Prison Letters: Philippians

I am sure that to many his reputation was on the line. They normally say you are innocent until proven guilty but the very fact we hear someone is on trial or in jail we immediately think I wonder what they did. They have been arrested so surely they did something. Even if they are innocent.

2 Corinthians 8 gives us some more insight to the time in Paul’s life and the church at Philippi that he writes the letter too.

2 Corinthians 8:1–5 HCSB

1 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God granted to the churches of Macedonia: 2 During a severe testing by affliction, their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed into the wealth of their generosity. 3 I testify that, on their own, according to their ability and beyond their ability, 4 they begged us insistently for the privilege of sharing in the ministry to the saints, 5 and not just as we had hoped. Instead, they gave themselves especially to the Lord, then to us by God’s will.

During a severe testing by affliction

We can grasp a little more about Paul and what he is going through.

He says about the church at Philippi that they sent him support during this time.

The only way you would eat in prison is if someone brought you a meal or sent you money to get a meal. They didn’t have a prison system cafe.

They had to rely on others to feed them during their imprisonment.

This church at Philippi was supporting him during this time.

Rejoicing in the Lord for Paul does not come from a life of peace and security.

He is awaiting the results of his imprisonment which could result in death

Randy spoke about this partnership two weeks ago

Philippians 1:3–5 HCSB

3 I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, 4 always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.

koinonia: Participation in something with someone

Business partnership

Christians share with one another in a common possession

Generosity

Generosity which shows itself in the tangible and realistic expression of giving. (Financial contribution)

Giving of money can mean love.

Different support over the years and I look back on that support as love. People have been extremely loving to my family

Us as a congregation and a community their are many who have been extremely loving towards us. They have shown love.

Randy said it really well that it takes a lot of money to make Wednesday night happen each week. FREE meal at the church buses running. People are very loving towards us to make this happen

Philippians 1:6–8 HCSB

6 I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 7 It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart, and you are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and establishment of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how deeply I miss all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

The Church at Philippi

One stat said over 50% of the population were slaves.

Rome had established itself in this place.

The City of Rome was overpopulated and so you had towns of people that wanted to be in Rome but there were too many people there so Rome extended itself out into Philippi.

So you had Roman citizens, you had those who practice sorcery, and Jews (Acts 16)

The woman played a vital role

In the book of Ephesians, we talked about all these different backgrounds coming together and we see this happening at Philippi.

I am continually intrigued by this and as I study our community what I see happening is people from different backgrounds coming together here as well.

Live this out on stage with help of youth

Core Values of Bridge of Faith that I have mentioned so far

Sabbath rest

Prayer

And today I want to mention another core value

Accountability

Philippians 1:9–11 HCSB

9 And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment, 10 so that you can approve the things that are superior and can be pure and blameless in the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.

He is praying for unity. Imagine all the different backgrounds coming together and longing for unity.

This is a challenge. I think it is a challenge for us here at Bridge of Faith and we keep trying to meet that challenge. In our community, you have Forsyth Panthers, You have Branson Pirates, School of the Ozarks.

You have different upbringings and past.

In the past, the Philippian church past and backgrounds they would have had nothing to do with each other. Just because of who they were but also because of prejudices.

I pray your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment.

Knowledge is Biblical truth

Philippians: An Introduction and Commentary 3. An Apostolic Prayer (1:8–11)

A better knowledge of God and his ways will promote greater harmony within the fellowship, and give the Philippians a clearer understanding of their mutual relationships as fellow-believers

Knowledge of God will draw you closer to other believers.

Discernment: It is the ability to make moral decisions

Next level of maturity is to not decide what is right or wrong but in the right to decide what is best. This is a much harder thing to do.

Philippians: An Introduction and Commentary 3. An Apostolic Prayer (1:8–11)

Augustine’s dictum that the only thing which really unites people is a common desire for the same ends.

Philippians: An Introduction and Commentary 3. An Apostolic Prayer (1:8–11)

These two Christian qualities were necessary in a community where a tendency to disunity and fault-finding was present (see on 4:1ff.), and needed to be put right.

Unity is easy if you don’t care about holiness

Holiness is easy if you don’t care about unity

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