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Philippians 1:1

No Title Required

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
April 23, 2014

Paul was a visionary leader who led visionary followers to become visionary leaders. Every biography and encyclopedia article about Paul will celebrate his remarkable leadership abilities. What was his secret? He 23 footwashingfollowed the Master’s example. In the opening address to his letter to the Philippians, Paul identifies himself and Timothy in Philippians 1:1 as “servants of Christ Jesus.” Many preachers and commentators fly past these words suggesting that they are just the formal way Paul used in the “from” line of his letters. I think they are worth a little thought. He didn’t identify himself as an elder, deacon, a pastor, an evangelist or as an apostle, but he was truly all of these things. He preferred the title “servant.”

Much of the Leadership literature today speaks about “Servant Leadership.” In the 1980’s the term began to show up pretty regularly in a lot of secular literature on the subject of leadership. But it has proven to be an extremely difficult concept to bring into the corporate world. It’s even more difficult in the church. Religious organizations apply titles of honor on their leaders such as Father, Priest, Pastor, Minister, Doctor, and Reverend to name those that immediately come to mind. We often dress them in special garments that set them apart from others. But Paul would have none of that. Paul’s normal address of himself was simply “Paul.” He often added “a servant of Christ Jesus.” Paul once had all the titles and honors of a Religious leader who could trace his lineage back to Benjamin. But once he encountered the living Christ he counted all his titles as “rubbish.” He hung all his credentials and accomplishment on that rack as well. In Philippians 3 he listed all his credentials and then said in verse 8, “I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish…” Instead of titles and honors, at every possible point, Paul pointed away from himself toward Jesus Christ. That is the essence of servant leadership.

Jesus is the supreme example and until one becomes a follower and servant of Jesus they will never be able to follow the example that is displayed in such a humble act as foot-washing. Liefeld argues, “First, one must come to the cross of Jesus where his love, forgiveness, and servant hood were supremely displayed. It is the cross of Christ and the subsequent bestowal of the Holy Spirit that are going to reveal to the disciples the secret of servant-leadership. The pre-requisite for understanding and practicing servant-leadership is the acknowledgement of Jesus’ death and resurrection.” After He washed his disciples’ feet he called them, and He calls us, to do the same thing, i.e., serve each other with humility. Jesus calls us all to follow Him. He calls us all to be a servant leader. No degree required! No office necessary!

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Philippians 1:1, Acts 16:10-12

On Being a Visionary Follower

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
April 22, 2014

The letter to the Philippians was addressed from “Paul and Timothy.” But Paul had three companions. We know that Silas went with Paul on this journey from Antioch. On his way to Troas Paul picked up Timothy 22 aristotlein Lystra, had him circumcised to make him acceptable to a Jewish audience and then brought him with him into Macedonia. In Troas he picked up Luke as his third companion. The story in Acts 16:10, shifts from third person plural to first person plural meaning that the writer must have joined the group in Troas. Acts 16:11-12 says, “So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi.” Paul did not plant the church in Philippi by himself. He had Timothy, Silas and Luke with him.

Paul was a visionary leader. In Luke’s account recorded in Acts 16:10 he makes it clear that it was Paul that God called with the vision, but they all knew God wanted them to be in on it. Luke writes, “And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.” They didn’t just say, “Ok Paul we’ll go with you.” They didn’t say “Paul called us.” No, they said that through Paul’s vision “God called us.” They already understood the mission to “make disciples” by preaching the Gospel, but they needed strategic direction regarding the where, how, why and who they should try to reach. These three men experienced God’s call through Paul’s vision. They were visionary followers!

