Phil 1:4 - Joy filled living

Well, just managed to get this posted today - if you count doing it before going to bed at 1.10am. Just got back to Cardiff after a lovely but busy weekend in London.

4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy. (Philippians 1:4 NIrV)

Living thankfully is one thing but when Paul is praying for the Philippian church he is also full of joy. In other words, he is doesn't just think they're doing a good job, he also enjoys being with them and it gives him huge joy and satisfaction when he thinks and prays for them. Dr Martin Lloyd-Jones described the letter to the Philippians as the "letter of joy" and does read like Paul enjoyed the church in Philippi and loved being with them and thinking about them. I'll find out some of the reasons for this as we go forward but for the moment I'm focussing on this joy.

At the moment, when I think of 'joy', I'm thinking of Nathan (my 4 year old), and the adventure he has just begun in learning to play the drums. He has been fascinated by ... no - obsessed by drums since he was really tiny and is always focussed on the drum players at church on Sundays, so once he started school we thought we'd see if the local music school would teach him properly. They agreed to give him a try and you would not imagine his face when we said he was having a drum lesson. For his first two lessons (he's only had two so far) he has sat transfixed by the lesson, listen to everything the teacher has said and done everything asked of him and, I understand, he is very good. He is so completely beside himself with joy at this experience that he often cannot hold it in and looks like he is about to burst. As I was thinking of this the description, "life doesn't get better than this" came to my mind and I thought that it was a good description of joy. Sometimes we have joy in the whole of our life, sometimes only in a part but when we have joy there is a sense that life doesn't get better than this!

I need to think of more things in prayer that are joy-filled and joyous, rather than simply presenting God with my shopping list. Perhaps it will help me feel more joyous in my own life.

Lord, when I think of you, fill my heart with joy afresh. When I think of those around me, let my thoughts of them be filled with joy as well as thankfulness. I thank you that in your presence there is fullness of joy. Let me live joy deep in my heart and up on the surface too. Amen.

Phil 1:3 - Thank God for You!

3 Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. (Philippians 1:3 - NLT)

Some years ago Gary Chapman, a Christian author and counsellor, wrote about called the Five Love Languages (http://www.fivelovelanguages.com/) which outlined the five key ways people give and receive love. When I went through I realised that my main love language (by quite a long way) is 'words of affirmation.' It matters less to me what you do for me than what you say to me (or don't say). For this reason, I love this verse. Every time he thinks of the church at Philippi, Paul is filled with a sense of gratitude to God for their existence and all that they are and do. He thanks God for them AND he expresses this to the church themselves. I think this is really important. So often I realise that I am grateful for a particular person or for something someone has done for me and yet the busyness of life means that I often forget to speak to the person and thank them, or drop them a note, email or text just to say ... thanks. More than that they don't need to have done something for me, sometimes simply thinking of a person (or church) will make me feel grateful and I will express that gratitude to God, but I need to get much better at expressing that gratitude to the person themselves. Ah, you may say, but it will go to their head and they will get proud. Well, surely that is between them and God but one of the primary aims of the church is that we should build one another up in our faith and support one another. 2 Corinthians 13:11, 1 Thessalonians 4:18, 1 Thessalonians 5:14, Hebrews 3:13 all speak of encouraging one another and when we encourage we "put strength into" the person which is what the word actually means.

And what about our church. Paul is thankful for the church at Philippi. Now, whilst the letter to the Philippians is probably the most joyful and positive of Paul's letters, let's not be mislead into thinking they were perfect. They weren't - they had their faults and failings and problems and yet the first thing Paul says when he writes to them is that he thanks God for them. Is that how I react, pray and speak of my church or is my first tendency to jump into complaints and finding faults. What is the core emotion at the centre of my being when I think of my church, my local expression of God's family. Is it resentment, is it boredom or is it thankfulness? Do I first and foremost thank God for the church and its life past and present? Our church in Cardiff, City Temple, is celebrating 80 years of existence this month and it has been really humbling and inspiring to hear of the faith of those men and women of God who have served Him for decades, who saw amazing miracles when the church was birthed, who have reached out to their families and seen many saved and generations raised loving God, who have been through tough times and struggles and pain in the church and yet have not given up on God or the church. When I hear that, I thank God for my church and I feel humbled and priviliged to be a part of it. It is the responsibility of my generation of leaders to take the batton handed on to us from previous generations and make the church relevant to today but keep it faithful to the legacy. I think of what God is doing now amongst the children, youth and men of the church and am thankful for the vision and ministry of those who have worked hard (in both prayer and practical terms) to see amazing things start to happen. I am thankful for the leaders of my church and our Senior Pastor for having the heart and courage to go for God and his Kingdom no matter what, and to see His Kingdom established in Cardiff and Wales. I am thankful and grateful for bringing us to this body, this army, this Temple, this family so that we can be a part of this amazing journey.

Lord, everytime I think of your people, both individually and corporately, help me to be thankful ... to lay aside the problems I know are there and to pray a prayer of thanks for the individuals, the ministry and the leaders of the church. I pray that in all I do, I will be an encourager of people and never a critic. Let me operate in the opposite spirit to the world and let me encourage those who are weak or struggling and never let me become a back row critic, who always has something negative to say and never an answer to the problems. In the precious name of Jesus, Amen.

Phil 1:2 - Receive what we need

2 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. (Phillipians 1:2 NLT)

I know that Paul is using a standard style of starting letters which was common in the Roman empire at the time but I love this verse. He doesn't say May God ... give you power and faith. He says grace and peace. And boy, how much do we need Grace and Peace, in our world, our communities, ... oh, and in my life!!!

