Philippians 2:11-30
Read Philippians 2:11-30 .
Today I was thinking how important it is that we talk to each other about specific ways that God has taught us something. So I shared one specific way that God has taught me how I can recognize His voice and another member shared a devotional entry that she read on humiliation. Every week as we study Philippians some one in our study is going to share about a specific lesson or encouragement that they have felt came straight from God, won't you join us and either leave your story on this blog for others to be encouraged by or share your story with someone else in your life. It really is strengthening.
We will see in this passage that faithful friends are hard to come by and we need to encourage them when we have them.
Last week we looked at the words that Paul uses of Jesus as He describes His humility. Someone in our group said that word kind of bothered/puzzled her because it reminded her of "humiliation" and none of us want to suffer that. We discussed how Christ did suffer humiliation as He was rejected and tortured. The very place of His cruxifixion outside the city wall meant to the Jew that Jesus had been placed outside God's covenant. How humiliating was that?! Yet Paul encourages the Philippians to look at the example of Jesus' humility as a spring board for their own.
You see there was disunity in the church and Paul was saying, take a break from your fighting, look to Jesus and then go back and start acting like He did. Don't you think that it would make a difference for all of us to do that?
Paul probably helped start this church and he encourages the Philippians by telling them that they were obedient to start the church and as far as he knew they had always been obedient and he did not want them to get side tracked. He says, be obedient to your church and to each other by "working out" their salvation. What does it mean to "work out your salvation". First we have to realize that salvation is not earned but is a free gift from God.
Read: Ephesians 2:5-10, John 15:4 and I Corinthians 15:10.
Our faith is not based on our works. It is a relationship. We can not work out if nothing has been worked in (within). In other words, working out our salvation is an outward expression of what has taken place in our hearts and minds. It filters outwardly in our attitudes and responses toward one another.
Paul goes on to say to work out that salvation with "fear and trembling". I found this particularly interesting because in chapter one Paul had said to be bold or have no fear. I think it is a contrast of no fear verses a healthy fear. We do not have to fear anything when we know that God's spirit dwells within us because He is always with us. On the other hand, it is healthy to fear a life without God. A fear that places us with total reliance on God is good because then He can work in and through us. You have no power if you just say, "I am a Christian and I am just going to do this or that and help God out," we need to say, "Lord, this morning fill me with your spirit and give me wisdom, strength and power to do whatever you place before me today." God does not need us (surprise) but we have to have Him. He will use us as we rely on Him in ways we never thought possible. He will as the passage states, "will and work within us for His good pleasure. "
Paul also says to do EVERYTHING without grumbling or disputing. The picture for grumbling is of a "plague spot." Now, I know you know that as true. Just think of a city that has been taken over by some sort of plague and they are paralyzed. We lived in Pennsylvannia when my children were little and an outbreak of polio occured. I have to say that no one thought about or talked about anything else for weeks until it was over. Complaining can be just like a plague.
It causes an immovable situation and may bring about deterioration in relationships and personally. It weakens!
Paul says to do these things so the Philippians may prove themselves which means to show themselves...to be blameless which means to live a life that a finger of criticism can not be pointed toward and to be innocent...which means as metal with no impurities. To do ALL that in a crooked a perverse generation. He is saying instead of being distracted by the perversions of the day, set your eyes on Jesus and to be lights. Someone once told me that this meant to be the healthy child in the midst of sick ones. You only have to turn on the TV, ie Survivor, to see the depravity of our society and what has became so easily tolerated. We are called to stand firm in our faith and to be lights in the midst of the present society.
Finally, Paul is sending his dearest friends that have hung with Him and been faithful to him even risking there life for Him. May we be that kind of friend to someone.
Today I was thinking how important it is that we talk to each other about specific ways that God has taught us something. So I shared one specific way that God has taught me how I can recognize His voice and another member shared a devotional entry that she read on humiliation. Every week as we study Philippians some one in our study is going to share about a specific lesson or encouragement that they have felt came straight from God, won't you join us and either leave your story on this blog for others to be encouraged by or share your story with someone else in your life. It really is strengthening.
We will see in this passage that faithful friends are hard to come by and we need to encourage them when we have them.
Last week we looked at the words that Paul uses of Jesus as He describes His humility. Someone in our group said that word kind of bothered/puzzled her because it reminded her of "humiliation" and none of us want to suffer that. We discussed how Christ did suffer humiliation as He was rejected and tortured. The very place of His cruxifixion outside the city wall meant to the Jew that Jesus had been placed outside God's covenant. How humiliating was that?! Yet Paul encourages the Philippians to look at the example of Jesus' humility as a spring board for their own.
You see there was disunity in the church and Paul was saying, take a break from your fighting, look to Jesus and then go back and start acting like He did. Don't you think that it would make a difference for all of us to do that?
Paul probably helped start this church and he encourages the Philippians by telling them that they were obedient to start the church and as far as he knew they had always been obedient and he did not want them to get side tracked. He says, be obedient to your church and to each other by "working out" their salvation. What does it mean to "work out your salvation". First we have to realize that salvation is not earned but is a free gift from God.
Read: Ephesians 2:5-10, John 15:4 and I Corinthians 15:10.
Our faith is not based on our works. It is a relationship. We can not work out if nothing has been worked in (within). In other words, working out our salvation is an outward expression of what has taken place in our hearts and minds. It filters outwardly in our attitudes and responses toward one another.
Paul goes on to say to work out that salvation with "fear and trembling". I found this particularly interesting because in chapter one Paul had said to be bold or have no fear. I think it is a contrast of no fear verses a healthy fear. We do not have to fear anything when we know that God's spirit dwells within us because He is always with us. On the other hand, it is healthy to fear a life without God. A fear that places us with total reliance on God is good because then He can work in and through us. You have no power if you just say, "I am a Christian and I am just going to do this or that and help God out," we need to say, "Lord, this morning fill me with your spirit and give me wisdom, strength and power to do whatever you place before me today." God does not need us (surprise) but we have to have Him. He will use us as we rely on Him in ways we never thought possible. He will as the passage states, "will and work within us for His good pleasure. "
Paul also says to do EVERYTHING without grumbling or disputing. The picture for grumbling is of a "plague spot." Now, I know you know that as true. Just think of a city that has been taken over by some sort of plague and they are paralyzed. We lived in Pennsylvannia when my children were little and an outbreak of polio occured. I have to say that no one thought about or talked about anything else for weeks until it was over. Complaining can be just like a plague.
It causes an immovable situation and may bring about deterioration in relationships and personally. It weakens!
Paul says to do these things so the Philippians may prove themselves which means to show themselves...to be blameless which means to live a life that a finger of criticism can not be pointed toward and to be innocent...which means as metal with no impurities. To do ALL that in a crooked a perverse generation. He is saying instead of being distracted by the perversions of the day, set your eyes on Jesus and to be lights. Someone once told me that this meant to be the healthy child in the midst of sick ones. You only have to turn on the TV, ie Survivor, to see the depravity of our society and what has became so easily tolerated. We are called to stand firm in our faith and to be lights in the midst of the present society.
Finally, Paul is sending his dearest friends that have hung with Him and been faithful to him even risking there life for Him. May we be that kind of friend to someone.
I leave you with three questions based upon the scripture study above. Feel free to share your answers.
Who has been the godly examples in your life? Why?
Who would you lay your life down for?
Can you think of a present circumstance where your light needs to shine?
posted by Glenda at
2:10 PM
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