“Grace You To the Finish!” Philippians 1:3-8

A man was stranded all alone on a deserted Pacific island for years. Finally one day a boat comes sailing into view, and the man frantically waves and draws the skipper’s attention. The boat comes near the island and the sailor gets out and greets the stranded man.

After a while the sailor asks, “What are those three huts you have here?”

“Well, that’s my house there.”

“What’s that next hut?” asks the sailor.

“I built that hut to be my church.”

“What about the other hut?”

“Oh, that’s where I used to go to church.”

Sadly this story has an element of truth to it. Many churches have lost what it means to be a church body. Perhaps worse than excessive church hopping is being in a church for years but never truly knowing people. Never truly loving people. Never truly realizing just how a church body is to be.

Anne Ortlund {wife of the late pastor Ray Ortlund} said,

“Every congregation has a choice to be one of two things. You can choose to be a bag of marbles clanging up against each other, hard, not really connecting to each other except in collision. On Sunday morning you can choose to go to church or to sleep in: who really cares whether there are 192 or 193 marbles in a bag? Or you can choose to be a bag of grapes. Mushed together, the juices begin to mingle and there is no way to extricate yourselves, even if you tried. Our lives blend together in love and in Christ we produce a sweetness that ministers to others. Each is a part of all. But so many people go to church today and stay unknown and lonely sitting in their place in their pew, giving their offerings, maybe even serving in some way in the church, but not really connected to the people of God. ”

Let’s get honest with ourselves here. What kind of church are we? What kind of church member are you? Are you a marble or a grape? Do we collide and clang with one another like marbles or are we mushed together like grapes?

What we’ll see in today’s passage is that we are called together, as one body, to serve the Lord with joy and mutual affection. And the only way that this can ever be true for us is by God’s grace. We will never be united in joyful fellowship unless God gets a hold of our hearts and transforms us by His sovereign grace.

The main truth that we’ll see in these 5 verses is that- THE GOSPEL GLUES GOD’S PEOPLE TO GOD AND GOD’S PEOPLE TOGETHER.

We’ll see this evidenced in Paul’s prayers for the Philippian church. Observe how the Gospel has glued Paul to this church that he planted :

LOOK AT VERSE 3-4… I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy…

Here we see the deep care and warmth that Paul has for the Philippian congregation. It has been some 10 years since he first planted this church on his 2 nd missionary journey, and yet the affections are still there. He ‘s still glued to them. At the outset of his letter Paul gives evidence of his gratitude for the Philippians.

Let’s break down the content of Paul’s prayer:

1} “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you…” Paul uses this word “thanks” { eucharisto } and it’s various forms some 46x in his letters to express his gratitude for others. Paul is always thanking God for other people. His thankfulness never wavered. His thankfulness went public.

Paul tells the Philippians that every time he remembers them, he thanks God for them. Every time they cross his mind, every time that he hears a report about them, every time they support his ministry, he thanks God for them.

2} “always in every prayer of mine…” This does not mean that this is all he does. Paul doesn’t pray for the Philippians every time that he prays. It is not as if Paul is riding on a donkey, crossing a bridge and the bridge gives way and as he plummets into the canyon below he cries out, “Jesus! Help me! And may the Philippians have Gospel-centered fellowship!” But it denotes the frequency of his prayers for them.

3} “for you all…” Notice too that he makes his prayer for “all” of the Philippians. This is noteworthy because we will find out in chapter 4 that there are 2 women feuding in the church. Paul is not taking sides. He is praying for the entire church body.

4} “making my prayer with joy…” Paul’s thankfulness for the Philippians was always accompanied by joy. Joy is the thrust of this letter and Paul gives evidence of that in his prayers. In fact, the Greek emphasizes the joy with which Paul prayed because it places “with joy” before the words “making my prayer.”

The Greek is “with joy, making my prayer.”

It is with joy that Paul prays for this church.

But notice also how the words “all, every” dominate this verse. We could paraphrase it this way:

“I continually thank God every time I remember every one of you, every time and in every prayer of mine for every single one of you, I pray with joy!”

Paul was constantly thanking God for every church member at Philippi every time he prayed. Remember where Paul is: a Roman prison awaiting his death!

Paul’s circumstances and the uncertainty of his future did not hinder his joy nor his prayers for others. Even though Paul had no idea what the future held for him, his focus was not on himself but on others. Why? How can a person be on death row and be so concerned for others? How can a person be facing such “unknown” in his future and not be focused on himself?

Because- THE GOSPEL GLUES GOD’S PEOPLE TO GOD AND GOD’S PEOPLE TOGETHER.

