2024/12/29

Christ Our Life

Passage: Philippians 1:1-22
Service Type:

Christ our Life
Part of a Series of sermons from Philippians, preached by Apostle Aje Pelser, Harvester Reformational Church, Cape Town. December 2024
Excerpts from MBTC Manual ‘Philippians”

First sermon in a series based in the Epistle to the Philippians

SUMMARY
Pictures of Christ abound in Philippians.
Chapter One: Christ our Life
Chapter Two: Christ’s Humility & Meekness
Chapter Three: Christ’s Life is the Prize we are after
Chapter Four: Christ is our true source for ability, provision and joy.
The ancient name of Philippi was Crenides, so called after the springs which feed the river and the marsh; but it was refounded by Philip II of Macedon, the father of Alexander the Great, and received his name. (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia.)

STORY – His-story!
Historical Context
Read through the full account in the book of acts chapter 16.

SPIRIT – Can you mention some modern manifestations of the same spirit?
Why do you think apostle Paul would be so perturbed by someone saying: “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.”
Part of the annoyance was the repetition of the religious fact, drawing unnecessary attention to the touring party. These were dangerous times and Paul was not seeking his own fame. Furthermore, the spiritual dimension of Paul’s demonstration of the Spirit’s gift of discernment mentioned in his Corinthian Epistle, operated with extreme efficiency.

There was already a prayer group and God needed to reveal the power of the name of His Son to those who had not heard about the Risen Christ. Prayer often loosens things in the spiritual realm or draws them out, and when the name of Jesus was used, the demon had to bow,
But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour.”

SUFFERING AND SACRIFICE – The public beatings of Paul and Silas, and their praise to God while naked in stocks, singing through their pain in praise to God released a spiritual SOS heard in heaven and God replied with an earthquake. The jailor wanted to commit suicide but Paul told him none of the prisoners had escaped and the result was a whole household saved. The length and breadth of God’s love is revealed when He sends His servants across the world, not sparing them humiliation and distress to save the lost souls going to hell. This was not the first time we hear about prison doors opening; apostle Peter experienced a similar great escape in Acts 5 as well as in Acts 12:7. In Acts 27:42 Paul is saved once again from a Prisoners’ death at sea through his boldness based on Divine authority, and the prophetic word that kept him through such dangers:
Act 9:15-16
“But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.
For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

SERVICE – The Life of a Bondslave
Philippians 1:1
Paul and Timothy refer to themselves as bondslave of Jesus Christ. The historical context of bondslavery will shed some light on the term, because the modern Bible Translators shy away from slavery because of all negative connotations. Read the following to get the original picture that Apostle Paul intended to convey.

To a bondslave, one’s life is now bound up with the intents and purposes of the Master. A true bond slave was set free after a lengthy term of service and then given the choice to continue in service

“A Hebrew was made a slave on a temporary basis (for a maximum of six years). After his time was fulfilled, he could go out as a free man. However, if because of love of his master, he said that he did not want to go free, then his master would take him to God for a spiritual commitment, and then to the door or the doorpost. There he would pierce his ear with an awl or, in other words, with a large hole – one that would never grow back. That slave would then serve him permanently. He is then a bondslave. From that moment on, he would have no time of his own, no rights of his own, no money of his own, and no possessions of his own. He would have to do whatever the master told him to do.
Even though the cost of being a bondslave is high, the rewards are even higher. I used to think of it just from the viewpoint that the master was getting a fresh slave. Then I realized that the master was also making a very significant commitment. He was committing to take care of that slave, to protect him, and to provide for him for the rest of his life. As we make this commitment to God, He makes that type of commitment to us in return. The cost of becoming a bondslave is not high, it is total. And so is the commitment of the Master”
Excerpt from “Bondslave by A. D. Reese http://www.angelfire.com/oh2/spiritsong/heart.html

“Service is not out of a sense of duty, but from a heart of love and appreciation”
The Master had earned the respect of the bond slave in a sense, because now the service is not out of a sense of duty, but from a heart of love and appreciation. Our God is a good master, sin is a hard task master and it’s wages are death. Whoever commits sin is a slave of sin – John 8:34. But the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. Paul understood this very well and entered into another level of apostolic service in the ministry.
There is clearly a higher level of service revealed in Paul’s automatic inclusion of the word in his letters.
Strong’s Concordance G1401 reveals that the word “doulos” means:
“One who gives himself up to another’s will those whose service is used by Christ in extending and advancing his cause among men”
It is derived from a word that speaks of the bond of marriage. “To tie and fasten” is also used to describe “deo” and being “bound in the spirit” to go and fulfil a calling comes to mind. That determination was in Jesus and subsequently Paul as well.
Being a bondslave willingly to serve the Master ties one to God’s will entirely but also gains one access to the Masters ability and executive authority for the task at hand. Having delegated authority means one is under the authority of the Master and His power is behind your every word and action. This is a powerful state of being and something Apostle Paul lived out – it is no longer I that live but Christ that lives in me. One has to be a servant and place one’s mind, will and emotions under God’s control to be able to say that. But Jesus said if desire to be his disciples that we should Deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him.

SHARE – Fellowship in the Gospel
Philippians 1:5
Here Paul reflects on how the Philippian Church has helped him achieve His Master’s plans, they have a fellowship in the Good News, the Gospel of Christ – they are not spectators but participators in the furtherance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They also helped him in his missions financially as Philippians 4 reveals.

Christ completes the Good Work He has started in you
Php 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
Php 1:7 just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace.
Jesus is indeed the Author and Finisher of our Faith. The Alpha and Omega of every believer’s process of transforming and conforming into the image of His son, yet uniquely gifted and configured to function in a many membered body of Believers.

SHARE
Christ’s Life is experienced in a body of believers
If Christ is our Life, then being part of the local Body of Christ is essential. A hand can’t function if it disconnected from the brain and nervous systems, with the circulatory system that supplies blood with oxygen and nutrients for the muscles to function properly. Once people learnt to hear God’s voice, the danger is to become an island – he who isolates himself, seeks his own desire.
So consider that although we all have a closet to pray in, an inward chamber to commune with the love of our souls, the balance is always being part of a greater body of believers, corporately forming the image of Christ, Eph 4:16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
God supplies his ministers and gives them grace to equip the joints to supply their share in the Church. Partake of the grace from the mentors in your life at Church.

Fruits of Righteousness
Php 1:11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
Once we are part of a vibrant and hopefully accurate Church, a local expression of the Body of Christ, we will shoot root and bear fruit over time.
The fruit of righteousness only grows in our lives by understanding Christ through His Word made flesh in a many membered body of believers. It is both the revelation of Christ in us the hope of glory, as well as the practical acceptance of Christ in others the hope of our corporate glory!

Apostolic Perspective
Php 1:15 Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill:
There are many ministries in the world with different motives and mandates from God. Apostolic perspective is offered in this letter. His love for Jesus as a bondservant once again makes an appearance. I preach because I love Him.

To live is Christ
Php 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Let his story continue in our service and sacrifice to ensure the sharing of the Gospel and impartation of the grace of Christ! Christ is our life, and we enjoy acknowledging Christ in each other. Sharing the glorious benefits of knowing Him with others is our calling. As we continue the study of Philippians, we will delve deeper into the mind and humility of Christ our example. Please share Christ with someone you love this week!

Grace and peace

Apostle Aje Pelser