Philippians Joy Above the Fray

Thanks for the gifts & aid Philippians 4: 14-20

Whether… * in chains or defending/confirming the Gospel * with false or true motives * by life or by death * see you or hear about you * well fed or hungry * in plenty or in need Philippians 1: 7, 1: 18, 1: 20, 1:27, 4: 12

Joy… * God is working for the good * salvation, eternal life * Christ has overcome the world Romans 8: 28 I Peter 1: 3-9 John 16: 33

“What has happened to all your joy?” Galatians 4: 15

Worries of this life Deceitfulness of wealth Matthew 13: 22

Joy & Contentment Proverbs 19: 23

Joy from Prison Philippians 1: 1-11

Completing the good work Philippians 1: 6 Whatever the cost “…mature and complete, not lacking anything…” James 1: 2-4

Love growing in knowledge Philippians 1: 9-11 Discernment Purity & blamelessness Righteousness

The good through the chains Philippians 1: 7-8, 12-14 Whether in chains or defending & confirming the Gospel Chains advance the Gospel - palace guard - courageous speaking

Perfect Message Imperfect Messengers Philippians 1: 15-18

Philip Yancey Soul Survivor “Indeed, we are all in peril if the flawed messenger invalidates the message.” Philip Yancey Soul Survivor

“…whether by life or by death…” Philippians 1: 18-27 Whether in chains or defending and confirming the Gospel 1: 7 Served to advance the Gospel 1: 12 Will turn out for my deliverance 1: 19

“…whether by life or by death…” Philippians 1: 18-27 “To live is Christ and to die is gain.” 1: 21

“I desire to depart and be with Christ…” Philippians 1: 23 “absent from the body, present with Christ…” II Corinthians 5: 6-8

Paul’s earthly mission Philippians 1: 20-27 Life = fruitful labor For your progress Joy in the faith

Whatever happens… “What is that to you? You follow Me.” Philippians 1: 27 You know how to act “What is that to you? You follow Me.”

If worthy of the Gospel… Philippians 1: 27-28 One spirit One man No fear Salvation or destruction

For it has been granted… Philippians 1: 29-30 The fellowship of suffering Philippians 3: 10 I Peter 4: 12-13 I Peter 5: 8-9

If knowing Christ has changed you in ANY way, then… Philippians 2: 1-5 Encouragement Comfort Fellowship Tenderness & Compassion

If disunity & selfishness is displayed by an individual, class, or church, then…? Philippians 2: 1-5

The Holy Spirit drives us toward: Unity in community Selflessness Benefit of others Philippians 2: 1-5

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who…” Philippians 2: 5-11

“To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One.” “…equality with God…” Philippians 2: 6 “To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One.” Isaiah 40: 25

“I will make myself like the Most High.” “You will be like God.” satan’s lifelong lie “I will make myself like the Most High.” Isaiah 14: 14 Oppose God – exalt himself over God Set himself up in God’s temple Proclaim himself to be God II Thessalonians 2: 4

Willfully:. made Himself nothing. nature of a servant Willfully: * made Himself nothing * nature of a servant * likeness of a human Philippians 2: 7

Humbled unto death; even death on a cross “Greater love has no man than this…” Humbled unto death; even death on a cross Philippians 2: 8 Mark 10: 42-45 Deuteronomy 21: 22-23

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us…” Since He lowered Himself lower than all men; “Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place.” Philippians 2: 9 “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Matthew 23: 12 James 4: 10 I Peter 5: 6 “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” Matthew 23: 12 James 4: 10 I Peter 5: 6

“I am God, and there is no other.” Every knee Every tongue Philippians 2: 10-11 “I am God, and there is no other.” Isaiah 45: 22-25

“They will look on me, the one they have pierced.” Every knee Every tongue Philippians 2: 10-11 “They will look on me, the one they have pierced.” Zechariah 12: 10 Zechariah 14: 1-9

“continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling…” Philippians 2: 12-13 Ephesians 2: 8-10

“continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling…” Greek Work out – complete, finish, accomplish Fear – terror, exceedingly afraid Trembling – quaking with fear Philippians 2: 12-13

“continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling…” Philippians 2: 12-13 Salvation is not the end of all things; it is the beginning of all things

No complaining No arguing Blameless & pure Without fault Philippians 2: 14-18

“poured out like a drink offering…” based on what? Philippians 2: 17-18 Exodus 29: 38-43

Timothy – “I have no one else like him” Epaphroditus – “my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier” Philippians 2: 19-30

REJOICE! Repetition = safeguard Philippians 3: 1

The Perfect Jew - circumcised on 8th day - Israelite - Tribe of Benjamin - Jew of Jews - regarding the law? Pharisee - zeal? Persecutor of the church - legalistic righteousness? faultless Philippians 3: 2-6

consider everything a loss consider them rubbish Philippians 3: 7-9 “…that I may gain Christ...”

become like Him attain resurrection “I want to know…” Christ Power of His resurrection Fellowship of sharing in His suffering Philippians 3: 10-11 become like Him attain resurrection

Fellowship of sharing in His suffering “I want to know…” Fellowship of sharing in His suffering Philippians 3: 10-11 “But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” 1 Peter 4:13

“For whatever reason God chose to make man as he is— limited and suffering and subject to sorrows and death— He had the honesty and the courage to take His own medicine. Whatever game He is playing with His creation, He has kept His own rules and played fair.

He can exact nothing from man that He has not exacted from Himself He can exact nothing from man that He has not exacted from Himself. He has Himself gone through the whole of human experience, from the trivial irritations of family life and the cramping restrictions of hard work and lack of money to the worst horrors of pain and humiliation, defeat, despair, and death.

When He was a man, He played the man When He was a man, He played the man. He was born in poverty and died in disgrace and thought it well worthwhile.” Dorothy Sayers

“[The Bible] rarely, or ambiguously, answers the backward-looking question “Why?” Instead, it raises the very different, forward-looking question, “To what end?” Philip Yancey

“…that for which Jesus took hold of me...” I haven’t obtained all this I haven’t been made perfect I haven’t taken hold of it Philippians 3: 12-16 “…that for which Jesus took hold of me...” Acts 9: 15-16; 23:11; 26: 12-18

“forgetting what is behind straining toward what is ahead” Philippians 3: 12-16 Philippians 3: 4-6 Acts 22: 3-5; 26: 9-11 Galatians 1: 13-14 I Timothy 1: 15-16

“Only let [me] live up to what [I] have already obtained” Philippians 3: 16

Follow my example (really?) Philippians 3: 17 “Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ.” I Corinthians 11: 1

Earthly citizens Heavenly citizens Philippians 3: 18 - 4: 1 “This world is not my home, I’m just passin’ through”

Hey, ladies, quit arguing and get back to contending for the Gospel! Philippians 4: 2-3

Rejoice in the Lord most of the time. I will say it again: Rejoice Rejoice in the Lord most of the time. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to almost everyone. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about most things, but in almost everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends most understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4: 4-7

Gentleness – something just beyond justice Philippians 4: 4-7 Galatians 6:1

Anxious about nothing but in everything PRAY PETITION with thanksgiving Philippians 4: 4-7

And His peace protects us from anxiety Philippians 4: 4-7 “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you”

True, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy Philippians 4: 8-9 “Every good and perfect gift is from above…”

True, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy Lies, base, wrong, filthy, ugly, repulsive, inferior, dishonorable II Timothy 3: 1-5

I rejoice over your concern, your gifts Philippians 4: 10-20 “God will meet all your needs…” Colossians 1: 16-17

Contentment in need, in plenty Philippians 4: 11-13 “I can do all things through Christ…”

Godliness with Contentment I Timothy 6: 6-10 “”Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have…” Hebrews 13: 5

The saints of Caesar’s household Joy Above the Fray Philippians 4: 21-23 The saints of Caesar’s household

Whether… * in chains or defending/confirming the Gospel * with false or true motives * by life or by death * see you or hear about you * well fed or hungry * in plenty or in need Joy Above the Fray