Grace to live for Gods glory

 Philippians 4:20-23 To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen. ²¹Greet all the saints in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send greetings. ²²All the saints send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household. ²³The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

With this post we come to the end of our August journey through the book of Philippians. Note two words which stand out in these final verses: GRACE & GLORY. To live lives which show Gods glory on the earth and share it in eternity, we need a radical revelation of the amazing grace of God through Jesus Christ.  Grace provides the bookends to almost all the New Testament letters, and when we neglect grace all the other doctrines and values we profess collapse in powerless empty dead religion.

Remember:

• Grace is Gods love-in-action towards those who do not in any way deserve it – you & me.
• Grace is God doing everything to save us from the sin that separates us from Him, and that being fulfilled in Jesus taking our sin on Himself and dying on the cross in our place.

1. Gods Grace Saves us Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God
2. Gods Grace Transforms/changes us Romans 8:3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh
3. Gods Grace Activates us 1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

Grace & Glory. That’ll change your Phlipn’ Attitude. Amen

Posted by Wolfi

Why Give Your Cash to the Church?!

I love this last little bit of Philippians (Phil. 4v.14-19). It’s classic Paul – brutally honest, yet ever so gracious. Paul’s wrapping up his letter by thanking the Philippians for keeping their committment and sending him the cash that they had collected as a church (their “tithes and offerings”). Now you would think that Paul would’ve said something like, ‘Thank you so much. I don’t know what I’ve would’ve done had you not helped me out with a bit of cash. I really needed your money. I was in such a desperate state. Thanks again.’ But Paul didn’t say that… at all.

Paul says, “Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account… I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.” (v.17-18)

Although Paul obviously had needs, his emphasis in thanking the Philippian church for their faithful giving wasn’t on meeting some dire need, but rather on pleasing God and storing up treasure in heaven.

Question: Why do (or don’t) you give your cash to the church? Is your giving motivated solely on a “needs” basis? (i.e. you’ll give if  you deem the need worthy enough) Or do you give primarily as a means of blessing God – like a child who uses their allowance to buy dad a Father’s Day tie… just to say Daddy, I love you.

Satisfaction guaranteed?

¹⁰I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. ¹¹I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. ¹²I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:10-13

A few years ago, I felt God telling me to give up my job, go to the city (London) and serve the local church. A few weeks later, I found myself ‘in between jobs’ with a bank balance of about 50p. I was struggling to pay the rent, living of Tesco Value chocolate chip cookies and watching Spongebob most of the day. Things weren’t looking peachy, but I distinctly remember telling one of my friends that I had an overwhelming sense of peace.

In the verses above, Paul mentions that he’s found himself in all kinds of situations. He’s been to Mr Wu’s ‘eat as much as you can’ and he’s been on a few unavoidable fasts. He makes the point clearly, though, that he has learned to be content in all of these situations.

To be content is to be satisfied. Contentment is the first sip of warm, freshly brewed coffee in the early hours of a cold December morning. Contentment is peace.

When Paul says that he’s learned to be content during the tough times, he actually means it! He isn’t saying that he managed to pull through with a superficial smile on his face. He isn’t saying that he whimpered ‘fine’ to everyone’s ‘how are you?’. He’s saying quite the opposite. He’s saying that he had an overwhelming sense of peace, which defied his circumstances. He’s saying that it really made no difference to him whether he was in need or had plenty.

Fortunately for us, Paul reveals the secret of his contentment. He says that he’s able to do everything through Jesus who strengthens him. His point is this: Jesus is the one who gives us everything we need. He gives us contentment. He gives us peace. He satisfies us.

Does Jesus satisfy you? Are you looking to Him to satisfy you? Or are you looking to your circumstances? Against its best efforts, the world screams that ‘things’ will never satisfy. You’ll always need that new couch or another pair of shoes.

