I. PAUL S GREETING Philippians 1:1-11. A. Thanks Philippians 1:1-5

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1 ROUTE 66 PHILIPPIANS Joy From A Jailhouse: Rejoicing In Everything Dr. Jon McNeff, Senior Pastor April 2, 2014 Note: The following are the pastor s notes used in preaching this message. This is not a complete, word-for-word transcription of what was preached. These notes serve as a companion to the complete message, which is available by listening to the audio version. Bible quotes are primarily from NASB and ESV, respectively. The traditional view is that Philippians, along with the other Prison Epistles (Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon), was written during Paul s first imprisonment at Rome (ca. A.D ). The most natural understanding of the references to the palace guard (Philippians 1:13) and the saints of Caesar s household (Philippians 4:22) is that Paul wrote from Rome, where the emperor lived. The similarities between the details of Paul s imprisonment given in Acts and in the Prison Epistles also argue that those epistles were written from Rome (e.g., Paul was guarded by soldiers, Acts 28:16; cf. Philippians 1:13, 14; was permitted to receive visitors, Acts 28:30; cf. Philippians 4:18; and had the opportunity to preach the gospel, Acts 28:31; cf. Philippians 1:12 14; Ephesians 6:18 20; Colossians 4:2 4). Paul s belief that his case would soon be decided (Philippians 2:23, 24) points to Philippians being written toward the close of the apostle s two-year Roman imprisonment (ca. A.D. 61). The church at Philippi, the first one founded by Paul in Europe, dates from the apostle s second missionary journey (Acts 16:12 40). Philippi evidently had a very small Jewish population. Because there were not enough men to form a synagogue (the requirement was for ten Jewish men who were heads of a household), some devout women met outside the city at a place of prayer (Acts 16:13) alongside the Gangites River. Paul preached the gospel to them and Lydia, a wealthy merchant dealing in expensive purple dyed goods (Acts 16:14), became a believer (Acts 16:14, 15). It is likely that the Philippian church initially met in her spacious home. Satanic opposition to the new church immediately arose in the person of a demon-possessed, fortune-telling slave girl (Acts 16:16, 17). Not wanting even agreeable testimony from such an evil source, Paul cast the demon out of her (Acts 16:18). The apostle s act enraged the girl s masters, who could no longer sell her services as a fortune-teller (Acts 16:19). They hauled Paul and Silas before the city s magistrates (Acts 16:20) and inflamed the civic pride of the Philippians by claiming the two preachers were a threat to Roman customs (Acts 16:20, 21). As a result, Paul and Silas were beaten and imprisoned (Acts 16:22 24). The two preachers were miraculously released from prison that night by an earthquake, which unnerved the jailer and opened his heart and that of his household to the gospel (Acts 16:25 34). The next day the magistrates, panicking when they learned they had illegally beaten and imprisoned two Roman citizens, begged Paul and Silas to leave Philippi. Paul apparently visited Philippi twice during his third missionary journey, once at the beginning (cf. 2 Corinthians 8:1 5), and again near the end (Acts 20:6). About four or five years after his last visit to Philippi, while a prisoner at Rome, Paul received a delegation from the Philippian church. The Philippians had generously supported Paul in the past (Philippians 4:15, 16), and had also contributed abundantly for the needy at Jerusalem (2 Corinthians 8:1 4). Now, hearing of Paul s imprisonment, they sent another contribution to him (Philippians 4:10), and along with it Epaphroditus to minister to Paul s needs. Unfortunately Epaphroditus suffered a near-fatal illness (Philippians 2:26, 27), either while en route to Rome, or after he arrived. Accordingly, Paul decided to send Epaphroditus back to Philippi (Philippians 2:25, 26) and wrote the letter to the Philippians to send back with him. Paul had several purposes in composing this epistle. First, he wanted to express in writing his thanks for the Philippians gift (Philippians 4:10 18). Second, he wanted the Philippians to know why he decided to return Epaphroditus to them, so they would not think his service to Paul had been unsatisfactory (Philippians 2:25, 26). Third, he wanted to inform them about his circumstances at Rome (Philippians 1:12 26). Fourth, he wrote to exhort them to unity (Philippians 2:1, 2; 4:2). Finally, he wrote to warn them against false teachers (Philippians 3:1 4:1). I. PAUL S GREETING Philippians 1:1-11 A. Thanks Philippians 1:1-5 He also expresses thanks in Philippians 4 for their financial gift but here it is for the partnership in the gospel Philippians 1:3-5 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. 1

