Ode to the Philippians
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Ministries in the Book of Acts
Ephesians 4:8 KJV:
Wherefore he [Jesus Christ] saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
This is a quote from Psalm 68:18.
Psalm 68:18–19 KJV:
Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them. 19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.
In Old Testament times, captives were paraded before the people, showing that they had been defeated. These captives are going to be gifts to people; the captive people are the gifts.
Ministers in the body of Christ are captured gifts from Jesus Christ to the body. Their whole lives become gifts to the body of Christ. They are not their own anymore. They are dedicated to doing only what God wants them to do, by the direction of the head.
Ephesians 4:9–13 KJV:
9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Some people say that pastors and teachers are the same, but they are separate. This is even clearer in the Aramaic.
The term “ministers” is a bit misleading because everyone ministers. You could call them ascension gifts, grace gifts, charismatic gifts, or something similar.
When you say gift ministry or gift minister, it means that the life of that person is the gift.
It’s not some special anointing that makes them different from everyone else. No one ever gets more or less Holy Spirit than anyone else. The gift part refers to the fact that their whole lives become a gift.
In Greek, the word translated as “gift” is doma. The emphasis of the word doma is on the character of the gift. It’s like a dose of medicine.
“Doma” gifts to the church (adapted from John MacArthur)
1. They’re essential. The body of Christ cannot do without these men and women whose lives are a gift to the body, the church.
2. They can be counterfeited. The adversary can promote people who appear to have gift ministries, but they are counterfeits. Such as a clairvoyant masquerading as a prophet. A gift ministry is not a natural ability; just because someone has a natural teaching ability does not mean that they have the gift ministry of a teacher.
3. Always unite the body. If they are causing division or doing things that are not unifying, then you can question whether their ministry is a gift ministry.
4. For the maturing of the believers. They help believers to grow.
5. Come in many varieties. Remember, God loves diversity. You can have multiple teachers. You can even have multiple pastors.
6. You can have a gift and not use it. God can give someone a gift ministry and by their free will, that person can choose not to carry it out. Or a person can operate in that ministry for a time, and then stop.
7. There is a process of training and growing up. It doesn’t happen all at once. The growing process includes great joy.
8. Energized by God for His glory. They do it for God’s glory, not for their own glory.
9. Gifts and calling of God are without repentance. Once God calls you and gives you a gift ministry, He does not take it back, even if you fail to carry it out.
10. The goal is to grow up into Christ and become the gift needed. The minister will always be growing more and more into their ministry. They are becoming more Christlike throughout their lives.
Jesus Christ fulfilled all those listed gift ministries; he was an apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher.
People may start out in one gift ministry, but ultimately they will serve as God energizes them to do whatever is needed at a particular time.
Apostle: stimulates and brings vision. They have great vision. The gift ministry of an apostle can rise up after another gift has been prominent. Apostles have a jurisdiction. There are multiple apostles in our day and time, though they are often incognito. But we should be careful when someone claims to be an apostle, because they are usually working behind the scenes, working for God’s glory.
Prophet: speaks for God — not always liked (like breathing: in with the good, out with the bad). A prophet exhorts.
Evangelist: preacher of the good news of the gospel — ministers to both unbelievers and the church. Like a prophet, an evangelist exhorts frequently. Some in the music field are evangelists.
Pastor: tends, feeds, takes care of people (shepherd), the most variety of all the gifts.
Teacher: makes known and explains the Word and how to apply it. A teacher must first be a learner.
Ephesians 4:12–13 KJV:
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Gift ministers are not above or over the body of believers; gift ministers serve from beneath. Their lives are a gift to the body. They elevate the body, not themselves.
Acts 16:6–10 ESV:
6 And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7 And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 8 So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
In Philippi
Acts 16:11–12 KJV:
11 Therefore loosing from Troas, we [Luke was with Paul] came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis; 12 And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days.
In the book of Acts, the only time the narrator says “we” is when Luke is with Paul.
Luke goes with Paul to Philippi, but he ends up staying there after Paul leaves. In fact, Luke remained in Philippi for eight or nine years.
Lydia
Lydia is the first person recorded who believes.
Acts 16:13–15 ESV:
13 And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. 14 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. 15 And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.
Fortune Teller
Acts 16:16–24 ESV:
16 As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” 18 And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.
19 But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. 20 And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. 21 They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.” 22 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. 23 And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. 24 Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
Jailor
Acts 16:25–34 ESV:
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” 29 And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. 34 Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.
We already have a very diverse group of people who have believed (and those are just the people we know about).
Unity is not uniformity.
