"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves." Philippians 2:3 NIV

Divide and Dissolve. This is what it says on this young lady's shirt. Is this what the left wants to do to the right? I think so. What about tolerance? No, they don't want to tolerate us anymore. This is not a political stance necessarily, but a way of thinking about the future.

Those who oppose us are wrong, so we must get rid of their ideology. We have been patient with those who hold different beliefs than we do. In the "old days" we debated different views without anger or violence. We didn't "hate" another because of their stance on anything.

The hatred of others in our nation today is unbelievable. We  rarely had violence because of religious beliefs as we have seen in the past week. People in America didn't go into synagogues and gun down the innocent! 

Yes, we have had church shootings in the past and all people who do such heinous crimes are not well, but the jews have had a vast history of violence. Certainly in America they would be safe?

Our beloved Apostle had a special word for us in our day. The Philippians benefitted from it too. He said, Don't think about yourselves, think about others over yourself. This is novel thinking in our day, but it's been around for thousands of years.

When we put others first, we think about the good of our nation as a whole. We don't limit our love to those in our families, but show love to every person regardless of anything they might believe. What did Jesus do? When He was on earth, He reached out to everyone He met.

The disciples didn't understand how He could talk to the Samaritan woman. How could He touch the leper, or call the children to sit on His lap? These people were considered untouchables to the jews, but not to Jesus. Did any of them wonder about why He was so different?

The Apostle John thought about it, and Jesus knew his heart. This is why He was allowed to put his head on Jesus'  chest and hear His heart beat. He understood what made Jesus who He was. Jesus had a human body, but His heart beat was from heaven.

  

"then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose."Philippians 2:2 NIV


The Apostle is strongly encouraging the Philippians church to follow in Jesus' example to be one with Him as He was one with His Father. This is the only way to be like Christ. It goes further than this though. Paul wants the church to be one with Christ.

Paul isn't speaking to one person but this church as a whole.  The love of God  is the only force on this earth worth dying to self. There is no love worth giving up on self for, but the wholehearted  love our God offers to us.

It would be impossible to have a group of people, no matter how committed or lovely, to be of one mind without the love and power of the Holy Spirit. It couldn't happen. It isn't something one can try really hard to obtain, or study for weeks to accomplish. 

Like all  the lovely gifts God gives, it is free, and cannot be prodded, or poked into our lives. This reminds me of our puppy who dislikes being on a leash. I don't blame her, she runs in the backyard most of the time. When I come with that leash, she sits.

The love of God isn't bought or given from one generation to the next. It is as individual as every person. It is intimate, private, and lavish all at once. It never wains, or falters. God doesn't yell down at times, and say,"Sorry, I don't have it today!" No, it is constant, and beyond our ability to understand.

Everything we know has an end, but not God or His love. Is it possible for us to comprehend it? No. Should we wonder about it, and marvel in it? Yes. Doing so reminds us where we are from, and where we are going. This world is not our final destination. It is temporal and ends for all of us.

This is a good thing. What has been promised in heaven is greater. We cannot comprehend a world without dying, sin and disappointment. Heaven doesn't avail itself to the just, righteous and selfish of this world. It opens wide for those who trust, yield and commit to Jesus.

Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being of one accord, of one mind. Philippians 2:1

I'm not sure if this is a sunrise, or sunset, but I'm sure it's a time of reflection. Nature has a way of putting our day in perspective. It's one day, whether good or bad, there will be many more to deal with.

If it's the best day yet, what could I do to make it even better tomorrow, or if it's the worst day how can I change things so tomorrow won't be the same. I am usually better at thinking things through after the fact. Some people are great in "the moment" of a situation. They know what to say and do without much prompting.

Being able to quickly judge a moment and know what to do is key. The Holy Spirit can move through me to do this, but on my own I am flatfooted. The Holy Spirit knows the before and after part of everything that occurs so being in tune with Him matters.

We are shortsighted, being able to know only details of the natural  circumstances.  The Apostle Paul knows the important of the saints being in one accord. One mind, set on the Kingdom of God.

How did this purity get convoluted over the centuries? Man has put his ideas into what God has said. Over time those who have been brought up in the ways of man don't know any different. This is one reason why we have the Bible.

God's word will bring us back to what God has said, and what is important to Him. "His divine power has given us everything for life and Godliness." 2 Peter 1:3 How are we ever going to have unity among the body of Christ in America?

God has a plan, and we are being squeezed and scrunched and blended into what is necessary for Him to use us. All of what our lives are right now is what God uses to make us like Him. He doesn't waste any of our experiences.

We yield to Him, and He pulls all our messes into ministry. How we learn from God helps the next one we touch. We share His incredible love with others, letting it splash out from our souls. The more it splashes on to another, the more He will fill us, but we need to sit at the fountain, and be filled anew! 

"For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for  him," Philippians 1:29 NIV

I suppose the church in Philippi understands about suffering for Christ. Next week we will see Paul relates his experiences to theirs.
Life was hard thousands of years ago, but to suffer for your faith on top on it is something most of us don't know.

Unless you have been overseas in a country where preaching the Gospel is illegal, I would say we don't know anything about it.  Recently we saw an American Pastor released from a Turkish prison after 21 months. I believe he said all of the other prisoners were muslim. When asked how successful he was in converting them, He said, "They tried hard to convert me." It was one against seventeen.

Thank God for Pastor Andrew Brunson and his prayers for President Trump. This man went from a foreign jail to the office of the President of the United States within days. Reminds me of Joseph in Genesis.

This week I read a testimony from a mother whose daughter is still in captivity with Boko Haram.The girl is 15, and wasn't released with the other girls because she would not renounce her faith in Jesus. I can't imagine this family's pain, as their daughter faces execution.

