Philippians 4:1-3

Philippians 4:1
Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.
Therefore, Stand Fast! Hold true to the Word of God.
Who is Paul talking to here? The Philippians but also to Christians, our brethren.
With a heart full of tenderness and compassion
He says, My dearly beloved STAND FAST
We are reminded in I Thessalonians 5:21 to Prove all things, hold fast that which is good.
We are to discern all things in light of the Word of God and sieze hold of that which is good or valuable or virtuous.

Paul is pleading with the people…Don’t follow the enemies of the cross
Just one enemy of the cross, one false prophet, one false teacher can cause much damage in the body of Christ. Paul tells us to Stand Fast! Yes our world may shake, and the enemy may surround, but Stand Fast! Don’t run, don’t hide, for there is nowhere to run where God cannot find you!!!!

Psalm 139:7-10 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

Don’t run, don’t hide, STAND FAST ON THE WORD OF GOD.
Let HIM, lead you , let Him hold you!
Do others see Jesus in us? Are we Christ like examples as we go through our days?
I’m sure we can all admit that there are times when each of is not, when our ungodly character shows through.

And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment/discernment that ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ

• Sincere: means without wax. Unscrupulous potters would use wax to hide the defects in their goods. It looked good on outside until the heat was turned up, and the cracks would show as the was melted.
• Sincere: means Real. My sister in law in Georgia would say, there ain’t no Southern Bells here Honey! ‘Cause when they gets wet in this heat and humidity, all the sugar and honey on the outside melts and …The Wicked Witch of the West pops out.

We’re not gonna tame our tongue it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. James 3:8
But that doesn’t mean we can’t control the tongue? We will never truly subdue it in this lifetime but we can control it with the help of the Holy Spirit.

It’s been said that the number one reason ministries squabble, even split over is the Women’s ministry. This was exactly, one of the things Paul had to write about to the Phillippians.
Ladies, Ladies, I tenderly beg you to settle your differences due to your standing in the Lord . Be of one mind in Jesus.

Read 4:verses 2-3

I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.

And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.

With tenderness and compassion Paul is begging these women to settle their differences, to be like minded in the Lord. Paul asks the body to "help" them, not to take sides, and make matters worse. There is some speculation among scholars as to why these two were at odds. How many times do we let petty differences come between us ? Do we realize the strife that is created in the body? We are not all hands, or feet or mouths. We must learn to work together under the headship of Christ in submission to Jesus. We are all instruments of God, not one better than another.


One commentator suggested that…” it could not have been a personal matter or Paul would not have addressed it in such a public way, but that it was more possibly a matter in regards to the church, where one may have been drawn away by false teachers and the simplicity of the gospel.”
In any case we can stand fast on the Word of God already revealed to us…That we might love and serve Him with our whole heart.

Let’s Flip back

If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels/ tenderness & mercies/ compassion, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be LIKEMINDED, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Philippians 2:1-2
Paul asks the body to help these ladies who along with Clement were his co-laborers, to settle their differences.
Was is a church matter? Possibly, but Paul was still correct in encouraging, exhorting to keep Jesus as the focus and the object of their affection, that we may all serve shoulder to shoulder being likeminded, having the same LOVE, and being of one accord.
Some are weak, some are strong but in Christ we stand as one!
Paul believed these women to be truly saved. He mentions their names being written in the Book of Life.

Imagine the damage done in the body, when grudges are kept and wounds are nursed to protect self, when forgiveness and mercy is not extended as God has extended it to whosoeverwill! Unfortunately this is not confined to the first century Church. Our job is to Stand Fast on the Word of God!

Remember what you have been taught and have your actions match your endless words.

Philippians is usually referred to as the Epistle of Joy, but don’t forget, there are other themes in this book such as…Humility-Self Denial-Unity in Christ-and Christian like conduct.

Jesus made himself of no reputation, that is the best example of humility we have been given.
He humbled himself, became obedient unto death …on the cross. We have not suffered unto blood. We try to wriggle out of suffering any chance we get.

• HELP!
• Woe is me!
• Oh poor pitiful me!

