Non-Series
The Need To See The King
February 16, 2025 • Richard Caldwell Jr. • Ephesians 1:15–23
Introduction: Why does the Bible exalt the truth that Jesus is the preeminent King regularly? GOD HAS DONE THAT THROUGHOUT THE SCRIPTURES. FROM THE BEGINNING OF GOD’S REVELATION IN SCRIPTURE TO THE END. EXPRESSED IN ANTICIPATORY LANGUAGE — THE BIBLE PREPARED US FOR THE COMING OF CHRIST INTO THE WORLD. EXPRESSED IN FULFILLMENT LANGUAGE — GOD ANNOUNCING JESUS AS KING IN MORE THAN ONE WAY WHEN CHRIST ARRIVED. EXPRESSED IN CELEBRATORY LANGUAGE — THE BIBLE CELEBRATING THAT JESUS IS KING AFTER HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION. EXPRESSED IN HOPEFUL LANGUAGE — THE BIBLE ANNOUNCES AND ANTICIPATES THE DAY WHEN THE FRUITS OF CHRIST’S VICTORY ARE BROUGHT INTO FULL VISION AT HIS SECOND COMING. The Bible gives repeated voice to the truth that Jesus is King. He is the priest-King typified by Melchizedek. ESV Hebrews 7:1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. 3 He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever. 4 See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! He is the greater son of David who will sit on David’s throne and rule forever. ESV Psalm 2:6 "As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill." 7 I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, "You are my Son; today I have begotten you. 8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel." 10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. 11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. ESV Luke 1:31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." He is the great conqueror who will return to the earth and put an end to the tyranny of the wicked and usher in a Kingdom of righteousness. ESV Revelation 17:14 They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful." ESV Revelation 19:16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. He is the great HOPE who fulfills all the promises made to Abraham and his offspring. ESV Romans 11:11 So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather, through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. 12 Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean! He is the one worthy to open the title deed to the earth that wraps up this present age — the one who explains the Kingdom of redeemed souls that He not only rules over but one day will rule WITH. ESV Revelation 5:8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth." ESV Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years. Jesus IS the preeminent King. AND YET, REVERENTLY, WE MUST ASK “WHY THIS EMPHASIS?” GIVEN THE FACT THAT THE ETERNAL SON OF GOD HAD NO NEED FOR THE INCARNATION IN ORDER TO BE A RULER. Before anything was created — there was God. He is before all things because He is eternal. He sustains all things He made because He is self-existent. He needs nothing that He made because He is self-sufficient. And after God created — when the holy angels were created, when all the worlds were created, when mankind was created — God had no rivals. He has always ruled over His creation. The creature is not the equal of its maker.
Wisdom For The Hard Cases
February 2, 2025 • Richard Caldwell Jr. • Acts 6:1–7
Introduction: Difficult times will certainly come. Some of the difficulties we can expect — we meet with because of the sin that exists OUTSIDE the church. Cultural difficulties. But some of the difficulties that the church must deal with will come to us from WITHIN the church. Relational difficulties from all that goes on in the lives of God’s people. ALL OF THESE DIFFICULTIES MEAN TENSION FOR CHURCH LEADERS. In all these difficulties, wisdom is needed. Pastoral wisdom. The leadership of the Chief Shepherd, the wisdom imparted by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, needing to be on display in the leaders of the church. That is what we think about today. Pastoral wisdom for potential powder kegs. It is a crucial topic because, as I’ve already said, the tension will certainly come. In fact, potential powder kegs arise multiple times EVERY YEAR. The enemy of our souls doesn’t need much gun powder to produce explosions. Sometimes it seems like they come EVERY WEEK. Potential problems around leadership choices — the direction of the ministry in the life of a church. Sometimes tensions at the relational level — including relationships among the leaders themselves (sometimes transcending relationships at the local church level). Sometimes tensions related to congregational difficulties — difficult counseling situations or shepherding situations. REGULARLY, every pastor meets with these, and when we do, we meet with the inevitable questions: “Where do we begin? What steps do we take as we work through these situations? How do we work through these situations in a way that doesn’t reflect neglect, or over-simplification, or even cowardice, but also how do we work through these in a way that avoids lording over God’s people? How do we shepherd for FAITHFULNESS and PEACE? Navigating spiritual tensions is as old as the church. And in Acts 6 we see one example of such difficulty and we learn from how the apostles responded. And from their example we learn some principles for our own practice. Four main points today, (1) The problem (2) The solution (3) The execution (4) The aftermath. Then we will share some closing observations. I. THE PROBLEM (vs.1) Ever since the fall of man, men take natural distinctions and turn them into reasons for division. This narrative passage doesn’t provide all the details of what made up this dispute. What it does tell us is that A COMPLAINT AROSE. And this dispute was organized according to some cultural differences. The Hellenists were Greek speaking Jews, culturally bearing the marks of the dispersion of Jews outside of Palestine. Their primary language was Greek. The Hebrews were native Palestinian Jews who would spoken Aramaic as their primary language and would have attended Hebrew-speaking synagogues. a. THE ROOT ISSUE (vs.1b) The root issue had to do with daily provisions for the needy. The widows of the Hellenists were being overlooked. Not intentionally. It is virtually certain, given the solution that is provided, that this oversight was unintentional. But the enemy is always ready to enflame passions, to make use of imaginations, to suggest some kind of personal slight if it could lead to disunity among brothers. b. THE RELATIONAL TENSION (vs.1a) The complaint, as a result, was not just about procedure, it was personal (against the Hebrews). There was GRUMBLING. Grumbling from the Hellenists AGAINST the Hebrews. We are familiar with grumbling. An attitude of unhappiness. An attitude of offense. An attitude of criticism. Attitude of suspicion. All of it threatening to go viral because it has become vocal. The threat was congregational division. c. THE REASONS FOR THE PROBLEM The problem that was beginning to raise its head had some explanations. 1. Practical — Exponential growth (while the disciples were multiplying in number) The church was growing rapidly. Wherever growth comes to a church, especially rapid growth, there’s a learning curve. We’re trying to find our footing. We’re trying to keep up. But you can have practical challenges that belong to the variety of seasons that a church finds itself in. SLOW SEASONS IN THE MINISTRY HAVE THEIR DANGERS TOO.
