Philippians 1:1-11

Paul’s message to the Philippians was to live a life of thankfulness and Prayer. 

Joy in our salvation gives us the needed confidence to face a world hell bent on destruction. As we are on this road to knowing Jesus as our Savior I pray that we all grow in the fruit of the Spirit…and the greatest of them all is LOVE! It was His great agape love for His creation that allowed our heavenly Father to take on the form of a human man. It was this love that allowed Him to suffer, die and rise again that we could be freed from the original sin and death that permeates this world. It is this love that saved a sinner like me!

Timothy  was Paul’s frequent companion during his missionary journeys. Timothy was a half-Jewish believe  and he worked closely with him in ministry As a result, Timothy became like a son to Paul.

The Philippians provided financial support that helped Paul spread the gospel message. Their partnership in his ministry is the reason he prays with joy. Paul is certain that the Philippians will progress in faith because God is committed to transforming them.

As Paul explains later, love (agapē) involves putting others before oneself. The knowledge that Paul has in mind is not just intellectual but experiential, acquired through acts of love. Faithlife Bible.

Paul combines the word grace with a Greek translation of the Hebrew greeting shalom, or peace.  

The phrase fruits of righteousness is best understood either as “fruit that results from being justified” or “fruit characterized by morally correct conduct.” Righteousness describes the source or the nature of the fruit, the behavior.

In the first few verses, Paul reveals his great love for the Philippians. He thinks of them often, he is concerned about them, and he regularly prays for them. These verses not only reveal Paul’s relation to the Philippians but also his view of God. The Lord does not merely start a wonderful work in us; He finishes what He starts. This is a comfort for those Christians who are in times of distress or suffering. God will continue His work in us. Paul revealed that he had the “heart” of Jesus Christ. His feelings for the Philippians were like those of Jesus Christ, who loved them and died for them.

Discernment, found only in the New Testament, the Greek word means moral or ethical understanding based on both the intellect and the senses. The word implies perception or insight into social situations. The purpose of increasing in love, controlled by knowledge, is to be able to evaluate people and situations correctly. NKJ Bible.

Philippians 1:1–11 (NKJV)

1 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.

Paul and the Philippians

If we suffer with Christ we will reign with Him. We overcome the trials and tribulations of this life through Him. Although no one is exempt from the sins of this world we are never left alone to fight the battles because we have a mediator who stands at the right hand of the Almighty who fights them along side of us.

Joy in the LORD is our strength!

Paul and the Philippians

Philippi was a  city in Macedonia (northeast Greece, today); named after Alexander the Great’s father, King Philip II. Based on Philippi’s likely demographics, the church there would have been almost entirely non-Jewish, non-Roman, and impoverished—perhaps joined by a few middle-class merchants. The believers probably faced severe persecution and economic hardships. This scenario corresponds with Paul’s main themes in the letter: suffering and unity. 

By the time Paul arrived to preach the gospel, the city’s culture and institutions would have been decidedly Roman, with civic power concentrated in the hands of a relatively small number of elites who owned property in the surrounding countryside. These estates and farms would have been served by a large underclass that lived mainly in the city—non-Roman laborers, tradesmen, and service workers. Unlike many cities that Paul visited Philippi does not seem to have had a synagogue. Neither the text of Acts 16 nor the book of Philippians indicate a Jewish community (aside from several God-fearing women meeting for prayer outside the city. Faithlife Study Bible.                                                                                                                                                                                                          

From beatings to imprisonment, Paul had endured much suffering for the cause of Christ. These trials had taught Paul to be content in all circumstances, an ability that Paul encouraged the Philippians to cultivate. Even though he was in prison, facing an uncertain future, Paul wrote this thank-you letter to the Philippians, a letter that expresses Paul’s abundant joy in what God was accomplishing through them.

Most students have favored Rome as the city from which Paul wrote this epistle. Although the distance between Rome and Philippi is great, Paul was in Rome long enough for messages to travel back and forth to that city. Furthermore, Paul’s imprisonment in Rome is well established in Scripture. Because his situation allowed him freedom to preach the gospel, he undoubtedly felt confident that his release from prison was imminent.

While on his second missionary journey, and in response to a vision from God, Paul left Troas in the province of Asia (part of present-day Turkey) and traveled to Macedonia (in present-day Greece) to establish the first church in Europe, the church in the city of Philippi. In 42 b.c., the Romans granted Philippi the highest status possible for a provincial city, the status of a Roman colony. This meant that the citizens of Philippi could purchase, own, or transfer property. They also had the privilege of filing civil lawsuits in Roman courts and were exempted from paying both poll and land taxes. Their elevated status and wealth gave them not only confidence but a pride that bordered on arrogance.

The church that Paul established in Philippi was a mixture of races, cultures, and social classes (although mostly poor from its inception. The first converts were an upper-class woman (Lydia, a seller of royal dyes, a middle-class Roman jailer, and perhaps a lower-class young girl who had been demon-possessed. As the church grew, it maintained primarily a Gentile flavor, yet the less populous group of Jewish-Christians exerted much influence over the church.

The most prominent theme of the Epistle to the Philippians is joy, specifically the joy of serving Jesus. The general tone of the letter reflects Paul’s gratitude toward the Philippians and his joy in God. This may seem strange because Paul wrote this letter while he was in prison. Paul, however, had the ability to recognize opportunities for sharing the gospel even in apparent setbacks. This was the origin of Paul’s joy: He saw God working through the difficult situations he faced. 

Another theme of Paul’s letter is “partnership in the gospel.” Paul uses the Greek word koinonia in this letter in various ways: “fellowship”, “partakers”, and “shared”. All of these passages highlight the Philippians’ active involvement in Paul’s own ministry. By supporting Paul, the Philippians had become partners with him to further the Good News of Jesus Christ. 

Fellowship has two components: love and discernment. The Philippians had expressed the former but were lacking the latter. Thus Paul exhorted the Philippians to grow in knowledge and discernment, words that in the Greek refer to a relational understanding. In other words, the Greek word for knowledge focuses on a person-to-God relationship, whereas the Greek word for discernment points to a person-to-person relationship. 

Paul wanted the Philippians not only to abound in love but also to experience more of God so that they could grow into a mature understanding of His ways.

Situations such as bickering among church members, living in this evil world, giving to missionaries, and finding contentment are still current issues for today’s Christians. In this letter, Paul provides God’s wisdom and encouragement. But most importantly, he holds up Jesus’ life as the model for believers.The NKJ Study Bible.

Daniel 9:16-19

All of us have fallen short of giving glory to GOD. Hypocrisy in us, as adopted children of the almighty, turns believers and non believers away from seeing the one true GOD. Our actions, good or bad, have great consequences. How we treat others as Christians reflects, right or wrong, the TRINITY.

There is no way other than His way. There is no truth except His. There is no light other than that provided in Christ Jesus. If we do not show that light to others the world will show them theirs.

Lord have mercy.

The Israelites are in captivity because of their ancestors’ sin. If the temple associated with the God of Israel has been disgraced, so too has God and the nation to whom it belonged. Daniel’s prayer reaches its peak with four imperatives asking Yahweh to forgive and take swift action. Faithlife Bible.

It is important to note that the only basis for Daniel’s appeal was the grace of God. Daniel knew full well that all of God’s promises had not come to pass, nor had the blessings been conferred on the regathered and restored people. NKJ Bible.

Daniel 9:16–19 (NKJV)

¹⁶ “O Lord, according to all Your righteousness, I pray, let Your anger and Your fury be turned away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain; because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people are a reproach to all those around us. ¹⁷ Now therefore, our God, hear the prayer of Your servant, and his supplications, and for the Lord’s sake cause Your face to shine on Your sanctuary, which is desolate. ¹⁸ O my God, incline Your ear and hear; open Your eyes and see our desolations, and the city which is called by Your name; for we do not present our supplications before You because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies. ¹⁹ O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act! Do not delay for Your own sake, my God, for Your city and Your people are called by Your name.”

Exodus 20:5 (NKJV)

⁵ you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,

Acts 13:46-48

It is your individual decision to accept or reject the salvation God provided in Jesus Christ. No one can make it for you. The Trinity is a respecter of free will and love freely given. God already knows who will choose Him.

In the end it is all up to you. 

Choose Life not death!

Designated for eternal life Luke (the narrator) could mean that the individuals whom God intended to believe did, or this could be a broad reference that, according to God’s plan, the gospel reached the Gentiles in this region. Either way, Luke is stating that despite opposition, God’s intended purposes are accomplished. Faithlife Bible.

A person who convinces himself that he does not need forgiveness from the Holy One has already condemned himself. NKJ Bible.

Acts 13:46–48 (NKJV)

⁴⁶ Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. ⁴⁷ For so the Lord has commanded us:

‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles,

That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”

⁴⁸ Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.

Isaiah 42:6 (NKJV)

⁶ “I, the Lord, have called You in righteousness,

And will hold Your hand;

I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people,

As a light to the Gentiles,

Isaiah 49:6 (NKJV)

⁶ Indeed He says,

‘It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant

To raise up the tribes of Jacob,

And to restore the preserved ones of Israel;

I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles,

That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”

Acts 22:12-15

GOD uses whomever He chooses…not who man chooses. Beware of the leaven of the hypocrites. The ways of  GOD are far from them.

God of our fathers Reinforces that the God who commissioned Paul is the God of Israel, Yahweh. This phrase is used in the old testament to refer to Yahweh and to His promises. Faithlife Bible.

Jesus, the Word of God made flesh, makes others right before Yahweh through His death and resurrection.

Acts 22:12–15 (NKJV)

¹² “Then a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there, ¹³ came to me; and he stood and said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that same hour I looked up at him. ¹⁴ Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth. ¹⁵ For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.

Acts 26:16 (NKJV)

¹⁶ But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you.

Acts 9:17 (NKJV)

¹⁷ And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Galatians 1:12 (NKJV)

¹² For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Micah 2:6-7

Respect and value those things that the Holy Spirit reveals to you. He is always near and speaking to us. We need to relearn how to clearly hear Him. 

God disciplines those He loves. 

None of us are exempt from reaping what we sow!

The false prophets claimed Yahweh would not send judgment on Israel. Instead of walking uprightly, the nation had become violent and oppressive in their actions toward each other. The Israelites were treating each other not as brothers, but as foreign enemies. Faithlife Bible.

How does the Father expect us to act as believers? We are to be fair and just to ALL people; to forgive quickly for our own good; and to remain humble realizing it is nothing to do with us but everything to do with the gift of salvation. Micah 8:6

Micah 2:6–7 (NKJV)

⁶ “Do not prattle,” you say to those who prophesy.

So they shall not prophesy to you;

They shall not return insult for insult.

⁷ You who are named the house of Jacob:

“Is the Spirit of the Lord restricted?

Are these His doings?

Do not My words do good

To him who walks uprightly?

Zechariah 9:16-17

God does what man cannot! He saves us from evil and ourselves. Our banner is love and it came in the form of Jesus the Christ…To Him be all the glory!

Spread the love!

The abundance of grain and new wine suggests the prosperity and blessing of this future day. NKJ Bible.

Zechariah 9:16–17 (NKJV)

¹⁶ The Lord their God will save them in that day,

As the flock of His people.

For they shall be like the jewels of a crown,

Lifted like a banner over His land—

¹⁷ For how great is its goodness

And how great its beauty!

Grain shall make the young men thrive,

And new wine the young women.

Psalm 31:19 (NKJV)

¹⁹ Oh, how great is Your goodness,

Which You have laid up for those who fear You,

Which You have prepared for those who trust in You

In the presence of the sons of men!

Psalm 45:4 (NKJV)

⁴ And in Your majesty ride prosperously because of truth, humility, and righteousness;

And Your right hand shall teach You awesome things.

Acts 22:12-16

We all have a predetermined job to do for God’s Kingdom. The obstacles that we face in our lives God can use to further His Church, the Body of Christ. 

May we walk boldly in the calling.

Calling on the name of the Lord saves us. Baptism is the declaration of that calling. NKJ Bible.

Acts 22:12–16 (NKJV)

¹² “Then a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there, ¹³ came to me; and he stood and said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that same hour I looked up at him. ¹⁴ Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth. ¹⁵ For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. ¹⁶ And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’

Acts 26:16 (NKJV)

¹⁶ But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you.

Galatians 1:12 (NKJV)

¹² For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 2:12

We have the HOLY SPIRIT, the very heart of GOD, living within us. He will take the truth of JESUS CHRIST, the very Word of GOD, and make it come alive. Oh what a wonderful FATHER we serve who sent His only begotten SON to die in our place that we may live in His fullness forever. He never leaves us alone but gives us His SPIRIT to guide us safely home.

God’s Spirit is not like the spirit of people or anything that can be comprehended, computed, or reasoned in this world. While God’s work is eternal, everything of this world is temporal—including current rulers and evil spiritual beings. Faithlife Bible.

Only the Holy Spirit could reveal the truths of God!

1 Corinthians 2:12 (NKJV)

¹² Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

Romans 8:15 (NKJV)

¹⁵ For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”

Acts 26:19-23

Faith makes GOD happy. It pleases Him that we believe in Him. He longs for us to know that He alone is the CREATOR of ALL things and that we are a beloved part of that Creation. He shares the HOLY SPIRIT with us in the manner of visions, dreams and his inward voice to teach us His ways. He directs our path in the way that is good for us…we just need to clearly hear Him.

We are the sons and daughters of the living God!

