Rejoicing in the Suffering

INTRODUCTION

There are a lot of things going on in our world right now. This year alone has been very trying. We have been dealing with a virus and trying to understand how it works and how best to protect ourselves. We have dealt with accusations of police brutality and riots and protests that stimmed from those accusations. We have dealt we accusations of voter fraud and even threats of more riots if a certain person gets elected. All of this we have dealt within a little less than a year and that is just in our nation.

Many of us may have a lot of trouble and suffering in our personal lives. This year I found that I may have Crohn’s disease and was hospitalized for it. I have had to deal with this virus on a personal level as well. I have had co-workers test positive for the virus which has sent me home using my own sick time. I need all the time I can get because of the possibility of me having Crohn’s. I could have a flare up and I can’t work. Moreover I am going to school, I have a family that I want to be around and spend time with. Going through troubles and suffering can be trying on us and not only physically. It can be trying on us emotionally and can even test our faith. This testing might leave us in a place that we are depending on ourselves forgetting to pray and rely on God.

Neglecting the word of God and this leaves us spiraling down to a place that has us acting not like the Lord wants us to.

In the city of Philippi all those years ago the congregation of that church were starting to feel the strain of suffering as well. I want to give you a bit of back round to this letter that Paul wrote to the church in Philippi so we can understand a little of what is going on. Paul had visited this city in one of his missionary journeys and established a church there after the conversions of Lydia and the dramatic conversion of a slave girl who was being used as a fortune teller because she had a spirit of divination which meant that she could tell peoples fortunes because she was demon-possessed, and her owners were making a good profit from it (Acts 16). Paul was very found of the believers there and that is evident from this letter. Paul thanks God for them and their partnership with him in his ministry.

However, this young church had been shaken by trouble and suffering. First, Paul the person who “founded” this church is now imprisoned simply for preaching the gospel (1:12-13). Both the church in Philippi and Paul seem to be troubled by what Paul calls in this letter the “opponents” (1:17,28) and these opponents preach only from selfish ambition to harm Paul in some way.

Not only that but a man named Epaphroditus, who was a member of this congregation and was sent to Paul to aid in his ministry has gotten sick to the point of death (2:27).

So, you can see this church, all those years ago were also experiencing troubles. However, instead of Paul complaining or going on a long tirade in his letter does something I think most of us would have difficultly doing. Paul, in this letter tells the church in Philippi to rejoice in the Lord. Paul uses the Greek words for joy and rejoicing sixteen times in only 104 verses. Two of those times can be found in the passage we are looking at today. So, why is it that Paul, during all this suffering can tell the church to rejoice? How can the church possibly do this? And why would the church do this? First lets deal with the question of how we can rejoice in suffering.

How can we rejoice in suffering?

In the first verse of the passage today we see that Paul is encouraging the Philippian church by telling them to obey. He wants everyone in the Philippian church to understand that our words and how we present ourselves to the world matters. So, as we begin I want you to try to imagine this from Paul’s perspective.

Paul is writing this to the Philippians while in jail, and he has heard from Epaphroditus that the church is not doing as well as they once did because they are being frightened by opponents and Paul is encouraging them to let the way they live their life be worthy of Christ. Whether Paul was there or not they were to stand firm as one and with one mind standing side by side for the gospel and not to be frightened by their opponents. If they did this it would be a sign to them, the opponents or their destruction, but of the Philippians salvation that is from God (1:27–28).

It appears, from the text that suffering and sickness and opponents from outside the church has caused some complaining and fighting within the church that is spilling out into the streets of Philippi and this is hurting their testimony.

So, he begins this passage that we are looking at today in verse 12 by basically saying "Obey and work out your own salvation." and not only did he say obey but he tells them to obey just as they always have. Do you see that in verse 12? So now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence...

So, we see here that this church had a history of practicing and persevering though tough times so they could work out their salvation and become faithful Christians. This must have been such a great encouragement to Paul. However, it seems they are now going through tough times.

So, He says here at the end of verse 12, to "work out your own salvation..." I find this interesting because he seems to connect the word obey with this phrase work out your own salvation.

First, I want to explain what this does not mean. Working OUT salvation does not mean that we somehow are working FOR our salvation. It is IMPOSSABLE for us to earn our salvation. We should have no confidence in ourselves with concern to our salvation. Salvation is 100% Christ and 0% us. This aspect of salvation is what theologians call justification. In other words we have been declared not guilty through the work of Christ on the cross and positionally we stand in front of God justified as a finished work.

However, sanctification, the process of becoming Christ like, is 100% Gods work and 100% our effort. When the bible speaks of our daily walk our salvation is spoken of as an ongoing work. We know that we have a responsibility because Paul tells them to obey and to "work out your own salvation” The Christian life is not about us sitting back with our legs kicked up not putting in any effort.

Imagine someone sitting back in a recliner saying Alright God I became a Christian time to start working. Change me. does anything work like that? Our learning about Gods will comes through our effort that is empowered by the Holy Spirit. That is why Paul goes on to say that it is God who works in you. Let’s look at verse 13. "for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." You see when GOD commands us to be perfect as your father is Matt. 5:48 he is not commanding the impossible. If GOD says we ought to do something it implies we can.

But what it does not mean is that whatever we ought to do we can do by our own strength. The belief that we could goes directly against scripture. John 15:5 says "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever Abides in me and I in him, it is he that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."

And this salvation is our own. We are not to simply imitate our favorite pastor or a friend. We are to obtain this Christ-likeness because God wants each of us to know him and to be conformed to him. As Christians you can have the assurance that Christ has given us the promised Holy Spirit so that we may be conformed to his image. We can also have the assurance that his Holy Spirit will empower us to do his will and to complete his mission. In order to do this, we must be seen as a special people. A people that are not like this world. This is what the word holy means. When we join in with the world and complain about politicians or mandates or elections we join in their despair and despair does not bring hope. However, when we rejoice even through the tough times, the suffering, the sickness we show the world that we have hope. It is a greater hope than the world or its politicians or its systems can offer. So, lets look at why Paul says we should rejoice in our suffering.

Why Should We Rejoice in Suffering?

The Philippians were doing at least two things, according to this passage that were not showing the world hope. One was grumbling and the other was disputing.

We do not know what exactly was going on in the lives of the Philippians but we do get an idea when we look at Philippians 3:2 It says, “Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh.” These were the opponents that were troubling them. So, in context it seems that Paul was encouraging the Philippians to not grumble and dispute with these people and in this way, they would work out their salvation with the help of God. There might even have been some who were arguing inside the church. We get this idea from the word disputing which could have a legal context to it according to some commentaries I have read. What we do know is that there was some arguing going on in the church and Paul named two of these people by name in chapter 4.

But what does that look like today? When hard times come to a group the initial reaction is to bond together. But when the tough times stay. We start to get angry and we start to get frustrated we may even start to resent others. Then our feelings start to get hurt.

In this world many things do not go our way. There are many things to be upset about and many situations in which we can have the opportunity to grumble and dispute with others. Granted there are times when we must stand for something.

Standing up for someone’s rights, standing up for injustice. However, Paul is telling us that it should never come to grumbling and disputing. It seems in that last few years unreasonableness and hotheadedness have become virtues. There are riots occurring and windows being boarded up in case someone wins an election. When someone says something that other side does not like they shout them down and don’t let them speak. This is not the way God wants us to be. In Philippians 4:5 It says, “Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand”.

With this in mind we too, like the Philippians must trust God that he will help us work out our salvation so that we may not be grumblers and arguers. We must let our reasonableness show through so that we might share the hope that we have in Christ with those who do not know him. Ultimately, we are not here to win earthly arguments or win people to a certain political party. We are here to share Christ and to have ourselves conformed to the image of Christ.

This conforming to Christ is known as sanctification which I spoke of before. It reminds me of what Paul says in 2 Timothy 2:4 When he says, “No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.”

Often times, from good intentions we start to engage people however, it can turn into an argument then we become busy trying to convince others that they are wrong, and we are wright. Instead we need to seek common ground so we can tell people about Jesus.

In verse 15 we read that we should not engage in this type of behavior because we need to be blameless and innocent children of God without blemish. but Why do we want to be these things? Well let’s continue to read verse 15. "Be blameless and innocent children of God without blemish so you can be lights in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world."

Just like the Philippians did we too live in a time where just about everything that God commands is considered backwards, antiquated and naive to everyone else. In a world that is obsessed with hate, anger, fighting, we have to be different! I think it is worth looking briefly at each one of these descriptors.

First be blameless. To be free from doing wrong or to live a life above reproach or criticism. This means if someone wanted to accuse you of something the overwhelming reaction from others should no. not him.

That’s not to say keep outward appearances up but then do what you want behind closed doors where there are no witnesses.

Remember I said the overwhelming reaction from the majority of people. If you have a group of people who would say no he wouldn’t do that but then the ones closest to you say, well I can kind of see that...that’s not good and you are not being blameless.

Second, be innocent. Some translations have this word as pure or harmless. The definition of this word is to be not guilty. So basically, don’t do that stuff. The grumbling and disputing. Just don’t take part in it. If you do then repent turn away from that and turn to God ask God for forgiveness and then don’t do it anymore. Turning from old habits and turning to Christ is an acknowledgment, to our need for Christ. As Christians we already stand guiltless before our God because of Jesus' sacrifice on the Cross and our acceptance of the gift. However, when we ask for forgiveness, we are acknowledging our sin and asking for his help.

Third, be without blemish. We want to be free from any marks or flaws that spoil our testimony.

Picture a bunch of bananas. you go to the kitchen and you have these bunch of bananas sitting on the counter and they look great nice and yellow and firm, you break that tip off to peal it and its crisp. You take a bite and it breaks off into your mouth and its sweet.

But after a few days you forget about them, right? Then you’re like I think I’ll have a banana. So, you go to the kitchen and they have gotten some bruising and there soft when you peel them. Then you take a bite and they kind of mush in your mouth. yeah.

so, don’t be like an old banana all bruised and mushy complaining and fighting all the time. Be the banana without blemish sweet and nourishing. So, in other words be like a new banana in Christ.

So, you can see that this is going to be hard. So why would we do any of this? Look at the end of the verse 15. it is to shine as lights in the world and give hope to a hopeless generation. We need to be witnesses to the truth and it’s not because God needs us to be its because he wants us to be. And when we complain and fight and bicker and write little snarky comments on social media, we are not being clever we are being disobedient.

So, lets continue reading in verse 16. "Holding fast to the word of life." We hold firmly to the word of life which is God’s word. Some translations say to hold out the word. I think this really gives a great picture in our minds and I really like how Paul describes the word. It’s not just any word, It’s not Paul’s word, it’s not just a set of rules these words bring life.

Read these words of life or get an audio bible if you don’t want to read. Maybe you don’t like how a certain bible reads that’s alright they more than likely have a translation that you will like. Maybe you can’t see. that’s alright they have bibles in braille. I don’t read very fast. that’s alright read one paragraph each day. I don’t have a lot of time to read. That’s alright because all televisions and phones come with an off button. Yeah you can just turn it off and not watch it. It’s great.

Let’s Get the word inside us and keep it. Read, study and memorize these words of life. We don’t do these things because it somehow makes us an impressive Christians or because we will win some prize, but because it makes us a light.

My wife and I were visiting some friends a few weeks back and they live outside of a small town, and to get there you have to take this winding gravel road. These roads don’t have a lot of streetlights on them actually they don’t have any, so all you really have are your head lights.

But usually these house’s will have big flood lights on them so you can see the house. Sometimes that’s the only thing you see, with the exception of your own headlights.

We need to be like those houses. Bright lights leading people to us so we can tell them about Jesus, people who need rest and hope. A light to those who are driving blindly on a lonely and winding country road.

We are called to emulate Christ, no matter how imperfect that my look at times. We have bibles all around us. I even have one on my phone read them, study them memorize portions of it and then tell someone… This is about Jesus, someone who loves you. And the words that he spoke are in here and they will give you life beyond the mundane existence of this world.

Rejoice in All Things

Finally, Paul reminds them of a possible consequence of holding fast to the word. Not only is he in prison now for Christ but it could get worse. In verse 17 He speaks of being poured out. It says "Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith...

This phrase may remind you of the ancient customs of the Jewish sacrificial system. But Jesus himself spoke of this too in Luke 22:20 when he said "This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood." And now Paul using this same metaphor is describing the possible outcome of his ministry.

Paul was imitating Christ who spilled his blood for all who would confess their sin. It also seems as if Paul is saying that the spilling of his blood might even come because of their faith. regardless of this he tells them that he rejoices and that they too should rejoice.

The chief goal of this life should be doing the will of the father through Christ. As we accomplish the will of the father we will suffer for his name. This does not mean we should stop. It does not mean we should somehow change the message to make it conform to a changing world.

It also does not mean that we should adopt the same strategies of foul and confrontational speech as the world because our words matter. They can stunt our growth in Christ, dim our lights and keep the truth hidden from those that desperately need it. Or they can grow us in Christ, brighten our lights and give truth to the world.

The world will think we are stupid, backwards and uneducated. We will be labeled intolerant and bigoted. Perhaps in the future worse things might be done.

But our love for Christ and our Christ like love for those who do not know Christ will compel us to press forward. Paul saw reason for us to rejoice in his death the way we rejoice in Christs death.

Death no longer has the final say of our lives. Christs sacrifice on the cross has given us a hope beyond this life. Christs death has given us a hope of eternal life and a reconciled relationship with our Father in heaven.

While we are here we will have suffering, we will feel loss, pain and anger. But Paul tells us in Romans 8:18 “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us."

The letter to the Philippians was written about 5 years after the letter to the Romans. Paul has persevered through trial and mistreatment only to be writing the same message. His death was not the end but the start of a future hope because of the death of Jesus.

Conclusion

In this letter we have seen how Paul rejoices in suffering and how Jesus calls us to rejoice in suffering. We have seen that if we do this we can work out our salvation in the same way that we can work a field, cultivating it to bring our the best crop we can get. We have seen the help that we rely on to perform this work. That it is the work of God and his spirit that empowers us to accomplish it.

We have read that if we work out our salvation that we will be blameless, spotless lambs and pleasing living sacrifices to God. In other words our conforming to Christ is an act of worship. Not only is it an act of worship but that is pleasing to God but by our examples and the words of Christ others can find hope. This hope will give people light in a dark and hopeless world. If we did this it would change us, it would change our families, it would change our church, It would change people.

Our lives can lead people away from life or they can lead people to life. Let me say that again because it’s that important, our lives can lead people to life or away from it. Our lives and the way we live them can also be an act of worship. Our obedience to God, through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit will conform us to the likeness of Christ. So, what will your life be?

Will it be a living sacrifice to God that conforms you to Christ and shows as a light that allows lost people to find life? Or will your life be one of self-service which adds to the darkness of an already dark world? I pray that the Spirit has encouraged you to live in a way that makes you light in a crooked and twisted generation.