Speaker 1: Ladies and gentlemen, Welcome to Wednesday Service, episode fifty two.
Speaker 1: I am your host, Josh Monday. If you know me,
Speaker 1: I'm a Christian rapper, devoter, her husband, father, and Army veteran.
Speaker 1: And this is brought to you by Cope of Conspiracy Podcast,
Speaker 1: so once again, and we're going to be in Ephijian six.
Speaker 1: So very interesting chapter. Can't wait to go through it.
Speaker 1: But first I'd like to give shout outs to those
Speaker 1: that went ahead and commented last week on Sunday Service.
Speaker 1: We have MDMP twenty two. Thank you, j Con forty
Speaker 1: four to twenty, thank you, and Brad Gillis, thank you right,
Speaker 1: get some rest in the family, yes, exactly, family time, Yeah,
Speaker 1: Amen to that. And then we have Wednesday Service people
Speaker 1: that commenter we had seven thank god, MDMP twenty two
Speaker 1: b thank you, Brad Gillis, whiskers white and no poop scoop.
Speaker 1: I always liked that so true it said I really
Speaker 1: needed this, It was really help. Words that fit in
Speaker 1: my life right now, like to not hold onto anger, Yes,
Speaker 1: thank you for sharing the word. Yes, amen, so true.
Speaker 1: Holding onto anger is definitely a kin to drinking poison,
Speaker 1: to watch a hated person die. Yes, yes, amen, I'm
Speaker 1: glad that these studies are helping and assisting. All glory
Speaker 1: to God for that. But yeah, so this week has
Speaker 1: been cool. It's been super rainy and super windy here
Speaker 1: in southern California. A lot of wind, well here in
Speaker 1: not so much wind just in southern California, but a
Speaker 1: lot of wind here in rialto where I live, lots
Speaker 1: of wind. It's been crazy. But hopefully you guys had
Speaker 1: an awesome week. Hopefully you had fun with your families
Speaker 1: during the holidays. We have New Year's coming up this week,
Speaker 1: so everybody that's listening b K careful, be safe, keep
Speaker 1: your family safe, and when you're driving on a you know,
Speaker 1: if you end up driving on New Year's then just
Speaker 1: just be be careful, you know, be safe because you
Speaker 1: know there's a lot of drug drivers driving, people that
Speaker 1: are intoxicated different substances, So just try to be safe
Speaker 1: as you can. And what an amazing, amazing time to
Speaker 1: get to have by doing these Bible studies. And I
Speaker 1: appreciate everybody that's listening to the ship. So without further ado,
Speaker 1: let me just jump into the intro for Ephesians six
Speaker 1: real quick. It says Aphesian six concludes the epistle with
Speaker 1: practical guidance on family and societal relationships, followed by a
Speaker 1: vivid description of the spiritual battle Christians are engaged in.
Speaker 1: It introduces the full armor of God, which believers must
Speaker 1: dawn to stand firm against spiritual attacks, and emphasizes the
Speaker 1: essential role in a believer's life. All right, so let
Speaker 1: me just go ahead and get down. Yeah, definitely, we're
Speaker 1: gonna have some very important verses to go over. Try, guys.
Speaker 1: It is another one of those mondays. I gotta get
Speaker 1: up and get ready for this show because I am
Speaker 1: feeling it today. But it's all right, just because I
Speaker 1: was out on the wind all day and your body's
Speaker 1: all ten stuffed all day and the I was out
Speaker 1: on the wind and the cold all day today. So
Speaker 1: but yeah, some very important verses to go over. And
Speaker 1: first we're going to start out with Aphesian six, verses
Speaker 1: one through four. Let me just go ahead and pull
Speaker 1: it up on the screen real quick, and don't worry, guys,
Speaker 1: I'll catch my second win here and start crushing it
Speaker 1: for you guys. So Aphesian six, Child and Parents Aphesian six,
Speaker 1: Verse one, Children, obey your parents and the Lord. For
Speaker 1: this is right. Honor your father and mother, which is
Speaker 1: the first commandment, with promise that it may be well
Speaker 1: with you, and you will and you may live long
Speaker 1: on the earth. And you, fathers, do not provoke your
Speaker 1: children to wrath, but bring them up in the training
Speaker 1: and admonition of the Lord. So in I will stop there,
Speaker 1: and my teaching point. It says, children, obey your parents, okay,
Speaker 1: It says. This command emphasizes the importance of family structure
Speaker 1: and the obedience within the Christian household. Fathers are instructed
Speaker 1: not to provoke their children to anger, but to bring
Speaker 1: them up in discipline and instruction of the Lord. All right,
Speaker 1: let me close that. So the relationship between children and
Speaker 1: parents is a foundational aspect of Biblical teaching, reflecting the
Speaker 1: order and structure God has established for families. The Bible
Speaker 1: provides guidance on the roles and responsibilities of both children
Speaker 1: and parents, emphasizing love, discipline, and the instruction and the
Speaker 1: ways of the Lord. In the Old Testament we have
Speaker 1: Deuteronomy six, verses six through seven. But it says it
Speaker 1: is written these words I am commanding you today are
Speaker 1: to be upon your hearts and you shall teach them
Speaker 1: diligently to your children, and speak to them when you
Speaker 1: sit at home, and when you walk along the road,
Speaker 1: when you lie down, and when you get up. See,
Speaker 1: parents are entrusted with the responsibility of raising their children
Speaker 1: in accordance with God's commandments. This includes providing physical, emotional,
Speaker 1: and spiritual needs. The Bible underscores the importance of teaching
Speaker 1: children about God and his laws, and then fathers in
Speaker 1: particular are called to lead their families in spiritual matters.
Speaker 1: Iphesians sixty four instructs, fathers, do not provoke your children
Speaker 1: to wrath. Instead, bring them up in the discipline and
Speaker 1: instruction of the Lord. This vert verse highlights the balance
Speaker 1: between discipline and nurturing, ensuring that children are guided without
Speaker 1: being discouraged, and then when it comes to discipline and instruction,
Speaker 1: discipline is a key component of parental responsibility and tending
Speaker 1: to guide children towards righteousness. Proverbs thirteen twenty four states
Speaker 1: he who spares the rod hates his son, but he
Speaker 1: who loves him disciplines him diligently. This proverb emphasizes the
Speaker 1: necessity of correction as an expression of love, aiming to
Speaker 1: steer children away from harmful paths. And as you see,
Speaker 1: Proverbs is written by Solomon. And if you see, I
Speaker 1: mean he has the wisdom, right, but you know his dad, David,
Speaker 1: I don't think. See, he had different you know, several
Speaker 1: different wives, right, David did, so his household was all scrambled,
Speaker 1: you know. So that's why his children did what they did.
Speaker 1: You know, one ended up raping the sister, and then
Speaker 1: the other one ended up killing that brother. And then
Speaker 1: you know, Solomon, you know, just a lot of things happen.
Speaker 1: So let me just continue here. It says instruction in
Speaker 1: the Lord is equally vital. Parents are to model godly
Speaker 1: behavior and instilled biblical principle in their children. Proverbs twenty two,
Speaker 1: verse six. Advisors train up a child in the way
Speaker 1: that he should go, and when he is old, he
Speaker 1: will not depart from it. And this training involves consistent
Speaker 1: teaching and living out the faith in everyday life. And
Speaker 1: then the biblical responsibilities of children. Children are called to
Speaker 1: honor and obey their parents, recognizing their authority as established
Speaker 1: by God. The fifth commandment, found in Exodus twenty twelve states,
Speaker 1: honor your father and your mother, so that your days
Speaker 1: may be long in the land that the Lord your
Speaker 1: God has given you. This commandment is reiterated in the
Speaker 1: New Testament, which we just read in Ephesians six, verses
Speaker 1: one through three, which says, children, obey your parents and
Speaker 1: the Lord, for it is right honor your father and mother,
Speaker 1: which is the first commandment, with the promise that it
Speaker 1: may go well with you and that you may have
Speaker 1: long life on the earth. Obedience to parents, as seen
Speaker 1: as the reflection of obedience to God. Colossians three, verse
Speaker 1: twenty reinforces this, stating, children, obey your parents and everything,
Speaker 1: for this is pleasing to the Lord. This obedience is
Speaker 1: not merely about following rules, but is an expression of
Speaker 1: respect and of love. And then the role of love
Speaker 1: and respect. Love and respect are central to the relationship
Speaker 1: between children and parents. Parents are to love their children unconditionally,
Speaker 1: reflecting the love of God. In turn, children are to
Speaker 1: respect their parents, acknowledging their role and authority. This mutual
Speaker 1: love and respect create a harmonious family environment with God's
Speaker 1: principles can flourish. So I'm going to tell you guys
Speaker 1: something that happens with me, with me and my children.
Speaker 1: So sometimes when they do something wrong and I get mad.
Speaker 1: Or let's say they do something wrong and then they
Speaker 1: don't listen and then I tell them not to do
Speaker 1: it and then they do it again or something. Sometimes
Speaker 1: I have to think about the way God thinks about
Speaker 1: me when I mess up? Right, So how does God
Speaker 1: treat me when I mess up? So I think about
Speaker 1: it that way so that it reminds me that I
Speaker 1: have to give grace like God gives me grace. So
Speaker 1: I try to play this game in my mind, not
Speaker 1: a game, but I try to play this, uh, this
Speaker 1: role in my mind that where I'm thinking about okay, so,
Speaker 1: or like when when my kids get me like upset,
Speaker 1: right when they do something where you're like, oh man,
Speaker 1: that bugs me, And then I think about it like, oh,
Speaker 1: I bet you God thinks like that about me when
Speaker 1: I do certain things wrong, you know, or when I
Speaker 1: sin or when you know, when I used to sin,
Speaker 1: or when I used to do things that were like
Speaker 1: really bad. Right. So I just think about that. It
Speaker 1: makes me think that all the time because God is
Speaker 1: you know, God is our father. God is my father, right,
Speaker 1: so uh, And I'm a father to my I'm a
Speaker 1: dad to my kids. So I want to make sure
Speaker 1: that I am trying to treat them the way that
Speaker 1: God treats me. Right, That's kind of the way I
Speaker 1: try to do it. And I always think about that. Now.
Speaker 1: Am I one hundred percent accurate and always good? No?
Speaker 1: Obviously not the best parent in the world. I try
Speaker 1: to do my best, and but you know, as far
Speaker 1: as discipline, I have to get better. I think at
Speaker 1: that because sometimes I'm super nice. I'm too nice. My
Speaker 1: wife she has the Sometimes she I end up having
Speaker 1: to discipline them. But sometimes they get more scared of
Speaker 1: her because I don't see him as often because I
Speaker 1: work so much, so she's always home with them. Right. So, yeah,
Speaker 1: So I'm working on everything now, you know what I mean.
Speaker 1: Pray about it so God can help me. Challenges and encouragement.
Speaker 1: The Bible acknowledges the challenges that can arise in the
Speaker 1: parent child relationship. Proverbs twenty nine, verse seventeen offers encouragement.
Speaker 1: Discipline your son and he will go. He will give
Speaker 1: you rest, He will bring delight to your soul. This
Speaker 1: verse reassures parents that their efforts in discipline and instruction
Speaker 1: will ultimately DeJoy in peace. For children, the Bible provides
Speaker 1: encouragement to remain steadfast and honoring their parents even when
Speaker 1: it may be difficult. The promise of blessing and long
Speaker 1: life serves as a motivation to uphold this commandment. Conclusion,
Speaker 1: the Biblical teachings on children and parents should provide framework
Speaker 1: for building strong, godly families. But adhering to these principles,
Speaker 1: families can experience the blessings of harmony, love, and spiritual growth. So, yeah,
Speaker 1: the couple of those Bible verses, so you guys know
Speaker 1: Proverbs twenty two verse six, Colossians three, verse twenty. Then
Speaker 1: we have Ephesians six, verses one through four, which we
Speaker 1: just went through, and then two Corinthians twelve, verse fourteen
Speaker 1: is another one. Proverbs twenty nine, verse seventeen is another one,
Speaker 1: and then Colossians three, verse twenty one is another one. Okay,
Speaker 1: So if you guys want to write those down, you
Speaker 1: guys can always rewind this. Those are great verses that
Speaker 1: connect to what we just discussed right now on verses
Speaker 1: one through four. So to give you a recap, we
Speaker 1: have Ephesians six, versus one through four instructed childrens to
Speaker 1: obey and honor their parents and the Lord, linking obedience
Speaker 1: to their faith in God's plan why also promising blessing
Speaker 1: as stated in the Old Testament, it commands fathers and
Speaker 1: by extension, parents not to provoke their children to anger,
Speaker 1: but to raise them in the discipline and instruction of
Speaker 1: the Lord, emphasizing loving guidance, teaching God ways, and leading
Speaker 1: by example as agents of God. The meaning centers on
Speaker 1: healthy God honoring family dynamics where children learn respect for
Speaker 1: authority and parents lovingly guide them spiritually. And we've kind
Speaker 1: of had a really great uh, you know, we kind
Speaker 1: of talked about the core meanings of this verse, these
Speaker 1: four verses, So let's go ahead and continue. We're going
Speaker 1: to be on We're going to be on verse five.
Speaker 1: Let me go back down to the teaching points here,
Speaker 1: all right, okay, perfect so Aphesian six, Verse five, bond
Speaker 1: servants be obedient to those those who are your masters,
Speaker 1: according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity
Speaker 1: of heart, as to Christ, not with eye service as
Speaker 1: men pleasers, but as bond servants of Christ, doing the
Speaker 1: will of God from the heart, with good will, doing
Speaker 1: service as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing
Speaker 1: that whatever good anyone does, he will receive this same
Speaker 1: from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.
Speaker 1: And you masters, do the same things to them, giving them,
Speaker 1: giving up threatening, knowing that your own master also in heaven,
Speaker 1: and there is no partiality with him. So we have
Speaker 1: this passage. It speaks to the attitude of service and
Speaker 1: respect in all work relationships. Masters are reminded to treat
Speaker 1: their slaves in the same way without threats, recognizing that
Speaker 1: both master and servant had the same master in heaven.
Speaker 1: So the topic of slaves and masters is at in
Speaker 1: various passages throughout the Bible, reflecting the historical and cultural
Speaker 1: contexts of the times. The scriptures provide guidance to the
Speaker 1: relationships between slaves and masters, emphasizing principles of justice, fairness,
Speaker 1: and spiritual are in mutual respect. In the Old Testament,
Speaker 1: slavery was a common practice in ancient nearest And societies,
Speaker 1: including Israel. The Mosaic Law provided regulations to protect the
Speaker 1: rights and welfare of slaves. For instant Hebrew slaves were
Speaker 1: to be released in the seventh year of service, as
Speaker 1: stated in Exodus twenty one, verse two. If you buy
Speaker 1: a Hebrew servant, he is to serve you for six years.
Speaker 1: But in the seventh year, he shall go free without
Speaker 1: paying anything. This provision ensured that slavery among the Asia
Speaker 1: life is not perpetual and allowed for restoration of freedom.
Speaker 1: The law also mandated humane treatment of slaves. Exodus twenty one,
Speaker 1: twenty six through twenty seven states if a man strikes
Speaker 1: the eye of his male or female servant and destroys it,
Speaker 1: he must let the servant go free in compensation for
Speaker 1: the eye. And if he knocks the tooth of his
Speaker 1: male or female servant, he must let the servant go
Speaker 1: free and compensation for the tooth. These laws underscore the
Speaker 1: value of human life and dignity within the institution of slavery.
Speaker 1: In the New Testament, the apostle Paul addresses the relationship
Speaker 1: between slaves and masters and several of his epistles. In
Speaker 1: Ephesians six, verses five through nine, which we just read,
Speaker 1: it says, Paul teaches Fal's teachings, emphasizes that both slaves
Speaker 1: and masters are accountable to God, who shows no partiality.
Speaker 1: Masters are called to treat their slaves with fairness and respect,
Speaker 1: respect recognizing their shared humanity and equal standard before God.
Speaker 1: In the Letter to Philament, Paul appeals to Philament to
Speaker 1: receive his runaway slave ones in amiss once a miss,
Speaker 1: not merely as a slave, but as a beloved brother
Speaker 1: in Christ. This appeal highlights the transformative power of the Gospel,
Speaker 1: which transcends social and economic barriers, fostering a new relationship
Speaker 1: based on Christian love and fellowship. So the biblical instructions
Speaker 1: regarding slaves and masters are rooted in broader Christian principles
Speaker 1: of love, justice, and equality. Like Galatians three, verse twenty
Speaker 1: eight declares, this is neither Jew nor Greek, nor slave
Speaker 1: nor free. There is neither Jew nor Greek, nor slave,
Speaker 1: nor free, male or female. You are all one in
Speaker 1: Christ Jesus. This verse underscores the spiritual equality of all believers,
Speaker 1: regardless of their social status, and it says why the
Speaker 1: Bible acknowledges the existence of slavery in ancient times. Teachings
Speaker 1: lay the groundwork. Its teachings lay the groundwork for the
Speaker 1: eventual abolition of slavery. By promoting the inherent dignity and
Speaker 1: worth of every individual. The call for mutual respect and
Speaker 1: recognition of a shared identity in Christ challenges the injustices
Speaker 1: associated with slavery and encourage a relationship based on love
Speaker 1: and service. So we'll go over a brief description of
Speaker 1: these verses. So, in verses five through nine, it teaches
Speaker 1: bond servants employees slash slaves to obey earth these masters
Speaker 1: with reverence, sincerity, and wholeheartedness as if serving Christ directly,
Speaker 1: not just to please people, knowing the Lord rewards good
Speaker 1: deeds for all. It instructs masters to treat their bond
Speaker 1: servants fairly without threats, recognizing they share the same master
Speaker 1: in heaven who shows no partiality, linking all to Christ's
Speaker 1: ultimate authority. This passage applies principles of mutual respect service
Speaker 1: to Christ and all relationships including work. Emphasize in integrity
Speaker 1: and eternal reward over earthly status, and verses five through
Speaker 1: eight obey with respect and sincerity. Serve your masters, employees
Speaker 1: or supervisors with reverence, fear and trembling, and a genuine,
Speaker 1: sincere heart, not just when watched. Avoid eye service. So
Speaker 1: serve Christ, not just people. Do God's will from your heart,
Speaker 1: serving wholeheartedly, as if serving the Lord, not just to
Speaker 1: gain favor. Serve with goodwill, give your best effort with
Speaker 1: a great attitude, knowing the Lord will reward you good
Speaker 1: you do, regardless of your earthly status. And then in
Speaker 1: verse nine, it's talking about masters to or employers. Treat fairly.
Speaker 1: Do the same to your slaves employees, stop threatening them,
Speaker 1: recognize shared mastership. Remember both you and your bond servant
Speaker 1: have the same master in heaven, and he shows no favoritism.
Speaker 1: And then what's the core meanings and applications behind this?
Speaker 1: As worship, all work becomes a spiritual act of serving Christ,
Speaker 1: transforming the workplace into a mission field. Integrity over appearance.
Speaker 1: True faith means working diligently, honorably even when unseen, reflecting
Speaker 1: God's character. And then God's impartiality. God sees and values
Speaker 1: the sincere heart and all regardless of social position, promising
Speaker 1: reward for good work. Next, we have the famous put
Speaker 1: on the whole armor of God versus that a lot
Speaker 1: of people use. That I sees I've used quite a bit,
Speaker 1: you know, when I talk about spiritual warfare, and when
Speaker 1: people bring up spiritual warfare. But let's go ahead and
Speaker 1: read Ephesian six, verses ten through twenty, and we'll go
Speaker 1: through it. Here. It says, find me, my brethren, be
Speaker 1: strong in the Lord and in the power of His
Speaker 1: might put on the whole armor of God, that you
Speaker 1: may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Speaker 1: For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but
Speaker 1: against principalities, against powers, against the rulers, the darkness of
Speaker 1: this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places. Therefore,
Speaker 1: take up the whole armor of God, that you may
Speaker 1: be able to withstand in the evil day. And having
Speaker 1: done all to stand. So what is this verse telling us, Well,
Speaker 1: it's telling us to be strong in the Lord, in
Speaker 1: the power of his might. So obviously the Lord God
Speaker 1: is stronger than all of the evil that you're going
Speaker 1: to go against. Put on the whole armor of God,
Speaker 1: that you may be able to stand against the walls
Speaker 1: of the devil. So you're putting on the whole armor
Speaker 1: of God, so you're able to go into battle against
Speaker 1: the devil and dodge the wiles of the devil. Right,
Speaker 1: So it says, for we do not wrestle against flesh
Speaker 1: and blood, meaning we shouldn't be fighting against other humans,
Speaker 1: because other humans aren't the problem. The problem is the principalities,
Speaker 1: the powers, the rulers, and the darkness of this age.
Speaker 1: And in if you go to the Geneva Bible, that
Speaker 1: actually says worldly governors also, we need to understand that.
Speaker 1: And then it says against the rulers of darkness of
Speaker 1: this age, against spiritual host of wickedness in heavenly places.
Speaker 1: What is that talking about. Well, it's not talking about
Speaker 1: earthly places. All these other principalities are earthly. These ones
Speaker 1: are actually in heavenly places between where Earth is located
Speaker 1: and where God's throne is located. That's where Heaven is
Speaker 1: located in between there, right, So Heaven is also where
Speaker 1: God's throne is located. But it's not talking about the
Speaker 1: ones that are you know, that are next to God's throne. No, no, no,
Speaker 1: it's talking about the area between Earth and Heaven. Now
Speaker 1: what would that be, Well, that would be where the moon, sun,
Speaker 1: and the stars are located. That's where the spiritual host
Speaker 1: of wickedness are in They're in heavenly places, right, So
Speaker 1: we need to understand that. It's important because the Book
Speaker 1: of Daniel you have the Angel coming to answer the
Speaker 1: prayer and then it's fighting against the Prince of Persia,
Speaker 1: who is one of these spiritual hosts of wickedness in
Speaker 1: heaven the places. So it's on its way back from
Speaker 1: heaven to go answer Daniel's prayer, and it's fighting against
Speaker 1: the Prince of Persia. It has to call Michael the archangel,
Speaker 1: and then it has to come and speak to Daniel. Right,
Speaker 1: So we got to understand that things are happening in
Speaker 1: the spiritual world that we don't even understand, and we
Speaker 1: are just living our life, going along all busy, busy
Speaker 1: praying to God once in a while. Hey Father, God,
Speaker 1: thank you for everything you did for me today. Ooh
Speaker 1: with thanks, Hey God, thank you for this, you know whatever.
Speaker 1: But we don't understand the spiritual battles that are happening
Speaker 1: and the things that angels are doing for us, or
Speaker 1: that God is actually sending angels to do for us,
Speaker 1: because they're spiritual battles happening because we don't wrestle against
Speaker 1: lesh and blood, but principalities of evil. Wow, it gets
Speaker 1: really deep, you know. And obviously demons are involved in
Speaker 1: this as well, part of these principalities, but I think
Speaker 1: there's uh the spiritual host of wickedness. So let's say
Speaker 1: it was only demons only, or if it was just
Speaker 1: the devil only, why would he say, why would why
Speaker 1: would Paul say this against powers, against the rulers of
Speaker 1: the darkness of this age, against spiritual host of wickedness
Speaker 1: and heavenly places, right, Why would he say against principalities?
Speaker 1: Why wouldn't he just say, for we do not wrestle
Speaker 1: against flesh and blood, but against demons and the devil.
Speaker 1: There's obviously more to this here. There's fallen angels as well,
Speaker 1: So that's why he's mentioning these principalities of evil and
Speaker 1: heavenly places. And I think it's very very interesting that
Speaker 1: you have these planets which are wandering stars in heavenly places, right,
Speaker 1: which are actually named after other gods. And these other
Speaker 1: gods are like you know, to me, I believe that
Speaker 1: they're played by fallen angels, right, because obviously they are
Speaker 1: trying to deceive the people into worshiping them instead of
Speaker 1: worshiping the One True God. Yahweh right. So that's what
Speaker 1: we need to understand here. So there's a lot at
Speaker 1: play in this verse. Some people just think that we're just, oh,
Speaker 1: we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but just demons
Speaker 1: in the devil. Now, there's more to it. There's fallen angels,
Speaker 1: there's spiritual hosts of wickedness. There's just more to this verse,
Speaker 1: I think, and after keep studying and studying in all
Speaker 1: the years that I've been studying these, you know, when
Speaker 1: it comes to spiritual warfare, and having certain people on
Speaker 1: my show where I've kind of talked to, like the
Speaker 1: you know, some people I believe are very intelligent in
Speaker 1: this kind of stuff. That's kind of where I'm at.
Speaker 1: That's what I think this is talking about. Because I
Speaker 1: think Paul, if he was just talking about demons and
Speaker 1: the devil, what you say, he would just say, we
Speaker 1: wrestle not against flesh and blood, but you know, demons
Speaker 1: and Satan, so be careful whatever. But he is obviously
Speaker 1: he does bring up the devil, right, he says, the
Speaker 1: wiles of the devil. Of course, the devil is obviously
Speaker 1: part of it, right, the main the main guy that
Speaker 1: we're going against. Right, it says, therefore, take up the
Speaker 1: whole armor of God that you may be able to
Speaker 1: withstand in the evil day. And having done all to stand,
Speaker 1: so you put on the full armor of God so
Speaker 1: that you could go into battle and at least you're fighting,
Speaker 1: You're not just getting trampled, you know. And let's see
Speaker 1: what it says here for putting on the whole armor
Speaker 1: of God. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth,
Speaker 1: having put on the breastplate of righteousness, right boom, you
Speaker 1: got the breastplate of righteousness. So you got basically you know,
Speaker 1: your your armor is going to be your breastplate of righteousness.
Speaker 1: And then having shod your feet with the preparation of
Speaker 1: the Gospel of peace. Okay, above all taking the shield
Speaker 1: of faith, which you will be able to quench all
Speaker 1: the fiery darts of the wicked one. And what I
Speaker 1: always tell you, guys, faith cometh by hearing, hearing by
Speaker 1: the word of God. That is Romans ten seventeen. So
Speaker 1: what is that talking about. Well, that's a way for
Speaker 1: you to build your faith by doing what by hearing
Speaker 1: the word of God like we're doing right now, us
Speaker 1: reading the word of God to you or me reading
Speaker 1: the Word of God to you, is making it so
Speaker 1: that you are building your faith. So that's why I
Speaker 1: do this, because I want to attract people to the faith.
Speaker 1: I also want to build your faith at the same time,
Speaker 1: and I want to make sure that we're going through
Speaker 1: the whole entire Bible, so you get everything that you
Speaker 1: need to build your faith. Right. So it's a shield
Speaker 1: of faith. And obviously I'm not the one building your faith.
Speaker 1: God is the one building your faith. I'm just the
Speaker 1: vessel that's speaking to you. And that's it. But the
Speaker 1: shield of faith, right, So he got you know, when
Speaker 1: you first become a Christian, you got this little tiny shield, right,
Speaker 1: so you just try to block the walls of the
Speaker 1: devil and sometimes whatever he's shooting at you. You know,
Speaker 1: these battles you're having, you're not you're not able to
Speaker 1: fight against it. But as you mature as a Christian,
Speaker 1: you're getting better and better and your shield of faith
Speaker 1: is getting bigger and you're able to block the walls
Speaker 1: of the devil. That's that's kind of what the way
Speaker 1: Paul's explaining this, right, and we need to make sure
Speaker 1: that we know this right. And then it says, and
Speaker 1: take the helmet of salvation, right, and take the helmet
Speaker 1: of salvation. Now you got a helmet of salvation, and
Speaker 1: that's protecting your your your cranium, your brain, your mind,
Speaker 1: and your mind is the battlefield, right that the devil
Speaker 1: wants to try to infiltrate and he can't read your mind,
Speaker 1: but he can put thoughts in your head, right, he
Speaker 1: can try to tempt you with thoughts, you know. And
Speaker 1: that's what happens, you know, one thought of a sin
Speaker 1: turns into another, and then it turns into you actually
Speaker 1: committing that sin. Right, So take the helmet of salvation
Speaker 1: and protect your brain. Right. And then it says, and
Speaker 1: the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Okay,
Speaker 1: so now we have our offensive weapon, which is the
Speaker 1: sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Speaker 1: Let me give you example of using the word of
Speaker 1: God as the sword of the Spirit when you're going
Speaker 1: against the devil. Well, we have Jesus when he's taken
Speaker 1: to the highest mountain. Right, we have Jesus on the
Speaker 1: highest mountain getting tempted. So let's go ahead and check
Speaker 1: this out real quick. And so we have Jesus is
Speaker 1: tempted three times in the wilderness after Jesus fasted for
Speaker 1: forty days. Right, So he fasted for forty days, and
Speaker 1: that means that Jesus is at his weakest point. Now
Speaker 1: we have God in the flesh coming down to be
Speaker 1: able to feel how it is to be tempted. And
Speaker 1: not only is he tempted while he's you know, starving
Speaker 1: for a couple of days, or maybe you know, tired
Speaker 1: from not sleeping all night. He is forty days fasting.