These are hard truths of life around the world. What can we do to make sure our nation doesn't treat Christians in a similar fashion? Pray for revival, and ask God to have mercy on a nation who destroys babies before birth. Ask God to have mercy on our nation as the upcoming elections are almost upon us.

Ask God to put angels around every candidate who will vote for life. Ask God to open the blind eyes of every person who sees the Gosnell movie and doesn't understand about  the sanctity life. 

Pray for the persecuted church. I'm sure Pastor Brunson had many people praying for  his safety. The ministry of "Voice of the Martyrs" will give you lots of prayer material. Maybe your church has missionaries who need prayer?

God has lots for all of us to do in this day, but a new day is coming. God will return for us and no one else will be saved after this. Now is the church's hour to act like His church. Precious time is going by. Be blessed and do what He tells you to do!! 

"without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved-and that by God." Philippians 1:28 NIV

Persecution is what Paul is talking to the Philippians about. They may not be behind bars for their faith but disbelief is everywhere. Christianity is only about sixty years old at this point. No mass media to get the message out.

People are hearing the gospel for the first time every day from missionaries who came to them on foot. The Holy Spirit is moving in a wonderful way, but some will not understand or hear their message. Blinded by this world and its ways, many need to know Jesus alone can save.

Saved from what you might wonder? Death, sin, torments, bodily ailments, lies from the enemy, discouragement, fear, bondages, and such things. And what does a child of God gain? Hope, love, peace,
salvation, life for ever, healing of body soul and mind, joy, laughter, victory, patience, kindness, goodness, self- control, knowledge that He is the everlasting God. The ability to be clean on the inside by being released from guilt and shame.


I could go on, and I think you probably have thought of some I forgot, but it's OK. It's hard to put the God of the entire Universe into a few sentences. We try to do this, but it never works. He is not able to fit in to our boxes. 

How do you put into words the Majestic One, who is the Creator and Ruler over All things? We have to in order to convey the message of the Gospel, but mere words fall short. Maybe we should show people Niagara Falls, The Grand Canyon, and the Atlantic Ocean. We tell them these are great, but none of it compares to the one who created them.

The reality is none of these things will impress if we don't pray. Blinders are removed from eyes when the power of the Holy Spirit is present to reveal Himself. People are shaken out of their spiritual slumber when the Holy Spirit is close and prayer has broken chains that bind.

Let God show you who to pray for. You might be surprised. The woman behind the register at stop and shop?  The attendant who helped you at The Home Depot? God knows the hearts of people everywhere, and He cares for them. You can be Jesus' hands and feet today or tomorrow.

"Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel" Philippians 1:27

This is my youngest child Stephanie 5 years ago, when she was 12. She is about to be 17. I can't imagine where the time has gone. The years fly into the next, and before you know it, everyone is older. This is the way life is. 

The truth is we don't know how much time we have here. Paul says, "whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel." If we get lax or too comfortable we will think this planet is our home, but it isn't.

Contending for the faith as one man is not what we see in America. Why don't we see it? It seems everyone has another agenda. I'm black or white, or democrat or whatever!

None of these things has any value compared to what Jesus offers. Priscilla Shrier said recently she is a christian, who happens to be black woman. I think she has the order the way Jesus would want us to.

Jesus needs to be first in our lives, because He alone knows what is coming down the road in your life. He is the Almighty God and He deserves to be front and center in everything we do.

If this isn't enough, we know His soon return will be for those who follow him, not as a hobby, or a once a week meet in church. No, He is serious about you and I being ready when He comes.

We are His bride, and we need to make ourselves ready. All of us together are the bride or His body. How do we make ourselves ready? We come together as one man and one mind. We can't be double minded.

We need to seek after God with all we have within us. Time may not be on our side. Jesus waits because you and I have unsaved family and friends we are praying for, but His time frame is something He alone knows.Give Him all of your doubts, fears and cares. He is able to handle every bit of it!

" so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ will overflow on account of me." Philippians 1:26 NIV

We need each other. Loners are not usually joyful, fulfilled people. Our friend the Apostle knows his presence will bless his dear friends in Philippi. Joy overflowing is what he wants for them.

God  wants this for us too. When was the last time you had joy like this for no special reason? I am glad to have joy like this today. I woke up feeling different, as if a burden was lifted. Were you praying for me?

This is what we can expect when we pray: ANSWERS! God has answered the many prayers for my sister and her family. Their home was destroyed with Hurricane Florence, and they are half way through. Volunteers came from churches as far away as Ohio, and Virginia. They started out thinking it would be the two of them removing the ruined walls and floors. God sent people.

Allison is a fifth grade teacher, but the school building was in disrepair for 5 weeks, so today is the first day of school since Florence struck. One of the class Mothers was given money from a church to buy the family a new washer, dishwasher, and range.

God has supplied for them in ways we could never have expected. Who knows what He will do now! They may need a contractor since none are available in her area. Many homes were damaged, but we can pray for God to be there with those who have the overwhelming task of picking up the broken pieces.

Prayer has made the difference in my sister's life. How about you? Do you write down answers to prayer to reflect on at a later date? 

John 21:25 says"Now there are also many other things that Jesus did.Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written." ESV

God is working all the time. Sometimes He is quiet about his workings, and they aren't obvious to the eye. Think of the trees in winter when everything seems to be silent. The roots of every outdoor thing are stretching and moving deeper into the earth.

God challenges us to move our roots deeper into the soil of His word. He compels us to pray more, or help someone with all we have. He calls us to be selfless, allowing faith to hold more ground. Can you believe God to care for you while you care for others?