Philippians Sermon - Week 1

Welcome/Intro

Have you ever kept doing something that was already done?

Working towards something that had already been completed by someone else.

You look back and you feel kind of foolish.

Imagine: working on a project together

B/C of a miscommunication, you both end up doing the same part

When you get back together to present, you will feel pretty foolish.

You would have been doing what someone else had already done.

We spend a lot of time doing what is already done.

Today we want to invite you into a new way of living.

At the Heart of the Gospel is the fact that it has already been done for you.

Many of us try to spend a lot of time trying to do something that has already be done.

Philippians

Welcome to One Hope

We are glad you can join us today.

Beginning the Book of Philippians

month ago God put this on my heart

We had another plan

Many of themes would be timely

Paul is writing this letter from prison, from social isolation

He is loving the church at a distance through the technology of his day

The written letter

So to in our day we are loving at a distance through the technology of our day

We would much rather be in person, just as Paul would, but we are redeeming what God has for us.

Philippians 1:1-11

Where we will see that what need most has already been done for us

and what it means to live in light of that.

Pray

Covid 19, those who are sick, those near us, healthcare workers

wisdom in reopening

Who are the Philippians?

Let’s jump in:

Philippians 1:1–2 ESV

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

A Personal Letter in Real Time and Space for Real People

The first thing we have to remember is that Philippians

was not written as a Theological Position Paper

But a deeply persona letter from real people to other real people

In a real historical context at a concrete time.

Paul & Timothy wrote this letter.

Who are in prison in Rome awaiting his hearing before Ceasar, roughly 62 AD

Look at the people addressed:

to ALL the saints

At Philippi

the Overseers (Elders)

Deacons (ministers, servant-leaders)

Real people, real places, real time.

This is not unlike an email that is sent out by Mike and I, or from the elders to the Church.

There is a real context, a real situation being addressed.

I mean imagine if thousands of years later some preacher was preaching a simple personal email that we sent out to you all.

That’s what’s happening here.

God Power is demonstrated and propagated in simple everyday ways

History of Philippi

There is a History to the Church in Philippi

[VIDEO INTRO]- 52 seconds -

Mention The Gospel Project

History of Philippi in Acts 16

Paul planted church on 2nd Missionary Journey probably around 51 AD

Lydia - seller of purple linen - likely Wealthy

slave girl - exorcised — led to Paul’s imprisonment

jailer - converted

Planted Churched and the women likely played a large part

in the establishment and sustainment of the Church

Paul is writing some 10 years later in Prison

awaiting his trial.

What does Paul have to say to the church in Philippi?

Paul’s Prayer of Thanksgiving

Philippians 1:3–5 ESV

3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.

He begins his letter with Prayer

This says something to us

Paul the Great Man, Prays

Paul, who was the great Apostle, Theologian, Missionary, Church Planter, the Super Christian if there ever was one.

This Paul begins with Prayer

Which I could argue is why we was able to become all of those things.

A theme which pervades all of Philippians.

Paul has no power, no influence, no spiritual fruit on his own,

it is only by and through the Power of God at work in and through Him.

At One Hope we want to begin with Prayer.

“15 minutes of Prayer”

I believe Prayer is the most important thing we will do.

God has all power, all insight, all wisdom, all control

and He’s our Father.

He wants us to ask him for things.

It brings him Great Delight to give us the things that we ask for

He both gives us the desire ask and delights in fulfilling them.

Psalm 37:4 ESV

4 Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

The Greatness of the life of Paul did not come from Paul,

but from God through Paul.

Paul learned the secret to spiritual success:

Putting it all in God’s Hands.

What a word for all of us!

Thanksgiving

Thankfulness and Joy

What is he thankful for?

The People of Philippi, The People themselves

there partnership with him in the gospel.

Paul, is thankful for the people God has given him.

Paul’s Affection for the Philippians

He had a deep affection for them.

