Philippians chapter one, we're just going to read the first two verses, two verses this evening as Paul introduces this letter. Philippians chapter one and reading from verse number one. Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus, which are at Philippi with the bishops and deacons. Grace be unto you. and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. And we do trust the Lord will bless the reading of his own precious, infallible, inerrant, and inspired word. What a morning it must have been in the assembly at Philippi. Remember, they were concerned, we'll discover, with a man called Epaphroditus who was sick and nigh unto death. But they also were concerned about the Apostle Paul. He was in prison. He was in a Roman prison. and they were concerned about him and Paul, of course, was concerned about the Philippians. And all of a sudden, one Lord's Day morning, the secretary gets up in the midst of the assembly and the secretary says, we have a letter here from someone very special. And as he opens the letter and he begins to read, when they would hear the first word, Paul, what a blessing that would have been to them. What a joy it would have brought to their heart to have this man who spent some time in a prison in Philippi, but they would remember that Paul and Silas sang praises unto God, even though he was in prison, even though he was beaten. They would remember Paul had planted this church, he had preached the gospel, and the Philippian jailer had got saved, and of course Lydia had got saved, and the little demonic girl had got saved, and that was really the beginning of the church in Philippi, and the Lord had blessed it and added to it. So Paul would have a great name in this little town, this city. He hadn't been there possibly for 10 years, but his name would still be held in high esteem. His name would be held in great reverence. You know, wouldn't it be good to have a name like that? Paul's Hebrew name was Saul, which means to ask or pray. And we'll see this in the letter that he lives up to his name. His Greek name, Paul, just means little or small. He probably was a little man, but he had a big heart and he had a great name. A great name among God's people in Philippi. I wonder what sort of a name we have tonight. Solomon said in Proverbs 22, verse one, a good name is rather to be chosen than great riches. Don't sell your name. Don't sell your reputation cheaply. Ecclesiastes 7 verse 1, a good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death better than the day of one's birth. It was said after the American Civil War, General Lee, of course, had been defeated as the leader of the Confederate Army. After the war, he was offered some money to allow his name to be used by a tobacco company or an alcohol company, I'm not sure which it was, and he refused, and this is what he said, I lost everything because of the war. except my name and I'm not about to lose it. Lost everything except my name and I'm not about to lose it. Paul, what a name, what joy it would bring to the hearts of the Philippians. I just want to look at the first two verses quickly this evening. I want to talk about the help offered, help that Paul enjoyed help that Paul offered to them. How often we would read the introduction to these letters and perhaps pass on it very quickly, but I think it's profitable just to take our time this evening and to see what the Lord is saying here. Notice there's two names here. He says Paul and Timotheus or Timothy. Now it's not that Timothy was the writer because when you read through the letter you'll discover that Paul has some plans for Timothy and he includes them in the letter and it's not like Timothy to write a letter and then talk about himself and what someone else is going to do with him. And so Paul is the author but Timothy was there with Paul, and there's some things we should note. I happened to be studying something different the other day, and it was pointed out to me that when Paul's writing his epistles, he lists over 100 people that have helped him. Now, Paul's world famous. Paul's still world famous tonight, but many of the people that helped him are forgotten about, and yet Paul would have been nothing without them. over a hundred people in all of his different missionary journeys and all of the churches. These people that Paul had written to and Paul acknowledges here and acknowledges the help that Timothy has been with him and Paul is pointing out that it's not a one-man ministry and how we need to appreciate others in the work of the Lord. How we need to appreciate those who teach Sunday school and those who teach in the young people's work and the searchers or the Good News Club, whatever happens to be going on. It's important that we appreciate the fellow laborers in the Lord and Paul needed the help of others and Paul appreciated the help of others and Paul helped others. Paul was someone who would help other people. He was probably about 60 years of age now. This young man, Timothy, had accompanied him, and here the older man, he's not an old man at 60, I