The Mindset of Maturity.

In v. 15 of Philippians 3 Paul moves on from the ‘athleticism’ of vv. 13-14, the “forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,” and say’s, “All of us who are mature should take such a view of things [NAS has, ‘Let us, therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude....’]....”

The RRExp might sound something like this: “In light of what I’ve just taught you about ‘pressing on toward the Goal’ of conformity to Christ Jesus, let as many of us as are mature, keep on thinking this way, keep on taking this view, keep on embracing this mindset and motivation.”  We see action in progress here, and which is expected by the writer to be constantly so.  That’s the idea.  Now, let me see if I can break down for you some of what Paul has in mind here.

 I   Humility— in 2:3-5.  “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.”  Two things to learn here: [a] Humility is the attitude which leads to victory in the spiritual realm; and [b] arrogance is the attitude which leads, inevitably, to defeat.

II. Obedience in 2:8 and 12.  Obedience begins with the attitude of humility, which means a surrender to divine authority, acceptance of a will not your own in a power beyond your own.  It starts with the Word of God and leads to the will of God.

III The mindset of stability and fortitude— the ‘faithful conflict and competition’ of 1:27.  In this passage Paul say’s, “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ.  Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you ‘stand firm’ [Steko, a military term.] in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the Gospel [Sunathleo refers to a team of athletes working together, striving for the same goal.].”

IV The mindset of vigilance in 3:1-3.

V. The power of passion, hunger, desire.  Paul was one of the most passionate men who ever lived.  His passion for the Person of Jesus Christ drove him every day.  He talks about his passion for Jesus in 3:7-11.  We ought to have— every one of us— a passion in our spiritual lives, a hunger and zeal for Truth, for righteousness, for service in the Cause of Christ.

VI A mentality of perseverance to the Finish.  Paul brings this out in 3:12-14.  What’s he saying there?  “Cast the failures of the past to oblivion: move forward, ‘press on’ beyond the chains and the limitations of your past, and win the victory today!”

VII Single-mindedness.  This is an attitude, a mindset, a way of thinking.  Again, found in 3:13b.  What does it say?  “But one thing I do.”  “You have all these distractions, deceptions, and destructions out here in the world,” he writes, “but there is one thing above all others— the Person of Jesus Christ.”  Instead of these twelve things I attempt, Paul said, “This one thing I do.”

If we chose any one of these, and embraced it wholeheartedly to the end of our days, the benefit and the blessing would be enormous, beyond our ability to “ask or imagine” {Eph. 3:20a}.  The impact of this sustained decision would be eternal.  And all of them together?  Life shattering, world shaping.  Truly.

HJC	Ric Webb  |  Shepherd Heart’s Journey Community 9621 Tall Timber Blvd. |  Little Rock, AR 72204 t +1.501.455.0296
hjcommunity.org
Heart’s Journey – Live Generously and Love Graciously

Hold the Line... At All Costs.

In Philippians 3 the aged Apostle moves from an athletic analogy in v. 14 to a military one in v. 16, one equally obvious to the church in Philippi, a city populated by a colony of retired Roman military personnel and their families.  What he’s saying is, “Don’t fall out of ranks.  You’ve come this far by faithfully adhering to the battle-plan of the Royal Battalion.  Don’t take the ‘route of retreat’ this late in the War.”  “Only let us live up to [‘Let us keep on,’ present tense, ‘living up to’] what we have already attained,” v. 16 {NIV}.

So, not only are we to hold the ground we’ve gained, we are to gain new ground, occupy new territory, press the advance in the Cause of Christ right to the heart of the enemy’s stronghold!  The point?  Spiritual retreat is never the solution to any problem you will ever have in life!  Ever.  This is an absolute statement, I get it, unequivocal and unapologetic.  But that doesn’t make it any less true.  You don’t retreat from the ground you’ve gained.  General Patton said, “I never pay for the same piece of real estate twice.”

