10/13/13

From Mark Copeland... Paul's Thanksgiving For The Philippians (1:3-8)

                    "THE EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS"

             Paul's Thanksgiving For The Philippians (1:3-8)

INTRODUCTION

1. In the last study we examined the salutation of Paul and Timothy to
   the brethren at Philippi (1:1-2)

2. As is quite common in Paul's epistles, an expression of thanksgiving
   follows the salutation

3. In this epistle to the Philippians, we find Paul's thanksgiving in
   verses 3-8, where we begin to look into "the window of Paul's own
   bosom"

[As we examine this passage, three things stand out, the first being
that Paul is...]

I. THANKFUL FOR THEIR FELLOWSHIP (3-5)

   A. THE MEMORIES OF THEIR FELLOWSHIP WAS A SOURCE OF GREAT JOY...
      1. Every time he remembered them, it made him glad!
      2. The memories were a source of frequent joy, because every
         time he prayed, he included them
         a. Here we get a glimpse into the prayer life of the apostle
            Paul
         b. It evidently included frequent prayers for those with whom he
            had labored in the past - cf. Col 1:3; 1Th 1:2
      3. The joyful memories were the result of sharing together in the
         work of the gospel
         a. "From the first day..."
            1) From the day that Lydia opened her home to him
            2) As recorded in Ac 16:15
         b. "...until now."
            1) This would include the "giving and receiving" when he
               first left Macedonia, and also in Thessalonica - Php 4:
               15-16
            2) And now that he is in Rome, with the gift sent to him by
               Epaphroditus - Php 4:18

   B. THIS ILLUSTRATES THE BLESSING OF "PLEASANT MEMORIES", AND THE
      "FELLOWSHIP" THAT CREATES THEM...
      1. Pleasant memories are a blessing in difficult times...
         a. Despite imprisonment, Paul could pray with joyful
            thanksgiving as he remembered the Philippians
         b. As one person put it:  "God gave us memory so that we might
            have roses in December."
      2. But memory can be a curse instead of a blessing!
         a. If we have spent our lives in sin and have troubled those
            around us, memory can be a curse!
         b. As someone said:  "Most people live the first half of their
            life making the second half of their life miserable!"
         c. For memories to be a blessing to us, we must be a blessing to
            others!
      3. The sort of fellowship experienced between Paul and the
         Philippians creates the most precious memories!
         a. Fellowship in the gospel of Christ!
         b. Sharing together in spreading the Word, either directly by
            teaching or indirectly by supporting those who teach

[How comforting it must have been for Paul, though experiencing
imprisonment, to be able to look back upon his relationship with the
Philippians with such joyful memories!

What kind of memories are we creating today?  It will affect the kind
of future we have!

As Paul continues his expression of thanksgiving, he writes that he
is...]

II. CONFIDENT GOD WILL COMPLETE HIS WORK IN THEM (6-7)

   A. THE BASIS FOR SUCH CONFIDENCE...
      1. Certainly it involves the faithfulness of God Himself, as
         expressed throughout the Scriptures
         a. E.g., in helping us to handle temptations - 1Co 10:13
         b. E.g., in providing forgiveness when we succumb to temptations
            - 1Jn 1:9
      2. But Paul also took into consideration the faithfulness of the
         Philippians
         a. They were willing to share in his chains - cf. Php 2:29-30
         b. They were willing to share in the defense and confirmation of
            the gospel (through their support of Paul)
         c. As such, they were sharing together in the grace of God!

   B. THIS PASSAGE SHOULD REMIND US THAT WE ARE NOT ALONE IN OUR GROWTH
      AS CHRISTIANS...
      1. That God "began a good work" in our conversion, a work that
         involved:
         a. His providence, in giving us an opportunity to hear the
            gospel - Tit 2:11
         b. His regeneration, when we responded to the commands of the
            gospel - Tit 3:4-7
      2. As we continue to "work out our own salvation", God is right
         there with us:
         a. Certainly we must cooperate with God - Php 2:12
         b. But God is truly at work within us! - Php 2:13
         c. And He provides whatever help we need - Php 4:13
      3. This Divine Help will be with us "until the day of Jesus Christ"
         a. The "Day" when Christ comes to be glorified - 2Th 1:10
         b. The same "Day" we will be glorified with Him, by virtue of
            God's goodness and work in conjunction with our faith - 2 Th 1:11-12

[With such help as the basis of our confidence, as long as we are
faithful and partakers of God's grace, He will complete His work in us! 
(but note carefully He 3:12-14).

Finally, we notice in this thanksgiving of Paul...]

