This fell says I always arrive late at the office but I make up for by leav it early teacher asked Glen she says Glenn how do you spell Crocodile but k r o k o d i a l he said no that’s wrong I said maybe it’s wrong
But you ask me how I sell it some people are more Li H re opens due to the social distancing there will be no water in Lanes 1 3 and 5 have to pict it I have to see policeman pulled over a car walk kep to the driver’s window and asked the man
If he knew why he was being pulled over man replied no you failed to stop at the stop sign the officer explained but I did slow down I argue polican shook his head you’re required to stop that’s why they call him stop signs man started to get belligerent stop slow down what’s
The difference the officer pulled out his pen and began writing I can show you if I’m writing you an expensive ticket with my 10 like so will you ask me to stop or slow [Laughter] down is that steeve each of you this morning I’m going to go through the prayer list and
Then I will explain to you what I know about what my condition was okay PR Jackson of course still going through his treatments Steve laner he’s got some further surgery to look forward to I understand it’s his foot this time he been a toe problem maybe some more
Amputation involved here Jim and Dy Weaver we need to be mindful of them as Jim continues to go through his ongoing struggles Beverly Penny and Jim Penny same situation EVN is going through some difficult times and Jim is caring for her Sandy Chatfield has got an appointment this morning apparently to
Get some treatments as that continues on let’s keep Sandy in our prayers Jan Crow I haven’t heard anything that changed anywhere down there it’s a tampus site she still resuming her treatments Patty is sitting here you doing okay Patty yes good good to see you Paul Conley is
Being tended to at home don’t know the severity or the outcome any of that is rot last week what’s that he went to Rotary he went to Rotary then he’s doing better when he goes to a football game that all always as well all right go mom she tells me she’s
Doing pretty good she’s up here currently she would leave for while she would you or your sister well today she’s able to my sister but she’s doing better she’s do very good good to hear that Sue had her elbow replaced and she at home she’s going to be laid up for about three
Months but she’s doing good recovering Eric D Lorenzo I received a message that he’s with aphid it’s a condition that a lot of folks go through and I guess he’s had this off and on over the years we’ve heard of him having other issues like this Jason White it appears that what
They’re going to do for him is a heart cath and Steve shaper he’s got some additional back additional back surgery that he’s facing whether does anybody know if he’s had that surgery or not I think he’s G well I talk to his love a couple days ago and he was
Scheduled for surgery today I don’t know what kind of surgery well so hopefully he’s they’ve been putting it off and putting it off I think it’s today today I think it’s today today you think I think I heard last night all right well keep Sten I regardless yeah all right now I went
Monday for my um St see if there was anything upstairs here isn’t what happened to me I haven’t got the result check evidently the doctor doesn’t have actually 20 20 seconds to call me and tell me what what’s going on so we’re just taking it that no news is good news
But what I understand from everything that’s going on from the people that I’ve spoken to that been address this whole issue that I experienced this is very Comm but every that happens to a lot of people every day the age has a part in all of this but it appears that
These are just things that happen they’ll happen and well in my case it was 15 minutes or more some people it just lasts for a moment just a few seconds and then it goes away and another time 6 weeks 8 weeks a month 2 months whatever the time frame it
Happens again and the doctors told me that that’s have to happen and what it is is very disting here I mean you can’t talk your words don’t come out as words they’re just gibberish You Can’t See Clearly everything is just flooded I mean it’s just just like some forign
Language on the paper so it’s very concerning when it happens to you and having never had it happen before and having been and still are extremely healthy in my life it scared me and so I listened to Morin was it do supposed to do what she wanted to do is called 911
I said no I no problem now you go to hospital you’re going to have problems it just seems to be the time that we’re going through but at anyway I feel that everything is fine uh one of the things that they recommended that I’m Faithfully doing is drink some of
This store bought water that has a lot of electrolytes in it like Gatorade but that’s got too much sugar so you got to use some of the smart Waters that they have now it’s absolutely ridiculous but I’m doing it I don’t want this to keep happening if that’s all it takes
I’ll drink all the water good well I’ve been drinking Gat for five years and a going to hurt you Dr all footballers play football uh just a little bit you didn’t say nothing but Jason white was here last night and he did get a good clear report and he should be starting work
Today they said again did he have St for yeah okay and what’s that one just one stit you know no they didn’t put nothing they didn’t end up doing anything no no they just ran c yeah they ran out everything looked good in there so they probably followed up with some medicines or
Something you know and then also carlen talked to Stephanie lir um Tuesday and today I think he’s going to Shan’s to get fitted for his first prosthetic so you know like you’ve said in the past that’s going to be an ongoing thing where’re to have to refit it and stuff
Time through and but that’s what he’s doing today but he’s in good spirits and stuff your attitude how you’re dealing with things are very important all right anything else thank you for that update anyone else anything else so we didn’t yet Larry Cohen’s doing a lot
Better who Larry Cohen oh is he doing Joe knows about it but he’s I haven’t heard anything from Linda okay well that’s good good to thank God for that yes J I’ve got um not sick list uh things but a reminder about the Jacksons um and the cards so we extended
That a week with them being backed up a week so that box is still in my office if you haven’t done a letter or want to write them a note as they’re moving away um just walk in my office there’s a black box sitting right there on the
