Paul's Epistles – Philippians - Part 2: Thanksgiving and Prayer

Paul's Epistles – Philippians - Part 2:

Thanksgiving and Prayer

Pastor Bruce A. Shields

House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org

SERMON INTRODUCTION

Paul’s epistle (letter) to the Philippians is very important to the Gentiles. It was written to the first church founded in Europe (Acts 16:9-40).

Though not generally considered one of the most remarkable or deepest books of the bible, it is considered one of the sweetest of Paul’s writings.

It is more in the nature of a love letter to the Philippians, who had excelled all others in devoted attachment to Paul. Throughout this letter we get a glimpse into the apostle’s heart.

THE CHURCH

The Philippian church was noted for its generosity. It had repeatedly ministered to Paul (6:15 & 16).

Hearing Paul was imprisoned in Rome they sent help again by the hands of Epaphroditus (6:10 & 18), who, however, was struck down on his arrival by an almost fatal illness. Somehow news of this illness had reached Philippi, to their dismay, and on his recovery, Epaphroditus was anxious to reassure them in person (11:25-28), so Paul write this letter for him to take.

So this letter was written by Paul while in prison in Rome, and given to Epaphroditus to be taken back to the church in Philippi.

TODAY’S SERMON

Today we look at Paul’s Thanksgiving (or being grateful) and his prayer for the church in Phillipi.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE Philippians 1:3-11

 I thank my God every time I remember you. ⁴ In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy ⁵ because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, ⁶ being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

⁷ It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. ⁸ God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

⁹ And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, ¹⁰ so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, ¹¹ filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

Paul opened his letter with a salutation to all, reminding the church they were not 2 factions, there was no “real” division, only a perceived one, created through sin.

The overall message of this epistle to the church is;

“Christian unity to be maintained at all costs”.

    I.      I THANK GOD ECVERYTIME I REMEMBER YOU

a. In all my prayers for ALL of you

                                                                                                               i. I always pray with joy

                                                                                                            ii. Because of your partnership in the Gospel from Day 1 until now

                                                                                                         iii. And I am confident in this;

b. He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion

                                                                                                               i. Until the Day of Christ Jesus

c. Why was this statement important?

                                                                                                               i. Division in the church over false doctrine of “instant perfection” as opposed to the true doctrine of Gradual Work of Holy Spirit.

1. This false doctrine is dangerous (as all false doctrines)

2. If you teach people are instantly perfect when they come to the Lord, and they are not, this proves 1 of two things to new converts.

a. The whole “God-thing” is not true

b. I am not worthy enough for God so why try

                                                                                                            ii. Dissension in unity of Body between two women

1. Paul writes, when there is no unity in the Body, God cannot use you.

II.      YOU ARE IN MY HEART

a. It is right for me to feel this way about ALL of you

                                                                                                               i. Again and again Paul uses the term “ALL of you”, to imply there is no true division in the body, only dissension, pride or arrogance that needs to be dealt with.

                                                                                                            ii. In the case of False Doctrine, correction can be made through scripture

                                                                                                         iii. In the case where people are the problem, correction must be made on an individual level

1. i.e. examining yourself

2. casting down imaginations exalting against Christ as the Head

a. pride

b. arrogance

c. selfishness

d. self-centeredness

e. hate

f. Unforgiveness

g. Envy

h. Etc..

b. Whether in chains, defending or confirming the Gospel

                                                                                                               i. ALL of you share in God’s grace with me

1. Paul thanking the church for their financial support, and their continual generosity

2. Paul states that those who give to the church get to share in what the church accomplishes, even if they are not the ones preaching.

3. i.e. our Truthdigest.org website 20,000+ visitors

4. our SermonCentral.com website – 398,000+ views

5. our church website – thousands of visitors

6. our facebook page – followers and shares

7. our twitter – followers and shares

8. Google+ followers and shares

9. And every Sunday service

10. Every Bible Study

11. Every Seminary student who graduates

a. This little church has effected about half a million people DIRECTLY!

b. Whose lives have they touched??

c. God knows how I long for ALL of you

                                                                                                               i. With the affection of Christ Jesus

                                                                                                            ii. LIT. God is my record how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.

