THE EARLY CHURCH - "One In Spirit"

LETTERS TO THE CHURCHES - Philippians

Read Philippians 2

     Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Philippians 2:5 NIV

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     Paul continues his words of exhortation for unity in the church at Philippi. These new believers have trusted in Christ for their salvation and are growing in faith. He reminds them that they don’t have to do it in their own strength: 

     “for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life.” (13-16)

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     Lord, I praise You for the gift of Your Spirit to help me to will and act according to Your purpose. Forgive me when I complain or argue, and give me the encouraging, uplifting words of life that will shine like stars in the darkness.

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    " If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose."    Philippians 2:1-2 NIV

THE EARLY CHURCH - "Whatever Happens..."

LETTERS TO THE CHURCHES - Philippians

Read Philippians 1

     I always pray with joy… being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.      Philippians 1:4b, 6 NIV

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     Paul begins his letter to the church at Philippi with a word of confidence in their growing maturity. He knows that they will face persecution and struggles from without and within. He warns, “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then...I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel.”(1:27) 

     He tells them that the hardships he has suffered, including his imprisonment, have served to further the spreading of the gospel. Though his very life has been threatened he says, “I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. (1:20-21)

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     Lord, You are the One who will accomplish Your purpose in our lives. We are simply vessels in Your hands, being molded for the master’s use. Help me to be confident and willing to place my future in Your hands, not worrying, but trusting in You to use me for Your glory.

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     “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more, ... that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ-to the glory and praise of God.  Philippians 1:9-11 NIV

LETTERS TO THE CHURCHES - Be Strong In The Lord

PAUL'S FINAL CHALLENGE

Read Ephesians 6

     Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.    Ephesians 6:10-11 NIV

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     Paul concludes his letter by reminding them that it is no small adversary that they face. Satan then as now, wages war against Christ and His Church. He tells them and us to be prepared “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (6:12)

     Our preparation will be in knowing God’s Word and putting it into practice in our lives. "Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace." (6:14-15)

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     Lord, I know that we are no match for our enemy, the Devil. But I also know that You are greater than anything He can throw at us in this life. Help me to be diligent in preparing my soul through the reading of Your Word. Give me the gift of faith, as You have promised, to always trust and obey.

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     "In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."     Ephesians 6:16-17 NIV

LETTERS TO THE CHURCHES - Ephesians

WALK IN LOVE

Read Ephesians 5

     Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.    Ephesians 5:1-2 NIV

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     In this letter, Paul encourages the members of the Ephesian church to “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (4:32)
     He goes on to warn of the false teachers who were saying that it doesn’t matter how we live now that we are Christians. He urges them, “for you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light, (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” (5:8-11)

     “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs,” he writes, “Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (5:19-20)

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     Lord, I am so thankful for Your kindness and compassion towards us. Help me to forgive others just as I have been forgiven. Help us to be faithful today to carry the light of your gospel to those who do not know you and encouragement in God's Word to those who do.

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     Be very careful, then, how you live-not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.    Ephesians 5:15-16 NIV

LETTER TO EPHESIANS - Grow up into Him

Read Ephesians 4

      "...Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching... Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ."    Ephesians 4:14-15 NIV

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     In this passage, Paul is reminding the Ephesian Christians of the primary purpose of the local church. Each member of the body of Christ has been given spiritual gifts or talents to be used for a specific reason – the edifying and building up of believers. 

     This was and is an ongoing process where we grow in our faith "and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ" (4:13b) and it is not something we do by ourselves, but in fellowship with other believers. Each person has something unique to contribute "to the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament," (which) "grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." (4:1)

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     Lord, I pray that you will show each one of us what part we are to play in your plan for our church. Help me to use the talents you have given me for the purpose of building up other believers in their faith. I pray also for the unity of our local church so that we can work together to send forth the gospel and disciple new believers onto maturity.

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     "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." Ephesians 4:2-3 NIV

EARLY CHURCHES - Ephesians

ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED

Read Ephesians 1–3

…He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love… to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. Ephesians 1:4, 6 NKJV

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     Paul in writing to the believers in Ephesus reminds them of the wonderful gift of the gospel. “But now in Christ Jesus,” he says, “you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (2:13) 
     In the fullness of time, God carried out His plan that the Gentiles would be included in His church. For both Jews and Gentiles salvation came by the grace of God as a free gift.
    " For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."   (2:8-10)

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     Lord, I will be eternally thankful that You offered salvation to all who would believe. I am grateful that I did not have to earn it by good works. I am also thankful that you had good works planned for me before I even knew You. Help me as I share the good news of Christ’s love with all who will be willing to receive it.

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     “...that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height -- to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.    Eph 3:17b-19 NKJV

LETTER TO CORINTH - Jars of Clay

LETTERS TO THE CHURCHES

Read 2 Corinthians 4-5

     Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!  2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV

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     In this letter Paul encourages the Corinthian church to endure in their trials. He said of himself and his companions, “We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death.” (2 Corinthians 1:8b-9a)

     Though they themselves were “jars of clay”, he said, they endured because of the all surpassing power of God. “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day...” (4:16) 

     In view of eternity and what Christ accomplished for us on the cross, Paul reminds them and us, “...he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again” (5:15)

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     Lord, I will probably never face the kind of opposition that Paul and the early church had to face, but I know that there are Christians throughout the world who are being persecuted. Lord, show your all-surpassing power to them, and help me to remember that I too have access to this power in my life through your Holy Spirit.

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     "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us..."   2 Corinthians 4:7 NIV

LETTER TO CORINTH - We Will Be Changed

Read 1 Corinthians 15

     For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.  1 Corinthians 15:22, 26 NIV

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     One thing we all have to face is the reality of death. No matter how healthy we are, eventually it will catch up with us. By receiving the free gift Christ has purchased, we have the promise of eternal life, but we will see physical death in this body – unless of course, He returns in our lifetime.

     Paul writes, "Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed- in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed." (1 Cor.15:51-52)

     He assures us as believers, that when we die, we will immediately enter God's presence clothed with immortality, never to see death again. For when the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."(15:54)

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     Lord, thank you for the promise that death is not the end. I can look forward to seeing my loved ones who are already in Heaven and will spend eternity praising You for all You have done for us in this life and the one to come.

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     Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.    1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV