Opening the Letter

Open

Good morning, everybody! I am going to be honest with you. In preparing this message this week, I got caught up in my thoughts. I got caught up in fear of speaking in front of you guys. I did not have joy! I got trapped up on my circumstances while preparing a message about not placing joy in your circumstances! So, my hope is that, as we go through this series, we’ll both learn together and grow from this amazing book to have joy in every circumstance.

This week, though, I want to open this book up and

display to you guys, in these verses, the bond that Paul and the Philippians have through the gospel.

Philippians 1:1–11 “Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now. For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me. For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”

Philippians 1:1–11 NASB95

Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now. For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me. For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

In this passage, we see the bond- the relationship- formed from the common sharing of the Gospel.

But first, let’s meet the people of this letter. The people who have this beautiful relationship with each other.

Meet the People

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

Philippians 1:1–2 NASB95

Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

First, the writer of this letter.

Paul

Paul was an apostle called by Christ Jesus to spread the gospel to the Gentiles.

In 2 Corinthians 11:21–29, we get a record of what he has been through for the sake of the gospel. We find in those verses that this man- this apostle- for the sake of Christ has been beaten; he’s been whipped 5 times; 3 times beaten with rods; once stoned; 3 times shipwrecked. This man has known suffering.

He has been through so much for the gospel’s sake… for the sake of sharing Jesus with people.

And now, after all the things he’s gone through to further the gospel, he’s made it to… prison. Again.

Kept (at least some would think) from doing what he loves. He is locked indoors, likely chained to a Roman soldier; kept from going out on the street and telling people about Jesus.

So, we’ve seen who he has been, what he has done, and where he’s at now. So, how does he describe himself at the beginning of this book of joy?

As a bondservant.

As a Slave... of Christ Jesus

He could say a prisoner of Rome. He could remind people of the spiritual authority he has and introduce himself as an apostle, as he does in his other books.

But no, he is sitting in Roman chains, under house arrest, introducing himself as a slave- not of Rome- but of Christ Jesus.

Let’s now look at the other side to this letter. The people reading it.

Philippian Church

This church was a group of people that Paul shared the gospel with in his second missionary journey. It would’ve been a mixed group of people. We know at least of two groups of believers in that city- a woman named Lydia and her household and a Philippian jailor and his household.

These people would’ve been among the first people to receive the gospel.

Around 10 years pass in between Paul first preaching the gospel in Philippi and his writing of the letter. He would not have seen them for a long time.

The church at this point, we see throughout the book of Philippians, was struggling to be unified as a body.

And yet, Paul still has this amazing relationship with them.

This is how we open this joyful letter- with these two groups- Paul, and the Philippians.

And as we peel back the seal to this envelope, we will see the theme of this letter burst out:

Rejoice in the Lord… Again and Again

Why is this Our Theme?

Because we need joy in our life.

In chapter 3 of Philippians, we read in the first verse that Paul, once again, commands the Philippian believers to rejoice in their circumstances- Ope, hol up, I read that wrong. Rejoice in the LORD! Oooooh. Look at what it says here.

Philippians 3:1 “Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you.”

Philippians 3:1 NASB95

Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you.

Paul says its a safeguard for us. That is so true. Joy that is determined by the right thing- by the LORD- keeps us from so many traps and pits we can fall into in our life.

Joy in the Life of a believer is also just plain POWERFUL. It completely transforms a person from the top down. Not only does joy in the Lord transform a person, it declares to the people around him that he has been transformed… and that he’s going to be even further transformed!!

There is nothing that screams out the hope we have in Christ like joy does in the midst of any circumstance.

As we go through this book, we will see joy pop up over and over… and over again. We see Paul’s joy, flowing out of him like a fire hose. We also see Paul reminding the Philippians to rejoice in the Lord. MANY TIMES.

