Lookout mtn.conference 1973-08 the Apostle Paul — Stan Ford

He delivered him from this body of death, yet he rejoiced in it all. And as we saw him rejoicing there in prison, we thought indeed of how that tremendous victory that from the hours, which first of all manifested his bonds, but three times he cried, My bonds manifested his body, manifested his boldness.

Is it grand that we can turn a prison into a palace? Is it wonderful we can turn our bonds into that which will enable us to rejoice? Then you remember we thought of him not only as a pastor, and not only as a prisoner, but then we saw him as a preacher, and he was requesting, Let this bond be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.

Paul's Ministry as Pastor, Prisoner, and Preacher

We saw that as a preacher writing to those that had made up his congregation many a time in Phillipi, he first of all dares to encourage them to bring harmony amongst the saints. And after encouraging harmony amongst the saints, then he exemplified humility in the Saviour as he tells of he who laid aside his glory.

Before us that that reminds us that he expects holiness in the stewards, and establishes helpfulness in his servants. Here is the preacher demanding of his congregation, Brethren, sisters, may I suggest this, to you brethren who seek to say a word for the Lord, to you sisters who minister in your women's meetings and girls' Bible classes, never forget that as a preacher you have a right to expect from those who listen to you a reaction to what you say.

And then we saw him, you remember, in the glorious third chapter, not now as the preacher, but now in the third chapter we see him as the pilgrim, reviewing the land. We saw how the chapter starts and how it finishes with a glory of a change of our vile bodies.

The Christian Pilgrim's Journey

And as he reviewed the pilgrim journey, oh what glorious things he brings before us. He tells us of what he learns about his enemy. He's going to live, but he tells us how he longs for it because he's left it.

We see him looking for the Saviour who shall change his body of humiliation. Oh, brethren, sisters, that you and I in our Christian experience may realize that we are but pilgrims. You know, sometimes when we look around we'd almost think that we're here forever, wouldn't we?

But we're only pilgrims passing through. You remember we thought of him as the physician in chapter four? And as that physician he is resolving, he's resolving the troubles that have come to that church.

First of all, we see him here diagnosing that trouble and then prescribing for that trouble. Now we've come to the last section of this very wonderful epistle. And I would like you please, having borne with me as I have repeated much of what we have said, I wonder now would you turn with me to the tenth verse of the fourth chapter and we will read the remaining verses of this lovely letter.

Paul's Thankfulness for the Philippians' Care

But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again, wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in respect of want, for I have learned in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content.

I know both how to be abased everywhere, and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me.

Notwithstanding ye have well done that ye did communicate with my neglection, now ye Philippians, know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed for Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.

For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity, not because I desire a gift, but I desire fruit that may abound to your account, but I have all unto plan. He says, I have all in Epaphroditus, the things which were sent from you, and Oder, the sweet and acceptable, well pleasing to God your name, according to his riches in glory, by Christ Jesus our Father be glory for ever and ever.

He read the epistle to some of the Christians at Rome, and having read it to them, I wonder, I don't know, but I wonder, having read it to them, they would have said, Oh, don't forget to send our salutation, Paul.

Because having said Amen, then he says, Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. I won't be passing any comment about it, so let me say it now. This is the only time in the Bible when the word saint is used.

It's in the plural, it's saints, but is it wonderful it still is in the plural, because it puts everyone in. All the saints. Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you.

All the saints salute you. Especially those that are of Caesar's household. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. We'll add his blessing to the reading of its own precious. Today I told you what I was going to tell you.

Someone came to me who'd been writing very fast to write down the headings. Mr. Porter, I said we were going to think of Paul the thankful.

Well, she said, but that doesn't begin with P. No, it doesn't begin with P,.

But it's still there. I ask you that you will consider with me now one of the most wonderful descriptions that's given of this man. Paul the thankful. Sisters, if you were to turn with me, I'm not going to ask you to, but if you were to turn with me away into the second letter that Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, you will remember he gives to us a long list of the things that he endured.

Thankfulness Through Suffering and Christian Encouragement

He tells us how he was beaten with rods, how he was tossed into prison, how he was shipwrecked. He brings it to the close and says, and above all this, the terror of all the churches. And yet through it all, through all that he endured, there rises.

