Mike Sirignano: Passage of Paul's letter to the Philippians.
Mike Sirignano: And as we saw last week, here we find Paul in a state of thanksgiving and joy.
Mike Sirignano: Because Paul was not writing to the Philippians in order to correct them.
Mike Sirignano: Instead, he writes a warm and encouraging letter to the church that he had planted years earlier, who are exemplifying the loving kindness of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Mike Sirignano: Let's read our text, and then we can break it down.
Mike Sirignano: This is Philippians chapter 1, verses 7 and 8.
Mike Sirignano: This is God's word.
Mike Sirignano: Indeed, it is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart, and you are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.
Mike Sirignano: For God is my witness how deeply I miss all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
Mike Sirignano: Now these pass these verses come right in the middle of a larger passage, sort of a bridge between the exhortation of verses 3 to 6 and the prayer of verses 9 to 11.
Mike Sirignano: But this short passage stands on its own as a testament to Paul's joy.
Mike Sirignano: And tonight we will look at five elements of the joy for Paul felt towards the Philippian church.
Mike Sirignano: In the beginning of verse 7, we see our first element, which is the justification for Paul's joy.
Mike Sirignano: Verse 7 starts off by saying, indeed, it is right for me to think this way about all of you.
Mike Sirignano: So what way was Paul thinking?
Mike Sirignano: First, let's examine the word think.
Mike Sirignano: Some translations use the word feel.
Mike Sirignano: It is right for me to feel this way about you.
Mike Sirignano: Now the Greek word is phrenale, which Paul uses several times in this letter.
Mike Sirignano: And in the context of this verse, Paul is setting his affection on the Philippians because they are like-minded in their gospel work.
Mike Sirignano: If we go back to last week in verses 3 to 6, he is thankful for their faithful support, joyful for their partnership, and confident that God will complete his good work in them.
Mike Sirignano: And we could look ahead to next week, where he makes fervent prayer for their spiritual growth in verses 9 to 11.
Mike Sirignano: This way of thinking is a clear sign of Paul's deep, unbreakable bond with the Philippian church.
Mike Sirignano: Another key phrase here is all of you, as in all of the Philippians.
Mike Sirignano: And he uses a form of this phrase ten times in the first eleven verses of the book.
Mike Sirignano: And unlike any of his other letters, he specifically calls out the overseers and the deacons as part of this group.
Mike Sirignano: And it is right for Paul to be justified in how he thinks about the Philippians.
Mike Sirignano: Make no mistake, Paul is delighted with them.
Mike Sirignano: And how could he not be, considering the evidence they have shown over all these years that they were indeed faithful in their support of him?
Mike Sirignano: And that brings us to our second element, the reason for Paul's joy.
Mike Sirignano: Let's go back to the beginning of verse 7.
Mike Sirignano: Indeed, it is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart.
Mike Sirignano: Now, the word heart here does not refer to the physical organ, but is always used figuratively in Scripture.
Mike Sirignano: The heart is the center of the personality, and it controls the intellect, the emotions, and will.
Mike Sirignano: And the expression, I have you in my heart, signifies a strong bond between Paul and his church.
Mike Sirignano: Paul values these people not merely as acquaintances, but as family, not only for their financial support, but for their brotherly love.
Mike Sirignano: And this was the main point Paul was trying to make to them as he wrote this letter.
Mike Sirignano: The church at Philippi was special to Paul.
Mike Sirignano: It was on his second missionary journey when he established it as the first Christian church in Europe.
Mike Sirignano: He had a profound affection and a tender concern for his church, stemming from consistent support, prayers, and financial giving, which demonstrated their love for him.
Mike Sirignano: Their unity in the faith made them a shining example of what a Christian community should look like.
Mike Sirignano: And this expression, I have you in my heart, could just as easily say, because you have me in your heart.
Mike Sirignano: It is true that the Philippians had a large place in their hearts for Paul, and the love between the two was reciprocal.
Mike Sirignano: This should be the basis for all relationships in the Christian community.
Mike Sirignano: Our relationships should evoke sentiments that bind us beyond basic friendships.
Mike Sirignano: They should lead us closer to the heart of God and intensify our desire to share the good news of Jesus Christ with each other and the larger community.
Mike Sirignano: And this brings us to our third element.
Mike Sirignano: We saw the justification for Paul's joy and the reason for Paul's joy.
Mike Sirignano: And now we see the evidence of Paul's joy.
Mike Sirignano: Let's read verse 7 again.
