Levitcus 1:1 says And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying, God called to Moses and spoke to him out of the tabernacle of the congregation.  For us to know what God has to say, He must speak to us, and He will often do it when are assembled together in His name.  Of course, we must first recognize His voice in order to hear Him.  Verse two states,  Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering,  God did not say when, but if.  I believe this is because an offering is not a debt, but a free gift.  God does not demand that we give Him anything, even our life, but if we do, God can determine how He will use the gift or our life.  Verse three says, If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the altar.  God said if the offering was to be a burnt sacrifice, that it should be a male without blemish.  We might want to offer something less than perfect if it was going to be burned up anyway, but God expects us to offer the best that we have, and we are to do so willingly.  Verse four states, LORD. And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.  We do not live under the sacrificial system, so it may be difficult to truly understand it, but I believe that putting the hands on the head of the sacrifice would represent transferring one's sins to the sacrifice.  We are not under the old sacrificial system because Christ died as a sacrice for all sins for all time, and putting our faith in Him transfers our sins to Him without any physical act.  Verse five says,  And he shall kill the bullock before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall bring the blood, and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.  The sacrifice was to be killed before God and the priests, the sons of Aaron, and the blood sprinkled on the altar.  When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, it is done before God and His people and all the world.  The blood of Christ has already been shed for us.  Verse six states, And he shall flay the burnt offering, and cut it into his pieces.  Then verse seven adds,  And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar, and lay the wood in order upon the fire:  Verse eight continues,  And the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall lay the parts, the head, and the fat, in order upon the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar:  The sacrifice was to be cut in to pieces, and the priests were to place the majority of it on the wood of the sacrifice to be burned.  Verse nine concludes, But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.  Parts were to be washed and burned on the altar itself.  This was to be a burnt offering to the LORD, and would be a sweet savor, or scent, to God.  When we accept Christ as our Savior and Lord, our sins are burned away and we are washed by His blood to be a living sacrifice to God, which will be a sweet savor or scent to Him.

We will do a quick review of the things we learned from the book of Philippians.  First, we need to realize that our status in the world should not determine our joy in the LORD.  We should learn to be like Paul and be content in the Lord no matter what.  Next, we need to learn the value of other Christians in our life.  Paul sincerely cared for the Christians at Philippi.  He was concerned with their welfare, and so should we be with the welfare of our fellow believers.  Then, we need to realize that earthly attributes mean nothing to God, but that only our relationship with Christ does.   Paul said his birth, his education, and his religious standing meant nothing before God.  Only his relationship with God did.  The same is true for everyone who ever has or ever will live.  Finally, we need to learn to help our fellow Christians whenever we can.  We will next look at the book of Leviticus.

Philippians 4:11 says, Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.  Paul had thanked the Christians at Philippi for contributing to help supply for his needs, but he now tells them that he wasn't writing to seek more aid.  Paul said that he had learned to be content no matter what his circumstances, and we should be the same way today as followers of Christ.  Verse twelve states, I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.  Paul said he knew both how to be abased and how to bound, and how to be hungry and to be filled.  In other words, he wasn't just speaking as someone who had always been blessed or in need.  He had experienced the best and worst of life, but had learned to be content by his faith in God no matter what his situation was.  We should be the same way today.  Verse thirteen declares, I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.  Paul then said that he could do all things through Christ because he was strengthened by Christ.  We hear this verse quoted a lot, but we must remember the two verses that came before as well.  I don't believe that this means that everything will always be perfect because of our faith in Christ, but that we can endure hunger and hardship if necessary in order to follow the will of Christ.  Verse fourteen adds, Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.  Paul then said that the Christians at Philippi had done well to help him, though that wasn't why he felt that they were special to him.  We should never put some Christians above others simply because they have done more for us materially.  Verse fifteen says, Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.  Paul said that when he went to Macedonia at the beginning of the spreading of the gospel that the church at Philippi was the only one that offered him support.  I believe this was both morally and financially.  We need to be like the church at Philippi and support missionaries as much as we can today.  Verse sixteen adds, For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.  Paul said they had sent him aid when he was in Thessalonica several times, but again it was not simply because of their financial support that they were special to Paul.  We cannot allow other Christians to become more special to us because they have help us financially, but must see all Christians as special if they are following God's will in their relationship to us.  Verse seventeen continues, Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.  Paul said that he didn't desire a gift for his own benefit, but that the Christians at Philippi might see their fruit abound because of their giving.  As stated, it wasn't the amount or the frequency of their giving that Paul was speaking of, but their obedience to the Holy Spirit when they gave.  We can send a lot of support to missionaries today, but if we are not doing it under the leadership of the Holy Spirit and for God's glory, then we are really accomplishing very little spiritually.  Verse eighteen declares, But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.  Paul declared that he was full because of the gift that they had sent by Epaphroditus, which was a sacrifice acceptable and well pleasing to God.  This should be our key to giving.  What we give should be acceptable and well pleasing to God.  If we are giving for any other reason, then we are missing the point.  Verse nineteen adds, But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.  Paul then said that God would likewise supply for all their needs according to His riches.  This does not say that God will give them everything that they want and desire.  We today cannot allow this verse to mean that God is going to give us everything that our heart desires.  Paul was in prison at this time and Christians were being persecuted, but God still provided for the needs of the Christians at Philippi and for Paul out of the abundance of his riches and not based on any earthly situation.  Verse twenty proclaims, Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.  Paul said that it should all be done to the glory of the heavenly Father, and so should anything that we do as followers of Christ today.  Verse twenty-one adds, Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you.  Paul basically told them to greet each other under the leadership of Jesus Christ, and that those with him saluted them as well.  No matter where we are, as Christians we should support and uplift each other under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Verse twenty two continues, All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar’s household.  Paul said that there were even Christians in the household of Caesar.  We should never assume that because of their situation in life that people are not Christians.  Verse twenty-three concludes, The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. It was written to the Philippians from Rome by Epaphroditus.  Paul called on the grace of their Lord Jesus Christ to be with the Christians at Philippi and said that Epaphroditus had written down what he had to say to them for him.  

