This morning we’re beginning a study of Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi.  Paul teaching about fellowship - what it means for us to follow Jesus and for us to follow Jesus together.  To help us get synced with where Paul is going we have a short video.

(video clip:  “Parody of Our Modern Church Service”)

Parts of that are kind of hard to watch.  A little close to home.  Point being that it is way to easy to slide into a self-focused shallow version of what God has for us as a church.  Maybe that’s because we’re too busy doing the other parts of our lives.  Maybe all that is just seemingly safe.  But it is something we struggle with.

Most of us probably wouldn’t choose the people around us as the people we’d most likely hang out with - to go on extended vacations with - to turn to with our really deep issues.  And yet here we are.  We don’t choose our families and this is our “in Christ” family.

Way too often its just easier to settle for the shallow end of the pool.  To hit “safe mode” and come for what we can get - do the “its Sunday” so we need to go to church thing - and then get on with the other parts of our lives.

And yet - deep down it seems like most of us long for something more.  Life is about… God.  Church is about… God.  If God has us here then there’s got to be more to it than our just being here.  Something about God’s purposes - what God wills for us - God being glorified.  Something way more fulfilling.

There was a Roman Catholic priest and a Baptist pastor who were good friends and they used to play golf together.  One 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.  Life in Jesus Christ.  Life that’s been restored - is being restored - to what God intends life to be.  What life focused on Jesus - life lived together with our siblings in Jesus - what that life together focused on Jesus - is all about.

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 together - to worship together - to serve together - that makes us miss each other when we’re away from each other.

That’s where Paul is going in this letter.  How we can experience more of the amazing life that God intends for each one of us.  What its like to share that life together.     

Let’s jump into the text.  Philippians 1 - verses 1 and 2 are Paul’s Greeting:   Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:  Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The date is about 61 A.D.  Paul is a prisoner in Rome.  Where he’ll be for about 2 years.  He’s under house arrest - living in his own rented house. (Acts 28:14-30)  This is Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome - meaning that Timothy is with him.  From that imprisonment Paul writes this letter.

Paul introduces himself and Timothy as servants of Christ Jesus.   “Servant” translates the Greek “doulos” - meaning slave - the lowest rung on the ladder of what it means to serve someone else.    He’s a servant - a prisoner in Rome because of Christ - for Christ.  Because of God’s grace - Paul - formerly bound in sin by Satan - is now bound by grace in Christ.

Paul writes to the saints in Christ Jesus.  Those in Philippi who have a unique relationship together in Christ - because of Christ.  Saints - saved - because of God’s grace.

Then notice how Paul starts with the saints and then - almost as an afterthought - he includes the church leadership - the overseers and deacons.  Usually formal letters start a the top - by addressing the big shots first - the CEO - the President or the Pope - some higher up - and then working downward to us peons.  Paul starts from the bottom up.  Peons to president.  That’s intentional.  Gives us an idea of where Paul is going in this letter.  

Philippians is not some great formal ponderous doctrinal and theological ecclesiastical treatise.  Paul is writing to people that he has great affection for - slaves and saints - brothers and sisters in Jesus - all of us saved by grace - who are trying to follow Jesus through the drama of life.  People who need peace in our hearts and relationships - peace that can only come from God.

Philippians is about fellowship.  About being the Body of Christ together.  Not about position and personalities and pride.

Verse three brings us to Paul’s Remembrance - verse 3:  I thank God in all my remembrance of you,

Paul’s remembrances are like mental selfies - selfies with groups of people.  Groupies?  Sounds kinda like the 60’s.  Photos from Philippi.  Memories of the saints in Philippi.

We don’t have the whole photo album - everything Paul experienced and did in Philippi.  But we do have some of those remembrances recorded for us in Acts 16.  What we have there helps us to understand why Paul thanks God when he remembers the Philippians.  (Acts 16:6-40)

Looking at the map.  Philippi is in what today is Northern Greece.  The town got its name from Philipp II, King of Macedonia.  Who was the father of… Alexander the Great.  Philippi was located on the major East West trade route.  One of the first places you would come to if you were going from Asia to Europe.  Along with gold and silver mining it was a farming community - in a fertile valley.  Kinda of like around here. 

Cutting through a whole lot of history - after the Romans conquered Macedonia about 168 BC they made Philippi into a Roman Colony.  Which put Philippi on about the same status as the city of Rome.  Meaning that Philippi was a major center of all things Roman.  They prided themselves on being Roman.  They dressed like Romans.  The spoke Latin.  If you were born in Philippi you automatically we’re a Roman citizen.  There were a lot of active and retired military there.  They actually liked having the Roman military around.

Meaning that in Paul’s day, Philippi was the place to be.  Strategic.  Prosperous.  Roman.

On Paul’s second missions trip - between about 48 to 51 - during Paul’s second missions trip Paul, Silas, and Timothy were making their way through what is now Turkey with the idea that they’d go east and into the Roman province of Asia - what is the yellow area surrounding Ephesus.  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 from Neapolis.

