Paul is the writer to the Christians at Philippi, inclusive of the saints, bishops and deacons. He writes in verse 1: ...to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons.
Philippi was a small mission church born out of a prayer meeting in Macedonia at the riverside after Paul's response to a vision in which he saw a man of Macedonia saying," come over into Macedonia and help us"., Act 19:9. and upon answering the Macedonian Call Paul did not find a synagogue, he found a band of women at the riverside holding prayer meeting.
Now Paul was in prison and had not seen the believers in Philippi for at least 2 years. This letter was sent by Pau and delivered by the hand of Epraphoditus to encourage them because false teachers had come in to discourage them telling them that their salvation would not be enough to keep them saved until Jesus returns.
Many had begun to question not only salvation but the resurrection, causing them to lose their joy. This prompted Paul to write Phil.:4:c keep your mind on whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise...think on these things.
Their faith was getting weak, the enemy had robbed them of their praise Paul said if there be any virtue (strength) they had some doubts and they needed assurance., they needed something, someone to help stir the gift in them.
Paul's letter was on time, the saints in Philippi need a "word " to encourage them, to dispel doubts, and to propel them onward in their faith to believe that everything God started in them He is able to complete it until the Day of Jesus Christ and we too as 21st century saints need this encouragement even more so today in this world, and in order for us to maintain our joy, our faith and our confidence we need to keep in mind:
1: As believers we ought to be confident and have the full assurance that the God we serve still communicates with his children. yes that's right, Paul communicated with the saints at Philippi but remember it was 2 years before they heard a word.. God will correspond with us thru His Word everyday His word. David said Psalm 119:97 O how I love thy law! it is my meditation all day, like Paul said keep your mind on things that are lovely, things true, things honest. our Heavenly Father still communicates with us, just as He was in touch with Noah, Abraham , Moses, He will make Himself, His Word, His Will and His ways known unto us. Jesus reassured the disciples that when He went away that He would not leave them comfortless, John 14:18a. But we must have a continual relationship with him and we can do that by communing with the Father and the Son by prayer. Did not Jesus teach us in the priestly prayer as He prayed to the Father, John 17:21-24That they all may be one, as thou Father art in me and I in them that they also may be one in us, 22b that they may be one, even as we are one, 23. I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one. Blessed be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love, the fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above. What a fellowship what a joy divine leaning on the everlasting arm.
2: We ought to be confident and have the blessed assurance that our Grace, and Peace comes from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. It is because God's grace is His favor. His love, His Kindness, His mercy, oh... church if it wasn't for His grace and His mercy where would we be? , His help, His goodness Somebody said when I think of the goodness of Jesus and all that He has done for me my soul cries out Halleujah I thank God for saving me! ,
His love His love is deeper than the ocean as Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus 3.18-19 that he wanted them to understand with all the saints the measure of his love and to know the love of Christ that passes knowledge. ,
His peace is our peace, that peace that the world didn't give and the world cannot take it away
His joy is our Joy, Joy unspeakable James 1:17 writes to the church and reminds them that every good and perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father, His love is deeper than the ocean as Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus 3.18-19 that he wanted them to understand with all the saints the measure of his love and to know the love of Christ that passes knowledge.
3: We can be confident, sure and certain someone is praying for us: Paul wrote to the church and said to them I call on God for you. Paul let them know that He thanks God for them when he remembered them in prayer. Isn't it good to know someone is praying for you. Paul said not only do I remember and thank God but I do it wit joy, I pray bout your needs. Hear Paul as he writes v 4: always in every prayer of mine making request with joy for your fellowship in the gospel. when is the last time you prayed for fellow believers in the gospel? The song writer wrote Somebody prayed for me, they had me on their mind they took the time and prayed for me, I' glad they prayed, so glad they prayed, I'm soo glad they prayed for me. Jesus reminds us in his word Luke's gospel we ought always pray and faint not, remember James gives us incentive to pray and pray right for he said the prayers of the righteous avail much. Jesus' prayer was for His disciples then and now in John 17 He prays to the Father to: sanctify them in thy truth. Father keep them, Father give them joy, Father make them one, Father be with them. Are you glad Jesus prayed for us?
4: As believers we have to be sure of that Jesus will complete what He started in us: He is Alpha...and Omega, the Beginning and the Ending, which is, and which was and which is to come...the Almighty... that's what he told John, Rev. 18 He never leaves anything undone. Our salvation is complete He said It is finished on the cross John19.30c, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit luke 23.40c, on the cross of Calvary my savior died for you and me, ot the blood the precious bloodwa shed. It was a complete sacrifice for your sins and my sins Heb. 10.12 But this man after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God, heb.9.132 neither by the blood of bulls and goats, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
5. We can be certain and sure He's coming back again: the angel told the disciple acts 1.11 This same Jesus who has gone in the cloud is coming back in like manner. Paul even in prison and may have needed encouragement himself,had a word to comfort the
saints. Paul in essence was saying to the saints get your eyes off your current situation, get your mind off your current situation. Don't be distracted by what's going on in the world as John wrote to the church 1 John2.15-17: love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof, but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever. He's coming back as he said to carry us home. Brethren forget those things which are behind, and reach forth unto those things which ae before and press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, for I am confident, certain and sure of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Christ. He is going to return and carry us to a better place where no storm clouds rise, no more tears in the eyes, no night in the land of the uncloudy day, a place where ther is no sickness, no pain, no more death, where we will never grow old, and where the streets are paved with gold. I am confident and I am sure, are You sure??...Well you can be sure today that you are savedd, you have grace, you have peace, you can be sure your prayers are heard and answered, and that the Lord Jesus Christ will complete everything He has started in you. He Is Coming Back.
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