July in Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and 1 & 2 Thessalonians

1. Eph. 1:1-14
2. Eph. 1:15-23
3. Eph. 2:1-11
4. HAPPY 4^th!
5. OFF
6. OFF
7. OFF
8. Eph 3
9. Eph 4
10. Eph 5:1-17
11. Eph 5:18-6:9
12. Eph 6:10-23
13. Phil 1:1-11
14. Phil 1:12-30
15. Phil 2
16. Phil 3
17. Phil 4
18. Col 1:1-14
19. Col 1:15-23
20. Col 1:24-29
21. Col 2
22. Col 3
23. Col 4
24. 1 Thess 1
25. 1 Thess 2
26. 1 Thess 3
27. 1 Thess 4:1-12
28. 1 Thess 4:13-5:21
29. 2 Thess 1
30. 2 Thess 2
31. 2 Thess 3

Put Philippians Back on the New Testament Shelf

WOOHOO!

Philippians 4 - Exhortations in Excellence

LINK: Philippians 4 (Maybe meditate on and memorize 4:6-7)

BACKGROUND

In this closing chapter, Paul gave the Philippians several "charges":

1) Stand firm in the Lord
2) Live in harmony in the Lord
3) Rejoice in the Lord always
4) Let your gentle spirit be known to all men
5) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything pray
6) Think about good and excellent things
7) Practice what you saw in Paul

Then, he told them that even though he was content in all things and could do all things (including living in poverty and wealth) through Christ who strengthened him, he was grateful for their concern for him because of their financial gift sent to them via Epaphroditus.  He also knew that God would bless them for their generosity. 

Then, he concluded by giving final greetings to the Philippians from himself, his fellow workers, and from other believers. 

REFLECTION

As I type this, I am feeling anxious because people are calling and asking when and where we are having Jesus Community tonight. I have another commitment, and I have no idea what my husband has decided. I have no idea where he is, and he should have been home 20 minutes ago. I am a bit anxious, but I applied what I learned from this chapter. I am praying and not allowing myself to be anxious. Sometimes I take on more than I need to, and I need to just let it go. (I am a "J" on the Myers-Briggs Personality Type Indicator and "J's" tend to take on more responsibility than they should.)

So, I prayed and let it go, and here he comes in the door this very minute! He is on the phone with the people who have been calling, and I can finish my post before I go off to my other engagement!

2023 REFLECTION UPDATE

Wow! Growth! I am better in the "responsibility" department than I was when I wrote the REFLECTION above. However, recently, I took on responsibility for how another person responded to me. My best friend said, "Carol, that person is broken. Her response is not your responsibility." This was so helpful to hear. I love my friend, Kim. She is so sensible. She calls on me to be sensible for her too. We tend to not always be that way for ourselves. 

"Joy Leaks" Regarding This Situation

It was also helpful to Immanuel Journal about my gratitude for my relationship with this person (I went back to happy memories of our very long history together) and my emotions over the situation. There are six big emotions that cause "Joy Leaks" in us. 

Sadness, Anger, Disgust, Shame, Fear, Despair 

I realized that I was afraid of this person and losing the relationship with this person and felt shame about how I should have responded. My response was great for a healthy person, but this person is broken. I was dealing with another "Joy Leak" here: 

Dealing with a Narcissist 

This person's brokenness causes them to deal with their deep shame through blame instead of taking responsibility for their part. My best friend (who does not know this person - I would not violate peacemaking by going to someone within the sphere of this person and me) and my husband both validated that my response was totally appropriate (for a healthy person).

While this person is not clinically diagnosed as a narcissist. There are many of those tendencies. I am reading The Pandora Problem to help me learn to deal with it in others and myself (let's face it, we all can have those tendencies).  My tendency with this person is to not make waves because I stood up one other time, and I was bullied into an apology for all that I had done wrong with no acknowledgment about this person's part. Sigh. I have seen this person do it with others for years. I am usually not the recipient. 

The other two "Joy Leaks" are:

Trauma  

While I have healed from much past trauma, the displeasure of this person made me want to "people-please" which is related to trauma growing up ("I deserve to be treated this way because I did not respond perfectly to this person, and they may reject me as a result." In my childhood case, it led to physical abuse.) I do fear ultimate rejection from this person based on my past trauma. 

