JULY 9

OUR PERSONAL PROMISES:

NAMES GIVEN TO JESUS IN THE BIBLE:

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BRAZEN SERPENT LIFTED UP IN THE WILDERNESS

PASSOVER LAMB—Ex 12:21

SCAPEGOAT BEARING THE SINS OF THE PEOPLE

This month we will read the book, “Whatever Happens – How to Stand Firm in Your Faith When the World is Falling Apart.”  By a contemporary author of many best-selling Christian books, Robert J. Morgan.  He took care of his wife when she had MS, until she went home to her Savior.  “He knows of which he speaks.”  I pray that this book blesses you.

CHEERFULNESS

Paul also prayed cheerfully in Phil 1:4:

“always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy,”

 This is the first of sixteen times Paul used the word “joy” in this letter.  Oh, how many times during periods of discouragement have I read through Philippians, circling every reference to joy and rejoicing!

Paul was thankful for the Philippians’ partnership.  This partnership started with his original visit to Philippi in Acts 16.  It continued through frequent correspondence and included their joint endeavors in sharing the gospel.  It summed up the long-term friendship they had enjoyed over the years.

Paul prayed with joy because he knew God was working in the Philippian believers, and that brings us to a favorite verse – Philippians 1:6:

“being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;”

Some commentators think this was a reference only to the financial partnership extended to him by the Philippians – their fellowship in helping finance his work.  He was certain God would lead them to continue that.  But that seems to be a narrow interpretation.  I believe this verse means just what we feel it should mean – God started doing something in Philippi in Acts 16.  He started doing something in Lydia, in the servant girl, in the prisoners, in the jailer, and in the whole church.  That work will continue until we stand before Christ in the perfection of eternity.

A bit later, the apostle wrote in Philippians 2:13:

“for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”

This verse takes in the three processes of salvation:  Justification, sanctification, and glorification.  Justification (when we received Christ as our personal Savior and Lord).  That’s in the past.

At the end of the verse is His good pleasure—His goal for us—-that is Glorification.  That’s the future.  That’s what will happen when we are resurrected.  God will save you from the very presence of sin. 

In the middle is Sanctification – what God wills and does in us.  That’s the process that happens to you now as you grow in Christ and are continually saved from the power of sin.  It might go up and down a bit, but it will end with glory. 

When you put all three together, you have salvation in its totality.  You WERE saved, you ARE BEING saved, and you WILL BE saved.

Paul puts our worries to rest in Philippians 1:6:

“being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;”

In the words of a little song we used to sing, “He’s still working on me, to make me what I need to be.”  It’s taking longer than it should, but He is patient.  We have to remember that.  I don’t know about you, but the one person in this world with whom I have the most trouble is Mr. M.E. Dude.

M.E. has a temper.  He says stupid things.  He lets irritations get to him.  He wants to do things he shouldn’t, see things he shouldn’t, think things he shouldn’t.  M. E. requires a lot of spiritual maintenance.  This character can absolutely drive me crazy.

But by God’s grace, if I have anything to do with it (and I do), Mr. M. E. Dude is going to become more like H.I.M.

(we’re in good company.  Paul speaks of experiencing the desire to do right but he does what he doesn’t want to do. in Romans 7:15-25.  He ends like this:

“So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.”)

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