Philippians 1:1-11

 

 

A positive attitude without a positive faith will result in positive failure.

Stan Toler

 

 

Building a Strong Foundation:                                                                                            v. 1-8

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:

2Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3I thank my God every time I remember you. 4In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

7It 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.8God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

 

1.         We are all building a spiritual house.                   Matthew 7:24-25

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.

 

2.         We must all live in the house we build.                      Matthew 7:26

But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.

 

3.         We must all face the storms of life.                             Matthew 7:27

The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.

 

 

Building to Enjoy Our Faith:                                                                                             v. 9-11

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, 11filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus ChristCto the glory and praise of God.

 

1.         Pray for divine love .                                                           1 John 3:1-3

 

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.2Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.3Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.

 

2.         Pray for divine grace .                                                Ephesians 2:8-9

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faithCand this not from yourselves, it is the gift of GodC9not by works, so that no one can boast.

 

3.         Pray for divine power .                                                         Luke 24:49

I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.