Learning About Our Heavenly Father

Increasing in the Knowledge of the Father

Book of Colossians 1:1-16

Heresy is a departure from the truth of the Word of God!

Heresy is a departure from practices suitable to the purity of the "Gospel of Jesus Christ"!

What is another sign of the last days?

1Ti 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

1Ti 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

The Church at Colossae was not planted by the Apostle Paul and Paul probably never visited this church. It is probable that this church was planted by Epaphras.

In the Book of Philemon, Paul says Epaphras was his fellow prisoner.

In the Book of Colossians, Paul says Epaphras was his fellow servant.

In the Book of Philippians, Paul says Epaphras was his fellow soldier.

Though some may dispute it, the Apostle Paul wrote this Holy Ghost inspired epistle to the church in Colossae!

*****Col 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,

Col 1:2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colossae: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

We need to remind ourselves sometimes that an Apostle was a man who was handpicked by the Lord Jesus Christ to carry on the work of establishing the New Testament Church. There were 12 and there can never be any more than these 12 men.

How did Paul put this truth forward?

1Co 9:1 Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?

1Co 9:2 If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.

2Co 12:12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

Gal 1:1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)

No one else can claim to be an Apostle of Jesus Christ because it is impossible to see Jesus Christ again until you get to Heaven or He comes in the "Rapture" to take His church out of this world to miss out on the wrath of God, a promise that He made to the church.

These 12 men were chosen according to the perfect will of God.

These 12 men were vessels of choice by our perfect God!

Act 9:15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: "for he is a chosen vessel unto me", to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

Act 9:16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

This same thing could be said of the other 11 Apostles. We may not read much about them except for Peter and John but we can be sure they were all busy about the work the Lord had given them to do!

The thing is, we know there will never be any more apostles.

If we cannot listen, understand, and believe, what these men who were chosen by the Lord God that we worship then how can we ever say we are Christians.

Of course, we must follow the words of Jesus Christ but we will find that these Apostles will never go against what the Lord has said and they will never go against any part of the entire Word of God, all 66 books of the Bible.

There is no modern-day book of the Bible. God will never change and God chose these men to give us the truth, including the Apostle Paul!

Who is Paul writing to?

1) To the saints. A saint is a person, male or female, who has separated themselves from the world and consecrated to God by and through the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no other way to reach sainthood.

2) To the "faithful" "brethren".

The "faithful", are those who have taken up their own cross and are following the Lord and are known as Christians.

The "brethren", are those Christians who have accepted the Apostles Doctrine and after salvation had followed the Lord in Believers Baptism and also partaken in the Lord's Supper and are complete members of the church of Jesus Christ. In many places they are called the elect of God.

Paul is writing to the Church, which is the "Body of Christ".

It is only the "Body of Christ" who have come to know the peace of God but through the Lord Jesus Christ.

And all these things come only by the "Grace" of God, that we have been called to be the holy children of God.

1Pe 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

1Pe 1:14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:

1Pe 1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

1Pe 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

If we have not thanked God for His marvelous "Grace" then we need to stop what we are doing and thank Him now!

Notice also that Timothy, is still traveling with Paul to learn all he could about the church.

*****Col 1:3 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,

Col 1:4 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,

Notice Paul gives thanks to God.

The true God, is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Two parts of the triune God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit!

These are the pillars of the church not three Gods but one God in three persons!

It is important that we offer thanks to the true God but it is more important that we pray to the true God but that prayer will not be accepted unless it is in the name of Jesus Christ.

Joh_15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father "in my name", he may give it you.

If God has given you a ministry, God will make you get the things you need to complete that ministry!

Sure, He was the God of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob but He is also the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Reject this if you so choose but it does not change the truth!

Notice also that it is not so important that God supply good health, fame and riches to His saints as it is for Him to supply "faith" and "love".

It is faith and love that will bring growth to the church in the proper manner and cause Christians to remain steadfast in the Word of God!

The Kingdom of God is based upon "faith" and "love"!

This church in Colossae was built upon "faith" and love"!

Faith and love must the pillars of the Christian Life!

1Jn 3:23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

What was the commandment?

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.

Mat 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

These two things remain the foundation of the Church or there is no church!

That "faith" must be in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ or it is meaningless! (all thy heart, all thy soul, all thy mind!)

It is "only" by Jesus Christ that we can be in harmony with God and it is just that simple, no matter what the world says!

It is our "faith" in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ that opens the way into the throne room of God!

We must govern our lives by the Lord Jesus Christ!

The Christian must live and die by this belief!

The "love" spoken of here is not the natural love of man that we should already have for one another!

We forget that race divisions are not Biblical!

We are all part of the human race and citizens of the same world and we should already love one another, with our natural love, for our own survival.

The "love" spoken of in this passage is the "love" that each believer must have for one another! This is the commandment of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Joh 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

Joh 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

We are to have "faith" in Christ Jesus and love the way that He "loved"!

It is impossible to live upon this earth and have a successful life without Jesus Christ!

Without these basic things then we will have no hope to reach God's Heaven!

*****Col 1:5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;

Col 1:6 Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:

Those that have "faith" in the Lord Jesus Christ and share His "love" with one another will then have the believer's "Hope"!

It is only by the "Grace" of God that we can have "hope" for eternal life in God's Heaven!

It is the "hope" that God offers that we will surrender our lives to Jesus Christ!

How can we best describe that "hope"?

1) It is the hope of being raised from the dead and being given a new but perfect glorious body that we will live throughout eternity!

Php 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

Php 3:21 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 to subdue all things unto himself.

2) It is the "hope" that the Lord will return to take us home.

1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

3) It is the "hope" of dwelling in the throne room of God.

Heb 6:18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

Heb 6:19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

Heb 6:20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

4) It is the glorious inheritance that will belong to all God's children!

Rom 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Our "hope' lies in the reality of all these things and much, much more!

Even in our darkest days we must never lose our "hope" in the promises of God!

We should notice that our "hope" has one great source and that is the "gospel", the "good news" of Jesus Christ!

The Gospel is the Word of Truth. There is not one false word in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There is no false teaching in all the Word of God!

We do not have to wish!

We do not have to desire!

We do not have to guess!

We can know, that we know, that we know, the truth of our salvation.

