Lessons 13

QUALITIES OF A CHURCH

Rev. Stanley L. Derickson Ph.D.

COPYRIGHT 2004

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ENDORSING
(Phil. 4:10-23)

10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.
11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
14 Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.
15 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.
16 For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.
17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
18 But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God.
19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
20 Now unto God and our Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
21 Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you.
22 All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar's household.
23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

10. But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.

"Care of me" seems to relate to their thinking of him and his needs. The passage is clear that their thought translated into actions. I fear many of us think of ministering to the needs of others, but at times never come to the action stage of concern.

"Careful" is the same word in the original language - the thought of thinking. It seems that they were thinking of him but lacked opportunity in some way - possibly they had no resources or no messenger to take the gift to him.

There have been times in our life that I have met missionaries and wished that we could share with them, but could not. There were other times when we have seen a need and had the money to share with folks.

Years ago a couple came with their five children to our church for the day. The schedule was such that they did not get to eat before the evening service. They had a four hour drive home and I knew that the church would give them a check. I had talked with the man earlier and knew that they were in a very tight financial state at the time.

With some money in my pocket and a super market across the church parking lot, how better to minister than to buy some snackys, sandwich makings, and some soft drinks. As the couple was leaving I stepped to their van with the sacks and seven faces lit up with glee over our little gift.

Please take those little opportunities to share with others that have a need. It can only bless everyone involved.

11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, [therewith] to be content.

Not that he had any particular need, but he had learned to live within his means, whatever they might be. What a unique thought - oh that our government would learn that truth, or for that matter our churches and our families.

Living above our means is the norm in Christian circles as well as in the world. I don't know how many churches have gotten themselves into trouble by transferring funds from one account to another to make ends meet.

We should be content to live on little or a lot, whatever God brings our way. I remember many years of lean living - days when we counted our pennies to be sure we could go buy a little medicine - other days when there weren't any pennies to spare to buy cold meds. Did we live through it? Of course we did, God is able to provide for our well being with or without adequate money.

The word content has the thought of being independent of external circumstance - no matter what is going on financially we are to be content - to be satisfied with what we have been given.

This is not necessarily easy for the person that is in the want stage of things and easier for those in the fullness stage of things. I struggled with this a little one Sunday after being asked to dinner at one of the church members homes. We walked into the home that was huge by our standards. They had a monstrous living room, a grand dinning room and we had dinner in the dinning area off the kitchen which put our humble abode to smallness and insignificance.

As we were seated, I couldn't believe how grand this place was, but the Lord soon had me realizing that He had blessed these folks in His own specific way and that he had placed us in His own specific place in life to serve him as He wanted, not as we would have liked.

We enjoyed greatly the time with those folks and even the memory brings great feelings of a rich and diverse God that deals with His people in different ways.

We can look to some of the Old Testament men and their movement from slave to political leader - all at God's desire and direction.

12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

Paul goes on to explain in more detail - he even relates it to hunger versus fullness. Whatever the situation, we are to be comfortable with the Lord as our sustainer.

The difference between abound and suffer can be a split second - any turn of events can move us from one to the other. The key is to cope with the change of events as God would have us deal with it.

While teaching we were living on missionary support. Our level of support was $400 per month but we seldom quite gained the total level. We were living on $350 or so per month while paying for our transportation to churches on weekends to fill pulpits etc.

We were comfortable living this way and with the free housing that the school provided we were able to get along.

This situation however changed with the turn of a vote at a church meeting where we were interim pastor for a time. The church voted to pay us $1000 per month for our commitment to them. That was almost a threefold increase in our income with the raising of a few hands. We truly went from want to abundance - what a blessing this was to us personally, and it seemed that the congregation was blessed spiritually from having done it.

13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

With the strength of Christ we can do all things - anything - whatever God might ask of us. We can face poverty with all its problems, we can face riches with all their particular problems, we can face times of joy and we can face times of sadness, if we rely on Christ for His strength.

14 Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.

Paul commends the people for becoming involved in his affliction or pressing down - trials might be the thought of the passage. They partook or shared in his affliction - they had given to help or assist him through his ruff times.

What a blessing for a congregation to be allowed to assist ministers/missionaries that are in need of assistance. Oh, how many churches are so tied to their bills and salaries so closely that they can't participate in the assisting of those outside their congregation that are in need.

Missionaries desiring to go to the mission field are road blocked at times due to the churches being so indebted to their programs and salaries that they can't assist these workers of the Lord to get to the field.

We see in the Old Testament prophets that nations will be judged for how they treated Israel, and I wonder if God won't hold church bodies responsible for how they treated His messengers to the world.

