Philippians 1:3-6
Wednesday Night Prayer and Praise • Sermon • Submitted
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When you pray, do you thank God for other Christians in your life? Does a smile come to your face as you remember them?
Over the course of these 4-5 months, we have not had much opportunity to gather together in person. I am so grateful that we have been able to utilize the technology to stay in touch and minister actually in ways perhaps we have never dreamed possible.
Paul experienced a time where he had limited time with the churches he had such special relationships. It had been about 10 years since Paul first worked with the Philippian Church. As he wrote the letter to the Philippians, Paul was 800 miles away in a Roman jail. His distance or time apart from this beloved church did not diminish his love or interest in them. Every time Paul thought of the Philippians he thanked God for them. We see this in our text for tonight.
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
The word THANK is from the Greek word eucharisteo. It is the word throughout the writings of Paul that is used to express thanks and to be grateful. It is the same word for which we get Eucharist which is the practice we do of observing the Lord’s Supper. We do the Lord’s Supper in remembrance and in giving thanks.
It is with this attitude that Paul expresses thanks for the members of the Philippian church. It seems that Paul sang the song way before Willie Nelson did as they were “always on his mind.” How do you think it felt for the Philippians to know that Paul was always remembering them?
I think Paul’s example here is worthy of us following. How often to you “remember” those fellow Christians in your life? There is an implication here to remember and pray often for those you know from your church. What should you pray for those believers you are close to?
Verse 4 gives us a hint: We celebrate them. Paul says he always prays with joy for these folks. In the form of prayer, Paul goes before the throne of God on their behalf. He does so with JOY. Joy is gladness. We have learned from our study of the Fruit of the Spirit that joy is love animated. It indicates there is no division or no favoritism. Praying with joy means nothing is allowed to give pain. Paul’s example is praying with joy always. Always is evermore. There is no room for judgement or ridicule.
Why does Paul always pray for these church members with joy? The answers is found in verse 5. Paul speaks of their partnership in the Gospel. Of course the Gospel is Good News. The word is euaggelion from which we eventually get the word evangelism. We have a partnership to share the good news. God has called us into this partnership or fellowship.
God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.
We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
We have a partnership with the Trinity and with other believers. We have a salvation that is shared.
Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.
It is precious.
Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:
It is ongoing.
though he stumble, he will not fall,
for the Lord upholds him with his hand.
but I will not take my love from him,
nor will I ever betray my faithfulness.
The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;
your love, O Lord, endures forever—
do not abandon the works of your hands.
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.
To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—
Our partnership is with the Trinity and with other believers. Aren’t you glad that a pandemic can’t stop that? Are you glad that a crisis in our land can’t stop that. More than ever we need to pray and encourage other believers we know.
Why can we do this? Verse 6 shows that we have confidence. The word for confidence is from peitho. It means to be persuaded or to believe. In this verse, the context shows that confidence is stemming from prayers and thanksgivings that have been offered. Paul had an understanding that prayer boosted one’s confidence.
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
Paul’s statement to the Philippians is that because of the confidence of the believers and their partnership with the Trinity and other believers, that the good work that was begun in them is going to continue. Who began a good work in you?
We see later in this book that which was begun will be completed according to the purpose of God.
for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
The implication in verse 6 is that God started it and He will finish it. It is a good work. It is a work that is pleasant, useful and honorable. God, the Creator, is crafting, acting and doing in each of us a great work that will indeed be pleasant, useful and honorable. He will carry it on to perfection. He will complete it. God is a God Who completes. He is a God who accomplishes.
Lord, you establish peace for us;
all that we have accomplished you have done for us.
No wonder Paul remembered these other believers in prayer and with great joy. It seems that every prayer should consist of thanksgiving. What an example for us as we have been able to gather together to laugh, to pray , to worship, to hug and to celebrate together God’s goodness, grace, mercy and love. I want to invite you to do the same. Make a list of those from your church family that have walked with you over the years. Remember. Pray. Experience the joy of their investment in your life and your investment in their life. Write a note. Make a call. Let them know you are remembering their partnership with the gospel. Renew your calling. Affirm their calling. Be the church!