Philippians - Session 5

Philippians Study – Session 5

(Philippians 1:19-20)

In this session we are going to focus on one of the most optimistic, positive, confident statements in the Bible.  Look at Philippians 1:19-20.   Notice how v.19 begins...”For I know...”...not “For I guess...” ...not “For I hope...”...not even “For I am praying...”...but “For I know...”...that is, “It is my fixed, unshakeable opinion...”...there is no doubt...no uncertainty...no wavering...no questioning...this is a statement of absolute trust and confidence in God...want you to see in these verses--

What Paul knew with such confidence...

How Paul knew it...

We will begin with the “how” part and then focus on the “what” part.

How Paul knew what he knew

1.      Look again at the phrase “...through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ...” in Philippians 1:19...that is a very significant statement...it tells us something very important about the Christian life...it tells us there are two sides, two dimensions to the Christian life...

--there is a human side and there is a divide side...

--the Christian life involves human intercession and divine intervention...

--there is our part and there is God’s part...

2.      Notice what Paul says in this verse...his confidence comes from two sources...the prayers of the Christians in Philippi and the provision of the Spirit...

--the Christians in Philippi did their part in encouraging Paul...they faithfully prayed for him...there is a whole sermon in that little phrase “...through your prayers...”...we must never discount the importance and the power of prayer...as we intercede on behalf of others and seek God’s guidance for our lives, our confidence in God and our assurance of God’s presence with us grows

--Paul’s confidence came not just from the prayers of his friends...also came from “...the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ...”...there’s interesting picture behind the word translated “provision”...that is the word from which we get our word “chorus” or “choir”...when a Greek city had a special festival, the government depended on a private donor to pay for the singers and dancers...for a good festival, a large donation was needed...so the word came to mean “to provide generously or lavishly” [ Wiersbe, p.44]...Paul saying, I find confidence/encouragement in the lavish resources of God...He is ever faithful to meet my needs...

What Paul knew (Basically, he mentions two things.)

Paul knew that he would be delivered

1. Look at the first part of v.19...”For I know that this shall turn out for my deliverance...”...the word translated “deliverance” in the NASB is actually from the same word family from which the word “salvation” comes...in the overwhelming majority of places the word is used in the NT it is translated “salvation”... What did Paul mean in saying that he was confident that his imprisonment “...shall turn out for my deliverance/salvation?”
• He certainly wasn’t talking about salvation or deliverance in the sense of salvation from sin and eternal security with God...

                                                               i.      Paul was not saved because he courageously endured imprisonment...we are saved not by what we endure...we are saved by what Christ endured for us on the cross...

                                                             ii.      Paul was not saved because he suffered for the cause of Christ...we are saved not because we suffer...we are saved because Christ suffered in our place...

Salvation, in the sense of having our sins forgiven and relationship with God restored does not come from what we do...and that is certainly not the kind of salvation to which Paul is referring in this verse...

• Nor is he talking salvation or deliverance in the sense of being released from or delivered from prison...when Paul wrote these words he did not know how his case would come out...he didn’t know whether he would be released or kept...live or die...and in the next few verses he even says that’s not important to him...his focus wasn’t on personal safety...

2.   If Paul wasn’t referring to salvation in the sense of eternal salvation or deliverance in the sense of being released from prison, what did he mean by “...this shall turn out for my deliverance?”...I think he was talking about his personal well-being or personal growth as a Christian...he was saying, “I am confident that God will use my situation to mold me into a better person...to accomplish in my life his ultimate purpose for me...”

3.      Paul had a clear understanding of God’s ultimate desire for his life...he understood that God’s purpose for each person is to, in the words of Romans 8:29, conform that person “to the image of His Son...”...in other words, God wants to make us more like Jesus...and Paul was able to look beyond his immediate circumstances and say, “I know God is using this time to make me more like Christ...”...and that knowledge, that confidence helped Paul endure and make sense out of his circumstances...

4.      And so it is in our lives as well...if you can look at every situation...challenge...difficulty you face in life and see God working in those things to make you more like Jesus, then you are much more likely to make sense of and make it through such times...

5.      I have seen over and over again people who have gone through heart wrenching experiences in life who have come out on the other side of those experiences better people, more Christ-like people...

--nowhere in Scripture are we promised that if we are faithful to Christ we will be immune, exempt, insulated from trouble in this world...to claim that is to claim something that not even Jesus had...

