Philippians 1:1-11 The Good Work Of God

 

Intro: One of the main themes the book of Philippians is JOY

A)The City of Philippi was located in the area of Macedonia –now the  northern most province of  GREECE/ bordering Albania 

 

B) In ancient times it was in a gold mining area. After 400 B.C., Philip II of Macedon seized the mines, fortified the city, and named it for himself.

1)   Philippi, along with the rest of Macedonia, came under Roman control

     after 200 B.C./  Philippi became an official Roman Colony

 

C) Paul journeyed there on his 2nd missionary journey – Philippi was the first Church Paul started in the Continent of Europe

 

Started w/ a vision :

A)Ministry needs Vision : W/ out  a vision the People perish –

Hab. 2:2 Write the Vision …………. 

 

B) In this case it was a literal vision of a man from Macedonia – calling for Paul to come.

 1) Now it is interesting to note that Paul has a vision of a man in Macedonia – calling out –

 

C) But the  first people He comes in contact w/ is a group of women – Lydia & her friends meeting by the River

  1) Lydia was a businesswoman – seller of Purple from Thyatira

 

D)Lesson: Things are not always what they seem: Our first trip to Yugo – minister in  existing Churches that maybe were interested in becoming

1)    1) We weren’t going to start New ones – First Church was Yugo –

 

So Paul was meeting w/ Lydia & her friends – when this Demon Possessed girl shows up –

A)She starts spouting off about Paul & Silas being servants of God – Paul kind of Ignores her for a few days – finally says stop

B) Cast the demon out of her / she is saved –

1)   But this caused problems because this particular girl was a slave girl who made her masters a lot of money from Fortune telling

 

C) So they end up Protesting against Paul & Silas – they end up being beaten and thrown into Prison

1)   Paul & Silas Prison – Singing at Midnight – Doors open –

 

D) Jailer wakes up sees doors open thinks all the prisoners have escaped & takes out his sword to Kill himself – Paul calls out – don’t We’re all here

1)   The Jailer gets saved & his whole house hold

 

That was the beginning of that Church / Started w/ a Unique group of people 

A)Lydia a rich lady / A Demon Possessed girl

      A Jailer who was probably a Roman

 

B) Imagine the Church Pot lucks & Love feast

    Lydia shows up w/ some of her rich business  friends

 

C) The slave girl shows up w/ witches / people in the occult & the Jailer shows up w/ sheriffs department / Forbes / Hells Angels/ Police

  1) Love song Long hair short hair / coats & ties

 

D)Just like what God does w/ the Church Unique group of People coming together to form the body of Christ

 

Also Note : The man from Macedonia Possible it was Luke/ They – all the way thru – Acts until v.11 We

A)So some think the man from Macedonia was actually Doctor Luke –

 

B) One more thing to note: Philippians is one of the Prison Epistles Paul writing from his Prison cell in Rome ( House Arrest)

1)      Paul is in Chains – guarded – But his attitude is incredibly Positive

                         READ V.1

Paul & Timothy – Dynamic Duo / Batman & Robin / Lone Ranger & Tanto – Church – Paul & Timothy / 6 of Paul’s letters …greeting

A) When Timothy was a child, his mother Eunice and his grandmother Lois taught him the Scriptures (2 Tim. 1:5; 3:15).

 

B)A native of Lystra, he may have been converted on Paul’s first missionary journey (Acts 14:6-23). Paul referred to Timothy as his child in the faith     1)Which  probably means that Paul was instrumental in Timothy’s conversion.

 

C) When Paul came to Lystra on his second journey, Timothy had grown into  a disciple who was well-respected by the believers (Acts 16:1-2).

1)   So Paul asked Timothy to accompany him / it was on this Journey to Philippi that Timothy Joined Paul’s ministry team

 

D) So Timothy had a History w/ the Church there in Philippi

 

Paul & Timothy

A)It is a good thing to be a Timothy & to have a Paul in your life

 

B) Big on Discipleship: Take someone under your wing !!!

1)   I thank the Lord for the influence of Richard / Brian / Jon Courson

 

C) It is good to be a Timothy but it is also good to be a Paul –

1)   Peer relationships – Peter & John / discipleship relationships / Paul & Timothy / Paul & Titus – Commissioned to make Disciples

 

D) Discipleship Ministry: Formal – also Spontaneous friend saved you should be the one to Disciple them

1)   All of us need to graduate – to be a Paul – taking a younger bro / sister under our wing –

 

2 Tim. 2 1You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

Paul & Timothy Bondservants of Jesus Christ

A)A Bondservant is a servant by choice – 7yrs go free / but if he loved his master –he could choose to remain his servant / MARKED MAN

 

B) Paul said we are Bondservants / willing servants of JC !!! MARKED

1)   Some people serve the Lord out of a sense of DUTY!! They sign up to serve at a particular time & place

 

C) A bondservant serves out of a sense of DEVOTION – He serves because the love of Christ has so captured his heart

1)   He wants to impart that love to others thru any means possible

 

A regular servant – serves because that is his Job / it is title / a Bondservant serves because that is who he is / it is what he is

A)He is never “off duty” never goes on vacation – He serves Christ in the context of the Church & the ministries he is involved w/

 

B) He serves Christ in the context of his family/ On the Job as a witness looking for opportunities – SHINE & SHARE!!!

