Perspectives

Spring cleaning – how many of you like spring cleaning?

Well I am one that likes this time of the year.  I am just a few short weeks from being done with work and it sure would be nice to hit the summer months with things cleaned up and cleaned out.  

The worst areas in my home are my art and craft rooms…. I know a few of you have seen my disasters! I have worked on art and crafts during the year, pulling them out into the living room or dining area, then I have quickly put it back into those rooms when it is time to clean up.  Or should I really say I piled things into those rooms.  Then there are art shows and activities at my school where I am dragging things in and out of those rooms….well by Spring things are piled up, messy and out of place.  So I like to get in there and rearrange and sort and put things back where they should have been put in the first place… Can you relate to this or are you all neater than that!

Spring cleaning can be a blessing or a curse!  A lot depends on how we look at things, our perspective.  Are you a glass half full or glass half empty kind of person?

 Now I could try to walk into those rooms and say to myself… WOW you can barely walk in here with all the stuff you left in the middle of the road!  This is going to take forever! Do you really want to spend an eternity cleaning when you are most likely… no absolutely going to make it a mess again!  What a colossal waste of time!   OR I can do like I do every year at this time, get excited to see my room back in order, everything in its place, I know where things are again and like that things are together.  What a wonderful feeling of accomplishment and completion when it is all done.

Our perspective, the way we look at things, determines so much about how we approach things.  It can be a help or a hindrance.  There was a time in Jesus’s life where he pointed out how much a person viewed their sin changed their attitude about the way they did things.   In Luke 7: 28 Jesus is talking to the crowd about John the Baptist.

Luk 7:28  For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.

Luk 7:29  (When all the people heard this, and the tax collectors too, they declared God just, having been baptized with the baptism of John,

Luk 7:30  but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.)

Even when rejecting the purpose of God, there was one Pharisee that invited Jesus to his home.  Let’s continue in verse 36.

Luk 7:36 -50  One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table.  And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.

Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner."

And Jesus answering said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." And he answered, "Say it, Teacher."  "A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?"

Simon answered, "The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt." And he said to him,"You have judged rightly."

Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little."

And he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, "Who is this, who even forgives sins?" And he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

Sounds to me like her perspective cleared the way for her heart to show just how much she loved the Lord.  It really wasn’t a matter of how many sins she had, it was a matter not being worthy of our Holy Savior.   The sad truth is one bite of the fruit was enough to put us into an eternity of hell and put Jesus on the cross. 

Simon was judging this woman according to her sins.  He didn’t have as many as her… or at least that is what he was thinking. 

Let’s change our perspective on this.

If you were asked to join a contest with me to swim to Japan and we all thought we could swim there because we knew we were better swimmers than the next person, we might look down our nose at the other swimmers and think how much better we are than them.  The reality is Japan is like 5000 miles away and none of us would make it.

That great distance is way smaller than the gap of holiness it would take to get us into heaven.  We can’t get there; we all fall way short of that kind of holiness.  It takes Jesus for us to make that trip.  That is why one sin is just as bad as a million sins; just one keeps us from communion with God.  If instead of counting the sins we have, should we look at the impossibility of gaining heaven without the price that was paid to redeem us, even when we were enemies of God, even if it was only one sin it was too big.  We have no righteousness without God. 

This should help us to change our perspective on many other things when it comes to God.  And since such a great price has been paid for our salvation, as it says in Romans 6:18  and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.

As a slave you surrender all. You are His. You have been bought with a price. There is no other option other than surrender, renounce all that you have, your life. Surrender means you are willing to say to God I am yours for anything, any place, any time.

WE should be zealous, fanatical, fervent, obsessed with God and what he wants because we ARE Saved! It should be a measure of how much we value what He has done, because He has given you grace. We should be excited because we have been given the privilege to pray, to serve him, and love because we have been redeemed!  We no longer face an eternity in hell! We love him because he loved us and had mercy on us.  Loving God is your spiritual worship or reasonable service.  The very least we could do!

Do we have a zealous love for God?  Compare your love to Jacob’s (in Genesis) when he falls in love with Rachel. He worked 7 yrs for her, waiting to be wed to her, because he loved her so much. And they seemed to him a short time because of his love for her. 

