Philippians - Fruitful Love through Discernment

Preaching the whole book

The problem in the church - Conflict

Threats - elimination of ...

icebergs/traps/

Guarding your heart

The goal of Paul - Well done at the end.

3 automatic options to threats

Think “slow down”.

Moving quickly … but go back to examples for meditation

Philippians 1:3–8 ESV

3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.

The arena of grace

God is at work in us and will complete it. We partake of grace.

Grace is the space in which we operate and the food which we eat. We should be grateful for the acceptance we have received and the relationship we have been given.

Philippians 1:9–11 ESV

9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Big Idea: Paul desires their love to grow through discernment and so be filled with the fruit of righteousness when Christ returns

Example: Paul’s discernment about his imprisonment (the guards, the rivals, and the Philippians)

Philippians 1:27–28 ESV

27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.

Love’s Direction: Love will abound by seeking unity in working together for the Gospel even when suffering.

Philippians 2:3–11 ESV

3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Love’s Challenge: Pursue unity by looking for others’ interests as well as our own.

Example: Jesus

This is HARD!

Love’s Discernment: The mindset you need to cultivate discernment and pursue unity and look out for each other’s interests.

Philippians 2:12–13 ESV

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Anxious about salvation and nothing else...

Reminder of grace - God is at work. It’s not up to you to solve the problem.

Philippians 2:14–16 ESV

14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.

Don’t murmur and complain and argue but honor those who walk this way

The community culture we set matters

3 examples: Paul, Timothy and Epaphroditus - who didn’t complain but steadfastly looked at for others’ eternal and practical interests in how they ministered.

Rejoice in the Lord (rather than your own righteousness being vindicated) by focusing on the resurrection

Philippians 3:1–10 ESV

1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you. 2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

Being found in Christ rather than the law is my identity does not come from being vindicated in my actions but because I trust in who Christ is making me to be. Seek fulfillment here.

Example: Paul

Negative Example: Enemies of the cross - who just want to be satisfied in their own vindication or in being shown how great they are because of what did in this life. Resurrection is all about the next life.

Application: Euodia, Syntyche and pastor

Philippians 4:4–9 ESV

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Rejoice in the Lord and don’t let anxiety control your responses but practice discernment.

Instead respond with gentleness, prayer and discernment in what you think and do

Let peace guard you and do what God puts in front of you. He is coming soon.

Example: Paul about the Philippians

Outline of Philippians

1:1-2 Greeting

1:3-8 Reminder of grace and relationship

1:9-11 Prayer that love would grow in discernment so that fruitful in righteousness

1:12-14 Example: Discernment and joy about imprisonment

1:15-18 Example: Discernment and joy about rivals

1:19-26 Example: Discernment and joy about possible death

1:27-30 Exhortation: seek unity and courage for the sake of honor of the Gospel

2:1-4 Exhortation in the face of conflict: Pursue humility and looking out for each other’s interests to achieve unity and courage

2:5-11 Example: Jesus’ life and death

2:12-13 Resultant exhortation: work out your salvation in the grace of God

2:14-16 Resultant negative exhortation: Avoid grumbling so that honor may be achieved

2:17-18 Paul’s joy in suffering as example of not grumbling

2:19-24 Timothy’s joy in serving as example of humility

2:25- 30 Epaphroditus’ care for others in serving as example

3:1-11 Resultant exhortation: Rejoice in the Lord and pursue being found in Him and His resurrection not your religious accomplishments

3:12-16 Resultant exhortation: Follow Paul’s example of pursuing joy in the Lord

3:17-4:1 Resultant warning exhortation: avoid following examples who are enemies of the cross (and therefore don’t have a resurrection hope)

4:2-3 Application: Urging congregants to seek unity with help

4:4-6 Concluding resultant warning exhortation: Rejoice in the Lord and avoid anxiety’s control through gentleness and prayer

4:7-9 Concluding resultant exhortation: Practice discernment and seek peace as God will be with you

4:10-20 Example of avoiding anxiety and practicing discernment by Paul with Philippians

4:21-22 Greetings

4:23 Grace