Philippians 1; A Source Of Joy

Pick up your Bible, grab a cup of coffee, and join me in my quest for joy led by Paul the Apostle.
Please read Philippians ch. 1 before reading our study and the questions that follow. There is a link at the bottom of this post that will guide you to this chapter online if you'd like to read it digitally.

Paul begins his epistle, and this chapter with a customary salutation. He follows this with an expression of thanksgiving and prayer for the Philippians.

  "I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy," - v. 3-4

Becuase of the fellowhsip that Paul shared with the church at Philippi, he expresses joy over them and has a confidence that the work the Lord had begun in them, He will complete. Because of their fellowship and his confidence, he prays that their spiritual growth will continue.

"And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment," - v. 9

Paul desire is for them to be sincere, without offense,  filled with the fruits of righteousness, by Jesus. These things he ultimately prays will be of glory and praise to God.

"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." - v. 10-11

His circumstances at Rome have actually been for the furtherance of the gospel, despite

imprisonment and opposition by false brethren.  He is confident that everything will turn out 

alright, and that he will even come to them again.  It is not without mixed feelings, however, for he 
is torn between a desire to be with Christ and a realization that to remain in the flesh is more 

needful for them.

Verses 17-25 always stir a longing in my own heart. I find that I often times have to remind myself 

that this life is but a vapor, and eternity is forevermore. I have prayed v. 20, that Christ would be

manifested in me, and this His light would shine in me. If you, reader, take nothing else away from

this study, please take verse 20. Meditate upon it. 

 "according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to 
shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as 
always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death."

Paul had an earnest struggle, he wanted to preach, but he desired to be with the Lord. One can't do both at the same time. He ultimately made the choice that his staying on this earth at that current time was more beneficial to the Gospel. How thankful I am that he was able to bless us with a majority of the New Testament.

He died to his wish, and was obedient to the Lord's will.

  "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;" -v.27

 The above strikes a chord within my own heart.

It stirs me to ask the hard questions. Am I really bringing others to knowledge of the Gospel by my speech? What about when I'm not at church, is my conversation with friends or my boyfriend advancing and honoring to the Lord?

I often find that I'm sadly convicted of idle conversation. 

This is one area that I must submit to the Lord, and I'm joyfully reporting that He is gracious to finish what He has begun in my heart.

  "For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake," - v. 29

Paul wanted the church at Philippi to understand the importance of Jesus' words that we must take up our crosses and die to ourselves. We are not to just be believers of the Word, but doers. We must be willing to give up everything and potentially be ridiculed and punished for His name's sake. Because He's worth it.

That is where true joy is found, not in more of ourselves, but in more of Him. 

Here's an outline of the first chapter.

I. INTRODUCTION (1-11)

   A. SALUTATION (1-2)
      1. From Paul and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ (1a)
      2. To the saints in Christ Jesus who in Philippi, with the 
         bishops and deacons (1b)
      3. Grace and peace from God and Jesus Christ (2)

   B. PAUL'S THANKSGIVING AND PRAYER (3-11)
      1. His thanksgiving for them (3-8)
         a. That every thought, every request in their behalf, is one
            of joy (3-4)
         b. For their fellowship in the gospel from the very first day
            (5)
         c. He is confident that God will complete the work begun in
            them, for they have shared with him in his chains and the
            proclamation of the gospel (6-7)
         d. God is his witness to how much he longs for them with the
            love of Jesus (8)
      2. His prayer for them (9-11)
         a. That their love abound in knowledge and all discernment (9)
         b. That they approve the things that are excellent (10a)
         c. That they be sincere and without offense till Christ 
            returns (10b)
         d. That they be filled with the fruits of righteousness (11)
            1) Made possible by Jesus Christ (11a)
            2) To the glory and praise of God (11b)

II. THE SITUATION IN ROME (11-26)

   A. PAUL'S IMPRISONMENT AND OPPOSITION (12-18)
      1. Imprisonment has actually created opportunities to spread the
         gospel (12-14)
         a. Things have turned out to the furtherance of the gospel, 
            for even among the palace guard it is evident his chains
            are in Christ (12-13)
         b. His example has emboldened others to speak without fear
            (14)
      2. Even opposition has provided opportunity for Christ to be
         preached (15-18)
         a. While some preach Christ out of love and good will, others
            do so with envy and strife, hoping to make things harder
            for Paul (15-17)
         b. Yet Paul rejoices that in every way Christ is preached (18)

   B. PAUL'S EXPECTATION OF DELIVERANCE (19-26)
      1. He knows all will turn out well for his salvation (19-20)
         a. Through their prayers and the help of the Holy Spirit (19)
         b. He is confident that no matter what happens, Christ will be
            magnified (20)
      2. Whether he lives or dies, it will be a blessing (21-23)
         a. To live is Christ, to die is gain (21)
         b. To live will mean fruitful labor, but to depart and be with
            Christ will be far better for him personally (22-23)
      3. Knowing their need of him at the present, he is confident of
         coming to them once again (24-26)

