August 4, 2024
Teacher: Mike Laughrun
(1) Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: (2) Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (3) I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, (4) always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, (5) because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.
Philippians 1:1-5
(6) And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. (7) And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. (8) So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. (9) And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” (10) And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
Acts 16:6-10
Big Idea:
God works through His submissive servants.
(11) So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, (12) and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days.
Acts 16:11-12
(13) And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. (14) One who heard us was a woman named 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. (15) And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.
Acts 16:13-15
(16) As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. (17) She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” (18) And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.
Acts 16:16-18
(19) But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. … (22) The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. (23) And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. (24) Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
Acts 16:19, 22-24
(25) About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, (26) and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened.
Acts 16:25-26
(27) When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. (28) But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” (29) And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. (30) Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (31) And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” (32) And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.
Acts 16:27-32
(33) And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. (34) Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.
Acts 16:33-34
Big Idea:
God works through faithful gospel proclamation.
So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed.
Acts 16:40
(1) Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: (2) Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (3) I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, (4) always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, (5) because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.
Philippians 1:1-5
Big Idea:
Jesus followers boast in Christ above all else.
(20) as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. (21) For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Philippians 1:20-21
For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh
Philippians 3:3
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. (8) Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ…
Philippians 3:7-8
Big Idea:
Jesus followers live for the progress of others.
(22) If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. (23) I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. (24) But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. (25) Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith,
Philippians 1:22-25
Big Idea:
Jesus followers stand firm and rejoice in the Lord.
Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,
Philippians 1:27
Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.
Philippians 4:1
always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy,
Philippians 1:4
Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.
Philippians 2:18
Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord.
Philippians 3:1
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.
Philippians 4:4
We walk through a battlefield where spiritual enemies scheme against us, but strengthened in Jesus, armed with the conviction of his authority and power, the Jesus follower is able to withstand every attack until the final victory (Eph. 6:10-13).
Put on the whole armor of God. Grow in the strengthening knowledge of the Son of God to maturity (Eph. 4:12-16).
Be strengthened. Live with boldness and confidence knowing Jesus sustains your eternity (Eph. 3:11-12).
Set your emotions to be strong and courageous, knowing that your joy is beyond the circumstances of these evil days. Desire to walk as light through the darkness, according to the calling to which you have been called in Christ, your Lord (Eph. 5:8).