The
KEY
to Christian Joy
One of the great thrills of the editor's life was being able, last year, to visit Turkey and Greece. The tour firstly visited the areas of the seven churches in Asia as given in the book of Revelation. It was exciting to stand in Ephesus, Sardis, Pergamos, Laodicea and the other Biblical places.
The second part of the tour followed on Paul's footsteps from Ephesus to Troas where he received the Macedonian call. From Troas he went by ship to Neapolis in Greece. From there he climbed over the 1670 foot mountain that forms a backdrop to Neapolis.
Then he went down the other side of the mountain following the Via Egnatia across a fertile plain where some miles distant he came to Philippi. There he established the first Christian Church in Europe. Then at a later date he wrote a letter to the Philippians which was called by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones "the Life of joy"
Philippians 1 is very precious to the writer because it figured prominently in God's call to the ministry. It was also a great comfort during his recent stay in hospital following serious coronary by-pass surgery. Especially precious was the key verse (1:6). Let us use this key to open the door to joy in the Lord.
"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."
Consider first the condition in which the great apostle found himself. He was in prison in Rome at the end of a life of much suffering for the cause of Christ. He was in a horrible Roman jail probably chained between two soldiers. This would make the ordinary events of daily life most difficult and even embarrassing.
Yet, in this squalor, he takes time to write this epistle of joy. He encourages the Philippians to "rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice" (4:4).
Dear reader, are you suffering today from debilitating sickness or distressing circumstance?
Here is a word of encouragement. Paul is no armchair quarterback with only theoretical knowledge and little practical experience. Paul speaks from hard experience which is one reason why this word is so comforting.
Notice his confidence and we wonder at the ground of that confidence.
His condition was poor in Rome but he rejoiced that the work in Philippi was going forward despite his afflictions. It was a work of God and no enemy could stop it.
Among the members of that early church were Lydia, the erstwhile demoniac girl and the jailor and his family. God had wrought a mighty saving work in them and many more that subsequently came to Christ.
The advancement of the work was not by the membership but by the providence of God. The Free Presbyterian Church faces many challenges (if it didn't we would not be doing much for God). But be encouraged this is not our work but God's work. He, and He alone, is the One who "hath begun" this good work.
Failure to grasp the fact that God is the Author and Finisher of the work in our souls leads to worry, foreboding and unhappiness. Away with pessimism! That is soul-destroying.
Too many Christians are looking at the problems instead of focusing on Christ. Human effort fails but Christ never fails.
"Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace."
Think about the commencement of this "good work." Paul did a great work in Philippi. He responded to
the Macedonian call. He crossed the Aegean Sea to Neapolis. He climbed ~ the mountain and walked across the plain to Philippi. He met with the folks at the river. He saw them converted,
the church founded and growing. He and Silas were beaten until their backs ran with blood. They were put into the heart of a dingy prison.
Yet Paul does not remind them of what he had done or suffered but what Christ had done. He underlined the great fact that the Lord was the One who initiated the work and would complete it.
The work of our salvation is something we cannot do. It is God who moved in the lives of Lydia and the others in Philippi. We likewise were once rebels against God. But it was He who convicted us of our sins, convinced us that only Christ could save and converted us by His power.
The work of Christian service is also something that God alone can initiate. The Free Presbyterian Church has a short but illustrious history. But it is not the story of what we have done but His-Story. God is the author of all.
The Philippians were good people.
Paul was able to say of them something that few could say of others, "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you" (1:3). But it was not those good people that started the church - it was God Himself. Without action from God there would not have been a church in Philippi. Without the action of God there would not be a Free Presbyterian or any other church.
As we contemplate the work of salvation in our own hearts, and the work of service that we have been enabled to do, let us never forget that the Lord is the Author of it all.
Printed by permission from the editor of the Canadian Revivalist
