Partners In Ministry Series

Phil 1:1-11 Partners in Ministry

We are moving on to a new book today but still in the same timeline as Ephesians.

• Paul wrote the letter to the Philippians about the same time as Ephesians, while he was in captivity in Rome.

• This letter is one of his more personal and joyful letters among all his epistles.

• Paul wasn’t despondent even though he was imprisoned and facing an uncertain future. He has good support from believers, particularly the church at Philippi.

They were close to his heart. Paul founded this church some 11 years ago and they have been his faithful partners in ministry since then.

• He was on his second missionary journey and in Troas when he had a vision in the night of a Macedonian man calling him.

• He travelled to Philippi and met a woman named Lydia and her group of women praying by the riverside.

• She came to know Christ and that was the start of the church, which has grown to be one with many overseers and deacons (mentioned in his greetings in 1:1).

Paul’s opening words reveal his love and gratitude for this church.

• Even though he did not stay there for long, and only visited them probably two other times (on his third journey), they had been supporting Paul right from the start.

• We see this beautiful and exemplary Christian bond, which we can learn today.

• We see their PARTNERSHIP IN THE GOSPEL and their MUTUAL SUPPORT IN MINISTRY.

PARTNERSHIP IN THE GOSPEL

1:3-5 3I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.

When was this “first day”? Let’s go back 11 years and take a look at Acts 16 when Paul was on his second missionary journey.

• They were in the region of Galatia wanting to go South to Asia Minor but the Holy Spirit prevented them (16:6).

• They then wanted to head North to Bithynia but the Spirit stopped them.

• Paul was at Troas mulling over his next step when he saw the vision and travelled West and came to Philippi, by God’s leading.

There was no synagogue there because the Jewish community was small.

• They went to the river bank and met Lydia (a dealer in purple cloth) and her prayer group. By God’s grace, Lydia became the first convert and was baptised.

• She opened her home to the team and they stayed there and the church was born.

1:6-7 “6And 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. 7It 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 defence and confirmation of the gospel.”

• Since then, they have been supporting Paul in the work of the Gospel.

• Not that they were physically present with Paul on his mission trips but that they were standing by him throughout his ministry.

• 1:7b “…you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defence and confirmation of the Gospel”.

Let’s take a look at how they supported Paul right at the start (turn to Acts 16):

• Acts 16:15 And after she [Lydia] was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.

• Paul and his team stayed at Lydia’s house, where the church was founded.

Later Paul and Silas were beaten and imprisoned (for healing a slave girl with an evil spirit). And while they were in prison, they prayed and sang.

• An earthquake struck, the gates were opened, they stayed and the jailor was converted, together with his family.

• Acts 16:33-34 “33And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. 34Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.”

These were his first impressions of Philippi. The believers cared and provided for him.

• Paul believes that the God who saved them and began a good work in them will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ. (1:6)

• That transformation that he saw 11 years ago – that work of God in their lives will continue to transform them until they reach perfection on the day of Christ.