Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.

Philippians 1:12-18 

Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Philippians 1:18

I continue my study of Paul's prison epistles - Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.  Today I focus on Philippians 1:12-18 where Paul describes how his imprisonment has advanced the gospel while warning against using the gospel for "selfish ambition." Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: V18: Regardless of whether the Word is preached for His glory or for selfish ambition, God is at work and He is in control.  There is a mystery here but we can rest in how He reigns.  This is not the only circumstance where God uses broken sinful and broken people to advance His plan as part of the broad arc of His redemption story.  
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Vv12-13: God uses all of our circumstances for good and His glory - see also Romans 8:28.  In this case, Paul describes how his imprisonment has not stopped efforts to proclaim the gospel.  V14: Paul's bold efforts to share the gospel while imprisoned encourage and motivate other believers to to be bold in their efforts to proclaim the gospel "without fear."  Vv15-17: While some believers use Paul's imprisonment for good and out of love, some do it "from envy and rivalry" and for "selfish ambition..."thinking to afflict" Paul.  Believers should be aware, teachers in particular, that their role is to preach the Word for His good and glory - not for any personal gain, although one is blessed using God-given gifts for His glory.    
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid using selfish ambition to proclaim the gospel.  Claim the promise that God is at work in all circumstances - including our own suffering and trials.  

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, thank You always working in my life, even in suffering, trials, and difficulties.  I know that I can never be separated from Your love!  Thank You Jesus!  Thank You also for my salvation and for the mercies and blessings You pour out for me every day.  I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings You pour out for me daily.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

 

For the Lord will again take delight in prospering you[.]

Deuteronomy 30

For the Lord will again take delight in prospering you[.] Deuteronomy 30:9b

I continue to lean on DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which today looks at the extent to which God delights in blessing us.  John Piper starts the devotion with a bold word of encouragement: "God does not bless us begrudgingly. There is a kind of eagerness about the beneficence of God. He does not wait for us to come to him. He seeks us out, because it is his pleasure to do us good. God is not waiting for us; he is pursuing us."  Piper points us to Psalm 23:6 where the text (NLT) describes God pursuing us. Additional scripture from Exodus 34:6 is offered to show the contrast between God's anger and His mercy. God describes Himself as "a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness[.]"  Piper continues to press on his point by sharing that "God loves to show mercy. Let me say it again. God loves to show mercy. He is not hesitant or indecisive or tentative in his desires to do good to his people. His anger must be released by a stiff safety lock, but his mercy has a hair trigger." Jeremiah 9:24 is yet another example from scripture that highlights how God ceaselessly seeks to bless us. As he moves to close the devotion, Piper wants us to understand that God is unlike people - whose "emotions go up and down," and who let us down.  God is constant and He never lets us down - His goodness is described as akin to Niagara Falls which flows at a rate of 186,000 tons of water every minute - God continues to bless us!  What an uplifting word this morning!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who I know pursues me without fail and never stops seeking to bless me - thank You Jesus! I am not deserving of how You pursue and bless me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.

Psalm 121

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Psalm 121:1-3

I continue to lean on DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which today looks at how God is constantly working for believers. We need to see this is as supernatural encouragement - as only God can provide. John Piper writes that "God is a tireless worker. He never wearies. Think of God as a worker in your life. Yes, it is amazing. We are prone to think of ourselves as workers in God’s life. But the Bible wants us first to be amazed that God is a worker in our lives[.]"  Piper refers to the following verses as means to substantiate his claims:

• Isaiah 64:4: From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who works for those who wait for him.
  
• 2 Chronicles 16:9: The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him.
  
• Mark 10:45: The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve.

Life is a very long race for most - one that requires perseverance, endurance, encouragement, etc.  We should seek to go the One True God who created all things and provides all things as our source of provision for what we need to run and finish the race.  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who never sleeps or stops working for believers, including me - thank You Jesus! I am not deserving of such love.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family,  my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.