have to point that out, because I'm heading there, he's not an old man at all, but he's an older man and he's helping the younger man. Now what did Paul do for Timothy? Acts 16 verse 1, you don't have to turn to this. Then came he to Derbe and Lystra, and behold a certain disciple was there named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman who was a Jewess, and believed, but his father, was a Greek, which was well reported off by the brethren, which were at Lystra and Iconium. Him would Paul have to go forth with him, and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters, for they knew all that his father was a Greek." Paul takes him under his wing, this young man in the faith. In Philippians 2 verse 19, Paul will say this, but I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy shortly unto you. Paul cared for Timothy. Paul looked after Timothy, and then Paul was willing to send them out that he might be used. And Paul had taken care of this young man. And I wonder, have we an interest in the young? Have we a concern for the young? Are we trying to defeat them, or are we trying to help them, trying to encourage them? And Paul knew the benefit of this. I see so many in the work of the Lord, and I'm talking about pastors, They're happy where they are, but they don't seem to have the burden to pass that on. That others too might be raised up to fulfill those roles. But Paul wasn't like that. Paul takes this young man under his wing, and Paul wants to encourage him, and Paul wants to help him. And I always say to you, encourage the young people. Encourage them. Sometimes people will say to me, didn't so-and-so do well? I say, did you tell them? Make sure and tell them. Make sure and encourage them. You see the help offered here. And then I want you to see a home observed here. We're thinking of Timothy again. and Timotheus. Again, when we go back to Acts 16 verse 1, this is what we read. Then came he to Derbe and Lystra, and behold, a certain disciple was there named Timotheus or Timothy, the son of a certain woman who was a Jewess and believed, but his father was a Greek. He comes from a mixed home. His mother's a Jew, his father's a Greek. That made it very difficult. The tense in Acts 16 would indicate that his father probably was dead at this day. And so here is a widow woman from a mixed background. This was young Timothy. And look what's said of him. It said that he was a disciple of the Lord in Acts chapter 16. A certain disciple was there named Timothy. Now that word is not used lightly. And then it went on to say this, which was well reported by the brother. He was a young man in the assembly who was a disciple of the Lord. It was obvious he was saved. He was a man who was faithful to his local church. He was well reported of the brethren. It's great to have young people in the assembly. And I have to say they're well reported of the brethren. They're really going on with the Lord. It's great to have them. It would be great to have more. But great to see more of our young people taking interest in the things of God. Here's a young man who was faithful in his local church. Here's a young man who was a disciple, a young man who God was going to take on and God was going to use. Now, in my notes, I have this a wee bit back to front. I want to talk about the evangelist. First of all, I want to think about this young man. How did he get to this position? Well, we read in 1 Timothy 1 verse 2, Paul says this, unto Timothy, my own son in the faith, Paul had led him to Christ. Paul was the one that the Lord used to preach the gospel and the spirit of God worked in Timothy's heart, brought on to conviction of sin. He was saved by the grace of God. And so there was the evangelist. But before the evangelist ever came, there was his mommy and his granny. 2 Timothy 1 verse 5, this is what Paul says. When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother, Lois, and in thy mother, Eunice, and I am persuaded that is in thee also. Lord Shaspery once said, give me a generation of Christian mothers and I will undertake to change the whole face of society in 12 months. It says here they had unfeigned faith. The word unfeigned means no hypocrisy, no mask. What you saw was what you got. It was undisguised. It was genuine. It was sincere. It was without pretense. It was without deceit. Here were two women who were godly women. Godly women. Paul employed the word on faith in a number of other places. He talks about the faith on faith in 1 Timothy 1 verse 5. He talks about love on faith in 2 Corinthians 6 verse 6. And James also talks about it, and he uses the word hypocrisy. The sincere faith of Timothy's mother Eunice and grandmother Lois made a deep and lasting impression on young Timothy's life. And this is really where the work started with his mummy and with his granny and their godly influence. And here is a wonderful example, wonderful example. Yes, the evangelist was there at the end, but this example came first. A mummy and a granny who loved the Lord, who were faithful, who were genuine, who were