Speaker 1: So he is at his weakest point, it says, challenge. Oops,
Speaker 1: so it is Luke, Oh, not the ICB. You want
Speaker 1: to be in the new king James. So you guys,
Speaker 1: it says, being tempted for forty days by the devil.
Speaker 1: In those days he ate nothing, And afterward, when they
Speaker 1: had ended, he was hungry. And the devil said to him,
Speaker 1: if you are the son of God, command that stone,
Speaker 1: this stone to become bred. And Jesus answered him, saying,
Speaker 1: it is written man shall not live by bread alone,
Speaker 1: but by every word of God, which is Deuteronomy. Right
Speaker 1: then the devil, taking up on a high mountain, showed
Speaker 1: him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment
Speaker 1: of time. And the devil said to him, all this
Speaker 1: authority I will give to you and their glory, For
Speaker 1: this has been delivered to me, and I will give
Speaker 1: it to whommeever I wish. Therefore, if you worship before me,
Speaker 1: all will be yours. If you will worship before me,
Speaker 1: so basically asking him to worship him, right to bow
Speaker 1: on and worship him. And Jesus answered and said, get
Speaker 1: behind me, Satan, for it is written you shall worship
Speaker 1: the God, the Lord God, and him only you shall serve.
Speaker 1: And it says, worship the Lord, which is Yahweh your God,
Speaker 1: and him only you shall serve. Then he brought him
Speaker 1: to Jerusalem. That's also Deuteronomy. Okay. Then he brought him
Speaker 1: to Jerusalem, set him on the pinnacle of the temple,
Speaker 1: and said to him, if you are the son of God,
Speaker 1: throw yourself down, for it is written which is going
Speaker 1: to be the Psalms. He says, he shall give his
Speaker 1: angels charge over you to keep you in their heads.
Speaker 1: They shall bear it. They should bear you up. Let
Speaker 1: you dash your foot against a stone. So now he's
Speaker 1: quoting Bible verses to Jesus, so he knows the Bible
Speaker 1: as well. And it says. And Jesus answered and said
Speaker 1: to him, it has been said you shall not tempt
Speaker 1: the Lord your God. Then the devil had ended. Now,
Speaker 1: when the devil ended every temptation, he departed from him
Speaker 1: until an opportune time that Jesus returned to the power
Speaker 1: of the spirit to Galilee, and news of him went
Speaker 1: through all the surrounding region, and also the angels came
Speaker 1: and they ministered to him. Okay, so the angels, they
Speaker 1: probably wanted to attack, you know, they're seeing God in
Speaker 1: the flesh, Jesus in the flesh. They're getting attacked by
Speaker 1: Satan obviously, you know, Michael, the Arkins, who probably wanted
Speaker 1: to come down and regulate. But it was just it
Speaker 1: was meant to be. It was something that God had
Speaker 1: to go through, you know, had to be in flesh
Speaker 1: right and be tempted, feel how it is to be tempted,
Speaker 1: and obviously win the battle and not sin. But in
Speaker 1: a way I believe, I don't know, it doesn't the
Speaker 1: Bible doesn't say this, but from the outside looking in,
Speaker 1: it almost feels like since God knows exactly how it
Speaker 1: is to be tempted, that he's like he's giving us
Speaker 1: more grace, you know, or you know he gives he
Speaker 1: gives us grace anyways, but maybe assist him a little
Speaker 1: bit more. Maybe that's just me thinking out loud of
Speaker 1: giving us a little more grace because he feels how
Speaker 1: it is to be tempted. But okay, back to the point,
Speaker 1: it says, in the sword of the Spirit, which is
Speaker 1: the word of God. So the offensive weapon is the
Speaker 1: word of God, same exact thing that Jesus is using
Speaker 1: in Luke four, verses two through fourteen. What is Jesus saying,
Speaker 1: man shall not live by bread alone, but by every
Speaker 1: word of God. The devil he's resisting the devil. The
Speaker 1: devil's gonna try three times, but he resists the devil,
Speaker 1: and he shall flee. That's James four, verse seven. But
Speaker 1: he says, man shall not live by bread alone, but
Speaker 1: by every word of God. And then you have him saying,
Speaker 1: get behind me, Satan, for it is written, you shall
Speaker 1: worship the Lord God, Yahweh your God, and him only
Speaker 1: you shall serve. And then once again boom, you shall
Speaker 1: not tempt the Lord. Tempt the Lord your God, right,
Speaker 1: Yahweh your God right. So very interesting that Jesus is
Speaker 1: using the word of God, because it's the same thing
Speaker 1: that Paul says is the offensive weapon, which is the
Speaker 1: sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.
Speaker 1: And it says, praying always with all prayer and supplication,
Speaker 1: and the Spirit being watchful to the end, with all
Speaker 1: perseverance and supplication for all the saints, and for me,
Speaker 1: the utterance may be given to me that I may
Speaker 1: open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of
Speaker 1: the Gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains.
Speaker 1: Because he was actually in jail when he wrote this,
Speaker 1: and he's looking at the Roman soldier explaining exactly what,
Speaker 1: explaining exactly what? Where is the belt of truth? Isn't
Speaker 1: it supposed to be in there? Sorry? Stand therefore, having
Speaker 1: girded a ways with truth, there we go, girted a
Speaker 1: ways with truth? All right? Sorry? So yeah, he sent
Speaker 1: he's an ambassador in chains. It says that I may
Speaker 1: speak boldly as I ought to speak. Okay, very interesting
Speaker 1: right there, Very interesting what Paul goes over, because it
Speaker 1: is it's exactly the way Jesus, you know, use the
Speaker 1: word of God as his offensive weapon. Obviously, Jesus is
Speaker 1: shield of faith is bigger than we can any of
Speaker 1: us could imagine, you know. So his faith is already there.
Speaker 1: He already knows the word of God, because he is
Speaker 1: the Word of God. Right, So he's his spiritual sword
Speaker 1: is sharpened and ready to go. And he's obviously he
Speaker 1: is the Way, the Truth, the Life. So he's already
Speaker 1: girded his ways with truth. His whole body is you know,
Speaker 1: his whole being is truth. Right, having put on the
Speaker 1: bleused fate of righteousness, Jesus as righteous as you can
Speaker 1: be right. And then it says, shot your feet with
Speaker 1: the preparation of the gospel. He is the Gospel right
Speaker 1: above all, taking the shield of faith. You know. So
Speaker 1: we've got to understand that Jesus is in this position
Speaker 1: forty days and forty nins. He is at his weakest point.
Speaker 1: But you know he's he resists the devil using the
Speaker 1: word of God, and he shall flee the devil flees.
Speaker 1: Does the devil keep tempting and tempting and tempting till
Speaker 1: Jesus says, I can't take it anymore. I gotta sin. No,
Speaker 1: he just tempts him, tempt him, tempts him, and he's
Speaker 1: got to back off, resist the devil. He shall flee
Speaker 1: James four, verse seven. Okay, so let's go ahead and
Speaker 1: check out my notes say about the armor of God.
Speaker 1: The concept of the armor of God is a metaphorical
Speaker 1: framework presented by the apostle Paul in his Epistle to
Speaker 1: the Ephesians, specifically in Ephesians six ten through twenty. This
Speaker 1: passage is a call to spiritual vigilance and preparedness, urging
Speaker 1: believers to equip themselves with divine protection against the spiritual
Speaker 1: forces of evil. The imagery of armor is drawn from
Speaker 1: Roman soldier gear familiar to Paul's audience, and serves as
Speaker 1: a vivid illustration of the spiritual resources available to Christians
Speaker 1: at the spiritual context we already read through the whole
Speaker 1: Ephesians six ten through twelve. The belt of truth we
Speaker 1: got the belt or girdle was essential for a Roman soldier,
Speaker 1: securing his tunic and holding his weapons Spiritually, the belt
Speaker 1: of truth represents the believer's integrity and commitment to God's truth,
Speaker 1: which holds everything together and provides a foundation for a
Speaker 1: foundation for spiritual warfare. Then we have the breastplate of righteousness.
Speaker 1: The breastplate protected the soldier's vital organs in a spiritual sense,
Speaker 1: righteousness from the imputed righteousness of Christ, and the believer's
Speaker 1: ethnical conduct guards the heart against the accusations and attacks
Speaker 1: of the enemy. Gospel of Peace. The footwear of readiness
Speaker 1: symbolizes the believer's stability and preparedness to proclaim the gospel.
Speaker 1: The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, enables Christians
Speaker 1: to stand firm and advance the message of reconciliation. Shield
Speaker 1: of faith. The Roman shield was large and designed to
Speaker 1: protect the entire body. Faith as a shield is a
Speaker 1: believer's trust in God's promises and power, capable of extinguishing
Speaker 1: the fiery doubt, darts of doubt, temptation, and fear launched
Speaker 1: by the adversary. Helmet of salvation, the helmet of salvation.
Speaker 1: The helmet protected a soldier's head, a critical area in battle.
Speaker 1: Salvation as a helmet signifies the assurance of eternal life
Speaker 1: and the protection of the mind against discouragement and despair.
Speaker 1: The Sword of the Spirit. The sword is the only
Speaker 1: offensive weapon in the armour, representing the Word of God scriptures,
Speaker 1: a powerful tool for defense and attack, enabling believers to
Speaker 1: counter lies and deception with divine truth. And then we
Speaker 1: have prayer. Paul concludes the passage by emphasizing the abhortance
Speaker 1: of prayer and alertness. Prayers the means by which believers
Speaker 1: maintain communication with God seek his guidance and strength. It
Speaker 1: is through prayer that the armor is effectively utilized ensuring
Speaker 1: that the believer remains vigilant and prepared for spiritual battles.
Speaker 1: Theological significance the Armor of God underscores the reality of
Speaker 1: spiritual warfare and the necessity for divine empowerment. It highlights
Speaker 1: the believer's dependence on God's strength and resources rather than
Speaker 1: human effort. Each piece of army reflects, each piece of
Speaker 1: armor reflects a critical aspect of the Christian life, rooted
Speaker 1: in truth, righteousness, faith, salvation, and the Word of God.
Speaker 1: This passage serves as a reminder of the ongoing battle
Speaker 1: against spiritual forces and the victory assured through Christ. That's
Speaker 1: the main thing, So very very interesting, perfect I like
Speaker 1: that little section right there, so we have. Let's go
Speaker 1: over a brief description of what we read. Ephesians six
Speaker 1: ten through twenty is about spiritual warfare, urging Christians to
Speaker 1: be strong in the Lord and put on the fulham
Speaker 1: of God, to stand against the devil's schemes, which are
Speaker 1: not against people, but against evil spiritual forces, and to
Speaker 1: pray for boldness to spread the Gospel. It's a call
Speaker 1: to equip oneself with divine resources to fight deception and evil.
Speaker 1: Now with physical weapons, but the spiritual truth and reliance
Speaker 1: on God's power. Like I always say, when Jesus went
Speaker 1: against the devil, did he pull out a sword? Did
Speaker 1: he pull out an ar fifteen? No? Did he pull
Speaker 1: out a physical sword? Is what I mean? No, he
Speaker 1: pulled out the Word of God, which is the the
Speaker 1: sword of the spirit. Okay, key themes and meanings. The
Speaker 1: reality of spiritual warfare life for believers involves a constant
Speaker 1: battle against evil spiritual powers, not just human opponents. The enemy,
Speaker 1: the adversary is Sayan and his forces who use deceit
Speaker 1: lies in schemes to attack believers. Strength from God. Believers
Speaker 1: must be strong and the Lord's might, not their own.
Speaker 1: We already talked that, we kind of already did a
Speaker 1: breakdown of the sword of the spirit, the helme and salvation,
Speaker 1: the shield of faith, prayer essential for spiritual alertness, strength,
Speaker 1: and the boldness to proclaim the Gospel purpose, to stand
Speaker 1: firm withstand evil, and boldly proclaim the mystery of the Gospel.
Speaker 1: In simple terms, Paul tells Christians to stop being naive
Speaker 1: about spiritual battles, to stop fighting each other, and instead
Speaker 1: rely completely on God's power using the spiritual armor. Armor
Speaker 1: he provides truth, rights in faith, et cetera, and constantly
Speaker 1: praying so they can stand strong against the devil's attacks
Speaker 1: and share the good news of Jesus. All right, perfect,
Speaker 1: Now we'll talk a little bit about Verses eighteen through twenty.
Speaker 1: Prayer and alertness praying in the spirit at all times,
Speaker 1: with every kind of prayer and petition. Paul emphasizing the
Speaker 1: importance of constant prayer and vigilance and spiritual battle. Prayer
Speaker 1: and alertness are two interrelated concepts that are emphasized throughout
Speaker 1: the Bible as essentral components of a faithful and vigilant
Speaker 1: Christian life. These practices are not only acts of devotion,
Speaker 1: but also serve as a spiritual discipline that enable believers
Speaker 1: to remain steadfast in their faith and responsive to the
Speaker 1: leading of the Holy Spirit. Prayer in the Bible, prayers
Speaker 1: a fundamental aspect of believers in relationship with God. It is
Speaker 1: both a privilege and a command, allowing individuals to communicate
Speaker 1: with the Creator, express their needs, offer thanksgiving, and seek guidance.
Speaker 1: The Bible provides numerous examples and teachings on prayer, highlighting
Speaker 1: its importance and power. In the Old Testament, figures such
Speaker 1: as Abraham, Moses, and David exempty lives of prayer. Abraham
Speaker 1: interceded for Sodom Genesis eighteen twenty three through thirty three.
