Philippians Pt 1- To Live is Christ
Introduction
Series- Philippians- letter written to church at Philippi.
Paul- founded- church- written 10 years later- in prison.
Story of Paul in Philippi- Act 16:9-12
Philippi- Roman colony in Macedonia- veteran soldiers relocated- very proud of their Roman citizenship.
Paul wants us to be proud of their heavenly citizenship.
Phil 3:20
Paul wants us to understand who we are as Christians.
Chapter 1
V1-2
Bond-servant- originally lowest class of slavery- came to mean- one who gives himself to the will of another.
Rom 6:17–18 (NASB) 17But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, 18and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
Paul was formerly an unwilling slave of Satan, now having been bought by Christ-willing servant of God.
1 Cor 6:20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
We are all servants in this life- we serve- devil/God.
Mat 6:24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.
As long as the two masters walk together you can follow both of them, but when they part company,
you must decide to which one you truly belong.
V2
Saint- holiness- those set apart for God-
1 Peter 2:9–10
We can refuse to walk in God’s calling for us as saints.
V3-5
Joy- major theme in Philippians- gladness, delight-
Neh 8:10 (NASB95) ... Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Secret of joy- understanding importance of praise-
Psa 108:1-5, 12-13
Praise releases peace and joy in the human heart.
Participation- fellowship- much more than eating/having fun together- partners, united together, community.
Being united together in serving God, laboring together-
Philippian church had partnered together w/Paul.
V6
God does not abandon what He has started.
Confident- statement of faith in a supernatural God who can keep us through all situations for his purposes.
Key- a heart yielded to God- not fighting His purposes.
V7-8
Partners together- called to walk/rejoice/suffer together.
1 Cor 12:20 (NASB) 0But now there are many members, but one body.
1 Cor 12:26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
V9-11
Apostolic prayer- memorize, pray over self, others.
Love- specific type- one with knowledge/discernment-
if we love- particular subject, we learn about it,
if we love a person, we want to learn about them,
if we love Jesus, we will want to learn about Him.
Love is the way to true knowledge- truth w/o love kills.
Christians are known for eating their dead.
You may not agree w/another believer-
their theology or methodology, or
perhaps they have fallen in sin/error,
but you better treat them w/honor/respect because they are covenant brothers.
Approve- to distinguish- truth vs error, good vs evil, priorities- what is really important.
Approve- regard as worthy those things important to God, to judge them as good.
V12-17
God used Paul’s suffering- further- work of the Gospel.
He understands- God uses difficulties for His purposes?
Rom 8:28 (NASB95) And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
All that mattered- God’s Kingdom was being advanced.
What does the Gospel mean to you? Are you willing to-
suffer inconvenience/hardship-Gospel to prosper?
V18-20
Again we see the theme of joy.
Psa 33:1 (NASB) Sing for joy in the Lord, O you righteous ones; Praise is becoming to the upright.
Paul saw two things w/regard to his deliverance- prayers of others, confidence in God’s provision.
Paul is saying- if I effectively seize the opportunity in my situation, Christ will be glorified in me.
Paul’s approach to life was to see it against eternity- I am a bond-servant- how can I cooperate w/God?
V21-24
For me, to live is ___________ to die is ____________
money -- leave it all behind
fame -- to be forgotten
pleasure -- to lose it all
Christ -- gain
For Paul, to die was to die for the cause of Jesus Christ.
Too often salvation for a Christian is waiting until I die so I can go to heaven and live forever with God.
Paul says, whether I live or die, I live for Christ.
For Paul- from- time of his Damascus road experience-
Christ was the beginning of his life,
the continuing of his life,
the end of his life, and the reward of his life.
For Paul, death was a moving on.
During Britain’s war w/Germany, there was a time when the Royal Air Force stood between Britain and destruction. The lives of the pilots were being spent sacrificially to save Britain. They never spoke of a pilot as having been killed, but “posted to another station.”
Paul saw his life here on earth as having a greater purpose than fulfilling his own dreams or pleasures.
He wanted to be-asset to others/help them in their walk.
V25-26
Paul’s desire to live was not for himself, but to stand along side of others and be a help to them.
Christian joy comes from having a Christ-centered mind.
Many are obsessed to find happiness- get frustrated.
The problem is that we search for happiness rather than the thing that creates happiness.
Paul sought to live for Christ- in this- found happiness.
Happiness is a by-product that comes to us as we occupy our lives with seeking and serving the Lord.
27-28
Again- people were well aware that they were Roman citizens with all the privileges and responsibilities.
Conduct yourself like one who is a citizen of heaven.
Two things Paul expects of citizens of heaven-
1. Stand firm (fast)- persevere, steadfast
Too many Christian’s today are in retreat- we are not called to retreat, but advance.
1 Cor 16:13 (NASB) Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
2. Striving together
Labor together, struggle together, work together,
We are saved individually, but- called to walk together.
Paul expects a certain attitude of inconquerability, even when the circumstances seem impossible.
Rom 8:37 (NASB) But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.
V29-30
Believe- called to absolute faith/confidence in God.
Suffer- experience hardships, difficulties, to serve God.
