Philippians. Living a Joy-Filled Life

Transcription

1 Philippians Living a Joy-Filled Life 1

2 More studies available at Ruth Romans Colossians 1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians 1 Timothy 2 Timothy Hebrews James Revelation 2015 Cindy Brown. All Rights Reserved. This study was written using the ESV. 2

3 Day 1: Background This book was written by the apostle Paul around the year AD 61 or 62. Although facing difficult circumstances, Paul s letter is filled with joy. Since we too, live in a world filled with disappointments and trying circumstances, it will be well worth our time to study this short book. In it we will find the secret to rising above our circumstances and living a joy-filled life! Read Acts 15:35-16:40 today to get a background of the book. What happened to Paul right before he started his second missionary journey? See Acts 15: It is interesting to note that this disagreement did not split the church and it did not affect Paul s testimony. Acts 15:40, says that after they parted ways with Barnabas and John Mark, Paul and Silas were commended by the brothers. We may at times have strong disagreements with others, but there is no indication that there was a hateful or malicious spirit between Paul and Barnabas. They had a strong difference of opinion regarding John Mark so they parted ways. Instead of this hindering the gospel, the same gospel message was preached in two different areas and the gospel was expanded. Barnabas went south to Cyprus and Paul went to the north. After Paul and Silas left Antioch, where did they travel to next? (Acts 14:41) From there they went to Derbe and Lystra. Who joined Paul and Silas when they came to Lystra? What kind of testimony did Timothy have that made Paul want him to come along? After leaving Lystra, what two regions did they travel to? (Acts 16:6) 3

4 During Paul s travels, to what two places did the Holy Spirit prevent Paul from going? From Phrygia and Galatia, Paul and his companions passed by Mysia. Where did they head next? (Acts 16:8). Where did they travel to after that? Note each city on the map. (Acts 16:11-12). Now that we have an idea of the route that Paul took, look on the map below, and note the cities and regions mentioned in Acts 16. What happens in Acts 16:9-10 that eventually leads Paul to Philippi? What do we learn about Philippi from Acts 16:12? Philippi was a Roman colony, which meant that it was a little Rome. The emperor organized colonies by ordering Roman citizens, usually those retired from military service, to live in strategically selected places. These cities were 4

5 favorable to Rome. They were expected to be loyal to Rome and obey its laws and give honor to the Roman emperor. In return, they were given certain privileges, one of which was exemption from taxes. This was their compensation for leaving their homes in Italy and living elsewhere. How long did Paul stay there according to verse 12? We are not given specifics, but it does not seem to be a long, extended stay based on what happens to Paul while he is in Philippi. What is the first thing that occurs while they are in Philippi according to verses 13-15? What occurs next in verses 16-18? What did the owner of the slave girl do as a result of this? Since Paul and Silas were not promoting a religion approved by Rome, the slave owner felt he had the right to prosecute Paul and Silas for disturbing the peace. The magistrates did not fully investigate the matter to find out that Paul was a Roman citizen and this causes them embarrassment later. What happens to Paul and Silas as a result of this in verses 22-23? This story shows us that being in the will of God does not guarantee physical safety or a road free of trouble. Paul had clear direction that he was to go to Macedonia, but now he finds himself in prison. 5

6 Instead of questioning God s will or becoming discouraged, what is their response in verse 25? From his very first visit to Philippi, Paul modeled a life of joy despite difficult circumstances! Paul had earned the right to speak about joy since he lived it out in front of them. What happens as a result in verse 26? In Acts 16:14, we saw that God opened Lydia s heart to the gospel. Now we see God opening the prison doors. Even though I m sure it was not how Paul expected things to go, God was at work! The Philippian jailer and his entire household came to know the Lord! This must have made the beating that Paul and Silas endured totally worth it! The jailer and his family rejoiced that they had believed in God. And so the church at Philippi was born! This missionary journey occurred between AD So the book of Philippians was written about ten years after Paul had first visited Philippi. 6

7 Day 2: Overview Today read the entire book of Philippians, then answer the following questions. How does Paul feel about this church? Give references. What concerns does he have for them? What does he warn them about? Note the verses. Are there any problems in this church? Explain. What things have occurred that prompt Paul to write to them? Where is Paul when he writes this letter? After Paul s third missionary journey, he was arrested in Jerusalem and then taken to Caesarea, where he remained a prisoner for over two years. Paul then appealed to have his case heard before Caesar so he was taken to Rome, where he lived under house arrest for two years. Read Acts 28: What do these verses tell us about Paul s time in prison? This will shed some light into what Paul tells us in Philippians. 7