1Jn_5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

We must certainly remember that the Lord Jesus Christ cannot be a God amongst gods. There is only one God and it is the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God!

Even in Rome with a pantheon of gods, Jesus would have been welcomed to be a part of those others false gods.

Today the world has not changed, the Lord Jesus Christ would be welcomed amongst all the gods of this world but Jesus Christ will never be a part of such a religious system.

Here is where the problem comes!

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

The world cannot stand this truth!

Joh 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

The "Gospel" is intended for every individual upon this earth but there will always be those who reject the truth to their own demise!

Most of our world continue to reject the "Grace" of God and they will receive the "Wrath" of God in its place!

This is also the truth!

Even in all these things the "Gospel" of Jesus Christ will continue to produce fruit.

Everywhere the "Gospel" is preached and taught, there will be those will believe and become new members of God's family!

1) There is first the fruit of the Holy Spirit

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

2) There is the fruit of new converts.

Joh 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

3) There is the fruit of sanctification.

Joh 15:3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

The Church at Colossae understood and practiced all these things.

All these come by hearing the "Gospel" of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

These Colossians had heard the Word of truth from Epaphras.

*****Col 1:7 As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;

Col 1:8 Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.

Epaphras was the fellowservant of Paul and Timothy at this time but is probable that is Epaphras alone who had planted the church in Colossae.

We know now that this young church in Colossae that had begun with the truth of Jesus Christ, was now being bombarded buy false doctrine from false teachers but as Paul says Epaphras was not one of those!

He was a faithful minister for Jesus Christ!

He had also brought this knowledge back to the Apostle Paul who had responded with this epistle to these Colossians.

Epaphras had come to Paul seeking advice on how to handle the false teaching that was infiltrating his church.

It is obvious that Paul could not go to this church himself as he remained in bondage to Rome.

Paul had never been to this church so they had never met Paul face to face but they knew enough about Paul that they knew they could trust whatever he said.

Paul's answer to them was this epistle and his promise of prayers.

*****Col 1:9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

Col 1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

What did Paul pray for? A great desire that this church would be filled with the knowledge of God's will and in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.

We should clearly understand that nothing happens upon this earth that goes against the will of God!

Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

Eph 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

And it is the Church that will be the praise of His Glory. Therefore the "Church Age" is truly important!

This plan of the Church Age was developed by God before the foundation of this earth.

Eph 1:4 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:

Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Now this is not as the Calvinist say but only those who are made the children of God by accepting the work of Jesus Christ for salvation!

This is God's Plan and it is not to be questioned by any man!

Psa 104:24 O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.

Pro 3:19 The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.

Rom 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

Rom 11:34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?

Rom 11:35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?

Rom 11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

To those of the world that believe that God adapts to a changing world should study the Scriptures and learn the truth.

Dan 4:35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

Psa 135:6 Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.

It is the Lord Jesus Christ who died because of the predetermined plan of God and it is our part to have faith in the work of the Lord

Another thing we should understand is that God may allow men to manifest evil but God is never the author of evil.

It is our job to walk worthy of the Lord which pleases God.

*****Col 1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Questions we should ask ourselves:

1) Are we walking worthy of the Lord?

2) Are we pleasing the Lord in the things we do?

3) Is our work producing fruit?

4) Are we increasing in the knowledge of God.

1Co 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

We must understand that knowing something and having the ability to do something is very different!

We are to live our lives just as worthy as the life of Christ and we cannot do this thing unless we can make application of the Word of God in everything we do!

Everything that God says must be understood as applying to us.

We cannot please God by just applying the Word of God in bits and pieces!

Gal 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

Christian conduct must meet a high standard for we must seek the knowledge of God's will and apply it to our lives every day!

We will be in this thing of being a Christian, alone.

*****Col 1:11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

Col 1:12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

Without a doubt we must admit to ourselves, that we are weak physically and morally but by Jesus Christ we are endowed with a Power from on High.

Our power is the glorious power of God and is made known by God's act of "creation" as we are "Born Again" into a new life.

We live in the patience of God that does not give up in dire circumstances.

We live by the longsuffering of God when we do not retaliate for being treated wrongly.

We do both these things in the "joy" of God knowing that we are pleasing our Lord and Savior.

We offer our prayers of thanks to the Lord for being seen as Christians and for providing the power for us to keep going in the name of the Lord.

We cannot survive without the power of God in our lives!

Think about some of the things we must endure:

We will face disease, if not in ourselves but surely in others.

We will face accidents, if not ourselves but others.

We may face poverty, if not in ourselves surely, we will see it in others.

We may face loss, if not ourselves but maybe in others.

We may face death, ourselves but surely in others.

This is just a short list but there will be even much greater things we will face as Christians but God has the power to give us understanding and piece as we go through these things.

God has the power to strengthen us and settle us during these things.

God has the power to give us hope and security during these times.

We can secure God's Power through prayer and notice a fervent prayer should begin with giving thanks to God for what He has already done but also for what God is about to do in response to our request!

We should also know that there is no limit to our increase to the knowledge of God except for our own capacity to absorb it, our diligence to study it, and our faith. Much faith, much knowledge, Little faith, little knowledge.

When we feed the Holy Spirit within us. The Holy Spirit will not just set back and let us go through the trials of life alone but through Him we will have the power to overcome them and to conquer them.

God expects us to learn from the trials of life and be stronger through them!

Jas 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

Jas 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

Jas 1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

What did Jesus say:

Luk 21:19 In your patience possess ye your souls.

Heb 10:36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

Heb 10:37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

It is only by the Holy Spirit, God within us, that we can endure the troubles and trials of this world and this only by a close and very personal relationship with the Lord!

The Lord Jesus Christ is the light of all Spiritual Knowledge.

1Pe_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:

We live in the present "Grace" of God but we will soon live in the coming "Glory" of God!

1Jn 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

1Jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

The Word of God is never confusing, we just make it confusing because it is so simple!

It is by the Holy Spirit that dwells within us that we have been delivered from the power of darkness!

*****Col 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

We may still live in this world of darkness and in this body of sinful flesh, the truth is, once we know the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior we have already been delivered or we could say rescued from the power of darkness!

