Remembering One Another

Lesson Transcript

Well, good morning, everyone. Greet you in Jesus' precious name. What a blessing it is to be here with you today. I hope you don't mind more of the same. It's going to fit in quite well with our discussion already this morning, maybe just a little different angle. But also want to thank you all for your prayers. It means so much to me. Thank you so much for that. You can turn to Philippians 1. My title is Remembering One Another.

And I would like this to be pretty specific to this congregation in remembering one another. Philippians is, yeah, probably my most favorite letter in the New Testament. I know at our one small group, there were some questions that were asked, and I chose the one about my favorite book of the Bible. And it didn't take me long to say Philippians because it just is such an upbeat and wonderful letter that Paul wrote. And this first chapter just really brings that all out.

And that's why I'm asking or saying that this is I want it to be specific to us this morning as we remember each other, one another. I'll read the first 11 verses. Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi with the bishops and deacons, grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing that he who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ, 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, yeah, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ. And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense until the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.

This thing of remembering is really a very, very important part of a congregation's success. Can I say it that way? But I also want to remind us that first and foremost is to remember our Creator. That is first and foremost. And that really makes a big difference in how much and how we remember each other then in a local congregation. We're all familiar with that verse in Ecclesiastes 12:1. I know it's talking to the youth, but I think it fits all of us.

Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth before the difficult days come. And he goes on to describe all the things that begin to take place as you get older. And he is so right. It just fits. I'll let you read it for yourself. I'm not going to read that at this point. But yeah, the legs get weak and the mind gets a little bit slow and all of that type of thing. He said, remember your Creator in the days of your youth. So young people, take notice. Take notice. OK?

So first and foremost is that we need to remember our Creator. In the Hebrew, that remember there is to mark so as to be recognized. So at the top of your list of remembering people, put God or the Lord or Jesus Christ and mark it so that you do not forget that that is first and foremost who you should remember. And of course, we know the prefix re means again, such as reappear or reelect or resound or recheck. So it's again. It means again.

So to remember, remember there's two words there, re and then member, is to use the members of our being to again and again bring people to our minds. And we're all familiar with Jesus' words there as far as communion. We have communion again and again and again and again. Why? To help us remember what Christ has done for us. Jesus said, this do in remembrance of me. And he's saying again and again and again, do it. If you're like me, we can get pretty forgetful, can't we?

And we do not remember the way we should, the importance of communion. The Greek meaning of remembrance, remembering is recollection or recital. I like that word to recite. What do you do when you recite something? Remember, it's recite. You say something over and over again to commit it to memory. And as you know, with Bible memory, and if you're teaching your children or whatever to memorize some scripture, you just go over it one time.

It's not likely that they're going to remember it very well if you just say it one time or go over it one time. No, you go over it again and over and over and over again. And so to help us remember it, that word cite, C-I-T-E, is to mention or quote. So to recite something, you say it again and again. You know, there's the word insight. And if you incite something or someone while you're trying to get them angry and you're trying to get them to act up, I guess.

But in the context of this scripture here in Philippians, Paul is remembering these people in a very, very positive way. And I would like to encourage us to focus on that part of this lesson. But is there room for remembering someone in a negative way? Let me read verses 9 and 10 in 3 John. I wrote to the church, but Diotrophies, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds, which he does, praying against us with malicious words.

And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church. It does sound like there's a place for that. But I think that we should definitely have concrete and sure evidence that the individual is in total opposition to the ways of Christ. Now, we were talking about love this morning. I think we need to go to that person in love. But you know, when you see or hear somebody's name, we often something comes to our mind, doesn't it? We remember.

But yeah, we can remember some of those people. But let's remember them in a redemptive way, what we can do to bring them back to Christ. Too often, when I and this is a confession, remember a brother or sister, I have a negative thought because of jealousy. They get recognized more often than I do. They have more gifts than I do. And the list can go on. I want you all to remember this morning that I want my remembrance of you to be what Paul outlines for us in this scripture. I really do.

