Philippians Part 3
Bible Study Time 4-29-07
Bible Study Time 4-29-07
The past couple of weeks, we’ve been talking about Paul’s letter to the Philippians. Last week, we looked specifically at the circumstances of three people who were probably among the believers there at Philippi.
Lydia had been associated with the Jewish assembly in Philippi. She was obviously one who was attracted to the Jewish Law, but she was rescued from the bondage of the Law when she put her personal faith and trust in Jesus Christ.
The fortune-telling slave girl may have become a believer after she was set free from the demon that had empowered her and enslaved her at the same time. In connection with the slave girl, we talked about the fact that demons use deception to keep unsuspecting souls in bondage, and even when demons speak the truth, there is always a subtle lie lurking beneath the surface.
Then there was the jailer who was set free from the destructive influence of the world, and this morning, I’d like for us to spend a little more time thinking about this jailer and the fact that all believers need to separate themselves from the evil influences of this world. When Paul wrote to the Corinthians, he asked:
2 Corinthians 6:15-17 (NKJ)
15 . . . what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?
16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people."
17 Therefore "Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord . . . "
The Philippian jailer was a man who was very dedicated to his job, and he was completely loyal to his employers, but when he entered into a relationship with Jesus Christ, he could see that there is a higher calling for those who know the Lord.
This jailer had accepted Christ after witnessing the unwavering faith of Paul and Silas. After surviving an earthquake and discovering the prison doors open, he assumed that his prisoners had escaped. He drew his sword and was about to take his own life to avoid the wrath of his employers.
But then, he heard a voice calling to him from inside one of the cells. It was the voice of the Apostle Paul, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.” Then the Bible says that the jailer:
Acts 16:29-34 (NKJ)
29 . . . called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.
30 (Then) he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
31 So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household."
32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.
33 (And so the jailer) took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized.
34 Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.
It’s clear that when this jailer accepted Christ, he was immediately set free from the negative, dominating, and sometimes terrifying influence of the world. As a result, he was free to serve others in a way that was pleasing to God. This jailer took Paul and Silas out of that jail, and then he took them to his own house where he fed them and tended to their wounds. What a difference the Holy Spirit makes in our lives.
The Lord Jesus told his disciples that no one can serve two masters. We have to choose between God and the world. If we choose to submit to the world, we will live in a state of fear which is inspired by the devil, himself. After all, the devil is the power behind the course of this world.
Under the influence of an irrational fear, the Philippian jailer thought that he had no choice but to kill himself. He thought that his life was over, but notice what happened when he dedicated his life to God. Acts 16:35 says:
Acts 16:35 (NKJ)
35 And when it was day, the magistrates sent the officers, saying, "Let those men go."
The jailer had had not reason to fear. God’s resources are unlimited, and He is able to supply all of our needs according to His riches in glory. The devil uses all of his power to try to intimidate people, but God is still in control. I’m sure the jailer never expected God to work in this way.
Acts 16:36-38 (NKJ)
36 So the keeper of the prison reported these words to Paul, saying, "The magistrates have sent to let you go. Now therefore depart, and go in peace."
37 But Paul said to them, "They have beaten us openly, uncondemned Romans, and have thrown us into prison. And now do they put us out secretly? No indeed! Let them come themselves and get us out."
38 And the officers told these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans.
Uh huh, who is it that is afraid now? The power brokers of this world were now the ones who were terrified. Those who love the world will live in fear because they know how easily circumstances can turn against them.
Acts 16:39-40 (NKJ)
39 (So) they came and pleaded with (Paul and Silas) and brought them out, and asked them to depart from the city.
40 So (Paul and Silas) went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia; and when they had seen the brethren, they encouraged them and departed.
What a testimony Paul and Silas were able to bear before this jailer. They were able to encourage him to fear only the Lord and to trust the Lord in all circumstances. Praise the Lord, our heavenly Father is the ultimate judge, and Nahum said:
Nahum 1:7 (NKJ)
7 The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him.
Paul was a man who knew what it was like to serve the power brokers of this world. Before his salvation, he had lived his entire life trying to please a group of powerful and ruthless Pharisees. He had been willing to adopt their values as his own, and he had been willing to do whatever they expected him to do.
Actually, in Galatians, Chapter 1, Paul acknowledged that he had been more successful than many of his peers in his attempts to please the power-hungry Pharisees, and in the process, he had managed to put together quite a resume. In Philippians 3, Paul said:
Philippians 3:4-6 (NKJ)
4 . . . If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so:
5 (I was) circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee;
6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
Paul said, I worked so hard to please all the people that I had to please, and everything was going so well. It was going so well, that is, until I met Jesus on the road to Damascus. But when Paul saw the light of Jesus Christ and heard His voice, he suddenly realized that his resume was going to be worthless on the Day of Judgment. So Paul told the Philippians that:
Philippians 3:7-10 (NKJ)
7 . . . what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.
8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ
9 (I want to be) found in (Christ), not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;
10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death,
Oh, the excellence of the knowledge of Christ! Paul was set free from the bondage of the world. He would no longer have to struggle so hard to be conformed to this world. In this liberty, Paul wrote to the Romans and said:
Romans 12:2 (NKJ)
2 . . . do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Truly, we have no reason to fear the whims of the power brokers or the threats of the devil:
2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJ)
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
We have no reason to fear:
Romans 8:28-29 (NKJ)
28 (For) we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son . . .
We no longer have to be conformed to this world. Instead, we are free to be conformed to the image of Christ even as Christ brings us into conformity with His death. Jesus said:
Matthew 16:25-27 (NKJ)
25 "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
26 "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
27 "For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.
First and foremost, the work that God requires of us is that we believe in Jesus Christ. At one point in Jesus’ ministry, the crowd asked:
John 6:28 (NKJ)
28 . . . "What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?"
And Jesus said:
John 6:29 (NKJ)
29 . . . "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent."
After we are saved through faith in Christ, then God calls us to serve the Lord with the expectation of reward. Paul said:
1 Corinthians 3:10-15 (NKJ)
10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.
11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,
13 each one's work will become clear; for the Day (of Jesus Christ) will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is.
14 If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.
15 If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
Notice that our reward someday will be based on the manner in which we built upon the foundation that was laid by the Apostle Paul. Paul said that Jesus Christ is the foundation and there is no other foundation. But Paul said that he is the one who laid that foundation, and he did so by revealing to the world that Jesus was not just a man who died a martyr’s death. But Jesus was actually the Son of God who came into the world to lay down His life and shed His blood to provide the atonement for all sin. This is the doctrinal foundation which was laid by the Apostle Paul.
Therefore, Paul said that all of us who have followed after Paul will someday be judged and rewarded according to what we do with this revelation. If we exalt and uplift the blood of Christ as our only means of atonement and redemption, then we are building with gold, silver and precious stones. But if we deny the gospel and go around telling people that they have to earn their way to heaven by doing good works, then we are building with wood, hay and stubble. It is a fact worth considering that only the gold, silver and precious stones will endure the fire.
Today, the world has no use for the doctrine of the shed blood:
1 Corinthians 1:18 (NKJ)
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1 Corinthians 3:18-19
18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seems to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God . . .
We have to choose whether we will follow God or whether we will follow the world. The choice we make will have far reaching consequences for us and for the people around us. It’s clear that in the mind of Paul there was no middle ground on this issue. We either serve the Lord or we serve the world. The Apostle John agreed, saying:
I John 2:15-17 (KJV)
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
Thank you for listening to Bible Study Time. It’s been a pleasure studying with you, and I’ll look forward to being with you again next week at this same time.
Church links:
Lydia had been associated with the Jewish assembly in Philippi. She was obviously one who was attracted to the Jewish Law, but she was rescued from the bondage of the Law when she put her personal faith and trust in Jesus Christ.
The fortune-telling slave girl may have become a believer after she was set free from the demon that had empowered her and enslaved her at the same time. In connection with the slave girl, we talked about the fact that demons use deception to keep unsuspecting souls in bondage, and even when demons speak the truth, there is always a subtle lie lurking beneath the surface.
Then there was the jailer who was set free from the destructive influence of the world, and this morning, I’d like for us to spend a little more time thinking about this jailer and the fact that all believers need to separate themselves from the evil influences of this world. When Paul wrote to the Corinthians, he asked:
2 Corinthians 6:15-17 (NKJ)
15 . . . what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?
16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people."
17 Therefore "Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord . . . "
The Philippian jailer was a man who was very dedicated to his job, and he was completely loyal to his employers, but when he entered into a relationship with Jesus Christ, he could see that there is a higher calling for those who know the Lord.
This jailer had accepted Christ after witnessing the unwavering faith of Paul and Silas. After surviving an earthquake and discovering the prison doors open, he assumed that his prisoners had escaped. He drew his sword and was about to take his own life to avoid the wrath of his employers.
But then, he heard a voice calling to him from inside one of the cells. It was the voice of the Apostle Paul, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.” Then the Bible says that the jailer:
Acts 16:29-34 (NKJ)
29 . . . called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.
30 (Then) he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
31 So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household."
32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.
33 (And so the jailer) took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized.
34 Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.
It’s clear that when this jailer accepted Christ, he was immediately set free from the negative, dominating, and sometimes terrifying influence of the world. As a result, he was free to serve others in a way that was pleasing to God. This jailer took Paul and Silas out of that jail, and then he took them to his own house where he fed them and tended to their wounds. What a difference the Holy Spirit makes in our lives.
The Lord Jesus told his disciples that no one can serve two masters. We have to choose between God and the world. If we choose to submit to the world, we will live in a state of fear which is inspired by the devil, himself. After all, the devil is the power behind the course of this world.
Under the influence of an irrational fear, the Philippian jailer thought that he had no choice but to kill himself. He thought that his life was over, but notice what happened when he dedicated his life to God. Acts 16:35 says:
Acts 16:35 (NKJ)
35 And when it was day, the magistrates sent the officers, saying, "Let those men go."
The jailer had had not reason to fear. God’s resources are unlimited, and He is able to supply all of our needs according to His riches in glory. The devil uses all of his power to try to intimidate people, but God is still in control. I’m sure the jailer never expected God to work in this way.
Acts 16:36-38 (NKJ)
36 So the keeper of the prison reported these words to Paul, saying, "The magistrates have sent to let you go. Now therefore depart, and go in peace."
37 But Paul said to them, "They have beaten us openly, uncondemned Romans, and have thrown us into prison. And now do they put us out secretly? No indeed! Let them come themselves and get us out."
38 And the officers told these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans.
Uh huh, who is it that is afraid now? The power brokers of this world were now the ones who were terrified. Those who love the world will live in fear because they know how easily circumstances can turn against them.
Acts 16:39-40 (NKJ)
39 (So) they came and pleaded with (Paul and Silas) and brought them out, and asked them to depart from the city.
40 So (Paul and Silas) went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia; and when they had seen the brethren, they encouraged them and departed.
What a testimony Paul and Silas were able to bear before this jailer. They were able to encourage him to fear only the Lord and to trust the Lord in all circumstances. Praise the Lord, our heavenly Father is the ultimate judge, and Nahum said:
Nahum 1:7 (NKJ)
7 The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him.
Paul was a man who knew what it was like to serve the power brokers of this world. Before his salvation, he had lived his entire life trying to please a group of powerful and ruthless Pharisees. He had been willing to adopt their values as his own, and he had been willing to do whatever they expected him to do.
Actually, in Galatians, Chapter 1, Paul acknowledged that he had been more successful than many of his peers in his attempts to please the power-hungry Pharisees, and in the process, he had managed to put together quite a resume. In Philippians 3, Paul said:
Philippians 3:4-6 (NKJ)
4 . . . If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so:
5 (I was) circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee;
6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
Paul said, I worked so hard to please all the people that I had to please, and everything was going so well. It was going so well, that is, until I met Jesus on the road to Damascus. But when Paul saw the light of Jesus Christ and heard His voice, he suddenly realized that his resume was going to be worthless on the Day of Judgment. So Paul told the Philippians that:
Philippians 3:7-10 (NKJ)
7 . . . what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.
8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ
9 (I want to be) found in (Christ), not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;
10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death,
Oh, the excellence of the knowledge of Christ! Paul was set free from the bondage of the world. He would no longer have to struggle so hard to be conformed to this world. In this liberty, Paul wrote to the Romans and said:
Romans 12:2 (NKJ)
2 . . . do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Truly, we have no reason to fear the whims of the power brokers or the threats of the devil:
2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJ)
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
We have no reason to fear:
Romans 8:28-29 (NKJ)
28 (For) we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son . . .
We no longer have to be conformed to this world. Instead, we are free to be conformed to the image of Christ even as Christ brings us into conformity with His death. Jesus said:
Matthew 16:25-27 (NKJ)
25 "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
26 "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
27 "For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.
First and foremost, the work that God requires of us is that we believe in Jesus Christ. At one point in Jesus’ ministry, the crowd asked:
John 6:28 (NKJ)
28 . . . "What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?"
And Jesus said:
John 6:29 (NKJ)
29 . . . "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent."
After we are saved through faith in Christ, then God calls us to serve the Lord with the expectation of reward. Paul said:
1 Corinthians 3:10-15 (NKJ)
10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.
11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,
13 each one's work will become clear; for the Day (of Jesus Christ) will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is.
14 If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.
15 If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
Notice that our reward someday will be based on the manner in which we built upon the foundation that was laid by the Apostle Paul. Paul said that Jesus Christ is the foundation and there is no other foundation. But Paul said that he is the one who laid that foundation, and he did so by revealing to the world that Jesus was not just a man who died a martyr’s death. But Jesus was actually the Son of God who came into the world to lay down His life and shed His blood to provide the atonement for all sin. This is the doctrinal foundation which was laid by the Apostle Paul.
Therefore, Paul said that all of us who have followed after Paul will someday be judged and rewarded according to what we do with this revelation. If we exalt and uplift the blood of Christ as our only means of atonement and redemption, then we are building with gold, silver and precious stones. But if we deny the gospel and go around telling people that they have to earn their way to heaven by doing good works, then we are building with wood, hay and stubble. It is a fact worth considering that only the gold, silver and precious stones will endure the fire.
Today, the world has no use for the doctrine of the shed blood:
1 Corinthians 1:18 (NKJ)
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1 Corinthians 3:18-19
18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seems to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God . . .
We have to choose whether we will follow God or whether we will follow the world. The choice we make will have far reaching consequences for us and for the people around us. It’s clear that in the mind of Paul there was no middle ground on this issue. We either serve the Lord or we serve the world. The Apostle John agreed, saying:
I John 2:15-17 (KJV)
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
Thank you for listening to Bible Study Time. It’s been a pleasure studying with you, and I’ll look forward to being with you again next week at this same time.
Church links:
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