Philippians: "A letter to friends" Philippains 1:1-11
Notes
Transcript
This week is our second sermon in our series on the book of Philippians.
Last week we studied Luke’s account of how the church in Philippi was started.
And we unpacked how Luke described the the events that led up to the church in Philippi being started.
The investment into the church in Philippi from Paul, Silas, Timothy, and Luke was significant as they traveled a great distance to get to the city.
And as we read last week the battle they had to endure through once they arrived at Philippi.
Knowing the significant cost that went into the church,
helps us realize why Paul felt the way he did about the church.
To help further understand the cost associated with starting the church,
I want to give you some background of the city of Philippi.
In Paul’s day the city of Philippi had about 10,000 people living in it.
It was a very diverse city that was culturally Italian and politically Roman.
Much of the labor force was Macedonian or Thray-tion (Thracian).
Philippi had immigrants living in the city as far away as Egypt, Asia Minor, and Judea.
Because of this diversity in the city of Philippi,
there was as many as 35 different deities that were worshiped in Philippi. (Write 437)
The main religion in the city,
was the worship of the imperial cult which was worship of the emperor.
(This will have some significance latter in the letter)
When Paul, Silas, Timothy, and Luke arrive at Philippi they see a very pagan world that knows very little if anything about Yahweh.
Which is very different for Paul,
because usually when he would go into a city,
he would go to the synagogue (a Jewish gathering of worship)
So why did Paul not go into the synagogue in Philippi like he normally did?
(No Synagogue)
To give you context around the pagan nature of the city in Philippi.
One must understand that for a city to have a synagogue in it,
there would need to be only 10 Jewish males to establish a synagogue.
In a city of 10,000 people there is not even 10 men who worship Yahweh.
That is why Paul goes outside the city to find this place of prayer where a few women are gathering to worship God.
Acts 16:13 (ESV)
13 And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together.
It is evident that Paul and the 3 others had alot of work to do,
to establish a church in this pagan city.
We read last week of some of difficulties they went through to start the church,
but I am quiet sure there was many other battle's in the process of advancing the Kingdom of God in this unrighteous city.
With all that said let us dive into Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi
Paul pens this letter to his friends while in prison in either Rome or Ephesus stating this....
Philippians 1:1–11 (ESV)
1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,
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 the Lord Jesus Christ.
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. 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.
Paul begins his letter by addressing himself and his son in the faith Timothy as a servants.
Philippians 1:1a (ESV)
1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,
Greek word for servants here is doulos which can be translated as servant (ESV) slave or bondservant…
NLT slave NKJV bondservant
The Maine point that Paul is communicating is that he is in full submission to his Master Jesus Christ.
I find it interesting that Everyone wants a title… We want a title that associates us with something great…
Pastor, Prophet, Apostle, Doctorate, Ect… (Great)
Jesus said if we want to be great in God’s kingdom need to be servant.. (Matthew 20:26)
I find that often times ministers want to be recognized by a title because they are lacking an anointing that sets them apart… so to compensate for a lack of annointing…
People will recognize a title for the moment,
but it will not take long for people to see through a title and see a lack of anointing...
Instead of chasing titles we should we seeking Jesus.
Because when we have Jesus we don’t need a fancy title because we know our identity is in Christ.
Philippians 1:1 (ESV)
1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,
To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:
Greek word for saints here is hagios…
NLT translates hagios as God’s holy people…
After Paul’s introduction and greeting he shows his history with these people in Philippi.
Philippians 1:3–5 (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.
Philippians 1:7–8 (ESV)
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.
Example of Elizabeth…
Studies show that “memories of emotional events are often more vivid and accurate Trusted Source than memories of neutral experiences.”
History class... remember a quarter of the things you learned...
Where were you on September 11th?...
Studies also say that “Memories linked with strong emotions often become seared in the brain.”
Good or bad… Wife walking down the isle… People saying that is a divorce waiting to happen...
I say all this to keep in mind what Paul has all gone through to start this church in Philippi.
The joy and the sadness
The victories and defeats
When he was writing this letter in prison,
I am sure he thought about the time he was in prison in Philippi,
and God showed up in a miraculous way.
I am sure he thought about the events that led up to that moment too… and events after it…
Philippians 1:3–5 (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.
Philippians 1:7–8 (ESV)
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.
His investment emotionally, physically, and spiritually,
for the church of Philippi is obvious.
Paul labored hand and hand with these people that he become friends with.
(Investment) [Our church, Sweat equity] Car or house remodel...
Because of Paul’s investment into the church he wanted them to succeed.
Philippians 1:6 (ESV)
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.
(Example) Start something… Finish something...
God is going to finish what he started in you...
Paul understands that when that work of God is completed it will manifest itself by this...
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.
LOVE…
discernment of what is excellent…
pure and blameless…
filled with the fruit of righteousness…