The word of the Lord came to Isaiah, "Comfort ye, Comfort ye my people," Saith your God. "Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem." The world is a hard place. The key word for much of the last twenty years has been stress. In much of the world the stress is physical. Many people today are hungry. They live in chronic hunger. Many people today are homeless. They do not know where they will sleep tonight. Many people today live under tyranical rule with a government that comes in the night to take people away, never to be seen again. Many today are ill, knowing pain and suffering.

But we see much mental and emotional stress as well. People who have good jobs and yet do not know whether they will be the next to lose that job. People who have run up credit card bills and don't know how to pay them. People who live in a job which puts extra pressure upon them without giving any way to find a solution that would cut down the pressure. People living with the chronically ill or people who are going through the grief caused by loss.

Stress is all around us. The prophets, including Isaiah pointed out that sin brings with it punishment. And realizing our sin can be a great cause of stress and we see our guilt before the Lord. So it is that to the prophet came the command to speak words of comfort to God's people. When we are in the midst of trouble and grief, we need to hear words of comfort.

Jesus invites us to come to him for comfort. In Matthew 11:28-30, he says, "Come to me all you that are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Another time, just before he went to the cross, Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." Jesus promises "rest for your souls" and "peace." He wants us to know rest in him. The one thing that his church should bring into the world is comfort and encouragement.

Thus it is that Paul writes of encouragement and comfort. He knows that these need to flow forth out of the fellowship of believers. The church is not designed to cause stress, it is built to bring help and encouragement. This becomes the task of the church. The pastor needs to be sharing encouragement. the elders as they minister need to be bringers of comfort and encouragement. So also, each one who hears the word has the responsibility to be God's minister of comfort. God has promised to keep in "perfect peace" the one whose "mind is stayed on" him. We are called to be messengers of that peace.

Paul goes on to say how those in Philippi can bring joy to him. We might call this part of his letter "giving your pastor joy." Paul says, "Make my joy complete by being like minded." An early preacher, John Chrysostom, commented at this point, "Bless me! How often he says the same thing." A more recent writer simply said, "Probably there is no single thing so much insisted on in the New Testament as the importance of harmony among Christians." (Barnes p.165). If we find stress in our church life is it not because we fail to obey this command of Christ? We come to our walk together with different views of what should be and instead of coming into harmony we each play our chosen notes and the result is a discord. The key here, according to Paul is NOT that we learn to agree with one another. Paul calls us to empty ourselves and turn instead to "the mind of Christ." The picture is that of a symphony, though it is a symphony of souls. In the symphony the players do not choose what notes they wish to play and try to convince each all the others to join them. The players look to the conductor and play the music set forth by the composer. We are called to "look to Jesus who is the "author and finisher of our faith." He has written the notes and he conducts them. Our calling is to "be united with Christ." Our "one love" is Jesus.

If our one love is Jesus, our love will be like his. That same love is first of all sacrificial. Jesus said he did not do anything of his own will. All that he did was what he saw the Father doing. He did not seek his own blessing and benefit but sought ours, dying for us on the cross. That love also is caring. James tells us that true religion is "to look after the orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." Godly love gives of itself. It cares for others in their needs. This is one reason I am pleased that our church hosts the Alzheimer Respite center and why I would that some of our members would give of their time in that work of caring. It is the kind of thing God's word says we need to be doing, not just letting others do.

Christ's love is giving. If our love is his, we also will be a giving people. This is not about our tithes and offerings, it is about our attitude toward others. Do we seek what we can get or what we can give. those who center on "what's in it for me" will never fully know the love and peace of Jesus. We need to have and show the giving love of Jesus. This weekend we honor those who made the "ultimate sacrifice to preserve our freedom. We specially remember those who gave their lives in the service of their country. This past week as I was visiting our state capital I saw a monument to the law enforcement officers who have given their lives in our service. It included as statue of a mother and child grieving and honored those who also have given. As we think of these who gave themselves totally for us, how can we do any less than give our selves totally for our Lord?

Paul calls for Christians to be one in love and purpose. This is the point where we come to prayer filled goal setting. As brothers and sisters in Christ we need to know where we are going. Christ is our leader, but we need to ask him where he wants his church to go. We need to look to him and follow his leading. Then we need to walk together. It is not enough for a board or committee to make plans. It is not enough for the church to plan. We need to each make a commitment to help move our church along that prayerfully chosen path. The great condemnation from Isaiah is simply, "All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned everyone to his own way." God, through Paul, calls us to be of one spirit and purpose.

And then Paul moves on to our motives. Why do you do what you do? God realized that some act out of "selfish ambition and vain conceit." I liked what one write called this, "Partisanship and pomposity." That writer called these "the rocks which have brought ruin to many churches." Albert Barnes notes, "This command forbids us to do anything or attempt anything as the mere result of strife. This is not the principle from which we are to act, or by which we are to be governed. ...The command prohibits all attempts to secure anything over others by mere physical strength or by superiority of intellect or of numbers, or as the result of schemes and plans formed by rivalry, or by the indulgence of angry passions, or with the spirit of ambition. We are not to do anything merely by outstripping others , or by showing that we have more talent, courage or zeal." Barnes p. 165. Paul directs our lives into the path of humility rather than pride and partisanship.

