Sustained Joy: How Prayer, the Holy Spirit, and the Worth of Jesus sustain your lamenting heart (Philippians 1:19-20)
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Living in a new world with an old soul
Living in a new world with an old soul
In the matter of two weeks, Oliver Anthony went from being absolutely unheard of to having the number one song streaming on iTunes. His youtube video amassed over 20 million views in ten days. Oliver describes himself as an Appalachian country boy from Virginia. He is a Ginger with auburn red hair and a long red beard. He is every bit ordinary, and yet, he has managed to capture the heart of almost half the country with his song “Rich Men North of Richmond.”
It is a song of lament. He laments working endless hours for pennies on the dime only to keep falling behind. His nights are restless with trying to escape in the bottom of a bottle. He’s not going to make and it is a darn shame. He recognizes its not just him, but its everyone like, blue collar working class Americans. Things are not what they used to be. Its like you are living in a new world with an old soul. He pins the problem on the rich men north of Richmond, meaning the elite rich politicians in Washington D.C. who are exploiting the poor and middle class for their own personal gain. They want total control of your life, everything your think and everything you do. Its like a bad dream and everyone just wants to wake up from this nightmare. The politicians thinks they’ve duped you, but he knows whats going on, and you know it as well. Everyone feels helpless.
Anthony laments that children are not cared for by going after the Epstein elites who sexually assaulted minors on his private island. He addresses the inconsistency of the welfare system, drug addiction, and the suicide rates among young men. Its a darn shame what the world has come too for people like me and people like you. Rich men north of Richmond want to control what you think and what you do. We are living in an a new world with an old soul.
Anthony is talented and raw. He is authentic. He sings what he feels and you feel what he sings. By every standard it is a sad country song.
I have watched several reactions of people on both sides of the political isle to his song. There is a small group of progressive liberals who are trying to say it is a “Right Wing Anthem,” but the majority of reviews, both conservative and liberal, are united with the Anthony’s lament. Your everyday average conservative and liberal feels the weight of his lament because the circumstance he describes address just about everyone who is not a “one percenter.” Normal people are feeling the weight of the brokenness he describes. Its the brokenness the Bible describes as living in a Genesis 3.
The world we live is broken. It is influenced and even ruled to a certain degree by Satan. It is cursed with sin and death. Brokenness surrounds us. Wickedness invades us as injustices evades us. Sadness consumes us, and there are times when we lament, and there is a place for lamenting in this world. Read Psalm 13, or the book of Lamentations, or Jeremiah. All three offer you the opportunity to lament living in a new world with an old soul. Life down here is hard for most people. In addition, brothers and sisters in Christ can have it even harder when you add persecution and suffering for Jesus to the hardship. Good brothers and sisters who love Jesus and neighbor are unjustly being imprisoned sharing the gospel, much like Paul in our text. Maybe they have reason to lament.
Paul had a good reason to lament. He was unjustly put in prison for simply sharing the good news of Jesus. They took away his ability to provide for himself. He was chained to an imperial guard. He faced execution. Does Paul lament? No. Paul says, “I rejoice. Yes. I will rejoice.” Why does he do that? Why isn’t he singing Oliver Anthony’s song? Surely Paul could relate to Oliver Anthony’s message. Paul is exactly who Anthony is singing too. The rich men north of Richmond have jailed Paul and are looking to execute him. Why would Paul rejoice?
Paul reveals to us three realities that sustained his conviction to rejoice when his imprisonment might humiliate him with condemnation and cause his heart to lament. Paul felt the prayers of the Philippians, the supply of the Holy Spirit, and the worth of Jesus sustain his soul. Furthermore,
Prayer, the supply of the Holy Spirit, and the worth of Jesus will sustain your joy when circumstances cause bring lament to your soul.
Prayer, the supply of the Holy Spirit, and the worth of Jesus will sustain your joy when circumstances cause bring lament to your soul.
The Philippians prayed for him (Phil 1:19)
The Philippians prayed for him (Phil 1:19)
Philippians 1:18–19 (ESV)
18 ...Yes, and I will rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers... this will turn out for my deliverance,
Paul makes a choice to rejoice. Even though his circumstances pressure him to lament, Paul chooses joy. What does he ground his conviction to rejoice? In the first part of verse 19, he grounds his decision to rejoice to the reality that the Philippian church was praying for Paul’s deliverance. Paul says, “for I know that through your prayers.” Whose prayers? The prayers of the Philippians. The Philippian church partnered with Paul to pray for God to meet his needs, specifically for Paul’s deliverance. The word for deliverance is σωτηρίαν, which is the word for salvation. Paul’s deliverance is not so much being freed from prison as it is having the boldness to testify of Jesus so that, as verse 20 says, “Christ is honored in his life and death”. The prayers of the Philippian church were helping to sustain’s Paul’s boldness to proclaim Jesus to the imperial guard, and even Nero himself if given the chance. So, when Paul thinks of the Philippians praying for him as he sits 18 inches from an imperial guard, he chooses joy over lament.
