The Life of Christ Continues #1 (Studies in Philippians)

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Text: Philippians 1:1-18

You’re going to make it! Imagine being in the depths of doubt and getting that kind of a shot in the arm!
‘Can you tell me why it is so good to follow God?’ I stood there speechless as the question was asked in such an angry tone by an obviously hurting and disillusioned friend!
How can a person who has to lose everything see any reason to commit to God?
It has certainly helped me to focus more and more on the question of what I would do if I lost everything?

When we think about living in this world as followers of Jesus at different times we can become very discouraged with our progress (or lack thereof), feelings of weakness, different trials and stresses that come our way and even feel like we take steps back when people we desperately leaned on for support and guidance are taken from us.
When you think about Jesus and the life he lived, is there anything that is attractive as that life? The world saw for the very first time the beauty of the life of complete self-sacrifice. It goes against our every grain of thought in North America and yet we can’t help but be so engrossed by him!
The life of Christ.
There is nothing that can compare equally with such a life. Other men have been good, others loving, others sacrificial but none to the extent that Jesus of Nazareth the Son of God was. If only we all could live life like Jesus.
What would describe the inner feelings of a life lived like Jesus? Peace, joy, confidence, faith, love, power etc.
Why then as we try to live like Jesus do we feel conflict, sadness, fear, doubt, anger & weakness?

It is great to be together this first day of the week here at the West Side Church of Christ. We are excited as we just stated to begin this new series based on the book of Philippians. In our small group discussions we will be looking at this letter as well.
In the book of Acts chapter 16 we discover that the apostle Paul is traveling with a new partner named Silas and on their way they pick up a young man who would become very famous named Timothy. As they take Timothy with them, they come to the town of Troas and we are told they receive a vision to go to Macedonia with the gospel.
16:9,10- notice they are now going to enter a new continent with the story of Jesus.
Now as they travel they come to the city of Philippi which is described as a ‘major city of the district of Macedonia’ (16:12)
They go to the river to pray (16:13) they meet a woman named Lydia and from what is recorded she is the very first person to respond to the story of Jesus and is baptized and now numbered among the redeemed. They stay a few days there and get into some trouble and while in prison decide to sing praises to God and another person responds to the gospel and the jailer who was in charge of them with his household were baptized into Jesus.
So by the end of verse 40- there is a new church on a new continent with a new hope and the apostle leaves them.
Now, what do you suppose happens to a group of followers whose former teachers had to leave because of persecution?

This sets up then the letter the apostle wrote to this wonderful church that we are going to study today.
There are a couple of things we just want to point out about the present status of the church at Philippi by the time this letter was sent to them:
  1. They had one glaring fault which was they had a tendency to discord which always implies another underlying problem as we will see in later weeks.
  2. They were now suffering afflictions because of their dedication to Jesus. (1:29, 2 Corinthians 8:1,2) How do you stay committed when the commitment costs so much?
What does the apostle say to a church he initially brought the meaning of the life of Christ to and yet sees going through such difficulties?
How does he address them as they are in the midst of a difficult trial where the temptation to give up would be extremely strong?
What do you say to a people who could be tempted to blame you for their difficulties?
There is one thing he wants to say:
the life of Christ, that beautiful incomparable life that you fell in love with continues today through the church. So, don’t grow so discouraged that you give it up.

Let’s pick up at chapter 1:1-18
Vs.1,2- Basically, we are servants of Christ Jesus—we belong to him! He died for us so we will live for him was Paul’s motto.
Vs.3-8- Let’s listen to Paul as he begins to write his letter of encouragement to a church that is being challenged by the Devil to be overwhelmed with discouragement. What do you feel about them Paul?
They are always in my heart and I am so thankful for them. So my prayers are prayed with joy. Why?
You partnered with me in the gospel. There is a great confidence that is going to be expressed by Paul, that the church is a partner with Paul in many things or in true fellowship. His joy is their joy and vice versa. Their pain was his and vice versa. They are true friends.
They shared in the gospel—what kind of sharing?
2 Corinthians 8:1-5- they gave beyond their ability and gave of them own selves first. These people were a self-sacrificing people and this caused the apostle great joy. They had a consistent interest in the gospel!
Vs.6- This causes Paul to express the confidence that the good work that God began in them will come to completion. Paul has utmost confidence in both the Philippians and in God. God’s power & love is bringing them to a completion of where they need to go. When Christ returns—this work will be completed.
Paul is encouraging them as they enter these dark times that the work God began will not be destroyed. This is so important:
it’s going to get better, you are going to be better and you were not saved to live forever like this!
Vs.7,8- It’s right that I feel this way about you. Why Paul?
They stood by him even in his imprisonment and in his preaching the message of Jesus. These were friends through thick and thin. While at other times Paul felt abandoned by ‘friends’ when he was sent to prison (2 Timothy 4:16) he doesn’t feel that way here. How does Paul feel about them?
The way Jesus would! Notice that Paul feels with the heart of Christ and loves with the love of Christ.
Vs.9-11- So his prayer for this church that shares in both his good times and bad is to grow in love—but not brainless, and not just for him (he’s not selfishly asking to be loved more)—instead to grow in love as a whole. You’ve come a long way now keep growing!
The challenge for people is to come to the conclusion that we have arrived where we need to be and refuse to seek to grow. Love accompanied with knowledge and discernment. Why?
Follow what is pure and be blameless for that day when Jesus returns. Again, that is what you are living for now, not life here, but life then! They will become what God is working on them to become!
So, vs.11- filled with fruits of righteousness that comes through Jesus and so Paul’s prayer for them is that through their lives as their love grows more and more—the life of Christ will continue to shine brighter and brighter.