For God to make a change in our heart in our character we must stand fast under the suffering He allows in life. Yes, Life is hard, but God is good, all the time! Don’t be moved… Don’t be so faint hearted that we may know Him and the power of his resurrection, and fellowship in His sufferings. A life of FAITH in Christ will brings trials. In the midst of those trials choose to die to self.

Only after the Crucifixion was Jesus Resurrected!
Die to self to see the POWER of GOD in a Resurrected life!
A Seed in ground must die before it becomes new life.

That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death. Philippians 3:10

STAND FAST on the Word


To be continued….

originally posted by Hizladybug Aug. 2005

Blessings, Lady

PHILIPPIANS 3

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vs. 13-14 Paul writing to the Philipians
Brethern, I count not myself to have apprehended; but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Paul, does not allow himself to become content with things the way they are, the status quo. He does not consider himself to have attained a position so holy that he can rest awhile.
We have to ask ourselves…do we allow our hearts to rest content with yesterday’s service to our Lord? Are we resigned to the present measure of grace? Or do we press ever forward as a runner in a race to win, or as a soldier who is fighting to win the battle?
Just as a runner who runs to be the first one to the finish line,
we too as children of God should be running with perseverance towards our finish line…The Arms of Jesus.
As a good soldier of Christ we must endure hardship, endure affliction, and suffer trouble, that we might grow stronger in our faith, stronger and more passionate in our resolve to follow hard after God, and more passionate in our love toward God.
None of this can be done in our own strength, but only by the power of God in our lives.
Running in a race or fighting in a war, requires commitment and dedication. Total participation is not optional…it is required.

..................

Blessings, Lady

Philippians 2

verses 1-4
At the end of chapter 1 Paul tells the Phillipians not to be terrifed by their adversaries. They heard word of what was happening to Paul and see the world around them as a time of Christian persecution. Now in chapter 2 Paul makes a request of them. During this time of grief, he exhorts them that if they find any comfort in Christ ( and that is where we should find our comfort in time of need), if they are continuing to walk in the fellowhip of the Holy Spirit , if this brings about any mercy within them, than make my joy complete he says...and do not set your heart on pleasing yourself, but humbly love one another, esteeming others higher than ourselves. Often times we lift someone higher than ourselves because they seem smarter or more talented than we are, or look nicer than we do,
but Remember God looks at the inward man, He looks upon the heart......
But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him:(talking about Saul) for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. I Samuel 16:7
Our goal should be to please and honor God. It is the faith, fear and love of God in a persons heart that God is pleased with. As we esteem or estimate others in our judgement higher than ourselves.

Verses 5-8
John 1:1 tells us In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The chapter goes on to tell that the Word referred to here is none other than Jesus Christ himself! Jesus was with God when He created everything. Jesus is God! He had it all and willingly chose to leave the presence of God, and come to earth in the form of a man, to "put on flesh", and that not of an earthly King to demand honor and respect, but a humble servant. Born to a virgin, He lived a life submissive to the will of His Father in heaven, sinless and obedient all through His life on earth… to His death. Not just any death but the most humiliating, torturous death known to man. As verse 5 says let this mind be in us...the same humility that was in Jesus our perfect example of humility.

verses 9-11 Wherefore....because of our Saviors obedience, Our Father exalts Jesus Highly, He esteems Him highly, above any other. That name literally is a name above any other, and figuratively it is a character or authority above any other.
So that at the name of JESUS every knee shall bow, that is every knee of things in heaven, in and under the earth. And every tounge will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord! That He is the supreme authority over them all. And because of the obedience of the Son in life and in death, because He chose humility, it will bring glory and Honor unto the Father.
Something interesting, the NAME of Jesus or Joshua, is held by Jesus and a few other Isrealites through out the years but in
Revelation 19:11-16 we read...
And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
Remember...figuratively Jesus name is His character or authority...Faithful, True, Word of God, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Counselor, Almighty God, Prince of Peace, Shelter, Shadow, Tower of refuge, Strength, Lover of my Soul...I am convinced it will take me eternity to explore all the facets of the name of my Savior. We have time on this earth to explore the Word of God if we "want" to make time for it, may God reveal those facets.