Humility we must remember is not "low self esteem." Christ's church is not to be made up of a lot of sorrowful people lamenting, "poor little me." God has given each of us gifts. Recognize the gifts God has given you. Accept the gifts and USE them for God's glory. Too many people sit back waiting to be asked to get involved. Start looking for areas where you can use the gifts God has given you. The church in America is a volunteer organization, don't wait to be drafted.

Bu humility does effect how we do things as well as why we do them. It has been said their is no limit to what can be accomplished by someone who doesn't care who gets the credit. Paul puts it this way, "consider others better than yourselves." Building up the church means building up each other. We come back to the call to bring comfort and encouragement. As we build each other up we enable the whole body of Christ to grow. If we should bring each other down, we lessen the body of Christ. The principle of "Jesus and Others and You, what a wonderful way to spell joy" holds true. It brings joy to others and to us.

But it only really works if we are all living it. If all are giving, the one who comes to take will corrupt the body. If all are submitting one to another the one who seeks to be a dictator and "have his way" will damage the whole. We need to each seek ways to help one another. we need to encourage one another.

And the mutual encouragement and comfort we are called to give comes only as we are united in Christ Jesus. Is we are in Jesus and Jesus is in us we can live as we are meant to live. Is Jesus alive in you. Can the beauty of Jesus be seen in you?

@dPhil 2:5-11 He Is Lord

"In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God." "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." Last Sunday night as I spoke about the virgin birth we noted that one reason that truth is so important is that it points to the very nature of Christ. He is God come to earth in human flesh, Emmanuel, God with us. In Colossians, Paul puts it this way, "In him dwelleth all the fullness of the godhead bodily." The disciples saw that there was something special about Jesus. In the middle of the sea of Galilee, when they were frightened by the storm, Jesus spoke the simple words "Peace be still," and the wind died down. They asked then, "Who is this that even the wind and waves obey him?" We know the answer, but they were only beginning to grasp the truth about Jesus. He is God dwelling among us.

The bible pictures Satan as striving to take God's place. In Revelation we are given a glimpse of Satan's war of revolution against God. Satan wanted to grab equality with God. His sin was simply the desire to become God. So with us. The words of the very first temptation recorded in scripture are words addressed to our desire to grasp equality with God. "You will become as gods." Adam and Eve were tempted to, first disbelieve God and second, try to take his place. Are these not the temptations we still face each day. We fail to trust his Word. An we try to take his place. We aim to run our own lives and our own world. But while we, in our sin, try to supplant God, Paul tells us the story of Jesus who had a very different mind set.

Christ, in his holiness had equality with God. In Revelation we see that he is called "King of Kings and Lord of Lords." But Jesus did not see that equality with God as something to be grasped. Where our sin caused us to try to grab for the glory, he, in his holiness was willing to let go of it. He, who was Lord, was willing to become a servant.

In John 13, Jesus illustrates what I am talking about here. The disciples, just before the Last supper, were discussing which of them was greatest. When the came to the Upper Room not one of them was willing to wash the feet of the others. So it was that Jesus, who "knew that the Father had put all things under his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God," "got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him." He did not merely speak of having come as a servant, he became the servant of all. He took the tasks of the servant.

A Greek word which appears in this passage has become popular with some preachers. As you listen to the radio you may hear the use of the word, "Kenosis." This word literally translates as "emptied." The KJV translates it as "made himself of no reputation." The NIV translates it as "made himself nothing." Jesus "emptied" himself. He who is the master of the universe let loose of al his power and position and became a servant.

When we think of the vast breadth of human experience we can begin to understand what it means when we say that Christ "emptied himself." We speak today of the haves and the have nots. But there is a third group, the "have a lots." Throughout history a small portion of the population has been have a lots. Similarly there are powerful nations and there are weak nations. Jesus could have chosen to be born in a powerful nation as a have a lot. He chose the nation and the family into which he would be born. And he chose to be born to a family with little wealth in a nation with little power. He chose to come as one who was of little account.

We can see of how little account he was when we look at the manner of his death. The Jewish leaders did not even think him worth a fair trial. They violated most of their own laws by the manner in which they condemned him. Pilate realized he was innocent but did not think him worth the trouble it would take to release him. He was crucified because Pilate didn't care one way or another what happened to him. He just didn't count.

How often we hear or read a story built on the them of the "prince and the pauper." In such stories two people, from different backgrounds, trade places. Usually most of the story is focused on the prince who became a pauper. We see this formerly proud individual trying to cope with the trials of everyday life. And the theme is a popular one. Jesus did not trade places, he simply chose to become the servant of all. And he was able to fit into that chosen position. He became a servant.

As a servant he was obedient. This is part of the very nature of the servant, obedience. In Jesus we see in its completeness, obedience. First of all we see that he was in all things obedient to the Father." We see also that he was obedient to the plan of salvation which had been set forth. He knew the task for which he had come and was willing to follow through according to the plan. He was obedient even unto death. Even death on the cross. We might think we are obedient but how far does our obedience go. We often seem to fall back when things get a little tough, Jesus went all the way. He went to the cross.

