For what are we most thankful? Most would say they are thankful for friends and family.
q William Barclay – British Scholar wrote in his autobiography that he was thankful, “that being such as he was, he had the friends he had.”
q Helen Keller – expressed her thankfulness in these words, “I thank God for my handicaps for through them I have found myself, my work and my God.”
q One little boy said – “I’m thankful for my glasses because they keep the boys from hitting me and the girls from kissing me!”
(Quoted by Harbour, pp. 15-16)
The Apostle Paul begins his letter to the Philippians by expressing what he was thankful for – I thank my God in all my remembrance of you (v.3). In fact, this was not unusual, because Paul opened many of his letters this way. For example,
q In 1 Corinthians 1:4 he wrote – “I thank my God always concerning you…”
q In Ephesians 1:15-16 he wrote – “I also…do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers”…
q In Colossians 1:3 he wrote – “We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you”…
q In 1 Thessalonians 1:2 he wrote – “We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers”…
q In 2 Timothy 1:3 he wrote – “I thank God…as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day”…
q In Philemon 4 he wrote – “I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers”…
These were not just trite, obligatory opening remarks. Rather, they were statements of Paul’s true feelings toward the believers to whom he was writing. In fact I believe that one of the keys to Paul’s spiritual success was his thankful spirit – attitude of gratitude. So when Paul says to the Philippians, “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,” he was expressing something that was real and meaningful! This is all the more remarkable when you recall the circumstances surrounding his first encounter with the Philippians (Acts 16:16-40).
How can Paul be thankful for his memories of the Philippians? Two key words help us to understand this ability.
The first key word is God. Paul could thankfully recall those difficult times because he knew that God was in control. Because God was bigger than any problem he might face Paul could always say, “I thank my God!”
The second key word is you. Paul was not necessarily thankful for the circumstances, but for the people to whom those circumstances brought him into contact with. Therefore Paul could sincerely say he was thankful every time he remembered them.
How did Paul express his thankfulness? Paul’s thankfulness was expressed in 3 ways.
Paul’s Thankfulness was Expressed through Joyful Prayer – v.4
always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all,
Here we are given insight into Paul’s prayer life. In v.4 we see how Paul prayed and in v.9-11 we learn what he prayed for.
Paul prayed Joyfully – “with joy”
This is the first of many references to joy in Philippians! Prayer that comes from a thankful heart is always joyful prayer! This is a good place to be reminded again of the difference between joy and happiness? Happiness is based entirely on our circumstances i.e. happenstance. Joy on the other hand is the result of a sense of well being that comes from a right relationship with God – knowing He is control!
Paul prayed Constantly – “always”
Is this hyperbole? No! Paul was in a constant spirit of prayer and every time he thought of the Philippians he prayed for them. Again, this was a pattern of Paul’s.
· 1 Corinthians 1:4 – “I thank my God always concerning you…”
· Ephesians 1:15-16 – “I also……do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers…”
· Colossians 1:3 – “We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you…”
· 1 Thessalonians 1:2 – “We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers…”
· 2 Timothy 1:3 – “I thank God……as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day…”
· Philemon 4 – “I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers…”
Paul prayed Repeatedly = “in my every prayer”
Every time Paul prayed he thought of the Philippians! He was a prayer warrior.
Paul prayed Individually = “for you all”
The NIV reads “for all of you” – The phrase is meant to be all-inclusive. Paul did not pray, “Lord bless the Philippians,” but he prayed for each one of them before the throne of grace (as much as he knew them individually).
No one was busier than Paul, yet whether he was making tents or traveling to the next town or as he was now, sitting under house arrest, Paul dedicated many hours to prayer! He had a prayer life that we all could imitate.
Paul’s Thankfulness was Expressed through Firm Confidence – v.5-6
5 in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now. 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.
Confidence in what? The continued growth of the Philippians in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ! In v.5 Paul gives the immediate reason for his confidence and in v.6 Paul gives the ultimate reason for his confidence.