15 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.

Paul begins to relate the importance of their giving, not only for him, but for them - it is important for us as believers to be givers as unto the Lord.

The term communicated here is the Greek term “koinoneo” or fellowship. No church had fellowshipped with Paul through giving. Now, that is a neat concept - that special offering for the missionary is a way to fellowship with that person or family - you don't need to eat with them, or talk with them but give to them, not that eating and talking wouldn't be good!

It seems that when he says the beginning of the Gospel that he was speaking of the beginning of the work at the Philippian church. He left their company and went to Macedonia.

16 For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.

It is the thought that they immediately gave to his ministry. They didn't wait for other churches to decide to give, they were led of the Lord and they acted immediately on their leading.

17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.

The word translated desire has the idea of requesting or going after - much like many preachers - trying to get people to give - a wrong concept - the giving should be on the peoples part not due to arm twisting.

We have been privileged to be part of two churches where offerings have never been taken, they have boxes or baskets at the door and people give as unto the Lord as the Lord leads them to give. Neither church has had serious financial difficulties.

The term abound might be translated super abound - it is abounding in an abundance. Paul's desire for them is that they be over abundant in their good works.

The word translated account is the term “logos” or word - he desires that when they are spoken of they will be seen in a very good light.

Here we see that there is an accounting of our giving. Kind of a play on words don't you think?

18 But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things [which were sent] from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.

Giving is a sweet smell to God, it is a sacrifice, it is acceptable and it is well pleasing to God - hummmm must be something we ought to do out of our love for God rather than out of guilt from the pastor or missionary.

He seems to be overjoyed as well as sufficiently provided for by the gifts of the people. What a blessing to Paul and a blessing to the people at the same time.

Epaphroditus means lovely; quite fitting due to his ministry to Paul via the people.

19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

What a great promise - He will provide your needs - not wants, but needs (Not that He may not provide your wants at times either.) Matthew six always comes to mind when I read of needs - He promises to provide needs - in the context of care of the birds of nature - supply of food and living necessities - not necessarily a three story freshly painted bird house.

20. Now unto God and our Father [be] glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Let me start at the end with "amen" a word that means firm, or final, or so be it. Way too many years ago when I was in Bible College I was attending an independent Baptist college - one where the custom was to say amen if you agreed with the speaker.

We had a number of married students that sat in the same area toward the rear of the student body - they would chime in as if on queue with a hearty amen when the president of the school would say something agreeable. He often called them his amen row.

One day the president was preaching a sermon that was no where near his normal message - one in which he was somewhat off base - his amen row was being utterly silent. Finally at one point he asked where his amen row was - they remained silent - I trust he rethought that message before he gave it again.

The point? When something is sure and firm we often, either to ourselves or out loud, affirm it with an amen - so be it!

To God the Father be glory forever - giving of glory - this is the word “doxa,” where we get out word doxology from. It is also translated Glorious, honor, praise, dignity and worship according to Thayer.

21 Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you.

The word greet and salute are the same Greek word - a general term of greeting - it can mean drawing one to yourself - thus most likely it means a little more than a "hi" when you meet another believer.

Years ago we attended a church that was built so that you could walk in a circle around the building through the halls. I used to amuse myself each Sunday morning walking this circle several times greeting each and every individual I met on the walk. I would receive back a like greeting from most all that I met. The next Sunday I would walk my circuit several times without greeting anyone - you know the result – no one spoke to me.

This is not the type of greeting we should give one another as believers. I might speak out of place one more time - just how sincere are the hellos during the greeting time at your church - for that matter, how insincere are they perceived by the guests that noted a great unfriendliness of the church until the greeting time when people are made to greet you?

22 All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar's household.

Okay, about the only thing we can determine here is that Paul was a very effective evangelist - he had been very busy while on Caesar's property. Again the word translated salute is the same word used in the previous verse of "salute" and "greet."

23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you all. Amen.

Again, Paul prays that grace would be upon the people he was addressing.

Might I suggest that you consider how you view and treat not only the saints that you know and relate to weekly, but how you view and treat outsiders that happen into you church.

We are Christ's emissary - His representative here on earth - we ought to act like it and have the love and compassion that He had for the stranger as well as the brother or sister.

APPLICATION:

1. The obvious application of Paul's being satisfied with what God placed in his possession is for all of us to find a point of satisfaction in what He gives us. He could fill all our bank accounts and give us all huge homes with three cars, but we would never learn to rely on Him if He did.

