Paul's Letter to the
PHILIPPIANS
Greek Grammar
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The NASB text
The ISV text
Introduction
I. Christ, the believer's life rejoicing in spite of suffering (1:1-30)
Salutation (1:1-2)
Marks of the Christian Life - Christian Joy
(1:3-11)
I have you in mind (1:3-4)
Marks of the Christian Life - Christian Sacrifice (1:5-6)
Marks of the Christian Life - Christian partnership (1:7-8)
Joy triumphing over suffering (1:8-30)
Marks of the Christian Life - Christian progress and goal (1:9-11)
Christian bonds destroy barriers (1:12-14)
The all-important proclamation
(1:15-18)
The Happy ending (1:19-20)
In life and death (1:21-26)
Citizens of the Kingdom (1:27-30)
II. Christ the believer's pattern, rejoicing in lowly service (2:1-30)
Exhortation to unity and meekness (2:1-4)
The sevenfold self-humbling of Christ (2:5-8)
All for God (2:10-11)
The outworking of the inworked salvation (2:12-16)
The faithful henchman (2:19-24)
The courtesy of Paul (2:25-30)
III. Christ, object of the believer's faith, desire, and expectation (3:1-21)
Let me say it again (3:1)
Warning against Judaizers (3:2-3)
Warning against trusting in legal righteousness (3:4-7)
Christ, object of the believer's faith for righteousness (3:8-9)
Worthlessness of the Law and the value of Christ (3:10-11)
The appeal for unity in the walk (3:12-16)
Dweller on Earth but citizen of Heaven (3:17-21)
IV. Christ, the believer's strength, rejoicing over anxiety (4:1-23)
Standfast (4:1)
Healing Breaches (4:2-3)
Marks of the Christian life (4:4-5)
Be anxious for nothing (4:6)
The Peace of God (4:7)
The presence of the God of peace (4:8-9)
Do (4:9)
Secret of True Contentment (4:10-13)
The Value of the Gift (4:14-20)
Greetings (4:21-23)
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Philippians 1 (NASB)
1
Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in
Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons:
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ.
3
I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always offering
prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, 5 in view of your
participation in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 For I am
confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will
perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. 7 For it is only right for me to
feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both
in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel,
you all are partakers of grace with me. 8 For God is my witness,
how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And this I
pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge
and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve the things that are
excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ;
11 having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes
through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
12
Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have
turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, 13 so that my
imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known
throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else, 14
and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my
imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God
without fear. 15 Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from
envy and strife, but some also from good will; 16 the latter do it out
of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; 17
the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, rather than from
pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment. 18
What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in trut,
Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice, yes, and I will rejoice. 19
For I know that this shall turn out for my deliverance through your
prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20 according
to my earnest expectation and hope, that I shall not be put to shame in
anything, but that with all boldness, Christ shall even now, as always,
be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to
live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I am to live on in the flesh,
this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose.
23 But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to
depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; 24 yet to
remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. 25 And
convinced of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all
for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that your proud
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confidence in me may abound in Christ Jesus through my coming to
you again.
27
Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ;
so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I may hear of
you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving
together for the faith of the gospel; 28 in no way alarmed by your
opponents-- which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for
you, and that too, from God. 29 For to you it has been granted for
Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,
30 experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now
hear to be in me.
Philippians 2 (NASB)
1
If therefore there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any
consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any
affection and compassion, 2 make my joy complete by being of the
same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one
purpose. 3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with
humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important
than himself; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal
interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Have this attitude in
yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He
existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to
be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a
bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 And being
found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming
obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore
also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is
above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should
bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth,
11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
12
So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my
presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your
salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in
you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. 14 Do all things
without grumbling or disputing; 15 that you may prove yourselves to
be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the
midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear
as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that in the
day of Christ I may have cause to glory because I did not run in vain
nor toil in vain. 17 But even if I am being poured out as a drink
offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share
my joy with you all. 18 And you too, I urge you, rejoice in the same
way and share your joy with me.
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19
But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I
also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition. 20 For I
have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for
your welfare. 21 For they all seek after their own interests, not those
of Christ Jesus. 22 But you know of his proven worth that he served
with me in the furtherance of the gospel like a child serving his father.
23 Therefore I hope to send him immediately, as soon as I see how
things go with me; 24 and I trust in the Lord that I myself also shall
be coming shortly. 25 But I thought it necessary to send to you
Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is
also your messenger and minister to my need; 26 because he was
longing for you all and was distressed because you had heard that he
was sick. 27 For indeed he was sick to the point of death, but God
had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, lest I should
have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I have sent him all the more
eagerly in order that when you see him again you may rejoice and I
may be less concerned about you. 29 Therefore receive him in the
Lord with all joy, and hold men like him in high regard; 30 because
he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to
complete what was deficient in your service to me.
Philippians 3 (NASB)
1
Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things
again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you. 2 Beware of
the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision;
3 for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God
and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh, 4
although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone
else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: 5
circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of
Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; 6 as to
zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in
the Law, found blameless. 7 But whatever things were gain to me,
those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 More
than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of
knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all
things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ, 9
and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own
derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the
righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, 10 that I
may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of
His sufferings, being conformed to His death; 11 in order that I may
attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already
obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order
that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ
Jesus. 13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it
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yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching
forward to what lies ahead, 14
I press on toward the goal for the
prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore,
as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have
a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; 16 however, let
us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.
17
Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk
according to the pattern you have in us. 18 For many walk, of whom
I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies
of the cross of Christ, 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is
their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds
on earthly things. 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which
also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21 who will
transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of
His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all
things to Himself.
Philippians 4 (NASB)
1
Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and
crown, so stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.
2
I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord. 3
Indeed, true comrade, I ask you also to help these women who have
shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, together with Clement
also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book
of life.
4
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your
forbearing spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. 6 Be anxious
for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the
peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your
hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is
right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute,
if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your
mind dwell on these things. 9 The things you have learned and
received and heard and seen in me, practice these things; and the
God of peace shall be with you.
10
But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived
your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you
lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak from want; for I have learned
to be content in whatever circumstances I am. 12 I know how to get
along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in
any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled
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and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. 13
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. 14
Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction. 15
And you yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching
of the gospel, after I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with
me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; 16 for even
in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs. 17 Not
that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to
your account. 18 But I have received everything in full, and have an
abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus
what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice,
well-pleasing to God. 19 And my God shall supply all your needs
according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 Now to our God
and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
21
Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me
greet you. 22 All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar's
household.
23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. NASB
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The International Standard Version
Php 1:1-30
(1) The Letter of Paul to the
Philippians
Greetings from Paul and Timothy
¶ From: [The Gk. lacks From] Paul and Timothy, servants of the Messiah [Or
Christ] Jesus.
To: All the holy ones [Or saints] in Philippi, along with their overseers [Or
bishops] and ministers, [Or deacons] who are in union with the Messiah [Or Christ]
Jesus.
(2) ¶ May grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus, the
Messiah, [Or Christ] be yours!
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
Paul’s Thanksgiving and Prayer for the Philippians
¶ I thank my God every time I remember you, [Or every time you remember me]
always praying joyfully in every one of my prayers for all of you
because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.
I am convinced of this, that the one who began a good action among
[Or in] you will bring it to completion by the Day of the Messiah [Or Christ]
Jesus.
For it is only right for me to think this way about all of you, because
you’re constantly on my mind. [Lit. because I have you in my heart; or you have me in your
heart] Both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of
the gospel, all of you are partners with me in this privilege. [Or grace]
For God is my witness how much I long for all of you with the
compassion that the Messiah [Or Christ] Jesus provides.
(9) ¶ And this is my prayer, that your love will keep on growing more and
more with full knowledge and insight,
(10) so that you may be able to choose what is best and be pure and
blameless until the day when the Messiah [Or Christ] returns,
(11) having been filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through
Jesus the Messiah [Or Christ] so that God will be glorified and praised.
(12)
The Priority of the Gospel in Everything
¶ Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me
has actually caused the gospel to advance.
(13) As a result, it has become clear to the whole imperial guard and to
everyone else that I am in prison for preaching about [The Gk. lacks preaching
about] the Messiah. [Or Christ]
(14) Moreover, because of my imprisonment the Lord has caused most
of the brothers to become confident to speak God’s word more boldly
and courageously than ever before.
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(15) Some are preaching the Messiah [Or Christ] because of jealousy and
dissension, while others do so [The Gk. lacks do so] because of their good
will.
(16) The latter are motivated [The Gk. lacks are motivated] by love, because they
know that I have been appointed to defend the gospel.
(17) The former proclaim the Messiah [Or Christ] because they are selfishly
ambitious and insincere, thinking that they will stir up trouble for me
during my imprisonment.
(18) ¶ But so what? Just this—that in every way, whether by false or true
motives, the Messiah [Or Christ] is being proclaimed. Because of this, I
rejoice and will continue to rejoice.
(19) I know that this will result in my deliverance through your prayers
and the help that comes from the Spirit of Jesus the Messiah. [Or Christ]
(20) I rejoice because I eagerly expect and hope that I will have nothing
to be ashamed of, because through my [Lit. with all] boldness the Messiah
[Or Christ] will be exalted through me, [Lit. exalted in my body] now as always,
whether I live or die. [Lit. by life or by death]
(21) ¶ For to me, to go on living is the Messiah, [Or Christ] and to die is gain.
(22) Now if I continue living, fruitful labor is the result, so I do not know
which I would prefer.
(23) Indeed, I cannot decide between the two. I have the desire to leave
this life and be with the Messiah, [Or Christ] for that is far better.
(24) But for your sake it is better that I remain alive. [Lit. remain in this body]
(25) ¶ Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will continue to live and
be with all of you, so you will mature in the faith and know joy in it.
(26) Then your rejoicing in the Messiah [Or Christ] Jesus will increase along
with mine [Lit. in me] when I visit with you again.
(27)
Standing Firm in One Spirit
¶ The only thing that matters is that you continue to live as good
citizens in a manner worthy of the gospel of the Messiah. [Or Christ] Then,
whether I come to see you or whether I stay away, I may hear all about
you—that you are standing firm in one spirit, struggling with one mind
for the faith of the gospel,
(28) and that you are not intimidated by your opponents in any way. This
is evidence that they will be destroyed and that you will be
saved—and all because of [Lit. and that from] God.
(29) For you have been given the privilege [Lit. it has been given you] for the
Messiah’s [Or Christ’s] sake not only to believe in him but also to suffer for
him.
(30) You have the same struggle that you saw in me and now hear that I
am still having. [Lit. hear in me]
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Php 2:1-30 The International Standard Version
(1)
Unity through Humility
¶ Therefore, if there is any encouragement in the Messiah, [Or Christ] if
there is any comfort of love, if there is any fellowship in the Spirit, if
there is any compassion and sympathy,
then fill me with joy by having the same attitude, sharing the same
love, being united in spirit, and keeping one purpose in mind.
Do not act out of selfish ambition or conceit, but with humility think of
others as being better than yourselves.
Do not be concerned about your own interests, but also be concerned
about [The Gk. lacks be concerned about] the interests of others.
Have the same attitude among yourselves [Or Have this mind in you] that was
also in the Messiah [Or Christ] Jesus: [Verses 6-11 probably represent an early Christian
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
hymn.]
(6) ¶ In God’s own form existed he,
and shared with God equality,
deemed nothing needed grasping.
(7) ¶ Instead, poured out in emptiness,
a servant’s form did he possess,
a mortal man becoming.
In human form he chose to be,
(8) ¶ and lived in all humility,
death on a cross obeying.
(9) ¶ Now lifted up by God to heaven,
a name above all others given,
this matchless name possessing.
(10) ¶ And so, when Jesus’ name is called,
the knees of everyone should fall, [Or every knee should bend]
wherever they’re residing. [Lit. in heaven, on earth, and under the earth]
(11) ¶ Then every tongue in one accord,
will say that Jesus the Messiah [Or Christ] is Lord,
while God the Father praising.
(12)
Blameless Living
¶ And so, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only
when I was with you but even more now that I am absent, continue to
work out your salvation with fear and trembling.
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(13) For it is God who is producing in you both the desire and the ability
to do what pleases him.
(14) Do everything without complaining or arguing
(15) so that you may be blameless and innocent, God’s children without
any faults among a crooked and perverse generation, among whom
you shine like stars in the world
(16) as you hold firmly to the word of life. Then I will be proud when the
Messiah [Or Christ] returns [Lit. will boast in the day of the Messiah] that I did not run in
vain or work hard in vain.
(17) ¶ Yet even if I am being poured out like an offering as part of the
sacrifice and service I offer [The Gk. lacks I offer] for your faith, I rejoice, and I
share my joy with all of you.
(18) In the same way, you also should rejoice and share your joy with
me.
News about Paul’s Companions
¶ Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon so that I
can be encouraged when I learn of your condition.
(20) I do not have anyone else like him who takes a genuine interest in
your welfare.
(21) For all the others look after their own interests, not after those of
Jesus the Messiah. [Or Christ]
(22) But you know his proven worth—how like a son with his father he
served with me in the gospel.
(23) Therefore, I hope to send him as soon as I see how things are going
to turn out for me.
(24) Indeed, I am confident in the Lord that I will come to visit you [The Gk.
lacks to visit you] soon.
(19)
(25) ¶ Meanwhile, I thought it best to send Epaphroditus—my brother,
fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and minister to
my need—back to you.
(26) For he has been longing for [Other mss. read longing to see] all of you and is
troubled because you heard that he was sick.
(27) Indeed, he was sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on him,
and not only on him but also on me, so that I would not have one
sorrow on top of another. [Lit. sorrow on sorrow]
(28) Therefore, I am especially eager to send him so that you may have
the joy of seeing him again, and so that I may feel relieved.
(29) So joyfully welcome him in the Lord and make sure you honor such
people highly,
(30) because he came close to death for the work of the Messiah [Or Christ;
other mss. read Lord] by risking his life to complete what remained unfinished
in your service to me.
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Php 3:1-21 The International Standard Version
(1)
Warning against Pride
¶ So then, [Or Furthermore] my brothers, keep on rejoicing in the Lord. It is
no trouble for me to write the same things to you; indeed, it is for your
safety.
(2) ¶ Beware of the dogs! Beware of the evil workers! Beware of the
mutilators! [Lit. the mutilation; Lit. katatome (a cutting off)]
(3) For it is we who are the circumcision [Lit. peritome (a cutting around)] —we who
worship in the Spirit of God [Other mss. read worship God in the Spirit] and find our
joy in the Messiah [Or Christ] Jesus. We have not placed any confidence
in the flesh,
(4) although I could have confidence in the flesh. If anyone thinks he can
place confidence in the flesh, I have more reason to think so. [Lit. I more]
(5) Having been circumcised on the eighth day, I am of the nation of
Israel, from the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews. As far as the
Law is concerned, I was a Pharisee.
(6) As for my zeal, I was a persecutor of the church. As far as
righteousness in the Law is concerned, I was blameless.
(7) ¶ But whatever things were assets to me, these I now consider a loss
for the sake of the Messiah. [Or Christ]
(8) What is more, I continue to consider all these things to be a loss for
the sake of what is far more valuable, knowing the Messiah [Or Christ]
Jesus, my Lord. It is because of him that I have experienced the loss
of all those things. Indeed, I consider them rubbish [Or dung] in order to
gain the Messiah [Or Christ]
(9) and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that
comes from the Law, but one that comes through the faithfulness [Or
through faith in] of the Messiah, [Or Christ] the righteousness that comes from
God and that depends on faith.
(10) I want to know the Messiah [Lit. To know him] —what his resurrection
power is like and what it means to share in his sufferings by becoming
like him in his death,
(11) though I hope to experience the resurrection from the dead.
(12)
Pursuing the Goal
¶ It’s not that I have already reached this goal or have already become
perfect. But I keep pursuing it, hoping somehow to embrace it just as I
have been embraced by the Messiah [Or Christ] Jesus.
(13) Brothers, I do not consider myself to have embraced it yet. [Other mss.
omit yet] But this one thing I do: Forgetting what lies behind and straining
forward to what lies ahead,
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(14) I keep pursuing the goal to win the prize [Lit. the goal for the prize] of God’s
heavenly call in the Messiah [Or Christ] Jesus.
(15) ¶ Therefore, those of us who are mature [Or perfect] should think this
way. And if you think differently about anything, God will show you
how to think. [Lit. show you this]
(16) However, we should live up to what we have achieved so far.
(17)
True and False Teachers
¶ Join together in imitating me, brothers, and pay close attention to
those who live by the example we have set for you. [Lit. the example you have in
us]
(18) For I have often told you, and now tell you even with tears, that many
live as enemies of the cross of the Messiah. [Or Christ]
(19) Their destiny is destruction, their god is their belly, and their glory is
in their shame. Their minds are set on worldly things.
(20) ¶ Our citizenship, however, is in heaven, and it is from there that we
eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus, the Messiah. [Or Christ]
(21) He will change our unassuming bodies and make them like his
glorious body through the power that enables him to bring everything
under his authority.
Php 4:1-23
The International Standard Version
(1)
Closing Exhortations
¶ Therefore, my dear brothers whom I long for, my joy and my victor’s
crown, this is how you must stand firm in the Lord, dear friends.
(2) I urge Euodia and Syntyche to have the same attitude in the Lord.
(3) Yes, I also ask you, my true partner, [Or my loyal Syzygus] to help these
women. They have worked hard with me to advance [The Gk. lacks to advance]
the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers,
whose names are in the Book of Life.
(4) ¶ Keep on rejoicing in the Lord at all times. I will say it again: Keep on
rejoicing!
(5) Let your gracious attitude [Lit. spirit] be known to all people. The Lord is
near:
(6) Never worry about anything. Instead, in every situation let your
petitions be made known to God through prayers and requests, with
thanksgiving.
(7) Then God’s peace, which goes far beyond anything we can imagine,
will guard your hearts and minds in union with the Messiah [Or Christ]
Jesus.
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(8) ¶ Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever
is fair, whatever is pure, whatever is acceptable, whatever is
commendable, if there is anything of excellence and if there is
anything praiseworthy—keep thinking about these things.
(9) Likewise, keep practicing these things: what you have learned,
received, heard, and seen in me. Then the God of peace will be with
you.
The Philippians’ Gifts
¶ Now I rejoice in the Lord greatly, because once again you have
shown your concern for me. Of course, you were concerned for me
but you did not have an opportunity to show it. [The Gk. lacks to show it]
(11) I am not saying this because I am in any need, for I have learned to
be content in whatever situation I am in.
(12) I know how to be humble, and I know how to prosper. In each and
every situation I have learned the secret of being full and of going
hungry, of having too much and of having too little.
(13) I can do all things through him [Other mss. read the Messiah] who strengthens
me.
(14) Nevertheless, it was kind of you to share my troubles.
(10)
(15) ¶ You Philippians also know that in the early days [Lit. in the beginning] of
the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church participated with me in
the matter of giving and receiving except for you.
(16) Even while I was in Thessalonica, you provided for my needs not
once, but twice.
(17) It is not that I am looking for a gift. No, I want to see that you receive
the fruit that increases to your benefit.
(18) I have been paid in full and have more than enough. I am fully
supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus what you
sent—a fragrant aroma, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.
(19) And my God will fully supply your every need according to his
glorious riches in the Messiah [Or Christ] Jesus.
(20) Glory belongs to our God and Father forever and ever! Amen.
(21)
Final Greeting
¶ Greet every saint who is in union with the Messiah [Or Christ] Jesus.
The brothers who are with me send their greetings to you.
(22) All the saints, especially those of the emperor’s [Or Caesar’s] household,
greet you.
(23) ¶ May the grace of the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, [Or Christ] be with your
spirit! Amen. [Other mss. lack Amen]
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INTRODUCTION TO THE LETTER TO THE PHILIPPIANS
Philippians is an authentic letter of Paul.
Practically no critical problems
No reputable New Testament critic ever doubted its genuineness.
THEME:
1] The joy of Christian grace and experience in all of life and death.
2] Christ's deity and lordship.
Jesus who was God from eternity emptied Himself to become a man
and, after suffering death, was raised again to His original glory and
given a name above every name: Lord.
Some form of Jesus Christ occurs 51 times throughout the 104
verses in the Epistle.
(Likely a pre-emptive strike at the false teaching of the Gnostics
which were infiltrating the church at Ephesus and Collosia at the
time.)
3] Our need to focus on things of eternal excellence.
STATISTICS:
50th book of the Bible;
4 chapters;
104 verses;
2,002 words;
1 question;
96 verses of history;
5 verses of unfulfilled prophecy.
AUTHOR / DATE / CIRCUMSTANCE
The Apostle Paul wrote the letter(s) during the period between 64-65 A.D.
while under house arrest in Rome.
(Some place the writing as early as 61 A.D.)
Philemon, Laodecia (a letter lost to us), Colossians, Ephesians,
and Philippians were written during this period.
It is not clear which of the four came first but in Php 2:20 Paul says the the
only one then left with him that he trusts to send to Philippi in Europe
(northern Greece - Macedonia) is Timothy.
Php 2:19-21 But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you
shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I learn of your
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condition. 20 For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will
genuinely be concerned for your welfare. 21 For they all seek
after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus.
Paul had highly commended several others whom he indicated he
was going to send to deliver his letters to the Asian churches.
They had apparently departed when Paul wrote to the Philippians.
Paul had been in prison in Rome for some time before the letters were
written.
There was time for news of Paul’s arrival in Rome to reach Philippi.
Time for the Philippians to organize, gather and arrange for
Epaphroditus.
There was time for Epaphroditus
to come to Rome,
to fall sick,
for the news of his sickness to reach Philippi and
for Epaphroditus to hear of the Philippians concern about him.
PHILIPPI
Philippi was located in Macedonia about 10 miles inland from the Aegean
Sea.
It was founded by Philip, father of Alexander the Great in 368 B.C. on the
site of an ancient city called "Krenides," a name which means "The Wells"
or "Fountains."
The city was named after Philip II, King of Macedonia (359-336 BC)
who took an interest in enlarging the small settlement into a large city.
There were gold and silver mines in the area
had been worked as far back as the time of the Phoenicians.
by the Christian era they were exhausted,
they had made Philippi a great commercial centre.
The city was economically prosperous for it's day,
Merchants of all types visited the city on a regular basis.
No more strategic site in all Europe.
A range of hills which divides Europe from Asia, east from west
At Philippi that chain of hills dips into a pass so that the city
commanded the road from Europe to Asia,
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The main highway from Asia to the west, Via Egnatia, passed
through Philippi.
Here Antony defeated Brutus and Cassius, decided the future of the
Roman Empire.
No significant Jewish settlement in Philippi-no synagogue there
The city was a staunch supporter of Rome, and in return received prote
(first, chief) recognition from Rome.
The city was considered autonomous in it's government,
immune from paying tribute, and
its citizens were voting Roman citizens exactly as if they lived in
Italy. (See Acts 16.12)
Shortly after it was established, Philippi attained the status of a Roman
Colony.
These were not colonies in the sense of being outposts of civilization
in unexplored parts of the world.
Colonies were begun as Roman military outposts-fortresses
Rome would send out parties of veteran soldiers, who had served
their time and been granted citizenship, to settle in strategic road
centres.
Usually consisted of three hundred veterans with their wives and
children.
Colonies became key points of the great Roman road systems
Roads and colony system was engineered so reinforcements could
move quickly from one colony to another
Founded to keep the peace and to command the strategic centres
in Rome's far-flung Empire.
At first in Italy; spread throughout the empire as it grew
Later, the title of colony was given by Rome to any city which it wished to
honor for faithful service.
Colonies were little fragments of Rome
pride in their Roman citizenship was their dominating characteristic.
Roman language was spoken;
Roman dress was worn;
Roman customs were observed;
magistrates had Roman titles,
Carried out the same ceremonies as were carried out in Rome
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itself.
would never have dreamt of becoming assimilated to the people
amidst whom they were set.
We can hear the Roman pride breathing through the charge against Paul
and Silas
Acts.16:20-21:
"These men are Jews, and they are trying to teach and to
introduce laws and customs which it is not right for us to
observe--for we are Romans."
Nowhere were men prouder of being Roman citizens than in these
colonies; and Philippi was a Roman Colony.
Just as the Roman colonist never forgot in any environment that he was
Roman,
so Paul wrote to the Philippian Church that they must never forget in
any society that they were Christians:
Php 3:20
"You are a colony of heaven" (King James Version),
PAUL AND PHILIPPI
Paul first visited Philippi during his 2nd missionary journey, about the year
A.D. 52.
The vision of the man of Macedonia with his appeal to come over
and help us.
He sailed from Alexandrian Troas in Asia Minor.
landed at Neapolis in Europe, and
made his way to Philippi.
Acts 16 tells the story of Paul's first visit and stay in Philippi
Acts 15:36-16:40
36 And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again
and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the
word of the Lord, and see how they do.
37 And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose
surname was Mark.
38 But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed
from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.
39 And the contention was so sharp between them, that they
departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark,
and sailed unto Cyprus;
40 And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the
brethren unto the grace of God.
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41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.
Acts 16
1 Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple
was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which
was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek:
2 Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and
Iconium.
3 Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and
circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those
quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.
4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the
decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders
which were at Jerusalem.
5 And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased
in number daily.
6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of
Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word
in Asia,
7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia:
but the Spirit suffered them not.
8 And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.
9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of
Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia,
and help us.
10 And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavored to
go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called
us for to preach the gospel unto them.
11 Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to
Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis;
12 And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of
Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain
days.
13 And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where
prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto
the women which resorted thither.
14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of
Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord
opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of
Paul.
15 And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought
us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come
into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.
16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel
possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her
masters much gain by soothsaying:
17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are
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18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of
salvation.
And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and
said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to
come out of her. And he came out the same hour.
And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone,
they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace
unto the rulers,
And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being
Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,
And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither
to observe, being Romans.
And the multitude rose up together against them: and the
magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.
And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them
into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:
Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner
prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto
God: and the prisoners heard them.
And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the
foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the
doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.
And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing
the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have
killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for
we are all here.
Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and
fell down before Paul and Silas,
And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be
saved, and thy house.
And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were
in his house.
And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their
stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before
them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying,
Let those men go.
And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The
magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go
in peace.
But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly
uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and
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now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come
themselves and fetch us out.
38 And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they
feared, when they heard that they were Romans.
39 And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and
desired them to depart out of the city.
40 And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of
Lydia and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them,
and departed. KJV
The Acts Philippi account centers around three people of different
nationalities and three different levels of society.
1] Lydia, the seller of purple; an Asiatic, probably Turkish (today)
her name may well be not a proper name at all but simply "the
Lydian lady."
Being a dealer in purple, one of the most costly substances in
the ancient world, was the equivalent of a merchant prince.
Lydia-the first convert-held ‘services’/Christian meetings in her
home.
2] The demented slave-girl a native Greek,
used by her masters to tell fortunes; and
As a slave, in the eyes of the law, she was not a person at all, but
a living tool.
3] The Roman jailor a Roman citizen.
A member of the sturdy Roman middle-class from which the civil
service was drawn.
As a result of Paul and Silas short visit, the first Christian church in Europe
was established here by this smll band of new believers.
No chapter (cf: Phil 2) in the Bible shows so well the all-embracing faith
which Jesus Christ brought to all men from the top, the bottom and middle
of society,
Paul and Silas having been arrested as Jewish trouble makers (real
grievance was the restoration of the slave girl and the ruination of her
explotation) were thrown into the Roman Colony’s prison as Jews.
On discovering that Paul was a Roman citizen, the colony leaders
attemped to settle the matter quietly but Paul took advantage of the
situation and not only humbled them but recovered Silas and
undoubtedly the jailor and his household-now new believers in Jesus
Christ.
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When Paul left Philippi, many theologians believe that he left the physician
Luke behind to guide the congregation as it grew.
Paul made a second visit to Philippi during his third missionary journey
(55-56 AD), he was imprisoned for treason shortly thereafter and could not
get back to the people he loved.
Acts 20:1-6
1 And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples,
and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia.
2 And when he had gone over those parts, and had given them much
exhortation, he came into Greece,
3 And there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him,
as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through
Macedonia.
4 And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the
Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and
Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.
5 These going before tarried for us at Troas.
6 And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread,
and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days.
KJV
The Philippians never forgot the man who introduced them to Christ.
While Paul was imprisoned in Rome the Church sent Epaphroditus to Paul
with a gift and orders to minister to his needs.
Paul was moved by the love in action that the congregation showed, and
under God's guidance wrote the Book of Philippians.
Epaphroditus carried the Epistle with him when he returned home to
Philippi.
PERSECUTION
Paul had to leave Philippi after the storm of persecution and illegal
imprisonment (Acts 16).
That persecution was inherited by the Philippian Church.
He tells them that they have shared in his bonds and in his defence of the
gospel (Php.1:7).
He bids them not to fear their adversaries for they are going through what
he himself has gone through and is now enduring (Php.1:28-30).
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TRUE FRIENDSHIP
Paul and the Philippian Church had a bond of friendship closer than that
which existed between him and any other Church.
Soon after he left them and moved on to Thessalonica were they sent him
a present (Php.4:16).
When he moved on and arrived in Corinth by way of Athens, they alone
again remembered him with their gifts (2Cor.11:9).
Paul boasted that he had never taken help from any man or from any other
Church
That he had satisfied his needs with his own two hands.
he had agreed to accept a gift from the Philippians alone
"My brethren whom I love and long for, my joy and crown in
the Lord" (Php.4:1).
THE OCCASION OF THE WRITING OF THE LETTER
Years have passed; it is now A.D. 63 or 64.
Paul wrote the Philippians this letter from his captivity while under
house arrest in Rome
(I) It is a letter of thanks.
after a period of silence and difficulty, the Philippians have sent
him a gift (Php.4:10-11).
(ii) It has to do with Epaphroditus.
It seems that the Philippians had sent him not only as a bearer of
their gift, but that he might stay with Paul and be his personal
servant.
Epaphroditus had fallen ill-likely from over work in service to
the Philippian church and Paul
He was worried because he knew that the people at home
were worried about him.
Paul sent Epaphroditus back to Philippi
Paul had the unhappy feeling that the people in Philippi might
think Epaphroditus to be a quitter, so he goes out of his way to
give him a testimonial:
"Receive him with all joy, and honor such men, for he nearly
died for the work of Christ" (Php.2:29-30).
(iii) It is a letter of encouragement to the Philippians in the trials which
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they are going through (Php.1:28-30).
(iv) This letter is an appeal to maintain the unity of the Church.
It is from that, that there rises the great passage which speaks of the
selfless humility of Jesus Christ (Php.2:1-11).
In the Church at Philippi


there were two women who had quarreled and were endangering
the peace (Php.4:2); and
there were false teachers who were seeking to lure the Philippians
from the true path (Php.3:2).
ONE LETTER OR TWO ???
At Php.3:2 there is an extraordinary break in the letter.
Up to Php.3:1 everything is serenity and the letter seems to be
drawing gently to its close; then without warning comes the outburst:
"Beware of dogs; beware of evil workers; beware of the
concision."
There is no connection with what goes before.
Further, Php.3:1 looks like the end of a letter.
"Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord"
having said finally Paul seems to begin all over again!
Not an unknown phenomenon in preaching
- we never know for sure whether when a
teacher/preacher says “and finally”
he means “In conclusion” or
whether he means “and the last point I intend to
make before I inhale again....”
Many scholars think that Philippians, as we possess it, is not one letter
but two letters put together.
They regard Php.3:2-21 and Php.4:1-3 as a letter of thanks and
warning sent quite early after the arrival of Epaphroditus in Rome;
they regard Php.1-2; Php.3:1 and Php.4:4-23 as a letter written a
good deal later, and sent with Epaphroditus when he had to go
home.
We know that Paul did write more than one letter to Philippi,
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Polycarp, in his letter to the Philippian Church, says of him, "when
he was absent he wrote letters to you."
Polycarp, born in 69 A.D., became bishop of Smyrna and
wrote his own epistle to the Philippians.
Polycarp was a pupil of the apostle John.
In the 2nd century he was a prominent oft quoted leader in the
church of Smyrna.
He was martyred in Smyrna in A.D. 155.
POSSIBLE EXPLANATION
The sudden break between Php.3:1 and Php.3:2 as other possible
explanations-but these do not seem likely in this case...
(I) As Paul was writing, fresh news may have come of trouble at Philippi;
He may have immediately interrupted his line of thought to deal
with it.
(ii) Philippians is a personal letter and a personal letter is never logically
ordered like a treatise.
In a personal letter we put things down as they come into our
heads;
We chat on paper with our friends;
Ideas which may be clear to us may not be so obvious to
anyone else.
The sudden change of subject here is just the kind of thing which
might occur in any such letter.
THE LOVELY LETTER
Philippians has been called:
"The Epistle of Excellent Things"
(Phil 4:8-9)
"The Epistle of Joy."
Again and again the words joy and rejoice recur.
He mentions "joy" 14 times in the epistle.
The key word is "rejoice" (Phil. 3:1).
Christians are to rejoice in fellowship with one another (Phil. 1:3-11),


in afflictions of the gospel (Phil. 1:12-30);
in the ministry for saints (Phil. 2:1-18),
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



in faithfulness of ministers (Phil. 2:19-3:1);
in the Lord and not in Judaism or in the flesh (Phil. 3:1-21);
in unity (Phil. 4:1-3), and
always in all things (Phil. 4:4-23).
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Thirty-five Actions in Philippians
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
become a subject of God's grace (Phil. 1:6).
be partaker of God's grace (Phil. 1:7).
abound more and more in love (Phil. 1:9).
approve things that are excellent (Phil. 1:10).
be sincere until the end (Phil. 1:11).
be without offense till the end (Phil. 1:10).
be filled with fruits of righteousness (Phil. 1:11).
let your manner of life be as becomes the gospel of Christ (Phil. 1:27).
stand fast in one spirit and one mind with others striving together for
the gospel (Phil. 1:27).
10. be not terrified by enemies (Phil. 1:28).
11. suffer for His sake (Phil. 1:29).
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
be likeminded with Christ (Phil. 2:2).
have the same love (Phil. 2:2).
be of one accord, of one mind with others (Phil. 2:2; 3:16).
let nothing be done through strife and vain glory (Phil. 2:3).
esteem others better than yourself (Phil. 2:3).
be interested in others (Phil. 2:4).
let the mind of Christ be in you (Phil. 2:5).
obey the gospel (Phil. 2:12).
work out your own salvation (Phil. 2:12-13).
do all things without murmuring and disputings (Phil. 2:14).
be blameless, harmless, without rebuke among men (Phil. 2:15).
hold forth the Word of Life (Phil. 2:16).
24.
25.
26.
27.
beware of dogs, evil workers, & the circumcision party (Phil. 3:2).
press toward the high calling (Phil. 3:13-16).
walk by the gospel standard (Phil. 3:16).
be followers of me and mark enemies of the cross of Christ (Phil.
3:17-20).
28. stand fast in the Lord (Phil. 4:1).
29. help all workers of Christ (Phil. 4:3).
30. rejoice in the Lord always (Phil. 4:4).
31. let your moderation be known all men (Phil. 4:5).
32. be anxious for nothing (Phil. 4:6).
33. let requests be known God (Phil. 4:6).
34. think on right things (Phil. 4:8).
35. do what you have learned, received, heard, and seen in me (Phil.
4:9).
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Thirty-five Actions in Philippians
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
become a subject of God's grace (Phil. 1:6).
be partaker of God's grace (Phil. 1:7).
abound more and more in love (Phil. 1:9).
approve things that are excellent (Phil. 1:10).
be sincere until the end (Phil. 1:11).
be without offense till the end (Phil. 1:10).
be filled with fruits of righteousness (Phil. 1:11).
let your manner of life be as becomes the gospel of Christ (Phil. 1:27).
stand fast in one spirit and one mind with others striving together for
the gospel (Phil. 1:27).
10. be not terrified by enemies (Phil. 1:28).
11. suffer for His sake (Phil. 1:29).
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
be likeminded with Christ (Phil. 2:2).
have the same love (Phil. 2:2).
be of one accord, of one mind with others (Phil. 2:2; 3:16).
let nothing be done through strife and vain glory (Phil. 2:3).
esteem others better than yourself (Phil. 2:3).
be interested in others (Phil. 2:4).
let the mind of Christ be in you (Phil. 2:5).
obey the gospel (Phil. 2:12).
work out your own salvation (Phil. 2:12-13).
do all things without murmuring and disputings (Phil. 2:14).
be blameless, harmless, without rebuke among men (Phil. 2:15).
hold forth the Word of Life (Phil. 2:16).
24.
25.
26.
27.
beware of dogs, evil workers, & the circumcision party (Phil. 3:2).
press toward the high calling (Phil. 3:13-16).
walk by the gospel standard (Phil. 3:16).
be followers of me and mark enemies of the cross of Christ (Phil.
3:17-20).
28. stand fast in the Lord (Phil. 4:1).
29. help all workers of Christ (Phil. 4:3).
30. rejoice in the Lord always (Phil. 4:4).
31. let your moderation be known all men (Phil. 4:5).
32. be anxious for nothing (Phil. 4:6).
33. let requests be known God (Phil. 4:6).
34. think on right things (Phil. 4:8).
35. do what you have learned, received, heard, and seen in me (Phil.
4:9).
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Philippians 1 - A FRIEND TO HIS FRIENDS
The founding of the church at Philippi:
Acts 16:9-10
Paul wants to go into Asia,
He can't however, so he tries to go to Bithnynia, but he can't,
So he goes to Troas where he has a dream of a man from
Macedonia.
Acts 16:11-13
Paul's usual method was to go to the local synagogue and speak.
This is a Roman town, where Latin was the common language.
There is not even a minyan in Philippi,
the Jewish community cannot gather 10 men to form a
synagogue.
Apparently the group is made up of women and the women
meet down by the river.
Acts 16:14-15
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Lydia accepted the gospel and acted on it.
It was not uncommon to take in travelers and
a rich woman with servants (with or without a husband) in
Roman/Greek society was in no moral risk.
Acts 16:16-18
Paul gets into trouble because he has damaged the property of
others.
The girl was "owned" by partners or a consortium.
This girl's "gift" made her a precious commodity;
Acts 16:19-24
The first charges leveled against Paul & Silas is



That they are Jews.
They trouble the city,
They teach unlawful customs (for Romans not Philippians).
Some sort of trial or hearing was conducted.
The charges were proved to be true, probably by the girl, herself.
Acts 16:25-26
Forget Cleveland, God ROCKS!
Paul and Silas sing praises in jail....
Acts 16:27-31
It is not the compassion of Paul towards the jailer which convinces him
of his need for salvation,
It is the power of God.
Paul says here what he says in Romans, "whoever calls on the name
of the LORD shall be saved."
Acts 16:32-34
The response of the jailer and his family to the good news was to be
baptized.
They immediately treat Paul and Silas as family, which they are.
Acts 16:35-40
And so the Philippian church consists of




Lydia and her household,
the household of the jailer,
perhaps a slave-girl, and
we do not know how many others.
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It is a diverse and, apparently, not well-to-do church.
It is a supernaturally founded church.
THE SALUTATION
Philippians 1:1-2 "Paul and Timothy, slaves of Jesus Christ, write
this letter to all those in Philippi who are consecrated to God
because of their relationship to Jesus Christ, together with the
overseers and the deacons. Grace be to you and peace from
God, our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ."
The tone of the whole letter-from a friend to his friends.
Paul begins every other letter
with a statement of his apostleship; or
with a statement of his official position,
why he has the right to write, and
why the recipients have the duty to listen;
exceptions:
letter to the Thessalonians and
little personal note to Philemon,
This church was a favorite of Paul's. Paul knows that Philippians will
listen with love
Paul was closest to the Church at Philippi
He does not write as an apostle to members of his Church but as a
friend to his friends.
The Philippian church supported Paul financially from the beginning.
(Phil 4:15) Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the
gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with
me concerning giving and receiving but you only.
When Paul was forced to move on to Thessalonica, the Philippians
continued to support him.
(Phil 4:16) For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for
my necessities.
Paul took pay from other churches while in Corinth, especially the
Macedonian churches, meaning Philippi and Thessalonica.
(2 Corinthians 11:8-9) I robbed other churches, taking wages from
them to minister to you. And when I was present with you, and in
need, I was a burden to no one, for what I lacked the brethren who
came from Macedonia supplied. And in everything I kept myself
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from being burdensome to you, and so I will keep myself.
Paul claims to the title of the servant ("doulos") of Christ,
"doulos" is more than servant, it is slave.
A servant is free to come and go
A slave is the possession of his master forever.
When Paul calls himself the slave of Jesus Christ he is saying,
he is the absolute possession of Christ.
Christ has loved him and bought him with a price (1Cor.6:20), and
he can never belong to anyone else.
he owes an absolute obedience to Christ.
The slave has no will of his own; his master's will must be his.
Paul has no will but Christ's, and no obedience but to his
Saviour and Lord.
OT: regular title of prophets = servants of God (Am.3:7; Jer.7:25).
Title given to Moses, to Joshua and to David (Josh.1:2; Judg.2:8;
Ps.78:70; Ps.89:3; Ps.89:20).
Latin: "Illi servire est regnare," to be his [God’s] slave is to be a king.
It is the highest of all titles of honor
The Christian's slavery to Jesus Christ is not cringing subjection.
Addressed to all the saints in Christ Jesus.
Only three other of Paul's letters (among 13) use the term ‘all’ in their
greetings:



Romans,
1st Corinthians &
2nd Corinthians.
The word translated "saint" is "hagios"; and
"saint" is a misleading translation.
modern meaning: a picture of almost unworldly piety.
connected stained glass windows rather than the marketplace.
"Hagios" and its Hebrew equivalent "kadosh" are usually translated
"holy."
Hebrew thought: if a thing is described as "holy," the basic idea is:


it is "different" from other things;
it is "set apart":
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Sanctified for a specific purpose
Regulations regarding the priesthood: "They shall be `holy' to their
God" (Lev.21:6).
priests were to be "different" from other men,
they were set apart for a special function.
tithe: tenth part of all produce which was to be set apart for God:
"The tenth shall be `holy' to the Lord, because it is the Lord's"
(Lev.27:30,32).
The tithe was different from other things which could be used
as food.
The central part of the Temple was the "Holy Place" (Exo.26:33);
it was "different" from all other places
Set apart for God’s presence / sin offering
Israel , the Jews, were a "holy nation" (Exo.19:6): were "holy" unto the
Lord;
God severed (separated)( them from other nations that they might
be his (Lev.20:26);
It was Israel our of all nations on the face of the earth whom God
had specially known (Am.3:2).
The Jews were different from all other nations, for they had a
special place in the purpose of God.
But....they refused to play the part which God meant them to play;
When Jesus, God's Son, came into the world,
they failed to recognize him, and rejected and crucified
him.
Just as the Jews had once been "hagios," "holy," "different," so now
the Christian Church must be "hagios";
the Christians are the holy ones, the different ones, the "saints."
(1 Peter 2:9)
Paul in his pre-Christian days was a notorious persecutor of
the "saints," the "hagioi" (Ac.9:13);
Peter goes to visit the "saints," the "hagioi," at Lydda
(Ac.9:32).
To say that the Christians are the "saints" means that the Christians are (to
be) "different" from other people.
Sanctified: Set apart by God for His specific purpose:
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an act of God
Holy: the sanctified, separated life “in Christ”:
an act of living according to God’s purpose for us [Be ye holy....]
Paul addresses these people as saints "in Christ Jesus."
Paul uses the phrases "in Christ", "in Christ Jesus", "in the Lord"
often in his letters



"In Christ Jesus" occurs 48 times,
"in Christ" 34 times, and
"in the Lord" 50 times.
The Christian being "in Christ" means that the Christian lives in Christ as
a bird lives in the air,
a fish lives in the water,
the roots of a tree live in the soil.
a branch lives in the vine (trunk of the tree)
The Christian is different in that he is always and everywhere conscious of
the encircling presence of Jesus Christ everywhere he goes and in all he
does
The Christian is in the world but is not of the world
It is not that we are so religious,
The church is to be focused and so eternally minded that it
consumes every aspect of our lives,
Whereever we go and whatever we do is to be a reflection of
Christ
BE WHAT YOU ARE, WHERE YOU ARE, AT ALL TIMES
Philippians 1:1 "Paul and Timothy, slaves of Jesus Christ, write this
letter to all those in Philippi who are consecrated to God
because of their relationship to Jesus Christ, together with the
overseers and the deacons.
[bishops / overseers]
Greek: episkopos (GSN-1985), a preaching elder (Acts 20:28; Acts
14:23).
[deacons]
Matthew 20:26. These officers are mentioned together only here.
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Philippians 1:2
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and
the Lord Jesus Christ.
[Grace be to you and peace], from God the Father, and from our Lord
Jesus Christ (compare Rom.1:7; 1Cor.1:3; 2Cor.1:2; Gal.1:3;
Eph.1:2; Col.1:2; 1Th.1:1; 2Th.1:2; Phm.3).
two great words, grace and peace, ("charis" and "eirene")
normal greeting phrases of two nations molded into one phrase:
"Charis" is the greeting with which Greek letters always began,
and
"eirene" the greeting with which Jews met each other.
"Charis": the basic ideas in it are
joy and pleasure,
brightness and beauty;
connected with the English word "charm."
"Eirene": We translate it "peace"; but
it never means a negative peace,
never simply the absence of trouble.
It means "total well-being,
everything that makes for a man's highest good."
may be connected with the Greek word "eirein" which means "to join,
to weave together."
This peace always has to do with personal relationships,
a man's relationship to himself, to his fellow-men, and to God.
It is always the peace that is born of reconciliation.
With Christ life becomes a life of grace and peace because man is no
longer the victim of God's law but the child of his love.
When Paul prays for grace and peace on his people he is praying that they
should have
the joy of knowing God as Father and
the peace of being reconciled
to God,
to men, and
to themselves-that grace and peace can come only through Jesus Christ.
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[from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ] Another
reference to two separate divine Persons in the Godhead. See The
Trinity.
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THE MARKS OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE - THE CHRISTIAN JOY
Philippians 1:3-11 "In all my remembrance of you I thank my God for
you, and always in every one of my prayers, I pray for you with
joy, because you have been in partnership with me for the
furtherance of the gospel from the first day until now, and of this
I am confident, that he who began a good work in you will
complete it so that you may be ready for the day of Jesus Christ.
And it is right for me to feel like this about you, because I have
you in my heart, because all of you are partners in grace with me,
both in my hands, and in my defence and confirmation of the
gospel. God is my witness how I yearn for you all with the very
compassion of Christ Jesus. And this I pray, that your love for
each other may continue to abound more and more in all fulness
of knowledge and in all sensitiveness of perception, that you
may test the things which differ, that you may be yourselves
pure and that you may cause no other to stumble, in preparation
for the day of Christ, because you have been filled with the fruit
which the righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ
produces, and which issues in glory and praise to God."
I HAVE YOU IN MIND
Philippians 1:3-6 "In all my remembrance of you I thank my God
for you, and always in every one of my prayers, I pray for you
with joy, because you have been in partnership with me for the
furtherance of the gospel from the first day until now, and of this
I am confident, that he who began a good work in you will
complete it so that you may be ready for the day of Jesus Christ.
Paul is prison and awaiting trial. Yet he remembers the Philippians
Lydia, the first he spoke to
the slave girls whose freedom from demons cost him so much
the jailer who was the first convert
It is a very good thing when a memory of someone or something brings
fondness and thanks; remembrance and gratitude bound up together.
to have nothing but happy memories;
To remember brought no regrets, only happiness.
That was how Paul was with the Christians at Philippi.
the marks of the Christian life.
"Christian joy."
25 times, Joy, Rejoice, or their synonyms appear in this short letter
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It is with joy that Paul prays for his friends.
Joy = Charter quality / Attitude
Happiness = Emotional response to circumstances
Joy = Contentment / Satisfaction / a result of Faith, Hope and Love; Trust
Spiritual joy is called a "fruit of the Spirit" (Gal 5:22);
"joy in the faith" (Phil 1:25).
Its objects are God Himself (Ps 43:4; Isa 61:10);
the promises (Phil 3:3; 1 Peter 1:8);
the gospel (Ps 89:15);
the prosperity of Christ's kingdom (Acts 15:3; Rev 11:15,17);
the happiness of a future state (Ps 16:9-11; Rom 5:2; 15:13).
This spiritual joy is permanent (John 16:22; Phil 4:4) and
unspeakable (1 Peter 1:8).
JOY is a delight of the mind arising from the consideration of a present or
assured possession of a future good.
When moderate it is called gladness;
raised suddenly to the highest degree it is exultation or transport;
when the desires are limited by our possessions it is contentment;
high desires accomplished bring satisfaction;
vanquished opposition we call triumph;
when joy has so long possessed the mind that it has settled into a
temper, we call it cheerfulness. This is natural joy.
There is a moral joy, which is a self-approbation,
or that which arises from the performance of any good actions;
this kind of joy is called peace, or serenity of conscience;
if the action be honorable, and the joy rise high, it may be called glory.
In Php.1:4 there is the joy of "Christian prayer,"
the joy of bringing those we love to the mercy seat of God.
Phil 1:4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request
with joy, KJV
George Raindrop in his book "No Common Task" tells how a nurse once
taught a man to pray and in doing so changed his whole life, until a dull,
disgruntled and dispirited creature became a man of joy. Much of the
nurse's work was done with her hands, and she used her hands as a
scheme of prayer.
Each finger stood for someone.

Her thumb was nearest to her, it reminded her to pray for those
who were closest to her.
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



The second finger was used for pointing and it stood for all her
teachers in school and in the hospital.
The third finger was the tallest and it stood for the V.I.P.s, the
leaders in every sphere of life.
The fourth finger was the weakest, as every pianist knows, and it
stood for those who were in trouble and in pain.
The little finger was the smallest and the least important and to the
nurse it stood for herself.
There should always be a deep joy and peace in bringing our loved
ones and others to God in prayer.
There is the joy that "Jesus Christ is preached" (Php.1:18).
When a man enjoys a great blessing surely his first instinct must be to
share it;
There is joy in thinking of the gospel being preached all over the
world, so that another and another and another is brought within
the love of Christ.
Phil 1:18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in
pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do
rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. KJV
There is the joy of "faith" (Php.1:25).
If Christianity does not make a man happy (the major symptom of
Joy), it will not make him anything at all.
There is a certain type of Christianity which is a tortured affair-it is
a struggle.
The Psalmist said, "They looked to him and were radiant."
When Moses came down from the mountain top his face
shone.
Christianity is the faith of the happy heart and the shining face
Phil 1:25 And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and
continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith; KJV
There is the joy of seeing "Christians in fellowship together" (Php.2:2).
There is peace for no one where there are broken human
relationships and strife between man and man.
There is no lovelier sight than a family linked in love to each other
or
a Church whose members are one with each other because they
are one in Christ Jesus their Lord.
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Phil 2:2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same
love, being of one accord, of one mind. KJV
There is the joy of "suffering for Christ" (Php.2:17).
To suffer for Christ is a privilege, for it is an opportunity to demonstrate
beyond mistake where our loyalty lies and to share in the upbuilding of
the Kingdom of God.
In the hour of his martyrdom in the flames Polycarp prayed, "I
thank thee, O Father, that thou hast judged me worthy of this
hour."
Phil 2:17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of
your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. KJV
There is the joy of "news of the loved one" (Php.2:28).
Life is full of separations, and there is always joy when news comes to
us of those loved ones from whom we are temporarily separated.
It is worth remembering how easily we can bring joy to those who
love us and how easily we can bring anxiety, by keeping in touch
or failing to keep in touch with them.
Think of the joy that you can give and that you often receive
with a postage stamp, a photo, an email or a phone call...
Phil 2:28-29 28 I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye
see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less
sorrowful. 29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness;
and hold such in reputation: KJV
There is the joy of "Christian hospitality" (Php.2:29).
There is the home of the shut door and there is the home of the open
door.
The shut door is the door of selfishness;
the open door is the door of Christian welcome and Christian love.
It is a great thing to have a door from which the stranger and the one in
trouble know that they will never be turned away.
There is the joy of "the man in Christ" (Php.3:1; Php.4:1).
It is human nature to be happy when we are with the person whom we
love; and Christ is the lover from whom nothing in time or eternity can
ever separate us.
Phil 3:1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same
things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.
KJV
Phil 4:1 Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy
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and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. KJV
There is the joy of "the man who has won one soul for Christ" (Php.4:1).
The Philippians are Paul's joy and crown, for he was the means of
bringing them to Jesus Christ.
It is the joy of the parent, the teacher, the preacher to bring others,
especially the child, into the love of Jesus Christ.
Surely he who enjoys a great privilege cannot rest content until he
shares it with his family and his friends.
For the Christian evangelism is not a duty; it is a joy.
BE WHAT YOU ARE WHERE YOU ARE
There is the joy "in a gift" (Php.4:10).
This joy does not lie so much in the gift itself, as in being remembered
and realizing that some one cares.
Phil 4:10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last
your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also
careful, but ye lacked opportunity. KJV
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THE MARKS OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE - THE CHRISTIAN SACRIFICE
Philippians 1:5-6 "... you have been in partnership with me for the
furtherance of the gospel from the first day until now, and of this
I am confident, that he who began a good work in you will
complete it so that you may be ready for the day of Jesus Christ.
fellowship = financial partnership (joint ministers with Paul in his journey)
Threefold work of salvation (Ephesians 2:8-10)
the work God does for us-salvation
the work God does in us-sanctification
the work God does through us-service/holiness
In Php.1:6 Paul says that he is confident that God who has begun a good
work in the Philippians will complete it so that they will be ready for the day
of Christ.
There is a picture here in the Greek which it is not possible to reproduce in
translation.
the words Paul uses for "to begin" ("enarchesthai") and
for "to complete" ("epitelein")
are technical terms for the beginning and the ending of a sacrifice.
There was an initial ritual in connection with a Greek sacrifice.






A torch was lit from the fire on the altar and
then dipped into a bowl of water to cleanse it with its sacred flame; and
with the purified water the victim and the people were sprinkled to
make them holy and clean.
Then followed what was known as the "euphemia" the sacred silence,
in which the worshipper was meant to make his prayers to his god.
Finally a basket of barley was brought, and some grains of the barley
were scattered on the victim, and on the ground round about it.
These actions were the "beginning" of the sacrifice,
and the technical term for making this beginning was the verb
"enarchesthai" which Paul uses here.
The verb used for completing the whole ritual of sacrifice was the verb
"epitelein" which Paul uses here for to complete.
Paul's whole sentence moves in an atmosphere of sacrifice.
Paul is seeing the life of every Christian as a sacrifice ready to be offered
to Jesus Christ.
It is the same picture as he draws when he urges the Romans
(Rom 12:1-2) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of
God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,
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acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be
not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the
renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and
acceptable, and perfect, will of God. KJV
On the day when Christ comes it will be like the coming of a king.
On such a day the king's subjects are bound to present him with gifts
to mark their loyalty and to show their love.
The only gift Jesus Christ desires from us is ourselves.
A man's supreme task is to make his life fit to offer to him.
Only the grace of God can enable us to do that.
...he who began a good work in you will complete it
so that you may be ready for the day of Jesus Christ
The Lord who began a work in us will see that it is completed
So that we are ready for the day of Jesus Christ - the Rapture.
Php 1:9-11 (9) And this I pray, that your love may abound yet
more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; (10) That
ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be
sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; (11) Being
filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus
Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
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THE DAY OF THE LORD AND THE DAY OF CHRIST
The exact phrase “the day of the LORD” appears 24 times in the Old
Testament and 3 times in the New Testament.
Old Testament










Isaiah 2:12, 13:6, 13:9, 34:8
Jeremiah 46:10
Lamentations 2:22
Ezekiel 13:5, 30:3
Joel 1:15, 2:1, 2:11, 2:31, 3:14
Amos 5:18, 5:20
Obadiah 1:15
Zephaniah 1:7, 1:8, 1:14, 1:18, 2:2, 2:3
Zechariah 14:1
Malachi 4:5
New Testament



Acts 2:20 (quoting Joel 2:28-32)
I Thessalonians 5:2
II Peter 3:10
The exact phrase “the day of Christ” appears 3 times only in the New
Testament. The “day of Christ” is found only in Paul’s epistles.
There are other references to the same event found elsewhere in
other Scriptures in the New Testament.
New Testament








Philippians 1:10, 2:16
II Thessalonians 2:2
I Corinthians 1:8
Philippians 1:6
I Corinthians 5:5
II Corinthians 1:14
{I Corinthians 15:49-58}
{I Thessalonians 4:13-18}
There are more references to “the day of the LORD” in the OT just not
phrased exactly in this way (i.e. Isaiah 61:1-3).
Looking at all these passages and analyzing them in order to come up
with a clear representation of what “the day of the LORD” is and what
it consists of. Then comparing that with texts addressing “the day of
Christ” and other passages such as I Thessalonians 4 and I
Corinthians 15 we can only conclude that “the day of the LORD” and
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“the day of Christ” are different in almost all aspects: when they occur
and what occurs.
The Day of the LORD and the Day of Christ
Overview
The day of the LORD refers to the day of God’s wrath and judgment upon
this world.
The day of the LORD occurs at the end of the tribulation (see
Revelation 6:12-17; 11:15-19) when the Word of God comes with the
saints, who are clothed in fine linen, clean and white (Revelation
19:7-16).
It is the Second Coming of Christ and he comes back to
Jerusalem, he stands upon the mount of Olives and he fights
against all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
The slain of the LORD is many and his garments are stained with
blood. He judges the nations in the valley of Jehoshaphat and
those that have treated the Jew well during the tribulation, will
enter into the kingdom, those that have mistreated the Jew during
the tribulation will be cast into everlasting fire. The day of the
LORD spans not just one literal day, but also the entire millennial
reign of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The day of Christ has nothing at all to do with wrath or judgment upon this
earth.
Rather it is the day when the church meets her Lord and Savior in the
air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. It is when those dead and
alive in Christ shall get their new bodies. We shall all be changed in a
moment, in the twinkling of an eye. The corruptible shall put on
incorruption, and the mortal immortality.
We don’t know exactly when the day of Christ will occur, HOWEVER,
there are some prerequisites in order for this to occur according to the
Book which we will look at. The judgment seat of Christ most likely
occurs here as well.
The Day of the LORD
The Book of Isaiah
Isa 13:6-22

13:6 - a destruction from the Almighty
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





13:9 - cruel with wrath and fierce anger, lay land desolate, destroy
sinners
13:10 – stars and constellations shall not give light, sun darkened,
moon not cause her light to shine (Matthew 24:29)
13:11 – punish the world for their evil and the wicked
13:12 – will make man more precious than fine gold
13:13 – heavens and earth shake, earth removed out of her place
13:19 – Babylon shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and
Gomorrah
Isa 14 - Is this what occurs after the day of the LORD?

14:1-2, 7, 12-23 (Lucifer) compare with Revelation 20
Isa 34:1-8



34:2 – indignation of the LORD upon all nations
34:4 – all the host of heaven shall be dissolved (II Peter 3:10-13),
heavens rolled up together as a scroll (Revelation 6:14), all their
host shall fall down as a falling fig from a fig tree (Revelation
6:13)
34:8 This is the day of the LORD’s vengeance
The Book of Jeremiah
The Day of the LORD and the Day of Christ

Jeremiah 46:1-10
This is the day of the LORD God of hosts
The Book of Joel

1:15 – a destruction from the Almighty
Joel 2:1-32
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2:1-2 - a day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and
thick darkness
2:3-11 (Zechariah 14:5, Revelation 19:11-16) The saints shall
fight!
2:8 – They cannot be killed
2:11 – The LORD utters his voice before his army, The LORD is
our commander
Joel 2:28-32 This occurs before the day of the LORD
Joel 3:1-21
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3:2 – gather them into the valley of Jehoshaphat, (east of
Jerusalem) he shall plead for his people Israel and his land
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3:9-17 The LORD taunts the Gentiles to prepare for war, he will
judge the nations in the valley of Jehoshaphat.
The Book of Amos
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5:18 -20 Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD, it is a day
of darkness not light
The Book of Zephaniah
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1:14-18 a day of wrath and distress, a day of gloominess, the
whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy
The Book of Zechariah
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14:2 – he gathers all nations to battle against Jerusalem, half of
Jerusalem goes into captivity,
14:3 – then the LORD shall go forth and fight against those
nations
14:4 – his feet stand upon the Mount of Olives (Acts 1:9-12)
14:5 – The LORD comes with all his saints
14:6-7 This day is known only unto the LORD (Matthew 24:36)
and it takes place during the evening, but it shall be light
14:16 – all that are left worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and
keep the feast of tabernacles
14:21 – sacrifices made again unto the LORD
The Book of Malachi
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4:5 – Elijah to come before the great and dreadful day of the
LORD (Matthew 17:11-13, Luke 1:17, John 1:21-25,
Revelation 11:3-6)
The Day of Christ
I Corinthians 1:4-8 - Paul is praying for the Corinthian saints
The Day of the LORD and the Day of Christ - confirmed “unto the end,”
that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ
I Corinthians 5:1-5
- is about fornication among the brethren at Corinth
- that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus
II Corinthians 1:13-14
- ye also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus
Philippians 1:3-6
- Paul praying for the Philippian saints
- God which began a good work in you will perform it until the day of
Jesus Christ
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Philippians 1:10-11
- Paul’s praying that their love may abound more and more in
knowledge and in all judgment
- approve things at are excellent
- to be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ
Philippians 2:12-16
- Exhortation on working out your own salvation with fear and
trembling
- It is God which works in you to will and do of his good pleasure
- Do all things without murmurings or disputings
- that ye may be blameless sons of God holding forth the word of life
- that I may rejoice in the day of Christ (Amos 5:18-20)
II Thessalonians 2:1-4
- the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together
unto him
- don’t be shaken in mind by spirit, word, or letter from Paul
- as that day of Christ is at hand
- Shall not come until falling away (Greek: apostasia, apostacy) first,
and the man of sin be revealed
I Thessalonians 4:13-18
- “coming of the Lord”
- The Lord descends from heaven with a shout
- the dead in Christ rise first, then those that are alive
- shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, meeting the Lord
in the air: so shall we ever be with the Lord
- comfort one another with these words
I Thessalonians 5:1-10
- day of the Lord cometh as a thief in the night
- destruction comes upon the world
- “But ye brethren”
- are not in darkness that that day should overtake you
- Ye are children of the light and of the day: we are not of light nor of
darkness
The Day of the LORD and the Day of Christ
- God hath not appointed us unto wrath, but to obtain salvation by our
Lord Jesus Christ
I Corinthians 15:49-58
- we will bear the image of the heavenly
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- we shall all be changed (Job 14:12-14; Psalm 17:15) in a moment
at the last trump (I Thessalonians 4:16), the trumpet sounds
(Revelation 4:1-2)
Look at Numbers 10:1-7
- the dead shall be raised incorruptible
- immortality and incorruption
THE MARKS OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE - The CHRISTIAN
PARTNERSHIP
Php 1:7-8 (7) Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because
I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the
defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my
grace. (8) For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in
the bowels of Jesus Christ.
"Christian partnership" is strongly stressed.
There are certain things which Christians share.
Christians are "partners in grace." (Good from God we haven’t earned)
They are people who owe a common debt to the grace of God.
Christians are "partners in the work of the gospel."
Christians do not only share a gift; they also share a task; and that
task is the furtherance of the gospel.
Paul uses two words to express the work of Christians for the sake of
the gospel;
The "defence" and the "confirmation" of the gospel.
The "defence" ("apologia") of the gospel means its defence
against the attacks which come from outside.
The Christian has to be ready to be a defender of the faith
and to give a reason for the hope that is in him.
The "confirmation" ("bebaiosis") of the gospel is the building
up of its strength from within, the edifying of Christians.
The Christian must further the gospel by defending it against the
attacks of its enemies and by building up the faith and devotion of
its friends.
Christians are "partners in suffering for the gospel."
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Whenever the Christian is called upon to suffer for the sake of the
gospel, he must find strength and comfort in the memory that he is one
of a great fellowship in every age and every generation and every land
who have suffered for Christ rather than deny their faith.
Christians are "partners with Christ."
In Php.1:8 Paul has a very vivid saying.
Php 1:8 For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in
the bowels of Jesus Christ.
The literal translation is, "I yearn for you all with the bowels of
Jesus Christ."
The Greek word for "bowels" is "splagchna."
The "splagchna" were the upper intestines, the heart, the liver,
and the lungs.
These the Greeks believed to be the seat of the emotions and
the affections.
So Paul is saying: "I yearn for you with the very compassion, the very
heart of Jesus Christ himself. I love you as Jesus loves you."
The love which Paul feels towards his Christian friends is nothing other
than the love of Christ himself.
When we are really one with Jesus, his love goes out through us to our
fellow-men whom he loves and for whom he died. The Christian is a
partner in the love of Christ.
It is not with our love that we love but the love of Christ flowing through us
even when we cannot love within our own power
THE MARKS OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE - THE CHRISTIAN PROGRESS
AND THE CHRISTIAN GOAL
Php 1:9-11 (9) And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and
more in knowledge and in all judgment; (10) That ye may approve
things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence
till the day of Christ; (11) Being filled with the fruits of righteousness,
which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
Five requests for Philippians (Phil. 1:9-11):
1 Increased love in knowledge and judgment
2. Approval of things that are excellent
3. Sincerity to the end
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4. Without offense till the day of Christ
5. Filling with fruits of righteousness
It was Paul's prayer for his people that their love would grow greater every
day (Php.1:9-10).
That love, which was not merely a sentimental thing, was to grow in
knowledge and in sensitive perception so that they would be more and
more able to distinguish between right and wrong. (Cf: 1 Cor 13)
Love is always the way to knowledge.
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If we love any subject, we want to learn more about it;
if we love any person, we want to learn more about him and be
with him;
if we love Jesus, we will want to learn more about him and about
his truth.
Love is always sensitive to the mind and the heart of the one it loves.
If it blindly and blunderingly hurts the feelings of the one it claims to
love, it is not love at all.
If we really love Jesus, we will be sensitive to his will and his desires;
the more we love him; the more we will instinctively shrink from what is
evil and desire what is right.
The word Paul uses for "testing" the things that differ is "dokimazein"
the word used for testing metal to see that it is genuine.
Real love is not blind;
it will enable us always to see the difference between the false and the
true.
The Christian will become himself pure and will cause no other to stumble.
The word used for "pure" is "eilikrines"
The Greeks suggested two possible derivations, each of which has a
vivid picture.
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It may come from "eile" "sunshine," and "krinein" "to judge," and
may describe that which is able to stand the test of the
sunshine, without any flaw appearing.
On that basis the word means that the Christian character
can stand any light that is turned upon it.
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The other possibility is that "eilikrines" is derived from "eilein"
which means to whirl round and round as in a sieve and so to sift
until every impurity is extracted.
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On that basis the Christian character is cleansed of all evil until it
is altogether pure.
But the Christian is not only pure; he is also "aproskopos"
he never causes any other person to stumble.
There are people who are themselves faultless, but who are so
austere that they drive people away from Christianity.
The Christian is himself pure, but his love and gentleness are
such that he attracts others to the Christian way and never repels
them from it.
Finally, Paul sets down the Christian aim.
This is to live such a life that the glory and the praise are given to God.
Christian goodness is not meant to win credit for a man himself; it
is meant to win praise for God.
The Christian knows, and witnesses, that he is what he is, not
by his own unaided efforts, but only by the grace of God.
verses 9-11 I Have You In My Prayers
Paul finds joy when
he remembers his family, his church and his love before God's throne
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
this is a prayer for maturity
more love
more knowledge
depth of insight
discern what is best
they may be pure and blameless
filled with the fruit of righteousness
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THE BONDS DESTROY THE BARRIERS
Philippians 1:12-14
"I want you to know, brothers, that what has
happened to me has resulted rather in the advancement of the
gospel, because it has been demonstrated to the whole
Praetorian Guard and to all the others that my imprisonment is
borne for Christ's sake and in Christ's strength; and the result is
that through my bonds more of the brothers have found
confidence in the Lord the more exceedingly to dare fearlessly to
speak the word of God."
Paul’s imprisonment did not end his missionary activity
it actually expanded it for himself and for others.
Notice first, that Paul sees good in the making even in these times of ill,
even in Imprisonment (12-14)
Paul informs them of the progress of the gospel
1. Philippians are aware of Paul's circumstances
Php 2:25 Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you
Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and
fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my
wants.
Epaphroditus was a messenger from the Philippians
2. Paul does not want them to be overly concerned for he had "good
news"!
The "gospel" was still being spread!
3. Paul could have looked at the bad side of his situation...but he
looked at life from the viewpoint of the gospel...
If the gospel was spreading, it was "good news"!
and his imprisonment was actually INCREASING the progress of the
gospel!
How do we measure good and ill?
How do we measure success?
The word Paul uses for the "advancement" of the gospel is "prokope";
the word which is specially used for the progress of an army or an
expedition.
It is the noun from the verb "prokoptein",
which means to cut down in advance.
It is used for cutting away the trees and the undergrowth, and
removing the barriers which would hinder the progress of an army.
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Paul's imprisonment cleared the way for him to ‘advance’ with the gospel
into new spheres of work and activity which he would never otherwise
have penetrated.
Paul, seeing that there was no justice for him in Palestine, had
appealed to Caesar, as every Roman citizen had the right to do.
In time he was despatched to Rome under military escort, and,
In Rome he was handed over to "the captain of the guard"
He was allowed to live by himself under the care of a soldier who was
his guard (Ac.28:16).
Ultimately, although still under guard, he was allowed to have his own
hired lodging (Ac.28:30),
His ‘home jail’ was open to all who cared to come to see him.
Paul had the opportunity to deliver sermons in his chains (13)
He was being held under "house arrest" (cf. Acts 28:30-31)
His situation was unusual for a Roman prisoner
He was not there for normal reasons (e.g., crimes) so his situation
naturally sparked interest and discussion
In this way, the message was being made known to "the whole palace
(praitorion; headquarters (in a Rom. camp):-praetorian guard)
guard"-cf. Philippians 4:22
and "to all the rest" (v13b) word of mouth and by visitors
But he saw even more "good out of ill"...
his example was prompting others to action (v14)
1. his imprisonment caused them to be more confident and bold
2. so the gospel was being spread, and, that's GOOD news!
Paul said his bonds were manifest in all the palace.
The word translated "palace" is "praitorion" which can mean either a
place or a body of people.
When it refers to a place rather than a group of people, it has three
meanings.
(I) Originally it meant a general's headquarters in camp,
the tent from which he gave his orders and directed his campaign.
(ii) it came to mean a general's residence;
it could, therefore, mean the Emperor's residence, that is, his
palace, (examples of this usage are very rare).
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(iii) By extension it came to mean a large house or villa,
the residence of some wealthy or influential man.
Here "praitorion" cannot have any of these meanings,
it is clear that Paul stayed in his own hired lodging and
it does not make sense that his hired lodging was in the Emperor's
palace or a residence of a ‘wealthy’ man
Paul only took support from the Philippians early in his ministry with them
They had only begun to send support again after his imprisonment
He earned his keep, and paid his way working as a tent maker
So we turn to the other meaning of "praitorion," "a body of people".
In this usage it means the Praetorian Guard, or
very much more rarely, the barracks where the Praetorian Guard
were quartered.
Paul would not likely have a hired lodging in a Roman
barracks.
The Praetorian Guard were the Imperial Guard of Rome.
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They had been instituted by Augustus and
were a body of ten thousand picked troops.
Augustus had kept them dispersed throughout Rome and the
neighbouring towns.
Tiberius had concentrated them in Rome in a specially built and
fortified camp.
Vitellius had increased their number to sixteen thousand.
They served for twelve, and later for sixteen, years.
At the close of their term they received the citizenship and a grant
of more than 250 pounds.
Later they became very nearly the Emperor's private bodyguard; and in
the end they became very much a problem.
They were concentrated in Rome, and there came a time when the
Praetorian Guard became nothing less than king-makers;
inevitably it was their nominee who was made Emperor every
time,
they could impose their will by force, if need be, upon the
populace.
It was to the Prefect of the Praetorian Guard, their commanding officer,
that Paul was handed over when he arrived in Rome.
Paul repeatedly refers to himself as a prisoner or as being in bonds.
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- He tells the Roman Christians that, although he had done no wrong, he
was delivered a prisoner ("desmios") into the hands of the Romans
(Ac.28:17).
- In Philippians he repeatedly speaks of his imprisonment (Php.1:7;
Php.1:13-14).
- In Colossians he speaks of being in bonds for the sake of Christ, and
bids the Colossians to remember his bonds (Col.4:3,18).
- In Philemon he calls himself a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and speaks of
the bonds of the gospel (Phm.9,13).
- In Ephesians he again calls himself the prisoner for Jesus Christ
(Eph.3:1).
There are two passages in which these bonds are more closely defined.
In Ac.28:20 he speaks of himself as being bound with this chain;
he uses the same word ("halusis") in Eph.6:20, when he speaks of
himself as an ambassador in chains.
The "halusis" was the short length of chain
the wrist of a prisoner was bound to the wrist of the soldier who was
his guard, so that escape was impossible.
Paul had been delivered to the captain of the Praetorian Guard, to await
trial before the Emperor.
He had been allowed to arrange a private lodging for himself;
but night and day in that private lodging there was a soldier to guard
him, to whom he was chained by his "halusis" all the time.
There would be a rotation of guardsmen assigned to this duty;
In the two years one by one the guardsmen of the Imperial Guard
would be on duty with Paul.
These soldiers would hear Paul preach and talk to his friends.
Paul would most certainly open up a discussion about Jesus with the
soldier to whose wrist he was chained.
His imprisonment had opened the way for preaching the gospel to the
finest regiment in the Roman army.
All the Praetorian Guard knew why Paul was in prison;
many of them were touched for Christ; and
the very sight of this gave to the brethren at Rome and Philippi
fresh courage to preach the gospel and to witness for Christ.
Paul's bonds had removed the barriers and given him access to the flower
of the Roman army,
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and his bonds had been the medicine of courage to the brethren at
Philippi.
THE ALL-IMPORTANT PROCLAMATION
Philippians 1:15-18
"Some in their preaching of Christ are
actuated by envy and strife; some by goodwill. The one preach
from love, because they know that I am lying here for the
defence of the gospel; the other proclaim Christ for their own
partisan purposes, not with pure motives, but thinking to make
my bonds gall me all the more. What then? The only result is
that in every way, whether as a cloak for other purposes, or
whether in truth, Christ is proclaimed. And in this I rejoice--yes,
and I will rejoice."
His imprisonment has been an incentive to preaching in two ways.
those who loved him redoubled their efforts to spread the gospel
The best way to delight his heart was to see that the work did not
suffer because of his unavoidable absence.
others were moved by what Paul calls "eritheia" and preached for
their own partisan motives.
there were those who preached the harder now that Paul was in
prison
his imprisonment seemed to present them with an opportunity
to advance their own influence and prestige and lessen his.
Factions in the early church-Paul, Appolos, Peter, Jesus groupies,
Judiizers, Nicolaitans, Gnostics is all shapes and sizes
APOLLOS (destroyer)-a learned and eloquent Jew from Alexandria in
Egypt and an influential leader in the early church.
Well-versed in the Old Testament, Apollos was a disciple of John the
Baptist and "taught accurately the things of the Lord" (Acts 18:25).
While Apollos knew some of Jesus' teaching, "he knew only the
baptism of John" (Acts 18:25).
When Aquila and Priscilla, two other leaders in the early church,
arrived in Ephesus, they instructed Apollos more accurately in the way
of God (Acts 18:26).
In Corinth, Apollos publicly contended with the Jewish leaders and
refuted their objections to Christian teaching.
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He was apparently quite popular in Corinth, for in 1 Cor 1:12 Paul
wrote of four parties into which the church at Corinth had become
divided: one "following" Apollos, one Paul, one Cephas [Peter],
and one Christ.
In dealing with this division, Paul compared himself to the one who
planted and Apollos to the one who watered what was already planted
(1 Cor 3:6).
JUDAIZERS early converts to Christianity who tried to force believers
from non-Jewish backgrounds to adopt Jewish customs as a condition
of salvation.
NICOLAITANS a group of anti-law practitioners who supported the
“way of Balaam”; a freedom’in Christ’ that became self-indulgence.
It eventually came to represent the rule (Nikao) of the clergy over the
laity (laos).
nikao (St# 3528 = conquer) + laos (ST# 2992 = people).
Rule over laity.
GNOSTICS
salvation.
The Gnostics believed that knowledge was the way to
The Gnostics accepted the Greek idea of a radical dualism between
God (spirit) and the world (matter). According to their world view, the
created order was evil, inferior, and opposed to the good. God may
have created the first order, but each successive order was the work
of anti gods, archons, or a demiurge (a subordinate deity).
The Gnostics believed that the earth is surrounded by a number of
cosmic spheres (usually seven) which separate man from God. These
spheres are ruled by archons (spiritual principalities and powers) who
guard their spheres by barring the souls who are seeking to ascend
from the realm of darkness and captivity which is below to the realm of
light which is above.
The Gnostics also taught that man is composed of body, soul, and
spirit. Since the body and the soul are part of man's earthly existence,
they are evil. Enclosed in the soul, however, is the spirit, the only
divine substance of man. This "spirit" is asleep and ignorant; it needs
to be awakened and liberated by knowledge.
According to the Gnostics, the aim of salvation is for the spirit to be
awakened by knowledge so the inner man can be released from his
earthly dungeon and return to the realm of light where the soul
becomes reunited with God. As the soul ascends, however, it needs to
penetrate the cosmic spheres which separate it from its heavenly
destiny. This, too, is accomplished by knowledge. One must
understand certain formulas which are revealed only to the initiated.
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(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright (c)1986, Thomas Nelson
Publishers
Gk: 2052 vs 17 "Eritheia" originally meant working for pay.
the man who works solely for pay works from a low motive.
He is out solely to benefit himself.
The word, therefore, came to describe a careerist,
out for office to magnify himself; and
it came to be connected with politics
to mean canvassing for office.
It came to describe self-seeking and selfish ambition, which
was out to advance itself and did not care to what methods it
stooped to attain its ends.-POLITICIAN
Paul knew nothing of personal jealousy or of personal resentment.
So long as Jesus Christ was preached, he did not care who received
the credit and the prestige.
He did not care what other preachers said about him, or how
unfriendly they were to him, or how contemptuous they were of him, or
how they tried to steal a march upon him.
All that mattered was that Christ was preached.
Luke 9:49-50 49 And John answered and said, Master, we saw one
casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he
followeth not with us. 50 And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not:
for he that is not against us is for us. KJV
Acts 19:14-16 14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and
chief of the priests, which did so. 15 And the evil spirit answered and
said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? 16 And the
man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them,
and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked
and wounded. KJV
2 Cor 13:7-9 7 Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should
appear a pproved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though
we be as reprobates. 8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but
for the truth. 9 For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are
strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection. KJV
* Do we resent it when someone else gains a prominence or a credit which
we do not.
* Do we regard a man as an enemy because he has expressed some
criticism of us or of our methods.
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* Do we think a man can do no good because he does not do things in our
way.
* Do the intellectuals have no truck with the evangelicals, and the
evangelicals impugn the faith of the intellectuals.
* Do church folk impune the para-church ministries
Paul lifted the matter beyond all personalities;
all that mattered was that Christ was preached.
What did you think when you saw Pastor Pickle-before he spoke?
Who is this Jay bird -biker-hairy tattooed, leather vested grease ball
with his wallet chained to his butt....
What’s he doing here?
Did you remember the skit form the AM service about turning away the
seeker because of his dress and appearance-he wasn’t like us...just didn’t
fit in.
1 Cor 13:4-8
4
5
6
7
8
16 facets of love
Love is patient,
love is kind, and
is not jealous;
love does not brag and
is not arrogant,
does not act unbecomingly;
it does not seek its own,
is not provoked,
does not take into account a wrong suffered,
does not rejoice in unrighteousness,
but rejoices with the truth;
bears all things,
believes all things,
hopes all things,
endures all things.
Love never fails; NAS
This is just as John did-cf. 3 John 4
3 John 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in
truth. KJV
To Paul it didn’t matter who the preacher was-only that the message was
presented correctly
Understanding the "key" to "Making Good Out of Ill"
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For Paul, it was making the proclamation of Jesus Christ his goal, his
purpose in life, his highest joy!
We can do this too; in just about any circumstances, i.e....
1) hospital confinement
2) difficult situations at work, with family, or the church
3) even in death and dying - [Evert’s memorial service]
Take heart knowing that God can use "imperfect" teachers
many get discouraged by all the "false teachers" we see on TV and
hear on radio, etc.
While the false teachers will be held accountable for their error; we can at
the least rejoice that to some degree, as long as the gospel is unaltered,
Christ is preached even if out a a wrong motive!
CONCLUSION
Not only was PAUL "making good out of ill"
GOD was directing it...
Acts 18:9-11 9 Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision,
Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: 10 For I am
with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have
much people in this city. 11 And he continued there a year and
six months, teaching the word of God among them.
Act 23:9-11 (9) And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that
were of the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, We find no
evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us
not fight against God. (10) And when there arose a great
dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been
pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and
to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the
castle. (11) And the night following the Lord stood by him, and
said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in
Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.
If we, like Paul, look at what we see as setbacks as God given
opportunities for "preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to every creature"
and make that our major focus. we too can turns setbacks and ill to good.
THERE ARE 3 REASONS WE DO EVERYTHING THAT WE DO, TO:



PLEASE GOD
PLEASE OTHERS
PLEASE SELF
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2 Tim 2:3-4 3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of
Jesus Christ. 4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the
affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a
soldier. KJV
Matt 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good
works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. KJV
1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy
nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him
who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: KJV
THE HAPPY ENDING
Philippians 1:19-20
"For I know that this will result in my
salvation, because of your prayer for me, and because of the
generous help the Holy Spirit of Christ gives to me, for it is my
eager expectation and my hope that I shall never on any
occasion be shamed into silence, but that on every occasion,
even as now, I shall speak with all boldness of speech, so that
Christ will be glorified in my body, whether by my life or by my
death."
Paul's conviction is that the situation he is enduring will result in his
salvation.
salvation: The word is "soteria" --> there are three possible meanings.

It may mean safety,
If that is his meaning here, he is quite sure that the matter will
end in his release.
But Paul goes on to say that he cannot be sure whether
he will live or die.

It may mean his salvation in heaven.
In that case Paul would be saying that his conduct in the
opportunity which this situation provides will be his witness in
the day of judgment.
In any situation of opportunity or challenge, a man is
acting not only for time, but also for eternity.
A man's reaction to every situation in time is a witness
for or against him in eternity.

"soteria" can mean health, general well-being.
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Paul may be saying that all that is happening to him in this
very difficult situation is the best thing for him both in time and
in eternity.
"God put me in this situation; and God means it, with all its problems and
its difficulties, to make for my happiness and usefulness in time, and for
my joy and peace in eternity."
In his situation Paul knows that he has two great supports.

He has the support of the prayers of his friends.
in Paul's letters, he asks again and again for his friends' prayers.
"Brethren, pray for us."
"Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may
speed on and triumph" (1Th.5:25; 2Th.3:1-2).
"You must help us by prayer." (2Cor.1:11).
He writes that he is sure that through Philemon's prayers he
will be given back to his friends (Phm.22).
Before he sets out on his perilous journey to Jerusalem, he
writes to the Church at Rome asking for their prayers
(Ro15:30-32).
Paul always remembered that he needed the prayers of his friends.
He never talked to people as if he could do everything and they could
do nothing;
He always remembered that neither he, nor they, could do
anything without the help of God.
We cannot call a man our friend unless we pray for him.
When people are in sorrow, one of their greatest comforts is the
awareness that others are bearing them to the throne of grace.
When they have to face some back-breaking effort or some
heart-breaking decision, there is new strength in
remembering that others are remembering them before God.
When they go into new places and are far from home, it is an
upholding thing to know that the prayers of those who love
them are crossing continents to bring them before the throne
of grace.
Paul knows that he has the support of the Holy Spirit.
The presence of the Holy Spirit is the fulfilment of the promise of Jesus
that he will be with us to the end of the world.
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Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have
commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end
of the world. Amen.
Joh 14:15-27
(15) If ye love me, keep my commandments. (16)
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another
Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; (17) Even the
Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth
him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth
with you, and shall be in you. (18) I will not leave you
comfortless: I will come to you. (19) Yet a little while, and the
world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall
live also. (20) At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father,
and ye in me, and I in you. (21) He that hath my
commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he
that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and
will manifest myself to him. (22) Judas saith unto him, not
Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and
not unto the world? (23) Jesus answered and said unto him, If
a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love
him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
(24) He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word
which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. (25)
These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
(26) But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the
Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and
bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto
you. (27) Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not
as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled,
neither let it be afraid.
Joh 16:7-16 (7) Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for
you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come
unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. (8) And when
he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness,
and of judgment:
(9) Of sin, because they believe not on me;
(10) Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye
see me no more;
(11) Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
(12) I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear
them now. (13) Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come,
he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but
whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew
you things to come. (14) He shall glorify me: for he shall
receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. (15) All things that
the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of
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mine, and shall shew it unto you. (16) A little while, and ye shall
not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because
I go to the Father.
Paul has one expectation; one hope.
The word "apokaradokia" that Paul uses for expectation is unusual;
no one uses it before Paul and he may well have coined it himself.
"Apo" means "away from,"
"kara," "the head,"
"dokein" "to look"; and
"apokaradokia" means the eager, intense look, which turns away
from everything else to fix on the one object of desire.
Hope --> Confident Expectation
What I believe about the future-The outcome I expect in the future that
determines how I will act (react) today
2 Cor 4:16-18 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man
is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. 17 For
momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of
glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we look not at the things
which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things
which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are
eternal. NAS
Paul's hope is that he will never be shamed into silence, either by
cowardice or a feeling of ineffectiveness.
Paul is certain that in Christ he will find courage never to be ashamed of
the gospel; and that through Christ his labors will be made effective for all
men to see.
Rom 1:16-17 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power
of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also
to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from
faith to faith; as it is written, "But the righteous man shall live by faith."
NAS
To speak the truth with boldness is not only the privilege of the servant
of Christ; it is also his duty.
If Paul courageously and effectively seizes his opportunity, Christ will be
glorified in him.
It does not matter how things go with him.

