Fellowship in the Gospel (Philippians 1:3-26)

(Class Notes)

• Gospel Fellowship: Thanksgiving and Confidence (Philippians 1:3-8)
  • Paul THANKED God for the Philippians and ALWAYS made JOYFUL PRAYER for them, because of their UNBROKEN FELLOWSHIP with him in the GOSPEL (Philippians 1:3-5)
    • Paul THANKED God for EVERY REMEMBRANCE of them (Philippians 1:3) - he did so for BOTH the SPIRITUAL believers (I Corinthians 2:15) in connection with SERVICE rendered to the Lord (I Thessalonians 1:2-3) as well as for the CARNAL believers (I Corinthians 3:3) as pertaining to God's GRACE bestowed upon them (I Corinthians 1:4)
    • Paul's EVERY REMEMBRANCE of them (Philippians 1:3) was in association with his EVERY PRAYER for them (Philippians 1:4), i.e. he REMEMBERED the saints BEFORE THE LORD - whether - whether with JOY for their FAITHFULNESS (Colossians 2:5) or with BURDEN for their NEED (Ephesians 6:18)
    • Paul's JOY in them (Philippians 1:4) was due to their "FELLOWSHIP in the GOSPEL from the FIRST DAY TILL NOW" (Philippians 1:5) - he had the SAME JOY concerning the GOSPEL WITNESS borne by ALL FAITHFUL BELIEVERS (Romans 1:8; I Thessalonians 1:8)
  • Paul was CONFIDENT that the Lord would FINISH the GOOD WORK which He had BEGUN in the Philippians as was EVIDENT from their PARTAKING of the SAME GRACE that ENABLED Paul to MAKE his GOSPEL STAND and so in that KINDRED SPIRIT he GREATLY LONGED for them "in the BOWELS (INWARD AFFECTIONS) of CHRIST JESUS" (Philippians 1:6-8)
    • PAUL'S CONFIDENCE concerning their CONTINUANCE was based upon GOD'S FAITHFULNESS (Philippians 1:6) to PERFORM HIS PROMISE to ALL BELIEVERS (I Corinthians 1:8; I Thessalonians 5:23-24) - regardless of whether they are FAITHFUL OR NOT (II Timothy 2:11-13)
    • ALL who have been "ACCEPTED in the BELOVED (ONE)" (Ephesians 1:6) have been "SEALED unto the DAY of REDEMPTION" (Ephesians 4:30), i.e. till "the REDEMPTION of our BODY" (Romans 8:23) - WHEN at His "GLORIOUS APPEARING" (Titus 2:13), He "shall CHANGE our VILE (LOWLY) BODY, that it may be FASHIONED like unto His GLORIOUS BODY" (Philippians 3:21)
    • Their PARTAKING of the SAME GRACE that ENABLED Paul to MAKE his GOSPEL STAND (Philippians 1:7) is associated with the PARTAKING "of the AFFLICTIONS of the GOSPEL, according to the POWER of GOD" (II Timothy 1:8), e.g. Onesiphorous (II Timothy 1:16-18)
    • The GREAT LONGING that Paul had for them (Philippians 1:8) was the SAME KIND of AFFECTION that he DESIRED for them to SHARE WITH ONE ANOTHER (Philippians 2:1-2)

• Gospel Fellowship: Prayer and Understanding (Philippians 1:9-13)
  • Paul's PRAYER for the Philippians (Philippians 1:9-11) is TWO-FOLD:
    • FIRST - with reference to the DAY of Christ" (Philippians 1:9-10)
      • THAT their LOVE may ABOUND in MORE KNOWLEDGE and in ALL JUDGMENT (Philippians 1:9)
        • LOVE ABOUNDS (EXCEEDS) with the EVER INCREASE of KNOWLEDGE and DISCERNMENT (Philippians 1:9)
        • The MORE that we COMPREHEND (LAY HOLD) of the LOVE of Christ, the MORE that His LOVE PASSES (SURPASSES) that KNOWLEDGE already attained - unto an EVER INCREASING YIELD of MORE KNOWLEDGE and, thus, MORE LOVE (Ephesians 3:18-20)
        • His Spirit is EVER STRENGTHENING our INNER MAN to receive the EVER INCREASING YIELD
          (Ephesians 3:16-17)
      • THAT they may APPROVE THINGS that are EXCELLENT (Philippians 1:10)
        • The ENGLISH word "APPROVE" (Philippians 1:10) rendered from the GREEK word "DOKIMAZO" and the ENGLISH word "APPROVED" (II Timothy 2:15) rendered from the GREEK word "DOKIMOS" express the idea of being TESTED or TRIED
        • The ENGLISH word "EXCELLENT" rendered from the GREEK word "DIAPHERO", in relation to THINGS (Philippians 1:10), conveys the concept of DISTINGUISHING between THINGS THAT DIFFER from one another (I Corinthians 15:41; Galatians 4:1), e.g. "RIGHTLY DIVIDING the Word of Truth" (II Timothy 2:15)
      • THAT they may be SINCERE and WITHOUT OFFENCE TILL the DAY of Christ (Philippians 1:10)
        • The ENGLISH word "SINCERE" (Philippians 1:10) rendered from the GREEK word "EILIKRINES" literally means that which is PURE (II Peter 3:1)
        • The ENGLISH expression "WITHOUT OFFENCE" (Philippians 1:10) rendered from the GREEK word "APROSKIPOS" is in reference to NOT giving any occasion for a fellow believer to STUMBLE (Romans 14:13)
      • "TILL (UNTO) the DAY of Christ" (Philippians 1:10)
        • The DAY of Christ (Philippians 1:6; Philippians 2:16) is "that DAY" of "His Appearing" (II Timothy 4:8) when "we all shall stand before the JUDGMENT SEAT of Christ" (Romans 14:10)
        • The DAY which shall REVEAL the BELIEVER'S WORKMANSHIP to DETERMINE either REWARD or LOSS OF REWARD (I Corinthians 3:13-15), according to HOW WELL the BELIEVER'S WALK REFLECTED GOD'S WORKMANSHIP (Ephesians 2:8-10)
    • SECOND - with reference to the GLORY and PRAISE of God" (Philippians 1:11)
      • "Being FILLED with the FRUITS of RIGHTEOUSNESS, which are by BY JESUS CHRIST UNTO the GLORY and PRAISE of God" (Philippians 1:11)
      • JESUS CHRIST is the LIGHT of the KNOWLEDGE of the GLORY of God (II Corinthians 4:6 cf. Genesis 1:2-3) and as such - is the TREASURE HID in the BELIEVER'S EARTHEN VESSEL (II Corinthians 4:7)
      • This TREASURE is REVEALED by the MANIFESTATION of the POWER of GOD through the WEAKNESS of the BELIEVER (II Corinthians 4:8-9 cf. II Corinthians 12:7-10)
      • This POWER of GOD is the RESURRECTION LIFE of the LORD JESUS, which is MANIFESTED through the MORTAL FLESH of the BELIEVER (II Corinthians 4:10-11 cf. II Corinthians 13:4)
      • The BELIEVER is "LIGHT in the LORD" (Ephesians 5:8 cf. John 1:4-5) and as such - should MANIFEST the "FRUIT of the LIGHT ... in all GOODNESS and RIGHTEOUSNESS and TRUTH" (Ephesians 5:9)
        • The TRUTH that "is in JESUS" (Ephesians 4:21) is the RIGHTEOUSNESS and TRUE HOLINESS of the NEW MAN (Ephesians 4:24), i.e. "the NEWNESS of LIFE" (Romans 6:4) - "(that) of LIFE in CHRIST JESUS" (Romans 8:2)
      • "At that DAY" (II Timothy 4:8 cf. Philippians 1:10) - "a CROWN of RIGHTEOUSNESS" will be AWARDED by "the Lord, the RIGHTEOUS JUDGE" to all who LOVE His APPEARING (II Timothy 4:8), i.e. to all who are LOOKING for "the GLORIOUS APPEARING" (Titus 2:13) by LIVING the GRACE taught LIFE (Titus 2:11-12) "UNTO the GLORY and PRAISE of God" (Philippians 1:11):
        • LIKE PAUL - they "FOUGHT A GOOD FIGHT" (II Timothy 4:7) by LIVING the SEPARATED LIFE of a HARDENED SOLDIER (II Timothy 2:3-4 cf. Galatians 6:14)
        • LIKE PAUL - they "FINISHED THEIR COURSE" (II Timothy 4:7 cf. Acts 20:24) by LIVING the FOCUSED LIFE of a DISCIPLINED ATHLETE (II Timothy 2:5 cf. I Corinthians 9:24-27)
        • LIKE PAUL - they "KEPT (GUARDED) THE FAITH" (II Timothy 4:7) by LIVING the VIGILANT LIFE of a CARING SERVANT (II Timothy 2:24-26 cf. Galatians 6:1; Ephesians 6:18)
  • Paul's BURDEN for the Philippians' UNDERSTANDING concerning his "BONDS in CHRIST" (Philippians 1:12-13)
    • Paul expressed his LONGING for them "in the BOWELS (INWARD AFFECTIONS) of CHRIST JESUS" (Philippians 1:8)
    • Paul expressed this LONGING for them in his PRAYER for them - that their LOVE would ABOUND in MORE KNOWLEDGE, so that they would possess ALL DISCERNMENT (Philippians 1:9) necessary for "the APPROVING (TESTING) of things that are EXCELLENT (DIFFERENT)" (Philippians 1:10)
    • Paul's ACTS MINISTRY "to the JEW FIRST, and also to the Greek (Gentile)" (Romans 1:16 cf.
      Acts 13:45-46; Acts 18:5-6; Acts 28:25-28) was MARKEDLY DIFFERENT from that of his POST ACTS MINISTRY as "I PAUL, the PRISONER of CHRIST JESUS for YOU GENTILES" (Ephesians 3:1)
    • In his ACTS MINISTRY, Paul CONFIRMED Peter's EARTHLY KINGDOM message (Acts 13:32-35 cf. Acts 2:29-31) to a DISOBEDIENT and GAINSAYING (DENYING) ISRAEL (Romans 10:21) - this message included PROMISES of PHYSICAL HEALINGS (Matthew 11:4-5 cf. Isaiah 35:5-6) and PHYSICAL DELIVERANCE (Luke 4:18-21 cf. Isaiah 61:1-2)

      • Peter's PHYSICAL HEALINGS	Paul's PHYSICAL HEALINGS
        of a LAME man (Acts 3:1-11)	of a CRIPPLE (Acts 14:8-10)
        of a PALSY (Acts 9:32-35)	of the SICK from DISEASES (Acts 19:10-12)

      • Peter's PHYSICAL DELIVERANCE	Paul's PHYSICAL DELIVERANCE
        from PRISON by an angel (Acts 12:7-11)	from PRISON by an earthquake (Acts 16:23-26)

    • In his POST ACTS MINISTRY - AFTER ISRAEL has been SET ASIDE for her UNBELIEF (Acts 28:25-28) UNTIL the COMPLETION of this GENTILE DISPENSATION (Colossians 1:25-27 cf. Romans 11:25):
      • Paul REVEALS "the MYSTERY" (Ephesians 3:3) concerning "the CHURCH, which is His BODY" (Ephesians 1:22-23)
      • In this "ONE BODY", JEW and GENTILE are FELLOW (EQUAL) HEIRS (Ephesians 3:6) with a HEAVENLY CITIZENSHIP (Philippians 3:20)
      • There are NO EARTHLY PHYSICAL SIGNS to confirm the HEAVENLY SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS (Ephesians 1:3) promised to this BODY CHURCH (Ephesians 1:22-23), which is SEATED TOGETHER in the HEAVENLY PLACES WITH ITS HEAD (Ephesians 2:6) - "FAR ABOVE ALL" (Ephesians 1:21)

    • Acts Ministry vs. Post Acts Ministry
      Paul's Acts Ministry	Paul's Post Acts Ministry
      "to the JEW FIRST" (Romans 1:16)	"who NOW REJOICE in my SUFFERINGS ... the AFFLICTIONS of CHRIST for His BODY'S SAKE" (Colossians 1:24)
      CONFIRMATORY "SIGNS FOLLOWING" (Mark 16:17-20; I Corinthians 1:22; II Corinthians 12:12 cf. Acts 16:16-19; I Corinthians 14:18,21-22; Acts 28:3-5; Acts 19:10-12)	NO VISIBLE SIGNS (II Corinthians 5:7), e.g. NO PHYSICAL HEALINGS (II Corinthians 12:7-10; Philippians 2:25-27; I Timothy 5:23; II Timothy 4:20)
      MIRACULOUS DELIVERANCE FROM PRISON (Acts 16:23-26) resulted in the JAILOR'S HOUSEHOLD being SAVED (Acts 16:27-31)	"BONDS IN CHRIST" resulted in a GREATER "FURTHERANCE OF THE GOSPEL" (Philippians 1:12-13), i.e. the "SAINTS ... CHIEFLY they that are of CAESAR'S HOUSEHOLD (Philippians 4:22) - proving that while PAUL may have been BOUND, "the WORD OF GOD is NOT BOUND" (II Timothy 2:9)

• Gospel Fellowship: Preaching (Philippians 1:14-18)
  • Paul's IMPRISONMENT ENCOURAGED many brethren to BOLDLY PREACH the Word WITHOUT FEAR (Philippians 1:14)
    • NO DOUBT some of these brethren were ENCOURAGED BY the apostle's JOYFUL EXAMPLE WHILE IN PRISON (Philippians 1:12-13):
      • He REJOICED in PRAYER for them (Philippians 1:4)
      • He REJOICED in SACRIFICE for them (Philippians 2:17)
      • They were his JOY and CROWN (Philippians 4:1)
  • However, Paul's IMPRISONMENT EMBOLDENED TWO MOTIVES for preaching:
    • NEGATIVE MOTIVE:
      • Out of ENVY (JEALOUSY) - NOT SINCERELY and with an IMPURE MOTIVE - causing STRIFE (WRANGLING) and CONTENTION, i.e. PARTISANSHIP (Philippians 1:15-16)
      • The apostle says that the GOAL of these NEGATIVE preachers was "to ADD AFFLICTION to MY BONDS" (Philippians 1:16)
      • Hence, the apostle's BURDEN for his TWO FAITHFUL LABORERS at Philippi who were NOW NOT "of the SAME MIND in the Lord" (Philippians 4:2-3)
    • POSITIVE MOTIVE:
      • Out of GOOD WILL (Philippians 1:15), i.e. out of LOVE (Philippians 1:17)
      • KNOWLEDGE PUFFS UP, but LOVE EDIFIES, i.e. LOVE BUILDS UP (I Corinthians 8:1)
      • VAIN KNOWLEDGE (PRIDE) is occupied with SELF (Philippians 2:3-4 cf. I Corinthians 8:2), but LOVE (LOWLINESS OF MIND) expressed through GRACE is occupied with OTHERS (Philippians 2:3-4 cf. II Corinthians 5:14-15; II Corinthians 8:9)
      • Note the apostle's PURE MOTIVE manifested by his TENDER CARE of the saints (I Thessalonians 2:4-8)
      • ONLY those with a PURE MOTIVE will RECOGNIZE the PURE MESSAGE (John 7:16-17) and those who STAND for it, i.e. those that are "SET for the defense the gospel" (Philippians 1:17)
  • Paul's JOY was in THE MESSAGE and NOT in THE MOTIVE of the one preaching it (Philippians 1:18)
    • The FOCUS of the apostle's PREACHING was ABOUT CHRIST and NOT ABOUT SELF OR OTHERS (II Corinthians 4:5)
    • This APOSTOLIC PREACHING stands in SHARP CONTRAST to the RELIGIOUSLY "PERILOUS TIMES" of "THE LAST DAYS" (II Timothy 3:1-5) WHEN FALSE PREACHING SHALL SERVE LUSTFUL "ITCHING EARS" (II Timothy 4:3-4)

• Gospel Fellowship: Prayer and Hope (Philippians 1:19-20)
  • The Salvation (Philippians 1:19) of the Lord's Servant (Philippians 2:17 cf. Philippians 1:1)
    • "For I KNOW that THIS shall turn to MY SALVATION ..." (Philippians 1:19)
      • The "THIS" is Paul's "KNOWING that I am SET for the DEFENCE of the GOSPEL" (Philippians 1:17)
      • Paul let NOTHING, "But NONE of these things move me" (Acts 20:24 cf. Acts 20:22-23) - DETER him FROM the Lord's PURPOSE, "to TESTIFY the GOSPEL of the GRACE of God" (Acts 20:24)
      • As the Lord's SERVANT (Philippians 2:17 cf. Philippians 1:1) - Paul was "SEPARATED unto the GOSPEL of God" (Romans 1:1) to which he adds, "For GOD is MY WITNESS Whom I SERVE with MY SPIRIT in the GOSPEL of HIS SON" (Romans 1:9)
      • Paul was WILLING to "SUFFER ALL things, LEST we should HINDER the GOSPEL of Christ" (I Corinthians 9:12)
      • The "SALVATION" that Paul anticipated was the DELIVERANCE FROM ANY OPPOSITION (II Timothy 4:18) that would PREVENT the COMPLETION of his GOD-GIVEN MISSION - that "the PREACHING might be FULLY KNOWN" (II Timothy 4:17) concerning "the GRACE of God that bringeth SALVATION" (Titus 2:11) along with its TEACHING (Titus 2:12-13)
    • "... through YOUR PRAYER, and the SUPPLY of the SPIRIT of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:19)
      • Paul SOLICITED the AID of the Philippians in PRAYER (Philippians 1:19) to bring to FRUITION his DELIVERANCE "FROM EVERY EVIL WORK" (II Timothy 4:18)
      • "The SUPPLY of the SPIRIT" (Philippians 1:19) comes from "the HEAD, even CHRIST from Whom the WHOLE BODY FITLY JOINED TOGETHER and compacted by that which EVERY JOINT SUPPLIETH, according to the effectual working in THE MEASURE OF EVERY PART, MAKETH INCREASE OF THE BODY unto the EDIFYING OF ITSELF IN LOVE" (Ephesians 4:15-16)
      • "The SWORD of the SPIRIT" (Ephesians 6:17 cf. Romans 8:26) is ENGAGED by the WATCHFUL PRAYER of the saints FOR ONE ANOTHER (Ephesians 6:18 cf. Romans 8:27), which is NEEDED BY ALL, so that ALL MIGHT "WAR A GOOD WARFARE" (I Timothy 1:18)
  • The Expectation (Philippians 1:20) of the Lord's Servant (Philippians 2:17 cf. Philippians 1:1)
    • "According to MY EARNEST EXPECTATION and HOPE, that IN NOTHING I shall be ASHAMED ..." (Philippians 1:20)
      • Paul's CHIEF DESIRE was the SAINTS' EDIFICATION and NOT THEIR DESTRUCTION, so that he would have NO CAUSE to be ASHAMED (II Corinthians 10:8)
      • The EDIFYING of ONE ANOTHER and NOT the PROMOTING of SELF should also be the CHIEF DESIRE of each saint (Philippians 2:3-4), i.e. to have CHRIST'S MIND towards ONE ANOTHER (Philippians 2:5 cf. II Corinthians 8:9)
      • The PHILIPPIANS' OWN EXAMPLE is a SHINING TESTIMONY of GRACIOUS GIVING to the NEEDS of the SAINTS (Philippians 4:15-16 cf. II Corinthians 8:1-4), because they "FIRST GAVE THEIR OWN SELVES TO THE LORD" and THEN "TO US by the will of God" (II Corinthians 8:5)
    • "... but that with ALL BOLDNESS, as always, so now also CHRIST shall be MAGNIFIED IN MY BODY, whether it be BY LIFE, or BY DEATH" (Philippians 1:20)
      • Paul as an "AMBASSADOR IN BONDS" (Ephesians 6:20) - OPENED his "MOUTH BOLDLY" in MAKING KNOWN "the MYSTERY of the GOSPEL" (Ephesians 6:19), which RESULTED in "the FURTHERANCE of the GOSPEL" (Philippians 1:12) "IN all the PALACE" (Philippians 1:13) as WITNESSED BY his reference to the SAINTS "that are OF CAESAR'S HOUSEHOLD"
        (Philippians 4:22)
      • Paul's HANDS MINISTERED to his OWN NEEDS and to his COMPANIONS' NEEDS (Acts 20:34)
      • Paul's FEET were IN STOCKS (Acts 16:24) for the PREACHING of the GOSPEL (Ephesians 6:15)
      • Paul was STONED TO DEATH (Acts 14:19 cf. II Corinthians 12:2-4) and the next day MIRACULOUSLY ROSE UP (Acts 14:20) in connection with having "PREACHED THE GOSPEL" (Acts 14:21)
      • Paul's BODY did indeed BEAR "the MARKS of the Lord Jesus" (Galatians 6:17 cf.
        II Corinthians 6:4-5) as the Lord's "CHOSEN VESSEL" (Acts 9:15-16) to be His PATTERN of LONGSUFFERING "TO THEM WHICH should hereafter BELIEVE ... TO LIFE EVERLASTING" (I Timothy 1:16)
      • Those who would "REIGN WITH HIM" (II Timothy 2:12) must FIRST SHARE "in the FELLOWSHIP of HIS SUFFERINGS" (Philippians 3:10)

