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Philippians 4:15-20

February 18, 2024 • Richard Caldwell Jr. • Philippians 4:15–20

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Introduction:

True churches — healthy churches — honor Christ.

They recognize that Christ is the Head of the church.

They recognize Christ is the Chief Shepherd of the church.

They are submissively pursuing the will of Christ in the church.

BUT HOW DO WE EXPLAIN CHRIST-HONORING CONGREGATIONS?

Regeneration is the ultimate explanation, but what are they learning? What are they being taught?

As we think about this, I want to zero in on one non-negotiable to that end.

There are many ways the Bible would explain a Christ-honoring church.

But the reason why I want to zero in on the quality that we emphasize today, is because I think we RARELY MENTION this element of what makes for Christ-honoring churches.

AS I SAID, THE BIBLE DESCRIBES WHAT IT MEANS TO HONOR CHRIST IN MULTIPLE WAYS.

We can say:

No church honors Christ that isn’t growing in its KNOWLEDGE of Christ.

No church honors Christ that doesn’t CHERISH Christ — counting Him our greatest treasure.

No church honors Christ that doesn’t PRIORITIZE Christ — giving Him first place.

No church honors Christ that isn’t SATSIFIED with Christ.

YOU CANNOT HONOR CHRIST WHILE YOU ENTERTAIN IDOLS.

Colossians 3:5 (LSB)

5 Therefore, consider the members of your earthly body as dead to sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry.

John MacArthur — “greed. Lit. this term means “to have more.” It is the insatiable desire to gain more, especially of things that are forbidden (cf. Ex 20:17; Dt 5:21; Jas 4:2). which amounts to idolatry. When people engage in either greed or the sexual sins Paul has cataloged, they follow their desires rather than God’s, in essence worshiping themselves—which is idolatry (Nu 25:1–3; Eph 5:3–5).”[1]

BUT ALL OF THOSE THINGS CAN REALLY BE SUMMED UP IN THE WORD CONTENTMENT.

In contrast to the constant desire for something we DO NOT HAVE, and all the things WE SHOULD NOT HAVE, is CONTENTMENT.

The Christ honoring church is a church characterized by contentment.

CONTENT WITH WHAT GOD GIVES US.

CONTENT WITHOUT WHAT GOD HAS CHOSEN NOT TO GIVE US.

CONTENT REGARDLESS OF OUR CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES

CONTENT WITH WHAT GOD HAS IDENTIFIED AS SUFFICIENT.

CONTENT IN EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE AND SEASON OF CONGREGATIONAL LIFE.

CONTENT WHEN IT SEEMS THAT WE ARE FLOURISHING AND CONTENT WHEN IT SEEMS THAT WE ARE WITHERING.

CONTENT KNOWING THAT WE CAN’T DO BETTER THAN TO SIMPLY TRUST AND OBEY WITH CONSISTENT FAITHFULNESS — I MEAN WE ARE TRULY CONVINCED OF THAT.

CONTENT WHEN CELEBRATED AND CONTENT WHEN CONDEMENED, BECAUSE IN NEITHER CIRCUMSTANCE IS OUR AIM THE PRAISE OF MEN.

Contentment is found wherever you find a church honoring Christ.

That kind of church ministry produces fruit.

Its fruit is simplicity — free from the clutter of human invention — the clutter of worldly ideologies and strategies that men take hold of in pursuit of things God never designed.

Its fruit is peacefulness — at rest in God and His Word and the work He has assigned us.

Its fruit is unity — contentment in Christ that frees us from competition with each other.

Its fruit is a consistent thankfulness and joy.

But, as we will be reminded, CONTENTMENT IS LEARNED — believers struggle to learn it. It is not automatic. It is a matter of sanctification.

CONTENTMENT IS EXPERIENCED INDIRECTLY.

IT IS LEARNED IN THE FURNACE OF GOD ORDAINED CIRCUMSTANCES THAT SIFT US AND PURIFY US.

Our God must teach us the vanity of setting our HOPE on what is NOT OUR HOPE.

WE WILL NEVER HONOR CHRIST IN HIS CHURCH IF WE ARE NOT SATISFIED WITH CHRIST IN HIS CHURCH.

AND THIS CHARACTERIZES CHURCHES ONE BELIEVER AT A TIME.

If the church is to honor Christ, WE MUST HONOR CHRIST. If contentment is non-negotiable for the church, IT IS NON-NEGOTIABLE FOR ME if I am to live a life that honors Jesus.

I. PAUL’S JOY DECLARED (VS.10)

Paul is bringing his letter to a close. But before he finishes there is a matter that needs to be attended to. He hinted at the matter in the first chapter:

NAS Philippians 1:3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, 5 in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now.

But now he addresses it directly. The Philippians, by the hands of Epaphroditus (vs.18), have delivered material support to Paul.

Paul is in a Roman prison, surviving on the most basic kind of provisions, existing in a state of want, facing an impending trial before Roman authorities, and knows that he potentially faces even the possibility of execution.

In those circumstances, he meets with an act of friendship and concern on the part of the Philippian church. Epaphroditus had arrived with their gift, and was himself a gift, and now Paul can return his thanks by the hand of this same man in the form of this return letter.

His thank you is fascinating. It is rich with instruction. Paul takes a thank you and turns it into an opportunity to model and to instruct what Christian love and Christian living is all about.

It is a great reminder that Christianity is something supernatural wherever it is real.

It is ETERNAL LIFE. It is fellowship with God and His Son (John 17:3). And in that eternal life IS THE PRESENCE OF REAL FAITH.

AND WHERE THIS LIFE AND THIS FAITH EXIST THERE IS A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE, A UNIQUE BELIEF THAT ALLOWS FOR UNIQUE ACTS.

And in our text there are three that are apparent.

[1] John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), Col 3:5.