1. What was Christ Jesus’ affection?

a. A deep longing INSIDE

b. The way Christ longs for people to have salvation

c. What would stop Jesus? Nothing

d. What would stop Paul? Nothing as well

III.      THIS IS MY PRAYER

a. That your love may abound more and more in

                                                                                                               i. Knowledge

1. Meaning they educate themselves on what love IS

a. I Corinthians 13

                                                                                                            ii. And depth of insight

1. Come to a full understanding of the knowledge so they could apply it

2. Therefore squashing dissensions

3. Preventing division

4. Ending senseless feuds

5. How? Because these things come about because people are not ACTING in love

6. Paul’s hope was they would educate themselves on what love is, then come to an understanding so that they would treat each other the way they were supposed to.

7. Remember, Paul’s overall message to the Philippian church is “Christian unity to be maintained at all costs”.

                                                                                                         iii. So Paul prays their love would abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight…

b. So that you may be able to discern what is best

                                                                                                               i. And therefore be pure and blameless for the Day of Christ

                                                                                                            ii. What is best? UNITY in the Body of Christ

                                                                                                         iii. What is best? Without unity God cannot use us

c. Filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ

                                                                                                               i. To the glory and praise of God

                                                                                                            ii. This discernment comes from the Holy Spirit, it is a fruit of Righteousness

                                                                                                         iii. Not our righteousness, but the righteousness of Christ when we submit to Him and the will of God.

CONCLUSION – thanksgiving and prayer for this thanksgiving

Paul brings the sense of unity in the church by addressing them as “ALL” repeatedly.

He addresses the error of false doctrine of instant perfection by stating he is confident that Christ who BEGAN and work would continue it until PERFECTION on the Day of Christ.

And with issues between congregation members not getting along, he brings into the equation, a prayer for true knowledge of love, and the depth of insight on how to apply that knowledge to our lives to keep peace and unity among the Body of Christ at all costs, so we can be used by God for the Kingdom.

Want to learn more about Salvation and Getting Saved?    CLICK HERE!

Paul's Epistles – Philippians - Part 1: Introduction to Philippians

Paul's Epistles – Philippians - Part 1:

Introduction to Philippians

Pastor Bruce A. Shields

House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org

SERMON INTRODUCTION

Paul’s epistle (letter) to the Philippians is very important to the Gentiles. It was written to the first church founded in Europe (Acts 16:9-40).

Though not generally considered one of the most remarkable or deepest books of the bible, it is considered one of the sweetest of Paul’s writings.

It is more in the nature of a love letter to the Philippians, who had excelled all others in devoted attachment to Paul. Throughout this letter we get a glimpse into the apostle’s heart.

THE CHURCH

The Philippian church was noted for its generosity. It had repeatedly ministered to Paul (6:15 & 16).

Hearing Paul was imprisoned in Rome they sent help again by the hands of Epaphroditus (6:10 & 18), who, however, was struck down on his arrival by an almost fatal illness. Somehow news of this illness had reached Philippi, to their dismay, and on his recovery, Epaphroditus was anxious to reassure them in person (11:25-28), so Paul write this letter for him to take.

So this letter was written by Paul while in prison in Rome, and given to Epaphroditus to be taken back to the church in Philippi.

TODAY’S SERMON

Today we will look at the Salutation in the beginning of the letter to all, and examine the basic outline of the letter in its entirety.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE Philippians 1:1&2

¹ Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,

To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers (Elders) and deacons:

² Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul opens his letter with a salutation to all.

The overall message of this epistle to the church is;

“Christian unity to be maintained at all costs”.

    I.      BREAKDOWN OF THE EPISTLE TO PHILIPPI

a. The letter opens with a Salutation to ALL

                                                                                                               i. Paul goes out of his way to emphasize that he was writing this letter to ALL God’s holy people IN Christ Jesus. 

