Progress Of The Gospel

Show Notes

Scripture: Philippians 1:1-5

God’s Grace and Peace

The book of Philippians is Paul’s thank-you letter to the church at Philippi. He has great affection for the people who have partnered with him in the Lord’s ministry, and this is another opportunity for Paul to encourage the believers. He greets them with these words, ^“May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.” (Philippians 1:2)

A small city, Philippi was a Roman colony. Paul and his mission team were specifically called from Asia Minor (current day Turkey) to Macedonia. They immediately departed and, a few days later, arrived in Philippi.

A vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them … setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city for some days. (Acts 16:9-12)

Paul met Lydia, the seller of purple, and a group of women praying by the river. After hearing the Gospel message, she and her house believed and were baptized. Following a conflict in the marketplace, Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown into prison. God sent an earthquake that night, and the doors were opened, and their chains unfastened. Everyone in the prison that night saw God’s mighty power.

You have been my partners in spreading the Gospel from the day you first heard it until now.

– Philippians 1:5

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Show Notes

Scripture: Philippians 1:6-11

SHOW NOTES:

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

– Philippians 1:6 (NASB1995)

It is the Lord who does the spiritual work in every believer. A number of theological terms describe the relationship we have with God from the moment we receive Jesus until we come into His presence.

• Justification – We are declared righteous because of Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross. By faith in Christ, our sin is forgiven.
• Sanctification – Daily, we are being conformed to the likeness of Christ, growing in Him & displaying the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
• Glorification – The believer’s full realization and perfection of salvation.

For this … mortal must put on immortality. But when … this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

– 1 Corinthians 15:53-54 (NASB1995)

Warren Wiersbe shares this insight.

“Paul uses three thoughts in Philippians 1:1-11 that describe true Christian fellowship:

• I have you in my mind (1:3-6)
• I have you in my heart (1:7-8)
• I have you in my prayers (1:9-11)”

And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

– Philippians 1:9-11 (ESV)

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Show Notes

Scripture: Philippians 1:18-26

SHOW NOTES:

Paul wrote the book of Philippians while he was sitting in a Roman prison waiting for his trial before Caesar. We do not have many details about Paul’s imprisonment, but he was facing an incredible ordeal. However, Paul’s perspective as he awaits his trial and the outcome is a powerful example.

Paul wasn’t concerned about others’ motives (their jealousy, desire for power, or position). The most important priority for Paul’s life and ministry was sharing the message of Jesus Christ and the free gift of salvation. Paul’s response, “I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice!”

For I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.

– Philippians 1:19-20

Paul reminds us that our prayers are important and necessary. Believers united in prayer for each other. Perhaps you have a prayer journal where you keep requests for other people. When the Lord reminds you of someone’s prayer need, stop and pray for them by name.

If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose, I cannot tell. I am hard-pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.

– Philippians 1:22-24

Paul believed the Lord still had ministry and work for him to complete here on the earth. This would be fruitful labor for Paul. Therefore, he is “convinced” that he would remain and continue the ministry. Paul has a servant’s heart and desires people to know the Lord and live for God’s glory!

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Show Notes

Scripture: Philippians 1:27-30

SHOW NOTES:

Paul wrote this letter to encourage and instruct the church at Philippi. These people have been partners in the Gospel for more than ten years.

Paul’s words challenge us to live every day in a manner worthy of Christ’s gospel. He encourages believers to be united—”stand firm, in one spirit, with one mind, side by side.”

Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel.

Philippians 1:27

Lord, give us the courage to stand against the enemy and endure suffering for the sake of Jesus Christ.

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Show Notes

SCRIPTURE: Philippians 2:1-4

SHOW NOTES:

Paul urges the Philippians to live a life that pleases the Lord and brings glory to His name. In addition, Paul wants believers to walk in unity and “be steadfast.”

All believers should embrace humility as the foundation for unity. How do we live? How do we walk with the Lord?

• Is there encouragement from belonging to Christ? Yes, there is.
• Is there any comfort from His love? Yes, there is.
• Is there any fellowship together in the Spirit? Yes, there is.
• Are your hearts tender and compassionate? This is a sign of a new heart and a new spirit.

And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.

– Ezekiel 36:26

Paul informs these believers that his joy will be complete when they function together in unity. He instructs them to have the “same mind, same love, and one mind.”

Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

– Romans 12:10

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Show Notes

Scripture: Philippians 2:5-7

SHOW NOTES:

Philippians is Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi—beloved friends and partners in the Gospel. We are working our way through chapter two, and we’ll begin with verse 5 today. This paragraph (verses 5-11) is the most important one in the epistle and the most difficult to interpret.

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

– Philippians 2:5

The simple thought here is, “Make Me Like Jesus!” Paul explains what he meant when presenting the concept of humility, namely, the example of Jesus Christ. He wanted the Philippian believers (and this includes us) to remember that the very quality he had advocated in 2:1-4, a humble unity, was observable in the Lord Jesus.

… who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped.

– Philippians 2:6

Now for the “hard theology” of this passage! The Son of God’s pre-incarnate state is clearly in view in verse 6. Jesus is — was—and will always be God!

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.

– John 1:1-2

In God’s perfect plan of the incarnation, the Son of God left heaven and came to live on the earth as a man—fully God, fully man.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

– John 1:14

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