My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;
So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;
Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;
If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. Proverbs 2:1-5
Reverencing the Lord and finding knowledge in God's Word we can see that if God is Faithful...than we can trust him

• IF God is True...than every man is a liar.
• IF Jesus is the Word of God, than He washes us clean.
• IF He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords than He will rule and reign with ultimate authority.
• IF He is Counselor than our souls will not be satisfied with the counsel of any other.
• IF Jesus is Almighty God than confess Him as Savior now, don't leave earth without being washed in the blood He shed for you.
• IF He is the Prince of peace then stop worrying and fretting and rest in Him.
• IF He is our Shelter than hide safely in Him.
• IF he is your tower of refuge than know that if God be for you than who can be against you.
• IF Jesus is your strength than know that when you are weak He is strong.
• IF Jesus is the lover of our souls, than communion with Him once found is forever longed for.

SO that at the name of JESUS every knee shall bow, that is every knee of things in heaven, in and under the earth. And every tounge will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord!

verses 12-13 As well as Paul knows and loves the Phillipians he still urges them, exhorts them to follow his counsel and secure their salvation.
Our oldest son, has loved hot fresh baked chip chocolate cookies straight from the oven as soon as he was old enogh to reach them on the table. All throughout his young life I have warned him to stay away from them until they cool, and he would always tell me OK Momma, OK Momma, but this one day... I had my back turned just long enough for him to reach up to the cookie sheet on the table and grab a hot cookie. BUT He got too close, and burned his lip on the edge of the cookie sheet. He HEARD with his ears what I had to say to him, but he went straight out and DID what I told him not to do. He is also alot taller and doesn't have to reach UP to the cookie sheet any more, but these days he stands by with a glass of cold milk when I pull the cookies out of the oven .
Open your Bible to the Book of James...
Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. Jam 1:22-25

Paul was not urging the Phillipians to obey God to annoy them, but to put into action the saving work of God in their lives, to obey God with deep reverence and fear. When we obey what we hear God say... we please Him and bring glory and honor to Him.

verses 14-16 Moreover, do all these things that bring pleasure to God, such as fellowship with Him and one another, worship, prayer... do all these things without murmurings and disputings.
I remember when the kids were little and would be grumbling. I would remind them of the punishment that God gave the Israleites for grumbling and complaining...
No not 40 years of DESSERT...but 40 YEARS IN THE DESERT!
How come I can't do that?
How come he gets to do that?
Where's mine?
Oh the whinning and complaing God has put up with from us through out time!!!! And yet He still loves us and is patient with us.
What is it that others see and hear in us?
Non-believers hear loud and clear the message we are sending with our lifestyle. It doesn't even take words to convey it.
We need to be shining the love of Jesus to a warped and morally corrupt generation. We may be the only followers of Jesus our friends or neighbors or co workers or classmates ever see....How do we do this?
By holding onto the Word of God. By sharing the Word with others...by sharing the Word of God that is hidden in our hearts. This is true fellowship...centered around the life of Jesus, and the Word of God. As we speak the words of life...as our lives are clothed in unity and humility, as we hunger and thirst after righteousness, as we walk in purity, and patience, as we live in true peace, given by the Prince of peace the world will see something different. As we walk moment by moment in the arms of the Lover of our Soul, led by the Spirit, this dark world will see a transformed life.
Ok...Think about a Lighthouse...
There is a storm brewing, the sky is getting dark the winds are blowing, the sea is raging and many ships are in danger of being dashed against the rocks. A christian shining for Jesus should be as that Lighthouse. Just by it's shining presence standing ever vigilant, the Lighthouse is warning lives...
LOOK OUT! DANGER!!
THERE ARE ROCKS AHEAD!!
AND IF YOU KEEP GOING,
YOU'LL ALL BE DEAD!!
Paul tells the Phillippians do this, do this...and you will make my joy complete, and so that I will not have run or worked hard for no reason.

verses 17-18 sacrificed for your good than so be it. I will rejoice in that and ask you to rejoice in it as well.
How does Paul find joy in the midst of dying for others? Remember Pauls words in chapter 1
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.Phippians 1:21
Can we say... for me to live is Christ and for to die is gain? As believers, in dying we do not loose all hope, but in dying we will see the evidence of the hope that is within us.

