Partnership

The church of Philippi was among Paul’s most faithful supporters. That is why he told them in Philippians 1:4 and 5, “Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now.”

Partners in Prayer

By using the word “always,” Paul lets us know how frequently he prayed for his partners. In Greek, it is the word pantote, which means always, at all times, or constantly. This lets us know that praying for his partners was a regular occurrence in Paul’s daily life. It was something he did habitually. Paul understood that his partners’ role in his ministry was just as important as his role. Therefore, Paul made his responsibility to pray for them a very high priority in his life.

The word “prayer” is the Greek word deisis. This word describes a heartfelt request for God to answer a concrete, specific need, usually some type of physical or material need. The church of Philippi was suffering financially at this time. Considering how they gave of their finances despite their own financial struggles, it makes sense that Paul prayed earnestly for God to answer and meet the concrete, physical needs of this sacrificially giving church.

When Paul says he is “making request,” the Greek tense carries the idea of Paul continuously making requests for the Philippian believers. This is definitely not a one-shot, occasional prayer; rather, Paul makes it very clear that praying for these believers is a part of his daily pattern. The word “request” is again the word deisis, now used twice in this verse, which categorically substantiates that Paul was asking God to answer and provide for the physical, tangible needs of this church. And notice that Paul said he made these requests “with joy.” It was no burden for him to pray for his partners; he did it with pleasure and joy.

Partners in Fellowship

In Philippians 1:5, Paul explains the reason he feels so passionate about these believers who had so faithfully supported his ministry. He says, “For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now.” The word “fellowship” is the Greek word koinonia, a word that depicted partnership or a mutual participation in some project or event and often referred to a partner, a sharer, or a companion.

By supporting the ministry with their finances and prayers, these partners actually enter into the work of the ministry and mutually work side-by-side with those on the front lines.

Paul had told the Corinthians, “Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one...” (1 Corinthians 3:8). The word “one” is the Greek word hen, which in this context means one in purpose, one in aim, or one in terms of being on the same team and having the same goal.

Paul had a revelation that every person is essential in accomplishing the work of God. He knew that those who water the work with their prayers and finances are just as important as those who do the actual work of tilling the soil and planting the seeds. If the first group tries to do their job without the assistance of the other group, failure will be the inevitable result. On the other hand, if both work together as a team, appreciating and valuing each other’s role in achieving their common purpose, the result will be a great harvest.

So when Paul wrote to the Philippians and spoke of their “partnership” in the Gospel, he truly did mean that they were his partners. Together, they made a great team that was having an eternal impact. One part of that team wasn’t more worthy of honor than the other part. Everyone was on the same team, moving toward the same goal; they were simply fulfilling different roles to get the job done. Paul was a planter, and those who gave of their finances were the waterers. Both were essential to the success of the work.

Partners for Life

And notice that the Philippians had been partners with Paul’s ministry “…from the first day until now.” They had been with him for a very long time. Through the years, people had come and people had gone in Paul’s life; those who stayed with him through every circumstance and challenge were precious and rare. Paul was keenly aware of how special it was that the church of Philippi had not only supported him from the very beginning, but were also still standing with him as his partners in the work of the Lord!

“Philippians 1:4,5 could be interpreted to read:

“I am always praying for you. In every one of my prayers, I am asking God to meet the tangible and physical needs in your lives. And I want you to know that praying for you is one of the greatest joys of my life. Why, you’ve been my partner in the work of the Gospel from the very start, and you’re still with me now. Because of that, praying for you is a very special joy for me.”

Never let the devil tell you that your partnership with Church of God World Missions isn’t important. Think of what would happen if everyone simultaneously stopped giving! Ministers and Missionaries would be like automobiles with no gas in the tank. Although equipped to go with a vision burning in their hearts, they would be unable to do their work and fulfill that vision because of “empty tanks.”

The things we do here today for the ministry puts “gas in the tank” so the work of the ministry can go forward! It isn’t just the missionaries work, but our work as well. One plants, another waters, and God gives the increase.