An Overview of Philippians

Philippians Overview

INTRODUCTION

Paul wrote the book of Philippians while in a Roman prison approximately A.D. 60.

The Philippian church sent Esaphroditus to Paul with a gift.  While Esaphroditus was inRomehe became ill.  After he was well Paul sent him back toPhilippiwith this letter to the Philippian church.

This letter is the most warm and personal letter that Paul wrote to a church.  His love for them is as a father to his child.  They were his spiritual children.

The word JOY and REJOICE is mentioned 14 times in this short letter.  Paul exorts them to harmony with others and obedience to God.

I.  PAUL’S SECOND MISSIONARY JOURNEY

a.  The saga opens inActs 15:1-2

Some men came from Judea to Antiochteaching that  “unless you are circumcised according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.”

Paul and Barnabas debated with them tell they were appointed along with other believers to go toJerusalemto see the Apostles and Elders about this question.

The Apostles and Elders debated this question of salvation and heard both sides.  They then decided  to send a delegation to other cities to tell others that this was a false hood.

b.  As we go toActs 16:1-34we see  Paul, Barnanbas and Silas journey north back towardsAntioch.  Paul wanted to go toAsia.

c.  In Derbe and Lystra (Turkeytoday) Timothy joins Paul.

d.  Timothy becomes Paul’s protégé.  Timothy’s mother was a jewess and his father was Greek.

e.  Paul circumcised Timothy because of the Jews who lived in that area.

II.  PAUL IS STOPPED

a.  When Paul and company tried to enterAsia“THE SPIRIT FORBADE US.”

b. We are not told in the scriptures HOW Paul received this message, but remember that the WILL OF GOD that STOPS are as VALID as STEPS.  How ever he was stopped Paul saw it as a clear guidance by the Holy Spirit.

c.  Paul went to Troas at theAegean Seaand while there we see in verse 9 ofActs 16that Paul has a vision in which he saw a Macedonian man saying ‘COME OVER AND HELP US.”

d.  Paul crossed over toMacedoniaand instead of a man that he saw in his vision  he found a group of ladies at the river PRAYING.

e.  Paul shared the gospel with them.  Many received the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior.  Among them wasLydia.  She invited Paul’s group to her home.  She and her household were saved- the PHILIPPIAN CHRUCH WAS BORN.

f. THE GOD WHO PURSUES US.  ACTS lays a foundation of how God begins the good work of salvation in us and then works together with his servants to complete it.

III.  AN ENCOURAGING EXAMPLE (Phil. 1:1-11)

a.  We are now 10 years later from Paul’s establishing  the Philippian church.  We find Paul in a Roman prison.

b.  Paul wrote the letters to Colossians, Philemon, Ephesians and Philippians while in prison.

c.  The Philippian church over the 10 years had continued to send gifts to Paul.  While Paul was in the Roman prison they sent Esaphroditus to Paul with a gift.

d.  Paul sent Esaphroditus back to Philippiwith this letter of encouragement and love.  As we look at the first 11 verses we are encouraged by his example to help people strengthen their Christian relationships as they encourage each other with AFFIRMATION, GODLY AFFECTION AND PRAYER.

IV.  JOY IN THE WORST OF TIMES (Phil.1:12-30

a.  Paul’s example in dealing with adversity helps us in a way that brings honor to Christ.

V.  PATH OF HUMILITY (Phil. 2:1-18)

a.  We discover how the humble service of Christ is an example for our Christian lives by being LIKE MINDED, AND BEING ONE IN SPIRIT AND PURPOSE.

VI.  ONWARD TO THE GOAL. (Phil. 3:12-4:1)

a.  Paul says “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus told hold of me.”

b.  We need to consider what goals we have set for our own lives and whether these goals are leading us toward heaven.

VII.  STRESS FREE LIVING (Phil. 4:2-9)

a.  We need to identify practices that have added stress to our lives and our Christian communities and eliminate that stress thru trust in God.

Paul wraps up Philippians letter with  REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS.  AGAIN I say REJOICE.