I’ve noticed a trend in twitter and instagram when a tragedy shocks the nation, particularly with school shootings. The trend is to say something to the effect, “I don’t want your thoughts and prayers.” For example, upon hearing of the Nashville school shooting, Mervyn Warren, a film composer, tweeted, “The people at that Christian school in Nashville prayed that their children would be safe. How did that work out?” I expect this from atheists who suppress the existence of God in their hearts. The eyes of their heart is blind to the reality of God’s existence. Why pray to a God you cannot see? What they do not understand is two fold. First, there is a God regardless of your belief in him or not. He is a true reality. Second, joy is a choice. They miss the wisdom of God commanding his children to rejoice, and because they do not acknowledge Him, their joy has not foundation in His sovereignty. God promises by his sovereignty to work all things out for the good of those who love him (Romans 8:28).
Which is why it is odd that the church is philosophically on board with prayer, but practically function like atheist. What do I mean?
What I mean is the hypocrisy of the church’s prayer life. Can you see yourself sitting in the Philippian church, hearing about Paul’s imprisonment, and agreeing with the church to pray for Paul throughout the week, only to come to church on Sunday realizing Paul’s names never crossed your lips since last Sunday evening. You say are going to pray, and maybe you mean well, but you don’t pray. The fact is you rarely pray. Philosophically you believe in prayer but practically you pray like an atheist.
Do you know what helps a young lady fight the good fight of depression? Knowing that her brother or sister in Christ is praying for her. Do you know what helps the young man not loose his joy as he battles for his purity? Knowing he has a group of men who love him praying for his heart to be satisfied in Christ. Do you know what keeps a marriage and family together? Praying for each other and together often. Do you know what protects a church’s joy in Christ in the face of hardship? Prayer. A church that prays together stays together.
You might be thinking, surely there is more to our joy than just knowing someone is praying for you? Right on! The power of prayer is not knowing someone prays, but the power of the God who acts on your behalf because someone is praying for you.
Later in his letter, Paul exhorts the church to
6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Who was supplying Paul’s joy? God supplied Paul’s joy according to his riches in Christ Jesus. What did God use to bring Paul joy? The prayers of the Philippian church. Prayer believes God rewards those who seek him and believes he exists (Hebrews 11:6). Part of his reward is that He answers prayers according to his riches in glory. Answered prayer brings joy to those who suffer lament.
In his book Legacy of Sovereign Joy, John Piper writes: “At the age of 16 in the year 371, Augustine sneaked away from his mother in Carthage. During the night he sailed away to Rome, leaving her alone to her tears and her prayers.
How were these prayers answered? Not the way Monica [Augustine’s mother] hoped at the time. Only later could she see that praying is the deepest path to joy.4Augustine himself wrote, “And what did she beg of you, my God, with all those tears, if not that you would prevent me from sailing? But you did not do as she asked you. Instead, in the depth of your wisdom, you granted the wish that was closest to her heart.
“For she saw that you had granted her far more than she used to ask in her tearful prayers. You converted me to yourself, so that I no longer placed any hope in this world, but stood firmly upon the rule of faith. And you turned her sadness into rejoicing, into joy far fuller than her dearest wish, far sweeter and more chaste than any she had hoped to find.” ( John Piper, The Legacy of Sovereign Joy (Crossway, 2000); submitted by Van Morris; Mount Washington, Kentucky)
To make intercession for men is the most powerful and practical way in which we can express our love for them.
John Calvin
God hears and answers you prayers when you believe in him and seek him with all your heart. He uses your prayers to bring joy to your soul and to the soul of others, especially those who are lamenting their circumstances. He may not do it in a manner you expect, but keep in mind the depth of God’s knowledge and wisdom when it comes to your heart. He knows how to take your sadness and turn it into joy. Prayer is a means to that joy. God sustained Paul’s joy in prison by using the prayers of the Philippian church on Paul’s behalf. What did the Philippians pray for Paul? That the Holy Spirit will supply his every need.
