WBC ABCs of Christian Life 2/18/2007

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Missions – Outline

1. The Biblical Basis for Missions

2. The Biblical Plan for Missions

3. The Biblical Challenge for Missions

4. The Biblical Way to Support Missions

5. God Blesses a Mission-Minded Church

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Missions
At the conclusion of His earthly ministry, The Lord Jesus Christ committed His church to
the continuance of His work of redemption. To the assembled body of (baptized)
believers He said: “As my Father hath sent me, even so I send you” [John 20:21 and
more: 18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the LORD, and that he had
spoken these things unto her. 19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the
doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the
midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his
hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the LORD. 21 Then said Jesus to them
again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22 And when he had said this,
he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: 23 Whose soever sins ye remit,
they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.].

The Lord’s churches are to duplicate those things done by the Lord – without change!
While so much of what Jesus did could not be contained in any number of books (John
21:25 25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every
one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.),

there are some works He did consistently throughout his earthly ministry:

• John 4:1 1 When therefore the LORD knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and
baptized more disciples than John, 2 (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)
Jesus made and baptized disciples.

• Matthew 5:1,2 1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set,
his disciples came unto him: 2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, 3 Blessed are
the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall
be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are they which do
hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful: for they
shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the
peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 10 Blessed are they which are
persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. … Jesus taught and

trained his disciples.

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• Matthew 16:18 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build
my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Jesus built His church.

1. The Biblical Basis for Missions

A. Look up and read these passages which record the words of Jesus to his church:

• Matthew 28:16-20 16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain
where Jesus had appointed them. 17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some
doubted. 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in
heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things
whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the
world. Amen.

• Mark 16:14-20 14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and
upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them
which had seen him after he was risen. 15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world,
and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved;
but he that believeth not shall be damned. 17 And these signs shall follow them that believe;
In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take
up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on
the sick, and they shall recover. 19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was
received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. 20 And they went forth, and
preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs
following. Amen.

• Luke 24:45-49 45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the
scriptures, 46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and
to rise from the dead the third day: 47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be
preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And ye are witnesses of
these things. 49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the
city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

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• John 20:19-23 19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the
doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and
stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 20 And when he had so said, he
shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the
LORD. 21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me,
even so send I you. 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them,
Receive ye the Holy Ghost: 23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and
whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

• Acts 1:8 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye
shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto
the uttermost part of the earth.

B. Having read these scriptures determine answers to the following questions:

i. What is our church to do? TEACH AND BAPTIZE.

ii. What is the extent of our “mission field?” THE ENTIRE EARTH (uttermost part of
the earth.)

iii. What is the message of our mission work?

a. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:
b. Teaching the repentance and remission of sins (through Jesus Christ).

iv. From whence do we get our power to engage in mission work? ye shall receive
power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you

2. The Biblical Plan for Missions

A. Look up and read Acts 13:1-5 1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain
prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene,
and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered
to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work
whereunto I have called them. 3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on

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them, they sent them away. 4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto
Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus. 5 And when they were at Salamis, they
preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their
minister.

i. When God called two men to be missionaries (evangelists), He called them

out of the church that was at Antioch.

ii. How would you describe the caliber of these men God called? prophets and
teachers Also se Acts 12:25 25 And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when
they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.

iii. According to verse 3, who is to send missionaries? The church.

• Supported financially by New Testament Baptist Churches
• Prayed for by New Testament Baptist Churches
• Sent out of / by New Testament Baptist Churches

iv. According to verse 4, how are the men to be led into their places of service?
THE HOLY SPIRIT.

v. According to verse 5, exactly what is the ministry of an evangelist? Preach

the word of God.

B. According to Acts 14:23 (23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and
had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.),

evangelists are to establish ELDERS from those won to Christ and baptized.

