Matthew 5:14; 28:18-20: Signs of Joy

Presented to The Salvation Army Alberni Valley Ministries, Men's Breakfast, 24 September 2022 by Major Michael Ramsay

 

 The other day I was picking up the food truck from the mill. They were doing construction near the exit and so a lady was standing in a reflective vest, with a hard hat on, holding a sign for directing the traffic. I admit I was confused by her methods -at first- for she held the "stop" side of the sign facing me but with her other hand she was beckoning me to approach her in the large Salvation Army Community Response Vehicle I was driving.

 

I drove up to her. She motioned for me to roll down my window, which I did. She then said to me that she knows that The Salvation Army uses the truck around 5pm why am I taking it our around 9am. I explained to her that I had to fill it with gas and the volunteers and staff had to clean and stock it.

 

Then, while I was still stopped, she told me about her job. She mentioned how much she was paid - more than other companies that hold signs for road work. She spoke about the training she underwent and how good it is. She told me how one could get government assistance to pay for work boots and other things needed for the position. She spoke about the monetary benefits; she spoke about the beneficial work conditions. She, assuming I was a volunteer, told me how much she loved her job and how I could apply for a position with the company.

 

I thought it was cute that a new employee who had just gotten her job through an employment training program liked it this much. I said that it sounds like a great job (which it does) and I asked her how long she has been doing it. "Since 1980", she replied. That is 42 years ago at the time of my writing this!

 

Imagine loving your job so much that even after 42 years when you tell someone about it they just assume that you are excited because it is new to you!

 

As I reflected on this I thought of the job that we are all given, Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus tells his followers, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.” and I think of the excitement that this should bring us - even more excitement that the lady holding the sign had that day! The excitement should be so much that it cannot be contained. It should be like, Matthew 5:14, "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden."

 

It is my hope that this joy of the Lord will overflow in all of our lives.

 

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Lessons form our European Covid Tour 2020 (Deuteronomy 31:6, Proverbs 17:22, Matthew 6:25-34, Romans 15:13, 1 Corinthians 6:12 & 10:23-24,Philippians 4:19

Presented to The Salvation Army Alberni Valley Ministries, 02 August 2020 by Captain Michael Ramsay

This Flight Tonight

Proverbs 17:22 "A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."

Romans 15:13: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

We were on vacation in Europe in March when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the continent full force. I never really had a chance to chat with us as a congregation about our trip. It is August now and today is only my second time speaking with you here since March. I don’t think anyone could have predicted all this. Today, I thought that I would share some thoughts from our time away.

On our flight to Europe Sarah-Grace and I were watching movies with sub-titles (we didn't have headphones). One very funny movie we watched was Blended about these two previously married people falling in love and their families coming together. The lady was divorced. The man's wife had died of cancer. Sarah-Grace and I were laughing out loud so much that Susan (who was sitting a couple of rows up with Heather) came to see us. She asked what we were watching that was so funny; all she could find was some sad movie about some lady who died of cancer. It wasn't the same movie but Sarah-Grace and I couldn't help laughing all the more! The possibility that her not funny movie was exactly the same movie as our funny movie to us was very funny!

Now, of course, there is nothing funny about someone dying of cancer or Coronavirus or anything else for that matter. But a lot of our healing and wholeness comes from how we remember and how we process things over time. In the midst of all the sadness, anxiety, and real tragedy in our world at this time I encourage each of us to look for someone to laugh with and something to celebrate: front line workers, volunteers, healing, recovery, friends, family, the Grace of God... It is my hope that even in the very real struggles of the pandemic and beyond that we will all find some joy today.

Proverbs 17:22 "A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."

Romans 15:13: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
     

A Much Need Sleep

Hebrews 13:5b and Deuteronomy 31:6b: God has said: "Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you."

Philippians 4:19: "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus."

