Christian Unity is Detailed to the Philippians Volume 28

Paul Commends Brother Timothy to the Philippian Church Part 3

Philippians 2:23-24 Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me. But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly. KJV

Even though the Apostle Paul was in the most deplorable of conditions being held in a Roman dungeon, unsure (at times) of whether he would be executed or not found his faith in our Lord Jesus Christ tested, but yet he found within himself an assurance of Christ care, concern, and comfort for him and finds it within to say to these believers at Philippi, “Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me.” (Philippians 2:23) (KJV). Paul was not some in-human as some of the fictional Marvel Comic characters are described to us today in the comic books, movies, and TV shows like super-girl or the flash or super-man. Paul was a real flesh and blood man with physical strength and weakness in his physical body, but void of any spiritual strength in his inner-man, but he was redeemed by the Blood of Christ and it was Christ Blood that Paul is now drawing from to find hope in what certainly appears to be a hopeless situation. The tiny English phrase “I hope” Paul uses here embodies the essential characteristics of where he placed his focus and this phrase is translated by one Greek word elpizo meaning to anticipate, usually with pleasure; to expect or confide: to trust completely.

In other words, Paul had placed his complete confidence and trust in our Lord Jesus Christ to remove him from his current imprisonment that he might send Timothy to these believers in Philippi for the betterment and improvement of the Gospel among them and to those around them in Philippi. Paul at all times in all circumstances and at all places held this hope in our Lord Jesus always within him as he declared to the believers in Ephesus on this occasion recorded for us by Dr. Luke, “Afterward Paul remained many days longer, and then told the brethren farewell and sailed for Syria; and he was accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchreae he [Paul] cut his hair, for he had made a vow. Then they arrived in Ephesus, and [Paul] left the others there; but he himself entered the synagogue and discoursed {and} argued with the Jews. When they asked him to remain for a longer time, he would not consent; But when he was leaving them he said, I will return to you if God is willing, and he set sail from Ephesus.” (Acts 18:18-21) (Amplified Bible). Paul was extremely confident that the will of God would be accomplished in his life despite mistakes, mis-steps, or mis-trust in the Lord Jesus on his part and also despite what the enemy would do to him through evil and wicked men, as he is now in prison in Rome.

It was the will of God that trumped all the conditions, circumstances, or chaos that filtered in and out of Paul’s life after the encounter with Christ on the Damascus Road. Paul was certain that his second trial was fast approaching and recalling what our Lord Jesus did for him at his first trial as he documented for us in his second letter to Brother Timothy, “But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the [Gospel] message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was delivered out of the jaws of the lion. [And indeed] the Lord will certainly deliver {and} draw me to Himself from every assault of evil. He will preserve {and} bring me safe unto His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen (so be it).” (2 Timothy 4:17-18) (Amplified Bible), therefore, we find him with this ‘hope’ always burning within him that despite the outward chaos, Christ Jesus our Lord would personally preserve him.

Paul felt confident that despite what happened to him, Brother Timothy would be spared by our Lord Jesus to carry on the work of the ministry and the proclamation of the Gospel of Grace in not only Philippi, but to the ends of the earth, as he (Paul) spoke of Brother Timothy in this manner to the Corinthian Church, “When Timothy arrives, see to it that [you put him at ease, so that] he may be fearless among you, for he is [devotedly] doing the Lord’s work, just as I am.” (1 Corinthians 16:10) (Amplified Bible).  Paul found himself being enabled by our Lord Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit to look away from his present situation and focus on how things were going to turn out according to the desire of his heart, therefore, he says, “But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly.” (Philippians 2:24) (KJV). Paul did not just long for his freedom from the dungeon, but he also longed for his freedom to fellowship once again with these converted brothers and sisters ‘in Christ’, that believed from hearing his declaration of the Gospel of Grace and his desire was for them and not only his own personal freedom just as the Apostle John wrote with the same desire to believers he wanted to see when he said, “I have many things to write to you, but I prefer not to do so with paper and ink; I hope to come to see you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.” (2 John 1:12) (Amplified Bible).

“Paul displayed a determined reliance on our Lord Jesus Christ that many of us cannot relate to. Paul was not unrealistic, but he simply knew that nothing could ever hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of our Lord Jesus Christ for his life and we see this exactly fulfilled just as our Lord Jesus Himself spoke these words to Ananias speaking about Saul who would later be renamed Paul, “But the Lord said to him, ‘Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of Mine to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the descendants of Israel; For I will make clear to him how much he will be afflicted {and} must endure {and} suffer for My name’s sake.’” (Acts 9:15-16) (Amplified Bible). Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

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 27

Paul Commends Brother Timothy to the Philippian Church Part 2

Philippians 2:21-22 For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s. But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the Gospel. KJV

It is not sure to know exactly who were the brethren Paul is speaking of when he says, “For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s” (Philippians 2:21) (KJV), but we know he does not speak of Dr. Luke who was present with him on most of his missionary journeys and is the man responsible for recording them (by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit) in the Book of Acts and we can recall him saying this concerning Dr. Luke in his second letter to Brother Timothy, “Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.” (2 Timothy 4:11) (NKJV). Paul is, however, surely speaking of those un-named men he has already declared to these Philippian believers earlier on in this letter when he said, “Some, it is true, [actually] preach Christ (the Messiah) [for no better reason than] out of envy and rivalry (party spirit), but others are doing so out of a loyal spirit {and} goodwill. But the former preach Christ out of a party spirit, insincerely [out of no pure motive, but thinking to annoy me], supposing they are making my bondage more bitter {and} my chains more galling.” (Philippians 1:15-16) (Amplified Bible).

Why these men would proclaim their dedication, commitment, or loyalty to our Lord Jesus Christ and have this desire in their hearts to cause more affliction to the Apostle Paul is astounding, astonishing, and amazing because this was the period of the Church when God the Holy Spirit was supernaturally exposing, then, removing lying, greedy, and dishonest souls from the fellowship as we recall with Ananias and Sapphira as recorded for us with these words by the above mentioned Dr. Luke, “But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the Apostles’ feet. But Peter said, ‘Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.’ Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him. Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter answered her, ‘Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?’ She said, ‘Yes, for so much.’ Then Peter said to her, ‘How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.’ Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. So great fear came upon all the Church and upon all who heard these things.” (Acts 5:1-11) (NKJV).

The men or women at the disposal of the Apostle Paul during this time were not trustworthy to the Apostle, except for Timothy. We must also take into account that Paul had great concern over the care given to the spiritual condition of the Philippian Church and the person or persons he would confide in to administer such care because of what took place concerning himself at his first trial in Rome as he declared in the second letter to Brother Timothy, “At my first trial no one acted in my defense [as my advocate] {or} took my part {or} [even] stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them!” (2 Timothy 4:16) (Amplified Bible). This reality probably shook even this great Apostle Paul so much that he began to have reservations about the trustworthiness of some of the brethren. It is quite a shock when those whom we trust and think we can count upon let us down in our most desperate, distressed, and darkest times. However, unlike the ‘song of Deborah’ that has this spoken by the Angel of the Lord as part of the lyrics, “‘Curse Meroz,’ said the Angel of the LORD, ‘Curse its inhabitants bitterly, Because they did not come to the help of the LORD, To the help of the LORD against the mighty.’” (Judges 5:23) (NKJV), we still find this Apostle Paul not wanting our Lord Jesus Christ to hold this desertion against his beloved brethren. At one time the Apostle Paul placed Demas on the same level as Dr. Luke when he closed his letter to the Colossian Church when he said, “Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you.” (Colossians 4:14) (NKJV), but then in closing his second letter to Brother Timothy Paul had this to say concerning Demas, “For Demas has deserted me for love of this present world and has gone to Thessalonica; Crescens [has gone] to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.” (2 Timothy 4:10) (Amplified Bible).