I confess in my own life that this sometimes is a pain, that one is not always as thankful. Do you know the old fancy moody hymn is still a good one? Count your many blessings. Name them one by one and it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

And it seems to me that this is what Paul does in the last verses of this very wonderful letter. First of all, you see how Paul is encouraged by the support given by the saints. Wonderful to be encouraged, isn't it?

I have to meet a Christian who may feel that they have no opportunity of preaching, they have no gift for any of the outward scene ministries, and yet they are encourager of God. What I find myself continually saying, and if you forget everything I've said during the past evenings, but remember this, I'll be glad that you remember this, because I believe this is important.

The church of God is not made up of a few brilliant individuals. The church of God is made up of members of the body of Christ. May I say the humblest is as important in that assembly than the most brilliant minister of the word that's found therein.

Now I know we don't think that very often, but that's true. I want to say here and now a big thank you to every Christian I've ever met that has encouraged me in my ministry, that has come and just given us a word of encouragement, enabled us to press on, and study more, and serve, I trust, the harder, because someone has come along and encouraged.

The apostle Paul was a man like us, you know. And although he had received this vision of a bitten Christ, although he received his commission direct from the bliss of the blessed Lord, yet he needed encouraging.

And here, praise God, he's encouraged by the support given him by the saints. He says, Your care for me. Verse 10,. But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last, Your care for me. Wherein ye will also care for, but ye lack opportunities.

Giving as Worship and Support for God's Servants

I could think just for a moment of one of the most difficult things for any preacher to talk about. The ministry of giving. Would you turn with me into the 16th of Corinthians? I think I could do nothing better than open my Bible to those verses.

The 16th of Corinthians. Now let me make a confession to you right away that I am fully aware of the fact that the collection in the 16th chapter of Corinthians was a collection for the saints. Now it is not the collection of the saints, it's the collection for the saints.

There was tremendous need in Jerusalem to come to many of God's people for the saints. What happened in Philippi? It was a collection for the apostle Paul. We know this, that there are so many things that I'm told in these few verses, and I believe they lay before us the principle of collection.

Collections among God's folks. Notice first the period of that collection. In the collection for the saints. As I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. So it wasn't just here in Corinth.

Upon the first day of the week. First day of day. One thing that you and I need ever to remember that our giving is associated with our worship. The apostle dares to write to the church or the Christians.

He dares to say that this is the part of our holy priesthood. To communicate and do not forget not, for with such sacrifice God is well pleased. When of a Lord's Day morning there is found upon the table not only the cup, and not only the loaf, but there is found on the table the bath.

Worship is our remembrance of the Lord. It doesn't always happen, and I'm glad it doesn't, or that we just become vain repetitionists. But I'm often thrilled when the bread has been broken and the wine has been partaken of.

When one of the elders of the fellowship stands and says, we will continue our worship of the Lord. In our offering, to communicate and do good, forget not, for with such sacrifice God is well pleased.

Why, you would expect on an occasion like this for me to tell an English story, wouldn't you? And you would expect me to tell you the story of George Muller. Pardon me for the first time. Why, what a man of God he was.

You remember the story of Herder the Legion of Time. George Muller went down to the market in Bristol and saw the farmer who owned the field that he needed to build number 10 house on. He goes to the farmer and said, sir, I need that field.

Would you sell it me? And the farmer said, yes. How much will you pay me for it? And he said, I will give you 300 pounds for it. That was a lot of money in those days. And the farmer laughed in his face.

300 pounds for that field. Don't be ridiculous. You couldn't have it for 10 times that amount. And George Muller wasn't a bit to stir. He just said, well, thank you, sir. Thank you, sir. He walked through the market and met one of his friends.

He wants to buy my field. Do you know what he offered me for it? He offered me 300 pounds for it. And his farmer friend, did you take it? You didn't. It's worth 10 times that amount. Listen, he said, you'd better take after him and take his 300 pounds.

Because if you don't, he'll pray to God and you'll have to give it to him. Amen. Oh, please. Oh, all these things will fall out if you don't. And he got the ground for building number 10 house. I say this because my God's not poor, is he?

But my God gives to you and me the privilege of sharing and encouraging His servant. Here, it was the first day of the week. This was the period of that collection. And then would you notice the persons that gave to that collection?

The first day of the week, let every one of you. Every one of you. Why, when that gift was received by the Apostle Paul in prison? Because he gave that gift. He did what I've seen many a missionary do on the mission field.

They begin to think of the folk who contributed to it. And I've been in many a mission home and seen a dear brother and sister who's serving God in the mission field when a male has come and someone has requested that they thank God for that.

