Joy in Complete
Submission to Christ
Book of Philippians
1:18-30
My pastor recently
preached a sermon on "Doing My Little Part". Some examples
were:
1) The brick walls.
A wall of bricks of any size begins with just one brick. If I do what
the Lord has called me today then I can be one of those bricks in the
salvation plan of God. That would be my ministry!
2) The Bible. The
Bible is the most important Book on the face of this earth but the
Bible consist of 66 books and each one of those books has in it the
Word of God and the same message from start to finish. We need all 66
books to have the complete message of God. Not bits and pieces.
3) The United States
is a great nation. Within the United States there are 50 states.
Without every state doing its part how can we say we are united but
being united is what makes us a great nation. America is more divided
now than at any other time in its history. Most people know what
truly caused that division (not slavery), yet those lessons are
forgotten. It is a fact that a handful of people cannot dictate the
actions of the many without division and then failure. Which is the
goal of those who finance this division!
Even the Christian
Church is divided because some handful of so-called Christian leaders
have chosen to say God has become a liberal and abandoned His truth,
when God is neither liberal nor conservative, God is just God and He
never changes nor will He ever change from the completed Words He has
given us. If God changed every season, how could we trust Him. Which
again is the goal of those who push this agenda.
As Christians, all
have our little part to do in the salvation plan of God!
It is also a fact
that no one can face the wiles of the Devil on their own!
As we ended last
week’s lesson the Apostle Paul gave us these words:
Php 1:17 But the
other of love, "knowing that I am set for the defence of the
gospel".
Paul joined the
other 11 Apostles and said, we must defend the "Gospel",
the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
What is the
"Gospel"?
1) The Gospel is in
fact all 66 Books of the Bible.
2) The "Gospels"
are in fact the first 4 Books of the New Testament. (Matthew, Mark,
Luke, and John)
3) The "Gospel"
is the history of the birth, the life, the works, the death, the
resurrection, the ascension, and the doctrines of Jesus Christ!
4) The "Gospel"
is the revelation of the "Grace of God"!
5) The "Gospel"
is the salvation plan of God, presented from Genesis 1:1 to
Revelation 22:21
It is called the
Gospel of God. Rom 1:1 (all 66 books)
Rom 1:1 Paul, a
servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, "separated
unto the gospel of God".
It is called the
Gospel of Christ. Rom 1:16 (the four Gospels)
Rom 1:16 For I am
not ashamed of "the gospel of Christ": for it is the power
of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first,
and also to the Greek.
It is called the
Gospel of salvation. Eph 1:13 (The works of Jesus Christ and the
promises of God)
Eph 1:13 In whom ye
also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, "the gospel
of your salvation" in whom also after that ye believed, ye were
sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
The truth is we must
never allow the circumstances of this world to come into our lives
and prevent us from serving the Lord!
Let's begin:
*****Php 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.
Paul was in bondage
in Rome and he would remain that way for at least two years.
Much of that time
was spent chained to a Roman soldier, so Paul could only witness to
one man at a time.
We can just imagine
that not many Roman guards were easily impressed by anyone such as
Paul.
They had one duty
and that was to make sure Paul did not escape or it would cause their
own death.
We can just imagine
how Paul took advantage of this truth because death is a reality for
every soldier!
Later Paul was
placed under house arrest in his own hired house with no freedom to
leave.
Yet even in all
these circumstances the "Gospel" was spreading in Rome.
In fact, the talk of
the town was the Lord Jesus Christ.
John Bunyan, also in
bondage for preaching the "Gospel" said: "I never had
in all my life so great an inlet into the Word of God as now. Those
Scriptures that I saw nothing in before are made in this place and
state to shine upon me. I have seen that here which I am persuaded I
shall never in this world be able to express"
In Paul's case, we
know that many who had stayed behind closed doors became bold enough
to preach the truth of the "Gospel" more openly.
Paul also expressed
a great desire to study all the Scriptures again even after all his
years as a missionary.
2Ti_4:13 The cloke
that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee,
and the books, but especially the parchments.
We also know that
there were many who were envious of Paul and used this same boldness
for evil saying that Paul was locked up for things other than the
"Gospel".
And of course, just
as today, there were also many who rose up in dispute of the
"Gospel"!
Paul said whether in
pretense or the truth, Jesus Christ was the talk of Rome and Paul
could rejoice knowing that even under these circumstances he had
continued to do the best he could to further the Gospel of Jesus
Christ, allowing Paul great joy under dire circumstances!
One of the greatest
acts of God is to take something that was intended for evil and make
something good come out of it.
While in Jerusalem,
and many other nations, including Rome, there were many trying to
stop the spread of the Gospel, God had a better plan!
The only thing that
can stop the "Gospel" is when we quit being witnesses for
the Lord, when we rebel against the "Great Commission"!
This brings to mind
the story of Joseph in the Book of Genesis.
Gen 50:20 But as
for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to
bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
God has His way of
doing these things!
We also know that
Paul, by the Holy Spirit gave us most of his epistles while in
bondage in Rome.
It is always our job
to speak out the "Grace" of God no matter our
circumstances.
We must always rely
on the "Gospel of Jesus Christ" because it is the only
truth that will lead to salvation, which is reconciling ourselves
with our Holy God!
We must refuse to be
envious of anyone else, as we all have our own part and God rewards
according to how we do our own part and God never compares our work
with what others do.
The Lord does not
require big ministries but they are ok.
The Lord does not
require big names.
The Lord does not
require a great following or large numbers.
The Lord only
requires faithfulness and effort, effort being the greatest key to
rewards and not any other thing!
As our world
deviates from the Gospel we need to remember the words of the Apostle
John:
2Jn 1:7 For many
deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus
Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
2Jn 1:8 Look to
yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but
that we receive a full reward.
2Jn 1:9 Whosoever
transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not
God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the
Father and the Son.
2Jn 1:10 If there
come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into
your house, neither bid him God speed:
2Jn 1:11 For he
that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
None of these things
are open for dispute nor even discussion. The Word of God is just the
truth!
Another thing that
happened was that the more the Christians heard of Paul in bondage,
the more the prayers for his release.
*****Php 1:19 For I
know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and
the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
Paul had great joy
in knowing, that the Lord Jesus Christ was the talk of all Rome.
Paul had great joy
in knowing, if deliverance did not come while he was in bondage, it
would certainly come when the Lord called him home!
Paul had great joy
in knowing, that salvation had come to Rome. It was time for those
who heard the Gospel to make that choice that we all must make.
2Co 6:1 We then, as
workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the
grace of God in vain.
2Co 6:2 (For he
saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of
salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time;
behold, now is the day of salvation.)
2Co 6:3 Giving no
offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
What is the truth of
Paul that should also be true to every "Born Again" child
of God?
2Ti 2:10 Therefore
I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain
the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
If we cannot love
the lost, we will never try hard enough for their salvation! We
cannot save them but we can lead them to the One who can!
We always seem to
concentrate on those who speak the loudest against the Word of God,
when we need to concentrate on those who have never heard the Word of
God and those who need another opportunity.
We can also realize
what Paul realized, God will save us and deliver us even from
criticism and opposition.
1) Because of the
prayers of those who support the truth of God. (This Philippian
Church would begin to pray just as soon as they received this
epistle)
2) Because it is the
job of the Holy Spirit to delivers us from all evil or supply all our
needs as we go through such things!
Mat_6:13 And lead
us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the
kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Luk_11:4 And
forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted
to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
We seem to forget
these things.
By the way for those
nay-sayers, the Spirit of Jesus Christ is the same Holy Spirit, who
is the Same Holy Ghost, who is the Spirit of God!
Many of God's
children shudder in fright at the Holy Ghost but He has the same love
of God, because He is God!
It is the Holy Ghost
who was given to us "to share with us the deep things of God"
1Co 2:9 But as it
is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered
into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them
that love him.
1Co 2:10 But God
hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth
all things, yea, the deep things of God.
We seem to forget
these things.
What should be the
goal of every believer? To be like Christ! "This is being a
Christian"
To be saved is one
thing.
To be Christian is
to be saved with Jesus Christ magnified in our own bodies!
*****Php 1:20
According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I
shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also
Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by
death.
To be Christian is
to allow Jesus Christ to be magnified in our own bodies!
When will the
rapture take place and we join our Savior while we live?
