OK. I missed three weeks at least in keeping up this blog. So I will now add three outlines to it and kind of make up for lost time. Time has actually been the shortage it seemed for the past three weeks.
These are messages from Philippians.
Phil. 3:1-14 - "...AND LIVE REJOICING EVERY DAY"
In these dark days before the return of our Lord, we can still live rejoicing every day.
1. FOUND IN HIM. This is the basis for all of our joy. It means that we are saved, "in Him". Ephesians 1 gives us al ist of all of the blessings that we have "in Him", as saved people. 2 Corinthians 5 makes it clear that we can be righteous only through His wonderful work on the cross. In order to have true joy, you must be found in Him, not having your own righteousness.
2. FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM. Some people were saved forty years ago, but have not continued to experience fellowship with the Lord on a daily basis. Therefore, there are many Christian people who are not experiencing the joy of their Christian faith. It is sad. Notice what Paul says in this passage about the all-consuming passion of His life, "That I may know him. . ." (v. 10). We will know Him through a daily fellowship with Him in His Word. We will know Him as we experience trials and sufferings in our lives. We will experience His tender care and learn more of what He experienced for us as we walk the dark valleys of life. The true key to fellowship is found in the phrase, "Being made conformable to his death." Only as we learn to die to self and allow His Holy Spirit to guide our lives can we experience His power in our daily lives.
3. FORGETTING. Most of us are not too thrilled about being forgetful, but this is where forgetfulness can be a blessing. We must forget the previous way of living. Instead of glorying in our sinful past and shameful practices, let us do some forgetting. Paul was forgetting the religious deadness that had been his life. Paul was forgetting the past hurts inflicted at times by those who should have loved him most, and whom he had served. Paul was forgetting his past successes and not living on faded glories. It is high time that many of us do some forgetting.
4. FOCUSING. Find out your purpose in life: glorifying the Lord! Make this the one "cause" that you live for. "I press toward the mark for the prize." There is a prize that awaits those who live for the glory of God. Look forward to your Heavenly investments and not so much toward your earthly investments. Our materialistic lifestyle has ruined the joy of many Christians. You cannot experience joy if all your living for is your 401K and retirement. Our real retirement is out of this world!
God bless you today!
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Beautiful Christians
Christianity does not paint a "pie in the sky" and ignore the pains and pressures of our lives. We do not have a promise of a life without trials and tests. Yet, in the midst of these adversities, we discover reasons to rejoice. We have found several already in our study in Philippians. In Philippians 2:25-30, we see yet another reason: WE CAN REJOICE BECAUSE WE HAVE A MERCIFUL GOD.
Reading in Job, we discover that sometimes believers face serious trials. There is a night-time of the soul. Family struggles may be yours. Financial struggles may be mine. All of us will face loss and trials of our faith. Yet, in the book of Job we find in chapter 35 that God gives "songs in the night"! We have a merciful God.
Paul tells about two men God used to be "songs in the night" for him. One was Timothy of whom he says that he was "like-minded" and that he would "naturally care" for the people of Philipi. He was a man after Paul's own heart. This says a lot for Timothy. It is high praise. Timothy relieved the burden from Paul's shoulders. He could be entrusted with the care of this church because of his character. Paul, sitting in jail, could sing (as he was prone to do) because of the faithfulness of Timothy.
The second verse of Paul's song was a man named Epaphroditus. This brother is not mentioned anywhere else in the New Testament except in Philippians. His name means "blessed by Aphrodite" or "lovely and charming". Aphrodite was the goddess of love, beauty, and gambling. Seems like too many in our day worship at the altar of this false god. Epaphroditus displayed real spiritual beauty in his life not because of anything to do with Aphrodite, but because of what Jesus had done in his life. Jesus alone can make our lives beautiful and charming.
I am thinking of a man who was cantankerous and obstinate. Children feared him as well as adults. Alcohol enslaved him and his family suffered. Yet, he had a praying wife, and one day God reached down and got a hold of Sam Jones' heart. He got saved! His life was transformed. He was used by God across America for several years as an evangelist preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. His life was different and beautiful because of the Lord Jesus.
