Philippians 1:3-5....JOY

Scripture:
I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,
always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all,
in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now
(all Scripture quotations are from the NASB unless otherwise noted.)


Observations:

-Paul is thankful for the saints in Philippi, and filled with joy whenever he prays for them.

-he is joyful because of their "participation in the gospel" from the very first day he met with them and shared the Good News of Jesus life, death, and resurrection.

Application:
Joy.  Paul uses the word joy six times in Philippians, more times than in any other book.  It seems to be a theme.  Paul uses the word gospel nine times in Philippians.  Do you think there could be a connection?  I most certainly do.
Remember that Paul is in prison as he writes this letter.  It is not prison like we think of today.  He was basically under house arrest in quarters he rented in Rome.  He could not leave the house to preach the gospel, but was allowed to have visitors with whom he could freely share.  He was also chained to a member of the Roman guard and I can't help thinking "talk about a captive audience."  How many guards must have heard Paul share the gospel!
Paul was in prison awaiting the decision of whether he would be set free or sentenced to death.  And yet he had found joy.  to continue reading click here.

Faith and Love

"For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists in you and your love for all the saints, do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers;

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of  Him." (Eph. 1:15-17, NASB)

Paul had heard of the faith of these saints in Ephesus.  I just read in Matthew this morning how disappointed Jesus was in the lack of faith exhibited by the disciples.  He tells them in Matthew 17:20 (NLT), “You don’t have enough faith, I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move.  Nothing would be impossible.”
I wonder what their faith must have been like.  Were the saints at Ephesus mountain movers?  I sometimes wonder if my lack of faith hinders the work God wants to do.  Do I really believe that nothing is impossible with God?  And if such a small amount of faith can allow God to move mountains than what would happen if I begin right now to ask God to increase my faith?

There was another aspect of the Ephesians that Paul commended them for; their love for one another.  That is something that is supposed to set us apart as followers of Christ.  They will know us by our love.  We have the supreme example in Christ's sacrifice for us-For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.  I am challenged by that thought.  If I really want my life to be a reflection of God, than love for others has got to be a driving force in my life.  Rather convicting to think about how many times I am unwilling to lay down my life for others.  Not as in actually sacrificing my physical existence, but in placing others ahead of myself.  Dropping my goals for the day, my "best laid plans" to love on those who cross my path.  In my rush to get through the checkout line do I stop to think what even a smile could do for the others in line, for the harried cashier?  Do I have the right attitude when I am doing the laundry and cleaning toilets for my family?  Am I willing to rearrange my day, with a joyful heart, when someone calls on me for help, or to talk?  Am I willing to take time out of my day to pray for others in earnest?

In my ever growing desire to learn how to pray I have here a wonderful model of how to pray for the believer's in my life, and myself as well.   Above all else we need a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.  We need God to continually reveal Himself to us so that we can grow in our knowledge of Him.  Do you want to know God more?  Then pray for Him to reveal Himself to you and He will do it.


Be Blessed,
Deb