Speaker 1: Moses prayed for the Israelites in Exodus thirty two eleven
Speaker 1: through fourteen, and David composed many psalms that are prayers
Speaker 1: of praise laminate in supplication. The New Testament further emphasizes prayer,
Speaker 1: Jesus Christ serving as the ultimate model. He often withdrew
Speaker 1: to solitary places to pray and taught his disciples how
Speaker 1: to pray through the Lord's prayer. Jesus also encouraged persistent prayer,
Speaker 1: as seen in the Parable of the Persistent Widow Luke
Speaker 1: eighteen one through eight. The apostle Paul underscores the necessity
Speaker 1: of prayer and the life of the believer. He exhorced
Speaker 1: the Thessalonians to pray without seizing first Thessalonians five, verse seventeen,
Speaker 1: and instructs the Philippians to present their requests to God
Speaker 1: with thanksgiving Philippians four, verse six. Prayer is depicted as
Speaker 1: a vital component in the spiritual armor in Ephesians six,
Speaker 1: verse eighteen. Alertness in the Bible, alertness or spiritual vigilance,
Speaker 1: is closely linked to prayer. It involves being watchful and discerning,
Speaker 1: recognizing the spiritual realities and challenges that believers face. The
Speaker 1: Bible frequently calls for alertness, particularly in the context of
Speaker 1: spiritual warfare and the anticipation of God's return. Jesus repeatedly
Speaker 1: instructs his disciples to be alert. In the Garden of Yosemite,
Speaker 1: he admonished them watch and pray so that you will
Speaker 1: be so that you will not enter into temptation, for
Speaker 1: the spirit is willing, but the body is weak. This
Speaker 1: highlights the necessity of combining prayer with alertness and to
Speaker 1: withstand spiritual triers trials Matthew twenty six, verse forty one.
Speaker 1: The Apostle Paul side the Apostle, Peter warns believers to
Speaker 1: be sober minded and alert because you're adversary. The devil
Speaker 1: prowls like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour one
Speaker 1: Peter five, verse eight. This call to vigilance is a
Speaker 1: reminder of the ongoing spiritual battle and the need for
Speaker 1: constant readiness. Paul also emphasizes alertness in his letters. In
Speaker 1: one Corinthians sixteen, verse thirteen instructs be on the alert,
Speaker 1: stand firm in the faith. Be men of courage, be strong.
Speaker 1: This exhortation underscores the importance of being spiritually awake and
Speaker 1: prepared to defend the faith. The interconnection of prayer and alertness.
Speaker 1: Prayer and alertness are intertwined, each reinforcing the other. Prayer
Speaker 1: cultivates a heart attuned to God's will and strengthens the believers,
Speaker 1: the believers resolved to remain vigilant. Conversely, alertness ensures that
Speaker 1: prayer is focused and responsive to the spiritual needs and
Speaker 1: challenges at heart at hand. In Colossians four, verse two,
Speaker 1: paulse captures this relationship. Devote yourself to prayer, being watchful
Speaker 1: and thankful. This verse encapsulates the call to life marked
Speaker 1: by continuous prayer and spiritual awareness, grounded and gratitude for
Speaker 1: God's faithfulness. Together prayer alertness to quick believe, we should
Speaker 1: navigate the perplexities of life with discernment and faithfulness, standing
Speaker 1: firm against the schemes of the enemy and remaining ready
Speaker 1: to return to the Lord. Perfect. All right, so good stuff,
Speaker 1: Let's go ahead and continue reading. I think that was
Speaker 1: enough right. Therefore this portion it says, a gracious greeting,
Speaker 1: but that you also may know my affairs, And I
Speaker 1: am doing taichikus a beloved brother and faithful minister. And
Speaker 1: the Lord will make all things known to you, whom
Speaker 1: I have sent to you for this very purpose, that
Speaker 1: you may know our affairs, and that he may comfort
Speaker 1: your hearts. Peace to the brethren, and love with faith
Speaker 1: from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace
Speaker 1: be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ
Speaker 1: in sincerity a man. So that is the end of Ephesians. Okay,
Speaker 1: the end of Ephesians. Awesome good stuff. So let's go
Speaker 1: over some practical applications. Encourage children to honor and obey
Speaker 1: their parents as a reflection of their obedience to God.
Speaker 1: Next one, in your workplace, serve with integrity and respect
Speaker 1: as if surfing Christ himself. Next daily, put on the
Speaker 1: full armor of God through prayer and meditation on his
Speaker 1: word to stand firm against spiritual challenges. Next one, cultivate
Speaker 1: a lifestyle of prayer, being alert and persistent in interceding
Speaker 1: for others. And being alert also means being sober minded.
Speaker 1: That's what Peter's talking about when he says, be alert
Speaker 1: and sober minded.
Speaker 2: Rightugh, all right, Next up, we have additional.
Speaker 1: Scriptures that connect family relationships. We have Colossians three twenty
Speaker 1: through twenty one, which also addresses the roles of children
Speaker 1: and parents. We kind of went over that earlier work
Speaker 1: relationships in Colossians three twenty two through twenty four, which
Speaker 1: parallels the instructions to slaves and masters. And then spiritual warfare,
Speaker 1: we have Second Corinthians ten versus three through five, which
Speaker 1: discusses the nature of spiritual batters, batters, spiritual battles, and
Speaker 1: weapons we use. Let's go ahead and go to that
Speaker 1: real quick. Second Corinthians ten three through five. Second Corinthians
Speaker 1: ten three through five, it says we'll start at two.
Speaker 1: But I beg you that when I am present, I
Speaker 1: may not be bold, that I may not be bold
Speaker 1: with the confidence by which I intended to be bold
Speaker 1: against some who think of us as if we walked
Speaker 1: according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh,
Speaker 1: we do not according to the flesh. For the weapons
Speaker 1: of our warfare, not cardinally, but mighty in God, for
Speaker 1: pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments, in every high thing
Speaker 1: that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every
Speaker 1: thought into captivity to obedience of Christ, and being ready
Speaker 1: to punish all disobedience when the obedience is fulfilled. Perfect
Speaker 1: we read verse six as well. But great stuff. And
Speaker 1: then prayer. We have first Thessalonians five, verse seventeen, which
Speaker 1: occurrences which encourages believers to pray without seizing all. Right,
Speaker 1: so perfect, So now we are done with Ephesians. Now
Speaker 1: we're going to go into the introduction for the whole
Speaker 1: entire Book of Philippians. Okay, and then I'll go into
Speaker 1: the introduction for Philippians one. The Book of Philippians is
Speaker 1: a New Testament letter from the apostle Paul, written from
Speaker 1: prison likely Rome to the first church he established in Europe,
Speaker 1: the Philippians, expressing joy, gratitude, and encouragement from them to
Speaker 1: live as citizens of Heaven by having the mind of Christ,
Speaker 1: serving one another, and finding contentment in all circumstances despite suffering.
Speaker 1: Key themes include joy and suffering, humility, unity, and steadfastness,
Speaker 1: making it a happy prison epistle despite Paul's imprisonment. Thanks
Speaker 1: to the Philistine's generous support and spiritual partnership, author and date.
Speaker 1: The author is the apostle Paul around a D sixty
Speaker 1: to sixty two. They're not sure from prison in Rome.
Speaker 1: Recipients the Christian community in Philippi a strategically a strategically
Speaker 1: located Roman colony in Macedonia? Did I say that right? Macedonia?
Speaker 1: What did I say before? Macedonia? Macedonia? Am I saying
Speaker 1: it right? I hope? So as I remember someone said, ah,
Speaker 1: I don't. I got to stop listening because you keep
Speaker 1: saying Macedonia Macedonia. I think consider it. Paul establishes this
Speaker 1: church during his second missionary journey, Acts sixteen occasion a
Speaker 1: thank you note for their financial support and to address
Speaker 1: internal conflict, incurring them in faith in unity. Key themes
Speaker 1: and characteristics Joy in the Lord a central theme emphasizing
Speaker 1: God given joy regardless of circumstances, rooted in christ heavenly citizenship,
Speaker 1: contrasting the earthly Roman citizenship with their ultimate heavenly citizenship
Speaker 1: in christ christ centered mindset, urging believers to have the
Speaker 1: humble self, sacrifice and attitude of Jesus. Philippians two three
Speaker 1: through eight. Unity and service, promoting fellowship, mutual support, and
Speaker 1: serving God in each other, suffering and perseverance, teaching that
Speaker 1: suffering for Christ is to be met with joy and
Speaker 1: can advance the Gospel contentment learning to be content in
Speaker 1: all situations through Christ. Philippians for eleven through thirteen. Some
Speaker 1: of the distinctive features a personal affectionate letter with a
Speaker 1: remarkably joyful tone despite Paul's imprisonment, highlights the prominent role
Speaker 1: of women in the church, lydia udia and synthic syntheca centature.
Speaker 1: I don't know how to say it's sent sentache. It's
Speaker 1: s y n t y c h E synth syntai
Speaker 1: chi sentaichi. We'll just say that, even though that sells
Speaker 1: Asian or something. No major doctrinal air or false teaching
Speaker 1: to refute. A letter encouraged an example, okay of encouragement
Speaker 1: and example perfect? All right. Let me go ahead, and
Speaker 1: my nose is a little itchy here. Let's go ahead
Speaker 1: and go to Philippians boom verse one. Perfect. All right. Now,
Speaker 1: let me just read the intro to Philippians one this
Speaker 1: time before we read the whole attire for the whole
Speaker 1: attire chapter or the whole book of Philippian. Okay, Philippians
Speaker 1: one gives us a glance into the emotional and spiritual
Speaker 1: state of Paul while he was in prison. It emphasizes
Speaker 1: his unwavering commitment to Christ, the joy he found in
Speaker 1: sharing the Gospel, and is enduring hope despite his physical circumstances.
Speaker 1: This chapter serves as a powerful reminder that in life
Speaker 1: or death, in freedom or chains, the Gospel of Christ
Speaker 1: is not hindered, but rather advances. So, whether he's in
Speaker 1: prison or not, he's going to advance the Gospel message, right,
Speaker 1: which is amazing. That's what he should be doing. And
Speaker 1: we talked about it. It's around sixty to sixty two
Speaker 1: ADS when Paul's it says during Paul, Oh, during Paul's
Speaker 1: house arrest in Rome, is what it says here in
Speaker 1: my other notes. So maybe that's true. Maybe he was
Speaker 1: actually in prison. We don't know. I don't think all
Speaker 1: the way. Let's go ahead and start reading Philippians one.
Speaker 1: Verse one, Greeting Paul and Timothy Bond, servants of Jesus Christ,
Speaker 1: to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in
Speaker 1: Philippine with the bishops and deacons, Grace to you in
Speaker 1: peace from God, our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Speaker 1: Like I always say, guys, our letters say dear John,
Speaker 1: dear Jack, whatever, in the very beginning, and then we
Speaker 1: write the whole letter. At the very bottom we put
Speaker 1: our name. But these are scrolls, so you don't want
Speaker 1: to have to open the whole entire scroll up to
Speaker 1: see who the letter's from. Instead, the very first sentences
Speaker 1: is going to be Paul always doing this. He introduces
Speaker 1: himself as a bond server to Jesus Christ in the
Speaker 1: beginning of his letters, right like I was trying to
Speaker 1: tell you, guys, let's go ahead and continue Philippians one,
Speaker 1: verse three. I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
Speaker 1: always in every prayer of mind, making requests for you
Speaker 1: with all joy, for your fellowship in the Gospel, from
Speaker 1: the first day until now, being confident of this very
Speaker 1: thing that he was begun a good work, and you
Speaker 1: will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. Just
Speaker 1: as it is right for me to think of this
Speaker 1: you all, because I have you in heart, and is
Speaker 1: such as much in your chains and in the defense
Speaker 1: and confirmation of the Gospel. You are partakers with me
Speaker 1: of grace, for God is my witness. How greatly. I
Speaker 1: long for you in the affection of Jesus Christ. So
Speaker 1: let's go ahead and stop there real quick. So in
Speaker 1: verse three through five, Joy in Partnership, Paul expresses gratitude
Speaker 1: for the Philippine or the Philippines for the Philippians partnership
Speaker 1: in the Gospel, highlighting the importance of community in advancing
Speaker 1: God's work. So we have joy in partnership. Joy in
Speaker 1: partnership refers to the profound sense of happiness and fulfillment
Speaker 1: that arises from working together with others in a shared
Speaker 1: mission of purpose, particularly with the context of Christian fellowship
Speaker 1: and ministry. The concept is deeply rooted in the Biblical
Speaker 1: understanding of community and the collective pursuit in God's will.
Speaker 1: So biblical foundations we have Philippians three versus our Philippians
Speaker 1: one Versus three through five, which I just read says,
Speaker 1: I thank my God every time I remember you. In
Speaker 1: every prayer for all of you, I always pray for
Speaker 1: joy because of your partnership in the Gospel from the
Speaker 1: first Day until now. The apostle Paul expresses his joy
Speaker 1: in the partnership of Thelyppian Church, highlighting the mutual support
Speaker 1: and shared commitment to the spreading the gospel. This passage
Speaker 1: underscores the joy that comes from being united in purpose
Speaker 1: and mission. And then another verse would be Ecclesiastes four
Speaker 1: nine through ten and says two are better than one
Speaker 1: because they have a good return for their labor. For
Speaker 1: if one falls, the other will lift up his companion.
Speaker 1: But woe to him who is alone when he falls
Speaker 1: and no one and has no one to help him up.
Speaker 1: This scripture emphasizes the practical benefits and joy of partnership,
Speaker 1: illustrating how working together enhances productivity and provides mutual support.
Speaker 1: And then one Corinthians twelve, verses twelve through fourteen. The
Speaker 1: body is a unit, though it is composed of many parts.
Speaker 1: And although its parts are many, they all form one body.
Speaker 1: So it is with Christ or in one So it
Speaker 1: is with Christ for one spirit. We are all baptized
Speaker 1: into one body. Whether Jews or Greeks, slave are free,
Speaker 1: we are all given one spirit to drink. The metaphor
Speaker 1: of the Body of Christ illustrates the joy found in
Speaker 1: diverse partnership within the Church, where each member contributes uniquely
Speaker 1: to the whole. All right, so this is just all
Speaker 1: talking about joy in partnership. Okay, So in church ministry,
Speaker 1: joy and partnership can be experienced through active participation in
Speaker 1: church ministries where members collaborate to serve the community and
Speaker 1: advance the gospel. This involvement fosters a sense of belonging
Speaker 1: and share joy. Also in small groups and fellowship. Engaging
Speaker 1: in small groups or fellowship gatherings provides opportunities for believers
Speaker 1: to experience joy in partnership through prayer, study and mutual support.