Rom 8:19 For the
earnest expectation of the creature "waiteth for the
manifestation of the sons of God".
When will we join
our Savior if we die before the rapture of the Church?
2Co_5:6 Therefore
we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the
body, we are absent from the Lord:
2Co_5:8 We are
confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and
to be present with the Lord.
We can only be bold
in Christ when we are filled the Holy Spirit!
Joh_14:16 And I
will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that
he may abide with you for ever;
Once saved we are
endowed with the Holy Spirit who will never leave us for any reason.
BUT: 1) We can
grieve the Holy Spirit. (We can offend the Holy Spirit)
Eph_4:30 And grieve
not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of
redemption.
2) We can "Quench"
the Holy Spirit. (Put out His flame for the work of the Lord)
1Th 5:19 Quench not
the Spirit.
3) We can resist the
Holy Spirit. (Stand against, or oppose Him and the ways of the
Lord)(Normally before salvation)
Act 7:51 Ye
stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist
the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
Just as a gas tank
that needs a refill, though the Holy Spirit will never leave us, we
need to pray for a refilling of the Holy Spirit at least every day
but maybe before each and every decision we make!
The 12 Apostles of
the Lord Jesus Christ (includes Paul) all had great powers but none
of those powers could be used on themselves.
They had great
knowledge of many, many things of God, but they did not know all
things, especially things concerning themselves!
They had to rely on
the Holy Spirit and so it is with each and every Christian! (this
will not ever change)
We would be fools to
ever be ashamed of the "Gospel"!
We are fools if we
do not follow the lead of the Holy Spirit in our lives and be
available to the Lord always!
Paul had to exercise
his "faith" and patience just as much as any of us do!
What is hope? The
desire of some good with a great expectation of obtaining it!
We can have hope in
the promises of God because we have God's guarantee that we will
obtain all His promises!
Paul was a natural
born leader trained to rule in Judaism and the Supreme Court of
Israel, yet the Lord made Paul a humble servant of the Word of God to
the people of God.
Paul was nothing
until the Lord Jesus Christ was magnified in his body and guess what
neither are we!
We are nothings
until the Lord makes a something out of a nothing! It’s called the
act of "Creation". The Lord Jesus said we must be "Born
Again" to be able to see the New Heaven!
Joh 3:3 Jesus
answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a
man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
We must live Christ
and when this is true, then death brings eternal riches beyond our
imagination! (this does not mean money)
*****Php 1:21 For
to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Php 1:22 But if I
live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall
choose I wot not.
The Apostle lived
and breathed the Lord Jesus Christ. (a great example for us all)
When we can travel
in peace on this earth, we can cross over to the other side realizing
things will actually be much, much better! (Joy)
When we can
experience never ending life today and recognize that we actually
have no clue of just how wonderful life with the Lord can be, we can
certainly have that desire to be with the Lord. (Joy)
Death to the
Christian is just saying good bye cruel world and hello to the
never-ending day of glory! (Joy)
When we present our
bodies as a living sacrifice to the Lord, the Lord will present each
Christian to His Father as a new husband would present his perfect
wife to his own farther. (Joy)
When we yield our
bodies, it means all our bodies.
Jesus said:
Mat 22:37 Jesus
said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart,
and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Mat 22:38 This is
the first and great commandment.
We must give our
whole body.
We must give all our
mind.
We must give all our
heart.
We must give all our
soul.
Our Christian life
can be good but our Heavenly life will be much more better!
Jesus Christ is our
source of existence and our source of life!
Whatever death
brings to the Christian we still know that Jesus Christ will be the
Lord of it!
1Co 15:41 There is
one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another
glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in
glory.
1Co 15:42 So also
is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is
raised in incorruption:
1Co 15:43 It is
sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it
is raised in power:
1Co 15:44 It is
sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a
natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
Jesus Christ gave
every breathing moment of His life to the Church surely, we can give
Him all we have of our own bodies!
We cannot base our
life on the things of this earth that are aging and will one day pass
away, as if they had never existed!
It is only though
our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ that we can be a part of that world
where nothing can ever age and nothing can ever pass away.
It would be easy to
say well Lord just take me on home and He would have done that when
He saved us but there still some things that need to be done before
we go home to Heaven.