He can give to us as we have need so that we can learn to trust in Him for our financial need. In Bible College we lived in campus housing surrounded by faculty and their nicely furnished homes with their nice cars parked out front. We lived in our little apartment with hand-me-down furniture and old car that burned five quarts of oil going home for a visit - that was each way. It had so many repaired rust spots that I bought a few cans of spray paint and gave it a new coat.

He could have given us a better car, he could have seen to a good raise at work, he could have opened up better housing, but we could never have learned the joy of living on little.

Our neighbors were good friends that were in about the same position as we. One evening we were sharing our mutual situation and our neighbor's wife shared with us her experience from that morning. She related that her purse was a total mess and had been for months. She was actually convicted with the condition of it and that she was so slothful as to not take care of it. That morning her husband had gone to work with no money. The milk was near gone and only enough for the day. They did not know where the money for milk would come from.

During the morning her thoughts toward the Lord ran along the line of the fact that they couldn't even afford milk for their kids. Conviction about the purse started motivating her and finally she dumped out the purse to clean it. As she dug and organized she kept running across coins. She was laying them aside and by the time she finished caring for her conviction she counted the coins and sure enough there was just enough to buy a gallon of milk.

What joy both of them had as they shared this story and how much joy it gave to us in hearing it - even now near forty years later a spirit of joy is upon me having recounted God's goodness and greatness. He does provide as we have need, not as we have wants.

If you are in deep need, take time to consider the joy that you are missing if you are concentrating on the need and not on the watching for how God will deal with it.

Consider well the joy of the recipient as well as the giver. The giver often knows as much joy in knowing that God has used them to bless others.

2. Might we dwell on the situation that Paul was in and relate it to his call and ministry? He is sitting in prison, chained to guards 24/7 instead of out traveling the highways and byways of the world. His calling is as an apostle, his ministry is sharing Christ with everyone he could yet, and here he sits in prison unable to do his calling or his ministry.

Well, not quite so. He is writing one of the churches as an apostle and he has witnessed so hard that even the Caesar's palace has some converts. Doesn't seem his calling nor ministry are really hindered all that much.

Might this not be great application for some of God's people in our day? Many are the couples I have met that were called to the mission field, yet God did not allow them to raise up their support to gain that end. Even the apostle Paul was held from doing his best in his calling and ministry, yet he is still doing what he can. He still has the peace and joy of the Lord even when I am sure he had a little frustration relating to his situation.

When God calls you to do something but circumstances will not allow that, consider doing the same ministry where you are. Many today are finding they can work within their calling right where they are at. We know of some missionaries that ministered in Spain for many years, yet found themselves called to minister here in the states. Considering the millions of Spanish people in America they started a Spanish speaking church on the East coast.

When a pastor is no longer considered able to minister due to age, there are always other ways to minister. A dear old pastor I met briefly found himself in a retirement center due to his wife needing more care than he could give. A pastor he continued to be by sharing Christ in the home and leading services on Sunday.

Don't throw up your arms in despair, look around you and find what you can do where you are and get busy. Your seeming inactivity may be an appointed place of God and you wouldn't want to miss an opportunity to labor in His fields.

I must admit a little bit of personal prodding in this area. I have pastored, copastored, and filled in where there was a need all my life yet in old age - well ancient in our societies view (67 but totally worthless in societal consideration) - I find that no one wants to allow me to minister in churches that have need, nor even to fill pulpit. This may relate as much to age as to conservativeness, not many pastors would want an old conservative preaching to their progressive contemporary flocks.

At any rate, I found that my spare time was filled with wondering when God was going to start using me. One day reality struck - you have lots of time, you have always said that if you could choose your own job it would be to study the Word and do research for someone else. Humm, stupid, ya got the time, ya got da ability, and ya got the website that people from all the world visit - get ta work!!

I'm not sure just how much I am assisting others with the writing and research that I do, but it is what God has called me to do in this time of my life and that is what I attempt to do.

3. Paul did not always make tents for a living, but he was not above serving the Lord by doing so. He lived on what he had and when there was need he would make tents. The Philippian church had sent a monetary gift to him and he was quite thankful, but not dependant upon their giving.

Many there are in our day in ministries that would never poke their fingers with a needle making tents, they are called to preach and they are to be supported by their calling church. I might say "Ya, right show that one to us from Scripture." but I won't. The attitude is that they are called of God and they are to be supported at least as nicely as the average of their congregation.

Pastor, don't allow monetary things get in your way of ministry. God promises to provide our needs not our guaranteed income.

