"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 2:5)
1. In verses 1-4 of this second chapter, Paul wrote about "The Unity
That Produces Joy", in which he described:
a. The MOTIVATION for having this unity
b. The NATURE of this unity
c. The ATTITUDES necessary to have this unity
2. In describing the latter, he called upon the Philippians to:
a. Do nothing through selfish ambition or conceit
b. Have lowliness of mind in which they esteem others better than
themselves
c. Look out for the interests of others, and not only those of their
own
3. In verse 5, Paul continues to exhort them to have "this mind" (the
attitudes of verses 3-4), pointing out that this is also the "mind of
Christ"
The attributes of the mind of Christ:
Lacked Selfish ambition or conceit v6 - "though he was in the form of God,[a] did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped"
Looked for the interests of others v7-8: -but emptied himself,[b] taking the form of a servant,[c] being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.
Highly exalted by God v9-11: -9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
1. We have seen in this passage that "The Mind Of Christ" involves...
a. Humility
b. Obedience
c. Sacrifice
d. Great Reward
"God does not exist to answer our prayers, but by our prayers we come to discern the mind of God." (O. Chambers)
Sowing in Abundance....Paying Forward
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Friday, August 02, 2013
Thursday, August 01, 2013
Faith
"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." (Hebrews 11:6)
The first thing in faith is knowledge. "Search the Scriptures," then, "for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of Christ"; and by reading cometh knowledge, and by knowledge cometh faith, and through faith cometh salvation.
But a man may know a thing, and yet not have faith. I may know a thing, and yet not believe it. Therefore assent must go with faith; that is to say, what we know we must all agree unto, as being most certainly the verity of God.
But a man may have all this, and yet not possess true faith; for the chief part of faith lies not in just believing, but the taking hold of it as being ours, and in the resting on it for salvation.
First the existence of God. A man must come to God consciously. He must have the desire to want to walk with God and must feel that that desired Companion exists.
The other part of the belief is less obvious, but no less instructive. It is the certainty of blessing for the seeker. "That He is a rewarder," a recompenser, "to them that diligently seek Him." It is no humility, it is an irreverence, to doubt God's will to bless. It is one thing to be conscious of a want of "diligence " in "seeking" — it is another thing, altogether, to mistrust the willingness of God to be found. To suppose Him reluctant to bless, is to paint Him in a repulsive form; is to make Him less gracious, less merciful, less bountiful, than any very ungracious, unmerciful, ungenerous, and churlish man; is to deny to Him one of those attributes which make Him God.
"We increase our ability, stability and responsibility when we increase our sense of accountability to God."
The first thing in faith is knowledge. "Search the Scriptures," then, "for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of Christ"; and by reading cometh knowledge, and by knowledge cometh faith, and through faith cometh salvation.
But a man may know a thing, and yet not have faith. I may know a thing, and yet not believe it. Therefore assent must go with faith; that is to say, what we know we must all agree unto, as being most certainly the verity of God.
But a man may have all this, and yet not possess true faith; for the chief part of faith lies not in just believing, but the taking hold of it as being ours, and in the resting on it for salvation.
First the existence of God. A man must come to God consciously. He must have the desire to want to walk with God and must feel that that desired Companion exists.
The other part of the belief is less obvious, but no less instructive. It is the certainty of blessing for the seeker. "That He is a rewarder," a recompenser, "to them that diligently seek Him." It is no humility, it is an irreverence, to doubt God's will to bless. It is one thing to be conscious of a want of "diligence " in "seeking" — it is another thing, altogether, to mistrust the willingness of God to be found. To suppose Him reluctant to bless, is to paint Him in a repulsive form; is to make Him less gracious, less merciful, less bountiful, than any very ungracious, unmerciful, ungenerous, and churlish man; is to deny to Him one of those attributes which make Him God.
"We increase our ability, stability and responsibility when we increase our sense of accountability to God."
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Watch And Pray
"“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41)
In the Christian world these words are switched around and the emphasis is on prayer and the first word "watch" is sadly neglected. If one does not watch one can find oneself off the track at the end of the day.
Jesus said these words to Peter and that "satan wants to sift you like grain" but I have prayed for you that after you have repented you would be enabled to strengthen your brethren.
Satan is not asleep - he is busy all the time. In Peter's letter it says that we are to be on our guard, to watch, because our enemy, the devil, goes around like a roaring lion. Just picture this literally: if you knew that there was a devouring lion in your home would you act casually or would you be extremely watchful?
Our spirits are not our problem. As born-again Christians, we each received a new spirit at conversion (2Co 5:17) that is just like Jesus (1Jo 4:17) because it is the Spirit of Jesus (Ro 8:9 and Ga 4:6). Our born-again spirits are always willing to do God's will. It's our flesh that is the problem.
The flesh, as Jesus was using it here, not only includes our physical bodies but is also describing our souls too (see note 2 at Mt 22:37). God has given every one of us everything that it takes to walk in victory, but "we have this treasure in earthen vessels" (2Co 4:7). That is to say that our spirits, where God has deposited all of His power and glory, are locked inside our flesh.
That does not mean that we cannot tap this divine source. As much as we will renew our minds (Ro 12:2) and act on the Word of God (Jas 2:20), we can experience this divine flow through our physical bodies. However, just as in the physical, muscles have to be used to increase in strength, so our souls and physical parts have to be exercised unto godliness (1Ti 4:7-8).
Prayer is one important way of exercising ourselves unto godliness, and this was why Jesus admonished His disciples to watch and pray with Him.
"When prayer fails, the world prevails." (E.M.Bounds)
In the Christian world these words are switched around and the emphasis is on prayer and the first word "watch" is sadly neglected. If one does not watch one can find oneself off the track at the end of the day.
Jesus said these words to Peter and that "satan wants to sift you like grain" but I have prayed for you that after you have repented you would be enabled to strengthen your brethren.
Satan is not asleep - he is busy all the time. In Peter's letter it says that we are to be on our guard, to watch, because our enemy, the devil, goes around like a roaring lion. Just picture this literally: if you knew that there was a devouring lion in your home would you act casually or would you be extremely watchful?
Our spirits are not our problem. As born-again Christians, we each received a new spirit at conversion (2Co 5:17) that is just like Jesus (1Jo 4:17) because it is the Spirit of Jesus (Ro 8:9 and Ga 4:6). Our born-again spirits are always willing to do God's will. It's our flesh that is the problem.
The flesh, as Jesus was using it here, not only includes our physical bodies but is also describing our souls too (see note 2 at Mt 22:37). God has given every one of us everything that it takes to walk in victory, but "we have this treasure in earthen vessels" (2Co 4:7). That is to say that our spirits, where God has deposited all of His power and glory, are locked inside our flesh.
That does not mean that we cannot tap this divine source. As much as we will renew our minds (Ro 12:2) and act on the Word of God (Jas 2:20), we can experience this divine flow through our physical bodies. However, just as in the physical, muscles have to be used to increase in strength, so our souls and physical parts have to be exercised unto godliness (1Ti 4:7-8).
Prayer is one important way of exercising ourselves unto godliness, and this was why Jesus admonished His disciples to watch and pray with Him.
"When prayer fails, the world prevails." (E.M.Bounds)
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
The Lord Is My Rock, My Fortress And My Deliverer
"The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." (Psalm 18:2)
God is a high tower that stands high above all that is. The Lord sits on His heavenly throne. Because of the elevation of his thoughts and motives He is to see our every move. He looks to the depths of our souls. He is the watchmen on the watchtower wall. He watches for the enemy to come. He sees the temptor way off. He knows when things are coming that will cause us troubles, he sees our problems before they are near to us. Before the temptation comes, God knows. Before the trouble comes in your life, God sees it. Isn’t it wonderful that God can see the whole situation as it develops. God’s viewpoint of life is not down on a human level but it’s from above so that he can see the whole picture. He can see the way out of the mysteries of our life. He knows the answers to the problems before the problems even arise.
The reason that the problems arise and the storm clouds set in our lives for lenthy periods is because we many times don’t get in touch with the watchtower. We have a look out on a high tower to see what we need to do and where we need to go. The Lord sees what we need. God can give our lives the direction that we need. We need to get in touch with the high tower.
