Ekklesia

In the opening chapter of Philippians, Paul shares his personal notes of thanksgiving for the Church of Philippi. As I read, you’ll pick up on the personal devotion of Paul to his Lord Jesus.

Paul is prompted by his joyous memory of his Philippian Ohana. These memories are reflected in his prayers for the church in Philippi.

Let us think for a moment on the Greek word for the Church. The NT Greek word that is translated as “church” in the Bible is ekklesia. This word is made up of a prefix and a root. The prefix is ek or ex, which means “out of ” or “from.” The root word is a form of the verb kaleo, which means “to call.” Thus, ekklesia means “those who are the called-out ones.” Simply put, the invisible church, the true church, is composed of those who are called by God not only outwardly but inwardly by the Holy Spirit. When Jesus calls someone to salvation and into discipleship, He calls that person to Himself, to belong to Him, to follow Him, and to learn from Him and of Him. Out of this world and in to following Jesus by grace through faith.

Simply attending a church does not make you apart of the “ekklesia.” Attending will make you apart of a community organization, but not apart of the ekklesia. What makes you apart of the “ekklesia” Biblically speaking is your relationship with Christ Jesus. Have you answered the call to salvation? Have you turned away from your sin and trusted in Jesus?

It is the basis of this relationship that Paul has with Jesus, and those in the Philippian church have with Jesus, that makes this letter such a pleasure to read as JOY is found in almost every passage.

This comes from the “you too” moment. When you find something in common with a stranger and even though you don’t know them, it is Christ that binds you together.

Paul is really the happiest man in Rome even though he is in prison.

The Source of Joy

Philippians 1:1–2 CSB

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

Our source of joy in this life comes from:

Being IN CHRIST

Receiving Grace & Peace from God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son.

Serving them as One Body

The rest of this opening passage hinges on this greeting. The Philippian church are Paul’s partners in the Gospel.

Are you In Christ this morning? More on that in a few moments.

JOY - You know, as Christians we are to have a different outlook on joy than the world around us. It is rather countercultural. It isn’t that we are against pleasure or entertainment. We simply have access to a greater source of joy than the world can offer. Our source is greater than sex, money, power, career choice, sports, living green, voting correctly, or entertainment.

Many take the “pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness” to extremes. You think that’s what will fill you with joy? If that is what you live your, you won’t know be singing Amazing Grace, the anthem of your U2’s, “I still haven’t found what I’m looking for...”

King Solomon, the wisest ever, toward the end of his life simply noted that all this was vanity, a chasing after the wind.

Now, as Paul wrote this letter, he was in prison. Yet it isn’t his circumstance that defines his joy, it is Christ Jesus. Jesus turned his life around.

His prayer in verses 3-11 reflect his bond with the Philippians, and offers us insight this morning so that, though we part ways this week, we remain in fellowship/partnership for the Gospel until the day of Christ’s return.

The Joy of Prayer

Philippians 1:3–4 CSB

3 I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, 4 always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer,

The Joy of Prayer

Paul expressed his pleasure and joy for the church, even though the church wasn’t perfect, and no church is. That is a lie the world portrays about the church, and one we should think long and hard about. Brothers & sisters, we know we are not perfect yet we also know of God’s grace. This is what we must proclaim, grace, mercy, and forgiveness for sins because the Day of Christ’s return is quickly approaching and on that day it will be too late.

But even though they were not perfect, Paul was grateful. The conflict happening in Philippi didn’t crush his joy. Paul rarely thanked God for “things” but he often thanked God for people in the church.

Romans 16, Paul writes a long list of people he is grateful for.

Two significant thoughts about Paul’s joy:

He is thankful for them. Even though there is a disunity present, Ch. 4 Paul calls them out, Paul lived his life in response to the love of Christ.

His aim was to reach people everywhere (2 Cor 5:14-15)

What helped him, encouraged him, were the people who responded to the gospel when he preached it.

As your next pastor arrives, remember to let him see you embracing the Gospel. This encourages the heart of the pastor more than anything.

Paul’s thankfulness never wavered.

He said, “for every remembrance of you...” They shared some hard times together, and those bonds are forged in difficult circumstances.

COVID has been that for us.

Listen, I can’t speak for every pastor, but I can speak on behalf of UABC. You’ve been so gracious through this season as we tried to navigate this. There is no book on navigating a church through a pandemic. I deeply appreciate your attitude through this time. I have some friends who endured much greater hardship than I because their churches did not necessarily have such a cooperative spirit.

