Providence Church of San Diego

I) Rejoicing in the Face of Death

“In a very real sense, the epitome of joy is reached when the circumstances are ultimately negative, because that throws you totally on the relationship, throws you totally on faith, and you extract nothing out of circumstances. You know the pure joy of a living relationship with the living Christ. That's where Paul is. He is chained to a Roman soldier and will be during this imprisonment in Rome for about two years. He will know no privacy. The soldiers will exchange chains through, around the clock, through the weeks and months. And he will always be chained to a soldier. He's lost his freedom. It's an incarceration of, in some sense, very difficult proportions, and yet he understands the joy of the Lord. The key to this section, verse 18, the second half of verse 18, "In this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice." Now there we kind of unlock the issue here. Paul is talking about his joy.” John MacArthur

A) Rejoicing because of the promises of the Word of God (Job 13:6; Romans 8:28; 1 Peter 3:13-22)

“Like Job, Paul fully believed that God would one day deliver him, both from his physical afflictions and from the false accusations of those who wrongly insisted that all of his suffering was the result of iniquity.” John MacArthur

B) Rejoicing because of the prayers of the Saints (James 5:16; Ephesians 6:18-19; 1 Thessalonians 5:25; Romans 15:30)

“He expected great results from the prayers of the church. That is certain from the text. He expected evil to be turned to good, and himself to be helped onward in the divine life. Beloved, my heart has no deeper conviction than this, that prayer is the most efficient spiritual agency in the universe, next to the Holy Ghost. He is omnipotent, and doeth as he wills; but next to the omnipotence of the in-dwelling Spirit is the potence of prayer. “Ask, and ye shall receive; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you:” this great charter of the church of Jesus Christ confers upon her powers which are almost, if not quite, omnipotent; and if a church will but pray, it shall set in motion the second most potent agent under heaven. The apostle knew the power of prayer, and we know it too, and hope to prove it more and more.” Charles Spurgeon

C) Rejoicing because of the help of the Spirit (John 14:15-17, 25-46; Romans 8:26-27)

“The supply of the Spirit is essential to the edification of the church of God. What if the ministry should be the best that ever was produced, its outward form and fashion orthodox and ardent? what, if it should be continued with persevering consistency? yet the church will never be built up without the Holy Ghost. To build up a church life is needed: we are living stones of a living temple. Where is the life to come from but from the breath of God? To build up a church there is needed light, but where is the light to come from but from him who said, “Let there be light?” To build up a church there is needed love, for this is the cement which binds the living stones together; but whence comes true genuine love, but from the Spirit, who sheds abroad in the heart the love of Jesus! To build up a church we must have holiness, for an unholy church would be a den for the devil, and not a temple for God; but whence cometh holiness but from the Holy Spirit? There must be zeal, too, for God will not dwell in a cold house; the church of God must be warm with love; but whence cometh the fire except it be the fire from heaven. We must have the Holy Ghost, for to build up a church there must be joy; a joyous temple God’s temple must always be: but the Spirit of God alone produces the fruit of heavenly joy. There must be spirituality in the members, but we cannot have a spiritual people if the Spirit of God himself be not there. For the edification of the saints, then, we must have beyond everything else the supply of the Spirit.” Charles Spurgeon

D) Rejoicing because of the hope of Christ (Philippians 3:12-14; Romans 1:16-17; Romans 9:33; Isaiah 49:23)

“What he is saying there is simply this: “I'm confident in the promise of Christ, that if I'm faithful to Him, He'll be exalted in me. That if I'm never ashamed of Him, He'll never be ashamed of me” (Mark 8:38). Jesus said, "If you confess Me before men I'll confess you before My Father. But if you're ashamed of Me before men, I'll be ashamed of you before My Father." John MacArthur

E) Rejoicing because of the Sovereignty of God (Ephesians 1:3-6; 2 Timothy 1:8-14; Romans 14:7-9)

“Life is summed up as Christ. “I'm filled with Christ. I am occupied with Christ. I trust Christ, love Christ, hope in Christ, obey Christ, preach Christ, follow Christ, fellowship with Christ, Christ is the center circumference of my life. It's all Christ. Christ and Christ alone is my inspiration, my direction, my meaning, my purpose - consumed, dominated by Christ.” John MacArthur

