Christian Unity is Detailed to the Philippians Volume 14

Paul Exhorts the Philippian Believers to be Fearless for Christ Sake and Declare the True Gospel despite any Suffering Part 2

Philippians 1:29-30 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake; Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me. KJV

These final two verses of the beginning of Paul’s letter to these Philippian believers I would dare say that many Christians have not ever even seen this in their Bibles. I confess that having grown up in the Church my whole life, I never read as a child or young adult or even an older adult these words written by Paul, perhaps it was that I did at some time read it, but discarded it or that I never truly paid attention to what he declared to these believers in Philippi. However, this morning I want to (with the Holy Spirit’s help of course) try to get an understanding of exactly what this Apostle was telling these fellow believers who were beloved by Paul (Philippians 1:8) and the loving affection was certainly returned to Paul from them. Paul declares to them these very striking words, “For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake” (Philippians 1:29). Certainly this must be one of those spoken of miss-prints, miss-interpretations, or miss-understandings from Paul when writing these words to these beloved believers. How could Paul think, imagine, or literally say to these men, women, boys, and girls who belonged to such a loving, merciful, and caring Savior as our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ. Surely our Lord Jesus (Holy Spirit) could not have inspired these words that Paul has put to ink on parchment (a superior paper resembling sheepskin, used to write on in Paul’s day).

First, let us look at the English phrase Paul begins this sentence with “it is given” or “it was given” (at the very moment you were saved or forgiven eternally) translated by one Greek word charizomai which is derived from the Greek word charis and charis means grace that is a divine influence upon the heart or inner man. Therefore, charizomai is grace that is divine influence upon the heart or inner man granted as a favor, that is, gratuitously, in kindness. Consider that our Precious, Loving, and Merciful Lord Jesus Christ has given to every true believer “in Him” out of His kindness the grace gift to first be able to believe on Him unto eternal salvation as this same Apostle Paul writes with these words to the Ephesian believers (Amplified version), “For it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment {and} made partakers of Christ’s salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God; Not because of works [not the fulfillment of the Law’s demands], lest any man should boast. [It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it or take glory to himself.]” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Note: “‘To believe Him,’ would merely mean to believe He speaks the truth. ‘To believe on Him,’ is to believe in, and trust through, Him to obtain eternal salvation.” JFB Commentary; Listen to the words written by the Apostle John in the Gospel of John (Amplified version), “But to as many as did receive {and} welcome Him, He gave the authority (power, privilege, right) to become the children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name--Who owe their birth neither to blood nor to the will of the flesh [that of physical impulse] nor to the will of man [that of a natural father], but to God. [They are born of God!]” (John 1:12-13).

Therefore, just as the grace God gives for a sinner to believe on Christ, in the same manner He gives grace “to suffer for Christ sake” and the English phrase “to suffer” is translated by the Greek words pascho, patho, pentho apparently a primary verb (the third form used only in certain tenses for it); to experience a sensation or impression (usually painful): - feel, passion, suffer, vex. In other words, Christ and His Gospel is opposed in this world by the devil and since the devil cannot do any of his evil bidding without an instrument, he uses men and women to carry out his evil plots, plans, and purposes to stop the truth of the Gospel from being proclaimed, therefore, our Lord Jesus Christ gives to us the favor or the grace gift of enduring suffering from those who oppose our determined declaration to give out the Word of God without making it fit anyone’s false beliefs about salvation and going to heaven. This gift of suffering is not for any suffering but only for the sake of Christ and the suffering that certainly comes when you stand for Him, the truth of the Word of God, and the truth of the Gospel of Grace that declares no one will go to heaven except they go through our Lord Jesus Christ as He Himself declared emphatically without waver with these words, “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” (John 14:6). Suffering in this life is every man’s reward (saved and lost) for Adam’s original sin as Job put it with these words, “Man who is born of woman Is of few days and full of trouble.” (Job 14:1). However, there is a big difference when we believers exercise our gift of grace to suffer for Christ sake, for then we send up rewards waiting on us in heaven (even the greatest reward of seeing a sinner saved through your proclamation of the true Gospel) as our Lord Jesus emphasized with these words, “Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:10).