It’s a few years later and my life looks radically different. God has added to me so much more than I could have ever imagined. Most days, I thank Him for blessing me so abundantly, but I can never allow His blessings to become the source of my contentment. He is the source of my contentment. Jesus is the source of my contentment.

Jesus is the source of your contentment.

- posted by Greg Albrecht, Stratford Congregation

“STOP BEING SO KIND TO YOURSELF”!

Philipians 4:2,3 : I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.

Recently, at the gym,  I overheard a personal trainer yell at a fellow gym member [who is paying extra for this]  “Push yourself, harder…faster….Stop being so kind to yourself!”   A bit harsh I thought, however on reflection thought how true this is:  We can be so lenient and kind to ourselves in areas where we ought to deal brutally and harshly with some attitudes and habits.

The relationship between Euodia and Syntche is a case in point.  It seems the disharmony in their relationship might cause division if left unchecked and would hinder the growth of the church. 

How ‘kind are we to ourselves’ when we have been wronged by or disagree with a fellow church member?

We often think we have one of two responses to choose from:

1. We can make a positive choice to forgive the offender
2. We can slip into neutral and idle for a while in unforgiveness

This second choice allows us to be ‘kind to ourselves’ because there really is no neutral you either forgive or you are in danger of sliding down the slippery slope of unforgiveness into a cancerous bitterness.

This not only has the potential to destroy your life but the life of many others ….a root of bitterness defiles many.

Euodia, Syntche, Joe Soap, Fellow Christian STOP BEING SO KIND TO YOURSELF…. Have the same mind in the Lord ….forgive as you have been forgiven!

By Alison Eckleben

Where’s home?

Only let us live up to what we have already attained. Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!

I know several people who were born in South Africa and yet are now British citiziens. They claim to be British. However, I’ve noticed something interesting happen to these people if we sit down and watch rugby together. Especially, say, the South African Springboks versus the British Lions. These British citizens suddenly start wearing Springbok jerseys. They cheer at the wrong times. they despair and shout at the wrong times.  They seem to be supporting the wrong side.

Although they are British citizens, they do not live up to what they have attained, and in fact, live as enemies of Britain.

This is what Paul is talking about here, when he is pleading with the Philippian church in tears. He is not saying “oh woe, how sad it is that so many people won’t accept Jesus and are set against us”. He is urging them to live up to the citizenship that they have because there are many who claim to be Christian and yet are living as enemies of the cross. They claim to be followers of Jesus, yet in actual fact are living for the things of this world, having their minds on earthly things.

So what are you really living for? It’s so easy for the things of this world to seize your attention. I’m sure I’m not the only one who has started off looking at Biblegateway and ended up on ebay, or started off prayer-walking in my local community and got distracted with thoughts of “that house looks nice and I wonder how much it would cost to extend mine like that”.

If you are a Christian then you are a citizen of heaven and don’t belong in this world. Yet everyday you will be tempted to sell short and to live for this world instead: To work harder to get a bigger income and a bigger bank balance. To accept that promotion when you’re already feeling busy yet more distant than ever from God’s plans. To buy that bigger house in the country even though you know God called you to London for a purpose. To take those extra shifts even though you can’t remember the last time you had a Sabbath. To miss church again, because you’ve got no energy from running yourself ragged all week. To compromise on your morals or to not stand up for what is right at work or in your community. To accept that myspace friend request from “Luscious Linda”

We often talk about standing firm. Paul says “this is how you do it” : By fixing your desire on the one we are waiting for and refusing to love the things of this world. By living as the citizens of heaven that we are if we have received Christ.

Jesus said, in Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” In the same way, it is impossible to live with two citizenships. You can either live as if your home is heaven, or as if your home is here on earth.

Take a citizenship test today. Think over how you spend your time, your talents, and your treasures. what are you dreaming about and meditating on? What are your working to achieve? Whose recognition are you seeking? What rewards are you wanting? What are you living for?

  Posted by Daniel Smart, Hammersmith Congregation

An attitude of endurance

“12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus”. – Philippians 3v13,14

Endurance is the 4^th Phlipn attitude we need to embrace.

