a shop you know under new management the old management has gone management the old management has gone out new management's taken over there's out new management's taken over there's a different sort of service in this a different sort of service in this household household the new services the new services it's governed it's governed by christ's quality of thinking by christ's quality of thinking and that quality of thinking and that quality of thinking changes the behavior of the hands and changes the behavior of the hands and the fingers the fingers and the feet and the toes and the legs and the feet and the toes and the legs and the tongue changes because it's a different brain a because it's a different brain a different mind a different quality of different mind a different quality of thinking thinking and this is what makes the difference and this is what makes the difference between people governed by flesh between people governed by flesh and those governed by the spiritual mind and those governed by the spiritual mind of christ of christ now that's what he means when he talks now that's what he means when he talks here in verse five let the mind of here in verse five let the mind of christ be in you now he tells you by christ be in you now he tells you by christ's example the kind of head christ's example the kind of head he's got he's got now christ has different faces now christ has different faces but one head one brain one quality of but one head one brain one quality of thinking look at the way he sets it up thinking look at the way he sets it up verse 6 who being in the form of god verse 6 who being in the form of god thought it not robbery to be equal with thought it not robbery to be equal with god well let's just correct that god well let's just correct that translation there did not count equality translation there did not count equality with god a thing to be grasped at with god a thing to be grasped at says virtually the opposite of what it says virtually the opposite of what it is in the king james authorized version is in the king james authorized version who being the form of god did not call who being the form of god did not call rank rank he didn't say well i'm god's son so he didn't say well i'm god's son so therefore i'm a cut above the rest of therefore i'm a cut above the rest of you you he didn't say i'm god's son i'm in the he didn't say i'm god's son i'm in the form of god and therefore i will claim form of god and therefore i will claim all sorts of privileges for myself all sorts of privileges for myself i'll call rank i'll call rank no he's saying he was in the form of god no he's saying he was in the form of god but he never grasped at the position of but he never grasped at the position of god god verse seven he said he made himself of verse seven he said he made himself of no reputation he emptied himself out so no reputation he emptied himself out so he took upon him the form of a servant he took upon him the form of a servant and was made in likeness of men and and was made in likeness of men and having been found in fashion as a man he having been found in fashion as a man he humbled himself and became obedient humbled himself and became obedient under death even the death of the cross under death even the death of the cross look at this wonderful position look at this wonderful position as we said earlier as we said earlier christ has one head christ has one head but different faces and you know this but different faces and you know this was what was set up with the caribbean was what was set up with the caribbean remember the caribbean the tabernacle remember the caribbean the tabernacle and the temple of god and will yet be and the temple of god and will yet be occurring again in ezekiel's temple the occurring again in ezekiel's temple the caribbean were a picture of one head but caribbean were a picture of one head but four faces four faces the face of the lion the face of the ox the face of the lion the face of the ox the face of the man the face of the the face of the man the face of the eagle eagle and the whole of israel marched under and the whole of israel marched under the standards of those four faces they the standards of those four faces they all assembled three tribes behind each all assembled three tribes behind each standard the lion was the great symbol standard the lion was the great symbol of the line of the tribe of judah which of the line of the tribe of judah which led three tribes led three tribes we have the ox under ephraim we have the ox under ephraim we have the tribe of reuben was the we have the tribe of reuben was the leader of the standard meaning a man to leader of the standard meaning a man to see a son and we have the tribe of dan see a son and we have the tribe of dan which means the judge was the face of which means the judge was the face of the eagle and they were the four signs the eagle and they were the four signs under which israel marched they were the under which israel marched they were the four faces of the caribbean and they four faces of the caribbean and they showed four dimensions of the one mind showed four dimensions of the one mind of god manifestation in christ of god manifestation in christ you see it in the four gospels you see it in the four gospels jesus christ is shown as the king in jesus christ is shown as the king in matthew matthew so many more references to christ the so many more references to christ the king and matthew than any of the other king and matthew than any of the other three put together three put together so this matthew shows us the lion aspect so this matthew shows us the lion aspect of christ he is the king of christ he is the king mark's record shows us christ mark's record shows us christ as the suffering servant as the suffering servant shows us jesus christ serving like the shows us jesus christ serving like the ox was a symbol of the ox the symbol of ox was a symbol of the ox the symbol of the servant of man the ox was therefore the servant of man the ox was therefore the symbol of servant he was a servant the symbol of servant he was a servant to god he was the suffering servant to god he was the suffering servant in the case of the record of uh luke it in the case of the record of uh luke it shows us jesus christ as the man shows us jesus christ as the man the son of the son of man the son of the son of man many occasions luke brings out the many occasions luke brings out the humanity of christ where the other humanity of christ where the other records don'ts records don'ts brings us out showing us how jesus brings us out showing us how jesus christ would weep in the garden how he christ would weep in the garden how he would show his fine thoughts his his would show his fine thoughts his his needs for god's strength his humanity needs for god's strength his humanity christ the man that's luke's record christ the man that's luke's record emphasizing that points and then we come finally to john's record and whilst matthew mark and luke record and whilst matthew mark and luke are called the synoptics are called the synoptics they all show you the aspect of christ they all show you the aspect of christ in his human form in his human form john's record is different very john's record is different very different and you notice many of the different and you notice many of the trinitarian takes his references from trinitarian takes his references from john because they want to say that jesus john because they want to say that jesus christ is god christ is god he's not god proper he was the son of he's not god proper he was the son of god he is god manifestation he's a god he is god manifestation he's a remarkable manifestation of god and that remarkable manifestation of god and that shows us jesus christ as the face of the shows us jesus christ as the face of the eagle the divine spirit from on high and eagle the divine spirit from on high and like the eagle being different from the like the eagle being different from the other three animals who all have their other three animals who all have their abode on the earth that's the lion the abode on the earth that's the lion the ox and the man the eagle dwells in the ox and the man the eagle dwells in the heavens it's a bird heavens it's a bird it's closer to god and of its own energy it's closer to god and of its own energy is the one creature that can fly closer is the one creature that can fly closer together any other creature upon the together any other creature upon the face of the earth face of the earth the eagle is a symbol of the divine the eagle is a symbol of the divine spirit it's also a symbol of divine spirit it's also a symbol of divine judgment as the word dan means it comes judgment as the word dan means it comes down swiftly and executes its judgments down swiftly and executes its judgments upon the earth with its talons with its upon the earth with its talons with its beak beak the eagle represents the divine spirits the eagle represents the divine spirits it represents the son of god it represents the son of god manifested when the word became flesh manifested when the word became flesh and dwelt among us there you find the and dwelt among us there you find the four aspects of christ presented in the four aspects of christ presented in the four gospel records the four faces of four gospel records the four faces of the caravan and look at them here in the caravan and look at them here in this chapter this chapter verse 6 verse 6 who being in the form of gods there's who being in the form of gods there's the eagle the eagle he was in the form of gods he never he was in the form of gods he never called rank though he never took up the called rank though he never took up the the position of saying i am your judge i the position of saying i am your judge i am the divine spirit am the divine spirit he was in the form of god as no other he was in the form of god as no other human being has ever been human being has ever been he was the divine spirit john's record he was the divine spirit john's record shows jesus christ in the form of gods shows jesus christ in the form of gods but he made himself of no reputation he but he made himself of no reputation he took upon him the form of a took upon him the form of a an ox a servant an ox a servant he was the servant the suffering servant he was the servant the suffering servant of isaiah 53. of isaiah 53. and it says and it says at but he was made in the likeness of at but he was made in the likeness of men he was a man there he is and being men he was a man there he is and being found in fashion as a man he humbled found in fashion as a man he humbled himself and became obedient under death himself and became obedient under death there is the man jesus christ the face there is the man jesus christ the face of the man of the man what about the other one it says verse what about the other one it says verse nine nine wherefore wherefore god also hath highly exalted him and god also hath highly exalted him and given him a name above every other name given him a name above every other name but the name of jesus every knee should but the name of jesus every knee should bow there is the king there is the liar so there we see in jesus christ one mind's mind's brain one central housing management brain one central housing management area from which all these manifestations area from which all these manifestations come we find the four faces of the come we find the four faces of the caribbean caribbean the lion the ox the lion the ox the eagle and the man the eagle and the man and that one minds and that one minds is behind every one of us is behind every one of us that one mind is behind us and should be that one mind is behind us and should be behind us governing our actions behind us governing our actions controlling our thoughts controlling our thoughts deciding our judgments our deciding our judgments our discernments and executing our love discernments and executing our love but you see now but you see now we must be the ones who imbibe the we must be the ones who imbibe the divine spirit of truth divine spirit of truth the word must enter our heart the divine the word must enter our heart the divine spirit must come and dwell in us to spirit must come and dwell in us to govern us to change our patterns of govern us to change our patterns of fleshly thinking that the mind of christ fleshly thinking that the mind of christ as the son of god the eagle can come and as the son of god the eagle can come and dwell in our hearts dwell in our hearts and start to judge the things of the and start to judge the things of the flesh and execute the judgments upon the flesh and execute the judgments upon the actions of human activity which are actions of human activity which are contrary to the things of god we must be contrary to the things of god we must be the manifestation of god limited though the manifestation of god limited though it is it is to continue the work that christ began to continue the work that christ began we are the body of christ on earth today we are the body of christ on earth today and his mind must govern us from above but we should also be not strutting around saying be not strutting around saying we are christadelphians we are christadelphians we are better we are better than other mere mortals we are more than other mere mortals we are more righteous than gentiles out there that is done by some that is done by some that is done by some our attitude should be the opposites our attitude should be the opposites we should consider ourselves as the we should consider ourselves as the servants of almighty gods and humbling servants of almighty gods and humbling ourselves like a servant does humbling ourselves like a servant does humbling ourselves and becoming obedient not only ourselves and becoming obedient not only to not only unto death but to not only unto death but paul says paul says but the death of the cross what was he but the death of the cross what was he saying saying he wasn't emphasizing that it was a much he wasn't emphasizing that it was a much more painful death more painful death as much as he was as much as he was emphasizing it's a humiliating death we are crucified and christ was and christ was crucified naked naked upon that cross and the record says that the women and the record says that the women though few decent ones there may have though few decent ones there may have been stood up far off been stood up far off as much as they loved that man as much as they loved that man they stood up far off they stood up far off but until even his own mother but until even his own mother was drawn to the foot of the cross and are we prepared like christ like christ to be stripped off to be stripped off humiliated humiliated to become the point of ridicule of the to become the point of ridicule of the worlds worlds for christ's sake for christ's sake you know we come out go out sometimes you know we come out go out sometimes and we want to talk about the truth and and we want to talk about the truth and we want to talk about it and we think oh we want to talk about it and we think oh no i won't do this they'll think i'm no i won't do this they'll think i'm strange they'll think i'm just a bible strange they'll think i'm just a bible bachelor they'll talk about me behind my bachelor they'll talk about me behind my back when i go away and they won't like back when i go away and they won't like me as much as they like me now doesn't that restrain us doesn't it doesn't it christ considered himself of no christ considered himself of no reputation he took upon himself the reputation he took upon himself the servant's position and he went out servant's position and he went out knowing that in the greatest humiliation knowing that in the greatest humiliation which they executed upon them and they which they executed upon them and they did it in his crucifixion it didn't did it in his crucifixion it didn't worry him worry him remember remember it says it says for the joy that was set before him for the joy that was set before him he endured the cross he endured the cross despising despising the shame the shame and the humiliation of it that's what paul's reminding us about what is your work in the truth chris what is your work in the truth chris adelphians adelphians don't worry about what other people don't worry about what other people think of you spread the word of the truth tell them about it tell them about it doesn't matter what they say doesn't matter what they say share it with them do the work of an share it with them do the work of an evangelist do the work of a humble evangelist do the work of a humble servant humble ourselves likewise before servant humble ourselves likewise before men and be found in fashion as a man we men and be found in fashion as a man we are men let us go out and preach it to are men let us go out and preach it to the point of the ultimate humiliation the point of the ultimate humiliation if they crucified us naked if they crucified us naked won't worry about us we won't worry us won't worry about us we won't worry us we will we will we will not despise the shame we will not despise the shame we'll do it for christ's sake and what's we'll do it for christ's sake and what's more when we're in the midst of that more when we're in the midst of that we'll sing hymns as well because then we've got something to rejoice about rejoice about we are worthy we are worthy to suffer to suffer for christ for christ brethren and sisters this is almost a brethren and sisters this is almost a foreign language of the ecclesia as we foreign language of the ecclesia as we come to the end of the 20th century come to the end of the 20th century almost a foreign language where is our dedication where has it gone where do we spend our saturdays now who is our employer which lord do we who is our employer which lord do we work for is it christ or is it mammon is it the value system of this world what is it what is it that's driving the christadelphian that's driving the christadelphian machine today i think we've got a lot of soul searching to do searching to do i think we should do a lot of personal i think we should do a lot of personal examination as to how well we line up with paul silas silas paphroditus timothy paphroditus timothy when we stand next to them with the when we stand next to them with the judgment seat judgment seat will we really will we really compare with them compare with them will we look like them will we look like them will the four faces of the care of them will the four faces of the care of them shine through us you know the ultimate face of the caribbean caribbean will only come will only come when we are king priests upon the face when we are king priests upon the face of the earth and that's when we have the of the earth and that's when we have the face of the lion face of the lion we don't have that yet we don't have that yet it's not our position to bring judgment it's not our position to bring judgment in the sense of becoming lords yet that in the sense of becoming lords yet that with a rod of iron we bring into into with a rod of iron we bring into into commission into servitude the rest of commission into servitude the rest of the world that's not our position now the world that's not our position now our position our position is to do the work of the evangelists is to do the work of the evangelists our position is with the divine spirit our position is with the divine spirit of the eagle within our minds converting of the eagle within our minds converting our thinking to do the work of a servant our thinking to do the work of a servant in the form of a man in the form of a man that's the great example that's the great example of paul of paul timothy paraphrases silas the others timothy paraphrases silas the others so what are we doing so what are we doing now now where do we spend our saturdays he tells us that god will surely elevate the lord jesus christ and he shall have the lord jesus christ and he shall have the name that ev that is above every the name that ev that is above every other name that at the name that jesus other name that at the name that jesus has every knee shall bear doubtless has every knee shall bear doubtless that's the name of god it's the name of that's the name of god it's the name of yahweh jesus christ headed by very the yahweh jesus christ headed by very the very fact he was called yahushua said it very fact he was called yahushua said it is yah is the savior he bore the name is yah is the savior he bore the name which is above every other name there's which is above every other name there's no doubt what that name was and what it no doubt what that name was and what it meant meant it meant it meant god must be manifested in the sons of god must be manifested in the sons of this earth this earth that's what the name means he who will that's what the name means he who will be manifested be manifested and if christ had the name of god we and if christ had the name of god we also have got the name of god on us too also have got the name of god on us too because as james declared god is calling because as james declared god is calling out of the nations of people for his out of the nations of people for his name name and that name there's only one name and that name there's only one name the name of god this is the name that's the name of god this is the name that's above every other name above every other name god's name means god's name means you are my children bearing my family you are my children bearing my family name doing my family business upon this name doing my family business upon this earth you represent me earth you represent me and you've got my name a great and you've got my name a great responsibility a very great and a solemn responsibility a very great and a solemn responsibility responsibility and we've been asked to take it up and we've been asked to take it up in taking on christ into our hearts and in taking on christ into our hearts and minds minds so when christ rises up and every knee so when christ rises up and every knee bows and every tongue confesses that bows and every tongue confesses that jesus christ is lord it is to the glory jesus christ is lord it is to the glory of god the father and that's what we of god the father and that's what we must do too must do too wherefore my beloved he says in verse 12 wherefore my beloved he says in verse 12 as you have always obeyed as you have always obeyed not as in my presence only but now much not as in my presence only but now much more in my absence work out your more in my absence work out your salvation with fear and trembling salvation with fear and trembling that's a high order that's a high order what does he mean work it out with fear what does he mean work it out with fear and trembling and trembling should we be petrified to be a should we be petrified to be a christodolphian fear there means with a great respect with a great respect an ever conscious respect of the an ever conscious respect of the presence of god presence of god and trembling has to do with the fact and trembling has to do with the fact that in this great respect we have for that in this great respect we have for god we recognize that we are accountable we are accountable accountable to god accountable to god he doesn't ignore what we do he doesn't ignore what we do we are never outside his presence and we are never outside his presence and his omniscient mind and knowing eyes his omniscient mind and knowing eyes upon us upon us we must work we must work work work labor in his vineyard work out labor in his vineyard work out that which comes to salvation that which comes to salvation with fear with fear with respect and accountability with respect and accountability that's a tall order that's a tall order and it says don't forget who you are and it says don't forget who you are you've been called to a very high you've been called to a very high calling calling respect it respect it remember the presence of god remember the presence of god and get on and organize your lives as my and get on and organize your lives as my servants that is a great responsibility oh it's got its great benefits and oh it's got its great benefits and advantages it's great privileges it's advantages it's great privileges it's glory in the age to come he's got many glory in the age to come he's got many wonderful positives to it but to be wonderful positives to it but to be sober for a moment and talk about the sober for a moment and talk about the responsibility responsibility if we don't honor our responsibilities if we don't honor our responsibilities it's got a negative it's got a negative and who much is given and who much is given of him shall much be expected of him shall much be expected that is our position therefore let us that is our position therefore let us recognize recognize paul's example a shining example paul's example a shining example a wonderful hope a wonderful hope a wonderful witness a wonderful witness just how much do we measure up to it just how much do we measure up to it well well we'll look at it further in our next we'll look at it further in our next session

