Shining like stars
Philippians 2:12-30
Key Verse 2:14-16
Do everything without complaining or arguing, So that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life--in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.
This passage offers us the image of a good shepherd who tends the flock of God just as Jesus tended the flock of God (like the twelve disciples of Jesus). We also can see a beautiful love relationship between shepherd and sheep.
1. Read v. 12a. Paul calls the saints at the church of Philippi, "my dear 'friends'". Why did Paul call them my dear "friends" (Jn 15:14, 15; Phi 1:5; 4:10)?
** He speaks of them that way because indeed they offered friendship to Paul, for a friend in need is friend indeed. Put yourself in a position of Paul locked up in a prison. He was a senior citizen with no wife, no children, not knowing when he was to be released. How lonely must he have been? Yet, it was these members of the church at Philippi whose practical loving concern was shown to Paul! What a warm, tearful expression of love must it have been to Paul?! The world is cold and lonely. Every one is busy with his or her own thing. No one truly looks out for the interests of others. Paul, however, poured out his life for the sheep, only to end up in a lonely place. Yet the Lord did not leave him helpless. Yet the help did not come out of nowhere. It came from what Paul fully sacrificed and prayed for, namely, the flock of God he fished and served even risking his life. Acts 16.
2. Read vs. 12b-13. Why is it that one must work out salvation "with 'fear' and 'trembling'" (13; Deu 6:15; Jos 3:10; Mt 28:20)? What does "work out your salvation" practically mean? How can we fulfill this purpose?
** It is because God is among us working for our salvation. He wills and acts in and through us. So we must work out our salvation with reverent fear and trembling.
Paul picked up this idea from Exodus where we see the Lord God journeying from Exodus to the Promised Land, leading them to the Promised Land as the good shepherd for them. But, see how ignorant the Israelites were. They only saw Moses and sand or rocks on the road. Even if the Lord God made himself visible with the pillar of fire at night and pillar of cloud during the day, still they did not acknowledge the presence of the Lord among them. And is this only an isolated case applicable to the Israelites of Moses' day alone, and not to us in our own generation?
** It practically means "obedience" to every word of God which gives life to us (Deu 8:3).
** We can fulfill this command by trusting in the Lord who wills and acts in and through us. This is not possible for us to fulfill. It is possible only by God's power. So by all means learn to work out salvation with fear and trembling.
3. Read vs. vs. 14-15a. In what respect is it unbecoming of "children" of God to do everything complaining and arguing? How can we be become "blameless", "pure", and children of God "without fault" in a crooked and depraved generation (Gen 6:9; 17:1; Rm 1:17)? What does this passage tell us about the kind of standard God has for his children (1Pe 1:16; Mt 5:48)?
** Unlike slaves who are steeped in slave mentality, enslaved to the power of sin and death, God's children are set free from the power of sin and death. They no longer live before men, but before God. Since God is among them, God can help them overcome slave mentality. After all, the net effect of salvation that comes from the Father is to help them function well in their entire person which consists of will, intellect, and emotion. Slaves however do not know how to will, think, and feel independently, depending on God alone. So when things go well they claim credit, but when things go bad they complain. But God's children are different. They know how to be responsible for their own decisions. They also know how privileged it is for a man to live as a child of God.
** Again we cannot become perfect like this on our own. We can be like this only because of Him working for, in and through us.
** He wants us to be as perfect as He is. After all, restoring the full image of God is the immediate (not ultimate) purpose of His salvation.
4. Read vs. 15b-17. What does this passage teach us about: 1) the purpose of salvation (Gn 12:4; Jn 21:15); 2) the way to fulfill the purpose of saving each individual (16); 3) the sacrifice that is required of a shepherd (17); and 4) the reward for such a life of sacrifice?
** Ultimate purpose of salvation is to use each person to save all, just as God called Abraham to be a source of blessing for all peoples on earth. For this reason we say God's purpose of salvation is universal.
** It is for a believer to: 1) shine like stars in the dark universe (meaning he must function as light and salt of this earth); and 2) hold out the word of light positively, by teaching the word of God in season and out of season.
** The two words: “drink offering” tells us the kind of sacrifice required of a shepherd. Drink offering consists of liquid being poured out. Like water, once this drink offering is poured out, it is gone, indicating total sacrifice.
The additional pair of words, "sacrifice" and "service" indicates that a shepherd must give himself to the flock of God in such a way that God's flock would learn how to serve and sacrifice for others as well.
** The reward is absolute joy just to talk about the essence of it. The time of reward will be at the time of Jesus' second coming as Paul mentioned in 2Co 5:10. Read also Matthew 25:21.
5. Skim through 19-30. What does this passage (particularly vs. 19 and 26-28) tell us about the relationship between shepherd and sheep even as they physically live apart? What can we learn from the example of the relationship between Paul and his flock at the church of Philippi?
** There is a bond which is invisible but inseparable, the bond bonded with the love of Jesus.
** We learn the importance of personal shepherding based on Jesus' command in John 10:10,11, for this is the way for God to bring all to the family of God bonded with the love of God which is eternal.
6. Read vs. 19-24. The Apostle Paul is known as one of the great "apostles". Yet, what does Paul say about a servant of God like Timothy? What does the Bible say about a man like him (Lk 22:27)? What can we learn from Timothy?
** He speaks highly of him saying, I have no one else like him.
** Greater than the one who gets served.
** We need to learn to respect our human shepherds as well, so instead of becoming a burden to our shepherds, we would be a source of joy for them. Read Heb. 13:17.
7. Read vs. 25-30. Put yourself in the position of Epaphroditus on a mission journey from Philippi to Rome of Paul's day. In what respect was it not an easy task? What do expressions like "my brother", "fellow worker", "fellow soldier", "almost died for the work of Christ", or "risking his life" show us about Epaphroditus? What can we learn from him?
** It must have been a very difficult task for in those days they did not have means of fast transportation like airplanes. Plus it must have taken a long time to travel, so you need to sacrifice your everything like career, ties with family members, etc. and so forth.
** He understood the nature of task as spiritual. He saw the purpose behind his physical activities like traveling carrying monetary offerings, that is, the work of Christ, the need for the gospel to advance in and through Paul. He recognized the importance of one person Apostle Paul, for in Paul's day, he was literally the most important VIP of all vips!
** We need to pray for our spiritual leaders like Mother Barry.
The end.
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