REMEMBERING OUR PARTNERSHIPS

Philippians 1:3-11
Purpose: To remind us of our dependency upon God and others.
	1.	The Bible reminds us to remember.
	2.	Remembering is a process necessary for learning.
	3.	Remembering is necessary to learn to be appreciative.
	#The United States government knows the value of remembering for it has declared that one 	day will be a Memorial Day.  A time of remembering those who have died for our freedom.  To 	fail to remember is to fail to be appreciative.
	4.	In our spiritual life remembering is an important process for each of us.
I.	God is a remembering God.
	A.	He remembers His covenant with us. (Genesis 9:15)
	#Noah has just completed his watery journey.  God is talking with him about the covenant 	relationship they share.  The rainbow appears in the sky and God points to it and says this will 	be the sign that I will never break my covenant with humankind.
		1.	The Psalmist, a worshiper, makes this observation about God, “He has 					remembered His love and His faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of 				the earth have seen the salvation of our God” (Psalm 98:3).
		2.	God sent the prophets to remind us of the covenant we had with God and His 				unfailing faithfulness to us despite our unfaithfulness to Him.
	B.	God remembers the poor.
		1.	The Old Testament prophets were God’s social change agents who identified 				the evil practices of people who kept other people deprived and destitute.
		2.	The Psalmist quotes God as saying I will remember your low estate (Psalm 				136:23).
	C.	God remembers to forget our sins (Jeremiah 31:34; Hebrews 8:12).

II	A remembering God wants us to remember Him.
A.	A wise man advises young people “Remember your creator in the days of your
youth . . .” (Ecclesiastes 12:1).
	B.	We are to admire what God has accomplished.
		1.	We are to remember the wonders God has done (I Chronicles 16:12).
		2.	We are to praise His works (Job 36:24).
		3.	We are to remember the deeds of the Lord (Ps. 77:11).
		# Have one of the older members of the congregation tell of God’s help. 
III.	A remembering God wants us to remember Him and our partnership in the Gospel.
	(Read Philippians 1:3-5)
	A.	We appreciate those who advance the Gospel.
		1.	We are thankful for those who have gone before us.
			a.	We are to pray for those who have served well.
			b.	We’re to give thanks for those whose sacrifices are foundational to our 					present work and well-being.
			c.	We are to express joy in the relationship we share with those who have 					been used of God.
	B.	We experience solidarity within the church surrounding the mission of salvation.
		1.	Body life evangelism is one of the most effective means by which the gospel is 				advanced.
		2.	The church lives a life of love and holiness as a witness to God’s work in the 				world.
		3.	The offer of a resurrected life results from transformed living on the part of 				Christians.
		4.	We experience an ongoing dependency upon God to carry out the work He 				began.

Conclusion:
	1.	Our work is not done until the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
	2.	Our love is to increase (Philippians 1:9).
	3.	We are also to be holy, filled with the fruit of righteousness.
	4.	Our lives are to give praise to God.
	5.	We are to remember Jesus Christ rose from the dead (II Timothy 2:8).