Intro:

Philippi was named after the father of Alexander the Great the famous "Philip of Macedonia."

At the time of Paul's first visit to Europe (52 A.D.), Philippi was a Roman military colony. We find Paul and Silas in jail at Philippi in Acts 16. The writing of the epistle takes place around 62 A.D. ten years after his first visit.

The tone of Philippians is the relaxed tone of a man who has said and done what he should have said and done. The epistle is written in a free style being most informal and very personal. At the time of it's writing, Paul is in prison at Rome (Acts 28).

The keynote words of the epistle are "all" and ''joy'' or "rejoice". The subject matter of the hook is practical rather than doctrinal. The church at Philippi was the first church planted by Paul on European soil.

Warren Wiersbe in his Outlines on the New Testament has an excellent outline of the book. He shows that the general overriding theme throughout the book is "the mind". His general outline follows:

Chapter One - The Single Mind

Chapter Two - The Submissive Mind

Chapter Three The Spiritual Mind

Chapter Four The Secure Mind

Philippians One: Paul's circumstances were anything but joyful. He was in prison! In spite of this Paul shows that he was not concerned about himself but for the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul recognized that real joy was spelled JOY...Jesus, Others, and Yourself. Christ is mentioned seventeen times in thirty verses.

I. Paul was concerned for the Christians at Philippi

A. It had been ten years since he'd been in Philippi and yet he could say, "Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy..." Paul prayed for them ten years after their first meeting.

Paul's five prayer requests for the Philippians:

[1]. That "your love may abound yet more and more" (vs. 9)
[2]. That "ye may approve things that are excellent" (vs. 10)
[3]. That "ye may be sincere till the day of Christ" (vs. 10)
[4]. That "ye may be without offence till the day of Christ" (vs. 10)
[5]. That you be "filled with the fruits of righteousness'' (vs. 11)

B. "I have you in my heart" - he loved them in Christ. "I long after you all..." he missed their fellowship.

C. Paul was concerned about their testimony (vs. 10) "that ey may approve things that are excellent" - (Rom. 2:18) "that ey may be sincere and without offence" (Phil. 2:15).

D. Paul realized that the Philippians needed Paul's wisdom and direction ... (vs. 24) for their furtherance and joy of faith. (vs. 25)

E. He was concerned about the unity of the believers and local church at Philippi. "...stand fast in one spirit ... in one mind."

F. Paul wanted them to-know that suffering was part of God's program for the Christian. (See: 2 Tim. 2:12; 1 Tim. 4:10; Gal. 6:12; 2 Cor. 11:20)

 

II. Paul was concerned about the cause of Christ and the welfare of the Gospel

A. Paul claimed he was a servant. (vs. 1)

B. Paul recognized that their fellowship was "in the gospel (vs. 5)

C. Paul recognized that his hardships and sufferings served as an encouragement to others. (vs. 14)

D. Christ preached was Paul's source of joy. (vs. 18)

E. Paul saw his life as worth one thing:

[1]. Alive - to live is Christ -magnify Jesus Christ by presenting your body Via living sacrifice" (Rom. 12)
[2]. Dead - "to be absent from the body... present with the Lord..." (vs. 21,23) "...to die is gain".

F. Paul was concerned that the Philippians lives spoke of Christ. (vs. 27)

III. Paul was not concerned about himself

A. Paul never mentions his adverse circumstances or complains about the treatment he is receiving.

B. Paul recognizes that Rom. 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose," is real. Look at verse twelve!

C. Again, Paul recognizes that his "misfortune" is God's will, and he see through the adversity and sees the blessing. (vs. 14)

D. Paul realized that his life and death were in God's hand. Paul was a suicidal maniac. As George Whitfield once said, "A man is invincible until God is through with him". "...to die is gain."

E. Paul disregards his own desires and realized that he is still needed, there is work to do. (vs. 24)

Paul was a political prisoner of Rome. He has appealed to Caesar for judgment since he (Paul) was a Roman citizen. He had no family, no home, no insurance or social security; Paul's sole possessions were the clothes on his back. Yet his life and testimony have served as an example for 1950 years of a man who had everything he wanted and needed ... Jesus Christ. Remember JOY ... Jesus, Others, Yourself and "rejoice evermore." (1 Thess. 5:16)