If he dies, his will be the martyr's crown;
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
if he lives, his will be the privilege still to preach and to witness for
Christ.
Once we have chosen Christ, by our life and conduct we bring either glory
or shame to him.
A leader is judged by his followers; and Christ is judged by us.
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. KJV
"zero in" on Paul's expectation and hope
that "Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death."
( 1:20 )
2 Cor 5:14-15 For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this,
that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, that they
who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died
and rose again on their behalf.
Phil 3:20-21 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly
wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of
our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the
exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.
How did Paul magnify Christ by his life?
by his attitude toward Christ-"to live is Christ" (21)
He made Jesus the preeminent focus of his life
by devoting his life to serving Christ-cf.
Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no
longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the {life} which I
now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved
me, and delivered Himself up for me.
What of ourselves?
1. do we desire to magnify Christ with our lives?
2. are we living in a manner that magnifies Christ?
do we encourage or discourage the brethren?
3. does not Christ provide sufficient motive to do so?
a. He loved us, and gave HIS life for us!
b. He promises to help us!
c. He will greatly bless us if we do!
Paul was also concerned about Magnifying Christ By His Death
Why would Paul want to magnify Christ in his death?
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certainly for some of the reasons already noted
but also because of what death would mean to Paul because
of Christ!
How was Paul willing to magnify Christ by his death?
he was determined to serve the brethren, even if it killed him!
but then, what better way to die, in the service of the Lord?
What about us?
we have the same motives to magnify Christ by our deaths
the assurance of eternal life
the assurance of being with our Lord
will we magnify Christ by our deaths?
unless the Lord returns first, we will all die anyway
what better way to die?
we are to reckon ourselves to be dead, how does our death change
our life?
Rom_6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead
indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our
Lord.
Rom_8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time
are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be
revealed in us.
how can we magnify Christ today by our deaths?
it is unlikely we will suffer "martyrdom" for our faith
we can determine to "wear out" in God's service, rather than
"rust out"!
Better to be "poured out" in service to God’s family,
than become a "stagnant pool"
these type of believers are described in Revelation12:11
Rev 12:10-11 10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is
come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and
the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast
down, which accused them before our God day and night. 11
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word
of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
KJV
If we are going to be able to say with Paul, "To live is Christ, to die is gain",
we have to magnify Christ both in life and in death!
Php 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
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Jesus has certainly given us every motive for doing so!
So let's encourage one another in both word and deed to so live, and
to so die, that we magnify Jesus Christ!
CONCLUSION:
If we are called upon to die for our faith in Jesus or as a result of our
service to Him, it is the easier task
It is easier to die for Him than to live for Him


To live is to continually living sacrifice all in service to Him
To die is to sacrifice one final time and then be with Him always
IN LIFE AND IN DEATH
Philippians 1:21-26 "For living is Christ to me, and death is gain.
And yet-- what if the continuance of my life in the flesh would
produce more fruit for me? What I am to choose is not mine to
declare. I am caught between two desires, for I have my desire
to strike camp and to be with Christ, which is far better; but for
your sake it is more essential for me to remain in this life. And I
am confidently certain of this, that I will remain, and I will be with
you and beside you all to help you along the road, and to
increase the joy of your faith, so that you may have still further
grounds for boasting in Christ because of me, when once again I
come to visit you."
Paul faced the fact that it was quite uncertain whether he would live or die;
to him it made no difference.
"Living," he says, in his great phrase, "is Christ to me."
Christ had been the beginning of life, for on that day on the Damascus
road it was as if he had begun life all over again.
Christ had been the continuing of life; there had never been a day when
Paul had not lived in his presence, and
in the frightening moments Christ had been there to bid him be of good
cheer .
Acts 18:9-11 9 Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision,
Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: 10 For I am
with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have
much people in this city. 11 And he continued there a year and
six months, teaching the word of God among them.
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Act 23:9-11 (9) And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that
were of the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, We find no
evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us
not fight against God. (10) And when there arose a great
dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been
pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and
to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the
castle. (11) And the night following the Lord stood by him, and
said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in
Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.
Christ was the end of life, for it was towards his eternal presence that life
ever led.
Christ was the inspiration of life; he was the dynamic of life.
Christ had given the task of life, for it was he who had made him an
apostle and sent him out as the evangelist of the Gentiles.
Christ had given the strength for life, for it was Christ's all-sufficient
grace that was made perfect in Paul's weakness.
Christ was the reward of life, for to Paul the only worthwhile reward
was closer fellowship with his Lord.
If Christ were to be taken out of life, for Paul there would be nothing left.
"For me," said Paul, "death is gain".
Death was entrance into Christ's nearer presence.
Paul sometimes seems to regard death as a sleep, from which all
men at some future general resurrection shall be wakened
(1Cor.16:51-52; 1Th.4:14,16); but at the moment when its breath
was on him Paul thought of death not as a falling asleep but as an
immediate entry into the presence of his Lord.
If we believe in Jesus Christ, death for us is union and reunion,
union with him and reunion with those whom we have loved and lost
awhile.
Paul was swayed between two desires.
"I am caught between two desires."
As the Revised Standard Version has it: "I am hard pressed
between the two."
The word he uses is "sunechomai"
the word which would be used of a traveller in a narrow passage,
with a wall of rock on either hand,
unable to turn aside and
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able only to go straight on.
Paul desired to depart and to be with Christ;
for the sake of his friends and of what he could do with them and for
them he desired to be left in this life.
Then comes the thought that the choice is not his but God's.
"My desire is to depart," and the phrase is very vivid.
The word he uses for to depart is "analuein."
It is the word for striking camp, loosening the tent ropes, pulling up
the tent pins and moving on.
Death is a moving on.
It is the word for loosening the mooring ropes, pulling up the
anchors and setting sail.
Death is a setting sail, a departure on that voyage which leads
to the everlasting haven and to God.
It is the word for solving problems.
Death brings life's solutions.
There is some place where all earth's questions will be
answered and where those who have waited will in the
end understand.
It is Paul's conviction that, he will "remain and continue with them.
There is a wordplay in the Greek that cannot be reproduced in the
English.
The word for to remain is "menein"; and that for to continue is
"paramenein."
"menein" simply means to remain with; but
"paramenein" ("para" is the Greek for beside) means to wait
beside a person ever ready to help. eg: paraclete
Paul's desire to live is not for his own sake, but for the sake of those whom
he can continue to help.
if Paul is spared to come and see them again they will have in him
grounds to boast in Jesus Christ.
they will be able to look at him and see in him a shining example of
how, through Christ, a man can face the worst erect and unafraid.
It is the duty of every Christian to trust God so that men will be able to see
what Christ can do for the man who has given his life to him.
If we are going to be able to say with Paul, "To live is Christ, to die is gain",
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we have to magnify Christ both in life and in death!
Jesus has certainly given us every motive for doing so!
So let's encourage one another in both word and deed to so live,
and to so die, that we magnify Jesus Christ!
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Php 2:12 And so, my dear friends, just as you have always
obeyed, not only when I was with you but even more now that
I am absent, continue to work out your salvation with fear
and trembling.
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Seven outstanding facts (Phil. 1:21-24):
1. To live means gain to Christ (Phil. 1:21).
2. To die is personal gain (Phil. 1:21).
Could there be any gain for man or God if one went into extinction of
being, unconsciousness, or soul sleep?
If so, what gain?
3. To live in the flesh is to continue bearing fruit (Phil. 1:22).
This proves that one dwells in a body. If he leaves the body and is
no longer in the flesh where is he?
Does he become extinct just because he moves out of the body?
4. Having a desire to depart (Phil. 1:23).
This confirms the fact of the departure of one at death.
Do men go into nothingness at death? If so, then why desire to
depart?
5. To be with Christ (Phil. 1:23).
Where is Christ?
Is He extinct? Dormant? Unconscious in the grave?
One thing is certain wherever He is there the believer will be also at
death (Phil. 1:23; 2 Cor. 5:8)
6. Far better (Phil. 1:23). What is far better?
Would unconscious in the grave, going back to dust again, and going
into nothingness be better than to live in the body and continue
winning souls for Christ?
7. To abide in the flesh is more needful for the church than to die (Phil.
1:24).
This explains what departure from the body means that at death the
body dies and the inner man leaves the body
to go to heaven, if one is a Christian,
or to hades/sheol if one is unsaved.




The body without the spirit is dead (Jas 2:26);
to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2Co 5:8)
to depart is to be with Christ (Phik 1:23) and
be in heaven with the spirits of just men made perfect (Heb
12:22-23; Eph 4:8-10, 1Ptr 3:4, Rev 6:9-11)
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CITIZENS OF THE KINGDOM
Philippians 1:27-30 "One thing you must see to whatever
happens-- live a life that is worthy of a citizen of the Kingdom
and of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you,
or whether I go away and hear how things go with you, the news
will be that you are standing fast, united in one spirit, fighting
with one soul the battle of the gospel's faith, and that you are not
put into fluttering alarm by any of your adversaries. For your
steadfastness is a proof to them that they are doomed to defeat,
while you are destined for salvation-- and that from God. For to
you has been given the privilege of doing something for Christ-the privilege of not only believing in him, but also of suffering for
him, for you have the same struggle as that in which you have
seen me engaged, and which now you hear that I am
undergoing."
One thing is essential -- no matter what happens either to them or to Paul
the Philippians must live worthily of their faith and profession.
Up to this point in his epistle, Paul has been informing the church at
Philippi concerning his situation.
With verse 27, Paul begins a series of practical exhortations
concerning the Christian life.
The first exhortation pertains to "Conduct Worthy Of The Gospel"
KJV:
"Let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of
Christ."
Nowadays this is misleading.
To us conversation means talk;
it is derived from the Latin word "conversari" which means to conduct
oneself.
In the 17th century (when the KJV was translated), a person's
conversation was not only his way of speaking to other people; it
was his whole behaviour.
The phrase means: "Let your behaviour be worthy of those who are
pledged to Christ."
But on this occasion Paul uses a word which he very seldom uses in order
to express his meaning.
The word he would normally use for to conduct oneself in the ordinary
affairs of life is "peripatein," which literally means to "walk about";
Here he uses "politeuesthai," which means to be a citizen.
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politeuo; to live as a citizen:-conduct
to those at Philippi, this word would likely have special meaning...
for the city at Philippi was a Roman colony
they lived in Philippi; "behave as citizens" of Rome
Paul applies this term to the life of a Christian...
for our "citizenship" is in heaven-cf. Philippians 3:20
we may live on earth; none the less,
"behave as citizens" of heaven!
Paul was writing from the very centre of the Roman Empire, from Rome
itself;
it was the fact that he was a Roman citizen that had brought him there.
Philippi was a Roman colony; and Roman colonies were little bits of Rome
planted throughout the world,
Paul is saying :
"You and I know full well the privileges and the responsibilities of being
a Roman citizen.
You know full well how even in Philippi, so many miles from
Rome, you must still live and act as a Roman does.
remember that you have an even higher duty than that.
Wherever you are you must live as befits a citizen of the Kingdom
of God.
BE WORTHY OF WHAT YOU ARE, WHEREVER YOU ARE
Our "behavior as citizens" is to be "worthy" of the Gospel
implication: there is behavior that is NOT worthy of the gospel!
to act unworthy of the gospel brings shame upon the gospel!
"The Ugly American"
1 Peter 2:11-12 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and
pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
[12] Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that,
whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your
good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of
visitation.
if we are NOT "behaving as citizens" in a manner "worthy" of the
gospel,
then the only alternative is behaving in an "Unworthy" manner!
Our behavior is to be worthy "with or without" the presence of other
Christians (v27)
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Paul did not want them to have an "environmental faith"
behavior should not be dependent upon the presence of other
Christians, but upon the presence of Christ alone!
He expects them to stand fast.
The world is full of Christians on the retreat, who, when things grow
difficult, play down their Christianity.
The true Christian stands fast, unashamed in any company.
We need to “stand fast” in the face of
1. the lure of the world; with its immorality and materialism
2. the sin of unbelief
3. the deceitfulness of false doctrines, showing great promise but
leading us away from Christ
4. All such things we must "stand fast" against!
He expects unity;
they are to be bound together in one spirit like a band of brothers.
Let the world quarrel; Christians must be one.
“standing fast in one spirit" means:
We stand not by ourselves, in isolation from one another, but
in UNITY!
unworthy conduct usually begins when we neglect the blessings of
fellowship and togetherness
We stand "with one mind striving together for the faith of the Gospel"
(v27)
"behaving as citizens" includes:
aggressively promoting the gospel of ("striving")
doing this with other Christians ("together with one mind")
our conduct is unbecoming the gospel if we are:
NOT striving for the faith of the gospel
NOT doing it in unity with other brethren
see the need for "identifying with a congregation" and working
together with them?
He expects a certain unconquerability.
Often evil seems invincible; but the Christian must never abandon hope or
give up the struggle.
He expects a cool, calm courage.
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In times of crisis others may be nervous and afraid; the Christian
will be still serene, master of himself and of the situation.
It involves "not in any way terrified by your adversaries" (28-30)
Christians walking in a manner worthy of the gospel will not be
troubled by those who may ridicule or even persecute them!
If they can be like that, they will set such an example that the pagans
will be disgusted with their own way of life,
will realize that the Christians have something they do not possess,
and
will seek for very self-preservation to share it.
Paul does not suggest that this will be easy. When Christianity first came
to Philippi,
they saw him fight his own battle.
They saw him scourged and imprisoned for the faith (Ac.16:19).
They know what he is now going through.
But let them remember that a general chooses his best soldiers for the
hardest tasks, and that
it is an honor to suffer for Christ.
So here are some of the things involved as "behaving as citizens" of the
kingdom of heaven, and having a "conduct worthy of the gospel of Christ":
a. Standing fast in one spirit
b. With one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel
c. Not in any way terrified by our adversaries
-- And this being the case, no matter what the "environment"
(moral climate) might be!
CONSLUSION:
We must live in a manner such that when we stand before Jesus
neither He nor we are embarassed.....
1Jn_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.
there may come times when we who have been "granted to believe in
Jesus" are also "privileged to suffer for His sake"
Is our conduct worthy of the gospel of Christ?
Are we behaving as citizens of heaven while sojourning on this earth?
If not...could it be that we have forgotten the privileges we enjoy
by "believing in Jesus" and even "suffering for Jesus"?
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KEY TO JOY:
IT IS THE JOY OF THE LORD WE SHARE IN AND EXPERIENCE
IN CHRIST WHICH IS ETERNAL AND UNCHANGING
- NOT OUR OWN JOY (happiness) WHICH IS:
CIRCUMSTANTIAL
TEMPORAL
MOMENTARY
Check the scriptures-we are told to rejoice but it’s the joy of the Lord that
we are given.
TO EXPERIENCE JOY
BRING JESUS' JOY INTO YOUR SITUATION BY THE WAY YOU
LIVE - LOOK FOR WAYS TO FURTHER HIS KINGDOM IN AND
THROUGH YOUR CIRCUMSTANCE...
Neh_8:10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink
the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared:
for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the
LORD is your strength.
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Philippians 2 - THE CAUSES OF DISUNITY
EXHORTATION TO UNITY AND MEEKNESS
Philippians 2:1-4
"If the fact that you are in Christ has any power to influence you, if
love has any persuasive power to move you, if you really are sharing
in the Holy Spirit, if you can feel compassion and pity, complete my
joy, for my desire is that you should be in full agreement, loving the
same things, joined together in soul, your minds set on the one
thing. Do nothing in a spirit of selfish ambition, and in a search for
empty glory, but in humility let each consider the other better than
himself. Do not be always concentrating each on your own
interests, but let each be equally concerned for the interests of
others."
The one danger which threatened the Philippian church was that of
disunity.
a danger for every healthy church.
It is when people are really in earnest and
their beliefs really matter to them,
when they care
that they are apt to get up against each other.
Political correctness of “Tolerance” is not possible regarding any beliefit is impossible to hold any sort of belief and be tolerant.
Tolerance is a ‘new age’ code word for eliminating and driving out
all belief systems
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3 great causes of disunity.

Selfish ambition.
People might not work to advance the work but to advance
themselves.
How many times have the great leaders in the Church almost fled
from office due to a sense of their own unworthiness.
How many times have people sought and remained in positions of
leadership when they should have left due to an inflated sense of
their contribution and worthiness
Swaggert
Bakker
Pastors, Teachers, Youth Leaders
Far from being filled with ambition, the trulygreat men were filled with a
sense of their own inadequacy for high office
The failures forgot they were commissioned by God and
dependent on Jesus and the empowering of the Holy Spirit.
Mat_23:11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your
servant.
Luk_22:26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest
amo ng you, let him be as the younger; and he that is
chief, as he that doth serve.
If this is true for Jesus himself
Joh_5:19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily,
verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself,
but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever
he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
Joh_5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I
judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine
own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
It is certainly true of us
Joh_15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that
abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much
fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Desire for personal prestige.
Prestige is for many people an even greater temptation than wealth.
To be admired and respected,
to have a platform seat,
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to have one's opinion sought,
to be known by name and appearance,
even to be flattered,
the aim of the Christian ought to be not self-display, but
self-obliteration.
He should do good deeds, not that men may glorify him, but that
they may glorify his Father in heaven.
Mat_6:3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand
know what thy right hand doeth:
The Christian should desire to focus men's eyes not upon himself
but on God.
Mat_6:4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father
which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
Mat_6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet,
and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father
which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret
shall reward thee openly.
Mat_6:18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto
thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth
in secret, shall reward thee openly.

Concentration on self.
If a man is concerned with his own interests, he is bound to collide with
others.
If for him life is a competition whose prizes he must win, he will always
think of other human beings as enemies or at least as opponents who
must be pushed out of the way.
Concentration on self inevitably means elimination of others; and
The object of life becomes not to help others up but to push them
down.
5 considerations which ought to prevent disharmony.
(I) The fact that we are all in Christ should keep us in unity.
No man can walk in disunity with his fellow-men and in unity with
Christ.
If he has Christ as the companion of his way, he is inevitably the
companion of every wayfarer.
A man's relationships with his fellow-men are a good indication of his
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relationship with Jesus Christ.
(ii) The power of Christian love should keep us in unity.
Christian love is that unconquered good-will which never knows
bitterness and never seeks anything but the good of others.
It is not a heart reaction-a feeling-of the heart, as human love is;
it is a victory of the will, achieved by the help of Jesus Christ.
It does not mean loving only those who love us; or those
whom we like; or those who are lovable.
It means an unconquerable good-will even to those who hate us, to
those whom we do not like, to those who are unlovely.
(iii) The fact that they share in the Holy Spirit should keep Christians
from disunity.
The Holy Spirit binds man to God and man to man.
It is the Spirit who enables us to live that life of love, which is the
life of God;
if a man lives in disunity with his fellow-men, he shows that the gift of
the Spirit is not his.
(iv) The existence of human compassion should keep men from
disunity.
Disunity breaks the very structure of life.
(v) There can be no happiness for him so long as he knows that there
is disunity in the Church which is dear to him.
If they would complete his joy, let them complete their fellowship.
It is not with a threat that Paul speaks to the Christians of Philippi
but with the appeal of love, which ought ever to be the accent of
the pastor, as it was the accent of his Lord.
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TRUE GODHEAD AND TRUE MANHOOD
Philippians 2:5-11 "Have within yourselves the same disposition of
mind as was in Christ Jesus, for he was by nature in the very
form of God, yet he did not regard existence in equality with God
as something to be snatched at, but he emptied himself, and
took the very form of a slave, and became like men. And when he
came in appearance as a man for all to recognise, he became
obedient even to the extent of accepting death, even the death of
a cross. And for that reason God exalted him, and granted to him
the name which is above every name, in order that at the name of
Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things
upon the earth, and things below the earth, and that every
tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of
God the Father."
The essence of it is in the simple statement Paul made to the Corinthians
that, although Jesus was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor
(2Cor.8:9).
Paul is pleading with the Philippians




to live in harmony,
to lay aside their discords,
to shed their personal ambitions and their pride and their desire
for prominence and prestige, and
to have in their hearts that humble, selfless desire to serve,
which was the essence of the life of Christ.
His final and unanswerable appeal is to point to the example of Jesus
Christ.
Phil 2:6 "Being in the form of God; he was by nature in the very form
of God."
Where English has one word to express an idea, Greek has often two or
three or more.
In one sense these words are synonyms, but they never mean entirely
the same thing; they always have some special flavour.
Every word is chosen by Paul with meticulous care to show two things:
- the reality of the manhood and
- the reality of the godhead of Jesus Christ.
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Two words are most carefully chosen to show the unchangeable
godhead of Jesus Christ.

The word which the King James Version translates "being" is from
the Greek verb "huparchein"
not the common Greek word for "being."
It describes that which a man is in his very essence and
which cannot be changed.
It describes that part of a man which, in any
circumstances, remains the same.
Jesus was essentially and unalterably God.

He goes on to say that Jesus was in the form of God.
There are two Greek words for "form," "morphe" and "schema."
They must both be translated "form", because there is no
other English equivalent, but they do not mean the same
thing.
"Morphe" is the essential form which never alters; it
describes what a thing is.
When we say something is Morphing, it is changing its
essence from one thing into another.
"schema" is the outward form which changes from time to
time and from circumstance to circumstance.
A things schema depends on the situation and the
circumstance in which it finds itself and related to how it reacts
and adapts
For instance, the "morphe" of any human being is humanity and
this never changes;
but his "schema" is continually changing.
A baby, a child, a boy, a youth, a man of middle age, an old
man always have the "morphe" of humanity,
but the outward "schema" changes all the time.
Roses, daffodils, tulips, chrysanthemums, primroses, dahlias,
lupins all have the one "morphe" of flowers;
but their "schema" is different.
Aspirin, penicillin, cascara, magnesia all have the one "morphe" of
drugs;
but their "schema" is different.
The "morphe" never alters; the "schema" continually does.
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The word Paul uses for Jesus being in the form of God is "morphe";
that is to say, his unchangeable being is divine.
However, his outward "schema" might alter, he remained in
essence divine.
Jesus did not think it robbery to be equal with God;
he did not regard existence in equality with God as something to
be snatched at.
The word used for robbery, which we have translated "a thing to be
snatched at," is "harpagmos" which comes from a verb meaning to
snatch, or to clutch.
The phrase can mean one of two things,
(a) It can mean that Jesus did not need to snatch at equality
with God, because he had it as a right.
It was not something he needed to guard; it was his and
could not be lost...
(b) It can mean that he did not clutch at equality with God, as if
to hug it jealously to himself, but laid it willingly down for
the sake of men.
However, we take this, it once again stresses the essential godhead of
Jesus.
Phil 2:7 "He emptied himself, he made himself of no reputation."
The Greek is the verb "kenoun" which means literally to empty.
It can be used of removing things from a container, until the
container is empty; of pouring something out, until there is
nothing left.
Here Paul uses the most vivid possible word to make clear the
sacrifice of the IncarnationThe glory of divinity Jesus gave up willingly in order to
become man.
He emptied himself of his deity to take upon himself his humanity.
We can only stand in awe at the sight of him, who is almighty
God, hungry and weary and in tears.
he who was rich for our sakes became poor.
"He took upon him the form of a servant; he took the very form of
a slave."
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The word used for form is again "morphe" which we have seen
means the essential form.
When Jesus became man it was no play-acting but reality.
He was not like the Greek gods, who sometimes, so the stories ran,
became men but kept their divine privileges.
Jesus truly became man.
He was made in the likeness of men; he became like men.
The word which the King James Version translates "made" and
which we have translated 'became' is a part of the Greek verb
"ginesthai."
This verb describes a state which is not a permanent state.
The idea is that of becoming, and
it describes a changing phase which is completely
real but which passes.
Jesus is Lord; He became a servant; He was
glorified again as Lord after His resurrection
The "Kenosis" of Christ
Greek: kenoo (GSN-2758), to empty out, drain.
It is translated
"make void" (Romans 4:14; 1 Cor. 9:15);
"make of none effect" (1 Cor. 1:17);
"be in vain" (2 Cor. 9:3); and
"make of no reputation" (i.e., He emptied Himself; Phil. 2:7).
Of what did Christ empty Himself?
It could not have been His divine nature, for He was God not only
from all eternity (Micah 5:1-2; John 1:1-2; Hebrews 1:8; Rev.
1:8-11),
but as God manifest in flesh during His life on earth (Isaiah
7:14; Isaiah 9:6-7; Matthew 1:18-25; John 1:1-2,14; 1 Tim.
3:16).
Christ emptied Himself of:
1. Equality with God (Phil. 2:6-7; John 14:28; 1 Cor. 11:3)
2. God-form or God-body,
the spirit body that He lived in from eternity, to take human-form
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(Phil. 2:6-8; Phil. 3:21; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:35; John
1:14; Luke 24:37-40; Zech. 13:6; Galatians 4:4; Romans 8:3)
3. Immortality of body (1 Cor. 15:3; Psalm 16:10; 1 Peter 2:24; 1
Peter 3:18)
4. The glory that He had with the Father before the world was (John
12:23; John 17:5; Matthew 16:27; Phil. 2:5-11)
5. His authority in heaven and in earth, which was given back to Him
after the resurrection (Matthew 28:18; Phil. 2:9-11; Ephes.
1:20-23; 1 Peter 3:22)
6. His divine attributes and outward powers that He had with the
Father from eternity.
He had no power to do miracles until He received the Holy
Spirit in all fullness (John 2:11; John 3:34; Isaiah 11:1-2;
Isaiah 42:1-7; Isaiah 61:1-2; Luke 3:21-22; Luke 4:16-21;
Matthew 12:28; Acts 10:38).
He could do nothing of Himself in all His earthly life.
He attributed all His works, doctrines, powers, etc. to the
Father through the anointing of the Holy Spirit (John 8:28).
This is proved by the following facts in Scripture:
(1) He was limited to the status of a man (Phil. 2:6-8; Hebrews
2:14-18; Hebrews 5:8-9).
(2) He was God's agent using God's power of attorney (John 8:28;
Acts 10:38).
(3) He was our example that we should walk in His steps (1 Peter
2:21).
(4) The temptations prove that He was limited as a man so that He
could overcome as a man and not as God (Hebrews 4:14-16;
Hebrews 5:7-9).
(5) Isaiah 7:14-16 speaks of the Messiah being born without
knowledge enough to know to refuse the evil and choose the
good.
(6) Isaiah (Isaiah 11:2; Isaiah 53:1-12) speaks of the Messiah being
limited as an ordinary baby, showing that God would give Him the
spirit of wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, and
fear of the Lord.
Luk 2:52 And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and
stature, and in favor with God and men.
If He had these attributes as God from all eternity and did not
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lay them aside in becoming man when was this ever true of
Him?
(7) Isaiah (Isaiah 50:4-11) predicted that the Messiah would be born
without the tongue of the learned, without knowing how to speak a
word in season to help any soul, and that He would be wakened
day by day to increase in knowledge and wisdom.
(8) Isaiah (Isaiah 42:1-7; Isaiah 61:12-2) speaks of Messiah
receiving His power to manifest divine acts by the anointing of the
Holy Spirit and not by retaining His own former natural attributes
and powers.
Is it necessary for God to be anointed with the Holy Spirit to do
what He is naturally capable of doing?
If it became necessary to anoint Jesus during His earthly
life, then it proves He did not retain His former glory and
attributes which He had from all eternity when He emptied
Himself to become like men in all things (Phil. 2:6-8;
Hebrews 2:14-18; Hebrews 5:8-9).
(9) History records that Christ was limited as a baby and grew in
body, soul, and spirit (mind, 1 Cor. 2:11), grace, wisdom, stature,
and favor with God and man (Luke 2:40,52).
Even after His manhood, His full anointing and gifts of the
Spirit, He was still limited in knowledge (Mark 13:32).
He even learned obedience by the things He suffered
(Hebrews 4:14-16; Hebrews 5:7-9).
(10) He did not claim the attributes of God, but only the anointing of the
Spirit to do His works (John 8:28; Matt 12:28; Luke 4:16-21).
Others stated this was the source of His power (John 3:34;
Acts 10:38).
Most scriptures used in theological texts proving that
Christ had divine attributes on earth are statements true
of Him since His glory has been restored and do not prove
anything during His life on earth.
All scriptures related to His earthly life can be
explained as referring to the exercise of the gifts of
the Spirit and not natural attributes.
(11) The fact that Christ promised all believers power to do the works
He did proves that it was through the anointing of the Spirit, not by
His deity and natural attributes, that He did His works (Matthew
10:1-20; Matthew 16:18; Matthew 18:18; Luke 10; Luke 24:49;
Mark 16:15-20; John 14:12-15; Acts 1:4-8).
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(12) His exaltation to original glory and the highest place under God
the Father is proof of His lowest humiliation and earthly limitation
short of being God by nature (Phil. 2:9-11; Ephes. 1:20-23; Col.
1:15-23; Col. 1:15-23; 1 Peter 3:22).
Phil 2:8 "He was found in fashion as a man; he came in appearance
as a man for all to recognise."
The word the King James Version has translated "fashion" and which
we have translated appearance is "schema," and we have seen that
this indicates a form which alters.
Php.2:6-8 form a very short passage; but there is no passage in the New
Testament which so movingly sets out the utter reality of the godhead and
the manhood of Jesus and makes so vivid the sacrifice that he made when
he laid aside his godhead and took manhood upon him.
How it happened, we cannot tell, but it is the mystery of a love so great
that, although we can never fully understand it, we can blessedly
experience it and adore it.
HUMILIATION AND EXALTATION
It is always to be remembered that when Paul thought and spoke about
Jesus, his interest and his intention were never primarily intellectual and
speculative; they were always practical.
To him theology and action were always bound together.
Any system of thought must necessarily become a way of life.
The aim of this passage was to persuade the Philippians to live a life in
which disunity, discord, and personal ambition had no place.
The great characteristics of Jesus' life were humility, obedience, and
self-renunciation.
Jesus humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even
the death of a cross.
He did not desire to dominate men but only to serve them;
he did not desire his own way but only God's way;
he did not desire to exalt himself but only do the Father's will
He renounced all his glory for the sake of men.
The New Testament is clear, only the man who humbles himself will be
exalted (Matt.23:12; Lk.14:11; Lk.18:14).
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If humility, obedience, and self-renunciation were the supreme
characteristics of the life of Jesus, they must also be the hallmarks of
the Christian.
Selfishness, self-seeking and self-display destroy our likeness to
Christ and our fellowship with each other.
The self-renunciation of Jesus Christ brought him the greater glory.
It made certain that someday, soon or late, every living creature in all
the universe, in heaven, in earth and even in hell, would worship him.
Worship comes from love.
Jesus won the hearts of men, not by blasting them with power, but by
showing them a love they could not resist.
At the sight of this person who laid his glory by for men and loved
them to the extent of dying for them on a cross, men's hearts are
melted and their resistance is broken down.
When men worship Jesus Christ, they fall at his feet in wondering
love.
They do not say "I cannot resist a might like that," but, "Love so
amazing, so divine, demands my life, my soul, my all."
Worship is founded, not on fear, but on love.
Thanks - Gratitude for what has been done
Flattery - Undeserved praise and worship-giving credit where none is due
or deserved
Praise - Thanks and adoration for what has been done. Recognition of
God’s power, authority and acts. Testimony to others...
Worship - Thanks and adoration for character and being. Recognizing
who God is versus how we are. Confess to God...
Paul says that, as a consequence of his sacrificial love, God gave Jesus
the name which is above every name.
One of the common biblical ideas is the giving of a new name to mark
a new stage in a man's life.
Abram became Abraham when he received the promise of God
(Gen.17:5).
Jacob became Israel when God entered into the new relationship
with him (Gen.32:28).
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The promise of the Risen Christ to both Pergamos and to Philadelphia is
the promise of a new name (Rev.2:17;Rev. 3:12).
The great title by which Jesus came to be known in the early Church was
"kurios," Lord,
The name has an illuminating history.
(I) It began by meaning master or owner.
(ii) It became the official title of the Roman Emperors.
(iii) It became the title of the heathen gods.
(iv) It was the word by which the Hebrew "Jehovah" was
translated in the Greek version of the Hebrew scriptures.
When Jesus was called "kurios," "Lord," it meant that




he was the Master and the Owner of all life;
he was the King of kings;
he was the Lord in a way in which the heathen gods and the
dumb idols could never be;
he was nothing less than divine.
What did the disciples call Jesus when they addressed Him?
Jesus ??? NO! They called Him Lord....
not just acknowledgement, intellectual acceptance but life style
service and obedience and setting aside of self....love in action.
Rev 1:8-18 ISV "I am the Alpha and the Omega," declares the Lord
God, "the one who is, who was, and who is coming, the
Almighty." .... (12) Then I turned to see who was talking to
me, and when I turned I saw seven gold lamp stands. (13)
Among the lamp stands there was someone like the Son of Man.
He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash around his chest.
(14) His head and his hair were white like wool, in fact, as white
as snow. His eyes were like flames of fire, (15) his feet were
like glowing bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice was like
the sound of raging waters. (16) In his right hand he held
seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp, two-edged
sword. His face was like the sun when it shines with full force.
(17) When I saw him, I fell down at his feet like a dead man. But
he placed his right hand on me and said, "Stop being afraid! I am
the first and the last, (18) the living one. I was dead, but
look—I am alive forever and ever! I have the keys of Death and
Hades.
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Seven steps in His humiliation: (Phil 2:5-8)
1. Christ was consecrated to humble Himself (Phil. 2:5).
2. Christ laid aside His divine form (Phil. 2:6).
3. Christ made Himself of no reputation (Phil. 2:7).
4. Christ took the form of a servant (Phil. 2:7).
5. Christ was made in the likeness of human beings (Phil. 2:7).
6. Christ humbled Himself (Phil. 2:8).
7. Christ became obedient unto death (Phil. 2:8).
Seven steps in His exaltation:
1. God highly exalted Him (Phil. 2:9; Ephes. 1:21).
2. God gave Him a name above all (Phil. 2:9).
3. At the mere mention of His name, every knee must bow (Phil. 2:10).
4. Everything in heaven must bow (Phil. 2:10).
5. Everything in earth must bow (Phil. 2:10).
6. Everything under the earth must bow (Phil. 2:10).
7. Every tongue confess His Lordship to the glory of God the Father
(Phil. 2:11).
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Three worlds that are inhabited:
1. Heaven (Phil. 2:10; Job 1:6; Job 2:1; Daniel 4:35; Col. 1:15-18;
Rev. 12:12; Rev. 13:6)
2. Earth (Phil. 2:10; Col. 1:16; Rev. 12:12)
3. Underworld.
Greek: katachthonios (GSN-2709), under the earth; subterranean;
infernal world (Phil. 2:10; cp. Psalm 16:10 with Matthew 12:40 and
Ephes. 4:8-10).
This includes:

the angelic inhabitants in tartarus (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 1:6-7; 1
Peter 3:19);

the demon inhabitants of the abyss (Luke 8:31; Rev. 9:1-21;
Rev. 20:3,7);

the giant races that have no resurrection (Genesis 2:4, Isaiah
26:14);

the human inhabitants of Sheol/Hades (Psalm 9:17; Psalm
16:10; Psalm 71:20; Proverbs 9:18; Proverbs 15:24; Isaiah
14:9; Ezekiel 31:14-18; Ezekiel 32:18-27; Luke 16:1-31; Rev.
20:11-15); and

all other inhabitants of the infernal world (Phil. 2:10; Rev. 5:13).
This proves that hell is not the grave.
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ALL FOR GOD
Php 2:9-11 he became obedient even to the extent of accepting
death, even the death of a cross. And for that reason God exalted
him, and granted to him the name which is above every name, in
order that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things
in heaven, and things upon the earth, and things below the earth,
and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord
to the glory of God the Father."
The aim of God, is a day when every tongue will confess that Jesus
Christ is Lord.
These four words were the first creed that the Christian Church ever
had.


To be a Christian was to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord
and that God has raised Him from the dead-He is alive
(compare Rom.10:9).
This was a simple creed, yet all embracing.
Later men tried to define more closely what it meant and argued and
quarrelled about it, calling each other heretics and fools.
If man can say, "For me Jesus Christ is Lord,".
If he can say that, he means that for him Jesus Christ is unique and
that he is prepared to give him an obedience he is prepared to give no
one else.
he is a Christian
He may not be able to put into words who and what he believes Jesus to
be; but, so long as there is in his heart this wondering love and in his life
this unquestioning obedience, he is a Christian,
Christianity consists less in the mind's understanding than it does in
the heart's love.
The day will come when men will call Jesus Lord, but they will do so to the
glory of God the Father.
The whole aim of Jesus is not his own glory but God's.
Paul is clear about the lonely and ultimate supremacy of God.
In the first letter to the Corinthians he writes that in the end the Son
himself shall be subject to him who put all things under him
(1Cor.15:28).
Jesus draws men to himself that he may draw them to God.
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In the Philippian Church there were men whose aim was to gratify a selfish
ambition;
the aim of Jesus was to serve others, no matter what depths of
self-renunciation that service might involve.
In the Philippian Church there were those whose aim was to focus men's
eyes upon themselves;
the aim of Jesus was to focus men's eyes upon God.
So the follower of Christ must think always, not of himself but of others,
not of his own glory but of the glory of God.
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COOPERATION IN SALVATION
Philippians 2:12-18 "So then, my beloved, just as at all times you
obeyed not only as in my presence, but much more, as things
now are, in my absence, carry to its perfect conclusion the work
of your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God, who,
that he may carry out his own good pleasure, brings to effect in
you both the initial willing and the effective action. Do all things
without murmurings and questionings, that you may show
yourselves blameless and pure, the spotless children of God in a
warped and twisted generation, in which you appear like lights in
the world, as you hold forth the word which is life, so that on the
day of Christ it may be my proud claim that I have not run for
nothing and that I have not toiled for nothing. But if my own life
is to be poured out on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I
rejoice and I do rejoice with you all. So also do you rejoice, and
share my rejoicing."
Six results of obedience to Phil. 2:12-14:
1. Blameless before God. Greek: amemptos (GSN-273).
Here; Phil. 3:6; Luke 1:6; 1 Thes. 3:13; Hebrews 8:7
2. Harmless to men. Greek: akeraios (GSN-185).
Here; Matthew 10:16.
Translated "simple" (Romans 16:19)
3. The sons of God (Romans 8:14-16)
4. Without rebuke by man. Greek: amometos (GSN-299).
Only here; 2 Peter 3:14.
Compare "without blame" (Greek: amomos (GSN-299)) in
Ephes. 1:4
5. Shine as lights (Matthew 5:14-16).
Shine as the sun and moon (Genesis 1:14-18)
6. Hold forth the word of life.
Be lighthouses to guide people safe to the harbor of safety and
rest
Paul's appeal to the Philippians is more than an appeal to live in unity in a
given situation;
it is an appeal to live a life which will lead to the salvation of God in
time and in etemity.
Nowhere in the New Testament is the work of salvation more succinctly
stated.
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Php.2:12-13: "Work out your own salvation with fear and
trembling; for God's at work in you, both to will and to work for
his good pleasure." (RSV)
NT:2716 katergazomai (kat-er-gad'-zom-ahee); from NT:2596 and
NT:2038; do work fully, i.e. accomplish; by implication, to finish,
fashion:
Work out your own salvation; the word he uses for work out is
"katergazesthai," which always has the idea of bringing to completion.
It is as if Paul says: "Don't stop halfway; go on until the work of
salvation is fully wrought out in you."
No Christian should be satisfied with anything less than the total
benefits of the gospel.
Salvation starts your journey and relationship with God-not finishes it.
When you’re saved-you just begun; you’re not done.
James 2-Faith without works is dead
claiming confidence in God without ever expressing that confidence in
life situations is worthless
more than thatHeb_12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;
who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the
throne of God.
12] Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my
presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out
your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Notice that Paul uses “wherefore” twice in three verses (v.9 and v.12):
“because of this...”:
two parallel results of Jesus’ conduct—Jesus humbled Himself; and
He became obedient to death, even the death of the cross: therefore
God exalted Him (v.9).
Jesus showed the course of humility and obedience, therefore the
Christian is to work out his or her salvation (v.12).
“...work out your own salvation”: Not a self-help salvation. On the contrary,
because you are already saved, because God has already entered your
life in the person of the Holy Spirit, because you, therefore, have His
power at work within you
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...because of these things you are now to strive to express this
salvation in your conduct.
It does not say
“work for your salvation,” or
“work toward your salvation,” or
“work at your salvation;”
it says “work out your salvation.]
There is a clear parallel between vv.12-15 and Deut 32.
The words “children,” “blameless, and “crooked and depraved
generation” in v.15 also occur in Deut 32:4-5. Paul seems to have had
this passage in mind.
The deliverance of Israel from Egypt was not because they merited it; it
was entirely because God loved them.
If they had their way they would have stayed there.
In fact, they wanted to go back. But God trained them for 40 years
and now they were at the Jordan River.
Moses knew that he would not be allowed to continue with them. He
knew that God had called them and led them and was with them even
then.
On this basis he argues that they are to possess the land and live
there as God’s obedient children.
Paul was about to be taken out of this world himself as Moses was.
They had been in bondage to sin and God had delivered them, too.
So they, too, are to “strive” for the realization of God’s love, peace,
holiness, goodness, and justice in their lives.
[And so are we!]
It is God the Holy Spirit in us who does the working:
Php 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do
of his good pleasure.
Adam had lost his free will in his disobedience; he proved it by running
away from God when God came to see them in the garden.
That genetic defect is now passed on to us.
We are helpless but for God’s initiatives.
No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent
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me draw him: John 6:44
The well-known verses in Ephesians speaks twice of works:
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:
it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good
works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:8-10
One kind of work is condemned because it comes out of ourselves and is
contaminated by sin.
The other kind of work is encouraged because it comes from God as He
works through the Christian.
God is at work in you to change you
The word Paul uses for work and do is the same, the verb "energein."
it is always used of the action of God, and
it is always used of effective action.
God's action cannot be frustrated, nor can it remain half-finished; it must
be fully effective.

The beginning of the process of salvation is awakened by God.
Salvation is of God. It is God that works in us the desire to be
saved.
The desire for the salvation of God is not kindled by any
human emotion but by God himself

The continuance of that process is dependent on God.
Without the Holy Spirit's help there can be no progress in
goodness;
Without his help no sin can be conquered and no virtue achieved.

The end of the process of salvation is with God,
its end is friendship with God, in which we are his and he is ours.
The work of salvation is begun, continued and ended in God.
Heb 12:1-2 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses
surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin
which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race
that is set before us, 2fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and
perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross,
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despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne
of God. NAS
Note:
Jesus died for ALL men as ‘payment’ for ALL sin
1Jn 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours
only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
He was raised, resuurected to life so that we all could have life more
abundantly.
It’s not sin that keeps me from God - sin is paid for
It’s my refusal to accept new life through Christ
It’s my refusal to live in a way that honors God and
acknowledges Jesus as Lord and Christ.
Jesus death made it possible for all men to have access to and
relationship with God personally
Jesus resurrection and my trust in Him is the thing - the event - in my
life that actually places me in righteosuness before God - in a right
relationship with God.
His act removed the barrier
My act my choice to beleive and trust Him, puts me across the divide.
The unpardonable sin is to refuse the offer of Christ.
To blasphemy the Holy Spirit means that when
o
o
o
o
the Holy Spirit presents the truth regarding Lord Jesus Christ
to you,
prompting you to choose Him and the forgiveness He has
already purchased for you and
you chose to reject His offer as being false - calling Him a lier
or of being no worth to you,
and you die in that state
you have rejected your only hope of right standing in
God's eyes.
God is not sending you to hell - You have chosen it for yourself.
Read the NT fresh - It’s all about life for the Christian not a fear of sin which
has been dealt with once for all.
"Work out your own salvation," Paul demands.
Without man's cooperation, even God is helpless to save him.
any gift or any benefit has to be received.
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A man may be ill and the doctor able to prescribe the drugs
that will cure him;
but the man will not be cured until he takes them and the
man may stubbornly refuse all persuasion to take them.
The offer of God is there; without it there can be no such thing as
salvation.
But no man can ever receive salvation unless he answers God's
appeal and takes what he offers.
It is up to us to look to God, place our confidence in Him and allow Him
to mold and direct our lives
Even after salvation, the acceptance of God’s help lies within our own
power
There can be no salvation without God, but what God offers man must
take.
It is never God who withholds salvation; it is always man who deprives
himself of it.
Php.2:12-13: "Work out your own salvation with fear and
trembling; for God's at work in you, both to will and to work for
his good pleasure."