The Immediate Reason – v.5
The immediate reason for his confidence was based on their participation in the gospel. The word participation or fellowship is the familiar word koinonia. Koinonia speaks of a joint-participation in a common interest or activity, a sharing, a partnership, a commonness. The Philippians heartily co-operated with Paul in the furtherance of the gospel.
The phrase from the first day until now speaks of the events recorded in Acts 16:15. Immediately after being converted Lydia opened her home to Paul and his associates. The Philippians did not hesitate, they were not slow starters, they immediately responded and became involved.
A Pastor in a small town went down to the train station every day just to watch the train come roaring through. One of his deacons asked him why he followed the same ritual every day. The Pastor responded, “That train is the only thing in this town that I don’t have to push!”
Unlike some who have been Christians for a long time and still don’t participate – the Philippians didn’t need a push! The words until now are great because it indicated that not only did they start well but they continued well! They were faithful. They did not give up when the going got tough!
At the time Paul was writing this letter ten years had passed since the events in Acts 16 occurred. In the meantime the Philippians had sent a gift to the poor saints in Jerusalem (2 Corinthians 8:1-5). More than once the Philippians sent help to Paul in the form of a financial gift (Philippians 4:15-16). They even sent one of their own, Epaphroditus to be a personal blessing to Paul (Philippians 2:25-30; 4:18). They continued through the years to be joint-partners with Paul even until now!
The Ultimate Reason – v.6
Here we see the other side of the coin. Paul was confident because of the faithful work of the Philippians, but more importantly he could be confident because of the faithful work of God for and in the Philippians.
The work that Paul speaks of is the work of God’s transforming grace in the life of the believer. This work involves least two things: Redemption, the work God does for us and Sanctification, the work God does in us.
Now, I want you to notice three things that characterizes this work.
(1) It is a Godly work – “He who began”
Paul could ultimately be confident because it was God who was working in and through the Philippians (Philippians 2:12-13).
(2) It is a good work – “a good work in you”
It is “good” in origin, quality, purpose and results (James 1:17-18).
(3) It is a guaranteed work – “will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus”
God always finishes what he starts, therefore those He redeems and sanctifies, He preserves to the very end (Romans 8:28-39; 1 Peter 1:3-5).
The phrase will perfect means to bring something to a successful conclusion, to finish or to complete.
Kenneth Wuest translates verse 6 this way, “He who began in you a work which is good, will bring it to a successful conclusion right up to the day of Christ Jesus” (pp. 33).
When will God complete His work He is doing in each believer?
1 Corinthians 1:7-9
7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who shall also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. NAS
1 Corinthians 15:51-58
51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord. NAS
Paul Expressed his Thankfulness through Heartfelt Love – v.7-8
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. 8 For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.
In verse 3 Paul told the Philippians that he had them on his mind, now in verse 7 Paul goes a step further and says, “I have you in my heart.” The word “heart” (kardia) was used in the New Testament to refer to the center of a person’s inner life, the source of all the forces and functions of soul and spirit. In other words, the heart was the source of the feelings, emotions, desires and passions of human life.
By saying, “I have you in my heart” Paul was revealing his deepest feelings, emotions, desires, and passion for the Philippians. He loved them with a deep abiding love – which is an amazing thing considering Paul was a Jew, an ex Pharisee and the Philippians were Greek and Romans, ex-pagans!
How did he develop such a love for them? ...“you all are partakers of grace with me”…His love grew out of a partnership of co-operative commitment! When we begin to participate together in common things with common goals, sharing in the blood, sweat and tears of ministering the gospel to the world, we will soon have each other “in our hearts.”
“For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.”
The phrase the affection of Jesus Christ is literally, “bowels of affection.” The term bowels referred to the nobler organs like the heart, liver and lungs – not the intestines. It is translated as affection to signify strong feelings!
The phrase “of Jesus Christ” indicates the source of Paul’s love – literally, within Jesus Christ. In other words, Paul was not talking about his love channeled through Christ, but Christ’s love channeled through him. Is the love of Christ flowing through you?
How do you express your thankfulness to God and others? Might I suggest we follow Paul's example? We too can express our thankfulness through, joyful prayer, firm confidence and heartfelt love.
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