Speaker 1: Small groups and fellowship would be like you know, Bible
Speaker 1: studies and things like that. Mission trips and outreachs. Participate
Speaker 1: in mission trips or outreach programs allows believers to experience
Speaker 1: the joy of working together to impact lives and communities.
Speaker 1: For christ conclusion, joy in partnership is a vital aspect
Speaker 1: of the Christian life, reflecting the communal nature of the
Speaker 1: faith and the shared pursuit of God's purposes. Through unity,
Speaker 1: mutual edification, and shared mission, believers experience a profound joy
Speaker 1: that strengthens their faith and witness. Okay, so that is
Speaker 1: going to be there, and then we already read verse six.
Speaker 1: Confidence in God's work, Paul assures the Philippians that He
Speaker 1: he who began a good work in you, will continue
Speaker 1: to continue to perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
Speaker 1: This emphasizes God's faithfulness and completing his work and believers
Speaker 1: so we could dig a little deeper into that. Confidence
Speaker 1: in God's work refers to the trust and assurance believers
Speaker 1: have in the actions, plans, and purposes of God. This
Speaker 1: confidence is rooted in the character of God as revealed
Speaker 1: in scripture, his faithfulness and his sovereign control over all creation.
Speaker 1: It is an essential aspect of faith, enabling believers to
Speaker 1: rely on God's promises and his ability to fulfill them.
Speaker 1: So I just want to go with the definition of that,
Speaker 1: all right. Now, let's go ahead and read verse nine Philippians. One.
Speaker 1: Verse nine says, and this I pray that your love
Speaker 1: may abound still more and more in knowledge and in
Speaker 1: all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent,
Speaker 1: that you may be sincere without offense till the day
Speaker 1: of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which
Speaker 1: are by Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.
Speaker 1: All right, So let's go ahead, and it says Paul,
Speaker 1: praise for the Philippians love to be abound more and
Speaker 1: more in knowledge and depths of insight, so they may
Speaker 1: discern what is best. Let me Okay, so I guess
Speaker 1: someone was coming in and out. I just want to
Speaker 1: make sure that. Yeah, the wind is really battering on guess,
Speaker 1: so you might be hearing some background noise, but it's
Speaker 1: it's all right, it's all right. So we were just
Speaker 1: talking about verses nine and ten, where it says and this,
Speaker 1: I pray that your love may abound still more and
Speaker 1: more in knowledge and all discernment, and that you may
Speaker 1: approve the things that are excellent, that you may be
Speaker 1: sincere without offense to the day of Christ, being filled
Speaker 1: with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ,
Speaker 1: to the glory and praise of God. If I reread
Speaker 1: that right now, I apologize. I'm just kind of got
Speaker 1: stopped there. But anyways, so the power of prayer, let's
Speaker 1: look a little more into that. So the prayer is
Speaker 1: a fundamental aspect of the Christian faith, serving as a
Speaker 1: means of communication between believers in God. It is both
Speaker 1: the privilege and responsibility, offering believers the opportunity to express
Speaker 1: their adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication. The power of prayer
Speaker 1: is a reoccurring theme throughout the Bible demi in its
Speaker 1: ability to affect change, provide comfort, and deepen one's relationship
Speaker 1: with God, and the Bible is a replete with examples
Speaker 1: and teachings of the power of prayer, and the Old
Speaker 1: Testament prayers depicted as a powerful tool used by the
Speaker 1: faithful to seek God's intervention. For instance, one Kings eighteen
Speaker 1: thirty six through thirty nine, Paul's prayer on Mount Carmel
Speaker 1: results in God's sending fire from heaven, demonstrating his power
Speaker 1: and affirming Eliza's prophetic authority. Similarly, in Second Chronicles seven,
Speaker 1: verse fourteen, God promises Solomon that if his people humble themselves, pray,
Speaker 1: seek His face, and turn from their wicked ways, he
Speaker 1: will hear from heaven and heal their land. In the
Speaker 1: New Testament, Jesus Christ emphasizes the importance and efficiency of prayer.
Speaker 1: In Matthew seven seven through eight, he encourages his followers saying,
Speaker 1: ask and it will be given to you. Seek and
Speaker 1: you will find knocked, and the door will be open.
Speaker 1: For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds and
Speaker 1: to him who knocks the door will be open. Right. So,
Speaker 1: in conclusion, the power of prayer is a profound and
Speaker 1: dynamic force in the life of a believer. Through prayer,
Speaker 1: Christians can experience God's presence, receive his guidance, and witness
Speaker 1: his transformative power in the lives and the world around them.
Speaker 1: The Bible consistently affirms that prayer, when offered in faith
Speaker 1: in accordance with God's will, has the power to bring
Speaker 1: about significant change and deepen one's relationship with the Creator. Right,
Speaker 1: And like I always say, prayer is amazing. And it's
Speaker 1: also we're blessed to even be able to pray to God,
Speaker 1: you know, because we have Jesus as our mediator. Okay, perfect, Now,
Speaker 1: let's go ahead and kind of do a recap of
Speaker 1: Versus three through eleven. Philippians three through eleven is Paul's
Speaker 1: expression of profound joy and gratitude for Thelyppian Church, thanking
Speaker 1: God for their partnership in the Gospel even as he's imprisoned,
Speaker 1: and praying that their love will grow in knowledge and discernment,
Speaker 1: leading to pure, blameless living filled with fruits of righteousness
Speaker 1: that bring glory to God. The core meaning centers on
Speaker 1: God's faithfulness to complete the good work he started in them,
Speaker 1: encouraging believers to find joy and maturity in Christ amidst trials,
Speaker 1: knowing their lives produce spiritual fruit. In verses three through five,
Speaker 1: Paul gives thanks to the Philippians consistent support and partnership
Speaker 1: in spreading the Gospel from the very beginning, a source
Speaker 1: of deep joy for him confidence in God's work, and
Speaker 1: verse six, he is confident that God, who began a
Speaker 1: good work in them, will faithfully carry it on the
Speaker 1: completion by the day of Christ Jesus. And then in
Speaker 1: verse seven, Paul sees them as sharing in God's grace
Speaker 1: with him, both in the imprisonment and defending the Gospel,
Speaker 1: highlighting their spiritual bond. And then in verses nineth through
Speaker 1: all prayer for spiritual growth, he prays he praise their
Speaker 1: love will overflow with knowledge and depth of insight, which
Speaker 1: is discernment, also discerning what is best. This wise love
Speaker 1: helps them discern what is best and approve excellent things
Speaker 1: purity and blamelessness. Their goal is to be pure and
Speaker 1: blameless for the day of Christ and then fruits of righteousness.
Speaker 1: Ultimately they'll be filled with the fruit of righteousness that
Speaker 1: comes through Jesus Christ, bringing praise and glory to God.
Speaker 1: So basically, Paul is saying, thank you for sticking with
Speaker 1: me in the Gospel. I'm so happy for you and
Speaker 1: praying that your love for God and others grow to
Speaker 1: be super wise so you can tell what's truly good
Speaker 1: and live pure lives, producing good actions fruits that make
Speaker 1: God God look amazing. That's in simple terms, right, all right,
Speaker 1: here we go perfect. Now, let's go ahead and go
Speaker 1: to verses twelve through eighteen. Christ is preached, So we'll
Speaker 1: start out by reading verses twelve through fourteen, and then
Speaker 1: I have some notes, and then we'll read fifteen through
Speaker 1: eighteen after that. So Christ has preached, it says in
Speaker 1: verse twelve. But I want you to know, brethren, that
Speaker 1: the things which happen to me have actually turned out
Speaker 1: to be furtherance of the Gospel. So that has become
Speaker 1: evident to the whole palace guard and to all the
Speaker 1: rest that my chains are in Christ, and most of
Speaker 1: the brethren and the Lord, having become confident in my chains,
Speaker 1: have much more bold to speak the word without fear.
Speaker 1: So Paul is Basically, he's advancing the Gospel through adversity here, right,
Speaker 1: even though he's in chains, he's still trying to further
Speaker 1: the Gospel, which is awesome. So Paul shares his imprisonment
Speaker 1: has actually served as an advanced served to advance the gospel,
Speaker 1: demonstrate that God can use any situation for his glory. Right.
Speaker 1: The theme of advancing the Gospel through adversity as a
Speaker 1: profound and reoccurring motif throughout the Bible. It underscores the
Speaker 1: belief that God hold on real quickly. We just highlight
Speaker 1: the sermon where I'm at. The belief that God can
Speaker 1: use challenging circumstances to further his divine purposes and spread
Speaker 1: the message of salvation. This concept is vividly illustrated in
Speaker 1: the lives of biblical figures in early Church, demonstrating that
Speaker 1: trials and tribulations can serve as catalysts for the growth
Speaker 1: of the dissemination of the gospel. Biblical examples Joseph. The
Speaker 1: account of Joseph in the Book of Genesis a classic
Speaker 1: example of God using adversity to fulfill his plans. Sold
Speaker 1: into slavery by his brothers and later in prison in Egypt,
Speaker 1: Joseph's trials ultimately positioned him to save many lives during
Speaker 1: a severe famine. His rise to power in Egypt allowed
Speaker 1: him to provide for his family and debserve the lineage
Speaker 1: through which the Messiah would come. Joseph himself recognized God's
Speaker 1: hand in suffering, saying, you intended to harm me, but
Speaker 1: God intended it for good to accomplish what is now
Speaker 1: being done, the saving of many lives. And then the
Speaker 1: Early Church, the persecution of the early churches, recording the
Speaker 1: Book of Acts, signifying a significant role of spreading the Gospel.
Speaker 1: After the Mardam of Stephen, a great persecution broke out,
Speaker 1: causing the Church in Jerusalem and causing broke out against
Speaker 1: the Church of Jerusalem, causing believers to scatter and to
Speaker 1: sorry to scatter. After the Martin of Stephen, a great
Speaker 1: persecution caused the Church to scatter throughout Juday and Samaria.
Speaker 1: The dispersion led to the wider proclamation of the Gospel,
Speaker 1: as noted in Acts eight, verse four, and then the
Speaker 1: apostle Paul also in his ministry, is a testament to
Speaker 1: advancing the Gospel through adversity. Despite facing numerous hardships, including
Speaker 1: an imprisonment and shipwrecks, Paul remains steadfast in his mission.
Speaker 1: In his letter to the Philippians, written from prison, Paul
Speaker 1: expresses how his imprisonment has served to advance the Gospel. Now,
Speaker 1: I want you to know, brothers, that my circumstances have
Speaker 1: actually served to advance the Gospel, and his wavering faith
Speaker 1: and perseverance inspired others to preach the Gospel with boldness.
Speaker 1: So in conclusion, for contemporary believers, the principle of advancing
Speaker 1: the Gospel through adversity offers both encouragement and challenge. It
Speaker 1: calls Christians to view their trials as opportunities for witness
Speaker 1: and growth, trusting that God can use them even for
Speaker 1: the most difficult circumstances for his for his glory. It
Speaker 1: also serves as a reminder of the importance of resilience
Speaker 1: and faithfulness in the face of opposition, as the Gospel
Speaker 1: continues to spread through the lives and testimonies of those
Speaker 1: who endure hardship for the sake of Christ. All right, perfect, guys,
Speaker 1: so let me just go ahead and continue reading here.
Speaker 1: Now we're in Philippians one verse fifteen. As some indeed
Speaker 1: preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also
Speaker 1: from goodwill. The former preached Christ from selfish ambition, not
Speaker 1: sincerely supposing to add affliction to my chains, but the
Speaker 1: latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for
Speaker 1: the defense of the Gospel. What then, only that in
Speaker 1: every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ has preached,
Speaker 1: And in this I will rejoice, Yes, i will rejoice.
Speaker 1: Give me one second here, I'm just gonna pause this,
Speaker 1: all right, Yes, thank you guys, Sorry about that, guys.
Speaker 1: You know you guys know I try to do my
Speaker 1: best not to posit, but just had some visitors, so
Speaker 1: I just wanted to make sure that what we walk
Speaker 1: them out. But anyways, are that you know they got
Speaker 1: out of without being too loud on here. But anyway,
Speaker 1: so we read from twelve through eighteen. All right, So
Speaker 1: let me just go ahead and me pull my teaching
Speaker 1: points up again real quick. So read twenty oney, okay, perfect,
Speaker 1: So let me just go over a brief descriptions that
Speaker 1: we read Philippians one twelve through eighteen means that the
Speaker 1: apostle Paul views his imprisonment not as a setback, but
Speaker 1: as an unexpected opportunity that has significantly advanced the Gospel
Speaker 1: in Rome, making it known throughout the Imperial Guard, and
Speaker 1: bolding other believers to preach Christ more boldly, even while
Speaker 1: some preach from rivalry, finding joy because Christ is proclaimed
Speaker 1: in all situations, whether sincere or not. The core message
Speaker 1: is finding divine purpose and joy and suffering for the
Speaker 1: sake of Christ's kingdom, demonstrating God's sovereignty, and turning obstacles
Speaker 1: into Gospel opportunities. Key meanings Gospel advancement. In verses twelve
Speaker 1: through thirteen, Paul's chains make his situation known, allowing the
Speaker 1: Gospel to reach the Guards, the Imperial the Emperor's at leads,
Speaker 1: and others in the Palace, an audience he would have
Speaker 1: he wouldn't have had otherwise increased boldness. Seeing Paul's courageous
Speaker 1: endurance in prison has encouraged many fellow believers to speak
Speaker 1: God's word more fearlessly, and then mixed motives and ministry
Speaker 1: and verses fifteen through eighteen, God's will goodwill sorry. Some
Speaker 1: preach Christ out of genuine love, knowing Paul is defending
Speaker 1: the gospel, rivalry and envy. Others preach Christ out of
Speaker 1: self ass ambition, hoping to cause Paul trouble in his confinement,
Speaker 1: rejoicing in all circumstances. In verse eighteen, Paul's ultimate point
Speaker 1: is that he rejoices and will rejoice because, regardless of
Speaker 1: the preachers impure or pure motives, Christ is proclaimed, which
Speaker 1: fulfills God's purposes. The overall theme, Paul teaches that difficult
Speaker 1: situations like his imprisonment aren't roadblocks, but divine setups for
Speaker 1: God's glory, revealing his power and expanding his message. A
Speaker 1: lesson for the Philippians and us to find joy and
Speaker 1: purpose even in adversity. Okay, so now let's go and
Speaker 1: continue reading Philippians one verse nineteen. For I know that
Speaker 1: this is to live is Christ. For I know that
Speaker 1: this will turn out to be a deliverance through your
Speaker 1: prayer and the supply of the spirit of Jesus Christ,
Speaker 1: according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing
Speaker 1: I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness as always
Speaker 1: so now also Christ will be magnified in my body,
Speaker 1: whether by life or by death. For to me, to
Speaker 1: live is Christ, and to die is Gain. But if
Speaker 1: I live in the flesh, this will mean fruit for
Speaker 1: my labor Yet what I shall what shall I choose?
