the book of philippians: living, belonging, and knowing christ

The Book OfPhilippians

Living, Belonging, and Knowing Christ“The Secret Of Living” and “A Sweet Smelling Sacrifice”

Started March 27, 2015Ended September 3, 2015

By:James Eugene Barbush

2021 Blue Mountain ParkwayHarrisburg, PA 17112

Cell: 717-514-5549E-Mail: [email protected]

The Book of Philippians Version Dated September 3, 2015Living, Belonging, and Knowing Christ “The Secret Of Living” and “A Sweet Smelling Sacrifice”

The Book Of Philippians

Living, Belonging, and Knowing Christ“The Secret Of Living” and “A Sweet Smelling Sacrifice”

INTRODUCTION(This is very brief. Much more needs to be said.)

Paul, an apostle of Christ, speaks several excellent things in this book to the Philippians.

One of the most striking commands in this message to the Philippians is when Paul tells the Philippians “One Final Thing” and says to

FIX their thoughts on “what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. And he goes on to say, “Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.”

Why was that so striking to me? Because all of the horrible things that are happening today, and we see them in all of our media – on-line social media, on radio news and with talking heads, and on TV news and news commentators – thus, how can we think on what Paul says? We need to be purposeful in turning the negative into something that is prayerful and given over to God. There’s a larger discussion on that which I will not go into here. But, we need to get in touch with what Paul says to do, even though we are surrounded with sinful ways of others and combatting our own flesh.

Other thought provoking words that Paul speaks is when he discusses “The Secret Of Living” and “A Sweet Smelling Sacrifice”. We need to know the secret he speaks of and we need to give off the fragrance that he speaks of.

I have summarized the Book of Philippians like this: When understand that we are to be Living, Belonging, and Knowing Christ, then, we will know “The Secret Of Living” and we will be “A Sweet Smelling Sacrifice ”.

As usual, Paul makes this wonderful greeting,

GRACE to you and PEACE from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

And Paul makes this wonderful closing,

May the GRACE of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Introduction of 22


Similar Works:

1. “The Book of Psalms, A Daily Message and Journey”http://www.slideshare.net/JamesBarbush/the-book-of-psalms-a-daily-message-and-journey

2. “The Book of Romans, An Eye Opening Outline of His Truth”http://www.slideshare.net/JamesBarbush/romans-01-to-16

3. “The Book of 1 st Corinthians , Paul’s Instructions on The Lord’s Truth”http://www.slideshare.net/JamesBarbush/1-corinthians-01-to-16

4. “The Book of 2 nd Corinthians , Paul’s Instructions from The Lord’s Authority”http://www.slideshare.net/JamesBarbush/the-book-of-2-corinthians-pauls-instructions-from-the-lords-authority

5. “The Book of Galatians, Paul The Apostle Preaches The True Gospel”http://www.slideshare.net/JamesBarbush/the-book-of-galatians-paul-preaches-the-true-gospel

6. The Book Of Ephesians, Because You Are Saints, Live In The Kingdomhttp://www.slideshare.net/JamesBarbush/the-book-of-ephesians-because-you-are-saints

Jams Eugene Barbush

Introduction of 22

http://www.slideshare.net/JamesBarbush/the-book-of-ephesians-because-you-are-saints

http://www.slideshare.net/JamesBarbush/the-book-of-galatians-paul-preaches-the-true-gospel

http://www.slideshare.net/JamesBarbush/the-book-of-2-corinthians-pauls-instructions-from-the-lords-authority



http://www.slideshare.net/JamesBarbush/1-corinthians-01-to-16

http://www.slideshare.net/JamesBarbush/1-corinthians-01-to-16

http://www.slideshare.net/JamesBarbush/romans-01-to-16

http://www.slideshare.net/JamesBarbush/romans-01-to-16

http://www.slideshare.net/JamesBarbush/the-book-of-psalms-a-daily-message-and-journey

http://www.slideshare.net/JamesBarbush/the-book-of-psalms-a-daily-message-and-journey


The Book Of PhilippiansLiving, Belonging, and Knowing Christ

“The Secret Of Living” and “A Sweet Smelling Sacrifice”

