Philippians 1 verses 3/11

This passage of Scripture is the Epistle for Sunday.

The chief theme of this Letter is encouragement.  Paul wants the Philippians to live out their lives as citizens of a heavenly like colony, as evidenced by a growing commitment of service to God and to one another, amidst an unholy environment in an area we know as Macedonia.  This Church was special to Paul, in that this was the first Church he founded, and now he is writing to them from a prison cell.

There is Christian joy, which the Letter portrays.  In this passage we see an emphasis on joy, so much it has been termed as the Epistle of joy.

He begins with the joy of Christian prayer, bringing those we love, to the mercy seat of God.

There is the joy that Jesus Christ preached. When a man enjoys a great blessing, his first effort is to share it, and there is the joy that the gospel is being preached across the world.

There is the joy of faith. If Christianity does not make a person happy, it will not make them happy at all.

There is the joy of seeing Christians in fellowship. There is no peace for anyone in a broken relationship.  Only in Christ can there be the happiness of perfect relationships.

There is joy in the news of the loved one.  Life is full of separations, and there is joy when we hear of them coming to see us.

There is the joy of suffering for Christ. A privilege, for it is an opportunity to show beyond all doubt, our loyalty. and we are able to keep the rebuilding of the Kingdom f God.

There is the joy of Christian hospitality.  There is the closed door and the open door, where there is a welcome  to let a friend know they are still loved.

There is joy of the man (woman) in Christ. We have already seen that to be in Christ, is to live in  His presence, and human nature to be happy, when we are with a Christian whose friendship is valued by us

There is joy for the man(woman)who has won one soul for Christ.  The Philippians were Paul’s joy and crown, for he was the one to bring them to Christ,  the joy is more, with one knowing they have made someone to be a fellow Christian.  I, with fellow Ministers of the gospel, have the joy of looking back with fond remembrance, of those we had the privilege of making them Christians.

He begins by expressing his gratitude and affection for them, followed by praying their holiness would increase. Along with Timothy, he gives the standard greeting of Christians, that of grace. And calls himself a servant.

 

Paul found joy in the Church, a theme which runs through the Letter despite, the fact that it can be sometimes a heartache; which is the reality of any Church.  The Church was his life, as it has been mine for many years and I love the Church, and now without having the responsibilities of a parish, I have the added joy of going to so many lovely Churches.

Paul had visited Philippi some years before writing this Letter, and had preached the gospel, and brought many to faith in Christ Jesus.  They had supported him financially, and after a period had elapsed, had sent him another gift which caused this response.

We live in a far different world, but the essential doctrines of the Church are the same, which indicates that this Letter speaks clearly to us and we can learn from it what makes Christianity distinctive from other faiths.

The foundation for spiritual growth is to recognise that it is God who calls us, and spiritual progress depends on what God does.  God is faithful and promises believers He will be with us until Jesus returns.  Paul is confident that God is at work in their Church because He always finishes that which He creates.

There are times in a Church when you feel God at work, but this has to be recognised.  Just as some people will go to a building site and see a mass of rubble, others will recognise a building under construction.  We have to be conscious of God’s presence and respond.

In verses 7/8 Paul speaks of loving this Church and having it on his heart.  He longs to see them and of all the Churches this was his particular one, the one he is most fond of, probably because it was his first founding Church. 

I can understand his feelings.  I now visit a lot of Churches, and whilst I enjoy going to all of them, there is one I love being placed at above all others.  The reception I get probably appeals in a way it shouldn’t, and to be told how the people appreciate traditional Bible preaching, makes all the preparation feel worthy, but most of all we believe in the same doctrines of faith.

Paul was passionate about gospel partners.  There was a bond, and whilst he could have reminded them of many things, what excited him was their partnership in the gospel.  There is one thing in coming to Church, and yet another to let the Church into your heart.  Paul is telling us it is a whole hearted commitment to living and telling the truth; to have a 100% commitment to the work of fellowship in the family of the Church, and you give yourself fully.

Paul likened the Church to a body, when one part is hurt it is felt right through one’s system.  We feel the same when a member of the Church acts in a way which is detrimental to the faith, for it rebounds on the wider Church.  We have seen how one denomination behaves in a way which is contrary to Scripture and receives massive publicity, which is then attached to other more faithful Churches.

There is a call to see one another as a family related in a different way to our biological family.  We may not have the same genes, but we have the same grace.  We trust in Jesus, and His death on the Cross assures us we are sinners forgiven with a promise of eternal salvation.

In he final verses of this passage Paul tells them he is praying for them and for what is best for them.  We should all do this for our own particular Church, and seek God’s will for us and not that of the most vociferous member.

It is difficult at this time with a shortage of  preachers. A Church needs a consistent message which it cannot get if it is receiving a variety of preachers.  One week there is a preacher with an evangelical message, the next week there is liable to be one with a totally different belief, where the connection with Scripture is purely coincidental.  This was a weakness Charles Wesley noted with an itinerant ministry and w as against it.

Paul prays for an abounding love which can overflow to others.  This does not mean sentimentalism or emotionalism. And also calls for excellence in the Church.  A| Church should delight at being known as place where the gospel is boldly and faithfully preached. 

This longing for Churches with a bible message has led to such disappointment and concern amongst Methodists, once a strong evangelical movement, now betraying their founder who preached a completely different message regarding marriage. John Wesley firmly taught marriage was one man and one woman, and would feel shocked, that the decision was carried to have same sex partners receiving a marriage ceremony, especially as each member was not consulted on this occasion as it was when first raised two years previously, and clearly rejected.  Obviously no chances were to be given members a second time.

We should aim to have the kind of life depicted by Paul, and stand out in the world as place which has something special to offer, rather than a community centre with a religious flavour. 

Most of all we should avoid trying to imitate society and adopt its practices; the first Christians conquered just by being Christians.  Unless we observe Biblical conditions we will never experience the blessings.

My God bless you and be with you.