I AM GRATEFUL TO YOU

Text: Philippians 1:1‐8

Paul, in writing to the saints in Philippi, describes himself as a bondservant of Jesus Christ. He also described to the church at Philippi some of his deepest feeling that are the results of hardships and joys he encountered because of the Gospel of Jesus. And in verse 3‐4 Paul said, “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy.” This is one of his feelings which describes that he was grateful. He was so grateful to the church at Philippi that he always mentioned them in his prayer.

As I contemplate and keep meditating on this, I was led by the Spirit of God to discover some of the reasons why he was grateful and how can I be, like Paul, grateful even in the midst of difficulties and hardships. It is those reasons I discovered, which transformed my dried attitude into an active and grateful attitude that I would like to share with you today. After Paul described his feeling of gratitude in those two verses, he gave the reason of that matter in verse 5. Paul said, “For your fellowship in the Gospel from the first day until now.”

Because of the PARTICIPATION:
It is very obvious that Paul was thankful to the church at Philippi because of their fellowship, friendship and partnership and participation in the furtherance of the Gospel of Jesus. No doubt, there were other churches and friends that he knew and friends who loved him and yet it was the church at Philippi that was so loving and friendly to him when he was in prison. Alas!! That often times I forget to thank the Lord for those of you who share your lives in contributing great portions to enhance my personality and ministry. Oh....Lord...it is my prayer this morning that I’d be grateful for friends and partners in ministry even when supports is dropped and even when they are silent and do not write much email.



The participation IS GOD’S WORK:
Paul went of to reveal one more reason when he said, “being confident of this very thing (their fellowship, partnership and participation), that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the days of Jesus Christ (Italic mine).” He realized that the reason the church at Philippi shared their friendship, partnership and participation was an act of God. It was God who has begun this good work. He also reminded them that their partnership, friendship, giving and participation will count for eternity. As I meditate on this, I realized if it were not of God’s grace, there are no reasons why you should be led to involve in our lives and ministry. It is God who knits our hearts together. It is God who works in our hearts to share this PARTNERSHIP in Jesus and for the spreading of His gospel. Well, it is an obvious fact that even after we recognized this truth, sometimes we still feel ungrateful. And Paul revealed one more truth that will help us obtain the attitude that is grateful to friends and partners in ministry.

PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP:
In verses 7 and 8, Paul said “just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace. For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the effection of Jesus Christ” (Italic mine). Appreciating the participation of others in our ministry is easy but being grateful to God and to them is another thing especially when their support is silent and communication is silent for awhile. As I meditate on this, I realize that in order for me to be grateful to God and to you all who share your lives is by having a personal intimate relationship which truly is a result of love. The love that is needed for this is God’s kind of love. I need to have friendship and personal intimate relationship with friends and partner in ministry. Like Paul, I need to come to the point where I long more than anything to meet, talk, share and be with. It is this love and personal relationship with others that will cultivate and bring the heart that is grateful. Lord, it is my prayer that you would pour your love upon me with which I can love others. Friends, partners in ministry and relatives and family, forgive me if you have found me ungrateful. I am grateful to you, friends, who often come and share partnership unsought.



CONFESSION AND PRAYER:
Sometimes financial donation seems to be the standard we use to measure blessings from God and often we take for granted for those joys, laughs and blessings brought to us, our family and ministry by friends. Just as I was brought to tears on the 16th of October, 2010 for my sin and failure over the often ungrateful attitude, it is my prayer that there be many more days like this so that I can always be grateful to you. Thank you friends and partners in ministry for sharing your partnership and lives with me. Thank you to you friends who visit and bring many encouraging words, many laughs without my seeking. You are the joy of my life and I know this joy and friendship and partnership that we share now will count for eternity. My dear friends and partners in ministry, may we realize that friends and people are the field in which we have been called to labor and invest our lives. People are eternal. Whatever words we say about them and to them will count for eternity. The things we do for them will be judged and will have an eternal impact and only what’s done for their growth and maturity in His name will bear an eternal result remaining on earth as a model to be followed and giving us rewards in heaven, our eternal home. I love you all my friends and today I have asked the Lord to pour on me that divine love for you. Let us keep our communication hot, timely and fresh so that together we will fully enjoy the blessings of an intimate personal relationship with Him and with one another and that we will always be able say like Paul, “I am grateful to you.”

Sincerely in Christ,

Philip Van Lal Lian
Yangon Grace Bible School