A Christmas Hope - Isaiah 11:1-9

When people think of Christmas Scripture from the Old Testament book of Isaiah, they usually think of this one:

“Therefore the LORD himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14 ESV

Or this one:

“For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.”
Isaiah 9:6-7 ESV

They don't usually think of Isaiah 11.

Yet, the Righteous Branch spoken of in Isaiah 11 is a tremendous promise, and the passage is a prophecy foretelling the glorious future of God's people that will come to pass in the day of Messiah. It finds its fulfillment in Jesus and gives God's people a hope now, just as it did back then. Like them, we live in a world of heartache, pain, suffering, calamity, natural disaster, disease, famine, war, and violence. Like them, we are promised a golden age when all these things will end and the Righteous Branch shall reign and the world shall be made new. Listen and worship and understand the joy and hope of Christmas. To hear the sermon click the link below:

A Christmas Hope - Isaiah 11:1-9

May the Lord bless you and keep you.

1 Samuel

Hannah, Samuel, Eli, Saul, David, Goliath, Jonathan, Ichabod, (Ichabod?) (Yes, Ichabod), Hophni, Phineas, Doeg the Edomite. These are characters you meet inside the action-packed book of 1 Samuel. Was Samuel the last judge or the first prophet? What is this Ark of the Covenant and does it have anything to do with Indiana Jones? Why do the people want a king? What king do they get? Why does this king want to kill David? Why won't David kill him back? How does all this point to Jesus?

Here are the videos for the conversation John and I had about the Old Testament book called 1 Samuel. The entire conversation is only about twenty minutes long and, I think, very informative about the content of this book. If you would like to read 1 Samuel and know what it is you are reading and what it means to us as Christians then these videos were made for you. Watch and be blessed.

Psalm 8 - The Incarnation

Psalm 8 is one of the more beautiful and familiar of the Psalms. Categorized as a "creation psalm", this psalm praises God for his glorious creation and asks the poignant question, "What is man?"

But there is more to this psalm than meets the eye. I try to look at it through the eyes of David, but then I go further and see what Jesus had to say about the psalm, and finally how it was interpreted by the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews. It's a short psalm--nine verses. Read through it and then click the link to hear the sermon I preached from it.

Soli Deo Gloria

O LORD, our Lord, 

how majestic is your name in all the earth! 

You have set your glory above the heavens. 

Out of the mouth of babies and infants, 

you have established strength because of your foes, 

to still the enemy and the avenger. 

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,

 the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 

what is man that you are mindful of him, 

and the son of man that you care for him? 

Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings 

and crowned him with glory and honor. 

You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; 

you have put all things under his feet, 

all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, 

the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, 

whatever passes along the paths of the seas. 

O LORD, our Lord, 

how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Click here: Psalm 8 - A Psalm of the Incarnation

Ruth--Grace In The Midst of Chaos

Tucked away in the Old Testament is a beautiful little book called Ruth. Four chapters long, it is easily overlooked among all the longer works in the early narrative of the Hebrew Scriptures. What is Ruth about and why is it important? When I open it, what should I expect? Is it possible that this little story points to Christ?

Judges

The biblical book of Judges is a gritty chronicle of the early days of the people of God after they entered the promised land. If you attended Sunday School as a child then you are familiar with many of the characters and stories in the book--Gideon, Samson and Delilah, Barak and Deborah. The book of Judges is a fast-paced, sometimes gruesome portrayal of heroes, apostasy, faith and faithlessness, triumph and tragedy. In this video we look at some of the details and ask some tough questions. Most importantly we tackle the meaning and purpose of the book and what the Christian can take away from it. Finally we look for Christ and, of course, we find him here, too. Only about twenty minutes total, I hope you will take the time to watch.

Psalm 4 - A Sermon

While at first glance you might not think so, the Psalms speak to us and our faith in our every day lives. Psalm 4 certainly does, and the faith that it encourages us toward is a necessary element of our lives. In this Psalm David both encourages the people of God and adds a poignant message to the unbelieving world around him.

Below is a link to the audio of a sermon I preached from Psalm 4 this past Sunday. I hope it is a blessing.

Psalm 4 - An Evening Psalm

(I mention John Chrysostum in the sermon.)

Joshua

Genocide, holy war, the sun standing still, whole families being wiped out for the sin of one individual . . . what are we to do with the book of Joshua? John and I take a look at this tough to understand, controversial book in the Old Testament canon, and we look it right in the face. Does God command his people to wage holy war? Is it fair that God punishes whole families for the sins of a patriarchal leader? Do Christians really believe that Joshua commanded the sun to stand still and it did? What are we to make of this book and what does it have to say to us today as Christians in the 21st century? Does it have anything to do with Jesus?

I would like to say that we give thorough and satisfying answers to all these questions, but I'm not sure we do. What we do, however, is look the questions right in the face without flinching and give a defense of the holiness of God and the authority of Scripture. Having reviewed this several times I'm still not satisfied with my answers completely, but I believe the testimony of God can stand up to all scrutiny. Watch and think and learn and trust and adore.

The Historical Books of the Old Testament

There are 39 books in what we call the Old Testament. Each of these books is unique and yet all unite  together to give testimony to the faithfulness of the God of Israel--and all point forward to a Messiah.

We divide these 39 books into four major sections. The first one is the Pentateuch or the five books of Moses, also called Torah or the Law. (We have covered these books previously.) Now we come to the second major section, known as the Historical or narrative books of the Old Testament.

How many books are in this section and what do we find in them? That is the topic of these next videos. John asks and I try to answer some important questions about the Historical books. The conversation is designed to introduce this section of the Bible and give you an idea of what is coming. I recommend you have the table of contents in your Bible open as you listen, just for quick reference, especially if you're relatively unfamiliar with the books. Afterwards, you should be able to begin reading with a better idea of what is in them. Again, the first video is just short of 15 minutes and the second one less than 5.

 
The next videos in the series will cover each of these books individually.

Psalm 6 - A Psalm of Repentance

The Psalms are both deeply theological and intensely emotional. The Psalms are about life and worship. While we often make a distinction between life and worship, the Psalms do not. Psalm 6 is a passionate Psalm dealing with David's repentance and God's forgiveness. What role should repentance play in our life and worship? Take a listen to the audio sermon linked below.

Psalm 6 - A Psalm of Repentance

This sermon was originally delivered to a small Bible study group in an assisted living facility in Quitman, Texas on October 23, 2015.

Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy is the re-telling or re-giving of the Law. The last of the books of Moses, this is one of the key books for understanding the whole Bible. The entire book takes place in one scene and is the last recorded words of Moses to God's people before Moses dies. In this video, I ask and John attempts to answer some important questions that will help the modern reader to understand and appreciate this book.

The first video is fifteen minutes and part 2 is only five minutes more. Those last five minutes are important, though, because that is the segment where we tie it all into Christ.

Numbers--In the Wilderness

What is the book of Numbers about? What was its original name? For what and for whom was it written? Is there anything in it that is relevant to the 21st century? Where is Jesus in Numbers?

This is the sixth video in our Old Testament series. These videos were designed to help make the Old Testament understandable for the 21st century reader. The New Testament says that God's word is alive and powerful, and when it says that, it is talking about the Hebrew Bible, or what we Christians call the Old Testament. Is it true that a dusty old Hebrew book like Numbers could have something for us today? Watch the videos and find out. Once again, Pastor John Pflug and I have a discussion. This time John asks the questions and I stumble over the answers. The first video is 15 minutes and the second one only 6 minutes more. Watch and be blessed.

Into the wilderness . . .

Leviticus

What is the book of Leviticus about? What purpose does it serve in the Bible? What are all those animal sacrifices for? Why does Leviticus have so many rules and do they matter to you and me? Do Christians have to obey all the laws in Leviticus? How does Leviticus point to Jesus?

This time I ask the questions and Pastor John R. Pflug, Jr. attempts the answers. Take a few minutes to watch and learn something about the book of Leviticus. The first clip is fifteen minutes and the second one only five. Be blessed. 

(Be on the lookout for a chart and a brief cameo from the Moses bobble head)

Psalm 1 - The Blessed Ones

As you shall see, if you click the link and listen to the sermon audio MP3 file below, the blessed ones are those who are in Christ. This is the first sermon in a series on the Psalms, a series in which I will attempt to preach one sermon from each of the Psalms. I've already linked recordings to Psalms 2 and 3 in previous blog posts. This is the link to Psalm 1. Be blessed.

Psalm 1 - The Blessed Ones

The sermon was preached at the Winnsboro Reformed Church in Winnsboro, Texas on Sunday, October 18, 2015.

Exodus

Exodus is a very important book in the Bible. No doubt you're familiar with the story. What you may not be aware of is its importance in redemptive history. The total time for the two videos is only 20 minutes. The first one lasts for 15 and the second one wraps it up in 5 more.

Psalm 3 - Salvation Belongs to the Lord

Audio file for the sermon I preached this past Sunday. The sermon is taken from Psalm 3 and is entitled "Salvation Belongs to the Lord". The file is about 24 minutes long. Just click on the link below.

Psalm 3 - Salvation Belongs to the Lord

Genesis

What is the first book of the Bible and what is it about? Does it have relevance for us today? Can we believe it? What are we to make of it and what does it have to do with Jesus?

The first video is Part 1 and it goes about 15 minutes and then gets cut off abruptly, but it picks back up again in the second video which lasts just a few minutes longer.

Introduction to the Pentateuch

What is a 'Pentateuch' and why would anyone ever need to know? Well, Pentateuch is just a fancy name for the first five books of the Bible, also known as the Books of Moses or the Torah. In our video series, John and I will go through each of those books one at a time, but first we introduce this section of the Bible in these two short videos. The first one is about 14 1/2 minutes and the second one is just a little bit short of 12. Anyone who wants to be able to read the Bible and understand what it's about and what is going on will benefit from these videos.

Part 1:

Part 2:

Introduction to the Old Testament

This is a video series done by my friend John R. Pflug and I as our own sort of Old Testament Survey course. We produced it to be used in the adult Sunday School class of First Presbyterian Church of Winnsboro, Texas during the year 2015. This particular video was our introduction to the course (and to the Old Testament.) It lays a foundation for what is to come and hopefully serves to help a beginning Bible student to understand both why the Old Testament is important for us as Christians and how it is that we as Christians should seek to understand it. Even if you are familiar with the Old Testament already I think that you will find this video (and this series) to be of value to you in opening up what is sometimes a closed book to our modern eyes. Watch and be blessed.

Kiss The Son - Psalm 2

This is a link to an audio file of a sermon I preached on September 27, 2015 at the First Presbyterian Church of Winnsboro, Texas. The sermon is entitled "Kiss the Son" and is taken from Psalm 2.