Ok...In John chapter 20 we hear the story of Mary Magdalene when she is all distraught over the fact that the tomb where Jesus was buried was empty. Being so distraught, she forgot He said He would rise again in three days...We are just like Mary aren't we? Our emotions get the better of us and off we go...

Mary went running to get help...PETER, JOHN.... JESUS IS GONE! So they come running and looked into the tomb and said...yup...He's gone...And they went home... WELL! that didn't help! Isn't that just like us? We run to others for help and when that doesn't work we go to what we think is the next best thing...Crying of course! Oh woe is me!!!

Now like Mary, I'm sure our hearts hurt in real pain at times, and I am not making light of that pain, but we cannot let our emotions run our lives. There she is standing all alone, crying her eyes out, and looking into the tomb once again to see if Jesus was there, (I have always thought it would have been great to see the look I imagine on on the angels faces when they saw Mary and asked..."WHY ARE YOU CRYING?"
Now any other itme in scripture when an angel comes to a human they say (probably in a deep booming voice) ...FEAR NOT! DO NOT FEAR!
But here stands a woman, so engulfed in sorrow that 2 angels talking to her doesn't even scare her one bit! She even answers them...They have taken my Jesus and I don't know where they have laid him. Still in sorrow she turns from the tomb and sees who she thinks is the gardener...He asks her... why are you crying, who are you looking for?
So still engulfed in her sorrow she relates her story once more....I can picture her head hung low, tears in her eyes, as she hears who she thinks is the gardner call her name... but in a voice so familiar to her heart.....

......"MARY"

Can you imagine the heart so overwhlemed with sorrow, and suddenly flooded with so much JOY!!!!
My Jesus...MY JESUS...My Savior...Lord there is none like you...ALL of my days I want to praise the wonders of your mighty love. My Comfort, my shelter, tower of refuge and strength, let every breath and all that I am never cease to worship YOU!!!
SHOUT to the Lord, all the earth let us sing! Power and Majesty...Praise to the KING, Mountains bow down and the seas will roar at the sound of your NAME. I'll sing for JOY... at the work of YOUR hands...forever I'll Love you forever I'll stand... Because....Nothing compares to the promise I have in YOU!!!
Ohhhh...how her heart must have lept with JOY.
Then after finally letting go of Jesus she ran to tell the disciples the news, and they all saw Jesus again behind locked doors appear to them. Only Thomas would not even believe what he saw until he could touch Jesus. After Thomas was satisfied that it was Jesus...Jesus told him
because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
Blessed are Paul and Mary and Thomas because they have seen Jesus and believed, but oh how happy, and blessed and joyous are we today who believe in Jesus and yet have not seen Him.
Can we say... for me to live is Christ and for to die is gain? As believers, in dying we do not loose all hope, but in dying we will SEE the evidence of the hope that is within us. For this cause we can REJOICE!

more yet to come......