Speaker 1: I cannot tell. What I shall choose, I cannot tell well,
Speaker 1: for I am hard pressed between the two, having a
Speaker 1: desire to depart and to be with Christ, which is
Speaker 1: far better. Nevertheless, to remain in the flesh is more
Speaker 1: needful for you. And being confident of this, I know
Speaker 1: that I shall remain and continue with all of your
Speaker 1: progress and joy of faith that you're rejoicing for me
Speaker 1: may be abundant in Christ, Jesus by my coming to
Speaker 1: you again. Okay. So in verse twenty one, Paul declares
Speaker 1: for to me, to live is Christ and to die
Speaker 1: is Gain, illustrating the ultimate purpose and hope found in Christ.
Speaker 1: So living for Christ refers to the commitment and lifestyle
Speaker 1: of a believer who seeks to emulate the life and
Speaker 1: teachings of Jesus Christ in every aspect of their daily existence.
Speaker 1: This involves the transformation of character, priorities, and actions to
Speaker 1: align with the principles and commands found in Scripture. It
Speaker 1: is a holistic approach to faith that encompasses spiritual growth,
Speaker 1: moral integrity, and active service. To call to live for
Speaker 1: Christ's rooted in the New Testament, where believers are encouraged
Speaker 1: to follow the example of Jesus. In Galatians two, verse twenty,
Speaker 1: the apostle Paul declares, I have been crucified with Christ,
Speaker 1: and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.
Speaker 1: The life I now live in the body. I live
Speaker 1: by faith in the Son, Son of God, who loved
Speaker 1: me and gave himself up for me. This person encapsulates
Speaker 1: the essence of living for Christ, dying to self and
Speaker 1: allowing Christ to live through the believer. Okay, so we
Speaker 1: have transformation and renewal. Living for Christ involves the transformation
Speaker 1: of the mind and heart. Romans twelve, verse two says,
Speaker 1: do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed
Speaker 1: by the renewing of your mind. Obedience is a fundamental
Speaker 1: aspect of living for Christ. Jesus said in John fourteen fifteen,
Speaker 1: if you love me, you will keep my commandments and
Speaker 1: then bearing fruit. A life live for Christ is marked
Speaker 1: by bearing spiritual fruit. In John fifteen to five, Jesus states,
Speaker 1: I am the vine. You are the branches. The one
Speaker 1: who remains in me, and I and him will bear
Speaker 1: much fruit. Okay. From apart from me, you can do nothing.
Speaker 1: The fruit of the spirit as outlined in Galatians five
Speaker 1: twenty two through twenty three, includes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,
Speaker 1: and self control. Okay, So in conclusion, while there is
Speaker 1: no conclusion to this entry, it is understood that living
Speaker 1: for Christ is a lifelong journey of faith marked by growth, service,
Speaker 1: and devotion to the Savior. Okay, very important, all right,
Speaker 1: and then we haven't read verse twenty seven yet, but
Speaker 1: we'll go over a brief description of these verses. So
Speaker 1: Philippians one nineteen through twenty six means the apostle Paul
Speaker 1: finds joy and purpose in his imprisonment. Trusting God's Spirit
Speaker 1: will bring deliverance, either release or strength. So Christ is
Speaker 1: honored whether through his life or death. Viewing death as
Speaker 1: gain being with Christ but remaining excuse me, but remaining
Speaker 1: in the flesh is necessary for the Philippians faith growth.
Speaker 1: Declaring to live is Christ and to die is gain.
Speaker 1: Prioritizing faithful labor in Christ's magnification above personal comfort or
Speaker 1: even itself. The key themes deliverance through the Spirit. In
Speaker 1: verse nineteen, Paul is confident that through the prayers of
Speaker 1: the Philippians and the help of the spirit, God will
Speaker 1: deliver him, meaning vindicate him or provide strength to Christ
Speaker 1: is magnified. Christ's magnified in all circumstances, Verse twenty. His
Speaker 1: hope is hope that Christ will be honored in his body,
Speaker 1: not disgrace, whether he lives or dies, showing the ultimate
Speaker 1: devotion to live is Christ. To die is gains. This
Speaker 1: famous line means his life, his life's purpose is Christ,
Speaker 1: and death offers the ultimate gain of being with Christ,
Speaker 1: which he considers far better. First fruit labor in flesh
Speaker 1: twenty two through twenty four, Verses twenty two through twenty four.
Speaker 1: Remaining alive means continued ministry producing fruit for others, which
Speaker 1: means him lean towards staying even though death is desirable,
Speaker 1: and then purpose for others Verses twenty five through twenty six.
Speaker 1: Paul continued presence serves as the Philippian's spiritual progress, joy
Speaker 1: and faith and reasons to glory in Christ Jesus. In
Speaker 1: simple terms, Paul is in jail but not worried. He
Speaker 1: trusts God to turn his bad situation into something good.
Speaker 1: He loved to die and go to Heaven, that's gain,
Speaker 1: but he'd gladly stay alive and keep working to help
Speaker 1: others grow in faith so they can praise Jesus more
Speaker 1: his whole life, living or dying, and making Jesus look great.
Speaker 1: All right, So let's go in and continue reading. We
Speaker 1: have strife and suffering for Christ. Philippians one, verse twenty seven.
Speaker 1: Only let your conduct be worthy of the Gospel of Christ,
Speaker 1: so that whether I come and see you or am absent,
Speaker 1: I might hear of your affairs, that you may stand
Speaker 1: fast in one spirit, with one mind, striving together for
Speaker 1: the faith of the Gospel, and not in any way
Speaker 1: terrified by the advers adversaries, which is to them proof
Speaker 1: of perdition, but to you of salvation that from God.
Speaker 1: For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ,
Speaker 1: not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer
Speaker 1: for his sake, having the same confid which you saw
Speaker 1: in me. And now here is in me. Okay, so
Speaker 1: and now here is in me? All right? So in
Speaker 1: Philippians one twenty seven, Paul declares for to me to
Speaker 1: live or sorry, Paul, or just the Philippines to conduct
Speaker 1: themselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel, standing firm
Speaker 1: in one spirit and striving together to the faith and
Speaker 1: unity is a central theme in the Christian faith, emphasizing
Speaker 1: the oneness of believers in Christ. The Bible underscores the
Speaker 1: importance of unity among God's people, reflecting the unity of
Speaker 1: the Trinity the New Testament. The apostle Paul frequently addresses
Speaker 1: the concept of unity within the church. In a Phesians four,
Speaker 1: verse three through six, Paul exhorts believers making every effort
Speaker 1: to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond
Speaker 1: of peace. All right, So I want to get too
Speaker 1: into that. Christian conduct is the outward expression of inward
Speaker 1: transformation brought about by faith in Christ. The Bible provides
Speaker 1: clear guidelines on how believers are to conduct themselves, synthesizing holiness, love,
Speaker 1: and service, and one Peter one fifteen through sixteen. Believers
Speaker 1: are called to be holy in your conduct, for it
Speaker 1: is written, be holy because I Am Holy. This call
Speaker 1: to holiness reflects the character of God and sets believers
Speaker 1: apart from the world all right. In summary, unity and
Speaker 1: conduct are intertwined in Christian life. Unity is the foundation
Speaker 1: upon which believers build their conduct and build their conduct,
Speaker 1: and their conduct in turn strengthens and maintains unity within
Speaker 1: the body of Christ though unity and godly conduct. Through
Speaker 1: unity and godly conduct, Christians bear witness to the transformative
Speaker 1: power of the Gospel. All right, So brief description of
Speaker 1: verses twenty seven through third Philippians one twenty seventy to
Speaker 1: thirty means Christians should live like citizens of Heaven, united
Speaker 1: in spirit, courageously contending for the Gospel truth, without fear
Speaker 1: or persecution, understanding that suffering for Christ is in a
Speaker 1: punishment but a gift and privilege, a sign of God's
Speaker 1: saving grace for believers and impending judgment for opponent's mirroring
Speaker 1: Paul's own struggles. It's a call for consistent, courageous, unified,
Speaker 1: and humble living that reflects Christ's character even amidst hardships.
Speaker 1: Seeing suffering is a way to share his work, share
Speaker 1: in his work Verse twenty seven. Your daily conducts should
Speaker 1: reflect your true citizenship in God's kingdom, not earthly ones,
Speaker 1: embodying humility, love and service. Verse twenty seven b The
Speaker 1: united standing, firm and unity, be united in purpose, one spirit,
Speaker 1: one mind, working together for the Gospel's sake, not fragmented.
Speaker 1: Verse twenty eight. Don't be intimidated by opposition in your
Speaker 1: steadfast is a powerful witness, showing opponents their ultimate destruction
Speaker 1: and believers their salvation. In verse twenty nine, God grants
Speaker 1: their special privilege not just to believe in Christ, but
Speaker 1: also to suffer for Him, a grace shown through shared struggle.
Speaker 1: And in verse thirty, recognize that the opposition you face
Speaker 1: is the same kind of that Paul face, solidifying your
Speaker 1: place in Christ's ongoing witness in that since Paul tells
Speaker 1: the Philippians to be unified courageous examples of Christian living,
Speaker 1: doing hardship as a divine opportunity to display God's grace
Speaker 1: and advance the gospel, even when it means enduring suffering
Speaker 1: alongside Paul. All right, perfect, Let's go to some practical
Speaker 1: applications for Philippians. One, we have cultivate community. Engage actively
Speaker 1: in your church or small group, recognizing the importance of
Speaker 1: partnership in the gospel. Next, trust in God's faithfulness. Reflect
Speaker 1: on areas of your life where you need to trust
Speaker 1: God to complete his work in you. Next, we have
Speaker 1: pray with purpose. Incorporate Paul's prayer for love and discernment
Speaker 1: into your daily prayer life. Next, we have embraced challenges.
Speaker 1: View difficulties as opportunities for the Gospel to advance, trusting
Speaker 1: that God can use all circumstances for his purposes. Next,
Speaker 1: we have lived with purpose. Evaluate your life priorities to
Speaker 1: ensure that they align with the statement to live is Christ.
Speaker 1: And then we have promote unity. Seek to build unity
Speaker 1: within the Christian community. Focus on shared faith and purpose.
Speaker 1: And let's go over some additional scriptures that connect to
Speaker 1: Philippians one. We have Romans eight twenty eight, which reinforces
Speaker 1: the idea that God works all things for the good
Speaker 1: of those who love him. One Corinthians one, verse nine
Speaker 1: highlights God's faithfulness in calling believers into fellowship with his son.
Speaker 1: Philippians four one through three courges believers to live a
Speaker 1: life worthy of their calling, emphasizing unity and peace. And
Speaker 1: then we have two Timothy eight and nine. It calls
Speaker 1: believers to not be ashamed of the testimony of the Lord,
Speaker 1: even in suffering. All right, so perfect, Now, let's go
Speaker 1: ahead and go to Philippians two. We're gonna go over
Speaker 1: a Philippians two introduction. Let's do that real quick, okay, perfect. So,
Speaker 1: Philippians two is a chapter from the Apostle Paul's letter
Speaker 1: to the early Christian community in Philippi. It provides an
Speaker 1: inspiring exploration of humility, service, unity, and example set by
Speaker 1: Jesus Christ. It serves as a road app for living
Speaker 1: a Christ's centered life and underlines the importance of humility
Speaker 1: and unity for effective Christian witness. The historical setting Philippi
Speaker 1: was a Roman colony inhabited largely by a retired soldiers
Speaker 1: Roman culture prize status. Paul's message of Christ self empty
Speaker 1: in class with the local honor system. Writing from imprisonment, Paul,
Speaker 1: thanks the generous yet persecuted church. All right, let me
Speaker 1: just get to the teaching points here, all right, Philippians two,
Speaker 1: Unity through humility Philippians two, Verse one. Therefore there is, therefore,
Speaker 1: if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort
Speaker 1: of love, if any fellowship of the spirit, if any
Speaker 1: affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like minded,
Speaker 1: having the same love of one accord of one mind.
Speaker 1: Let nothing be done through selfless ambition or conceit, but
Speaker 1: in loneliness of mind. Let each esteem others before themselves.
Speaker 1: Let each of you look out not only for your
Speaker 1: own interests, but also for the interest of others. Okay,
Speaker 1: so we have unity and humility here. Well, excuse me.
Speaker 1: So Paul begins by urging the Philippians to be like minded,
Speaker 1: having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.
Speaker 1: Unity in the body of Christ is essential, and it
Speaker 1: is achieved through humility and selflessness. So let's go ahead
Speaker 1: and click that. So unity, it's a central theme in
Speaker 1: the Bible, reflecting the oneness of God and his desire
Speaker 1: for his people to live in harmony. The concept of
Speaker 1: unity is rooted in the nature of God himself, as
Speaker 1: seen of the shamal here O Israel, the Lord, our God,
Speaker 1: The Lord is one Deuteronomy six, verse four. This oneness
Speaker 1: is reflected in the call for unity among believers that
Speaker 1: are in the mirror of the unity the Father, the Son,
Speaker 1: and the Holy Spirit. In the New Testament, Jesus prays
Speaker 1: for the unity of his followers. I have given them
Speaker 1: to the glory you gave me, so that you may
Speaker 1: be one as we are one, so that they may
Speaker 1: be one as we are one. John seventeen twenty two.
Speaker 1: This prayer underscores the importance of unity as a testimony
Speaker 1: to the world of God's love and truth. The apostle
Speaker 1: Paul further emphasizes this in his letters, urging believers to
Speaker 1: maintain the unity of the spirit. Hsians four, verse three says,
Speaker 1: make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit
Speaker 1: through the bond of peace and then. Humility is a
Speaker 1: virtue highly esteemed in scripture, often linked with wisdom and
Speaker 1: the fear of the Lord. It involves a proper understanding
Speaker 1: of one's position before God and others, characterized by a
Speaker 1: lack of pride and self exaltation. Proverbs twenty two four
Speaker 1: states the reward of humility and the fear of the
Speaker 1: Lord are wealth and honor and life, highlighting the blessings
Speaker 1: that accompany a humble spirit. Jesus Christ is the ultimate
Speaker 1: example of humility, and Philippians two, verses five through eight,
Speaker 1: Paul describes Christ's humility. Let this mind be in you,
Speaker 1: which is also in Christ. Jesus, who existed in the
Speaker 1: form of God, did not consider equality with God something
Speaker 1: to be grasped, but emptied himself taken the form of
Speaker 1: a servant, being made in human likeness and being found
Speaker 1: in appearance as a man. He humbled his self and
Speaker 1: became obedient till death, even death on a cross. This
Speaker 1: pastors caused believers to emulate Christ's humility and their relationship
Speaker 1: with one another. In summary, unity and humility are intertwined
Speaker 1: virtues that we the character of God and the teachings
Speaker 1: of Christ that are foundational for the life and witness
Speaker 1: of the Church, enabling believers to live in harmony and
Speaker 1: serve one another in love. Okay, perfect, So let's go.
Speaker 1: Let's go ahead and do a brief description of what
Speaker 1: we read. Philippians one, two, one through four is a
Speaker 1: powerful call for Christian unity, urging believers to act with humility, selflessness,
Speaker 1: mutual consideration. Inspired by Christ's example. Paul tells them to
Speaker 1: have one mind, one love, one spirit, one purpose, avoiding
Speaker 1: selfless ambition and vain conceit, instead valuing others above yourselves
Speaker 1: and looking out for each other, looking out for each
Speaker 1: other's needs, not just for their own. This unity stems
Speaker 1: from their share blessings in Christ like comfort, love, spirit, fellowship,
Speaker 1: and mercy unity in Christ verses one and two. Because
Speaker 1: they share Christ's encouragement, love, spirit, compassion, they should be
Speaker 1: united in thought, love, and purpose. In verse three, believers
Speaker 1: should drop self centered motives, rivalry, and empty pride vain conceit.
Speaker 1: Vers Also in verse three, a core command is in humility,
Speaker 1: count themselves more significant than others, seeing others as more important.
Speaker 1: And then in verse four, instead of focusing on personal gain,
Speaker 1: Christians said, actively look out for the interests and needs
Speaker 1: of others. The passage sets the stage for verses five
Speaker 1: through eleven, where Paul explains that Christ's self is humble
Speaker 1: sacrifices the ultimate model for this attitude. Okay, so let's
Speaker 1: go ahead, and let's go ahead and continue reading. It
Speaker 1: says the humbled and exalted Christ, this mind be in you,
Speaker 1: which was also in Christ Jesus. This is a we're
Speaker 1: starting at Philippians two. Verse five. It said, let this
Speaker 1: mind be in you, which was also in Christ. Jesus, who,
Speaker 1: being in the form of God, did not consider it
Speaker 1: robbery to be equal with God, but made himself no reputation,
Speaker 1: taking the form of a bond servant and coming in
Speaker 1: the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man,
Speaker 1: he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death,
Speaker 1: even the death of the cross. Therefore, God also highly
Speaker 1: exalted him, giving him the name which is above every
Speaker 1: name than in the name of Jesus, every knee should bow,
Speaker 1: and those in heaven, and of those on earth and
Speaker 1: those under the earth, that every tongue should confess that
Speaker 1: Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the
Speaker 1: fe Okay, so this is very important obviously, right. So
Speaker 1: something I think is interesting is they're talking about everybody
Speaker 1: in heaven. Okay, this is covering every knee that's ever
Speaker 1: touched the earth, every knee in heaven, every knee on Earth,
Speaker 1: and every knee under the earth in shield. That's what
Speaker 1: I think is so awesome about this verse. It lets
Speaker 1: you know that every knee will bow that are on earth,
Speaker 1: everybody that's in heaven. It's covering every knee, and that's
Speaker 1: what it's talking about. And it's interesting that it says
Speaker 1: under the earth, right to those in heaven, to those
Speaker 1: on earth, and those under the earth meaning in the earth,
Speaker 1: which means they are in shield. Which obviously there used
Speaker 1: to be two sides before there was Abraham's Bosom on
Speaker 1: one side and then you had shield on the other side. Right,
Speaker 1: So we got to understand that now we just have
Speaker 1: shield there and it's hell. It's in the earth, that's
Speaker 1: where it's located. So I think that's very interesting. And
Speaker 1: also it says, therefore God has highly exalted him and
Speaker 1: given him the name which is above every name, that
Speaker 1: in the name of Jesus, every knee should bow to bow. Right,
Speaker 1: So I think that every knee should bow to the
Speaker 1: name of Jesus, every knee should bow of those in heaven. Okay. So,
Speaker 1: and then I think it's also interesting that it says,
Speaker 1: we're just talking about how Jesus made himself no reputation,
Speaker 1: taking the form of a bond servant, right as a servant,
Speaker 1: and come in the likeness of man, meaning he wasn't man. Right,
Speaker 1: he's coming in the likeness of man, right, which means
Speaker 1: before he wasn't man right, because you know, I believe
Speaker 1: it's God in the flesh and being found in appearance
Speaker 1: as a man. So he's it, and say that he
Speaker 1: is a man. It says that he is being found
Speaker 1: in appearance as a man, meaning he comes down in
Speaker 1: human form. He humbled himself and became obedient to the
Speaker 1: point of death, even the death of the cross. Right,
Speaker 1: So let's go ahead and check out my notes. It
Speaker 1: says verses five through eight highlight the ultimate example of
Speaker 1: humility and obedience in Christ and Jesus Christ, who emptied
Speaker 1: himself taking the form of a servant Philippians two, verse seven.
Speaker 1: His willingness to humble himself even to the point of
Speaker 1: death on the cross is a model for Christian behavior.
Speaker 1: Sigal Deeper. It says, the life and teachings of Jesus
Speaker 1: Christ serve as the ultimate example for Christians, embodying the
Speaker 1: principles of love, humility, obedience, and sacrifice. Excuse me. The
Speaker 1: New Testament provides a comprehensive account of his actions and
Speaker 1: words that are foundational for Christian ethics and conduct. Compassion.
Speaker 1: Central to Christ's example is his love and compassion for humanity.
Speaker 1: John thirteen thirty four through thirty five. Jesus commands a
Speaker 1: new commandment. I give you love one another as I
Speaker 1: have loved you, so that you may also, so that
Speaker 1: you may so you also must love one another. By this,
Speaker 1: everyone will know that you are my disciples if you
Speaker 1: love one another. His interactions with individuals from all walks
Speaker 1: of life, including marginalized and sinners, demonstrate his boundless love
Speaker 1: and mercy. Mercy the Parable of the Good Samaritan Luke
Speaker 1: ten twenty five through thirty seven further illustrates the call
Speaker 1: to love one's neighbors without prejudice, humility, and service. Christ's
Speaker 1: humility is exemplified in his incarnation and earthly ministry. Philippians two,
Speaker 1: verses five through eight states we just read it let
Speaker 1: this mind be in you, which also in Christ. Jesus,
Speaker 1: who existed in the form of God, did not consider
Speaker 1: requality with God something to be grasped, but emptied himself,
Speaker 1: taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness,
Speaker 1: and being found as appearance of a man. He humble
Speaker 1: self and became obedient to death, even death on a cross.
Speaker 1: Jesus washing of his disciples feet in John thirteen one
Speaker 1: through seven is a profound act of service, teaching that
Speaker 1: true greatness and the Kingdom of God is found in
Speaker 1: serving others. And then we have obedience to the fathers
Speaker 1: another thing. Jesus's life was marked by perfect obedience to
Speaker 1: the will of the Father. In John six thirty eight,
Speaker 1: all right and sacrifice and redemption. The sacrificial nature of
Speaker 1: Christ's mission essential to his example. His death on the
Speaker 1: cross is the ultimate act of love, and redemption is
Speaker 1: described in Romans five, verse eight. But God proves his
Speaker 1: love for us. In this while we were still sinners,
Speaker 1: Christ died for us. This selfless act provides the means
Speaker 1: for salvation and calls believers to live sacrificially for others.
Speaker 1: In Matthew sixteen twenty four, Jesus instructs, if anyone would
Speaker 1: come after me, he must deny himself and take up
Speaker 1: his cross and follow me. So in conclusion, the example
Speaker 1: of Christ is a comprehensive guide for Christian living, encompassing love, humility, obedience, sacrifice, forgiveness,
Speaker 1: and faith. His life and teachings continue to inspire, the
Speaker 1: challenge and challenge believers to reflect his character in their
Speaker 1: daily lives. And then we also have the exaltation of
Speaker 1: Christ in verse nine. Because of his obedience, God exalted
Speaker 1: him to the highest place and gave him the name
Speaker 1: above all names Palyippians two, verse nine. This demonstrates that
Speaker 1: true exultation comes through humility and submission to God's will.
Speaker 1: The exaltation of Christ is a central theme in Christian theology,
Speaker 1: referring to the glorification and honor bestowed upon Jesus Christ
Speaker 1: following his earthly ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection. This exaltation encompasses
Speaker 1: his resurrection, ascension, and his current reign at the right
Speaker 1: hand of the God the Father. It signifies the divine
Speaker 1: approval and authority granted to Christ, affirming his identity as
Speaker 1: the son of God and the fulfillment of his redemptive work.
Speaker 1: The resurrection of Jesus's foundational event marked in the beginning
Speaker 1: of the exaltation. According to the scriptures, God raised Jesus
Speaker 1: from the dead on the third Day, demonstrating his victory
Speaker 1: over sin and death. The apostle Paul emphasizes this in
Speaker 1: his letter to the Romans. He was delivered over to
Speaker 1: death for our trespasses and was raised to life for
Speaker 1: our justification Romans four, verse twenty five. Ascension. Following his resurrection,
Speaker 1: Jesus ascended into heaven, an event that further signifies let me,
Speaker 1: an event that further signifies his exaltation. The ascension is
Speaker 1: recorded in Acts one nine through eleven, where Jesus is
Speaker 1: taken up before the eyes of his disciples and a
Speaker 1: cloud hides him from their sight. This event marks the
Speaker 1: trends position from his earthly ministry to his heavenly reign.
Speaker 1: The essentiy the ascension is a fulfillment of the prophecy
Speaker 1: found in Psalms one to ten, verse one, the Lord
Speaker 1: said to my Lord, sit in my right hand until
Speaker 1: I make your enemies a footstool for your feet. This
Speaker 1: verse frequently excided. This verse is frequently cited in the
Speaker 1: New Testament as evidence of Christ's exalted position Hebrews one,
Speaker 1: verse thirteen, seated at the right hand of God. This
Speaker 1: exaltation of Christ is further illustrated in his position at
Speaker 1: the right hand of God, a place of honor and authority.
Speaker 1: In Ephesians one twenty through twenty one, Paul writes that
Speaker 1: God raised him from the dead and seated him at
Speaker 1: his right hand in heavenly realms, far above all rule
Speaker 1: and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is named,
Speaker 1: not only in the present age but also in the
Speaker 1: one to come. This position signifies Christ's supreme authority over
Speaker 1: all creation and his role as the mediator between God
Speaker 1: and humanity, all right, intercession and rain. As the exalted Christ,
Speaker 1: Jesus serves as the high priest who intercedes for believers.
Speaker 1: Hebrews seven, verse twenty five states. Therefore, he is able
Speaker 1: to save completely those who draw near to God through him,
Speaker 1: since he always lives to intercede for them. His intercessory
Speaker 1: role is a vital aspect of his exaltation, ensuring the
Speaker 1: continual application of his redemptive work. Moreover, Christ's reign is
Speaker 1: characterized by his sovereign rule over the Church and the world.
Speaker 1: In One Corinthians fifteen twenty five, Paul declares for he
Speaker 1: must reign until he has put on all his enemies
Speaker 1: under his feet. This reign will culminate in the final subjudication,
Speaker 1: subjugation of all opposing forces, and the establishments of eternal kingdom.
Speaker 1: In summary, the exaltation of Christ encompasses his resurrection, ascension,
Speaker 1: heavenly session, intercessary work, and future return. It affirms his
Speaker 1: divine authority, the efficiency of his redemptive work, and his
Speaker 1: ongoing reign as king and Lord. Obviously, guys, that's if
Speaker 1: there's a future reign. Some of you, guys might be
Speaker 1: believing in Satan's little season. Some of you might be
Speaker 1: believing in different eschatologies than that. Maybe all millennial, maybe
Speaker 1: a predicist. Whatever. I'm just this is what the notes
Speaker 1: are saying. You know, So I believe there's a future return.
Speaker 1: That's what I believe. Currently, but you know, I'm just
Speaker 1: going off what my notes say. Okay, guys, so don't
Speaker 1: get too crazy, all right, Next, let me just go
Speaker 1: over a brief description of what we just read in
Speaker 1: verses five through eleven. Philippians five through eleven is a
Speaker 1: cornerstone New Testament passage about Christ's self emptying humility, urging
Speaker 1: believers to adopt the same selfish mindset in their own
Speaker 1: lives and relationships, culminating in Jesus's voluntary descent from divine
Speaker 1: glory to servanthood and crucifixion, following by his ultimate exaltation
Speaker 1: by God as Lord. Over All, it contrasts Christ's divine
Speaker 1: nature with his choice to become human, emphasizing that his
Speaker 1: humility wasn't a loss, but a path to ultimate glory
Speaker 1: and universal acknowledgment, serving as a model for Christian unity
Speaker 1: and service. And verses five through eight, believers are called
Speaker 1: to have the same mind as Christ, Jesus divine nature. Jesus,
Speaker 1: though God, didn't cling to his divine status, self empty
Speaker 1: in Kenosis, he emptied himself by taking the form of
Speaker 1: a servant, becoming human and obedient to death, even crucifixion.
Speaker 1: Humility and obedience he chooses. He chose a life of
Speaker 1: service and ultimate submission, even to suffering and death, Christ's exaltation.
Speaker 1: Because of his humility, God highly exalted him name above
Speaker 1: all names, given a name that commands universal worship, universal lordship.
Speaker 1: Every knee will bow, and every tongue confess Jesus as
Speaker 1: Lord to God's glory. Meaning for believers, unity and service.
Speaker 1: Live with selfless love, considering others better than yourself, just
Speaker 1: as Christ served. Emildias strength truth Strength is found in
Speaker 1: humble service, not self exaltation. Mirroring God's own character and
Speaker 1: imitating Jesus. Follow his example by stooping low to lift others.
Speaker 1: Stop stooping low to lift others, recognizing his path for
Speaker 1: humiliation to exaltation as the model for the church. All right,
Speaker 1: and we haven't read verse twelve yet, let's go ahead
Speaker 1: and do that. So second clip, second Philippians two, verse twelve,
Speaker 1: we're going to read twelve through eighteen. Light bearers. Therefore,
Speaker 1: my beloved, as you always obeyed, as you have always obeyed,
Speaker 1: not as in my presence only, but how much more
Speaker 1: in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear
Speaker 1: and trembling for It is God who works in you
Speaker 1: both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
Speaker 1: Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may
Speaker 1: have become blameless and harmless children of God, without fault,
Speaker 1: in the midst of crooked and perverse generation, among whom
Speaker 1: you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the
Speaker 1: Word of life, So that I may rejoice in the
Speaker 1: day of Christ, that I may not run in vain
Speaker 1: or labored in vain. Yes, if I am being poured
Speaker 1: out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service
Speaker 1: of your faith, I am glad, glad and rejoice with
Speaker 1: you all for the same reason, you also may be
Speaker 1: glad and rejoice with me. All right, So work out
Speaker 1: your salvation. Here, it says Paul encourages believers to work
Speaker 1: out your salvation with fear and trembling, emphasizing the importance
Speaker 1: of active faith and reliance on God's power. All right.
Speaker 1: So working out your salvation is a derive from Philippians two,
Speaker 1: verse twelve, where the apostle Paul exhorts the believers in Philippi, therefore, beloved,
Speaker 1: just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence,
Speaker 1: but not even more in my absence, continue to work
Speaker 1: out your salvation with fear and trembling. This passage has
Speaker 1: been subject of much theological reflection and discussion, particularly concerning
Speaker 1: the relationship between divine grace and human responsibility and the
Speaker 1: process of salvation. Definitely, what's the theological invocation this passion
Speaker 1: underscore is the cooperative nature of sanctification, the process by
Speaker 1: which believers are made holy, while justification, being declared righteous
Speaker 1: before God is an act of God's grace. Receiving through faith.
Speaker 1: Ephesians two verses eight through nine says, for it is
Speaker 1: God who works in you and who will act on
Speaker 1: behalf of His good purpose. Philippians two, verse thirteen. Practical
Speaker 1: application working out your salvation includes a continual process of
Speaker 1: spiritual growth and maturity. It includes cultivating virtues such as love, humility,
Speaker 1: and obedience as exemplified by Christ in preaching Versus Philippians
Speaker 1: two five through eleven. Related biblical themes we have. The
Speaker 1: concept of is consistent with other biblical teachings in Christian's life.
Speaker 1: James two verse seventeen states, so to faith by itself
Speaker 1: it does not result in action, is dead, highlighting the
Speaker 1: necessity of works as evidence of genuine faith. Similarly, two
Speaker 1: Peter two by through eight urges believers to make every
Speaker 1: effort to add to your faith virtue and to virtue,
Speaker 1: knowledge and to knowledge, self control into self control, perseverance
Speaker 1: and to perseverance. Godliness and the godliness, brotherly kindness and
Speaker 1: the brotherly kindness love, illustrating the active pursuit of spiritual growth.
Speaker 1: In summary, work out your salvation is a call to
Speaker 1: live a life that reflects the transformative power of the Gospel,
Speaker 1: relying on God's grace, which actively pursuing spiritual growth and obedience.
Speaker 1: All right, so let's see we went through that, and
Speaker 1: then we went through fifteen. Shining as lights, Christians are
Speaker 1: called to shine as lights in the world, living blameless
Speaker 1: and pure lives to reflect the character of Christ. And
Speaker 1: I'll just go over the definition of shining. The concept
Speaker 1: of shining as lights and the Christian faith is deeply
Speaker 1: rooting the teaching of the New Testament, where believers are
Speaker 1: called to be reflection of Christ's light and the world
Speaker 1: often characterized by darkness. This metaphor is primarily drawn from
Speaker 1: the Apostle Paul's exhortation and his letter to the Philippians,
Speaker 1: and has echoed through scripture, emphasizing the transformative power of
Speaker 1: living a life that reflects the character and love of
Speaker 1: Jesus Christ. Okay, I just want to go over that
Speaker 1: perfect and let me just go over a brief description
Speaker 1: of what we just read. Okay, let me just I
Speaker 1: like that. Okay, cool, Okay So. Philippians two twelve through
Speaker 1: seventeen is a call for believers to add actively live
Speaker 1: out their salvation and reflecting Christ's humility by working out
Speaker 1: their faith with fear and trembling all in reverence, doing
Speaker 1: everything without grumbling, and shining as a light in a
Speaker 1: dark world by holding onto the Word of life the gospel.
Speaker 1: It emphasizes that God works in believers to empower them
Speaker 1: while they must work out this transformation, becoming blameless, innocent,
Speaker 1: and joyful examples ultimately to God's glory and Paul's encouragement
Speaker 1: work out your salvation. This isn't about earning salvation through works,
Speaker 1: but rather bringing the eternal change God started like born again,
Speaker 1: to full completion of your daily life. God's work in you.
Speaker 1: God gives the desire and power to please Him Verse thirteen.
Speaker 1: Your role you must actively respond, bringing your faith to
Speaker 1: fruition through obedience like a sculpture finishing a masterpiece. Fear
Speaker 1: and trembling in verse twelve. This signifies a deep reverence, awe,
Speaker 1: and respect for God's holy winess and the seriousness of salvation,
Speaker 1: not paralyzing fear. It is an attitude of humility, seriousness,
Speaker 1: recognizing the weight of God's grace and work within you.
Speaker 1: No grumbling or arguing. Complaining shows discontent with God's provision
Speaker 1: and reflects a lack of faith, which is unbecoming for
Speaker 1: a Christian. Believers should be unified and content, avoiding the
Speaker 1: criticism that non believers use to dismiss faith. Shining like
Speaker 1: lights in a crooked and perverse world. Believers should be
Speaker 1: blameless and innocent, holding firmly to the Gospel, the Word
Speaker 1: of Life. Your transformed life becomes a beacon, a bright
Speaker 1: beacon demonstrating Christ's life. In offering hope to the lost.
Speaker 1: Joyful sacrifice, Paul links his practical living to the ultimate
Speaker 1: sacrifice of Christ. From Philippians two one through twelve one
Speaker 1: through eleven. Believers should offer themselves joyfully, even in hardship,
Speaker 1: as a living sacrifice, finding joy and serving God and
Speaker 1: others which pleases Him. In the light of Jesus supreme
Speaker 1: humility and exaltation. You are called to live humbly, obediently, sacrificially,
Speaker 1: reflecting His light and bringing glory to God through your
Speaker 1: transformed life and powered by Him. All right, So I'm
Speaker 1: just gonna go over these, you know, fairly quickly. Verses
Speaker 1: nineteen through thirty. Timothy commended. But I trust in the
Speaker 1: Lord Jesus has said, Timothy to you shortly, that I
Speaker 1: also maybe encourage when I know your state, For I
Speaker 1: have no onelike minded who will sincerely care for your state,
Speaker 1: for all seek their own, not in the things which
Speaker 1: are of Christ Jesus. But you know his proven character
Speaker 1: that as a son with his father, he served with
Speaker 1: me in the Gospel. Therefore I hope to send him
Speaker 1: at once as soon as I see how it goes
Speaker 1: with me. But I trust in the Lord that I
Speaker 1: myself shall also come shortly. Okay, So this is just
Speaker 1: a this is a deep trust in accommodation for his disciple,
Speaker 1: Timothy to the Philippian Church, highlighting Timothy's selfless, loyal and
Speaker 1: like minded nature and serving the gospel, contrasting him with
Speaker 1: others who seek with other interests. Paul warns wants to
Speaker 1: send Timothy to bring good news and care to the Philippians,
Speaker 1: showing an example of Christ like others, focused living, even
Speaker 1: as Paul anticipates his own potential. Martam, Okay, let me
Speaker 1: just go ahead and read Ephroditis Ephroditis Praised. This is
Speaker 1: a verse twenty five. No, yet I considered it necessary
Speaker 1: to send you to Ephriditis, my brother, to send to
Speaker 1: you Ephriditis, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, but
Speaker 1: your messenger and the one who ministered to my need,
Speaker 1: since he was longing for you all and is distressed
Speaker 1: because you had heard that he was sick. For indeed,
Speaker 1: he was sick, almost unto death. But God had mercy
Speaker 1: on him, not only on him, but on me also.
Speaker 1: Less I should have sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore I send
Speaker 1: him the more eagerly, that when you see him again,
Speaker 1: you may rejoice and I may be less sorrowful. Receive
Speaker 1: him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold
Speaker 1: such men in esteem. Because of the work of Christ.
Speaker 1: He came close to death, not regarding his life to
Speaker 1: supply what was lacking in your service toward me. Okay,
Speaker 1: I'm kind of almost a two hour mark, So don't
Speaker 1: really need to do too much breaking those down, breaking
Speaker 1: that verse down. But I'll just in simple terms, Paul
Speaker 1: tells the Philippian church, I'm sending Ephroditis back to you.
Speaker 1: He's a fantastic, selfless servant who nearly died, bringing her
Speaker 1: gifts and helping me. He was so worried about your
Speaker 1: knowing he was sick. Please welcome him home with great
Speaker 1: joy and honor. Okay, so that's kind of what it's
Speaker 1: saying that, but perfect. So let's go out and go
Speaker 1: over some practical applications. Cultivate humility is the first one.
Speaker 1: Regularly assess your attitudes and actions to ensure they align
Speaker 1: with the humility of Christ. Seek to serve others selflessly.
Speaker 1: Pursue unity. Engage in activities and conversations that promote unity
Speaker 1: within your church and community. Avoid devisive behavior and speech. Next,
Speaker 1: embrace obedience. Follow Christ's example by being obedient to God's word,
Speaker 1: even when it requires sacrifice or discomfort. Next, live out
Speaker 1: your faith. Actively engage in spiritual disciplines such as prayer,
Speaker 1: Bible study, and fellowship to grow in your faith and
Speaker 1: work out your salvation. Next, be a light. Look for
Speaker 1: opportunities to demonstrate the love and truth of Christ in
Speaker 1: your daily interactions, serving as a beacon of hope and righteousness. Perfect,
Speaker 1: let's go over some additional scriptures that connect. We have
Speaker 1: Ephesians four versus one through three, all Paul's call to
Speaker 1: live a life worthy of the calling we have received
Speaker 1: with humility and unity. And then we have Matthew five,
Speaker 1: verses fourteen through sixteen. Jesus is teaching on being the
Speaker 1: light of the world. Next we have Romans twelve, verses
Speaker 1: one through two. The call to offer our bodies is
Speaker 1: living sacrifices and be transformed by the renewing of your minds.
Speaker 1: Next we have one Peter five, verse six, the exhortation
Speaker 1: to humble ourselves under God's mighty hand. And that is
Speaker 1: the end of Philippians too. So yes, perfect, guys, ah, yes,
Speaker 1: like always, I am, yeah, feeling a little tired, but
Speaker 1: it's all right, no worries. I hope you guys enjoyed
Speaker 1: that study on spiritual warfare and you know, just just amazing.
Speaker 1: I love kind of going over this stuff. So for
Speaker 1: those that are listening that want to check out my show,
Speaker 1: it's Josh Monday Christening conspiracy podcasts and all audio platforms.
Speaker 1: And also it is gonna be Josh Monday music and
Speaker 1: podcast on YouTube. So if you want to check out
Speaker 1: my YouTube, please go there subscribe. I really appreciate it.
Speaker 1: And I'm slowly releasing the Bible studies that I've been
Speaker 1: doing on here on my show and also have tons
Speaker 1: of interviews. I got like three hundred and thirty three
Speaker 1: episodes right now currently, so I'm all the way up
Speaker 1: to three thirty three, which is crazy. But yeah, thank
Speaker 1: you guys so much for tuning in. I really appreciate it.
Speaker 1: But like I always do, I end this in prayer,
Speaker 1: so let's do that. So Father God and the name
Speaker 1: of Jesus, thank you so much for this beautiful time.
Speaker 1: Thank you for giving me the time to actually do
Speaker 1: these shows. Lord, please assist me to do these on
Speaker 1: the weekend. I keep on putting it off and end
Speaker 1: up doing it on Monday nights, which make me tired
Speaker 1: the next day for work. And please assist me Lord
Speaker 1: to give me motivated on the weekends. It's hard because
Speaker 1: I want to sleep, but hey, just please assist me
Speaker 1: Lord if you could, And anybody that's listening that's going
Speaker 1: through spiritual battles. Lord, please assist them, you know, and
Speaker 1: anything that the Devil's trying to do. Please assist us
Speaker 1: to dodge the wiles of the devil. Please assist us
Speaker 1: to dodge the wiles of the spiritual wickedness and high
Speaker 1: places or heavenly places and any of these spiritual entities
Speaker 1: that are trying to attack us. Lord, please assist us
Speaker 1: to fight against these evil demons, fallen angels, or the devil. Lord,
Speaker 1: Please thank you and anybody that's listening that's going through
Speaker 1: any alcohol problem, any drug problem, or any type of
Speaker 1: issue at all, or please ask you to spiritually step
Speaker 1: in and break those chains. In the name of Jesus. Lord,
Speaker 1: thank you for everything you do for us. We love
Speaker 1: you in Jesus' name. Amen. Yes, thank you so much
Speaker 1: for listening. That's perfect two hours, I believe and I
Speaker 1: appreciate all of you, and God bless you.