12 Major Themes Of The Gospel lesson 3 “SPEAKING THE WORD ”

One of the first spiritual disciplines a believer should learn is to speak the words of the gospel. Jesus came as a life giving Spirit; hear it, speak it, and live abundantly!

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Isaiah 59:21  "As for Me," says the LORD , "this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants' descendants," says the LORD , "from this time and forevermore.“  60:1  Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.

The covenant that God has brought us into is spoken of here in Isaiah!  By the Spirit of God we have the Word of God put in our mouth.  You see God writes His oracles upon our heart; whatever is in our heart comes out of our mouth.  We the children need to learn to surrender to His word in our mouth.  The promise, so sweet, is for the word to be in our mouth , our children’s mouth, and our children’s, children’s mouth!  The spiritual disciplines don’t save us; only the blood of Jesus brings redemption.  We have been birthed by the living word of God.  The spiritual disciples brings us into intimacy and develops maturity.  When we put His word in our mouth the glory of the Lord will be manifest.  The Glory of the Lord is upon the children who have the word flowing from their mouth. Speaking the word is the first of many spiritual disciplines.

2 Corinthians 4:13  And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed and therefore I spoke," we also believe and therefore speak,

We have been birthed into the kingdom and it operates by faith in God.  The just shall live by faith!  The word has been deposited into us; however we are the gatekeeper of our heart.  Sometimes we listen to the voice of reason, the voice of human experience, the voice of the traditions of men, or even the voice of the circumstances that face us.  Satan has cleverly brought in a multitude of voices so we can not react properly to the life giving voice of the word of God.  What we give ear to will produce a belief of our heart and from that we speak and gain a harvest.

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. 

Death and life are in the power of the tongue; we shall reap a harvest from the fruit of our lips!  Allowing the word of God to flow through our mouth will bring the desire and destiny of God to fruition!! 

Isaiah 51:16  And I have put My words in your mouth; I have covered you with the shadow of My hand, That I may plant the heavens, Lay the foundations of the earth, And say to Zion , 'You are My people.'"

We are the children of God and He has put His word in our mouth!  When we allow the word of God to remain in our mouth we are covered with the shadow of the hand of God!  POWERFUL!!  He covers us with the shadow of His hand, He plants the words of our mouth in the heavens, and lays the foundations of the earth with the words of our mouth.  It is those who have come to Mount Zion !  Hebrews 12:22 identifies those who come to Jesus is the people who have come to Mount Zion !

Isaiah 54:17  No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn.This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD , And their righteousness is from Me," Says the LORD .

No weapon formed against you shall prosper!  Jesus is the one who has brought righteousness to the believer!  You shall condemn those who have formed a weapon that comes against you!  You condemn the words of the enemy by speaking the truth of God.

James 3:2  For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.  3  Indeed, we put bits in horses' mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body.  4  Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires.  5  Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!  6  And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.  7  For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind.  8  But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.  9  With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.  10  Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.  11  D oes a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening?  12  Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.

James writes under the anointing of the Holy Spirit about how man can not tame his tongue.  However, that is why God puts His word in our mouth!  The tongue is tamable surrendered to the word of God!  PUT HIS WORD IN YOUR MOUTH!

Psalms 19:14  Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD , my strength and my Redeemer. 

This is one powerful verse.  Your meditation is the thoughts you chose to nurture.  Meditation is a given; we all do it!  The question is what are we meditating upon!  We can choose sweet meditation and it will result in sweet words out of our mouth.

Isaiah 26:3  You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.  4  Trust in the LORD forever, For in YAH, the LORD , is everlasting strength.

The mind stayed upon God is a mind in perfect peace!  Your meditation will determine your hearts condition; your heart condition will give words to what it believes.

Psalms 1:1  Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;  2  But his delight is in the law of the LORD , And in His law he meditates day and night.  3  He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.

1^st truth the company you surround yourself with matters.  Putting the word of God in your mouth is only done by delighting yourself in it!  Here is a sure promise of the word of God.  You meditate in His truth day and night and your prosperity is certain!  You will be like a tree planted by the water; no withering leaves!

Psalms 104:33  I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.  34  May my meditation be sweet to Him; I will be glad in the LORD .

Speaking the word includes your worship!  Put a song of praise to God on your lips!  We are created to praise the one who brought us out of darkness; it is sweet meditation! 

Bringing ones thought life into line with the Word of God is the way to change a mindset; it takes down bondages and strongholds the enemy has entrapped the believer in.

2 Corinthians 10:3  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.  4  For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,  5  casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,  6  and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

Your thought life gives birth to the words of your mouth.  Spiritual battle is done by bringing every thought that exalts itself against the knowledge of God into the obedience of Jesus Christ.  Gird up the loins of your mind  and meditate on His grace!

Ephesians 6:13  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  14  Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,  15  and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;  16  above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.  17  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 

Everything about the armor of God is a revelation of Jesus Christ!  Jesus is the belt buckle of truth!  Jesus is the breastplate of righteousness!  Jesus is the gospel of peace for our feet to be shod!  Jesus is the Author and Perfector of our faith!  Jesus is the word of God.  There is one single offensive weapon for the believer.  It is the word of God.  Leave the complaint and put His word in your mouth.  You will indeed overcome the foe!

Twelve Major Themes THE WORD OF GOD Lesson 2

Discipleship "12 Major Themes Of The Gospel" God made a determination that HE wanted to abundantly persuade and convince the heirs of promise that His counsel is immutable; He swore an oath by the power of all that He is, His promises are true and will come to pass. Oh, that every believer will be fully persuaded. Almost persuaded is nothing more than a variable holding one back from surrendering to the truth.

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Hebrews 4:12  For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

The word of God lives!  The word of God is powerful!  The word of God is the living agent of change in the believer’s life.  The word divides between soul and spirit, and joints and marrow, and it is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  God’s word changes those who have come into the rest found exclusively in Jesus Christ.  Those who surrender to the working of the word of God will have an intimacy with God unparalleled.  Relationship with God is activated by faith in His Word!

Isaiah 55:9  "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.  10  "For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater,  11  So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

God is God and we the believer are the new creations!  God ways and thoughts are higher than our ways and thoughts; as newly created beings we have been given the mind of Jesus Christ!  We can indeed know the heart of God by our Spirit to spirit connection.  God’s word going forth does His good pleasure!  It is as certain is seed time and harvest!  God word will and does His good pleasure!

John 15:7  "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

Jesus brought awesome revelation about the word and how it works.  If you abide in Jesus and allow His words to abide in you, you will ask what you desire and it shall be done for you!  Lay hold of the surety of the word of God; it changes everything.

John 6:63  "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.

It is the words of Jesus that are spirit, and they are life.  If our soul will get in tune with what Jesus has spoken to our spirits we will indeed live.  It is the strength of the cross and the sacrifice Jesus made there; we can partake of His divine inheritance.

Psalm 19:7  The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;  8  The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;  9  The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.  10  More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.  11  Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward.

The word of God converts the soul; The psalmist David knew this truth.  He was often found saying “bless the Lord oh my soul”  As your soul submits to the truth of the word there is transformation!  The word of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes, enduring, true and righteous all together.  It is the word of God that is to be desired and longed for!  True disciples of Jesus know the sweetness of His words and pursue them! 

Proverbs 6:20  My son, keep your father's commands, and don't forget your mother's teaching.  21  Keep their words in mind forever as though you had them tied around your neck.  22  They will guide you when you walk. They will guard you when you sleep. They will speak to you when you are awake.

What is this wisdom that can be found in the word!  It will guide you, guard you when you sleep, and speak to you when you are awake!  The Word will change everything!

