Colossians 1:8-14

Colossians 1:8-14

While still new to Christianity, the Colossians were impressive with their faith, love for community, and fruit bearing. But even with all of this, Paul prays for still more for them. He asked God to grant them to be filled with three things. First, knowledge of God’s will; this is deep and real knowledge rather than a superficial kind of knowing about. Paul wants them to have a profound knowing of what God is all about. Second, he asked that they be filled with all spiritual wisdom; this is really about the “how to” of accomplishing the will of God. Third, he asked for understanding, to have the perception of what is happening in the dynamic or fluidity of life. Life is not a constant. Like whitewater rafting, each new moment requires new insight. Rather than dull academic research, the Christian life is a lively awareness of what God wants done, how it needs to be done, and a sensitivity or understanding of the Holy Spirit in the process of doing it. We call this a Spirit-led or filled life. The Spirit-led life is neither the ecstatic experience in the worship gathering nor the foggy-eyed mystic in a desert cave hearing voices. It is knowing the will of God in life, how it applies, and partnering with the Holy Spirit as it comes about. 

But lest we think this is about developing a big, overarching strategy for a great ministry or megachurch, we have to take the next phrase of the text. The Spirit-led life, or as Paul calls it, “walk,” and its purpose are described here. In our lives we “walk in a manner worthy.” This is not about church growth strategy but about individual lives that live up to His name and please Him in all respects. It is producing fruit in the good works He has for us, and it increases in knowledge. This fruitfulness and knowledge is a by-product of living to and in Him. Instead of a really great staff developing a plan for ministry that will cause the church to grow, perhaps we need to focus on living every moment led by the Spirit and teaching other believers to do the same. 

Paul turns his attention to good works and knowledge. Too often we have focused solely on the latter, that is, on knowledge. The purpose of knowledge, wisdom, and understanding is ethical, not just academic: how to live (to do good works), not just knowing about life. I am amazed that we seem to think it is acceptable for a believer to attend Sunday services their whole life and never graduate and never enter the workforce. When we have good works and knowledge together, we are strengthened by God's power in two key areas. Here Paul is both in step and in stark contrast to much of contemporary Christianity. While Paul would advocate for good works and knowledge, like much of contemporary Christianity, he has a decidedly different objective. We think of work and knowledge as the pathway to growth or advancement. For Paul it is the pathway to steadfastness and patience. 

There is clearly nothing wrong with growing a great church, but these two virtues or strengths stand opposed to cowardice or despondency on the one hand and revenge on the other—temptations that are ever present in a life of discipleship and ministry. These virtues enable us to live joyfully the life that is difficult. 

The verse break between verses 11 and 12 is unfortunate. The acts and rituals of thanks to God are profoundly linked to the life of joy. There is a mixture of steadfastness, patience, joy, and thanks that gives us the ability, by the Holy Spirit, to live faithfully even in difficult circumstances. This has happened because we have deliverance from the authority of darkness and have been moved into this kingdom of his son Jesus. The powers of darkness have been broken, and we live in the light because of the forgiveness that Christ accomplished.

“Lord, help me to live a life of steadfastness, patience, joy and thankfulness” AMEN

Colossians 1:1-8

 Colossians 1:1-8

Paul begins with his typical greeting of “Grace” and “Peace.” The first is essential to the second; without grace, there is never the possibility of peace. But we should also note that the double greeting has both a Greek and Hebrew component. Even in saying, “Hello,” Paul is moving toward unity. This issue of unity will be developed later on in this letter.

Three elements that Paul refers to in this passage need to be developed in the life of every disciple. There can be no point at which we stop growing in these three areas. First, there is “Faith in Christ,” which is more than knowledge and theology. I can never have a strong faith if I live in ignorance. Nor can I assume I have it all figured out. I must avoid learning in order to reinforce my opinions and pet ideas. Rather, we learn to constantly challenge our personal convictions and make sure they are Biblical convictions. Knowledge is not the same as faith, but it is the foundation of faith. Faith is the active trust and living in the sphere of Christ. It is the challenges of obedience in the daily life—we live in Christ. 

Second is the “love of the saints.” Love is not practiced at a distance. Love for the saints requires an ongoing, involved, and intimate relationship. It is much more than membership in a church, even with weekly attendance, though for many that would be an improvement. Nor is it friendship and a common affection. Agape love is always costly. If the relationship is not based in the faith, ongoing, intimate, and in some way costly, it is not love. I should not try to find this in others, but rather, ought to find and develop it in myself. 

Third, “fruit bearing” is the final descriptive. The life of faith that is not bearing fruit is dead; that was the point of Jesus cursing the fig tree. What is the fruit that Paul refers to in verse 6? This is clearly critical! It is the fruit of both the change in the life of the believer and the expansion of the community of faith. Christianity is the ultimate invasive species. Everywhere it is supplanting and rooting out the native species of the world, the flesh, and the devil, and it is replacing these with its new life.

The church must never become or be allowed to be stupid (weak in faith), disconnected (without Agape love), and deadbeat (failing to work with the Holy Spirit in personal and kingdom growth). We must never look at Paul’s guidance as if he were speaking to another. We must hear him speaking to us.

