Paul Pours out his love, prayers, and thanksgiving to
the Brothers and Sisters in Philippi Part 1
Philippians
1:3-6 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of
mine for you all making request with joy, For your fellowship in the Gospel
from the first day until now; 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: KJVThe Apostle Paul was at all times and on most every occasion concerned for and thinking of the Churches that were formed, fashioned, and founded through his proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as we recall his words written to the Corinthian Church when he said, “And besides those things that are without, there is the daily [inescapable pressure] of my care {and} anxiety for all the Churches!” (2 Corinthians 11:28), yet having said those things, Paul has a special affinity or in other words a natural attraction and a feeling of special kinship with the Brothers and Sisters in Philippi. Perhaps it is because of their great love, care, and concern for this embattled Apostle during all of his trials and tribulations he suffered for being true and faithful to the Gospel of Grace in Jesus Christ only. It was this Church specifically Paul spoke of when writing these words to the Corinthian believers, “Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the Churches of Macedonia: that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.” (2 Corinthians 8:1-5).
Therefore, we find Paul declaring to them how much and how often, “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, For your fellowship in the Gospel from the first day until now;” (Philippians 1:3-5). The little English phrase “I thank” Paul uses here at the beginning is translated by one Greek word eucharisteo which means to be grateful, that is, (actually) to express gratitude towards someone. The Apostle Paul was extremely grateful to God the Father for the work of grace He was doing in the converted believers in Philippi and how much they ministered to him by the Grace of God in many of his times of physical and spiritual need. It was often that Paul remembered the great show of love and grace from them to him and he was reminded then to thank our Heavenly Father for bringing them into his life as Brothers and Sisters in the faith. They became one of Paul’s confident and sure lifelines from the Throne of Grace placed down here on the earth. It was Paul’s desire, dedication, and determination to pray for their continual supply of grace from the Throne of Grace in Heaven that would keep them guarded and protected from every attack they would endure from the enemy of our souls. It brought an extra boost (if you will) of joy flowing into the heart of this great Apostle upon every remembrance of them in his thoughts and in his prayers despite the physical distance separating them, Paul felt as close to them (with great joy) as he did when he was physically in their presence. Note: Here is what Matthew Henry said of Paul’s time spent in Philippi and his affection for the converted Philippian believers in that city, “At Philippi he was maltreated; there he was scourged and put into the stocks, and for the present saw little of the fruit of his labor; and yet he remembers Philippi with joy. He looked upon his sufferings for Christ as his credit, his comfort, his crown, and was pleased at every mention of the place where he suffered. So far was he from being ashamed of them, or loth to hear of the scene of his sufferings, that he remembered it with joy.”
The Apostle Paul was very deliberate in making known to them his love “for you all” (Philippians 1:4) in order to squash any divisions that was creeping into their fellowship. Paul wanted them to know that he did not and would not recognize cliques among them and he will be addressing these potential serious problems later on in this letter because his love and prayers were for all of the Philippian Church and not just some. The Apostle Paul thanked God the Father for the Philippian believers, “fellowship in the Gospel from the first day until now” (Philippians 1:5). The Apostle Paul was so thankful that God the Father had given the believers at Philippi a heart to proclaim the Gospel of Christ where they were and even suffer for its sake just as Paul had done and was currently doing being imprisoned in Rome. The English word fellowship is translated by the Greek word koinonia which means a sharer or associate or companion; partnership, that is, (literally) participation, or (social) intercourse. The Apostle Paul acknowledges their willingness to suffer for the sake of the Gospel by words as well as their willingness to give of their goods to support him and others believers “in Christ” often and without persuading ever being necessary from the Apostle Paul as Paul wrote with these words in Hebrews he no doubt had the believers in Philippi as one of the Churches in his mind, “But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” (Hebrews 13:16).
This being the reality within the Philippian Church the Apostle Paul makes this statement to them and about them, “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:” (Philippians 1:6). The English phrase “being confident” at the beginning of this verse is translated by one Greek word peitho which is a primary verb that means to convince (by argument, true or false); by analogy to pacify or conciliate (by other fair means); reflexively or passively to assent (to evidence or authority), to rely (by inward certainty): - agree, assure, believe, have confidence, be (wax) content, make friend, obey, persuade, trust, yield. The English phrase “which hath begun” is translated by one Greek word enarchomai which means to commence on. The English word perform is translated by the Greek word epiteleo which means to fulfill further (or completely), that is, execute; accomplish, do, finish, make perfect. In other words, the Apostle Paul wants these Philippian believers to understand that God the Father who drew them to the Cross of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ where God the Son’s Blood was poured out upon them spiritually and God the Holy Spirit regenerated their dead spirits will finish the work of salvation or work of grace begun in them and us today all the way to the end or completion when our Lord Jesus Christ returns for His Bride (the Church) at His second (2nd) coming as Paul declared with these words in Hebrews, “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:25).
“The prisoner in his bonds in the alien city had the remembrance of his friends coming into his chamber like fresh, cool air, or fragrance from far-off gardens. A thrill of gladness was in his soul as often as he thought on them. It is blessed if in our experience teacher and taught are knit together thus; without some such bond of union no good will be done. The relation of pastor and people is so delicate and spiritual, the purpose of it so different from that of mere teaching, the laws of it so informal and elastic, the whole power of it, therefore, so dependent on sympathy and mutual kindliness that, unless there be something like the bond which united Paul and the Philippians, there will be no prosperity or blessing. The thinnest film of cloud prevents deposition of dew. If all men in pulpits could say what Paul said of the Philippians, and all men in pews could deserve to have it said of them, the world would feel the power of a quickened Church.” Alexander MacLaren
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
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