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e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e good even evening to everybody uh welcome to Free Grace Baptist Church for any visitors we have this evening it's a joy to have you with us let's begin our worship by turning in our Bibles to Psalm 119 our call to worship is a reading of Psalm 119 beginning at verse 57 and through verse 64 Psalm 119 beginning at verse 57 this is the word of God you are my portion O Lord I have said that I would keep your words I intreated your favor with my whole heart be merciful to me according to your word I thought about my ways and turn my feet to your testimonies I made haste and did not delay to keep your Commandments the cords of the wicked have bound me but I have not forgotten your law at midnight I will rise to give thanks to you because of your righteous judgments I am a companion of all who fear you and of those who keep your precepts the Earth O Lord is full of your mercy teach me your statutes amen let's stand and sing together our first hymn is going to be Psalm 22b Psalm 22b as in bravo let's stand as a church and sing together [Music] his glory his PR children his stand before his stand now his on to for he his face I answer his reest praise answer is of you now I worship you and I worship you [Music] and they shall be s all see the shall and pra and never in Praise all gener to shall be what wonderous words [Music] well we'll go to our Lord God In Prayer now just a reminder while as we pray uh we are praying with one Accord a lot of the reports in the book of Acts speak to the fact that the gathered church was praying uh in one Accord not that everybody was praying praying at the same time but that the people gathered as one man or or a number of men prayed everybody was together in that act of worship and in that act of prayer so while one man may be praying it is the church that enters into the worship of the Triune God engaging in that prayer with him let's pray Heavenly Father we thank you for this time together in the worship of the one and only living and true God father Son and Holy Spirit we pray this night that we would hallow your name as we have gathered together the Saints of the Lord Jesus Christ do help us to uh be gathering and to be worshiping with a with a holy uh fear and a reverential awe uh knowing that we come before the god of Heaven and Earth we pray that you would help us in this act of worship and in these various uh elements of worship prayer the reading of the scriptures the preaching of the word and the singing of songs and and hymns and spiritual songs we pray that we would worship you in spirit and in truth and we pray that you would be honored and praised in this place tonight we do thank you for the Gospel of Jesus Christ Our precious savior we thank you that you did send him in the fullness of the times born of a woman born under the law to redeem those who are under the law that we might receive the adoption as sons and we just thank you for his life of obedience to your law his perfect life of obedience to your law in the place of all who believe in his name that perfect Act of obedience imputed to those who believe we thank you for that perfect work that perfect crosswork upon calvary's cross wherein he perfectly secured the salvation of a multitude which no man can number we thank you that he has risen again the third day that he has ascended to your right hand and that there now he ever lives to intercede for his people we do pray that you'd help us to rejoice in Christ Our Savior tonight that we would be forgiven aresh in his precious blood and that we would be such uh uh upon whose praises the Lord Jesus Christ uh stands as glorified we do pray that you'd be with Pastor Butler as he preaches your word in a number of moments we thank you for the preaching of the word for the preaching of the gospel for the preaching of the truth we pray that it we would always call it a high and a heavy honor to be able to to gather together to hear your word preach so do help us uh not to be carried off by by distractful thoughts but to be focused in this act of worship and to receive well your word preached we pray that for Christians gathered here tonight that the this act of worship would be unto edification unto strengthening in our walk with Christ and we pray for those outside of Christ present with us now those in unbelief we pray that by the power of the Holy Spirit joining the the the word proclaimed that they would leave these two doors singing the Praises of Our Redeemer we do ask Lord Lord God that all that is done tonight would be done to the praise of your glory do be with us might you be the recipient of all honor and praise and we pray that it would be unto your glory and for the good of your people this worship this evening we pray in Christ's precious name amen amen well let's stand together and sing our second hymn is going to be 170 170 let's stand and sing together [Music] the his [Music] eternal all is shin and true his all in s of PR may tast his PR and his all love so power and of God the we all his his SE the the way oface toer world beond the Stars [Music] toless us pra Mighty to your oh word receive and His holy you can turn turn in your Bibles with me to the Book of Joshua Joshua chap 10 continuing our reading consecutively through the Old Testament we read from verse one of Joshua 10 to the end of verse 15 we so we'll pick up reading at Joshua 10 at verse 16 Joshua 10 verse 16 this is the word of God but these five Kings had fled and hidden themselves in a cave at Metta and it was told Joshua saying the five Kings have been found hidden in the cave at Metta so Joshua said roll large Stones against the mouth of the cave and set Men by it to guard them and do not stay there yourselves but pursue your enemies and attack their rear guard do not allow them to enter their cities for the Lord your God has delivered them into your hand then it happened while Joshua and the children of Israel made an end of slaying them them with a very great Slaughter till they had finished that those who escaped entered fortified cities and all the people returned to the camp to Joshua at Metta in peace no one moved his tongue against any of the children of Israel then Joshua said open the mouth of the cave and bring out those five Kings to me from the cave and they did so and brought out those five Kings to him from the Cave the king of Jerusalem the king of Hebron the king K of jth the king of Leakes and the king of eglon so it was when they brought out those kings to Joshua that Joshua called for all the men of Israel and said to the captains of the men of War who went with him come near put your feet on the necks of these Kings and they drew near and put their feet on their necks then Joshua said to themo not be afraid nor be dismayed be strong and of good courage for thus the Lord will do to all your enemies against whom you fight and afterward Joshua struck them and killed them and hanged them on five trees and they were hanging on the trees until evening so it was at the time of the going down of the Sun that Joshua commanded