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<v SPEAKER_00>Good morning, First Baptist Wemberly.

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<v SPEAKER_00>This is Mike Gibbons.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Welcome to Friday.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Hey, this Sunday we begin a new series in Philippians.

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<v SPEAKER_00>This is a very short letter that Paul wrote to the church in Philippi.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It would take you probably 10 to 15 minutes to read through the entire letter.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It could easily be read in one sitting.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And I would encourage you to do that before Sunday, just to have a familiarity with it that will deepen the preaching that you will hear from Pastor Aaron.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Now we're only going to get through the first two verses on Sunday, so let me read those.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi with the overseers and deacons.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The Apostle Paul wrote this letter from prison, almost certainly from Rome.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And this is the first thing that stood out to me.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The effects of the gospel so often reverse what we may expect.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Here we see the prisoner writing to his friends outside the prison to encourage and help them.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Usually, at least in my mind, the help and encouragement goes the other way, doesn't it?

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<v SPEAKER_00>From outside the prison to the prisoner.

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<v SPEAKER_00>But the gospel has so changed Paul that he is encouraging others in his captivity.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So Paul is in jail, but Timothy, his son in the faith, is also named.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Timothy is probably not in jail with Paul.

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<v SPEAKER_00>No doubt Timothy was a regular visitor to his imprisoned older brother in Christ.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So Paul includes him in the letter to the church.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Timothy was a faithful friend.

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<v SPEAKER_00>This is the second thing that stands out to me.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Timothy is standing by Paul no matter the circumstance.

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<v SPEAKER_00>I get the sense that wherever Paul is, Timothy is going to be there to support and encourage him.

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<v SPEAKER_00>One other thing in this short introduction, he identifies them as servants of Christ Jesus.

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<v SPEAKER_00>In some translations, slaves to Christ Jesus.

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<v SPEAKER_00>In the adverse circumstances he finds himself in, Paul reminds himself and the church of this totally liberating fact.

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<v SPEAKER_00>His ties to the service of Christ are closer and more permanent than any human chains or bars or prison can ever be.

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<v SPEAKER_00>In his captivity to the Lord, he is free wherever he may be.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So here's what I'm asking myself today, based on these observations.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Am I encouraging others in the hard circumstances that I may find myself in?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Also, am I standing by others in the hard circumstances that they may be in?

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<v SPEAKER_00>And in all of that, am I acknowledging the fact that whatever those hard situations may be, I am first and foremost free in Christ, despite my situation.

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<v SPEAKER_00>This is Mike Gibbons, and I love being your pastor.