Philippians 1:1-11
Increasing Your Joy

Single Mind & Circumstances
Part I

Statement to Ponder:

JOY LEAKS.

Single Mind =
focus on Christ

Joy Thief =
Circumstances

Philippians 1:1-2
Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,
To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Compare to:
1 Corinthians 1:1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God...
Galatians 1: Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—

Compare to:
Ephesians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:
Colossians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother...

FROM PAUL TO PHILIPPIANS

• Doesn't use apostle in introduction
• His authority is not challenged
• Mutual esteem for each other as followers of Christ
• Emphasis on Jesus starts at the very beginning (mentioned 3x)

FROM PAUL TO PHILIPPIANS

• "Servants": meaning bondservants/slaves "doulos" not "diakonos"
• Jesus owned them - bought with a price 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
• Under Christ's control - committed
• Valued by Christ
• To saints (God's holy people) set apart

Philippians 1:3-5
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,

THOUGHTS

• Looking at the past with thanks - remember
• I have you in my mind (continued to v.6) remember
• Emphasis on thankfulness and joy
• Participation: we are in this together

Philippians 1:6-8
being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

STANDOUTS

• Confident: first of 5x alluded to (other words to look for "trusting" v.14, "convinced" v. 25, "confidence" 3:4)
• God-centered confidence
• good work in you
• Security/Assuredness -> completion

STANDOUTS

• Looking at the present (1:6-8)
• I have you in my heart (1:7-8) - affection
• Circumstances "chains" 2 Corinthians 11:23-27
• 5th mention of God
• 2 more mentions of Jesus Christ
• 2 mentions of gospel

What do we let get in the way of our JOY?

Philippians 1:9-11
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

PONDERING

• Looking to the future (1:9-11)
• I have you in my prayers
• Grow in love
• Real knowledge
• All discernment

PONDERING

• Pure and blameless/sincere
• Sunshine judged/sunlight tested (cloth/honey) sieved/winnowed (removing bad/chaff)
• Developing character/reputation
• Fruitful: Galatians 5:22-23, Romans 1:13, Romans 6:22, Colossians 1:10, Hebrews 13:15, John 15:4-5

JOY THIEVES

• Circumstances
• People
• Things
• Worry

PHILIPPIANS 1:1-11

• Rejoicing in spite of circumstances
• Relationship with Christ and fellow Christians trumps circumstances
• Circumstances can be viewed from a relationship with Christ perspective
• Fellowship of the gospel 1:1-11

When I say: "I feel so flawed and imperfect."

God says: "Because My love for you is perfect, you don’t have to be."

His Promise: "Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Phil. 1:6)”

Excerpt From: Swope, Renee. “Confident Heart Devotional.” Baker Publishing Group, 2013-10-25. iBooks.

Next week
Philippians 1:12-26
Single Mind and Circumstances
Part 2

Prayer
In all my prayers for you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
Philippians 1:4-6, 9-11