Greetings From A Grateful Apostle
Notes
Transcript
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
Last week, we introduced Philippians…the Epsitle of Joy…by digging deeper into the author’s past.
What did we identify for the Apostle Paul as to what qualifies him to pen a letter that is so focused on joy?
He received 39 lashes from the Jews (5x)
He was beaten with rods (3x)
He was stoned and left for dead
He was shipwrecked (3x)
He spent a night and day in the sea
While journeying from place to place:
in danger from rivers
in danger from robbers
in danger from his own people (Jews)
in danger from Gentiles
in danger in the city
in danger in the wilderness
in danger at sea
in danger from false believers
In toil and hardship (strenuous labor)
Many sleepless nights
Suffering from hunger and dehydration
Often times without food
Exposed to the cold
Apart from the external, there is the daily concern for the people in all the churches
Thorn in the flesh after receiving a tremendous revelation from God
At the time of writing the epistle, he is in his fourth year of Roman imprisonment
It seems he is more qualified to write a letter on how not to have joy in your life.
But isn’t that point?
Joy is not determined by your circumstances
And that’s good, considering the circumstances the Philippian church is in:
Its members were desperately poor
They were being persecuted for the cause of Christ
They were being attacked by false teachers
A feud between two prominent women in the congregation threatened the unity of the church
Given the context, there is no man more qualified to point this church in the direction of joy than Paul himself.
Let’s dig in and feast on what is given to us here.
Read Philippians 1:1-11
GREETINGS OF GRACE AND PEACE
GREETINGS OF GRACE AND PEACE
v. 1-2
Paul is accompanied by his protege and disciple, Timothy, in the penning of this letter.
Most likely, Timothy is visiting with Paul in his imprisonment and, as Paul does, he included his companions in the letter’s greetings
They are identified as servants.
The Greek word is δοῦλος and carries the connotation of “slave”
They recognized their position with Christ as their Master (the reality of a believer!)
Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?
Paul is clear that there is no other master in his life than Christ Jesus.
He seeks to obey and please Him alone.
So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.
For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a slave of Christ.
And the typical way that Paul says “Hi”, grace to you and peace.
Grace serves as a reminder to the believer of God’s unmerited favor toward them
Grace is instrumental in a believers salvation
It is because of God’s grace that Jesus became a slave to the Father and was obedient to the point of death on the cross (Philippians 2)
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
“Peace” was known to be the typical Jewish greeting (Shalom)
Robert Lightner, BKC on Philippians
The order in which Paul uses these terms is important because before there can be any genuine peace there must be a personal response to God’s grace, His unmerited favor manifested climactically at Calvary. Both grace and peace find their source in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul’s desire for the saints at Philippi is that they would experience the grace and peace of the the Father and the Son.
A grace and peace that can only come from the Father through the Son
A THANKFUL PARTNER IN THE GOSPEL MINISTRY
A THANKFUL PARTNER IN THE GOSPEL MINISTRY
v. 3-8
Paul was thankful and joyful because of their participation in the Gospel
They supported the ministry financially
Philippians 4:14-16
They supported the ministry personally
Philippians 2:25-30
It was with joy that the Apostle brought them before the Lord in prayer
Paul’s hardships made him better, not bitter. They always do one or the other to a child of God.
Paul was confident that the Lord would finish the Gospel work that He started through the believers in Philippi
THE PRAYER FOR FELLOW SAINTS
THE PRAYER FOR FELLOW SAINTS
v. 9-11
Paul prayed for their love to abound:
In real knowledge
And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
The knowledge that we obtain needs to be founded on the truth of the Word of God
John MacArthur
Biblical love is not an empty sentimentalism but is anchored deeply in the truth of Scripture and regulated by it.
In all discernment
Discernment is perception, not only by the senses but by the intellect
It is to understand the real nature of something
John MacArthur
Love is not blind, but perceptive, and it carefully scrutinizes to distinguish between right and wrong.
The whole purpose behind this knowledge through the Word of God and thorough examination of matters is so that we can approve the things that are excellent
The idea that is being expressed here is that we will be thorough in our decision making in life, so that we will live a life that is worthy of our calling (Ephesians 4:1)
And if we are being knowledgeable and discerning, then we will be sure to have the fruit of righteousness in our lives
Read James 3:13-18