8 Day 3: Philippians 1:1-8 Read Philippians 1 today. As you read, mark the following words: Any references to Jesus prayer imprisonment joy gospel mind It might be helpful to read through the book several times as it is difficult to look for all the words at once. Mark each word in a different way so that it will be easy to pick them out later. Who is with Paul when he writes this letter? Paul describes himself simply as a servant of Christ Jesus. He is willing and available to do whatever the Lord asks of him. Paul always remembered that his life was not his own and he was first and foremost a servant of the Lord. How about you? Do you live your life as a servant? Do you understand that God has the final authority over you or do you resist the Lord when things don t go the way that you want? I am convinced that Paul s joy flowed out of a submissive heart that understood he belonged to Christ. Complete submission results in joy! What three groups of people are mentioned in the church at Philippi? The Greek word for bishop is episkopos. It refers to a church leader and can also be translated overseer. These men would care for the spiritual needs of the church. The Greek word for deacon is diakonons. It comes from a root word meaning one who runs errands or a waiter. Deacons would focus more on the physical needs 8

9 in the church. In verses 3-4, what two things do we learn that Paul does when he remembers this church? First we learn that Paul is thankful for them. The word for thank in the Greek is eucharisteo. It simply means to express gratitude. It is interesting to note, that in this word we see the root word charis. Charis is the Greek word for grace. So our thankfulness to the Lord, flows out of our understanding of how he has lavished his grace on us. Paul has seen God s grace in the lives of these believers and it caused him to be thankful for them. Next, Paul says that every time he prays for them, it is with joy. This word too is rooted in grace. The Greek word is chara. Do you find yourself struggling with being thankful or joyful? Perhaps it is because you are not focused on how God has shown his grace to you. Thankfulness and joy will flow out of us in direct proportion to our understanding of God s grace. They are very closely related! What does he specifically give thanks for in verse 5? From the first day when Lydia showed hospitality to Paul and his companions, until now when they helped Paul financially, Paul says they have partnered with him. Paul does not say this about any other church. He truly had a special relationship with these people. Through their participation and partnership, Paul says they made it possible for the gospel to go forth. As a result, they were a source of great joy to Paul. Maybe you can t serve the Lord in full-time ministry but we can all partner with others. Anytime we link arms and partner with other Christians in the Lord s work, we can accomplish more together than we can alone. And God is glorified when we work together in this way. What does Paul say he is sure or confident of in verse 6? 9

10 Based on what Paul has been talking about, what good work in particular do you think he is referring to? Note the surrounding context of verses 5 and 7. Certainly we see a general principle from this verse that God will be faithful to work in our lives, but in this context regarding the Philippians, we see specifically that God will bring to completion their good work of partnering with Paul in the gospel. When will this good work be brought to completion? Paul mentions the day of Christ three times in this letter. In this verse we see that God will be faithful to us until this day. In verse 10, the goal is that we would be pure and blameless on this day and in 2:16, Paul encourages the believers to hold fast so that when the day of Christ arrives, it will be shown that his labor was not in vain. Based on these three references, it seems that the day of Christ probably includes the judgment seat of Christ. Let s see what we can learn about this day. Read 2 Corinthians 5:10. What does this verse tell us the purpose of the judgment seat of Christ is? Read 1 Corinthians 3: What do we learn about this day? Read 2 Corinthians 1: What else do we learn will happen on the day of Christ from this verse? Now read 1 Corinthians 1:4-9. What do we see about God in this verse? 10

11 How should believers be found on the Day of Christ? From these verses, we find great encouragement that God promises to be faithful to us until this day, and yet we also have a responsibility. We will have to give an account on the Day of Christ. Knowing this truth should affect how we live. In verse 7, Paul says it is right for him to be confident of God s work in their lives because he holds them in his heart. It speaks of the deep love he has for them because of how they have partnered with him. In verse 7, what does Paul specifically highlight that they have done for him? The Philippians have worked with Paul in defending the gospel. This speaks of giving a reasoned answer and being able to answer the questions of doubters. Confirming the gospel has a more offensive approach and it has the idea of making a person more stable and grounded in their understanding of the gospel. The Philippians have stood with Paul in both the defense and the confirmation of the gospel. How does Paul say he feels about them? What does he say to them so they will know he is not just being nice? God can see into Paul s heart and God himself stands as a witness, confirming that what Paul is saying is true. If you were a member of the church in Philippi and you were reading this letter, it would be very encouraging to hear what an impact and encouragement you had been to Paul. If you really want to be a blessing to someone, then be faithful in your service to the Lord with them. Link arms and partner with them through the good times and the bad. Difficult circumstances are easier to endure when your fellow servants are committed. May we all strive to be partnering people! 11

12 Day 4: Philippians 1:9-11 Read Philippians 1 again today. Today we will look at Paul s prayer for the Philippian church. I am always so challenged when I read prayers from the Bible because normally they are always focused on our walk with God. Most of the time, when people share prayer requests, it is always related to health or circumstances going on in their lives. And certainly God wants us to bring our cares and concerns before Him. But too often we stop there and we don t pray for the spiritual needs we have that will help us deal with the physical challenges we are facing. At the end of this study on pp.67-69, there is a list of prayers in the Bible to help you go deeper in your prayer life. What does Paul ask God for in verse 9? 1 Corinthians 13:13 tells us that love is the greatest of the virtues so it makes sense for Paul to pray that their love would abound. The tense of the word abound indicates continuous action. How easy it is to love people at first but the longer we are around them, they are sure to irritate and offend us. Paul is praying that their love will be continually overflowing towards one another. What two things does Paul say should guide and direct our love? This word for knowledge speaks of a full and complete knowledge. Discernment means having the capacity to perceive things clearly and correctly. Why do you think Paul prays that our love be guided by knowledge and discernment? 12

