Fellowship in the Gospel Communion with God

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Fellowship in the Gospel Communion with God!
17/05/09 (pm) - Series on Philippians - Sermon 5

• Philippians 13-6
• Theme Fellowship with others in the Gospel will
  facilitate a Christians communion with God.

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• having set aside other pursuits, he cultivated
  and experienced the blessed communion with God of
  which he wrote. In this world he was a pilgrim
  who drew very near to grasping the full glory of
  heaven.
• Words on tombstone of John Owen (1616-1683)

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• The apostle Paul wrote to the Philippian
  Christians.
• Something in their relationship facilitated his
  communion with God!

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A. Partnership in the Gospel (15)

• Writer and recipients had partnership in the
  Gospel15.
• partnership literally means fellowship.
• Gospel - Good News. Associated with the coming,
  work, message of the Lord Jesus Christ.

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• Paul saw this partnership
• - as having been established when the
  Philippian Christians believed, cf. 15b.
• - existing in the present, cf. 15c.
• These Christians had a glorious essential unity.
  This is a challenge for us to have the same!

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• Q. What do we see as a major effect of Pauls
  partnership in the Gospel with the Philippian
  Christians?
• A. It facilitated his communion with God.

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B. Communion with God (13-4)

• In 13-4 we find Paul
• thanking God as he remembers the Philippian
  Christians
• praying to God for all the Philippian Christians
• praying to God with joy for all the Philippian
  Christians.

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• Generally we see the imprisoned Apostle having
  sweet communion with his Father in Heaven.
• Q. Why?
• A. Philippians 15-6!

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• Many things aid the Christians communion with
  God
• discipline in Bible study prayer
• meditating on the Word
• not quenching/grieving the Spirit
• obeying the Word of God
• having Jesus manifest Himself to you, cf. Jn.
  1421.

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• In 13-6 we see that having fellowship in the
  Gospel facilitates a Christians communion with
  God!

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ConclusionThe Chief Purpose of Man

• Q. What is the chief purpose for which man is
  made?
• A. The chief purpose for which man is made is to
  glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.
• (WCFSC, Q A 1)

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• We will enjoy God when we commune with Him.
• As we truly partnership in the Gospel it will
  facilitate blessed communion with our God.
• Let us partnership in the Gospel let us commune
  with God!