The Word of God (the Bible) knows nothing of “medical, educational,

social, or agricultural missions”

C. Look up the scripture below to see who calls and equips men to be preachers:
God does!

i. I Thessalonians 2:4 4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel,
even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

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ii. Timothy 1:12 12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he
counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; 13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a
persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14 And
the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

B. Read the passages below to determine how evangelism was practiced in the 1st
century: BY SEVERAL MEN WORKING AS A TEAM.

i. Luke 10:1 1 After these things the LORD appointed other seventy also, and sent them two
and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.

ii. Acts 10:23 23 Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away
with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.

iii. Acts 15:39-40 39 And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed
asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;

iv. Acts 16:1-3 1 Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there,
named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his
father was a Greek: 2 Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and
Iconium. 3 Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of
the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.

v. Acts 19:22 22 So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus
and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.

vi. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their
labour. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he
falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat:
but how can one be warm alone? 12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and
a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

How do modern churches accomplish this? They send a family!

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3. The Biblical Challenge for Missions

A. What was every Christian to realize? The harvest is great! Look up John 4:35 35
Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up
your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

B. What is there a great need for today? Many to save – few evangelists. Look up
Matthew 9:37 37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the
labourers are few;

C. What should be our prayer? That God will send evangelists. Look up Matthew
9:38 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest [only Jesus can save], that he will send forth
labourers into his harvest.

D. What question should we ask the Lord concerning missions? WHAT DO YOU
WANT ME TO DO? Look up Acts 9:6 6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what
wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be
told thee what thou must do.

4. The Biblical Way to Support Missions

A. We are to give financially toward missions. II Corinthians deals with the subject of
giving to the work of the Lord:

i. The right attitude in giving II Corinthians 8:1-5 1 Moreover, brethren, we do you to

wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; 2 How that in a great trial of
affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their
liberality. 3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of
themselves; 4 Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us
the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 5 And this they did, not as we hoped, but first
gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

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ii. The right motive in giving II Corinthians 9:5-8 5 Therefore I thought it necessary to
exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your
bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty,
and not as of covetousness. 6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also
sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 Every man according
as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a
cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having
all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

iii. The right purpose for giving II Corinthians 10:14-16 14 For we stretch not ourselves
beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you
also in preaching the gospel of Christ: 15 Not boasting of things without our measure, that is,
of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be
enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly, 16 To preach the gospel in the regions
beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand.

B. We are to pray for missionaries:

Romans 15:31 31 That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea;
and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints;

i. Pray for deliverance from wicked men. II Thessalonians 3:2 2 And that we may be
delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.

ii. Pray for “boldness.” Ephesians 6:19 19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto
me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

iii. Pray for a willingness to live honestly. Hebrews 13:18 18 Pray for us: for we trust
we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.

iv. Pray for “free course” for the Word of God. II Thessalonians 3:1 1 Finally,
brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even
as it is with you:

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C. God Blesses a Mission-Minded Church

Read Philippians 4:14-19 14 Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate
with my affliction. 15 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I
departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving,
but ye only. 16 For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. 17 Not
because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. 18 But I have all, and
abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour
of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God. 19 But my God shall supply all your
need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

• What church repeatedly helped Paul financially? Philippi

• What abounded to the heavenly account of this church? … but I desire fruit
that may abound to your account.

• What did God promise to supply for this church? “…God shall supply all your
need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

See the next page for a little study about the church at Philippi.

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Some study about he church at Philippi by: Ray C. Stedman, Date: October
1, 1967. From: http://www.pbc.org/library/files/html/0251.html

The letter to the Philippians has been called not only the tenderest letter that Paul ever wrote, but also the
most delightful. It brims over with expressions of praise. confidence and rejoicing, despite the fact that this
is one of Paul's prison epistles, written in Rome during his first imprisonment.

You can find the background for this letter in the closing section of the book of Acts, and also in chapter
sixteen, which tells of Paul's visit to Philippi and the founding of the church to which he later wrote this
letter. You may remember reading of those exciting and danger-filled days when Paul and Silas were in
Philippi together. They first met a group of women who were having a prayer meeting by the riverside.
and to these women they spoke the Gospel. One of them, Lydia, a seller of purple goods (one who dyed
garments for royalty and the wealthy), invited them into her home, and her name has been known
throughout the centuries because of her kindness and hospitality to the apostle. In Lydia's home the
church of Philippi began.