Do we have that kind of great love for God, the kind of love that will keep us working for 7 years without reward?  Do we have the kind of love that will keep going 7 more years, even though we are tricked and deceived?  Do we love him because He first loved us? Do we love his word, knowing that he will speak to us through it? Do we desire to commune with him in daily prayer?  Do we keep his commandments and his commandments are not burdensome?   What is your perspective?

Think about the Busers (our missionaries to Paupa New Guinea), who went and accepted mud in their face, rats at their bed nibbling on their toes, malaria carrying mosquitos and untold other hardships.  Do you love anything more than Christ?  If you do, what are you trying to hang on to?  He has given us so much more!  Not only has he paid the price to give us the holiness for heaven, God gives us what we need to serve him in the here and now.

2Co 3:5-6  Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Are you trying to become more sufficient, to have the right amount of whatever to be a better Christian, with a little more time, effort, or preparation? This perspective is in direct disagreement with the Lord.  Once again we can’t get there! We are totally unable to be good Christians, as it said in that scripture, we can’t say we are sufficient or claim that anything comes from us!  Quit drowning in your effort.  He says that we are not able to supply "anything" that He wants to see. Our sufficiency has to be from God."  The sufficient resources for living the Christian life are to be found in God alone. It is through God's grace, His fully adequate supply, God is our source of all that is needed for godly living.

The difference between living by God's supply or by our own resources is a "life and death" matter. "The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life."

Living the Christian life by our own capabilities will spiritually kill us. It will eventually leave us exhausted, discouraged, condemned. Whereas, depending upon the Spirit of God to supply the abundant grace of God leaves us strengthened, encouraged, and comforted.   Is your walk stagnating? Are you too tired to pray, to serve, to love? Then you are trying to do things on your own, we need to depend on God.

Jesus said, "I am the vine, you are the branches" (Joh_15:5). We can look to Christ for our very life source. We don't have to produce a life on our own. We can concentrate on abiding (depending) on Him. He makes our lives fruitful and effective. We can look to Jesus for direction and coordination. We can depend upon Him for planning, guiding, and timing in our entire lives. We can anticipate that He will monitor, maintain, and adjust our situations.

WE need to be zealous, passionate, to be like Christ. So when you do anything, say anything,  you  should worry about how it pleases God.  You need to be in constant communion, praying without ceasing, listening to the Spirit, growing in faith and love, which will lead us to great service for our King.

Eph 5:1- Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

We persevere, we endure, and we cling to His word and live for him daily, no matter what comes.  In our prayer life, in our service, in our love – How can we do anything less? We need to get the right perspective, our fervency for our Lord, willing to do anything for Him because of what he has done for us.

I have always been amazed at the martyrs listed in Foxes book of martyrs.  I didn’t understand how people could get through torture by clinging to Christ, but now I realize it is a matter of perspective.  I want to tell you about one of them, his name was Polycarp. 

He had been a Christian since he was a child, but the Romans didn’t kill him until he was in his eighties. His death is the first recorded martyrdom in post-New Testament church history.  He was a pastor in the early church and had a great perspective about our Lord.  

When he was captured by guards he asked if he could spend an hour in fervent prayer (this should be the first place we go to align ourselves with the will of God).  This alone made the guards repentant for his Polycarp’s capture. 

He was then taken before the proconsul.  The proconsul was insistent and said: "Take the oath, and I shall release you. Curse Christ."   

Polycarp said: "Eighty-six years I have served him, and he never did me any wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?" … 

(at that moment Polycarp served God by proclaiming God’s faithfulness and His saving grace)

But the proconsul said: "I have wild beasts. I shall throw you to them, if you do not change your mind."

But Polycarp said: "Call them. For repentance from the better to the worse is not permitted us; but it is noble to change from what is evil to what is righteous."

(He loved God so much that it didn’t matter what God put into his life, even death.  He knew that God’s plan would lead to righteousness, so he put his trust in God no matter what)

And again [the proconsul said] to him, "I shall have you consumed with fire, if you despise the wild beasts, unless you change your mind."

But Polycarp said: "The fire you threaten burns but an hour and is quenched after a little; for you do not know the fire of the coming judgment and everlasting punishment that is laid up for the godless. But why do you delay? Come, do what you will."  (at this he showed his love for others,  letting them know the price of sin,  that there is hell awaiting those that stay in godlessness)

IF we love God, truly love him, we will have the desire to commune with him, follow him no matter where, no matter what, no matter when and then to serve him fully.  He has conquered our life and we have surrendered all as a slave to him.