Perhaps there were others like Demas that Paul left un-named in any of his other letters and they are the ones he speaks of as seeking their own and not the things of Christ Jesus our Lord. The Apostle John spoke of such a man in one of the Churches when he said, “I wrote to the Church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the Church.” (3 John 1:9) (NKJV). Surely these are the type of men Paul had at his disposal in Rome and refused to trust any of them to go to the Church at Philippi, but only Timothy. Therefore, concerning the character of the young man Timothy Paul says to these Philippian believers, “But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the Gospel.” (Philippians 2:22) (KJV). The Apostle Paul uses the English word “proof” speaking of Timothy and this word is translated by the Greek word dokime which means that which is tested or that which is trustiness or in other words Timothy exemplified the trait of deserving trust and confidence. It was Paul’s confidence in Brother Timothy to put the spiritual state and condition of the Philippian believers above any personal accolades, approval, or awards from Paul or any other Apostle or member of Christ Body.

Timothy’s number one concern was what our Lord Jesus Christ thought of him and not what men thought of him. It was the proclamation of the truth of the Gospel of Grace that was priority number one with Brother Timothy over the applause of men directed to him. Paul spoke of Timothy as his spiritual son in the faith, meaning he (Paul) took Timothy under his wing to act as teacher and trusted guide and counselor to him in the faith as we can clearly see in the two letters Paul wrote to him with such words as these, “Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.” (2 Timothy 1:13-14) (NKJV) and also these words just to name some of Paul’s counsel to Timothy, “You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” (2 Timothy 2:1-3) (NKJV). Note: “Timothy was not Paul’s servant, but Christ servant. Timothy did not do menial errands for Paul, neglecting his loyalty to Christ Jesus our Lord, but was a faithful man like the men Nehemiah spoke of with these words, ‘Then it was, when the wall was built and I had hung the doors, when the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites had been appointed, that I gave the charge of Jerusalem to my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the leader of the citadel, for he was a faithful man and feared God more than many.’” (Nehemiah 7:1-2) (NKJV).

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you for bringing me your son back from the flu virus 10 days ago and destroying the attack of the devil and his invisible devils as well as his two legged devils that would try to hurt, harm, and hinder the work of yours through me your son Clifford DeWayne Tate, Sr. Thank you for Your unconditional love to me your son and Your continual mercy in Jesus Name and by His Blood that continually washes me from my sin (Revelation 1:5), Amen!

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 26

Paul Commends Brother Timothy to the Philippian Church Part 1

Philippians 2:19-20 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. KJV

Paul being ever the optimist ever the one to hope in and upon the mercy and grace of God the Father through the power of God the Holy Spirit for the sake of God the Son after just exhorting them to rejoice with him, even as he is confined under Roman imprisonment as his old nature surely persist to bring upon his heart anxiety and worry, yet instead he seeks the counsel of his new nature and the Holy Spirit that reassures him in this hope to believe this, “But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state.” (Philippians 2:19) (KJV). The English phrase “I trust” Paul uses here is a weighty, strong, and robust Greek word elpizo and it means to anticipate usually with pleasure; to have hope; to expect or to confide. This hope, this pleasurable anticipation was not blind anticipation, but it was in the Lord Jesus Christ and this is why Paul expressed such sure confidence to these Philippian believers. Paul had grown to know our Lord Jesus Christ more intimately over the years and knew that His chief desire was the constant, consistent, and continuous washing, purging, edifying, and cleansing of His Bride (the Church) and that done by the human instruments He had chosen to perform this work as it is written by this same Apostle Paul with these words to the Ephesian believers, “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) (NKJV).