Real people that he spent time with, did ministry with

People that supported God’s call on his life and sacrificed for him.

Phil 1:7-8 “7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart...For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.”

It is right (proper) that I feel this way

I “hold you in my heart”, “I yearn for you”, “i deeply miss you”

With the affection of Jesus Christ.

I don’t know that Paul speaks this affectionately of any other group of people or church.

It is our of this AFFECTION that this Letter comes.

Paul sitting in a prison cell, socially distanced, isolated

He is grieving in a sense his isolation, but yet is joyful

we too are griveing a loss

How is your affection for the people around you?

How easily it seems at times that we unthankful for those around us?

People are what’s most important.

Who are the people you are grateful for in your life?

Maybe you are cooped up with those people right now

and its easy to become annoyed, or angry and ungrateful

But People are what’s important.

Christ died for People.

Paul was so grateful because of the people at Philippi.

They stood by him through THICK and THIN

As one of your Pastors,

We are grateful for you

I want you to know that I pray for you, many of you by name.

Here at One Hope, the last few years have been tough.

We’ve had a lot of transition and uncertainty

But many of you have stayed around through all of that

I’m grateful to be a part of One Hope Church

Paul’s Confidence in the Lord

Bu Paul is thankful for the people

but Also how God is obviously working through them.

Philippians 1:6 ESV

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 is grateful because he sees God at work in them,

as evidenced by their partnership

But more so, he is full of Joy because he knows, beyond any doubt

That God will complete the work he began in them.

He believes in God’s absolute power over all things.

How does Paul have this?

He looks forward to the day of Christ.

We don’t walk around staring at our feed,

rather we look where we are going.

This is what Paul is doing.

The Last day determines how we live THIS DAY?

At the Day of Jesus Christ

What is Paul’s motivation in life?

What is his vision for the Church?

The Day of Jesus Christ

The day when Jesus will return

to right every wrong

to finally and fully defeat satan, sin and death

To usher in a perfect kingdom of love, peace, righteousness and Joy

This is what Paul lives for

It’s what he encouraged the Philippians to live for

Not the first day, but the Last day.

Wedding - first day, but last day.

Living in light of God’s coming Kingdom changes how we live hear and now.

Because in the end Jesus wins, and we also with him,

Allows us to lose now.

It allows us to live with a confidence like Paul’s.

We can live now as if it’s already done, because it is as good as done.

God will do it,

He begins it, he sustains it and he will complete it.

This is true freedom.

It means we can stop trying to strive for our own identity, meaning and purpose.

because they are all found in Christ.

We need to be reminded of the last day, constantly

Call to believe

Maybe today, God is going to begin that work in you?

maybe he has been drawing you near over these last few months

questions about God have popped back into you head

and somehow you’ve find yourself to this sermon

and this moment

And God is drawing you near and saying

“Let me begin that work in you”

and all you have to say is “yes”

confess that you have tried to live your life outside of God and his purpose

we call this “sin”

And give it to him

Will give you chance at the end to respond.

Transition

So Paul opens with prayer.

Confidence in God

thankful for their partnership in the gospel.

Then he goes on to describe that partnership.

Because giving your life to Jesus is just the beginning

He is completing his work in you, it is a process

What does this “completing work look like in our life”?

Paul uses the word partnership

Partnership in the Gospel

Philippians 1:7 ESV

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.

What does this partnership mean?

We use the word partnership at One Hope rather than the word member

because we think it more accurately describes what it means to be the church.

We get it from this very text.

Notice it says “we are all partakers with me of grace”

Early we read the word “partnership in the gospel” in Phil 1:5

In greek these are both the same word: koinonia

from which we get the word “fellowship” or a sharing in.

Notice the connection though

Partners in the gospel, because we have partaken together of the gospel of grace

This is why Paul is so overjoyed in them.

He sees that the gospel has taken root and it is evidenced by their partnership with him.