There’s a lesson to learn here.  As you make progress in your spirituality, in your intimacy with Abba and your communion with Jesus Christ, don’t give up ground; don’t shrink away from the challenge; don’t become timid and fearful; don’t let the enemy start haunting you like a specter in the night.  Now, here’s the question which comes with it.  Where are you, right now, and what does this imply in your life?  Have you, slowly but steadily, backed away?  Are you thinking about retreat, are you planning an escape ...or are you “living up to the standard you’ve already attained?”

The verb for “let us live” is stoicheo, signifying to ‘advance in a line.’  Stoicheo was a military word in the ancient world meaning- ‘march in ranks.’  Therefore, the idea is- ‘don’t fall out of ranks in the Royal Battalion, stay in position, hold the line at all costs!’

This was the cornerstone of success in the Spartan infantry.  They had been trained in the art of war since the age of seven, and they refused to break the line, ever.  They would advance on an enemy like a solid mass of churning death, bristling with spears in the phalanx, deadly silent save for the sounds of the salpigx, the trumpet which sounded out their commands.  No war cries, no shouting, no shrieking, nothing but this deadly, silent, unstoppable machine of war.  The whole time they were advancing toward the line of battle they would speak, calmly and coolly, words of encouragement meant to fortify the nerves of their compatriots, their brothers in arms.  This perfect, unified, silent formation served to demoralize and unnerve their opponents.  Oftentimes, as soon as they lowered their spears to the tops of their shields in preparation for attack— all in perfect unison— the enemy would bolt, or at least a portion of his forces, which would then leave him wide open for attack.  Such was the power and mystique of the Dorian foot soldier!

With the present tense and active voice, Paul is commanding the Philippians to ‘keep on marching in ranks, to follow diligently and daily the path which has brought them this far.’  When you have advanced to a certain level of instruction and initiation, when this particular phase in Abba’s Plan is a reality, be consistent with your growth as His Child in His grace.  That’s what Paul’s saying.  “Hold the ground that you’ve gained... and never retreat.”  “Let us keep on advancing in ranks” is not a bad translation.  You know why?  Because far too many of Jesus’ Followers fall out of ranks and become casualties in the Conflict.  We have direct orders from our Supreme Commander through his 1^st century Field Marshal to ‘follow the plan of attack.’  Don’t quit on the verge of victory!

HJC	Ric Webb  |  Shepherd Heart’s Journey Community 9621 Tall Timber Blvd. |  Little Rock, AR 72204 t +1.501.455.0296
hjcommunity.org
Heart’s Journey – Live Generously and Love Graciously

Clowns Are Only Beloved By Goats.

“A time will come when instead of shepherds feeding the sheep, the Church will have clowns entertaining the goats.”

— Charles Haddon Spurgeon

“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine [meaning ‘healthy, wholesome teaching’].  Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  They will turn their ears away from the Truth and turn aside to myths.  But you,” Timothy, you, young communicator, young man, “keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry” {2 Tim. 4:3-5 NIV}.

— the Apostle Paul

Here’s how it looks in The Message.  “You’re going to find that there will be times when people will have no stomach for solid teaching, but will fill up on spiritual junk food— catchy opinions that tickle their fancy.  They’ll turn their backs on Truth and chase mirages.  But you— keep your eye on what you’re doing; accept the hard times along with the good; keep the Message alive; do a thorough job as God’s Servant.”

One more, just to hammer the point home.

“For there is going to come a time when people won’t listen to the Truth but will go around looking for teachers who will tell them just what they want to hear.  They won’t listen to what the Bible says but will blithely follow own misguided ideas [Yeah, Millennials... we’re looking at you.].  Stand steady, and don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord.  Bring others to Christ.  Leave nothing undone that you ought to do” {TLB}.