Darkness is the symbol of misery and adversity:

Psa 107:10 Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;

Psa 107:11 Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:

Psa 107:12 Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.

Psa 107:13 Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.

Psa 107:14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.

The child of God should have no fear of this dark world nor should we fear physical death because we have already been delivered from these things!

We are redeemed if we know Christ as our Savior!

*****Col 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Redemption speaks of being rescued by paying a ransom.

Redemption is buying back those things had had been lost. This is why we use the phrase saved or lost!

Being saved is made to have peace with God!

Col 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

Notice these things take place only by the "precious Blood of Jesus Christ".

The sin of all people requires the blood of our Savior before it could be eliminated from all people. The only thing lacking was that this thing must be believed on by those who are seeking salvation!

Eph 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

And who is this Savior?

*****Col 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

This Savior is also our Creator!

The Lord Jesus Christ is the express image of His Father.

Note this is not in appearance but in actions! It is only the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ who has the divine nature of God, because they are one and the same person!

He is the first begotten of all creatures because He existed before the Cosmos was created.

Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

Heb 1:4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

It was totally necessary for our Redeemer to be 100% God and 100% man that He could mediate between God and mankind!

It was necessary for God to fulfill all His prophecies.

It was necessary to redeem us from all sin.

It was necessary to conquer Satan's pride.

It was necessary to reconcile all humans to God and God to all humans.

It would simply require "faith" in all these things to become a reality!

Why did Paul choose his words so carefully here? The truth of Jesus Christ will destroy all false teaching about Christ and God.

As believers we get to see what God is like and God gets to know all actions of the human through personal experience!

In false religion there can be multiple mediators between God and man but , there is only one and that One is Jesus Christ.

God is not some unconcerned and distant God who has moved on into outer space after His creation.

God is not out of touch with this world!

God is a God who is always close at hand.

God has not made it difficult to reach Him and God has even shown us all how to reach Him!

It is by Jesus Christ that we know we have a loving God who cares for us in a personal way!

We also need not be confused when Paul says Jesus was the firstborn of all creatures.

The Son of God is not a created being it means that He existed before all creation.

All creation is the heritage of Jesus Christ the only begotten Son of the Father!

AND, God did not create Himself!

Isa 44:6 Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.

Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Creation owes its praise and honor, worship and service to the Lord Jesus Christ because this earth and all creation exists for its Creator!

Heb 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

Heb 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

Rom 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

Thank God for this wonderful book we call the Bible, which contains all the Word of God we need to completely know our God who never changes!