Years ago I met a pastor that was planting a church in central Oregon. The church was meeting in their home at the time that we ministered there. A year or two later the economy in that town went very bad and all the church folks were unemployed. The pastor was the only one that was working. He continued to minister in this situation through some very short times financially, but the church survived and was stronger for the experience.

God teaches us through hard times and they are lessons that we need to learn so that we can minister to and encourage others later on.

4. Verse eleven mentions Paul being satisfied. Stedman relates a little personal testimony in one of his sermons that sums up the thought. "Verse 11, by the way, has always been a great comfort to me, especially when I moved from the beautiful "Territory of Hawaii" (as it was then) to the State of Texas. I sometimes longed there in the prairie heat of Texas for those cool beaches of Hawaii. I looked back on them with great longing until one day I read in this verse, "I have learned in whatever State I am to be content", and realized it was even possible to be content in the State of Texas. Of course the state Paul is speaking of here is the condition in life in which he finds himself."

I have been in a lot of "Texas" type situations and contentment was not one of the hallmarks of my life at those times. Sad to say, the numerous "Texas" situations is probably due to my lack of contentment - remember - God teaches us through situations of life. Thankfully, I think I have learned the lesson of contentment even thought my "Texas" is called "Oregon." Yes, even a conservative can be content in one of the most liberal and wet states in the union (Not that the liberalness doesn't drive me a little crazy at times :-).

Stedman continues his thought: "I don't know how you would define contentment if you had the opportunity, but I suspect that most of us would come up with some variation of the idea that contentment is having everything you want. I don't think that is the true definition. You perhaps remember the story of the Quaker who put a sign on his house one day that said, "I will give this house to any man who can prove to me that he is content." After a bit someone came knocking at the door and said he saw the sign out front and wanted to claim the house. He said he was perfectly content. The Quaker asked what he meant. He said, "I have everything I want, all the money I need, everything in life that could satisfy. I am perfectly content."

"The Quaker said, "Friend, if thee is so content what does thee want with my house?" That's a revelation of how subtly these desires for more can creep into our thinking.

"Contentment is not having all that you want. True contentment is wanting only what you have. This is what Paul had learned. He had learned that God had created man to love people and use things." and I might add it is not to use people and love things!

5. Stedman relates that Paul was satisfied with whatever God brought his way. Famine was not fun, nor was luxury; both were God's choice for him at that time. This must be our own attitude toward poorness or richness. Richness can be just as trying as poverty, though many of us would like that sort of trial for awhile - but we would soon learn that money is not the satisfaction of life.

This all boils down to the fact that we are the center of the universe and all the universe should bow to our desires, rather than having the attitude that God is the center of our universe and that it is He that sets the plan in motion not us. Our peace and contentment must be centered in His will and not our own.

6. It is of note that Paul tells us in the context of being content with lots or little he states unequivocally "I have learned" to be content. It isn't a normal item that we have inherently built in, but it is something that we must learn. Now if it is a learned item, might we be able to assist young children and youth or even adults to "learn" this lesson before God brings trial upon them. Not that we want to beat God out of his teaching, but we might well assist some to learn without the benefit of trial. The same goes for anger and many of the other traits that man seems to find no problem exhibiting. We as pastors and teachers and parents should assist our children in learning these lessons before the Lord takes charge to do the same.

It may be that they will not listen to us, but I would guess that if they reject our teaching and encounter God's methods that they might be much more open to the Lord's working in their life.

7. The contented mind is not only a more peaceful way of life, but it gives us much more time to concentrate on doing the Lord's business. If we are in turmoil over finances or other problems, we usually take a lot of mind time mulling over the needs and the problems, whereby if we were content with what we have, our minds would be open to thinking of better ways of doing God's work.

Imagine the church leadership that is up in a tizzy about the low giving and the huge mortgage payment at the end of the month. Contentment would lead to good leadership work within the church, however lack of contentment would bring on a multitude of worry and fret that will do no good.

It is most likely that Paul's learning to be content and to rely upon the Lord for his needs were a large part of why he was so at peace in the situation that he was in - in prison chained to guards. As we learn the smaller lessons, we will gain contentment with the larger problems that we come to face in life. Point? Learn the lesson of contentment quickly so that you do not have to face the big problems without that contentment that only God can give.

8. Paul gives time to the church at Philippi and its giving to him. It is a great picture of the sharing of some folks with another in need. It should give us ideas about how we might be able to share with others that have a need. This does not need to be out of our extravagance, but out of our desire to share.

Many years ago we were in a Montgomery ward closeout store in the Denver area. This was the store where all the surplus and unsellables ended up. We often ran across bargains that assisted us in doing for our family on a very limited budget.

