melvinbaileyjr

The week of May 20, 2024.

As we complete our journey of extracting brief insights from Paul’s letter to the Philippians, I remind you of the letter’s overall theme: the gospel’s impact on our personal lives as expressed in a corporate setting. That is, the truths we see in this brief letter should impact us first as we live them out among our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, namely, the members of the local-global church we belong to. Paul says in 1:27,

“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.”

Our final focus is on Philippians 4:4-23 where Paul calls believers to rejoice in the Lord regardless of life’s circumstances because of the gospel. Please take a quick moment to read these verses anew. The following insights are broken down by paragraphs in the text:

Philippians 4:4-7

• The apostle Paul’s insistent command the Philippians and all Christians are to continuously be rejoicing is unmistakable. And the mark of obedience to this command is reasonable gentleness on our part. If you’re like me, that does not always describe us. Yet, the command and the mark remain. Why? I think it’s because if we are constantly remembering and focusing on who God is and what He’s accomplished on our behalf through the gospel, then it will bring us joy; an inward peace that rests upon the Person and work of Jesus.
• The declaration “The Lord is near” certainly speaks to the solid foundation of Jesus and the gospel for all of life. For this is the reason Paul commands believers to continuously not be anxious or distracted by anything. Rather we are to live a lifestyle of thankful reliance upon God expressed through continual dependent conversation with our heavenly Father. Children have no problem asking their parents for what they need and desire; trust me on this. This is the amazing lifestyle we’re commanded to live by the apostle Paul.
• So, with such a Christ-centered lifestyle as our life description, it makes perfect sense for the peace of God that He provides serves as our internal guardian. But if the peace of God “surpasses all understanding,” how will we know we are experiencing it? Well, Paul already answered this question in verse 5: our reasonable gentleness will be unmistakable to others, and I dare say, even to ourselves. For if our continual life focus is influenced by Jesus and the gospel, then how we view life is tempered by this ultimate unshakeable foundation. Indeed, this is what the apostle is saying by using the gospel-centric title of “Christ Jesus” in verse 7, which means God’s Anointed One to save His people. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.”

Philippians 4:8-9

• We know the word “Finally” is used by Paul to indicate he’s about to say something important. Thus, the apostle is connecting his previous comments to what he’s saying now. In a nutshell, Paul is saying our thought life precedes the practice of our life, and contextually, our thoughts should be influenced by Jesus and the gospel. For what else is perfectly “true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, worthy of praise?” Moreover, isn’t Jesus and the gospel the “things” the Philippians have “learned, received, heard, and seen” in Paul? Therefore, it makes perfect sense for Paul to command the Philippians and Christians everywhere at all times in all places to continuously think about such things.
• With this being clear, it is no wonder Paul commands Christians to “practice these things.” We are commanded to continuously “do” Jesus and the gospel. Granted, that sounds weird. But it is what we mean when we say we are to continuously without interruption live a Christ-centered, gospel-driven lifestyle. And note the familiar promise of “the God of peace will be with you.” This is the same promise Jesus made when commissioning the church through the apostles to make disciples for Him (cf. Mt 28:18-20). For when Christians are continuously living under the influence of Jesus and the gospel, we will both be disciples and be making disciples for Jesus. We will be “practicing these things,” and “the God of peace will be with” us.

Philippians 4:10-14

• What does it mean to “rejoice in the Lord” and much more, to do this “greatly?” This is important because Paul told the Philippians this is what he did. To rejoice in the Lord is to actively and continuously remember who Jesus is and what He has done on our behalf. It is to find our meaning in all of life in Jesus Christ. And the life circumstance that caused Paul to rejoice in the Lord is the Philippians’ activity in meeting his needs. For Paul saw Jesus as the Instigator of such loving activity. And the word “greatly” speaks to Paul’s acknowledgement of the sovereign providence of God behind the actions of the Philippians. Do we see Jesus in the same way?
• This perspective informed the apostle’s attitude concerning needs and abundance. And this perspective flies in the face of those who believe Christians must simply “let go and let God” when it comes to dealing with the issues of life. For Paul believed and lived like he had a part to play in every situation of life he faced. But what informed his activities is the fact God is sovereignly working within His creation to care for His people. Therefore, Paul could act knowing every need will be met by God whether he had a lot or a little. Hence, our strength and resources are not the determining factor whether we act in faith or not. The Personhood of God informs our actions.
• Still, Paul thought it was kind of the Philippians to take action in meeting his needs. In fact, he viewed their actions as them partnering with him in his imprisonment because of the gospel. You do remember that he is writing this letter from a Roman prison (house arrest) because he was preaching the gospel, right? This view of Paul’s and the Philippians’ actions show us that there are multiple ways to be involved in the ministry of the gospel. We just have to trust the providence of God, look for gospel-centered opportunities, and then act on what He opens our eyes to see.