Psalm 2 - Kiss the Son

Joy to the World

“What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. (Philippians 1:18 ESV)

Joy is a theme in Paul's epistle to the Philippians--a theme we will explore further as we progress. Joy is listed among the 'fruit of the Spirit' in that famous passage from Galatians. In that sense, joy is a product of the Holy Spirit's work in our lives. But first and foremost joy is an attribute of God, and God is the source of all true joy in the world. In fact, the greatest joy in the universe is to be found only in the presence of God.

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”Psalm 16:11 ESV

When Adam fell, and we along with him, we lost our worthiness to be in the presence of God, and with that we lost our right to know true joy. It is our sin which has brought misery into the world. (All misery is the result of sin, either directly or indirectly.) It is God, in Christ, who has chosen to bring joy back into the world and offer it to us freely. But he does not offer it to us apart from Himself. The joy he offers is the joy of being restored to his presence.

True joy is only found in Jesus Christ, for Jesus Christ has paved the way for us to be accepted back into the presence of God. This is why the coming of Jesus caused Isaac Watts to pen the words to the hymn "Joy To The World". In a very true sense Jesus Christ has come into the world to restore lost joy, for he has come to bring us back into, restore for us our place in, the presence of God,

So when people preach Christ, whoever they are and for whatever reason, Paul rejoices. He rejoices because the very name of Christ means joy to him. He rejoices because the message of Christ is the message of joy to a miserable world. He rejoices because the more Christ is proclaimed, the closer we come to the day when all things will be made new, and all the world will be enveloped in joy.

Where is your joy? Is there joy in your life? Sin promises joy, but trust me, sin only delivers misery. Sin is deceitful. God, on the other hand, is faithful and keeps his word and God has promised us joy in Jesus Christ. Do you know joy? Do you know Him? Have you told someone else about Him? Joy is offered you in the gospel--true and lasting joy. Come to Christ and know what it means to experience this.

Motive II

“Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.” (Philippians 1:15-16 ESV)

Not just love for God, and not just love for neighbor, but love for Paul himself motivated the Christians in Rome to proclaim Christ. Paul declares that it is the knowledge that Paul was in prison for the defense of the gospel and love for Paul that motivated these believers, emboldened them, to proclaim the gospel.

Think about that for a moment. What does the one have to do with the other?

There's nothing like persecution to make us stop and take inventory of what we believe and whether or not it is really worth believing. Anybody can be a Christian when being a Christian is popular. Anybody can give an opinion when that opinion is the popular one. But when being a Christian becomes unpopular, or when being a Christian can get you thrown in prison or even killed, then we stop and count the cost and make decisions about whether or not Christ is actually worth it. At this point many just stop being Christians. 

When the gospel is popular then telling the good news actually can make us beloved. But when the gospel message becomes unpopular or even hated then we have to ask ourselves whether it is really worth telling. When speaking about Christ can get us thrown in prison or even killed, then only those of us who really believe the message and are sold on its value will still proclaim it.

And that's where Paul finds himself. To him the message must be proclaimed at any cost. Think about it. Everyone in the whole Imperial Guard, and presumably in Caesar's own household as well, knows that Paul is imprisoned "for Christ." The fact that Paul is willing to suffer imprisonment for Christ is a powerful witness to the truth and value of Christ. Anyone can make a truth claim, but Paul is willing to die for his. That's powerful stuff--not just for unbelieving Romans, but for believing ones as well. His testimony of faithfulness through persecution speaks volumes about the value of his message to unbelievers and believers alike. No wonder his imprisonment has emboldened so many to preach Christ!

And there are some of the more timid brethren who, for one reason or another, may have otherwise remained silent who will now speak up about their faith. Why? Out of love for Paul himself. How can they watch him suffer for what they, too, claim to believe and not take up his cause? So, seeing his faith and faithfulness, they add their voices and thus add credence to his faith and message.

In the news almost daily we hear of fellow Christians around the world who are suffering for their faith. They speak a different language, they wear different clothes, they have funny-sounding names, but they worship and love the same Christ. They are brothers and sisters. Men are beheaded. Women and children are raped and sold into slavery. Whole villages are plundered and pillaged and burned, hundreds and thousands are murdered for the crime of being Christians. How shall we love them? How shall we show our fidelity to their cause? Seeing them martyred for their faith, do we dare remain timid about ours? It is time to speak. It is time to be bold. It is time to proclaim Christ no matter the cost. Love for Christ, love for the world, and love for the persecuted Church demands it.

Motive

“Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.” (Philippians 1:15-16 ESV)

The motive for proclaiming Christ is love--love for Christ and love for our neighbor. The best way to fulfill the Royal Law is to proclaim Jesus.

The Royal Law is so-called because it is the Law given by our King. James coined the phrase in his epistle (James 2:8), calling it the Royal Law because it was emphasized by Jesus himself. Witness this passage from Mark's Gospel:

“And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” “Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:28-31 ESV)

The Royal Law should be our motive in all that we do. It should shape our thinking about our lives, our purpose. It should dictate how we interact with the world around us. Love for God and neighbor should be our most compelling feature, our distinguishing trait.