You can pray for me in that area. I want to remember you all in a very positive way, a very positive way. You know, every time God brings someone to our remembrance, we have to make a choice. We have to make a choice. What am I going to do with this reminder of this person? Why did God bring this into my mind, this person? God has made us creatures of choice. And we can make the choice. Will I think positive or negative things about this person?

Will I think redemptive thoughts or thoughts of antagonism and reproach? Well, this thing of remembrance is more than a mind thing. And it will play itself out in practical ways. And I think that's what Brother Chris was trying to bring out this morning in this thing of love. It is displayed in practical ways. What does Jesus have to say about remembering? John 15:18 to 21. If the world hates you, you know that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own.

Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Now, here it is. Remember the word that I said to you. A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they've kept my word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for my name's sake because they do not know him who sent me. So remember, whenever you are persecuted or if someone is just antagonistic against you, remember Jesus' words.

They persecuted me, and they're going to do the same to you. Just remember that. And don't forget that Christ is there with you in that situation. Remember it. John 16:1 to 4. These things I have spoken to you that you should not be made to stumble. They will put you out of the synagogue. Yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. And these things, they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor me.

But these things I have told you that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them. And these things I did not say to you at the beginning because I was with you. Jesus said, remember what I have told you. Don't be surprised whenever hard things come your way. Don't be surprised. Remember what I told you. But he also said, I will be with you. I will be with you, and I will carry you through. And the word remembrance here in John there speaks of it's a little different word than in Philippians.

This remember speaks of exercising the mind to the point of punishing the mind. An example of an athlete pushes himself to the limit that he can hardly run any further. If he wouldn't, he wouldn't ever get anywhere. He would never be able to run the mile in less than four minutes. But that's what this word remember here in what Jesus was telling us about remember is to punish the mind. I mean, just really drive it into your mind and learn what Jesus has said.

And the Sermon on the Mount is I've never memorized the Sermon on the Mount word for word. But I would encourage you, punish your mind to the point that you can put that thing right. Anybody asked you out there, you know, we go out into society, and we usually don't have the Bible with us, do we? The book itself. Can you remember what Jesus said about something that somebody asked you about? Do you have that? Have you punished your mind to the that it just comes right up in a moment?

We must remember what Jesus said. And so we rehearse his words over and over again. And dare I say, to the point that what Jesus said is mainly what's on my mind. That's the way it works. It becomes an integral part of your mind. But you're going to have to focus on Jesus' words. And in a sense, again, if I can say, punish your mind to the point that that's what you it just comes to your mind almost immediately. In any given situation that I am in, do I have the words of Jesus on the tip of my tongue?

Or do I have to mumble around a little bit and say, well, I'm not too sure what Jesus said about that? Yeah, I don't know if I can help you with that or not. If we get to that point, I don't think you're punishing your mind enough to, you know, drive his words into your being, into your mind. Well, back to Philippians. Our first response when remembering one another is thanksgiving. And it's interesting, who is our thanks to? I thank my God, he says, upon every remembrance of you.

So it definitely is God that brings someone to our minds. That's who does it. And so Paul is saying, I'm just thank God so much that he brought you to my mind. Apparently, you have a need or you have something in your life that you're dealing with, and you need some encouragement, some help. So thank you, God, for bringing that person's name to my mind. And again, I'm speaking specifically to us. If God brings a certain person to your mind, don't just let it go by.

Understand that God brought it to your mind for a reason. And so with our smartphones and our phones and all that kind of it doesn't take long to find out if that person what that person's need is. Give them a call or a text or whatever you want to use. Give them a call because God brought that to you for a reason. Do you love your brothers and sisters enough to immediately jump on that thing and find out what is going on? That word thanks is to be grateful, express gratitude.

Thank you, Lord, for the reminder of this person. You know, our thanks is to God because he is the one that has made and changed that brother or sister into the person they are today. And so we are here for each other to encourage. So whenever someone comes to your mind, immediately thank God for it because it's there for a reason. And then Paul uses some words here, always, in every prayer of mine, making requests for you all with joy. Every. Side. Please don't. And I don't think you do. I've experienced that.

