“He will complete what He has started” v6
INTRODUCTION
This is the first of a four part study in this lovely letter of Paul –
ideally suited for the New Millennium. Paul is writing to the Philippian church
from prison. Exactly where is not entirely clear – but the internal references
seem to favour Rome.
He is concerned that the believers will have heard of his imprisonment
and will be worrying about him. He is also concerned as with all the churches
he founded, that they continue in the faith.
The background to the Church at Philippi is in Acts 16.
OUTLINE
vv
3-11 Paul’s Prayer
vv
12-18a Paul’s Problem
vv
18b-30 Paul’s confident Plan
These are woven together with the bright threads of joy and
thankfulness. Undoubtedly the secret of
Paul’s ability to face the present problem lies in his attitude, an attitude
transformed by joy.
How did he come by such joy – in prison?
He had a definite pattern to his devotional life – as witnessed in all
his letters – but in this one particularly: he begins with Prayer and
Thanksgiving.
He has a buoyant mood as he begins to write and it carries him along
from prayer to a different view of his prison – and on again to optimistic
plans for the future. This is made
easier for him because of the growth and stewardship of the Philippian church
as well as Epaphroditus’ healing and Timothy’s interest. (Ch.2)
Look
at the memorable verses in the passage.
V6 He
who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion
V18 Christ is preached – and I
rejoice
V21 For to me to live is Christ
and to die is gain
That’s how it goes for Paul. As he celebrates in prayer the work of
Jesus amongst the believers at Philippi he gains a new understanding of his own
difficult situation and is able to anticipate better days ahead!
His own circumstances might lead him into depression and a sense of
failure – but he prays, and in his praying reflects on what God has done and
will do. He does not dwell on his own
situation – but his heart goes out to those in Philippi for whom the Lord had
become precious.
Yet this is a realistic passage – in which Paul honestly weighs up the
possibility of dying or of continuing to serve the Church.
His language is
full of deep feeling. He honestly
believes that he is entitled to feel as deeply about these believers as he
does. That depth of feeling saves him from a narrow self-centred view in his
prison circumstances.
In addition a phrase keeps recurring: (5, 7, 12, 16,
27, 27.) “the gospel”. One writer has
called this book the Book of the Unconquerable Gospel.[i]
For nine years
Paul has known the Philippian Christians – his zeal for their growth and
development in Christ has not diminished.
3 I thank my God every time I remember
you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because
of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident
of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion
until the day of Christ Jesus.
7 It is right for me to feel this way about
all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or
defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. 8
God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ
Jesus.
9 And this is my prayer: that your love may
abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be
able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of
Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus
Christ-to the glory and praise of God.
At the heart of his prayer is the memorable verse – and source of his
confidence:
6 being confident of this, that he
who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of
Christ Jesus.
All prayer has at its heart the character of God and His promises. Individual prayers build on that and often claim specific promises. Here Paul focuses on the certainty of God’s work being completed
As we shall see this becomes a dominant theme in the letter as a whole – and it came to him as he prayed for them.
So prayer is a good place to begin – not just the one-line prayer for help at a time of need – but the considered pattern of prayer for others and the work of the gospel.
Now – as we look at his prayer we can see :
o The pattern and manner of his praying 3-6
o The heart of the apostle as he prays 7+8
o The substance of his request for them 9-11
His favourite word “all” appears many times. We can see that prayer for the believers dominated his praying – and praying was regular and fervent. He doesn’t claim to pray for them all the time, but it is certain he did so frequently, and when he did he thanked God and prayed with joy.
His prayer focuses on the two-way relationship: to God and to his fellow workers. If you like a horizontal and vertical component.
But the constant aspect of his prayers is THANKFULNESS.
This kind of praying lifts the heart above personal matters it focuses on God who has been at work, is at work and will finish His work in the believers. On these wings of prayer Paul rises above the prison and achieves a joy in the face of hardship.
The apostle wants the Philippians to know how he feels about them
7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. 8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
I have you in my heart … you share in God’s grace with me … I long for all of you …
The first mention of his circumstances comes here “whether I am in chains”. Paul is aware of the distance and the circumstances that separate him from his friends. But he wants them to know how much he loves them.
This is real feeling
It is entirely appropriate feeling
It is a feeling measured by the love of Christ.
The Christian family is bound not just by a common faith – but by the deeply felt emotions that start from the love of Christ.
9 And this is my prayer: that your love may
abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be
able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of
Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus
Christ-to the glory and praise of God.
If we were in Paul’s shoes we might say “I pray that I may soon be released to come and visit you again.” But Paul had begun with thankfulness. He had chosen his promise – that of the completing work of God – and so, as he prayed for the Ephesian Christians so he asks for the Philippians
Love abounding
Discernment and good conduct
That which glorifies Christ.
12 Now I want you to know, brothers, that
what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. 13 As a
result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone
else that I am in chains for Christ. 14 Because of my chains, most of the
brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more
courageously and fearlessly.