Luke 4:3  And the devil said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.“  4  But Jesus answered him, saying, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.'“ …

The enemy of our soul has no new tricks.  He wants us to believe we are not beloved children of God!  When He tempted Jesus, Jesus spoke profound words of truth found in the scripture.  “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceed from the mouth of God.  Oh, that we the body would lay hold of the strength of this truth!

John 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  2  He was in the beginning with God.  3  All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.  4  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.  5  And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

Jesus is the word of God!  Jesus is the life!  Jesus is the light.  If you want illumination it is found exclusively in Jesus!  The darkness did not comprehend the light; Relationship with Jesus enables us to walk in the light!

Genesis 1:1  In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2  The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.  3  Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light.  … 6  Then God said, "Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.“ … 9  Then God said, "Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear"; and it was so.  … 11  Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth"; and it was so.  … 14  Then God said, "Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years;  … 20  Then God said, "Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens.“  … 24  Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind: cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, each according to its kind"; and it was so.  …26 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."

God said it … it was so!  Everything is held together by the word of God!  Then God said…

John 1:14  And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.  …

John 1:16  And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.

Jesus is the Word!  He robed Himself in flesh to clearly manifest the truth of the Father!  Jesus came full of grace and truth and from that very fullness we receive from the hand of God!  The law came through Moses  grace and truth came through Jesus Christ!

1 John 2:14  I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one.

The children need reminded their sins are forgiven; the young me are strong because the word of God abides in them.  Those who have the word abiding overcome the wicked one.  Victory is not fleeting or elusive; victory is for the one who has grown in the grace and the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ..

1 Peter 2:1  Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking,  2  as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,  3  if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 

The pure milk of the word will bring growth to the believer.  Verse 3 is piercing and strong “if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.  Some have no desire for the word because they have not come to a true genuine faith. 

Ephesians 5:25  Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,  26  that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,  27  that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

Jesus Christ loves, cherishes, and nourishes the church.  Jesus cleanses her with the washing of the water of the word.  Notice it is Jesus doing the work to the bride.

Hebrews 6:17  Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath,  18  that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.  19  This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil,  20  where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus,

having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. 

God’s word is true!  God spoke His word but in His heart that was not enough.  His desire was to convince those who would inherit salvation that His promise is true!  With such a heart for the believer He determined He would convince us by making an oath.  Because there is nothing or no one greater He swore an oath by the power of all that He is!  God cannot lie!  His word is immutable.  Let this hope anchor your soul!  The second immutable truth the Father made Jesus Christ your forerunner into the presence of God.  The Father not only desires your presence but through the blood of Jesus qualified you.  Jesus is your forerunner you are expected to show up behind the veil where the glory of God is manifested.  He loves you and has strong desire for you; it is the strength of the Word!

Discipleship 12 Major Themes The Love of God lesson 1

Discipleship is more than a class it is a lifestyle. for 13 weeks we will cover 12 major themes of the gospel. Theme 1 "The Love Of God"

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Luke 24:32  And they said to one another, "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?"

Discipleship is to become a student of Jesus Christ.  He becomes the master teacher and we become the disciple with an eager open heart to learn.  Setting at Jesus feet will bring us to our hearts burning within us; Jesus will open our eyes to comprehend His Word!

Disciples: Students of Jesus Christ who have a heart to follow Jesus at all cost

Matthew 28:18  And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  19  "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  20  "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

After Jesus resurrection He declared all authority has been given to Him both in heaven and on earth.  We are the disciples of the One who has promised to always be with us, even to the end of the age!  The one with all authority commands us to go and make disciples of all the nation.  We must immersed the believer in the teaching of Jesus, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit!  Men have sinned against the Father, Jesus came as the remedy of the sin, and the Holy Spirit is the gift to every believer!