and they took them down from the trees cast them into the cave where they had been hidden and laid large Stones against the Cave's mouth which remain until this very day on that day Joshua took Metta and struck it with its King uh Struck it and its king with the edge of the sword he utterly destroyed them all the people who were in it he let none remain he did also to the king of Metta as he had done to the king of Jericho then Joshua passed from Metta and all Israel with him to libna and they fought against libna and the Lord also delivered it and its king into the hand of Israel he struck it and all the people who were in it with the edge of the sword he let none in it but did so uh but did to its king as he had done to the king of Jericho then Joshua passed from lyna and libna and all Israel with him to lakish and they encamped against it and fought against it and the Lord delivered Leakes into the hand of Israel who took it on the second day and struck it and all the people who were in it with the edge of the sword according to all that he had done in libna then horam king of gizer came up to help leakage and Joshua struck him and his people until he left him uh until he left him none remaining from Lakes Joshua passed to eglon and all Israel with him and they encamped against it and fought against it they took it on that day and struck it with the edge of the sword all the people who were in it he utterly destroyed that day according to all that he had done in lakish so Joshua went up from eglon and all Israel with him to Hebron and they fought against it and they took it and struck it with the edge of the sword its king all its cities and all the people who were in it he left none remaining according to all that he had done to eglon but utterly destroyed it and all the people who were in it then Joshua returned and all Israel with him to deir and they fought against it and he took it and its king and all its cities they struck them with the edge of the sword and utterly destroyed all the people who were in he left none remaining as he had done to Hebron so he did to deor and its king as he had done also to libna and its king So Joshua conquered all the land the Mountain Country and the South and the lowland and the Wilderness slopes and all their kings he left none remaining but UT utterly destroyed all that breathed as the Lord God of Israel had commanded and Joshua conquered them from Kadesh Bara as far as Gaza and all the and all the country of Goan even as far as gibian all these Kings and their land Joshua took at one time because the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel then Joshua returned and all Israel with him to the camp at gilgal amen well it might be the case that some Christians would would perhaps shrink back from some of the language used here but we ought not to shrink back from the language when we hear of a great Slaughter by by virtue of the fact that the Lord God fought for Israel uh we don't come to the people of Canaan and find a people holy and upright but rather we find a people evil and wicked steeped in idolatry steeped in sexual immorality uh and steeped in all manner of iniquity and so according to the Lord God's promise God by virtue and through the armies of Joshua yet it is God who fights God conquers these people as he had promised them and wonderful language as we read throughout the account of Joshua we read this recurring language of uh that ought to instill confidence in the people of Israel that the Lord God goes before you he has delivered them into your hands and we have this wonderful report at the end here at verse 42 all these Kings and their land Joshua took at one time because the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel wonderful confidence instilled in his people people and there is as we noted last week a a a christological typology here the greater Joshua Jesus Christ fulfills that blessed eschatological fulfillment as he conquers all of his enemies under his feet he does um similarly to this particular case here in essence he does put the five Kings under his feet he puts his feet upon the necks of the kings of the Earth the nations of the Earth have been given to Christ and he conquers for his people he promises that he will build his church and the Gates of Hell will not Prevail against it so we in effect as the armies of Joshua as we go out in spiritual battle against wickedness we can be assured that God has gone before before us that he has delivered the world into the hands of the Conquering Christ let's pray Heavenly Father we thank you for your truth we rejoice in your glory and in Your Majesty we thank you for what we read with regards to you fighting for your people we thank you for the certainty of your promises as we read here the certainty of your Covenant promises to Abraham and and his seed being fulfilled in the Conquering of Canaan and we thank you that this extends even into the New Covenant where uh by virtue of that that better and greater Joshua the church does have Victory through its king the Lord Jesus Christ we do pray that that you'd be with us as we continue in worship help us to hallow your name help us to rejoice in Father Son and Holy Spirit and to sing the Praises of our precious redeeming King the Lord Jesus Christ we pray in his name amen our final hymn before the preaching of the word if you'll stand with me is hymn one uh that's Psalm 110a as in Alpha Psalm 110a let's stand and sing together to [Music] my my take your I your will your from with Mighty your against you your your people to you and on in Hol for you will change his you are a forever his will to his na he will the mighty Jes all the Earth and his will [Music] sis refresh by water will his [Music] on will you can turn with me in your Bibles to the book of Philippians as we begin this uh book by the Apostle Paul to the church in Philippi our Focus tonight will be introductory matters who the author is the the date it was written the historical situation and then just sort of an overview of some of the contents of the book I'll read chapter 1 verses 1 to 11 and our Exposition will focus specifically on verses 1 and two so beginning in verse one Paul and Timothy Bond Servants of Jesus Christ to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi with the Bishops and deacons grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ I thank my God upon every remembrance of you always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now being confident of this very thing that he who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ just as it is right for me to think this of you all because I have you in my heart in as much as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the Gospel you all are partakers with me of Grace for God is my witness how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ and this I pray that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment that you may approve the things that are excellent that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God Amen well let us pray Our Father in heaven we we thank you for this beautiful day we thankk