Philippians study ch 1

Intro to Philippians

-Pauls heart for the church -

important to get farmiliar with the parts

before assembeling

bike, cribs, etc. ——dads wing it

thats problem in studying scripture

dont just wing it

hermenutics

ask

Who, what, when, where, why ….

who is writing this letter ?

and who is he writing it to ?

Where is he writing from?

Where are the recipients?

culture, people group, situation

what type of book, History, poetry, etc.

Philippians 1:1–2 “Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Who is writing the letter?

Paul

timothy - letter writte to him in the bible

discipled by paul

pauls representative on occasions

1 Corinthians 4:17 “That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.”

Philippians 2:19 “I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you.”

later pastored in ephesus

1 Timothy 1:3 “As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine,”

Q. Who is your timothy?

explain importance of multiplying disciples

explain importance of reading background info before starting book

here we learn about philippians

paul writing from jail/house arrest in rome

AD61

written to philippian church

the saints

with the overseers and deacons —episkapos , presbyteros elder, shepard pastor are all used in this context of leaders in the church ——- we just use the term pastor interchangebly

modern day greece

first european church

planted church during 2nd missionary journey

see this in acts 16:11-40

leading city of the district of macedonia

and a roman colony

roman citizenship ——citizens of heaven scripture big deal because roman citizenship was big to greek philippians who took pride in roman citizenship —-culture reference..

Lydia gets saved

paul and silas are put in prison

Philippian jailer converted

what must I do to be saved… believe on the Lord Jesus

we have to keep telling people about Jesus

many will hate us and look down on us

but its worth it for the few that will repent and believe…

Q. what can we learn about paul and silas staying in jail after earthquake ? what if they left .

-doing the right thing takes courage.

-and putting the spread of the gospel above escaping

going back to philippians

read 1:3-11

we read about Pauls heart and desire

for the philippian church

His heart is filled with

thanksgiving

&

Joy

He is happy and thankful in his prayers for the church

and in verse 3 and 4

we see His dedication to prayer

in all my rememberance

and in every prayer of his for them

it is made with joy

now why is He so happy to pray for them?

look at

Philippians 1:5 “because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.”

paul is excited at their sincere faith.

He had partnered with them as new believers

grew into a church during His 2nd missionary journey

and salvation was multiplying

but we also see

Philippians 4:15 “And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only.”

they helped him financially

and this is a sign that they became a part of what paul accomplished

and now Paul is excited and joyful to pray

for people He poured into

and who were coworkers in the gospel…

so a few things stand out here

be diligent in prayer with Joy and thanks

Pauls pattern of constant prayer echoes

1 Thessalonians 5:17 “pray without ceasing,”

Be thankful for the people who you are partnering with in the gospel work. I.E. the church

pray for these people with Joy and on a regular basis.

Q . how can we foster a diligent prayer life of joy and thanks

intercede for believers -

focus on giving thanks -

pray regularly for those who have made a godly impact on our lives.

now moving on

we want to focus in on verse 6

Philippians 1:6 “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.”

Paul shifts to encouragment

I am possitive

I have certainty

God is going finish what he started

this is not your 1000 piece christmas puzzle still sitting on the table

the work that God started in you

will continue

until it is finshed

this is important verse for eternal security

not once

but if saved always saved

God will finish what He started

Paul gives thanks

then encourages

Now see - Pauls confidence is not in the philippians

His confidence is in God

God is not looking for us to be great

He is looking at us to be faithful

and God will do the work in us

be faithful and trust that God

will finish the purpouse He has for you

Psalm 57:2 “I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.”

we ought to press forward and work towards our

purpouse in Him

knowing it is God who sustains us til the end

1 Corinthians 1:8 “who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

now the good work is salvation

He has saved us

and is continuing to sanctify us in this world

until the ressurection

when we will have perfected soul and body

hebrews 12:2

The New King James Version Chapter 12

2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Jesus is the author started the work

and finisher — the one who will complete it

we also want to look at

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

God always finishes what he starts

look at creation

He has put into motion

salvation through the cross

and when you get saved

He will work on you until the very last day

q. Ho have you seen God working on you lately ?

moving to verse 7

Philippians 1:7 “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.”

Paul confirms why He is so confident

because they are partakers with Him in grace

in their firmness in the gospel

ending this section we see pauls affection

for the church

Paul writes how he longs for the church

with the affection of Jesus Christ in verse 8

this displays christian love

on a deep level of desire for others well being

the same way Jesus loves us

is how we are to love the saints

Q. How can we cultivate the love of Jesus to other people?

pray, serve, help

identify with Christ in you

in verse 9 paul gives us his praer in more detail…

he told us about his desire and sincerity in

joyful , diligent, and thankful prayer

now we see him specify his prayer

that they would grow

Continue to Grow

Philippians 1:9 “And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment,”

Prayer for love to grow

more and more

and that it would be rooted in

the knowledge of God

and discernment of truth

1 Corinthians 8:1–2 “Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know.”

Love must be accompanied by truth

One must have the other

all doctrine is meant to love more deeply

love God

and then neighbor

in verse 10

as you would grow in love and knowledge and discernment