Episode 10: Christ: The One Worthy of Exalting

5 Jul

As we do at the end of each season, we’re taking valuable time to reflect on where the Lord has been most speaking to us through the book of Philippians. Do take a look at our podcast show note questions to help you to reflect on this Bible book for yourself too.

1. In God's providence, why has studying Philippians been good for you this season?
2. Why would you encourage a friend to open it up and study it for themselves, or with you?
3. Go back to Paul's prayer and pray with renewed understanding, and thankfulness, confident that the Lord will continue his work in you until the day of Christ.
This episode is sponsored by Christian Focus.
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The following is an uncorrected transcript generated by a transcription service. Before quoting in print, please check the corresponding audio for accuracy.
Felicity: You're listening to the Two Sisters in a Cup of Tea podcast, a 20 minute burst of Bible chat over a cup of tea and an English style biscuit as we make our way through a Bible book over the course of the season and drive it to our hearts. Whether you've been listening for a while or have just found us, we're so pleased you're here. This season we've really enjoyed reading and recommending books from Christian Focus and we're so grateful for their sponsorship.

A Call to Contentment by David Caywood is a book that fits well with the heavenly mindset we've been exploring through Philippians. Paul himself says that he learned the secret of being content, and I'm grateful for this book that helps dig into that mindset and consider why we struggle with discontentment and where to place our gaze as we seek contentment. Well written, helpful and with practical outworkings and advice in the final chapter. Grab a copy wherever you get your books.

Sarah: Welcome to the final episode of Season 11 of Two Sisters and a Cup of Tea. My name is Sarah, I'm in the UK and as ever I'm with my wonderful sister Felicity who is in the States and today we are rounding up the letter of Philippians. Have I said that right?

Felicity: Sarah, like final episode. I feel like maybe this is it. You said it as the majority of the world do say it. So well done, congratulations.

Sarah: I really struggled.

Felicity: funny little quirk, isn't it?

Sarah: Anyway, cups of tea in hand. We are ready to just have a conversation this morning on what it looks like to route this book kind of going forwards and kind of take some things away from our study in this book. But before we get there, Felicity, what's been your experience of opening up this letter with other people and how would you go about encouraging others to do that? So we long that people would feel equipped and encouraged to open it up with a friend, with another sister in Christ. Tell us about your experience.

Felicity: I know we say this every season, but whichever book we're in, that is kind of the book which is like our go -to with other people, isn't it? And at this stage,I haven't formally been in Philippians in the sense I haven't sat down with someone every week and done Philippians or something. But I would say that most people in my life have heard a bit of Philippians over the last weeks because that has been and what I found is that this is a book which is it's hard -hitting but it is also full of love and affection and so what that has meant is that as it's been in my head and it's been in my heart and so it's kind of overflowed out of my mouth and I found that in various pastoral situations or just as I've been jogging alongside people that

Sarah: Yeah.

Felicity: Just a lot of this book is really helpful in whatever context we're in because essentially it doesn't really matter what context we're in, what sort of circumstances. Because Paul is really helping us push towards a heavenly mindset, that's something that's helpful kind of all the time, anywhere, whatever's going on. And so I found that that's been something that has just kind of spilled out. I feel like I've had more conversations about what it is to be looking heavenwards, what it is to be loving Jesus above all else.

Felicity: And I've been really grateful for this as the kind of anchor for that. But I know, Sarah, you've been, in a more formal sense, been opening it up with other people. Tell us a bit about that.

Sarah: So we've been doing this in our women's Bible study over the last few months. So what's that look like? That's looked like me and two other Bible study leaders getting together and kind of preparing our studies together and kind of thrashing out what we think each part of the letter means and why it's there. And then taking that to our groups and doing that with our groups and leading studies.