you for the revelation of your majesty Your Glory your righteousness in the created order we thank you for the manifestation of your grace and your mercy to us in in special Revelation that that wonderful record of Christ's work on behalf of all of his people we thank you for so great a Salvation we thank you for your justifying Grace we thank you for that forgiveness of sins and the righteousness that you have given to us we pray that as we look to scripture now you would guide our thoughts that you would cause us to reflect again upon the glory of Christ and The Wonder of his church we know that you took just a handful of men and you turn the world upside down and these many years later the church marches on as our brother reminded us Jesus has promised to build his church and the Gates of Hell shall not Prevail against it we give all glory to you for that do forgive us now for all sin and all unrighteousness again guide us by the Holy Spirit and we ask ask in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ amen well as we look at this particular Epistle of Paul to the Philippians as I said it's good to do a bit of introduction to understand the nature of the letter to understand some of the things that were going on in the background how this letter came to be so I want to look first at the epistle to the Philippians specifically verse one just the general sense secondly we'll look at the apostles Ministry in Philippi which will take us to the book of Acts Acts chapter 16 and then thirdly to the greeting to the Saints in verse two grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ that's not just a literary convention in the hand of the Apostle it's something he does with each and every church because he knows that each and every church is constantly dependent upon and needful of that Grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ but first the epistle to the Philippians we note the author right from the first word Paul and then we'll look at Timothy in just a moment but notice Bond Servants of Jesus Christ Timothy was not an apostle so Paul could not have said Paul and Timothy Apostles of Jesus Christ but they were certainly bonder servants or they were certainly slaves of our Lord Jesus and again this is a usual convention in the ministry of the Apostle Paul as he writes letters he indicates that he is in fact the author and then he indicates something concerning the nature of his Apostolic Ministry all over the New Testament he stresses that not to sort of Bandy around his title or his honor uh honorific position but rather to underscore The Authority that Christ had invested in him to communicate divine revelation to the churches so in other words Paul uses his titles not to parade himself but rather to magnify the Lord Jesus and to locate the source of his authority with reference to the churches one of the specific ones that I think we should observe is in Galatians 1 specifically in verse one because I think he not only underscores the origin of his apos Apostolic ministrate but he says something very unique about our Lord Jesus Christ notice in Galatians 1 specifically at verse one Paul an apostle and then parenthetically not from men nor through man but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead now certainly Jesus was in fact is in fact man he took on our Humanity but he's a unique man he is the Divine word who became flesh for us men and for our salvation and that word but there separates men in general with the man Christ Jesus and locates the man Christ Jesus on par with God the father so Paul an apostle not from men nor through man but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead later on in that first chapter of Galatians he again underscores the nature of his authority as an apostle of our Lord Jesus Christ remember he was Saul of Tarsus he was a persecutor of the church he was an insolent man he was a blasphemer he says that if he could have he would have extinguished the church from the face of the Earth but God in his Mercy saved him Christ comes to him on that road to Damascus and then uses him to extend the church through his preaching through his ministry in the churches and then of course through his Epistles written to the various churches so he mentions himself in Philippians 1 verse one and then he mentions Timothy now the Apostle meets Timothy back in Acts chapter 16 you can turn there acts chap 16 16 specifically at verse one then he Paul came to Derby and lisra and behold a certain disciple was there named Timothy the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed but his father was Greek he was well spoken of by the Brethren who were at lisra and diconium and then note verse three Paul wanted to have him go on with him I've often thought that's probably one of the better testimonies of a particular individual in all of scripture if Paul wanted to be friends with you if Paul wanted you to go on a missionary journey if Paul wanted you to accompany him into the various places in the then Known World to proclaim the gospel I think that says something unique about the man that Paul wanted to go with him and of course he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region for they all knew that his father was great he doesn't do that for religious purposes he does that to facilitate the transition going on in terms of Gentile inclusion in the Covenant Promises of God so verse four and as they went through the city ities they delivered to them the decrees to keep which was determined by the apostles and Elders at Jerusalem so the churches were strengthened in the faith and increased in number daily so that's where we first meet Timothy the Apostle includes Timothy in several greetings to the churches which indicates that Timothy was well known amongst the churches at that time in the history of the church he's mentioned along with sylvanus sylvanus is also known as Silas in Acts chap uh 15 verse 36 when the first or the second missionary journey launches Paul and Barnabas have a bit of a a bit of a run in and so they separate ways so Paul takes Silas also known as sylvanus so Timothy is indicated with those particular men but then as well in our epistle look over at Philippians chapter 2 just to kind of drill down and see what the Apostle Paul thought of this young man Timothy in chapter 2ic specifically at verse 19 but I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly that I also may be encouraged when I know your state for I have no one likeminded who will sincerely care for your state for all seek their own not the things which are of Christ Jesus but you know his proven character that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel therefore I hope to send him at once as soon as I see how it goes with me but I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly again very glowing words a very awesome report concerning Timothy on the on the one hand he has no one Paul likeminded who will sincerely care for your State verse 21 for all seek their own not the things which are of Christ Jesus by contrast Timothy does not seek his own but he seeks only that which is of