Hello Friends!
During this week’s gathering we’ll continue to work our way through the powerful book written by the “Apostle Paul” to the Philippians as we consider the perfect PERSON and wonderful WORKS willed of our loving “Lord Jesus Christ” as decreed throughout this excellent Epistle…“Do NOT Be Anxious!”
The Book of Philippians: Do NOT Be Anxious! (Chapter 1: Verses 7-14)
7 Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace. 8 For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. 9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; 10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ. 11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. 12 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; 13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; 14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear – Philippians 1:7-14
OPENING POINTS TO PONDER: The “Apostle Paul” had a brilliant mind, an admirable will and touted a tender heart tethered. He was “Jewish” by his ancestry and yet he was also a “Roman” citizen by his birth rite. And “Paul” was NOT just simply a mandated “messenger” of this tremendous “truth” told. He was also THRUST into his magnificent “ministry” by the wonderful “will of God” as this man’s MAIN source of acquired AUTHORITY as an announced “apostle” by our loving “Lord Jesus Christ” sent specifically to the “Gentiles” scattered abroad. Therefore, this excellent “epistle” provided by “Paul” is an AUTHORITATIVE utterance of the Divinely APPOINTED mouthpiece of “God's” great “Grace” granted and powerful “peace” provided through His wonderful “Word” and “Will” of intent! In fact, this HUMBLE man was used of “Jesus Christ” to largely determine the final FUTURE course of “Biblical” history – Given to Gentiles!
Confirmation of the Gospel!
The celebrated “joy” of aptly affirmed AFFECTION was indeed eagerly experienced by “Paul” as the legitimate LOVE of which wells up in the “heart” of a committed person who deeply CARES for others. Is there any greater EXPRESSION of this God-given “joy” than the exhilarating expression felt by “Paul” towards the precious “Philippian” family? Remember, “Paul” was Sovereignly set within the “bonds” of his intense imprisonment indictment FOR the deeply dedicated deployed “defense and confirmation” of the “gospel” message:
Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace – Philippians 1:7
This term “meet” mentioned HERE means to be right or appropriate in scope. And “you all” is again in the CONTEXT of the “Apostle Paul’s” humble “heart” of which is a GREAT place to carry friends! These proposed “partakers” are rightly representative of concerted FELLOWSHIP compounded. This great “grace” given speaks of the CLOSE righteous relationship resting between the “Philippians” and “Paul” himself – Affectionate JOY!
Longing to LOVE!
“Paul” was a MINDFUL man deeply compelled by what was RIGHTEOUS before our great “God” Almighty and did NOT claim some kind of pragmatic prize for his apt AFFECTION applied. Rather, he EMPHATICALLY speaks from his “heart” of healing: “It is right for me to feel this way, because of all that you have done for me!” He doesn’t EXPECT a pretentious pat on the back. He is NOT at all self-serving nor is he condescending in his personal demeanor:
For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ – Philippians 1:8
With “God” as the Righteous “record” witness, “Paul” eulogizes “you all” of which includes ALL the beloved “believers” belonging to the “church” body as a WHOLE and not simply ONE segment surmised. The “bowels” besetting “Jesus Christ” is the Greek word “splagchnon” meaning to render “tender feelings“ as such. This has definite reference to the EMOTIONS of the “heart” held. It is here where many DECISIONS are also made – Longing to LOVE!
FRUITS of Righteousness!
Next “Paul” personally “prays” for the continual spiritual GROWTH progress of the “Philippian” band of “believers” in kind:
And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ. Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God – Philippians 1:9-11
THEOLOGICAL THOUGHTS: Just as naturally born “children” are entirely EXPECTED to grow up “more” to mandated MATURITY through their “love” and “knowledge” by the “fruits of righteousness” found in our Justifier “Jesus Christ” alone, so too are spiritually born “children” alike…
My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you – Galatians 4:19
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ – Ephesians 4:13-15
To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily – Colossians 1:27-29
The “love” of the “believer” is to be EXERCISED in a keen “knowledge” and then EXPRESSED through just “judgment” in that “we” each may “approve things that are excellent” and “without offense” as being BLAMELESS in “our” concerted conduct codified. And to be totally “filled” and CONTROLLED with the “epignosis“ of a DEEP thorough “knowledge of God” by the “spirit of wisdom and revelation” of our “Lord Jesus Christ” Himself…
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints – Ephesians 1:17-18
And this “knowledge” is definitely NOT simply a superficial form of “understanding” but is rather OBTAINED through an “increasing” and growing deep-seated “desire” to be “enlightened” for the “knowledge” of “His will" and holdened “hope” for “our” own lives. Therefore, “Paul’s” constant concern was for the “glory and praise of God” through the MATURING of the particular people in whom “God” Himself had Sovereignly sent fervently “filled” with the fantastic – FRUITS of Righteousness!
Bonds FURTHER the Gospel!
BIBLICAL BACKGROUND: The “Philippians” had surely sent their sound SYMPATHY sense unto “Paul” by eagerly expressing their dire DISTRESS that his imminent imprisonment had quite possibly ENDED the purposed “preaching of the gospel” itself. Thus, “Paul” makes it very CLEAR that the beloved “brethren” uniformly “understand” that the grandiose “gospel” is actually being extended for its forged “furtherance” fomented BY his besieging “bonds” bemoaned. And as a real RESULT he makes mention of TWO appropriate purposes:
ONE: The “Apostle Paul” is now aptly able to wholly WITNESS via the “gospel” unto the Praetorian Guard seated within Caesar’s prided “palace” processional:
But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places– Philippians 1:12-13
These sordid “centurions” were rightly representing the elite PATRICIANS of rank “Rome” to whom were guarding the ardent “Apostle Paul” himself…
And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him – Acts 28:16
TWO: Many “brethren in the Lord” of whom felt INADEQUATE as long as “Paul” was out witnessing now feel “confident” and would work willingly “without fear” to soundly “speak the word” themselves:
And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear – Philippians 1:14
There is NO doubt literally hundreds of other bold “believers” took to the Roman roads with the great “gospel” message of GRACE granted by our – GRACIOUS God!
HISTORICAL HINTS: And although “Paul” himself does NOT make mention of it… With the poignant perspective of heralded HISTORY we can clearly see that the “Spirit of God” was purposely PROVIDING this ardent “Apostle” the aptly adequate time to WRITE these powerful proclamations – Prison Epistles!
In closing:
The Bible ITSELF illustrates this poignant point throughout its entire ETERNAL text! In fact, the “Apostle Paul” himself had much more to say concerning this IMPORTANT topic via his various “epistles” of intentional “instruction” concerning our “walk” with the “Lord Jesus Christ” in full. Here are just a few more excellent EXAMPLES for each of “us” to further consider...
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God – Romans 12:1-2
These two KEY verses fomented within the amazing book penned to the Romans are practically preceded by the previous 11 chapters of heralded HOW–TO predicated “holy” living as growing “Christians” held up in this LOST world – Praise the Lord!
Here is a similar ILLUSTRATION mined from the book written to the innately immature and fickle fleshly flock of baby “believers” bemoaned WITHIN the confines of “Corinth“ community…
So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory… Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord – 1 Corinthians 15:54 & 58
In other words, we have NO flesh-filled “fear of death” of which to contend. WHY? Because the satanic “sting of death” seethed by the sordid “strength of sin” surmised by the looming LAW has all been finally fulfilled and completely conquered by our loving “Lord Jesus Christ” alone – THANKS be to GOD!
And here is one MORE poignant passage penned by “Paul” unto the carnal “Corinthians” for EACH of “us” to quite carefully consider:
Wherefore, come out from among them and be ye separate, says the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you and be a Father unto you and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty – 2 Corinthians 6:17
Here the “Lord Almighty” Himself says there is an all-important BOTTOM LINE principle for His somber “sons and daughters” to wholly heed: We MUST remain “separate” and “come out” from “among” the looming LOST to each “be” completely – CLEAN in Him!
REAL REFLECTIONS: When “we” each get to know our ETERNAL Lord and God “Jesus Christ” in ever INCREASING measure…
Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus – Philippians 4:6-7
The magnificent “message” penned to the Philippians makes so much “sanctifying” satisfied sense – Praise our LOVING Lord!We
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Shane K. Morin <><
"Living Life From a Biblical Worldview"
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