The Epistle Of Joy

A SIX-PART SERMON SERIES ON PAUL’S EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS

#1: THE GOD WHO CLOSES AND OPENS DOORS

INTRODUCTION

A. Paul wrote four epistles from prison: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.

B. In this lesson, we will explore Paul’s second missionary journey that led him to Philippi.

C. We will examine the text of the epistle in the succeeding five sermons.

I. JOURNEYING WITH PAUL TO PHILIPPI

A. We, along with Timothy, join him in Derbe (Acts 16:1-5).

B. Paul and company were forbidden to go into Asia (Acts 16:6-8).

C. God opened a door to Macedonia (Acts 16:9-10)

D. The troop set sail and came to Philippi, a Roman colony and leading city of Macedonia (Acts 16:11-12).

II. ONE DOOR HAD CLOSED, ANOTHER WAS OPENED, SOULS WERE SAVED, AND THE CHURCH AT PHILIPPI WAS BORN

A. The first conversion was of a traveling businesswoman named Lydia (Acts 16:13-15).

B. A demon-possessed woman who was testifying that the men were servants of the Most High God (Acts 16:16-21).

C. We have no information as to whether she was converted, but when Paul cast the demon out of her, the city was aroused, and an iron door slammed shut. Hoping to silence the gospel, Paul’s imprisonment led to another conversion (Acts 16:16-24).

III. THE BODY WAS LOCKED UP, BUT THE SPIRIT WAS FREE

A. Paul and Silas sang, and God heard them (Acts 16:25-27).

B. To his surprise, they were all there (Acts 16:28-30).

C. The answer to the question was contextual: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and all your household” (v.31).

1. The jailer had not heard the gospel, which is a prerequisite for believing (Rom 10:13-14).

2. Back to the text (Acts 16:32-34).

IV. THE FINAL SCENE

A. Paul exercises his rights as a Roman citizen (Acts 16:35-40).

B. Paul’s final act: encouraging others (Acts 16:38-40)

V. THE SAGA CONTINUES

A. Paul and company left Philippi around 50 AD.

B. Paul visited Philippi on his third missionary journey.

C. By 62 AD, Paul was in Rome, having gone there at Caesar’s expense and under his protection (Acts 28:30-31).

D. It was from prison that Paul wrote his epistle to the Philippians, and with this background, we can better understand the letter.

CONCLUSION

A. Has a door closed for you?

B. Is God opening one for you?

#2: THE EPISTLE OF JOY

INTRODUCTION

A. Last week, we travelled with Paul on his second missionary journey, which led to the establishment of the church at Philippi. Over a decade has passed since then. Paul has made a third missionary journey, been arrested in Jerusalem, and sailed to Rome under the protection of Caesar to whom he had appealed. There is great irony in the words of King Agrippa, spoken to Festus: “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

B. Depending on the translation, the word “joy” is used as many as eight times in Philippians. The word is not found in Chapter Three, but it opens with the words “Rejoice in the Lord.” Rejoice is used five times in the letter.

C. But the joy was not that of blue skies and rainbows, for Paul was in prison. I’m reminded of the poem “The Optimist,” which appeared in “The Rotarian” in 1940:

"Life handed him a lemon,

As Life sometimes will do.

His friends looked on in pity,

Assuming he was through.

They came upon him later,

Reclining in the shade

In calm contentment, drinking

A glass of lemonade."

D. Although Paul was not in stocks as he had been at Philippi, he was guarded around the clock by soldiers of the praetorian guard (Acts 28:30-31).

I. PAUL’S PERSPECTIVE

A. His imprisonment, rather than silencing Paul’s voice, had “turned out for the greater progress of the gospel” (Phil 1:12-14).

B. Paul even rejoiced that some were preaching Christ from ulterior motives (Phil 1:16-18).

C. God overrules:

1. When we cannot see any reason for optimism, we need to remember that man rules, but God overrules.

2. The New Living Translation renders Daniel 2:20-22 as follows:

“Praise the name of God forever and ever,

for he has all wisdom and power.

He controls the course of world events;

he removes kings and sets up other kings.

He gives wisdom to the wise

and knowledge to the scholars.

He reveals deep and mysterious things

and knows what lies hidden in darkness,

though he is surrounded by light.”

II. PAUL’S PRAYER

A. His prayer for them was based on his unshakable faith in God (Phil 1:3-6).

B. He prayed that they would be filled with a knowledge-infused love (Phil 1:9-11).

1. Love must be grounded in knowledge (2 Tim 2:15; 2 Pet 3:16).

2. Love is known by its fruits (John 15:12; 1 John 4:20-21).