Philippians (2016)

Philippians

-written around 61-66AD

-3 ingredients to notice in the introduction

    a. the author

    b. who the book is written to

    c. greeting

-theme:  JOY or a form of joy such as rejoice – used approximately 16 times…

v1 – the author – 

Paul – means little & is his gentile name

        -Saul was his Hebrew name meaning to ask 

        -Paul is under house arrest and chained to a Roman Soldier 24/7/365

        – had an apprentice named Timothy – means he who honors God

-Paul and Timothy are bond servants of Jesus Christ

-submissive to authority

-willing to do anything

-100% loyal to Jesus

-to be totally devoted to another to the disregard of ones own interest

Jesus – means the Lord is salvation

Christ – means the Anointed One – the coming King &  Messiah is referred to in this name

(this refers to the humanity of Jesus since Jesus is used first in this name)

written to:  believers in Philippi

-a gentile city with no synagogue meaning not too many Jewish people lived in Philippi.  Philippi is located in modern day Greece.  Was a place of retirement for Roman soldiers.

to the saints – this is our position in Christ – and is for all believers

-means we are set apart ones/different ones

 v2 – The Greeting – a 2-fold greeting:

Grace – means undeserved gift.  unmerited favor.  God’s favor toward man with no strings attached…is totally free

Peace – the result of grace is peace – means to join together resulting in calm and rest

vs3-4 – I am thankful and filled with joy…..

-Paul was in jail…handcuffed to Roman guards….He was innocent.  How could he react this way?  HOW CAN WE REACT THIS WAY?

(1.)  WE MUST HAVE A RIGHT PERSPECTIVE OF GOD – Isaiah 9:6

-there is a God we should not seek during rough times and this is the God we have formed in our own lives through emotional and mental hurt and difficulties

-align our mind with the Word of God concerning who God is

-God has made Himself knowable through the Bible…

(2) UNDERSTAND HE IS A GOD OF FAITH WHEN THERE SEEMS TO BE NO ANSWERS – 2 COR 5:7

-HAVE FAITH ON GOD…TRUST IN HIM COMPLETELY

FAITH – MEANS TO TRUST IN THE LORD

a. have faith in the character of God and who He is

-the object of our faith is the lord and not what we want

b. have faith in the Word of God

-the Word of God works in every situation and all of the time

(3) GOD IS AT WORK BEHIND THE SCENES – 2 Kings 6:15-18

-the Lord is with us during tough times and working on our behalf

-we cannot always see it but He is working behind the scenes

-He is working behind the scenes for those who have messed up and know it and for those who are totally innocent, but yet in trouble