Some of the Features of the Philippian Church by Stephen Nelson Haskell

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jun 28, 1883

Some of the Features of the Philippian Church.

By Stephen Nelson Haskell

BY ELD. S. N. HASKELL.

THERE ever seemed to be between the apostle Paul and the Philippian brethren a very close attachment. The church was founded in affliction. The apostles were imprisoned, and some ten years after the gospel was first carried to Philippi the apostle writes: "For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me." It is evident from this that this church passed through the same affliction during this period of ten years, that they saw him pass through while in Philippi, which was persecution and imprisonment. He was in prison when he wrote this epistle, and he says to them, "Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, but now hear to be in me."

In his epistle to the Philippians the apostle uses some expressions which show what an intimate relation existed between him and them. In verses 3-5 of the first chapter he says, "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 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." Another expression in the eleventh verse, "Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God." It is evident that this church, notwithstanding their affliction, was a devoted church. Inspiration speaks of their poverty and affliction as follows: "How that in a great trial of affliction, the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality." 2 Cor. 8:2. He writes this to the Corinthian brethren as though notwithstanding their great affliction they had great joy and their joy increased in proportion to their affliction. It was not a murmuring church. But they rejoiced in their affliction, and in their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. Notwithstanding they were very poor, they were very liberal, and the apostle assures us that beyond their power they were willing of themselves; and while he would refuse to take their liberality on account of their poverty, they prayed him with much entreaty that he would receive the gift, and take upon themselves the fellowship of ministering to the saints. 2 Cor. 8. Thus we learn from the brief record which we have of their history that they were a church which passed through great affliction, and secondly, they possessed great joy in their afflic

tion, evidently partaking of the spirit manifested by the apostles when cast into prison at Philippi; and thirdly, in the midst of their "deep poverty" they were a liberal church; they were anxiously desiring to ever do something to build up the cause of God.

When the apostle went from them to Thessalonica, after they had first received the gospel, no church communicated with the apostle as concerning giving and receiving but they only. They sent once and again to supply the apostle's necessities in Thessalonica. There is more said in the Scriptures about this church's giving than of any other one church spoken of in the gospel. No wonder that, with these characteristics, they were a prosperous church.

There is no account of the Lord's ever working a miracle when his church were murmuring and complaining; he cannot miraculously work for his people in their unbelief. Of certain cities we read: "He could not do many mighty works because of their unbelief." Whenever the people of God are finding fault because of difficulties and because of afflictions, it brings sadness to the angels of God and grieves his holy Spirit. "Be of good courage and he shall strengthen thine heart." On a certain occasion when the apostles were thanking God that they were accounted worthy to suffer shame for his name, and only asked God that he would grant them boldness to speak the word, the place was shaken where they were assembled together, and all were filled with the Holy Ghost and they spoke the word with boldness. It is at such times, and with such people, that God can grant his blessing. The Philippians were this class.