III. HIS DEEP LONGING FOR THEM (8)

   A. IN EXPRESSING THE DEPTH OF HIS AFFECTION FOR THEM...
      1. He calls upon God as a witness!
         a. He Who knows the hearts of all men
         b. And certainly Who knows the heart of Paul!
      2. He describes it as the "affection of Jesus Christ"!
         a. I.e., the same sort of love Jesus has toward us
         b. Even as Jesus commanded His disciples, to love one another as
            He loved us - Jn 13:34

   B. THIS SORT OF LOVE SHOULD CHARACTERIZE ALL DISCIPLES...
      1. This is how the world will know that we are truly the disciples
         of Jesus - Jn 13:35
      2. Such love comes only by being taught by God - cf. 1Th 4:9-10
      3. And how does He teach us?  Through the example of His Own Son!
         - 1Jn 3:16

CONCLUSION

1. How close Paul must have felt toward the brethren at Philippi!

2. And this is understandable, because it was the pleasant memories of
   their fellowship in the gospel of Christ that gave Paul such joy and
   confidence in the well-being of the Philippians

3. Note how all these things relate together:
   a. Joy and confidence comes from pleasant memories
   b. Pleasant memories come from fellowship in the gospel of Christ

4. If we lack the joy and confidence we desire, the key is to create
   pleasant memories by sharing with other workers in the spread of the
   gospel!

5. Finally...
   a. Has God begun a good work in you?  (via your obedience to the
      gospel?)
   b. Will He complete it until the day of Jesus Christ?  (via your
      faithful service to the Lord?)

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011


From Jim McGuiggan... Finishing a Good Work

 

Finishing a Good Work




Here's a tiny group of people different from the rest of the happy pagan world. Because they were different they were having a hard time (1:28) and it appears they were wavering a bit because the man who began the work in their city was himself thrown into prison (1:12-18). Since we all have the sense that happiness should accompany truth and goodness hardship is a bit of a blow.
So was Paul's agenda to create a community of believers in Jesus Christ at Philippi? And if so, wasn't it likely that it would all end in tatters and failure?
Paul told them he prayed for them all the time both with thankfulness and confidence (1:3-6). His thoughts weren't gloomy. The size of the pagan world and all its power didn't drive him into depression because he wasn't the one who began the good work in the Philippians, it was God himself (1:6)!
The good work has only "begun". They weren't to see it as already completed. They hadn't "arrived". This that they were experiencing was real enough and glorious enough but it was only part of a bigger and more glorious picture. Knowing that a tough piece of narrative is part of a bigger and grander story brings relief as well as hope. It has a happy ending! Knowing that makes it easier to work through the really gritty parts. It was a "good" work God had begun in them and he would see it through.
And would Paul say that to us? Of course he would. So what does a passage like Philippians 1:6 mean to us? It means that one day we (yes "we", not others) in a better world will be standing close to Jesus Christ and some angels will whisper in awe as they look in our direction, "How like the Master they look. They're the absolute image of him." And how can we be sure that this is our future? He is faithful who called us and he will do it (Philippians 4:19).
©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.

From Ben Fronczek... A Beating They’ll Remember Acts 19

A Beating They’ll Remember Acts 19

Acts 19 - A Beating they’ll Remember
Read: Acts 19:8-20
Paul had now been teaching in Ephesus for 2 years. Paul probably became quite famous locally. He’s been teaching, and healing, casting out demons and doing all kinds of cool things in the name of Christ. And of course, that’s the key about Paul — he didn’t care about his own fame; he cared about spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. Others, however, saw what he was doing and wanted to get in on the magic show. And much like Simeon in Acts 8, the Sorcerer who after seeing Peter miraculously heal the sick in the name of Jesus and wanted that power for himself, enter the seven sons of a Jewish priest named Sceva. They were not even Christians but they began to use the name of Jesus like “Hocus Pocus,” or some kind of incantation or charm trying to do what Paul was doing. In this story we see them trying to drive an evil spirit out of a man by using Jesus’ name.  But something happened that they did not expect.

We read that this evil spirit speaks to them saying, “I know about Jesus, and I know about Paul but who are you? “

The spirit was not afraid of them. He had no respect for them. They had not authority over him.  As a matter of fact the evil spirit causes the possessed man to freak out and attack the seven brothers, and he beats the snot out of all seven of them.

The Bible says: He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding. (16)

Naturally, word of this spreads throughout Ephesus, and it says that the people “were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor.”

Not only that, but it also goes on to say that, “Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds. A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas” (each drachma was a coin equaling a day’s wage). (Acts 19:17-19).

I find this story interesting if not fascinating.
Why were those in Ephesus so moved by this event, this beating, to the point where they were seized with fear and began to look at Jesus and Christians in a new light? They literally began to respect and honor the name of Jesus like never before. Some who were on the fence and believed now came forward and openly confessed their evil deeds. And many who practised sorcery and witchcraft brought their evil scrolls out and had a big bonfire and burnt them. This was something that these believers should not have had in their homes in the first place.

Why did they do this?
Yes they were a bit superstitious. Not only did they see that evil spirit are real and potentially dangerous here, more importantly saw that those evil spirit also honored and respected Jesus and Paul, and recognize Christians, from non-Christians. So is there anything we can learn from this today? I believe so.

#1. Most importantly, do not treat the name of Christ lightly. Jesus is God, the creator, the Messiah, the word of God that became flesh and dwelt among us. He is the Savior, the redeemer, the Lord and king of all heaven and earth. Jesus and name should be given honor and respect. Shame on us when we use His name as a curse or swear word.

