In Christ Jesus I

Worthy of the Gospel

In Christ Jesus I

I would like to begin a new series, from the letter of the apostle Paul to the church in Philippi.

The theme of this letter is joy.

We need to make a clear about the difference in between happiness and joy

Happiness depends on the happening on circumstances Joy is constant unaffected by circumstances.

2/3 of American’s claim to be unhappy

This letter was written, as from one friend to another, the tone of this letter was of extreme joy even though Paul was in prison chained to a guard.

Php 1:1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all God's holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:

Php 1:2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul loved the people in Philippi, it was a dear place to him.

Philippi was a Roman colony in Europe, Macedonia, Greece, Paul went to Macedonia during his second missionary journey. Where he end up in jail, got beaten with rods and as Paul and Silas were worshiping in the middle of the night, a great earthquake hit the jail, the jailor and his entire family got saved.

Act 16:25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.

Act 16:26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone's chains came loose.

Act 16:27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped.

Act 16:28 But Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!"

Act 16:29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.

Act 16:30 He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

He and his family were saved. Paul remembers how that church started.

Php 1:3 I thank my God every time I remember you.

Php 1:4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy

Php 1:5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,

this was the beginning of the church in Philippi.

Let’s Pray

3 things I would like for you to remember from the 1 chapter of Philippians.

1 He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it.

Php 1:6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Paul was talking about God, who by His Holy Spirit will be faithful to complete the work that He began in you. This is a promise to you and me.

Don’t allow discouragement to come over you, your Heavenly Father will complete the work that He began in your life,

sometimes I wonder and get discourage with things that I thought I had work through, that it was over.

I forgave this person but I’m still hurting, or I respond harshly to someone, and I didn’t mean too, why is my heart still hurting? He is faithful to complete it.

Forgiveness is originated in the heart of God, He is the one who gives us the grace to forgive.

Col 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Our Heavenly Father is faithful, He will not abandon you in the middle of your journey, Paul’s confidence needs to become our confidence.

We are the ones that start different projects and sometimes we take a long time to go back to it and some others we give up.

Our Heavenly Father is not like that, He will complete whatever, He begins.

2 He will Perfect you in Love.

Paul’s prayer is that their love may abound more and more

Php 1:7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me.

Php 1:8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

Php 1:9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,

Php 1:10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,

Php 1:11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

The Love of God will purify you, will make you pure and blameless even when you know you can’t.

Ex: As a young man I had a very dirty mouth, every phrase had a curse word to emphasize my point. I thought I could never be free from it how could I be a Christian with a mouth like that, after I surrender my life to Jesus I asked Him to help me with that, couldn’t really notice anything right the way, I forgot about it, but I remember being downtown one evening when this heavy rain hit, immediately the streets were flooded, I was standing on the side walk ready to cross the street when this car came just fast enough to make a nice wave of mud water and cover everyone from the neck down. No bad words came out of my mouth, but what really impressed me is that no words came even to my mind, Jesus had touched this area of my life, and It never became a issue for me again.

3 Preach the Gospel

He will advance His Kingdom through us

Php 1:12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.

Php 1:13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.

Php 1:14 And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.

How did Paul get to Rome?

Paul the apostle was arrested in Jerusalem falsely accused, he was held in prison in Caesarea for two years, he went thru different trials until he appealed to Caesar and was brought as a prisoner to Caesar in Rome, in order that he might appear before Caesar and appeal his case.

As a Roman citizen he had the privilege to appeal to Caesar.

While Paul was in Rome for 2years, he was able to rent his own quarters, but he had to be chained to a guard 24hours a day, every 6 hours he had a knew guard.

In Rome there were a royal guard of 10000 elite soldiers, who had being appointed as the imperial guard whose chief duty was the protection of the emperor Caesar in Rome.

Paul saw this as a tremendous opportunity to preach the Gospel right in the heart of Rome, they can’t get away, as a result of this many of the elite soldiers came to Christ.

While Paul was in Rome the church in Philippi took an generous offering for him and send it through a man name Epaphroditus who on the way became extremely sick and almost died, but now that he was better Paul sent him back with this letter as a thank you for the generous gift, and for them to see that Epaphroditus was ok.

Php 1:15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill.

Php 1:16 The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.

Php 1:17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains.

Php 1:18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,

Php 1:19 for I know that through your prayers and God's provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.

More we get to know Jesus, more we will discover how much He loves us, more we allow Him to take control of our lives more we will learn from Him.

The church in Philippi were a aware of Paul’s imprisonment, what for some could appear like God had made a terrible mistake, a waist of talent, this wonderful man of God, that they all admire, who had advance the gospel the kingdom of God, in his prime he was around 50 years old, was now in prison.

Is hard to see God when we find ourselves in hardship.

When we abandon ourselves in God’s hands even the challenges we face, will bring glory to God.

God had plans for Malta, the governor of Malta became a Christian.

God used the shipwreck that Paul went through to bring them to the Island of Malta

Many of Nero servants became Christians, is all happening for good,

There are some who preach Christ out of envy, or for selfish motives, just leave them, through the years I have seen, how God changes their lives or break them.

In Christ Jesus

We are worthy of the Gospel.

1 Our Heavenly Father is faithful He will complete the work he began in us ,

2 He will perfect us in His love

3 He will advance His kingdom through us

we need to make Jesus the Lord of our lives.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Joh 3:16

To receive Jesus, we need to accept Him as God’s son, repent from our sins and a life of selfishness, and ask Him to be your Lord and savior, not that you deserve it, but is a gift from God.

If this is your desire today, please repeat this prayer after me?

Heavenly Father I’m sinner,

I’m sorry for my sins,

I’m willing to turn away from my sins.

I receive Christ as my savior,

I confess him as Lord

from this moment on I want to follow and serve him,

in the fellowship of his church,

In Jesus name. Amen!