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C.  RUTH MEETS BOAZ and the THRESHING FLOOR– Chapter 2:1-3:18

Ruth asks permission from Naomi  to glean the field.  (Pick up the left overs as provided by law the land owner was to leave some of the harvest for the widows and orphans to pick up.

Naomi was so absorbed in her grief that she says “God ahead my daughter”.

God leads Ruth to the fields of Boaz.  Unknowingly to Ruth Boaz is a relative on her husband’s side.

Boaz returning fromJerusalemtalks with his field hands and then to his foreman.  He asks his foreman who Ruth was and is told she came back fromMoabwith Naomi.  He tells Boaz “she has worked steadily”

Boaz invites Ruth to come every day to his fields to glean.  Ruth is overwhelmed with Boaz’s kindness.  Ruth bows down to the ground and says “WHY HAVE I FOUND SUCH FAVOR IN YOUREYESTHAT YOU NOTICE ME – A FOREIGNER?”

Boaz begins to list her qualities that he had heard about her…2:11“you have been kind to your mother in law since the death of your husband, you left your mother and father  and your homeland.”

In 3:11, “You have not run after younger men” All the towns people know that you are a woman of noble character.”

Naomi wanting to find Ruth a home where she will be provided for suggests that since Boaz is a kinsman of theirs that Ruth go and lay at the feet of Boaz at the threshing floor.

By lying at Boaz’s feet she is offering herself to him for marriage.  Boaz responds “this kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier…..I will do all that you ask.”….but there is a kinsman-redeemer nearer than I.

Boaz protecting her reputation sends Ruth away early in the morning and then goes to the city gate and sat there.  When the kinsman-redeemer came along Boaz says “Come over here my friend, and sit down.”  He then calls ten of the elders of the city to come and sit down with them. 

Boaz then tells him that Naomi is selling the property that she is entitled to redeem.  The kinsman-redeemer agrees to buy the property but immediately back tracks because Ruth is part of the deal.  He does not want to endanger his own property.

Boaz must have been chuckling to himself….as he offers to be the kinsman-redeemer.

Boaz and Ruth are married and have a son…who they named Obed….they placed Obed in Naomi’s lap — Obed means Servant of the Lord. and in 4:15“The women said to Naomi…Praise be to the Lord who this day has not left you without a kinsman redeemer.  May he become famous throughout Israel.  He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age.  For your daughter in law who loves and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.”

Naomi goes from fullness to emptiness back to fullness – from Pleasant to Bitter back to Pleasant….She has been redeemed from her emptiness!

ONLY GOD RESTORES AND REDEEMS.

JESUS IS OUR KINSMAN REDEEMER.  THROUGH THE CROSS AND THE BLOOD OF JESUS WE ARE REDEEMED.

by Leona Kidd

2 Chronicles 7 teaches that the cure for famine is to remain where you are and call upon God.  But Elimelech and his family went toMOAB.

In Psalms 108 God referes to Moabas His washpot, or Moab is my toilet bowl. 

In a sense Elimelech and Naomi were saying its getting tough here in the House of Bread (Jerusalem), the place of Praise (Judah), let’s go swim in the Toilet Bowl.

In Ruth verse 3 we see that Elimelech dies.

Verse 4 – Naomi’s two sons took Moabite wives, Oprah and Ruth.

Oprah means Youthful, or immature and Ruth means friendship.

They dwelt inMoabfor 10 more years.

Verse 5 – Both Mahlon and Kilion died leaving Naomi without her two sons and her husband.

Verse 6-21 Naomi hears that the Lord has provided food for the Israelites.

Naomi and her two daughter-in-laws leave the place they had been living, and set out to return to Bethlehem-Judah.

On the way Naomi tells the daughter in laws to go back to their homes.  They both wept – twice more Naomi tells them to return home as she is unable to provide husbands for them.  Oprah kisses her mother in law good-by but RUTH clings to Naomi.  Once again Naomi petitions Ruth to go home.