2 Philippi was in Macedonia they were part of the group that Paul mentions in 2 Corinthians 8:4-5 who were begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints, and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God. they did this despite their deep poverty and affliction they had been ravaged by many wars and were plundered by Romans Their participation probably referred to Lydia and the Philippian jailer Acts 16:12-40 details the first convert in Europe a woman named Lydia Paul, Timothy and Luke responded to the Macedonian call and traveled to Philippi no synagogue there (must be ten men to form one) they assumed there would be a place of prayer where Jews would go found some women preached Lydia was from Thyatira and a follower of God she believed and welcomed Paul to her home a girl with spirit of divination (a medium in contact with demons) she began to torment Paul cast demon out her employers who had been using her lost revenue reported them to the magistrates who beat them and threw them into jail earthquake at night shook them loose Philippian jailer ready to kill himself but Paul and Silas remained the jailer and those in his household believed in the Lord and were saved police came to jail for them afraid when they heard Paul was Roman released him Would anyone give thanks about you giving sacrificially to the needy or for participating in gospel ministry? B. Confidence Philippians 1:6-8 Philippians 1:6 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. C. Prayer Philippians 1:9-11 Love has boundaries Philippians 1:9-10 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 II. PAULS IMPRISONMENT Philippians 1:12-26 A. Progress of the gospel Philippians 1:12-18 Philippians 1:12-14 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. People knew he was no criminal they knew he was in jail for religious and political purposes The Praetorian guard this was Paul s first imprisonment in Rome Acts 28:21 Paul sent for the Jewish leaders and they came Acts 28:22-24 But we desire to hear from you what your views are; for concerning this sect, it is known to us that it is spoken against everywhere. When they had set a day for Paul, they came to him at his lodging in large numbers; and he was explaining to them by solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morning until evening. Some were being persuaded by the things spoken, but others would not believe. Paul continued preaching like that for two years while incarcerated B. Hope for deliverance Philippians 1:19-20 Philippians 1:19 Paul knew they had no charges that could stick for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ C. To live is Christ Philippians 1:

3 Profound insight into life Philippians 1:21-24 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. III. PAUL S INSTRUCTIONS Philippians 1:27-2:18 Series of imperatives: A. Stand firm in persecution Philippians 1:27-30 Philippians 1:27 Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; Philippians 1:29-30 Paul encouraged them to suffer for His sake, experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me. B. Be united in humility Philippians 2:1-11 Series of if clauses assuming to be true if there is any encouragement in Christ there is! if there is any consolation (encouragement) of love there is! if there is any fellowship of the Spirit there is! we are partnered with the Holy Spirit who indwells every Christian if any affection and compassion Philippians 2:2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. all Christians have all of the above when these things are in operation there is unity when we look to other people for these things we are divided only Jesus can ultimately provide encouragement, consolation, fellowship, affection, and compassion Another profound anti-human instinct Philippians 2:3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourself... not normal only happen if Philippians 2:1 is true Gives the example of Jesus most precise statement on the hypostatic union in Scripture Philippians 2:5-8 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 bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Jesus existed in the form of God the morphe of God essence present active participle He was continuing to exist not just past tense, but present John 1:1-4 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. Jesus is not a created being He is one with the Father John 14:9 He who has seen Me has seen the Father... John 10:30 I and the Father are One. Colossians 1:15-17 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. Jesus never stopped existing as the essence of God But He did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped - Philippians 2:6 He didn t have to hold onto being one presence with the Father He emptied Himself Philippians 2:7 - this is not an emptying Himself of deity or an exchange of His deity for humanity He gave up; 1) The privilege of continuing to act in concert with the Father this means He gave up His autonomy, being willing to submit everything He did to the will of the Father; 2) 3

4 His position in heaven and take upon Himself the limitations of human body that was confined to earthly laws; 3) The independent usage of His divine attributes willing to submit their usage to; 4) His privileged status - He was willing to submit Himself to the wrath of God for sin He was taking the form of a bondservant Philippians 2:7 - morphe essence he was taking He did not discard the essence of deity He added the essence of humanity He was being made in the likeness of man - Philippians 2:7 - likeness homoios likeness, resemblance He was found in appearance as a man Philippians 2:8 - schema shape Jesus took on the essence of man, the likeness of man, and the appearance of man yet without giving up the essence of deity He humbled Himself - Philippians 2:8 abasement, humble-minded He became obedient - Philippians 2:8 here s where the model for us comes in Jesus, God in the flesh, obeyed the will of His Father when it meant humiliation, injustice, undeserved cruelty, and death can we trust Him to have an attitude of humility to one another? Council of Chalcedon in 451 formed the first formal statement on the person of Christ We then, following the holy Fathers, all with one consent, teach men to confess one and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, the same perfect in Godhead and also perfect in manhood; truly God and also truly man, of a reasonable soul and body; consubstantial with the Father according to the Godhead, and consubstantial with us according to the manhood; in all things like unto us, without sin; begotten before all ages of the Father according to the Godhead, and in these latter days, for us and for our salvation, born of the virgin Mary, the Mother of God, according to the manhood; one and the same Christ, Son, Lord, Only-begotten, to be acknowledged in two natures, inconfusedly (asuggutos), unchangeably (atreptos), indivisibly (adiairetos), inseparably (achoristos), the distinction of natures being by no means taken away by the union, but rather the property of each nature being preserved, and concurring in one Person and one subsistence, not parted or divided into two persons, but one and the same Son, the Only-begotten, God the Word, the Lord Jesus Christ; as the prophets from the beginning have declared concerning Him, and the Lord Jesus Christ Himself has taught us, and the Creed of the Holy Fathers has handed down to us. 1 His willful humiliation meant that the Father exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and one earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. - Philippians 2:9-11 C. Work out your salvation Philippians 2:12-13 Philippians 2:12-13 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. work out is katergadzomai to work out thoroughly to completion doesn t mean salvation by works modified by Philippians 2:14-18 D. Prove yourself blameless Philippians 2:14-18 Philippians 2:14-15 Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will 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 working out our salvation means that we give evidence of trusting God in all things He is at work and we are at work IV. PAUL S COMPANIONS Philippians 2:19-30 A. Timothy Philippians 2: Louis Berkhof, The History of Christian Doctrines (Carlisle, Pennsylvania: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1937),