13 How is this love produced in our lives? It certainly is not a natural response for us to show sacrificial love to others. It is not something that we can produce by ourselves because we are naturally selfish. Read 1 Thessalonians 3:12. Who makes our love increase in this verse? Read Ephesians 3: As we come to understand the four dimensional love that Christ has for us (breadth, length, height and depth) and we find ourselves surrounded by God s love on every side, what does verse 19 say is the result in us? To be filled with the all the fullness of God means we will exhibit the characteristics of God. One of those characteristics we will display is love, for God is love. So if you are having difficulty with someone in your life, instead of focusing on loving that person, instead focus on God and how much he loves you. As we come to fully understand his love, then he will produce love in us and it will flow out of us into others. How should our love be shown according to 1 John 3:18? So our love should be visible through our actions and be guided by knowledge and discernment. What does Paul say the first result will be in our lives right now from verse 10? To approve means to regard something as genuine or worthy on the basis of testing to judge to be genuine, to judge as good. 1 How are we to discern if things are excellent? Read Hebrews 5: Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Vol. 1: Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: Based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition.) (363). New York: United Bible Societies. 13

14 Things that are excellent are things that are valuable and have worth. What kind of things do you approve of? Are they excellent or just not so bad? The more we overflow in our understanding of God s love, the more our heart will beat like his. And as we use the Word of God as our measuring stick, it will help us to examine things and determine if they are excellent and worthy of our attention. What will the final result be according to verse 10? Pure means to be sincere and without hidden motives. It has the idea of being found to be pure when unfolded and examined in the full light of the sun. This is certainly how I want to be found on the Day of Christ! Blameless carries with it the idea of not having given an offense or caused another to stumble. If we have lived a life of love guided by knowledge and discernment, the result is a pure and blameless life. A life like this will be rewarded on the day of Christ. What is the last result of having abounding love in verse 11? Where does this fruit of righteousness come from? What does John 15:4-5 tell us about bearing fruit? What a clear picture Jesus gives us about producing the fruit of righteousness. When you cut a branch off a tree, it may not look that much different the next day, but that branch is dying and will never produce any fruit because it has been cut off from the source of life. And it is the same for us. Without Jesus, we can do nothing - nothing that will have any eternal value. Anything good comes only from him so we have to stay connected to the Source. What is the result when the righteousness of Jesus is seen in us? 14

15 When we give an accurate reflection of Jesus, God s worth and splendor become very apparent and we are able to speak about and showcase his excellence to others! What an important prayer to pray for yourself and others! Pray that God would cause his love to overflow in your life as you get to know him better. Ask God to help you to show love to others in a knowledgeable and discerning way so that you can test and approve of things that are excellent. Pray that you would live a pure, sincere life that is not characterized by hidden motives or a hidden agenda. Ask God to help you to never give offense to others or cause them to stumble. Pray that the fruit of Jesus righteousness would be plainly seen in your life so that it causes people to praise and glorify God. The great thing about this prayer is that it can be applicable to any situation! Spend some time meditating and praying on the things mentioned in verses

16 Day 5: Philippians 1:12-18 Read chapter 1 again today. No doubt the Philippians were concerned for Paul as he was in chains for Christ. But he reassures them that being in prison has actually served to advance the gospel. According to verses 13-14, what two ways was the gospel being advanced because Paul was in prison? The Lord will sometimes put us in unpleasant circumstances for the sake of his kingdom. Paul was not sucked into the lie that this was all about him. He didn t sit down and have a pity party because he was in prison. How easy it would have been to complain and lament the fact that he was not able to travel around and encourage the churches. Instead he accepted, that for now, prison was his new mission field. He understood that God wanted to use his circumstances for the spread of the gospel. Because Paul trusted God s plan, he was able to rise above his circumstances and have a fruitful ministry among the entire palace guard. Although Paul was staying in a house (Acts 28:23), it was customary that he be chained at the wrist to a Roman guard. Knowing Paul, he talked about Jesus a lot! Rome intended to prevent the spread of the gospel by putting Paul in prison, but instead it had the opposite affect! The Word of God is not bound! (2 Timothy 2:9) Has God removed you from a ministry or closed a door? Don t be discouraged. He has simply transferred you to a new place of service. Whatever our circumstances, may we always be looking for ways to advance the gospel. Look again at Acts 28: What do these verses tell us about Paul s ministry in prison? 16