Blessings, Lady

Philippians 1

In the study of this book...
"I find myself wishing I was a Phillipian", because of the way Paul writes to them...Truly the love of God was upon him when he spoke of and to the Phillipians. The Phillipians had a permanent home in Paul's heart. Of course the letter is also written to us today so I can take part in the love Paul was writing about as well as the encouragement for living a godly life.
Paul = "little one" So unlike the great SAUL whose attention was grasped by God on the road to Damascus where he was struck blind and then became a messenger of God's Word istead of a persecutor of God's people ( You can read about it in Acts chapter 9)
Timothy means = " dear to God"
servants= serving with willing hearts the annointed Messiah Jesus Christ
Paul is writing to all those (consecrated in Christ)
those who are saved by the blood of Jesus, who are in Phillipi with the bishops and the deacons, and that extends to those of us today who have been bought with a price...the precious blood of Jesus..And Paul who has undergone much heartache and trials in his life like being stoned, and going through shipwrecks all because of his love for Jesus is writing about His favorite subject, the object of his worship...Jesus.
For those of you today, who have not made the decision to surrender your life to Jesus, please accept the free gift God is offering you. Time is short in this portion of God's timeline for us...the age of grace...and as soon as the last person that steps into the arms of Jesus ( quite wonderful place to be I might add)... those of us who belong to him and all those that have gone on before us will meet Him in the clouds and so shall we ever be with the Lord!! So don't let the circumstances around us today capture or attention, but instead Look Up for your redemption draweth nigh....it's closer than we think!
As the Book of Revelation says
AMEN AND ALLELULIA
So If you are here and just haven't decided yet...in all love and sincerity... :-)
Don't wait any longer...
WE WANNA GO HOME!!!!

vs. 2. Paul and Timothy extend their prayer of grace to the Phillipians.
grace= a divine influence of the Spirit renewing the heart and restraining from sin
(nothing we deserve but given anyway)
unmerited favor
as well as peace= quietness and rest of the soul
O how we long for peace...
We forget sometimes that both grace and peace can only come from God Our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, and always come in that order.
As we bow our heart in surrender we find grace..
grace= a divine influence of the Spirit renewing the heart and restraining from sin
(nothing we deserve but given anyway)
unmerited favor
as well as peace= quietness and rest of the soul
Paul and Timothy's relationship was very close.
In II Timothy, one of Pauls "Pastoral Letters" that was written during his second Roman imprisonment he writes, that he remembers Timothy night and day in his prayers and that he longs to see Timothy again, because he remembered the tears that were shed during there last parting. The sincere faith he saw in Timothy, Paul remarks is the same he saw in Timothy's mother, Eunice... and his Grandmother, Lois.
His Father was known as a "Greek" which implies him to be an unbeleiver. In II Timothy 1:5 Paul lets us know that the sincere faith he saw in him was the same unfeigned faith he saw in his mother and Grandmother.
As christian women we have a tremendous influence upon our families. Do we use that influence wisely?
Proverbs 31 speaks of a virtuous woman, the ideal christian woman. She is an excellent wife and mother. She is also a farmer a seamstress, a frugal shopper, she is not lazy and she does her husband good not evil all the days of her life. And yet her strength and dignity do not come from her great acheivements, they come from her fear of the Lord, her reverence of the Lord. It is her character that makes her attractive. By all means, paint the barn if it needs painting.. but remember as a jewel of gold in a swines snout, so is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.

As Paul encouraged Timothy to be bold in his faith and not to be timid in speaking of Christ I must encourage you all to speak the Word of God to your families! Satan would love to steal, kill and destroy, our families and has been on the prowl. He would love to lure silly women, who are "Everlearning, but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth" out of their homes, and into his arena, into the grip of the world. With ALL the Universities, Libraries, and the Internet at our fingertips, we have an endless amount of information and much to learn. And yet it is Jesus who in John 17:17 asks God Himself to Sanctify us through the truth and, that God's word is truth!
It is the Knowldege (recognition, discernment, acknowldegement) of the Word of God in our lives and heart that Jesus, who sits at the right hand of God, who makes intercession for us, today just like in John Chapter 17, wants for us.
God speaks of today when He writes in Proverbs 1:22 of the last days... How long, ye simple ones, (foolish, silly, simple ones) will you love simplicity?
And the scorners or mocker of the last days God mentions in the rest of the verse...
and the scorners delight in their scorning,(to ridicule or snear)
and fools (literally those that are stupid)
how long will you hate knowledge?
Even just the business of everyday life can take silly women out of the perfect place of peace God has for them, and in so doing, it affects the family.
Better to use our time wiesly and take the example of Paul and Timothy and spend time in prayer for others.

vs.3 Paul expresses gratitude to God whenever the Phillipians come to mind. Do we pray for those in authority above us? Do we pray for our children our husbands, our church leaders? All these so dear to us need our prayerful support.

vs 4.At all times, in every prayer he includes requests on behalf of the Phillipians. He does this with great delight. Paul is able to express his love towards the Philippians in prayer, in a way that they may not see until eternity, but he pours it upon them none the less!

vs 5.On behalf of their participation in the good news from the beginning until now

vs 6.Paul is Totally convinced-confident- that the intention of Christ is to continue the work which He has begun in them. It is not a grand work of a Revival that encompasses a great many people, although when the work is done by the Spirit that may produce itself as a fruit. It is not a great work of love toward mankind although again it may produce such an effect. But it is an inward work of the heart. A complete surrender, an all consuming refiners fire upon the heart and life of a believer. This work brought to completion by God himself will not be seen in us here on earth. The process will continue until we see our Jesus face to face. So we do not judge others, we look to our own hearts and what God is doing in them, and writing upon them.
Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. 1 Corinthians 4:5

vs. 7 Paul seeing evidence of a sincere Christianty as he says later in the letter the Phillipians move him to say "It is right for me to entertain this opinion of you all because you hold a place in my heart, and you share in my afflictions and in the defense and confirmation of the truth of the gospel message and are all companions at heart. What an awesome thing for him to be able to declare when there were many times that this just wasn't the case.

In II Tim Chapter 4 Paul writes to put Timothy in rememberance that there are some who will turn away from the truth. They will have itching ears, ready to believe a lie rather than... the truth that may make them feel uncomforatable. When we go through trials or even face death, who of us would want some one by our side that may turn and run because they are uncomforatable. As the song goes, when I come to die, "justgive me Jesus"!!!

I want Jesus, I want Jesus by my side.

Lord make us uncomforatable...on fire...

Don't let us be a shallow people, but saints deeply in love with You!

Holy Spirit filled... Bold sincere followers of Jesus Christ!

vs.8 God is my witness to how I yearn for you all with the tender mercies of Jesus. Pauls desire toward the Phillipians puts him in such a state that his heart is strained and he dotes upon the Philipians in prayer. These are thoughts upon his heart that are voiced in prayer and witnessed by God himself. He truly loves them and shows it by praying for them.

vs.9 His prayer is that the Philippians may all overflow more and more with love toward one another in Judgement/or...discernment and perception(The errror of our ways often can be traced back to the lack of our discernment and perception of the TRUTH- the inability to properly perceive our circumstances, sometimes by not having all the details ans sometimes by not wanting to hear them-it is important to know the whole counsel of God to be able to discern and make appropriate decisions based on Gods Word)

In Proverbs 8 wisdom personified speaks...She tells us the instruction of Wisdom for our lives

As Matthew Henry in his commentary writes..."Where there is an understanding heart, and willingness to receive the truth in love, wisdom is valued above silver and gold."

vs.10 Not merely so that we can hold onto what is "not bad" but what is truly good.

I Thessalonians 5:21 Prove all things, hold onto what is good!So that when we are examined we will be found without wax, Refined in the fire and found pure, not stumbling in this race until Jesus... the lover of our souls comes to take us home! That we may overflow with good works on that day to take hold of eternal life, but also to give God the glory and honor due unto His Name.

vs. 11 The fruit of this life seeks it nourishment from the vine, from Jesus. Without the Holy Spirit we have no way of producing good fruit. We should be bearing inward as well as outward hoiness.
vs. 12-13 Here personally through the letter Paul can tell the Phillipians in his own words...for he knew of their concern for him, and would want their hearts to be put at ease...Yes I am in prison but it will help in spreading of the gospel, right up to the palace, and the palace guards and all the house of Ceasar :)
He gives this away in the 4th chapter, and how exciting to know he had an effect on the people around him. Through working or suffering, through living or dying, it is God who chooses how we serve Him. We do all unto the glory and praise of God!
vs. 14-21 If it takes being in prison for others to become more bold in their proclamation of Jesus and His good news than so be it. If Jesus is preached purely and honestly or to make me suffer even more...it doesn't matter I rejoice and will rejoice..because Christ is preached! That's all that matters.
All you have to do is open the Book of Maytyrs and start reading of those cut in two, torn apart peice by piece, left to be eaten by animals, tortured, beaten, set on fire, and yet they like Paul did not turn from Jesus because they were uncomforatable, they clung to Him, because of thier convictions of the truth, because He...Jesus... loved them first.
Paul anticipates with pleasure that in no way will he choose to disgrace his Lord. Whether in life or in death...with all boldness he declares...
I will declare Jesus!
For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
To know our Jesus, to commune with Him in an intimate way, to talk with and worship the object of our desire, to serve obediently, contentedly, and declare Him to a lost and dying world is to live in Christ, and yet to die in Him is even greater gain. To die in Jesus, does not bring sorrow, but joy. As believers we can say...
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 1Co 15:55
We look beyond the physical aspects of life and understand that our Heavenly Father holds our future, as well as our present in his hands.

