INTRODUCTION
DATE:
Approximately 63 or 64ad.

TO:
"..all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi.." (vs 1).

THEME:
Appreciation, encouragement and humility.

Paul was in "..bonds in Christ" - imprisoned in Rome.
He said his bondage was known, or "..made manifest in all the palace, and in all other places."
(Vs 15)

One of the most theological passages is Philippians 2:5-11, in which Paul, under inspiration,
encourages the Christians in Philippi to be LIKEMINDED with Christ with humility and
obedience.

CHAPTER 1
1) Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are
at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:"

When Paul and Silas first visited Philippi, they preached the Gospel of Christ.
The first person to whom the Gospel was presented was Lydia, "a seller of purple"(Acts 16:14).
Then, a "damsel possessed" began to say that "these men are servants of the most
high God, which shew us unto the way of salvation."

When Paul, in Christ, rebuked the demon in her it upset some of the people who had been
gaining money from her "divination."

But, evidently, Paul (accompanied by Silas and Luke) CONTINUED preaching the Gospel.
(Acts 16:19-22)

And, as a result, Paul and Silas were taken to the Governor.
But the Governor refused to charge them.
Then, a large group ripped off their clothes and threw them in prison.
Paul and Silas began to pray and sing, and an earthquake opened the prison.
(Acts 16:26)

The jailor felt he would be shamed, and perhaps slain, and almost committed suicide.
(Acts 16:27)

Paul appealed to him and led him to Christ. The jailor's whole family was saved, and
the Governor sent to take them out of the prison.

Obviously, this was a great incident.
As a result, many were saved, and a church was begun.

Paul remembered the experience and how the Philippians who were saved treated
him kindly.
And his address of the letter is to "ALL" of them!

2-5
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,
5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;

Paul's prayer is that they all may receive GRACE and PEACE from the Lord.

He also states that he remembers them in prayer.
And he prays in thanks for them in JOY.
And he thanks them for their fellowship in Christ.

While Paul had been a prisoner, the Philippians had sent care to him.
(See Philippians 4:10, 14, 18)

How often do we remember those who have been kind to us (in Christ) and ask our Lord
to give them GRACE and PEACE in their lives? Our prayer time would be greatly extended if we did so often!

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:

WHAT A GREAT STATEMENT!!

When a person surrenders to Christ as Lord of their life, He BEGINS the process of
salvation.
AND, He CONTINUES the process until COMPLETION!!

This refers to the PERSERVERANCE of those saved, because it is of the POWER
of Christ IN them! (see Philippians 2:13)

On my website (www.linktojesus.org) is a book called "SEALED IN HIS SPIRIT."
It is copyrighted, but is FREE to download.

That book explains the indwelling presence of the Lord Jesus by His Holy Spirit, and
the realness of the PERSERVERANCE of those who are truly saved.
God NEVER leaves the truly saved; and WILL perform His intended salvation process!

7-8
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.

The confidence Paul shows is not in the Philippians work, but it is BECAUSE of Christ
working IN them!
The EVIDENCE of salvation is works which reflect the sincerity of Christ transforming power!
It is NOT by works we are saved, but works SHOW the evidence of salvation!
(See Eph. 2:8-9)

9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;
10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; 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.

This prayer is for CONTINUANCE of THEIR effort.
God is ALWAYS working IN the truly saved to perform according to His will.
(See 2Chron. 16:9)

But the saved must CONTINUE to work WITH God's urging!
(See Philippians 3:7-15)

Christians are not SAVED to SIT,
they are SAVED to SERVE!

Christ in the heart will PRODUCE "fruits of righteousness!"
Paul mentions these FRUIT in Galatians 5:22-23, "love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
gentleness, meekness, temperance..."

That fruit works IN a Christian because Christ (by His Holy Spirit) IS IN the Christian!

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;
14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold
to speak the word without fear.

As it happened in Philippi, it has happened in OTHER places also!
Many of the places Paul preached, he experienced strife and even beatings.
But the people who LISTENED to the Gospel, and RECEIVED Christ, had caused the
Gospel to be SPREAD ABROAD!!

Even when Paul was imprisoned in Rome, many BELIEVED, were CONVERTED to Christ,
And, they were "CONFIDENT" and "BOLD" to share Christ with others!!

THAT is the way the Gospel spreads!!
When Christians are confident and bold enough to share Jesus, others BELIEVE!
Again, the most POWERFUL weapon on earth is the TESTIMONY of a Christian!!

The PROOF is IN the PUDDING!!
It is GOOD if it TASTES good!!

And the proof of the Gospel spreading was in the "palace, and in all other places"
in Rome!!