15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16 The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defence of the gospel. 17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.
The Philippian Christians need to know how Paul sees his situation. They have heard of his circumstances – and you can well imagine how they would react. Paul wants them to know how he feels about it.
Aren’t we surprised to hear no word of complaint?
Of course there were other views of it. That is why he uses the word “really” in v12. The enemies of Christ would see it differently too – but he has applied to himself what he has just been saying: it has “served to advance the Gospel”.
Paul has lifted up his eyes to the greatest work of God in his age – the spread of the Gospel.
He slots himself into that world view: “I am in chains for Christ” and those very chains are not a cause for misery and complaint – they fit into the strategy of God’s Gospel!
See how he describes his imprisonment:
o
Served to advance
the gospel
o
In chains for
Christ
o
An encouragement
to others to preach Christ
It is that last point that strikes us here very forcibly. Paul tells us that because of his imprisonment others are stirred up to speak. Two motives are negative “envy and rivalry” “selfish ambition” “not sincerely” - one positive “goodwill” “in love”. But what matters, says Paul, is that Christ is preached and that’s cause for rejoicing.
This is an astonishing claim – that it doesn’t matter why they preach but that they do!
In one sense it ‘s a bit like the adage ‘there is not such thing as bad publicity’ all publicity is to be valued.
This is what happens when Paul – whom we often admire for refusing to compromise – gets a fresh global view of God at work in the gospel. Why isn’t he concerned about preaching from wrong motives? He recognises that everything that forwards the cause of Christ is to be received with joy.
Paul has developed a new perspective on his present problems. He can view the chains and the spiteful stirring up of opinion against him – as part of the inexorable progress of the gospel in the world.
The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.
His priorities have shifted. That way comes joy in the prison cell.
Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 for
I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus
Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. 20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no
way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ
will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live
is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will
mean fruitful labour for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am
torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by
far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25
Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of
you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that through my being with
you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.
27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a
manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only
hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit,
contending as one man for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened
in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be
destroyed, but that you will be saved-and that by God. 29 For it has been
granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to
suffer for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had,
and now hear that I still have.
Whether by life or
death …
Paul comes now to a personal reflection on his situation. A reflection that faces up to the stark realities as they may be. Yet he is led firmly to the confident conclusion that he will see them again.
He is up-beat about his situation. (19)
19 for I know that through your prayers and the help given
by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my
deliverance.
It isn’t that Paul is somehow unfeeling of his situation – on the contrary, he is acutely aware of the possibility that he might fail (v20). This was something that worried the apostle throughout his ministry – that, having preached to others, he might be disqualified.
1 Cor 9:27
No, I beat my body and make it
my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be
disqualified for the prize.
20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be
ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be
exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
His world view is clearly summed up in what you might call Paul’s Motto:
21
For
to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
What is the focus – the subject of that great statement? The focus is JESUS!
Once you have a clear view of Christ and His world view then it is possible to face the worst that life can throw at you with supreme confidence.
It does not mean the doubts disappear – or that the fears are banished altogether – but as Paul says you can have “sufficient courage”.
As Paul emerges from the shadows he reasons that it is in their best interests that he survives – even though he can see the attraction in both possibilities
23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;
His view is shifted – from the
chain
To the Christ
To the Christians in Philippi
He arrives at his positive conclusion:
25 Convinced of this, I know that I will
remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the
faith, 26 so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will
overflow on account of me.
He applies it to THEM in verses 27 – 30
27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of
the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you
in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one
man for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those
who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that
you will be saved -- and that by God. 29 For it has been granted to you on
behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, 30
since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that
I still have.
In the past the Philippians had witnessed his struggle (v30) and now they are hearing in his letter that he still struggles.
Like Paul they are expected to share not only the faith in Jesus but His sufferings (29)
Although the struggle is very real (v30) the overwhelming principle at work in Paul
In prison
In Rome
In Philippi is the gospel of Christ
See how often he refers to it in this chapter as a whole:
5 because of your partnership in the
gospel from the first day until now,
7 It is right for me to feel this way about all
of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending
and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me.
12 Now I want you to know, brothers, that what
has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.
16 The latter do so in love, knowing that I am
put here for the defence of the gospel.
And here twice in
27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a
manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you
or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one
spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel
o It is the Grand Plan of God
o It means that those included in it are not left unfinished – but brought to completion
o It colours our view of motive in preaching Christ
o It is the present guarantee of a purpose and fellowship
o It leads into the light of glory
with Christ, which is better by
far v23
Like Paul we can have a devotional life which will transform our view of present circumstances
o Prayer and thanksgiving shifting the focus away from ourselves to Him and His great work the Gospel
o
Problem given a new perspective as we
consider others and the way God
completes His plan
o
Plan for the future in a way which glorifies
Jesus.
© David
A. Green BD Spring 2000