We cannot genuinely love God without loving what he loves and purposing what he purposes. We cannot say we are passionate about God until we are passionate about what he is passionate about. To love God is to be passionate about his glory in Jesus Christ. To love God is to wish to see Jesus honored and exalted above all else. We cannot love God without proclaiming Christ to all who will listen. Do we love God? Then we must speak.

Neither can we claim to love our neighbor and be silent about the one who left heaven to save our neighbor from destruction. Sin destroys, but Christ is the sin-destroyer. When Paul says that some preached Christ "out of love" he was pointing out that love for our neighbor compels us to tell him about the only one who can rescue him from eternal calamity. The best thing we can ever do for anyone is point him to Christ.

Love is not always easy. Sometimes love requires us to do and say things that others do not like. Sometimes love is tough, hard to take. But genuine love speaks the truth and is honest about our needs. If we are to love our neighbor we have to be honest about sin, about God's holiness, about the destructive nature of sin, about the cross and what it took to save a fallen race. We have to be willing to point out things that the world does not like to hear. Sometimes love for God means offending fallen men. If the truth offends then we must side with the truth anyway. Love for our neighbor requires us to tell him the truth even if he does not want to hear it.

This is not a license to be rude or divisive. It is simply pointing out that some of what Christ claimed and preached was considered rude and divisive even by the people who heard his message in his day. Preach it anyway.

Lord, help us today to love you and love our neighbor so much that we cannot help but proclaim the wonderful news of the God who came down, became one of us, that he might save us. Help us to love so much that we will not be afraid to tell the truth of Christ even if it offends hardened ears. May love motivate us.

Ambition

Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. . . The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. (Philippians 1:15, 17 ESV)

Search the New Testament from cover to cover and you will never find ambition mentioned as a virtue. Never. Not once. You will find ambition mentioned, however, just not in a good light. The expression is usually 'selfish ambition' and Paul references it above.

What is wrong with ambition, you might say. Isn't ambition a desirable trait?

It is, perhaps, in our culture, but that's because we associate ambition with hard work, planning, goals, and achieving something worthwhile. All of these are virtues. The ambition spoken against in the Bible, however, has a key element which is not virtuous. That element is self.

And do you seek great things for yourself? Seek them not, . . . (Jeremiah 45:5a ESV)

We do not belong to ourselves, we belong to God. We do not seek our own glory, we seek God's glory. We do not live our life, we lose our life to follow Him. To be a disciple of Christ means to leave all self, indeed forsake self, to follow Christ. Self-ambition has no place in this scheme.

Some in Rome were preaching Christ for selfish ambition. Their motive was their own glory, their own promotion, their own gain. They were in it for what they could get out of it--because they thought it would benefit them. These, Paul said, were not sincerely preaching Christ, rather they did so hoping to add affliction to Paul in his imprisonment.

It probably went something like this. We know from internal evidence that there were likely divisions within the church(es) of Rome. If those divisions were anything like the Church of Corinth then they may have centered on personalities. Paul called the Corinthians 'carnal' for having such factions in their midst. If the same was true at Rome then perhaps there were some who were opposed to Paul because they preferred their own favorite personality--maybe Peter or Apollos or some other. Perhaps some of these were so carnal and selfish that they saw the dual opportunity of promoting themselves by preaching Christ in such a way as to make themselves look bolder, more spiritual, and get Paul in more trouble all at the same time. This would fit the description of preaching for "envy" and "rivalry".

Before we consider Paul's reaction to this I want us to pause and look in the mirror. I want us to ask ourselves some tough questions. Why do we do what we do? What is our motive? Do we serve Christ just to look good? Do we work in the church so others will praise our 'self-sacrifice'? Do we do it for the praise of men? Do we give so that others will see us giving and think more highly of us? Are we in ministry for what we can get out of it? Are we followers of Jesus because we believe that there is personal success to be won by following this path? Are we in it for the praise of men? The promotion? The prestige? Or do we only seek God's glory?

Only you can answer these questions. I hope you will answer them honestly.

Confident

And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. (Philippians 1:14 ESV)

There is a church in Rome. How it got there we are not sure. Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, did not start it, for when he wrote his great Epistle to the Romans he makes it obvious that he had never been there. Though no one is certain, there is evidence that perhaps some of those Jews saved on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2) took the gospel back home to Rome with them. Luke reports that Jews from Rome were present that day and heard the gospel. Another possibility is that God used the persecution centered around Saul of Tarsus in Acts 8 and the subsequent scattering of the Church to spread the gospel to Rome.

Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. (Acts 8:4 KJV)

Back and forth interaction between Jerusalem and Rome among the Jews was common, so perhaps some of those "scattered abroad" wound up there.

There is also a tradition that Peter went to Rome and founded that church, but not a lot of biblical evidence to support it. There are historical references to both Peter and Paul founding the church and we know for sure that Peter was there at a later time, as was Paul, but no evidence (other than the tradition) that Peter was there prior to Paul. There is, however, this mysterious reference in Acts 12:

But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell these things to James and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place. (Acts 12:17 ESV)

We don't see or here from Peter again until Acts 15 so the possibility remains that the mysterious "another place" was Rome.

Though there is uncertainty about the origins of the church at Rome, it is certain that a church was there and that this church was aware of Paul's imprisonment and conversant with him. They witnessed his witness and were emboldened by it. If Paul could display a holy boldness for the gospel in his circumstances then so could they.

Let's admit it. It can be a frightening thing to speak up for Christ in a fallen world. This world hates Christians and their message because it hates Christ. The exclusive and audacious claims made by Jesus of Nazareth in the Gospels are scandalous to the ears of the unbelieving. The gospel of Jesus is offensive to those who hate God. Stand for what Jesus stood for, believe what Jesus said, preach what Jesus said to preach and you will be hated.

 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:11-12 ESV) (emphasis mine)

Be blessed. Speak up for Christ anyway. Don't be afraid. The Lord is with you. He has called you by his grace. He has purposed your life. He has given you a mind and a mouth and a faith and an opportunity. Speak. You're not alone.

All the Rest

so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. (Philippians 1:13 ESV)

Who are the important people in our culture? Politicians? Celebrities? Doctors? Lawyers? Whom do you esteem most highly? We live in an age when everyone wants their moment in the sun. Everyone wants to be in the limelight. Social media has made celebrities out of the most unlikely, and sometimes the most unseemly, people. Fame--everyone seems to want it, or at least to be associated with it.

If we were to assume that this is just the old human nature in the midst of a new era of technology we would probably be close to the target. People have always longed for notoriety or to be associated or affiliated with notorious people. Nowadays they just have easier access to that. What is sad, though, is when the Church falls into this trap.

Somehow, somewhere, some of us have gotten the idea that it is of vital importance that we have some famous name associated with our cause--as if the name of Jesus Christ is not enough. We long to see celebrities become Christians as if having a 'celebrity' in the Church will somehow legitimize our cause.

It works that way on a local level as well. For some reason we think that if a prominent doctor or lawyer or other citizen of the community is a member of our church that gives our message and ministry more credibility than it would have otherwise. But what about "all the rest"?

You see, when Paul spoke of the advancement of the gospel, he noted, as proof of that assertion, that it had "become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that" his imprisonment was for Christ. Are we as concerned about all the rest as we are about the prominent ones?

When John the Baptist was at the end of his life and facing death by execution he sent a couple of his disciples to Jesus to double-check and make sure that Jesus was the One. (Doesn't it give you comfort on some level to know that even the greatest of saints had their moments of doubt?) Jesus responded to John by pointing out the things that had been the hallmarks of his ministry, things that demonstrated that he was fulfilling, indeed being, what the prophet Isaiah had said Messiah would be. Here's what he said:

“Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” (Luke 7:22-23 ESV)

It is important that the good news of Christ be shared with everyone. The prominent people in the community, and in the world, should definitely hear it. But it is vitally important that the poor hear it, too.  Not just the world's "successful" people, but the failures, the downtrodden, the victims (and also the victimizers), the people who have nothing to add and nothing to offer, the offscouring of the earth, the so-called dregs of society, all the rest, they especially need to hear the gospel for they are often the ones most ready to receive it.

Do you know to whom Paul preached the gospel? Anyone and everyone who would listen. And whether or not they received it and believed it, they did indeed hear it, and in that God is glorified.

Holy Boldness

I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. (Philippians 1:12-13 ESV)

The Praetorian Guard. Caesar's finest. These were the elite forces of Rome. While the Legions were out conquering the world, the Praetorian Guard was home in Rome at Caesar's beck and call. They were his special forces and wielded great political power within the city itself. The Praetorian Guard worked for Caesar, and sometimes even against him. They were formidable--a force to be reckoned with. By some estimates there were as many as ten thousand of these soldiers in Rome at any given time. It is very likely that Paul was chained to one of these soldiers twenty-four hours a day during his imprisonment.

With that in mind let us take a minute to note what Paul says above:  ". . . so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ."

How? How had it become known? How was it that Paul had become the talk of the Praetorian Guard? Who told them that his "imprisonment was for Christ"?

You know the answer to that, now, don't you? Paul told them.

Can you imagine it? Here comes Cassius to work one day. His assignment is to be chained to Paul for twelve hours. He sees his friend Felix who says, "Friend Cassius, you look down. What is on your mind?" 

"Oh, you would not believe it if I told you. It's this Jewish fellow, Paul. I am to be chained to him today and I dread it like summer leaves dread the coming of winter." 

"How so, friend?" says Felix. "Surely it cannot be that bad? Is he that much of a villain?" 

"Oh, worse!" says Cassius. "He is one of those religious fanatics. Always talking about this Jesus whom he claims to be alive even though he also assures me that we Romans put him to death. Crucified him! Can you imagine that? A crucified god! Who would invent such a ridiculous idea and then promote it for worship? Only in the provinces could such foolishness pass itself off as reasonable. The man is mad, I tell you. He claims that this Jesus is still alive, even though he was dead! Have you ever heard such nonsense? I tell you it wearies me to my bones. The man never shuts up about him."

"Indeed I have heard such nonsense. You forget, friend Cassius, that I, too, was chained to him just last week. But you should know this. Though you may deem his message foolishness, there are many who do not. And this Paul is not the only one who claims to have seen this Jewish Messiah alive after he was crucified. Of this I speak the truth. His followers are growing."

"The mob! Psshhtt! The mob will believe anything! They have no sense. You know that! But where are the legitimate followers? Where are the elite members of our guard who have believed? Do you know of any?"

"Certainly. There are some. And everyone, it seems, is talking about it. Just ask anyone who has spent a day or a night with this Paul to tell you why he is imprisoned. Do you know, Cassius, what are the charges against him?"

"Well, why, umm, no, not exactly."

"Just ask him. He'll tell you. His imprisonment is for Christ."

Here we end our little imaginative exercise. We are impressed with the boldness of our little jewish friend, Paul. Would that God would give us a holy boldness to speak up and speak out for Christ that everyone might know for what purpose we are in this world, that we are here for Christ. Whom have you told?

Prisoner For Christ

I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. (Philippians 1:12-13 ESV)

What if God loves you but doesn't have a wonderful plan for your life? Or, what if God loves you and his wonderful plan for your life isn't exactly what you would think of as a wonderful life? The gospel call of Jesus and the gospel life lived by his immediate followers did not really resemble the prosperity gospel preached by many of our modern American television or mega-church preachers. Jesus did not come to give us prosperity in the sense that most people think of when they think of prosperity. God's plans for you, though wonderful, may include copious amounts of heartache, grief, and suffering.

Witness the words of Jesus in Luke 9:

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. (Luke 9:23-24 ESV)

Jesus called on his would-be followers to deny themselves--their hopes, their dreams, their plans for prosperity--and follow him instead. He told them that if they held onto those hopes and dreams and plans for prosperity then they would lose everything, but that if they were prepared to lose everything then they would find that they had found something of infinite worth.

How valuable is Jesus to you? Is he worth giving up your own hopes for? Is he more valuable than that dream you've been chasing? Is he worth more than a prosperous, successful (in earthly terms) life? He should be, and until he is you will not know what it means to be a genuine follower of Christ, for until you are willing to lose your life for his sake you will never have life in the genuine sense.

Now let's look at Jesus' words to Ananias about Paul when he sent Ananias to Paul to baptize him:

But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” (Acts 9:15-16 ESV) (emphasis mine)

What if God had chosen you specifically to live a life of suffering for the sake of his name? How would you like that? Would you be okay with that? What if I told you that if you are a Christian that is exactly what God has done?

Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, (2 Timothy 3:12 ESV)

God has called us to give up everything for him if need be. God has called us to exchange our lives for his, to trade in our dreams and plans and goals for the life he has chosen for us. And let me tell you this, you will never be happy, never be satisfied until you do. Paul explains that "it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest" that his imprisonment is for Christ. What a testimony!

What is your testimony? Have you given everything to him? Are you willing to lose all to gain Christ? Is the idea of suffering okay as long as you have Jesus along with that suffering? I hope so and I am praying that it is so for you.

Sovereignty

I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, (Philippians 1:12 ESV)

Is God in control? No, I mean is God really in control? Of everything?

These are the questions we find ourselves asking sometimes, especially when things are not going the way we think they should. We often have things worked out in our minds--the way we think they should go--and when things don't happen according to our plan, or the way we think God ought to work, then we wonder. We question.

I want you to know without any doubt that God is in control of his universe. Nothing is random. Nothing is happenstance. Nothing is coincidence. God rules. Paul says so in Romans:

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. (Romans 11:36 ESV)

And Ephesians:

In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, (Ephesians 1:11 ESV) (emphasis mine)

To illustrate this there once was a great King who ruled a great empire. He took great pride in his empire, and his city, and his great accomplishments. He was filled with so much pride that he secretly believed himself to be the most powerful man ever. He ruled the world! You may have heard of this guy. His name was Nebuchadnezzar. His empire was Babylon. 

In Daniel 4:30 we read where Nebuchadnezzar says this: "Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?” 

But God had a lesson for him. Nebuchadnezzar needed to learn who was really in charge, who had control of this world, who had built his Babylon. So he was driven mad for seven years and when he returned to his senses this is what he had to say:

At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?” (Daniel 4:34-35 ESV)

The lesson is clear. We may think we are in control, but we are not. It may seem sometimes as if God is not in control, but he is. Always. He does according to his will both in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. None can stop him from accomplishing his purposes. None is in a position to question him. Not you. Not me. Not Nebuchadnezzar. Not Caesar Nero. God is at work. Always.

That's a comforting thought! God is always at work in the world accomplishing his purposes. Paul's enemies may conspire against him. The governors of this world may do their worst. Paul may even be bound in prison for years. But make no mistake. It is all coming to pass in fulfillment of God's purposes. The gospel is not being thwarted. The gospel is being advanced. Isn't that amazing? We may think that Satan or this world are getting the upper hand, but they are never getting the upper hand. Never. God is always in control.

I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, (Philippians 1:12 ESV)

Now, doesn't that make you smile?

Gospel Advancement

I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, (Philippians 1:12 ESV)

What is our chief concern in life? What is most important to us? What is our reason for being here?

For the Christian, the answer to these questions is not that difficult. One famous Christian document (the Westminster Shorter Catechism) asked and answered that question in this way:

Q. What is the chief end of man?

The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.

We have already noted in this epistle two things that are important to our discussion about the correct answers to these questions. One is that Paul has already expressed thanksgiving that the saints at Philippi (and we) are members of the Fellowship of the Gospel. Whatever else we are in life, this is our most important distinction. The second is when he prays for them to be filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ. He does so, as he explicitly states, for 'the glory and praise of God.'

With those two things in mind, and with our question and answer from the Westminster Shorter Catechism thrown in for good measure, let's see how we can attempt to answer our questions.

Q. What is our chief concern in life?

The glory of God.

Q. What is most important to us?

The glory of God.

Q. What is our reason for being here?

To glorify God.

The question then remains to be asked, how shall we do that? How shall we glorify God? The answer to that question will be found when we can answer another question that is equally if not more important than this one. What has God done in this world to glorify himself?

The answer is Immanuel--God manifested in the flesh. The answer is the cross. The answer is Christ crucified. The answer is Jesus crucified, risen, and coming again. The answer is the Kingdom of Christ. The answer is the GOSPEL.

Our chief concern in life should be Christ's kingdom and the advancement of that kingdom through the gospel. What should be most important to us is living, loving, and proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ. Our reason for being here in this world is for the Fellowship of the Gospel. Our chief concern should not be our health or our wealth or our prosperity or our liberty or anything else other than the glory of God through the gospel. When any of those other things takes the place of Christ and his kingdom and the gospel as our chief concern, then we are in danger of becoming idolaters, at least in our minds.

Oh, there is certainly room in our thinking for other things. We should be concerned for our families, our communities, our business, our responsibilities, yes. But none of these things should be our chief concern. Our chief concern should always be for the gospel and its advancement.

And that is what Paul is concerned with here in our verse above. 'Don't worry about my well-being,' he might as well write. 'Worry about the gospel and its well-being.'

We could take a cue from Paul. How is the gospel today in your world? Are you living it? Are you proclaiming it through your words and actions? Is your worship centered around it? Are you concerned first and foremost for its advancement? 

I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, (Philippians 1:12 ESV)

What is more important? For Paul to be free from prison? Or for the gospel to be advanced? What would be more important for you?

Reassurance

I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, (Philippians 1:12 ESV)

As we read this letter from Paul to the Philippians we are touched by his love for them. It is a very personal and affectionate epistle. Because Paul knows them, and knows human nature, he is concerned about their faith and wants to give them some assurances.

Let's try to put ourselves in their shoes. They are obviously concerned about Paul and his well-being. They have taken a collection, even sacrificed, to supply some of his needs while in prison. They have sent one of their own, Epaphroditus, not only to bring Paul this gift, but also to remain, if necessary, and minister to Paul while he is there. Concern for him is at the forefront of their minds.

But there is likely more going on than this. These saints at Philippi are all relatively recent converts to the faith. It has been at the most ten years since Paul and company founded this church in Acts 16. Now that the Church is facing adversity and persecution they may be entertaining doubts. What if God is not really in this? What if it all isn't true? What if they've bought into a lie? After all, if this is a work of God, then why is it that Paul seems to be defeated, silenced?

True, Paul and Silas were jailed the very first time they came to Philippi, so the concept of opposition is not new to the Philippians. But that first time Paul was jailed he was miraculously released and even apologized to before he left the city. Not this time. This time Paul has been imprisoned for several years. An imprisonment that began in Jerusalem has extended itself to Rome with no end in sight. Further, the Empire, it seems, has turned against the Church it once tolerated. If God is for them, if this is a work of God, then why are they experiencing so much adversity? And if the gospel Paul preaches is indeed the gospel of God, then why has God silenced him? Could Paul be wrong? Or if Paul is right, is God powerless against the might of Rome? Maybe God just doesn't care.

Add to that the fact, as internal evidence would indicate, that these Philippians themselves are beginning to suffer persecution for their faith, and that from the very Empire of which they are citizens. At the moment, some might point out that the Roman god (Caesar) seems to hold power over the Christian God (Jesus). What is going on?

Sitting there in that Roman prison Paul probably realizes that at least some of them may be having these thoughts, and so he writes to reassure them.

I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, (Philippians 1:12 ESV)

Say what? Paul, be real. You're in prison. You, who have preached the gospel to more people in more cities across more miles than anyone in history, have now been silenced, shut up in prison. And you're telling us that what has happened to you has really served to advance the gospel? How can that be?

But it is so.

Before we get into why this was so (and we will) I want to take a moment to reassure you. I don't know what your circumstances are, what adversity you might be experiencing, or what doubts you may be entertaining because of it, but I want you to know that God is still on his throne. God is still at work in the world. God is marching through history, through his Church, bringing glory and honor to his name. 1950 years have passed since Paul's imprisonment and the gospel has not been quenched. Indeed it has been preached all over the world and is even now being proclaimed to more people groups and in more places than ever before in history. And it still faces opposition. And that opposition will fail as it always does. And the Church will come out stronger because of it.

Take heart. Whatever you are facing, God is with you. He will not forsake you. His faithfulness is to all generations. And he will not rest until he has put all enemies under his feet. 

Glory and Praise

filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:11 ESV)

What Paul is praying for is for God to continue his gracious work of salvation in them until it is complete. He is praying for them to be sanctified in this life and then finally glorified with Christ in the next. When he expresses his wish that they would be 'filled with the fruit of righteousness' he makes sure to point out that he means, not a self-generated righteousness that comes through our own efforts, but the righteousness 'that comes through Jesus Christ'--and this 'to the glory and praise of God.'

God wants us to be sanctified. In other words, God wants us to be practically holy, or practically like him. God is working in us constantly to make us into the image of Christ. The more like Christ we are, the more we will be 'filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ'.

When Jesus tells us that we are 'the light of the world' he intends for us to understand that, as the light of the world, we are to shine the light of God's righteousness to all the world around us.

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16 ESV)

Notice that the purpose of our good works being seen is so that those who see those good works will glorify our Father in heaven.

We are saved for God's glory. We are being sanctified for God's glory. God will complete this work in us at the day of Jesus Christ for his glory. This is important to God. He has called us to glorify him with our lives. How shall we do that?