That's just been really, really fruitful experience, both on the kind of the three of us. I've really, I really, really enjoy those sessions as we kind of really seek to kind of keep honing our skills as Bible study leaders and keep growing in that. But also then taking it to the wider groups and seeing, you know, there's people from a wide range of different backgrounds and different kind of investment in the book, if you will. And then I think that's just been, it's really cool to see, to see the word go out in different ways and work in people's hearts as you say like this very much has been on in my heart and on my lips so I wonder whether friends are just bored of me talking about this book now I don't know but yeah yeah I know.

Felicity: Yeah. I know. We should really interview someone else on here. What's it been like being with these two as they've been obsessed with Philippians? yeah.

Sarah: I know. So yeah, it's been good. We always like to review a book, don't we? We always think it's a really helpful kind of experience to kind of just stop and pause and reflect on what the Lord has been doing as his word has got to work on our hearts. But we were talking about this before we went on air today. Before we went on air? We're not really on air, we're recording. Before we press record, just the reality that there's been more bite to it more bite to our reflections this time around Felicity. Talk about that a little bit and the direction this conversation is going to take.

Felicity: Well, I think we mentioned this maybe the episode before last, but both of us have been sitting in quite a heavy season as we've been recording, as we've been in this book. And so as we reflect on this letter, it really is bearing on reality. I think both of us have talked quite a lot in the last few weeks with each other about how our faith has in some ways being clarified by the suffering that we're witnessing around us and there's a sort of 3D reality to the things which maybe we've just always said and definitely have believed but there's a kind of, it's just very real, isn't it? And I think there's been an element of, well, to live is Christ and die is gain. Jesus is of surpassing worth. It is all about him, therefore, what does it look like? to really employ and press into this mindset as the circumstances around us seem to be just, it's just been sad, hasn't it? To be honest, it's just been sad. There's been a lot of tears and we have ministered to each other through the Book of Philippians. And so as we reflect on it as a whole book, as we come to the end of it. It is, it does feel different because it's not abstract, it's not just doctrinal truth, it's actually okay, how has this ministered to us in this?

Sarah: Yeah. And I think we'd say that at the beginning, we were wrestling with the question of how can Paul say these things? How can he realistically say that to live is Christ and to die is gain? And how can he do it with such confidence? And I really feel like we've got to the end of the book and through, through witnessing suffering and through kind of walking alongside people and just through being in a heavy season, the Lord has shown us how and you know, like this can have been an answer prayer, an answer question there of how he is able to say this and how my desire, our desire in our hearts has been now all the more wanting to chime the same, wanting to say the same and feeling like we can a little bit more than we did before we started studying this book.

Felicity: Yes. Yes, I think that's right. And I think, you know, throughout our time in the letter, the prayer from the first chapter has kind of reverberated throughout, hasn't it? And I felt that when We first read the prayer and as you say, we kind of read it and you're like, okay, this is just amazing. I want to be able to pray like this, but I'm not entirely sure how you genuinely pray like this. But I think this idea of partnership, so he says in verse four, chapter one, verse four, in all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. That It's just very, like that's just so true. Like the partnership in the gospel that you and I have, but also with our friends, our family members who are struggling, then the partnership in the gospel is just very evident. It really does bring joy to know that you're persevering to know that others are persevering. And I think as well then that verse six there, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. As Jesus has been clarified as the one who is of surpassing worth, the one who I want to cling to above all else, and I want my friends to cling to above all else, then It is so reassuring that God has started the good work and he will bring it to completion. And this is what is going on. He's bringing about heavenwards things by his grace and through his sovereignty. And that's been a sweet balm to my soul, I think and I think we'd say we have been so bolstered by the partnership in the Gospel from listeners this season, haven't we? So we kind of put out a call to partner with us, to financially give and pray for us as we seek to continue doing this. And it's been astounding to see the partnership, not necessarily through the amount of gifts or anything, but just the kind of the sheer kind of people wanting to get behind what we're doing and seeing benefit and value of what we're seeking to do and wanting to kind of show us that and stand with us in that and I think it has been such a joyful thing and I just yeah it swells our hearts massively doesn't it and I think it's just been it's been wonderful to see it in this letter and experience the lived out reality of the absolute joy of people partnering with us in this.

