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FELLOWSHIP IN THE GOSPEL

Paul’s letter to the Philippian church reflects a spirit of joy. It is not surprising that the Philippian believers brought joy to Paul’s heart. For years they had demonstrated their love for him with support through their prayers and finances. Paul and the Philippian believers were partners in the Gospel. As powerful and joyful as this partnership was, Paul’s continual joy welled from a deeper source. It flowed from his relationship with Christ. This joy does not depend on circumstances or personal feelings, nor does it dim under the shadow of threats, pain, or persecution. In fact, this joy enables a person to be of service to God, even under the most difficult challenges. The soul can rejoice even while the body suffers. That is how Paul and Silas could have joyful fellowship in the Gospel after having been beaten and placed in stocks. Listen to this pain and suffering and the joy that ensued, in Acts 16:22-25, And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes and commanded to beat [them]. 23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast [them] into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: 24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. 25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. Did you catch that last phrase? And the prisoners heard them! Paul’s words to the Philippians provide a powerful example for all believers. Life in Christ begins with a tremendous amount of joy—our sins are forgiven, all guilt is erased, and the world looks bright—and this joy can continue through our ongoing fellowship with Christ and the brothers and sisters in the church!I. PARTNERING IN THE GOSPEL. Philippians 1:1… Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: Timotheus was the Greek form of the name Timothy. He was apparently, a resident of Lystra, whose father was a Greek and mother a Jewess. have you ever thought about that last phrase, in verse 1? It means that if you are in Christ Jesus, you are a saint! Philippi was the capital city of Macedonia in Paul’s day. It is located about 25 miles NW of the Aegean Sea in Greece and about 700 miles from where Paul was, at Rome. Philippians 1:2… Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul’s sincere wish here is that the people in Philippi be blessed with the Grace of God, and the peace that His Grace brings to our heart. Many people were blessed by the Grace of God in Philippi, one of whom was a lady who was a dealer in cloth. Her name was Lydia. She met the Lord at a riverside meeting, in Acts 16:12-15 And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, [and] a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days. 13 And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted [thither]. 14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard [us]: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. 15 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. Also there was the jailor who, upon being awakened by the earthquake, which opened the doors of the prison and shook off the stocks which had held Paul and Silas. He asked them a question, after he found that none of the prisoners had escaped. It was the most important question he had ever asked anyone! We read his question, in Acts 16:30b. Sirs, what must I do to be saved? In answer to his question, Paul said in Acts 16:31b. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. Philippians 1:3… I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy. Paul says, he is thankful, every time he thinks of the people in Philippi. We, as Christians should feel the same about our brethren today. Paul’s every prayer for them, is prayed with Joy! Philippians 1:5-7… For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; Can we really have Fellowship with Christians, without the Gospel? Philippians 1:6… 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: Who performed this “Good Work” in those believers? That would be Jesus! And Jesus told us in Hebrews 13:5b. for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Also, in Matthew 28:20b. and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen. Philippians 1:7… Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace. When the believers there in Philippi were born again, by accepting the Gospel of Jesus Christ, they began supporting the men (Paul, and others) who had introduced them to Jesus. They helped them all they could in their bonds and imprisonment, but more importantly in the spreading of the Gospel.II. EXAMPLES OF SACRIFICIAL MINISTRY. Philippians 2:19… But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. When we get into trouble, it is not a happy time, however, if we have the Lord on our side, there’s a difference between being happy, which is really only a state of contentment, and being Joyful! The opposite of Happy would be sad, but sadness can’t disturb the Joy of the Lord which He gives. 1 Peter 1:7-8, That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see [him] not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Sometimes, all we need is to hear that one or more of our Brethren are still on fire for God and working diligently to continue the spread of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. That’s what Paul wanted to hear in this verse. Philippians 2:20… For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. In this verse, Paul is speaking of his great confidence in Timothy, stating that he has no follower who is more qualified to care for the people’s spiritual welfare, that he. At this time, Paul was detained at Rome, and Timothy continued to care for him. Paul considered him to be his faithful, trusted son in the Lord. The apostle recognized the need to send someone to greet and minister to the Philippian church, but he wanted to keep Timothy with him at Rome. On the other hand, Paul knew there wasn’t another minister who cared for them in his absence as selflessly as Timothy. Philippians 2:21… For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s. This is a big problem, for no one can meet the spiritual needs of others, if all they can think about is “me, and my four, and no more!” An example of this may be when God speaks to us to give of our blessings to others, and all we can think about is whether we will have enough left for us! Where is our faith? listen to this in Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. Timothy’s ministry with Paul repeatedly included his going to places when Paul was personally unable to go. When the Thessalonian church was experiencing persecution and needing encouragement, Timothy went, in 1 Thessalonians, Chapter 3. On other occasions, Paul sent Timothy to Macedonia, in Acts 19:22 and then to Corinth, in 1 Cor. 4:17, and again in 1 Cor. 16:10. In our next 6 verses we will meet another trusted man of God; his name is Epaphroditus, or Epaphras. Philippians 2:25-26… Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants. 26. For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick. Here we have another example of selfless service to the ministry of the Gospel. These people weren’t in it for the money, as many are today! He, along with others were in it to win souls to Christ! Epaphroditus, had left Philippi with money from the people there, to help Paul, who was imprisoned in Rome. In these verses, Paul is sending Epaphroditus back to Philippi with this letter to them. Philippians 2: 27… For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. He was so sick, he almost died, and yet, who was he worried about? The Christians in Philippi, because they were worried about him! Philippians 2: 28… I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful. Again, Paul sent a man who had gained his trust that he would be faithful to deliver this letter to the people at Philippi, so that they might have reason to rejoice, and that Paul might be happy instead of sorrowful. Philippians 2: 29-30… Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation: 30. Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me. Treat him like you are truly glad to see him, and also, spread the word that he is a trusted man of God, to the people, because his sickness was the result of his service to me, in your absence. Epaphroditus’ service was no small task as he attempted to bridge the distance between Philippi and Rome. The distance between the two cities was about seven hundred miles. However, transportation and routing problems resulted in a trip of twice that distance. Besides the extended trip and delivery of the Philippians’ gift, consideration needs to be given to the service rendered to Paul in Rome. Epaphroditus did not just arrive in Rome, greet Paul, hand him the gift, and then leave. He stayed with Paul and ministered to his needs.III. CONTINUING BENEVOLENT SUPPORT. Philippians 4:10… 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. Apparently, it had been a while since the Philippians had been able to help Paul, and he is expressing his gratitude for the gift they sent to him by Epaphroditus. He is also assuring them that he knew that they loved him and would have gladly done more for him, but they lacked opportunity. Philippians 4:11… Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. Paul also assured the Philippians that he doesn’t need anything, because he has learned to be content with what he has. That is a wonderful state in which to exist! Philippians 4:12… I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. Paul has learned to accept and even be thankful for both, his blessings and his hardships! How many of us can give such a report? The blessing part is easy, but the part about going hungry, and being needy…. Philippians 4:13… I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Then Paul sums it all up! Whatever he has to do, he had found that he can do it through the strength given him by Jesus Christ! Philippians 4:14… Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction. Then Paul says: Notwithstanding, which means, and besides all that, you have done me a great service by communicating with my affliction. The word communicate in the Bible means, to share! Philippians 4:18… But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God. What the poor people in Philippi had sent to Paul, he knew was out of a sincere love for him and he describes it here as a sweet smell and an acceptable sacrifice, which is pleasing also, to God. God’s method of providing for His children varies. On some occasions, it comes through supernatural intervention, as in His providing water out of a rock in the wilderness as they traveled toward the Promise Land. The Manna that He sent for them to eat. His air conditioning the fiery furnace for the three Hebrew children. In the NT, He provided bread and fish on two occasions to hungry men, women and children who were awed by His teaching. He cleansed Naaman supernaturally. He also healed another man who had been bitten by a deadly poisonous snake; that man’s name was Paul! Many times, however, God chooses to provide for our needs through other people. Though divinely motivated, it comes by human efforts. In Paul’s ministry, God repeatedly used the Philippian church to meet his material needs. Philippians 4:19-20… But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 20 Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen. This verse sums up the preceding verses of this chapter, which point out the sufficiency of Christ Jesus in meeting any need we may have. All we receive, all we do, and all we become are to be for God’s glory, for He is the source of all our blessings (v. 20). He is worthy of all the glory, and we rejoice in His goodness and love.CONCLUSION: There is an important lesson to learn from Paul’s inclusion of Timothy beside himself in the introduction of his letter to the Philippians. In an epistle where Paul speaks so much of humility, there is perhaps no better way of exemplifying it (apart from Christ’s example) than for Paul to provide himself as a model for them to follow. Although he was a great apostle and invested with authority directly from the Lord, Paul was first and foremost a servant of Christ Jesus, just like any other Christian, including Timothy. Both of them worked shoulder-to-shoulder for the Philippians, and Paul regarded his relationship to Timothy as equal under the Lord. His mention of Epaphroditus serves a similar purpose. Paul was not insecure in his calling nor afraid of being upstaged by his coworkers. Let us remember that Paul was writing to the most generous church in the New Testament world. The Philippian believers had given to meet others’ and Paul’s needs at great personal sacrifice. In return, God would provide for all their needs. God blesses us so we may bless others

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