Philippians 1:1-2 | Signed, Sealed, & Set Apart

INTRO

What does an upper class traveling saleslady, a poor former fortune teller and a working class prison guard have in common?… they were all members of the church of Philippi. Act 16.

Philippians 1:6 “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.”

Philippians 1:21 “21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

Philippians 3:13–14 “13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:6–7 “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.”

Philippians 4:13 “13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

WORLD HISTORY

Exalting Jesus in Philippians The Back Story

Peter T. O’Brien summarizes some significant aspects of the background of the city of Philippi, particularly its relationship to Rome:

In 42 B.C. Philippi became famous as the place where Mark Antony and Octavian defeated the Roman Republican forces of Brutus and Cassius, the assassins of Julius Caesar. The victors settled a number of their veteran soldiers there and established Philippi as a Roman colony.…

These settlers, along with some of the previous inhabitants, constituted the legal citizen body. Philippi was given the highest privilege possible for a Roman provincial municipality—the ius Italicum—which meant that it was governed by Roman law.… The citizens of this colony were Roman citizens.… Philippi itself was modeled on the mother city, Rome: it was laid out in similar patterns, the style and architecture were copied extensively, and the coins produced in the city bore Roman inscriptions. The Latin language was used, and its citizens wore Roman dress. Although not the capital of the province, Philippi was a leading city and an important stopping place on the Via Egnatia, the recently constructed military road linking Byzantium with the Adriatic ports that led to Italy. (O’Brien, Epistle, 4)

Exalting Jesus in Philippians Evangelistic Encounters (16:11–34)

Richard Melick writes, “Apart from Rome, Philippi was no doubt the most Roman of all the cities Paul visited” (Philippians, 24–25).

MAPS

SCRIPTURAL BACKGROUND

Acts 16:6–40 ESV

6 And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7 And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 8 So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. 11 So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. 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. 14 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. 15 And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us. 16 As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” 18 And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour. 19 But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. 20 And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. 21 They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.” 22 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. 23 And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. 24 Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. 25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” 29 And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. 34 Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God. 35 But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, “Let those men go.” 36 And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace.” 37 But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out.” 38 The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens. 39 So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city. 40 So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed.

LETTER BACKGROUND

About 10 years later

Thanks for generosity 4

Present situation 1

Epaphroditus back so soon 2

Dangers of false teaching and unity 3

SIX CHALLENGES TO US (Tony Merida)

Gospel advancement will cost us but it is worth it

Fight to find your joy in Christ

Maintain the unity of the Spirit

Become a Macedonian Giver

Learn what gospel partnership looks like

As a church, give the world a picture of the coming kingdom of God!

PRAYER

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MESSAGE

Philippians 1:1–2 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.

If you are a Christian then you are:

Servants of Christ

Paul - Founder, father, friend!

Lydia - god fearing gentile, seeker

Slave Girl - twice in bondage - freed

Jailer - Wife and Children - praising prisoner !!

Timothy - Brother, teacher, mentor!

Title Given

Apostle ??

Friend ??

Servant !! of Christ Jesus

Slave / Bondservant

Application

Called to serve

Mark 10:45 “45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.””

Empowered to Serve

1 Corinthians 12:4–7 “4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”

You have a calling, a gift, a ministry, a job to do, a master to serve, a duty to perform… Your life has a divine purpose!! This is what you were made for!!

Saints in Christ

Saints = hagios = holy ones, separated ones

Remember who these people were?

Remember what these people where…

Who and What you where…

Ephesians 2:12 “12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.”

How did they become saints?

Ephesians 2:13–19 “13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,”

Exploring Ephesians & Philippians: An Expository Commentary (a) The Philippian Saints (1:1d)

It reminds us of what we are positionally through the finished work of Christ, and it reminds us of what God expects us to be practically as people set apart for himself.

Overseers and Deacons

Overseer = bishop = Elders = Pastors

Deacons = servants

Separate but equal !!

Application

Embrace your Identity

1 Peter 2:9 “9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

Practice your Identity

2 Corinthians 5:17 “17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

You are no longer a slave, no longer separated from God you are actually separated from the world TO God. No longer hostile and divided, this is not a title that you must work for it is a title that has been bestowed upon you. You are Holy, You are Righteous in Christ!!

Sons by Christ

Grace and Peace

Grace = God’s unmerited favor

Grace that Saves

Grace that Sustains

Grace that Transforms

Peace = unity, wholeness, completion

Peace with God

Peace with ourselves

Peace with others

Ephesians 1:5 “5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,”

Paul’s Letter to the Philippians A. Salutation (1:1–2)

The sum total of God’s activity toward his human creatures is found in this greeting “Grace and Peace”. God has given himself to his people bountifully and mercifully in Christ, this is “Grace”. Nothing is deserved, nothing can be achieved. The sum total of those benefits as they are experienced by the recipients of God’s grace is “peace,” God’s eschatological shalom, both now and to come.

From God our Father

the heart of the gospel is His fatherhood to Us

And the LORD Jesus Christ

Exalting Jesus in Philippians Finally, Grace Is Displayed in This Trinitarian Blessing (1:2)

In the first century one could be killed for saying Jesus, not Caesar, is Lord. Yet that’s what Christians did.

Indwelling of the Holy Spirit

Romans 8:15 “15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!””

Application

You have a Family

John 1:12 “12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,”

Ephesians 2:19 “19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,”

You have a Father

1 John 3:1 “1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. …

Romans 8:16–17 “16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, …

You belong and you are loved, you have a family, you have a future and a hope, a home forever, and the creator of the universe deeply loves you and wants a relationship with you personally.

CLOSE

Servant of Christ, live on mission

Saint in Christ, live your identity

Son by Christ, beloved by the father and a member of His household… find your Joy in Him!

GROUP QUESTIONS

Go back and read Acts 16:6–40. What do you find most encouraging in that chapter? What do you find most challenging?

How do the stories of Lydia, the slave girl, and the jailer inspire your own faith journey?

Do you find it difficult to share the gospel with people? What encouragement can you find in Acts 16 regarding personal evangelism?

Read through the book of Philippians. What are some common themes you see in Philippians? Which theme strikes you as being especially relevant for your life?

What does being a "servant of Christ" mean to you personally, and how can you live this out daily? (Philippians 1:1)

How do the gifts described in 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 equip you for service in the church and community?

Reflect on Ephesians 2:12-13. How does understanding your past separation from God enhance your appreciation for being brought near by Christ?

How have you experienced God’s grace and peace in your life, and how does it shape your daily interactions?

How does knowing you are part of the household of God impact your sense of belonging and purpose? (Ephesians 2:19)

How can you practically live out the love described in 1 John 3:1 and Romans 8:16-17 in your relationships?