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Philippians Chapter 1Memory
verses for this week: 1
John 1:6 If we say that
we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do
not the truth: 1 John 1:7 But
if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship
one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us
from all sin. Introduction: We finished our study in Ephesians last week discussing the armour that God gives every believer in our battle with Satan. This week we begin a new study as Paul writes to the believers in the church in Philippi. I. The Opening Salutation Philippians 1 Paul
and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in
Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: 2Grace
be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus
Christ. Paul identifies himself along with Timothy as
servants of the Lord Jesus Christ.
When we are truly servants of Jesus Christ, there is a pride
associated with serving the Lord.
There are teachers, deacons, pastors, and other officers in
the church. But
truly, we are all just servants of the Lord.
At Philippi, Paul’s apostleship had never been questioned
as it had in other places. Paul
addresses the letter to ‘all the saints’ in Philippi, making
mention of the bishops and deacons in the salutation. This verse shows how that there are truly only two
official officers in churches, that being bishops and deacons. The qualifications for these officers are found in I Timothy. 1
Timothy 3:1-13 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of
a bishop, he desireth a good work. 2 A bishop then must be
blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good
behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre;
but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in
subjection with all gravity; 5 (For if a man know not how to rule
his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) 6 Not a
novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the
condemnation of the devil. 7
Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest
he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. 8 Likewise must
the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not
greedy of filthy lucre; 9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure
conscience. 10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use
the office of a deacon, being found blameless. 11 Even so must their
wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. 12
Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children
and their own houses well. 13 For they that have used the office of
a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great
boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
As is the case today, some of the churches in
Paul’s day have more than one bishop or one deacon.
Some of the bishops were called elders.
A church may have many preachers in it, but there is to be
but one pastor. Our
church is an example of that with the Pastor and two other members
who are preachers. (Dan Halog and Roy Damron.) Acts
20:17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of
the church. Acts
15:6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of
this matter.
II.
The Thanksgiving
3I thank my God upon every remembrance of
you, 4Always in every prayer of
mine for you all making
request with joy,
Paul
said he was thankful for this group of believers every time he
thought of them. We
should so live for the Lord that others think kindly and with love
towards us when they are absent from us.
Paul said that the “Thanked God” for them because this
church had helped him in the work of the Lord.
Verse 4 points out that Paul prayed for them on a continual
basis. In our
prayers, we should remember one another.
It is good to remember the sick, and we are commanded in
scripture to pray for the sick, but we should also pray for the
believers that we might all grow in our work for the Lord.
Prayer has so much power, and we should be constantly in
prayer with God. Jesus
set the example in that he prayed for His Disciples. John
17:9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which
thou hast given me; for they are thine. 5For your fellowship in the gospel from
the first day until now; 6Being confident of this very
thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it
until the day of Jesus Christ: 7Even as it is meet for me
to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch
as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the
gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace. Paul knew the effect the church was having
on those there in Philippi with the gospel of Jesus Christ, and he
says that he is thankful for their fellowship in the work of the
Lord. This
fellowship was from the first day they were saved until now
as he writes the letter.
These fine Christians had helped Paul financially from the
very beginning. It
is such a blessing for preachers and missionaries to have faithful
support from the churches.
The gospel could not go forth into all the world if we were
not willing to give to help those men who are abroad establishing
new works and preaching the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
And Paul was not unthankful for all they had done, but said
he thanks God for these people.
Paul points out that this good work of the Philippians
originated in God’s Grace, and he was confident that what God had
begun, he would finish it. His
words were “you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ”
referring to the return of Christ prior to the seven years of
Tribulation which will soon be coming to earth.
We can be confident that any work God starts, He will finish.
One of my favorite verses in the bible was written by Paul
with the leadership of the Holy Spirit over in II Timothy. 2
Tim 1:12 For the which
cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for
I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to
keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. Verse
6 talks of how Paul was confident in this very thing… Are we confident that God will do his part in our lives.
I was reading J. Vernon McGee’s commentary last night, and
he told how that when he was called into the ministry, it was during
the great depression and there appeared to be no way he would be
able to go. J.