Epaphroditus demonstrated the grace of God in his life in three ways. First, his life was balanced. He was no lop-sided Christian as so many are today. There are three basic areas of our Christian lives, and he excelled in all of them. He walked in fellowship with the Lord and other believers as a son of God and a brother. His fellowship was right. Instead of being contrary, he demonstrated what Jesus said would show true discipleship. He loved the brethren. Paul called him "my brother". He loved Epaphroditus and enjoyed his fellowship in the Lord.
Not only was Epaphroditus a man who walked with God and had his fellowship right, he also worked for God. He was a labourer. Paul was definitely a worker, and he found a kindred spirit in Epaphroditus. He was someone who would not only enjoy the carry-in dinner, but would show up for the work day as well.
Epaphroditus demonstrated his good balanced Christianity by being a warrior. He was a fellow-soldier. That means he was right alongside of Paul in the battle. He recognized that the battle was not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual wickedness in high places. He was not fighting against the man of God, but right in there shoulder to shoulder with him covering his back. It is time that we recognize we are in a battle and that we also lift up the blood-stained banner of the cross! Our victory will not come through carnal, fleshly means. Our success only comes through obedience to the Word of God and the Spirit of God. Let us engage the enemy. It is time to take back territory from the enemy by leading souls to the Savior. Epaphroditus was balanced.
He was also BURDENED. In our carefree days before the coming of our Savior it behooves us to not be so "light". We have been fed froth when we need the sincere milk of the Word and the strong meat of the Word. It is time for us to begin to carry the burden that the Lord would have for us. It is time to take up our cross daily. What was this burden that Epaphroditus carried? It was the same one Paul also carried. . .the care of the churches. He was concerned about the people of God. He wanted these brothers and sisters in the Lord to experience the joy of the Lord. I believe he was one of those fellas you wanted to see coming because you knew that he was going to be a blessing. He had a wonderful spirit. His burden to lift up God's people resulted in their joy and rejoicing. Paul told the Philippians to hold him in high honor. We used to sing the old song "Others". Lord, help me live from day to day; In such a self-forgetful way. That even when I kneel to pray; My prayer shall be for others. Others, Lord, yes others. Let this my motto be. Help me to live for others; that I might live like Thee." It is time for us to get back to this focus.
Finally, Epaphroditus was a beautiful Christian because he was BRAVE. Epaphroditus, as you may remember, was named for the goddess of love, beauty, and gaming. In fact when gamblers would roll their dice, they would say, "Epaphroditus!" instead of "Seven come eleven" or whatever they say. They were asking for their goddess to somehow bless their gambling. Foolish to think that since gambling is like throwing your money out the window, but that is what they did. Epaphroditus, on the other hand, risked his life without thought for his own welfare, in the work of the Lord. He was nearly dead because of his service to the Lord in this fashion. In a day when it is popular in Christian circles to rust out rather than burn out, let's take a page from this servant of God. He was willing to place himself in the front-lines of the battle without thought for his own safety or health. Reason? So that he could live in obedience to the Savior. It did not matter if a situation seemed threatening, if the Lord told him to go. When he received the command, he obeyed in fearless obedience. God mercifully brought him through!
Ask God to make you a beautiful Christian. Balanced, not warped; Burdened with the needs of others; and bravely obeying the Savior wherever He leads.
Reading in Job, we discover that sometimes believers face serious trials. There is a night-time of the soul. Family struggles may be yours. Financial struggles may be mine. All of us will face loss and trials of our faith. Yet, in the book of Job we find in chapter 35 that God gives "songs in the night"! We have a merciful God.
Paul tells about two men God used to be "songs in the night" for him. One was Timothy of whom he says that he was "like-minded" and that he would "naturally care" for the people of Philipi. He was a man after Paul's own heart. This says a lot for Timothy. It is high praise. Timothy relieved the burden from Paul's shoulders. He could be entrusted with the care of this church because of his character. Paul, sitting in jail, could sing (as he was prone to do) because of the faithfulness of Timothy.
