New Testament Bible Study by John Stanko

Philippians Study Four: 4:1-23

Dear Student of the Word,

In this installment, I present the last of my four-part devotional series on Paul's letter to the Philippians. This letter is my favorite of all Paul wrote, and I have learned a lot and been refreshed in my studies of it; I hope you have been as well.  After this, I will begin to edit and republish my study of the book of Acts and will send one installment to you every 10 days, or 3 every month. That should require the remainder of this year to complete. 

This week, I tackle one of the most misinterpreted and misapplied verses in the New Testament, which I cover in part four of this week's seven-part study.  Here is what I wrote:

Study Four, Part Four

10 I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

4:10 – Paul rejoiced greatly that the Philippians gave!  He was happy to see their spiritual life in action.  It was not that they had not wanted to give, but Paul was a difficult man to bless.  Remember that Paul worked to pay his own expenses and not just his, but those of his entire team.  Paul could have lived off the offerings of the people, but he did not want finances in any way to detract from his message to the Gentiles.  The Philippians revived their concern for Paul.  Is there a concern for someone or some cause that you need to revive?  The best way to revive it is to give to that cause or person as you once did, or as you have always wanted.

4:11 – Paul learned to be content.  Oh Lord, help me to learn to be the same.  I see new things and I want them.  I see others doing something and I aspire to do them.  I hear where others have gone and I want to go there.  I am often not content!  Are you content?  How can you be sure?  Yet I don’t want to be content with my spiritual progress or my work God has given me to do.  I want to excel and grow.  Is there any area in your spiritual life where you have reached a plateau and have stopped climbing and growing? 

4:12 – Can you see that the entire context of these verses is financial and the things of life?  This is critical to interpret the next verse.  Paul’s focus in this part of his letter was the Philippians recent offering to him.  He was explaining how he had learned to be content.  Paul is about to share the secret of contentment in Christ! 

4:13 – This verse is one of the most quoted in the Bible:  “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  Yet look at the context of this verse.  It doesn’t pertain to any great feat or spiritual duty.  It is talking about learning to be content with what you have in the way of possessions and basic needs.  Paul stated that he had learned a secret, and it was that through God’s strength, he could survive lean times and enjoy plenty.  Paul could survive leanness and enjoy bounty because God had given him the strength to live in contentment.  As I write this, the last two years have been lean financial years for me due to a job transition, but God has been faithful. I am learning to be content, which is a work of the Spirit in my heart.  Are you content with what you have? 

Can you see how often this verse has been misapplied?  Look at its context and to what it is referring: contentment.  Are you content with what you have?  Where can you improve?  Can you see that the secret of contentment is going through both hard and good times and seeing that they are both from Him?  Once you see that, you have learned the secret because you have a track record in Him.  You have watched Him work in your life and you know He is faithful no matter what!

As always, I welcome your comments to this week's study. For additional Bible studies, check out my website archive, which contains a complete collection of all my verse-by-verse New Testament studies, along with the unpublished volumes of The Faith Files.

Download Philippians Study 4

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UPDATE FROM KENYA:  Here is the latest email update I received from Alice, founder of the Each One Touch One Orphanage, which I will be visiting with a team on Tuesday, March 8. 

Hallo Dr. Stanko,

We at EOTOO are fine, children, members and the chicks.

Thanks for communicating.

Nairobi is very hot.  It has only rained once since Jan 4.

The Chicken Coop Project is doing well.  We are compiling the January report to see how we are doing against the budget.  We have concluded with the water method vaccinations; the last one having been done on Friday the 4th and on schedule.  From thereon, the vaccinations will be intra muscular and we shall enlist the services of a Vet Doctor.

Will send you the latest photos as soon as possible. (At right is a picture of some of the children at the orphanage eating lunch when I visited recently - JS).

Looking forward to meeting you soon are EOTOO members, children and time allowing the chicks.

God bless the work of your hands.

Alice

There is still time to help us establish this chicken farm and others like it by giving today so we have it before we depart on March 4.  You can give through my website or by sending a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA  15221-0882.  I know there is someone out there who is supposed to invest in this project.  Maybe it's you?  But if it isn't you, don't let that stop you from sending what you can and sending it today.  Thank you and God bless you.