The Apostle Peter reminds us of our grace gift to suffer for Christ sake with these words, “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the Gospel of God? Now ‘If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?’ Therefore, let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.” (1 Peter 4:13-19). Paul then reminds these Philippian believers of what they themselves witnessed of his treatment in their city of Philippi when he says, “Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.” (Philippians 1:30). It is all documented for us by the Holy Spirit through Dr. Luke in (Acts 16:11-40). Paul was very harshly and brutally treated by the unconverted in Philippi as he declared to the Thessalonians with these words, “But even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the Gospel of God in much conflict.” (1 Thessalonians 2:2), yet he did not let his mistreatment discourage, distract, or detour him from fulfilling God’s will for him he kept fighting for the Gospel, kept the true faith of the Gospel, and finished his course for the Gospel of Christ until he went to heaven, which is exactly what he is encouraging these Philippian believers to do and we believers today as he did for Brother Timothy with these words, “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” (1 Timothy 6:12).

‘Having the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me; that is, suffering in the same manner as you saw and now hear of me that I suffer.’ It is not simply the suffering, but the cause, and not only the cause, but the spirit, which makes the martyr. A man may suffer in a bad cause, and then he suffers justly; or in a good cause, but with a wrong mind, and then his sufferings lose their value.” Matthew Henry

“To you it is graciously given; it is no small privilege that God has so far honored you as to permit you to suffer on Christ’s account. It is only His most faithful servants that He thus honors. Be not therefore terrified by your enemies; they can do nothing to you which God will not turn to your eternal advantage. We learn from this that it is as great a privilege to suffer for Christ as to believe on Him; and the former in certain cases (as far as the latter in all cases) becomes the means of salvation to them who are thus exercised.” Adam Clarke

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

 

 

Christian Unity is Detailed to the Philippians Volume 13

Paul Exhorts the Philippian Believers to be Fearless for Christ Sake and Declare the True Gospel despite any Suffering Part 1

Philippians 1:28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. KJV

The Apostle Paul concludes this first Chapter of his letter to these Philippian believers by exhorting them to fearlessness for Christ and the truth of the Gospel no matter the external consequences. The fact that the Gospel is “good news” does not dismiss the reality that there are a majority of souls on the earth (energized by the devil) who are hostile to its proclamation. The reality of their being only One God and One Way (Jesus Christ) to Heaven is very offensive to the unregenerate soul and thus Paul tells these Philippian believers and we believers today to have this resolve to, “in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God” (Philippians 1:28). The devil is our adversary and it is he who ignites the human souls to oppose those of us who have been redeemed simply because he hates our Lord Jesus Christ and consequently he hates those whom Christ loves, His saints. Those human instruments who persist in being hostile to the Gospel of Grace and the fact that Jesus Christ is the only way to God (this would include the modern day Islamic Jihadist) only show forth the evidence or proof that they are barreling head long into perdition. This English word perdition is not a word used commonly in the conversation of many people in this 21^st Century, but it was commonly used during Paul’s time and it is translated by the Greek word apoleia which completely means to destroy fully; to perish or to lose; ruin or loss; damnable destruction. In other words, Paul declares that the human beings who actively persecute Christians even to the point of killing them prove that they have no part with the True God Jesus Christ and display, demonstrate, and disclose that they are headed to hell forever.

However, in stark contrast these Philippian believers and we believers today with our steadfastness for the truth of the Gospel and that Jesus Christ is the only way to Heaven and that all man made religions and religious practices are in complete opposition to the Gospel of Christ, show forth that our salvation has been given to us by God the Father solely upon our trust and reliance of what Christ did on the Cross (Ephesians 2:8-9). The English word salvation is translated by the Greek word soteria a noun which means rescue or safety (physically or morally): - to deliver or to save. All human beings born are born exiled from God the Father by sin and only Jesus Christ can save human beings from sin as an angel of the Lord said to Joseph with these words, “But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.’” (Matthew 1:20-21). This is the contrast, those who have never yet received this forgiveness of sins (only through our Lord Jesus Christ) are filled with opposition and resistance to the Gospel.