The second verse of Paul's song was a man named Epaphroditus. This brother is not mentioned anywhere else in the New Testament except in Philippians. His name means "blessed by Aphrodite" or "lovely and charming". Aphrodite was the goddess of love, beauty, and gambling. Seems like too many in our day worship at the altar of this false god. Epaphroditus displayed real spiritual beauty in his life not because of anything to do with Aphrodite, but because of what Jesus had done in his life. Jesus alone can make our lives beautiful and charming.
I am thinking of a man who was cantankerous and obstinate. Children feared him as well as adults. Alcohol enslaved him and his family suffered. Yet, he had a praying wife, and one day God reached down and got a hold of Sam Jones' heart. He got saved! His life was transformed. He was used by God across America for several years as an evangelist preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. His life was different and beautiful because of the Lord Jesus.
Epaphroditus demonstrated the grace of God in his life in three ways. First, his life was balanced. He was no lop-sided Christian as so many are today. There are three basic areas of our Christian lives, and he excelled in all of them. He walked in fellowship with the Lord and other believers as a son of God and a brother. His fellowship was right. Instead of being contrary, he demonstrated what Jesus said would show true discipleship. He loved the brethren. Paul called him "my brother". He loved Epaphroditus and enjoyed his fellowship in the Lord.
Not only was Epaphroditus a man who walked with God and had his fellowship right, he also worked for God. He was a labourer. Paul was definitely a worker, and he found a kindred spirit in Epaphroditus. He was someone who would not only enjoy the carry-in dinner, but would show up for the work day as well.
Epaphroditus demonstrated his good balanced Christianity by being a warrior. He was a fellow-soldier. That means he was right alongside of Paul in the battle. He recognized that the battle was not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual wickedness in high places. He was not fighting against the man of God, but right in there shoulder to shoulder with him covering his back. It is time that we recognize we are in a battle and that we also lift up the blood-stained banner of the cross! Our victory will not come through carnal, fleshly means. Our success only comes through obedience to the Word of God and the Spirit of God. Let us engage the enemy. It is time to take back territory from the enemy by leading souls to the Savior. Epaphroditus was balanced.
He was also BURDENED. In our carefree days before the coming of our Savior it behooves us to not be so "light". We have been fed froth when we need the sincere milk of the Word and the strong meat of the Word. It is time for us to begin to carry the burden that the Lord would have for us. It is time to take up our cross daily. What was this burden that Epaphroditus carried? It was the same one Paul also carried. . .the care of the churches. He was concerned about the people of God. He wanted these brothers and sisters in the Lord to experience the joy of the Lord. I believe he was one of those fellas you wanted to see coming because you knew that he was going to be a blessing. He had a wonderful spirit. His burden to lift up God's people resulted in their joy and rejoicing. Paul told the Philippians to hold him in high honor. We used to sing the old song "Others". Lord, help me live from day to day; In such a self-forgetful way. That even when I kneel to pray; My prayer shall be for others. Others, Lord, yes others. Let this my motto be. Help me to live for others; that I might live like Thee." It is time for us to get back to this focus.
Finally, Epaphroditus was a beautiful Christian because he was BRAVE. Epaphroditus, as you may remember, was named for the goddess of love, beauty, and gaming. In fact when gamblers would roll their dice, they would say, "Epaphroditus!" instead of "Seven come eleven" or whatever they say. They were asking for their goddess to somehow bless their gambling. Foolish to think that since gambling is like throwing your money out the window, but that is what they did. Epaphroditus, on the other hand, risked his life without thought for his own welfare, in the work of the Lord. He was nearly dead because of his service to the Lord in this fashion. In a day when it is popular in Christian circles to rust out rather than burn out, let's take a page from this servant of God. He was willing to place himself in the front-lines of the battle without thought for his own safety or health. Reason? So that he could live in obedience to the Savior. It did not matter if a situation seemed threatening, if the Lord told him to go. When he received the command, he obeyed in fearless obedience. God mercifully brought him through!
Ask God to make you a beautiful Christian. Balanced, not warped; Burdened with the needs of others; and bravely obeying the Savior wherever He leads.
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