Philippians 4:13...Our Mission Made Possible

Philippians 4:13

OUR MISSION MADE POSSIBLE

Psalms 16:8 “I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.”

Introduction...

The church at Philippi, one of Paul’s greatest success stories. Paul who was the ultimate missionary. He can say that Philippi is a true success story. Scholars have called this epistle the most personal of Paul’s epistles.

Paul writes this letter from a Roman jail cell and he writes it to as stated in Philippians 1:1 “Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:”

However this was not always the case. Over in Acts 16 Luke shows us Paul founding the Philippian church on Paul’s second missionary journey. What did Paul find? Paul calls it a crooked and perverse generation. “Ph 2:15”

But never the less Paul stayed faithful to the objective of the mission. And the end result was a body of believers worshipping and praising God and fulfilling their own missions.

And the text we have today Paul was actually thanking the church for their support of the ministry. If we look at verses 10 -12, we see Paul letting them know it was not necessary but so very appreciated. Philippians 4:10-12 “But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.” .....WORK TEXT.... what you saying Paul, his grace is suffiecient..

Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians & Colossians D. Joy in Contentment (vv. 10–13)

Paul makes clear that he was not hinting for another gift. He has solved his economic problems. How? Not with new resources but with a new attitude. He is content no matter what his circumstances

Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians & Colossians D. Joy in Contentment (vv. 10–13)

Paul spoke from experience. He had been through the extremes: surplus and poverty

Paul had the experience, he was beaten, shipwrecked, thrown in jail, hungry but he knew....

Paul had learned to be content no matter what because he knew the Lord would provide. He knew it was not his own power but the strength he had through christ.

Even from a jail cell Paul continued his mission and he was able because of where his strength came from.

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament Chapter 4

If we depend on our own power, we will fail; but if we depend on His strength, we can do all things through Him. This explains why Paul could rejoice even in prison: he had learned the secret of the secure mind through the power of God.

And thus Paul makes the statement here in verse 13, Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Because the only reason his mission was possible was because of the strength from Christ.

Let’s transition to the application.

Body/Points...

We must keep that same mind set when we are on our missions. I am thankful for the support but it is not necessary because I have learned, that your Amens are appreciated but not required......TALK

I have learned you may not want to hear what I have to say, remember I am just the messenger, but I am gonna stand in season and out of season. Why? Because I can do all things.... and thus my mission is made possible not because of me but of Jesus.

Let’s go a little deeper, what is our mission, TOO MAKE DISCIPLES....(repeat)

Our mission comes from the Great Commission, which we received from the Commissioner. (REPEAT).....let me refresh your memory....Matthew 28:19-20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.”

Once again, Our mission comes from the Great Commission, which we received from the Commissioner. (REPEAT).

Who is this Commissioner? Does anybody know a man named JESUS....TALK, PREACH...

Jesus, the reason, Our Mission Is Made Possible...

And Paul knew this and believed this and thus even from a jail cell, his mission was made possible...

But there are some things on our part that needs to be done as well. So if you would allow me, lets take our mission and break it down into 3 sub missions.....TALK....

First, we need to stay in the word.....

The written word and the living word.....John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” , John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Does any truly realize the power that is in the word? TALK, PREACH

The word is what kicks off our mission. And being that Jesus is the word, The word is what makes our mission possible.....

I can hear Him telling me now, Lo....

So I can do all things...

Paul reminds Timothy and us in 2 Timothy 2:15 “study to show yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

When you study the word and learn more about the word, you will want to stay in the word....TALK, PREACH

Secondly, we need to spread the word...

another phase of our mission in making disciples, we need to spread the word....

Let me inject this real quick, its not just the Pastor or the associate ministers that can spread the word....TALK....

Paul once again helps here, Romans 10:14 “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?”

Now I am not calling everyone preacher, …TALK

But the word used in the greek text had a translation of to publish, proclaim openly: something which has been done....

you may not be a preacher but you do have something to proclaim....TALK, PREACH..

Lastly, we need to bring them to Jesus...

Telling them about Jesus is great and a neccesity but we need to also bring them to the house...

I am gonna make someone mad cause they think I am picking on them but if you didn’t invite anyone to the revival, shame on you.....TALK...

Our mission of making disciples contends on us bringing them to Jesus. It’s through him and only him that they will get cleaned up.

Pastor Garza told us last night what Jesus said over in Luke 19:10 “for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.””

Jesus told us in Matthew 18:12 ““What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?”

If we are making disciples we have to go get that one that is lost....TALK, PREACH....

And I know it gets tiresome and even lonely, doing your mission. but be content.....don’t get weary in well doing....becaus Lo.....

I am done.....TALK, PREACH, LIGHT CLOSE...