Transcript

this comment about getting people out of fellowship hall sounds like you're all fellowship hall sounds like you're all disfellowshipped when you're in here this is a different sort of fellowship hall hall right so the apostle paul is reminding right so the apostle paul is reminding us now of the fellowship and the unity us now of the fellowship and the unity of mind that we have to have okay so now of mind that we have to have okay so now he he builds into his picture here he he builds into his picture here notice this down in chapter 2 notice this down in chapter 2 and in verse 14 he says do all things and in verse 14 he says do all things without murm rings and disputings without murm rings and disputings boy that's hard isn't it ever been in a boy that's hard isn't it ever been in a collegial meeting to try and get things collegial meeting to try and get things done without memories and disputings i done without memories and disputings i mean it's it's a great difficulty of mean it's it's a great difficulty of human beings it's endemic to human human beings it's endemic to human beings that we murmur and dispute about beings that we murmur and dispute about absolutely everything absolutely everything i mean it gets down to the point of you i mean it gets down to the point of you know exactly what color is the wall know exactly what color is the wall going to be apricot or beige or you know going to be apricot or beige or you know with a slight form of pink you know we with a slight form of pink you know we can have a whole business meeting over can have a whole business meeting over disputing about the the little details disputing about the the little details of the cliche life and what's more we of the cliche life and what's more we might not only dispute about it we might might not only dispute about it we might even fall out about us even fall out about us and this kind of problem and this kind of problem is just so human is just so human and as we have the difficulties today and as we have the difficulties today over over mere details and and mere details and and peripheral things that are of no real peripheral things that are of no real consequence to our work it can create a consequence to our work it can create a great deal of division and we can be great deal of division and we can be caught in the midst of a division over caught in the midst of a division over something quite trump of little something quite trump of little consequence but he says do it without consequence but he says do it without memories and disputes verse 15 he says memories and disputes verse 15 he says that you may be blameless and harmless that you may be blameless and harmless or inoffensive or inoffensive that's a pretty important word that that's a pretty important word that remember christ said be as wise as remember christ said be as wise as serpents and harmless serpents and harmless blameless as inoffensive blameless as inoffensive as a dove as a dove and if you look at a dove and if you look at a dove and the qualities of a dove you've got and the qualities of a dove you've got to hold a dove you can see a dove it's to hold a dove you can see a dove it's it's harmless it's harmless it's a symbol the right symbol of peace it's a symbol the right symbol of peace isn't it isn't it it is not an offensive creature it is not an offensive creature or take the picture of the lamb the lamb or take the picture of the lamb the lamb is in no wise an offensive creature is in no wise an offensive creature jesus christ was the lamb slain from the jesus christ was the lamb slain from the foundation of the world the lamb foundation of the world the lamb slaughtered by the ferocious beasts of slaughtered by the ferocious beasts of his own time his own time and that really is inoffensive and can and that really is inoffensive and can we imagine ourselves being like that we imagine ourselves being like that are we like that are we like that are we inoffensive or we do we tend to are we inoffensive or we do we tend to reserve aggression reserve aggression retaliation retaliation uh explosions of intemperance uh explosions of intemperance having a bad temper having a bad temper very strong in human spirit very strong in human spirit we can't let the the bone alone we just we can't let the the bone alone we just keep gnawing it ignoring ignoring it keep gnawing it ignoring ignoring it these are characteristics which we're these are characteristics which we're advised to limit in our lives as he says advised to limit in our lives as he says blessed are the poor in spirit blessed are the poor in spirit and that doesn't mean the spiritual mind and that doesn't mean the spiritual mind we're not blessed if we're poor in the we're not blessed if we're poor in the spiritual mind are we spiritual mind are we it's blessing blessings upon those who it's blessing blessings upon those who are poor in human spirits are poor in human spirits guile guile push push push aggressiveness push push push aggressiveness those ones who rather see i don't wish those ones who rather see i don't wish to offend others by what i do to offend others by what i do that's the attitude he's really that's the attitude he's really highlighting highlighting so that you may be blameless and and so that you may be blameless and and inoffensive the sons of god without inoffensive the sons of god without without rebuke means that you're without rebuke means that you're irreproachable irreproachable you're not standing there as targets you're not standing there as targets that other people can easily pick on that other people can easily pick on and then he says and then he says in the midst of a crooked and perverse in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation generation and it's more crooked and more perverse and it's more crooked and more perverse today than it was in rome today than it was in rome and we're in the midst of this kind of and we're in the midst of this kind of generation here are christian orpheus generation here are christian orpheus are we vulnerable are they really going are we vulnerable are they really going to pick holes in us because of the way to pick holes in us because of the way we do things we do things the thought of sort of things we say the thought of sort of things we say are we sitting there so vulnerable are we sitting there so vulnerable they're going to pick on us and they can they're going to pick on us and they can see what we're like after all we can see what we're like after all we can have two standards we can be a sunday have two standards we can be a sunday morning crusade and a very different morning crusade and a very different christian offense during the business christian offense during the business week week that gets to be known that gets to be known sometimes embarrassingly so to our sometimes embarrassingly so to our community community like at one time like at one time i was most embarrassed when with one i was most embarrassed when with one colleague it came up that we had a a colleague it came up that we had a a mutual acquaintance in our business mutual acquaintance in our business and i said oh yes he's a christadelphian and i said oh yes he's a christadelphian and i said he's a christodolphian he and i said he's a christodolphian he said oh one of your better ones said oh one of your better ones and i didn't know what to say but he and i didn't know what to say but he said well he wouldn't have considered said well he wouldn't have considered him to be a very religious man by what him to be a very religious man by what he does i mean i made no comment i asked he does i mean i made no comment i asked no questions but no questions but i must confess i was taken back by the i must confess i was taken back by the statement he may have been entirely wrong hope he was hope he was but then again he could be right but then again he could be right and this damages the reputation of our and this damages the reputation of our community again uh it was rather difficult because this it was rather difficult because this person had not made it known that he was person had not made it known that he was a christian evidently he hadn't let that much shine in his job with his business colleagues in his job with his business colleagues he was surprised to learn that he was a he was surprised to learn that he was a christian christian i think it's a shame when that happens i think it's a shame when that happens it certainly does damage to our whole it certainly does damage to our whole community community anyway paul makes it clear that we live anyway paul makes it clear that we live in a wicked and abominable generation in a wicked and abominable generation let's not try and fly our worst washing let's not try and fly our worst washing in the face of the world in the face of the world he goes on to say here look i i love you he goes on to say here look i i love you brethren and i want you to hold fast the brethren and i want you to hold fast the things of the word of life that i may things of the word of life that i may rejoice in the day of christ verse 16 rejoice in the day of christ verse 16 that i have not run in vain neither that i have not run in vain neither labored in vain labored in vain his point being his point being that paul has been put to great personal that paul has been put to great personal sacrifice sacrifice in order to try and secure the brethren in order to try and secure the brethren sisters at philippi he was put up great sisters at philippi he was put up great personal sacrifice we saw it there in personal sacrifice we saw it there in the prison here he was beaten brutally the prison here he was beaten brutally and then thrust into the innermost and then thrust into the innermost prison in a painful situation he went prison in a painful situation he went through all of that plus all the other through all of that plus all the other sacrifice he'd given in his letters and sacrifice he'd given in his letters and his writings and his prayers for the his writings and his prayers for the brethren and sisters at philippi he was brethren and sisters at philippi he was simply saying now don't let any of this simply saying now don't let any of this be in vain brethren i have labored for be in vain brethren i have labored for you as my children of the faith you as my children of the faith never let it be said that you're going never let it be said that you're going to fail in the day of christ to fail in the day of christ i would just hate to think i would just hate to think that i went through all that for nothing that my love would be lost in the end and i would lose the precious children and i would lose the precious children that god had blessed me with that god had blessed me with so his attitude was loving and caring so his attitude was loving and caring all the way along he says now in in all the way along he says now in in verse 17 yea and if i be offered upon verse 17 yea and if i be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith the sacrifice and service of your faith i joy and rejoice with all of you now i joy and rejoice with all of you now isn't that a testimony of why he was isn't that a testimony of why he was singing in the prison in philippi singing in the prison in philippi he says look if i have to be he says look if i have to be sacrificed and that that word you'll see sacrificed and that that word you'll see pardon me in the margin for offered is pardon me in the margin for offered is poured forth and what that means is to poured forth and what that means is to take the blood of the offering take the blood of the offering and pour it out at the base of the altar and pour it out at the base of the altar while the animal is sacrificed upon the while the animal is sacrificed upon the altar altar he's referring here he's referring here to an animal sacrifice under the law of to an animal sacrifice under the law of moses moses and he say look if i have to be offered and he say look if i have to be offered myself on the altar like as jesus christ myself on the altar like as jesus christ was was there was the flesh on the stake on the there was the flesh on the stake on the sacrifice of god's altar sacrifice of god's altar and there was the blood poured out at and there was the blood poured out at the altar at the bottom of the altar the altar at the bottom of the altar symbolized by the law symbolized by the law the body totally given up in pouring out the body totally given up in pouring out its life for god's dedication its life for god's dedication paul says if i have to be there paul says if i have to be there for your sake for your sake he said i'll sing songs of joy he said i'll sing songs of joy i joy and i rejoice with you all for the i joy and i rejoice with you all for the same cause also you can join and rejoice same cause also you can join and rejoice with me with me because if sacrifice has a meaning because if sacrifice has a meaning it's all important it's all important but there's nothing more damaging but there's nothing more damaging nothing more vain nothing more vain than a sacrifice given than a sacrifice given where no life is redeemed where no life is redeemed it's like coming into the truth it's like coming into the truth living half a life of dedication living half a life of dedication and the rest of the half of life it's and the rest of the half of life it's given up given up the flesh takes over the person goes the flesh takes over the person goes back to the world and forgets about the back to the world and forgets about the truth truth that's a vain dedication that's a vain dedication worthless worthless all that for nothing all that for nothing and so paul goes on to say and so paul goes on to say looking at his own circumstances now he looking at his own circumstances now he talks about timotheus talks about timotheus verse 19 verse 19 and says but i trust in the lord jesus and says but i trust in the lord jesus to send to matthew shortly unto you that to send to matthew shortly unto you that when i may be of good that oh i also may when i may be of good that oh i also may be of good comfort when i know your be of good comfort when i know your state so he's going to sin send timothy state so he's going to sin send timothy as soon as he can because he says for i as soon as he can because he says for i have no man like-minded who will have no man like-minded who will naturally care for your state now this naturally care for your state now this is a very interesting point that he is a very interesting point that he makes here makes here for i have no man like mine according to for i have no man like mine according to my standard he says who will naturally my standard he says who will naturally care for your state there's no other care for your state there's no other brother here who could care for you as brother here who could care for you as good as well as sensitively for your good as well as sensitively for your needs as what timothy can he's exactly needs as what timothy can he's exactly my like me being there my like me being there remember this very close relationship remember this very close relationship that paul had with timothy a very unique that paul had with timothy a very unique relationship relationship because timothy was his son in the faith because timothy was his son in the faith a wonderful wonderful young man he took a wonderful wonderful young man he took timothy remember timothy remember timothy he circumcised timothy he circumcised and yet paul was the one who said look and yet paul was the one who said look circumcision doesn't matter circumcision doesn't matter it's nothing it's nothing whether you're circumcised or not whether you're circumcised or not circumcised it's where the christ reigns circumcised it's where the christ reigns in your heart that's important and in your heart that's important and circumcised decision of the hearts what circumcised decision of the hearts what important not not circumcision of the important not not circumcision of the flesh why should timothy be circumcised flesh why should timothy be circumcised but he circumcised timothy but he circumcised timothy because he saw timothy because he saw timothy as being his brother a close ally and as being his brother a close ally and protege an understudy of his who he protege an understudy of his who he could take into the synagogues and could take into the synagogues and reason with the jews sabbath by sabbath reason with the jews sabbath by sabbath by sabbath but he couldn't take timothy by sabbath but he couldn't take timothy in if he wasn't circumcised so timothy underwent a rather painful operation for a young man operation for a young man in order that his exposure to the jewish in order that his exposure to the jewish community might not be limited community might not be limited paul made the request paul made the request timothy happily acceded timothy happily acceded and timothy became a man through much and timothy became a man through much suffering and tribulation to be with suffering and tribulation to be with paul in his work of the truth and a paul in his work of the truth and a wonderful father-sonship relationship wonderful father-sonship relationship grew up here grew up here timothy timothy became the clone of paul became the clone of paul sensitive very sensitive sensitive very sensitive remember timothy was one to whom paul remember timothy was one to whom paul wrote and said look don't let them upset wrote and said look don't let them upset you don't let them despise your youth you don't let them despise your youth take a little wine for your stomach's take a little wine for your stomach's sake they're upsetting you your tummy's sake they're upsetting you your tummy's in turmoil you're a very sensitive young in turmoil you're a very sensitive young man but go on timothy work for the love man but go on timothy work for the love of the brotherhood of the brotherhood timothy was always at his side laboring timothy was always at his side laboring for the love of the brotherhood he had for the love of the brotherhood he had love pouring out of him love pouring out of him it's a wonderful attribute that timothy it's a wonderful attribute that timothy copied from paul copied from paul a sensitive young man a sensitive young man but he took on but he took on all the towering fortress of paul's love and i think that's a very sad thing in our community brethren and sisters that our community brethren and sisters that we often have great difficulty in we often have great difficulty in showing that love showing that love remember when paul goes to the ephesian remember when paul goes to the ephesian athleisure and he talks them and warns athleisure and he talks them and warns them they're finally on his way back to them they're finally on his way back to uh to jerusalem he's on his third uh to jerusalem he's on his third journey they fall on his shoulder he journey they fall on his shoulder he weeps on their shoulder they embrace weeps on their shoulder they embrace they kiss they cry that's the love for the brotherhood that's the bowels of mercy that's the that's the bowels of mercy that's the tears of joy and our culture says we don't touch we don't touch we limit touching we limit touching our culture says it our culture says it perhaps we've inherited from the british perhaps we've inherited from the british stiff upper lip stiff upper lip or whatever it's come from or whatever it's come from we have ceased to be warm and emotional we have ceased to be warm and emotional ebullient people ebullient people and i think often our love is restrained and i think often our love is restrained because we can't show our emotions one because we can't show our emotions one to another to another it's great pity it's great pity great pity we miss out on one of the great pity we miss out on one of the warmest joys the apostle ever had warmest joys the apostle ever had and maybe if we haven't got it now maybe and maybe if we haven't got it now maybe we'll learn it we'll learn it in the kingdom age if we're acceptable in the kingdom age if we're acceptable to show that love and that great emotion to show that love and that great emotion with one with one another so often paul talks about another so often paul talks about my bowels yearned for you all my bowels yearned for you all my emotions reached their peak when i my emotions reached their peak when i considered you your needs considered you your needs your sacrifices your sacrifices your faithfulness your faithfulness he rejoiced he rejoiced he just rejoiced he just rejoiced when you see it a brother visits another when you see it a brother visits another ecclesia and he comes like saying it's ecclesia and he comes like saying it's terrific to see the way they're holding terrific to see the way they're holding the faith they're strong and firm and the faith they're strong and firm and the young people are so dedicated to the the young people are so dedicated to the proclamation work and the senior proclamation work and the senior brothers and sisters are right up there brothers and sisters are right up there in the front with them advising and in the front with them advising and counseling and caring they're a loving counseling and caring they're a loving athleisure front line of the truth going athleisure front line of the truth going ahead in a very broad basin they're ahead in a very broad basin they're getting on with it rejoicing rejoicing getting on with it rejoicing rejoicing that another reclusion is strong in the that another reclusion is strong in the truth truth that's the sort of attitude paul had that's the sort of attitude paul had so often in his writings rejoicing in so often in his writings rejoicing in that very fact that very fact that the brothers and sisters that the brothers and sisters were strong were strong working together in love and care working together in love and care welfare for one another welfare for one another that's what shines out of this entire that's what shines out of this entire epistle that he writes to the epistle that he writes to the philippians oh how was it born philippians oh how was it born born as a result of being in a jail born as a result of being in a jail both in the circumstances of the of the both in the circumstances of the of the foundation of the philippine ecclesia in foundation of the philippine ecclesia in the circumstances the letter he writes the circumstances the letter he writes it's all coming out of jails perhaps we should start a new reformation maybe if we came out of reformation maybe if we came out of jails we might be better off maybe if we jails we might be better off maybe if we saw the other side of things we might saw the other side of things we might have a better contrast maybe if we had have a better contrast maybe if we had more deprivation and suffering to start more deprivation and suffering to start with we'd appreciate what the truth is with we'd appreciate what the truth is when we got it when we got it i think one of the biggest disadvantages i think one of the biggest disadvantages of the christadelphian born in the of the christadelphian born in the household is exactly that household is exactly that oh we can't overlook the advantages oh we can't overlook the advantages a young person brought up from the a young person brought up from the kindergarten in the christodorf in kindergarten in the christodorf in sunday school gone right through sunday sunday school gone right through sunday school baptized into the wonder and school baptized into the wonder and beauty of the truth of the teenage age beauty of the truth of the teenage age and goes into a wonderful marriage with and goes into a wonderful marriage with a partner in the