Experience - Testing Things that Differ
(Philippians 1:3-11)

(Class Notes)

• Thanksgiving (Philippians 1:3-5)
  • Thanksgiving for EVERY REMEMBRANCE of them
    • THANKSGIVING is CONTINUAL
      • "Cease NOT" (Ephesians 1:16)
      • "Always" (I Thessalonians 1:2; II Thessalonians 2:13)
    • REMEMBERING the FAITHFUL brethren in prayer allows opportunity to be THANKFUL for their TESTIMONY
      • Paul's INTERCESSION (Romans 1:9) and their TESTIMONY (Romans 1:8)
      • Paul's INTERCESSION (I Thessalonians 1:2-3) and their TESTIMONY (I Thessalonians 1:7-8)
  • Thanksgining for their UNBROKEN FELLOWSHIP in the gospel
    • Their FELLOWSHIP involved SACRIFICIAL giving (II Corinthians 8:1-5 cf. Philippians 4:15-18)

• Confidence (Philippians 1:6-8)
  • Confident that GOD WILL FINISH what He has begun in them
    • GOD is the One Who calls us and He is FAITHFUL in preserving us until His Son comes for us (I Corinthians 1:8-9 cf. I Thessalonians 5:23-24)
    • Their SHARING in his AFFLICTION (Philippians 4:14) was evidence for Paul that GOD is the One Who is WORKING in them (Philippians 2:13)
  • Confident that GOD KNOWS what his (Paul's) burden is for the saints
    • As God's servant and NOT MAN'S, Paul calls GOD AS WITNESS concerning his (Paul's) burden for the saints
      • Paul's INTERCESSION for the saints (Romans 1:9-12)
      • Paul's CARE for the saints (I Thessalonians 2:4-8)

• Petition (Philippians 1:9-11)
  • Test things that DIFFER
    • ABOUNDING LOVE in FULL KNOWLEDGE and ALL DISCERNMENT
      • KNOWLEDGE puffs up, but LOVE edifies and isn't puffed up (I Corinthians 8:1 cf. I Corinthians 13:4)
      • DISCERNMENT - "their senses" (Hebrews 5:14), "these sayings" (Luke 9:44)
    • Paul was MOTIVATED BY the LOVE of Christ, which resulted in EXERCISING DISCERNMENT concerning his RESPONSE TO that LOVE (II Corinthians 5:14-15)
    • God has given us a SPIRIT of POWER, LOVE, and a SOUNDNESS of MIND to choose the ENDURING of AFFLICTION for Him (II Timothy 1:7-8)
    • APPROVING (TESTING) things that are EXCELLENT (DIFFERING) - same word usage (Romans 2:18)
      • APPROVING (TESTING)
        • TRYING (I Corinthians 3:13)
        • EXAMINING (I Corinthians 11:28)
        • PROVING (I Thessalonians 5:21)
      • EXCELLENT (DIFFERING)
        • DIFFERETH (I Corinthians 15:41; Galatians 4:1)
  • Sincere and WITHOUT OFFENSE until the DAY OF CHRIST
    • SINCERE (PURITY as tested by LIGHT)
      • God will bring to LIGHT the COUNSELS of the hearts (I Corinthians 4:5)
    • OFFENSE (STUMBLE)
      • We shouldn't STUMBLE a brother by our KNOWLEDGE, which is to SIN against Christ (I Corinthians 8:9-13)
    • DAY OF CHRIST (II Corinthians 5:10 cf. Romans 14:10-12)
      • At the JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST everyone will have praise from God for at least their salvation
        (I Corinthians 4:5 cf. I Corinthians 3:15)

Study Outline

Audio Message (Parts 1-3) Audio Message (Part 1) Audio Message (Part 2) Audio Message (Part 3)