The Joy Of Philippians Lesson # 9

Learning to live as a citizen of heaven is a secret to walking in the joy of the Lord. Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice!

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Philippians 3:15  Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.  16  Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.

Philippians reveals the way to walk in the joy of the Lord; it is a book for those believers who desire to walk in maturity.  Paul had just finished declaring he counted all things as rubbish to have the greatest prize of knowing Jesus Christ.  Paul selflessness is an shining example of  the pathway of walking in joy.  Remember from the jail cell his desire was for Christ to be formed in every believer.  Let us live in the intimacy that is found exclusively in Jesus Christ

Philippians 3:17  Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.  18  For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:  19  whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame; who set their mind on earthly things.

Paul was calling the body of Christ to follow his example of selfless faith.  We should be warned of those who want to affect your faith for their own good.  Those who try to set your attention upon your doing and not your trusting in Jesus Christ are called the enemies of the cross.  Beware of those who bring your attention and mindset to dwell upon the earthly things.  Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness all the other things will be added unto you.

Philippians 3:20  For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,  21  who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

The believers are called to walk with the mindset that our citizenship is in heaven and live from that perspective.  So glad to be an American citizen; however, for gaining the knowledge of Christ it is but rubbish.  1^st and foremost I am a citizen of heaven.  The Father has bestowed upon us great divine influence and we want to live from that influence by giving Jesus preeminence in our lives.  God is in the transforming business and He will transform each of our lowly bodies that they may be conformed to His glorious body.  We surrender to His working in us; Christ in me the hope of glory! 

Philippians 4:1  Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.

Hear God’s heartbeat through the apostle Paul.  Addressing the saints as the beloved twice in this one verse.  Rise up and believe you are the beloved.  Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us that we might be called the children of God.  If we are seeking the love of the Father it is hard to stand fast; however as the beloved children of God we can stand fast.  In the shadow of His love, acceptance, qualification, and reconciliation we can stand fast.  It is no longer standing fast for approval; it is standing fast in the strength of the approval already given.

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

God is once again rolling back the curtain on the new testament church.  So many were laboring in the love of God to see the body of Christ encouraged and strengthened in the faith.

Philippians 4:4  Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

This is truly a command of grace.  Because of the goodness of God you can rejoice in the Lord!  Indeed the major theme of Philippians is rejoicing.  Paul from the jail cell is encouraging the church to rejoice!  It was Paul’s rejoicing in God in a jail cell that brought salvation to a jailer and his family.  Your rejoicing in the Lord will affect those around you.  Have you ever had someone full of complaint affect you.  Walking in the joy of the Lord has the opposite affect.  We don’t want to hear the complaint because it is not life giving; we can affect peoples lives with the spirit of rejoicing in the Lord and it will bring life.  Proof positive this is true.  2,000 years after Paul wrote “rejoice in the Lord” we the believer are affected by it! REJOICE.

Philippians 4:5  Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.  6  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

Grace instructions is life giving and Paul is sharing the commands of this grace covenant.  Let your gentleness be known to all men; the Lord is at hand.  Our rejoicing has a basis; our rejoicing is firmly established upon the truth  that the Lord is at hand.  Jesus has promised not to ever leave us or forsake us.  Be anxious for nothing.  One of the most repeated phrases in the new testament is “fear not”  The heart of God is for us to live anxious free without fear!  If we will come with thanksgiving and rejoicing we have come under and into divine order.  Take your cares, prayer request, and supplication and make them known to God!

Philippians 4:7  and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

When we come in the strength of this new covenant we have this blessed assurance from his word.  The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  What a precious promise that God Himself will guard our hearts and minds.  This truth is so great yet to many believers it is still hidden.  May a spirit of wisdom and revelation knowledge come upon the body of Christ so we walk in an awareness of God’s abiding presence and peace.  Sometimes we have let our soul rule instead of  the peace of God.  Our soul rules when we allow the raging emotions dictate our actions and our responses to the circumstances of our lives.  Another way to allow our soul to rule instead of God’s abiding peace is leaning on our own understanding.  We get caught up in how are we going to get this fixed, or how shall I react to this situation.  Rejoicing in the Lord can bring our emotions and intellect under the reign of God.  Without the rejoicing in the Lord the chaos of life rules in our life.  Rejoicing in the Lord brings the divine order of God causing a peace that surpassing our understanding.  Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your steps.    