truth that is a a partner in the truth that is a wonderful legacy we can never deny the wonderful legacy we can never deny the wonder of that and the beauty of it but often because these things happen so nicely nicely we lose appreciation for what the truth we lose appreciation for what the truth really is we've never seen the stark really is we've never seen the stark contrast contrast between the flesh operating in the world between the flesh operating in the world and the spirit of the truth and the spirit of the truth in the in the household household and therefore a lot of our young people and therefore a lot of our young people who become the new generation of who become the new generation of christodolphians christodolphians lack dedication lack insight lack a true lack dedication lack insight lack a true appreciation of the contrast of flesh appreciation of the contrast of flesh and spirit and spirit lack a mindedness to understand how lack a mindedness to understand how those people out there think and how those people out there think and how they need us and i must confess as a fifth generation christadelphian christadelphian it's very easy to slip into that area it's very easy to slip into that area and say yes chris adolphians we're and say yes chris adolphians we're christophe dolphins we've got it all christophe dolphins we've got it all we just keep within each other we just keep within each other nice secure circle nice secure circle confidence anticipation confidence anticipation we can lack we can lack the true beauty of a person who's seen the true beauty of a person who's seen the other side of things the other side of things and often it's those brethren who come and often it's those brethren who come into the world from outside those into the world from outside those sisters who coming from outside they'll sisters who coming from outside they'll come and say look you just don't come and say look you just don't appreciate what you've got here appreciate what you've got here very often that's the case very often that's the case true it is true it is and we have to revamp our minds rekindle and we have to revamp our minds rekindle that fire within us redeem the time that fire within us redeem the time create the beauty of the truth from create the beauty of the truth from within within appreciate it meditate upon it think appreciate it meditate upon it think about how wonderful it is and what god about how wonderful it is and what god has done for us and how much those has done for us and how much those people out there need us people out there need us and i often think brethren and sisters and i often think brethren and sisters if we thought more about what the needs if we thought more about what the needs are out there and the people who need are out there and the people who need the truth we give more time to it less the truth we give more time to it less fighting amongst ourselves over what fighting amongst ourselves over what color the curtains in the hall are going color the curtains in the hall are going to be and more discussion about how to be and more discussion about how we're going to deal with that city over we're going to deal with that city over there and preaching the truth the old problem is that when we all have an enemy a common that when we all have an enemy a common enemy we cohere together don't we enemy we cohere together don't we oppression from without brings cohesion oppression from without brings cohesion within the old adage about how to within the old adage about how to destroy a city just put the vision in destroy a city just put the vision in and it'll internally destroy itself and it'll internally destroy itself i think we can very effectively uh i think we can very effectively uh degrade the christodolphine community in degrade the christodolphine community in this age this age by creating our own divisions and by creating our own divisions and factions and different ways of doing factions and different ways of doing things and power struggles things and power struggles it's a great shame it's very human the it's a great shame it's very human the antidote to it antidote to it set the common enemy out there it's the set the common enemy out there it's the flesh it's the world it's the devil we flesh it's the world it's the devil we want to go out and we want to beat it we want to go out and we want to beat it we want to challenge it we want to go out want to challenge it we want to go out as warriors and warfare warfaring for as warriors and warfare warfaring for the beauty of the truth going out of the beauty of the truth going out of spiritual warriors to challenge it as spiritual warriors to challenge it as christ did as paul did as the disciples christ did as paul did as the disciples did as timothy did and hence they got did as timothy did and hence they got suffering didn't they if we haven't got suffering let's really take stock to see why we let's really take stock to see why we haven't we don't put ourselves in exposure for suffering for the things of christ so paul's example is just wonderful he rejoices with them if they progress in rejoices with them if they progress in the truth so he's going to send timothy the truth so he's going to send timothy timothy to them timothy understands them timothy to them timothy understands them he's been well tutored by paul i know he he's been well tutored by paul i know he goes on to talk to a little bit more goes on to talk to a little bit more about epaphroditus he says well verse 24 about epaphroditus he says well verse 24 he was hoping that he himself would be he was hoping that he himself would be able to come shortly he was rather able to come shortly he was rather hopeful of a good result to his trial hopeful of a good result to his trial his trial before caesar when he makes his trial before caesar when he makes his official appeal he believed that he his official appeal he believed that he had a good mind on legal affairs had a good mind on legal affairs remember that he was a very educated man remember that he was a very educated man paul was very educated he had good paul was very educated he had good understanding of the greek language the understanding of the greek language the latin language the hebrew language he latin language the hebrew language he was able to discourse in many of their was able to discourse in many of their own political viewpoints he had a own political viewpoints he had a knowledge of literature greek literature knowledge of literature greek literature roman literature an expert in hebrew roman literature an expert in hebrew literature literature a very well-educated man he knew of the a very well-educated man he knew of the legal system very well and he knew that legal system very well and he knew that he had a good case to make in his appeal he had a good case to make in his appeal to caesar he got free he'd all did all to caesar he got free he'd all did all the witness there and he was able to the witness there and he was able to leave behind temporarily a strong roman leave behind temporarily a strong roman ecclesia as a result of him being in ecclesia as a result of him being in chains in his appeal to caesar and chains in his appeal to caesar and therefore he could go back to the therefore he could go back to the occlusion world and that was his hope he occlusion world and that was his hope he could do that could do that and so he says i hope also i trust in and so he says i hope also i trust in the lord that also i shall myself come the lord that also i shall myself come unto you but in the meantime i'm going unto you but in the meantime i'm going to send a paper epaphroditus yet he says to send a paper epaphroditus yet he says verse 25 i suppose it necessary to send verse 25 i suppose it necessary to send you a paraphrase as my brother and he's you a paraphrase as my brother and he's my companion notice this libra fellow my companion notice this libra fellow soldier notice all these terms there soldier notice all these terms there companion in what tribulation he is my companion in what tribulation he is my fellow laborer he is a laborer a worker fellow laborer he is a laborer a worker a hard worker he's a fellow soldier he's a hard worker he's a fellow soldier he's dressed in the equipment of the dressed in the equipment of the spiritual warrior he is having to spiritual warrior he is having to embattle himself against the embattle himself against the difficulties of life but your messenger difficulties of life but your messenger he says he that ministered to my wants he says he that ministered to my wants so they sent epaphroditus back to paul so they sent epaphroditus back to paul now he says now he says for he longed after you all for he longed after you all he longed after you well verse 26 he longed after you well verse 26 he was full of heaviness he was full of heaviness because you'd heard that he'd been sick because you'd heard that he'd been sick isn't that amazing he was full of isn't that amazing he was full of heaviness because he had heard that you heaviness because he had heard that you knew he was sick knew he was sick look at those amazing connections look at those amazing connections look at the love look at the love the consideration that's floating the consideration that's floating between them between them love is dominating that scene love is dominating that scene just dominating just dominating epididis was sick epididis was sick and many sicknesses viruses diseases and many sicknesses viruses diseases malaria all kinds of things abounded in malaria all kinds of things abounded in that age now he was sick and he longed that age now he was sick and he longed after you all and he was very sad after you all and he was very sad when he realized that you were sad when he realized that you were sad because you'd heard that he was sick because you'd heard that he was sick isn't it incredible that little piece of isn't it incredible that little piece of information information is recorded in the word of god as part is recorded in the word of god as part of the word of god alongside the great of the word of god alongside the great doctrinal foundations of the truth doctrinal foundations of the truth that have gone out throughout the world that have gone out throughout the world for 2 000 years of his scripture it's for 2 000 years of his scripture it's part of the divinely inspired record part of the divinely inspired record part of what god considers you and i part of what god considers you and i need for salvation need for salvation and all it's saying is and all it's saying is the paphroditus was very sad because the paphroditus was very sad because when he knew that you were sad about the when he knew that you were sad about the fact that you knew that he was sick he fact that you knew that he was sick he felt worse in other words he was so he was so emotional emotional over his feelings for them that even over his feelings for them that even when he was sick when he was sick he was sad that they were sad he was sad that they were sad incredible isn't it we read that daily incredible isn't it we read that daily readings goes over like that readings goes over like that it's gone it's gone we don't stop and think we don't stop and think about what dear epaphroditus was about what dear epaphroditus was experiencing look at verse 27 for indeed experiencing look at verse 27 for indeed he was sick he was very sick he was near he was sick he was very sick he was near to death that's how bad he was and in that sickness he was still so and in that sickness he was still so eaten up inside of his love and care for eaten up inside of his love and care for his brothers and sisters at philippi but his brothers and sisters at philippi but god had mercy on him and not on him only god had mercy on him and not on him only but also on me i was sick i had these but also on me i was sick i had these needs lest i should have needs lest i should have sorrow sorrow upon upon sorrow what was he so sorrowful about because he was in chains because he was in chains because he was a prisoner because he because he was a prisoner because he might have faced the executioner might have faced the executioner because he was sick was this what because he was sick was this what worried was this why he was so sorry worried was this why he was so sorry no no not at all not at all he was happy to do that for christ he was happy to do that for christ rejoicing in it singing psalms in it for rejoicing in it singing psalms in it for christ he was happy to suffer there's no christ he was happy to suffer there's no sorrow of him in that what was his sorrow of him in that what was his sorrow his sorrow brother and sisters sorrow his sorrow brother and sisters was was his feelings his feelings for the welfare of his brothers and for the welfare of his brothers and sisters in rome in philippi and the care sisters in rome in philippi and the care of all the ecclesias that was on his of all the ecclesias that was on his shoulders he cared for them he loved shoulders he cared for them he loved them he nurtured them them he nurtured them and when they weren't doing too and when they weren't doing too well either physically well either physically or more importantly spiritually or more importantly spiritually he was so sad he was so sad tearing his heart out is that how we feel about our brothers and sisters and sisters when we hear of a problem in an ecclesia when we hear of a problem in an ecclesia somewhere somewhere we hear about we hear about spiritual difficulties we hear that a spiritual difficulties we hear that a brother or a sister is on a spiritual brother or a sister is on a spiritual low they're not coming out to the low they're not coming out to the meetings any longer they're not as meetings any longer they're not as regular as they used to be they don't regular as they used to be they don't worry about study days or anything like worry about study days or anything like that they're all optional extras so you that they're all optional extras so you know we just go to the necessary things know we just go to the necessary things and sometimes i start backing off on the and sometimes i start backing off on the necessary meetings such as the memorial necessary meetings such as the memorial meeting of a sunday morning and what do meeting of a sunday morning and what do we think about them ah they're weak we think about them ah they're weak we can despise them we can despise them we can despise the weakness and say gosh we can despise the weakness and say gosh i don't even know where they bother i don't even know where they bother coming to the memorial meeting they're coming to the memorial meeting they're not interested in anything else in the not interested in anything else in the truth truth no other part of the ecclesia the no other part of the ecclesia the brother doesn't do anything in the brother doesn't do anything in the meeting he just comes along and meeting he just comes along and we could feel we could feel really quite despicable towards them really quite despicable towards them rejecting them rejecting them saying yes they're just weak saying yes they're just weak they may as well not come why are they they may as well not come why are they here don't bother to come i won't bother here don't bother to come i won't bother talking to them and that would be the reason that would be the reason why the apostle paul be the reason why the apostle paul would go into a fit of depression because he would love them and feel for them and do everything he and feel for them and do everything he possibly could possibly could to try and rehabilitate them spiritually to try and rehabilitate them spiritually you know some of our brethren and you know some of our brethren and sisters because we see them only of a sisters because we see them only of a sunday morning sunday morning we don't really know them we don't really know them we really don't know them very well at we really don't know them very well at all and yet we do nothing about getting to know them know them we never visit them we never visit them we never invite them to our we never invite them to our home we never make opportunities for home we never make opportunities for meeting them in another environment meeting them in another environment somewhere else somewhere else we don't bother about them let them go we don't bother about them let them go let them drift out let them wander off let them drift out let them wander off they're just weak don't love the things they're just weak don't love the things of god of god that's not paul's attitude that's not paul's attitude he says don't heap sorrow upon sorrow he says don't heap sorrow upon sorrow upon me he says because i love you all upon me he says because i love you all so much i just want to hear that you're so much i just want to hear that you're doing well i'll do whatever i can to doing well i'll do whatever i can to help you and i'm going to send to you my help you and i'm going to send to you my personal assistant timothy personal assistant timothy now now paul knew that timothy was his closest paul knew that timothy was his closest aide he desperately needed the company aide he desperately needed the company of timothy because paul wasn't able to of timothy because paul wasn't able to move around he was a prisoner he was move around he was a prisoner he was also somewhat older now he didn't have also somewhat older now he didn't have the health the health he didn't have the strength to do some he didn't have the strength to do some of the things that young timothy could of the things that young timothy could do he needed timothy as his right-hand do he needed timothy as his right-hand right-hand man to extend the work of the right-hand man to extend the work of the truth truth but he was now saying i'm going to send but he was now saying i'm going to send you timothy i'm going to send you my you timothy i'm going to send you my right hand man right hand man i'll do without him but he can benefit i'll do without him but he can benefit you you it's a big sacrifice on paul's accounts it's a big sacrifice on paul's accounts nevertheless nevertheless he goes and he talks about this matter he goes and he talks about this matter he says that when he sends epaphroditus he says that when he sends epaphroditus he's sending a paprika before he sends he's sending a paprika before he sends timothy verse 29 receive him therefore timothy verse 29 receive him therefore in the lord with all gladness and hold in the lord with all gladness and hold such in reputation respect him honor his such in reputation respect him honor his position position because for the work of christ because for the work of christ he was nigh unto death notice that for he was nigh unto death notice that for his work in the truth he was just about his work in the truth he was just about dead dead not hazarding his life he says to supply not hazarding his life he says to supply your lack of service toward me he really your lack of service toward me he really went out to fill up his own life to went out to fill up his own life to bring the deficiencies to make up the bring the deficiencies to make up the deficiencies in the ministration deficiencies in the ministration designed for me he risked his life in designed for me he risked his life in coming to visit me look what he did coming to visit me look what he did we don't know particularly what his we don't know particularly what his sickness was it may well have been that sickness was it may well have been that he could have been he could have been beaten up being a christian coming to beaten up being a christian coming to visit paul the christians were now visit paul the christians were now beginning to get a bit of a name in rome beginning to get a bit of a name in rome because there were sex spoken against because there were sex spoken against everywhere throughout the roman world everywhere throughout the roman world maybe when he came back to paul he was maybe when he came back to paul he was beaten up on his way to see paul the beaten up on his way to see paul the soldiers ill-treated him or some thugs soldiers ill-treated him or some thugs and local marketeers set upon him as he and local marketeers set upon him as he came over to see paul in the praetorium came over to see paul in the praetorium whatever it was he was very sick on that whatever it was he was very sick on that accounts maybe he had to go through very accounts maybe he had to go through very difficult circumstances shipwrecks like difficult circumstances shipwrecks like paul did nearly died in the process paul did nearly died in the process maybe caught sickness and disease on the maybe caught sickness and disease on the roots roots off all night without any sleep off all night without any sleep traveling in the most unhygienic traveling in the most unhygienic conditions living in the most high conditions living in the most high unhygienic quarters he did this for unhygienic quarters he did this for their sake and for paul's sake and paul their sake and for paul's sake and paul says look what he went through he was says look what he went through he was nearly dead for this nearly dead for this just receive him just receive him receive him back respect him and love receive him back respect him and love him he's just about dead him he's just about dead for the truth for the truth this was real sacrifice in action what this was real sacrifice in action what he had done he had done and that's why brethren and sisters the and that's why brethren and sisters the example of paul example of paul and timothy and epaphronitis and timothy and epaphronitis are so so important for us to meditate are so so important for us to meditate on on they're there for a message they're there for a message the message is for our learning the message is for our learning and our edification that we might know and our edification that we might know how to copy their lives in the third chapter now paul takes her attention to the next phase which of attention to the next phase which of course in the notes we can see course in the notes we can see introduces another topic for us in introduces another topic for us in chapter three he says that he is going chapter three he says that he is going to press on toward the mark for the to press on toward the mark for the prize prize so in chapter three he rejoices in god so in chapter three he rejoices in god and gives the excitation that you must and gives the excitation that you must put no confidence in the flesh at all put no confidence in the flesh at all he then gives paul seven surpassing he then gives paul seven surpassing fleshly fleshly credentials here he now comes to talk credentials here he now comes to talk about flesh and spirit making it clear about flesh and spirit making it clear that in fact if we're going to follow that in fact if we're going to follow after christ we have to deny the flesh after christ we have to deny the flesh and he makes this clear in his next and he makes this clear in his next section section so looking there at verse 1 he says so looking there at verse 1 he says finally my brethren rejoice in the lord finally my brethren rejoice in the lord again he puts this word in rejoice again he puts this word in rejoice rejoice in the lord to write the same rejoice in the lord to write the same things to you to me indeed is not things to you to me indeed is not grievous but for you it is safe in other grievous but for you it is safe in other words he's saying here the the impact of words he's saying here the the impact of the word of life has indeed changed his the word of life has indeed changed his life and he's writing things which he life and he's writing things which he hopes they will not consider grievous hopes they will not consider grievous any more than the things they wrote to any more than the things they wrote to him but now he gives a warning him but now he gives a warning his warning is concerning the household his warning is concerning the household and he says beware of dogs and he says beware of dogs beware of dogs beware of dogs you know the dogs are those really cited you know the dogs are those really cited in verse 19 of this chapter he talks in verse 19 of this chapter he talks about this classification or category about this classification or category and says and says whose end is destruction whose god is whose end is destruction whose god is