The Essence of Philippians in a Single Session —End of series wrap-up (pt.11)

Goal

To see the letter as a whole and receive what God is saying to us right now through it.

1: Phil 1:1–11 What makes Philippians so unusual

Paul’s love is a mirror of Jesus’ deep love and care for us

• Philippians is highly unusual because it is so personal.
• Not a highly organized theological structure but instead an insight into Paul’s heart and deep feelings,
• and an insight into Christ’s emotions toward us.
• Wow, Amazing!

Scriptures

• “…I have you in my heart… I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.” [1:7–8]
• “I thank my God every time I remember you. I always pray with joy in my every prayer for all of you!” [1:3–4]
• “…my brothers and sisters, dear friends whom I long to see, my joy and crown” [4:1]

2: Phil 1:12–30 How not to be Anxious in Stressful Situations

If your ultimate goal is the same as God’s, then you need not worry

• In order to help the Philippians (and us) cope with stress, Paul takes us inside his own inner world and shows how he is dealing with two stressful situations.

Scriptures

• “I know that this will turn out for my deliverance
  according to my confident hope that in no way will I be ashamed…
  whether through life or whether through death
  because for me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” [1:19–21]

Philippians 2:6–11

• Equality with God the Father
  • Humbled himself to be born a man
    • Obedient, even to death
      • The most shameful death—the cross
    • Exalted by the father
  • Every knee will bow to him
• Acknowledging that he is fully God

3: Phil 2:1–11 Be captivated by Jesus—A Song

Be so deeply impacted by what Jesus did that it changes all your relationships

• This passage contains the most amazing song about who Jesus is and what he has done.
• Read it and be captivated by his love, and let his mind and heart be in you!

Scriptures

• “He humbled himself becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross
  Therefore God “super-exalted” him and gave him the name is above every name,” [2:8–9]
• “Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but also the interests of others—May this mind & heart be in you that was in Christ Jesus” [2:4–5]
• “Complete my joy by having the same mind & heart having the same love united in soul in one mind & heart” [2:2]

4: Phil 2:12–30 Awe and Wonder at God’s Plan for Us

Paul’s vision & Jesus’ vision for our community? Do you buy into it?

• What on earth does ‘work out your own salvation with fear and trembling’ mean?.
• Is it, ‘Salvation is up to you and be very scared that you don’t make it’?
• It turns out that this ‘problem verse’ is in fact massively encouraging.

Scriptures

• “With awe and wonder, keep working at achieving spiritual health within your community” [2:12]
• “God himself is the one working in you, both the desire and the effort, for his own delight.” [2:13]
• “Do everything without grumbling or arguing, that you might be blameless and pure children of God
  unblemished in the middle of … society, among whom you shine as stars in the sky” [2:14–15]

5: Phil 3:1–9 How do I Measure my Life?

Be motivated by wanting to know Christ more, believe that he is the greatest joy, and your measure of growth is how much you lean on him for all of this.

• How can I measure how well I am doing as a Christian?
• Is there some kind of spiritual ‘scorecard’ I can check?
• This question has been one of the biggest sources of danger from the beginning.

Scriptures

• “But whatever I had that was gain, these I considered as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the far greater value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” [3:7–8]

6: Phil 3:10–4:1 Making Sense of the Present in Light of the Future

Live your life now in the light of the finished product

• Looking at the foundations of a building, it can be hard to figure out what it’s going to be, unless you see the architect’s design.
• And so with a few simple ideas, Paul turns everything around so that it makes sense.

Scriptures

• “I do not count myself to have attained this, but I am single-minded, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” [3:13–14]
• “My aim is to know him and the power of his resurrection” [3:10]
• “Our citizenship is in heaven, from where we also eagerly wait for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ,
  who will transform our lowly body to become like his glorious body.” [3:20–21]

7: Phil 4:1–9 Five ways to stand firm

Stand firm in the Lord in this way…

Paul says “Stand firm in this way…” and then gives 5 keys:

1. Bring harmony to others
2. Build joy
3. Develop a special kind of “gentle reasonableness”
4. Be secure in God’s peace
5. Fill your mind with the right stuff

Scriptures

• “Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brothers and sisters, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved” [4:01]

8: Phil 4:6–7 Stop worrying & experience the Peace of God which surpasses all understanding

How to experience “the peace of God”

How to experience “the peace of God”

1. Bring everything to God in prayer, continuously
2. Make a practice of giving thanks to God
3. Make a choice to trust God with your worries right now, taking a step of faith (rest)
4. Be continually filled with the Spirit, through the community of God’s people
5. Think about good things, not negative thoughts
6. Learn from encouraging testimonies (4:9)
7. Bring everything to God in prayer, continuously, trusting in his love

Scriptures

• “Stop worrying about anything but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
  And the peace of God [his own peace] which surpasses all understanding will stand guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” [4:6–7]

9: Phil 4:10–13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me

This is an amazing verse which is so encouraging

• This is such an encouraging verse, but it seems to big. What does ‘all things’ include?
• It’s not a blank cheque to satisfy our own desires but a partnership
• United with Jesus, we accomplish his goals in his power.
• Learn what it means and how to access this power.

Scriptures

• “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” [4:13]

10: Phil 4:10–20 God supplies our needs

You will never be in a position where God called you to do something you don’t have resources to do.

• God’s heart is to fill you up with blessings from his own rich abundance.
• Catch hold of Paul’s secret for contentment
• and bring a fragrant offering to God, simply because you love him.

Scriptures

• “May my God fill you up, supplying every one of your needs, according to his glorious wealth in Christ Jesus.” [4:19]
• “…I have learned in such circumstances to be content. So I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound.
  In any and all circumstance I have learned the secret of being full or hungry, having abundance or not enough.” [4:11–12]

Philippians 4

21. Greet (embrace) every saint in Christ Jesus.
    The brothers who are with me greet you.
22. All the saints greet (embrace) you,
    especially those of Caesar’s household.
23. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
2. see 1:2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!
23. Amen. (YES!)

Gordon Fee: Paul’s Letter to the Philippians

“The final grace is also “from the Lord Jesus Christ,” so that everything in this letter, from beginning to end and everywhere in between, focuses on Christ, who as Paul’s life (1:21) is magnified both in his language and in the two narratives that point specifically to him (Christ’s in 2:6–11 and Paul’s in 3:4–14). To miss this central focus on Christ is to miss the letter altogether, and to miss the heart of Pauline theology in particular.

To live is Christ; to die is to gain Christ; and for the sake of such “gain,” namely the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus as one’s own Lord, all else is merely refuse.