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Not me………you first

25 Jan

Not me………you first

Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.

The apostle Paul has been narrowing his focus on the letter to the Philippians for their unity, and their focus on their hearts for Christ. He had pointed in the preceding chapter of those that preached from selfish motives, and those that preached with a pure heart. Although Paul rejoices at any motive of the preaching of the gospel (Philippians 1:18), here he is expressing the problems of pride that come with those motives. Paul is spending time in these scriptures calling for a true self-evaluation; a gut check before God of ourselves; an evaluation that should bring humility every time; an evaluation that should draw glory to Christ every time.

I could go down so many paths on the power and destruction of pride. Pride is at the root of my testimony; pride is at the root of my sin; pride is still the largest daily battle I face. Pride is rooted into so many of us, for sin is rooted in pride from the fall in the Garden of Eden. Genesis 3:5 for when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God. Pride is beneath many of our thoughts and actions without even knowing it. These self-evaluations that Paul calls for must be daily, for we battle pride unknowingly daily. Pride has brought down many powerful leaders throughout history, and continues to do so today. Pride may be creating the division in the church that Paul is addressing.

With the humility that should come with these gut checks, our hearts should be draw to Christ, and his heart for others. Our hearts should be moved to a grateful, humble, servant of our most high God. We should be drawn to a heart of serving Him in all things, and putting the needs of others before ours. Christ throughout his ministry gave us the example of a servant leader. A servant leader is not a person with deceitful motive, it is a person who’s main objective is to think of others and show them a love for Christ. Philippians 2:4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. I have “PFY” written in the margin of my Bible here; Prayed For You. This is a simple text that I send to those close to me when I am praying for them. It lets them know I am speaking their names to God; it lets them know I care enough for them to pray for them. Instead of going to God in your petitions for yourself today, pray for someone else that needs your prayers today. It is a great way to chip away at that pride you battle, and a great way to unite in prayer.

 
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Posted by on January 25, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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Who gets the glory?

22 Jan

Who gets the glory?

Philippians 1:15-18   Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from good will: 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.

The outpouring of the gospel in ones life that it has changed is a natural work of that Good Work. It should so stir your soul that you cannot contain the good news. You have felt that change that salvation has brought, and the desire to share that good news is a work of Christ’s Spirit that now lives inside of you. We all have a seed of evangelism sown in us with the knowledge of Christ that dwells in us. That need to spread the story of salvation should always come from a pure heart driven by the motive of attention to the Savior; not the soul saved. Our testimony is the proof of the act of salvation, but should not be the focal point of our witness.

Paul was in prison and the gospel was spreading outside of the walls. The news was getting back to him of those seeking to bring glory to themselves in their preaching of it. It is unclear of exactly what was being taught, but they seemed to be preaching salvation through Christ. It did not seem to be the heretical preaching of the Judiaizers Paul spoke of in Galatians. These people may have been jealous of the attention Paul was receiving; they may have sown their dissension from lack of respect for Paul; for some reasons they seemed against him and in their preaching the gospel and sowed division with it. 6 The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely,. Many of today’s preachers in the media have these same selfish motives that hide in pride and money behind their ministries. A good friend of mine came to know Christ listening to one of them, but he also came to see the trouble in that ministry as he grew closer to Christ himself.

Paul rejoiced in all the news of the gospel being spread. He knew that those who were preaching the word must answer with the motives of their hearts to only God. God knows the heart and knows the reason behind every word and action. As we grow closer to God ourselves, we gain a knowledge and understanding of Him as Paul spoke of in Philippians 1:9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment. This knowledge that is used in the context of our relationship with God, is used in the discernment of our relationships with each other. God may shed the light on ministry motives; He may open our eyes to those in the media. We like Paul can rejoice in the spreading of the gospel, but like Paul we must only seek to draw glory to Christ.

 
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Posted by on January 22, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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They still point in the right direction

03 Jun

They still point in the right direction

Philippians 1: 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.

Paul was in prison, and wherever Paul was he was preaching the Gospel of Christ. He was bound in chains and could have asked God ‘why’ and sunk into misery and depression as a result of his imprisonment. Paul suffered for Christ greatly after Christ visited him on the Damascus Road. Christ even sent Ananias to Paul and told him in Acts 9:16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” Paul understood unlike many of the teachers today that we will be required to suffer for His name, and all of those happenings can be used to glorify Him in it. He understood that wherever His feet were that day, was God’s Will for him that day, and he was to use that day to glorify God. Philippians 1:12 But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel.

One of my good friends came to know Christ through a popular TV pastor who is what in today’s terms we would call a ‘Prosperity Preacher’. His preaching is of the idea that if you don’t have all the blessings Christ intends for you now, you don’t have enough faith. But my friend also  is wise enough to see the Truth now; and does not judge that pastor, for he sees him preaching Christ too. Look at how Paul was dealing with similar circumstances: Philippians 1: 15 Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from good will: 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. Even in the misguided steps of many of today’s pastors, Christ is being preached. If they are preaching Salvation only through the blood of Christ, once you accept that, and your relationship and discernment grow, you too many see their err. Seek God daily with all your heart, mind, soul, body and strength. These things will open your eyes and allow you to see clearly the path He has for you today; and how you can glorify Him either in your blessings or your sufferings for that day.

 
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Posted by on June 3, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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PFY

29 Apr

PFY

Philippians 2:4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

PFY – Prayed For You. This is an acronym some of those close to me use to let each other know we have been lifting up them in prayer. A simple text most of the time that assures them we have been praying for them. When we confide in each other of our struggles, it is always reassuring to know that others are praying for us. To be perfectly honest I love praying for others, but struggle in prayer for myself. It is very reassuring to me to know that they have my struggles covered in prayer.

In this scripture Paul is struggling with the Philippians with many things including pride and humility. Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Paul was trying to assure unity in the church, and not allowing pride to creep in. He uses Christ as the pinnacle of humility in Philippians 2:5-8 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 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. The next time you start to pray for something you are struggling with, pray for someone else who is struggling. Lift them up in prayer, send them a PFY, and that not only will encourage them, they will most likely Pray For You.

 
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Posted by on April 29, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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