Paul’s greeting to the chruch… (3 things)  

• 1^st – Paul’s thankfulness for the church… vs. 3-6 (3 things)

• 1^st – Paul was thankful in spite of his trials… vs. 3
  • It had been about 10 years since Paul had established the church in Philippi…
    • Paul was now in prison – you would think Paul would be focused on his problems…
    • But instead he gave thanks every time he thought of the saints in Philippi…
    • The thought of the faith of believers there was enough to put a smile on his face!
    • We tend to think that life revolved around us – we only think about our needs…
    • But when we are self focused it is misery – only seeing our problems / troubles…
    • Instead focus on the blessings of God – the work He is doing all around you!
  • The church in Philippi was an inspiration to Paul in prison…
    • When people think about us – do they give thanks for us…
    • Do we inspire people – encourage them with our walk in Jesus…
    • God calls us to be an example to others – an inspiration pointing others to Jesus!
• 2^nd – Paul was thankful because of their fellowship… vs. 4-5
  • Paul always mentioned the church in his prayers with a heart full of joy…
    • Paul did not pray for the church because he was concerned for them…
    • He prayed for them because of his great love for them – he was proud of them…
    • The reason was because of their fellowship in the Gospel from the 1^st day – till now!
    • From the moment Paul arrived in Philippi – sharing the Gospel with Lydia…
    • The church had been a friend to Paul because of the Grace of Jesus Christ!
      
      
  • We tend to hang out with people who have the same interests as we do…
    • If we work in the ‘field’ – we like to talk with other people who have the same job…
    • If we like motorcycles – we like to talk with people who have the same interest…
    • But fellowship is not about hanging out and talking about our interests…
    • Fellowship is about believers building up each other in their common faith in Christ!
    • We have fellowship by getting into the Word together and talking about Jesus!
  • Like Paul the fellowship is not limited by location…
    • I have had fellowship with people from all over the world – no similar interests…
    • Every notice when you walk into a room with believers in Jesus…
    • Even if you have never met them before – it feels like a family reunion…
    • There is immediate sweet fellowship through our common faith in Jesus!
    • Fellowship that is not limited by distances – we can continue to pray for each other!
• 3^rd – Paul was confident in the church… vs. 6
  • Because Paul was thinking about the church / had fellowship with them…
    • He knew that God was working to finish the work that He had begun in the church…
    • Do you know if the person sitting next to you is going to heaven…
    • Do you know if they are going through a hard time – struggling in their walk…
    • We are called to invest in one another’s lives as believers – encourage each other…
    • Supporting each other so we have confidence in our walk in Jesus!
  • Till the day when Jesus comes back again…
    • We began the race the day we believed in Jesus – it ends the day we die…
      • We run the race to receive the prize – Jesus Christ – Philippians 3:14…
      • So often as believers we start off well in our race – but we do not finish well…
      • We treat it like a sprint – but after a while we get tired / distracted / and give up…
    • So how do we run the race – running strong till the day Jesus comes back…
      • We get tired because we start to have confidence in something other than Jesus…
      • We begin to depend on ourselves / other people / or some program…
      • But they did not save us – and they cannot finish what they did not start…
      • Our job is to keep our eyes on Jesus – believing He will finish what He started!
      • Hebrews 12:2 – “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…”
    • Maturing in Jesus does not happen overnight…
      • A tree does not bear fruit the day after you plant it – it takes time…
      • And a tree cannot make itself grow any faster – no matter how hard it tries…
      • We also are not made perfect in a day – growing in Jesus is takes time…
      • There is nothing we can do to speed things up – God will finish us in His time!
         
• 2^nd – Paul’s love for the church… vs. 7-8
  • The church in Philippi had a very special place in Paul’s heart…
    • Because the church had stood with Paul while he was in chains…
      • They church was not ashamed of Paul even though he was in prison…
      • We have a tendency to avoid people when they are going through tough times…
      • Proverbs 19:7 – “A poor man is shunned by his relatives – how much more do his friends avoid him! He pursues them with pleading, they are nowhere to be found.”
      • Yet it is in those times when people need us the most – when we show our love!
    • Because they stood with Paul in the defense of the Gospel…
      • Defense – apologia – defense / reasoned statement / argument (apologetics)
      • It is important to be able to give a defense for our faith in Jesus
      • We do not need to be able to answer every question – know every verse…

The result of clinging to Jesus is we start to bear good fruit – John 15:4-5

But we should be able to answer questions – tell people about Jesus!

