Philippians 1

1:1-30 1ST HORN - THROUGH THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST Single mind - the antidote to circumstance A. The Spirit of Christ produces a single mind

1. Intro. (1-2)

2. Prayer (3-11)

3. Preaching Christ (12-18)

4. Magnifying Christ (19-26)

5. Suffering in Christ (27-30)

It’ s the Spirit of Christ that causes us to pray to the Father, to preach Christ, to live Christ and causes us to suffer for Christ. The Spirit of Christ gives us strength to do these and to have a single mind focused on Him. To have a single mind focused on God through the Spirit of Christ is the antidote to circumstance, for circumstance robs our joy, but the Spirit of Christ produces a single mind and joy.

Philippians 1:1-2

1. Intro. (1-2) V.1 a) Servants - Paul and Timothy call them selves servants.

b) Saints - Saints are those who are made by God in Christ and not by man.

c) Shepherds -

I. Bishops Scriptural are not over-shepherds, but all shepherds are bishops. Acts 20:17,28 “ overseers” same Greek word (Gr. Episkopos) used here for bishop, all the elders are called bishops (overseers).

II. There are many shepherds in this Church and not only one.

d) Servant-ministries - He also address it to the deacons: The supportive ministries. This letter was addressed to the pastors, the supportive ministries and all the saints, meaning every one in the Church of Philippi.

V.2 Grace and peace -

a) Grace and peace is available only through Christ and those in Christ.

b) There can only be grace and peace when the Father and Jesus are received as Lord and God

c) Grace and peace is a person. 2.Tim.2:1; Eph.2:14 d) There is a peace - with God Rom.5:1 and of God.Phil.4:7

Philippians 1:3-11

Prayer (3-11) V.3-11 The Sons of God Sharing in the Fellowship of the Gospel. V.12-26 The Servants of God Supplying for the Furtherance of the Gospel. V.27-30 The Soldiers of God Striving for the Faith of the Gospel.

V.3-6 YOU IN MY HEART V.3 a) Memory - Of you.

People who serves God cause thanksgiving to rise to God.

V.4 b) Making request - For you.

I. As Paul, so did the high priest bear the names of the 12 tribes upon his heart, Christ always prays for us too. Ex.28:5-14; Heb.7:24-25 II. Like incense was offered upon the golden altar, we too should offer to God prayers and worship through the altar of our heart.

III. This is the first reference to joy out of 16.

IV. Paul was in house arrest and chained to a Roman soldier yet he rejoiced. Acts 28:30 V. Circumstance is a thief of joy but Paul had the antidote - a single mind and therefore he could rejoice.

V.5 c) Mutuality -

I. Your fellowship of the Gospel causes me to remember and always prays for you, we are all partakers of the Gospel.

II. Gospel and fellowship is the will of God they are never to be separated.

III. Lydia and her household fellowshipped with him and so did the jailor and his household. Acts 16:14-15; 27-34 IV. The golden altar moved from the holy place into the most holy place to the ark of God where the 10 commandments where placed. Like the golden altar so do we move in and partake of the Gospel.

V.6 d) Masterwork - In you.

I. The work has to be for the common good. 1.Cor.12:7 II. God begins the good work in us. John 6:44; Eph.1:3-14 III. God also continues the good work. Phil.2:13 IV. God also completes the good work. Phil.3:21 V. God begins, continues and completes His work in us because we are His workmanship. Eph.2:10

V.7-8 YOU IN MY MIND V.7 & 8 expresses the basis of Paul’s confidence that he just expressed in v.6.

V.7 a) Attitude - Of the mind.

Paul’ s attitude of mind and confidence toward them was because of his confidence in God.

V.8 b) Affection - Of the heart.

Because of this confidence he had a great affection toward them.

V.9-11 YOU IN MY PRAYERS V.9 a) Love - Abounding in it.

I. In v. 4 Paul said he always prayed for them, in V.9-11 he reveals what he prayed.

II. First part of his prayer: Abounding love.

III. Love abounds in knowledge and discernment. (Both joined in Heb.5:12-14)

IV. Lack of knowledge misguides love.

V. Lack of discernment quenches love.

VI. What devils can’ t stop they try to misdirect.

V.10 b) Loftiness - Approving the excellent.

I. Second part of his prayer: Approved sincerity.

II. Approve (Gr.. Dokimazo) means to test; we only know truth by testing it. 1.Thes.5:21, 1.John 4:1 III. Excellent (Gr. diaphero) means to bear through or to surpass.

In Heb.1:4; 8:6 the Greek word (diaphoros) for excellent and surpassing derives from (diaphero), these declare how Jesus through approval and sincerity chose what was excellent.

IV. Sincere (Gr. eilikrines) means judged by sunlight.

In N.T times cracks in statues were filled with wax by the sculptor but the sunlight melted it.

V. The day of Christ: The rapture - We will all experience judgment by the light or fire of God and all the faults and cover-ups will be burned. 1.Cor.3:11-15

V.11 c) Labour - Acts of righteousness.

I. Third part of his prayer: Applied righteousness.

II. It begins with fruit 1:11 and ends with flourishing (like a tree) 4:10 and fruit 4:17

III. The fruit of the Spirit. Gal.5:22-23 IV. The fruits of righteousness glorify God. John 15:8; Matt.5:16

Philippians 1:12-18

3. Preaching Christ (12-18) V.12-18 What had happened in the past. V.19-26 What was happening in the present.

V.12 a) Extension - Of the Gospel.

I. As Paul was imprisoned in Rome, God turned it to the good. Rom.8:28; Gen.50:20; 2.Tim.2:9 II. About 10 years earlier God did the same thing in Philippi and if the jailor were still alive he would have said amen. Acts 16:25-34 III. We can choose to allow God to turn our circumstance into the good: the better or we can go with the flow and become bitter.

