Philippians

Philippians 4 verse 13 says:

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Whatever it is that God calls me to I know I can do it. Why? Because I do anything or accomplish anything in my own strength but through the strength I get from Jesus in my life.

Often we baulk or pull back when we are asked to do something out of our comfort zone or beyond the level of our present experience or natural capabilities. However, this is actually a great place to be! It is only in our lack and limitation that we truly see God and His all sufficiency.

Note, it is THROUGH Him we do all things. Not just WITH Him. There’s a big difference.

Jesus is not just here to come along for the ride with you. Jesus isn’t your “get out of jail free” card, just waiting to be used. Jesus is not some sort of genie, on standby for when you get into a sticky situation. No, Jesus is our Lord and Saviour!

In other words, we need to first submit our way to him, lay ourselves down before Him and humbly follow Him. In this way, it is not our wild ideas and fun plans we get Jesus in on, it is His plans and purposes we submit to. And in so doing, it is THROUGH Jesus and His strength, we can do all things.

PRAYER: Father, I humbly submit to you today and your Lordship over me. I ask you to lead me in your ways and paths and I receive all the strength I need to walk in them. In Jesus name, Amen.

Philippians 2:14-15 says:

Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky

One of the signs of a wicked and depraved generation is complaining and arguing.

Does that surprise you? It can come as a shock to read that because we see, we hear, we are a part of it on a daily basis!

In our lives we are invariably encountering people who are ‘pride’-ful and wanting to to make contention over the smallest of matters. We see arguing and complaining in politics, in current affairs, in workplaces, in schools, in our homes. And it is a sign, the Bible tells us, of a God-less philosophy and outlook on life.

The charge to us, as believers, is to be different. Unlike the Israelites coming out of the Egypt we can’t afford to be whiners, complainers and party to a divisive, rebellious spirit.

Complaining and arguing point to a lack of gratitude and thankfulness in our lives. Do we have things to be thankful for? Absolutely. And who is to thank for them? Our heavenly Father.

To look past those blessings upon our lives, and instead focus on the issues we are not happy about, reveals we actually believe we are entitled to more, to better and to greater things than that which we have or experience. Like spoilt brats we can’t appreciate what we have and so we point the finger at our faithful Father, accusing Him of negligence.

Nothing could be further from the truth!

We all get frustrated. We all have bad days. But to be known as a grumbler, a whiner or a complainer is to be selfish, proud, and unbelieving. As followers of Christ we should have no part of it.

PRAYER: Father, I thank you for your blessings in my life. I ask you to help me cultivate a thankful attitude and positive outlook. May my words and confession be pleasing to you and represent you, my faithful Father well. I ask it in Jesus name, Amen.

Philippians 1 verse 27-29 says:

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,

How does Paul live ‘in a manner worthy of the gospel of Jesus’? He tells us in the verses ahead:

• He is going to stand firm and contend (v.27)
• He is not going to be alarmed or fearful (v.28)
• He is going to keep believing Jesus and His promises (v.29)
• He is going to suffer for Jesus sake, if that’s what it takes (v.29)

In doing all this Paul was committing himself to live in a manner that the gospel of Jesus Christ deserves. Wow! Talk about heavy.

But how do you go from the life you are living now, to the life that Paul is describing above?

If we scroll back a couple of verses, Paul reveals the core belief that he had that enabled him to live as he did, for the sake of the gospel.

Philippians 1:21 says:

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

This is the attitude and conviction of someone who lives in a manner worthy of the gospel.

“To live is Christ”. Jesus is my life. He is who I live for and a real, living, deep, earnest relationship with Him is what sustains me. Because I walk with Jesus, I walk like Jesus walked. I love what He loves and hate what He hates. He is my life and I love Him.

“And to die is gain” Beyond living with Jesus and walking with Him here on earth, there is only death. But I want you to know, even that is a win for me! Death is no threat. In fact, it’s a reward to me because then I will be with Him forever! If I live I win, and if you kill me, it’s check mate!

What a radical, focused, purposeful and liberated life!

Let’s pursue it together!

PRAYER: Father, I want to live with this sole focus in my heart – to live fully for you, or to be fully with you. I choose to love you and live for you Lord in life or death. Enable me by your Spirit today, In Jesus name, Amen.

Phiippians Chapter 1 verse 9 and 10 say:

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;

Love. Both through Jesus and for Jesus, love is the starting point for all insight, depth of knowledge and discernment.

Do you wanted to be truly discerning? Then you need love. True love is both from God and IS God is the starting point of this progression.

How do we truly love Jesus? We need to first receive the love of the Father for us. How do we truly love others? We must first be filled with the love of God in our own hearts.

As the love of God fills us and builds us it begins to work in us to change us. One of the changes that takes place in us is that we begin to desire “real knowledge”. Real KNOWledge is not simply knowledge. It is KNOWing that which is real – the Truth, Jesus. Real knowledge comes from knowing Jesus.

The more we know Jesus and grow in our relationship with Him, the more we begin to walk in true insight and revelation. We begin to become more and more acquainted with the Truth and in doing so, because more discerning about that which is not true.

The motive and the fuel for all true discernment and insight is love. Not education. Not experience. Not intelligence. Not suspicion. But love. Why is this? Because we can only grow in love as we grow in our knowledge of Jesus.

As we grow in our walk with Jesus, as His love abounds in us then we are truly able to discern what is excellent. Jesus wants the best for you. Not just the passable or the possible. Not just the acceptable or the average. But that which is truly excellent.

There are many options and possibilities in life, but it is only out of a love relationship with Jesus we will be able to discern what is truly excellent and so be able to walk blamelessly until He comes again!

PRAYER: Father I ask that you fill my heart with a deep love for you. Let me know your love that I might know and discern the truth and what is best. Give me the grace to walk in that which is excellent Lord. Amen