December 28, 2019 PARTICIPATION IN THE GOSPEL
Philippians 1:3-5 “I thank my God in all remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now.”
Every believer has the opportunity to participate in the gospel-not just those in ‘full-time ministry.’ Actually, when we understand God’ call in our lives and His plans and purposes for us, we realize that we are all in full-time ministry. As Paul, in prison at the time of this writing, thought about the believers at Philippi, he was blessed as he remembered how they responded to and how they were engaged in the gospel that he proclaimed to them while with them. From reading the first chapter in Philippians, we know that the gospel impacted them in specific ways. We know that as they received the gospel, they began to love one another with the love of God and it was Paul’s prayer that their love would abound more and more. In verses 9-10, we see that as these believers embraced the gospel and began to love one another with the love of God, God gave ‘real knowledge and all discernment.’ Also, as the believers grew and abounded in this love of God, they desired and pursued the things that are ‘excellent.’ It is a mystery, and a miracle, what all takes place in the lives of believers when they gladly receive the message of the gospel-when they become participants in the gospel; being a spectator believer is not what God has in mind for us. Some may find a sense of satisfaction in just reading the gospel, listening to good messages, attending church meetings, but yet not be actively living out the gospel, not being transformed by the gospel, and not being expressions of the gospel in the work place, in the home or wherever they go. Becoming a believer is the beginning of a journey; a journey of being transformed and growing in the grace and knowledge of God, a journey of becoming expressions of the nature of God in us. The journey is not without trials, but because of the power of God at work in us, we can be overcomers in the tough times; overcoming trials is one way of participating in the gospel. The life of the believer is not to be stagnant; it’s tragic for us as believers if we come to a place where we become use to living, not conscience of the power of God in us or His work in us. We are called to action, to walk by the Spirit, to resist the enemy, to do the things that are pleasing to the Lord, to die to ourselves, to love one another, to study to show ourselves approved unto God, to encourage, to exercise our spiritual gifting, etc. (not weary verse) Let us never get use to a sub-standard life, a life of not actively participating in the gospel.
Galatians 6:9 “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart.”
Philippians 2:12-13 “So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”
James 1:22 “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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