Philippians 1:3-11
Thanksgiving
1 Thessalonians 5:18 Foundational thoughts
Thanksgiving is a choice
We are not thankful for everything, but in everything
It is God’s will – we do not have to think about it or pray about it.
This Thanksgiving may be hard for you.
Today we have some encouragement from God’s Word.
Greeting and Introduction (vv.1-2)
Paul didn’t write this at Starbucks drinking a Venti Caramel Frappuccino writing on his MacBook. He was under house arrest.
Talk about practicing what you preach.
Notice – Paul and Timothy, He is not a lone ranger in ministry.
Servants – literally slaves
Not Paul the apostle, formerly Dr. Saul of Tarsus, Th.D. Pharisee, expert on the law.
To all the saints – the church
Verse 2 is standard early church greeting
Grace- unmerited favor
Peace – wholeness in every part of life, produced by Jesus’ finished work on the cross, the empty tomb and the ascension.
Thanksgiving (vv.3-8)
Paul shares his reasons for being thankful for the church
In Acts 16 Paul founded the congregation.
He had strong personal ties with them
They were concerned about the effects of his imprisonment.
The letter is written during his imprisonment in Rome/ house arrest, waiting to appear before Caesar (Acts 28:16, 30).
Paul focused on things like partnership and joy to encourage them.
In verses 3-5 Paul shares how he prays for the church
I love these verses. They meant so much to me when I worked for the association. It is how I viewed my role and how I prayed for the churches.
When he prays his heart is filled with joy.
Joy – wonderful theme of this book
Partnership – was not just financial, but also a deep personal concern for this well-being.
Temple Baptist Church has been a blessing to so many through the years now.
Who might be praying like that for this church today?
Me - I loved you long before I came on staff
Numera – California, here, Detroit, back to California
Daniel – his love for the church and our Sunday School class
Those who received shoeboxes (Operation Christmas Child) around the world, the do not even know the name of this church but are thankful.
BCM at USC – just this week
Then a verse that makes me want to shout. If you want to be thankful read verse 6.
All about God
He began the work
He will bring it to completion
We will be complete, mature, like him totally when he comes again or when we finish our race.
God is not finished with me
God is not finished with you
God is not finished with Temple Baptist Church.
All about what God has done, is doing, will do.
In verses 7-8 Paul continues to highlight the special relationship he had with the church.
The church stood with Paul, even during his imprisonment.
Paul ends with a prayer (vv.9-11)
Paul prays that love the thing that distinguishes us from the world would abound more and more, that it would grow.
All over the scripture we see the importance of love
John 13
I Corinthians 13
Is this not what our community needs?
Is it not what our culture desperately needs to see in you and me?
Paul prays that their love would be accompanied by knowledge and all discernment.
His prayer is that the Philippians’ love be expressed by wise actions that would benefit others and glorify God.
So that they would be able to affirm and practice what is excellent.
So that they could be confident of being found pure and blameless at Christ’s return.
In verse 11, he prays for the church to produce the fruit of righteousness.
This is not produced by our own power, but through Jesus, his power which results to the glory and praise of God.
These verses are my prayer for you and for me today, for this thanksgiving week.
Back to where we started 1 Thessalonians 5:18
It is a choice
Not “for” but “in”
It is God’s will
What is your choice today?