Vernon McGee’s Commentary: Because
this is my life verse and therefore very meaningful to me, I hope
you won’t mind if I tell you about it. I was a very poor boy when
I went away to college. My dad had been killed in an accident in a
cotton gin when I was fourteen years old. My mother took my sister
and me to Nashville, Tennessee. I had to get a permit that allowed a
boy of fourteen to go to work, and I worked for a wholesale hardware
concern. I had to be up by five o’clock in the morning to pick up
the mail and have it sorted and on the desks of all the officials in
each department. I should have been in school, and I wanted to go to
school. Later I had the privilege of going back to school because a
wonderful friend acted as a father to me. He had a son who was a
drunkard. He had wanted his son to get a college education, but he
didn’t; so the man helped me get a job, and I was able to go to
college. Every year I thought it would be my last year. I never
thought God would see me through—I had very little faith. The last
year I was in college was during the depression; 1928 and 1929 were
bad years. I couldn’t get a job and had no money. On graduation day, after receiving my degree, I
returned to my room in the dormitory, still in my cap and gown, and
sat dejectedly on the edge of my bed. My roommate came and asked,
“What in the world—did somebody die?” I said, “Just as well
to. I thought God had called me to the ministry. I’m through
college, the depression has hit, and I don’t even have a job for
this summer. I haven’t a dime to go to seminary next year.”
While we were still talking, the phone rang. It was for me. On the
other end of the line was a dear little lady who asked me to stop by
her home where she lived with her sister. They were both widows, and
they looked as if they had come out of the antebellum days. They
attended the church where I taught a class of intermediate boys, and
I herded the boys into the church service every Sunday morning. The
sisters sat in the pew behind us, and I always thought they
disapproved. But in their home that day each handed me an envelope
in memory of her husband. I left as soon as it was polite to go,
hurried around the corner, and opened the envelopes. The first
contained a check for $250; I hurriedly opened the other envelope
and found another check for $250. Do you know what $500 was like
during the depression? I felt like a millionaire! That night the Sunday school had a banquet for me, a
farewell banquet, and they gave me a check for $100. So now I had
$600! That is the money with which I went to seminary the next year.
That night at the banquet someone gave me this verse: “Being
confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work
in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” That has
been my life verse ever since that night. Now let’s consider this verse for a moment. “Being confident” is causative and could be
translated, “Since I am
confident of this very thing”—Paul knew what he was talking
about. Now, my friend, let me ask you this: Is this
practical for you and me? I don’t know what your circumstances
are, but if you are a child of God, I am sure you can testify that
God has brought you up to the present moment, hasn’t He? Can’t
you look back over your life and see how He has led you and provided
for you? Then why should you be concerned about tomorrow? Do you
think He is going to let you down now? I confess that this was my
thinking when I finished college. I felt called to the ministry, but there was no
possible way for me to go on to seminary. However, I had a wonderful
heavenly Father who, through Philippians 1:6, put His arms around me
and said, “I’ll see you through.” And I want to testify today that He is still keeping
His promise. It has been a comfort to me since I have had several
bouts with cancer to know that my heavenly Father said, “Being
confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work
in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” He is a
good Doctor also; in fact, He is the Great Physician, and He has
said, “Whatever I have in store for you, I’m going to see you
through until the day of Jesus Christ.” So I am in His hands.
III.
Paul’s Prayer
8For God is my record, how greatly I long
after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.
Paul
longed to be with these Christian friends.
I know when I am away from home I have a tremendous desire to
be back home with my family and Christian friends…. Where you have
support and people love you. This
was what Paul refers to here as he longs to be back with them. Albert
Barnes in Barnes Notes commented about the term of longing after
them in the bowels of Jesus Christ. Title: Barnes Notes on the New Testament Author: Barnes, Albert In the bowels of Jesus Christ—The word “bowels,” in the Scriptures denotes and strongest expression which he could find to
denote the ardor of his attachment. In
the next few verses, Paul prays for four things. In verse 9, he prays that their love may abound more
and more. 9And this I pray, that your love may
abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; Jesus
commands that we love one another. John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. 1 Corinthians 13:1Though I speak
with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am
become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have
the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all
knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove
mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow
all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be
burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 4 Charity
suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth
not itself, is not puffed up, 5
Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily
provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but
rejoiceth in the truth; 7
Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things,
endureth all things. 8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be
prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall
cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. Charity (love) is the greatest gift a Christian can
have. Matthew 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. 2
Timothy 3:4
Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; We are to have love foremost for God, but we find
there in II Timothy that in the end times, men will be lovers of
pleasure more than lovers of God.
I believe we can see that all around us today. The second thing he prays is that they may approve
things that are excellent. 10That
ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and
without offence till the day of Christ; The
third thing he prays is that they may be sincere. How
can we be sincere and without offence?