If you need to read more about my initiatives in Kenya, you can go here to read them in their entirety.

Philippians Study 3: 3:1-21

Dear Student of the Word,

I know I sent an installment last week, but I am trying to get back on schedule so that we can finish Philippians, move on to Acts and finish it this year.  I hope a study in consecutive weeks isn't too much for you!

This week we move on to Philippians 3, which contains so much great material, just like the previous chapter.  This week I wrote in Part Five of a seven-part study:

Study Three, Part Five

12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 15 All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.

3:12&13 – There were some who believed that the resurrection had already taken place and Paul had this to say about them:

Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some (2 Timothy 2:17-18).

This was the second doctrinal error Paul addressed in this letter, the first being the affects of those who insisted on circumcision for believers.  Paul had to counter the work of deceivers and he had to do it without rapid transit or the Internet.  The work of an apostle is to preserve the purity of the faith and teaching, being careful only to impart to people God’s Word as explained by Jesus and the apostles.  A regular and fervent prayer of mine is, “Lord, keep me from deception and doctrinal weirdness.”  I don’t want to get and teach strange ideas that don’t build people up in the knowledge of Christ.

Paul talked about forgetting the past, and most apply that principle to those bad things that happened or mistakes that were made in their own lives.  You must also apply that principle to your past success.  You must forget what you have done lest you begin to rely in the present or your past history and become irrelevant or puffed up with pride.  Do you have amnesia where your past is concerned, whether it was good or not so good?

It does seem, however, that Paul was referring to the resurrection and that the past was made up of his fleshly credentials outlined in 3:5-6.  What parts of your past, good and bad, do you need to put behind you?  What is the goal for which you are pressing on?

3:14 – Paul pressed on.  That indicates there was something pressing against him and he needed to press against it with greater force if he was going to make any progress.  To help him do that, Paul had a goal he was pursuing.  That is the power of a goal.  It enables you to press through the inertia that tends to keep you at rest in order to attain the prize. What goals are you pursuing at this point in your life?  Are these goals upward?  Do they bring you closer to God and godliness? Are you pressing on or simply holding on?

3:15 – While Paul was a great overseer and teacher, he still realized it was up to God to make things clear to people.  Paul declared the truth, but God was the one to open the hearts of people to that truth.  It took me quite a few years to figure out I could not be the Holy Spirit to the people I served as pastor.  I had to deliver truth, but I could not make people respond or obey it—only God could do that.  When God showed me that truth, I became a different pastor, set free from trying to do an impossible task.

Also, Paul referenced those who are mature.  You cannot fault anyone who is immature, unless they should be mature and have refused.  When my son was five years old, I could not expect him to mow the lawn.  It was beyond his capacity, and wasn’t a matter of obedience or disobedience.  When he was 16, however, it was a different story.  Be careful not to expect mature results from immature believers, even from yourself.  There is a growth and maturation process that everyone must encounter as he or she matures in Christ.  At the same time, be careful not to endorse irresponsible behavior from people who should know better.

As always, I welcome your comments to this week's study. For additional Bible studies, check out my website archive, which contains a complete collection of all my verse-by-verse New Testament studies, along with the unpublished volumes of The Faith Files.

Download Philippians Study 3

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I WANT MONEY FOR MY ANNIVERSARY: No, it's not my wedding anniversary, but in the first week of March, the Monday Memo will turn ten years old!  In the first week of March, I will write Memo 492, which means I have missed only four weeks per year in writing the Memo since 2001. Thank You, Lord, for your help!

So what do I want for the Memo anniversary?  I want money, cold hard cash, dollars and cents.

Don't worry, the money is not for me, it's for the children and widows in Kenya.

This past week I received a $3,000 check toward THE BIG GOAL of $10,000 I set last November.  That makes my total raised $8,000!  That is fantastic, but it's not $10,000.

So I am asking you for money to celebrate the Monday Memo.

If the Monday Memo has been a blessing to you, can you send something for the children?

If the daily Proverbs devotionals have been a blessing, can you you send something for the widows?

If the weekly Bible studies have been a blessing, can you send something to feed those who don't have the wherewithal to feed themselves?

If my daily quotes on Facebook have been an encouragement, can you sow some seed with those in need?