When you stand for the truth of what the Word of God declares and oppose evil in this world, you will face opposition and Paul wants to prepare these Philippian believers and we believers today for this reality with the resolve that we can only get from Christ just as was given to the Apostle Peter and others with him as documented for us by Dr. Luke with these words, “And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the Apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.” (Acts 5:40-42). We see evidence here that despite their beating and being commanded by the Jewish Council to stop speaking in the name of Jesus, they continued to teach and preach Jesus as the Christ, this was not done in their human strength or resolve, but it was by the Grace of God that they were empowered to persist for Christ and the truth of the Gospel, the Apostle Peter surely recalling these words spoken by our Lord when He walked with them in the flesh, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:10-12).

My own Personal Note: “Fear is defined as an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight), this is natural in our flesh, but we can experience supernatural strength from our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ to overcome this normal response in our flesh as the Apostle Peter and the others with him received from Christ to stand for Him and the truth of His Word and the Gospel, despite the devil, his demons, and the two legged devils he uses to hurt, harass, and harm us to keep us from declaring that Jesus Christ is the only way to Heaven, point blank period.”  

“Our great care must be to keep close to our profession, and be constant to it: whatever oppositions we meet with, we must not be frightened at them, considering that the condition of the persecuted is much better and more desirable than the condition of the persecutors; for persecuting is an evident token of perdition. Those who oppose the Gospel of Christ, and injure the professors of it, are marked out for ruin. But being persecuted is a token of salvation. Not that it is a certain mark; many hypocrites have suffered for their religion; but it is a good sign that we are in good earnest in religion, and designed for salvation, when we are enabled in a right manner to suffer for the cause of Christ.” Matthew Henry

“Such courage is a prophecy of victory. Such courage is based upon a sure hope. ‘Our citizenship is in heaven, from whence also we look for the Lord Jesus as Savior.’ The little outlying colony in this far-off edge of the empire is ringed about by wide-stretching hosts of dusky barbarians. Far as the eye can reach their myriads cover the land, and the watchers from the ramparts might well be dismayed if they had only their own resources to depend on. But they know that the Emperor in His progress will come to this sorely beset outpost, and their eyes are fixed on the pass in the hills where they expect to see the waving banners and the gleaming spears. Soon, like our countrymen in Lucknow, they will hear the music and the shouts that tell that He is at hand. Then when He comes, He will raise the siege and scatter all the enemies as the chaff of the threshing-floor, and the colonists who held the post will go with Him to the land which they have never seen, but which is their home, and will, with the Victor, sweep in triumph ‘through the gates into the city.’” Alexander MacLaren

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christian Unity is Detailed to the Philippians Volume 12

Paul Exhorts the Philippian Believers to Stand firm for the Gospel

Philippians 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the Gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the Gospel; KJV

Despite Paul being confident in being freed from prison and returning to these Philippian believers, he still knew that he was not always certain of the will of God in every matter, therefore, Paul reminds them of who they are urging them with these words, “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” (Philippians 1:27). At the beginning of this verse the very long English phrase “let your conversation be” is translated by one Greek word politeuomai meaning a townsman or citizen; to behave as a citizen. Paul perhaps cited this particular word to these Philippians knowing that they would immediately get his exhortation seeing that they lived in and were citizens of the city Philippi, but they belonged to and were Governed by the Romans and Roman law, therefore, they were also citizens of Rome. In the same like manner, the Apostle Paul reminds these Philippian converts to Christ that though they are on the earth their true citizenship is now in Heaven with Christ where he sits at the right hand of God the Father (Colossians 3:1).

It was Paul’s desire to see them living as the new creatures that God the Holy Spirit had made them when they were born again. However, Paul knew that this would not occur by happenstance, but they needed encouragement and to be impelled to walk/live as citizens of Heaven and be reminded of the things of their past that they were to let go of as Paul said with these words written to the Roman believers, “And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore, let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” (Romans 13:11-14). This Greek word politeuomai was used only one other time in the entire New Testament and it happened to be used by this same Apostle Paul speaking of himself when speaking to the Jewish Council after he had been attacked by the Jews in the Temple in Jerusalem and saved by God the Father using the Roman Commander of the Garrison to stop the beating and arrested Paul, this is what Paul said as recorded for us by Dr. Luke, “Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, ‘Men and brethren, I have lived (politeuomai) in all good conscience before God until this day.’ And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him, ‘God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! For you sit to judge me according to the law, and do you command me to be struck contrary to the law?’ And those who stood by said, ‘Do you revile God’s high priest?’ Then Paul said, ‘I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’” (Acts 23:1-5).