Mike Sirignano: Indeed, it is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart, and you are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.
Mike Sirignano: The key evidence is that the Philippian church were true partners with Paul.
Mike Sirignano: Let's take a closer look.
Mike Sirignano: It says, partners with me in grace.
Mike Sirignano: The Greek definition of this phrase translates as being a co-participant in an enterprise or a matter of joint concern.
Mike Sirignano: In this case, it is the salvation of the lost.
Mike Sirignano: This stays in context with the reciprocal love between Paul and the Philippians.
Mike Sirignano: They are co-laborers, each having a necessary role that supports the other.
Mike Sirignano: And it is an active role, not a passive one.
Mike Sirignano: More specifically, in this context, the word grace would refer to the undeserved strength from God to carry on the work of the kingdom in the face of severe opposition.
Mike Sirignano: Grace is God's supernatural power to exert his holy influence upon souls, turning them to Christ, keeping them in Christ, strengthening them in Christ, and growing them in Christ's likeness.
Mike Sirignano: All of this demands the participation of the body.
Mike Sirignano: Paul could not do it alone, and physically, he was alone.
Mike Sirignano: As we read in verse 7, he reminds them of something they already knew: that he was indeed in prison.
Mike Sirignano: It says, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.
Mike Sirignano: Now, the book of Philippians is famously labeled as one of the prison epistles.
Mike Sirignano: Paul was under house arrest in Rome, chained to a Roman soldier, and unable to work.
Mike Sirignano: In order to pay his expenses, he relied on the support of the churches he planted, and the Philippians were first and foremost in their financial support.
Mike Sirignano: But it was their work of the kingdom that made the biggest impact.
Mike Sirignano: While he was able to receive visitors, his ability to share and defend the gospel was limited.
Mike Sirignano: And this is another area where the Philippian church raised their level of support.
Mike Sirignano: This bond of togetherness, particularly in hard times, is a strong theme throughout the letter, showing that Paul and the Philippians have a history of enduring trials together.
Mike Sirignano: The verse also speaks of the shared mission they have, defending and confirming the gospel message.
Mike Sirignano: This shows that their support extends beyond emotional and financial comfort.
Mike Sirignano: The partnership is active and purposeful.
Mike Sirignano: This shared mission of spreading and defending the gospel creates a profound bond between believers, which, as we will see later in this passage, is rooted in the love and affection of Jesus Christ.
Mike Sirignano: Paul was out there as a missionary, evangelizing and planting churches, and he was in chains because of it.
Mike Sirignano: He needed help, he needed prayer, and he needed financial support.
Mike Sirignano: And the Philippians provided it joyfully.
Mike Sirignano: This hardship required them to stand together.
Mike Sirignano: Brothers and sisters, as a church congregation, we are called to stand together with our pastors and the elders in this work, just as the Philippians were doing with Paul.
Mike Sirignano: Everyone's role in this spiritual family is crucial.
Mike Sirignano: True Christian fellowship requires active partnership, shared suffering, and mutual responsibility in advancing the gospel.
Mike Sirignano: Paul is stating through this verse that the Philippian church members were not mere spectators.
Mike Sirignano: They are full partners in grace who validate the gospel through their ongoing support and shared hardships.
Mike Sirignano: Now, in the ancient Roman world, imprisonment brought immense stigma and shame.
Mike Sirignano: But the Philippian church stood united with one another and with their imprisoned leader, refusing to distance themselves from hardship and persecution.
Mike Sirignano: And this is part of the grace we spoke of earlier.
Mike Sirignano: In verse 6, Paul expresses absolute confidence that God will complete the good work he started in the believers.
Mike Sirignano: And in verse 7, he gives us the reason for this confidence, their enduring affection and loyalty to the gospel mission.
Mike Sirignano: Their active partnership serves as the tangible proof of their salvation.
Mike Sirignano: The Philippians were sharing the gospel by speaking the truth and living it out.
Mike Sirignano: And this is only possible through the power of the Holy Spirit, who transforms their lives.
Mike Sirignano: Evidence that the gospel is true.
Mike Sirignano: And their reciprocal love implies a deep Christ-like bond that unifies the church across all circumstances.
Mike Sirignano: So, how does this affect Christians of today?
Mike Sirignano: Now there are several layers to this, so let's take them one at a time.
Mike Sirignano: Verse 5 tells us that the Philippians were partners in the gospel from day one.
Mike Sirignano: They did not distance themselves from Paul when he was arrested.