“Surely death is loss. When I look upon thee, thou clay-cold corpse, and see thee just preparing to be the palace of corruption and the carnival for worms, I cannot think that thou hast gained. When I see that thine eye hath lost light, and thy lip hath lost its speech, and thine ears have lost hearing, and thy feet have lost motion, and thy heart hath lost its joy, and they that look out of the windows are darkened, the grinders have failed, and no sounds of tabret and of harp wake up thy joys, O clay-cold corpse, than hast lost, lost immeasurably.” Charles Spurgeon

“How can he say, "To die is gain?" Because he knew that when he died he would immediately be "at home with the Lord." In 2 Corinthians 5:8 Paul said, "We are always of good courage because we know . . . to be absent from the body is to be at home with the Lord." To die is gain because death is to be absent from the body and at home with the Lord. Do you love Jesus this much? Do you love him so much that to lose everything in order to be with him would be gain?”

“What! weep! weep! for heads that are crowned with coronals of heaven? Weep, weep for hands that grasp the harps of gold? What, weep for eyes that see the Redeemer? What, weep for hearts that are washed from sin, and are throbbing with eternal bliss! What, weep for men that are in the Saviour's bosom? No; weep for yourselves, that you are here. Weep that the mandate has not come which bids you to die. Weep that you must tarry. But weep not for them. I see them turning back on you with loving wonder, and they exclaim, "Why weepest thou?" What, weep for poverty that it is clothed in riches? What, weep for sickness, that it hath inherited eternal health? What, weep for shame, that it is glorified; and weep for sinful mortality, that it hath become immaculate? Oh, weep not, but rejoice. "If ye knew what it was that I have said unto you, and whither I have gone, ye would rejoice with a joy that no man should take from you." "To die is gain." Ah, this makes the Christian long to die—makes him say, "Oh, that the word were given! O Lord of Hosts, the wave divide, And land us all in heaven!" Charles Spurgeon

“The noble army of martyrs are praising God with us this morning because they all said, "For me to live is Christ and to die is gain." They all said, Christ is worth more than life. Christ is worth more than falling in love. Christ is worth more than marrying and having children. Christ is worth more than seeing my children grow up and become independent. Christ is worth more than making a name for myself. Christ is worth more than finishing my career. Christ is worth more than the dream spouse and the dream house and the dream cruise and the dream retirement. Christ is worth more than all my unfinished plans and dreams. All the martyrs said, "It is better to be cut off in the midst of my dreams, if I might gain Christ." John Piper

Next Sunday’s Sermon Text: Philippians 1:22-26

I. Improper priorities in preaching the gospel.

A. Envy and strife

Romans 13:13 - Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.

2 Corinthians 12:20 - For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults;

B. Selfish ambition

James 3:14-16 - But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.

Philippians 2:3 - Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.

C. Marks of shepherd with improper priorities

-False shepherd – focused on dishonest gain (1 Peter 5:2)

II. Proper priorities in preaching the gospel.

A. Goodwill / supporting Paul

2 Timothy 1:16-17 - The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain; 17 but when he arrived in Rome, he sought me out very zealously and found me.

B. Love

John 13:34-35 - A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. (also 1 Cor. 13; 1 John 3)

C. Marks of a shepherd with proper priorities

1 Peter 5:1-4 - The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: 2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; 3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; 4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. (also 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9)

D. Jesus as our shepherd

John 10:14-15 - I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. 15 As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. (also 1 Peter 5:4; Hebrews 13:20; Ezekiel 34:11-16)

III. Sovereign goodness of God.

Romans 8:28 - And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Genesis 50:20 - But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.

Philemon 15-16 - For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever, 16 no longer as a slave but more than a slave—a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

Next Sunday’s Sermon Text: Philippians 1:19-21

I. Paul’s prioritizes encouraging the saints.

Philippians 1:25 - And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith,

Philippians 2:17 - 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.

Philippians 4:6-7 - Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

II. Paul prioritizes the furtherance of the gospel.

A. The gospel is spread to the palace guard.

Philippians 1:13 - so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ;

Philippians 4:22 - All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar’s household.

B. The gospel is spread through increased boldness.

Acts 4:31 - And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

Acts 14:3 - Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

C. The gospel is spread through persecution.

Acts 11:19-21 - Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only. 20 But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.

