Philippians VI: The Life of a Jesus Servant

Posted on September 24, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, the death of the cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.    Philippians 2:5-11 (WEB)

Paul doesn’t want to just give a mandate without pointing me back to the example that I am to emulate. “If you do not understand what I am saying, then let me point to the One who has set the example!”

Jesus, God Himself, became flesh and did so with an attitude of complete submission. Did you see the steps from heaven to earth?

  1. He emptied Himself of everything that was of the “Me”. No pride there.
  2. He took the character of a servant.
  3. He was 100% human. He was me. He was you.
  4. He was humble – and obedient even to His death.
  5. He accepted a death that was horrific and humiliating – a Roman crucifixion.

Jesus came willingly and completed the mission given to Him. He gave totally. And what happened?

  1. Jesus was highly exalted. No one and nothing is above Him.
  2. And His name is the Name that shall cause every knee to bend in adoration. All above (angels), all on the earth (those who believed in Him and those who did not), and all under the earth (the devil and all his little ankle-biters) will bow!

And this Jesus is my Friend. Jesus is my LORD. It is He whom Isaiah said will never tire or sleep (Isaiah 41:28). He is the Lamb who will return with a sword. In following the example of my Savior, I find the joy that is beyond the twists of suffering in this world. As a servant in the likeness of Jesus, I find the peace in Him that is all I need.

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Willing Attitude

Posted on September 23, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

If there is therefore any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassion, make my joy full, by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind; doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself; each of you not just looking to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.     Philippians 2:1-4 (WEB)

Here is strong, maybe even brash, Paul pleading with the group to stay in unity. “Don’t left the enemy sneak in with his selfish, divisive spirit and cause conflict!”

It is an awesome experience to have unity in a group. If you have ever been in a workplace or church where there is unity, it is a joy to be there! Does that mean ‘uniformity’? Do we always have to agree on everything? No. Uniformity comes from outside pressure. We must all look alike, dress alike, think alike, worship alike, etc. That isn’t healthy or biblical. Unity is about the heart. It is being of one Spirit! It means being a team and having like goals.

So how do we, as the Body of Christ, have an attitude that is about unity? Paul has some thoughts.

  1. Do not allow selfishness or conceit (self-importance) be my motive. Do nothing from a selfish motive. Nothing. No wiggle room there!
  2. Always see others as more important than myself. While this is not a trait that I am born with, I can learn the habit.
  3. Open my eyes! See the interests of other people! Be aware!

Oh, this is a hard attitude to have in this world. “What about a healthy self-esteem?!” “If you don’t look out for yourself, who will??!!” Jesus. Serve others and let Jesus take care of my needs. Seek first His Kingdom work and the rest – well, He will handle it because He knows what I need! Hard times? Sure. Hard times will come. Jesus will show me how to walk through.

Being selfish is not a deep theological subject requiring years of study to figure out how to change. There is no shortcut either. Make a choice. Serve others. Having a child is a quick wake-up-call. All of a sudden, my needs are no longer first! Too tired to get up at 6 a.m. for work because I was up all night with a crying baby? No choice. Get up. 10-year-old has a $50 basketball fee? I won’t be getting new shoes for Easter this year.

Did I ever stop to realize that it was Jesus’ desire to serve that brought Him from indescribable heaven to a smelly barn in Bethlehem and on to a disgusting cross at Golgotha. What was His attitude when given this servant task? Willing. Jesus was willing.

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Philippians V: Hope Past Understanding

Posted on September 22, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

For I know that this will turn out to my salvation, through your supplication and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will in no way be disappointed, but with all boldness, as always, now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.     Philippians 1:19-21 (WEB)

Paul was a man who did not worry about his reputation. He didn’t need to defend himself. He refused to fall into self-pity. He refused to receive criticism and personal attacks and instead put his life out there as a reflection of Jesus.

To live for money – is to die leaving it all behind.

To live for power and influence – is to die losing it all.

To live for ‘stuff’ – is to die without anything in my hands.

Despite his circumstances, Paul knew things would turn out as God directed. He was not experiencing the end, but just another season that would lead to forever. Whatever temporarily brought pain would result in Jesus being glorified. To truly live – is to live a Christ-centered, Christ-controlled life that has joy without end.

Remember the prayer of Jabez that was so popularly quoted a few years ago?

Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from evil, that it not be to my sorrow!”      1 Chronicles 4:10 (WEB)

God broadens my tent so that I see my circumstances in the bigger picture. Problems seem huge in my mind and try to overwhelm me. The truth is they are smaller than the deceiver wants me to believe. Jesus keeps my focus on His opinion. What others think seems of little importance compared to Jesus’ opinion. As my tent broadens and God opens opportunities for me to bring Jesus to others, the enemy is also alerted that his agenda is threatened. And so his accusations increase (Revelation 12:10) and my life may feel the attack. What should I do?

Jesus calms me about my future. He shows me what is really important (my relationship with Him). It is in keeping the basics: prayer, study, and worship that our relationship remains tight. I look the deceiver in the eye and know the assurance of Jesus standing over me. And with that assurance, fear goes and peace fills that space. The peace that passes my ability to understand. And in the peace I see the Hope that is Jesus Christ.

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Posted on September 21, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

Philippians IV: It Doesn’t Have To Be MY Way

Some indeed preach Christ even out of envy and strife, and some also out of good will. The former insincerely preach Christ from selfish ambition, thinking that they add affliction to my chains; but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the Good News.

What does it matter? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed. I rejoice in this, yes, and will rejoice.      Philippians 1:15-18 (WEB)

Even back in what I may think of as that utopia-like first century church, not everyone who spoke for God did so with pure motives. Some manipulated their message in order to attack Paul or Peter or their neighbor. Paul wasn’t above the pain of these attacks. He was not a theological computer cranking out inspired letters.

But Paul urges me here to broaden my vision to see the bigger picture and allow differences, applauding results even when they comes as a result of a method not in my list of preferences. I can easily bring this into my own life when I see people use the same curriculum year after year or the same order of worship 52 Sundays following the next 52 Sundays. I like a ‘fresh’ infusion into my study and worship. However, many people find comfort in the known and the fences that do not move. Petty differences become important when we make them important.

My husband, Henry, tells a story on himself and how he learned a lesson. Henry has a Masters degree in Biblical Languages. He reads his Hebrew Old Testament and Greek New Testament the way that I read my NIV. He came out of seminary able to pick apart a sermon, finding small ‘errors’ that would obliterate any valid point that the speaker might have made. God convicted and healed Henry from that ‘affliction’. Now he is able to hear the Good News and file the rest away to study another time, maybe.

Paul differentiates between those who make trouble for him personally vs. those who pervert the message itself. Have you ever taught a Bible class or preached a sermon or shared your testimony and had someone say, “Well, Jody doesn’t know what she is talking about”. That is an attack on me, not the message. Or maybe you have been rejected as a teacher because you didn’t have the right credentials (degrees) or you’re a woman or you’re too young. Yes, that hurts and is frustratingly so wrong. But a wise person once reminded me that God will not ‘waste’ His gifts. If a person has wrongly blocked opportunities for God to use you – God will move you. It is important that I do not stand there staring at a closed door or go throw myself a pity party (“Pity Party – table for 1!”) but instead continue to allow God to prepare and send me to another place.

[Jesus said,] “If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave their town, as a testimony against them.”     Luke 9:5 (NIV)

Here is a place where I understand why God wants me to have brothers and sisters that are believers to help me to discern these situations. It would be too easy to allow my flesh, my feelings, to twist me up and set me on a wrong path. Here is where my relationship with Jesus brings me to the place of blessing those who curse me (Matthew 5:11) and moving on down the road as He directs me.

Praise God for those women and men, girls and boys, very young and those very mature who preach Christ – and Him crucified!

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Philippians III: What Question Will You Ask?

Posted on September 20, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

Now I desire to have you know, brothers, that the things which happened to me have turned out rather to the progress of the Good News; so that it became evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my bonds are in Christ; and that most of the brothers in the Lord, being confident through my bonds, are more abundantly bold to speak the word of God without fear. Philippians 1:12-14 (WEB)

What a story that is full of wisdom and personal experience of which I can learn. Paul is imprisoned for preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ. And because he is such a dangerous prisoner, he is chained to a soldier 24/7. Paul is not ‘down’ by his circumstance but excited! He had a chained audience!

I may never be imprisoned in a jail but certainly I have felt ‘locked down’ in circumstances I could not escape. What question do I ask of God?

  • Why did this happen to me?
  • How can this be of some benefit for what God has in mind for my life?

