Philippians 2:12 says, Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.  Paul called the Christians at Philippi his beloved.  This was not a romantic term, but a term meaning that they were deeply affectionate to him through their mutual faith in Christ.  He commended them for their obedience while he was with them, and this wasn't obedience to him, but obedience to Christ.  Paul commended them even further that their obedience to Christ had even grown in his absence.  He then called on them to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling.  This did not mean that they were to make their own plan of salvation, but that they were to continue to work on growing in their faith, while submitting completely to the Holy Spirit.  Verse thirteen states, For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.  Paul then clarifies that it is not their own work that brings salvation, but God working through them.  It is God's will that every person be saved, and He has given us a way to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.  Then, God calls each person to his or her own task in the accomplishment of God's will.  Verse fourteen declares, Do all things without murmurings and disputings:  This is such a simple statement and should be one that those who are following Christ should not have to be told to do, yet we too often hear of murmurings and disputes between Christians.  Too often we allow our opinions to become what we feel is God's law, and we murmur about those who do not agree with us.  Verse fifteen adds, That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;  Paul said that the Christians at Philippi, and everywhere else for all time, were to do the things that he had just told them to do so that they would be blameless and harmless before God.  He also said that they were called on to do this in a crooked and perverse generation.  As followers of Christ, we will always live in a crooked and perverse generation, but we can never afford to come down to their level.  If there is nothing different about Christians, how can we expect the world to want what we have spiritually?  Verse sixteen declares, Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain  Paul was asking them to hold fast to the gospel of Christ, so that he would not have run and labored in vain.  Paul devoted his life to spreading the gospel after he accepted Christ as Savior and Lord, and he had reached the Christians at Philippi with that gospel.  If they proved to have not really accepted the salvation of Christ or did not allow it to control their lives, then Paul felt that what the had done would have been in vain.  We today as followers of Christ must hold on to the word of God if we are to be obedient servants of God.  Verse seventeen adds, Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.  Paul said if he was offered up as a sacrifice for their service and faith that he would rejoice with them.  Paul could not offer himself for their salvation, but he was willing to lay down his life that they might know the gospel, and he would rejoice with those who accepted the gospel, even if it cost him his life.  We need that same dedication today.  Verse eighteen concludes, For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.  Paul asked only that the Christians at Philippi rejoice with him.  He was under arrest, but he was still rejoicing in his salvation.  We need to live and speak in such a way today that people will see the joy of our salvation.  Complaining and murmuring will never accomplish this.

Philippians 2:1 says, If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,  Paul is basically stating truths as questions, or we might say asking hypothetical questions.  He was not doubting the truth of these things, nor should we ever today.  Verse two declares, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.  Paul said that if they accepted the truth of what he had just said, then he would hope that they would be like minded and of one accord.  If we today believe in the truth of salvation through Christ, then we should also be likeminded and of one accord.  Verse three adds, Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Paul called on the Christians at Philippi to not act out of strife or vainglory, but to act by putting their fellow believers above themselves.  There is no room in the church for strife and self glorification.  We must always put what is best for our fellow Christians above what is best for our self.  Verse four states, Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.  Paul tells us that we are not to be concerned just with whether what is going on is to be most profitable to us, but that we should be just as concerned with what is best for others as well.  Verse five declares, Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:  Paul calls on us to be like minded with Christ.  Verse six adds, Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:  Then verse seven adds, But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:  Paul tells us that even though Jesus was an equal with God the Father, being a part of the triune nature of God, that He was willing to become a man, and with the nature of a servant.  If Jesus Christ was willing to do this, then we should likewise be willing to give up anything that we have so that God's will might be done in our life.  Verse eight continues, And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.  I have said this before, but I believe that Jesus became totally human, as capable of sinning as any other person, but by faith He did not sin.  If He were not capable of sinning, then He really could not die as a sacrifice for those who are and do.  I know many people disagree and say that Jesus was incapable of sinning, but if so, then we are called to follow a false standard in my opinion.  Verse nine proclaims, Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:  Because Jesus lived without giving in to sin, He is exalted above all other names.  We can only be followers of Christ and can never do what He did.  I also believe that we have the capability of living without sin, but we never live up to that capability. so the only way to be redeemed is through faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse ten adds, That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;  There is coming a day when every knee will bow to Jesus Christ, even those who deny His existence.  Verse eleven continues, And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  Not only will every knee bow, but every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord for the glory of the Heavenly Father.  Since we are eventually all going to do so, wouldn't it be better to do so in this life while it can still bring us salvation?