One afternoon I was wandering around and ran across a stack of new study Bibles that had been imprinted with names, but the names were incorrect so they were returned. The store had imprinted a very nice gold design over the incorrect name and they were selling them for a fraction of the new price. We happened to have a little extra that day so we bought six of the Bibles - all that we had money for. That was one for each of the five of us in the family and one left over as a spare. How excited we were to all have a new study Bible. Most of us were on the last months of usability on our old Bibles so what a joy for us.

I put the extra Bible away and thought to myself that a need would come along. A few weeks later I was standing in the church foyer and in walked a young couple. The woman was carrying a tattered Bible that had a make shift paper cover on it held by masking tape. Immediately I sensed a very good place for our extra Bible - guess it was not really extra in God's mind. The couple turned out to be missionaries to South America and were there to present their ministry that morning. That night we shared our EXTRA Bible with her and the joy was evident in her face.

The joy of giving can be had no matter your financial position and your contentment with what you have can be a peaceful time of life. The woman was quite content to use her tattered and worn Bible, but God can supply our every need.

Now, I don't share this as a shining lesson in how to be content on my part because the extra Bible was probably purchased as a need to feed the greed since I am a consummate shopper of bargains, but the Lord used my misdirection to his great gain in spite of my failings in my early Christian life.

9. Paul states of the giving of the Philippians that it was fruit to their account. He was joyful over their assistance, but his greater joy was that they had learned to share with others in the ministry.

Pastor, I trust that you will learn this lesson. Do not hover over the offering to see how much you have to spend, but hover over it in the joy of knowing your people are learning to give to their Lord's ministry through their church.

Giving should always be received as the outpouring of the people’s hearts to their Lord, not the needed funds to adequately fund the salary and needs of people. It is God that supplies the need, remember?

10. In verse 19 Constable comments that God is the all sufficient One that will supply all your need, but not your all your greed. What an important part of theology that certainly contradicts the "God wants every believer to be rich." crowd.

Matthew six is quite strong passage in the fact that he takes care of the needs of the birds, but I have yet to see a bird wearing a fur coat, or a diamond bracelet, nor do I see them living in seven bedroom houses with attached five car garage.

11. Some commentaries take great length to say that we can accomplish great things in Christ, but on the other hand, we can waste a lot of time waiting for Him to do it. There is a balance between sitting and waiting for Christ to move mountains and our grabbing a shovel and digging in. If we are not using the talents, the gifts and the brains He gave us to do what He has called us to do, He will not be doing great things through us.

Paul knew this. He went on his treks across history but allowed Christ to fill in all the details. Paul did the preaching where he ended up whether in a city or a prison and God gave the increase.

Do not mistake resting in Christ for the recliner in front of the television set. I think that many today are very mixed up in this area.

12. In verse 14 Paul mentions, "ye did communicate with my affliction." The Life Application Bible points out that this is a much more intimate phrase than the English indicates. It relates to the Philippian Christians relating closely with his situation and his needs as he was about sharing the Gospel with the lost. They were feeling his need and wanted to assist in that ministry by assisting him in a physical way.

This is the basis of much missionary support in our churches today. The congregation is touched by the need of a people, as well as the missionary’s burden to reach that people. The congregation makes a decision to enter into a partnership with this missionary to reach the people. They become an integrated part of the ministry of the man to the people. There is indication that the congregation will have part in the fruit and reward of this ministry.

This is the reason pastors that you need to have missionaries in your churches speaking of those lost people, and telling your people of the burden they have to reach these potential children of God. If the congregation does not hear, they will not be burdened.

I fear this is exactly why many missionaries find it hard to schedule meetings. Pastors are too worried about the churches bottom line to allow other possible infringements upon the church's income. I must remind the reader of an old tried and worn phrase, "I have never seen a mission minded church with financial troubles." Never! Not that there might not be some, but of all the churches I have visited and heard of - this is a true statement.

Most mission minded pastors know of the excitement and vitality that comes with having missionaries in and out of the church. They know the challenge that outside speakers can be for their congregations and they know the life that missions seems to bring to the church body. At the least it gives you something to pray about besides Aunt Tillie's big toe.

As I read and study this book of Paul’s it is obvious that most any pastor would love to minister to a group of people such as the Philippians. They were a mixed bag of folks that were working well together and they were open to the Lord's leading to share financially with Paul. There was seemingly fair unity in the group and they were busy about the Lord's work.

May the churches of America find a pattern in this book that would change the way they try to do church.