How we respond to God’s touch is important. We sing songs and have good worship in our church. We are blessed with talented musicians and singers, but if we do not respond to the call of God, we have missed it. We must be easily touched and moved in the spirit. Like the man in our text today, we are waiting on the stirring of the pool. In this familiar story, the first to get into the pool would be healed. In order to get to God, we have to get the timing right. We have to act when we are stirring. We do not always feel the pull in a service. We cannot wait when the opportunity is right. When God starts moving, we need to respond and begin to call out. Like the pool at Bethesda, there are others waiting to step in and claim God’s blessing, so we have to respond when we feel the presence of God. Sometimes, His move on us is subtle. Elijah was moved by a small cloud the size of a man’s hand. That small cloud was the beginning of the end of a three-year drought. Gideon moved because he had had enough. The enemy kept stealing what God had provided until he had had enough! Absolum moved because of force. When he did not respond to David’s invitation to come to see him, David ordered that the barley fields be burned. If all other ways that God can move us fail, He will resort to force. God wants us to move; to respond to Him

How we respond to God’s touch is important. We sing songs and have good worship in our church. We are blessed with talented musicians and singers, but if we do not respond to the call of God, we have missed it. We must be easily touched and moved in the spirit. Like the man in our text today, we are waiting on the stirring of the pool. In this familiar story, the first to get into the pool would be healed. In order to get to God, we have to get the timing right. We have to act when we are stirring. We do not always feel the pull in a service. We cannot wait when the opportunity is right. When God starts moving, we need to respond and begin to call out. Like the pool at Bethesda, there are others waiting to step in and claim God’s blessing, so we have to respond when we feel the presence of God. Sometimes, His move on us is subtle. Elijah was moved by a small cloud the size of a man’s hand. That small cloud was the beginning of the end of a three-year drought. Gideon moved because he had had enough. The enemy kept stealing what God had provided until he had had enough! Absolum moved because of force. When he did not respond to David’s invitation to come to see him, David ordered that the barley fields be burned. If all other ways that God can move us fail, He will resort to force. God wants us to move; to respond to Him

Our text begins with the word only. This is translated from the original text in various ways, but the consensus is that Paul was saying that what he was about to say as the most important thing no matter what else might happen. He goes on to say, if he came, or did not come, it was important for them to live a certain way. He tells them to live in the present circumstances, rather than in some future possibility or contingency. When faced with difficulties, we often say “I could hand it if….” Paul is saying that we must handle it even if IF does not happen. We often excuse ourselves based on what might be: “If things were better, I would live better.” What happens if things do not get better? Can we still live like we need to live if it doesn’t? Can we still worship Him even if we are in the midst of troubles and there is no sign of those troubles changing? The better testimony is not what we COULD do, but what we WILL do in the current circumstances. If we quit complaining about what is, and just live in what is, God will change what is. Paul goes on to tell them to live consistently. He tells them to stand fast and to strive together for the faith of the gospel. No matter the circumstances, we must live in a manner that brings glory to the Gospel. Finally, he tells them to face their adversaries without backing down. That in itself will cause the enemy to crumble. We need to get to a place where no matter what happens to us, that we do not even flinch. Whatever happens in life, there is only one thing that matters, that we live faithfully, consistently and fearlessly.

Our text begins with the word only. This is translated from the original text in various ways, but the consensus is that Paul was saying that what he was about to say as the most important thing no matter what else might happen. He goes on to say, if he came, or did not come, it was important for them to live a certain way. He tells them to live in the present circumstances, rather than in some future possibility or contingency. When faced with difficulties, we often say “I could hand it if….” Paul is saying that we must handle it even if IF does not happen. We often excuse ourselves based on what might be: “If things were better, I would live better.” What happens if things do not get better? Can we still live like we need to live if it doesn’t? Can we still worship Him even if we are in the midst of troubles and there is no sign of those troubles changing? The better testimony is not what we COULD do, but what we WILL do in the current circumstances. If we quit complaining about what is, and just live in what is, God will change what is. Paul goes on to tell them to live consistently. He tells them to stand fast and to strive together for the faith of the gospel. No matter the circumstances, we must live in a manner that brings glory to the Gospel. Finally, he tells them to face their adversaries without backing down. That in itself will cause the enemy to crumble. We need to get to a place where no matter what happens to us, that we do not even flinch. Whatever happens in life, there is only one thing that matters, that we live faithfully, consistently and fearlessly.

The new testament definition of beware is to restrain or guard oneself from anything that may be dangerous. In many of Paul’s letters, he warned the first-century believers (and us) to beware of issues. In this letter to the church at Philippi, he is encouraging them (and us) to be strong in the faith. Then here in the beginning of the third chapter, Paul stops and offers a stark warning: Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. These three things represent spirits, attitudes and mindsets that we will encounter in our life and our journey to heaven. FIrst dogs. He was not talking about four legged dogs, but something much deeper. The word used in the Greek means a mind that is impure. Dogs can be known for biting, eating, attacking, barking and annoying. This spirit, when manifested in life, it dangerous. Second, Paul says to beware of evil workers. In this context evil refers to a malicious, spiteful way of dealing with people that will try to warp what God is trying to do in our lives. Finally, he says to beware of concision. Concision is literally cutting away. Circumcision was a symbol of God’s covenant with Israel. In the new testament, the circumcision was of the heart. It was an inward spiritual covenant, rather than an external, physical symbol. There are those that have an outward appearance of holiness and Godliness, but inside, they are anything but those things. Our holiness has to go deeper than our outward appearance.

