Introduction to Philippians (6 things)…  

• The whole counsel of God

• Our desire is to teach through the whole Bible Genesis to Revelation
• Acts 20:27 – “For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.”
• Having finished Ephesians – we will now move on to Philippians…
  
• 1^st – The theme of the book of Philippians… (3 things)

• 1^st – The key theme to the book of Philippians is Joy – used 16 times in the Book…
  • Philippians 4:4 – “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!”
  • We saw in the book of Ephesians we walk in Victory – putting on the Armor of Jesus…
  • The result of walking in victory – is that we have Joy in our lives because of Jesus!
  • When you win a basketball game – you do not walk away sad and depressed…
  • You walk away rejoicing – giving everyone high fives – reveling in your victory!
  • It is the same in our Christian walk – because Jesus was given us the victory…
  • We should be shouting out with Joy – through Jesus we defeated satan / sin / and death!
• 2^nd – Joy is our strength in times of trouble…
  • Nehemiah 8:10 – “Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
  • When we are going through tough times – our Joy still comes from the Lord…
  • Happiness is not the same thing as Joy – happiness depends on our circumstances…
  • If you find P100 on the ground – it makes you happy – free money…
  • If someone sees you pick it up and says it is theirs – you are now sad…
  • Joy is far deeper – it is not based on your circumstances – it is based on Jesus…
  • Jesus never changes – the same Yesterday / Today / and Forever – Hebrews 13:8…
  • So no matter what our circumstances – we can have Joy in because of Jesus!
• 3^rd – Joy comes from knowing Jesus – from knowing His word…
  • John 15:11 – “These things I have spoken to you… that your joy may be full.”
  • In face the only way to have Joy in life is through knowing Jesus and knowing His Word…
  • So if we want a Joy filled life – get into the Word – get into the presence of Jesus!
  • Psalm 16:11 – “In Your presence is fullness of joy…”
    
• 2^nd – Who wrote the book of Philippians…
  • Paul is the author of the book of Philippians…
    • The same Paul who whose life we followed from Acts chapter 13 to 28…
• Paul wrote 13 book of the New Testament (14 if you include Hebrews)…
• The ‘epistles’ or letters of Paul can be broken up into 3 different categories…
  • 1^st – the three larger letters by Paul – Romans / I Corinthians / II Corinthians…
  • 2^nd – the 6 smaller letters written to various churches…
    • Where the larger books have 13-16 chapters / these average between 4-6 chapters…
    • Galatians / Ephesians / Philippians / Colossians / I Thessalonians / II Thessalonians…
  • 3^rd – The Pastors Epistles – I Timothy / II Timothy / Titus / Philemon
    
    
• 3^rd – Why Paul wrote the book of Philippians…
  • 1^st – to thank the church for their support of Paul in the ministry…
    • The church in Philippi was a poor – the assumption being they could not give much…
    • Often we think because we are a poor church – there is not much we can do…
    • But it is often the poorest churches – which do the greatest good…
    • The poor church of Philippi – was only church to support Paul – they did it twice!
    • While one of the richest churches in the Bible – Laodicea – was spiritually bankrupt!
    • Revelation 3:17 – “I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’-and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked…”
    • Being used by the Lord has nothing to do with how much money we have…
    • It is all about a heart that is humble – and being willing to follow the Lord!
  • 2^nd – to show the church true joy only comes from Jesus – Philippians 1:25
    • The desire as we go through this letter to the church of Philippi…
    • Is that we also learn that true joy only comes from knowing and following Jesus!

