Thankful for Christians

Philippians 1:3 NIV  I thank my God every time I remember you.

Thankfulness for Christians.

Title:  TGFC, Thank God For Christians

Goal: Being thankful for Christian Brothers & sisters keeps Christians on track.

INTRO:

You have heard of TGIF (thank God it’s Friday), but have you heard of TGFC?

You need to hear this.

You have heard of Thank God for Friday. But we are letting you know about Thank God For Christians, meaning specific individuals or small group.

Paul said, I thank my God every time I remember you.

Why was Paul thankful for the Philippians? What is the story behind his relationship with them.

• Acts 16.11-40 tells of the conversion of Lydia, and the Jailor (and his whole household).
• Phil 1.5 speaks of them sharing a partnership
• Phil 2.25 talks of Epaphroditus having been a messenger from Philippi to Paul to “take care of his needs.”
  • Implies that they had sent a “care package” to him, meeting his needs while in prison.
  • 30 also speaks of Epaph “making up the help you yourselves could not give me.”
  • 10 They had “renewed” their concern for Paul
  • 14 Speaks of it being good for the Philippians if they “share in my troubles.”
  • 15 Says that when he first came to Macedonia, the Philippians was the only congregation who shared with him in the matter of “giving and receiving’. — They were the only ones helping him.
  • 17 says he is not as interested in the gift as he is interested in them getting the credit with God for helping him.
  • 18 He is now amply supplied because of their gifts to him.
• These memories, past and present, were something positive for Paul.
  • Although in prison, His brothers had remembered with supplies.
  • Those wonderful memories kept Paul with a purpose to serve even more, even from Prison.

I understand where he is coming from.

• I remember more recently men like Howell Ferguson, stateside coordinator for Chamala Mission in Tanzania, and they showed us all the details of the work
  • And Ezekiel, who served as a guide, interpreter, agri forman, and resident coffee roaster. It re-defines what fresh coffee is.
• I am thankful for the Darwin Hendrix and Uncle Buford and the other Christians at Antoine, who have worked with me for 18-19 years.
• I am currently very thankful for Shailesh Kumar.
  • He is a technical guru, and a real helper in creating things for TimelessTalks.Net
  • He encourages, and works long hours to serve God in India.
• I am thankful for so many Christians at Prescott, AR, for the many times they have supported me when I have been emotionally drained.
• Or Dennis and Gladys Schneider, from New Mexico, who recently refreshed me.
• And far too many to mention here.

But Paul was right!

• When you are constantly offering prayers of thanks to God for the myriad of faithful Christians, it keeps you focused, motivated, driven.
  • These Christians with their joy of serving become the reasons you want others to be saved.
  • Thankfulness for Christians gives you purpose. A goal worth achieving.
• I am hoping you will look around you and see which Christians you can be thankful for.
  • They can become an inspiration for you to be faithful until you die.

If you don’t have this kind of relationship with folks you know, contact me and let’s just see what we can get done to correct this problem.