Saturday, 26 September 2009

  • Philippians 2:14- 3:11

    Up to this point I have not published my sermon series on Philippians.  I have felt not calling until now to do so.  My outlines have been short and I have relied upon the Spirit to direct the messages each week.

    However, I do now feel as though it would be beneficial to post my outlines.  I am not elaborating upon my outlines, they are simply here.  Please read the scriptures and pray through them.

    Start with "Philippians Intro" and read towards this one.

     

    Main Reading: Philippians 2:14-30 (vv19-30 read only) and 3:1-11

    Outline:

    Philippians 2:14-18:

    1.       We Pick up with Paul’s advice to the Philippians:

    a.       Grumbling and Questioning—This chapters highlight is Paul’s concern for his flocks integrity (Harvest Integrity);

                                                                   i.      He warns them against grumbling/questioning because he knows this detracts from the light they are to be in the world.

    EX) Kid who was afraid of canoes at Summer in the Sun; I gave him errands to run while he was with me to keep him busy (get drinks; tell other counselors information for me, etc).  He never grumbled, never questioned, or complained.  He did as asked and was a Positive influence on the children.

                                                                 ii.      His advice is centered on enhancing their ability to “shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.” (2:15-16)

    b.      Drink offering of Faith; poured out—

                                                                   i.      Gen 35:14—Jacob offered a drink offering upon a pillar he erected at the place where God spoke to him and named that place Bethel. (This is where Jacob is renamed Israel)

                                                                 ii.      Ex 29:38-42—the drink offering was to be burnt continuously at the doorway of the tent of meeting before the Lord which was as a “soothing aroma” (see also Lev 23:13, Num 15:5)

    1.       “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.” (2 Tim 4:6); In Paul’s reference to being poured out upon their faith as a “drink offering” he is certainly considering himself as the “soothing aroma”. 

    a.       The idea of being Spent for their benefit.

    b.      Pleasing before God as a Holy sacrifice.

    2.       Paul’s intention regarding the Harvest: Galatians 6:6-10 (READ)—

    a.       vv6, 7: Paul speaks as though man is intrinsically linked to what he sows and to whom he is sown by.

    b.      v8: Sowing from flesh yields corruption. 

                                                                   i.      Sowing from Spirit yields eternal Life.

                                                                 ii.      What do corruption and eternal life have to do with each other?  Therefore we must be careful what we spend our time sowing. 

    1.       Jobs come and go

    2.       Money depreciates, gets stolen, gets spent, and somehow evades us. (Fiddler on the Roof)

    3.       Housing markets crash, homes burn down or get demolished by storms.

    4.       But souls last forever.

    c.       v9: I know you have all been praying over this Church for a very long time.  You have invested a great deal of effort into seeing it do the work of the Lord.

                                                                   i.      Take Heart; in due time, IF WE DO NOT GROW WEARY AND QUIT, you will see the fruits of your labors.

    d.      v10: Our time is limited; so while we are able, taking advantage of every opportunity, do good to all people and especially to the household of the faith.

     

    Philippians 2:19-30 (READ ONLY): We have limited time; certainly this is worth reading, but I wish to continue on past this section.  This Section we see Paul recommending Timothy and Epaphroditus as worthy brothers.

     

    Philippians 3:1-11: Paul has written these things, apparently, to them before (v1).

    1.       Keep watch: dogs, evil-doers, and mutilators are out there!

    a.       Dogs; Galatians 5:15 (READ)

    b.      Evil doers; 1 Peter 5:6-9 (READ)

    c.       Mutilators; Galatians 2:11-14 (READ)

    2.       vv3-6: Our circumcision is in the Spirit of God by which we glory in Christ—no confidence in our flesh; that is, by the flesh we do not gain confidence before the Lord.  Only by the Spirit.

    a.       For Paul spoke saying that he would never boast of anything except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ; neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything (that is, the flesh), ONLY THE NEW CREATION MATTERS.  (Galatians 6:14-16)

    3.       vv7-11 (READ):

    a.       vv7,8: before the new creation we had the flesh; after we count all previous ‘gain’ as loss.

                                                                   i.      no longer do we audit our fleshly assets as use.

                                                                 ii.      Our inventory is composed of other gain; spiritual kinds.

    1.       fruits, harvest, labor in Christ, etc.

    Summary:

    ·         Paul concerned over the harvest

    ·         Instructs them in righteousness to remain as shinning lights to the world.

    ·         Relates his intrinsic connection to being of spiritual use and becoming a drink offering.

    ·         I hope we gain encouragement to follow Paul’s example in counting all things as loss for Christ.

    Closing:

    We will close with these words:

    “For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.” (3:9-11)

    Anyone who wishes to come forward for prayers will be welcomed at the front.  Let us prepare our minds for the worship we are about to offer to God and the communion we are about to take part in.

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