Together We Can Make It

Text:

Philippians 1:1-6:

1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

2 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,

4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,

5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;

6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Theme:

Together We Can Make It

Introduction:

• The theme for this Women’s Day at Washington Park Baptist Church is “Women Working Together”. The scripture is 1Corinthians 3:9 where it says,
  • 1 Corinthians 3:9, “For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.”
    • This theme and scripture left me with one word as a thought…TOGETHER
      • We often miss the mark on the concept of TOGETHER!
        • Church and divisions
        • Homes and divisions
        • Society with stratifications
        • No relationship with God
      • God ordained the concept of TOGETHERNESS at creation
        • Genesis 1:26, “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:”
      • Paul exemplifies TOGETHERNESS in the first verse of our text.
        • “Paul AND Timotheus”
        • In spite of Paul’s position as leader, he yet placed himself TOGETHER with Timotheus as colabourers with God, “the servants of Jesus Christ”.
      • Paul emphasizes the TOGETHERNESS of the church by referring to all of them as “saints” in Philippi.
        • “to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons”
        • Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”
        • We can’t let titles or positions cause us to loose the ONENESS that is of God!
          • Ephesians 4:4-6, “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”
        • The prime example of the power of God working to bring us TOGETHER was seen at Pentecost!
          • Acts 2:1, “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.”
• This led me to the text in Philippians.
  • Paul wrote this letter to the Philippian church as a point of encouragement to a well-established congregation.
    • Walking the path of Truth and Righteousness can be a toilsome journey and leave you weak.
      • Romans 8:36, “As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”
    • We need the Word of God to revive us!!
      • As the hymn says,

We praise thee, O God,

For the son of thy love,

For Jesus who died

And is now gone above.

Hallelujah, thine the glory! 

Hallelujah, amen!              

Hallelujah, thine the glory! 

Revive us again!

• It gets rough on this journey but know that TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE IT!!

Body:

• Paul has two core verses to convey the theme to us:
  • Verse 3 – “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,”
    • The Power of Memory
      • Paul solicits the power of spiritual memories in this passage as a source of encouragement!
        • Once committed, we are to not look back with our physical or mental eyes to dwell in the past!
          • Luke 9:62, “And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
      • However, our soul has eyes that can spiritually see God revealing His truth to us!
        • As the gospel song says, “My soul looks back and wonders how I got over!”
          • I can so well remember when I was sinking deeper and deeper in sin and God caught me.
            • “Just as I am without one plea, but that Thy blood was shed for me.”
          • I can so well remember when He first touched my soul.
            • “I came to Jesus just as I was. I was weary wound and sad.  I found in Him a resting place, and He has made me glad.”
          • I can so well remember when He changed my life and gave me new purpose.
            • “A charge to keep I have, a God to glorify, who gave His Son my soul to save and fitted for the sky.”
          • I can so well remember when He has picked me up when I have fallen along the way.
            • “You brought me from a mighty long way!”
    • Paul reminds the Philippians of the one responsible for the church’s success and strength à GOD
      • I thank my God!
        • It was not Paul
        • It was not the preachers
        • It was not the choir
        • It was not the trustees or deacons
        • It was GOD è With God, they were able to make it!!
          • Mark 10:27, “And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.”
• Yes, Together We Can Make It
  • Verse 6 à “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”
    • “Being confident of this very thing”
      • We need to know what we know and believe what we believe!
      • John 9:25, “He [blind man] answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.”
    • “he which hath begun”
      • God established it!!!
      • God called you!!!
      • People may be saved but be careful to notice who saved them!
        • Did the preacher? –so that they can get mad at him and leave the church
        • Did a relationship? –so that when they break up they leave God also
        • Did position? – so that when they lose their position they can’t be faithful anymore
        • Did their own intellect? –so that when they get depressed all Heaven is lost
    • “a good work in you”
      • Luke 18:19 (Matthew 19:17 & Mark 10:18), “And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.”
      • David explains “in you” in Psalms 119:11, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”
        • God has to be on the INSIDE!!!!
          • Revelation 3:20, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”
        • So, Matthew 5:16 tells us to, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
    • “will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ”
      • God started it and God WILL finish it!!
      • Mark 10:9 (Matthew 19:6) affirms, “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”
      • Revelation 22:13, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.”
• Yes, Together We Can Make It

 

Conclusion:

• So, BE ENCOURAGED!!!
  • Sometimes we feel all alone, but don’t give up!!
    • Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
    • 2 Timothy 2:3, “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”
  • God takes care of ALL of His children as His own!!
    • 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;”
  • There’s a purpose for our struggle!!!
    • 2Corinthians 4:10, “Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.”
  • So, HANG IN THERE à TOGETHER (WITH GOD) WE CAN MAKE IT!!!!!

 

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