Birds of a Feather...
Notes
Transcript
Intro:
Which would you prefer?
Under the duress of approximately 725,000 pounds per square inch, and at temperatures of 2000 – 2200 degrees Fahrenheit, a diamond will begin to form. The carbon atoms bond together to form crystals under this high pressure and temperature.
Actually, the connection between coal and diamonds is not what you think.
Pressure and temperature are the key. When we Christians face the kind of pressure and heat that our faith in Christ can produce in our society, do we become spiritual diamonds or worldly pieces of coal?
Persecution - physical or psycological
Fear of failure or fear of loosing out
When most Christian find themselves under the pressure and heat from trying to live out their faith they do one of two things: the turn on each other or the turn away from their church family.
This is the possibility that Paul faced while he was in prison, that the Philippians would be come so descouraged and fearful of the pressure that he was facing and that they, as his spiritual children, faced, as well as the turning away of some that they would do the same. So, he says he will stay for them, but he wants them to do two things: remain and stay together.
27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.
The word "only" μόνος has a basic mean of "without accompaniment" - Paul is saying that if he is going to stay for them, he wants them to do "this one thing" of all the other possible responses this is the one he holds them to.
πολιτεύομαι (noun root = πολίτης = citizen) it is the foundation of our word "politics" It speaks of the administration of a government. So he is talking about our lives lived as Christ's disciples, citizen of the Kingdom.
What does a life worthy of the Gospel look like? He is not saying a life lived to deserve the Gospel, but a life that is affected by the Gospel will look like this...
27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,
"standing firm in one spirit" may actually be referring not a sense of unity, but to the Holy Spirit: 1) there is a parallel with the part 27d "with one mind" 2) repeated in 4:1.
Philippians 4:1 (ESV) 1 Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.
Positively:
27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,
συναθλοῦντες = participle meaning to fight or work (struggle) together with someone, on their side or the same side.
It is the "faith" of the Gospel that we are striving together for meaning it is living out our faith in the Gospel (promise of God for salvation). This could mean drawing people to Christ (evangelism) or the body of truth contained in the Gospel. They are not exclusive of each other, both are necessary and both are present.
Negatively:
28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.
πτυρόμενοι = passive participle = spooked or scared, like spooked horses, which would be the opposite of the positive characteristic of standing firm.
This word is speaking not just to the feelings (emotional state) of fear...he will speak to that in chapter 4, but to the result...when a horse is spooked they run away, Paul whats them to stay together.
The result:
28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.
2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
{This is important for us as Christians because of who we are and our calling in life.}
29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.
The word "granted" = not just bestowed but graced...we have been graciously bestowed the privilege to do what he is saying.
First thing granted:
29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,
Second thing granted:
29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,
He is talking about our struggles as Christians. Persecution, ridicule, restrictions, etc.
What does it look like?
30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.
24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church,
8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
{I started this sermon with a question, “Which do you prefer, a diamond of a piece of coal?” I think it is safe to say most chose the diamond.}
Conclusion:
But the diamond is all about Unity under pressure and faithfulness in the heat of struggle. It really comes down to how bad we want to be like Jesus.
Thomas à Kempis writes in “The Imitation of Christ”:
Jesus has many who love his kingdom in heaven, but few who bear his cross. He has many who desire comfort, but few who desire suffering. He finds many to share his feast, but few his fasting. All desire to rejoice with him, but few are willing to suffer for his sake. Many follow Jesus to the breaking of bread, but few to the drinking of the cup of his passion. Many admire his miracles, but few follow him in the humiliation of the cross.
Song: Only Jesus