Phil 01_03-05 Fellowship in the Gospel (1)_Finding Joy in Fellowship

Fellowship in the Gospel (1): Finding Joy in Fellowship (Philippians 1:3-5) March 11, 2018 II Cor 8 Read Phil 1:3-5 – Joy is all about attitude, right? Take Mike – a 2nd-grader who hit his lip on the seat when the bus lunged and it bled all over his new shirt. His dog really did eat his homework. At recess he got hit in the mouth and lost two teeth. After school, he fell on the ice and broke his arm. On the way to the hospital he pulled something out of his pocket. Dad asked, “What’s that?” Mike replied, “It’s a quarter. I found it on the ground when I fell down. It’s the first quarter I ever found. This is the best day of my life!” Positive outlook on a negative day! He reminds me of Paul. Think how amazing this letter is. Paul’s been in prison for 5 years! He is about to stand trial for his life on false charges. Even some of his Xn brothers and sisters are treating him badly. He should be depressed! Instead he is filled with joy. Instead of asking for prayer, he tells them how he prays for them. Rather than telling them how bad it is, he tells how he is sustained by his memory of them. Amid challenging circumstances, he remains enthusiastically positive. How did he do that? Concentrating on Christ and others, not himself. Some Philippians have forgotten it’s not about them; it’s about Jesus. Paul might have shamed them for acting so selfishly while he languished in a Roman prison. Instead, he reminds them how much they mean to him. How their memory sustains him. Attitude defines Paul’s joy. It’s not fake. It’s a choice to see life as God see it. And what he does here can inform our lives as well. The lessons are universal. Three things characterize his godly attitude. I. Pleasure in Others Paul thought of others before himself. People who whine about someone else not meeting their needs are destined to be unhappy. So rather than complain of his own troubles, Paul concentrates elsewhere. “3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you.” He had a special relationship with these people. He’d not spent much time in Philippi, but there was a unique connection there. For 1 thing, they’d continued to support him financially. Phil 4: 15 And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. 16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again.” And they didn’t do that because they were well-off. II Cor 8:1: “We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia [Philippi], 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints.” With barely enough to support themselves, they sent to Paul on multiple occasions, and insisted on giving to the destitute saints in Jerusalem – whom they’d never met. Their hearts were captured by the gospel. As they received grace, so they gave it. Their spirit gave Paul joy in his own severe test. Now, they weren’t perfect. In chapter 2 Paul begins to address the issue of spiritual one-ups-man-ship that had penetrated this congregation. And in 4:2: “I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord,” Conflict had broken out among previously faithful servants. Each is insisting that things be done their way. Still memory of them brought Paul joy. How is that possible? It’s an attitude issue. Paul did not ignore their deficiencies. He confronted them. But he saw the bigger picture, too. He looked for the good in all and thanked God for them, even while confronting their error. It was a pattern with Paul. The Thessalonians skewed the truth of Jesus’ 2nd coming so badly some thought their dead friends were doomed. Others quit jobs in anticipation of Jesus’ coming causing Paul to urge them back to work. II Thess 3:8b: “If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.” Strong language to correct a deficiency. But at the same time Paul said in I Thess 1:2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers.” To the Colossians who were playing with incipient Gnosticism that denied the deity of Christ – a serious flaw that Paul addressed, he could still say in Col 1:3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you.” To the Corinthians who were as messed up as any church could be – torn by personality cults, drunkenness at the Lord’s Table, lawsuits against other believers, super-spiritual tongues-speakers, tolerance of gross immorality – to that lot Paul says in I Cor 1:4 I give thanks to my God always for you.” Paul chose to love and thank God for seriously flawed people! So, when was the last time you thanked God for your flawed but believing brothers and sisters? I mean truly, earnestly, honestly thanked God for them. Or are you just about criticizing the flaws? That attitude will kill your joy. Paul always stood for truth. Irritation he overlooked; but he addressed serious violations of God’s character. Yet he took joy in all! We must ask ourselves whether or not that kind of balance characterizes our life together. How could Paul be thankful for sinning Christians? Easy. He knew he was one himself. And he trusted God with others that God had called! “I thank my God.” Paul’s trust was in God, not in people. And he knew what the next verse teaches. Phil 1:6: “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.” Paul knew when he was looking at another believer that he was looking at perfection in progress. Not a question of if, but when! He understood PBPGINFWMY. So rather than rail at the failure of others, he thanked God for all of them -- good way to live. In fact, we’re instructed to live like that. I John 3:11 For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12 We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous.” Love one another. That’s a timeless command that goes clear back to Eden. Love one another. The negative example – Cain who killed his brother. We may not literally kill each other, but we do so by our innuendo, gossip, pride, and above all – criticism – whether warranted or not. But we are called to be different – to step outside the line of Cain and reverse that line. Supernatural love, even for the most difficult among us, is a start. This is our calling -- to step outside the line of Cain and into the line of Abel based on the shed blood of Jesus Christ – and love each other! Abe did. God blessed him and Lot with wealth in Canaan. But soon Abe’s cowboys were fighting with Lot’s cowboys about pasture land. So what did Abe do? Claim his rights as patriarch to have the best land? Did he choose Cain’s solution and kill his nephew by driving him out. Gen 13:8 Then Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen. 9 Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right, or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left.” That decision cost him the best land; it cost him his rights; it violated his patriarchy. He went against natural inclinations, choosing the way of faith; reversing the line of Cain. And that’s our calling, Beloved -- the place of contentment