Community Compass

This will make your blood boil.  (article)

1.    My first job was working in an Orange Juice factory, but I got canned… I couldn’t concentrate.

2.    Then I worked in the woods as a Lumberjack, but I just couldn’t hack it, so they gave me the axe.

3.    After that, I tried to be a Tailor, but I just wasn’t suited for it – mainly because it was a sew-sew job.

4.    Next, I tried working in a Muffler Factory, but that was too exhausting.

5.    Then, I tried to be a Chef – figured it would add a little spice to my life, but I just  didn’t have the thyme.

 6.    My best job was a Musician, but eventually I found I wasn’t noteworthy.

 7.    I studied a long time to become a Doctor, but I didn’t have any patience.

 8.    I became a Professional Fisherman, but discovered that I couldn’t live on my net income.

 9.    I managed to get a good job working for a Pool Maintenance Company, but the work was just too draining.

 10.   After many years of trying to find steady work, I finally got a job as a Historian – until I realized there was no future in it.

11.  My last job was working in Starbucks, but I eventually quit because it was always the same old grind.

12.  So, I tried Retirement and, you know what? I’M PERFECT FOR THE JOB.

Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Philippians 1:12-13

Paul could have easily been discouraged because he was writing from a prison cell. Yet he viewed the series of life’s troubling events as a blessing rather than a burden. How could he do this? Remember that Paul, through the Holy Spirit, wrote verses nine and ten of this chapter. These verses clearly state that true love is based upon biblical knowledge and discernment.

True biblical love can see “excellence” even in the most troubling places. That’s what Paul saw. Instead of feeling sorry for himself for being in prison, he made the best use of his time by telling others about Christ’s love. Prisons, in those days, were not the relatively comfortable places we have today. No doubt it would be easy to think that being cooped up in a prison would limit the ability of Paul to spread the good news. Yet Paul saw the needs around him. The gospel to the Jews was also the gospel to the gentiles. In fact Paul mentioned that the word was getting out throughout even Caesar’s Palace (not in Los Vegas). No doubt, the guards who attended Paul spread spread the word of Paul’s message of hope throughout the palace and throughout Rome The seat of paganism and debauchery was being inundated with the message of salvation. That is the power of the gospel.

I wonder how most of us would have interpreted our circumstances if we were in Paul’s place? Would we have moaned over not being able to get out and evangelize while we missed the opportunities around us? Would we have complained that we didn’t deserve such treatment? Would we have been absorbed with our self-pity while ignoring the needs around us? Maybe. I hope not.

Maybe we do that on a day-to-day basis. We don’t like our circumstances so we complain. We have the “if only I were…” (richer, smarter, somewhere else, etc. ad nauseum). Mature biblical love will recognize that God has not left us, that circumstances we encounter are, at least, allowed by God into our lives for His Glory (1:12) and that, given our obedience to His will, we will stand before him with Joy (1:11). There is a spiritual dimension of life that we can see. There are priorities in life that we must make in light of spiritual reality. For Paul, it was choosing to preach the gospel even if it meant prison. It was rejoicing rather than moaning. It was proclaiming the truth rather than wallowing in despair. And his decisions made an eternal impact on others. His prison became a pulpit.

Vacationing in Alaska, I couldn’t help but notice all the warnings about bears posted in campgrounds, visitors’ centers and rest areas advising people not to feed the bears, how to avoid bears, what to do if a bear sees you, what to do if a bear attacks, and so on.

My favorite, however, was a hand-lettered sign on the door of a small gas station in a remote area. It said: “Warning! If you are being chased by a bear, don’t come in here!”

Following an especially angry argument, Mr. and Mrs. Smith went to bed not speaking to each other. Needing to arise early the following morning, Mr Smith left a note on his wife’s bedside table that said “Wake me at six.”

An exasperated Mr. Smith awoke at ten the following morning and rolled stiffly out of bed to see a note on his bedside table:

“It’s six! Get out of bed!”

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, Philippians 1:9-10

When Christians mature with a love that increases and overflows in biblical experience and discernment, they will be able to recognize and prioritize the things that are most important. The word “discern” in verse 10 is a word that carries of “approval after a test.” It is something that has been tested and found to be genuine. In other Greek texts it is used “for the testing of gold to determine its purity, of testing money to be sure it wasn’t counterfeit and for trying oxen to assess their usefulness for the task at hand.” (see article)

“Paul was not referring merely to the ability to distinguish between good and evil. Most everyone is able to do that. Paul was concerned about distinguishing between better and best–a capability only a few seem to have. That kind of discernment enables a person to focus his or her time and energy on what really counts. It’s what separates the simple from the profound, the weak from the powerful, and the common from the exceptional.” (see article)

Do you want to determine best priorities for you and other believers? Then learn what biblical love is all about. Selfishness is the opposite of love. As we selflessly live for God each day and as we love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-40), our everyday thoughts and actions will reflect the most important things.

Once we’ve lived a life of godly love, we will be able to stand before the Lord and hear “Well done, good and faithful servant.” What will it be? A life of love or a life of selfishness?

7. His first words to the congregation on Sunday morning are “All right, listen up you heathens…”

6. He falls asleep during his own sermon.

5. He shows up for Sunday service wearing Bermuda Shorts and a Tank Top.

4. Every time his pager goes off, he shouts, “Why can’t they just leave me alone?!”

3. Announces baptismal services will be at the Grand Canyon.

2. You go to his office for counseling and pour your heart out to him and he says, “Sounds like a personal problem to me.”

AND THE NUMBER ONE SIGN YOUR PASTOR NEEDS A VACATION

1. For the past two months he has preached the same sermon every Sunday.

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight   Philippians 1:9

The church at Philippi was a great blessing to the Apostle Paul. He had a great love for them and desired to be with them (Phil 1:8). They supported Paul throughout his ministry and helped him out when he was in prison (Phil 4:10-19). But… it was not a perfect church. There were some problems. It was Paul’s prayer that the love of these believers would grow and show itself in godly maturity. Love, by its very nature is others oriented and, guided by godly principles, it can grow greatly and flourish through…

1. Knowledge – This is a full, true knowledge. It is more or less an experiential knowledge. Believers must base their love for each other on a practical understanding and application of God’s Word.

The full knowledge which these Philippians needed to gain by experience was a better understanding of God’s Word as translated into their experience, and a clearer vision of the Lord Jesus in all the beauty and fragrance of His Person. A Christian can have an “understanding” knowledge of the Word, that is, be able to explain its meaning to others, without having an experiential knowledge of the same. But when that Christian has put the Word of God into practice in his life, then he has what Paul is talking about here. Kenneth Wuest (see full exposition)

 Put biblical love to work in your relationships!  It takes more than just knowing the Bible intellectually.  Doing God’s will is when we learn.  Find out what the Bible says about biblical love and then put it to work (see Phil 2:1-11).  Put the principles to work in an everyday setting!

 2.  Discernment  -  How do you perceive certain people or relationships?  Have you ever gotten into trouble because you had the wrong friends?   Spiritual discernment (perception) comes from knowing what God says about things and then being able to see the principles as they are applied to life.

How do you treat others?  Are you treating others as God would have you to treat them? Even the great church in Philippi needed some relational attention (Phil 2:1-3; 4:2-3).  We need biblical perception to judge our own actions as well as those of others. When we follow the Lord’s way,  relationships flourish.

What about the choice of our friends?  As a father,  I have a definite say as to the friends my children have. If I think that there is an unhealthy or unwholesome situation, I will definitely let my children know my feelings and expect them to act accordingly.  The same is true of our heavenly Father.  We must discern what He wants and adjust accordingly.  To do that, we should spend time with Him in prayer and in the Word. We should rely upon His Spirit to guide us into the relationships that He would have for us.

How’s your “love life?”  Have you taken a good look at how you treat people?  Have made inventory of the type of friends you keep?  Let your love be practically (really!) guided by biblical  love and discernment.

Smith goes to see his supervisor. “Boss,” he says, “we’re doing some heavy house-cleaning at home tomorrow, and my wife needs me to help with the attic and the garage, moving and hauling stuff.”

“We’re short-handed, Smith,” the boss says. “I can’t give you the day off.”

“Thanks, boss,” says Smith. “I knew I could count on you!”

7. It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.  Philippians 1:7-8

It takes a lot for an NFL team to win the Super Bowl.  When the final second ticks off the game clock, not only the eleven guys on the field cheer, but a whole army of coaches, trainers, office people and administrators cheer wildly.  Why? It takes hundreds of people to get the team to the point of winning the big game.

We often don’t think about the people who surrounded the great Apostle Paul. Paul did.  He acknowledged their faithful service and he was grateful for the unflagging support, even when he was in prison (7).   To him, their loyal support followed him into the synagogues and marketplaces as well as the deep dark prisons  (see Philippians 4:10-19).  It was the moments of darkness that Paul reflected upon their friendship and love.  Paul had a deep longing to be with them (8).

We don’t realize who we impact with our actions.  The Philippians were a great source of blessing and encouragement to the great apostle.  But Paul realized that it took a team effort. He couldn’t do it alone.   It’s still true today.  You may not think you are that much of Christian, but you do have influence. Whom are you influencing?  Are you an encourager to others?  Are you an encouragement to your local church?  What would Christ say?