Philippians 2:1

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 continues with his exhortation to the believers at Philippi.  He begins with rhetorical questions.  He asked if they believed that there was any comfort of love, any fellowship of the Spirit, any mercy through faith in Christ, and the answer was an obvious yes.  We should experience those same things as followers of Christ today.  Verse two adds, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.  Paul then told them to fulfill his joy by being likeminded, filled with the same love of Christ, and united in their serving God.  This would have fulfilled Paul's joy because they would have been proving that they had indeed accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, and above all else this was what Paul desired.  We as Christians should be the same way today.  Verse three continues, Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.  Paul asked that they not allow themselves to be filled with strife and vainglory, but to do everything with a humble attitude toward other Christians, never feeling that they were better than any other Christian.  It is a sad testimony when we as followers of Christ fight and argue with each other, especially if we do so because we feel morally superior to any other Christian.  Verse four states, Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.  Paul said that as followers of Christ that they should not be concerned with their own welfare, but they should be concerned with the welfare of others, especially fellow believers, as well.  I don't believe that God blesses us just so we can have more material things simply for our own use, but that He blesses us so that we can help others as well.  Verse five adds, Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:  Paul called on them to be of the same mind as Christ Himself was.  This should be our standard in life today if we are Christians.  Jesus Christ never did anything for selfish reasons or for self-glorification, and neither should we.  Verse six continues, Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:  Jesus did not feel that He was any less God because of His coming into the world as a lowly Man in order to redeem the world.  Verse seven says, But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:  Paul then stated that though Jesus Christ was indeed God, He took on the likeness of man and became a lowly servant.  He was fully God and fully Man, and He is the example we should follow.  Though we can never be fully God, we can be fully filled with His Spirit and humbly reach out to others with His love.  Verse eight adds, And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.  Paul said that as a Man, Jesus humbled Himself in obedience to the heavenly Father, even to the point of dying on the cross for the sins of humanity.  Once more, we are called on to follow the example of Jesus Christ, and though we cannot die to redeem others, we should be willing to die for our faith in Him.  Verse nine continues, Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:  Paul said that God the Father exalted Jesus Christ and gave Him a name above all others.  Those who crucified Jesus Christ may have believed that they had defeated Him, but His heavenly Father said that He was exalted.  Verse ten states, That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;  Paul said that one day every knee would bow to Jesus Christ, in heaven and on earth.  The question is will we bow as a part of His family or as a part of those who have refused to acknowledge Him while it could still bring us salvation.   Verse eleven adds, And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  One day, everyone will acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, but for way too many it will come too late.  We must accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord in this lifetime in order to claim salvation through Him.

Philippians 1:20

Philippians 1:20 says, 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 his earnest desire was to be ashamed in nothing in his Christian life.  He said that he wanted the boldness to live by faith in Jesus Christ so that everything he did would magnify Christ, either by the way he lived or by the way he died.  We need that same faith and attitude today.  As followers of Christ, we should never be ashamed to proclaim the gospel of Christ and to live, or die if necessary, so that whatever we do will glorify God.  Verse twenty-one adds, For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.  Paul then said that if he lived, it would be for doing the will of Christ, and if he died it would be his gain.  Paul wasn't in a hurry to die, since as long as he lived, he could witness to others about Jesus Christ.  He also said that if he died that he would gain everlasting life, which would be better than anything this world has to offer.  We as Christians should live for God's glory, knowing that if we die for our faith, or simply die, that it is not the end, but the beginning of our everlasting life with nothing between God and us.  Verse twenty-two continues, But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.  I believe that Paul was saying if the choice was his between living and continuing to suffer for his faith or dying and enjoying his heavenly home with Christ that he did not know which he would choose, but he knew the choice was not his.  The choice is not ours today either.  As long as God leaves us in this life, no matter how bad things may get, we are to live to glorify Him, and when we die, we will be with Him forever. We simply have to remain faithful, and we win either way.  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 that he was in a strait, or having a hard time deciding what was best.  He said he had a desire to be with Christ, which was better and meant that Paul had to die.  We may at times feel that we would rather go on to be with Christ than to continue in the pain and struggles of this world below.  Verse twenty-four adds, Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.  Paul then added that to continue to live was beneficial to those that he shared the gospel with, so that was what put him in a strait between choosing life or death.  That is why he simply left it up to God, as we must today.  Verse twenty-five continues, 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 had confidence that he would continue to abide, or live, for the benefit of those that he was witnessing to.  We as followers of Christ should see life as a time that God gives us to share the gospel with others and to edify other Christians.  Verse twenty-six concludes, That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.  Paul said that his returning to the Christians at Philippi would help them grow in faith in Jesus Christ.  I don't believe that Paul was saying that he was morally superior to the Christians at Philippi, but that he could share with them the truth of God's word as the worshipped together.  We should benefit from worship with other believers and should help those who are younger in faith to grow in Christ.  Verse twenty-seven states, 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;  Paul told them to stand fast in the gospel and let their conversation reflect their faith.  Paul said that the things that they said should be in accordance with the gospel, so that whether he got to return to see them or not that he would hear of their good works for Christ and that they were united in spreading the gospel.  This should be what people say about us today as Christians.  Verse twenty-eight adds, 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 that they should not be terrified by anything that the people of the world might do to them because of their faith.  He also said that the actions of those who opposed Christians would be to their perdition, or coming punishment, but it would be to the Christian as evidence of their salvation.  We have no reason to live in fear today if we are followers of Christ and are obedient to God's will.  Verse twenty-nine continues, 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 their salvation given by Christ also called on them to suffer with Him.  He did not promise them material wealth and happiness, but suffering with Christ because of their faith.  Christianity is not about earthly things, but about heavenly things.  Verse thirty concludes, Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.  Paul said he knew that they might have the same conflict that he had about living or dying.  We as followers of Christ today may likewise know that we will be better off after we die because we will be with God forever, but we also need to know that as long as we live we need to witness for Christ and uplift one another.

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.