Luke 14:26  "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.  27  "And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.  28  "For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it;  29  "lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him,  30  "saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.‘  31  "Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?  32  "Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace.  33  "So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.  34  "Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned?  35  "It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!“ 

Jesus set the standard high!  D o you see in this passage how Jesus repeats those who cannot be His disciples.  We must love Jesus first and most, nothing can come before Jesus!  If He is not first you cannot be His disciple!  Jesus words not mine!  Will you pick up the cross and follow Him?  Will you count the cost?  Will you come and surrender under the conditions that Jesus has laid out?  This is what it takes to be His disciple.  He who has an ear to hear, let him hear!!

 THEME 1 THE LOVE OF GO D

John 3:16  "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Jesus did not come just to save us from our sin!  God desires to save you from your sin and for you to have everlasting life!  Not future tense but now live with abundant life.

1 John 4:9  In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.

The love of God was manifested that we might live through Jesus!  The intent of God is for you and I to live!  Not the mundane but the everlasting and abundant life.

1 John 4:10  In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Here is the bible definition of love.  Not that we loved God; but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. This is such a powerful scripture!  We must understand the greatness of the love of God toward us. When Jesus came to earth, His earthly ministry was started after the Father spoke from heaven and declared this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.  We need to receive the truth to the degree with which the Father loves us!  Before we can love we must have the revelation we are loved.

1 John 4:11  Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12  No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.  13  By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.   

We can’t love others without the revelation of the depth of the love of God toward us!  He loved us so much He spent the most valuable asset of heaven; the beloved Son!  His love toward us is the motive for our love for others.  If the believer has love for one another it evidences His love perfected in us.

Ephesians 3:17  that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,  18  may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height;  19  to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

We need strengthened in our inner man so we might know the love of God.  We become strong when we are rooted and grounded in the love God has for us!  Not the intellectual knowing but the intimacy between Jesus and the believer “knowing”!  To know the love of God is to be filled with the fullness of God.

1John 4:14  And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.  15  Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 

Jesus is indeed the Savior of the world!  Those steeped in false doctrine deny verse 15; the truth of verse 15 is clear, whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God!  What a powerful truth.  Life is found exclusively in Jesus Christ alone!

1John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.  17  Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.  18  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.  19  We love Him because He first loved us.

It is not that you have loved God; it is that God has loved you.  Knowing and believing the love that God has for us enables us to live in His benefits.  God is love and we can abide in His love.  The love that has been perfected among us is our knowing and believing the love God has for us.  Knowing and believing His love cast out all fear.  Notice verse 17.  The love that God has for us has been so perfected we can have boldness on the day of judgment!  What??  Love is so perfected we can have boldness on the day of judgment, because as Jesus is, so are we in this world.  This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.  You believer are beloved by God!  No need for fear His love for us is perfect; we love Him because He first loved us.

1 Corinthians 13:1  Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.  2  And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3  And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. 

Operating in this love is imperative!  Our accomplishment are nothing if done outside of His love operating through us!

1 Corinthians 13: 4  Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;  5  does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;  6  does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;  7  bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  8  Love never fails. …

Loves operation is identified well here in 1 Corinthians 13. Love suffers long, is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked thinks no evil.  … the promise of love is that it cannot fail!!

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.

The love of God in our hearts brings constraints to our actions.  Love is the bond of perfection causing us to operate in mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering, and forgiveness! 

Ephesians 1:2  Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,  4  just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,  5  having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,  6  to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved.

The Father’s love is so great He blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ!  He chose us with His good pleasure and made us accepted in the Beloved!

John 15:10  "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.  11  "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.  12  "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.  13  "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.

Receiving the Father’s love empowers us to walk in His commandments.  Jesus commanded us to love one another like Jesus loved us!  It is not within the human realm to love like that.  It is because we have a supernatural birth of the Spirit that we can love like that.  Quit behaving like mere men; walk in love because you are a newly created being in Christ Jesus.

John 13:34  "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.  35  "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

True discipleship is demonstrated and will be recognized by the love we have one for another!  Let the Father’s love compel you!

The Joy Of Philippians lesson # 10

Words to the mature in Christ is the closing words of Philippians

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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.