With tears in their eyes as they remembered the people that they met when they were home. Encouraging. It's not only the period and the people, but would you notice, please, the prominent hands that lie behind what they gave.

Have them in your country, but in my country they have prominent associations. Sister being hard. She knew to be pretty. Important, isn't it? Especially you young fellow little thing about getting married one day.

You be careful now. I remember when I asked a girl to marry me. I had it all worked out, you know. She'll say no the first time. That'll give me time to save up. She'll say no the second time. That'll give me a bit extra.

Maybe the third time she might say yes. I was in a mess. Oh, whatever you are, let's be pretty. And when it comes to the things of God, let's be in the things of God. For this is what he dares to say upon the first day of the week.

Let every one of you lay by him in store. There's one thing I can't stand. And on occasions I stood up and disassociated myself with it. When they gathered together a crowd of God's folk and then one of the brethren, this is not our Christian giving.

We do not give our Christian giving on the way crest of an emotional. This is God's worship. Notice not only the period and the people, not only notice the providential act, but would you please notice the proportion we have to give.

I'll tell you what it does say. I'll tell you what it does say. It says, let's give as God hath prospered this. Paul lying there in prison, comes in, the beloved physician, is there arm in arm with Dr. Luke.

But Dr. Luke has sent you a papaditis. Now you mustn't tax your strength too much now. You must be careful. The papaditis hands over the gift that they've given to the apostle Luke. He called the saints.

He called up a dear sister there who was so little and yet she put her in like this. He called up a brother so wealthy and remember, I've got a feeling I'd love to have been in that cell that day when Paul prayed as he went over the saints again.

An encouragement, isn't it? Then please, encouraged by the support of the saints. But then we go down in verses 11 to 13. I'm back in Philippians when I can find it. Jumped out of my Bible here we are.

Verse 11 to verse 13. Now it seems not that he's encouraged by the support of the saints, but he's educated by the satisfaction of the Christ. I have learned, says verse 11, being his teacher. Praise God it's been just this, that he can do all things through Christ who strengthened him.

Contentment Through Christ's Strength

He has learned and he has been... The tremendous... The apostle, as I said the other evening, was an academic of academics. I don't really know what letters he had after his name, but I'm sure of this, that he was a master of arts.

I'm sure of that. He might have been a D .D., you see. He was never a devil dodger it seems to me when I read the Bible, but he was a master of arts anyway, wasn't he? That he'd mastered the art of being hungry, without murmuring, without boasting, without being impatient, without abounding, and yet not setting his affections on the things of this world.

Oh, he was a master of arts. He'd been educated.

Let's read it again. Not that I speak in respect of want. I have a state I am that... Have you mastered that art brother? Whatever state we're found there, we can be content. I say, we've grown in the Lord, if we've learned that.

And I'll tell you something, we never will learn it, until we know that we can do all things through Christ Jesus. It is only in his blood has Christ dwelt within us, and we allow him to live his life.

This wonderful truth of the hour. I say, he goes further. I know both how to be a base, how to abound. Have we mastered that art? He says, I know how, I'm sorry, I know, how to abound everywhere, and in all things I am instructed, both to be full, and to be hungry, both to abound, and suffer need.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens. Just a few verses that precede it. But never forget, that these are the verses that make up the context. First, I'm putting on a motto. We're committed to our text for the year, and whatever comes our way, we say I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.

And of course, that is quite right and quite legitimate. The apostle was using it in the light of the things that he had mastered in his daily living. Not only is he one who has been encouraged by the support given by the saints, he is not only educated by the satisfaction that's found in Christ, but it's through him I can live this life of the Master of Acts.

Sympathy, Supply, and God's Faithfulness

Then it seems to me that he's enriched by the sympathy that's shown to him. Verses 14 to 16. He said, You did communicate with mine affliction. What affliction was it? Oh, it was the affliction of being cast in prison, I have no doubt.

It was the affliction of which he spoke when he wrote to the church at Galatia, when he dared, indeed, to suggest that this was some great trouble that he'd had. It's thorn in the flesh that he speaks of in Galatia when he says, I would have plucked out mine eyes, or you would have plucked out your eyes for me.

He was not only one who communicated, they showed sympathy with his affliction. Isn't it a joy to be able to do that? Isn't it wonderful when we see brethren and sisters in need, to be able to show sympathy with them?