Paul's preaching throughout the city stirred up a great deal of interest and reaction. Finally it aroused the
resentment of the rulers and he was thrown into jail. It was on that occasion, when he and Silas were
locked in stocks down in the inner prison with their arms and heads held immobile, that an earthquake
shook the prison, toppled the walls, and released the prisoners, setting them free. Then the Philippian
jailer came running in and fell down before the apostle. Thinking his life was forfeit because the prisoners
had escaped, he cried out in those words that have been the subject of so many gospel sermons,

"Men, what must I do to be saved?" {Acts 16:30b RSV}

The apostle's answer was brief and to the point,

"Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." {Acts 16:31b
RSV}
Paul later went on to the cities of Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, Corinth, and other places in Greece. But
now as he writes to the Philippians, he is in Rome, a prisoner of Nero. Although he is allowed to stay in
his own rented house, awaiting trial before the Emperor Nero, he is chained day and night to a Roman
soldier. Paul knew his life could easily be forfeit when he appeared before Nero. And yet this epistle
glows with radiance and joy, confidence and strength. It is a great encouragement to any downcast or
discouraged heart to read this letter to the Philippians. If you are going through times of pressure and
trial, I urge you to read this little letter. It will encourage you greatly, especially if you remember the
circumstances out of which it comes.

The letter is divided into four chapters which represent, for once, natural divisions within the text. The
subject or theme of this letter is Jesus Christ and his availability for coping with the problems of life. The

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church at Philippi to which Paul wrote was not beset with serious doctrinal problems but only the normal,
usual problems of everyday, commonplace existence -- Christians who did not get along with one
another, and incipient divisions within the church created by certain persons who were trying to mislead
others with ideas not quite in accord with the Christian faith. To deal with these problems, Paul designed
this epistle as a guide for ordinary living. It faces the normal problems a Christian has, and proclaims the
victory which a Christian can appropriate in overcoming these problems. The recurring theme, running
throughout the letter, is that of joy and rejoicing. Repeatedly the apostle uses phrases like, "Rejoice, and
again I say rejoice, rejoice in your sufferings, rejoice in your difficulties.' This becomes, then, a letter in
which we are instructed how to live victoriously and joyously in the midst of the normal difficulties of life.

The four chapters present Christ in four different aspects. The themes are caught up for us in four key
verses that appear in these chapters. He is presented in chapter one as our life -- Christ our life. I think
you will immediately recognize the key verse of Chapter 1. It sets forth this idea that Christ is our life. In
verse 21 the apostle says,

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. {Phil 1:21 RSV}

I think often times we read that verse as though it were the cry of a man fed up with life, who could hardly
wait to get to heaven, who had had it. He was in difficulty with pressures and problems and he just longed
to go to heaven and get away from it all -- sort of a Christian escapism. We usually put the emphasis at
the end of the sentence, "to die is gain." I think this reflects a very common attitude that we Christians
sometimes have -- that we would like to get away from it all. We do not like living life the way we have to
live it, and we look longingly to heaven and sing songs like Sometimes I Grow Homesick for Heaven.

But that is not what Paul is saying at all. If you look closely you will see that he is really saying, "I don't
know which to choose. To me to live is to have Christ and to die is to gain heaven, but if I had to choose, I
don't know which I'd choose. To live is to experience Christ who is my life. Thus life is continual adventure
and excitement and I can hardly wait to live it." This certainly indicates that he was not fed up with life at
all, nor was he discouraged because of his circumstances. The entire context of the passage confirms
this. Writing to these Philippians he says, "Don't be disturbed about me, brethren. You hear that I'm in
prison, but let me tell you something. My circumstances have served to advance the Gospel, and my
imprisonment has made it possible for the Gospel to be spread in Rome as it never has before. And I'm
not discouraged; I'm rejoicing. Furthermore. the other Christians in Rome are stirred up and are preaching
around the city."