Philippians 4:8  Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy; meditate on these things.

This precious grace covenant teaches us to meditate.  Our meditation is so important!  What we meditate upon will determine if we will walk in victory or in defeat.  Let the word of our mouth and the meditation of our heart be acceptable in the sight of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Here is a Holy Spirit breathed list of what we shall meditate upon.  The truth, the noble, the just, the pure, the lovely, the good report, the virtuous, and the praise worthy. 

Victory is brought by what we meditate upon; defeat is brought by what we meditate upon.  What you meditate upon will be that which you speak; that which you speak is a reflection of what is in your heart.  However, brethren “we chose” to meditate on the good, the truths of  God’s word, the noble… 

Proverbs 18:20  A man's stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth, From the produce of his lips he shall be filled.  21  Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.

How dangerous is complaint in our mouth; it brings death to our lives, circumstances, and people around us.

How precious is the harvest of our mouth speaking life?  It will bring us the God expected end.  Yes, it begins with meditating by the influence of the Holy Spirit; it will produce life giving words flowing through us.  The joy of the Lord will abound!

Walking In Liberty

He who the Son set free is free indeed. "Walking In Liberty"

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Luke 4:17  And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:  18  "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;  19  To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD."

Jesus came to set at liberty those who are oppressed; it is time to proclaim this is the acceptable year of the Lord!  Now is your time; this is the acceptable day of salvation.

John 8:31  Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32  "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."  The word that Jesus speaks bring freedom.

Jesus said “If you abide in My word you are My disciples indeed.  Jesus said “you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.  It is a specific truth that will set you free!

John 8:33  They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, 'You will be made free'?"  34  Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.

Jesus said it was a specific truth that would set free; Jesus pointed the those who commits sin is a slave to sin!

John 8:35  "And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.  36  "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

Slaves in the household can be sold out of the house; however a son abides forever.  There if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.  Jesus proclaimed truth that bring liberty and freedom; the Son will set you free.

Galatians 4:4  But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5  to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 

Jesus came to bring redemption to such a degree we be come adopted children of God.

Galatians 4:6  And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!"  7  Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

At faith in Jesus Christ the Spirit of His Son comes into your heart.  You now have the ability to cry out “Abba Father!”  No longer a slave to sin but we are now adopted children free from sin.

Romans 6:6  knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.  7  For he who has died has been freed from sin.

If we did not die from sin we did not get born again!  When you die to sin you are joined to Jesus!

Romans 6:8  Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,  9  knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him.

Death no longer has dominion over Jesus!  If we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him!

Romans 6:10  For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.  11  Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Jesus died to sin one time and it is good for all time!  Likewise, in the same way, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Colossians 3:12  Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13  bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.  14  But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

Because we are alive unto God we can walk in these grace commands.  Not the old dead you better behaved.  As the elect of God, holy and beloved we can walk in mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering, forbearance, and forgiveness.  It comes from the love God shed abroad in your heart.

Galatians 5:1  Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

Learn to walk as the newly created being God has made us.  Quit behaving like mere men and live in the liberty Jesus Christ has provided; never get entangled with bondage again.

The Joy of Philippians Lesson # 8

Taking on the mindset of Jesus Christ; a bondservant

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Philippians 2:5  Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,  6  who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,  7  but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

Living in God’s joy is His intended purpose for His children.  Jesus came with the heart of a bondservant.  The instruction is to let this mind set be in you!  Jesus did not come to be served but he came to serve.  A bondservant indeed!  The bondservant is a volunteer servant; one who loves the master and wants to live out his days in service to him.  Jesus was the bondservant of God the Father; Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost.  Jesus was divine but laid it aside and walked in humanity; He robed Himself in flesh.

Philippians 2:8  And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 

Jesus was destined for the cross.  It was the only way redemption could be brought to sinful man.  For the joy set before Him He endured the shame of the cross.  When Jesus died on the cross He had you and me on His mind!

Philippians 2:9  Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,  10  that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11  and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

There is no greater name than the name of Jesus!  Those who accept Jesus as Messiah have bowed their knee to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.  At the name of Jesus is salvation, provision, healing, and all that you will ever need.  Jesus has been given authority over all and we the body can rest and operate in that authority.

Philippians 2:12  Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;  13  for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

God has called us to work out our salvation in fear and trembling.  The two verse have a semicolon between them.  That is these two sentences are incomplete without one another.  My surrender is my working out my salvation.  For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasures.  My work is to surrender to the work He is doing in me!  God delights to work in His children with their surrender!

Philippians 2:14  Do all things without complaining and disputing,

Complaining and disputing is one of the greatest tools of satan; complaining and disputing is a joy disrupter!  It is God’s word that should flow from our lips; complaint and disputing rob us from the opportunity to praise and lift up the name of Jesus.

Philippians 2:15  that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,  16  holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.

The complaint and disputing disrupt the glory of God showing up in our lives.  People cannot see that we have become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation.  Complaint and murmuring makes our light not shine!  What you put in your mouth matters so much; it determines if you will fulfill your God given destiny or live just outside of victory’s grasp.

Philippians 2:17  Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18  For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.

Paul was happy to serve from the jail cell to service the faith of the believer and bring the saints to living in the joy of the Lord.

Philippians 2:19  But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state.  20  For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state.  21  For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus.  22  But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel.  23  Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it goes with me.  24  But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly.  25  Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need;  26  since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick.  27  For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.  28  Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful.  29  Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem; 30  because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me.

The last half of this chapter is opening the windows of the new testament Church showing how Paul was working as a bondservant and his fellow ministers also were working as bondservants, that Christ might be formed in the church.  Their selfless service brought them joyful fruit in the kingdom of God. Paul sent the ministers, his assistances, away to minister to the body of Christ instead of being ministered to himself.

Philippians 3:1  Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe. 2  Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation!

Rejoice is the theme that is repeated over and over in Philippians.  Walking in joy keeps you from the schemes of the enemy of your soul.  Beware of those who have called you to walk in the strength of your own flesh.  Trust exclusively in Jesus Christ and Him crucified; it is the only source of Joy.  It is in what Christ has done in us.  Remember we have been circumcised by God; not in the flesh but becoming a newly created being in JESUS.

Philippians 3:3  For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, 4  though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so:

It is relationship with Jesus, put no confidence in the flesh.  It not what you can do or how great your standing is.  We worship God in the Spirit, rejoicing in Christ Jesus!  Paul begins to make a human argument.  If it is about what you do, Paul said he could boast.

Philippians 3:5  circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6  concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

7  But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.

So boast he does.  He was circumcised in the flesh, he was a pure Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrews of Hebrew.  Concerning the law of Moses, a Pharisee.  Concerning religious zeal, it was so great he persecuted the church.  In regards to the law of Moses and the righteousness it provided, he was blameless.  BUT…  He counted all these things loss for Christ.  It not found in your great performance, or your position in society, or in your great religious works; it is found exclusively in knowing intimately Jesus Christ.

Philippians 3:8  Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ

Paul counted all things as rubbish in comparison to knowing the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord.  Jesus is the truth that sets men free.

Philippians 3:9  and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;

It is the righteousness found exclusively in Jesus Christ.  It cannot be about the good performance of the law or trust in any other thing; it must be faith in Jesus Christ alone!

Philippians 3:10  that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11  if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.  This is a faith in Jesus Christ issue and there is no other way.

Philippians 3:12  Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.

I want to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me!  Press in saint of God!

Philippians 3:13  Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,

What are we pressing for?  Relationship with Jesus!!  Pursuit of stuff behind me; I want to know Jesus Christ!

Philippians 3:14  I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 

The goal of the prize is intimacy with Jesus Christ and the revelation He bring about the goodness of God!  God is calling us upward to intimacies we have never known before!

The Joy Of Philippians lesson # 7

Paul rejoiced in the jail cell; in his rejoicing there was an overflow of ministry to many!

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Philippians 1:12  But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel,13  so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ;

Paul’s selfless service to the kingdom brought him a life of joy!  That life of joy had affect on everyone around him.  Paul’s hardships turned out for the furtherance of the gospel.  This did not happen by accident; Paul allowed the transformation of his soul, mind, emotions to get in line with the truth of the gospel.  Joy from the jail cell changed the lives of those living in the palace guard system.  The whole palace guard seen the evidence that Paul’s incarceration had brought a life giving flow.  Paul continued to declare the words of life from the jail cell; what a difference that life giving flow made.

Philippians 1:14  and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

It was not just those surrounded by Paul that were affected by his selfless joyful service to God and the body of Christ.  Those brethren outside the jail cell gained a confidence to speak the word with boldness.  What Paul spoke brought life and encouraged others to speak the words of life. 