The intimate relationship the Lord wants to develop with us is the joining of a husband and a wife. "You also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another, to Him who was raised from the dead" (Rom_7:4).  We can count upon Jesus to love us faithfully and sacrificially. We can rest in His constant companionship, never leaving us for any reason throughout our time here on earth.

Joined intimately to Christ, nothing can separate us from the love and kindness that He has for us: "For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. . . that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus" (Rom_8:38-39 and Eph_2:7).  It’s a matter of perspective.

It is time to ramp up our prayer life, our service, our Love for one another.  Are you ready to move in your Christian life to a new level of service? Are you willing to be as committed as Polycarp because of what God is doing for us? Giving your life, your time, your all completely as it is our reasonable service.

We need God; the world is filled with oppression and darkness. People are lost, suffering, starving and dying. They feel despair and hopelessness... We can’t do anything.  But God can.

This is not about spiritual gifts this is about supernatural power. Only God can bring wonders of salvation, deliverance, freedom, rescue, repentance, revival, reconciliation, and forgiveness. We need mighty servants of God raised up all over the world to be fervent in prayer, fervent in service, to teach and proclaim His Word, to love the un-loveable. We need boldness and fearlessness. We need supernatural strength to suffer well when suffering is imperative to His glory. He is able to do immeasurably more than we could ask or think but He commands us to ask and think, and to pray and believe, to seek. It is our turn to turn the world upside down for Christ!

We are here such a short time. You and I will stand in that great cloud of witnesses in the blink of an eye. We want to be among the generations of whom Jesus can say, “Through these women I did great and mighty things. Those people had trust and fiery faith.”  Jesus, change our perspective and revive us again.

Let’s pray:

Dearest Heavenly father, Lord God of all Grace, I pray now for myself and the women here.  We humbly admit that we have often held a perspective so different from You.  We have repeatedly behaved as though the Christian life depended upon what we thought we could do from our own resources, and, Lord, as You have declared, it has brought forth spiritual deadness.

Please teach us to trust in Your Holy Spirit to bring forth into our life the full sufficiency of Your immeasurable grace.  Because of your sacrifice for us, let us be willing to serve in any way.  Serving not to get saved, but because you died for us so we could live.  Let us give ourselves as a sacrifice, holy, set apart, living differently, whether we are in the workplace, in the theater, watching tv, or wherever, let us be concerned about what you would think and how we can be pleasing to you.  Let us clean out the clutter in our lives with a new perspective about our serving you.

 In your precious name, Jesus. Amen

One of the ways that we can develop a closer walk is to fully study God’s word.  Cornerstone has purchased a one on one Biblical Study called Partners.  It is an intense study on the foundations of the Gospel.  So far I am the only partner leader, but I have others going through the study, so we will have other leaders soon.  Are you willing to walk into a deeper study?  Will you partner with us as we grow in the Lord?  If you are, then you need to sign up for this one on one study.  

Women of Courage- Lydia June 20, 2015

Women of Courage- Lydia  June 20, 2015

Philippians 3 – What it is to have the mind of Christ

Shera handed out a summary from a book written by John MacArthur. In the first paragraph was a portion of John Bunyan’s allegory from “The Holy War”.  It speaks of how Satan continues to assault us to turn us from God.  He often does this in ways that seem pleasing to us.  

We returned to Philippians 1:27-2:5

²⁷ Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; ²⁸ And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. ²⁹ For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; ³⁰ Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me. If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, ² Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. ³ Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. ⁴ Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. ⁵ Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

And how do we keep this mind:  Eph. 6:10-20  The full armor of God!

The breastplate covered the vital areas. The soldier needed to protect that area since much of their fighting was hand to hand, face to face.

Prov. 23:7;  The mind and emotions encompass everything that causes a person to act: one’s knowledge, understanding, conscience, will, desires, and drives.

Self-righteousness- Satan has people believe they are going to heaven because of their good deeds.  Luke 18:9-14 How many times have we thought like this Pharisee! Luke 15:21-32  The prodigal son. He was self-righteous as well.  Mark 10:35-45 and Matt 20:20-28 – there was even self-righteousness within the apostles.  The ten were very displeased with the request of John and James. Deluded – to deceive to fool, to thin it down. 

Just like the fool in Ecclesiastes 10:3 Even when the fool walks on the road, he lacks sense, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.

