Philippians 1:1

Philippians 1:1 says, Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:  Paul identified Timothy and himself as writing the letter, but Timothy was just with Paul and Paul wrote the letter under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Paul said the letter was written to the servants of Jesus Christ at Philippi, including the church leaders.  Paul gave credit to those who helped him and acknowledged the average believer before the church leaders, and we should have that same attitude today I believe.   Verse two adds, Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.  Paul wished the grace and peace, which could only come from the heavenly Father through faith in Jesus Christ, for them.  The grace of God has always been the only way to peace, and we can only claim His peace through faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse three continues, I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,  Paul said that he thanked God every time he remembered the believers in Christ at Phillipi, and we should always thank God when we remember, or think about, other believers in Christ.  Verse four states, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,  Paul said that he not only thought about them, but he also prayed for their joy every time he prayed.   We need to also be in prayer for our fellow Christians, not just when they have problems, but always.  We should pray that they will have joy through Christ.  Veree five adds, For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;  Paul said that they had fellowship in the gospel from the first day that they had accepted Jesus Christ.  We don't have to wait for people to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ in order to have fellowship with them, but we should have fellowship with them from the time they accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.  We are all equals through our faith in Jesus Christ.   Verse six continues, Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:  Paul said that he had confidence that God Who had begun a good work in the Christians at Philippi would continue tat work until the coming of Christ.  God will always complete the redemption work that He begins when a person accepts Jesus Christ, and He will continue that work until Jesus Christ returns again.  Even if we die before His return, we are still a part of that work, and will be resurrected with Christ.  Verse seven says, Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.  Paul said that they had stood by him through the grace of God, both when he first witnessed to them and through the times he was in bondage for his faith in and witnessing for Jesus Christ.  We need to stand by all our fellow Christians today, especially those who may be imprisoned for their faith.  Verse eight adds, For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.  Paul said God knew how much he desired to be with them, but also knew that it was not where he should be at that time.  We may desire to be some particular place while we are following Christ, but God may want us somewhere else, and we must always put what God wants first.  Verse nine continues, And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;  Paul said that he prayed that they might grow in the knowledge and judgment of Jesus Christ.  As followers of Christ, we should continually grow in the knowledge and judgment of Jesus Christ.  Judgment does not mean judging others, but means being able to judge what is right or wrong under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Verse ten states, That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;  Paul prayed that they would approve the things that were excellent, or from God and that they would be sincere and without offence to God until Christ returns.  This should be the standard of all Christians.  It is not that we become perfect, but that we strive for perfection through our faith in Jesus Christ, until we die, or He returns.  Verse eleven adds, Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.  Paul prayed that the Christians at Philippi would be filled with the fruits of righteousness which come through faith in Jesus Christ and are for the glory and praise of God.  At no time did Paul say that he prayed for their material success, but he always prayed for their spiritual success, and so should we pray for our fellow Christians today.