Philippians 1:22 says,  But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.  Paul said that if he lived, that proclaiming the gospel was the fruit of his labor, but that he was not sure whether he would choose life or death.  As long as we live as followers of Christ, doing what God has called us to do should be the fruit of our labor, no matter how bad our situation in life may be.  We should never forget that Christ lives through us, and that we are to do all things for His glory.  Verse twenty-three declares, For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:  Paul said he was torn between two good things as Matthew Henry states.  His desire was to just go on to be with Christ in glory, but he was not putting his desire first.  I am sure that by this time Paul was growing weary physically and maybe mentally of all the struggles, but he had not given up on doing what God had for him to do.  We cannot give up on life as Christians just because it may become very difficult.  Verse twenty-four adds, Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.  Paul said that though his going on to be with Christ would be better for him, that his continuing to live would be better for the people at Philippi.  He would still be able to offer them encouragement, even if he was imprisoned.  Also, his life would still be a testimony to the world because of his faith.  We need to have our lives to be a testimony to God as long as we live, and we should live in such a way that we will also be of benefit to other Christians and a witness to the lost.  Verse twenty-five states, And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;  Paul said that he was confident that he would live and continue to be with them by faith for the continuance of their joy of faith.  Our faith today should bring us joy, and should also benefit our fellow Christians.  Verse twenty-six adds, That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.  Paul said that he knew that the Christians at Philippi were looking forward to him coming to them, and he felt certain that he would be able to.  As long as we live, we should never give up on looking forward to doing what we feel God wants us to do, no matter what our current situation may be.  Verse twenty-seven declares,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;  Having just said that he was confident that he would come to them again, Paul now asks that they speak and live in such a way that the gospel would be glorified, whether he got to come to them or not.  Paul still realized that it was up to God whether he got to go to Philippi, and it is up to Him where we go as Christians today if we are being totally obedient to Christ.  Paul said either way that he wanted them to live for the glory of Christ.  I believe that as followers of Christ that we should make sure that the things that we say and do are consistent with our faith in Christ.  Verse twenty-eight states, 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.  Paul told them to not be terrified by their adversaries, since it was a testament to their salvation and a witness to the perdition of their adversaries.  We need that same type faith today, not being afraid of anything that the world may throw at us.  Verse twenty-nine adds, For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;  Paul said that Christians were not to only believe in Christ as their Savior and Lord, but were to suffer with him as well.  This does not apply just to the Christians at Philippi, but to all Christians of all ages.  Verse thirty concludes,  Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.  Paul said that though he was still in conflict with the world that he wanted them to hear and believe what he was telling them.

Philippians 1:12 says, But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;  Paul did not ask for the sympathy of those that he was writing to because of his situation, but said even though he was imprisoned that it was for the furtherance of the gospel.  If we find ourselves discriminated against or even imprisoned because we are a Christian and are living by God's standards, we should likewise count it as an honor to suffer for our faith.  We should never complain if something bad happens to us because we are living by faith, nor should we expect sympathy from anyone.  Verse thirteen states, So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;  Paul said that people in the palace as well as in other places knew why he was in bonds.  If Paul had been in prison for something that he had done that was wrong then his imprisonment would likely not have been noted by so many people, especially those in power.  As followers of Christ, just because we may be suffer may not mean that we are suffering for our faith.  We like Paul must truly be persecuted for our faith if our suffering is to bring glory to God and be a witness to the world.  Verse fourteen says, And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.  Paul said that instead of making his fellow believers afraid to proclaim the gospel, it impowered them to do so even more.  When we hear of Christians being persecuted, imprisoned and even killed today because of their faith, does it make us bolder in Christ or does it cause us to be silent for fear of the same thing happen to us?  We should always choose to be bold in our faith.  Verse fifteen states, Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:  Paul said that not all people preached the gospel the same way, or even for the same reasons.  There will always be those who preach the gospel differently, but the question should be is if the truth of the gospel is being preached.  Verse sixteen adds, The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:  Paul said that some people preached a Christ of contention hoping to add to his bonds, or suffering.  He also said that they were not sincere in what they preached.  I believe that these people would have been saying that Paul should have fought harder and not allowed himself to be imprisoned, but that they themselves were not really going to do anything to cause themselves to be imprisoned.  Verse seventeen continues, But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.  Paul said others preached out of love for God and for Paul himself, knowing that it was for the sake of the gospel that he was imprisoned.  As followers of Christ, when we see or hear of a fellow Christian being imprisoned for their faith, we must still preach the gospel based on the love of Christ.  Verse eighteen declares,What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.  Paul said that whatever the reason for the gospel being preached, as long as it was preached in truth, then he would and did rejoice.  Our question should never be how or why the gospel ids being preached, but simply is it being preached and preached accurately.  If it is, then we should rejoice in God.  Verse nineteen adds, For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,  Paul said that his suffering would lead to his salvation through their prayers and the power of the Holy Spirit.  Paul was not saying that his suffering was what brought him salvation, but that his faith in Christ did, and that if he remained imprisoned in this life that he would be set free in death.  This has to be the kind of faith that we have.  Verse twenty continues, According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. Paul said that whatever happened to him in this life was unimportant as long as his life glorified Christ.  How often do we complain to God when the least little thing goes wrong in our life instead of glorifying God?  Vere twenty-one concludes, For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.  Paul said that if he lived that he would live that Christ would be glorified, and that if he died that would be even better for him, because he would be with Christ forever.  This did not mean that Paul wanted to die, but that he was unafraid of dying for his faith in Christ.  We should be the same way today.