For that, I am grateful to the Lord for you.

With that in mind, let me encourage you this morning to not let your circumstance crush your joy.

Your joy is not found in me, if so, you’ve been disappointed. Your joy in Jesus and all that He’s done for you.

You guys might have some conflict moving forward in electing a new search committee, maybe with the direction of the church, but I think this is a great opportunity to let the joy of Christ reign in your life!

You have a better well of life, and well of joy than the world offers…tap into it by praying for one another. That’s what Paul did and we can imitate him.

For Paul, it was Christ alone. Jesus was his source of Joy.

Do you think you need something other than Jesus to find real joy?

Better behaved kids? A better job? A different address? More vacation time? We tend to think bigger is better.

The whole point of marketing and advertising is to make you think you are some how incomplete without this product.

Bigger house, bigger muscles, bigger bank account, faster car, more technology.

What is even more is the right set of political views. Anything less gets you canceled.

What we really need is a BIGGER VISION of God. That’s what Paul tapped into. He is the only source of what is right!

The Joy of Partnership

Philippians 1:5 CSB

5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.

This is another distinctive, Gospel Partnership. This partnership is one of the reasons for Paul’s joy. This church had supported his ministry and joined him on the mission from the beginning.

KOINONIA

Fellowship/Partnership is a key player in this letter. This word is usually translated as “fellowship” in which we often think…food. But its so much more than food, it is a sharing of mutual interest. The heart of true fellowship is self-sacrifice and conforming to a Biblical shared vision.

For Paul and the Philippian church, and biblically speaking, it is a “GOSPEL-CENTERED FRIENDSHIP.” It also serve as a shared mission to proclaim the Gospel. (1:7)

Friendship and Mission

They are from different places but what unites them is Christ Jesus.

Philippians 2:1 Paul references there the fellowship of the Spirit. We share in a common Savior, Christ Alone, and we are joined/united by the same Spirit, and are headed for the same destination - Eternal Life.

This bond that we share is one that you’ll need to maintain. You need gospel partners, those who are united in Christ, from every tribe, who live on the Gospel and who challenge and encourage you to live out the Gospel. Make sure you stay connected to a D-Life group.

In order enjoy these relationships, you’ve got to put the Gospel first.

Cultivating this Christ-centered unity is found in a couple of ways:

1) Financial aid and care.

2) Suffering and encouraging one another

3) Praying for one another.

Joy comes from the Christ and the church.

The Joy of Hope - Come back to this

Philippians 1:6 CSB

6 I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

This verse elaborates on the big idea of “giving thanks”. This is kind of the foundation of giving thanks. His confidence in this truth is based on God’s work in their midst. Not Paul’s work, or someone else’s work, but God at work in their midst.

He says, “listen to this” by saying “I am sure of this...” Paul does an interesting thing here…rather than saying “God will...” He says, “He who began an good work...” We need to figure out who “He” is.

He is forcing the reader to think about who the “He” is referring to. In this specific context, there is a reason for it.

By writing it this way, we could make a list a mile long on the different qualities & characteristics of God. Now this is not to place where you get to define God how you see fit. He isn’t a pixy dust unicorn, or a fairy god mother, He isn’t a rock, or a tree, or the environment…Biblical qualities and characteristics of God...

Even though Paul is in prison, and the church has conflict, Paul is directing them to see that God is still in control and He will accomplish His purposes in the life of Paul, the church at Philippi, and even today in the UABC.

Beginning & Ending the Good Work

That is the grace of God. Salvation from beginning to end is God’s work.

When you learn of your sin which separates you from a relationship with God, He begins to work in your heart a longing for forgiveness. That longing leads you to Jesus for He died on the cross for the forgiveness of your sins, so that if we believe, by faith alone, in Christ alone, your sins are forgiven and we receive eternal life. That is just the beginning!

God started the work, continues the work, and will complete the work! It is a sure thing! Listen, don’t make the mistake of thinking that you are sustained and endure by your grip of God…it is rather His hold on you that will allow you to finish the race of following Jesus.

Let me ask you, has He started the good work in You? Are you in Christ? What would you say today if you stood before God and He asked you why He should let you in to heaven?

Most people will answer, “I tried to live my life right, and I was true to myself and my own truth.” “My goodness outweighs my badness...” What would you say?

I’m not confident in me. My confidence is in Christ Jesus. I trust in His death on the cross and His resurrection from the dead. I trust that He took my place, paid for my sin, and that some day He will return for me and others who trusted Him. I trust that He began a good work in my that day I trusted Him, and though I’ve done my fare share to mess up His work, He will see it through.

You can be confident that Jesus will finish what was started. Only trust Him.

The Joy of Affection

Philippians 1:7–8 CSB

7 Indeed, it is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart, and you are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how deeply I miss all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

Notice that Paul’s affection is:

Heart-felt - This isn’t sentimental token here, but genuinely Paul’s affection is heart-felt because it is based on Christ and his sacrifice for the Philippian church.

Appropriate - It is “right” or appropriate to feel this way. The struggles they shared together made this right because the Gospel was displayed through the struggle.

Christ-centered - Paul’s affection is grounded and centered in Christ. Ultimately, the affection we have for one another is based on Christ. He prayed and commanded that the church love one another.

Paul’s Prayer for the Church

Philippians 1:9–11 CSB

9 And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment, 10 so that you may approve the things that are superior and may be pure and blameless in the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.

This passage closes with one final big idea as Paul describes WHAT he prays for the Philippians. Again, forward pointing us to draw attention…THIS IS WHAT I PRAY - Pay Attention!

Pray for a Growing Love

He prays their love would abound “still more...” “keep on growing...”

Growing in Christ is like working out. The minute you stop, you begin to lose ground.

This growing love is the “agape” love we often find in the NT.

It is selfless action to benefit someone else. The perfect model is Jesus Christ who gave Himself for the sins of the world.

So Paul is praying that their Christlike attitude of self-sacrifice would continue to grow, and be demonstrated in the church.

The environment of the growing love is found in “knowledge and every kind of discernment.”

This knowledge is the recognition of the will of God which is effective in the life of the one who knows God. It is essential for the church.

For Paul, this knowledge is found in his relationship with Christ Jesus. He wants fully to “know Christ.” Phil 3:10, “My goal is to know Him...”

There is also a depth of insight.

Know Christ and understand people - love abounds

This is demonstrated by expressions in wise actions benefiting others in the church to the glory of God.

The results of a growing love, verse 10 - that you may approve the things that are superior, what is excellent …so that you are sincere and blameless at Christ’s return.

So, a growing love, fed by proper Godly knowledge and moral insight, enables you to see the best way to live in light of Christ’s approaching return.

The parable of the 10 virgins in Matthew 25 - 5 were prepared, and 5 were foolish and not ready, the others were wise...

You’ll grow in the your love for the church as you grow in your love of Jesus. It will also help you discern not what is good, but what is best.

Pray for Complete Character

Paul prays they will be complete.

He wants to see them pure and blameless.

The pathway to completeness is through Christ.

Being filled with the fruit of righteousness is the key. We cannot obtain this fruit on our own…remember it is HE who began this good work, not you or me. It is His fruit and His righteousness.

By God’s grace, through His righteousness, through faith, you live, walk, and abide with Jesus, the fruit of your life will be blameless.

To this end it is for God’s glory and praise.

GO BACK TO VERSE 6

“DEAR JESUS, I KNOW I AM A SINNER, AND I ASK YOU TO FORGIVE MY SIN. I BELIEVE YOU DIED ON THE CROSS AND THAT GOD RAISED YOU FROM THE DEAD. I TRUST AND SURRENDER TO YOU AS MY LORD AND SAVIOR. GUIDE MY LIFE AND HELP ME TO DO YOUR WILL.” AMEN

COME BACK HERE - CONCLUSION

Friends, this is my prayer for you. As I look over our short time together, we are, and will aways ben ohana in Jesus Christ. When I pray for you, I will have joy, thanksgiving, and affection in my heart. Because of the partnership we’ve shared in together for the Gospel. For your caring for me and my family. To that end, continue to press on as God works in your midst.

He is you know…at work.

I’ll conclude with these words from Paul as he finished his letter to the believers in Rome:

Romans 16:25–27 CSB

25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation about Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept silent for long ages 26 but now revealed and made known through the prophetic Scriptures, according to the command of the eternal God to advance the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles— 27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ—to him be the glory forever! Amen.