The Qualities of Love - Love Perseveres
January 12, 2025 • Richard Caldwell Jr. • 1 Corinthians 13:7
Introduction: Something to remember as we look at each of these qualities is that each one finds its best explanation and visualization in the Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, if you replaced the word “love” with “Jesus”, and you put each one of these into the past tense, focusing on the earthly ministry of Jesus, notice how it would read. Jesus was patient Jesus was kind Jesus was not boastful Jesus was not arrogant Jesus was not rude Jesus was not selfish Jesus was not easily angered or irritated Jesus was not unforgiving or resentful Jesus did not rejoice in unrighteousness Jesus rejoiced in the truth Jesus was protective in His love Jesus was encouraging and hopeful in His love Christ is the perfect model of the life of love that we have been called to live. So that, if we desire to walk in the WAY OF LOVE, we simply concentrate on walking IN THE WAY OF CHRIST. We walk in the way of Christ by COMMUNING with Christ, OBEYING CHRIST, and IMITATING CHRIST. ESV Ephesians 5:1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Tonight, we finish our look at 1 Corinthians 13 by being reminded that LOVE IS ENDURING. Love perseveres. I. THE MEANING OF LOVE’S ENDURANCE What does Paul have in mind when he says that love endures all things? (Present, active, indicative, 3rd person singular) ὑπομένω ① to stay in a place beyond an expected point of time, remain/stay (behind), while others go away ἐν w. dat. of place (Jos., Ant. 18, 328) Lk 2:43. ἐκεῖ Ac 17:14. ② to maintain a belief or course of action in the face of opposition, stand one’s ground, hold out, endure (Il. et al.; remain instead of fleeing: Pla., Tht. 177b ἀνδρικῶς ὑπομεῖναι … ἀνάνδρως φεύγειν) in trouble, affliction, persecution (of Christ: ἐν τῷ νικᾶν καὶ ὑπομένειν Iren. 3, 19, 3 [Harv. II 104, 4]), abs. Mt 10:22 (s. PJoüon, RSR 28, ’38, 310f); 24:13; Mk 13:13 (all three times w. εἰς τέλος); 2 Ti 2:12 (TestJob 4:6 ἐὰν ὑπομείνης); Js 5:11; 1 Cl 35:3f; 45:8 (ἐν πεποιθήσει=full of confidence); 2 Cl 11:5 (ἐλπίσαντες=in joyful hope); IMg 9:2 (διὰ τοῦτο, ἵνα); MPol 2:2 (w. μέχρι and inf.); τοῖς ὑπομείνασιν vs. 3; D 16:5 (ἐν τῇ πίστει αὐτῶν=in their faith, i.e. endure the fiery trial). Hence of Christ simply = submit to, suffer B 5:1, 12 (in both cases w. εἰς τοῦτο=for this purpose); 14:4: IPol 3:2 (both w. διʼ ἡμᾶς); Pol 1:2 (ὑπὲρ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν ἡμῶν). κύριος ὑπέμεινεν παθεῖν B 5:5a; cp. 5b and 6; 2 Cl 1:2.—The purpose of the endurance is indicated by εἰς παιδείαν Hb 12:7 (cp. Nicander in Anton. Lib. 28, 1 εἰς ἀλκήν).—The affliction under which one remains steadfast is expressed in var. ways: τῇ θλίψει in tribulation Ro 12:12; 8:24 v.l. (here perh. ‘put up with’, cp. Plut., Mor. 503b). By a ptc. (Jos., Ant. 12, 122) εἰ κολαφιζόμενοι ὑπομενεῖτε 1 Pt 2:20a; cp. vs. 20b. By acc. of thing (Hdt., Thu. et al.; ins, pap, LXX; TestJob 26:4; TestDan 5:13; Philo, Cher. 2; Jos., Ant. 3, 53; Just., A I, 39, 5 πάντα; Tat., Mel.; Orig., C. Cels. 8, 26, 5 πᾶν; Hippol., Ref. 10, 34, 3 πάθη; Did., Gen. 101, 13 κάματον) ταῦτα Dg 2:9. πάντα 1 Cor 13:7; 2 Ti 2:10; ISm 4:2; 9:2; IPol 3:1; Dg 5:5; of Christ πάντα διʼ ἡμᾶς Pol 8:1. σταυρόν Hb 12:2. τὰς βασάνους 2 Cl 17:7. δεινὰς κολάσεις MPol 2:4. τὸ πῦρ 13:3; cp. Dg 10:8. τὴν θλῖψιν Hv 2, 2, 7. τὴν ἐπήρειαν IMg 1:3. ἄθλησιν Hb 10:32. ἀντιλογίαν 12:3. παιδείαν vs. 7 v.l. πειρασμόν Js 1:12; cp. AcPl Ha 8, 22. τὴν ψῆφον τοῦ μαρτυρίου Phlm subscr. v.l.—W. cognate obj. ὑπομονήν Pol. 9:1.—In a weakened sense μηδὲν ἀηδὲς ὑπομείνατος without experiencing anything unpleasant Papias (2:9).—S. Leutzsch, Hermas 399 n. 185 for lit. on endurance of God’s people. ③ to wait for with persistence, wait for τινὰ someone (X., An. 4, 1, 21; Appian, Bell. Civ. 5, 81 §343; Sb 4369 II, 22; Ps 24:3, 5; 26:14 al.; Jos., Ant. 5, 121) 1 Cl 34:8; abs. 35:4. In a difft. sense Ox 840, 6, s. ἀπολαμβάνω 1.—PGoicoechea, De conceptu ὑπομονή apud s. Paulum, diss. Rome ’65.—M-M. TW. Spicq.#_ftn1 The basic meaning of the word has to do with waiting. #_ftnref1 William Arndt et al., https://ref.ly/logosres/bdag?ref=page.p+1039&off=3256 (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 1039.
