Sovereign Grace Church

Philippians 1:  1-11 = Sons in fellowship with the Savior
Philippians 1:12-25 = Servants in furthering the cause of the Savior
Philippians 1:26-30 = Soldiers in fighting and defending the truth of the Savior

I. COMMAND TO LIVE “WORTHY OF THE GOSPEL”
A. THIS CAUSES ABUNDANT REJOICING
Philippians 1:26-27a “ . . that because of my coming to you again you may have more abundant rejoicing in Jesus Christ.”
(also II Corinthians 10:4; Titus 3:5; II Cor. 5:21)

B. THIS CALLS FOR ABSOLUTE RESPONSIBILITY
Philippians 1:27a “Just conduct yourselves worthy of the gospel of Christ.”
(also II Corinthians 5:20)

“You are writing a Gospel, a chapter each day,
By the deeds that you do and the words that you say;
Men read what you write, whether faithful or true –
Just what is the Gospel according to YOU?”

C. THIS CALLS FOR ABSENT REPORTS
Philippians 1:27b “That whether I come to see you or am absent, I may hear about you”
(also III Jn 4)

II. CHARACTERISTICS OF LIVING “WORTHY OF THE GOSPEL”
A. SOLDIERS ARE STEADFAST
Philippians 1:27c “that you stand fast in one spirit”

B. SOLDIERS ARE SINGLE-MINDED
Philippians 1:27c “with one mind”
(also John 17:9)

C. SOLDIERS ARE STRONG
Philippians 1:27d “striving together for the faith of the gospel”
(also Jude 3; I Tim 6:12; I Cor 6:9)

D. SOLDIERS ARE SURE
Philippians 1:28 “and not in any way stampeded by the opposition, which to them demonstrates destruction, but to you, deliverance (and that from God).”
(also Phil 3:19; II Pet 2:1; I John 4:4)

E. SOLDIERS SUFFER
Philippians 1:29-30 “Because it was granted concerning Christ to you, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, having the same conflict that you saw and now hear is in me.”
(also II Tim 3:12; John 15:20; Rom 8:18; 8:35-39; Acts 5:40-42)

“Rise up, O men of God, have done with lesser things
Give heart and soul and mind and strength to serve the King of kings
Rise up, O men of God, the Church for you doth wait,
Her strength unequal to her task; rise up and make her great.”