Christ Jesus so Timothy is a good servant of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ so Paul and Timothy bonder Servants of Jesus Christ literally slaves of Jesus Christ now with reference to the history of the book or the historical situation of the book the book of Acts ends with Paul in what we call a a Roman imprisonment and so when we get to Acts chapter 28 the Apostle Paul is in prison he's there for about two years this is the dates ad. 60-62 and when Paul is in that Roman imprisonment he pens several letters there he writes Ephesians Philippians Colossians and philimon we refer to those as you might guess as the prison Epistles so the prison Epistles are composed by Paul sent to the churches for their edification for their further instruction and for the building of the New Testament Canon as well when we look at the book of of Philippians we see references several references to his imprisonment notice in chapter 1 verse 7 just as as it is right for me to think this of you of you all because it is right for me to think this of I'm sorry just as it is right for me to think this of you all because I have you in my heart in as much as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the Gospel you all are partakers with me of Grace notice as well verse 13 so that it has become evident to the whole Palace guard and to all the rest that my chains are in Christ and then in verse 16 the former preached Christ from selfish ambition not sincerely supposing to add Affliction to my chains and then over in chapter 4 specifically at verse 22 which is actually a very encouraging statement concerning Paul's situation notice in verse 21 greet every saint in Christ Jesus the Brethren who are with me greet you all the saints greet you uh greet you but especially those who are of Caesar's household so Paul is in prison and he's writing these letters he's not sort of twiddling away the days he's not taking some you know Implement to track how many days he's been in prison he's being used by God for the edification of the Saints for the building up of the churches of the Lord Jesus as well Paul at least in Philippians seems to think there is a possibility that he may die now at this point in the Roman Empire probably wasn't as as bad as it was going to get with reference to Christians but it was starting to escalate a bit Nero was the emperor and Nero was pretty decent in the mid-50s because Nero had good advisors I think at times a politician is only as good as those who surround him and Nero was kept in check to large degree by those advisers near him but as time went on he became increasingly more opposed to the Church of course when Rome burned he blamed it on the Christians so at this point Paul realizes he supposes the possibility is there that he may actually die now when we get to second Timothy chapter 4 he knows he's going to die that's that great statement he fought the good fight he finished the race he kept the faith he knew that he was going to depart well here in Philippians it's sort of a a possibility and he speaks to that a couple of times look in chapter one specifically at verse 19 for I know that this will turn out for my Deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the spirit of Jesus Christ according to my Earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed but with all boldness as always so now also Christ will be magnified in my body whether by life or by death for to me to live is Christ and to die is gain but if I live on in the flesh this will mean fruit from my labor yet what I shall choose I cannot tell so again he's in prison he knows that things are increasing in terms of opposition to the church by the Roman state but he's not certain that he's going to die the potential is there notice in verse 23 for I am hard pressed between the two rather to live or die having a desire to depart and be with Christ Which is far better so given the option he doesn't mind either way if he dies he gets more Christ if he lives he gets more Christ you can't kill you can't destroy you can't hurt a man like the Apostle Paul he goes on in verse 24 nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you and being confident of this I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again and then one other place notice in Chapter 2 specifically I'm sorry chapter 2 specifically at verse 17 yes and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith I am glad and rejoice with you all so there's a references to imprisonment and the possibility or potential that he could die at the hand of the Civil state but in terms of the actual letter how does Paul get the letter there they don't have email they weren't able to text well basically what happened is that the Philippians had sent a man to the Apostle Paul to visit him in prison and this was very key and very instrumental if you were in a Roman prison in the first century you didn't get three Hots and a cot you had had defend for yourself when it came to food they didn't prepare delicious meals some carbs some proteins some fats in order that you might be sustained they were barbaric in their treatment of prisoners so if prisoners were going to eat it was going to be at the uh uh by the assistance of friends and family so if you look at Philippians CH 4 specifically at verse 14 you'll note what they did to help him nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the Gospel when I departed from Macedonia no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only for even in thessalonica you sent Aid once and again for my Necessities not that I seek the gift but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account indeed I have all and abound and am full having received from apodius the things sent from you a sweet smelling Aroma and acceptable sacrifice well pleasing to God and my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in Glory by Christ Jesus now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever amen so apodius visits Paul on the on behalf of the church in Philippi and brings him gifts brings him food brings him what he needs in order to sustain his life then Paul sends apodius back to the Philippian Church notice in Chapter 2 specifically at verse 25 yet I considered it necessary to send to you a aphroditus my brother fellow worker and fellow Soldier but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need since he was longing for you all and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick for indeed he was sick almost unto death but God had mercy on him and not only on him but on me also lest I should have sorrow upon s sorrow therefore I sent him the more eagerly that when you see him again you may rejoice and I may be less sorrowful re receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness and hold such men in esteem because for the work of Christ he came close to death not regarding his life to supply what was lacking in your service toward me so they send up aphodius he brings the gift to Paul he gets sick while he's there almost unto death and so once he returns to some degree of Health Paul sends him back so that's how they exchang letters that's how the Apostle got this word to Philippi so back to Philippians chapter 1 specifically in verse one continuing he then goes on to say to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi now the meaning of saints is simply holy ones not in the Roman Catholic sense where you do a lot of great things and then you receive sainthood but in the scriptures in the New Testament we see that Saints are those saved by grace specifically it's used as a substantive the holy uh thing or person the holy ones it comes to be as Believers loyal followers Saints and it's of Christ Christians as consecrated to God so they're set apart unto God they're Saints that's the nature of their being at this point now with reference to Philippi you go back to chapter 16 uh I'm sorry Acts chapter 16 and you'll see how Philippi is described in act 16 at verse2 and from there to Philippi which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia now with reference to the several uh uh Pro vinces that you had in the Roman Empire you had galatia Macedonia AA and and Asia and here we see that this was a foremost city of that part of Macedonia a colony but in this particular section just want to alert you to something that you'll find as you read through the book of Acts you'll see at times we sections we sections are when Luke the Beloved Physician in the language of Paul in Colossians 4 is with the missionaries and the wi sections are in chapter 16: 10-1 17 chapters 20 verse 5 to 2118 and then again in chapter 27 ver1 To chapter 28:16 so Luke under inspiration by the Holy Spirit using historical research and witness testimony and the way that he composed his uh the first volume of his book which was the Gospel According to Luke nevertheless he was present as an eyewitness to these specific accounts so these we sections indicate that Luke is with Paul in these narratives one commentator makes the observation Luke appears to have stayed on at Philippi after Paul left the first we passage concludes at Philippi at acts 16:17 the second begins there at acts 20:5 it is just possible that Luke was present in the city for the intervening seven or eight years and some have suggested that he may be the UN name true yoke fellow whom Paul asks to help Yoda and cinti to agree in the Lord according to Philippians 4:3 so Luke is an eyewitness in this part of the Miss missionary journey now in terms of the city of Philippi in 356 BC Philip of Macedon or mcadon if you listen to Dan Carlin Philip of Macedon basically took an already exist existing City and expanded it Philip of Macedon was of course the father of Alexander the Great and so at that time Philip renamed it Philippi it came under Roman control in 168 BC so Philippi was a bustling City it doesn't seem to have had a large Jewish population we'll notice that in a few moments when we look back at Acts chapter 16 when they arrive in Philippi they go down to the Riverside on the Sabbath day there wasn't a synagogue for them to go into on that Sabbath day so that would seem to indicate there wasn't a large Jewish population in Philippi at that time and then the nature of the the the the problems that Paul and Silas face in Philippi the Romans are upset because they're teaching things that are not consistent with Roman custom and they say it as kind of a pejorative way these men being Jews so there may have been a lack of a large presence of Jews there in Philippi but back to Philippians 1 it's not just the Saints but it's also the Bishops and the deacons the Bishops and the deacons now Bishop does not suggest the Roman Catholic guy that wears a big hat and presides over several churches in a particular City the word bishop and overseer and Elder are all three terms used synonymously with reference to the one office in the church that has as its primary orientation teaching and governing actually Bishop overseers same word it's Elder and Pastor those three words those three uh terms designate that one office that is about teaching and governing you can turn to Acts 20 Acts chapter 20 just to see the usage here Acts 20 specifically at verse 17 from myus he sent to Ephesus and called for note the Elders of the church he GA gathers the Elders of the church together he gives them their first pastor's conference and in verse 28 he says therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers so there's that word you've got preser Elder verse 17 you've got overseer or episcopos in verse 18 uh verse 28 and then you've got the word Pastor there to Shepherd or Pastor the Church of God which he purchased with his own blood now in terms of the qualifications for elders it's given to us in uh uh 1 Timothy 3: 1 to 7 and then we see as well in Titus 1: 5-9 but back to Philippians chapter one notice the plural form with the Bishops and deacons so what was envisioned was a plurality of Elders and a plurality of deacons in the several churches in the several cities throughout the world it is good to have a plurality now as far as deacons they are an abiding office in the life of the church and in the language of John Gil they have a three-fold function they serve the table of the Lord they serve the table of the poor and they serve the table of the minister in other words they take care of those things necessary so that the man preaching the word of God can give himself to to the word and to prayer and so the deacons are there to serve in that particular capacity they serve the table of the Lord those things specifically connected with the house of God the worship of God the administration of those Affairs the table of the poor they're Ministers of Mercy when there's a need there's benevolence the ministers or the deacons rather step up and serve in that capacity and then the table of the minister so Paul writes to the Saints in general he indicates specifically the Bishops and the deacons so that's sort of the epistle to the Philippians let's now turn to acts 16 we won't spend a long time here this is material that we have covered in the past but just get a brief overview of the Apostles Ministry in the city of Philippi which was a foremost City in that part of Macedonia so the second missionary journey as I indicated earlier starts in Acts 15 if you back up for just a moment at verse 36 in Acts 15 says then after some days Paul said to Barnabas let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark but Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in pamilia and had not gone with them to the work now later on Paul speaks favorably of John Mark it's not like he was dead to him but at that point mark had shown a little bit of uh I don't know what the word is he wasn't all in so he left them on that first missionary journey so at this second missionary journey Paul says no I I don't want John Mark with us but as I said later in the epistle uh epistle language he speaks well of Mark so it wasn't that Mark was dead to him but Paul perhaps assumed that he wasn't wasn't ready for a second missionary journey he didn't make it through the first then part uh uh then the contention this is between Paul and Barnabas became so sharp that they