In Romania, and in many Eastern European countries, there are so many orphans institutionalized that there isn’t enough food or medical supplies or staff members to take care of them. The babies, often past toddler age, are still kept in diapers and placed in cribs because there’s no other way to take care of them. They are lifted out to be fed and they infrequently have their diapers changed. There is no real physical contact with other humans, especially any of the cuddling and holding that babies need to develop normally. They end up in semi-catatonic states and often die from a lack of human contact. This condition is called “failure to thrive syndrome.”
We need to understand that “failure to thrive syndrome” can happen in our spiritual lives. It can be avoided and it can be cured. But, prevention doesn’t happen by itself.
The key to avoiding this spiritual disease is through fellowship. But, fellowship is much more than what you may think it is. We can see what I mean in today’s passage. It’s the prescription against “failure to thrive syndrome”.
In true Christian Fellowship, we discover the JOY the Apostle Paul is writing about in the book of Philippians.
As we begin this morning let me talk about this word - FELLOWSHIP - for just a moment.
• We use that word and throw it around so lightly sometimes that I think we forget or don't even realize the true meaning to this word.
We say things like.
• Are you coming to the fellowship dinner
• That was a great time, we had some great fellowship
• We would love to have you over some fellowship
• Many times, we think that getting together, having some food constitutes fellowship. And it might.
• But let's dig a little deeper.
The word FELLOWSHIP simply means "to have in common."
• We tend to think that fellowship is really only acquaintanceship or friendship.
• You cannot have fellowship with someone unless you have something in common, and for Christian Fellowship, this means you possess eternal life with the person or people you are fellowshipping with.
Unless a person has trusted Christ as his Savior, he know nothing of "the fellowship of the gospel."
• IN Philippians 2:1, Paul writes about the "fellowship of the Spirit," because when a person is born again he receives the gift of the Spirit.
• There is also the "fellowship of his sufferings" in Philippians 3:10
• In 4:15 Paul addresses those who shared with him, that is fellowship. Because they were sharing for a common purpose in Christ.
True Christian fellowship is much more than having a name on a church roll or being present at a meeting.
• It is possible to be close to people physically and miles away from them spiritually.
• One of the sources of Christian joy is this fellowship that believers have in Jesus Christ.
• Paul was in Rome, his friends were miles away in Philippi, but their spiritual fellowship was real and satisfying.
When you have the single mind, you will not complain about circumstance because you know that difficult circumstances will result in the strengthening of the fellowship of the gospel.
Paul uses three expressions in verses 1-11 that describe true Christian fellowship.
1 - I Have You In My Mind
Philippians 1:3-6 (NIV) - I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Paul was thinking of others and not himself. That's remarkable.
• He's waiting for his trial in Rome, Paul's mind goes back to the believers in Philippi, and these thoughts bring him joy.
Who would he have been thinking about?
Turn your Bibles to Acts 16. Let's meet some of the first members of the church at Philippi. These are some of the people who were on Paul's mind.
• Lydia - seller of purple fine linen - wealthy
• Slave Girl - broken, poor
• Jailer - blue collar, rough hands, uneducated
These are the people Paul has in his mind along with others when he is writing the letter of Philippians. These thoughts brought him joy.
He had other things happen to him at Philippi. Things that could have brought him sorrow.
• He was illegally arrested and beaten
• Was placed in stocks and embarrassed before the people in the city circle
• But, even these thoughts brought joy because the jailer found Jesus, Lydia found Jesus, and a slave girl was set free.
I want to draw in closer on verses 5-6.
In verse 5 he is thankful for their "partnership" in the gospel.
• it is very possible that he is referring to their financial support
• This is a topic he brings up later in chapter 4
• The church at Philippi was the only church that entered into fellowship with Paul to help support his ministry.
In verse 6 Paul uses the words "good work".
• this may also be focusing on the sharing of their resources
• it was started by the Lord, and Paul was sure the Lord would continue it and complete it.
However, I believe this could also be Paul pointing them to God's work in salvation and Christian living.
• Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us we are not saved by our good works
• Salvation is the good work God does in us when we trust His son.
• In Philippians 2:12-13 we are told that God continues to work in us through His Spirit.
It is fair to say that salvation includes a threefold work
• the work God does for us is salvation
• the work God does in us is sanctification
• the work God does through us is service
This work will continue until we see Christ, and then the work will be fulfilled.
It was a source of joy to Paul to know that God was still working in the lives of his fellow believers at Philippi.