Endurance is the ability to sustain a prolonged, stressful effort or activity. Ever thought of the Christian walk in those terms?

Nearly all noted men and women of faith have had an attitude of endurance. What does it look like, and how can I get one?

An attitude of endurance considers:

1. The destination

• Paul doesn’t strain or press on for the sake of it. There’s a prize, a goal, a destination. Here are some Scriptures that describe the destination God has for us (read them in your own time): John 14:2, Matthew 25:21, 2 Corinthians 4:17, 1 Corinthians 2:9
• Having our eyes and hearts set on the destination compels us to endure till we get there!

2. The journey

• An attitude of endurance keeps us moving on a journey, rather than settle for the now 
• God uses the journey (this life) to prepare us for the destination
• The Christian walk is a marathon, not a 100m dash (the big difference is in the endurance)

3. Obstacles

• Obstacles can either make us bitter or better – how we see the destination and journey will determine which (and whether we’re willing to forget what lies behind).
• Jesus endured the cross (obstacle) for the joy set before Him (the destination) –  Hebrews 12v2
• We can take heart from Jesus who endured such opposition (obstacles) from sinful men, as do we.  

We need an attitude of endurance, like the postage stamp: its usefulness consists in the ability to stick to one thing till it gets there!

Whatever difficulties or obstacles you’re facing right now, heed the words of Paul:

“³⁵Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. (Hebrews 10:35,36 – NAS)

- posted by Andrew Holmes, Stratford congregation

Give it up!

Philippians 3:8-15 (The Message)

^7-9The very credentials these people are waving around as something special, I’m tearing up and throwing out with the trash—along with everything else I used to take credit for. And why? Because of Christ. Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant—dog dung. I’ve dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ and be embraced by him. I didn’t want some petty, inferior brand of righteousness that comes from keeping a list of rules when I could get the robust kind that comes from trusting Christ—God’s righteousness.

^10-11I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, experience his resurrection power, be a partner in his suffering, and go all the way with him to death itself. If there was any way to get in on the resurrection from the dead, I wanted to do it.

Paul was an intelligent guy.  He had the status, the job and the social clout. The only reason Paul could give everything up so easily, was because he knew through personal revelation that what he had gained by following Christ was so much more than what he originally had.  In fact, Paul here in The Message gets quite verbal in trying to describe how useless the comparison really is.  Matthew 10:39 says “Whoever finds his [lower] life will lose it [the higher life], and whoever loses his [lower] life on My account will find it [the higher life].  I love this reference to the lower vs. higher life.  It’s so pregnant with meaning in the Amplified translation.  Paul not only believed in the decision he made, but he lived it.  That’s why he could say in Phil 1: 21 “For me to live is Christ [His life in me], and to die is gain [the gain of the glory of eternity]”.  He lived a higher life – regardless of how he earned a living.  This rings true …

[In the light of this, it seems pretty useless to hold on to the “lower life”.  Maybe you are ... focussed on building The Kingdom of God, you’re living for God as best you can, but you make the decisions in terms of how much you’ll be stepping out in hope, believing for the bigger, the greater and the more.  It’s all based on your idea of what life could be and not much of God’s viewpoint on the abundant life in Him.  That’s for free!]

The point is, in giving it all up, you gain Christ and you get to have a personal relationship with Almighty God.  That includes a complete re-birth, a resurrection.  The Amplified translation lets verse 11 read as follows: “ … I give it all up in the hope that I may attain the spiritual and moral resurrection that lifts me out from among the dead even while in the body.”  This is a powerful thought!  This can be our experience, our reality today.