Table you can just throw it in there and then um I listen to miss Morin as well she asked me to uh make you guys some little invite cards to this class um so been working on that they just came in yesterday or today it’s just a postcard size about the Thursday morning
Class so um she said to print a thousand no kidding she’s an optimist we printed 500 so 250 will go out in the lobby and we keep those out in the lobby but the other 250 I’m going to put up here on the table as you guys
Think of people you want to invite um with our power of one and reaching ones um that means Us in this room as well um so however you want to use these we got them and we can order more if you go through them and then I’ll say we should have ordered a
Th and I’ll say you’re right but hopefully you get some use out of these so that’s that’s a good teaching it’s a good evangelizing if you’re not good about going to people cold turkey and talking to them about the lord it’s a good way to yes yes I
Wanted to ask j u we have address bar I don’t think there’s a address on where they’re moving I don’t not that I’ve seen okay we have um her birthday we have a birthday card going around okay do you have okay tomorrow we have a birthday card here the
Address don’t want to single y or anything just happy you’re here glad to have you here I don’t care if you’re 10 minutes later take a pause and do the most important we all know the feel especially the late Steve Carson okay you got to read her the
First note that you had there today yeah there’s a note just written for you Lord let me read that then I’ll tell you who sent this so you don’t know who to hit I always arrive late at the office but I make it up by leaving early thank you guys let’s get started
Let us begin with a word of prayer the GP of heavenly father humbly we bow before you this morning recognizing you for who you are and what you need to us in our lives as we come together this morning Father in this class we pray father constantly for the
Many that are on our hearts and on our minds the list of which we’ve gone over this morning that you know not only those but you know all of the ones that are concerning to us there are many whether it be Reigns Jackson or Steve lir or Jim Weaver or Beverly peny or
Sandy Chatfield Jan Crow Patty Zimmerman Paul Conley Jolie’s mom Eric D Lorenzo Sue Jason White Steve schaer and the list is even longer than that father but we know that you know our hearts we cry out to you constantly to be with those that are struggling that are having difficulties in their lives
And to give us peace by knowing that when we turn this over to you we can be confident and we can find that peace be with us father as we come together this morning to study from the book of Philippians to find those messages within that book that you not only want
For the people there at Philippi but that you want for us to be able to adopt into our lives here in this very moment in time go with us through this study father and thank you for all the answers to the prayers that we have petitioned
You in the past in Christ name we pray amen I want everybody to know that Lori is Nick and Mrs Missy sister he’s she’s next sister do anybody know that yes and I Think I think it’s wonderful that she’s so and always love Missy yes we forgot one special thing to what did I forget we have a birthday today birday me sing happy birth you want to get up ready all right anything else I overlooked thank you God for being this
Morning we are going to start in the book of Philippians this morning chapter 1 and if you remember from the study in the book of Acts U Paul has established this church in Philippi in that book of Acts in chapter 16 and verse 11 that tells us about him arriving there let me
Read that just to set the stage for what we’re going to be doing it says in Acts 1611 therefore sailing from traz we ran a straight course December 8th and the next day came neopolis and from there to Philippi which is the foremost City in that part of the Macedonia of colony and
We were staying in that City for some days that sets a stage for where Paul is and what it is that he’s going to be doing here so let’s get into the study itself this letter as with most all of Paul’s letters begin with a fit and proper introduction it’s it’s a letter
Common to what most anybody would send a letter first thing you do is to introduce yourself so that the people that are receiving this letter know who it is is sending it have you ever been a recipient of a note or a letter or a
Card that they didn’t put the name on it who it’s from it’s kind of it’ll drive you nuts actually but it happens a lot in this electronic age that we have here people will send me a message and I won’t know who it’s from I won know how
To respond so I just accept the message and move on the only other way that you can know what a letter is in regards to rather than by who it sent from is by the cont of it and you can’t always depend on that either sometimes it’s
Just not possible so Paul always starts off his letters introducing himself and if he’s with someone else he makes sure he includes that so we start off in the book of Philippians today with this greeting from Paul from Paul and Timothy Bon ser of Jesus Christ so far so good we know
Who’s sending this letter we’re going to find out who he’s sending it to but let’s make sure that we hear what he says in these verses and in these words that he uses he uses that word that we talked about last week Bond servant and it is not somebody who is it’s just
Somebody who is subject to the individual that they’re talking about Bond servant here in this case is Jesus Christ they are under the power and the love and the care the mercy and the grace of Jesus and they are Servants of his and he makes it absolutely positive
That you know that starts his letter by letting you know that not only he himself but also to Timothy but as it goes on the next yes Kev and in the Greek it’s that word dulos again you’re a slave you’re literally a slave okay literally a slave because we are we’re a
Slave to Jesus Christ if we’ve given our life to him and that just simply we’re going to do what he tells us to do all right very it’s a good example very good example all right to all the saints in Christ Jesus next verse or the continuation of this it’s going to stop
Right there and there’s a reason why I’m going to stop right there for the sake of this study and for the sake of the presentations that I make every time we talk about God’s word he’s saying this is to all the saints in Christ Jesus so