Amen

Joy in Right Personal Relationships
Book of Philippians Chapter 4

Having a personal relationship with God is not only a wonderful thing but God requires us to get up close and personal with Him. We sometimes forget that God made His plan of salvation even before He created this earth. There is no secret formula in obtaining this relationship. Just as soon as we realize that we are a sinner in need of a Savior, we are one step away from a personal relationship with our Heavenly Father.
2Ti_1:9  Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
Tit_1:2  In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
We must take that next step to begin knowing the truth of God and that next step is "Faith"!
Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Eph 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
As we close out our study in the Book of Philippians we have seen that the main topic has been "Joy" in knowing the Lord Jesus Christ in a very personal way!
*****Php 4:1  Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.
Notice that whenever we are in agreement with the salvation plan of God, we are in agreement with each other and therefore brothers and sisters in the same family of Christ.
The spiritual condition of our church, which is in the Lord, brings comfort when we gather together.
God does not ask to stand fast in anything of this world. All the things of this world are either partial, or they are limited, and they are all certainly temporary.
The only thing permanent is the Lord and the things He has accomplished for our salvation. So, we must persevere in the "Gospel"!
Rom 5:1  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Rom 5:2  By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
It should be obvious that it is only the believer who can be at peace with God and it is only the believer who can have a personal relationship with our Heavenly Father, through His Son Jesus Christ and by the Holy Spirit!
Anyone who denies the work of the Lord Jesus Christ can never be at peace with God!
The very first step to peace and a growing personal relationship with the Lord is to stand firm in the Word of God.
1Co_15:58  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
Obviously putting our tail between our legs and running to hide every time we are confronted about the truth of God is not being stedfast!
Stedfast means to be firmly fixed and established in the truth of God!
God wants us to show peace but God does not want a bunch of wimps!
We must overcome the temptation to surrender to the world. We do this by knowing where our strength will come from. We are to be steadfast "in the Lord"!
When we walk and talk in the Lord our armor will be thick!
Then Paul commends some who made the ministry of Paul such a success.
*****Php 4:2  I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.
Php 4:3  And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.
It seems that Euodias and Syntyche were to ladies in the church in Philippi that would argue at the drop of a hat and drop their own hat. They had help the Apostle Paul but they had also listened to some false teachers and it had messed them up.
It only takes one false teacher to get into the church to cause problems that can take much time to repair!
Just as with the Lord Jesus Christ, many women of the church had contributed not only financing but time and labor to see that the church was established and the Word of God flowed freely.
Even today it is the godly women of the church who sometimes carry the heaviest of burdens, especially with the children of the church!
We all must be true yokefellow in the work of the church.
The yokefellow is the person who pulls and works and cooperates with those of the church who are also doing the same!
As we have that personal relationship with the Lord that grows, then that personal relationship with all those true yokefellows will grow!
It is these same people of the church who should step up when quarrels begin in the church.
The absolute greatest one event in our life time is to have our name written in the Lamb's Book of Life.
The next event in our life is to be obedient to all the Word of God!
When we all agree that we live by the Word of truth then there is no arguing and there is no dispute at what God has said.
Minor differences that have nothing to do with salvation and can be solved with sincere and earnest Bible study, should be dismissed for the sake of arguing.
Gal 6:1  Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
Gal 6:2  Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Gal 6:3  For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
Gal 6:4  But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
Gal 6:5  For every man shall bear his own burden.
1Th 5:14  Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
The greatest method of a personal relationship in the church is to always rejoice in the Lord!
*****Php 4:4  Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
When we cannot rejoice in the fact that the Lord has blotted out all our sin and sin no longer exist to be counted against us, then we are surely a sad bunch of people.
When the Lord rejoices over every sinner who is saved and we cannot rejoice ourselves it does not speak well for the Christian!
Joy cannot be defined it must be felt to be known!
Sin brings doom and gloom once it is realized.
To a Christian, doom and gloom should never exist.
In fact, the Lord says we have no reason not to always rejoice in fact, if we listen to the Lord and obey what He says, then we will rejoice and when we are finished we will rejoice again!
If we had one duty to perform in our Christian life, then it would be the duty to "rejoice" over our salvation!
The Lord Jesus Christ was anointed with the "oil of gladness". To get up close and personal with the Lord is to share in that anointing!
Psa_45:7  Thou lowest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
We are to even to rejoice in our tribulations!
1Pe 4:13  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
The change from our old sinful life and our new "Born Again" should be noticeable to all those who knew us in are old life!
*****Php 4:5  Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
There is a song that mentions a "sweet, sweet spirit". Well the world should look at the Christian and see the "sweet spirit" that rules our lives!
The Christian should have a noticeable gentleness about them but still retain a boldness for the Word of God.
We should not be fooled by predictions of the Lord's return because the Lord will certainly return but no one can know the day or the hour!
Mat 24:36  But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Mat 24:37  But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Mat 24:38  For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
Mat 24:39  And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
The truth is, most all remaining prophecy deals with the Nation of Israel and the only event that can come before that time that remains is the "Rapture" of the Church.
It is obvious that all signs lead to the soon coming of the Lord and we are fools if we do not believe that the world is ignoring the Word of God and is just going about their sinful ways as if God does not exist, just as it was in the days of Noah who had warned the world of that day for 120 years.
The Lord is certainly at hand.
We must therefore be gentle in our actions but bold in the truth of God as we deal with those who have not heard the Word of God.
We must be gentle in our actions and bold in the truth of God to all those who have heard the Word of God and yet have not come to a decision.
We must be bold in the Word of God to those who continuously reject the Word of God but still retain our Christian gladness when dealing with these.
Remember those who scream the loudest are in the minority, most all others are just confused, not knowing the truth!
We must reach out to the world in obedience to the Lord!
The "Gospel" is the "Good news" and it always will be.
It is "Good News" to know that your sin debt has been paid for!
It is better news to know you name is written down in the Lamb's Book of Life!
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 never worry at what is going on in this world!
*****Php 4:6  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Php 4:7  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
We must never be careless in our actions but we must also be free from anxiety about the things this world will throw at us to distract us from our task which is to be obedient to the Lord's great commission.
This world continuously does things to distract the Christian including but not limited to persecution!
No matter how great our obstacles and no matter how small our obstacles we need to take them to the Lord in prayer.
The only workable answer to the trials and the temptations of this world is having the peace of God.
Supplication means to humble yourself before the Living God.
Let's remember King Hezekiah:
2Ch_34:27  Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledst thyself before me, and didst rend thy clothes, and weep before me; I have even heard thee also, saith the LORD.
There are many ways to go the Lord but to be humble is the absolute best and not only thank the Lord for what He has already done but we need to thank the Lord for what He is about to do.
If you do not have "faith" that God will answer your prayer then why pray and to thank the Lord for that answer even before you get that answer is a great show of "faith"!
The answer to every question that we have is the Lord Jesus Christ. The only answer to worry and anxiety is to receive an injection of "Supernatural Power" from above!
We must always remember worry and anxiety show a distrust in the Lord. It’s like saying the promises of God are not real.
We must clearly understand that without "faith" we simply cannot please God.
Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
When we do all these things right then we will be at peace and nothing in this world can rob us of that peace!
We must first have peace with God!
Rom_5:1  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
We can then have the peace of God!
1Th_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.
This is the peace that will keep our hearts and minds but it can only come by the Lord Jesus Christ!
We must let the peace of God rule in our hearts to avoid the pitfalls of this world that cause us and keep unity in the Church.
Col 3:15  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Col 3:16  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Col 3:17  And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
So many places of worship have lost the power of God just because the peace of God no longer rule in their hearts and has been replaced by the cares of this world!
We must cling to the truth of God with both hands and with all our heart, our mind and our soul!
*****Php 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.
Php 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.
The truth is peace of mind can only come through positive thinking!
1) We must be free from lying. Lying is an attempt to deceive. Lying is contrary to the nature of God because God is truth Himself!
Joh_14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Lying is also contrary to our new nature!
Eph 4:25  Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
Our integrity as a Christian must be protected in all our actions!
Eph 6:13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Eph 6:14  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
2) We must be honest in all our transactions!
2Co 8:21  Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
3) To be just is to do right not only before God but before mankind. To be just in the eyes of God is to do our little part to further the Gospel of Jesus Christ with a mind of good and righteous thoughts.
Isa 26:7  The way of the just is uprightness: thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just.
4) To be pure, is to be free from the pollutions of this world and moral in every thought. After all our goal is to be like Christ Jesus!
1Jn 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
1Jn 3:3  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
5) To be lovely, is to build people up and not ever to tear them down. It also showing loving kindness to all people.
1Pe 4:8  And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
1Pe 4:9  Use hospitality one to another without grudging.
