In every season of our lives, we must steadfastly believe that God's provision is constant and unwavering. 

No matter the situation, we are to understand where our strength comes from…from Christ. And it is through Christ that we will find our contentment. 


___________________

Philippians 4:10-23

¹⁰ But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, you lacked opportunity. ¹¹ Not that I speak regarding need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: ¹² I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. ¹³ I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

¹⁴ Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress. ¹⁵ Now you Philippians know also that at the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. ¹⁶ For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. ¹⁷ Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. ¹⁸ Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. ¹⁹ And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. ²⁰ Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

²¹ Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you. ²² All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar’s household.
²³ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
________________________

Paul experienced much hardship throughout his ministry, but he rejoiced in God's provision. God used people and churches to enable Paul's ministry. However, Paul informs the Philippians that despite his times of need or abundance, he fully understands and trusts in God's provisions. He has learned to be content with what he has, whether in times of abundance or need. Paul's remarkable contentment was not contingent on favorable external circumstances but was deeply rooted in his intimate relationship with Christ.

Paul understands where his strength comes from. He understands that it is through Christ who strengthens him. But this is learned through complete submission to Christ. Paul understands how to be ‘still’ and listen to God. He knows how to sit at Jesus' feet and be obedient. When we become obedient, and focused on Christ, we can fully understand our reliance upon God. We genuinely appreciate that “I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me.” Paul emphasizes the importance of placing trust in Christ's strength, acknowledging that His grace is sufficient to carry us through any trial or difficulty we may encounter. We can experience a profound peace that transcends our circumstances by surrendering our worries and anxieties to Him.

This passage encourages us to cultivate a spirit of gratitude, recognizing the countless blessings and gifts we receive daily. Expressing gratitude can shift our focus from what we lack to the abundance that surrounds us, fostering a sense of contentment and joy.

Additionally, this section points out the significance of being a source of support and encouragement to others. By extending compassion, empathy, and a listening ear to those around us, we can not only uplift their spirits but also find fulfillment and meaning in our own lives.

Therefore, we can use Paul's contentment as an example of what we should strive for. His contentment came from trusting in Christ's strength and finding gratitude. The passage encourages cultivating this mindset and supporting others when given the opportunity. .
____________________________

How often do we get stressed over the little things, the big things, or even those that have no significant impact on our lives?

How often do we just wait and submit everything in prayer to God, trusting that only He can get us through?

Are we REJOICING in ALL things, knowing that God is supreme and is in control?


__________________________

Philippians 4:4-9

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
⁵ Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
⁶ do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 
⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
⁸ Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. ⁹ The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
_____________________________

How often are we taking the time to REJOICE, even in the things that stress us out or make us anxious?

Most people don’t like to wait, but have you ever wondered why? One reason may be that delays reveal we are not in control. Someone or something else is calling the shots. 

Although we can often identify the immediate cause—like a traffic light or long checkout line—ultimately, the One who controls all delays is the Lord. He is sovereign over everything in heaven and on earth; even our time and schedules are in His hands. You might have thought that the expression “waiting upon the Lord” applies only to seeking guidance from Him or an answer to prayer. But it can mean so much more when you remember that He controls all your day-to-day inconveniences and frustrations. 

Patience is vital in the Christian life. Without it, we can’t effectively obey God, pray, or experience the peace of resting in His sovereignty. We must learn to trust His judgment—about not just the big events in our lives but also the trivial ones that cause us to become irritated, impatient, or angry. 

The next time you face an unexpected or unwanted wait, remember that it comes as no surprise to God. He’s more interested in developing godly character than in making sure your schedule runs according to your plans. It is in this that we are to REJOICE because we are part of God’s plan. 

Waiting is difficult, but we can relax, knowing that our Lord is active even in the details of our lives.

Now that we are patient, we must focus our minds on what is edifying to God. We don’t need to use up all our ‘brain space’ with insignificant thoughts and worries. Rejoice in the LORD ALWAYS…then rejoice again, because when we do the things that we have heard and seen in God, we will have peace. But that peace comes from trust and growing our relationship with HIM. 

Therefore, be patient and rejoice.

How often do we see bickering and disagreements become destructive within the church body?

How does that benefit and progress the kingdom of God? 

____________________

Philippians 4:1-4
¹ Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.
² I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. ³ And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.
⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
______________________

What is one thing the church body must do? Stand fast in the LORD. It sounds simple, and often times we forget this. We are all the beloved of Christ, but sometimes, our individual differences get in the way of making disciples of all nations. 

How can those outside the church see a true Christ-like example if the church body cannot even agree and stand fast together? Paul calls out Euodia and Syntyche in his letter to the Philippians. How embarrassing was it for those two to hear their names read out loud to the church, and it wasn’t in a positive tone? Bickering and squabbling about minor details can be destructive within the church. Disunity can hinder the progress of growing our personal relationship with Christ, our strength within the church body, and the progression of making disciples of all nations.

Now, what are we supposed to do as fellow members of the church body if we see this? Paul calls us to come alongside and encourage those who have disagreements. We must insert CHRIST into the situation. The members of the church body all labor together, and we must demonstrate LOVE within our body. Christ said the greatest commandment is to love the Lord God with ALL our hearts. When we demonstrate our love for Christ, the second greatest commandment can easily come to fruition…loving our neighbors as ourselves. 

When we pour out our love amongst each other, it becomes infectious. The joy that comes from love is truly radiant. Others outside the church body can see that radiant light demonstrated through love. 

It is through that love toward God that we may be able to REJOICE in all things. We can rejoice when trials come our way because God is grooming us for greater things. We can rejoice when we stand together as a church body because unity strengthens our bond with Christ and each other. We can rejoice, because we know that our names are in the Book of Life, and the small disagreements are not important. 

Therefore, let us stand together and demonstrate our love for each other within the church body. Come together and support those within our body who may be struggling and have disagreements. We are called to be witnesses of Christ to those both inside and outside the church walls. 

Stand together, in Christ. 

Read 2 Corinthians 7

Paul follows his exhortation to the Corinthians about the call of God to be holy in 2 Corinthians 6;

“Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (v. 1).

Paul continues to exhort the Corinthian church to come out from the world and walk righteously, in response to their calling from God. Despite Paul’s earnest love for the church and his desire for them to turn fully to God, it appears the Corinthians had been holding their hearts back from Paul (and company). He continues in the next verse and says, “Open your hearts to us.” He suspects he may have grieved the congregation with his former letter (1 Corinthians), where he urged the church to deal with some sins that were going on in the congregation (see 1 Corinthians 5 & 6)

Paul’s unrelenting love for the church and his desire for them to turn fully to God is just a glimpse of what God’s desire for us looks like. A lot of the time we can hold our hearts back from God. We may have been zealous for the Lord, with a seemingly unquenchable flame, but we stumble and we find ourselves between a rock and a hard place. We don’t know how we ended up in the place we’re at. Nevertheless, God pursues us, similarly to the way Paul pursued the Corinthian church (in love). God wants us to be holy and He wants all of our hearts; He doesn’t want us to sin, but if we do, He wants us to press further into Him, not run away from Him. He is always standing there with open arms, waiting for us to come back, just like the prodigal child. 

The Resurrection: 1 Corinthians 15

Read 1 Corinthians 15

This chapter lays the foundation and constructs the pillar for our faith: the resurrection of Jesus. The apostle Paul takes an apologetic approach in validating the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. He says Jesus was seen first by the twelve disciples, and then appeared to over 500 brothers and sisters in Christ shortly after His resurrection! Many were still alive to testify even while Paul was writing this letter to the Corinthians!

The Sadducees taught that there was no resurrection of the dead. It was this life and that was it. It appears some of their teachings influenced some of the people associated with the Corinthian church. Paul wanted to firmly address this issue: there will be a resurrection of the dead because Christ beat death for us. His resurrection is proven by the many eyewitnesses that saw Him after His death and burial.

Paul makes it clear the resurrection of Jesus is the pillar of our faith; if He had not risen from the dead, we would still be in our sins. This is our hope, that because Christ has risen from the dead, we now also will experience eternal life through faith in Him, and will be risen from the dead as well. Death is destroyed by Christ. We now get to receive our glorious bodies from Him and spend life with Him for eternity.

“in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (v. 52).

“O Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?” (v. 55)

Prophecy: 1 Corinthians 14

The apostle Paul follows up his exhortation on love (in 1 Corinthians 13) with a survey on some specific spiritual gifts. He starts this passage with “pursue love, AND desire spiritual gifts,” (1 Corinthians 14:1). Paul wanted to remind the church of the importance of spiritual gifts, but also the importance of decency and order, that the spiritual gifts may be effective in edifying the body and predicating truth. It seemed the Corinthian church had sought after self-edification rather than focusing on the building up of others. Paul makes it clear that prophecy is a great way of doing this.

How do we prophesy? One way of doing this is sharing Scripture with others when it pertains to their situation. This can help them overcome an obstacle or difficulty in their life. The Holy Spirit can illuminate Scripture to you when someone else is going through a difficult time. This is important because the Bible is God’s word, and the words written in it are inspired by the Holy Spirit. Speaking words in the Bible to others is a way of prophesying because you are speaking the words of God!

Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit as He can communicate truth to you about others. It may be a sin that someone is struggling with and doesn’t see, or someone may need a fresh word of encouragement. Whatever it is, allow God to speak to you and lead you so that your prophesying may lead to the benefit of others! This is what it is all about. Remember, do everything in love.

Read 1 Corinthians 12 today

There is one God. 
This God wants to reach and minister to people all around the world. He accomplishes this in a variety of ways, but one way He does this is through His people. God gives us His Holy Spirit, as believers, and He anticipates us to tap into His power, so to speak. He gives us various gifts so we can exercise His power to help minister to others. These gifts are spoken about in various places in Scripture, but one passage that gives a distinct overview of these gifts is 1 Corinthians Chapter 12. 1 Corinthians 12 talks about how there is diversity in ministry, but one God who is working behind the scenes of it all.

Some spiritual gifts listed in 1 Corinthians 12 are wisdom, knowledge, faith, powers of healing, ability to perform miracles, prophecy, discernment of spirits, tongues, and interpretation of different tongues. The apostle Paul in this passage says specifically the Lord distributes these gifts to various people as He wills. 

If you are a believer in Christ and you are reading this now, you have access to some of these gifts. You may have other gifts that are not even mentioned in this passage. We encourage you to pray to God and ask Him to reveal to you by the power of His Spirit where He wants you to work in His ministry.
How does God want to use you to minister to His people? It is by the power of the Holy Spirit that we are able to do this.

What are we striving for?

What are we putting our effort into, and what struggles are we putting forth to attain that goal?
Are we currently satisfied with our Christian life, or are we striving to know more and grow closer to God and His calling in our lives? If so, what are we doing about it?
__________________________
Philippians 3:12-16
¹² Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. ¹³ Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, ¹⁴ I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

¹⁵ Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. ¹⁶ Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.

¹⁷ Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. ¹⁸ For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: ¹⁹ whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. ²⁰ For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
_____________________________

I enjoy playing sports. I love the competitive aspect and physical demand that sports require. Competition builds bonds amongst teammates, and training prepares us for the next competition to obtain the prize. Paul tells us that he is not satisfied with his Christian life. He desires more of Jesus and wants to be closer to Christ, refining his walk. This desire carries over to spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ because Paul wants everyone to experience this same desire. Paul had a tremendous passion for Christ, yet he still had yet to ‘perfect’ his Christian walk. 

Paul continues, and strives, to improve his Christian walk and relationship with Christ by forgetting the past life before Christ. Paul understands that Christ has forgiven him, and now his one desire is to press toward the upward calling of God. However, our Christian walk is not a race against other Christians. We cannot compare our Christian walk to those around us. I myself fall short continually in numerous ways. Paul is a tremendous example, but I can never compare. What I do know is that Christ has a personal calling for me, and that is my race. My desire is to press toward and lean into that calling. Sometimes, I find myself sprinting. Other times, I take baby steps or walk in a diagonal line. My own sin, stubbornness, immaturity, and ignorance prevent me from walking in a direct path toward God’s calling. Then, through trials from God, my eyes are re-focused on the eventual prize. 

How do I know what God’s calling is in my life? That is a great question. But we are called to pursue the heart of God and His will by spending that time in prayer and digging into God’s Word. The more we know about God, the less ignorant and immature we become, and the more attuned we will be to hearing His calling. Also, it is God’s calling for our lives. If it is God’s will, then it will be so. However,  I often require repeated reminders and some redirection to understand, grasp, and step toward God’s calling in my life. 

I often ask myself, “Who am I to be doing this for God? There must be someone who is more spiritual or knows more of the Bible than I do. I am not qualified to do this or serve in this capacity.” However, this is me putting limits on God and His will in my life. If God is calling us to do something, God will genuinely equip us to achieve that task and calling. Moses said he was not a good public speaker or the right person for the job, but God’s will was for Moses to lead His people out of captivity; therefore, God provided Aaron to support, encourage, and strengthen Moses. God provides us with what we need to accomplish His will and He will groom us to meet His intent. 

Nevertheless, we must strive to lean forward in prayer and in our personal study of God’s Word. It isn’t easy and it never will be. So many distractions in my life and personal struggles often obscure the goal ahead. But it is when I am refocused on God, the goal becomes clear again, whether it is a short-term or a long-term goal. 

What is the ultimate prize? It is to be with Christ in heaven for eternity. We will be rewarded for living of the same mind as Christ. Striving to be more like Him and have a heart of Christ in our Christian walk. The ultimate prize is for our lowly bodies to be transformed into the glorious body that He will provide and for us to live as citizens of heaven. 

Again, what are we striving for? What are we doing to train our hearts, minds, and body to fulfill God's upward calling for our lives? Are we spending time in prayer? Are we spending time reading and studying God’s Word? 