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Philippians 1 (NLT) ....For Paul, It’s All About Christ Greeting From ...........Paul And Timothy To All The Saints Of Philippi Paul’s Thankfulness . .For And Remembrance Of The Philippians Paul’s .........................Prayer Furthering ..................The Gospel Reasons For ...............Preaching No Matter, .................If Christ Is Preached, Then I Rejoice My Deliverance .........Results By Your Prayer, My Hope, & The Spirit Of Christ To Have A Choice: . . .To Live Is Christ, To Die Is Gain, To Live On In Flesh Results In

Fruit To Have A Choice: . .To Depart & Be With Christ Or To Remain In The Flesh To Have A Choice: . .Confidence To Remain & Continue With & For You Your Conduct: ...........Worthy Of The Gospel Of Christ & Does It Prove Perdition &

Salvation

Philippians 1(NCV).....It’s All About “Living The Good News Of Christ” Paul’s And Timothy’s....Greeting - Grace And Peace To All Of God’s Holy People In

Christ Jesus Paul’s Thankfulness ......For The Philippians Paul Knows For Sure ....About God’s Work In You God Knows For Sure ....About Paul’s Work In You Paul’s Prayer: ................The Philippians Will . . . . Grow, Have, See, Choose, Be Paul’s Imprisonment .....Because He Is A Believer In Christ Paul’s Imprisonment .....Emboldens Most Believers To Speak The Word Of God Some Preach .................Wrongly, Others Preach Rightly Either Way, ...................Paul Is Happy Christ Is Preached The Prayers Of ..............The Philippian’s Give Paul Hope, No Matter What The Only Important ......Thing To Paul Is “Living Is Christ”, Then Dying Is Profit Paul’s Only Concern .....Is That The Phillipians “Live Rightly” Paul Cites ......................Proof Of Victory

Philippians 2 (NLT).....Paul Explains Belonging To Christ Why Are You ...............Encouraged, Comforted, Tender, And Compassionate? Belonging To ................Christ Means To Agree, Love, And Work Together Being Comforted ..........By Christ’s Love Requires Something Of You Having Fellowship ........In The Spirit Requires The Attitude Of Christ Shine Brightly ...............For Christ Paul Commends ............Timothy Paul Commends ............Epaphroditus Paul To Send .................Epaphroditus To The Philippians Paul’s Direction ............To Welcome Epaphroditus

Table of Contents of 22


Philippians 3 (NLT).....The Priceless Value Of Knowing Christ Paul Teaches .............To Safeguard Their Faith Paul Warns ................About False Teachers Paul Distinguishes .....Them From False Teachers Paul Left ....................Behind His Worldly Accomplishments Paul Places ................The Infinite Value On Knowing Christ Jesus His Lord Paul Loses .................All To Gain Christ Jesus His Lord Paul Rightousness .....Is In Christ Jesus His Lord Paul Wants ................To Know And Experience Christ Jesus His Lord Paul Wants ................To Share The Suffering Of Christ Jesus His Lord Paul Desires ..............To Be Perfect Like Christ Jesus His Lord Paul’s Focus ..............Is Single To Receive The Heavenly Prize Paul Says ...................To Agree Or Let God Tell You Paul Says ...................To Hold On And Not Fall Back Paul Says, ..................“Follow Me As I Follow Christ” Paul Says, ..................False Teachers Are Enemies Of The Cross Of Christ” Paul Says, ..................We Are Citizens Where The Lord Jesus Christ Lives Paul Says, ..................Our Mortal Bodies With Become Glorious Bodies

Philippians 4 (NLT).....“The Secret Of Living” And “A Sweet Smelling Sacrifice” Paul’s Expression ......Of Love And Joy For His Dear Philippians My Co-Workers – .....Settle Your Disagreement My Partner – .............Help Them Settle Their Disagreement What To Do ...............To Experience God’s Peace God Will ....................Be With You When You Think And Practice Rightly Paul Is Thankful ........For Their Concern For Him Paul Knows ...............“The Secret Of Living” Paul’s .........................“Secret Of Living” Is Found In Christ Paul’s .........................First Providers Were The Philippians Paul Is ........................Generously Supplied With “A Sweet Smelling Sacrifice” Our God ....................Supplies Our Needs Gloriously In Christ Jesus Paul’s .........................Final Greetings Paul Extends ..............Grace To The Philippians

Table of Contents of 22


Philippians 1 New King James Version (NKJV)

FOR PAUL, IT’s ALL ABOUT CHRIST

GREETING FROM PAUL AND TIMOTHY TO ALL THE SAINTS OF PHILIPPI1 Paul and

Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ,To all the saints in Christ Jesus

who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

PAUL’s OFFERING OF GRACE AND PEACE FROM GOD AND THE LORD2 GRACE to you and

PEACE from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

PAUL’s THANKFULNESS FOR AND REMEMBRANCE OF THE PHILIPPIANS3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, 5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this very thing,

that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

7 just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and

in the defense and confirmation of the gospel,

you all are partakers with me of GRACE.8 For God is my witness,

how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.

PAUL’s PRAYER9 And

this I PRAY, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and

in 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 that you being filled with the fruits of righteousness

which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and

praise of God.

of 22


FURTHERING THE GOSPEL12 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 palace guard, and to all the rest,

that my chains are in Christ; and14 most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains,

are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

REASONS FOR PREACHING15 Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and

some also preach from goodwill: 16 The former preach Christ from selfish ambition,

not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; but

17 the latter preach out of love, knowing that

I am appointed for the defense of the gospel.

NO MATTER, IF CHRIST IS PREACHED, THEN I REJOICE18 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.

MY DELIVERANCE RESULTS BY YOUR PRAYER, MY HOPE, & THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST19 For

I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

20 according to my earnest expectation and

hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed,but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified

in my body, whether by life or by death.

of 22


TO HAVE A CHOICE: To Live Is Christ, To Die Is Gain, To Live On In Flesh Results In Fruit21 For to me, to live is Christ, and

to die is gain.22 But if I live on in the flesh,

this will mean fruit from my labor ; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell.

TO HAVE A CHOICE: To Depart & Be With Christ Or To Remain In The Flesh23 For I am hard-pressed

between the two, having a desire to depart and

be with Christ, which is far better.24 Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.

TO HAVE A CHOICE: Confidence To Remain & Continue With & For You25 And being confident of this,

I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and

joy of faith, 26 that your rejoicing

for me may be more abundant

in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again.

YOUR CONDUCT: Worthy Of The Gospel Of Christ & Does It Prove Perdition & Salvation27 Only

let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or

I am absent, I may hear of your affairs,

that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, and

28 not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is

to them a proof of perdition, but to you a proof of salvation, and

that from God.29 For

it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,

30 having the same conflict which you saw in me and

now hear is in me.

of 22


of 22


Philippians 1New Century Version (NCV)

IT’S ALL ABOUT “LIVING THE GOOD NEWS OF CHRIST”

PAUL’S AND TIMOTHY’S GREETING GRACE and PEACE to ALL of GOD’S HOLY PEOPLE IN CHRIST JESUS

1 From Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus.

To all of God’s holy people in Christ Jesus who live in Philippi, including your overseers and deacons:

2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and

the Lord Jesus Christ.

PAUL’S THANKFULNESS FOR THE PHILIPPIANS3 I thank my God every time I remember you, 4 always praying with joy for all of you.5 I thank God for the help you gave me

while I preached the Good News—help you gave from the first day you believed

until now.

PAUL KNOWS FOR SURE . . . . ABOUT GOD’s WORK IN YOU

I am sure 6 God began doing a good work in you, and

God will continue that good work until that good work is finishedwhen Jesus Christ comes again. And

7 I know that I am right to think like this about all of you,

because I have you in my heart.

All of you share in God’s grace with me while I am in prison and while I am defending and

proving the truth of the Good News.

GOD KNOWS FOR SURE . . . . ABOUT PAUL’s WORK IN YOU8 God knows that I want to see you very much,

because I love all of you with the love of Christ Jesus.

of 22


PAUL’s PRAYER: THE PHILIPPIANS WILL . . . . GROW, HAVE, SEE, CHOOSE, BE9 This is my prayer for you:

that your love will GROW More and More; that you will HAVE Knowledge and

Understanding with your love; 10 that you will SEE The Difference between good and bad and

will CHOOSE The Good; that you will BE Pure and

Without Wrong for the coming of Christ; 11 that you will BE Filled with the good things produced (FRUIT)

in your life by Christ

to bring glory and praise to God.

