I Thank My God! - Philippians 1:1-8
I Thank My God! - Philippians 1:1-8
By Pastor Lee Hemen
February 15, 2009 AM
I have attended many memorial services for folks over the years where people stand and share about how they were thankful for the person they came to remember and how that person had impacted their life with their presence. As I have sat in these services over the years I have often begin to wonder how many who have come could boldly stand and publicly declare their thanks for the Lord Jesus Christ in their lives? Could they stand and thank those who were dynamic witnesses for the Lord? What many in these crowds do not understand fully is the reality of the graciousness of God in their lives whether they believe in His Son or not. Paul understood this. He knew where he had come from and he knew what God had done in his life because of Jesus. He could confidently write or stand in the front of strangers and boldly declare, “I thank my God!” Can you?
On his second missionary travels Paul came through Philippi and had won several people to faith in Christ. From a woman named Lydia, “a dealer in purple cloth” to a jailer and his family, Paul had publicly proclaimed his faith. Because of this, a small group of believers formed a church there and it became a “joy” and personal blessing to the Apostle throughout his life. He “thanked God” for them. Why? Let’s discover this morning how each believer can become the kind of person whereby others would be willing to stand up and bear witness and say, “I thank my God” for you.
READ: Philippians 1:1-8
There is nothing like being able to depend upon someone whom we can trust in completely with our concerns in life. Someone whom we know will pull for us and always stand by our side in the good times and the bad times. A partner for life. Fellow Christians are to be these kind of people as well. People in whom we as believers can “thank God” for in any situation. Sadly, far too often this may not always be the case. Paul therefore reminds us to…
I. Thank God for those who partner in the Gospel! (Vv. 3-5)
1. Birds of a feather flock together! Christians will associate with one another for the sake of the Gospel message. Paul pauses in the opening sentences of his personal letter to dramatically write, “I thank my God every time I remember you.” (V. 1:3) “Every time” he remembered them? Wow! How could he write such a thing to them? Would someone say this about us? Paul sincerely thought about them “because of [their] partnership in the gospel from the first day [he began to preach it] until now.” He remembered them in “all” his “prayers,” and when he was reminded of them he “always prayed with joy” when he did! Their partnership had created a strong bond of fellowship and love between Paul and this little church. When others did not support Paul, they did, and not just with mere words! This is the Gospel message as well. It creates a new sense of community in the body of Christ that is both sacred and special. What Ananias and Sapphira could not buy, and died because of their unrepentant lie for (Acts 5:1-10), true followers of the Gospel share in. Paul would write that Christians should never forget that “Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now He has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.” (Colossians 1:21-23) When you pray what partner in the Gospel do you thank God for?
EXAMPLE: Have you seen the huge flocks of starlings that flock together? They do this only when they are not individually mating, but will join up together even afterwards for protection. They will fight off threats together, but they also intrinsically know that if there are large numbers of them then a predator is more likely to go after a weaker one or one that straggles. Why is it then that Christians are often willing to throw one another under the bus, so-to-speak, rather than rally around each other during times of need? We forget that if one stumbles in the body of Christ, it affects all of us. If you sprained your leg would you cut it off because it needs attention? Rather than cutting of the offending appendage, should we not rather try to wrap it, heal it, and bring it back to health in the body it belongs to? Paul would write, “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.” (Romans 12:10) He stressed this attitude throughout his letters. Paul passionately remembered the Philippian church with joy because of their partnership in the Gospel. We are to thank God for those who partner in the Gospel!