Every Christian is called to be a visionary leader. But most Christians don’t realize that calling because before anyone can be a visionary leader they must learn how to be a visionary follower. Luke, the Physician, became the greatest apologist to ever live. His historically accurate and extremely detailed Gospel has convinced millions of the truth of Jesus Christ. After following the visionary leadership of Paul for many years, Timothy became recognized as the visionary leader for the Church at Corinth and later at Ephesus. Two books in the Bible were written to him! After following Paul’s visionary leadership, Silas became a visionary leader for the church at Antioch. It was Silas who carried the decisions of the Jerusalem Council to Antioch. Terry Muck said, “As editor of Leadership Journal for ten years, I visited hundreds of churches across the country and met thousands of pastors and lay leaders. Among the many things I learned, one issue stands out: how difficult it is to lead a church community today. It is not difficult, mind you, to grow a church, to manage the day-to-day affairs of a church, or to chair committees and task forces. True leadership, however, is another matter. It’s tough to lead primarily because people don’t want to be led.” If you can’t embrace the visionary leadership of someone else, you will never become a visionary leader!

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Acts 16:10

The Joy of a Clear Vision

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
April 21, 2014

I only got to Ecclesiastes 8:15 in my study of that book but considering that I’m beginning a study of Philippians I couldn’t have ended at a more appropriate verse. Solomon says, “I commend joy, for man has nothing 21 clear visionbetter under the sun but to eat and drink and be joyful, for this will go with him in his toil through the days of his life that God has given him under the sun.” The book of Philippians is Paul’s commendation of joy to us also. James Boice introduces his study of the book by saying, “The letter to the Philippians is one of the most joyous books in the Bible. All the way through the letter Paul speaks of inner joy, of inner happiness—sixteen times in four brief chapters. And he does it in such an artless way we know that the one who advised the Philippians to ‘rejoice in the Lord always’ had himself found the true source of joy. He had not only learned in whatever state he was to be content; he had learned to rejoice in whatever state he was. He overflowed with rejoicing.” We can too!

It was a dream in which Paul had a vision that moved him to travel to Philippi. On his 2nd missionary journey he found himself back in Asia Minor looking for a destination to the east. But he didn’t feel peace about any of his choices. He never even considered going west into Macedonia. That would take him to Europe! He didn’t want to go to Europe! But God wanted him to! In the vision Paul saw a man crying out to him for help, pleading with him to come to Europe. Acts 16:10 says, “And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.” It’s interesting to me that in Acts 10 it took three visions from God to motivate Peter to answer the call for help from a gentile outside his comfort Zone. Paul seemed to grasp the significance right away. He became the New Testament’s greatest visionary. He had a vision to reach people in Rome and as far west as Spain.

Paul knew his mission well: to preach the Gospel, or make disciples! Paul had a divinely appointed mission, but no divinely inspired vision. That’s why he was frustrated on his 2nd missionary journey until God gave him the vision to go west into Europe. Nothing ever happens if there is no vision fueled by the conviction that this is what God wants “us” to do. Each Christian has a divinely appointed mission; to contribute their time, energy and resources to the overall mission Jesus gave the church to “make disciples.” It’s vision that energizes the fulfillment of a mission. Vision is strategic. It gives us direction! It clears the confusion. It informs us on how we as a church and as individuals can uniquely fulfill our mission. It answers the question regarding “who” we will reach out to. Vision enables us to understand how we as a church or as individuals are distinct from other Christians or churches. It informs us of where our ministry is taking us. It is vision that inspires and energizes us. It also makes life meaningful and fills us with joy! That’s why Paul said, “…immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia.” With a clear vision of what God wants us to do with our lives joy will, “go with us in our toil through the days of our life that God has given us under the sun.”

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Luke 8:53, John 16:33

The Last Laugh

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
April 18, 2014

I expect we’ve all heard the saying, “he who laughs last laughs best.” Jesus will always get the last laugh. Do you remember Jairus’ 12 year old daughter? She was near death and Jairus pleaded with 18 risenJesus to come to her and heal her. But Jesus was interrupted on His way by a woman who had suffered many years with a particular illness. Jesus postponed His meeting with Jairus’ daughter to take care of this woman. A messenger arrived telling Jesus not to bother because the little girl had died in the interim. When Jesus arrived at Jairus’ house, it was filled with mourners. Jesus told them not to weep because the girl wasn’t dead but just sleeping. Luke 8:53 records their response: “And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead.” But Jesus went into the house and raised her up and returned her to her father and everyone marveled. I think Jesus might have laughed! I know I would have!

