Citizens of Heaven  –  This

section is Paul’s final thoughts for helping the Philippian Church focus on the

most important areas of their faith. I can think of many other important

concepts that Paul could have chosen to mention. However, he was inspired by

the Holy Spirit to leave the Church with the following list, which captures the

heart of everyday life and service to God and others. So much victory happens

when we give attention to these priorities:

Work through disagreements quickly: Paul calls

out two ministers in the Church who were living in a long-term disagreement or standoff.

He tells them to settle it.Make joy a priorityBe so unselfish that others recognize  itPray about everythingFix your thoughts on His thingsLearn to be contentStand out in your generosity

The Sufferings of Christ    –  Christ’s death was an investment into others’

healing, deliverance, and salvation. We were called to partner in His

suffering. This kind of suffering denies our carnal desires and positions us

for right-living. In other words, the pursuit of God’s desires is synchronous

with the laying down of our own carnal desires. It allows us to experience His

supernatural strength in our weakness, and comfort in our trouble. Every

believer was called to experience Jesus in the costly investment of sacrificing

our desires , comfort, convenience, and pursuits for His purposes. Many wrestle

with the idea of suffering for pursuing the calling of God on their lives. When

they fail to fully pursue His purpose, they miss out on the maturing process,

the joy, and freedom of abandoning self.

Following Others as They Follow

Christ   –  The

Bible tells us to pattern our lives after other’s. God surrounds us with the

family of God so that we can learn from each other, grow together, and become

examples to one another. This concept is called discipleship. He gives us

fathers in the Lord to exemplify the attitudes and actions of Christ in a way

that will draw us to want to experience these same things ourselves. God draws

us into divine connection with our spiritual brothers and sisters so that we

can collectively experience the fullness of God. Some people use their

following to show off their good choices and inflate their empty, needy hearts.

They need followers to feel good about themselves; they are not sacrificial in

their approach to the Body of Christ.  Overall,

following others is a gift from God. Never take your eyes off Jesus for the

sake of following another, and never look down on the godly examples He has

given for you to follow.

The Like-Minded Family of God   –  God’s heart for His family is that we work

well together and share a likeminded approach in purpose and love. Having the

heart and attitude of Jesus means we must walk in humility as we look out for the

interests of others. We are commanded to work hard toward this goal, as God

performs the work in us. He gives us the desire and power; and we are not to

grow accustomed to resisting it. As we walk out the commands Paul had given in

this letter, we are reminded that the church must hold to the word of life. The

Bible must set the standard for our behavior and interpersonal relationships.

If we drift from it, we fall into relationship models that sound well, but fall

short of God’s miraculous plan to knit hearts by the Holy Spirit. In the end,

our faithful service to our relationships in the Body of Christ is an offering

to God. To is more than obedience. It is a blessing to Him.

The Importance of Godly Connections   –  This section of Scripture shows an example of a beautiful heart shaped by the Holy Spirit’s refining process. Paul is in jail with the possibility of an execution. He is literally struggling between two priorities: Living to serve the people of God vs. receiving his eternal reward. Part of him is looking forward to being with Christ and ending his daily suffering. The other part wants to live for the sole purpose of serving the Church. This section shows how God uses our suffering as a part of discipleship, fruit, and living the example for others. It speaks to the concepts of:

An Introduction to Motives –  God is interested in getting to the motives of

His people. He doesn’t like the times we imitate or perform for our own benefit

and opportunity.  God is transforming a

bride without spot or blemish. He loves purity and blamelessness. Our motives

matter in all forms of ministry and relationship. Genuine care and affection

gives us the right to speak into others’ lives. It gives our leaders the

opening to speak into ours.  God uses

struggles as tests to bring to light our false motives. He wants for us to

enjoy freedom from the toxicity that they bring us.

There is a battle that rages on in the Spiritual realm that affects the physical realm we live in until Christ’s return. Satan has a full-court-press on our lives to deceive and divide and is meant for our destruction. How are we supposed to survive this battle going on all around us? It’s time to suit up – with the full armor of God!

Jesus uses an opportunity with the Pharisees to relay an important spiritual truth – when He says to them – There is nothing outside a person, that by going into him, can defile him. The things that come out of a person are what defile him!

Parable of the Ten Brides – Jesus

tells the Church very plainly that He is actively developing her to be a

spotless bride without blemish. He deeply desires a passionate, intimate

help-meet who shares His heart and can be trusted with all that He holds dear.

However, the people of God are often busy and distracted. Their goal is less

about the intimacy and more about checking boxes and balancing Christianity

with the other aspects of life. In the parable of the 10 Brides, Jesus warns of

a day when all the busyness of life will stop. Will we have invested into the

marriage? Will we truthfully know that we have an established, intimate

relationship with the Son of God?

Parable of the Ten Brides – Jesus

tells the Church very plainly that He is actively developing her to be a

spotless bride without blemish. He deeply desires a passionate, intimate

help-meet who shares His heart and can be trusted with all that He holds dear.

However, the people of God are often busy and distracted. Their goal is less

about the intimacy and more about checking boxes and balancing Christianity

with the other aspects of life. In the parable of the 10 Brides, Jesus warns of

a day when all the busyness of life will stop. Will we have invested into the

marriage? Will we truthfully know that we have an established, intimate

relationship with the Son of God?