Note: “The Church is to obey all of the rule of law of the earthly country wherein it is presently dwelling, however, when those laws are contrary to the Word of God (which is what the Church is Governed by according to its citizenship in Heaven), then the Church must obey God as was the testimony of the Apostle Peter when he and others were arrested by the Jews for preaching Christ, “And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, saying, ‘Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!’ But Peter and the other Apostles answered and said: ‘We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.’” (Acts 5:27-32).”

Paul wanted them to honor the Gospel of Grace that saved them eternally from their sin whether or not they ever were to see his face again, because it was not Paul that they were to answer to, but Christ Jesus our Lord. The Apostle Paul knew that his time here on the earth would come to an end (perhaps soon), therefore, he wanted these Philippian believers (in his presence or absence) to stand fast. This English phrase “ye stand fast” Paul uses here is translated by one Greek word steko meaning to abide, continue, or remain; to be stationary, that is, (figuratively) to persevere. The stance is to be taken in the Gospel truth that only through Jesus Christ can sinful man be redeemed, reborn, and reconciled to God. This Paul wants each of the believers in Philippi to believe and fight for in their world despite their individual uniqueness, but they are to lay all petty differences aside and unit their minds and wills to this very cause of declaring the truth of the Gospel. Paul makes the point with emphasis by using the English phrase “striving together” which is translated by one Greek word sunathleo which means to wrestle in company with, that is, (figuratively) to seek jointly: - labor with, strive together for. Although they are individuals and each came to Christ individually, they are to work jointly for Christ sake and His Gospel of Grace throughout their world and beyond. The Gospel is to be proclaimed and taught as it was received from Christ Jesus given to the original Apostles as declared by Jude with these words, “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” (Jude 1:3).

“Our ‘manner of life’ is all-important. In the open day and in the hours of darkness it must be worthy of the Gospel. We must show ourselves to be of a heavenly tone and temper, as citizens of that ‘city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.’ Lady Powerscourt used to say that she dwelt in heaven, but came down for a few hours each day to do her work on earth, returning home at night. Clearly, then, our dress, accent, and behavior should betray us as strangers and pilgrims who can well endure the discomfort of the inn or the troublous experiences of the place of our sojourn.” F. B. Meyer

“The meaning is, Play the citizen in a manner worthy of the Gospel. Paul does not, of course, mean, discharge your civic duties as Christian men, though some Christian Englishmen need that reminder; but the city of which these Philippians were citizens was the heavenly Jerusalem, the metropolis, the mother city of us all. He would kindle in them the consciousness of belonging to another order of things than that around them. He would stimulate their loyalty to obedience to the city’s laws. As the outlying colonies of Rome had sometimes entrusted to them the task of keeping the frontiers and extending the power of the imperial city, so he stirs them up to aggressive warfare; and as in all their conflicts the little colony felt that the Empire was at its back, and therefore looked undaunted on shoals of barbarian foes, so he would have his friends at Philippi animated by lofty courage, and ever confident of final victory.” Alexander MacLaren

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christian Unity is Detailed to the Philippians Volume 11

Paul Declares for him Life is Christ Part 4

Philippians 1:25-26 And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith; That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again. KJV

The Apostle Paul concludes this section of the opening of his letter to these Philippians believers declaring his life here on the earth to be lived for and by the power (from grace) of Jesus Christ by declaring to them that he was sure that he would live on longer in his tent, house, or body by saying just that with these words, “having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith” (Philippians 1:25). The English phrase “having this confidence” Paul uses here is translated by one Greek word peitho which as it is used here means to rely (by inward certainty); to believe or to trust. The English word “know” Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word eido meaning to be aware; to be sure; to understand or to perceive. The English phrase “I shall abide” Paul uses is translated by one Greek word meno a primary verb meaning; to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy): - continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand, or tarry. In other words, when we put all of these Greek verbs together, we see that Paul was confident that our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ would free him from his present confinement because as he declared in the previous verse “Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you” (Philippians 1:24).

