TRINITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH IHOP BIBLE STUDY
# 5, Philippians 4: 1 to 23, “Characteristics of those who, like Paul, know the Secret” – with commentary. The purpose of the Letter to the Philippians is to, “Live the mature and purposeful life.” Today’s study is the 5^th—and last--of 5 lessons.

 

According to our Study Chart

 

The Purpose of the Philippians Letter “Live the mature and purposeful life”
Lesson 5 or 5 “Characteristics of those who, like Paul, know the Secret”
Characteristics of those who stand with Christ	Paul has the secret by which to live	Testimony to the suffering of the Philippian Church and how God meets our need	Final Greetings
Vss. 4: 1 – 9	Vss. 4: 10 – 13	Vss. 4: 14 – 20	Vss. 21 - 23

 

 

ABOUT THIS LESSON!

I.          Read the assigned verses in one reading.

A.         Vss. 1 – 9, Standing firm in Christ

1.         Define what it means to “stand firm in Christ”

WS: To stand firm in Christ means to surrender ourselves to living out of the context of selfless service. It is when we become nothings that we can put forward Christ that makes us everything we are created to be; that is to live the humane life.

           

2.         Vss. 4 – 9, Choose one characteristic and share how you experience it.

WS: The characteristics to be noted:

Vs. 2, 3, Learn to live in agreement with our colleagues.

Vs. 4, Rejoice in the Lord always: We rejoice when we fulfill our intended creation of living the humane life. We know we are living our intended purpose when our neighbor affirms his satisfaction with us, our spouses confirm their love for us, and we feel a deep sense of satisfaction within ourselves. In this way we fulfill the Divine (or Great) Commandment of Jesus Christ.

Vs. 6A, Do not be anxious. When we are nothings there is nothing about which to be anxious.

Vs. 6B, Present your requests to God. This is learning to grow toward perfection (a la John Wesley).

Vs. 7, God guards me IN Christ. The lesson always results in surrender to the guardianship of God.  Paul continues: share your hearts, compassion, minds and will. In other words demonstrate your surrender to Christ by living the Humane life!

Vs. 8, Paul outlines the following: be true, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praise worthy: all are characteristics of living the humane life.

Vs. 9, Whatever was learned from Paul, put into practice: living the humane life.

Have God’s peace: the result of fulfilling our intended creation.

 

B.        Vss. 10 - 13, What is Paul’s secret of being content?

Vs. 13, Do everything IN Christ. For Gut Trippers this means to actively surrender, or give up, wanting anything that is worldly or natural in exchange for living the awakened life; i.e., the Christ life.

 

C.       Vss. 14 – 20, Paul’s testimony to suffering

1.         Vs. 14, Speculate on why sharing in Paul’s suffering is good for the Philippians

WS: Paul’s suffering put the Philippian people in a position to receive God’s assurance of forgiveness. It is important to remind ourselves that God does not put us into suffering, rather The Way Life Is (TWLI) puts us there. God only, and forever, is a God of love. However, we do experience that God is with us in suffering reminding us that we are victors and not victims.

 

2.         Vs. 18, What is the payment, fully applied, Paul has received?

WS: Vs. 19 answers the question. The traditional poetry we use is that God meets my needs in the riches of Christ. In Gut Trip Analysis, the “riches of Christ” is the demonstration of how to live the fully awakened life. This is done by dying an intentional death like that of Jesus who demonstrated how to die to the barriers preventing us from living the humane life. When we do, we experience the transformation of a resurrection like Jesus. It is noted that we, ourselves, are the recipients of this transformation rather than the transformation of our situations or circumstances. We are transformed from being victims into the possibility of living as victors.

 

D.        Vs. 22, Who are the saints in Caesar’s household? Why is Caesar’s    household the place where “saints” would be found?  

WS: Caesar’s Household is where we all live. Mother Nature created us human/natural while God gives us a soul that makes us humane. It is possible to live the humane life in whatever circumstances in which we find ourselves. This is our experience of transforming our natural inclinations into living the humane life.

 

I.          Part 2 is an exercise in reflecting on the assigned reading through a method of identifying the “Deep Problem” faced by the early church. Sometimes this is known as identifying the underlying contradiction. This is usually hidden behind some particular manifestations. Paul usually addresses this hidden agenda in his “solution” that he offers. Consequently, it is necessary for us to examine his solutions, and then back up to reflect on what is the  deeper problem actually being addressed. Usually, this reveals some new insights.

 

A.         What is the problem that is manifested in the Philippian church?       

Check out Vss. 4: 1 - 9

WS: My analysis of the problem is that the Philippian Church failed to stand firm in the Lord. One of the IHOPer shared that it may be the bickering, disagreements and quarreling.

 

B.        What is the solution Paul offers? Sometimes it is helpful to remind ourselves that Paul’s solutions does not necessarily solve the problem identified in section A. Rather, Paul’s solution addresses the Deep Problem (the Underlying Contradiction) observed in section C.

Check out Vss. 4: 10 - 12

WS: My analysis of the solution—which is related to the “deep problem”—is the encouraging word to do everything THROUGH Christ. One IHOPer offered Paul’s solution as the need for the Philippians to agree and to work in harmony. Another suggested Paul was simply saying, “Shape up!”

 

C.        What is the deeper, more hidden, agenda that Paul seeks to address with his solution?

Check out Vss. 4: 14 – 16

WS: My analysis is that the deep problem is that the Philippian church members lost the significance of suffering for Christ. This is a common failure in our churches today. Another IHOPer shared the insight that Paul identified the deep problem as their worry about the small stuff, or not “making the main thing the main thing.”

            Now, reread Paul’s solution to see if it makes sense.

 

Alright folks, talk to me!