JOY IN CHRIST-CENTERED RELATIONSHIPS: Philippians 1:1-11

Philippians 1:1–11 ESV

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with 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 in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 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. 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. For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Introduction: We begin a new study this morning of Paul’s letter to the Philippian Church. This letter has many well known, often quoted verses:

“For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (1:21)

“so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (2:10-11)

“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (4:13)

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” (4:4)

But as the authors of the Cradle, the Cross, and the Crown state, “…this ‘bits and pieces’ approach to Philippians does justice neither to the depth of the letter nor to Paul’s overall purpose for writing.” (560) Our goal as we study this epistle is do so the way Paul intended it to be read and understood.

It is interesting considering the current discussion of Judge Amy Coney Barrett. She refers to herself as an “originalist” when it comes to interpreting the Constitution of the United States. Judge Barrett, when asked by Senator Graham to define originalism, stated,

“‘In English that means that I interpret the Constitution as a law, and that I interpret its text as text, and I understand it to have the meaning that it had at the time people ratified it. So that meaning doesn’t change over time and it’s not up to me to update it or infuse my own policy views into it.”

What Judge Barrett views in regards to the Constitution is how Christians should read, interpret, and apply the Bible. We read the Bible as literature (i.e., narratives, history, letters, poetry), interpret it as the authors intended, and then apply that intended meaning to ourselves today.

Paul wrote a letter to the saints, bishops (overseers), and deacons of Philippi. We learn about the founding of this church in Acts chapter 16. At the beginning of the chapter, we learn of Paul’s recruitment of Timothy, a young man who would be greatly used by God in future ministry.

Paul and his companions (including Luke) wanted to go to Asia to preach the Gospel, but Holy Spirit prevented them from going. Instead, the Holy Spirit led them to Macedonia (i.e., Europe), and Paul and his group headed that way, going first to Samothrace and then to Neapolis, finally arriving at Philippi, which Luke describes as “a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony.” (16:12)

Paul gathered with the small Jewish community gathered by the river and preached the Gospel. Lydia, a wealth and successful lady, is gloriously saved and the Church of Philippi (the church to whom our letter is written) was born. While there, Paul and Silas (remains at the focus) exorcise a demon from a fortune-telling young girl, they are beaten and imprisoned. You may recall the famous account of their singing, the earthquake, and then salvation of the Philippian jailer and his household, and the church increases. After being released, Paul checks up on the earth and then departs. He returned for a brief visit in Acts 20:1-6.

It was later in the book of Acts, chapter 28 to be specific, while Paul was imprisoned, that he penned this letter we have before us. This is key to our understanding and appreciation of this letter. For we see the theme of joy found throughout this epistle.

As we think about joy, we may picture many things in our minds. The joy that comes across a child’s face on Christmas morning when the boy finally gets that bike he has wanted. We may picture the joy of the young couple of just became engaged. We may view joy when one wakes up after a complete night of rest!

The joys we see in everyday life are meant to point us to a higher joy, a Joy in Christ. Paul, while in prison, writes this letter that provides information, encouragement, and some warnings, focuses on joy. This is the same apostle who, after receiving a brutal beating, sang praises to God at midnight in Acts 16:25.

Paul had joy in Christ and nothing could take that away: ministry difficulties, personal attacks, spiritual warfare, or even imprisonment.

In Paul’s letter to the Philippian believers, he tells us about Joy in Christ throughout a variety of issues. Our text this morning covers Joy in Christ-Centered Relationships.

We know that this letter comes from Paul and Timothy, servants of the Lord Jesus Christ, and written to the saints of Philippi (we are the saints of Gray Court) and their overseers (i.e., bishops, pastors) and deacons (i.e, the leadership of the Church). And knowing that these letters were meant to be read to all (Col. 4:16), we read it today as for us.

Joy In Christ-Centered Relationships

I. Christ-Centered Relationships Bring Joy-Philippians 1:3-7

Philippians 1:3-7

Philippians 1:3–7 ESV

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

Paul begins this letter on a happy and encouraging note. He is praising God for these coworkers of his, these dear people to his ministry. He remembers their love and care for him, and thus prays for them with joy. Their relationship with the apostle Paul centered on Christ, but it brought joy to Paul!

We see first that true joy in relationships stems from a focus on Christ. Notice Paul’s language here: I thank my God…every prayer...making my prayer with joy…your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.