Mike Sirignano: And that could be a standard for us as a church.
Mike Sirignano: In the past five to six years, we have gone through the cancel culture.
Mike Sirignano: Christians across America are falling into the trap of not wanting to offend, and it is silencing our witness.
Mike Sirignano: Believers are facing persecution for their faith, and this verse challenges us to support them rather than abandon them.
Mike Sirignano: Another thing to look at is that the Philippians were true partners with Paul.
Mike Sirignano: They were active in ministry with him.
Mike Sirignano: It was a joint effort.
Mike Sirignano: Now, modern church culture often defaults to passive consumption.
Mike Sirignano: It is a lot of listening, but not a lot of doing.
Mike Sirignano: But this verse demands a personal investment of time, finances, and prayer into the local church.
Mike Sirignano: Paul also mentions the defense and confirmation of the gospel.
Mike Sirignano: In today's age, we are dealing with a digital world.
Mike Sirignano: False teachers are screaming out of our phones, and the influence is high.
Mike Sirignano: So we must have a higher level of defense.
Mike Sirignano: And in the same way, people view our social media pages and we wonder why they might call us hypocrites.
Mike Sirignano: Are we the same in the world as we are in the church?
Mike Sirignano: Our moral integrity must clearly confirm our love for Christ.
Mike Sirignano: And finally, our Christian calling does not change because our circumstances are difficult.
Mike Sirignano: Shared hardship creates deeper community bonds and grows our spiritual strength.
Mike Sirignano: So how do we do this?
Mike Sirignano: How do we build relationships within our body?
Mike Sirignano: In verse 6, Paul is confident that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Mike Sirignano: So where does the power come from to build relationships in the church?
Mike Sirignano: Well, the God who began a good work in the Philippians and is sure to complete it is the same God who has begun a good work in us and will complete it by glorifying us when Jesus returns.
Mike Sirignano: But while we wait for that, there are some practical steps that we can take.
Mike Sirignano: Number one, when we serve others, we can shift from duty to affection.
Mike Sirignano: Paul didn't just minister out of obligation.
Mike Sirignano: He actively loved his community.
Mike Sirignano: Is there a relationship where you are simply going through the motions or not 100% sincere?
Mike Sirignano: I invite you to intentionally pray for that person and shift your mindset from a call duty into genuine, affectionate care.
Mike Sirignano: Number two, we can stand with others in times of hardship.
Mike Sirignano: As we said earlier, the Philippians didn't abandon Paul when he was arrested.
Mike Sirignano: They publicly partnered with him despite the danger.
Mike Sirignano: So let us consider church leaders and members who are facing personal trials.
Mike Sirignano: Reach out with support, such as a prayer, a meal, or financial assistance, proving that your loyalty does not decrease during their difficulties.
Mike Sirignano: And number three, represent God with both words and deeds.
Mike Sirignano: Paul mentions the defense and confirmation of the gospel.
Mike Sirignano: How we speak and how we act will show the world the transforming work of the Holy Spirit.
Mike Sirignano: Match your words with an honest lifestyle so your actions serve as a practical example of your message.
Mike Sirignano: So as you can see, our relationships within the body are important.
Mike Sirignano: They must be built on mutual love and support.
Mike Sirignano: Being there for one another creates resilience and promotes growth in our spiritual journey.
Mike Sirignano: Let this be a call to action to nurture our relationships within our church community.
Mike Sirignano: And that brings us to our fourth element, and that's the validation of Paul's joy.
Mike Sirignano: Let's read our passage again.
Mike Sirignano: Indeed, it is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart, and you are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.
Mike Sirignano: Now, verse 8.
Mike Sirignano: For God is my witness, how deeply I miss all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
Mike Sirignano: For God is my witness.
Mike Sirignano: Now the definition of a witness is someone who has information or knowledge of something and therefore can bring it to light or confirm it.
Mike Sirignano: In this case, the witness is the omniscient God, the Lord of truth, the one who cannot lie.
Mike Sirignano: In the courtroom of life, there is no better witness than God.
Mike Sirignano: Now, the phrase, for God is my witness, isn't an expression to be tossed around lightly.
Mike Sirignano: Paul speaks with a sense of accountability before God.
Mike Sirignano: This adds authenticity and sincerity to his proclamation of love.
Mike Sirignano: In the Bible, oats were often seen as solemn promises made before God, reflecting a person's commitment and integrity.