The Holy Spirit supplied him (Phil 1:19)
The Holy Spirit supplied him (Phil 1:19)
19 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance,
Paul recognizes the close relationship between the prayers of the Philippians and the God’s provision. It will be through their prayers the Spirit of God will supply Paul with both the boldness to proclaim Jesus and the joy to sustain him in prison. The word for help has a broad usage in the greek. The term was used for “provision” out of temple proceeds for repair and fortification. It was also used in marriage contracts, for “provision” for a spouse. Gordon Fee notes that The compound form (ἐπιχορηγία) may indicate a full or generous supply; “all known uses do suggest ‘full’ or ‘adequate’ supply.” God’s provision of His Spirit would be more than what Paul needs for His ministry. What would Paul need? He needs the Spirit of God to work and speak on his behalf. This is the help Jesus promised his disciples would receive when standing before accusers (Matthew 10:20). Furthermore, the Holy Spirit would help Paul face difficult circumstances.
For example, in Galatians 3:4-5, in the middle of Paul’s rebuke of the Galatian church, he says,
4 Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith—
What I want you to see here is Paul’s connection between God suppling his Spirit and times of suffering. When the Galatians came to Christ, they were persecuted heavily for their new faith. God, however, was not hindered by their imprisonment nor was the confiscation of their property an issue for God’s kingdom. In fact, God used those very circumstances to pour out His Spirit with great power in their lives, so much so, that they were doing great works and miracles. It reminds you of the Thessalonian church that “received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 1:6).
Think about Paul’s ministry for a moment in relation to the Holy Spirit. Todd Wilson reminds you that Paul learned to be content in the most difficult times, times of “weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities” (2 Corinthians 12:10). How did he do it? He’d come to know this glorious truth: “When I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10). Indeed, he’d heard the Lord Jesus say to him in those very circumstances, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). That, friends, is the power of the supply of the Holy Spirit in your life.
Have you ever been around a believer who has suffered great loss, and yet, they radiate the glory of Jesus in their faith? There is a beautiful humility about them. Of course they are broken. Grief can be gut wrenching at times. But they are good, and their grief is permeated with hope. Joy through tears is only possible when you are fully supplied with the Holy Spirit. Maybe your prayer for the broken hearted and crushed in spirit should Romans 15:13
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Maybe that is a similar prayer the Philippians prayed for Paul. The reality is, Paul’s joy was sustained because the Holy Spirit helped him to be joyful. The more the Philippian church prayed, the the more the Spirit was given to Paul to persevere with joy, share the gospel, and face the powers of Rome with a Christ honoring, Kingdom advancing courage.
Stop and think for a moment. We are not being persecuted for our faith. Prison does not threaten us at the moment, although I believe that is coming sooner than later. Ask yourself, however,
What challenges do you face?
What challenges do you face?
What challenges do we face as a church?
What challenges do we face as a church?
Where do we need the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit?
Where do we need the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit?
Where do we need the Spirit of Jesus Christ to strengthen us and to give us courage?
Where do we need the Spirit of Jesus Christ to strengthen us and to give us courage?
Where are we loosing our joy? Why are we loosing it?
Where are we loosing our joy? Why are we loosing it?
Are you praying for your church to be supplied with the Holy Spirit?
Are you praying for your church to be supplied with the Holy Spirit?
Are you praying for your pastors and your leadership to be supplied with the Holy Spirit?”
Are you praying for your pastors and your leadership to be supplied with the Holy Spirit?”
Jesus gave us his Spirit upon our conversion. He died on a cross for your sin, suffered death, and rose from the grave so you and I can not only have his salvation, but his Spirit to live inside of us. It is by His power we have the ability to live the Christian life in a way that pleases Him. Are you praying to that end for your brothers and sisters?
Todd Wilson is once again helpful. He reminds us
“As Christians we need a fresh supply of the Spirit every single day. We live the Christian life only by the Spirit, in reliance upon the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Some of us have been trying to live the Christian life in our own strength; that’s why we find it so taxing and even tedious. We’re trying to live for God apart from the empowering presence of God. But that simply won’t work. The only way to live to God is to no longer live in ourselves but to find Christ living in us (cf. 2:19, 20).”
I would only add that not only are we trying to rely on our strength, but we forget that our brothers and sisters in Christ at FBCL need your prayers to be empowered by the Holy Spirit. So many of us are on the brink of unbelief, deconstruction, or apathy. You, friend, could be the difference in a persons life, external life, by praying the for the Spirit it empower them to persevere until the end. Pray for the Spirit to empower them to persevere and to sustain their joy by seeing Jesus’ worth.
Worshiping Jesus as his surpassing worth sustained him (Phil 1:20-21)
Worshiping Jesus as his surpassing worth sustained him (Phil 1:20-21)
20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.
