Philippians

Chapter 2: Teamwork, Servanthood, and Feelings vs. Beliefs

From Herods attempt to kill the Christ-child to today there have been numerous attempts to crush the Church and silence the gospel. From the forces of scientific cynicism (as opposed to skepticism, which is elemental to wisdom), to the rewriting of history (which highlights the Churchs mistakes and omits its benefits), to the spirits that personally bully and threaten us when we want to share our faith or pray for a need, its easy to feel intimidated! But Paul encourages the Philippians that refusing to be backed-down in such moments can be the key to victory (1:27-30). Interestingly, Paul weaves his comments about courage-in-publicly-living-out-our-faith together with encouragements toward unity with other believers. Chapter 2 begins with Paul completing the weave back toward the subject of unity: I. Were a Team (v. 1-4) A. The body of Christ is a massive group that encompasses radical differences. Sadly, as if the body had an autoimmune disease, certain parts have even fought and killed one another. But what unites us is far deeper and more powerful than has divided us. One gospel means one body. If our faith is in the Cross (and not ourselves), then we cant be against other believers-in-the-Cross. B. Tensions and differences are OK. A body works because of the sometimes contradictory-seeming functions of its parts. Were not supposed to look alike, think alike, or worship alike. Each person is a reflection of Gods genius and creativity. Were a team. Learning to think and act like it brings out the best in all of us (Ephesians 4:12-16). C. Even after all our peacemaking-efforts have failed (Romans 12:18), believers have an ultimate point of unity: we trust in Jesus, not ourselves. Because Jesus loved us when we hated Him (Romans 5:8), we are empowered to love each other even when theres no natural common ground. Sometimes love means drawing boundaries (Acts 9:30, 1 Corinthians 5:2, Galatians 5:15, Colossians 2:8), but it never includes bitterness or revenge. II. Greatness through Servanthood (v. 5-18) A. Gods greatness is thoroughly humble. Jesus wholeheartedly came under the Father, and the Father gladly exalted His Son. When God dreams of greatness, Hes not thinking of ways to come over people to control them, Hes imagining ways to get under them to lift them up. B. When Rome dreamed of greatness, it dreamed of conquest. Philippi was a monument to its glory. For Caesar, equality with God was not only grasped-for, it was demanded. Rome crucified Jesus for refusing to acknowledge its supremacy. They stripped and beat Him, imagining it would prove their glory over His. But through submission and humility, Jesus disarmed them. Hanging naked and bloodied, He defeated them and made a public spectacle of their cruelty and injustice (Colossians 2:15). People who worshipped this servanthearted Man-God tended not to be impressed by the Roman Dream or its Caesar. They knew that a new world had already begun, that Jesus was its true King, that the old world and its system of threats and rewards were passing away, and that by following Jesus example they could also overcome the old world and live in the new. Caesar himself would soon be kneeling before the Risen Christ. Todd Millikan!
February 3, 2013! 1

The Coastlands
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C. Embracing humility and servanthood is countercultural in our day, too. The American Dream (or the Santa Cruz Dream) has as little to do with Jesus as the Roman Dream did. Following Jesus always cuts against the grain. Our dreams die so that Gods dreams for us can be realized. In the process, we discover that His plans fulfill our true longings (Psalm 37:4). D. Verse 12 is often misunderstood. When Christians say, Work out your salvation, its almost always misquoted and out of context. Your salvation is misunderstood as a counterpart to Gods salvation (as if we do our part and God does His partan idea contrary to the gospel). That isnt Pauls point at all! Instead, Paul is saying their salvation is theirs directly from God, not from himself. Since its not Pauls salvation, they dont need him around to continue to grow. Hes saying, Keep being attentive and sincere like you were when I was with you. Its not about me. Its your salvation. So keep being awed and amazed by Him and His work. Then youll end up working hard because He will give you a desire and strength to serve Him thats really from Him, not from yourself. Remember, its His work in you from start to finish. E. Paul finishes the section by indirectly quoting an Old Testament prophecy. As the old world wanes toward extinction, people who know God and lead others to Him will shine brightly as stars in the midst of the darkness (Daniel 12:3). Our humble service, pouring our lives out onto others in seemingly wasteful fashion, will lead to shining glory, just as it did for Jesus. Every life will be poured out. But if we pour onto others (rather than ourselves), then its not a waste. III. Feelings vs. Beliefs - Camaraderie in Difficulty (v. 19-30). A. So far, Paul has been writing pure truth. Hes shared what hes chosen to believe about his difficulties, not about how he feels. Now we glimpse the other side. Faith doesnt make life less painful. Rather, faith stretches us to feel more of what God does: the heights of joy because of the promises and foretastes that were given (i.e. worship, healing, deliverance) of the final redemption which is to come (at Christs Second Coming), and the depths of sorrow because of the suffering we share with each other and with Christ along the way. B. Paul is not emotionally dumping on the Philippians, but hes not hiding or pretending that faith makes life painless, either. He shares his need for encouragement (v. 19), his sense of loneliness (v. 20), betrayal (v. 21), depression (v. 27), and anxiety (v. 28). Godly leaders keep their eyes on Jesus (which enables them not to come unglued in tough times), but they keep it real. Its in their weakness, not their strength, that Gods power can be most clearly seen (2 Corinthians 12:9). C. Perhaps the most important lesson in this section is to realize how Paul is drawing strength from the Philippians and how hes teaching them to draw strength from himself, Timothy, and Epaphroditus. Strength comes through faith, but love triumphs even when faith falters (1 Corinthians 13:13).
All for one and one for all!

Todd Millikan!
February 3, 2013!

The Coastlands
www.coastlands.org