Abraham, the great man of faith, was promised a son. He then lived for 25 more years, approaching 100 years of age and still hadn’t had a son. God renewed His promise to Abraham and Abraham laughed. No! Genesis 17:17 tells us “Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed…” it sounded so hilarious to Abraham that he lost control and fell to the ground with laughter. I need not remind you that Sarah also laughed. After all she was 90 years old and way beyond menopause! My wife and I are in our sixties and if God, or anyone suggested we were going to have a baby, I would have great difficulty keeping a straight face. Wouldn’t you? But God got the last laugh. A baby boy was born to Sarah as predicted! He directed Abraham to name the boy Isaac, which means, laughter!

Isaac was the son of promise through whom another son would be born who would bring God’s blessing upon the whole world. For several millenniums “Laughter’s” descendants awaited the fulfillment of that promise. Then another child was miraculously conceived by a virgin and brought forth her first born son and named Him Jesus. He brought healing, freedom, joy and laughter to all who received Him. In response the religious community arrested Him, tried Him, convicted Him, abused Him, and hung Him on a cross to die. While suffering, they spit at Him, mocked Him and laughed at Him! But Jesus, once again, gets the last laugh! After three days in the tomb, Jesus rose from the dead! If at no other time, at Easter every believer should be laughing their heads off. It’s the celebration of the last laugh. It is our last laugh also. In John 16:33 Jesus says, “I have said this to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer (be happy! Laugh!), I have overcome the world.”

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Luke 6:21

A Kingdom of Laughter

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
April 17, 2014

There is another pair of verses in the New Testament in which Jesus, Himself, speaks about laughter. He validates the teaching of Solomon regarding the extremes of life; a time to weep and a time to laugh. There is a time for every 17 time to laughpurpose under heaven. They will come to us all. But Jesus speaks to us about a future event when God’s kingdom will come on earth. We all walk through the valley of the shadow of death. We all suffer, we all lose loved ones. As the King of God’s Kingdom, Jesus makes us a promise. In Luke 6:21 He says, “Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.” Luke 6:25 reverses the promise. It says, “Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.”

The woe pronounced upon those who laugh is not directed at having a sense of humor or an innocent kind of laugh. As Darrell Bock says, “…γελάω is often tied to laughter that is boastful, self-satisfied, condescending, or rejoicing in the harm that others experience. For example, Lam. 1:7 uses the term of how the enemies laughed or gloated at Jerusalem’s destruction. Thus, the picture is of a person of worldly ease who is indifferent because of self-satisfaction.” That kind of laughter will be turned into mourning. The prosperous, powerful and popular often look at the poor, weak, and the simple with derision. But in the Kingdom of God real joy and real laughter belong only to the poor, the weak and the simple of this life that understand their state and turn to God for salvation.

Laughter is part of God’s plan for us in the mystery form of God’s kingdom, the Church, and ultimately in the realized form of God’s kingdom in the eternal future. I like the way Martin Luther translated 2 Corinthians 4:17; “…After brief weeping comes eternal laughter; after a small sorrow comes eternal joy.” When Jesus taught in the synagogue at Nazareth He read from Isaiah 61:1-4, and then said that this passage is being fulfilled as they watch His ministry of healing, setting prisoners free and preaching good news to the poor. Another thing He does in this passage is give us “the oil of gladness instead mourning.” We still view the mark of faith to be a serious and sober expression. But as Oswald Sanders said, “Should we not see that lines of laughter about the eyes are just as much marks of faith as are the lines of care and seriousness? Is laughter pagan? We have already allowed too much that is good to be lost to the church and cast many pearls before swine. A church is in a bad way when it banishes laughter from the sanctuary and leaves it to the cabaret, the nightclub, and the toastmasters.” Absolutely! Abraham Lincoln said, “If I did not laugh, I would die.”