When Paul says “it is my eager expectation,” he means that he is certain his future is guaranteed. He is absolutely sure he will not be ashamed. What is the shame Paul could endure? He is standing before a Roman tribunal. If he is convicted he will die as a criminal. In an honor culture that kind of death would be a great shame on his name and his family. Paul, however, is not concerned with being vindicated by Caesar. He has put all of his eggs, so to speak, in God’s vindication. He is absolutely sure God will vindicated him because Paul is most concerned with Christ being honored in his body, whether by life or death. What does Paul mean by honored? He means Jesus is made much of by his life or his death. That it, that everyone who experiences Paul’s life or death will experience the surpassing worth and value of Jesus Christ. That is worship.
In Paul’s life and his death, he so valued and loved Jesus that he wanted to make Jesus to center piece of both his mission in life and final moments on earth. Verse 21, connects both ideas of living and dying with verse 20,
21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
How is Jesus made much of in Paul’s life? He lives to make much of Jesus. He centers his entire life around making much of Jesus. To live is to bear the fruit that proves he belongs to Jesus and that glorifies the Father (John 15:8). That is the essence of the Christian life, by the way. it is never American Dream plus Jesus. It is always Jesus first and foremost in everything you do to live and have your being, which is why some people give up their American Dream to live in China or Iran. Making much of Jesus so consumes their life they live to reach unreached people groups to joyfully advance the kingdom of God by making much of Jesus. That is not radical Christianity. That is what it means to be Christian.
What does it mean to make much of Jesus in your death? It means to cherish Jesus so much that you see death as gain. That is what Paul says in verse 20 and 21. Christ will be honored in his death because to die is gain. It is far better to be with Jesus. This makes sense in light of
8 Indeed, 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, in order that I may gain Christ
Nothing in this world compares to knowing Jesus. There is no amount of money, accolades, prestige, power, pomp, that comes close to the value and worth of Jesus Christ. Jesus says
36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37 For what can a man give in return for his soul?
The entire world does not compare in value and worth in knowing the one who can save your soul. Do you know Jesus like this? Does he satisfy your soul to the degree that you look at this world as rubbish? John Piper say worship is being satisfied in Jesus. He sums up his theology in a nutshell,
“God is most glorified in you when you are most satisfied in Him.” John Piper
“God is most glorified in you when you are most satisfied in Him.” John Piper
Piper goes on to explain,
“Christ is magnified in my death, when in my death I am satisfied with him—when I experience death as gain because I gain him. Or another way to say it is that the essence of praising Christ is prizing Christ. Christ will be praised in my death, if in my death he is prized above life. The inner essence of worship is prizing Christ. Cherishing him, treasuring him, being satisfied with him.” John Piper 2007. Sermons from John Piper (1990–1999). Minneapolis, MN: Desiring God.
To live as Christ is to cherish Christ in this life to the point where gaining the entire world is not worth loosing Him. To die is gain is to cherish Jesus to the degree that you soul is satisfied with gaining him over life, that he is prized above life itself.
Paul’s love for Jesus made Jesus his treasure. He worshiped Jesus in prison and it sustained his joy to suffer for Him. When Jesus is your surpassing worth, nothing in this world can rob your soul of joy because nothing can separate your from the love of Christ.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
We live in the old world with a new soul
We live in the old world with a new soul
Anthony’ s song ends on a book end of the first line of the first verse. I think it is meant to tell you that its never going toe end. it will be the same old same old every day. We will always live in a new world with an old soul.
Although I can understand Oliver Anthony’s lament, and even feel the brokenness he feels for our country, I cannot continue his lament without hope. There is a place to lament this world. Living in a Genesis 3 world is hard. Brokenness surrounds us. Wickedness afflicts. Justice evades us. Sadness consumes us at times. Christians, however, are not to remain in their lament. We are a people who grieve with hope. We hope because we are not old souls living in a new world, we are new souls living in an old world, waiting for Jesus to return to restore us to a new world with new glorified bodies. We know with certainty that it will not always be this way. Jesus will come back and reverse the curse and make everything brand new. Until then, we pray for each other. We pleased with God to supply each other with the Holy Spirit who will empower us to be bold in our faith and persevere until the end. We pray for the Holy Spirit to help our hearts be satisfied in Jesus in this life to the degree we hold onto nothing in this world for the sake on knowing him, and if everything is taken away, our joy will remain. And when it comes time to die, we cherish Jesus above this life, for it is far better to be with Him.
If we live life that, and pray to that end, the gates of hell will not prevail of FBCL and our ministry in Litchfield. The darkness will give way to the light. Poverty will be eradicated. Drug and alcohol addiction will be replaced with worship. Broken families will be unified and a bulwark for the kingdom. Impaired learning will meet its match in Christ honoring, bible saturated, kingdom advancing schools that pray for the Spirit to supply all our needs, and there will be no such thing as the “unchurched.” Pray for each other. Pray for the Spirit to supply one another. Pray for Jesus to be our surpassing worth in life and death. In this we can rejoice. Amen.