I recently began a sermon series in Philippians. Unfortunately, this sermon was not recorded. Here is an older version of the sermon I previously preached (click here).
An Overview of Philippians (PDF)
“I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”
Perhaps you’ve heard that song by U2. I looked up the song this week on YouTube, and it’s been played almost 140 million times.
That song is so popular because people are looking for something. Ultimately, whether they realize it or not, people are looking for something that will bring them purpose and joy.
Do you have joy in your heart as you’re reading this post? I hope that you do.
But I also know it’s very possible that you are not joyful. Maybe you’re discouraged for whatever reason. Maybe your job isn’t going well. Maybe you have problems in your marriage or with your children. Maybe your health is not good.
In Philippians 1:3-8, we see how that we can have joy, even during difficult circumstances.
Last week, I introduced the book of Philippians (see post).
One of the things that we looked at was the back story of the church in Philippi, which is found in Acts 16.
As you recall, Paul loved the church at Philippi, which he founded about 10 years before he wrote this letter. He wrote this letter in part because the church was discouraged that Paul, a missionary whom they had financially supported, was now imprisoned for preaching the gospel.
So, Paul wrote this letter to encourage these Christians who were young in the faith and discouraged. In the early verses of the letter, Paul writes with a tone of joy – that the Philippians (and us) can have joy because of Christ and the gospel.
Consider this: Paul was in chains because of the gospel, and yet he was likely the happiest man in Rome (if that is where he was imprisoned). How could this be? Ancient Rome was like a modern-day Las Vegas. There were games, sexual pleasures, parties, and more. And yet, the happiest man in Rome sat in prison.
Do you think you need something other than Jesus to find real joy? Perhaps you wish you could make more money or build a bigger house or build a bigger church. I agree with Tony Merida when he says that what we really need is a bigger vision of God. [1]Christ-Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Philippians, 23
The reason that Paul was happy even in prison is this: when you come to know God through His Son, Jesus Christ, you can have a joy that can never be taken away no matter what is going on in your life. This morning, we see four ways we can experience joy in the Christian life from our text.
- We can know the joy of prayer (Phil 1:3-4)
- We can know the joy of gospel partnerships (Phil 1:5)
- We can know the joy of God’s work within us (Phil 1:6)
- We can know the joy of affection toward other believers (Phil 1:7-8)
Philippians 1:3-8 (click link for text)
First, I want to encourage you, to know the joy of prayer.
Know the joy of prayer (3-4)
3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy,…
Every time Paul thought about the Philippians, he thanked God for them. As Paul thought of the Philippians, he was overwhelmed by joy.
Notice that Paul emphasizes that he was grateful for all of the Philippian Christians. In verses 4, 7, and 8, Paul makes it clear that he is thankful for all the Christians there. Even though the church wasn’t perfect, Paul was grateful for them.
- Like Paul, we should look for evidence of grace in people’s lives.
- If you’re a super critical person who is always focused on what’s wrong in the church, then you will not have joy.
- Don’t allow something small or petty within the church rob you of your joy and gratitude for the church and its leadership.
- Look at the big picture and give thanks to God!
A question you might ask yourself is this: “Are you the kind of Christian who brings joy to your pastors and fellow church members when they think of you?”
“Are you the kind of Christian who brings joy to your pastors and fellow church members when they think of you?”
When Paul interceded on behalf of the Philippians, Paul had great joy. Paul was faithful to pray for the Philippian church because he loved them.
Are we as a church a prayerful people?
Are we faithful to thank God for those who have ministered to us? Perhaps it’s a previous pastor or church member, or a family member.
Maybe you lack joy because you are too focused on your own problems instead of being thankful to God for those who brought you the gospel.
The great thing about having the joy of prayer is that God is always listening. No matter where you are or what you’ve done, God always listens to those who call out to Him in faith.
Paul was in prison for the sake of the gospel, but he knew the joy of prayer.
And like Paul, we can know the joy of gospel partnerships.
Know the joy of gospel partnerships (5)
“…because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.“
Why was Paul joyful every time he prayed for the Philippians? It’s because, as v. 5 says, Paul had a partnership in the gospel with this church.
Last week, we saw that Paul planted the church during a missionary journey through Macedonia (Acts 16). Since that time, the church at Philippi had supported Paul’s missionary endeavors.
In chapter 4, Paul said that the Philippian church was the only one that helped him financially after he left Macedonia (Phil 4:15–16).
Notice in v. 5 that the Philippian church had partnered with Paul “from the first day.” From the beginning of its existence, the church at Philippi was supportive of Paul’s work of advancing the gospel.
- When we share in the work of the gospel, it is a sign that God is working in us and through us.
- We must remember that we are partners in ministry with other likeminded churches (association, SBC) and even churches that are from other denominations but preach the message of grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
- We are not competing with other churches – there are plenty of lost people to be reached with the gospel and discipled to spiritual maturity.
- In partnering together for the gospel, we recognize our differences, but we celebrate our unity in Jesus and commit to the mission of making the gospel known.
The word that is translated partnership is koinonia, which is more commonly translated as fellowship.
As we see in this text, true fellowship, or partnership, is not just spending time with other Christians (although that’s not a bad thing).
In true Christian fellowship, the koinonia relationships exist because of the gospel (what God has done for us in Christ) and for the purpose of advancing the gospel (which God does through us).
