God Is Bigger Than My Expectations Series

Today, we begin a series entitled, God is Bigger. This will be a short 4-week study of the book of Philippians.

I want invite you to supersize your faith in the coming days by turning to Philippians 1. Easter Sunday was a good day of harvest for our church family 12 people indicated they either prayed to receive Christ or wanted to know more information.

What if you received a letter from a prisoner who is unjustly incarcerated and his rights were trampled because he was beaten? What would expect the letter to say? Probably the letter would discuss the legal strategy and the work of quality attorneys working pro-bono on behalf of your incarcerated friend? Maybe he or she would explain how their DNA was being tested against some DNA material left at the crime scene. But what if the letter didn’t have any of this but instead, read like this?

Today’s Scripture

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 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. 7 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. 8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God” (Philippians 1:3–11).

Is that the kind of letter you anticipate reading from someone who was unjustly incarcerated? The Apostle Paul writes from prison where he was unjustly incarcerated for a crime he didn’t commit. Paul probably writes the letter of Philippians around 62 AD from Rome to the church in Philippi. He writes them because he cannot see them in person. There is an urgency to this letter. The weight of the letter from someone who is suffering a great injustice and their freedom is severely limited… … you read it differently because you know who the person writing this letter is under the shadow of execution.

1. I Thank God You’re in My Life

Look again at Philippians 1 and recognize the main verb of just one sentence in the Greek is the verb “thank” in verse 3: “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 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. 7 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” (Philippians 1:3-7).

We are shown three reasons for gratitude – let me show you all 3 so you’re relationships will be enriched.

1.1 I’m Grateful When I Think of You

“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you…” (Philippians 1:3a). He says in effect, “Every time I remember you, I give thanks to God for you. And when I remember you, joy comes flooding into my mind. My brain is filled with joy every time I think of you.”

“It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart…” (Philippians 1:7).

When Paul thought of these brothers and sisters, he smiled. The thought of them gave him pleasure. In fact, every thought of these believers was a reason for him to smile. If you take time to read Philippians 4:10-20, you’ll find these believers also thought of Paul when he was in prison.

1.2 I’m Grateful When I Remember Our Partnership

“I thank my God … because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now” (Philippians 1:3a, 5).

Partnership is a wonderful word describing all that is needed to make a church flourish. Partnership in business is when you and I sacrifice together to make a business flourish for the purpose of making profits. Partnership in a marriage is when your spouse and you sacrifice to make our marriage flourish. Partnership in a church is when you and I sacrifice together to see the kingdom of God advance. Partnership is a shared vision of seeing the gospel of Jesus Christ go forward. They assisted him financially and they encouraged him by sending word, “We haven’t forgot about you.”