Your salvation begins with being 'born again'
Your salvation continues with 'sanctification' - your setting yourself
apart to fulfill God's purposes and will in your new life now.
Your salvation is completed in you glorification - your being with
God for eternity in eternity
What is the Gospel?
How does being Born Again change us?
What are we Saved from?
Zep 1:14-18 ISV "The great Day of the LORD approaches—How it
comes, hurrying faster and faster! The sound of the Day of the LORD
there includes the bitter cry of the mighty soldier. (15) That day will be
filled with wrath, a day of trouble and tribulation; a day of desolation and
devastation, a day of doom and gloom, a day of clouds and shadows.
(16) a day of trumpet and battle cry against fortified cites and watch
towers. (17) "And I'll bring so much distress to people that they will
walk around like the blind. Because they have sinned against the LORD,
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their blood will be poured out like dust and their intestines will spill out
like manure. (18) Neither their silver nor their gold will deliver them in
the Day of the LORD's wrath; but the entire land will be consumed by the
fire of his jealousy, for he will bring the inhabitants of the land to a
sudden end."
1Th 1:6-10 ISV You became imitators of us and of the Lord. In spite of a
great deal of suffering, you welcomed the word with the joy that the Holy
Spirit produces. (7) As a result, you became a model for all the
believers in Macedonia and Achaia. (8) From you the word of the
Lord has spread out not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every
place where your faith in God has become known. As a result, we do not
need to say anything about it. (9) For people keep telling us what kind
of welcome you gave us and how you turned away from idols to serve a
living and true God (10) and to wait for his Son whom he raised from
the dead to come back from heaven. This Jesus is the one who rescues
us from the coming wrath.
Amo 5:18-20 ISV "Woe to those who are craving the Day of the LORD!
How is it to your benefit, this Day of the LORD? It's a day of darkness to
you, and not light. (19) It will be like a man who runs from a lion, only
to encounter a bear; or who comes home, leans his hand against a wall,
and a serpent bites him! (20) Will not the Day of the LORD be
darkness, and not light—pitch black at that, without a ray of sunshine?"
Rom 3:10-18 ISV As it is written, "Not even one person is righteous.
(11) No one understands. No one searches for God. (12) All have
turned away. They have become completely worthless. No one shows
kindness, not even one person! (13) Their throats are open graves.
With their tongues they deceive. The venom of poisonous snakes is
under their lips. (14) Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.
(15) They run swiftly to shed blood. (16) Ruin and misery
characterize their lives. (17) They have not learned the path to
peace. (18) They don't fear God.
Col 1:20-23 ISV Through the Son, God also reconciled all things to
himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, thereby making
peace through the blood of his cross. (21) You who were once
alienated with a hostile attitude, doing evil, (22) he has now
reconciled by the death of his physical body, so that he may present you
holy, blameless, and without fault before him. (23) However, you
must remain firmly established and steadfast in the faith, without being
moved from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been
proclaimed to every creature under heaven and of which I, Paul, have
become a servant.
2Co 5:10-21 ISV For all of us must appear before the judgment seat of
the Messiah, so that each of us may receive what he deserves for what
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he has done in his body, whether good or worthless. (11) Therefore,
since we know what it means to fear the Lord, we try to persuade
people. We ourselves are perfectly known to God. I hope we are also
really known to your consciences. (12) We are not recommending
ourselves to you again but are giving you a reason to be proud of us, so
that you can answer those who are proud of outward things rather than
inward character. (13) So if we were crazy, it was for God; if we are
sane, it is for you. (14) The love of the Messiah controls us, for we are
convinced of this: that one person died for all people; therefore, all
people have died. (15) He died for all people, so that those who live
should no longer live for themselves but for the one who died and rose
for them. (16) So then, from now on we do not think of anyone from a
human point of view. Even if we did think of the Messiah from a human
point of view, we don't think of him that way anymore. (17) Therefore,
if anyone is in the Messiah, he is a new creation. Old things have
disappeared, and—look!—all things have become new! (18) All of
this comes from God, who has reconciled us to himself through the
Messiah and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, (19) for
through the Messiah, God was reconciling the world to himself by not
counting their sins against them. He has committed his message of
reconciliation to us. (20) Therefore, we are the Messiah's
representatives, as though God were pleading through us. We plead on
the Messiah's behalf: "Be reconciled to God!" (21) God made the one
who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that God's righteousness would
be produced in us.
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THE SIGNS OF SALVATION
Philippians 2:12-18
"So then, my beloved, just as at all times
you obeyed not only as in my presence, but much more, as
things now are, in my absence, carry to its perfect conclusion
the work of your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is
God, who, that he may carry out his own good pleasure, brings
to effect in you both the initial willing and the effective action.
Do all things without murmurings and questionings, that you
may show yourselves blameless and pure, the spotless children
of God in a warped and twisted generation, in which you appear
like lights in the world, as you hold forth the word which is life,
so that on the day of Christ it may be my proud claim that I have
not run for nothing and that I have not toiled for nothing. But if
my own life is to be poured out on the sacrifice and service of
your faith, I rejoice and I do rejoice with you all. So also do you
rejoice, and share my rejoicing."
Paul sets down five signs of salvation,

There is the sign of effective action.
The Christian must give continual evidence in his daily life that he
is indeed working out his own salvation;
day by day it must be more fully accomplished.
The great tragedy of so many Christians is that we are never really
move any further on - growing and being transforned into Christ's
image.
We continue to be victims of the same habits and
slaves of the same temptations, and
guilty of the same failures.
the truly Christian life must be a continual progress, for it is a
journey towards God.

There is the sign of fear and trembling.
This is not the fear and trembling of the slave cringing before his
master;
nor fear and trembling at the prospect of punishment.
it is not the fear and trembling which drives us to hide from God,
rather it is the fear and trembling which drives us to seek God, in
the certainty that without his help we cannot effectively face life.
Things that drive you toward God are from God
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Generally from the inside out
Things that drive you away from God are from the Devil
Generally from the outside in
It comes, second, from a horror of grieving God.
When we really love a person, we are not afraid of what he
may do to us; we are afraid of what we may do to him.
We do not want to disappoint Him at any cost.
The Christian's great fear is of crucifying Christ again by the way
we conduct our lives.

There is the sign of serenity and certainty.
The Christian will do all things without murmurings and
questionings.
The word which Paul uses for murmurings ("goggusmos") is
unusual.
"Goggusmos"--pronounced gongusomos--is an
onomatopoetic word.
It describes the low, threatening, discontented muttering
of a mob who distrust their leaders and are on the verge
of an uprising.
It is the word used of the rebellious murmurings of the
children of Israel in their desert journey.
The people murmured against Moses (Exo.15:24;
Exo.16:2; Num.16:41).
The word Paul uses for questionings is "dialogismos"
It describes useless and sometimes ill-natured, disputing
and doubting.
In the Christian life there is the serenity and the certainty of perfect
certainty and perfect trust.

There is the sign of purity.
Christians, as the Revised Standard Version has it, are to be
blameless and innocent and without blemish.
Each of these words makes its contribution to the idea of Christian
purity.
The word translated "blameless" is "amemptos" and expresses
what the Christian is to the world.
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His life is of such purity that none can find anything in it with
which to find fault.
The Christian must not only be pure, but the purity of
his life must be seen by all.
The word translated "innocent" is "akeraios," and expresses what
the Christian is in himself.
"Akeraios" literally means unmixed, unadulterated.
It is used, for instance, of wine or milk which is not mixed
with water and of metal which has no alloy in it.
When used of people, it implies motives which are
unmixed.
Christian purity must issue in a complete sincerity of
thought and character without ulterior motive or
purpose.
The word which is translated "without blemish" is "amomos" and
describes what the Christian is in the sight of God.
This word is specially used in connection with sacrifices
that are fit to be offered on the altar of God.
The Christian life must be such that it can be offered
like an unblemished sacrifice to God.
Christian purity is blameless in the sight of the world, sincere within
itself, and fit to stand the scrutiny of God.
3 Reasons (motives) we do anything and everything
For God-to edify God- worship and praise-to glorify God
For others-to edify others-to deliver a message-to entertain
For self -to edify self-to show off-just because I want to....

There is the sign of missionary endeavour.
The Christian offers to all the word of life; the word which gives
life.
It is the proclamation of the offer of the gospel in words which
are clear and unmistakable.
It is the witness of a life that is absolutely straight in a world
which is warped and twisted.
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It is the offer of light in a world which is dark.
Christians are to be lights in the world.
The word used for lights ("phosteres") is the same as is used
in the creation story of the lights (the sun and the moon) which
God set in the firmament of the heavens to give light upon the
earth (Gen.1:14-18) and for signs and symbols.
The Christian offers and demonstrates straightness in a
twisted world and light in a dark world.
THE PICTURES OF PAUL
This passage concludes with two vivid pictures, which are typical of Paul's
way of thinking.
He longs for the Christian progress of the Philippians so that at the end of
the day he may have the joy of knowing that he has not run or labored in
vain.
The word he uses for to labor is "kopian."
It may paint a picture of the most exacting toil.
"Kopian" means to labour to the point of utter exhaustion.
It may be that "kopian" describes the toil of the athlete's training
When he prays that all the discipline of training that he imposed upon
himself may not go for nothing. he pictures the life of the athlete.
In every Greek city the gymnasium was far more than a physical training
ground.
It was in the gymnasium that Socrates often discussed the eternal
problems;
It was in the gymnasium that the philosophers and the sophists and
the wandering teachers and preachers often found their audience.
In any Greek city the gymnasium was not only the physical training ground
but also the intellectual club of the city.
In the Greek world there were
the great Isthmian Games at Corinth,
the great Pan-Ionian Games at Ephesus, and, greatest of all,
the Olympic Games, held every four years.
The Greek cities were often at variance and frequently at war; but
when the Olympic Games came round, no matter what dispute
was raging, a month's truce was declared that there might be a
contest in fellowship between them.
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Not only did the athletes come, but the historians and the poets
came to give readings of their latest works, and the sculptors,
whose names are immortal, came to make statues of the winners.
There is little doubt that, in Corinth and in Ephesus, Paul had been a
spectator of these games.
Where there were crowds of men, Paul would be there to seek to win
them for Christ.
o
He knew the contests of the boxers (1Cor.9:26).
o
He knew the foot-race, most famous of all the contests.




o
He had seen the herald summoning the racers to the
starting-line (1Cor.9:27);
he had seen the runners press along the course to the
goal (Php.3:14);
he had seen the judge awarding the prize at the end of the
race (2Tim.4:8);
he knew of the victor's laurel crown and of his exultation
(1Cor.9:24; Php.4:1).
He knew the rigorous discipline of training which the athlete
must undertake, and the strict regulations which must be
observed (1Tim.4:7-8; 2Tim.2:5).
His prayer is that he may not be like an athlete whose training and effort
have gone for nothing.
For him the greatest prize in life was to know that through him others
had come to know and to love and to serve Jesus Christ.
What are Your Goals?
Most of the critical skills in life cannot be learned from a book while sitting
on the sidelines.
That’s why we have bootcamps in the military, training camps for
sports, and academies for leadership.
Most professional activities involve contrary-to-instinct behavior.
[Scuba diving (embolism) and grand prix driving (oversteer vs.
understeer).]
While we are not to be of this world, we are to be in this world.
We live for Jesus Christ in the midst of a wicked and ungodly
generation. We are not to retreat from the mission field we find
ourselves in.
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How can we live for Christ in this world?
Don’t fret about: “What is this world coming to?”
But proclaim: “What has come to this world!”
Paul now lists three specific goals:
14] Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
“...disputings”: dialogismo,j dialogismos, from which we get the English
word, “dialogue.” The concept here is not to be in rebellion against God’s
will.
15] That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God,
without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation,
among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
We are to be in complete submission to God:
a) doing all things without complaining or arguing;
b) our life is to be blameless before other people;
c) our life is to be blameless before God also.
We are to be like Daniel.
He lived in the midst of the fountainhead of ungodliness, Babylon.
He didn’t hide in a corner: he lived in the king’s palace and became his
key advisor.
His enemies tried to find fault with him, but could only accuse him of
his worship of YHWH!
Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against
this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law
of his God. Daniel 6:5
We are to live blameless before God. The word here is the same as in
Ephesians:
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of
the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him
in love: Ephesians 1:4
This does not mean that we come to the point where we will be without sin.
Real sanctification lies in the increasing realization of how sinful we are.
We need to be open before Him.
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my
thoughts:And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me
in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23, 24
This process will continue throughout life.
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Sounds impossible?
Not with God, the God of the Impossible!
We, ourselves, are incapable of living out the kind of life that God
requires of us.
But God is capable of living out that life in anyone who yields to
His Spirit. He does for us, and in us, what we cannot do for
ourselves. The Bible tells us how this will happen:
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ
liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith
of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Galatians 2:20
Php 2:17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of
your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.
Paul had a special gift for speaking in language that people could
understand. Again and again he took his pictures from the ordinary
affairs of the people to whom he was speaking.
He has already taken a picture from the games; now he takes one
from heathen sacrifice.
One of the commonest kinds of heathen sacrifice was a libation, which
was a cup of wine poured out as an offering to the gods.
every heathen meal began and ended with such a libation,
It was a kind of prayer before and after meat.
Paul here looks upon the faith and service of the Philippians as a sacrifice
to God.
He knows that his death may not be very far away, for he is writing in
prison and awaiting trial.
So he says, as the Revised Standard Version has it, that he is quite ready
"to be poured as a libation upon the sacrificial offering" of their faith.
"Your Christian fidelity and loyalty are already a sacrifice to God; and if
death for Christ should come to me, I am willing and glad that my life
should be poured out like a libation on the altar on which your sacrifice
is being made."
Paul was perfectly willing to make his life a sacrifice to God; and,
if that happened, to him it would be all joy, and
he calls on them not to mourn at the prospect but rather to rejoice.
To him every call to sacrifice and to toil was a call to his love for Christ, and
an opportunity for him to demonstrate it
therefore he met it not with regret and complaint but with joy.
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Paul now includes three practical examples of what he is talking
about.
Example #1: Paul Himself
16] Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of
Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
17] Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your
faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.
“...offered”: spendo: to pour out as a drink offering, make a libation, part
of a pagan sacrificial offering;
following a burnt offering of an animal, the offeror would take a cup of
wine and pour it on the altar; it would immediately disappear in a puff
of steam.
Paul is a prisoner in Rome and expecting to be offered up upon a pagan
altar.
When he would be killed it would only be the drink offering poured out
upon the far greater offering of their faith.
His achievements—even his pending martyrdom—he place very low
on the scale.
Does our humility among other Christians match his?
18] For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.
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THE FAITHFUL HENCHMAN
Philippians 2:19-24 "I hope in the Lord Jesus soon to send Timothy
to you, that I may find out how things are going with you and
take heart. I have no one with a mind equal to his, for he is the
kind of man who will genuinely care for your affairs; for all men
are concerned with their own interests, and not with the interests
of Jesus Christ. You know his tried and tested character, and
you know that, as a child serves a father, so he has shared my
service in the work of the gospel. So then, I hope to send him,
as soon as I see how things go with me. But I am confident in
the Lord that I myself too will soon come to you."
Since Paul cannot himself come to Philippi, it is his intention to send
Timothy as his representative.
There was no one so close to him as Timothy was.
We know very little detail about Timothy but the record of his service with
Paul shows his fidelity.
o
o
o
o
o
He was a native either of Derbe or of Lystra.
His mother Eunice was a Jewess and his grandmother's name
was Lois.
His father was a Greek and
the fact that he was not circumcised would seem to show that he
was educated in Greek ways (Ac.16:1; 2Tim.1:5).
We cannot tell how or when he was converted to Christianity,
On Paul’s second missionary journey Paul met him and saw in him one
whom he could clearly use in the service of Jesus Christ.
From that time Paul and Timothy were very close.
o
o
o
o
o
Paul could speak of him as his child in the Lord (1Cor.4:17).
He was with Paul in Philippi (Ac.16);
he was with him in Thessalonica and Berea (Ac.17:1-14);
he was with him in Corinth and in Ephesus (Ac.18:5;
Ac.19:21-22); and
he was with him in prison in Rome (Col.1:1; Php.1:1).
He was associated with Paul in the writing of no fewer than five of his
letters-1 and 2 Thessalonians, 2 Corinthians, Colossians and Philippians;
When Paul wrote to Rome Timothy was joined with him in sending
greetings (Rom.16:21).
Timothy's great use was that, whenever Paul wished for information from
some Church or wished to send advice or encouragement or rebuke and
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could not go himself, it was Timothy whom he sent.
So Timothy was sent
to Thessalonica (1Th.3:6);
to Corinth (1Cor.4:17;1Cor. 16:10-11);
to Philippi.
In the end Timothy, too, was a prisoner for Christ's sake (Heb.13:23).
Timothy's great value was that he was always willing to go anywhere; and
in his hands a message was as safe as if Paul had delivered it himself.
Others might be consumed with selfish ambition; but Timothy's one
desire was to serve Paul and Jesus Christ.
He is the patron saint of all those who are quite content with the
second place, so long as they can serve.
Example #2: Timothy
19] But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you,
that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state.
20] For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your
state.
21] For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.
22] But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he
hath served with me in the gospel.
We learn four things about Timothy:
1) Paul had “no one else like him.” In many ways, he was like Paul.
2) Timothy was concerned for others; sincerely.
3) Timothy put Jesus Christ first in his life.
4) Timothy learned to work with others; he had developed a skill of
cooperation.
This also says a lot about Paul, as a father and teacher.
Served “with” me...jointly.
Our youth now love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for
authority, disrespect for older people. Children nowadays are tyrants.
They no longer rise when their elders enter the room. They contradict their
parents, chatter before company, gobble their food, and tyrannize their
teachers. —Socrates, 500 b.c.
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We must remember we are but bondslaves. But we also should express
leadership in setting standards and lead by example.
23] Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see
how it will go with me.
24] But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly.
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THE COURTESY OF PAUL
Philippians 2:25-30 "I think it necessary to send to you
Epaphroditus, my brother, and fellow-worker, and fellow-soldier,
your messenger and the servant of my need, because he is
longing for you all, and he is very distressed because you heard
that he had been ill, so ill that he nearly died. But God had pity
on him, and not on him only, but on me too, that I might not have
grief upon grief. So, then, I send him to you with the more
despatch, that, when you see him, you may be glad again, and
that I may be less grieved. Welcome him in the Lord with all joy,
and hold such men in honor, because he came near to death
because of his work for Christ, hazarding his life, that he might
fill up that part of your service to me which you were personally
unable to supply."
Example #3: Epaphroditus
Of all the men Paul honors in this epistle, Epaphroditus gets the most
attention.
It is a eulogy that builds to a climax.
25] Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my
brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your
messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.
When the Philippians heard that Paul was in prison, their warm hearts
were moved to action.
They sent a gift to him by the hand of Epaphroditus.
What they could not personally do, because distance prevented
them, they delegated to Epaphroditus to do for them.
Not only did they intend Epaphroditus to be the bearer of their gift;
they also intended him to stay in Rome and be Paul's personal servant
and attendant.
Clearly Epaphroditus was a brave man, for anyone who proposed to offer
himself as the personal attendant of a man awaiting trial on a capital
charge was laying himself open to the very considerable risk of becoming
involved in the same charge.
Epaphroditus risked his life to serve Paul.
In Rome Epaphroditus fell ill,
perhaps with the notorious Roman fever which sometimes swept the
city like a scourge
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whatever the illness, he was near to death.
He knew that news of his illness had filtered back to Philippi,
he was worried because he knew that his friends there would be
worried about him.
God in his mercy spared the life of Epaphroditus and so spared Paul yet
more sorrow.
Paul knew that it was time that Epaphroditus went back home,
In all probability Epaphroditus was the bearer of Paul's Philippian
letter.
But there was a problem.
The Philippian Church had sent Epaphroditus to stay with Paul,
If he came back home, there would certainly be those who said that he
was a quitter.
Paul gives him a tremendous testimonial, which will silence any
possible criticism of his return.
In this testimonial every word is carefully chosen.
Epaphroditus was
o
o
o
his brother, one with Paul in sympathy,
his fellow-worker, one with him in work, and
his fellow-soldier, one with him in danger.
Paul goes on to call him
o
o
your messenger and
the servant of my need.
Seven facts regarding Epaphroditus:
1. A brother in Christ (Phil. 2:25)
2. Companion in labor (Greek: sunergos (GSN-4904),
fellow-labourer in Phil. 4:3)
3. Fellowsoldier (Greek: sustratiotes (GSN-4961); only here and
Philemon 1:2)
4. Your messenger (Greek: apostolos (GSN-652), apostle, Acts
15:33)
5. Minister (Greek: leitourgos (GSN-3011), public servant, Romans
13:6; cp. Ephes. 4:18)
6. Had a physical breakdown because of overwork (Phil. 2:26-30)
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7. Was healed (Phil. 2:27-29)
The word Paul uses for messenger is "apostolos" -- his apostle
"Apostolos" literally means anyone who is sent out on an errand, but
Christian usage had ennobled it and
By using it Paul ranks Epaphroditus with himself and all the
apostles of Christ.
The word he uses for servant is "leitourgos."
In the ancient days in the Greek cities there were men who, because
they loved their city so much, at their own expense undertook certain
great civic duties.
It might be to defray the expenses of an embassy,
or the cost of putting on one of the dramas of the great poets,
or of training the athletes who would represent the city in the
games,
or of fitting out a warship and paying a crew to serve in the navy of
the state.
These men were the supreme benefactors of the state and they were
known as "leitourgoi."
Paul takes the great Christian word "apostolos" and the great Greek word
"leitourgos," and applies them to Epaphroditus.
Paul is making it easy for Epaphroditus to go home.
Paul, himself in the very shadow of death, in prison and awaiting
judgment, showing such Christian consideration for Epaphroditus.
He was facing death, and yet it mattered to him that
Epaphroditus should not meet with embarrassment when he
went home.
Paul was a true Christian in his attitude to others;
for he was never so immersed in his own troubles that he had no time
to think of the troubles of his friends.
There is a word in this passage which later had a famous usage. The
word is the verb "paraboleuesthai";



The King James Version speaks of Epaphroditus not regarding
his life;
the Revised Standard Version uses risking his life;
(Barclay) we have translated it hazarding his life.
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it is a gambler's word and means to stake everything on a turn of the dice.
Paul is saying that for the sake of Jesus Christ Epaphroditus gambled
his life.
In the days of the Early Church there was an association of men and
women called the "parabolani," the gamblers.
It was their aim to visit the prisoners and the sick,
especially those who were ill with dangerous and infectious
diseases.
In A.D. 252 plague broke out in Carthage; the heathen threw out the
bodies of their dead and fled in terror.
Cyprian, the Christian bishop, gathered his congregation together and
set them to burying the dead and nursing the sick in that
plague-stricken city; and
by so doing they saved the city, at the risk of their lives, from
destruction and desolation.
There should be in the Christian an almost reckless courage which makes
him ready to gamble with his life to serve Christ and men.
“...my brother”: A brother in Christ (a new ideal in Paul’s day!): Fellowship
among guilds, soldiers, etc., was exclusive. The world was polarized
into Greeks and Romans; Jews and Gentiles; aristocrats and
plebeians; citizens and soldiers, etc. There was nothing
exclusive—exclusionary—about the early Christians. [Does that
describe the church(es) today?]
“...companion in labor”: Committed, not just “involved.” The church in
Ephesus was lauded by Jesus:
And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast
laboured, and hast not fainted. Revelation 2:3
Despite financial and numerical “success,” the churches in America have
increasingly become identified with the popular culture and so have
become unable to speak prophetically to it. It has become complacent and
lost its intellectual and cultural dynamic.
It needs to be reconstituted as a working church:
1) Intellectually: scout the shelves of modern day bookstores and you
find a denial of the fundamental doctrines of Christianity. We need
clear thinkers, winsome writers, and persuasive apologists to
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reverse the trends and publish works of real and lasting value;
2) Socially: we need to recapture an active role in addressing the
social concerns. (Cf. the earlier abolition of slavery, the child labor
laws, etc.)
3) Evangelism: the people need to be won; on a one-to-one basis.
“...fellow soldier”: Epaphroditus fought side by side with Paul.
Romans pioneered shoulder-to-shoulder fighting which led to their
successes. The Roman Phalanx were a terror to the ancient world. A
wall of shields; esp. the “tortoise” formation, etc.
26] For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because
that ye had heard that he had been sick.
Philippi was about 800 miles from Rome, a traveling distance of at
least six weeks. The message that he was sick would have made a
round trip in no less than three months.
27] For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on
him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow
upon sorrow.
This is a refutation of the faith healers who insist, like Job’s
comforters, that sickness is result of sin, a lack of faith, or God’s
chastening.
28] I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him
again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.
Paul clearly did not teach “healing in the atonement” or that it was a
birthright of all Christians.
We never read of him or his fellow-laborers being miraculously
healed.
Faithfulness and Patience continuing God's call on our lives of
sacrifice even in sickness is often a badge of honor among
God’s children.
29] Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold
such in reputation:
30] Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not
regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.
Living for Others
The high point of Paul’s praise for his friend Epaphroditus was his
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sacrifices of his own interests for others.
Paul was in prison and most of his friends had deserted him.
[Cf. our own experience: bankruptcy, earthquakes, etc., accompanied
by abandonment of our “Christian friends,” etc.]
The Concept of a Fiduciary
Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according
to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart,
as unto Christ; Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the
servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; With
good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:
Ephesians 6:5-7
Obedience to “masters according to the flesh”; i.e., physical and mental,
not spiritual or of the conscience.
“In singleness of heart” (60 minutes of each hour paid); also, as a fiduciary.
“As unto Christ”: no distinction between secular and “sacred.”
The Sanctity of a Commitment
Society’s desperate need:
Diligence only when the boss is looking? Slacking off when the boss is
away is a form of dishonesty.
A Christian can perform any good work as a ministry to Christ... from the
heart. Being a witness; vs. “Witnessing” [“Undercover Christians”...]
What if the master is overbearing, abusive, unreasonable?
“As unto the Lord” (!) Your wages are only temporal. Our real rewards
are from Him.
2Co 4:15-18 NKJV For all things are for your sakes, that grace,
having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to
abound to the glory of God. (16) Therefore we do not lose
heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward
man is being renewed day by day. (17) For our light affliction,
which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more
exceeding and eternal weight of glory, (18) while we do not
look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not
seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the
things which are not seen are eternal.
Our Citizenship is not on Earth but in Heaven - God's throne room.
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We are only Ambassadors here....
An old missionary returning from many years of sacrificial service in Africa
was on the same ship with President Theodore Roosevelt, returning from
a big game hunt in Africa: When the ship docked, great crowds, press, et
al., greeted the President. The old missionary and his wife walked off
unnoticed and made their way to a cheap hotel. “It doesn’t seem right! We
gave our lives in Africa to win souls to Christ and when we arrive home
there’s nobody to meet us. The president shoots some animals and
receives a royal welcome!” the missionary complained. “That’s because
we aren’t home yet,” the wife noted.
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Philippians 3 - THE INDESTRUCTIBLE JOY
JOY
Philippians 3:1 "As for what remains, my brothers, rejoice in the
Lord. It is no trouble to me to write the same things to you, and
for you it is safe."
Paul sets down the indestructibility of Christian joy.
setting a high challenge before the Philippian Church.
there was the possibility of the same kind of persecution, and
the same kind of death, as threatened himself.
(Joh 16:19 ISV*)
Sorrow will Turn to Joy
¶ Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him a question, so he asked
them, “Are you discussing among yourselves what I meant when I said,
‘In a little while you will no longer see me, then in a little while you will
see me again’?
(Joh 16:20 ISV*) Truly, I tell all of you [The Gk. pronoun you is pl.] emphatically,
you will cry and mourn, but the world will rejoice. You will be deeply
distressed, but your pain will turn into joy.
(Joh 16:21 ISV*) When a woman is in labor she has pain, because her
time has come. Yet when she has given birth to her child, she doesn’t
remember the agony anymore because of the joy of having brought a
human being into the world.
(Joh 16:22 ISV*) Now you are having pain. But I will see you again,
and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away
from you.
(Joh 16:23 ISV*) On that day, you will not ask me for anything. Truly, I
tell all of you [The Gk. pronoun you is pl.] emphatically, whatever you
ask the Father for in my name, he will give it to you. [Other mss. read
ask the Father for, he will give it to you in my name]
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(Joh 16:24 ISV*) So far you haven’t asked for anything in my name.
Keep asking and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.”
(Joh 16:25 ISV*)
Victory over the World
¶ “I have said these things to you in figurative language. The time is
coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but will
tell you plainly about the Father.
(Joh 16:26 ISV*) At that time, you will make your requests in my name,
so that I will have no need to ask the Father on your behalf,
(Joh 16:27 ISV*) because the Father himself loves you, and because you
have loved me and believed that I came from God. [Other mss. read from the Father]
(Joh 16:28 ISV*) I left the Father and came into the world. Now [Lit. Again]
I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”
Finding and living the indestructible Christian joy is an essential key;
because Christian joy is in the Lord.
Recognize: The Christian lives forever in the presence of Jesus
Christ.
He can lose all things, and
he can lose all people,
but he can never lose Christ.
even in circumstances
where joy would seem to be impossible and
there seem to be nothing but pain and discomfort,
Christian joy remains,
To experience this unshakeable joy there must be unquestioned love of
the Lord by you knowing his love for you cannot be shaken.
None of the threats and terrors and discomforts of life can separate
the Christian from the love of God in Christ Jesus his Lord
Rom 8:35-39 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness,
or peril, or sword? 36 Just as it is written,
"For Thy sake we are being put to death all day long;
We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered." [Ps 44:22]
37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him
who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor
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angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor
powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be
able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our
Lord. NAS
Note: often happens that men can stand the great sorrows and the great
trials of life but are undone by what are almost minor inconveniences.
But, If the Christian really walks with Christ, he walks with joy in both
the large and small issues of life whether good or bad.
JOY (joi)
commonest terms translated Joy are
chara, "joy,"
chairo, "to rejoice"
(compare charis, "grace").
The term (chairo [NT:5463]) indicates both a state of joy, and that
which brings us joy.
also agalliasis, which expresses "exuberant joy," "exultation"
(not used in classical Greek, but often in the Septuagint; in the
New Testament, Luke 1:14,44; Acts 2:46; Jude 24; Heb 1:9)
corresponding verb agalliaoo (-aomai), "to exult," "rejoice
exceedingly" (Matt 5:12, etc.).
In English Versions of the Bible we have sometimes "to joy" (now obsolete
as a verb),
used in an intransitive sense = "to rejoice" (Hab 3:18; 2 Cor 7:13,
etc.).
It is relationship with Jesus that is a vital source of our joy.
Joy is exemplified in the life, character, and in the teaching of Jesus.
His habitual demeanor was gladsome and joyous, certainly not
gloomy or ascetic: such as,
- His description of Himself as bridegroom, in defense of His
disciples for not fasting (Mark 2:18-20);
- the fact that He came "eating and drinking," giving occasion to
the charge that He was "a gluttonous man and a winebibber"
(Matt 11:19);
- His "rejoicing in the Holy Spirit" (Luke 10:21);
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- the fact that His presence was found to be congenial at social
festivities (Mark 14:3; Luke 14:1; John 12:1), and
- at the wedding in Cana (John 2:1 ff);
- His mention of "my joy" (John 15:11; 17:13).
The Christian receives not only beatitude - a calm and composed state of
peace (Matt 5:3-11; John 14:27; 16:33), but also



a more exuberant state of joy,
participation in Jesus' own fulness of joy (John 15:11; 16:24;
17:13),
a joy which is permanent, in contrast to the sorrow which is
transient (16:22).
This is in sharp contrast to the "sad countenance" of the hypocrites (Mat
6:16)
"Rejoice, and be exceeding glad", (Mat 5:12)
This spirit is reflected in many of the parables.
- The discovery of the true treasure of life brings joy (Matt 13:44).
- The three parables in Luke 15 reveal the joy of the Divine heart
itself at the repentance of sinners (see especially verses Luk
15:5-7,9,10,22-24,32).
- The parable of the Talents lays stress on the "joy of the Lord"
which is the reward of faithfulness (Matt 25:21,23).
Jesus Himself spoke of two ways that we might find joy in Him.
"If you obey My commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have
obeyed My Father's commands and remain in His love. I have told you
this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete"
(John 15:10-11).
"Until now you have not asked for anything in My name. Ask and you
will receive, and your joy will be complete" (John 16:24).
In the dark days of disappointment that succeeded the crucifixion, the joy
of the disciples passed under a cloud, but at the resurrection (Luke 24:41)
Still more on the day of Pentecost it emerged into light, and afterward
remained a marked characteristic of the early church (Acts 2:46 f;
8:39; 13:52; 15:3).
Joy is produced in us by the Holy Spirit, and is a fruit of His presence (see
Luke 10:21; Gal 5:22; 1 Thess 1:6).
"Joy in the Holy Spirit" as an essential mark of the kingdom of God
(Rom 14:17).
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It is not linked with material possessions but rather is an overflow of
salvation (Acts 8:8; 16:34).
A realization of what our salvation is worth to us and its cost to God and
what it means to us personally now and for eternity
The joy required of the righteous person (Phil 4:4) is produced by the
Spirit of God (Gal 5:22).
- This kind of joy looks beyond the present to our future salvation
(Rom 5:2; 8:18; 1 Peter 1:4,6)
- it looks toward our sovereign God, who works out all things for our
ultimate good, which is Christlikeness (Rom 8:28-30).
This kind of joy is distinct from mere happiness.
Joy like this is possible, even in the midst of sorrow (1 Cor 12:26; 2
Cor 6:10; 7:4).
Even persecution could not dampen the joy that glowed in early
Christians, for their joy was not dependent on external circumstances
(see Acts 13:52; 2 Cor 7:4; James 1:2).
1 Peter 1:6-7 "in this [salvation] you greatly rejoice, though now for a little
while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have
come so that your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes
even though refined by fire-may be proved genuine and may result in
praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed"
2 Cor 4:16-18 16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward
man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 17 For our
light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more
exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18 While we look not at the
things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the
things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen
are eternal. KJV
This joy is associated with



faith (Phil 1:25),
hope (Rom 5:2; 12:12),
brotherly fellowship and sympathy (Rom 12:15; 2. Cor 7:13;
Phil 2:1 f).
To rejoice in the Lord is enjoined as a Christian duty (Phil 3:1; 4:4;
compare 2:17 f; 1 Thess 5:16).
In Christ, the Christian "rejoices with joy unspeakable and full of glory"
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1 Peter 1:8), in spite of his temporary afflictions (verse 6).
Christian joy is the result of the triumph of faith over adverse and trying
circumstances, which, instead of hindering, actually enhance it (Acts
5:41; Rom 5:3 f; James 1:2,12; 5:11; 1 Peter 4:13; compare Matt
5:11-12).
Even Our Lord Himself "for the joy that was set before him endured the
cross, despising shame" (Heb 12:2).
the Christian knows a joy that is rooted in
- the bond that exists between the believer and the Lord, and
- the bond that exists with other believers whom we have come to love
(Rom 16:19; Phil 1:4,25-26; 2:2,29; 4:1; Heb 13:17; 1 John 1:4).
The deeper our relationship with Jesus and with His people, the
greater the joy that awaits us, and the less that happiness /
contentment is dependent on external circumstances.
Secret to rejoicing and living in the joy of the Lord is to live in a
manner that brings the Lord joy - obedience and relationship with
Him.






Believing in him (acknowledging him)Placing faith (confidence) in himTrusting him (depending on him)
Hoping in him (acting based on the assurance of his promises)
Loving him (pleasing him above all)
Letting him love others thru us (obeying him)
This is a life of Joy not dependant on others or circumstances.
Joy comes from knowing and pleasing the one you love.
Neh 8:8-10 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and
gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading. 9 And
Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and
the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is
holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people
wept, when they heard the words of the law. 10 Then he said unto
them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions
unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our
Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
LET ME SAY IT AGAIN
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Philippians 3:1 "As for what remains, my brothers, rejoice in the
Lord. It is no trouble to me to write the same things to you, and
for you it is safe."
Paul writes things to them that he has written before. - the necessity of
repetition.
it must mean that Paul had written other letters to the Philippians
which have not survived.
Paul was writing letters from A.D. 48 to A.D. 64, sixteen years, but
we possess only thirteen.
Unless there were long periods when he never put pen to paper, there
must have been many more letters which are now lost.
Like any good teacher, Paul was never afraid of repetition.
It may well be that one of our faults is our desire for novelty.
The great saving truths of Christianity do not change; and we cannot
hear them too often.
We do not tire of the foods which are the essentials of life.
We expect to eat bread and to drink water every day; and
we must listen again and again to the truth which is the bread
and the water of life.
No teacher (or student) must find it a trouble to go over and over again the
great basic truths of the Christian faith; for that is the way to ensure the
safety of his hearers.
We may enjoy the "fancy things" at times, but it is the basic foods on
which we live.
Preaching and teaching and studying the side - issues may be attractive,
and these have their place,
but the fundamental truths can neither be spoken nor heard too often
for the safety of our souls.
Heb 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us
go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance
from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2 Of the doctrine of
baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead,
and of eternal judgment. 3 And this will we do, if God permit.
Leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ ??!!??
Move on from the decision point of belief to 'working out' your salvation...
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Go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of






of repentance from dead works, and
of faith toward God,
of the doctrine of baptisms, and
of laying on of hands, and
of resurrection of the dead, and
of eternal judgment.
Soteriology: The doctrine of Salvation
Justification
Sanctification
Glorification
****************************************************************
THIS MAY BE THE END OF THE LETTER (MINUS PAUL'S
TRADITIONAL CLOSING) THAT PAUL SENT WITH EPAPHRODITUS
TO PHILIPPI.
IT IS POSSIBLE THAT BEGINNING WITH PHIL 3:2, WE HAVE A
PORTION OF ANOTHER LETTER THAT PAUL MAY HAVE SENT WTIH
TIMOTHY TO PHILIPPI SHORTLY AFTER EPAPHRODITUS
RETURNED.
THERE IS AN ABRUPT CHANGE IN TONE AND TENOR IN
PHILIPPIANS BEGINNING WITH VERSE 2 OF CHAPTER 3.
Philippians 3:2 thru 4:3
****************************************************************
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THE EVIL TEACHERS
Philippians 3:2-3
"Be on your guard against the dogs;
be on your guard against the evil workers;
be on your guard against the party of mutilation;
for we are the truly circumcised,
we who worship in the Spirit of God;
we whose proud boast is in Jesus Christ,
we who place no confidence in merely human things."
Paul changes his tone to that of warning.
Wherever he taught, the Jews followed him and tried to undo his
teaching.
It was the teaching of Paul




that we are saved by grace alone,
that salvation is the free gift of God,
that we can never earn it
but can only humbly and adoringly accept what God has
offered to us; and
that the offer of God is to all men of all nations and
that none is excluded.
It was the teaching of these Jews that, if a man wished to be saved,



he must earn credit in the sight of God by countless deeds of the
law;
that salvation belonged to the Jews and to no one else, and
that, before God could have any use for him, a man must be
circumcised and become a Jew.
We don't make it, we take it
We don't earn it if we are good enough
We accept the free gift offered by God through Jesus
Paul jumps on these Jewish teachers who were seeking to undo his work.
He calls them three things, carefully chosen to throw their claims back
upon themselves.

"Beware of the dogs,"
"Dogs" are unbelievers, never a Christian. Mat 7.6; 15.26; Rev
22.15
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With us the dog is a well-loved animal, but it was not so in the
East in the time of Jesus.
The dogs were the pariah dogs, roaming the streets,
sometimes in packs, hunting amidst the garbage dumps and
snapping and snarling at all whom they met.
In the Bible the dog always stands for that than which nothing can
be lower.
When Saul is seeking to take his life, David's demand is:
"After whom do you pursue? After a dead dog! after a flea!"
(1Sam.24:14, compare 2Kgs.8:13; Ps.22:16,20).
In the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, part of the torture
of Lazarus is that the street dogs annoy him by licking his
sores (Lk.16:21).
In Deuteronomy the Law brings together the price of a dog
and the hire of a whore, and declares that neither must be
offered to God (Deut.23:18).
In Revelation the word dog stands for those who are so
impure that they are debarred from the Holy City (Rev.22:15).
That which is holy must never be given to dogs (Matt.7:6).
It is the same in Greek thought; the dog stands for everything that
is shamelessly unclean.
It was by this name; dog, that the Jews called the Gentiles.
There is a Rabbinic saying, "The nations of the world are
like dogs."
So Paul says to the Judiazers,
"In your proud self-righteousness, you call other men
dogs; but it is you who are dogs, because you
shamelessly pervert the gospel of Jesus Christ."
He takes the very name the Jewish teachers would have applied
to the impure and to the Gentiles and flings it back at themselves.
A man must always have a care that he is not himself guilty of the
sins of which he accuses others.

He calls them evil workers, workers of evil things.
A term used for Judaizers, those who sought to introduce Judaism
into Christianity. Acts 15.1, 24; Gal 2.4; 6.12
The Jews would be quite sure that they were workers of
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righteousness.
It was their view that to keep the Law's countless rules and
regulations was to work righteousness.
Paul was certain that the only kind of righteousness there is
comes from casting oneself freely upon the grace of God.
The effect of their teaching was to take men further away from
God instead of to bring them nearer to him.
They thought they were working good, but in fact they were
working evil.
Spiritual barometer:
o
o
If it pulls you closer to God, it is from God
If it pushes you away from God, it’s not from God
Every teacher must be more anxious to listen to God than to
propagate his own opinions or he, too, will run the risk of being a
worker of evil, even when he thinks that he is a worker of
righteousness.

He calls them, the party of mutilation.
There are two Greek verbs which are very like each other.
"Peritemnein" means "to circumcise";
"katatemnein" means "to mutilate", as in Lev.21:5, which
describes forbidden self-mutilation, such as castration.
Paul says, "You Jews think that you are circumcised; in point
of fact, you are only mutilated."
According to Jewish belief, circumcision was ordained upon Israel
as sign and symbol that they were the people with whom God had
entered into a special relationship. Gen.17:9-10.
When God entered into his special covenant with Abraham,
circumcision was laid down as its eternal sign.
circumcision is only a sign in the flesh, something done to
a man's body.
If a man is to be in special relationship with God, something far
more is needed than a mark in his body.
He must not only cut away a part of his flesh but his whole
fleshly nature
He must have a certain kind of mind and heart and
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character.
This is where at least some of the Jews made the mistake.
They regarded circumcision in itself as being enough to set
them apart specially for God.
In Leviticus the law-giver says that the uncircumcised hearts of Israel
must be humbled to accept the punishment of God (Lev.26:41).
"Circumcise the foreskin of your heart and be no longer stubborn"
(Deut.10:16).
He says that the Lord will circumcise their hearts to make
them love him (Deut.30:6).
Jeremiah speaks of the uncircumcised ear, the ear that will not
hear the word of God (Jer.6:10).
The writer of Exodus speaks of uncircumcised lips (Exo.6:12).
Paul says is, "If you have nothing to show but circumcision of the flesh,
you are not really circumcised--you are only mutilated.
Real circumcision is devotion of heart and mind and life to God."
(Romans 2:29)
The Christians are circumcised, not with the outward mark in the flesh,
but with that inner circumcision of which the great law-givers and
teachers and prophets spoke.
What then are the signs of that real circumcision?

We worship in the Spirit of God; or, we worship God in the Spirit.
(John 4:24)
Christian worship is not a thing of ritual or of the observation of details
of the Law; it is a thing of the heart.
It is possible for a man to go through an elaborate liturgy and yet
have a heart that is far away from God.
It is possible for him to observe all the outward observances of
religion and yet have hatred and bitterness and pride in his heart.
The true Christian worships God, not with outward forms and
observances, but with the true devotion and the real sincerity of his
heart.
His worship is love of God and service of men.
Three reasons to do anything:
Edify God
(Edify = Please, Honor)
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Edify Others
Edify Self
Worship = Extolling character = Directed to the source; God.
Praise = Extolling deeds = Directed to others about the God.

Our only boast is in Jesus Christ. (Phil. 3:1; Phil. 4:4; 1 Peter 1)
The only boast of the Christian is what Christ has done for him.
not in what he has done for himself
not in what he has done for Christ
His only pride is that he is a man for whom Christ died.

We place no confidence in merely human things. (Phil. 3:3-4; 2
Cor. 5:16)
The Jew placed his confidence in the physical badge of
circumcision and in the performance of the duties of the Law.
The Christian places his confidence only in the mercy of God and
in the love of Jesus Christ.
The Jew in essence trusted himself; the Christian in essence
trusts God.
THE PRIVILEGES OF PAUL
Philippians 3:4-7
"And yet it remains true that I have every ground of confidence from
the human point of view. If anyone has reason to think that he has
grounds for confidence in his human heritage and attainments, I
have more.
I was circumcised when I was eight days old:
I am of the race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin:
I am a Hebrew,
born of Hebrew parents.
As far as the Law goes, I was a Pharisee:
as for zeal, I was a persecutor of the Churches:
as for the righteousness which is in the Law,
I was beyond blame.
But such things as I could humanly reckon as profits, I came to the
conclusion were all loss for the sake of Jesus Christ."
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Paul's opponents might have said,
"But you are a Christian and do not know what you are talking about;
you do not know what it is to be a Jew."
So Paul sets out his credentials, not in order to boast but to show that
he had enjoyed every privilege which a Jew could enjoy and had risen
to every attainment to which a Jew could rise.
Paul knew what it was to be a Jew in the highest sense of the term,
He had deliberately abandoned it all for the sake of Jesus Christ.

