This morning we’re beginning a series of messages in which we’re going to look together a Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi. To give you an idea of where we’re going with this series - I’d like to begin with a story.

There was a Roman Catholic Priest and a Baptist Pastor who were good friends and they used to play golf together. On this particular day the Priest was driving the golf cart. As he was driving down the path a rabbit dashed out of the bushes and ran right in front of the golf cart. The priest tried everything to avoid the rabbit. But, unfortunately he hit the rabbit with the golf cart.

The priest was very upset by this. He tried to think of something he could do. But, there lay the rabbit very much dead. The priest reached into his golf bag and pulled out a little vial of holy water. He knelt down by the rabbit. Poured some holy water on the rabbit and said a prayer of committal.

Well, the Baptist pastor - who’d been watching all this - reached into his golf bag and pulled out a little vial of his own. He went over to the rabbit - knelt down - and poured a little of the liquid on the rabbit. Almost instantly - just as the water touched the rabbit - the rabbit jumped up and dashed off into the bushes.

The Roman Catholic Priest was very impressed by this. In amazement he said, “I didn’t know that you Baptists had such powerful holy water.”

“What holy water?” said the Baptist pastor. “That was hare restorer.”

Think about that for minute. It’ll come to you. As you’re thinking focus on to that word “restorer” and the idea of restored life.

Paul’s letter to the church of Philippi is about restored life. Not a life where we’re on our own - alone in life - just kind of hanging on - trying to enjoy a few experiences as we struggle through - trying to find some purpose and meaning while we’re waiting to die.

Paul is writing about life in Jesus Christ. Life that’s been restored - is being restored - to what God intends life to be. The kind of life that makes us want to jump out of bed in the morning to go out and experience all that God has for us. Life full of joy - delight - vitality - purpose - meaning - that satisfies the deepest longings of our hearts. Its the kind of life that excites us to come to experience together - to worship together - to serve together - that makes us miss each other when we're away from each other.

As we look at Philippians we’re going to see that Paul is practical about that life. He writes about the basic stuff of where we live our lives and what that life in Jesus is like. What its like to share that life together. How we can experience more of the amazing life that God intends for each one of us.

Please turn with me to Philippians 1:1. This is the introduction to the letter. The date is about 61 A.D. Paul is in Rome. He’s a prisoner there. (Acts 28:30) Timothy is with him. From that imprisonment Paul writes this letter.

Philippians 1:1: Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers, and deacons: Notice how Paul starts with the saints and then - almost as an afterthought - he includes the church leadership - the overseers and deacons. Philippians is not some great formal theological ecclesiastical treatise. From the beginning Paul is down on our level. Paul is writing to people - brothers and sisters in Jesus. Turn to the person next to you and tell each other this, “He’s writing about us.”

Verse 2: Grace to you - to us - and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,

Before we go on - its important for us to pause and understand what Paul means by his “remembrance” of these saints. These remembrances are mental snapshots - warm memories - of the saints in Philippi. We could call them “Photos From Philippi.” We don’t have the whole photo album. But, some of these remembrances are recorded for us in Acts 16. What we do have helps us to understand why Paul “thanks God” when he remembers the Philippians.

On Paul’s second missionary journey Paul, Silas, and Timothy were making their way through what is now Turkey with the idea that they’d go east and into Asia. But God - through a series of directions - God heads them in the opposite direction - going west. Finally they end up in a town called Troas on the west coast of Turkey.

There Paul has a vision. A man from Macedonia stands in front of Paul and says to Paul, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” So Paul, Silas, Timothy, and Luke who joined them in Troas - the four missionaries head out crossing the Aegean Sea to Neapolis - a seaport in Greece - crossing from Asia to Europe. Finally they arrive in Philippi - about 10 miles inland.