vs 22 It is not up to man to choose to live or die, that is in the hands of God, contrary to recent court decisions. So if we live longer, we have more time to serve Our Lord and Savior which brings fruit that will bring glory and honor to Him. Paul didn't know what he would choose even if the choice were left up to him.
vs. 23-28 He's stuck between a rock and a hard place. To go and be with the Lord would be awesome...but to remain here for your sakes is a much more needful thing. Because I am convinced of this, I know Paul says that I will remain here with you so that your joy... your reliance on Christ will continue to progress.
That I may see that your boasting in Christ may abound the next time I have the chance to visit with you all.
Since this is the case, since it looks like I am gonna be stickin' around... let your conduct be appropriate and according to the Gospel, the good news.
WE are to BE sincere christians, Be ye doers of the Word and not hearers only decieving ourselves, as James tells us in 1:22. So that when others are watching or not, our works may glorify our Father which is in heaven. So that we would perservere in one spirit, one mind...both meaning literally breath...that we would perservere on the breath of God... the God breathed Word of God. Laboring together as one in the profession of the gospel...the finished work of the Cross!
And another thing! or... But wait there is more!
DO NOT be afraid of anything the enemy can do to you.
Heb 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Heb 13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
Becauseas a believer... Almighty God is on my side!!! If God be for us, who can stand against us.!So I do not worry about lies that have been spoken of me, or traps that may be set, for my God has it all under control.

vs 29-30 But wait...there is EVEN MORE...(I just love the way Paul writes)

We haven't just been given the favor to believe in Jesus, but also to suffer for His sake!
through the eyes of God, His word and His Spirit we should be seeing our ciscumstances differently than the world does. We are graced with the opportunity to suffer in the name of Jesus Christ. That comes about it many ways but lets take a look at Paul's life.

The Phillipians SAW Paul in jail before and that was is Phillipi. Remember in Acts 16 when He and Silas were going to pray they came across a slave girl who was demon possesed. Well, her owner didn't care too much for Paul casting the demon out of her, because now he didn't have a demon possesed girl who could tell the truth and bring them income. So the owners created an uproar and blamed it on Paul and Silas. The Roman officials had them arrested beaten, and put in stocks in the prison. The Phillipans SAW and HEARD the way Paul reacted with praising and worshipping as he sang. Even the Roman guard and his household became believers after this and the earthquake set Paul and Salias free, yet they did not run. They SAW this conflict and now they HEAR Paul to be in another one. Again he is in prison and they sent him a gift by way of the messenger Epaphrodites. The fires of persecution under the mad man Nero were beginning to balze at this time in History, which didn't make things look good for Paul, or for the Phillipians. And yet from a prison cell He writes of JOY!
When we are squeezed on all sides, what comes out?Is it worship and singing?? Do we pray for deliverance or do we run to others complaining? Do we take JOY in the fact that we have been given the favor to suffer for Christ? Or do we wriggle out from under the first sign of suffering because it makes us uncomforatable?

Our challenge from God's word, lived out in the life of Paul the humble apostle of God who calls himself the servant of Jesus Christ...let God contiue His perfect work IN us and THROUGH us, until the day we stand before Him.

Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ Phillipians 1:6