Paul knowing the desire of Christ to see His Church built up in the faith believed and trusted that Christ desired him to live on longer to help build the faith of these new Gentile believers in Philippi as well as equip them to go out in their city, country, and their world to proclaim the Gospel themselves with boldness, accuracy, and assurance that they too could see God the Holy Spirit work through them just as Paul was used to bring them to faith in Christ. Paul saw that his job was not finished with these believers and it gave him this confidence that he writes here to them. Paul was certain that his assignment was not only to build them up in their most holy faith (Jude 1:20), but also to teach them how to defend the Gospel in their world and beyond when they met the philosophers of the world who had convinced many people that God either did not exist or that He was uninterested, unconcerned, and uninvolved with the affairs of mankind on the earth. The English word “furtherance” Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word prokope which means progress or advancement; to grow, to be well along, and to increase. Paul now sees that our Lord Jesus Christ wants him to be an instrument for Him to use to grow the faith of these Gentile Philippian believers, just as a plant or tree must be nourished by the sunlight and by water, so was Paul required to remain on the earth longer to nourish these believers with and by the light and water of the Word of God. The more the Philippian believer’s faith increased and enlarged the stronger they would be and this would naturally increase their joy in the Lord Jesus Christ which joy would only serve to increase their strength and thus their growth would produce strength which would produce joy in Christ which would produce more strength and there would be a circle of continuous spiritual life being molded and shaped in these individual believers as well as the collective body the Church at Philippi.

Paul had many battles with enemy (the devil) and he was sure our Lord Jesus Christ would release him from his current captivity as before, not just for Paul’s sake, but more so for the sake of the Church at Philippi that he would be able to continue to prepare them for the constant and continual spiritual battles that he knew they would encounter their entire pilgrimage on the earth. Paul declares his desire for them to be “That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again” (Philippians 1:26). Paul knew that not only would they refresh his spirit in Christ Jesus, but his coming to them again would also refresh and revive their spirits in Christ and their rejoicing in Christ for Paul’s release would be amazing. The English phrase “may be more abundant” Paul uses to describe the level of their joy increasing is translated by one Greek word perisseuo which means to superabound (in quantity or quality), be in excess, be superfluous; also (transitively) to cause to superabound or excel: - (make, more) abound, (have, have more) abundance, (be more) abundant, be the better, enough and to spare, exceed, excel, increase, be left, redound, remain (over and above). Paul wanted to see what great joy would flood the hearts of these beloved brothers and sisters of his “in Christ” the moment they would see his face again knowing how much (with many tears) and how often (without wavering or ceasing) they prayed to our Heavenly Father for Paul’s release from prison (Philippians 1:19). Paul knew that their joy would be exceedingly great and this is what inspired the use of this word perisseuo because Paul had experienced personally this type of super-abounding joy many times in his walk with our Lord Jesus Christ.   

My own Personal Note: “It is the enemy that goes about the earth seeking whom he may devour and what he most wants to devour from those of us who believe is our joy, because he too knows that the ‘joy of the Lord is our strength’ (Nehemiah 8:10).”

“What a great confidence Paul had in the Divine Providence, that it would order all for the best to him. ‘Having this confidence that it will be needful for you that I should abide in the flesh, I know that I shall abide.’ Whatsoever is best for the Church, we may be sure God will do. If we know what is needful for building up the body of Christ, we may certainly know what will be; for He will take care of its interests, and do what is best, all things considered, in every condition it is in.” (Matthew Henry)

“No Christian life is broken short off so, but rises in a symmetrical shaft, and its capital is garlanded with amaranthine flowers in heaven. In one sense all our lives are incomplete, for they and their issues are above, out of our sight here. In another none are, for we are ‘immortal till our work is done.’ The true attitude, then, for us is patient service till He withdraws us from the field. We do not count him a diligent servant who is always wearying for the hour of leaving off to strike. Be it ours to labor where He puts us, patiently waiting till ‘death’s mild curfew’ sets us free from the long day’s work, and sends us home. Brethren! there are but two theories of life; two corresponding aspects of death. The one says, ‘To me to live is Christ, and to die gain’; the other, ‘To me to live is self, and to die is loss and despair.’ One or other must be your choice. Which?” Alexander MacLaren