III. EXHORTATION TO STAND FAST (27-30)

   A. STRIVE TOGETHER FOR THE FAITH OF THE GOSPEL (27)
      1. He pleads that their conduct be worthy of the gospel (27a)
      2. So that whether present or absent, he may hear that they are
         standing fast in one spirit, united in their efforts for the
         faith of the gospel (27b)

   B. DO NOT BE TERRIFIED BY YOUR ADVERSARIES (28-30)
      1. For such confidence is not a sign of perdition, but of 
         salvation from God (28)
      2. They have been granted not only to believe in Jesus, but also
         to suffer for Him even as he does (29-30)

Have a blessed week!

His

What does it mean to be His? Here's my answer.
*Part 1 of the Philippians series will be posted tonight. The following has been on my heart today, enjoy!*

I am a sinner, by my own admittance. I am as filthy rags to His judgement. I am mere dust on the floor of a cellar. I have fallen short, very short of the Lord's holy standard. I have belittled the call, not embraced it time and time again. It doesn't take much to see that I am in need of that amazing grace that we sing of on Sunday. I have broken the commandments, and yet I still yearned for His love. My deepest sorrow is remembering my failure before Him. I could be so much better, if only I was kinder. Perhaps more considerate, maybe then He'd feel me adequate enough to save. How about if I was prettier? Would He then find more delight in me? Surely the world sees me as less than attractive, I imagine in His eyes I am but a scoffer, bruised and beaten by the path. I have taken wrong turns, the evidence of these moments of weakness upon my disheveled appearance. Surely, He sees nothing good in me. He can't see anything. No, I won't let Him. I am doomed, and I can not measure up. I am not worthy to even touch His garment. I am but a sinner. He must see my sin stained life, must see the crimson where there should be white.
Oh, but Jesus. I plead His blood over my life! Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. That precious blood!
I am saved by grace, purified by His wounds. I am washed clean, ransom paid. I am the apple of His eye. I am a princess in His Kingdom. I have been redeemed by my Lover. His love has set me free! In His eyes I am worth more than the most precious of stones. I am forgiven, every crimson stain washed white. Oh, hallelujah, white as snow. My greatest joy is seeing His delight upon my white rob, the garment a proof of the Salvation I gained when I took His yoke upon me.
I once yelled "No, Lord you must not see me, I am not worthy!" I ran, I tried to hid from Him. Now I stand before Him. Unashamed, for He has redeemed me.
He declares, "You, you are fearfully and wonderfully made!" And for the first time in my life, I believe it, I embrace His compliment upon the beauty in me. He sees no spot, nor wrinkle on me. He sees me, He delights in me. He loves me. He cares for me. He wants me. His banner over me is love.Yet, this love, it is not because of me. It could never be. Didn't you know? I am filthy apart from Him. Yet, He redeemed me. How be it so? Jesus.The Cross, the place where His Son. Only son, mind you, was left to die. The soldiers beat Him until He was unrecognizable, and the people scoffed at Him, for the were sure He couldn't save them. For if He could save them, He would save Himself first. His blood served as the ransom for all the worlds sin.Now, the empty tomb. It is my beloved's treasure. Death does not part us. Oh, He is alive in me. When He rose on the third day, He left with a promise to return unto me.
He is the prize of all eternity.His blood is what the Father sees when He looks upon me, not my own iniquity. It is only because of Jesus, that I am of the Father. I am seated in heavenly places.
Redeemed. Forgiven. Dearly loved. Clothed in righteousness.
I am His.

Update

In the weeks past, I've contemplated deeply the future of this blog, and of my presence in the online blogging world. I have gone from being able to think of a subject, to assuming it wasn't good enough, to giving up on it. Thus, I have had a poor few weeks in the blogsphere. Plus, I was admitted to the ER on Monday night after a brain injury, it's a wonder my grammar and typing abilities are sufficient without severe spell check correction.
Anyhow, I digress.
I have an expository series ready here on the blog. We will be diving into the book of Philippians. It's one of my favorite books, and I think it will provide us all with great instruction and encouragement.
We will start it today, going through chapter 1 and will do a chapter a week.
I will be having surgery on Tuesday so I will write out the blogs and have them scheduled to be published so you don't miss out on our study because of my recovery.
Plus, my friend Josh, who has provided his perspective here before, will be joining us to do a segment on the Refiner's Fire. *He is a fire fighter, pun intended*
I will also be having other guest writers give their perspectives. You, dear reader, are in for a treat!