M 296 new - Confident Thanksgiving and Joy in Prayer

- He was part of the team that founded the church (Acts 16–18), Paul intended to send Timothy to the church not long after writing the letter (Phil 2:19),

The Readers

“To all the Saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, together with overseers and deacons” –

Saints – who or what is a saint?

The biblical word for saint refers to consecration. ‘Holy’ –‘set apart’

Overseers - bishops

And Deacons – ministering servants

Officers in the Church at Philippi

The Greeting / Blessing

“Grace to you and Peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ”

This is a Common Greeting

Paul’s Great affection for these believer no doubt relates to the origin of the church in Philippi.

Paul’s call into Macedonia – Acts 16

The Holy Spirit direct – Acts13:2,4 to send them on the missionary journey

The Holy Spirit closed the door “forbids them…” Acts 16:6,7

The Holy Spirit calls them vision of a man of Macedonia – Acts 16:9

Marvelous things happened in Philippi! It was a Roman colony:

Lydia, seller of purple – hospitable…

Slave girl, demon possessed, prophesying about Paul’s ministry… but delivered from the demons.

The Philippian jailer… converted.

This background prepares us for Paul’s Confident Thanksgiving and Joy regarding this young church.

1. I have you in my Mind vv. 1-6

Paul in prison no doubt has often remembered his experiences in Philippi. They have sent a gift to him, no doubt to help in his expenses while a prisoner in Rome. They had sent their beloved Epaphroditus to minister to his needs. The evidently have often come to MIND as Paul reflects on God’s blessing to him even in prison.

As he reflects in his MIND remembering them, He THANKS God for them, This brings JOY to him, He considers them partners (that is - in partnership with him)… possibly referring to their monetary support for which he gives thanks. 4:14ff but certainly referring to their partnership in the gospel.

- He uses the word koinonia (often tsltd ‘fellowship;) here.

This Remembrance and Joy as he calls them to mind, causes him also to reflect on the certainty of their faith in Christ. V 6 us a key verse in the doctrine of our calling and election. Because God is the ONE who began a good work in us (our salvation), we can be certain that HE will FINISH what he started. He will bring it to completion! Finally in the day of Jesus Christ (referring to His second coming). PBPGINFWMY !

Eph. 2:8–9 clearly teaches that good works do not save us! God by his grace draws us into saving faith in Christ.

Philippians 2:12–13 reminds us that God is the one at work in us to complete our salvation.

Salvation is all of His work: God saves us; God sanctifies us; and God prepares us for service. This will continue until the end when - “We shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2).

2. I have you in my Heart vv. 7,8

It is one thing to remember events and experiences that you have had with others, but Paul’s feelings for the Philippians goes much deeper than that! He has a deep love and affection for them! Jesus commanded His disciples to ‘love one another’ He said this would testify that we are his disciples,,, John 13:34,35 Francis Shaffer preached an excellent sermon on these verses, noting that the unbelieving world has every right to reject Christianity as untrue, if they see that Christians do not love one another. Cf. 1 Cor. 13, and other passages. Do not keep a record of wrongs, Forgive, as Christ has forgiven us. Even 77x7, Etc./

Paul can say that he “…held them in his heart: they were partakers with him in grace… He considered them “partakers with him of grace”

He compares his love for them as a yearning for them with the affection of Christ Jesus.

He is saying that his love for them is patterned after the love which Christ Jesus has for us.

3. I have you in my Prayers vv. 9-11

Finally, notice how Paul prayers for these dear believers in Philippi.

Its burden is love… that their love may abound… more and more! That it would be a love that is filled with knowledge and all discernment. Not just blind fishy eyed, gushy, emotional feelings with no substance! They need to learn to separate good from bad, and best from good, important from unnecessary, etc.

Its purpose is to approve that which is excellent, pure and blameless. To try and test the things which differ. Approve that which is worthy of the day of Christ!

Finally, they need to be filled with the fruit of righteousness. Perhaps the fruit of the spirit –

22 But ethe fruit of the Spirit is flove, joy, peace, patience, gkindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 hgentleness, iself-control; jagainst such things there is no law. Gal 5:22,23 will be an adequate description of those things which lead to righteousness.

See also Phil 4:8 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

The ultimate goal of Paul’s prayer is to see the result of Glory and Praise of God taking place.

Conclusion

May we learn to pray for one another in the manner that Paul prayed for these fellow believers!

He had them in his Mind, In his Heart and in his Prayers.

Commit to pray for one another in this way!

Philippians 1:1–11 (ESV)

1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I Have you in my MIND

3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,

4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy,

koinonia

5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.

6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

I Have you in my HEART

7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.

8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.

I Have you in my PRAYERS

9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment,

10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,

11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Related Media

Related Sermons