 Good morning. Good morning, everyone. Welcome to today's session on BC103, our New Testament Survey. Today we're going to study on one of Paul's letters. Even before we could start, can I request one of you all to please lead us in prayer? Can I request, yeah, Lubeiga, would you be able to pray? Let's pray. Father, we thank you for this wonderful Monday, New Week. Yes. Qing and New Movement. Lord, we come before you. Thank you for this lesson, Lord. As we wait for our brotherings and colleagues to join, Lord, we also pray for our dear lecturer. Please, Lord, bless her and let her be used as a vessel to teach us and to show us the keys to the kingdom, Lord. As we pass through today's episode of Philippians, so Lord guide her and also help us to give us wisdom so that we can really understand and comprehend on what Paul through the Holy Spirit wanted to teach this church those days and today. We do pray and believe that it's going to come to pass in the name of the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit. And we say amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Thank you. Thank you, Lubeiga, for that wonderful prayer. And as others are joining in, okay, that's wonderful to see everyone joining. Was there a delay in receiving the link or what happened that everyone joined late today? Was there any technical glitches so that we can correct it from our side if there's anything? For me, I think the notification went off. Okay. Okay. It was with everyone. So, you know, I was just wondering, was there any technical problem from our side that needs to be a great thank you. So it's nice to see everyone. And yesterday, they are going to study on one of the letters of Paul, which is also the prison epistle. So Philippians is the prison epistle of Paul. So most scholars believe that the letter was written around 8062 while Paul was in the prison at Rome. So Paul wrote this letter to the believers at Philippi, with whom he shared a close partnership. And there was a special bonding or affection towards this church. And we also addressed the letter to the church elders and deacons. And we also see throughout this letter, we see joy of the Christian experience is a dominant theme running through the bulk of Philippians. As we discussed that before we could move ahead. Let's talk about the history of the city of Philippi. Well, Philippi was founded as a gold mining center and it became a city of prominence because it was on the main road to Rome from the western world. And Philippi was a chief city of the part of Macedonia. Even though Thessalonica was the capital city of that Roman province, we see that Philippi was a Roman colony. And as a result of being a Roman colony, the people of the city were Roman citizens. We also see the city was a model of Roman law and education. The people were noted to be noble, educated and disciplined in nature. So for that we also see the city did not officially allow a synagogue and would be somewhat anti-Semitic. So with this background, we also see when was this letter written. We see the scholars say that it was written in 62 or between 62 to 64 AD. And what was the purpose of Paul writing this letter to the Church of Philippians? And before we could see how was this church formed? Well, we see that Apostle Paul in this letter, he expresses a gratitude and affection for the Philippians church because when he visited the church, when Paul on his first machinery journey, he visited some of the churches. And on the second missionary journey after which Paul circulated through Galatia, founding the churches on his first missionary journey, he returned to Antioch to reconnect with the churches. And after he spent about three years in Antioch, he decided to revisit the churches that he had previously established. So when he, like after visiting the churches, Paul felt that they should continue into the new territory and he proposed to go towards the northward of Britannia, that is the Asia Minor. So he was sensing to check, check in spirit. And when he was led by the Holy Spirit to move on towards Macedonia in Acts chapter 16, we see that he gets a vision, a man from the region of Macedonia pleading with Paul to come and visit Macedonia. We read that in Acts chapter 16 verse 9 where Paul responded and immediately he changed his direction and headed westward to Macedonia. And we also see Paul eventually arrived at Philippi, which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia. What happened? Was there any, you want to add something Paul? Paul, your voice is not clear. Paul, your voice is not clear. You want to add something or you are trying to say something? We are not able to get it clearly. Is it possible you could type? Paul, we are not able to hear you. We are unable to hear you. So when Paul and Silas, okay, before Paul and Silas, I would like to say what happened? We know the story what happened in Acts chapter 16 that Barnabas and Paul had an argument because of John Mark. As Barnabas wanted to take John Mark on the second missionary journey for which Paul disagreed. So they both separated Barnabas and John Mark went towards the other side on their missionary journey and we see Silas and Timothy join Paul. I mean Silas first joined Paul and on the way Timothy joins him. So Paul and Silas arrived in Philippi since there was no synagogue. They connected with Jewish women called Lydia who gathered by a river for prayer and fellowship. We see that in chapter 16 when we read little below 13 to 15 we see about Lydia. So Paul preached in the streets. So Paul began his ministry at Philippi on the street. Whereas in other places he began in a synagogue because there was no synagogue in Philippi. So he began his ministry on the streets and he began to create a stir especially where he cast out a spirit of divination out of a young women. And we know the result what happened. So the master of the servant girl dragged Paul and Silas before the city of the magistrates and accused them there of being Jew and preaching things that way anti-Roman. And because of the city antagonism towards Jew Paul and Silas were beaten hardly and they were thrown into prison without a trial. We also see Paul and Silas sang through the night and we see eventually it led the jailer there and his household to the Lord. And Paul was released from the prison when they discovered that he was a Roman citizen and Paul was forced them to make a public issue because they had to release him in a proper way because they bet him publicly and they also have to release him in public and Paul picked up where he left the ministry from the house of Lydia which most likely was a meeting place for the first the new church at Philippi. We also see when we follow up the history of the Philippian church we see that Luke most likely was with Paul in the beginning stages of this church and he may have stayed there in the church to build it strong. So it could be noted that whenever Paul got close to Philippi we see that Luke the writer of the book of Acts seems to link up with Paul in Acts 20. That's how we know that Luke also would have been with Paul. So the church at Philippi said gifts to Paul on a couple of occasions during his ministry at Thessalonica and Paul undoubtedly he visited the church at Philippi on the front end of his third missionary journey when he came into Macedonia and we also see that Paul revisited Philippi on his way to Jerusalem after his third missionary journey. So the church at Philippi sent an offering to Paul while he was in the prison in Rome by the hand of Ephrauditus where the church in Philippi learned that Paul was in the prison at Rome. So they were mindful of him. They had a good rapport and so they sent their one of the improminent leader Ephrauditus with some offering to be of help to Paul. So Paul received that offering with the heart of gratitude. We see that in chapter one when he started he says he addresses the letter to the elders, saints and the deacons of the church and Paul sends the letter that was addressed to this great church by the hand of Ephrauditus while in the prison. And Paul fully accepted that he would visit Philippi again after his release from the prison. We see that in Philippians chapter two verse 20 to 24. He says that I trust in the Lord that I myself shall come shortly. So we also see when was this book written? It was written in the first Roman imprisonment. And some of the main themes, we can see some of the main themes. Well, I just share the PowerPoint slide where I've listed some of the themes that we can look at in today's session. This is the map. We see the Antioch where Paul and Silas moved toward Darces, Derby and they moved to Philippi in Macedonia. They visit other places and they go there. We will be studying in detail in the third year when we study on the book of Acts. So we can study on each missionary journey and the places what happened in each place. What are the incidents that took place in detail? Yeah, well, these are some of the themes that I would like to discuss in today's class where the joy in the Christian life is all about the perspective. Through joy is not based on the circumstances. Well, the key of lasting contentment is found through a relationship with Jesus Christ. And this is the divine perspective that Paul wanted to communicate. It is letter to the Philippines. Well, first thing we see that Christ is the ultimate example for believers where through following the pattern of humility and sacrifice, we can find the joy in all circumstances. We also see another theme where Christians can experience a joint suffering just as Christ suffered. When we read through chapter 2 verse 8, we see that he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal's death on cross. We also see the next thing Christians can experience joy in service. But I will rejoice even if I lose my life pouring out like a liquid offering to God. Just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy. You should rejoice and I will share your joy. This is what Paul says in Philippians chapter 2 verse 17 to 18. And when we move to Philippians chapter 3 verse 9, can I request one of you all to read? Philippians chapter 3 verse 9 please. Philippians chapter 3 verse 9 and we found in him not having my own righteousness which is on the low but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith. Amen. So what we see in verse 9 says clearly that I no longer count on my own righteousness through being the Lord rather I become righteousness through faith in Christ. So Christian can experience joy in believing. And when we turn to Philippians chapter 4 verse 18 to 19. Can I request one of you all to read? Yes. Philippians chapter 4 verse 18 and 19. Indeed I have all and abound. I am full having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you the sweet smelling aroma and acceptable sacrifice well pleasing to God and my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Amen. Thank you. Thank you John for reading that. So what we see here, Christians