Philippians 1:3–8

He that has begun a good work in you WILL complete it! Trust God in the power of Holy Spirit to give you a new heart and accomplish what you cannot. Joy in the journey gives us the strength to stay the course.

Holy Spirit will show us what Church, charities and missions to support. We need to listen closely and follow those nudging.

Just BELIEVE.

Philippians 1:3–8

3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, 5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 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; 7 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. 8 For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ. The New King James Version

Paul continually expresses gratitude for the Philippians and the benefits he received from them. The Philippians provided financial support that helped Paul spread the gospel message. Their partnership in his ministry is the reason he prays with joy. In Paul’s time, friendship meant that two parties of equal standing—in this instance, Paul and the Philippians—would participate (koinōnia in Greek) in an ongoing exchange of gestures for mutual benefit.

Paul first met the Philippian believers during a missionary journey through Macedonia. When he departed, the Philippians continued to support him financially. The Christians at Philippi seem to have aligned themselves strongly with Paul’s missionary endeavors. Paul did not always accept financial assistance from church communities, even those he planted. For example, the Corinthians also offered to help him financially, but Paul rejected their gift because they had not aligned themselves with his values or concerns; rather, they were interested in improving their own status by helping him. Paul is certain that the Philippians will progress in faith because God is committed to transforming them.

Philippians was written while Paul was in prison. Faithlife Study Bible

The tense of the Greek verb indicates that Paul was continually thankful to God for the Philippian Christians. Every time God brought them to his mind, Paul gave thanks. Joy, a prominent theme in Philippians, filled Paul’s prayers for the Philippians even when he interceded for their needs. 

Fellowship is a commercial term for a joint-partnership in a business venture in which all parties actively participate to ensure the success of the business. In the Christian community, the word expresses intimacy with Christ and other believers. In this case, Paul may be using the word fellowship to refer to the financial contributions the Philippians had given Paul from the first day until now. Immediately upon becoming Christians and continually thereafter, the Philippians had dedicated themselves to living and proclaiming the truth about Jesus Christ, and specifically to helping Paul in his ministry. Paul had become convinced some time in the past that God would complete His good work among the Philippians, and his confidence remained unshaken. Since you is a plural pronoun, the good work that God was doing was taking place “among” the believers rather than “in” any isolated believer. It expresses progress toward a goal and indicates that a time is coming when God will completely finish His work among the Philippian Christians. The ministry in which the Philippians participated continues (like a relay race) up to the present, and it will continue until Christ returns. 

Paul calls Christ’s return “the day of Christ” On that day, Christ will judge nonbelievers and evaluate the lives of believers. The word right conveys a sense of moral uprightness (in keeping with God’s law) and is often translated throughout the NT as “righteous.” In this context, the word indicates that Paul’s thoughts regarding the Philippians were in perfect accord with God’s will. 

Heart refers to the innermost part of a person, the place where one thinks and reflects. Since defense implies speech, we can be certain that Paul was not silent while in prison, but boldly spoke about Jesus Christ. Paul may have also been indicating that he would testify about Christ at his judicial proceedings. Defense and confirmation are the negative and positive aspects of Paul’s ministry. He defended the gospel against its opponents’ attacks, and he confirmed the gospel through powerful signs. The word translated affection literally means the internal organs, regarded by the first-century reader as the center of the deepest feelings.

Whereas the heart is the seat of reflection, Paul now speaks of his affection, his deep feelings for the believers. In modern terminology, Paul revealed that he had the “heart” of Jesus Christ. His feelings for the Philippians were like those of Jesus Christ, who loved them and died for them. The NKJV Study Bible

We must thank our God for the graces and comforts, gifts and usefulness of others, as we receive the benefit, and God receives the glory. The work of grace will never be perfected till the day of Jesus Christ, the day of his appearance. But we may always be confident God will perform his good work, in every soul wherein he has really begun it by regeneration; though we must not trust in outward appearances, nor in any thing but a new creation to holiness. People are dear to their ministers, when they receive benefit by their ministry. Fellow-sufferers in the cause of God should be dear one to another.  Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

John 6:29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”

Acts 16:14 Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul.