To All the Saints

to Paul’s epistle to the Philippians. Actually, I don’t, not yet. If
you would turn to the book of Acts. By the way, as you leave
today, I have a little bit of a tool or a gift for you that
you can use as a tool in the months to come that may assist
in your study of Philippians. As most of you know, most of
the I have most of the New Testament block diagram. For those of you
who think that, you know, each week when you read in the bulletin
and you see all those words jumbled, you know, that’s on purpose.
There’s a reason for it. There’s a purpose behind it. And what I have is the book of
Philippians block diagram for you, the entire book. You may
want to use it, tuck it in your Bible and use it as a as a tool
as we study. At least you’ll have a general
idea of why I do what I do and and perhaps how I came up with
what I did. Some of you may be familiar with
the fact that I believe that in every passage there is already,
based on linguistic and other factors, there is a God-given
outline in every passage. And so one of the things that
always frightens me is to hear a pastor say on Saturday night,
I’m working on my outline. And I’ve told you before, that’s
his first problem, that he’s working on his outline and not
God’s outline. There is in scripture a beautiful
structure based on the rules of language. And I don’t expect
any of you to become experts at it, but I did want to provide
it for you just in case some of you might want to elevate
your Bible study to the next level. Well, John has graciously
provided me with a few extra minutes, and before I squander
it all, I want to basically lay the groundwork. Now, we spent
four weeks, was it? four weeks on essentially that
few weeks stint that Paul had in Philippi. What we haven’t
touched on is the 12 years, the roughly 10 to 12 years that transpires
between the time that Paul leaves Philippi after the planting and
the time that he writes this epistle. So in 20 minutes, I
purpose to cover 12 years while it took us four weeks to cover
a mere week to 10 days. I think we can do it. One pastor
wrote in kind of characterizing the church in Philippi, he said
Paul’s first day in Philippi was very brief due to the treatment
he received at the hands of the Roman magistrates, which we just
covered. But he left behind the most important
result of his short visit in a little band of converts who
formed the nucleus of a most remarkable church. On at least
two subsequent occasions, Paul revisited the place, most likely
making somewhat longer visits on the first occasion, and possibly
he made still another visit after his release from the first Roman
imprisonment. Between this Philippian church
and the great apostle, a most friendly and cordial relation
existed from the very first to the last. It was the only church
under his charge that never gave him occasion for rebuke or reproof. That’s an interesting fact, isn’t
it? If you think back of all the epistles and the occasion
that must have necessitated Paul writing, you don’t get that from
reading the epistle to the Philippians. Its members were never seduced
from their steadfast loyalty to him and to his teachings,
nor did they ever fall into such terrible sins as appeared elsewhere
or give heed to doctrinal errors. In the letter before us, Paul
declares that he never had occasion for anything but joy and gratitude
in all his remembrance of them. It is written in an entirely
different tone and style from any of his other writings, the
thought flows on from beginning to end in a most unstudied and
natural way, like an ordinary, friendly letter. Let’s see how
we got there. We saw the establishing of the
Philippian church with Lydia’s household and the Philippian
jailers household whose name we don’t even really possess. Let’s find out what transpired
in the years to come. I want to have you turn to Acts
chapter 16 and what we’re going to do is course through and I
mean, just really rapid fashion. And so you may want to use if
you have something to write on a place for notes, you may just
want to jot down just general scriptures, because that’s about
all the time we’re going to spend in those particular areas. Most
believed that the Philippian church was planted in about A.D.
