Philippians 1:1-11
Book of Philippians • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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A quick outline of the book:
Paul starts with prayer of thankfulness for God giving him other laborers to work with. Ch1 Vs 1-11
The purpose of a Christian is advancing the gospel. Ch1 Vs 12-20
We should live for the purpose of Christ not for our own desires. Ch1 Vs 21-30
Being humble as Christ himself was humble even unto death. Ch2 vs 1-11
The importance of being a light in the world helping others to know Christ as well. Ch2 vs 12-18
Unity between believers is a big deal in fulfilling the cause of Christ! Ch2 Vs 19-30
The importance of Knowing Christ and reaching for His goals not our own. Ch3 vs 1-21
Unity with each other even through hard times, and suffering together. Ch4 Vs 1-3
Give God our cares and worries while we rejoice in the blessings of God. God is always with us Keep our focus on this truth. Ch4 Vs 4-9
He expresses gratitude for fellow laborers that can work together and be there for each other, As God brings unity to all in the church with truth and love. Looking to God to supply all our needs as he Promises. Ch4 Vs 10-23
1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: 2 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Remember how Paul uses different titles for himself depending on the purpose of his righting. Sometimes he uses “Paul an apostle” or “Paul The Prisoner of Christ” Here he uses “the Servants of Jesus Christ” this is important and it tells us the main purpose of this letter. Paul is writing here as someone who is called to fulfil the will of Christ, not his own. The entire letter is all about the purpose of the Christian life.
3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, 5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;
Paul gives his greeting and Goes right into being thankful every time they believers a Philippi come to his mind. You know in a life that is so full of people that try to tear us down and discourage us, Pauls simple line here reminds us where our focus should be. On the blessings that God has given us. On the people that God has brought into our lives to build us up and encourage us. The people that God has allowed to work with us on the same common goal of living for Christ. We are not alone in this life, God has put together a team right here that can bind together and become a family that is united for that same cause, living for God and making Him known through out Toti and all of South Africa.
6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
Jesus at salvation, began a work in you. He started what we call the sanctification process, or the process of making us more like Christ. Paul is thankful for these people and puts them in the hands of God and he doesn’t trust the people, rather he trusts God to continue to grow them and make them more like Christ. People will disappoint us, but even in that I can trust God to use even their sin, to grow them to be more like Christ!
7 Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.
7 Indeed, it is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart, and you are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.
Paul is saying it’s good for him to think like this because these fellow believers have a special place in his heart because they are going through this life together. We are together in our distresses, Paul here is specifically mentioning being imprisoned. none of us are being put in prison for our faith, YET, but all of our struggles we go through in life are not unique to one person, we are in this life together.
They are also together in Confirmation of the Gospel which is just verifying the truth of the gospel publically. To be a servant of Christ means telling others, that is the goal of God for every one of our lives. the truth of the gospel is what gives us unity, if we are not willing to tell others about it, we are breaking that unity. we are separating ourselves from the purpose of God.
8 For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. 9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;
Again Paul is affirming his deep love for the believers and how he prays for them.
10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; 11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
Over and over in Philippians 1 Paul talks about how he prays for the believers, he prays:
Prayers of thanks giving for them - When was the last time we prayed and just thanked God for each other?
Prayers that they grow in love for each other and for the unsaved.
Pray that they continue to grow in their knowledge of God. Prayer does not grow your knowledge of God, the Bible tells us to STUDY to show ourselves approved (2 Tim 2:15), Meditate on the word day and night (Joshua 1:8). Our knowledge of God is our responsibility and as we are studying and growing we should be praying for each other, that the others in the church would be doing the same thing.
Paul prays that they would have good judgment or the ability to make wise choices. We should likewise be praying for each other to have Godly wisdom.
Paul prays that they would be encouraged as they go through difficulty, that they would stay strong and continue to stay focused on their calling, to spread the gospel.
Paul prays that they stay free from sin, that no one would be able to blame them for anything because they have only acted in Godly character. If anyone is to go to prison, it should be for doing what is right, not for doing what is wrong.
Paul prays they will walk in the rightness of Christ, not their own. the difference is the power that we draw from. If we try to do right in ourselves it will never work out, but if we keep our focus on Christ and His love, and what He teaches in the Bible, then we will have the power to walk free from sin.
As we pray for each other in this way, I am confident we will see God bring great unity and love into this church!
As we study the Bible and get to know God, I am confident that we will begin to see the power of God transform our lives in ways we never could have imagined.