We have to bring our bodies under subjection each day, and
renew our minds in the things of the Lord. 1 Cor 9:25 And every man
that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they
do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 1 Cor 9:26 I therefore
so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the
air: 1 Cor 9:27 But I keep
under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means,
when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. Joshua
called for the people to serve the Lord in sincerity and truth. Joshua 24:14 Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. The
fourth thing he prays for them is to be filled with the fruits of
righteousness. 11Being
filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ,
unto the glory and praise of God. The
only way we can be filled with righteousness is by having Christ as
our Lord and Savior and living according to His Word.
It we have those four things listed above, we will bring
glory and honor to God. Those
four were: 1.
Our Love may abound more and more 2.
That we might approve things that are more excellent. 3.
That we might be sincere 4.
That we might be filled with the fruits of righteousness. IV.
What was Accomplished by Paul being in Prison 12But I would ye should understand,
brethren, that the things which happened Could
God use Paul’s imprisonment there in Rome for good? I don’t think we realize all the good that God accomplishes
when we go through difficult times.
Paul says that because of him being imprisoned, the Gospel
had been carried to places it had never been before.
By his bonds, the gospel was preached in the palace and all
places. I’m
sure you can look back in your life and see the molding God made in
your life at times when he put the pressure on you.
Those are hard times, but God works it to good for us. 14And many of the brethren in the Lord,
waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word
without fear. Many
of the brethren had been strengthened by Paul’s bonds and were
much more bold to speak the word without fear. Acts 4:19 But Peter and John
answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God
to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. 20 For we cannot
but speak the things which we have seen and heard. Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the other
apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. 15Some indeed preach Christ even of envy
and strife; and some also of good will: 16The one preach
Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to
my bonds: 17But the other of love, knowing that I am set
for the defence of the gospel. 18What then?
notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ
is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. Paul
didn’t know if the reason the gospel was being preached was in
pretence or in truth, but this he did know.
Christ was being preached, and when that happens, men and
women are going to be saved.
Paul rejoiced because the truth was preached about Christ. 19For I know that this shall turn to my
salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus
Christ, 20According to my earnest expectation and my
hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all
boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my
body, whether it be by life, or by death. The
word salvation Paul uses here in verse19 is in reference to his
physical deliverance. Paul
at this point still had the hope that he would be freed from his
bonds. But no matter what happened, he said that he wanted to
magnify Christ with his body, whether by his life or by his death.
Do you have that kind of dedication to God?
It takes the grace of God to have that kind of dedication.
I heard a preacher one time say that if you’re
willing to die for Jesus, will you live for him if God chooses to
let you live? That
should be our desire.. walk in righteousness and make our lives
count for God. It
won’t be easy, but God will be honored if we will live separated
lives that make a difference. 21For
to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22But if I
live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall
choose I wot not. 23For I am in a strait Paul
testifies that an extension of his life was not something he greatly
desired, but his desire was to depart and to be with Christ which
was great gain. But if
God chose to keep him here on earth for the churches, he was willing
to remain that he might encourage and exhort them on to a greater
service to the Lord. His
terminology was “Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more
needful for you” meaning those Philippians there in the church of
Philippi. V.
The Exhortation
27Only let your conversation be as it
becometh the gospel of Christ: that Paul’s
desire is that their manner of life would be such that was worthy of
the gospel of Christ. He
wanted them to make their lives count for Jesus. Philippians 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 28And
in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an
evident token Paul
asks them to Stand fast in one spirit and to have the same mind.
What mind is that? The mind of Christ. Philippians 2:5
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I beseech
you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all
speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but
that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the
same judgment.
Paul
also wanted them to strive together for the faith of the gospel.
Not individuals, but together to accomplish this. Mark 3:25 And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And he wanted them to stand against Satan and not be afraid of their enemy. Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are
not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to
destroy both soul and body in hell. In
verse 29, Paul warns them that they would suffer for Christ.
If they crucified our Savior, we should not be surprised when
we are not too popular with the masses. Matthew 5:10 Blessed are
they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is
the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are
ye, when men shall revile
you, and persecute you,
and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for
great is your reward in
heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
2 Corinthians 11:23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. 24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. John 15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me
before it hated you.
19 If ye were of the world, the world would
love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen
you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20 Remember
the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his
lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if
they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. 21 But
all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because
they know not him that sent me. Internet Bible Studies are prepared and
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If you have questions or wish to discuss the lessons, or
possibly need help in finding Jesus Christ as your Personal Lord and
Savior, contact David Parham at 940-322-4343. Prov 4:18
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