Philippians 1:12

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 said that he wanted the Christians at Philippi to know that everything that happened to him was to spread the gospel further.  If bad things happen to us today because of our faith in Jesus Christ, we do not need to be filled with self-pity and doubt but must use whatever happens as an opportunity to share the gospel.  Verse thirteen adds, So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;  Paul said that people all around him, even in the palace, knew he was bound because of his faith in Jesus Christ.  If we find ourselves in bonds today as followers of Christ, we need to be sure that it is because of our faith and never allow our faith to waver.  Verse fourteen continues, 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 his example of being faithful even when in bonds caused other Christians to be bold instead of being afraid.  We need to set the same example as Paul and those brave Christians did if we find ourselves being persecuted for the gospel.  If persecution, or even being imprisoned comes, we must be even bolder in our witness for Christ.  Verse fifteen declares, Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:  Paul said that some who professed to be preachers proclaimed a gospel of contention, claiming that Paul's imprisonment proved that he wasn't following God.  They were jealous of Paul, and Matthew Henry says because of that they were secretly happy that he was imprisoned.  We should never claim that someone who has truly been imprisoned for their faith gives proof that they are not following God, and we certainly should never secretly be happy that they have been.  Verse sixteen adds, The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:  Paul said that those who preached Christ of contention did so not because of a real belief in Christ but did so simply to add to his suffering when he was in bonds.  Paul was more concerned about the effect of the false preachers on the gospel than he was of his being in bonds.  Our first concern should always be how what is happening in our life will affect the gospel.  Verse seventeen continues, But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.  Paul said that there were also those who used his bandage as an inspiration to defend and proclaim the gospel out of love for Christ.  It is always up to each individual how he or she reacts to those who are suffering because of their faith.  We can either use them as an example to call us to a greater faith, which we will do if we put our faith in Jesus Christ, or as an example of someone to ridicule if we put our faith in the world or self-pride or self-glorification.  Verse eighteen asks, What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.  Paul asked what he should do because of this and said that he rejoiced since even those who were preaching the gospel out of pretence, or without truly believing it themselves, were still preaching the gospel.  It is the gospel, and not the one preaching it, that matters.  As long as the gospel is being presented accurately, it doesn't matter who is proclaiming it, and we should rejoice that it is being proclaimed.  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 the preaching of the gospel, even by those who wanted to look down on him, would turn to his salvation through their prayers and the power of the Holy Spirit.  Paul was not concerned with how people viewed him but was only concerned with the spreading of the gospel.  This should be our only concern today as well.  

  

Philippians 1:1

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:  Paul identified Timothy and himself as writing the letter, but Timothy was just with Paul and Paul wrote the letter under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Paul said the letter was written to the servants of Jesus Christ at Philippi, including the church leaders.  Paul gave credit to those who helped him and acknowledged the average believer before the church leaders, and we should have that same attitude today I believe.   Verse two adds, Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.  Paul wished the grace and peace, which could only come from the heavenly Father through faith in Jesus Christ, for them.  The grace of God has always been the only way to peace, and we can only claim His peace through faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse three continues, I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,  Paul said that he thanked God every time he remembered the believers in Christ at Phillipi, and we should always thank God when we remember, or think about, other believers in Christ.  Verse four states, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,  Paul said that he not only thought about them, but he also prayed for their joy every time he prayed.   We need to also be in prayer for our fellow Christians, not just when they have problems, but always.  We should pray that they will have joy through Christ.  Veree five adds, For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;  Paul said that they had fellowship in the gospel from the first day that they had accepted Jesus Christ.  We don't have to wait for people to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ in order to have fellowship with them, but we should have fellowship with them from the time they accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.  We are all equals through our faith in Jesus Christ.   Verse six continues, 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 that he had confidence that God Who had begun a good work in the Christians at Philippi would continue tat work until the coming of Christ.  God will always complete the redemption work that He begins when a person accepts Jesus Christ, and He will continue that work until Jesus Christ returns again.  Even if we die before His return, we are still a part of that work, and will be resurrected with Christ.  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 they had stood by him through the grace of God, both when he first witnessed to them and through the times he was in bondage for his faith in and witnessing for Jesus Christ.  We need to stand by all our fellow Christians today, especially those who may be imprisoned for their faith.  Verse eight adds, For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.  Paul said God knew how much he desired to be with them, but also knew that it was not where he should be at that time.  We may desire to be some particular place while we are following Christ, but God may want us somewhere else, and we must always put what God wants first.  Verse nine continues, And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;  Paul said that he prayed that they might grow in the knowledge and judgment of Jesus Christ.  As followers of Christ, we should continually grow in the knowledge and judgment of Jesus Christ.  Judgment does not mean judging others, but means being able to judge what is right or wrong under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Verse ten states, That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;  Paul prayed that they would approve the things that were excellent, or from God and that they would be sincere and without offence to God until Christ returns.  This should be the standard of all Christians.  It is not that we become perfect, but that we strive for perfection through our faith in Jesus Christ, until we die, or He returns.  Verse eleven adds, Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.  Paul prayed that the Christians at Philippi would be filled with the fruits of righteousness which come through faith in Jesus Christ and are for the glory and praise of God.  At no time did Paul say that he prayed for their material success, but he always prayed for their spiritual success, and so should we pray for our fellow Christians today. 

Haggai Review

We learn from Haggai that God always sends His spokesperson to proclaim His word.  Sometimes, people may not be ready to hear it, but God will still send people to proclaim it.  Also, we see that God expects His people to put His work first.  We cannot be successful in our Christian life if we use all that God blesses us with for our own purposes while ignoring the work of God.  We also see that when people listen to God, especially the leaders of the country, that they will begin to do what He asks them to do. God sent Haggai to the king to tell Him to remember the covenant that God made with the people of Israel, and we must always remember the covenant that we make with God when we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  God also told Zerubbabel that if he remained faithful to God that He would shake, or destroy, his enemies.  If we remain faithful to God today, He will shake, or destroy, all our enemies when His judgment comes.  God also declared that the new temple would be superior to the old one, and this was a reference to the coming of Christ.  God did not need a building, no matter how glorious it might be, but He needed a relationship with His people where His will comes first, and He still does.  Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, so we should always build things in our lives that glorify God.  Then, God called on Zerubbabel to note the day that the people began to rebuild the temple, and we as followers of Christ should note the day that we accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Everything we do after that should be done for God's glory. 

Haggai 2:18

Haggai 2:18 says, Consider now from this day and upward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, even from the day that the foundation of the LORD’s temple was laid, consider it.   God called on them to make note of the day that they started to rebuild the temple in obedience to Him.  It was their obedience that was really important.  As Christians, we should make note of the day that we accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.   Verse nineteen adds, Is the seed yet in the barn? yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, hath not brought forth: from this day will I bless you.  God asked if the seed were yet in the barn, and answered that they were, then said that nothing had yet brought forth fruit.  There was not an immediate evidence that anything had changed by looking at the world around them, but they had God's promise that things were going to change.  Even if we do not see worldly evidence of God's promises to us as followers of Christ, we must still put our faith in Him.  Verse twenty continues, And again the word of the LORD came unto Haggai in the four and twentieth day of the month, saying,  God once more spoke to Haggai.  Today, even in America, if someone says that God spoke to them, they are often ridiculed or looked at as being a little crazy, but God still speaks to His people today.  Haggai listened when God spoke, and so must we.  Verse twenty-one states, Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth;  Haggai was once again told to speak to Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah.  Matthew Henry points out that Zerubbabel was concerned with more than just the crops but was also concerned about the overall safety of Judah from being defeated by her neighbors.  God is aware of all the concerns of His people, and if they are faithful to Him, He will provide them with everlasting blessings and safety.  Verse twenty-two adds, And I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother.  God promised Zerubbabel that He would defeat all of the enemies of Judah, as long as they remained faithful to God.  As followers of Christ, we have God's promise that He has already defeated all our enemies, even death, and all we have to do is remain faithful to Him in order to enjoy His spiritual blessings that He sends each day.  Verse twenty-three concludes, In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith the LORD, and will make thee as a signet: for I have chosen thee, saith the LORD of hosts.  God said that He would make it clear that He had chosen Zerubbabel to lead the people of Judah.   Matthew Henry said that this also referred to Jesus Christ, the coming Messiah.  The temple that Zerubbabel might build would be temporary, but the temple that Christ built would be everlasting.  Our bodies as Christians are called the temple of the Holy Spirit, and it is on this foundation of faith in Jesus Christ that we must build the good things of God.  