*****Php 1:23 For I
am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with
Christ; which is far better:
Php 1:24
Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.
Life in the glory
world with the Lord Jesus Christ will be so much better that it is
certainly hard to concentrate on this world but if we are part of the
army of God and have lost family and friends and neighbors it could
be much better for them if we stay here on this earth for a while
longer!
We cannot save any
of them but we certainly be available to tell them about the Lord
when that opportunity presents itself!
Remember Stephen,
that even while he was being stoned to death and realizing that he
would die, he was still bold to deliver the message of God because he
knew his death "would really be life".
Act 7:59 And they
stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my
spirit.
Act 7:60 And he
kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to
their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
We should also
notice, his flesh was not dead when his breath left his body, "his
flesh was dead when his spirit left his body". (this why people
can be revived)
Paul's desire to be
a soul winner was greater than his desire to die so that he could be
with the Lord but only because we need to always leave death in the
hands of the Lord!
Personally, I am so
glad that Paul chose to give more time to the Church and the
"Gospel".
Paul was very
confident that this was the right choice! This must be the choice
that we make!
*****Php 1:25 And
having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with
you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;
Php 1:26 That your
rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to
you again.
Confidence comes
from our "Faith"!
The chosen Apostles
of God were given many powers to use in their ministry but they could
not use them on themselves!
The Apostles could
not see their own future no better than we can ourselves!
Act 20:22 And now,
behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the
things that shall befall me there:
As Christians if we
are involved in a ministry that God has called us into, we can be
sure that we are safe in the arms of God until our part of that
ministry is complete. God may take us home after that. God may give
us another ministry after that. God may use us in some other way.
Only we can put ourselves on a shelf!
We should never
desire to be put on a shelf awaiting the outcome of things that we
know are coming, according to the Word of God!
Paul had a desire to
be with the Lord, I do too and I am sure that would include most of
us that know the Lord but we have a purpose and now is the time for
that purpose!
It is all our job to
take the "Gospel" as far as we can!
There is no greater
joy than being involved in the "Gospel" of the Lord Jesus
Christ!
We can depart this
world and be with Christ. This is His promise!
We can remain in
this world and be with Christ which is not as good but, Christ will
still be with us always!
We must love the
Lord and desire to be with Him, absolutely.
We must also love
the Lord enough to do what He has ask us to do, not out of duty but
out of love! (holding forth the Word of God)
Christ was willing
to lay all things aside in Heaven, including His Majesty to put of
the flesh of a human to die in place of our sin.
Surely, we can be
willing enough to lay things aside long enough to take His message to
the world beginning in our own home and our own family.
We can tell that
Paul loved to see and be around other Christians.
When you are around
a bunch of Christians, you may hear about families, you may hear
about this evil world but the one thing that is always consistent you
will hear that the answer to every problem is Jesus Christ!
*****Php 1:27 Only
let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that
whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your
affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving
together for the faith of the gospel;
The best way to
start a conversation with another Christian is the way we lead our
lives.
Are we living like
we are a citizen of Heaven? We are just pilgrims passing through this
world but while we are here we are to be "ambassadors" for
Jesus Christ!
While we remain in
this earth we will remain in the view of the public, especially those
who have never heard of Christ Jesus and even those who have rejected
Him.
We owe it to our
Lord to be noticed as a Christian. To be a Christian is never to be a
secret lifestyle!
We must remain in a
group and stand fast in the Lord! Our King is coming soon to put
things in the right place instead of this upside-down world we live
in now!
What is wrong with
the Church today? There are so many unethical doctrines that have
been substituted for the Word of God, people no longer know the
truth.
Our young people are
enticed into the place of worship but they are then never given the
truth and they soon believe the "Gospel" is just a lie.
Until foolish people
begin to consider the Word of God themselves, they will always allow
those who would twist the truth into some false thing!
We need to hear of
the affairs of every house of worship to see if they follow the ways
of Christ Jesus.
Today the name Jesus
Christ is not mentioned in some places of so-called worship because
it may offend someone. (You got to be kidding me)
Those that are
offended by Jesus Christ in this "Day of "Grace" have
already rejected the only means of salvation!
Sad but also true!
