It's Time to Boast!
Here is Philippians 3 Paul wants people to know the importance of knowing Christ(Not in a physical sense but in the sense of having a personal relationship with Christ). Paul tells us to watch out for those people who do evil and claim that because they have done this or that they are at the top of the Christian latter. Read what Paul has to say about all that he has done for Christ and where that puts him.
Philippians 3:3-8 (NLT)-"...We put no confidence in human effort, though I could have confidence in my own effort if anyone could. Indeed, if others have reasons for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more! I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin--a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law. I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault. I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ."
With all that Paul had done for Christ and spreading the gospel message if he had nothing to boast about except that Christ was Lord and had saved him through the blood of Christ, where does that put us? Here is the real problem. Why is it that in church or in life continue to compare ourselves to other people? I realize that there are some people who look up to me as some type of super spiritual figure and leader of the church, and I except that (no I'm not boasting trust me). I hope that in all I preach and lead that people can see that I am not better or worse than anyone else. I have my own problems that God continues to work with me on. The deal is that everyday that God allows me to preach the gospel message, is a blessing from God himself. God continues to amaze me with what he can do with a broken and beat up vessel like me. To Him be all glory, honor, and praise forever!
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Philippians 2:12-18
"Shine Jesus, Shine"
Here in this section of Philippians I believe that we get a view of the Philippian church which shows us that there must be some type of conflict going on in the Church. I know what you are thinking, "how could there be any conflict going on in the church?" Here is the deal, people in church fight. Sometimes I believe that people in church fight more than people outside of the church. Philippians 2:14-15 (NLT)-"Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shinning like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people." Here Paul is contrasting the lives of those who believe in Christ and those who do not have faith in Christ. Paul says that people of the world find fault and complain, but those who are in Christ spend their time rejoicing. Wow, what a word of wisdom for the church today. Why do we spend so much time going to meetings and fighting over stuff that in eternity does not really amount to a whole lot. I believe that one of the key reasons that many times we find conflict in church due to a lack of prayer. God has been continuously convicting me lately that it is very hard to have a heart, mind, and soul that longs after God if we don't really spend some quality time with God.
Think about your work place what if before some huge business decision or some important meeting, everyone got together and spend some real time with each other in prayer. What if before some huge conflict between two students in school a bunch of students got together and humbled their hearts in prayer. What if before a huge church board meeting the leaders got together, put their ego's aside and prayed. I believe that if this happen in every aspect of our lives we could live out verse 15 and spend a lot more time rejoicing and a lot less time finding fault and complaining.
Here in this section of Philippians I believe that we get a view of the Philippian church which shows us that there must be some type of conflict going on in the Church. I know what you are thinking, "how could there be any conflict going on in the church?" Here is the deal, people in church fight. Sometimes I believe that people in church fight more than people outside of the church. Philippians 2:14-15 (NLT)-"Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shinning like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people." Here Paul is contrasting the lives of those who believe in Christ and those who do not have faith in Christ. Paul says that people of the world find fault and complain, but those who are in Christ spend their time rejoicing. Wow, what a word of wisdom for the church today. Why do we spend so much time going to meetings and fighting over stuff that in eternity does not really amount to a whole lot. I believe that one of the key reasons that many times we find conflict in church due to a lack of prayer. God has been continuously convicting me lately that it is very hard to have a heart, mind, and soul that longs after God if we don't really spend some quality time with God.
Think about your work place what if before some huge business decision or some important meeting, everyone got together and spend some real time with each other in prayer. What if before some huge conflict between two students in school a bunch of students got together and humbled their hearts in prayer. What if before a huge church board meeting the leaders got together, put their ego's aside and prayed. I believe that if this happen in every aspect of our lives we could live out verse 15 and spend a lot more time rejoicing and a lot less time finding fault and complaining.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Philippians 2:3-11
Be Like Christ
Philippians 2:3-11 (NLT)-"Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don't look out for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal's death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
Can we really fathom the idea that Paul is talking about here in this section of Philippians? Have you ever taken a few minutes to think of what Jesus gave up in order to come to earth and save us? Christ gave up being with God, in order to come to earth to be a servant to all of mankind. This idea of Christ being a servant goes much further than you or I can imagine as Jesus being the servant of mankind meant that He would serve everything. Jesus being a servant meant that He would die on a cross for you and I. What an amazing concept! How is it that Jesus came to teach us servant-hood and yet we spend our entire lives thinking that we deserve to be served. The challenge today is to read through these few verses and ask yourself "do I have the same attitude as Christ Jesus?" Today, find someone to serve and quit expecting to be served.
Philippians 2:3-11 (NLT)-"Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don't look out for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal's death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
Can we really fathom the idea that Paul is talking about here in this section of Philippians? Have you ever taken a few minutes to think of what Jesus gave up in order to come to earth and save us? Christ gave up being with God, in order to come to earth to be a servant to all of mankind. This idea of Christ being a servant goes much further than you or I can imagine as Jesus being the servant of mankind meant that He would serve everything. Jesus being a servant meant that He would die on a cross for you and I. What an amazing concept! How is it that Jesus came to teach us servant-hood and yet we spend our entire lives thinking that we deserve to be served. The challenge today is to read through these few verses and ask yourself "do I have the same attitude as Christ Jesus?" Today, find someone to serve and quit expecting to be served.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Philippians 2:1-2
Fellowship in the Spirit
Philippians 2:1-2-"Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose." (NLT)
Obviously the Philippians has some disagreements among them. Paul reminds them of the way that they should be acting because they "fellowship together in the Spirit". As we already noted, the book of Philippians is really about fellowship; not friendship but fellowship. Just from reading this passage of scripture the only thing that my mind is capable of thinking about is salvation. I know this seems weird but let me share with you where my mind is going on this.
Philippians 2:1, Paul ask the question is there any "fellowship together in the Spirit?" Obviously in Paul's mind in order for there to be fellowship in the Spirit, the Spirit must be active in a persons life. So how do we get this Spirit? So that we might be able to experience this "fellowship in the Spirit".
Romans 8:9-"But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all). From this scripture we see that there are obviously people who do not have the Spirit, therefore they would not be eligible to "fellowship in the Spirit".
As Peter stands and delivers his message on the Day of Pentecost (the day the first church started) the people listening ask Peter what they must do in order to obtain this amazing grace and how can we get to know this awesome Jesus? Peters answer is found in the scripture below.
Acts 2:38-"Peter replied, 'Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'" Peter says at the point that someone is baptized, its at that point in which you receive the Holy Spirit.
Please remember that baptism is but one part of the salvation plan, there are other which I will not go into detail but have listed below, but the issue of baptism seems to be greatly debated, so I wanted to give my two cents worth.
Salvation:
Belief
Confession
Repentance
Baptism
Faithfulness
Philippians 2:1-2-"Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose." (NLT)
Obviously the Philippians has some disagreements among them. Paul reminds them of the way that they should be acting because they "fellowship together in the Spirit". As we already noted, the book of Philippians is really about fellowship; not friendship but fellowship. Just from reading this passage of scripture the only thing that my mind is capable of thinking about is salvation. I know this seems weird but let me share with you where my mind is going on this.
Philippians 2:1, Paul ask the question is there any "fellowship together in the Spirit?" Obviously in Paul's mind in order for there to be fellowship in the Spirit, the Spirit must be active in a persons life. So how do we get this Spirit? So that we might be able to experience this "fellowship in the Spirit".
Romans 8:9-"But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all). From this scripture we see that there are obviously people who do not have the Spirit, therefore they would not be eligible to "fellowship in the Spirit".
As Peter stands and delivers his message on the Day of Pentecost (the day the first church started) the people listening ask Peter what they must do in order to obtain this amazing grace and how can we get to know this awesome Jesus? Peters answer is found in the scripture below.
Acts 2:38-"Peter replied, 'Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'" Peter says at the point that someone is baptized, its at that point in which you receive the Holy Spirit.
Please remember that baptism is but one part of the salvation plan, there are other which I will not go into detail but have listed below, but the issue of baptism seems to be greatly debated, so I wanted to give my two cents worth.
Salvation:
Belief
Confession
Repentance
Baptism
Faithfulness
Sunday, October 3, 2010
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