CHRISTIAN LIVING

June 23, 2020 (1 Tim. 2:1-6)

Reading to the hearer: Philippians 1:1-30

 

APOSTOLIC SALUTATION

“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,

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

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:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

19     For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

Readiness for Life or Death

      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.

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

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.

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.

Steadfastness Enjoined

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.

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.”

 

  1. THE SALUTATION—vv. 1–2

APOSTOLIC SALUTATION

  1. People—v. 1. Paul and Timothy as servants of God.
  2. Peace—v. 2. Grace from both God and Christ Jesus.
  3. THE SURETY—vv. 3–11
  4. Praise—vv. 3–5. Paul praises the people for their prayer and fellowship in the Gospel.
  5. Purpose—v. 6. What Christ started, He will complete.
  6. Partakers—v. 7. Workers together in God’s work.

Solicitude for the Church

  1. Passion—v. 8. Paul’s passion above average.
  2. Prayer—vv. 9–11. For growth—v. 9. For sincerity—v. 10. For fruitfulness—v. 11.

III. THE SLAVE—vv. 12–14

  1. Plan—v. 12. All things having a reason—Romans 8:28.
  2. Purpose—v. 13. In chains because of the Gospel.
  3. Power—v. 14. Paul’s patience encouraged other Christians to stand for the Lord.
  4. THE STRIFE—vv. 15–18
  5. Envying in preaching—vv. 15–16. Jealous of Paul’s preaching, so others preach out of strife.
  6. Encouraged preaching—vv. 17–18. Others preach because they want to see God’s work go forward.
  7. THE SALVATION—vv. 19–26
  8. Prayer—v. 19. Prayer brings about salvation.

Readiness for Life or Death

  1. Purpose—v. 20. Christ magnified in my body.
  2. Promise—v. 21. Hope of eternal life is better than living for Christ here on earth.
  3. Problem—vv. 22–24. Hard to decide which life is best.
  4. Praise—vv. 25–26. Paul is needed on earth to help.
  5. THE SUFFERING—vv. 27–30

Steadfastness Enjoined

  1. Speaking—v. 27. Speak according to God’s Word.
  2. Suffering—vv. 28–30. Count it a joy to suffer.

 

    VII.  Three Amen from Romans chapter 16:

                          

16:20 – Paul predicts victory for believers when the God of peace soon will crush Satan.

16:24 – Paul makes a prayerful pronouncement.  He summons “the grace of our Lord Jesus to be with you.

16:27 – Glory in God’s ability.