I love grace. It is such an amazing concept that I think most Christians (probably me included), don't fully understand or grasp the awesomeness of the truth. Most definitions use an explanation such as "unmerited favour" but that still only scratches the surface because grace is more than mercy. It would surely have been enough when Jesus died on the cross for me that I was freed from the punishment I deserved because of my sin and that is mercy and that is amazing. BUT there is more to Jesus' death and resurrection than that! Wow! Not only do I get forgiven but I receive grace; I am given what I don't deserve - a life in God's family as a child of God and an eternity in His presence. I receive all the blessings of sonship and yet I don't deserve a single one of them. That's just plain ... ridiculous. Why would God, who is majestic and mighty, choose to bless me with all of his riches in glory when I have done nothing to deserve it. Because of love! Luke 15:11-32 tells the story of the prodigal son (or the grace-filled father!). Mercy would have allowed the son to come back as one of the servants but grace puts the robe on his back and the ring on his finger and the shoes on his feet and says "this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found." (Luke 15:24 - TNIV). I need grace and I need to live grace towards others so that I don't become like the elder brother and miss the whole point!

And then there's peace. I work in an office where there is often lots of stress, anxiety and worry particularly at the moment as the NHS in Wales is undergoing a huge amount of reorganisation. And yet, what I need in my life is peace. Peace, more than an absence of conflict, is about wholeness, health, wellbeing, and a deep seated knowing that I am loved and cared for by the creator of the universe and that no matter what happens I am safe in His hands. As I look around me at work, at home, in my community and all too often in the church, I see so much worrying and stressing and striving to 'make' things happen and change for the better. Yes, we need to be active in everything that God wants us to do but we also need to know deep down in our spirits and souls, that God is in control. He IS in charge, even though it often doesn't look that way. So why don't I always live a life full of peace?!!! Oh, that's a good question. Is my relationship with God not strong enough? Do I doubt God's love and plans for me? Am I focussing on the scale of the problem rather than the size of God? I suppose I need to look at how I relate to my kids. They aren't stressed or anxious about things because they know that daddy is in control (I obviously make a good show of it!!) and that because I love them, I will always make sure they are protected and care for. No problem is too big or complex because daddy will sort it out (or mummy if it involves gluing bits of a toy back together!). Perhaps this is why Jesus said we need to have faith like a child - simple, uncomplicated trust - leading to ... peace!

Heavenly Lord, I thank you that you know what I need more than I do and that you want to give me grace and peace. Help me to understand grace and live in it each and every day and help me not to be condemning of those around me but to show them the same grace that I have received. Let me never be ungrateful for all that has been given to me because of Your sacrifice and grant me peace. Peace in the midst of storms. Peace in the midst of worry. Peace in the midst of a peace-less world. Let me live each day in the wholeness, health, provision and ... peace that you give. A peace that passes all understanding. In Jesus name I pray. Amen

Phil 1:1 - Verse By Verse

I'm going to try and put down some thoughts on passages of the Bible on a verse by verse basis. I completely believe in looking at the bigger picture and taking entire passages or even books as a whole but I also think that there is so much in God's Word that I want to delve into each verse. So I thought I would start to work through one of my favourite books of the Bible - Philippians. I'm going to jot down a thought for each verse of the book. Some may be profound, most will be simply my thoughts and feelings that day. Going to try and do it on a daily basis but might not manage every day! So, here goes ...



1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all God's holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons. (Philippians 1:1 - TNIV)



We always seem to whiz past these opening verses in all of the epistles and yet they are so full of amazing truths. This opening verse reinforces to me the importance of the church, God's family, Christ's Bride - and not just the universal church but also the local representation of it. It speaks of teamwork and family, service and leadership. Paul and Timothy write this together and there is no hint of Paul acting superior to Timothy, his "apprentice". They're listed equally and together and they are both "servants," or in other translations 'slaves' or 'bond-servants,' of Christ. There is such a challenge in these words, especially for those of us in any form of Christian leadership. Out first and foremost identity is as servants of Christ Jesus - nothing else. If we ever put ourselves higher than a servant, we've put ourselves higher than Jesus. Paul and Timothy knew that what was important was that recognition that all they had and were was because of Jesus. I need to keep my eyes down low, remembering the call to be a servant before everything else.

Paul then turns to talk to those he is writing to and describes them as "God's holy people" or "saints" in some translations. What a declaration he is speaking over them! Whilst Philippi was probably one of the least troublesome churches, I am sure that they had their problems and struggles and yet Paul writes to them declaring them as "God's holy people." I find that really encouraging. When I look at my life I can see that I am far from perfect and there are so many areas and ways in which I live a less than holy life and yet God declares me to be Holy! Of course it doesn't mean I shouldn't be striving to be holy and live a holy life but I must remember that I am not what I was. God has declared me holy and that declaration should encourage me to pursue greater holiness.

Finally, Paul mentions the leaders in the church, both the overseers (or 'bishops') and the ministers (or 'deacons'). For me the challenge here is not the difference between overseers and ministers and their respective roles within the church but the Paul places those leader firmly within the church. They are not separate to the church or distinct from it but they are part of the body and they should be building their lives with the church. Whether a leader is 'home-grown' or imported from outside, they should - in line with their position as servant - be building and opening up their lives with the church, leading in creating the community of believers God intends his church to be and describes in Acts 2:42-47. Leaders are not to stand at the front and tell others how to be church, they are to live it out by example.

Wow! So much in one small verse.

Lord, help me to understand your plans and purposes for the church and how you view each one of us. Teach me what it means to live a holy life and may I view my brothers and sisters with your eyes not the world's, as a holy people! Help me encourage those around me to become more and more like you. I pray for those you have placed over me as leaders in your church that they would live lives worthy of the calling you have placed on them. In the precious name of my Lord, Jesus Christ, Amen.