Follow Me to the Prize : Paul to the Philippians

Paul was in prison, and God’s Family was concerned about him. The community of God’s Life in Philippi decided, “Let’s send some money to Paul. He needs our help.” So, they gathered some money and gave it to one of the believers named Epaphraditus to take to Paul.

It was a long, long, long trip.

Finally Epaphraditus got the money to Paul. Paul was very thankful. So Paul (and Timothy who was with him) wrote a letter to the Philippians to say thank you for their help (and to just love on them).

The letter said, “I thank God every time I think about you because y’all are partners with me and because I am confident that He who started doing a good thing in you is going to finish it.

“Oh, how I miss you. God knows how much affection I have for you. And I pray that your love is growing more and more, and that you’re growing in understanding and Heaven-Seeing, so that you can be pure and blameless and filled with good fruit to the glory and praise of God.

“My situation here in prison has turned out for the good. It’s spreading the Good News and making others in God’s family more daring and courageous in shouting out the Good News.”

Paul told them, “Because of your praying and Jesus’ Anointed Spirit everything is going to work out for me, so I’m happy. Whether I live or die, Christ will be lifted up in my life.

“To live… is to walk in the oil of God’s life (which means I’ll keep working for Jesus and that will be good for you and others). And if I die… well, that’s even better (for me at least)! Because then I’d get to be with Jesus. But, I can see that it’s better for you that I stick around here for a little while longer. So, I’ll do that so that you can keep growing and being happy in Faith.

“But whatever happens, stand firm as one, working together. Don’t be afraid of anyone who tries to come against you. With Jesus, we get to both believe and to suffer. And, it’s all good.”

Think about it…

Paul was hurting badly. He’d been shipwrecked, beaten, hated, imprisoned… and he knew staying alive meant even more hurting. But he wanted to keep on living and giving because he had more Work to do Loving others! He knew that people were counting on him, that people needed him, and that he could tell the good news to more people if he stayed.

While Paul was an incredible man of God, did you know that Jesus said that anyone who wants to be His Follower has to pick up their own pain and hurt for the sake of others?

And He also said, “Whoever LOSES their life, finds True Life (a life more beautiful than anything you could ever imagine).“

But Jesus wasn’t talking about physically dying. He was saying that we do NOT have to have our own way in life. That it’s okay to hurt, especially for the sake of others.

The “life” that we lose is the self-life of what I want, what I don’t want, what I wear, what I eat, where I go, when I go, what I want to do or don’t want to do. Ohhhh, my little dears, to have REAL Life, we must stop thinking that we have to have our own way in everything.

For decades I’ve tried to help little ones just like you who struggle with wanting their own way so badly… and they’ll cry and throw fits and fuss and fight, and give dirty looks when they aren’t getting their way.

Do you ever do that? It’s terrible feeling, isn’t it? Well, here’s the secret… you CAN let go of having to have your way all the time. You can learn to be okay with “losing” your own little wants and ways of doing things (and part of learning to be okay with this “losing” is letting go of any bad moods, too).

Will you choose to believe Jesus and take action on this? This is a great place to start in following God, our Good Daddy.

Can I sing you part of a song based on some things Paul said to the Philippians? I’m going to change the words slightly since you’re still learning, but it goes like this…

I can learn to live to lose. I can give my all to You. I’ll count it all as loss, it’s TRUE. Oh, I can learn to Live to Lose.

Paul continued in his letter to the Philippians by writing them a poem. He said,

“If you have any encouragement from being joined together with Christ, if any comfort from being loved by Him, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being of one mind, having the same love, being one in spirit. Don’t do anything out of selfish ambition or vain pride. Rather, in humility, think of others as more important than yourselves. Don’t look out for what you want or need, but look out for others instead.

“Think like Jesus! Even though He was God, He did not consider being equal with God something to be grabbed after, or used to lift Himself up. Instead, He made Himself nothing by choosing to be a servant, being made a human. He humbled Himself by submitting to death on a cross!

“Because of that, God lifted Him up to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name. So now, at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow — every knee in Heaven and on earth and under the earth. And every tongue will admit out loud that Jesus Christ is Lord, for the glory of God the Father.”

“So keep on obeying, not just when I’m around but obey even more when I’m not there. It’s God who works in you to take action in order to fulfill His good purpose.

“Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a twisted, crooked time. Then you will shine like stars in the sky.

“And even if I’m hurting, I’m glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

“I’ve done a lot of “important” things in my life. But it all means nothing to me. Knowing Christ Jesus my Lord is all that matters. For His sake I’ve lost it all. I consider all that other stuff as trash, garbage. I just want to know Christ — yes, to know the power of His resurrection and share in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and somehow becoming resurrected from the dead myself.

“Brothers and sisters, I’m not there yet. But one thing I do… one thing: I forget what’s behind me and I press, press, press toward the goal to win the Heaven prize.

“So follow me. Imitate me. Do what I do. Follow others who do what I do. With tears, I’ll tell you again and again that there are enemies of the cross of Christ out there. They are doomed to deepest darkness, their god is their stomach, and they find pride in shameful things. Their mind is set on earth-stuff.

“But we belong to Heaven!

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I’ll say it again and again: Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice!”

(Paul actually told them this again and again. It must have been very important that they learn to hold on to their happy. So you be sure to learn how to hold on to your happy, too.)

“Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is close. Don’t be anxious about anything, but in every situation, with thanks, ask God for what you need. And the peace of God, which is above all understanding, will protect your hearts and your minds in our Anointed One, Jesus.

“Think, think, think about whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy.

“Whatever you have learned or heard from me, or seen in me — do it. And the God of peace will be with you.

“And thanks again for everything you’ve given me. I have learned the secret of being content in every situation, whether full or hungry, whether living with plenty or in need. I can do all things through Him who gives me strength. But, for your sakes, I’m glad you’re learning to be givers, too.

“I have more than enough now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a sweet-smelling gift, an acceptable sacrifice that makes God happy. And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.

“To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Let it be so.”