In a very devoted, loving, loyal and sacrificial statement Ruth says “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you.  Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay.  Your people will be my people and your God my God.  Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried.  May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.”

Ruth not only commits herself to Naomi, but she commits herself to Naomi’s God and her people.  Its not about a marriage for Ruth as she does not know whether the Israelites will accept her – a Moabite – or marry her.

Ruth and Naomi journey on until they come toBethlehemwhere the towns people greet them with great joy.  The women exclaim “CAN THIS BE NAOMI?”

“DON’T CALL ME NAOMI – CALL ME MARA. BECAUSE THE ALMIGHTYHASMADE MYLIFEVERY BITTER.   I WENT AWAYFULLBUT THE LORDHASBROUGHT ME BACK EMPTY.

Naomi went away with a husband and 2 sons, and returns without them.  Nor does she have a male child to carry on the name and  redeem their property.  Women were not allowed to own property.  Even though Elimelech had sold the property when they left forMoab, there is the right to redeem the property, or BUY BACK THELAND.

by Leona Kidd

Falling In Love with Jesus Lesson 4 Ruth

1. A.    Significant Women in the bible

You might ask yourself, why was the book of Ruth written and what is its significance.

The book of Ruth is about Redemption – an introduction to our Kinsman-Redeemer, JESUS, and from emptiness to fullness. 

Ruth and Boaz are the grandparents to King David and are in the genealogy of Jesus.  There are 5 women in the genealogy of Jesus mentioned in Matthew 1:2.  YOU WILL NOTE THAT EACH WOMAN WAS REDEEMED.

TAMAR – had married 3 ofJudah’s sons who all died. Judah refused to give her his youngest son to bear her a son for inheritance.  It was a sin not to give a son until a son was born. Tamar trapsJudah into impregnating her.

          RAHAB – The harlot was redeemed through the spies that came to scope out the city.  She is the mother of Boaz.

RUTH – A detested Moabite.  She is the mother of Obed who is the father of Jesse who is the father of King David.  Ruth then is the great grandmother of David.

BATHSHEBA – Although not mentioned by name but of the wife of Uriah.  King David has an affair with and then has Uriah his soldier killed, marries Bathsheba, their first child dies and then they have Solomon.

MARY – The woman who gave birth to the child JESUS.  She was theChosen one.

Picture the scene.  The stone had been removed, and the grave lay open for all to see.  Jews clothed their dead in a linen garment, then tied up the arms and legs with bandages and wrapped the head in a towel.

Everyone knew that Lazarus was dead.

“Lazarus, come out!” echoed in the still air as onlookers were terrified as Lazarus appeared in the entrance of the cave.  His face was still covered with the burial cloth and his hand and feet bound with grave bandages.

Are you there.  Do you see.  Imagine the awed silence as Jesus quietly commanded Martha and Mary to untie the headcloth and the other bandages and they watched Lazarus walk over
to his Friend, the Lord Jesus, to thank Him.

Mary undoubtedly wept with joy, and Martha probably hurried into the house to change the funeral meal to a banquet of thanksgiving to God.

The Effect on the Sign on the bystanders; Always  a work of God and words of God
will divide the audience into two camps.

a. Those who believe the sign points to the divine authority of Jesus stand in contrast to those who insist that it just happened as one of those things and that it proves nothing.

b.   Many believed; others in opposition, informed the Pharisees.
CONCLUSION:

The raising of Lazarus is the precursor to Jesus ‘ resurrection. It is the last Sign of what is to come.

The journey begins and ends at the cross!

“It is written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.” John 20:31

The journey begins against the disciples objections and concern for jesus’ safety.  They reminded Jesus that a short while ago the Jews tried to stone Him.

JESUS’ REPLY TO THEM IS A PRINCIPLE OF CHRISTIAN LIFE.  ThE EMPHASIZED THAT THE lORD’S CHILDREN MUST WALK IN gOD’S LIGHT TO FINISH GOD’S WORK, WHATEVER THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

TO WALK BY DAY IS TO WALK ACCORDING TO GOD’S WILL.  TO DO THIS IS NOT DANGEROUS, FOR NO ONE CAN TOUCH US WHO ARE IN GOD’S WILL UNTI GOD’S ALLOTTED LIFE SPAN FOR US IS OVER.