Philippians 1:1 says, Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:  Timothy was with Paul at this time and Paul was writing to the church at Philippi, addressing the church leaders in particular.  I don't believe that he was only writing to them, but that he expected the church leaders to share his letter with the rest of the members.  Church leaders have always had a responsibility to share the news of God with their congregations.  Verse two states, Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.  As always, Paul ask that the grace of God be with the church, which would bring them His peace.  As followers of  Christ, we are living under the grace of God, and since we are we should be at peace in the world.  Verse three adds, I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,  Paul said that he thanked God every time he remembered the believers at Philippi.  Verse four continues, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,  Paul said that he was always praying for them in joy.  We should likewise remember our fellow Christians in prayer and pray that they will continue in the joy of Christ.  Verse five declares, For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;  Paul said that he was thankful for their fellowship in Christ from the very first, which indicates they were some of the first to accept Christ as Savior and Lord.  We should always be thankful for those fellow believers who have been a part of our Christian life from the beginning.  God always calls His people to fellowship with one another and to be thankful for each other.  Verse six adds, 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:  Paul said not only had they been followers of Christ since the very beginning, but he had confidence that they would remain true to Christ until He returned, or until they went to be with Him, though he didn't say the last specifically.  We should likewise have confidence in our fellow believers today.  As followers of Christ, we must remain true to His teachings until He returns or until we leave this world to be with Him.  Verse seven says, Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.  Paul said that it was proper for him to think of and pray for the Christians at Philippi, because they had defended the gospel and had remained faithful to him as well, even after he had been arrested.  It would have been easy for them to distance themselves from Paul after his arrest, but they didn't.  If Christian leaders are imprisoned today for their faith, then we must continue to pray for them and support them any way we can.  Verse eight states, For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.  Paul called on God to be his witness as to how much he desired to come visit the church at Philippi again.  When we look at the life of Paul, I believe that we can pretty much disclaim the name it and claim it religion.  Paul, one of the greatest men of faith, often had a desire to do something, and God denied his request.  What we need to do today is not attempt to get God to endorse our plans, but to make sure that we are following His plan.  Verse nine adds, And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;  I believe that Paul was praying that they would grow in their knowledge and judgment through their faith in Christ.  He was not praying that they would become more educated in the things of the world, but that they would become more educated in the things of God.  We may become very educated in the things of this world, and we may even think we are a good judge of what is right or wrong, but unless this is based on our faith in and obedience to God, it is of no real value.  Verse ten continues, That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;  The things that are excellent that Paul was writing about were the things of God.  Paul asked that they be sincere and without offence until Christ returned, and this is what we today as Christians should do as well.  Our faith in Christ should never waver.  Verse eleven continues, Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.  Paul prayed that they would be filled with the fruits of righteousness, which was only possible by faith in Christ, and resulted in glory ot God.  Likewise today, as followers of Christ, we should be full of fruit for Him and for God's glory.

