I. INTRODUCTION
Philippians was written by Paul somewhere believed to be AD 61/2. He was in prison at the time either in Ephesus or Rome. The Philippian church had heard of his imprisonment and sent Epaphroditus, who may have actually been their pastor, to bring a financial gift to him to help him during this time of imprisonment.
Philippians is a small church whose beginning is described back in Acts 16. Paul, Silas, Timothy, and Luke had begun a trip to start new churches as well as strengthen others and as they began to move into an area of Asia they were blocked. We don’t know how but we are told that nothing was working.
One night in a vision, Paul saw a man pleading for his team to come to Macedonia and help them. His team immediately set sail and arrived at Philippi.
Acts 16 will tell you the story of some of the church’s first members. One being Lydia who was a business woman selling expensive cloth. Another was the jailor who had charge of Paul and Silas after being thrown in prison on false charges. In prison, rather than focusing on their problems, Paul and Silas began to sing and praise God.
God in hearing their prayers brought an earthquake that opened the doors of the jail and broke the chains on their feet and arms. Instead of running Paul and Silas remained along with other prisoners. The jailer was so moved by God working in their lives that he asked for salvation.
So with this small group along with others a new church was birthed. Paul, now in another jail at another time and after receiving their gift now sends Epaphroditus back to them with this letter of joy to the church.
Throughout the book, there are many challenges given to the church but all throughout Philippians we see one central theme and that being “living the Christian life”. In this thank you note, he uses the occasion to send along some instructions on Christian unity.
The work begun at Philippi is a special work for it is a God work. Paul is encouraging the new believers to STAND FAST. Be on guard. Any place God is at work is also a place where Satan gives his most attention.
Satan doesn’t need to go after the life of a dead church. He doesn’t need to give attention to any church that is just going through the motions. But when the people come together and strive to make a difference, you can bet he will do all he can to bring division. We will even see this in this letter and Paul is encouraging the new believers to remain focused.
We must do the same. Do you believe God is at work here at New Horizons? I do. And the more we do to love God and each other, the more Satan will do to stop that work. We must remain focused. Paul exhorts the church to “stand fast, be of the same mind, rejoice in the Lord always, but also to pray and remain close to God.”
II. CHAPTER 1:1-11
A. THE GREETING (1-3)
Philip. 1:1-2 (NKJV) Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ,
To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
1. Paul and Timothy are described as BOND SERVANTS of Jesus Christ. What does it mean to be a servant of Christ?
2. SERVENTS literally meant to be a slave of Christ. Upon accepting Jesus as Savior, we have committed to live the life of a repentant life to have turned from sin and self to Christ.
Meaning here is: one that serves others; especially : one that performs duties about the person or home of a master in this case Jesus Christ.
This describes a life of getting off the throne.
Jesus Himself set the example: Someone look up Matt. 20:27-28
And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave-- [28] just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."
Jesus Himself set the standard – Matt 18:3-4 Matthew 18:3-4 (NKJV) "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. [4] Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
2 thoughts: 1st as a child obeys, respects, and love his parents so are we to do the same to the Father. 2nd – As a child, we are to learn a new way of life, giving up control.
3. Letter Addressed: To all the Saints, bishops and deacons:
Saints – Was Paul saying that the church members were sinless? The greek word “hagioi” means “Those Set Apart”. The saints at Philippi were set apart for God.
Bishops or overseers were also called “elders” and were responsible for shepherding or pasturing the flock – such as a pastor.
Deacons were those church leaders who had special service responsibilities and not that of a board. Man made deacons a governing board not God. Acts 6 describes the beginning of the term deacon. The disciples – the ministers of the church were unable to pray and study and teach the word of God because of time. Vs. 2 of Acts 6: it is not desirable that we should leave the Word of God and serve tables”.
They found 7 men to take care of the people – They were Godly men as they would have need of counseling and caring for their members. But they were not a governing board.
[2] Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul calls for grace and peace from God and Jesus. The order in which he used them is significant. Before there can be any genuine peace there must be a personal response to God’s grace. Both grace and peace find their source in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
What Paul has shown in his introduction is that we all – pastor, leader, church member – all of us – are called as a saint – we are set apart from the world and consecrated to God to serve Christ by serving others. We are set apart for His acts of service and not that of our own satisfaction. The church is not for us – We are for the church. If we would really grab this thought, then there would be no more church division, no more quarrels, no more lack of works, - but instead a unit or a family that is bent or committed to caring for each other.
B. PAUL’S PRAYER ON THEIR BEHALF – Vs. 3-6
Paul shares a prayer that he prays for the church. And we see 4 requests that he makes every time he remembers them.
1. Prayer of Thanksgiving (Vs. 3- 4)
Philip. 1:3-4 (NKJV)
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, [4] always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy,
“I thank my God of you” WHY? We should all be thankful of those God has entrusted into our care. Family, fellow workers, fellow members.
Vs. 3 is also a charge to leaders. A reminder to not only pastors but also to SS Teachers, CARE Group Leaders, Women’s Ministry Leaders, - every leader of the church. It is our responsibility, and privilege, to not only lead those God has placed in our care, but also that we pray and seek God’s involvement in their lives.
