Scripture Reading: Col. 2:2; Eph. 3:4; Phil. 1:19-20; 2:2; 3:1; 4:1, 12-13; John 14:21, 23; Phil. 4:17-20
I. The experience of Christ is a mystery—Col. 2:2; Eph. 3:4; Phil. 1:19-20:
A. Our Christian living is a mystery; for example, although human love is limited, the proper love lived out by a Christian is unlimited; hence, it is a mystery—cf. Eph. 3:19a, John 3:30.
B. To magnify Christ is to express Christ without limitation; it is to show the whole universe that the very Christ by whom we live is unlimited—Phil. 1:19-20.
C. The church life is the sum total of our Christian living; we all live Christ, and our Christian living is added together to make the church life; when we come together as the church, we are a complete mystery—1 Tim. 3:15-16.
II. Strictly speaking, Philippians is a book not only on the experience of Christ but also on the enjoyment of Christ; it is a book filled with joy and rejoicing—1:4, 18, 25; 2:2, 17-18, 28-29; 3:1; 4:1, 4:
A. The experience of Christ is primarily in our spirit, but the enjoyment of Christ is in our soul; like children who are made to eat without enjoying their food, many times we experience Christ without enjoying Him—2:2-3; cf. Psa. 86:4.
B. Among the Philippians there was dissension in their thinking (Phil. 4:2), which troubled the apostle; hence, he asked them to think the same thing, even the same one thing, that they might make his joy full (2:2).
C. The one thing is the subjective experience of Christ as our enjoyment for the church life, the Body life; this one thing should occupy our mind all the time; if we think the one thing, immediately the enjoyment of Christ will be our portion—v. 2, cf. Col. 3:1-2.
III. We need to learn the secret of being in Christ as the empowering Ones—Phil. 4:12-13:
A. In Philippians 4:12-13 Paul says, “I know also how to be abased, and I know how to abound; in everything and in all things I have learned the secret both to be filled and to hunger, both to abound and to lack. I am able to do all things in Him who empowers me”:
1. The phrase learned the secret indicates that Paul had come into a new situation, a new environment; whenever we are put in new environment, we need to learn the secret of living in that environment.
2. The secret is in Philippians 4:13: “I am able to do all things in Him who empowers me”.
B. On the one hand, by the empowering of Christ, we can live a contented life (4:11-12); on the other hand, by the empowering of Christ, we can be true, dignified, righteous, pure, lovely, and well spoken of (v. 8).
IV. We abide in Christ so that He may abide in us by loving Him—John 14:21, 23:
A. The more we love the Lord, the more we will have His presence, and the more we are in His presence, the more we will enjoy all that He is to us—1 Cor. 2:9-10; Eph. 6:24.
B. The Lord’s recovery is a recovery of loving the Lord Jesus—Rev. 2:4-5, cf. 1 Cor. 16:22.
V. “Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit which increases to your account” —Phil. 4:17:
A. When we give material things in Christ for God’s interest, life is ministered to the Body, and God’s glory is brought in; as God’s glory is manifested, we appreciate His splendor and excellency—vv. 18-20.
B. This appreciation is both an enjoyment and an experience; without such an experience we cannot have this kind of appreciation; God is expressed in His splendor and excellency for our appreciation and satisfaction—vv. 18-20.