Jesus’ arrival in Bethany was in the midst of Jewish mourning in full progress.  Lazarus was dead and because of the hot climate, had already been buried four days.

Martha and Mary were tormented with the IF ONLY scourge that plagues all of us in times of sorrow. “If only we had sent for Him earlier”; If only He had been here.”; then follows the second lash of the scourge. “It didn’t have to come to this”

Martha is a good example of continuing in this negative first reaction and she moved forward in faith (11:22)
Questions to comment on:

Will you adopt Martha’s stand which leads the way for us as Christians to stand in our faith in Jesus?

Will you say “God has some new blessing for me that will give glory to Himself”?

Will you expect this blessing and cooperate in faith will God for whatever He wants to do for you in and through this disaster or circumstance?

These verses present a little family that perhaps was the closest of any in the human
affections of Jesus.  The two sisters , Martha and Mary are mentioned in Luke 10; In this chapter Mary takes the spotlight.   In chapter 11 it is Martha who appears at her best.

1. It was after his conversation with Martha that Jesus gave the greatest proof all
   demonstrations of His power.
2. It was Martha whose faith was involved in rolling away the stone.
3. It was Martha whose obedient faith moved forward to cooperate with the Lord.
4. It was Martha who saw the glory of God.

Lazarus was a beloved friend of Jesus.  Scripture gives a wonderful picture of the human life of the Lord in this little private family in the village  of Bethany.

1. This family welcomed Him and offered him a place to rest and the refreshment of loving human fellowship.

2. Jesus loved them all with tender personal affection. (11:5)

3. The sisters were so sure of their friendship that they sent word to Jesus that they urgently needed Him. “LORD THE ONE YOU LOVE IS SICK”

4. Jesus sent back words of encouragement “This sickness will not end in death.  No, it
is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”

5. Jesus waited two days before going to them.  He waited for God’s timing for His Journey.  Knowing that only as He was in His Father’s will would God’s fullest blessing
come to this family that He loved so dearly.

6. Jesus waiting upon God resulted in a far greater miracle and glory to God than if He had simply healed Lazarus.  It gave birth to faith in those who visited the Bethany family and in an outstanding development of faith in Martha.

7. We need to follow Jesus’ actions. We need to beware of following a routine of merely obvious actions and decisions.

8. First acknowledge God by prayer in all our ways so that He may direct our paths into His ways. (Proverbs 3:5-6) This will result in new reactions and meaningful attitudes.

“It is said that sometimes the good is the enemy of the best.”

Questions to Comment on:

Do you sometimes lose blessings because you act only upon your initiative instead of first asking God for His highest will for you in your present circumstance.

Are you sometimes too impatient to wait for His time but instead “run” before Him in impulsive actions?

1. The raising of Lazarus demonstrated the truth of Jesus’ claims as Lord and giver of life.  This final sign in itself constitutes the most powerful commentary and the greatest proof of any claim Jesus had made.
2. The raising of Lazarus anticipated in measure the resurrection at the last day of
   all who believe in Jesus.  It is “in measure’ Lazarus emerged in the same perishable body as before. The Christian, you and I, is to be raised with an
   imperishable body that has been substantially changed by God. (See ICorinthians 6:14; 15:51-53; Philippians 3:20-21; IJohn 3:2-3.)
3. The resurrection of Lazarus from death to life on this earth symbolizes Christian conversion.  The pattern of every true Christian life is that of being “made alive” from the state of being “dead in our sins, and “raised” to live a new quality of life on earth in preparation for the full redemption from all sin in heaven.

BECOMING GODLY IN AN UNGODLY WORLD

by Leona M. Kidd

PART I 

INTRODUCTION

Godliness outside of the Word of God and an intimate relationship with Jesus and others will not happen.  God’s Word is how he reveals himself to us…..His word is our plumb line, our standard. 