This is the real basis for joyful Christian fellowship, to have God at work in our lives day by day. Paul had joy as he thought about these people in his mind.
Paul now moves even deeper in his expressions of true Christian Fellowship.
2 - I Have You In My Heart
Look at what Paul says. He moves this relationship even deeper.
Philippians 1:7-8 (NIV) - It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
Paul's sincere love for his friends was something that could not be disguised or hidden.
Love is the evidence of salvation
• 1 John 3:14 (NIV) - We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death.
• Christian love is what binds relationships together.
Notice how often Paul uses the phrase "you all" as he wrote?
• There are at least nine times in this letter.
• He was including everybody in these statements
How did Paul show his love for them?
He was suffering on their behalf.
• His chains were proof of his love
• He was the "prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles" Eph 3:1
• Because of Paul's trial, Christianity was going to get a fair hearing before the officials of Rome.
• Since Philippi was a Roman colony, the decision would affect the believers there.
• Paul's love was not something he merely talked about, it was something he practiced.
• He considered his difficult circumstances an opportunity for defending and confirming the gospel, and this would help his brothers and sisters in Christ everywhere.
How can Christians today learn to practice this kind of love?
• One man said to his Pastor, "I get along better with my unsaved neighbors that I do my saved relatives. Maybe it takes a diamond to cut a diamond, but I've just about had it."
• Christian love is not something we work up; it is something that God does in us and through us.
Paul longed for his friends, "in the affection of Christ Jesus".
• It was not Paul's love channeled through Christ; it was Christ love channeled through Paul.
• Romans 5:5 (NIV) - And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
• When we allow God to perform His "good work" in us, then we grow in our love for one another.
How can we tell that we are truly bound in love to other Christians?
• We are concerned about them.
• The believers at Philippi were concerned about Paul and sent Epaphroditus to minister to him.
• Paul was also greatly concerned about his friends at Philippi, especially when Epaphroditus became ill and could not return right away.
• 1 John 3:18 (NIV) - Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
Another evidence of Christian love is a willingness to forgive one another.
• 1 Peter 4:8 (NIV) - Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins
• The radio interviewer asked the contestant, "Tell us some of the blunders your wife has made." The man replied, "I can't remember any." The interviewer said, "Oh, surely you can remember something." The man said, " No, I really can't. I love my very much, and I just don't remember things like that."
• 1 Corinthians 13:5 states that love keeps no record of wrongs.
Here's the truth -- Christians who practice love always experience joy
Both come as a result of the presence of the same Holy Spirit - Galatians 5:22 says, "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy.....
Paul had joy because he had them on his mind, in his heart, and last in his prayers.
3 - I Have You in My Prayers
Philippians 1:9-11 (NIV) - And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may 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.
He found joy in remembering them in prayer.
The high priest in the Old Testament wore a special garment, the ephod, over his heart.
• on it were 12 stones with the names of the 12 tribes of Israel engraved on them
• a jewel for each tribe.
• He carried the people over his heart in love, and so did Paul.
• The deepest Christian fellowship and joy we can experience in this life is at the throne of grace, praying with and for one another.
Paul is praying for maturity, and Paul began with love.
• he prayed that they might experience abounding love and discerning love.
• Christian love is not blind
• The heart and mind work together so that we have discerning love and loving discernment.
• Paul wanted his friends to grow in discernment.
• Love was a mark of maturity.
Paul also prayed that they might have mature Christian character
• Christians who are not afraid to stand in the light
• This is a Christian character which can pass the tests which might come their way.
Paul prayed for them to have mature Christian love and character, "without offence till the day of Christ.
• this means that our lives do not cause others to stumble, and that they are ready for the judgment seat of Christ when he returns.
• Here are two good test for us to follow as we exercise spiritual discernment.
1 - Will it make others stumble?
2 - Will it make me ashamed if Jesus should return?
Paul also prayed that they might have mature Christian service.
• He wanted them filled and fruitful
• He was not interested simply in church activities, but in the kind of spiritual fruit that is produced when we are in fellowship with Christ.
• John 15:4 (NIV) - Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
• He wanted them to remain in Christ and allow Christ to work through them.
Let me give you a suggestion how to put this into practice.
1. Make it a priority to Pray
a. Make a list
b. pray they would experience God’s love
c. pray they would mature in Christian character
e. pray they would mature in Christian service
Are you possibly experiencing lack of joy today. Are you like the orphans in Eastern European countries who are experiencing "failure to thrive syndrome"?
Paul says we need true Christian fellowship.
I have you in my mind
I have you in my heart
I have you in my prayer