Love Is Hopeful
December 15, 2024 • Richard Caldwell Jr. • 1 Corinthians 13:7
One of the things that we will recognize if we approach the Bible submissively, is that it will take us places we would not naturally go. In fact, one of the things we must resist when we study Scripture is the desire to “naturalize” the text. That is, our natural inclination to turn the Bible into what WE want it to say and mean instead of allowing it to speak for itself. Tonight, we come to a quality of love that challenges our natural inclinations. We want to think through what God is saying to us here in a way that we allow it to challenge us, and to change the way we are living. God says that love HOPES ALL THINGS. True love, God’s love, is HOPEFUL. What does that mean? I. THE MEANING OF LOVE’S HOPE The word hope has more than one meaning in Scripture. A. MULTIPLE MEANINGS When you take this word ἐλπίζω and examine its use in the NT (in its various forms), and then you look at the Hebrew words it translates in the Septuagint, a wide range of meanings emerge. The concepts of trust, taking refuge, a general sense of expectation, where one’s confidence is placed, etc. 1. THE WORD “HOPE” CAN BE USED IN REFERENCE TO THE OBJECT OF OUR FAITH. Our hope is centered on something or someone, so that the word hope speaks of where our confidence is stationed. Are you trusting in chariots or in God? For example. Are your riches your strong-tower, or is God your refuge? 2. THE CONCEPT OF HOPE CAN CENTER ON THE SOURCE OF OUR FAITH That is, our hope is in the WORDS — the message we have received — because of the one who has given us those words. 3. IT CAN SPEAK OF THE CERTAINTY OF OUR FAITH The word hope is used to describe a certain expectation of something that has been promised for the future. YOU COULD SAY, A FIXED-EXPECTATION OR A HOLY CONFIDENCE. B. CONTEXTUAL MEANING But in this context, the most natural way to understand what Paul is saying, because belief and hope are sandwiched between love’s protection and love’s endurance, is to understand hope to refer to a POSITIVE EXPECTATION, A HOPEFUL DESIRE. HOLY OPTIMISIM. THEOLOGICAL OPTIMISM. PRINCIPLE: The principle is this — when we walk in the love of God there will be a desire to, and a decision to, hope for the very best with respect to other people. Remember, all these qualities speak of how we deal with other people. We can say that God’s love is optimistic. God’s love is stubborn in its desire to hope for good things, RIGHTEOUS THINGS, in the lives of other people. II. THE MANIFESTATION OF LOVE’S HOPE How does this manifest itself practically? A. LOVE IS HOPEFUL IN A WAY THAT IS HOLY Before we talk about what this will mean for us, I want to be clear about what it isn’t. There are Satanic counterfeits for every quality God would build in our lives. This is one OFTEN counterfeited. In fact, there are times when faithful believers will be criticized because they are characterized as being too negative, or lacking hope, when they are simply sober about the spiritual condition of another person. The kind of hopefulness we are talking about operates in complete agreement with every other quality of love, including the statement that love does not rejoice in unrighteousness but rejoices with the truth. It is not a hopefulness that IGNORES sin. It is not a hopefulness that REFUSES to correct. It is not a hopefulness that BLUNTS the truth. B. LOVE IS HOPEFUL ABOUT WHAT IS TRUE OF OTHERS That is, as we consider our JUDGMENTS concerning other people, there is a HOLY hopefulness we choose to operate in. 1. WHAT WE BELIEVE ABOUT THEIR MOTIVATIONS 2. WHAT WE BELIEVE ABOUT THEIR CHARACTER 3. WHAT WE BELIEVE ABOUT THEM THAT MIGHT BE POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE
Thanksgiving & Certain Triumph
November 24, 2024 • Richard Caldwell Jr. • Psalm 9
Introduction: When we think about all the ways that God has blessed us IN THIS TEMPORAL AGE, our reasons for Thanksgiving are overwhelming. OUR GOD HAS BEEN GOOD TO US! Every believer, even those who experienced horrific things in life, has reason for GREAT PRAISE, because God has forgiven us and made us His children through faith in Jesus Christ. But our reasons for Thanksgiving are not LIMITED to the present age. And when we keep the transcendent reasons for Thanksgiving in our minds, it increases our Thanksgiving IN THE PRESENT AGE. Our reasons for Thanksgiving reach beyond this momentary existence. They reach beyond what the eye can see. Today I want us to remember a transcendent reason for Thanksgiving. A reason for Thanksgiving that is above all that takes place in the present age, constantly controls the present age (though in a way lost men don’t recognize), but in a future age will be acknowledged by all. Today we give thanks THAT OUR GOD IS KING. He is King over His world. He is King over all the Kingdoms of this world. He is King over all the circumstances that we face in this world. He is King over the great ones of the earth. He is King over the small ones of the earth. HE IS KING OVER ALL. HE IS KING EVEN IN OUR SORROWS. The world is full of many troubles. The very next Psalm, which has a close relationship to this one — is a Psalm of lament. Psalm 10 acknowledges the difficulties of life in a fallen world. We encounter many true dangers, we sometimes have true enemies, we sometimes encounter powerful fear and anxiety in our hearts, and yet we can know THAT BECAUSE OUR GOD ALWAYS TRIUMPHS HIS PEOPLE ALWAYS TRIUMPH. NAS 2 Corinthians 2:14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in His triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. NAS Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 Just as it is written, "For Thy sake we are being put to death all day long; We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered." 37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. And it is THAT knowledge — the knowledge of the rule and authority of our God that guarantees our ultimate triumph in Christ — that allows us to be thankful in any and every circumstance. ESV Philippians 4:5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Today we think about THE BELIEVER’S THANKSGIVING INFORMED BY THE CERTAINTY OF VICTORY. This Psalm divides into two main sections. Verses 1-12, thanksgiving’s vision in the form of proclamation. Verses 13-20, thanksgiving’s vision in the form of prayer. I. THANKSGIVING’S VISION IN THE FORM OF PROCLAMATION (vs.1-12) This is a Psalm of David. This is a Psalm of praise. And the kind of praise that we find in this Psalm is the kind of praise that would be on the lips of A GODLY KING. Much of what he says would seem to have no direct connection with anything we’re facing today. And yet, his praise relates to more than his own circumstances. His praise relates to more than his own life. And so, it should be with us.
