THE HAPPY EPISTLE!
There are recurrent themes in this book of Philippians.
Christian Joy and rejoicing. 4:18.
The gain of knowing Christ.
The examples of godly men, such as Timothy and Epaphras. And the example of Paul.
What Christ means to the Believer.
Chapter One. In this first chapter the key thought is,
“For me to live is “Christ” to die is gain.” Chapter 1:5. Christian, Christ must be your life, nothing more or no one else.
In the second Chapter the main verse is expressed in verse five.
“LET THIS MIND BE IN YOU WHICH WAS ALWAYS IN CHRIST.“
The whole thought in this chapter is- CHRIST IS YOUR MIND.
In the third chapter there is a strong desire to know Him.
“THAT I MAY KNOW HIM.” Christ is the believer’s goal.
In the fourth chapter the key thought is… the
“ENABLING POWER OF CHRIST” See verse 13.
“I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO GIVES ME STRENGTH. Is Jesus your strength?
So we understand that Christ is:
YOUR LIFE.
YOUR MIND.
YOUR GOAL.
YOUR STRENGTH.
Is He your strength? Is He your life?
He wants to express Himself in and through you. If He has top priority in your life, His desires will become yours. He enables strength to carry out those desires. He begins the work, and He fulfils it. You will see things from His point of view.
You will feel as He feels. You will have His heart for the lost.
You will have His wisdom to make the right choices. His own motives and desires will become yours.
Pray… “Lord Jesus, magnify your life in mine be it by life or by death.”
ARE YOU WORTHY OF HIS PRESENCE IN YOU?
Paul loved Jesus so much that he had a strong desire and longing to leave this world 🌎 to live forever with Him. Can you say,
“NOT I BUT CHRIST WHO LIVES IN ME.”
HIS MIND.
Christ is your mind, the True Mind in your mind. We are to be like-minded,
HAVING THE SAME MIND, THE SAME LOVE as His, being in accord with Him and one another.
Are you Christ- minded toward others especially those who hurt you?
“LET NOTHING BE DONE THROUGH STRIFE OR VAINGLORY, BUT IN HUMILITY OF MIND COUNTING OTHER PEOPLE BETTER THAN YOURSELF.”
This verse is a cure for fractions in Churches or in the family.
Don’t try to validate yourself even when you know you are right, yet misinterpreted and misunderstood. Have the mind of Christ and love anyway. God knows, and that’s all that really counts. God loves you and has given you His peace and guilelessness. (meaning innocent and sincere, lacking deceit). Be humble and unselfish when facing difficult people.
Jesus Christ is our example.
He being God- humbled Himself verse 8.
This self humbling came in seven steps
1. As God, He gave up His kingly rights.
2. He emptied Himself.
3. He became a willing slave.
4. He came in the likeness of men.
5. He humbled Himself.
6. He became obedient unto death.
7. Even to the horrific death of the cross.
How unselfish, how miraculous and He did it deliberately.
GOD-MAN-SLAVE- CRIMINAL! God is saying to us, “Have the same mind” Choose to be obedient to the will of God. You are working out your salvation with fear and trembling. And while you are… God is working in you for His good pleasure in Christ.
No matter how hard it is, we are to do this without complaining ( against God ) or disputing (with man).
The lovely Apostle Paul copied Christ with the “loss of all things.”
So he could “Gain Christ.”
Dear Christian when you give up much, you become entirely like Christ. You are not a looser but you gain, apprehend, attain and “know Him.”
Christ Himself is the supreme object of our desire and the true goal of our whole life and being.
MAKE HIM YOUR ALL IN ALL.
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Heather Dalzell SMS 0417545814.
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Amen.
Light in the Darkness! 