The Gospel, God’s grace, can transform you in such a way that you get your eyes off of yourself in the midst of your trial and suffering and on to other people with whom you are in fellowship with. They become the center of your attention. They become the focus of your prayers.

What causes this in person? The Gospel.

Paul was evidence of a life transformed by God’s grace. His prayers for the Philippians never wavered. He told them publicly how grateful he was. He prayed for everyone in the church every time he thought of them. He prayed with joy and thanksgiving for everyone!

Is that how we pray here at Grace? Do we thank God for everyone here? When we pray for others, does it cause joy to rise up in us? Do we even pray for each other here or are we so focused on ourselves?

But what about that person that just irritates you? The one that gets under your skin {there are many of us like that here!}? Do you pray for them and when you do does it cause joy to rise up in you?

We have a long way to go as a church family, but we can get there by God’s transforming grace.

THE GOSPEL GLUES GOD’S PEOPLE TO GOD AND GOD’S PEOPLE TOGETHER.

Now notice the reason why Paul prays continually, thankfully, joyfully, comprehensively.

LOOK AT VERSE 5… “… because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.”

The reason Paul prayed such gospel-centered prayers is because the Philippians had partnered with him in the gospel ministry. In fact, the word here for “partnership” is the Greek word koinonia , which is sometimes translated as “fellowship.” Fellowship is a theme of this letter. Paul uses this word 13 of the 19x it is used in the New Testament, 5x of which occur in some form in Philippians {i.e. Philippians 1:5; 1:7; 2:1; 3:10; 4:15}.

Fellowship or partnership was a common word used in Paul’s day for anyone who started a business together. If you started a company with a friend, you would have said, “We started a fellowship {koinonia } together selling mules {or whatever}.” Fellowship is more than dinner at someone’s house or a pot-luck after church. Fellowship is uniting together for a common cause, in this case, the gospel message.

The Philippian church had partnered with Paul from the very beginning when they responded to the gospel message. In Acts 16 we have the story of the planting of this church, and what a rag-tag group it was! A rich woman named Lydia, a former demon-possessed girl, and a suicidal jailer! That is a testimony to the transforming grace of God. Would you plant a church with these people as your core group? Grace transforms!

And this little church supported Paul throughout the years. They prayed for him. They supported him financially. They were partners together; together for the gospel.

The gospel is what tied them together and what ties us as a church body together. Look around, we’re like the Philippian church, a bunch of rag-tag individuals united together for the gospel. That is our common ground. We all have differing opinions and tastes: politics, music, movies, food (some of you don’t like BBQ sauce!), clothing, etc.

But what we have in common is the gospel message.

We were saved by God’s transforming grace and we want to spread the message of His transforming grace here in this city all the way to the nations.

That is the foundational reason why we should love one another and be affectionate to one another. We’re family, we’re partners.

THE GOSPEL GLUES GOD’S PEOPLE TO GOD AND GOD’S PEOPLE TOGETHER.

Not only does Paul pray with joy and thanksgiving, he prays with confidence- LOOK AT VERSE 6…

“And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

Paul’s confidence is signified by the phrase, “I am sure of this.” Why was Paul so confident? Was it because he was such a holy man? Was it because he was a prayer warrior? Did Paul believe that he had a special “in” with the Lord? No. Paul could pray with confidence for the Philippians because God was at work in this little church by His grace. Even though they were miles apart, Paul knew that distance was no obstacle for the Lord.

God began the work in Philippi. God chose these people {Ephesians 1:3-14}, He raised them up from the deadness of their sin {Ephesians 2:1-10}, He transferred them into the kingdom of His beloved Son {Colossians 1:12-14}. It was all the work of God. It was all His sovereign grace.

That’s why Paul could pray so confidently. God began the work and God would complete it. This is the doctrine called the Perseverance of the Saints. It means that those who are truly born-again can never lose their salvation, they will persevere to the end.

When you become a Christian, you are glue to God forever! Nothing can undo that “stickiness.” You’re stuck to God!

Another reason to buttress this truth is because Scripture teaches that Jesus is interceding and praying to God the Father for us {Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25}. If Jesus is praying for us to endure, doesn’t it stand to reason that the Father would grant His requests?

God’s transforming grace, His power, the Gospel, is what guarantees us that we will cross that finish line someday. When will this happen?

LOOK AT VERSE 6: “…at the day of Jesus Christ.”

