Philippians 1:9-11
Preached Wednesday March 20, 2013

Introduction:

Selfishness and the “Poochie Lip” often attack us as we slog through this sin cursed world. Our study through this Epistle written by Paul while he was in a roman prison helps us to readjust our thinking.

? Joy is mentioned 4 times
? Rejoice mentioned 8 times
? Glad mentioned 3 times

The key to finding this joy is found by having a Christ-like mindset.

Chapter 1 – The Single Mind
Chapter 2 – The Submissive Mind
Chapter 3 – The Spiritual Mind
Chapter 4 – The Secure Mind

Chapter 1 tells us that we should have a single mind focused on the Gospel. If we are preoccupied with both the blessings of and the spreading of the Gospel, it would make sense that inner joy would be a natural result of that kind of mindset. The first thirteen verses of this chapter center around the “Fellowship of the Gospel”. The term fellowship means a joint participation in a common interest and activity. So to fellowship with believers should be more than just having food… it is action shared to reach a common goal. The beginning of this chapter shows us that as we are single minded toward the gospel, we should be sharing together in common interest and activity of the gospel. We first discovered that both the servants, those involved in vocational ministry, and the saints, have the same fellowship. They are united to help each other serve God and spread the Gospel through the local assembly. The path to Christian joy is found through a single mind focused on the Gospel. The best way to accomplish that is to have joint participation, fellowship, shared action around the common activity of the gospel within the local church. There are three facets of this single minded fellowship of the Gospel that we have been examining are these:

• The fellowship of Praise – Philippians 1:3-6
• The fellowship of Grace – Philippians 1:7-7, 12-13
• The fellowship of Prayer – Philippians 1:9-11

Tonight we will discover that Christian joy can be experienced as we share a single mind focused on the fellowship of intercessory prayer.

I. Pray that love may abound.

Philippians 1:9 (AV)
9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;

A. The Love that God produced.

1 John 4:16 (AV)
16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

B. More and more = running over like a cup that can no longer contain

C. Love based on experiential knowledge of Jesus. Something that can only grow through spending time getting the experience Jesus.

Romans 5:5 (AV)
5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

D. In Judgment = sensitive moral perception – insight

Ephesians 5:17 (AV)
17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

E. All of this will enable you to love others more.

II. Pray that believers will approve excellent things.

Philippians 1:10 (AV)
10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;

A. Approve = discern what is best = from the Greek – testing

Romans 12:2 (AV)
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

B. Excellent = spiritual concepts and actions which involve delicate and keen distinctions.

III. Pray that believers would reflect praise back to God with their lives.

Philippians 1:10–11 (AV)
… that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; 11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

A. Sincere = distinct, unmixed, pure – nothing distracting or polluting your commitment to Jesus.

B. No Offence = not cut against/ not stumbled upon.

Romans 16:17 (AV)
17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

C. Endurance – Paul prays for this kind of stability and commitment to last till the day of Christ.

D. Filled with the fruits of righteousness

Colossians 1:5–6 (AV)
5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; 6 Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:

Galatians 5:22–23 (AV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

1. This fruit came through Jesus

2. This fruit will praise Him.

Matthew 5:16 (AV)
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Philippians 1:7-8, 12-13
Preached Wednesday March 13, 2013

Introduction:

As we fight our way through this sin cursed world, it seems that joy can be hard to come by. Discouragement and apathy assault the mind of a believer and cause him to faint in the battlefield. Last week we discovered that Paul’s letter to the Church at Philippi was written while he was in a Roman prison. We saw that in spite of Paul’s bonds, this book reveals some keys to obtaining and maintaining joy in the life of a believer. The main thought of the book of Philippians is that the path to Christian joy is found though a Christ-like mindset.

Chapter 1 tells us that we should have a single mine focused on the Gospel. If we are preoccupied with both the blessings of and the spreading of the Gospel, it would make sense that inner joy would be a natural result of that kind of mindset. The first thirteen verses of this chapter center around the “Fellowship of the Gospel”. The term fellowship means a joint participation in a common interest and activity. So to fellowship with believers should be more than just having food… it is action shared to reach a common goal. The beginning of this chapter shows us that as we are single minded toward the gospel, we should be sharing together in common interest and activity of the gospel. Two weeks ago we saw that both the servants, those involved in vocational ministry, and the saints, have the same fellowship. They are united to help each other serve God and spread the Gospel through the local assembly.

The path to Christian joy is found through a single mind focused on the Gospel. The best way to accomplish that is to have joint participation or:

• Fellowship= shared action around the common activity of the gospel within the local church.
• There are three facets of this single minded fellowship of the Gospel that we will explore in the next few weeks.

• The fellowship of Praise – Philippians 1:3-6
• The fellowship of Grace – Philippians 1:7-7, 12-13
• The fellowship of Prayer – Philippians 1:9-11

Tonight we will discover that Christian joy can be experienced as we share a single mind focused on the fellowship of Grace in the Gospel.

I. The Fellowship of Saving Grace

Philippians 1:7 (AV)
7 Even 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.

