The Handbook to Christian Disposition
Notes
Transcript
Good morning Valley Church Clinton!
If you have your Bibles today, again we will be in Philippians 4:2-9.
Mother’s Day, celebrate women
Pray
So, if you’ve ever started a new job, or maybe a volunteer position, perhaps you’ve looked into fostering or adopting child, if you’v ever started your child in school,
All of these things, and many more of our life’s endeavors in the world today, are often met with a common beginning…
We get a handbook.
Or, the more modern practice of taking training online.
Either way, we get some kind of literature on how that particular organization works.
Now, handbooks are interesting, because as you read through and take the training, it’s essentially just a carefully curated list of things you can or can’t do to prevent the company from facing a lawsuit,
But corporate greed is not the point of today’s sermon.
But, assuming they’re well-meaning, the handbooks and trainings are supposed to inform you of the procedures of your job.
They’re meant to keep you safe.
They’re meant to give you a relatively concise way and instruction on how to do your job, how to fit in with the culture of the organization, and how to be effective.
And the hilarious thing about trainings and handbooks is it takes about a week in the organization to realize no one actually uses the information.
It seems like the carefully designed trainings that corporate payed millions for is either ignored, or you’re the first one that’s ever taken it ever.
And yes, most of the handbooks really are quite terrible, and don’t account for reality.
But, if you have a well-written handbook, from someone on the job that has a ton of experience and expertise in the area, the reality is…
Everyone would be better off, more efficient, and safer, if everyone just fit into the system and tried their best to follow the book.
There would be no more squabbling over who was right or wrong, the handbook holds the answer.
There would be no wasted time on procedures, the training provided the safest route.
IT would have a much easier time because everyone would know how to reset their forgotten passwords.
And as we look at Philippians 4 this morning, I think Paul has very briefly written the handbook on Christian living, and the Christian disposition here.
As he begins to close out his letter to his beloved Philippians, he gives them the handbook on how to live, pure gold nuggets of wisdom from someone who’s lived it.
Experienced it. Meditated on it, and trained so many on it.
Paul gives us the handbook on how to act, live and think, and these particular topics are almost more relevant today than ever before.
So, lets get into it, and the beginning topic starts with a very specific plea, which is unity.
Unity
Unity
Now, unity within the church is something I think we talk about all the time, especially with all the different denominations that exist.
I mean, lets face it, we all people who have left churches over really petty reasons.
But it’s a problem that’s really easy to point out, and much more difficult to solve,
Because it’s really a heart problem at its core.
Check this out:
2 I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to agree in the Lord. 3 Yes, I also ask you, true partner, to help these women who have contended for the gospel at my side, along with Clement and the rest of my coworkers whose names are in the book of life.
You know, whenever I read in the Bible names connected to corrective action, I can’t help but feel bad.
I mean, these two ladies are forever memorialized as fighting with one another to the point that Paul had to call them out by name.
Makes me really thankful that the Bile is finished and canonized, or else my name would probably have a whole book dedicated to it about what not to do.
But we really don’t know much about these two women, or really even the nature of their conflict with one another.
What we do know is that they seem to be Greek women, or gentile women, who’s fighting has impacted the ministry of the gospel in Philippi.
Now, were these women of influence? Maybe. Likely. It’s a possibility that these were converts at the same time as Lydia, which if you remember, was the first Christian convert in the area who started the church. They could have been a part of that group.
The point is, the bickering was enough that Paul called them out by name, which was exceedingly rare for this time in history. Althugh Paul seems to be just fine called people out by name, he only does so when the gospel is impacted, and when he cares and truly loves the people in question.
The call out is never for his own glory, or out of pride or gossip, but out of genuine love for the people he shepherds.
And he knows if these two ladies continue to fight, rifts and factions may happen, and this new church trying to get a foothold in the community will split.
Paul urges them to agree in the Lord.
And these aren’t just women he knows in passing, he describes them as having contended for the gospel at my side.
That means there’s a hint of zealous in these women. They followed Paul, listened to what he had to say, they were fully in with Jesus.
They endured whatever persecution came their way, whatever social stigma came.