The “day of Christ” {Philippians 1:6; 1:10; 2:16; 1st Corinthians 1:8; 5:5; 2 nd Corinthians 1:14} is when Jesus returns to set up His kingdom on the earth, and our salvation will be complete. Scripture speaks of us having been saved {Romans 8:24; Ephesians 2:5}, being saved {1 st Corinthians 1:18; 2 nd Corinthians 2:15}, and will be saved {Romans 5:9-10; 1 st Corinthians 3:15}.

Right now our salvation is still in “process” {this is called sanctification }. But one day when our bodies will be made new, it will be accomplished {this is called glorification }.

God’s grace will keep us and cause us to cross that finish line. There is grace to the finish!

That’s why Paul can pray so confidently and thankfully and joyfully for the Philippians. The gospel had taken root in Philippi by God’s grace and grace would see it come to completion.

Do you know someone who may have wandered from the faith? Take comfort today that if they were truly born again, then God will complete the work. Remember, distance is no issue with God. Do you have prodigal child? Be encouraged that God can and will complete the work! Do you have a child away, perhaps in college, the military, etc? God can still work! Let this passage encourage you and challenge you to continue to pray!

THE GOSPEL GLUES GOD’S PEOPLE TO GOD AND GOD’S PEOPLE TOGETHER.

We see this also in verses 7-8… “It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.”

The reason Paul is so affectionate for the Philippians is because they have stood by his side through thick and thin. In fact, Paul says that it is right for him to feel this way. The word for “feel” is a word th occurs several times in Philippians. It means, “to think a given way.” So Paul is saying that it’s right for him to think this way about the Philippians.

This is evidenced by Paul telling them that he has them in his heart. And the reason that Paul has them in his heart is because they have “ participated with him in grace .” This word “participated” is the word “fellowship” with the word “with” stuck on the front.

The Philippians had “with fellowshipped” with Paul in God’s grace. God’s transforming grace had kept them all. His power had kept them through Paul’s imprisonment and his defense and confirmation of the gospel.

Both Paul and the Philippians had participated in God’s grace as they faced persecution for the gospel. In Paul’s hardest time, the church had stood alongside him.

This is what fellowship is about. Standing with one another in the midst of our hardest battles. You do this well here at Grace. Let me commend you. I have heard and seen this care. If you have not experienced this kind of fellowship, open up with someone and share your struggle. I guarantee you that this church body will respond by God’s grace.

Now notice how Paul calls on God to be his witness in VERSE 8… “For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.”

Paul is saying, “Ask God. Let Him examine my motives and feelings. He’ll tell you that I truly care and long for all of you.”

The word here for “yearn” implies a strong craving or desire. Perhaps we could call it a “pregnant-woman craving.” You know that kind of craving. The kind that can cause a man to get out of the bed in the middle of the night to go get some Ben and Jerry’s Toffee Heath Bar Crunch Ice Cream . Been there, done that.

Paul is saying that he really cares for and longs to see these people. Then he tells them that he yearns for them “with the affection of Jesus Christ.” This word “affection” is literally, “bowels, gut.”

That’s where we feel our emotions, in the gut. Paul says it’s as if he has the “gut” of Jesus. He truly loves these people.

When you and I have fellowship with the Triune God, it changes us and produces affections in us for those we are in fellowship with. How did all of this come about? By God’s transforming grace.

If you don’t have deep affections for the people in this church body, it’s because the Gospel has not penetrated deep enough in your heart.

The problem is not the Gospel. It is power. The problem is your heart. You aren’t absorbing the truth of the Gospel.

What we need hear is “Gospel intoxication.” That we become so overwhelmed with what Jesus has done for us, that we want to love and serve others from a transformed heart.

* thank God for others * pray for others * connected to others (small groups, etc)

How did all of this come about? By God’s transforming grace.

THE GOSPEL GLUES GOD’S PEOPLE TO GOD AND GOD’S PEOPLE TOGETHER.

If we are to become a church of mushed grapes and not hard marbles clanging with one another, it’s gonna take God’s grace, His transforming grace. People are hard to love. Will we ever be able to do it? Only if God transforms us.

Let’s become a church that prays with joy for one another. Let’s become a church that gives thanks for everyone here, even the guy with the annoying personality. Let’s become a church that partners together for the gospel. Let’s become a church that rejoices in and prays for the continuing work of God in our lives. A church that recognizes evidence of God’s grace in our lives. Let’s become a church that stands by one another in the midst of trial, tribulation, hardship, etc. Let’s become a church that truly loves one another with the affections of Jesus Christ.

This can only happen by God’s grace.

THE GOSPEL GLUES GOD’S PEOPLE TO GOD AND GOD’S PEOPLE TOGETHER.

May it be true of us for God’s glory.