Our first night in Europe - before we even could have guessed how COVID-19 was going to paralyze the world - we were exhausted. Susan and Sarah-Grace were so tired at 4pm that they just couldn’t stay awake. It had been a long day-and-a-half of travel (driving down to the states and then flying to Germany via Iceland) without much sleep for any of us. With Susan and Sarah-Grace asleep I took Heather to the park, the playground, and the grocery store so that we wouldn't disturb them. (This was before any lock downs or social distancing were in effect.) At the playground I made a mistake: I sat down. I sat on a bench while Heather was playing and I just could not stay awake! No matter what I did, I couldn’t stay awake - so we headed to the apartment.

When we got there we noticed that there were not enough beds for us and there were even less blankets. Sarah-Grace was sleeping on the couch with one blanket and Susan was sleeping on a very small double bed with the only other blanket we could find in the whole place. Cold and crowded, Heather and I lay down beside Susan and we soon fell asleep.

We slept for a few hours and then we were awake again because the conditions for sleep were not very good! We were cold and uncomfortable. We then left the bedroom and read quietly on the floor outside the washroom so as not to wake the others until morning.

It struck me that even though conditions were not conducive to a good night's sleep, when we were so tired that we could not possibly continue to go on, God granted us the rest we needed to survive: even though under other circumstances there is no way that we would be able to sleep like this, when we needed it the most God granted us rest regardless.

Since then, we like many others have been in and out of quarantine. The struggles and concerns surrounding the epidemic are everywhere still. As Salvationists we are doing our best to support our community, coordinating much online, by phone, and in person as we are able. We are working to feed and provide for those in need; we are praying for and encourage people both near and far.

One encouragement I have for all of us during the uncertainty and anxiety of our lives today is this: Just as when we desperately needed rest, the Lord provided it even though the conditions were not the best; so now with those of us who are struggling with isolation, fear and other covid-related and non-covid-related things, even when conditions are not the best, the Lord will provide. In the midst of our very real struggles, the Lord cares for us and He is here with us. He will neither leave us or forsake us.

Hebrews 13:5b and Deuteronomy 31:6b: God has said: "Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you."

Philippians 4:19: "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus."

Domo Arigato Mister: Autobahn:

1 Corinthians 6:12 and 10:23:

6:12: “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything.

10:23-24: “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. 24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.

I did like driving in Germany. It was much better than driving in England. We were in England and Scotland in 2015 and I did not like driving in England – especially London. The roads are small and of course everyone drives on the wrong side of the road. I am still amazed that I didn’t get us all killed. It was a little tense.

Driving in Germany was very different. The roads were very nice. The highways were in great shape. We could drive on the right side of the road and, of course, in many places there is no speed limit. That was a lot of fun. The roads were large, open, and the traffic was very fast. I must admit that I really liked the idea of seeing how fast I could comfortably travel. After all, that was permissible for me; however, it was not necessarily beneficial.

Now there are a number of reasons why that it was not beneficial. The autobahn does post – not speed limits – recommended speeds to travel. If you would have an accident you would not have as good coverage with your insurance if you were traveling much quicker than the recommended speed, many things can happen at fast speeds, it isn’t necessarily as safe… but the main reason that driving very fast, though permissible, was not beneficial for me was… my wife didn’t like it… for all of those good reasons and more. You don’t want to upset your navigator when driving in a foreign country and, of course, you never want to upset your wife because you love her.

So while it was permissible to drive over the recommended speed it wasn’t beneficial. This is the same with a lot of our Covid regulations today in this country and province. Relating to masks, social gatherings, various events, etc.: 1 Corinthians 10:23-24: “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. [however] No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.

Dane-for-us Times

Matthew 6: 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

A lot of things went wrong with our trip. We did not see a lot of what we wanted to see. This was Sarah-Grace’s grad trip. Susan had been planning this for a long time down to the last detail and Sarah-Grace had been dreaming about it for a long time. I wanted to see especially the little mermaid statue in Copenhagen because when I was a child my great grandmother gave me a little statue of the little mermaid and so I have always wanted to see it – and we did – on the morning that we were fleeing Denmark because the army was going to seal of the border with Sweden, we were able to stop and pose for a picture with the mermaid before we fled over the bridge. There were many things that Susan planned to see too – mostly in Germany – that we didn’t get to see but we did get to see an ancient cathedral in Mainz where kings were crowned and we were able to see the Guttenberg Bible and we were able to see Hameln of Pied Piper fame before we had the flee Germany. Again we just made it over the border to Denmark in time and had a chat with some very nice military personnel on our way out.

