Philippians Chapter 1 Verse 28

· “Not in any way terrified by your adversaries…” This word “terrified” is an interesting one in the Greek. It’s the same word used for, and literally is meaning, a horse getting spooked. Why do horses get spooked? Primarily because they are animals of prey. They don’t have claws, talons, sharp teeth, armor… And so even the smallest of things can spook them and there are even what’s called, “spooky horses,” or horses that spook easily or constantly! So why would Paul use this word?

· How does the Bible describe the people of God? Horses? Bears? Lions? Welp, unfortunately…, we are sheep. And sort of in the same boat as a horse when it comes to natural weaponry and defenses. Maybe even at a bit less of an advantage because a horse’s top defense is speed, a sheep’s top defense is, well, first the shepherd and second the flock and that’s about it. Now, a spooky horse is not “battle-ready.” Can’t take a horse that easily spooks and ride into a fight…

· A sheep that is able to stand against a wolf (how the Bible describes the carnal man) or a sheep that is able to stand against a lion roaming about seeking whom he may devour (how the Bible describes the enemy) and not be terrified…, what does that mean? See it now? It’s proof that there is more than meets the eye. That the realm of the Spirit, the Good Shepherd, is nearby… OR, or that the sheep make a formidable foe when they serve each other. In either circumstance, faith is activated and that defeats the confidence of the enemy…

· Paul says that to them it is “a proof of perdition.” When a Christian is strong, I’m not talking about belligerent, offensive, a jerk, cut-throat or cruel, that’s not strong at all…, but different…, calm, filled with grace, able to stand fast, not causing or stirring up more strife but at peace and emanating peace, that is strong…, when a Christian is strong and able to stand against intimidation, cruelty, abuse, offense…, the carnal man and the spiritual host are shown and somehow see that they are beaten and it’s a sign of their ultimate coming defeat. Proof of their perdition, that the strength they carry is cotton candy…

· And then we walk away or exit the moment and we’re like, “man! I can’t believe that was me!” And then you realize…, “wow, that wasn’t me at all!” So, to us it becomes PROOF of our salvation!

· Now you may say, “I’m not afraid.” Let’s talk about that for a moment… Because fear doesn’t always look like outward weakness. What does “terrified of your enemies” look like in a Christian life? Reactive reasoning and logic as opposed to contemplative, prayerful, seasoned and/or righteous reasoning. Strife at church. Stirring up division. Arguments in the home. Broken relationships. Sad spouses. Pitiful children. Broken careers. Compromised ministries and lost or lack of dreams and goals. The world looks at us and sees tragedy at the mercy of the flesh and it says, “Glad I’m not like them, glad I’m not a Christian…”

· But when we are standing fast, persistent, consistent, resilient and diligent and it lasts more than a week, a month, a year to the point where it’s obvious its not just genuine but even something beyond human ability (because that’s how God rewards faithfulness) then it causes them to question their own inconsistencies and what they are hoping in themselves!

· When we live a life in reaction to the things of the flesh, we inevitably and inadvertently harm our witness and ourselves! I was walking into work on a Thursday morning and I go in early and I park nearest to the door of my office. I walk past a field of sorts towards the entrance to the building and its always early so there are typically a bunch of bunnies. One this week freaks out scared that I’m getting closer to it and it takes off running, just reacting…, just doing something because it thinks its in danger! The stupid thing though ran right towards me! HA! I was like, “what are you doing?” And at the last minute it just darts another way! Don’t be a silly rabbit, church…, tricks are for children. And that is what division is, that’s what strife is…, it’s a reactionary result, of someone reacting in the flesh and it’s a trick of the enemy!

· Alright, last thought, and I love love love this one, taken from Guzik’s commentary with a bit of my own spin, “When we fail to be terrified in any way by our adversaries, they, whether spiritual or physical, have failed completely because there is really no other weapon than fear and intimidation!”

Philippians Chapter 1 Verses 29 - 30

· And here’s where the snowflakes melt, man. When serving the Lord and doing what is right to prop up the power of the Kingdom of God gets personally expensive… Let me let you in on a secret of life. Suffering brings joy. Without suffering there is no opportunity for joy to take root in a heart. It’s just the way it is…

· It’s odd I know. A weird thought I know but if you take the time to really chew this one over mentally, you’ll see it. Suffering and joy always hang out together. Without suffering, letting something personally cost you, there is no sense of accomplishment, satisfaction, achievement, worth… Check out Colossians 1:10-12, same concept that Paul is talking about here, “walking worthy of the Lord,” and he uses words like, “fruitful, good works, knowledge, strength, might, glorious power, thankfulness,” and right in the middle of all of those things we all want, “patience, longsuffering and joy.”

· Jesus would have had no joy over His entire creation or victory over the sin of the world lest it be for the cross. Hebrews 12:2 says, “Looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

· If you are unwilling to suffer for anything then nothing truly will be important to you. Why are so many depressed and discouraged and so very sad with really nothing to look forward to or celebrate internally? Because the spirit of entitlement and unalienable human rights is our way of life. When hard work, long suffering and personal discipline is the design within each one of us for not only satisfaction with life but with self.

· How do you pick your head up out of discouragement and find joy in each day? By being willing to be inconvenienced, and even willing to suffer for the cause of personal profit, purpose and power YESTERDAY!

· ANDPaul says it this way, for “His sake!” Its so easy to see in any life by your reactions, decisions, situations and mostly your citizenship…, your flavor and life conversation, what is most important to you… Your sake or His sake… And as long as it stays your sake, you’re going to be depressed, deflated, agitated in the spirit and at least partially incompetent in managing your own life…

· And finally…, the word used by Paul, specifically “granted”, Paul says the Christian, the Christian is at some sort of advantage here. Why? Because you have the Spirit of the King of kings in you… And through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, you have been granted not only eternal life but everlasting life…

· Those rivers are in you and they are in me and Paul puts on display and he’s trying so hard to explain to us and to give to us that those rivers don’t flow unless we are willing to put in some striving towards the Kingdom and some suffering towards righteousness! To flip a decision switch that Jesus’ sake promotes to most important in our lives, and oddly, other-worldly, that’s when we find and meet and achieve our God designed potential…