On the other hand, when our joy is determined by anything other than Jesus, and that thing changes; and we get into the rut of not being joyful,... guys not only is it crippling to us, but it is crippling to our ministries (you guys have ministries)

Well, we’ve answered the question why. But that brings up the question, “Ok, Nathan, so it’s important that we are joyful. But how?”

How Am I Supposed to Be Joyful in this World

That is a solid question.

Because there are so many things in this world that want our Joy- that want to steal our joy:

Our Work

Grouchy boss

Coworkers

Job we just don’t like

Traffic.

Home

Things breaking all the time

hard relationships

Health

Sin

Success & Failure

Anything that’s not Jesus

These things are all things aiming at our joy, trying to claim our joy. Some of these things are haaaaard to deal with. But, you guys, that’s why this truth is so important. It’s so that when you’re in the everyday- when you’re dealing with the traffic on the way to work, or the hard-to-get-along-with coworker, the sin everywhere-, you can not only live in the Joy that is placed in the Lord, you can share that joy with others.

As we go through the book of Philippians, we will remember Paul. There were so many things that could have understandably stole Paul’s joy.

He’s endured all these things for the gospel- now he’s in prison. Not only is he in prison, but there are people who are trying to make his life as miserable as possible. There are people against him- AND, the church that he planted 10 years ago is struggling with division. There are lots of things Paul could’ve been discouraged over.

And yet, we open this book, and he is rejoicing!

A good example of what it looks like to have joy in the Lord is an amazing woman named Joni Eareckson Tada.

Illustration: Testimony of Joni Eareckson Tada

Looking Forward

Excited for what’s ahead!

In Chapter one, we will see joy in Christ’s Exaltation

Chapter 2, Joy in Christ’s Example

Ch. 3, Joy in Heaven

Ch 4, Joy in Excellence

Everything pointing to how we can have joy no matter WHAT!

You know why? You know why it says it many times? Because we forget. As we go through this sermon series, joy will be plastered across the walls. It will be fire hosed at both you and me through the Word of God that we’ll be looking at. Please remind yourself. Set reminders throughout your day to rejoice in the Lord. Rejoice in the fact that Jesus saved you when you believed- it’s a wonderful truth. Rejoice in the fact that, if you are a believer, Jesus is saving you.

Relationship- Built on Prayer and the Gospel

Vs 3-11 starts with prayer and ends with prayer. The philippians have shared with Paul in the Gospel throughout their time knowing each other

3 Ways Paul’s Joy Manifest Itself in His Relationship

Thankfulness in Prayer for Others

Paul, every time he thinks of them, thanks God for them. Every single time he thinks of them.

Can you guys imagine what would happen in our relationships with each other if we thanked God for each other?

Right now, while you’re thinking of a person in this church, write down that person’s name in a place you’ll remember it- and pray for that person this week. Thank God for that person.

Hope for Others; Confidence in God

Paul is also confident for these people. He has a confident hope through the gospel that God will work in them what He has promised at the time of their accepting of the gospel.

God began the good work in the Philippians at the point they accepted the gospel through faith, and God will complete it. Until, the day of Jesus Christ. [salvation, sanctification, glorification].

Guys, this is also true of us. This is a hope that we can have with our brothers and sisters in Christ. God has started the work; He will finish it.

Guys, we are sinners. People fail. Sometimes- it hurts- but brothers and sisters in Christ will fail.

Look at this verse. Philippians 1:6 “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 1:6 NASB95

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

It is God Who we are confident in. We can be confident for the good of others because we are confident in the God Who is doing the work in others.

Let’s hold this hope for each other. Encourage others in the hope of what God will do, because He will do it.

Affection For Others

Why?

the Philippians shared Paul’s struggles [his imprisonment, defense, confirmation]

Paul longs for them with the affection of Christ Jesus

These Philippian Christians, while Paul faced the imprisonment originally while he was in Philippi, while he got beaten and thrown in jail without a trial, through all of his hardships in his missionary journeys, they shared in what Paul was doing. They shared in his hardships, his persecutions. Later in the book, we see that they were being persecuted themselves by the proud culture they were living in.