 Screens 

Here is what the book I am reading says about this:

Another joy leak is the prevalence of video screens in our daily lives. We use smartphones, television, and movie screens to fill our idle minutes or hours. Joy and screen time are inversely proportional (Wilder, et al Joy Starts Here, p. 205-206). When our eyes and face are staring at our phones, we are not engaging with the faces around us. The joy drains out of our communities by depriving ourselves of each other’s faces. Our need for face-to-face time is designed into our flesh and cannot be substituted with a screen. Our brains can distinguish between a real face and a face on a screen even when we are infants. Our neurological circuits do not react to screens the same as they do to live faces. Since we need facial joy like we need food and oxygen, we are starving ourselves of relational nutrition. (Wilder, Jim; Hendricks, Michel. The Other Half of Church, pp. 68-69)

I had face-to-face time with my husband over this and eventually face-to-face time with my friend. I also think that texting was not a good mode of communication with this person because they totally misread what I was saying and reacted to me from their assumption. The reaction was hurtful to me. So, I need to remember, in the future, when communicating with this person, I need face-to-face time rather than texting. 

APPLICATION 

How is your joy? Where are the "Joy Leaks" in your life?

What of all the exhortations in this chapter can you apply to your life right now?

Philippians 4:6,7 is in the Topical Memory System and very important for memorization!

Here is a list with verse links and "mini-sermons" by LeRoy Eims. 

Topical Memory System Audio Library

PRAYER

Lord, teach us not to worry about anything but to pray about everything! Thank You for giving me peace in the midst of some stress this evening. May we all learn to come to You first in these times. Amen. 

Philippians 3 - The Goal of Life

Link: Philippians 3

BACKGROUND

In this chapter, Paul encourages the Philippian Christians to . . .

1) Rejoice in the Lord
2) Have no confidence in the flesh

Righteousness could not be gained by works no matter what the false teachers said. The Judaizers were encouraging circumcision, but the "true circumcision" people were those who loved and worshiped God from the heart rather than relying on external rituals. 

Also, human credentials cannot achieve righteousness. Paul had bragging rights based on his rich Jewish heritage, but he counted it all worthless. Knowing Christ and being found in Him was the only path to righteousness.

3) Press on to Know Jesus and Toward Maturity in Him

Paul knew Jesus, but his goal was to know him even more intimately. He wanted the closest possible relationship by knowing the power (dunamis) of His resurrection, the fellowship (koinonia, having something in common, sharing together in something, or sharing with someone) of His sufferings. This is exactly what God wanted Him to know (Acts 9:16). He wanted to become like Christ which is becoming mature!  He had not attained this (even though he had been a believer for 30 years by this time), but he kept pressing on toward it, not looking behind but forward. He sought to win the heavenly prize (1 Corinthians 9:25). 

4) Walk as a Citizen of Heaven

We can walk straight forward when we have our eternal home in mind! We will be like Him someday, so we need to fix our hope on that (1 John 3:2, 3). Also, we are to set our minds on the things above not on the things that are on earth (Colossians 3:2). 

REFLECTION

I remember sitting with my ministry coworkers at a restaurant in Eugene in the early 80s. Being goal-oriented, eager 20-somethings, enthusiastic followers of, and laborers for Jesus, we were discussing our ministry goals. It was a "Where do you want to see yourself in 20 years?" kind of discussion. I cannot even remember what I said, but we were all talking about our hopes of people coming to Jesus and growing in Him, etc. You know, worthy goals. 

We had all shared except Jackie from Singapore. All eyes turned to her, and we asked her the question. In her quiet voice, she said, "I just want to know Jesus, and the fellowship of His suffering, being conformed to his death" (Philippians 3:10). We sat in silence (and a bit of awe) thinking. . . 

So simple. So profound.

Jackie was right. Knowing Jesus was all that really mattered.

A short time later, I ran across a T.S. Eliot quote defining the Christian Life:

A condition of complete simplicity

(Costing not less than everything).

"Little Gidding No 4" of The Four Quartets

Once again . . . 

So simple. So profound.

I memorized Philippians 3:10. I even had a friend calligraphy the T.S. Eliot quote for me. I had it on my wall for years. Wonder where that quote is now? It would help me to be reminded of this again and again. You would think more than 30 years later I would not need to be reminded, but I am a slow learner, making this journey with Jesus much more complicated than it needs to be.