50. It was probably the spring of A.D. 50 that Paul first visited
Philippi. And then twice after his visit,
within the period covered by the Book of Acts, Paul visits
again the Philippian church, perhaps about A.D. 55. And I
say perhaps because you can’t fix with exact certainty most
of these dates. But about A.D. 55, Paul was likely
again there. And in the following year, he
was absolutely there. In Acts 20, it records that Paul
left Ephesus for Macedonia and undoubtedly gave the church of
Philippi some of what was characterized as much exhortation there in
Acts chapter 20. On his return eastward from Corinth
by way of Macedonia, he spent Passover at Philippi, Acts 20,
verse 6, and he stayed there. After his shipwreck, which is
recorded there in the Book of Acts, Paul arrived at Rome in
the spring, likely of AD 56. During a reign of Nero, the infamous
Nero, Burrus, the Praetorian prefect, essentially the jailer,
the one that was in charge of Paul’s imprisonment, The praetorian
prefect, a rough but kindly disposed soldier, extended to him every
liberty which the law allowed. So, in other words, you could
be a prisoner and that you could live in your own rented quarters
if they bonded you out, in essence. He extended to him every liberty
which the law allowed, permitting him to occupy a lodging of his
own under the charge of a Praetorian soldier, Acts 28, 16, and allowing
his friends and others to visit. You get a sense from reading
the prison epistles. And we’ll talk more about those
in a minute. But you’ll get a sense from reading the prison epistles
that there are those that are coming and going, ministering
to him, being ministered by him. There was great freedom in his,
quote unquote, imprisonment. But then in 1860, approximately,
then comes his arrest at Jerusalem, the imprisonment ultimately at
Caesarea, the two years imprisonment at Rome, And at the end of that
is when he writes this epistle to the Philippians. And we’ll
get there. His liberty was compromised. He was housed in a praetorium. A violent death seemed to be
at hand as he writes to the Philippians. That was his condition when he
composed this epistle. Written during Paul’s imprisonment
at Rome, the period in history which the very last verses of
Acts record some 11 to 12 years after his first visit. So with that first visit under
our belt, I want to take you to Acts chapter 17. Acts chapter
17. Upon planting the church, as
recorded in Acts 16, Paul then leaves Luke in Philippi. We’ll touch on that another day.
He travels to Thessalonia, Acts 17.1. He ministers there for
three Sabbaths, 17.2. He enjoys a large Gentile response
in verses two through four. But he also experiences strong
Jewish opposition, something that really never characterized
the Philippian church. verses five through nine, he
is sent from them by the brethren to Berea. Act 1710. And if you
would pick up there with me, the brethren immediately sent
Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. And there again is
that little principle of sentness, that little principle that the
church is the overseer of their ministry and that they are in
a very real way submitted to them. Brethren sent Paul and
Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went
into the synagogue of the Jews. Now, these were more noble minded
than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great
eagerness, examining the scriptures daily to see whether these things
were so. Many of them, therefore, believed,
along with a number of prominent Greek women and men. And so Paul
has this precious response of these deep thinkers and people
that wanted to consider God’s word and God’s word performed
its work in their hearts. Paul leaves Silas and Timothy
there in Berea and he is escorted by the brethren. According to
verse 15 and following, he’s escorted by the brethren to Athens,
Greece. Paul preaches his sermon regarding
an unknown God in Acts 17, verse 16 and following. Paul then leaves
Athens and goes to Corinth in 18.1, and it is there that he
takes up again, for necessity’s sake, his tent making ministry.
But it also records that he was reasoning in the synagogue every
Sabbath. And so you have here one of the
first indications of bivocational ministry. He was doing both things. Look at verse four of Acts, chapter
18. And he was reasoning in the synagogue
every Sabbath and trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. But when Silas
and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul began devoting himself completely
to the word, solemnly testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the
Christ. And when they resisted and blasphemed,
he shook out his garments and said to them, your blood be on
your own heads. I am clean. From now on, I shall
go to the Gentiles. A very defining moment in Paul’s
ministry and in the book of Acts. One of the reasons I included
that is some people get this mindset that by vocational ministry,
this tent making, which phrase of which is coined even
in this passage, Some people believe that that is the model
for ministry, that all ministry should be tent making ministry,
that all pastors should be bivocational. And that’s why I put this in
here, because it clearly says there was a reason for Paul working,
but. When Silas and Timothy came down
from Macedonia, we don’t know whether Silas and Timothy then
began to make tents or whether they brought a bag of money.