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christian Unity is Detailed to the Philippians Volume 10

Paul Declares for him Life is Christ Part 3

Philippians 1:23-24 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless, to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. KJV

Paul continuing to express his intense feeling of anxiety over his current confinement in prison being torn between continuing his work for Christ down here on the earth or excepting and even welcoming his execution by the Romans, says “For I am in a strait betwixt two” (Philippians 1:23). The English phrase “I am in a strait” is translated by one Greek word sunecho meaning literally to be compressed in by a large crowd of people as one would be at a packed concert; figuratively it means to be perplexed, that is, full of difficulty, confusion or bewilderment. In other words, Paul loved these believers in Philippi and had a special bond with them seeing that they had often supplied him with financial support during his other Missionary efforts when his tent making did not always provide for him completely as he declared to them in the close of this very letter with these words, “Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the Gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no Church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities.” (Philippians 4:15-16), and this deep affection for converted Gentiles as these people in Philippi is why Paul was “in a straight (sunecho)” because he wanted to be free that he would be able to spend more time with them in fellowship of the Word of God and bringing even more lost people in Philippi to Christ. This word sunecho is the exact same word our Lord Jesus Christ used when He said, “But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened (sunecho) till it be accomplished!” (Luke 12:50).

However, Paul longed to be free from the prison of his vile body (Philippians 3:21) and be in the arms of his loving Lord and Savior Jesus Christ clothed with a new glorious body just like Christ. The Apostle states that his departure to heaven to be with Christ is “far better”, meaning that for him to finally be forever with our Lord Jesus Christ is way way better for him than to remain down here toiling, laboring, struggling, fighting, etc. in his body of death (Romans 7:24). Paul knew that his death would usher him immediately and instantly into the loving arms of Christ as we wrote in the last study or commentary (2 Corinthians 5:8), therefore, knowing this made it difficult for Paul to not desire it, yet Paul knew that Christ would deliver him from his present imprisonment if He had not finished His work being done through Paul here on earth. Paul had begun to see his ministry winding down and his physical body failing him more and more because of all the beatings and imprisonments and only a few years and he would write these words to Brother Timothy, “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:6-8).

However, it was not time just yet for him to go and be with our Lord Jesus forever, so he says to them, “Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you” (Philippians 1:24). With these words, Paul means that he has not gotten a Revelation from God the Father that his time on earth is up and that his work for Christ is complete yet, therefore, he concludes that it is “more needful” for him to remain in his tent, house, or body yet a little longer for their sakes. The English phrase “more needful” Paul uses here is translated by one Greek word anagkaios which means necessary or absolutely essential. Despite Paul’s desire and longing to be with Christ in heaven, it was not quite time for this to happen because our Heavenly Father had more Scripture to write through this vessel of His and needed him to remain for a little longer for the building up of His Church in the faith as Paul wrote in this manner in an earlier letter to the Ephesian believers with these words, “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head --- Christ --- from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.” (Ephesians 4:11-16).  

My own Personal Note: “Paul now finds himself in great distress over his current state of mind and is expressing his anxiousness to these beloved fellow believers because he greatly trusted them and was confident that they would somehow refresh, revive, and release him from this distress with the right response during this difficult time in his life.”

“Those who know the value of Christ and heaven will readily acknowledge it far better to be in heaven than to be in this world, to be with Christ than to be with any creature; for in this world we are compassed about with sin, born to trouble, born again to it; but, if we come to be with Christ, farewell sin and temptation, farewell sorrow and death, forever.” Matthew Henry

“It appears to be a metaphor taken from the commander of a vessel, in a foreign port, who feels a strong desire, to set sail, and get to his own country and family; but this desire is counterbalanced by a conviction that the general interests of the voyage may be best answered by his longer stay in the port where his vessel now rides; for he is not in dock, he is not aground, but rides at anchor in the port, and may any hour weigh and be gone. Such was the condition of the apostle: he was not at home, but although he was abroad it was on his employer’s business; he wishes to return, and is cleared out and ready to set sail, but he has not received his last orders from his owner, and whatever desire he may feel to be at home he will faithfully wait till his final orders arrive.” Adam Clarke