1Pe 4:10  As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
6) Things of good report are those things that are according to the Word of God. Anything that goes against the Word of God is then evil.
1Ti 3:7  Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
7) Virtue is moral goodness. Abstaining from even the appearance of doing evil. Virtue has the meaning of excellence.
2Pe 1:3  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
2Pe 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.
2Pe 1:5  And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
2Pe 1:6  And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
2Pe 1:7  And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
2Pe 1:8  For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
8) The truth of all these things is, that we are not to do these things for the opportunity of seeking praise from others but it is right to praise things that are done according to the Word of God!
We can have peace with God when we understand we are to act according to His principles and the goal of all these things is to reach a higher end.
Paul is saying that these are the things that have kept him going all his years since coming to know Jesus Christ as his Lord and His God.
We must clearly understand that as we absorb the Word of God we must make application of God's Word to our lives, again not for praise but just because we love the Lord.
We must take self totally out of this picture and it will be replaced with the peace of God that defies understanding by those who reject the Lord.
The God of Peace becomes the Lord of our soul!
Paul then changes the subject, having made his point to the Church!
*****Php 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.
Php 4:11  Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
What happens when a Church thinks right, acts right, and loves right? They become a mission minded Church!
We can see that there was a time when this church was not thinking right.
Today the modern-day church is not as mission minded because they are too busy becoming political correct. They do not think right, nor act right nor love right and the support of missions has ceased.
Can you just imagine the results if the mega churches of this world would tithe a tenth of their donations to the mission field today? This would encourage the members to also give.
This church in Philippi who had first supported the Apostle Paul had ceased but now had been revived and began again to support this missionary and church planter.
Notice also that during that time when this church had dropped their support of Paul, the Lord had still met his needs.
Paul rejoiced in the Lord not because he was receiving that support but because they had reach this point of thinking the right way again. They had taken their eyes back off the world and focused on the Lord Jesus Christ!
What was important for Paul should also be important for each believer. We must learn that no matter what state we are in we must be content with what the Lord has provided!
God promised to meet our needs. God did not promise to make us rich.
When we are thinking right we will be content with what the Lord has provided!
1Ti 6:6  But godliness with contentment is great gain.
1Ti 6:7  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
1Ti 6:8  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
We should also remember that God will sometimes give us an abundance, to see if we will take that opportunity to further the Gospel.
What is still the most important gift that the Lord has given us?
Heb 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.
We have the Holy Spirit who lives within us to seal us from evil.
We have the Spirit of Jesus who lives within us to guide us in the ways of the Church.
God is Spirit and He also lives within us to teach us all things.
Paul knew all these things!
*****Php 4:12  I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
Php 4:13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
One of the most important things that we need to know as Christians is, how to be abased. Abased means to be humble. If we cannot humble ourselves before Jesus Christ, then we will never know salvation.
In Paul's case, it also meant humiliation. As we live in this world today we can see that this world is trying its best to cause humiliation to all Christians by pointing out the acts of so-called Christians!
The next important lesson for us in this world is to learn how to abound. To abound, is expressing contentment and confidence in our Savior and our God!
The Word of God has instructions for us when we are full but more important we can find the tools we need for our hunger.
The Word of God will teach us how to abound but the Lord will never leave us in our time of need!
There is nothing we cannot overcome through the Lord Jesus Christ!
It is only after we learn these valuable lessons that we can be of help to others!
Do you realize when Jesus Christ is our strength we can even fulfill all the will of God but without Him be will only fail.
Jesus Christ is not only our strength but He is our durability!
Jesus Christ is our strength to do all things but He is also our strength to suffer all things!
Having the strength of Christ will not make us gods or make us any better than anyone else.
We will never be anything on this earth but sinners saved by the "Grace" of God.
We must always be conscious of our own weakness before the Lord will share His strength with us!
If the Lord calls us into His work, He will provide the means for His work to be accomplished!
Joh 15:7  If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Joh 15:8  Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
The truth is when we understand the will of God for our own lives we will certainly not forget others who are fulfilling the will of God with their own lives!
*****Php 4:14  Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.
Php 4:15  Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.
Php 4:16  For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.
Php 4:17  Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
When we have fellowship with each other we can also have fellowship with the afflictions of each other!
The truth is, God expects us to conquer to all our difficulties through the strength of Jesus Christ.
It is a fact though some Pastors are taken care of by their Church, the biggest part of the churches of today do not meet the needs of their Pastor.
It is also a fact that most all missionaries never have all the things they need for the work of the Lord but God has taught them to be content with the things that they do have.
The greatest gift of the Christian is the fact that we have the Lord living within us!
It is this personal relationship with the Lord that allows us to accomplish the work that we are able to accomplish!
We should also be aware that Paul had great concern for the poverty of these wonderful children of God in this church at Philippi.
We see a Pastor must always be aware of all the people of his flock.
It is wrong to expect people to give and neglect their own needs and the needs of their families. God has set the standard for giving and that is between them and God.
An offering comes from our abundance. When there is an abundance it will because God has blessed with extra.
This church had done well that they had communicated with the afflictions of the Apostle Paul!
We should have no problem seeing that God will bless those who support the furthering of the "Gospel".
We should have no problem seeing that God will bless those who have that close personal relationship with the Lord!
This does not mean that Paul teaches a prosperity Gospel!
This little church had a heart for missions!
When we make a commitment to support a missionary then we should continue that support. It hurt Paul than none of the other churches had such a heart for missions as did the church in Philippi.
God can do the job without our support but He will certainly bless those that give, even sometimes when it hurts a little!
Even when Paul was trying to establish a church in another foreign land, the church at Philippi continued to support the Apostle Paul.
Paul was moving forward but he did have a lack to meet his personal need.
Notice what Paul says here.
The fruit that came from the Church at Thessalonica was not only fruit added to the heavenly account of the Apostle Paul but also to the account of the church in Philippi.
Heavenly rewards are given to all those who support the furthering of the "Gospel"!
If we have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ we will still be supporting the missions of the Apostle Paul today!
*****Php 4:18  But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.
Php 4:19  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Php 4:20  Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
The truth of sacrificial giving is that it is a sacrifice to the Lord. When we support our missionaries and even our Pastor we are actually giving directly to the Lord.
God will certainly repay with rewards in Heaven but each of have needs that only the Lord knows and He will meet those needs also.
The Lord Jesus Christ sacrificed Himself to meet our need of being reconciled to God surely, we can sacrifice some things to further the "Gospel" of Jesus Christ.
Eph 5:1  Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
Eph 5:2  And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
These people had more than met the needs of the Apostle Paul and these things are pleasing to God.
Heb 13:16  But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
What is one of the great promises God makes to each believer? God will supply "all" our need by Jesus Christ and our greatest need was salvation!
Notice that the need is not specific because we all have different needs.
These needs do not just refer to physical needs of food, clothing, and shelter but also to emotional, mental, social, spiritual needs!
Any need that arises is the need that the Lord can and will provide!
God has unlimited resource in all things!
2Co 9:8  And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
2Co 9:15  Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
And Paul says goodbye.
*****Php 4:21  Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you.
Php 4:22  All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar's household.
Php 4:23  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
You know maybe the worst thing we do to each brother and sister in Christ, we do not show them how much we appreciate them.
The very people we will spend eternity with we sometimes ignore. I must preach to myself on this one especially.
I don't know what life will be like in the New Heaven but I already know we will still know each other.
1Co_13:12  For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
The greatest thing of Heaven will of course be the Lord.
The next may be that there will be no sin at all.
But surely ranking high will be that we will truly know each other without the obstacles that cause so many problems in this world.
We all be perfect just as our Savior!
1Jn_3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
Heaven will be more than wonderful!
But we need to wrap our minds around the fact that we had to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ upon this earth before we could have that personal relationship with all the Saints of God in the New Heaven!
There will be no discrimination nor favoritism in Heaven so why do we allow these things to interfere with our relationship now?
The government of Rome was hated by most the nations where they dominated and Paul made these Philippian saints aware that there would be some saints from that government. They had become the children of God.
Even these who had ruled and had exalted themselves above the other nations had humbled themselves in the sight of God and been saved.
Now even the lowest of saints was equal to the highest of saints.
Php 2:3  Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Php 2:4  Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
Php 2:5  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
As by the "Grace" of the Lord Jesus Christ we are saved we need to show that same "Grace" to all our brothers and sisters in Christ and use that same "Grace" to open the doors of conversation to those who are lost!
Php 1:2  Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Remember, Grace is the unmerited favor of God!
Amen

Happiness in the High Calling of God

Joy in the High Calling of God

Book of Philippians 3:1-21

We sometimes forget that God has never intended for His children to lead defeated lives and we are no good to God when we do!

Happiness is never about satisfying our flesh!

Happiness is never about having confidence in our flesh!

Happiness comes only when our hearts are right with God, through and by the Lord Jesus Christ!

Happiness can never come from climbing to some imagined spiritual plateau and then looking down on others!

The one thing we can all say about the Apostle Paul is that he was never afraid to show his true feelings about the Lord Jesus Christ nor to share his testimony with anyone who would listen!

The Apostle Paul is also a great example for us to follow but the Lord Jesus Christ is our Greatest example!

*****Php 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.

Finally, means we must consider what Paul has written in Chapters 1 and 2 to understand what Paul is about to say in the remaining words of this epistle.

The Lord did never say that to be a Christian would be easy, in fact the Lord Jesus said just the opposite!

First, no one escapes the trials of life that we all go through. We are confronted with the evils of this world everyday no matter who we are!

The Scriptures put it like this:

1Jn_2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

What do we see in our nation that is causing us to be so divided?

2Pe_2:10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.

This describes those who dividing our nation today!

We must also understand, that as Christians we already have what the Jewish people have been seeking since the time of Abraham!

A close and very personal relationship with Jehovah God that cannot fade away!

It is always good to review the facts.

Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Rom 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Rom 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

These are unchangeable facts to all those who submit to the Lord Jesus Christ! There is great joy in knowing the truth of God no matter what we are going through!

Even knowing these things, we must always be aware of our surroundings.

*****Php 3:2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.

It is the Jews who said the Gentiles were dogs who did not know the true God Jehovah.

Mat 15:26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.

Jesus was just repeating what this woman clearly understood.

The Jews, while they boasted of being the children of God, gave the name of dogs to the heathen.

Paul writes the true dogs of society are those who have rejected the truth of God!

The Apostle John wrote that is those who have rejected the salvation plan of God:

Rev 22:15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

Remember what else Jesus said?

Joh 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Joh 8:45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.

These are the same dogs, and the evil workers Paul was referring to.

The word concision used here refers to all those such as the Judaizers who insisted that the Gentiles be circumcised but not as intended when God gave this to Abraham.

Circumcision was to be a sign of a people separated to Jehovah God!

The Jewish circumcision had only become a flesh cutting just as the mutilation of those of false worship.

So, Paul adds.

*****Php 3:3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

Remember Paul is writing to the Church. Christianity has become the sign of that personal relationship with Jehovah!

Isa 12:2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.

Isa 12:3 Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.

You cannot be a Christian if you cannot worship God in the Spirit.

You cannot be a Christian if you cannot rejoice in the truth of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, (God in the flesh).

You cannot be a Christian if you still have confidence in your own flesh!

This is the circumcision that is approved of God and the intent of the sign given to Abraham!

Joh_4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him "must" worship him in spirit and in truth.

Sadly, the Jews have never accepted this truth.

God cannot be worshipped in form, God must be worshipped in truth!

If we cannot give up on our flesh and rest in the strength of the Lord we will never be that true child of God!

We can attend church regularly.

We can pray.

We can be charitable.

We can be baptized.

We can keep the ceremonies of the church.

We can pay our tithes and then make offerings.

We can join the church.

We can do all these things and even more "but this is not worship"!

All worship must be based upon the movement of the Holy Spirit and this will never happen unless the Holy Spirit lives within us!

1Co 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

1Co 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

This the place God in Spirit, abides until He returns "in person" to takes us home to Heaven!

If you cannot worship the Lord within yourself, it will never show up when you gather with others who are the same!

If we cannot rejoice in Jesus Christ we will never have any part of the Holy Spirit and we will never know Jehovah God!

We must clearly understand; our flesh is only physical and material and it can only handle physical and material things. God is Spirit!

Our confidence must be in the Lord Jesus Christ who was sent by Jehovah God to solve our flesh problem!

It is obvious that we will battle with this flesh as long as we are alive as Paul describes his own battle.

*****Php 3:4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:

Php 3:5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

Php 3:6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

Php 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

The Lord Jesus Christ was 100% God and while He was on this earth before He was crucified, He was also 100% human.

After we are "Born Again" into the family of God we are still 100% human but we are also now 100% saved by the power of God through the blood of Jesus Christ which is "spiritual". We must abandon the flesh for what it is, and feed the spirit within us that lives forever!

Gal 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Jesus Christ is the only sign of righteousness that is needed in this world but this world must accept this to be the truth!

Confidence is trusting in your own abilities to solve all your problems but we must clearly understand we have no power to deal with our own sin problem!

Most of our world suffers from self-righteousness!

Paul said he was circumcised one the 8th day according to the Jewish law and according to the sign given to Abraham.

Paul said he was a true Israelite and from the tribe of Benjamin which had remained with the tribe of Judah throughout all the years of Israel.

Paul said he was a descendant of Jacob who was a descendant of Eber a descendant of Shem, the son of Noah.

Paul went to the best schools of the law in Jerusalem and studied under Gamaliel and became a Pharisee at a young age.