That time is now ...and has been now for a while.  The only choice we have is whether to be a part of it, a part of the ‘problem’ and following the crowd down the wide, well-paved path to destruction, or whether to ‘march in ranks’ as One, advancing on the enemy of our souls and finding our destiny in Christ.

HJC	Ric Webb  |  Shepherd Heart’s Journey Community 9621 Tall Timber Blvd. |  Little Rock, AR 72204 t +1.501.455.0296
hjcommunity.org
Heart’s Journey – Live Generously and Love Graciously

Counting the Waves of the Incarnation— Part II.

The revelation of Eternity in Time, the purely spiritual in the distinctly physical, is called the Incarnation, a word literally meaning- ‘in-flesh-ment, em-bodi-ment.’  As the apostle John so eloquently put it, “The Word became flesh and made His Dwelling among us.  And we have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only who came from the Father, full of grace and Truth” {Jn. 1:14}.  The 25^th of December is {not Jesus’ actual birth-date, but} the Day western Christendom has chosen to acknowledge the birth of our Lord.  It’s our celebration of the Incarnation.  C.S. Lewis argued the one grand Miracle of the Faith isn’t the Crucifixion or even the Resurrection, but the Incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ.  He viewed every other miracle in Scripture as preparing for, illustrative of, or resulting from, the Incarnation.  And I would add the Virgin Conception as an even greater miracle: cause without the young virgin Mary conceiving by means of the Holy Spirit {Lk. 1:35} there is no virgin birth, and thus no Incarnation!

The reality of the Incarnation is simply stunning.  It’s the stuff of myth, of legend, of stories looming larger than life, the very fabric of fairy-tales: a King comes riding in disguise, greatness and glory hide beneath an unattractive exterior, evil masquerades as wisdom and light.  And on and on it goes.  Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, a soul-shattering night of darkness and dread; Jesus tried before rulers whose only power is what He has given them {Jn. 19:10-11}; Jesus beaten and bloodied beyond human recognition, lashed with the whip and showered with spit {Isa. 52:14}; Jesus suspended above the Earth on a cruel Roman cross as He “was pierced for our transgressions” and “crushed for our iniquities,” every sin like a spear-thrust through His soul {Isa. 53:5}.  Every bit of it as real and true as the ground beneath your feet— the sorrow, the anguish, the unmentionable shame {Romans crucified their victims naked}, the separation from His Abba while the sins of all humanity {past, present, and future}, were poured out on the Son.  All of it as real as real can get.

True and sinless humanity.  No falsehood, no arrogance, no outbursts of emotional anger, nothing self-centred or untrue.  True, sinless, and human.  So, the question must be asked, ‘Why in the name of all that’s holy would He willingly lay aside the power and prerogative of Deity to become true humanity?’  In his book titled On the Incarnation, Athanasius of Alexandria said,

Because death and corruption were gaining ever firmer hold on them, the human race was in process of destruction.  Man, who was created in God’s image... was disappearing, and the work of God was being undone.  The Law of Death, which followed from the Transgression, prevailed upon us, and from it there was no escape.  The thing which was happening was in truth both monstrous and unfitting.  He, the Image of the Father, came and dwelt in our midst, in order that He might renew mankind made after Himself.  ...Thus by His own power He restored the whole nature of man!

The reason our Lord embraced our Life, and all that it entails— the pain, the sorrow, the suffering, the loss— is our restoration and redemption.  That here in the midst of all our mess, all our brokenness, all our woundedness, suffering and sin {committed both by us and against us}, He might restore the fallen image of Abba!  Heal our broken hearts and redeem our broken lives, rescuing us from the hand of our enemy.  This and this alone.

He did it all for you ...and He would do it all again.  But praise His holy name, He won’t ever have to {Jn. 19:30}!

HJC	Ric Webb  |  Shepherd Heart’s Journey Community 9621 Tall Timber Blvd. |  Little Rock, AR 72204 t +1.501.455.0296
hjcommunity.org
Heart’s Journey – Live Generously and Love Graciously