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christian Unity is Detailed to the Philippians Volume 9

Paul Declares for him Life is Christ Part 2

Philippians 1:21-22 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labor: yet what I shall choose I wot not. KJV

Life for the Apostle Paul was clear and singular. The man Saul, that was so zealous for Judaism and spent most of his life trying to rise in the ranks of the Jewish religion as he declared to the Galatian believers with these words, “And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.” (Galatians 1:14) no longer existed in this world. The new man Paul was now only zealous for Jesus Christ and the message of His death on the Cross at Calvary. Paul’s life was Jesus Christ, but he was not nor should he be considered some type of supper Christian, but instead he was someone who was a normal Christian. Paul’s attitude and mindset should be that of every one of us today, but sadly it is not. I must testify that this is not the case with me right now, but I was at one time in my walk with our Lord Jesus Christ just as Paul declares himself here in Philippians 1:21. The moving away from steadfastness and zealousness for Christ and His Gospel is never our Lord Jesus Christ, but always us, because His is the same today, yesterday, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

Paul had narrowed his life down to one goal, one purpose, and one person to live for every day. Paul saw himself as all Christians should see themselves as belonging to Jesus Christ alone. Remember that the theme of this letter to these Philippian believers is Christian unity and Paul wanted them to understand that unity in Christ could only be achieved by first seeing one’s self as being owned by Jesus Christ. This would render these Philippian believers and we believers today to one objective, to glorify Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul’s life and actions, as well as his words are a constant rebuke to me and the careless Christian life I live today. Paul so lived for Christ, that death was eagerly anticipated by him for he had already died and was taken into the 3^rd Heaven by our Lord Jesus to see and hear the inexpressible things that took place around the Throne of God the Father (2 Corinthians 12:1-4). Paul knew that it was not he that determined what would happen to him during this time in prison, but he knew that our Lord Jesus Christ was completely in control and this removed any doubt or fear from his heart about his future.

Paul was not superhuman, but death held no more terror over him for he could see his eternal future in heaven worshipping our Lord Jesus Christ and he wrote with these words to the Corinthian believers his very confidence in that reality, “For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 5:1-8). However, Paul knew that he would not be executed by the Roman Emperor Nero until he had finished the worked our Lord Jesus Christ had given him to do, therefore, he also knew that the fruit of his laboring for the Gospel was these very Philippian believers he was writing this letter to. To live in the flesh for Paul meant seeing other men, women, boys, and girls hear the Gospel of Christ and be eternally saved by the moving of God the Holy Spirit, yet at the same time he longed to be with our Lord Jesus Christ and be separated from the strife from other people, struggles in his flesh, and the strategies of Satan against him.

“The glory of Christ ought to be the end of our life, the grace of Christ the principle of our life, and the word of Christ the rule of it. The Christian life is derived from Christ, and directed to Him. He is the principle, rule, and end of it. All those to whom to live is Christ to them to die will be gain: it is great gain, a present gain, everlasting gain. Death is a great loss to a carnal worldly man; for he loses all his comforts and all his hopes: but to a good Christian it is gain, for it is the end of all his weakness and misery and the perfection of his comforts and accomplishment of his hopes; it delivers him from all the evils of life, and brings him to the possession of the chief good.” Matthew Henry

“A mere willingness to die, or even a desire to die, is no certain evidence of preparation for death. If this willingness or desire is caused by mere intensity of suffering; if it is produced by disgust at the world or by disappointment; if it arises from some view of fancied Elysian fields beyond the grave, it constitutes no evidence whatever of a preparation for death. I have seen not a few persons who were not professed Christians on a bed of death, and not a few willing to die, nay, not a few who wished to depart. But in the vast majority of instances it was because they were sick of life, or because their pain made them sigh for relief, or because they were so wretched that they did not care what happened - and this they and their friends construed into an evidence that they were prepared to die! In most instances this is a miserable delusion; in no case is a mere willingness to die an evidence of preparation for death.” Albert Barnes

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…