PAUL’S IMPRISONMENT Because He Is A Believer In Christ12 Brothers and sisters

I want you to know that what has happened to me

has helped to spread the Good News.13 All the palace guards and everyone else

knows that I am in prison because I am a believer in Christ.

PAUL’S IMPRISONMENT Emboldens Most Believers To Speak The Word Of God 14 Most of the believers

have become more bold in Christ and are not afraid to speak the word of God .

because I am in prison,

SOME PREACH WRONGLY, OTHERS PREACH RIGHTLY15 It is true that

SOME preach about Christ because they are jealous and ambitious, butOTHERS preach about Christ because they want to help.

16 THEY preach because they have love, and they know that God gave me

the work of defending the Good News. But17 SOME preach about Christ for selfish and

wrong reasons, wanting to make trouble for me in prison.

EITHER WAY, PAUL IS HAPPY CHRIST IS PREACHED18 But it doesn’t matter.

The important thing is that in every way, whether for right or wrong reasons,

THEY are preaching about Christ .So I am happy, and

of 22


I will continue to be happy.THE PRAYERS OF THE PHILIPPIAN’S GIVE PAUL HOPE, NO MATTER WHAT19 Because you are praying for me and

the Spirit of Jesus Christ is helping me, I know this trouble will bring my freedom.

20 I expect and hope that I will not fail Christ in anything but

that I will have the courage now, as always, to show the greatness of Christ

in my life here on earth, whether I live or die.

THE ONLY IMPORTANT THING TO PAUL IS “LIVING IS CHRIST”, THEN DYING IS PROFIT21 To me the only important thing about living is Christ, and

dying would be profit for me.22 If I continue living in my body,

I will be able to work for the Lord.I do not know what to choose— living or

dying.23 It is hard to choose between the two.

I want to leave this life and be with Christ , which is much better, but

24 you need me here in my body.25 Since I am sure of this,

I know I will stay with you to help you grow and have joy in your faith.

26 You will be very happy in Christ Jesus when I am with you again.

PAUL’S ONLY CONCERN IS THAT THE PHILLIPIANS “LIVE RIGHTLY”27 Only one thing concerns me:

Be sure that you live in a way that brings honor to the Good News of Christ.

Then whether I come and visit you or am away from you,

I will hear that you are standing strong with one purpose, that you work together as one for the faith of the Good News,

28 and that you are not afraid of those who are against you.

PAUL CITES PROOF OF VICTORY

All of this is proof that your enemies will be destroyed but that you will be saved by God.

29 God gave you the honor not only of believing in Christ but also of suffering for Christ, both of which bring glory to Christ.

30 When I was with you, you saw the struggles I had, and now you hear about the struggles I am having.

of 22


now you the same kind of struggles yourselves are having.

of 22


Philippians 2New Living Translation (NLT)

PAUL EXPLAINS BELONGING TO CHRIST

WHY ARE YOU ENCOURAGED, COMFORTED, TENDER, AND COMPASSIONATE?1 Is there any encouragement from BELONGING TO CHRIST?

Any comfort from His love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit?

Are your hearts tender and compassionate?

BELONGING TO CHRIST MEANS TO AGREE, LOVE, AND WORK TOGETHER2 Then

make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other,

loving one another, and working together with one mind and

with one purpose.

BEING COMFORTED BY CHRIST’s LOVE REQUIRES SOMETHING OF YOU3 Don’t be selfish;

don’t try to impress others.Be humble,

thinking of others as better than yourselves.4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but

take an interest in others, too.

HAVING FELLOWSHIP IN THE SPIRIT REQUIRES THE ATTITUDE OF CHRIST5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.6 Though He was God,

He did not think of equality with Godas something to cling to.

7 Instead, He gave up His divine privileges;He took the humble position of a slave and

was born as a human being.When He appeared in human form,

8 He humbled Himself in obedience to God anddied a criminal’s death on a cross.

9 Therefore, God elevated Him to the place of highest honor andgave Him the name above all other names,

10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and

11 every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,to the glory of God the Father.

of 22


SHINE BRIGHTLY FOR CHRIST12 Dear friends,

you always followed my instructions when I was with you. Andit is even more important now that I am away, .

Work hard to show the results of your salvation,obeying God with deep reverence and fear.

13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and

the power to do what pleases Him.14 Do everything without complaining and arguing, 15 so that no one can criticize you.

Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.

16 Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return,

I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless. But

17 I will rejoice even if

I lose my life, pouring it out

like a liquid offering to God, just like

your faithful service is an offering to God. And

I want all of you to share that joy.18 Yes, you should rejoice, and

I will share your joy.

PAUL COMMENDS TIMOTHY19 If the Lord Jesus is willing,

I hope to send Timothy to you soon for a visit.Then Timothy can cheer me up

by telling me how you are getting along.20 I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare.21 All the others only care for themselves and

Do not care for what matters to Jesus Christ.22 But you know how Timothy has proved himself.

Timothy has served with me in preaching the Good Newslike a son with his father.

23 I hope to send Timothy to you just as soon as I find out what is going to happen to me here.

24 I have confidence from the Lord that I myself will come to see you soon.

of 22


PAUL COMMENDS EPAPHRODITUS25 Meanwhile,

I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you.

Epaphroditus is a true brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier. And

Epaphroditus was your messenger to help me in my need.

PAUL TO SEND EPAPHRODITUS TO THE PHILIPPIANS26 I am sending Epaphroditus

because Epaphroditus has been longing to see you, and Epaphroditus was very distressed

that you heard he was ill. And27 Epaphroditus certainly was ill; in fact,

Epaphroditus almost died. ButGod had mercy

on him—and also on me, so that I would not have

one sorrow after another.28 So

I am all the more anxious to send Epaphroditus back to you, for

I know you will be glad to see him, and then I will not be so worried about you.

PAUL’s DIRECTION TO WELCOME EPAPHRODITUS29 Welcome Epaphroditus in the Lord’s love and

with great joy, and give Epaphroditus the honor that people like him deserve.

30 For Epaphroditus risked his life for the work of Christ, and Epaphroditus was at the point of death

while doing for me what you couldn’t do from far away.

of 22



THE PRICELESS VALUE OF KNOWING CHRIST

PAUL TEACHES TO SAFEGUARD THEIR FAITH1 My dear brothers and sisters,

whatever happens, rejoice in the Lord.I never get tired of telling you these things, and I tell you these things to safeguard your faith.

PAUL WARNS ABOUT FALSE TEACHERS2 Watch out for

those dogs, those people who do evil, those mutilators who say you must be circumcised to be saved.

PAUL DISTINGUISHES THEM FROM FALSE TEACHERS3 For

we who worship by the Spirit of God are the ones who are truly circumcised.We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us.We put no confidence in human effort,

4 though I could have confidence in my own effort if anyone could.

PAUL LEFT BEHIND HIS WORLDLY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Indeed, if others have reason for confidence in their own efforts,

I have even more!5 I was circumcised when I was eight days old.

I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin—a real Hebrew if there ever was one!

I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law.

6 I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. AndI obeyed the law without fault, for righteousness,.

7 I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done.

of 22


PAUL PLACES THE INFINITE VALUE ON KNOWING CHRIST JESUS HIS LORD8 Yes, everything else is worthless

when compared with the infinite value ofknowing Christ Jesus my Lord.

PAUL LOSES ALL TO GAIN CHRIST JESUS HIS LORD

For His sake I have discarded everything else,

counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and

9 become one with Him.I no longer count on

my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather,

PAUL RIGHTOUSNESS IS IN CHRIST JESUS HIS LORDI become righteous through faith in Christ.

For God’s way of MAKING US RIGHT with Himself

depends on faith.

PAUL WANTS TO KNOW AND EXPERIENCE CHRIST JESUS HIS LORD10 I want to know Christ and

experience the mighty power that raised Him from the dead.

PAUL WANTS TO SHARE THE SUFFERING OF CHRIST JESUS HIS LORD

I want to suffer with Him,sharing in His death,

11 so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!

PAUL DESIRES TO BE PERFECT LIKE CHRIST JESUS HIS LORD12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or

that I have already reached perfection. ButI press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.

