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Philippians 2:12-4:23<\/strong><\/span> Philippians chapter 3 verse 3 is a great teaching from Paul \u2013 \u201cFor we who worship God in the Spirit\u00a0are the only ones who are truly circumcised. We put no confidence in human effort. Instead, we boast about what Christ Jesus has done for us.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 How do you worship God?\u00a0 Do you worship in the Spirit?\u00a0 Do you put no confidence in your own human efforts?\u00a0 Do you today boast to others about what Jesus Christ has done for you?<\/span><\/p>\n Bible.org\u2019s commentary on today\u2019s readings in Philippians chapter 2 titled \u201cA Few Good Men\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n Great teachings from Paul today in Philippians chapter 3!\u00a0 Verses 7 through 9 are so very true \u2013 \u201cI once thought all these things were so very important, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I may have Christ and become one with him.\u201d <\/em>\u00a0 How do these words of Paul\u2019s speak to you?\u00a0 Have you ever valued & loved \u201cthings\u201d in your life more than your relationship with Jesus?\u00a0 Can you now look back and realize that those things \u2013 love of power, money, prestige, or material goods, etc. \u2013 are worthless because of what Jesus Christ has done for you on the cross?\u00a0 Can you now see that love of those things is garbage \u2013 garbage that can prevent you from growing closer to Jesus if you do not throw it out?\u00a0 Is there any garbage in your life today that you should be throwing out\u2026?<\/span><\/p>\n Today we also read Paul\u2019s amazing teachings in verses 12 through 14 \u2013 \u201cI don\u2019t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection! But I keep working toward that day when I will finally be all that Christ Jesus saved me for and wants me to be. No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 How about you?\u00a0 Are you all that you should be?\u00a0 Are you focusing all of your energies on reaching the end of the race and receiving the prize for which God is calling you?\u00a0 Are you forgetting the past?\u00a0 Are you looking forward to what lies ahead?\u00a0 Are you looking forward to heaven?\u00a0 In this race called life, is your focus on heaven as your prize?<\/span><\/p>\n Bible.org\u2019s commentary on today\u2019s readings in Philippians titled \u201cPaul\u2019s Perspective on Perfectionism\u201d <\/strong>is <\/span>at this link<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n Wow\u2026 so many great teachings from Paul here today as we close out his letter to the church in Philippi!\u00a0 I love Philippians chapter 4 verse 4 today \u2013 \u201cAlways be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again\u2013rejoice!\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 How does this verse speak to you?\u00a0 Are you full of joy in the Lord right now?\u00a0 Are you always full of joy in the Lord?\u00a0 Why or why not?\u00a0 Do you think Paul\u2019s teaching here is correct \u2013 should we always be full of joy in the Lord?\u00a0 Let us rejoice!<\/span><\/p>\n Verses 6 & 7 are so very powerful for each of us to truly learn and put into practice in our lives today!\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God\u2019s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Do you worry?\u00a0 Why does Paul tell us not to worry about anything?\u00a0 What did Jesus say to us about worrying in the Sermon on the Mount?\u00a0 What does Paul tell us to do instead of worrying?\u00a0 Pray.\u00a0 This is a powerful powerful thought!\u00a0 Think about this the next time you catch yourself worrying.\u00a0 You know that when you worry you are wasting energy and time.\u00a0 So, why not follow Paul\u2019s simple instructions here \u2013 when you catch yourself worrying, start praying.\u00a0 Really.\u00a0 Don\u2019t give one more minute or one more ounce of your energy to worrying.\u00a0 When you find yourself worrying, get down on your knees and pray!\u00a0 Tell God what you need \u2013 AND thank him for all he has done.\u00a0 Sure, it may be tough to thank God at your moment of worrying, but you should do so, in addition to telling him what you need.\u00a0 We should always thank God.\u00a0 And then\u2026 here\u2019s the beauty\u2026. you will experience God\u2019s peace!\u00a0 His peace will guard your heart and mind as you live in Jesus!\u00a0 Let us each stop worrying and start praying!\u00a0 Actually\u2026 while I\u2019m already down this path, think about this.\u00a0 Do you think that you spend more time each day worrying or praying?\u00a0 Really, think about this.\u00a0 How many minutes a day would you say that you worry?\u00a0 And how many minutes a day would you say you pray?\u00a0 My hunch is that worrying takes up far more minutes for most of us\u2026 Look at how we are wasting precious time on worrying!\u00a0 We don\u2019t have that kind of time\u2026\u00a0 Let us pray!<\/span><\/p>\n And finally Philippians chapter 4 verses 8 and 9 are so beautiful: \u201cAnd now, dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing as I close this letter. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and heard from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 What type of things do you think about typically?\u00a0 Do you typically think about what is true and honorable and right?\u00a0 Do you often think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable?\u00a0 Do you think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise?\u00a0 Or are you filling your mind with other thoughts?\u00a0 Thoughts that, like worry, are a complete waste of your precious time here on this earth?\u00a0 Will you instead put into practice Paul\u2019s teachings \u2013 and the teachings you have received this year from the One Year Bible \u2013 and allow the peace of God to be with you?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Bible.org\u2019s commentary on our readings today in Philippians chapter 4 verses 1 through 9 titled \u201cStand Fast, Stand Together\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n Worship Video<\/strong> \u2013<\/em> Today\u2019s readings in Philippians remind me of the Chris Tomlin song \u201cJesus Messiah:\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
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