Love’s Rejoicing
November 17, 2024 • Richard Caldwell Jr. • 1 Corinthians 13:5
Introduction: Lost man is incurably moralistic. Even when men are immoral, they promote their immorality in the name of morality. Using just one example. When we think about the sexual revolution that our nation has seen over the past few decades —recognize that it has been done in the NAME OF MORALITY. “It is RIGHT,” they would say, “to celebrate sexual diversity, and if anyone disagrees, IT IS BECAUSE THEY ARE A BIGOT.” In fact, they are driven by irrational fear. Homophobia. Transphobia. This places the acceptance of all the various sexual sins in the category of virtue. Those who accept such things are more enlightened, more advanced, more educated, more reasonable, or just better people. It places the rightful hatred of these behaviors in the category of bigotry. THOSE WHO ACTUALLY OPPOSE GOD ARE NOW CLAIMED TO BE ON GOD’S SIDE. THOSE WHO ACTUALLY SIDE WITH GOD’S WORD ARE NOW CLAIMED TO BE AGAINST GOD. BUT IT ISN’T JUST A GENERAL MORALITY THAT IS CLAIMED FOR THESE CHOICES — IT IS THE SPECIFIC CLAIM OF LOVE. According to the moral climate of the age: To say that a person’s sexual orientation is sinful or abnormal is UNLOVING. To say that people of the same sex shouldn’t be able to marry is UNLOVING. To refuse to treat such behaviors as normal and acceptable — in the realm of a family, for example — is said to be UNLOVING. This is a tremendous crisis in our time. IT DEMONSTRATES HOW THE MEANING OF LOVE, THE MEASURE OF LOVE, AND THE IDENTIFICATION OF WHAT IS LOVELY — HAS BEEN DISTORTED. The quality of love that we consider tonight IS A GREAT REMEDY if we are willing to listen. What we see here challenges common lies and deceptions that exist in the MORAL REALM, the RELATIONAL REALM, the DOCTRINAL REALM, and the REALM OF MINISTRY. What do we see here? We will consider these two statements under THREE headings. I. LOVE’S DISCERNMENT These two statements are to be taken together. Each statement is true on its own, but when taken together we see the fulness of what is being described. What is being described is that fact that LOVE MAKES A CHOICE. Love does not exist in the gray zone of neutrality. LOVE IS NOT ACCEPTING OF EVERYTHING. On one side of the ledger, we are told what is incompatible with love. What love DOES NOT ACCORD WITH what it CANNOT COOPERATE WITH, and what it will not REJOICE IN. On the other side of the ledger, we are told what LOVE AGREES WITH — what it TAKES JOY IN. This means that LOVE MAKES DISTINCTIONS. And it makes distinctions that require discernment. A. LOVE RECOGNIZES UNRIGHTEOUSNESS For true love, godly love, there is such a thing as sin. THE WORD HERE SPEAKS OF INJUSTICE, INIQUITY, WRONGDOING, EVIL, AND UNRIGHTEOUSNESS. That is, anything that is contrary to the will of God in belief or practice. Anything contrary to God’s will, anything that would grieve the Holy Spirit, anything contrary to the Scriptures, is unrighteousness. 1. UNRIGHTEOUSNESS IN THE REALM OF PHILOSOPHY The general way that men process the world. The realm of ideas, opinions, ambitions, standards, values, pleasures, theories, morals, etc. WHAT CHARACTERIZES SIN IN THIS REALM IS THAT IT IS A TRUTH SUPRESSOR. What is true, according to Scripture, is exchanged for lies. What would make God truly known is substituted for with lies about God.
Love Is Not Resentful
November 10, 2024 • Richard Caldwell Jr. • 1 Corinthians 13:5
Introduction: We never leave the gospel behind. Our life in Christ began with faith in the gospel, but our spiritual growth continues to be reliant on faith in the gospel. Sanctification is not moving BEYOND the gospel. Sanctification is living OUT OF THE DEPTHS of the gospel. Progressive sanctification is about know the heights and the depths and the lengths and the breadths of the love of God in Christ Jesus. ESV Ephesians 3:14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith-- that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. What is love? 1. It is patient. 2. It is kind. 3. It does not envy 4. It does not boast 5. It is not arrogant 6. It is not rude 7. It does not insist on its own way (it is not selfish) 8. It is not irritable Tonight, we see that LOVE IS NOT RESENTFUL. I. THE MEANING OF RESENTMENT It is literally, “does not take account of evil.” He uses logizomai (which means to account something, to reckon something) and kakos (which means evil). The NASB has “does not take into account a wrong suffered.” The NIV rendered it, “it keeps no record of wrongs.” Gordon Fee, commenting on this, said: “Since in Paul this verb often means ‘to put to one’s account’, it seems probable that the nuance suggested by the NIV moves in the right direction.” The idea, then, is that when we are walking in the love of God, in the love taught by the Spirit of God, in the love of Jesus Christ, we will not be a people who take account of the wrongs done to us. Several things we need to consider here. A. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WRONGS We are talking about REAL EVIL. We are talking about things done to us that REALLY ARE WRONG. It would be one thing if what we were being taught is that we should let go of, forgive, IMAGINED WRONGS — if he was teaching that the love of God doesn’t carry a chip around on its shoulder over insignificant things. AND WE KNOW THAT WE CAN DO THAT. People carry around hurt feelings, grudges, that don’t even represent REALITY. There are people who are DECEIVED about their mistreatment. IN FACT, PEOPLE CAN BE SO DECEIVED ABOUT INJURIES THAT THE VICTIMIZER FEELS LIKE THE VICTIM. The one who feels like they have been wronged is IN THE WRONG. Example: There have been people fired from their job, who will tell everyone what a bad employer they had, when in truth they were a bad employee who deserved to be fired. I have personally known people who left their families, left their wife or husband, walked away from their children, and had built up in their mind that they WERE JUSTIFIED because somehow, they had been mistreated. But this verse isn’t calling us to simply clear the record of IMAGINARY HURTS. This verse tells us that the love of God doesn’t keep a record even when we have suffered REAL WRONGS. You really ARE mistreated. You really DO suffer wrong. You really ARE the victim of mistreatment. B. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT NO RECORDS He is telling us that where love is operating there is no record keeping of these real wrongs. Question: Are you a record keeper? Do you hold onto hurts? Do you hold grudges? Are you someone who says, “I can forgive, but I can’t forget” … which is just another way of saying, “I refuse to clear my record against you.”?