Paul had a sure confidence that our Lord Jesus was not quite finished with him being a conduit to the building up of His Body the Church at Philippi and this Paul would do by sending someone who he had supreme confidence in to teach, comfort, care for, exhort, rebuke, edify, etc. just as Paul would do himself (Brother Timothy) as Paul directed Timothy to do with these words written to him, “I charge [you] in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, Who is to judge the living and the dead, and by (in the light of) His coming and His kingdom: Herald {and} preach the Word! Keep your sense of urgency [stand by, be at hand and ready], whether the opportunity seems to be favorable or unfavorable. [Whether it is convenient or inconvenient, whether it is welcome or unwelcome, you as preacher of the Word are to show people in what way their lives are wrong.] And convince them, rebuking {and} correcting, warning {and} urging {and} encouraging them, being unflagging {and} inexhaustible in patience and teaching.” (2 Timothy 4:1-2) (Amplified Bible). Paul trusted that Timothy (having the same heart for the brethren as he) would bring back to him an accurate and honest report as to the spiritual welfare of these Philippian believers without fear of being unpopular with them or others, but only with a desire to see them walking in the truth as the Apostle John declared with these words, “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in every way and [that your body] may keep well, even as [I know] your soul keeps well {and} prospers. In fact, I greatly rejoiced when [some of] the brethren from time to time arrived and spoke [so highly] of the sincerity {and} fidelity of your life, as indeed you do live in the Truth [the whole Gospel presents]. I have no greater joy than this, to hear that my [spiritual] children are living their lives in the Truth.” (3 John 1:2-4) (Amplified Bible).

The English phrase “may be of good comfort” Paul uses here speaking of himself while in prison is translated by one Greek word eupsucheo which means to be in good spirits, that is, feel encouraged: This is the one and only time this word is used in the entire New Testament. Paul during his confinement longed to know of the spiritual condition of these Philippian believers perhaps with such urgency due to the problems he encountered with the Galatian believers as recorded for us by these words of his written to them, “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different Gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the Gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other Gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other Gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.” (Galatians 1:6-10) (NKJV).

Because of the false teachers, the Judaizers having caused so much confusion within the Galatian Church, the Apostle Paul made it a practice to send faithful believers to the other Churches to keep this from ever occurring again in any other Church as he sums up his care and concern with these words written to the believers in Thessalonica, “Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone, and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the Gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith, that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know. For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain.” (1 Thessalonians 3:1-5) (NKJV). Paul in his current state or status of being imprisoned for preaching the Gospel by the Romans has only one man with him that he completely trusts to send to these Philippian believers and that is Timothy as he declares with these very strong words, “For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.” (Philippians 2:20) (KJV). It is uncertain if there were any other of the disciples that were frequently with Paul on his missionary journeys such as Dr. Luke or Barnabas or Aquila while he is imprisoned now at Rome, but it appears that none of them were there because Paul would not have singled out only Timothy to be of the same spirit as he or to be as genuinely concerned for the spiritual care of these Philippian believers.

“Timothy was a genuine son of blessed Paul, and walked in the same spirit and the same steps. Naturally, that is, sincerely, and not in pretense only: with a willing heart and upright view, so agreeably to the make of his mind. It is the duty of ministers to care for the state of their people and be concerned for their welfare: I seek not yours, but you, 2 Corinthians 12:14. It is a rare thing to find one who does it naturally: such a one is remarkable and distinguished among his brethren.” Matthew Henry

“Notice the importance which may justly attach to human instrumentalities. One is not as good as another. Some are far more fit for use than others are. The Apostle thought earnestly on the point who was fittest to go, and he was glad he had a man like Timothy to send. It is true that the supreme source of success in Gospel work is God Himself; and sometimes He gives unexpected success to unlikely instruments. But yet, as a rule, much depends on men being adapted to their work. When God prepares fresh blessing for His Church, He commonly raises up men fitted for the service to be rendered. Therefore, we do well to pray earnestly for men eminently qualified to do the Lord’s work.” Expositor’s Bible Commentary

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 25

Paul Gave all of Himself for the Philippian’s Sake

Philippians 2:17-18 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me. KJV

Those of us who have participated in team sports know what it is at times to give an extra effort for the team because another team mate may be injured or ill or inadequate during that particular game. The extra effort does not mean one does not give his or her all during every game. Like an athletic contest or competition, the walk of faith in Christ can be a grueling and long event for some of us depending on the will of God for every person (which is very different of course). We recall the thief on the cross next to our Lord Jesus Christ, as recorded for us by Dr. Luke with these words spoken by the thief and by our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, “Then he said to Jesus, ‘Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.’” (Luke 23:42-43) (NKJV). This man when he said these words to our Lord Jesus repented of all his sins and trusted Jesus right then and there before his death, he had no earthly life left to edify the saints or to give any extra effort for some of his brethren or to preach any sermons or to witness door to door or to go to the mission field or to wash any saint’s feet or to give to Christian ministries or even to join his local Church and the list is endless: Why? Because this was the will of God for this repentant sinner to be saved and hours later to be “in paradise” with his Lord Jesus.

However, this man (Paul) who was the human hand and instrument used by God the Holy Spirit to pen 13 or 14 of the Books of the New Testament (it is 14 if you believe as I do he also wrote the Book of Hebrews) suffered, sacrificed, and supported many things for his Lord Jesus Christ (the same Lord of the thief and all who put their faith in Him): Why? Because it was the will of God for Paul as our Lord Jesus Himself told Brother Ananias with these words spoken to him, “But the Lord said to him, ‘Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.’” (Acts 9:15-16) (NKJV). Now we see Paul in this letter to these Philippian believers declaring to them, “Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.” (Philippians 2:17) (KJV). It was for the sake of these believers in Philippi that Paul was arrested and jailed there as he himself wrote with these words of his experience to the believers in Thessalonica, “For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain. 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) (NKJV).

Unlike the thief on the cross next to our Lord Jesus, Paul’s assignment was to go many places delivering the only hope for sinful humanity, the Gospel of God and it cost him many things during his pilgrimage here on the earth and this is why we remember him writing earlier in this same letter to the Philippian believers these words speaking of his own inner conflict as he is in the Roman prison, “But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless, to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again.” (Philippians 1:22-26) (NKJV).

The English phrase “I be offered” Paul uses in Philippians 2:17 is translated by one Greek word spendo which is probably where we get our English words spent and spend it is a primary verb which means to pour out as a libation, that is, (figuratively) to devote (one’s life or blood, as a sacrifice) (spend): - (be ready to) be offered. In other words, Paul depleted all of his physical and spiritual energy, force, and strength having nothing left in the tank to make sure the faith of these Philippians and all the other Churches that were founded upon his declaration of the Gospel of God was solid, sure, and safe for them when they departed this earth and this life, as solid, sure, and safe as he saw his own faith ‘in Christ’ to be as we hear in these words written to Brother Timothy speaking of himself, “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) (NKJV).

Paul wants them to in turn rejoice with him even if he is killed by the Romans at this time and he says it with these words, “For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.” (Philippians 2:18) (NKJV). When Paul says, ‘for the same cause’ he is declaring their unity ‘in Christ Body’ seeing that they are brethren what hurts one hurts the other and in this case what causes one to rejoice should likewise cause the other to rejoice as Paul wrote in this manner to the Roman believers, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” (Romans 12:15) (NKJV). Paul is rejoicing over them and over his life’s blood being poured out for their faith, if this is the will of God for him right now, therefore, they should not weep for Paul, but rejoice with him, for this is exactly what Paul knew he was sent and commissioned by God to do, “As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.” (Acts 13:2-3) (NKJV).

“Paul felt the same love for all the Churches and all the saints and he expended himself completely of physical and spiritual resources for their faith, even when that same loved and sacrifice was not returned back to him as we here in these words he wrote to the Corinthian believers, “For what is it in which you were inferior to other Churches, except that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong! Now for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be burdensome to you; for I do not seek yours, but you. For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.” (2 Corinthians 2:13-15) (NKJV). Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

“That Paul should have felt warranted in using such a motive with the Philippians tells how surely he reckoned on their true and deep love. He believes that they care enough for him to feel the power as a motive with them, that their faithfulness will make Paul more blessed amidst the blessings of heaven. Oh! if such love knit together all Christian teachers and their hearers in this time, and if the ‘Day of Christ’ burned before them, as it did before him, and if the vision stirred to such running and labouring as his, teachers and taught would oftener have to say, ‘We are your rejoicing, even as ye are also ours in the Day of our Lord Jesus.’ The voice of the man who is in the true ‘Apostolic Succession’ will dare to make the appeal, knowing that it will call forth an abundant answer, ‘Look to yourselves that we lose not the things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.’” 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 24

Paul Exhorts the Philippians to Stand Firm for the Word of God

Philippians 2:16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain. KJV

Whenever a person purchases a major appliance or some electronic device or a new automobile, there is provided to that person with the purchase an instruction manual or owner’s manual on how the item functions, where all of the key elements of the item are, how to operate the device or item, as well as warnings on what not to do in or to the item that could cause the item to malfunction or become broken, also there is usually a chart listing probable or possible causes of a malfunction along with potential solutions. With this thought in mind, the Apostle Paul has painted a word picture to these Philippian believers and we believers today of what true Christian unity should look like wanting them to approve the things which are excellent, standing fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the Gospel, suffering for Christ sake, and doing all things for Christ/other believers without complaining or grumbling, now Paul urges them and us that we must continually be, “holding forth the word of life” (Philippians 2:16). Just like an automobile or home appliance or an electronic device must be operated according to the manufacturers instruction manual, so to must the life of the believer in Jesus Christ be operated according to the purchaser’s instruction manual and in our case that would be the Bible.

The English phrase “holding forth” Paul uses here in the beginning of this verse is translated by one Greek word epecho meaning to hold upon, that is, (by implication) to retain; to pay attention to: - give heed unto. In other words, the Bible more specifically words from the Bible are to be retained in the inner man or inner woman of the believer secured there for future use as in spiritual warfare with the devil to defeat him as our Lord Jesus Himself demonstrated as documented for us by Dr. Luke, “Then Jesus, full of {and} controlled by the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led in [by] the [Holy] Spirit For (during) forty days in the wilderness (desert), where He was tempted (tried, tested exceedingly) by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days, and when they were completed, He was hungry. Then the devil said to Him, ‘If You are the Son of God, order this stone to turn into a loaf [of bread].’ And Jesus replied to him, ‘It is written, Man shall not live {and} be sustained by (on) bread alone {but by every word and expression of God.}’” (Luke 4:1-4) (Amplified Bible).

Just as the Heavenly light bearers like the moon hold fast or keep in place the light or reflect the light of the supreme light giver the sun, so are these Philippian believers and we believers today to reflect the light illuminating from the Word of God made flesh Jesus Christ (John 1:14) as it is also written again with these words by the Apostle John, “[We are writing] about the Word of Life [in] Him Who existed from the beginning, Whom we have heard, Whom we have seen with our [own] eyes, Whom we have gazed upon [for ourselves] and have touched with our [own] hands. And the Life [an aspect of His being] was revealed (made manifest, demonstrated), and we saw [as eyewitnesses] and are testifying to and declare to you the Life, the eternal Life [in Him] Who already existed with the Father and Who [actually] was made visible (was revealed) to us [His followers].” (1 John 1:1-2) (Amplified Bible).

Our Lord Jesus Christ is the ‘Word of Life’ at the same time the entire Word of God or the Bible is the ‘Word of Life’ and finally the Gospel is the ‘Word of Life’ as Paul wrote to Brother Timothy with these words, “[It is that purpose and grace] which He now has made known {and} has fully disclosed {and} made real [to us] through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, Who annulled death {and} made it of no effect and brought life and immortality (immunity from eternal death) to light through the Gospel.” (2 Timothy 1:10) (Amplified Bible). Note: “The Gospel stands thus in contrast with all human systems of religion - for they have no efficacy (capacity or power to produce a desired effect) to save.” (Albert Barnes) Having declared to the Philippian believers and we believers today our responsibility, Paul now lets them and us know how much it means to him personally that they hold onto the truth of the Gospel that, “I may rejoice in the day of Christ” (Philippians 2:16).

