Rejoice Always 01 - (Even) Greater Fullness

Reading: Philippians 1:1-11
being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:6 (NIV)

I.   To the Saints

     A.  Intro to Philippians: letter of Joy (16X!)

     B.  Saints= “holy ones” & your leaders (v.1)

     C.  Grace & Peace combines Gr./Jew. greetings (2)

II.  On to Completion

     A.  God has Begun His work in us (3-6)

           1.  God began when they believed in Jesus

                 a.  This work begins on faith’s 1st day (5)

                 b.  Evidence=persistence 1st day until now

           2.  That 1st act of believing is only a beginning

                 a.  Thanks b/c they share in the Gospel (5,7)

                 b.  Share=fellowship > give $ to Paul

                 c.  This is God at work in them!

           3.  God is still at work in us

                 a.  But He’s not finished working in us (PTL)

for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. (Php 2:13)

                 b.  No save ‘em and store ‘em here!

                 c.  Thankfully, He is not done with us!

                 d.  PBPGIFWMY!

     B.  He will Finish His work in us

           1.  His wants to work all His goodness into us

                 a.  In all areas of our life (diff for ea. of us?)

                 b.  Until we are like Him (see chap 2!)

           2.  He won’t stop working in us ‘til He’s done!

                 a.  He is relentless, he won’t give up

                 b.  He leaves no partly finished projects

           3.  It is God’s work, but we can resist Him.

                 a.  He doesn’t intrude, if He’s not welcome

                 b.  He doesn’t/won’t work against our will

                 c.  Don’t resist Him!

III. Love abounding More and More

     A.  Abounding in Knowledge

           1.  A prayer for abundant love (God/ea. other)

                 a.  Content of Paul’s prayer of v.4

                 b.  Already showing love to God/Paul (5,7)

                 c.  Since love has begun, God will grow it!

           2.  A love abounding with knowing content

                 a.  Knowledge=thorough knowledge

                 b.  To really know God is to love Him

                 c.  Know God’s love = love others (1Jn 4:7-8)

           3.  And more and more (&more &more…)

                 a.  Knowing someone an event, process

                 b.  God wants us to really know Him

                 c.  We know Him thru prayer & Scripture

                 d.  Know ea. other=know as God knows

     B.  Abounding in all Insight

           1.  A love that sees deeply & so loves deeply

                 a.  Insight=K. gained thru senses

                 b.  See, hear, touch, taste, smell

                 c.  Aesthetic sees God/ea. o. as beautiful

           2.  A love abounding w/ full insight

                 a.  into Him/ea. other

                 b.  We love w/ insight to love well

           3.  We have some insight/sense of His beauty

                 a.  We want to grow in that more & more!

     C.  Discovering what is Best (10)

           1.  Discerning, proving what is a “cut above”

                 a.  Only possible when love abounds

                 b.  We need to see the whole picture

                 c.  Love that goes out & cares @ home too

           2.  Not wrong What is best

                 a.  Many good things aren’t the best things

                 b.  What is best for all (me, us, them)

           3.  Our motto: Discover & share life at its best!

                 a.  What’s best comes thru Jesus!

IV. Filled with fruit from Jesus

     A.  Pure and Blameless

           1.  Pure=unmixed; no mixed fidelity

                 a.  Purity comes thru greater love

           2.  Blameless=w/o giving offense

                 a.  To know & sense how to love

           3.  How do we do this?

                 a.  Love God & ea. other more!

     B.  Full of Jesus’ Goodness

           1.  The fruit of righteousness thru Jesus

                 a.  Righteousness exemplified in Jesus

                 b.  What he works in us thru His Spirit

           2.  A life that displays Jesus’ righteousness

           3.  Fruit: provides for others’ needs

                 a.  Philippians praises for sharing w/ Paul!

     C.  To the Glory and Praise of God

           1.  To glorify God’s name w/in & w/out

           2.  So His name will be praised

           3.  So we will glorify Him & praise Him!

The Bottom Line:

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