Then he goes further, and it seems to me that there in verses 17 and 18 he is enhanced by the supply of his every need as he says, I have all enough. I'm just thinking, it's inappropriate, just to take a moment or two to look back over some 30 years that the Lord has let me of having trusted the Lord for my daily, physical, as well as...

The Lord was calling us to his service. Our great desire was to go to Angola. He wanted to go out with Mr. Fred Alford and serve the Lord in that country. You understand what joy I had last year when 30 years and more after, I went to the very place where once I felt the Lord was calling me.

Of course, we had to have a medical check-up when they found that my wife was suffering with something that made it impossible for us ever to contemplate going there. And I've always felt, in 30 years of ministry, that God gave me his second best.

Oh, please, I thank God for what he's given me. For any service I've been able to do for him, that I could think of no greater joy that could ever come to any man or woman than to serve God in the mission field.

No greater joy. Maybe this is the reason I'm always wandering over the world, spending a few months here, and saving as much as I can that I'm able to get into some mission field and help them there. I know that as we look back over these past 30 years, there have been times when there have been difficulties.

Now, I wouldn't do this. I'd like to share it with you. I don't know if I've ever shared it with anyone this time in the world, but I would like to share it. I wouldn't do this now. You young men, young women listening, I wouldn't do this now, but God was my judge.

But when I stepped out to trust the Lord, I felt no man could trust the Lord go out in case, if we use that expression, and have some money in the bank. The little money we had, we sent them all at home.

And the few trophies, I didn't have many, but mine was professional fighting. I just had a Clayton Lloyd belt and a couple of boxing belts, and we sold them and sent them. We started off, the day I started to look to the Lord, we started off with 10 shillings, and that was all.

I wouldn't do that now. I tell you what, I wouldn't do that now. I made my wife suffer things I know I'm never going to make anyone suffer. She had to face the milkman at the end of the week and pay the bill.

She had to make ends meet when at the end of the week there was hardly enough to live. God had permitted me to put some aside, but we did it, feeling it was the thing to do, and got on it. The first crusade I was to conduct was in the city of Cardiff, and I didn't have the payers to get to Cardiff.

I was due to preach there that very first crusade. I was due to preach there that night. You know, then, there was no good cunning because there wasn't any card going. We knelt down and woke ourselves up early in the morning, and we prayed.

Our postman comes at 9 o 'clock, and the train went at 8 .45. We prayed, Lord, as you know, I didn't know how to pray. He asked me why, oh, I know why, that God was in it. But at half past seven there was a ring at the doorbell, and I went to the doorbell, and the door and the postman was there.

He had a parcel in his hand. He said, they put an extra two rows on my ramp, and I'm trying it another way to see if I can get it finished earlier. And he put a parcel in my hand. So I went in, Mary! And he opened the parcel, and do you know what was?

A parcel of trash. I could have given it back to him. And then Mary said, but where have they come from? Lord, in any chance? And we looked through and tucked in the middle of the trash was a letter from George Ford.

Dear, dear ministering brother in my country, the Lord fought with me, I was with him just two years ago. We opened it in time with a five pound note. And I caught the 8 .45 train to Carthage. And my wife had a little bit of money to buy the present.

Oh, it had a card. You can see why. I said, what did that money come on? Don't you misunderstand me. God's never failed us. But I've seen occasions like that through the years. I remember working in our own panty wearing a country tie where there were no meetings.

I had an old bike, you know. We used to go from house to house. And in the evening gathered a few folks either on the village green or in the little hall, the little village hall. And on Friday I came home.

We never had any collections and we never told a soul about our needs. We came home this Friday and there wasn't very much there. That morning, Friday morning, as I worked the van in the garden, I was saying, Lord, do you know what happened?

I think it has. I believe it's true. I said, I'm sorry. I said, but Lord, I'll ride. My wife went to the door and there was a sister from our meeting who lived on the opposite side of the road or did then.

Same name as ourselves although no relation at all. And there she stood and Mary said, hello, they come in. They had a tray and on the tray covered over by a cloth or something. And she said, Mary, I hope you won't be offended, my dear.

But John went to work this morning and they sent him a fantastic. And he's only just phoned me up. He won't be able to get back until tomorrow morning. And I cooked the dinner. Look, we not only had our dinner, we had it cooked.

