Theme: Perfect the Good Work
Text: Philippians 1:1-11
Introduction to Lent:
The word 'lent' refers to Springtime or spring. Christians observe 40 days as Lent from Ash Wednesday to Easter, excluding the Sundays. Lent means give up and have self-denial for all that you love to do in your life. These days are observed as days of fasting with penitence, and self-denial by many. Denial of pleasures, desirable food items, and disciplining body, mind, and order thoughts after the manner of Christ’s teaching and lifestyle, especially with the imitation of the 40 days fast observed by Jesus Christ are the lifestyle. It is believed that it has come into practice even during the Apostolic times. However, it has come into effect from 325 AD in the council of Nicaea. These days are set apart as a time of preparation for the candidates for Baptism, confirmation, and reception. However, the importance of Lent lost its significance in 9th C AD. Nowadays, it is observed as a mere ceremonial event.
Fasting is one of the Spiritual Discipline. It must emerge out from self-initiation and not be forced on. One thing is sure the artificial, ritual, and customary prayers will not go beyond the roof of your room. The Lord, one who sees the innermost heart, and thoughts knew what to do with us when we go to him with sincere prayers and repentance. Jesus emphasized the importance of fasting prayer in Matthew 17:21 saying, ‘But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.’ There must be a reason for fasting. Here, Jesus unfolded the secret of the power and authority available for us in God through Holy Spirit. But the keys are fasting and prayer. A desperate situation demands desperate measures of intensity, earnestness, and authority for prayer with fasting. Fasting breaks the bondage of sin and loosens the hold of bad habits and their rulership over your life. Fasting opens new spiritual gifts from God because our spirit is humbled and sensitive to the leading of the Spirit of God. (ref:groupbiblestudy.com). Fasting prayer releases the spiritual power.
Introduction to the theme:
Our theme for the entire 40 days is: “Perfect the Good Work”. The Apostle Paul wrote this Epistle from Rome to the Christians in Philippi during his trial for his Gospel preaching, he was waiting to appear before Caesar in AD 61 (Acts 28:30-31). He established this Church in the continent of Europe during his second missionary journey (Acts 16:11-40 – David Guzik in Enduring word). The perfection of the Good work is depended upon but we need to cooperate with God to see it be completed perfectly.
THE SALUTATION OF PAUL (Philippians 1:1-2)
Paul writes this letter as from a friend to friends, though he was an apostle yet he claims to be the Doulos of God. “A servant is free to come and go, but a slave is a possession of his master forever”(William Barclay). Paul is addressing a community who are deeply committed to the cause of the gospel and actively share in defending and confirming the gospel. Paul expresses his confidence because he is sure that the Philippians will continue along this road. And as they do so, so also God will work powerfully in their lives to change and transform them, causing love to overflow from them (ref:workingpreacher.org).
DOULOS OF CHRIST: Paul calls himself the slave of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ bought him with a price through his precious death upon the cross (1 Corinthians 6:20), so he owes absolute obedience to Christ (Galatians 5:24), the highest titles of all is known as the slave of Christ. So, Paul took that title like the Old Testament prophets (Amos 3:7, Jeremiah 7:25, Joshua 1:2, 2:8, Psalms 78:70, Psalms 89:3, Psalms 89:20) and he humbly places himself in the succession of the prophets. The words he used for pastors are presbyters, elders of the Church (Act 20:17 ), overseers ( Act 20:28 ), and bishops (Titus 1:5) all these words are synonymous in Greek.
He salutes them with grace and peace and calls the believers at Phillip as saints(v. 1). Matthew Henry says: ‘those who are not really saints on earth, never will be saints in heaven’. Paul says that he always remember them in his prayers(v. 3), and values their partnership in preaching Gospel (v. 5). He says that he longs for all of them with affection (v. 8) and he has them in his heart (v. 7).