Honoring Christ Through Contentment

November 18, 2023 • Richard Caldwell Jr. • Philippians 4:10–20

Introduction: True churches — healthy churches — honor Christ. They recognize that Christ is the Head of the church. They recognize Christ is the Chief Shepherd of the church. They are submissively pursuing the will of Christ in the church. BUT HOW DO WE EXPLAIN CHRIST-HONORING CONGREGATIONS? Regeneration is the ultimate explanation, but what are they learning? What are they being taught? As we think about this, I want to zero in on one non-negotiable to that end. There are many ways the Bible would explain a Christ-honoring church. But the reason why I want to zero in on the quality that we emphasize today, is because I think we RARELY MENTION this element of what makes for Christ-honoring churches. AS I SAID, THE BIBLE DESCRIBES WHAT IT MEANS TO HONOR CHRIST IN MULTIPLE WAYS. We can say: No church honors Christ that isn’t growing in its KNOWLEDGE of Christ. No church honors Christ that doesn’t CHERISH Christ — counting Him our greatest treasure. No church honors Christ that doesn’t PRIORITIZE Christ — giving Him first place. No church honors Christ that isn’t SATSIFIED with Christ. YOU CANNOT HONOR CHRIST WHILE YOU ENTERTAIN IDOLS. Colossians 3:5 (LSB) 5 Therefore, consider the members of your earthly body as dead to sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry. John MacArthur — “greed. Lit. this term means “to have more.” It is the insatiable desire to gain more, especially of things that are forbidden (cf. Ex 20:17; Dt 5:21; Jas 4:2). which amounts to idolatry. When people engage in either greed or the sexual sins Paul has cataloged, they follow their desires rather than God’s, in essence worshiping themselves—which is idolatry (Nu 25:1–3; Eph 5:3–5).”#_ftn1 BUT ALL OF THOSE THINGS CAN REALLY BE SUMMED UP IN THE WORD CONTENTMENT. In contrast to the constant desire for something we DO NOT HAVE, and all the things WE SHOULD NOT HAVE, is CONTENTMENT. The Christ honoring church is a church characterized by contentment. CONTENT WITH WHAT GOD GIVES US. CONTENT WITHOUT WHAT GOD HAS CHOSEN NOT TO GIVE US. CONTENT REGARDLESS OF OUR CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES CONTENT WITH WHAT GOD HAS IDENTIFIED AS SUFFICIENT. CONTENT IN EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE AND SEASON OF CONGREGATIONAL LIFE. CONTENT WHEN IT SEEMS THAT WE ARE FLOURISHING AND CONTENT WHEN IT SEEMS THAT WE ARE WITHERING. CONTENT KNOWING THAT WE CAN’T DO BETTER THAN TO SIMPLY TRUST AND OBEY WITH CONSISTENT FAITHFULNESS — I MEAN WE ARE TRULY CONVINCED OF THAT. CONTENT WHEN CELEBRATED AND CONTENT WHEN CONDEMENED, BECAUSE IN NEITHER CIRCUMSTANCE IS OUR AIM THE PRAISE OF MEN. Contentment is found wherever you find a church honoring Christ. That kind of church ministry produces fruit. Its fruit is simplicity — free from the clutter of human invention — the clutter of worldly ideologies and strategies that men take hold of in pursuit of things God never designed. Its fruit is peacefulness — at rest in God and His Word and the work He has assigned us. Its fruit is unity — contentment in Christ that frees us from competition with each other. Its fruit is a consistent thankfulness and joy. But, as we will be reminded, CONTENTMENT IS LEARNED — believers struggle to learn it. It is not automatic. It is a matter of sanctification. CONTENTMENT IS EXPERIENCED INDIRECTLY. IT IS LEARNED IN THE FURNACE OF GOD ORDAINED CIRCUMSTANCES THAT SIFT US AND PURIFY US. Our God must teach us the vanity of setting our HOPE on what is NOT OUR HOPE. WE WILL NEVER HONOR CHRIST IN HIS CHURCH IF WE ARE NOT SATISFIED WITH CHRIST IN HIS CHURCH. AND THIS CHARACTERIZES CHURCHES ONE BELIEVER AT A TIME. If the church is to honor Christ, WE MUST HONOR CHRIST. If contentment is non-negotiable for the church, IT IS NON-NEGOTIABLE FOR ME if I am to live a life that honors Jesus. I. PAUL’S JOY DECLARED (VS.10) Paul is bringing his letter to a close. But before he finishes there is a matter that needs to be attended to. He hinted at the matter in the first chapter: NAS Philippians 1:3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, 5 in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now. But now he addresses it directly. The Philippians, by the hands of Epaphroditus (vs.18), have delivered material support to Paul. Paul is in a Roman prison, surviving on the most basic kind of provisions, existing in a state of want, facing an impending trial before Roman authorities, and knows that he potentially faces even the possibility of execution. In those circumstances, he meets with an act of friendship and concern on the part of the Philippian church. Epaphroditus had arrived with their gift, and was himself a gift, and now Paul can return his thanks by the hand of this same man in the form of this return letter. His thank you is fascinating. It is rich with instruction. Paul takes a thank you and turns it into an opportunity to model and to instruct what Christian love and Christian living is all about. It is a great reminder that Christianity is something supernatural wherever it is real. It is ETERNAL LIFE. It is fellowship with God and His Son (John 17:3). And in that eternal life IS THE PRESENCE OF REAL FAITH. AND WHERE THIS LIFE AND THIS FAITH EXIST THERE IS A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE, A UNIQUE BELIEF THAT ALLOWS FOR UNIQUE ACTS. And in our text there are three that are apparent. #_ftnref1 John F. MacArthur Jr., https://ref.ly/logosres/macartsbnasb?ref=bible.col3.5&off=597&ctx=4%3a3%3b+cf.+jas+1%3a15).+~greed.+lit.+this+ter (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), Col 3:5.

Shepherding Adult Children

November 5, 2023 • Richard Caldwell Jr.

Introduction: The Bible makes clear that a parent’s responsibility to influence their children extends beyond the time of their childhood years. The fact that the people of God were taught to pass on the truth to their grandchildren, assumes an ongoing role in the families of their adult children. ESV Deuteronomy 4:9 "Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children's children-- 10 how on the day that you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb, the LORD said to me, 'Gather the people to me, that I may let them hear my words, so that they may learn to fear me all the days that they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children so.' ESV Proverbs 17:6 Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers. Looking at it from the opposite angle, the commands of God to honor parents for a lifetime, and to care for parents in their older years, indicates that godliness means an ongoing presence and concern, and relationship, and influence, in the lives of children after they are grown. ESV Exodus 20:12 "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. ESV Matthew 15:4 For God commanded, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.' (this would certainly assume children old enough to be held accountable as adults) Job was an example of ongoing influence in the lives of his adult children. ESV Job 1:2 There were born to him seven sons and three daughters. 3 He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very many servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east. 4 His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, "It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts." Thus Job did continually. Eli’s leniency with his sons, and God’s rebuke of him, testifies to ways that a father’s refusal to do what is right in his relationship with his adult children (granted, in unique circumstances in his case), is a matter for rebuke. ESV 1 Samuel 12:12 And when you saw that Nahash the king of the Ammonites came against you, you said to me, 'No, but a king shall reign over us,' when the LORD your God was your king. 13 And now behold the king whom you have chosen, for whom you have asked; behold, the LORD has set a king over you. 14 If you will fear the LORD and serve him and obey his voice and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, and if both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the LORD your God, it will be well. 15 But if you will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then the hand of the LORD will be against you and your king. 16 Now therefore stand still and see this great thing that the LORD will do before your eyes. 17 Is it not wheat harvest today? I will call upon the LORD, that he may send thunder and rain. And you shall know and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking for yourselves a king." ESV 1 Samuel 2:22 Now Eli was very old, and he kept hearing all that his sons were doing to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who were serving at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 23 And he said to them, "Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all these people. 24 No, my sons; it is no good report that I hear the people of the LORD spreading abroad. 25 If someone sins against a man, God will mediate for him, but if someone sins against the LORD, who can intercede for him?" But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for it was the will of the LORD to put them to death. ESV 1 Samuel 2:27 And there came a man of God to Eli and said to him, "Thus says the LORD, 'Did I indeed reveal myself to the house of your father when they were in Egypt subject to the house of Pharaoh? 28 Did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? I gave to the house of your father all my offerings by fire from the people of Israel. 29 Why then do you scorn my sacrifices and my offerings that I commanded for my dwelling, and honor your sons above me by fattening yourselves on the choicest parts of every offering of my people Israel?' 30 Therefore the LORD, the God of Israel, declares: 'I promised that your house and the house of your father should go in and out before me forever,' but now the LORD declares: 'Far be it from me, for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed. The multigenerational influence seen in the family of God — in the local church — speaks to that same kind of influence in families. ESV Titus 2:1 But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. 2 Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. 3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. 6 Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. 7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.