"Lord, help me to consistently be growing in faith, love, and fruitfulness. AMEN"

Philippians 4:15-23

Philippians 4:15-23

In Greco-Roman culture, the act of saying thank you was not expected among friends. Rather they express their “Thank You” by rehearsing and recalling the actions of their friends. Paul never specifically said “thank you,” but he does recall their faithfulness in their support of his ministry. This church consistently sent gifts to Paul beginning while he was in Thessalonica, his first stop after Philippi. It is worth noting that Paul was culturally sensitive and aware of how gratitude should be expressed. We must be gracious with our gratitude. Good manners, while not specifically identified as holy, are a way of expressing the worth and importance of others. That is very much a way of expressing love. Paul also makes a point of balancing his gratitude for their gift and his contentment as well. He was not grubbing for money. At the same time, he was aware of the benefit for them of their giving.

In verse 17 Paul says, “I seek the profit that increases to your account.” Paul is telling us that what we give to a ministry is drawing interest, compounding interest. The word “increase” literally means super-abounding. In some way our giving is growing a profound reward within God's economy. That which we give to the Lord's work is not gone; instead, it's growing and will be the cause of increased reward when the Lord comes. The worst investment is that which gives us more earthly wealth rather than the compounding, multiplying interest of an eternal reward.

Paul sends greetings from the church in Rome to the church at Philippi. Those greetings include some from the house of Caesar. For a number of reasons we have lost the fellowship between congregations. This loss is greater than we realize. The shared fellowship of our community of faith at large, reminds us that we are part of something much bigger than our little congregation or group. Christians in other communities are not just a nameless demographic but people we know and love. The deeper connection with distant fellow believers benefits both our congregations in good and difficult circumstances. Best of all, it reminds us of the grace we have and share in Christ.

“Help me, Lord, to live in and be thankful for the universal church. AMEN”

Philippians 4:8-14

Philippians 4:8-14

In verses 8 and 9, Paul gives us the last component in “standing firm” from verse one. First we need unity, next joy, and now focused attention. Paul gives us categories or types of things on which we must focus our attention. That which secures my attention secures my will. The battle for moral behavior and character is won or lost in the arena of our thinking. What we continue to think about, we desire; what we continue to desire, we do; what we continue to do becomes our habits; those habits we continue in become our character. Bad character is much more than behavior; it is also the failure of our focused attention. Too often we pray and ask God to make us good while all the while our attention is focused on ignoble themes. We cannot make ourselves good, but we can either cooperate with God or refuse to cooperate with God in our sanctification. That begins with the focused attention of our minds.

The truth of the Gospel must not be relegated to the realm of abstract theory but rather expressed in life. Paul calls for the Philippians to recall his example and notes that if they do the same thing he did, they will enjoy the same peace he has. In a verbal play, Paul promises that the peace of God will guard them, and here he says that the God of Peace will be with them. Peace is not a random, haphazard experience that just happened. It is a result of our walking closely with God, and that describes our character.

Paul uses this moment both as an example and as a moment to say thanks. Their gift was a great help in Paul's life. However, Paul was more interested in the givers than in the gift itself. He understood the circumstances and was not chiding them for the delay. Rather, he demonstrates the peace of God in practical terms while at the same time setting their minds at ease. Notice he says that he “learned.” Those lessons did not come from a class and teacher; they were not special revelations. These lessons were learned in the experiences of life, by doing and redoing. The word “secret” means, “I have been initiated into the mystery.” It was used in secular Greek to refer to someone who had endured the disciplines of the religion so as to enter it. This was a long process.

Verse 13 is very often taken out of context. It is not a success verse but a humble verse about doing with or without but remaining at peace in Christ.

“Lord, give me the grace to be in You at every moment for there alone will I find peace. AMEN”

Philippians 4:1-7

 Philippians 4:1-7

There is so much beautiful material in this passage we could write a book on faithful Christian living by carefully dissecting each verse and word. However, one phrase stands out and is sometimes taken out of context. This will receive our focus. Verse 7 is a beautiful promise for the Christian life. In this verse God promises to guard our minds and our hearts in response to a great many anxieties about our lives. However, if taken out of context, this verse may feel like an empty promise. We want God's peace, and it is promised here, but often we do not have it. Why is that the case? Because God's peace is not fairy dust that is sprinkled over us; rather, it is the end of a long chain of actions and choices.

This chain begins with the pursuit of loving God as seen at the end of chapter 3. As a result of the pursuit of loving God, we are to stand firm, not wavering in our faith and conviction. In that determination to remain faithful, we work to resolve personal conflicts. We are not told what the rift was between these ladies, but it was serious enough that Paul called them out by name. Paul next calls for the choice of joy. Not the circumstances are emotions but the action of joy. There are always reasons to be joyless, but joy is a self-disciplined choice. Next, Paul calls for a forbearing spirit. The word forbearing indicates gentleness, yielding, patience, kindness, leniency, and magnanimity. You can see how this kind of attitude could help in personal conflict. The forbearing person is not spineless; they can hold relentlessly to the truth, but they are selfless. Paul reminds us that the Lord is near. This may mean that He is present with us or He is soon to return; either case should motivate us. In contrast to a life of worrying and anxiety, Paul calls us to a life of prayer. He described specific types of prayer that should replace anxiety. He begins by calling us to prayer in general. Next is supplication, or seeking specific benefits. After that Thanksgiving, which is praise and thanks for past blessings, which serve as a reminder of God’s faithfulness and which produces confidence. Finally, make a request or plea for specific matters.

