Outline for Philippians 1

I. Paul's imprisonment will not stop the Gospel
A. vs 1-2 This letter is coming from both Paul and Timothy
B. vs 3-11 Paul thanks, prays for and exorts the Philippian church
1. vs 3-6 Paul reassures that God will complete the work he started
2. vs 7-8 Paul's chains will not stop him
3. vs 9-11 It is growth in the knowledge of God that keeps us pure and blameless
C. vs 12-30 Paul rejoices that his chains only serve to spread the gospel more
1. vs 12-14 Paul is in chains for Christ and this causes him to speak boldly
2. vs. 15-18 Paul's opponents stir up trouble by preaching Christ, but this only serves to spread the gospel more
3. vs 19-26 It is better for Paul to continue to live and work for the gospel than to die and be with Christ
4. vs 27-30 Despite suffering, we must always conduct ourselves in a manner worhty of the gospel

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 according to his good purpose.
Philippians 2:12-13

Here Paul is reminding us of the importance of being "self-growers" for lack of a better term. We must take responsibility for our own walk with Christ even if no one is standing over our shoulders making us. As a Youth Pastor I can tell you one of the most difficult times in a young person's christian life is that transition from childhood to adulthood. As a child your days were pretty structured. If your parents loved God, you went to church, maybe family devotions, whatever. Even if they weren't saved there was (hopefully) at least some kind of structure to your day. You went to school, etc.. Where I've seen so many kids fall is when those restraints are taken off (maybe they go to college, move out, whatever) they fly apart at the seams. This is why as parents it is so important that we do several things. First of all, make sure your kid is saved. This may seem obvious but I've seen way to many parents fall in to this trap. Their kid repeated some prayer when they were two then the subject is never brought up again. Does a two year old have enough knowledge of their own sin nature to sorrow over sin? To repent? Maybe, but to be sure examine their lives. Do they keep the 10 Commandments? Are they growing in holiness? Do they exhibit the fruits of the Spirit? Don't take it for granted. Next a parent should discipline with love. There needs to be structure and boundries but the child should always know that every "No" comes out of a deep love for them and a desire for only their best. Third, develop the habits of Bible study, prayer and service within the local church. Make them a part of the larger community of God. The Goal of parenting is that they love God when you are not around and then can pass those values on to the next generation.

My goodness, there is a lot to this book! I feel like I'm trying to drink an ocean. I pray that God will show His Word to me and cause me to understand and retain it.

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.
Philippians 1:27a

In a book filled with daunting tasks this may be the hardest and most important of all. Paul had just finished talking about his chains and imprisonment and I'm sure had this in mind when he wrote this verse. This was an admonition to the brothers who were free that if the law ever came to be sure to conduct themselves, at their arrest and in their imprisonment, in a way that glorifies Christ. Luckily I don't live in a country that will arrest me because of where I go to church but the spirit behind this verse still holds true. I am in the world, interacting with people all day long. I have guys that work with me, customers I work for, people I buy products from, etc., I must conduct myself always in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ. I need to be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger. I need to (and this is a biggie for me) make sure I communicate clearly at every stage of a job so there are no surprises with the customer and no surprises involving money. Everyone needs to know up front everything they need to know, so that when it is all said and done my witness is intact and I can act with integrity towards all involved. I should be able to share with Christ with any person after any job and be taken seriously as someone who walks what he talks.

For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him
Philippians 1:29

Here's another Calvinistic verse. (They are everywhere! How did I miss this for so long?) Notice the words it has been granted. The gift of salvation was given to us, we did not go get it. In fact we could not go get it because we hated God before we came to know Him. We are His choice, we did not choose Him. Not only is our salvation chosen for us, but also the fact that we will suffer for Christ has already been chosen. I will readily admit I have only a theoretical idea of what it means to suffer for Christ. The closest I came is when I wore a T-shirt against abortion that says God gave Women a womb not a tomb and had babies peeking out of a garbage can. (Pretty graphic) Some woman saw this at the gas station and was mad enough to spit at me. But that doesn't even begin to compare with the sufferings Paul went through, or my brothers in China or Pakistan or any number of places around the globe. So what are my sufferings? Maybe it's holding my tongue when I want to say something that doesn't glorify Christ. Maybe it's not doing something I want to do and instead spending time in prayer. Maybe it's subjecting myself to doors being slammed in my face when I pass out tracts, (That happened again last week) I do not know what form my sufferings will take but I can be assured that if I'm going through them then God ordained them, and if God ordained them then He has a plan to get me out on to the other side.

For my first foray into the New Year's new method of Bible Study I have chosen to read Philippians. Why? Because it's only 4 chapters long and seemed a great way to get my feet wet. Lets take a look at Chapter 1.

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, 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

One of my goals this year is make a point of noticing every verse that has something to do with Calvinism, whether for or against. This verse assures me of the fifth point of Calvinism which is the preservation of the saints. If it was God that began the work of salvation in me then it is God that will work it through to completion. This doesn't absolve me of my responsibilities to press in to God, read His Word, pray, etc., but I can be confident that none of those things will earn my final salvation before the judgment seat of Christ. I can not save myself even if I memorize the entire Bible and spend months at a time in prayer. It can only come as a sovereign work of God and that is what I will trust in. He started it, He will finish it.

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 until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
Phil 1:9-11

This verse addresses what is quickly becoming another pet peeve of mine. It is so incredibly important that the Word of God be taught, line by line, concept by concept. It is the growing "in knowledge and depth of insight" that keeps us "pure and blameless until the day of Christ". We must spend time in the Word everyday to effectively grow in holiness. This means systematic and thoughtful reading of the Scriptures and letting them prayerfully take root in our heart, changing us into the image of God. This also means that the preachers and teachers of Christendom need to make absolutely certain that they are proclaiming the entire council of God. It can be a temptation to focus on pet doctrine like "Prosperity", or "God loves you just as you are" or any one of thousands of teachings in the Bible. We must also be sure to balance our teachings in such a way to reveal the whole Mind of God on a subject. I've heard Prosperity teachers never speak about how hard it is for a rich man to enter Heaven. I've heard Divine Healing teachers never speak on being patient in affliction. I've heard God has a wonderful plan for your life teachers never teach on repentance and turning from sin. This is why the Pastors and teachers we put ourselves under must teach line by line and not cherry pick and water down the clear admonitions of the Bible. Examine yourself and see if you are growing in holiness. If not, I can almost guarantee you that it is because of a lack of the Word in your life.

That's enough for today. Please pray for my Pastor, that God would continue to bless him and his family and will show Him great things from the Word and empower him to share them with us.