Partnership in the gospel

Philippians 1:1-11 ESV

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:  Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Rev. Dwight Yoo

What does it take to be a genuine and helpful partners in spreading the gospel?

Shared goals

There is a fondness between the missionary and their church. It wasn't just a personality. It wasn't just their caring for his financial needs. They were genuine partners in sharing the gospel with the world. Partnership is also translated as fellowship. Fellowship is not just a bunch of Christians hanging out together. It really means a commitment to one another with financial implications. It speaks of almost a business venture. If the mission goes awry, it is felt by both partners. Not only do they share in good things but also the bad. The church sent a person to Paul while he was in prison. The physical presence meant that the church was there for them. That we shared the same heart of sharing the gospel. We share in the drive to share the gospel and putting our lives in danger and or dreams sacrificed for the mission. It is a difference in missions context, nothing else. We are not just sending checks. We are on fire for the mission of the great commission. Just as the missionaries, only we stay here and they are over there.

Sharing of gifts

Paul writes a letter to the church to help shepherd the church and teach. The church was poor and yet they sent money and they sent someone to help Paul survive prison. They invest and build each other up.

Common american missions mistakes
(How to help without hurting)

Gospel-centered view of self and others
(We are all broken sinners in need of grace. We can only share our gifts with one another.)

Awareness of cultural idolatry
(Americans are very results and time driven.)

Focused on strengthening the long termers, ideally the local church.
(Short term missions must support the long term local church. Work with the long term missionaries, rather than for the short term teams good.)

Shared power

The work of the church is not the most important. Not even the work of the long term missionaries. But mutual dependence on the power of God to complete the good work.

Praise the LORD, O my soul!

Psalms 103:1-22 ESV

Bless the Lord , O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord , O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments. The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all. Bless the Lord , O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word! Bless the Lord , all his hosts, his ministers, who do his will! Bless the Lord , all his works, in all places of his dominion. Bless the Lord , O my soul!

Rev. Charles Han

This psalm is the climax of the psalter. The trend of psalms starts in lament and ends in worship of God.

Praise the Lord

Vocal joy only completes the praise of something. We praise those things that we admire and delight in. The consummation of joy is praise. This is the purpose of the Christian life.

Praise the Lord, o my soul!

This statement implies that one is not naturally desiring the praise of God. He had to rouse himself to delight in God. It is not a spontaneous reaction. Praise is a discipline.

This is what we mean when we tell you to preach the gospel to ourselves. We are to bombard and saturate our souls with the gospel and what God has done for us.

We are called to behold what we have in Christ. This gospel promises us an overabundance that can never be lost or taken away. Grace for the enemies of God, an inheritance, a family, a purpose, and redemption.

Praise the Lord, all you creation!

After David tells himself to praise God, David calls others to praise God. He is not satisfied in just praising God. He calls others to praise God. Not only our neighbors, our city, the USA, but every person. And not only that, but even the stones and waters and creatures. That is the heart of praise... Mission.

Praying our troubles to trust

Psalms 3:1-8 ESV

O Lord , how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; many are saying of my soul, there is no salvation for him in God. Selah But you, O Lord , are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. I cried aloud to the Lord , and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around. Arise, O Lord ! Save me, O my God! For you strike all my enemies on the cheek; you break the teeth of the wicked. Salvation belongs to the Lord ; your blessing be on your people! Selah

Rev Charles Han

The psalms were during a time when David was on the run. His son had taken the throne and he was running for His life. Absalom was looking to kill him and had taken the throne.

Expect troubles

Large and small troubles are the norm, not the exception. We should not expect ease. We should find ourselves often uncomfortable and troubled. The overall feeling and sense of the psalms is one of attack, suffering, and need for divine intervention. We should not be surprised that our lives are troubled.

Maybe you feel deep down that you should be free from troubles. That we should be above the fray. But that is not biblical. We will often feel weak, overwhelmed, and troubled. That life on this side of eternity is one of struggle. If you are a Christian and you are up to your neck in trouble, you are in esteemed company.

"What can miserable Christians sing?" - Carl Trueman

Pray your troubles

Now that we are to expect troubles as the norm, what should we do then? Not only external troubles, but internal storms. David prays. He brings all these to God.

The most common command in the bible is do not fear. His commands this because fear can shackle us. It can affect us spiritually, physically, and emotionally. It makes us cowardly and keeps us from free righteous living. Low level anxiety to gripping intense fears are part and parcel of our hearts. But instead of fearing people, enemies, and circumstances, we should fear God. From that fear comes life and wisdom.

Is your instinct when fear comes to go to God? Or do you try to handle the burden on your own? When we meet God in fearful prayer, do we go to Him looming to become bold and strong in God?

Pray your troubles to trust

What is the way to go from fear to trust in prayer?

First, verses 1&2 tell us to come with our complaint(s).