parted from one another and I think we shouldn't read too much into that you know some have said well you know that it says you know that that that Paul is commended that that God's blessing wasn't on Barnabas you know Brethren I I want to just by way of application say Good Men disagree from time to time and good men can disagree with a bit of heat from time to time it doesn't mean they're dead to each other it doesn't mean they write them off it doesn't mean I'll no longer have any truck with you whatsoever we really kind of need to get over ourselves there are times when we may disagree there are times when there might be a sharp contention Paul speaks favorably of Barnabas later on it's again not that either one was now treated as an anathema anathematized or anything like that there was a separation they disagreed with reference to John Mark participation so the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another and so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus but Paul chose Silas and departed being commended by the Brethren to the grace of God again you'll often hear that as you know well Paul was right in that particular debate or argument well Paul probably could have been right but that statement alone doesn't vindicate Paul's decision and it doesn't necessarily denigrate Barnabas again good man at times dis agree as I mentioned this morning Christianity is not a spectator sport if we can't disagree and still love each other we haven't learned the way of Jesus well we we need to be able to to to bump into each other once in a while to rub up against each other not in some weird way but but to to to engage in things wherein we don't end relationships that's that's never a good thing and so Paul went through Syria and cissa strengthening the churches so the second mission Ary Journey Begins in 1536 and concludes in 1822 not the year but in the chapter in the book of Acts that would take us or that uh the time in history was about ad 49 to 52 so the apostle was very active now when we see the the the ministry in Philippi it's important for us to understand how they got there I'm not talking about the logistics did they sail did they walk did they ride donkeys or whatever but note 16 6 note 166 now when they had gone through Fria and the region of galatia they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia after they had come to missia they tried to go into bethenia but the spirit did not permit that just like we saw there in the reading in Joshua chapter 10 God fought for Israel he does it through the means of Joshua and his armies when they launched that that that that camp campaign against the various IES in the land they're the ones swinging swords they're the ones chopping off heads they're the ones slaughtering it's God in the midst it's God through it's God in those particular means I think that's the way we're supposed to interpret or understand this the spirit is active in the church the spirit is active in these missionaries the spirit bids them go and they go where he demands that they go so notice in verse eight so passing by missia they came down to troad and Vision appeared to Paul in the night a man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him saying come over to Macedonia and help us now after he had seen the vision immediately we sought to go to Macedonia note their conclusion come over and help us that's a broad question it's a broad ask it's a general thing come come help us with what come help us with food come help us with clothing come help us with shelter come help us learn new skills so we can get better jobs in the Roman Empire no look at what they concluded the help that was necessary in the co uh in the province of Macedonia now after he had seen the vision immediately we sought to go to Macedonia concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them that ultimately is the help that every tribe every tongue every people every nation needs under Heaven yes many of them need food many of them need water many of them need clothing many of of them need shelter many of them need training and how to get better jobs how to grow their own food I'm not suggesting that that ought not to be an Enterprise that Christians take on but the primary emphasis that we see throughout scripture is the proclamation of Christ and him crucified it is the proclamation of the Gospel of free and Sovereign Grace for the Salvation of Sinners such that they may be justified such that they may be Sanctified such that they may be glorified and enter into that new Jerusalem so help is indeed a broad concept but they went specifically to the very substance of it in bringing the gospel to them so when they get to Philippi we see the first converts it's intriguing to see who the foundation members were in the life of the church in Philippi the first was Lydia notice in chapter 16 specifically at verse 13 and on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the Riverside where prayer was customarily made and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there now a certain woman named Lydia heard us she was a Sellar of purple from the city of thota who worshiped God the Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul the church was not born out of the wisdom of men the church was born out of the power of God the effectual call of Lydia and when she and her household were baptized she begged us saying if you have judge me to be faithful to the Lord come to my house and stay so she persuaded us the next section you have the the the The Exorcism of a python spirit this slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination literally a python Spirit we notice specifically at verse 17 this girl followed Paul and us and cried out saying these men are the Servants of the most high God who proclaimed to us the way of Salvation and this she did for many days but Paul greatly annoyed turned and said to the spirit I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her and he came out of uh uh came out that very hour but when her master saw that their hope of profit was gone They seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities so you see this is the ministry there this Exorcism of this python Spirit arouses the the enmity of these men who who made money off this poor girl and what do they do they bring them to the magistrate notice in verse 20 what happens to the girl with the python Spirit who had it exercised the text doesn't indicate but that Paul needed to go to this prison is absolutely crucial remember we're building the foundation of the church in Philippi we've got Lydia whom the Lord had opened her heart by the Riverside on the Sabbath day there's a Jailer that needs to be one of those sort of founding members of the church as well so notice in verse 20 they brought them to the magistrates and said these men being Jews exceedingly trouble our city and they teach Customs which are not lawful for us being Romans to receive or observe then the multitude rose up together against them and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods and when they had laid many stripes on them they