Sarah-Grace, I think, was feeling more than a little bit upset. These things we saw in Germany - before we had to flee – were great but it was Denmark she wanted to see and the moment we got there everything was closed and it got really scary. We didn’t even know if we were going to be able to make it home at all. The Americans closed their border and we flew out of the US and now were not allowed to fly back. We were on the phone all night long with insurance agents who still refuse to reimburse us to this day and I am sure they never will. We were on the phone all night long with airlines trying to book new flights home by new routes. We were on the phone with relatives trying to find someone to pick up our car from the aero port so that we wouldn’t have to pay a million dollars to store it – we still haven’t been able to get it from the States. (The US seems much more willing and able to stop Canadians from entering the US than the other way around judging from our trip to the border the other day and seeing who is crossing from which direction) Our first night in Denmark is when everything shut down. I was on-line with our Member of Parliament who said we should come home now and so we were on the phone with relatives trying to beg borrow and not quite steal enough money to fly back home before our border closed.

There were so many things Sarah-Grace wanted to see in Denmark but Denmark was now closed. Anyone who knows Sarah-Grace knows she is a big music fan, particularly an 80’s rock music fan. She really wanted to see something to do with the band Metallica. She is a big fan and their drummer Lars Ulrich is from Denmark. This was one of the main reasons we were in Denmark. One night, the night before we had to leave the country, I was walking around the deserted streets of Copenhagen and I providentially stumbled across the Hard Rock Café in Copenhagen – and it was open! It was almost the only thing open in the whole city; so a ran back to the hotel as fast as I could and got Sarah-Grace, Susan, and Heather and we all went to the Hard Rock Café. We got to see Lars’ drum set, Slash’s guitar, a Curt Cobain guitar and many items of memorabilia from rock musicians. We even were able to request songs to be played at the restaurant. We had a good meal and a great time. The Lord really did provide this gift for Sarah-Grace, and all of us, right in the middle of all the worry – and there was a lot at this time – and right in the middle all of the very real struggles of our Life. The LORD, God gave us this gift.

And so it is with us today, Matthew 6:32-33, we don’t need to panic, to be overwhelmed with worry. Our Heavenly Father knows what we need and as we seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness He will provide.

Philippians 4:19: "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus."

For, Hebrews 13:5b and Deuteronomy 31:6b: God has said: "Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you."

Proverbs 17:22a "A joyful heart is good medicine...”

So Romans 15:13: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Let us pray...

www.sheepspeak.com

https://www.facebook.com/Salvogesis

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Paul J. Achtemeier, Romans. Interpretation: (Atlanta, Georgia: John Knox Press, 1985)

M. Eugene Boring, Matthew (NIB 8: Nashville, Tenn.: Abingdon, 1995)

N.T. Wright, The Letter to the Romans (NIB 10: Nashville, Tenn.: Abingdon, 1995) and Part 2: Ch 9-16 (Louisville, US: WKJ, 2004)

N.T. Wright, '1 Corinthians' in Paul for Everyone, (Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press, 2004)

Michael Ramsay, 1 Corinthians 6-10: In Tents Storm of Life: Everything is Permissible but Not Everything is Beneficial. (Swift Current The Salvation Army: Sheepspeak, 01 June 2014) On-line: http://sheepspeaks.blogspot.ca/2014/05/1-corinthians-6-10-in-tents-storm-of.html

Michael Ramsay, Matthew 6:25-34: WHU's Blowing Bubbles. Presented to The Alberni Valley Men's Breakfast (Port Alberni. The Salvation Army: Sheepspeak, 16 June 2019) On-line: https://sheepspeaks.blogspot.com/2019/06/matthew-625-34-whus-blowing-bubbles.html

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Devotion 3.25/126: Matthew 5:45: New York Wind

Presented to River Street Cafe, 21 March 2018

My family and I are blessed to be visiting New York this week as my children are on a break from school. It was a bit of a drive from Toronto but we don't mind, we are used to long drives.