--but over and over again in Scripture are we told that God will help us through times of trouble and that He will use those times to sharpen and refine our lives...

6.      Paul had great confidence that God was going to use his circumstances to make him more like Christ...

Paul knew Christ would be exalted in Him

1.   Look at the phrase in the last part of verse 20…“...Christ shall even now, as always, be exalted...”...that phrase tells us Paul’s ambition...it tells us the goal of Paul’s life...it tells us the main thing which consumed Paul...one writer put it this way:

“Paul’s ambition was not to be successful.  Therefore, he was not bothered by an occasional failure.

His ambition was not to be popular.  Therefore, he was not disturbed when others did not like him.

His ambition was not to be comfortable.  Therefore, unpleasant circumstances did not throw him.

Paul’s ambition was not even to have a long life.  Therefore, death did not frighten him.

Paul’s ambition was to exalt Christ ... Whatever he did, Paul wanted to make Christ conspicuous, to make Christ look great, to bring glory and praise to Christ.  That was Paul’s desire.”

[Harbour Philippians notes]

That should be the goal of every Christian...our lives should exalt Christ...lift Him up...bring glory to Him...Philippians 1:20 tells us two ways that Paul desired to exalt Christ...and we who follow Christ today should desire to exalt Him in those same two ways...

·        Paul desired to exalt Christ with his words and we should seek to exalt Christ with our words - You might look at Philippians 1:20 and think, “Where in the world do you get that from that verse?  I don’t see anything there about words or speech.”...but it really is there...look for a moment at the word which is translated “boldness” in the phrase “...that with all boldness, Christ shall even now, as always, be exalted...”...in Classical Greek that word “boldness” is the word used to express the idea of freedom of speech...our concept of democracy was born in Greece...and this is the precise word the Greeks used to describe the democratic right to say what a person wished to say...This precise word is used eight times in the NT letters written by the Apostle Paul...let me just point out two examples—

--Ephesians 6:19 - “And pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make know with boldness [with freedom of speech] the mystery of the gospel...”

--2 Corinthians 3:12 - “Having therefore such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech...”

And by choosing to use this particular word in Philippians 1:20 Paul is saying, “It is my desire to exalt Christ with my speech, through the words I say.”...when he made this statement he may have been looking forward to his pending trial before Caesar...he was looking forward to exalting Christ before Caesar by what he said at his trial...

Aesop, the ancient storyteller, told a fable about a donkey that found a lion’s skin. He tried it on, strutted around, and frightened many animals. Soon a fox came along, and the donkey tried to scare him, too. But the fox, hearing the donkey’s voice, said, “If you want to terrify me, you’ll have to disguise your bray.” Aesop’s moral is that your words always give you away...[Illustrations A-Z, speech]

Those of us who are followers of Jesus should exalt Christ, lift up Christ, magnify Christ with our words...when others hear us speak they should be able to discern from what we say our loyalty to Christ...that means two things—

--it means we don’t use words in a negative way to cut, destroy, tear down, and hurt people...we must be careful that the words we speak do not drive people away from the Lord we claim to serve...but just avoiding negative speech is not enough...

--it means that we take every opportunity to share a positive word about Christ to those around us...we should be speaking of our love for the Lord, our commitment to the Lord, of what the Lord has done in our lives...

Our attitude toward speech should be the attitude reflected by David when he prayed, “Let the words of my mouth [as well as the meditation of my heart] be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”

• Paul desired to exalt Christ with his actions, and we should seek to exalt Christ with our actions - It was not enough for Paul to exalt Christ by what he said...he also wanted Christ to be exalted by what he did...notice what he says in this verse...”...that with all boldness, Christ shall even now, as always, be exalted in my body...”...the phrase “in my body” refers to Paul’s actions...to the things he did...Paul was well aware that it is never enough for Christians merely to say the right things...we must also do the right things...no-one is going to take what we say very seriously unless it is backed up by what we do...

