Anything and Everything

Understanding Philippians

In other writings Paul’s Purpose was

++To Addresses problems

++To correct theological error

++To provide instruction on proper behavior

The letter to the Philippians was one of thanksgiving and appreciation.

The Philippian Church

++Supported him personally

++Help him in his mission

Paul ministry was not ordinary

He

++Could not travel

++Could not attend church

++Was limited

++Was in Prison

Anything can Happen

Life is filled with opportunities

Opportunities can be

++Positive or negative

++Good or bad

++Advance or deter

++Build up or tear down

How do we function as believers in a world torn by opposing forces?

Our text today will help us to find the key to a life of peace.

Philippians 4:1 ESV

Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.

Philippians 4:5–7 ESV

5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

He may have had the first Prison Ministry.

It was

++Not to take the Gospel into the Prison

++Not to help known violators of the law

++To help the church understand true freedom

++To help us

The theme of the book is to remind where our ultimate Joy lies.

Our ultimate Joy is Living for Christ

God is the source

++Of our hope

++Of our peace

++Of our joy

Philippians 4:1 ESV

1 Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.

Paul opens by expressing his deep affection for them

He calls them

++His brothers

++His joy

++His crown

++His beloved

He encourages them to stand firm in the Lord

Paul recognized there faithfulness

Paul reminds us of the reward of faithfulness

The work done in you

++Is the Lords work

++Is not yet completed

++Will be brought to completion

We can Live for God

2 Peter 1:3–4 ESV

3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

He give us all that we need

His power comes

++To us

++Through the knowledge of him who calls us

++To grant to us all things that pertain to life and Godliness

He calls us to abide in His promises

Promises

++That are precious

++That are exceeding

++That are great

++To bring us together with him

Isaiah 60:1–2 ESV

1 Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. 2 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.

Philippians 4:6 ESV

6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Our ultimate joy is not in our circumstances.

Do not be Anxious about anything

God knows

++What you are facing

++What you are going through

++What you need before you ask

Pray about everything

Matthew 7:7–8 ESV

7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

Don’t be afraid

++To ask

++To seek

++To knock

Philippians 1:12 ESV

12 I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel,

Philippians 1:14 ESV

14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

Our ultimate joy is not in our comfort

The life of believer is important

God’s people are marked

++By love

++By generosity

Philippians 1:9–10 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,

The key to the believer

++Is not in what they do

++Is in who they are

Before we can do we must be.

Philippians 2:14 ESV

14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing,

This is about our attitude

Do all things

++Without grumbling

++Without complaining

Attitude reveals the truth of who we are

Philippians 2:14 ESV

14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing,

Philippians 2:15 ESV

15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

Our ultimate joy is in our confidence in Christ.

Philippians 4:5 ESV

5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;

The Lord is Here

Declare it

++In what we believe

++In what we say

++What we do

Philippians 4:6–7 ESV

6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6–7 NLT

6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

We are living in the midst of it

We are in the middle

++A crooked generation

++A twisted world

We are guilty of

++Calling good evil

++Calling darkness light

Anxiety, fear and worry is no match for what God is Doing

God is

++Still on the throne

++The source of peace

When we pray about everything

++God pours out his peace

John 14:27 ESV

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

When we pray about everything

God pours out his peace

++His Peace covers anything

Job 42:2 ESV

2 “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

Job 42:10 ESV

10 And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.