I know. I know that you use yeah, you just helped so much. So in every situation, I miss no opportunity to thank God for who you are and what you mean to my life. I don't think that it's always I mean, we can certainly just go to any brother or sister at any time and just tell them, I'm thinking about you. I'm praying for you. And I just want to bless you for all that you do. And so yeah, Paul uses some really straightforward words here for us to help in this thing of remembering, always or at all times.

And they say, making requests for you all with joy. How many of you like to beg? I know you don't want to go out on the street and beg, do you? But that's exactly what this means, is to request. Making requests, I am begging God for you all. Another real strong word. I just have please, please, please. I'm begging. Fill this brother or sister with what they need, spiritually or physically. Fill them, Lord. I'm begging you to do that.

And of course, when we make these kinds of requests, we need to be ready and open to allow God to use us to meet those needs then. This is not just words. Let's remember that. Yeah, this whole thing of remembering each other is much more than words. It's action. It's getting your hands dirty, so to speak. I know this is nothing new to you all. But I just really, just really wanted to bring this all out to us this morning. Making requests for you all with what? Oh, do I have to do this? Do I have to beg God for you?

No, he says, I do it with joy. Do it with joy. Delight. It's a delight to bring your name before the Father. I want this person to experience the Lord's blessing and grace. It's a delight to meet your needs in a practical way. Is it? I'm asking myself, do I delight to help meet your needs, spiritually or physically? It's a delight. I didn't really go to the dictionary to really get a good definition of delight. But it's a beautiful word. Isn't it a delight to do certain things?

But is it a delight for you to beg God to bless my brother or my sister? Always and every prayer of mine, making requests for you all with joy for your fellowship in the Gospel from the first day until now. Fellowship or partnership. I like that word for fellowship. You know, we thank God that this person has maintained not only a relationship with Christ, but also with his or her fellow believers. Fellowship, partnership.

We are partners in this whole thing of remembering each other and helping each other and blessing each other. And that on top of that, he says, I am confident of this very thing, that he who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day, first day until now. Confident, convinced, sure, certain, assured, without doubt. I know that whenever I make a request for a brother or sister, I am confident that that person will accept what God has for them. It's a real privilege there.

You know, I believe we should have confidence in each other. Very much so. If we didn't, not much would get done in the church, would it? If we didn't have confidence that, yeah, I think this brother can do that, this sister can do that. And so we have confidence in it. But we are more confident that God can make you into the person he wants you to be for his kingdom. He can complete it. He can complete it. Paul says also, just as it is right for me to think this of you all because I have you in my heart.

The first thing that came to my mind was a picture. I was thinking of in my heart. It was a mother with a small child. If you watch a mother with a small child, they'll hold that child very tightly close to their heart. I don't know if that means anything or not. But I think it does. I think it does. He says, because I have you in my heart or on my thoughts, my feelings, my mind. In a sense, Paul is saying, I want to hold you close to my heart at all times.

I thank God that you have not forsaken me in the midst of my chains. He's telling these people, you are not embarrassed about me, but have literally become a share in my chains and are out there defending and standing up for the Gospel. Do we have that kind of remembrance of our brothers and sisters, that we are not embarrassed about this person at all? Maybe you think sometimes some people do some strange things. Are you embarrassed about it?

Or are you confident that person is doing what God wants him to do, even though it might look a little strange at times? For God, verse 8, for God is my witness how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ. That word affection, God knows the deep affection I have for all of you. That word affection has the idea of vows. Where are they at? I don't know if any of you remember. I think I had a message one time on compassion. And I look at this word affection as the same word.

And if you don't mind, I'm going to write the Greek word. I probably can't even pronounce it right. Splunkchnology. What's that mean? I don't know if those of you that have went to college or... Me. It's a study of what? Huh? Person. It's a three-letter word. It's a study of the gut. That's what splunkchnology means. Where's that at? Down deep inside us. And that's exactly what the apostle is saying here about this affection. I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.

And that's how Jesus, the compassion that he was up on the mountain. I'm not sure what the exact thing was. He was up on the mountain. And he came down out of the mountain. And here were all these people. And what's it say about Jesus? He was moved with what? Compassion. It just went out of his gut. Oh, these people need me. And so Paul wanted that same type of affection and compassion for these people that he was talking about here. So what's your gut feeling whenever someone comes to your mind?

