Thanks For Participating In The Gospel
By Allan E. McNabb

In Philippians 1:3-5, Paul expresses thanks to brethren for supporting him to preach the gospel.

“ I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now” (Phil. 1:3-5).

Paul refers to the Philippians financial support as “participation in the gospel.” When they supported him, they were participating, just as if they were with him in the missionary field doing the work.

Thanks for Your Participation
As we start a new year, I want to take a moment and say, thank you. I greatly appreciate your participation in the gospel, to financially support me as I pay our living and preaching expenses.

Last Thursday, after I returned home from Indiana, I received news regarding a correspondent from BibleStudyGuide.org. He wrote me about a week before I left, and wanted to be baptized. I talked with a local preacher who studied with him for two hours, and he was baptized into Christ.

Receiving this good news, I thought about the South Livingston Congregation, who supports me to do the work of an evangelist. I’m thankful for your support to preach the gospel, whereby people are saved.

It’s Profitable for You
More important than the financial support I receive, is the spiritual profit you receive from participating in the gospel. You are storing up treasure in heaven (Matt. 6:4, 6, 18, 19-21; 1 Tim. 6:17-19), to the glory of God (Phil. 4:18-20; cf. Matt. 5:16).

• Your participation in the gospel is “a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God” (Phil. 4:18).
  
• Your work is a pleasing sacrifice to God (2 Cor. 2:15-16; Eph. 5:2; Heb.13:16; 1 Pet. 2:5).
  As holy priests of God (1 Pet. 2:5), you are living sacrifices (Rom. 12:1-2), pleasing God in every respect (Col. 1:10).

As a result of your participation in the gospel, “God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19).

• God enriches you with the ability to liberally share with others (2 Cor. 9:8).
  
• You sow bountifully and will reap bountifully (2 Cor. 9:6-11; cf. Gal. 6:6-10).

Glory to God
The end result is that God is glorified, by your participation in the gospel, by the proclaiming of His word, and by salvation of souls (Phil. 4:20).

January 1, 2006