Proper Perspective

Introduction

Philippi is located in Macedonia (Modern day Greece). Philippi was named after Philip II of Macedon (the father of Alexander the Great). It had a population of 10 to 15 thousand residents. There were no short of religion in this city when Paul and Silas arrived with the Roman imperial cult (centered upon the veneration of the Caesar) was especially prominent (Longenecker, p.196).

This community was not wealthy but did give generously to Paul in his missions, 2 Corinthians 8:1-4 “Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.”

Another place Paul mentions their generosity is in his letter to the Romans 15:26 “For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem.” Even though they had little they gave much.

Philippi was part of Paul second missionary journey when he took Silas with him. He also took Timothy on this journey with him as we read in Acts 16. On there way through the Galatian Region the Holy Spirit forbid them to speak a word in Asia. While in Troas Paul has a vision by a man pleading for him to come to Macedonia, Acts 16:9-10 “And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.”

We know that Paul’s first convert is a woman named Lydia (14) and her household. They casted out a demon of a slave girl (18) which made the master upset because his profit was lost. They had them brought to the magistrate and thrown into jail. Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns when there became a great earthquake that caused the doors to open and chains to unfasten. The guard seeing what had happened drew his sword to kill himself but Paul spoke up and forbid him not to. The jailer and his household was converted.

So why is Paul penning this to the Saints of Philippi? To encourage them? To instruct them? It was to do both and to warn them about those who were preaching out of selfish ambition. In essence Paul is telling them, “The Proper Perspective keeps the Church on task and on target.”

So how does the proper perspective keep the Church on target and on task? Its done in three ways: Difficult Circumstance, Difficult People, and Difficult Emotions.

Body:

1. The Proper Perspective Keeps the Church on Task and on Target When Facing Difficult Circumstances (12-14).

We all face difficult circumstances in our lives. Probably daily we have some kind of difficult circumstance come up. It’s life, right? We live in a world that is broken, it has been that way, well, for a while now. We can go back to the fall of man, correct? But, can we say we face difficult circumstances as Paul faced them? -Not to say your problems are not significant.-

Paul was blinded (Acts 9:8 “Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.”) Plots to kill him ( Acts 9:23 “Now after many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him.”), snuck out of town (Acts 9:25), stoned, shipwrecked , snake bitten, thrown into prison, beaten, put in chains with Roman soldiers around the clock, and eventually beheaded just to name a few. So, yeah, not sure I want to try and top this guy. He faced some difficult circumstances, correct?

Jesus said it led to opportunities Luke 21:12–13 “But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake. But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony.”

Peter in front of Caiaphas and Annas

Paul in front of the Council, Felix, Festus, Agrippa, and eventually in front of the Council in Rome.

Contact unbelievers Acts 16:22-32; when difficult circumstances arise (and they will) God will use them to reach people and groups of people you would not normally get to witness to.

Motivates Fellow Believers Acts 4:31 “And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.” (They were just threaten and released and the believers had prayed with Peter and John).

Difficult Circumstances could be for protection later Genesis 46:4–7 “I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again; and Joseph will put his hand on your eyes.” Then Jacob arose from Beersheba; and the sons of Israel carried their father Jacob, their little ones, and their wives, in the carts which Pharaoh had sent to carry him. So they took their livestock and their goods, which they had acquired in the land of Canaan, and went to Egypt, Jacob and all his descendants with him. His sons and his sons’ sons, his daughters and his sons’ daughters, and all his descendants he brought with him to Egypt.”

If Joseph did not have the proper perspective, he could have succumbed to the difficult circumstances his brothers put him in. Instead, he was faithful to keep God as his focus and saw God’s plan play out to save his family.

2. The proper perspective keeps the church on task and on target when facing difficult people.

Difficult People will always be amongst believers. Jesus warned us in His parable about the Tares and Wheats Matthew 12:24-36.

Difficult People in our family. David dealt with this in his family with his son Absalom 2 Samuel 15.

Difficult people with our inner circle. Jesus dealt with this amongst His disciples; Judas Iscariot betrayed Him Matthew 26:47 “And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people.” Peter denied Him Mark 14:66–72 “Now as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came. And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with Jesus of Nazareth.” But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are saying.” And he went out on the porch, and a rooster crowed. And the servant girl saw him again, and began to say to those who stood by, “This is one of them.” But he denied it again. And a little later those who stood by said to Peter again, “Surely you are one of them; for you are a Galilean, and your speech shows it.” Then he began to curse and swear, “I do not know this Man of whom you speak!” A second time the rooster crowed. Then Peter called to mind the word that Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And when he thought about it, he wept.”

All one needs to do to understand difficult people is to look in the mirror.

I can give my daughters a simple straight forward task, which will turn into a catastrophe. They will become difficult from that point. If I lose my proper perspective of teaching them, I lose my opportunity to help mold them into what God has called them to do as a father.

At our job we deal with difficult people. Do we stop doing the task because of these people? No. If we did, we would be fired. We keep the proper perspective and learned how to deal with those difficult people. The same is true within the church.

3. The proper perspective keeps the church on task and on target when facing difficult emotions.

Emotions are natural they come from God.

Jesus Showed emotions.

Anger, when He drove out the money changer, Matthew 21:12 “Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves.”

Showed compassion with the lame, the sick, and those who were demon possessed.

He also faced difficult emotion in the Garden of Gethsemane when He was deeply grieved Matt. 26:36-46.

A parent face’s difficult emotions when their child is fighting a terminal ill disease

Their spouse is dying

A Church face difficult emotions when they lose a pastor, or they lose a one of their members.

Application

Story about the Japanese Rice Farmer

Difficult circumstances will always be upon the church but if your perspective is Christ you shall overcome them. 1 John 5:4 “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”

Loving people is keeping Christ as the center of our love for them. He is our prize, our focus, and our attention.

Emotions cannot be the basis of our decisions but the Joy that is found in Christ which leads us to the Cross.