“We are not a new philosophy but a divine revelation. That's why you can't just exterminate us; the more you kill the more we are. The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church. You praise those who endured pain and death - so long as they aren't Christians! Your cruelties merely prove our innocence of the crimes you charge against us…

D. Paul’s consistent priority.

Acts 20:24 - But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

1 Corinthians 2:2 - For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

Next Sunday’s Sermon Text: Philippians 1:15-18

I) The Heart of Paul’s Prayer: Joy, Thankfulness and Affection (Philippians 1:3-8)

“As in numerous other texts (Rom, 5:3-4; 2 Peter 1:5-7), the things Paul mentions in Philippians 1:9-11 are sequential, each building on the foundation of the previous one. Abounding love produces spiritual excellence, which produces personal integrity, which produces genuine good works. Together they attain the supreme objective of God’s praise and glory.” John MacArthur

II) That your love would abound more and more.

“Love is an absolute and pervasive attribute of God’s essential nature and a critical reality in the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

Romans 10:2 “For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.”

"Love must be instructed if it is to be placed on legitimate objects and restrained from non-permissible ones, if it is to be rightly exercised on all occasions. And the needed instruction can be obtained only from God’s Word." A.W. Pink

Hebrews 5:14 “But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.”

III) That you would approve that which is excellent

Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

“The excellent things are all the truths, attitudes, thoughts, words, and deeds that are expressions of God’s will for the believer.” John MacArthur

IV) That you would be pure and blameless

2 Corinthians 2:17 “For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.”

V) That you would be filled with the fruit of righteousness

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Next Sunday’s Sermon Text: Philippians 1:12-14

Joy Defined:

“It is a gift from God to those who believe the gospel, being produced in them by the Holy Spirit as they receive and obey the Scripture, being mixed with trials, and set their hope and their heart on future glory.” John MacArthur

I) A right feeling

II) A right heart

“The heart is the depth of your person. And what Paul is saying is you’re deep in me, you’re a part of my life. It’s a beautiful thing. And every time they came to mind, he was filled with joy. It was the joy of affection. He loved them. And it was that love that produced that joy. It’s that love that covers a multitude of sins and overlooks weaknesses.” John MacArthur

Matthew 6:19-21

III) A right grace

“In either case, he is saying, “You were there, and you were partaking of that same enabling grace along with me. You stood by me – you weren’t ashamed of me, you weren’t afraid of the identification, you weren’t afraid of the price or the cost. You assisted me, you were sugkoinnos, you were partners together, of that divine enabling grace. You alleviated my suffering. You cooperated with me in the defense of the gospel, willing to suffer. That’s why I have you in my heart, and that’s why my heart leaps with joy.” John MacArthur

IV) A right affection

Next Sunday’s Sermon Text: Philippians 1:9-11

Main Idea: The ground of confident Christian assurance is that God always completes the work of redemption that He begins in His people. 

[6] And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 

*1 Peter 1:3–5; Romans 8:31–39

“Your faith will not fail while God sustains it; you are not strong enough to fall away while God is resolved to hold you.”

Today’s Key Insight! If you were to share a key insight from today’s sermon with a friend, what would you say?

Today’s Lunch Discussion: Do you have a confident assurance of your redemption? If not, where is your focus (yourself or Christ? Works or faith?) What has God done for us in the gospel? What does God do in those who have believed the gospel? How has God worked through you to advance the gospel? How does it affect you to know that as God will bring all His people to perfection? Do  you look forward to the “day of Jesus Christ?” When you feel weak and faithless, where should you look? How about when you feel strong?

Main Idea: Gratitude and joy are the fruit of gospel partnership in the church.

Grateful remembrance. (vs. 3)

Joyful prayer. (vs. 4)

Gospel partnership. (vs. 5)

Philippians 4:15–16: And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. [16] Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again.

Today’s Key Insight! If you were to share a key insight from today’s sermon with a friend, what would you say?

Today’s Lunch Discussion: Who in your life can you truly be grateful to God for? Why are you thankful for them? Who might be thankful for you? Why? What is Biblical Joy? Contrast joy with happiness. Are your prayers filled with joy for others? Why or why not? What is gospel partnership? How does gospel partnership drive gratitude and joy? How did the Philippians partner with Paul? Who in your life do you share a gospel-centered partnership with? How does God change a heart to be centered on the advancement of the gospel?

Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:  Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.  Philippians 1:1-2

I. The author:  Paul with Timothy, around 61 A.D., a prison epistle.

The founding of the church at Philippi:  And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us:  whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. Acts 16:14

II. The recipients.

All the saints (hagioi:  those separated unto Christ) with the bishops (presbuteroi) and deacons.

