<>< <>< "An Introduction to the Book of Philippians:"
<>< <>< Scripture Reference: Philippians 1: 1-
’Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons."
Introduction:
1:) The apostle Paul wrote 13 of the 27 books of the New Testament. He wrote 14 books if we include the book of Hebrews. Although Hebrews does not begin with the usual greetings that is found in the other epistles of Paul, many theologians believe that Paul did indeed write the book of Hebrews. In either case, 13 books or 14 books, he wrote one half of the New Testament. Of all the letters Paul wrote to the various churches, this letter to "the saints at Philippi" is the most personal and revealing of Paul’s personality. It reveals the heart and soul of this great soldier of the cross. Philippians has often been referred to as:"THE SWEETEST BOOK of the NEW TESTAMENT." It can be compared to the Old Testament book of RUTH. In Philippians we see a more loving, tender, compassionate side of the apostle. Paul in this letter is NOT ADDRESSING PROBLEMS OR DISTURBING ISSUES OR DIVISIONS within the Philippian church. No local church is perfect and they all have their own individual problems --- but --- Paul does not mention anything negative here in this letter that demands his urgent attention. He is not attempting to solve or straighten out disruptions, Paul is just simply writting and sharing with them how much he loves them and how much he thinks about them and how that when his mind does turn to them, it causes a JOY to begin to "bubble up" within him. They were dear and precious to Paul. This local church was "THE CROWNING WORK" of Paul’s ministry. There was a bond that existed between Paul and these saints of the church there in Philippi.
2:) BACKGROUND OF THE PHILIPPIAN CHURCH:
Remember when Paul was converted on his way to
persecute the saints in Damascus, Christ told
him that he was "a chosen vessel" sent to spread
the gospel message unto the Gentiles. And Paul
becomes the great missionary that carries the
message of Jesus Christ into many parts of the
world. We find here in the 16th chapter of Acts
that Paul’s 1st church he sets in order in his
response to the Macedonian call is this local
church in Philippi.
Let us turn to the book of Acts, chapter #16:
In verse # 09 Paul received a vision in the night of a man praying, and saying, "Come over into Macedonia and help us." In verse #10 -- we are told they immediately set sail to go into Macedonia "assured that the Lord had called them to go and preach the gospel there."
They eventually arrived in Philippi, a chief city of that part of Macedonia. Philippi was a major sea port city --- a major trade route --- sometimes called "The Little Rome."
A:) God is at WORK:
There evidently was not a synagogue in Philippi. (Requirements for a local synagogue was to have 12 Jewish men in that area -- so there must not have been that many Jewish men in Philippi) Paul was accustomed to going to the synagogue on the Sabbath but here he goes down to the river to mediatate and pray and be alone with the Lord. There by the riverside were some women and Paul began to witness to them about Jesus. One of the women was named LYDIA, a prosperous merchant who sold purple linen. She was a worshipper of God. As she opened up her heart and heard Paul sharing his faith and his experience in Christ, she also became a BELIEVER and she was baptized, along with her household. She even opened up her home to Paul and Silas and Timothy.
B:) SATAN is at WORK:
Just as sure as God was at work in Philippi,Satan had to show up as well. He cannot stand to see the work of the Lord reach out and touch people’s lives without him trying to bring it to a halt. Beginning with V#16 of the same chapter, (#16) a young girl with a spirit of divination began to follow Paul, Silas, & Timothy crying out loud, "These men are the servants of the most high God which show us the way of salvation." And she did this for many days. (V#16,17,18) What she said was true but she was sent by Satan to disrupt the work of God. She was not in the Holy Spirit doing this. She was still possessed with her evil spirits, but she wanted the people to think that she was agreeing with these men of God. Paul had all he could take of her and in V#18 he turned to her evil spirit and commanded "I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And he came out the same hour. PRAISE GOD!
Folks, Listen, we do not have to be tormented by Satan. Jesus gave us overcoming, victorious power over every evil and unclean spirit. "Greater is HE that is IN US, than he that is in the world." ( I John 4:4b)
When her masters discovered that the evil spirit of divination (fortune telling) had departed from her and they could no longer use her to make money for them, they began to speak evil against these men of God, stirring up the people of Philippi with their lies. SATAN HAD A BLOW AGAINST HIM BUT NOW HE IS STRIKING BACK... ("Don’t expect Satan to give up easily... he wants to really find out if you are serious about living wholeheartedly for Jesus or not.)
