Philippians 1

Philippians 1:1

Philippi was a city in present-day Greece. “Bishop,” “elder,” and “pastor” are all interchangeable terms in the New Testament. Episkopos, or “bishop,” describes the ministry as that of overseeing. Presbuteros, or “elder,” describes the man as one who is mature. Poimen, or “pastor,” describes the method as one who feeds the flock. Deacons are those who serve in practical ways, as seen in those who served tables in Acts 6.

Philippians 1:2

Paul’s initial path to Philippi was far from predictable. Perhaps you remember the story… Beginning his second missionary journey, Paul’s plan was to go up into Asia. Stopping in Derbe and in Lystra, two small towns in present-day Turkey, he picked up Timothya young brother in the Lord who would become his protigiand began to journey towards Asia. But there was a problem. Paul says in Acts 16 that every time they tried to go into Asia, “the Spirit forbade us” (see Act_16:6). Doors slammed shut in his face. Unable to follow through with his plan, Paul backtracked until finally, at Troason the shores of the Aegean Seahe was stuck. The psalmist was right when he said, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD” (Psa_37:23). Equally true, dear brothers and sisters, is this: The stops of a good man are ordered by the Lord as well. The Lord was stopping Paul from going into Asia because He had a different destination for Paul. It would do us well to tell ourselves and remind one another that if things don’t work out, come through, or open up in the way we wantthe failure for them to do so is in itself a clear answerthat stops are as valid as steps. “Honey, come here,” said the mother to her five-year-old daughter as cheerily as she could. Fido the family dog had died, and she didn’t know the best way to break the news. “Here, have some milk and cookies,” she stalled. Finally, able to put it off no longer, the worried mother said, “Honey, Fido died. And God took him to heaven"to which her daughter replied, “What does God want a dead dog for?!” That’s just like us! We wonder what rationale we can give to someone when God doesn’t answer the way we believed or prayed He would. Instead, we should forget the rationale; forget the sugar coating. God closed the door because He sees things we don’t and knows things we can’t. Paul was in just such a spot. With his back to the sea, he wondered what to do. And then he had a vision in which he saw a Macedonian man saying, “Come over and help us” (Act_16:9). “That’s it!” Paul must have said. “Here I was trying to go into Asiabut now I see the Lord has an entirely different plan for me. He wants me to go to Europe.” So he sailed across the Aegean, and when he got to the other side, I’m sure Paul expected to find the Macedonian man he saw in his vision. Instead, he found a group of ladies gathered by the riverbank to pray. Again, the Lord’s plan was different from Paul’sfor it was when Paul shared the gospel with this group of ladies that the Philippian church was born.

Philippians 1:6

Ten years passed since the day Paul first came across Lydia and the rest of the women praying by the riverbank. And here, in a Roman prison, thinking about what the Lord had done in and through them, Paul’s heart is filled with confidence concerning the Philippian church. I believe that if Paul were alive today, he would exhibit the same confidence. Oh, I am aware of those who say, “What’s wrong with the church? Why isn’t the church on fire?” But to those who say there needs to be revival, I say, “Don’t you see it?” To those who call for radical renewal, I say, “Don’t you get it? Look around and see what God is doing. It will blow your mind. It will warm your heart. It will cause you to applaud the Father for His faithfulness and goodness. What He’s done for us personally and corporately blows me away totally.” Why is it the tendency among so many Christians to think that the Lord is always asking for more, more, morethat if they pray one hour, they should have prayed two; that if they witnessed to three people this month, they should have witnessed to four? It’s my conviction that many, many, many Christians expect more out of themselves than God ever does. How quick we are to beat up ourselves and other Christians. Yet if we would only open our eyes and see what the Lord is doing in the person sitting right next to us, we’d see a miraclefor the fact that God would mature and develop, build and use people like us is nothing short of miraculous. Like Paul, I thank God upon every remembrance of you. He’s doing an awesome work in your lives. He’s taking you through deep waters and tough timesand you’re coming out the other side stronger than ever. “Fear not, little flock, for it is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom,” Jesus said (see Luk_12:32). He’s pleased with you. He’s done a great and marvelous work through you. And I’m confident that He who began a good work in you shall complete it until the day of Christ Jesuswhen He comes back to take us all to heaven.

