SPEAKER_00: Good morning, Dan Stevens here with your daily walk.
SPEAKER_00: Philippians 1, 3 through 11 was our text last Sunday, and I've got a few insights to share with you on this passage.
SPEAKER_00: In verses 4 and 5, Paul speaks of his joy when he prays for the Philippians because of their partnership in the gospel.
SPEAKER_00: How it must have encouraged Paul that he was not alone in the spread of the gospel.
SPEAKER_00: He knew he could count on a congregation.
SPEAKER_00: You might call it a joint venture.
SPEAKER_00: In other words, these were people that Paul could count on for financial and prayer support.
SPEAKER_00: And more than that, they actually sent a member of the church to care for Paul's needs.
SPEAKER_00: Epaphroditus was his name.
SPEAKER_00: And we'll hear more about him later in this series.
SPEAKER_00: Isn't it wonderful though that throughout church history there have always been congregations who have partnered with missionaries and missionary sending organizations for the sake of the gospel?
SPEAKER_00: In fact, every time you hear about people in our church going on short-term or long-term mission trips, you could know our congregation is partnering with them.
SPEAKER_00: Going on to verse 6, Paul writes that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
SPEAKER_00: This tells me that the work of sanctification that God does for us isn't just a one-time event, but ongoing from the time we put our faith in Christ until his second coming.
SPEAKER_00: God is not finished with me yet is a phrase that comes to mind.
SPEAKER_00: In other words, we have a lifetime of spiritual growth to look forward to.
SPEAKER_00: Finally, in verse 9, Paul prays that the Philippian congregation's love would abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment.
SPEAKER_00: What a good word for all of us today.
SPEAKER_00: Sometimes we might get a little proud of our spiritual knowledge, but we always need discernment on how and when to share that knowledge and must always do so in love.
SPEAKER_00: Well, that's all I've got for today.
SPEAKER_00: I hope it's been an encouragement to you.