It is great we got to see the Brooklyn Bridge, the Barclay Centre (where the Islanders play), the Museum of Natural History, 5th Avenue, Broadway, Time Square, and Central Park, among other places.

We walked around outside quite a bit an enjoyed ourselves - and then it got cold. Have you noticed how things can change in an instant? A day can be perfectly enjoyable and then it becomes too cold (or too hot) and all of a sudden everyone's mood changes.

Scenery hasn't changed. The neat things to see and do haven't changed. The monuments and parks haven't changed. You're enjoyment however has changed.

This is life. Life happens to every one of us. We all have many exciting and enjoyable things to experience just as we have many trials and toils to endure. The difference is how we experience these situations. If we focus on ourselves, it is like we are inviting a cold wind into our day to make us miserable in the midst of all the wonderful sights around us. If we, however, focus on Christ, we will also notice others and have our hearts warmed and lives enriched by his love as we take in all that He is doing around, in, and through us.

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Devotion 2.20/72: Philippians 3:17: Me Too

Presented to the River Street Cafe, 26 August 2016

Read Philippians 3:15-19

Philippians 3 is a great chapter in a great book. It is, among other things a great call to perseverance. You know what perseverance is? Perseverance is the ability to get through difficult times. And you know why God gives us the ability to get through difficult times? Because He has even more difficult times for us to get through (cf. Romans 5:3,4).

There is a popular song these days by Meghan Trainor called Me Too. Its chorus repeats, ‘if I were you, I’d wanna be me too.’

Philippians is a letter Paul wrote while he was in jail awaiting execution. He voluntarily suffered so much. He didn’t need to be there but because God is most important to him he is in jail, he is on death row and instead of telling all his friends to pray for his release, his ease, or to run for the hills so this doesn’t happen to them; Paul says in essence, ‘if I were you (outside, free, and not on death row) I would want to be me too.’ Paul writes, ‘Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do’ even though it may cost you everything, even your freedom and your life.

Paul goes on to write, ‘for, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.’ But you should live as I do and you will have real freedom.

 

This is quite important. Do you see why Paul wishes we could be like him even though he is in jail? It is because he is there serving God. Paul's life isn't easy. Paul gave up basically all claims to an easy life when he became a Christian. That's when he began his journey towards imprisonment and death and everyone knows that. This is why Philippians is such an important letter. Philippi is a rich city. Paul, on death row here, lets us know how to really have life abundantly. Paul, who used to be every bit as privileged as the Philippians, tells them that he cries not because he is in prison; he cries because they, who are free, really are missing out on something. It is Paul who is living the free life of someone who is redeemed.

I saw an article in the National Post the other week. It was about the curse of the lottery. Maybe even more than two-thirds of big lottery winners in Canada are broke within seven years of becoming millionaires and some have new or worse drug habits and some are now in jail for those habits or for murder or for something else. Success, happiness, wholeness, life isn’t about having it easy by getting things or getting away with things. If in this life, if you have so much but do not have the love of God that produces the contentment of holiness than you have nothing. And then, no matter how wealthy you are, 'If I was you I'd wanna be me too'.

Week 49: 2 Corinthians 5:17: Life

Devotional presented to 614 Regent Park Corps Council, Monday, 14 September 2015

Read 2 Corinthians 5:14-19

How can I experience a new life? We are told in 2 Corinthians 5:17 that if anyone is ‘in Christ’ he is a new creation; so then the answer is, if I become ‘in Christ’ I will then have a new life – great. Let’s do that – but what is ‘in Christ’?

When we are ‘in-Christ’ we no longer act the same way as most others; we are changed through changing our minds so that we can see and do the good things God wants for us and others (Romans 12:2). Being ‘in-Christ’ is no longer thinking about ourselves.

