July 8, 2018
Evening Service

This morning we looked back in the Book of Acts at the first time Paul visited the Macedonian city of Philippi.  Accompanying Paul was Silas, Timothy and Luke as the crossed the Aegean Se from Asia Minor to land in the port at Philippi.  It was around the year 51 AD.  It is believed that Paul wrote this letter while imprisoned in Rome around the year 62 AD as he awaited the verdict of the Imperial court.  The letter is one of gratitude, joy and unity.  It is only in Christ that true unity and joy are possible.  With Christ as our model of humility and service we can enjoy  oneness of purpose, attitude, goal, and labor.  The church at Philippi saw this example played out in the life of Paul right before them as he suffered publicly yet stayed true to his faith.  What they witnessed in his life gave his words much more power.  This of course is true for us as well.  Living out your faith speaks far louder than any words you might say (Francis of Assis).  Let’s begin!

  Philippians 1:1-6  Paul and Timothy, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons.  (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;  (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,

·        Paul includes Timothy in the authorship of this letter because the church there knew and loved him as well.  He describes himself and his young protégé as servant, bondservants or even slaves of Jesus Christ depending on the translation you read.  The idea is that they belong to Christ having surrendered all to their Savoir.  It was addressed to the saints (congregation) in Philippi and the church leadership there. 

·        Did you know I could refer to all of you as saints as well?  It refers to one who is righteous, good and even divinely consecrated.  We are all of those things in Christ. He is our perfection and we are complete, holy and righteous in Him.  It is not our goodness, but His alone that our sainthood rests.

·        He thanks God for the memories that they have shared together (unity).  He prays for them always with joy in his heart as he knows they are true brothers and sisters in Christ.  He had seen firsthand that God had begun a work in their life and will continue to work with them until their journey is complete. 

·        Sometimes we feel like we are incomplete, unfinished, unworthy or just spinning our wheels in our walk with the Lord.  Remember in those times that God does not start something that He does not finish.  He is still working on you and will complete His work in you.  The trials and troubles we experience are just part of what is making us into the person God wants us to become.  His mercies are new every morning; trust Him to finish you in His time.  He will not give up on you so don’t give up on Him.

 

Philippians 1:7-11  just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because you have me in your heart, inasmuch as both in my chains, and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you are all partakers of my grace.  (8)  For God is my witness how greatly I long after you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.  (9)  And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in full knowledge and in all discernment; (10) that you may approve the things that are excellent, 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.

·        Paul here speaks how they are unified in both his imprisonment as well as his presentation of the gospel message of grace.  He longs to see them again as he truly loves them as family.  He prays that their love abounds as well as their knowledge and discernment.  It is important that our mind grows along with our heart.

·        The discernment he spoke of is that they can “approve the things that are excellent” and avoid the things might offend.  Our goal is perfection.  When we do anything we should set our sights on doing it in an excellent manner.  It again is the life we live (producing the fruits of righteousness) that brings glory and praise to God and everything we do reflects our Lord.    

·        Where are you tonight on your love for your brothers?  How about your knowledge and discernment of God’s will in your life?  Is your goal excellence?  We need to set our aim high.

·        Paul now explains how the persecutions he has suffered, like the ones in Philippi, have been used by God to carry out His perfect will.

 

Philippians 1:12-18  But I desire that you should understand, brothers, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out to the furtherance of the gospel;  (13)  so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ. (14)  And most of the brothers in the Lord, becoming confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the Word without fear.  (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. And I rejoice in this. Yet, also I will rejoice.

·        Again it is often through hardships that we are able to accomplish something great.  Paul taking advantage of his “captive” audience used his time with the Roman guards to share his faith with them.  We are often placed in situations where we too can use a tough situation as an opportunity to share Christ with others.  There is no place to feel sorry for our circumstances, but look for a way to turn it into opportunity.  God is after all in control and our circumstances don’t define who God is.

·        Paul’s chains have also inspired others to be bold in their proclamation of the Word of God speaking without fear.  There were also those who were taking advantage of his imprisonment to make a name for them and build their own reputations.  Others as well tried to help pick up the slack of Paul’s absence and preach out of love.  For whatever reason, Paul was satisfied that Christ was preached and he rejoiced in it.

Philippians 1:19-26  For I know that this shall turn out for my deliverance 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.  (21)  For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.  (22)  But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labor. 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.  (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.

·        Paul had come to grips with the situation he was in.  The court could decide to release him or have him executed.  He had surrendered his will and future totally to the Lord.  “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.”  He was good either way in continuing his spreading the gospel message or to be promoted and seal his eternal fate.  It would be the church’s gain if he lived and he trusted God with joy to continue his work and once again visit Philippi again.  His purpose to live was to serve.

·        He then encourages them to stand fast in unity.

 

Philippians 1:27-30  Only let your conduct be worthy of 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.

·        Paul encourages the church to stay united in one spirit and mind for the faith of the gospel message.  A church united is in God’s will and a church divided will fail. We are given to not only believe in Christ but also to suffer for Him as well.

·        Suffering is a privilege if we can faithfully represent Christ in that suffering.  Our message and example affect us and those around us for good.  The advantages of suffering are according to my commentary:

o   It takes our eyes off of earthly comforts

o   It weeds out superficial believers

o   It strengthens the faith of those who endure

o   It serves as an example for others to follow.

·        Our suffering does not result from doing something wrong, but actually the opposite is true.  Our suffering verifies that we are being faithful and doing something right.  Our suffering builds our character and helps mold us into what God wants us to be.  James tells us to “count it all joy” when we suffer.  We are unified in our suffering together.

·        These are tough things to apply to our lives, but it is not by our strength we are doing it but His.  Paul tells us later in this letter that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  Let us stay unified and suffer together with excellence bringing glory to God our Savior and Redeemer.