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Proverbs 17:22, Ephesians 5:11

Laugh It Off

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
April 16, 2014

Solomon taught us in Proverbs 17:22, that “Laughter is a good medicine.” When you study the biblical kinds of sicknesses you will find that not all illnesses are physical. Some of the diseases referred to in Scripture are emotional 16 dictatorand spiritual. When Solomon talks about laughter being good medicine he’s suggesting it’s good for healing all kinds of sicknesses. One kind of healing that laughter encourages is healing from addictive sins. Some of us have had huge battles with addictive behavior and although we’ve had some victories over them just continually feel oppressed by these temptations. The addictions still dominate our lives. Instead of focusing all our attention on addiction itself, we focus all of our attention on abstaining from the addiction. But no matter how you look at it, the addiction still dominates our thinking. It still controls us.

I don’t like to think of these addictions as demons. I don’t think there is a demon of alcohol. I don’t think there is a demon of tobacco. I don’t think there is a demon of pornography. But I believe that Satan uses all of these things against us. His very name is the “adversary.” He uses everything he can to hold us back, keep us down and destroy our Christian joy. Laughter helps do battle. It can often bring healing of this disease and victory over our enemy. In 1940 the entire world trembled at one European country that had nearly conquered the entire continent. Although he was only 5’ 8” tall his war machine was second to none and threatened the safety of the entire world. Then a 5’ 5” comedian named Charlie Chaplin made a movie called “The Great Dictator.” Chaplin mocked Hitler, made fun of him and the Nazi movement and moved the whole world to laugh at this menace. All of a sudden Hitler didn’t seem that powerful! Through laughter this little comedian convinced the world that Hitler was beatable. The allies rallied there forces and did just that – defeated Hitler and destroyed the Great War machine.

I can’t tell you how many times men have come to me with help with drugs, alcohol, and pornography addictions. Many times they would break down in tears. I would weep with them. We’d get on our knees and pray for deliverance. I remember one man spread eagle on my office floor. During The Promise Keeper’s movement of the late 1990’s, I had little time for anything else. Yet, many of these men never experienced freedom from these sins. Whether they abstained or not they remained obsessed with the sickness. Like the world in 1940 we attributed way too much power to the little evil dictators in our lives. Comedy disarms the culprit! Ephesians 5:11 teaches us, “Have nothing to do with the worthless things that people do, things that belong to the darkness. Instead, bring them out to the light.” Nothing shines the light on the dictators in life more than laughter. Nerenberg, a self-proclaimed “Laughologist” leads a six week recovery workshop where he teaches addicts to laugh. His success has been remarkable. He says, “Laughter therapy is proving to be a powerful salve for addicts who may otherwise feel themselves to be in a very dark place.” I guess there may be more than I imagined in the advice to, “just laugh it off.”

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Proverbs 15:13, 17:22, Ecclesiastes 8:15

Laughing Out Loud

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
April 15, 2014

In Ecclesiastes 8:15, Solomon exhorts us to live life with joy. He says, “I commend joy, for man has nothing better under the sun but to eat and drink and be joyful, for this will go with him in his toil through the days of his life that 15 lolGod has given him under the sun.” Many commentators point out the differences between joy and laughter. Laughter is often referred to in a negative way while joy is seen as more profound and more spiritual. But I’m convinced that the right kind of laughter is divine. The right kind of laughter might even be described as exuberant or radical joy. God created us with the emotions we have and among them is the capacity to laugh. In the comedy central world we live in, I will admit, most of the sexually laced humor we are exposed to is inappropriate. Paul says in Ephesians 5:4, “Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you.” Solomon is not affirming this kind of humor when he tells us in Ecclesiastes 3:4 that “there is a time to laugh.” But he is commending a light hearted life style that learns how not to take things to seriously; how to laugh at ourselves and situations we encounter in life.

