Lesson 29 Philippians 4:10-23

Transcription

1 Lesson 29 Philippians 4:10-23 Continuing from our last study As the letter closes, Paul gives us an interesting Polaroid of God s sovereignty. A dozen years before Paul wrote to the church at Philippi, he had expressed his desire to minister in Rome (Romans 15:23). Through a series of unexpected events, God did bring him to Rome and allowed him to minister to those in the very center of the Empire (Philippians 4:22). The same Lord that allowed Paul to successfully complete his ministry promises to do the same for us. Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6 NIV). Prayer Start by praying over the passage and asking the Holy Spirit to give you fresh insights and wisdom in understanding it. Then read through the entire passage two or three times. The depth of theology is so great that I would strongly advise using the New Living Translation for one of your Scripture readings. Scripture Meditation/Memorization One of the most fundamental and rewarding Christian disciplines that pays back in full spiritual dividends is Bible meditation/memorization. It is an absolutely fundamental in the formation of your spiritual development, spiritual walk and faith growth. In Psalm 1:1-2 (NLT), the Psalmist warrior, King David said, Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. ~ 1 ~

2 Memory Verse I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 Format Change We have all had weeks in which the time available for preparation of our Bible study evaporates under an unexpected event or a pressing project at work. To enable everyone to complete the study, even when time is at a premium, the daily questions are being divided into two categories: essential and expanded. The essential questions are those necessary to understand key points of the passage. The expanded or growth questions help expand knowledge and gain deeper insight into the Scripture. If you are concerned about having enough time to complete the whole study, it is suggested that you start by first answering the essential questions for each day and answer the expanded questions as time permits. Philippians 4:10-20 Philippians Generosity Some commentators have termed this section Paul s thankless thank-you, while other scholars point out that giving practices in the culture were very different from today. The Latin phrase Quid pro quo (literally something for something) has its origins in the practices of the Roman Empire of Paul s day; I m giving that I might get. Paul wanted to distance himself from those who merely peddled the gospel for profit and thus wasn t openly seeking support. While Paul does express appreciation, he lets the Philippians know that they ve literally paid it forward and their gift will be credited to their heavenly account. Foremost, in a loved and often quoted passage, Paul shares the secret of contentment for himself and all believers who trust in the sufficiency of Christ and the providence of God. These verses (11 14) are well loved and frequently quoted. While they have been a source of comfort and hope to a countless number of believers, they also have been misused. It is absolutely essential that we determine the meaning and conditions of the promise offered. ~ 2 ~

3 Essential Questions: 1. Focusing on verses 11 13: a. What is the relationship between how well our material needs are met and contentment, according to Paul? b. What is the true source of contentment for followers of Christ? c. Some have used verse 13 as a justification for a reckless course of action. Others see it as carte blanche for whatever we want to do. How do the following passages help harmonize verse 13 with other teachings? i. John 15:7 ii. James 4: About ten years had passed since the church at Philippi had given any support to Paul while he was in Thessalonica. What do we learn about the blessing of giving to a ministry as recorded in: a. Philippians 4:17 18 ~ 3 ~

4 b. Proverbs 11:24 25 c. Matthew 6:20 21 d. 2 nd Corinthians 9:6 3. It has been said that no man ever became poorer by giving. Can we out-give God? a. Philippians 4:19 b. Malachi 3:10 ~ 4 ~

5 Expanded Question: 4. In a letter Paul wrote earlier to the church in Corinth, he used the giving of the Philippians church as an example. What do we learn from: a. 2 nd Corinthians 8:1 5 b. 2 nd Corinthians 9:6 15 Philippians 4:21-23 Greetings and Grace Events seen in real time may appear as random products of chance. However, through eyes of faith and the advantage of 20/20 hindsight, we can clearly see God s providential care in the life of Paul. Essential Questions: 1. Paul had expressed a desire to visit Rome in his epistle written about ten years earlier. What do we learn from Romans 15:22 26? (Note: Macedonia refers to the church of Philippi). 2. Before Paul could start a fourth missionary journey to Rome he was arrested in Jerusalem and was sent to Rome as a prisoner of Caesar. In the midst of this seeming setback, what assurances did God send Paul to comfort him in his trials? You can read a few verses before each scripture to get the context of Paul s peril. ~ 5 ~

6 a. Acts 23:11 b. Acts 27: What amazing fact do we learn of the fulfillment of God s plans for Paul s ministry in Philippians 4:22? Expanded Question: 4. How should the evidence of God s providence in the life and ministry of Paul and the promises given in Romans 8:28 39 affect our daily outlook? Lesson 29 Summary/Take Away If one of your friends at work or a neighbor were to ask you what you did on Tuesday, you would tell them you went to a Bible study. The next question would likely be, What did you learn? We often summarize an entire athletic contest or a movie in a few brief sentences and easily convey the essence of the event. Now apply these same skills to give a summary of the passage in a sentence or two. Then, in an additional sentence or two, describe what impact this passage will have on how you live. ~ 6 ~

7 Memory Verse I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 Key Words/Phrases Write out the definition of these key words. You can use a regular dictionary or go to one of the Greek sources listed in the Tool Box at the end of the study. You may also use a concordance to see where else and how the word is used in the Bible. I Can Do All Things Through Christ (Philippians 4:13) ~ 7 ~

8 Tool Box Step 1: The Bible. Read the passage in a couple of different versions. If you are having trouble understanding a passage, choose a more dynamic version such as New Living Translation. To focus in on the exact meaning of a verse, choose a more literal translation such as English Standard Version, New American Standard Bible or New King James Version. Step 2: Study Tools. Use these to help you dig deeper. Background Information: 1) Unger s Bible Dictionary, 2) Bible Dictionaries online at biblestudytools.com and blueletterbible.com. (recommend both David Guzick and Chuck Smith s commentaries/study notes); Word Studies: 1) Zodhiates The Complete Word Study New Testament, 2) Vine s Complete Expository Dictionary, and 3) Strong s Dictionary of Bible Words. Step 3: Commentaries. Commentaries should not be used in place of studying God s Word directly, but they can give you additional insights. Some good commentaries include: Warren Wiersbe, J. Vernon McGee, F.F. Bruce, the Expositors Bible Commentary, NIV Application Commentary, The Bible Knowledge Commentary (edited by Walvoord & Zuck), the Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, and William Barclay (*great for background and culture, but be careful of his spiritual applications). Step 4: Online Assistance. Should you have a specific question about the study please your inquiry to: mannygwcm@gmail.com ~ 8 ~

9 MESSAGE NOTES Teacher: 2015 Mark Newton. All rights reserved. Express permission granted for use and reproduction by Harvest Christian Fellowship, Riverside, CA. *Added questions by Warehouse Christian Ministries, Sacramento, CA ~ 9 ~