A unique evangelistic enterprise was occurring. the like of which has perhaps never been seen before or
since, and he tells them what it is. God had designed a plan for reaching the Roman Empire that Paul
never dreamed of. And do you know whom he made head of the arrangements committee? Nero, the
Emperor! Paul tells us in verse 13,

... it has become known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to all the rest that my
imprisonment is for Christ; {Phil 1:13 RSV}

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If you read between the lines, you can see what was happening. Nero, the Emperor, had commanded
that every six hours one of the finest young men in the whole Roman Empire, from the elite who
constituted his personal bodyguard, would be brought in and chained to the Apostle Paul in order that
Paul might instruct him in the things of Christ. Isn't that amazing? One by one they were coming to Christ,
and there was being formed a picked band of young men, the very keenest, most intelligent, finest and
strongest young men of the empire. If you do not believe that, look at the last chapter of the letter, where
in the next to last verse he says,

All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar's household. {Phil 4:22 RSV}

Now isn't that a unique plan for evangelizing the Roman Empire? But that is the kind of God Paul had,
and that is why he could say, "To me, to live is Christ. I don't know what he is going to do next but this is
exciting, this is adventurous, and to step out into the daily adventure of a new experience with Jesus
Christ captivates me. I don't know which to choose, whether to live this exciting life or to die and be with
him." Now that is what life in Christ means.

We know that Christ died for us, but it was in order that he might live in us. The experience of the
outworking of Christ's life in us is what turns life on, and makes it a vital, glorious experience. You cannot
read the first chapter of this letter without seeing how thoroughly the Apostle Paul had discovered this.
Even as he contemplates appearing before Nero he says,

For I know through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out
for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I shall not be at all
ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body,
whether by life or by death. {Phil 1:19-20}

What had made the difference? This man had found the secret that God intended for humanity -- God
indwelling man. It takes God to be a man. And no life is complete that does not have God in it. Paul had
found this out, to the glory of his day-by-day existence, and he never forgot it. He lived life to the fullest in
the knowledge that Christ is our life.

In Chapter 2 he applies this secret in a different way. Here he deals with the problem of the disunity which
was threatening some of the saints at Philippi. The fact was that certain ones among them were
quarreling, and there were divisions within the body of the church. This is constantly happening in almost
any church. People get irritated with each other, they get upset by the way other people do things. They
do not like the attitude that someone displays or his tone of voice. Then cliques and divisions, which are
always destructive to the life and vitality of a church, tend to develop. So Paul points out to these people
that Christ is our example in settling difficulties and problems.

The key passage that sets this forth begins in chapter 2, verse 5,

Have this mind among yourselves, which you have in Christ Jesus. {Phil 2:5 RSV}

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That sounds strange, doesn't it, "Have this mind which you have?" What he means, of course, is that you
have the mind of Christ, since you have Christ. All right, let it be expressed. Allow it to come forth. Let it
show itself. And what is the characteristic of this mind? Paul goes on to tell us,

... who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be
grasped, {Phil 2:6 RSV}

The phrase "to be grasped" means to be held onto at all costs. He did not count the fact that he was
equal with the Father -- one with God the Father and God the Spirit, one of the three persons of the triune
God -- a thing to be held onto at all costs. Think of that! The greatest relationship that could possibly be
true of any g or person was his. But rather than clutching it to himself,

... emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And
being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death
on a cross. {Phil 2:7-8 RSV}

That was the self-condescension of Jesus Christ. It was the emptying out of all that he held of value in his
life. And this, says Paul, is the mind of Jesus Christ. In your quarrels, one with another, have this attitude
toward each other. Do not hang onto your rights at all costs. How apropos this is in these days, when we
hear so often about clinging to "my rights," and that we should insist upon "our rights." How different is
Christ's example!

In this connection I can never forget the incident that Dr.H.A. Ironside used to relate. When he was a boy
of only eight or ten years of age his mother took him to a business meeting of Christians. Two men were
having a quarrel -- he didn't remember what it was about -- but one of them stood up and pounded on the
desk, and said, "I don't care what the rest of you do, all I want is my rights." Sitting in the front row was a
dear old Scottish man, somewhat hard of hearing, who cupped his hand behind his ear, leaned forward,
and said, "Aye, brother, what's that you say? What do you want?" The fellow said, "Well, I just said that all
I want is my rights, that's all." And the old Scot replied, "Your rights, brother, is that what you want, your
rights? If you had your rights, you'd be in hell. The Lord Jesus didn't come to get his rights, he came to
get his wrongs. And he got them." The fellow who had been bickering stood transfixed for a moment.
Then he sat down and said, "You're right. Settle it any way you like." And in a few moments the argument
was settled. Have this mind in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who gave up his rights, and humbled
himself, became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. But don't stop there. What was the
result?