Laughter is the physical explosion of radical joy. Whatever the settled more spiritual joy we might find in our lives works its way from the inside to the outside. Solomon said in Proverbs 15:13. “A glad heart makes a cheerful face…” Joy, radical Joy, shows itself on our faces. Unfortunately many Christians have been brainwashed into believing all laughter is bad and go about life with somber attitudes and sober expressions all the time. They look like they need some medicine. Doctor Solomon has written us all a prescription for this sickness. In Proverbs 17:22 he tells that “…laughter is good medicine.” Looking at Ecclesiastes 8:15 again we see Doctor Solomon’s reason for prescribing joy. He says, “…, for this will go with him in his toil through the days of his life that God has given him under the sun.”

You know very well that there are many trials in life. A study on humor in the Women’s Study Bible puts it this way: Life can become taxing at times, and moments come when we desperately need a change. Laughter is one way the Creator gave us to switch gears and punctuate monotony with joy. Humor is an exit from the mundane ‘road of life.’ Laughter is a simple yet reasonable prescription for some of life’s ills and most of its tedium. Physicians have assigned healing properties to humor, especially in cases of mental illness, such as depression. Certainly humor defuses tensions and helps put at ease. With so much tragedy in life, choosing humor instead of despair is good scriptural advice. Humor generally involves an acceptance of the ups and downs of life and the determination not to take ourselves too seriously. To combat stress, to relieve tension, and even to provide delightful diversion in the midst of trials and sufferings, laughter and a keen sense of humor may prove to be precious possessions.” Let you face show some joy; laugh!

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Psalms 2:4, Proverbs 31:25

The Laughter of Faith

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
April 14, 2014

I just spent some considerable time studying the book of Ecclesiastes. I wrote 74 daily devotional thoughts on the book but only got to chapter 8. My last devotional verse was 8:15. Solomon begins this verse by calling his 14 humorreaders to live a joyful life. He says, “And I commend joy, for man has nothing better under the sun but to eat and drink and be joyful, for this will go with him in his toil through the days of his life that God has given him under the sun.” God truly wants us to enjoy this wonderful gift of life that He has given us. In spite of the trials and hardships of life God balances life with many successes and daily pleasures which light up our lives with good things. Ecclesiastes 3 teaches us that there is a time for every purpose under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:4 says that there is “A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.”

J. Vernon McGee says that the devil wins when going to church is a burdensome ordeal. He argues that going to church should be fun! God has a wonderful sense of humor. Scholars have studied laughter and have recognized several different kinds of laughter. All of them appear in the bible. The first kind is the laughter of superiority. Adults laugh at the foolish antics of kids who don’t know any better. I watched my toddler grandson climb under the coffee table and repeatedly try to stand up. He banged his head every time. But he kept on doing it and I couldn’t help but laugh. I probably let it go on too long because his reactions were really funny! His tears eventually moved me to help him out. I’m not all mean, although his grandmother said I was.

This may very well have been the kind of laughter that God had as the Psalmist records for us in Psalm 2:4. This Psalm begins with identifying those who reject God and shake their fist in defiance at Him. Does this make God mad? No! Does the rebellion of mighty men threaten God? No! It says, “He who sits in the heavens laughs.” The kings on earth are like the toddler trying to stand up under a coffee table. It is really funny. They just can’t grasp the obvious and won’t stop the foolishness. Unlike the toddler, the kings of the earth, however, should know better. They should stop their rebellion. They should acknowledge the God of heaven, the king of kings. Then they would find relief. But they won’t! God is so far superior to anyone or anything that might stand against Him that he laughs. Another example of this kind of laughter in the bible is seen in Proverbs 31:25. This woman who fears the Lord has the same sense of humor especially as she faces an unknown future. Nothing scares her! Nothing threatens her. The passage says, “She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.” I’d like to live like that!

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