He had been circumcised when he was eight days old.
It had been the commandment of God to Abraham: "He that is eight
days old shall be circumcised among you" (Gen.17:12);
repeated as a permanent law of Israel (Lev.12:3).
Paul makes it clear that he is not an Ishmaelite,
Ishmaelites were circumcised in their thirteenth year (Gen.17:25),
Nor was he a proselyte who had come late into the Jewish faith and
been circumcised in manhood.
He stresses the fact that he had been born into the Jewish faith and
had known its privileges and observed its ceremonies since his birth.

He was of the race of Israel.
See Genesis 29:21-30:25; Genesis 35:16-29.
When the Jews wished to stress their special relationship to God in its
most unique sense it was the word "Israelite" that they used.
Israel was the name which had been specially given to Jacob by
God after his wrestling with him (Gen.32:28).
It was to Israel that they in the most special sense traced their
heritage.
Ishmaelites could trace their descent to Abraham,
Ishmael was Abraham's son by Hagar;
Edomites could trace their descent to Isaac,
Esau, the founder of the Edomite nation, was Isaac's son;
It was the Israelites alone who could trace their descent to Jacob,
whom God had called by the name of Israel.
By calling himself an Israelite, Paul stressed the absolute purity of
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his descent.

He was of the tribe of Benjamin.
The tribe of Benjamin had a special place in the aristocracy of Israel.
- Benjamin was the child of Rachel, the well-loved wife of Jacob,
- of all the twelve patriarchs Benjamin alone had been born in the
Promised Land (Gen.35:17-18) .
- It was from the tribe of Benjamin that the first king of Israel had
come (1Sam.9:1-2),
it was no doubt from that very king that Paul had been given
his original name of Saul.
- When, under Rehoboam, the kingdom had been split up, ten of
the tribes went off with Jeroboam, Benjamin was the only tribe
which remained faithful with Judah (1Kgs.12:21).
- When they returned from the exile, it was from the tribes of
Benjamin and Judah that the nucleus of the reborn nation was
formed (Ezr.4:1).
- The tribe of Benjamin had the place of honor in Israel's
battle-line, so that the battle-cry of Israel was: "After thee, O
Benjamin!" (Judg.5:14; Hos.5:8).
- The great feast of Purim, which was observed every year with
such rejoicing, commemorated the deliverance of which the Book
of Esther tells, and the central figure of that story was Mordecai, a
Benjaminite.
When Paul stated that he was of the tribe of Benjamin, it was a claim
that he was not simply an Israelite but that he belonged to the highest
aristocracy of Israel.
It would be the equivalent in England of saying that he came over
with the Normans
or in America that he traced his descent to the Pilgrim fathers.
Paul claims that from his birth he was a God-fearing, Law-observing
Jew; that his lineage was as pure as Jewish lineage could be; and that
he belonged to the most aristocratic tribe of the Jews.
THE ATTAINMENTS OF PAUL
Paul goes on to state his achievements in the Jewish faith.
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
He was a Hebrew born of Hebrew parents.
This is not the same as to say that he was a true Israelite.
The history of the Jews had dispersed them all over the world. In
every town and in every city and in every country there were Jews.
There were tens of thousands of them in Rome;
in Alexandria there were more than a million.
They stubbornly refused to be assimilated to the nations
amongst whom they lived;
They retained faithfully their own religion and their own
customs and their own laws.
But it frequently happened that they forgot their own language.
They became Greek speaking of necessity because they lived
and moved in a Greek environment.
A Hebrew was a Jew who was not only of pure racial descent but who
had deliberately, and often laboriously, retained the Hebrew tongue
Such a Jew would speak the language of the country in which he
lived but also the Hebrew which was his ancestral language.
Paul claims not only to be a pure-blooded Jew but one who
still spoke Hebrew.
He had been born in the Gentile city of Tarsus, but he had come to
Jerusalem to be educated at the feet of Gamaliel (Ac.22:3)
He was able when the time came, to speak to the mob in
Jerusalem in their own tongue (Ac.21:40).

As far as the Law went, he was a trained Pharisee. (Matthew
3:7)
This is a claim that Paul makes more than once (Ac.22:3 ;Ac. 23:6;
Ac. 26:5).
There were not very many Pharisees, never more than 6,000
Their very name means The Separated Ones.
They had separated themselves off from all common life and from
all common tasks in order to make it the one aim of their lives to
keep every smallest detail of the Law.
Paul claims that not only was he a Jew who had retained his ancestral
religion, but he had also devoted his whole life to its most rigorous
observance.
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No man knew better from personal experience what Jewish
religion was at its highest and most demanding.

As far as zeal went, he had been a persecutor of the Church.
Acts 7:58; Acts 8:1-3; Acts 9:1-2; Galatians 1:13.
To a Jew zeal was the greatest quality in the religious life.
Phinehas had saved the people from the wrath of God, and been
given an everlasting priesthood, because he was zealous for his
God (Num.25:11-13).
It is the cry of the Psalmist: "Zeal for thy house has consumed
me." (Ps.69:9).
A burning zeal for God was the hall-mark of Jewish religion.
Paul had been so zealous a Jew that he had tried to wipe out the
opponents of Judaism. (Ac.22:2-21;Ac. 26:4-23; 1Cor.15:8-10;
Gal.1:13).
He was never ashamed to confess his shame and to tell men that
once he had hated the Christ whom now he loved and sought to
obliterate the Church which now he served.
It is Paul's claim that he knew Judaism at its most intense and even
fanatical heat.

As for the righteousness which the Law could produce, he was
"blameless". (Phil. 3:4-6; Galatians 1:13-14; 2 Cor. 11:22).
The word is "amemptos,"
the verb "memphesthai," from which it comes, means "to
blame" for sins of omission.
Paul claims that there was no demand of the Law which he did not
fulfill.
Paul states his attainments.




He was so loyal a Jew that he had never lost the Hebrew speech;
he was not only a religious Jew, he was a member of their strictest
and the most self-disciplined sect;
he had had in his heart a burning zeal for what he had thought was
the cause of God; and
he had a record in Judaism in which no man could mark a fault.
All these things Paul might have claimed to set down on the credit side
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of the balance;
but when he met Christ, he wrote them off as nothing more than
bad debts.
[loss] Greek: zemia (GSN-2209), loss as applied to trade, especially the
voluntary loss incurred by casting wares overboard to lighten a sinking
ship (here; Phil. 3:8; Acts 27:10,21).
The things that he had believed to be his glories were in fact quite useless.
All human achievement had to be laid aside, in order that he might
accept the free grace of Christ.
He had to divest himself of every human claim of honor that he
might accept in complete humility the mercy of God in Jesus
Christ.
Paul proves to these Jews that he has the right to speak.




He is not condemning Judaism from the outside.
He had experienced it at its highest point; and
He knew that it was nothing compared with the joy which Christ
had given.
He knew that the only way to peace was to abandon the way of
human achievement and accept the way of grace.
Doctrine of Self Sacrifice
1. Whatever we sacrifice for Christ will be returned by Christ (Mat
16.25)
(Mat 16:24 ISV*) ¶ Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone
wants to follow me, he must deny himself, pick up his cross,
and follow me continually. (25) Whoever wants to save his
life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it,
(26) because what profit will a person have if he gains the
whole world and forfeits his life? Or what can a person give in
exchange for his life? (27) The Son of Man is going to
come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will
repay everyone according to what he has done.
2. Self sacrifice leads to treasure in Heaven (Mat 19.21)
(Mat 19:16 ISV*) A Rich Man Comes to Jesus (Mark 10:17-22;
Luke 18:18-23)
¶ Just then a man came up to Jesus. [Lit. him] “Teacher,”
[Other mss. read Good Teacher] he asked, “what good deed
should I do to have eternal life?” (17) Jesus [Lit. He] asked
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him, “Why ask me about what is good? There is only one who
is good. [Other mss. read Why do you call me good? No one
is good except for one—God] If you want to get into that life,
you must keep the commandments.” (18) ¶ The young
man [Lit. He] asked him, “Which ones?” Jesus said,
“‘You must not murder, [Exod 20:13; Deut 5:17]
you must not commit adultery, [Exod 20:14; Deut 5:18]
you must not steal, [Exod 20:15; Deut 5:19]
you must not give false testimony, [Exod 20:16; Deut
5:20]
(19) honor your father and mother,’ [Exod 20:12; Deut
5:16] and,
‘you must love your neighbor as yourself.’” [Lev 19:18]
(20) ¶ The young man told him, “I have kept all of these.
[Other mss. read kept all of these since I was a young
man] What do I still lack?” (21) ¶ Jesus told him, “If
you want to be perfect, go and sell what you own and give
the money [The Gk. lacks the money] to the destitute, and
you will have treasure in heaven. Then come back and
follow me.” (22) But when the young man heard this
statement he went away sad, because he had many
possessions.
3. We are commanded to sacrifice for the sake of our brethren (Rom
14.21; 1 Cor 10.24; 13.5; Phil 2.4)
(Rom 14:20 ISV*) ¶ Do not destroy God’s action for the sake of
food. Everything is clean, but it is wrong to make another
person stumble because of what you eat. (21) The right
thing to do is to avoid eating meat, drinking wine, or doing
anything else that makes your brother stumble, upset, or
weak. [Other mss. lack upset, or weak]
(1Co 10:23 ISV*)
All to the Glory of God
¶ Everything is permissible, but not everything is helpful.
Everything is permissible, but not everything builds up. (24)
No one should seek his own welfare, but rather his neighbor’s.
(Php 2:3 ISV*) Do not act out of selfish ambition or conceit, but
with humility think of others as being better than yourselves.
(4) Do not be concerned about your own interests, but also
be concerned about [The Gk. lacks be concerned about] the
interests of others. (5) Have the same attitude among
yourselves [Or Have this mind in you] that was also in the
Messiah [Or Christ] Jesus
THE WORTHLESSNESS OF THE LAW AND THE VALUE OF CHRIST
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Philippians 3:8-9
"Yes, and I still count all things loss, because of the all-surpassing
value of what it means to know Jesus Christ, my Lord.
For his sake I have had to undergo a total abandonment of all things,
and
I count them as nothing better than filth fit for the refuse heap,
that I may make Christ my own, and
that it may be clear to all that I am in him,
not because of any righteousness of my own,
that righteousness whose source is the Law,
but because of the righteousness which comes through Jesus
Christ,
the righteousness whose source is God and whose basis is
faith."
Paul says, "I came to that conclusion--and I still think so.
It was not a decision made in a moment of impulse, but one by which I
still stand fast."
[to know Jesus Christ, my Lord.]
to know Him personally not just about Him
abandoning all else so that it would be clear and obvious that Paul
knew Him so well, he was a reflection of Him - in Him - His image.
The key-word here is "righteousness".
"Dikaiosune" is always difficult to translate in Paul's letters.
The trouble is not that of seeing its meaning;
The trouble is that of finding one English word which covers all it
includes.
The great basic problem of life is to find fellowship with God and to be at
peace and in friendship with him.
The way to that fellowship is through righteousness, through the kind
of life and spirit and attitude toward himself which God desires.
Righteousness nearly always for Paul has the meaning of a right
relationship with God.
"All my life I have been trying to get into a right relationship with God. I
tried to find it by strict adherence to the Jewish Law; but I found the
Law and all its ways worse than useless to achieve that end. I found
it no better than `skubala.'"
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"Skubala" has two meanings.
- In common language it was popularly derived from "kusi
ballomena," which means that which is thrown to the dogs;
- in medical language it means "excrement", ("dung", as the King
James Version translates it).
"I found the Law and all its ways of no more use than the refuse
thrown on the garbage heap to help me to get into a right
relationship with God. So I gave up trying to create a goodness
of my own; I came to God in humble faith, as Jesus told me to do,
and I found that fellowship I had sought so long."
A right relationship with God is based not on Law but on faith in Jesus
Christ.
It is not achieved by any man but given by God;
It is not won by works but accepted in trust.
"Out of my experience I tell you that the Jewish way is wrong and
futile. You will never get into a right relationship with God by your
own efforts in keeping the Law. You can get into a right
relationship with God only by taking Jesus Christ at his word, and
by accepting what God himself offers to you."
The basic thought of this passage is the uselessness of Law and the
sufficiency of knowing Christ and accepting the offer of God's grace.
[not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law] Man's
righteousness is not enough
Isaiah 64:6; Righteousness as filthy rags
Luke 18:9-14; Prayer: Publican and the Pharisee
Romans 10:1-13
[that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is
of God by faith]
God's righteousness comes through Christ (1 Cor. 1:30) and by faith
(Genesis 15:6; Romans 3:22-26; Romans 4:1-25; Romans
9:30-31; Romans 10:1-13).
The very language Paul uses to describe the Law -- "excrement"-- shows
the utter disgust for the Law which his own frustrated efforts to live by it
had brought him;
The joy that shines through the passage shows how triumphantly
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adequate he found the grace of God in Jesus Christ.
Twelve Great Practices of Paul
1.To worship God in Spirit (Phil. 3:3; John 4:24).
2.To rejoice in Christ (Phil. 3:1,3; Phil. 4:4).
3.To have no confidence in flesh (Phil. 3:3-8).
4.To count all things loss (Phil. 3:7-8).
5.To count all things but dung (Phil. 3:8).
6.To have no self-righteousness (Phil. 3:9).
7.I follow after knowledge (Phil. 3:8,12).
8.I forget the past (Phil. 3:13).
9.I reach out for future things (Phil. 3:13).
10.I press toward the prize (Phil. 3:14).
11.I strive to be an example (Phil. 3:15-19).
12.I look for the Savior (Phil. 3:20).
Twelve Great Desires of Paul
1.That I may win Christ (Phil. 3:8).
2.That I may be found in Him (Phil. 3:9).
3.That I may have His righteousness (Phil. 3:9).
4.That I may know Him (Phil. 3:10).
5.That I may know His power (Phil. 3:10).
6.That I may fellowship of His sufferings (Phil. 3:10).
7.That I may be conformed to His death (Phil. 3:10).
8.That I may be in the first resurrection (Phil. 3:11-12).
9.That I may be perfect (Phil. 3:12-13).
10.That I may win the prize (Phil. 3:14).
11.That I may be one with all other believers (Phil. 3:15-19).
12.That I may be changed in body (Phil. 3:21).
WHAT IT MEANS TO KNOW CHRIST
Philippians 3:10-11
"My object is to know him, and I mean by that,
to know the power of his Resurrection, and
the fellowship of his sufferings,
while I continue to be made like him in his death,
if by any chance
I may attain to the resurrection of the dead."
Paul again speaks of the surpassing value of the knowledge of Christ.
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The verb which he uses for "to know" is part of the verb "ginoskein,"
which almost always indicates personal knowledge.
In Hebrew the verb is "yada" and in Greek it is translated by
"ginoskein."
This verb indicates the most intimate knowledge of another person.
- It is not simply intellectual knowledge, the knowledge of certain
facts or even principles.
- It is the personal experience of another person.
The Old Testament uses "to know" of sexual intercourse.
"Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived and bore Cain"
(Gen.4:1).
It is not Paul's aim to know about Christ, but personally to know him.
To know Christ means for him certain things.

It means to know the power of his Resurrection.
For Paul the Resurrection was not simply a past event in history.
- It was not simply something which had happened to Jesus.
- It was a dynamic power which operated in the life of the
individual Christian.
(a) It is the guarantee of the importance of this life and of this body in
which we live.
It was in the body that Christ rose and it is this body which he
sanctifies (1Cor.6:13ff.).
(b) It is the guarantee of the life to come (Rom.8:11; 1Cor.15:14ff.).
Because he lives, we shall live also; his victory is our victory.
(c ) It is the guarantee that in life and in death and beyond death the
presence of the Risen Lord is always with us.
It is the proof that his promise to be with us always to the end
of the world is true.
The Resurrection of Christ is
o
o
the guarantee that this life is worth living and that the physical
body is sacred;
it is the guarantee that death is not the end of life and that
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o
there is a world beyond;
it is the guarantee that nothing in life or in death can separate
us from him.
Doctrine of the Resurrection
1. Believing in Christ resurrects our dead spirits (John 5.25;
11.25)
2. Resurrection from spiritual death leads to resurrection from
physical death (Jo 6.40)
3. Both saved and unsaved shall see a resurrection (Acts 24.15;
1 Cor 15.22; Dan 12.2, Rev 20:12 )
4. Christ is our proof of resurrection (2 Cor 4.14)
5. Our physical resurrection shall be orchestrated by Christ (1
Thes 4.16)
7 Resurrections
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Jesus
Mt 28:1-7
Mk 16:1-7
Lu 24:1-8
Jn 20:1-10
Ac 2:24
Ac 3:15
Ac 4:32
Ac 10:40
Ac 17:3
Ro 1:4
Ro 4:25
Ro 10:9
1 Co 15:4
Ep 1:20
1 Th 4:14
1 Pt 3:18
Some saints at the time of Jesus resurrection
Mt 27:50-53
Rapture of the Church – the dead in Christ
1 Co 15:51-57 (v54-55 quotes Is 25:8; Hos 13:14)
1 Th 4:14-17
The 2 Witnesses
Re 11:3-13
OT Saints Is 26:19-21
Ez 37:12-14
Dn 12:1-3
Tribulation Saints
Re 20:4
Wicked dead
Re 20:11-15
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Ro 3:23
…wages of sin is death…
Ro 6:23
Rom 3:21 ¶ But now, apart from the Law, God’s righteousness
is revealed and is attested by the Law and the Prophets— 22
God’s righteousness through the faithfulness of Jesus [Or
through faith in Jesus] the Messiah [Or Christ] — for all who
believe. For there is no distinction among people, [The Gk. lacks
among people] 23 since all have sinned and continue to fall
short of God’s glory.
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God
is eternal life in union with the Messiah [Or Christ] Jesus our
Lord.
What death?
Spiritual death ??
The penalty for sin could not be spiritual death,
Separation from God is the result or sin.
Everyone who is born is born ‘Spiritually dead’ already.
Resurrection from spiritual death
The resurrection of man from spiritual death or separation from God takes
place
• When one is saved from death in trespasses and sins (Eph
2:1-10),
• When he is born again (Jn 3:1-8),
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•
•

When he is made a new creature in Christ (2 Cor 5:17-18), and
When he is fully reconciled to God through Christ (Eph 2:12-16;
Col 1:20-22; 2:6-13; 2 Cor 5:14-29)
It means to know the fellowship of his sufferings.
[the fellowship of his sufferings] Not fellowship with Him in His
vicarious sufferings, but in the offense of the cross and martyrdom
for truth
(2Co 1:5) For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in
abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.
(6) But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and
salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which
is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings
which we also suffer; (7) and our hope for you is firmly
grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings,
so also you are sharers of our comfort.;
Col 1:24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my
flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the
church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions.
1Pe 4:12-16 (12) Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery
ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing,
as though some strange thing were happening to you; (13)
but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ,
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keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory
you may rejoice with exultation. (14) If you are reviled for
the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of
glory and of God rests on you. (15) Make sure that none of
you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a
troublesome meddler; (16) but if anyone suffers as a
Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in
this name.
Again and again Paul returns to the thought that when the
Christian has to suffer, he is in some strange way sharing the very
suffering of Christ and is even filling up that suffering
2Co 4:7-11 NASB (7) But we have this treasure in earthen
vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power
will be of God and not from ourselves; (8) we are
afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but
not despairing; (9) persecuted, but not forsaken;
struck down, but not destroyed; (10) always carrying
about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of
Jesus also may be manifested in our body. (11) For
we who live are constantly being delivered over to death
for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be
manifested in our mortal flesh.
Gal 6:12 Those who desire to make a good showing in the
flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply so that
they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13
For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law
themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised so
that they may boast in your flesh. 14 But may it never
be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord
Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified
to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither is
circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new
creation.
To suffer for the faith is not a penalty, it is a privilege, for thereby
we share the very work of Christ.

It means to be so united with Christ that day by day we come
more to share in his death, so that finally we share in his
Resurrection.
- To know Christ means that we share the way he walked;
- we share the Cross he bore;
- we share the death he died; and finally
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- we share the life he lives for evermore.
To know Christ is not to be skilled in any theoretical or theological
knowledge; it is to know him with such intimacy that in the end we are
as united with him as we are with those whom we love on earth and
that, as we share their experiences, so we also share his.
[if by chance I may attain to the resurrection of the dead]
Paul is not questioning his salvation nor is he afraid of losing it in this
life.
Paul did not earn it and so could not ‘attain’ it.
Paul referred to his firm belief that Jesus could (would) return at any
moment.
The ’ if ‘ refers to whether Paul’s death would precede the Lord’s
return or if he would still be alive at the Lord’s return.
Paul simply says “If by chance I have died before Christ’s
return and thus attain to the resurrection of the dead [in
Christ].
Rev 20:4 Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment
was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been
beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the
word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his
image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on
their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a
thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until
the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6
Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on
such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of
God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
[of the dead] Greek: ek (GSN-1537) nekron (GSN-3498), out from
among the dead -- The Rapture
This means that some of the dead will be resurrected from among the
rest of the dead.
It refers to the resurrection of the righteous from among the wicked
dead (Luke 20:35; Luke 21:36; 1 Cor. 15:23,51-54; Phil. 3:21; 1
Thes. 4:13-17; Rev. 20:4-6).
PRESSING ON
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Philippians 3:12-16
"Not that I have already obtained this,
or that I am already all complete but
I press on to try to grasp that for which I have been grasped by
Jesus Christ.
Brothers, I do not count myself to have obtained;
but this one thing I do-forgetting the things which are behind, and
reaching out for the things which are in front,
I press on towards the goal,
in order that I may win the prize which God's upward calling in Christ
Jesus is offering to me.
Let all of you who have graduated in the school of Christ have the
same attitude of mind to life.
And if anyone is otherwise minded in any way, this too God will
reveal to him.
Only we must always walk according to that standard which we have
already reached."
["Not that I have already obtained this,]
Two things Paul had not yet attained:
1. The resurrection or the prize (Phil. 3:11-12,14).
This is another way of saying he had not finished his course and was
not yet glorified (Phil. 3:20-21).
2. Perfection. Greek: teleioo (GSN-5048), to make a full end;
consummate (Phil. 3:12).
Translated:
o
o
o
perfect (Phil. 3:12; Luke 13:32; John 17:23; 2 Cor. 12:9;
Hebrews 2:10; Hebrews 5:9; Hebrews 7:19; Hebrews 9:9;
Hebrews 10:1,14; Hebrews 11:40; Hebrews 12:23; James
2:22; 1 John 2:5; 1 John 4:12,17-18);
fulfill (Luke 2:43; John 19:28); and
finish (John 4:34; John 5:36; John 17:4; Acts 20:24).
This kind of perfection refers to the complete and glorified state. It does
not imply
that he was lacking in spiritual experience;
that he was deficient in grace;
that the body of sin was still cleaving to him;
that he was yet struggling with an "old man" in him;
that he was not yet sanctified.
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[perfect] Greek: teleios (GSN-5046), mature; complete.
the Greek word "teleios" which occurs twice, rendered by the Revised
Standard Version as "Perfect" in Php.3:12 and as "mature" in
Php.3:15.
"Teleios" in Greek has a variety of interrelated meanings.
In most of them it does not signify what we might call abstract
perfection but a kind of functional perfection,
adequacy for some given purpose.
It means full-grown in contradistinction to undeveloped;
for example, it is used of a full-grown man as opposed to
an undeveloped youth.
It is used to mean mature in mind
one who is qualified in a subject as opposed to a mere
teamer.
Here it is used of full growth, as men, and not children, in Christian
knowledge — thoroughly instructed and deeply experienced, as in 2
Cor. 2:6; 2 Cor. 14:20; Ephes. 4:13; Col. 1:28; James 1:4; James
3:2; Hebrews 5:14; 1 John 4:18.
When it is used of offerings, it means without blemish and fit to
offer God.
When it is used of Christians, it often means baptized persons
who are full members of the Church, as opposed to those who are
still under instruction.
In the days of the early Church it is quite often used to describe
martyrs.
A martyr is said to be perfected by the sword, and the day of his
death is said to be the day of his perfecting.
The idea is that a man's Christian maturity cannot go beyond
martyrdom.
So when Paul uses the word in Php.3:12, he is saying that he is not by any
means a complete Christian but is forever pressing on.
Paul says that he is trying to grasp that for which he has been grasped
by Christ - to fulfill the purpose for which Christ grabbed hm
Paul felt that when Christ stopped him on the Damascus Road, he
had a vision and a purpose for Paul;
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Paul felt that all his life he was bound to press on, lest he fail Jesus and
frustrate his dream.
Every man is grasped by Christ for some purpose;
Every man should therefore all his life press on so that he may grasp
that purpose for which Christ grasped him.
To that end Paul says two things.
[forgetting the things which are behind.]
That is to say, he will never glory in any of his achievements or use
them as an excuse for relaxation.
In effect Paul is saying that the Christian must forget all that he
has done and remember only what he has still to do.
In the Christian life there is no room for a person who desires to rest upon
his laurels. He is also reaching out for the things which are in front.
The word he uses for reaching out ("epekteinomenos") is used of a
racer going hard for the tape.
It describes him with eyes for nothing but the goal.
It describes the man who is going flat out for the finish.
[follow after] Greek: dioko (GSN-1377), to pursue.
Same as "persecuting" in Phil. 3:6 and
"press" in Phil. 3:14.
"persecute" 30 times (Mat 5:10-12,44; Mat 10:23; etc.);
"follow after" (Phil. 3:12; Romans 9:30-31; Romans 14:19; 1
Cor. 14:1; 1 Tim. 6:11);
"ensue" (1 Peter 3:11);
"follow" (Luke 17:23; 1 Thes. 5:15; 2 Tim. 2:22; Hebrews 12:14)
"given to" (Romans 12:13).
The idea here is, I follow after and press toward the prize that others have
already gained (Phil. 3:12-14).
Paul says that in the Christian life we must
forget every past achievement and
remember only the goal which lies ahead.
Paul is here speaking to the antinomians.
They were those who denied that there was any law at all in the
Christian life.
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They declared that they were within the grace of God and that,
therefore, it did not matter what they did; God would forgive.
No further discipline and no further effort were necessary.
Paul is insisting that to the end of the day the Christian life is the life of an
athlete pressing onwards to a goal which is always in front.
In Php.3:15 he again uses "teleios"
He says that this must be the attitude of those who are "teleios."
"Anyone who has come to be mature in the faith and knows what
Christianity is must recognize the discipline and the effort and the
agony of the Christian life."
He must never relax his effort or lower his standards but must press
towards the goal, until the end.
As Paul saw it, the Christian is the athlete of Christ -and for himself, he did
not believe his race waas done..
[apprehend] Greek: katalambano (GSN-2638), to seize upon; lay hold
of; take possession of; bring to an end.
Translated "apprehend" (Phil. 3:12-13);
overtake (1 Thes. 5:4);
"take" (Mark 9:18; John 8:3);
"attain to" (Romans 9:30);
"obtain" (1 Cor. 9:24);
"come upon" (John 12:35);
"comprehend" (John 1:5; Ephes. 3:18);
"perceive" (Acts 4: 13; Acts 10:34); and
"find" (Acts 25:25).
He had not yet laid hold upon the prize of resurrection, perfection, and
glorification (Phil. 3:12-14,20-21).
Php 3:13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it
yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching
forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the
prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
[One Thing I Do]
Three Parts to This One Thing:
1. I forget the ground I have covered in the race (1 Cor. 9:24-27).
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I cannot waste time over the past (Phil. 3:13).
forgetting (EPILANTHANOMAI = to lose it out of mind)
those things which are behind, (OPISO = to back off from,
behind you)
2. I reach forth to that which is before me in the race.
I strain every nerve and muscle and use every ounce of my
strength to win. My future depends on it. I am running for my
life (Phil. 3:13).
3. I press toward the mark (Phil. 3:14)
I pursue the white line in the stadium upon which all runners
must keep their eyes fixed, lest I be disqualified for the
prize (Phil. 3:14; 1 Cor. 9:24).
1Co 9:24-27 NASB
(24) Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but
only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.
(25) Everyone who competes in the games exercises
self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable
wreath, but we an imperishable.
(26) Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in
such a way, as not beating the air;
(27) but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after
I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
CROWNS OF REWARD FOR THE BELIEVERS
AT THE JUDGEMENT SEAT OF CHRIST
SHORTLY AFTER THE RAPTURE
1 COR 3:13-15
BASIS:
WORKS ON EARTH FOR REWARD
1) INCORRUPTIBLE CROWN - THE VICTOR'S CROWN
1 COR 9:25
2) CROWN OF REJOICING - THE SOUL WINNER'S CROWN
2:19-20
1 TH
You receive a crown for producing happiness in other's lives Phil 4.1
3) CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
2 TIM 4:7-8
Fulfilling God's Plan in your life leads to the Crown of
Righteousness
4) CROWN OF GLORY - THE CROWN FOR SERVICE 1 PET 5:2-4
5) CROWN OF LIFE - THE MARTYR'S CROWN
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The mature believer receives the Crown of Life (Jam 1.12; Rev
2.10)
DWELLER ON EARTH BUT CITIZEN OF HEAVEN
Philippians 3:17-21
"Brothers, unite in imitating me, and
keep your gaze on those who live, as you have seen us as an
example.
For there are many who behave in such a way-I have often spoken to you about them, and I do so now with
tears- that they are enemies of the Cross of Christ.
Their end is destruction:
their god is their belly;
that in which they glory is their shame.
Men whose whole minds are earthbound!
But our citizenship is in heaven,
from which we also eagerly await the Lord Jesus Christ as
Saviour,
for he will refashion the body which we have in this state of
our humiliation and
make it like his own glorious body,
by the working of that power of his
whereby he is able to subject all things to himself."
Paul could say not only, "Listen to my words," but also, "Follow my
example."
"Unite with each other in imitating me."
Most begin with, "Don’t as I do," but, "Do as I say."
In the Church at Philippi there were men whose conduct was an open
scandal and who, by their lives, showed themselves to be the enemies of
the Cross of Christ.
Who they were is not certain.
But it is quite certain that they lived gluttonous and immoral lives and
used their so-called Christianity to justify themselves.
They may have been Gnostics.
The Gnostics were heretics who tried to intellectualize Christianity and
make a kind of philosophy out of it.
They began with the principle that from the beginning of time there
had always been two realities--spirit and matter.
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Spirit, they said, is altogether good; and matter is altogether evil.
It is because the world was created out of this flawed matter
that sin and evil are in it.
If then, matter is essentially evil, the body is essentially evil
and will remain evil whatever you do with it.
Therefore, do what you like with it; since it is evil anyhow it
makes no difference what you do with it.
These Gnostics taught that gluttony and adultery and
homosexuality and drunkenness were of no importance because
they affect only the body which is of no importance.
There was another party of Gnostics who held a different kind of
doctrine.
They argued that a man could not be called complete until he had
experienced everything that life had to offer, both good and bad.
Therefore, they said, it was a man's duty to plumb the depths of
sin just as much as to scale the heights of virtue.
Within the Church there were two sets of people to whom these
accusations might apply.
There were those who distorted the principle of Christian liberty.
They said that in Christianity all law was gone and that the Christian
had liberty to do what he liked.
They turned Christian liberty into unchristian license and gloried in
giving their passions full play.
They were those who distorted the Christian doctrine of grace.
They said that, since grace was wide enough to cover every sin, a
man could sin as he liked and not worry; it would make no
difference to the all-forgiving love of God.
There were those who insisted that God’s grace depended on how an
individual performed in life; whether or not he observed and participated in
‘religious’ observances’
They subordinated God’s grace to mans performance denying that
Christ’s work in a man's life was sufficient to save.
They maintained and perpetuated the bondage to law that Christ died
and rose again to free us from.
It was this second group that was Paul’s focus in Phil 3:2.
So the people whom Paul attacks may have been the clever Gnostics who
produced specious arguments to justify their sinning or they may have
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been misguided Christians who twisted the loveliest things into justification
for the ugliest sins or
They may have been the Judizers who insisted that acceptance by God
depended on man own actions in life.
Five Facts about False Teachers
1. They are enemies of the cross (Phil. 3:18).
2. Their end is destruction (Phil. 3:19; 2 Cor. 11:14-15; Hebrews
6:8; 2 Peter 2:20).
3. Their god is their belly (Phil. 3:19; Romans 16:18; Isaiah
56:10-12; Ezekiel 13:19).
4. Their glory is in their shame (Phil. 3:19).
5. They mind earthly things (Phil. 3:19; Romans 8:5-6; 2 Peter
3:3,13-20; cp. Matthew 7:15).
- that they are enemies of the Cross of Christ.
Their end is destruction:
their god is their belly;
that in which they glory is their shame.
Men whose whole minds are earthbound!
But our citizenship is in heaven,
[Enemies of the cross of Christ]


Their god is their belly
Their glory is their shame
You are not just a sinner saved by grace - your focus should not
be your sin - which has been paid and forgiven - but your glory
should be in your promised end and glorification provided to you
totally by Christ alone....
My focus is not on how bad I was.
My focus should be on what I am and am called to be in
Christ.

Their whole minds are on earthly things, not heavenly
Where our home and citizenship lies...
Whoever they were, Paul reminds them of one great truth:
"Our citizenship is in heaven." was a picture the Philippians could
understand.
[conversation] Greek: politeuma (GSN-4175), citizenship; city; civil
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rights; state; society; or government.
Used only here in New Testament.
The verb is used in Phil. 1:27
Philippi was a Roman colony.
Here and there at strategic military centres the Romans set down their
colonies.
In such places the citizens were mostly soldiers who had served their
time--twenty-one years--and who had been rewarded with full
citizenship.
The great characteristic of these colonies was that, wherever they
were, they remained fragments of Rome.
Roman dress was worn;
Roman magistrates governed;
the Latin tongue was spoken;
Roman justice was administered;
Roman morals were observed.
Even in the ends of the earth they remained unshakeably Roman.
Paul says to the Philippians, "Just as the Roman colonists never forget
that they belong to Rome, you must never forget that you are citizens of
heaven; and your conduct must match your citizenship."
Paul finishes with the Christian hope.
The Christian awaits the coming of Christ, at which everything will be
changed.
Here the King James Version is dangerously misleading.
In Php.3:21 it speaks about our vile body.
In modern speech that would mean that the body is an utterly evil
and horrible thing;
Vile in sixteenth-century English still retained the meaning of its derivation
from the Latin word "vilis" which means cheap or without value,
unimportant; not evil or depraved...
As we are just now, our bodies are subject to change and decay,
illness and death, the bodies of a state of humiliation compared with
the glorious state of the Risen Christ;
but the day will come when we will lay aside this mortal body
which we now possess and become like Jesus Christ himself
[Who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto
his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even
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to subdue all things unto himself]
Greek: metaschematizo (GSN-3345), transform; change the fashion of;
refashion.
Translated
"transform" (2 Cor. 11:13-15);
"transfer in a figure" (1 Cor. 4:6); and
"change" (Phil. 3:21).
[fashioned like unto] Greek: summorphos (GSN-4832), conformed to.
Used here and in Romans 8:29.
It has reference, not to exact outward features, but to substance of the
body, which will be changed
from mortality to immortality;
from a natural body to a spiritual body;
from corruption to incorruption; and
from weakness and humiliation to glory and power (1 Cor.
15:35-58).
It will be flesh and bone like Christ's body of glory (Luke
24:39; Zech. 13:6).
[according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all
things unto himself]
The power that made the body and all things originally will be the
power that will make the resurrection bodies in a moment (1 Cor.
15:51) and
subdue all things to God again (1 Cor. 15:24-28; Hebrews 2:9-18).
The hope of the Christian is that the day will come when his
humanity will be changed into nothing less than the divinity of
Christ, and when the necessary lowliness of mortality will be
changed into the essential splendour of deathless life.
[we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ]
Greek: apekdechomai (GSN-553) (see note, Romans 8:19).
It is scriptural to look for the rapture or coming of the Lord in the air for the
saints, to take place any time (Phil. 3:20; Titus 2:13),
but not the second coming (2 Thes. 2:7; Rev. 1:19; Rev. 4:1).
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The rapture and second coming are two events separated by at least
seven years.
They are not two phases or two stages of one coming, but two distinct
comings — one a coming in the air (not to the earth) before the
tribulation, and
the other a coming to the earth immediately after the tribulation (1
Thes. 4:16 with Matthew 24:29).
One is the coming for the saints (John 14:1-3; Luke 21:36; 1 Cor.
15:23,51-54; 1 Thes. 4:13-17; 2 Thes. 2:1,7; Phil. 3:21; Col. 3:4)
and
The other is the coming to earth with the saints to set up the
kingdom (Zech. 14:5; Jude 1:14; Rev. 19:11-21).
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Philippians 4 - GREAT THINGS IN THE LORD
Philippians 4:1 "So, then, my brothers, whom I love and yearn for,
my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved."
[Therefore], (HOSTI, for this reason)
[my brethren dearly beloved] (AGAPETOS, nom pl = worthy of divine
love)
[and longed for], (EPIPOTHETOS, nom pl = deeply desired)
[my joy and crown] See 1 Thes. 2:19-20.
There are two words for "crown" in Greek, and they have different
backgrounds.
"diadema," which means the royal crown, the crown of kingship.
"stephanos," the word used here, which itself has two
backgrounds.
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It was the crown of the victorious athlete at the Greek games.
It was made of wild olive leaves, interwoven with green
parsley, and bay leaves and ivy.
To win that crown was the peak of the athlete's
ambition.
When you received it, you received a parade, a
trophy, a cash reward, and were freed from
paying taxes for life. The ivy withered away, but
the rewards remained)
It was the crown with which guests were crowned when they
sat at a banquet, at some time of great joy.
The Philippians were the crown of all his toil.
There is no joy in the world like bringing another soul to Jesus
Christ.
[so] (HOUTOS = in such a condition)
Any teacher knows what a thrill it is to point at some person who has
done well and to be able to say: "That was one of my boys."
[ stand fast in the Lord]
in the Lord, (EN + instrumental KURIOS = by means of the Lord)
Three times in Php.4:1-4 the words "in the Lord" occur.
There are three great commands which Paul gives "in the Lord."

stand fast (STEKO, Pres Ac Imperative = be constantly stable)
The Philippians are to "stand fast in the Lord."
The word Paul uses for "stand fast" ("stekete") is the word which
would be used for a soldier standing fast in the shock of battle with the
enemy surging down upon him.
There are some people in whose company it is easy to do the
wrong thing and there are some in whose company it is easy to
resist the wrong thing.
Our only safety against temptation is to be in the Lord, always feeling
his presence around us and about us.
The Church and the individual Christian can stand fast only when
they stand in Christ.

Paul bids Euodia and Syntyche to agree in the Lord.
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There can be no unity unless it is in Christ.
In ordinary human affairs the most diverse people are held together
because they all give allegiance to a great leader.
Their loyalty to each other depends entirely on their loyalty to him.
Take the leader away and the whole group would disintegrate
into isolated and often warring units.
Men can never really love each other until they love Christ.