The new testament definition of beware is to restrain or guard oneself from anything that may be dangerous. In many of Paul’s letters, he warned the first-century believers (and us) to beware of issues. In this letter to the church at Philippi, he is encouraging them (and us) to be strong in the faith. Then here in the beginning of the third chapter, Paul stops and offers a stark warning: Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. These three things represent spirits, attitudes and mindsets that we will encounter in our life and our journey to heaven. FIrst dogs. He was not talking about four legged dogs, but something much deeper. The word used in the Greek means a mind that is impure. Dogs can be known for biting, eating, attacking, barking and annoying. This spirit, when manifested in life, it dangerous. Second, Paul says to beware of evil workers. In this context evil refers to a malicious, spiteful way of dealing with people that will try to warp what God is trying to do in our lives. Finally, he says to beware of concision. Concision is literally cutting away. Circumcision was a symbol of God’s covenant with Israel. In the new testament, the circumcision was of the heart. It was an inward spiritual covenant, rather than an external, physical symbol. There are those that have an outward appearance of holiness and Godliness, but inside, they are anything but those things. Our holiness has to go deeper than our outward appearance.

We have all had prayers answered. Yet, we also have some prayers that are, as yet, unanswered. We know that God can, we know that God will and we know that He has before. But, there is still part of us that has doubt. We are believers. We believe scripture, we believe doctrine. We believe the things documented in the Bible. But there is still that other part. In our text, this man was pleading for Jesus to save his Son. He believed, but there was still that little bit left, and he asks Jesus to forgive his unbelief. The unbelief of the father did not stop Jesus from doing the miracle. The devil is quick to tell us that if we do not get a victory over a situation, it is because we have no faith. This story tells us that there is help for our unbelief. Just because it has not happened, does not mean that we are backslid. We cannot track when God is going to move, heal or bless, but we can trust God that He will. We just have to believe and ask Him to help our unbelief.

We have all had prayers answered. Yet, we also have some prayers that are, as yet, unanswered. We know that God can, we know that God will and we know that He has before. But, there is still part of us that has doubt. We are believers. We believe scripture, we believe doctrine. We believe the things documented in the Bible. But there is still that other part. In our text, this man was pleading for Jesus to save his Son. He believed, but there was still that little bit left, and he asks Jesus to forgive his unbelief. The unbelief of the father did not stop Jesus from doing the miracle. The devil is quick to tell us that if we do not get a victory over a situation, it is because we have no faith. This story tells us that there is help for our unbelief. Just because it has not happened, does not mean that we are backslid. We cannot track when God is going to move, heal or bless, but we can trust God that He will. We just have to believe and ask Him to help our unbelief.

If we set out to drive across Texas, we are in for quite a journey. It is a very large state. But, perhaps the greatest journey ever described was the journey that Israel took from Egypt to the promised land. They followed a pillar of cloud by day and a tower of fire by night. It was a difficult journey. The Israelites had to trust one man: Moses. From Egypt to Canaan was only about 300 miles in a straight line. There were perhaps 3 million people on this journey along with their livestock. It was so large that the line of people could have been continuous from Egypt to Canaan. But, God did not take them in a straight line. Because of disobedience, God took them on a 40-year journey through the wilderness. God’s path is not always in a straight line. Our journey in life is not straight. Sometimes this journey causes us to ask God why? Why was there sickness and heartache? He did not promise that the journey would be easy, but He did promise that He would never leave or forsake us.

In our text, Elijah was on the run in fear of his life. He is asleep and wakes up to find a meal to refresh him. God encourages him to continue the journey, but Elijah is afraid and goes back to sleep. God wakes him again and this time there was meat and water. The bible says that Elijah went on the strength of that meal for 40 days and 40 nights. The journey gets long, the opportunity is before us. We are blessed with great preaching in this church. Those messages do not have an expiration date. The meat that God providesin these messages, will sustain us on our journey. During the journey, there are mountains and valleys. There are blessings and surprises. We do not like the surprises, but God provides what we need to live through the surprises. God provides, but we must reach out and take hold of it.

If we set out to drive across Texas, we are in for quite a journey. It is a very large state. But, perhaps the greatest journey ever described was the journey that Israel took from Egypt to the promised land. They followed a pillar of cloud by day and a tower of fire by night. It was a difficult journey. The Israelites had to trust one man: Moses. From Egypt to Canaan was only about 300 miles in a straight line. There were perhaps 3 million people on this journey along with their livestock. It was so large that the line of people could have been continuous from Egypt to Canaan. But, God did not take them in a straight line. Because of disobedience, God took them on a 40-year journey through the wilderness. God’s path is not always in a straight line. Our journey in life is not straight. Sometimes this journey causes us to ask God why? Why was there sickness and heartache? He did not promise that the journey would be easy, but He did promise that He would never leave or forsake us.

In our text, Elijah was on the run in fear of his life. He is asleep and wakes up to find a meal to refresh him. God encourages him to continue the journey, but Elijah is afraid and goes back to sleep. God wakes him again and this time there was meat and water. The bible says that Elijah went on the strength of that meal for 40 days and 40 nights. The journey gets long, the opportunity is before us. We are blessed with great preaching in this church. Those messages do not have an expiration date. The meat that God providesin these messages, will sustain us on our journey. During the journey, there are mountains and valleys. There are blessings and surprises. We do not like the surprises, but God provides what we need to live through the surprises. God provides, but we must reach out and take hold of it.