Yes, Paul also talks about partnering in Jesus’ suffering.  What was Jesus’ suffering?  Philippians 2 talks about how God humbled himself by becoming a man through the virgin birth of Mary; and then He humbled himself still further to die on a cross to take away the sins of the world.  I want to propose that Jesus’ suffering was to become human, to live life in a sinful world, yet remaining sinless; to resist pride and all temptation.  All that happened, away from the glory of His Father, who then forsook him as he suffered on the cross.  He was 100% God but also 100% man and yet he lived a marvellously successful life here on earth – but it involved a fare degree of suffering.  He was persecuted, rejected, misunderstood, even despised.  Is that perhaps your experience today?  Thousands of Christians all around the world, and even Paul, “do go all the way to death itself” (v 10,11), for the gospel.

I want to propose to you today that God is not the author of suffering.  God, in His sovereignty has allowed the process whereby we as Christians face the evil in this a sinful world as victors, contending for a reformation.  I count it an honour to contend for freedom.  It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.

If you are currently trying to break through a fare deal of heartache and trouble, I want to encourage you to get in the presence of God so His Spirit can minister to you and so change your perspective.  Feed your spirit with the Word of God and see the resurrection power bring life to your situation.

Christ in us, the hope of glory (Col 1:27).

Yvette Botha, Slough congregation

A real achievement

Philippians 3:4-7 though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: … But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.

It doesn’t matter how many degrees you have; you only have a degree of knowledge. It is called a degree for a reason. God is the only one whose knowledge goes full circle. Not even the smartest genius or most enlightened of minds can claim they know everything. Then why do so many of us boast in our own achievements?

I love this verse of scripture so much because it speaks directly to the sin nature in every human being. Just like in this cartoon, Paul got to a point in his life where he realised that the greatest disappointment is found at the top of the mountain!

This quote from Blaise Pascal explains the solution well … “There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus”

Any person who has an encounter with the living Christ will realise that there is absolutely nothing on this earth that can ever compare with Him. In that moment where you experience the Love of your Creator and glimpse into eternity, everything else in your life suddenly fades away into the shadows of worthless darkness.

Knowing Christ is the ultimate fulfilment in life.  The question that arises out of this verse is simple.  Do you truly know Christ – or are you still self absorbed in your own worthless achievements.

There are some things worth repeating…

Philippians 3:1-3 (New International Version)

¹Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.  ²Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. ³For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—

There are some things worth repeating – here are two of them:

1. REJOICE IN THE LORD!

Why? Because “The joy of the Lord is our strength!” If you loose your joy, you’ll soon also loose your strength. Guard your joy today, and don’t let anyone or anything steal it from you.

2.  WATCH OUT!

What for?  For legalistic (even though well-meaning) people peddling a legalistic flesh-focused faith, which positions you to depend more on what you do “for Christ” than on what Christ has done for you. Make sure that your faith and confidence are in Christ and the work of the Spirit, and that your doing is out of your gratitude for what Christ has completed on the cross.

Post by Wolfi (Whose rejoicing and watching out…)

Prepared and available… to be sent…

Philippians 2:25-30 (NIV) ²⁵But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. (Continue reading to verse 30 here)

When the Philippian Church was looking for someone whom they could send to represent them to take care of Paul’s needs, they chose Epaphroditus. He was ready for the assignment. He had a testimony of being a “soldier and a worker”, and he put the call & cause before his personal comfort, making no excuses.  If “attitude” has something to do with how we “position” ourselves, then E’s attitude positioned him to be prepared and available for duty.

• Many people are prepared, but not available.
• Others are available, but not prepared.

How prepared are you? How available are you? What can you do in this next season to position yourself in your church as one who is ready for the needed serving assignment?

Isaiah had this same attitude when the Lord asked: “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”, and Isaiah replied: “Here am I. Send me!” (Is 6v8)

There’s something amazing about someone prepared and available to be sent on Gods assignment, and like Paul says abot E, these deserve honour.

PRAY: Lord, I commit myself to having a Phlipn’ Attitude like Epaphroditus…  … here I am, send me!

PRACICAL: Do the “Purple Book”. Enrol for Bible School in October. Join a serving team at church. Position yourself prepared & available, and watch what God will do!