Tag Archives: I pray

PAUL’S HAPPY LETTER…PARTNERS – 3a

Bible Study, ,

“Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭3-‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Letter-writing to a group of people like the Philippians was, for Paul, pure joy. He had nothing to rebuke or correct in their behaviour or doctrine. He loved them…they loved him… and, best of all, they were partners in his mission to the world…partners, doing the work together, not passengers going along for the ride. 

In what way was the church in Philippi in partnership with Paul? 

Some were preaching the gospel in the city and region because Paul himself was in prison…restricted to a small congregation of Roman soldiers… while they were free to speak to the people around them and even further afield. This means that the gospel was being proclaimed by more than one person. Multiplied! Spreading further afield than what one person could reach. 

“And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear. It’s true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives. They preach because they love me, for they know I have been appointed to defend the Good News…But that doesn’t matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭14‬-‭16‬, ‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The fact that there were others preaching the gospel made Paul happy, whatever their motive. Why? God’s power to save is in the message itself, not in the messenger. 

“For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The Philippians also prayed for Paul. Praying for him was not incidental. It was pivotal. It was critical. Whatever his circumstances, they backed Paul up in prayer because he not only carried a vital, life-giving message to the world…but he was also vulnerable to both seen and unseen powers. Paul was aware of and valued their prayer backing as he moved from place to place, through test after test, and into one danger after another. They had his back in the very throne room of God and that mattered greatly to him. 

Then there was the matter of resources. As a free man, he was able to support himself with his hands but there, in prison, his hands were literally tied…to a Roman guard. He still had needs…covering…food and…perhaps the little extras that made his life more bearable. Yes, he had learned to take all the good and bad in his life in his stride…

“I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

One can only learn these lessons through real life experiences, not through reading books about contentment. 

But…let’s break this lesson down. 

Paul’s life in the main, from the moment of his conversion, was lived on the road. Apart from a few extended stays in one or another city, he was constantly moving from place to place. He was dependent on the goodwill of the people he knew or met for food and shelter. His circumstances were always uncertain. If he had money, he could pay his way. If he had no money, he went without. 

Paul acknowledged that his life  was full of uncertainty. How does one cope with this kind of life. One either accepts the situation and makes the best of it or one continually grumbles and is dissatisfied. Perhaps Paul began this lifestyle by complaining. We don’t know but…he had learned!

Every life lesson begins with some sort of difficulty. One must learn…either by kicking against the circumstances and, in the process, becoming resentful or bitter, eventually against God, or…one accepts the struggles as part of God’s molding process and rejoices in God’s sovereignty in all things. 

So, Paul was always on a learning curve…not only learning himself but also passing on the lessons to others by being the example…and that was a big one!

The Philippians’ generosity was not only a sacrifice of worship to the Lord…

“At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

…but it was also a sign. A sign of what? It was proof that God was doing a good work in them. God’s beginning always has an ending. 

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT

Partnership in these ways were the fruit of the gospel which showed that their faith in Christ was genuine. As James had so eloquently argued…

“You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless? So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone.”

‭‭James‬ ‭2‬:‭19‬-‭20‬, ‭24‬ ‭NLT‬‬

 Sure…good works cannot save us but…good works are the evidence that we have been saved. 

So, Paul was happy…delighted with the fellowship and faithfulness of his Philippian partners because of the real evidence that they had been transformed in the inside. 

Contentment, in the end, means that we have opened our hands and let go of every expectation, fulfilled or unfulfilled, that locks us into a certain mindset. Open-minded acceptance of all our circumstances, putting no heavy on God to do what we want, giving Him the right and freedom to be God, is one of the most liberating attitudes we can ever adopt. 

After all, whatever we may think, we have no power to control our own lives…but God does. When we drop this foolish idea, relax, and let God be God…He, not our circumstances, takes centre stage in our thoughts and in our trust…

…and that how it should always be and…that is what leads to the confidence that God will finish what He started!

To be continued

PARTNERS IN THE GOSPEL

Bible Study, ,

Philippians 1:3-6 NLT
[3] “Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. [4] Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, [5] for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. [6] And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”

Partners! I found a blog on the internet that confirms this theme in Philippians, by a blogger called Nam.

“By the way, the core message of Philippians is about partnership, not joy as I used to think.”
Nam: https://www.reconciledworld.org/partners_through_prayer

Nam’s article on “Partners Through Prayer” highlights the two-way relationship between Paul and the churches. There was a special bond between Paul and the church at Philippi because these believers partnered with him in his arduous, demandung, and often dangerous task.

Philippians 1:7-8 NLT
[7] “So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News. [8] God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus.”

I have already written about being “partners through prayer” in my series on Colossians, but it does no harm to re-emphasize this vital ministry of every church here.

Tha fact that Paul appeals for prayer for himself and his ministry in his letters should alert us to the huge part every church should and must play in the spread of the gospel.

Apart from this church being the first church he founded in Europe, it was the one church that prayed faithfully for him and also often supported him financially.

Let’s explore the meaning of this partnership and its outcomes.

1. They supported him in prayer.
Paul was conscious of his vulnerability as a contender for the truth against many enemies and humble enough to ask for help. His message angered both Jews and Gentiles. The Jews hated him because the one he preached claimed to be God (which, to them, was blasphemy), and apparently He rose from the dead, a claim they repudiated. Paul enraged the Gentiles because he presented Jesus, not Caesar, as Lord.

Paul travelled all over Europe and Asia Minor to preach to the Gentiles, putting himself and his companions in physical danger from many quarters…, physical, political, and religious.

Paul was aware of his need for support. He could not accomplish his mission alone. The Philippian
church took his call for help seriously and prayed faithfully for him.

“…Philippians 1:5 NLT
[5] for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now.”

They prayed for his safety and deliverance from his enemies.

Philippians 1:19 NLT
[19] “For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance.”

They prayed for his ministry, for clarity, boldness, and effectiveness in his preaching.

Philippians 1:7 NLT
[7] “So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News.”

They prayed for fruit…for many new believers to respond to his preaching.

Philippians 1:13-14 NLT
[13]”For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. [14] And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear.”

2. They supported him financially.

The other part of their partnership with Paul was the regulator financial support they gave him more than any other church.

Philippians 4:15-17 NLT
[15]”As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. [16] Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once. [17] I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness.”

Paul had to labour long and hard to pay his way. Imagine his gratitude when the Philippians sent him gifts of money more than once to relieve him of the burden of having to earn his living.

Acts of the Apostles 18:1-3 NLT
[1]” Then Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. [2] There he became acquainted with a Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently arrived from Italy with his wife, Priscilla. They had left Italy when Claudius Caesar deported all Jews from Rome. [3] Paul lived and worked with them, for they were tentmakers just as he was.”

To the Thessalonians, he wrote…

1 Thessalonians 2:9 NLT
[9] “Don’t you remember, dear brothers and sisters, how hard we worked among you? Night and day we toiled to earn a living so that we would not be a burden to any of you as we preached God’s Good News to you.”

Although the churches were obligated to support Paul, according to…

Galatians 6:6 NLT
[6]”Those who are taught the word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them.”

… Paul made no demands on the believers, choosing rather to earn his own living than depend on them, but grateful for the help he received through their partnership with him.

Paul testified to lessons learned through every circumstance, good or bad. He shared his experience with his beloved Philippians believers.

Philippians 4:10-14 NLT
[10] “How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. [11] Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. [12] I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. [13] For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. [14] Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.”

So, we learn from Paul’s relationship with this church that, not only did the Holy Spirit help, strengthen, and support him through their prayers, but they also provided for his financial needs by  sending money to him time and again.

It’s no wonder then, that Paul loved them so deeply, not so much because of their generosity to him but because they were involved with him in the spread of the gospel. This partnership was much more than for Paul’s benefit. This joint effort was for the kingdom of God. Thus Paul could celebrate with them the fruit of their labours as a team. To go back to our Scripture for today…

Philippians 1:5 NLT
[5]… “for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now.”

So, Paul could assure them that God would continue and complete His good work in them as they confirmed their faith by sharing their lives and love with him.

Philippians 1:6 NLT
[6]”And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”