Good morning.
My name is Matthew Capone, and I'm the assistant pastor here at Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church,
and it's my joy to bring God's word to you today.
A special welcome if you are visiting or new with us.
As I like to say, we're glad you're here, and we're glad you're here not because you're filling a seat,
but because we are following Jesus, and we're convinced that there is no one so good that they don't need God's grace,
and no one so bad that they can't have it.
And so God is going to have something to say to everyone in his word,
and everyone needs to hear what God has to say.
If you've been with us over the last month or so, you know that we are in the book of Philippians,
and Philippians is a letter.
It's a letter that's written to a church, and that church is very similar to our church.
And that church is in a city, the city of Philippi, that's very similar to our city.
Remember, Philippi is one of the only Roman colonies in Macedonia,
and so the citizens there are a higher percentage military than you would expect in other cities.
Some of them because they were already citizens because of their military service,
and so they wanted to move to a Roman colony where the tax benefits would be greater.
Some of them were already there because they came from military families,
and Philippi has a great military heritage.
And so this is a city that takes pride in its Roman citizenship.
And that's going to become important this morning because the first thing that Paul is going to tell us in verse 27 is,
only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ.
And it's an unfortunate translation because literally what Paul is saying in the Greek is,
act like a citizen of the gospel.
And so he's writing to people who are proud of their earthly citizenship,
their Roman citizenship,
living in a city where they would have felt pressure to act as a Roman citizen,
to adopt the values of Roman culture and Roman society.
And he tells them instead to adopt the values of the gospel.
And so these are believers, members of the church who feel under pressure.
Much like us, they live in a culture that values greed,
and yet they're called to generosity.
They live in a culture of sexual anarchy,
and yet they're called to sexual integrity.
They live in a culture that doesn't care for the poor,
and yet they're called to do that.
And even more than that, we're going to find out that they have opponents in verse 28,
that there are people who are actually pressing in on them.
And so as I've mentioned before, this is a book about partnership in the gospel,
and the question that we're going to see today is,
how do we have our partnership in the gospel when opposition comes?
When we feel the pull of dual citizenship?
When the culture that we find ourselves in asks very different things of us
than the culture that God has,
the demands that God makes on us.
That's the tension that the believers in the city of Philippi face.
It's the tension that we face as well,
and it's what Paul is going to speak to in this passage.
So we're in Philippians.
We're still in chapter 1.
We're starting at verse 27.
Remember that this is God's word,
and God tells us that his word is more precious than gold,
even the finest gold.
And it is sweeter than honey,
even honey that comes straight from the honeycomb.
So turn with me now to verse 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,
and not frightened in anything by your opponents.
This is a clear sign to them of their destruction,
but of your salvation and that from God.
Verse 29.
For it has been granted to you
that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him,
but also suffer for his sake,
engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had,
and now hear that I still have.
Please pray with me as we come to this portion of God's word.
Dear Father in heaven,
we thank you that you know,
as the psalmist tells us,
that we are just dust.
You know that we're frail.
And yet as we're frail,
we still face challenges and opposition in this word,
and so we thank you that you've spoken to us.
You haven't left us alone as orphans,
but you talk to us.
You tell us things,
and you do it in ways and words
that we can hear and that we can understand.
And so we ask now
that you would pour out your spirit
to speak to us.
You'd pour out your spirit on me
as I explain your word
on everyone as we hear
that you would allow us to understand
and to believe and to obey.
We ask all these things in the name of your son.
Amen.
So our question here is,
how do we respond to opposition?
How do we respond to opposition,
and what is God doing in the midst of it?
How does God work in our lives
when we face opposition?
Paul doesn't waste any time.
He cuts right to the point
in verses 27 and 28.
He wants them to live
as these citizens of the gospel,
and he tells us exactly what that means.
It means that they would be
striving together,
striving one mind side by side
for the faith of the gospel
and not frightened in anything
by your opponents.