Sisters here who have looked back over the years speak of the faithfulness of our God. Our God. Let's give that up. I have been appointed to take up the task that I would like to mention. I wouldn't give up what I've got for anything.

To know day by day that there is a Lord that meets my need. And I want to thank you. Blessed be his name. He's a wonderful thing. You'll forgive me using the personal illustration, but I just wanted to tell you this.

He's alive. He's alive. You know, when I go into some college and I see this old nonsense written on the wall. God is dead. I mean, God is dead. He must have been alive sometime, haven't he? And if he's gone and he was alive sometime, he must be.

Some people don't even think what they write. Where was I? Oh, I know. We were here in the 4th of Philippians, weren't we? We were just remembering that we have a God who enhances by the supply of our needs.

Enhances the life of a Christian. He dares to say, I have all in abundance. And then he takes us a step further and he dares to tell us this, that he was enraptured by the sufficiency of our God. Verse 19, that my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ in you.

God's Provision and the Gospel's Power

Is there someone here tonight and he's not your God? He can be your God. I take that he's... I'm glad that the promise has come from God. I bless his name that this is that which he hath promised and he will perform.

My God! Isn't it lovely to know this? That you and I can have and make it our own. For he says, my God shall all your needs. I've had lots of things I've wanted I never had. Supply all my needs. And I'm glad that I can put my hand in his and say as I say, my, my, my Saviour, lead me as I say, when by thy side I will in my love abide.

Oh, what a Saviour we have who supplies all our needs. But would you notice? My God shall supply all your needs. Isn't that grand? He's rich. God, you and I can't write a cheque to Bigfoot. He just a real need.

He promises of life. And it's according to his riches in glory. I'm glad of that. Hey, riches down here, the moths get patted and the peat breaks in and steals and the rust comes and corrupts. But, oh, hallelujah, here it is.

It's already there. It's in the bank. No safer bank than this. I'm glad of this, that it's according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Oh, the one that gave his life for us, will he not with him freely give us all this?

When I think of what Christ has given all brethren and sisters, how one's heart is strangely moved to bless the Lord, to bless the Lord. And then he goes further. Now to that which surely should challenge our every heart.

Having bought the epistle to its close, having told us that God will supply his needs, now unto God and our Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. He then sends the sanitation to those every saint. I like that.

You see, the gospel's holy. It makes people faith-like. ...of every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren that are with me greet you. I like that as well, don't you? They salute the saints and they greet the saints.

They don't criticize them. They salute them and they greet them. ...salute you, chiefly those that are of Caesar's household. I'm not going back to what I said just to remind you that this was the last of the Roman Caesars.

A despot of a man who killed his brother-in-law, killed his wife, kicked to death the slave woman he'd made his entourage from in prison. And yet in his very household there was a church. Why, that's not the soil that brings forth lovely flowers, is it?

Praise God, it is. Oh, the beauty of the church! But the beauty of the church in Nero's house! It's no good me saying, oh, it's so difficult in our district, you know. Well, you see, our town, it's a Mormon town.

Oh, our town's a Catholic town. Oh, our town's a Baptist town. I don't know which is worse. But I only know this. I've never been in a town where it had been harder to preach the gospel than in the house of Nero.

And yet there was a church. Household, hallelujah, the gospel's powerful. Oh, the saints, chiefly those that are of Caesar's household. Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. I dealt with it very thoroughly.

And I think it's an interesting letter, don't you? It challenges my heart. I tell you what it's made me do. When I came, all you will understand over the years, I preached from the epistle to the Philippians a hundred times.

But I've never dealt with it the way I've dealt with it. I sought from the Lord something entirely fresh and a new approach to it. And as I've been preparing this day by day, do you know, I've been driven to my knees again and again.

I said, Lord, make it be real in my life. Father, we bless thee together for all thou hast done. What a wonderful gospel. Thank thee for the fact that thou canst meet our every need. We look around the congregation like this and we see some of these teenage young people with life in front of them, with educational opportunities that some of us would have given our arms for.

Oh God, what you could do with these young people if only they would lay all on the altar for thee. We pray thee that you'll enable them to say, my God, all my needs. For those of us that are older that have been on the road for over a few years, sometimes the weariness of the journey lays hold of us.

May we be able to say, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. And for the respective churches, assemblies that we represent, dear Lord, do grant that our meditations in these days may not only have been for thy glory, but for the benefit of the saints, our brethren and sisters in Christ.