A Sweet Partnership on a Strong Foundation
Philippians 1:3-11
Kids: A Friend of Jesus is a Friend of Mine
Paul is in jail, many friends have left him. What a miserable place!
What brings him joy? He had friends from Philippi. They brought joy to Paul.
What did he really like about the Philippians? Why do we like our friends? Not that they had neat toys or shared their snacks or were good at sport or were funny.
They loved Jesus. Paul loved Jesus and the Philippians loved Jesus. So they wanted to help each other and let others know about Jesus too. The Philippians sent a friend with some money. Paul prayed for the Philippians and sent them a very kind letter telling them thank you and how he loved them.
They had a special relationship because they both loved Jesus. That’s what keeps Christians together. I love Jesus and you love Jesus. That means we can be friends.
I visited Kenya and found people who really love Jesus. I visited Chicago and found people who love Jesus. I visited other churches and found people who love Jesus. For Paul, he says, then we can be friends because I love Jesus too. You believe Jesus loves us and forgives our sins? So do I. You believe Jesus answers your prayers and takes care of you? So do I! You think Jesus is super, awesome, powerful, loving? So do I! Together, we say, Jesus, you’re awesome! We can love Jesus together, and as we do, we have a reason to love one another too.
Happy Father’s Day
To the fathers, let me encourage you. We may not all be perfect, but we have an amazing privilege and responsibility to lead our children and our families in a God-ward direction. Maybe we don’t always feel the encouragement and support to do this, but today we celebrate you.
Paul is in Rome, in jail. It seems that when the Philippians heard that Paul was in prison, they sent him some money with Epaphriditus. Paul wants encourage them as they also face persecution, give some instructions, and thank them for their gift.
One thing that stands out in our passage today is how much Paul loved the Philippians. They were a source of great joy and an object of deep affection.
I thank God every time I remember you, When I pray for you, it gives me joy, I hold you in my heart, God knows how I yearn for you with the affection of Christ.
This passage oozes with warmth and affection. Paul cares for them, yearns for them, prays for them, and when he prays for them, he finds joy and thankfulness. You get a sense that the Philippians had a very special place in Paul’s heart, and they enjoyed a special friendship.
Humanly speaking: Paul is in prison, many have deserted him. Some are slandering, attacking him. Some are jealous and intentionally trying to stir up trouble for Paul while he is in jail. He’s attacked, abandoned and alone. Ever been there? People have misunderstood and unfairly slandered. People who you might have thought would be there for you have abandoned you, in prison. Humanly speaking, that must feel pretty miserable. But in this time, an old friend visits on behalf of his community bringing needed money. You can imagine how much that may have meant to Paul.
If we asked Paul why he loved the Philippians so much, well, he tell us himself in vs. 5.Why does Paul gives thanks and find joy in his prayer for the Philippians?
Because of their Partnership in the Gospel. Not just their partnership, but their long history of partnership in the gospel, a history that started from the very beginning and continues to the present.
Notice also v. 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. (Philippians 1:7)
The Philippians share in this grace with Paul, the grace/gift of imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.
Paul is thankful for their partnership in the gospel. Paul is passionate about the gospel. He has given his life to proclaiming the gospel, writes letters explaining and defending the gospel, and is now in chains because of the gospel. Paul gets most excited when he’s talking about the gospel and most upset when that gospel is threatened or compromised.
He sees in the Philippians a common passion. They also are living out the gospel and are partnering with him in his gospel ministry.
Friendships share a common interest or passion. Some enjoy tennis, golf, or fantasy football or the Eagles. Some enjoy making music or eating food or talking. Some have kids the same age.
Years ago I bought my stereo and after some research bought Klipsch speakers. At the time, it was a pretty big deal for me: I had always wanted to buy a stereo and always in particular wanted a nice set of speakers. Then I found out church member who was into stereos and also had Klipsch speakers, and we felt this connection in Klipsch speakers.
For Paul and the Philippians, it’s the gospel. That was their connection.
It is our vision to be gospel-spreading movement. We have a passion for the gospel, the good news of who Christ is and all that He’s done. We believe this message and this person is at the core of starting the Christian life and living the Christian life; at the core of transforming relationships and our work/play/finances/marriages/parenting, etc. Everything else falls into place when Christ and the gospel are at the center.
This isn’t something that Dave and I can do by the 2 of us. We need a team, a body, we need partners in the gospel. What a joy and treasure to have real partners.
We believe a deep, affectionate, thankful, joyful friendship can emerge as we partner together for something greater than ourselves. We want to see that kind of deep and authentic community that Paul enjoyed with the Philippians, not because we have kids the same age or both like Klispch speakers, but because we’re both laboring and partnering for the gospel and we so appreciate the common passion. We’ve got each other’s back. We’ll spur each other on. We’ll carry each other’s burdens.
In what ways have the Philippians been partners in the gospel?
A. Financial giving.
Paul is thankful for this recent gift, but he also points out how they have a history of giving.
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. Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. (Philippians 4:15-16)
Financial giving helped Paul to go about his gospel ministry. Paul called this partnership. I think Paul recognized that with the money also came their hearts. It was heart partnership expressed in tangible gifts. They put their money where their mouth is.
B. Blameless lives.
In this letter Paul sees and urges the Philippians to live blameless lives that display the gospel.
Paul’s prayer at the end of our passage today is so that
so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:10-11)
Paul urges the Philippians to live a life worthy of the gospel, united, striving for the faith of the gospel.
Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel (Philippians 1:27)
Paul urges them to be blameless and innocent, that they may shine like lights in the world.
that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life (Philippians 2:14-15)
Paul sees their pure, blameless, innocent, filled with righteousness lives as a witness, a testimony. It is not that we all try really hard to be good people. It is that having Jesus produces a fruit of righteousness (1:10-11), which then validates, testifies to the truth and power of the gospel, and all the glory and praise goes to God. The light shines.
C. Verbal proclamation.
Tell people about Jesus. Interestingly, Paul doesn’t specifically mention this about the Philippians. Maybe it is presumed that the Philippians did this (too obvious?). Maybe Paul understood this as one of his primary roles (in the next paragraph Paul mentions how he has been able to share the gospel with the guards).
I want to just state the obvious. Gospel partnership would involve telling people about the hope that we have, the love we’ve found, the riches we’ve gained, the Savior we’ve met. We actively partner in trying to spread the message.
Let me encourage us toward gospel partnership:
A. Financial giving. Humanly speaking, your giving makes having staff, facilities, events, mission trips possible. Give, not just out of obligation or duty. Give out of a sense of partnership. We’re sharing our resources, on the same team, working together to see a gospel-spreading work in KOP.
B. Blameless lives. Seek the gospel transformation for yourself. Join a CG and pursue more deeply in your own life the freedom, joy, love and hope that comes from the gospel. It’s really hard to share what we don’t have ourselves. May our lives be a testimony, a light that shines. Desire to be a shining light.
C. Let’s tell others. Let’s partner together in spreading the good news. One real practical way we see this happening is we want Renewal to be a place where you can invite your CCNF’s (July 3 picnic). We want to partner, work together toward the same goal of seeing lives transformed and God glorified through the gospel of Jesus.
A Gospel Foundation
The joy, thankfulness, confidence and love Paul had for the Philippians were built on a foundation. Where did all this come from? The phrase I use with my kids is, “God is the hero.” That’s what we see here. Beneath the joy, love and confidence, God is the real hero.
Notice v. 5. Paul is joyful and thankful for their partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. They’ve been partnering in the gospel in the past. They’ve been partnering in the gospel in the present.
Then Paul says (v. 6), God who began a good work will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. In this context, it seems Paul is saying
A. The partnership in the gospel past and present will continue into the future. This gospel partnership is the good work begun in them.
B. This gospel partnership is a work of God. God began it and God will complete it. Paul’s confidence is not so much in the Philippians but in God and what Paul recognizes as how God is working.
Paul sees God is the hero. God is the agent. As we mentioned in our study in Proverbs, it matters little what we do. It matters a whole lot more what God does. Paul sees God working in and through the Philippians, and that gives him deep confidence. “God’s using you in gospel ministry.”
A. God will complete His work, and so we can have confidence.
Where do you see God working? What is the work He has begun? Our confidence is not in talented or well-intended people. If God is the one working, our confidence is in Him.
Every truly effective ministry, every genuine salvation story is a miracle, a work of God. If you recognize God is doing something (your life, others; salvation, true transformation), recognize He has a plan, a purpose, and He will see it through. God doesn’t mess-up, fail or quit. God doesn’t get tired or overwhelmed or lazy. God will finish what He has begun. That is our confidence.
Janette homeschools our kids. Our eldest is 8, but I remember how excited we were when he first began learning how to read. We celebrated each step along the way. I’d say, Elijah, wow, you’re such a good reader! And Janette would add, “It’s also because he has such a good teacher.” She’s right. Parents, we care a lot about our kids getting good teachers.
You have an amazing teacher. Although we often do not understand, He is perfect in what He does. He also produces great students. We are God’s workmanship. He always makes top-of-the-line stuff. He’s a Michelangelo, a Mozart. We may not look like much now. We’re all “still in school,” “still under construction,” but this is your confidence, not that you’re so smart, but that your teacher is that good.
And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. (Romans 8:30)
God will take a sinner and make him/her gloriously Christlike. God is going to finish what He has begun. Paul saw that God was working in and through the Philippians. Where God is working, you can find deep confidence
In v. 8 Paul says he yearns for them with the affection of Christ.
He loves them, yearns for them, but he recognizes this is not his own love. He’s feeling the love Christ has for them. He’s saying he loves them, but he’s also saying Jesus loves them (and he feels how much Jesus loves them).
B. God loves his people, and we get to experience it.
Have you felt that? Not just that you love someone, but you feel God’s love for someone?
I remember speaking at different retreats and praying with people I had just met. And for some reason, my heart went out to them. I didn’t completely know why. I felt, as it were, love that didn’t come from me. “Man, I think God loves you, and I feel it.” Sometimes we get to feel it.
And sometimes we’re on the other side of that. Some times we feel God’s love for us through the love of someone else. I’m sure that’s what happened for the Philippians. They felt all the more loved by God as Paul expressed that love to them.
I recently have been really encouraged by a few friends who were there for me, who showed me love and concern and support. Their kindness proved to me not just that they loved me, but that God loved me. It wasn’t just about a kind friend. God was giving me what I needed when I needed it. They were evidences of God’s faithfulness.
God loves His people and we get to be a part of that. We get to feel His love for others, and we get to feel His love through others. That’s the Gospel foundation, the Gospel perspective, that God is the big lover. God loves His people. God is the hero. And that changes our perspective and our lives.
As we experience the hope and confidence that God is going to do His thing and bring it to completion, as we experience His love poured out for others and through others to us, we grow in our passion for Christ and for the gospel. We get excited about Jesus. We become partners for the gospel: our lives are changed and shine as a testimony of His love and power, we’re willing to give our money to advance the gospel, and we actively partner in spreading the good news.