Philippians 1
ZADOK PUBLICATIONS - Dr. C. R. OLIVER
November 1, 2018






C. R. Oliver









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ZADOK PUBLICATIONS MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

November 1, 2018

Philippians 1

Introduction:

The church at Philippi

Philippi was the first European church established by Paul after he answered the, "Macedonian Call." Ten years after its inception, Paul writes to his beloved Church remembering, no doubt, the events that took place there (Acts 16). Meeting with the prayer group by the river, in the city named after the famed Philip II of Macedon (father of Alexander, the Great), had opened the door for both ministry and trouble. Philippi was a military post under Roman rule and steeped in paganism. This occasioned Paul's confrontation with the demon possessed girl, who followed him wherever he went hassling and mocking him. He cast the demon out of her, which caused her dethroned owners to file charges against him in the local court. Paul and Silas were arrested, beaten and thrown into maximum security. While singing and praising God, the now famous earthquake, which caused the ultimate conversion of the jailor and his family, led to the chance to witness to the magistrates. When the authorities found they had ill-treated Roman citizens, they humbled themselves and begged Paul and Silas to leave ex-post haste. Paul asserted his civil rights and took his time in departing.

Lydia had no idea ten years later that Paul would again be held by the Romans, nor imagined the church would have grown from house status to a full functioning stronghold of faith. Paul would have never guessed he could be writing them about legalism and antinomianism (the lawlessness of hyper grace) or even addressing the fractionalizing doctrine of kenosis (did Jesus empty himself of Deity to come as a man?).

Incorporated in the four chapters of this epistle are powerful promises and insights. Each chapter has primary and secondary lessons to guide its readers through encroaching error. Written as the fourth book of his First Prison Epistles in 62 AD, one can assume it contains various gems not found or fully understood in the former three. (Listing the famous quotes found in Philippians is enough to make one shout!) Chapter One: "For me to live is Christ…"

Philippians 1:1-12:
Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ,
To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, 5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; 7 just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace. 8 For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.

9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, 11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
NKJV

The heart of a church planter is clearly seen in these opening passages, making Philippians different in tone from Colossians. Paul, having known many of the first believers initially, explores the difference in the heart of the founder of a work versus an organizer. Walking daily with the converts and experiencing their everyday struggles, or relishing their victories, causes an unbreakable bond. Paul knows those in charge because he ordained them. Many families he had baptized or counseled and certainly broken bread with knew him. Such is the case of Lydia and her husband who extended him their hospitality by providing lodging and board from the very inception of the Philippian ministry.

Paul knew their occupations, their places in society, their children and grandchildren, their mothers and fathers. He had prayed with them and knew their concerns for their neighbors and unredeemed relatives. Paul, preaching the true word and watching church growth, knew what this congregation stood for.

They knew Paul, too. That is why they were not reluctant to offer their possessions and monies in assistance to his needs. Their memories were rich as well. The many times they fellowshipped with him at the Lord's table, his encouragement when persecution reared its head and his willing sacrifice of time and energy spent while guarding their well-being made for an unbreachable connectivity. They knew his zeal for the kingdom was real and so was he. His integrity was a witness to his humility-he was like Jesus!

When Paul wrote, "I have you in my heart," he expressed the heart and soul of every church planter. Founding fathers share a commonality unknown to common organizers. Missionaries who have trodden rough terrain to establish a work in a remote village do not forget faces and names and locations because investments like these are forever precious. Those who plant churches know the struggles encountered when making a beachhead on unfamiliar territory. Those who overcome terrible obstacles and threats do not forget the pangs of birthing new work. No one is allowed to scathe their babies or judge their value, for they are at one with them. Who can describe the love poured out on such endeavors? Who can fathom the depth of commitment? When Paul wrote: "I long to be with you," he wrote a coded phrase known by missionaries worldwide. Their works may be spread wide and varied, but they long to visit and bless every place. No one has to remind them to pray and intercede, for they wear each place like a badge in the high calling of God.

Philippians 1:7b-8:
"you all are partakers with me of grace. 8 For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.

Those, like the Philippian church, who corresponded, invested their resources and prayed, became spiritual beneficiaries with the missionary. Not only were they endorsers of his person, they shared in the lives touched through him. Souls saved, buildings built, lives changed and needs met were the works of righteousness to the credit of these saints. Heaven alone will tell the whole story about who was responsible for great outpourings of the Spirit in history. Many are dignitaries who may have not been known to the world but are well-known to God.

Paul's intercession was filled with those who matched the phrase: "fellowship in the gospel."

Philippians 1:4-6:
…always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, 5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

Verse 6, no doubt, is one of the most quoted passages in this epistle. However, this confidence is built on being in the "fellowship of the gospel." Active participation in the work of the kingdom is different from the passive observer who commits nothing of himself. Ah, there is nothing like this kind of fellowship! In this communion are all the fivefold ministries and all the gifts of the Spirit. In this fellowship, there is one commanding voice, the Holy Spirit! In this fellowship is a camaraderie that unifies in a way that requires no compromise. No false humility, no personal aggrandizement, no narcissism is found within its halls. "Paul planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase" is the prevailing rational. (O' to enjoy, without jealousy, the sweetness of this union must be the goal of all the saints.)

6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

How necessary it is to understand the bold face promise of verse 6. Not only is it a call to continue good works, but to realize the Lord is not the Lord of the "halfway." What He engenders in a person carries with it the grace and provision it takes to complete the task. To know, while in the fray, the outcome promising "completeness" is a significant boost to whatever endeavor He lays out. It is more than comforting, it is assurance beyond measure. Regardless of obstacles, exertion or cost-there will be a good report at the end of the journey, "until the day of Jesus Christ."

Spurgeon penned it eloquently:

"He will give grace and glory."
- Psalm 84:11
Bounteous is Jehovah in His nature; to give is His delight. His gifts are beyond measure precious, and are as freely given as the light of the sun. He gives grace to His elect because He wills it, to His redeemed because of His covenant, to the called because of His promise, to believers because they seek it, to sinners because they need it. He gives grace abundantly, seasonably, constantly, readily, sovereignly; doubly enhancing the value of the boon by the manner of its bestowal. Grace in all its forms He freely renders to His people: comforting, preserving, sanctifying, directing, instructing, assisting grace, He generously pours into their souls without ceasing, and He always will do so, whatever may occur. Sickness may befall, but the Lord will give grace; poverty may happen to us, but grace will surely be afforded; death must come but grace will light a candle at the darkest hour. Reader, how blessed it is as years roll round, and the leaves begin again to fall, to enjoy such an unfading promise as this, "The Lord will give grace."
The little conjunction "and" in this verse is a diamond rivet binding the present with the future: grace and glory always go together. God has married them, and none can divorce them. The Lord will never deny a soul glory to whom He has freely given to live upon His grace; indeed, glory is nothing more than grace in its Sabbath dress, grace in full bloom, grace like autumn fruit, mellow and perfected. How soon we may have glory none can tell! It may be before this month has run out we shall see the Holy City; but be the interval longer or shorter, we shall be glorified ere long. Glory, the glory of heaven, the glory of eternity, the glory of Jesus, the glory of the Father, the Lord will surely give to His chosen. Oh, rare promise of a faithful God!
     Two golden links of one celestial chain:
     Who owneth grace shall surely glory gain.

Paul had a great heart and from it flowed the "living waters" Jesus spoke about. Listen, as he pours himself into these words

Philippians 1:7-11:
7 just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart , inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace. 8 For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.

9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, 11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
NKJV

Observe the concerns of Paul's intercession. Knowledge is more than information and discernment more than a good understanding. Both are spiritual entities and absolutely necessary for the believers of the Twenty-first Century. Congregations lack both because no one is interceding for those traits to be so endowed. Is it not time to join in Paul's prayer? Is it not a noble pursuit for the church to declare: "This we pray:"

     1. That love may abound more and more in knowledge and all discernment,

1922: Knowledge
NT:1922 epignosis (ep-ig'-no-sis); from NT:1921; recognition, i.e. (by implication) full discernment, acknowledgement:
KJV - (ac-) knowledge (-ing, -ment

      Paul was anxious for them to know about a depth of love for Christ and for one another that exceeded any state they currently possessed (to abound in that love). He wanted them to comprehend the power found in the love the Lord had for them. This apostle experienced a Damascus forgiveness which saturated his being-he wanted them to know the forgiveness, the tenderness, the assurance found in the abounding love Jesus had for them. He used the prefix "epi," which meant "over and above." Combined with "gnosis," which is "knowing" or "knowledge" the word connotes knowing something or someone at a deep level. Examples would include a teacher or professor who is an expert in a field of study, or knowing a good friend, or a husband knowing (intimately) his spouse. To "over-know" something or someone is abounding in nature-to the point of overflowing.

Joined with "knowledge" is a superlative state of "knowledge," called "discernment." For example, in testing and measurements there are questions posed to the student with four or five multiple choice answers-all of them correct. An excellent student will discern which answer is most correct.

Robert Braun pointed out the huge lack of discernment among believers. Because of this lack, many hear a voice of direction and based on what they heard, they fly away to mission duty or carryout some strange activity -not discerning the spirit utterance's point of origin. Testing the spirits is commanded in the word.

Paul rallies to a point beyond ordinary discernment in his prayer; he uses a qualifier, "all." Not just spiritual aspects are covered, for "all" includes social interaction, government and political decisions, child rearing, life occupational decisions and everyday decision making.

NT:144 Discernment
144. aísthçsis; gen.
aisthánomai
(143), to perceive with the external senses. Perception, with the senses as well as the mind. Pass., to become cognizant of, to make oneself observed by someone. Involves knowledge based upon experience. In Phil 1:9 contrast
epígnœsis
(1922), the insight obtained by penetrating knowledge, going down to the foundation.
Aísthøsis
, however, is experiential knowledge which is or becomes naturally manifold, and therefore has the addition of
Syn.:
Krísis (2920), decision, judgment, evaluation (1106), opinion, purpose.
(from The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament © 1992 by AMG International, Inc. Revised Edition, 1993)

Paul knew that love never fails, so his main qualifier is love. Fellowship based on a deeper walk in love, knowledge and discernment would propel the body to a higher level of interaction than is found in today's churches! Preachers would have to preach differently and congregants would aspire greater arenas for testimony and prophetic utterances. Paul's ambition, based on this "abounding love," would revolutionize the current church. It would extinguish the flames of dissent and criticism, create a unity unachievable through any other avenue and cause a sweet-smelling aroma to permeate the atmosphere.

     2. that you may approve the things that are excellent,

This second part of Paul's prayer carries further the elements of discernment. Approving those things of the higher walk in morality, thought patterns and growth in one's spiritual pursuits need the support of others. Such approval attacks the practices of nominalism and compromise. In Philippians 4 :17, for instance, Paul encourages sound thinking by listing the criteria of the excellent. The Lord gives the acumen to reach upward in one's spiritual quest and sets before him "the high calling."

      3. that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,

Prayer part three speaks to a state of "being" that owns two traits, "sincere and without offence," all the way to the return of Christ.

     NT:1506 sincere
eilikrines (i-lik-ree-nace'); from heile (the sun's ray) and NT:2919; judged by sunlight, i.e. tested as genuine (figuratively):
KJV - pure, sincere

NT:677 without offence aproskopos (ap-ros'-kop-os); from NT:1 (as a negative particle) and a presumed derivative of NT:4350; actively, inoffensive, i.e. not leading into sin; passively, faultless, i.e. not led into sin:
KJV - none (void of, without) offence.

This characterizes the higher life and should be the goal for every believer. (Thank the Lord for allowing many who qualify with these traits to cross my path and know them beautifully.)

     4. being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Topping off his prayer for a higher standard than had coursed their ranks, Paul enjoined the church to bring glory and praise to God through their works. What were these "fruits of righteousness?"