1 Peter 4:1-5 If we are paying attention to Satan we will be deluded.  They were listening to the wrong voice.  How quickly it can happen when we don’t pay attention to God’s truth.  What are we paying attention to?  Especially when we are alone! Are we the same behind closed doors? Are we stopping the conversations that aren’t right or are we going to continue down that path? But we need to be careful not to fall into self-righteousness!

Imputed Righteousness – is the righteousness from Christ, which gives us the victory over death and eternity with Christ

Practical Righteousness – is righteousness that assures you of ultimate victory over Satan, which allows us to win the daily skirmishes.  Philippians 3:4-16

¹³ Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus¹⁵ Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. ¹⁶ Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

Satan will always look for the weakness in a believer’s armor. He will exploit whatever weakness he finds.  Sometimes self-love blinds us, but another, a true companion, will dare to speak out for you, to bring you back to the sure walk, to keep our heart and our walk in the truth.

Romans 13:11-14  Live holy and be willing to hear the truth about yourself.


Isaiah 59:14-17  ;  Romans 13:11-14;  2 Tim 4:7-8
Keeping our armor on and fighting the good fight.

Lydia - June 6 study

Women of Courage- Lydia  June 6, 2015

We began by discussing the blog notes from last week and encouraged all to review them before coming to the study.  We would be reading from the new King James Version.  Philippians 2:9-11.  Then we went back to read more context from chp 1:27-3:17.  As we read we highlighted the names and pronouns of Jesus, God and Spirit.

Phil 1:27 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, 

Chp2:1-8  Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, ² fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. ³ Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. ⁴ Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. ⁵ Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, ⁷ but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

Chp 3:15-17 ¹⁵ Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. ¹⁶ Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind. ¹⁷ Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.



These passages are all concerned with unity.  Where is the like mind from?  Look again at 3:15



as many that are mature,

Hosea 14:9    Who is wise?
Let him understand these things.
Who is prudent? (discerning)
Let him know them.
For the ways of the Lord are right;
The righteous walk in them,
But transgressors stumble in them.

have this mind,

John 15: 14-15   You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. (Jesus is inviting us in as family, but they must follow his commands)

and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to  you

Hosea 6:3 Let us know,
Let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord.
His going forth is established as the morning;
He will come to us like the rain,
Like the latter and former rain to the earth.



James 1:5-6 ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. ⁶ But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.



James 3:13-18 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. ¹⁵ This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. ¹⁶ For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. ¹⁷ But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. ¹⁸ Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.



The world today doesn’t really consider the spiritual, but the evil within the world is subtle in its influence and many embrace those influences.  The evil infiltrates our homes and influences our children.  What we might think as innocent in influence, if it has dark spiritual undertones, what are we saying in our acceptance.



Philippians 2:5 ⁵ Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus

When he is talking about the unity, let this mind be in you which is also in Christ Jesus.  The word mind (from Strongs) means to exercise the mind (train it); to entertain or have a sentiment or opinion.  It is our responsibility to exercise the mind (train it) to follow the ways of Christ.  To be mentally disposed earnestly in a certain direction (it will be difficult at times) .to interest oneself in (with concern to obedience) and set affection on the mind or regard of the mind of our Savior.



John 15:14-16  ¹⁵ No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. ¹⁶ You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. ¹⁷ These things I command you, that you love one another.



We are going to be obedient to Christ or we will fall to obedience to Satan. 



Matthew 16:13-23 ¹³ When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” ¹⁴ So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” ¹⁵ He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” ¹⁶ Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” ¹⁷ Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. ¹⁸ And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. ¹⁹ And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” ²⁰ Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ. ²¹ From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. ²² Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” ²³ But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”



The word mindful is the same word.  Peter was choosing, being influenced by, the things of Satan and not God. How quickly we can change in our view, following God at one time and then being influenced by the world and Satan in the next thought.   Where is our focus?  We need to realize where our focus is and pray for God to keep our thoughts captive.



2 Corinthians 10:5   (KJV) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; ³ For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: ⁴ (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) ⁵ Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; ⁶ And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.



Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. ⁸ Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. ⁹ Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.



It is a battle and we need to be strong in that battle. We may not agree with everything, but we need to be unified and stand firm. We should not be passive! A diplomat that wants peace works hard to bring the people involved to the table to reach agreement.  It takes a lot to get to that peace.  Action is demanded in striving for unity.  The two words in Philippians 4 – the true companion, God wants us to be the true companion.  We need to keep our minds focused on Christ, take action to be busy for God, to do his will.



Next time we will focus on the unity of believers.