Philippians 4:15-20

• Without question, the central theme of these verses, as with this entire letter, is the gospel. Here, Paul is sharing a key truth about the gospel—it is about “giving and receiving.” Granted, the practical element the apostle is initially talking about is the financial gift to the needy in the church at Jerusalem. But clearly Paul is basing that practical act in the fact Jesus gave Himself for us and we received His gift resulting in salvation. We see that truth in the very well-known and often quoted verse 19, “And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
• Another insight observed in these verses concerns financial gifts to support people on missionary trips. We see such gifts are “a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.” For God is pleased when we support missionaries and the work of God above and beyond our regular giving.
• Moreover, such giving and receiving based on the gospel strengthens our relationship with Jesus and with one another. Our fruitfulness, our effectiveness, our spiritual growth increases when we engage in both contributing to the needs of others and receiving help from others. Also, when this is both our mindset and practice, we recognize more easily our own needs are met by God from His unlimited resources resulting in Him receiving glory.

Philippians 4:21-22

• Paul told the Philippians to “Greet every saint in Christ Jesus.” The way he phrases this command is it is what Christians should be known for as we interact with one another. We should expect other Christians to be friendly with us. Moreover, WE should be friendly with other Christians. We should initiate engagement with one another without waiting for someone else to take the first step. We move toward one another because Jesus first moved toward us. Without question, this should be the first expression of our love for one another as the distinction of being followers of Jesus Christ.
• This genuine Christian friendliness was what Paul and his companions demonstrated to the Philippians, “The brothers who are with me greet you.” They didn’t wait for the Philippians to engage and be friendly with them because the Philippians’ actions did not dictate their friendliness toward fellow Christians. A contextual tie-in with previous verses is missionaries should engage with those who partner with them in God’s ministry without waiting to receive friendliness from their partners.
• “All the saints greet you” is a clear statement engaging friendliness is to be a mark of all Christians. But notice Paul adds, “especially those of Caesar’s household.” The apostle is telling his readers that even though he is in prison for the gospel, the gospel itself is not chained! For God has used it to produce salvation among those who have imprisoned Paul. Moreover, this gospel-centered fact proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that Christians are to initiate engaging friendliness with one another because it shows we have indeed been saved by God. May this continue to be true of many of us and start to be true of others in the days ahead.

Philippians 4:23

• The bookends of God’s grace in this letter are unmistakable (1:2 cf. 4:23). For it is obvious Paul is utterly dependent upon God for all things, believes that all Christians are in the same camp, and he wants to keep this inescapable fact in the forefront of the minds of his readers. We need God’s grace to enable us to live for Jesus every day. We need God’s grace to strengthen us in every circumstance. We need God’s grace even when we don’t know or acknowledge our desperate need for it. That’s why it’s grace; receiving from God all that we need even though we don’t deserve it.
• Furthermore, notice the apostle affirms the ownership of grace belonging to the Lord Jesus Christ. This is not only an acknowledgment of Christ’s deity, but it also informs the Philippians and us that Jesus Himself is both the Sovereign God and Savior of those who believe in Him. For Paul uses the definite article “the” rather than the personal “our” before “Lord Jesus Christ” in this verse. Therefore, Jesus is in charge of all things, nothing escapes His direct attention, and He has the power and authority to bring into existence whatever is in our best interest in whatever circumstances we are in.
• But notice where Paul states the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ to be—with our spirits. In other words, this particular experience of the grace of God is inside of us. Remember the apostle is in prison, albeit house arrest, he is still imprisoned and unable to go where he wants to whenever he wants to. Even so, Paul realizes God’s grace is not limited by geographical location. For it is the practical experience of the believer in Jesus to always dwell in His presence because He Himself dwells inside each believer. After all, He is the God of all grace (cf. 1 Peter 5:10).

Prayer: Father, help me trust You and Your grace and thereby rejoice in all my life circumstances. Keep my focus on Jesus and the gospel to the end You are glorified.

Thanks again for spending this time together with me over the last few months, and I’ll “see” you when the Lord says so!

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.”