Thank You, my partners

Intro

My relationship with NPGC

Dear brothers and sisters, friends. So happy to be able to share God’s word with you, and thank you for pastor Titus in inviting me. It’s like coming back to home, talking to my family. For those who don’t know me, this is my dad, and this is my brothers, I grew up in this church. A lot of you are my teachers, and a lot of you are my friends. But it has been more than 20 years that I left HK to Australia, today I’m able to preach here already made me emotional. Currently, I’m a pastor in a migrant church, called CABC-WR in Sydney.

Thinking of what to preach today, it’s only thankfulness, but when I think about it. What we have in common besides our history together, it is that we have the same father, and we have the same gospel. I will always regard NPGC as my home church and that in some rmeote way, we are partners in gospel . We are people of who have the grace of our father, and to be in the business of brining the gospel out. In a way, Paul’s relationship with the Phillipinanes shed some light for how to be partner in gospel, no matter those within the church, or outside the church. Paul, who actually planted Philippi, is now in jail, but continue to encourage Philippi, and at the end Philippi would end up being strategic to bring gospel to all of Macediona. May we all also be learn from God through Paul together, how to be partners in gospel. Let’s pray.

Dear heavenly father, thank you for today. Thank God in our story of lives, you bring many many people to become teachers, fathers, mothers, to us, so we grow closer to you. Thank God for partners as well, in our journey brining gospel to all. May Holy Spirit be with us, for the speaker to preach faithfully, and for listeners to understand, and we together live out your word. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Besides our original busineess, we have another family business. Do you not know that we are father business? Philippians 1:5 “because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” The word partnership is rooted in Koniona, Christian fellowship - God is our father, Jesus of our brothers. We are to share about the gospel, living out truth and gospel to many homes. What Jesus did on the cross, his burial and the resurrection that changd our lives through the justification. It changed your lives, you changed mine, it changed Paul and it changed members of Philippi. To keep this partnership strong, Paul here suggested a few things. be thankful, be confident, be prayful. Be thankful for God’s work collectively.

Be Thankful for God’s people(v 3-5)

Philippians 1:3–5 “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.”

While Paul is in prison, he has time to write. And all his does here is joy and thankful. He is saying that when he thought about the church of Philippi, Paul put a smile on my face when I remember you. But it is very strange, because first he is in prison, he knows his time is near the end. He has to go to Rome and be properly will get executed. Most people would felt worry and depressed, sweating and have their mind out, but not Paul. Second, Philippi is not even where he intended to go in Acts, he was planning to go to Thessoloncia. Lydia received Christ as Saviour. Ok, that’s not go but tha’ts not good either. Paul saw a demon-posessed lady and deliver her. The Town not only not thank him, Paul got beaten in the town and put him in jail. Beaten by a vita. I thank my God in all remembrance of you. When I went to Philippi, myskin crawls, I will have nightmare. I would find all ways to avoid that place. But not Paul.

So how could Paul look through the maze of pain, God is working. What is thankful for, gospel, church grew, Lydia salvation, Philip jailer and baptizer. How this few peope, a larger, vibrant church brough thim joy. Paul’s joy and thankful direct family business. Yes it was hurtful, horrible, but gospel changes live. Philippians 1:12 “I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel,” He is the prisoner of Rome have actually advance the gospel. The life changing element has gone out. Philippians 1:13–14 “so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.” This is Paul looking back. My painful hardship has extended the family, and that. Pual is saying, Bless my pain, bless my chains, bless my hardship, as hard as those are, I’m looking into the joy because gospel has extended.

Illustrate:

I’m looking back at my life, and I’m just thankful. Thankful my family and NPGC that has been invested in gospel work, invested in their young people, invested in me, even in was hard. Still remember I’m still in my high school days, we were not very committed Christian, in fellowship we often come in late, not engaged. And the leaders just serve every week, not quitting. One day I still remember, one of the leaders, was quite upset because all of us were late and a few didn’t come. It was one of the low point of high school ministry. She needs a moment to herself. We were all a bit shocked. But the next week she just carry on. She keep serving with heart for the gospel and no matter the hardship and disappointment. And maybe she did not know, all her hard work with not be in vain, that a lot of these high schoolers will be further extending the gospel, as Paul was also surprised what he did in a few days in Philippi.

Apply:

Today, let’s also take a moment to be thankful to God. Of all those in the years have served us because of the gospel, thankful for also the current leadership that has been faithful in serving us through difficult tasks through Covid. Maybe after the service, just thank somebody in this chuch that has been partnering with you in the gospel. But in partnership, let’s not only be thankful, but be confident.

Be Confident in God’s work (v6-8)

Philippians 1:6–8 “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. 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. For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.”

The good work that God has begun and will bring to full fruition may very well include their grace of giving, or perhaps their continued participation in the gospel in every way. More likely, however, it refers to God’s good work of salvation itself, of creating a people for his name in Philippi. Believers in Christ are people of the future, a sure future that has already begun in the present. They are citizens of heaven who live the life of heaven, the life of the future, in the present in whatever circumstances they find themselves.

It is important to remember two things. This work begun by God. He who has begun. It is not the Philip people and Paul. In the midst of it all, in the success and failure, it sometimes felt as if it relys on human effort. But in the history of NPGC, or my time as a pastor. It is not. It is only by God’s grace that the church is built, that fellowship is formed, and that lives are changed. We priase God for that but also. This work is gradual work. Sometimes it is hard to see the fruits of labour. Look at me, it took me I guess 20 years to beocme a bit more mature, a bit more useful to God. But still, I’m a work in progress, actually churhes are in a work in progress as well. It is like seeing the early stages of an art piece, you doesn’t make sense until the artist brought in the last few strokes. And the ah-uh moment.