Felicity: It has. Yes, that's so true. And I wonder, and I think I haven't thought about partnership so deeply before in the sense of, you know, if you give a little bit of money over here and you think, well, that's just, I've just pressed a button and that's that, you know, I think they're doing a good job or whatever. The impact is so real, isn't it? Like it's so, really genuinely. And I think especially as we've been in this particular season, then the Lord's been really kind because that is kind of what we've needed because it has felt a bit of a stretch emotionally to be doing this and to be pressing record and do all these things when, you know, the minute before we've maybe have been crying a little bit. And then, so then actually in the midst of the stretch to know that people are partnering with us and to be bolstered by that, as you say, and to be encouraged actually to keep going, to persevere, not just in Christ, but actually to persevere with the podcast. So, I mean, we're coming to the end of a season, but we are thinking we probably will carry on, right, Sarah?

Sarah: No! keep going. Yeah, you could hear us again. Thanks to your generosity. Thanks to your partnering and that you know, we really do mean that. It's been, yeah, just a wonderful, a wonderful, joyful reality of this season. And it's a wonderful thing because actually we've I think in that we're seeing Christ exalted aren't we? We're seeing kind of people strive together and seeking to exalt Christ seeking to kind of fix our eyes on Christ together and wanting to do that more and more and whether it's this podcast, whether it's on a whole number of different spheres, but I think just the reality of that and the language of that in this book, I keep not wanting to say the name because I'm going to get it wrong again. Philippians, the language through Philippians is such an exalting Christ, isn't it? He is worthy of the highest place, he is there, God has exalted him to the highest place, and actually to be able to just think through what...

Felicity: Very good.

Sarah: that looks like in every part of life and to slowly let that sink in. I feel like it's such a work in progress, aren't we? But just slowly letting that seep in and drip, drip, drip into every, every sphere. But the big thing in that, I think I've been really surprised at is the mind, the mind, the mindset thing, how much the mind impacts my actions and my thoughts and my relating to one another and how I look towards heaven.

Felicity: Yeah. And I think that is surprising that that is where God goes to work in us. And that is not just that he goes to work in that, but that's the kind of the source of it. And in the kind of the Bible language, that is the whole person. But there's so much in that that is the way that we think that that then impacts everything. And yeah, I think that as I've been dwelling on that and praying that my heart and mind would be shifted more heavenlywards, I have just come back again and again to the chapter 2 description of Jesus and the you know when he says in chapter 2 verse 5 have the same mindset as Christ Jesus and then he goes on to describe this stepping down, taking on the very nature of a servant, obedient to death, even death on a cross, and therefore God exalted him to the highest place. Like that pattern, and we've seen it outworked through Paul and Timothy and Epaphroditus and actually the Philippians themselves as they've partnered with Paul and it's kind of contagious, isn't it? Because you begin to think, well, okay, what does this look like to be Christ -like? And it has to be a willingness to give of ourselves to sacrificially pour ourselves out for the sake of others.

Sarah: And I loved Elle talking about the reality of that for her on the mission field. I loved our conversation with her and just being able to see that in practice. Actually, she has kind of died to self in so many different ways, hasn't she, in order to serve what she's serving. And yet the fruit of that is the word of life has been held out. They're shining like stars and people are coming to faith and they're switching from being enemies of the cross to being friends with Christ and heading towards heaven. And you just think,

Sarah: Wow, wow, that.

Felicity: Yeah, yeah. I love the way that she was quite matter of fact about it all, wasn't it? It's just like, I think it's just personality type as well, but just kind of like, this is actually how it works. This is real. Like, this is just, and that's just really encouraging, isn't it? That as we do seek to be like Jesus through His grace, the means and the model has been really helpful to me, I think, to see that. Jesus is the means by which we have this mindset and he models it as well. And therefore as we seek to work out our salvation with fear and troubling, it's God who works in us to will, to will and to act. And so that's just been, okay so then actually that brings me back around to praying like the start of chapter one. I think that's been the, it's just been quite cyclical actually in that, okay, okay, well let me pray this more because I really want to be doing this and yeah.

