Did you memorize last weeks verses? Say it out loud to someone or write it down today.
Monday
Remember this book of the Bible is a letter Paul is writing to his friends, fellow believers, in Philippi. They are concerned about him because he is in prison. This week we move past the greeting of this letter and on to the main topics.
Read Philippians 1:12-14
"I want you to know, brothers,that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear."
Take note of how Paul writes, "I want you to know." This is a typical greeting in letter writing in Paul's day. He is getting to the root of what he wants these friends to know. He is probably writing in response to a letter they have written to him inquiring of his well being.
Paul first wants them to know he is well but most importantly to his heart that this imprisonment really has moved God's good news of the gospel into the prison guards lives. Paul is telling everyone why he is in chains.
Next Paul is telling them he is seeing how what has happened to him is making others more bold to proclaim the good news of Christ. These are two very exciting things amidst hard circumstances. Paul takes time to see these things that matter, which are the eternal things, not just his present earthly circumstance that he is in prison as a innocent man who has done nothing wrong.
Think About It.
1-Have you ever thought that without Paul being in prison, maybe the gospel would not had made it to prison guards? Every place your foot touches is an opportunity to spread the good news of Christ. You may be placed in various places that are not typical. Places where the gospel message needs to be shared.
What are some places you could do this?
I think of summer vacations or activities. These may not be typical places you go but for a time because of your circumstances you will be there. Take time to share the good news. You never know maybe God had you there for a time such as this.
2-Have you ever heard stories of past missionaries who have died for the cause of Christ? Or who have gone through tough situations just to bring the good news of Christ to others? They inspire me to want to share Jesus more. They inspire me to want to do more for God. This is what was going on with Paul's time in prison. Some believers were actually encouraged to speak more boldly because of it. Do you have a friend or person in your life who seems to serve Christ with all they have in them? Do they encourage you to be more?
I have a friend who goes many days to the projects which are homes for people who are very poor financially. In this environment gangs frequent and unexpected shootings occur. Yet they continue to go there and serve out of love that comes from Christ. They continue to share the good news of Jesus with these people despite the circumstances and possibility of being shot. That encourages me to want to be more in Christ.
Great work today! Keep it up!
Tuesday
Read Philippians 1:15-17 - Underline preach then note what words follow."It’s true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives. They preach because they love me, for they know I have been appointed to defend the Good News. Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to make my chains more painful to me."
Compare and contrast these two groups of preachers:
1-Preach - Jealousy/rivalry - selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to make Paul's chains more painful.
2-Preach - pure motives - love Paul - support because they know he was appointed to defend the gospel..
Sounds like children fighting or sibling rivalry huh? How could grown men preach to make things harder for Paul? I do not know. I do know that jealousy does do really bad things though.
Think About It.
Name a time you were jealous of someone and bad behavior that resulted? Did it make it worse for the person you were jealous of?
When we know who we are in Christ we never have to be jealous. We have God as our Father when we trust in Christ's sacrifice on our behalf. Because of this we are daughters of the King of the Universe. Our identity rests in Him. Every good thing we have comes from Him so we never have anything to be jealous of. God gives each of us exactly what He wants and we need. We serve a good God who does not withhold good things from us. Do you trust Him? If so when you start to feel jealous, confess it to Him. Let it go and trust what He has done for you.
Name a time you were in a hard situation and someone stepped up to help you get through it. Can you think of a time? The Bible says that two are better than one. It is good to have a friend who can come alongside you and lift you up when you are struggling. Thank God for them!
Paul had these kind of people in his life. Those who were jealous making things hard for him and those who were making things easier for him. We will have those kinds of people in our lives as well. We can learn from Paul how to deal with these types of people. He will tell us in the next set of verses tomorrow. Great job!
WednesdayRead this next section, verse 18, and look at how Paul thought about these two types of people we learned about yesterday.
"But that doesn’t matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice."
How did Paul respond to these people?
Do you see it?! He rejoices! Why? He only cares about Christ and the message of Christ being preached whether it hurts him or not. Is not that an incredible way to view things? Paul is completely focused on Christ. This is amazing to me! This is what I hope to be like one day. How about you?
Think About It.
Paul says about those people who are making things hard for him, "It does not matter."
Wouldn't your life be much better and have less arguing and fighting if you just said this, "it does not matter."?
When you brother or sister or friend does something that is frustrating to you. You respond. It does not matter.
When your mom or dad blame you for something you did not do? You respond, it does not matter. Just go about your business. Make things right and make an effort to work it out.
It takes incredible confidence in who you are in Christ to do this. You have to know that God is your identity, your focus to stay rested in this thought pattern of "It does not matter." Because God will defend you when you are accused. He will work things out. And His love covers over a multitude of sins so when you are sinned against just say, "it does not matter" and go about your business knowing the ONE who truly loves completely already knows the truth and loves you more than anything else.
What are you thoughts about this line of thought? Try it today. Try thinking when you get frustrated or angry, "it does not matter." Walk along trusting God is in control of all things. He will work it out. Tomorrow we will see why Paul can say with confidence, "It does not matter."
ThursdayRead verse 19 today.
"For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance."
Paul knows that the prayers of his friends will help him. He knows God listens to prayers and answers. He is confident that the Holy Spirit that lives in him and every believer will help him. He is confident it will lead to his deliverance. We will see more of what this means tomorrow. Paul is in a situation that could actually lead to his death because the trial he is waiting for could end in the death penalty. He does not know how it will end but through it no matter what he has faith in Christ and will stay strong in HIM.
Think About It.Prayer is such an important part of our life in Christ. God our Father delights to hear from us. We should practice talking to Him everyday. I know one thing I often hear is how do I talk to someone I cannot see? I understand this is hard. However our Christian faith is believing by faith and faith means, be sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see (Hebrews 11:1). We cannot see God as we cry out to Him or talk to Him but we must believe He hears us and delights to hear us. He is our Father who loves us so much that He sent His Son to die to restore us to Himself. That is incredible love and He desires a relationship with us. We must talk to have a relationship.
If you had a friend that had not talked to you in a long time how would your relationship be? It would have its challenges I am sure. That is why we must talk to God. Tell Him what we are thinking. Practice this today. Do you pray often? Paul believed the prayers of his friends would make a difference. Who can you pray for today?
The Holy Spirit also helps us like Paul was confident of. When we trust in Christ for our salvation. The third part of the God-head comes to live inside of us. He is our Helper, Teacher, Comforter, Counselor. He helps us through life. He helps us connect to God in prayer because He is God. He helps us know God's word. He helps us to be strengthened when we are weak. He helps us stay on the right path. Did you realize this? What are your thoughts?
The God of Christianity is One God in three parts. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. All in perfect fellowship and love, before the foundation of the world they had you in mind to be one of God's beloved. It is a big mystery how it all works out but it is such a beautiful thing the more and more you think about it. God needed no one. Yet He chose to make us His own with all our faults and blemishes. He loved us beyond that. It is amazing to think about isn't it?!
Ok good job. Take time praying to God today. Thanking Him for His goodness and love.
FridayRead Philippians 1:20"For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die."
What is another reason for Paul's confidence? Remember he is still talking about those who made things hard for him in his chains. Yesterday we looked at how his confidence was from the peoples prayers and help from the Holy Spirit.
Despite being in prison we see his incredible hope and expectation in Christ. Because of this even in prison he will be bold for Christ just as he always has been. He is trusting that his life will bring honor to Christ in life or death.
Paul is a great man of faith despite these hard circumstances. That is how we can walk in boldness, by walking in faith and trust in what Christ has done on our behalf. It is enough for any situation we may encounter in this life. Even facing death because this earth is not our final destination. Our home and citizenship is in Heaven with God if we belong to Him. If we trust that Christ lived the perfect, sinless life we could not live and died the perfect sacrifice for all our sins because of His love for us. If we truly believe this we can rest in this confidence because life or death, it does not matter. Christ is our life and all that matters.
Think About It.Name one way you can be bold for Christ this week?
How will you follow through with this?
How can others pray for you in this? Do you ever ask others to pray for you?
If Christ is with you in life or death is there ever any real reason to be afraid?
Sweet girls, I am so proud of your perseverance. I am praying you will be bold in Christ. That you will share His good news with others in your life by example and in your speech as you speak about Him. Great job studying!
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