This language demonstrates the Christ-centeredness of their relationship, and the result was joy, on behalf of Paul and the Philippian believers.

A. Paul’s thankful remembrance- 1:3

Would you like to have joy in your relationships with others? Then make them Christ-centered. You see, every time the apostle Paul remembered the saints of Philippi he thanked God. He loved them! Their friendship gave him great joy. And think of our own church. When I think of you, I have great joy! I thank God for you dear people. Christ-centered relationships, those relationships that are built upon and strengthened by the Lord Jesus Christ, bring joy-filled thankfulness.

B. Paul’s joy-filled prayer- 1:4

We see this joy move from Paul’s thankful remembrance to Paul’s prayer. I want you to consider that thought for a moment. When people pray for you, do they pray with joy? These brothers and sisters were focused on Jesus Christ and therefore Paul could pray for them with joy.

When our lives are focused on Christ, we relieve the prayer life of others. Have you ever thought about that? Take, for example, an individual fully committed to God. They may be experiencing a difficult time, so we pray for them. We pray for their trial, but we do not have to pray that they would turn to God because they are already serving him!

Would you have others pray for you with joy? Then live with Christ, a thought which we will discuss further as we make our way through this letter.

C. Paul’s faithful partners- 1:5

Paul’s joyful thanksgiving and joy-filled prayer are both based on his faithful partners. He says, “because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.”

This calls back to the founding of the Church in Acts 16, but we need to note that they had remained faithful. God established that Church sometime between AD 49-52, and he is writing this letter around AD 62. That is a period of about 10 years.

For 10 years the Philippian believers were faithfully pursuing Christ and the gospel ministry. This stretch of faithfulness no doubt included some personal failures by these saints in Philippi. But they persevered, and this faithful partnership brought Paul joy!

Consider your own faithfulness (or lack thereof), and think of the people you encourage. In fact, this is one of the points the author of Hebrews makes in Hebrews 10:24-25,

Hebrews 10:24–25 ESV

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

By gathering together, the people would encourage one another. It would bring joy to them, and so the faithfulness of the people of Philippi brought joy to the apostle Paul, and all of it centered in Christ. This reference from Hebrews provides a nice segue into the next two verses.

D. Paul’s confident expectation- 1:6

This encouragement was based on their relationship with Christ, but it looked from the past and present into the future. Paul was confident, he was persuaded, that the work of Christ would be finished.

This is an important aspect of the Christian life, particularly as it relates to our joy in Christ, so I want to take a few minutes to develop this thought further.

What Paul is referring to in this verse involves our sanctification.

Sanctification is the process whereby believers are made into the image of Christ, beginning in this life and completed in the next (also known as glorification).

When God saves us, He begins a work in us, that is to say, the process of sanctification (or Christlikeness) starts the moment He saves us and continues on for the rest of our earthly lives.

The London Baptist Confession of Faith provides a helpful paragraph for our consideration.

“In which war, although the remaining corruption for a time may much prevail, yet through the continual supply of strength from the sanctifying Spirit of Christ, the regenerate part doth overcome; and so the saints grow in grace, perfecting holiness in the fear of God, pressing after an heavenly life, in evangelical obedience to all the commands which Christ as Head and King, in His Word hath prescribed them.” 2LBC 13:3

What Paul is confident in is the work of Christ in the believer’s life! Brothers and sisters, is this not an encouraging thought? Does it not cause us to swell with joy? As we consider our own growth in Christlikeness, as well as one another’s, we must remember that the work of God will be completed. We will, if we are children of God indeed, be like Jesus Christ. The promises of Romans 8:28-29 and 1 John 3:2 will be fulfilled. We may look across the pew and think, “They will never be like Christ!” This is not a Christ-centered relationship. That sort of thought demeans both the work of Christ in their life as well as the power of God to transform us.

Are you finding the work of God in your own sanctification slow and gruesome? We will discuss ways in which you can work with God throughout this process, but trust the words of God that He will finish His work! And let that thought bring you joy!

E. Paul’s emotional response- 1:7

Paul provides a glimpse into the heart and mind of a minister of the gospel. He had a deep love for these people, and it was because of their relationship to Christ.

Their love for Christ was demonstrated, Paul tells us, in two ways: their partaking of grace with Paul in his imprisonment and in his defense and confirmation of the gospel. They stood by the apostle Paul faithfully, whether he was defending the gospel or enduring persecution.

