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Today's Little Lift
by Jim Bullington
Paul, Peerless Apostle and Prophet (8 of 15)
Focus Text: Philippians 1.27-30
Among other self-applied descriptions, Paul was an unrelenting contestant. We will take a look at some of the passages where he used this imagery to describe his own work as well as the expectations he had of other believers.
“For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, having the same conflict [note the word conflict] which you saw in me and now hear is in me.” (Philippians 1.29-30). The word translated conflict in this verse is the same word that was used to describe the arena where athletic contests took place as well as the actual struggle itself that took place between the contestants who fought in the arena. Note that Paul admonished the believers in Philippi to be in conflict just the way they saw and heard that he was for the cause of Christ. Paul’s struggles/contests were not self-serving or because he had numerous personality conflicts; they were descriptive of his unrelenting efforts on behalf of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
As Paul neared the end of his earthy existence, he commented on his own life, not braggadociosly, but factually. “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4.6-7). The word fought and the word fight are kindred words and represent the great spiritual great struggle in which Paul had been engaged for all his life as a believer. It is interesting that the word fought in this verse , if transliterated (merely spelled out in English as it appears in the Greek), would read, agonizomai, a “first cousin” to our word agonize.
In writing earlier to his beloved son in the faith, Timothy, Paul had used the same two words in admonishing him to “…Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” (1 Timothy 6.12). The imagery here is unmistakable; by agonizing, that is by relentless effort, Timothy would apprehend/catch hold of eternal life. Indeed Paul was a man who fought the good fight but he also charged all who would listen to do the same. He knew that the life of the believer was not one in which there was an earthly retirement plan; that “benefit” yet awaits all the faithful!
Lest one get the wrong idea, Paul was not instructing any one to fight for the sake of fighting, or to be contentious. In fact his whole manner of life denied such a twisted interpretation of his words. Rather, he instructed others, as much as possible, to live peaceably with all men (Romans 12.18). He was not the first to do so, but Paul certainly would have counseled others to choose their battles. He knew that we must fight, but he also knew that we ought to expend our greatest energies on those battles which have eternal reward!
Onward Christian Soldiers, Marching as to war! There is great reason to hymn these words!
Questions:
1. In charging others to fight as he had, in what fight had Paul been engaged?
2. Why do you think he used such a figure? What does this do for the idea that we ought to be carried to heaven on flowery beds of ease?
3. Why do you think Paul’s life paralleled the life of Christ on the matter of constant conflict?
4. How do we know that Paul was not merely a malcontent and someone who enjoyed fighting just for the sake of fighting?
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