Act 5:34 Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;

Act 5:35 And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.

There were the Essenes, the Sadducees, and the Pharisees the 3 sects of Jewish law, the Pharisees being the most accurate and precise in all matters concerning the laws of Moses.

Paul had a zeal and was perfectly sincere in persecuting the church. According to the Jewish law he was innocent of any wrong doing as he murdered and killed Christians in a feeble attempt to stop the Church of Jesus Christ!

We should clearly understand that until we come to know the Lord Jesus Christ in a personal way we all suffer from moral blindness as was Paul who then Saul.

1Ti 1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;

1Ti 1:13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

1Ti 1:14 And the "grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant" with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

The Apostle Paul became a prime example for us all in the power of God's "Grace".

Before Paul met the Lord on the Damascus Road, Paul, then Saul, was high up in the sect of the Pharisees, could possibly had a seat on the Sanhedrin Court and riches and prestige were certainly in his future!

Paul had strived all his life to be in this position of prestige in the Jewish society of that day and had made it!

But when you meet the Lord Jesus Christ your life can change for the better!

We should clearly understand there should be a change.

Like a wise black Pastor said, "if you are what you were, then you ain't".

Paul did not mean all the things of his Jewish life were evil. The things of the Jews were only evil when they were used as an excuse to destroy the Messiah and the work of the Church.

These things became not only worthless but in reality, they were a loss in the furtherance of the truth!

Mat 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Why is this so true? There is nothing more excellent than the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ!

*****Php 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

Php 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

We should ask ourselves, what is the meaning of gain and loss in my life?

To gain is to obtain an increase in anything.

What does God say?

Mat_16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

A loss is best described as destruction, waste, ruin, defeat and even puzzled.

A gain list might read, good health, money, comfort and prosperity and such as these.

A loss list might read sickness, disappointment, sorrow, bereavement and such as these.

That word "count" being in the present tense means the Apostle Paul constantly counted these things each day.

To Paul there was only one gain and that was in the Jesus Christ. All other things were loss!

Act 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

How did Jesus describe the Kingdom of Heaven?

Mat 13:44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

There is nothing in this world that we can compare to the gift of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The "knowledge" of Jesus Christ just overwhelms all the thoughts of gain in this world!

God says: Pro_8:10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.

There are things in Heaven that we can only dream of because we have no knowledge except to know it will be far better than anything upon this earth.

Paul clearly understood what the Lord Jesus was saying and we should to!

Mat_6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

Mat_6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

The greatest treasure we can find here on earth is righteousness and that righteousness can come only by the Lord Jesus Christ!

The only means of this righteousness is "Faith" in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ!

How does the Bible describe faith?

Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

The knowledge of Jesus Christ is the substance of our faith.

The object of saving faith is the whole revealed Word of God!

Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.

God wants us to know all about Him. God has given us the Scriptures that explain everything we need to know about Him and it is from the Word of God where we will obtain enough faith to be set free from the burden of sin!

When we study the Scriptures, we will see all the wonderful things that the Lord has done for us.

*****Php 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

Php 3:11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

The Lord Jesus Christ is a complete Savior!

The Lord Jesus Christ showed the power of God when He raised Himself from the dead!

In His death, He buried all things that stopped our salvation, in His resurrection, He made all things new, including the new life.

If we are crucified with Christ, then the things of this world will be meaningless and just tools to carry us till the time we can go home.

Gal_2:20 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.

To be crucified with Christ is to dead to the things of this world and they will mean no more than "dung".

The Lord Jesus Christ was perfect, yet He had the same desires of any man but He never allowed His desires to turn to lust!

The truth is, the more we know the Lord Jesus Christ, the more we will want to be like Him!

If we know the Lord, we will fellowship in His suffering because it was His suffering that gave us the victory in our own lives!

We will then understand that we will also be persecuted and this too is a victory because in the persecutors eyes, we are seen to be acting like Christ!

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.

To understand all these things is to realize that we also have a resurrection to look forward to one day.

Rom_6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Notice the resurrection Paul is referring to is the resurrection of the believer at the end of the "Church Age".

We may struggle with our faith from time to time but the truth of Jesus Christ will never change!

Luk 14:14 And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.

Who are these that have been justified?

Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Rom 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

We that know the Lord Jesus Christ on a personal level and trust in His words, are "justified" but we have not yet reached perfection.

*****Php 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

We may have a perfect knowledge of Jesus Christ, we may have a perfect knowledge of the power of His death, we may understand His sufferings and most of all His perfection but we will not reach this perfection until He comes to take us home or we go on to meet Him!

It is true that it is only those who have justified who can be made perfect.

Heb 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

Knowing all these things then, our goal must be to reach perfection!

We cannot reach perfection as long as we live in these bodies of flesh but it must remain our goal!

Mat 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Our own perfection, until we meet Jesus can come only by studying the Word of God and applying it to our lives daily!

2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

The Apostle Paul knew he had not reached perfection but he knew he was not going to quit trying as long as he lived!

*****Php 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

Php 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

If you are true Christian then you have called of God at some point.

Rom_8:28 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.

Even out of those who are called most will never accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.

Mat_22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

Some will say, well why then is it so important to follow the Lord during the "Church Age"?

It is all those saved during the Church Age who will miss out on the wrath of God and those who were called and rejected the Lord will never get another opportunity after the Church Age".

1Th_1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

Eph_5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

2Th_2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

It is when the Lord returns to take us home that we will reach perfection, for then and only then will we be as righteous as the Lord has always been!

2Ti 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

We may not understand all these things but that is why it is called "Faith" and without "Faith" we simply cannot please God!

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Paul said let's just all have the same mind toward the Lord Jesus Christ and the work He has done for our salvation!

*****Php 3:15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

We cannot be perfect until we meet Jesus face to face but the fact that this is true means that in this sense we are perfect now!

We are no longer "babes in Christ" we understand the true "milk of the Word of God"!

We worship God in Spirit and Truth and we know why.

We have no confidence in our flesh.

We are solidly established in the things of God.

We are in the "race", running the course, the Lord has chosen for us.

We understand the "Mind of Christ" as it is written in the Word of God!

We understand that if we are lacking in anything according to God's purpose for us, that God will provide that also!