Love Is Not Provoked
November 3, 2024 • Richard Caldwell Jr. • 1 Corinthians 13:5
Introduction: One of the things that the late Martin Lloyd-Jones would warn about in his preaching was our tendency to read the Scriptures and miss their challenge. He talked about our tendency to assume that we have already experienced what they call for, or what they describe. So that, instead of being called to higher ground. Instead of being challenged to a real surrender of ourselves to the Lordship of Christ. Instead of recognizing our need to live and experience something only made possible by the new birth — only made possible by the indwelling Spirit — we SETTLE for what is natural. We settle for what we can produce. WE SUBSTITUTE what is OUR OWN BEST effort, instead of that which God produces. The quality of love that we consider tonight represents more than just self-control. It is more than self-mastery, self-discipline. It is an internal mildness that belongs to Christlikeness. IT IS A MILDNESS (patience and graciousness) THAT BELONGS TO A RECIPIENT OF THE LOVE AND GRACE OF GOD — A MILDNESS THAT MANIFESTS ITSELF IN HUMBLE AND PATIENT RESPONSES. It is the graciousness of love. It is the pliability that belongs to love. It is an aspect of the inner PEACE that knows the love of God. IT IS A RESPONSE THAT CAN ONLY BE FOUND WHERE PEOPLE DON’T MAKE TOO MUCH OF THEMSELVES. God’s love — true love — is not easily provoked. I. LOVE IS NOT IRRITABLE That statement is simple and straightforward, but we do well to meditate on it for a while, and honestly examine ourselves in light of it. I WOULD REMIND US THAT WHAT WE ARE REALLY EXAMINING IS WHETHER WE ARE WALKING IN LOVE. WHEN WE REMEMBER THAT LOVE IS THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT, THEN WE ARE EXAMINING WHETHER WE ARE WALKING BY THE SPIRIT. WHEN WE REMEMBER THAT WALKING BY THE SPIRIT IS A LIFE OF SUBMISSION TO THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST, AND SUBMISSION TO THE WORD OF GOD, THEN WE ARE EXAMINING WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE MORTIFYING SIN AND HONORING JESUS AS LORD AT THE LEVEL OF OUR ATTITUDES AND RESPONSES TO PEOPLE AND CIRCUMSTANCES. The word itself means: BDAG — παροξύνω “to cause a state of inward arousal, urge on, stimulate, esp. provoke to wrath, irritate”#_ftn1 In the word is the idea of “sharpness — to sharpen.” Here it is in the passive voice, so it means to be irritated, to become provoked or indignant. It is used one other place in the NT, in Acts 17:16. ESV Acts 17:16 Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. As always, context is king. That verse (Acts 17:16) demonstrates that this word could be used in a positive way. It was Paul’s zeal for God’s glory, and his compassion for deceived souls, that moved him when he saw Athens full of idols. INDEED, SOMETHING IS WRONG WHEN WE ARE NOT PROVOKED BY THINGS THAT SHOULD MAKE US ANGRY. So, the teaching in our verses is NOT that true love is never bothered BY ANYTHING. But in 1 Corinthians 13 it is obviously being used in a different sense. I THINK IT IS INSTRUCTIVE THAT IT FOLLOWS IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE TEACHING THAT LOVE IS NOT SELFISH. HERE, PAUL IS DESCRIBING A KIND OF PROVOCATION, ANGER, SHARPNESS, IRRITABILITY, THAT IS SELF-SEEKING, OR SELF-INTERESTED — SELF-FOCUSED. This kind of agitation, irritability, anger, sharpness, comes because I feel you are infringing upon me. Or you are not being to me (in one or another) what I expect and deserve. Whatever the cause, in this kind of sharpness I am more concerned about myself than I am you. ONE TRANSLATION HAS “IT IS NOT EASILY ANGERED.” NET 1 Corinthians 13:5 It is not rude, it is not self-serving, it is not easily angered or resentful. #_ftnref1 William Arndt et al., https://ref.ly/logosres/bdag?ref=page.p+780&off=1811&ctx=%3b+mel.%2c+p.+93%2c+699)+~to+cause+a+state+of+ (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 780.
Love Is Not Selfish
October 27, 2024 • Richard Caldwell Jr. • 1 Corinthians 13:4–5
Introduction: What is love? The true definition of love is the definition that God has given us in His Word. That is what God is doing here in 1 Corinthians 13. He is telling us what love is by telling us what love does and doesn’t do. Love is not simply words. Love is not simply a feeling. Love is a choice, and love’s true choices are the choices that please God. We have seen several descriptions of love already. *Love is patient *Love is kind *Love is not jealous *Love does not brag *Love is not arrogant *Love is not rude Tonight, we focus on the fact that God’s love, true love, IS NOT SELFISH. I. LOVE DOES NOT SEEK ITS OWN INTERESTS (vs.5b) Woodenly translated you could say that “love does not seek the things of itself.” The ESV has does not insist on its own way.” The NAS has “does not seek its own.” I think a faithful way to describe it is to say that LOVE IS NOT SELFISH. One source has it, “one’s own advantage.” LOVE IS NOT SELFISH — IT IS NOT SELF-SEEKING. One of the great ironies of our time, and one of the clearest indicators of the blindness of lost humanity, is that we have lived our lives in an era that has preached the message of SELF-LOVE. “YOU MUST LEARN TO LOVE YOURSELF” is the message. It has been a very popular message, that has even made its way into the church by the church’s fascination with psychology. THE IDEA IS THAT YOU CAN’T REALLY LOVE OTHERS UNTIL YOU LEARN TO LOVE YOURSELF. And so, the teaching was that we need a positive self-image, a positive self-esteem. We cannot love others (in a marriage for example) unless we KNOW OURSELVES, and LIKE OURSELVES, and PURSUE A KIND OF FULFILLMENT discovered through INDEPENDENCE. We must FULFILL ourselves. There be no teaching that so turns the truth upside as that one. What the Bible always assumes about sinful man is that HE DOES love himself. He is an INCURABLE SELF-LOVER. And the Bible does not view that as a positive thing. ESV 2 Timothy 3:1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, Nowhere does God command us to LOVE OURSELVES — but He CLEARLY COMMANDS US to love Him supremely and to love our neighbor as ourselves. In fact, God tells us that all His commands are summed up in the command to love God with all our being and to love others as we love ourselves. SATAN’S LIE IS THAT MEN WILL FIND HAPPINESS AND MEANING THROUGH SATISFYING OUR SELFISH HEARTS. Is anyone listening to me who has bought that lie? Is there anyone who imagines that if you just GET YOUR WAY, if you can just pursue what you have always wanted to pursue, achieve what you have always wanted to achieve, enjoy what you have always wanted to enjoy, that THEN YOU WILL BE A SATISFIED PERSON? THE WHOLE WORLD TESTIFIES THAT SUCH A HOPE IS A VAIN HOPE. THE MORE SELFISH A PERSON BECOMES THE MORE MISERABLE A PERSON BECOMES. ESV Ecclesiastes 2:1 I said in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself." But behold, this also was vanity. 2 I said of laughter, "It is mad," and of pleasure, "What use is it?" 3 I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine-- my heart still guiding me with wisdom-- and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the children of man to do under heaven during the few days of their life. 4 I made great works. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. 5 I made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. 6 I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees. 7 I bought male and female slaves, and had slaves who were born in my house. I had also great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem. 8 I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I got singers, both men and women, and many concubines, the delight of the sons of man. 9 So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me. 10 And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. 11 Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.
