Philippians 1:9-18; Matthew 6:6
July 1, 2018
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Philippians 1:9-11: “Judge not what is best by pleasure. The world teaches that pleasure brings joy, but it is conformity to God that fulfills and brings joy.”
1. How do knowledge, discernment, and the approval of things that are excellent relate to love? What do verses 9-10a teach us about the nature of love?
2. We may tend to think of “pure” and “blameless” as descriptions of what is not present. Paul attaches them to the active “works of righteousness.” How can we be pure and blameless in our relationships with others?
Philippians 1:12-18 -- “When we have the understanding that God is not finished, our focus can be on rejoicing and joining God in what He is doing.”
3. How did God use Paul's unplanned difficulties in these verses? Can you think of times God has used “unplanned difficulties in your life to further His purposes?
4. What perspective helped Paul to rejoice even when the Gospel was preached by those who wanted to harm him?
Matthew 6:6 – Not if, But when thou pray... “The first great and primary business to which I ought to attend every day is to have my soul happy in the Lord.” ― George Müller
5. What are some characteristics and benefits of consistent “trysting” times with God?
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Philippians 1 (NASB)
9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, 11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
12 But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, 13 so that it has become evident to the whole [b]palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; 14 and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
15 Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill: 16 The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; 17 but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.
Matthew 6:6 (ESV)
6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
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Extra Notes and References:
2.
Purity and completeness of character:
Internal heart – purity, sincere, unhypocritical, absence of divided allegiance, unalloyed – integrity, wholeness, positive completeness
External Relationally – to be free from blame, not causing others to stumble
Means – filled full of Jesus ethical, moral, relational righteousness flowing from the positional righteous standing of justification
4.
“But if Paul’s example is to count for anything, it must teach us to rejoice if Christ is proclaimed, even by those who do it out of less than worthy motives and who seem to dishonor the gospel in their methods [or motives].”[1]
5.
Tryst: a meeting held at a specified time and place, esp. a secret meeting of lovers; rendezvous. --wordsmyth.net
“Matthew six compares two types of people in prayer: showboating vs. seeking.” “The entirety of your relationship with is what happens in your time alone with Him.”
Psalm 84:4 (ESV)
Blessed are those who dwell in your house,
ever singing your praise! Selah
Song of Solomon 2:3 (ESV)
As an apple tree among the trees of the forest,
so is my beloved among the young men.
With great delight I sat in his shadow,
and his fruit was sweet to my taste.
John 14:23 (ESV)
Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
Revelation 3:20 (ESV)
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
[1] Boice, James Montgomery. Philippians: An Expositional Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2000. Print.
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