True Fellowship Philippians 1:3-6
Broughton Fox was a well-known theologian who was a young chaplain in the Royal Navy when the whole country was preparing for the D-day landings during World War II. He was with the sailors who were focussed on invading Normandy. He wrote,
“The minds of all hands on board, regardless of rank were focussed on each other and the invasion’s success. No-one thought of his own personal interest but he thought of the interest of others and thought how he could help his shipmates in their commonly shared task.”
Years later he said,
“I remember noting in my mind that I had never been happier.”
After the successful invasion, the sailors returned to the United Kingdom but something had changed. Christian fellowship is much more than friendship, it is a group who are committed to a common goal.
“The answer was quite simple. During those months that preceded and followed D-day our thoughts had a minimum of self-centredness in them. We gave ourselves to the shared activities and objective. But once the undertaking was over we reverted to our old purposes as we normally do.”
This feeling is common to all who are pursuing a common goal and it flourishes in the common pursuit of this goal. This is what christian fellowship is, people working for a common end, the glory of the Lord Jesus.
‘The Fellowship of the Ring’ was the first book of J.R.R Tolkien’s trilogy ‘Lord of the Rings’, coming out in 1954. It was preceded by ‘The Hobbit’ which was published in 1937. The ‘Fellowship of the Ring’ consisted of nine individuals coming from very different, even ridiculous, backgrounds. They were brought together by a common purpose. They counter-balanced the Saurons who appear as the nine Ringwraiths. From Middle Earth came four Hobbits, tiny beings with large hairy shoeless feet, named Frodo, Merry, Sam and Pippin. There were also two men, Boromir and Aragorn, warriors of the first rank, who were always dressed and ready for battle. There was one wizard, Gandolf, an elderly man who had always opposed evil, who had supernatural powers and wisdom. Then there was the elf Legolas, an archer with pointed ears and Gimli, the dwarf who stoutly wielded a battle axe.
The Elves and the Dwarfs have an innate dislike of each other, each feeling they are superior to the other. This disparate group were bound together by the mission to defeat the forces of evil and so save Middle Earth. They became inseparable and in the end the man Boromir gave his life to save the Hobbits. Ultimately the Elf and Dwarf became such good friends that Gimli was inducted into the distinguished order that was reserved for Hobbits.
The stories vividly portray the battle between good and evil, power and greed, innocence and enlightenment. Such a fellowship cannot exist unless the conditions are right – people must see that there is a battle to be won.
Paul similarly talks about the Fellowship of the Gospel:
“I always pray with joy because of your partnership (or fellowship) in the gospel from the first day until now . . .” Philippians 1:5
This fellowship exceeds all other fellowships. There is a battle going on and we are all needed to play our part. Our adversary is always looking out for discouraged stragglers, rather like a pride of lions are looking for those who are outside the herd of wildebeest or deer.
“Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, stand firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” 1 Peter 5:8-9
Paul does not have these concerns about the church in Philippi. The opening verses are a joyful acknowledgement of the vitality of this church.
“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 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.” Philippians 1:3-6
Friends in a Fellowship
As Paul thought about the small church in Philippi he undoubtedly would have thought of its members, Lydia and her family, the prison guard and his family, Euodia, Syntyche and Clement and others added to the church. Perhaps he smiled as he wrote,
“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel . . .” Philippians 1:3-4
This is so typical of Paul. He seldom thanks God for physical things, it is nearly always people that he is grateful for. He remains grateful even for those Christians who cause trouble., such as Euodia and Syntyche! The book of Romans was written before he had ever visited that city. However in the last chapter he mentions thirty-three individuals by name and sends nineteen greetings! Some of us may have heard of George Verwer who is now in his eighties. He was the founder and drive behind Operation Mobilisation. He also is remarkable for the way he keeps in contact with thousands of people, we had a personal e-mail from him just over a week ago. An amazing man who also demonstrates the importance of being a ‘people-matter’ person.
Joy because of Christ
Paul is so grateful for each of the people in Philippi. Verse four demonstrates the intense emotion Paul felt for these people. Note the use of the words, ‘every time’, ‘all of you’, and ‘I always pray with joy’. This note of joy is a recurrent theme in this letter, coming fifteen times in this short letter. This theme culminates with the great verse,
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again, rejoice!” Philippians 4:4
What what is that thrilled Paul so much about this church? They were certainly an outgoing church. One minister said to his church,
“What we need to concentrate on is caring for ourselves first. When that is right we can think of others outside!”