The Qualities of Love Part 2
October 20, 2024 • Richard Caldwell Jr. • 1 Corinthians 13:4–5
Introduction: There is a quality that runs through every answer given to any problem the people of God are experiencing. Whatever the problem is, you can be sure that what I’m about to mention is necessary to the solution. THAT QUALITY IS LOVE. Not just any kind of love — THE LOVE OF GOD. And not just the love of God in name. THIS IS ONE OF THE GREAT PROBLEMS THAT WE FACE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT LOVE. More people talk about love than rightly understand it. More people talk about love than consistently define it properly. More people talk about love than REQUIRE OF THEMSELVES. The requirement necessary to honor God in any challenge is love rightly defined, consistently chosen, and faithfully practiced. Love that is only known in Christ. ESV Ephesians 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Love that is poured out in a human life by the Holy Spirit. ESV Romans 5:5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Love that we GROW in. ESV Philippians 1:9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, Love that is the fruit of God’s own work in a soul. ESV Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, And so, for the next two Sunday evenings, I want us to focus on THE PRACTICE OF LOVE. Overview: The context for our verses is a large section that deals with the subject of love. The larger section deals with: *The priority of love (vs.1-3) *The permanence of love (vs.8b-13) Sandwiched between the two – Paul describes THE PRACTICE OF LOVE What is interesting is that his description of its practice serves to DEFINE IT. When you take note of what it does, and you take note of what it does not do — if you will be honest with yourself — you come away with a convicting sense of its supernatural nature. *Love is powerful *Love brings change *Love is a great testimony to the reality of the living God IT IS SUPERNATURAL. IT IS ONLY POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF SALVATION. The goal of this section is not just INFORMATION, or EXAMINATION. The goal of this section is TRANSFORMATION. Paul describes 16 Qualities that you find in God’s love: 1. Love is patient 2. Love is kind 3. Love is not jealous 4. Love does not brag 5. Love is not arrogant 6. Love is not rude 7. Love does not insist on its own way 8. Love is not irritable 9. Love is not resentful 10. Love does not rejoice in wrongdoing 11. Love rejoices with the truth 12. Love bears all things 13. Love believes all things 14. Love hopes all things 15. Love endures all things 16. Love never ends
The Qualities of Love” Part 1
October 13, 2024 • Richard Caldwell Jr. • 1 Corinthians 13:4–8
Introduction: There is a quality that runs through every answer given to any problem the people of God are experiencing. Whatever the problem is, you can be sure that what I’m about to mention is necessary to the solution. THAT QUALITY IS LOVE. Not just any kind of love — THE LOVE OF GOD. And not just the love of God in name. THIS IS ONE OF THE GREAT PROBLEMS THAT WE FACE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT LOVE. More people talk about love than rightly understand it. More people talk about love than consistently define it properly. More people talk about love than REQUIRE OF THEMSELVES. The requirement necessary to honor God in any challenge is love rightly defined, consistently chosen, and faithfully practiced. Love that is only known in Christ. ESV Ephesians 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Love that is poured out in a human life by the Holy Spirit. ESV Romans 5:5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Love that we GROW in. ESV Philippians 1:9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, Love that is the fruit of God’s own work in a soul. ESV Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, And so, for the next two Sunday evenings, I want us to focus on THE PRACTICE OF LOVE. Overview: The context for our verses is a large section that deals with the subject of love. The larger section deals with: *The priority of love (vs.1-3) *The permanence of love (vs.8b-13) Sandwiched between the two – Paul describes THE PRACTICE OF LOVE What is interesting is that his description of its practice serves to DEFINE IT. When you take note of what it does, and you take note of what it does not do — if you will be honest with yourself — you come away with a convicting sense of its supernatural nature. *Love is powerful *Love brings change *Love is a great testimony to the reality of the living God IT IS SUPERNATURAL. IT IS ONLY POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF SALVATION. The goal of this section is not just INFORMATION, or EXAMINATION. The goal of this section is TRANSFORMATION. Paul describes 16 Qualities that you find in God’s love: 1. Love is patient 2. Love is kind 3. Love is not jealous 4. Love does not brag 5. Love is not arrogant 6. Love is not rude 7. Love does not insist on its own way 8. Love is not irritable 9. Love is not resentful 10. Love does not rejoice in wrongdoing 11. Love rejoices with the truth 12. Love bears all things 13. Love believes all things 14. Love hopes all things 15. Love endures all things 16. Love never ends
The Lord’s Church - It’s Importance Part 2
September 1, 2024 • Richard Caldwell Jr. • 1 Timothy 3:14–15