III.  The invocation of grace.

Grace is "the free and unmerited love and favor of God, the spring and source of all the benefits men receive from Him."  Noah Webster

IV. The invocation of peace.

The great Hebrew Old Testament word 'shalom' conveys a multitude of blessings:  to be safe, to be well, to be happy and prosperous and in good health.

V. The Source of grace and peace:  from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Note the personal pronoun.  "Christianity is a religion of personal pronouns.  Note especially the pronoun 'our' and its significance."  Martin Luther

I. The glory of the Word made flesh (John 1:14)

A.Jesus, the eternal God, became flesh.

Jesus was hungry (Matt. 4:2-3).

B. The glory of God in the Old Testament.

God’s glory fills the tabernacle (Ex. 40:34-35).

C. The glory of Jesus Christ.

The transfiguration of Jesus (Matt. 17:1-7).

II. The priority of the Word made flesh (John 1:15)

A. The eternality of Jesus.

Jesus was before Abraham (John 8:58).

B. The superiority of Jesus.

Jesus was better than the angels (Heb. 1:4).

III. The grace and truth of the Word made flesh (John 1:16-17)

A. The overflowing grace of Jesus.

Grace reigned through Jesus (Rom. 5:20-21).

B. Jesus, the source of truth.

Jesus came to bear witness to the truth (John 18:37).

IV. The revelation of the Word made flesh (John 1:18)

A. Jesus reveals God the Father (John 10:37-38; 14:9-10).

Chalcedonian Creed, A.D. 451

Therefore, following the holy fathers, we all with one accord teach men to acknowledge one and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, at once complete in Godhead and complete in manhood, truly God and truly man, consisting also of a reasonable soul and body; of one substance with the Father as regards his Godhead, and at the same time of one substance with us as regards his manhood; like us in all respects, apart from sin; as regards his Godhead, begotten of the Father before the ages, but yet as regards his manhood begotten, for us men and for our salvation, of Mary the Virgin, the God-bearer; one and the same Christ, Son, Lord, Only-begotten, recognized in two natures, without confusion, without change, without division, without separation; the distinction of natures being in no way annulled by the union, but rather the characteristics of each nature being preserved and coming together to form one person and subsistence, not as parted or separated into two persons, but one and the same Son and Only-begotten God the Word, Lord Jesus Christ; even as the prophets from earliest times spoke of him, and our Lord Jesus Christ himself taught us, and the creed of the fathers has handed down to us.

Main Idea: All who believe in Jesus have the greatest Treasure of Jesus.  

The highest ______________________ is proclaiming the greatest _____________________ of Jesus Christ! (vs. 6-8)

[6] There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. [7] He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. [8] He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

*Romans 10:17; John 1:19–27; John 3:26–30

The supreme tragedy is _________________________ the greatest Treasure. (vs. 9-11)

[9] The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. [10] He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. [11] He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 

*Isaiah 53

The greatest Treasure is freely given to all who _______________________ in Jesus. (vs. 12-13)

 [12] But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, [13] who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

John Bunyan (1688): “O do not flatter yourselves with a portion among the sons, unless you live like sons. When we see a king’s son play with a beggar, this is unbecoming; so if you be the king’s children, live like the king’s children; if you be risen with Christ, set your affections on the things above, and not on things below; when you come together, talk of what your Father promised you; you should all love your Father’s will, and be content and pleased with the exercises you meet with in the world. If you are the children of God, live together lovingly; if the world quarrel with you, it is no matter; but it is sad if you quarrel together; if this be amongst you, it is a sign of ill-breeding; it is not according to the rules you have in the Word of God. Dost thou see a soul that has the image of God in him? Love him, love him; say, This man and I must go to heaven one day; serve one another, do good for one another, if any wrong you, pray to God to right you, and love the brotherhood.”

Today’s Key Insight! If you were to share a key insight from today’s sermon with a friend, what would you say?

Today’s Lunch Discussion: What does it mean to be a witness? Do you view sharing the gospel with others as a privilege or a duty? What keeps people from “seeing” Jesus as the greatest Treasure? What is the answer to this issue? How have you responded to Jesus as the eternal Word of God made flesh? How is it good news that salvation is not by physical birth, ethnic descent, nor human effort? How will you show that Jesus is your greatest Treasure this Christmas?