Philippians 1:6-11

Philippians 1:6-11

Intro:

Last week we talked about the burden which was laid upon Paul..

A burden.. which was given from the Lord.. laid upon the Apostle for a distinct reason..

A burden that accompanied Paul’s calling.. Paul’s ministry.. and the objects of Paul’s ministry..

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A burden.. that was unhindered by circumstance..

Carried.. by a man.. imprisoned.. condemned.. in chains..

For.. a church.. a body of believers who were dwelling in a city of incredible Pagan influence.. ++

But today.. as we read on.. we discover a little bit more about His burden..

And with that, we also discover a little bit more about our burdens.. ++

We might even see, and understand.. why Paul was so able to hold strong to his burdens.. his visions.. and his ministry to others..

And why we might find it so difficult at times, to keep on with the things God has called us to keep on with.. ++

Paul was the ultimate Energizer Apostle..

He just kept going and going and going..

He didn’t wear out.. he didn’t wind down.. he didn’t burn out and he didn’t quit.. ++

.. What was the key???

Today, we’re going to uncover it..

But in a few brief words we can sum it all up by simply saying:

“Paul knew, by personal experience, the potential.. of God’s grace and God’s faithfulness, in the life of a believer.” ++

He knew what God did for him… so he also knew, what God was willing to do for the believers in Philippi.

Concerning verses 3-5.. we’re going to pose a question:

Why did Paul pray so often and so fervently for the Philippian church/

Why were his requests in joy?

We began to answer this question last week… but as we bring more context to it today… our answer expands a bit.

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Philippians 1:6–8 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. 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. 8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.

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It’s one thing for us to say: “God is faithful”..

But sometimes.. our own personal faithfulness wavers.. - God stands true, no matter what… but we are all too often… faltering.

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Paul’s confidence wasn’t in the faith of his own will… but rather, it is in God.

Paul is saying.. that he has faith, in God’s faith..

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I’m sure we all can admit and make a mental ascension that God is faithful..

But.. we’re not always so confident..

We might ask… -What is God faithful to do? We have the answer right here… - God is faithful… to complete the good work that has begun in us..

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The reason we might vacillate in our confidence.. or, in our faith..

is because we may have.. false expectations concerning our impression.. of how that “good work” should be completed..

Or maybe… we think this is in reference to a work that we are doing… - God will help me complete my mission… my task… my ministry… my goal…

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We think, this verse somehow speaks of something we are actively doing, rather than a work that God is doing in us.

This passage has nothing to do with the thing you or I are doing. This has everything to do… with the thing that God is doing.

And maybe we are not sure if we like the way God is doing a work in us. Maybe we don’t see enough health and wealth in our future, and we wonder if God has us mixed up with someone else…

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how many of us have read one of those trendy Christian self help books..

Prayer of Jabez.. Your Best Life Now.. Chicken Soup for Something or Other..

And you suddenly gain this expectation.. that everything.. from here on out is going to be easy peesy… It’s going to be smooth sailing… Peachy keen..

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Maybe it’s something so simple.. maybe we think.. now that we’ve accepted Jesus.. He’s going to be our body guard from here on out..

And we go our with this expectation…

But then.. hardships come our way..

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And we’re dismayed… because we prayed the prayer of Jabez… which, by the way, I’m not dissing..

I appreciate the book and love what it has to say..

But some folks have taken it wrong.. and they’ve tried to make a formula out of it..

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They turn a Biblical truth, into a formula… and they wonder…

If this is my best life now.. and I’m doing the things the book told me..

Why am I still facing trials and tribulation?

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Is God really going to complete.. the good work that He’s begun?

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By completing that work..

..will I ever.. be brought to a place of financial comfort.. a place of total health.. a place of marital bliss.. a place of favor in all things..

… will I ever drive a cool car?

Will my house ever be paid off?

Will my kids all be perfect angels ?

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Will I be admired and respected by all my peers?

.. sought out for my wisdom..

.. asked to write books and speak before presidents…

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Will I ever find those six-pack abs that are hiding.. there, deep down, under my current stomach situation…

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We have a list in our head.. of what we want.. of what we expect..

And that list.. well, maybe it reflects more elements of worldly want.. and worldly desire..

Than it does.. in reflecting a heart of humble submission..

… to the will of God.

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Our expectations have been crushed…

Because we have faced.. tribulation..

Even though.. Jesus promised tribulation.. even though, we are instructed.. that various trials are in our path..

Even though.. we are told.. that we will face rejection and disapproval..

Because of our stand w/Christ..

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In spite of all these Biblical promises of conflict with the world…

We are crushed..