threw them into prison commanding the Jailer to keep them securely having received such a charge he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stock as we saw this morning Jesus says if the world hates you know that it first hated me that it hated me first so the Apostle Paul understood experientially what he would write in 2 Timothy 3 when he says all who desire to live Godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution he's not just making that up he's not just doing that for literary effect he understood all too well because he had experienced that kind of mistreatment and of course that takes us to the jail in Philippi notice at verse 25 but at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God this is the Psalms they were singing the Psalms of David to God and the prisoners were listening to them suddenly there was a great earthquake so that the foundations of the prison were shaken and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed and The Keeper of the prison awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open supposing the prisoners had fled drew his sword and was about to kill himself he understood All Too Well if the prisoners escaped his charge that was going to happen to him he'd be executed for dereliction of Duty he would have been reprimanded well you know just don't do that again that that's not the way military operations function if you're derelict and duty to the degree where you actually lose well probably not today they'd probably give you an award or a medal if you messed up that badly but with reference to this particular fellow he's about to kill himself because he knew all too well that's what was going to happen anyway but Paul called with a loud voice saying do yourself no harm for we are all here then he called for a light ran in and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas and he brought them out and said sers what must I do to be saved so they said believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved you and your household so in that Macedonian Vision the man that appears to the Apostle Paul says come and help us They concluded that we were to go and preach the gospel there so what do Paul do he goes to the Riverside on the Sabbath he preaches the gospel and the Lord opens Lydia's heart he exercises his python Spirit from this poor girl he ends up in prison and all that according to the Sovereign plan and purpose of God we might be tempted to read that well that doesn't seem fair in fact Paul chastens and Cha uh uh uh chastises and reproves the the the Romans in in terms of his own citizenship we'll look at that in just a moment but notice Paul had to be in this prison Paul had to be the one to point this Jailer to the Lord Jesus verse 32 then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house and he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes and immediately he and all his were baptized now when he had brought them into his house he set food before them and he rejoiced having believed in God with all his household now brethren in this next section I just want to look at this by way of a glance the Apostle invoked his citizenship on time from time to time you know you hear people that say well you know we're citizens of of heaven and we are Paul says that Philippians chapter 3 but we're often times and most of the time and I'd say all the time citizens in some form of body politic God calls us to function responsibly as Citizens and a body politic there are times to abdicate the emphasis on that citizenship and and just suffer with Jesus but there's other times that you can invoke your citizenship to some good you Apostle Paul does that on occasion he's not against that he's not against the idea that you would ever invoke your invoke your particular citizenship to try to gain an advantage no Paul would gain advantages not in a sinful way but for the glory of Christ notice in verse 35 and when it was day the magistrate sent the officer saying let those men go so The Keeper of the prison reported these words to Paul saying the magistrates have sent to let you go now therefore depart and go in peace but Paul said to them they they have beaten us openly uncondemned Romans he he he he says and have thrown us into prison and now do they put us out secretly no indeed let them come themselves and get us out Roman jurus Prudence was the the the the model of the the world these guys prided themselves on law in order and Paul says they've abused every every possible jot in tile of Law and Order there they think they're going to just wave the hand and dismiss us and we're going to go on our merry little way this is what it looks like to speak truth to power not even from a Christian point of view from a citizenship point of view a natural law order thing God made us creatures to dwell with one another there are governments there are civil polities but there's rules you can't just beat people up you can't just throw them into prison you can't just stick them away turn the key and throw the key away that's unacceptable behavior and so Paul has no problem calling that unacceptable Behavior out and I think that's something at least by way of illustration that we should keep in mind with reference to our role as Citizens in the body politic so that's essentially the founding of the church in Philippi again not many wise not many noble but the power of God demonstrated now Lydia was pretty noble she was a seller of purple fabric she made money no doubt she was a successful businesswoman as we might say and then the Jailer again probably a uh not not the most sought-after job in the Empire at that particular time but that's the founding of the church now back to Philippians chapter 1 as I said the pronouncement of grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ that's the greetings proper as I said Paul knows that the people of God stand in constant need of God's grace and peace how do you do Church Without Grace and peace Paul says therefore having been justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ in Romans 51 he wants them to be keenly aware of conscious of that peace he wants them to receive that Grace that flows from God the father and our Lord Jesus Christ the fact that we have that coordinating an there between God the father and the Lord Jesus Christ I think that indicates something of the essential Unity of the godhead and the reference to the father and the son highlights the distinction of persons in the godhead when Paul refers to the Trinity he doesn't do so as if he's writing some long Treatise he assumes the doctrine of the Trinity and he employs or or or deploys the doctrine of the Trinity just comfortably and simply grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ the origin the father mediated by the Sun goes to the people of God to facilitate and to uh enable them to live with one another now in conclusion the nature of the letter it's not like Galatians Galatians in the language of Maan is a fighting epistle it's very polemic that's not Philippians as well it's not like First Corinthians if you were to ask what church had the most drama in the first century it would be Corinth Philippians is not like that some have kind of read in more to the eoda and ciny thing in 43 than I think is is necessary for the most part it's a very gracious joyfill Unity encouraging letter not a lot of backdrop of a lot of horrible things the possibility of his death has suggested to some that it's kind of a farewell letter of sorts he's very close to he very much appreciates he very much loves this church so it's kind of that farewell thing when a man comes to his 11th hour he surrounds himself with his family he passes blessing on to them he encourages them and exhorts them there there's definitely some pmic sections when he's fighting off judaizers in chapter uh chapter 3 but again if there wasn't a huge Jewish community in Philippi he's saying it because of his experience in other churches specifically in the churches of Southern galatia where they really had a problem with judaizing so the emphasis in the P epistle as a whole as Paul is want to do Doctrine and practical application now in terms of the contents I would just suggest that the four chapters afford these four observations in chapter one we have an exhortation to uh to life lived in light of the Gospel I think that's summarized for us well in chapter 1 vers vers 27 again there are many other things going on in these chapters if I had to just isolate sort of one thought out of each chapter it is life lived in light of the Gospel notice in 127 only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ so that whether I come and see you or am absent I may hear of your Affairs that you stand fast in one spirit with one mind striving together for the faith of the Gospel I think that's reflected in the rest of chapter 1 the contents of his prayer in chapter 1 verses 9 to1 11 what does he want he wants them to engage in a life lived in light of the Gospel the example of his life itself in chapter 1: 19- 26 Paul is not shy of saying look here's my example I want you to follow it again not because he's the holiest of men but because as an apostle of Jesus Christ Having learned from Christ having been given these things he wants them to have a real world life example that they can follow and in the subject of his exhortation there especially in verses 27 to 30 now in the second chapter we have an exhortation to pursue Unity through humility that's what I think is happening there in verses 1 to 4 therefore if there is any consolation in Christ if any comfort of love if any Fellowship of the spirit if any affection and mercy fulfill my Joy by being like-minded having the same love being of one Accord of one mind let nothing be done through selfish ambition or con se but in lowliness of Mind Let each esteem others better than himself let each of you look out not only for his own interest but also for the interests of of others and then he uses three examples to sort of ground this admonition the first is the glory of Christ that's what we see there in verses 5 to 11 and one of the most wonderful New Testament passages full of Crystal ogical weight again verse 5 let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus that connects very much to verses 1 to4 be others minded the way that Jesus was but also the example of Timothy in chapter 2: 19- 24 the example of edtis in verses 25 to3 it's somewhat connected to the exhortation and admonition of chapter 2 verses 1 to 4 be a Jesus be a Timothy be an apodius don't be the the sort of deadbeat that is always insisting upon his own rights and ways and will but rather give deference to others thirdly the third chapter I think the emphasis Falls pretty heavy on the condemnation of a Works righteousness approach in chapter 3: 1 to 11 it's a wonderful statement wonderful declaration a wonderful highlighting of the doctrine of justification by faith alone it's a glorious statement with reference to Paul's experience and what he learned having been a Pharisee and now coming under the the sway of our blessed savior and then in chapter 4 there's Commendation there's some exhortation to be sure but he really commends them for their generosity there's a parallel to this in 2 Corinthians chapter 8 you know the text in verse 9 for you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that though he was rich yet for your sakes he became poor that you through his poverty might become rich well that's in a context it's Paul telling the Corinthians to start coughing up money not so Paul can buy a new car or not so Paul can go on a vacation but so that the Churches of Christ in Judea specifically could eat because there was a famine so Paul is exhorting and admonishing them to follow the example of Jesus in a liberality but before he gets to Jesus he deals with the Philippians the ones in Macedonia the ones that they didn't have a lot themselves but what little they had they were large-hearted with it and they coughed up they went to amarate the downtrodden and the poor in so far as they were able so again lots of things going on in chapter 4 but we ought not to miss Paul's fondness with reference to these Philippians and the Commendation that he gives and then of course the gospel looms large in everything that Paul takes pen to paper to there's specific references to the gospel all throughout the substance of the Gospel is Philippians 2:5-11 the the death of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross his resurrection his exaltation again to the right hand of the most high the condemnation of false gospels in verses 1 to6 in chapter 3 he's condemning judaizing he's condemning a Works righteousness Approach To Our God and then of course in verses 7 to 11 in chapter 3 he sets forth forth the glory of Jesus Christ and the Salvation wrought by him with a particular emphasis on the imputed righteousness of Christ to those who believe look at 39 39 a wonderful statement I mentioned before that NT Wright thinks that the imputation of the active Obedience of Jesus Christ is fictional he mocks it Brethren this is where we hang our hats we need the blood of Jesus J Christ the son to cleanse us from all unrighteousness we need the righteousness of Jesus Christ to clothe us so that we may enter into the presence of God most high accepted in the Beloved notice 39 this is a great place to end and be found in him not having my own righteousness which is from the law but that which is through faith in Christ the righteousness which is from God by faith amen praise God bless His holy name that we've been forgiven and that we've been given a righteousness well let us pray Our Father we thank you for this epistle to the Philippians we thank you for all scripture we know it's given by inspiration of God we know its profitability in our hearts and lives I pray that you would go with us now watch over us in this coming week help us to glorify you in all things and we praise you for a good Lord's day together we thank you for the Saints of Christ we thank thank you for the house of God we thank you for the day of God upon which we can worship go with us now we pray in Jesus holy name amen we'll close with a brief time of meditation e e