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above
every name, that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and
under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God
the Father. {Phil 2:9-11 RSV}

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When he gave up his rights, God gave him every right in the universe. He put his problem in God's hands,
and God the Father vindicated him. This is what Paul is saying to quarreling Christians -- give up your
rights. Don't insist on them. He says, "Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others
better than yourselves."

The opening words of Chapter 2 are his practical application of this truth.

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any incentive of love, any participation in the
Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the
same love, being in full accord and of one mind. {Phil 2:1-2 RSV}

Paul goes on in the rest of the chapter to show that when anyone decides to do this, God will be at work.
It is God who works in you, he says, "both to will and to work for his good pleasure" {Phil 2:13b RSV}.
Paul closes the chapter by mentioning two of his co-workers who exemplified these very attributes,
Timothy and Epaphroditus. Timothy was faithful, and Paul says of him,

I have no one like him, who will be genuinely anxious for your welfare. They all look after
their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But Timothy's worth you know, ... {Phil 2:20-
22a RSV}

Epaphroditus had come from these saints at Philippi and had brought a gift from them to Paul, and then
had fallen desperately ill. They had heard about his sickness and were troubled. Paul says that they were
right to be concerned, as he was very ill, but that God had had mercy on him and now he was sending
him back to them. He says,

So receive him in the Lord with all joy; and honor such men, for he nearly died for the
work of Christ, risking his life to complete your service to me. {Phil 2:29-30 RSV}

He gave up his rights. Have this mind which is in you -- Christ's mind, Christ's example. I think that if we
would put that admonition into practice we would be different people. There would be no quarreling within
churches and no divisions among Christians.

Chapter 3 sets forth Christ again, this time as our confidence -- Christ our confidence, our motivating
power. He is the One who moves us to want earnestly what we ought to want and who makes us
confident that it can be achieved. I do not think there is any quality in life in more desperate demand than
confidence. Who is not looking for motivation? All the courses on personality buildup are designed to try
to give us the spark that energizes, that motivates us, that makes us want to do what we ought to do and
would like to do. All this, the apostle says, we find in Jesus Christ. He is the motivator. Paul puts it
strongly in the well known verse 10 of chapter 3,

... that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, ... {Phil 3:10a RSV}

For contrast he outlines the things that motivated him and gave him confidence, or rather, a false sense
of confidence before he became a Christian. In verse 3 he describes Christians as those who should
worship God in spirit, glory in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. But that is the problem

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with us. We are constantly trying to build up confidence in the flesh -- in the principle of self-effort. That is
the philosophy underlying all the personality buildup courses -- Dale Carnegie. the Powers Girls and all
the others -- an attempt to teach us confidence in the flesh. Paul lists the training that he had had in that.
He tells those who think they have reason for confidence in the flesh to look over his qualifications.
"These," he says {cf, Phil 3:4-5 RSV}, "are the things in which I had pride and confidence: first, in my
ancestry -- I was circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew
born of Hebrews" -- an absolute Boston blueblood. You can't beat that for ancestry. Furthermore, he says,
"I was proud of my orthodoxy -- as to the Law, a Pharisee, the strictest sect of my religion. I was a
Pharisee of the Pharisees. And then I was proud of my activity -- as to zeal, a persecutor of the Church.
And then of my morality -- as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But now," he says, "whatever
these things were to me, I count everything as loss because I have found that Christ could be my
confidence. All the confidence I once got from these secondary sources I found to be of absolutely no
value compared to that which Jesus Christ gives. And in resting upon his life in me, I have found so much
more, that now all these other things are but dross, but dung, but refuse compared to what Christ gives"
{cf, Phil 3:6-8 RSV}-- Christ our confidence.

In the latter part of chapter 3 he sets in contrast those who seek secondary values in the guise of religion.
He says,

Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds
set on earthly things. {Phil 3:19 RSV}

But on the contrary, those whose confidence is in Christ do not end with this life, but we look for a city, a
commonwealth which is in heaven and from it we await the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ, to change our
lowly bodies to be like his, by the resurrection power which enables him to subject all things to himself.