Do you have friends who will always say good things about you even when you are not around? Christians are called to “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32) Yet we easily forget this when we begin to stab at the sliver in another’s eye while we ignore the piece of lumber sticking out of our own. It then begs the question: Are there others who would “thank my God” for you? Paul reminds us to…
II. Thank God for those who proclaim the Gospel! (Vv. 6-8)
1. The Gospel knows no boundaries! Paul was “confident” that the same God who [had] began a good work in [every Christian would] carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus”! The proclamation of the Gospel began with Jesus but continued in those who trusted in Him by faith! Peter remind us: “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” (1 Peter 3:15) Paul would tell his fellow Christians: “I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.” (Acts 20:24) Proclamation of the Gospel message is the most essential communication people can hear! It is a matter of life or death! Paul would write the Philippians that “It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart.” He could feel a special connection to the Philippian church because of the Gospel they both shared in and that they willingly shared with others. Paul reminded them that “whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me.” Did you know that this is true for those we support on the mission field? It is true! The writer of Hebrews would use some great language about this when he wrote, “Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.” (Hebrews 3:1) Holy brothers? Heavenly calling? YES! All Christians share in the heavenly calling of proclaiming the Gospel! The Philippians had joined Paul in proclaiming the gospel and they shared in all his troubles and persecutions they had made it a common cause with him, so it followed that they would also share the same blessings from God for doing so! Paul thanked God for those who proclaimed the Gospel with him.
EXAMPLE: I will never forget the huge hug I received from a Korean pastor. Usually Koreans are like other Asians in that they are more reserved when meeting people for the first time, but he quickly explained to me why he was so happy to see me: “We share the same Gospel!” And isn’t this what the life of a church and the individual Christian is to be about? When I attended seminary this hit home in a dramatic way because in several of my classes there were men from Libya, Kenya, Korea, China, Japan, Romania, Russia, Canada, the Philippines, America Samoa, Guatemala, Ecuador, Costa Rica, and Mexico! We all shared in the same Gospel! And isn’t this true as well for each of us who have trusted Jesus Christ this morning? Those who have placed their faith in Him? Young or old, male or female, single or married, and no matter our ethnicity? YES! Paul was passionate for the Gospel’s sake and so should we be as well. Thank God for those who proclaim the Gospel!
Conclusion:
As we walk in the Lord we need to thank God for those who partner in the Gospel and we need to thank God for those who proclaim the Gospel!
----
This article is copyrighted © 2009 by Lee Hemen and if you reprint it, reproduce it, or want to use it in any way, you must do so in its entirety or get the written permission of its author.
By Pastor Lee Hemen
February 15, 2009 AM
I have attended many memorial services for folks over the years where people stand and share about how they were thankful for the person they came to remember and how that person had impacted their life with their presence. As I have sat in these services over the years I have often begin to wonder how many who have come could boldly stand and publicly declare their thanks for the Lord Jesus Christ in their lives? Could they stand and thank those who were dynamic witnesses for the Lord? What many in these crowds do not understand fully is the reality of the graciousness of God in their lives whether they believe in His Son or not. Paul understood this. He knew where he had come from and he knew what God had done in his life because of Jesus. He could confidently write or stand in the front of strangers and boldly declare, “I thank my God!” Can you?
On his second missionary travels Paul came through Philippi and had won several people to faith in Christ. From a woman named Lydia, “a dealer in purple cloth” to a jailer and his family, Paul had publicly proclaimed his faith. Because of this, a small group of believers formed a church there and it became a “joy” and personal blessing to the Apostle throughout his life. He “thanked God” for them. Why? Let’s discover this morning how each believer can become the kind of person whereby others would be willing to stand up and bear witness and say, “I thank my God” for you.
READ: Philippians 1:1-8
There is nothing like being able to depend upon someone whom we can trust in completely with our concerns in life. Someone whom we know will pull for us and always stand by our side in the good times and the bad times. A partner for life. Fellow Christians are to be these kind of people as well. People in whom we as believers can “thank God” for in any situation. Sadly, far too often this may not always be the case. Paul therefore reminds us to…
I. Thank God for those who partner in the Gospel! (Vv. 3-5)
1. Birds of a feather flock together! Christians will associate with one another for the sake of the Gospel message. Paul pauses in the opening sentences of his personal letter to dramatically write, “I thank my God every time I remember you.” (V. 1:3) “Every time” he remembered them? Wow! How could he write such a thing to them? Would someone say this about us? Paul sincerely thought about them “because of [their] partnership in the gospel from the first day [he began to preach it] until now.” He remembered them in “all” his “prayers,” and when he was reminded of them he “always prayed with joy” when he did! Their partnership had created a strong bond of fellowship and love between Paul and this little church. When others did not support Paul, they did, and not just with mere words! This is the Gospel message as well. It creates a new sense of community in the body of Christ that is both sacred and special. What Ananias and Sapphira could not buy, and died because of their unrepentant lie for (Acts 5:1-10), true followers of the Gospel share in. Paul would write that Christians should never forget that “Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now He has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.” (Colossians 1:21-23) When you pray what partner in the Gospel do you thank God for?
EXAMPLE: Have you seen the huge flocks of starlings that flock together? They do this only when they are not individually mating, but will join up together even afterwards for protection. They will fight off threats together, but they also intrinsically know that if there are large numbers of them then a predator is more likely to go after a weaker one or one that straggles. Why is it then that Christians are often willing to throw one another under the bus, so-to-speak, rather than rally around each other during times of need? We forget that if one stumbles in the body of Christ, it affects all of us. If you sprained your leg would you cut it off because it needs attention? Rather than cutting of the offending appendage, should we not rather try to wrap it, heal it, and bring it back to health in the body it belongs to? Paul would write, “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.” (Romans 12:10) He stressed this attitude throughout his letters. Paul passionately remembered the Philippian church with joy because of their partnership in the Gospel. We are to thank God for those who partner in the Gospel!
Do you have friends who will always say good things about you even when you are not around? Christians are called to “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32) Yet we easily forget this when we begin to stab at the sliver in another’s eye while we ignore the piece of lumber sticking out of our own. It then begs the question: Are there others who would “thank my God” for you? Paul reminds us to…
II. Thank God for those who proclaim the Gospel! (Vv. 6-8)
1. The Gospel knows no boundaries! Paul was “confident” that the same God who [had] began a good work in [every Christian would] carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus”! The proclamation of the Gospel began with Jesus but continued in those who trusted in Him by faith! Peter remind us: “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” (1 Peter 3:15) Paul would tell his fellow Christians: “I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.” (Acts 20:24) Proclamation of the Gospel message is the most essential communication people can hear! It is a matter of life or death! Paul would write the Philippians that “It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart.” He could feel a special connection to the Philippian church because of the Gospel they both shared in and that they willingly shared with others. Paul reminded them that “whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me.” Did you know that this is true for those we support on the mission field? It is true! The writer of Hebrews would use some great language about this when he wrote, “Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.” (Hebrews 3:1) Holy brothers? Heavenly calling? YES! All Christians share in the heavenly calling of proclaiming the Gospel! The Philippians had joined Paul in proclaiming the gospel and they shared in all his troubles and persecutions they had made it a common cause with him, so it followed that they would also share the same blessings from God for doing so! Paul thanked God for those who proclaimed the Gospel with him.
EXAMPLE: I will never forget the huge hug I received from a Korean pastor. Usually Koreans are like other Asians in that they are more reserved when meeting people for the first time, but he quickly explained to me why he was so happy to see me: “We share the same Gospel!” And isn’t this what the life of a church and the individual Christian is to be about? When I attended seminary this hit home in a dramatic way because in several of my classes there were men from Libya, Kenya, Korea, China, Japan, Romania, Russia, Canada, the Philippines, America Samoa, Guatemala, Ecuador, Costa Rica, and Mexico! We all shared in the same Gospel! And isn’t this true as well for each of us who have trusted Jesus Christ this morning? Those who have placed their faith in Him? Young or old, male or female, single or married, and no matter our ethnicity? YES! Paul was passionate for the Gospel’s sake and so should we be as well. Thank God for those who proclaim the Gospel!
Conclusion:
As we walk in the Lord we need to thank God for those who partner in the Gospel and we need to thank God for those who proclaim the Gospel!
----
This article is copyrighted © 2009 by Lee Hemen and if you reprint it, reproduce it, or want to use it in any way, you must do so in its entirety or get the written permission of its author.
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