Are they not all things that bring glory and praise to God? Here, the five-fold ministry has freedom to serve without inhibition or criticism. Here, the gifts of the Spirit can flourish in manifold witness. Here, the prison visit or widow's provision or Samaritan's care or the cup of cold water in Jesus' name shines forth. Here, the freedom brought by justification finds its home.

Paul continues this theme of spiritual freedom in adversity-seeing chains from God's perspective. Rather than a litany on his prison experience, he calls for understanding of that which "fell out to his good." Not only did his example of faith encourage others-nay, rather it emboldened them. The gospel was being preached both by distractors and by genuine witness. As a prisoner in chains, Paul relished the fact the entire prison had heard the gospel. He mimicked the teaching of Jesus on this subject.

Mark 9:38-42:
38 Now John answered Him, saying, "Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us."

39 But Jesus said, "Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me. 40 For he who is not against us is on our side. 41 For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.
NKJV

Guards and prisoners alike heard the Name of Jesus and understood, "He came to set the captive free."

Philippians 1:12-18:
12 But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, 13 so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; 14 and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

15 Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill: 16 The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; 17 but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.
NKJ

Today, at this very hour, these two groups are part of the religious scene in the Twenty-first Century. Spiritual discernment is needed to know which flag flies over which ministry: pretense or truth! Hallelujah, the gospel is preached!

Next, Paul gives vent to one of the most quoted of his writings, "for me to live is Christ, to die is gain." Tied to his hope for deliverance, this scripture is more than a statement of faith-it is key to his personal identity. Nothing was more important than being in Christ. He was not ashamed of being a prisoner for Christ's sake. It is all about Jesus. Paul breathed Jesus; his mind was always focused on Jesus and his heart beat only for Him (Many of you can truthfully identify with Paul).

Philippians 1:19-26:
19 For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20 according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. 24 Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. 25 And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, 26 that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again.
NKJV

Yes, in the chronology of his life, Paul would be delivered from those chains for a period of freedom in which to write I Timothy and Titus---then, another imprisonment awaited him. Although in this paragraph he says he doesn't know whether to live or die, then he makes the choice to live for their sakes.

Strangely, Paul tempers his decision with a request for them to live their lives in such a way as to reflect spiritual unity.

Philippians 1:27-30:
27 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God. 29 For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, 30 having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me.
NKJV

Church unity can only be achieved by "conduct worthy of the gospel." It cannot be achieved without "standing fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel." All other attempts to bring unity are nothing more than man's desire to circumvent the criteria set forth in these verses. Fleshly organizations must compromise in order to maintain their base. Although good intentions are behind many of these unitary flings, they wind up trying to reconcile the unreconcilable. They soon become the adversary to those holding the truth. Paul knew this and postulated only two groups really exist: those of perdition and those of redemption. Each are unified in their expressed outcome.

Perdition:
684 apoleia (ap-o'-li-a); from a presumed derivative of NT:622; ruin or loss (physical, spiritual or eternal):
KJV - damnable (-nation), destruction, die, perdition, perish, pernicious ways, waste.    Salvation:
NT:4991 soteria (so-tay-ree'-ah); feminine of a derivative of NT:4990 as (properly, abstract) noun; rescue or safety (physically or morally):
KJV - deliver, health, salvation, save, saving.

NT:4992 soterion (so-tay'-ree-on); neuter of the same as NT:4991 as (properly, concretely) noun; defender or (by implication) defence:
KJV - salvation.

Two elements of Paul's discourse seem to elude modern preachments-the connection between believing and suffering. Modern appeals directed to sinners or saints fail to mention the suffering part. In the next chapter, great detail is given about the suffering of Christ and why He yielded Himself to that destiny.

Lastly, Paul closed the first chapter acknowledging that Christians have the same conflict he experienced. Certainly, in these early churches there was plenty of opportunities to review life or death choices. Verse thirty is not a clandestine element, but a universal dilemma. Martyrdom and risk appear on the horizon daily, but we must decide in advance the depth of our commitment-both to each other and to the Lord Jesus.


Until Next month,



Dr. Cosby R. Oliver, PhD.





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