A key element of walking in victory all of the time is learning to meditate as the word of God has defined it.  God desires to change our mindset.  Mindsets are changed by submitting to the word of God, one thought at a time.  Remember the theme of Philippians is rejoice.  The source of rejoicing is found in the truth of who Jesus  Christ is!

Psalm 19:14  Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.

Put a praise in your mouth and thanksgiving in your heart.

Psalm 104:33  I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.  34  May my meditation be sweet to Him; I will be glad in the LORD.

May my meditation be sweet to God.  It comes from renewing our mind with His word.  More specifically, it comes from meditation on the new and better covenant found exclusively in Jesus Christ.

Philippians 4:9  The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. 

Paul was rejoicing from the jail cell.  Rejoicing in the faith of the believers and Christ being formed in them; God working in the body of Christ superseded all the circumstances Paul found himself facing.  Paul rejoicing in a jail cell lead to the salvation of the warden of the jail and the warden’s family.  Paul rejoicing in a jail cell brought great revelation of the goodness of God to the palace guard of Caesar’s.  Follow godly examples that shows the heartbeat of God by the example of their lives. 

Philippians 4:10  But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity.

The church of Philippi was truly partners in ministry with Paul.  As stated several times in this series, Philippians is for the mature.  Walking in selflessness makes way for the joy of the Lord to flow.  Where a man’s heart is so will his treasure be; the Philippians showed their heart for the gospel by their giving to the apostle Paul.

Philippians 4:11  Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:

Contentment with godliness is great gain.  Paul's relationship with Jesus was great, his heart could be content in any and in all situations; yes, a word of maturity.

Philippians 4:12  I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.  13  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Truly the 12^th and 13^th verse go together.  Everyone love the 13^th verse by itself.  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  However the 12^th verse brings clarity to the 13^th verse.  In the good and in the bad Paul  could walk in the contentment found in Jesus Christ alone.  In abundance or suffering in need or being full or going hungry; Paul could face it all knowing the spirit of Christ would be there in any and all situations.  It speaks of intimacy with God.  Paul was not moved by the circumstance because He consider the greatness of His God.  Paul counted his gain but loss when compared to the greatness of knowing Jesus in intimacy; I want to know Christ.

Philippians 4:14  Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress.  15  Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia , no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only.

Paul praised God that the Philippi church sharing in giving into his ministry.  I have in the last few weeks warned of men asking for your money and they will pray a blessing that can only be had from their prayer after you give to them.  The warning stands, yet there is a giving that God calls His children to!  Giving into fruitful ministry is important; that ministry will be marked by men of God serving as bondservants to God.

Philippians 4:16  For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities.  17  Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.

Do you see the heart of Paul as he taught on giving?  He was not seeking the gift, his desire was to see the believer be found in the fruit that abounds to their account.  Christ formed in the believer even in the grace of giving. 

Philippians 4:18  Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.

Giving with a heart of thanksgiving and rejoicing comes before God as a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.  Giving with a cheerful heart is more importance than the gift itself. 

2 Corinthians 8:9  For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

This passage is the only right motivation for giving into the work of ministry.  Jesus became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.  Oh that the love of Christ would be the only compelling factor for our giving into the ministry.  It is the heart of God revealed!

Philippians 4:19  And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

We need to leave the verse in context that the apostle Paul wrote it in, we must declare that the Philippians were partners into the ministry of Christ Jesus and that is why  Paul declared this blessing over them.  Put God first with your giving and God will add into your life all that you need according to His riches in glory!  That is blessed!

Philippians 4:20  Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.  21  Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you.  22  All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar's household.  23  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

To God be the glory for every prison epistle Paul wrote.  Such beautiful truths declared about the goodness of God.  Paul was imprisoned and it bore fruit finding saints of God in the household of Caesar’s household!  Paul bearing the fruit of the kingdom in the worst of circumstances of life.  Grace (divine influence of God upon the believer’s heart) is the only power that could bear such great fruit.  Any wonder Paul closes with “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.  AMEN!