Memories of the Precious Fellowship of other Christians can keep us going when we find ourselves in difficult circumstances.
If the Apostle Paul was with us today, I'm sure that the old hymn, Precious Memories would be one of his favorite songs. He would have particularly liked the third stanza: In the stillness of the midnight, Echoes from the past I hear; Old-time singing, gladness bringing, From that lovely land somewhere; Precious memories, how they linger, How they ever flood my soul; In the stillness of the midnight, Precious, sacred scenes unfold. As he thought about his Christian friends in the city of Philippi, I'm sure his mind was flooded with Precious memories.
The apostle Paul came to Philippi in about 50 A.D. during his second missionary journey. It was a prosperous Roman colony, and according to Acts 16, "the leading city of that district of Macedonia." It was there that he and his companions met a business woman named Lydia. They shared the gospel with her, she was saved and then her whole family turned to Christ. Now Paul, being Paul, got into trouble pretty quick because of his boldness in sharing the gospel. Before too long, Paul and Silas were arrested, beaten and thrown in prison. While there, they share Jesus with the jailer and he and his whole family are saved!
They now have enough folks to start a Church, and that's exactly what they did. And the Church grew and was a strong and vibrant up through the Middle Ages. Despite some problems and growing pains, the Philippian Christian Community was especially responsive to and encouraging of Paul. They supported Paul's ministry financially and also with prayer when nobody else would. Because of this, the Church was always one of Paul's favorites. It should come as no surprise to us then, that Paul begins his letter to the Philippian Believers with words of thanksgiving and prayer for their love and support.
What makes the story more interesting is that Paul writes this letter from a jail cell. These first few verses teach us that Memories of the Precious Fellowship of other Christians can keep us going when we find ourselves in difficult circumstances.
I. PRECIOUS MEMORIES CAUSE US TO BE THANKFUL
Philippians 1:3 says, "I thank my God every time I remember you." ( ESV)1. There are some people and sometimes groups of people that we remember with special fondness:
a. Perhaps they were especially kind to us.
b. Maybe they helped us during a difficult time.
c. Possibly they befriended us and their presence brought a special joy into your life.
2. Can you think of such people?
3. When you think of them, are you thankful?
A. PAUL DECLARED HIS THANKS TO GOD FOR THESE BELIEVERS
Philippians 1:4 says, “Always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy,” ( ESV)
1. The Apostle is Jubilant
a. He reflects on the wonderful way in which he has been led and on the evidence which the Church at Philippi has given of its love for the gospel and for himself.
b. When he thinks of the believers at Philippi his heart is filled with joy.
c. We need to learn to choose joy, to express our joy, to understand what joy is and where it comes from our relationship with fellow believers.
2. Paul is thankful for their partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.
3. Paul is thankful that he who began a good work in them will continue to work in them until the day of Christ Jesus.
a. These are memories that bring joy to the Apostle’s heart.
B. PAUL DECLARED HIS AFFECTION FOR THESE BELIEVERS
Philippians 1:7–8 says, 7 “It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.” ( ESV)
1. Like Paul, we can say, "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you."
a. Paul yearns for these people with all the affection of Christ Jesus.
b. It's a word meaning "to long for because of great affection".
c. Theirs is a friendship that goes deeper than just human friendship.
d. They had a tie that binds them deep into comradery, but beyond that into a Christian family.
II. PRECIOUS MEMORIES ENCOURAGE US TO PRAY
Philippians 1:4–5 says, “Always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” ( ESV)
1. As Paul writes this letter he finds himself in difficult circumstances.
a. He is in jail, probably in Rome, and the prospects do not look good.
2 Paul could have surrendered to depression and despondency in his prayer, "God, this isn't fair. Life stinks!"
3. Paul could have surrendered to anger in his prayer, "Lord, this isn't right! I'm an apostle. I'm doing your will. Get me out of here!"
4. Instead, Paul's mind is flooded with the good thoughts of his Christian family at Philippi and he tells them that he's praying for them!
A. PAUL PRAYED FOR THESE BELIEVERS REGULARLY AND WITH JOY
Philippians 4:15–16 says, “And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no Church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. 16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again.” (ESV)
1. When it came to prayer for the Philippian Christians, Paul ". . . grasped the rope boldly and pulled continuously with all his might."
2. Precious memories of precious people encourage us to pray for them regularly and with joy.
3. When people are devoted to our well-being, it's easy to pray for them in joy.
a. Paul considered these people his partners in the gospel.
III. PRECIOUS MEMORIES CAUSE US TO BE CONFIDENT
Philippians 1:6 says, “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion on the day of Jesus Christ.” (ESV)
1. God had done great things among the Believers in this Church.
a. In the midst of a Pagan city, a Christian Community had been established.
2. The potential for this small community of believers to surrender to the pressures of their cosmopolitan atmosphere were great.
3. But Paul had instructed them well in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the teachings of the Apostles.
a. He was not overly worried that they would surrender to the pressures of a lost society.
b. In fact, as he wrote from his prison cell, great confidence gripped the apostle as he thought and prayed for the Philippians.
c. Paul had a settled conviction that God was at work in their lives and that God would continue on to complete the good work He had begun in them.
4. That good work was their Salvation.
a. Their Salvation was attested to by their love for and support of Paul and their partnership in the gospel.
IV. PRECIOUS MEMORIES MAKE US LONG FOR THEIR FELLOWSHIP
Philippians 1:8 says, “For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.” (ESV)
1. Outside of the love of family, I think that there are few things more precious than the love and affection that exists between believers in a local Church.
a. It was the memory of a very special Church that kept Paul going during a difficult time in his life.
V. APPLICATION
1. First you need to make sure you’re connected with God.
2. Second you need to make sure you’re connected with God’s Family.
The question you want to ask yourself is, "What are you doing to build Precious Memories that will keep you going when you face difficult times in your life?"