PAUL’s FOCUS IS SINGLE TO RECEIVE THE HEAVENLY PRIZE13 No, dear brothers and sisters,

I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: forgetting the past and

looking forward to what lies ahead,14 I press on to reach the end of the race and

receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

of 22


PAUL SAYS TO AGREE OR LET GOD TELL YOU15 Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things.

If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you.

PAUL SAYS TO HOLD ON AND NOT FALL BACK16 But

we must hold on to the progress we have already made.

PAUL SAYS, “FOLLOW ME AS I FOLLOW CHRIST”17 Dear brothers and sisters,

pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example.

PAUL SAYS, FALSE TEACHERS ARE ENEMIES OF THE CROSS OF CHRIST”18 For

I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that

there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ.

19 They are headed for destruction.Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth.

PAUL SAYS, WE ARE CITIZENS WHERE THE LORD JESUS CHRIST LIVES20 But

we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. Andwe are eagerly waiting for Him to return as our Savior.

PAUL SAYS, OUR MORTAL BODIES WITH BECOME GLORIOUS BODIES21 He will take our weak mortal bodies and

change them into glorious bodies like His own, using the same power

with which He will bring everything under His control.

of 22



“THE SECRET OF LIVING” and “A SWEET SMELLING SACRIFICE”

PAUL’s EXPRESSION OF LOVE AND JOY FOR HIS DEAR PHILIPPIANS1 My dear brothers and sisters,

therefore, stay true to the Lord.dear friends,

I love you and I long to see you ,

for you are my joy and the crown I receive for my work.

MY CO-WORKERS – SETTLE YOUR DISAGREEMENT2 Now

I appeal to Euodia and Syntyche.Please,

settle your disagreement,because you belong to the Lord. And

MY PARTNER – HELP THEM SETTLE THEIR DISAGREEMENT3 I ask you, my true partner,

to help these two women, for they worked hard with me in telling others the Good News.

They worked along with Clement and with the rest of my co-workers,

whose names are written in the Book of Life.

WHAT TO DO TO EXPERIENCE GOD’s PEACE4 Always be full of joy in the Lord.

I say it again—rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do.

Remember, the Lord is coming soon.6 Don’t worry about anything; instead,

pray about everything.Tell God what you need, and thank God for all He has done.

7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.

God’s peace will guard your hearts and minds

as you live in Christ Jesus.

of 22


GOD WILL BE WITH YOU WHEN YOU THINK AND PRACTICE RIGHTLY8 And now,

dear brothers and sisters, one final thing.

Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable.

Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—

everything you heard from me and saw me doing.

Then the God of peace will be with you.

PAUL IS THANKFUL FOR THEIR CONCERN FOR HIM10 How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again.

I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me.

11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.

PAUL KNOWS “THE SECRET OF LIVING”12 I know how to live on almost nothing

or with everything.

I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty,

with plenty or little.

PAUL’s “SECRET OF LIVING” IS FOUND IN CHRIST13 For I can do everything through Christ,

who gives me strength.14 Even so,

you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.

of 22


PAUL’s FIRST PROVIDERS WERE THE PHILIPPIANS15 As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who

gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News andthen traveled on from Macedonia.No other church did this.

16 you Philippians sent help more than once.even when I was in Thessalonica

17 I don’t say this because I want a gift from you.Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness.

PAUL IS GENEROUSLY SUPPLIED WITH “A SWEET SMELLING SACRIFICE”18 At the moment I have all I need—and more!

I am generously supplied with the gifts

you sent me with Epaphroditus.They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice

that is acceptable and pleasing to God. And

OUR GOD SUPPLIES OUR NEEDS GLORIOUSLY IN CHRIST JESUS19 this same God who takes care of me

will supply all your needs from His glorious riches,

which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.20 Now

all glory to God our Father forever and ever! Amen.

PAUL’S FINAL GREETINGS

I, Paul send you my greetings.21 Give my greetings to each of God’s holy people—

all who belong to Christ Jesus.

The brothers who are with me send you their greetings.22 All the rest of God’s people especially those in Caesar’s household send you greetings, too.

PAUL EXTENDS GRACE TO THE PHILIPPIANS23 May the GRACE of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

COMMENT:

THIS IS AN AMAZING CHAPTER ABOUT PAUL AND HIS LOVE FOR HIS PHILIPPIANS.

of 22

the book of philippians: living, belonging, and knowing christ

Spiritual