Partnership (a sharing in the gospel of God) comes from

having partaken (sharing in) in the very gospel that you are sharing.

This is how it works.

ILL: The Revolutionary War

They had partaken in the freedom from tyranny

so then they partnered in the fight for that freedom.

Presence, Defense & Confirmation

You partnered with me in “both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.”

Presence

Both in meeting his needs in his imprisonment.

Practical needs

Epaphroditus have given a gift

They have practically supported him

Presence needs

Being with each other — Biblical Community

The ministry of Presence

in suffering and joy.

Defense of the Gospel

or apologia where we get apologetics

which are a way of defending the faith against unbelief and false teachings.

We must understand what the Bible Teaches

We must know the Gospel and how to defend it

It’s why we are starting up a midweek equipping class on based on Tim Keller’s best selling book “The Reason for God.”

I would love for you to join us in that and learn how to defend the faith in this age.

Confirmation of the Gospel

That is proving its validity and power through our lives.

That’s why partnership is not just about believing the right things but it is also about

living and giving in accordance with that belief

It means living in light of the gospel

It serving together, sacrificing together, supporting one another in the advancement of the gospel.

One Hope Partnership

One Hope Church = partner not member.

Comes from this verse

Partners in the gospel, because we have partaken together of the gospel of grace

A Partner believes, lives and gives.

Believes - Theology Matters

We believe Theology is really important.

Everything we do is based on our theological convictions.

What we believe the bible teaches.

For example God’s sovereignty over all things, even Covid-19

A partner does hold to the same theological convictions as the leadership

And they are centered on the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

But it’s not just theologically agreement but practical engagement for the sake of the gospel.

Living and Giving

You see it is living out what we believe.

partners at One Hope Church

gather regularly for worship and community

they give of their time, talent and treasure

Serve another and our community.

not to build up the name of One Hope Church, but to lift up the Name of Christ

and for the propagation of the gospel message to the City, Nations and generations that they too might fined their hope in jesus.

Two Things to Partners of One Hope

I want to say two things to our partners at One Hope Church

#1 Thank you for your partnership

Thank you to all who have continued to give and serve during this pandemic.

It has been so encouraging.

A special thanks to one of our partners Rich & Melanie Miller and his team (Craig Carrier, Ashley White)

and the many of you that have chipped in to provide over 57 masks to our YMCA to aid them in serving their community.

Phase 1: YMCA to provide childcare for healthcare workers

Phase 2: Workers at YMCA to hand out food.

Join Rich after service Zoom meeting.

And we encourage you to continue giving and sacrificing that God’s Gospel Advancement might continue.

#2 Ten New Partners

Just completed our 3 week partnership class which was almost entirely online.

We have 10 new people in process to become partners

We are just overwhelmed by that.

One of the largest classes we’ve had in long time.

We are so grateful that rather than One Hope Diminishing in this time

It’s actually growing stronger.

God is still growing his Church in depth and breadth

which is where Paul ends his prayer.

Paul prays that God will finish the work he began, knowing that he will.

Prayer for Spiritual Growth

Philippians 1:9–11 ESV

9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

There is a ton packed into these 3 verses (58 words)

Spiritual Growth:

Paul is praying for Spiritual Growth

Because coming to Christ is just the beginning,

The rest of your life is growing in love, joy, and peace.

It is growing to be more like Christ, both in his life and his heart.

What is the primary thing Paul is praying for?

Growth in Love

This is the supreme spiritual gift

The greatest fruit of the spirit.

This is the whole goal of the people of God

“that we would love one another just as Jesus loved us”

This is the Greatest Apologetic for the Christian Faith

Our love for One Another and our Love for Others.

It’s the surest “confirmation” of the gospel.

In fact he adds knowledge and discernment along with it, but almost as if to say without Love these things are useless.

He says the same in 1 Cor 13:3

1 Corinthians 13:3 ESV

3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Their Growth in Love is Paul’s first and most important prayer for them.