5 Timothy was a kindred spirit with Paul Philippians 2:19-21 But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition. For I have no one else of kindred spirit (isopsuchos = equal souled ) who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare. For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 1:15 Paul references Pygelus and Hermongenes who evidently had defected from Paul for fear of persecution Philippians 2:22 he was a man of proven worth Philippians 2:24 trusted B. Epaphroditus Philippians 2:25-30 Paul wanted to send Timothy (Philippians 2:23) and come himself (Philippians 2:24), but he sent Epaphroditus favorite of Aphrodite native Philippian Philippians 2:26 distressed because you had heard that he was sick Philippians 2:27-30 For indeed he was sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore I have sent him all the more eagerly so that when you see him again you may rejoice and I may be less concerned about you. Receive him then 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. don t know what it was, but it came for the work of Christ. V. PAUL S WARNINGS Philippians 3:1-4:1 A. Against legalism Philippians 3: His enemies Philippians 3:1-3 Paul minced no words Philippians 3:3 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 dogs were wild scavengers that roamed the streets Jews often referred to Gentiles as dogs, but Paul here refers to Jewish leaders who wanted to destroy Christianity and him 2. His credentials Philippians 3:4-6 Philippians 3:4-6 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, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless. Eighth day according to Jewish law Tribe of Benjamin one of the elite Jewish tribes Hebrew of Hebrews kept the Hebrew language even though he lived in a pagan city Pharisee sect of 6,000 legalistic separatists who rigidly applied the law Paul had all the trappings 3. His confidence Philippians 3:7-16 a. Not in self Philippians 3:7-8 But all of Paul s accomplishments were nothing Philippians 3:7, 8 But whatever things were gain 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 so that I may gain Christ the Ph.D., the house, the job, the car, all of that is waste in comparison to Christ b. In God Philippians 3:9-11 5

6 Philippians 3:9 not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith c. Positional perfection Philippians 3:12-16 Philippians 3:12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect... refers to the reality of living in the flesh (Romans 7:15 I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. ) Philippians 3:13-14 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. this is life we are not perfect in the flesh but we keep on working for the prize Philippians 3:15 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you positional perfection Romans 8:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus 2 Corinthians 5:21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. B. Against a worldly walk Philippians 3:17-4:1 Philippians 3:18-19 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, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. Paul warns of false teachers claim to be Christians but actually tear up the church and pursue worldly goals like today C. Against divisiveness Philippians 4:2-3 Philippians 4:2, 3 I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord. Indeed, true companion, 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. VI. PAUL S COMMANDS Philippians 4:4-9 A. Be joyful in the Lord Philippians 4:4 Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! hallmark of joy through the whole book joy is chairos to take pleasure in but the focus is not external it is used almost exclusively in the New Testament with Jesus and His work as the focus Luke 10:20 rejoice that your names are written in heaven. it is used in Luke 15:6, 9, and 32 to describe the emotion over the recovery of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son Luke 24:52 after Jesus had revealed Himself to the two on the road to Emmaus, And they, after worshiping Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy the disciples experienced it Acts 5:41 they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. it even describes a heavenly emotion Luke 15:10 there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. Joy is different than happiness happiness is focused on the external polls ask people what they want out of life I just want to be happy is the top result all based on external but what happens when the external falls apart happiness leaves the building But joy is different joy is the response to knowing Jesus no one can ever take that away! Paul experiences joy in the middle of a jail cell in Acts 16 Paul and Silas are singing hymns at midnight while shackled in the Philippian jail Paul s instruction is to rejoice in the Lord look to Jesus what has He done? how does He meet your needs? this is a command, and he says it twice for emphasis! Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say rejoice! you can rejoice in every circumstance B. Demonstrate gentleness Philippians 4:5 6

7 Philippians 4:5 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. another command epiekeis mild, yielding, kind, forbearing to be commanded to be gentle seems like an oxymoron but we need this reminder the world doesn t respond to a dominant spirit who wants to take captives people are naturally drawn to the underdog a gentle spirit reflects Jesus Matthew 11:29-30 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. C. Don t worry Philippians 4:6-7 We don t like these verses - Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. another command anxious = merimna and anxious fear, or taking responsibility for someone it always refers to the future which we can t change Matthew 6:34 So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. James 4:13-14 Come now, you who say, Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit. Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. worrying about something that we can t control is senseless doesn t mean we are not to plan and lay aside provisions for the future but this has to do with questioning God s control of the future our duty is simply faithful prayer, remembering that God is our Father who will provide for His children what is best for them Matthew 7:11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him! We may not love Philippians 4:6, but we love Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. a lack of peace of mind keeps people awake at night but the peace of God exceeds all human ability to analyze or comprehend God s peace is what guards our hearts and minds keeps us trusting D. Develop character Philippians 4:8-9 Philippians 4:8 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 if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. dwell = consider, deliberate, grasp, draw a logical conclusion (Theological Dictionary of the New Testament) part of sanctification is character development we identify the type of character we want to be and pursue it God gives the inclination (Philippians 2:12-13) and we pursue these by studying what they are, modeling our lives after mature Christians, asking trusted mentors how to do these A twin imperative in Philippians 4:9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. practice = accomplish, do we get orthopraxy from this we are commanded to dwell on these things and practice these things What things: True aleitheia true what is found in God John 17:17 Sanctify them in truth, Your word is truth. lack of integrity comes from lies, deceit, hiding the truth we must face the truth about our emotions our relationships political realities and doctrinal truth Honorable sebomai fear, worship, worthy of respect we overuse awesome few things are really worthy of respect identify and examine things that are truly awe-inspiring true worship of God develops right perspective Right dikaiosune uprightness, righteous we get justify from this word something that measures up to a standard like justified margins God s standard is the ultimate measurement Pure hagnos purity, chaste, sincerity originally used to describe cultic perfection by performing every ritual in the New Testament it came to mean sincerity in Christian service (Philippians 1:17) or 7

8 moral purity and blamelessness in a time which has lost most appearances of purity, the Christian is still called to moral and sexual purity this excludes all sex outside of marriage as well as jokes and inferences about bodily functions and parts Lovely prosphile dear to someone focuses on how one would treat their mother or wife or another loved one gracious and kind actions filled with respect are in view Good repute euphemos Well spoken of, of good report, praiseworthy, laudable we don t act to appeal to other people but we do act to please the Lord Ephesians 5:10 says we are trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. when we please the Lord, we please others and earn a good reputation a good reputation is hard to build and easy to lose you can lose it in a minute! The ends implying there is excellence virtue and things worthy of praise in this list VII. PAUL S THANKFULNESS Philippians 4:10-23 A. The reason for it Philippians 4:10 Philippians 4:10 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. at last it had been nearly ten years since the Philippians had first given him a gift when he was in Thessalonica (Philippians 4:15-16) they had not had an opportunity to repeat their generosity Paul was thankful they had now been able to help him again B. The response to it Philippians 4:11-12 This is one of those keys to life verses Philippians 4:11-12 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, and I also 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. Paul didn t have his hand out asking for help he was flattered by the fact that they wanted to help him the key to life concept is learning to live with what we have content = arkeo be enough, be satisfied, be content failure to do this means we are angry at God for not giving us something else Advertisers are good at making us feel like we need what everyone else has the poor think they need a big screen because everyone has one someone out of a job thinks they need season tickets the government is also good at fostering this sense of entitlement say people are entitled to a sense of dignity in getting food stamps without anyone knowing Few people are content Christians are to be among them the key is to learn thankfulness for what you have don t look at what you don t have C. The result of it Philippians 4:13-14 Philippians 4:13-14 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction. incredibly misused verse hear it often by athletes claiming God is giving them strength to perform their athletic feats but the context is Paul learning Philippians 4:12 - the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. Paul is saying, I can have plenty to eat or I can go hungry. I can have all my needs met, or I can suffer without having something. Either way, God gives me the strength to bear it all. D. The relationships of it Philippians 4:15-21 These verses close with revealing the relationship he had with the church in Philippi also reveals his heart of thanksgiving Philippians 4:17 Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account. having someone want to give you something is more precious than getting what they give you! 8

9 Paul was confident in God s supply Philippians 4:19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 9