Abounding in Grace

Abounding in Grace
14th Sunday after Trinity, 2011

Rev. Stephen E. Stults
St. Barnabas Anglican Church
September 25, 2011

Good Morning! May God’s richest grace be on you all today…

Consider these two verses from our Second Lesson:
Philippians 4:4: “ Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice”, and
Philippians 4:12:“I know both how to be abased, and 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 to suffer need.”

Here we have two blessed and uplifting verses from one of St. Paul’s later epistles. Philippians, written late in his ministry, actually was penned while St. Paul was waiting to be brought before the Emperor Nero the second time. We know from Acts that St. Paul was arrested after having been the center of an uproar in Jerusalem. He sent unto Festus under heavy guard because of the threat of an ambush by Jewish zealots seeking his death. The chain of events that led up to his house arrest in Rome unfolded as Paul testified before Festus at the end of the Book of Acts. Recall that Porcius Festus was the Roman procurator in Judea from A.D. 58-62.

St. Paul appeared before Festus several times before it seemed imminent that he would be sent back to Jerusalem for trial. This extradition to Jerusalem he avoided by exercising his right as a Roman citizen to appeal to Caesar. Ironically, by this time, he had almost persuaded Festus to become a Christian and would, in Festus’ own words, have been set at liberty if he had not appealed to Caesar. Of course, we know that Paul’s trip to Rome was critical to the growth of Christianity. Thus, in God’s perfect Will, it happened. Festus had no alternative but to transfer his case to Rome, but he brought him to Agrippa II in order to help him understand how to charge Paul.


Paul appeared before Nero twice. The first appearance occurred during his first imprisonment recorded in the Book of Acts, of which we just spoke. Three of Paul’s epistles, the so-called “prison epistles”, which are Colossians, Ephesians and Philemon, were most likely written during this imprisonment. The dating of Philippians is uncertain, but the Church is reasonably certain that it was also written during the between the first and second appearances.

His first trial must have ended in acquittal, for after the period in Rome, Paul is again traveling and preaching. During this time, he would write the Pastoral Epistles and ponder a missionary journey to Spain. He would eventually appear before Nero the second time, and according to Christian tradition, be sentenced to death. According to one source, Paul was arrested in Rome, late in Nero’s reign. We really don’t know for sure, as St. Paul’s death is not recorded in the Bible or any contemporary history. Yet, we do have the tradition of the Church. Here are several items about his martyrdom, according to one source, The Catholic Encyclopedia:

• Paul suffered martyrdom near Rome at a place called Aquae Salviae (now Tre Fontane), somewhat east of the Ostian Way, about two miles from the splendid Basilica of San Paolo fuori le mura which marks his burial place.
• The martyrdom took place towards the end of the reign of Nero, in the twelfth year (St. Epiphanius), the thirteenth (Euthalius), or the fourteenth (St. Jerome).
• According to the most common opinion, Paul suffered in the same year and on the same day as Peter; several Latin Fathers contend that it was on the same day but not in the same year; the oldest witness, St. Dionysius the Corinthian, says only kata ton auton kairon, which may be translated "at the same time" or "about the same time".
• From time immemorial in the Roman Church, the solemnity of the Apostles Peter and Paul has been celebrated on June 29, which is the anniversary either of their death or of the translation of their relics.

We Anglicans celebrate the Conversion of St. Paul on January 25 and celebrate St. Peter’s day on June 29.

In Philippians, we sense both the maturity of Paul’s ministry and that of his own personal faith. He begins this section of Philippians with the ringing statement, “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.” Aside from being one of the most uplifting statements in the NT, it is also one of the most profound. Why? Simply because if one such as St. Paul can say this is his current circumstances, what should we do? Here was a man who had been beaten with rods, lashed repeatedly, stoned, and even shipwrecked in the course of his ministry. He was now awaiting trial before an insane, tyrannical despot who was known to systematically purge those suspected to be plotting against him. In these circumstances, he tells his reader, “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.”

The message is plain: rejoice and give thanks for all of your life, no matter what your external circumstances might be. Let the joy of Christ overshadow your life and never, never, give in to Satanic despair. If Paul can say it, despite his circumstances, cannot we do the same? If we accept the imponderable Mind of God in all things, we know that even our negative circumstances occur for a reason and in some way glorify God. The why and how are beyond us.

St. Paul continues in Philippians 4:5:”Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.” One translation has it as: “Let your forbearing spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.” As a parallel source, St. James echoes this concept of the forbearing spirit as he tells us about bridling of the tongue,” ¶ If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.” One source mentions, “Bridling the tongue is a hallmark of spiritual maturity. It is a moment by moment battle in the heart for a sanctification that is so whole-person that even the grace of our Lord Jesus is manifested through our tongues.” Thus, when St. Paul exhorts us, we see the mind of mature Christian pastor telling us, in short, to be ruled by the Holy Spirit and to let Him give us a forebearing spirit within. It is a wonderful prayer.

Similar to the forebearing spirit of which St. Paul speaks is his sense of contentment, which is marked by these words: “I know both how to be abased, and 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 to suffer need.”

In this specific case, as we see later in the same chapter of Philippians, Paul is speaking of the monetary support he has received from the church. He commends them for sending it, yet gently and tenderly upbraids them at the same time as he mentions that in the past they were mindful of his need, but “lacked opportunity” to fulfill it. This was tactful indeed.

Then to put both a temporal and spiritual point on it, St. Paul says he does not write out of need or lack, because he has learned to be content, regardless of his physical circumstances. He tells us: “I know both how to be abased, and 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 to suffer need.”

Matthew Henry tells us that Paul was not profligate, nor did he live in a high manner, but survived financially both by working at his family’s tent making trade and from the occasional financial support offered by the churches under his care.

His point is this, and perhaps from time to time we all need to hear it. Contentment, true contentment, does not come from our material possessions, although, of course, they do enhance the quality of our lives. Yet, consider the many, many people in this world who have everything they desire physically, but are empty spiritually. Again, there is nothing wrong with material abundance, as long as it is accompanied by spiritual abundance as well. In the end, our spiritual state really determines our sense of joy, peace, and happiness anyway. Thus, St. Paul can tell us that in whatever state he finds himself, he is content. If we recall his statement from I Corinthians 9:25, it tends to put our earthly pursuit in better perspective: “And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.”

Once again, material and physical abundance is a good and worthy gift from our God. There is no doubt about that. Yet, it is just as important, even more so, that we lay the proper spiritual foundation that will undergird all of our lives, thus ensuring that in whatsoever state we are in, therewith we can be content.

The question remains, how does one do this? How does one find the contentment, the joy and the peace, despite one’s circumstances? In short, in our material world, how is this possible?

The answer lies in a verse that many Christians have memorized, from Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” No doubt, many of us, when in difficult or trying situations, have said this to ourselves. I know that I have, many times in my life and will do so again, many, many more times.

There is a supernatural strength that is available to us. When we say “supernatural”, we don’t mean the creepy, ghostly, or even black magical kind of help. No, that is against the very tenets of our faith. What we do mean is that we as Christians have access to a power that is both unimaginable and unavailable to those who don’t know Christ. As Christians, we have been promised the aid of the Helper or the Paraclete, who is the Holy Spirit. We are never alone, nor are we ever without succor. We are never desolate, nor are we forsaken. We are never poor, although our worldly sums may be low. We have access to the power and grace of Almighty God whenever and wherever we may be. Finally, we have access to a sense of joy and peace that is simply this: “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

This is our journey and our quest. It is one that will not fail to yield the fruits of peace, joy, love, and ultimate victory.

Philippians 4:6 "Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."