How to Receive God's Word

James 1.18-21

18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. 19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

How to Receive God’s word.

James explains how new birth occurs (v18). God brings about our new birth by the word of truth. The gospel information from the Bible brings spiritual life with it. That’s how the seed of God’s life is planted in us. We hear the message (word) and it takes root in our inner being as the Spirit of God plants it there.

James goes on to explain how we are never without the need for the Word of God (V19). It is an ongoing need because the Word produces growth.No word, no growth. So he warns us to be hyper-attentive to the Word of God – he calls it ‘quick to hear’.

This is not just advice about how to get on with others (to listen more than you talk!) – even though that may be good advice. It is about how we must regularly come quickly and meekly to the Word of God for everything we need for our spiritual growth. The Word produces the righteousness of God (v20) something that human intensity (anger) cannot achieve.

Being ‘quick to hear’, means being ready and willing to listen – to be teachable! ‘Quick to hear and slow to speak’ emphasises input over output. It means that we are eager to learn. It means that we are cautious about speaking hastily without first being certain that we have understood what is needed in a given situation. It certainly includes being a good listener to the godly advice of others, but it has more to do with a readiness to learn from God’s Word before we make pronouncements, give advice, make decisions, or venture opinions. We must be certain that we are always in ‘receive’ mode towards God’s Word.

James reminds us that humbly receiving the Word of God will also keep our emotional force in check – our anger. V20. If we maintain a humble, teachable, receptive spirit we are less likely to be carried away by hurt pride and angry feelings. Time spent drinking in God’s Word will correct our self-centred emotions - so when we speak we are in sync with God’s wisdom.

Once human anger has been unchained, it stirs up human force to get its way. It hurts and hits. A blast like that is not righteous. It is not pure good, pure wisdom or pure justice. It is polluted. It doesn’t serve God’s righteous purposes. V20. Allowing our anger to slip the chain unleashes wild consequences that we cannot always get back under control before they have done serious damage – sometimes to the very ones we are supposed to be protecting.

On the other hand, if we are quietly drinking in the Word of God, regularly, readily and quickly switching to reception mode, then we will not be in the same danger of speaking in anger which is powerless to produce righteousness. V21. Receive with meekness.

‘Put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness’ means repent of them as God’s Word identifies them to you. Cooperate with God’s Word as it searches out and exposes these flaws. Strip them off and be rid of them so you can offer up your heart to God meekly. Humbly bring your heart to God’s Word that he may implant godliness there. (Col 3).

His Word rescues your soul (v21) by putting Christ’s righteousness there as the new clean spring from which your speech and actions flow. God’s word produces the new life that confirms that we are genuinely enjoying God’s favour.

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Philippians 2

The gospel does not end at the cross or even the tomb. Verse 7: God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name. We have the same attitude to suffering and humiliation as Jesus, because we are also raised up together with Christ. Jesus brought humanity up from its grave with him when he rose from the dead. He was given a name above every other - God has put a Man – Jesus Christ – at the head of everything, so that every other name or authority has to submit to him. We share in that exaltation. We are seated in heavenly places with Christ.

Ephesians 2.4-7. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Once again, we are called to the same attitude as Jesus Christ. We must think as he does in his exalted position: That in Christ nothing can succeed against us. We are no longer those who are held in slavery to the fear of death. Even demons must shrink back from us. Hebrews 2.14-16. Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.

We are freed up to serve each other generously, without the fear of suffering loss. Every opposition that faces us is under Christ’s foot. Nothing maliciously planned against us can succeed against Christ’s will for us. We are not afraid of the enemy’s ultimate weapon, death, because Christ has defeated it for us. (Remember 1.21 For me to live is Christ and to die is gain!). So just as the attitude of Christ is supreme confidence and authority – so we take our lead from him. We can ‘risk’ our lives – spend them - (including our reputation, our resources, our health, our relationships) for Christ’s cause, because we are investing in an unstoppable, utterly triumphant Kingdom. That kingdom is under than flag of Christ, and every knee shall bow, in heaven, and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

If we humble ourselves as Christ humbled himself in service of others (especially the family of God) we need have no fear that we will be trampled down and miss out on any good thing. Jesus humbled himself into death – even death on a cross – and yet God exalted him. God will exalt you if you follow that path.