That remembrance is important to probably most 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 came into a town where was the place he usually went first?  The synagogue.  When Paul gets to Philippi he attends a women’s prayer meeting down by the river.

Philippi is very Roman.  Which probably explains why there was no synagogue.  Not a enough Jews.  Might also explain why - in Philippians - why Paul never quotes from the Old Testament.   

Near Philippi was the river Gangites where apparently the small Jewish population of Philippi came together for prayer.

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 servants of the Most High God, and they have come to tell you how to be saved.”  Until Paul is worn out - day after day having to deal with this demon possessed woman - Paul finally commands the demon that possessed her, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.”  Imagine the remembrance of this girl who had been set free by Jesus.  (Acts 16:17,18 TNLT)

Then there was the mob that tried to kill them.  Philippi being really really Roman - the mob accusing Paul and Silas of being Jews and disturbing the city with not Roman customs.  The judges that had Paul and Silas stripped - beaten - thrown in prison.  And later freaked out when they found out that Paul was a Roman citizen.  Apologized and asked them politely to leave the city.  A God story memory to hang on to.   (Acts 16:6-40)

Paul and Silas singing songs in prison - 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 Silas pushing Timothy overboard. 

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

Coming to verses 4 to 11 - Paul gives four examples of how those memories are affecting him - even in Rome. 

First - Paul writes that he remembers them with JOY.

Verse 4:  always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.     

The word for joy is “Chairo” - like the city.  Remember the angel saying to the shepherds:  “I bring you good news of great joy”?  (Luke 2:10)  Same word in Greek.  Joy that’s an over the top emotional response.  People used the word to greet each other.  “Chairo dude.”  Minus the dude part.  Its what you said when you met someone you really really wanted to see.  Heart level over the top emotional response.

When Paul prays for the Philippians - remembering what they’ve experienced together - what God is doing in and through them even now as their separated by a whole lot of miles - something inside Paul wells up from the heart level - becomes a smile on his lips - and praise comes out.  Expressions of joy. 

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.  Meaning that Jesus is at the heart of this letter and the very source of joy.

Joy comes when we realize the presence of God in our lives.  When we see God at work in us and through us.  There’s amazing joy when our fellowship is found in Jesus.

There are parts of what we do here that can’t be written out in an Annual Report.  There’s a joy in participation - in partnering together - in a part of what God is doing in our lives.  Living out the reality of the Gospel in how we live together in Christ. 

Sometimes we feel that at potlucks or in worship or while we’re praying together.  Maybe even when we’re meeting as the Church Council or as a committee - or serving in different ministries.  When we realize that Jesus is at work in us and through us there’s joy.  Times when being together isn’t a thing we do - enduring being together.  But a joy when we Jesus at work in the center of it all.

Sometimes we tend to focus on issues - conflicts and concerns.  How messed up other people are and how their junk effects us - kinda spills over and splatters on ministry or on us personally.  We do that church.  We can do that at home or work or school.  But when it comes to our siblings in Jesus if we’re going to focus on how our feelings got hurt or how other people let us down - praying complaining prayers to God about other people - or whining to others - all that is going to rob us and the congregation of joy.

What Paul is showing us is a totally different focus.  A much better way to remember each other.  To remember the joy of being with each other.  The joy of knowing each other.  Of all that God allows us together.

The joy of God using us.  The Almighty Gracious Creator God Who gives breath to our lungs and causes our hearts to beat - God choosing to use us - us!!! - bringing us to be here together - to work in us and through us in each other’s lives - humbling us and growing us and teaching us - for His honor and glory according to His purposes.

What an astounding joy it is that we - we!!! - are here together.  To know each other.  To learn to put up with each other and to grow together.  What a joy to see God at work in and through someone.  Praise God for those that are here.  When we pray for each other let’s learn to do it with joy.

Second example - Paul remembers the Philippians with CONFIDENCE.

Verse 6:  And I am sure of this - literally:  confident of this - persuaded and believe it with all my heart - 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. 

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 - maybe it was someone she knew - 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.

Great wedding.  Everyone looked 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.

Same kind of thing happens when we meet up with missionaries we know that we haven’t seen in years.  And we hear how God has been using them out there someplace.  Or, even when we hear how God is using people right here in Merced or the Central Valley.  Sometimes in really tough circumstances.  Welcome to the mission field.  God at work.  Siblings in Jesus remaining faithful and obedient.

That’s what Paul is writing about - a partnership that spans distance and that transcends time. 

Let’s be careful.

Steve Zeisler preaching on this passage - Steve Zeisler says this:  “What is unique about the Christian message is that God is the one who originates it, God is the one who carries out the ministry to us, and God is the one who completes it.  Our great hope does not lie in anything we have, in any contribution we make, but in the fact that Christ lives in us and through us; He empowers us to live as we ought to and he has guaranteed that He will finish the course with us.” (1) 

No matter where we may be we have confidence that each of us as we continue to allow God to work in our lives - God will continue to grow us to perfection in Christ - moving us forward in our relationship and usefulness to Him.