their belly whose glory is their shame their belly whose glory is their shame who mind earthly things they are who mind earthly things they are governed by the carnal mind they're like governed by the carnal mind they're like dogs returning to their vomit dogs returning to their vomit he says beware of dogs beware of evil he says beware of dogs beware of evil workers workers those are the people who will will come those are the people who will will come into the midst of the ecclesia and work into the midst of the ecclesia and work evil feigning themselves to be brethren evil feigning themselves to be brethren they are really corrupting and they are really corrupting and overthrowing the foundations of the overthrowing the foundations of the ecclesial unity beware of the concision ecclesial unity beware of the concision the concession with the mutilators those the concession with the mutilators those associated also with with pagan worship associated also with with pagan worship as well as those judaizers that come as well as those judaizers that come into the midst and require people to be into the midst and require people to be circumcised circumcised as if by the mutilation of the body as if by the mutilation of the body they're going to make these people they're going to make these people righteous righteous beware of them he says beware of them he says though i might also have confidence in though i might also have confidence in the flesh she says the flesh she says confidence in the flesh if any other man confidence in the flesh if any other man thinks that he has where of he might thinks that he has where of he might trust in the lord then i can trust in trust in the lord then i can trust in the flesh more than what he can if you the flesh more than what he can if you get people coming to you saying well i'm get people coming to you saying well i'm really quite a reputable person not like really quite a reputable person not like this paul who's a prisoner i've never this paul who's a prisoner i've never had any moral question raised against my had any moral question raised against my integrity i have never done anything integrity i have never done anything illegal illegal no fines imposed upon me no fines imposed upon me you know people with that you know spark you know people with that you know spark of of absolute omo whiteness that they say i'm absolute omo whiteness that they say i'm absolutely clean the highest degree of moral integrity or i've got better education than you or i've got better education than you people have i after all of i'm quite people have i after all of i'm quite locatious in the greek language i i can locatious in the greek language i i can speak anything in the latin language i speak anything in the latin language i also know the hebrew language extremely also know the hebrew language extremely well i have great qualifications and of well i have great qualifications and of course my knowledge in the law makes me course my knowledge in the law makes me better than you the law of moses knowledge and judaism knowledge and judaism see people were flaunting see people were flaunting their degrees of knowledge and religion their degrees of knowledge and religion to make them better than somebody else to make them better than somebody else a person could flaunt his credentials in a person could flaunt his credentials in our own brotherhood and say look you our own brotherhood and say look you know my bible is much better mark than know my bible is much better mark than yours therefore i must be a better yours therefore i must be a better student than you are so don't question student than you are so don't question what i'm telling you what i'm telling you or we might say well i know more about or we might say well i know more about this subject i've been to so many bible this subject i've been to so many bible schools and what you have schools and what you have i'll be much longer in the truth than i'll be much longer in the truth than you are i mean i've got a great pedigree you are i mean i've got a great pedigree list in the truth also and i can cite list in the truth also and i can cite this is the reason why i'm a better this is the reason why i'm a better person than you are and also you should person than you are and also you should listen to me and i don't have to listen listen to me and i don't have to listen to you to you this kind of attitude promotes the caste this kind of attitude promotes the caste system in our community system in our community the brother who might say oh well i'm a the brother who might say oh well i'm a teacher of bible schools i should know teacher of bible schools i should know what i'm talking about i teach in more what i'm talking about i teach in more bible schools than what he does i should bible schools than what he does i should know what i'm talking about this sort of know what i'm talking about this sort of prestigious reputation that we can also prestigious reputation that we can also fall into a foul position with in our fall into a foul position with in our own lives own lives that we can end up with a caste system that we can end up with a caste system of you know the extra cleans of you know the extra cleans and the questionable ones down the other and the questionable ones down the other ends ends we are all one in christ jesus we are all one in christ jesus there is no one brother better than there is no one brother better than another in our community what no one another in our community what no one sister better than another in the eyes sister better than another in the eyes of god he is not a respecter of persons of god he is not a respecter of persons credentials but god acknowledges the humbleness of the mind into which he can come and the mind into which he can come and dwell dwell the mind of a person who trembles at his the mind of a person who trembles at his word word the heart of a person the heart of a person who is humbled who is humbled by the power of the spirit truth by the power of the spirit truth this is the sort of person god comes and this is the sort of person god comes and dwells with not the arrogant the dwells with not the arrogant the high-minded and the proud high-minded and the proud notice how paul brings himself into this notice how paul brings himself into this position says look if they want a glory position says look if they want a glory in the flesh i can glory a lot more than in the flesh i can glory a lot more than them them these are the judaizers who are making these are the judaizers who are making the flesh and the credentials of flesh a the flesh and the credentials of flesh a better degree of righteousness before better degree of righteousness before god he says concerning himself verse god he says concerning himself verse five five circumcise the eighth day circumcise the eighth day right i was right on the eighth day right i was right on the eighth day there you've got to be circumcised on there you've got to be circumcised on the eighth day or your circumcision is the eighth day or your circumcision is not as good and if you happen to be not as good and if you happen to be circumcised afterwards circumcised afterwards then it's not as good you're not as then it's not as good you're not as righteous he was of the stock of israel righteous he was of the stock of israel so israel was the righteous tribe the so israel was the righteous tribe the the righteous nation on the earth and the righteous nation on the earth and all the judaizers believed that was so all the judaizers believed that was so he was of the tribe of benjamin benjamin he was of the tribe of benjamin benjamin was an elitist tribe the smallest tribe was an elitist tribe the smallest tribe in israel but an elitist tribe attached in israel but an elitist tribe attached to the tribe of judah to the tribe of judah so he belonged to that so he belonged to that he was also an hebrew of hebrews so he he was also an hebrew of hebrews so he had the renown that he was well and had the renown that he was well and truly entrenched in the hebrew truly entrenched in the hebrew generation of people he was absolutely generation of people he was absolutely without question a jew of jews without question a jew of jews he goes on to say here as touching the he goes on to say here as touching the law there was no person more righteous law there was no person more righteous than a group of the pharisees so he was than a group of the pharisees so he was a pharisee under the law concerning zeal a pharisee under the law concerning zeal as a zealot as a zealot he was one that persecuted the early he was one that persecuted the early ecclesia ecclesia as touching the righteousness which is as touching the righteousness which is of the law what righteousness of the law of the law what righteousness of the law he says he was blameless by the he says he was blameless by the righteousness of the law righteousness of the law now how could a person be blamed what now how could a person be blamed what was he talking about after all paul went was he talking about after all paul went about to say that no man could claim about to say that no man could claim righteousness from a law that condemned righteousness from a law that condemned him for breaking it and he was talking him for breaking it and he was talking about the law of moses about the law of moses now what he now talks about is the vain now what he now talks about is the vain tradition which the elders of israel had tradition which the elders of israel had in that they recognized that if you were in that they recognized that if you were to pinpoint personal failure then to pinpoint personal failure then everybody was a sinner but in order to everybody was a sinner but in order to get out of that situation and designate get out of that situation and designate themselves as righteous themselves as righteous they had another formula for creating it they had another formula for creating it and that formula was that if your good and that formula was that if your good works works exceeded your evil works then you were exceeded your evil works then you were righteous simple as that get the bean righteous simple as that get the bean balance balance simple bean balance good works in this simple bean balance good works in this dish bad works in that dish if the good dish bad works in that dish if the good works exceed the bad work so they go works exceed the bad work so they go down like that they are heavier they are down like that they are heavier they are weightier they are more then you are weightier they are more then you are righteous by the law of course it's got a very subjective approach to it approach to it because who knows because who knows what good works and bad works done what good works and bad works done all the bad works are done in a secret all the bad works are done in a secret corner in the closet away from the main corner in the closet away from the main public eye not ready for scrutiny or public eye not ready for scrutiny or speculation speculation the righteous works are done when they the righteous works are done when they would walk out put on their fine would walk out put on their fine garments walk up to the temple cast in garments walk up to the temple cast in trinkling money down into a great clang trinkling money down into a great clang clang clang clangers who went to the clang clang clangers who went to the treasury and say there you are i'll put treasury and say there you are i'll put in more money than you have they just in more money than you have they just figure their faces they make it look as figure their faces they make it look as if they've been fasting when in fact if they've been fasting when in fact they've been eating nice roast turkey they've been eating nice roast turkey all week and they go to the temple and all week and they go to the temple and say look at me say look at me i've been doing more things for god than i've been doing more things for god than what you have and then they say i thank what you have and then they say i thank you god i'm not like that public and you god i'm not like that public and that sinner down there these were that sinner down there these were righteous people subjectively righteous righteous people subjectively righteous people and the one great fallacy of this people and the one great fallacy of this system was that it was not only system was that it was not only subjective but it was very human because subjective but it was very human because they happen to have a rather good memory they happen to have a rather good memory for the acts of righteousness for the acts of righteousness an incredibly bad memory an incredibly bad memory for the things they did wrong and so they only thought about the committed acts of righteousness and not committed acts of righteousness and not all the sins of omission the things they all the sins of omission the things they didn't do that they should have done so didn't do that they should have done so a person would make himself righteous by a person would make himself righteous by the law simply because he had a better the law simply because he had a better memory for his good works and his bad memory for his good works and his bad works and he called himself righteous works and he called himself righteous paul said by the law by that criteria of paul said by the law by that criteria of judgment i was blameless judgment i was blameless nobody convicted him of sin nobody convicted him of sin he was marching the front line of he was marching the front line of judaizers persecuting the ecclesia judaizers persecuting the ecclesia everywhere taking the letters of the everywhere taking the letters of the high priest advancing judaism and his high priest advancing judaism and his purity getting rid of these gentiles out purity getting rid of these gentiles out of concern with israel and so he went on of concern with israel and so he went on he was blameless he was a man with he was blameless he was a man with enormous jewish religious credentials enormous jewish religious credentials but he said all these things but he said all these things i counted i counted as nothing he says they were not gains as nothing he says they were not gains to me to me he said i counted them as loss for he said i counted them as loss for christ in verse seven christ in verse seven yea doubtless and i count all things but yea doubtless and i count all things but lost for the excellency of the knowledge lost for the excellency of the knowledge of christ jesus my lord for whom i have of christ jesus my lord for whom i have suffered the loss of all things and i do suffered the loss of all things and i do count them but done that i may win count them but done that i may win christ christ counter them as dung counter them as dung fit for the dung heap fit for the dung heap it was not his academic qualifications it was not his academic qualifications his knowledge of of the law of rome his his knowledge of of the law of rome his learning of greek literature and letters learning of greek literature and letters they were not the things he counted as they were not the things he counted as done he used those efficiently and done he used those efficiently and effectively in his service his knowledge effectively in his service his knowledge of language speaking in greek and in of language speaking in greek and in hebrew to his accusers this was all part hebrew to his accusers this was all part of an education outside that of his of an education outside that of his religious education it was his doctors religious education it was his doctors of divinity his bachelor of divinity of divinity his bachelor of divinity that he denied that he denied it was his religious education the fact it was his religious education the fact that he had a degree in divinity a that he had a degree in divinity a doctor in this area he he was a man doctor in this area he he was a man established as a great leader and a established as a great leader and a righteous man in the jewish household righteous man in the jewish household benefiting above many of his own equals benefiting above many of his own equals in the jews religion in the jews religion youngest member of the sanhedrin council youngest member of the sanhedrin council they'd probably ever had they'd probably ever had he counted all that as done he counted all that as done done that he might win christ but there were those in the ecclesia who are flaunting their supposed religious are flaunting their supposed religious credentials why they should be listened credentials why they should be listened to and others should be denied any to and others should be denied any hearing or consideration of their hearing or consideration of their opinions to some degree we have these difficulties in our own midst to some degree a brother with a greater position or rank in our community position or rank in our community believes that his opinion therefore believes that his opinion therefore ought to be more reputable he takes more ought to be more reputable he takes more of a first class in any dispute over of a first class in any dispute over some other lesser brother than him that kind of attitude does exist we must resist it brethren and sisters we must resist it brethren and sisters we must challenge it and we must correct we must challenge it and we must correct those brethren who have such attitudes those brethren who have such attitudes else their own salvation is at stake else their own salvation is at stake we don't call rank like that we don't call rank like that we must serve each other humbly we must serve each other humbly believing and esteeming each other believing and esteeming each other better than ourselves to be that's what better than ourselves to be that's what the apostle paul is on about and that's the apostle paul is on about and that's why he reminds us that if he wanted to why he reminds us that if he wanted to call rank he's got more rank and call rank he's got more rank and privilege than anybody else but he said privilege than anybody else but he said i treated it as done follow my example i treated it as done follow my example and don't divide the ecclesia up over and don't divide the ecclesia up over these meaningless matters these meaningless matters but look now paul wants to return again but look now paul wants to return again he's always doing this in his epistle to he's always doing this in his epistle to the philippians the philippians he wants to return again to consider the he wants to return again to consider the reputation of christ's sacrifice reputation of christ's sacrifice and what that means to our sacrifice and what that means to our sacrifice with him look at verse 10 this is with him look at verse 10 this is powerful this is powerful this is he says that i may know him christ he says that i may know him christ and the power of his resurrection and and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings the fellowship of his sufferings being made conformable unto his death being made conformable unto his death if by any means if by any means i might advance i might advance unto the resurrection of the dead unto the resurrection of the dead and he says and not as though i'd and he says and not as though i'd already got it i haven't already caught already got it i haven't already caught hold of this great resurrection to glory hold of this great resurrection to glory says it's not mine says it's not mine either we're already perfect i'm not i'm either we're already perfect i'm not i'm not entirely mature in this matter i not entirely mature in this matter i haven't reached full age of haven't reached full age of righteousness but he says righteousness but he says i pursue my course i pursue my course that's what the word follow after means that's what the word follow after means i steadily pursue my course if i may i steadily pursue my course if i may attain catch hold of it catch hold of attain catch hold of it catch hold of that for which i'm apprehended in christ that for which i'm apprehended in christ jesus brethren i count myself to have jesus brethren i count myself to have caught this yet i haven't got my hands caught this yet i haven't got my hands on eternal life but this one thing i do on eternal life but this one thing i do forgetting those things which are behind forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth to those things which and reaching forth to those things which are before are before i press towards the great object of my i press towards the great object of my aim the mark aim the mark the prize he says of the high calling of the prize he says of the high calling of god god in christ jesus in christ jesus what a wonderful picture he draws here what a wonderful picture he draws here he says look he says look i strive for this i strive for this that i might know the power of his that i might know the power of his resurrection now what's that what's he resurrection now what's that what's he saying there what he is saying is the saying there what he is saying is the resurrection has two powerful influences resurrection has two powerful influences on a person on a person remember the first case where the remember the first case where the apostle paul writing to the romans says apostle paul writing to the romans says that they that have been raised with that they that have been raised with christ are those that have died with christ are those that have died with christ christ and he makes it clear in his his and he makes it clear in his his exhortation when he goes through to say exhortation when he goes through to say if you've been buried together with if you've been buried together with christ in his death you should be raised christ in his death you should be raised up with him with likeness he says as up with him with likeness he says as also christ was raised from the dead you also christ was raised from the dead you should walk in newness of life should walk in newness of life now that's the first phase of now that's the first phase of resurrection that's when we come out of resurrection that's when we come out of the waters of baptism we're in the first the waters of baptism we're in the first stage of resurrection and in fact those stage of resurrection and in fact those who die in christ today and have died who die in christ today and have died many centuries ago will be raised up many centuries ago will be raised up again to exactly that position we are in again to exactly that position we are in now the first phase of resurrection now the first phase of resurrection mortality heading for desiring to mortality heading for desiring to apprehend immortality apprehend immortality now in this state now in this state pardon me as we go forth toward the pardon me as we go forth toward the prize the power of the resurrection prize the power of the resurrection touches us in the first stage of touches us in the first stage of resurrection mortality resurrection mortality redeemed from the power of sin and death redeemed from the power of sin and death to walk in newness of life that's where to walk in newness of life that's where we are we are and that and that is a power is a power that must grasp hold of us that must grasp hold of us it is christ in us the hope of glory it is christ in us the hope of glory this is a very very powerful matter this is a very very powerful matter and if we apprehend this and what is and if we apprehend this and what is talking about it saying christ will talking about it saying christ will change your life change your life and is our life being changed and is our life being changed is it really is it really is there a vast difference between the is there a vast difference between the pre-baptized croisdolphian and the pre-baptized croisdolphian and the post-baptized brother and sister in post-baptized brother and sister in christ is that difference discernible christ is that difference discernible has it been a power in our lives to has it been a power in our lives to transform us from fleshly thinking transform us from fleshly thinking people the spiritual thinking people has people the spiritual thinking people has the mind of christ taken over from the the mind of christ taken over from the mind of the flesh mind of the flesh is the new adam now governing where the is the new adam now governing where the old animus deads old animus deads all of this all of this is whether the power is whether the power of the resurrection has touched us if it of the resurrection has touched us if it hasn't transformed our life now there is hasn't transformed our life now there is absolutely no way we are going to get absolutely no way we are going to get into the second stage of the power of into the second stage of the power of the resurrection to transfer our bodies the resurrection to transfer our bodies out of death to life out of death to life out of weakness to strength out of out of weakness to strength out of mortality to immortality that will never mortality to immortality that will never happen unless the power of the happen unless the power of the resurrection changes us now resurrection changes us now that i might know him that i might know him the power of his resurrection and what the power of his resurrection and what do we mean by that what we mean by that do we mean by that what we mean by that is the fellowship of his sufferings is the fellowship of his sufferings there it is there it is fellowship of his sufferings being made fellowship of his sufferings being made conformable to his conformable to his putting to death the mind and the works putting to death the mind and the works of the flesh of the flesh there it is there it is becoming the body of christ today becoming the body of christ today burying the flesh putting on the spirit burying the flesh putting on the spirit cutting off the works of the flesh cutting off the works of the flesh putting on the life of christ and taking putting on the life of christ and taking the mind of our lord that governs our the mind of our lord that governs our actions our behavior our thoughts our actions our behavior our thoughts our performances of love to one another performances of love to one another that's the dominant power that's behind that's the dominant power that's behind the son of god in his new life and the the son of god in his new life and the death to the flesh death to the flesh be made conformable to his death that be made conformable to his death that patent brethren and sisters is what we patent brethren and sisters is what we eat and drink to every sunday morning eat and drink to every sunday morning the bread put the flesh away the wine the bread put the flesh away the wine put the life of christ on put the life of christ on and the balance of that and the balance of that brings us to a true sacrifice with our brings us to a true sacrifice with our lord is that what we've got now have we lord is that what we've got now have we known the power of his resurrection are known the power of his resurrection are we grasping at the prize as we run the we grasping at the prize as we run the rise for eternal life is that mark that rise for eternal life is that mark that great lol at the end of the channel is great lol at the end of the channel is that what we're looking at that what we're looking at looking unto jesus the author and looking unto jesus the author and finisher of our face faith as we race finisher of our face faith as we race down that life down that life shedding off every weight that possesses shedding off every weight that possesses us every sin that so easily besets us us every sin that so easily besets us shedding off the flesh and it's in its shedding off the flesh and it's in its great armor as we run with greater skill great armor as we run with greater skill and swiftness towards the prize of the and swiftness towards the prize of the mark of the high calling of god in mark of the high calling of god in christ christ that's a lot of work that is that's a lot of work that is a lot of dedication a lot of insight a a lot of dedication a lot of insight a lot of love lot of love a lot of caring a lot of caring a lot of teaching a lot of sharing a lot of teaching a lot of sharing and all of that brethren sisters is what and all of that brethren sisters is what he means when he says in verse 15 let us he means when he says in verse 15 let us therefore as many as be mature therefore as many as be mature that understand these matters as a that understand these matters as a spiritual person be thus minded spiritual person be thus minded if anything be otherwise minded god if anything be otherwise minded god should reveal this should reveal this nevertheless he says we are aware of two nevertheless he says we are aware of two we have already attained let us walk by we have already attained let us walk by the same rule we have got this much the same rule we have got this much anyway he says let us have the same mind anyway he says let us have the same mind be thus minded not divided off not be thus minded not divided off not creating difficulties and problems not creating difficulties and problems not creating division in our midst not creating division in our midst not creating competition creating competition and the simulation and the simulation but rather but rather striving for the unity of the faith in striving for the unity of the faith in the bonds of peace striving with our the bonds of peace striving with our minds one to another in which we are minds one to another in which we are able to share the truth as nobly as able to share the truth as nobly as we've been given us we've been given us striving for the unity of the household striving for the unity of the household in the bonds of peace in the bonds of peace wonderful words wonderful words wonderful words that paul gives to us wonderful words that paul gives to us for like-mindedness for like-mindedness and if we've got that mind of christ it and if we've got that mind of christ it won't be hard to be the suffering won't be hard to be the suffering servants servants suffering with christ now suffering with christ now that may we may rejoice in his glory that may we may rejoice in his glory in the day of his visitation in the day of his visitation let us therefore remind one another let us therefore remind one another constantly this is paul's speaking constantly this is paul's speaking follow his example follow his example and then we'll know what the sufferings and then we'll know what the sufferings of christ are and what the unity of the of christ are and what the unity of the spirit is spirit is and what the bonds of love mean and what the bonds of love mean when our bowels move for one another when our bowels move for one another in the household

Transcript

i think i'm all wired up can you hear me good good well having enjoyed a nice meal we now well having enjoyed a nice meal we now turn again to spiritual food turn again to spiritual food and of course if we deny feeding the and of course if we deny feeding the spiritual man we get the consequences of spiritual man we get the consequences of it don't we we become spiritually anemic it don't we we become spiritually anemic or emaciated we lose the opportunities or emaciated we lose the opportunities of feeding the inner man and therefore of feeding the inner man and therefore of losing the opportunities of growth of losing the opportunities of growth spiritual growth spiritual growth and of course it's always been necessary and of course it's always been necessary that we feed ourselves in moderation the that we feed ourselves in moderation the same as we don't same as we don't you know gorge ourselves at an you know gorge ourselves at an occlusional meal and find ourselves occlusional meal and find ourselves having the pleasure of seeing the meal having the pleasure of seeing the meal for the second time for the second time and gives us an opportunity otherwise and gives us an opportunity otherwise sometimes when we try with spiritual sometimes when we try with spiritual indigestion to put too much in we don't indigestion to put too much in we don't get the value out of it do we so we've get the value out of it do we so we've got to take it in small pieces it always got to take it in small pieces it always had to be broken up under the law didn't had to be broken up under the law didn't it and each day that lampstand was lit it and each day that lampstand was lit by oil which was crushing the olives by by oil which was crushing the olives by all the the people of israel a little all the the people of israel a little bit put in each day bit put in each day breaking it up making it small making it breaking it up making it small making it meaningful and hopefully that's what we meaningful and hopefully that's what we achieve in the pattern and methods of achieve in the pattern and methods of our bible study well coming to continue our bible study well coming to continue now paul's wonderful letter to the now paul's wonderful letter to the philippian brethren sisters in his philippian brethren sisters in his fourth chapter he moves now to consider fourth chapter he moves now to consider more particularly the direct problems of more particularly the direct problems of division in the ecclesia and tries to division in the ecclesia and tries to encourage the ecclesia into the clear encourage the ecclesia into the clear keys to solving the problems that they keys to solving the problems that they are experiencing are experiencing now in this fourth chapter looking at now in this fourth chapter looking at our outline again we our outline again we again put it on the screen if you again put it on the screen if you haven't got haven't got the the outline in front of you there so in the outline in front of you there so in the fourth chapter we rejoice in the lord fourth chapter we rejoice in the lord always the persuasive appeal for always the persuasive appeal for reconciliation in the case of two reconciliation in the case of two sisters who were named here sisters who were named here he talks here in verses 4 to 7 about the he talks here in verses 4 to 7 about the way to peace way to peace rejoice and pray for the lord is at hand rejoice and pray for the lord is at hand in verses eight to nine he gives us the in verses eight to nine he gives us the antidote to spiritual december which antidote to spiritual december which we'll look at a little more care versus we'll look at a little more care versus eight to nine eight to nine and then verses 10 to 19 we have thanks and then verses 10 to 19 we have thanks for the gift as the fruit of their for the gift as the fruit of their account and not as a provision of his account and not as a provision of his needs as he has learned to do without he needs as he has learned to do without he doesn't desperately need it but he doesn't desperately need it but he thanks them for it but it's more thanks them for it but it's more important for them to give than for him important for them to give than for him to receive and then he gives of course to receive and then he gives of course his descriptions of praise and his descriptions of praise and salutations at the end of the chapter salutations at the end of the chapter well looking then at the conclusion of well looking then at the conclusion of chapter three which we didn't quite to chapter three which we didn't quite to conclude the apostle paul was looking conclude the apostle paul was looking here at the at the time coming when he here at the at the time coming when he exhorts himself in his uh his exhorts himself in his uh his conversation his conduct before god in conversation his conduct before god in verse 19 he talks about those who verse 19 he talks about those who actually were going away from the truth actually were going away from the truth whose end is destruction whose god is whose end is destruction whose god is their belly whose glory is their shame their belly whose glory is their shame they mind earthly things but he says for they mind earthly things but he says for our conversation our commonwealth that's our conversation our commonwealth that's actually what he means there the actually what he means there the commonwealth the citizenship that we commonwealth the citizenship that we have is in heaven have is in heaven so our citizenship belongs in heaven so so our citizenship belongs in heaven so where is our heart where are we being where is our heart where are we being led from led from if we're being led by the flesh by if we're being led by the flesh by earthly considerations we simply prove earthly considerations we simply prove that our citizenship belongs here on that our citizenship belongs here on earth earth but if our position of mind is in the but if our position of mind is in the heavenlies heavenlies being born from above being born from above seeking the things which are above seeking the things which are above and not on the earth stirring up our and not on the earth stirring up our treasures in the heavens with our lord treasures in the heavens with our lord who is at the right hand of the most who is at the right hand of the most high where the book of life is and where high where the book of life is and where our citizenship belongs being born from our citizenship belongs being born from above through that spiritual city above through that spiritual city jerusalem then it means our whole mind jerusalem then it means our whole mind is set up in heaven now that doesn't is set up in heaven now that doesn't mean we're elevated from the mean we're elevated from the practicalities of earth it means that we practicalities of earth it means that we consider ourselves to be led by the mind consider ourselves to be led by the mind of god demonstrated in the mind and of god demonstrated in the mind and works of his son and therefore our works of his son and therefore our aspirations are towards heaven and not aspirations are towards heaven and not like animals towards the earth only like animals towards the earth only hence this aspiration of seeking higher hence this aspiration of seeking higher things seeking closer to god like the things seeking closer to god like the eagle does as it rises up and sets it at eagle does as it rises up and sets it at the focus of its eyes upon the sun it the focus of its eyes upon the sun it looks into the sun and therefore the looks into the sun and therefore the eagle tends to rise up with the strength eagle tends to rise up with the strength of the sun and this is where we have to of the sun and this is where we have to look to that we are born on the eagles look to that we are born on the eagles wings of the divine spirit wings of the divine spirit so here he talks about our citizenship so here he talks about our citizenship our our commonwealth belongs in heaven our our commonwealth belongs in heaven from where from where we look for the savior now that is a we look for the savior now that is a very different case of animals that live very different case of animals that live by looking at the earth they're looking by looking at the earth they're looking for the next bit of food the next bit of for the next bit of food the next bit of prey the next bit of satisfaction the prey the next bit of satisfaction the animal can have in our case we look to animal can have in our case we look to heaven while we're looking to heaven we heaven while we're looking to heaven we want to see jesus christ coming back we want to see jesus christ coming back we want to see him bringing the book of want to see him bringing the book of life with him we want to see him bring life with him we want to see him bring the spiritual city new jerusalem with the spiritual city new jerusalem with him all this has to do with aspiring to him all this has to do with aspiring to heavenly dimensions looking at things heavenly dimensions looking at things that are not earthly sensual fleshly that are not earthly sensual fleshly carnal carnal so in his end here he talks about the so in his end here he talks about the fact that if we look to christ looking fact that if we look to christ looking for the coming of the savior who shall for the coming of the savior who shall change our change our vile body perhaps a better description vile body perhaps a better description there is the body of our humiliation it there is the body of our humiliation it really is a humiliating body when you really is a humiliating body when you look at it isn't it look at it isn't it i mean what really are we but a but a i mean what really are we but a but a dying mass of meat eventually returning dying mass of meat eventually returning off into dust that's what we are we off into dust that's what we are we might look at the young strong man who might look at the young strong man who might glory in the strength of his legs might glory in the strength of his legs and draw glory in the strength of his and draw glory in the strength of his body but body but if we do that eventually we will see the if we do that eventually we will see the body breaks down it becomes weak it body breaks down it becomes weak it becomes humble and and eventually goes becomes humble and and eventually goes into old decrepit age and then as the into old decrepit age and then as the wise man says it falls broken into the wise man says it falls broken into the system system well this is what happens to human well this is what happens to human bodies we're a dying creature bodies we're a dying creature and when the apostle paul of course and when the apostle paul of course looked upon his own life in his own looked upon his own life in his own failures he never had indifference to failures he never had indifference to sin did he he didn't say well never mind sin did he he didn't say well never mind i'm just a poor weak human being i'm i'm just a poor weak human being i'm going to sin god knows i'm going to sin going to sin god knows i'm going to sin christ doesn't know i'm going to sin so christ doesn't know i'm going to sin so therefore forget about sin therefore forget about sin that was never paul's attitude he said a that was never paul's attitude he said a wretched man that i am who's going to wretched man that i am who's going to deliver me from the body of this death deliver me from the body of this death and the body of this death means a and the body of this death means a rotting corpse literally rotting corpse literally and that was how many people were and that was how many people were condemned by the romans they had a dying condemned by the romans they had a dying a dead body a dead body tied to their own live body and they tied to their own live body and they were sent around to eventually let the were sent around to eventually let the putrefaction of that dying body corrupt putrefaction of that dying body corrupt the real body until they both fell into the real body until they both fell into the pit the pit and that's how paul looked at it and and that's how paul looked at it and narrow refers to his body again and he narrow refers to his body again and he says i'm looking forward to the change says i'm looking forward to the change of this vile body that it may be of this vile body that it may be fashioned like into his glorious body fashioned like into his glorious body according to the working whereby he's according to the working whereby he's able even to subdue all things unto able even to subdue all things unto himself himself isn't that a lovely description to isn't that a lovely description to subdue all things unto himself he wanted subdue all things unto himself he wanted to have his own body in complete command to have his own body in complete command and possession of the mind of the spirit and possession of the mind of the spirit but he couldn't do it but he couldn't do it every time he tried to do the right every time he tried to do the right thing he'd be doing the wrong thing and thing he'd be doing the wrong thing and the very things he didn't want to do the very things he didn't want to do were the very things he found himself were the very things he found himself perpetually doing he frustrated himself perpetually doing he frustrated himself in righteous anxiety and frustration he in righteous anxiety and frustration he says a wretched man that i am he says a wretched man that i am he mentions mentions he really mentions he really mentions and that's why he refers now to the vile and that's why he refers now to the vile body body he cannot achieve what he wants to he's he cannot achieve what he wants to he's all the time hung up with the weaknesses all the time hung up with the weaknesses of this mortal system he would love to of this mortal system he would love to get rid of it that's why he says earlier get rid of it that's why he says earlier on look i'd love to be rid of this body on look i'd love to be rid of this body i'd love to be with the lord not in i'd love to be with the lord not in heaven but when the lord comes of course heaven but when the lord comes of course he wants to be with the lord to get rid he wants to be with the lord to get rid of this vile body so now the body can of this vile body so now the body can rise up like the eagles and rise up like rise up like the eagles and rise up like the the heart and the row and jump upon the the heart and the row and jump upon the mountains for the spiritual work the mountains for the spiritual work that must be done to get rid of a body that must be done to get rid of a body of weakness of weakness and all of us brethren and sisters and all of us brethren and sisters should desire that should desire that in so analyzing and self-examining in so analyzing and self-examining ourselves we can appreciate just how ourselves we can appreciate just how weak we are how much we fail how much we weak we are how much we fail how much we do not measure up to the standards that do not measure up to the standards that christ would have us to measure up to christ would have us to measure up to how much we fail ourselves we don't meet how much we fail ourselves we don't meet our ideals our aspirations our our ideals our aspirations our objectives the ideals we want to see objectives the ideals we want to see that we can achieve we never get them that we can achieve we never get them we're all the time stepping back and we're all the time stepping back and saying another failed opportunity saying another failed opportunity another failed achievement another another failed achievement another failed goal failed goal because our minds have been reborn because our minds have been reborn but our bodies have not but our bodies have not so the weakness is there so the weakness is there paul desire to get rid of that weakness paul desire to get rid of that weakness get rid of this vile body this body of get rid of this vile body this body of our humiliation that i can simply have a our humiliation that i can simply have a body that is subject completely to the body that is subject completely to the demands and commands of the divine demands and commands of the divine spirit and in that capacity there will spirit and in that capacity there will be a body that now rises up to serve be a body that now rises up to serve yahweh in the glory of all its strength yahweh in the glory of all its strength and i suppose to some degree myself and i suppose to some degree myself i tend to feel exactly like paul says i tend to feel exactly like paul says but even if i but even if i am unacceptable to god in the day of am unacceptable to god in the day of judgment judgment i must confess my feelings are i must confess my feelings are even if i can't have a body of even if i can't have a body of immortality that i might get rid of this immortality that i might get rid of this body which has been such a miserable body which has been such a miserable failure for so many years failure for so many years in other words the battle will be over in other words the battle will be over the struggle itself the struggle itself is a struggle a fight to contention all is a struggle a fight to contention all our lives isn't it our lives isn't it we're struggling striving to bring the we're struggling striving to bring the body under the control of the spiritual body under the control of the spiritual minds minds always failing always failing but nevertheless but nevertheless the fight is a good fight the fight is a good fight a fight of faith and when christ returns a fight of faith and when christ returns i feel just the wonderful relief of i feel just the wonderful relief of saying the battle's over be it won or saying the battle's over be it won or lost the battle's over lost the battle's over and if we have that wonderful body the and if we have that wonderful body the glorious body of immortality what a glorious body of immortality what a wonderful thing it'll be wonderful thing it'll be just imagine 24 hours a day just imagine 24 hours a day serving