Verses 3&4 confess faith in God. The fear in our lives can only be overcome by a greater fear. A reverential fear of God that casts out all our other fears. David does not confess general aspects of God. He gets specific. He speaks of God being his shield and his glory. The lifter of his head, the encourager of his heart, and the one who affirms him.

Verses 5&6 express confidence.

David says that he will not fear thousands of men seeking to kill and undo him.

Verse 7 is David's asking God to save.

We usually skip straight to this step. But there's a difference, he knows who he prays to.

Verse 8 is a celebration.

David was not saved yet. He was still in the same situation. But he celebrated salvation. The peace of God had taken over.

From doubt to delight

Psalms 73:1-28 ESV

Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For they have no pangs until death; their bodies are fat and sleek. They are not in trouble as others are; they are not stricken like the rest of mankind. Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment. Their eyes swell out through fatness; their hearts overflow with follies. They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression. They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue struts through the earth. Therefore his people turn back to them, and find no fault in them. And they say, "How can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?" Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches. All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence. For all the day long I have been stricken and rebuked every morning. If I had said, "I will speak thus," I would have betrayed the generation of your children. But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end. Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin. How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors! Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms. When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart, I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you. Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you. But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.

Rev. Dwight Yoo

This psalm is credited to Asaph. He is equivalent to the modem day worship leader.

The honesty of Asaph

Asaph speaks of a time of being tempted to walk away from God. He considered leaving the faith behind. He was being honest not just with friends and family, but also being brutally raw and honest to God. There is no pretense here. God calls us to come to Him not in formality. He calls us to meet Him without any pretenses or masks. As we are.

Not only that, but psalms were meant to be publicly shared. So, Asaph was sharing his troubles with everyone. His doubts of God. His struggles with faith.

The struggle of Asaph

Asaph was envious of unbelievers. He saw people who did not follow God. They were corrupt, happy, successful, and cocky. Following God has been painful. It seems in vain. Doubt is not only for the unbelievers, but also for the Christian, even pastors. Where is the justice?

The transformation of Asaph

Asaph goes to the sanctuary of God. And he is changed. So is that it? Just go to church? No, it is not just that. We are to pray together, praise together, take communion together... and somewhere in all that, God comes and meets us. When He does, we are changed. God confronts both Asaph's head and heart. Asaph experiences God and discovers that God is the ultimate treasure.

Acts 14:21-22 ESV

When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.

Suffering is not without reason. For the believer, it is expected. Because we follow Christ and no one is greater than their teacher.

The true prayer of repentance

Psalms 51:1-19 ESV

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem; then will you delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.

Rev. Dan Whang

We are going thru the psalms because they are relevant to our lives. They were written in good times and bad. They show us how to pray in all sorts of situations.

This psalms focuses on repentance and struggle over sin. This is meant to drawn us home from places of helplessness and hopelessness in our sins.

A spiritually healthy Christian is one who is continually repenting. They are constantly repenting of sin in view of God's grace and mercy.

Victory over sin does not come from just changing our behavior, paying enough penance/sacrifice... It comes from repenting properly. Repenting in a way that changes us.

A sincere appeal to God's mercy and kindness

David asks for God's mercy. Not by trying to be very sincere or earnest, but throwing ourselves upon God's mercy and love. David appeals to God's faithful love for His people. David knew that he had failed, but God is still faithfully loving us.

An honest admission of our total depravity

David speaks of how he was born in sin and grew up in sin. Are we surprised when people point out our sin? Are we surprised by our bad habits and excuses for them? Do we blame our circumstances, other people, or say that it was an exception to our usual behavior? We should not. We need to admit that we are sinners and that is our character. We need to own up to it. No but's. It is when we see our darkness clearly that we can then receive the fullness of God's grace.

Wanting sin to be completely out of our lives

David then asks for God to completely blur this sin from his life. Not a halfway appeal for momentary forgiveness, but a complete cleansing and removal of sin from our lives. If we do not want the sin out of our lives, it is because we have not repented deeply enough. We are still entertaining thoughts of sin. We are not repenting fully, if we are only concerned with feeling relief from the burden of our sin.

We will know that we have gotten there when we sing of God's righteousness and speak of mercy. When we share of God's mercy to others. Repentant people are not dour. They are joyful because they are being constantly spiritually renewed.

Two ways to live

Psalms 1:1-6 ESV

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord , and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord  knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Rev. Dwight Yoo

Why are the psalms beneficial for study?

These are songs meant for accompaniment with a harp. These writings span about a thousand years. They have been encouraging believers for over three thousand years.

The value of the PSALMS

They teach us how to PRAY

These psalms teach us how to pray. In all sorts of circumstances, joy, sorrow, doubt, etc.

SONGS to honestly express ourselves

They help us to express how we are feeling. Music can express better than just dialog.

