Philippians 1:1-11
Joy in participation
Philippians 1:12-26
Joy in Christ taught
Joy in Paul's deliverance
Joy in faith
Philippians 1:27-30
Joy in ???

Philippians 1:27-30

Battle Stations

Single Mind & Circumstances
Part III

THE "ONLY" THING A CHRISTIAN HAS TO DO

• Philosophical to practical and personal
• Impact lives
• Motivation to live faithful Christian life
• Encouragement to live a courageous Christian life

Philippians 1:27 (NIV)
Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel

Philippians 1:27 (ASV)
Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ: that, whether I come and see you and be absent, I may hear of your state, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one soul striving for the faith of the gospel;

STANDOUTS

• Only
• Conduct
• Worthy
• Stand firm
• One spirit
• One mind
• Striving together

UNWAVERING IN PRINCIPLE

• Consistency & cooperation
• Only (monos-Greek) alone, only and always, one essential thing
• Nothing must distract them or excuse them from
• All-embracing occupation

CONDUCT YOURSELF

• Let your manner of life
• Root word related to politics implying citizenship
• Behave yourselves as citizens
• Philippi is a Roman colony; Philippians are Roman citizens

Philippians 3:20
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ

Ephesians 2:19-22
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

CONDUCT YOURSELF

• Roman citizenship vs. Christian citizenship
• Credit and honor attracting others to the gospel
• Not contingent on Paul's presence
• Worthy?

Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Isaiah 1:17
Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless;
plead the case of the widow.

Jeremiah 22:3
This is what the Lord says: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of the oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place.

Matthew 22:37-39
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Philippians 2:12-13
Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

Colossians 1:9-12
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.

UNITY

• 3xs in attitude (one spirit); in attention (one mind); in action (striving together)
• "Sun-" Greek prefix similar to our "co-" prefix used 16xs in letter
• Spirit "pneuma" Greek root
• Mind "psyche" Greek root
• Athletic connotation to striving

Ephesians 4:1-5
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

I Corinthians 16:13-14
Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.

I Thessalonians 3:8
For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord.

Philippians 1:28-30 (NIV)
without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

Philippians 1:28-30 (ASV)
And in nothing affrighted by the adversaries: which is for them an evident token of perdition, but of your salvation, and that from God; because to you it hath been granted in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer in his behalf: having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

UNAFRAID OF PERSECUTIONS

• Don't be frightened: don't be alarmed, allow yourself to be intimidated or terrified
• Greek root implies frightened as an animal

Luke 12: 4-5
“I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.

Hebrews 13:6
So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”

OPPOSITION

• Battle therefore adversaries
• Satan & coworkers
• Other people
• Unsympathetic government officials influenced by pagan population

CONFIDENCE

• Suffering indicates God-approved; sign they are on the right path
• Privilege to suffer; granted: same root word as grace; a gift
• Good company: Paul and apostles
• Conflict/struggle same root word as agony

John 16:33
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

II Timothy 3:12
In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

Philippians 3:10
I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

Acts 5:41
The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.

II Timothy 2:11-13
Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.

Untitled Slide

• Conduct
• Unity
• How to live
• Unwavering in Principle
• Unafraid of Persecution

Next Week

Philippians 2:1-11

Submissive Mind & People
Part I

Encourage Unity

Truth for Today Commentary: An Exegesis & Application of the Holy Scriptures: Ephesians and Philippians (Lockhart)

Be Joyful: Even When Things Go Wrong, You Can Have Joy (Wiersbe)

Untitled Slide