We don’t know what, but some there was some means of relief
in Silas and Timothy’s arrival, because it says as soon as they
got there, Paul began devoting himself completely to the word.
And I take that to mean very clearly that Paul quit his bivocational
efforts and turned his heart, his attention completely to the
word. There’s no shame in that. I believe that is the ideal calling
in the church. During this time that Paul is
there, the Thessalonian letters are likely written. Paul travels from there to Ephesus
in Acts chapter 18, verse 18. He engages in brief synagogue
preaching. He moves from there to Caesarea
Antioch, Acts 18.22. He visits a number of other churches
there and then embarks upon his third missionary journey. We
pick that up in 18.23. And again, his purpose initially
is to go throughout the Galatian and Phrygian region. The region,
remember in Acts chapter 16, he was initially forbidden to
engage. Remember, the Spirit directed
him away from there. Now the Spirit is granting him
a green light and he’s going there for the sole purpose of
encouraging them in the faith. Ephesus is next. In Acts 18,
Paul travels there. Look at verse 24 of Acts 18. There Apollos and Aquila and
Priscilla all have their meeting regarding teaching and baptizing.
It is here that Paul likely writes 1 Corinthians. He spends three
months teaching in a synagogue, two more years in a Gentile house.
And you pick that up from Acts 19. Verse 21, Now, after these things were
finished, Paul purposed in the spirit to go to Jerusalem. I
think he had learned that less along the way that Paul might
have his plans, the spirit might have others and the church might
still have the Lord’s plans in their own heart. So Paul was
submitted to both God and the church, but Paul purposed in
his spirit to go Jerusalem after he had passed through Macedonia
and Achaia, saying, after I’ve been there, I must also see Rome. It is here that Paul visits Macedonia
again, which includes the Philippian church, and it has been approximately
five years since his last visit. He makes a brief tour. It is
here that 2 Corinthians is written. Galatians and Romans are probably
also written at this juncture. Paul travels to Greece, where
he ministers for three months. He travels to Macedonia again,
where he visits. We pick that up in Acts, chapter
20, verse 5. But these had gone on ahead and were waiting for
us at Troas. And we sailed from Philippi until
after the days of the unleavened bread and came to them at Troas
within five days. And we stayed seven days.” So
Paul takes the feast there with them. He goes from Troas to Asos,
Midoline, Chios, Samothrace, Miletus. And then he ultimately
engages in this dramatic scene on the shore with the Ephesian
elders. His farewell speech to them. Pick that up in Acts chapter
20, verse 36. You didn’t think I’d make it,
did you? We’re in the midst of a 12 year swing here. Acts chapter
20, verse 36. And when he had said these things,
he knelt down and prayed with them all. And they began to weep
aloud and embrace Paul and repeatedly kissed him, grieving especially
over the word which he had spoken, that they should see his face
no more. And they were accompanying him
to the ship.” From there, Paul goes to Tyre, Ptolemais, Caesarea. We pick it up in Acts chapter
21, verse 12. Acts 21 verse 12, where it is recorded, when we
had heard this, we, as well as the local residents, began begging
him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, What are
you doing weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not
only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name
of the Lord Jesus. And since he would not be persuaded,
we fell silent, remarking the will of the Lord be done.” Paul
now knows distinctly what the Lord would have him to do is
to go fearlessly into the face of the authorities at Jerusalem
to face them and to suffer whatever consequence God might dole out. Look at verse 17. And when we
had come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. And now the
following day, Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders
were present. And after he had greeted them,
he began to relate one by one the things which God had done
among the Gentiles through his ministry.” Verse 27, if you would. And when the seven days were
almost over, the Jews from Asia, upon seeing him in the temple,
began to stir up all the multitude and laid hands on him, crying
out, Men of Israel, come to our aid. This is the man who preaches
to all men everywhere against our people and the law and this
place. And besides, he has even brought
Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” Now,
the Romans hear of this uproar and we pick that up in verse
31. And while they were seeking to kill him, a report came to
the commander of the Roman cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion. And at once he took along some
soldiers and centurions, ran down to them. And when they saw
the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. Then
the commander came up and took hold of him and ordered him to
be bound with two chains. And he began asking who it was,
who he was and what he had done. So Paul is arrested. And he engages
here in chapters 22, 23, 24 and 26, those famous series of defenses. First, in chapter 22, he goes
before the Jews. In chapter 23, he goes before
the council. In chapter 24, he goes before
Governor Felix, then Festus, and then he appeals, as you know,
to Rome. In chapter 26 is his defense
before King Agrippa. And it is at that point that
Paul is transported to Rome for imprisonment for this great hearing
that he would have in prelude to going before Caesar. Acts chapter 28, if you would. Acts chapter 28 and verse 16.
Paul records there. And when we entered Rome, Paul
was allowed to stay by himself with the soldier who was guarding
him. That’s what I alluded to a moment ago. Verse 30. And he stayed two full years
in his own rented quarters and was welcoming all who came to
him, preaching the kingdom of God, teaching concerning the
Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered. Just a remarkable
scene for one who was a prisoner of the Romans. This is something
that God providentially worked out as the gospel continued to
flow out from Paul’s so-called prison cell, even there in Rome
as he’s under arrest. During his Roman imprisonment,
Paul writes four letters to churches. Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon
and the very last of all, the epistle to the Philippian church.
The letter was written from Rome, there’s almost no argument about
that from time to time you hear somebody say that it may have
been during Paul’s Caesarean imprisonment, but it’s plainly
evident in reading the epistle to the Philippians that it was
written from Rome. The allusions are all best answered by the
fact that the Apostle wrote the epistle in Rome. His bonds were
being made known in the barracks of the imperial guards. Those
were in Rome. His enemies were filled with
spite. His life was in danger. That was in Rome. The Gospel
was achieving great triumphs and that prompted him to send
greetings to Philippi from Caesar’s household. That was in Rome. The circumstances in the background
for Paul to write this epistle is very simple. A man named Epaphras
shows up with what else? A gift from the Philippian church. This magnanimous people who from
the very moment of their salvation, if you think back to Lydia, her
first inclination was to have Paul and his companions into
her home. The same thing with the Philippian
jailer. The same exact scenario. As soon as he saved, his magnanimity,
his generosity overflowed from his heart. And as I suggested
back then when we considered Acts 16, this would become a
characteristic of this great church. came from the Philippian church
with news of the Philippians and a substantial gift. We don’t
know exactly how much, but we know that it was enough to prompt
Paul’s humble response. One characterized the occasion
in these terms. He said this epistle was not
written for any polemical or practical purpose, and such is
the case with almost every other epistle, if you think it through.
Its object is neither to combat error, nor embellish truth, nor
expose personal or ecclesiastical inconsistencies, nor vindicate
his apostolic prerogative and authority. A gift had been sent
to Rome from a people that had distinguished themselves by similar
kindnesses in previous times. They contributed to the gift
of the apostle when he needed it. We know that the Philippian church
was in some degree of trial, but that isn’t even the main
reason that Paul writes. We don’t even know who the antagonists
are, but we do know this. They likely weren’t the Jews,
which had dogged Paul’s steps everywhere he went. But providentially
here wasn’t a big problem. He warns them about the Jews,
but they aren’t currently a big problem like they were in nearly
every other church. What is quite likely? is that
the hostility that they were feeling was coming from the general
population. And the reason that I wanted
to share that with you is I liken what was going on in the Philippian
church to the church in our own community, in our own day, to
Providence Bible Church. The population generally was
hostile to them. There wasn’t any outward attack
coming from the Jews. One pastor wrote it this way,
he said, the probability is that the population generally was
hostile to them and that the rancorous feeling manifested
against Paul and Silas on their first visit continued to show
itself in a variety of forms against their converts. Paul
had basically planted and providentially planted a seed of acrimony among
these people. When he, remember, saved the
little girl out of divination, they lost their livelihood. And
there is great bitterness in the community. He goes on and
says it continued to show itself in a variety of forms against
their converts, but persecution did not intimidate this church.
