Philippians 1:1-11

Intro

Think about your best friends. Why are they your best friend?

If you’re like me it was because there was some major event that happened that you went through together, that was tough at the time but ended up welding you two together.

Friend in College.

Background on the Church at Philippi

It was the first church Paul planted in Europe on his second missionary journey around 49AD. This documented in Acts 16.

Stories of people coming to faith

Paul driving out spirits out of girls

All this ends up getting him into prision

But even there the messag of the gospel doesnt stop, because Phillippian jail was convereted.

Paul is eventually released and makes his way to Rome, and again is imprisioned.

Well word some how gets back to the church in Philippi

and out of concern for Paul, the church sends Epaphroditus a dangerous journey to encourage him and deliver a gift.

And out of all this, we have this Beautiful letter.

Lets pray

Philippians 1:1-11

1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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. 9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Paul starts off the letter jsut overflowing with Thankfulness and Joy,

- But if we look closely this thankfulness and Joy is coming from a specific thing that that is in v5 “Partnership in the Gospel”

and this is what I want to focus on this morning.

And in order to do this, we’re going to learn some Greek!

The original greek word for partnership is “Koinonia”

I’m going to use this word throughout the message instead of “Partnership” because I don’t think english word “partnership” captures the full essence of what Paul is conveying when he uses the term.

Three things I want to cover today is

What is Koinonia?

The importance of Koinonia

The hope for Koinonia

What is Koinonia ?

It’s translated in most bibles is “partnership”

But its also used to discribe alot of different close relationships

Marriage

Family

citizenship

were all considered examples of koinōnia in Paul’s day.

But probably the best kind of Koinonia Paul had with the Phillipians in thier partnership in the gospel is one of Friendship

And we this this in the way Paul affectionately writes his letter

They were good friends. And they did what good friends do.

They shared things in common together

They looked out for each other

they never gave up on each other.

They loved each other.

So when Paul is thanking them for their “Partnership in the Gospel”

He’s not just saying thanks for helping share the Gospel.

He’s saying thanks for being my Friend in the Gospel

The importance of Koinonia

1. Koinonia is a sign that you’ve been truly born again.

English Standard Version Chapter 1

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.

Paul is saying. “I see you guys and never left me, you were with me through thick and thin and I know it has to be the work of God in you”

Paul sees the partnership in the gospel, Koinonia, as a sign that God has done a transforming work

People often ask, “how do I know that I’m saved?

Obviously, no one know a person’s heart, only God knows.

But Jesus tells us that we can know a tree by it’s fruits.

So One way to answer the question is “How’s your koinonia?”

I’m not talking about just about going to church.

Do you have a growing love for the people of God?

Do you have a desire to share the gospel with others?

If you call yourself a follower of Jesus, I have to ask, Do you see these fruits in your life?

If you do then there’s great assurance that God has done a good work in your life.

If you don’t, I’d urge to reexamine yourself and ask, Am I really born again?

2. Koinonia is the source of deep thankfulness, joy, love in the Christian life.

“I Thank my God in ALL my remembrance of you

“ALWAYS in EVERY prayer… making my prayer with JOY

“I hold you in my heart”

“I yearn for you all with the AFFECTION of Christ Jesus.

“My brothers, whom I LOVE and long FOR, my JOY and CROWN”

I mean isn’t this the church we want to be apart of?

Everyone is thinking of each other. No one is forgotten.

Everyone is appreciating one another

People are overflowing with genuine love and joy for one another

There’s something deep inside all of us that resonates in all of us that says “YES, that’s the way it’s supposed to be!”

But when we look around us we can be discouraged because sometimes that’s not what we see.

There’s disagreements

Conflict, pride

selfishness

and the effects of sin among us are strong and they are real.

It’s the reason many people walk away from the church, or

Members just filled with a critical spirit, resentment or bitterness

Far different than Paul’s experience.

<<So What do we do now. How do we experience the Koinonia Paul experienced? Is it possible?>>

The Hope for Koinonia

The Key is in verse 6

Pauls heart of thanksgiving and joy towards the church is not ultimately based on what they have done but what God has started and will complete.

Philippians 1:6

Philippians 1:6 ESV

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.

There are three key truths

1. The koinonia Paul is experiencing isn’t built on the actions of men. God began the good work.

Lydia’s conversion in Acts 11 was described as the Lord opened her heart to pay attention

Pauls conversion in Acts 9. Was he looking for Jesus? No, But Jesus found him.

His own experience showed him that it IS God who begins the good work in ALL of US.

And he puts us together as a church

This is part of the shared experience of every believer, is that we’re all sinner’s saved by grace. Have you been Gripped by the Grace of God this way? There was nothing in you that was worthy

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—

To the degree that you’ve experienced this, then there is much hope and joy and thanksgiving in extending the same grace to those who have hurt us.

If we share in this understanding of grace, then is there anything that can destroy the koinonea of God’s people?

Jesus said “The gates of hell will not prevail over the church of God” and that includes the hellish parts of our own hearts. Grace covers it all.

2. Our Koininea will not be completed by the hands of man. GOD will be the one to bringing it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

v.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.

Imagine you got diagnoised with a fatal disease. Would you go to WebMD to try to cure yourself? No you’d find the best Doctor that knows what he’s doing.

God know’s what he’s doing.

Have you ever considered this? That God has never once made a single mistake. God has never had to redo anything.

There’s no eraser on his pencil.

God’s keyboard does not have a back space key. Those doesn’t exist, because he never needed it and he will never need it!

You know what this means? everything that’s ever happened good or bad or ugly is being used in his perfect plan of completing you and his church.

And Yes, God can even use a Global Pandemic.

He IS working all things out together for good for those who love him and are called according to his purpose.

3. Probably the greatest source of Paul’s joy is his confidence that when Jesus returns everything will be complete.

v.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.

Not only did God start the work in us,

Not only will he complete the work,

but the work will be COMPLETE.

Not 50%, not 75% not 99.99% 100% complete.

On the day of Jesus Christ there will be no loose ends.

Think about the joy that must have erupted out of Pauls heart as he wrote this in chains.

Despite the persecution and suffering of the church

Despite the conflict and disappointments within the church

When Jesus returns the Church will shine with the radiance of God himself.

The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Letter to the Philippians II. Prayers for Partners (1:3–11)

The bright light of that future day filled the darkest days in Paul’s Roman prison. The darkness of anxiety and doubt about the future of his koinōnia with the Philippians vanished in the brilliance of that day of Christ Jesus. On that day of Christ Jesus, the new creation of God—the new community in Christ—will be perfect and complete.

Oh Friends, that we would fix our eyes on THAT day!

That it would strengthen you to endure the fight of faith

And to finish the race God has for us

And persevere through all the trials and disappointments of this world.

For every day we travel on the hard roads of this life there will be 10,000 days of walking on streets of gold - Completely united with one another and with Jesus.

Who is with us through thick and thin

Who never will leave us or foresake us

And will love us to the end.

PRAY

Stay tuned for Worship

Application

For those who have been laboring....Keep going, light is near

Those who are on the sidelines… We need you, turn to the light

Those who have not yet come to Jesus… What are you waiting for?

---Parking Lot---

It might be that the reason we are missing these in our Christian walk is because we’re not really partnering in the Gospel.

Our life maybe really focused on something else besides of Gospel.

Our hand is not on the plow.

Saving Private Ryan.

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The effects of sin on every relationship. The older you get the more Jaded you become, because everything ends up letting you down. Relationships never seem to last

This is they way of the world because it’s tainted by sin. Sin causes us to move away from deep friendship because of the hurt.

But because of Sin Friendship is not always a source of thanksgiving. Often our deepest hurts come from those closest to us. Because of sin Friendships turn sour. People let us down.