Just the other night I received an e-mail from an old friend of mine who works in a BC prison; I myself spent (voluntary) time in Stony Mountain Penn. We agreed that many of the fellows there who are stuck, unable to change; the ones who don’t get along with their fellow inmates and are threatening and litigious, are the people who act upon ‘a perverse sense of entitlement.’

It is this sense of entitlement, among other things, that embodies the old life for each of us.  It is this way of thinking that traps us. The new life is experienced only as we change our minds to put God, rather than ourselves, first. This is what it means to be ‘in-Christ.’ It is simple but what can we do to get this new life? Well, nothing.

Jesus has already provided the new life for us. It is very much like Spring. When Spring has come, the temperature rises, the snow melts, the trees bud, the flowers bloom and there is nothing any of us can do about that. Spring has sprung.

However, we do have the choice to experience Spring or not.  If we stay inside our house with the heat cranked up full blast; head outside wearing a parka, gloves and a toque; it doesn’t change the fact that Spring has come; it just means we are very uncomfortable and we don’t reap its benefits. The pre-Spring life is not worth living after Spring has come; likewise, the pre-Christian life is not worth living now that Christ has come.

So to this end I encourage us all through praying, meeting together, and reading our Bibles to take off our toques and mittens, step outside let the Lord transform us into a new creation now that the eternal Spring has indeed sprung.

How are you experiencing the joys of the eternal Spring in your life today?

If you aren’t experiencing the joys of the eternal Spring I invite you to pray for the Lord to come into your life. If you have and you know others who are not yet experiencing the full joy of Salvation, why not look for an opportunity to help someone else begin enjoying eternal Spring this week?

www.sheepspeak.com 

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[1] Based on the article by Captain Michael Ramsay, How can I experience a new life? Nipawin Journal (26 March 2008) On-line: http://sheepspeak.com/sasknews.htm#spring

Week 28: Philippians 1:3: Others

A devotional thought presented originally to Swift Current Men’s Prayer Breakfast, Thursday 09 April 2015

Read Philippians 1:3-6

Imagine you are in prison. Imagine you are in an off shore American prison or in the Middle East in the hands of ISIS or another group and imagine you are facing possible execution.

If you could write a letter, make a video or leave a phone message, what would it say? I imagine we would be more than a little afraid. I imagine we would ask everyone to pray for us. We would activate a prayer chain and ask everyone to pray for our safe return, right?

This is not what Paul does. Paul is in prison but it is not with his own state that he is concerned. He is concerned with how well others - free people, privileged people - are preparing for Christ’s return (cf. 1:11). He is in jail awaiting execution and he is encouraging free people to prepare for the ‘Day of the Lord’ by living in a manner worthy of the Gospel (1:27), being united in purpose (1:18), staying the course, and he is even now rejoicing (cf. 1:3, 6) in the Lord’s accomplishments through them.

Instead of ‘please pray for me’, Paul writes, ‘I thank my God every time I remember you’. Paul is not concerned about himself. He is thinking about others and their participation in the Kingdom of God. Paul tells them how confident he is that God will complete the good work in them that God has already started. He speaks of his desire that their love may overflow with wisdom and knowledge so that they are prepared when ‘Day of the Lord’ arrives.

Paul is not worried about himself. Paul is concerned about others and the Kingdom of God. This man is in chains. This man is facing a death sentence and he is in jail awaiting appeal.

He is in jail and we don’t read in his letter, “Why is this happening to me, Lord”? We don’t read, “What have I done to deserve this?” or “How could this be happening to me?” Paul is not bemoaning or even questioning his situation. Just the opposite: Paul is bold because he is prepared; he says to live or die, both are good. Death is gain (because of the resurrection) and to live… life is Christ.

We don’t hear him whining and complaining. We don’t hear accusations about his captors. We don’t hear him calling down curses upon Caesar. We don’t read complaints about the food or fellow inmates. What we read here is that his captors are hearing the Gospel and we see Paul encouraging others to be bold and to be prepared to share the Gospel.

