Conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ

The Apostle Paul wrote the letter to the Philippian believers while chained to a guard in prison. And the letter’s central theme is joy.

Let that sink in.

But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy. Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy. Philippians 2:17–18

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again — rejoice! Philippians 4:4

We can learn a few things from a man like this while we’re stretched out in our overstuffed, oversized chairs, eating salted caramel ice cream and binging Game of Thrones.

6 Essential Lessons from the Book of Philippians

1 — Your perspective is your pain reliever

Shackled to a guard while waiting for Ceasar to decide his fate, Paul’s mind was on the Philippian believers.

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:3–6

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

Paul didn’t sit around moaning about his problems. He used his “downtime” to pray for and encourage others.

Taking your mind off your miseries to help someone else is a beautiful distraction from your pain.

2 — Your purpose perseveres despite your problems

Paul’s mission in life was to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He said in 1 Corinthians 9:16,

For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

Did Paul pause his purpose when his enemies put him in prison?

No, his purpose was still his purpose, no matter his address or living conditions. Paul saw his chains as an opportunity.

And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. Philippians 1:12–13

Paul was chained to a prison guard, so he preached the Gospel to his captive audience and everyone else within the sound of his voice.

Paul said in chapter 1, verses 21–24:

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.

He dies; he wins. He lives; he wins. Paul would preach the Gospel despite the hell he faced. How do you stop a man like this?

Your purpose doesn’t have office hours and sick days.

3 — Your peace waits on your participation

According to Anxiety & Depression Association of America, anxiety disorders are the most common form of mental illness among American adults age 18 and up, affecting 40 million people. The disorders include General Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and Phobias.

Humans are in short supply of peace.

I’m sure the stats include many Christians, yet we have help.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4–7

The Apostle Paul says peace needs your participation. In four verses, 4–7, Paul lays out how to possess the peace of God, which transcends all understanding:

• “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” — Your joy comes from Jesus, always. And “rejoice” is a verb. Rejoice is something you do, always. Your feet shackled together in a prison dungeon after being severely beaten, you still rejoice.
• “Let your gentleness be evident to all” — “Gentle” comes from the Greek word “epieikēs,” which means “gentle” or “considerate” — your behavior as a Christian matters.
• “Do not be anxious about anything.” — How can you not be anxious about anything? The answer follows in the rest of the verse.
• “but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” — this verse unpacks more verbs for you to do. In every situation: talk to God, thank Him, tell Him your worries, and ask Him for help. King David said in Psalm 55:22, “Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.” Jesus said in Matthew 11:28–30, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

You’re not off the hook yet. Salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone, but the Christian faith isn’t for the spiritually and mentally lazy.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me — put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8–9

Paul said we must train our minds on the right things and do them to have the peace of God.

Finally, Paul explains another factor in eliminating anxiety and having the peace of God — forgetting the past. History doesn’t contain a Christian who should be racked with more guilt and shame than Paul. Before Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus, he murdered or was at least complicit in the murder of Christians. Yet despite a shameful history, Paul said,

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. Philippians 3:13–15a.

“ …in Christ Jesus” is the key, for there “is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1). The devil “is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). He wants you to drown in shame over your past deeds, but Jesus nailed to the Cross every bad thing you ever did.

Paul said if you’re “in Christ Jesus,” — forget the past, strain toward, and press on toward the future.

Your peace waits on your participation.

4 — Your conduct is crucial to your Christian faith

“Preach the Gospel and, if necessary, use words” is a quote attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi, but we should do both. Tell people what Jesus has done for you and show them with your actions.

Paul knew that integrity was vital. He told the Philippians that Christ’s followers should behave in specific ways.

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. 1:27

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 2:3–4

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 4:4–6

Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky. 2:14–15

14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. 4:14

Do unbelievers have more of a problem with Jesus or His followers? Paul told the Corinthian believers –

We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors…2 Corinthians 5:20

Dictionary.com defines “ambassador” as “an authorized representative or messenger.” Mother Teresa was an ambassador for the poor around the world. Gandhi was an ambassador for freedom. Michael Jordan was an ambassador for Nike.

You’re an ambassador for Christ. Conduct yourself consistently with your faith claims. Ultimately, your bad behavior isn’t turning people off to you; you’re hurting the Gospel.

Words hang you as a hypocrite, but deeds determine your integrity.

5 — Your contentment isn’t conditional

Discontentment is a disease of modern culture. Companies spend billions of advertising dollars to fuel discontentment about your house, clothes, cars, body image, free time, and anything else that sells a product or service.

Paul said your contentment comes from Christ, not your conditions.

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:11–13

Paul suffered hunger, beatings, betrayal, stonings, imprisonment, a shipwreck, a snake bite, and much more. But he knew “the secret of being content in any and every situation” — Jesus!

Jesus never leaves or forsakes you (Hebrews 13:5).

Christ is your contentment.

6 — Your value is in Christ

Think about how much you love your children and the sacrifices you’d make for them. Your children would be empowered if they could get their heads around the magnitude of your love, right?

Now, consider how important you are to Jesus.

Who (Jesus), being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death — even death on a cross! Philippians 2:6–8

God came to earth to feel hunger, to shiver in the cold, to sweat in the heat, to work for His food, and to drape ALL of your sins on His body so He could be your Perfect Atonement.

Paul also said it like this in Romans 5:6–8,

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Dictionary.com defines “value” as “relative worth, merit, or importance.”

Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9–11

Can you wrap your head around this truth?

Jesus, reigning in the highest honor; Jesus, the name above of all names; Jesus, the name to which everyone will bow; Jesus, the name everyone will confess as Lord — this Jesus values you so much He left His place of honor, chose to humble Himself as a baby, live a perfect life you couldn’t live, die a death you deserved, overcame death with resurrection power so that you can have Heaven as home.

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. Philippians 3:20–21

When the King values you this high, it can only mean one thing — you are valuable.

God’s Love Letter to You

Paul’s letter to the Philippians is God’s love letter to you. He wants you to be joyful and content in all circumstances. God desires you to know and feel how much He loves and treasures you. Paul sums it up well in Philippians 1:9–11:

I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation — the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ — for this will bring much glory and praise to God.

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