Study on the Book of Philippians
Reverend Michael Mwangi
Senior Pastor, Fedha Church, Kenya Assemblies of God
Just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, in as much as both in my chains and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace. For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.
a. It is right for me to think this of you all: Paul’s thankfulness, joy, and desire to pray for the Philippians was right because they stood beside him in his trials for the gospel, and they received the same grace he did (you all are partakers with me of grace).
When we stand with others we share in their blessing. Their success is also your success.
b. I have you in my heart: Paul was a man of great intellect, but he was also a man of great heart, and the Philippian Christians were in his heart. He could even call God as his witness regarding his deep affection for them.
Evidently not so many who are high and mighty can associate with the ordinary level in such an affectionate manner that is genuine and not superficial.
4. ( Philippians 1: 9-11) Paul’s prayer for the Philippians
And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
This I pray, that your love may abound still more and more: The Philippians had a lot of love, and they showed it to Paul. Yet Paul didn’t hesitate to pray that their love would abound still more and more. It doesn’t matter how much love for others we have; we can still have more!
Romans 13:8 New International Version (NIV)Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.
We can never love enough or as much has God has loved us.
John 13
34. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
35. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
1 Corinthians 13
13. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
1 Peter 4
8. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
That your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment: Yet, the love Paul wanted to abound in the Philippians was not “blind love.” It was love that had knowledge and all discernment; it was love that could approve the things that are excellent.
God's love is not blind, it is informed.
Blind love leads people to perish. They are easily taken advantage and led astray. You follow without knowing where you are going.
Paul knew the danger of an undiscerning love. He rebuked the Corinthian church that seemed to glory in their “love” and “openness” which lacked any sense of knowledge and discernment (1 Corinthians 5:1-7).
That you may be sincere
That you may be sincere and without offense: When we approve and receive the things that are excellent, we become sincere (speaking of inner righteousness) and without offense (speaking of outer righteousness that can be seen). Till the day of Christ means that these things become increasingly evident in our life until Jesus comes.
Being sincere is important, but alone it is not enough. Notorious sinners in the days of Jesus such as tax collectors were sincere, yet they still needed to repent. As well, being without offense before others is important, but alone it is not enough. The Pharisees of Jesus’ day were without offense in the opinion of many. We want God to make us both sincere and without offense.
You can be sincere but very sincerely wrong
d. Being filled with the fruits of righteousness: The work of becoming sincere and without offense is really God’s work within us. It happens as we are filled with the fruits of righteousness.
i. Bearing fruit is always the result of abiding in Jesus (John 15:4-6).
As we abide in Him, we receive the life and nutrients we need to naturally bear fruit to the glory and praise of God.
Corinthians 10:31 in Other Translations31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
When we walking in righteousness we live life that glorifies God. Our words and deeds reflect Christ and honours God.
"Every genuine follower of God has his glory in view by all that he does, says, or intends. He loves to glorify God, and he glorifies him by showing forth in his conversion the glorious working of the glorious power of the Lord.” (Clarke)
Paul explains his present circumstances
1. (12-14) Paul’s imprisonment has not hindered the gospel in any way.
But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much bolder to speak the word without fear.
a. The things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel: Paul here answered a concern of the Philippians. He wanted them to know that God’s blessing and power were still with him, even though he was in prison. He was not out of the will of God, and God’s work still continued.
i. When Paul was with the Philippians, there were amazing examples of the sovereign power of God, culminating in a divine jailbreak and their vindication before civil magistrates (Acts 16:11-40). We are not surprised that the Philippians wondered where the power of God was in Paul’s present imprisonment.
ii. We also know that all this turned out for the furtherance of the gospel because during this time he wrote Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians.
iii. God didn’t waste Paul’s time during the Roman imprisonment. God never wastes our time, though we may waste it by not sensing God’s purpose for our lives at the moment.
God is at work even when things don't make sense
The furtherance of the gospel: Paul doesn’t mention if he was being advanced, because he didn’t care about that and he assumed that the Philippians didn’t care either. Their common passion was the furtherance of the gospel, and the gospel continued to advance.
c. It has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ: The circumstances around Paul’s imprisonment and his manner in the midst of it made it clear to all observers that he was not just another prisoner, but that he was an emissary of Jesus Christ. This witness led to the conversion of many, even some of the palace guards.
i. From this we see that Paul could minister effectively and bring glory to God in less-than-ideal circumstances. He didn’t need everything to be easy and set to be fruitful.
d. Having become confident by my chains: Paul’s imprisonment gave the Christians around him – who were not imprisoned – greater confidence and boldness.
· They saw that Paul had joy amid such a trial.
· They saw that God would take care of Paul in such circumstances.
· They saw that God could still use Paul even when he was imprisoned
Comments
Post a Comment