can experience the joy in giving. When we are generous, when we give, we receive. That's what in the Gospels we learn that it is more blessed to give than to receive. And here there's a promise which says and God has been a provider. He's been Jehovah Jireh. God would take care of each of us will supply all our needs from his glorious riches which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. We have already received it when we believe it happens. Some of the key verses we see here or even before I could move on to the key verses. Let me look at the chapter. What does it say? There are only four chapters in this book. So chapter one talks about the confidence of the believer. Philippians chapter one verse six talks about being confident of this very thing that he who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. What a confidence that we can have as a believer. Chapter two talks about the supreme example of Christ himself because he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death even to the death of the cross. Verse nine talks about before God also has highly exalted him and given him the name which is above every name. Look at the power in his name that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow those in heaven and of those on earth and of those under the earth that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. So we see the supreme example of Jesus Christ in this letter. In chapter three talks about the ultimate goal of the believer. What is the goal of the believer that we need to press on? Chapter three verse 12 talks about that we need to press on that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. That is our goal that I need to press towards the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. So this should be in our mind. We need to have this in our mind and then press on towards that goal. And in chapter four we see that the believer's meditation Philippians chapter four verse eight talks about finally brethren whatever things are true whatever things are noble whatever things are just whatever things are pure whatever things are lovely and whatever things are of good report if there is any virtue and if there is anything praise worthy meditate on these things So here is setting us where we need to set our mind on our mind should be on the things that are true that are noble that are just that are pure which is lovely and of a good report and if there's anything virtue and if there's anything praise worthy we need to meditate on those things which is a super powerful which can be meditated within us and also in Philippians chapter four verse 13 we see what a promise that Paul writes and gives to us that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me we see the glory of God within us when we are weak then we are strong this is what even he wrote to the other churches when Paul was writing to the other churches he wrote when you are weak then you are strong to the Corinthians church and here we see in his letter to Philippians church we see that he's encouraging the believers you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you ultimately he's saying something very important here very important here it is Christ who's indwelling within each of us is strengthening us we see how each and every book in the New Testament are relating to each other when we read the book of Genesis now before I could go to the book of Genesis I would like to make a point here why is Paul telling this to the Philippians church can anyone say why is he quoting this scripture to the Philippians church anyone from the class was there any problem in this church what was the purpose you can refer to your notes what was the purpose of Paul writing this letter to the Philippians so then we can understand on this scripture why is Paul saying that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you to address the problem in the church of Philippians because of that please go ahead there were some false teachers and the believers were confused so in all those things we want them to be strong in the Lord and to come against all those oaths see the very purpose of Paul writing this letter yes the first letter itself as we said he is showing his gratitude towards the believers in the Philippians church for their financial help second we see that he is addressing the problem in the Philippians church especially there was a rivalry between the two prominent women Yodia and Sinti Che and the third point third purpose of writing this letter is to refute the teaching of the Judaizers there were some false teachers away coming from Galatians and they were causing problems even in Philippians and some of who were going to the extreme opposite extreme of perhaps advocating a total disregard for the law against the teaching of Paul so Paul is writing to the believers in this church about be strong you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you and we see that he is relating of Christ who is indwelling in you rely on the strength of Christ who is in you everyone is there anything that you would like to add or share okay we see that the Christ who is indwelling on each of us can strengthen us at difficult times so here we see that Paul urging encouraging each one in the Philippians church and now we see that he is also asking us to depend on God that God shall supply all your needs according to his riches and glory by Christ Jesus and now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever a man he