“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now”.
“I thank my God for all my remembrance of you, always in all supplication of mine making that supplication for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the interests of the gospel, from the first day until now.”
Philippians. 1:3-5
Notice how thanksgiving and prayer are linked together here: “I thank my God,” “always in all supplication” (Eph. 6:18). In the prison in Philippi in the early days, Paul and Silas had prayed and sung praises: and now in the prison at Rome, Paul is still doing the same thing. In chapter 4:6 of our Epistle he tells us the secret of that peace we saw in the previous verse: “In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Thanksgiving sees the blessings already received, and prayer sees the needs still to be met. And Paul could never think of these dear saints in Philippi without giving thanks for them. The word is not, “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you” (vs. 3). It is, rather, “for all my remembrance of you,” or, “my whole remembrance of you” (vs. 3). It was not only at isolated times he remembered and gave thanks for them, but the whole, complete memory of them, was one that filled him with thanksgiving. Notice how “all” is repeated in these verses: “all my remembrance” (1 Kings 17:18); “always”; “in all my supplication”; “for you all.”
There used to be a beggar in Shanghai who was so busy asking for gifts, that he never took time to thank those who gave to him. The result was that those who generally gave to the beggars, often passed him by. Might we not know more answers to our prayers if we spent more time in thanksgiving? In the days of old, there were those whose “office was to stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord, and likewise at even” (1 Chron. 23:28 & 30). Have we, who know God’s unspeakable gift, less cause for thanksgiving than they? From the very first Sabbath by the river side, when Lydia’s heart was opened, right up to that day, Paul gives thanks for them. How different to Galatia! Not a word of thanksgiving for them: the only church for whom the Apostle had nothing for which to give thanks!
But there was not only thanksgiving: there was supplication also: but that supplication was made with joy. Our dear brother Mr. Lavington, now with the Lord, wrote: “I call your attention to the large place in this Epistle, and in others, which the subject of prayer has with the Apostle, and I make bold to say that in practical Christian life and experience, this is the breath of the Christian. The Apostle was one who, in writing his letters, never wrote (as one has said) with a dry eye: such is his heart for the saints of God. Continually we find also the references to the way his heart is occupied with the Lord, as being poured out to his God and Father, or to the Head of the Church, in prayer, in order that His saints may be maintained, and that those in whom God has begun a good work, may continue in the faith grounded and settled. (Eph. 1:16-23; Eph. 3:14-19; Col. 2:1-3).”
But we must not pass by those two little words: “my God”: “I thank my God for all my remembrance of you.” The Apostle had just said he was the slave of Christ Jesus, which means he belonged to Christ Jesus. Now he speaks of “my God.” When speaking to the heathen on the ship on the way to Rome, he said, “Whose I am, and Whom I serve” (Acts 27:23). But now, writing to the saints, he says: “my God.” Not only are these words intensely individual, but they also tell of love and nearness. The Apostle loved to use those words: we find them again in chapter 4:19, “My God shall supply all your need.” He thanks “my God” for the Romans, and for Philemon. (Rom. 1:8; Philem. 1:4). To the Corinthians he wrote, “I fear.... lest my God will humble me among you.” In Philippians 3:8 he speaks of “Christ Jesus my Lord” (ch. 3:8). It is a grand thing to be able to know God as “our own God” (Psa. 67:6). The voluntary slave in Ex. 21 could say, “I love my Master” (Ex. 21:5). Thomas said, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28). How good when we can say, “I am His, and He is mine, forever, and forever!”
We must link verse 5 with verse 3; “I thank my God upon all my remembrance of you.... for your fellowship in the interests of the gospel, from the first day until now.” We have already spoken of the seven times we find fellowship linked with the Philippian saints: but what is fellowship, as used in the New Testament? The Greek word for it comes from the word used for “partners” in Luke 5:10. James and John were partners with Simon in the fishing business. I believe in the New Testament, fellowship always means a relation between persons, based on Christian unity: perhaps “joint participation” is one of the best definitions of the meaning. When Lydia received Paul and his company into her house, she was having joint participation in the gospel: when Paul was preaching in Thessalonica, and the Philippian saints sent him gifts, (Phil. 4:16) they were having joint participation in the gospel, or, “fellowship in the gospel” (vs. 5).
Now the Apostle gives thanks for this fellowship in the gospel from the first day until “the now,” the present moment. Sometimes the saints grow weary of sharing in the gospel; adversity comes; evil reports are spread; there are heavy demands at home; and the fellowship in the gospel grows cold. It is generally the poor, like the Philippians, who have that unceasing fellowship in the gospel, that never grows weary. Indeed, Paul could not accept this fellowship in the gospel from the rich saints in Corinth, who were going on badly. See 2 Cor. 11:7-12. But what is so precious is that unwearying fellowship, that never loses heart; through evil report and good report; through dark days and bright; through poverty and prosperity: that is the fellowship in the gospel that the Philippian saints had.
You remember David made it a rule that those who went down to the battle, and those who tarried by the stuff, should share alike: they were having joint participation in the war. But gifts are not the only way of showing fellowship in the gospel: there are countless other ways. Epaphras labored fervently in prayer: and so may we. What a cheer an encouraging letter is! Some hold the hats of those preaching in the open air; some help with the singing; some bring friends to the meetings. Love of the gospel, and love of the One who is the theme of the gospel, will devise means to have a share in the interests of the gospel. And, “God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have showed toward His Name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister” (Heb. 6:10).
But, sad to say, not all in Paul’s day had fellowship in the gospel. There were those who preached Christ even of envy and strife, supposing to add affliction to the Apostle. They probably were real Christians, and they preached Christ: but they had not fellowship in the gospel. There have always been such, and there always will be. Let us take heed when we find even true Christians seeking to add affliction to those who preach the gospel, rather than having fellowship in the gospel. It is so easy to find fault, and those who do so, often know little of the true circumstances. I need hardly add that we cannot have fellowship with what is contrary to the Word. But let us beware lest our criticisms are merely an excuse for our lack of fellowship “in the interests of the gospel.” Let us each one, Beloved, seek more and more to imitate these dear Philippian saints in their fellowship in the interests of the gospel!
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“A worker who is ‘winsome’ will surely win some!”
(Charles G. Baskerville)