They aren’t just church members, they are workers.
And for this reason, Paul wants unity.
And there’s a few things I think we can learn from this call to unity - one is that sometimes you need help.
Call To Unity - Sometimes you need help
Call To Unity - Sometimes you need help
I’m sure you’ve felt this before: grid lock within the church. Maybe it’s within your family, maybe it’s your workplace.
But there’s this one person that you can’t stand to even look in the eyes. Your body tenses up when they’re around, everything seems like a conflict.
Sometimes it takes a little help from a mutual friend to help you both through.
Because look what Paul says - he asks his “true partner”, who is also unknown, but one of Paul’s close associates, to help Euodia and Syntyche get through this tension.
Because unity, especially within the church, is a group activity. No one should ever struggle in isolation, no one should be taking sides or creating factions or cliques,
18 They told you, “In the end time there will be scoffers living according to their own ungodly desires.” 19 These people create divisions and are worldly, not having the Spirit.
So there you go, conflict, as it seems, is kind of a normal part of life. We will disagree about things, and we will come head to head about our passions and opinions,
But the moment that leads to divisions, and a thwarting of the gospel advancing, it becomes sinful and opposes the Kingdom of God.
This is not the way Jesus established his church.
So, when we see conflict, we should help. As Paul says, help them through this period of momentary conflict that seems to be in gridlock.
We need to speak kindly of one another, carrying each other’s burdens, reminding ourselves that this is all for the gospel. Giving people the benefit of the doubt,
Because more often than not, no one’s intentions in the church is to harm and hurt.
Find someone who is a partner in the gospel, and humbly ask for help.
Another thing we can learn from Paul’s appeal to unity is that we’re secure in our salvation.
Call To Unity - We Are Secure in our Salvation
Call To Unity - We Are Secure in our Salvation
Yes, conflicts arise, and yes, we can get our feeling hurt.
But we have to remember the bigger picture - we are completley secure in the good news of Jesus, that we are eternally secure.
This is what Paul writes directly at the end of verse 3 - all of these people mentioned, their names are in the “book of life”.
Now, throughout time, this phrase has meant slightly different things, yet the concept remains the same.
In ancient Jewish thought, this book of life was a reference to genealogy. See, in a genealogy record, the names of each family member was recorded, which meant you knew whether a particular person was in or out of the family line.
In or out of the inheritance. Of the family tree. It meant you could trace blessings or punishments, and if you were blotted out of the book of life, well that means you were dead.
In the New Testament, this means more of an end times type of saying, with righteous and unrighteous still playing a part, but it’s more of a heavenly citizenship confirmation.
Either way, the point is clear, that the book of life has the names of the living, IE, people who have received salvation.
And these people that Paul mentioned, apparently are in the book of life.
So we have to remember, as we go about building Christ’s church up, as we go about completing the mission of Jesus which is making disciples around the world,
Ourselves and our brothers and sisters in Christ are secure in our eternal state.
We should be secure in our identity as Christ-followers, and therefore Christ’s family.
That means we must treat our fellow brothers and sisters as exactly that - as Christ’s family. As Christ’s chosen. As God’s image.
I have the feeling that if we treated our fellow church members like family, as if they actually belong to Christ, we would have a lot less squabbling, a lot less hurt, and we would gain more ground for the Kingdom.
A unified front in the gospel doesn’t mean we agree on every single little piece of doctrine, or every little tiny detail,
Because frankly, the Bible leaves quite a bit of ambiguity in a lot of key areas. Maybe that’s to test us, only the Lord knows,
But the point is that unity comes in the form of a unified goal, a unified front.
I think satan loves that we nit pick and divide over the smallest theological issues while totally ignoring life-changing practices that are simple and clear.
And that’s what I love about this next section in our text where Paul writes:
Rejoice!
Rejoice!
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.
Both of those key words - rejoicing and graciousness, those are very outward and noticeable character traits.
to be in a state of happiness and well-being, rejoice, be glad
Now, this rejoicing, it’s a mindset. Notice what Paul says: rejoice in the Lord always.
And he says it again: rejoice!
