Philippians 1:7 - Partaker of Grace Together

Thisweekend, at Easter time, we have been considering the suffering of our LordJesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. He endured a horrendous, terrible crucifixion foryou and for me. He died in our place for our sins. TheScripture teaches that just as Christ suffered, we also are going to suffer.That is what Philippians 1:7 hints at, I believe, as the Apostle Paul tells thechurch at Philippi, “I have you in my heart.” But then he goes on to say, “inasmuchas both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you allare partakers with me of grace.” You are all partakers with me in thisgrace that God gives us in the midst of our suffering. That is what we want totalk about for a few minutes today: partakers of grace together. TheApostle Paul is talking about what it means to share together in what God isdoing in our lives. As we face suffering, God gives us grace for thatsuffering. He mentions that the church at Philippi was a group of people whoshared in his ministry. They shared in his suffering. They shared in hismission. Even while Paul was in prison, and as he says here, “in my chains,”they were still connected to him, even though they were miles away. My friend,grace is not something we receive only individually. It is something weexperience together. We share in the work of God. We share in the struggles wego through, and we share in the victories. Iam thinking of Hebrews 13:1-3, where the Apostle Paul—I say the Apostle Paulbecause I feel he probably wrote the book—says, “Let brotherly lovecontinue. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for in so doing some haveunwittingly entertained angels.” Then in verse 3, “Remember theprisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselvesare in the body also.” The Bible teaches us that we are to consider thatwhile other believers are suffering, we are to enter into their suffering as ifit were our own. We feel with them their suffering with compassion and empathy,and we pray and intercede on their behalf. TheApostle Paul also spoke about the sufferings of Christ in Philippians 3:10:“that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship ofHis sufferings.” There we see that we are partakers of the suffering ofChrist, and God gives us grace for that. Also in Romans chapter 8:16-17, weread, “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are childrenof God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.”Now listen: “if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorifiedtogether.” Then in verse 18 he says, “For I consider that the sufferingsof this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shallbe revealed in us.” How wonderful is that. One day it will be worth itall!!!! In1 Peter 5:10 we read: “But may the God of all grace, who called us to Hiseternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect,establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be glory and dominion forever andever. Amen.” As we read the passage of Scripture in Philippians 1:7, Paulis thinking, speaking, and emphasizing that you are partakers of this gracewith him in his suffering—as if chained with him. My friend, God does give usthe grace we need when we face suffering—when we go through pain, problems,difficulties, and challenges. Andwhen we join in that suffering with fellow believers—by interceding for them,showing compassion, letting them know we are praying for them and thinkingabout them—that is exactly what Paul is saying: “I am thinking about you. Ihave you in my heart. And understand, you are partakers with me in mysuffering, in my chains.” That is how we encourage one another, and that is howwe help each other become better saints for the glory of God and for His honor. Oh,my friend, these are things we should think about: partakers of grace together.We need each other in His grace.