Philippians 4:1 says, Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.  Paul had great praise for the Christians at Philippi.  He did not call them his children, but his brethren, because although he may have led them to Christ and have been considered an apostle, they were all equal in God's sight.  If we lead someone to Christ today, he or she is our equal in God's sight.  Paul called them beloved and longed for, because they were his brethren.  We should have that same feeling of closeness for our fellow believers today.  Verse two states, I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.  Even though Paul had spoken highly of the Christians at Philippi, it did not prevent him from singling out the actions of two women who were evidently having a dispute.  He called on them to be of the same mind in Christ.  If two Christians are disputing, if they will both honestly seek God's will in the matter, then they should be led to a peaceful resolution.  Verse three adds, 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.  Paul does not name the person that he calls his fellow yoke person  Matthew Henry says some think it may have been Epaphroditus, and some even think it might have been Paul's wife.  If the person's name were really important, Paul would have identified them by name.  The important thing was that this person was considered a yoke person of Paul.  Our name is really unimportant in our Christian journey, but our relationship with Christ and our fellow Christians is what matters.  There are many. many more unnamed Christians in the Bible and ever since than there are those that we know by name.  Verse four says, Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.  Paul was in prison, but he called on the Christians at Philippi to rejoice, and not just some of the time but always.  In the world that seems to have gone insane today, we need to rejoice in the Lord always.  Verse five states, Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.  Paul called on the Christians at Philippi to be known for their moderation, because the Lord was at hand.  Even then. Paul felt that the return of Christ might be close.  We as followers of Christ today should live our lives in moderation because whether by our death or the return of Christ, we will one day give an account for our life.  Verse six adds, Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  This was not a call for them to act reckless, but to act in faith that God would meet their needs, no matter what that need might be.  If we live in prayer and supplication to God, then we have no need to fear the world.  We should live to boldly proclaim God's word and advance His kingdom.  Verse seven declares, And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  Paul said that when the Christians at Philippi followed God's guidance that they would have a peace that surpassed all understanding.  We have no reason to feel anything but peace in our lives today if we are following the will of God.  If we have fear, then we need to get closer to God  and the Holy Spirit will bring us peace even in a world that seems to have gone insane.  Verse eight adds, 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.  Again. Paul was using hypothetical questions to point out that true, honest, just, pure, lovely and things of good report come from God.  These should be the product of our faith in God today, and they should be the things that we think about or fill our minds with.  If our thoughts are filled with the good things of God, we cannot have them filled with the negative things of this world.  Verse nine continues, 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.  Paul called on them to do the things that he had done under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Paul was not calling on them to do exactly what he had done, because they would have been called to their own specific ministry by God, but he was calling on them to be as faithful as he had been to his calling.  Though we may use other Christians as examples of how to live by faith, we should not attempt to make them our standard, because as Christians Christ will always be our standard.  Verse ten concludes, But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.  Paul said he thanked them for their support.  Evidently, some time had passed before they sent gifts to help Paul in his situation, but he thanked them instead of berating them for being so long in offering their help.  We should always simply accept the help that others offer us under the leadership of the Holy Spirit and should never berate them because we feel that they haven't done enough or done it quickly enough.

