Let’s explore a passage from Philippians chapter one where Paul expressed thanksgiving and reasons to rejoice.
3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,
Verses 7-8 7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
Paul was a Holy Spirit dynamite preacher and leader of people, but he could never have done what he did on his own. He was great at starting churches, but people had to stay behind to do the work of ministry if those churches would make it. Paul was thankful for those who were willing to stay, for those who were willing to commit, for those who would schedule the nursery workers and make the coffee, for those who would teach Sunday School and work the security detail, for those who would make food and clean up after it was over, for those who would pray with new believers and help counsel those who were struggling. I sure know that I couldn’t do what I do without our amazing staff, and none of us could do what we do without all who serve in our various ministries.
Think with me about the people in your life who have believed in you, encouraged you, invested in you, supported you, taught you, assisted you, counseled you, provided for you, those who have given you opportunities and have spent time mentoring you.
Who is it in your life that has had a profound influence? Your parents? A teacher? A coach? A pastor? A neighbor, co-worker or friend? Who consistently shows up for you? The Apostle Paul teaches us that we need to: Be thankful for people who partner with us in positive ways. This week would be a great time to recognize those who have poured into your life and to thank them.
Paul helps us identify other reasons to be thankful. He says in verse six: 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Be thankful that God finishes what He starts.
What I love about being a Christ-follower is that it isn’t about a one-time event. It isn’t just about a salvation moment, but it is about a relationship with God whereby God is always working in me. Yes, I know a lot more about the Bible than I did when I started with Jesus and yes, I have had more supernatural spiritual experiences than I could count as I have witnessed miracles, and yes, I have seen dramatic answers to prayer and have had the Holy Spirit speak directly to me on multiple occasions where He has given me information I could never have otherwise known, but more than any of those awesome experiences is the fact that I have been changed. I have truly been transformed. I am a different person because of what Jesus has done in my life.
You see, God doesn’t just rescue us from sin. He rescues us from ourselves.
You don’t have to just try harder to become a better person. You don’t have to empty Amazon’s shelves of all of the available self-help books and memorize ten steps to perform every day to realize change in your life. You just have to let God work in you, and He will finish what He starts.
Verses 12-1412 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters,[b] that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard[c] and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14 And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.
This Pandemic with all of its shutdowns and limitations has reminded us how fragile the things are that man has produced. We know many businesses have been hurt. Employees have been laid off. School shutdowns have caused some students to get behind. Doctors and hospitals have limited necessary testing and procedures. These are real stressors. Paul points out here that the Gospel cannot be shut down. It can never be limited! Church, this Thanksgiving Be thankful that the Gospel can never be chained.
This is good news for people who have been tasked with the responsibility to share the Gospel and for those who will receive it! We don’t have to worry that our job to witness will be impossible because wherever we are, no matter the circumstances, the Gospel goes with us and nothing can prevent us from sharing it. Not only that, but nothing can prevent the power of the Gospel from doing what it does. The Gospel liberates people, even people inside a prison, as was the case with Paul and others who were imprisoned for their faith.
Not only was news of Jesus’ resurrection spreading in the prison to people who otherwise wouldn’t have had a chance to hear the Good News, but also, Paul’s imprisonment stirred up the believers on the outside to get after their responsibility to be sharing the Gospel.
Philosophers cannot bind the Gospel. False religions cannot bind the Gospel. Pandemics cannot incarcerate the Gospel. More churches are now streaming online than ever. The Gospel is going out in power and in increasing ways. I am thankful that the Gospel can never be chained.
Finally, I would point out that we can be thankful because for Christ-followers, the best is yet to come!
Be thankful that the best is yet to come!
Verses 18b-21 Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.[d] 20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
Paul was looking forward to following Jesus all the way into eternity in Heaven. He said that death was gain. God is saving the best for last. To die will be to gain Heaven and everything it is and everything it isn’t. No more pain. No more stress. No more drama. It will be the absence of anything bad and will be filled with all things lovely, perfect, joyful and fulfilling. I’m thankful. How about you?
Be thankful for people who partner with us in positive ways.
Be thankful that God finishes what He starts.
Be thankful that the Gospel can never be chained.
Be thankful that the best is yet to come.