In the year 1522 Martin Luther, the leader of the Protestant Reformation, was asked to give the eulogy at the funeral service of a well-known German pastor...the pastor’s name was Nicholas Haussman...the people who gathered for Pastor Haussman’s funeral service expected a long, glowing eulogy from Martin Luther...but when Luther stood to speak all he said was, “What he preached, he lived.”...can’t think of a better tribute to a Christian than that...”What he preached, he lived.” [Illustrations A-Z, example] 

That was certainly Paul’s desire...he wanted people to see in his actions, in his life, the things he preached...the phrase “...whether by life or death...” at the end of Philippians 1:20 is Paul’s way of saying, “I don’t really care what happens to me...it doesn’t matter whether I am released from prison or sentenced to death... what does matter is that my actions point others to Christ...I want to exalt Him whether by living or by dying...” 

And we, who claim to be followers of Jesus should constantly by asking ourselves—

--Does my life, my example, make it easier for others to come to Christ or more difficult for others to come to Christ?

--Are others drawn to Christ by what they see in me, or are they pushed away from Christ by what they see in me?

--Are my actions consistent with what I profess to believe or do they undermine what I profess to believe?

In other words, “Is Christ exalted by what I do, by my example?”...Jesus said, “Let your light [meaning life] shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

           

When you think about it, it is a rather amazing thing that we, mere humans, could ever exalt or magnify the Son of God...how can we magnify Him who is infinitely larger than us?...one writer explained it with this helpful analogy:

“...the stars are much bigger than the telescope, and yet the telescope magnifies them and brings them closer.  The believer ... is to be a telescope that brings Jesus Christ closer to people.  To the average person, Christ is a misty figure in history who lived centuries ago ... to the unbeliever, Jesus is not very big ... but as the unbeliever watches the Christian ... he ought to be able to see how big Jesus Christ really is.  The believer ... is a lens that makes a ... distant Christ come very close.” [Wiersbe, pp.44-45]

Philippians - Session 4

Philippians Study – Session 4

(Philippians 1:12-18)

1.   Philippians 1:12-18 is an amazing passage of Scripture. It is one of those parts of God’s Word that has to be understood with--

            --the heart as much as the head...       
                  --feelings as much as the mind...
                              --emotions as much as intellect...
      Unless we put ourselves in Paul’s place and feel what he felt, cannot really understand what he   is saying here in these verses. 

2.   Remember that Paul wrote these words from prison.  His freedom had been taken away and no doubt that was very difficult for Paul.  While he was in prison he was--

--concerned about the churches he had already established, like the church at Philippi...

--anxious to get on with his God-given mission of evangelizing the Gentile world... 

--his enemies were taking advantage of his absence trying to undermine his leadership in the churches...

3.   His life was certainly less than ideal.  But in such a time as that, Paul looked through eyes of faith and saw ways that God was working.  The truth is, while we may not experience the harsh situation that Paul experienced, none of us ever live under ideal conditions. Life is always less than perfect.  There is always some challenge, some burden, some obstacle, with which we must contend.  And there is always some difficult person with whom we must deal.  This passage is a reminder that God is at work in those less than ideal times in our lives.  I see two broad principles underlying this paragraph. 

·        God can use situations that are less than perfect to accomplish His purposes in this world. 

·        God can use people who are less than perfect to accomplish His purposes in this world.

God can use situations which are less than perfect to accomplish His purposes in this world

1.      Notice how this paragraph begins.  “Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel...”  The word that is translated “greater progress” in the NASB is a very descriptive word.  It literally means “to cut before.”  It was used to describe detachment of soldiers who would go before the regular army to cut away trees and undergrowth that would impede the army’s advance.  Thus the army was able to reach places it could have not have otherwise reached. 

2.      By using that word Paul is saying, “I see my situation as clearing the way for the gospel to go where it hasn’t gone before.  God is using my imprisonment for the advancement of the gospel.”  Then, in verses 13-14 he mentions two specific ways the gospel was advanced by his imprisonment. 

·        Verse 13 says entire “praetorian guard” was aware that he was in prison for the cause of Christ...”praetorian guard” was the very elite of the Roman Army...responsible for guarding prisoners such as Paul awaiting trial before Caesar...they would be bound at the wrist by a short length of chain on a rotating basis to the prisoner in 6 hour shifts...four different soldiers each day spent 6 hours with Paul...over the many months of his imprisonment Paul was chained to scores of members of this elite guard unit...talk about the classic captive audience!...they—

--heard Paul pray... 

--saw him write letters to the churches...

--heard him share his own experience of how at one time he opposed Christ and how he was confronted by Christ on the road to Damascus, and how faith in Christ had changed his life....

And as result of his imprisonment verse 13 tells us that Paul was able to get the gospel into the “whole praetorian guard.”  That is something he never could have done as a free man.  Think of the irony of that.  God used the chains that bound Paul to set the gospel free among an elite group of Roman soldiers! 

·        Verse 14 tells of another way Paul’s imprisonment resulted in the advancement of the gospel.  As a result of the spirit, the attitude with which Paul endured his situation, many Christians were encouraged “to speak the word of God without fear...”  I see a couple of important things for us to learn from that.

o       We should never forget that encouragement is contagious...just as discouragement has a way of spreading, so does encouragement...Paul’s positive attitude spread to those who observed him...if you want people around you to be characterized by a positive, optimistic spirit, you’d better make certain that you have that kind of spirit...we tend to be attracted to and we tend to attract to ourselves people who more or less reflect our attitudes...

o       We should never forget where the real work of God is done.  The word translated “speak” is the word used to describe everyday conversation... Paul’s positive attitude toward his situation gave other believers courage to talk about Jesus in their everyday conversations...the work of God is not done within walls of a building...it’s done in the homes and businesses and schools and public places in our community as Christians in the course of their everyday lives share their faith in Christ...

3.      What I want you to see in all that is God can take situations in our lives which are less than perfect and through them accomplish His purpose in our lives and in our world...as Romans 8:28 puts it “...God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose...”...

4.      And when we find ourselves in difficult situation the appropriate Christian response is not to whine and complain and feel sorry for ourselves and moan, “Why is this happening to me?  What did I do to deserve this?”  The appropriate Christian response is to ask of the Lord, “What do you want to accomplish in my life through this and what do you want to teach me in this?”...

5.      Malcolm Muggeridge, the English intellectual wrote:: “Contrary to what might be expected, I look back on experiences that at the time seemed especially desolating and painful with particular satisfaction. Indeed, I can say with complete truthfulness that everything I have learned in my 75 years in this world, everything that has truly enhanced and enlightened my experience, has been through affliction and not through happiness” [Malcom Muggeridge  in Homemade, July, 1990]

God can use people who are less than perfect to accomplish His purposes in this world.

1.      I want to share with you two contrasting ways to view people: 

·        Will Rogers, the homespun philosopher and humorist is purported to have said, “I never met a man I didn’t like.”  

·        Sigmund Freud, the father of modern psychology, died at the age of 83, a bitter and disillusioned man...tragically, this Viennese physician, one of the most influential thinkers of our time, had little compassion for the common person...he wrote in 1918, “I have found little that is good about humanity...”...one by one he broke his relationships with those around him...he died lonely, friendless, and bitter...[Discoveries, Summer, 1991, Vol 2, No. 3, p. 1] 

·        Most of us fall somewhere between those two rather extreme statements.  While recognizing that many, if not most, people are likeable, sometimes as we journey through life we come into contact with people who—

                  --are difficult and obstinate...

            --rub us the wrong way...

--who cause us heartache and consternation...

And if we don’t learn to deal with people like that, our lives will be the poorer because of it...

2.      Paul was able to look at those people who were intent on doing him harm and see God’s hand in what they were doing...the thing that dominated Paul’s life was the proclamation to the world of the good news of Jesus...he had a burning desire for the whole world to hear about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus...

3.      Those people who were out to hurt Paul were proclaiming the true gospel...their problem is not that they were teaching heresy or falsehood...Paul says in v. 15 that they were “preaching Christ” and in v.17 that they were “proclaiming Christ”...their problem was that their motives were wrong...

4.      But Paul was able to look beyond their evil intent to the good which resulted from their actions...in v.18 he makes a wonderful statement: “What then? [that is, how should I respond to their actions?] Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice, yes, and I will rejoice.”

5.      There’s a great lesson in that for us...if we can look at the difficult people in our lives and see how God uses them to accomplish His purposes in us, it will go a long way in helping us deal with them constructively...instead of bowing our necks and being obstinate and hard-headed when people challenge us we ought to ask ourselves— 

--Is there something God is teaching me through this experience?

--Is God using this to get my attention and to teach me an important life lesson? 

--Can God use this person or these people to advance His purposes in and through me?

CONCLUSION

1.   I think Paul had an ulterior motive as he wrote this passage...one of Paul’s concerns for the church at Philippi is that in the church were some members who were in conflict with each other...division/strife had reared its ugly head in that fellowship...and at the very outset of this letter Paul says to them, “I want you to look at my life and follow my example in dealing with difficult people...remember--

--not everyone is difficult...don’t let a few people spoil your attitude toward everyone...

