12 Dear
friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And
now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the
results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. ~Phillipians 2:12-13, NLT
Do you still follow your household rules when your mom and dad are away? Why or why not?
Paul is telling these believers to follow his instructions even as he is away in prison. But he wants them to be even more diligent in this task now.
A hypocrite is a person who pretends to be something they really are not. An example is a person who is really "good" at church but mean at home. It is play acting a part you really are not.
Paul wants them to live out the Christian life at all times. However it is more important now because there is persecution. He now is telling them how to walk out their Christian faith. Really he is reminding them. They already know this. He is encouraging them in this.
To walk like a Christian you should desire to obey God out of reverence for Him. He loves us dearly and we did nothing to earn that love. He chose us. We must chose to live in obedience at the same time God works in us the desire for us to obey. Remember the Holy Spirit comes to live inside of us once we acknowledge Jesus as the Lord of our life? It is through the Holy Spirit that God works these things in us.
Do you still follow your household rules when your mom and dad are away? Why or why not?
Paul is telling these believers to follow his instructions even as he is away in prison. But he wants them to be even more diligent in this task now.
A hypocrite is a person who pretends to be something they really are not. An example is a person who is really "good" at church but mean at home. It is play acting a part you really are not.
Paul wants them to live out the Christian life at all times. However it is more important now because there is persecution. He now is telling them how to walk out their Christian faith. Really he is reminding them. They already know this. He is encouraging them in this.
To walk like a Christian you should desire to obey God out of reverence for Him. He loves us dearly and we did nothing to earn that love. He chose us. We must chose to live in obedience at the same time God works in us the desire for us to obey. Remember the Holy Spirit comes to live inside of us once we acknowledge Jesus as the Lord of our life? It is through the Holy Spirit that God works these things in us.
Think About It.In life, often we need to earn things. Our allowance, a reward, etc. However God's love does not come like this. He freely loves us even when we do not deserve it. It is because of this love He desires that we act like Christians. Never to earn His love because we already have it, nothing can separate us from it, but because He loves us. Do you think this way?
Why do you follow Christ?
Tuesday Read the following.14 Do everything without complaining and arguing, 15 so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. ~Phillipians 2:14-15
Why are we to live without complaining and arguing? (v.15)
Do you shine? We live in a dark world, we need to shine a bright light not hide it.
What is our world full of? (v. 15)
Think About ItHow often do you argue and complain? If you are honest, we all do this whether inwardly or outwardly but God tells us through Paul's letter that we are to do this because, "
Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ (philippians 1:27)."
Think About ItHow often do you argue and complain? If you are honest, we all do this whether inwardly or outwardly but God tells us through Paul's letter that we are to do this because, "
Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ (philippians 1:27)."
In order to not complain or argue we must truly believe in our hearts that God is good. He is in control of all things. He loves us completely. So we must chose to die to our self or selfish desire in order to do this. We must consider others. You must consider all of this. This is how this letter goes together.
Do you want to shine a bright light for Jesus? Why or why not?
The brighter you shine in this dark world the more the world will take notice. When the world notices we are showing brightly Jesus. Hopefully it draws others toward Jesus when we live shining our light.
Wednesday Read the following passage.
16 Hold
firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will
be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not
useless. 17 But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy. 18 Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy.
What does Paul tell them to hold firmly to?
Why will he be proud?
What will he rejoice?
Think About ItThere will be times when God's word, the truth will be challenged. We must stand strong in what we believe. We must hold tight to the Bible and its truths. Do you believe what the Bible says as truth?
Paul has poured out his life for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He may die from his imprisonment. He wants to be certain his life has meaning or purpose. He knows it does in Christ but he wants the people he disciplined to really be living this out.
Paul has poured out his life for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He may die from his imprisonment. He wants to be certain his life has meaning or purpose. He knows it does in Christ but he wants the people he disciplined to really be living this out.
What if your faith required your life? Would you rejoice like Paul? Isn't that a hard question?
Is God worth everything to you? Why or why not?
Paul will rejoice in the work he did even if it requires his life. Christ is worth it to him. We live in America. I will not have to sacrifice my life for sharing Jesus here but there are places in the world where it is illegal to speak of Christ in a way that is trying to bring people to Christ. One day our country could be like that too.
Thursday Read the following passage.
19 If
the Lord Jesus is willing, I hope to send Timothy to you soon for a
visit. Then he can cheer me up by telling me how you are getting along. 20 I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare. 21 All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ. 22 But you know how Timothy has proved himself. Like a son with his father, he has served with me in preaching the Good News. 23 I hope to send him to you just as soon as I find out what is going to happen to me here. 24 And I have confidence from the Lord that I myself will come to see you soon.
What does Timothy care about? (v.20)
What do the others care about? (v.21)
Timothy has been an amazing friend to Paul. In fact they had a father/child like relationship. We know from other places in the Bible that Timothy was raised up knowing the Scriptures by strong Jewish women. His grandmother and mother. His father was a Greek, not a Jew.
Timothy is a strong believer in Christ now and a very faithful friend. Timothy is concerned for others over himself. Paul says he has no one like him.
Do you have a loyal friend like this? Someone who not only cares about you but others well being in Christ first and foremost? I pray we will be that kind of person.
Of course they did not have telephones back then or the internet so when people sent messages to one another it had to be done by a messenger.
Think About It.What kind of friends do you surround yourself with? Is it people who are faithful and have God in mind first? These are the kind of friends you need. Friends who will point you to Christ.
This next friend, Epaphroditus, is a good friend and fellow worker. He was sent by the Philippian church to Paul. He now needed to return to them however he was delayed because of an illness. They have heard this somehow and would love to see him to know he is ok now. He almost died. But God had mercy. He ministered to Paul while he could during this time.
Think About It
Often times we do not risk our lives for the sake of Christ. We live in a free society now that allows us to freely worship. We need to thank God for this. Then take time to pray for our brothers and sisters who live in other regions of the world where serving Christ could be life threatening.
Look up a country where the gospel is not embraced. Learn some about it and pray for them. Go to the Voice of the Martyrs website or the Joshua Project for this.
What does Timothy care about? (v.20)
What do the others care about? (v.21)
Timothy has been an amazing friend to Paul. In fact they had a father/child like relationship. We know from other places in the Bible that Timothy was raised up knowing the Scriptures by strong Jewish women. His grandmother and mother. His father was a Greek, not a Jew.
Timothy is a strong believer in Christ now and a very faithful friend. Timothy is concerned for others over himself. Paul says he has no one like him.
Do you have a loyal friend like this? Someone who not only cares about you but others well being in Christ first and foremost? I pray we will be that kind of person.
Of course they did not have telephones back then or the internet so when people sent messages to one another it had to be done by a messenger.
Think About It.What kind of friends do you surround yourself with? Is it people who are faithful and have God in mind first? These are the kind of friends you need. Friends who will point you to Christ.
Friday Read the following passage.
25 Meanwhile, I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you. He is a true brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier. And he was your messenger to help me in my need. 26 I am sending him because he has been longing to see you, and he was very distressed that you heard he was ill. 27 And he certainly was ill; in fact, he almost died. But God had mercy on him—and also on me, so that I would not have one sorrow after another.
28 So
I am all the more anxious to send him back to you, for I know you will
be glad to see him, and then I will not be so worried about you. 29 Welcome him with Christian love and with great joy, and give him the honor that people like him deserve. 30 For
he risked his life for the work of Christ, and he was at the point of
death while doing for me what you couldn’t do from far away.25 Meanwhile, I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you. He is a true brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier. And he was your messenger to help me in my need. 26 I am sending him because he has been longing to see you, and he was very distressed that you heard he was ill. 27 And he certainly was ill; in fact, he almost died. But God had mercy on him—and also on me, so that I would not have one sorrow after another.
This next friend, Epaphroditus, is a good friend and fellow worker. He was sent by the Philippian church to Paul. He now needed to return to them however he was delayed because of an illness. They have heard this somehow and would love to see him to know he is ok now. He almost died. But God had mercy. He ministered to Paul while he could during this time.
Think About It
Often times we do not risk our lives for the sake of Christ. We live in a free society now that allows us to freely worship. We need to thank God for this. Then take time to pray for our brothers and sisters who live in other regions of the world where serving Christ could be life threatening.
Look up a country where the gospel is not embraced. Learn some about it and pray for them. Go to the Voice of the Martyrs website or the Joshua Project for this.
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