PHILIPPIANS 2:1-30
1) ¶ If [there be] therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 2) Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be like-minded, having the same love, [being] of one accord, of one mind. 3) [Let] nothing [be done] through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4) Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5) Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6) Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7) But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8) And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9) Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10) That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth; 11) And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12) ¶ Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13) For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of [his] good pleasure. 14) ¶ Do all things without murmurings and disputings: 15) That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; 16) Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. 17) Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. 18) For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me. 19) But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. 20) For I have no man like-minded, who will naturally care for your state._______________ 21) For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's. 22) But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel. 23) Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me. 24) But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly. 25) Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants. 26) For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick. 27) For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28) I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful. 29) Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation: 30) Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me. |
1) Whether there is any consolation (SGN 3874 paraklesis [par-ak-lay sis] -same Greek Word for Comforter, a title or “Devine purpose” operated in by God the Holy Spirit) in being one of Christ’s. Are you persuaded there is love? What about the good feeling of the believers when we are gathered together in the Holy Spirit; any affection and compassion?________________________________
2) IF YES, then “make my day” by all of you having, showing, demonstrating that LOVE (Agape -God’s love) sharing that mind of Christ.______________________ 3) Thus, have the right motive. Do nothing to put yourself forth as some great one, in arrogance, but prefer others above yourself. Do not think you are so important or superior.___________________________________ 4) Do not be concerned about you and your things (as if they are the most important). Do not look out for “number one” (yourself first). Be more concerned about others/ others’ things._______________________________ 5) Think of all others with the same perspective that was held by Jesus on the cross. Remember? Even when Jesus was dying, HE asked Father-God to forgive those who tortured Him. Next, HE took care of Mary, who gave Him birth. With the pain of the nails driven into His hands and feet, Jesus also heard the last prayer of a sinner, a thief who was paying for his crime. THINK as Jesus thought, when on the cross. Have His compassion. Put others and their needs first._____________________________________ 6) Remember JESUS was God in the flesh. HE did not believe it was wrongful taking, or a crime, to be an equal with Father-God. _________________________ 7) Yet, HE, Who was God in the flesh, did not make Himself as a great One, a king, a ruler, but an itinerant carpenter. Jesus was not schooled under one of the great rabbis or at the great schools or seminaries, HE did NOT come as a king or ruler. Jesus came as a common man, one who serves others. This KING of kings, this LORD of lords, this Creator made Himself in the form of a creation, a man. We cannot really imagine how lowly that might be. The ONE Who transcends the universe becomes a man? WOW? Is it like you become a germ in the land fill?______________ 8) Jesus existing as a man, HE made Himself lowly, reducing Himself to a creation. Jesus came to pay the sin debt (owed by His creation). The Creator, the Just, Righteous One became the payment for the homosexual rape of little children, for the pedofile, for those who kill innocent people, terrorists, partial birth abortion doctors/nurses. Jesus died for them and most importantly for y-o-u, IF you accept HIS death in your place for your sins. __________________________________ 9) BUT because HE was obedient to HIS Father-God and because HE paid the death penalty owed by His creation, Father-God has made this JESUS, (Who made Himself lowly, the ONE who took on the sins of the world) GOD has lifted Him up above all men, HE has a name, (Title, Being) above EVERYTHING._________________________ 10-11) And now at the Name of JESUS, all will recognize HIM as KING. Every person who has or is ever created WILL/SHALL acknowledge HIM as Lord-God! They will be forced to bow down to Him. It will happen, either in this life, when you finally recognize Him as Lord, OR it will happen in the next life when you stand before HIM in judgment. For it is appointed unto man once to die BUT after that the judgment (Hebrews 9:27). So, if they have not known Him as Lord in this life, they will confess they were wrong! They will now KNOW Jesus is Lord, the Creator. Their view, ideas, philosophy of life, false beliefs will ALL radically change. It will be too late for them as they then recognize the TRUTH. Christ was God forever and eternally God. All will give Him glory. The atheist, the darwinist, the arrogant, the self-sufficient will bend his knee to God. Isa. 45:23: Rom. 14:11. HAVE YOU, and has your family admitted that God is God? Is Jesus God? Have you warned your family and have you told your friends of that it is appointed unto man to die and after that the judgment?________________________ 12) Since you have admitted JESUS is LORD, when I was present with you and since you know this to this day, I call you my “highly favored” highly esteemed brothers. Continue in your belief and faith until that day when your “final salvation” heaven is yours. (Salvation SGN 4991 soteria (so-tay-ree’-ah) 1b future salvation, the sum of benefits, and blessings, which the Christians, redeemed from all earthly ills, will enjoy after the return of Christ ... eternal kingdom) Is your family on the way to heaven? 13) Recognize that it is by God’s grace you are both saved and kept. God the Holy Spirit encourages you, works in you, guides you, to do HIS will.______________________ 14-16) Therefore, be happy be willing to do all things with joy. You will be seen as men of God who have a good reputation, no one will honestly, be able to say bad things about you. You will stand out as men who are different, loving, kind, full of love, peace and joy in a wicked and corrupt world. Share the good news of eternal life in Christ. Then I will be overjoyed in that day when Christ, Jesus returns. I will see my efforts in you have been very successful. __________________________ 17-20) And if I become a martyr for His great cause, I will be so proud of you all ! 18) For this cause of Christ, I ask you to be proud and happy for and in Christ and join with me in that joy. 19) Yet, for your gladness and for His cause, I expect to send Timothy to you, so he can bring back a first hand account of you all. 20) I have no one like Timothy who will care for you: no one. _____________ 21-24) Most men seek to do what is best for themselves or to advance self, not to be proclaimers of the gospel of Jesus. 22) But, you remember Timothy, he served with me as if he were my own son, who I had brought up to follow in my footsteps. 23) It is him that I plan to send soon. 24) And perhaps the Lord will allow me to come also, shortly._ 25-30) Now as to your community member Epaphroditus, the one you sent. He had become very valuable to me. He was like a loving brother, he served with me and wanted to meet all of my needs. But he fell sick. And instead of worrying about his recovery, he instead was concerned about you being worried about him. Yes, he was very diseased, weak and feeble. He was near to death, but God heard our prayers and had mercy. Partly, I believe, because God knew that it would have made me very sad. So, I sent Epaphroditus to you. When you see he has been raised up by God, you also can be very happy and thankful to God and share in that good news and healing. When he has arrived: BE OVERJOYED! Be proud of him, for he worked himself to “death’s door” for the work of the Lord Jesus and the gospel. He was willing to die for the great Cause of Christ. Who is the author of his disease and death? Could God have stopped this? What happened in the end for Job? What can we learn when we go through a death of a loved one? A divorce? A great sickness? A broken bone? An emergency visit to the hospital? What is the mind of Christ in these matters? |