"God Will Complete the Work"

Have you ever started a project and then for whatever reason didn’t finish it? Maybe you ran out of time, or ran out of money, or simply lost interest. I’ve got at least a couple projects part-way done that I hope to finish eventually. We often take on more than we can handle, or try to do more than we have time for. It’s said that stress is when your mouth says, “Sure, I can do that.” While your head is saying, “No way!”

Fortunately, God never begins something He can’t finish.

Philippians 1:6 NIV84

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.

The church in Philippi may have been Paul’s favorite. He started it on his second missionary journey and probably stopped there briefly on his third. They have been faithful in supporting his work, and there is very little in the way of problems he needs to correct. There is no sense of opposition to him as there was in Corinth.

This letter was written to thank them for their support and to encourage them in their growth as disciples, especially since they are experiencing some opposition. We find joy and rejoicing mentioned more than in any other of Paul’s letters, even though he is writing while under arrest, probably a prisoner in Rome.

What is the good work?

Salvation

1 Peter 1:23 NIV84

For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

Sanctification

Service – such as the Philippian’s support for Paul

Ephesians 2:10 NIV84

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

When did God begin it?

In one sense it began before the world was created – God chose us before the world began (Eph. 1:4)

In another sense it began at the time of our conversion

The church in Philippi began with God’s sovereign choice of Lydia as the first convert in Europe. Of Lydia, Luke writes, “The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul” (Acts 16:14).

When will it be complete?

The fact that it is not yet complete shows that it involves a progressive transformation of the lives of believers. The day of Christ Jesus

Resurrection/Glorification

Philippians 3:21 NIV84

who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

Paul’s confidence

Not in himself

In God – God did not get us started and then stand back, leaving us on our own.

Philippians 2:13 NIV84

for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

We may at times be tempted to give up, we may feel that we are hopeless. Let us remember that God never gives up and in Christ there is always hope. God is working in us, and He will complete that work..

Isaiah 55:10–11 NIV84

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.