Paul is in jail and he is concerned about others and their courage to fully participate in the Messianic Kingdom. As Paul awaited the ‘Day of our Lord’, that was his primary concern even with all that was going on in his life. So then, the question for us today: as we await the ‘Day of our Lord’, what is our primary concern - our own state of affairs or God’s Kingdom and others’ salvation?

www.sheepspeak.com 

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[1] Based on the article by Captain Michael Ramsay, Be Bold for the Gospel...a look at Philippians ch.1. JOURNAL OF AGGRESSIVE CHRISTIANITY 54 (April-May  2008) On-line: http://www.armybarmy.com/JAC/article6-54.html

Philippians 4:4: Rejoice in the Lord Always.

Presented to Swift Current Corps of The Salvation Army, 05 May 2013
by Captain Michael Ramsay

Philippians 4:4: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say rejoice

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Philippians 4:4: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say rejoice

A good question to ask here –of course- would be what does Paul mean when he says to rejoice always? In the ancient Roman world “joy is rarely mentioned, except as an illusion. This is true for the philosopher and the elites. It is much more so for the vast populace that had no opportunity for philosophical or scientific reflection.”[1] For the vast majority of the people in the world of the Roman Empire the old adage would apply that ‘life’s hard and then you die’ and on top of that people didn’t live very long to begin with then and there. And some of the pagan religions of that region stated that in some circumstances that your suffering in this life didn’t even end with your life; it continued on after death.

Philippians 4:4: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say rejoice

There is not a lot of joy, as we would represent it today on commercials for early retirement, travel, entertainment, etc. in the ancient Roman world. Remember that even the Roman Emperor, the most powerful man in his world; he didn’t have any indoor plumbing; he didn’t have any central heating; he didn’t have any air conditioning. Neither he nor the other rich and powerful people of this time and place flossed or even brushed their teeth – toothpaste was not even conceived of - and no one ever took a shower. People didn’t live that long and there wasn’t much joy, as we would portray joy today in our contemporary advertising.[2]

Philippians 4:4: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say rejoice

Even if there were a lot of things that we would consider joyful, it certainly would not be in and around the situation in which Paul found himself. Remember that Paul was in a 1^st Century Roman prison when he wrote this letter. As such, Professor Gregory Bloomquist writes:

Joy was, however, something that Paul appears to have thought that he could offer to those willing to accept his message. What makes his assertion so implausible is that his was a message written from a context of extraordinary suffering. We may not realize this today. First of all, most of us have no experience of prison. But, even if we did, imprisonment would have been profoundly different from almost any North American experience of prison today [except maybe Guantanamo Bay]. Prison in antiquity was not a ‘holding cell,’ but a place to impose greater suffering on the wrongdoer than the wrongdoing itself had caused. We would be shocked by the length of imprisonment for crimes that today would be considered matters either for fines or for a short jail sentence. And we would be shocked by the conditions of the prisons—overcrowding, hunger, chains, filth, inadequate clothing, illness and death, all of which could be worse in some regions or during times of social unrest, while improvement was episodic but never permanent. Moreover, we would be shocked that torture was common and consistently used to extract confessions and information, and prison was an opportunity to enable torturers to hurt those accused of hurting others and to do so with increasing savagery and ferocity.  But knowing this, we would not be shocked that the logical end for prisoners was death, not release, and a death that would almost certainly be followed by yet more prison in the underworld of the life to come. The afterlife was simply a kind of eternal prison in which gods and their agents tortured men and women.[3]

Philippians 4:4, Paul writes: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say rejoice.

So why does Paul write ‘rejoice in the Lord always’; what does Paul mean by ‘rejoice in the Lord always?’ It is important enough that he says it twice: ‘Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say rejoice’, he writes. Elsewhere, in his letter to the Thessalonians, Paul writes, ‘rejoice and give thanks in all circumstances’ (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). Paul is writing this letter to his friends in Philippi who aren’t in jail and who could in all likelihood wind up in jail or dead for their faith and instead of telling them to pray for him so that his suffering will be eased, instead of complaining to them about his treatment, instead of complaining about his condition and instead of asking for relief, instead of warning all of his friends to head for the hills so that they don’t suffer the same way as he is in this Roman imprisonment, Paul says that he has all this joy in his imprisonment and he wishes the same for them.