Phlippians 3:15 says, Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.  The thus minded that Paul was calling the Christians to be, and that is true for us today as followers of Christ, was to be united in love for each other and God through their personal relationship with Christ.  We cannot follow false teachers nor be at war with each other as Christians and still be effective Christians.  Verse sixteen states, Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.  Paul told the believers at Philippi if they proclaimed to put their faith in Christ that this should determine how they walked, or lived, in the world.  It is easy enough for a person to say that he or she is a Christian, but it is the way that the person lives will really prove the truth of this statement.  This is not to say that a person cannot be a Christian and still sin at times, but that if a Christian does, that he or she will realize this and repent and turn to God again.  Verse seventeen declares, Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.  Paul told the Christians at Philippi to use him as example.  At that time, he was in prison, not living in a mansion that he had decided that God wanted him to have.  If we are going to pattern our Christian life after someone, the first One to pattern it after would be Christ, but then Paul would be a much better example than most of those today who proclaim a prosperity gospel.  We are called to be servants of Christ and not to be rich people because God wants us to be happy.  Our happiness in the world should be because of our relationship with Christ if we are His followers, and not because we expect God to materially bless us.  Verse eighteen adds, (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:  Paul then issues a warning that many of those who professed to be Christians were not really following Christ and said that this had caused him to be heartbroken, as it should us today as Christians.  Verse nineteen continues, Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)  Paul said that these people who professed to believe in Christ but had not truly put their faith in Him were doomed to destruction,  Paul said that their god was their belly, or the material things of this earth.  There are still many people who are that way today.  Verse twenty declares, For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:  Paul told the believers at Philippi and us today that if we are followers of Christ then we should be talking to God for direction in life.  Paul may have said that they could us him for an example of how to live an obedient life, but then said that they should talk to God for direction in their lives.  We cannot be effective Christians if we simply pattern our life after another Christian, no matter how successful they may be.  We must individually ask God what He would have us to do.  Verse twenty-one adds, Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.  Paul said that once we accept Christ as our Savior and Lord that God through the power and leadership of the Holy Spirit would change us into what we should be.  We cannot transform ourselves.  Only God can do that, and we must look to Him for guidance daily if we are to be effective followers of Christ.

Philippians 3:8 says, Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,  Paul was very explicit in his view of worldly things versus his relationship with Christ.  He said he counted all his credentials, his birth into the Jewish faith, his studies, and his position as but dung so that he might win Christ.  Now, we likewise must consider everything as dung, or less than nothing, in order to gain a relationship with Christ.  We cannot put all our faith in Christ and still attempt to hold on to the things of this world.  Verse nine adds, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:  Paul said that he found in Christ the true righteousness, and that it was not based on Paul's goodness but the goodness of Christ.  We will never do enough works, even if they are done in the name of God, to be righteous by our own merits.  The only way to attain righteousness with God is to accept Jesus Christ as ones personal Savior and Lord.  Verse ten continues, That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;  Paul said that he wanted to know Christ, and not just about Christ.  We can know all the facts about Christ, but until we know Him personally, it doesn't matter.  Paul said that he wanted to be made conformable to the death of Christ.  I believe that this meant that he wanted to be willing to die for his faith in Christ, and we must be the same way today as followers of Christ.  Verse eleven declares, If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.  I don't believe that when Paul said this that he was implying that faith in Christ was just one possible way to attain resurrection from the dead, but that he meant that all his actions would be consistent with his faith in Christ, which is the only way to attain resurrection from the dead.  Verse twelve adds, Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.  Paul said that he was not perfect, but he followed after Christ so that through his faith in Christ that Christ could make him perfect in his relationship with God.  As followers of Christ today, we are not made perfect by our own actions, but we can only follow after Christ in our imperfection, knowing that only through Him can we be restored to righteousness before God.  Verse thirteen says, Brethren, 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,  Paul said that he did not count himself to have gained perfection, but knew that all he could do was to forget the past and reach ahead to whatever lay ahead by faith in Christ.  This is all that we can do today as well.  Verse fourteen adds, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.  Paul said that he pressed toward the mark for the high calling of God in Christ.  We today can do no more than this.  Verse fifteen concludes, Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.  Paul tells us that God will reveal to us our status with Him.

Philippians 3;1 says, Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.  Paul asked that the Christians rejoice in the Lord.  He said that to write what he had to them was not grievous to him, and that for them it was safe.  The world that Paul lived in was not safe for Christians, just as it is not safe in many parts of the world for Christians today, but Paul still called for them to rejoice.  Verse two declares, Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.  Paul was not speaking of literal dogs, but of those who were false teachers, professing to be Christians without really having a relationship with Christ.  He continued to warn them to beware of evil workers and those who sowed contention.  We today as followers of Christ need to be the same way.  There are many people who profess to be Christians who do not really have a personal relationship with Christ, and they often proclaim what they believe to be the gospel.  We must know what God's word says in order to keep from being led astray.  Verse three adds, For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.  Paul said that the real people of God were those who put their faith in Jesus Christ and not in physical acts.  Circumcision was a physical sign of being a part of God's people, but it had to be more than a physical act for it to have meaning.  Paul said that those who put their faith in Christ, and not just physical facts, were the truly circumcised, or people of God.  Verse four declares, Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:  Paul then said if any person could have faith in the flesh, he could.  Verse five adds, Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;  Then verse six concludes, Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.  Paul had all the credentials that a Jew could have.  We may have all the earthly credentials that a person can have today to be viewed as a Christian, but if we don't have a personal relationship with Christ, it doesn't matter.  Verse seven states, But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.  All our earthly credentials should be counted but loss for Christ, just as Paul said his were.