A. We are assured that God will continue the work He started.

Philippians 1:6 (AV)
6 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:

B. So it is only meet = just – for Paul to meditate on how both he and the saints he led to Christ share that same promise of longevity.

C. It is only natural that both the servant and the saint would share the common bond of a sinner saved by Grace.

1 John 3:14 (AV)
14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

D. Not only does Paul share the bond of having similar salvation, but the Philippians monetarily fellowshipped in his ministry.

II. The Fellowship of Sustaining Grace.

Philippians 1:7–8 (AV)
7 Even 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. 8 For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.

A. Partakers of the same Grace = unmerited favor / Divine enablement

B. Grace that enabled them to endure suffering.

Acts 16:23–25 (AV)
23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: 24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

2 Corinthians 12:7–9 (AV)
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

C. Grace that enabled them to defend the Gospel = Judicial logical argument for the case of the Gospel.

Ephesians 6:18–20 (AV)
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Colossians 4:3 (AV)
3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:

D. This common bond creates the deep emotional tie between fellowshipping, co-laboring believers seen in verse 8.

III. The Fellowship of Saturating Grace – with the Gospel

Philippians 1:12–13 (AV)
12 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; 13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;

A. Some were afraid that because of the adversity Paul experienced, the Gospel was hindered and Satan was winning.

B. Furtherance = metaphor of the tree clearers that would proceed a conquering army. God was using these experiences to clear the way for more effective Gospel advancement.

C. The Palace Guard heard the Gospel.

1. This was God’s design from the beginning.

Acts 9:15 (AV)
15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

2. All was working according to God’s perfect plan.

Romans 8:28 (AV)
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Philippians 1:3-6
Preached Wednesday March 6, 2013

Introduction:

As we fight our way through this sin cursed world, it seems that joy can be hard to come by. Discouragement and apathy assault the mind of a believer and cause him to faint in the battlefield. Last week we discovered that Paul’s letter to the Church at Philippi was written while he was in a Roman prison. We saw that in spite of Paul’s bonds, this book reveals some keys to obtaining and maintaining joy in the life of a believer. The main thought of the book of Philippians is that the path to Christian joy is found though a Christ-like mindset.

Chapter 1 tells us that we should have a single mine focused on the Gospel. If we are preoccupied with both the blessings of and the spreading of the Gospel, it would make sense that inner joy would be a natural result of that kind of mindset. The first thirteen verses of this chapter center around the “Fellowship of the Gospel”. The term fellowship means a joint participation in a common interest and activity. So to fellowship with believers should be more than just having food… it is action shared to reach a common goal. The beginning of this chapter shows us that as we are single minded toward the gospel, we should be sharing together in common interest and activity of the gospel. Last week we saw that both the servants, those involved in vocational ministry, and the saints, have the same fellowship. They are united to help each other serve God and spread the Gospel through the local assembly.

The path to Christian joy is found through a single mind focused on the Gospel. The best way to accomplish that is to have joint participation, fellowship, shared action around the common activity of the gospel within the local church. There are three facets of this single minded fellowship of the Gospel that we will explore in the next few weeks.

• The fellowship of Praise – Philippians 1:3-6
• The fellowship of Grace – Philippians 1:7-7, 12-13
• The fellowship of Prayer – Philippians 1:9-11

Tonight we will discover that Christian joy can be experienced as we share a single mind focused on the fellowship of Praise in the Gospel.

I. Praise God for His personal work

Philippians 1:3 (AV)
3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,

A. “My God” shows confidence of personal nature of Paul’s relationship with God.

Philippians 4:19 (AV)
19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Romans 1:8 (AV)
8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

1 Corinthians 1:4 (AV)
4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;

B. Every time the saints are remembered, their individual stories drive Paul to pray. All saints share miraculous stories of praise.

1. Their state before salvation
2. The way God orchestrated the gospel presentation. John 6:44
3. The way God opened their eyes.
4. The way God started to develop signs of spiritual life within them.
5. The implications of their spiritual development.
6. God’s design placing them as a perfect fit within the Body of the local church.

II. Praise God for the privilege of interceding for the saints.

Philippians 1:4 (AV)
4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,

A. He can pray for the sheep like Jesus did.

John 17:9–10 (AV)
9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. 10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.

B. He can pray knowing that God already has a plan for His saints.

Romans 8:29 (AV)
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

James 5:14–16 (AV)
14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. 16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

III. Praise God for the fellowship of the Gospel

Philippians 1:5 (AV)
5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;

A. Fellowship – joint participation in a common activity

B. The single minded focus is the Gospel and all the action that surrounds the Gospel.

C. The Philippians had been helping Paul do the work of the Gospel.

Acts 16:15 (AV)
15 And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.

Philippians 4:10 (AV)
10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.

Philippians 4:15 – 16 (AV)
15 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. 16 For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.

IV. Praise God for the confidence we can have in His work.

Philippians 1:6 (AV)
6 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:

A. Confident = a settled persuasion

B. The work that God did to reach the saint will continue to protect and perfect the saint. Salvation is up to God’s work not our perserverence.

C. The Day of Jesus Christ = the rapture

1 John 3:2 (AV)
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.