Can you imagine? Picture this with me. Someone you know has just been sent to prison – to a real bad prison. Maybe Guantanamo Bay, itself where there is water-boarding and other 21^st century versions of torture going on and they write you a postcard, maybe there is a picture of it on the front, and you flip it over and it says, “wish you were here.” Maybe you wouldn’t feel quite the same.

Philippians 4:4:Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say rejoice.

Paul in this letter is writing to people who have about as good of a life as people in his day and age do; Paul is in as bad a situation as probably a Roman citizen would find themselves. And Paul is encouraging them – earlier in this letter – to be bold for the gospel when he and they both know full-well that if they are they run the risk of winding up in the same condition as Paul. And here Paul, who is suffering much more than they in Philippi would appear to be, Paul writes, “rejoice in the Lord always; again I say rejoice.”

Now Paul is writing this letter and there are a couple of church ladies who have had some row about something. It was bad enough that someone has even told Paul about it while he is in prison. Paul writes, Philippians 4:2,3: “I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life” (Revelation 3:5; 17:8; 20:12, 15; 21:27; 22:19; cf. Luke 10:20; Hebrews 12:23). These are women whose names have been written in the book of life and they are fighting, arguing, talking about each other behind each other’s back, gossiping, or just being nasty about each other. They are not building each other up and as a result someone has brought this to the attention of Paul who is in jail and Paul himself has written back from his experience. He says that they should ‘be of the same mind as the Lord’ and each other.[4] They should both focus on the things God focuses on – the proclamation of the Gospel, instead of their petty differences and they should, Philippians 4:4, Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say rejoice.

What about us? Do we have this joy of the Lord that Paul has? Do we have the joy of the lord that those whose names are written in the book of life have? Do we have the joy of the Lord that Christians are to have? You and I do we? If we wound up in a prison tomorrow would our first concern be how will we tell people about Jesus and would we rejoice in our new opportunities to do so?

How much more in our lives today? As we find ourselves in jobs we’ve held for a long time or a short time, do we rejoice -instead of complaining- do we rejoice in the Lord and the opportunities that He provides us in that job to share the gospel?

How about us in our lives today? As we find ourselves in care homes, retirement villas, or hospitals for the long haul, do we rejoice -instead of complaining- do we rejoice in the Lord and the opportunities that He provides in that place to share the gospel?

How much more in our lives today? As we find ourselves in relationships and in families that we’ve known for a long time or a short time, do we rejoice -instead of complaining- do we rejoice in the Lord and the opportunities that he provides us with our family to share the gospel?

How much more in our lives today? As we find ourselves in congregations that we’ve been apart of for a long time or a short time, do we rejoice -instead of complaining- do we rejoice in the Lord and the opportunities that He provides through that church to share the gospel or do we whine about the person sitting next to us?[5] Do we rejoice in the Lord and share the gospel or do we complain about how so and so leaves the kitchen? Do we rejoice in the Lord and share the gospel or do we gossip about others behind their backs? Do we rejoice in the Lord and share the gospel or do we complain about the music or the preaching? Do we rejoice in the Lord and share the gospel or do we tear down our fellow congregation members with negative words? Do we rejoice in the Lord and share in the work of the gospel or do we refuse to work with others who we see as antagonistic, inferior, or infuriating? Do we, like Paul tells us from prison 1 ocean and 2 millennia ago, do we rejoice in the Lord always in the opportunity to share the gospel with others or do we work against Christ and against the gospel by not being of like mind with Him and with each other. This is very important. This is so important that Paul says it twice. Philippians 4:4: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say rejoice.