Let me stop for a moment moment because there is more to this opening you know that you got it right there in front of you but I choose to stop so that I can make my appeal as I do often times to this class especially and Paul is not
Corresponding with just this group in Philippi this group so long ago and so far away he’s also talking to us and he wants us to hear it so I stop where I stop because I want you to hear that he’s talking to all the saints in Christ
Jesus if you’ve given your life to the Lord then you are a saint in Christ Jesus now I do realize it goes on and I’m going to read that in a second but I need you to understand when I take it apart like that I want to make a point
And I think the point is very valid I think it’s very important that we know he’s not just talking to the people of Philippi and and this is why I say that because in the next few words in this verse in chapter 1 verse one let me read
The entirety and then I’ll stop again Paul and Timothy Bond Servants of Jesus Christ to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi he specifies that with the Bishops and the deacons what Paul says next is not just a sign of good letter writing they’re the words
From a sincere and caring heart he immediately when once he introduces himself once he talks about who he’s talking to and the message he’s trying to get to them he goes on with some very beautiful flowering wording in verse two he says grace to you and peace not just
To Paul you have keep remembering Paul is a representative of God he has been selected by God he has been chosen he was on that path and he he was converted into an apostle unto the Gentiles so he has all this history but he has a Caring
Heart a sincere heart he’s just as sincere and caring now in The Compassion that he is as his apostle to the Gentiles as he was as a a someone who always opposed all the things that were being taught when he was sa he’s got the same energy and the same concern the
Same love for what he honestly firmly believes and he doesn’t compromise that that’s why he’s saying these things the way he’s saying them and when he gets down to verse two and he says grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ he’s making sure
That they realize he’s not just battling some words concern from him s that he is that representative and it is God and Jesus that appreciates these Saints and that’s why he’s saying the things he’s saying in the way that he’s saying them so having just said that I thank you
Paul that’s very kind of you to say I pray that your kind words don’t fall on deaf ears because that’s exactly what happens from time to time throughout the scriptures throughout these letters that are written by these various men Paul being one of them and the purpose of all
All of that is of course they bolster us up and build us up but so often times these messages these encouragements even these edifications even the correcting they’re there to help you and I to grow in our life to know more about what it is that God wants us to know but too
Often times they fall upon deaf ears go in one ear and out the other they hear God’s word it’s like the parable of the of soar it sometimes Falls in good soil sometimes the word takes root sometimes it’s just temporary sometimes it’s not at all they don’t even want to hear it
Well it’s those were always referred to as deaf ears we know that people have ears we know that people hear these messages messages like what Paul is addressing here but they don’t take it to heart they don’t accept it they don’t adopt it into their life they don’t let
It become a part of who they are and so that’s why it’s important that we understand when he says Grace and peace from God our Father and Lord Jesus Christ he’s expressing some real serious concern and some acknowledgement of who it is that’s behind all of this growth
That he’s trying to instill within you and me not just the people of Philippi and it’s important that we know that otherwise again as I’ve said so many times if we don’t see it as being personally delivered to you and I then it’s just a history study all right
Now he moves on still in chapter 1 Philippians 1: 3-6 he says I think my God upon every remembrance of you that’s exactly what I just said through trying to express I thank my God and your God the god upon every remembrance of you he’s talking about those Saints in Christ that he
Addressed as he opened this letter I think my God for you Saints you are the fruits of the labor that Paul has been laboring with everything that he’s done all the messages he’s delivered the good news all the encouragement all the faith building understandings that he’s
Delivered all of that when it results in you being obedient to the word of God and we obedient to the word of God here in this day and age from those same words that he delivered to those people way that that man in that time and that
Near it’s no different yes well I I’m so glad he’s thanking them all through this this chapter but do we thank God enough we pray and it and the prayer is answered do we remember to thank him for that I know always well you’re right and neither do
All of us I mean there’s times we just move on through life absorbed by some of what’s going on around us and we forget to think of well I’m going to address that and it’s going to show up how I show you how I express to you how I
Thank God and how I would suggest to you that you thank God very good question I appreciate it all right let’s move on I thank my God upon every remembrance of you always in every prayer of mine make a request for you all with joy you all
Not just them all you all that’s important for us to see and that answers what you just said how do we petition the Lord we do with joy absolutely always in every prayer he doesn’t leave it out as you’re alluding to to he Christin he say every prayer we
Say sometimes we forget sometimes we even forget to pray sometimes we try to deal with the matters at hand ourselves without consulting with God and it usually turns out bad but what he’s making sure they understand here is that he cares not only just for the people in
Philippi as he writes other letters he expresses those same kinds of understandings and to you and I as we read those letters they’re just as relevant today is they were’re back then and so he cares about us and so he said in verse five for your fellowship your fellowship your relationship with Jesus
Christ your fellowship with the church with the called out with the gospel with the Saints he says that’s important for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now being confident of this one thing and it’s very important that we understand what that thing is
