Growing Right, Not Just Growing Fast
Taught by Pastor Isaac Oyedepo
This session opens a month-long Berean study through the book of Philippians, which Pastor Isaac calls the joy epistle. He sets the context by explaining that Paul wrote this deeply personal letter from a Roman prison around AD 61 to the church in Philippi, a Macedonian church he planted on his second missionary journey. Pastor Isaac walks through verses 1 through 11, drawing out the distinction between joy and happiness, the nature of gospel partnership, Paul's prayer life for the churches he planted, and a powerful framework for understanding God's redemptive work: His work for us began at the cross, His work in us began when we believed, and His work in us will be completed when Christ returns. The session closes with Paul's desire that believers would understand what really matters and be filled with the fruit of salvation, which is character, not just the gifts of the Spirit.
This is day one of a three-day Berean Sessions study through Philippians chapter 1, released on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. The month of April is dedicated entirely to Philippians: week one covers chapter 1 (Wednesday through Friday), week two chapter 2, week three chapter 3, and week four chapter 4. Previous Berean studies covered the books of Jude, Colossians, and Philemon. The Saturday 2819 discipleship meetings run in parallel, studying Acts of the Apostles.
Summary
This session opens a month-long Berean study through the book of Philippians, which Pastor Isaac calls the joy epistle. He sets the context by explaining that Paul wrote this deeply personal letter from a Roman prison around AD 61 to the church in Philippi, a Macedonian church he planted on his second missionary journey. Pastor Isaac walks through verses 1 through 11, drawing out the distinction between joy and happiness, the nature of gospel partnership, Paul's prayer life for the churches he planted, and a powerful framework for understanding God's redemptive work: His work for us began at the cross, His work in us began when we believed, and His work in us will be completed when Christ returns. The session closes with Paul's desire that believers would understand what really matters and be filled with the fruit of salvation, which is character, not just the gifts of the Spirit.
Key Points
Joy is not a function of what is happening around you, but of what is happening within you. Paul wrote this letter from prison, yet joy saturates every chapter. You can pretend to be happy, but you cannot pretend to be joyful. Joy comes from knowing the Prince of Peace.
Paul called the Philippians his partners, not his children, servants, or mentees. Partnership means that every believer has a role in spreading the good news. There are people you can reach that your pastor cannot reach, and places you can access that no one else can. We are not competitors, we are complementors.
God's work operates on three stages: His work for us began when Christ died on the cross, His work in us began when we first believed, and His work in us will be completed when Christ returns. Salvation is not a single event but an ongoing process. The product is only completed at the return of Christ.
Paul prayed for every church he planted and kept a prayer list. Every time he thought of the Philippians, he gave thanks, and whenever he prayed, he mentioned them with joy. The best way to influence people is to pray for them. Paul's prayer was that their love would overflow into greater knowledge and deeper understanding.
The love Paul described is not merely emotional. It is grounded in what Christ has done, not in fluctuating feelings. Whether you feel like it or not, certain things Christ has done for you remain true. That kind of love produces knowledge and understanding.
Paul wanted the Philippians to understand what really matters, to distinguish not just between good and evil, but between good and best, between God's permissive will and His perfect will. There are things that are not necessarily evil but are not at the center of the heart of Christ in this hour.
The fruit of the Spirit is singular, not plural. It is the fruit of salvation reflected in character: love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, kindness, self-control. The gifts of the Spirit refer to manifestations; the fruit deals with character. Anointing without character leads to annoyance.