Paul bids the Philippians to rejoice in the Lord.
Joy has nothing to do with material things or with a man's outward
circumstances.
A man living in the lap of luxury can be wretched.
A man upon whom life has apparently inflicted no blows at all
can be gloomily or peevishly discontented.
A man in the depths of poverty can overflow with joy.
A man upon whom life has inflicted every possible blow can
be serenely joyful.
Happiness depends not on things or on places, but always on
persons.
If we are with the right person, nothing else matters;
If we are not with the right person, nothing can make up for that
absence.
The Christian is in the Lord, the greatest of all friends;
nothing can separate the Christian from his presence and so
nothing can take away his joy.
HEALING THE BREACHES
Philippians 4:2-3
the Lord.
"I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to agree in
Yes, and I ask you too, true comrade in my work, help these
women, because
they toiled with me in the gospel, together with Clement,
and my other fellow labourers,
whose names are in the book of life."
There was an ancient conjecture that Euodias and Syntyche were the
Philippian jailor and his wife (Ac.16:25-34):
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that they had become leading figures in the Church at Philippi, and
that they had quarrelled.
The King James Version speaks of Euodias and Syntyche.
Syntyche is a woman's name,
Euodias would be a man's name.
But it is certain that the name is not Euodias but Euodia,
as the NASV
the NIV
the Revised Version,
Moffatt, and
the Revised Standard Version all print it; and
Euodia is a woman's name.
Euodia and Syntyche were two women who had quarrelled.
It may well have been that they were women in whose homes two of
the house congregations of Philippi met.
[I beseech] (PARAKALEO, Pres Ac Ind = to call alongside, admonish)
[Euodia], (name means "prosperous")
[and beseech] (PARAKALEO, Pres Ac Ind = to call alongside, admonish)
[Syntyche] (name means "pleasant")
[that they be of the same mind] (PHRONEO, Pres Act + ALTOS =
continue the same thing)
[in the Lord]. (EN + Instrumental KURIOS = by means of the Lord)
Interesting to see women playing a leading part in the affairs of one of the
early congregations fo rin Greece women remained very much in the
background.
It was the aim of the Greeks that a respectable woman should "see as
little, hear as little and ask as little as possible."
A respectable woman never appeared on the street alone;
she had her own apartments in the house and
never joined the male members of the family even for meals.
Least of all had she any part in public life.
But Philippi was in Macedonia, and in Macedonia things were very
different.
There women had a freedom and a place which they had nowhere in the
rest of Greece.
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We can see this even in the narrative in Acts of Paul's work in
Macedonia.
In Philippi Paul's first contact was with the meeting for prayer by a
riverside, and he spoke to the women who resorted there
(Ac.16:13).
Lydia was obviously a leading figure in Philippi (Ac.16:14).
In Thessalonica many of the chief women were won for
Christianity, and the same happened in Berea (Ac.17:4,12).
The evidence of inscriptions points the same way.
A wife erects a tomb for herself and for her husband out of
their joint earnings, so she must have been in business.
We even find monuments erected to women by public bodies.
We know that in many of the Pauline Churches (for example, in Corinth),
women had to be content with a very subordinate place.
But it is well worth remembering, when we are thinking of the place of
women in the early Church and of Paul's attitude to them, that in the
Macedonian Churches they clearly had a leading place.
[And] (NAI, ok, yes)
[I intreat] (EROTAC, Aor Act = I request)
[thee also, true] (GNESIOS, reliable, stable, genuine)
In this passage someone is addressed who is called in the Revised
Standard Version "true yokefellow."
[true] "gnesios," which means genuine.
[yokefellow], (SUZUGOS GSN-4805), comrade; friend.
Only used here
It is just possible that "yokefellow" is a proper name--"Suzugos."
If "suzugos" is not a proper name, no one knows who is being
addressed.
It has been suggested that the yokefellow is
- Paul's wife, that he is the husband of Euodia or Syntyche called on to
help his wife mend the quarrel,
- that it is Lydia,
- that it is Timothy,
- that it is Silas,
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- that it is the minister of the Philippian Church.
- Maybe the best suggestion is that it refers to Epaphroditus, the
bearer of the letter, and that Paul is entrusting him not only with the
letter, but also with the task of making peace at Philippi.
[those women which laboured] (SUNATHLEO, Aor Ac = to play on the
same team with)
Perhaps Euodia and Syntyche of Phil. 4:2.
[with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and [with] other my
fellowlabourers, whose names [are] in the book of life.]
Of the Clement named we know nothing.
There was later a famous Clement who was bishop of Rome and who
may have known Paul, but it was a common name.
Many think this is the same one who was afterward bishop at
Rome and who wrote an epistle to the Corinthians, which still
exists.
It is significant that when there was a quarrel at Philippi, Paul mobilized the
whole resources of the Church to mend it.
He thought no effort too great to maintain the peace of the Church.
A quarrelling Church is no Church at all, for it is one from which
Christ has been shut out.
No man can be at peace with God and at variance with his
fellow-men.
It is a grim thought that all we know about Euodia and Syntyche is that they
were two women who had quarrelled!
Suppose our life was to be summed up in one sentence, what would
that sentence be?
Clement goes down to history as the peacemaker;
Euodia and Syntyche go down as the breakers of the peace.
Suppose we were to go down to history with one thing known about
us, what would that one thing be?
[laboured] Greek: sunathleo (GSN-4866) (note Phil. 1:27).
[fellowlabourers] Greek: sunergos (GSN-4904),
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






fellowlaborer (Phil. 4:3; 1 Thes. 3:2; Philemon 1:1,24);
fellowworker (Col. 4:11);
workfellow (Romans 16:21);
labourers together (1 Cor. 3:9);
companion in labour (Phil. 2:25);
fellowhelper (2 Cor. 8:23; 3 John 1:8); and
helper (Romans 16:3,9; 2 Cor. 1:24).
[help] (SULLAMBAUO, Pres Mid = continually come to the aid of)
[book of life]
Exodus 32:32-33; Psalm 69:28; Rev. 3:5; Rev. 13:8; Rev. 17:8;
Rev. 20:15; Rev. 22:19; Phil. 4:3.
Rev 20:11-15 11 And I saw a great white throne and Him who sat
upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no
place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, the great and
the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened;
and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the
dead were judged from the things which were written in the books,
according to their deeds. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which
were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in
them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their
deeds. 14 And death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire.
This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone's name
was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the
lake of fire. NAS
Note:
Judgment of the dead - No place found for them
Books were opened with another book - the Book of Life
Dead -spiritually -those not alive in Christ, with Christ are judged based on
the things written in books that were opened
Based on their deeds in life
Their deeds showing their sin and guilt; their unworthiness and
unrighteousness, they are condemneed.
The Book of Life is checked and anyone of them whose name is not
written in the Book of Life is condemned for eternity.
The Book of Life contains the names of those who are in Christ.
Those whose sins have been paid for by His blood and who have put
on His righteousness.
If your name is in the Book of Life - your deeds don’t matter except for
rewards for what was done for Christ in life.
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If your name is not in the Book of Life - judgment based on one deeds
(again for rewards - the level and severity of eternal punishment)
All have sinned Rom 6:23
None righteous no not one Rom 3:10
Psalms 69:28 May they be blotted out of the book of life, And
may they not be recorded with the righteous. NAS
Daniel 12:1 "Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands
guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a
time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation
until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is
found written in the book, will be rescued. NAS
Luke 10:20 "Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are
subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in
heaven." NAS
Revelation 3:5 'He who overcomes shall thus be clothed in white
garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and
I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels.
NAS
Revelation 21:27 and nothing unclean and no one who practices
abomination and lying, shall ever come into it [ the new Jerusalem
], but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book
of life. NAS
The object is not to get your name written into the book of life
but to not have it blotted out of the book of life.
We, by our response to God and the salvation He offers through Christ
Jesus, seal our names in the book of life.
It is our unrighteous deeds - absent the salvation in Christ that causes our
names to be blotted out of the book of life
It is our own choices that condemn us - not God....
If we die in our sin having rejected Christ sacrifice for our forgiveness
and new life, our name are blotted out of the book of life.
We need to ask for God's mercy, not justice,
for our sins deserve punishment.
======== ???? End of Paul's second letter ???? ========
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THE MARKS OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
Philippians 4:4-5 "Rejoice in the Lord at all times. I will say it
again--Rejoice! Let your gracious gentleness be known to all
men. The Lord is near."
[Rejoice] (CHAIRO, Pres Mid Imper = keep on having happiness)
[in the Lord] (EN + Instrumental KURIOS = by means of the Lord)
[alway: (PANTOTE = at all times)
[and] again I say, Rejoice.]] (CHAIRO, Pres Mid Imper = keep on having
happiness)
Paul sets before the Philippians two great qualities of the Christian life.
Joy. "Rejoice ... I will say it again--Rejoice!"
He himself was lying in prison with death a significant possibility;
the Philippians were setting out on the Christian way, and dark
days, dangers and persecutions inevitably lay ahead.
Christian joy is independent of all things on earth because it has its
source in the continual presence of Christ.
Two lovers are always happy when they are together, no matter
where they are.
The Christian can never lose his joy because he can never lose
Christ.
Moderation
"Let your moderation be known to all men."
[Let your moderation] (EPIEIKES, (GSN-1933) Nom Sg Compound
= to be over reasonable, extremely self controlled; mildness;
patience; kindness; moderate; meekness; gentleness; clemency,
forbearing spirit
Php_4:5 Let your gentleG1933 spirit be knownG1097 to allG3956
menG444. The LordG2962 is nearG1451.
1Ti_3:3 not addictedG3943 to wineG3943 orG3361
pugnaciousG4131, but gentleG1933, peaceableG269, freeG866
from the loveG866 of moneyG866.
Tit_3:2 to malignG987 noG3367 oneG3367, to be peaceableG269,
gentleG1933, showingG1731 everyG3956 considerationG4240
for allG3956 menG444.
Jas_3:17 But the wisdomG4678 from aboveG509 is firstG4413
pureG53, thenG1899 peaceableG1516, gentleG1933,
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reasonableG2138b, fullG3324 of mercyG1656 and goodG18
fruitsG2590, unwaveringG87, withoutG505 hypocrisyG505.
1Pe_2:18 ServantsG3610b, be submissiveG5293 to your
mastersG1203 with allG3956 respectG5401, not onlyG3440 to
thoseG3588 who are goodG18 and gentleG1933, but alsoG2532
to thoseG3588 who are unreasonableG4646.
1 Peter 2:18-24
18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only
to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward
God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults,
ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for
it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also
suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow
his steps:
22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he
suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that
judgeth righteously:
24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree,
that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by
whose stripes ye were healed.
Self-control, not given to sudden impulses or excesses (1 Tim 2:9).
1Ti 2:9 LikewiseG5615, I want womenG1135 to adornG2885
themselvesG1438 with properG2887 clothingG2689,
modestlyG127 and discreetlyG4997, not with braidedG4117
hairG4117 and goldG5553 orG2228 pearlsG3135 orG2228
costlyG4185 garmentsG2441, 10 but ratherG235 by
meansG1223 of goodG18 worksG2041, as is properG4241 for
womenG1135 makingG1861 a claimG1861 to godlinessG2317.
Although the term rarely occurs in the Bible, the concept of
moderation is common.
The Pharisees were not moderate.
Jesus described them as those "who strain out a gnat to
swallow a camel" (Matt 23:24).
They emphasized the minor aspects of the Law, neglecting
the weightier matters.
By contrast, Christian believers ought to be moderate in all things (1
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Cor 9:25; temperate, NKJV)
1Co 9:24-27 NASB+
(24) Do you not knowG3609a that thoseG3588 who runG5143 in a
raceG4712 allG3956 runG5143, but only oneG1520 receivesG2983 the
prizeG1017? RunG5143 in suchG3779 a wayG3779 that you may winG2638.
(25) EveryoneG3956 who competesG75 in the gamesG75 exercisesG1467
self-controlG1467 in allG3956 thingsG3956. They thenG3767 do it to
receiveG2983 a perishableG5349 wreathG4735, but we an
imperishableG862a.
(26) ThereforeG5106 I runG5143 in suchG3779 a wayG3779, as not
withoutG84 aimG84; I boxG4438 in suchG3779 a wayG3779, as not
beatingG1194 the airG109;
(27) but I disciplineG5299 my bodyG4983 and makeG1396 it my
slaveG1396, so that, after I have preachedG2784 to othersG243, I
myselfG846 will not be disqualifiedG96b.
The translation difficulty of gentleness can be seen by the number of
translations given of it.
-
Wycliffe translates it "patience";
Tyndale, "softness";
Crammer, "softness";
The Geneva Bible, "the patient mind";
the Rheims Bible, "modesty";
the English Revised Version, "forbearance" (in the margin,
"gentleness");
Moffatt, "forbearance";
Weymouth, "the forbearing spirit";
the New English Bible, "magnanimity".
C. Kingsley Williams has: "Let all the world know that you will meet
a man half-way."
The Greeks themselves explained this word as "justice and something
better than justice."
They said that "epieikeia" ought to come in when strict justice
became unjust because of its generality.
There may be individual instances where a perfectly just law becomes
unjust or where justice is not the same thing as equity.
A man has the quality of "epieikeia" if he knows when not to apply the
strict letter of the law, when to relax justice and introduce mercy.
"Epieikeia" is the quality of the man who knows that regulations
are not the last word and knows when not to apply the letter of the
law.
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The Christian is to be the man who knows that there is something beyond
justice.
When the woman taken in adultery was brought before him, Jesus
could have applied the letter of the Law according to which she should
have been stoned to death; but he went beyond justice. JOHN 8:3=>
Joh 8:2-6 NASB
(2) Early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all
the people were coming to Him; and He sat down and began to
teach them.
(3) The scribes and the Pharisees *brought a woman caught in
adultery, and having set her in the center of the court,
(4) they *said to Him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in
adultery, in the very act.
(5) "Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such
women; what then do You say?"
(6) They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have
grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His
finger wrote on the ground.
As far as justice goes, there is not one of us who deserves anything other
than the condemnation of God, but he goes far beyond justice.
The mark of a Christian in his personal relationships with his
fellow-men must be that he knows when to insist on justice and when
to remember that there is grace and mercy; something beyond justice.
We received it and so must minister it as the life of Christ is lived
through us.
2 Chronicles 19:6 And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do: for ye
judge not for man, but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment.
Matt 7:1-5
1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what
measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but
considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of
thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and
then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's
eye.
Luke 6:37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye
shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
John 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous
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judgment.
Gal 6:1-5 6:1Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who
are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one
looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2Bear one another's
burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ. 3For if anyone thinks he is
something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4But let each one
examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in
regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. 5For each one
shall bear his own load.
1 Cor 4:21-5:1 21 What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in
love, and in the spirit of meekness? KJV
[be known] (GINOSKO, Aor Ac Imper = be known from experience. Let
others see this trait in you, and thus see God
Why should a man be like this?
Why should he have this joy and gracious gentleness in his life?
Because, says Paul, the Lord is at hand.
[The Lord is at hand] The phrase is similar to Maranatha, note, 1 Cor.
16:22. Here it means the Lord is Judge, and is at hand to punish.
[unto all men. The Lord [is] at hand.] (HO KURIOS EGGOS = the
Lord is near {to help the believer})
If we remember the coming triumph of Christ, we can never lose our
hope and our joy.
If we remember that life is short, we will not wish to enforce the stern
justice which so often divides men but will wish to deal with men in
love, as we hope that God will deal with us.
THE PEACE OF BELIEVING PRAYER
Philippians 4:6-7 "Do not worry about anything; but in everything
with prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your
requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which
surpasses all human thought, will stand sentinel over your
hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of of God's mercy, to offer
your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-which is
your spiritual worship. Do not conform any longer 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 (Romans 12:1,2).
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Commitment is what I am promising to do for God.
Surrender is placing myself and my life in His hands to do with as He
pleases - fulfilling my commitment
That total release of giving up everything is what Paul is telling us.
But we aren't surrendering ourselves to an enemy!
We are surrendering ourselves to a loving God and Father, who will
take charge of our lives in His perfect wisdom and control.
'Be transformed by the renewing of your mind."
allow God to begin teaching your mind His truth to replace the error of
natural thinking.
Based on His Word, begin to look at yourself and life from God's
perspective, rather than from man's perspective.
One of the most fundamental things that we are surrendering to Christ is
all claim to personal rights.
things we tend to demand from life - things like
a right to happiness,
the right to be noticed,
the right for life to be fair,
the right to be appreciated,
the right to get my own way.
1 Thessalonians 5:18: "Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's
will for you in Christ Jesus."
You can't hold on to rights and maintain a thankful spirit at the same
time.
Many times we find ourselves all bent out of shape in anxiety over a
decision.
"What is God's will for me in this situation?"
I do know this: It's God's will that you give thanks in this situation."
Why would God tell us to give thanks in all circumstances, even in bad
ones?
Because giving thanks is a concrete expression of our faith in God that our lives are in His hands, and that we are trusting Him to
fulfill His promise
Romans 8:28: 'And we know that in all things God works for the
good of those who love Him, who have been called according to
His purpose."
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The result of trusting God with our lives and expressing that faith through
giving thanks is a freedom and peace that is supernatural:
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the
peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your
hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6,7).
A thankful heart that has surrendered all rights to a sovereign, loving God.
Romans 8:38,39: For I am convinced that neither death nor life,
neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor
any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all
creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in
Christ Jesus our Lord.
We Christians hardly consider the fact that the God who created this
universe lives in us and wants to use our bodies every day of our lives!
Think about it. If you are a Christian, God lives in you and wants to
produce fruit through you that will endure for eternity!
"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do
good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do"
(Ephesians 2:10).
In spite of the fact that the Gospel is full of good news, Christianity is
resisted and met with objections by many people.
This is where we begin to run into the "but's" and "what about's?"
"I know we're under grace, but..."
"I know we're totally forgiven, but..."
"I know Christ lives in us, but..."
We become what I call "Billy-goat Christians": But, but, but.
We are simply afraid to believe that God really means what He
says.
Bible study and prayer are two issues that are brought up repeatedly.
Our assumption was that Christians don't want to do things,
prayer,
Bible study,
obey God
and that they need to be firmly pressured to do them.
"Did you ever get a letter from someone you were in love with?
Did anyone have to tell you to read it?
If you are like everyone else I've ever met, you read it over and
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over, backward and forward, and between the lines!
When you're in love, nobody has to tell you to act that way.
You just do it because you WANT TO DO IT.
If I love the Lord, it's exciting to read His 'love letter' to me.
I can't live in Christ without the Word, because it's my spiritual food. Jesus
said,
'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from
the mouth of God' (Matthew 4:4).
I read my Bible for the same reason that I eat: because I'm hungry!
Mat_5:6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for
righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Joh_6:35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes
to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.
When a man understands the fullness of God's love and acceptance,
he'll want to read God's Word;
he'll want to spend time with his heavenly Father in prayer; and
he'll want to gather with other believers for worship and
encouragement."
When I face a specific situation in life, I find that decisions are fairly simple
when I know that
"it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me" (Galatians 2:20
NASB).
I have already made the larger decision of Romans 12:1 to present my
body as a living sacrifice to God.
I have already yielded my will and my personal rights to God, and
I have already adopted the Word of God as my authority and standard
of truth.
Therefore, decisions are determined by the law of love!
For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for
all, therefore all died; and He died for all, that they who live should no
longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their
behalf" (2 Corinthians 5:14,15 NASB).
With the motivation of the love of Christ, the decision to present myself
to Him for His use, and the knowledge from the Word of what God's
will is in this specific situation, I merely do by faith what the Bible says
and leave the results to Him.
Am I worried about a problem?
When I understand that God is sovereign over all events, a problem
becomes an opportunity to trust the Lord. I don't know what will
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happen tomorrow, but I do know one thing: The same Jesus who is in
my today is already there! So, controlled by the love of Christ,
Philippians 4:6,7: Do not be anxious about anything, but in
everything, by prayer and petition, with thanks-giving, present
your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all
understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ
Jesus.
Pray about the problem, give thanks, and leave the results to God.
The result is an experience of that supernatural peace which is not
dependent upon circumstances.
Am I angry and out of sorts with another person?
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along
with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another,
forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you (Ephesians
4:31,32).
Controlled by the love of Christ, I go to the person I have offended to
try to be reconciled and settle the issue.
How will he respond? I don't know and it doesn't matter
"if it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with
everyone" (Romans 12:18).
The results are in God's hands, but, motivated by His love, I can act
according to His will:
"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans
12:21).
Am l out of work, and tempted to steal?
"He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing
something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to
share with those in need" (Ephesians 4:28).
"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these
things (your needs] will be given to you as well" (Matthew 6:33).
Motivated by the love of Christ, I trust God to fulfill that promise to
supply my needs as I go out and apply for a new job not only so
that I can be fed, but so that I can serve other people, provide for
my family, and help perpetuate the work of the Lord through my
finances.
I get into action, trusting in His promise that "my God will meet all
your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus"
(Philippians 4:19).
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The Christian life is not nearly as complicated as we try to make it!
Philippians 4:6-7 "Do not worry about anything; but in everything
with prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your
requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which
surpasses all human thought, will stand sentinel over your
hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."
[Be careful for nothing;] (MERIMMAO, Pres Act + MEDEIS = stop
constantly worrying about anything)
[but] (ALLA, conjunction of contrast = But!)
[in every thing] (EN + locative PAS = in every circumstance)
[by prayer] (PROSEUCHE, instrumental + HO = by the means of prayer)
[and supplication] (DEESIS, instrumental = by means of entreaty)
[with thanksgiving let your requests] (AITEMA, nom plural = things
sought for, personal needs)
[be made known] (GNORIZO, Pres Pas Imperative = habitually impart
knowledge to reveal)
[unto God.] (PROS + Accus HO THEOS = face to face with God)
[And the peace of God,] (KAI HE EIRENE TOU THEO = and the health/
benefit/ welfare from the source of God)
[which passeth] (HUPERECHO, Pres Act = to have and hold over and
above continually)
[all understanding,] (NOUS, Accus Sg = comprehension)
[shall keep] (PHROUREO {military term} garrison, post, guard, stand a
post)
[your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.]
Philippian life was bound to be a worrying thing.
Paul's solution is prayer.
BE CAREFUL FOR NOTHING
Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer
and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made
known unto God.
[Be careful for nothing]
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Greek: meden (GSN-3367) merimnate (GSN-3309)
Translated
"be careful" (Phil. 4:6; Luke 10:41);
Luk 10:38-42 NASB
(38) Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village;
and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home.
(39) She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the
Lord's feet, listening to His word. (40) But Martha was
distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him
and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to
do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me." (41) But
the Lord answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are
worried and bothered about so many things; (42) but only
one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part,
which shall not be taken away from her."
"have care" (1 Cor. 7:32-34; 1 Cor. 12:25; Phil. 2:20); and
1Co 7:32-34 NASB
(32) But I want you to be free from concern. One who is
unmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he
may please the Lord; (33) but one who is married is
concerned about the things of the world, how he may please
his wife, (34) and his interests are divided. The woman who
is unmarried, and the virgin, is concerned about the things of
the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but one
who is married is concerned about the things of the world,
how she may please her husband.
1Co 12:22-25 NASB
22 On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the
body which seem to be weaker are necessary; 23 and those
members of the body which we deem less honorable, on
these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less
presentable members become much more presentable, 24
whereas our more presentable members have no need of it.
But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant
honor to that member which lacked, 25 so that there may be
no division in the body, but that the members may have the
same care for one another.
Php 2:20 NASB
For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be
concerned for your welfare.
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"take thought" (Matthew 6:25-34; Matthew 10:19; Luke
12:11,22-26).
Mat 6:19-34 NASB
(19) "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where
moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
(20) "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where
neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in
or steal;
(21) for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
(22) "The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear,
your whole body will be full of light.
(23) "But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of
darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is
the darkness!
(24) "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the
one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise
the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.
(25) "For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your
life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body,
as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body
more than clothing?
(26) "Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap
nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Are you not worth much more than they?
(27) "And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to
his life?
(28) "And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the
lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin,
(29) yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed
himself like one of these.
(30) "But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive
today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much
more clothe you? You of little faith!
(31) "Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will
we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?'
(32) "For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your
heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
(33) "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all
these things will be added to you.
(34) "So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for
itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Mat 10:16-20 NASB
(16) "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so
be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves.
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(17) "But beware of men, for they will hand you over to the courts
and scourge you in their synagogues;
(18) and you will even be brought before governors and kings for
My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.
(19) "But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or
what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you
are to say.
(20) "For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father
who speaks in you.
Luk 12:11-12 NASB
(11) "When they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers
and the authorities, do not worry about how or what you are to
speak in your defense, or what you are to say;
(12) for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you
ought to say."
Luk 12:16-49 NASB
(16) And He told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man
was very productive.
(17) "And he began reasoning to himself, saying, 'What shall I
do, since I have no place to store my crops?'
(18) "Then he said, 'This is what I will do: I will tear down my
barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and
my goods.
(19) 'And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid
up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be
merry."'
(20) "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your soul is
required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?'
(21) "So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not
rich toward God."
(22) And He said to His disciples, "For this reason I say to you,
do not worry about your life, as to what you will eat; nor for your
body, as to what you will put on.
(23) "For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.
(24) "Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; they
have no storeroom nor barn, and yet God feeds them; how much
more valuable you are than the birds!
(25) "And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his
life's span?
(26) "If then you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you
worry about other matters?
(27) "Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin;
but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like
one of these.
(28) "But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive
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today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more
will He clothe you? You men of little faith!
(29) "And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink,
and do not keep worrying.
(30) "For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek;
but your Father knows that you need these things.
(31) "But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to
you.
(32) "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen
gladly to give you the kingdom.
(33) "Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves
money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in
heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys.
(34) "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
(35) "Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps lit.
(36) "Be like men who are waiting for their master when he
returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately
open the door to him when he comes and knocks.
(37) "Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the
alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will gird himself to
serve, and have them recline at the table, and will come up and
wait on them.
(38) "Whether he comes in the second watch, or even in the
third, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.
(39) "But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known
at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his
house to be broken into.
(40) "You too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour
that you do not expect."
(41) Peter said, "Lord, are You addressing this parable to us, or
to everyone else as well?"
(42) And the Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and sensible
steward, whom his master will put in charge of his servants, to
give them their rations at the proper time?
(43) "Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when
he comes.
(44) "Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his
possessions.
(45) "But if that slave says in his heart, 'My master will be a long
time in coming,' and begins to beat the slaves, both men and
women, and to eat and drink and get drunk;
(46) the master of that slave will come on a day when he does
not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him
in pieces, and assign him a place with the unbelievers.
(47) "And that slave who knew his master's will and did not get
ready or act in accord with his will, will receive many lashes,
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(48) but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds
worthy of a flogging, will receive but few. From everyone who has
been given much, much will be required; and to whom they
entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.
(49) "I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it
were already kindled!
[Be careful for nothing]
be overcome, full of care over nothing
be not anxious or solicitous about the things of the present life.
merimnate (NT:3309) - does not mean that we are to exercise no
care about worldly matters - no care to preserve our property, or to
provide for our families (compare 1 Tim 5:8);
1Ti 5:8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and
especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith
and is worse than an unbeliever.
but that there is to be such confidence in God as to free the mind
from anxiety
such a sense of dependence on him as to keep it calm; Matt 6:25.
Mat 6:25 "For this reason I say to you, do not be worried
about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink;
nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more
than food, and the body more than clothing?
Do not tolerate anxiety or worry, for it will injure your own souls.
God alone can help you. And He will do it, if you will pray about everything
that happens and give thanks for everything (Phil. 4:6; 1 Thes. 5:18).
1Th 5:16-24 NASB
(16) Rejoice always;
(17) pray without ceasing;
(18) in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ
Jesus.
(19) Do not quench the Spirit;(20) do not despise prophetic
utterances.
(21) But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good;
(22) abstain from every form of evil.
(23) Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and
may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without
blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(24) Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.
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[But in everything]



Everything in reference to the supply of your wants, and the wants
of your families;
everything in respect to afflictions, embarrassments, and trials;
and
everything relating to your spiritual condition.
There is nothing which pertains to body, mind, estate, friends,
conflicts, losses, trials, hopes, fears, in reference to which we may not
go and spread it all out before the Lord.
[By prayer and supplication with thanksgiving]
The word rendered "supplication" is a stronger term than the former from deomai (NT:1189), "to want, to need."
It is the mode of prayer which especially arises from the sense of
"need," or "want"
Thanksgiving connected with prayers of requests and need.
We can always find something to be thankful for, no matter what may
be the burden of our wants, or the special subject of our petitions.

When we pray for the supply of our wants, we may be thankful
for that kind providence which has hitherto befriended us;

when we pray for restoration from sickness, we may be
thankful for the health we have hitherto enjoyed, and

for God's merciful interposition in the former days of trial, and
for his goodness in now sparing our lives;

when we pray that our children and friends may be preserved
from danger and death, we may remember how often God
has interposed to save them;

when oppressed with a sense of sin, we pray for pardon, we
have abundant cause of thanksgiving that there is a glorious
way by which we may be saved.
The greatest sufferer that lives in this world of redeeming love, and
who has the offer of heaven before him, has cause of gratitude.
[Let your request be made known unto God]
Not as if you were to give him information, but to express to him your
thanks and confidence that He knows and is providing your wants.
We are not presenting our shopping list or to do list to God,
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We are thanking Him that He is working and has provided
it for us...
If we list our wants and needs in prayer it is in the form of thanks for
God's faithfullness.
God needs not to be informed of our necessities, but he requires
that we come and express them to him in terms of thanksgiving...
Ezek 36:37. "Thus saith the Lord God, I will yet for this be inquired
of by the house of Israel to do it for them."
Paul stresses that we can take everything to God in prayer.
"There is nothing too great for God's power; and nothing too small for
his fatherly care."








We can bring our prayers, our supplications and our requests to
God;
we can pray for ourselves.
We can pray for forgiveness for the past,
for the things we need in the present, and
for help and guidance for the future.
We can take our own past and present and future into the
presence of God.
We can pray for others.
We can commend to God's care those near and far who are within
our memories and our hearts.
Paul lays it down that "thanksgiving must be the universal accompaniment
of prayer."
Paul insists that we must give thanks in everything, in sorrows and in
joys alike.
It implies gratitude and also perfect submission to the will of God.
It is only when we are fully convinced that God is working all things
together for good that we can really feel to him the perfect
gratitude which believing prayer demands.
When we pray, remember three things.
- We must remember the love of God, which ever desires only what is
best for us.
- We must remember the wisdom of God, which alone knows what is
best for us.
- We must remember the power of God, which alone can bring to pass
that which is best for us.
Rom 8:28-39
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28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that
love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can
be against us?
32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all,
how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or
distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or
sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are
accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him
that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor
principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to
separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord
KJV
Eph 3:14-21
14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ,
15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be
strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted
and grounded in love,
18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth,
and length, and depth, and height;
19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye
might be filled with all the fulness of God.
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all
that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all
ages, world without end. Amen. KJV
Psalms 37:5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he
shall bring it to pass. KJV
2 Tim 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I
am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded
that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against
that day. KJV
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THE PEACE OF GOD
Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all
understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ
Jesus.
[And the peace of God]
The peace which God gives.
The peace here is that which is felt
when we have no anxious care about the supply of our needs, and
when we go confidently and commit everything into the hands of God.
Isa 26:3-4 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed
on You, Because he trusts in You. 4 Trust in the LORD forever, For
in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength.
Joh 14:27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the
world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let
it be afraid.
He who prays and lives with a perfect trust in the love, wisdom and power
of God will find God's peace.
[Which passeth all understanding]
That which surpasses all that people had conceived or imagined.
denotes that the peace imparted is of the highest possible kind.
The apostle Paul frequently used terms which had a hyperbolical tone
(Eph 3:19)
the language here is that which one would use who designed to
speak of that which was of the highest order.
The Christian, committing his way to God, and feeling that he will
order all things aright, has a peace which is nowhere else known.
No confidence that a man can have in his own powers;
no reliance which he can repose on his own plans
or on the promises or fidelity of his fellow-men, and
no calculations which he can make on the course of events,
can impart such peace to the soul as simple confidence in God.
The result of believing prayer is that the peace of God will stand like a
sentinel on guard upon our hearts.
The word that Paul uses ("phrourein") is the military word for
standing on guard.
[shall keep] Greek: phroureo (GSN-5432), garrison; keep watch or
guard.
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Translated keep (Phil. 4:7; Galatians 3:23; 1 Peter 1:5)
keep with a garrison (2 Cor. 11:32).
[Shall keep your hearts and minds]
By thus making our requests known to God, and going to him in view of all
our trials and wants, the mind would be preserved from distressing
anxiety.
The way to find peace, and to have the heart kept from trouble, is thus
to go and spread out all before the Lord; compare Isa 26:3-4,20.
The word rendered here "shall keep," is a military term, and means that
the mind would be guarded as a camp or castle is.
It would be preserved from the intrusion of anxious fears and alarms.
That peace of God, says Paul, as the Revised Standard Version has it,
passes all understanding.
That does not mean that the peace of God is such a mystery that
man's mind cannot understand it
It means that the peace of God is so sure, so precious that man's mind,
with all its skill and all its knowledge, can never produce it or understand it.
It can never be of man's contriving; it is only of God's giving.
We can only experience it.....
The way to peace is in prayer to entrust ourselves and all whom we hold
dear to the loving hands of God.
Peace = absence of all Worry
95% of the things we worry about never happen
that is not proof that worry works......
Worry:
1. Worry robs us of sleep (Psalms 127.2), and is vanity
2. God gave us life. Will He not provide for us in life? (Mat 6.25)
3. Worry clouds the mind to spiritual issues (Luke 21.34)
4. Let Christ be concerned over your life (1 Peter 5.7)
Worry shows
We are depending on ourselves - our own strengths and abilities
We do not trust in God's strength, ability and love for us.
Ten Secrets for the Cure of Worry
1. Permit the peace of God to garrison or keep your heart and mind
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through Jesus Christ (Phil. 4:7).
2. Renounce all worry; then by prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving,
make all requests known to God (Phil. 4:6; James 4:7).
3. Think on right things (Phil. 4:8).
4. Keep mind stayed on God (Isaiah 26:3).
5. Use the weapons of spiritual warfare (2 Cor. 10:4-6).
6. Put on the whole armor of God (Ephes. 6:10-18).
7. Have faith in God (Matthew 6:25-34; Matthew 7:7-11; Matthew
17:20; Matthew 21:22; Mark 11:22-24).
8. Live and walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-26; Romans 6:14-23;
Romans 8:1-13).
9. Do not cast away confidence (Hebrews 3:6,12-14; Hebrews 6:11-12;
Hebrews 10:19-23,35-39).
10. Cast all your cares upon God (1 Peter 5:7).
[Through Christ Jesus]
It is only in him, by his agency, or intervention, that the mind can be
preserved in peace.
It is by confidence (faith) in God as he is revealed through the
Redeemer, and by life in him.
Paul never lost sight of the truth that all the security and happiness of
a believer were to be traced to the Savior.
TRUE COUNTRIES OF THE MIND
Philippians 4:8-9 "Finally, brothers, whatever things are true,
whatever things have the dignity of holiness on them, whatever
things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are
winsome, whatever things are fair-spoken, if there are any things
which men count excellence, and if there are any things which
bring men praise, think of the value of these things. Practice
these things which you have learned and received, and heard
and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you."
How do you react when your dreams, your plans and your hopes blow up
in your face?
What is your response when you were so sure you had heard from God
and you thought He had encouraged you to move ahead, and then all of a
sudden everything crumbled?
How do you feel when everything you read in the Bible confirmed your
vision and then, out of the blue, your aspirations were destroyed?
How we behave during this time of crisis has everything to do with what
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results.
our beliefs and attitudes determine our reactions - our walk with God.
How fortunate we are if we can, at least, understand God's overall plan


that the darkness He has allowed is Scriptural,
that others have experienced it and lived to tell about it, and
that He has not abandoned or forsaken us.
though we might not fully comprehend all that God is doing, at least
we know enough to trust Him through it.
By allowing night seasons in our lives,
God is drawing us into the realm of pure faith where we will have no
feelings, no sights, no sounds, no smells, no guidance and no help.
He is drawing us into a darkness where we'll have no other choice,
but to depend totally upon Him.
His desire is to simply replace us with Himself..
it's critical that we endure, as patiently as we can, all that God allows
into our lives.
Some of us, however, will never advance because we 'will grow impatient
and seek a means by which we can escape.
We must, rather, cooperate fully with God by bearing all that He has
chosen to allow.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
STOP and stand still
rest in His truth, His promises
stop asking why,
cease doubting God - His love, presence, strength
cease fighting - know that God is in control and behind
events and circumstances
6. guard against discouragement - do not fuss about what
you cannot change or control
7. stop blaming others and,
8. finally, put on the whole armor of God and begin to
praise Him.
We must stand still,
the most important thing you can do is yield and surrender.
Fighting only delays the whole process and makes you miserable
in the meantime.
We must not move or be moved....
We must stop all activity and cease striving.
We must depend of God’s faithfulness
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Isaiah 50:10-11 Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth
the "voice of His servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light?
"Let him trust in the Name of the Lord, and stay upon his God. Behold,
all ye that kindle your own] fire, [and] that compass yourselves about
with sparks: [and that] walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks
that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of Mine hand; ye shall lie
down in sorrow.
Often because we get impatient for God to "do" something, we begin to
"light our own fires" to find our own way out of the trial.
When we can’t see or we resist what God is doing and begin to work
on our own way out, that's when we find ourselves in an even bigger
mess.
The more we resist what God is doing by searching out our own
ways, the more agony we will cause ourselves
We must stand still and wait for God to part the waters.
If he sent the trial, then He will be the One to get us out. He will make
way of escape.
1Co 10:12-13 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that
he does not fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as
is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be
tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will
provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure
G5297 it.
G5297
ὑποφέρω
hupopherō
hoop-of-er'-o
From G5259 and G5342; to bear from underneath, that is,
(figuratively) to undergo hardship: - bear, endure.
Thayer Definition:
1) to bear by being under, bear up (a thing placed on one’s
shoulders)
2) to bear patiently, to endure
We must stay quiet before Him and keep walking in the direction in which
God had us going when our troubles first began.
Psa 119:105-112 KJV NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light
unto my path. (106) I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will
keep thy righteous judgments. (107) I am afflicted very much:
quicken me, O LORD, according unto thy word. (108) Accept, I
beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach
me thy judgments. (109) My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I
not forget thy law. (110) The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I
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erred not from thy precepts. (111) Thy testimonies have I taken as
an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart. (112) I
have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the
end.
Nothing has changed between God and us except, perhaps, our
perception of that relationship.
(Hebrews 13:5) Let your conversation be without covetousness;
and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will
never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
This kind of standing still is not sheer passivity,
What we are doing by "standing" is really the most active thing we can
possibly do - we are trusting God in faith.
We are choosing, by faith, to constantly remain quiet and
cooperate with God, and this takes an enormous effort on our
part.
Our natural inclination is to shove, fight, push, scream and yell.
Standing still and yielding our members to God is the opposite of what
we emotionally want to do and, thus, requires a constant and an active
faith on our part.
Rom_5:2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by
faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the
glory of God.
Rom_11:20 Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but
you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear;
1Co_15:1 Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I
preached to you, which also you received, in which also you
stand,
1Co_16:13 Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be
strong.
Eph_6:11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to
stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
Eph_6:13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will
be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to
stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR
LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE
BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,
Php_4:1 Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy
and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, my beloved. ,
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Col_4:12 Epaphras, who is one of your number, a bondslave of
Jesus Christ, sends you his greetings, always laboring earnestly
for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured
in all the will of God.
1Th_3:8 for now we really live, if you stand firm in the Lord.
2Th_2:15 So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions
which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from
us.
1Pe_5:12 Through Silvanus, our faithful brother (for so I regard him),
I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the
true grace of God. Stand firm in it!
Jud_1:24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and
to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with
great joy,
Rom_6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of
unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those
that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of
righteousness unto God.
Rom_6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants
to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto
death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Rom_6:19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity
of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to
uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your
members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
1Co_16:16 That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one
that helpeth with us, and laboureth.
Jas_4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and
he will flee from you.
Rom 12:1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to
present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God,
which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be
conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of
your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that
which is good and acceptable and perfect.
It's imperative at this time to take every thought captive, to confess and
repent of it, to give it to God and, then, to replace it with the truth of God's
Word.
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2Co 10:3-7
(3) For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the
flesh, (4) for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but
divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.
(5) We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up
against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought
captive to the obedience of Christ, (6) and we are ready to punish all
disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.
(7) You are looking at things as they are outwardly. If anyone is
confident in himself that he is Christ's, let him consider this again
within himself, that just as he is Christ's, so also are we.
Keep a journal of all that God does to keep yourself accountable.
By writing down all that we feel and dealing with it, sin and self will not
be able to accumulate.
By doing this a dealing with those feelings and thought as we reveal them
to ourselves, we take them captive.
We won't be able to keep "long lists" or go on to the issues of
tomorrow, until we have first dealt with all the issues of today.
Romans 6:11-13
Reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive
unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign
in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither
yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto
sin: but yield yourselves unto God...and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
What do we mean by sin?
When we talk about it, we often have specific sins in mind.
Look at some of the metaphors the Bible uses for sin. What do
they tell you about sin? What don’t they tell you?

Sin is missing a target / mark.

Sin is wandering from a path.

Sin is a beast crouching at the door.

Sin is a hard heart and a stiff neck.

Sin is trespass.
Do these images tell you what acts make up a sin?
Wuest
Sin in the N.T., is regarded as
 the missing of a mark or aim (hamartia or hamartema);
 the overpassing or transgressing of a line (parabasis);
 the inattentiveness or disobedience to a voice (parakoe);
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



the falling alongside where one should have stood upright
(paraptoma);
the doing through ignorance of something wrong which one
should have known about (agnoema);
the coming short of one's duty (hettema); and
the non-observance of a law (anomia).
There are nine different Greek words in the N.T., which present sin in its
various aspects,
1. hamartia,
2. hamartema,
3. parakoe,
4. anomia,
5. paranomia,
6. parabasis,
7. paraptoma,
8. agnoema, and
9. hettema.
1. The word used most frequently in the N.T., is hamartia.
This word in classical Greek never approaches the depth of meaning it
has in the Bible.
The pagan Greeks used it of a warrior who hurls his spear and
fails to strike his foe.
It is used of one who misses his way. hamartia is used of a poet
who selects a subject which it is impossible to treat poetically, or
who seeks to attain results which lie beyond the limits of his art.
The hamartia is a fearful mistake.
It sometimes is employed in an ethical sense where the ideas of
right and wrong are discussed, but it does not have the full
significance of the biblical content of the word. In the moral
sphere, it had the idea of missing the right, of going wrong.
In the classics, its predominating significance was that of the failure to
attain in any field of endeavor.
Brought over into the N.T., this idea of failing to attain an end, gives it
the idea of missing the divinely appointed goal, a deviation from what
is pleasing to God, doing what is opposed to God's will, perversion of
what is upright, a misdeed. Thus the word hamartia means a missing
of the goal conformable to and fixed by God.
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It is interesting to note that in Romans the word dikaiosune which
means "conformity to the standard" appears as the opposite of
hamartia, a missing of the standard set by God (Rom 6:16-18).
The noun hamartia is everywhere translated in the N.T., by the word
"sin" except in 2 Cor. 11:7, where it is rendered "offence," since the
context speaks of Paul's relations to the Corinthians.
In Eph. 1:7, 2:5, Col. 2:13, the word "sins" is not hamartia but
paraptoma.
The verb of the same root is also translated by the word "sin" except in
Mt. 18:15, Lk. 17:3, 4, (trespass); Acts 25:8 (offended), 1 Pet. 2:20
(for your faults, i.e., having sinned).
2. The second word is hamartema.
This word differs from hamartia in that it "is never sin regarded as
sinfulness, or as the act of sinning, but only sin contemplated in its
separate outcomings and deeds of disobedience to a divine law."
It is found in Mk. 3:28, 4:12; Rom. 3:25; I Cor. 6:18.
3. The third word is parakoe.
It means "a failing to hear, a hearing amiss," the idea of active
disobedience which follows on this inattentive or careless hearing,
being superinduced upon the word.
The sin is regarded as already committed in the failing to listen when
God is speaking. In the O.T., the act of refusing to listen to God is
described as disobedience (Jer. 11:10, 35:17).
In Acts 7:57 this is seen very clearly.
Parakoe is found in Rom. 5:19; 2 Cor. 10:6, and Heb. 2:2, where it is
translated by the word "disobedience" in each case.
What a flood of light is thrown upon Adam's original sin.
He was careless about listening to the commands of God,
inattentive when God was speaking.
Then followed the act of disobedience to the divine command.
The lack of an earnest and honest attempt to know God's will in any
instance, is sin.
This carelessness or inattentiveness with respect to the will of
God, has its roots in the desire to have one's own way, and to
cover up that desire and the consequent wrongdoing by the
excuse that one did not know His will in the particular instance.
4. The fourth word is anomia.
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The word is a compound of the word nomos (law) and the letter Alpha
which makes the whole word mean literally "no law."
The word means "contempt or violation of law, lawlessness."
It refers to the condition or deed of one who is acting contrary to
the law. It is set over against the Greek word dikaiosune
(righteousness) in 2 Cor. 6:14.
That is, "what things does righteousness have in common with
Anomia (lawlessness)?"
The word dikaiosune refers to a fixed and objective standard of life set
up by God. Any deviation from that standard is an act contrary to law.
The word is used in classical Greek writings, joined with anarchia,
which is defined as "the state of a people without government, without
lawful government, lawlessness, anarchy."
The word is made up of archos, "a leader, a chief, a commander"
and Alpha, the compound word meaning "without a leader or
commander."
Thus, anyone in a regularly constituted government who does
not recognize and obey that government is anarchos, without
law, an anarchist, thus, anomia, lawless.
The word is used in the N.T., of one who acts contrary to law.
Anomia is found in the following places where it is translated either
"iniquity" or "the transgression of the law." Mt. 7:23, 13:41, 23:28,
24:12; Rom. 4:7, 6:19, 2 Cor. 6:14; 2 Thes. 2:7; Tit. 2:14; Heb. 1:9,
8:12, 10:17; 1 John 3:4.
5. The word paranomia refers to the act of one going beyond the limits
which the law lays down. It is used only in 2 Pet. 2:16.
6. The next word is parabasis.
It comes from parabaino which means "to step on one side" thus, "to
transgress, violate."
It is translated by the word "transgression" in the N.T., except in Rom.
2:23 where the A.V., has "breaking" the law.
Trench says of this word;
"There must be something to transgress before there can be a
transgression. There was sin between Adam and Moses, as was
attested by the fact that there was death; but those between the
law given in Paradise (Gen. 2:16, 17) and the law given from
Sinai, sinning indeed, yet did not sin 'after the similitude of Adam's
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transgression' (parabaseos Rom. 5:14). With the law came for the
first time the possibility of the transgression of law (Rom. 4:15)."
This word is found in Rom. 2:23, 4:15, 5:14; Gal. 3:19; 1 Tim. 2:14;
Heb. 2:2, 9:15.
7.
paraptoma is our next word.
This word comes from parapipto which means "to fall beside" a person
or thing.
Thus paraptoma means "a fall beside, a lapse or deviation from
truth and uprightness."
Cremer defines the word as follows:
"a fault, a mistake, an offence, neglect, error."
He says that
"Paraptoma does not in Scripture as in profane Greek, imply
palliation or excuse, . . . it denotes sin as a missing and violation of
right . . . It may therefore be regarded as synonymous with
parabasis, which designates sin as a transgression of a known
rule of life, and as involving guilt . . . Still the word is not quite as
strong as parabasis, . . . See for instance Gal. 6:1 . . . where,
though a sin involving guilt is clearly meant, a missing of the mark,
rather than a transgression of the law, is the form of sin referred
to. We must accordingly affirm that parabasis denotes sin
objectively viewed, as a violation of a known rule of life, but that in
paraptoma reference is specially made to the subjective passivity
and suffering of him who misses or falls short of the enjoined
command; and the word has come to be used both of great and
serious guilt, . . . and generally of all sin, even though unknown
and unintentional (Ps. 19:13, Gal. 6:1), so far as this is simply a
missing of the right, and involves but little guilt, therefore a missing
or failure including the activity and passivity of the acting subject."
In Gal. 6:1 we have the case of Christians who, having been the
subjects of the ministry of the Holy Spirit, had in following the teaching
of the Judaizers, put themselves thereby under law, and thus had
deprived themselves of the victory over sin which the Spirit had been
giving them. They were trying their best in their own strength to live a
life of victory over sin, and sin had taken them unawares. Sin had
entered their experience before they knew it, for they were shorn of
the victorious power which they previously had had.
This is paraptoma, a sin which was not on their part a conscious
disobedience of the will of God, but an unintentional one committed
through the inability to prevent it entering the life.
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The word is found in the following places where it is translated
"trespass, offence, fall, fault;" Mt. 6:14, 15, 18:35; Mk. 11:25, 26:
Rom. 4:25, 5:15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 11:11, 12; 2 Cor. 5:19; Gal 6:1;
Eph. 1:7, 2:1, 5; Col. 2:13; Jas. 5:16.
8.
The next word is agnoema.
This word comes from agnoeo, a verb meaning "to be ignorant, not to
understand, to sin through ignorance."
Trench says of this word,
"Sin is designated as an agnoema when it is desired to make
excuses for it, so far as there is room for such, to regard it in the
mildest possible light (see Acts 3:17). There is always an element
of ignorance in every human transgression, which constitutes it
human and not devilish; and which, while it does not take away,
yet so far mitigates the sinfulness of it, as to render its forgiveness
not indeed necessary, but possible. Thus compare the words of
the Lord, 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do'
(Lk. 23:34), with those of St. Paul. 'I obtained mercy because I did
it ignorantly, in unbelief (1 Tim. 1:13)."
Commenting on the usage of this word in Heb. 10:26, the only place
where it is used in the N.T., Trench says,
"There is therefore an eminent fitness in the employment of the
word on the one occasion referred to already, where it appears in
the N.T. The agnoemata, or 'errors' of the people, for which the
High Priest offered sacrifice on the great day of atonement, were
not wilful transgressions, 'presumptious sins' (Ps. 19:13),
committed against . . . conscience and with a high hand against
God; those who committed such were cut off from the
congregation; no provision having been made in the Levitical
constitution for the forgiveness of such (Num. 15:30, 31), but they
were sins growing out of the weakness of the flesh, out of an
imperfect insight into God's law, out of heedlessness and lack of
due circumspection ( Lev. 4:13; compare 5:15-19; Num.
15:22-29), and afterwards looked back on with shame and
regret."
9.
Our last word is hettema.
This word does not appear in classical Greek. A briefer form of the
word, hetta is used, and is opposed to nika (victory). It means " a
discomfiture, a worsting to victory."
It is used twice in the N.T., in Rom. 11:12 where it has the
non-ethical sense of diminution, decrease, and in
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I Cor. 6:7 where it has the ethical sense of coming short of duty,
a fault.
Rest and Hope in His Promises
it's very important to get our eyes off the monster (the horrendous trial),
and simply rest and hope in God's promises.
The way we lay hold of His promises is by making faith choices
(non-feeling choices),
knowing that God, in His timing and way, will eventually align our
feelings with our choices.
Other practical things we can do are:v
cry out to Him;
quote Scriptures out loud to Him (“You say here..."); and
then listen for His answers in His Word.
2 Peter 1:4
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and
precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the
divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world
through lust.
Isaiah 41:10
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed;
for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I
will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
We must not move out of the Spirit to do our own works.
Struggling or becoming agitated just makes everything worse.
Logic -- If what I have or can do isn't doing something positive for us,
what makes us think that we can do more ???
God has not changed, even though He seems to have covered Himself in
darkness.
1Ki 8:5-11 KJV And king Solomon, and all the congregation of
Israel, that were assembled unto him, were with him before the
ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen, that could not be told nor
numbered for multitude. (6) And the priests brought in the ark
of the covenant of the LORD unto his place, into the oracle of the
house, to the most holy place, even under the wings of the
cherubims. (7) For the cherubims spread forth their two wings
over the place of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and
the staves thereof above. (8) And they drew out the staves,
that the ends of the staves were seen out in the holy place before
the oracle, and they were not seen without: and there they are
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unto this day. (9) There was nothing in the ark save the two
tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD
made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out
of the land of Egypt. (10) And it came to pass, when the
priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the
house of the LORD, (11) So that the priests could not stand to
minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled
the house of the LORD.
The darkness and cloud that blocks God from our view is the very
evidence that God is present.




