Rejoice in the Lord

By Brad Wells*

The old apostle paused for a moment in his dictation. “Tell me, Epaphroditus, once more. Exactly what is the trouble in the church at Philippi?” The young messenger sent to Apostle Paul in prison at Rome shifted on the rough-hewn chair. The prison warden had been kind enough to find the crude piece of furniture. His recent illness had left him weak and the back support greatly helped him as he penned the instructions Apostle Paul gave.

“Well, Brother Paul, it’s mostly because of the Jews who want to bring us back under the Law. Since you left, many of them, though claiming to believe in Jesus, demand that we become circumcised. They demand we keep the Jewish Sabbaths and feast days. It’s just brought a lot of confusion. Some are even beginning to doubt your apostleship—I know that’s hard to believe after all God has done through you, but . . . ”

“No,” Paul cut in quickly, “it’s not hard to believe, Epaphroditus. It’s happened many times in churches I have started. If they could only understand what we have in Jesus Christ!” “Brother Paul, I remember when you first preached that righteousness came through Jesus. It all made sense. It was so simple and gave me such joy and peace. But when the Jews arrived they seemed to know so much. They have been studying the Law for years. How could I compete with that?”

The apostle held up his hand. “Ah, my son, have you forgotten so quickly? Jesus Christ IS righteousness! He is wisdom! He is sanctification! He is everything, my son. Don’t ever forget that He is everything!” Epaphroditus looked intently at the man of God. He was not much to look at physically. His body was worn and battered from years of suffering and persecution, his eyesight failing, his voice rasping irritatingly.

Yet there was a sparkle in his eye; fervour in his every word. Here was a man with peace, joy, and purpose in life — even in a prison cell. “Write, Epaphroditus, write this . . .” Epaphroditus quickly dipped the pen in the inkwell and began in his neat script. “Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord . . .” Thus began Chapter Three of the Book of Philippians.

In Chapter One, Apostle Paul gives the first key to real joy: “A Single Mind”. That is, a mind focused on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And for Paul, it was all about the Gospel. Nothing else mattered. Chapter Two reveals another secret: there can be no lasting joy without “A Submitted Mind”. Submission to God and submission to one another. Humility. It’s the basis for unity.

But, here in Chapter Three, Paul gives another vital key for the kind of joy that endures: A Spiritual mind. After Paul commands them to rejoice in the Lord, he immediately began to warn the believers of “joy-robbers”. “Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.”

Those are very strong words! The Jews used the term “dog” to describe anyone outside of their religion. Now Paul was referring to the Jews themselves as dogs! The Jews boasted of their good works — they kept the Law. Paul called their work “evil”. He also uses the word “concision” to describe them. “Concision” is mutilation of the body. The Jews were very proud of their rite of circumcision. Paul said that they were nothing more than mutilated!

Why did Paul come on so strong? Because a real Christian is to rejoice in the Lord! A real Christian is not to look at outward, physical things. He is to think with the mind of Christ — the spiritual mind. Paul said, “We are the circumcision, which worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and (check out this next phrase . . .) have no confidence in the flesh.”

No confidence in the flesh. What kind of things are you talking about, Paul? In verses five and six, Paul says in effect, “I was circumcised on the eighth day like every good Jewish boy. I am an Israelite. I’m of the tribe of Benjamin. I am a Hebrew of the Hebrews. I am of the sect of Pharisees. I had more zeal than any other Jews — I even persecuted the church! And talk about the Law? I kept it — I was blameless!”

At the end of this list, Paul says, “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ . . . (I) count them but dung (waste) that I may win Christ.” (verse eight) No confidence in the flesh! How can we relate to what Paul said? I was two days old when my parents brought me to church. My Dad was a deacon, my Mom a Sunday School teacher.

I’m an American — from Idaho no less. I am a good citizen and pay my own way. And, by the way, I’m a Baptist! And if that doesn’t beat all, I am a missionary — went halfway around the world for the cause of Christ! And, well, I haven’t kept the Law, but I’m a decent guy.

What about you? Maybe you were baptised as a baby. Perhaps you are from the strongest tribe — the Jikker Kamp. Or maybe you’re pure nambis and “don’t speak no Pidgin”. Or maybe you speak all 825 languages of this great land. Your education is unmatched. Your church is the largest in PNG — and you built it yourself. Besides all that, you have a wonderful reputation. But Paul says, “Count is as loss!”
Your status, nationality, accomplishments, religion, or whatever else you put confidence in are not assets — they are liabilities.

Look at what kind of liability Paul likens them to in verse eight. We dig pits for that kind of loss. And why? To keep sickness and disease away from our homes. Well, my friend, that’s exactly Apostle Paul’s point. If you hold on to your own righteousness, you will never have the joy of Jesus in your life.

You will experience spiritual sickness and disease. You will be robbed of REAL JOY. There’s a higher life, a deeper knowledge, a better way. Paul called it the high calling. It’s the call of God, the call from heaven. “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus . . . For our conversation (life) is in heaven . . .” (verse 14, 20)

Why do we strive to be confident within ourselves — within this world’s system? Our calling is from above, our life and confidence is in the heavenly system. For this reason, rejoice in the Lord. The dear, old apostle fell silent and Epaphroditus wiped the ink off his pen and set it down quietly. He slipped to the dirt floor, fell to his knees, and wept in his hands.

“Oh, Jesus Christ, my Lord and my Savior! I see Your way. “I hear Your calling. I never want to put confidence in myself again. You are my all and my everything. My life is with you in heaven.” And the Apostle whispered, “Amen.”

*If you desire further counseling, send your concerns to: Brad Wells P.O. Box 617, Mt. Hagen, WHP. bwellspng@gmail.com