TITUS 1:1-2

          “Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness—a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time.”

Principle:  KNOWLEDGE OF GOD’S TRUTH LEADS TO GODLINESS

TITUS 2:1-1

In verse 1 Paul is exhorting Titus in his responsibility to “speak the things of sound doctrine” 

Just as a little baby needs the right conditions to grow and develop, so must we as Christians be in right relationships for the feeding and rooting of ourselves in the Word of God.  We need to be in an environment and relationship that nurtures the Word of God IN us. 

Principle:  SOUND DOCTRINE will produce a rooted Christian who then will produce fruit.  The renewing of our minds comes from reading, hearing and meditating on the Word of God.

TEACH-TRAIN-BE AN EXAMPLE is what Paul is instructing Titus to train Christians to do. 

To teach, train, and be an example requires a teacher, student relationship.  This is the relationship of a disciple, or a mentor, and a mentee.  We need these close relationships to develop into a godly woman of God.

JOHN 13:35

          “By this all men will know that you are my DISCIPLES, if you have love for one another.”

We are exhorted in Matthew, “A disciple is not above his/her teacher, nor a slave above his master.”  There is no higher ground in God’s kingdom. (Matt. 10:24)

Principle:  DISCIPLESHIP/MENTORING IS THE TEACHING OF SOUND DOCTRINE AND IS COMMITTED TO THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF GOD’S WORD IN OUR DAY TO DAY LIVES.

Today we will talk about the P.M.S. of a mentoring relationships:

PURPOSE, METHOD, & SATISFACTION FOR MENTORING RELATIONSHIPS

RELATIONSHIPS for the purpose of Mentoring is to be BASED ON SOUND DOCTRINE and has a GOAL……This then brings us to the purpose

1.    PURPOSE FOR A MENTORING RELATIONSHIP

Ø    Train to love

Ø    Spiritual growth

Ø    Accountability

A.    TRAIN TO LOVE

Jesus in the book of John commands us to Love one another (John 13:34-35, John 15:17) and in Matthew

Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus tells us, “YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND….YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”

Principle:  Our relationships with others is the manifestation of God’s love in our lives. 

1 John 4:12….”If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us.”   “From our innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.”

When we are in relationships with another – we will reflect the love of Jesus.

B.    SPIRITUAL GROWTH

   OUR INNER PERSON will Grow when we are in A right relationship with God and one another.  It will develop fruit. 

 In Gal. 5:22-23, “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”

Principle: You know you are producing fruit from the inner manifestation of the Holy Spirit IF others defer to your purity/godliness.

 Spiritual Growth Promotes:  ACTION

                     The fruit KINDNESS involves an outward

                      action and is gentle. 

      In Luke 7:13 Jesus demonstrated kindness, He SAW the widow bringing her only son out of the city for burial, He FELT compassion, then He ACTED in saying “Young man arise.”

  Spiritual Growth will:

Stretch us out of our comfort zones.  We will grow spiritually when we get involved in another person’s life.  It will develop our patience, acceptance as we learn to love one another. 

Principle:  A close relationship with another will grow us up spiritually, and deepen our faith in God.  We will learn to respond properly to stress, pain, and suffering in our lives. 

          C.  ACCOUNTABILITY

Accountability to another leads to confession.

We are to confess our sins to God, and one another. 

Confession holds us accountable….we are to have an attitude of readiness to admit our failures and accept responsibility.  Be HONEST

We are told in the scriptures to “share our burdens with one another”, and to confess our sins.

Confession requires repentance.  Repentance is a complete turning away from our sin. 

Guilt over sin will be used by the enemy of our souls as a stronghold to accuse us day and night, weaken our faith, and render us ineffective.

When we confess our sins to God He is faithful to remove them as far as the east is from the west.

When we can be truly honest with another, confessing our sins, and praying with another.  God’s healing is promoted.