• 4^th – Where did Paul write the book of Philippians (3 options)…
  • Paul wrote this letter while in prison in Rome – Acts 28
    • Paul waited for two years in Caesarea – standing trial before Felix / Festus / and Agrippa…
    • Eventually being shipped off to Rome – when he appealed to Caesar…
  • While there he was under house arrest – Philippians 1:13 / Philippians 4:22
    • It is thought Paul wrote the letter around 61 A.D – during his incarceration…
    • Making this one of Paul’s ‘prison letters’ written while he was in Rome…
    • Paul wrote four letters there – Ephesians / Philippians / Colossians / Philemon…

• 5^th – The outline of the Book of Philippians – 4 chapters…
  • Chapter 1 – Joy in suffering – Paul writes the letter from prison – but he still had Joy!
    • And just as Paul suffered for the sake of the Gospel message – so will we…
    •  When we choose to follow Jesus – we will face more challenges in life…
    • John 16:33 – “In the world you will have tribulation…”
    • But those trials have a purpose – God uses them to draw us to Him / spread the Gospel…
    • Philippians 1:12 – “Everything that has happened to me… helped spread the Good News.”
  • Chapter 2 – Joy in serving – we are not just to focus on our needs – but help others…
    • Because that is the example Jesus gave to us – He died for our benefit…
    • And when we focus on the needs of others – our problems seem to melt away…
    • You do not feel bad about having no ‘sudan’ when you meet the man with no ‘rice’!
  • Chapter 3 – Joy in believing – Paul says everything else trash – compared to knowing Jesus!
    • If we have no Joy – it is because we have too much invested in the trash of this world…
    • When we finally let that go – and realize all that matters is Jesus – Joy!
  • Chapter 4 – Joy in giving – Paul thanks the church for giving to the Lord…

• The church of Philippi gave – even far beyond their means…
• Paul was hesitant to take anything from them – because of their poverty…
• But they had asked again and again for the privilege of helping – II Corinthians 8:4…
• Not because they had to give – they gave because they wanted to be a part of God’s work!
• We are not required to give anything to God – we give because we want to…