encourages them to rely on God to meet every need of them we also see Christ in four ways in the gospel in the book of Philippians we see Christ in the believers life in Philippians chapter 1 verse 21 we see that what to me to live is Christ and to die is king I'm just reading out the scriptures to save time okay because there are a lot of other scriptures that we can discuss from this very small letter the second point we see that Christ is a believer's mind Christ is the believer's mind Philippians chapter 2 verse 5 talks about let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus and also in Philippians chapter 3 10 we see that that I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his suffering being conformed to his death what we see here we see Christ is a believer's goal and in Philippians chapter 4 verse 13 which again talks about I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me Christ is the believer's strength and also Paul encourages one more point to this church he says our spiritual citizenship is more important than the Roman citizenship our spiritual citizenship I repeat it our spiritual citizenship is more important than the Roman citizenship we can also apply to our time in this day and also two points he makes he shares in chapter 1 verse 27 he says that we are to conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel behave like the citizen of heaven second point we see in Philippians chapter 3 verse 20 he talks about for our citizenship is in heaven from which we also eagerly wait for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ to come so we are not to look to Roman government or to any of our government where we live in currently presently for our blessing of citizenship but to God with that we will see what are the distinct features of the book of Philippians we see that Paul had a special relationship with this church Paul had been affection for this church we see that in Philippians chapter 1 verse 80 he had a deep affection for this church and this is seen overall the tone of this book is very kind, gentle encouraging it is truly we could sense this letter is something like a love letter especially to this church we see that the verse for God is my witness how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ he means every word that he has wrote in this letter and this letter was handwritten by Paul himself and in Philippians chapter 4 verse 15 we see that this church was more generous it supported Paul and his ministry financially they were generous enough to give Paul and to support him so this is the significant because they were very poor church and they gave out from what they had that's why Paul was saying that God shall bless you richly according to his glorious power Paul used this church as an example to others of sacrificial giving he also see he writes in 2 Corinthians 8 1 to 5 like now view Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel when I departed from Macedonia no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only this church understood Paul they loved Paul they loved him for who he was in Jesus Christ they blessed him they supported him they prayed for him we see that mutual affection between each other Paul seems to be more personal with this church than in any other church he uses personal pronouns like I me and my letter than in any other letter Paul had a special relationship with the leaders of this church referring to him as his true yoke fellow or true companion Paul shares his inner motivation with this church we see in Philippians chapter 1 verse 21 we see that for me to live as Christ and to die as again Paul is in a difficult situation whereas Paul being in prison under chains he is not speaking anything about his suffering about the situation that he is going through but then he has set his mind on the higher calling on heavenly calling so he clearly encourages the people in Philippians saying that for me to live in Christ so don't be worried about me don't be so much concerned about the situation that I am in but then set your mind on Christ who can deliver us from any situation and also despite the situation here I am writing this letter I am still ministering to people very clearly he says that for me to live as Christ and to die as again so I am prepared for anything but then I want to live so that I can expand the gospel of Christ and by saying this he is also putting this thought in every believer in the Philippian church and not just that it does not end there through this letter been recorded in the New Testament the thought has been put in each one of us each one of us as we read the letter of Philippians we should carry this attitude that which was there in Paul for Paul it was if he could say being under chains if he could say for me to live as Christ and to die as again how much more we could do for us when we are not behind bars we have the freedom we have the freedom just we need to look out the ways through which we could share Christ in our life through our life and also Paul is also stating that personally he is setting a higher call he is saying that I pressed toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus he is also opening our mind our thoughts that how we can think about the goal that is been there the purpose that God has put in each one of our life and how we could press toward that goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus there may be challenges we also see that Paul writing letter to the other churches he talks