This week the Stanley Cup play-offs began. It is the first time in about 40 years that all of the original six teams have been in the play-offs and it is the first time in a long time that the majority of the Canadian teams (though none from the prairies here) are in the play-offs. Athletes, on their teams, have one goal: to win the cup. Christians, through our churches are supposed to have one goal: to win the world for Christ, to point everyone to the salvation that God has already provided for the world.

Can you imagine that if when the members of your favourite hockey team got together that instead of practicing, planning for the game, conditioning, and building each other up through pep talks, the coach started talking to the goalie about what a nag the centre’s wife is?

Can you imagine that if instead of practicing, planning for the game, conditioning, and building each other up through pep talks, the defence started complaining about how inappropriately dressed Number 8 was all the time?

Can you imagine that if instead of practicing, planning for the game, conditioning, and building each other up through pep talks, the manager gossips with the left wing about how messy the right wing’s car is?

Can you imagine that instead of practicing, planning for the game, conditioning, and building each other up through pep talks, the goalie is worried about what player number 9 may have said to player number 12 about player number 13?

Can you imagine that if instead of practicing, planning for the game, conditioning, and building each other up through pep talks, one of the players was so self-focused that he was always whining and always complaining and always sharing about all of his perceived problems and how miserable his life is?  Can you imagine if he was always complaining about himself or someone else or some real or some perceived problem in his life? Can you imagine if he refused to rejoice always in his sport?

What would happen to that hockey team and their goal of winning the Stanley Cup, if instead of being of one mind in rejoicing in the opportunity provided to play, they instead gossiped, tore each other down, cried about their own state of affairs and complained about those who were on their own team? What would happen if they weren’t of the same mind? What would happen? Would they achieve their goal of winning the cup? Would they achieve their goal? No.

What will happen to the Church, what will happen to this congregation and our God-given goal of salvation and winning the world for Christ, if instead of being of one mind in rejoicing in the opportunity provided us to serve, we instead gossip, tear each other down, cry about our own state of affairs and complain about those who are on our own team? What will happen if we aren’t of the same mind? What will happen? Will we achieve our goal of salvation and winning the world for Christ? Will we achieve our goal?

Friends, as Paul exhorts us from one ocean and two millennia ago, as we are bold for the gospel, as we remain of one mind, no matter what our circumstances – and I know that there are some very real, trying circumstances represented here today - no matter what our circumstances, I encourage us to, Philippians 4:4-7:[6]

“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 [cf. Matthew 6:25-34], 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.

Even and especially when things are at their most challenging, Philippians 4:4: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 

Let us pray.

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[1] L. Gregory Bloomquist, ‘Subverted by Joy: Suffering and Joy in Paul's Letter to the Philippians’. Interpretation 61 (2007): 274. cf. also A. A. Long, Stoic Studies (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996), ch. 8, "Stoic eudaimonism." For Stoics, human life was never an achieved happiness but alwavs remains a battle between cleaving to the flesh and cleaving to the divine logos; see William O. Stephens, review of A. A. Long, Stoic Studies, n.p. Online: http://ccat.sas. upenn.edu/bmcr/1997/97.ll.20.html.

[2] Cf. Morna D. Hooker, The Letter to the Philippians, NIB XI, 548.

[3]L. Gregory Bloomquist, ‘Subverted by Joy: Suffering and Joy in Paul's Letter to the Philippians’. Interpretation 61 (2007): 274.

[4] Cf. Homer A. Kent, Jr., The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Pradis CD-ROM:Philippians/Exposition of Philippians/V. Second Series of Exhortations (4:1-9)/B. Exhortation to Maintain Various Christian Virtues (4:4-9), Book Version: 4.0.2

[5] Martin, Ralph P.: Philippians: An Introduction and Commentary. Downers Grove, IL : InterVarsity Press, 1987 (Tyndale New Testament Commentaries 11), S. 172. The attitude of gentleness should not JUST be represented in our relationships in the Church but it should ALSO be represented in our relationship in the Church.

[6] Fred B. Craddock, Philippians, Interpretation Series, 1985,72. Not being anxious, not worrying is very different from not caring.