Gifts for Maturity and Unity

October 29, 2023 • Richard Caldwell Jr. • Ephesians 4:11–16

Introduction: Tonight, we complete our look at Ephesians chapter 4 and our concentration on what makes for unity at the local church level. We have considered: 1. The ambition for local church unity (vs.1) 2. The attitudes for local church unity (vs.2a) 3. The actions for local church unity (vs.2b-3) 4. The awareness for local church unity (vs.4-6) AND BEGINNING AT VERSE 7, WE HAVE BEEN CONSIDERING 5. The assets for local church unity (vs.7-16) We looked at: a. The distribution of spiritual gifts to individual believers (vs.7) b. The explanation for spiritual gifts (vs.8-10) And now tonight we finish by thinking about the distribution of spiritual gifts to the church (vs.11-16) RUNNING THROUGH ALL OF THIS IS AN EMPHASIS ON THE UNITY OF THE CHURCH. And so, tonight, it is not a detailed exposition that I’m after (which would take a few weeks). Rather, looking at the passage from an aerial point of view, I simply want us to see how Christ’s gifts to His church are meant to result in the maturity of His church, and therefore the unity of His church. Tonight, we think about Christ’s gifts for the maturity and unity of His church. I.THE MEN FOR THE CHURCH’S UNITY (vs.11) Christ’s victory supplies for all that belongs to the church. This is true when we view salvation in its entirety, and this is true when we think about how salvation is worked out in time and history. Our salvation has been secured by Jesus — WE ARE SECURE IN JESUS — and yet we work out our salvation with fear and trembling in the sense of progressive sanctification. For that work of progressive sanctification, Jesus has supplied gifts in the form of MEN. Gifted men given to the church for the maturity and unity of the church. Of those types of gifted men mentioned in verse 11, only some are permanent (or for those who see these as divided, it would be two). The men who go on teaching the church as pastors. Shepherds who teach are given by Christ to His church for the maturity of His church and for the unity of His church. Harold Hoehner — “After a study of the grammatical structure of one article followed by two plural nouns separated by a καί (as here), Wallace suggests that the first is the subset of the second and thus “all pastors are to be teachers, though not all teachers are to be pastors.” Hence, while there is a distinction between the two, the distinction is not total.”31 DIVISION — FOR SAVED PEOPLE — IS EXPLAINED BY IMMATURITY AND ERROR. These teachers are used by Christ to overcome the problems that exist in immaturity and error. II.THE METHOD FOR THE CHURCH’S UNITY (vs.12) How is this accomplished? This is accomplished through teaching. The men are given for the equipping of God’s people. The people are equipped for service. That work of equipping, and that every member kind of ministry, results in the edification (the building up) of the body of Christ — the church. WHY HAVE I BEEN SAYING THAT THIS IS CHRIST’S METHOD FOR THE UNITY OF HIS CHURCH? It is because in the very next statement we see why these men have been given, and what the goal of their equipping ministry is. “UNTIL WE ALL ATTAIN TO THE UNITY OF THE FAITH.” Why kind of unity is this? IT IS A UNITY IN KNOWLEDGE IT IS A UNITY IN MATURITY (full grown manhood, which is to say, full grown Christlikeness.) III.THE MARK FOR THE CHURCH’S UNITY (vs.13) This is the goal of all church ministry. This is the goal of all shepherding. This is the goal of all preaching and teaching. The mark at which we aim, the goal toward which we labor, the measure by which we measure our work — is Christlikeness. “to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” THE WHOLE CHRIST IS THE DESTINY OF THE WHOLE MAN. Obviously, that does not mean that we attain to deity. But what it does mean is that in every way God has destined that the last Adam is the goal of our redeemed humanity, we will one day arrive there. And THAT is what maturity aims at and is measured by. Holiness in mind. Holiness in motives. Holiness in behavior. 1 Thessalonians 5:23–24 (LSB) 23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely, and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Faithful is He who calls you, who also will do it. IV.THE MATURITY FOR THE CHURCH’S UNITY (vs.14-16) What does that maturity look like in development? As a church matures, and as a result can maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, what does that look like? A. A MATURITY EVIDENCED BY DISCERNMENT (vs.14) Understand that this divides churches. Bad doctrine. Immature thinking in the realm of doctrine. Spiritual gullibility. Doctrinal instability. Shepherd-teachers are given to the church so that churches KNOW what they believe and develop DOCTRINAL DISCERNMENT. That produces stable and unified churches. B. A MATURITY EVIDENCED BY AMBITION (vs.15) Now, we have already talked about this, but verse 15 underscores this. What is the spiritual aim of spiritually mature people? It is that we would know THE TRUTH. It’s not winning arguments. It is arriving at the truth. THIS REIGNS OVER THE WAY WE SPEAK TO OTHER PEOPLE, DOESN’T IT? If my goal is to win an argument, then love is not at the forefront. But if my goal is that you and I arrive at the truth out of love for Christ, then even the way I address you will be transformed. In addition, if my goal IS CHRISTLIKENESS, then my aim is not SELF-EXALTATION, it is GRACIOUS LIFE TRANSFORMATION. My desire is for everything in me contrary to Christ to be conquered. AND THIS IS IN “ALL ASPECTS.” There is nothing in my life that is off-limits. There is nothing excluded from that work of transformation. C. A MATURITY EVIDENCED BY ACTIVITY (vs.16a) Here is the wonder of that LIFE-TRANSFORMING work of God. It is accomplished through people who are undergoing that work of God. God is working THROUGH the very people IN WHOM He is working. God is working THROUGH the very gifts that He has GRACIOUSLY imparted to His people. We have been SAVED FOR ACTIVITY. We have been SAVED FOR MUTUAL INVESTMENT. We have been SAVED TO PROGRESS IN COMMUNITY WITH THE SAINTS OF GOD. So that God is at work through what is produced in the individual members to bring growth and transformation IN THE WHOLE BODY. A MATURE CHURCH IS A MUTUAL MINISTRY CHURCH. A UNIFIED CHURCH IS A MUTUAL MINISTRY CHURCH. Ephesians 2:8–10 (LSB) 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. D. A MATURITY EVIDENCED BY AFFECTION (vs.16b) A mature church is not just a discerning church. It is not just a Christ-exalting and pursuing church. It is not just a church active in ministry. It is a church MARKED BY LOVE. LOVE FOR GOD. LOVE FOR EACH OTHER. This is what will characterize a unified church. It will be a loving church.