Philippians 1:3-6
\nPreached Wednesday March 6, 2013<\/p>\n
Introduction:<\/p>\n
As we fight our way through this sin cursed world, it seems that joy can be hard to come by. Discouragement and apathy assault the mind of a believer and cause him to faint in the battlefield. Last week we discovered that Paul\u2019s letter to the Church at Philippi was written while he was in a Roman prison. We saw that in spite of Paul\u2019s bonds, this book reveals some keys to obtaining and maintaining joy in the life of a believer. The main thought of the book of Philippians is that the path to Christian joy is found though a Christ-like mindset.<\/p>\n
Chapter 1 tells us that we should have a single mine focused on the Gospel. If we are preoccupied with both the blessings of and the spreading of the Gospel, it would make sense that inner joy would be a natural result of that kind of mindset. The first thirteen verses of this chapter center around the \u201cFellowship of the Gospel\u201d. The term fellowship means a joint participation in a common interest and activity. So to fellowship with believers should be more than just having food\u2026 it is action shared to reach a common goal. The beginning of this chapter shows us that as we are single minded toward the gospel, we should be sharing together in common interest and activity of the gospel. Last week we saw that both the servants, those involved in vocational ministry, and the saints, have the same fellowship. They are united to help each other serve God and spread the Gospel through the local assembly.<\/p>\n
The path to Christian joy is found through a single mind focused on the Gospel. The best way to accomplish that is to have joint participation, fellowship, shared action around the common activity of the gospel within the local church. There are three facets of this single minded fellowship of the Gospel that we will explore in the next few weeks.<\/p>\n
\u2022\tThe fellowship of Praise \u2013 Philippians 1:3-6
\n\u2022\tThe fellowship of Grace \u2013 Philippians 1:7-7, 12-13
\n\u2022\tThe fellowship of Prayer \u2013 Philippians 1:9-11<\/p>\n
Tonight we will discover that Christian joy can be experienced as we share a single mind focused on the fellowship of Praise in the Gospel.<\/p>\n
I.\tPraise God for His personal work<\/p>\n
Philippians 1:3 (AV)
\n3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,<\/p>\n
A.\t\u201cMy God\u201d shows confidence of personal nature of Paul\u2019s relationship with God.<\/p>\n
Philippians 4:19 (AV)
\n19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.<\/p>\n
Romans 1:8 (AV)
\n8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.<\/p>\n
1 Corinthians 1:4 (AV)
\n4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;<\/p>\n
B.\tEvery time the saints are remembered, their individual stories drive Paul to pray. All saints share miraculous stories of praise.<\/p>\n
1.\tTheir state before salvation
\n2.\tThe way God orchestrated the gospel presentation. John 6:44
\n3.\tThe way God opened their eyes.
\n4.\tThe way God started to develop signs of spiritual life within them.
\n5.\tThe implications of their spiritual development.
\n6.\tGod\u2019s design placing them as a perfect fit within the Body of the local church.<\/p>\n
II.\tPraise God for the privilege of interceding for the saints.<\/p>\n
Philippians 1:4 (AV)
\n4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,<\/p>\n
A.\tHe can pray for the sheep like Jesus did.<\/p>\n
John 17:9\u201310 (AV)
\n9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. 10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.<\/p>\n
B.\tHe can pray knowing that God already has a plan for His saints.<\/p>\n
Romans 8:29 (AV)
\n29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.<\/p>\n
James 5:14\u201316 (AV)
\n14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. 16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.<\/p>\n
III.\tPraise God for the fellowship of the Gospel<\/p>\n
Philippians 1:5 (AV)
\n5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;<\/p>\n
A.\tFellowship \u2013 joint participation in a common activity<\/p>\n
B.\tThe single minded focus is the Gospel and all the action that surrounds the Gospel.<\/p>\n
C.\tThe Philippians had been helping Paul do the work of the Gospel.<\/p>\n
Acts 16:15 (AV)
\n15 And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.<\/p>\n
Philippians 4:10 (AV)
\n10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.<\/p>\n
Philippians 4:15 – 16 (AV)
\n15 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. 16 For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.<\/p>\n
IV.\tPraise God for the confidence we can have in His work.<\/p>\n
Philippians 1:6 (AV)
\n6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:<\/p>\n
A.\tConfident = a settled persuasion<\/p>\n
B.\tThe work that God did to reach the saint will continue to protect and perfect the saint. Salvation is up to God\u2019s work not our perserverence.<\/p>\n
C.\tThe Day of Jesus Christ = the rapture<\/p>\n
1 John 3:2 (AV)
\n2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Philippians 1:3-6 Preached Wednesday March 6, 2013 Introduction: As we fight our way through this sin cursed world, it seems that joy can be hard to come by. Discouragement and apathy assault the mind of a believer and cause him to faint in the battlefield. Last week we discovered that Paul\u2019s letter to the Church … Continue reading The Fellowship of Praise<\/span>