Philippians 1:15  Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from good will: 16  The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains;

Oh what we can learn from the apostle Paul’s attitude of heart.  The palace guard knew, the brethren knew and Paul’s imprisonment affected those who were not among his supporters.  They preached Christ from envy and strife supposing they would add to afflictions of Paul’s chains.

Philippians 1:17  but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel.  18  What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.

Instead of his enemies adding affliction Paul found a way to rejoice in spite of their bad attitudes.  Paul said no matter what happens I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.  There is truly the abiding joy of the Lord that abide in every believer; Paul had learned to walk in this abiding joy no matter how hard the circumstance grew.  Paul keep his eyes on the goodness of God.

Philippians 1:19  For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20  according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.

Even in the worst of circumstances Paul put his expectation in the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.  Paul had an earnest expectation and hope that in nothing would he be ashamed.  He believed walking in the kingdom mindset!  Paul walked with such a confidence in His God that he believed by life, or by his own death, Jesus would be magnified.  Oh, that the body of Christ would gain such a confident expectation; no matter the circumstances Jesus will be magnified in our lives.

Philippians 1:21  For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.  22  But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell.

Paul seen himself on the winning side no matter what happened.  If he died he knew he entered the presence of God.  If he lived he would have fruitful labor to help further the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Now that is sold out to Jesus and His goodness!

Philippians 1:23  For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.  24  Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. 

Paul desired the will of God be done that Jesus would be honored and glorified.  No wonder he was able to declare the joy of the Lord from that damp, dark, filthy jail cell.

Philippians 1:25  And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, 26  that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again.

Paul had such a heart for the church and for the people of God.  He was moved with a passion for the progress and joy of faith to be fulfilled in the body of Christ.

Philippians 1:27  Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, 28  and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God.

I like the KJV version of this verse, let your conversation be worthy of the gospel of Christ.  If you have been qualified by the Father, if He has taken you out of darkness, if by the blood of His Son your sins are washed away, rise up and walk in who you are in Christ.  Stand fast in the faith striving together with one mind for the faith of the gospel.  Never forget you have fellowship with the gospel; you have been made to partake in the divine influence of God.  Walking in the joy of the Lord brings immunity to the affects and actions of your enemies

Philippians 1:29  For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, 30  having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me.

While suffering brings no comfort for the soul, God will use it to form Christ in us.  Jesus walked through the baptism of suffering and told his disciples they too would be tried by the fire.  Jesus told us we would have trouble in this life but to cheer up, He has overcome the world and has gifted us with his eternal peace!  The psalmist told us many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers us out of them all!  God intend for us to walk in abundant life even from the valley of our lives.

Philippians 2:1  Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,  2  fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

Has God brought you consolation in a rough time?  Has God ever wrapped you in the comfort of His sure love?  Have you had fellowship with the Spirit of God?  How about being touched by His affections toward you and His great mercy?  If you can say yes to even one of these questions this word of grace instruction is for you.  Be like minded having the same love, being of one accord and one mind.  The love received from Christ is the strength to love others.

Philippians 2:3  Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.  4  Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

As Jesus Christ, and the apostle Paul lived a selfless life we have been called.  The Sunday school lesson from my childhood is still good.  JOY:

Jesus

Others

Yourself

Our wrong attitudes can rob us of the joy of the Lord; our right attitudes can bring fulfillment to the joy of the Lord in our lives.  God calls us to walk in a lowliness of mind

considering others.  Paul demonstrated this with his life and was able to write this book about the joy of the Lord ruling in his own life.  Next lesson we will pick up with the heart of Jesus Christ and His selflessness.

Joy Of Philippians Lesson #6

Last lesson we finished the intimacy of Colossians and now part two of the series is the Joy Of Philippians

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Philippians 1:1  Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi , with the bishops and deacons:  2  Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

This is the fourth Pauline epistle we have studied.  The thing they have in common is all four of them Galatians, Ephesians, Colossians, and Philippians were written from a jail cell.  These four books contains some of the greatest revelations of the gospel of Jesus Christ we can find.   Paul declares himself to be a bondservant of Jesus Christ.  Philippians is know is the book of joy in the new testament.  It refers to joy, rejoice or some form of joy at least 17 times.  As Paul has written these four books from jail, we must say that Paul was selfless!  While he was in a miserable jail cell his heartbeat was to make the mystery of the gospel clear.  Christ in me the hope of glory, the Father blessed you, the Father chose you, the Father qualified you, and the Father justified you.  These were just of few of the intimacies we have learned going through these books.  One way Philippians stands out as different, Paul wrote to the saints but also included the bishops and deacons at Philippi .  This book of joy is for the mature who want to walk out the fullness of the grace message.