Often in my life, I have not done a little because I could not do a lot.  I have not given $100, because I could not give $1,000.  I have not given $50, because it wasn't $100.  You get the idea - I haven't done what I could because I wanted to do more.

If that's how you think too, then stop thinking like that and give $5, $10, anything to help me with THE BIG GOAL.

You can give through my website or by sending a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA  15221-0882.  I know there is someone out there who is supposed to invest in this project.  Maybe it's you?  But if it isn't you, don't let that stop you from sending what you can and sending it today.  Thank you and God bless you.

P.S.  If you need to read more about my initiatives in Kenya, you can go here to read them in their entirety.

Philippians Study 2: 2:1-24

Dear Student of the Word,

Happy New Year!  I trust that you had a blessed holiday season and that you are already experiencing the blessing of the Lord in 2011.  This my first study installment for the new year and it comes from my favorite chapter in all the Bible -- Philippians 2.  If you are only going to read one study this year, and I hope that is not the case, read this one.  There is no chapter that has impacted my life more deeply than this one.  There are so many excerpts I can share with you from this week's edition, but let me share with you what I wrote in part two of this seven-part study:

Study Two, Part Two

⁵Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:  ⁶Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, ⁷but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  ⁸And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!

2:5 – Our attitude should be the same as Jesus.  Notice again how Paul directed all attention to Jesus.  Jesus was the model, the mentor, the goal, the focus and Lord above all. You may want to pray this prayer with me if it applies:

“Jesus, forgive me for when I’ve made things about me and not about You.  Jesus, forgive me when I didn’t direct men’s hearts to you, but rather to me or to some other topic or cause.  Lord, I want to have the same attitude You had and have.”

2:6&7 – Jesus, while being God, did not consider this something that had to be broadcast for all to hear.  He emptied Himself and made Himself nothing.  I can only find two people to whom Jesus directly revealed Himself—the woman at the well in John 4 and the blind man in John 9.  At times, He seemed to go out of His way to confuse the idea of who He was.  Now part of that was to frustrate the self-righteous leaders of the day, but in part it was because He had emptied Himself and made Himself nothing.  Jesus did not have the need to tell everyone who He was because He knew and was secure in that knowledge.  That made Jesus a secure leader.  Lord, make me a secure leader who can serve the people and You because I know who I am and what you want me to do!

Jesus assumed the role of slave and took on human form.  Jesus didn’t appear to be a man; He was a man, like us in every way except sin.  That means that Jesus got hungry, thirsty, and tired.  This makes Jesus the model missionary.  He came to the people to whom He would minister and became thoroughly immersed in who they were.  He learned their culture, customs, and language.  Jesus lived and worked for 30 years in obscurity for three years of ministry.  When Jesus died on the cross, He encountered pain, shame and rejection.  Jesus did not take any shortcuts because He was God.  Jesus was and is a man!  Our flesh is seated at the right hand of the Father today, interceding on our behalf.  Thank you, Jesus! 

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' " From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known (John 1:14-18).

2:8 – As if becoming a man with its human limitations wasn’t enough, Jesus then chose to die the most humiliating death man has ever devised against his fellow man.  The Greek word that described what Jesus did to “make himself nothing” is kenosis, which means emptying.  Jesus emptied Himself and then went to the cross as an end to the first stage of His human existence.  If Jesus humbled himself and took the low position, then that is what He would want you to do as well.  You don’t have to wait for God to humble you, for truly if you wait for that, it may actually be humiliating.  You can humble yourself.  Can you think of ways to humble yourself?  Years ago someone gave me a sheet that contained ten ways to deny self.  I think they would fit here as ways to humble yourself::

1. Not being hurt or insulted when forgotten.
2. Not being angry when misunderstood.
3. Not becoming defensive when someone disregards our advice/opinion.
4. Lovingly and patiently bearing any disorder.
5. Confront insensitivity in others with love and without being judgmental.
6. Being content with food, income, clothing, climate, service and disruptions.
7. Not always referring to yourself in conversation.
8. Loving to be unknown and unrecognized.
9. Rejoicing in others’ prosperity when your needs in that very area are more desperate than theirs.
10. Approaching life with a general focus on the well-being of others.

As always, I welcome your comments to this week's study. For additional Bible studies, check out my website archive, which contains a complete collection of all my verse-by-verse New Testament studies, along with the unpublished volumes of The Faith Files.