If you always have the same type of people, then it doesn’t represent how the body of Christ is and should be. We should be looking for diversity.
The church in Philippi was held up as a model in terms of joy and giving. The books of Corinthians were written from Philippi.
Philippians 4:14– KJV:
14 Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction. 15 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.
Luke
Luke was deeply involved with the Philippians and their joyful giving.
Philippians 2:19 ESV:
I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you.
Epaphroditus
Remember, apostles are often incognito.
Philippians 2:25 KJV:
Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger [apostle], and he that ministered to my wants.
Philippians 2:25 APNT:
But now, a matter urges me to send Epaphroditus to you, a brother who is a helper and worker with me, but your own apostle and a minister for my need,
The King James Version used the term “fellowsoldier.” There are only two people whom Paul called a “fellowsoldier,” Epaphroditus and Archippus (Philemon 2). The Greek word literally means “someone who has the same commission.” They had the same strategy. The same word is used of Naval officers who are responsible for a fleet of ships.
Epaphroditus traveled 800 miles to Rome and then became ill.
Philippians 2:26–30 APNT:
26 because he was longing to see all of you and was distressed, for he knew that you had heard that he was sick.
27 For he was indeed sick almost to death, but God had mercy on him and not on him only, but also on me, so that I would not have distress on distress.
28 Therefore, I have sent him to you promptly, so that when you see him again, you would rejoice and [that] I would have a little refreshment [to breathe].
29 Therefore, receive him in the lord with all joy and hold those who are so in honor.
30 For because of the work of Christ, he came near to death and despised danger regarding himself, so that he could supply what you had neglected in service to me.
Think of your favorite verses in Philippians.
Philippians 1:3–5 APNT:
3 I thank my God for constant remembrance of you,
4 because in all my petitions that are for you and as I rejoice, I make intercession
5 for your fellowship that is in the gospel from the first day until now,
Philippians 2:1–2 APNT:
1 Therefore, if you have encouragement in Christ or if [you have] consolation in love or if [you have] fellowship of the Spirit or if [you have] loving-kindness and mercies,
2 complete my joy, so that you will have one mind and one love and one soul and one purpose.
Philippians 2:5:
(APNT) And think this in yourselves which Jesus Christ also [thought],
(KJV) Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
(NET) You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had,
The only way to be one with anybody is when each puts on the mind of Christ.
Philippians 2:13:
(APNT) For God energizes you to will as well as to perform what you desire.
(KJV) For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
(NET) for the one bringing forth in you both the desire and the effort—for the sake of his good pleasure—is God.
Philippians 3:14–16 APNT:
14 And I am running toward the goal, so that I would receive the victory of the high calling of God in Jesus Christ.
15 Therefore, those who are mature should think these [things] and if you think anything otherwise, God will also reveal this to you.
16 Nevertheless, to reach this, we should follow in one path and with one agreement.
Verse 20 is the only place that says our citizenship is in heaven. The Aramaic says that our labor is in heaven.
Philippians 3:20:
(APNT) But our work is in heaven and from there we are expecting the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ,
(KJV) For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
(ESV) But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
Euodias & Syntyche
Philippians 4:1–3a APNT:
1 From now on, my beloved and dear brothers, my joy and my crown, so stand fast in our Lord, my beloved.
2 I beg Euodias and Syntyche to have one mind in our Lord.
3 I beg you also, my true yoke-fellow, that you would help those who are toiling with me in the gospel,
Clement
Philippians 4:3b–8 APNT:
with Clement and with the rest of my helpers, whose names are written in the book of life.
4 Rejoice in our Lord at all times, and again I say, “Rejoice.”
5 And let your meekness be known to everyone. Our Lord is near.
6 Do not be distressed about anything, but at all times, by prayer and by petition and with thanksgiving, your requests should be made known before God.
7 And the peace of God that is greater than all knowledge will guard your hearts and your minds in Jesus Christ.
8 From now on, my brothers, those [things] that are true and those [things] that are modest and those [things] that are upright and those [things] that are pure and those [things] that are lovely and those [things] that are praiseworthy and those works of glory and of commendation, think these [things].
The teaching is followed by a long question-and-answer session, which is included in the audio.
Scripture References
Scripture quotations marked (APNT) taken from the Aramaic Peshitta New Testament Translation: With explanatory footnotes marking variant readings, customs and figures of speech, Copyright © 2006 by Janet M. Magiera, Light of the Word Ministry, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission. (www.lightofword.org)
Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from The NET Bible® Copyright © 1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. www.netbible.com. All rights reserved.
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