Morning Moments

Continuation of Philippians 1

3.  AS I AM REMINDED "He...will perform it"     1:5-6

5. For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; 6. Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

I learned a long time ago that I could not always be with my children. I would do all I could as long as I could while they were under my care to teach them and train them about love and life, but there would come a time that I would not be around and they would be on their own. It has brought me great pleasure to see them "grown, gone, and gainfully employed", but it has brought even greater pleasure to see the function as mature, responsible Christian adults. Maybe Paul had those kinds of feelings being reminded of these folks.

a. Of Your Fellowship

5. For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;

The word fellowship means joint participation or sharing, and Paul's use of it here indicates that they not only received the gospel but that they loved it, lived it, and shared it continually. That is a powerful witness to a leader's investment. Paul led them to Jesus, not to "church". He presented, proclaimed, preached, personified and passed on the reality of the Gospel of Christ. The fellowship these people understood was not in a mere "church supper". They loved and labored together. And when Paul left they did not cease to function, but increased all the more. THAT IS REAL LEADERSHIP!

b. Of His Faithfulness

6. Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Paul was so convinced that the principle of duplication works - that He who LIVES in me will LIVE in you and He who LIVES in you will LIVE in him or her and on and on, that he taught Timothy to teach faithful men that they might in turn teach faithful men. Let me explain:

Paul knew by Scripture and by his own spirit that God WORKS as we REST. We ABIDE and He produces ABUNDANTLY. If we teach people to work, they tire, but if we teach them to trust and obey, they produce. The difference is between self effort which exhausts one and God's fruit which enriches one. Paul was convince that God always does His part - PRODUCE, if we will always do our part - ABIDE, and that is the key to the Christian life. God is faithful, we must merely fellowship in His faithfulness.

BLESSINGS!