The Apostle Paul before his conversion to Christ was a steadfast, staunch, and striking persecutor of the Church of Jesus Christ, but after coming to Christ, the Holy Spirit turned that rage/anger into love for the brethren and Paul was always concerned for the spiritual well-being of the Body of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 11:28). Therefore, he wanted to know that these Philippian believers were holding firm to the truth (2 John 1:4) and this would give him great joy while he was imprisoned in Rome as evidenced by the same theme he wrote to the believers in Thessalonica with these words, “But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire. Therefore, we wanted to come to you --- even I, Paul, time and again --- but Satan hindered us. For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For you are our glory and joy.” (1 Thessalonians 2:17-20) (NKJV). Paul had founded their Church in Philippi and he was the human instrument God used in preaching the Gospel to them (their spiritual father) being converted to Christ by the Holy Spirit and it is for this cause that Paul wants them to shine for Christ and in so doing it would bring him much joy as the Apostle John wrote with these words, “I have no greater joy than this, to hear that my [spiritual] children are living their lives in the Truth.” (3 John 1:4) (Amplified Bible).

The Apostle Paul wanted to be sure that his spiritual work, warfare, and witness to them and for them was an effort that would benefit them in eternal blessedness with Christ and therefore he says, “that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain” (Philippians 2:16). In other words, that he had not strived hard for their spiritual good for nothing, if they were phony or did not receive the Gospel truly in their inner man and inner woman and really belonged to Christ exactly as Paul feared for the Galatian believers when he wrote these words to them, “But at that previous time, when you had not come to be acquainted with {and} understand {and} know the true God, you [Gentiles] were in bondage to gods who by their very nature could not be gods at all [gods that really did not exist]. Now, however, that you have come to be acquainted with {and} understand {and} know [the true] God, or rather to be understood {and} known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and beggarly {and} worthless elementary things [of all religions before Christ came], whose slaves you once more want to become? You observe [particular] days and months and seasons and years! I am alarmed [about you], lest I have labored among {and} over you to no purpose {and} in vain.” (Galatians 4:8-11) (Amplified Bible).

This is why Paul when he was away from many of the believers that he had preached the Gospel to, he would send men to them to bring back to him a report of their spiritual condition. Even though during the writing of this letter Paul was not with Brother Timothy, he prayed for and trusted that our Lord Jesus Christ would send Timothy to them and then Timothy would contact Paul giving him an update as to their spiritual condition (Philippians 2:19), just as he had done for the believers in Thessalonica as documented with these words, “For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain.” (1 Thessalonians 3:5) (NKJV). Paul wanted their individual testimonies and their collective testimony as a Church to be a good one just as the Apostle John wrote concerning Demetrius with these words, “Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God. Demetrius has a good testimony from all, and from the truth itself. And we also bear witness, and you know that our testimony is true.” (3 John 1:11-12) (NKJV).  

“It is our duty not only to hold fast, but to hold forth the word of life; not only to hold it fast for our own benefit, but to hold it forth for the benefit of others, to hold it forth as the candlestick holds forth the candle, which makes it appear to advantage all around, or as the luminaries of the heavens, which shed their influence far and wide.” Matthew Henry

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 23

Paul Exhorts the Philippians to Shine Brightly for Christ

Philippians 2:15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; KJV

Immediately after the Apostle Paul warns these Philippian believers and we believers today on how to behave with one another and serve God the Father in the Church and the world, he says to them that in not murmuring, complaining, and disputing among themselves in order, “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;” (Philippians 2:15). Paul’s theory and reality put forth here is that it would be a huge waste of time declaring the Gospel of Grace to a lost and dying world, when the world would witness believers being extremely contentious, combative, and even contemptuous with one another. Note: “Unfortunately, the visible Church then and now had and has grown to do exactly what the Apostle Paul feared.”

Paul declares that when they and we are not showing an inclination to disputing’s even to the point of filing lawsuits against one another (as he was furious with the Corinthian believers who did exactly this with one another), when he said, “Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints?  Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the Church to judge? I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers! Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren!” (1 Corinthians 6:1-8) (NKJV), then can they and we be blameless.

This English word blameless is translated by the Greek word amemptos meaning irreproachable: - blameless, faultless, unblamable. This is why Paul was so frustratingly furious with the Corinthian believers above because they not only sought after this, they instead blamed and found fault with their brothers and sisters “in Christ” over temporal earthly matters that had no eternal value to them at all. Secondly, Paul declares to them and to us that we are to be harmless with one another and in the world at large. This English word harmless is translated by the Greek word akeraios meaning unmixed, that is, (figuratively) innocent: - harmless, simple. In other words, there is no genuine love to and for God the Father if Christians are secretly devising plots, schemes, plans or playing politics to bring physical, financial, emotional, or spiritual harm to a brother or sister “in Christ”, even also if it is done to the unbelievers in the world.

Paul declares that to do and to be the opposite of these things will then show and prove that they and we are “sons of God” in this world being without rebuke or un-blamable in it as the Apostle John writes with these words of how we are to be with one another, “If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.” (1 John 4:20-21) (NKJV). However, this is exactly what the Corinthian believers above were not doing and this is why Paul so adamantly warns these Philippian believers and we believers today against this because it only proves those engaged in murmurings, complaining, and disputing against one another are not expressing or showing the love of God.

This is the attitude and behavior of the world that Paul declares to be crooked, that is, dishonest and corrupt, lying to one another, stealing from one another, and hurting one another in order to profit financially and to rule over others having authority and power over them without regard to their well-being as Moses spoke of the Israelites in this manner, “They have corrupted themselves; They are not His children, Because of their blemish: A perverse and crooked generation. Do you thus deal with the LORD, O foolish and unwise people? Is He not your Father, who bought you? Has He not made you and established you? Remember the days of old, Consider the years of many generations. Ask your father, and he will show you; Your elders, and they will tell you:” (Deuteronomy 32:5-7) (NKJV).

Therefore, Paul declares that in distinct opposition to these attitudes and practices, these Philippian believers and we believers today are to shine as lights in the world. The light of the sun brings about warmth to the earth and it serves as one part of allowing plant life to grow and produce fruit, nuts, vegetables, etc. for human consumption and to feed the animal life on the earth. In like manner, these Philippian believers and we believers today are to shine forth the light of the Gospel of Christ to the world that is unredeemed because the enemy the devil is working to blind their eyes to the truth of Christ being the only way to redemption as Paul declared to the Corinthian believers with these words, “But even if our Gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4:3-6) (NKJV).

“We should endeavour not only to be harmless, but to be blameless; not only not to do hurt, but not to come under the just suspicion of it. Blameless and sincere; so some read it. Blameless before men, sincere towards God.” Matthew Henry

“In this manner you will become as a lighthouse on a rockbound coast, shining with blameless and beneficent beauty among your companions. Light is silent, but it reveals. Light is gentle, but it is mighty in its effects. Light departs when the sun is down, but it may be maintained by various luminaries until dawn again breaks. As we shine, we shall be consumed, but the sacrifice will not be in vain.” F. B. Meyer

“We are to be without artfulness, that is, not being straightforward and candid with one another or using guile, deceit or trickery, disguising or camouflaging ourselves to our brothers and sisters ‘in Christ’ and to men and women in general with charisma or charm in order to take from them unlawfully or to use them for our gain and good. There is no trickery or deceit anywhere in our Heavenly Father and if we are to become like Him we must be sincere in heart without pretense or pretending to men to be one thing, when in actuality we are a completely different thing.” Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

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…