Then in chapter 4 you see Christ not only as our motivator. but Christ our strength, our energizer. Not
only does he move us to want the right things, but he makes it possible for us to do them. He provides the
dynamic that fulfills the desire. It is mental torture to a give a person great desire but then not to give him
the ability to fulfill it. That is a certain recipe for frustration. So the apostle closes with the declaration that
Christ gives complete fulfillment. He supplies our strength as well as our desire. In verse 13 he declares:

I can do all things in him who strengthens me. {Phil 4:13 RSV}

How practical some of these things can be is demonstrated in the context. First there is the problem of
getting along with others. There were two ladies in the church at Philippi, Euodia and Syntyche. We know
they were ladies because in the Greek the form of their names is feminine. (Of course, you all remember
the story of the man who couldn't quite pronounce these names but read them this way, "I entreat Odius
and I entreat Soontouchy to agree in the Lord.") Unfortunately we still have in our churches odious people
and soon-touchy people -- those whose feelings get hurt very easily and those who delight in hurting
others' feelings. But the apostle says, "I beseech you, be of the same mind in the Lord," {cf, Phil 4:2 KJV}.

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How? "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me," {Phil 4:13 KJV}. That is the secret. And
then there is the matter of worry.

Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your
requests be made known to God.

What a recipe for peace in the midst of anxiety! How many have tried it and found that it works? Have no
anxiety about anything, but in everything -- there is a counteraction proposed. Do not just sit there and
fret or turn your mind off. Do not suppress your anxieties. Pray to the Lord about them, with thanksgiving,
and leave them with him. And the peace of God, which you will never be able to understand -- where it
comes from or how it gets there -- will possess your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Christ is our
strength.

Finally there is the matter of poverty. Paul says,

Not that I complain of want; for I have learned, in whatever state 1 am, to be content. I
know how to be abased, and I know how to abound; in any and all circumstances I have
learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and want. {Phil 4:11-12 RSV}

And he passes it on to the Philippians.

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ
Jesus. {Phil 4:19 RSV}

Christ our strength.

This letter embodies the secret of a man who ran the full course, who fought the good fight, who kept the
faith. This is his explanation of how he did it. We who live in this 20th century -- with its perils and
problems, its frustrations, its anxieties, its pressures -- need to discover and understand this because we
have the same One indwelling us who indwelt the Apostle Paul. Christ is our life; Christ is our example;
Christ is our confidence; and Christ is our strength.

Prayer:

And now our Father, we ask you to grant that these words will take root in our hearts and lives.
May we be not merely hearers of the word but doers also. Keep us from deceiving ourselves and
going away from here having heard these great truths but unwilling to do them. Grant to us that
we may begin at whatever level we find ourselves, whether we be young or old, in school, at
home, at work, or wherever we are. Make us ready to test these promises, to step out on these
mighty truths, and discover with the Apostle Paul the joy that floods the heart of someone who
experiences Christ as a living Lord, and the one who can help us to live a daily adventure of new
discovery with him. For we ask it in his name, Amen.

Title: The Message of Philippians, By: Ray C. Stedman, Series: Adventuring through the Bible
Scripture: Philippians, Message No: 51, Catalog No: 251, Date: October 1, 1967

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Study 13

WBC Missionaries
Location Mission

New Mexico
Belen
No Picture
Independent
Baptist
Church

The
Japan

Andersson

England
Family
Gossmeyer
Family

Glendale, California
Brazil

Dan Chace
Family The Johnsons
Ireland

The Jones
China

Nicolas Dun
Family Family
Scotland

The Jones
Family
Alaska

Tim Chace
Missionary

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WBC ABCs of Christian Life 2/18/2007
Study 13

Southern
Georgia

Colorado
The Kellys
The
Sandfords
Alaska

Phillipines
The Lamberts
The Sumatras

Germany (US Military)

Panama

Michael Lea
and Family The
Thornsleys
Brownsville, Tx

The Lees

Nevada, The
USA Escaleras
South Africa

Thailand

The Norberg
The Langes No Picture
Honduras

The Pfluegers

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