WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.000 So last week you might remember that we began with an overview of the whole of Paul's letter to the 00:00:08.000 --> 00:00:15.919 Philippians. So last week I read the whole book of Philippians and if you remember I gave you 00:00:15.919 --> 00:00:23.740 an overview, like a four-part overview of the letter of Paul to the Philippian church. 00:00:23.739 --> 00:00:32.839 Now I was told last week that there was a lot of information to take on board. So this week I'm 00:00:32.839 --> 00:00:37.820 hoping to sort of slow it down a little bit and I'm going to start by repeating some of the things 00:00:37.820 --> 00:00:43.519 I said last week so that you can remember maybe some of the things I said last week. So I said that 00:00:43.519 --> 00:00:49.859 there were essentially three themes and one central instruction in Paul's letter to the Philippian 00:00:49.859 --> 00:00:56.000 church. Okay and here they are so that you can remember them. Number one is that Paul's letter 00:00:56.000 --> 00:01:01.420 to the Philippian church is one of the warmest, most loving and affectionate letters in the New 00:01:01.420 --> 00:01:08.620 Testament. Paul really loves the Philippian church and the Philippian church really love Paul. They're 00:01:08.620 --> 00:01:14.480 partners with him in gospel ministry, they send him money, this is sort of a thank you letter for the 00:01:14.480 --> 00:01:20.100 money that they've sent and they are deeply concerned for Paul and Paul is deeply concerned for them. 00:01:20.560 --> 00:01:27.260 He loves them dearly. That's the first one. The second thing is that there's a particular kind of 00:01:27.260 --> 00:01:32.540 suffering that the Philippian church are facing. You might remember this from last week. The city of 00:01:32.540 --> 00:01:40.159 Philippi is a proud Roman city in the Roman Empire and they are being called out as saying, listen, 00:01:40.159 --> 00:01:49.019 if you follow Jesus, you are not really proper Philippians. You're not really proper Roman citizens. 00:01:49.979 --> 00:01:55.780 And so Paul tells them actually, listen, don't worry too much about that kind of suffering, the suffering 00:01:55.780 --> 00:02:03.479 that you have, that you saw I had, that carries on because your citizenship is not so much of Rome, 00:02:03.840 --> 00:02:09.400 but your citizenship is in the kingdom of God, the kingdom of heaven, the kingdom that Christ is building 00:02:09.400 --> 00:02:17.040 through faith. See, you might remember I said last week that he swallows their pastoral concern with 00:02:17.040 --> 00:02:24.420 an even bigger truth. Okay. They're really worried about their belonging to Rome and he swallows it up 00:02:24.420 --> 00:02:31.180 with this bigger idea that you're actually citizens of glory. Okay. So that's, he really loves them. 00:02:31.860 --> 00:02:38.400 He's concerned about citizenship. The third one is this about a sort of 00:02:38.400 --> 00:02:46.319 a concern that he has about jealousy in the life of the church. So he is concerned that there are people 00:02:46.319 --> 00:02:51.759 in the church who are conducting themselves in a way which makes it evident that they are 00:02:51.759 --> 00:02:58.860 operating out of a jealous heart and spirit towards one another. There is rivalry in the church. 00:02:59.319 --> 00:03:03.900 So much so that even some of the good actions in the church, some of the preaching that's going on in the 00:03:03.900 --> 00:03:09.379 church is going on because those preachers are hoping to make it difficult for Paul who's in prison. 00:03:09.480 --> 00:03:13.659 They may be thinking, oh, great. You know, this, this super famous preacher, he's locked in prison 00:03:13.659 --> 00:03:18.080 right now. So this is a chance for me to make a name for myself. He's kind of out of the way. So, 00:03:18.500 --> 00:03:23.900 you know, so let me big myself up as I, as I preach. Now, Paul says he rejoices because he wants the gospel 00:03:23.900 --> 00:03:30.879 to go forwards. But this idea that it is driven by jealousy or by rivalry. And he calls out, 00:03:30.879 --> 00:03:36.340 especially, Euronia and Syntyche, doesn't he, and asks them to agree in the Lord. We considered 00:03:36.340 --> 00:03:42.120 together last week how jealousy and rivalry are a particular struggle of churches that are growing 00:03:42.120 --> 00:03:47.979 and thriving and doing good stuff. In churches that are dying and declining, there's not much to be 00:03:47.979 --> 00:03:53.539 envious of and jealous of. But in this church in Philippi, which is going so well, there is so much 00:03:53.539 --> 00:03:59.919 for them to be envious of and jealous of. And so it's a warning to them. Some commentators would even 00:03:59.919 --> 00:04:05.559 suggest to you that the whole letter really is aimed at Euronia and Syntyche, which is an 00:04:05.559 --> 00:04:09.959 interesting thought that you can chew on if you'd like to. So those are the, those are the sort of 00:04:09.959 --> 00:04:15.879 three themes. And then the central instruction, which is, is hung around this great hymn on the 00:04:15.879 --> 00:04:21.759 nature of the Lord Jesus Christ in chapter two. This letter sort of revolves all around this, 00:04:21.759 --> 00:04:29.099 around the Lord Jesus' self-sacrifice. Jesus gave up himself. He gave up the glories of heaven 