This rejoicing, it is regardless of circumstances, of a crummy life situation, of anything negative,
Because our rejoicing is not situationally dependent.
Rather, our rejoicing is in the Lord.
That give us the freedom to do things life mourn. To be stressed, bummed about a situation, uncomfortable.
Because our rejoicing is in the Lord, who is unchanging, who is ever faithful and loving and steady. The rock.
This is why the Psalmist can write this:
24 This is the day the Lord has made; let’s rejoice and be glad in it.
And then in the next verse, says:
25 Lord, save us! Lord, please grant us success!
We rejoice in the Lord always, which is the mindset of a sunny disposition.
And this is constant, perpetual.
Paul doesn’t say: rejoice when you feel like it. Rejoice when God gives you everything you want like a vending machine.
Rejoice when things are favorable.
No. Rejoice. Always.
And this is followed by Paul’s appeal to graciousness.
This is also translated as yielding, gentle, kind, courteous.
I think it’s very natural to follow up rejoicing with graciousness, because they’re natural byproducts of one another.
If you rejoice constantly, you’re going to be so much more prone to show gentleness, and kindness, to all people.
You’re gonna set yourself up so much better for showing that gentleness to others.
And interestingly, Paul adds this little tag at the end of the verse: The Lord is near.
And of course, there’s a ton of speculation on what this actually means,
Whether it’s an end times thing, or a nearness of the Holy Spirit…
I don’t usually like doing this, but I’ll give you my thoughts on it, real controversial,
I think it’s all that.
I think it points to a very real, alive, active God that is near. Presently. In Spirit, and in heaven.
And I also think it’s supposed to harkon us back to Jesus coming to earth.
Because what we deserved, if God were to come to earth, is total annihalation. Total wipe out.
Another flood, only this time, we’re totally destroyed.
At the very least, we deserved a king that would come and take complete control, enslave us all, and force us to worship him.
At the VERY VERY least, a teacher who came to scold us.
But no, the Lord is near, and Jesus Christ came as a humble, gentle man, a servant.
He showed us what true gentleness was and is. He was patient with us, rejoiced and celebrated in our little victories, lived with us in time and space.
Experienced what we experienced.
In turn, we shuold be showing the same to our fellow humans.
Do you know how exceedingly rare it is to find another human who rejoices and is gentle and kind?
If you do just hose two things and nothing else in entire Bible, you will shine like a star in this dark world.
Because people are harsh, and unkind, and Paul knows it. Jesus certainly knew it, especially after being hung on a cross.
So, rejoice in the Lord, and be gentle, humble and kind.
And continuing to build on this theme, Paul gives the next section of the handbook:
Don’t Worry
Don’t Worry
I used to have a motion controlled bass on the wall of my childhood room.
Every time you passed it, it would sing a song and dance - don’t worry, be happy now, is what it would sing.
Ironically, it make me really mad most of the time.
But, this is the reminder we need.
6 Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
There have been many religions around the world that have sought to find inner peace.
It’s the central part, in fact, of several.
In Stoicism, a common Greek philosophy, peace comes through virtue, self-control, and accepting what you cannot control.
“Today I escaped anxiety. Or no, I discarded it, because it was within me, in my own perceptions—not outside.”
— Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
— Inner peace comes through ending attachment, mindfulness, compassion, and awakening.Buddhism
— Harmony comes from living in alignment with the Tao (“the Way”), simplicity, and non-forcing.Taoism
— Peace is found through union with the divine, meditation, devotion, and liberation from ego/desire.Hinduism
The list goes on and on.
But the neat thing about all these religions is they all have a piece right, which means there’s something internally that people are seeking.
Something compelling them to the one, true religion that is found in Jesus.
They are seeking this inner peace, not realizing it doesn’t come from a particular sequence or thought structure, but through God alone.
See, Paul doesn’t stop with don’t worry. He doesn’t.
He doesn’t say: if you have anxiety, you are not really saved.
Because that’s wrong, every one of us, at some point, will be anxious.
What Paul writes is don’t worry, meaning unduly concerned, or attached to your worry completely.