#2. I also think it’s not wise to mess around with those evil unseen spiritual things that we don’t fully understand. Satan and his demons are real, and they are powerful.  

Later when Paul wrote to these people in Ephesus, in his epistle he wrote, “  10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” 6:6-10

I don’t know what but movie maker seem to be romanticizing and glorifying these evil forces. There are people who even worship the occult.  This dark realm is real, and so it’s wise if we don’t dabble in the occult at all.

#3. Another thing I find quite interesting if not encouraging is the fact that these demon know who you are. I believe that they know exactly what kind of relationship you have with Father God and His Son Jesus. 

In the story, the demon tells these seven brothers “I know who Jesus is and who Paul is, but who are you?” 

And then he proceeds to beat them up. If they were Christians, I don’t believe that they would have had a problem. Rather they were phonies looking to make a name for themselves. What I like about this is the fact that it reminds me that we as Christians live in a favored position in the spiritual realm. Why, because God protects His own. I am not saying that you will never come in harm’s way, especially at the hands of other men. But I do believe that God and His angels are working behind the scene protecting us from dangers we just can’t see with these human eyes.

Over and over in the Bible we read about God’s                             protection:                                                                                             

-   In 2 Kings 6, a servant asked Elisha what they were going to do when and a enemy army had surrounded their city and was bent on destruction. 

Elisha said, “Don’t be afraid. Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”  

And then Elisha prayed that the Lord would open this servant’s eyes so that he could see what was unseen and hidden from our eyes. And the text goes on to say that the Lord opened the servants eyes, and he looked and he saw the hills full of horses and chariots’ of fire around Elisha and the city.

-  Psalm 34:7 says, The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.”

-   Psalm 125:1-2 says,Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. 2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people both now and forevermore.”

-   And all of psalm 91 is about how God protects his own. Even in the NT,  2 Thessalonians 3:3 says, the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.”

-  In 1 Peter 1:3-5 says “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,  who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.”

If you are a Christian, you are not like everyone else. Like a loving parent protects his child, Father God is likewise watching over us. For me that encouraging, that God loves and cares for me that much. I pray that it also encourages you this day!   But even more than encouraging you, I pray that it will move you to do what those Ephesians did. This week and every week from now on I challenge you to be careful how you use the name of Jesus. His name is to honored and glorified.

And secondly, I challenge you that if you have anything in your home that is unwholesome, or tempts you to do evil or unwholesome things, like those evil scrolls tempted those Ephesians to do evil, I challenge you to get rid of it. Maybe it’s a We-gee board, maybe you have books or magazines that contain material that you know is evil in God’s eyes. Get rid of it. If you have any secret sin, confess it to the Lord and ask Him to protect you from such worldly influence.

For more lessons click on the following link: http://granvillenychurchofchrist.org/?page_id=566

From Gary... I like it that way


I love to write this blog; it gives me the opportunity to express myself in ways I really never have before.  The articles are NOT PLANNED and I do not want them to be (at least the ones that I WRITE).  So, when you read you will get to know me and over a period of time REALLY KNOW ME!!!  And I get to know myself.  Now, that sounds funny, but it is not.  Believe it or not, its only been about ten years since I realized I have a sense of humor. And the title of the above picture fits me perfectly.  Why, because in my retirement I have begun to really enjoy life a little.  Somehow, I am more at ease with myself than ever before; I can't explain it- that just the way things are.  This comes with time, I guess, with having the perspective of many years under my belt- and that is a good thing. This made me think of John, Chapter 8.  Why? well, I will get to that later, for now- please read this famous passage...

John, Chapter 8
 1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.  2 Now very early in the morning, he came again into the temple, and all the people came to him. He sat down, and taught them.  3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman taken in adultery. Having set her in the midst,  4 they told him, “Teacher, we found this woman in adultery, in the very act.  5 Now in our law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. What then do you say about her?”  6 They said this testing him, that they might have something to accuse him of. 

But Jesus stooped down, and wrote on the ground with his finger.  7 But when they continued asking him, he looked up and said to them, 
“He who is without sin among you, let him throw the first stone at her.”   8 Again he stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground. 
  9  They, when they heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning from the oldest, even to the last. Jesus was left alone with the woman where she was, in the middle. 10 Jesus, standing up, saw her and said, “Woman, where are your accusers? Did no one condemn you?” 

  11  She said, “No one, Lord.” Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way. From now on, sin no more.” 

In this passage, people are condemning this woman "caught in the act" and Jesus turns things around so that they face THEIR OWN SIN.  They see her sin and think of themselves and can no longer condemn her - so they leave (those with the most life under their belt first).  And the woman gets a second chance to change her life.  In retirement, I feel that I have a second chance to really live and as unusual I am, God is blessing me with happiness in a life filled with reflection of the world around me, HIS WORD and its application to my own life and to that of others.  I know the picture is a little strange, but honestly, so am I- and I like it that way!!!