Paul, the author of Philippians, wrote this thank you letter to the Philippians Christians between AD 60-62 in the Roman prison, chained to a Roman Pretorian guard, According to church tradition, Emperor Nero released Paul in AD 62, but rearrested and beheaded him in AD 66 at the Mamertine prison in Rome.
This is one of the 4 Pauline prison epistles,. Philippians, Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon.
The theme of Philippians is “joy and rejoice in Christ”.
Passage
17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. 18 Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. 19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 20 Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Philippians 1:17-20
Reflection
Paul was not greedy for money. He encouraged the Philippians Christians, and us, to give generously out of a grateful heart, to receive God’s blessings in return. Paul was in chains, hungry, secluded, and needy, but his spirit soars like an eagle. He was contented, at peace, and grateful. He thanked his supporters for their timely and generous support. God will supply all that he needed out of the abundant riches of Christ. God is no debtor to anyone. He owned every cattle on a thousand hills.
“But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully”
1 Corinthians 9:6
“Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
Luke 6:38
Memory verse
“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus”
Philippians 4:19
Application
What have you got to worry about? God knows all your needs and all your problems. He will supply all that you need. Surrender your life to Him. Let Him take over the driver’s seat of your life. God will replenish the things that Covid pandemic took away. and eaten Do not throw in the towel. Trust Him. Do nor fear, just believe.
Prayer
Heaven Father, thank You for abundant provisions. Help us to sow generously to the work of Your kingdom. Help us to store up treasures in heaven that lasts into eternity, in Jesus’ name, Amen
A rhetorical question is a question that requires no answer. The question is asked in order to make a point rather than to get an answer. Paul’s favorite way of teaching is by asking and answering his own rhetorical questions. In this passage, Paul asked an imaginary opponent four rhetorical questions and answered all of them.
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
Romans 8:31-34
The first question is found in verse 31, ”what then shall say to these things?”
What things was Paul referring to? All the things preceding Romans 8: 31, for example, the wrath of God, the grace of God, and so on. How do we respond to these things? We must take heed and do what is required.
The second question is found in verse 32, ”If God is for us, who can be against us?”
God is for us. He does not condemn us. He justified us by grace through faith in Christ. He adopted us into His family as children of God. He sanctified us.
If God is on our side, then we have nothing to worry about at all. Martin Luther said, ”with God, one is a majority”.
The third question is found in verse 33, ”who shall bring a charge against God’s elect?”
If we ever start to doubt the love of God, we must look back to the cross again. On the cross, God did not even spare his One and Only Son whom He loved. Paul’s argument is this, if God gave us His very best, He cannot give us anything less. If God gave us His Only Son, He can give us anything.
Our hearts can condemn us, but God promised no condemnation for those who are in Christ.
The fourth question is found in verse 34, ”Who is he who condemns?”
there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus
Romans 8:1
because if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.Beloved, if our hearts don’t condemn us, we have boldness toward God
1 John 3:20-21
Satan can condemn us, but God justified us. John Newton said,
I am a great sinner but Jesus is a great Saviour
John Newton
for the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down
Rev 12:10 b
The final answer is found in verse 34 b
Jesus Christ died and rose from the dead so that we can live. He is now seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven to make intercession for us.
Therefore he is also able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, seeing that he lives forever to make intercession for them.
Hebrews 7:25
Application
Do you have trials and temptations? Do you have troubles anywhere? Are you discouraged?
You can carry everything to Jesus in prayer. He gives you peace and bears your sorrows. He knows all your weaknesses. If Jesus is for you, who cares what others think?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for Jesus, Your final answer to Paul’s rhetorical questions. You gave us Your Son to die for us on the cross to give us eternal life. Thank You for salvation by grace and justification by faith in Christ. We claim the promise of Ephesians 2: 8-9,
for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast
Paul described the armor of God in Ephesians 6. This armor is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul used a Roman soldier’s uniform to illustrate the armor of God because he was chained ta a Roman soldier 24 hours a day under house arrest. The armor of God is a six-piece comprehensive uniform comprising a belt, breastplate, shoes, shield, helmet, and sword.
