LETTER
FOR JUNE 1994
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Dear Friends,
This month I would like to share with you some thoughts that I shared briefly at the House Groups monthly joint fellowship meeting in May. They are based on the words of the Apostle Paul in Philippians 1:29 - "For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him".
This is something of a surprise because we don't think of the Christian life bringing suffering, but rather relief and blessing. It is much of the failure of modern Christian teaching that it fails to bring out this fact of suffering.
The blessings we receive in Christ are of eternal and glorious worth. We know eternal safety, and the love of Christ which passes knowledge. But we must realise that we live in a fallen and hostile world, and while we are pilgrims here in this life, we will find sufferings coming to us because we know Christ.
Very often the epistle of Paul to the Philippians is called the epistle of joy, because Paul speaks of joy and calls us to rejoice in the Lord. Actually the epistle is an epistle of suffering and Paul dealing with this suffering, and pointing us to where true joy is to be found.
Paul, throughout the letter, is reacting to suffering which he is experiencing. His teaching all springs from this experience. What he experienced we must expect to experience too. Let me try and show you this suffering Paul is dealing with.
Paul's suffering peeps out in his words about being torn between wanting to depart from this world to be with Jesus, and the need of the church that he should stay. (Phil. 1:22-23). Behind this conflict we can see a man who just longs to be at rest from all the trials he has been constantly living with in his calling and work as an apostle. His suffering is seen in the sacrifice he knows he has to make, which is to stay and minister God's love and word to the church of his day.
Paul experienced suffering because people were jealous of him and his role in the church, and wanted to put him down. They did not hold back from preaching and speaking in such a way as to cause trouble for Paul in prison, and denigrate him in the minds of other Christians. (Phil. 1:13-18). While being in prison for the faith, surely he could have expected support and not harm.
Paul was constantly finding, in all his work for Christ, opposition constantly directed against him and the Gospel. This peeps out in Phil. 1:27,28 where he talks of having to stand firm for the Gospel, and not being frightened. Satan always mobilises the fiercest opposition where the most faithful proclamation of the Gospel is made.
Then it is evident that Paul suffered from lack of love in the church members, shown in selfish ambition and conceit, and the complaining and arguing which resulted. He speaks out against this in Phil 2:3 and 14. Then in chapter 2:17 he mentions the sacrifice that is called for to renounce his own needs in order to love and give himself for others, loving them even when they are so difficult.
Then he reveals the severe suffering caused by the near fatal sickness of Epaphroditus. Here was someone who was a real friend and support. Yet he nearly lost him by death. If he had died it would have been a severe loss, when he felt he had so few real friends he could trust and rely on. He had to go through all the worry and anxiety of his sickness. Why does God bring such suffering to his people?
Then Paul wrestled with the problem of those who perverted the Gospel of grace, and the problem that they led people astray and from real salvation. (Phil. 3:2,3).
Paul suffered because of his own spiritual failure. In Phil. 3:12,13 his anguish over this is plain. The greatness of the man is seen that he is not afraid to be open about it.
Then there was the pain of those who openly disagreed with his teaching and despised it. (Phil. 3:15-18). These people brought tears to him, because they were really enemies of the cross of Christ, and thus were harming so many believers.
He suffered because Christians fall out with each other (Phil. 4:2). He suffers from rejection which is revealed when he tells us in Phil. 4:10 that some had renewed their support of him. This shows that they had gone away from him at least for a time.
Paul plainly knew the problem of worry and anxiety as he speaks of the remedy in chapter 4:4-7. He also knew the struggle Christians have with alien thoughts destroying their walk with the Lord and their relationships with other. This is seen in his exhortation in chapter 4:8-9.
This is common to all Christians in one way or another, from time to time, and in differing degrees. Sometimes things wear us down so much we long to be at rest from them. We don't want to give up Christ. He is too precious, but to leave the struggle - yes, that would be so nice.
In all these sufferings one great remedy is always showing itself in the mind and teaching of the Apostle. It is something he has found to be the only remedy and antidote. It is the Lord. When he is tempted to give up he thinks of the Lord and his love for him, and he says, "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus" (Phil 2:5). In chapter 3:7-11 he says that he has one great aim and desire, and that is to gain Christ and know Christ. Why? because only him is there true love, peace and blessing.
He says in chapter 3:1 and in chapter 4:4 - "Rejoice in the Lord always" He wants to emphasise this so he continues, "I will say it again: Rejoice", that is 'in the Lord'. We seek our joy in all sorts of different ways. We seek it in recreation. We seek it from friendship. But all these let us down and fail. We are still left unhelped and often miserable. There is only one place where there is true joy, and that is in Jesus and with Jesus.
Paul is not exhorting us to make rejoicing in the Lord something we do. This is not a command which we are told to obey. If we think this and act on it, we find ourselves in more trouble as we find we can't make ourselves by joyful in the Lord, and put on a sunny face. No! what the apostle is saying is that only in fellowship with Jesus is there true peace and love and joy, so we must go to him and seek his company, and talk with him, and turn to him, and dwell in his presence. Jesus is a true friend. He never lets us down, and never rejects us. He never makes us seem worthless or rejected or despised. When he tells us our faults, somehow he still makes us know that we are special to him and beloved and precious. In his presence we find real peace and comfort. Rejoicing in the Lord is knowing and experiencing the joy his love and presence brings. How blessed were the two disciples on the Road to Emmaus in Luke 24:13f when they were in the presence of Jesus.
In the sufferings we are called upon to experience for Christ, we find strength and refreshment only in the presence and company of Jesus.
Your servant for Christ's sake,