When we live
according to the Word of God (rightly divided) we will easily stand
out in this evil world!
When we strive to
make this world a better place, we will meet with opposition from
every side but that means we try harder and never give up.
After all who can
stop the Lord when He refuses to be stopped!
As far as the laws
of this land, we are to serve the Lord and the laws of Heaven. If the
laws of this land survive the test of the Word of God, then we must
abide, if they do not, we must adhere to the law of God!
We must do
everything we can to remain at peace with this world that will never
know true peace.
Our job is to grow
in "Grace" in our daily walk with the Lord.
This is the job of
the individual but also the entire congregation of the Church.
We must remain in
oneness in the love and the service of Jesus Christ.
People may see us to
be strange and that is great because we are never to resemble this
world!
2Co 6:17 Wherefore
come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and
touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
2Co 6:18 And will
be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith
the Lord Almighty.
When we do this, we
will:
1) talk right
2) dress right
3) live and conduct
ourselves right
4) we will proudly
declare to be a Christian
5) we will carry out
the affairs of Heaven without hesitation
6) we will separate
ourselves from those who call this world their true home
And we must never be
terrified by the evil things we see or hear in this world!
*****Php 1:28 And
in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident
token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.
We must never be
ashamed of the "Gospel"!
To be honest to be
timid in the work of the Lord shows a lack of "faith"!
It means we may not
trust the Lord enough.
When we do not trust
the Lord, we will become the prey of those in this world!
Jas 3:13 Who is a
wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a
good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
Jas 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.
Jas 3:18 And the
fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
We must remember if
we are reproached for the work of the Lord then we are doing
something right!
1Pe 4:14 If ye be
reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of
glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken
of, but on your part he is glorified.
When we have the
fear of the Lord, there is nothing upon this earth that can bring a
greater fear.
When we honor the
"Gospel" and the one who holds the "Gospel" then
we will strive to worthy of the "Gospel"!
When we are timid it
is possible we are dishonoring the "Gospel"!
When we are timid we
find it hard to stand firm in the "Gospel"!
When we are timid,
the only safe place is within a body of believers who are not timid!
It is only as a team
that we can overcome the evil of this world and we simply cannot quit
and walk off the field!
Courage and
fearlessness should be the traits of the Christian.
Many display Christ
as a wimp. Jesus Christ was the adopted son of a carpenter and if you
noticed the homes of that day, not many were not made from wood.
Jesus Christ was a real man!
The truth of all
those who persecute Christians is that they are sealing their own
doom!
Christian
persecution is a sign that the Christian way is real and true!
Christian
persecution is to be a privilege and not a terror!
It should be a
privilege to suffer for the name of Jesus Christ!
We are never to deny
our Lord under any circumstance!
We are to face the
same conflict as Paul.
We know it would be
far better to be with the Lord but for those in our own family and
those we love it may be better if we remain here a while longer.
*****Php 1:30
Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in
me.
We must remember
Paul is teaching the Church by the Holy Spirit.
The Power of the
Church lies in the Holy Spirit and the strength of the Church lies in
the unity of the actions of the Church.
Satan has been at
his job for a long time and no one has ever come up with a plan to
defeat him except Jesus Christ, who got this plan from His Father in
Heaven.
There is nothing
that anyone can do that can add to the destruction of Satan beyond
the Word of God.
We must surely
contend for the faith!
Jud_1:3 Beloved,
when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation,
it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye
should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto
the saints.
To contend is to
fight, to strive, to use great effort in defense of the "Gospel
of Jesus Christ".
We can take this to
mean a lot of things but it is best to accept it as it is written!
The Apostle Paul
never backed down from his defense of the "Gospel" and he
suffered greatly for it because in many cases he stood alone.
No matter what the
rest of the world is doing to stop their own persecution and giving
in to the terror and the government, the safe side is still the
"Gospel" of Jesus Christ.
After all, the only
one I have ever known to rise from the dead and enter the glory land
is the Lord Jesus Christ. It is best to see what He did and follow
Him all the way to "Glory"!
Remember our
strength is not in numbers, our strength is in unity, one mind for
Christ Jesus!
Jas_4:7 Submit
yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from
you.
To submit is to
yield to the power and the authority of our Savior and our Redeemer!
Amen