We must remain pliable,
be attentive to God,
with no self-effort on our part at all and
wait in peace and patience and faithfulness until God shows us
what to do.
We must endure without complaint.
If we simply trust and believe in the Name of Jesus and His Word, He
promises to "make darkness light before [us]" and "crooked things
straight."
Isaiah 42:16
And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not;
I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make
darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These
things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.
God will not lift the trial until He has completed the work in us that He
knows must be done.
Since He is the One who alowed us to be into this trial to begin with,
He has be the One to take us out.
There is nothing we can do to speed things up, except to stand
still, rest and hope in His promises.
He will get us out of the fire in His timing and in His way.
We simply must trust Him and let Him act.
Stop Asking Why

Stop constantly examining yourself and thinking, "If only I had done
this or that."
o Submit yourself to the Lord and do not be mislead by the
confusion.
o Accept what is happening as from the LORD since He is you
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
loving Father and is in control.
Stay still for His Spirit to resolve it for you.
o Love God without the need to see or understand why.
Remember who God is and what He has done for you in the past.
Remember His character.
Remember that your reason and logic cannot help you comprehend God.
It's only by Love that we can reach Him, not by our understanding.
By faith, we must choose
To love Him and
To totally give our-selves over to Him, without sight or feelings.
We do not need to understand what God is doing, but rather what God
expects us to do.
The only way we can overcome our natural senses is by allowing Him
to do all that He needs to do in us while we are in the dark.
As we focus all our attention on Christ in the darkness,
our soulish life supply will eventually be cut off, and
our own natural thoughts and emotions will become powerless.
Whenever a self-reflective thought comes in, we must instantly reject it.
Don't give way to imagination or reflection.
Try to keep clearness of mind and purity of heart at all times.
Don't allow negative thoughts to go unchecked to the point where you
again dwell on them.
Recognize these kinds of negative thoughts, and immediately
choose to give them to God.
Then get up and, by faith, do as God asks.
During this time everything we think about and dwell on, other than God,
will become an obstacle to our oneness with Him. If our mind is cluttered
with other attitudes and ideas, there will be no room for God.
Expect to get tired of the unrelenting struggle and battle.
It's Okay to Question God but, cease doubting,
During this difficult time of being in the fire, there will be many genuine,
helpful and good questions that we will want to ask Him:
•
•
•
Is this darkness normal for the Christian walk?
Is it Scriptural?
Is God really the answer to all my needs?
Philip. 4:19
But my God shall supply all your need according to his
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riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Luk 12:26-34
(26) "If then you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry
about other matters?
(27) "Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin;
but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like
one of these.
(28) "But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today
and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He
clothe you? You men of little faith!
(29) "And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and
do not keep worrying.
(30) "For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but
your Father knows that you need these things.
(31) "But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you.
(32) "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly
to give you the kingdom.
(33) "Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves
money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven,
where no thief comes near nor moth destroys.
(34) "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
•
Does He know my thoughts and my feelings?
Psalm 139:1-5
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.
O
LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. 2Thou knowest my
downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought
afar off. 3Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art
acquainted with all my ways. 4For there is not a word in my
tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. 5Thou hast
beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
•
•
•
•
Can God help me? Is He able? Is He in control?
What is it that God is doing? Does God love me?
Is He going to help me?
Does He see all that is going on?
Psalm 34:15 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his
ears are open unto their cry.
However, watch out for and stay away from questions that have no
answers, questions that can easily lead you to doubt:
•
•
•
•
Why is all this happening to me?
Is God angry with me?
How could a loving Father ever do this to His child?
What did l do to deserve it?
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•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Doesn't He even care?
Why has He forsaken me?
What am I doing wrong?
Why did He give me so much light and then turn it off?
Why has He broken His promises to me?
How can I ever trust Him again?
Why has He made Himself out to be my enemy?
Entertaining this type of doubting questions will pull us down faster
than anything else.
Will my questions draw me toward God or push me away from him?
Do they bring confidence (faith) in God or bring doubt?
We must know that God is always ready and willing to help us.
He is really the only One who can help.
Psalm 86:5-7 For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and
plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. 6Give ear, O
LORD, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications. 7In
the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.
We must know that He delights in us and no matter what our failures or
shortcomings are, He promises that He will never leave us or forsake us.
Even if He must take us through the valley of the shadow of death in order
to reproduce Himself in us, He will never let go of us. The truth is that He
loves us so much He has even engraved us on the palms of His hands.
Isaiah 49:15-16
Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she
should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they
may forget, yet will I not forget thee. 16Behold, I have graven thee
upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.
John 10:27-29
(27) My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow
me: (28) And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never
perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (29)
My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man
is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
Look at your trials through God's eyes so that you do not slide into the dark
abyss of doubt and unbelief, never to come out.
It's critical that we not let doubt take root in us during this time, but
allow the Holy Spirit to continually comfort us and minister to us.
We must follow Jesus' example of entrusting our souls into the
Father's hands and constantly proclaiming, "Not my will, but
Thine."
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Luk 22:42 saying, "Father, if You are willing, remove this cup
from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done."
Joh 12:25-28
(25) "He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life
in this world will keep it to life eternal.
(26) "If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I
am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the
Father will honor him.
(27) "Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I
say, 'Father, save Me from this hour'? But for this purpose I
came to this hour.
(28) "Father, glorify Your name." Then a voice came out of
heaven: "I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again."
The human mind will always set itself on something:
All evidence to the contrary-no one is really empty headed-even for a
moment
Paul wished to be quite sure that the Philippians would set their minds on
the right things.
it is a law of life that, if a man thinks of something often enough, he will
come to the stage when he cannot stop thinking about it.
It is of the first importance that a man should set his thoughts upon the fine
things and here Paul makes a list of them.
[Finally], (LOIPOS = as for the rest) brethren,
1. Things which are true.
[whatsoever] (HOSAS = as many as, as much as)
[things are] (EIMI, Pres Ind = keeps on being)
Romans 12:9-21
9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil;
cleave to that which is good.
10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in
honor preferring one another;
11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in
prayer;
13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that
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weep.
16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things,
but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own
conceits.
17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in
the sight of all men.
18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all
men.
19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place
unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith
the Lord.
20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him
drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity
vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not
easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things,
endureth all things.
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then
peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and
good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
2 Peter 1:5-7 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith
virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge
temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience
godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to
brotherly kindness charity.
[True]
Many things in this world are deceptive and illusory, promising what
they can never perform, offering a specious peace and happiness
which they can never supply.
What makes something true?
What does true mean 


Always so / eternal
Accurate
Open - of good character - exposed to view
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

Not deceptive/deceitful
May be positive or negative / good or bad
Ephesians 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with
truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;KJV
2 Tim 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman
that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
John 17:14-22 14"I have given them Thy word; and the world has
hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of
the world. 15"I do not ask Thee to take them out of the world, but
to keep them from the evil one. 16"They are not of the world, even
as I am not of the world. 17"Sanctify them in the truth; Thy word is
truth. 18"As Thou didst send Me into the world, I also have sent
them into the world. 19"And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that
they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. 20"I do not ask in
behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through
their word; 21that they may all be one; even as Thou, Father, art in
Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be in Us; that the world may
believe that Thou didst send Me. NAS
2 Tim 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect,
throughly furnished unto all good works. KJV
Matthew 22:16 And they sent their disciples to Him, along with the
Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that You are truthful and
teach the way of God in truth, and defer to no one; for You are not
partial to any. NAS
John 7:18 "He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He
who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and
there is no unrighteousness in Him. NAS
Romans 12:9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling
to what is good. NAS
2 Corinthians 6:8 by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good
report; regarded as deceivers and yet true; NAS
Ephesians 4:25 Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth,
each
Ephesians 5:9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness and
righteousness and truth), NAS
Ephesians 6:14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with
truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, NAS
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1 Peter 1:22 Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your
souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another
from the heart, NAS
1 John 3:18 Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue,
but in deed and truth. NAS
2. Things which are, as the King James Version has it, honest.
[whatsoever things [are] honest], (SEMNOS = honorable)
(GSN-4586).
Honest things—all that is grave, decent, honorable, and Christian.
1 Tim. 3:8,11 = dignified = Titus 2:2
This is an archaic use of honest in the sense of honorable,





as the Revised Standard Version translates it.
Barcly has it the “dignity of holiness”
The King James Version suggests in the margin venerable.
The English Revised Version has honorable and suggests in the
margin reverend.
Moffatt has worthy.
It does not mean honest in the sense it is used today - that is, without
deceit.
It is the word which is characteristically used of the gods and of the
temples of the gods.
When used to describe a man, it describes a person who, moves
throughout the world as if it were the temple of God.
Matthew Arnold suggested the translation "nobly serious."
But the word really describes that which has the dignity of holiness
upon it.
There are things in this world which are flippant and cheap and attractive
to the light-minded;
it is on the things which are serious and dignified that the Christian will
set his mind.
[Honest]
Acts 6:3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men
of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may
appoint over this business.
Romans 12:17 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect
what is right in the sight of all men. NAS
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Romans 13:13
Let us behave properly as in the day, not in
carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and
sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. NAS
2 Corinthians 8:21
for we have regard for what is honorable, not
only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. NAS
2 Corinthians 13:7
Now we pray to God that you do no wrong; not
that we ourselves may appear approved, but that you may do
what is right, even though we should appear unapproved. NAS
1 Thessalonians 4:12 so that you may behave properly toward
outsiders and not be in any need.
1 Timothy 2:2 for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we
may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. NAS
1 Timothy 3:4 He must be one who manages his own household
well, keeping his children under control with all dignity NAS
1 Timothy 3:8 Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not
double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain,
NAS
1 Timothy 3:11 Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious
gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things. NAS
Titus 2:2 Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound
in faith, in love, in perseverance. NAS
Hebrews 13:18 Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a good
conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things.
NAS
1 Peter 2:12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so
that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may
on account of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God
in the day of visitation.
3. Things which are just.
whatsoever things [are] just, (DIKAIOS = just, fair, equitable)
Just things—all that is in harmony with justice and righteousness
The Greeks defined the man who is "dikaios" as he who gives
to gods and men what is their due.
"dikaios" is the word of duty faced and duty done.
There are those who set their minds on pleasure, comfort and easy ways.
The Christian's thoughts are on duty to man and duty to God.
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[are just]
Genesis 18:19 "For I have chosen him, in order that he may
command his children and his household after him to keep the
way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice; in order that
the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about
him." NAS
Deut 16:20 Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue, that you may
live and possess the land which the LORD your God is giving you.
2 Samuel 23:3
Psalms 82:2
"The God of Israel said,
The Rock of Israel spoke to me,
'He who rules over men righteously,
Who rules in the fear of God,
How long will you judge unjustly,
And show partiality to the wicked?
Selah.
Proverbs 11:1
A false balance is an abomination to the LORD,
But a just weight is His delight.
Proverbs 16:11
A just balance and scales belong to the LORD;
All the weights of the bag are His concern.
Proverbs 20:7
A righteous man who walks in his integrityHow blessed are his sons after him.
Isaiah 26:7
The way of the righteous is smooth;
O Upright One, make the path of the righteous
level.
Mark 6:20
for Herod was afraid of John, knowing that he was a
righteous and holy man, and kept him safe. And when he heard
him, he was very perplexed; but he used to enjoy listening to him.
NAS
Luke 2:25
And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose
name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout,
looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon
him. NAS
Luke 23:50 And behold, a man named Joseph, who was a member
of the Council, a good and righteous man NAS
Acts 10:22
And they said, "Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and
God-fearing man well spoken of by the entire nation of the Jews,
was divinely directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to
his house and hear a message from you." NAS
Titus 1:8
but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just,
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devout, self-controlled, NAS
4. There are the things which are pure.
[whatsoever things [are] pure], (AGNOS = purity of motivation and
function)
Pure things—all that is chaste and holy for body and soul
The word is "hagnos" and describes what is morally undefiled.
When it is used ceremonially, it describes that which has been so
cleansed that it is fit to be brought into the presence of God and used
in his service.
This world is full of things which are sordid and shabby and soiled and
smutty. Many a man gets his mind into such a state that it soils
everything of which it thinks.
The Christian's mind is set on the things which are pure; his thoughts are
so clean that they can stand even the scrutiny of God.
No compromise / in nothing defiled or polluted
[are pure]
1 Timothy 4:12 Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but
rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an
example of those who believe. NAS
1 Timothy 5:2 the older women as mothers, and the younger
women as sisters, in all purity. NAS
Titus 2:14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from
every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own
possession, zealous for good deeds.
James 1:27 This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our
God and Father, to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and
to keep oneself unstained by the world.
James 3:17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then
peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits,
unwavering, without hypocrisy. NAS
2 Peter 3:1 This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to
you in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of
reminder, NAS
1 John 3:3 And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies
himself, just as He is pure. NAS
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5. There are the things which the King James Version and the
Revised Standard call lovely.
[whatsoever things [are] lovely], (PROSPHILES= compatible with
love; that which calls forth love.
Moffatt translates it "attractive."
"Winsome" is the best translation of all.
Attractive or appealing in appearance or character.
engaging - attractive - fetching - charming - winning - cheerful



There are those whose minds are so set on vengeance and
punishment that they call forth bitterness and fear in others.
There are those whose minds are so set on criticism and rebuke
that they call forth resentment in others.
The mind of the Christian is set on the lovely things--kindness,
sympathy, forbearance--so he is a winsome person, whom to see
is to love.
Apologies are the politically correct focus today
The Bible focuses on forgiveness
[are lovely]
2 Sam 1:23
"Saul and Jonathan, beloved and pleasant in their life,
And in their death they were not parted;
They were swifter than eagles,
They were stronger than lions.
Song of Solomon 5:16
"His mouth is full of sweetness.
And he is wholly desirable.
This is my beloved and this is my friend,
O daughters of Jerusalem."
1 Corinthians 13
1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have
love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I
have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all
knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but
do not have love, I am nothing. 3 And if I give all my possessions
to feed the poor, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but do not
have love, it profits me nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind, and
is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 5 does not
act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does
not take into account a wrong suffered, 6 does not rejoice in
unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things,
believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love
never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done
away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it
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will be done away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part;
10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. 11
When I was a child, I used to speak as a child, think as a child,
reason as a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish
things. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face;
now I know in part, but then I shall know fully just as I also have
been fully known. 13 But now abide faith, hope, love, these three;
but the greatest of these is love.
1 Peter 4:8
Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another,
because love covers a multitude of sins. NAS
6. There are the things which are, as the King James Version has it,
"of good report."
[whatsoever things [are] of good report] (EUPHEMOS =
commendable)
all that is in harmony with the best public good, virtuous and
praiseworthy




In the margin the English Revised Version suggests "gracious."
Moffatt has "high-toned."
The Revised Standard Version has "gracious."
C. Kingsley Williams has "whatever has a good name."
It literally means "fair-speaking," but it was specially connected with the
holy silence at the beginning of a sacrifice in the presence of the gods.
It describes the things which are fit for God to hear.
There are far too many ugly words and false words and impure words in
this world.
On the lips and in the mind of the Christian there should be only words
which are fit for God to hear.
Not just a good reputation but speaking and acting in agreement with the
reason confirming that good reputation as a worthy ambassador of God’s
[are of a good report]
Acts 6:3 "But select from among you, brethren, seven men of good
reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in
charge of this task. NAS
Acts 10:22 And they said, "Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and
God-fearing man well spoken of by the entire nation of the Jews,
was divinely directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to
his house and hear a message from you." NAS
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Acts 22:12 "And a certain Ananias, a man who was devout by the
standard of the Law, and well spoken of by all the Jews who lived
there,
Colossians 4:5 Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders,
making the most of the opportunity. NAS
1 Thessalonians 5:22
abstain from every form of evil.
1 Timothy 3:7 And he must have a good reputation with those
outside the church, so that he may not fall into reproach and the
snare of the devil.
1 Timothy 5:10 having a reputation for good works; and if she has
brought up children, if she has shown hospitality to strangers, if
she has washed the saints' feet, if she has assisted those in
distress, and if she has devoted herself to every good work. NAS
Hebrews 11:2
For by it the men of old gained approval. NAS
7. Paul goes on, "if there be any virtue."
[if] (EAN, first class = if, and it's true)
[there be any virtue,] (ARETE = graciousness, moral excellence)
Both Moffatt and the Revised Standard Version use "excellence"
instead of "virtue."
Although "arete" was one of the great classical words, Paul usually
seems deliberately to avoid it and this is the only time it occurs in his
writings.
In classical thought it described every kind of excellence.
It could describe the excellence of the ground in a field,
the excellence of a tool for its purpose,
the physical excellence of an animal,
the excellence of the courage of a soldier, and the virtue of a man.
[virtue]
Ruth 3:11 And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you
whatever you ask, for all my people in the city know that you are a
woman of excellence. NAS
Proverbs 12:4
Proverbs 31:10
An excellent wife is the crown of her husband,
But she who shames him is as rottenness in his
bones.
An excellent wife, who can find?
For her worth is far above jewels.
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Proverbs 31:29
"Many daughters have done nobly,
But you excel them all."
2 Peter 1:3-4
3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything
pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him
who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4 For by these He
has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order
that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature,
having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. NAS
8. Finally Paul says, "if there be any praise."
[and if] (EAN, first class = if, and it's true)
[there be any praise], (EPAINOS = something worthy of approval)
In one sense it is true that the Christian never thinks of the praise of
men,
in another sense it is true that every good man is uplifted by the
praise of good men.
So Paul says that the Christian will live in such a way that he will neither
conceitedly desire nor foolishly despise the praise of men.
Acts or deeds worthy of exultation and thanksgiving
[praise]
Proverbs 31:31
Give her the product of her hands,
And let her works praise her in the gates. NAS
Romans 2:29
But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and
circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the
letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God. NAS
Romans 13:3 For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior,
but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is
good, and you will have praise from the same; NAS
1 Corinthians 4:5 Therefore do not go on passing judgment before
the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light
the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of
men's hearts; and then each man's praise will come to him from
God. NAS
2 Corinthians 8:18 And we have sent along with him the brother
whose fame in the things of the gospel has spread through all the
churches
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Col 3:14 Above all, clothe yourselves with [The Gk. lacks clothe yourselves with]
love, which ties everything together in unity.
Col 3:15 Let the peace of the Messiah [Or Christ] also rule in your
hearts, to which you were called in one body, and be thankful.
Col 3:16 Let the word of the Messiah [Or Christ; other mss. read of God; still other
mss. read of the Lord]
inhabit you richly with wisdom, teaching and
admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual
songs, and singing to God with thankfulness in your hearts.
Col 3:17 And whatever you do, whether by speech or action, do
everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God
the Father through him.
Philippians 040809 Attitudes and Actions
based on article by Ken Boa
Biblical Attitudes
When your mind wanders, what paths does it follow?
What thoughts do you pursue during neutral times like standing in lines
and waiting at red lights or during routine times like getting dressed or
going to sleep?
Few of us really monitor our thought lives.
If we did, we would be surprised at the proportion of negative, critical,
and self-serving ideas that run unchecked through our minds.
Scriptures tell us that our thought lives are as crucial as our outward lives;
belief is as important as behavior, and
attitudes are as significant as actions.
Our Lord in His Sermon on the Mount repeatedly stressed this theme
Matt. 5:3, 6, 8,
Be-attitudes
Matt 5:21-22, Anger
Matt 5 27-28; Adultery
Matt 6:6, Prayer closet
Matt 6:14-15, Forgiveness
Matt 6: 34 Tomorrow's worries
The apostle Paul also underlined the importance of the believer's thought
life
when he encouraged the Romans to set their minds on the things of the
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Spirit and not on the things of the flesh (Rom. 8:4-9),
Rom 8:4-9 ISV*
(4) so that the righteous requirement of the Law might be
fulfilled in us, who do not live according to human nature but
according to the Spirit.
(5) ¶ For those who live according to the flesh set their minds
on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the
Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.
(6) To focus our minds on the human nature leads to death,
but to focus our minds on the Spirit leads to life and peace.
(7) That is why the mind that focuses on human nature is
hostile toward God. It refuses to submit to the authority of God’s
Law because it is powerless to do so.
(8) Indeed, those who are under the control of human nature
cannot please God.
(9) ¶ You, however, are not under the control of the human
nature but under the control of the Spirit, since God’s Spirit
lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of the
Messiah, [Or Christ] he does not belong to him.
when he instructed the Colossians to set their minds on the things
above, not on the things that are on earth (Col. 3:1-2).
Col 3:1-10 ISV*
Keep Focusing on the Messiah
(1) ¶ Therefore, if you have been raised with the Messiah, [Or
Christ] keep focusing on the things that are above, where the
Messiah [Or Christ] is seated at the right hand of God.
(2) Keep your minds on things that are above, not on things
that are on the earth.
(3) For you have died, and your life has been safely guarded by
the Messiah [Or Christ] in God.
(4) When the Messiah, [Or Christ] who is [The Gk. lacks who
is] your [Other mss. read our] life, is revealed, then you, too, will
be revealed with him in glory.
(5) ¶ So put to death your worldly impulses: [Lit. the parts that
are on the earth] sexual sin, impurity, passion, evil desire, and
greed (which is idolatry).
(6) It is because of these things that the wrath of God is coming
on those who are disobedient. [Lit. on the sons of disobedience]
(7) You used to behave like them as you lived among them.
(8) But now you must also get rid of anger, wrath, malice,
slander, obscene speech, and all such sins.
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(9) Do not lie to one another, for you have stripped off the old
nature with its practices
(10) and have clothed yourselves with the new nature, which is
being renewed in full knowledge, consistent with the image of
the one who created it.
when he exhorted the Philippians to engage in a biblical form of
positive thinking:
"Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable,
whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever
is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything
worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things" (Phil.
4:8).
It is far easier to dwell on thoughts that are:








untrue,
dishonorable,
wrong,
impure, and
ugly, and on
things that are of bad repute,
shoddy, and
worthy of blame.
Gossip and criticism are often more appealing in conversation about
others than commendation and praise.
We are more likely to view our circumstances in terms of the benefits we
lack rather than the blessings we have received,
This is why our prayers are high on petition and low on thanksgiving.
(If you don't believe this, try offering nothing but prayers of
thanksgiving for twenty minutes, and see how often you have the
impulse to slip in prayers of request!)
Php 4:4-9 ISV*
(4) ¶ Keep on rejoicing in the Lord at all times. I will say it again:
Keep on rejoicing!
(5) Let your gracious attitude [Lit. spirit] be known to all people.
The Lord is near:
(6) Never worry about anything. Instead, in every situation let your
petitions be made known to God through prayers and requests, with
thanksgiving.
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(7) Then God’s peace, which goes far beyond anything we can
imagine, will guard your hearts and minds in union with the
Messiah [Or Christ] Jesus.
(8) ¶ Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable,
whatever is fair, whatever is pure, whatever is acceptable, whatever
is commendable, if there is anything of excellence and if there is
anything praiseworthy—keep thinking about these things.
(9) Likewise, keep practicing these things: what you have learned,
received, heard, and seen in me. Then the God of peace will be with
you.
We saw in Philippians 4:6-7 that "prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving" can transform anxiety into the peace of God.
Verse 8 adds another key to overcoming worry and anxiety,
the practice of dwelling not on the negative, but on that which is true,
honorable, right, pure, beautiful, of good repute, excellent, and
praiseworthy.
This does not come naturally; it is a skill we must gradually develop.
With few exceptions, our worries concern things that are untrue,
cannot be changed, or will never happen.
Scripture calls us to cultivate the skill of seeing life from heaven's
side, which requires the process of renewing the mind described in
Romans 12:1-2 (cf. Ps. 19:7-9).
Rom 12:1-2 ISV*
Dedicate Your Lives to God
(1) ¶ I therefore urge you, brothers, in view of God’s
mercies, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices
that are holy and pleasing to God, for this is the
reasonable way for you to worship. [Lit. to God, your
reasonable worship]
(2)
Do not be conformed to this world, but
continually be transformed by the renewing of
your minds so that you may be able to determine
what God’s will is—what is proper, [Or good] pleasing,
and perfect.
Psa 19:7-9 ISV*
God’s Revelation in the Law
(7) ¶ The Law of the Lord is perfect,
restoring life.
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The testimony of the Lord is steadfast,
making foolish people wise.
(8)
¶ The precepts of the Lord are upright,
making the heart rejoice.
The commandment of the Lord is pure,
giving light to the eyes.
(9)
¶ The fear of the Lord is clean,
standing forever.
The judgments of the Lord are true;
they are altogether righteous.
Biblical Actions
In verse 9, Paul makes the transition from attitude to action, the third
biblical way to overcome anxiety.
Worry can paralyze us into inactivity, and this in turn can increase our
level of anxiety, and so on in a vicious circle.
Foreboding, anxiety, worry soars as the deadline approaches.
The apostle moves from the inward to the outward when he writes,
"The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me,
practice these things; and the God of peace shall be with you."
The two couplets "learned and received" and "heard and seen" portray a
biblical balance:
Attitude
Learned
Heard
Belief
Words
Position
Action
Received
Seen
Behavior
Walk
Practice
Paul not only taught the truth, but modeled it and encouraged those who
heard it to do the same.
The Word accomplishes its purpose when we go beyond the level of
hearing to that of doing (Jas. 1:22-25).
Jas 1:22-25 ISV*
(22) ¶ Keep on being obedient to [Or being doers of] the word, and
not merely being hearers who deceive themselves.
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(23) For if anyone hears the word but is not obedient to it, he is like
a man who looks at himself in a mirror
(24) and studies himself carefully, and then goes off and
immediately forgets what he looks like.
(25) But the one who looks at the perfect law of freedom and
remains committed to it—thereby demonstrating that he is not a
forgetful hearer but a doer of what that law [Lit. what it]
requires—will be blessed in what he does.
When we pray, we experience the peace of God (vv. 6-7);
When we practice, we experience the God of peace (vv. 8-9).
What characteristic of God is most important to Him???
His reputation-veracity-faithfulness
He keeps his word...
1 Samuel 12:22 For the LORD will not forsake his people for his
great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make
you his people.
1 Kings 8:41 Moreover concerning a stranger, that is not of thy
people Israel, but cometh out of a far country for thy name's sake;
Psalms 25:11
For thy name's sake, O LORD, pardon mine
iniquity; for it is great.
Psalms 31:3 For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy
name's sake lead me, and guide me.
Psalms 79:9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy
name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name's
sake.
Psalms 106:8 Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake,
that he might make his mighty power to be known.
Psalms 109:21 But do thou for me, O GOD the Lord, for thy name's
sake: because thy mercy is good, deliver thou me.
Psalms 143:11 Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name's sake: for thy
righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble.
Isaiah 48:9 For my name's sake will I defer mine anger, and for my
praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off.
Jeremiah 14:7 O LORD, though our iniquities testify against us, do
thou it for thy name's sake: for our backslidings are many; we
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have sinned against thee.
Jeremiah 14:21 Do not abhor us, for thy name's sake, do not
disgrace the throne of thy glory: remember, break not thy
covenant with us.
Ezekiel 20:9 But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be
polluted before the heathen, among whom they were, in whose
sight I made myself known unto them, in bringing them forth out of
the land of Egypt.
Ezekiel 20:14 But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not
be polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out.
Ezekiel 20:22 Nevertheless I withdrew mine hand, and wrought for
my name's sake, that it should not be polluted in the sight of the
heathen, in whose sight I brought them forth.
Ezekiel 20:44 And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have
wrought with you for my name's sake, not according to your
wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of
Israel, saith the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel 36:22 Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith
the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but
for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the
heathen, whither ye went.
1 John 2:12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are
forgiven you for his name's sake.
What do you mean by 'keeps' His Word ???
He guards it, honors it
He means what He says and says what He means and sees to it
that it is completed - completely carried out
He insures that it happens as He said it would
Deuteronomy 9:5 Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness
of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the
wickedness of these nations the LORD thy God doth drive them
out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the
LORD sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Jeremiah 1:12 Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen:
for I will hasten my word to perform it.
Ezekiel 12:25 For I am the LORD: I will speak, and the word that I
shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged: for
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in your days, O rebellious house, will I say the word, and will
perform it, saith the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel 12:25 For I am the LORD: I will speak, and the word that I
shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged: for
in your days, O rebellious house, will I say the word, and will
perform it, saith the Lord GOD.
What does this do for us ???
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and
sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing
asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a
discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
What does this mean to us ???
Joshua 1:8
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth;
but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest
observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou
shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good
success.
Think (Meditate, Ponder, Concentrate upon) and Do
Philip. 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true,
whatsoever things are honest, 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.
Philip. 4:9
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.
[think] (LOGIZOMAI, Pres Mid Imperative = keep on concentrating)
[on these things]
Luke 16:15 And He said to them, "You are those who justify
yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that
which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of
God. NAS
1 Thessalonians 5:21 But examine everything carefully; hold fast
to that which is good; NAS
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1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits
to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets
have gone out into the world. NAS
H1897 ‫ הגה‬hâgâh moan, growl, utter, muse, mutter, meditate, devise,
plot, speak
1a1) to roar, growl, groan
1a2) to utter, speak
1a3) to meditate, devise, muse, imagine
1b) (Poal) to utter
1c) (Hiphil) to mutter
G3191 μελετάω meletaō
1) to care for, attend to carefully, practise
2) to meditate, i.e. to devise, contrive
2a) used of the Greeks of the meditative pondering and the
practice of orators and rhetoricians
MEDITATION = Focus upon, be filled with = mutter, to murmur, "a
murmuring," "sighing," or "moaning."
The practice of reflection or contemplation.
This concept is reflected in Ps 1:2, where the "blessed man"
meditates on God's law day and night.
Psa_1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in
his law doth he meditate day and night.
The psalmist also prayed that the meditation of his heart would be
acceptable in God's sight (Ps 19:14).
Psa 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of
my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength,
and my redeemer.
Joshua was instructed to meditate on the Book of the Law for the
purpose of obeying all that was written in it (Josh 1:8).
Jos_1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy
mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that
thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written
therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and
then thou shalt have good success.
Psa_63:6 When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on
thee in the night watches.
Psa_77:12 I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.
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Psa_119:15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto
thy ways.
Psa_119:23 Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy
servant did meditate in thy statutes.
Psa_119:48 My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments,
which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.
Psa_119:78 Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely
with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts.
Psa_119:148 Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might
meditate in thy word.
Psa_143:5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I
muse on the work of thy hands.
Isa_33:18 Thine heart shall meditate terror. Where is the scribe?
where is the receiver? where is he that counted the towers?
The Greek word translated as meditate occurs only twice in the New
Testament.
In Luke 21:14 Jesus instructed His disciples not "to meditate
beforehand" in answering their adversaries when the end of the age
comes.
The word may be understood in this passage as the idea of
preparing a defense for a court appearance.
Luk_21:14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate
before what ye shall answer:
Paul, in 1 Tim 4:15, urged Timothy to meditate, or take pains with, the
instructions he gives.
1Ti_4:15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to
them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
The idea of meditation is also found in
Phil 4:8 ...let your mind dwell on these things. NAS
Col 3:2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are
on earth. NAS
THOUGHTS
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In reprogramming / transforming your mind-you need to do four things.
1], you need to recognize you have the mind of Christ
He is abiding in you. When He saved you, He gave you the capacity to
think like He thinks. Notice I said the capacity to think like He thinks.
The potential is there even when performance is lacking.
1 Cor. 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may
instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
2]. you need to choose to think rightly.
This is not easy. However,
"If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the
things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set
your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth"
(Col 3:1-2 NASB).
The "keep seeking" implies it's not a once-and-for-all deal.
You will fight this battle of the mind until you get to heaven.
But you are to keep battling.
It's spiritual warfare for control of your mind.
"I can't keep the birds from flying overhead, but I can keep them
from making a nest in my hair."
A fleeting wrong thought might hit your mind, but you make
the choice whether or not to consider it.
You need to let it pass right on by quickly and replace it with
thinking in keeping with your new identity as God's disciple.
3]. you need to sift your thoughts through the Word of God to the will of
God.
You need to ask, What does the Word of God say?
"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any
two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit,
and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and
intents of the heart" (Heb 4:12).
If you want to know whether you're thinking correctly, check it
out in the Word.
Paul says you are to take "every thought into captivity to the
obedience of Christ"
You can do that. You can lasso every thought and control it if you want
to.
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2 Cor. 10:4-5
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but
mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth
itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity
every thought to the obedience of Christ;
Redirecting your thinking is a powerful tool in learning to control
your thinking.
You cannot not think about something.
If I say, "Don't think about a red car," your thoughts turn
to the very thing I have told you not to think about.
It would be impossible to follow that command without
redirecting your thoughts.
You can think about good and right things if you choose.
4]. you need to refuse to think about some things.
You don't have to think about the things Satan throws at you.
The battle is in the mind.

Suppose you are watching television and you know immediately
the program is something you should not be watching.
Turn it off.

Suppose you go to a movie in which the plot is not what you
thought. You realize the language, the innuendoes, and the value
system are not what the Word of God honors.
Get up and walk out.

The people at work or school are telling jokes that are "only a little
off-color."
Walk away.

The only magazine at the barbershop is a gossip tabloid.
Don't pick it up.