I Peter 3:15 – “If you are asked about your Christian hope… be ready to explain it.”

The result was Paul had a great love for the church in Philippi…

Not because of what the church had done for Paul – but because of Jesus Christ…

When we share the Gospel of Grace with others – we share in the reward…

To think one day we might stand in heaven and see someone we know…

And have them come over and thank us – for telling them about Jesus!

3^rd – Paul’s prayer for the church… vs. 9-11 (4 things)

1^st – Paul prayed the love of the church would overflow more and more… vs. 9

Paul wanted the church to overflow in their knowledge of the Love of God…

Paul wanted the church to learn how amazing the love of God for them was…

A love that took Jesus to the cross – so that we could be saved from our sins…

A love that made us the children of God – heirs to all that God has!

A love that is too great / too wonderful to fully be able to comprehend…

If I asked you to measure out a cup of water – no problem that is not very much…

If I asked you to measure the water in the ocean – problem – it is VERY big…

The point being we can learn about the Love of God – experience His love…

But the Love of God is SO AMAZING – we will never fully understand all of it!

In order to have that knowledge (epi-knosis) they had to take the time to study…

We take the time to learn about the things that are important to us…

If we love basketball – we learn all the names of the best players…

In the same way if we love Jesus – we will take the time to learn all about Him!

Philippians 3:8 – “Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have discarded everything else,   counting it all as garbage, so that I may have Christ.”

It is unfortunate we waste so much of our time learning about everything but Jesus…

Because honestly everything else in life is trash compared to knowing Jesus!

2^nd – Paul prayed the church would prove (test) what really matters… vs.10

The word prove – dokimos – means to test to see if something in genuine…

In Bible times there was no paper currency – all the money was precious metals…

As a result people would ‘shave’ / steal the edges of a gold/silver coin…

But there were honest men who would make sure their coins were full weight…

They were called ‘dokimos’ – they proved they were doing what was right…

Often in life we try and ‘shave’ our time away from God – use it for other things…

Rather than going to church on Sunday morning – something else comes up…

Rather than taking the time to read the Bible – we veg in front of the TV…

We do not choose where are heart is – we do choose where we put our efforts…

Wherever we put our money / time / talents – is where our heart will also be!

Are we focused on the Lord – or caught up in the concerns of this world!

If we spend our time focused on life – we will miss out on what is most important!

3^rd – That the church would have a sincere walk – so they would not be offensive…

The word sincere – helikrines – means to be judges by the sun…

Marble statues were very common in Roman culture – one in every yard…

But when the masons were carving the statues – they might make a mistake…

Rather than starting over – they would use wax to cover up their error…

It looked good – until the heat of the sun would melt the was – revealing the sin…

Too many believers today look good – till you take a closer look…

They might show up to Bible studies – with a Bible in their hands…

But the moment they leave church – they act just like the world around them…

When held up to the light of Jesus christ – they melt like wax under a hot sun!

As a result they stumble others – they give a bad impression of Jesus… 

We can do anything we want as believers – but we need to ask ourselves…

1^st – I Corinthians 6:12 – “You may say, ‘I am allowed to do anything.’ But I reply, ‘Not everything is good for you.

Can you gamble – can you see that movie – can you go to that party…

It is not a matter of can you – you can do anything you want – but should you!

2^nd – I Corinthians 6:12 – “Even though ‘I am allowed to do anything,’ I must not become a slave to anything.”

Perhaps we enjoy an occasional smoke – is that sin – not in of itself…

But the question is can we stop – who is in control – are we or the habit…

If we are not longer the ones in control of our ‘freedom’ – it is no longer good…

There might be something in your life that comes to mind right now…

Something you have been convicted of – wanted to stop – but not been able to…

If we want to stop – but cannot – then we are not longer in control of our lives…

3^rd – I Corinthians 8:9 – “Do not cause a brother… to stumble.”

One man’s freedom in Christ – can be another man’s undoing…

We need to be sensitive to each other – protecting each other from sin!

4^th – I Corinthians 10:31 – “Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

Make sure whatever you do – or do not do – do it to the glory of God!

4^th – Paul prayed the church would be filled with the fruit of righteousness…

That the church would continue to show their faith through their actions…

It is easy to say we have ‘faith’ and ‘believe’ in Jesus – but the proof is in our actions

If we say we’re Christians – but still live like the world – then do we really have faith

We bear good fruit through Christ Jesus…

The more realize/embrace that – the more we will love/follow Jesus