And he has reaped the blessings of that obedience. He emptied himself, now he is filled. Paul often used a wonderful word, "therefore." Sometimes he will go on for pages with some theological point or another and then reach his therefore. Just when we are thinking, "so what?" He tells us the so what he is getting at. Here, Paul has written of how Christ emptied himself. He has commended that attitude to us as a model to follow, "You attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus" he wrote. But what comes of the emptying of self?

Christ emptied himself, "therefore, God exalted him." This was something Jesus said many times. Don't put yourself forward, let others life you up. Don't aim for filling yourself, let God fill you. It is as we pour ourselves out that we allow god the opportunity to fill us with all good things. Christ is highly exalted. He has been given the "name that is above every name." He is Lord!

Paul reminds us the day is coming when "every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord." Christ was made known in the form of a servant but now we know him as Lord and the whole world shall see him as Lord. And al the glory given to him is glory to God the Father. Even in his position of Lordship he still, though the praise is his, gives the praise and honor to the Father. He is Lord. He is King. Let us shout his praises.

But as we praise him we come back to a simple truth. Christ empties himself for a purpose. He died for a purpose. He died for you. He died to bring you salvation and forgiveness of sin. He rose to be you Lord. Is he your Lord? How do you respond to him?

II. EXHORTATION TO SHINE AS LIGHTS IN THE WORLD (12-18)

A. BY WORKING OUT THEIR OWN SALVATION (12-13)

1. Doing so with fear and trembling (12)

2. Remembering that God is at work in them (13)

B. AS CHILDREN OF GOD WITHOUT FAULT (14-16)

1. Doing all things without murmuring and complaining (14)

2. Blameless and harmless in the midst of a crooked and perverse

generation (15)

3. Holding fast the word of life, so that Paul may rejoice in the

day of Christ (16)

C. VIEWING PAUL'S PERSECUTION AS A REASON TO REJOICE (17-18)

1. He views it as a "sacrifice", offered in the service of their

faith (17a)

2. For this he is glad, and calls upon them to rejoice with him

(17b-18)

III. PLANS INVOLVING TIMOTHY AND EPAPHRODITUS (19-30)

A. TO SEND TIMOTHY SOON (19-24)

1. That Paul might be encouraged when he learns of their

condition (19)

2. His commendation of Timothy, as one who seeks the things of

Christ, and who serves with Paul in the gospel as a son with

his father (20-22)

3. He will be sent at once, as soon as Paul knows how things will

go with him, and he himself hopes to come shortly (23-24)

B. TO SEND EPAPHRODITUS AT ONCE (25-30)

1. Because of his longing for them and his distress when they

heard he was sick (25-27)

2. So he is coming that they might rejoice, and Paul himself will

be less sorrowful (28)

3. Therefore receive him in the Lord with all gladness, and hold

such men in high esteem for their sacrificial service to

Christ and others (29-30)

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER

1) What are the main points of this chapter?

- Exhortation to unity (1-11)

- Exhortation to shine as lights in the world (12-18)

- Plans involving Timothy and Epaphroditus (19-30)

2) What four things should serve as a motivation for unity? (1)

- The consolation we have in Christ

- The comfort found in love

- The fellowship we have in the Spirit

- The affection and mercy we can enjoy

3) What should be the nature of our unity? (2)

- Being of like mind, having the same love, of one accord, of one

mind

4) What four things are necessary to maintain unity? (3-5)

- Do nothing through selfish ambition or conceit

- With lowliness of mind let each one esteem others better than

himself

- Be concerned for the interest of others

- Let the mind that was in Christ be in you

5) What is said about Christ that proves Him to be a prime example of

humility? (5-8)

- Though in the form of God, He did not consider it "robbery" to be

equal to God

- Made Himself of no reputation, becoming a servant and coming in

the likeness of men

- He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of dying on

the cross

6) Having been highly exalted, what should every person do at the name

of Jesus? (9-11)

- Every knee should bow

- Every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the

glory of God the Father

7) What did Paul want his beloved brethren to do in his absence? (12)

- To work out their own salvation with fear and trembling

8) What is said about God working in the Christian? (13)

- He works in us both to will and to do for His good pleasure

9) What two things are necessary if we are to be children of God

without fault, harmless and blameless, shining as lights in the

world? (14-16)

- Do all things without murmuring and disputing

- Hold fast the word of life

10) How did Paul view his imprisonment? (17)

- As being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and

service of their faith

- As a reason to be glad and rejoice

11) What two things are said about Timothy? (20, 22)

- Paul had no one like-minded, who would sincerely care their state

- He had proven character, having served with Paul in the gospel as

a son with his father

12) How does Paul describe Epaphroditus? (23)

- A brother, a fellow worker and fellow soldier, their messenger,

and the one who ministered to Paul's need

The "Executable Outlines" Series, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 1997

This document (last modified October 30, 1997) from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library server, at Wheaton College