And the point Paul is making is simply this,
and this is a dynamic that you'll see
if you've been in church for a while,
if you've studied church history,
there are two options for any church.
And they're this.
We are either going out
in a mission with each other,
or we are going on a mission
against each other.
We are either going out in mission
with each other,
or we are going on a mission
against each other.
Paul's writing to a church here
that's struggling with unity.
They're struggling to get along.
And he's telling them,
as you feel pressure from the outside,
there's only one way
you're going to survive.
And that's by working with each other
rather than against each other.
And so this goes back to what we saw
in the very introduction to the letter
where he told them
that they needed to discern
what was right and most excellent.
That they would know
what are the important things
to focus on.
What are the gospel issues
that they can focus on?
Remember that with partnership
in the gospel,
the gospel is the focus
of Jesus' death
and his resurrection.
And so the church needs to know
how to keep the primary things primary
and the secondary things secondary.
And so the first truth is that
we have one of these two options.
We're either working with each other
or against each other.
The other reality is that
when there's opposition,
the church has to choose
between those two things.
In other words,
there is no option for the church
except to join together in unity
or to not make it,
to not survive against their opponents.
And this is something that we can use.
It's a spiritual diagnostic tool.
I was gone the last several weeks
and while I was gone,
I was in the mountains at one point
and my low tire pressure light came on.
And it's a very frightening light.
It's this exclamation point
with parentheses around it,
which in my mind
should mean something like
your engine is about to fail.
So the first time this light went on for me,
this was not the first time, thankfully,
but the first time I panicked a little bit.
I do what I always do
when I have car problems
that I don't understand.
I quickly call my dad.
Ask him,
what is going on?
There's an exclamation point
on my dashboard.
Like, should I pull over right now
and take it to the mechanic?
Find out it's only low tire pressure.
So this is probably the one flaw
in all Subaru makers
that they've decided to make
the low tire pressure light
this very frightening warning.
But there's a spiritual diagnostic here
that if we're not working together,
then it's clear
that we've not been able
to discern what's best
and what's right.
Because if we discern what is right,
if we understand what's important,
if we're working together
for the gospel,
then we'll be able to work
with each other
rather than against each other.
Now again,
don't hear what I'm not saying.
Remember,
Paul later is going to refer
to certain people in the church
as mutilators of the flesh
and dogs.
So Paul doesn't have a problem
fighting over things.
There are things
that are worth disagreeing about,
but Paul knows when to decide
what's worth fighting over
and what's not.
And this is a dynamic
that it's not just something
that you see
if you're in the church,
but the outside world
notices this dynamic as well.
A couple of years ago,
there was an article
in November of 2016,
there was an article
in The Economist,
which is not an American publication.
It's not written by Christians
or for Christians.
It's a European magazine.
And they wrote an article
about the relationship
of churches in Europe.
And they had noticed
that as the heat
had been rising
on the church in Europe,
the same exact dynamic
had taken place.
That there was greater unity
than there had ever been before
between people who disagreed
about various things.
And so as it goes on,
the article says this,
asks this question.
Why then the emphasis
on commonality?
They've been describing
the reality
that these churches
are pulling together
like they've never
pulled together before.
There are some obvious reasons.
At a time when Christianity
feels under pressure
from secularism
in the Christian West
and from persecution
in the Middle East,
there is a natural impulse
among its practitioners
to close ranks
and play town
sectarian difference.
Again, that's
the non-Christian's explanation.
In July,
when an elderly Catholic priest
was murdered
at the altar in France,
very few Christians
of any sect
reacted by saying,
never mind,
he wasn't one of ours,
or even serves him right
for being a heretic.
In Germany,
the Lutheran Catholic churches
face almost identical dilemmas.
Both are struggling
to hold their ground
as members leave,
either through disenchantment
with religion
or to avoid
paying church taxes.
Both are wondering
what to do
as Islam gains adherence
and demands the same status.