 

C) Paul & Timothy were Bondservants – who they were –

1)   Which capacity are you serving Christ?

 

WRITTEN TO: TO THE SAINTS W/ BISHOPS & DEACONS

A)Saints = Set apart one / HOLY / Set apart to the Lord & from the world -  Speaks of Ownership / Intimacy

 

B)It is word that speaks of what we are Positionally because of Christ  – Holy

1)      It is also a word that speaks of what we are to be Practically / People who are Set apart not just to the Lord / but for the Lord

 

C) For service & Usefulness  { Favorite – the People the light shines thru

1)   It is a shame that we don’t use this term any more such a special term –

Catholic abuses / Protestant Church dropped it

So writing to the Saints WITH the Bishops & the Deacons

A)Bishops = overseers – Leadership team / Deacons servants – those who serve in practical ways/ Read  v.2

 

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

 

B)Grace & peace: Siamese twins of NT / always together always in that order – why?  Grk Charis / Hebrew Shalom

1)   Grace is who God is Peace is the result of Knowing Him !!!

 

C) When we were enemies God showed grace sending Son / so that we could experience Peace / peace w/ God / peace with in !!!        READ V.3-7

 

Now here we see the Mark of a true minister – Guys in school listen up

A)Paul says v.3 I have you on my mind – v. 4 I have you in my prayers

    v.7 I have you in MY HEART

 

B) That is the mark of a true Shepherd: True Minister the people that you are ministering too – will be on your Mind / in your prayers / on your heart

1)   Motto for Pastors / Sunday school / Home group leaders : Think about them/ Pray for them / AND LOVE ON THEM !!!!

 

C) Now when Paul thought about the Church in Philippi – it was Good thoughts : Heart filled w/ Thankfulness & Joy why? 3 reasons

 

1st v.5 for their FELLOWSHIP in the gospel – PARTNERSHIP

A)They partnered w/ Paul in several ways – One was thru their financial support – ( Weekly missions offering )

 

B) We partner together thru our giving –

 

C) Another was thru their sharing of the gospel – They had displayed a pattern of faithfulness in Ministry

1)   From the very first day until now –

 

2nd reason Paul’s heart was filled w/ Joy when He thought of this Church was v.6 Paul was confident that He who had begun a good work in them would complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

 

A)This is one of the most encouraging verses in the Bible:

 

B) What has taken place in our lives / in our Church is a work of God

1)   God began it !!! – Saw us in Sin / Sent His Son to rescue / Sent Spirit to Convict / He Draws us

 

C) He began the work & He is committed to seeing it thru to the end !!!

     1) Won’t leave us or forsake us !!!!!

Joshua 23; 14“Behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth. And you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one thing has failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spoke concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one word of them has failed.

 

Paul’s confidence is not so much in members of the Church at Philippi His confidence is in the God of the Church at Philippi

A)His confidence is in the work of God in them / among them & thru them

 

LJ My guarantee is in nothing less than the Character of God Himself. My confidence is based upon the  holiness & the righteousness & power of God. God never starts a work & leaves it unfinished for that would be a contradiction of His very Character

 

B) God is unlike us – we start things all the time & leave them unfinished

  1)How many of you have unfinished projects at home / books not read thru

 

C) God follows thru – He is the committed to the work He began in us /

       He is the author & Finisher of our Faith

1)   We can be so faithless / He is faithful / We can be so flaky / but He is

     stable / We can be so Fickle – But He is Unchanging

 

D) Incredibly comforting truth – rest in tonight – struggling / condemned

Takes all the Pressure off of me as a Pastor – Concerning work at CCV – God began it / He is going to finish it / Good work in me

A)My goal is stay one step behind Him !!!!

 

B) Until the day of Christ Jesus: We are being prepared & fashioned for the day of Jesus Christ – He comes & sets up His kingdom

  1) Everything is leading up to that day !!!

 

So Paul was rejoicing in their service / rejoicing in God’s work in them

3rd v.7 Rejoiced in the fact that they were partakers of Grace

 

So Paul is encouraging them for their service / their partnership in the work of the gospel – but in v.8 he sort of shifts gears

A)He told them they were on his mind / warm thoughts / they were in his heart/ Joyous feelings

 

B) But before they would start to think – you know we are really alright we are really together –

1)   Paul says you are in my prayers & this is what I am praying v.8-11

 

C) AFFECTION of Jesus Christ – That is what we need to have for people

1)   Affection = Bowels or the inner most parts

 

The greeks used that word to speak of the seat of Violent passions

The Jews …. To speak of the seat of tender affections

A)In other words it is used of feelings that went way below the surface / it speaks of a love that runs deep!!!

 

B) Used of Jesus – he had compassion on the Multitude / the Leper – He hurt or was deeply concerned inside for them

1)   Not something that can be manufactured / it is birthed by the HS & developed by the HS

 

C) But it is fostered the more around the body that we are !!! More vulnerable  / So Paul says this is my prayer for you Love would grow