00:04:29.099 --> 00:04:37.680 to be born as a man. So Jesus unites himself to weak human flesh, is born as a baby, lives and dies 00:04:37.680 --> 00:04:47.560 for our sin. Self-sacrifice. And it's for the salvation of others. And therefore, God gives him 00:04:47.560 --> 00:04:53.540 the name that is above every name. And that kind of self-sacrificial service for the eternal 00:04:53.540 --> 00:04:58.319 well-being of others to the glory of God, that is the call on all of our lives. It's what, 00:04:58.420 --> 00:05:03.300 it's what Jesus does. It's what Paul does. It's what Timothy does. It's what Epaphroditus does. 00:05:03.620 --> 00:05:07.199 It's what the Philippian church are called to do. And it's what you and I are called to do. 00:05:07.459 --> 00:05:12.540 To love others above ourselves, sacrifice ourselves for other people's eternal well-being, 00:05:12.540 --> 00:05:19.480 for the glory of God. And we thought, didn't we, that that self-sacrifice is for the good of others, 00:05:19.540 --> 00:05:25.120 not just in a sort of general sense, but in an eternal salvation sense. We are really deeply 00:05:25.120 --> 00:05:30.900 concerned about one another's spiritual well-being and the plight of the lost. And so we give up 00:05:30.900 --> 00:05:36.879 ourselves that others may hear the gospel, grow as Christians, and we do that for God's glory. 00:05:36.879 --> 00:05:44.920 So those were the things we looked at last week, okay? So love, citizenship, jealousy, 00:05:45.759 --> 00:05:50.740 and this central idea of self-sacrificial service for the eternal well-being of others to the glory 00:05:50.740 --> 00:05:56.819 of God. Now, we're going to look this week really at verses 3 to 11 of Philippians chapter 1. 00:05:57.139 --> 00:06:01.100 And I've put them on the front of your handout with some odd formatting, which hopefully, 00:06:01.740 --> 00:06:05.819 maybe give you an idea of the structure of these verses. But let me read them to you, 00:06:05.819 --> 00:06:12.099 and then we'll have a look at them together. Verse 3 of Philippians chapter 1. 00:06:12.759 --> 00:06:20.819 I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 00:06:20.819 --> 00:06:27.019 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. Being confident of this, 00:06:27.120 --> 00:06:33.980 that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 00:06:33.980 --> 00:06:39.600 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you since I have you in my heart, 00:06:40.020 --> 00:06:45.620 and whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's 00:06:45.620 --> 00:06:53.040 grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. 00:06:54.200 --> 00:07:00.460 And this is my prayer, that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 00:07:00.459 --> 00:07:07.659 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 00:07:08.139 --> 00:07:15.060 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God. 00:07:17.000 --> 00:07:23.299 Now, let me just start with essentially a few really obvious observations from those verses, 00:07:23.459 --> 00:07:27.279 which will hopefully just help us tease out some of the lessons for us. 00:07:27.279 --> 00:07:31.619 So if you keep your eyes on those verses, and I will just point out some things which you could have noticed, 00:07:32.019 --> 00:07:38.319 but are worth us just stating because they're going to be helpful to us as we think about what these verses mean for us. 00:07:38.959 --> 00:07:46.339 So notice first, very obvious observation. Verses three and four, notice this is Paul recording a prayer. 00:07:47.299 --> 00:07:52.859 In fact, it's a prayer he always prays for all of them. He's always praying this. 00:07:52.860 --> 00:07:57.600 So he's introduced this idea that he is praying, but having introduced that idea, 00:07:57.720 --> 00:08:02.580 it's not really until verse nine that he actually tells you what he is praying about. 00:08:03.360 --> 00:08:06.319 So having introduced the idea that he's praying in verses three and four, 00:08:06.400 --> 00:08:09.639 then verses five to eight are really essentially a sort of interlude. 00:08:10.280 --> 00:08:14.500 Oh, before I tell you that, let me tell you something else, says Paul, effectively. 00:08:14.939 --> 00:08:17.060 Well, you know, that's how all of our minds work, isn't it? 00:08:17.080 --> 00:08:19.920 We say something and then, oh no, let me just tell you this first. 00:08:19.920 --> 00:08:25.980 And that's what Paul is doing here. I'm praying for you, all of you always, with all sorts of joy, great joy. 00:08:26.319 --> 00:08:30.280 I'm praying for you. Oh, but before I tell you what I'm praying for, let me remind you of something really important. 00:08:31.319 --> 00:08:36.399 And so verses five to eight are really a statement of Paul's relationship with the church and of what God is doing in them. 00:08:37.259 --> 00:08:41.899 So notice verses five and seven are both about their partnership in the gospel. 00:08:42.700 --> 00:08:44.379 So look at verse five. 00:08:44.379 --> 00:08:52.740 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 00:08:53.120 --> 00:08:57.939 And then verse seven, it is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart, 00:08:58.299 --> 00:09:05.500 whether I'm in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. 