IV. God used 3 things to further the Gospel:

1. Through Paul’ s Chains - Christ was known v.13-14

2. Through Paul’ s Critics - Christ was preached v.15-18

3. Through Paul’ s Crisis - Christ was magnified v.19-21

V. The same God that used the rod of Moses and the sling of David also used the chains of Paul.

VI. What was the secret of Paul: He knew that circumstance steals the joy but he had the antidote - a single mind (A mind focused on God). Col.3:1-2 The single mind sees what God is doing instead of what God isn’ t doing.

V.13 b) Evidence - Of the whole palace Guard.

The Romans soldiers where forced to hear him preach to them for they where chained to him. Acts.28:30-31 V.14 c) Expression - The Gain of the chain.

The Christians that knew him and saw how God used him even in chains became bold (some of them got a single mind). 2.Tim.1:7 V.15 d) Envy - Or Goodwill.

Some of those preached Christ because they wanted to be great and visible.

V.16 e) Egoism - Preaching through Greed.

These had ambition and it wasn’ t equipping the saints but building their pride that mattered. Eph.4:11-12; 1.Cor.12:7; 3:3, 12-15 V.17 f) Election - Paul’ s calling and Gift.

I. The unselfish ones preached Christ because they knew Paul was elected.

II. They preached because they loved God and Paul. 1.Cor.3:12-15; 13:13 V.18 g) Enjoyment - Preaching caused Gladness.

The motive was wrong but the content was right therefore he rejoiced.

Philippians 1:19-26

4. Magnifying Christ (19-26) V.19 a) The supply of Christ -

I. His imprisonment will work out for his continual salvation even as they should work out their own. 2:12

II. 2 aspects cause it: prayer and the Spirit of Christ.

V.20 b) The magnification of Christ -

I. Paul’ s vision and purpose of life was: Christ magnified.

II. The veil was lifted up when the golden altar entered the most holy, even so we can enter the most holy when we magnify Christ in our lives. III. Faith, hope and love in Christ: Hope 1:20; love 2:1; faith 3:9

V.21-22 c) The life in Christ -

I. What do we live for? Money, ambition, ministry or Christ. Jesus was the sun around which Paul’s life orbited.

II. What do we die for? Will death be a gain for us or a loss?

Paul would be freed from sin, sorrow and suffering. Rev.21:4 Paul would be glorified and be forever in the glory of God. Rom.8:18; 1.Cor.13:12 III. Soul sleep and purgatory don’ t exist. When we die we are transported to heaven. 2.Cor.5:8 IV. As long we live for God we store up in heaven. Mat.6:19-21 V.23-24 d) The departure to Christ -

I. What is most needful, to be home with God or to remain here and disciple believers?

II. Departure (Gr. analuo) was used as:

1. The freeing of a slave.

2. The sailing of a ship.

3. The breaking up a camp.

4. The departure of a guest. Luke 12:36

V.25-26 e) The joy in Christ - I. He was confident because he knew his accusation had no ground. Acts 23:29; 25:25; 26:31-32.

II. The early church fathers said that Nero released Paul from his first Roman imprisonment in 62 A.D.

The apostle continued his journey and returned to Macedonia and perhaps to Philippi. The Romans arrested him again and imprisoned him in Rome again, in 68 A.D he became martyr there through beheading.

Philippians 1:27-30

2. Suffering in Christ (27-30) V.27 a) Status - Fruit of the Gospel.

I. Political (Gr. politeuesthe) means to live as a citizen. II. Philippi was a colony of Rome in Macedonia, the church in Philippi was a colony of heaven. The Philippians took pride of being citizens of Rome but they ought to live as citizens of heaven and worthy of the Gospel and calling of Christ. Phil.3:20; Eph.4:1 III. It was in Philippi Paul used his citizenship of Rome. Acts 16:35-40 “ You are writing a Gospel, a chapter each day, by the deeds that you do and the words that you say. Men read what you write, whether faithless or true, say, what is the Gospel according to you?” b) Standing - Fastness of unity.

I. Militarism (Gr. steko) means to be stationary and persevere.

II. The only way to stand fast as a congregation is through one spirit, if we give demons ground through disunity, then they have a right to attack. Phil.4:1, 3; 1.Peter 5:8-9; 1.Cor.16:13; Galatians 5:1; 2.Thes. 2:15 III. We also need to stand against demons with the whole armour of God. Eph.6:10-17 c) Striving - Fight of Faith.

I. Athletic (Gr. sunathleo) means to wrestle in a company.

II. We should wrestle as a company for the faith, its not a one-man battle but a team-work.

V.28 d) Salvation - Flight out of sight or straight-out Faith.

I. God will save us and continue to save us until he has completed the good work in us. 2.Cor.1:10 II. The word terrified (Gr. ptyresthai) means in Classical Greek: The timid horses that shy upon being startled at some unexpected object.

III. If the Church of Philippi were not terrified of their enemies then it would declare how God led them through with victory.

V.29 e) Suffering - Fierceness against Faith.

All believers are called to suffer for Christ. Why?

I. The testing of our faith. 1.Peter 1:6-7 II. The rejecting of those who follow Jesus. Mat.10:16-26; 2.Tim.3:12 III. The continual suffering of Jesus through us. Col.1:24; Acts 9:4 IV. The holy life suffering produces. 1.Peter 4:1

V.30 f) Struggle - Familiar conflict.

The Christian life is a continual struggle. 1.Cor. 4:9-13; 2.Cor.6:4-10