Lydia and the Philippian church - May 16

We began by having a brief review of what has been discussed in previous study about Lydia.  Then we read Philippians 1:27- chp.2 and Acts 16: 14-15.
We talked about how these women who were being drawn by God and then experienced His salvation. They grabbed onto His salvation and continued steadfast in the faith. Paul's greeting shows this in verses 1-7.  They had truly grown in the faith ad Paul mentions that God would complete what he has started in their lives.

"The joy is the flag flying high from the castle of my heart because Jesus is in residence there"

In verse 27  "Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ"

This worthiness is based on the moments in our life, our integrity. Believers are to have integrity! And do we really know what the Gospel is??

This lead us to study the various passages that mention the Gospel:

The Gospel of God:
   Romans 1:1    1 Thess. 2:2,9    1 Tim. 1:11
The Gospel of Jesus Christ
   Romans 1:16,  15:19     1 Cor. 9:12, 18     Gal. 1:7
The Gospel of the Grace of God
   Acts 20:24   Eph. 6:15 (Gospel of Peace)   Eph. 1:13-14 (Gospel of Salvation)  2 Cor. 4:4 Glorious    Gospel

So what is the Gospel?  It is all the Gospel of Christ!  He is the subject, the object, the life of it!  The full word of God contains it!

Matt. 4:23  The Gospel of the Kingdom
Matt. 11:5   Mark 1:4  Luke 4:18

This Gospel was preached by Christ and the Apostles and Prophets. And God calls men to proclaim his word still.
Acts 16:10   Romans 1:15   2:16   1Cor. 9:16   Acts 8:25

They were striving together for the faith of the Gospel.  We need to do the same.  There is so much that draws us away from the Gospel of Christ.  When we grumble our light isn't shining. Praise God we don't have to walk alone!  He is with us and gives us other believers to lift us in our spirit and to exhort us in His word.

vs 27- That we stand steadfast!

Pro 23:23  Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.

When we give "our" advice without using God's word we are selling the truth.  His word is more precious than any other word or thing. Nothing is of more value!

We discussed how God's salvation is a precious gift and how some people think there must be more cost from them to receive it, but they forget that there was a tremendous cost! We must lose what we consider precious in this world and look for the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 

vs. 29 For to you it has been GRANTED

Php 1:29  For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 

Php 1:30  engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have. 

We only have one life and by the suffering we may go through, glory might come to Him.  We don't know how God's plans will be fulfilled in us and from us to others.

Mat 16:24  Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

Mat 16:25  For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Mat 16:26  For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?

There is nothing more we can do. The price has been paid and it was costly. Praise God for His Gospel and His work on the cross for our salvation.  He deserves our praise and adoration, our total devotion and our complete surrender to His will.  Where is your heart today?

Women of Courage- Lydia May 2, 2015

We began with a review of where we have been in our study of Lydia.  We looked at how God has used men and women in the past to reach the lost and the price they had to pay.  It was not an easy road;  God never promised an easy path never your best life now.  It is a hard, difficult, but rewarding journey.

 We read and compared Bible versions in reading Phil. 1:1-2:4.  John MacArthur’s notes state that Philippians is an Epistle of Joy! Biblical joy consists of the deep and abiding confidence that all is well regardless of circumstances and difficulty. It is something very different from worldly happiness.  Biblical joy is always related to God and belongs only to those in Christ. It is the permanent possession of every believer – not a whimsical delight that comes and goes as chance offers it opportunity.

A good definition of joy is this: it’s the flag that flies on the castle of the heart when the King is in residence. Only Christians can know true and lasting joy. (then we were entertained by a video of the song “the flag that flies on the castle of the heart…”)

We may not always display our joy. There are times of sadness and trial.  But we go through things differently when we have Christ. It is that that is the joy that keeps us going.  It is a deep and abiding confidence that all is well regardless of circumstance and difficulty.

Philippians 1: 24-28

²⁴ But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. ²⁵ Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, ²⁶ so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.

²⁷ Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, ²⁸ and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.



Paul was so impressed by their joy through trials.  WE represent the “flag of joy” or any other of the fruits of the spirit.  We need to remember God is in control!  We may have moments where we falter, but we don’t stay there.  WE return to our hope.



Romans 8:25

²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. (and patience too)

Christian joy is a gift from God to those that believe the Gospel, with more than words!!  Well yeah!



Again Romans 8: 24-25

²⁴ For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.