Remember Joseph? Joseph who has been given dreams that he will rise and lead his family. He is not the oldest brother but, in fact, almost the youngest. He is beloved by his father, given preferential treatment, and so is hated by his siblings. They exact revenge and sell him off into slavery. He believes God has raised him out of that ‘hell’ and put him in charge of a high official’s home but instead, the wife takes revenge on him when he scorns her! Off to prison! Dreams again play a factor in freeing Joseph and he becomes the #2 man in Egypt. And he tells his brothers what he has learned.

“…you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good…” Genesis 50:20 (WEB)

Paul has learned what Joseph did that even in the tragedies and difficult circumstances God is still ultimately in charge. God still wants to give good gifts to His children. Nothing is ‘wasted’. Unlike some of the classes I sat through in school, every lesson has a way to equip me. Each is a growing up time. And I am never alone. Jesus is right there, walking ahead of me; showing me where to step if I will follow His example.

This lesson today is truly where I am living right now. I am grateful that Jesus is teaching me in every circumstance of my life – even devotions! I look back at the two questions that I asked before:

  • Why did this happen to me?
  • How can this be of some benefit for what God has in mind for my life?

and with what Joseph and Paul have both said it seems that anyone could ask the first question but with some ‘growing up’, the second question is the one for me to think about and look with expectation for God’s answer.

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Philippians 2: Prayer with Unexpected Answers

Posted on September 17, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

This I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment; so that you may approve the things that are excellent; that you may be sincere and without offense to the day of Christ; being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.              Philippians 1:9-11 (WEB)

Paul shows me that a prayer given for someone, even a church, by the power of the Holy Spirit is specific. The Spirit gives His discernment and knowledge that leads me in prayer to the place where God is. Paul shows the love in his heart for the people of Philippi as he comes along side God’s desire for these people.

Though I may frequently pray for someone, taking a few minutes to send a note telling the person I am praying for them can be a powerful ‘shot’ of encouragement in that person’s life. I remember when I was having a horrible night in the hospital. I felt very alone. The next morning a friend came by and told me she woke up in the middle of the night praying for me. I have remembered that and the next time I felt that a-lone-ness I thought, “Oh, no. Not going down that lying trail again!”

A vital aspect of my prayer life is taking situations and the possible answers to God and hearing His answer (will). Paul told the Thessalonians to test (1 Thessalonians 5:21) everything. Following that mandate I stay on His path. Paul’s prayer is a blessing to those for whom he prays that they will receive those gifts from the Spirit and live in truth and obedience to Jesus’ direction.

Assurance in my relationship with Jesus brings thankfulness as I fix my mind on all that He has done. Assurance builds when I let God be God. Assurance destroys worry, stress, and fear. Nothing can rob me of the grace and peace and assurance of God without my permission. Making a choice to keep my focus on Jesus brings fruit in abundance in my relationship with Jesus.

I am journaling in my prayer time. I write down my prayers and look with expectation to see how God will work. His answers may very well be different than I think they will be. God sees the best because He sees infinitely! My vision is so very limited. The expectation of God’s answers (Psalm 5:3) is not only a faith-builder but it is a joy producer and a glory director. God gets all the glory in the unexpected. God’s answers may very well change me. God loves me where I am and who I am now but He wants more for me. Watching God works molds and shapes me as His ambassador. I becomes more clear, allowing His Light to shine before others with less of me to dim the truth of who He is.

But let all those who take refuge in you rejoice,

Let them always shout for joy, because you defend them.

Let them also who love your name be joyful in you.

For you will bless the righteous.

Yahweh, you will surround him with favor as with a shield.             Psalm 5:11-12 (WEB)

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Philippians: Part I, Who is Who

Posted on September 16, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

Paul and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ;

To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and servants:

Grace to you, and peace from God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God whenever I remember you, always in every request of mine on behalf of you all making my requests with joy, for your partnership in furtherance of the Good News from the first day until now; being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. It is even right for me to think this way on behalf of all of you, because I have you in my heart, because, both in my bonds and in the defense and confirmation of the Good News, you all are partakers with me of grace. For God is my witness, how I long after all of you in the tender mercies of Christ Jesus.        Philippians 1:1-8 (WEB)

It is always interesting to me how Paul signs in first in all of his letters. Apparently it was a usual custom of the day, much like we now have letterhead on our correspondence. But this awesome man of God calls himself and Timothy ‘servants’. Paul founded that church. He was the apostle who brought that church together. Most of the ‘apostles’ I have met have business cards with that designation clearly stated after their name. Paul notes on his greeting that he is a servant of Jesus Christ and that is how he sees himself. He was bound to Jesus.

On the other hand, Paul address those who are in relationship with Jesus as saints. These were ordinary people but what made them saints was the fact that they were set apart, consecrated, in God’s army. Just like me. Just like you. This is who Paul is addressing.

Paul then offers these saints the best blessing that he can ask from the Father and Jesus: grace and peace. Is there anything better to receive from God? Grace is God’s love that we don’t deserve but He gives in such extravagant abundance! Peace is that place we live that is not affected by any external events. With God’s peace there is harmony.

Paul is filled with that grace and peace as he remembers the people of Philippi because he is remembering good things. His prayers for these people bring joy to his mind. He holds no ill-will or regrets although I am sure that as the Philippian church was formed there were some conflicts. Those times has been washed in the Blood and so Paul’s memory remains clean and good.

Paul has confidence in God. It was a fact. And so if all were not where they should be – God wasn’t finished with them yet. Paul prayed for those people but He left the burden, having no worries, with God. Some translations of this passage say that the good work that God has begun will be made “perfect”. It will not be a sorta done way of completing but that it will be perfect. When Jesus said, “It is finished.” on the cross, what He did was completed but it was perfect atonement, not just any sacrifice.

Paul expresses great affection for these believers. He says that these people are in his heart. Too often when I read some of Paul’s famous passages where he is just chewing out a church, I think he is critical and harsh. It is his great love for the people in these churches that brings such strong feelings. Here he wants to open up and share that he loves these people. He prays specifically for them. No generic prayers pass his lips. He cries out to God for these fledgling churches.

My husband tells the story of how he prayed every week for the youth of the church he was attending. He had a list of names and he would specifically mention each one by name. God spoke to him one day, essentially saying, “Shut up! Do not just mention their names. Get to know them and then come to me with their needs.”

God wants me to take the confidence of His love for me and open myself up to learn about others. Don’t hold back because someone might think – whatever – about me but open up, confident about how God feels about me!

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GLORIOUS

Posted on September 15, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

I will exalt you, my God, the King. I will praise your name forever and ever. Every day I will praise you. I will extol your name forever and ever. Great is Yahweh, and greatly to be praised! His greatness is unsearchable. One generation will commend your works to another, and will declare your mighty acts. Of the glorious majesty of your honor, of your wondrous works, I will meditate.      Psalm 145:1-5 (WEB)

Glorious.  When I think of the word “glorious”, earthly things just do not come up to that indescribable word.  Brides and babies are beautiful and wondrous in their glow and perfection — but “glorious”?  No, that word doesn’t come to me. The Rocky Mountains and Niagara Falls are awesome but I do not feel “glorious” in my heart when I stand and look at them.

I think “glorious”, “reverence”, and “adoration” are exclusively God-words to me.  I can’t imagine an earthly person or object to connect with those words. They are words that I can only say with my arms lifted in praise or my head bowed in complete submission. They are words that evoke deep emotions. They remind me of precious, treasured times in my relationship with God.

Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.  For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.                Philippians 3:17-21 (NIV)

Now that really is hard for me to wrap my mind around — I am going to be “glorious”! I will not be transformed because of my great works and deeds here. It will not happen because I prayed many hours or fasted many days. It’s all about Jesus and what He did and He is doing in me, and for me.  It is Jesus’ righteousness, His blood, covering my “un-glorious-ness”! It is about what is in my heart and how my heart is given to Jesus. Totally given and that means that the ugliness of my pride and self must die.

“…the cross of Christ…” is about total and unconditional love. To be an enemy of the cross is to condemning and judgmental and full of pride. To draw the spotlight of attention to myself instead of to God is to be an enemy. The glory, the adoration and worship, belongs only to God.

In God’s glorious transformation of me, I will be a reflection of Jesus.  Laying my “glorious-ness” from Him down at the Father’s feet in adoration and reverence.

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I AM

Posted on September 14, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

Moses said to God, “Behold, when I come to the children of Israel, and tell them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you;’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ What should I tell them?”

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM,” and he said, “You shall tell the children of Israel this: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”     Exodus 3:13-14 (WEB)

Have you ever wondered why God calls Himself “I AM”? Obviously, God could call Himself whatever He wanted to call Himself! The name does not give much in the way of description, does it?