That he’s referring to in verse six he says being confident of this very thing that he who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ you know what verse popped into my mind when I read that when you
Stop and think about who it is that’s going to be with you from start finish can you even imagine who I thought about I thought about the Book of Revelations chap 1 verse 8 1:1 CH 21:6 and CH 22:13 all say basically the same exact thing
I’m going to read you chapter 1 verse 8 just set it before you so you’ll know what I’m talking about all right who is this one he’s talking about when he says he who has standed the good work in you will be will complete it in verse 8 of
Chapter one of Revelations it says I am the Alpha and the Omega I don’t understand Greek I don’t know what Alpha and Omega means let’s just take that as a reality he say I am the Alpha and the Omega but he doesn’t leave it to the unquestionable he explains who he’s
Talking about he said from the beginning and the end so now I know Alpha is the beginning and Omega is the end sayith the Lord not just Paul he’s quoting something that I have an OP an option to look at and be reminded of and know who
It is that he’s talking about who it is and who it was who it is to come and he talking about the almighty Jesus Christ the lord himself you got a point and those are the first two letters first and last letters of the Greek alphab of the Greek alphabet
Absolutely okay fact you see all kinds of sororities and fraternities are named after those Greek letters all right Paul just said he yes J he had a question Jerry has a question yeah Jerry what’s your question Jerry justment I don’t want to get ahead open as I read this all four chapters I
I personally I see this as one of favorite congregations not because he started it a very faithful congregation it’s my understanding that this letter was written some 10 years after the church was started and they’ve been supporting Paul along the way they’re still supporting him y so I also
See it must be a very well established church because in the first verse you see the overseers and the deacons which means that church has already been established overseers and deacons have already been absolutely so very well established congregation okay has never forgotten Paul and he has never forgotten them and
That’s an important Point not only is Paul remembering them but he wants them to know what PA going through what he himself is experiencing and he sends them both fellow Ministers of the word they he sends them two people to let them know what he’s going through
Because he can’t always get there like not he’s in prison he’s being chained in prison you point these are such wonderful giving caring people that there’s a black churches named after they’re called Macedonia missionary baptist churches so if you’re familiar with a Macedonian Missionary Baptist Church that’s what this is I’m
Not okay they were the best of the best okay all right that’s what I’m just trying to make sure that we understand of who Paul is talking about who’s going to give them their strength where their strength comes from when he says he who has begun a good work in you will
Complete it just as it’s right for me to think this is all but because I have you in my heart Paul is saying in verse 7 in as much as both in my change and in my defense the confirmation of the Gospel you are the partakers with me of Grace
That’s the fruit of his labor he’s talking about those that have been faithful to what he’s tght those who have committed their life to the Lord those as Jerry just pointed out they’re faithful group and and he’s making sure that they hear that he appreciates that and he’s concerned about that and he’s
Not giving up on just because they’re doing well so often times I think churches make a big mistake when they Overlook those La long held senior citizens who have made the church strong in the first place that they think well theyve served their purpose and it it
Doesn’t come out bluntly like that but it does show up at times they concentrate on the new person that comes through the door and there is a time and a place for doing that but we can’t lose sight of the establishing of the establishment we can’t lose sight of
Those that have been faithful to the Lord because they’ve been living examples of what faithfulness really is their faithfulness to their attendance their faithfulness to their studies their faithfulness to their demeanor the way they act the way they talk to people the way they conduct themselves in their
Lives those are all very important parts and that’s what he’s addressing here all right verse eight for God is my witness how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ that’s strong affectionate caring words and Paul is good for that Paul is
Known for that he cares he cares for The Souls of others he does his job well he does joh faithfully and I submit to you that until you feel that way about The Souls of others you probably won’t even try to evangelize that’s why something like these cards that Jed just
Introduced us to that we had before previously that Mor has asked to have reintroduced these are a good means a good good way of evangelizing without having to knock on the door I have a friend I leave a card I’m talking to somebody I offer him a card I don’t know
To what extent you can go with these but they’re very very helpful they are a small group last week I made a statement that I firmly believe and I’ve used it here before how you live your life out there is one of the best Evangelistic tools you’ll ever have
Amen and you can do it you don’t need to no book chapter and verse you may be the only Bible some people ever read and that’s important I don’t know what these people have done endeared the so to Paul but it doesn’t matter he’s expressing it his approval
He’s expressing his care and his concern for them verse n and this I Pray Paul says that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and in all discernment that you may approve the things that are excellent that you may be sincere without offense till the day
Of Christ verse 11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God and here we are again a point that I try to emphasize as often as I possibly could whenever it showed itself to be
So may God be glorified by all we say and do that seems to me in all of that writing to be the message that God needs to be glorified not me not Paul not a minister standing before the people not a Bible teacher none of that it’s that