They did not become cowardly and regretful. or sullen or spiteful. They continue to honor God in
all that they did. So the occasion, as I said, of
this little letter is just this receipt of this gift from Epaphroditus
and a desire to express his gratitude and to return graciously news
to them, not only about himself, but about Epaphroditus. If you would, it’s quite likely that the very
first time this epistle was ever presented to the Philippian church,
they didn’t have a copy before them. You’re more than welcome
to open your own Bibles. But if you want to close your
Bibles and just listen to God’s word, this is what Paul wrote
to the Philippians. Paul and Timothy bond servants
of Christ Jesus to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi,
including the overseers and deacons. Grace to you and peace from God,
our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God in all
my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my
every prayer for you all in view of your participation in the
gospel from the first day until now. For I am confident of this
very thing, that he who began a good work in you will perfect
it until the day of Christ Jesus. For it is only right for me to
feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart
since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation
of the gospel, you are all partakers of grace with me. For God is
my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ
Jesus. And this, I pray, that your love
may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment
so that you may approve the things that are excellent in order to
be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ, having been
filled with the fruit of righteousness, which comes through Jesus Christ
to the glory and praise of God. Now, I want you to know, brethren,
that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress
of the gospel so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become
well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone
else, and that most of the brethren trusting in the Lord because
of my imprisonment have far more courage to speak the word of
God without fear. Some, to be sure, are preaching
Christ even from envy and strife. but some also from goodwill.
The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for
the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out
of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to
cause me distress in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every
way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed.
And in this, I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice. For
I know that this shall turn out for my deliverance through your
prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according
to my earnest expectation and hope that I shall not be put
to shame in anything, but that with all boldness Christ shall
even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or
by death. For to me, to live is Christ
and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the
flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me and I do not know
which to choose. But I am hard pressed from both
directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ,
for that is very much better. Yet to remain on in the flesh
is more necessary for your sake. And convinced of this, I know
that I shall remain and continue with you All for your progress
and joy in the faith, so that your proud confidence in me may
abound in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again. Only conduct yourselves in a
manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come
and see you or remain absent, I may hear of you that you are
standing firm in one spirit With one mind striving together for
the faith of the gospel, in no way alarmed by your opponents,
which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for
you and that too from God. For to you, it has been granted
for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer
for his sake. experiencing the same conflict
which you saw in me and now here to be in me.” If there is any encouragement
in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship
of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion Make my joy complete
by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit,
intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or
empty conceit, but with humility of mind, let each of you regard
one another as more important than himself. Do not merely look
out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of
others. Have this attitude in yourselves,
which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although he existed in the
form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,
but emptied himself, taking the form of a bondservant and being
made in the likeness of men and Being found in appearance as
a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point
of death, even death on a cross. Therefore, also, God highly exalted
him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that
at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow. of those who are
in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue
should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the
Father. So then, my beloved, just as
you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now
much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear
and trembling. For it is God who is at work
in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Do all
things without grumbling or disputing that you may prove yourselves
to be blameless and innocent children of God above reproach
in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation among whom
you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life
so that in the day of Christ I may have cause to glory because
I did not run in vain nor toil in vain. But even if I am being
poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service
of your faith, I rejoice and I share my joy with you all.
