Philippi - Not Grumbling or Complaining
September 17, 2023      |     By: Jonathan Brickley      |      Category: Sermons      |      Location: El Dorado
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Recapping Sam’s sermon last week, Jonathan jumps off from his final point: “don’t give up on the prophetic”. He reminds us that the church in Philippi was born from prayer & prophecy (Acts 16). He gives a bible history lesson and overview of Paul's epistle, and then zeroes in on the middle of Philippians 2 - where we are exhorted to do everything “without murmuring or disputing”. The Israelite murmuring in the desert serves as an an example and warning to us, and the only solution is “holding firmly to the Word of life.”

Recap - Sam’s Sermon from last week

Prophecy
- Exalt Christ
- Word of God
- Love & Building Up

1) Less is More
2) Settle Down
3) Delivery Packages can be messy
4) Don’t Give up on the Prophetic

Church in Philippi - born of prayer + prophecy

Acts 16:6-16, 40 (NIV)
6 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia.
7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.
8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas.
9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
11 From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day we went on to Neapolis.
12 From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days.
13 On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there.
14 One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.
15 When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.
16 Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling.
40 After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house, where they met with the brothers and sisters and encouraged them. Then they left.

- On Paul’s 2nd Missionary Journey
- He came because of a prophetic dream
- He came because faithful women prayed

Philippians 1:29-30 (NIV)
29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him,
30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

- Letter to Philippians written ~ 10 yrs after Acts 16
- First Church Paul founded in Europe
- Began in a rich woman’s house (Lydia)
- Written Paul in Roman prison (Philippians 4:22)

Philippians 4:22 (NIV)
22 All God’s people here send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household.

- Many subjects covered - a deep & rich & affectionate letter
- Written in response to their gifts sent by Epaphroditus (one of their congregation)
- Written to encourage them he was healed!

A good & Healthy Church in order!!
Philippians 1:1 (NIV)
1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,
To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:

Women Honored! - Not perfect
Philippians 4:2-3 (NIV)
2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.
3 Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.

Very generous!
Philippians 4:15 (NIV)
15 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only;

- Strong warnings
- Discipleship / Template / Example Principle throughout

Philippians 1:30 (NIV)
30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

Philippians 3:17 (NIV)
17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.

Philippians 4:9 (NIV)
9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Joyful - Warm - Exuberant Mood throughout letter
“Joy” or “Rejoice” occurs more than 12x in 4 chapters

Philippians 2:12-16 (NIV)
12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,
13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing,
15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky
16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.

Philippians were Doers (will) of the word - but encouraged to not murmur (emotions) or arguing (mind)

- Murmuring = Complain / Grumble.
(GK - “a secret debate” or “a secret displeasure not openly avowed”)

- Disputing = Arguing or Questioning or Reasoning
(GK - “the thinking of a man deliberating with himself.” or “inward reasoning - questioning what is true”)

Murmuring & Disputing = Expression of man's Flesh
Comes forth during a shortage
Example: Exodus 15:2-27

Exodus 15:2-27 (NIV)
. . .
22 Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water.
23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.)
24 So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?”
25 Then Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became fit to drink. There the Lord issued a ruling and instruction for them and put them to the test.
26 He said, “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.”
27 Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water.

The “Natural Shortage” always speaks to / reveals our “Spiritual Shortage” of finding Christ as our complete Spiritual Nourishment + Satisfaction

Our flesh & lusts are exposed in these situations
God’s desire = to kill the old man and bring forth the new man!

Philippians 2:15 (NIV)
15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky

Blameless - Outward
Pure - Inward

Crooked & Perverted = Murmuring & Arguing

Solution to Murmuring? 
“Hold firmly to the word of life”

“The Gospel is the proclamation of freedom from sin, and best preached and proved by showing that we are free. The Gospel is lived as well as spoken. Christ’s life was Christ’s mightiest preaching”
- Alexander MacLaren