Sarah: Yeah. Yeah. And I think again, as ever, as ever, it's funny, isn't it? You take it for granted, but actually it's a miracle, isn't it? That the word would be at work in such a way in our hearts that we are more inclined to pray those prayers at the end of this than at the beginning. And that we're seeing the value of being steeped in his word more in the midst of suffering, in the midst of trials, that we see that his word is everything actually. His word is life -giving, it's powerful and we need it more than anything when things are stripped back and when we see the reality of a fallen broken world, don't we? So I think, what am I saying here? I feel, and I think we would both say this, we feel like a renewed desire and sense of kind of responsibility to keep digging into the word deeply, to keep wrestling with the whole council of God and to keep kind of bringing our minds and reorientating our minds around this life -giving word because that is a Christ -exalting thing to do and that will enable us to keep standing firm until the last day.

Felicity: Yes. Yes. I think that's exactly it. It's really given me just increased joy and perseverance and I think that this is it. This is like, you know, when he says, hold fast to the word of life, this is what it is. It's to be in the word and to be wrestling with it and to be talking about it and to be seeking to get it open with others. And that is just so It's so encouraging that that's where it's at because that's, it's not that it's easy because it's, you know, there's a heart level kind of wrestle with that, but it is doable. We can get the Bible open. We can hold fast to the word of life by God's grace.

Felicity: And that's encouraging, isn't it? Because I think you could get to the end of this letter and be like, I don't know, but Paul, really? As we were saying, we sort of thought that at the start. But what we felt and know and seen is God to be at work in us through this word. And that renewed vigor for that is, yeah, testimony to it. And praise the Lord. Very grateful for the letter of Philippians, I think, at this point.

Sarah: So grateful, so grateful. And so grateful for conversation partners to talk you through with, but also as you're saying, just actually just the value of opening this word, even if it's five, 10 minutes, even just a verse with anyone and anyone, I know people are probably really bored of us doing it, but it's just been really valuable, hasn't it? And yeah, so as we were saying before, we feel like a renewed conviction of the value of what we're doing here, not only for - one another in terms of discussing God's word and really trying to drive it to our own hearts. But prayerfully and hopefully for those who are listening along with us as well, that it's a helpful thing and we really do feel more convinced than ever that we should be doing this. Which is no like thing to say on my part because I quite often am the one saying we should stop.

Felicity: Yes. I'm sorry. I know, I feel like Philippians has really changed our conversation in this, you know? So yes, what we're saying really is that, well, we, for God's glory, we wanna keep being in the Word together, we're going to keep pressing record and we're going to keep praying that others would be encouraged as they're in the Word with us and that as we're all partnering in this that we would be eagerly holding fast to the Word of Life, shining like stars and growing in this mindset that we've explored and pressed into through Philippians. So Sarah, why don't you pray for us, pray for us all as we reach the end of this letter.

Sarah: to you. Heavenly Father we just thank you so much that at the heart of this letter is Christ and exalting Christ whether by life or by death and we just pray as we go on from here Lord that you would help us, you would enable us, you would strengthen us according to your word that we would be those who exalt Christ and seek to continually and grow to do that in every sphere of life in which we find ourselves and so we pray Lord as we head into the summer we pray Father please would you help us and we just thank you so much that this is all for your glory and to the praise of Christ's name who is above every name. Lord we praise you for him and that we are in him. To your glory we pray, amen.

Felicity: Amen. Thank you, Sarah. Well, as you say, we are heading into the summer and so we are pressing pause. We will be back in your ears come September. But in the meantime, why not head to the website? All the old seasons, the previous seasons are there, very easily accessible. Why not pick a Bible book, grab a friend, get into it together over the summer? And we're praying that you'd be holding fast to the word of life throughout these summer months. And we will look forward to being back with you very soon.

Bye bye.

Sarah: Bye bye.

Felicity: This season has been sponsored by Christian Focus and we are so grateful.