            --God can use difficult people to accomplish His purposes...

Philippians Study - Session 3

Philippians Study – Session 3

(Philippians 1:8-11)

                       

1.      I want to begin this session by directing your attention to two Bible passages:

·        John 13:34-35 – These words were spoken by Jesus to His disciples on the eve of His crucifixion.  They were meeting in an upper room on Mt. Zion in Jerusalem where they had just observed the Passover meal and where Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper.  Judas Iscariot had just left the room to do his treacherous work of betrayal.  After Judas had left, Jesus explained that before long he would be going away.  He told the disciples they would need to draw strength and encouragement from each other.  That is when he made the statement in this passage. 

·        Philippians 1:8-11 – These words were written by Paul about 30 years later and addressed to what I believe was his favorite church. 

2.      Christianity has been called, and I believe rightly so, the religion of love.  Over and over we are told in Scripture that the distinguishing mark of genuine Christians is their love one for another.  In the John 13 passage Jesus commands us to love one another.  In the Philippian passage, Paul tells us how to do that. 

3.      In the Greek vocabulary there are several words that are translated with the English word “love.”

·        Philia carries the idea of friendship, affection, or brotherly love.  It is loving those who love us in return.

·        Eros carries the idea of sexual desire.  It is self-centered, taking what it can for one’s own benefit or pleasure.

·        Agape carries the idea of unselfish, self-giving love that has nothing to do with the person being loved but everything to do with the one doing the loving. 

      Another way of looking at that is philia involves give and take, eros is all take, and agape is all give. 

4.   It seems to me the heart of this passage in Paul’s prayer in verse 8 that the Philippians’ “…love may abound still more and more…” The word “love” in that statement is the word agape, the highest kind of love.  I think in Philippians 1:8-11 Paul spells out four essential characteristics of Christian love.

CHRISTIAN LOVE MUST BE CHARACTERIZED BY INTELLIGENCE

1.      Unintelligent love can be dangerous, especially to object of that love.  For example, no‑one would question love of child who puts cold, wet kitten in microwave oven to warm it.  But that love is little consolation to kitten!  Ignorant love, love not thought out can be dangerous!

2.      Paul was well aware of that.  That is why he said in verse 9, "And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment..."  Two phrases are used in that statement to describe what means to love with intelligence.

·        “real knowledge" is particular Greek word meaning full or complete knowledge gained by experience.  Paul often used this word in relation to knowing the will of God.  However, when Paul used this word in relation to knowing God’s will, it was not used merely in the sense of intellectual understanding.  He also used it in the sense of practicing the will of God (see Colossians 1:9-10).  So, to love people in an intelligent way with “real knowledge” means to love them enough to tell them the truth, especially about God and will of God.  But means more than that.  We must tell the truth to people about God’s will with sensitivity.  That's where "all discernment" comes in. 

·        "all discernment" carries idea of tact.  It means communicating the truth to a person in such way doesn't destroy that person or undermine what trying to accomplish.  It is quite possible be long on love but short on tact.   I knew a man like that once.  He was a dedicated Christian who had a heart of gold.  He really loved people.  But he was so insensitive and tactless, that in spite of his best efforts, he hurt more people than he helped.

3.      Much harm can be done by well-meaning people who fail to love others in intelligent way. There is an old story about a young chaplain in prison who was called on walk with condemned prisoner to electric chair.  As they came to the door of the execution room, the chaplain did not know what to say to the condemned man.  And so without thinking, took condemned man's hand and in most pastoral voice could muster blurted out "More power to you!"

4.      Christian love must be intelligent, characterized by "all knowledge" and with tact "real discernment."

CHRISTIAN LOVE MUST LEARN TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE GOOD AND THE BEST

1.      In first part of v.10 Paul explains why Christians should love in “knowledge” and “discernment.”  We should love that way "...so that (for the purpose of) you may approve the things that are excellent." That is an interesting phrase.  It has been translated in various ways.  For example:

·        RSV ‑ "…distinguish the things which differ…"

·        WMS ‑ "…approve the better things…"

·        KNOX ‑ "…learn to prize what is of value…"

      The phrase carries the idea of not merely distinguishing between that which is good and that which is evil.  Instead, it means having the kind of discernment that is able to distinguish between that which is good and that which is best. 