Introduction: The importance of the church is on display in Paul’s life and ministry. We saw it in Paul’s passion for the church. We saw it in Paul’s patience with the church. We saw it in the urgency and authority of the message committed to the Lord’s church. We saw it in the detailed instructions given to the Lord’s church. We saw it in the problems faced by the Lord’s church. BUT NOW WE SEE IT IN YET ANOTHER WAY. The importance of the church is seen in its GOD-GIVEN IDENTITY. What is the church? How are we to understand ourselves? Why are we here and what are we to be about? I. THE CHURCH IS THE HOUSEHOLD OF GOD (The church considered as a family) When the church is described as a household — the FAMILY OF GOD — it communicates several truths. This speaks of HONOR — His name is upon us. This speaks of AMBITION — We desire to please our Father. This speaks of UNION — We belong to a family so that we have been brought into a union with our God in Christ and are members of each other (brothers and sisters). This speaks of AUTHORITY — We are under His headship — His rule (Christ is the head of His church). This speaks of NEW BIRTH — We are God’s by means of adoption, but also by means of new nature. There are two families in the earth. Those who have God as their Father, and those who are of their father the devil. This speaks of RESPONSIBILITY — We have care for each other that has been assigned to us. ESV 1 Corinthians 5:11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler-- not even to eat with such a one. 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 13 God judges those outside. "Purge the evil person from among you." II. THE CHURCH IS THE ASSEMBLY OF THE LIVING GOD (The church considered as an assembly) ἐκκλησία ekklesia Meaning: an assembly, a (religious) congregation We are not just God’s family, we are, at the same time, His assembly. A. THIS SPEAKS OF ORGANIZATION As we said earlier, there is a proper way to conduct ourselves in the Lord’s church. There is a leadership structure. There is an organization God has set forth. ESV 1 Corinthians 14:37 If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord. 38 If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized. 39 So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. ESV 1 Corinthians 12:28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. So, the church is the family of God, organized in accordance with the Word of God, for the purpose of carrying out the ministry of the local church that has been assigned by God. B. THIS SPEAKS OF REPRESENTATION The church of the LIVING (the God who really exists) God. In a sea of paganism and multiplied false gods, the church belongs to the true and living God. This is a test of a healthy church — do they represent God in the FULLNESS of His character? Do they preach the whole counsel of God about EVERYTHING, including what God has revealed about His own NATURE and ATTRIBUTES? C. THIS SPEAKS OF PROTECTION The church is cared for by its OWNER. ESV Matthew 16:18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
The Lord’s Church - It’s Importance Part 1
September 1, 2024 • Richard Caldwell Jr. • 1 Timothy 3:14–15
Introduction: To love the Lord Jesus is love what He loves. It is to be devoted to all that He would have us be devoted to. And if you love what Jesus loves, then you must love the local church. If you are devoted to what He would have you be devoted to, then you must be devoted to the local church. He loved the church and gave Himself for her, and He has promised to build His church, and He has, and He is. But we are living in times when there is a gross misunderstanding of the local church. We don’t know who we are, and we don’t know why we are here. And what is sad and amazing about that is that God has given us His Word for the very purpose that we would never find ourselves in that position. As the title of one book about elders reads, “When all else fails, read the directions.” Well, here in the word of God, and specifically, in the Pastoral Epistles, we have the directions. What do they teach us? I. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CHURCH This is perhaps the first thing that we have forgotten, just how important the Lord’s church is. There is error on both ends of the spectrum when it comes to this issue. **There are those who treat the church as if it isn’t important to God, or to genuine Christianity. -Some place the church on the same level with any Christian teaching organization. -Some place the church on the same level with Christian television or radio -Some see the church as a tragic failure and abandon it altogether -Some give the church their time and their attendance as it fits into their schedule *If it doesn’t interfere with their work, or their pleasures *If it gives them what they want *If it can be fit into their retirement plans and travel plans **There are others who treat the church as important, but they don’t really understand why it is important. They see the church not through the eyes of the New Testament, but through the eyes of their own ideas. They see the church as important, but not for the reasons that they should and what they really desire is not at all what the Lord intended His church to be. Indeed, it is a sad reality that with many professing Christians the more the church becomes what it was intended to be, the less they desire it. A. SEEN IN PAUL’S PASSION FOR THE CHURCH 1. RECENTLY RELEASED FROM ROMAN IMPRISONMENT 2. VISITING CITIES WHERE HE HAD MINISTERED, LEAVING TIMOTHY IN EPHESUS TO SET CERTAIN THINGS IN ORDER 3. HOPING TO COME TO THEM PERSONALLY IN A SHORT TIME 4. GIVING THEM CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS UNTIL HE CAN BE PRESENT Why did Paul have such a passion for these assemblies? HE CARRIED THESE CHURCHES IN HIS HEART. ESV 2 Corinthians 11:23 Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one-- I am talking like a madman-- with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. 24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. BECAUSE OF HIS LORD’S LOVE FOR THE CHURCHES ESV Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, To love the Lord Jesus is to love what He loves.
