Wednesday September 2, 2015

Read Philippians 1:4-6

 If an objective stranger were to sit through a service in your local church what words would he or she use to describe the congregation? Would the word ‘joyful’ be used?

As we saw last week, Paul looked at other believers with great joy because he saw them as gospel partners in the Lord’s work. He put aside minor differences and embraced the believers. His prayers for them were filled with joy because of their partnership in the gospel. As we continue reading through verses 4 and 5 to verse 6 we see another reason for the joy that Paul had concerning his brothers and sisters in the Lord.

Paul is filled with joy because God had begun a good work in the Philippian Christians and God Himself would finish that work. That good work is obviously salvation and the completion of that good work occurs when Jesus returns to judge the living and the dead. Those who have received the love of Christ Jesus will see the good work finished as they enter the new heaven/earth for all eternity.

To incorporate this reality into our thinking and mindset, and indeed into our prayers, is life changing and transformational. Far too many Christians think negatively about Sonday services and Christian fellowship. Some are so negative that they surf the network of churches in their region or they stop attending church all together. Neither of these is a godly option.  In line with Philippians 1:6 we need to realise that fellowship and church services are a vital means used by God to complete good work that He began in us. God doesn’t take believers into an isolated operating room to make us more like Christ and to finish the good work in us. He does so through fellowship and worship. You may have never noticed but every biblical instance or command to grow, to be holy, etc (all of which constitute God’s good work in us) are in the context of fellowship.

If we incorporate Philippians 1:6 into our prayers then like Paul we will also pray with great joy. As we bring our brothers and sisters into the Lord’s presence and remember that He will finish the good work He began in them, how can we but praise God and rejoice in the good things He is doing? Even if life is a struggle for our brothers and sisters we can rejoice and praise God because He is still at work in their lives, bringing that good work to completion.

If we combine all of the above and take it to church with us on Sonday then our services and our congregations will be truly transformational. A congregation filled with joy and love that focuses on God’s good work and that shares that love is magnetic and will produce deep seated change even in the hardest of hearts.

What you’ll see over time is that people will stop making excuses to be away from church. People will stop being away from church because of something else they had to do. People will give up their STABO (subject to a better offer) mentality and they will make church a priority.  

Prayer:

Using today’s Bible passage and notes write down points for

Adoration:

Confession

Thanks

Supplication:

· Pray that your church would be filled with the kind of love and joy that is mentioned in this week’s passage. Pray that the love in the church would grow and deepen as individuals and groups push deeply into God.

 

· Pray that our cell groups would be havens of deep, committed relationships and that each and every single person in your congregation  would be committed to being in a cell.

  

Discussion Questions For Families and Groups

1. Why does Paul pray with joy regarding the Philippians?

2. Do you pray with such joy?

3. How can we change so that we are praying with such joy?