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Philippians

APRIL 30 DEVOTIONAL– PHILIPPIANS 4:14-20 Generosity

APRIL 30 – PHILIPPIANS 4:14-20

GOSPEL GENEROSITY

Today, we continue our reading plan by looking at the Philippians generosity. Paul looked on their missionary gift as an investment that would pay them rich spiritual dividends. The church entered into an arrangement of “giving and receiving”; the church gave materially to Paul, and received spiritually from the Lord. The Lord keeps the books and will never fail to pay one spiritual dividend!

Paul looked on their gift as a spiritual sacrifice, laid on the altar to the glory of God. There are such things as “spiritual sacrifices” in the Christian life (see 1 Peter 2:5). We are to yield our bodies as spiritual sacrifices (Rom. 12:1–2), as well as the praise of our lips (Heb. 13:15). Good works are a sacrifice to the Lord (Heb. 13:16), and so are the lost souls that we are privileged to win to Christ (Rom. 15:16; it is God doing the work, we are just a vessel He is using). Here, Paul sees the Philippian believers as priests, giving their offering as a sacrifice to the Lord. In the light of Malachi 1:6–14, we need to present the very finest that we have to the Lord

Contentment comes from adequate resources. Our resources are the providence of God, the power of God, and the promises of God. These resources made Paul sufficient for every demand of life, and they can make us sufficient too.

14 Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction. 15 You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; 16 for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs. 17 Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account. 18 But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God. 19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen. (NASB)

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • Find contentment in Christ, not in material things.
  • Trust God with your worries, trials, and tribulations. He will meet your needs.
  • When God gives to His obedient children, He gives according to His infinite riches in glory

CLOSER LOOK:

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Covid-19 Quarantine Devotional – April 15 PHILIPPIANS 1:21, 27-30 LIVING ON MISSION

April 15, 2020

PHILIPPIANS 1:21, 27-30 LIVING ON MISSION

Today, we finish Philippians 1 by looking at Paul’s command to live on a mission with a heavenly perspective, standing in faith, and being united as Christians and united in purpose to glorify Christ and share the gospel.

21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain….

27 Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; 28 in no way alarmed by your opponents—which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God. 29 For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, 30 experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me. (NASB)

Key takeaways:

  • “striving together”
    • Paul asks the church at Philippi to compete together as a team of athletes to help advance the faith that comes through the preaching of the gospel.
  • Shift perspective from earthly to heavenly
    • “let your conduct” is the first command of Philippians and Paul instructs them to shift their perspective from the earthly realm to the heavenly one. They should live in this world as citizens of another world, the heavenly kingdom. Their conduct should reveal their heavenly citizenship.
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Covid-19 Quarantine Devotional – PHILIPPIANS 1:15-18

April 13, 2020 – PHILIPPIANS 1:15-18

“His Kingdom”

Today, we continue our “Unshakeable” reading plan by looking again at Philippians 1. This time we look at verses 15-18. The passage reads:

15 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. 16 The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. (ESV)

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Quarantine Devotional – Philippians 1:12-14 Spreading the Gospel

April 3, 2020, (Spread of the Gospel)

In continuing our reading plan, today we look at Philippians 1:12-14. In this section, we read about how God used Paul to spread the Gospel in a very difficult season. It reads:

12 Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, 13 so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else, 14 and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear. (Phil. 1:12-14; NASB)

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • Examine your situation and see the good
    • Ask God what He wants you to learn, how He wants you to grow, and what is He teaching you through these things. Paul could have been deeply depressed about his imprisonment, but saw the “joy” in that he was there for the cause of Christ by advancing and progressing the gospel message
  • Encourage others
    • Paul encouraged the Roman believers and the Philippians by being bold and courageous and telling others about Christ. Whether through word or deed, we all can look for ways to encourage fellow believers to do everything we can to advance the gospel
  • Progress and Advancement of the Gospel Message
    • The Greek word used for progress or advancing (prokopēn) the gospel was used to describe blazing a trail before an army.[1] Paul, therefore, saw the events as forging new territory for the gospel. They took Paul into contact with a select group of people, soldiers and Roman officials, who otherwise would have had no relationship to him, and they also prompted a renewed evangelistic effort in the city. While others may have seen the end of missionary activity, Paul saw the new ways the gospel could advance. The events which seemed to inhibit the freedom of the gospel became its springboard. Paul did not say “in spite of” these events, but rather “through them.” There is a note of sacrifice here. Paul’s private concerns did not matter; the gospel did.
    • This is where it is interesting for us in this new day. The virus has spread all over, and now many churches are scrambling to learn how to stream their services. Some have had more successful weeks than others. Some are dealing with overwhelming challenges; while some are already experienced in the live stream universe. (It should be remembered that we are also facing attacks from Satan and his demons as they try to derail these streaming experiences. It is something we need to remember to pray against.) Whatever the case may be, churches, pastors, and missionaries are blazing a new trail on reaching members and the masses through these trials and tribulations. Through all of these “circumstances” God is using something that we tend to see as a hindrance into something mighty and magnificent. People are now tuning into churches that others would never have tried to go to or attend. A friend of mine is pastor of a small church that has 80 normal congregants. The first week of live streaming, they had 500 people viewing their service. The next week, 3,000 people tuned in to see the service. Think about that for a second and what God did. The service experienced all sorts of technical issues and was not smooth, but the fact remains that 2,900 people viewed a church service that otherwise would never have attended any service.
    • When we come out of this, our churches are going to be far more experienced in live streaming and identifying ways to connect with the online community. We can view this with eyes that see the negative or we can take Paul’s approach and see the positive. So, when the next tribulation comes, our churches will be ready and have planned ahead for something like this. It is not easy, and it takes a lot of work. It is grueling and stressful. But God is going to do something so good that it is beyond what we can imagine. And He is already at work doing something amazing.

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Covid-19 Quarantine Devotional – April 1 Philippians 1:7-11

April 1, 2020,

We switch back to Philippians 1 today to look at verses 7-11, which discusses the care and community of the Philippian believers.

7 For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me. 8 For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; 11 having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (NASB)Read More »Covid-19 Quarantine Devotional – April 1 Philippians 1:7-11