God may be glorified by everything that we learn about and in in those verses 9 through 11 those were the qualities of a Christian that ought to show and ought to exemplify to the world around them what it is and to whom it is that they
Give their priorities to and by that God will be glorified by Your Love by your knowledge by your discernment by your sincerity by your righteousness all those things that he just spelled out are the things that will set you apart from the world and that’s what he wants
Us to do he wants us to be an example to the world yes well our our motto is be Christlike and glorify God there it is and we should put that out every chance we get very simply stated very strongly referenced yes I think we’ve been studying these things in the
Sunday morning class with Richard fruits of the righteousness fruits of the spirit and it tells you as Christians how we’re supposed to conduct ourselves I think that’s what he’s saying here same thing absolutely absolutely we have to have priorities in our lives they don’t have to dominate our every breath
But they have to be seen by others or they won’t have a clue what really is important to us and if it doesn’t appear to be important to us then why would they bother CH you and that’s what he’s given them credit for here and anything
Else all right verse 12 but I want you to know Brethren that the thing or things plural which happened to me and we know how many things have happened to Paul but things which have happened to me have actually turned out for the further of the Gospel that was a strange
Verse when I first read that I thought I know what Paul’s been through he’s been beting he’s been he trampled on just absolutely I mean he’s been in shipwreck he’s been in prison all of the things that he’s endure he’s trying to tell me now that because of those things the
Gospel’s been furthered wow how did that happened Paul well I think it’s very obvious how it happened but that’s a very interesting comment Paul normally you’d not put those two ideas together because normally suffering would not result in something good so listen to what Paul means by that because he tells
Us I don’t have to make it up I don’t even have to guess at it he says so that it has become evident noticeable obvious evident to the whole Palace guard and to all the rest that my chains are in Christ here’s a man that’s imprisonment he’s chained obviously
Literally or figuratively it doesn’t matter but he said that doesn’t concern me one a little bit my loyalty my dedication my confinement my servitude every aspect of his life is in in Christ Jesus I am chained to Jesus Christ that’s the importance of what he just
Got you saying in that 13th verse my chains are in Christ which has resulted in verse 14 that most of the brethren in the Lord having become Confident by my chains what others have seen in me you say are much more bold to speak the word without fear when those around you can
See see that you’re not timid B backward about speak about Jesus Christ it’s not embarrassing to you it’s not difficult for you you can say it with great love and confidence and compassion he’s he’s saying those things that people see me doing and enduring and going through
That makes seem Bolder if Paul can do it I can do it because we don’t we don’t get punished like they did in those days that Paul received for just proclaiming the news the resurrection of Jesus Christ is just unheard of we we wouldn’t be able to stand that the
Bleeding hearts would be all over the government you had another point I was just going to say because what you were saying he may just be reminding them of what he was going through when yeah he was when the church was started in Philipp he was in prison he was in he in
Prison then and that’s how he met Philippian jail and we don’t know if he spelled out everything for those that not have known what he’s been through we don’t know that but you and I know because we have the written word of God we know exactly what Paul’s been through from his other
Letters from his other references other struggles and difficulties there’s nothing in here about him being shipwreck but yet he was ship and you know that from other writings yes uh you hear preachers say a lot of times to hear uh you’re the only Bible some people read well that was Paul he’s the
Only Bible when had back there wasn’t a Bible as such and that’s why I use that phrase I just wonder how much help Timothy was to him all this time it doesn’t mention him except in the first part of the chapter yeah we don’t know what he’s involved we don’t know but
He’s there with him so you got to feel like he’s a part of his understanding and a part of his conviction and all of those features at least he had his back maybe yeah yeah we could say that it’s today’s usage of vacular he had it
Back by any inition for the next 250 years before Christianity becomes legal 2,000 or more Christians are going to die in the arena they’re going to be fed to the Lions for their faith yeah and I suspect basically from history from what I’ve heard over my lifetime there are
Still third world Nations that people die for proclaiming Christianity even today and that is absolutely something that I I’m confident that is happening I know they have to hide in order to practice Christianity but I don’t know if they’re still being put to death because of but it would have surprise me all
Right yeah we need to always remember that uh I think when question was asked about when it references Timothy Paul refers to as a son yeah my beloved Son yeah well let me tell you you grow up at speak somebody you learn an awful lot from and then he goes on
What in second Timothy and says a true son in the faith and that uh you know just the things he says to him in Timothy yeah I think he was very very active in the Church of PA well he had a good mother and a grandmother you know I don’t believe his
Name would be mentioned the way it’s mentioned referred to the way it’s referred to if he wasn’t sure absolutely and we know PA is a good example right otherwise we wouldn’t be getting all these letters and understanding all of these writings and illustrated by says great faith
You and that’s the bottom line for all of us yeah where’s your faith lie where’s your priorities lie where do you put your your emphasis in life all right ah most of the brethren in the Lord having become Confident by my chains are much more bold to speak the word without fear
That’s the result of people witnessing what Paul has gone through now not everybody you you can’t begin to assume that everybody reacted in that same way but enough of them that have reacted to how Paul has been suffering and struggling and imprisoned by and all of a sudden they’re thinking to themselves