Our Tendency Is To Confess FOR one another, and pray AT one another.

     CONFIDENTIALLITY – In any relationship is vital.  What is said to you is never yours to share.  We are to “Share OUR burdens,” not someone else’s.

GOALS OF THE PURPOSE OF MENTORING

Ø    Train to love God and others

Ø    Spiritually grow in our inner person, promote action towards others, & stretching growth

Ø    Accountability to another includes confession, repentance, and confidentiality

ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED – Luke 7:36-50  Part 1, Scenes 1 and 2

                                       Study by Para-chaplain Leona Kidd

SCENE 1

READ:  LUKE  7:36

  Jesus was into the home of the Pharisees.  The Pharisees were a Jewish sect, upholders of tradition, lovers of display (show n tell), they were cruel persecutors; they perverted scripture, were blind to spiritual things and refused to accept Christ.         Jesus later described them in

                        Matt.12:34, 34, as SNAKES

                        Matt 15:12-14, as BLIND

                         Matt. 23:13-19, as HYPOCRITES

                         Matt. 23:33, as SONS OF VIPERS

                         John 8:13,44 as CHILDREN OF THE DEVIL

YET – JESUS WENT IN AND DINED WITH THEM.

WHY would Jesus who knew all of these things about them willingly go into the home of Simon the Pharisee?

 Because Jesus is a “FRIEND to the worst sort of sinners, and he was also willing to be a friend to the Pharisees who would LISTEN to Him

JESUS ACCEPTS ALL WHO WILL COME TO HIM.  THATS WHEN WE ARE ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED

SCENE 2

READ Verses (Luke 7:37-39)

Close your eyes – picture a small room – Several men stretched out around a low table covered with food.  Their feet point away from the table. They are talking – when a woman enters the room – she is a known prostitute.

Yet  No one chases her out, which would have been customary, as a prophet did not allow a sinful woman to touch them.

This immoral, sinful woman begins anointing Jesus’ feet. Her tears fall on His feet; she takes her hair and begins wiping them with her long hair.  (proper women did not undo their hair in public) But she doesn’t care. 

Then she breaks the Alabaster jar of expensive oil and fills the room with its sweet fragrance.  She breaks the jar – symbolic of breaking away from her sins.  Her actions are an expression of her deep devotion to Jesus.

DID YOU GET THE PICTURE –

This woman was a prostitute.  We all know the definition of a prostitute.  You might be thinking WELL I’M NOT A PROSTITUTE But did you know that it also means someone devoted to corrupt or unworthy purposes.  Or a person who deliberately debases his or her talents. 

If we confess our sins and ask for forgiveness – Jesus will forgive us -  in the Greek forgiveness is  (Salach – saw-lakh)   He “Blots them out”, “Pardons us” and “Heals us from wounding”

 He removes our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.  (NOT NORTH TO SOUTH – EARTH REVOLVES IN THAT DIRECTION- BUT FROM EAST TO WEST – NEVER TO MEET UP WITH YOU AGAIN)

ROMAN 4:8 “…WHAT JOY FOR THOSE WHOSE SIN IS NO LONGER COUNTED AGAINST THEM BY THE LORD.”

God does not continue to credit unrighteousness to the sinner who repents, but forgives him.

I JOHN 1:8-9, “IF WE SAY WE HAVE NOT SIN, WE ARE ONLY FOOLING OURSELVES AND REFUSING TO ACCEPT THE TRUTH.  BUT IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS TO HIM HE IS FAITHFUL AND JUST TO FORGIVE US AND TO CLEANSE US FROM EVERY WRONG.”

Asking for forgiveness provides us with a forgiveness that restores our communion with God. 

There is an old saying that says, “If you feel like God is not near, Guess who moved?” 

If you want to FEEL close to Jesus – STAY close to Jesus. 

When we have believed that Jesus is the Son of God, that he lived, died on the cross, and on the third day rose again, removing the bondage of our sins, and today sits at the right hand of God —– then WE ARE ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED. 

    (To be continued)