The billboard flashes an image you don't want in your mental
computer.
Turn your eyes away.
Refuse the input.
Remember, you have the capacity to think like Christ.
You need to reprogram and renew your mind.
Rom 12:1-2 I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God,
to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to
God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2And do not be
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conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of
your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which
is good and acceptable and perfect. NAS
To neglect the Word is to open yourself up to deadly doses of the
world's philosophy.
No reprogramming goes on without the Word of God filling over
your mind. God's Word is to be the focus of your thinking. Redirect
your thoughts toward it.
We must meditate on His Word, or we don't have a chance of
thinking correctly.
Meditating on His Word isn't an option if we want to renew our
thinking patterns. It is a matter of survival.
The mind is indeed powerful. It influences everything you do.
It is no wonder then that your thoughts are a trophy highly sought
after by the enemy.
Prov 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink,
saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. KJV
To counter his intense pursuit of your thought life, you have been
given the mind of Christ; it is indwelling you.
You have a choice about what to think about.
You are to be intentional with your thoughts.
You are not to let your mind wander.
You are to direct your thoughts in a specific, predetermined direction.
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Psalms 119
Alef [119:T This Psalm is an acrostic in which all verses in each eight-verse section begin with the letter
of the Heb. alphabet indicated.]
Living in the Law of God
1
How blessed are those whose way is blameless,
Who walk in the law of the LORD.
How blessed are those who observe His testimonies,
Who seek Him with all their heart.
They also do no unrighteousness;
They walk in His ways.
Thou hast ordained Thy precepts,
That we should keep them diligently.
Oh that my ways may be established
To keep Thy statutes!
Then I shall not be ashamed
When I look upon all Thy commandments.
I shall give thanks to Thee with uprightness of heart,
When I learn Thy righteous judgments.
I shall keep Thy statutes;
Do not forsake me utterly!
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Bet
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
The Benefits of the Word
How can a young man keep his way pure?
By keeping it according to Thy word.
With all my heart I have sought Thee;
Do not let me wander from Thy commandments.
Thy word I have treasured in my heart,
That I may not sin against Thee.
Blessed art Thou, O LORD;
Teach me Thy statutes.
With my lips I have told of
All the ordinances of Thy mouth.
I have rejoiced in the way of Thy testimonies,
As much as in all riches.
I will meditate on Thy precepts,
And regard Thy ways.
I shall delight in Thy statutes;
I shall not forget Thy word.
Gimmel
17
18
Living and Keeping God’s Word
Deal bountifully with Thy servant,
That I may live and keep Thy word.
Open my eyes, that I may behold
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19
20
21
22
23
24
Wonderful things from Thy law.
I am a stranger in the earth;
Do not hide Thy commandments from me.
My soul is crushed with longing
After Thine ordinances at all times.
Thou dost rebuke the arrogant, the cursed,
Who wander from Thy commandments.
Take away reproach and contempt from me,
For I observe Thy testimonies.
Even though princes sit and talk against me,
Thy servant meditates on Thy statutes.
Thy testimonies also are my delight;
They are my counselors.
Daleth
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
He
33
34
35
36
37
Strength Comes from the Word
My soul cleaves to the dust;
Revive me according to Thy word.
I have told of my ways, and Thou hast answered me;
Teach me Thy statutes.
Make me understand the way of Thy precepts,
So I will meditate on Thy wonders.
My soul weeps because of grief;
Strengthen me according to Thy word.
Remove the false way from me,
And graciously grant me Thy law.
I have chosen the faithful way;
I have placed Thine ordinances before me.
I cleave to Thy testimonies;
O LORD, do not put me to shame!
I shall run the way of Thy commandments,
For Thou wilt enlarge my heart.
Instructed by the Word
Teach me, O LORD, the way of Thy statutes,
And I shall observe it to the end.
Give me understanding, that I may observe Thy law,
And keep it with all my heart.
Make me walk in the path of Thy commandments,
For I delight in it.
Incline my heart to Thy testimonies,
And not to dishonest gain.
Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity,
And revive me in Thy ways.
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38
39
40
Establish Thy word to Thy servant,
As that which produces reverence for Thee.
Turn away my reproach which I dread,
For Thine ordinances are good.
Behold, I long for Thy precepts;
Revive me through Thy righteousness.
Vav
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
A Song of Praise
May Thy lovingkindnesses also come to me, O LORD,
Thy salvation according to Thy word;
So I shall have an answer for him who reproaches me,
For I trust in Thy word.
And do not take the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,
For I wait for Thine ordinances.
So I will keep Thy law continually,
Forever and ever.
And I will walk at liberty,
For I seek Thy precepts.
I will also speak of Thy testimonies before kings,
And shall not be ashamed.
And I shall delight in Thy commandments,
Which I love.
And I shall lift up my hands to Thy commandments,
Which I love;
And I will meditate on Thy statutes.
Zayin
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
Remembering What God Has Said
Remember the word to Thy servant,
In which Thou hast made me hope.
This is my comfort in my affliction,
That Thy word has revived me.
The arrogant utterly deride me,
Yet I do not turn aside from Thy law.
I have remembered Thine ordinances from of old, O LORD,
And comfort myself.
Burning indignation has seized me because of the wicked,
Who forsake Thy law.
Thy statutes are my songs
In the house of my pilgrimage.
O LORD, I remember Thy name in the night,
And keep Thy law.
This has become mine,
That I observe Thy precepts.
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Cheth
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
Teth
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
Yod
73
74
Keeping God’s Word
The LORD is my portion;
I have promised to keep Thy words.
I entreated Thy favor with all my heart;
Be gracious to me according to Thy word.
I considered my ways,
And turned my feet to Thy testimonies.
I hastened and did not delay
To keep Thy commandments.
The cords of the wicked have encircled me,
But I have not forgotten Thy law.
At midnight I shall rise to give thanks to Thee
Because of Thy righteous ordinances.
I am a companion of all those who fear Thee,
And of those who keep Thy precepts.
The earth is full of Thy lovingkindness, O LORD;
Teach me Thy statutes.
Praise for God’s Word
Thou hast dealt well with Thy servant,
O LORD, according to Thy word.
Teach me good discernment and knowledge,
For I believe in Thy commandments.
Before I was afflicted I went astray,
But now I keep Thy word.
Thou art good and doest good;
Teach me Thy statutes.
The arrogant have forged a lie against me;
With all my heart I will observe Thy precepts.
Their heart is covered with fat,
But I delight in Thy law.
It is good for me that I was afflicted,
That I may learn Thy statutes.
The law of Thy mouth is better to me
Than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
Prayer for God’s Grace
Thy hands made me and fashioned me;
Give me understanding, that I may learn Thy commandments.
May those who fear Thee see me and be glad,
Because I wait for Thy word.
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75
76
77
78
79
80
I know, O LORD, that Thy judgments are righteous,
And that in faithfulness Thou hast afflicted me.
O may Thy lovingkindness comfort me,
According to Thy word to Thy servant.
May Thy compassion come to me that I may live,
For Thy law is my delight.
May the arrogant be ashamed, for they subvert me with a lie;
But I shall meditate on Thy precepts.
May those who fear Thee turn to me,
Even those who know Thy testimonies.
May my heart be blameless in Thy statutes,
That I may not be ashamed.
On Obeying God’s Word
Kaf
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
My soul languishes for Thy salvation;
I wait for Thy word.
My eyes fail with longing for Thy word,
While I say, "When wilt Thou comfort me?"
Though I have become like a wineskin in the smoke,
I do not forget Thy statutes.
How many are the days of Thy servant?
When wilt Thou execute judgment on those who persecute me?
The arrogant have dug pits for me,
Men who are not in accord with Thy law.
All Thy commandments are faithful;
They have persecuted me with a lie; help me!
They almost destroyed me on earth,
But as for me, I did not forsake Thy precepts.
Revive me according to Thy lovingkindness,
So that I may keep the testimony of Thy mouth.
Lamed
89
90
91
92
93
94
Pay Attention to God’s Word
Forever, O LORD,
Thy word is settled in heaven.
Thy faithfulness continues throughout all generations;
Thou didst establish the earth, and it stands.
They stand this day according to Thine ordinances,
For all things are Thy servants.
If Thy law had not been my delight,
Then I would have perished in my affliction.
I will never forget Thy precepts,
For by them Thou hast revived me.
I am Thine, save me;
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95
96
For I have sought Thy precepts.
The wicked wait for me to destroy me;
I shall diligently consider Thy testimonies.
I have seen a limit to all perfection;
Thy commandment is exceedingly broad.
Mem
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
Nun
Loving God’s Word
O how I love Thy law!
It is my meditation all the day.
Thy commandments make me wiser than my enemies,
For they are ever mine.
I have more insight than all my teachers,
For Thy testimonies are my meditation.
I understand more than the aged,
Because I have observed Thy precepts.
I have restrained my feet from every evil way,
That I may keep Thy word.
I have not turned aside from Thine ordinances,
For Thou Thyself hast taught me.
How sweet are Thy words to my taste!
Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
From Thy precepts I get understanding;
Therefore I hate every false way.
God’s Word a Light
105 Thy word is a lamp to my feet,
And a light to my path.
106 I have sworn, and I will confirm it,
That I will keep Thy righteous ordinances.
107 I am exceedingly afflicted;
Revive me, O LORD, according to Thy word.
108 O accept the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD,
And teach me Thine ordinances.
109 My life is continually in my hand,
Yet I do not forget Thy law.
110 The wicked have laid a snare for me,
Yet I have not gone astray from Thy precepts.
111 I have inherited Thy testimonies forever,
For they are the joy of my heart.
112 I have inclined my heart to perform Thy statutes
Forever, even to the end.
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Samek
Loving God’s Law
113 I hate those who are double-minded,
But I love Thy law.
114 Thou art my hiding place and my shield;
I wait for Thy word.
115 Depart from me, evildoers,
That I may observe the commandments of my God.
116 Sustain me according to Thy word, that I may live;
And do not let me be ashamed of my hope.
117 Uphold me that I may be safe,
That I may have regard for Thy statutes continually.
118 Thou hast rejected all those who wander from Thy statutes,
For their deceitfulness is useless.
119 Thou hast removed all the wicked of the earth like dross;
Therefore I love Thy testimonies.
120 My flesh trembles for fear of Thee,
And I am afraid of Thy judgments.
Ayin
Praying for God’s Deliverance
121 I have done justice and righteousness;
Do not leave me to my oppressors.
122 Be surety for Thy servant for good;
Do not let the arrogant oppress me.
123 My eyes fail with longing for Thy salvation,
And for Thy righteous word.
124 Deal with Thy servant according to Thy lovingkindness,
And teach me Thy statutes.
125 I am Thy servant; give me understanding,
That I may know Thy testimonies.
126 It is time for the LORD to act,
For they have broken Thy law.
127 Therefore I love Thy commandments
Above gold, yes, above fine gold.
128 Therefore I esteem right all
Thy precepts concerning everything, I hate every false way.
Peyh
Living in God’s Word
129 Thy testimonies are wonderful;
Therefore my soul observes them.
130 The unfolding of Thy words gives light;
It gives understanding to the simple.
131 I opened my mouth wide and panted,
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For I longed for Thy commandments.
132 Turn to me and be gracious to me,
After Thy manner with those who love Thy name.
133 Establish my footsteps in Thy word,
And do not let any iniquity have dominion over me.
134 Redeem me from the oppression of man,
That I may keep Thy precepts.
135 Make Thy face shine upon Thy servant,
And teach me Thy statutes.
136 My eyes shed streams of water,
Because they do not keep Thy law.
Tsade
God’s Righteous Decrees
137 Righteous art Thou, O LORD,
And upright are Thy judgments.
138 Thou hast commanded Thy testimonies in righteousness
And exceeding faithfulness.
139 My zeal has consumed me,
Because my adversaries have forgotten Thy words.
140 Thy word is very pure,
Therefore Thy servant loves it.
141 I am small and despised,
Yet I do not forget Thy precepts.
142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness,
And Thy law is truth.
143 Trouble and anguish have come upon me;
Yet Thy commandments are my delight.
144 Thy testimonies are righteous forever;
Give me understanding that I may live.
Qof
Waiting in Hope
145 I cried with all my heart; answer me, O LORD!
I will observe Thy statutes.
146 I cried to Thee; save me,
And I shall keep Thy testimonies.
147 I rise before dawn and cry for help;
I wait for Thy words.
148 My eyes anticipate the night watches,
That I may meditate on Thy word.
149 Hear my voice according to Thy lovingkindness;
Revive me, O LORD, according to Thine ordinances.
150 Those who follow after wickedness draw near;
They are far from Thy law.
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151 Thou art near, O LORD,
And all Thy commandments are truth.
152 Of old I have known from Thy testimonies,
That Thou hast founded them forever.
Resh
God’s Word is Truth
153 Look upon my affliction and rescue me,
For I do not forget Thy law.
154 Plead my cause and redeem me;
Revive me according to Thy word.
155 Salvation is far from the wicked,
For they do not seek Thy statutes.
156 Great are Thy mercies, O LORD;
Revive me according to Thine ordinances.
157 Many are my persecutors and my adversaries,
Yet I do not turn aside from Thy testimonies.
158 I behold the treacherous and loathe them,
Because they do not keep Thy word.
159 Consider how I love Thy precepts;
Revive me, O LORD, according to Thy lovingkindness.
160 The sum of Thy word is truth,
And every one of Thy righteous ordinances is everlasting.
Sin/Shin
Loving God’s Instruction
161 Princes persecute me without cause,
But my heart stands in awe of Thy words.
162 I rejoice at Thy word,
As one who finds great spoil.
163 I hate and despise falsehood,
But I love Thy law.
164 Seven times a day I praise Thee,
Because of Thy righteous ordinances.
165 Those who love Thy law have great peace,
And nothing causes them to stumble.
166 I hope for Thy salvation, O LORD,
And do Thy commandments.
167 My soul keeps Thy testimonies,
And I love them exceedingly.
168 I keep Thy precepts and Thy testimonies,
For all my ways are before Thee.
Tav
The Joy of God’s Word
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169 Let my cry come before Thee, O LORD;
Give me understanding according to Thy word.
170 Let my supplication come efore Thee;
Deliver me according to Thy word.
171 Let my lips utter praise,
For Thou dost teach me Thy statutes.
172 Let my tongue sing of Thy word,
For all Thy commandments are righteousness.
173 Let Thy hand be ready to help me,
For I have chosen Thy precepts.
174 I long for Thy salvation, O LORD,
And Thy law is my delight.
175 Let my soul live that it may praise Thee,
And let Thine ordinances help me.
176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek Thy servant,
For I do not forget Thy commandments. NAS
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DO
Php 4:9 The things you have learned and received and heard and
seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be
with you.
Not only are Christians to meditate on certain things but they are to do
certain things.
Those things, which ye have both (Ascensive KAI = also)
[do] Four things to practice and enjoy:
1. Things learned — Christian practices
[learned], (MANTHANO, to appropriate knowledge through
discipline and instruction)
the things in which Paul personally instructed them
2. Things received — Christian blessings
[and received], (PARALAMBANO, Aor = to receive from the
ultimate source of; to accept a fixed tradition.
This then stands for the accepted teaching of the Church which Paul had
handed on to them.
3. Things heard — Christian doctrines
[and heard], (AKOUO, Aor Ac = to listen and receive)
4. Things seen — Christian miracles
[and seen] (HORAO, Aor Ac = to perceive, discern with the soul)
do: (Pres Ac Imperative PRASSO = keep on practicing {these things})
From these two words we learn that teaching consists of two things.
- It consists of handing on to men the accepted body of truth and
doctrine which the whole Church holds; and
- it consists of illuminating that body of doctrine by the personal
interpretation and instruction of the teacher.
If we would teach or preach we must know the accepted body of the
Church's doctrine;
Then we must pass it through our own minds and hand it on to others,
both in its own simplicity and in the significances which our own
experiences and our own thinking have given to it.
Christianity is not a dead, dry, formal, human religion of rituals, outward
form, and show, but a divine, living, vital, dynamic, liberating religion.
Religion, without power to deliver men from sin, sickness, poverty, and
want, now and hereafter, is not of God (Matt 7:7-11; Matt 17:20;
Matthew 21:22; Mark 9:23; Mark 11:22-24; Mark 16:17-18; John
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14:12-15; John 15:7,16; John 16:23-26; Hebrews 11; James 1).
[do]
Deuteronomy 5:1 And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them,
Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears
this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them.
Matthew 5:19-20 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least
commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least
in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the
same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say
unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the
righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter
into the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter
into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father
which is in heaven.
Matthew 7:24-27 24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of
mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his
house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came,
and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was
founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings
of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man,
which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and
the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it
fell: and great was the fall of it.
Luke 6:46
say?
And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I
Luke 8:21 And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my
brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.
John 2:5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto
you, do it.
John 13:17
If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
John 15:14
Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
Acts 9:6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou
have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city,
and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
2 Thessalonians 3:4 And we have confidence in the Lord touching
you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you.
James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only,
deceiving your own selves.
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2 Peter 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make
your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never
fall:
1 John 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we
keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his
sight.
[which ye have both learned]
1 Corinthians 10:31-33 Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you
do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense either to Jews or to
Greeks or to the church of God; 33 just as I also please all men in all
things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of the many, that they
may be saved. NAS
1 Corinthians 11:1
Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.
Philippians 3:17 Brethren, join in following my example, and observe
those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. NAS
1 Thessalonians 1:6 You also became imitators of us and of the Lord,
having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy
Spirit,
1 Thessalonians 2:2-12 2 but after we had already suffered and been
mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God to
speak to you the gospel of God amid much opposition. 3 For our
exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of deceit; 4
but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the
gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men but God, who examines our
hearts. 5 For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor
with a pretext for greed-- God is witness-- 6 nor did we seek glory from
men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ
we might have asserted our authority. 7 But we proved to be gentle
among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children. 8
Having thus a fond affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to
you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you
had become very dear to us. 9 For you recall, brethren, our labor and
hardship, how working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of
you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses,
and so is God, how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we
behaved toward you believers; 11 just as you know how we were
exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father
would his own children, 12 so that you may walk in a manner worthy of
the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. NAS
1 Thessalonians 2:14
For you, brethren, became imitators of the
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churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for you also
endured the same sufferings at the hands of your own countrymen,
even as they did from the Jews, NAS
1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 1 Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort
you in the Lord Jesus, that, as you received from us instruction as to
how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk),
that you may excel still more. 2 For you know what commandments
we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of
God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual
immorality; 4 that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in
sanctification and honor, 5 not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who
do not know God; 6 and that no man transgress and defraud his
brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these
things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you. 7 For
God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification.
8 Consequently, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God
who gives His Holy Spirit to you. NAS
2 Thessalonians 3:6-10 6 Now we command you, brethren, in the
name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep aloof from every brother
who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you
received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow
our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner
among you, 8 nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but
with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we
might not be a burden to any of you; 9 not because we do not have the
right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, that you
might follow our example. 10 For even when we were with you, we
used to give you this order: if anyone will not work, neither let him eat.
NAS
In this passage Paul lays down the way of true teaching.
[in me], (EN + instrumental EGO = by means of me)
Paul tells the Philippians to copy what they have heard and seen in
himself.
Tragically few teachers and preachers can speak like that; and yet
it remains true that personal example is an essential part of
teaching.
The teacher must demonstrate in action the truth which he
expresses in words.
[and the God of peace] (KAI HO THEOS TAS EIRENES =
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and the God of harmony-peace-welfare)
[the God of peace]
Romans 15:33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
Romans 16:20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your
feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Amen.
1 Corinthians 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of
peace, as in all churches of the saints.
2 Corinthians 5:19-20 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the
world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and
hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then
we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you
by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
2 Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of
good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love
and peace shall be with you.
Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all
understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ
Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you
wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be
preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 13:20-21 Now the God of peace, that brought again from
the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep,
through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 Make you
perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which
is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory
for ever and ever. Amen.
[shall be with you] (META + Genitive = together with)
[with you]
Isaiah 8:10 Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought;
speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.
Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I
am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will
uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Matthew 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring
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forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being
interpreted is, God with us.
Matthew 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I
have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the
end of the world. Amen.
2 Timothy 4:22 The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be
with you. Amen.
Paul tells his Philippian friends that, if they faithfully do all this, the God of
peace will be with them.
"He is the God of peace."
This is Paul’s favorite title for God (Rom.16:20; 1Cor.14:33;
1Th.5:23).
To a Jew peace was never merely the absence of trouble.
It was everything which makes for a man's highest good.
To a Jew this peace issued specially in right relationships.
Only in the friendship of God can a man find life as it was meant to be.
It is only by the grace of God that we can enter into a right
relationship with him and with our fellow-men.
The God of peace is able to make life what it was meant to be by enabling
us to enter into fellowship with himself and with our fellow-men.
"He is the God of hope" (Rom.15:13).
Belief in God is the only thing which can keep a man from the ultimate
despair.
Only the sense of the grace of God can keep him from despairing
about himself;
Only the sense of the over-ruling providence of God can keep him
from despairing about the world.
"Why are you cast down, 0 my soul?... Hope in God: for I shall again
praise him, my help and my God" (Ps.42:11; Ps.43:5).
The hope of the Christian is indestructible because it is founded
on the eternal God.
"He is the God of patience, of comfort, and of consolation"
(Rom.15:5; 2Cor.1:3).
Patience is in Greek "hupomone,"
It never means simply the ability to sit down and bear things
It is the ability to rise up and conquer them.
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God is he who gives us the power to use any experience to lend
greatness and glory to life.
Consolation and comfort are the same Greek word "paraklesis."
"Paraklesis" is far more than soothing sympathy; it is
encouragement.
"Paraklesis" is comfort and strength combined.
God is lived out in the one who in any situation makes Him our glory
and in whom a man finds strength to go on gallantly when life has
fallen in.
"He is the God of love and peace" (2Cor.13:11).
Behind everything is that love of God which will never let us go,
which bears with all our sinning,
which will never cast us off,
which never sentimentally weakens
but always manfully strengthens a man for the battle of life.
Peace, hope, patience, comfort, love--these were the things which Paul
found in God. Indeed "our sufficiency is from God" (2Cor.3:5).
Romans 15:33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen. NAS
Romans 16:20 And the God of peace will soon crush Satan under
your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. NAS
1 Corinthians 14:33 for God is not a God of confusion but of peace,
as in all the churches of the saints. NAS
2 Corinthians 5:19-20 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling
the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them,
and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were
entreating through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be
reconciled to God. NAS
2 Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete,
be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love
and peace shall be with you. NAS
Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all
comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ
Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify
you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved
complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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NAS
Hebrews 13:20-21 Now the God of peace, who brought up from the
dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the
eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, 21 equip you in every
good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His
sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and
ever. Amen. NAS
THE SECRET OF TRUE CONTENTMENT
Philippians 4:10-13 "I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that now at
length you have made your thoughtfulness for me to blossom
again. That was a matter indeed about which you were always
thoughtful, but you had no opportunity. Not that I speak as if I
were in a state of want, for I have learned to be content in
whatever situation I am. I know both how to live in the humblest
circumstances, and how to have far more than enough, In
everything and in all things I have learned the secret of being
well fed and of being hungry, of having more than enough and of
having less than enough. I can do all things through him who
infuses strength into me."
[But I rejoiced] (KAIRO, Aor = had inner happiness)
[in the Lord] (EN + Instrum KURIOS = by means of the Lord)
[greatly, that now at the last] (HEDE POTE = already at length)
[your care] (PHRONEO, Pres Act Imperative = constant concern about)
[of] (HUPER = on behalf of)
[me hath flourished] (Aor Act ANATHALLO = begins to revive {me})
[again; wherein] (EPI + Dative HOS = toward whom)
[ye were also careful but ye lacked opportunity]
[Not that I speak] (Pres Act Ind LEGO = habitually think or speak)
[in respect of want]: (KATA + accus HUSTERESIS = with reference to
poverty or want)
[for I have learned], (MANTHANO = learn through discipline or
instruction)
[in whatsoever state] (EN + locative HOS = in the sphere of whatever
circumstances)
[I am,] (EIMI, Pres Act Ind = I am constantly)
[therewith to be content.] (AUTARCHES = self sufficient, independent)
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[I know] (OIDA, Perfect used as Present = I constantly know)
[both how to be abased], (TAPEINOO, Pres Pas = to be humiliated or
degraded)
[and I know] (OIDA, Perfect used as Present = I constantly know)
[how to abound]: (PERISSEUO, Pres Act Imperative = to live in
prosperity)
[every where and in all things] (EN + locative PAS = in all
circumstances)
[I am instructed] (Perf Pas MUEO, to be instructed in the ways of a
fraternity, to learn something that few know)
[both to be full] (CHORTAZO, Pres Pas Infin = to be well fed always)
[and to be hungry], (PEINAO, Pres Act Infin = to be constantly starving)
[both to abound] (Pres Act Infin PERISSEUO = making prosperous)
[and to suffer need.] (HUSTEREO, Pres Pas Infin = to live in poverty)
[I can do] (ISCHUO, Pres Ac Ind = keep on having endowed power)
[all things] (PAS, everything)
[through Christ] (Not in earliest MSS, though supported by context)
[which] (EN + Instrumental = by means of the one)
[strengtheneth] (ENDUNAMOO, Pres Act = to empower or strengthen
someone with something) me.
As the letter draws to an end Paul generously expresses his gratitude for
the gift which the Philippians had sent to him.
He knew that he had always been much in their thoughts, but
circumstances had up till now given them no opportunity to show their
mindfulness of him.
It was not that he was dissatisfied with his own state, for he had learned
the gift of contentment.
[for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content]
Ten great lessons to learn:
1. To be content under all circumstances (Phil. 4:11)
2. How to be abased (Phil. 4:12)
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3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
How to abound (Phil. 4:12)
In all places (Phil. 4:12)
In all things (Phil. 4:12)
To be full (Phil. 4:12)
To be hungry (Phil. 4:12)
To abound (Phil. 4:12)
To suffer need (Phil. 4:12)
That nothing is impossible through Jesus Christ (Phil. 4:13;
Matthew 17:20; Mark 9:23; Mark 11:22-24; John 14:12-15;
John 15:7,16)
Seven "fear nots" from God:
1. God promises blessing in life's journey (Gen 26.24; Num 21.34;
Judg 6.23)
2. God promises supply in famine (1 Kings 17.13)
3. God promises protection in times of peril (2 Kings 6.16)
4. God promises strength in weakness (Isaiah 41.10)
5. God promises companionship in trial (Isaiah 43.1-3)
6. God promises intimate care for you (Matthew 10.30-31)
7. God promises life beyond death (Revelation 1.17-18)
Paul uses one of the great words of pagan ethics ("autarkes"), which
means entirely self-sufficient.
"Autarkeia," "self-sufficiency," was the highest aim of Stoic ethics; by it
the Stoics meant a state of mind in which a man was absolutely
independent of all things and of all people.

They proposed to eliminate all desire.
The Stoics rightly believed that contentment did not consist in
possessing much but in wanting little,
"If you want to make a man happy," they said, "add not to his
possessions, but take away from his desires."
Socrates was once asked who was the wealthiest man.
"He who is content with least, for `autarkeia' is nature's
wealth."
The Stoics believed that the only way to content was to abolish all
desire until a man had come to a stage when nothing and no one were
essential to him.
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
They proposed to eliminate all emotion until a man had come to a
stage when he did not care what happened either to himself or to
anyone else.
Epictetus says.
"Begin with a cup or a household utensil; if it breaks, say, `I don't
care.' Go on to a horse or pet dog; if anything happens to it, say,
`I don't care.' Go on to yourself, and if you are hurt or injured in any
way, say, `I don't care.' If you go on long enough, and if you try
hard enough, you will come to a stage when you can watch your
nearest and dearest suffer and die, and say, `I don't care."'
The Stoic aim was to abolish every feeling of the human heart.

This was to be done by a deliberate act of will which saw in everything
the will of God.
The Stoic believed that literally nothing could happen which was not
the will of God.
However painful it might be, however disastrous it might seem, it
was God's will.
It was, therefore, useless to struggle against it; a man must
steel himself into accepting everything.
Believing that God is absolutely in control is not the same as
believing that everything that happens is in His will.
In order to achieve content, the Stoics abolished all desires and
eliminated all emotions.
Love was rooted out of life and caring was forbidden.
The Stoic said, "I will learn content by a deliberate act of my own will."
Paul said, "I can do all things through Christ who infuses his strength
into me."
For the Stoic contentment was a human achievement;
for Paul it was a divine gift.
The Stoic was self-sufficient;
but Paul was God-sufficient.
Paul could face anything, because in every situation he had Christ;
the man who walks with Christ can cope with anything.
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AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE >>>
PEACE >>>>
REJOICING >>>
CONTENTMENT
We look at the NOW and envision a false future.
God looks at the FUTURE and controls our NOW.
Act_20:35 In every way I showed you that by working hard like
this we should help the weak and remember the words that the
Lord Jesus himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
[This saying is not recorded in the Gospels.]
THE VALUE OF THE GIFT
Philippians 4:14-20 "All the same, I am most grateful to you for
your readiness to share the burden of my troubles. You too,
know, Philippians, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left
Macedonia, no Church entered into partnership with me in the
matter of giving and receiving except you alone, for in
Thessalonica not merely once but twice you sent to help my
need. It is not that I am looking for the gift; but I am looking for
the fruit which increases to your credit. I have enough and
more than enough of everything. I am fully supplied, now that I
have received from Epaphroditus the gifts which came from you,
the odour of a sweet savour, an acceptable sacrifice,
well-pleasing to God. And my God will gloriously supply every
need of yours according to his wealth in Jesus Christ. Glory be
to our God and Father forever and ever. Amen."
[Notwithstanding ye have well] (KALOS = honorably)
[done,] (POIEO, Culminative Aor = completely done)
[that ye did communicate] (SUGKOINONEO = to share or be in
partnership with)]
[with my affliction.] Greek: thlipsis (GSN-2347), not a disease, as
usually understood, but tribulation.
Translated:
"tribulation" 20 times;
"affliction" in the sense of tribulation 18 times;
"burdened" (2 Cor. 8:13);
"anguish" (John 16:21);
"persecution" (Acts 11:19); and
"trouble" (1 Cor. 7:28; 2 Cor. 1:4,8).
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Not once is it used of physical sickness or disease (2 Cor. 1:4).
[Now ye Philippians know] (OIDA, Perfect used as Present = have
certain knowledge)
[also, that in the beginning of the gospel], (See Acts 16, refers to
Paul's initial entry into the Gospel ministry)
[when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated]
(KOINONEO, Aor Ac = to have partnership or fellowship in giving)
[with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.]
[For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my
necessity.] (EIS CHREIA, accus = because of my need)
Paul supported himself partly by working while starting the
Thessalonian church and partly through help from Philippi (2 Thes.
3:7-9).
In Ac.16--17 we read how he preached the gospel in Philippi and
then moved on to Thessalonica and Berea.
As far back as that, the Philippian Church had given practical
proof of its love for him.
He was in a unique position in regard to the Philippians; from no
other Church had he ever accepted any gift or help.
It was in fact that very circumstance which annoyed the
Corinthians (2Cor.11:7-12).
[Not because I desire] (EPIZETEO, Pres Act = keep seeking after)
[a gift]: (HO DOMA = the free gift)
[but I desire] (EPIZETEO, Pres Act = keep seeking after)
[fruit] (KARPOS = fruit)
Paul says, I do not say this to get a further gift from you, but to state
facts, wanting you to bear fruit to be put to your account and
rewarded in the day of Christ.
"It is not that I desire a present from you for my own sake,
although your gift touches my heart and makes me very glad. I
don't need anything, for I have more than enough. But I am glad
that you gave me a gift for your own sake, for your kindness will
stand greatly to your credit in the sight of God."
Their generosity made him glad, not for his own sake but for
theirs.
Then he uses words which turn the gift of the Philippians into a
sacrifice to God.
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"The odor of a sweet savour"
That was a regular Old Testament phrase for a sacrifice which
was acceptable to God.
It is as if the smell of the sacrifice was sweet in the nostrils of God
(Gen.8:21; Lev.1:9,13,17).
Paul's joy in the gift is not in what it did for him,
but in what it did for them.
It was not that he did not value the gift for its own sake; but his greatest
joy was that it and the love which prompted it were dear to God.
[that may abound] (PLEONAZO, Pres Ac = to abound,
[increase], constantly accumulate)
[to your account.]
A clear reference to each man as having an account in heaven
(Psalm 144:3; Matt 6:20; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 4:5).
He is either storing up wrath by his deeds on record in heaven
(Romans 2:5)
or he is storing up reward (Romans 14:1-12; 1 Cor. 3:11-15; 2
Cor. 5:10; Galatians 3:6).
Even every idle (useless) word men will give an account of (Matthew
12:36).
Every cup of cold water given or refused and the minutest details of
life as well as the major acts will be judged
(Matthew 6:1-18; Matthew 10:41-42; Matthew 16:27; Luke
6:23,35; 1 Cor. 3:8-15; 1 Cor. 9:17).
In a last sentence, Paul lays it down that no gift ever made any man the
poorer.
The wealth of God is open to those who love him and love their
fellow-men.
He who gives makes himself richer, for his own gift opens to him
the gifts of God.
[But] (DE, particle = moreover)
[I have all], (APECHO, Pres Ac = to receive the full or total sum)
[and abound:] (PERISSEUO, Pres Ac Ind = to have more than enough)
[I am full], (PLEROO, Perf Pas Ind = to fill up a deficiency, to fully
possess, to fill up with a certain quality)
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[having received ](DECHOMAI, Aor Ac = received the love offering)
[of] (PARA = from)
[Epaphroditus the things [which were sent] from you, an odour]
(ASTHME = fragrant odor or smell like as of perfume)
[of a sweet smell, a sacrifice] (THUSIA = monetary sacrifice)
[acceptable], (DEKTOS = propitious, satisfying, acceptable)
[wellpleasing] (EUARESTOS = pleasing)
[to] God.
[But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of
Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you]
You have sent me so much by Epaphroditus that I have all I need.
Your gift is a sweet aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing
to God (Ephes. 5:2).
[But] (DE, continuative particle = Now)
[my God shall supply] (PLEROO, Future Active = = to fill up a deficiency,
to fully possess, to fill up with a certain quality)
[all ](PAS = all things)
[your need according] (KATA = according to the norm or standard of)
[to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.]
[But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in
glory by Christ Jesus] A promise that is still true to those who are in
Christ and who are faithful to God as the Philippians were (Phil.
4:14-18).
Christ has power:
1. Of Forgiveness (Matthew 9.6)
2. Over all power (Matthew 28.18)
3. Over Nature (Luke 8.25)
4. Over His own life (John 10.18)
Philippians 4:19
Gen 22:14 And AbrahamH85 calledH7121 the nameH8034 of thatH1931
placeH4725 Jehovahjireh:H3070 asH834 it is saidH559 to this day,H3117 In the
mountH2022 of the LORDH3068 it shall be seen.H7200
supply:
Gen 48:15-16
(15) He blessed Joseph, and said, "The God before whom my fathers
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Abraham and Isaac walked, The God who has been my shepherd
all my life to this day,
(16) The angel who has redeemed me from all evil, Bless the lads;
And may my name live on in them, And the names of my fathers
Abraham and Isaac; And may they grow into a multitude in the
midst of the earth."
Deu 8:3-4
(3) "He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with
manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that
He might make you understand that man does not live by bread
alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth
of the LORD.
(4) "Your clothing did not wear out on you, nor did your foot swell
these forty years.
Neh 9:15
(15) "You provided bread from heaven for them for their hunger,
You brought forth water from a rock for them for their thirst, And
You told them to enter in order to possess The land which You
swore to give them.
Psa 23:1-5
(1) A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.
(2) He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside
quiet waters.
(3) He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name's sake.
(4) Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I
fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they
comfort me.
(5) You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.
Psa 41:1-3
(1) For the choir director. A Psalm of David. How blessed is
he who considers the helpless; The LORD will deliver him in a
day of trouble.
(2) The LORD will protect him and keep him alive, And he shall be
called blessed upon the earth; And do not give him over to the
desire of his enemies.
(3) The LORD will sustain him upon his sickbed; In his illness, You
restore him to health.
Psa 84:11
(11) For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD gives grace
and glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk
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uprightly.
Psa 112:5-9
(5) It is well with the man who is gracious and lends; He will
maintain his cause in judgment.
(6) For he will never be shaken; The righteous will be remembered
forever.
(7) He will not fear evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the
LORD.
(8) His heart is upheld, he will not fear, Until he looks with
satisfaction on his adversaries.
(9) He has given freely to the poor, His righteousness endures
forever; His horn will be exalted in honor.
Pro 3:9-10
(9) Honor the LORD from your wealth And from the first of all your
produce;
(10) So your barns will be filled with plenty And your vats will
overflow with new wine.
Pro 11:24-25
(24) There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more, And
there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it results
only in want.
(25) The generous man will be prosperous, And he who waters will
himself be watered.
Mal 3:10
(10) "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be
food in My house, and test Me now in this," says the LORD of
hosts, "if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour
out for you a blessing until it overflows.
Luk 12:30-33
(30) "For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but
your Father knows that you need these things.
(31) "But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you.
(32) "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly
to give you the kingdom.
(33) "Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves
money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in
heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys.
2Co 9:8-11
(8) And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always
having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance
for every good deed;
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(9) as it is written, "HE SCATTERED ABROAD, HE GAVE TO THE
POOR, HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS ENDURES FOREVER."
(10) Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will
supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the
harvest of your righteousness;
(11) you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which
through us is producing thanksgiving to God.
TRUST
MATTHEW 16:24 THEN SAID JESUS UNTO HIS DISCIPLES, IF ANY
MAN WILL COME AFTER ME, LET HIM DENY HIMSELF, AND
TAKE UP HIS CROSS, AND FOLLOW ME.
MATTHEW 19:21 JESUS SAID UNTO HIM, IF THOU WILT BE
PERFECT, GO AND SELL THAT THOU HAST, AND GIVE TO THE
POOR, AND THOU SHALT HAVE TREASURE IN HEAVEN: AND
COME AND FOLLOW ME.
MARK 4:24 AND HE SAID UNTO THEM, TAKE HEED WHAT YE
HEAR: WITH WHAT MEASURE YE METE, IT SHALL BE
MEASURED TO YOU: AND UNTO YOU THAT HEAR SHALL MORE
BE GIVEN.
MARK 6:9 BUT BE SHOD WITH SANDALS; AND NOT PUT ON TWO
COATS.
MARK 8:34 AND WHEN HE HAD CALLED THE PEOPLE UNTO
HIM WITH HIS DISCIPLES ALSO, HE SAID UNTO THEM,
WHOSOEVER WILL COME AFTER ME, LET HIM DENY HIMSELF,
AND TAKE UP HIS CROSS, AND FOLLOW ME.
LUKE 9:59-60
AND HE SAID UNTO ANOTHER, FOLLOW ME.
BUT HE SAID, LORD, SUFFER ME FIRST TO GO AND BURY MY
FATHER. [60] JESUS SAID UNTO HIM, LET THE DEAD BURY
THEIR DEAD: BUT GO THOU AND PREACH THE KINGDOM OF
GOD.
LUKE 1:4 THAT THOU MIGHTEST KNOW THE CERTAINTY OF
THOSE THINGS, WHEREIN THOU HAST BEEN INSTRUCTED.
LUKE 11:13 IF YE THEN, BEING EVIL, KNOW HOW TO GIVE
GOOD GIFTS UNTO YOUR CHILDREN: HOW MUCH MORE SHALL
YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER GIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT TO THEM
THAT ASK HIM?
LUKE 14:33 SO LIKEWISE, WHOSOEVER HE BE OF YOU THAT
FORSAKETH NOT ALL THAT HE HATH, HE CANNOT BE MY
DISCIPLE.
LUKE 18:29
AND HE SAID UNTO THEM, VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU,
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THERE IS NO MAN THAT HATH LEFT HOUSE, OR PARENTS, OR
BRETHREN, OR WIFE, OR CHILDREN, FOR THE KINGDOM OF
GOD'S SAKE,
LUKE 22:35-36 AND HE SAID UNTO THEM, WHEN I SENT YOU
WITHOUT PURSE, AND SCRIP, AND SHOES, LACKED YE ANY
THING? AND THEY SAID, NOTHING. [36] THEN SAID HE UNTO
THEM, BUT NOW, HE THAT HATH A PURSE, LET HIM TAKE IT,
AND LIKEWISE HIS SCRIP: AND HE THAT HATH NO SWORD, LET
HIM SELL HIS GARMENT, AND BUY ONE.
PHILIP. 4:19 BUT MY GOD SHALL SUPPLY ALL YOUR NEED
ACCORDING TO HIS RICHES IN GLORY BY CHRIST JESUS.
Faith
Instances of:
Noah, in building the ark Gen_6:14-22; Heb_11:7
Abraham:
In forsaking the land of his nativity at the command
of God Gen_12:1-4
In believing the promise of many descendants
Gen_12:7; Gen_15:4-8
In the offering up of Isaac Gen_22:1-10; Rom_4:18-21;
Heb_11:8-19
Jacob, in blessing Joseph's sons Heb_11:21
Joseph, concerning God's providence in his being sold
into Egypt, and the final deliverance of Israel Gen_50:20;
Heb_11:22
Jochebed, in caring for Moses
Exo_2:2; Heb_11:23
Pharaoh's servants, who obeyed the Lord Exo_9:20
Moses:
In espousing the cause of his people Heb_11:24-28
At the death of Korah Num_16:28-29
Israelites:
When Aaron declared the mission of himself and
Moses Exo_4:31
In the battle with the Canaanites 1Ch_5:20
In other conquests 2Ch_13:8-18
Caleb, in advising to take the land of promise
Num_13:30; Num_14:6-9
Rahab, in hospitality to the spies Jos_2:9; Jos_2:11;
Heb_11:31
The spies, sent to reconnoiter Jericho Jos_2:24
Conquest of Jericho Josh 6
Manoah's wife Jdg_13:23
Hannah 1 Sam 1
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Jonathan, in smiting the Philistines 1Sa_14:6
David:
In smiting Goliath 1Sa_17:37; 1Sa_17:46-47
In choosing to fall into the hands of the Almighty in
his punishment for numbering Israel 2Sa_24:14
In believing God's promise, that His kingdom would
be a perpetual kingdom Act_2:30
Elijah, in his controversy with the priests of Baal
1Ki_18:32-38
Widow of Zarephath in feeding Elijah 1Ki_17:13-15
Amaziah, in dismissing the Ephraimites in obedience to
the command of God, and going alone to battle against
the Edomites 2Ch_25:7-10
Hezekiah 2Ki_18:5; 2 Kin 19; 2Ki_20:1-11
Daniel, in the lions' den Dan 6
The three Hebrews, who refused to worship
Nebuchadnezzar's idol
Dan_3:13-27
Ninevites, in obeying Jonah Jon_3:5
Ezra, in making the journey from Babylon to Jerusalem
without a military escort Ezr_8:22
Joseph, in obeying the vision about Mary and to flee into
Egypt Mat_1:18-24; Mat_2:13-14
Abel Heb_11:4
Eliphaz, in the overruling providence of God, that
afflictions are for the good of the righteous Job 5:6-27
Mordecai, in the deliverance of the Jews
Est_4:14
Simeon, when he saw Jesus in the temple Luk_2:25-35
Conquests by Heb_11:32-34
Instances of faith in Christ:
The wise men of the East Mat_2:1-2; Mat_2:11
Peter
Mat_4:18-22; Mar_1:16-20; Luk_5:4-5; Joh_6:68-69
Andrew Mat_4:18-22; Mar_1:16-20; Joh_1:41
James and John Mat_4:21-22; Mar_1:19-20
The woman with the issue of blood Mat_9:21-22
Jairus, for the healing of his daughter Mat_9:18;
Mat_9:23-25
Two blind men Mat_9:29-30
Blind Bartimaeus and a fellow blind man Mat_20:30-34;
Mar_10:46-52; Luk_18:35-42
The Samaritan leper Luk_17:11-19
The sick of Gennesaret
Mat_14:36; Mar_3:10;
Mar_6:54-56
Those who brought the paralytic to Jesus Luk_5:18-20
The Syrophenician woman Mat_15:22-28; Mar_7:25-30
The woman who anointed Jesus' feet
Luk_7:36-50
Those who brought sick of palsy Mat_9:2
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Philip Joh_1:45-46
Nathanael Joh_1:49
The Samaritans who believed:
Through the preaching of Jesus Joh_4:39-42
Through the preaching of Philip Act_8:9-12
The nobleman whose child was sick Joh_4:46-53
Abraham Joh_8:56
The blind man whom Jesus healed on the Sabbath John
9:13-38
Mary, the sister of Martha
Luk_10:38-42; Joh_11:32
John, the disciple Joh_20:8
The disciples, through the miracle at Cana of Galilee
Joh_2:11
Jews at Jerusalem Joh_2:23; Joh_8:30; Joh_11:45; Joh_12:11
Three thousand at Pentecost Act_2:41
Five thousand Act_4:4
Multitudes Act_5:14
The cripple at Lystra Act_14:9
Stephen Act_6:8
Ethiopian eunuch Act_8:37
People of Lydda and Saron Act_9:35
People of Joppa
Act_9:42
People of Antioch Act_11:21-24
Barnabas Act_11:24
Eunice, Lois, and Timothy
2Ti_1:5; Act_16:1
Lydia Act_16:14
Philippian jailer Act_16:31-34
Crispus Act_18:8
The Corinthians Act_18:8; 1Co_15:11
Jews at Rome Act_28:24
Ephesians Eph_1:13; Eph_1:15
Colossians Col_1:2; Col_1:4
Thessalonians 1Th_1:6; 1Th_3:6-8; 2Th_1:3-4
Philemon Phm_1:5
Church at Thyatira Rev_2:19
Trial of
General references
1Ch_29:17; Psa_26:2; Psa_81:7; Mat_13:19-22; Luk_8:13-14;
Mat_24:21-25; 2Th_1:3-5; Heb_6:13-15; Jam_1:3; Jam_1:12;
1Pe_1:7
Instances of trial of faith:
Noah
Gen_6:14-22; Heb_11:7
Abraham:
When commanded to leave his native land and go he
knew not whither Gen_12:1-4; Heb_11:8
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When commanded to offer Isaac Gen 22:1-19;
Heb_11:17-19
Moses:
When sent to Pharaoh Exo_3:11-12; Exo_4:10-17;
Heb_11:25-29
At the Red Sea, by the murmurings of the people Ex
14-15
Joshua and the children of Israel, in the method of taking
Jericho Josh 6; Heb_11:30
Gideon, when commanded to deliver Israel Jdg_6:36-40;
Judg 7; Heb_11:32
Job, by affliction and adversity Job 1-2
Ezra, in leaving Babylon without a military escort
Ezr_8:22
Daniel, when forbidden to pray to Jehovah Dan 6:4-23;
Heb_11:32-33
The three Hebrews, when commanded to worship the
image Dan 3:8-30; Heb_11:32-34
The Syrophenician woman Mat_15:21-28; Mar_7:24-30
The two blind men who appealed to Jesus for sight
Mat_9:28
The disciples, when Jesus came walking on the Sea of
Galilee Mat_14:25-33
The disciples:
By the question of Jesus, as to who He was
Mat_16:15-20; Luk_9:20-21
By their inability to cast out the evil spirit from the
lunatic Mat_17:14-21; Mark 9:14-29; Luk_9:37-42
In the tempest at sea Mat_8:23-27; Mar_4:36-41;
Luk_8:22-26
Of Philip, when questioned by Jesus as to how the
multitude would be fed Joh_6:5-6
Of Peter, when asked whether he loved Jesus
Joh_21:16-17
Sum total of religious belief and life Rom_1:8; Jud_1:3
according: Psa_36:8, Psa_104:24, Psa_130:7; Rom_9:23, Rom_11:33;
Eph_1:7, Eph_1:18, Eph_2:7, Eph_3:8, Eph_3:16; Col_1:27, Col_3:16;
1Ti_6:17
glory: Rom_8:18; 2Co_4:17; 1Th_2:12; 1Pe_5:1, 1Pe_5:10
[Now unto God and our Father] (The Father is head of the Godhead)
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[be glory] (HE DOXZA = the glory)
[for ever and ever. Amen.]
GREETINGS
Philippians 4:21-23 "Greet in Christ Jesus every one of God's
dedicated people. The brothers who are with me send you their
greetings, especially those of Caesar's household. The grace
of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit."
The letter comes to the end with greetings.
[Salute] (ASPAZOMAI, Aor Ac Imperative = greet, embrace, salute)
[every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet]
(ASPAZOMAI, Aor Ac Imperative = greet, embrace, salute)
[you.]
[All the saints salute ](ASPAZOMAI, Aor Ac Imperative = greet,
embrace, salute)
[you,] chiefly (MALISTA = especially)
[they that are of Caesar's household.] (refers to Christians who were on
Caesar's household staff. Christianity had reached even into the court
of the infidels)
Nero was emperor of Rome at this time.
A more cruel and worthless man never ruled the empire; yet
among his own household there were a number of true Christians.
Paul sends special greetings from the Christian brothers who are of
Caesar's household.
Josephus says that the empress Poppaea was a worshiper of the
true God (Antiquities, 20:8:11).
This does not mean those who are of Caesar's kith and kin however.
Caesar's household was the regular phrase for what we would call the
Imperial Civil Service; it had members all over the world.



The palace officials, the secretaries,
the people who had charge of the imperial revenues,
those who were responsible for the day-to-day administration
of the empire,
all these were Caesar's household.
as early as this Christianity had penetrated into the very centre of
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the Roman government.
God often will turn what appears to be grevious events to further His
purpose, will and kingdom.
It was to be another three hundred years before Christianity became the
religion of the empire
GOD IS IN CONTROL - ALWAYS IN ALL THINGS
The letter ends: "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your
spirit."
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GREEK TENSES:
PR= Present Tense:
Shows action in present time. When used with Active Voice, and
Indicative Mood, often shows linear or continuing action.
AO= Aorist Tense:
Simple, undefined action. The time of the action is undefined, except
in the indicative mood.
FUT= Future Tense:
Shows action of the verb as defined in the future.
PER= Perfect Tense:
The action was completed in the past, but has lasting and continuing
results into the future.
IMP= Imperfect Tense:
Used only in the indicative mood, and refers to continuous or linear
action in past time. As in "I was having".
PLPF= Pluperfect Tense:
The action was completed in the past, with continuing results in the
past.
GREEK CASES:
GEN= Genitive Case:
Usually indicates possession, though it can denote source of the
action.
INST = Instrumental Case:
Usually denotes action on the object of the verb.
DAT= Dative Case
NOM= Nominative Case
ACC= Accusative
PL= Plural
SG= Singular
GREEK VOICES:
AC= Active Voice: Action was completed by the subject of the verb.
PAS= Passive Voice:
The subject receives the action of the verb.
MID= Middle Voice:
itself.
The subject acts in some way upon itself or to
GREEK MOODS:
IND= Indicative Mood :
Makes an assertion of fact, and is used with all Greek tenses.
Example: they will go, she saw.
OPT= Optative Mood:
desire.
IMP= Imperative Mood:
Rarely used, it usually expresses a wish or
A command to do something.
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SUBJ= Subjective Mood:
Makes an assertion about which there is some doubt, uncertainty, or
indefiniteness.
OTHER ABBREVIATIONS:
PART= Participle:
the gift".
A verbal adjective, such as "having gone, receiving
ABL= Ablative of source:
When something is out of something. Example, The Spirit out of God.
INF= Infinitive: A verbal noun, examples = to see, to go, to throw.
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