about the challenges but then he is encouraged from God where the spirit ministers to Paul and says that my grace is sufficient for you my grace is enough same way Paul is encouraging each one of us set your thought higher despite your situation God will give us the grace to overcome our situation but at the same time he will strengthen us to fulfill the call the purpose that he has given to each one of us in Philippians chapter 2 verse 19 to 30 we see that Paul gives us a unique description of faithful and how we can be a supportive toward the ministry he gives example of two leaders I could say who followed Paul closely Timothy who joined in the ministry of his journey Timothy was like minded as Paul he was genuine he had a genuine care and we also see that Paul expressing the same kind of you know feeling toward Timothy genuine concern about Timothy and you know they had this father son relationship with him and he also writes about Timothy in other letters that Timothy is a man proven of a good character and also we see if our freditis in Philippians chapter 2 verse 24 to 30 we see that he was a soldier he was sacrificial in a service he put the needs of others ahead of his own and he carried the letter and the gift that the Philippians church gave him and he went to Rome to be to meet up with Paul and be there to help him and during his time of if a freditis been with Paul he was attacked with some kind of sickness some of the scholars says those days it was malaria was a very dangerous sickness the scripture does not say that he was affected with malaria but then just say that he was sick and he was almost at his death bed he risked his life for the work of Christ and here we see Paul acknowledging that about if a freditis I am sure Paul and they both would have prayed for a supernatural healing for freditis and we see that in his life that God healed him he recovered from this dangerous sickness and here Paul sending this letter with the hand of a freditis back to the church and acknowledging is good service this is a glimpse of whole letter we have four chapters chapter one talks about joy in living for Christ and second chapter talks about joy in serving Christ in unity and chapter 3 talks about joy in knowing Christ and chapter 4 talks about joy in resting in Christ we also see the tone with which Paul writes this letter it is very warm and encouraging and the keywords often used in this letter interchangeably was joy rejoice have a mind of Christ and the uniqueness of this letters there was no major problem other than joy is found in each chapter and there was no quotation from the Old Testament in this letter so Christ was mentioned over 40 times and it was more positive letter of of Paul which was written and the theme of this letter is by centering our lives on Christ as we experience true joy and here the keywords is given only one but then I have listed many key verses which I will be sharing with you all soon so the Christ in the Philippians church is Jesus the son of God from heaven who humbled himself by becoming human who suffered for us and who was exalted to heaven and I would like to share some of the key verses here which is very important I felt like so I just listed them from all four chapters Philippians chapter one six talks about God will finish what he begins anew God will finish the work that which he has started anew he will finish it and then verse 21 we see that to live is Christ and to die is again chapter 2 verse 5 to 11 we see that Christ is our ultimate example for humility in chapter 3 verse 13 to 14 we read this verse before it's asking us to press forward to the goal towards the heavenly goal and then verse 20 talks about our citizenship is in heaven our citizenship is in heaven and we need to behave accordingly and in chapter 4 verse 4 we see that we are to rejoice always this should be our attitude this should be our decision despite our situation we should cultivate we should develop this attitude within us it is not something emotional feeling but it is a decision that we need to make the joy of the Lord is our strength so that we can rejoice always and in verse 7 he says do not be anxious but trust in Christ verse 13 he says that he is encouraging Paul encourages the believers at the Philippians church saying that we can do all things through Christ to strengthen us and in 19 he says God will supply all your needs according to his riches and glory in Christ Jesus yes this church had financial difficulties but despite of their difficulty they chose to bless Paul willingly to give generously to the ministry and here we see Paul blessing the church blessing the believers that you will be richly rewarded by God himself and yes as he says that we can also apply it to our life like when we give it is more blessed to give than to receive and there is a blessing yes this is what we see time and again in the scripture that typing is very important this is the only place where the scripture says you test and see God that when you give you will be blessed 10 times okay that is the last reflection is there anything that you would like to add on to share about this letter given before I could move on to the reflection to the last part of this letter one of the first points you mentioned the perspective of Christian life I think it is very clearly mentioned in this episode to find joy in whatever circumstances God is allowing us to go through I think he was right in this episode the time he was getting out of prison towards the