the real thing. Someone has said, right in the hearts of their children with the rough hand that the world cannot erase. Like Moody said, all that I ever have accomplished in life I owe to my mother. Chuck Swindle says, if you were blessed with a good mother, you will reap the benefits the rest of your days. If your mother neglected your needs and failed to support your dad, unfortunately, much of what you suffered cannot be erased for good or ill. A mother's mark is permanent. As we ponder many of the great men and women of faith, he goes on to say, we soon discover somewhere in the shadows of their surroundings stands the godly influence of a mother in touch with God. You see the evangelist? You see the example? And then you see the exhortation. You'll know this verse very well. This again is said of young Timothy. From a child thou hast known the scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. You see, from a child, he was just a toddler. And yet someone thought it was important to teach the toddler scripture. Moms and dads, it's never a waste of time to teach the children the word of God. Sunday school teachers, Good News Club, Youth Fellowship, never a waste of time to teach the Word of God. What a blessing. This young toddler, Timothy, from a child he was taught, from a child thou hast known. Someone had made known the Scriptures to him. But look, there's something else here. From a child thou hast known the Holy, I've called this the treatment, the toddler, what he was taught and the treatment. In this home, there was reverence for the word of God, the holy scriptures. It wasn't just a book that sat on the shelf. In this home, the word meant something. And into this home was born young Timothy with a godly granny and a godly mom. He was a toddler. He was taught. You see the treatment holy. You see the totality. Scriptures, that was the emphasis. And then you see something tremendous here, what you're able to make the wise onto salvation. What a potential in a family just to teach them the word of God. Someone was saved through Gypsy Smith. Some of you will remember stories about Gypsy Smith and this lady was saved and she wrote to Gypsy Smith and she said, I want to serve the Lord. I want to do something for the Lord. But my problem is I've got 12 children. And so he wrote back and he says, I'm glad you're saved. I'm glad you want to do something for the Lord. I'm delighted the Lord has gave you a congregation of 12. What a place to teach the scripture. How important it is and what an example in the home and what exposition must have been in this home. And sometimes people will say the children can't understand it. I love to see the wee ones coming out on a Sunday night. And I preached my heart out in St. Phil for nine years, Sunday night after Sunday night after Sunday night, and you know, rarely did you see a break. But you see, I had left a few years, and I've told you this before, and it's not really to say anything about me, but they had a few baptismal services. One night they baptized 10, and maybe another 10. One by one by one, the children said, saved in the gospel meeting, saved in the gospel meeting, saved in the gospel meeting, saved in the gospel meeting, didn't know a thing about it. Didn't know a thing about it. Never a waste of time to bring the wee ones onto the sound of the gospel. Isn't it great to see them on a Sunday night running around the place? What a blessing to have them. What important it is to teach them at home. You see the example in the home. You see the exposition in the home. We've already said something about the evangelist. I like what John says in 3 John 1 verse 4. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. And I know he's talking about believers and wanting to go on, but couldn't we apply it so readily to our family this evening? I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. What a wonderful thing. You know, Noah preached and not many listened. but his family could see it. And I'll tell you, a lot of people would swap places with Noah this evening just to see the family see it. You see the help offered here this evening. Paul wanted to help and Paul appreciated help. You see the home observed as we think of young Timothy. And I thought I just would mention that this evening. You see the humble occupation. Sometimes you see adverts for meetings and they talk about great preachers and great evangelist. Well, Paul was the prince of preachers. He blazed a trail for the Lord. He was a missionary untouched and unrivaled anywhere in the world. He was a man who suffered for the faith, a man who planted scores of churches. And look how he begins the letter, Paul. But even better than that, Paul and Timotheus, the servants. He said, I'm just a servant. I don't like preachers to get big heads on them. Paul says, I'm just a servant. None of us tonight could tie this man's shoelaces. He says, I'm just a servant of Jesus Christ. The word is julos. He doesn't introduce himself here as an apostle. Sometimes he does. Usually when he does that, it's because there