• God does not need our money – He is the creator of all heaven and earth!
• But He does love to get His kids involved in His work!
• 6^th – The background of the church of Philippi… (5 things)
  • 1^st – Acts 15:22 – Paul and Barnabus were preparing for their 2^nd missionary journey…
    • Barnabus wanted to take his cousin Mark – who had abandoned them on the 1^st trip…
    • The dispute between Paul and Barnabus over Mark was so strong – they parted ways…
    • So instead of one missions team there were two – Barnabus and Mark went west…
    • Paul took Silas – and went north into what is now modern day Turkey…
  • 2^nd – Acts 16:6-7 – Paul was stirred to share the Gospel in Asia – but the Holy Spirit said no…
    • Then he tried to go into Bithynia (Black Sea) – again the Holy Spirit did not let him…
    • In the Greek when it says he tried it is in the ‘imperfect tense’ – he kept trying….
    • I love it – as Paul was looking for where to go next he stepped out and tried…
    • Not just once – he tried again / and again / and again!
    • Not sure what God wants you to do – want to find out what gift God has given to you…
    • Step out and try – if it does not work – if there is no fruit – then try something else!
  • 3^rd  – Acts 16:9 – Paul (with Silas and now Timothy) ended up in city of Troas…
    • Paul had a vision where a man pleaded with Paul to come over to Macedonia…
      • Paul knew that this was God directing them to Macedonia / Philippi…
      • Who was to say that the ‘vision’ was not last nights shwarma / lumpia…
      • Paul did not just accept that the vision was from God…
      • He verified it by talking to the other Godly men who were there with him!
      • If we believe that God is calling us to a particular ministry or place…
      • We talk it over with other godly men and women and reach a ‘conclusion’…
    • But the ultimate authority on whether we are being led by the Spirit is the Word!
      • Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”
      • It is by trusting in the Lord (not in us) that we know what we are called to do…
      • Proverbs 16:9 – “A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.”
      • That does not mean we turn our brains off – God gave us a mind – wants us to use it!
      • We should be planning our steps – but always remember the Lord directs…
      • Genesis 24:27 – “As for me, being on the way, the LORD led me…”
      • We do not just sit around and wait for a ‘voice from heaven’ to direct us…
      • II Corinthians 5:7 – “We walk by faith, not by sight.”
      • It is the Christian walk – not the Christian sit…
      • We are called to step, in faith, to find out what we are called to do…
  • 4^th – Acts 16:11-12 – Paul sailed about 140 miles to the mainland of Greece / Europe…
    • At this point in the 2^nd missionary journey Luke (the writer of Acts) joins Paul’s group…
      • We know this by the change in pronoun – from ‘them’ to ‘we’ -…
      • They passed Samothrace – an island in the Aegean halfway to Neapolis…
      • Then landed at Neapolis – the port of Philippi about ten miles from the main city…
      • Paul prayed / then went out to meet the people at the river (laundry)…
    • They met Lydia (a woman) – who eagerly listened to and received Jesus!
      • Which was the beginning of the church in Philippi!
      • When we step out in faith (walk by faith) and follow the leading of the Spirit…  
      • Things rarely happen just as we expect – the ‘man’ from Macedonia…
      • Why not – if God not gave us the complete 5 year plan with all the details…
      • We would stop seeking Him and depend on the ‘plan’ He gave us…
      • The Lord gives us what we need to know – but keep us looking to Him!
  • 5^th – Acts 16:16-34 – While in Philippi – a possessed woman followed Paul yelling at him…
    • The woman was a slave – and made a lot of money fortune telling for her masters…
      • Paul was greatly annoyed by it (she did it for several days) – but Paul saw the real issue…
      • He did not reason with the girl / he dealt with the spirit – II Corinthians 10:3-5…
      • He commanded it to come out – and it left her that very same hour!
      • So often in life we miss who the real enemy is – we look at the people…
      • They are puppets – they are being told what to say and do by the God of this world…
      • The key is to go at the one who is in control – attack the root problem!
    • As a result Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown into prison…
      • There in the dungeon – they began to praise and worship the Lord…
      • No wonder Paul wrote in Philippians – rejoice in the Lord always again I say rejoice!
      • When our eyes are on the circumstances we become overwhelmed…
      • If we keep our eyes on Jesus – on the eternal – we overcome!
    • God sent an earthquake and opened the prison doors…
      • The prison guard seeing all the doors opened – was going to kill himself…
      • But Paul called out and told him that all the prisoners were still there…
      • And the man ran in and asked – ‘what must I do to be saved!’
      • John 8:36 – “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”
      • We will find we are free – no matter what our circumstances – when we worship God…
      • Not only will we be free – but we will find others follow us and are set free too!

Greetings to a healthy church… vs. 1-2 (3 things)

Paul wanted to show them the abundant life – the Joy that comes through living for Jesus!

1^st – Paul and Timothy – bondservants of Jesus Christ…

This is an unusual greeting from Paul (only 3 times) – he usually opens with ‘Paul an Apostle’…

But Paul did not need to establish his authority in order to correct this church…

Instead he wanted to come along side them as a servant and build them up in their walk!

The church in Philippi was focused on Jesus – no problems to correct (like Corinth/Galatia)…

The Bible can either be a rod to correct us – or it can be a tool to strengthen us…

It depends on our focus – if we are caught up in the care of this world – rod of correction…

If we are focused on Jesus – then it comes along side of us to build us up in our walk!

2^nd – Written to the saints in Philippi – AND the pastors (episcopos) and deacons…

The letter was not just written to the believers – it was written to the leaders…

Paul saw there was no reason for two letters – one for the saints / one for the leaders…

Because the saints were grounded – they could receive the same counsel as the leaders…

When we are grounded in the Word – when we are focused on Jesus…

There is nothing in the Word of God we cannot understand – we become the teachers…

All of the Word of God applies to our life – none of it will be hidden from us!

3^rd – Grace and Peace to you…

The same greeting Paul gives in every one of his epistles…

When we have the Grace of God – the free gift of salvation – we have peace with God…

Because this church was a VERY healthy church – grace and peace were just the beginning…