God’s Work In and Through Christians

God’s Work in and through Christians Philippians 1:3– 11 Introductory Observations • About Philippian Christians (“you” - 10x) • Filled with loving connections • “partnership” (5), “partakers” (7) • “I feel this way…hold you in my heart…yearn for you” (7–8) • “your love may abound” (9) • Observant of God’s work • “he began a good work…will bring it to completion (6) • “filled with fruit…that comes through Jesus” (7) • Aiming for a goal/end • “day of Jesus Christ” (6, 10) • “to the glory and praise of God” (11) Relational Context — Acts 16 • • • • • God directs Paul to Macedonia (6–10) God saves Lydia in Philippi (11–15) God permits Paul’s imprisonment (16–24) God rescues Paul and the jailer (25–34) God redirects Paul away from Philippi (35–40) Prayer for God’s Past Work (3–6) • Paul recalls them in prayer (3–4) • Remembered before God (“mentioning before God”) • Pattern of prayer (“always in every prayer”) • Marked by gratitude and joy (cf. Phil 4:2) • Paul rehearses their gospel fellowship (5, cf. 2:12; 4:15) • Paul recounts their certain finalized form (6) • God is the actor, past and future (“he began…he will…”) • God has a goal in mind (“final/finished form”) • God will complete his work until The Day Intermission: God’s Work in the Present (7–8) • Paul’s rationale for his care for them (7) • Justified evaluation: “think this way” (“mind,” 2:2–3, 5) • What way? “I have you in my heart” • Why? You are fellow-partakers of God’s tangible grace • Paul’s reservoir of care for them (8) • “affections”: the seat of the emotions • Jesus is completing his work in and through Paul! Prayer for God’s Future Work (9–11) • Paul prays for their love (9) • Ever-increasing: “more and more” • Whole-hearted: “intimate knowledge and understanding” • Love for God or man? Yes! • Paul points to God’s love in them (10–11) • Love perfected in us perfects us! • Love (the “fruit”) that comes through Jesus • Paul praises God as the final outcome • “The day of Jesus Christ” (10, cf., 6) • “to the glory and praise of God (11) Application for Our Prayers • Pray to nourish Christian love for each other. • Observe God’s work in each other. • Pray to biblical ends. God’s Work in and through Christians Philippians 1:3– 11