were questions in his authority. Remember, Paul was bringing the word of God. Sometimes the question that he had to remind them, he was an apostle. In Philippi, there was no such problem. They knew his apostolic nature. They knew what Paul would say would be truth. They loved him sincerely. And he just says, Paul and Timothy, the servants of Jesus Christ. Remember the disciples in Luke 22, verse 24, there was also a strife among them. Which of them should be accounted the greatest? How different to Paul. Paul says, I'm just a servant. How like Christ he was. Luke 22 verse 27, for whether his greater, he that sitteth at meet, or he that serveth, or he that sitteth at meet, but I am among you as he that serveth. The Lord says, I'm just a servant. Philippians 2 verse 7, he made himself of no reputation, took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of man. I think this is one of the greatest obituaries you could ever have. Servant. of Jesus Christ. Jesus means Jehovah saves. Christ means the Anointed One or the Messiah. Think of his office. Think of his deity. Think of his atoning work. Could anything be more precious than being called a servant of Jesus Christ? He's not a servant of the church. He's not a slave of the church. He wasn't there to do what they wanted him to do. He wasn't there at their back and call. He was a servant of Jesus Christ. and Jesus Christ first and foremost. The Queen of Sheba said of Solomon's servants, happy are they, happy are these thy servants. There was joy, there was a thrill when they were serving Solomon. And then the Lord says, behold, a greater than Solomon is here. Our hearts should be thrilled to be called servants of Jesus Christ. What's meant by the term servant here? Let me give you a few lessons about the word servant. This word that means, a bond slave, it means being bound one to another. In other words, we're bound to Christ as his servant. It's also used of one that was born, born into slavery. And you see, we were born as slaves to Satan and slaves to sin, but now we're born again, and we're born as servants to Jesus Christ. Something about being bound, something about being born, something about being broken, broken. This could only be broken by death. But because Christ, it can never be broken. You know, we will serve Christ for all eternity. Some people think that heaven is about sitting around playing harps. I think we've studied it before and we've shown that there's service to serve the Lord in glory. We don't serve him with any exhaustion. We don't serve him with any sweat. We just serve him with joy and jubilation. We are bound. We're born. It cannot be broken. It involves bowing It means that the will of the bond slave is swallowed up in another. Like Paul when he said, Lord, what will thou have me to do? The will of God surpasses everything in your life if you're truly a bond slave, bound to someone else, born. In our case, born again. Broken only by death, Christ will never die. Bow, we have surrendered our will to another. Bearing, one who serves another, and this is a definition, even to the disregard of his own needs. In other words, one who would put Christ first. We're just a bunch of nobodies seeking to exalt a somebody. Are you serving or observing? Paul said in 1 Corinthians 6, Are we serving tonight or are we just observing? I often say Christianity was never meant to be a spectator sport. You see the help offered. You see the home observed. You see the humble occupation. It was just a bond slave. I want to say something about the hopeful outcome as well. Remember, we mentioned this last week, particularly when you get to chapter four, I think it is, there was a bit of disunity in this church. Two of the sisters had fallen out, and as I said, that's maybe hard to believe, that two women would fall out. Two ladies had fallen out in the church. Don't know what they fell out over. Maybe it was making the supper. Don't know what it was. They maybe argued over something about the seats, where they used to sit, whatever. I don't know what it was. But they had fallen out, and it was causing a problem in the church. Now, Paul's writing to this church. Paul's aware of this problem. I want you to see, first of all, Paul's position in this dispute. Look at verse number one. You could nearly miss this. Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, look what he says to all the saints. See the little word, all? You see, Paul's not taking sides here. Look at verse number four. Always in every prayer of mine for you all. One sister may be saying, well, surely he's not praying for her. And she's maybe saying, surely he's not praying for her. Paul says, I'm praying for all of you. And I'm writing to all of you. Look at verse 7 in Philippians 1. Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart. Verse 8. For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. They were in his heart. Paul loved them so much. But do you see the emphasis on all? Again in chapter 2, verse 17. Yea, if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and rejoice with you all. We could go on. Even at the end of the chapter, end of the book in Philippians 4.21, he says, Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. He prays for them all. He's concerned about them all. He loves them all. His ministry is directed towards them all. He rejoices with them all. He's not taking sides. Someone could have said to Paul, Whose side are you on? Do you know what Paul would have said? I'm on the Lord's side. I'm on the Lord's side. Paul wasn't interested in taking sides. You see Paul's position. You know, it brings in Paul's plea and it's really part of the same thing. It's a plea for unity. Paul reminds them that they're saints, that they're all in Christ. And so you see Paul's position, you see Paul's plea. Then you see a place mentioned here as well. And again, I think there are no coincidences in scripture. Look what he says in verse one. Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus, which are at Philippi. Now here's the local church in Philippi. The local expression of the church. There's an assembly in Philippi. And I think Paul is reminding them something. He's reminded them that they're in Philippi, and in Philippi there are people that are going to hell. And if there's any disagreement among any of the believers, remember where you are. You're in Philippi, and there's people looking into this assembly, there's people looking into this church, there's people we need to reach with the gospel, and all this silly nonsense and these arguments and whatever is causing the division, Paul wants them to open their eyes and to see the bigger picture. Here you are in Philippi, here you are in Rephraland. Don't ever let some petty nonsense get into this assembly and rob us of our ability to witness to the people in Rephraland. Don't let it happen. You need to be stronger than that. And I don't bring this tonight because I feel that it's happening, but sometimes it's good to be reminded because silly things will happen. And someone might try to draw you into something because when someone feels aggrieved, they're always looking for a company and they're always looking for supporters. So don't be drawn in. Don't be sucked in. Remember the bigger picture. The saints in refinement have an obligation to reach the sinners in refinement. Don't let anything spoil that. Let me mention the holy objective as well. We're still in verse number one. Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, unto all the saints. We just can't get past the word saints. It means to be set apart, set apart ones. It's not reserved. for an exceptionally holy people. I remember Mother Teresa, they fast-tracked her sainthood. That's not the sainthood that you find in the Word of God. Paul writing to the church at Corinth says this, unto the church of God, which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, call to be saints. Now, if you know anything about Corinth, it's the most carnal church in the New Testament. And yet Paul says they're saints. They're saints. It might not have been much saintly behaviour, but possessing their sense, everyone who is saved is a saint. I remember being told with a young man getting up to testify, and he says, you know, I'm no saint. Well, that's wrong. If he's saved by the grace of God, he's a saint. in the biblical sense of the word. We've been set apart from sin to holiness, set apart from Satan to God. The word saint, sanctify, holy, they all are derivatives of this word. Two things it teaches us tonight. First of all, the importance. Saints are mentioned here before elders and deacons. I think it's shown the importance of each and every saint. The church is made up of saints. You could have elders, you could have deacons, but if you have no saints, you have no church. And I think it's a warning to the oversight, don't ever lord it over God's people. Don't lord it over God's people. If there's no saints, there's no church. This has nothing to do with canonization. This has all to do with cleansing, being set apart. unto holiness. You see the importance of this this evening, how we need to value the people of God. You see the implication of this as well. If we're saints tonight. Now that word means that we're set apart. It means we're different. We can have own saintly sense. But here's the implication. We should be living different than the rest of the world now. Ultimately, this is going to be fulfilled when we get to glory. John says in 1 John 3 verse 2, Imagine being like Christ, complete sanctification, absolutely holy. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 3 verse 18 that we're being changed from glory to glory. As we live in this world, as we read the Word of God, as we seek to serve the Lord, we're becoming more and more Christ-like. That's what it should be like. We're becoming more saintly, if you like. It says in Romans 1 verse 7 of the believers, they were called to be saints. There should be something different about us. You see, we've got a holy God. Remember what Isaiah said, holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts. The whole earth is full of his glory. We're indwelt by a holy spirit. We shall receive power after the holy ghost has come upon you. We've got a holy savior for off a truth against thy holy child, Jesus. We've already mentioned this evening. We've got holy scriptures, holy, holy, holy. We are called with a holy calling, 1 Thessalonians 5 verse 27. We've received a holy calling, 2 Timothy 1 verse 8. We're called holy brethren, 1 Thessalonians 5 verse 27. We have a holy priesthood, 1 Peter 2 verse 5. Do you get the message tonight? You and I are to live what we are, saints, set apart, holy living. Peter says this, but as he which hath called you is holy, be ye holy in all manner of conversation. That word conversation is just your manner of life. Because it is written, be ye holy, for I am holy. You know, this can make us uncomfortable at times. This can make us fidget a wee bit at times. Because we start to examine our lives and we know there's sin there. And of the sin there, we would want to confess it and we would want to be holy. You see the importance of it? No saints, no church. See the implication of it? We're to live like saints. Let me move on this evening. I want to talk about those who hold office. Look again at Philippians 1 verse 1. Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi with the bishops and deacons. Here's a New Testament church. A New Testament church has bishop and deacons. Now you're maybe thinking, well, what's a bishop? Is that the Archbishop of Canterbury? Should we have someone like that? God forbid, I say, God forbid. The word bishop really just means an overseer and a bishop is just an elder. Just the same office. Let me read to you again from Acts 20 verse 17. And Paul here is going to Ephesus. And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church. Catch the word elders. And then talking about the same group of people, this is what he said. Take heed unto yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Ghost has made you overseers. That's the word bishop, overseers. To feed the church of God, that's the pastor. And so the pastor, the elder, the bishop, it's all the one thing. So you could call our elders bishops. You can call them elders. You could call them pastors. It's all the same thing. We're supposed to be those who oversee the need of the flock. Elders look after the spiritual needs of the assembly. That's what they're supposed to do. That's their occupation, if you like. The deacons, which means servant, should look after the practical things within the assembly. Now when we go to Acts chapter 6, many people believe that's the first deacons. Remember, there was a row in the church. Some thought they were being badly treated. And so they introduced men like Stephen and Philip, and they're going to wait on tables, and they're going to do it fairly and squarely. And that let the apostles continue in the word and doctrine, continue in the word and prayer. And this is where we get the idea that the elders should be the men who look after the spiritual things in the assembly. The deacons look after the practical things. I often say, I'm not interested in what color you paint the church. You can paint it green, white and gold if you like. Not too many might come. Paint it whatever you like. I'm not interested in that. I'm not interested in furniture, fixtures. Don't want to know about the sound. Don't want to know about the heating. I just want to preach the word and I want to pray. And that's what the deacons are supposed to do. They're supposed to free up the elders that they can pray, that they can serve the flock and make sure and oversee and make sure that everyone is looked after and cared for the flock. And remember, it's the plurality of elders. not just the pastor. We should be looking out for each other, looking out for those within the assembly as an overseer, just to see that everything's okay, as a shepherd, as a pastor to care for them, and of course we want to make sure that people are fed and fed from the word of God. This is a New Testament church, and I know some believe there's no such thing as deacons, but I would say to our friends and the brethren, if you haven't got elders and haven't got deacons, you're not a New Testament church, no matter what you think of yourself. not a New Testament church. New Testament church should have elders and deacons. This is what we see in Philippi. Let me come finally this evening to their hearts occupied. Look again at Philippians 1 verse 2. Paul says, and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul wants our hearts to be filled with grace. The Greek word used here is charis, well known to most of us, no doubt. The Greeks would use it as a favor done to another with no expectation of anything in return. But it was always done with someone you liked, someone you loved or someone you cared for. Paul takes the word and gives it a higher meaning. Because grace in scripture talks about doing something for someone with no expectation of return, even to your enemies. Romans 5 verse 10, for if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his son, much more being reconciled we shall be saved by his life. And of course that's the amazing grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. And Paul says he wants them to have grace. Now what do we need grace for? Of course, for by grace are you saved through faith, but they're all saved here. What do they need grace for? Well, we need grace to speak, don't we? Colossians 4, verse 6. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man. Is your language graceful? Is there something gracious about your language? Christians' language should be like Christ's. Remember, they marveled at his gracious words. Is your language graceful and gracious? We need grace to speak. We need grace to serve. Hebrews 12 verse 28, wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. You need grace to serve the Lord because you'll never manage without it. You'll give up. You need grace. You need grace to take a stand. Hebrews 13 verse 9. Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines for it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace. We need grace to take a stand. We need grace to speak, grace to serve, grace to stand. As Christians, we are to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. To him be glory, both now and forever. Amen. How can we find this grace? Well, we're told in 2 Corinthians 9, verse 8, God is able to make all grace abound toward you. We're told in 1 Peter 5, verse 10, he's the God of all grace. Where do we get this grace? Well, come to the throne of grace. Acts 4 verse 31, you'll remember this prayer meeting they had in Acts. What a prayer meeting it must have been. It says, What a prayer meeting it must have been. And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul. Neither said any of them that all of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had all things common, and with great power give the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus." And here's what it says, and great grace was upon them all. They found grace at the throne of grace. Romans 5 verse 2, by whom also we have access by faith into this grace. wherein we stand and rejoice in the hope of glory of God. Hebrews 4 verse 16, let us therefore come boldly onto the throne of grace that we might obtain mercy and what fine grace to help in time of need. Are you struggling? Struggling to be gracious in your conversation? Struggling to take your stand for the Lord? Are you struggling when it comes to serve the Lord? Have you been at the throne of grace? It always seems to be the last place we go. We need his all-sufficient grace day by day. See when you have grace, do you see what comes next? Grace be unto you and peace. And of course, when you think of salvation, you'll never have this peace until you have grace. This peace, you'll never have peace until you have grace. Therefore, justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. But it's also true that we need this peace in our hearts and minds. And Paul will deal with the mind. He mentions it 12 times here in Philippians. They must have had their minds troubled. And Paul wants them to have peace in their minds. We'll discover how to do this as we make our way through this little epistle of Philippians. Let me say this, if there's more grace in the congregation, there's more peace in the church. See, when there's grace at home, there's peace at home. If you don't deal with your wife graciously, and vice versa, you're not gonna have peace in the home, peace in the family. If there's not grace in the church, there's not gonna be peace in the church. If there's grace in your heart, then you'll have peace in your heart. Are you a gracious man or a gracious woman tonight? We're not talking about a false self-satisfied peace, but as Paul says, look what he says about this peace. Grace be unto you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. You can't beat that sort of peace. You know, I often think about it, you know, when you think of God the Father, His understanding is infinite, the psalmist said. He knows everything. Do you think is God ever shocked? Do you think is God ever in a tizzy, and I say that reverently? Do you think is God ever lost what to do? Do you think does God ever panic? See, if you can get peace from God, our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, what a difference it would make. This is real peace. It's not superficial peace. It's real peace. And that's what Paul desires for the church in Philippi, and of course, that's what we want to have in Refrind as well, grace and peace which comes from the Lord. I read about a young man who was on crutches all his life. He was born with something called infantile paralysis. And someone said to him, with a misfortune like that, How can you face the world so confidently and so happily? And this is what he said. He said, the disease never touched my heart. Disease never touched my heart. What's your heart's like tonight? Grace and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Let's bow in a moment's prayer.