We understand that we all have a ministry for God and God will provide all things necessary for our ministry to succeed!

*****Php 3:16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

Php 3:17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

One of the most important things we must do as Christians is to not lose the ground we have already gained.

We must continue to walk in Christ all our days! It is the wisdom of the Lord and the wisdom He has passed on to the true men of God that will lead us the remaining days of our life.

It is not the wisdom of this world.

It is not the wisdom of the politicians of this world.

It is not the wisdom of the leaders of this world, including our own president.

1Co 2:6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:

We must be examples to each other and our wisdom must be the wisdom of God!

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.

When we strive to be examples for each other we can be a force in this world for good that this world has never seen.

As Christians, we do not want to dominate this world, we only know that Christ will one day dominate this world, which He already owns!

The strength of Christianity lies in the close fellowship of each believer!

If we follow good and always do good, we will encourage others to do good also.

If we follow bad and do bad, it sets a pattern of bad for all the world to see!

The life we live sets a pattern for those who are around us and if we look like the world then we have allowed the world to influence us more than should ever be allowed!

We must never forget, God has decided that our relationship to Him must be as a Father to His children. We must look up to Him not only for what He says but just as much for what He has already done!

We are not to "judge" anyone but at the same time God says to take a look at your brothers and sisters in Christ and get the closest to those you see walking in the ways of the Lord and be an example for those who don't!

What was Paul's example?

Paul had forgotten all the things of his past because he given them to God and they no longer hindered his ministry!

Paul had reached forth to all the promises of God that lay ahead!

Paul was pressing toward the mark of the high calling of God in Jesus Christ!

After meeting the Lord on the Damascus road, Paul never looked back on that old life but he also never forgot that he had persecuted the church that he was now trying to build for Jesus Christ, who remains the head of the Church.

The prize is not the rewards we may or may not receive. The prize is the "High Calling of Jesus Christ"!

Jesus Christ must remain as our example of perfection!

We must strive to get our whole congregations to seek the perfection of Jesus Christ!

As we look out over those who gather with us we will also find those who are still seeking their on righteousness!

*****Php 3:18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

Php 3:19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

Believe it or not, we will find those even in our own congregations who are the enemies of Christ.

They will be opposed to some doctrine of Christ. Whether it be the virgin birth, or the blood of Christ Jesus, or the death, the burial, or the Resurrection, or even the Ascension of Christ or what gets most of them is that "Jesus Christ is God in the Flesh"!

The "Doctrine of Jesus Christ" is an all or nothing truth!

Jesus Christ is indeed the second part of the Holy Trinity or better said, "the Triune God" consisting of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit!

Notice Paul did not write to condemn these unholy deceivers, Paul wrote to warn them.

Until we die, we will have that opportunity to know the Lord as long as we have not extended the Holy Spirit past His calling.

Paul even wept for those he saw doing these things. We must have an earnest desire for the lost to be saved!

Just as any other prayer we must have faith that God can save anybody at any time before their death.

We must realize that it is bad to be mistreated by your enemies but it is a disgrace to be mistreated by your friends!

As Paul looked over these people he wept "because he knew their doom".

This is something we must also realize, they are doomed unless they change their ways. It is called repent!

The result is that they will be destroyed!

If we cannot weep for the lost, then we do not love them enough to try to get them to Jesus Christ to be saved!

It will be just awful to have spent so much time in the house of God and to have never accepted the truth of Jesus Christ!

Notice Paul does never say they will cease to exist because even the lost will live eternally but not in Heaven and there will be only one other place and that is the Burning Lake of Fire!

Who are the enemies of the Cross?

1) They reject the work of the Lord Jesus Christ as the only way to be reconciled to God!

2Co_5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

We were all the enemies of Christ at one time!

Rom_5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

2) They do not accept that the death of Jesus Christ paid for their sins.

3) They do not believe the Jesus Christ could have died because He was God.

4) They do not believe their penalty of sin was settled at the Cross.

5) They believe they can approach God in their own righteousness.

6) They claim that there are other ways to get to Heaven.

7) They consider the doctrine of Christ to be foolishness.

8) They intend to stamp out the truth of God.

9) Their god is the god of their belly!

The truth is they will glory in their own shame!

Their conversations are never about Heaven!

The true believer is just the opposite!

*****Php 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

Php 3:21 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 to subdue all things unto himself.

It is not important to know all the things of this world because this place has never been our home.

Heaven is our home. Our citizenship is in Heaven!

There should never be a time that we will not talk about our home and the Savior who made the way for us to get back home!

We must deny the earth is our home.

We must deny ourselves and give our flesh to the Lord.

We must set our affections on things that are above not the things of this earth.

Our only obstacle in serving the Lord is the flesh that houses our eternal soul.

As nations have their heads, the Lord Jesus Christ is the Head of Heaven but also the Head of the Church.

If we cannot be loyal to our true home and our Savior who is our God then we do not deserve Him!

What did Jesus say to the Apostles?

Luk 10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; "but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven".

It is these things that can bring peace to the Christian even as we face the problems of this world.

After salvation, the greatest thing we can look forward to is what will happen when we meet Jesus face to face!

This flesh has weighed us down all our lives but not when we meet Jesus!

If we focus on our salvation.

If we focus on our home in Heaven.

If we focus on our place in the Father's house, which the Lord said had many mansions.

If we focus on our new glorified body.

If we focus on all these things, why in the world would we allow this world we live in to break us down?

The Lord will fashion each of our bodies not like His body while He was upon this earth but like His glorified body after His resurrection!

This will be a body that is permanent, constant, unchanging, and without sin of any sort, a body of perfection, a spiritual body.

1Jn 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

1Jn 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

1Jn 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

We must understand that the world hates us because we understand this truth and they reject this truth.

These things are only possible because our Savior is also our Creator!

Jesus Christ is God, who is sovereign over this world and all of creation.

He can control the world.

He can subdue the world.

He can recreate this world.

He can change my vile body into a body just a He has, and He will!

If we cannot realize the happiness and peace and then the benefits of the "High Calling of God" then what does that say about our "faith"!

Let's quit talking about this evil world and talk about our true home of Heaven and the never-ending life with our precious Savior who is our God!

Amen!