CertaintyPhilippians 1:27-2:4

Certainty Means Courage

2 Kinds of “Victory”C

ert

ain • Worthy

• Foundation• From God

Un

cert

a in• Unworthy• A Fluke• All Too Human

Matthew 7:24-25 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.

Worthy CharacterAbove all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Philippians 1:27 (NLT)New American Standard

• Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ…Philippians 1:27

Politeuesthe – Old verb from politēs, citizen, and that from polis, city, to be a citizen, to manage a state's affairs, to live as a citizen. Only twice in N.T., here and Acts 23:1. Philippi as a colony possessed Roman citizenship and Paul was proud of his own possession of this right. Word Pictures in the NT.

Worthy CharacterAbove all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Philippians 1:27 (NLT)

Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi…Philippians 1:1

For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; Philippians 3:18-20

Worthy CharacterAbove all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Philippians 1:27 (NLT)

Worthy Character•Convictions, not man-pleasing

…so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; Phil. 1:27

Worthy Character•Convictions, not man-pleasing•Consistency, by God’s Spirit

…so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; Phil. 1:27

“The best argument for Christianity is Christians: their joy, their certainty, their sense of completeness. But when the strongest argument against Christianity is also Christians, when they are somber and joyless, when they are self-righteous and smug, then Christianity dies a thousand deaths.”

Worthy Character•Convictions, not man-pleasing•Consistency, by God’s Spirit

…so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; Phil. 1:27

“Remain” "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it

abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. John 15:4

"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. John 15:7

"My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. John 15:8

Worthy Character•Convictions, not man-pleasing•Consistency, by God’s Spirit

…so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; Phil. 1:27

A BIG Deal Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be

strong. 1 Cor. 16:13

It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of

slavery. Galatians 5:1

Worthy Character•Convictions, not man-pleasing•Consistency, by God’s Spirit•Cooperative, a team-player

…so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; Phil. 1:27

Sunathlountes - "striving together" as in an athletic contest. "Striving in concert". Word Pictures in the NT

 "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:35

Worthy Character•Convictions, not man-pleasing•Consistency, by God’s Spirit•Cooperative, a team-player•Clarity, “What matters most”

…so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; Phil. 1:27

I have always cherished the Methodist Church because it gave us the great gift of personal salvation but also the great obligation of social gospel," Clinton saidWashington Post, 4/26/2014

Worthy Character•Convictions, not man-pleasing•Consistency, by God’s Spirit•Cooperative, a team-player•Clarity, “What matters most”•Courageous, not scaredy-cats

in no way alarmed by your opponents—which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God. Phil.1:28And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition… Phil. 1:28 (KJV)

Opportunity to Share

Worthy Character•Convictions, not man-pleasing•Consistency, by God’s Spirit•Cooperative, a team-player•Clarity, “What matters most”•Courageous, not scaredy-cats

in no way alarmed by your opponents—which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God. Phil.1:28“I never forgot that he had as much

reason to fear my forces as I had his.” – US Grant

Worthy Suffering“When the history is written on this generation, the real failure of the men of God who have stood in the pulpits of our land will have been the failure of their preparing the people to suffer.” • Francis Schaeffer, 1984

For to you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake Phil. 1:29

Worthy Suffering2 Gifts of God…For to you it

has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake Phil. 1:29

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

Worthy Suffering"Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. "Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:11-12

For to you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake Phil. 1:29

 The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus. Acts 5:41

Worthy Suffering1.Closer to GodFor to you it

has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake Phil. 1:29

I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes. I take back everything I said…” Job 42:5-6

Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. 2 Corinthians 4:10

 So be happy when you are insulted for being a Christian, for then the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you. 1 Peter 4:14

Worthy Suffering1.Closer to God2.Victorious / Joyful Life

For to you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake Phil. 1:29

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Romans 8:18

 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 2 Corinthians 4:17

If we endure, we will also reign with Him; 2 Timothy 2:12

Worthy Suffering…experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me. Philippians 1:30

Sergius wrote on the wall: “Through this great suffering I have experienced, I have known all the pain, but now I have forgotten it all.”

• On the green in Lexington, Mass, the words of Captain Parker, at the memorable battle at that spot in 1776: stand your ground, don’t fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here.