As Germany's Christian churches
have long enjoyed,
it would not make sense
for Lutherans and Catholics
to be squabbling
with one another.
And so again,
the church is either
going out in a mission
with each other
or going on a mission
against each other.
In practical terms,
it looks like this.
we can either argue
about our preferences
in music
or we can figure out
how to reach out
to Otero Elementary School.
But we simply
don't have time
to do both.
We can argue
about the right way
to teach our children
or we can strive together
side by side
to raise them
with sexual integrity.
That it's simply
at times
just a matter of time.
We don't have time
to do both.
And so we have to figure out
what's most important.
And so what I'm not saying
is that differences
don't matter.
But we have to determine
our focus.
And our focus
is something
that draws us together,
joins us,
that we're striving
side by side.
In fact,
in the face
of opposition,
we have no other choice
but to realize
what is most important
and work together
for it.
It's not the only thing
he tells them,
though.
In verse 28,
he says,
and not frightened
in anything
by your opponents.
So not just striving
side by side
for the sake
of the gospel
but doing so
without fear.
And why is it
that they can go out
and not have fear?
Well, it's because
of their dual citizenship.
They're citizens
of Rome
but they're also
citizens of the gospel.
And so I'll ask you
a simple question.
Which still exists
right now?
The Roman Empire
or the church?
It's the church, right?
And so that's why
they don't have to be
frightened in anything.
Because it's their
heavenly citizenship
that is more real
and more powerful
than their citizenship
on earth.
And so they can strive
side by side
together
being of one mind
as we'll find out
in chapter 2.
Striving side by side,
having one spirit.
In other words,
they've all partaken
in the Holy Spirit.
They've received
the truth and reality
of the gospel
and that's what allows
them to have unity.
It's the gospel
that brings them together
because the religious person,
the legalist,
says,
be good like I am good.
And you can't have unity
if someone's saying
be good like I'm good
because you're just
going to have pride.
People are going to be
calling each other
to be like themselves.
The non-religious person
says there is no good.
You have to find
your own good.
Of course,
we can't have unity
around that
because each person
is going to determine
a different good.
But the gospel says
no one is good,
only Jesus is good.
And so that gives us
the humility
that we need
to actually have unity
with each other.
If we are not good,
but Jesus is,
then we can lay down
our preferences
and our secondary issues
to focus on that.
Focus on what is
most important,
which is the truth
and reality
of the gospel.
So religious says
be good like I'm good.
The non-religious says
find your own good.
And the gospel says
no one is good,
only Jesus is good.
So find your good
in him.
And so we find unity
as we're striving together
for the sake of the gospel,
but it's also the gospel
that allows us
to have unity in that.
And so this is the strategy
that Paul gives the church
as they live in a culture
that's pressing in on them.
That they work together
with unity
and they do it without fear
because they know
that their heavenly citizenship
is more real
than their earthly one.
But it's not just
the Philippians
who are going to do something.
God is at work as well.
Remember, we're not just asking
how do we respond
to opposition,
but also what does God do
with us?
How does he change us?
How does he provide for us
when we face opposition,
when we feel the pressure
coming in on us?
I have a uncle,
my dad's youngest brother,
who has spent his career
working for the State Department.
He's been stationed
all over the world.
And at one point,
probably 10 or 15 years ago,
he was stationed in China.
And while he was stationed
in China,
a family member
went over to visit him
and they found on the streets
of China an amazing deal.
They were selling
these North Face rain jackets
for the very low price
of $10.
And who knew, right,
that North Face
was selling their products
for so much cheaper in China
than they're selling them
in the U.S.?
And this is a shock.
Why are we not just
importing these jackets
from China?
And so these jackets
were given as gifts
to various people.
I received one
and I thought,
this is great.
I think I was probably
in high school
at the time that I received it.
Had this great
North Face logo on it.
I could wear it
and be clear
that I was very cool
because I had
a North Face jacket.
Fast forward
to when I'm in college
and I decided
to take this jacket
with me
on my study abroad program.