Philippians 1:7

If we were honest, to many of the people with whom we’re linked, we would have to say, “You’re on my nerves.” Not Paul. He said, “You’re on my heart.” Paul is in prison. He could have been pouting. He could have been pining. But, instead, he is “penning"putting pen to papyrus to write a love letter to the Philippians.

Philippians 1:8

Rather than referring to the heart, Paul’s culture referred to the intestines as the seat of deepest emotions. “I long for you greatly,” said Paul, “not just superficially, but deep within me.” What gave Paul this kind of love? What caused him to pen this epistle rather than pout about his own situation? I believe it was because Paul utilized his prison time to pray. He cared about the Philippians because he prayed for them. Who’s on your nerves? Who’s robbing you of joy? Maybe it’s your boss or husband, a coach or teacher, a colleague or neighbor. Pray for them, for as you do, a couple of things will happen: First, because God answers prayer, they’ll change. Second, and much more importantly, you’ll begin to change… In Exodus 28, we read that on the ephod, the sacred vestment, the high priest wore a breastplate. And upon the breastplate were gems representing each of the twelve tribes of Israel. Thus, the people of Israelthose who were often stubborn, backslidden, unappreciative, and rebelliouswere to be as gems on the heart of the high priest. But that’s only half the story. You see, inscribed on the shoulders of the high priest’s ephod were the names of the tribes (Exo_28:21). In other words, the high priest could not carry the gemstones of the tribes on his heart if the names of the tribes were not on his shoulders. Spiritually, the shoulder speaks of bearing burdens. Thus, as the high priest bore the burden of intercessory prayer for the people, he would experience a change in his heart toward the people. He would view them not as dirt clods or pieces of coalbut as gems. Gang, pray for the people who bug you. Pray God’s blessing upon them. Pray for God’s work to be flowing through them. Pray for good things to happen to them. Hold them up on the shoulders of intercession, and you will find that they will become gems in your heart. You cannot be angry or bitter toward someone for whom you’re praying. That’s why prayer is so importantnot only because others will change, but because we ourselves will not be imprisoned by bitterness.

Philippians 1:9

After patting them on the back, Paul says to the Philippians, “My prayer is that your love may abound more and more.” Paul’s was not a “sloppy agape"where anything and everything was fine with him. No, he says, “I want you to do better.” How? Read on. How will our love grow? Not by fault-finding, not by “sin sniffing,” but by “excellence approving.” That is, we grow by saying, “I can glean from that ministry, book, teacher, parentfrom anyone who models any aspect of the nature of Christ, imperfect though they may be.”

Philippians 1:11

When thou shalt besiege a city a long time, in making war against it to take it, thou shalt not destroy the trees thereof by forcing an axe against them: for thou mayest eat of them, and thou shalt not cut them down (for the tree of the field is man’s life) to employ them in the siege.Deu_20:19 “In besieging a city,” God said, “be careful your axes don’t fly indiscriminately, for you will rob yourself of fruit which could have nourished you.” So, too, Paul says, “Although there’s a very real war in which you’re involved, be very careful that in your battle mentality you don’t start chopping this person, that group, or the other ministry. Don’t pick on them; pick that which is helpful from them as fruit that can be used for your own growth.”

Philippians 1:12

Just as God used a sling in David’s hand, a pitcher in Gideon’s hand, and a rod in the hand of Moses, He used chains on Paul’s hands. That’s not surprising, for chains are what open the door to speak to people who would not otherwise give us the time of day. You see, it’s when a wife hangs in there with her difficult husband; it’s when an employee refuses to talk behind his boss’s back; it’s when a high-schooler willingly submits to his parents that people take note, thereby opening opportunity for the wife, the employee, the high-schooler to share the reason why. I’m convinced that the troubles, challenges, and problems we face are custom-designed to do one thing: to allow us to draw others to Jesus Christ and to encourage them in Jesus Christ. “But my burden is too heavy,” you say. Listen, God will not tempt you above what you are able (1Co_10:13). God doesn’t play favoritesand if He has put you in a certain imprisonment, it’s because He has prepared you for it and given you everything you’ll need to go through it.

Philippians 1:13

“My plan was to go to Rome,” Paul said, “but God had a better idea. He brought Rome to me in the form of the soldiers chained to me round the clock. Every six hours, a different one comes on dutyand they’re all getting saved! Members of the Praetorian Guard, they return to the palace, where they influence the very heart of the Roman system.”

Philippians 1:14

“In addition to the Roman soldiers who are getting saved, now that I’m no longer with you, others in Philippi are filling in and speaking out for the gospel,” said Paul. That’s the way it’s supposed to be, gang. Whatever your arena of ministry, would to God there would be people who would step up and even take your ministry a notch higher in your absence.

Philippians 1:15

“While some are preaching the gospel in my absence, others are exploiting the situation,” said Paul, most likely referring to those who were preaching the rules and regulations of legalism. Since the word “contention” means “to canvass politically"as when a candidate shakes hands in order to win votesPaul is saying some preach Christ to increase their own influence.

Philippians 1:17

“Even if some are preaching Christ from selfish motives, I rejoice anyway,” says Paul, “because Christ is being talked about.” What radical thinking!

Philippians 1:19

Christ was magnified through Paul’s difficulty. “Why does Christ have to be magnified?” you ask. “Isn’t He big enough already?” Think with me… Our sun is so big that, if hollowed out, it could hold 1,300,000 earths. The sun, however, is dwarfed by the star Antares, which could hold sixty-four suns. But Antares is a pipsqueak compared to Hercules, which could hold one hundred million Antares. Yet Hercules is a speck compared to Epsilon, the largest known star, which could hold three million Hercules. These objects are huge, folks! Why then, do they seem so small when we look at them in the night sky? Because we are so far away. So we use a telescope to magnify them and bring them closer to us. People are far away from Jesus. What will make Him clear to them? Seeing Him walk with us and provide for us through the telescope of our difficulties. If this be trueif Christ is magnified in our hard times, the most logical thing for us to do in such times is to do what Paul did: rejoice.

Philippians 1:21

“For me to live is wealth, and to die is to leave it behind for my kids to fight over,” some say. “For me to live is pleasure, and to die is nothingness,” others declare. “For me to live is fame, and to die is to leave my mark,” boast others. There are three pyramids at Gaza, which the Pharaohs spent multiplied millions of dollars and multiplied millions of man-hours to erect in order that no one would forget them. Yet although the pyramids still stand, not one of us can name the men they were supposed to immortalize. “For me to live is Christ,” said Paul. “And to die is even better, for then I’ll be with Him.” This is the single mind we need, saints, if we’re to think properly and live joyfully. Mr. Businessman, Mr. Athlete, anything else is going to be elusive and unsatisfying. Anything else will leave you on the short end of the stick. The only way to rejoice through life, to be happy about life, to be full of joy in life is to say, “My identity lies solely in Jesus.”

Philippians 1:22

“Although I want to go to heaven,” says Paul, “I know it’s important that I continue here on earth, sharing the gospel with you.”

Philippians 1:27

“Whether I am set free and am able to come and see you again, or whether I remain in prison, I want to hear you are standing together in the Lord,” says Paul.

Philippians 1:28

If you are being attacked, it’s proof that the Enemy sees you as a worthy target, proof that you’re making an impact.

Philippians 1:29

Not only do the Enemy’s attacks provide proof of our salvation, but a privilege for us to suffer for Christ. Jesus did so much for us and cares so much about us that the attacks of the Enemy provide rare opportunities in which we can show our allegiance to Him and our affection toward Him.

Philippians 1:30

Thirdly, in addition to providing proof and a privilege, hard times and the Enemy’s attacks are part of a process to make us more like Jesus. The Greek word translated “conflict” is agon, from which we get our word “agony.” There’s no way to be deep in the Lord without going through some difficulties for the Lord. There’s just no other way. So Paul says, “Don’t be blown away; don’t be taken aback; don’t fall down because you’re going through attacks and difficulties. They’re proof that you’re on target; they provide a privilege for you to suffer; and they’re part of a process you must go through even as you see me go through it.” Even in hard times, even under the Enemy’s attack, even throughout difficult days, we’re to have a single mind: that to live is Christ, knowing that whatever comes our way will be used by Him for our good and for His glory.