Even at the time of writing this letter, when Paul was in prison again, they shared in his trials, supported him, encouraged him by sending him a fellow brother, Epaphroditus.

These people loved Paul; and he loved them.

Paul says, “God is my witness, how i long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.”

THAT IS A STRONG LOVE!!

To love somebody the way Christ loves them! Wow!

What a God, Who can, through hardship, through the sharing of suffering and hard times, produce a love and affection inside of us for each other that grows and grows.

All these accumulate to him breaking out in prayer for them

Philippians 1:9–11 “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”

Philippians 1:9–11 NASB95

And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Paul’s Prayer for the Philippians

For Mature Love

Paul prays for these people that he is so close to- who have gone through so much with him- that their love would abound more and more. They have love and are loving each other- Paul prays that it would explode! But not only that their love would overflow- he prays that it would grow mature. Mature in two ways.

In Knowledge

These are two things that enhance the love. 1 Cor. 8:1 says, “...Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.” Knowledge used in the right way- especially knowledge of God and the riches of His character- again, when it’s used rightly, enhances love beautifully.

1 Corinthians 8:1 NASB95

Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies.

In Discernment

Love is not blind. As the love abounds, Paul prays that it would abound in real knowledge and all discernment. Discerning between what is good and what is not. What encourages the prosperity of the Gospel and representing Jesus, and what doesn’t.

As we grow in love, it’s not an accepting of all things. It’s a discerning of what is good.

For Encouragement of Excellency

As we grow in love, knowledge, and discernment, we begin to see more clearly the distinctions between right and wrong- the distinctions between things that will bring us closer to God and help us to better represent the Savior and the gospel that we hold so closely to our hearts.

But not only do we start to realize the difference between right and wrong. In this wise love, we begin to understand the difference between good and great, between great and excellent. And we can strive for those things.

Guys, in our life, the life that God has given us- this life where we sit in traffic and deal with grouchy bosses and health issues and imprisonments, wrongful accusations. This love, this mature love, encourages us to see these things as, “How does (or can) this bring me and others closer to God?” Oh, we have such opportunity.

Paul prays that, as they grow in this mature love, they would see the things that bring people closer to their Savior; and they would encourage those things, not only in themselves, but in each other as well.

Paul prays that they will not become stagnant, settling for the status quo. (explain stagnant, “when one thing sits in the same place for so long it becomes stinky” Nathan’s Dictionary)

Guys, when we are striving toward Christ with everything we have, encouraging each other and sharpening each other, see what the last part of the verse says, Philippians 1:10, “in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ;”. The result of this excellency is sincerity and blamelessness. No shadows in our life. No hidden corners where darkness will hide. We will be a sincere people. Genuine in our love. What a wonderful thing.

Philippians 1:10 NASB95

so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ;

For Fruitfulness

After all this, SHOOT! The Bible says we’ll have been FILLED with Fruit of Righteousness!

I just imagine one of those peach trees in Palisade that are have peaches covering them. Sweet, amazing fruit for everyone to enjoy.

This fruit that we’re filled with, it is the fruit of righteousness that comes through Christ Jesus.

As we grow in love, this mature love, with wisdom, excellency- as we live this life of faith in Jesus, we should be like those peach trees in Palisade to the people in our lives, living out the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. Allowing God to work in us what He also wants to do through us.

And this life that we live, this fruit that we bear through the Jesus Christ righteousness, what it does is points to the God who has done in it us, and it brings glory and praise to HIM.

Paul’s bond with the Philippians was a deep one, formed through the gospel. And it’s one we can have with each other.

To close this week, I would like to pray for you guys.

Lord, I pray for this church. I pray that their love would overflow for one another. That their love would not only be an affection for each other, but that, through knowing You, they would grow toward excellency in You. I pray that they would cling to You, Jesus; and that, through their closeness with You, they would be filled with Your righteousness. I pray that their lives would bring praise and glory to You.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen