Conduct Worthy of the Gospel - Philippians 1:27-30
Conduct Worthy of the Gospel - Philippians 1:27-30
By Pastor Lee Hemen
April 5, 2009 AM
My father would come home from work and ask, “Boys, how have you behaved today while I was at work?” If we had been at school, he would ask, “Boys, how was things at school?” When he asked us these questions we knew it was not some quick acknowledgement of us, but he wanted to know exactly how we conducted ourselves whether at home or at school. Our personal conduct, behavior, and appearance were important for my father. Why? Because he knew that how we acted or how we displayed ourselves to others spoke volumes not only about our own behavior but about his parenting of us as well. It reflected on him and who he was. Therefore, we knew whether we were with him or away from his sight, we had better conduct ourselves in the right way. This is true for Christians and their relationship to Jesus as well. Christians should display conduct worthy of the gospel.
Paul related as much to the Philippian church and whether he was released from prison or had to suffer martyrdom, he wanted them to live lives worthy of the gospel they proclaimed. Their lives in Christ reflected to a lost world what they truly believed and it reflected on who Jesus was and what He proclaimed. Paul wanted to remind them to have conduct worthy of the gospel. Let’s discover why and how this morning…
READ: Philippians 1:27-30
There is an old saying that states that “while the cat is away, the mice will play,” and often as we grow up we have a tendency to think that what our “parents do not know about, will not hurt them” as well. In fact, this ungodly notion has so infected our society that we even think that we have a personal right to justify ungodliness by telling ourselves that “What someone does in the privacy of their own home, is none of my business.” However, this is patently a false notion because our conduct as individuals is not something that we can justify with an “out of sight, out of mind” attitude. Paul would remind us that for conduct worthy of the gospel…
I. Christians are to live for Christ even when no one else is looking!
1. What do you look like when others cannot see you? Like any good parent, who desires that their children mature, Paul reminds them to live as if he were always watching them. Paul told the Philippians that “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” Philippi, being a Roman colony, the Christians there would understand what Paul meant. The wording for “conduct yourselves” is a political term that literally means “live as citizens.” He meant for them to “live as citizens” of the gospel no matter what happened to them or himself! Roman citizenship was seen as something you were no matter where you lived. You were to always remember that you were a Roman citizen! Christians are to never forget that they are King’s kids and are to live like it in an ungodly world. Paul also wanted these believers to realize that whether he was there personally or away from them, they were to “conduct” themselves in a “manner worthy of the gospel!” Why? Paul knew that the Lord could return at any time, or even Paul himself could, and this was kind of a inferred warning for them. Jesus reminded His followers that “It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night.” (Luke 12:38) This was a constant theme for Paul to the early church. He would write, “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” (Ephesians 4:1) He told the Corinthians, “Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you. But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a whip, or in love and with a gentle spirit? (1 Corinthians 4:18-21) Paul would tell the Philippians, “our citizenship is in heaven!” (Philippians 3:20) Paul reminds us therefore that for conduct worthy of the gospel, Christians are to live for Christ even when no one else is looking!
EXAMPLE: A good leader remembers that they always represent the people who placed them into power. The President of the United States represents the people of the entire country, not just those who voted for him. In fact, people take very seriously the words he speaks, the things he does, and how he conducts himself. Our newly elected President has found himself under a microscope and has chafed at the personal examination his every action and his every word undergoes. However, this comes with the office of being the President of the Untied States of America. Too many politicians have forgotten they are accountable, not to be elected again and again, but to the people they represent. The same is true for the believer in Christ. This is why the writer of Hebrews would remind us that “since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:1-3) Christians are accountable to the gospel they believe. Paul would remind us that for conduct worthy of the gospel, Christians are to live for Christ even when no one else is looking!
While sometimes God calls individuals to stand by themselves for the Lord when no one else will stand up for godliness, God does not like Lone Rangers in His ranks. He hated it when Eve tried it, Abraham, Moses, King Saul, David, Solomon, Peter, Judas, Ananias and Sapphira, Simon the Sorcerer and others. We find that a call to Christ is a call to unity with other believers. This is one of the foundational truths of why Jesus established His church here on earth until He comes again. His body, the church, is to stand strong together weathering the storms of evil that is hurled against it. Paul would remind us that for conduct worthy of the gospel…
II. Christians are to stand firm, united together for the gospel’s sake!
1. What message are you sending to others about the gospel? The warning of Paul is clear to the Philippians. He writes that “Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know…” What is it that Paul “will know” about these Philippian Christians? Mainly that they will “stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel!” Notice that there are not many different opinions on theology here for Paul. He was not a religious “rainbow coalition” kind of guy. He did not want to hear excuses as about how or as to why they were not getting along as a church. He had seen this with the Corinthian church before and did not want to hear about it in the Philippian church. He had written the Corinthians: “I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good.” (1 Corinthians 11:17) Wow! What was the problem? Unity! Some thought they were better than others. Paul warns them, “I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it.” (1 Corinthians 11:18) Paul understood the words of Jesus when He prayed about the unity Christians were to enjoy: “I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (John 17:23) It displayed to the world who they now lived for – the Lord of love, Jesus Christ! Christians are to “Be completely humble and gentle… patient, bearing with one another in love. Making “every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:2-3) Christians are to “be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power,” (Ephesians 6:10) unified together for the sake of the gospel. Unity does not mean we cannot disagree as believers, but we must be going in the same direction! Paul would remind us that for conduct worthy of the gospel, Christians are to stand firm, united together for the gospel’s sake!
EXAMPLE: My brother and I were competitive siblings. “Sibling rivalry” was too tame a term for some of the knock down drag out battles we waged with one another as brothers. There were the buckets of water over the doorway, the passing gas bags on chairs, peanut butter plastered… well, let’s just say we had a healthy ongoing survival of the fittest battle going on between us. However, no matter how hard we fought for dominance with one another, everyone around us knew that we both could depend on each other in a pinch. Being the thin skinny one of the duo, I was picked on sometimes until my foes found out that “Big Ed” was my brother. In fact, I remember one time when I was being harassed by one particular bully in school. I believe it had something to do with the fact he found his locker glued shut. Of course I was the one who perpetrated the crime, and now he was going to try his vengeance out on me. That was until “Big Ed” came up on him from behind and stuffed him into his unstuck locker. He told the kid, “He can be a real pain sometimes, but he is my pain!” We left together, united as brothers. For Paul the church was to epitomize Jesus in the world. It was His body and Paul wanted the Philippians to act like it. Paul would remind us that for conduct worthy of the gospel, Christians are to stand firm, united together for the gospel’s sake!
Conclusion:
Paul would remind us that for conduct worthy of the gospel 1) Christians are to live for Christ even when no one else is looking! 2) Christians are to stand firm, united together for the gospel’s sake!
---
This article is the copyrighted 2009 © property of Lee Hemen and may not be copied or reproduced in any way shape or form without using the full text of this entire article, and getting the permission of its author.
By Pastor Lee Hemen
April 5, 2009 AM
My father would come home from work and ask, “Boys, how have you behaved today while I was at work?” If we had been at school, he would ask, “Boys, how was things at school?” When he asked us these questions we knew it was not some quick acknowledgement of us, but he wanted to know exactly how we conducted ourselves whether at home or at school. Our personal conduct, behavior, and appearance were important for my father. Why? Because he knew that how we acted or how we displayed ourselves to others spoke volumes not only about our own behavior but about his parenting of us as well. It reflected on him and who he was. Therefore, we knew whether we were with him or away from his sight, we had better conduct ourselves in the right way. This is true for Christians and their relationship to Jesus as well. Christians should display conduct worthy of the gospel.
Paul related as much to the Philippian church and whether he was released from prison or had to suffer martyrdom, he wanted them to live lives worthy of the gospel they proclaimed. Their lives in Christ reflected to a lost world what they truly believed and it reflected on who Jesus was and what He proclaimed. Paul wanted to remind them to have conduct worthy of the gospel. Let’s discover why and how this morning…
READ: Philippians 1:27-30
There is an old saying that states that “while the cat is away, the mice will play,” and often as we grow up we have a tendency to think that what our “parents do not know about, will not hurt them” as well. In fact, this ungodly notion has so infected our society that we even think that we have a personal right to justify ungodliness by telling ourselves that “What someone does in the privacy of their own home, is none of my business.” However, this is patently a false notion because our conduct as individuals is not something that we can justify with an “out of sight, out of mind” attitude. Paul would remind us that for conduct worthy of the gospel…
I. Christians are to live for Christ even when no one else is looking!
1. What do you look like when others cannot see you? Like any good parent, who desires that their children mature, Paul reminds them to live as if he were always watching them. Paul told the Philippians that “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” Philippi, being a Roman colony, the Christians there would understand what Paul meant. The wording for “conduct yourselves” is a political term that literally means “live as citizens.” He meant for them to “live as citizens” of the gospel no matter what happened to them or himself! Roman citizenship was seen as something you were no matter where you lived. You were to always remember that you were a Roman citizen! Christians are to never forget that they are King’s kids and are to live like it in an ungodly world. Paul also wanted these believers to realize that whether he was there personally or away from them, they were to “conduct” themselves in a “manner worthy of the gospel!” Why? Paul knew that the Lord could return at any time, or even Paul himself could, and this was kind of a inferred warning for them. Jesus reminded His followers that “It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night.” (Luke 12:38) This was a constant theme for Paul to the early church. He would write, “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” (Ephesians 4:1) He told the Corinthians, “Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you. But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a whip, or in love and with a gentle spirit? (1 Corinthians 4:18-21) Paul would tell the Philippians, “our citizenship is in heaven!” (Philippians 3:20) Paul reminds us therefore that for conduct worthy of the gospel, Christians are to live for Christ even when no one else is looking!