Then he says:
6 Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Because, friends, God knows you worry about things. The problem comes from hanging on to that worry and trying to fix it yourself.
In everything, present it to God. Let it go.
God cares a whole lot more about what you do with your anxiety than how you manage it yourself and avoid it.
Because let me tell you, Jesus sure did seem anxious in Gethsemane. He sure did seem to not be looking forward to all his friends deserting him and being crucified and beaten and spit on.
But notice where he is during that - Jesus was on his knees.
Praying. Petitioning. Thanking God.
And let me tell you, I bet Christ experienced verse 7 on that cross:
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
The cool thing about giving up our anxiety to God: we can’t understand it. Nor shouldwe try.
God made a promise, that his yoke was easy and his burden was lite.
We don’t need to understand the mechanics of that. We need to trust that he is who he says he is, which he is.
That peace is what allowed Jesus to be on that cross, and that peace is what we attain in Christ today.
This is another rarity in our world - peace.
And it’s not any peace, it’s the peace of God.
Don’t you want that? For your life? For your kids? For our world?
And then, Paul closes with this incredible list of virtues that really stem from the Christian mindset:
8 Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things. 9 Do what you have learned and received and heard from me, and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
Does this really need a commentary? What a beautiful list.
Friends,
It Matters How you Think
It Matters How you Think
It really does.
What you think, what you dwell on, it matters and shapes you.
No wonder we don’t have peace when we constantly fill our minds and dwell on the things that make us anxious, often out of our control.
No wonder we have to graciousness when we villanize a particular group of people.
No wonder we can’t rejoice when we constantly compare ourselves to everyone else, and we can’t be in a state of thanksgiving because what we have is never enough.
It matters deeply what we dwell on.
2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
We have to stop inputting things into our minds that God does not approve of, that does not get us closer to the will of God, that boosts our own image and status,
We have to replace these things by thinking about Godly things.
It’s that simple.
Dwelling on the things God cares about.
You know, as I get further into being a Dad, I realize how dumb I was a new dad, or pre-dad.
I always saw all these dance and cheerleading shows or whatever, and I just didn’t get them.
I still don’t, really. I always said if I had a daughter, I would never let her dance, because I just didn’t get it.
Well, this was Lydia, my daughter, just yesterday.
She did he first ever tumbling show, and yes, I’m not partial or anything, but she was the most beautiful thing in that auditorium.
And again, I’m not partial, but I was the proudest father in that entire room, I guarantee it.
Because watching her show off her tumbling moves she’s been working so hard on for months, seeing her on stage with her friends, doing a great job.
Suddenly I got it. I understood why parents went to the shows, it wasn’t a matter of enjoyment, or sitting through 2 hours of things I didn’t understand.
They got to experience their child being awesome, and having fun, and being proud.
And it made me realize, that is our relationship with God.
Because we can go through life, not understanding anything about this passage today.
In fact, most of the world does.
Most of the world goes through life without experiencing joy. Without rejoicing. Without receiving gentleness.
Without even thinking about it.
Worrying about everything, having anxiety with no where to put it.
Not having any sort of peace, always being on the lookout, untrusting.
Never experiencing unity and harmony, being in a constant struggle with everyone around them in tension.
But not us. Church, we have to practice and experience these things for them to make sense.
And thankfully, by the grace of God, we have.
We have experienced all these things in Jesus Christ.
And now, it’s our turn to show the world.
And that’s the point of a handbook, that the point of our training that Christ gives through his word -
It’s so we can actually understand the system, and experience the goodness of God that he has created us for our enjoyment, and benefit.
And the outcome of following this instruction is unity, and peace, and a mind guarded by Christ.
Who wouldn’t want that?
But the world out there, they don’t know.
They don’t know Jesus, they don’t know his peace,
And it’s time for us, as the church, to show them through our lives, through our disposition, through our values, through how we treat them,
That there is something better out there, a loving God, a Father who’s running down the lane to greet them, a Father who has prepared a room in his house for them,
A savior who will wash your feet and has died for them.
This is how we do it, by dwelling on these things.
Let’s pray.