I know how we cannot do that, and that is through our own efforts. We are incapable, apart from his grace, of doing anything that brings glory to his name. No matter how hard we try, we will botch it every time. Self-help, self-effort, self-righteousness, these are the bane of Christianity. They are antithetical to the gospel. The gospel says we are incapable of righteous living and that we must cast ourselves on him, depend wholly upon him. It's not just that we needed Jesus to 'save us' and now from here on out we're on our own, dependent upon our own efforts. No, we need him still, we need him every moment of every day. Not one person ever made himself righteous. Not one person ever achieved any right standing before God. Not one person ever cleaned up his own life. Not one of us ever straightened up and flew right on our own. Not one of us ever pleased God--not to get saved, not to stay saved, not to 'get right with God.' The only thing we can possibly bring to God that will please him is our need.

And, oh, how we need him.

We need to be filled with the fruit of righteousness, but not self-righteousness. Self-righteousness only glorifies self, and God is not about glorifying us. God doesn't share glory. We need to be filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ because this, and only this, will be 'to the glory and praise of God.'

Today, instead of determining that you will live for God, try this. Say, 'Today I will not live at all. I am dead with Christ. Today, Christ will live in me. Today, I will 'live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.' Jesus bids us to come and die. So come and die, that he might live in you instead.

Jesus, we need you. We give ourselves to you. Live through us today.

Glory

filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:11 ESV)

What is God's motivation? Why does God do what he does? The short answer is that God does everything that he does for his own glory.

Be honest. That comes across as egotistical, doesn't it? I mean, who does God think that he is . . . ?

Well, he's God.

The reason why we initially shrink back from the idea that God does everything for his own glory, that God's purpose in all that he does is to glorify himself, is because when we as humans behave this way we are behaving badly. We are being arrogant or egotistical or selfish. Self-glorification is bad behavior . . . for humans. But there's a reason for that. The reason it is bad behavior for us to promote ourselves, to live for our own glory, is because there is something, or more specifically someone, who is more worthy than ourselves. That someone is God.

When we do things to glorify ourselves we run the risk of earning the condemnation of Jesus:

"How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?"--John 5:44

As God's creatures we were made to glorify Him, not ourselves, for he alone is infinitely worthy of glory. But what about God? Whom should he honor most? Whom should he seek to glorify? The answer is himself. Just as there is no higher being for us to glorify than God, there is no higher being for God to glorify than God. And just as it is the highest virtue for us humans to glorify God in everything we do, it is also God's highest virtue to glorify God in everything he does. As God he can do no less.

Thus everything God does is for his honor and glory. Everything. Because he is God. And that is as it should be.

I am the LORD; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols. (Isaiah 42:8 ESV)

Even our salvation is primarily for his glory alone. Witness these words from Isaiah:

“I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins. (Isaiah 43:25 ESV)

And there you have it. God always acts for his own sake. He acts to honor and glorify his own name. He does what he does for his own glory. Anything less would make him less than holy, less than righteous, less than God. His glory will he not give to another.

That's why we are saved by his grace alone. God is not about to share credit with you or me or anyone else for his great work of salvation that he is accomplishing in the world and in us through Christ.

Think on these things. Think deeply. Tomorrow we will look at how this fits into Paul's prayer for them and God's work of sanctification in them (and us).

The Fruit of Righteousness

And it is my prayer . . . filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:9a, 11 ESV)

We are approaching the end of Paul's opening prayer for the Philippians and we notice something curious that maybe you've never thought of before. He is praying for them that they will be "filled with the fruit of righteousness". He wants them, like good fruit trees, to bear righteous fruit. He wants their lives to be distinguished by righteous living.

All of that seems pretty elementary so far. After all, aren't we, as Christians, supposed to live like Christ? If we claim to be righteous, shouldn't that be evidenced through actual, practical righteous living? There's nothing extraordinary in this, is there?

But it's not the request that is curious, it is the nature of the request, or perhaps better expressed this way . . . it is the manner in which he expects his prayer to be answered that maybe you've never thought of before. Paul asks for them, in his prayer, that they might be filled with the fruit of righteousness "that comes through Jesus Christ."

He is not praying that God will give them the strength to be righteous in and of themselves, nor is he praying that their own, inherent, righteousness will somehow come shining forth. No, he is praying that an alien righteousness might somehow manifest itself in their lives. He is not praying that they might live righteously, but that Christ might live righteously through them.

We are saved by a righteousness that is not our own. We live by a faith that is not our own. We manifest daily the fruit of a righteousness that is not our own. We are, from beginning to end, a product of the grace of God.

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20 ESV)(emphasis mine)

So, instead of lacing up your boot straps each and every day and praying, "Lord, let this be the day that I live for you to the very best of my abilities. Use me today." Try this. Try confessing your inability and your need for Christ. "Lord, I am incapable of living for you today. I cannot possibly be filled with the fruit of righteousness--I am too sinful. By your grace may Christ live through me. And the life that I live today, may I live it by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me."

That's a prayer that is pleasing to God. That's a prayer that he will answer. It's not a magic formula. No, it's a daily dying to self and living to God. It is the gospel in action in our lives. We do not just live because of the gospel, we live each day in the gospel and of the gospel.

Any righteousness of our own is nothing more than a filthy rag. Discard it. Come to Christ with your need, not your ability. Ask him to live through you today. Be filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ.