Exposition of Philippians (Page 3)

Sanctification: Working Out What God Has Worked In Text: Philippians 2:12-13 Is there every a time when we can put our feet up and go on a spiritual vacation? Is there ever an occasion where we can call up the devil and arrange a time out in the midst of the battle? Of course not, and this being…

The Pattern of Christ’s Exaltation by Humiliation Text: Philippians 2:5-11 As we have seen over the past two weeks, in the opening words of this chapter we find Paul’s call to congregational unity. We have seen him use incentives, and arguments based upon self-denial. Now Paul gives the…

The Self-Denial of Spiritual Unity Text: Philippians 2:2-4 In a letter to Archbishop Cranmer in April 1552, John Calvin wrote of his vision of church unity. “Amongst the greatest evils of our century must be counted the fact that the churches are so divided one from another that there is scarcely even a human relationship between us; at all events there is not the…

5 Heart-Moving Incentives for Unity Text: Philippians 2:1 I think we would all agree that if we want to be better, it’s best to learn from those who are better. That applies both individually, and corporately. This letter encourages us to look to Paul as an example and to be challenged by his perspective of life and manner of living. But it also calls us to look to the…

The Suffering of a Heavenly People Text: Phil 1:29-30 While the gospel is good news, it is not a call to easy living. There is always a price. To give us the good news required the Son of God to give His life. And to receive the good news requires us to give over our lives. Jesus suffered to deliver us from that which we could not deliver ourselves, and we are called to…

Signs of a Heavenly People Text: Phil 1:27-28 Last week we saw that Paul uses the language of v27 to remind them of the obligations they had as people who participate in a society, which in this case, is the society of believers whose strongest ties are in heaven. Now the unity of those who are citizens of heaven is going to be repeatedly enforced by Paul over the next…

God’s Call to Heavenly Living Text: Phil 1:27 After the meeting last week I was asked a question that related to the message. If you remember, we looked at what Paul said was the pulling him to glory, and what was keeping him on the earth. The desire to see Christ versus the need to help the church at Philippi. And from that I said that the love for both Christ and…

The Christian Motive Text Text: Philippians 1:22-26 The sovereignty of God is the most comforting doctrine for the child of God. To be able to rest in the knowledge that God knows best and that nothing can or will thwart His purposes either in a general sense, or towards each of His people as individuals. One of the reasons I find it so comforting is because I’m…

The Christian Motto Text Text: Philippians 1:21 One of the great testimonies to the reality of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, is the radical transformation of the followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. Those of you who know the gospel records will be aware of the sadness that gripped the heart of the disciples and followers of the Lord when the knowledge of Christ’s…

Christian Joy Text: Philippians 1:18-20 Sometimes we can be hopeful of something, but unsure about whether it may happen. That’s perhaps how some of you feel about the prospect of your loved ones coming to know Christ. Hopeful, but not certain. That’s how Paul felt about his release from being a prisoner of Rome. Compare 1:25-26 and 2:23. Even an apostle can’t be…