2.      We do not usually have much difficulty distinguishing between good and evil.  More often than not that choice is rather clear-cut.  But where we often stumble is at point of choosing between what is merely good and what is best.  As one person said, "It's possible that we can do less than our best by doing good."

3.      There are many things in life that not in and of selves wrong.  But in comparison with the really important things of life, they are trivial or inconsequential.  And if we allow the less important things to dominate our thoughts and to monopolize our time and energy, they can distract us from things in life that matter the most.  In our personal lives we are constantly choosing between what is good and what is best. 

4.      And that is true in our expression of love for others as well.  For example‑‑

·        It may be good send a card or flowers to a friend who is ill.  However, it may be best go to that friend's home and prepare meal or clean the house. 

·        It may be good give financial assistance to a person in need.  But it may be best help that person out of the situation that caused the need. 

5.   The point is that Christian love must never be content with merely doing good for others.  It must always seek to do what is best for others.

CHRISTIAN LOVE MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY GOOD A EXAMPLE

1. In the last part of verse10 two things are said about the example of those who love.  First, the verse says that Christians should be characterized by "sincerity."  The English word sincere comes from two Latin words.  The Latin sine cera literally means without wax. There is an interesting picture behind that phrase which illustrates the kind example that should accompany Christian love.
2. The Romans produced a very fine porcelain that was greatly valued and that brought high price.  The porcelain was very delicate and it was difficult to fire in kiln without producing small cracks.  Dishonest dealers filled the cracks with pearly‑white wax that could not be easily detected in the dark shops.  Only if the product was held up to the sun or used for while did cracks become apparent.  Honest dealers would mark their products sine cera meaning “without wax”.

3.   When the Scripture says that love should be accompanied by sincerity, it is saying the lives of those who love must be able stand the test of close examination.  When those whom we love examine our lives, should find no cracks, no glaring faults.

3. Second, verse 10 says that Christians should be characterized by “blamelessness."  It is important to understand that “blamelessness” in the eyes of God is not something we achieve; it is something we receive.  Christ, by virtue of His sacrifice for our sins, presents us blameless before God (see Colossians 1:21-22).  However, in this case Paul is not speaking of “blamelessness” in the eyes of God.  He is speaking of “blamelessness” in the eyes of people.  The idea behind word is living in such a way that our lives do not cause others to stumble.  It means to have a positive rather negative impact on others. 
4. I think it is important to understand that neither of these words in verse 10 that speak to the example of Christians (“sincere…blameless”) mean that Christians must be perfect to love others.  No-one is or ever has been perfect except for Jesus, Himself.  The idea behind these words is that as Christians, we must constantly be evaluating how our lives are impacting the lives of those around us.  When we stumble and fall, as we invariably will, we seek God’s forgiveness and the forgiveness of those we have harmed, pick ourselves up, and continue living as God has called us to live.  That’s the kind of example that gives credibility to the love we express toward others. 

CHRISTIAN LOVE MUST BE EXPRESSED IN RIGHT SPIRIT

1.   Paul touched upon this idea in verse 9 where he used the word “discernment.”   But now in verse 11 he returns to the idea and deals with it in more detail.  Verse 11 tells us that love is to come from a person who has "been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ"...

2. "Fruit of righteousness" means essentially the same thing as the "fruit of the Spirit" in Galatians 5:22‑23.  When someone comes to you in spirit of love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self‑control, it's hard to reject their love.  That is the kind of spirit we should have toward others.  It is just the opposite of a harsh, judgmental, condemning, holier than thou type spirit. 
3. William Barclay makes an astute observation about the meaning of this phrase.  He writes: "There are people who are themselves faultless, but who are so harsh and hard and austere that they in the end drive people away from Christianity. There are people who are good, but they are so critical of others that they repel others from goodness. The Christian is himself pure, but his love and gentleness are such that he attracts others to the Christian way and never repeals them from it."
4. It is never enough merely to love others.  We must lover others in a way and with a spirit that is winsome and attractive to them.

CONCLUSION

1.     I do not remember where I read it, but I remember reading sometime ago about a young missionary who departed from United States for the South American country of Brazil to begin missionary service there.  On his arrival in Brazil, he met with the retiring missionary whose place was he taking.  As the two people talked, one young and idealistic and enthusiastic and the other patient and gentle and wise with years, the retiring missionary said this: "Son, I want to give you just one word of advice. When I first came to this country I didn't learn to speak language of these people very well, but I did learn one thing. I learned to love them. And that has made all the difference in the world in my ministry to them."

2.      Love is one thing every person can do.  It is, indeed, a basic requirement of Christianity.  The very best thing you can do for any person is simply to love that person.

• Love with intelligence (“real knowledge … all discernment”) 
• Love by seeking the best for others (“approve the things that are excellent”) 
• Love by setting a good example for others (“sincere … blameless”) 
• Love others with the right spirit (“filled with the fruit of righteousness”)

3.   That's exactly what Jesus had done for us.  And that is what He wants us to do for each other.  "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

Philippians Study - Session 2

Philippians Study – Session 2

(Philippians 1:3-7)

1.      Paul begins Philippians by reminding his dear friends at Philippi and by reminding us all followers of Jesus Christ share three things in common.  We are all:

            --bond-servants of Christ (v.1a)

--saints in Christ (v.1b)

--recipients of grace and peace from Christ (v.2)

All that is in the salutation to the letter that we explored in detail in our previous session.

2.      Following the salutation in verses 1-2, Paul begins the main body of this letter.  As we saw in our last session, Philippians is one of Paul’s prison epistles.  Along with Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon, it was written during a time when Paul was under arrest.   He had been falsely accused of something he did not do and as a result of the false accusation he had lost his freedom.  But amazingly, Paul does not begin this prison epistle by expressing anger or bitterness or resentment or vindictiveness toward those who falsely accused him nor is there a hint of a “poor me” attitude in what he writes. 

3.      Instead, he begins this letter by expressing feelings such as thankfulness and joy and confidence in the providence of God in his life and the lives of his readers.  Look at Philippians 1:3-7.  Most English translations of Philippians 1:3-7 break down those five verses into three sentences.  However, in the Greek that passage is one, long, complex, rambling sentence.  It is as if Paul took a deep breath and then just let flow from his heart the deep, emotional feelings he had for the Christians in Philippi. 

4.      We saw in the previous session that Philippians is the warmest, the most personal of all Paul’s letters in the New Testament.  A deep bond of fellowship existed between Paul and the Christians in Philippi.  And from this emotion packed statement at the very outset of this letter there is much for us to learn about the bond of fellowship, the bond of love, which binds us together as Christians.  For example: 

Christians are bound together by sharing common experiences.

1.      Notice how this paragraph begins in verse 3 – “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you...”  We are not told how long Paul stayed in Philippi.  He first went there on his second missionary journey.  Acts 16, which gives the account of Paul’s ministry in Philippi simply says that Paul and his traveling companions stayed “in this city for some days.” [Acts 16:12]  No doubt Paul was there long enough to share many wonderful experiences, happy times with the new Christians in Philippi.  He led them to faith in Christ.  He baptized them.  He taught them the Word of God.  No doubt Paul had those things in mind when he said, “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you...”

2.      But notice the word “all” in that statement.  That is a very significant word.  Paul was thankful not just for the good experiences he shared with the Philippians but for the difficult experiences as well.  And if you read Acts 16 you’ll see that Paul had some very hard times in Philippi.  For example he:

·        Angered some merchants in the city and was dragged by them before the local authorities

·        Received a severe public flogging that left his back raw and bruised

·        Was cast into prison

·        Was kicked out of  the city when the officials discovered that they had no right to hold him because he was a Roman citizen.

Yet, in spite of all that Paul was able to say, “I thank my God in all my remembrances of you...” 

3.   There is an important lesson for us in that for us.  We must not forget that we are bound together as much, if not more by adversity and hardship and challenge, than we are by the good times of life.

4.   I recently read several biographies of some of the men who served in Easy Company of the 506^th Parachute Infantry Regiment during World War II.  This company was made famous by Stephen Ambrose’s book and then Steven Spielberg’s and Tom Hank’s HBO miniseries The Band of Brothers.  If you read Ambrose’s book or saw the miniseries, you will recognize the names of Dick Winters, Buck Compton, and Don Malarkey.  Each of them, in their biographies about their experiences in Easy Company during the war, said that the thing that bound those men into a band of brothers was the adversity they went through together. 

