James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
Philippians 1:20-21
20. According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
21. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Paul was in the Roman prison when he wrote Philippians.
He was in prison because he preached the gospel and spreading the name of Jesus Christ.
He wasn’t thinking of others opinions...he was being faithful to Christ.
It seems that the church in Philippi was closer to Paul than any other church and their love for him and his love for them are shown here in Philippians.
I believe that God uses Philippians to show His love for us just as Paul showed his love for them.
Philippians deals with the way all believers should be living.
It is not a level where all of us are, but it is where God wants us to be.
This letter, rather than a correcting or scolding the church, is simply an expression of friendship and of shared joy in a common faith.
Selfishness and jealously is always a breeding ground for unhappiness. Paul had joy because he loved others. He prayed for others, encouraged others, and sought to bring joy to others.
What was Paul’s main goal in verse 20?
While he longed to be with Christ, he yearned to remain and help these believers grow in Christ.
Growing in understanding of how God wants us to live and to become an example for Him is what growing in Christ really means.
To magnify Jesus while he was in the body is what Pauls main goal was....That should be our goal also.
I heard about a church member that told their pastor
“We have some neighbors who believe a false gospel,”
“Do you have some literature I can give them?” The pastor opened his Bible to 2 Corinthians 3:2, “Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:”
He said, “The best literature in the world is no substitute for your own life.
Let them see Christ in your behavior and this will open up opportunities to share Christ’s Gospel with them.”
What a great illustration ...Christian means to be Christ like.
The greatest weapon against the devil is a godly life.
And a local church that practices the truth, that demonstrates what it believes,” is going to defeat the enemy.
The victory has been won by Christ....we just need to keep it on display. Here is a little poem that has kind stuck with me.
You are writing a Gospel,
A chapter each day,
By the deeds that you do
And the words that you say.
Men read what you write,
Whether faithful or true:
Just what is the Gospel
According to you?
Several years ago I wrote Christian articles for a magazine for 4 years in Rising Sun MD call the Christian Messenger...Matt Compton a dear friend of mine who was the editor told me he said Ron: not everyone is going to agree with what you write so don’t get discouraged if they don’t. I told Matt..it’s not them I have to answer to it’s my Lord.....we have a responsibly for the truth...to hold on to truth...to be an example of that truth.
The world test us to see if we are real...The world wants to find out if we are what we say we are.... Christians...Christ..like.......
People read what we write everyday
Paul said in verse 20 that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
Paul said he did not want to be ashamed of his witness while in this life, and he did not want to be ashamed when he came into the presence of the Lord Jesus.
If we go through this life in every effort trying to please God in the obedience and the truth of God’s Word in our actions...where ever we are...in how we treat others without selfishness and jealously and how we love others....and how we cling to the gospel of Jesus Christ with boldness and are not ashamed then...then we have no reason to be ashamed at His appearing.
John mentions the fact that when Christ comes to take His church with Him, it is possible for believers to be ashamed at His appearing We need to bear that in mind. All Christians ought to be concerned about that. ( 1 John 2:28).
And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
Verse 21 Paul says: For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
What are some thoughts on what Paul said?
Paul said, if he lived ....it will be for Christ, if he died he knew he would be in His presents which would be a gain.
It’s a win ...win situation ( by the way you remember Paul was a tent maker by trade....what is a tent?...a temporary dwelling place...the same is true with this body we have ...it’s a temporary home for us. But one day we will all change into what the Bible calls a glorified body.
But, God sees the finished product we can’t see what we shall be yet. Paul said in: 1 Cor 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly
What he meant was we can only see in this flesh and things of the flesh...we see a dim view of what we really are.
We are only children in what we will be someday.
We see only a dim reflection of the real person in a mirror just as we see only a dim reflection of God today. But when Christ comes, we shall know Him as we are known by Him!
And we shall be like Him!...so to die is gain.
............Philillians 1:27-30 27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; 28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. 29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; 30 Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.
In verse 27 The word conversation means your way of life. Not only our speech but our entire way of life should be a credit to the gospel of Christ.
Verse 28-29 If you ever get to a place where He lets you suffer for Him,—that is the high calling of Christ Jesus. according to this verse...you will notice that it says For unto you it is given
That means its a gift
Perdition means: Entire loss; utter destruction, ruin.. damnation
That’s what our adversaries think but, to us it’s salvation and that of God ....the Bible says.
For some reason, many new believers have the idea that trusting Christ means the end of their battles.
In reality, it means the beginning of new battles.
So when you see these preachers on TV telling you to order this holy water for $9.95...it will bring you health and money...turn it off...its a lie
Actually, going through spiritual conflict is one way we have to grow in Christ.
God gives us the strength we need to stand firm against the enemy, and confidence is proof to Satan that he will lose and we are on the winning side.
The Philippians had seen Paul go through conflict when he was with them and they had witnessed his firmness in the Lord.
Now we go to Philippians chapter 4 and verses 4-7
4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. 5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus..
Rejoice in the Lord always. That means regardless of the day, whether it is dark or bright, whether it is difficult or easy, whether it brings problems and temptations or clear sailing..........The Bible says rejoice
We are commanded to rejoice. He repeats it, in case we missed it the first time: “again I say, Rejoice.”
Joy is something we cannot produce ourselves; it is a fruit of the Holy Spirit
“The Lord is at hand" Paul said...some of you may remember in the 60’s there were people carrying signs that said "The end is near".....We should do that today..because it is.
He said in verse 6 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
I believe Paul is saying...don’t worry about anything and pray about everything....prayer is where the power is.
In verse 7
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus..
One day we are promised world peace by the Prince of peace..Christ Jesus.
That’s the only place we can get true peace is from God.
Peace by forgiveness of sins...peace knowing where we will spend eternity.
We don’t understand it...but we believe it...it keeps our hearts and minds at the foot of the cross.
Philippians 4: 8-9
. 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honesta, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
He is the answer on "How does God want me to live?"
....think on these things that are true...honest...just...Think Jesus
Someone ask an Indian how he prepared for church he said .....he set and think Jesus
This is another lesson on how much we need to follow Him in every way...in obedience...worship...praise...pray without ceasing ....let Jesus occupy every aspect of our life.
Sometimes we need to be reminded that we are His children and sometimes we need to be reminded to act like it.
Sometimes we need to be reminded just how much He loves us and what He did for us.
Jesus became a servant....God who created the heavens and the Earth laid aside His Godly credentials.
Made Himself a man by the name of Jesus who lived without sin...became sin for us....and left that sin at the foot of an old cross....for whosoever would come to Him in repentance would be saved.
Paul also reminded the people in Philippi of that same thing in:
Philippians 2: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men
But made himself of no reputation….that comes from a Greek “keno” it’s a word meaning empty. ………….He emptied Himself but, what of? He lived on this Earth with certain limitations…..they were self limitations.
That was His choice …...became all human but,became a servant for us ....was God in the flesh
He demonstrated this in John chapter 13....at the last supper the night before His arrest ...they met in that upper room
He demonstrated His love for us so that we could demonstrate it to others.
"How does God want me to live?" by living up to our name I believe....Christian....Christ Like.
Love in Christ Jesus, Ronnie Miller
www.themillersbiblestudy.com