I was struck again with the simplicity of it all when Micah led our Jesus Community into worship last Wednesday:

Knowing You Jesus
Graham Kendrick

All I once held dear, built my life upon,
All this world reveres and wars to own;
All I once thought gain I have counted loss,
Spent and worthless now compared to this.

Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You
There is no greater thing.
You're my all, You're the best,
You're my joy, my righteousness,
And I love You Lord.

Now my heart's desire is to know You more,
To be found in You and known as Yours,
To possess by faith what I could not earn
All surpassing gift of righteousness

Oh to know the power of Your risen life,
And to know You in Your sufferings;
To become like You in Your death, my Lord,
So with You to live and never die.

This is an older song, and I was surprised that this 20-something even knew it, but it was a God thing. I have continued to sing it for the last week. Then I arrived at Philippians 3, and I knew why we sang it. Now, to really learn it!

. . . that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection

 and the fellowship of His sufferings, 

being conformed to His death;

Philippians 3:10

APPLICATION/PRAYER

Let this newer rendition of "Knowing You Jesus" lead you into worship and prayer today!

In tears now! 

Philippians 2 - The Ultimate Example of Humility

LINK: Philippians 2

BACKGROUND

This chapter picks up on the "selfish ambition" theme begun in the first chapter (1:17). Paul exhorted them to be humble toward each other and follow the example of Christ who left His glory in heaven to suffer and die on the cross as our Sin-bearer. He "made himself nothing" but that does not mean that He gave up any of His deity. Philippians 2:6 literally reads, "He is the very nature/form (morphe in Greek) of God," but though He was God, He added humanity to His deity. He voluntarily set aside His rights and privileges as God the Son. He was fully God ("undiminished deity") and fully man. This whole concept is called the kenosis of Christ and is taken from the phrase "emptying Himself" (kenoō in Greek) in 2:7. 

Continuing with his exhortation, Paul says to "work out your salvation with fear and trembling." This does not mean that we can work for it (we cannot do that according to Ephesians 2:8, 9), but that we can put salvation into practice by being humble and selfless toward one another. The only way this is possible is when we allow God to work through us. This leads to unity and witness to the world around us. 

Since Paul was in prison, he wanted to send two living examples of humility and service to them: Timothy and Epaphroditus. Timothy was Paul's traveling companion and would be sent to encourage them and encourage Paul as he brought back news about them. Epaphroditus was from the Philippian church and had delivered the financial gift to Paul from them and had stayed on in Rome to help them (4:18). He was sending him back with high commendation. 

APPLICATION

"Pride is the mother hen under which 
all other sins are hatched."

C.S. Lewis

(I just finished reading Lewis' autobiography yesterday. So, it was fun to come across this quote by him in connection with Philippians 2.)

This chapter teaches us that humility and unselfishness are the keys to good human relationships. 

How are you doing in the pride department today?

Update 2023: I mentioned this yesterday, but the Hillsong documentaries are good cautionary tales for this. The books Learning Humility by Richard Foster and The Pandora Problem by E. James Wilder are also excellent. 

PRAYER

Lord, humble us so that You might be glorified. Amen. 

Philippians 1:12-30 - Joyful Perspective in Prison

LINK: Philippians 1:12-30

BACKGROUND

When we read previous books, we learned that Paul wanted to go to Rome to preach the gospel (Acts 19:21; Romans 1:15) but we read in Acts 21:17-28:31, that Paul was arrested in Jerusalem and eventually made it to Rome as a prisoner. Despite his chains, he still preached the gospel! His joy (a major theme in the book of Philippians) was not in his circumstances but in the Lord and the work that God was doing through him. In the sovereignty of God, this imprisonment meant greater progress of the gospel and encouraged other believers to be bolder and to live lives worthy of the gospel. It was a win-win!

In the midst of all of this, some were taking advantage of Paul's imprisonment and preaching the Gospel to build up their own reputation (1:15-19). They thought it would cause Paul distress, but instead, it made Paul rejoice that Christ was preached regardless of their motives! Another win-win!

Paul had a great perspective on death too. For him, to live was Christ and to die was gain. He did not know if imprisonment would lead to execution, but he knew that death meant being with Christ. He felt that living would mean being able to encourage them more in their progress of joy and faith. Either way, it was another win-win!

Bottom Line: Paul had joy regardless of his circumstances because he had an eternal perspective fixed on Christ. 

One last thing, Paul was sure he would see them again. There is no record of Paul revisiting Philippi in the Scriptures, but that does not mean it did not happen. Paul was released after this particular imprisonment because he was imprisoned in Rome a second time and wrote 2 Timothy. He may have returned to Philippi between these two imprisonments. 

REFLECTION

Philippians 1:21 becomes a valuable test of our lives. Fill in the blanks:  

“For to me to live is _______ and to die is___________.” 

• “For to me to live is money and to die is to leave it all behind.” 
• “For to me to live is fame and to die is to be forgotten.” 
• “For to me to live is power and to die is to lose it all.” (The Bible Exposition Commentary: Volume 2, Phil 1:21, p. 70)

Some people are involved in good works "for" God who are doing it for the selfish motives of money, fame, and power. We have heard of them. Some of us have made the mistake of working alongside them, but have we ever put the spotlight on ourselves and asked about our own motives in ministry?

2023 Update: The more recent Hillsong documentaries are an example of exactly what this reflection is getting at. I just spent last evening talking with a friend who left their church after 15 years because of this problem with their head pastor. There are selfish motives in ministry everywhere. I also recommend The Pandora Problem: Facing Narcissism in Leaders and Ourselves. 

APPLICATION 

The reality is that we can do nothing about other people and their motives, but we can do something about ourselves! Here are some more questions to get you thinking:

• Have you ever been jealous because you felt someone was being used for Christ in a way that you would like to be used? See James 3:16.
• Have you ever compared yourself to others in ministry and felt the need to compete with them rather than be challenged by them and encouraged by their labor for the Lord?
• Have you ever talked behind someone's back or gossiped about them to lower their reputation and exalt your own? 
• What is the primary motivator of your life and ministry? Is it to glorify Christ in everything you do? 
• Is your heart fixed on Christ and His glory? 

Ask God to search your heart and see if there is "any hurtful way" (Psalm 139: 23, 24) in you.

PRAYER

Lord, teach us to be joyful in adversity. Purify our hearts and help us to minister to others from a pure heart. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. 

Philippians 1:1-11 - Single Minded Joy

LINK: Philippians 1:1-11

"The only way to survive in prison is to abandon all 

expectations in this world and live for the next."

Alexander Solzhenitsyn

BACKGROUND

Philippians

Philippi was a Roman colony in the province of Macedonia in what is now the northern part of modern Greece, near the coast of the Aegean Sea. It was a fairly large gold-mining town and had many pagan religious influences. 

During a visit to Philippi on his second missionary journey, Lydia and her family and the Philippian jailer and his family trusted in Christ as their Savior (Acts 16:14-34). Soon after, a church was established there. The church had sent a financial gift to Paul through Epaphroditus while Paul was in prison in Rome in  A.D. 61 or 62. Paul wrote this letter to thank them for that gift. He also addressed some of the problems in the church: rivalry and personal ambition (2:3-4; 4:2) and the bad influence of Judaizers (3:1-3) and Antinomians (3:18-19). Through all of this, he encouraged them to find true joy in Christ alone. The concept of rejoicing or joy occurs sixteen times in the book! 

The key verse is "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4).

BACKGROUND

Philippians 1

Paul was with Timothy and mentions him in the opening of the letter even though he was the only author. We will have more background on Timothy when we get to the letter addressed to him. It is personally addressed to all saints in Philippi. This letter was personally addressed to the Philippians and was not intended for general circulation like the letter to the Ephesians. He also addressed the overseers (elders) and deacons of the church. We will talk more about elders and deacons when we study 1 Timothy and Titus. 

In this first part of Philippians 1, Paul praised the saints at Philippi. They were a source of joy to him because God was working in their lives! He was confident that God would complete the "good work" of salvation He had already begun in them. They were also a source of joy because the gospel was spreading because of their partnership with him and their concern for him. 

Paul loved the Philippians, and he prayed regularly that their love would overflow like a river for other believers.  He wanted that love to result in a deeper knowledge of Christ and deeper moral discernment and insight so that they would be in right relationship with God when Jesus returns. 

REFLECTION 

In spite of his difficult circumstances as a prisoner in Rome, Paul is rejoicing. The secret of his joy is the single mind; he lives for Christ and the Gospel. (Christ is named eighteen times in Philippians 1, and the Gospel is mentioned six times.) “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21). But what really is “the single mind”? It is the attitude that says, “It makes no difference what happens to me, just as long as Christ is glorified and the Gospel shared with others.” Paul rejoiced in spite of his circumstances, because his circumstances strengthened the fellowship of the Gospel (Phil. 1:1–11), promoted the furtherance of the Gospel (Phil. 1:12–26), and guarded the faith of the Gospel (Phil. 1:27–30). 

The word fellowship simply means “to have in common.” But true Christian fellowship is really much deeper than sharing coffee and pie, or even enjoying a golf game together. Too often what we think is “fellowship” is really only acquaintanceship or friendship. You cannot have fellowship with someone unless you have something in common; and for Christian fellowship, this means the possessing of eternal life within the heart. Unless a person has trusted Christ as his Saviour, he knows nothing of “the fellowship of the Gospel.” In Philippians 2:1, Paul writes about “the fellowship of the Spirit,” because when a person is born again he receives the gift of the Spirit (Rom. 8:9). There is also “the fellowship of His sufferings” (Phil. 3:10). When we share what we have with others, this is also fellowship (Phil. 4:15, translated “communicate” in kjv). 

So, true Christian fellowship is much more than having a name on a church roll or being present at a meeting. It is possible to be close to people physically and miles away from them spiritually. One of the sources of Christian joy is this fellowship that believers have in Jesus Christ. Paul was in Rome, his friends were miles away in Philippi, but their spiritual fellowship was real and satisfying. When you have a single mind, you will not complain about circumstances because you know that difficult circumstances will result in the strengthening of the fellowship of the Gospel. (The Bible Exposition Commentary: Volume 2, Phil 1:1-11, p. 64)  

APPLICATION

I am inadequate to help people grow, but God can. Often people come to me with their problems and emotional hurts from the past. The best thing I can do for them is pray, with them and for them. Why not pray Philippians 1:9-11 today for someone you love?

In a few minutes, we are going to go hear a couple we are mentoring speak to a group of high school students about spreading the gospel through the whole world. You can bet I will be praying this passage as they speak!

PRAYER

So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well. Learn to love appropriately. You need to use your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush. Live a lover’s life, circumspect and exemplary, a life Jesus will be proud of: bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God.  (Philippians 1:9-11, The Message)

Philippians 1:1-11 - Paul Loves the Philippian Believers

by Katrina

Philippians
Paul had been to Philippi on his second missionary journey and had established a church there. You might remember from Acts 16 that God had called him to go to Macedonia, a Roman colony, and Philippi was the city in Macedonia where Paul stationed himself first. So Philippi was the first church planted in Europe.

Paul wrote this letter to the church at Philippi while he was in prison at Rome. Of all the letters Paul wrote to churches, this is the most personal one. The church had helped Paul financially at least three times, and this letter was partially a "thank you" for the most recent gift, which Epaphroditus had personally delivered to Paul. While Epaphroditus was with Paul in Rome, he had become ill and almost died. Once he recovered, Paul sent him back to Philippi with this letter.

LINK: Philippians 1:1-11


BACKGROUND
Paul had a close relationship with the believers in Philippi. He greets them in today's passage and communicates to them that (1) he is thinking of them, (2) he loves them, and (3) he is praying for them.

REFLECTION
One of my favorite verses is Philippians 1:6, "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." God will always continue to work in our lives, so we will keep growing until the day that Jesus comes back. Isn't that great!

APPLICATION
Paul also prays for the Philippian believers beginning in verse nine. I'm sure you know of someone you could pray this prayer for today, maybe even yourself.


PRAYER
Father, I pray that we will grow in love more and more each day, and that, through your word, we will grow in real knowledge. May we grow in discernment so that we can tell what is excellent. Make us sincere in our faith and able to turn away from sin, because you have filled us with righteousness. May we always continue to grow until the day Jesus returns, all to your glory, amen.