The Work of the Body on Earth

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Text: Philippians 1:1-11

Introduction: The Book of Philippians is found in a very unique place in your Bible. If you look at the book before Philippians you would find the Book of Ephesians and if you look after Philippians you will find the Book of Colossians. The epistles to the Ephesians and the Colossians bear a strong resemblance. In both of these epistles we find the church as the body of Christ and the Lord Jesus Christ as the head of the body. In addition to this we find key words like mystery, hid, treasure, and riches. So here we have the epistle to the Philippians sandwiched in between Ephesians and Colossians. Surely we will find references to the church as the body of Christ or Christ as the head of the church and key words such as mystery, hid, treasure, and riches. Well we don’t find that at all, as a matter of fact the only thing we find is 1 use of the word riches. So how does Philippians plug in here. In Philippians we find key words like mind (s) (8 times), minded (2 times), likeminded (2 times), think, thinketh, thought, choose, remembrance, know, known, knowledge, understand. These words are very much associated with the brain. The brain is in charge of helping all of the members work together and hence we have our connection with Ephesians and Colossians. The Book of Philippians is very much a practical book on how the body of Christ is to operate on earth. Once we understand this, we can dig in and find some of the things that we ought to be doing as the body of Christ. So let’s take a look at the epistle to the Philippians and see what the Lord would expect from us.

1. Our Love (Philippians 1:9)

   1. Process

      1. In knowledge

      2. In all judgment

   2. Product

      1. That ye may approve things that are excellent (v. 10)

2. Our Conversation (Philippians 1:27)

   1. The Old Conversation (Ephesians 4:22-24)

   2. The New Conversation

      1. As becometh the gospel of Christ (v. 27)

      2. Is in heaven (Philippians 3:20)

      3. Is to be holy (1Peter 1:15)

3. Our Esteem (Philippians 2:3) (Romans 12:10; Ephesians 4:1-3)

4. Our Murmurings (Philippians 2:14) (Jude 1:16)

5. Our Message (Philippians 2:16)

   1. The Object to Hold Forth

      1. Not a man

      2. Not a movement

      3. But a Book

   2. Hold it Forth (2Timothy 4:2; Titus 1:3)

6. Our Rejoicing (Philippians 3:1)

   1. Not in the flesh

      1. Not because the beat of the song was right

      2. Not because you have plenty of money

   2. In the Lord (Philippians 4:4; 1Thessalonians 5:16; James 1:2; 1Peter 1:6-8)

7. Our Confidence (Philippians 3:3)

   1. Not in the flesh

   2. In the Lord

8. Our Intimacy (Philippians 3:10)

   1. The word “know” in the Bible is a term of intimacy. This is one of the beauties of the King James Bible

   2. Knowing Christ

      1. By Crucifixion (Galatians 2:20)

      2. By Crucifying the World to you (Philippians 3:8)

9. Our Stand (Philippians 4:1)

10. Our Thoughts (Philippians 4:8)

    1. True things

    2. Honest things

    3. Just things

    4. Pure things

    5. Lovely things

    6. Things of Good Report

    7. Virtuous Things