Culver Community Church
Pastor Chris Sweeney
Sermon Notes
January 12, 2020
How You Make Me Feel (Philippians 1:3-11)
{vs. 3-6} Now as we noted, Paul switches from the plural used in the address heading to the singular “I”, in the main body of the letter. There is no titles or claiming authority – just a simple, direct letter from a spiritual father to those he loves.
I thank God – remember the main reason for this letter is Paul’s thankfulness for their sending Epaphroditus and for their gift. However, instead of thanking them directly - - - Paul first and foremost gives God the praise and glory! Paul thanks God for this reason but also for much more! He praises God “every time I remember you”! How wonderful it must be to have someone remembering and thinking of you and before the thought passes - - - he gets down on his knees and prays! Now you might tell me that Paul has some free time on his hands, being under house arrest – and that is true. We might think that he is reminiscing about the churches, reading the Word, praying and praising God simply because he’s trapped and has nothing else to do – but not so! Paul’s letters show a consistent pattern of remembering the believers and bringing them before the throne of God – both in the prison epistles and his other letters!
Paul is essentially saying, “The thought of you brings me joy and I get down on my knees and pray!” There are some people who naturally bring us joy when we see or think of them: our spouses (if we’re in right relationship with them), our children or grandchildren, life-long friends, etc. That is the kind of loving relationship that Paul had with these spiritual children and brothers/sisters in Christ. He remembers Lydia and how she took them in before anyone else believed. The jailor who almost committed suicide and who tended to Paul and Silas’ wounds comes to mind. He and his whole household came to faith. The once demon possessed slave girl, now in her right mind, she must have become part of this thriving church and so many other faces and stories, too! Even so far away, even when he in chains they bring him joy. And because of that love, he thanks and praises God.
He also remembers that they are consistent partners in this work with him – he is not in this alone! When we get tricked into being isolated by the enemy, into thinking that “I’m the only one” – that’s when doubt and despair seize our hearts! God never leaves us along, but more than that – He also puts us into communities so that we always have partners like these! Let us truly connect, not forsaking the gathering together of the saints (remember, that’s you and me!) We are the body of Christ (singular) – not the bodies (plural) of Christ! How well are you and I interacting with the other cells in the body? Do we think of them, pray for them and even support them? Or is it easy to skip weeks (and weeks) of fellowship and not even notice what we’re missing? I pray not!
This type of remembrance is also important for our prayers! We are often tempted to become completely wrapped up in our own lives and our own needs but God calls us to live in community! When we become totally inward focused, it leads to needy/greedy prayers – God give, God bless, God heal, God save - - - all followed by me or my! Far too often, this is just selfishness or sin! Don’t get me wrong – God loves you dearly (more than you can understand!). He wants to hear our every thought and He longs to be compassionate to us when we express our fears, desires and pains. However, that’s not a balanced relationship! When all we ever communicate is I want and I need – it’s a relationship that is some type of cross between a genie and a therapist! More than that, how can God answer our prayers when they all come from a selfish, sinful heart? “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of Him.” (1 John 5:14-15 NIV) Notice that it says ‘according to His will’ and not if we ask for anything that we (individually) want! While it’s hard to have God’s will and perspective when asking for things for ourselves - - - it’s much easier when asking for others! When we have some distance and freedom from the emotions that cloud our minds and prayers – we can pray for God’s will, that He will bless others in the right way, the God honoring and glorifying way that builds them up as people and not spoils them or leads them into temptations! And when we do this correctly, it works because I will pray for you and you can pray for me - - - and God will hear us because those prayers are according to His will!
‘being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.’ – this, in context is about the overall work that God is doing. Primarily, that’s His work of Salvation! Remember that God’s salvation comes in three parts.
1. Justification – that’s once, at the point of what we call salvation. We repent and give our life to Jesus and He wipes away all records of our sins – just as if they never were committed.
2. Sanctification – that’s the on-going work of changing us from the inside out. The Holy Spirit begins to change our hearts and make us practically holy (saints in action)! This work continues from the day we’re ‘saved’ until we go home to see Him.
3. Glorification – this is the yet to come, what we long for! When the Lord takes our spirits and unites them with a resurrection body, free from sin, sorrow and pain. That is when we’ll no longer struggle with the old sin nature, the wretched body of death that gives us grief here.
So this work of ‘salvation’ continues in our lives, each and every day! If God is not sanctifying you and me today, if we’re not moving forward (heavenward), then we’re falling behind or backsliding away. God is working all these things out in our lives, sometimes with our willing cooperation and yes, sometimes dragging us along kicking all the way. This applies to every aspect of our spiritual lives – including our love for each other, our fellowship, our prayers, etc. So when Paul prays this with confidence – he is saying, “I know that God is answering my prayers, that He is continuing the ‘good work’ that I’ve seen Him doing in your lives!”
{vs. 7-8} Paul's thankfulness, joy, and desire to pray for the Philippians was right, because they stood beside him in his trials for the gospel, and they received the same grace he did. He longs to have them with him so that they may also share in the affection (the love) of Jesus – if it is this strong, so many, many miles away - - - can you imagine a physical reunion? Paul was – later in the letter, he would tell them he wants to send Timothy, and then he wants to follow behind him!
{vs. 9-11} Now just in case you were wondering, let me (Paul) tell you what I pray!
· that your love may abound - the Philippians had a lot of love, and they showed it to Paul (and Paul toward them). But Paul didn't hesitate to pray that their love would abound still more and more. It doesn't matter how much love for others we have; we can still love more! God’s love is infinite and we are growing into loving like Him!
· in knowledge and depth of insight – this love is not some dumb or sappy love! Paul wants them to be spiritually discerning, wise and full of understanding. This love does not just feel but it does what is best for the ones loved. It is pure, not mixed, the good with the bad! So many today have sappy love that gives without thinking of the consequences. They do what seems right (instinctively) but end up hurting those they love!
· filled with the fruit of righteousness – fruit here is action, Paul is praying for righteous (moral, honorable, upright) love that brings God (not you) glory and praise! In other words it is for the good of God’s kingdom and the people loved!
How many of us pray like that? Be honest - we don’t (not naturally). When we pray for someone we pray “bless them”, “give them”, “heal them” or maybe “thy will be done” (not in a good way but as cop out!) Paul prays not for their comfort but that they may love more, love wise (Godly) and love in purity of action!
Knowing all of this, I want to leave us with a homework assignment. We’re going to begin to pray like Paul. First pray for the collective fellowship, pray for our church - - - pray for growth, for God’s will, for opportunities to serve Christ and yes, for His blessings. Then start praying for individuals – our brothers and sisters. So, find someone – a person who the very thought of, brings you joy. If you don’t have someone, pick a person and begin to set up that relationship! Ask them “How can I pray for you?” and “What is God doing in your life?” Then agree to pray (at every remembrance) this week – focus not on your own needs but on the needs of the Body of Christ and pray, so that God will answer and so that we will find the same joy that Paul had for the Philippians!