Now it is up to us to spread the good news of the salvation provided in JESUS CHRIST on our road home.

Paul is being persecuted for following Jesus’ command to spread the gospel. Throughout Acts, the good news about Jesus is presented as the fulfillment of promises made by God in the old testament Scriptures. Faithlife Bible.

Paul’s preaching of the Good News was visible proof that he had repented of his former ways. Genuine repentance is evidenced by changed behavior. NKJ Bible.

Acts 26:19–23 (NKJV)

¹⁹ “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, ²⁰ but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. ²¹ For these reasons the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. ²² Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come—²³ that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”

Revelation 1:5 (NKJV)

⁵ and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth.

To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,

Isaiah 42:6 (NKJV)

⁶ “I, the Lord, have called You in righteousness,

And will hold Your hand;

I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people,

As a light to the Gentiles,

Luke 1:1-4

 I have been a seeker and student of Gods’ Word for many years and the things that the Holy Spirit has revealed to me in those years has blown my socks off. His compassion and love for all of His creation is so far above any love that I have ever known or that I am capable of giving in myself. 

He is a good, good FATHER and  through the express image of Himself in JESUS, all GOD /all man, He made a way for us to connect with Him totally and to learn His ways through His heart, the HOLY SPIRIT…to our TRIUNE GOD be all the glory!

No more barriers exist for those who choose to return His love…

Luke assured Theophilus and his other readers that Jesus is the Messiah. He is worthy of everyone’s worship because He is the Son of the living God. 

Just like we’d expect from a family doctor, Dr. Luke sensitively describes Jesus as One who reaches out personally and heals those who are mercilessly caged by devastating illnesses. As a person, He is concerned with people. Jesus’ humanity and compassion are repeatedly stressed by the author. This, coupled with Luke’s portrayal of Jesus’ sinless perfection, set up his logical conclusion. Because Jesus is the only perfect person born of a woman and because He identifies compassionately with the plight of suffering sinful people, He alone is qualified to carry our sorrows, bear our sin, and offer us the priceless gift of salvation.

For Luke, Jesus is the promised Messiah (1:31–35), the Son of God (9:35), the Servant through whom God works (4:16–18), and the Lord who is called to sit at God’s right hand exerting His authority and giving the Spirit to those who believe. Though aspects of God’s plan are fulfilled in Jesus’ First Coming, other parts of the plan remain to be fulfilled when Jesus returns (21:5–36; Acts 3:14–26). NKJ Bible.

Luke 1:1–4 (NKJV)

1 Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, ² just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, ³ it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, ⁴ that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.

John 20:31 (NKJV)

³¹ but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

Hebrews 2:3 (NKJV)

³ how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,

Succession to a place of power

In the world order of things a change of leaders always produces uncertainty. How much more when the King of kings and Lord of lords first appeared. What will the state of the world be upon His return? 

When there are wars and rumors of war, climate changes that cause death and destruction…look up for your Savior draws near.

If Leaders do not have peace (Christ) within themselves we are set on a path of chaos and violence.

Succession to a throne is often a time of conflict and uncertainty. David’s son Absalom tried to usurp the throne (2 Sam. 15:1–18:18. Solomon’s choice of successor lost more than half the kingdom to a traitor (1 Kin. 12:20). Menahem assassinated his predecessor in Israel (2 Kin. 15:14). Royalty is a dangerous business. This is no less true when the heir is the King of kings. The NKJV Study Bible.

2 Samuel 15:1–5 (NKJV)

15After this it happened that Absalom provided himself with chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him. ² Now Absalom would rise early and stand beside the way to the gate. So it was, whenever anyone who had a lawsuit came to the king for a decision, that Absalom would call to him and say, “What city are you from?” And he would say, “Your servant is from such and such a tribe of Israel.” ³ Then Absalom would say to him, “Look, your case is good and right; but there is no deputy of the king to hear you.” ⁴ Moreover Absalom would say, “Oh, that I were made judge in the land, and everyone who has any suit or cause would come to me; then I would give him justice.” ⁵ And so it was, whenever anyone came near to bow down to him, that he would put out his hand and take him and kiss him. ⁶ In this manner Absalom acted toward all Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

1 Kings 12:20 (NKJV)

²⁰ Now it came to pass when all Israel heard that Jeroboam had come back, they sent for him and called him to the congregation, and made him king over all Israel. There was none who followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.

2 Kings 15:14 (NKJV)

¹⁴ For Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah, came to Samaria, and struck Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria and killed him; and he reigned in his place.

Matthew 24:6 (NKJV)

⁶ And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

2 Corinthians 10:3 (NKJV)

³ For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.