Partnership in the gospel

Philippians 1:1-11 ESV

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:  Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Rev. Dwight Yoo

What does it take to be a genuine and helpful partners in spreading the gospel?

Shared goals

There is a fondness between the missionary and their church. It wasn't just a personality. It wasn't just their caring for his financial needs. They were genuine partners in sharing the gospel with the world. Partnership is also translated as fellowship. Fellowship is not just a bunch of Christians hanging out together. It really means a commitment to one another with financial implications. It speaks of almost a business venture. If the mission goes awry, it is felt by both partners. Not only do they share in good things but also the bad. The church sent a person to Paul while he was in prison. The physical presence meant that the church was there for them. That we shared the same heart of sharing the gospel. We share in the drive to share the gospel and putting our lives in danger and or dreams sacrificed for the mission. It is a difference in missions context, nothing else. We are not just sending checks. We are on fire for the mission of the great commission. Just as the missionaries, only we stay here and they are over there.

Sharing of gifts

Paul writes a letter to the church to help shepherd the church and teach. The church was poor and yet they sent money and they sent someone to help Paul survive prison. They invest and build each other up.

Common american missions mistakes
(How to help without hurting)

Gospel-centered view of self and others
(We are all broken sinners in need of grace. We can only share our gifts with one another.)

Awareness of cultural idolatry
(Americans are very results and time driven.)

Focused on strengthening the long termers, ideally the local church.
(Short term missions must support the long term local church. Work with the long term missionaries, rather than for the short term teams good.)

Shared power

The work of the church is not the most important. Not even the work of the long term missionaries. But mutual dependence on the power of God to complete the good work.

Praise the LORD, O my soul!

Psalms 103:1-22 ESV

Bless the Lord , O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord , O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments. The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all. Bless the Lord , O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word! Bless the Lord , all his hosts, his ministers, who do his will! Bless the Lord , all his works, in all places of his dominion. Bless the Lord , O my soul!

Rev. Charles Han

This psalm is the climax of the psalter. The trend of psalms starts in lament and ends in worship of God.

Praise the Lord

Vocal joy only completes the praise of something. We praise those things that we admire and delight in. The consummation of joy is praise. This is the purpose of the Christian life.

Praise the Lord, o my soul!

This statement implies that one is not naturally desiring the praise of God. He had to rouse himself to delight in God. It is not a spontaneous reaction. Praise is a discipline.

This is what we mean when we tell you to preach the gospel to ourselves. We are to bombard and saturate our souls with the gospel and what God has done for us.

We are called to behold what we have in Christ. This gospel promises us an overabundance that can never be lost or taken away. Grace for the enemies of God, an inheritance, a family, a purpose, and redemption.

Praise the Lord, all you creation!

After David tells himself to praise God, David calls others to praise God. He is not satisfied in just praising God. He calls others to praise God. Not only our neighbors, our city, the USA, but every person. And not only that, but even the stones and waters and creatures. That is the heart of praise... Mission.