Untitled Sermon (5)

The Characteristics of Mature Believers,

Philippians 1:3–11 ESV

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. 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. 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.

Introduction: What are the marks of a mature Christian believer? What are the marks of a dynamic, mature Christian church? This passage answers these questions. Concisely and clearly, the marks so desperately needed by believers and churches are spelled out.

1. The mark of a thankful heart (v. 3).

2. The mark of prayer (v. 4).

3. The mark of joy (v. 4).

Galatians–Colossians (King James Version) B. The Marks of Mature Believers, 1:3–11

The mark of a thankful heart

4. The mark of fellowship or partnership (v. 5).

The mark of a thankful heart

5. The mark of confidence in God’s salvation (v. 6).

6. The mark of partnership (vv. 7–8).

The mark of a thankful heart

7. The mark of a growing and discerning love (vv. 9–10).

8. The mark of righteousness (v. 11).

The mark of a thankful heart

Remember that Paul was in prison in Rome and that he was a great distance from the Philippian believers. He did not have their presence; all he had was the memory of their time together. And sitting there in prison, remembering their love and care and support, his heart swelled up with thanksgiving for them, and he thanked God for them.

Galatians–Colossians (King James Version) B. The Marks of Mature Believers, 1:3–11

Remember that Paul was in prison in Rome and that he was a great distance from the Philippian believers. He did not have their presence; all he had was the memory of their time together. And sitting there in prison, remembering their love and care and support, his heart swelled up with thanksgiving for them, and he thanked God for them.

What a lesson for us! If Paul thanked God for believers who were so far away from him, how much more should we thank God for each other. We have the love and care and support of each other week by week and day by day, and we can call upon each other for help any hour of any day. Yet how often do we thank God for each other?

Galatians–Colossians (King James Version) B. The Marks of Mature Believers, 1:3–11

What a lesson for us! If Paul thanked God for believers who were so far away from him, how much more should we thank God for each other. We have the love and care and support of each other week by week and day by day, and we can call upon each other for help any hour of any day. Yet how often do we thank God for each other?

Remember that Paul was in prison in Rome and that he was a great distance from the Philippian believers. He did not have their presence; all he had was the memory of their time together. And sitting there in prison, remembering their love and care and support, his heart swelled up with thanksgiving for them, and he thanked God for them.

English Standard Version Chapter 1

12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. .

15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

2 (1:4) Prayer: there is the mark of prayer.

Galatians–Colossians (King James Version) B. The Marks of Mature Believers, 1:3–11

2 (1:4) Prayer: there is the mark of prayer.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016), .

Galatians–Colossians (King James Version) B. The Marks of Mature Believers, 1:3–11

2 (1:4) Prayer: there is the mark of prayer.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016), .

3 (1:4) Joy: there is the mark of joy. Remember that Paul is in prison, yet his heart is filled with joy. Joy (chara) means an inner gladness; a deep seated pleasure. It is a depth of assurance and confidence that ignites a cheerful and rejoicing heart. It is a cheerful heart that leads to cheerful and rejoicing behavior.

Several things need to be said about the believer’s joy.

Galatians–Colossians (King James Version) B. The Marks of Mature Believers, 1:3–11

3 (1:4) Joy: there is the mark of joy. Remember that Paul is in prison, yet his heart is filled with joy. Joy (chara) means an inner gladness; a deep seated pleasure. It is a depth of assurance and confidence that ignites a cheerful and rejoicing heart. It is a cheerful heart that leads to cheerful and rejoicing behavior.

Several things need to be said about the believer’s joy.

1. Joy is divine. It is possessed and given only by God. Its roots are not in earthly or material things or cheap triumphs. It is the joy of the Holy Spirit, a joy based in the Lord. It is His very own joy (; ; ; ; ).

2. Joy does not depend on circumstances or happiness. Happiness depends upon happenings, but the joy that God implants in the believer’s heart overrides all, even the matters of life and death (; ; ).

3. Joy springs from faith (; Ph. 1:25; ; see ).

4. Joy of future reward makes and keeps the believer faithful (, ; ; ).

Leadership Ministries Worldwide, Galatians–Colossians, The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible (Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 1996), 250.

The source of the believer’s joy is severalfold.

The source of the believer’s joy is severalfold.

1. The fellowship of the Father and His Son brings joy ().

2. Victory over sin, death, and hell brings joy (; ).

3. Repentance brings joy (, ).

4. The hope of glory brings joy (; ; ).

5. The Lord’s Word—the revelations, commandments, and promises which He made—brings joy ().

6. The commandments of Christ and the will of God bring joy. Obeying and doing a good job stirs joy within the believer’s heart (; ; ).

7. Prayer brings joy ().

8. The presence and fellowship of believers brings joy ().

9. Converts bring joy (; Ph. 4:1; ).

10. Hearing that others walk in the truth brings joy ().

11. Giving brings joy (; ).

4 (1:5) Fellowship: there is the mark of fellowship

Galatians–Colossians (King James Version) B. The Marks of Mature Believers, 1:3–11

The fellowship of believers is to exist from the very first day of salvation. What a glorious testimony the Philippian church had! It had been about ten years since some of the members had given their lives to follow Christ and had founded the church. And note: the fellowship of the church had continued from the very first day of its founding. As all churches experience, there must have been differences and problems which had arisen, but the believers handled them in Christ—just as they should have. Therefore, the peace and unity of the Spirit was kept alive and the fellowship of the church remained strong.

The fellowship of believers is to exist from the very first day of salvation. What a glorious testimony the Philippian church had! It had been about ten years since some of the members had given their lives to follow Christ and had founded the church. And note: the fellowship of the church had continued from the very first day of its founding. As all churches experience, there must have been differences and problems which had arisen, but the believers handled them in Christ—just as they should have. Therefore, the peace and unity of the Spirit was kept alive and the fellowship of the church remained strong.

The fellowship of believers is to exist from the very first day of salvation. What a glorious testimony the Philippian church had! It had been about ten years since some of the members had given their lives to follow Christ and had founded the church. And note: the fellowship of the church had continued from the very first day of its founding. As all churches experience, there must have been differences and problems which had arisen, but the believers handled them in Christ—just as they should have. Therefore, the peace and unity of the Spirit was kept alive and the fellowship of the church remained strong.

One of the most critical needs facing the church today is the need for peace and unity in the Spirit of God—a strong fellowship rooted around the gospel of Christ. Lehman Strauss gives the secret: “There was no conflict, no confusion, but continuance. A continuing fellowship is a prayer fellowship.

One of the most critical needs facing the church today is the need for peace and unity in the Spirit of God—a strong fellowship rooted around the gospel of Christ. Lehman Strauss gives the secret: “There was no conflict, no confusion, but continuance. A continuing fellowship is a prayer fellowship.