Philippians 1:1-4 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of
Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi,
with the bishops and deacons: 2
Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus
Christ. 3 I thank my God upon
every remembrance of you, 4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all
making request with joy,...
Jesus wants us to experience Joy. John
15:11 “These things have I spoken
unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”
Adversity is defined as testing, trouble, affliction, opposition, pressure, chastening, anguish or tribulation.
Paul overcame because he
was. . .
· Focused on Christ (Phil 1:21). “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
· Faithful Christ
(Phil 2:3-5). “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in
lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but
every man also on the things of others. 5
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:”
·
Following
to Christ (Phil
3:13-14). “Brethren, I count not myself to have
apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind,
and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the
mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
· Fastened to Christ
(Phil 4:7, 13). “And the peace of God, which
passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ
Jesus… I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
How did Paul arrive at this state of mind? How could Paul rejoice in spite of his
perilous situation?
There are five things in
chapter one that contributed significantly to Paul’s sound state of mind!
1. PAUL’S POSITION: His position was “in Christ.”
Philippians
1:1 "Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all
the saints in Christ Jesus… 8 For God is my record, how greatly I
long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. 13 So that my bonds in
Christ are manifest… 26 That your rejoicing may be more
abundant in Jesus Christ…"
·
“In” a primary preposition denoting a fixed
position in place, time or state.
·
My Standing
= is my Position in Christ, positional truth...
Righteousness declared (2 Cor 5:21)
Eternal life given (1 Jn 5:11-12)
Sanctification established (Heb 10:10)
We become God’s heir (Rom 8.16-17a)
Eternal security confirmed (Rom 8.38-39).
· My State = my daily
life experience (feelings, emotions,
circumstance, condition...)
Colossians 1:25-27 "Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation
of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; 26 Even
the mystery which hath been hid from ages...but now is made manifest to his
saints: 27...the
riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in
you, the hope of glory:"
John 15:1-7 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every
branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that
beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3 Now
ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4 Abide
in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself,
except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I
am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him,
the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If
a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered;
and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If
ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye
will, and it shall be done unto you."
To abide in Christ is to have NO INTEREST into which Christ cannot be brought; NO LIFE which he cannot share.
2. PAUL’S PASSION: His passion would not be stopped.
Philippians
1:18 “What then? notwithstanding, every way,
whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice,
yea, and will rejoice.
Romans
1:16 “I am not ashamed of the
gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that
believeth. [5:5] 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. [10:11] For
the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed."
2 Timothy 4:2 “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”
3. PAUL’S PURPOSE: His purpose was to defend the Gospel.
Philippians
1:17, 21 “I am set for the defense of the gospel… For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
Romans
8:29 “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.”
1 Peter 2:21 “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.”
Galatians 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
4. PAUL’S PRIVILEGE: Paul saw his service & suffering for Christ
as an opportunity for identity.
Philippians
1:29 “For unto you it is given in the behalf of
Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;”
Philippians
3:8-10 “Yea
doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the
knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all
things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own
righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of
Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10 That I may know him, and the power of
his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable
unto his death;"
5.
PAUL’S PROSPECT: Paul’s eyes were on a greater prize.
Philippians 1:6 “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.”
Philippians 1:10
“That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and
without offence till the day of Christ.”
Philippians 1:23 “For
I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ;
which is far better:”
·
No more... pain, tears, disease, death,
war, sorrow grief
·
Beauty beyond comprehension...
·
Secure...
·
Familiar...
