Glorious Conclusion
Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 12 viewsPaul closes the Philippian letter with a reminder of God's Glory, Greeting, and grace.
Notes
Transcript
Glorious Conclusion
Glorious Conclusion
HARRY S TRUMAN - “It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.”
As Paul concludes his letter to the church at Phillipi, He concludes much like he began.
Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus:
To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.
Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send you greetings.
Three things he wanted them to remember!
Glory, Greeting, and Grace
The focus of Pauls letter, his life, his encouragement to the Philippians was for God’s Glory Alone!
Young man struggling with pride confessed to his struggle to his pastor, to which his pastor replied, “What do you have to be proud of?”
When it all comes down to the final summations Paul is stating here , My goal, my purpose, my aim is at God’s glory alone.
Interestingly we cannot give God glory, He already has all glory, He is worthy of all Glory.
Each of the four living creatures had six wings; they were covered with eyes around and inside. Day and night they never stop, saying,
Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God, the Almighty,
who was, who is, and who is to come.
Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the one seated on the throne, the one who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before the one seated on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne and say,
Our Lord and God,
you are worthy to receive
glory and honor and power,
because you have created all things,
and by your will
they exist and were created.
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Seraphim were standing above him; they each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. And one called to another:
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Armies;
his glory fills the whole earth.
Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
It is not our goal to give God glory, it is our goal to recognize that He has all glory and live accordingly. To live in such a way that demonstrates His glory!
In everything we say and do may it reflect upon You and according to your glory!
Paul is acknowledging their partnership in revealing God’s Glory!
Paul recognizes the eternality of God’s Glory - to our God and Father be glory forever and ever!
God’s glory is eternal, when we glory in ourselves and our accomplishments it is temporary at best!
A man in the Army of Alexander the Great who was also named Alexander, was accused of cowardly actions. He was brought before Alexander, who asked what his name was. He replied softly, "Alexander." "I can't hear you," the ruler stated. The man again said, a little louder, "Alexander." The process was repeated one more time, after which Alexander the Great commented, "Either change your name or change your conduct."
We must remember that All Glory Belongs to Our God and we must, as His followers reflect His Character for His Glory!
For from him and through him
and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever. Amen.
Greeting: v 21-22
Universal Greeting - to every saint!
Paul wanted each believer to understand this message was for them, not just the leadership, not just a select group.
This greeting, and this letter is for y’all!
God’s supply, God’s joy, God’s peace, God’s Strength, God’s unity, God’s inheritance, God’s Salvation, God’s sanctification, every blessing is for each one of them. We are the family of God and Every promise God makes is for all of us.
There are no lower class Christians!
Paul acknowledges the Community with him who had supported him, encouraged him, helped him and continues to help him.
His Brothers in the Lord.
There are no Lone Ranger Christians. Even the Lone Ranger had Tonto!
In the community of faith there is no one person who is “it!”
There are No “self-made” Christians!
Hudson Taylor
The story is told of two women in Shanghai who were discussing the topic of pride and began to wonder if Hudson Taylor was ever tempted to be prideful because of his many accomplishments. One of the women decided to ask Taylor’s wife, Maria, about it. Maria promised the woman that she would find out. When Mrs. Taylor asked her husband if he was ever tempted to be proud, he was surprised. “Proud about what?” he asked. “About all of the things you have done,” his wife explained. Taylor responded, “I never knew I had done anything.”
He also reminds them how far the gospel has gone, their ministry together!
All the way to the household of Caesar!
Paul reminded the Philippians that they, too were part of something much bigger than themselves. though separated by space, one day they would be gathered into the same kingdom under the same Lord for all eternity!
May this remind us that no gift is too small, no life is too far, no person is too lost for God to save! And work through!
Paul begins with Grace and ends with Grace! Phil 1:2 “Grace and peace to you for God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” Phil 4:23 “The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit!”
Grace - Charis -
God’s
Riches
At
Christ’s
Expense
Every epistle that Paul writes ends with grace!
Working together with him, we also appeal to you, “Don’t receive the grace of God in vain.”
2 Corinthians 6:1 (NLT) As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it.
Our life in the Lord begins and ends with God’s amazing grace.
We must never forget that who we are and what we have become is by God’s grace alone, for God's Glory alone!