THE SALVATION OF ALL (Philippians 1:3-8)
GOOD WORK: It is our salvation in Christ, good work is His call and our commitment to Him. Good work is Evangelism, missions, ministry, and church planting. Good work is leading new souls to Christ. Good work is to rebuild the broken lives and families, good work is reviving the lukewarm believers in the church. Good work is purifying the corrupted system either in Christendom or in society. Good work is bringing back the glory of the Messianic work, Nazareth manifesto (Luke 4:17-21). Good work is building one another. Good work is reforming the Church's activities.
• Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God. Each exclamation is a trigger to prayer. I find myself praying for you with a glad heart. I am so pleased that you have continued in this with us, believing and proclaiming God’s Message, from the day you heard it right up to the present. There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears (MSG).
• I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus [the time of His return] (AMPC).
• I am certain that he won’t stop before it is complete (Contemporary English Version).
• I am sure, confident, persuaded, he will continue it until it is finished, completed, perfected (Expanded Bible).
• I’m fully convinced that the One who began this glorious work in you will faithfully continue the process of maturing you and will put his finishing touches to it until the unveiling of our Lord Jesus Christ! (TPT).
• I am confident that the Creator, who has begun such a great work among you, will not stop in mid-design but will keep perfecting you until the day Jesus the Anointed, our Liberating King returns to redeem the world (VOICE).
• I feel sure that the one who has begun his good work in you will go on developing it until the day of Jesus Christ (Phillips).
• Complete the good work which he has begun in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ (NIV).
These activities are known as good work, great work, and glorious work. Jesus Christ won’t stop it, he wouldn’t drop it on the way, he wouldn’t leave it in mid of the design. He would complete it, finish it and perfect it. “God not only initiates the good work of salvation but continues it and guarantees it’s consummation. From Him, through Him and to Him be the glory!” (ref:preceptaustin.org). These days of lent we must use for the perfection of the good work in us. In our self-evaluation, we know what is our weakness and strengthens before somebody points them out. Let’s sit and search our hearts on daily basis on the activities we carry in our lives. Let this lent gives us the scope of mending and amending our ways. Let’s try to please God by changing our attitudes and behaviors towards one another. Follow his footsteps.
According Spurgeon: “The work of grace has its root in the divine goodness of the Father, it is planted by the self-denying goodness of the Son, and it is daily watered by the goodness of the Holy Spirit; it springs from good and leads to good, and so is altogether good.” God never leaves any good work he has begun in us. If anything has begun with his permission and purpose, certainly it will happen. He will complete it at the end of the day.
GOOD WORK TO ALL (Philippians 1:9-11)
Love with an abundance of love, love without blemish, love with pure and holy, love with discernment and insight. There is no blind love in Christ. Abound in Love (v. 9). Love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight: Love is received from God, experienced by self, and expressed to others without bound. The grace received by a believer runs through him wherever he moves on, and with whomsoever, he converses. According to Adam Clark: “That it may be like a river, perpetually fed with rain and fresh streams so that it continues to swell and increase until it fills all its banks, and floods the adjacent plains”. It is good to think about the Character of Love and described it. Matthew Henry: ‘A small measure of Christian love, knowledge, and fruitfulness should not satisfy any’. The word knowledge refer to the doctrinal and practical truth.
Discernment (v. 10). May be Able to discern what is best, pure and blameless until the day of Christ. The process of transformation is accompanied by the sanctifying work of the Spirit of God. We are metamorphosed from a spiritual caterpillar to a spiritual butterfly (ref: www.preceptaustin.org/ Bruce Hurt). It is already underway in this life being transformed from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18). The world bombards with lies of the world, flesh, and devil but we need to discern the Truth and Triumph over them with the Word.
v. 11. May be filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God. Fruit refers to ethical behavior and right conduct character. they are fruits of the Holy Spirit. The fruit of righteousness is for the present world and present life and not for the future glory. Righteousness is our position and practice.
Conclusion: I wish and pray for all those who listen to this sermon and read it, may find the peace that passes all understanding and commit their lives to Christ to modify and continue to grow. I pray that the Lord would bless your fasting and prayers. I am sure at the end of the lent you would be in a victorious stage than the defeated state.