Paul dearly loved these believers, and it brought him incredible joy. Can I say that I feel the same about you all? It has been a tremendous joy to me personally and to our family to be here. Your love for the Lord and our family increases our joy.

The relationship that Paul had with the Philippian believers brought mutual joy. The reason it brought joy was the fact that it was so Christ-Centered. Now, before we move on to our next point I want to mention that Paul, in the course of this letter, will flesh out this thought of Christ-centeredness in more detail. But for now, he discusses it in relation to two focuses...

II. Christ-Centered Relationships Focus on Spiritual Growth and God’s Glory- 1:8-11

Philippians 1:8-11

Philippians 1:8–11 ESV

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

Christ-centered relationships that bring joy do so because they focus on spiritual growth and God’s glory. I use the term spiritual growth as a summary of Paul’s thoughts contained in his prayer.

Paul’s prayer for spiritual growth- 1:9

Paul prays, in a deep and loving way, for the Philippians’ spiritual growth. Now, I am sure that many different things come into our minds when we hear the term spiritual growth. Paul, however, describes his pray in detail, which should dissolve any confusion on our part.

A. Paul’s prayer addressed their love

They had demonstrated their love in verses 5 and 7. They stayed faithful and ministered to Paul in his imprisonment and defence of the gospel. Paul’s prayer was that their love would “abound more and more.”

He wanted their love to increase in both scope and intensity. This is my prayer for us, that we would grow in love. It is, after all, the aspect from which others can tell if we follow Jesus Christ (John 13:35).

We need to pray for one another, and focus our own energies into growing in love.

B. Paul’s prayer aimed at development

While Paul prayed for an increase in love, he further clarified his prayer with two phrases, with knowledge and all discernment. Paul wanted their love to grow (more and more) but he wanted their love to grow specifically. Like a gardener who works the vine to grow where he chooses, the apostle focuses his prayer for a specific trajectory for growth.

He asks that their love would abound with knowledge. This refers to a personal and innate knowledge. He did not pray for a hippie-type love, but a love that grew from knowledge. Think of a child and a parent. A parent loves their child because they know them. Their love is demonstrated in a variety of ways, including the providing of the necessities of life, the giving of gifts, and the administration of discipline. Their love is love with knowledge.

But closely aligned with this is a prayer for love with discernment. He wanted them to have a discerning love, a love that is wise (to borrow a biblical term).

We can love people in an unwise way. When we help the poor, we can do so in unhelpful ways. Paul, wanting their love to increase, asked that they would also have knowledge and discernment with which to demonstrate their love.

C. Paul’s prayer has purpose

What was Paul’s purpose in praying for the believers’ spiritual growth? It was two fold: as Hellerman puts it, “to make the best possible choices and to be the best possible people.” Or, to put it another way, to make Christlike decisions and to display Christlike character. Christlike relationships focus on spiritual growth, and this growth is found in our ability to think and behave like Christ. Paul says later in this epistle, “Have this mind among yourselves,” referring to the mind of Christ. He will say later in chapter one, “Let you manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ.”

When we focus on spiritual growth, it changes the way we think and act. There is so much Scripture that demonstrates this truth, but Paul prays with a purpose.

Do we pray for others with these purposes? As you are listening to the preaching of God’s Word, do you pray for yourself and others? Christ-centered relationships focus on this.

But Paul also writes, “filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ.” He prayed that they would be filled with fruit. Or, in other words, that they would be fruitful.

Our goal is to change the way we think and act, and this produces fruit, all of which is centered in Christ. That is, the way we achieve Christlike thought, action, and fruitfulness comes through (or, by the means of) Jesus Christ. To put it in the words of Christ, John 15:1-5

John 15:1–5 ESV

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 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. 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.

All of this aims at the ultimate goal of glorifying God. Do you see how Christ-centered these relationships are? Paul and the Philippians are saturated with Jesus Christ, and as a result their relationships brought true joy, joy that transcended the difficulties of prison life, the unpopular religious views they held, or their own personal failures.

CONCLUSION

Would you have this joy? Then develop and cultivate your own Christ-centeredness. Pray for your brothers and sisters that they would become and grow in their Christ-centeredness.

Simply walk through this passage and pray for yourself and the Church. That is the application for us today. And, as we do these things, we will have joy.