As a result of a life that is focused on loving Christ, resolving conflict, being determined to be rejoicing, gentle, and forbearing action, and praying about anxiety-causing issues, God's incomprehensible peace stands guard over our hearts. The guard stands to protect but also to call reinforcements if needed. But the guard is stationed only at the end of the string of events or disciplines.

“Lord, guard my heart and mind because, Lord, I have put my trust in You. AMEN”

Philippians 3:15-21

Philippians 3:15-21

What does it mean to be mature as a disciple of Christ? What marks a person that is moving in the right direction in their spiritual walk? Everyone is a disciple of someone. Some, but not all, are Disciples of Christ. Among those, some of His disciples are good and others are not. What's the difference? In verse 14 Paul identifies knowing and loving Christ as the focus of the disciple’s life. Maturity is the passionate love of Christ; to know Him and to be in Him. While knowledge is important and behavior must be holy, the pursuit of Christ is the mark. In verse 15 Paul gives great freedom and expresses his trust in the Philippian Christian. Those who share this pursuit are mature. Those who don't get it will come around eventually, under the Lord's prompting. Paul doesn't go into a lot of detail, simply insisting they will get there. But in the meantime he calls them to live holy lives and not to lose ground in their moral behavior.

He says this because at the time there were false teachers who taught that since a disciple has been and is freely forgiven, they could indulge in sin. These people who claimed to be disciples were in fact enemies of the Cross. Paul's description of them in verse 19 sounds as if he were describing many pseudo-Christians today, as they attempt to disconnect and redefine right and wrong. What is sometimes described as “liberal theology" is nothing more than an attack on the cross of Christ. The attempted inclusion of immorality into Christian life is nothing more than the world, the flesh, and the devil parading around while pretending to proclaim Christ. They are thoroughly fit for and belong to the world.

In contrast our citizenship, our belongings are in Heaven. The Philippians enjoyed the privilege of Roman citizenship, and for them this metaphor would have been uniquely powerful. A Roman citizen’s life was profoundly better than that of a subjugated people of the empire. As citizens of Heaven, we enjoy many but not yet all the privileges of our citizenship. In the meantime we eagerly wait for the Savior’s coming. The Greek word “eagerly wait” is a powerful multi-compound word made up of three parts. Properly it means “waiting that decisively puts away all that should remain behind.” To say it more smoothly, “eagerly waiting” is not passively waiting but waiting by getting ready to go. And the way we get ready to go is not attending to or focusing on that which we leave when Christ returns.

“Lord, help me get ready to go. AMEN”

Philippians 3:8-14

 Philippians 3:8-14

Paul considers all the advantages he may have had as a “loss” or a “bad deal” in order to know Christ. In fact, he says that all these advantages are rubbish. This is the only place in the New Testament that we find this word. In secular Greek it was used to describe rotten food, manure, or refuse. The point is that the advantages we may depend on are not only a bad deal of damaged goods, but they are also repugnant and dangerous. Paul would no more rely on them for his hope than he would eat maggot-infested roadkill for a meal. We must not miss the point: anytime we begin to believe in, trust, or be confident in our goodness as the key to our spiritual well-being, we are feasting on a toxic meal.

We must pursue holiness and righteousness, but not one from ourselves but the righteousness of Christ. Paul uses interesting verbs and tenses in this passage. The value of knowing Christ is so great that the first kernel of knowing Christ is greater than all self-achieved righteousness. Paul was not content with the first kernel. He wanted more of Christ and His righteousness. Paul saw in the passion, death, and resurrection of Christ the ultimate goal of his personal existence. The resurrected Jesus was something absolutely unique in history. Paul doesn't take time to define and describe it in this passage, but it is obvious that he has thought about it a great deal. The resurrected life, that is, to be like Jesus, was his goal. He was very aware that he had not yet arrived, but he was setting that life as his ultimate goal, his finish line. There is “knowledge of,” and there is “knowing,” and there is a difference. I know of George Washington, Richard the Lionhearted, or Stalin, but I know my wife. Paul wants to know, with an intense and intimate kind of knowledge, the suffering, death, and resurrection of Christ. Not for the sake of anything other than knowing Christ.

Paul becomes hyper focused on loving and knowing Christ. All past advantages are forgotten; all past failures are also forgotten, not in the sense of being erased from memory, but in that they are not depended upon nor hold back knowing Christ. In times of hardship, nothing will enable us to hang on except that we love Christ. If anything, be it Bible study, knowledge, right behavior, or power in the church, replaces loving Jesus, we are doomed to fail to win the prize for which we were called.

“Lord, grant me the strength to seek nothing other than knowing Christ. AMEN”