Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Evening Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/ev/ev20080921.htm

THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION
Philippians: Living God's Great Calling Of Godly Servanthood
Part I: Paul's Evident Hope That His Readers Live As God's Servants
(Philippians 1:1-11)
  1. Introduction
    1. The believer should not be content to live a mediocre life, but to excel in righteous deeds to God's glory, for even the Apostle Paul wrote that he sought to please God in his life to the extent that he might be thus rewarded at Christ's judgment seat, Philippians 3:14; Bible Know. Com., N. T., p. 661.
    2. We will learn in the Epistle to the Philippians that this lofty calling is that of godly servanthood in God's will, a calling Paul evidenced in His opening greeting and prayer for his readers in Philippians 1:1-11:
  2. Paul's Evident Hope That His Readers Live As God's Servants, Philippians 1:1-11.
    1. In contrast to ALL of Paul's other epistles, he introduced himself and Timothy in Philippians 1:1 only as SERVANTS of Jesus Christ, cf. Rom. 1:1; 1 Cor. 1:1; 2 Cor. 1:1; Gal. 1:1; Eph. 1:1; Col. 1:1; 1 Thess. 1:1; 2 Thess. 1:1; 1 Tim. 1:1; 2 Tim. 1:1; Titus 1:1 and Philemon 1.
    2. This emphasis on godly Christian servanthood was necessary for Paul's Philippian readers (as follows):
      1. Philippi had been established as a Roman colony to benefit its initial populace of Roman soldiers who were thus compensated for losing personal property in war, with the citizens of Philippi thereupon receiving full, much-coveted Roman citizenship, Zond. Pict. Ency. of the Bible, vol. Four, p. 760.
      2. The Philippian believers thus inherited a selfishly competitive outlook from their culture that could and would lead to tendencies toward selfish ambition and strife, Ibid., Bib. Know. Com., N. T., p. 648.
      3. This problem thus surfaced in Paul's remarks in other verses in Philippians, cf. Phil. 2:1-4 and 4:2.
    3. Thus, Paul's introductory remarks in Philippians 1:1-11 displayed evident hope that his readers strive for the lofty calling of functioning as God's humble servants in contrast to the selfish ambition of their world:
      1. Paul introduced himself and Timothy uniquely as God's servants, His slaves, in an effort to exalt this orientation toward servanthood as a lofty calling to which his readers were to aspire, Philippians 1:1a.
      2. Then, in his Philippians 1:1b-4 introductory remarks, Paul exampled a selfless concern, alluding to the entire Church group to ease any temptation for his readers to compete for his attention, Phil. 1:1b-4:
        1. Paul addressed his letter to the whole body of believers as well as to its overseers and deacons who served under the overseeing elders but over the rest of the Church body, Philippians 1:1b.
        2. In every prayer for this Church, Paul said he prayed for ALL involved, exampling that his readers also consider the needs of each other as he directed in passages like Philippians 2:4 (Phil. 1:2-4).
      3. Paul then encouraged his readers in their selfless act to spur them to additional selfless activity, 1:6-8:
        1. He expressed appreciation that his readers had sent him a gift, and that this donation had indicated God would continue His good discipling work in them until the day of Jesus Christ, Philippians 1:6.
        2. Their gift had been a thoughtful, selfless participation in Paul's ministry, a fact Paul noted in Philippians 1:7 to spur them to continue similarly considering the needs of other believers.
        3. Paul added he had great love for his readers in encouragement of their consideration of him, 1:8.
      4. In line with this reference to the Philippians' thoughtful gift, Paul added that he prayed that their love might abound all the more in knowledge and depth of insight, Philippians 1:9.
      5. In particular, he reported he asked God that his readers might approve of what was excellent versus what was less important, Phil. 1:10a; Ryrie Study Bible, KJV, 1978 ed., ftn. to Philippians 1:10a. In this way they could be sincere and without offense until they stood before the Lord with a Christian life that had been righteously productive, that had born "the fruit of righteousness," 1:10b-11 ESV, NIV.
      6. In light of his epistle's emphasis on servanthood, this meant Paul hoped his readers might discern that their loftiest calling in this life as believers was not the meeting of their personal goals, but meeting the needs of others in God's will in humble service, a great achievement in God's view, cf. Phil. 2:5-9.
Lesson: Paul hoped that his Philippian readers might discern that the truly great Christian life is not one of satisfying one's selfish ambition, but of humbly meeting the needs of other people in God's will.

Application: May we discern that the really remarkable Christian life selflessly meets the needs of other believers in God's will, and may we thus follow Paul's example to take that route in life and service.