My sermon notes for Sunday, Jan. 14th as we continue our “21 days of prayer and fasting.” Remember, these are my personal study notes and not a manuscript of the sermon. To see the sermon each week or subscribe to the weekly sermon podcast please visit http://www.fbcap.net
21 days of prayer and fasting (day 7…end of 1st week)
We got this!
God’s Appeal for His Church
Philippians 1:27-2:18
If we have been willing to fast and pray…to seek Him in a more consistent basis…to ask Him to do a work in our life. There are obviously a couple of things we have come to realize this past week.
- The goodness and grace of the Lord and His Gospel (my salvation) WHO HE IS.
- There are areas in my life that I graciously need to work one. (my sanctification) HOW I LIVE MY LIFE UNTO HIM
You could consider this section (1:27-2:18) the heart of the letter to the church at Philippi. In this first exhortation from Paul to the church he is exhorting the church to live for God. In the same way God is exhorting us to live in such a way.
These appeals should remind us what we have in Christ and how to live out this life in Christ.
IT IS A GREAT TIME TO REMEMBER….WE GOT THIS!!!
- We GOT IT…I know what I need to do.
- We GOT IT…I can do this. I am confident. I can do it because He has done it!
An appeal for steadfastness – vv. 1:27-30
27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. 29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.
- Live worthy of the Gospel v. 27
- Live as a proud citizen (romans were proud people)
- We are challenged to live as those that have a higher and more vastly citizenship
- Stand firm in one spirit
- Strive together for the faith
- Not fearful in the midst of persecution v. 28-30
- It will come…the Bible is full of those that have faced the attacks of the enemy. BUT WE HAVE WON!!!
An appeal for unity – vv. 2:1-4
2:1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others
3 key relationships for biblical unity
With Christ
- We are all one with Him.
- Christ in me, Me in Christ
- 2 Cor. 5:17 – “In Christ”
- 1:27 – “Christ in you”
- 2:20 – “Crucified with Christ” “Christ lives in me”
- John 15 – Abiding in the vine.
With Self
- Our mind
- Same mind. In Spirit and Purpose
- Why are we here? What we doing?
- Our ambitions
- Self promotion – self advancement,
- Self pre-occupation – think too highly our oneself
With Others
- Think less of self and more of others
- What is be for others (from a biblical perspective)
- Knowing Him (salvation) Growing in Him (sanctification)
Spurgeon “Men do not quarrel when their ambitions have come to an end.”
An appeal for humility – vv. 2:5-11
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
- Have this mind v. 5
- Have the same attitude as Christ
- He was God v. 6
- Total denial of self
- Total dedication to Him
- He emptied Himself v. 7
- Kenosis
- Took the form of a servant vv. 7-8
- Taking…adding. Added to His nature as God.
- Death on the cross. For our sins.
- Was exalted as Lord of Lords and King of Kings
- He is our Lord because He is our Savior.
An appeal for obedience – vv. 2:12-18
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
14 Do all things without grumbling or questioning, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 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. 17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.
The what of obedience vv. 12-13
- Work out your salvation
- For it is God who works in us
- For His good pleasure
The how of obedience v. 14
- Do all things without complaining and arguing
- Against God (Exodus)
- Against others
The result of obedience vv. 15-18
- So that you can become blameless
- Shine like lights
- Used to make things evident
- Used to guide