Haggai 2:9

Haggai 2:9 says, The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.  The former temple may have been filled with silver and gold, but this temple would be filled with the presence of the Messiah.  As Christians, no matter how humble our house of worship may be, it will be greater than the most glorious building, because it is filled with the presence of God.  Of course, our bodies are referred to as the temple of God, so wherever we are should be God's house.   Verse ten adds, In the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet, saying, Two months later, God's word came to Haggai again.  We need to be ready to hear from God at any time.  Verse eleven continues, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Ask now the priests concerning the law, saying,  God told Haggai to consult the priests.  Haggai was a prophet but he wasn't called to replace the priests.  We all have our individual calling today, and we are not called to do the work that someone else has been called to do.  Verse eleven continues, If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall it be holy? And the priests answered and said, No.  The question to the priests concerned Holy things touching ordinary things and whether they would still be holy if they did.  The priests answered no.  We cannot allow the holy things of God to be corrupted by the things of this world if they are to remain holy, or set apart for God, including ourselves.  Verse thirteen concludes, Then said Haggai, If one that is unclean by a dead body touch any of these, shall it be unclean? And the priests answered and said, It shall be unclean.  By God's direction, Haggai then asked the priests if someone who had been made unclean by touching a dead body if the things of God would be made unclean by their touch, and they said that they would be unclean. We as followers of Christ should be dead to sins, and if we touch it again, we make ourselves unclean to God.  We must always attempt to avoid touching or doing the things that would make us spiritually unclean.  Verse fourteen declares, Then answered Haggai, and said, So is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith the LORD; and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean.  Haggai said that God had pronounced all the people of Israel as unclean, and until we come to God through faith in Jesus Christ, we will be also.  Verse fifteen adds, And now, I pray you, consider from this day and upward, from before a stone was laid upon a stone in the temple of the LORD:  Haggai told them to consider their ways.  Though they were called God's people, he asked them to consider if they were living by His law.  Verse sixteen continues, Since those days were, when one came to an heap of twenty measures, there were but ten: when one came to the pressfat for to draw out fifty vessels out of the press, there were but twenty.   When they were living under God's leadership they had been blessed, but when they had turned away from Him, they found themselves lacking in what they had before.  If we allow sin into our life, we will be spiritually lacking.  Verse seventeen concludes, I smote you with blasting and with mildew and with hail in all the labours of your hands; yet ye turned not to me, saith the LORD.  God said that even when He destroyed their crops that they would not turn to Him.  Empty religion or worship will never bring us a blessing from God.  It will only bring us His punishment.   

Haggai 2:1

Haggai 2:1 says, In the seventh month, in the one and twentieth day of the month, came the word of the LORD by the prophet Haggai, saying,  Once more, we are given the specific day that the word of the LORD came to Haggai.  God's word was never just a general idea that came to His prophets and spokesmen but was always a specific message that came at a particular time.  God does not lead us to share a vague message with the world today but leads us to share the specific message of salvation through Christ alone.  Veree two adds, Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and to the residue of the people, saying,  God told Haggai that he was to speak to the governor, the high priest, and the remnant of the people.  This would have been everyone from those of highest authority to those who were the least of His people.  God's message of salvation always applies equally to each individual, no matter their status in the world, and we as His followers are to present the gospel to every person equally.  Verse three continues, Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?  God told Haggai to ask the people of Israel how many had seen His house in its glory, and if what it looked like today was not contemptible.  We as followers of Christ today are the temple of God, and we might ask ourselves if we saw Christianity in its glory and if it has become contemptible today.  Verse four declares,  Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the LORD; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the LORD, and work: for I am with you, saith the LORD of hosts:  God then called on the governor, the high priest,and all the people to be strong in their faith in Him.  If we are to successfully spread the gospel today and advance God's kingdom, we must be strong in faith.  Verse five adds, According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not.  God called on them to remember the covenant that He made with them when He brought them out of Egypt.  As Christians, we need to remember the covenant that God made with us when we accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse six continues,  For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land;  God told them that He was soon going to shake all of creation.  This was a reference to the coming of Christ and what happened at His death.  Verse seven concludes, And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts.  God said that all nations would be shaken and that He would fill His house with glory.  Verse eight states, The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts.  God said that all the riches of the world belonged to Him.  We as followers of Christ need to acknowledge that everything we have belongs to God.  Verse nine adds, The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.  Jesus said that He was the temple of God, and He is far greater than the first temple.  When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, He is much greater than any and made temple, and as God told the people then, He should bring us peace in our life today.  

Haggai 1:12

Haggai 1:12 says, Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him, and the people did fear before the LORD.  Unlike many times when God sent His prophet to the people of Israel, this time the high priest, Zerubbabel believed Haggai and with the remnant of the people obeyed God.  God will always make His will known to those who are His people, both individually and collectively, and He will always call on those who are His people to put the things of God first.  We cannot be effective Christians if we only do what God calls us to do after we have done everything that we want to do.  Verse thirteen adds, Then spake Haggai the LORD’s messenger in the LORD’s message unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith the LORD.  When the people of Israel listened to Haggai and did what God asked of them, then God  promised them that He would be with them.  When we do what God asks of us, which means first that we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, then He will always be with us.  Nothing can ever separate us from God as followers of Christ, except our own disobedience.  Then, even though we are still His child, we will be ineffective as witnesses for Him.  Verse fourteen continues, And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work in the house of the LORD of hosts, their God,  We are told that God stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel, the high priest and the spirit of all the remnant of Israel, and they did the work on the house of the LORD.  It is one thing to be stirred up by the spirit of the LORD, but if we are simply stirred up and do not do what God calls us to do, then it is of little use.  When God stirs us up spiritually, we need to do what He has stirred us up to do, and that will always be to do the things that are for His kingdom and not for material reasons or success.   Verse fifteen concludes, In the four and twentieth day of the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king.  We are given the time frame for when this happened.  They did not delay in obeying God, and we should never delay in obeying Him today.  We must do what God calls us to do when He calls us to do it.