end of his house arrest time and he is telling the importance of being joy yes yes thanks John yes it is very important for us to have this attitude of joy within us so how do we apply this in our life how do we apply this into our situation we see as we study this letter we see that though we all have much to be thankful for but the pace and the pressure of life often squeezes us the joy out of us sometimes we become so desperate that we are unable to find this joy within ourselves we try to search outside and that is when sometimes most of them go astray but then your Paul is encouraging us the joy of the Lord is our strength rejoice in your situation don't look at your circumstance that you are and when we praise and give God God is all powerful who can bring us out of that situation he also showcases that what is impossible by God and also we see that nothing is out of God's plan there was a reason there was a purpose for that situation we see that when Paul and Silas was in the prison but they never counted of their situation they never looked at what they were but instead they praised they sang praises to God and what happened God showed up all powerful and through that situation we see that they ministered to the jailer and their family they received Jesus as their Lord and savior so every instance there was a reason and when they allowed God to be with them they invited God to be in their situation every instance everything turned to be a blessing so today Paul is encouraging each of us despite our situation despite the life's pressure what each of us are going through let's invite Jesus into our life let's rejoice and praise because that's what the enemy didn't want to see in us he wants to rob the joy he wants to rob the peace of what God has already put into us so here Paul is asking us make a decision to be joyful have a mind of Christ so when we have mind of Christ we can have the joy of Christ who's indwelling in us so Paul knew this and that's why he states that the true joy comes only when we humble in faith and when we acknowledge Jesus Christ is our Savior in our life and look at him be focused on him and we can come out of every desperate situation we will be an overcomer because that's what the scripture says that you are more than an overcomer the very beautiful promise that Paul gives us through this letter is I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me we can apply it to any of a situation and encourage ourselves that we are not alone the word which became flesh is indwelling within us which has the power to overcome our weakness most of the time when we look at our weaknesses you know sometimes when I look at my weakness I feel like running away I want to give up most of the time sometimes the fear becomes much bigger than what than the God that we can rely upon but when we focus when we change our focus from fear to Christ who is indwelling in us and here we get the strength here we draw the power to overcome that weakness to overcome that weakness here we when we have put on the armor of God and remind ourselves like I have the mind of Christ and remind of the call that God has called each one of us about the purpose that he has in us then we receive that strength we draw the strength from the source who can strengthen our weakness who can make us and overcome there is no situation much greater than what God could overcome in and through us we need to rejoice in our weaknesses because very soon it's going to become our strength can we today look at all our weaknesses and bring it to the presence of God along with our weaknesses I would also encourage as Paul encourages the Philippians church with our financial difficulties if there is anyone in our class in our session who is listening to this video, to this session if any of us are going through any financial need bring it to God who is Jehovah Jireu meets all our needs according to the riches and glory Christ Jesus can we pray today friends can we look at him and pray for two things to be strengthened in Christ and to look at God to meet all our needs can I request one of us as you are led by the Spirit to pray to pray on these two points to each of us that God will meet our needs and change our weaknesses to his strength class can I request one of you all to pray Father we thank you for the word that you have spoken to us Lord we submit all of us Lord as we heard today help us to have that attitude of joy in our hearts and to continue to to surrender to you in that area Lord Jesus that whatever circumstances that we might face just to remember that you are a provider and you will continue to do that in our life's God as we read today Lord Jesus my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches and glory in Christ Jesus Lord we receive your provisions your promises into our lives of God pray for all of us who are in the class right now Lord we pray for God that whatever circumstances they are going through and whatever is their need right now of God as your word says you are the God who provides Lord we release your provision of release of us of God right now and we pray of God that we would be able to overcome all the challenges that we have and we would be able to walk according to your plan Lord Jesus thank you Lord God we give you praise in Jesus name we pray amen amen amen thank you so much for joining in today's session thank you God bless you all tomorrow with the next letter God bless thank you I hope this letter was a blessing to each one of us yes amen