Paul and Silas were evidently brought before the magistrates and were accused of speaking evil against the Roman laws. A multitude rose up against them and tore off their clothes and they were beated severely and then cast into prison with their feet fastened in stocks. (Satan’s way of stopping the gospel; but it did not work!The gospel is destined to go forth and to keep changing the lives of men and women, boys and girls!)
Beginning with V#25 we find the familiar story of Paul and Silas thrown into prison.Most people who had gone through what these men of God has just gone through would be licking their stripes and complaining of their pains. But not Paul and Silas! At midnight they began to pray and sing praises unto the Lord. To those who do not know Christ, and to many who profess also to know Christ) this sounds so absurd; singing praises unto God after just being beaten severely for standing up for Christ. God heard their prayers and their worship songs and He sent an earthquake and it shook the prison so badly, the doors of the prison were opened and the chains and stocks were loosened not only from these men of God but also to every prison inside. (WHEN WE WORSHIP GOD FROM THE HEART, FROM DEEP WITHIN, IT HAS AN EFFECT UPON THOSE AROUND YOU....People about us are always watching and observing how we react in the times when we are being tested and tried by the enemy!) "AMEN" Real, sincere "WORSHIP" has the ability to loose our bonds from us, setting us free. "Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." What sort of witness are we when faced with trials and tests? Paul and Silas’reaction to their beating and to their imprisonment would be noticed by the men inside the prison with them.
I like to think this is what happened. The Scriptures tell us that Heaven is God’s throne and that the earth is God’s footstool. So as Paul and Silas began to sing praises, God began to tap His foot and the earth, His footstool, began to shake and that was the earthquake that loosened the bonds.
C:) GOD is at WORK AGAIN:
When God is in a thing --- there are not enough demons in hell that can prevent God from working His Divine Will. That’s a DIVINE TRUTH church we need to grasp and hang onto today!! "AMEN"
The jail keeper thought surely every prisoner would escape and his life would be required of him for allowing it to take place but as he took out his sword to take his own life, Paul stopped him and assured him that none would escape. In the darkness of the night, he came before Paul and Silas, trembling, asking, "What must I do to be saved?" Paul and Silas told him (V#31) "BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND THOU SHALT BE SAVED..." In that same night he and his entire household were baptized and were saved and the jailer brings them to his house for a meal. They all rejoiced together.
D:) So here you have the beginning of the church in Philippi: Lydia and a few of her women friends, and the jailer and his household. What a diversity in the church! But believe it or not, harmony and unity and brotherly love prevailed in this church. Paul was blessed everytime he was with them.
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Throughout this epistle, the theme is the word "JOY".
A:) Note the times the word "JOY" is used in
this brief leter.
1:3-4 --- 18 --- 23---; 2:1-2 --- 16-18---
3: 1 4:1---4 The words "JOY" or "REJOICING"
is used a total of 16 times in this letter.
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1:) THE SEARCH FOR JOY AND PEACE OF HEART AND MIND:
A:) "JOY" and "PEACE of MIND" something that
many within the world of today are searching for.
B:) Looking for it in the WRONG PLACES:
DRUGS: perscription and illegal ---
ALCOHOL --- SEX --- PORN --- MONEY ---
Satan’s wares only bring much more heartache and
grief and pain and suffering. They make matters
WORSE rather than BETTER.
C:) JOY and PEACE OF MIND --- are there
because of the guilt and condemnation brought on
sin and disobedience. Grabbing more of it will
only bring misery to misery.
D:) The ’ONLY LASTING PEACE" comes from Jesus
"The Prince of Peace."
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3:) THIS LETTER WAS WRITTEN BY A MAN OF GOD
WHO POSSESSED THE PEACE HE SPOKE OF:
When Paul wrote this letter to the Philippians he was not on some royal cruise ship enjoying a vacation, he wasn’t at some easy job making more money then ever before, ......Many people’s JOY and PEACE is hinged upon "WHERE" they are and "WHAT" is taking place arround them. When all is well, then they are well.
"Where was Paul?" Paul was in "PRISON"
He knew that before very long he would die for what he believed and for "in whom he believed." However Paul’s JOY and PEACE of MIND was anchored in Jesus Christ who lived within him. He rejoiced "in Christ" and not "in things."
Philippians 4:4 " Rejoice in the Lord alway, and
again I say, Rejoice."
What is there to "REJOICE IN?"
1:) Sins under the Blood of Jesus Christ
2:) Cast in the Sea of Forgetfulness NEVER to be
brought up before you again -- cast as far as
the east is from the west.
