Phillipians

Hey, thanks so much for greeting one another.

And uh just good morning.

And uh, I'm David, one of the pastors here, and this is Sayay.

Everybody knows Say?

Yeah.

He's one of the pillars here at Awakening, and uh guys, we have a really uh cool opportunity.

Uh, Sayay is gonna prepare us for communion as we're just gonna saturate ourselves in some scripture prior to that.

And uh, if you're new to church, maybe just new to this whole thing of communion, it's just good for you to know it's a sacred, symbolic act that the church has been doing for thousands of years to remind ourselves of the sacrificial death that Jesus had on the cross for our for our uh for our sin penalty.

And uh what we see is that Jesus actually commanded us to have communion on a regular basis, and we see that this cup represents that blood spilled on our behalf, the the bread representing the body broken on our behalf.

And so it's something that we head into uh not we don't take it lightly, and so we really want to use this time here today to just prepare our hearts, and we're gonna do that in a really unique way with Say because we're gonna be uh saturating ourselves underneath the book of Philippians.

If you're not familiar with that book, it really illustrates this incredible loving sacrifice of Jesus and also how it pertains to how we are to live as well, too.

And so, Say, we know that following uh the death and resurrection of Jesus, there was this uh explosion of the early church under the leadership of the Apostle Peter, but also the Apostle Paul.

He was once a terrorist towards the Christians, turned his life over to Jesus, became a serial church planter, wrote this letter to the Church of Philippi.

Tell us a little bit about the background of what we're about to uh receive today.

Sure, we'd love to.

Good morning, awakening.

What an honor it is to share God's word with you.

And um, the context behind the book of Philippians is that around the year AD 50, Paul, in one of his missionary trips, actually his second missionary trip to a city called Philippi in the Macedonian region, which today we know as Greece, planted what some scholars think is the first church in Europe.

He planted that church, and you could read about it in the book of Acts, in Acts chapter 16.

Acts 16 · chapter mention

And uh few years later, Paul is arrested for his faith in Rome, and he's under house arrest, so he's allowed visitors.

One of the visitors who visits him is a guy named Epaphroditus, who is actually from the church of Philippi.

He visits Paul and brings gifts, like in terms of money, I guess, and other items that Paul needed to support him financially.

He talks to Paul about how the Philippians' church is doing, like their struggle with the opposition they're facing in those early days of church, fear of imprisonment and persecution, and the challenges that they have.

So Paul decides to write this letter that we now know as the Philippians to the Philippians church, letting them know how much he loves them, how much he prays for all of them, he encourages them in their faith.

He reminds them of the humility of Christ and his exaltation.

He warns them of some false teaching that was going on back then, where some were claiming you have to first become a Jew, like be circumcised first before you could become a Christian, and he dispels that.

And then he thanks, oh, he actually also reminds them how Christ himself transformed him from being Saul the prop persecutor of church to a servant of Christ.

And then he thanks them for their financial support.

So that's really the context of the letter of Philippians that we know of.

Oh, and by the way, he has Apophroditus take this letter back to Philippians.

So this is the letter that's almost 2,000 years old, and to this date and forever, it's going to bless the church because it's powerful.

It's powerful, and and just like you said, Say, 2,000 years ago, but at the same time, uh what we realize is that when uh God spoke, we talk about God breathed, is what the scriptures say, that it's the words of God, yet leveraging the specific personality and context of the author.

And even though there's some really specific applications for the audience of that time, there are some timeless truths that are there for us to apply.

And that's what we want to see occur here.

And so we just need to recognize that anytime we read scripture, anytime we hear scripture, it's God speaking.

Okay?

It's God speaking.

And so uh, Say, when it comes to just the power of God's word, tell us a little bit about your journey when it comes to just engaging scripture and just how it's impacted you.

Sure.

So I used to read the word for information, for knowledge, for devotion, and then about nine years ago I sort of started memorizing verses, like key verses, like John 3.16 that most of us know.

And I would actually write them down on these two by four notebooks, and uh I would carry them with me everywhere.

I would speak it to myself, and I would allow my ears to hear me speak it.

You know, there is actually two parts to memorizing one we get caught up with, which is actual act of memorizing, and then once we're memorized the verse, we think like we're done.

But the actual power comes in when we speak it, when we say it.

Because you see, our minds are not empty.

They are every day they're filled with when we wake up, what we read, like on social media.

Most of us, I guess, grab our phones and or what we hear or during work, what we talk about.

And then there are internal thoughts, our own perceptions of ourselves that speak to us every day.

There is a voice inside of me that speaks non-stop.

This voice sometimes it's anxious, sometimes it's insecure, sometimes it's fearful of the unknown.

Sometimes it's doubtful of God's goodness, especially when my prayers haven't been answered, sometimes critical of my own, what I lack.

And I realize that nothing shapes me more quietly, more consistently, than the words I allow to echo in my mind.

Now the word of God wasn't only meant to save us, it was meant to heal our minds.

The word of God was meant to show us how God sees us, not how the world or even we see ourselves.

And when you repeat the word of God over and over again, when you allow your mind to process it, to recirculate it, to listen to you speaking it, there is actually not just comfort that you feel, there is actually a rewiring that's happening in your brain.

So the truth of that powerful word will actually counter the lies that we've led to believe and accept in our own lives.

And that truth, over time, just like workout, just like building muscles, over time will actually remove the lies and replace them with the truth.

The word of God, when repeated over and over again, doesn't only become a memory, it actually becomes a transformation.

Now you might be going through a struggle, a life challenge today.

And my prayer is that as we hear the word of God, as you let it wash over you, that it will strengthen you in your faith and it will encourage you to grow deeper roots into the word.

And I want to add this too, before I start, that I want to dedicate this recitation to our brothers and sisters in Iran, where I come from, especially with all the news that we hear.

I want to dedicate it to them because they are among the fastest growing persecuted church in the world.

And it is very hard in Iran to grow as a Christian, especially when you're converted to Christianity, because it's not easy to share your faith and you're constantly under the threat of being imprisoned, thrown in prison for months, for God knows how long.

So the believers there have learned to memorize the scripture.

Because when they're arrested, when they're imprisoned, their Bibles are confiscated.

So having the word of God in their heart encourages them, strengthens them in those times of trouble.

Thanks, Sahib.

We know these uh words today, very personal and uh just like you said, very powerful.

And that's what we want to experience here today as a church.

And so uh Say would love for you uh prior to really, we're gonna be sitting under, and like you said, washed over the entirety of the book of Philippians and then head into communion.

But before we engage, would love for you just to open us up in prayer.

Thank you.

Yes, amen.

Dear Lord, we thank you for this opportunity, for the power of your word.

We thank you that you haven't left us as orphans trying to figure life out on our own.

You've equipped us with your rod and with your staff.

You've equipped us with your spirit and with your word.

Lord, I pray that the powerful truth of your word will wash over us today and transform us.

I pray this in Jesus' name.

Amen.

So I'm gonna read or recite from the NIV translation.

Take a deep breath.

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all God's holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and the deacons.

Grace and peace be yours from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I thank my God every time I remember you.

In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.

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.

It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart.

And whether I'm in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you sharing God's grace with me, God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

And this is my prayer that your love may abound in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is good and maybe pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.

Now, brothers and sisters, I want you to know that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.

As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.

And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.

It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill.

The latter do so out of love, knowing that I'm put here in defense of the gospel.

The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing they can stir trouble for me while I'm here in chains.

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.

Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and God's provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.

I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me.

Yet what shall I choose?

I do not know.

I'm torn between the two.

I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far.

But it's more necessary for you that I remain 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, so that through my being with you again, your boasting in Christ will abound on account of me.

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 the one spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel, 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.

For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him.

Since you're going through the same struggle you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

Not looking to your own interests, but each of you to the interests of the others.

In your relationships with one another, I need to take a sip.

Last time I was doing this at Amago Day, I took a sip and I forgot where I was.

And somebody out in the audience yelled, Oh, I'm like, thank you.

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus, who being in very nature, God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage.

Rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness, being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death.

Even death on a cross.

Therefore, God exalted him to the highest.

Place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence.

Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.

For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his purpose.

Do everything without grumbling or arguing.

Children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.

Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.

And then I'll be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.

But even if I'm being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.

So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you.

I have no one else like you who will show genuine concern for your welfare.

For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.

But you know, Timothy has proved himself because as a son with his father, he has served with me in the work of the gospel.

I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me.

And I'm confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.

But I think it's necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier, who's also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs, for he longs for all of you, and is distressed because you heard he was ill.

Indeed, he was ill and almost died.

But God had mercy on him, not on him only, but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow.

So then welcome him in the Lord with great joy and honor people like him, because he almost died for the work of Christ.

He risked his life to make up for the help that you yourselves could not give me.

Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord.

It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.

Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh, for it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh, though I myself have reasons for such confidence.

If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more circumcised on the eighth day of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews.

In regard to the law, a Pharisee, as for zeal, persecuting the church, as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.

But whatever were gains to me, I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.

What's more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I've lost all things.

I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that is based on the law, but that which is through faith in Christ Jesus.

The righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.

I want to know Christ, yes.

To know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so somehow attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I've already obtained all this or have arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took a hold of me.

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.

But one thing I do, forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

All of us then who are mature should take such a view of things.

And if on some point you think different, that too God will make clear to you.

Only let us live up to what we've already attained.

Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters.

And just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.

For as I have often told you before, and now tell you again, even with tears.

Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.

Their destiny is destruction.

Their God is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame.

Their mind is set on earthly things.

But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for.

My joy and my crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends.

I plead with Eudea and I plead with Syntiche to be of the same mind in the Lord.

Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they've contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers whose names are in the book of life.

Rejoice in the Lord.

Always, I will say it again: rejoice.

Let your gentleness be evident to all.

The Lord is near.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, present your requests to God, and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable.

If anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.

Whatever you've learned or received or heard from me, put into practice, and the God of peace will be with you.

I need another sip, and we're almost there.

I rejoiced greatly that at last you renewed your concern for me.

Indeed you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.

I'm not saying this because I'm in need, for I have learned to be content, whatever the circumstances.

I know what it is to live.

Whoops.

I know what it is to have to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.

I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want, I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.

Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only.

For even when I was in Thessalonica, you send me aid more than once when I was in need.

Not that I desire your gifts.

What I desire is that more be credited to your account.

I have received full payment and have more than enough.

I am amply supplied now that I've received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent.

They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

To our God and Father, be glory forever and ever.

Amen.

Greet all God's people in Christ Jesus.

The brothers and sisters who are with me, send greetings.

All God's people here send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar's household.

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with your spirit.

Amen.

Can we all stand in response to God's word in worship?

Thank you.

And we're going to take communion as the worship king leads us.

We hope you're blessed by this message.

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