And we don’t hear it written but we can assume it without any problem that if Paul can handle that and deal with that and accept that then I can too and it helps further the gospel if just speaking about Jesus Christ his resurrection the hope of Heaven if that
Got Paul in trouble so be it I’m on I’m that’s a good way to get in trouble we we have we we often times shudder to think that we have to suffer for Jesus Christ but they what Jesus suffered for where you and me it’s it’s a normal reaction by these
People people when they get that love for Paul and for what Paul has brought to them and that’s why he’s speaking of these things the way he is all right and it makes them bold where they would have probably been a little timid about speaking about these things now they’re
They’re more bold or at least he says more bold to speak the words without fear maybe they spoke the words but they were fearful of the outcome now they don’t mind because they know that’s a reward from God and that’s that’s in their mind that’s good when those around
You can see how important spreading the word is to you it’ll give them confidence to do the same and that’s what Paul just said in that 14th verse yes sir I think many times the freedom we have in this country and how much we’ve been blessed to be able to go out
And teach others and contact others without any fear at all these people were willing to put their lives on the line yeah just to be able to go out and teach someone about Christ Paul was willing to go to prison he was willing to be beaten which they
Did even to give up his life to be able to teach someone yet we have the freedoms today without any but well it’s not like it used to be we used to be freedom of speech was wide open it’s kind of closing in a little bit now but
Those people had nothing to reply on they couldn’t depend on the fact that they just see whatever they want they could be in big trouble with their local government just from the different words that he speak even if they don’t repeat exactly what Paul is repeating if they infer it
They’re going to be in trouble there’s a lot of that sort of thing that’s not written that we need to understand all right but all of what they just got through saying here about spreading the word being bold having witness what Paul is going through all of that is what we
Would normally say in our racula today that’s leading by example that’s what Paul has done it’s what Paul does and it’s what we should follow and he stood still be leading Us by example he did that in a time when it was bad we don’t have those bad times so we shouldn’t
Have any problem with evangelizing but until we care for The Souls of others as Paul did we probably won’t ever evangelize and that’s a sad note very okay all right next comes a war morning in vers 15- 16 we previously have talked about false prophets and other times previously we’ve talked about false
Teachers and now Paul is going to warn against false preachers of all things did you ever think that was surface that there would actually be somebody who could be referred to as a false preacher trust me it still happens today probably even more today than ever Philippians
1:15 he goes on to tell us the reason why some men choose to preach and some a different reason he says some indeed preach Christ even for envy and for strike and some also from Good Will sometimes you can do the right thing for the wrong reason sometimes you can do
The wrong thing for the right reason those aren’t really forward to us it happens all around us in all all the different things in our lives but when he’s talking here he’s talking about why the motivation or the reasoning why some men preach some Envy others that are
Preaching and and only example I can give you in today’s lifestyle is that there might be somebody that come into the congregation start learning about the Lord think that they are knowledgeable and think that they’re wise and have great wisdom in the Lord and then start envying the fellow that’s
Standing up front thinking hey this is better me he can talk to us for 45 minutes and he gets paid for that and I want some of that and believe me I’m taking some liberties with what I’m seeing here but it comes to that point
In our day and time and we have to be careful about that and the answer to all of that how do I resolve all of that how do I deal with all that is the same way the bans dealt with it search the Scriptures Daily to see if these things
Are so you have that right there in front of you they didn’t have that they had to take Paul’s word for it what he said was golden did you have a point you just describe half the guys on Sunday morning TV preacher oh yeah send me your
Prayer request and your SE money and you know I had a member of the church out the church because I said that I had no right saying that these guys are misleading hey these guys are misleading do it comes to baptism they never mention that what he trying to say
Here is that people preach for the wrong reason sometimes and you have to be mindful of it and you have to be able to handle it you have to be able to identify it recognize it and that’s what he’s saying if they’re saying if they’re preaching for Envy or for Strife to
Cause trouble to stir things up that’s not a good reason but then the second part of this he said some also from Good Will so that’s why I say sometimes you can do the right thing for the wrong reason and sometimes you can do the wrong thing for the right reason those
Former ones the ones who preach for ening or Strife he is the former preach Christ from selfish ambition those that are preaching for envy and jealousy not sincerity for supposing to add Affliction to my change Paul is blame him for the furtherance of his punishment based on what they’re doing
And the reason that they’re doing it in verse 17 he says but the latter ones the Good Will ones the ones that preach for good with good intentions he said but the latter I of love knowing that I’m appointed for the defense of the Gospel it doesn’t matter if you
Don’t know everything about the Bible you got to know that Paul is preaching for the defense of the Gospel he’s presenting the good news he’s presenting the truth that’s the only thing he has on his agenda and you need to know that otherwise you’re going to doubt it but
Men that go into the priesthood that go into the preaching the ministry whatever phrase ol you want to use there 99.9% of them are doing it for the right reason I am confident I want comp in there I don’t want to believe that anybody goes in to Ministry of the word
