A Gift of Caring

October 23, 1988 PM

Philippians 1:1-11

I. THE CHURCH IS FAMILY

"GRACE TO YOU AND PEACE FROM GOD OUR FATHER AND THE LORD JESUS CHRIST" (vv 1-2)

Paul's letter to the Christians at Philippi is full of love and a sense of "family." But the idea of community in faith, of 'family,' is more than coincidental. It is central not only to Paul's letters, but to the entire New Testament.

There are some systems of religion where the worship center or place of public gathering is about as cordial and family-like as the "friendly supermarket." [Maybe there are even Christian churches that SEEM like that!] People are civil, but what they do is no one else's business. This is not the way vital Christians worship.

Paul says that God is our FATHER. [The same emphasis Jesus taught in the Pattern Prayer.] When we come to Jesus for Life, we are adopted into the family, and are related one to another in Him. The people we worship with regularly become dear to us. But more, there is a blood relationship with every other born-again believer!

II. THE FAMILY PRAYS FOR ITSELF

"I THANK MY GOD IN ALL MY REMEMBRANCE OF YOU" (vv 3-5)

We Christians may be 'family,' but even in families love is never 'automatic!' We need to learn this lesson: God intends that we pray for each other! Paul wrote to remind the Philippians: "I am praying for you!" And he asked the Ephesians: "Please pray for me!" (Ephesians 6:19)

And when this 'sense of belonging' and 'family' before God is focused in prayer for others, it enhances the God-given love for our fellow-believers that is already there.

If you want a sense of "belonging," begin to pray for the body! And pray like Paul said he prayed: (I thank God for you every time I think of you!/ not criticism; I recall with joy the way we have shared in the Gospel; I have genuine affection— warm feelings in my insides!)

Prayer enhances love. I question whether or not it is possible to consistently pray for someone and hate him or her at the same time.

III. THE FAMILY PRAYS POINTED PRAYERS

"AND THIS I PRAY ... " (9-11)

HOW do we pray for each other? What IS intercession? Is it enough to mention the name and say, "Bless him!" "Bless her!" What do we mean by "bless?" Perhaps when we pray for a lot of people our mind simply passes over the names, we think of the people with kindness— but there are times that the Spirit draws and leads us to pray for certain specific people, with specific needs.

Paul's specific prayer for the Philippian Christians was for:

1. Increasing LOVE.

   We dare not take love for granted at any level. We need to tell our husbands and wives— often. We need to stop and tell our little children, too. And when they aren't quite so cute and so manageable, we need to tell them, too! Especially so!

   [I had a dear, Christian father. And yet this past week as Helen and I were talking I recalled an incident when my father was extra harsh with me when I was about sixteen. It really hurt! He never knew— and will never know now. He didn't mean anything bad. But I remember 42 years later!]

   But this is true in the family of God, as well. We need to thank God for each other! Sure we have faults. And we know each other's weaknesses.

   (Paul prayed also that his church family might have...)

2. ...Discernment to choose the best; and not just settle for what seemed to be good at the time.

   The reason for this was that Paul always had in his mind that he would give an account for his life to God. And so in light of judgment, Paul prayed that his friends would have discernment to choose the best!

   (Finally, at least 'finally' in this prayer, Paul prayed for his church family's...)

3. ...Fruitfulness! He wanted them to know the pure delight and joy of pleasing God, and bringing forth MUCH fruit!

   "Fruit" is mentioned in at least two aspects in the New Testament in reference to believers: One aspect is the fruit of the Spirit, and has to do with the quality of the inner life and spirit, as well as the love with which we fill out our relations with God and fellow humans.

   Paul wanted his family to be quality people: with the fruit of the Spirit manifest in their lives.

But the other aspect of "fruit" has to do with the multiplication of the Christ-life through bringing others to know the Lord.

IV. A CALL TO 'FAMILY PRAYER'

(Ephesians 6:18,19 ... BE ON THE ALERT WITH ALL PERSEVERANCE AND PETITION FOR ALL THE SAINTS, ... AND PRAY ON MY BEHALF ...)

[Actually I move back a chapter to get the actual challenge from Paul in this final word, a call to prayer. (Paul has been writing about the 'whole armor of God,' and he closes by saying " ... pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints," ... which is clear enough, but then Paul adds, in the same sentence, "and pray on my behalf!" The great apostle needed, and asked for, and even begged for prayer!]

Maybe we do already pray for each other a great deal! But with a special revival emphasis coming up in just three weeks from next Tuesday, I wonder if for those three weeks you might accept a word of concern from your pastor?

A challenge to care for one another in prayer;

1. A specific time frame: the next three weeks, particularly.
2. In a specific way:
   1. Perhaps for a person you love very much; and that you believe loves the Lord, but could use some strong prayer support. For a short period of time, take this person as a project. Good health; good work; good praying.

      Perhaps your husband, your wife, your room-mate, your brother or sister. Someone you love but don't usually think of as needing extra time in prayer.

   2. Then also perhaps, for a definite spiritual need. Maybe an old burden ... a fresh look; a time of special intercession.
   3. For yourself: for an opportunity to talk about Jesus. Not necessarily related directly to the first two prayer concerns. But just an opportunity— and the sensitivity to know when it comes!
3. Some "extra" prayer times. Mark Blachley will be calling the student body of the college to at least some means of extra prayer.

   And I have asked that the church make the next three Wednesdays a time for special prayer of open-ness before the Lord with revival in mind.

The church will be open the next three weeks from 12 noon to 1 o'clock Wednesday. No scheduled service; just prayer around the front: altar and front seats.

It may just be the kindest gift that one person can give another— this gift of intercessory prayer! And I believe that God will honor our prayers. I believe He will bless Dr. McCumber and use him in a powerful way to meet our hearts. I believe He will equip us to carry forward Christ's work as we have never done before.

EH #63 Jesus, Thy Boundless Love to Me