THEREFORE (v14) – meaning because of the attitude and mind of Christ who freely humbled himself to deliver us from death and who was majestically raised to life and given full authority over all created things – there is something for us to do as a church family.

And what is that thing we are to do? V 12-13

Your salvation must be ‘worked out’. When you work out a maths problem, you take the known facts and you operate on them, whether by adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing. You work out or bring out the meaning or the answer. Likewise, your salvation is accomplished facts – accomplished for you by Jesus Christ at the cross and through his resurrection. Now you and I must ‘work out’ our salvation. We have to bring out the meaning of it – that is, show it and apply it in our everyday lives. Each believer has their ‘own salvation’ to be worked out. It is personal. It must show in your personal circumstances. Each of us must work it out with fear and trembling. This is not a cowering, hateful fear. It is the awe we feel as we consider God’s awesome power, beautiful purity and staunch righteousness. We do not want to offend him, nor put ourselves under his displeasure and wrath. So we work out our salvation – taking it seriously – with a due sense of awe towards God.

Now, in case someone thinks that this is something God expects him to do on his own, Paul adds that we CAN ONLY work out our personal salvation in daily practice, because it is GOD who works within us both to will and to work for his good pleasure. God himself motivates us – that is the ‘will’ part – and God himself gives us the tools, the circumstances and capability – that is the ‘work’ part. And the daily working out of our salvation is for ‘his good pleasure.’ This means that it is work that makes him pleased. Your pleasure is to seek God’s pleasure. The sooner you realize this – the happier you will be.

Finally, Paul ties this all up by explaining how it will work out in the Onehunga church family. With Christ’s attitude – having his mind – there will be:

§ No grumbling – that is, no complaining, blaming and criticizing each other

§ No questioning God’s Word – that is, no cynicism – no doubting and challenging God’s Word – we will eat it and drink it up for our own good and the good of those we serve.

§ Blameless and innocent behaviour – that is, no deceiving of each other – no double lives that are lived one way elsewhere and differently in the church

§ Contrast in the way we live compared to the ways of society – that is, our lives will demonstrate a totally different tone to that of godless society which is crooked and twisted – i.e. we will live direct, upright lives.

§ Lives that shine so brightly that they stand out in the darkness – that is, lives that reflect Christ and light the path to him.

§ People holding very tightly to God’s Word – that is, lives that are shaped, instructed and motivated by the Bible – the Word of Life.

Verse 17,18 Paul reckons that pouring out his life for these people is an immense privilege and he is happy to do it. He sees it as a chance to be like Christ for them – laying down his life for their good. He sees himself like one of the wine offerings that used to be poured onto a sacrificed animal in the Temple. He says that their faith in Jesus is what pleases God and he has poured out his life in service to them so that their faith in Jesus will be strong. He is saying that this kind of sacrificial giving of himself for the good of others is not miserable – it is not a loss but a joyous gain.

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Philippians 2.8ff
It says in Verse 8 that Jesus was ‘found in human form’. And that is where we all must find him. We learn about the character, the work and the purpose of the Son of God when we meet him in human form. This is the gospel. The gospel is found in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John’s accounts of Jesus’ mission in flesh. If you are struggling to ‘find’ Jesus, go to the gospel accounts and meet him in the flesh. And what you meet there is Jesus humbling himself for the sake of his people. The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. He did not receive any honours from men and women when he came in flesh; on the contrary they ended up calling out for him to be crucified. He was despised and rejected; a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering. That humiliation of Jesus is most stunningly exposed when you see him at the point of death – even death on a cross. It was humiliating because he didn’t need to die for himself. He suffered and died FOR us and BECAUSE of sins – ours!

For US to have the same attitude as Christ means that your Christian brothers and sisters need to meet Christ in YOUR flesh. We won’t be aloof from people, but right next to them – up close – in empathy. We won’t be looking for status or special honours or respect, we will be diligently looking for ways to minister to our brothers and sisters. We will endure misunderstandings and even personal attacks – just as Jesus did – not because we are defeated martyrs trying to earn God’s respect – rather, because we want to be examples of the depth to which Christ’s love stoops so that forgiveness can flow.

2 Peter 4:1-4. Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they mock you. Your willingness to suffer in doing good to others is evidence that you are done with sin – ENOUGH! SICK OF IT! – committed to now living for the will of God – even though others mock you for it. You have joined the fight against sin and will use up your life to keep yourself free of it and rescue as many as possible from it as you go along.

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Philippians 2

Last week we examined the STEP DOWN that Jesus took when coming to solve our massive problem. [You have this massive problem – and I wonder if you have realised it and brought it to Christ who is your only possible Rescuer.] The massive problem we share with the rest of humanity is the pollution, distortion and ruin caused by sin which is dragging us down into death and makes us fit only for God’s wrath.

Christ’s step down sheds brilliant light what it means to look not only to your own interests but the interests of others. He showed the ultimate empathy. Empathy is to take on the experiences of others so we feel, along with them, their actual circumstances. This is what Jesus did in the most remarkable and incredibly intimate way. He became what we are. He became sinful man – sinful with our sin – not his own. For our sake God made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Cor 5.21.

Though he was God by nature and knew that no one could ever compete with him or rob him of his ‘Godness’, he chose to empty himself of his privileges and rights as Son of God. He deliberately took to himself a human life and assumed responsibility for all our transgressions. To transgress means to ‘walk across’; when you transgress you cut across the direction you should be going in. Our transgressions are our cutting across God’s purpose for us. Disobedience. Jesus took responsibility for our disobedience by being obedient to the point of death. He took our disobedience where it needs to go: he took it under God’s wrath and judgement – he took it there personally and in his own person. He suffered death on a cross for us and in doing so he solved our massive problem. Not everyone believes; But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. John 1.12.

Paul is teaching us – urging on us the need to have among us this same mindset and attitude that Jesus Christ had in coming to rescue us. He got ‘up close’ to humanity by taking on our sin-damaged lives. He felt pain, he experience tiredness, he wept, he was tempted.

We are called to bear one another’s burdens as Christ bore ours. Galatians 6:1-5.

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbour. For each will have to bear his own load.

Of course we cannot clean up one another’s sins. Only Jesus could do that by offering his lifeblood as a sacrifice at the cross. However, we must serve one another by leading each other back to the cross – back to the place of safety in forgiveness – when we stumble. This requires the same empathy Christ has for us - the mind of Christ - which is to put aside our own rights and privileges and lay down our lives for the sake of our brothers and sisters. When our brother or sister is tripped up by sins (‘caught in any transgression’) we will not take a superior attitude but stoop to restore them – all the while making sure that we are not participating in those sins or making light of them. But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. Jude 20-23. The apostles (Paul and Jude) are teaching us here that we are not to be swallowed up by our own interests. We are to look out for the interests of others – and what greater investment does a person have than his or her own eternal existence – what a shocking loss to let that slip away! We are to look out for each other – strengthening each others’ faith – going after those who drift away – encouraging those who are undergoing trials. We are to have the same attitude Christ has for us – LET HIS MIND BE IN YOU!

John goes even further when he calls this serving our brothers and sisters, ‘laying down our lives’ for our brothers and sisters and says that it is the evidence that we are ourselves saved in Christ. We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this we know love that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 1 John 3.

This ‘laying down of our lives’ extends from going without some little thing so that you can meet a Christian brother or sister’s need …. right through to actually surrendering your life so others can be saved. This is what we see every time we hear of a Christian who has been killed for taking the gospel into a hostile community. The same love that Jesus had in laying down his life for us, is seen in that Christian who leaves the safety of his home and country and grows a church in dangerous places and is killed for it. We are all called to lay down our lives somewhere along that continuum – daily.

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Philippians 2.8-18

The purpose of studying the letter of Paul to the Christians at Philippi, is to help us understand what our church should be like. The church is not modelled on the world’s institutions or programmes. It is a spiritual entity – it is called the Body of Christ - more like a living thing than an institution. When you describe the church you are describing God’s family – a very different thing to describing an organisation, programmes, resources and strategies. Peter described it as a living building – each Christian as a living brick.

So far, in these studies we have come across the key concern that Paul has for these Philippian Christians – and for us, the Onehunga Christians. Only, let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ.v27. Put negatively: Do not allow yourself to have a daily life that is a mismatch with the gospel of Christ. A life consistent with the good news of Jesus Christ must match Jesus’ life. And this is not mere copying – like little children drawing a person as a circle with sticks for arms and legs! It is receiving his life so we have his mind – his attitude. THAT is what our study focuses on this morning – the disposition – the mindset – the attitude of Jesus Christ that is to be ours. And it doesn’t become ours by imitation – it becomes ours through new birth – the spiritual infusion of his life into ours – made possible by his resurrection from the dead!

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Paul has been telling us that we need to have the same attitude and thinking as Jesus Christ. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus. And it is plainly not just individuals he is talking to. Of course it must be true of us individually – but in this instance he says ‘have this mind among yourselves’. Obviously, he has in mind that this must be a shared mindset – something true of each of us but something true between or among us. It must be a characteristic of our church.

Remember that we are studying Philippians because we want to know how to BE the church and that this involves what we believe and how we behave. Paul declares that to be the church we must have the attitude and mindset of Jesus among us. He explains what that attitude and thinking is: v2-4.

“Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

But he goes even further – right down to the root of this way of living – by describing what it meant for the Son of God to ‘count others more significant than himself’ and to ‘look not only to his own interests but to the interests of others.’ Here is the heart of the issue; this is how the church must BE: We must be like Jesus Christ. Have this mind! v5.

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Philippians 2

The need of these Philippian Christians to be more sympathetic, supportive and caring of each other is met by having the same ‘mind’ – that is motivation, attitude and mindset – as Christ. If this happens the change will be as follows (v2-4):

§ you will have the same mind and same love as Christ – and therefore with each other

§ you will be in full agreement with Christ – and therefore with each other

§ you will be of one mind – that is, you will have a common goal which is to maximise the glory of Christ see through your lives together

§ rivalry and competitiveness will evaporate – you will want everyone else to experience more of Christ’s help and blessing

§ conceit will bend away from self-interest to the needs of others

§ humility will grow, so you consider others more significant than yourself – others will count more in your thinking so you think about what you can do for them, rather than what you want for yourself.

It doesn’t require much thought to see the direct connection between this manner of living and the way that Jesus lived. John also pointed this out when he wrote to the churches:

By this we may be sure that we are in him: Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk (live) in the same way Jesus walked (lived).1 John 2.5,6.

So, let’s get this really clear:

1. Paul is concerned about the quality of the relationships between the Philippian Christians – there seems to be some rivalry, self-centredness and lack of sympathy among them.

2. He focuses on this need by drawing their attention back to Jesus and asking them whether the quality of love Jesus showed for them is being reflected in their own relationships.

3. Paul says that what is needed is the mindset – the attitude and motivation of Christ – if each of them is going to have the capacity to give and receive the love of Christ.

The mind of Christ

So Paul explains the mind – the attitude and mindset – of Christ. We are to have the same attitude of Christ so we need to know what that attitude is.

First of all, he says that this attitude is ‘yours’ – it is ours in Christ Jesus. When we gave in and surrendered our self-centred living, crucifying it with Christ – and witnessing to that through baptism – we got a knew mindset – a new attitude, because we got the mind of Christ. New birth is not merely words you say. New birth is what it says – a new spiritual life being brought to existence in your. Your inner being is no longer the same and never can be the same again. The Spirit of God has made you alive in Christ. He has created a spirit in you – where previously you were spiritually dead – and the Spirit of Christ has come to indwell your spirit. For your part you now abide – that is, live restfully and dependently – in Christ. This affects your thinking as well as your motivations and actions.

Rom 8.5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

So, here is the point: in Christ a person has a new attitude and thinking. We must depend on Christ so that this attitude and thinking dominates us – not the old the old self-centred ones.

Here is the attitude and thinking of Christ:

He was in the form of God and equal with God.

God is spirit, not flesh. Now we know that the Son of God at a point in time (2,000 years ago) took up flesh – but prior to that he was pure spirit, eternal, uncreated, self-existing. The Son of God was in the ‘form’ or ‘substance’ of God, because he IS God. He shares the same nature as God the Father and the Spirit. He is and never has been inferior to God. There is one God in three persons. And Jesus Christ is the Son. God’s equal. GOD.

You need to have some of that attitude! Obviously you are NOT God. However, you are in relationship with God through Jesus and should share in the confidence he has in his position.

He did not consider his equality with God something to be grasped at all costs.

It is not that Christ did not highly value his relationship in the Godhead! But this was not something that he felt defensive about. No one could challenge him over his equality with God. No one could snatch it from him so he did not feel the need to grasp onto it’s privileges at all costs. He was strong in his own divine identity – so strong that he was not concerned that to lay aside its rights and privileges in anyway robbed him of his identity as the Son. No one gave him his God nature, so no one could take it away from him. He could freely ‘step down’ from his rights as God without anxiety.