Of God to try to mislead people but it happens it absolutely happens that’s shameful but that’s what he’s trying to tell us here what then Verse 18 only and this is a very clean Keen clear message that I’ve said and I’ll give you the example that I’ve used in the past he
Says what then only that in every way whether in pretense or in truth that Christ is preached and in this I Rejoice yes and I Rejoice I told you this time and time again there’s those occasions when you have these holiday Christians that only come to the church on Easter or Christmas
That’s basically what he’s talking about here all right that’s all he’s making a reference to here but what I’ve said in regards to that is they’re here that’s your opportunity that’s your open window for you to impress them or encourage them or to share with them not only what
God has done in your life but the message is being delivered and the value of it all and for changing your life and giving your life life to Jesus Christ how important that is and how important can be and what’s at the end of that
Road it takes a process but it has to begin somewhere here as he’s saying here only that in every way whether in pretense or in truth whether they’re teaching for Envy or whe they’re teaching for goodwi it doesn’t matter to Paul he said at least they’re preaching Christ they’re
Hearing that message and in this he said I Rejoice it’s a start it’s a beginning okay seems first like a strange position for Paul to take but Paul actually is saying that there are some who preach for the wrong reason and there are some who preach for the right reason and
That’s okay because what’s really important is that Christ is being spoken being preached how do I know that what did I just say what did the bans do how did they confirm they read it for themselves and we have that ability today they may not have had that ility
Back then I don’t know how they would have handled all of this sort of thing you may have some ideas about that but the fact of the matter is in this day age we have the written word of God the inspired Mind Of God we can look and see
Is what he’s saying accurate is he misleading me is he trying does he have some other thing on his line that he’s trying to promote it’s a good thing that it’s okay and I equated that to that scenario about Easter and Christmas for that same reason and I’ve always
Understood that to be a good opportunity to let others see how the Lord has affected your life okay and I’ve said that in other ways as well over the over the period of time we’ve been together that you may not be able to quote book chapter and verse but you can certainly
Tell people what the Lord has done for you I I I find that very helpful and it’s a very good Evangelistic effort that you can apply all right all right now verse 19 for I know that this will turn out for my Deliverance through your prayers and
The supply of the spirit of Jesus Christ that’s Paul’s confidence he knows whatever happens whether it’s somebody FS preaching or anybody objecting or rejecting or any of those kinds of negative things he knows that God is in charge and he knows if you will appeal to God in your
Prayers if you will ask God to help you understand if you’ll call on the Holy Spirit to work in this effort of spreading the good news of evangelizing the known world then he will hear you but that’s the confidence that Paul has he’s not sitting back saying boy I hope
Those bad guys don’t get too strong here I hope that message doesn’t get to the wrong people there’s all those kinds of points that you could dwell on but why would you do that if you try to promote something good and so that’s all he’s asking for there and he’s confident that
There he will be delivered from the change that he’s in because of their prayers verse 20 according to my Earnest expectations and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed but with all boldness as always so now also Christ will be magnified in my body whether by life or by
Death Paul is not ashamed of the Gospel he knows it’s the good news he’s very good efforts in his evangelism in his assignment that he’s been given the responsibility that he’s been blessed with he sees it all of that is positive and that’s important for us to see in
His written word you cannot be discouraged by what Paul has done or he’s doing you can only be encouraged what he overcome how he came to be all these things that we read about and we’ll continue to read about as we go through this what he’s trying to
Exemplify here those two verses lead us through vers this that are very familiar to us and strange though they may be I’m try to express them differ Philippians 1 verse 21 to verse 24 as he concludes this letter for me to live as Christ to die
As gain first time I studied that first time I heard that or some read that that didn’t make a l of sense to me I can understand when he says to live is Christ I can live in a way that Christ will be proud of me and be glad that I’m
Part of his his commitment of my commitment to him I can absolutely understand that but he says to die is gain that struck me funny why would you say that Paul how can dying be a gain well he’s going to tell us what he means
By all of that when he goes into verse 22 but if I live in the flesh that was the first part if I live in the flesh this will mean fruit for my labor remember what I’ve said recently as when we were just going through these verses
That when you have given your life to Christ as a result of what Paul is teaching you are the fruit of his labor that’s what he’s expressing here if I live in the flesh this will mean fruit from my labor yet what I shall choose I cannot tell he had a choice to
Make never die and he said I can tell and there’s a very good reason why he he can’t tell you what he’s going to do and when he’s going to do it because we don’t get to choose we don’t get to choose Paul doesn’t get to choose when
He leaves this world that’s up to God that’s God’s business but while you’re here while Paul is here doing what he does he wants him to know that when he lives in the flesh that it means he can do more but he knows he’s not going to live
Forever verse 23 for I am hir fresh it difficult for me to understand I am hard pressed between the two having a desire to to depart and to be with Christ Which is far better and I don’t think anybody would take any exception to that nevertheless to remain in the flesh is