This is the jacket
that I take with me.
It's a traveling
study abroad program.
At one point,
we were in the city
of Delphi,
which is in Greece,
and there's a rainstorm
that comes.
So I had my
North Face jacket
and I put it on.
It continues raining
throughout the day
and I become
very,
very wet.
Because while this jacket
has the logo
of North Face on it,
it has nothing
to do with North Face.
It was never made
by North Face.
North Face costs
are probably higher
than $10
just to make a jacket.
And so the point
is this.
We don't know
what's real
or not
until the storm comes.
We don't know
what's real or not
until the storm comes.
And that's what Paul
is telling us
in verse 28.
This is a clear sign
to them
of their destruction,
but of your salvation
and that from God.
So what does God do
for us
in the midst
of opposition?
As we stand,
as we strive
side by side,
God assures us
that we belong
to Him.
That we are genuine.
in.
And so one of the ways
that God uses
opposition in our lives
as we're struggling
with the forces
coming in against us
as He looks at us
and says,
as you have been
faithful,
you can know
even more
than ever
that you belong
to me.
because it's
because it's only
the people
that I adopt
and that are mine
that are able
to stand
when the opposition
comes.
And so take hope.
Be encouraged
because you belong
to me.
And this isn't
something that we earn.
It's not something
that comes from us.
If you know
anything about rain jackets,
you probably know
part of the reason
I got soaked.
And that's
there was no tape
on the seams.
So the material
wasn't terrible
but the difference
between a real rain jacket
that's going to keep you
dry for hours
and one that won't
is that all the seams
have tape on the insides
that's waterproof.
Because that's where
the water was coming in.
It was through the seams.
And so when He says
this is a clear sign
of your salvation
and that from God
what He's saying
is this,
God is the one
who puts the tape
in your seams.
He's the one
who enables you
to stand in opposition.
And so it's not
that you muster up
your strength
and you earn God's favor
but that you were
already His.
He had made you
and created you
and so when the storm
comes,
when opposition comes
and you stand,
you can know
that it's God
who has given you
the grace.
It's God
who's holding you up
and sustaining you.
He's the one
who made you.
And so it's a clear sign
of your salvation
that what's happening
in a small way
as you stand
against opposition
is a sign
of what will later
happen in a big way.
And so God uses it.
He uses it
to give us assurance
that as we persevere
He's saying
take heart,
be encouraged,
don't be frightened
because you belong
to me
my kingdom
and my reality
is greater
than any other
that's around you.
But He doesn't
leave it there.
That's not,
that's just the start
of what God does
for us
in opposition.
He says,
for it has been granted
to you
that for the sake
of Christ
you should not only
believe in Him
but also suffer
for His sake.
Engage in the same
conflict that you saw
I had and now hear
that I still have.
Paul's laying out here
a principle
that he's explained
in other letters
that he's written
which is this,
that as the Master
walks,
so walk His disciples.
As the teacher goes,
so go His students.
And so if we're followers
of Christ,
we're going to join
with Him.
We're going to join
with Him
not just
in His glorification,
not just in the new
body that He's given,
but also in His humiliation
that as Christ suffered,
we are also going
to suffer.
We're not going to suffer
to the same extent
that He did.
We're not going to suffer
in the way that He did.
Our suffering is not
going to earn our salvation
in the way that His did.
But it's also another way
that we know
that we belong to Him.
And so when we suffer,
we can consider it
an honor.
It's a gift
is what we're told
in verse 29.
It has been granted to you.
It has been gifted to you
that you would suffer.
Paul again is hitting
the partnership here
in verse 30,
reminding them
that he is suffering as well.
He's in prison.
He's struggling
for the gospel.
He is being pushed in on
by the Roman Empire
and so are they.
And so they're together in it.
But they also know
that this too confirms
that they belong to God.
As the master goes,
so go his followers.
Some of you are perhaps
familiar with Jeremiah Denton.