HOW DO I GROW IN THIS?

Knowledge and Discernment

Next he says that your “love may abound WITH knowledge and discernment”

Knowledge here is not just intellectual knowledge but a personal, experiential knowledge.

Knowledge of What?

OF GOD

Who he is? what he’s done for you? What he’s like?

Just as you would growth in knowledge of your spouse or friend.

Philippians Reading plan.

Discernment — more accurate might be “depth of insight” that aids in making right decisions (NIV)

This is confirmed by what he says next.

So that...

The “SO THAT”

Anytime you see this in Scripture it’s important, for the Writer is explicitly telling you what the intended result is

What’s the end goal / result / purpose?

So that you may:

Approve what is Excellent

and so be pure and blameless

filled with the Fruit of Righteousness

Let’s unpack what each of these mean:

Approve what is Excellent

Approve has the sense of testing what is true, as you would test the metals of coins to ensure their genuine.

Excellent really means here “that which excels”, it means to choose what is superior, to distinguish that which really matters, to make the best selection among competing options.

So this means ‘because of your growth of knowledge and discernment’, you will be able to choose what is best in life.

This results in being pure, blameless and filled with the fruit of righteousness.

Pure and Blameless

Pure has the sense of sincere, clean or genuine. The word literally means to ‘judge by sunlight’ thus has the senes of being real, true and pure like you would hold up a $20 bill to verify it is the real thing.

Blameless means to causing others to stumble and not stumbling yourself.

Filled with the Fruit of Righteousness

What is the Fruit of Righteousness?

Is it the Fruit that consists of righteousness or right living?

Or is it the fruit that is the result of righteousness given to us in Christ?

The beautiful thing is that it is both of these things at the same time.

Because Biblically these two are never separated.

The way of living right with others is rooted in the fact that we have been made right with God through Christ!

It says the “fruit of righteousness that comes through Christ”

That means it is on the one had the result of Christ giving us his righteousness

imputed righteousness.

And it what is produced in us because Christ is with us.

imparted righteousness

Here is the glorious mystery of the Gospel at work in us.

It is how Paul can both praise the Philippians partnership and express his confidence that God will complete it

It’s how he will later say that we are to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” (Phil 2:12-13)

What does that mean?

Christ has already made you clean and pure

Christ has already made you blameless

Christ has already filled you with his righteousness

We can grow in these things, because we already have them in Christ.

1 Corinthians 5:7 ESV

7 Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.

That’s what this means.

Live what is already true inside of you because of Christ

This is the great secret of the Christian Faith

God is already working in you that which he is working out through you.

Christ imputed righteousness (the foundation) makes God’s imparted righteousness possible (fruit, building, etc.)

To live is Christ, because Christ is living with in you

Galatians 2:20 ESV

20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Therefore we can boast in Christ, in the Finished work of the Cross and the unfinished work in our lives.

So we can live life as if it’s already done, because it is finished.

Where in your life have you forgotten this?

Where are you building life on your own terms?

Your own identity?

Your own kingdom?

Constructing your own purpose?

So much of the Christian walk is remembering what Christ has done FOR US

and therefore WHAT HE IS DOING IN US

Where in your life do you need to remember that it has already been done for you?

and God will finish work he began in you.

Unbelievers

If you are listening to this and you don’t yet know Jesus in this way.

Let him begin a work in you TODAY,

while it is called today!

Now is the time.

Simply confess in your heart that you have lived with out God

“we call this sin”

and turn to him and declare “I am yours, all of me”

“Forgive me, save me, make me yours.”

And it shall be so.

I believe if this is you, God has brought you to this very moment.

He has used circumstances

He has used friends

He has used a chance click on this link

I don’t know how you came to listen to this message,

but I am sure of this, He has brought you here

and I am sure of this

“he who begins a good work in you today, will bring it to completion”

Let’s Pray