I encourage all of us to take that step of further commitment to concentrate on His calling in our lives. Spend time in prayer with God and allow God to reveal Himself to you. Start small and build from there.

Sometimes, I am reminded of the same things multiple times. Sometimes, when reading the Word, I feel as if God tells me the same points no matter which passage I read.

Maybe it is because I need the continued reminders because I am not understanding what God is telling me or I continue to make the same mistakes? 
_____________________
Philippians 3:1-11

¹ Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe.

² Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! ³ For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, 4 though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: ⁵ circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; ⁶ concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

⁷ But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. ⁸ Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; ¹⁰ that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

_____________________


How frequently are we reminded of the same thing or asked to do the same thing? Paul says to rejoice in the Lord! Paul reminds the Philippians of the same things regarding Christ, but he says that he never gets tired of reminding them of the Gospel. Sometimes, God repeatedly tells us the same thing…maybe it’s because we continually need the same reminder? Additionally, we should never tire of hearing the message of Jesus Christ, nor should we tire of reminding others of the message of Christ. In our daily lives, it is easy to become overwhelmed and lose sight of what is important. It is easy to lose sight during the trials or daily stresses we encounter. 

Now that we are reminded to rejoice, Paul tells us to pay attention and beware of the evil-doers and of the opponents of the Gospel. He reminds us that it isn't about a physical symbol of circumcision. It's not anything physical that we can do to earn our salvation. It's because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ that we are able to put our confidence in Him. But how much confidence DO we place in God and not our own merit or abilities? If we aren’t putting our confidence and trust in God, are we continually being reminded of the same thing or going through the same trial? Are we being resistant in our walk? 

Paul says that he followed the law to the "T" and has every right to boast in the flesh; however, he counts it all as loss for the sake of Christ. Paul suffered tremendous loss for the sake of Christ. He is writing this from the prison, but he remains steadfast in the only thing that matters: Christ. Paul's goal is to be "found" in Christ because he understands that it is not by Paul's own works. Paul also desires to "know" Him and the power of Christ's resurrection, sharing in His sufferings so that he can live and be more like Christ. 

How often are we doing this in our daily lives? Are we desiring to be "found" in Christ? Where is our foundation being placed? Paul understood the importance of a solid spiritual foundation and that a proper foundation was not built upon his own righteousness. Paul understood that in order to be ‘found’ in Christ, there was a commitment to remain steadfast in faith and empty himself so that the only thing filling his life was Christ. But, how do we get to that point in our lives? How do we progress in our spiritual maturity so that we aren’t constantly being reminded of the same thing or going through the same trials? How do we grow?

Growth requires a commitment to God’s Word. We are unable to grow in our spiritual maturity if we don’t pursue the heart of God. This requires dedicating time to read and study the Truth that is written in God’s Word, but it also requires dedicated time conversing with God through prayer. The more we understand God’s Word and the more we spend time in prayer with God, the more mature we become. We are reminded to take joy in the trials we experience because this is where growth occurs. Again, growth is not through our physical strength but with humility and submission. Furthermore, our spiritual growth, our study of the Word, and our time in prayer enable us to remain vigilant and be more aware of false teachers and evil-doers.

What kind of example are we setting in our walk with Christ?

Are we as compassionate as Timothy and desire to place the interests and well-being of the body above our own?

Are we balanced within our walk like Epaphroditus?

____________

Philippians 2:19-30

¹⁹ But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. ²⁰ For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state.  ²¹ For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. ²² But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel. ²³ Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it goes with me. ²⁴ But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly.

²⁵ Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need; ²⁶ since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. ²⁷ For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. ²⁸ Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful. ²⁹ Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem; ³⁰ because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me
_____________
Paul gives us two examples of servants of Christ. The first is Timothy, Paul's protégé. Paul desires to send Timothy, but Paul sends Epaphroditus. Paul points out that Timothy essentially emulates Christ through his compassion and desire for the welfare of the church. Can we say the same for ourselves? Do we have the desire for the welfare of our church and for our brothers and sisters in Christ? Timothy was humble and did not look out for his own interests, but he put the interests and welfare of the Philippian church above his own. Paul says that there was no one like-minded as Timothy was to himself. That is a big compliment, but Timothy didn’t start out like this. Timothy was groomed and worked hard, developing spiritual maturity while serving the Lord. It was through the continual application and walking according to Christ that Timothy's character was proven. Again, can we say the same for ourselves and our character? Is our character proven through the continual application of Christ in our lives?

All of us may not be like Timothy, even though it is a good goal to have, so Paul gives another example of a servant, Epaphroditus. Paul describes him as a “well-rounded” believer. Epaphroditus was from Philippi and had the desire to return. He is the one who brought the missionary offering to Paul in Rome, risking his health while doing it. Paul calls Epaphroditus his ‘brother,’ ‘fellow worker,’ ‘fellow soldier,’ and ‘messenger.’ Epaphroditus was Paul’s brother within the fellowship of Christ. He was a fellow worker who strived to further the gospel of Christ, working within ministry. He was a soldier standing firm in the faith with one mind striving for the gospel (Phil 1:27). This man's desire was for others. He cared deeply for his home church in Philippi, but he understood his calling. He served even to the point of becoming so ill he almost died. Epaphroditus has a complete grasp on the meaning of sacrifice and service in the name of Christ. Paul was so blessed by this man's service and sacrifice that Paul requested that the church recognize him. However, Epaphroditus want serving for any reward or recognition, he was serving because is his desire to further the ministry of Christ. He was faithful to his calling in Christ.

Therefore, what kind of Christian are we currently? Are we the Phil 2:21 Christian, “For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus”? Or are we the Phil 1:21 Christian, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain”? To be a servant of Christ, we can use the examples of both Timothy and Epaphroditus. We must have compassion and desire for the welfare of the church and for our brothers and sisters in Christ. We must be humble and not look out for our own interests, but put the interests and welfare of others above our own. We must be continually applying and walking according to Christ and becoming a ‘balanced’ Christian with the full understanding of what service and sacrifice in Christ means.

How often are we doing the right thing when no one is around?

What are we doing to further our walk with God, and are we doing it with Joy?

_________________

Philippians 2:12-18

¹² Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; ¹³ for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

¹⁴ Do all things without complaining and disputing, ¹⁵ that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, ¹⁶ holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.

¹⁷ Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. ¹⁸ For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.

__________________


Paul acknowledges that the Philippians have been obedient to the Lord. Now, he praises them for continuing to be obedient despite Paul not being there with them or possibly not returning to them. We also are called to obey the Lord and work according to His will. We, especially, are to do this when our spiritual leaders are not around. We can easily tell our pastors and leaders what they want to hear, but what are we doing when we are not around them? Obeying the Lord when no one is around is an act of spiritual maturity.

Paul tells us to ‘work out’ our own salvation. However, notice that Paul does not tell us to ‘work for’ our salvation. Salvation is not through works alone. Our salvation is a gift by the grace of God. Then, if we freely receive that gift, it is now our responsibility to grow in our walk with Him. It is our duty to obey and willingly follow the Holy Spirit’s direction. Once we obey and follow by changing the attitude of our hearts, we then can act in unity as a body of believers. We must actively allow God to do His work within us before He can work through us. This takes humility and submission. Then we can strive to be Christ-like. We will continually fail because we are not perfect, but Christ is the example that we should seek to emulate.

How can we start? Paul tells us not to complain but to rejoice in Christ in all things we do. Paul uses the example of Israel from Deuteronomy by using the phrase ‘crooked and perverse generation.’ Their progress toward the promised land was thwarted because of their grumbling and complaining. We are called to be the light amongst those around us who are doing the grumbling and complaining. Take joy in the trials you experience because God is using them to build your spiritual maturity. By doing so, we may be found blameless within our wicked world today. Paul does not tell us to shy away and become a recluse so that we aren’t influenced by the wickedness around us. No, we are called to be a light to this dying world and make disciples of all nations. We are to be the example of Christ, and it will not be easy. We are to hold fast to the word of life. Holding fast means to both believe and follow God’s Word. Why? Because our ultimate reward is being able to rejoice at the return of Jesus Christ, whether it is while we are still here on earth or taken up to heaven.

Paul recognizes his potential end in this world and relates it to a drink offering being poured out on the sacrifice and service of the Philippians' faith. He views his life as a living sacrifice for the furthering of the Gospel of Jesus. Can we view our lives in a similar manner, or even just a part of our lives? Paul views his likely death as a victory because he knows that his work with the Philippians will continue on because of their obedience in their faith to God.

Do we have the submissive mindset of being a sacrificial servant to Jesus Christ? Therefore, continue to "work out" your heart with God so that He may do a work through you. Humbly strive to ensure you do all things for the glory of God and become the light within this dark world. Start small with prayer and reading, and then build from there.

Be the example that others may need.

What qualities do we have in our life? What fruit are we bearing, and is this uniting us together?

What is hindering us from being of one mind in Christ?

________________
Philippians 2:1-11 NKJV

¹ Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, ² fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. ³ Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. ⁴ Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

⁵ Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, ⁷ but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. ⁹ Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, ¹¹ and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
_________________

This passage should give us encouragement while also strengthening our resolve to ensure we live in the unity of Christ. We are to be of the same mind in Christ. This does not mean to think the exact same thing, but it means to live with a cooperative spirit and be agreeable in Christ, with the main focus being on the glory of God. When we strive to exalt Him, then everything else will follow. On Sundays at church, the main focus should be to exalt our Lord, and we can do this by demonstrating love and compassion toward others, demonstrating grace and mercy, being the encouragement that others need, and putting others before ourselves.

What is it that brings people back to a certain church or fellowship? What is it that makes you continue attending a certain church? Is it the teaching, the childcare, the worship, or is it the Spirit of God that is felt in the midst of that congregation? That is what we should be seeking instead of our own ambitions. If the church we go to isn’t providing this to others, how do we change it? It starts with love. Loving others unconditionally just as Christ loved us.

Paul gives the example of Christ becoming the bondservant and humbling Himself and becoming of human flesh. His compassion and true love for us gave Him the obedience that God the Father desired, even unto death on the cross. A death that is incredibly humilitating and used for the most despised of criminals. Christ emptied Himself and didn’t act on His divine right as King nor act with the power of His deity. No, Christ put Himself in a position of complete weakness for the sake of our sinful nature. This does not mean Christ gave up any of His divine entity because He was still God as part of the Trinity. Christ demonstrated His love for us, and since God is Love, Christ demonstrated the true nature of our God…LOVE. Because of this, God exalted Christ above all names. Christ has that position of authority, but does He have that position within our lives?

Being like-minded with Christ starts with a change in our hearts. Once our heart pursues the things of Christ, our minds and thoughts begin to change accordingly. True spiritual unity comes from within. It takes an active change and an act of continual submission before we can become unified as one mind in Christ.

Remember that the focus of our hearts should be the glory of God. Let nothing be done with selfish ambition but through love. We must practice humility and placing others before ourselves. We do this by providing Christ the position of authority in our hearts. The more we yield ourselves to Christ and strive to become a servant for Him, the more everything else falls into place. But again, it is accomplished with love.

How do we build unity of mind within our church body? Humble ourselves and love others as Christ has loved us. Pour out your love on those around you. You never know what experiences or circumstances others are going through, and the love you demonstrate may be what focuses their heart back on Christ.

Let Christ’s light shine through you. Be the witness of Christ’s love for this world. Spend the time in prayer and God’s Word, and allow God to reveal Himself to you.

What are some difficult times you have faced in your life?
How did you cope with those times?
How can you apply those lessons to your own life?
Did you find your hope and strength in Christ or something else?

____________________
Philippians 1:19-30

¹⁹ For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, ²⁰ according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. ²¹ For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. ²² But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. ²³ For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. ²⁴ Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. ²⁵ And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, ²⁶ that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again.

²⁷ Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, ²⁸ and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God. ²⁹ For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, ³⁰ having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me.
____________________

Paul is going through some difficult times. He is under house arrest and his freedoms are essentially stripped away. However, Paul is confident that it is because of the prayer of others and the Spirit of Jesus. These are the only things we need during difficult times. We must dedicate time to pray and continue seeking the Spirit of Jesus Christ. It is easy to rejoice when things are going well, but where are we putting our faith in during challenging times? 

What more? Paul expresses the continued desire that everything points to Jesus. Even though he is facing hard trials, he wants Jesus to be glorified. If he remains strong, then maybe someone will see that it was all because of Jesus. Paul desires to be the least and pursues complete servanthood and humility because he does not want anything to get in the way of people seeing Jesus. He doesn’t want anyone to say Paul triumphed because of something Paul did. 

Paul points out that the greatest reward is to die in the service of Christ so that he may ultimately be with Christ. However, Paul understands that God’s will is superior to his own. He understands that God has a purpose for Paul and that God is not through with him yet. Paul understands that God still needs Paul in the flesh to continue God’s ministry. Paul’s work is not completed, and he is torn by this. 

Paul also notes that serving Christ is not going to be easy. The world hates us because we submit to Christ. We will suffer pain and go through trials; it is guaranteed. But, Paul encourages them to stand fast in their faith. Trust that God’s purpose for the trial and God’s purpose for our lives is greater than anything we can comprehend.  

Paul writes to the church in Philippi about his current circumstances and his hope for the future. He is facing imprisonment and possible death, but he is confident that God will deliver him. He also expresses his desire to continue serving Christ, whether by life or by death.
Paul's words can be an encouragement to us when we are facing difficult times. He reminds us that God is always with us and that He will never abandon us. He also reminds us that our hope is not in this world, but in the next.

When we are facing trials, we can pray for the same confidence that Paul had. We can ask God to help us to trust Him even when we don't understand what is happening. We can also ask Him to give us the strength to continue serving Him, no matter what.

Paul's words are a reminder that even in the midst of suffering, we can have hope and joy. We can trust that God is working all things together for our good, and that He will ultimately bring us to glory. God has a plan for us, but are we looking for it? Are we looking with prayer? Are we looking in the Word?

I encourage all of us to remain strong. Remain humble. Submit yourselves, wholeheartedly, to Christ. Take joy in the work that only He can do in your life. The ultimate reward is spending eternity in the presence of God, but what are we doing with the time that God has given us on this earth?

How often do we look back on trials that we have gone through and recognize God’s hand throughout the entire process?

How often can we see that the suffering and trials we go through further demonstrate the Gospel to others? 

_________________
Philippians 1:12-18
¹² But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, ¹³ so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; ¹⁴ and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

¹⁵ Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill: ¹⁶ The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; ¹⁷ but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. ¹⁸ What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice

_________________

In this passage, Paul reminds us that even in the midst of suffering, God can use us to further His kingdom. Paul's imprisonment was a difficult time for him, but it also became an opportunity for him to share the gospel with others. It was his love for Jesus and his passion for spreading the Gospel of Jesus. This gave him the strength to take joy in the opportunities that God provided him. When we go through trials, it is easy to have our blinders on and only see tunnel vision of what is around us.

Often times, we are unaware of our surroundings. However, this does not mean that God is not still using you. Therefore, we should take joy in the trials and our struggles, knowing that God already has a plan. It will not be easy, and often it will produce sorrow and tears. But God has a plan, and His will is greater than anything we experience. We never know the impact of our testimony. Others may be strengthened by our resolve within Christ.
 
Paul also warns us to not do things out of our own selfish ambition. We are to live according to love. We are called to serve the Lord with a humble and willing heart. Don’t worry about what others may say or think, because it is not about us. We are not here for the personal glory or edification, but we are here for the furthering of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Don’t let your own pride and self-centered focus get in the way. What kind of testimony is that demonstrating to your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ?

No matter what we are going through, we can trust that God can use us to further His kingdom. Let us rejoice in the fact that Christ is being preached, whether in pretense or in truth. Be strong and serve God with faith and, above all, with love. Let your love be a testimony to those around you.

 

How often do we struggle and have difficulty focusing outside our little bubble called ‘self’? 

We are a fellowship together in Christ, and we are servants of the Almighty God. But what is our fellowship founded on? Is it smiling at one another and saying ‘hi’ on Sunday mornings, or is our fellowship deeply rooted in abounding and fervent love toward one another? Our love toward others is not by our own doing, but it is through the submission of our hearts to Christ and allowing His love to pour through us toward others. 

______________________

Philippians 1:1-11
¹ Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,
To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:
² Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
³ I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, ⁴ always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, ⁵ because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. ⁶ And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. ⁷ It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. ⁸ For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. ⁹ And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, ¹⁰ so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, ¹¹ filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

________________________

Paul is imprisoned at the time of this letter. However, he still opens this epistle by stating that he is still a ‘servant’ of Christ Jesus. Paul demonstrates his servanthood despite currently going through strenuous and tenuous times. 

Paul is more concerned about his fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. And Paul prays with JOY for the Philippian church because they have continued their partnership in the gospel. He expresses his joy in the work that they are doing, continuing their faith in Jesus Christ. This was the first church established in Europe by Paul. If you started a church years ago, wouldn’t you be filled with joy knowing it is flourishing and continuing to function on the principles of Jesus Christ? 

How often are we praying in joy for others around us, knowing that they, too, are working together in Christ as partners for furthering the Kingdom of God? This church continued as one mind in Christ, as a fellowship. Are we sharing with each other in true fellowship? 

Christ desires for us to share true and meaningful fellowship with each other. It is here that our brothers and sisters in Christ may come alongside and help us in troubled times. However, true fellowship is the shared mind in Christ. Despite being miles apart and under house arrest, Paul expressed joy in his fellowship with the Philippians. Our spiritual fellowship brings us together in Christ. We should be encouraged that we are not alone and are all members of the same body. We are all important to God, and we all have a purpose. Paul exemplifies continued servanthood despite trials and tribulations, thinking and praying for others first. He continues to pray that they may have abounding love and love that is discerning. 

Despite the difficult times you are going through, I pray that you will remember Paul’s example. Take joy in the fellowship that you have with your brothers and sisters in Christ. Continue to be in prayer and pray for those around you. Find encouragement in the joy that only Christ can provide. Allow Christ to pour out His unending love through you toward others. It is through love that we have fellowship with one another.  

We all need encouragement and a time to refresh in the Spirit. Someone's, we are so overwhelmed that it is hard to see the finish line.

How often are we standing firm, but remaining stagnant?

How often are we the encouragement that others need?

____________________
1 Corinthians 16:13-24
¹³ Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. ¹⁴ Let all that you do be done in love.

¹⁵ Now I urge you, brothers—you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints— ¹⁶ be subject to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer. ¹⁷ I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence, ¹⁸ for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such people.

¹⁹ The churches of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord. ²⁰ All the brothers send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.

²¹ I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. ²² If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come! ²³ The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. ²⁴ My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.
_____________________
Paul closes his first letter to the Corinthian church by heeding some caution. “Be Alert!” Stay focused and pay attention. We are in perilous times and the enemy is at hand, waiting for us to lose focus. We are called to stand firm in our faith. How many times do we get distracted from God’s will in our lives? How often are we swayed and do the easy thing instead of the more difficult right thing to do? Paul says to ‘act like men’, but what he means is to act with maturity as an adult and act with spiritual maturity. Act with courage and obedience while having confidence in the power of the Lord.
 
Paul also commands us to be strong, but how can we be strong? How do we grow the strength of our faith? We do this by spending time in prayer with God and spending time reading and digesting God’s Word. We can also grow stronger by being completely reliant upon Him in times of trials and tribulations.
 
Paul also gives an example of selfless service and devotion to God’s ministries. Paul says that he was ‘refreshed’ by their presence and fellowship. We all have our strengths and weaknesses, but God wants the devotion of our hearts. When our hearts are humbled and submissive to His will, then we can be used in great ways. How often are we being refreshed with fellowship from our brothers and sisters in Christ? How often are we the source of refreshment to our brothers and sisters in Christ? Paul says that we should encourage and recognize those that are devoted to God’s work. The children’s church teachers and helpers, those who clean the church, the ones who print the bulletins…they all work behind the scenes and deserve recognition and appreciation. A simple ‘thank you’ can go a long way, but sometimes stepping in and volunteering every now and then can help take a burden off of them and allow those dedicated workers to be refreshed in the Holy Spirit.

Paul directs us to stand firm in our faith, but not to be stagnant. In order to resist, we must grow stronger in Christ, taking steps in faith. Grow in your spiritual maturity and find the time to spend growing closer to Christ. Devote yourself to the furthering of God’s Kingdom, and heed the calling of service if that is the will of God in your life. Encourage those who are serving, because sometimes it can be easy to put it on ‘cruise control’ and forget the ‘why’ behind serving. Be the refreshment that your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ need.

How often are we contributing to the ministries of God?

How often are our plans too rigid for God’s will?

How often are we belittling our brothers or sisters in Christ?

____________________
1 Corinthians 16:1-11
¹ Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. ² On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come. ³ And when I arrive, I will send those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem. ⁴ If it seems advisable that I should go also, they will accompany me.

⁵ I will visit you after passing through Macedonia, for I intend to pass through Macedonia, ⁶ and perhaps I will stay with you or even spend the winter, so that you may help me on my journey, wherever I go. ⁷ For I do not want to see you now just in passing. I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. ⁸ But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, ⁹ for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.

¹⁰ When Timothy comes, see that you put him at ease among you, for he is doing the work of the Lord, as I am. ¹¹ So let no one despise him. Help him on his way in peace, that he may return to me, for I am expecting him with the brothers.

¹² Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to visit you with the other brothers, but it was not at all his will to come now. He will come when he has opportunity.
_________________________
God calls us to be diligent and good stewards of what He has provided us. Paul was asking the Church in Corinth to set aside a collection so that he may bring it to the Christians in Jerusalem in support of their ministries over there. Yes, we are called to help the poor, but we are also called to support the ministries and missionaries that God has put before us. We are investing in these areas to further the Kingdom of God.  Paul asked them to start setting aside ahead of time. This allows them to slowly pull together what they can over time, and even a little bit over time adds up. How often do we plan ahead in preparation for something or save for an upcoming vacation or large purchase? Paul is asking them to plan ahead and set aside a little bit at a time. 

However, this should be done out of love and not purely out of obligation. We must invest in God’s ministries but it should come from our hearts. We need to seek the Lord with our giving. We need to seek Him and allow God to guide our hearts and guide our giving. 

Next, Paul discusses his plans on visiting the Church of Corinth. He expresses that he would love to spend a season with them and fellowship with them. He would prefer it to not be a quick passthrough. However, Paul understands that it is the Lord’s will if this happens. Paul is completely trusting the Lord and leaning on God’s will. He remains flexible so that he may be used by God. How often are we remaining flexible to the will of God? Paul also notes that he recognizes a great opportunity for God’s work because of adversity. He understands that there are opportunities for ministry because of the opposition. 

Finally, Paul asks the Corinthian Church to act favorably toward Timothy. Paul understood that the Corinthians had trouble respecting the authority of Paul, so he asks that they welcome Timothy and encourage him. Timothy is doing the Lord’s work, and having fellow believers put you down and discourage you can be disheartening. Additionally, Apollos was listening to the Lord's will, not Apollos' own will. Be flexible and patient for God's will in your life. 

How often are we put down and not encouraged by our fellow believers? Are we building up those around us and encouraging them to continue doing the work of the Lord? We must remember that struggles will continue and likely increase when we are doing the Lord’s work. We will face opposition and adversaries, so it is important to strengthen each other through the love of Christ. Therefore, encourage and love one another. Demonstrate kindness and respect to those around you, especially your brothers and sisters in Christ.

In our house, there have been countless times when my wife will buy fruit for the kids. They will scavenge the fruit, but more times than not, the kids leave the remaining fruit. It tends to sit there, and it will eventually rot and perish. It is no longer good. The flesh of the fruit cannot become imperishable again. There is nothing the fruit can do to reverse the process of decay.

But, we as Christians have hope through Christ Jesus.
___________________
1 Corinthians 15:50-58
⁵⁰ I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. ⁵¹ Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, ⁵² in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. ⁵³ For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. ⁵⁴ When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.”

⁵⁵ “O death, where is your victory?
             O death, where is your sting?”

⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. ⁵⁷ But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
⁵⁸ Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
_____________________

God created us in His image, but He created us as flesh and blood. Once sin entered the world, we were cut off from eternal life with God. There is no way for our present body to enter the Kingdom of God.

Paul says that we have hope because we will be changed. The sting of death no longer has victory over us. Jesus resurrected from the dead with his human flesh, truly conquering death's victory over us.

However, we are called to make a change. We are called to be committed, and through that commitment to Christ, we will put on imperishable bodies and have immortality through God's grace.

We don't know the time or day when Jesus will call us into heaven and bestow upon us a perfect and flawless body. Therefore, we must be ready, immovable, and remain steadfast through these trying times. Our labor in Christ, our labor to expand the God's Kingdom, our labor of discipleship will not be in vain.

Remember that there is nothing we can do to earn the imperishable, but we can humble ourselves and accept His grace through repentance.

God wants more from us. Do we want the same thing?

Our human brains are limited in their ability to understand spiritual matters and the amazing work and power of God.
The Corinthians struggled to see how, as Christians, our bodies will also be raised from the dead.
____________________
1 Corinthians 15:35-49

³⁵ But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?” ³⁶ You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. ³⁷ And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. ³⁸ But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body. ³⁹ For not all flesh is the same, but there is one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. ⁴⁰ There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly is of another. ⁴¹ There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory.

⁴² So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. ⁴³ It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. ⁴⁴ It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. ⁴⁵ Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. ⁴⁶ But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. ⁴⁷ The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. ⁴⁸ As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. ⁴⁹ Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.
_____________________

In this section, Paul addresses the Corinthians' questions about the resurrection of the dead. He begins by asking, "How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?" Paul then goes on to explain that the resurrection body will be different from our earthly body. Paul isn’t saying that the current bodies lying in cemeteries will be reconstructed together. But what about those that have been cremated or whose physical bodies have been destroyed or maimed? No, Pauls tells us that our bodies will be a spiritual body when resurrected, not a physical body. It will be imperishable, glorious, powerful, and heavenly. We will no longer have a physical body that is subject to decay, pain, loss, and suffering.
 
Paul's teaching on the resurrection is important because it gives us hope for the future. It assures us that even though we will die, we will not be destroyed. Because of Jesus Christ, we will be raised again into a new life. This hope should motivate us to live holy lives in the present

When we face difficult times, we can remember that our hope is not in this world, but in the world to come. We can look forward to the day when we will be raised to a new life in Christ.  This is why it is said that faith is a gift from God. Faith is the ability to believe in something that we cannot see or understand. It is the ability to trust in God even when we don't have all the answers. Let us be encouraged by the hope that we have in Christ Jesus. Allow the Holy Spirit to fill you and use your physical body for the glory of God while here on this earth.

Our world is filled with despair, sorry, and decay. It is easy to get blinded by the physical and not recognize the spiritual. However, we have been freed and remain free because of the resurrection of Christ.

How often do we misrepresent God when we don’t speak the whole truth of the Gospel?
____________________
1 Corinthians 15:12-34

¹² Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? ¹³ But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. ¹⁴ And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. ¹⁵ We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. ¹⁶ For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. ¹⁷ And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. ¹⁸ Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. ¹⁹ If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

²⁰ But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. ²¹ For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. ²² For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. ²³ But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. ²⁴ Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. ²⁵ For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. ²⁶ The last enemy to be destroyed is death. ²⁷ For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. ²⁸ When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.

²⁹ Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf? ³⁰ Why are we in danger every hour? ³¹ I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day! ³² What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” ³³ Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” ³⁴ Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.
______________________
The Corinthian church believed in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, but they struggled to believe that we would be resurrected with Him on the final day. Paul uses login and tries to argue and prove that we too will be resurrected with Christ. He is saying that if Christ didn’t rise from the grave, then everything we are doing is in vain. Our faith is worthless and means nothing. Also, the dead will not be raised, then Christ also must not even be raised. 

But, Christ was the firstfruits of those rising from the grave to live in the Kingdom of God for eternity. Christ's resurrection gives us a taste, of the first fruits, of what is to come for all believers. Since sin affects everyone, because we all come from Adam, we are all bound and destined for eternal destruction. But, the gift of God, through Christ’s sacrifice, gives us a way for eternal life in Him. Those that belong to Christ will receive resurrection bodies when Christ returns. It is at this time that all of death is defeated under His feet.

We can take joy in the fact that we will be resurrected with Christ on the final day. We will live with Him for eternity, but only if we have faith that Jesus Christ died on that cross, bore our sins upon Himself, and then conquered death by rising from the dead on the third day.  

I encourage us to read and understand the complete truth that God brings through His word. Live according to the truth despite the peer pressure around. Don’t misrepresent the Word of God because it contradicts what you want in life. Be true and argue for the truth so that it may set you and those around you free.

How often do we make something much more complicated than it needs to be? How often do we take a step back and just return to simplicity?
___________________
1 Corinthians 15:1-11
¹ Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, ² and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

³ For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, ⁴ that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, ⁵ and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. ⁶ Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. ⁷ Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. ⁸ Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. ⁹ For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. ¹⁰ But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. ¹¹ Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
___________________
Paul begins this next section of his letter to the Corinthians by reminding us to go back to the basics. Why is this needed? Remember, the Corinthian church was struggling. There was division, they weren’t using spiritual gifts properly, they were prideful in their own gifts, etc. The gospel is by which we are saved and on which we stand. We must stand firm in the simple truth of Christ.

Paul tells us that he did not make any of this up. He received the Gospel directly from Jesus Christ. Christ fulfilled all the prophecies of the Old Testament when he rose on the third day. He was of human flesh, born a man, but He conquered death. Paul truly believed that the Christians blasphemed Jewish tradition and law by saying that a man could forgive sins and had risen from the dead. It wasn’t until Paul encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus that he truly saw and believed. Paul reminds us that he was did terrible things and is the least among us all, yet, Jesus still chose Paul to spread the Gospel. Jesus came for everyone and uses the weak and poor. He uses all of us, and it is by the grace of God that we are able to live in His kingdom.

However, Paul says that he worked harder than anyone else to spread the Gospel of Jesus. He didn’t become a complacent Christian, satisfied with his own salvation. Paul desired that no one would experience the penalty of sin. His passion for the unbelievers and his commitment to the struggling Christian was unparalleled.

Do we have the passion and commitment today? What are we doing to strengthen ourselves in Christ, and are we working tirelessly to encourage and strengthen our brothers and sisters in Christ? Do we have the passion to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those around us?

God is orderly and is not a God of confusion. God love and peace. How often are we living in a chaotic manner, or our church is disorganized and without order? 

We are called to edify and build up our congregation. There must be order in the things we do as a body of Christ. 

___________________
1 Corinthians 14:26-40
²⁶ What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. ²⁷ If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. ²⁸ But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God. ²⁹ Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. ³⁰ If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent. ³¹ For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged, ³² and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. ³³ For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.

As in all the churches of the saints, 34 the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. 35 If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.

³⁶ Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached? ³⁷ If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord. ³⁸ If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized. ³⁹ So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. ⁴⁰ But all things should be done decently and in order.

___________________

Paul says that when people come together for worship, they should each have a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. He says that all of these things should be done for the purpose of building up the church. Paul then goes on to give some specific instructions on how to use these gifts. He says that if someone speaks in a tongue, there should only be two or three people who do this at a time, and someone should interpret what they are saying. If there is no one to interpret, then the person who is speaking in tongues should keep silent.

Paul's instructions are important for Christians today because they provide guidance on how to worship in a way that is pleasing to God. We are called to maintain a semblance of order within the church. This includes Bible studies, Sunday mornings, children's church, small groups, etc. We must be considerate, quick to hear and slow to speak. When we are gathered together, our actions, words, worship, etc, should be for the edification of the body and to Christ. We are called to keep order and keep the focus on Him. Sometimes, we must cut the tangents off if they are causing more confusion and clouding the message of God’s Word. God is not a God of confusion but of peace.

Next, how do we ensure we are doing what is right? Paul instructs us to use God's Word as the true measure for testing what we hear. Every message, sermon, small group, children's church, etc, should be tested against the Word of God to ensure the truth is being taught. Everyone who hears and listens to each message must internally evaluate it so that we all may apply it to our hearts. 

Conversely, no preacher, pastor, or teacher is perfect. We all make mistakes at times. Even true and called teachers don't know everything. Therefore, we must listen intently and read the Word of God to ensure the messages being spoken are faithful and true to God’s Word. There are so many people out there today who say things or preach just for attention’s sake. You may even sit in a Sunday service, and the pastor never even opens the Bible or reads any Scripture. We must beware of false teachers, and we do this by looking back to the Word for the truth. 

Regarding Paul’s instruction for women to keep silent, there is some contextual understanding that must be had. He is not saying that women are not allowed to speak, pray, or worship. He already addressed that women are no less than men. Women have a right to pray and worship. However, he addresses their ability to judge prophecy when it is brought into the church. During their time, women and men typically sat separated. If a woman shouted to her husband across the church for clarification, she would be treated strictly. Essentially, he tells the women of the Corinthian church not to interrupt when prophecy or meetings were taking place due to the ‘liberties’ that the Corinthian women had taken. Paul was calling to them to be submissive to the elders in the church and get clarification from their husbands when at home. Again, this was a cultural thing during that time. 

How does this apply to our church today? Women are of equal value within the church, with the family, within our homes, and at work. However, God calls women to be submissive in Christ. In today’s world, many women are better taught in God’s Word than men due to the pride and stubbornness of men. 

Finally, Paul reminds the Corinthians that they are the only church. Christ died for the sins of everyone. We are all unique in our own ways but are united by Christ. Also, Paul does not forbid teaching and speaking in tongues, but there must be order and interpretation present. It must be edifying to the congregation so it may be built up in Christ. Be orderly in our business as Christians and work within the peace of God. Ask for wisdom, humility, and compassion toward others. Let the Word of God be the measure of truth, which is done by digging into God’s Word to build up our foundation in Christ. 

My children have a knack for hearing what I tell them, but they look back like I am speaking a foreign language. Sometimes, it takes my wife to use words that are understandable to them so that they can put those words into practice. 

____________________
1 Corinthians 14:6-25
⁶ Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? ⁷ If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? ⁸ And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? ⁹ So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air. ¹⁰ There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, ¹¹ but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me. ¹² So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.

¹³ Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. ¹⁴ For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. ¹⁵ What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also. ¹⁶ Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying? ¹⁷ For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up. ¹⁸ I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. ¹⁹ Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

²⁰ Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature. ²¹ In the Law it is written, “By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” ²² Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers. ²³ If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds? ²⁴ But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, ²⁵ the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.
______________________

Paul continues to address speaking in tongues and prophecy. In this section, we can see that understanding is important for edification and building up the church. If someone speaks in tongues, there must be someone to interpret so that those around them may be built up and edified. Edification comes through the understanding of what is being said.

How can this be applied in our lives today? Many of us don’t speak in tongues, but if someone was, then there must be someone to interpret. Today, we can put this into practice by being clear and concise when we speak. We must speak Biblical truth that is understandable and edifying to our brothers and sisters in Christ. Paul calls us to strive to build up the church. How are we doing this with the words we speak?

Next, Paul tells us to worship with our spirit and with our minds. Here, our human spirit is the inner being that can be especially attuned to God. The mind is our understanding of this. Therefore, these two must be linked…the understanding and closeness of our hearts and inner being with God and with our understanding.

Then, the information that we speak and deliver to those around us should build them up. We do this by planting the seed, the seed of God’s Word. We can give someone information all day, but the person must actually receive it and plant it for the information to do any good for them. The information needs to be understandable by them and able to be grasped and applied. However, it also takes a willingness to receive for us to understand. Our hearts must be prepared and the soil plowed for the seed to take root. 

In everything we say, we must remember to speak in a way that is edifying to our brothers and sisters in Christ. We are here to build up the church and encourage one another. We are reminded that what we share must be understood. If we are on the receiving end, we must ensure our hearts are prepared to receive. On Sunday mornings or during Bible studies, pray and settle your hearts so that you are attuned to what God is trying to tell you. Encourage those around you, and if you happen to be gifted with tongues or prophecy, ensure there is someone there to interpret. 

Speaking in tongues and prophesying do not seem as common today as it did in Paul’s time. Does this mean that it can’t happen or doesn’t happen today? No. God is sovereign and has the ability to give these gifts to anyone, but these gifts must be used with the right purpose and to ensure they are edifying to God and build up the congregation. 

_____________________
1 Corinthians 14:1-5

¹ Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. ² For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. ³ On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. ⁴ The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. ⁵ Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.
________________________

Pursue love…Paul just finished telling us in the previous chapter that love is the most important. Without love, we are nothing. He previously discussed the gifts of the Spirit and that we are all blessed with varying gifts. Now, he is comparing prophecy and tongues. The Corinthians elevated the ability to speak in tongues. But we must ask ourselves, “Why do we do what we do?” 

The first thing Paul tells us in this chapter is to pursue love, but he proceeds to tell us to desire spiritual gifts earnestly. Although the Corinthians misused some spiritual gifts, he did not tell them that they should stop or discontinue their use. He wanted them to continue using their spiritual gifts but for the right reasons. Today, we can see spiritual gifts being misused and done for improper reasons, typically out of pride. A gift is something that we receive, and we received spiritual gifts from God. So why shouldn’t we use them? God gave them to us to use, but we must use them out of love and use them for the glory of God. If our pride and selfishness get in the way, then these gifts are being misused and may even be detrimental. 

We are blessed with gifts as individuals, but they are for the benefit of the church. It appears that Paul meant that speaking in tongues was more of a form of prayer between you and God. It is a form of praise that only God may understand. Tongues are used to build the individual up because it is personal to God. Prayer is between the individual and God. Our hearts must be prepared and humble so that we approach and praise our Lord with love. 

On the contrary, Paul says that prophecy is more important than tongues because prophecy is meant to build up the church. However, the church cannot be strengthened and built up if no one is there to interpret what is being said or prophesied. 

Both speaking in tongues and prophecy have their place. Prophecy is based on something that God suddenly puts in the heart or mind of the speaker. Tongues is the prayer or praise going from man to God. However, both must be understandable if it is to benefit the congregation. 

Paul is not discouraging us from using spiritual gifts. Everyone has a gift bestowed upon them by God. Sometimes, God will use a situation or an individual to relay His message to us. However, we must ensure that we are not misusing these gifts and pursuing love. We are to align our hearts with God’s as best as we can. We are all sinners and fail constantly, but God gives us the ability to get back up and walk alongside Him. If you have a gift, I encourage you to step up and use it out of love in order to build up the body of Christ.

Today's society faces a tremendous struggle. There is evil everywhere we turn, and the body of Christ is being persecuted for our faith. 

The world is trying so hard to remove Jesus from the equation. It is easier to cave in and go with the flow than it is to act according to the conviction of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. 


The Lord's love is poured out for all, but the world is afraid of giving up the desires of the flesh. 

What are we doing with and through love?

__________________
1 Corinthians 13:1-13

¹ If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. ² And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³ If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

⁴ Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant ⁵ or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; ⁶ it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

⁸ Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. ¹¹ When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. ¹² For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

¹³ So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
_____________________

Are we doing things for the right reasons? Paul addresses the Corinthians and their pride in their ability with words and language. He wants to ensure that our hearts are in the right place anytime we do something. Again, why are we doing what we do? Do we do things for our own edification and to satisfy the desires of our flesh? Paul said that we are blessed with spiritual gifts, but what are we doing with these gifts, and how are we utilizing them?

We can be incredible preachers, athletes, teachers, doctors, parents, or anything else, but if we don’t have love or do it through love, then it means nothing. Love is the basis of why we are here. God loves us so much that He sent His Son to take our place on that cross. Whenever we are working or doing things, we should examine our hearts to ensure that what we are doing is for the glory of God, and that we are doing it out of our love for God. While serving in ministry, are we doing it out of love? If I give someone on the street some money, is it out of love or is it because I will feel better about myself?
 
But what is love? Verses 4-7 are quoted very often, especially at weddings. But Paul is telling us the characteristics of true love. We must do everything with love, but there is a catch. If our love does not reflect these characteristics, is it truly God’s love? These verses are very convicting because it is the essence of humility and submission.

True Love is everlasting and will not fade away like everything else in this world. A good measure of spiritual maturity is not through spiritual gifts but it is through the demonstration of unconditional love. It comes down to a heart issue. We can always put on a good facade and appear to be good Christians, but if our hearts lack love, we are just fooling ourselves. We, especially myself, are not perfect and never will be. The standard is Jesus, and we will always fall short of the glory of God. But we have God’s love and the Holy Spirit working on our hearts daily.

I encourage all of us to examine our hearts to ensure that each and everything thing we do and say comes from a heart of love. There will be days of struggle, but we have the grace and love of God as an example. Be humble and submit with love. When we change the state of our hearts, then we can pour out love toward others. Because the world we live in today is lacking more and more love by the day.