17 In verse 13, Paul reminds the Philippians that his imprisonment is for Christ. Certainly, we understand that Paul was in prison because of his witness for Christ, but I think we can see from Paul s attitude, that he viewed his imprisonment as a service for the Lord. He viewed his chains as a privilege and he always remembered that he was doing this for the Lord. How powerful that little truth is to change our perspective. Some time ago, the Lord called me to show hospitality for an extended period of time. After a while, I found it a struggle to share our home and have our schedule interrupted. Discontent began to grow in my heart. The Lord was so gracious to remind me, that I should be serving Him. So every time there was a knock on my door or I had to prepare an extra meal, I asked the Lord to help me remember that I was not just serving my guests, but I should be doing everything as an act of service to Him. And you know what? The joy returned! Instead of feeling resentful, the Lord began to change my heart. Instead of a burden, it became a privilege and a joy and I thanked the Lord for the opportunity he was giving me to serve Him. The joy returned when I began to offer my hospitality as an act of worship to the Lord. God changed my attitude! Here in Philippians, because Paul remembered that his time in prison was being spent in service for the Lord, he was able to have joy! Verse 14 seems to indicate that before Paul was in prison, some Christians were not being a bold witness. But as a direct result of Paul s chains, and because of Paul s example, it encouraged them to courageously proclaim the gospel without fear. You never know how God is going to use your hardship to encourage and strengthen someone else! What did Paul understand was the purpose of his imprisonment from verse 16? To defend means to speak on behalf of oneself or others against accusations presumed to be false. Paul knew the reason he was put in prison was to defend the gospel in front of these Roman soldiers. What could have been a source of discouragement to Paul from verses 15 and 17? What motivation did these people have? 17

18 Envy is a state of ill will toward someone because of some real or presumed advantage experienced by such a person. 2 Rivalry refers to conflict resulting from rivalry and discord strife. 3 Selfish ambition refers to a feeling of hostility and resentfulness based upon jealousy and implying rivalry. Perhaps these people envied the ministry that God had given Paul. Perhaps they were jealous of the respect he had in the Christian community. Whatever the reason, we are told that their motives were not pure in preaching the gospel. Their desire was actually to cause trouble and to make Paul s circumstances in prison more difficult! How would you feel if you knew people were preaching Christ with these motives? What is Paul s attitude in verse 18? Paul s sole focus was the gospel of Christ! It would have been easy to feel hurt and angry that these people were trying to stir up trouble and increase his persecution in prison. But Paul didn t dwell on that. He rejoiced that Christ was being preached and he trusted God to work, despite the motivation. Have you been wronged? Is there someone who has done something to intentionally hurt you? What we focus on makes a huge difference! You can choose to dwell on the injustice, tell everyone who will listen how unfair and hateful that person has been, and the results will be ugly. You will become angry, discontent and unpleasant to be around. Or, like Paul, we can trust that God has a purpose and He can use anything for his glory. We like to hold on to our hurts, but when we lay them at the feet of our Father, and trust him with the outcome, we can have joy and rest. 2 Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Vol. 1: Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: Based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition.) (759). New York: United Bible Societies. 3 Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Vol. 1: Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: Based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition.) (494). New York: United Bible Societies. 18

19 Day 6: Philippians 1:19-30 Read chapter 1 again today. What two things is Paul assured of in regard to his imprisonment? To help means to make available whatever is necessary to help or supply the needs of someone. Paul was certain that God had not forgotten about him. He knew the Spirit would provide the help he needed to see him delivered. Deliverance in this verse means to rescue or save. From verses 20-24, what two ways does Paul see he might be delivered from prison? What is Paul s desire in his imprisonment from verse 20? Paul is such a wonderful example for us here. He does not say, It is my eager expectation and hope that I will soon be released. Instead his focus is on Christ and boldly proclaiming Him! His greatest desire is that he would not be ashamed at all to speak the name of Christ. He doesn t want to be held back by fear, but he wants to have full courage so that Christ can be honored in his body. He doesn t concentrate on his own comfort or the repercussions speaking about Christ might have for him. He just wants to tell others about Jesus! When Paul speaks of Christ being honored in his body, the word honor means to show respect to a person on the basis of the importance of such an individual to pay special respect to, to hold in high honor, to regard as important. 4 4 Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Vol. 1: Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: Based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition.) (734). New York: United Bible Societies. 19

20 Paul wanted his actions to always show respect to Christ. As a result of that, others would see that Jesus was being held in high honor and that he was very important. This should be the life goal of every Christian - to honor Christ. We should live lives of holiness that lift him up, exalt his matchless worth, and showcase that a life centered on Jesus is the most important thing. In verse 20, what two ways does Paul recognize that Jesus might be honored? Are you this surrendered to Christ that you can say that you are willing for God to use you in any way as long as Christ is honored in your body? This was Paul s greatest desire. He would be pleased to give his life for the Lord if that meant that Christ would be exalted and the gospel would advance. May God give us hearts so centered on Jesus that we view any hardship or sacrifice as our reasonable service to Him. In verse 21, what does Paul say his life is all about? So often I think we live this verse backwards. We have the attitude, that to live is gain and to die is Christ. We try to accumulate as much as we can to make our lives more comfortable here on earth and when we die, we know that we will go to heaven. That is not the right perspective! Paul tells us that to live is Christ! Christ was the focus of his attention, and his purpose in everything he did. All his energy was directed in making Christ known. Can you say this? What is most important to you? You can find out by looking at how you spend your time and efforts and what you think about the most. Fill in the blank for yourself. For me, to live is. My life goal is that Christ would be my life, not just a part of my life. 20