What a foolish sentiment this is. We need to learn to be caring people both for those in the church, to encourage them and for those outside the church so that they may be saved.
The Philippians were a caring church. When Paul wrote to the Corinthian church he holds up the Philippian church as a great example of what fellowship means. Note again how ‘joy’ is a feature of this church.
“And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people.And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.” 2 Corinthians 8:1-5
When Paul wrote this letter to the Philippians he was chained as a criminal. The joy he experienced was not the result of prosperity or success. It is was na mood but an attitude of mind that came from his grasp that the Lord is in control of everything. When we have this perspective on life everything changes, this is why Paul can write:
“Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord . . .” Philippians 3:1
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Philippians 4:4
What Paul wrote was not theoretical advice, he had learned this from bitter experience.
“But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.” Philippians 2:17-18
How we all need to understand this, our joy comes because we have an eternal perspective. Even when I am told that I have a terminal disease that joy can still radiate from me. The source of our joy is the Lord himself, as the following verses make clear.
“Welcome him (Epaphroditus) in the Lord with great joy . . .” Philippians 1:29
“Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.” Philippians 3:1
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Philippians 4:4
“I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me.” Philippians 4:10
This is why joy can be a command. When we are trusting the Lord who has died for us so that our sin is forgiven and forgotten and we have been empowered by God’s Holy Spirit, the relationship our new attitude of mind makes joy the obvious outcome. Nothing else matters as much as this. Paul is assuring his friends who were so concerned for Paul that his joy has not disappeared. This is a repeated theme – it keeps chining. He models security and joy even when facing adversity. What a high standard he depicts, and what a challenge this is to christians everywhere.
Joy because they were Partners in the Gospel
The centre of this short passage gives another reason for Paul’s joy:
“I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel . . .” Philippians 1:4
They had grasped the commission that Jesus has given to his people.
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:19-20
This fellowship or partnership is very real. We had the privilege of being invited to China and were thrilled to experience the bond that there exists between Christians of different background, ethnicity and language. They lived for Christ. The basis for this partnership was the threefold bond between the Philippians, Paul and the Lord Jesus Christ. The apostle John begins his first letter with the same idea:
“We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.” 1 John 1:3
It is important to remember that the Greek word for fellowship, koinonia, is the root for the Greek words that are translated both ‘partnership’ and ‘sharing’
To be members of their partnership is all God’s doing and choosing.
“. . . all of you share in God’s grace with me.” Philippians 1:7
One aspect of being in this fellowship will be to suffer in the same way that Paul, the apostles and other Christians have.
“I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing his suffering, . .” Philippians 3:11
This fellowship is certainly costly:
“Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles . . . not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you only . . . you sent me aid again and again when I was in need.” Philippians 4:15-17
The Philippian fellowship rested on a close relationship with the one God, revealed in Jesus Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Paul is full of joy because he can see that the Philippian church had been involved in the fellowship of the gospel right from the day they became Christians.
“I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” Philippians 1:5
Today all true Christians are involved ion this same three way bond, we are under the leadership of Christ and his apostles and prophets as revealed in Scripture, we are in a church team whose aim is to represent God and his wishes by promoting the claims of Christ to the world. Churches must be outward looking or they will inevitably die. Forget Middle Earth. These christians shared the gospel with all they could by both what they say and how they care for others needs. The Macedonian Christians were relatively poor, yet they gave beyond their means to support gospel ministry. But first they gave themselves completely to the Lord Jesus.
Let us read these opening verses again and let them encourage us in our commitment to serving the Lord.
“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 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.” Philippians 1:3-6
A church minister was preaching on this passage and added,
“”Oh that everyone in our church could have this same attitude.”
There are some people who regularly jump from church to church because they cannot find what satisfies them We never will until we all understand the commitment and the cost of being committed to Christ.
How encouraging verse six is for all of us. This is God’s work in us, the work of the Spirit is to keep us labouring with and for Christ. When we meet him face to face the struggle will all be worth while.
“. . . 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.”
The message of the book of Philippians is clear. Gos is in control whatever problems were are facing. The Fellowship of the Gospel is far from being just a social friendship. It is like a team that are focussed on winning for the manager they love.
BVP
July 2021