Download Philippians Study 2

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OPERATION CHICKEN COOP:  I just posted an update with pictures from Alice in Kenya to show you the progress of Operation Chicken Coop (one picture of the chicks is to the right). The pictures are of some of the newest residents and they are so tiny (no, not the orphans - the chicks!).  So please check out the latest when you have a chance and then please give toward THE BIG GOAL of $10,000 to help me sow some seed when I return to Kenya in March.  You can give through my website or by sending a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA  15221-0882.  I know there is someone out there who is supposed to invest in this project.  Maybe it's you?

Philippians Study One: 1:1-30

Dear Student of the Word,

Even though Christmas is only a few days away, I hope you won't be taking a holiday from God's Word over these weeks.  I am sending along the first installment from my study of Paul's letter to the Philippians, which just happens to be my favorite epistle.  Here is one of the seven parts to this first study from Philippians 1:

Study One, Part Five

Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, ¹⁹for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. ²⁰I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. ²¹For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. ²²If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!

1:19 – This is quite an interesting perspective from a man in chains!  I am reminded that God never delivers us from trouble, but delivers us out of or through our trouble.  Many times I thought God came into my life to spare me trouble.  He did not.  In fact, trouble has taught me about God and His ability and power to save and deliver me.  In the midst of his trials, Paul was hopeful and positive.  Here is a man in the midst of trouble encouraging those who were not in trouble but concerned about him. 

1:20 – Paul was not ignorant of the danger he was in, and alluded to the fact that his imprisonment could lead to his death.  Paul’s interpretation of his deliverance wasn’t only a release from prison; he saw that his deliverance could have involved a release from this life!  Yet he was upbeat and positive, trusting in God for the eventual outcome, whatever that was.    Faith is no guarantee of the outcome that you choose or desire.  It is complete trust that God will work out what’s best according to His intentions.  There were others who faced death and tough times, and they knew that their outcome was in God’s hands. 

“Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up’" (Daniel 3:16-18 emphasis added).

“Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, ‘Come, let's go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised fellows. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few’” (1 Samuel 14:6 emphasis added).

“Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face” (Job 13:15).

1:21 – Paul understood that death wasn’t the end for him; it was another beginning.  Many people ask me if I am afraid to travel in these troubled times. My answer is always the same.  I gave my life to Jesus 37 years ago.  If He chooses to claim it in my bed or on the road, that is His business, not mine.  Where He leads me, I will follow.  I have talked to my family and told them that if I die on some trip, I will die a happy man, doing what it is that I love to do.  Death isn’t the end!

“’Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:55-57).

1:22 – Paul didn’t just want to labor; he wanted to bear fruit.  That should also be your goal, especially if you are a leader.  And keep in mind, as we stated in the beginning, Paul singled out the Philippian leaders as he began his letter.  Paul wanted to bear fruit and Jesus had the same desire for His disciples.

“He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples” (John 15:2-8).

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit-- fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name” (John 15:16).

What is the fruit that you were created to produce?  Do you know?  For me, it is writing and “creating order out of chaos,” which is my life’s purpose.  What is your purpose?  How can you bear fruit if you don’t know what your purpose is? 

As Paul stated, it’s your choice.  You can choose to live a productive, fruitful life or a selfish, fearful one.  I trust that you will choose fruit over fear.

As always, I welcome your comments to this week's study. For additional Bible studies, check out my website archive, which contains a complete collection of all my verse-by-verse New Testament studies, along with the unpublished volumes of The Faith Files.

Download Philippians Study 1

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If these Bible studies have been a blessing to you this year, then please don't forget to express your thanks by helping with THE BIG GOAL during December to raise $10,000 toward feeding, housing and providing educational resources for Kenyan orphans and widows.  I have received more than $1,600 so we are on our way!  You can read about it here, and then give through this site using the Chipin widget or Paypal, or send a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA  15221-0882.  Every penny goes right to the people in need with no overhead.  At right is a picture of my wife last week in front of the Operation Chicken Coop shed where 500 chicks took up residence on December 16. She is pictured with five of the orphans and three of the orphanage founders, who are so excited about the help you are providing. God is helping us make a difference in one small part of the world. Thank you and God bless you as you remember the widows and orphans.