Mike Sirignano: Paul was so sure of his relationship with God and the integrity of what he was about to say that he points to God as being his witness.
Mike Sirignano: Paul is not being validated by man who is flawed and has a propensity to lie.
Mike Sirignano: He is calling God to the witness stand to vouch for everything he feels and says about the Philippian people.
Mike Sirignano: Because God knows the hearts of all of us.
Mike Sirignano: He consciously connects his feelings of love to God, asserting that they are genuine and heartfelt.
Mike Sirignano: And because he is in prison, he is not able to have a personal connection or fellowship with them.
Mike Sirignano: He says, How deeply I miss all of you.
Mike Sirignano: Now the repetition of the phrase, all of you, emphasizes that his love does not discriminate.
Mike Sirignano: He cares for every member of the church, showing no favorites, which reflects the inclusive love of Christ.
Mike Sirignano: He is not just addressing the leaders or prominent figures, he longs for the relationships built with everyone within the community.
Mike Sirignano: He is talking about Lydia, who held church in her house.
Mike Sirignano: He's talking about the slave girl that he drove a demon out of.
Mike Sirignano: He's talking about the jailer whose whole household was saved.
Mike Sirignano: When he says in verse 3, I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, these are the people he remembers.
Mike Sirignano: Paul knows this church.
Mike Sirignano: He won the souls of this church.
Mike Sirignano: He was the conduit through which the power of the Holy Spirit poured out.
Mike Sirignano: This is why he's yearning for them with the affection of Jesus Christ.
Mike Sirignano: Now, so far, we have seen the justification, the reason, the evidence, and the validation of Paul's joy.
Mike Sirignano: And that brings us to our fifth and final element, the source of Paul's joy.
Mike Sirignano: Let's read verse 8 again.
Mike Sirignano: For God is my witness, how deeply I miss all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
Mike Sirignano: So it was clear in this text that Paul's source of joy comes from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Mike Sirignano: And the attribute he uses is affection.
Mike Sirignano: So let's spend a few moments on the word affection.
Mike Sirignano: The Greek translation is the word splocknon, and it literally refers to the region of one's bowels.
Mike Sirignano: For example, in Acts chapter 1 and verse 18, it describes a remorseful Judas falling from the tree he hung himself on, hitting the ground, and his intestines splattering on the rocks.
Mike Sirignano: Now, I don't think that's what Paul is referring to here, but in the New Testament, the word for bowels is primarily used in a figurative way.
Mike Sirignano: The region of the bowels was regarded as the center of feelings, such as affection, sympathy, and compassion.
Mike Sirignano: In much the same way that the word heart is used, not as an organ in your chest, but as the center of intellect, emotion, and will.
Mike Sirignano: Paul is alluding to the sympathy, tenderness, and love of Christ.
Mike Sirignano: Paul thus describes his longing as the same as Christ's longing, as if the very heart of Christ dwelt within him.
Mike Sirignano: When he gave himself for it.
Mike Sirignano: And brothers and sisters, this love is not a manufactured love.
Mike Sirignano: And it is not a love that comes naturally to us.
Mike Sirignano: So, how will this love come about?
Mike Sirignano: How can we have the affection of Christ towards one another?
Mike Sirignano: Hebrews chapter 10 and verses 24 to 25 gives us an answer.
Mike Sirignano: And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.
Mike Sirignano: Now the Bible urges us to fellowship with other believers.
Mike Sirignano: And the writer's implication was that some were not doing that, thus missing out on the love that fellowship produces.
Mike Sirignano: One of the most beautiful sights and sounds is our sanctuary filled with conversation 30 minutes after the service ends.
Mike Sirignano: We have all kinds of events.
Mike Sirignano: Prayer meeting on Wednesday night, Bible studies, monthly breakfasts, teas and brunches.
Mike Sirignano: Several times a year, the gym is full with some type of church meal.
Mike Sirignano: And if you were here today, you saw that example of it.
Mike Sirignano: Brothers and sisters, this is where that affection starts and this is where it grows.
Mike Sirignano: All Christians must share an active, intentional, and loving investment in the lives of other believers.
Mike Sirignano: Now, another way to experience this love and affection is to serve.
Mike Sirignano: Christ was the ultimate servant.
Mike Sirignano: Brothers and sisters, there are so many ways to do God's work.
Mike Sirignano: Join a ministry.
Mike Sirignano: Find something to do around here.
Mike Sirignano: There is enough work to go around.
Mike Sirignano: Our church is a beautiful mosaic of God's creation.