5.      As strange as it may sound, the people with whom we walk in times of sorrow, difficulty, and crisis are the ones to whom we become the most closely bonded and with whom we experience the most joy.  It is not that the difficult situation--an illness or death of loved one or broken relationship or financial crisis or whatever it may be--brings joy.  The joy comes from the fellowship, the closeness of relationship that invariably develops as people walk together through difficulty. 

6.      Paul was grateful for all the experiences he had with the Christians in Philippi--the joys and the sorrows, the happy days and the sad, the good experiences and the bad—because those experiences drew them more closely together.

7.      Christians are bound together by common experiences and especially the experiences of adversity. 

Christians are bound together by sharing in a common mission.

1.   The burning desire, the magnificent obsession in Paul's life was the proclamation of the gospel.  He lived to tell the world of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus and of the eternal salvation available to those who turn to Him in repentance and faith.  That was his mission and Paul was continually driven by it.

2.   As no other church did, the Philippian church shared in and supported Paul in that mission.  Notice what Paul says to the Philippians in verse 5.  He speaks of their “...participation in the gospel from the first day until now...”  The word translated "participation" in NASB is "koinonia."  It means "a joint participation in a common interest or activity."

3.   From the very first the Philippians shared in/participated in the ministry of Paul.

·        When he first came Philippi, a merchant lady named Lydia opened her home to Paul and his companions as a base of operations.

·        When Paul left Philippi to continue his second missionary journey, they sent Paul financial support for his ministry.  According to Philippians 4:15, this was the only church Paul established to do such a thing. 

·        Now, as Paul was under arrest awaiting trial before Caesar, they sent Ephahroditus with gifts to help Paul during a difficult time. 

·        And in addition to providing financial support, they gave Paul prayer support.  In 1:19 Paul told them he was certain his imprisonment would work out okay because they were praying for them.

4.   And what is important to see in that is that Paul and Philippians were bound together by sharing in a common mission—the mission of sharing gospel of Jesus Christ with the world.

5.      Again, there is an important lesson here for us.  Christians do not stay together just because they happen to like each other or have warm feelings each other.  We stay together because of commitment to mission God has given us.  And just as sharing adversity with someone binds us to that person, sharing a common mission with someone binds us to that person.

We are bound together by sharing a common future

1.   That is the basic idea of what Paul says in verse 6.  Philippians 1:6 contains one most precious promises in Bible - "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus."

2.   Those were perilous days for Christians.  It was dangerous be identified with Christ and His church.  None of them knew what even the immediate future had in store, much less long term future.  In great statement faith Paul said, "Don't worry about tomorrow...God who began work, God who has brought us this far, not going abandon us...."

3.   There is a beautiful picture in that.  Here is the great apostle in prison, perhaps in Rome.  He was writing to favorite church, to a group people he loved very much.  And he says to them, "It's going be okay... God's work will continue no matter what happens me...trust in Him and allow Him complete his work in you..."

4.   There is a special word in that for us.  None know what future holds.  We do not know what will be happening in our lives this time next week, much less next year.  We don't know what lies before us.  But do know God is trustworthy.  He has always been trustworthy.  With complete confident we can trust our lives to His care.

5.   We as God's people share this common confidence about the future.  In the end we're going to be with Him.  In the meantime He's promised to be with us.  This confidence that we share about the future helps bind us together.

CONCLUSION

1.   There's a beautiful ancient legend, repeated for generations by the rabbis, explaining why a temple was built in certain location...two brothers lives on adjoining farms...one was married and had houseful of children, the other was a bachelor...

--after harvest the married brother and his wife were talking about how much they had be grateful for...began thinking about bachelor brother and how lonely must be without a family...decided take portion of his harvest to his brother to help make up for his lonely condition...

--at same time, bachelor brother thinking about his good crop, the blessings he had, and his life of ease...began thinking about his married brother and how hard must be care for his family and the extra responsibilities he had...decided to take portion of his harvest to his brother to help make his life less difficult...

2.   Each brother, unknown to the other, set off on their missions of mercy...as they moved toward each other's homes, they met in a field...at that meeting place the rabbis said is where the temple was built...they called it the spot where love met...

3.      And that is what a Christian fellowship should be--the place where love meets.  Wherever God’s people gather, we should find people who are bound together by--

--common experiences in Christ...

--a common commitment to the mission of Christ...

--a common future secured by Christ...