July 17, 2011
Evening Service

Philippians 1

 

Review:

1. As we studied through Ephesians no church had a greater start.  In Acts chapter 19 Paul was traveling through this area, and came upon some disciples ask them if they had received the Holy Ghost sinced they believed.  They had only known John’s baptism, and the promise of the coming of the Messiah.  Paul ask them “unto what then were you baptized”?  They said unto John’s baptism, so Paul took them and baptized them in Jesus Name, laid hands on them and they received the Holy Ghost.  This was one terrific start for the church in Ephesus.
2. But as we saw this morning in chapter 16 of Acts Philippi had it’s own exciting start.  With the conversion of Lydia, and her household.  Paul’s persecution, and being thrown in jail.  His miraculous release.  Then the conversion of the Philippian jailer, and his household.
3. Now Paul is writing letters of encouragement, and instructions to these churches while being in prison in Rome.

 

Let’s begin with Philippians:

Phi 1:1-30  Paul and Timothy, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons. 

• Timothy is not in jail with the Apostle, but is in Rome.  Timothy was also with Paul when the church in Philippi was started.   Even staying behind when Paul left to go to Athens.
• Paul’s wonderful salutation;

(2)  Grace to you, and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.  (3)  I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,  (4)  always in every prayer of mine making my request for you all with joy  (5)  for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; 

• If you recall, I mentioned how that when you are first converted, and accept Jesus as Lord of your life, and He comes into your heart to live, you can’t get enough knowledge of Him.  Lydia, and the Philippian jailer tried to hang on to Paul as long as they could to learn all they could concerning Jesus. 

(6)  being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ, 

• The only way He won’t is that you kick Him out.  Just like the world today.  He no doubt looks down at the United States just as He did Jerusalem when He said, “o Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how oft would I have taken thee under my wings as a mother hen does her chicks, and you would not.”
• Our country started out “one nation under God.”  And now you can’t even mention His name in a lot of places.  It’s not that God has left America, America has left God. 

(7)  even as it is righteous for me to think this of you all, because you have me in your heart, inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you are all partakers of my grace. 

• “Eph 2:8-9  For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God,  (9)  not of works, lest anyone should boast.
• This is the Gospel that Paul was given to preach, saved by grace through faith.

(8)  For God is my witness how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. 

• Paul is saying oh how I want you to be sold out to God.

(9)  And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in full knowledge and in all perception;  (10)  that you may distinguish between things that differ, that you may be sincere and without offense until the day of Jesus Christ,  (11)  being filled with the fruits of righteousness through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. 

• Do you see how prevalent these desires are today for the church today?  So much needed. 
• If these things abide in you, you are going to be extremely happy, and content.

(12)  But I desire that you should understand, brothers, that the things which happened to me have fallen out rather to the furtherance of the gospel;  (13)  so that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places.  (14)  And most of the brothers in the Lord, becoming confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the Word without fear. 

• By Paul being under guard in the palace, people are hearing the gospel that wouldn’t ordinarily hear it.
• Also, his fellow workers are now speaking more boldly the gospel of Jesus Christ.

(15)  Some indeed even preach Christ because of envy and strife, and some also of good will.  (16)  Those, indeed, preach Christ out of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds.  (17)  But these others preach in love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel.  (18)  What then? Nevertheless, in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached.

• There are different reasons why someone preaches the gospel, and Paul mentions some of them here, but he says “Nevertheless, in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached.”  God’s Word accomplishes that which He sends it forth to accomplish.  It will not return unto Him without some accomplishments.

And I rejoice in this. Yet, also I will rejoice.  (19)  For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,  (20)  according to my earnest expectation and hope that I shall be ashamed in nothing, but as always now Christ shall be magnified in my body with all boldness, whether it is by life or by death. 

• Praying for one another, and the supply of the Spirit of God in one’s life will produce salvation. 
• Whether I live or die, I want Christ Jesus to visibly manifested in my body, in my life.

(21)  For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 

• This is one of Philippians’ famous quotes.
• To live is Christ.  I will see to it that He is seen in my life as I live.
• To die is gain.  All my battles will be over.  My destination sealed.  And I will wait on the resurrection of saints.

(22)  But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labor.

• But if I live seeking after the things of the world, lusting after all the worldly pleasures, this is all I shall receive, and the end destruction.
• Paul said in the Galatian letter,  Gal 6:7-8  Do not be deceived, God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows, that he also will reap.  (8)  For he sowing to his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh. But he sowing to the Spirit will reap life everlasting from the Spirit.

 Yet I do not know what I shall choose.  (23)  For I am pressed together by the two: having a desire to depart and to be with Christ, which is far better.  (24)  But to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. 

• Paul was not afraid of dying, for he knew on the other side of death is glory.
• But he felt the church needed him more right now, and he could benefit them with more solid teaching.

(25)  And having this confidence, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all, for your advancement and joy of faith,  (26)  so that your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.  (27)  Only let your conduct be as becomes the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you, or else am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, striving together with one mind for the faith of the gospel,  (28)  and terrified in nothing by your adversaries. For this is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.  (29)  For to you it is given on behalf of Christ not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake,  (30)  having the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

• Stand fast in one spirit, striving together in one mind for the faith of the gospel.
• Do not be afraid, and expect to suffer some persecution for the Name of Christ.