A Sure & Steadfast Hope
July 14, 2024 • Richard Caldwell Jr. • Lamentations 3:19–24
Introduction: The sorrow expressed in the book of Lamentations is something foreign to us. There are different kinds of sorrow. In some respects, a broken heart is a broken heart, but there are some things that will be unique to each one of us in our particular sorrow. There are tears that we will shed, at some point in our life, that no one but our Great High Priest will ever be able to fully understand. We do our best to comfort one another in the love of Christ, but we sense, even as we desire to be ministers of mercy, our great limitations. We sense our own limitations in trying to help those who are hurting, and we sense the limitations of others when WE are hurting. And when you have tried to pour your heart to another human being who hasn’t faced your particular trial, you can appreciate their love toward you, but there is also a loneliness felt in knowing that they really don’t completely understand. What the prophet Jeremiah describes in this book, we read, and we benefit from, but in a sense, we can only sit in silence and listen as he tells us what he feels, and as he tells us what he has seen. For we have never seen anything like what he saw. For over 40 years this prophet gave to his people the warnings from God. He told them that destruction was coming. They despised him for it. They mocked him, they persecuted him, and they rejected him. But what he was given to proclaim — arrived. Everything that God said, through the prophet Jeremiah, one day came. And what came was horrific. Jeremiah writes this sometime between the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C., and when he was forced to depart to Egypt in 583 B.C. (Jeremiah 43:1-7) Throughout the book he tells us of his sorrow in 5 poems. You get a taste of the entire book and a context for our verses by paying attention to his 3rd lament which is found here in this 3rd chapter. In chapter 3 he is the afflicted man. He is telling us of his overwhelming grief. *He is in absolute darkness with the hand of God turned against him again and again all day long. (vs.1-3) *His flesh and skin waste away, and God has broken his bones, and enveloped him with bitterness and tribulation and made him to dwell in darkness like the dead. (vs.4-6) *He is a man who is walled in without escape, and his chains are heavy. He calls and cries out for help but God shuts out his prayers and his ways are blocked, and his paths are crooked. (vs.7-9) *His despair makes him feel like God has become like his enemy. Like a bear that has ripped him to pieces, or a lion. He has been reduced to desolation. He is the target for the bow and the arrows of God and the arrows have gone right to his innermost parts. (vs.10-13) *He is a laughingstock. He is taunted. (vs.14) *His life feels like nothing but unending bitterness and misery (vs.15-16) *He is so sorrowful that he can find no peace, and he can’t remember goodness, he has forgotten what happiness is. (vs.17) *His mindset is that he cannot endure anymore and he has no hope. All he can think about and remember are his afflictions. (vs.18) And before you think Jeremiah to be a bit dramatic, realize what he has seen. His people, God’s people, have been conquered by Babylon. The city walls are broken down. The walls, the towers, the homes, the palace, and the temple have all been destroyed. It was in mid-July when the city fell and it was in mid-August when the temple was burned. (MacArthur Commentary – 883) It is the HEAT OF THE YEAR time in Jerusalem. So conditions would have been miserable. The enemies of God have triumphed, and they are gloating. The children of Zion are treated like trash. Many, many have been slain by the sword, and in fact their bodies lie in the dust. Many have been carried away captive, and those who live and remain are in misery.
Our New Mind In Christ
June 9, 2024 • Richard Caldwell Jr. • Philippians 1:9–10
Introduction: The year is approximately 60 AD. It has only been roughly 30 years since the ascension of Christ. Paul is under Roman imprisonment. It was his first Roman imprisonment. He will eventually be released and carry on more missionary work, and eventually be rearrested and then executed. But during this imprisonment, he is allowed visitors. And the Philippian church has sent a man, who may well have been their pastor, Epaphroditus, to bring support to Paul and to offer to him their love and encouragement, and to make his imprisonment more tolerable. This is not the first time that this church has supported Paul. In fact, on at least three other occasions they have supported him. ESV Philippians 4:15 And you Philippians yourselves know that ain the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, bno church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. 16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. 17 aNot that I seek the gift, but I seek bthe fruit that increases to your credit.1 18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, ahaving received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, ba fragrant offering, ca sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. (Phi 4:15 ESV) ESV 2 Corinthians 11:9 And when I was with you and was ain need, bI did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia csupplied my need. So I refrained and will refrain dfrom burdening you in any way. This church is unlike the Corinthian church. It is not a church that is problem free, no church like that exists. But it is a healthy church and without any major doctrinal issues, or any major behavioral issues. About the most we see here are a couple of women who are at odds with one another (4:1-2), and a warning to the church about Judaizers (ch.3). In both cases it doesn’t seem to be something major, but in the first case, something easily corrected, and in the 2nd case, something they were simply to be on the lookout for. What Paul writes in this letter is warm, encouraging, and it is celebratory. He celebrates what the Lord has done and is doing in them, and he takes joy in the love that he has for them and that they have for him. He and Timothy are familiar to them because they were used by God to bring this church into existence. It was on Paul’s second missionary journey that Timothy joined Paul, Philippi was visited, and people were converted. It was at Philippi that Lydia and her family came to Christ. It was at Philippi that a jailor and his household were converted. It was at Philippi that a demon possessed girl was delivered. You can read about all of this in Acts 16. So, this is a special church to Paul and Paul is dear to them (4:15). NOTE: I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THE WELLBEING OF THIS CHURCH BECAUSE IT IS A REMINDER TO US THAT THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS BOOK IS NOT EXPLAINED BY THE NEED TO ADDRESS A CRISIS. This is not something extraordinary for a church facing some immediate danger. THIS IS INSTRUCTION FOR ORDINARY CHRISTIANITY IN AN ALWAYS CHALLENGING WORLD. These are truths we need to hear REGARDLESS of our circumstances. These are truths we need to hear WHEN WE ARE DOING WELL. *THIS LETTER HAS A FEW NOTABLE THEMES AND AN INTERESTING ORGANIZATION. *There is an emphasis on Joy *There is an emphasis on fellowship. *There is an emphasis on practical Christian living – how to LIVE the Christian life. *But what we are especially focused on this weekend is that there is an emphasis on the mind – how the believer is to think. IN TERMS OF ORGANIZATION – I THINK J. SIDLOW BAXTER WAS ON TO SOMETHING WHEN HE ORGANIZED HIS STUDY AROUND WHAT CHRIST IS TO THE BELIEVER. CHAPTER ONE – CHRIST IS THE BELIEVER’S LIFE ESV Philippians 1:21 For to me ato live is Christ, and to die is gain. (Phi 1:21 ESV) CHAPTER TWO – CHRIST IS THE BELIEVER’S MIND ESV Philippians 2:5 aHave this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,1 (Phi 2:5 ESV) CHAPTER THREE – CHRIST IS THE BELIEVER’S AMBITION OR GOAL ESV Philippians 3:8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of athe surpassing worth of bknowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I chave suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ (Phi 3:8 ESV) CHAPTER FOUR – CHRIST IS THE BELIEVER’S STRENGTH ESV Philippians 4:13 I can do all things athrough him who strengthens me. (Phi 4:13 ESV) But what we are focusing on this weekend is a theme that is on display through every chapter and every truth and that is the mind of the believer.