Sermon Tone Analysis

! A Key to a Joyful life: Thanksgiving and Remembrance (Phil 1:3-11)

 

*Dog Playing Cards*

A man walked by a table in a hotel and noticed three men and a dog playing cards.

The dog appeared to be winning.

"That must be a very smart dog," the man commented.

"He ain't so smart," said one of the players.

"Every time he gets a good hand he wags his tail!"

When we have joy in our hearts, it will be obvious to everyone!

"A joyful heart makes a cheerful face" (Prov.

15:13) --Kent Crockett

Kent Crockett's Sermon Illustrations, www.kentcrockett.com

Christian joy is more than happiness, which is an emotion.

Joy is more accurately defined as an inner state of peace and sense of well being regardless of outward circumstances.

Another key ingredient to a joyful life is having a thankful heart.

And, a thankful heart is the direct result of remembering and reflecting on who God is and what He is doing in your life.

\\ \\ We lose our joy because we fail to honor God and give Him thanks (Ro.

1:21).

On the other hand, the Lord tells us through the psalmist, 'He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me' (Ps.

50:23) Our joy is primarily contingent upon two things: 1) Our understanding of God; and, 2) The state of our communion with Him.

If joy is the enjoyment of God's presence then sin kills our joy.

\\ \\ Ingratitude is sin.

If gratitude is expressed from the heart by joy, praise and exaltation of God, then ingratitude is expressed from the heart by grumbling, discontent and complaining.

These are not minor sins as the Israelites learned in the wilderness (see Num. 14).

\\ \\ Joy flows from a heart that is thankful.

'For what thanks can we render to God for you in return for all the joy with which we rejoice before our God on your account' (1 Thes.

3:9).

Paul was constantly expressing thanks for God's grace in the lives of believers; their faith in Him and their love for each other; praying for them 'always.'

If we would know the joyful Christian life, we would do the same.

 

 

 

 

1.

Historical Background to Paul’s relationship with the Philippians

Acts 16:9 Paul in Troas (during 2nd missionary journey 50-52AD) receives a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and appealing to him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”

He takes a boat from Asia minor and crosses over into Europe for the first time, passes through Samothrace (an island) through Neapolis and arrives at Philippi—a  leading city in the district of Macedonia, a Roman colony; since there was no synagogue he went to the river hoping to find a place of prayer.

He finds a group of women and God opens Lydia’s heart to the gospel (6:14); she and her household were baptized; Paul casts out spirit of divination in a slave-girl; her profitability vanishes and her owners drag Paul and Silas before the magistrates who have Paul and Silas beaten with rods “many blows” (16:22) and through them into prison fastening their feet in stocks; Paul and Silas sing hymns at midnight, God sends an earthquake, the prisoners get free, the jailer decides to commit suicide, but before he can Paul intervenes; the jailer and his household get converted and are baptized; Paul appeals to his Roman citizenship and the magistrates beg Paul to leave the city; on their way out they stop by Lydias house and encourage the new believers (16:40).

*I thank my God every time I remember you. . .

(verse 3) Thanksgiving and Remembrance*

Thinking of the Philippians brought joy to Paul’s heart.

He was thankful for them.

Can you think of people who have blessed you in your walk with the Lord?

Maybe the person who shared the Gospel with you.

Or a person who invested significant time in your spiritual growth.

Or maybe a person who walked beside you in difficult times.

We need to remember that Paul was writing this letter from prison yet he found things to thank God for.

The Philippians were not perfect yet Paul found things to think God for.

How important it us for us to daily find things that we can thank God for.

Thankfulness is usually a choice isn’t it?

And it can also be a matter of perspective (what we focus on).

Why was Paul thankful for the Philippians?

*Because of their partnership in the Gospel.*

He was thankful for them because they were partners with Paul in the Gospel.

How?

Partnership=one who participates with another in some enterprise or matter of joint concern—‘partner, associate, one who joins in with.’[1]

He tells them that they are sharers in God’s grace with him (verse 7)

 

AT Robertson Word Pictures

*Partakers with me of grace* (συγκοινωνους μου της χαριτος [/sugkoinōnous mou tēs charitos/]).

Literally, “my co-sharers in grace” (objective genitive).

“Grace prompted them to alleviate his imprisonment, to cooperate with him in defending and propagating the gospel, and to suffer for its sake” (Vincent, /Int.

Crit.

Comm/.).[2]

Philippians 4:10-20

The Philippians had a concern for Paul. .

.a personal connection to the Apostle.

They sent a financial gift to him on more than one occasion (verse 16).

Their partnership started in the early days of Paul’s ministry and it continued.

And not only that, but when others weren’t supporting Paul, the Philippians were (verse 15).

When we give to a ministry, we are partnering and sharing in that work.

Jesus said that where our treasure is, there our heart will be also.

Our heart follows our pocketbook.

And from the receiver’s perspective, their heart is knitted together with people who faithfully and sacrificially support them.

Paul called the Philippians “partners” in the Gospel.

And then he further clarified that when he said, “from the first day until now.”

Paul says that the Philippians are not supporters but partners and they are not just partners who come and go but they stay for the long haul.

Paul was in prison now and it would have been very easy for the Philippians to have abandoned him.

Instead they were examples of Hebrews 13:3 which reminds us to “remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them”.

There was and is a certain stigma attached to being in prison and Paul was in prison for his faith and that faith was not popular in the first century so it would have been very easy for them to have turned their backs on him but they didn’t.

*Paul’s thankfulness for them never wavered. .

.”every time I remember you”*

The Philippians obviously had a special place in Paul’s heart.

Notice what he says of them:

                I have you in my heart (verse 7)

                I long for all of you (verse 8)

Paul is willing to share his feeling of affection with the Philippians and with us.

We get valuable insight into his prayer life and his relationships.

The Philippians did not have to wonder about how Paul felt about them.

.

.it was clear.

Even though Paul was some 800 miles away in a Roman prison and though he had not seen these people for several years, he had a fond affection and connection to them and he always thanked God for them.

Not only did Paul’s thankfulness for them never waver, but it also included all of them. .

.”in all my prayers for all of you”

The Philippians were not perfect.

There was apparent conflict with some church members as detailed in chapter 4. They were redeemed sinners just as can be found in any congregation but Paul was thankful for them and he rejoiced in their progress and encouraged them to press on.

*The importance of remembering in the Christian life*

*The Best Memory System*

Forget the kindness that you do,

As soon as you have done it;

Forget the praise that falls on you.

The moment you have won it.

Forget the slander that you hear,

Before you can repeat it;

Forget each slight, each spite, each sneer,

Wherever you may meet it.

Remember every kindness done,

To you, whate’er its measure;

Remember praise by others won,

And pass it on with pleasure.