You need to have that attitude, too – that your sonship in Christ is secure – so secure that you do not need to demand your rights to retain your sense of sonship. Your identity as a son or daughter of God is not eroded when you take a low place. This is not a competition.

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Philippians 2.1-11

Paul’s Concern

Immediately, you realise that these Christians have a problem that Paul is working on: There is a lack of harmony in their relationships with each other.

Here is the point: It is NOT sufficient for a church to have programmes, routines, strategies and roles in place. It is the relationships between the believers that are critically important. Jesus made this clear when he was giving instructions to his disciples before he left them to go to the cross to make it possible to follow them!

John 13.34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Paul’s message to the Philippian church and to this Onehunga church is that the quality of the relationships is where you see a manner of life worthy of the gospel of Christ. Everything else that is good flows from this.

Go look at Christ

In order to get this right, Paul says we have to go and take another look at Christ. He asks them a series of rhetorical questions. This is not a quiz – he is probing their hearts for repentance. He figures that if they are brought face to face with the love of Christ, it will put their self-centredness to shame and draw them into the rich depth of genuine love.

Here are his questions.

If you are a follower of Christ,

§ is there any encouragement for you in Christ?

§ is there any comfort for you to experience from Christ’s love?

§ is there any participation in the Spirit for you through Jesus?

§ is there any affection for you from him?

§ is there any sympathy for you from Christ?

Of course the answer to these is a resounding YES. YES, my life is full of this encouragement, comfort, love, Spirit, affection and sympathy from Christ. I experience over and over. I live in it. I swim in his grace towards me at all times.

Paul says, ‘Well, if YES, its time for that grace to overflow between you for each other.’

Complete my joy by being of the same mind (as Christ) – having the same love (v2). And a little further down (v5) he says that mind is yours in Christ Jesus.

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Philippians 1

Paul saw that there was even more to be done than just this most basic testimony to Christ. He was eager to grasp the chance to teach and encourage through his letters, to receive visitors and to strengthen and send out younger Christians from his cell or house arrest. Like his Master, Paul was prepared to lay down his life (that is, postpone his full experience of eternal life) for the good of the Church.

With all this in mind, Paul pleads with the Philippians to use his situation as a spur for their own greater commitment to Christ and his work.

Only, let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ.v27.

Now this appeal comes with very significant weight behind it; the man making the appeal is suffering imprisonment for the gospel of Christ. Paul, on the inside is being persecuted for the gospel – so it hardly seems appropriate for the Christians on the outside to be undermining the gospel by their slack lives. This applies as much to us as it did to the Philippians and other Christians in Paul’s time. If people like Paul (and presently, Christians in Gujarat, India or in China or Indonesia) are suffering imprisonment and persecution for promoting the gospel – it seems outrageous that those of us living in peaceful times and places should be found neglecting the gospel and contradicting it by the careless manner of our lives.

Does it seem right that we should be wallowing in worldly entertainments, while at exactly the same time, Christians in other places are suffering for meeting together in a home group?

This is why Paul challenges us to make sure that the way we are living does not discredit this gospel which is so critical to the rescue of men and women. How would you feel sitting down right now to discuss with Paul or the other Christians who are under direct attack for even admitting that they are followers of Jesus Christ, how you have spent the previous week? Would you feel ashamed? Shouldn’t you feel stirred up to use the relative prosperity, peace and quiet you currently enjoy to promote the gospel by your manner of life, your resources and your commitment to grow spiritually and build the church?

What does Paul describe as a ‘manner of life worthy of the gospel of Christ’?