A fortress is a place of safety. It’s a wonderful thing to know that God is the safety of our life. God protects us from the enemy. He wants to give us a sense of security. We should be able to lay our head down at night and feel as safe and secure as ever. What better security can you have than the Lord being our fortress.
2 Thess 3:3
3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.
God has built walls of love all around us. Praise the Lord that he cares for us that much. He has built the fortress so strong and so secure that nothing can get in, except what we allow.
"A wall of protection is built around the praying believer whereby the enemy cannot penetrate. Daily prayer builds a hedge, walling out the adversary."
my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." (Psalm 18:2)
God is a high tower that stands high above all that is. The Lord sits on His heavenly throne. Because of the elevation of his thoughts and motives He is to see our every move. He looks to the depths of our souls. He is the watchmen on the watchtower wall. He watches for the enemy to come. He sees the temptor way off. He knows when things are coming that will cause us troubles, he sees our problems before they are near to us. Before the temptation comes, God knows. Before the trouble comes in your life, God sees it. Isn’t it wonderful that God can see the whole situation as it develops. God’s viewpoint of life is not down on a human level but it’s from above so that he can see the whole picture. He can see the way out of the mysteries of our life. He knows the answers to the problems before the problems even arise.
The reason that the problems arise and the storm clouds set in our lives for lenthy periods is because we many times don’t get in touch with the watchtower. We have a look out on a high tower to see what we need to do and where we need to go. The Lord sees what we need. God can give our lives the direction that we need. We need to get in touch with the high tower.
A fortress is a place of safety. It’s a wonderful thing to know that God is the safety of our life. God protects us from the enemy. He wants to give us a sense of security. We should be able to lay our head down at night and feel as safe and secure as ever. What better security can you have than the Lord being our fortress.
2 Thess 3:3
3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.
God has built walls of love all around us. Praise the Lord that he cares for us that much. He has built the fortress so strong and so secure that nothing can get in, except what we allow.
"A wall of protection is built around the praying believer whereby the enemy cannot penetrate. Daily prayer builds a hedge, walling out the adversary."
Monday, July 29, 2013
For Everyone Who Has Been Born of God Overcomes The World
"For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith." (1 John 3:4)
For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. We are born of God by the Word and our faith is born of God through the Word. So John writes, and this is the victory that has overcome the world -- our faith. Our victory is over sin and death and hell, . . . And the world of unbelief around us. Our victory is over the prince of this world and all of his evil schemes. And it is a victory that was won on the cross. That is why John says that the victory has overcome the world - not can or will or does, but has. Jesus has already won the victory, and we share in it by grace through faith. That is our victory, and it is given to us. Jesus won it on the cross and we have it as a gift through faith. It is not faith that wins, but Christ, and He has chosen to share His victory through faith, giving forgiveness, life, and salvation to all those who believe. That is the meaning of the words of our text, And who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? It is a total victory. It is the victory of forgiveness. Our sins are no longer held to our account, and the justice of God has been satisfied for us by Jesus Christ. It is, therefore, the victory over the devil, whose plot against us began in the garden of Eden. His work, aimed at our destruction, has been thwarted.
"In the conflict between the believer and the powers of darkness, the inner chamber is the place where the decisive victory is obtained." (Andrew Murray)
For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. We are born of God by the Word and our faith is born of God through the Word. So John writes, and this is the victory that has overcome the world -- our faith. Our victory is over sin and death and hell, . . . And the world of unbelief around us. Our victory is over the prince of this world and all of his evil schemes. And it is a victory that was won on the cross. That is why John says that the victory has overcome the world - not can or will or does, but has. Jesus has already won the victory, and we share in it by grace through faith. That is our victory, and it is given to us. Jesus won it on the cross and we have it as a gift through faith. It is not faith that wins, but Christ, and He has chosen to share His victory through faith, giving forgiveness, life, and salvation to all those who believe. That is the meaning of the words of our text, And who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? It is a total victory. It is the victory of forgiveness. Our sins are no longer held to our account, and the justice of God has been satisfied for us by Jesus Christ. It is, therefore, the victory over the devil, whose plot against us began in the garden of Eden. His work, aimed at our destruction, has been thwarted.
"In the conflict between the believer and the powers of darkness, the inner chamber is the place where the decisive victory is obtained." (Andrew Murray)
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