Paul goes on to state why he is so confident in that, “for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.” Paul is saying that he is so confident is because there are signs God working in you, when you stand up for the gospel, and when you spread the gospel. First, that word is defense, apologetics when you ridicule answer questions, stand to the truth. 1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, Second, conformation of the gospel. It is a legal term, a legam witness, to tell and to speak. Here is how it works. when it is given and recieved, it confirms. The practifal proof is that you are serious about the gospel, is you defend or spread.

Illustrate:

I’m so glad that we are in sync. NPGC - the mission statement is 致力成為一間遵守大誡命，活出大使命的教會, and this year theme is 活出真理  福傳萬家. May my brothers and sisters here be truthful to that as well. Seeing your year report I’m glad. Especially when you are talking about in the bumpy ride, covid, personel changes, that you continue to preach the gospel, in faithfully supporting missionary, in evvnagelistic meetings, in community serving, in focusing on family ministry.

Our journey in CABC-WR is different, but in truth same. When I first started 8 years ago, we were in decline, the pastors team is tasked by the grace of God, revitalize the church. We gone through a period of praying and discernment, and by God’s vision, plan to not only serve migrants, but locals in the community, not only Chinese, but a multicultural neighbourhood. It was a hard journey but a grateful journey. Althought there were many setbacks, our mindsets have gradutally changed that the gospel is a gospel for all. We invested in second-gen ministries by greating new congregation, we have created new community. Here are just some photos I could share with you.

Paul has be praying for the Philippi all these times, but in the end, he keeps praying for his brothers and sisters. In partnership, we are thankful, we are confident, but last, we are are prayful. Let’s look what Paul prays for the Phiippi. Verse 9-11

Be prayful for God’s love (v9-11)

Philippians 1:9–11 “And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”

Paul here, doesn’t pray for his prision, doesn’t pray for abudance in material, or any problems that has been in PHilippi, he prays for something much more internal, the heart issue that matter the most. Paul prays for Philippi for their love. The one and only thing. As we know, in 1 Corinthians 13:13 “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” The greatest thing about our religion is God’s love, and it is here as well, and it is here today as well.

There are few aspects that he pray for, he pray for a plentiful love. That is beocmes more and more. Like a river, keep flowing on and on. Maybe you think he is talking about non-Christians, but He is talking about loving one another. 1 Thessalonians 3:12 “and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you,” Sometimes it is hard to love near to you, and I think sometimes it does make sense, it was not particular easy to love the church members sometimes. Will this be something that you think describes you? That you love is becoming more and more for your other church members? And maybe you think is it possible? Yes of course, because in Romans 5:5 “and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” God’s love pours out so that we could be filled with God’s love to be poured amongst many. Our love so be plentiful.

But not only plentiful, but perspective. Paul is not naive , not like cliche, tolerate everything, accept everything, it is like a river with banks. Overflowing love sounds great, but if there is no direction and excretion, it is not good. If love is pure emotional, it could bring devastation. Knowledge - a expert knowledge brought on by experience, Matt 18 mature love is not sentimentlal and feeling, sometimes it is about confrontation. And then there is discernment, insight, sensitive moral perspection. We may have affection, any way we see fit. Moral and ethical consideration in love , to distingish. Love is experssed different to child, discipline, and gift. Another example Christ, heal a person, overturn the table, both love, but in context. 1 Corinthians 13:6 “it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.”

Purposeful - God is glorified. To the glory and priased of God. With the plentiful of love, in the banks of knowledge and discerment would glory to God. When doing all thintgs, do it out of love, do it out for the glory of God. Our love should be growing, show be knowing, and should be showing. And as we pray for love, pray for our love for one another, people would be soaked in love, so cared for, and God would be glorified.

Illustrate: NPGC, I was in Ephesus two weeks ago, in the past it was one of the most glorious cities in the GreekGo Roman world. In a way it’s like HK. And Jesus had a lot of good thing to say about it, it has good behaviour, it has preservance, it was able to do suffering, but there is one thing that Jesus warn them about, it is that they forgot their first love. zeal and ardor with which they embraced their salvation has lost as the years go by. They forgot how God’s love was able to made them alive in Christ. In this society of many abudance, it is easy to be distracted from God, easy to distracted from each other. Let’s not do that. Let’s conitnue to pray for more love for each other, and to God.

NPGC, brothers and sisters, we will not see each other for a while again. I wil be back to Aust in Jan. I guess we will be back into our buusy lives. But also know that a little pastor will still be thankful for you all, all you have grown up, become my teacher, my brother and sisters, who told me the gospel and work with the gospel. Le’ts be thankful for each others. Be thankful for the leaders now in NPGC. Be confident, that what good has started work in you, will bring to completion at the end of day. Not matter what challneges lie ahead, God is taking care of the church, God will work according to his timing and will. But lastly, conitnue to love more , I will be praying that your love grow plentiful, with knowledge and discernment, to may god be glorified in it all. let’s pray.

Dear Father, as we are coming to the end of the year. we praise you that you have been an abudent GOd. That you have provided everything we need throughout the year, even sometimes we don’t feel like it. We thank you also for all the gospel partners you gave us during the years, but espeially now. We thank you for pastor Titus we thank all the leaders, the pastor, the fellowship, everything you hae given to NPGC this year. We pray, in the new year, that as Paul wanted from the church Philiip, that we would be a people of love, a love overflowing, a love with knowledge and discernment, a love so pure, a love that reflects Jesus love. And may that love overflow to each other, so that when people look at NPGC, they know they are CHristians, they know Jesus, and that you be glorified. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.