1. It is a life that is noticed and spoken about by others. ‘that I may hear of you’ v27. Your life hasn’t fallen below the radar. People are talking about your way of life. You haven’t let your life fall away into meaningless, low-level stuff that has no impact on anyone. You are not just following the flocks of people heading into the cinema or one of the thousands shut up in your room watching the flickering box in the corner, or one of those trudging off to work to do your time so you can visit the mall on the weekends with some money in your pocket. These are low-level lives that nobody notices. A life lived in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ Jesus is a life that strives to have an impact on people. A life that speaks up; a life that is always ready to give the reason for the hope that inspires it. A life that exemplifies love, justice and consistency. A life that serves. A life that takes the initiative to actually do Christian work: gathers friends to pray and study God’s Word together; plans good works to meet others’ needs; gets itself into a secular job that has a chance to build up rather than damage people’s lives.
2. It is a life that is ‘standing firm’. v27. Your life is not leaving a trail of false starts where you get serious about following Christ and then keep wandering back into the world and sliding back. A manner of life worthy of the gospel of Christ means you have made some ‘never going back’ decisions. You have burned your bridges back to a self-centred, world-focused life. For you a life not centred on Jesus Christ is irretrievable and your decision and commitment is irrevocable. To put it in gospel terms, you have died to yourself and died to the world. You have taken up your cross so you can follow Jesus. Daily you meet new things and new situations which you crucify so they will have no power of control over you. This is why your baptism is so important. It is the day you make public your intention to be planted firmly in Christ and his gospel. You are a life standing firm in Christ and for him and his gospel.
3. It is a life that is firmly in one spirit and one mind with other Christians, striving with them side by side for the faith of the gospel. v 27. You are not running a selfish or lonely race. You know yourself and feel yourself to be part of the family of God. A manner of life worthy of the gospel of Christ is a life that is embedded in the church. You can no longer think just of yourself and your immediate family. You are concerned for the encouragement and shared growth of your Christian brothers and sisters. Every time you learn something new you want to find a helpful way of passing it on to other Christians. You look for ways to work alongside others in the Church.
4. It is a life that is not afraid of opposition. v. 28.’not frightened in anything by your opponents – a clear sign to them of their destruction and your salvation.’ You are courageous. Having been convinced that Christ has even your enemies under control, you see beyond the angry faces of those who trouble you and you see past their strategies to upset you and you see the firm hand of Christ working in everything for your good. A manner of life worthy of the gospel of Christ is not deflected by the fear of suffering. And when you draw down Christ’s courage and peace and goodwill in the face of opposition, you become a billboard (a sign) that reminds your enemies of the futility of fighting against God that can only result in their destruction. And that billboard advertises that you are being rescued by God himself.

You will suffer as a disciple of Jesus Christ. 2 Timothy 3.¹²In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted! It is necessary that your suffer – not because your sufferings make you worthy to be blessed by God – it is necessary that you suffer, so that in your life the conflict between death and life, Satan and Christ, can be displayed. Your life is supposed to be a 24 hour live broadcast telling of the success of the gospel in defeating everything that defeats human beings (not just any human beings, but particularly the ones near you: your family, friends, neighbours, workmates, acquaintances and coincidental daily contacts). Their chance to find life that lasts hinges on the manner of your life. A life that contradicts the gospel deliverance, confirms them in their unbelief and accelerates them towards destruction. A life that displays the gospel creates an opportunity for life.

If your life is suffering-free, how will the contrast between life and death, Christ and Satan be displayed to those you live amongst? How will they know that the good news of Christ frees us from guilt and fear? How will they know that a person can taste eternity in Christ now, so that when sickness, accident and old age bring us to death’s door we are not eaten up by fear or bitterness? Only by witnessing the disciples of Christ overcoming suffering by faith in him.

This is a conflict we are in. We are not lying on the beach in a deck chair, sunning ourselves, eating and drinking until our lives run out. We are invading the beach – just at the allies stormed the beaches of Normandy or Guadalcanal. We need to live our lives on a war-footing. We are not fighting like the world fights with violence and weapons. We are attacking stongholds in people’s minds. We are establishing beach heads in the thinking of people so that the deceptive ideas of self-dependency and love of material things can be driven out and they can hear and see the truth as it is in Jesus – truth that can set them free.

In today’s text, Paul has said that his imprisonment is not a mistake. It is included in God’s plan. He wants them to get more of an edge to their Christian lives. Paul was exhilarated by the reality that in his sufferings he was sharing in and broadcasting again the sufferings of Christ. And HIS sufferings were not a sad, head-shaking defeat - they ended in total triumph and deliverance. Paul wanted those Philippian Christians – and us – to understand how our sufferings serve to advance the gospel. Jesus’ inimitable suffering was the catalyst and our little sufferings keep pointing to that occasion when the worst that Satan could do was absorbed by him and completely emptied of its power.

Colossians 2¹³When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, ¹⁴having cancelled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. ¹⁵And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

Your life must confirm this victory over and over again.