2. Prayer Making Requests with Joy (4b)! Paul goes to God on their behalf and with joy! It’s a privilege to pray for others. We know the beauty of God working in and through our lives and as leaders we are to pray the same for those in our care.
Notice another prayer that Paul prayed for the church of Ephesus.
Eph 1:15-16,17-19 “Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, [16] do not cease (we must pray at all times for those in our care) to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: [17] that (what he prays) the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation (in the knowledge of Him), [18] (that) the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, (you may know) what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, [19] and (that you may know) what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power
As leaders we are to pray for wisdom in the lives of those we teach; that there is understanding and growth, that there is a recognition of his calling as well as the blessings of His involvement through the greatness of his power.
3. Prayer Asking For Fellowship in the gospel – Vs. 5
Philip. 1:5 (NKJV) “for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now,”
When we think of fellowship – what do we think of?
To actually see what Paul is describing here, turn to:
Rom. 12:13 (someone to read) “distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.”
Of saints with one another, in duties; in ordinances; in grace, love, joy. Through that of mutual interest, spiritual and temporal; in sufferings and in glory.
4. Prayer For Christ to work in their lives. Vs. 6 –
Philip. 1:6 (NKJV) “ being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;”
Paul is confident knowing how Christ has worked in his life.
His confidence now was that that what God has begun in the birth of the new church would continue until the day of Christ.
1. Do you feel God has begun a work in this church? How?
2. How do you anticipate God to continue that work?
3. Do you realize that God has also begun a good work in your life and if you are willing, he will continue to work to complete it.
What is so special of this prayer of joy offered by Paul is this. Paul, a prisoner in chains, in the middle of trial and suffering sees joy in the opportunity to seek God on their behalf. Instead of asking and pleading with God to remove his suffering and trial, he prays for the church (that was begun some 10 years earlier and was more than 800 miles away) would continue to love and care for those entrusted in their care as well as see God work in their lives.
If ever there is an example of being in focus and in tune with the love of God – this is it. Oh what an example for us to follow!
C. A MOMENT OF PRAISE – Vs. 7-8
Paul pauses from his prayer and offers a praise on their behalf. Notice vs. 7-8
PRAISE FOR THEIR CONCERN IN THE GOSPEL
Philip. 1:7-8 (NKJV)
just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace. [8] For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.
It did not matter whether Paul was under arrest in chains or free to defend and confirm the gospel, his friends shared with him in what God was doing through him. That work primarily was sharing the gospel. Paul was so proud of them for concern that his ministry continued to flourish and he paused to thank them.
We too should always take the time to stop and thank those that care and lead us. Take time to recognize your CARE leader or SS Teacher. In fact lets do that:
Scott – Sunday School Judy – Sunday School children. Matt – has up until the last few weeks leading youth on Wed. nights. Jay – Now beginning a new youth study on Wednesday and Sunday mornings; Diane leading our children; Debbie our women; Amanda, Rob, Drew and Michael for leading our worhip team; Scott, Jay, myself and Ron for leading our new CARE ministry.
Church we have a lot also to be thankful for. Take the time to notice.
D. PRAYER FOR GROWTH – Vs. 9-11
Paul now, after pausing to thank and praise the church for their love, returns to his prayer for the church and in vs. 9-11 asks for 3 things:
1. Love to abound in knowledge and discernment. Notice 9
Philip. 1:9 (NKJV)
And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment,
Paul wanted their love for each other to grow and abound: How was their love to abound?
a. In Knowledge (epignosis) of God. How?
b. Discern
1 a : to detect with the eyes b : to detect with senses other than vision
2 : to recognize or identify as separate and distinct
3 : to come to know or recognize mentally
Depth of Insight into His ways that would enable the church to love God and others more.
2. That they live the life of a true Christian.
Philip. 1:10 (NKJV) that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,
a. That you may approve the things that are excellent. That they would discern what is best. – Wisdom.
Someone read: James 1:5-8 (NKJV) If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. [6] But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. [7] For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; [8] he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
Now James was talking about wisdom of trials but it applies as well to wisdom in life. I ask God all the time for the right wisdom to understand a passage; the wisdom to see His plan for our church; the wisdom to clearly see our vision; and on and on.
But in asking, I must believe God will grant what I ask.
b. without offense till the day of Christ
To be pure and blameless – to pass the testing that will come before them. We will see some of those tests in the book.
We too must pray for the same. Wisdom in understanding and knowledge and discernment. Diligence and sincere love through our service through the church.
3. For the Fruit of Righteousness
Philip. 1:11 (NKJV) “ being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”
Paul closes this prayer by praying that the belivers would be filled with fruits of righteousness. A righteous stand before God, resulting from being clothed in Christ’s righteousness, a stand set out to produce fruit for God.
The development of our inner qualities should become evident to others. The fruit of the Spirit that comes through J.C. for it is really His life lived out through the believers.
Is their evidence of such fruit in your life? Can others see that God has begun a great work in you? If not, why not? What would others say about you?
Time Permits – Ask for an epitaph.