the things that we love serving the things that we love successfully successfully throughout eternity throughout eternity the mind boggles doesn't it we really the mind boggles doesn't it we really can't conceive of that a little bit we can't conceive of that a little bit we can can wouldn't it be wonderful to have a week wouldn't it be wonderful to have a week without sleep serving the lord like a without sleep serving the lord like a perpetual ongoing bible school with paul perpetual ongoing bible school with paul there and christ here and joseph there there and christ here and joseph there and jacob there everybody all there all and jacob there everybody all there all you know viped up by the wonderful you know viped up by the wonderful things of the truth sharing the things of the truth sharing the fellowship with jesus christ no fellowship with jesus christ no weaknesses no occlusal divisions no weaknesses no occlusal divisions no backbiting backbiting it'd be wonderful to have that it'd be wonderful to have that and it's an aspiration we're going to and it's an aspiration we're going to hold in our spiritual mind's eye hold in our spiritual mind's eye and if we can hold that as a wonderful and if we can hold that as a wonderful thing to be gained it'll inspire us for thing to be gained it'll inspire us for the prize at the end and consider the prize at the end and consider therefore the sufferings of the present therefore the sufferings of the present are not to be compared with the glories are not to be compared with the glories that shall be revealed that shall be revealed all this is very wonderful stuff all this is very wonderful stuff it shows us that the mind of paul it shows us that the mind of paul was just so beautiful was just so beautiful and paul was the one who could say and paul was the one who could say the followers of me the followers of me even as i am of christ jesus and if only even as i am of christ jesus and if only we could do that we could do that just follow paul's mind but you know i just follow paul's mind but you know i love to read paul's writings because i love to read paul's writings because i feel they are so warmly disposed towards feel they are so warmly disposed towards me me i feel that he understands weakness i feel that he understands weakness and i feel in his presence that he and i feel in his presence that he understands me understands me of course he doesn't know me yet and i of course he doesn't know me yet and i don't know paul yet i mean i love paul i don't know paul yet i mean i love paul i know him through his writings and i'm know him through his writings and i'm looking forward to meeting him i really looking forward to meeting him i really am am but but i look forward to his words i look forward to his words hearing what he says hearing what he says listening to every word hanging on every listening to every word hanging on every word he says because every word here is word he says because every word here is the word of god divinely inspired for us the word of god divinely inspired for us we need every word he says we need every word he says and that's where the help and the and that's where the help and the strength comes from but yet brethren and strength comes from but yet brethren and sisters we can go sometimes a week sisters we can go sometimes a week without reading this word without reading this word and as we find out and as we find out you know seven days without the word you know seven days without the word makes one week makes one week and we find that we lose that word we and we find that we lose that word we miss out on that word miss out on that word we lose the strength we lose the strength we suddenly find all these flooded we suddenly find all these flooded fleshly thoughts take us over fleshly thoughts take us over because unless the mind is fighting them because unless the mind is fighting them they'll take us over as sure as anything they'll take us over as sure as anything because that's where we live we're because that's where we live we're attached to this earth put your mind on attached to this earth put your mind on things above our commonwealth belongs in things above our commonwealth belongs in heaven put your heart in your mind there heaven put your heart in your mind there and the rest of the body will not be so and the rest of the body will not be so hard to fight hard to fight anyway chapter four he turns our anyway chapter four he turns our attention now to look at a little attention now to look at a little problem problem he says therefore my brethren dearly he says therefore my brethren dearly beloved and longed for my joy and my beloved and longed for my joy and my crown can you imagine walking into the crown can you imagine walking into the memorial meeting a sunday morning memorial meeting a sunday morning greeting the brother at the door and greeting the brother at the door and saying that to him saying that to him you'd probably think you'd been out the you'd probably think you'd been out the night before or something see he meant those words he really meant those words those words do we feel those words do we feel those words if we don't feel them why don't we feel if we don't feel them why don't we feel them perhaps we just don't value our brothers and sisters enough and sisters enough and if that's the case then read read and if that's the case then read read and re-read what paul says about his and re-read what paul says about his brothers and sisters my brethren my brothers and sisters my brethren my dearly beloved long for you my joy dearly beloved long for you my joy you're my crowning glory he says you're my crowning glory he says stand fast in the lord there it is that stand fast in the lord there it is that military term again send your grounds military term again send your grounds fight for the truth fight for the truth be ready to ward off the encroaches of be ready to ward off the encroaches of the of the devil and the under the the of the devil and the under the influences of the world in every way to influences of the world in every way to try and break down the catalysis of the try and break down the catalysis of the word of god working within us word of god working within us so he warns so he warns now he says look brethren now he says look brethren i beseech you now sisters eurodius and i beseech you now sisters eurodius and cintiqi cintiqi two sisters in the meeting two sisters in the meeting that they be of the same mind in the that they be of the same mind in the lord lord now he actually names them now he actually names them and to do that is very important because and to do that is very important because he's actually brought out names here he's actually brought out names here which clearly identified two sisters and which clearly identified two sisters and has identified two sisters through has identified two sisters through history history by name now obviously these two sisters had a problem whatever that problem was we're problem whatever that problem was we're not told but what we do know is not told but what we do know is that led to division in the meeting that led to division in the meeting what was wrong what was wrong i think reading between the lines here i think reading between the lines here i would suggest that if the brethren had i would suggest that if the brethren had been doing their job in the ecclesia been doing their job in the ecclesia if there had been sufficient and proper if there had been sufficient and proper spiritual leadership taking place spiritual leadership taking place then this would not have gone out of then this would not have gone out of hand hand and we would not have had a two-sister and we would not have had a two-sister brawl going on in the meeting brawl going on in the meeting and i'm not suggesting though physically and i'm not suggesting though physically brawling but what we have is an brawling but what we have is an embattled situation that becomes so embattled situation that becomes so noteworthy that the apostle paul had to noteworthy that the apostle paul had to say these two sisters must get together say these two sisters must get together and stop the feuding whatever it is and stop the feuding whatever it is and this is very sad because the and this is very sad because the occlusion at philippi was a strong occlusion at philippi was a strong ecclesia but you must also remember too ecclesia but you must also remember too that this ecclesia was first founded that this ecclesia was first founded with a sister with a sister it was lydia the first sister it was lydia the first sister maybe this led to a problem here maybe this led to a problem here because the second sister was probably because the second sister was probably the woman who was taken by the spirit of the woman who was taken by the spirit of divination divination and these two sisters therefore became and these two sisters therefore became the beginning of the occlusion the beginning of the occlusion philippines to which was then out of the philippines to which was then out of the jailer and others jailer and others maybe some of the prisoners maybe some of the prisoners were added in that same day were added in that same day maybe this little bit of history had maybe this little bit of history had created a problem for the philippian created a problem for the philippian ecclesia they thought maybe the sisters ecclesia they thought maybe the sisters should because they were the foundation should because they were the foundation members of the seclesia they should have members of the seclesia they should have a more particular dominant position than a more particular dominant position than otherwise porter told the corinthian otherwise porter told the corinthian brethren and sisters and told timothy brethren and sisters and told timothy in regard to the sisters position in the in regard to the sisters position in the meeting meeting perhaps they had two dominant roles perhaps they had two dominant roles maybe again for the same reason the maybe again for the same reason the apostle paul said that what the sisters apostle paul said that what the sisters ought not to be in the teaching class of ought not to be in the teaching class of the occlusion and he makes that clear he the occlusion and he makes that clear he said why said why and it doesn't demean women i believe it and it doesn't demean women i believe it treats women in a very precious and a treats women in a very precious and a particular way particular way he says that the women he says that the women were more emotionally based in their were more emotionally based in their thinking than men and god made them that thinking than men and god made them that way because that's what the man needs now i'm being general here not specific i'm being general here not specific the man can be too harsh too cold too the man can be too harsh too cold too rational too scientific about it too rational too scientific about it too practical to the point where human practical to the point where human feelings are not respected feelings are not respected and i know a lot of brethren like that and i know a lot of brethren like that and probably you do too but yet the sister has that great capacity to events from the man capacity to events from the man his emotional response his emotional response can soften a man's temperament can soften a man's temperament bring him back to earth bring him back to earth bringing to consider the warm bringing to consider the warm environment of affection and love and environment of affection and love and care which often the man on his own care which often the man on his own forgets about forgets about he's too preoccupied with his rational he's too preoccupied with his rational objective objective to think about the sensitive feelings on to think about the sensitive feelings on route to achieving those objectives route to achieving those objectives his brother thomas once said that man on his brother thomas once said that man on his own his own is cold is cold and as frigid as the poles unless and as frigid as the poles unless his environment is humiliated by the his environment is humiliated by the warmth of a woman warmth of a woman i think god intended that i think god intended that and for that reason eve was deceived and for that reason eve was deceived adam was not adam was not remember that was the very point paul remember that was the very point paul made when he wrote to timothy he said made when he wrote to timothy he said the sister ought not to teach him the the sister ought not to teach him the occlusion because eve was deceived occlusion because eve was deceived adam was being in the transgression he adam was being in the transgression he wasn't deceived adam made a clear wasn't deceived adam made a clear conscious decision my wife or my god and conscious decision my wife or my god and he chose his wife he chose his wife he loved her surely he loved her but he he loved her surely he loved her but he put her before god put her before god and she took his hearts and she took his hearts to herself to herself and an emotional decision and an emotional decision he did choose his wife his heart he did choose his wife his heart his flesh his flesh his bones she came out of him his bones she came out of him eve however was seduced deceived by the eve however was seduced deceived by the rationalization of rationalization of of animal thinking that came to her from of animal thinking that came to her from a snake she was deceived a snake she was deceived and because of this difference in and because of this difference in capacity by which god made men and women capacity by which god made men and women he had declared what his wishes were he had declared what his wishes were through his apostle paul and now we go through his apostle paul and now we go out and find that we've got women out and find that we've got women priests being ordained all over the priests being ordained all over the place women rabbis and everything coming place women rabbis and everything coming up because the women's liberation says up because the women's liberation says man and woman are equal in every way and man and woman are equal in every way and history has never proved that history has never proved that and even jermaine grier didn't prove and even jermaine grier didn't prove that she went back and had a baby and that she went back and had a baby and kept things at home kept things at home so really the best position to adopt is so really the best position to adopt is that of scriptural guidance that of scriptural guidance and the women here have had a dominant and the women here have had a dominant position in the ecclesia position in the ecclesia and there was a division in the ecclesia and there was a division in the ecclesia because two women were divided because two women were divided and the brethren should not have and the brethren should not have permitted that to happen permitted that to happen if they were doing their job if they were doing their job that division would not be there that division would not be there again we might say bayrack did his job again we might say bayrack did his job deborah wouldn't have had to go out and deborah wouldn't have had to go out and leave them either and that's probably leave them either and that's probably true too true too and better to have a sister in command and better to have a sister in command of a situation than no one of a situation than no one and if no brethren are going to rise up and if no brethren are going to rise up to do the work of the lord then surely to do the work of the lord then surely the sister has to do something the sister has to do something and here we can't condemn these sisters and here we can't condemn these sisters but paul encourages them but paul encourages them i beseech you eurodius i beseech you eurodius and syntacy and syntacy get your mind together on the truth get your mind together on the truth because you are causing disturbance in because you are causing disturbance in the occlusion philippine and whether this was because there was a matriarchy emerging in the ecclesia much matriarchy emerging in the ecclesia much as a result of the foundation members of as a result of the foundation members of its meeting of course as we've mentioned its meeting of course as we've mentioned or whether it was just at the brethren or whether it was just at the brethren were were just too were were just too lazy lazy lazy lazy not considering carefully enough their not considering carefully enough their needs to be up front with the work of needs to be up front with the work of the truth not considering their the truth not considering their responsibilities that they were given responsibilities that they were given they had lots of love lots of warmth they had lots of love lots of warmth lots of emotion that's very good and lots of emotion that's very good and very true and very needful very true and very needful but there was a lack of brotherly but there was a lack of brotherly direction in this ecclesia that's what direction in this ecclesia that's what does come out does come out so now he exhorts them i had to treat so now he exhorts them i had to treat the also true yoke fellow help those the also true yoke fellow help those women which labored with me in the women which labored with me in the gospel gospel with clement also with others of my with clement also with others of my fellow laborers whose names are in the fellow laborers whose names are in the book of life he's got no doubt that book of life he's got no doubt that they're there what is he saying then i they're there what is he saying then i entreat the also true yoke fellow help entreat the also true yoke fellow help those women which labored with me in the those women which labored with me in the gospel they were not helping them why gospel they were not helping them why weren't they helping them the brethren weren't they helping them the brethren were falling down in their duties not enough care was being given therefore the ecclesia was suffering therefore the ecclesia was suffering some degree of disunity on this account some degree of disunity on this account but he says rejoice in the lords always but he says rejoice in the lords always and again i say red choice and again i say red choice comes back to his central theme whatever comes back to his central theme whatever problems are there problems are there fix them up fix them up deal with the issue don't let it fester deal with the issue don't let it fester away until it divides the whole ecclesia away until it divides the whole ecclesia up and makes wreck of the household of up and makes wreck of the household of god deal with the problems in the godly god deal with the problems in the godly way way paul's doing it here by letter paul's doing it here by letter these two sisters had to get their mind these two sisters had to get their mind together on the truth together on the truth they had to become they had to become true sisters in christ the brethren had true sisters in christ the brethren had to get in there more and manage the to get in there more and manage the situations they should have been doing situations they should have been doing and not let it get out of control and if and not let it get out of control and if they were helping the sisters more they were helping the sisters more perhaps the sisters didn't have to help perhaps the sisters didn't have to help themselves as much as they were themselves as much as they were and taking commands and taking commands the brethren were not in the front line the brethren were not in the front line as they should have been as they should have been but now he brings us to a lesson here but now he brings us to a lesson here which is very important in verse five which is very important in verse five let your moderation your gentleness be let your moderation your gentleness be known unto all men for the lord is very known unto all men for the lord is very near near let your gentleness be known let your gentleness be known that's not often what we exhort from is that's not often what we exhort from is it in the platforms of a sunday morning it in the platforms of a sunday morning we don't hear a lot of exhortation on we don't hear a lot of exhortation on being gentle do we gentleness being gentle do we gentleness gentleness here approximates the gentleness here approximates the expression that we have in the hebrew expression that we have in the hebrew hesed which is the word everywhere hesed which is the word everywhere translated as loving kindness translated as loving kindness not just not just kindness but loving kindness kindness but loving kindness and that's a very powerful term because and that's a very powerful term because that's the quality of god that's the quality of god loving kindness loving kindness it's a wonderful attribute because what it's a wonderful attribute because what it really highlights to us is it really highlights to us is that we're not only kind that we're not only kind but it's done with the most careful but it's done with the most careful loving loving sympathetic disposition sympathetic disposition and in that atmosphere and in that atmosphere you're able to generate a warmth of love you're able to generate a warmth of love and a wonderful response to the problem and a wonderful response to the problem you're trying to solve you're trying to solve do it with loving kindness do it with loving kindness and let that become really a reputation and let that become really a reputation belonging to the philippian ecclesia let belonging to the philippian ecclesia let your gentleness be known to all men show your gentleness be known to all men show it do it repute it it do it repute it and then and then your problems will be much solved your problems will be much solved but now he has a very meaningful message but now he has a very meaningful message when he talks them about anxiety this is when he talks them about anxiety this is a real message for the 20th century the a real message for the 20th century the latter half of it which we're in latter half of it which we're in be careful for nothing we've got in the be careful for nothing we've got in the words of our hymn haven't we be careful words of our hymn haven't we be careful for nothing the lord is at hand be for nothing the lord is at hand be careful for nothing means have no careful for nothing means have no great anxiety about this matter really that's the biggest killer today is anxiety is anxiety heaps and heaps of heart attacks heaps and heaps of heart attacks anxiety anxiety lots of cancer-related diseases lots of cancer-related diseases anxiety anxiety anxiety affects the condition of our anxiety affects the condition of our lives the conditions of our families the lives the conditions of our families the conditions of our minds towards other conditions of our minds towards other people anxiety means frustration people anxiety means frustration taking its long-term toll upon a person taking its long-term toll upon a person who can't trust and as scripture says we must trust we must trust rest rest in the lord in the lord and wait patiently for him and wait patiently for him if we can't do that if we can't do that we'll probably kill ourselves with we'll probably kill ourselves with anxiety anxiety anxiety has a long-term effect of anxiety has a long-term effect of breaking the body's metabolic system breaking the body's metabolic system down down it destroys it destroys the endocrine the hormone systems in the the endocrine the hormone systems in the body body disrupts all sorts of processes disrupts all sorts of processes fertilization is disrupted by it a fertilization is disrupted by it a normal pathway of the nervous normal pathway of the nervous balance of the body is disrupted by it balance of the body is disrupted by it the whole body works upon the fact that the whole body works upon the fact that we must have a flow of the right sort of we must have a flow of the right sort of hormones going through the system which hormones going through the system which feeds the body feeds the system and feeds the body feeds the system and makes all the organs work properly makes all the organs work properly and when we feed lots of adrenal and when we feed lots of adrenal cortisols into the body system that's cortisols into the body system that's you know coming from the adrenal gland you know coming from the adrenal gland lots of anxiety lots of anxiety we upset the balance of the body and it we upset the balance of the body and it causes diseases in all the essential causes diseases in all the essential organs organs a lot of cancer is very very critically a lot of cancer is very very critically related to anxiety related to anxiety in fact some diseases you can almost in fact some diseases you can almost predict come upon a person within 12 predict come upon a person within 12 months to 18 months after a particular months to 18 months after a particular problem that they feel anxious about and problem that they feel anxious about and a certain cancer grows a certain cancer grows so really it's very true as he says he so really it's very true as he says he rest in the lord don't be over anxious rest in the lord don't be over anxious over things wasn't it christ who said over things wasn't it christ who said the same thing all said take no anxious the same thing all said take no anxious thoughts for tomorrow thoughts for tomorrow sufficient unto the day is the evil sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof thereof why get all worried and stressed over why get all worried and stressed over things which are not in your control things which are not in your control anyway leave it in god's hands get on anyway leave it in god's hands get on and do what you can believe the lord is and do what you can believe the lord is behind what you're doing pray for his behind what you're doing pray for his guidance his care and his direction and guidance his care and his direction and go ahead in faith not doubting go ahead in faith not doubting but believing he's in control but believing he's in control you know the most wisest of our brethren you know the most wisest of our brethren i think particularly even here that the i think particularly even here that the wiser and older brethren here can tell wiser and older brethren here can tell us a lot about us a lot about anxiety anxiety i'll probably say yes you'll get all i'll probably say yes you'll get all anxious about that problem pray about it anxious about that problem pray about it and that's all you should do for the and that's all you should do for the present you can't do any more the present you can't do any more the opportunities of working are not open to opportunities of working are not open to you and wait for the lord to cure it and you and wait for the lord to cure it and you'll probably find a lot of problems you'll probably find a lot of problems to solve themselves overnight anyway you to solve themselves overnight anyway you got all anxious about it you got ready got all anxious about it you got ready for the next day to face an anxious for the next day to face an anxious problem all of a sudden it disappeared problem all of a sudden it disappeared through some unknown reason and caused through some unknown reason and caused to you leave it in god's hands that's tough isn't it hands that's tough isn't it if you worry you don't trust if you worry you don't trust if you trust you don't worry if you trust you don't worry learning that is a life's experience learning that is a life's experience but our senior brethren and sisters can but our senior brethren and sisters can tell us a lot about that and encourages tell us a lot about that and encourages a lot in it too a lot in it too don't be over anxious don't be over anxious simply trust in god simply trust in god and these things will work out for the and these things will work out for the good good look at paul he's in rome he's in prison look at paul he's in rome he's in prison things are black for the ecclesia of things are black for the ecclesia of gods the whole front gear assembly for gods the whole front gear assembly for the proclamation of the truth and the the proclamation of the truth and the frontline work of paul is all snarled frontline work of paul is all snarled down in a roman prison down in a roman prison that's what they thought that's what they thought that's what they wrote to paul he that's what they wrote to paul he couldn't go to spain he couldn't go couldn't go to spain he couldn't go elsewhere he wanted to go to all these elsewhere he wanted to go to all these other places the proclamation had other places the proclamation had stopped according to them but not stopped according to them but not according to god paul had gone into a according to god paul had gone into a hole in rome where god had wanted him hole in rome where god had wanted him there and a tremendously active there and a tremendously active athleisure came out of that athleisure came out of that and paul's example was a towering piece and paul's example was a towering piece of strength that we're still learning of strength that we're still learning from from years and years of accumulated teaching years and years of accumulated teaching and an exhortation comes out of and an exhortation comes out of philippians philippians paul's in prison writing it paul's in prison writing it the truth hasn't stopped working it's the truth hasn't stopped working it's just stopped on a new plateau just stopped on a new plateau until it rises to a new dimension until it rises to a new dimension sometimes brethren and sisters araclesia sometimes brethren and sisters araclesia seems to do that it goes into a plateau seems to do that it goes into a plateau stage we feel there's no progress the stage we feel there's no progress the numbers are dwindling we haven't got numbers are dwindling we haven't got young energetic families coming up well young energetic families coming up well okay that's a plateau but often you'll okay that's a plateau but often you'll find a few years down the track that find a few years down the track that ecclesia now turned around and a lot of ecclesia now turned around and a lot of young people have joined it it's now young people have joined it it's now splitting at the seams they need a splitting at the seams they need a bigger hall all these things happen bigger hall all these things happen but basically we must trust in the lord but basically we must trust in the lord and work on with good objectives and and work on with good objectives and noble insights into the work of god and noble insights into the work of god and trust that he will strengthen us which trust that he will strengthen us which he does he does the work doesn't stop because we don't the work doesn't stop because we don't seem to be doing a lot of progressive seem to be doing a lot of progressive work that we can statistically write out work that we can statistically write out as our achievements in the last 12 as our achievements in the last 12 months months work takes place sometimes quietly and work takes place sometimes quietly and humbly in a corner humbly in a corner where a great deal of catalysis is going where a great deal of catalysis is going on a new wave of being being spread a on a new wave of being being spread a new a new kind of institution of new a new kind of institution of resourcefulness is being bred and it'll resourcefulness is being bred and it'll break out and rise to greater heights break out and rise to greater heights than we ever thought possible than we ever thought possible just like the little grub that goes into just like the little grub that goes into the chrysalis the chrysalis hides itself for a while and then comes hides itself for a while and then comes out and flies in the heights of heavens out and flies in the heights of heavens as a new creature as a new creature that happens from time to time in our that happens from time to time in our experience in the truth experience in the truth so let's not reject the day of small so let's not reject the day of small things things let's value the greater and the higher let's value the greater and the higher noble objectives of the apostle paul and noble objectives of the apostle paul and follow his example follow his example now he turns our attention now to a very now he turns our attention now to a very important point of spiritual stasis important point of spiritual stasis by spiritual stasis we mean of spiritual by spiritual stasis we mean of spiritual standing standing in which we create like a homeostasis a in which we create like a homeostasis a spiritual homeostasis where we grow spiritual homeostasis where we grow together together and hold the floor and hold the floor and he shows us now the grounds upon and he shows us now the grounds upon what spiritual stasis can can be found what spiritual stasis can can be found and grow and grow it needs a right foundation to keep it it needs a right foundation to keep it going and now he gives it to us in what going and now he gives it to us in what he calls the peace he calls the peace of of god god now in effect when you look at the cause now in effect when you look at the cause of anxiety of anxiety the cause of anxiety is the cause of anxiety is that we believe we are out of control that we believe we are out of control we have a responsibility but we don't we have a responsibility but we don't have the power to fulfill it have the power to fulfill it that's what causes anxiety that's what causes anxiety you can often find a person a young man you can often find a person a young man in a new executive responsibility in his in a new executive responsibility in his job will have this problem job will have this problem he's given a lot of responsibility i he's given a lot of responsibility i want that sales record up by next year want that sales record up by next year or your head's on the line or your head's on the line and then he gets into the job he says and then he gets into the job he says sure we'll do that we'll fix that sure we'll do that we'll fix that problem he's got a responsibility to get problem he's got a responsibility to get the sales record up by next year it's the sales record up by next year it's got to be doubled got to be doubled and then he goes back and says right now and then he goes back and says right now i want some more sales well sorry we've i want some more sales well sorry we've got no money for more salesmen well i've got no money for more salesmen well i've got to have somebody well you just have got to have somebody well you just have to work harder yourself to work harder yourself okay okay typical situation in in business typical situation in in business institutions institutions no money but there's the objective no money but there's the objective so here's a young executive who says i so here's a young executive who says i must achieve but i haven't got the power must achieve but i haven't got the power to achieve it but i got the to achieve it but i got the responsibility to achieve it responsibility to achieve it that's a typical anxiety attack syndrome that's a typical anxiety attack syndrome we find in our lives in the truth and we find in our lives in the truth and you know one way we find it too is that you know one way we find it too is that we feel responsible for other people in we feel responsible for other people in the meeting it's good to feel the meeting it's good to feel responsible responsible but it's not good to feel over consumed but it's not good to feel over consumed with governing the lives of other with governing the lives of other brethren and sisters brethren and sisters we may think we think they we may think we think they that they should be doing this they that they should be doing this they should be doing that they should be should be doing that they should be doing different things we want to doing different things we want to organize everybody and tell everybody organize everybody and tell everybody what to do what to do and all of a sudden we find people don't and all of a sudden we find people don't want to do what we want them to do maybe we don't pay them enough money but of course in the truth it's all but of course in the truth it's all voluntary isn't it and we can get voluntary isn't it and we can get reactions and counter reactions very reactions and counter reactions very easily by going about the things the easily by going about the things the wrong way and not wrong way and not giving enough love and care and giving enough love and care and consideration for what the other person consideration for what the other person might think is right too we think we're might think is right too we think we're the managers we know what should be done the managers we know what should be done and we want to govern others to do it and we want to govern others to do it and all of a sudden we find hey these and all of a sudden we find hey these brothers and sisters are not doing what brothers and sisters are not doing what i ask them to do should they do what you asked them to do well they've got their own salvation to well they've got their own salvation to work out work out we should all try and work centrally to we should all try and work centrally to the work of the truth but we should not the work of the truth but we should not try and organize the lives the private try and organize the lives the private lives of other brethren and sisters lives of other brethren and sisters that's not our task that's not our task some brethren get a little bit off some brethren get a little bit off course and they try to do that too much course and they try to do that too much we must all have a voluntary willful we must all have a voluntary willful skillful hand to put to the work because skillful hand to put to the work because it's coming from us remember that every it's coming from us remember that every person who brought things for the person who brought things for the tabernacle when it was built in moses tabernacle when it was built in moses day had to bring it from a willing day had to bring it from a willing hearts hearts if they didn't want to give it moses did if they didn't want to give it moses did not want it not want it god's the same god's the same unless we bring a willing offering here unless we bring a willing offering here in the morning in the morning he doesn't want us he doesn't want us he'd prefer we stayed in bed till half he'd prefer we stayed in bed till half past 11 past 11 then bring along an offering which is then bring along an offering which is lame and blinds and mames and the worst lame and blinds and mames and the worst we can give to god we can give to god he doesn't want that offering if that's he doesn't want that offering if that's the kind of offerings the kind of offerings god god's getting says the prophet close god god's getting says the prophet close the doors of the temple and don't let the doors of the temple and don't let them in them in god doesn't want that god doesn't want that unless our offerings come from our unless our offerings come from our hearts willingly voluntarily it's no use hearts willingly voluntarily it's no use to god nor used to the ecclesia and to god nor used to the ecclesia and that's the reason why paul is reminding that's the reason why paul is reminding us don't be anxious about things and the us don't be anxious about things and the truth over this truth over this why we can't control other brethren and why we can't control other brethren and sisters lives it's not for us to do so sisters lives it's not for us to do so and often brethren get anxiety attacks and often brethren get anxiety attacks because they have a responsibility they because they have a responsibility they take a great responsibility upon take a great responsibility upon themselves for a pleasure work and then themselves for a pleasure work and then they find they can't do it they find they can't do it and they go into anxiety attacks and they go into anxiety attacks anxiety attacks are really common maybe anxiety attacks are really common maybe you've had some yourself you get these you've had some yourself you get these panic attacks panic attacks you the hyperventilation you start to you the hyperventilation you start to shake you know that's a typical anxiety shake you know that's a typical anxiety attack and we get it because we build up attack and we get it because we build up and up and up till the tension in the and up and up till the tension in the spring becomes so so tight that the spring becomes so so tight that the spring breaks temporarily and we get a spring breaks temporarily and we get a reaction to it reaction to it we're over anxious we're over anxious rest in the lord rest in the lord wait patiently for him and how do we get wait patiently for him and how do we get this this peace of god peace of god now the peace of god really means now the peace of god really means that in the midst of the battlegrounds that in the midst of the battlegrounds we can relax in the lord we can relax in the lord laboring furiously as a warrior but laboring furiously as a warrior but saying saying the outcome does not concern me the outcome does not concern me god's in charge of the outcome i leave god's in charge of the outcome i leave it in his hands it in his hands now that's the capacity we need to now that's the capacity we need to develop develop the outcomes in the hands of yahweh let the outcomes in the hands of yahweh let us labor onto the best of the wisdom and us labor onto the best of the wisdom and insight we have seeking his guidance and insight we have seeking his guidance and his care and his direction all we can his care and his direction all we can get on with us do the work get on with us do the work the lord will fall it out as he wants it the lord will fall it out as he wants it to go to go trust in that trust in that after all it's not the achievements we after all it's not the achievements we make with our own hands make with our own hands it's what he does in us it's what he does in us that achieves his victories that achieves his victories not what we achieve not what we achieve therefore the peace of god therefore the peace of god is that wonderful inner contentment that is that wonderful inner contentment that says says yahweh is in heaven yahweh is in heaven i'm upon earth i'm upon earth let us keep silence before him and rest let us keep silence before him and rest in him in him wait patiently wait patiently for the solutions that he has in mind for the solutions that he has in mind there's the peace of god there's the peace of god wonderful peace wonderful peace and those brothers and sisters that have and those brothers and sisters that have learned that learned that they last a lot longer they last a lot longer they do a lot more on the truth they do a lot more on the truth and they spread a wonderful calming and they spread a wonderful calming nature nature to sometimes the tumult in the house of to sometimes the tumult in the house of the lord the lord well he tells us about how to achieve well he tells us about how to achieve this verse heaven when the peace of god this verse heaven when the peace of god which passes all understanding it shall which passes all understanding it shall keep your hearts and minds through jesus keep your hearts and minds through jesus christ a peace which is superior to christ a peace which is superior to every human state of meditation every human state of meditation passes our understanding passes our understanding and it passes the understanding of and it passes the understanding of people who look upon a christodolphy in people who look upon a christodolphy in the midst of a battlefield and they're the midst of a battlefield and they're saying why aren't you worried about saying why aren't you worried about what's going to happen and the christian what's going to happen and the christian offense is no no no not at all god's in offense is no no no not at all god's in control doesn't matter who wins this war control doesn't matter who wins this war the lord's hand is in the lord's hand is in control much the same as when there's a control much the same as when there's a furious war about to erupt in the middle furious war about to erupt in the middle east or something happens which east or something happens which threatens the world security and peace threatens the world security and peace and and everybody's running around with and and everybody's running around with anxious faces the christian says anxious faces the christian says terrific it's happening terrific it's happening because it means because it means the crisis is getting closer to christ's the crisis is getting closer to christ's return return and our peace passes their understanding and our peace passes their understanding we've got to have the peace that we we've got to have the peace that we share too in the ecclesial ambat share too in the ecclesial ambat well he says finally brethren let's look well he says finally brethren let's look at the foundations of this piece of god at the foundations of this piece of god finally brethren whatsoever things are finally brethren whatsoever things are true true the beginning of eight qualities the beginning of eight qualities of divine character that paul appeals to of divine character that paul appeals to whatsoever things are true whatsoever whatsoever things are true whatsoever things are honorable things are honorable honorable honorable whatsoever things are just whatsoever things are just where justice and righteousness exist where justice and righteousness exist whatsoever things are pure whatsoever things are pure unassailed and impregnated with the with unassailed and impregnated with the with the decay of man's inventions whatsoever the decay of man's inventions whatsoever things are things are amiable amiable loving and caring loving and caring whatsoever things are of whatsoever things are of good reputation good reputation of kindly speech of kindly speech if there is any virtue if there is any virtue goodness goodness if there's to be any praise if there's to be any praise attentively consider attentively consider meditate upon these things meditate upon these things those things which ye have learned and those things which ye have learned and received and heard and seen in me do received and heard and seen in me do them them that's why he says be followers of me that's why he says be followers of me and he says the peace of god and he says the peace of god shall be with you isn't that wonderful shall be with you isn't that wonderful the peace of god the peace of god shall be with you that's how you shall be with you that's how you establish it establish it so here was the apostle paul so here was the apostle paul he's going back towards jerusalem on his he's going back towards jerusalem on his third journey he all the way back third journey he all the way back he was passing by the ecclesias and he was passing by the ecclesias and brethren and sisters were coming out who brethren and sisters were coming out who had the power of the holy spirit in had the power of the holy spirit in prophecy and they were warning paul prophecy and they were warning paul you're going back to face chains in you're going back to face chains in jerusalem don't go jerusalem don't go agabus the prophetess comes and says agabus the prophetess comes and says look with the same rags with which i buy look with the same rags with which i buy and bind your arms up paul this is going and bind your arms up paul this is going to happen to you when you go to to happen to you when you go to jerusalem says paul brethren i must go jerusalem says paul brethren i must go paul don't go if you go you're going to paul don't go if you go you're going to be bound up they're probably going to be bound up they're probably going to kill you and then where will the truth kill you and then where will the truth of god be who's going to be the vanguard of god be who's going to be the vanguard for the proclamation of the gospel then for the proclamation of the gospel then they warned him everywhere they warned him everywhere paul gets to the end the last place he paul gets to the end the last place he leaves approximately ephesus on his leaves approximately ephesus on his third journey they say the same thing to third journey they say the same thing to him again he says brethren him again he says brethren why do you keep breaking my heart like why do you keep breaking my heart like this this you weep upon my shoulder you mourn over you weep upon my shoulder you mourn over circumstances that before me in circumstances that before me in jerusalem look jerusalem look pray brethren that i'll be able to pray brethren that i'll be able to escape these bonds escape these bonds pray that i might not for my benefit but pray that i might not for my benefit but to keep the work going to keep the work going he knew what was going to happen in he knew what was going to happen in jerusalem jerusalem did this lead to an anxiety attack did this lead to an anxiety attack did this lead to paul to take a quick did this lead to paul to take a quick trip off to spain somewhere find a boat trip off to spain somewhere find a boat for spain get out of it for spain get out of it to do a jonah to do a jonah you know get out of the works so you can you know get out of the works so you can be safe and secure and not be put into be safe and secure and not be put into any threatening situation any threatening situation this wasn't paul's work this wasn't paul's work paul went off but you see paul paul went off but you see paul had that peace of god had that peace of god he knew the lord was in command he knew the lord was in command and even in that one moment when he was and even in that one moment when he was you know incarcerated in the prison in you know incarcerated in the prison in caesarea the lord appeared to him and caesarea the lord appeared to him and said paul said paul be of good cheer i'm with you sometimes brethren sisters we could do with that couldn't we we could do with that couldn't we you know when we feel really against the you know when we feel really against the wall we're battling things that wall we're battling things that collegially spiritual whatever it is we collegially spiritual whatever it is we feel embattled feel embattled and sometimes in those moments of and sometimes in those moments of depression when problems overcome us and depression when problems overcome us and we feel so depressed so why is it going we feel so depressed so why is it going like this i wish i was dead have you like this i wish i was dead have you ever said they never thought that ever said they never thought that i wish i was dead i wish i was dead i think most of us have i think most of us have at one time or other had that thought at one time or other had that thought i wish i wish i was asleep i was asleep dead away from all this anxiety and pain dead away from all this anxiety and pain and sorrow and sorrow it's a very human wish it's a very human wish and often at those moments and often at those moments we would just wish the lord jesus christ we would just wish the lord jesus christ would break through the silence would break through the silence and say and say brother i'm with you brother i'm with you sister i'm with you everything's all sister i'm with you everything's all right it's going to be right but you know oftentimes we might not have the lord oftentimes we might not have the lord jesus christ breaking the silence or any jesus christ breaking the silence or any other angel from heaven other angel from heaven but i tell you what but i tell you what at those moments it would be very nice at those moments it would be very nice if some brother or sister if some brother or sister broke through the silence and said that broke through the silence and said that wouldn't sometimes we don't know each other well enough enough to know when we are suffering and when to know when we are suffering and when we're not we're not we're too distant we're too distant too preoccupied with our own worlds our too preoccupied with our own worlds our own pre-considerations we don't tend to see when others are troubled troubled under anxiety under anxiety in need of a little comforts in need of a little comforts just a little sympathy just a little sympathy care care an embrace a warm kiss a warm hug an embrace a warm kiss a warm hug just to help say yes we know what you're just to help say yes we know what you're going through going through the lord's in control don't worry see paul had that inner peace that gave him that monumental strength by which he him that monumental strength by which he gave peace in the hearts of the whole gave peace in the hearts of the whole ecclesial world at this time to those in ecclesial world at this time to those in philippi he gives it again he sends his philippi he gives it again he sends his dear friend to them epaphroditus he dear friend to them epaphroditus he sends his right hand man timothy unto sends his right hand man timothy unto them to comfort them them to comfort them they needed it too and they were trying they needed it too and they were trying to comfort paul and here's paul in the to comfort paul and here's paul in the midst of his crisis and he sends them midst of his crisis and he sends them the help the help what a wonderful selfless what a wonderful selfless spiritual mind he had so he talks to us about the peace of god and gives us a very important and gives us a very important proverb proverb in verse 11 in verse 11 i have learned in whatsoever state i am i have learned in whatsoever state i am there with to be contents there with to be contents oh boy isn't that important i just want to learn this learn learn to be to be content content and though paul said himself look i'm in and though paul said himself look i'm in the twixtor straight here in chapter one the twixtor straight here in chapter one he said i will have a desire to be with he said i will have a desire to be with christ but it's better if i'm in the christ but it's better if i'm in the flesh i can continue to serve you once flesh i can continue to serve you once then then i'll continue laboring i'll continue laboring having all my problems having all my problems overcome me having all the sufferings i overcome me having all the sufferings i go through if i go through these for you go through if i go through these for you it's better for you that i stay alive it's better for you that i stay alive but i'm happy to die but i'm happy to die i'm happy to see the executioner do his i'm happy to see the executioner do his work because the next moment is christ work because the next moment is christ is here the one thing i longed for is here the one thing i longed for he had a wonderful mind a wonderful he had a wonderful mind a wonderful attitude attitude that's how he saw it that's how he saw it paul had learned paul had learned how to be elevated he'd learned how to how to be elevated he'd learned how to be praised and he'd learned how to be be praised and he'd learned how to be vilified with contempt vilified with contempt would slander against him would slander against him he'd learn both he'd learn both he could live under both he could live under both and with whatever state he was in at the and with whatever state he was in at the time he was contents time he was contents that this was the lord's doing that this was the lord's doing not an accident of history that he was not an accident of history that he was the unfortunate victim of always the unfortunate victim of always notwithstanding divine prominence notwithstanding divine prominence he'd learned to be content he'd learned to be content now he gives us a rather beautiful now he gives us a rather beautiful message in verse 12. message in verse 12. he says i know both how to be a based he says i know both how to be a based and i know how to abounds and i know how to abounds everywhere and in all things i am everywhere and in all things i am instructed both to be full to be hungry instructed both to be full to be hungry to abound to suffer need i can do all to abound to suffer need i can do all things through christ things through christ who strengthens me and you know that the description there i am instructed i am instructed is a definition of the word mystery in is a definition of the word mystery in the bible in the new testament we find the bible in the new testament we find this word mystery frequently used like this word mystery frequently used like the mystery of ungodliness the mystery the mystery of ungodliness the mystery of babylon the mystery of the nations of babylon the mystery of the nations the mystery of god calling out the the mystery of god calling out the gentiles for his name the mystery of gentiles for his name the mystery of godliness this word mystery mysterio godliness this word mystery mysterio means a sacred secret means a sacred secret known only by the initiated person known only by the initiated person so you're inducted into a secret that so you're inducted into a secret that god gives you and only the initiated god gives you and only the initiated understandings understandings and that's the word he uses here i am and that's the word he uses here i am instructed instructed it's the same base word mysterion it's the same base word mysterion i have been inducted into this sacred i have been inducted into this sacred secret secret i know how to abound i know how to abound i know how to be a beast and he's really i know how to be a beast and he's really saying not many people know the secret saying not many people know the secret the saints of gods the gods are the only the saints of gods the gods are the only ones who know it not many know this ones who know it not many know this secret it's a very valid and a wonderful secret it's a very valid and a wonderful and a precious piece of information and and a precious piece of information and it's only known by the initiated into it's only known by the initiated into the truth who love and know the things the truth who love and know the things of christ he says i am initiated of christ he says i am initiated i understand i understand do you know the secret do you know the secret do you understand the sacred secrets do you understand the sacred secrets if you do if you do then you'll know how to be elevated then you'll know how to be elevated without pride without pride and you'll know how to be crushed and you'll know how to be crushed without abject oppression without abject oppression you'll be content you'll be content with what god gives you with what god gives you and isn't this a wonderful word coming and isn't this a wonderful word coming from the apostle paul here because here from the apostle paul here because here he is in prison in rome in chains he is in prison in rome in chains awaiting a possible execution awaiting a possible execution and is rejoicing and is rejoicing in the peace of god that passes in the peace of god that passes understanding content to be in whatever understanding content to be in whatever state god has given to him because he's state god has given to him because he's been initiated into that sacred secret been initiated into that sacred secret he knows how to go forward he knows how he knows how to go forward he knows how to go backward he knows how to be hungry to go backward he knows how to be hungry he knows how to be full he knows how to he knows how to be full he knows how to suffer suffer he understands it suffering is not the he understands it suffering is not the evidence of god's rejection evidence of god's rejection it's the testimony of his love it's the testimony of his love he chastens every child that he receives he chastens every child that he receives and sometimes we reject his chastening and sometimes we reject his chastening no chasting for the present seems to be no chasting for the present seems to be a joyous thing but a joyous thing but afterwards afterwards breeds the peaceable fruits of breeds the peaceable fruits of righteousness righteousness the fruits of that which is true honest the fruits of that which is true honest just pure just pure amiable good virtuous meditate on those amiable good virtuous meditate on those things says paul things says paul if you meditate on all your problems if you meditate on all your problems you never get to sleep at nights you never get to sleep at nights and it's better to count sheep than do and it's better to count sheep than do that that but rather but rather count your blessings while you may count your blessings while you may and that sends us to sleep without and that sends us to sleep without anxiety without sleeping tablets no anxiety without sleeping tablets no cerapex no valium we don't need the cerapex no valium we don't need the drugs we need to rest in the lord drugs we need to rest in the lord count our blessings count our blessings count the wonderful gift of the truth count the wonderful gift of the truth think about the peace of god which think about the peace of god which passes understanding and then we will be passes understanding and then we will be fine because as he says to us it's vain fine because as he says to us it's vain to sit up late to sit up late to eat the bread of sorrows to eat the bread of sorrows we can all do that anxious about we can all do that anxious about everything no says the the wonderful everything no says the the wonderful psalmist it's vain to do that psalmist it's vain to do that because god giveth his beloved sleep don't be anxious be trusting be trusting don't be depressed and overwrought with don't be depressed and overwrought with problems in their presence rest in the problems in their presence rest in the lord and wait patiently for him and lord and wait patiently for him and count your blessings while you may count your blessings while you may wonderful words from paul wonderful words from paul words that our community desperately words that our community desperately needs today i can do all things through christ who strengthens me through christ who strengthens me and if that's the attitude we have and if that's the attitude we have we shall we shall build mountains we shall change great build mountains we shall change great things things because the lord is behind us and who because the lord is behind us and who can stand against us can stand against us so he directs his attention to his so he directs his attention to his beloved philippian brethren and sisters beloved philippian brethren and sisters now you philippians know also verse 15 now you philippians know also verse 15 that in the beginning of the gospel when that in the beginning of the gospel when i departed from macedonia no church or i departed from macedonia no church or ecclesia communicated with me with me ecclesia communicated with me with me concerning giving and receiving but you concerning giving and receiving but you only you were the only ones who were only you were the only ones who were there concerning concerned about the there concerning concerned about the giving and receiving of the brotherhood giving and receiving of the brotherhood for even in thessalonica you you sent for even in thessalonica you you sent once and again unto my necessity that once and again unto my necessity that even when he was in thessalonia and the even when he was in thessalonia and the thessalonian brethren should have looked thessalonian brethren should have looked after him they still sent gifts unto after him they still sent gifts unto paul they were constantly concerned paul they were constantly concerned about paul and not because i desired a about paul and not because i desired a gift says paul gift says paul but i desire fruits that may abound to but i desire fruits that may abound to your accounts your accounts i don't want the gifts i don't want the gifts but i tell you what but i tell you what i love the fact that you want to give it i love the fact that you want to give it to me to me because that means you are loving you because that means you are loving you are caring you are outgoing you are are caring you are outgoing you are trusting trusting that's what i love to see i don't want that's what i love to see i don't want the gift i want the fruits of your open the gift i want the fruits of your open heart to come forth heart to come forth that's how he puts it that's how he puts it and he says but he says and he says but he says i have all and abound i'm full he says i have all and abound i'm full he says i've got everything god wants for me i've got everything god wants for me having received the epaphroditus the having received the epaphroditus the thing which you sent from you it was thing which you sent from you it was like an odor it was like a sweet like an odor it was like a sweet smelling sacrifice acceptable well smelling sacrifice acceptable well pleasing to god it was like you took pleasing to god it was like you took through a great truck full of wonderful through a great truck full of wonderful odors of the on the altar of incense and odors of the on the altar of incense and you offer them up to god as your prayers you offer them up to god as your prayers and a sweet smelling savor to god well and a sweet smelling savor to god well pleasing it's like you took a whole pleasing it's like you took a whole semi-trailer load of of cows and sheep semi-trailer load of of cows and sheep along and offered them on the altar of along and offered them on the altar of god god as your demonstration of sacrifice as your demonstration of sacrifice that's what it's like that's what it's like what you've done for me what you've done for me has made me so happy has made me so happy i've seen the evidence of your love at i've seen the evidence of your love at work work but nevertheless he says verse 19 but my but nevertheless he says verse 19 but my god shall supply all your needs too i god shall supply all your needs too i know that you have needs as well as me know that you have needs as well as me according to the riches of the glory by according to the riches of the glory by jesus christ jesus christ god will look after us god will look after us never worry don't be over anxious i never worry don't be over anxious i might be in prison you may be under might be in prison you may be under difficult circumstances work together in difficult circumstances work together in harmony in the brotherhood work for the harmony in the brotherhood work for the same mind as christ strive for that same mind as christ strive for that unity and the peace of god and the unity and the peace of god and the wonderful fruits of the spirit to work wonderful fruits of the spirit to work through your lives through your lives and then god will give us everything we and then god will give us everything we need every little thing we need will be need every little thing we need will be there there what a wonderful testimony a wonderful what a wonderful testimony a wonderful confidence he has confidence he has knowing knowing that god was there that god was there the peace of god that passes the peace of god that passes understanding understanding and so in conclusion he says and so in conclusion he says now unto god now unto god our father our father he's always there he's always there may there be glory unto him for the ages may there be glory unto him for the ages of the ages of the ages coming up of course the kingdom age the coming up of course the kingdom age the ages of the ages may his glory shine ages of the ages may his glory shine throughout this earth when the kingdom throughout this earth when the kingdom of god fills this earth as the waters of god fills this earth as the waters cover the seas that was what was on the cover the seas that was what was on the mind of paul when the glory of god fills mind of paul when the glory of god fills the earth in the ages of ages the earth in the ages of ages that day would be coming christ would be that day would be coming christ would be returning soon returning soon salute every one of the saints in christ salute every one of the saints in christ jesus jesus the brethren which are with me they all the brethren which are with me they all greet you every brother in rome here all greet you every brother in rome here all the brethren and sisters in rome we're the brethren and sisters in rome we're all sending you our love all sending you our love isn't that beautiful that that takes isn't that beautiful that that takes place place the love is sent the spontaneous warm the love is sent the spontaneous warm greetings they go and all the saints greetings they go and all the saints salute you too but chiefly salute you too but chiefly they that are fellow prisoners with me they that are fellow prisoners with me in the praetorium guard house in the praetorium guard house caesar's palace caesar's palace isn't that beautiful isn't that beautiful of course the ecclesia of philippi of course the ecclesia of philippi founded in a jail founded in a jail now from the jail of rome now from the jail of rome comes comforting stimulating spiritual comes comforting stimulating spiritual greetings greetings to the ecclesia at philippi to the ecclesia at philippi and the grace of our lord jesus christ and the grace of our lord jesus christ be with you all wonderful words comforting words comforting words spiritual and sincere heart speaking spiritual and sincere heart speaking and it'll be a wonderful time brethren and it'll be a wonderful time brethren and sisters and sisters when christ returns when christ returns and we have the opportunity and we have the opportunity if god's grace is upon us can you imagine the scene of paul reunited with all his brothers and reunited with all his brothers and sisters that he knows so well he wept over them his bowels yearned for them his bowels yearned for them when he's reunited with them all when he's reunited with them all imagine paul imagine paul imagine paul imagine paul and stephen looking at each other and stephen looking at each other the one whose murder he had helped to the one whose murder he had helped to conspire imagine that scene stephen looking up stephen looking up when he had looked up previously to see when he had looked up previously to see paul there saul there holding the paul there saul there holding the garments as the official witness of the garments as the official witness of the sanhedrin council that this death sanhedrin council that this death sentence was executed efficiently sentence was executed efficiently stephen looks up remember stephen's stephen looks up remember stephen's prayer prayer lay not this sin lay not this sin to their accounts to their accounts like christ said father forgive them like christ said father forgive them and there and there one man one man was forgiven one man came out of that was forgiven one man came out of that death death one man turned the roman world upside one man turned the roman world upside down down he witnessed the death of stephen he witnessed the death of stephen and stephen prayed for and stephen prayed for him you imagine when stephen and paul him you imagine when stephen and paul face each other in the kingdom imagine how paul's going to feel when he sees stephen sees stephen i murdered you and yet the grace of god has been so great has been so great that i that i i saw i saw the christian hunter the christian hunter i'm here today the kingdom of god i'm here today the kingdom of god incredible thinking about it and what is incredible thinking about it and what is stephen going to think stephen going to think he won't be saying what are you doing he won't be saying what are you doing here stephen will be saying oh i never realized the grace of god was so i never realized the grace of god was so abundant and when paul comes and talks with christ and when paul looks back he takes hold of the hand he takes hold of the hand of abraham of abraham he takes hold of the arm of isaac he takes hold of the arm of isaac he embraces jacob he embraces jacob and he even kisses benjamin whose tribe and he even kisses benjamin whose tribe he belonged to can you imagine the scene of paul's bowels moving on that occasion paul's bowels moving on that occasion what enormous love what enormous love will fill this earth in that day will fill this earth in that day and if the grace of yahweh is upon me to and if the grace of yahweh is upon me to be there on that day i just be there on that day i just look forward look forward to going to paul to going to paul and embracing paul and embracing paul he might even be smaller than me he might even be smaller than me he was called paul the little he was called paul the little that's what the name meant paul the that's what the name meant paul the little he selected the name paul rather little he selected the name paul rather than saul that means change than saul that means change chosen of god he selected paul meaning chosen of god he selected paul meaning little little and i just love to hug paul and say and i just love to hug paul and say thank you paul thank you paul for everything you wrote for everything you wrote because your example because your example has helped me come here has helped me come here this day to the kingdom of god