Contagious Joy
Book of Philippians
Sunday, September 3rd , 2023

Philippians 1:1-11
Introduction
God’s grace should fill our hearts with joy, thanksgiving, and prayer
I. God’s Grace
The Apostle Paul doesn’t view the Philippians in themselves but ‘saints in Christ.’
“Paul has no gospel apart from Jesus Christ. The gospel is not some vague
general offer, nor is it a mere exhortation to people to live a good life; rather it
tells of the things that have happened in Christ, because without Christ there is
no salvation. And if Christ is not essential to your position, then according to Paul
you are not a Christian. You may be very good, you may even be religious, but
you cannot be a Christian. If Christ is not absolutely the core and centre, it is not
Christianity, whatever else it may be.” ML Jones
II. God’s grace should fill our hearts with joy
You can see his heart and mind in how he feels and thinks about life in Jesus.
Paul throughout this letter expresses his great joy for the Philippian believers.
v.4 – “…always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy…”
III. God’s Grace should fill our hearts with Thanksgiving
Joy transcends our current circumstances (Paul in prison) because joy is at the
heart of the Christian experience of the gospel.
“Not only is he a man of prayer, but a man whose prayer is as filled with
thanksgiving as with petition, and whose thanksgiving is for God’s people, for
whom Paul himself feels deep and passionate longing.” G. Fee
1) He is joyful and thankful because of their partnership in the gospel!
Because the gospel is Paul’s singular passion, he is thankful for their long-time
partnership in their gospel. They have helped in advancing the gospel
“Those who truly possess the gospel also propagate it. The gospel is not to be
hidden away but worked with.” JA Moyter
2) He is joyful and thankful because of God’s work in them!
“He who began…” – God initiates salvation
Acts 16:14 – “…Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a
worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.”

“…good work…” – God’s salvation is shown by evidence
Paul knew their salvation was real and genuine b/c of their love for the gospel
and him.
“…will bring it to completion…” – God completes what He began
“Genuine spiritual progress is rooted in what God has done, is doing, and will
do.” ESV Study Bible
IV. God’s grace should fill our hearts with prayer (v.9-11)
Paul moves from joy and thanksgiving to praying God for the Philippians.
1) Paul prays that their ‘…love may abound more and more…’
Love points to the character of God and his actions toward us. Prior to Christ in
our life, we were selfish, jealous, and hateful people, but when the gospel
transformed us, we became people who could love rightly.
2) Paul prays that they would grow in ‘knowledge and discernment’
why so ‘that they could prove what is excellent and so be pure and
blameless for the day of Christ…’
Knowledge comes through knowing truth, and it produces discernment or moral
insight. Why? To prove what is excellent and to be pure and blameless when we
stand before God.
3) Paul prays they would be “…filled with the fruit of righteousness that
comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.”
“filled” - means to be completely full, like a net filled with a catch of fish
Paul’s prayer is for the Philippians to produce a rich spiritual harvest consisting of
the fruit of the Spirit.
Every child of God must see that we can do nothing apart from Christ Jesus.
John 15:5 – “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in
him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

V. Conclusion