Beginning in verse 12- Paul turns his focus on what is happening to him!
Notice- brothers I want you to know that what has happened to me!
We are going to see something about the apostle Paul that probably shows just how much he had grown as a follower of Jesus. He uses this to encourage the Philippian Christians on how to respond to times of discomfort in their lives.
What if you lost everything?
What if a preacher lost his voice?
What if your wallet dried up?
What if your reputation was shredded?
What if church members took advantage of you?
What if you had no comfort at all in life?
Wouldn’t it be time to throw your hands up and declare that you are the greatest victim in the world?
Listen to Paul-
Vs.12-14- something has happened to Paul that most people would have to view as greatly troublesome—he is imprisoned! From what we see- his voice for preaching has been taken away—others are having to do it. Life in prison probably wasn’t always the nicest—I don’t think even today when people say prison is luxury- why don’t more people want to go?
Friends could easily be ashamed of him, maybe some not so good friend could easily believe the rumours about him. Is Paul ready to throw in the towel?
Is he ready for a pity party about how tough it is?
As difficult as life is—the Philippians like all Christians of all time- have to ask-can we be thankful when Paul is hurting?
What will happen to us Paul, if you don’t make it?
We don’t feel we can survive without you!
Friends, what has happened to me is a blessing! A blessing that nobody probably could have predicted. The gospel—the thing that is worth everything is advancing because I cannot! It’s advancing to the point that one of the most notorious enemies of Christianity of all time—Nero himself has people among his own soldiers who are aware that it is because of Christ I am here. Why is it advancing?
Because my being shut up in prison didn’t shut up the rest of the Christians. Paul isn’t breaking and as he isn’t breaking they grow more and more confident! (Rev.2:13- Antipas—a hardness comes over us when a leader shows great resolve!) People need to see you hold fast at different times. The amazing truth about our God:
He turns things around in ways nobody could ever predict:
Joseph sold as a slave saves the entire nation from starvation, Moses as a baby running for his life becomes prince of Egypt and deliverer of Israel, Stephen is killed by an angry mob and the church is scattered and Saul is converted and advances Christianity through the world, The Son of God through utter weakness displays the triumphant power of Mighty God!
Over and over again we see this:
He uses cancer to cheer up life, He uses death to cherish love, He uses financial ruin to find greater worth. He even uses prodigals to heighten relationships. Paul doesn’t see what is happening through the eyes of what he cannot do, but what God is doing. Let us never forget that we are God’s sons and daughters in this life because He forsook His only Son while on this earth!
Vs.15-18- How grown up is Paul?
There are different reasons people are preaching in my place:
  1. envy & rivalry—some are involved in ministry out of competition. They want to one-up me and somehow inflict pain on me. These types of people exalt their own in the hope that they would depreciate Paul.
  2. Good will—some have sincere love for Paul. They see his commitment and do not want his mission to die. They know the reason Paul is in prison—just for being a Christian and out of love pick up the cause.
What is Paul’s conclusion?
Christ is preached so I rejoice. Why Paul?
Because the life of Christ continues and there is nothing to experience in this life that is better than allowing your old self to die and then rise again to live a new life with Jesus. If one person seeks to do me harm by selfishly telling someone else about Jesus and that someone else is saved by God then because of what happened to me someone else will go to heaven so I rejoice.

Friends, I want you to continue what was first started—you shared with me in the preaching of the gospel from the very beginning—keep living the life that was started—grow more and more like Jesus--don’t give up this is not the end. Learn to rejoice with me that God can bring so much good out of what might seem like so much evil.
Look at this—
Arrested for preaching about Jesus
Not being able to tell the story God wants you to tell
Perhaps a death sentence will be carried out on you
Some church members don’t treat you very well
Some ‘friends’ don’t stick with you come what may
Yet, there is cause for rejoice because God’s work is advancing!

My friends, you may feel weak, you may feel you are not accomplishing very much, and now your main guy went down and looks like he could go down forever with this one—but God’s work continues and will advance—even prison bars or Nero’s sword cannot stop the work of God from reaching it’s completion.
Have you ever looked at a most horrible thing happening to you as an opportunity for God’s work to advance?

This morning, maybe you have been seriously considering the life of Jesus and what it means for your own. Maybe you have been looking for answers and the one answer keeps coming back to you: Jesus.
That Jesus came and lived a life with so much love and purity and that’s what you want: to love and be pure. His selfless death on the cross provides you with that opportunity today: if you want to know more let’s talk about it privately, if you are ready today—let’s do something about it..

Matt.11:28—come to me….
Acts 2:37,38- what shall I do..
Begin a life where it is no longer you but Christ living through you….and just like Jesus—what might seem like a horrible bad, God can turn into a wonderful good. Don’t give up, don’t turn back, hold on, keep growing and know that God’s work will not stop.
2 Cor.3:18-‘And all of us have had that veil removed so that we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more.’
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