It can be the SAME in YOUR area!!
SHARE the good news of how Jesus saved you, and others will believe and be saved!!

15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:
16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:
17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.

Some speak Christ and Christianity with "...envy and strife..."
How often do we see politicians using Christianity to exemplify that they are GOOD
for the public?
And, how often do we see people speak AGAINST Christianity as being a bunch of
goody two shoes?

Often Christians are spoken of as being contentious against society!
And, often, Chrisians are derided when they are not around, so that they have
no ability to speak in defence of Christ and the Gospel of salvation through Him!

But those who speak of Christ and Christianity in "good will" will bring
influence upon the hearts of others!!

18
What then? Notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretense, or in truth, Christ is
preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

We cannot be indifferent to the deragatory manner in which others speak of Christ.
But we can praise God and REJOICE because Christ is MENTIONED!!
Just the mention of His NAME is enough to still some hearts!!
(See Philippians 2:10-11)

Are you inserting the mention of Christ in your daily conversations with others?

19-21
19 For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the
Spirit of Jesus Christ,
20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed,
but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body,
whether it be by life, or by death.

Prayers for others make a big difference!!
Christians are embolden by the prayers of others to never be ashamed of Christ, AND
to always speak of His love and salvation with boldness.

Paul says whether he is killed because of the preaching, or whether he is released,
he will KNOW it is because of the boldness of Christians sharing Christ!

Being bold in Christ sometimes will bring conflict; but it will ALWAYS touch hearts!!

Pray for your fellow Christians to be BOLD in sharing Christ!
Earnest prayer makes things happen, because God is LISTENING!
(See 2Chron. 16:9, James 5:16)

21
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

WOW!!
Can YOU say that Christian, and MEAN it?

I know many pastors in countries across the world who are faced with DEATH
because they preach the Gospel of Christ.
Yet, they CONTINUE!!
That is FAITH WORKING!!
Faith is the ability to cling to Christ NO MATTER WHAT!!

Faith is a NOUN; reflecting OWNERSHIP!
It is something Christians OWN because it is GIVEN by Christ to
those who truly believe.

Just like a hammer in your hand, faith WORKS when you USE it!

22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.
23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is
far better:
24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.

FAITH working in the life of a Christian is the LABOR of his/her life!
Now, when faced with life or death, Paul says he doesn't know which to choose.
That's because he really desires to "depart" and be with Christ in eternal rest.
But, it is more "needful" for others if he remains here and continues preaching.

Rev. 22:17 says, "And the Spirit and the bride say, COME."
ALL Christians desire for Christ to come and receive His bride.

However, if Christ desires for us to STAY and share the Gospel, we should say,
"Nevertheless, not MY will but THINE be done!"
(See Luke 22:42)

Now, we should remember that BECAUSE --

25 And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your
furtherance and joy of faith;
26 That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.

THEREFORE, "having this confidence," Christians must CONTINUE!

Christians gain strength from other Christians who continue to stand for Jesus!

I rejoice when I see others boldly and strongly proclaiming the salvation of Christ!
Don't you?

Proverbs 27:17 says, "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance
of his friend."

Shoulder to shoulder we must stand, fighting the good fight of faith!
For when we do, we ENCOURAGE our brothers and sisters in Christ.

And, when we see Christian friends who have survived tremendous difficulties
we REJOICE ABUNDANTLY!

27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come
and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit,
with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition,
but to you of salvation, and that of God.

The words "let your conversation be,"are derived from the Greek politeuomai.
It means as you live behave in this manner.

And the manner is when others hear of your actions in Christ, that it exemplifies FAITH,
and not fear or complacentness.

Let us all be of "one mind striving TOGETHER for the faith of the Gospel."

The continued stance of a Christian in the faith of Christ is evidence of salvation which
is wrought by God IN them!

Let us not just say we are Christians but LIVE IT!!

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;
30 Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

Jesus said, "...If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you..."
(John 15:20)

We are not to think that our life FOR Christ will be without suffering!
We will suffer the loss of those who once called us friend.
We will suffer vindictive statements about our stand for Christ.
We will suffer, but we can CONTINUE because we BELIEVE (hold onto) Jesus!

And, we can remember that HE holds onto US!!
Heb. 13:5 states, "Let your conversation be without covetousnes; and be content
with such things as ye have: for HE hath SAID, 'I will NEVER leave thee, NOR forsake thee!'"

Christ's PRESENCE in our lives is COMFORTING!
That presence also gives us BOLDNESS for Him and the Gospel of salvation!
That presence also produces an URGENCY to SHARE Him with others!