More needful for you now that’s a very kind considerate unselfish thing to say if I were to die tomorrow it’s hard press for him to to realize that which is better to die and go and be with Christ which would be better for him no question about that in his mind but what
About for you and he’s feeling somewhat lonely at this point I’m sure if I go if I’m not here to help strengthen you to increase you in faith what’ll happen to you that shows the kind and caring heart of f as he goes through this whole reference that he’s made here today in
This study and he says nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you now I can’t imagine anyone expressing a dilemma any better than that when he says I cannot tell it’s because he doesn’t have the right to choose he can’t just say God take me
Home how many times like somebody who’s been in dire Agony in terrible circumstances stand before God and say I’ve had enough he says that’s not the answer I can’t do that if God is ready to call me home there is something I can do I to be ready to
Go that’s important that should be the outcome of everything that Paul is teaching if God is going to call me home I need to be ready to go but if God has a plan for me if there’s something that he’s left me here for or brought me here
To I need to be willing to stay attitude especially if I might be able to win another soul to the Lord that’s in priority and it should be OB I think we should adopt that into our own lives all right verses 25 and 26 and being
Confident of this I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Christ Jesus by my coming to you again he’s acknowledging the fact that his stay his speaking to them him edifying
Them him building them up him teaching them whatever all that he’s say it’s going to be good for you and it’s going to be good for me it’s very difficult for us here today to be able to understand to appreciate what Paul has gone through and what he’s
Still going through Paul speaks to that very point in his final position in this lesson in this reading these next verses Philippians 1:27 through verse 30 only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ so that whether I come and see you or am absent I may hear
Of your Affairs that you stand fast in one Spirit within one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel and there’s that coinonia thing again that’s what it’s all been about this year one Spirit one mind togetherness in faith of the Gospel message and not in any way
Verse 28 terrified by your adversary don’t be frightened about what what what uh Satan can do to you God has overcome all of those things which is to them a proof of predition they think they want but to you salvation that is from God that’s where you want to focus your life
For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him but also to suffer for his sake having the same conflict which you saw in me Paul says and now here is in me not only did Christ offer himself a sacrifice for you
And I you and I have accepted that offer we need to keep that in our mind and the only way and this is the answer to what I said when we started the only way that I know of to thank the Lord for the sacrifice he has offered to me for the
Life he has given to me for my love of the word of God is to let my light shine upon that hill to let the lamp on that stand shine forth so that the world can see the Lord living in me it’s the only way I often times think oh how can I
Thank the Lord other than just saying I appreciate what you’ve done for me God thank you for the blessings in my life what does he really want to see he wants to see what I do out there not how faithful I can be in here that’s
Wonderful and I hope that it does come through but what I want the world to see is Christ Living in me and I believe that’s exactly the point he’s trying to get across it Matthew 5:116 let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and
Glorify your father who is in heaven and there it is may God be glorified by all you say and do Yes somewhere is it John 10 says we’re Gatekeepers of the faith we’re be Gatekeepers for Jesus Christ for Jesus Christ all right sorry I went over a
Little bit but I got a little yes point question you okay what you need Paul was saw Paul was saw the equivalent of what he’s going through is what he did before as talk he’s experiencing what he did yeah absolutely then he can better explain it to the
Others yes he knows what to avoid absolutely good point keep in mind that Paul knows what he’s doing because he was soft he used to persecute he used to put people in prison all of the thing that he’s not promoting and they doubted him PA us for a long time is this the
Same man and be you and me they know I was different years ago and if you see me standing in the pulpit in a little small building back home really that the same guy there’s no sin too too big for God we can for very good all right any other
Closing comment I’m just going to say that’s what Christ did he had to become a man suffer like a man understand how we suffer Today l by example absolutely yes I know you’re kind of out of time but no that verse 29 is uh we talked a
Little bit in our coin onia series with this that um although we don’t necessarily endure the same suffering certainly not but the idea of suffering for his sake means that he’s right there with me in that suffering I always found it interesting in um acts 8 when he says to
Saul Saul Saul why are you persecuting not these people me but you’re persecuting me and it’s the people that are there that are being persecuted and so as I’m persecuted the sake of him is right there coin of meeting with me in that absolutely very good very good point all right anything
Else I notic they misspelled several words in there Souther didn’t why you make not you all right there was nothing wrong with your brain today thank God thank you dny 32 32 St all 32 of you we have a visitor with thank you great god father thank you for this
Uh hour which we’ve been able to come and listen to your word thank you for D and his presentation of of how Paul lived his life and how we ought to imitate Paul and father we know that uh it’s Christ that lives in us not us help
Us as we go out into this world that our light would shine just like Paul’s help us to always be concerned for others and father help us to have the attitude goad that our death would be gain but it’s more necessary for us to live here for right now father we pray
That you would help us to understand the things which we read thank you for all that you do for us in Jesus name thank you guys
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