Personal Study - Friday - Partnership

Go read Philippians 1:1-6 and focus on vs. 5

<> What does Paul say is his reason for praying with joy when he thinks of the church at Philippi?

Partnership:
If you are new at all to walking with Jesus, and following in His footsteps by being a missionary, let me go ahead and tell you that it is not an easy task. There are hard days of doubt, temptation, suffering, persecution and apathy. In the midst of the hardest days, if you do not have other people in your life who are madly in love with Jesus and partnered with you, then you’re in trouble.

The issue isn’t that God is insufficient; the issue is that He designed us to walk in intimate community with other believers. For Paul as a traveler, the church at Philippi was a haven of secure partners who had walked through parts of his life with him and were loyal trusted friends.

<> Do you have regular contact with other people who love Jesus and push you to love Jesus?
<> How and what do you pray for these people?
(Sometimes just letting them know that you are praying for them and what you are praying for them can be one of the most encouraging things in the world.)

Centered on the Gospel:
Paul is clear that the reason he prays with joy is because of the Philippian church’s partnership with him “in the gospel”. These are not just Paul’s old church friends. These are not just social nominal Christians. They are partnered with Paul AND they are partnered in the mission of Jesus Christ.

If you have ever been on a mission trip with someone or been in a position of ministry with someone, there is a certain unexplainable bond that grows. In these contexts you get to see the heart of service that God is building in the other person and they become intense reminders of the heart that He is building in you.

Paul writes to the church of Philippi and says it gives me great joy because you are partnered with me in understanding what the most important thing in life is! You aren’t confused drama-seeking, selfish, foolish, misguided Christians. You are on mission! You are loving people in the name of Jesus! I LOVE IT!

The Church of Philippi consistently became Paul’s most loyal support in some of his toughest moments of being a missionary, because they were absolutely dedicated to his and their own advancement of the gospel. Whether it cost money, time, people, the church sacrificed to show their concern for Paul and ultimately their heart for the gospel.

<> If Paul was writing a letter to you, would he write “I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel” or would he write “I always pray with frustration because you don’t really care that much about the gospel”?
<> Are you willing to sacrifice your resources to make sure the gospel advances here in our city of Columbia?

Perseverance:
Read Philippians 1:5 one last time.
<> What is implied by the last phrase in the verse?

Along with Paul’s joy that the Philippians are partnered with him and that they are partnered with him in sharing the gospel, Paul is overjoyed at the their consistency. You don’t just have a sporadic flair up of passion for the gospel, but literally from the first day until this day, you have set Jesus as your number one priority and the spreading of His truth and love.

Way too much of the time here in the South, followers of Jesus appear to be riding a spiritual roller coaster: Jesus did something cool in my life . . . I LOVE HIM MORE THAN ANYTHING . . . dangit, Jesus let something dumb happen in my life . . . I LOVE ME . . . Whoa I went on a mission trip . . . GOSPEL GOSPEL GOSPEL!!!! . . . my boyfriend broke up with me . . . JESUS WHO?!? Yay! The sermon was awesome last night . . . JESUS PAID IT ALL . . . Yay! That sin looks like fun today! . . . I AM HORRIBLE . . .

Go read Matthew 6:23
You were not designed to live in constant turmoil between your old masters and Jesus. You are not supposed to be constantly running from righteousness to failure and back. The Scriptures are clear that no one can serve two masters. It’s impossible.

Paul writes to the church of Philippi and says, “I pray with so much joy in my life because ya’ll are relentlessly devoted to ONE thing: Jesus.”

<> Do you feel like you are riding a constant spiritual roller coaster?
<> Is it because you are trying to serve multiple masters?
<> What things other than Jesus do you let distract you?
<> Have you fallen away recently from the passion you once had for the Gospel?
<> What helps you be more in love with Jesus than anything else?