Does it affect you to the point that it could almost make you sick? Because this person has a great need. Oh, Father, you know help me to be genuine with my brothers and sisters. I thank God that you have not forsaken me in the midst of my chains. And here these people are just really standing up and defending him. How do I get this way down deep affection or gut feeling for you all? By remembering you again and again and again and again. That's how. You know, Paul ends this remembrance with a prayer.

You know, that is, I think that is how our remembering someone should end as well. A prayer would give them a prayer would give them above and beyond what they need. And that's what Paul was saying here. He uses the word abound or to be in excess, super abound in quantity or quality. That's what abound means. Paul is saying that God would take you way beyond what I have accomplished in life. Paul was saying that to these people. And young people, again, I'll come back to you again.

That's my prayer for your lives, young people. Go beyond us older ones. Please do. We're going to be passing from the scene before long. So while you're again in your youth, go beyond us. Don't allow Satan to limit your love, knowledge, and discernment. Don't allow him to do that. Become passionate, as Brother John often reminds us. Become passionate about the kingdom of God. Yes, abound. This is something you can do in excess, is to become more and more in remembrance of your brothers and sisters.

And the sad part is, if you do not abound in these things, you will be swept away with the deception and wickedness that is so prevalent in our day. So please, I just encourage you, all of us, of course, but young people, as your life is ahead in front of you, abound in the words of the Lord and the work of God. We need young people that will approve or test the things that are excellent.

He says in verse 10, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ. Till the day of Christ. You know, as the things that are excellent are pursued, you will be filled with the beautiful fruits of righteousness, which come only by yielding our lives to Christ. I call all of us to remember, and myself first of all, to remember each other time and time and time again.

What are some practical tools that you might could use to help you in this, help you remember each other? I'll just practice. We have a church directory. We have a phone number list. We have our Wednesday evening prayer list. And it goes on and on. All of these things that you can use to help you remember. Oh, yeah, there's Harvey. I'll remember him. I'll pray for him today. Oh, there's Brother Cedric. And you sisters. So use those little things to be able to help you remember each other in a prayerful way.

I'd like to, in closing, read Romans 16. I don't know if you ever read this or not. I'm sure you all have. But if you think about it, this will give you an idea of what I have been trying to say this morning. Paul lists name after name of people that he remembered. I'll try my best to say the names. I commend to you Phoebe, our sister, who is a servant of the church in Centria, that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints and assist her in whatever business she has need of you.

For indeed, she has been a helper of many and of myself also. Isn't that interesting how he just brings out this description of this lady? Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. Likewise, greet the church that is in their house. Greet my beloved Epanetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia to Christ. Greet Mary, who labored much for us.

Greet Andronicus and Junia, my countrymen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles who also were in Christ before me. Greet Amplius, my beloved in the Lord. Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachus, my beloved. Greet Apellus, approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristabulus. Greet Herodion, my countryman. Greet those who are of the household of Narcissus, who are in the Lord. Greet Triphena and Triphosa, who have labored in the Lord.

Greet the beloved Perseus, who labored much in the Lord. Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord and his mother and mine. Greet Asyncratus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobus, Hermes, and the brethren who are with them. Greet Philogeth. Wait a minute. I tried to pronounce that at home. Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympus and all the saints who are with them. Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you.

Now, these next four verses bring out what I talked about at the beginning, remembering some that are not following Christ the way they should be. Now, urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which you learned and avoid them. But those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore, I am glad on your behalf.

But I want you to be wise in what is good and simple concerning evil. And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. Timothy, my fellow worker, and Lucius, Jason and Sosipiter, my countrymen, greet you. I, Tirteus, who wrote this epistle, greet you in the Lord. Gaius, my host and the host of the whole church, greet you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greet you. And Quartus, a brother, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Now, to him who is, and here is this wonderful benediction. And I want you to, if you don't mind, take it from me to you, this benediction.

Now, to him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began, but now made manifest and by the prophetic scriptures made known to all nations according to the commandment of the everlasting God for obedience to the faith, to God alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever.