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Paul’s Letter to the Church at Philippi

Named after King Philip II of Macedonia, Philippi was a wealthy Roman colony. The building of a synagogue here was not permitted, possibly because insufficient numbers of Jews lived there. Macedonia was a gold producing region and a main highway, Via Egnatia, cut through the forum; This lead from the Eastern provinces and lead directly to Rome and This helped to make Philippi both prosperous and politically important. The city was situated 10 miles from Neapolis, where Paul landed after leaving Troas. He was leaving because of a vision he had one night of a man of Macedonia standing and begging “Come over and help us”. Here was a situation which was to determine the establishment of a church in Philippi. You can read of these events in Acts 16. Paul knew what true commitment meant. “Here I am, wholly available, as for me, I will serve the Lord.” I doubt if Paul and Silas sang this as a duet while in prison but God knew this to be true of His servants. Ruins have been discovered of the Theatre, Acropolis, Forum, Baths and City Gate. Just outside the gate was the Gangites river where Paul met Lydia with a group of women praying.

Under house arrest, Paul was a prisoner in his own rented house. Paul’s progress is reported in Philippians. He begins, “ Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi together with the overseers and deacons. Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Paul has much confidence in the Christians faith, and he says God’s grace will be at work in their lives until Christ’s return. So often we can give our own needs priority and bring a string of requests before God in prayer. Could there be a reminder for us here? Certainly we need to ‘make our requests known’ for we are invited to do so. Paul starts his letter in chapter 1 with thanksgiving and praise. Not for himself, but for those in partnership in the gospel. He has joy in his heart because of this, and longs for their continuing desire to grow. Words like “abound more and more,”... “discern between right and wrong”... and act accordingly so that their lives might be “pure and blameless” (1:9-11).

Are we “filled with the fruits of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the praise and glory of God”? Paul’s life is a testimony to those around him, guarded by soldiers, some of whom are probably detailed to be his personal guards. Paul spent two years in this rented house and he said that the gospel was advanced because of his restriction. The guards were in a sense a captive audience as they and others in contact with Paul, heard the gospel as Paul continued to witness. He says “because of my chains (restrictions) most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly” (1:14).

“For me to live is Christ and to die is gain” (1:21). Through Christ who is the unfailing source of joy and the meaning of life for him, he found sufficiency in God’s grace to maintain an effective testimony.

Let the beauty of Jesus
be seen in me
All His wondrous compassion
And purity
Oh thou spirit divine,
All my nature refine
Till the beauty of Jesus
be seen in me

Picture 1 Basilica in background of (Picture 2) City centre (Picture 3) Mosaic of Bishop Porphyrios. Identified ruins as Basilica of Paul.
Seven different churches were built between 4th and 6th centuries.

One of Paul’s most challenging verses is this, “Your attitude should be the same as Jesus Christ” (2:5). Is this really possible? Yes! There is a verse in Psalm 51:10 which makes this possible. I believe that we need to make this a prayer and that it is not a once in a lifetime prayer. No matter how strong our intention may be, even though we are seeking to follow Jesus, because we are human, we do, I do, sometimes fail Him. This verse records David’s words after he had sinned and he realised that his relationship with God was not blameless.

David prayed, “Create in me a pure heart O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me” .To create is to make something, which is not already in place.

To renew is to make new again. Right through the scriptures God’s forgiveness is freely given to a contrite heart in the Old Testament. In the New Testament forgiveness was made possible through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall have everlasting life” (John 3:16). What joy and peace comes into our lives when Jesus is invited to take control. Let us be sure that as we live our daily lives, because we are a ‘new creation’, the beauty of Jesus can be seen reflected in us.

God’s plan of salvation begins in GenesIs and continues throughout scripture.

Paul’s preaching was both bold and fearless, which is why he was writing his letters in prison. This was the price he paid to fulfil his commitment to God. St Peter’s Square, and the power emanating from the Vatican was the reason for Paul’s inclusion of verses from Hebrews. No where in Hebrews does the author identify himself, as Paul did in his letters. Those addressed, were mainly Jewish converts. It was important to Paul to make the message clear to his listeners.

There were two important reasons which would help them understand.

(1) “For the law appoints as high priests, men who are weak”– after the law, and (2) God “appointed the Son, who has been made perfect for ever” (Hebrews 7:26,27).

“Therefore since we have a great High Priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:14-16).

When we are in the company of other Christians, our behaviour is probably 99.9%. Because we can never (I speak for myself) attain 100% – which of us is perfect? Sometimes, perhaps if we take our eyes off Jesus, we can drop a few points. Paul however praises the church here when he says “Therefore my friends as you have always obeyed – not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence” (Hebrews 2:12). “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure children of God, without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life” (Hebrews 2:11).

Because of the example of Jesus Christ, we need to demonstrate the power of God in our lives. There are those outside of Christ in our world/town who exhibit a crooked and depraved nature. They need the refining life changing touch of the love of Jesus. We must be sure that our lives exhibit this. Our aim? To be pure and blameless, without fault. Maybe we need to move the parameters to exclude some things at present included in our lives. Ask God to show you anything which displeases Him in your life. Our God is a forgiving God and He will set you free!

There are two very good and trusted friends of whom Paul speaks – “I have no one else like him” (Timothy) who was a young man with the attitude of a servant and with missionary zeal. And Paul says, “there is another brother Epaphroditus, welcome him with great joy because he almost died after an illness for the work of Christ risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me” (For the full text read Philippians 2:19-30). There are followers of Jesus in prison today in the countries where they persecute those who have a different faith than their own. Given 48 hours to leave their village – threats to bomb houses if they continue to witness for Jesus and more. We live in days when we need to encourage one another to stand firm. “ Finally my brothers, rejoice in the Lord” (Philippians 3:1).

“Therefore my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord dear friends” (4:1). “The peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (4:7).

Paul states the measure of his love for the Lord when he said “I consider every thing a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (3:8).

S H I N E J E S U S S H I N E

A FRAGRANT OFFERING

From the church. An acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God .
To the church. In Philippi. “And my God will meet all your needs, according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (4:18-20). In verse 11 he says, “I am in need” — Verse 18. “I am amply supplied” The gifts sent with Epaphras arrived for Paul in Rome. This was not the first time that the Philippians had helped in the spreading of the gospel by meeting the needs of others in a practical way. They were the only ones who “sent me aid again and again, when I was in need” (see 2:10-16). This is how Paul describes those who’s hearts were open to the Lord’s love flowing through them to others with care and compassion.

The more I read Paul’s words, which his life style confirms, the more it is plain for us to see the reason for God’s choice for him to take the message of salvation to the Gentiles.

I wrote this verse inside my Bible at one time – “I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death” (3:10). That is what Paul accomplished. To “know Christ” is a lifetime experience for those who are His. Paul makes his position clear when he says in Philippians 3:12,14 – “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 took hold of me... I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus.” Paul speaks of “straining towards what is ahead” and “pressing” towards the goal. Once we belong to Jesus, every situation and detail of daily living does not slide smoothly into place. We fight a constant battle against Satan; he does not want us to win the prize for honouring God in all that we do.

Paul finishes this letter – “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit” (4:23). Without God’s bountiful grace, we would be lost sinners. I feel sure that Paul felt an inner joy as he wrote those words. Victorious living, shielded by God’s patience and kindness and forgiveness, reminds us of the verse worth repeating...

My God will meet all your needs

According to His riches in glory