And you too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your
joy with me. But I hope in the Lord I hope
in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly so that I may
I also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition. For
I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be
concerned for your welfare, for they all seek after their own
interests, not those of Christ Jesus. But you know of his proven
worth. that he served with me in the
furtherance of the gospel like a child serving his father. Therefore,
I hope to send him immediately as soon as I see things, how
things go with me and I trust in the Lord that I myself shall
be coming shortly. But I thought it necessary to
send you a path for Titus, my brother, fellow worker, fellow
soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my need because
He was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had
heard that He was sick. For indeed, He was sick to the
point of death, but God had mercy on Him, and not only on Him,
but also on me, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore,
I have sent Him all the more eagerly in order that when you
see Him again, you may rejoice and I may be less concerned about
you.” Therefore, receive him in the Lord with all joy and
hold men like him in high regard, because he came close to death
for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was
deficient in your service to me.” Finally, my brethren, rejoice
in the Lord. To write the same things again
is no trouble to me and it’s a safeguard for you. Beware of
the dogs. Beware of the evil workers. Beware
of the false circumcision. For we are the true circumcision
who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus
and put no confidence in the flesh. Although I myself might
have confidence even in the flesh, if anyone else has a mind to
put confidence in the flesh, I far more circumcised the eighth
day of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew
of Hebrews, as to the law of Pharisee, as to zeal, a persecutor
of the church, as to the righteousness which is in the law found blameless. But whatever things were gained
to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things
to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus,
my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and count
them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ and may be
found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the law,
but having that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness
which comes from God on the basis of faith. That I may know Him
and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings
being conformed to his death in order that I may attain to
the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained
it or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which I was also laid hold of by Christ
Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself
as having laid hold of it yet, but one thing I do, Forgetting
what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I
press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call
of God in Christ Jesus. Let us, therefore, as many as
are perfect, have this attitude, and if anything, you have a different
attitude. God will reveal that to you,
however. Let us keep living by that same
standard. To which we have attained. Brethren, join in following my
example. And observe those who walk according
to the pattern you have in us. For many walk, of whom I often
told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies
of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose God
is their appetite, whose glory is their shame, who set their
minds on earthly things, for our citizenship is in heaven,
from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus
Christ, who will transform the body of our humble state into
conformity with the body of His glory by the exertion of the
power that He has even to subject all things to Himself. Therefore, my beloved brethren,
whom I long to see my joy in my crown, so stand firm in the
Lord, my beloved. I urge you, Odia, and I urge
Sintike to live in harmony in the Lord. Indeed, true comrade,
I ask you also to help these women. who have shared my struggle
in the cause of the Gospel together with Clement also, and the rest
of my fellow workers whose names are in the Book of Life, rejoice
in the Lord always.” Again, I will say, rejoice. Let your forebearing
spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious
for nothing. But in everything, by prayer
and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known
to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses
all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in
Christ Jesus.” Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is
honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, Whatever is
lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and
anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. The things you have learned and
received and heard and seen in me, practice these things and
the God of peace shall be with you.” But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly
that now at last you have revived your concern for me. Indeed,
you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity. Not that
I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever
circumstances I am. I know how to get along with
humble means. I know how to live in prosperity
in any and every circumstance. I have learned the secret of
being filled and going hungry. both of having abundance and
suffering need. I can do all things through him
who strengthens me. Nevertheless, you have done well
to share with me in my affliction, and you yourselves know, Philippians,
that at the first preaching of the gospel after I departed from
Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and
receiving but you alone. For even in Thessalonica, you
sent a gift more than once for my needs. Not that I seek the
gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your
account. But I have received everything
in full and have an abundance. I am amply supplied, having received
from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable
sacrifice, well pleasing to God. And my God shall supply all your
needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Now, to our God and Father, be
the glory forever and ever. Amen. Greet every saint in Christ
Jesus. The brethren who are with me
greet you. All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s
household. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ
Be with your spirit. Let’s pray. Our Father God, we bow before
you and humbly thank you for this precious gift that you superintended
down through the ages, initially by the pen of Paul to his beloved
church, but ultimately to all the saints, even to us. Lord, we pray for your grace
and guidance in the days and weeks to come as we turn our
hearts and our attention, our minds to consider this great
epistle. Grant the grace, Father, that
our eyes and ears and minds be opened to the grand and great
blessing that is this letter and its instruction, its encouragement,
to the church, to this church. Be glorified, we pray, Father.
It’s in Jesus’ name that we pray. Amen. Morning. Early. Oh, did he? So we could open
the door? Hi, Rachel. Oh, you’re going to clean? Oh, good for you. Thank you.
One for your family? You want one? Would you like one, Janice? Yes.
All right. We’ll do one. You too.