The Joy in Christ and His Church
Pastor Chad A. Miller
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· 75 viewsWhen anchored in Christ, we find great joy as we pray for one another, work hard with one another, watch each other grow in Christ while we grow in our deep love for the church.
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INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
J.R.R. Tolkien’s Fellowship of the Ring is made up of individuals of disparate origin and ridiculous diversity that exceed any of our ethnic or social differences:
4 hobbits, tiny beings with large, hairy, shoeless feet—Frodo Baggins and his friends Merry, Sam, and Pippin;
2 men, warriors of the first rank always dressed for battle—Boromir of Gondor and Aragorn, son of Arathorn II, King of Gondor;
1 wizard, Gandalf the ancient nemesis of evil and a repository of wisdom and supernatural power;
1 elf, Legolas, from a fair race of archers of the forest with pointed ears;
and 1 dwarf, Gimli, a stout, hairy, axe-wielding creature from the dark chambers under the mountains.
These 9 members of the fellowship bore few affinities. The elves and the dwarves were like the English and the French because both had an unspoken agreement to feel superior to the other. However, the nine very different individuals, bound together by their great mission to defeat the forces of darkness and save Middle-Earth, became inseparable and their covenant indissoluble.
The man Boromir, despite his lapses, gave his life for the hobbits. And the elf and the dwarf came to form a great friendship, so great that Gimli was inducted into an honored order reserved only for elves.
Such can be earthly human fellowship when the conditions are perfect and is usually cause-specific and with an expiration date.
But Paul will reveal a gratitude and joy here in Philippians our text that has at its heart something much deeper…and lasting. a depth of fellowship and covenant that exceeds any earthly fellowship—“your partnership [fellowship] in the gospel” (v. 5)—which is rooted in God and is a quest that can only be described as eternal.
Phil 1.3-8
Phil 1.3-8
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, 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. 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.
“Make the book live to me, O Lord. Show me yourself within your Word. Show me myself and show me my Savior, and make the book live to me, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.”
-Hudson Pope
THIS THEME OF JOY:
1:4 prays with joy
1:18 rejoices that Christ is proclaimed
1:25 will remain living on earth, for the Philippians’ joy in the faith
2:2 asks the Philippians to complete his joy
2:17-18 is glad and rejoices with the Philippians
2:28 sends Epaphroditus, that the Philippians might rejoice
2:29 tells the Philippians to receive Epaphroditus with joy
3:1 tells the Philippians to rejoice in the Lord
4:1 tells the Philippians they are his joy
4:4 tells the Philippians twice to rejoice in the Lord
4:10 rejoiced in the Lord at the Philippians’ concern for him
1. Joyful Praying (Phil 1:3-5)
1. Joyful Praying (Phil 1:3-5)
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, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.
Thank God
Every Remembrance?
Even though there was little to correct in the Philippian church, there were some issues that needed attention
Disagreement between 2 of its founding members that had gone public: Euodia & Syntyche (Phil 4.3)
NOTE THE CONFLICT DIDN’T CRUSH HIS GRATITUDE
“When gratitude leaves the room, greed quickly enters and sprawls out, leaving no room for anyone else.” -John Onwuchekwa
Every time I pray for you
with JOY
Thankful and joyful (first mention of joy) - tied to prayer for others
Team read this past week: JC Ryle quote: “He loves me best who loves me in his prayers.”
R. Kent Hughes says, “Paul rarely thanked God for things. Paul thanked God for people, who, despite whatever trouble they may have been to him, remained a source of joy and thanksgiving”
What chokes out gratitude in your heart when you pray for others?
(Begging the question, Do you pray for your brothers and sisters at Grace?)
Unaware of their needs?
Vague praying for vague needs of vague people are not intercessory, nor a recipe for JOY
That’s the beauty of community…of a church family…of the very partnership that Paul is discussing here - deep, convictional, covenant relationship among the local church family
Are you a Super-Critical person? Do you have the spiritual gift of criticism?
4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
Are you an entitled person?
Last week we clearly saw that if we have a sense that God owes us anything…then it’s not grace!
Paul, understanding just how easy it is to slip into this mentality will warn the Philippians just around the corner,
3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
James cuts right to the chase, calling out our hypocrisy:
14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.
2. Joyful Partnering (Phil 1:4-5)
2. Joyful Partnering (Phil 1:4-5)
4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.
Partner - kŏinōnia, koy-nohn-ee´-ah; from 2844; partnership, i.e. (lit.) participation, or (social) intercourse, or (pecuniary) benefaction:—(to) communicate (-ation), communion, (contri-) distribution, fellowship.
in the Gospel
from the first day until now
Grace Covenant Church’s legacy members: Kristy Davis, Dan & Tricia, Griffin, Genny Griffin, Drs. Jim and Edith Hall, Pastor Daren & Linda McGrew, Dr. John & Ruth Snyder.
(for more than 15 years = Nancy Conniff, Bryan & Kristina Franklin, Zac & Katherine Frost, Scott & Esther Goldstein, John and Lauren Kappers, Charlie and Faye Klumpp, Craig & Kim Taylor, Richard & Diane Whitehead, Bill & Sally Wolff
(Talk about Pastor Jeremy Rose - The Axis Church in/around Nashville, TN; calls their new members their new “PARTNERS IN MINISTRY”)
THE WORD PARTNER is a great expression - it doesn’t completely capture our relationship in the local church for me as well as “member”, but I still like it.
This wasn’t slactivism,
This wasn’t spectating from the sidelines,
This wasn’t simply saying, “I’ll pray for you brother.”
Nor was it an evangelical politically-charged hot button issue for a bunch of blow-hards to jaw jack about...
This was PERSONAL PARTICIPATION
This was ACTIVE PARTICIPATION
This was CORPORATE PARTICIPATION
Some of you have resisted Church Membership for one reason or the other.
It could be, in one real sense, because a church isn’t an organization that you JOIN, it’s a family/fellowship/community/flock that you SUBMIT to.
CHURCH DEFINED: (from the first message, I preached here at Grace Covenant Church in 2018)
The church is not a cultural institution. It is an organism. It is a family, a flock, a body, the bride of Christ.
It is not a club, not a volunteer organization, nor is it a service provider.
It is the Spiritual Authority on earth ordained by Christ Himself to officially affirm and give shape to the Christian life.
The church of the Lord Jesus Christ wasn’t birthed by culture, she isn’t sustained by culture, nor will she be shattered by culture. (In fact, she thrives the best when she is countercultural.)
TRANSITION: It’s in the context of the local church - our lives lived out together for the sake of Christ…with brothers and sisters, young and old, who SEE US…growing and maturing in our discipleship process/journey.
3. Joyful Perfecting (Phil 1.6)
3. Joyful Perfecting (Phil 1.6)
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.
We see Paul’s confidence in Christ
…confidence that Christ began the work
…confidence in God’s timing / working / purpose displayed through members of the church (individually and collectively)
…confidence in the day of Christ.
(Doctrines of God, Man, Salvation, Sanctification, Ecclesiology, Eschatology)
Question: How can we cultivate this growth / this perfecting (v) / this maturing?
Stay connected to Jesus! Jesus said,
5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
What are the evidences of growth? Healthy, Committed Church Members who
are committed in love and partnership with one another
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
attend worship gatherings regularly (it’s not just an option for the weekend’s dropdown menu of activities - it’s a priority because of what it means to be IN CHRIST)
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
seek peace
19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.
Edify one another (not to be a consumer only, but to provide, to serve…not just to be served)
45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Warns and admonishes others
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
Pursues Reconciliation
18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Bears with others
2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Prepares for the ordinances
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
Supports the work of the ministry
6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
Follow the example of the Macedonians in 2 Cor 8-9, who committed to a financial strategy of giving that was sacrificial, generous, increasing over time, fueled by faith in God despite their circumstances.
7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
4. Joyful Passion for the Church (Phil 1:7-8)
4. Joyful Passion for the Church (Phil 1:7-8)
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.
It’s right / righteous / holy / innocent for me to FEEL
The NT is NOT gripped with much feeling when Paul is communicating truth.
Christianity is not a glandular religion - we are not driven by our emotions. Even though our emotions are gifts from our creator, they make terrible drivers behind the wheel.
BUT - Paul FEELS PASSIONATELY ABOUT THIS LOCAL CHURCH
He has the people IN HIS HEART
He has covenant sisters and brothers that are fellow PARTAKERS OF GRACE
He is thinking of this family, this flock, this body, this community when says you’ve been WITH ME
during my Imprisonment (when I was at my lowest)
during my CONFIRMATION AND DEFENSE of the Gospel (at the height of ministry)
FOR GOD IS MY WITNESS
He knows (He always knows…) How I greatly / deeply yearn/long (epipotheo)
with DEEP/INWARD AFFECTION of Jesus Christ
It is a normative experience for a church family to have a deep, familial, abiding, Christ-authored LOVE and PASSION for one another
Your Grace Covenant Family will be the ones with you at the height of your usefulness and successes…and they’ll be with you at the bottom of your lowest point.
Paul is not describing “event attenders” or “inactive church members” (that’s an oxymoron btw). Membership = active partnership, active discipleship, and active LOVE!
This is why we need to linger after the Sunday morning gatherings. This is one of the benefits of Sunday School, in addition to the instruction. This is a good reason to plug in to the Men’s ministry group and Women’s ministry group when they resume in later months.
Regardless of temperament or spectrum, we recognize that we have a responsibility and the PRIVILEGE of being together…headed the same direction - not for a cause…but for OUR KING!
CHALLENGE ON MEMBERSHIP
Some of you are considering whether or not to be a part of this family, we’d love to have you…if you’re looking for a people to partner with and a family to submit to for the purpose of maturing you in your walk as a disciple-making disciple for the glory of God.
Some of you have attended for years, and are still dating Grace Covenant…it may be time for a covenant relationship. I’d love to sit with you over a meal and discover what’s been keeping you from this INCREDIBLE JOY that only exists IN Christ and WITH HIS BODY in covenant.
CLOSING ILLUSTRATION:
CLOSING ILLUSTRATION:
CLOSING SUMMARY - CAN’T REALLY SAY IT BETTER THAN TONY MERIDA in his summary of this passage:
Paul’s thanksgiving emphasizes joy, gospel partnerships, assurance, and affection. His skin is chafed from being chained to a Roman guard, but his heart is filled with thanksgiving because of these things. He’s the happiest man in Rome, and he doesn’t have a posh life. If you could bottle up Paul’s joy, you could sell it to the world. Yet it’s available for free.
What will rob you of this type of joy? If you are Christ-less, you won’t find joy. If you are prayer-less and ungrateful, you won’t find joy. If you don’t have gospel partnerships, you won’t find joy. If you don’t have assurance of salvation, you won’t have joy. If you don’t have affectionate relationships, you won’t have joy. So, let us look to Jesus, who went to the cross for us, bearing our sin and punishment, so that we may be reconciled to God and enjoy Him forever.
Merida, Tony. Exalting Jesus in Philippians (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) (p. 32). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.