Because God did not come through the way we expected Him to..

.. and now..

We are not confident..

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God is still saying to us: “Dear child, I am faithful”..

But.. we’re not confident..

Because we don’t always know.. what His faithfulness pertains to..

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Some folks bring the baggage of an entitlement worldview into their faith life…

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Now that I’m a Christian..

I’m entitled to… my choices of seating… my opinionated influence upon the decisions of the church… my preference for song choice in the next worship set...

Why?

Because I tithe.. I’m entitled..

Because I served in the pre-school class… I’m entitled..

Because.. I volunteered more than someone else..

Well what about me? I started this church in my living room.. and worked 2 jobs.. and spent several years under the poverty level all the while, putting in about 80 hours of work each week..

If you’re entitled because you volunteered some… just think what I’m entitled to..

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Hey.. neither you, nor I.. are entitled..

Instead… -We are.. blessed..

We are recipients of great great things in the Lord..

But we don’t stand before Him with our hand out saying: “pay up Lord… you owe me.”

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God is going to complete.. the work, the task… the product which He has began in us.. - and it’s a good work… literally, a moral work… - but not according to our definitions of good… No. God goes way above that. This work… this product in our life… is according to HIS standard of goodness.

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This good work, was manifest in us at salvation… and continues in us, and through us from that day forward.

He wants us to know and experience blessing… by actively being a blessing to others..

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So what does it mean.. to have the work brought to completion?

I’ll be honest with you..

I’m not so sure, that it’s our business..

We are the clay… He is the potter. It’s the potter’s business what the clay becomes..

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The passage says.. “He began the good work.. He will finish the work”..

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Signifying a very significant fact…

It’s His Work..

Not mine..

I’m just the product..

I’m just the lump of clay.. spinning around on the wheel..

Waiting to be formed.

Waiting to be fired..

Waiting.. till I’m complete in Him..

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Why did Paul pray so fervently for the church in Philippi?

Why did Paul have a vision for this church?

Why?

Because Paul was confident in the faithfulness of God…

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Paul was not confident in the people of Philippi..

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Paul’s confidence is going to take another step..

Not only does He have confidence, in the faithfulness of God..

But He had confidence.. in the grace of God..

You see.. Paul knew what God had given to him..

God had given him grace..

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He was in prison.. he had been beaten.. he had been shipwrecked.. he had been rejected..

He said: “it’s right for me to feel this way about you all...”

Why?

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Well.. look at me.. I’m in chains.. I’m in a bad place and in a bad way..

And yet, I’m partaking in the grace of God..

And it’s good.

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Here’s Paul’s logic..

If it’s good for me.. in my chains..

Then it’s definitely.. good for you..

Out there, in the free world..

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In vs. 7.. Paul is saying: “I partake in the grace of God”..

But not only that.. he’s also saying..

That the Philippian church..

.. they too, are partaking w/Paul.. in the same grace.

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Paul is telling them… “We are drinking from the same cup… and it’s a really, really good cup to partake from.”

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Paul was a man, who knew, and understood, the potential of grace..

And the potential of God’s faithfulness.. ++

Philippi.. they were a small band of believers in the midst of a pagan city..

Were they going to make it?

Were they going to know the Lord and grow in the Lord???

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Let’s ask that question according to Paul’s perspective..

Is God faithful?

Is Grace sufficient?

According to Paul’s experience, in the midst of great persecution and hardship… the answers are… Yes.. and Yes..

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Can we withstand the faithfulness of God and cast His grace aside?

Some say, “no”

But I think we can..

I’m not talking about loosing salvation..

I’m talking about.. falling short of your potential..

And not experiencing.. or embracing.. all that God has for you..

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Last week, we talked about visions and burdens..

And how, it’s likely, that many here have, at one time or another..

.. dropped a burden.. let it go cold.. because of outward circumstance..

I know I have.. time and time again.

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But.. what about the faithfulness of God.. what about His grace?

How did we dis our calling? How did we drop our burden? How did we forsake our burden?

We did it, by allowing circumstances to pry us away from it..

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Paul know circumstances… more than the recipients of his letter did.

Like those chains.. that were on Paul’s ankles..

Did Paul’s chains hold him back? No.. He was not so easily hindered by circumstance..

God is still faithful.. and grace.. –it’s still there for us to partake in…

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I can imagine, as this letter was read in Philippi..

That maybe there were some.. who were backslidden..

And they had gone from being “on-fire.. sold out zealots for Jesus..”

To casual attendees of various worship services..

And suddenly, they are hearing the letter being read to them.. ..

And Paul is telling them..

“sure, I’m in chains”

But I have the grace of God..

The same grace.. that you guys partake in.. ++

“sure, I’m in a bad place.. but you guys… well, you think your place is difficult, because you are discriminated against and you don’t have as many rights and privileges because of your beliefs… but really, your place isn’t that bad...”

And what’s good for me here, in prison.. should be exceptionally… ‘good for you’ out there in Philippi.. ++

Though we may not know the details of God’s work.. and how it’s going to be completed in us..

We can.. gain a little understanding of that work..

In the prayers that Paul was praying.. ++

In vss. 3-5.. we found out.. that Paul was praying for Philippi ALL THE TIME….

But.. in 9-11.. we find out what he was praying..

And it gives us a little insight.. into the work of God..

It gives us a challenge.. which should attach itself to our lives..

It gives us .. an outline.. under which we can experience the details of God’s work in our lives.. ++

Philippians 1:9 ESV

9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment,

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Because.. God is faithful.. because, these folks were partaking in the grace of God..

and because.. these two things.. (the faithfulness of God and the grace of God).. have incredible potential..

.. we, as believers.. should be experiencing.. the same thing that Paul prayed..

For the church in Philippi.. ++

How about the church in C’ville..

How about us?

Is the work of God happening?

Are we partaking in the grace of God? ++

If so.. let’s see if the following things.. are manifesting themselves… w/in us.

First off.. Is our love abounding???

Now.. this is a love that falls w/in limitation. It a love that is bridled by truth.. ++

It’s not a love that is driven by: emotion, public opinion or social acceptance. It’s not a love that is defined by manipulative straw-man arguments on social media. ++

It is not a love, that condones self destruction.

It is not a love, that approves of unrighteousness.

No way.. this is a love.. that is bridled.. restricted.. protected and even limited..

… in knowledge and discernment.. ++

If your children come to you and demand to go play in the road… You, as a parent with knowledge and discernment… will say ‘NO.’ - Why? Because you know what happens on the road, and you know the danger in it. ++

They might whine.. they might cry.. they might scream..

And you could give in.. “Oh, you’re unhappy, you’re screaming.. I need that to stop.. I want you to get whatever you want”

.. so, you might say, - because of my love, I’m going to let you play in the road.. ++

That would be ignorance… NOT LOVE..

For by knowledge.. I understand.. that the road is dangerous..

Vehicles come flying down my road, around blind corners at all speeds..

And by discernment, I understand..

That any one of these vehicles, has the strong potential, of taking the lives of my children…

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I know, and discern… that the road I live on… is dangerous..

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For you and I.. a practical definition of knowledge and discernment.. can be fulfilled in the Word of God..

Fulfilled in the Word, and engaged, by letting the Holy Spirit.. interpret that Word... and speak, discernment… unto us. ++

Because I love you.. I’m going to tell you the truth..

That’s part of God’s work in me.

And I can’t do it, w/o the grace of God.. unto me. ++

If I stood before you every week and gave you some back-patting feel good message that left you feeling all warm and fuzzy..

I’m not so sure, that I could call that love. ++

You might leave… feeling good. You might be pumped up with positive thinking and duped into thinking you have been edified… - But even as you leave, feeling good about yourself… going out there to have your best life… - That message that pumped you up… wouldn’t have been given in love.

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Love tells the truth.

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If every week, I did not expound fully upon His Word, and did not bring a challenge before you..

I’m not so sure, that I would be discerning the will of the H.S. ++

One day, I’ll stand before God.. and He’ll probably ask me if I did my job..

And whether I did or didn’t.. He’s going to let me know..

And I pray.. that in my calling as Pastor..

He’s going to say: “well done.. you told the truth in love, and you were discerning in speaking what needed to be spoken.” ++

There are many feel good churches out there.. - You feel good, because you are part of something cool… something that is ‘happening’. Something hip and exciting. everybody is beautiful and shiny… and the 12 minute message with 1/2 a Bible verse has motivated you to think positive thoughts about yourself… ++

and God uses them.. God is gracious.. He still brings His message and His heart across at times..

But I’m not so sure that the motive.. is always one of love.. ++

On the outside.. things seem very loving and compassionate..

But at the heart..

The goals.. speak of numbers.. facilities.. programs… growth barriers and expansion. ++

Because I love you, I want to be up front with you..

We have a simple goal here..

We want you to be equipped for battle.. with the full armor of God..

Not some nice, lightweight tin-foil..

Not some cardboard spray-pained silver.. ++

No way.. I want to strap that heavy.. breastplate on you..

And it might restrict your flesh..

I want to strap the big heavy helmet on your head..

And the eyes may not be able to wander like they once did..

It might make it difficult.. to look back and long for what’s behind you.. ++

I want to put that heavy shield, and the big, powerful sword in your hand..

And it’s not going to be easy, to apply your hands to idleness.. while holding those things.. ++

I want you to be equipped for the work of the ministry… the ministry that God has and is… GIVING YOU.

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that’s my call.. To see you equipped..

Because I have knowledge and discernment… I know what you’re up against. ++

Sometimes.. the enemy comes in the obvious form of.. wickedness..

But more often than not, your enemy is wearing a different.. more disarming.. more deceptive face..

You’re up against something that.. appears to be, so nice.. so gentle.. so pleasant.. so delicate..so affirming - and you ask yourself… - How could this be wrong? This feels right. The world around me is telling me, that these feelings of sympathy that I’m having, are right. How could it be wrong?

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Think about this for a moment..

Who’s name, in the OT.. meant “delicate”???

Her name.. was Delilah.. ++

A pretty little.. nice.. pleasant.. delicate girl..

And she went up against God’s judge.. who let down.. his armor.

And he was blinded.. shamed.. and bound into captivity. ++

Love does not equal open-minded-acceptance.

Love, operates.. in the realm of knowledge and discernment..

If you are to allow God’s work to happen, in you..

Then these things need to be there..

His word.. hidden..in your heart..

His Spirit.. speaking, in your listening ear.. ++

We are continually encouraged in this:

1 Corinthians 14:20 ESV

20 Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.

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Ephesians 5:17 ESV

17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

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Colossians 1:9–10 ESV

9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

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Hebrews 5:13–14 ESV

13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

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Back to Philippians… last 2 verses…

Philippians 1:10–11 ESV

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.

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Let’s retrace our logic for a moment..

Paul was burdened and prayed fervently..

Why?

He was confident that the Lord would be faithful..

Why?

Because he himself.. was a partaker, in the grace of God..

Which motivated him, to see and understand.. that there was great potential in the faithfulness.. and the grace of God for the believers in Philippi..

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And by this grace.. the work was going to be done..

What is the work?

Well.. that they abound in love..

What kind of love?

A love.. that is bridled by.. and growing in..

Knowledge.. and discernment.. ++

now.. we find out what .. a growing, abounding love will produce..

First off: “the ability.. to approve the things.. that are excellent”

another interpretation of this would be “to discern what is best.. or testing things that differ” ++

As we grow in knowledge, we will grow in our ability.. to make better decisions.. - Not according to human logic… but according to Godly wisdom and spiritual discernment. ++

Secondly.. “that you may be pure and blameless ”

this word ‘pure’ is also translated… sincere.. – this is a word that could mean “tested by sunlight”

which could mean.. we are not afraid to stand in the light. If we break the word (sincere) down, it could mean… “w/o wax”. If a clay pot was broken or chipped, they might fix it temporarily with wax and try to sell it anyways. Putting it in sunlight, would melt the wax and reveal the true nature of that thing. ++

or.. it is also translated “to whirl in a sieve”.. suggesting the idea of a winnowing process that removes chaff.. ++

In either case.. the implication.. is that we would be a people.. who don’t have a bunch of junk in our lives..

And I’m not talking about the things in our garages and your closets..

I’m talking about the baggage.. that resided.. sometimes.. in our hearts, and in our minds.. ++

Thirdly: “be filled with the fruit of righteousness” - Some translations have ‘fruits’… as plural… indicating that there are multiple fruits coming from righteousness to the believer…

- But other texts keep fruit ‘singular’ … indicating… that there is a fruit in our lives which is the direct result of God’s righteousness..

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Jesus has extended His righteousness to us.. and we don’t have to earn it, or pay for it..

By grace.. we have it freely..

however.. we may not display the fruit of righteousness.. ++

Jesus has taught us, where the fruit comes from. We are given righteousness freely… righteousness gives us access to God… with that access, we have the opportunity, to abide. If we abide… we will produce fruit.

Here’s how Jesus explains it..

Turn w/me to

John 15:4–5 ESV

4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

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If we are abiding in Christ.. there will be fruit..

Good stuff, will be produced.. in our lives. ++

Conclusion..

Folks.. I believe.. I’m confident in the faithfulness and the grace of God..

… He wants to do His work in your lives..

And for many of us.. that requires.. a change..

Away.. from existence Christianity..

Away.. from resistance Christianity..

And unto.. Acceptance Christianity.. ++

May this be true for us… as we abide in Him… as we love with truth and discernment… as we recognize and approve, what is excellent, pure and blameless. ++ ++ ++