00:09:05.500 --> 00:09:15.899 Both the word share there and also partnership in verse five are both the same root word of canonium, fellowship, togetherness. 00:09:16.360 --> 00:09:21.059 Paul's prayer for the Philippians is a reflection of their togetherness with him, their fellowship with him. 00:09:21.159 --> 00:09:24.740 They share with him in his ministry. 00:09:24.919 --> 00:09:26.720 They are partners in the gospel. 00:09:27.120 --> 00:09:28.200 How are they partners in the gospel? 00:09:28.320 --> 00:09:31.980 Well, I think in the letter it's because they're giving to him, because they're concerned for him. 00:09:31.980 --> 00:09:39.600 And so he says that whether he's in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, they are partners, fellowshippers with him. 00:09:40.300 --> 00:09:41.539 They're working alongside him. 00:09:41.620 --> 00:09:44.779 They are team members, if you like, fellow workers. 00:09:45.899 --> 00:09:50.820 And that he suggests in verse six is evidence that God is at work in them, that a work has begun. 00:09:50.920 --> 00:09:56.060 It's yet to be completed, but it will be completed because God is faithful who finishes what he started. 00:09:56.920 --> 00:09:58.139 That's the introduction to the prayer. 00:09:58.139 --> 00:10:03.279 Listen, I'm praying always for all of you because, listen, you guys, you're like you're with me. 00:10:03.720 --> 00:10:04.679 You're on my team. 00:10:05.179 --> 00:10:06.139 God is at work in you. 00:10:06.500 --> 00:10:07.519 He's carrying it on. 00:10:08.139 --> 00:10:09.240 And then what does he actually pray? 00:10:09.379 --> 00:10:13.960 Well, verse nine is really then an expansion on this good work that God is doing, 00:10:14.139 --> 00:10:20.980 because Paul is praying that God would complete and do what he has set about doing in them. 00:10:20.980 --> 00:10:27.800 So he says, and this is my prayer, verse nine, that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 00:10:27.920 --> 00:10:32.600 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 00:10:32.740 --> 00:10:38.539 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God. 00:10:39.600 --> 00:10:43.440 He prays for growth and change, growth in knowledge, literally full knowledge. 00:10:43.440 --> 00:10:45.320 And we'll think about that some more in a moment. 00:10:45.320 --> 00:10:48.860 It's not so much knowledge of facts to pass a test, is it? 00:10:49.520 --> 00:10:54.320 Knowledge that makes possible, verse 10, to live the Christian life, 00:10:54.440 --> 00:11:00.040 the knowledge that means that you can be able to discern what is best and be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 00:11:00.200 --> 00:11:04.260 a life that involves discerning the right thing to do and doing it, 00:11:04.320 --> 00:11:07.960 knowing that there's a coming day, a day of judgment, the day of Christ. 00:11:09.080 --> 00:11:12.880 Now, that's just some really obvious observations from the text. 00:11:12.879 --> 00:11:16.840 Now, let me just give you some applications and some lessons for us. 00:11:16.879 --> 00:11:20.639 I'll try and pull it together in some sort of coherent manner. 00:11:21.120 --> 00:11:24.960 And there's opportunity for questions and also some discussion as well. 00:11:25.899 --> 00:11:29.539 So first, you notice that the Christian life means gospel partnership. 00:11:30.240 --> 00:11:31.799 Christian life means gospel partnership. 00:11:31.939 --> 00:11:36.759 It seems to me that Paul takes the Philippians church's partnership with him in the ministry, 00:11:36.919 --> 00:11:38.779 their giving of money, sending of Epaphroditus. 00:11:38.779 --> 00:11:42.319 He sends that as evidence that they are Christians. 00:11:43.199 --> 00:11:48.740 In other words, their interest in the work of the gospel is evidence of God's work in them. 00:11:49.639 --> 00:11:54.620 You cannot see what's going on in their hearts, but you can see what they're interested in. 00:11:55.079 --> 00:12:00.500 So the fact that they are interested in Paul and his ministry to the extent of sacrificing money 00:12:00.500 --> 00:12:06.500 and sending Epaphroditus almost at cost of his life is evidence that God is at work in them. 00:12:06.500 --> 00:12:15.139 Their concern for gospel work is a sign of gospel life, spiritual life, which has been started by work of God, which is ongoing. 00:12:15.860 --> 00:12:19.620 Now, if you were to ask Paul, how do you know that the Philippians are truly converted? 00:12:19.740 --> 00:12:21.679 How do you know that there's a work of God in that church? 00:12:22.320 --> 00:12:26.779 Well, the answer in these verses is because they're concerned for Paul and for the work of the gospel. 00:12:27.600 --> 00:12:30.080 Work actually, which is interesting, is not happening on their doorstep. 00:12:30.080 --> 00:12:38.720 A work that they have absolutely no positive kickback from themselves, but a work they care about just because they care about Jesus and his glory. 00:12:39.440 --> 00:12:42.540 That's really encouraging and quite challenging, isn't it, if you think about it. 00:12:42.539 --> 00:12:52.480 It's encouraging because you can say that the desire that we have to pray for, to give to, to show concern for the work of the gospel beyond our front door is evidence that God is at work. 00:12:53.079 --> 00:12:54.219 Praise God for that. 00:12:54.679 --> 00:12:55.879 You see that in the life of our church. 