21 What struggle does Paul express in verses Note the pros and cons of each and why Paul feels torn. Paul comes to the conclusion that he believes that the Lord will prolong his life. What brings him to this conclusion? (v ). Paul is an example to us of the selfless Christian. The reason he wants to be released from prison is not for his own comfort, but for the good of the church! In verse 25, what two ways does Paul say the church would benefit if he is released from prison? From verse 26, what would this look like? Paul says that if he is released, it would give them more than enough reason to glory in Christ. The word glory means to boast or feel proud. Their confidence in Christ would grow and they would feel proud of how God worked to set Paul free. Selfish boasting is always sinful, but Paul wants them to grow in their boasting of what an awesome and mighty God they have! Do you take every opportunity to boast about Christ? When he answers a prayer or works in a special way, we should be quick to boast about Him and tell others of his wonderful works. What instruction does Paul give the Philippians about how they should live in verse 27? 21

22 The word worthy literally means of equal weight. It was a term used in measurement. If an item was of equal weight to the unit of measurement, it was worth so much. So our lives should be of equal weight to the gospel. We should live lives that measure up to the worth of the gospel. If they were living a life worthy of the gospel, how will that be evidenced according to verses 27-28? How important it is to be of one spirit and of one mind as Christians. We should all be striving together for the sake of the gospel. Paul says Christians who are unified, are living worthy lives. What would the fact that the Philippians were not afraid of their adversaries show? Fearlessness in the face of persecution can have a powerful impact. If their opponents saw that the believers were not even afraid to die, it would show that nothing could be done to stop them. If they died, their salvation would be fully experienced when they got to heaven, so they had nothing to fear. What two things does Paul say has been granted to us as Christians? The Greek word for grant is charizomai and comes from the Greek word for grace (charis). It means to give or grant graciously and generously, with the implication of good will on the part of the giver to give, to grant, to bestow generously. 5 We certainly understand that having faith in Christ is given to us as a gift, but have you ever viewed suffering as a Christian as a gift? We normally don t think of 5 Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Vol. 1: Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: Based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition.) (568). New York: United Bible Societies. 22

23 suffering as a gift from God or that he is doing us a favor! From the context, it is not just any suffering, but particularly the suffering we experience as a result of our witness for Jesus. Read 1 Peter 2: What does Peter say about suffering for Christ? How does God view it? How should we view it? How is it a gift? What good things result when we suffer for Christ? Look up the following verses and note the good that is received. Romans 8:16-18 Philippians 3: Peter 4: Look back at the things you have listed! These are all wonderful things! Now we can see why Paul says suffering for Christ is a gift. What should we be mindful of if we are suffering for Christ? See 1 Peter 3: Not only were the Philippians partners with Paul in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, they were partners with him in suffering. Paul says they are going through the same things he is going through. Knowing you are not alone, is a strong encouragement to hold fast. Paul was not giving up and quitting and he was modeling before these believers how to suffer for Christ in a manner that would be counted worthy of the gospel and bring glory and honor to Christ. 23

24 In Philippians 3:17, Paul tells the Philippians to follow his example. From your study of chapter 1, list all the ways you can see that Paul was an example to this church. Note the verses in which they are found. Look back through chapter 1 and note how Jesus is described and portrayed, then fill in the blank. Jesus is. What is the theme of chapter 1? 24

25 Philippians 2 Day 7: Philippians 2:1-4 Read chapter 2 today. Mark the following words: joy, rejoice mind every mention of Jesus gospel Paul begins verse 1 by saying if you have any of these things, but it should be understood that as believers, we should be experiencing all of these things! The first thing Paul mentions is encouragement in Christ. List some things that are encouraging to you because of what Christ has done or what he has given to you spiritually. It is easy to get discouraged when we look at our circumstances. When we start to lose heart, we must remember that our encouragement comes from Christ. As we will see, it is important for us to stay encouraged because according to verse 2, it affects the unity of the Body of Christ! The next thing we should be experiencing as Christians is comfort from God s love. 25

26 List the comfort you receive from knowing that God loves you. What does it mean for you practically? The next thing we should be experiencing is participation in the Spirit. The word participation can also be translated fellowship or communion. First, this means that we should be having fellowship with the Spirit. As God speaks to us through his Word and through prayer, we should be experiencing sweet communion with Him. This then should flow out to others in the Body of Christ. Because we all have the same Spirit, it should bring us together in unity. Lastly we should have affection and sympathy for one another. Both of these words in the Greek speak of compassion and mercy. How would experiencing God s encouragement and love and fellowship in the Spirit, cause you to be compassionate to others? What should be the result in our lives if we experience all of the things listed in verse 1? Paul tells us we should have the same mind. What kind of mind should all Christians have according to verse 5? We can have different opinions about Scripture and disagree on certain ideas, but if we have the mind of Christ, unity can still prevail! We also should exhibit the same kind of love that Jesus showed to all of us. Lastly, Paul says his joy will be complete if they are in full accord. This phrase 26

27 means pertaining to similarity of attitude and spirit harmonious, united in spirit. 6 Three times in verse 2, Paul exhorts us to be of one mind - to have the mind of Christ. Unity is very important in the body of Christ. Read Ephesians 4:1-6. Paul again urges us to walk worthy in these verses. What characteristics will we exhibit if we walk worthy according to verse 2? In verse 3, we are told to maintain the unity of the Spirit. We do not have to create unity; God has already unified us through His Spirit. It is our job to keep that unity intact! In verses 4-6, list all the things that God has given us that unify us as Christians. Is there a believer that you have trouble getting along with? Remember all the things that you have in common through the Spirit, and ask God to give you the humble mind of Christ in your interactions with that person. What does Paul tell us should not motivate us in verse 3? Selfish ambition is a feeling of resentfulness based upon jealousy and implying rivalry. 7 Conceit is a state of pride which is without basis or justification empty pride, cheap pride, vain pride. 8 6 Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Vol. 1: Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: Based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition.) (321). New York: United Bible Societies. 7 Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Vol. 1: Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: Based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition.) (760). New York: United Bible Societies. 8 Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Vol. 1: Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: Based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition.) (764). New York: United Bible Societies. 27

28 Jesus never portrayed these attitudes and they have no place in the Body of Christ. Selfish ambition and conceit are both self-focused, where we try to elevate ourselves above others. Instead what does Paul say we should do? This is not a natural response! We like to think we are the most important, but here, Paul tells us to think of others as more significant! Look up Romans 12:10 and note what it says about this. What are some practical things you can think of that would show honor to another person above yourself? In verse 4, we see that it is natural to look after our own interests. But Paul exhorts us to humbly consider the interests of others as well. It speaks of preferring the other person and taking into consideration what they might want. In humility, it is deferring to their interests instead of our own. The word look comes from a Greek word meaning to take aim at. It is a very intentional word. It means to exert effort in continually acquiring information regarding some matter, with the implication of concern as to how to respond appropriately to be aware of, to be concerned about, to consider. 9 We are to make an exerted effort to look for what might please the other person. This is not how we normally respond, but through Christ s work in our hearts, He can change us into His image. Tomorrow we will look at how Jesus is our example and how He modeled this for us. 9 Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Vol. 1: Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: Based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition.) (330). New York: United Bible Societies. 28

29 Day 8: Philippians 2:5-11 Read chapter 2 again today. In verse 5, Paul tells us that we should have the same mind that Christ had. Verses 6-8 describe what this looked like. What was Jesus mind in verse 6? Jesus gave up his rights. He did not cling to his rightful position as God. He laid it aside for our good. A selfish person makes demands and holds tightly to their rights. A humble person will hold loosely to their rights and lay them down for the benefit of others. How was Jesus mind displayed for us in verse 7? In this verse we learn that Jesus emptied himself. Some teach that Jesus emptied himself of his diety when he came to earth, but we know from other Scriptures that this is not the case (Hebrews 1). The word emptied means to completely remove or eliminate elements of high status or rank by eliminating all privileges or prerogatives associated with such status or rank to empty oneself, to divest oneself of position. 10 Based on this definition, what privileges can you think of that Jesus laid aside? Instead of demanding worship and obedience, Jesus took on the form of a servant. 10 Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Vol. 1: Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: Based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition.) (739). New York: United Bible Societies. 29

30 Look up Mark 10:45 and note what Jesus said about why he came to earth. What does 2 Corinthians 8:9 tells that Jesus did for us? How did Jesus model servanthood acording to John 13:1-17? The one who created the universe by the word of his power and had the riches of heaven at his disposal, laid aside all the glory and honor that was rightfully his in order to serve us! When you really stop and think about it, it is mind boggling! He did it as an example for us and since a slave is not greater than his master, we are called to live as servants as well. As a servant, what character traits did Jesus display from verse 8? A good servant is to be humble and obedient to his master. Whatever the master asks of him, the servant should do. How was Jesus obedience displayed? Read the following verse and note Jesus attitude. John 4:34 John 5:30 Jesus was humble, unassuming and obedient. He was a willing servant who made no demands and who gave up the glory that was rightfully his as God. Are you hesitant to obey something that God is asking you to do? Jesus is our example and he held nothing back. He went so far as to obey to the point of 30

31 death. As you consider Christ s example, ask God to give you the mind of Christ so that you will be eager to obey whatever He asks of you. What was the result of his complete obedience in verse 9? Jesus did not come to make a name for himself, but as a result of his obedience, God has rewarded Him with the name above any other. He has given him exceptional honor and high status! Because Jesus name is above any other, what will happen according to verses 10-11? When Jesus was on earth, he humbly bowed the knee and washed the disciples feet, but one day every knee will bow down before Him. Even those who have scorned and mocked the name of Jesus, will one day be compelled to admit that He is Lord. What is the ultimate result of Jesus obedience and every knee bowing before him? God is always glorified when we walk in humility and obedience to Him. In chapter 4, Paul will briefly address an issue in the church where some were not showing humility or looking to the interests of one other. But before Paul corrects their wrong attitudes, he points them to Jesus and lifts Him up as the perfect example of humility and servanthood. We become like what we focus on. If we are struggling with humility, instead of concentrating on how we are not being humble, instead we should look to Jesus. 2 Corinthians 3:18 promises us that as we gaze at Him, we will be changed into his likeness. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. 31

32 What part of Jesus example has most impacted you? Spend some time reflecting and considering the example he left for us. 32

33 Day 9: Philippians 2:12-18 Read chapter 2 again today. The word therefore ties in with the first 11 verses. Because Jesus obeyed, therefore we should to! What is Paul s instruction to them in verse 12? The word work means to perform or to bring about. The salvation that is already in us should be worked out in our everyday lives. It should be visible! With what kind of attitude should we work out our salvation? Fear and trembling refers to our great reverence and respect for God. Because we hold him in high honor, we should obediently live out our faith in a way that accurately represents Him. Verse 12 tells us our responsibility, and verse 13 shows us God s part. What does this verse tell us about God? I find this verse so encouraging! This tells me that God himself gives me the will and the ability to carry out his good pleasure. I can t do it on my own, but He is faithful to work in my life. There are several examples in Scripture that highlight God s part and our part. Note what each verse says about this special cooperation. 1 Corinthians 15:10 Colossians 1:

34 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 Hebrews 13:20-21 God will not work force me to follow him, but I can t follow him on my own either! My willingness to obey and God s faithfulness to work in my life are both needed for me to be conformed to the image of Christ. Write the command Paul gives us in verse 14. Grumble simply means to complain and to dispute is to argue. If we refrain from these negative activities, what does Paul promise will be the result in verse 15? To complain about what we don t like and to argue with others is what people naturally do. If we don t participate in these sins, it will be like a bright light in the darkness - something that stands out and is difficult to ignore. If we don t complain or argue, we will be blameless and above reproach in the midst of crooked and depraved world. The word crooked carries with it the idea of being dishonest and twisted refers to being misleading or leading others astray. What important thing must we do if we are to shine like lights in this dark world according to verse 16? To hold fast means to continue to believe. The world is dishonest and would like to mislead us so it is vital that we stay in the Word and cling tightly to what God says, no matter how unpopular it is in our culture. 34

35 If the Philippians hold fast to the Word and shine as lights, what does Paul say will be the result for him personally? In vain means lacking results or having no effect. Paul wants to do everything he can so that his labor in the gospel produces fruit in their lives. Salvation is not the end goal here. Paul wants them to continue to grow and advance in their faith. In Galatians 4:11 Paul laments that he fears his work among the churches of Galatia has been in vain because they are believing another gospel. In 1 Thessalonians 3:5, Paul says he doesn t want the believers to fall away because of persecution, causing his labor to be in vain. We can t control people s response, but we do want to be faithful to do our part so that the truth of God s Word can produce a harvest in people s lives. If we do not grow in our faith as Christians, the gospel has been given to us in vain, meaning it produces no change or results in us, and that is a tragedy! In verse 17, what does Paul say he is willing to do so that their faith is not in vain? What two offerings are mentioned in this verse and who is offering them? Paul uses an interesting analogy here. The Philippians faith in the Lord is pictured as the main sacrificial offering. Jewish believers would equate a sacrificial offering as a bull or goat offered under the Old Testament system. Paul says if he has to offer up his life for Christ, that is the drink offering. The drink offering was viewed as the lesser offering that was poured on top of the sacrificial offering. What humility Paul had! He viewed their service for Christ as the main, more important offering, and his death as a martyr as the minor offering (the drink offering). 35

36 What attitude does Paul have about being poured out as a drink offering? Read 2 Timothy 4:6-8. In these verses the time is near when Paul will give his life as a martyr. From these verses, what reasons does he have to rejoice? In chapter 1, Paul said to die and be with Christ is far better. Death had no power over Paul and it did not scare him. It would not silence the gospel he preached and he said he would be willing to give his life it if meant that it would help these believers to grow in their faith! Ask God to help you to be willing to go down any road, at any cost, in order to see the gospel advance and believers mature in their faith. 36

37 Day 10: Philippians 2:19-30 Read chapter 2 again today. Earlier in chapter 2, Paul showed us Jesus example of humility and preferring others above himself. In this section, Paul is going to give us two more examples of men who did not seek their own interests, but were completely consumed with the Lord and His gospel. Apparently, Timothy was with Paul and Paul hopes at some point to send him to the church at Philippi. What two benefits would there be from sending Timothy to them from verses 19-20? Paul has high praise for Timothy! He says he has no one else like him! Timothy was his right-hand man. He sent him to Corinth (1 Corinthians 4:17) and to the Thessalonica (1 Thessalonians 3:2), and he left him at Ephesus (1 Timothy 1:3). When Paul could not go himself, he knew he could count on Timothy. What specifically does Paul commend Timothy for in verses 20-22? Paul talks about Timothy s proven worth. This phrase comes from a Greek word meaning to test. It has the idea of being trustworthy because one has been tested and proved genuine. This was how Paul described Timothy. He knew he could count on him. What is holding Paul back from sending Timothy at this time? Apparently Paul was awaiting some decision in his legal case and as soon as he heard how it would turn out, he would send Timothy. This way Timothy could also bring them news about how Paul was doing and his expected outcome. 37

38 In the meantime, he plans to send Epaphroditus to them. According to Philippians 4:18, the Philippians had sent Epaphroditus to Paul with a financial gift while he was in prison. Now Paul wants to send him back to them. What two reasons does Paul give for wanting to send Epaphroditus from verse 28? How do you think it would make Paul less anxious by sending Epaphroditus back to the church of Philippi? How does Paul describe Epaphroditus from verses 25 and 30? What do we learn about Epaphroditus relationship with the Philippian church in verse 26? Epaphroditus is another example of preferring others. Verse 26 tells us that was distressed because the Philippians had heard that he was sick. Now that he has recovered, he is concerned that they are still worried about him! What does verse 30 tells us his illness was related to? Perhaps while on the trip to see Paul, he fell ill or he could have gotten sick while he was visiting Paul in prison. We learn that he was so ill that he almost died doing the Lord s work. Paul said he risked his life for the sake of the gospel. In verse 30, it almost sounds like Paul is chiding the Philippians for not doing enough. But I think Paul is just saying that Epaphroditus stood in the place of the Philippian church. Obviously, the whole church could not come to see Paul, so 38

39 Epaphroditus was their messenger and came in their stead. What are Paul s instructions to the church regarding Epaphroditus in verse 29? To receive in the Lord means to welcome. The church was to welcome him back with joy and show their honor and appreciation for how he had served them and the Lord. How important it is for us to recognize those who have served and sacrificed for the Lord! Serving God is not always easy and it can be discouraging and filled with obstacles. When we show appreciation and honor to those who have labored for the Lord, it encourages them to continue on in their work and lets them know that we are grateful for their service to the Lord. In Philippians 3:17 and 4:9, Paul encourages them to follow him as he follows Christ. We already looked at the examples of Jesus, Timothy and Epaphroditus, but look back through chapter 2 and see if you can see how Paul has been an example to them. Note the reference. Look back through chapter 2 and note how Jesus is described and portrayed, then fill in the blank. Jesus is. What do you think is the theme of chapter 2? 39

40 Philippians 3 Day 11: Philippians 3:1-6 Read through chapter 3 today. Mark the following words as you read: rejoice all references to Jesus think, mind What does Paul say in verse 1? What do you think rejoicing in the Lord has to do with verses 2-11? How do you think they tie together? Apparently, what Paul is going to tell them in not new information, but why does he tell them he is repeating it again? What does Paul tell them to look out for? In verse 2, to look out for means to beware of or to watch out for. There are many things that can hinder our walk with the Lord and Paul urges his readers to be cautious around these people. In verse 2, Paul tells them to watch out for the dogs, evildoers and mutilators of the flesh. Paul is using these three descriptions to refer to one group of people. In verse 3, Paul contrasts himself with the people mentioned in verse 2. 40

41 Based on this contrast, what else do we learn about these people from verse 3? How are they different from Paul? Based on the description so far, who do you think Paul is referring to? Any ideas? Read Galatians 2:7-16; 3:1-3; 5:1-13. What heresy had infiltrated the church? These are the people that Paul is warning them about in Philippians 3. There was a group of people called Judaizers who taught that you had to be circumcised to be saved and you had to obey the law. According to Galatians 1:6-7, Paul says these people were preaching another gospel, and were distorting the true good news. In Philippians, Paul calls them dogs. In the Bible, dogs were unclean animals and the Jews used the term dogs to refer to Gentiles. Gentiles were looked down on because they were not part of the people of God. Here Paul turns the tables and says that these Jews who were teaching another gospel were the dogs! By their false teaching, Paul says they are not believers. Paul also calls them evildoers. Not only is their doctrine incorrect, but their lives are also filled with sin as well. Remember that Paul says to look out for these people. Why do you think their teaching is so dangerous? 41