3:) FORGIVENESS brings ease and calmness
4:) KNOWING When You Lay Your Head Down at night
if this was your last night and the next
thing you know you’re at the judgment seat
of Christ, FORGIVEN means ALL IS WELL WITH
YOUR SOUL
5:) The world in general cannot understand or
comprehend this GREAT PEACE. It is not like
the PEACE of the WORLD...this is the PEACE
OF JESUS --- HIS PEACE.
John 14: 27 ’Peace I leave with you, MY PEACE I GIVE UNTO YOU, not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
Even in the valleys and the storms and the trials of our lives, HIS PEACE and HIS JOY stills flows within us. "The JOY of the Lord is Our STRENGTH." (Nehemiah 8:10)
That JOY is STILL REAL TODAY!
I can testify this morning ---- and mean it from the very depths of my heart ---- and NOT just because I am a minister standing before you ---- HIS JOY IS REAL....
And IF YOU DO NOT KNOW HIS PEACE ABIDING WITHIN YOU ---- You are MISSING OUT ON LIFE’S MOST IMPORTANT POSSESSION.
There is JOY and PEACE -- when it seems as if all the world has turned against you.
There is JOY and PEACE -- when everything around you has broken and is falling apart.
There is JOY and PEACE -- when sickness and even death encompasses you
There is JOY and PEACE -- when finances are low and the stack of bills is high
There is JOY and PEACE -- when the storms of life are raging -- and the ship is being tossed to and fro
There is JOY and PEACE -- when you’re in the deepest of valleys
"Oh there is peace in the midst of sorrow
There is peace in the midst of the storm
There is peace though the world be raging
In the shelter of His arms.
How’s your inner level of Joy and Peace this
morning?
So many people who come to church --- those that find themselves simply sitting on a church pew --but really not doing anything for God --- nothing for Jesus --- are TRUTHFULLY MISSING THIS JOY and PEACE I’m speaking of right now. Sounds Good --- But Just don’t have it! I can tell you why so many people lack that overwhelming JOY and PEACE ----- APATHY and UNCONCERN ---- LUKEWARMNESS is sweeping over too much of today’s church. TOO BUSY FOR CHRIST --- TOO BUSY FOR GOD --- SORRY PASTOR --- TOO BUSY! TOO BUSY! TOO BUSY! TAKE THIS DOWN -- NOTE IT SOMEWHERE AND POST IT IN A PLACE WHERE YOU WILL SEE IT OFTEN ---BATHROOM MIRROR--- WOULD BE A GREAT PLACE:
"YOU CAN ONLY MAKE WITHDRAWALS ON WHAT YOU
HAVE ALREADY DEPOSITED."
You get OUT of it --- exactly what you PUT IN to
it. HAPPY PEOPLE ARE WORKING PEOPLE
HAPPY PEOPLE ARE COMMITTED PEOPLE
JOYOUS PEOPLE ARE THOSE WHO CARRY THE LOAD
PEOPLE WITH JOY ARE THOSE WHO CARE ABOUT THE
WORK OF THE LORD.
Conclusion:
A man bought a ticket on a cruise ship but he didn’t have much money left after he bought the ticket. So when it came to meal time --- rather than going down and enjoying all that wonderful food laid out of the tables -- he stayed in his cabin room and ate some snack foods he had carried in his suitcase on board the ship. Chhesed and crackers, peanut butter and crackers and such. He could smell the food, the steaks, the chicken, the fish, the coffee, the pies and the cakes..... On the last day of the cruise he happened to discover that when he purchased his ticket--- it not only covered his passage -- his room --- but also --- all the food was included in his ticket price. All this time he could be a partaker and enjoyed the goodness of the voyage.
Church, PLEASE let me tell you one more thing this morning in closing this sermon ----- Heaven will be a wonderful, happy, joyous, exciting place ----- BUT the journey to it --- the road that leads to it --- the trip --- is meant to be a HAPPY -- JOYOUS -- PEACEFUL trip.
Yes, Christians have their valleys and their trials and their hardships and their obstacles along the way ---- BUT IN THE MIDST OF IT ALL ---- GOD’S GREAT PEACE STILL ABIDES WITHIN.
SONG: "I WOULDN’T TAKE NOTHING FOR MY JOURNEY NOW."
I’VE GOT TO MAKE IT TO HEAVEN SOMEHOW
THOUGH THE DEVIL TEMPTS ME AND HE TRIES TO
TURN ME AROUND
HE’S OFFERED EVERYTHING THAT’S GOT A NAME
ALL THE WEALTH I’D WANT AND WORLDLY FAME
BUT IF I COULD STILL I WOULDN’T TAKE NOTHING
FOR MY JOURNEY NOW.