Jeremiah was a prisoner of war
during the Vietnam War.
He was in the infamous
Hanoi Hilton
and he was the man
who became famous
because when he was put on TV,
after months of torture,
he blinked in Morse code
the word torture.
And that was the first time
as Americans
we knew a little bit
about what was going on
with our POWs.
He later became
one of the Alcatraz 11.
He was put into solitary confinement
for multiple months
for all of the day
except for 10 minutes each day.
And so his return
was highly anticipated.
People were waiting for him
when he landed
at Clark Air Base
when he was finally released.
And these are the words
that he had.
These are the first words
that he had to say
to the nation.
We are honored
to have had the opportunity
to serve our country
under difficult circumstances,
he said.
We are profoundly grateful
to our commander-in-chief
and to our nation
for this day.
We are honored
to have had the opportunity
to serve our country
under difficult circumstances.
So what Paul is telling us
is that when we face opposition,
that suffering
is the honor
of being associated with Christ.
In the same way
that Jeremiah didn't
have been able to suffer
for the sake of his country,
he had the benefits
of citizenship,
he had the joys
of being an American,
he also took part
in the suffering
of defending our country.
So also,
those who are citizens
of the gospel
have the honor
and the privilege
of suffering
for the sake of Christ.
In fact,
we find this out
in other parts of Scripture
as well.
In Acts 5,
Christians are preaching
the gospel,
they're taken,
and they are beaten.
And after they're beaten
and released,
it says this,
then they left
the presence of the council
rejoicing that they were
counted worthy
to suffer dishonor
for the name.
And every day
in the temple
and from house to house,
they did not cease
teaching and preaching
that the Christ
is Jesus.
In other words,
the opposition
that they faced
only emboldened them
to strive more and more
side by side
in unity
for the gospel.
And it was an honor
to suffer dishonor
for the name
because it was something
that was given to them
by Christ himself
and something
that he enabled them
to do.
We've already sung
that today.
We sang in God
and grace of God
and glory,
grant us wisdom,
grant us courage
for the living
of these days.
And so it's God
that grants us
the wisdom
and the courage.
It's not something
that we muster up.
He's the one
who puts the tape
on the seams.
But we're also going
to sing this as well
in just a minute.
Remember,
we're asking
how do we respond
to opposition?
We respond
by working together,
focusing on
what truly matters,
focusing on the gospel.
What does God do?
How does he work
in our lives
in opposition?
He confirms for us
that we are his,
that we belong to him.
And he gives us
the honor
of serving
under difficult circumstances.
And so that's
what we're going
to sing here
of Though Church Arise.
We're going to sing
in verse 1
that we would have
the strength
that God has given.
It's God
who gives the strength.
It's him
who gives us
what we need
to stand up
in opposition.
We're going
to be striving
together for what matters,
what's important.
In verse 2,
we're going to stand
against the devil's lies
rather than each other.
And it's Christ
whose death
and resurrection
enables all of it.
And we'll see
that two verses later.
Come see the cross
where love
and mercy meet
as the Son of God
is stricken.
Then see his foes
lie crushed beneath
his feet
for the conqueror
has risen.
It's Jesus' victory
that allows us
to suffer
because we know
the end of the story.
And it's his victory
that gives us
the strength
and the courage
and the wisdom
to stand
when opposition comes.
please pray with me.
Dear Father in Heaven,
we thank you
that you have chosen us
as yours,
that you have given us
the opportunity
as we'll find out
in a couple weeks
to shine as lights
in the world.
But we confess
that it's not easy
and that we often
face opposition
and so we ask
that you would hold us up,
that you'd prevent us
from saying,
be good like I'm good.
But instead,
we would be able
to stand strong
as we say,
no one is good,
but Jesus is good.
And so for that,
we are honored
to stand and suffer
for the sake of his name.
We ask this in Jesus' name
because we have earned
none of this,
but he has earned it for us.
And so we ask it in his name.
Amen.