Mike Sirignano: Each one of us is unique, special, and set apart.
Mike Sirignano: But our common bond is the Lord Jesus Christ.
Mike Sirignano: Because it is the gospel that binds us together.
Mike Sirignano: Working together as partners in grace will generate the affection for one another that we are to have.
Mike Sirignano: The scriptures teach us to love one another with brotherly love.
Mike Sirignano: Romans 12 10.
Mike Sirignano: The Apostle John wrote that we were to lay down our lives for one another, 1 John 3.16.
Mike Sirignano: And that we are to give our possessions to each other if there is any need.
Mike Sirignano: 1 John 3.17.
Mike Sirignano: No greater partnerships exist than when people work together in the gospel effort.
Mike Sirignano: There is no greater work to do.
Mike Sirignano: Both the effort and the results are a privilege because all are working for the same goal to share the grace of God with others.
Mike Sirignano: Grace is central to the message, and it is absolutely central to the life God intended for us.
Mike Sirignano: When we focus our attention on the gospel and do the work that God has given us to do, our hearts will be transformed by grace through his word.
Mike Sirignano: In this way, we will develop the self-sacrificing love that God calls us to have.
Mike Sirignano: And maybe you are here today and you don't know Christ as your Savior.
Mike Sirignano: You don't have this special bond.
Mike Sirignano: Maybe you are looking for the affection that only Christ can give you.
Mike Sirignano: Well, out of his immense love for us, God sent his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die on a cross to pay the penalty for the sins of all those who believe.
Mike Sirignano: Through faith in him, we received the free gift of forgiveness, reconciliation with God, and eternal life.
Mike Sirignano: And you can have that.
Mike Sirignano: But without this gift of forgiv for this gift of forgiveness and reconciliation, we are all headed for judgment.
Mike Sirignano: God saved the Apostle Paul, who spent his life murdering Christians and turned him into the single greatest spokesman for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Mike Sirignano: He has the power to save anyone.
Mike Sirignano: Can he not save you?
Mike Sirignano: And maybe you're thinking, I don't deserve this gift of eternal life.
Mike Sirignano: Well, none of us do.
Mike Sirignano: Maybe you're thinking, I'm not good enough to be saved.
Mike Sirignano: Well, you don't have to be.
Mike Sirignano: In fact, you can't.
Mike Sirignano: In Mark chapter 10, verse 18, Jesus said, no one is good except God alone.
Mike Sirignano: So if we are not good, what must we do to be saved?
Mike Sirignano: In Acts chapter 16, the Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas this very question.
Mike Sirignano: And they said, Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved.
Mike Sirignano: It is never about what we can do, it is only about what Christ has already done.
Mike Sirignano: All those who believe in Christ will be forgiven and will have eternal life.
Mike Sirignano: Believe in him, cry out to him.
Mike Sirignano: Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Mike Sirignano: He will turn no one away.
Mike Sirignano: And you will become part of the family of God and experience the wonderful love we have for one another.
Mike Sirignano: Brothers and sisters, true Christian fellowship is resilient to distance and suffering.
Mike Sirignano: It transcends physical separation and hardship.
Mike Sirignano: As we continue to grow together in Christ, let us remember to lift each other up in challenging times, sharing God's grace, and defending the gospel fervently.
Mike Sirignano: Paul's confinement did not stifle his joy or his love.
Mike Sirignano: Rather, it proved the supernatural bond shared by those united in Christ.
Mike Sirignano: This bond serves us as a reminder that we have a shared mission, one that strengthens us individually and collectively as we spread the love of Christ to our communities.
Mike Sirignano: Let's pray.
Mike Sirignano: Heavenly Father, we thank you for the beautiful gift of Christian community and fellowship.
Mike Sirignano: Teach us what it means to be a true partner in the gospel.
Mike Sirignano: Just as Paul held the believers at Philippi close to his heart, help us to value and love our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Mike Sirignano: I pray that we would be united in spirit, sharing in your grace, whether we are in hardship and trial or actively standing up to defend and confirm the truth of your good word.
Mike Sirignano: Help us to bear with each other's burdens and rejoice when the gospel is advanced.
Mike Sirignano: Fill our hearts with the tender compassion of Jesus that we too can yearn for your people with Christ like affection.
Mike Sirignano: Knit our hearts together across every distance and circumstance, so that our love for one another reveals your grace to a watching world.
Mike Sirignano: In Jesus' name we pray.
Mike Sirignano: Amen.