EXAMPLE: A good leader remembers that they always represent the people who placed them into power. The President of the United States represents the people of the entire country, not just those who voted for him. In fact, people take very seriously the words he speaks, the things he does, and how he conducts himself. Our newly elected President has found himself under a microscope and has chafed at the personal examination his every action and his every word undergoes. However, this comes with the office of being the President of the Untied States of America. Too many politicians have forgotten they are accountable, not to be elected again and again, but to the people they represent. The same is true for the believer in Christ. This is why the writer of Hebrews would remind us that “since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:1-3) Christians are accountable to the gospel they believe. Paul would remind us that for conduct worthy of the gospel, Christians are to live for Christ even when no one else is looking!
While sometimes God calls individuals to stand by themselves for the Lord when no one else will stand up for godliness, God does not like Lone Rangers in His ranks. He hated it when Eve tried it, Abraham, Moses, King Saul, David, Solomon, Peter, Judas, Ananias and Sapphira, Simon the Sorcerer and others. We find that a call to Christ is a call to unity with other believers. This is one of the foundational truths of why Jesus established His church here on earth until He comes again. His body, the church, is to stand strong together weathering the storms of evil that is hurled against it. Paul would remind us that for conduct worthy of the gospel…
II. Christians are to stand firm, united together for the gospel’s sake!
1. What message are you sending to others about the gospel? The warning of Paul is clear to the Philippians. He writes that “Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know…” What is it that Paul “will know” about these Philippian Christians? Mainly that they will “stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel!” Notice that there are not many different opinions on theology here for Paul. He was not a religious “rainbow coalition” kind of guy. He did not want to hear excuses as about how or as to why they were not getting along as a church. He had seen this with the Corinthian church before and did not want to hear about it in the Philippian church. He had written the Corinthians: “I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good.” (1 Corinthians 11:17) Wow! What was the problem? Unity! Some thought they were better than others. Paul warns them, “I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it.” (1 Corinthians 11:18) Paul understood the words of Jesus when He prayed about the unity Christians were to enjoy: “I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (John 17:23) It displayed to the world who they now lived for – the Lord of love, Jesus Christ! Christians are to “Be completely humble and gentle… patient, bearing with one another in love. Making “every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:2-3) Christians are to “be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power,” (Ephesians 6:10) unified together for the sake of the gospel. Unity does not mean we cannot disagree as believers, but we must be going in the same direction! Paul would remind us that for conduct worthy of the gospel, Christians are to stand firm, united together for the gospel’s sake!
EXAMPLE: My brother and I were competitive siblings. “Sibling rivalry” was too tame a term for some of the knock down drag out battles we waged with one another as brothers. There were the buckets of water over the doorway, the passing gas bags on chairs, peanut butter plastered… well, let’s just say we had a healthy ongoing survival of the fittest battle going on between us. However, no matter how hard we fought for dominance with one another, everyone around us knew that we both could depend on each other in a pinch. Being the thin skinny one of the duo, I was picked on sometimes until my foes found out that “Big Ed” was my brother. In fact, I remember one time when I was being harassed by one particular bully in school. I believe it had something to do with the fact he found his locker glued shut. Of course I was the one who perpetrated the crime, and now he was going to try his vengeance out on me. That was until “Big Ed” came up on him from behind and stuffed him into his unstuck locker. He told the kid, “He can be a real pain sometimes, but he is my pain!” We left together, united as brothers. For Paul the church was to epitomize Jesus in the world. It was His body and Paul wanted the Philippians to act like it. Paul would remind us that for conduct worthy of the gospel, Christians are to stand firm, united together for the gospel’s sake!
Conclusion:
Paul would remind us that for conduct worthy of the gospel 1) Christians are to live for Christ even when no one else is looking! 2) Christians are to stand firm, united together for the gospel’s sake!
---
This article is the copyrighted 2009 © property of Lee Hemen and may not be copied or reproduced in any way shape or form without using the full text of this entire article, and getting the permission of its author.
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