Ruth Review

We will do a review of what we learned from the book of Ruth.   First, we see that bad things do happen to God's people.  Because of a famine in Israel, the land of God's chosen people, Elimelech, Naomi, and their sons Mahlon and Chilion left Israel and went to Moab.  While there, another tragedy struck Naomi, as Elimelech died, leaving her dependent on her two sons.  The sons had married women of Moab, Orpah and Ruth and lived there for about ten years, then both sons died, another tragedy for Naomi.  We need to realize that just because one tragedy strikes us in life as followers of Christ that it does not mean that we are exempt from another one.  Naomi was left with her two daughters-in-law that she did not know how to provide for, so she decided to return to Israel and her people.  When tragedy does strike us today, the best thing we can do is turn to God and His people if we are Christians.  Of course, the best thing anyone can do in a tragedy is to look to God for help, but if we are His people but are away from Him spiritually for whatever reason, then we definitely need to return to Him.  Then, Naomi told Orpah and Ruth that they would be better off going to their own people for help.  I believe that even if we don't know all the answers, we should never attempt to send others away from God.  Naomi seems to have become bitter toward God though and this may have influenced her actions.  No matter what happens in life, as followers of Christ we cannot allow it to make us bitter toward God or to even question His love and provision for us.  Orpah left, but Ruth declared her devotion to Naomi, her people, and her God.  Our best choice in a tragedy is to declare our devotion to God, even if He was not our God before.  In Israel, Ruth proved her devotion to Naomi by working to provide them with food.  She was a widow herself in a strange land, but she exhibited a greater faith than Naomi did.  She did not expect others to provide for them.  Because of her willingness to work, she met Boaz.  I believe that we can accurately say that God led Ruth to this place.  Even when we may not realize it, God is at work in our lives if we are His people.  Naomi saw a solution to their problem after there was no longer a crop to glean for food, and that was the fact that Boaz was one of her kinsmen, and she was going to put Ruth in a position where he would have to marry her.  I don't believe that we should ever use deceitful or dishonest means to better ourselves if we are followers of Christ.  Boaz looked out for Ruth's good name and then did the honorable and legal thing concerning her.  He first made sure that another closer kinsman did not want to redeem Naomi's land with the stipulation that he marry Ruth, who could also have had a claim on the land.  We must never try to claim what might rightly be considered something that belongs to another without letting them have a chance to claim it themselves.  Then, we see that God blessed Ruth with a husband and a child and Naomi with a grandchild, and that Ruth, a woman of Moab, was in the direct lineage of David.  It does not matter where we are born, if we become a follower of Christ, then we are a part of His family forevermore.         

Ruth 4:11

Ruth 4:11 says, And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem:  The people at the gate told Boaz that they would be witnesses that he had been honorable in his actions.  They then asked that God would bless his marriage to Ruth and that she would be like Rachel and Leah who had produced the nation of Israel.  Of course, there were two other women who were also responsible, but they were not mentioned.  Even if we are honest in our actions, unless we are doing what God has led us to do, we should not expect Him to bless us in the action.  Verse twelve adds, And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which the LORD shall give thee of this young woman.  The men continued to ask by asking God's blessing on the family, that they might have many descendants, like Pharez of old.  Verse thirteen continues, So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son.  After they were married, God gave Ruth and Boaz a son.  Boaz, and Ruth as well, had lived honorably and followed God's laws, and He had blessed them with a son.  This is not to say that they were prefect people, but they were doing their best to follow God's law.  Even as followers of Christ, we will never be perfect, but if we want to be blessed by God, then we need to try to follow His laws.  Verse fourteen states, And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel.  The women also said that God had blessed Naomi by giving her a grandson, so that her name would not be cut off but that her grandson would be famous throughout Israel.  She was still considered Ruth's mother-in-law, and the son was seen as a continuation of her family name, even though Naomi had seemingly become somewhat bitter toward God.  God had not forgotten her, and He will never forget us today if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse fifteen adds, And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him.  The women told Naomi that this grandson would restore her life and that Ruth's love for her was better than seven sons would have been.  Naomi now had no reason to give up on life and to be bitter toward God.  Of course, as followers of Christ, we should never do either of these things.  Verse sixteen continues, And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it.  Naomi now had a new purpose, and that was to nurture her grandchild.  When we accept the salvation of God, we have a new purpose in life.  We are to nurture our fellow Christians in faith, as they are to nurture us.  Verse seventeen says, And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.  The women named the child, and said he was Naomi's son, though he was really her grandson.  He was the one through whom her family name would be carried on.  Then, the next five verses list the genealogy of Obed, Ruth's son, going back to Pharez and ending with David.  Verse eighteen adds, Now these are the generations of Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron,  Verse nineteen continues, And Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminadab,  Verse twenty states, And Amminadab begat Nahshon, and Nahshon begat Salmon,  Verse twenty-one adds, And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed,  Verse twenty-two continues, And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.  Ruth, a widowed Moabite woman because of her devotion to her mother-in-law and becoming one of her people and accepting her God as her own, became a part of the lineage of David.  We really aren't told of anything great that Ruth did, except to be a devoted daughter-in-law who accepted her mother-in-law's people and God as her own, and then lived honorably to provide for the two of them.  We may not think that we have done a lot in life today, but if we accept Christ as our Savior and Lord, try to live honorable lives by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, identify with God's people, and reach out to others with His message of redemption, that is all that we can do.  Fortunately, that is all that is required after we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.