00:12:55.959 --> 00:12:57.860 Praise God because that's not self-generated. 00:12:58.259 --> 00:12:59.500 That's evidence of God at work. 00:12:59.620 --> 00:13:00.299 Praise him. 00:13:00.299 --> 00:13:08.299 But also the absence of that concern is an evidence that God's not finished with us yet and there's still work to be done in our lives. 00:13:10.219 --> 00:13:13.399 Really practically as well, let me just try and land it really, really practically. 00:13:13.399 --> 00:13:20.419 I think it means for us that one of the most useful things that we can do for our own assurance is pray for others. 00:13:21.759 --> 00:13:24.799 One of the most useful things we can do for our own assurance is pray for others. 00:13:24.919 --> 00:13:28.500 Let me encourage you, if I can, to pray widely for the work of the gospel. 00:13:28.500 --> 00:13:36.500 Pick up one of those London City Mission leaflets from the table or the Open Doors Prayer News and pray for churches beyond our own. 00:13:36.620 --> 00:13:39.580 It is good for you as well as good for them to do it. 00:13:39.659 --> 00:13:42.320 It is what God is doing in us. 00:13:42.419 --> 00:13:43.679 It is evidence of his work. 00:13:43.759 --> 00:13:45.039 It is a cause of rejoicing. 00:13:45.480 --> 00:13:52.679 It's an act of self-sacrifice, not praying for my own good or my own gain, but showing concern for others ahead of myself. 00:13:52.860 --> 00:13:53.840 That's what Jesus does. 00:13:53.919 --> 00:13:54.679 It's what Paul does. 00:13:55.179 --> 00:13:57.000 It's what Timothy does, Epaphroditus does. 00:13:57.000 --> 00:13:59.120 And it's what we're encouraged to do. 00:14:00.139 --> 00:14:00.860 That's the first thing. 00:14:01.100 --> 00:14:05.340 Secondly, Christian change is evidence of Christian life. 00:14:05.879 --> 00:14:08.019 So concern for gospel work is evidence of Christian life. 00:14:08.120 --> 00:14:10.600 Christian change is evidence of Christian life. 00:14:11.639 --> 00:14:15.379 Paul's statement in verse 6 is meant to be reassuring, isn't it, for the Philippians. 00:14:15.519 --> 00:14:16.740 Listen, guys, God is at work. 00:14:17.399 --> 00:14:20.960 And God is the kind of worker who always finishes what he starts. 00:14:21.159 --> 00:14:22.080 That's great, isn't it? 00:14:22.080 --> 00:14:25.980 God's not finished with me yet, as the sign goes. 00:14:26.139 --> 00:14:29.060 Praise God that he is still at work and he will complete it. 00:14:29.759 --> 00:14:35.060 But notice that that implies that the Philippians have change built into their Christian lives. 00:14:35.139 --> 00:14:36.320 I wonder if you've thought about that. 00:14:36.320 --> 00:14:42.300 Change, transformation is part of the Christian life. 00:14:43.320 --> 00:14:46.860 Let me try and play devil's advocate with this, if I can, for a moment. 00:14:46.860 --> 00:14:52.760 I think there's a version of the Christian life which is very popular amongst keen evangelicals, 00:14:52.900 --> 00:14:58.360 which is that the Christian life is sort of really the accumulation of truths or facts. 00:14:58.700 --> 00:15:00.800 And when you've got them all, you've done it. 00:15:00.799 --> 00:15:07.479 Right. So once you understand the basic truths of the Christian message, you've nailed it. 00:15:07.839 --> 00:15:11.199 You can carry the label godly and you have done it. 00:15:11.259 --> 00:15:12.599 You know what needs to be done. 00:15:13.439 --> 00:15:17.399 Now, clearly, knowing Christian doctrine is a good thing. 00:15:17.500 --> 00:15:18.139 It is important. 00:15:18.620 --> 00:15:22.439 But notice in these verses that that's not really what Paul is talking about, is he? 00:15:22.859 --> 00:15:26.859 The good work that God has started you is not simply about getting your head straight. 00:15:26.860 --> 00:15:30.940 So I tried to show this in the structure of the passage on the front sheet. 00:15:31.039 --> 00:15:33.180 You can ask me about it later because I'm not going to bore you with it now. 00:15:33.680 --> 00:15:39.700 But in the structure of the passage, verse 9 is the explanation of verse 6. 00:15:40.259 --> 00:15:44.899 So the good work that is begun in you, that is being carried on to completion in the day of Christ, 00:15:45.279 --> 00:15:51.399 is described in more detail in verse 9 about love and discernment and purity and blamelessness. 00:15:51.399 --> 00:16:00.299 The change that God is doing in our lives that is built into the Christian life is really not just about getting your head straight with facts. 00:16:00.379 --> 00:16:01.220 It's not less than that. 00:16:01.299 --> 00:16:03.799 We need to understand the truth and we need to understand it clearly. 00:16:04.439 --> 00:16:05.959 It's more than that, though, isn't it? 00:16:05.959 --> 00:16:07.840 It's about getting your heart straight. 00:16:08.500 --> 00:16:12.840 It's about transforming your loves and your desires, your passions and your concerns. 00:16:12.840 --> 00:16:18.879 It's about a work which in one sense will never be finished until we arrive at the day of Christ. 00:16:19.960 --> 00:16:26.060 In other words, it's not so much simply an intellectual transformation as it is a moral transformation. 00:16:26.860 --> 00:16:28.480 Those are opposites to one another, are they? 00:16:28.899 --> 00:16:31.160 You know, good doctrine should lead to good Christian living. 00:16:31.159 --> 00:16:35.899 But very often, especially in churches like ours which are concerned for sound doctrine, 00:16:36.439 --> 00:16:41.480 we can stop short of what Paul is thinking about here and think we've arrived at destination godly 00:16:41.480 --> 00:16:44.679 just because we can recite the church's doctrinal statement. 00:16:45.019 --> 00:16:46.459 But that's not true, is it? 00:16:47.339 --> 00:16:50.919 I think one of the most profoundly worrying things about my own Christian life 00:16:50.919 --> 00:16:53.179 and about the Christian lives of others as I observe them 00:16:53.179 --> 00:17:00.219 is that it can be possible for people to know Christian doctrine really well 00:17:00.219 --> 00:17:03.219 but remain unchanged by it. 00:17:04.519 --> 00:17:07.899 And Paul is concerned that that's not true for the Philippian church. 00:17:07.899 --> 00:17:14.059 He wants them to be transformed in their desires, their loves, their purity 00:17:14.059 --> 00:17:16.220 by the truth of the gospel. 00:17:17.039 --> 00:17:20.679 That change, he says, is built into the Christian life. 00:17:20.680 --> 00:17:23.519 Now again, let me try and land that really practically. 00:17:23.680 --> 00:17:25.740 There's no point just sort of talking about ideas. 00:17:25.860 --> 00:17:26.799 Let's land this really practically. 00:17:26.940 --> 00:17:28.640 It means, doesn't it, if you're a Christian this evening 00:17:28.640 --> 00:17:31.500 and someone says to you, how are you doing as a Christian? 00:17:32.539 --> 00:17:35.980 You should be able to say, I should be able to say, 00:17:36.860 --> 00:17:38.620 oh, thank you for asking that question. 00:17:39.180 --> 00:17:41.740 Let me tell you about this particular area in my life 00:17:41.740 --> 00:17:44.380 where I know the Lord has his finger on this. 00:17:44.960 --> 00:17:46.279 He's changing me in this way. 00:17:46.660 --> 00:17:47.840 He's teaching me this. 00:17:47.839 --> 00:17:51.599 I've been really conscious and aware of the fact 00:17:51.599 --> 00:17:56.159 that I really need to grow in patience or in love for other believers. 00:17:56.959 --> 00:17:59.259 I know really that I've been worried and anxious 00:17:59.259 --> 00:18:02.079 and the Lord is pointing out to me that really I need to grow 00:18:02.079 --> 00:18:05.799 not in just an intellectual understanding of his sovereignty 00:18:05.799 --> 00:18:07.919 but in a sort of appropriation of that, 00:18:08.019 --> 00:18:11.379 a kind of bringing that into my life so that I can sleep at night 00:18:11.380 --> 00:18:15.480 and I can rest in him and trust him. 00:18:16.200 --> 00:18:18.180 Thank you so much for praying that I would change. 00:18:18.280 --> 00:18:19.960 Please keep praying for that thing 00:18:19.960 --> 00:18:22.760 because that's where the Lord is at work in my life. 00:18:23.960 --> 00:18:27.220 And let me say, if you can't say that, 00:18:27.620 --> 00:18:29.440 if you can't answer like that, 00:18:30.020 --> 00:18:33.700 then please go away and pray about that and think about that 00:18:33.700 --> 00:18:36.320 because I think this is how the Christian life works. 00:18:36.319 --> 00:18:40.980 I think this is Paul's understanding is that actually the Christian life works 00:18:40.980 --> 00:18:44.079 by God changing us and transforming us. 00:18:44.119 --> 00:18:46.220 This is built into our Christian lives. 00:18:47.259 --> 00:18:51.019 I remember once asking an old chap in another church, not here, 00:18:51.439 --> 00:18:52.899 and I said to him, 00:18:53.639 --> 00:18:59.139 you know, what have you learned or what have you changed your mind on recently? 00:18:59.140 --> 00:19:05.880 And he looked at me as if I'd, you know, landed from outer space. 00:19:06.420 --> 00:19:10.100 And he goes, I don't think I've changed my mind for 40 years. 00:19:11.200 --> 00:19:16.120 I was like, you know, there's something wrong here, isn't there? 00:19:16.440 --> 00:19:20.580 The Lord is changing us and transforming us and molding us and shaping us. 00:19:22.920 --> 00:19:24.800 And if we can say that for ourselves, okay, 00:19:24.840 --> 00:19:27.759 so if we can say, oh, the Lord is changing me and transforming me in this way, 00:19:27.759 --> 00:19:29.819 we can also say it for others in the church. 00:19:30.039 --> 00:19:32.480 Let me try and say this to reassure you, right? 00:19:33.099 --> 00:19:36.240 Verse six and verse nine are true for other church members. 00:19:37.539 --> 00:19:42.200 God is more concerned with transforming the immaturity in the church, 00:19:42.319 --> 00:19:44.759 more concerned about that than you and I are, right? 00:19:45.400 --> 00:19:47.579 He is the one at work in others too. 00:19:49.220 --> 00:19:52.420 So we can pray for fellow church members, can't we? 00:19:52.500 --> 00:19:55.140 We can pray, Lord, would you teach us this corporately? 00:19:55.519 --> 00:19:57.059 Would you help them in that way? 00:19:57.759 --> 00:20:02.819 So let me just ask you, you know, just think for a moment, how are you changing? 00:20:03.500 --> 00:20:07.059 What is it that God is doing at you in the moment now? 00:20:07.740 --> 00:20:09.019 Where are you being transformed? 00:20:10.379 --> 00:20:14.180 What sins are being particularly drawn to your attention at the moment? 00:20:15.579 --> 00:20:17.960 Where in God's providence has he led you? 00:20:18.680 --> 00:20:20.640 What is he teaching you in life there? 00:20:20.640 --> 00:20:26.680 How is what you're learning about the Lord transforming how you're living for the Lord? 00:20:29.300 --> 00:20:32.280 Those are good questions for us to think about and ponder. 00:20:32.279 --> 00:20:39.539 Next then, Christian living is taking hold of what you already have. 00:20:40.420 --> 00:20:46.259 I slightly answered my own question, but I want you just with the person next to you for a moment to give yourself a break from my voice. 00:20:46.799 --> 00:20:50.660 I want you to describe how change happens as a Christian. 00:20:50.660 --> 00:20:54.300 See, I know that's a slightly odd question. 00:20:54.460 --> 00:20:55.840 So try and put it more simply. 00:20:56.279 --> 00:20:59.660 How do I become more and more mature as a Christian? 00:21:00.519 --> 00:21:02.200 Have a think about that with the person next to you. 00:21:02.680 --> 00:21:05.900 How do I become a more grown up Christian? 00:21:07.580 --> 00:21:08.560 What does that look like? 00:21:08.600 --> 00:21:09.240 How does that work? 00:21:09.240 --> 00:21:13.519 If you find yourself on your own, you can think about it on your own. 00:21:26.160 --> 00:21:26.480 Okay. 00:21:28.859 --> 00:21:31.000 Some of you are probably relieved that I've interrupted others. 00:21:31.259 --> 00:21:34.440 You might have been able to go on for ages, but anyone want to share their answers? 00:21:34.579 --> 00:21:37.259 How do we become more mature as a Christian? 00:21:37.259 --> 00:21:39.180 Describe if you can. 00:21:40.019 --> 00:21:42.220 That process, what does that work? 00:21:44.339 --> 00:21:46.460 Now's your chance to say what the other person was saying. 00:21:50.460 --> 00:21:58.099 If I'm listening closely to those who know me well, then I upset them or do things wrong. 00:21:58.299 --> 00:22:00.720 Are they actually taking on board criticism? 00:22:01.259 --> 00:22:02.380 Yes, certainly. 00:22:02.500 --> 00:22:05.559 Taking on board criticism, Sandy's saying. 00:22:05.559 --> 00:22:12.099 So as people who know me well and love me and are concerned for me as they point things out to me. 00:22:13.179 --> 00:22:14.019 Yeah, seeing that. 00:22:14.579 --> 00:22:15.240 Yeah, for sure. 00:22:16.220 --> 00:22:16.480 Yeah. 00:22:17.480 --> 00:22:18.379 Anything else? 00:22:18.380 --> 00:22:18.520 Yes. 00:22:21.380 --> 00:22:22.980 Yes. 00:22:25.160 --> 00:22:38.400 Yeah. 00:22:38.400 --> 00:22:58.120 yeah yeah yeah yes let me try and repeat that for the sake i was trying to listen to it so i can 00:22:58.120 --> 00:23:04.120 repeat it for those listening on zoom so the idea that as i as i sit down and read god's word every 00:23:04.119 --> 00:23:09.759 day i'm praying that the lord would point out to me things that need to change that so i suppose a bit 00:23:09.759 --> 00:23:13.859 like what sandy was saying you're saying that process is not only asking other people who know 00:23:13.859 --> 00:23:20.559 me well but actually it's asking the lord as well isn't it as as he changes me yeah yeah yes and he 00:23:20.559 --> 00:23:22.279 changes me by his spirit yeah 00:23:22.279 --> 00:23:33.619 yeah 00:23:33.619 --> 00:23:44.419 so other people around us get to see the change in us yeah yeah 00:23:44.420 --> 00:23:52.960 um now let me let me try and sort of come to the answer to that question a little bit the other 00:23:52.960 --> 00:23:58.840 way around okay so let me try and show you something which i think is essentially makes no logical sense 00:23:58.840 --> 00:24:04.480 in verse nine but which when you understand it i think helps explain the answer to the question that 00:24:04.480 --> 00:24:09.920 we've been asking or at least impart the answer so let me let me look at verse nine with you and let 00:24:09.920 --> 00:24:15.300 me point out that it makes no logical sense verse nine let me read it to you this is my prayer that 00:24:15.300 --> 00:24:23.340 your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight paul is praying isn't he that they 00:24:23.340 --> 00:24:31.420 may take hold of progressively more and more of something um this is my prayer that may abound more 00:24:31.420 --> 00:24:38.600 and more okay so he wants them to grow in this love but he's asking that it might grow more and more 00:24:38.599 --> 00:24:42.879 in knowledge and depth of insight so that that they might be you might think that they might know 00:24:42.879 --> 00:24:48.439 more they might have more insight but actually when you when you look at those words it doesn't 00:24:48.439 --> 00:24:55.139 quite work like that so if i'm saying i want you to grow in something i can't ask you to grow in 00:24:55.139 --> 00:24:59.939 something that you already fully have right so let me try and give you a silly example i was trying to 00:24:59.939 --> 00:25:04.240 think in my study this afternoon of some examples i couldn't think of any good ones so here are some bad 00:25:04.240 --> 00:25:09.059 ones right i can't ask that you might take hold of more fingers or more toes because you've already 00:25:09.059 --> 00:25:14.019 got a full amount of fingers and toes right so you've already already got them you know you might 00:25:14.019 --> 00:25:19.880 say may you abound more and more in in money or in success or in a level results or something that you 00:25:19.880 --> 00:25:24.460 don't have but what's happening in verse nine is that he says that they may abound more and more in 00:25:24.460 --> 00:25:29.539 two things that they already have first is knowledge but the word literally there is epinosis which means 00:25:29.539 --> 00:25:35.779 full knowledge in other words you've already got full you already know everything there is to know 00:25:35.779 --> 00:25:41.819 you already have full knowledge and the second is depth of insight which is literally all insight 00:25:41.819 --> 00:25:47.139 in one sense paul is saying that he wants them to abound more that they love to abound more and more 00:25:47.139 --> 00:25:54.139 in in two things that they already fully have that they're already in full possession of which is 00:25:54.139 --> 00:25:58.720 knowledge which they've already got and insight all insight which they've already got 00:25:58.720 --> 00:26:05.940 so there's a sort of crazy logic of the prayer that the christian life is abounding in more fullness 00:26:05.940 --> 00:26:11.559 in love that comes from more fullness of something that you already fully have 00:26:11.559 --> 00:26:21.420 this is how christian change works in paul's theology christian change happens by increasingly 00:26:21.420 --> 00:26:27.360 grasping hold of what you already have fully been given in the gospel of the lord jesus christ 00:26:27.359 --> 00:26:36.339 he is asking for us to receive what we fully have been given in the lord jesus christ here's paul's 00:26:36.339 --> 00:26:43.459 answer to the question that we started with christian change is becoming more and more who you already 00:26:43.459 --> 00:26:51.059 are right christian change is becoming more and more who you already are in the gospel to put it 00:26:51.059 --> 00:26:57.559 technically sanctification in paul's theology is the realization of justification so sanctification 00:26:57.559 --> 00:27:04.079 this process of christian growth is the is becoming who justification has already made me to be 00:27:04.079 --> 00:27:13.200 a full saint in every sense of that word fully holy and perfect with full knowledge and full insight 00:27:13.200 --> 00:27:20.080 i know everything that there is to know in christ in that sense and what is going on in my life is i am 00:27:20.080 --> 00:27:26.660 becoming more and more the person who i already am in the lord jesus now of course well that's 00:27:26.660 --> 00:27:32.220 completely logical in one sense it makes total sense in of the christian life doesn't it if christ is given 00:27:32.220 --> 00:27:36.559 for our salvation how can we essentially be given any more than the lord jesus christ if we are fully 00:27:36.559 --> 00:27:42.079 adopted into god's family how can we be more adopted if we are in receipt of the spirit how can we be 00:27:42.079 --> 00:27:49.779 any more full of the lord we can't but christian change is about taking the transformation of the 00:27:49.779 --> 00:27:57.019 gospel and appreciating and seeing its effect in every areas of our lives let me we've been up here with 00:27:57.019 --> 00:28:02.839 ideas haven't we let me try again try and land this really practically we often assume don't we that change 00:28:02.839 --> 00:28:07.779 in our christian life will come from learning something new maybe you maybe you've got a 00:28:07.779 --> 00:28:12.459 particular struggle in your life and what you really think is what i really need to do is i need to find 00:28:12.459 --> 00:28:17.240 an expert on that particular area who can help me with that because there must be some new key to 00:28:17.240 --> 00:28:22.779 to that area in order for me to grow in that you know maybe you're struggling with some kind of 00:28:22.779 --> 00:28:27.279 addiction of some kind or you're struggling with some kind of relational difficulty or you're struggling 00:28:27.279 --> 00:28:33.460 looking after grandchildren or children or parents or whatever it is and you think sure there must be 00:28:33.460 --> 00:28:39.720 some nugget of information that will help change in that i think what's happening in philippians is 00:28:39.720 --> 00:28:44.559 paul is saying listen everything you need to know is given to you in the gospel of the lord jesus christ 00:28:44.559 --> 00:28:52.160 which you know take that and you will be transformed by that increasingly becoming who you already are in the 00:28:52.160 --> 00:28:59.759 gospel and that is the process of christian change becoming who i already am in the lord jesus christ 00:28:59.759 --> 00:29:05.180 the working out of what's been planted in us that's why the fruit language of verse 11 is so 00:29:05.180 --> 00:29:12.700 useful isn't it it is the the blossoming of what christ has done in me it is me becoming who i am 00:29:12.700 --> 00:29:14.340 because of what he has done 00:29:14.339 --> 00:29:24.959 okay finally then christian praying is asking for what will happen or what will always happen 00:29:24.959 --> 00:29:29.240 anyway again whether you see this dynamic here but paul is praying for what he's certain will happen 00:29:29.240 --> 00:29:33.939 which i guess is kind of counterintuitive isn't it he's asking god to do what he's promised to do 00:29:33.939 --> 00:29:42.199 he's asking god to carry on what he knows god won't leave alone anyway he's asking that god will do what 00:29:42.200 --> 00:29:46.400 god has committed to do now why would paul bother doing that why would you ask for what you know you 00:29:46.400 --> 00:29:52.519 will receive well it seems as if paul is