The Work Of Christ

The Work of Christ

Philippians 1:1-11

Introduction/ Greeting

Good morning again, we are in the first week of the New Year … how is that going?

The holiday meals are eaten

The presents opened

Hopefully time has returned to semi-normal.

You have made your New Year’s resolutions… still on track right? Where do you go from here?

Every year… somebody tells you how to save money, lose weight, manage your time, build better relationships that last.

Son got us a yoga program for stretching and exercising. What is he trying to tell me?

How about a message this morning from someone who just wants to encourage you and let you know that you are loved.

Prayer-

Philippians 1:1-11

The message throughout the book of Philippians is Love and Joy. The Apostle Paul and his apprentice Timothy’s love for the church of Christ and the Joy of being a child of God.

He writes to the church-

“To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons.”

From the leadership on down to everyone that would sit in the chairs, he desires to see God’s peace and Grace would rest on them.

If you are not sure how to pray for your pastor, that would be a great prayer- God’s Grace and His peace to fall on my life and my family.

You have to take in account of the setting for his writing to the church- (Context of the writing)

He is in prison, He is bound by chains and guards are sitting right next to him at all times.

This is not the time that Paul would just decide to write a love letter.

He had lots of time to think about people and the church and it is from his heart that we see his love for them.

He is writing to them as a word of encouragement for what they are going through.

Think about this a moment- He was in prison for preaching the gospel.

He was in prison for sharing His faith that went against the laws of Rome.

Every public event, Romans acknowledged Cesar as Lord, and every public place Paul went, He exalted Jesus Christ as Lord.

Paul is encouraging the church because they were feeling the pressure of government sponsored persecution.

They were being shunned for their faith.

They were being hassled and tormented from their neighbors and family.

Those that had businesses, they probably didn’t buy there anymore.

They were punished for not flowing with the crowd.

They even had Christian missionaries insisting that even though they weren’t Jewish they had to be circumcised and obey Jewish law. Even in the early church, God’s principals were already being taken out of context and twisted to fit the mold that some wanted.

Paul depicts those false teachers as worshipping their bellies, glorying in their shame, setting their minds on earthly things, he really beings it home and says they are “enemies of the cross.”

(V27) Paul tells us how we are to live out our lives in spite of the persecution, inspite of trials, and live in manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” Only if we walk in a manner worthy of the gospel, steadfast, united, can we expect to advance the work of the gospel in the world.”

So how do we do that? How do we live worthy of the gospel while living in a world that despises the things of God?

One way/ Being Thankful and giving Thanksgiving to God

“I thank my God every time I remember you.”

Paul understood that to be thankful was a mindset.

Paul knew that if he was to give God all the honor due Him, he had to be thankful even in the midst of what he was going through.

It was not about how you or I feel at the time, it is about who we are giving thanks too!

We buried my Mother-law this week-

I was amazed at all the people there for a 94 year old women.

Her immediate family was all gone. Her extended family was aging and still the place was full.

Why? Because she had made an impact in their lives.

I am sure there were days she didn’t feel like being thankful.

I am sure there were days she did not want to live out her faith- but she did because it was not all about how she felt, it is about who she was giving thanks too.

If you are not Thankful- you can become bitter-

Paul was in prison, nobody would blame him for being bitter.

No one blame him for not wanting to share his faith.

Blaming God for his situation instead of thankful for his God.

The bitter person is constantly unsatisfied with their life (SermonCentral)