Because of their MESSAGE

The psalms not only teach us how to talk to God, but they also teach us about God's love, faithfulness, his character...

Psalm 1 is the introduction to this book. It tells us that there are two ways to live. Only two. This psalm tells of the beauty of the good path and the tragedy of the other path.

Difference in influence

The wicked man walks, stands, and sits. This is the picture of one who is being influenced by the people of the world. They walk with wicked people. They are living a lifestyle of sin. And not only disbelieve, but they mock belief in God. Thus speaks to a breadth and depth of influence of worldliness.

This picture is a stark contrast to the one who follows God. They meditate on God's law day and night. It speaks of a totality of life being influenced by the word of God.

These two influences are completely radical and in stark contrast to each other: the word of God and the world. We will listen to those that we believe are authoritative. If we believe God, then we will listen to Him. If not, then we will look to the world for truth and happiness.

Which one does your life look like? What really influences you?

Difference in output and outcome

The life of the righteous are fruitful and prosperous. Not materially prospering or worldly success. Even in tough times, they will still bear good fruit. When you spend time with these people, you are spiritually refreshed. They are encouraging, blessing, and bear much spiritual fruit. The leaf does not wither! Even in the worst of drought and heat, they still bear fruit. They are headed towards intimacy with God.

The wicked are like chaff. They have no substance to their lives. Chaff has no value. The only thing you can do is burn it. In the eternal picture, they have nothing of worth. They are building sand castles. They are headed towards destruction.

How to get on and stay on the road to life

This passage is not talking about how to get on the righteous road. It talks about one who is already on the road to life. It is descriptive, not commanding.

So then how do we get on the road?

We first acknowledge that we cannot live this way. Then we turn to the only one who lived this way, Jesus. Through faith in Him, we find the road. He changes us to become this person we've read about. God will plant us and make us  fruitful trees.

A True Disciple

John 11:45-12:11 ESV

Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the Council and said, "What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation." But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all. Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish." He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. So from that day on they made plans to put him to death. Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there to the region near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, and there he stayed with the disciples. Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves. They were looking for Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in the temple, "What do you think? That he will not come to the feast at all?" Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should let them know, so that they might arrest him.

Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, "Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. Jesus said, "Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial.  For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me."  When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.

BACKGROUND

The religious leaders were afraid of Jesus's growing popularity. They were afraid that the Romans would dismantle the Jewish religious system. The Romans might see Jesus as a growing political power and decide to disperse the Jewish system as a result.

This story is one of contrasts. The striking contrast between Mary and Judas. Judas has all the trappings of a true Christian. He's in the original twelve. He's in a position of power. Mary does not.

Three marks of a true Christian

Humility

Mary was completely changed by her interaction with Jesus. So when they are throwing a thank-you party for Jesus, Mary does more. She buys this expensive perfume. She anoints his feet. Not his head, but his feet as an expression of reverence for Jesus. Feet were disgusting. Even servants might be demeaned by washing feet. And the hair, the glory of women, is used to wash the lowest part of God. It portrays a sense of how unworthy our service is compared to what God deserves. The best that Mary had to offer was less than what Christ deserved.

It is recognition that our best, our righteousness, and our goodness are filthy rags in the sight of God.  We are in need of the grace of God. Humility comes not from seeking to be humble but from seeing God. When we see God and then we see ourselves, we are humbled.

And I said: "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!" - Isaiah 6:5 ESV

Mary spent a lot of time at the feet of Jesus. Is it any surprise that Mary is so humble?

Extravagant sacrifice

This perfumed ointment was a year's salary. It was probably a family heirloom. At today's price, it was probably 30 to 50 dollars. Not only that, but in those days perfume was in jars and once opened, it was done. You didn't dap it on. You broke the neck of the jar. Mary broke the neck of that perfume-filled jar and poured it all out on Jesus's feet. The perfume probably filled the entire house. The disciples were all shocked at the extravagance. Judas was the only one who could speak.

Jesus asks not for a year's wage. Not three years. But rather he's asking for our entire lives. And not just that, but he wants control over the entirely of our lives, every area. This looks foolish and crazy to the world.

Treasure Jesus

Judas brings up the ministry of the poor. Not because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief. He wanted the money in the treasury so he could steal more of it.

This can enter our lives as well. We serve at the church for our own ends. We do the "Christian" thing because this can get us what we truly want. We can serve for personal reasons rather than because we treasure Christ.

Jesus says that treasuring him is better than serving the poor. This is not to say that serving the poor is bad. But treasuring Christ is much, much, much better.

Consider how calculated we are with our giving. We say that we are being wise in our giving. But is this really true? Or is this a cover for our hearts? Do we treasure Jesus above this life and all the things it gives us? Mary anointed Jesus as a way to recognize the kingship of Jesus. But she, unknowingly, was anointing him for his death.

John 12:24 ESV Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.