That remembrance is important to probably everyone here. Thinking backwards through your spiritual roots - to the person who led you to Jesus - to the person who led that person to Jesus - and so on back through history. Or, if your family has been Christian - by tradition or by rebirth - think about that history for moment. For most here - as the Gospel came to Europe for the first time - that crossing of Paul, Silas, Timothy, and Luke was a part of our spiritual history. Pretty cool!

When Paul gets to Philippi he attends a women’s prayer meeting down by the river. There he shares the Gospel with the women. A business women from Thyatira - named Lydia - listened to what Paul said. As God speaks to her heart she responds - opening up her heart to God. Her family turns to God. They’re baptized. Her home becomes a base of ministry operations in Philippi - the first Christian church of Europe.

Other “Photos From Philippi” - from Acts 16. The possessed woman who followed the missionaries around screaming, “These men are working for the Most High God. They’re explaining the way of salvation to you.” Finally Paul gets fed up and commands the spirit that possessed her, “In the name of Jesus Christ, get out of her.” Imagine the remembrance of this girl who had been set free by Jesus.

Then the mob that tried to kill them. The judges that had Paul and Silas stripped - beaten - thrown in prison. The songs they sang praising God. Images of their fellow prisoners - in chains together at midnight. Photos of the jail ruined by the earthquake. Their jailer - now a brother in Christ. His family being baptized. Imagine the group photo - the brethren and sisteren in front of Lydia’s house on the day they all prayed together - encouraged each other - hugged each other - and then Paul and company moved on to the next town.

Imagine if you had a camera - imagine the pictures you would have taken. Here’s one of the prayer meeting. And there’s Lydia and her household getting baptized. Here’s one of the four of us crossing the Aegean. Here’s one of Timothy falling overboard.

There’s such depth of feeling - an amazing camaraderie - an affinity - of shared lives in these words, “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you.”

Then in verses 4 to 11 - Paul shares with this congregation four examples how He’s remembering them.

Verse 4: Always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now.

First, Paul REMEMBERS THEM WITH JOY.

There’s a part of the ministry here that really can’t be described in the Annual Report. And, its this: People here genuinely care about each other. There’s joy in being a participant in what God is doing in each others lives. Living out the reality of the Gospel in how we live together in Christ. Share that with each other, “Its a joy to be with you.”

In his letter to the Philippians Paul uses the word “joy” 19 times. Joy is a dominant - important - theme in the letter. Along with joy is the name of Jesus Christ - appearing over 40 times - more than any other word. Dr. J. Vernon McGee in his commentary on Philippians points out that Jesus is the center of the epistle. Jesus is the very source of joy. Its our personal relationship with Jesus Christ that brings joy into our lives - individually and together as a congregation.

We feel this together - at potlucks and prayer services - when we meet as a Church Board or on committees - when we serve in ministry together. Being together isn’t an ordeal to endure. Being together is a joy because Jesus is at the center of it all.

There’s joy in Paul’s heart as he thinks about how they participated in ministry together - from the time he was with them - even until now. A joyful memory that moves Paul to prayer for his brothers and sisters in Christ.

Second example - Paul REMEMBERS THEM WITH CONFIDENCE.

Verse 6: For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

Several years ago Karen and I received a wedding invitation. Which was really great. Except I had no idea who the invitation was from. I read the names of the people getting married. But, for the life of me I couldn’t remember who these people were. I asked Karen and she had no idea.

So, I started digging in my files - school files - work files - ministry files. Finally I put the name of the groom together with a guy I had worked with on staff at Mount Hermon tens years before. So, Karen and I RSVP’d and we went to the wedding.

I don’t remember a whole lot about the ceremony. I’m sure everyone looked really nice in their tuxes and dresses. The ceremony was very well done. But, what I remember most about the wedding was the reunion. Just about everybody that worked with us on staff - the Redwood Camp Staff of 1980 - just about everybody had come to this wedding.

What an amazing experience. I listened to account after account of how God had been working in and through each of these “staffers” over the last 10 years. Each growing in their relationship with God. Each remaining faithful to their calling. Each being used by God to His glory.