persuaded that asking for it will be the means by which the 00:29:52.519 --> 00:29:58.920 philippians will receive what is promised in other words god's promise is certain and god's promise is 00:29:58.920 --> 00:30:05.080 kept by his people asking for it to be kept why is that necessary well again because i think it's the 00:30:05.080 --> 00:30:10.779 shape of the christian life isn't it the christian realizes that everything that they have is given to 00:30:10.779 --> 00:30:15.480 them by god and so we pray for one another and for ourselves that god would do for us what he has 00:30:15.480 --> 00:30:20.960 promised to do for us that he'd finish what he promised us not to leave that he'd give us more 00:30:20.960 --> 00:30:25.980 of all that he has already given to us that would increasingly see what he has promised we will see to 00:30:25.980 --> 00:30:30.899 the glory and praise of god which means these are the things that we should pray for one another as well 00:30:30.899 --> 00:30:36.519 gospel change that comes from a gospel life abounding in what we already have 00:30:36.519 --> 00:30:43.940 for love and purity and blamelessness to shine through us for the glory of god let me pray and 00:30:43.940 --> 00:30:47.379 then i'll take some questions and roll close together we pray 00:30:47.379 --> 00:30:57.160 heavenly father thank you that in the lord jesus christ you have given us all that we need 00:30:57.160 --> 00:31:02.240 thank you that you have begun in us a good work which you promise 00:31:02.240 --> 00:31:09.900 to carry on to completion on the day of the lord jesus christ thank you that it's not so much about 00:31:09.900 --> 00:31:15.900 finding new tricks but it's really about realizing that what you've done for us in jesus is everything 00:31:15.900 --> 00:31:22.480 that needed to be done that you have made us new people please we pray might we increasingly be 00:31:22.480 --> 00:31:30.200 who we already are in the lord jesus father we want to be a church which abounds in love 00:31:30.200 --> 00:31:40.240 purity blamelessness doing what is best until the day of christ please lord do that work amongst us 00:31:40.240 --> 00:31:46.200 for the sake of your glory help us to be a community of people who delight in being transformed by you 00:31:46.200 --> 00:31:51.860 and help us to pray for that for one another in jesus name amen 00:31:51.860 --> 00:32:02.360 any questions or comments before we sing our closing hymn charleston 00:32:02.359 --> 00:32:17.899 yes is it a bit like knowing about god but not knowing him yeah that is a good that is a good summary yeah 00:32:17.899 --> 00:32:24.859 yeah it's possible to know facts about god but not know him and the bible is full of those warnings isn't it charleston yeah 00:32:24.859 --> 00:32:25.740 yeah yeah 00:32:25.740 --> 00:32:40.519 so uh discernment is comes in verse 10 doesn't it yeah so it's depth of insights full insight and full 00:32:40.519 --> 00:32:49.179 knowledge in verse 9 and the discernment of what is best i think i i my presumption there is that it is 00:32:49.180 --> 00:32:56.640 so that we might live well and blameless i think in the in the sense there is so that 00:32:56.640 --> 00:33:03.019 you know people look at that they've done the right thing there that was the that was the right thing for 00:33:03.019 --> 00:33:09.480 them to do so i i i think the sense in verse 10 then is that our lives are increasingly shaped 00:33:09.480 --> 00:33:18.100 by the priorities and values of the gospel which we know fully and have full insight into in the lord jesus christ 00:33:18.099 --> 00:33:22.240 yes 00:33:22.240 --> 00:33:22.259 yes 00:33:22.259 --> 00:33:30.339 go on what do you what do you mean realized only in obedience what do you mean 00:33:30.339 --> 00:33:33.759 yes 00:33:33.759 --> 00:33:38.159 yes 00:33:38.159 --> 00:33:41.159 okay yes so that's 00:33:41.160 --> 00:33:47.880 uh yes uh yes if someone says that they know something but they don't do it then do they really 00:33:47.880 --> 00:33:54.920 know it yeah yeah yeah yeah no i think that's true but i by i think his concern here is 00:33:54.920 --> 00:34:02.100 it's not so much that they it's not so much that there's a lack in what god has given them 00:34:02.099 --> 00:34:08.839 it is that there there needs to be the the the process of transformation is taking the fullness 00:34:08.839 --> 00:34:16.279 of what god has given them and increasingly that shapes what they're doing so they are they are made 00:34:16.279 --> 00:34:21.380 new by the lord jesus christ they are fully his they belong to him that in christ they have full 00:34:21.380 --> 00:34:29.699 knowledge and and full insight and and living the christian life is is increasingly shaping what you do 00:34:29.699 --> 00:34:35.539 around who you really now are so that in one sense you should be able to look at what it is that you're 00:34:35.539 --> 00:34:40.819 doing with your life and say do you know what i i look at what i'll just use you for example i i can 00:34:40.819 --> 00:34:48.259 see i can see what clifford is doing in his life and it is only explicable because of what christ is doing 00:34:48.260 --> 00:34:58.180 and has done for him does that make sense absolutely yes absolutely and it's a lifetime pursuit because 00:34:58.180 --> 00:35:08.420 we will spend our lives becoming who we already are yeah yeah yeah great