CGC Bible Study: Philippians1:6

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Philippians1:6

Are you ready for some FRIDAAAAAAAY (Bible Study)???!!!

I saw this video while researching Philippians and HAD to share it NOW...
I should wait until we are at the 4th Chapter, but I will probably show it AGAIN...it is so powerful. So enjoy and then we will start with verse 6 of Chapter 1.

"I Know My Redeemer Lives" ~ Phil 4:13 ~ "I can do all things through Christ".

David Guzik comments at blueletterbible.org and says that:

The Philippian church was 11 years old at the time of Paul's letter to them

This church was the very first one in the country of Europe

He goes on to say that this Book is a glorious revelation of how a relationship and life with Christ triumphs over ALL (cap, mine) of life's adverse circumstances. He says that this is Paul's singing letter! But Paul WAS CHAINED TO A ROMAN GUARD! What would it be like to be chained to another person? Confinement, painful, humiliating...

Have you ever ran in a 3-legged race at a picnic?

This is where 2 people each put one leg in a sack and try to run together to the finish line. This is a saccharine-type example for what Paul went through, but it might give us a "feel" for how awkward and frustrating this confinement must have been.

But.yet.he.has.joy.

Now let's look at Chapter 1, verse 6. Please open your Bibles, or as a beloved former Pastor of mine ALWAYS said before he began his message ~ "Have your Bible? ~ Turn to...." OR have an online Bible open on your screen. See the last post "Let's Get Started" for more information.

Verse 6 ~ "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."

Human characteristics are to start things and not finish them...a book, a painting, a sewing project, a scrapbook project, a cleaning project. I know, I know... as you read this partial list

your mind was going to the list of things left uncompleted in your life. Please pull yourself back and join me again. I know how "lost" you can get while reviewing every "bullet list" in your mind...

What good work is God working into you right now? You may feel like He is "kneading" you pretty hard. Has anyone out there ever kneaded a lump of fresh dough?

Sometimes you have to really push hard to work the dough, so that it will rise later. (shewww...that could be another whole teaching in of its own!) What is He teaching you? What better way is He showing you? He will bring that work to completion on the day of Christ Jesus. Those last 6 words to me mean when Jesus comes back triumphantly riding on that white horse as our Warrior King! (Revelation 19:11) I believe that we will not be perfect here on earth, but that we strive every day to do better until we see His face and then we will be like Him!

Hebrews 12:2 "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

...the Author and FINISHER of our faith...what IF He had not FINISHED His work here on earth? What IF He had not COMPLETED His "task"...what IF He had been like us and put off and procrastinated what He needed to do..what IF He had not gone to the cross...

I value your thoughts and feelings on this post...