That’s what Paul is writing about - a partnership that spans distance and that transcends time. No matter where we may be we have confidence that each of us is allowing God to work in our lives. That God is growing us to perfection in Christ - moving us forward in our relationship and usefulness to Him. We live in support of each other in the cause of reaching the world with the Gospel. Remembering that partnership - there’s a confidence we have in each other because we have confidence in God.

Paul’s third example comes in verse 7: For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me. For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.

Paul REMEMBERS THE PHILIPPIANS WITH AFFECTION - the Philippians are as close to Paul as his heart.

In May, Microsoft Corporation announced the iLoo. “loo” being the British word for toilet. Now, don’t laugh at this. This is serious stuff. The iLoo is a portable toilet that comes complete with a wireless keyboard and extendable - height-adjustable - plasma screen located directly in front of the seated user. Don’t laugh.

Microsoft’s MSN division also announced plans to install an external “Hotmail Station” on the outside of portable toilets. The waterproof keyboard and plasma screen will allow users to surf the internet while waiting in line. Tracy Blacher - MSN’s marketing manager said, “The internet’s so much a part of everyday life now that surfing on the loo was the next natural step.” (1)

We laugh at this. But, there’s an important spiritual truth here. There is within each of us a desire to be connected. God is the Trinitarian God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - the communion of the Godhead. We’re created in God’s image. There’s a part of us that craves community - connection with God and with others. Even standing in line to use the loo.

Paul - imprisoned in Rome is thinking about the Philippians. Don’t we do the same - for people we care about? We hold them in our hearts - close to the core of who we are. Think about them. Wonder what they’re doing. Pray for them. Write them.

Paul writes, “Its only right for me to do this. Its only natural that I should think about you this way.”

Then, example number four - verse 9: And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Paul REMEMBERS THE PHILIPPIANS WITH PRAYER.

In verse 9 Paul gets very specific. “Specifically, this is what I am praying for you.”

First - that their love would overflow. That that love would be guided by knowledge, discernment, understanding and insight as to what is really worth loving - what’s worth giving your life and attention to - what’s right and what’s wrong.

Second - Paul prays that they would live sincere and blameless - that God’s character - His righteousness would be produced in them. The kind of character that only comes through knowing Jesus Christ. Character which brings honor and glory to God. That when people see you or think about you they praise God.

Wouldn’t it be a tremendous comfort and strength to know that others are praying like this for you? These are core issues in our lives. Wisdom that we need. Character that we crave.

Coming to application - as I was thinking this through for myself - how this relates to us. Two thoughts have challenged me. So, I’m going to share these with you and then you can be challenged by them too.

First thought: HOW ARE WE REMEMBERED? Reading what Paul wrote I began to think about the churches I’ve been associated with - over the years - brothers and sisters - many scattered around the world - serving Jesus. Some of you have moved around because of military service or job opportunities or formal ministry. As God uses us we’re constantly moving around in contact with others.

How are we remembered? When we leave here. Even if its to go home today - to work tomorrow - into the community - our families. Will we be remembered in such a way that someone would say, “I thank God for so and so”?

Will our service for God be remembered with joy? Can people see a consistent pattern of God’s work in our lives - so that they’re confident that we’ll continue following Him - growing in Him - supporting them? Are we remembered with affection and in people’s prayers?

How are we remembered?

Second thought: HOW DO WE REMEMBER OTHERS?

With apologies to Bob Hope - who turned 100 in May - the title of this message is “Thanks For The Memories.” Will others be thankful that we remembered them?

Looking at all of these examples that Paul shares - four examples tied to our attitudes, our prayers, and our actions - each is a challenge - a way - that we can remember others. We have such a tremendous opportunity to significantly impact the lives of each other here - of others around us - to encourage, strengthen, uplift and uphold them.

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1.  San Francisco Chronicle, 05.07.03