It occurs to me as I consider the phrase “I AM” that it gives me a clue about God and one of His great mysteries – time. As a finite person it is difficult for me to even try to understand ‘eternity’ or ‘forever’. And I have thought about ‘eternity’. I have been to Europe and seen buildings that were built in the 6th century and wept as I considered all the people who had walked on the same steps that I now stood. But ‘eternity’ makes 1400 years seem like nothing!

The Lord speaks His name in the present tense. Is there something to learn from that?

The Past: The past can be a comfortable place. Good memories. Old friends. Learn from history so that I do not repeat it! But the past is also a place that is easy to get stuck. I rarely think about the past that I do not consider some different turns I could have taken. Regrets. Mistakes made always give birth to a regret and a wish that I could have made a different choice. God did not say, “I WAS”, did He? I know that God has always been and He knows those mistakes; those secret sins of my past. But God extends His forgiveness and then separates me from my sins forever (Psalm 103:12).

The Future: The future can be a place of hope when I think of the future as my home in heaven. The future here is so many unknowns with problems and fears straight out of headlines and sound bites. Many pray that peace and unity will come but that doesn’t seem to be characteristic of the world that satan wants to rule. God did not say, “I WILL BE”, did He? He did not want me to amass “treasures” here in this world (Matthew 6:19-22).

The Present: “I AM”. Here is where God lives. He lives in this moment where there are no regrets and no fears. Just as He lead the Israelites with a cloud/pillar of fire and fed them with manna, God will provide all that I need for today. Remember that Jesus said I should pray that God would give me what I need for today(Matthew 6:11). He told me not to worry about tomorrow because there is enough in this day (Matthew 6:34).

I like a plan. I like to know what is to come. This is not going to be an easy lesson for me. Fortunately, Jesus is a great Teacher. Take time to read all of Matthew 6 today. Class is in session!

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Soldier for Christ

Posted on September 13, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

Now great multitudes were going with him. He turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to me, and doesn’t disregard his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he can’t be my disciple. Whoever doesn’t bear his own cross, and come after me, can’t be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, doesn’t first sit down and count the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it? Or perhaps, when he has laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, everyone who sees begins to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build, and wasn’t able to finish.’ Or what king, as he goes to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends an envoy, and asks for conditions of peace. So therefore whoever of you who doesn’t renounce all that he has, he can’t be my disciple.”      Luke 14:25-33 (WEB)

Have you ever stepped up to pay for groceries and not had enough money to cover the purchase? Embarrassed? Oh, yes. But I also felt frustration that I had not calculated the expense correctly. My husband laughs and brags at how close I can estimate our grocery expenses. I’ve learned!

The cost of being a disciple was not something I estimated very accurately in the early years. “Jesus loves me” was the focal message of my relationship with Him. And rightly so. It would be hard for me to explain in words how overwhelmed with love I was when Jesus came into my life. I was (am!) so unworthy but Jesus poured out His love on me any way. He knew how much I needed His healing love. It was a season of soaking that made me new and strengthened me for the years ahead. I became the warrior that God had always wanted me to be.

And I have learned that warriors must go to boot camp. Warriors need muscles, endurance, and skills. Boot camp is a time when a new recruit comes to a place where ‘Dad’ doesn’t tell the soldier the ‘right’ thing to do and ‘Mom’ doesn’t fix the boo-boo’s. A soldier’s commanding officer (CO) becomes everything to that soldier. The CO is the teacher and leader. The soldier learns to obey that CO without question. The soldiers are taught to work together for the greater good of the team. Teams work together for the victory of the plan set out by the Commander-in-Chief.

A soldier’s time is not their own. They are committed to their King. He has their allegiance. Ask any family of a soldier and they will tell you that the soldier in their family must obey orders and the family’s wants – come second.

As I learn and grow as a soldier in God’s Army, I must make hard choices. Jesus said that no one, no one, is to come before Him. In Matthew 8:18-22, He even told a man that burying his father was not the right choice. Hard choices.

How tightly do I hold on to my spouse? How tightly do I hold on to my children? Hard questions.

Jesus’ love has not diminished for me. My love for Him has grown. My trust and faith in Him has grown. And so when God is first in my life, I leave my husband and I leave my children in God’s hands. Oh how thankful, on-my-face thankful that my husband and my children are also in God’s Army. For those that I love that have not signed on, I am praying that they will. That, too, is in God’s hands because as much as I want them to enlist, my King wants all of His children more.

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