                                                                                                            ii. A nod to the “Body of Christ” located in Philippi

b. Then a prayer for ALL

                                                                                                               i. In 1:3-11 Paul writes his prayer

                                                                                                            ii. He prays for the church in Philippi;

1. With joy

2. For more love

3. Not a blind love

4. Have good taste

5. Sincere

6. And to be filled with the fruits

c. Then encouragement to ALL

                                                                                                               i. In 1:12-30 we see Christ Glorified through Paul’s imprisonment an encouragement to ALL

                                                                                                            ii. His imprisonment led to wide distribution of the Gospel

                                                                                                         iii. Paul exposes those who preach with unworthy motive

                                                                                                           iv. He tells of his love for the Lord

                                                                                                              v. And if others suffered, it would also glorify the Lord, provided they were ONE.

d. Then shows Christ as an example to ALL

                                                                                                               i. Paul them shows Christ’s lowliness and humility to be an example to ALL

                                                                                                            ii. Pride is the foe of unity in the church

                                                                                                         iii. He explains the humility of the Lord is an example to them in 2:1-5

                                                                                                           iv. His seven-fold humiliation and exaltation in 2:6-11

                                                                                                              v. The effects of this should be

1. Humility

2. Lowliness of heart (not lifting yourself above another)

3. Lowliness of mind (not thinking you are above another)

4. This alone is the cure for Spiritual pride

e. Paul then gives warnings for ALL

                                                                                                               i. Paul warns in 3:1-3 against false teachers (motives & doctrine)

                                                                                                            ii. Against self-righteousness in 3:4-6

                                                                                                         iii. Against Absolute instead of progressive perfection in 3:7-14 along with 1:6&9 and 2:12-13

                                                                                                           iv. And against false professors in 3:15-19

f. Exhortations for ALL

                                                                                                               i. In 4:1-20 Paul exhorts ALL (God’s holy people IN Jesus Christ 1:1) Paul instructs the Body of Christ on

1. Unity 4:1-3

2. Rejoicing 4:4

3. Self control 4:5

4. Peace of God 4:6&7

5. WHAT to think on 4:8

6. And finally contentment and its source 4:11-14

g. Paul then closes his letter with Greetings from ALL and to ALL

                                                                                                               i. “Every saint” saluted

                                                                                                            ii. “All saints” send salutations

                                                                                                         iii. Saints even in Caesar’s household

II.      PAULS OBJECTIVES

a. The objective of this letter was 2 fold

                                                                                                               i. First to thank Philippi for their generous gift

                                                                                                            ii. Secondly on a serious note, Paul had learned through Epaphroditus dissention had broken out in the church, which threatens not just the peace of the church…but the churches usefulness!

b. Notes & Observations

                                                                                                               i. Notes about this letter, Women, right from the beginning, had an important place in the church. Two of the leading women had fallen out 4:2

                                                                                                            ii. The dissention in the church was more than likely from the teaching of instant perfection as opposed to the true scriptural doctrine of progressive perfection.

                                                                                                         iii. Apparently the church had taken sides and split into divisions

                                                                                                           iv. Paul’s letter focuses on bringing them back to unity.

1. He refuses to recognize two parties

2. He did NOT lecture the two women, but speaks the truth throughout the letter and bringing them to light near the end.

3. Instead of lecturing them, he fills their minds with our Lord’s greatness.

4. And the Lord’s lowliness, meekness and long-suffering

a. 1:27

b. 2:1-3

c. 3:15&16

d. 4:2

c. Success in unifying

                                                                                                               i. Ephesians (we just finished) speaks of the Body of Christ, and the mystic unity existing between Christ and the Church.

                                                                                                            ii. Philippians shows how that unity can be broken or maintained

III.      NOTABLE POINTS TO REMEMBER

a. There is not one quotation from the Old Testament in this letter

b. The words “joy” and “rejoice” are used in every chapter

c. The word “mind” is used very often as well

d. The “Spirit” is only mentioned three times, but they are very important passages

                                                                                                               i. Supply of the Spirit

                                                                                                            ii. Fellowship of the Spirit

                                                                                                         iii. Worship by the Spirit

CONCLUSION – christian unity to be maintained at all costs

As Paul sees the errors of this church (1. Dissension over false doctrine and 2. The two women fallen), he corrects their focus, and brings unity back into the church by writing about the Lord’s position on pride, and the dangers of acting, or even thinking you are above another.

As expected, humility, and true doctrine save the church.

Want to learn more about Salvation and Getting Saved?    CLICK HERE!