• Gospel Fellowship: Living and Dying and Abiding (Philippians 1:21-26)
  • Paul declares that for him to LIVE is CHRIST and that to die is GAIN (Philippians 1:21)
    • CHRIST'S LIFE assures the BELIEVER of RECONCILIATION through CHRIST'S DEATH (Romans 5:10-11 cf. Romand 4:25; Romand 5:1)
    • CHRIST'S LIFE is manifested in the BELIEVER as a CRUCIFIED LIFE to the WORLD (Galatians 2:20 cf. Galatians 6:14)
    • DEATH for the BELIEVER is the GAIN of being IMMEDIATELY "PRESENT WITH THE LORD" (II Corinthians 5:8), i.e. "CAUGHT UP to the THIRD HEAVEN" (II Corinthians 12:2) - WHEN DEAD (Acts 14:19)
    • The ULTIMATE GAIN for EACH BELIEVER is to be CLOTHED with "AN HOUSE NOT MADE WITH HANDS ... OUR HOUSE which is FROM HEAVEN" (II Corinthians 5:1-2) at the RAPTURE (I Thessalonians 4:16-17 cf. Philippians 3:20-21)
  • Paul knew that his PHYSICAL LABOR would bear SPIRITUAL FRUIT (Philippians 1:22)
    • The BELIEVER'S FAITH in the LORD'S REWARD to be RECEIVED in RESURRECTION (Galatians 6:7-9 cf. II Timothy 2:6) is what EMPOWERS the BELIEVER to be "STEADFAST, UNMOVEABLE, ALWAYS ABOUNDING" in the LORD'S WORK (I Corinthians 15:58)
    • The GRACE TAUGHT LIFE (Titus 2:11-12) is characterized by "LOOKING for that ... GLORIOUS APPEARING" (Titus 2:13), i.e. to "LOVE HIS APPEARING" (II Timothy 4:8) by:
      • Having "FOUGHT ... GOOD FIGHT" (II Timothy 4:7 cf. II Timothy 2:3-4)
      • Having "FINISHED ... COURSE" (II Timothy 4:7 cf. II Timothy 2:5,20-22)
      • Having "KEPT (GUARDED) THE FAITH" (II Timothy 4:7 cf. I Timothy 6:20; II Timothy 1:13)
  • Paul described his "STRAIT BETWIXT TWO" as concerning his CHOICE (Philippians 1:23) - EITHER LABORING in SERVICE to the Lord (Philippians 1:22) OR DEPARTING to be with Christ, "which is FAR BETTER" (Philippians 1:23)
    • Paul states that "I WOT (KNOW) NOT" what to CHOOSE (Philippians 1:22), i.e. he does NOT WANT to MAKE KNOWN to others his CHOICE - Greek word ("GNORIZO") means "MADE KNOWN" as in "REQUESTS unto God" (Philippians 4:6)
    • It is "FAR BETTER" - "to be ABSENT FROM THE BODY, and to be PRESENT WITH THE LORD" (II Corinthians 5:8)
  • Paul CONCLUDES ("NEVERTHELESS") that it is "MORE NEEDFUL" for the Philippians that he "ABIDE in the flesh" (Philippians 1:24)
    • Paul's CONCLUSION bears forth the VERY MIND OF CHRIST - OTHERS BEFORE SELF (Philippians 2:4-5 cf. II Corinthians 8:9)
    • Paul SPARED NO EXPENSE for the SPIRITUAL WELL-BEING of the SAINTS:
      • He OFFERED himself upon the ALTAR of SERVICE for their FAITH (Philippians 2:17)
      • He was WILLING to IMPART NOT ONLY the GOSPEL, BUT his OWN SOUL to them (I Thessalonians 2:8)
    • God VIEWS the SACRIFICIAL GIVING of the SAINTS in the SAME WAY as the SACRIFICIAL OFFERING of CHRIST - as a "SWEET SMELLING SAVOUR" (Philippians 4:18 cf. Ephesians 5:2)
  • Paul EXPRESSES CONFIDENCE that his ABIDING and CONTINUANCE with the Philippians will be for the FURTHERANCE and JOY of their FAITH (Philippians 1:25), so that their GLORYING may be MORE ABUNDANT IN THE LORD (Philippians 1:26)
    • Paul sought EVERY OPPORTUNITY to ENCOURAGE THE SAINTS IN THE LORD by his COMING TO THEM:
      • "For I LONG TO SEE YOU, that I MAY IMPART SOME SPIRITUAL GIFT, to the end YE MAY BE ESTABLISHED" (Romans 1:11)
      • "I was MINDED TO COME UNTO YOU before, that YE MIGHT HAVE A SECOND BENEFIT" (II Corinthians 1:15)
    • Paul sought EVERY OPPORTUNITY to ENCOURAGE THE SAINTS IN THE LORD by SENDING TO THEM a LIKE-MINDED SERVANT in his absence, e.g. "TIMOTHY, MY DEARLY BELOVED SON" (II Timothy 1:2):
      • Timothy to the Philippians (Philippians 2:19-22)
      • Timothy to the Thessalonians (I Thessalonians 3:1-2,5-7)
      • Timothy to the Corinthians (I Corinthians 16:10-11)

Study Outline

Audio Message #1

Audio Message #2

Audio Message #3

Audio Message #4

Audio Message #5

Audio Message #6

Audio Message #7

Audio Message #8

Audio Message #9

Audio Message #10

Audio Message #11