Paul exhorts his audience and us to put on the whole armor of God not only to protect but also to attack the enemy of our souls. We are not fighting against human beings with flesh and blood. We are fighting against evil spirits in the spiritual realm of the unseen world. Our enemies are the hierarchy of evil spirits called principalities and powers, rulers and authorities, and spiritual wickedness in the high places, We must win the war through prayer in the spiritual realm first, before we can see a breakthrough in the physical realm. In this war, we do not use physical weapons but spiritual ones to demolish strongholds, 2 Corinthians 10:4.
for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds
2 Corinthians 10:4
Ephesians 6:11-17
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God
Ephesians 6:11-17
Jesus is the belt of Truth
Jesus sets you free from bondage. He is Grace and Truth.
and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free
John 8:32
I am the way, the truth, and the life
John 14:7
Sanctify them in your truth. Your word is the truth
John 17:7
Jesus is the breastplate of righteousness
Jesus is the righteousness of God.
For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith”
Romans 1:17
2 Cor 5:21, For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Jesus is the gospel of peace
Jesus is the prince of peace. We must wear the shoes of Jesus to share the gospel of peace with others.
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.
1 Peter 3:15
preach the word; be urgent in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with all patience and teaching.
1 Timothy 4:2
Jesus is the shield of faith
Faith protects us from the fiery darts of doubt.
Contend, Yahweh, with those who contend with me. Fight against those who fight against me. Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for my help.
Psalm 35:1-2
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen
Hebrews 11:1
Jesus is the helmet of salvation
The helmet protects the mind from anxious thoughts. Salvation gives us the hope of eternal life.
But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation
1 Thess 5:8
Jesus is the sword of the Spirit
Jesus is the Word of God, a double-edged sword that cuts in both ways. Jesus quoted the Word of God when He was tempted by satan in the wilderness. The sword of the Spirit is prayer, fasting, intercession, and the Word of God.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth
John 1:14
For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart
Hebrews 4:12
Application
Put on the full six-piece armor of Jesus before you even go to work. Then, you will be able to stand firm against the demonic spirits. If you kneel down before God in prayer, you will stand firm before men at work. Jesus covers you from head to toe with a helmet, breastplate, belt, shoes, shield, and sword. The helmet protects your mind. The breastplate keeps you righteous before God. The truth sets you free from deception. The shoes enable you to preach the gospel of peace The shield protects you from the flaming doubts of satan. The sword enables you to defend yourself and attack for deliverance, and demolishing of strongholds.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for Jesus Christ, the armor of God for spiritual protection and spiritual warfare. Teach us how to pray with perseverance, watchfulness, and supplication. Teach us how to cultivate the discipline of intercession. We claim the promise of 2 Chronicles 7:14,
if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land
2 Chronicle 7:14
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, for Yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever and ever, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
A Christ-centred, life-changing, verse-by-verse expository commentary, bible study guide, and daily devotion on the book of Galatians, by Dr. Andrew C S Koh
Archbishop Ng Moon Hing Anglican Archbishop of Southeast Asia
The Epistle to the Galatians is commonly considered as one of the earliest foundational instructions of Christian faith. It was believed that Apostle Paul wrote this epistle at the early days of his missionary ministry. He was adamant to teach proper foundation of faith, especially amid heretical teachings by the Judaizers. After some years of laying the foundation of faith in the district of Galatia, he quickly realized that many so-called believers are straying away from the fundamental belief i.e. Justification by Grace through Faith. Apostle Paul was required to draw out all his convictions and learnings to re-convince the Galatian Christians what he has taught when he was first with them. He was conscious of the Judaizers and the fleshy and worldly syncretic teachings which were indoctrinating and causing confusion to the believers. He laid a strong contrast between the ‘keeping of the law’ and the ‘faith in Christ’ as two opposing ends.
What people are saying
“A beautiful study of Apostle Paul’s teaching to the Gentiles and Jews and his clear message about the doctrines of the church. He wrote the epistle himself in the early days of his teaching and mission. This is a great book to read and learn Apostle Paul’s teaching and his strong advice that “Keeping the Law ” and ” Faith in Christ are two different teachings. I received this book for free and I leave an honest review. I recommend this book to other readers”
— J Sharmani, Bookbub, 5 out of 5 stars.
“Paul the Apostle wrote this epistle in the early days of his mission and teaching. He wanted to teach the fundamental beliefs of the church to the Gentile and the Jews. This book is a great study of the Apostle Paul’s teachings and avoids any confusion to the believers. I am on the ARC team and I leave an honest review. I recommend this book to other readers”