D.A. Carson writes, “Both from Paul’s example and from that of the Philippians…we learn that the fellowship of the gospel, the partnership of the gospel, should be at the center of our relationships with other believers.” [2]Basics for Believers: An Exposition of Philippians, 19
What do you talk about w/ other believers? Weather? Sports? Politics?
It’s okay to talk about these things from time to time, but the point is that we are meant for deep, meaningful relationships within the church.
My encouragement for you is to find other church members who will help you become more like Christ and spend time with them!
We can know the joy of prayer and of gospel partnerships. And third, we can know the joy of God’s work within you.
Know the joy of God’s work within you (6)
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Verse 6 speaks to both God’s work in the life of the church at Philippi and in the life of the individuals that make up the church.
Paul says that God has begun a work in the Christians at the church at Philippi and that he will bring it to completion.
This verse is important for a number of reasons.
- First, it tells us that God is the one that begun a good work in us. Romans 5 says that even while we were weak, even while we were ungodly, even while we were sinners and enemies of God that Christ died for our sins.
- Second, this verse tells us that God finishes what he starts. If we are united with Christ (that is, we have been saved), then God will eventually complete the work of conforming us to the image of his Son (Rom 8:29). We don’t have to worry about losing our salvation. If we are truly saved, then we can count on the promise of Scripture that God finishes what he starts.
- Third, this verse shows us that we cannot be perfect (without sin) in this life (“will bring it to completion”). It’s rare, but occasionally you may talk with someone who believes in Christian perfectionism – the idea that someone can live without sin in this life. This verse, along with several others in Philippians (Phil 1:25; 3:12-14, 20-21) destroys this idea.
Typically, we think of salvation as a one-time event. But biblically, we have been saved, we are being saved, and one day we will be saved. This verse teaches all three:
- First, God began a work in you. That is justification, a one-time event when we were saved. In justification, God, through Christ has worked for us – we are justified.
- Second, God is working in us to make us more like Christ. This is called sanctification. Sanctification occurs from the point in time where you were converted, or justified, to the time that you die. All through your life, God is working in you and through you.
- And when Jesus comes back, He will bring the work of sanctification to an end. He will complete His work and we will get our new bodies. This is called glorification.
Here is a graphic illustrating this:
Kent Hughes, a longtime pastor, said it this way:
“As I reflect on my fifty plus years in Christ it is indeed God who has kept me. It is not my grip on God that has made the difference, but his grip on me. I am not confident in my goodness. I am not confident in my character. I am not confident in my history. I am not confident in my “reverend” persona. I am not confident in my perseverance.” (Kent Hughes)
John MacArthur has famously said, “If you could lose your salvation, you would.”
I can’t help but read verse 6 and have joy. I am convinced that if we mediate what God has done in our lives and what He continues to do in our lives that we will have joy.
And finally, may we know the joy of affection toward other believers.
Know the joy of affection toward other believers (7-8)
7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.
Clearly, Paul loved this church. He says that he holds them in his heart. That is, the Christians at Philippi have a special place in Paul’s heart.
Paul loved this church the way that grandparents love their grandchildren. He was proud of them and the work that God was doing both in them and through them. He goes on. He writes:
“…for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.”
Paul is referring to the common bond that he shares with the Philippians. They are partakers with him of grace. They are united in fellowship because of the gospel.
The glue that holds the church together should be the gospel. It’s not the color of our skin, our social status, our income level, or our political beliefs or that we’re all Cowboys and like to ride horses.
This means that you should have more in common with a Chinese Christian than your neighbor across the street that hates God but votes the same way that you do.
The gospel must be the central focus in our church!
The reason we gather each week is because of what Christ has accomplished on the cross. We gather to celebrate the work of Christ, to hear the Word of God preached, and to grow into Christlikeness. If something besides the gospel becomes our central focus, then we should no longer call ourselves a church!
Paul wanted to thank the Philippians for supporting him through prayer and the financial gift they had sent to him while he was in prison. In the ancient world, imprisonment was a source of great shame, and the Philippians had encouraged Paul with a financial gift as he preached and defended the gospel.
8 – “For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.”
Paul yearned to see the people he loved. His source of affection for them was the love of Christ. I hope you feel the same way about your fellow church members as well as other Christians that you know.
Paul couldn’t just Facetime these believers to check in. It would be many months before he would see them again. Fortunately for us, we are able to see each other almost every week.
I wonder though, do you yearn to see your brothers and sisters each week? Do you miss the fellowship of other believers when you are apart?
If you don’t love your brothers and sisters in Christ, then you need to check your heart.
When the gospel is central in our relationships with other believers, we will know the joy of affection toward them.
Conclusion
This morning, I hope that you can have the joy that Paul had. Even in difficult circumstances, Paul had great joy because of Christ and the community of fellow believers.
Do you have the joy that comes from knowing Christ as Lord and Savior?
Do you know the joy of prayer?
Do you know the joy of gospel partnerships?
Do you know the joy of God’s work within you?
Do you know the joy of affection towards other believers?
If you know Christ, then you have access to all these sources of joy. Take every thought captive and make them obedient to Christ. Do not look at your circumstances. Look around and see God’s hand at work in your own life and in the lives of others.
Look to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith and our greatest source of joy.