Which is huge.  When we see our sibling in Jesus feeling like they’ve totally blown it - and maybe they have.  They’re feeling washed out - depressed - maybe fearful - hating themselves.  We can hold on to them - look them in the eyes - and tell them we have confidence in them because we have confidence in God.  God is faithful.  The work God has begun He will complete in you.

Point them at our hope.  Encourage them - in the midst of stuff - to turn towards God.  And He will take you forward.

Sometimes we’ll have the privilege of doing that for someone.  Sometimes we’ll need a sibling to do that for us.  But its our privilege to remember each other - to live in support of each other in the cause of reaching the world with the Gospel.  Like Paul - remembering that partnership - there’s a confidence we have in each other because we have confidence in God. 

Third example - verses 7 and 8 - Paul remembers the Philippians with AFFECTION. 

Verse 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.  For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.      

On April 30, 2003 - Microsoft Corporation announced the iLoo.  “loo” being the British word for toilet.  You can laugh.  But this is serious stuff.

The iLoo was to be a portable toilet that came complete with a wireless keyboard and extendable - height-adjustable - plasma screen located directly in front of the seated user.  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.” (2)

We can laugh at that.  But, there’s an important spiritual truth here.

Think about our computers - the Internet - email, smartphones, Twitter, iPads, Skype - the common thread running through the digital revolution is… communication. 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.  Paul writes, “Its only right for me to do this.  Its only natural that I should think about you this way.” 

Its a good thing for us to care for each other - to hold each other deep in each other’s hearts - close to core of who we are.  Unnatural if we don’t.  Isn’t it true that we’re somehow incomplete - missing something vital -  without that depth of relationship?

In what Paul writes there’s an encouragement for us to be intentional - to do what it takes - to do whatever we’re able to do - to take advantage of every opportunity - to go deeper in our relationships - our affection towards each other.  If it takes tech and Facebook or time at Coffee Bandits.  Worshiping together.  Praying together.  Life Groups.  Pictures on your refrigerator.  Whatever. 

Then fourth - Paul remembers the Philippians with PRAYER

Verse 9:  And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Paul prays that their love would abound - be excessive - overflowing - spilling out all over the place - more and more - growing.  That that love would be guided by knowledge, discernment, understanding and insight as to what is excellent - what really is worth loving - what’s worth giving our life and attention to.  Even our fellowship together.

So that - Paul prays - that they would live pure and blameless until Jesus comes back.  So 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.  So that when people see you or I or think about us they’ll praise God.  God gets the glory.

In the day to day drama of our lives - in the spiritual war zone out there - with everything that’s coming after us in this world - with all the temptations and sucker punches of our adversary - wouldn’t it be a tremendous comfort and strength to know that others are praying like that for us?  These are core issues in our lives.  Wisdom that we need.  Character that we crave.

We need each other to be in prayer for each other.  What happens here on Tuesday and Saturday nights - and Sunday morning before the Service of Worship - our siblings praying for us - for God’s work here.  That’s not an option.  That’s an essential.  The people we list in the bulletin or what comes out in the Connection - people we’re praying for this week - that’s not something to take lightly.  In our personal times of prayer during the week we need to be intentionally praying for each other.   

Processing all that - fellowship - what it means for us to follow Jesus and for us to follow Jesus together.  Moving forward together into all that God has for us.  Two questions:

First:  WHO do you remember?

Along the way, most of us have been associated with some other congregation.  Over the years that might add up to a number of people - brothers and sisters - many scattered all over the place that God has brought in and out of our lives.  People that God uses in our lives.

When I was a kid I remember sitting in adult chairs - my feet dangling off the end - in this dark fellowship hall listening to Donita White.  To me she wasn’t the most warm and fuzzy lady.  But she knew how to use a flannel graph.  I learned a ton about the content of Scripture from Donita.

There are a number of people along the way that God has used in my life.  All of us can point to at least one person.  If you start thinking about it.  There a lot of people God uses in our lives.  Maybe even some right here.

Maybe sometime this week you might want to fire off a Facemail or a text.  Or, here’s a really novel thought - call them!  Wow!  And tell them that you’re thinking about them.  Maybe even with joy.  Thank them for their faithfulness and obedience.  They’re letting God continue His work in and through them.  Tell them that you actually love them.  That you’re praying for them.

Can you imagine what it would be like to get a phone call like that?  Wouldn’t that just encourage you to no end?

Second - processing what Paul writes:  HOW are you remembered?

When we leave here.  Even if its to go home today - to work tomorrow - into the community - school - 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?

30 years from now - in the lives of our kids or grand kids how will we be remembered?  What spiritual legacy are we passing on to generation next?  Right now, who are your discipling?  Who are you having intentional spiritual conversations with?

I pray that God will cause me to finish well.  Not just fall across the finish line exhausted.  Or people saying, “Finally he’s graduated up.”  But victorious.  And along the way, maybe God will use me to encourage others to run victoriously after Him. 

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. 

______________________

1. Steve Zeisler,  “The Joy of Joining In”, Philippians 1:1-11, December 6, 1981

2. San Francisco Chronicle, 05.07.03

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®  (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.