The Fellowship of the Gospel

3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, 5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; 7 just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace. 8 For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ. 9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, 11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Pray

Founded church on 2nd Missionary journey

Dear to heart of Paul

Lydia

Paul & Silas in prison

Thankful for them

Separated for almost 10 years

I Have you in my Mind

Philippians 1:3–4 NKJV

3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy,

Always thankful, Every prayer

Fellowship - To have in Common

Not of meals

Possession of eternal life

Fellowship in the Gospel

Philippians 1:6 NKJV

6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

Paul has a confidence in God

Transformed lives in God’s power at work

It will take us all the way home

Let us consider

Are we remembering each other during this time? Are they on our minds?

Have I considered how thankful I am for them because of our mutual fellowship in the gospel?

I Have you in my Heart

Philippians 1:7–8 NKJV

7 just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace. 8 For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.

Beware of danger of on mind, but not in heart

If they are in our hearts, becomes natural on our minds

Concern of Christians drifting apart

Government does not consider Churches essential, do I?

I Have you in my Prayers

Philippians 1:9–11 NKJV

9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, 11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Paul Prays for church

Love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment

Love becomes deeper with knowledge and discernment

Proper bounderies

Distinguish, differentiate

Sincere and Without Offense

Paul’s prayer is asking God to help them differentiate and walk in a manner that does not cause others to stumble

By being filled with fruits of righteousness

Galatians 5:22–23 NKJV

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Conclusion

Gathered in person (preferred), but can it still be true

I Have you in my Mind, I Have you in my Heart, I Have you in my Prayers

Pray

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