Then looking at the beginning of Philippians - To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, Shera brought a definition from the ISBE.



Saints- There are 3 words in the Bible for saints. They have the definition meaning consecration and divine claim, set apart.  We are God’s people.  When God consecrates and claims moral beings for Himself and His service, He demands that they should go on to be fit for and worthy of the relation in which He has placed them.


Every word in the word is the Word of God- Directed and inspired.

Acts 16:14-15

¹⁴ Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. ¹⁵ And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” So she persuaded us.

WE looked at the describing words about Lydia.  We discussed what they told us about her.  WE also looked at the difference in the definition of worship in this passage and the one in John.  Her knowledge of worship was not as deep as true worship.  She was being called, but until she heard the Gospel message, she then came to know the Lord fully.

 

Women of Courage- Lydia April 4

Women of Courage- Lydia  April 4

1. How would you describe Lydia to a friend that had never read about her in the Bible:
   Acts 16:14 describes her exactly, plus she was hospitable, had a servant’s heart and she was brave.
   “The manner of Lydia’s conversion is a fine illustration of how God always redeems lost souls”
   Lydia wanted to be with the group at the river that had the moral ideals that she was looking for.  They weren’t following the local gods, but looking toward Yahweh.
    
   Shera told us about reading about the men that had been in killed in Ecuador as missionaries. But they took the risk for a chance to make friendly contact with the Huaorani (Auca) Indians. Missionaries Ed McCulley, Nate Saint, Jim Elliot, Pete Fleming, and Roger Youderian How God had directed them and their past training.  She filled us in on the things they did to reach these people.  After their death, 3 of their wives went back into these people and they were able to reach them for Christ.  They moved there with their families.  Among the men that killed these missionaries, they eventually came to America and spoke at Billy Graham’s Crusades; one became the pastor of the church there in Ecuador.   She mentioned that like Paul, they did not know what the trip would bring them.  And actually, Paul did suffer at the hands of men in Philippi.  We must be willing to step out and proclaim the Gospel with boldness as God leads us.
    
   This discussion of how missionaries lives are totally committed to serving Christ led us to discuss how God may not lead us to be missionaries in another country, but God can lead us to even be faithful in small things.   We need to always be faithful to proclaiming the Lord to others.  Simply- “ I AM A PART OF THE GREAT COMMISSION!”
    
   Romans 3:11- There is none that understands, there is none that seeks God.  
   God is the one that changes hearts and leads us to repentance.  God has a perfect plan in action and we are a part of that plan.  This plan has always been the same, it has never changed- Heb. 13:8.

 John 8:58King James Version (KJV)  58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

Genesis  22:13 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen. 15 And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, 16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: 17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; 18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. 19 So Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba.

God has not changed.  As he promised to Abraham that nations would be blessed because he obeyed God’s voice, we are a part of that promise.   We are here worshipping God, because He called us. 

We read Psalm 22 and discussed the suffering of Christ both physically and spiritually and how the disciple died for the spread of the gospel.  

A reminder, to read Philippians as we will be discussing the first chapter when we meet next time.  There will not be a meeting on the 18^th due to the work day. 

Women of Courage- Lydia

Women of Courage- Lydia 

We began by reading Acts 16:1-40.  Shera supplied us all with maps and images of the journeys and areas where they met. We looked at the journeys of Paul and the cities they visited. Shera explained the history behind these areas and the roads they would have used in the area.  She shared images of the river that runs on the west side of Philippi and the Greek and Roman ruins in the area.   God’s sovereignty is over all the area, the politics, and the people of the areas.  We have hopes that men will stand strong in the words of the Lord.  The whole land mass of Asia Minor is now Turkey.  Greece is the other side of the peninsula – Europe.  It is the political structure and God’s direction that has spread God’s word putting us into where God has led us today.  Paul exercising his political rights while following the Lord in his walk.  

Lydia was from Asia Minor, a seller of purple goods, head of her household and desirous of following the Lord.  She was meeting with the local Jewish women in prayer at the river.  They met on the Sabbath. 

Paul was followed by this girl with the spirit of divination, annoyed by the spiritual wickedness that once again tried to influence those around them.  Paul gets fed up and asks the spirits to come out of her.  We do not know if she was saved through this . 


We then began a discussion of salvation and our part in spreading God's gospel and our obedience.

It was suggested that we read the book of Philippians for the next time we meet and read some of the cross references too.