and joy. Let God perfect others. You love and thank God for them. Like Paul! II. Prayer for Others 4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy.” Paul didn’t just thank God for the Philippians; he prayed for them, too. Before he did any correcting, he prayed for them -- with joy. Why? He knew God was the one who did the perfecting; he was the one who did the praying. Do you pray for others? Particularly if you think they are in the wrong? Do you pray for them? Do you care about them – or are you only looking out for your own interests? There is no joy in that, but there is great joy in regularly bringing others to the throne of grace and asking God’s blessing on their behalf. We must pray for one another. Your pastor needs your prayers. Asked the secret to his ministry, Spurgeon said, “My people pray for me.” As many as 400 were praying in one room as he preached in another. John Piper said, “My people pray for me. That is why I have not ceased to love to preach. This is why I have been revived again and again for the work of the ministry.” Pray for your pastor as he prays for you. It will sustain him and bring you joy. And pray for each other. Use the phone list. We’ll find no joy in picking each other apart. In the 1750’s the British and French were fighting in Canada. A British Admiral Phipps was ordered to hold outside Quebec to support British land forces when they arrived. Phipps arrived early. But a godless man, he became annoyed at the statues of saints in a nearby cathedral. He had his men use them as target practice. But he was no help when the infantry arrived. He had spent all his ammunition shooting at the saints. Let’s never go there. Out of ammo for anything useful because it’s all been used up shooting at other believers. Let’s pray for each other. III. Partnership With Others 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. “Partnership” is κοινωνια – usually translated “fellowship” – a term that’s been greatly watered down in our time. It can mean anything from grabbing a cup of coffee with someone to a small group Bible study. But in the 1st century κοινωνια had commercial overtones. If John and Harry buy a boat and start a fishing business, they’re into a κοινωνια – a partnership. The term denotes a self-sacrificing conformity to a shared vision. Like John and Harry having a shared vision to get a fishing business off the ground. Paul uses the word in that sense elsewhere. I Cor 1:9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” Believers have entered into not just a shared vision, but a shared life in Christ. They’ve put all they are on the line by faith in Him. So here, Paul takes great joy that the Philippians, flawed as they are, have entered wholeheartedly into the shared vision of taking the gospel everywhere. There’s no greater joy in life than the shared commitment to make Christ known. Can you think of any? Paul sees the Philippians as partners in this greatest of all enterprises. While he was with them, they “labored side by side with me in the gospel” (Phil 4:3). And the continued after he left! They stayed in contact through messengers like Epaphroditus (2:25-30), and they gave gifts out of their poverty. Though far apart, they labored in the same cause of seeing Jesus Christ lifted up and others brought to faith in Him. It started the “first day”, and kept up unabated “until now.” They were partners and always would be. This is why a lot of Xns lack joy. They are not partners in the gospel. They’re saved (so they think) and that’s all that matters. They lack compassion for others. They have no commitment to the cause of Christ beyond that. They are not partners in the gospel, and you can’t have the joy of Christ in your heart if you don’t care what others think of Him. It’s an untenable position. So we must ask do we have skin in the gospel game? Are we committed to the furtherance of this life-changing message or are we just spectators? Someone has said that American Christianity is like a stadium full of 100,000 people watching 22 guys battling it out below. A spectator sport. Well, there are spectators in our spiritual battle, but they are not us. Heb 12:1: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [the spectators], let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” Who is the cloud of witnesses – the spectators – angels, and believers in heaven. You want to be a spectator, you need to die and move on. But here, we’re in a battle! To be partners in the gospel. You’re either going, sending or disobedient, right? If your life lacks joy, perhaps it’s because you’re not a partner in the gospel – which could be because you’re a lazy, self-centered, disobedience believer – or more likely not a true believer at all. It’s hard to be saved and not want others to be as well. There’s great joy in working together for the gospel. That common cause can address much of the selfishness that otherwise entraps us. Broughton Knox was a young British naval chaplain preparing for the D-Day landing during WWII. He noted that the minds of all hands on board, regardless of rank, were focused on the success of this all-or-nothing effort. Everyone pitched in toward the one overriding goal. Broughton says, “I remember noting in my mind how I had never been happier.” Never happier tho faced with a life-and-death venture. But he notes that after the invasion, the atmosphere on board ship changed. Why? “The answer was quite simple. During those months that preceded and followed D-day, our thoughts had a minimum of self-centeredness in them. We gave ourselves to our shared activity and objective.… Once the undertaking was over we reverted to our own purposes, as we do normally.” So our challenge? Stay in the game. Partner with others in the gospel. Put aside selfish motives and partner in the gospel. That’s the way to real joy. Conc – Jonathan Edwards is by common consensus one of the greatest theologians and philosophers America has ever produced. Yet, he was kicked out of the congregational church in Northampton, MS, a church his grandfather had served for over 50 years and he had served for 23. The issue was Communion. He had become convinced against common practice that only professing believers should partake. Eventually the controversy erupted into a vote. Out of 230 members, only 29 voted for him to stay. That would be devastating, wouldn’t it? But Edwards stayed on for another year while they found another pastor. One eyewitness left this account “I never saw Jonathan Edwards display the least symptoms of displeasure in his countenance the whole week after the vote. He appeared like a man of God whose happiness was out of reach of his enemies.” That’s a beautiful phrase. Do you have it? Is it true of you? It’s a question of attitude – an attitude that trusts God enough to take pleasure in flawed people, pray for them and partner with them in the gospel. That’s a good way to live. Let’s pray.