“I am His servant.”
First off, Paul’s identity is found in Christ. He calls himself a servant of Christ or “bondservant.” The word “servant” used here translates to “doulos” in the Greek. He cuts off any room for pride right off the bat. He starts off by purposefully stating that he does not belong to himself. He actually gave up his rights.
This identification can be linked to one of the very key verses of Philippians “to live is Christ and to die is gain.” His identity is Christ and where he stands with God is pure. Paul’s worship is also pure because he is not glorifying anyone else but Jesus Christ. It is the reason for defending the gospel---when something or someone else is worshipped other than Jesus. It throws off the church because they have chosen to not make Christ the center of their lives. Paul is defending where their identity lies (Phil 1:7, 1:16). He’s defending their foundation—the Gospel.
He loves the people of Philippi and he really misses them. The plural Greek word used in adelphoi (translated “brothers”) refers to siblings in a family. Basically they’ve been through something together and the church at Philippi has been with him through thick & thin. They’re not just standing back, they’re getting some scrapes & bruises too. (Phil 1:12, 14, 3:1, 13, 17, 4:1, 8, 21).
Their unity is in Christ so they are his family and he is encouraging them to press on and stand firm! (Phil 4:1) How deep is this tie with the church at Philippi?
The unity is eternal. They have the same inheritance (1 Cor 1:12).
“It is my prayer that your love may abound”
He is praying that God will fill them with the knowledge of Him so they can be filled with the fruit of righteousness…that…wait for it …..comes through Jesus Christ.
It all comes from Him. All goodness. All purity. All knowledge. Everything excellent and beautiful and undefiled. He wants their love for Christ to grow and grow and grow.
He is truly encouraging them that God is the one who is completing a work that He started. So before they get all prideful and think about relying on themselves, he knocks that out of the way too.
(Col 1:9, Col 3:10, Phil 1:6)
Pray that your love for God would abound…that He would refresh you with a love for Him that grows and grows….and keeps growing.
Philippians 1:6
“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
References to Phil 1:6-
Psalm 57:2
“I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.”
1 Thes 5:23-24
“Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, he will surely do it.” (also a reference to Phil 1:9)
1 Cor 1:9-12
“And so from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.”
1 Cor 10:13
“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”
Deut. 7: 9
“Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love Him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations…”
Paul’s letter is full of joy and encouragement. His life was on the line, and he was in prison, yet it may be the most joyful of his letters. How crazy is that? His hope and joy wasn’t dependent on his circumstances.
This verse is about recognizing that genuine spiritual progress is rooted in what God has done, is doing, and will do. We have the confidence that the God who saved us will never let us go. God is changing people he’s giving us a new heart and putting a new spirit in us, removing a heart of stone, giving us His spirit and causing us to walk in his ways. He’s doing heart surgery now and planting His word in there. Only He can bring new life. We put no confidence in the flesh, or human abilities. (Phil. 3:4). He was Paul’s reward, his life, Christ was not a means to an end for him. Christ was his life. God will take care of you. He’ll make you grow. I’m not promising you that…He is. He’s faithful even when you’re not. Let his life fill you up--but if you want to do that you gotta let go of some other stuff.
Ask God what that stuff is. Ask Him to do some deep heart surgery. Haven’t you been wanting to really live? Ask Him for His life. Ask Him to tell and show you more of who He is…and all of a sudden love will start abounding like crazy.
We just dived in to Philippians 1:6…There’s more love where that came from.
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