Philippians 1:3  I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,  4  always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy,  5  for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now,

Remember from a jail cell Paul is thinking of the churches.  It starts with thanksgiving for the church.  If we want to walk in the fullness of joy we will have to start with a thankful heart.  From imprisonment Paul was making request joyfully for the Philippi church.
What was he thanking God for?  That the church had fellowship with the gospel from the first day of their salvation to the moment he penned the letter.  Every believer needs a revelation that they have fellowship with the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ.  The greater the revelation of the gospel the greater the joy we  can walk in!

Philippians 1:6  being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

Paul was confident, that when God begins a new work in the believer He will finish the work in the believer.  Can you believe God is not done with you; whatever He has started He will finish it!  That is some great news.  Don't quit; God will finish what He has started.  Don’t quit, you can make it; God will complete it!

Philippians 1:7  just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace.

We are standing on solid ground if we will walk in confidence that God will finish exactly what He has started in us.  Paul declared it is right to think that way.  God calls us to walk in the kingdom mindset.  The enemy of your soul may whisper God is done with you because of what you have done; however it is time to exalt the word of God above the lies the enemy is selling us!  He who has begun a good work in you will carry it to completion!  This my brothers and sisters is the mindset of the kingdom.   So many mindsets to change so we can walk in the strength of the truth of word of God.

Paul makes another mindset of the kingdom statement.  We are partakers of grace!  We indeed have the divine influence of God at work within us!  We have fellowship with this precious gospel and like Paul and the Philippians we are partakers of grace

Philippians 1:8  For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.

Remember from the jail cell Paul is writing, “I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.  Why was Paul able to speak life from such awful circumstance.  He was indeed influenced by the affections of Jesus Christ.   From that same affection of Jesus Christ He longed for their fellowship.  The mature can walk in a fullness of joy because they are driven by the affections of Christ.

The greater the revelation of the Father’s love for us the greater the joy we will walk in!  Behold what manner of the love the Father has bestowed upon us that we might be called the children of God!  In fact, John wrote of knowing the love of God to such a degree that we would have no fear of judgment on judgment day!  Oh that we might know the greatness of God’s love toward us and live life in the overflow of that love.

Philippians 1:9  And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10  that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,  11  being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

I pray that your love may abound still more and more.  More and more, and more and more…  May our love walk grow so strong that we gain our knowledge and all discernment from that very love.  Some have gained discernment minus the love.  It only results in a very critical spirit!  Discernment birthed out of love knows the fellowship of the gospel and partakes fully in the divine influence Jesus brings.  When the love factor has grown great enough we are able to approve the things that are excellent.  This love factor can grow so great we can be people who are without offense till the day of Christ.

Without offense is a true key for the joy factor in our lives.  Paul from the jail cell could have easily walked in offense and he would not have been the life speaker that he was.  The enemy of our soul would love for us to walk in offense.  Only the love of the Father compelling us can overcome the power of offense.  Surrendering to the affection of Christ will make us bear fruits of righteousness.  Walking offended prohibits fruit bearing.  Indeed walking free from offense is the will of God for every believer; this will bring God glory and praise.   

Intimacy of Colossians lesson 5

The peace of God can rule in the believer life; knowing who you are in Christ with a thankful heart gives birth to this hope. Intimacy with God is the believer's way of life.

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Colossians 3:15  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

Remember these commands are to the one who has become a newly created being in Christ Jesus.  Last lesson we ended with putting on the bond of perfection “love”.  Christ in me is the hope of glory.  Here in this passage one of the secrets of the kingdom of God is revealed.  Let the peace of God rule in your heart.  Far too many Christians don’t know what it means for the peace of God to rule in their heart.  They are moved from one dramatic experience to another.  Discipleship is the answer to the wavering lifestyle.  When you lay hold of the gospel.  The Father has qualified us.  The Father has transferred us out of the darkness into the kingdom of His Son .  We have been freed from sin by the blood of Jesus. The enmity between God and the believer is gone. When we have submitted to these truths the peace of God will rule in our heart.  It is the Father’s design and will for our lives to be lived with the peace of God leading us.  We keep hitting this truth… and be thankful!  Empty from complaint and full of thanksgiving keeps the open door to His peace.  No longer the emotions or intellect ruling but the truth of His word.

Colossians 3:16  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

The word of grace becomes so practical!  Allow the word of Christ to dwell in you richly!  One believer provoking the other believer with teachings and admonish in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.  Get together with singing with the divine influence of God in our hearts. 

Colossians 3:17  And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Whatever you do…  Can we hear and live this word?  Whatever you do in  word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.  Living this simple verse keeps the peace of God ruling in our lives!

Colossians 3:18  Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.  19  Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.  20  Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.

Grace is so practical it gives you instruction how to live in every relationship.  Leave the instruction in the context in which it is written.  In the family wives are to submit to their own husbands. Wives don’t leave out the second part of the command, “as is fitting in the Lord.”  If a husband is asking the wife to do things outside holiness do not submit to such foolishness. In the context of the family husband are commanded to love their wives.  Husband don’t miss the love command “ and do not be bitter toward them.  Each member has a command from God how to best proceed in the family relationship.  Children obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.

Colossians 3:21  Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.  22  Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God.

God know the hearts of earthly fathers and leaves commands based upon His wisdom.  Dads, do not provoke your children that is no way to correct your children.  If it is the goodness of God that leads us to repentance should we not rule our houses with the goodness of God in mind?  God deals with employee and employer relationships.  Serve the employer as if you were serving God Himself, with a sincerity of heart.

Colossians 3:23  And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,  24  knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

Don’t do things half hearted; serve with integrity being your guide.   D o it unto the Lord and not to men!  Caution of bad attitudes; “Well they are under paying me so I will under work.”  Serve is unto the Lord and God will reward you!

Colossians 3:25  But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.

There is the law of sowing and reaping and it does not disappear because you are a believer.  Those who do wrong will be repaid for what he has done.

Colossians 4:1  Masters, give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

Now God speaks to the employer; God commands the employer to walk justly and in fairness with their employees.  Let God speak to the employer, let God speak to the employee, let God speak to the spouse, allow God to help you speak to your children.  Let His divine influence overflow in every relationship of life.

Colossians 4:2  Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;

Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving.  Heed the call to righteous instruction.  Do you see the theme of thanksgiving flow in your relationships with prayer leading the way?

Colossians 4:3  meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, 4  that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

Pray that the mystery of Christ will be made clear in the church!  May “Christ in me” be the cry of every believer.  See Paul now mentioning he is in chains.  From the jail cell he is longing for every believer to walk in intimacy with God; that same intimacy will overflow into every relationship the believers have.

Colossians 4:5  Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.  6  Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

Here is what our relationship should look like with those outside of the covenant of grace.  Walk in the wisdom of God.  Let your conversation be with the divine influence of God flowing through it.  Let your words be like a preservative, giving answers to each one with the seasoned words of life.

Colossians 4:7  Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. 8  I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts,

Little secrets are often couched in greeting and salutations.  Ministers of the gospel should be faithful, and have a spirit to serve the body of Christ.

Colossians 4:9  with Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you all things which are happening here.  10  Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, with Mark the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him),

Once again the beloved brother who is faithful.  Onesimus was saved while he was a runaway slave. Now he is a minister and a beloved brother in the Lord.  Welcome those the leadership send to you.

Colossians 4:11  and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision; they have proved to be a comfort to me.  12  Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.1 3  For I bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea , and those in Hierapolis .

Leadership laboring fervently as bondservants; that Christ may be formed in the body.

Colossians 4:14  Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you.15  Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas and the church that is in his house.16  Now when this epistle is read among you, see that it is read also in the church of the Laodiceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. 17  And say to Archippus, "Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it."  18  This salutation by my own hand; Paul . Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen.

Even to the end Paul is instructing for Archippus to take heed to the ministry.  What a heart he had for the body of Christ to walk in intimacy with God.

Intimacy of Colossians lesson 4

Christ in me the hope of glory. It is more than an idea it is a lifestyle to live by! Many false doctrines abound and the word is do not let them cheat you of your reward!

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Colossians 2:18  Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19  and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.

“Christ in you” is the theme of all of Colossians; indeed, “Christ in you” is the mystery revealed in this new covenant.  Jesus Christ is the substance of the all the shadows and patterns from the old testament.  When the object of faith is squarely and exclusively in Jesus Christ the false teachers will have no voice.  Our ear will be given to Jesus Christ alone. 

Practices of the law, working the traditions of men, or faith in Christ plus another work is not holding fast to the Head Jesus Christ.  It is faith in Jesus Christ that births you into the kingdom of God .  That same faith in Christ brings His nourishing and knitting us together.  It is Jesus who nourishes, cherishes and bring a growth and increase; it comes from God!

Colossians 2:20  Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations;  21  " D o not touch, do not taste, do not handle," 22  which all concern things which perish with the using; according to the commandments and doctrines of men?

If it is faith in Christ alone, why would you go back to the principles of the world.  Why touch, taste and handle that which brings death. Practicing the basic principles of the world brings death even if we have a noble intent as our motive!  Subjecting yourself to regulations outside of grace will produce a wrong harvest.  For some a harvest of self-righteousness and for others the hovering hopelessness of defeat.

Colossians 2:23  These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

These things (practices of the law, men’s traditions, religious practices) have an appearance of wisdom;  it is a self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body.  They have no value against the indulgence of the flesh.  Only the cross of Jesus Christ brings victory over the indulgences of the flesh.

A  12 step program, a prayer shawl like that from the old testament, fasting more, or and other rules or regulations cannot bring victory over sin.  Jesus is the Substance; His work at the cross has the power to break every bondage sin has given birth to!

Colossians 3:1  If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.

There is practical instruction that keeps us walking in the victory Jesus provided!  Because we have been raised with Christ our attention need to be on those things which are above.  Christ should have preeminence in our life.  It is a command and it should be our delight and privilege to seek our Jesus! 

Colossians 3:2  Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.  3  For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Where is your mind set?  Set your mind on things above, not on things on earth.  The devil has tried to dissuade believers from setting their mind on things above.  If you will not set your mind on the heavenly truths of grace you will be no earthly good at all.  When you were born again your life was hidden in Christ in God.  It is Christ in you the hope of glory and there is no other source of hope.

Colossians 3:4  When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

What a truth!  Grace is so great we will appear with Jesus Christ in glory!  We will manifest and make plain who God is!

Colossians 3:5  Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

Here is practical instruction in walking in victory.  By faith every day we can reckon ourselves dead indeed to sin alive unto God.  Grace came to free us from sin and join us to the Father of men spirits.  It is faith day by day.  I will not join my members to sin because I belong God!  He has qualified me, set me into the kingdom of light, and redeemed me by Christ blood.  My affection are set upon Jesus Christ!

Colossians 3:6  Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7  in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.

We once walked in sin but no longer!

Colossians 3:8  But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.

It not just the “big” sin, but when one sets their mind on the things of Christ it will change from being ruled by ones emotions; agreeing with “Christ in you” brings overcoming power in anger, wrath malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.  Grace changes the flow of your mouth.  What we speak brings life or death. What we set our mind on will manifest through our mouth.  Put the word of God in it; the harvest will be fruitful for the kingdom of God ! 

Colossians 3:9  Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10  and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,

We have put off the old man when we got born again.  We died to the sin nature!  It no longer has dominion over the believer!  We have a new man in us which was created in holiness and righteousness.  We have been called to live out of the new man.  The new man is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him. 

Colossians 3:11  where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.

The ground is level at the foot of the cross.  It not about nationality or position in society, or the abundance of your possessions.  Christ is all in all!  “CHRIST IN ME THE HOPE OF GLORY” 

Colossians 3:12  Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13  bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

Therefore, as the elect of God.  The command to live in grace can only be spoken to one who has that newly created being in him.  Can you see yourself as the elect of God, holy and beloved?  That is what Christ in you is all about.  The new man has the ability to walk in tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering.  The new man has the power to bear with one another, and forgive one another.  Holding on to no complaint that one may have against another.  Complaint is one of the greatest tools of the enemy.  The believer has not recognized complaint as a tool of satan that gets us off track from living in victory.  Let go of the old man put him off; walk in the new man and be empowered to put off complaint.  Put a praise in your mouth!

Colossians 3:14  But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

Above all things… put on love!  Putting on love is the bond of perfection!  The perfect love of God covers a multitude of sins.  Christ in you is the power to live free from sin, bondages, and un-forgiveness; Christ in you is the power to live in holiness, righteousness, and forgiveness.  The kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.  God’s love is the bond of perfection; true intimacy with God, indeed!