Responsibilities of Every Believer

Apostle Paul’s books in the Bible teaches us great things. His spiritual insights gives us many things to learn and inspires us to be a better Christian.

Paul’s letter to the Philippians is a deeply personal and joyful message written to the church in Philippi. Paul’s initial journey into Philippi was met with strong opposition, but he never wavered in his mission to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. This letter was written during his second visit, reflecting both the challenges he faced and the deep bond he shared with this faithful church.

We learn a great deal of his teaching in Philippians 1 on various responsibilities for each of us as believers in Christ

Responsibilities of All Who Are Called in Christ

When we are called into Christ, we are not merely saved—we are entrusted with responsibilities. Paul outlines in Philippians 1 what it means to live out that calling faithfully:

1.        Remember the Body of Christ

[Philippians 1:3 NIV] 3 I thank my God every time I remember you.

• We are called to remember all believers, not just individually but collectively as the Church—the body of Christ. Just as Paul kept the Philippians in his thoughts, we are to carry our fellow believers in love and memory, acknowledging our unity in Christ.

2.        Pray for One Another with Joy

[Philippians 1:4-5 NIV] 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,

• Intercessory prayer is essential. We are urged to pray not just for ourselves, but first for others, with joy—not out of duty, but out of love, celebrating their shared journey in Christ.

• Our prayers should flow with the joy of  knowing the Lord and saviour.

• The Joy part comes from knowing Christ and out of his love we pray in Joy  so that the love spreads around the brothers and sisters , that way they are strengthen in him.

3.        Trust That Christ is the Beginning and the End

 [Philippians 1:6 NIV] 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

• Our confidence lies not in our ability, but in Christ who initiated the work in us.

• He is faithful to complete it. We are called to mentor, support, and walk with others, knowing that the ultimate work of salvation and transformation belongs to Christ.

4.        Live as Ambassadors in Chains for Christ

 [Philippians 1:7 NIV] 7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me.

• We are ambassadors of Christ - Once we come to salvation, we serve Christ in our works and our actions

• Chain has two ends

  • Our deeds must reflect Christ in what we learn

  • Our actions must reflect Christ in every way we learn

• We live a life for Christ that’s how we should feel for every day. An Apple Company worker feels proud to work for that company same way we feel we have a tag for Christ, and we live a life that’s to him. Humbleness and servant attitude is the moto of how we live in the world.

• Paul viewed his sufferings as a badge of honour in Christ’s service. [Ephesians 6:20 NIV] 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

• To be in Christ is to be chained not by force, but by loyalty—living humbly, faithfully, and with a servant heart.

• Our primary Goal as a believer is to become like Jesus.

• Qualities of ambassador is to emulate Jesus - Jesus exhibited that life on earth, his goal was to please the father in sincerity and be truthful to him / he showed himself and earned the tag of Man of integrity [Matthew 22:16 NIV] 16 They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. "Teacher," they said, "we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren't swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who…

5. Intercede with Purposeful Prayer

 [Philippians 1:9-11 NIV] 9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ--to the glory and praise of God.

Here’s how we should pray for fellow believers:

1. Growing in Love –

   • Our human love is with expectations, we pray for Christ’s love to over power and take control, Christ’s Love is outlined in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8).

   • Once that Love takes over our self-love, we start doing what Christ has called to do. 

   • Pray for Christ’s Love to grow in other believers.

2. Increasing in Knowledge –

   • Many of us stop growing in Christ after coming to Christ, Paul calls the Corinth Church as “Babes in Christ”. 1 Corinthians 3:1

   • Unless we know him in deep knowledge and depth of who Christ is we cannot grow further in our spiritual understanding.

   • Pray that each believer grows deep in Christ knowledge – this comes from Reading the word of God (Bible). Pray that each believer reads the Word and meditates it to understand and gain the deep insight of God

3. Spiritual Discernment –

   • The world we live is filled with sins, and there is a lot of False preachers and false spirit’s as we live in end times

   • We should pray for all the believers so that they are able to discern what is right and wrong in Christ.

   • Many times as believers we do things selfishly and deviate from the will of God. When we pray for the Spirit of discernment, God’s Holy Spirit will guide us according to his will.

   • Pray for the Spirit of Discernment  to choose what is best according to Christ’s goodness.

4. Holiness –

   • Holiness is for all Christians when we start believing Christ as our lord and saviour. Paul considered this way in each of the four epistle he writes as God’s holy people Philippians 1:1, Ephesians 1:1, Colossians 1:2, 1 Corinthians 1:2

   • Christian life is about us climbing a holy hill to perfecting to God’s holiness, we may not be there day one, we may not be there in our 60 yrs also, but we keep perfecting till the last breath, he will do it at the end when he takes us home, so keep checking along to holiness  [Psalm 24:3 NIV] 3 Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place?

   • We need to be reminded that we are saved in Christ to become holy, so it’s not abnormal for you and me to be perfected to holiness by God, it’s not for special people it’s for you and me. [2 Timothy 1:9 NIV] 9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life--not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,

   • Pray for the Church’s holiness, Ask God to make your church holy, don’t be worried on where they stand, it’s his grace to make the Church better.

   • Pray for the Believers also to be made Holy, we live in Sodom & Gomorrah days, holiness is getting lower every day and Sin is taking over, unless we pray for holiness, we are no way going to be protected in this holiness that God wants us to be.

5. Fruit of the Spirit –

   • Pray for all the believers to be filled in fruits of Righteousness. our self-righteousness does not yield any fruit. When we Pray for God’s righteousness, we are filled with Faith that he will be our source and provider of righteousness

   • We are filled with his fruits of righteousness as written in Galatians 5:22–23, Against such there is no law.

6. Glory to God –

   • That all growth and maturity would ultimately bring praise to God.

   • Praise and thank God for his wonders in believers and give glory for all that he has done in other people’s lives.

6. Accept That Suffering is Part of the Calling

 [Philippians 1:29 NIV] 29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him,

• Many times we often describe suffering as bad, here Paul says the opposite, Faith in Christ is not only to enjoy the goodness, but also to suffer.

• Pray that you experience Christ in suffering. Thank him for the suffering opportunity to show your faith and opportunity to transform you and make you stronger in him

• Suffering is like a boxer in the boxer ring, the more we fight the muscles get stronger. The good part of this is Christ will never allow us to fail in Suffering, the righteous suffering receive the blessings we inherit. [1 Peter 4:13-14 NIV] 13 But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

7. Die Daily to Self and Live for Christ

• [Philippians 1:21 NIV] 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

• [Luke 9:23 NIV] 23 Then he said to them all: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.

•  [Romans 12:1-2 NIV] 1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God--this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Our daily call is one of self-denial and surrender. We crucify our selfish desires and ambitions to live a life fully devoted to Christ, just as Abraham offered Isaac in obedience. It’s a daily commitment to follow Jesus in every area of life by offering ourselves to him so that he transforms us to become more like him.