Advancing the Gospel!
Scripture reading for September 2: Philippians 1
“I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the Gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the Word without fear. Some indeed, preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the Gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.” Philippians 1:12-18
Paul found himself in prison in Rome and was writing to the church at Philippi that he had founded. The church was concerned for him and supported him with generous offerings. Paul explained to them that his imprisonment was all part of God’s masterplan to advance the Gospel. While in prison, Paul had opportunity to share the Good News with the imperial guard that was keeping him. His imprisonment and good attitude while there had taught by example the brothers to continue to preach boldly and not fear what might happen. Paul viewed his imprisonment as God placing him where there was a need to advance the Good News and cheerfully accepted his assignment.
While imprisoned, word came of others preaching the Gospel with selfish motives. They considered themselves as rivals of Paul and his missions company. Paul’s imprisonment was a chance for them to accuse him of being out of God’s will and a criminal and gain an advantage in followers. But Paul’s attitude was not to speak evil against them, but to rejoice that the Gospel was being proclaimed and producing fruit for eternal life. His attitude was one of rest in Christ Jesus and the victory of the cross!
As a believer, have you ever complained about circumstances that resulted in suffering or inconvenience? How does Paul’s world view expand your understanding of God’s plan and purpose? Is the advancement of the Gospel a priority in your life?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for opening up my world view to see a bigger picture when things don’t go as I planned. Help me to keep a good attitude that inspires faith and courage in others when I go through trials. Use everything in my life experience to further the advance of the Gospel. Amen.
Bondservants of Christ
Scripture reading for September 1: Ephesians 6
“Bondservants, obey your earthy masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free. Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that He Who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with Him.” Ephesians 6:5-9
Slavery was a part of the Roman culture in the early days of the Church. There were masters who owned slaves and treated them as property to be used and abused. When a slave came to Christ, repenting of sin, that slave was made ‘free’ from the bondage of sin and its penalty, eternal death. However, they still were under their masters here on earth. They did have a new Master, Jesus Christ, Who they now served as they did their jobs in slavery. Paul sought to help them understand that God called them to submission to their earthly master and serving him from the heart. By serving their earthly masters with a good attitude and faithfulness, they would reflect their true Master, Jesus Christ.
Paul went on to instruct those in the church who were slave masters. They were to treat their slaves with fear and trembling and respect for their unique personhood. They were not to be abusive or threatening towards them. As believers, all have the same Master, Jesus Christ, Who will reward each person without showing partiality. It is interesting to note these instruction on humility, serving, submitting are calling all to be bondservants. A bondservant was one who willingly gave themselves to the master for life. Both slaves and masters in that culture were now to consider themselves ‘bondslaves’ of Jesus Christ!
How does this teaching about slaves and masters fit with your current world view? How did Jesus model the life of a bondslave in obeying His Father? Are you applying this teaching in the workplace today where God has placed you?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your instructions on humility, joyful serving, and becoming a bondslave of You. As a son now adopted into Your forever family, through the Holy Spirit I desire to be used each day as one freely given to serve You and others. May I please You each day in word and deed. Amen.
“Awake, O Sleeper!”
Scripture reading for August 29: Ephesians 5
“. . . for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead and Christ will shine on you.” Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:8-16
Paul was concerned that there were those among the believers who were still walking in darkness. This darkness took the form of sexual immorality, covetousness and impurity. There was filthy talk and crude joking. Paul plainly explained that God’s wrath would come on all living in disobedience and none living habitually in those sins would inherit God’s glorious kingdom. (Ephesians 5:3-6) These people were asleep in their flesh and under God’s wrath.
The proper way to live was one of positive action. Believers should study the Word of God and discern what was pleasing to God and live that way. They should reflect God’s light to those in darkness and expose their lives of disobedience through holy living. They should call those who were asleep spiritually to “wake up” and rise from the dead! Christ’s love was shining a light on their slumber deeds of darkness when instead Christ desired to reflect His light through their repentance and faith. Believers were called to carefully examine their walk and make the most of their time on earth. In days of evil, they were to reflect the light of Jesus Christ and God’s goodness.
As you evaluate your own life, would you say that you were asleep in sin or actively living a holy life pleasing to God? Would our Father God be able to use your life to shine a light on those now asleep? What is one thing that you might do to make the most of your time on earth?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for waking up those sleeping in darkness by shining the light of Your Word through Your committed followers. Give me discernment daily to choose to do that which pleases You and exposes and drives out darkness. I proclaim with You: “Awake, O sleep, rise from the dead!” Amen.
Off with the old! On with the new!
Scripture reading for August 28: Ephesians 4
“Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ!–assuming that you have heard about Him and were taught in Him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:17-24
Paul wrote plainly to the Ephesian converts about the process of transformation from pagan Gentile to righteous ‘new creation’ in Christ. It can be summed up by “off with the old and on with the new.” In their former lives as Gentiles, the church members were living in darkness because of ignorance and hard hearts that mark those outside of God’s family. Their lives were ‘futile’, that is without meaning or real purpose. Their hearts were callous and hardened to God and others because of selfishness and greed that marked their thinking and actions. Impurity was a way of life that alienated them from the life of God and set them up for judgment. This way of living must be put off like an old set of dirty clothes.
Believers who repent and put off the old man must now choose to clothe themselves with the ‘new man’. We renew our minds by gathering with God’s people to study His Word and learn from others how to live victoriously by faith. This new creation self is hungry for righteousness and holiness, reflecting the Holy Spirit from God Who is now leading us. As we consistently renew our minds and allow God’s grace to transform us, we reflect the likeness of God in ever-increasing measure.
How have you experienced this process of transformation from living in futility to a life of hope and joy? How do you seek to renew your mind each day? Do you feel that you have successfully taken off your old set of spiritual ‘clothes?’ What might you take off today in response to God’s Word?
Prayer: Father God, lead me daily by the Holy Spirit to remove any clinging ‘old clothes’ and to become fully ‘clothed’ with the Spirit of God. Use me to help others in the renewing of their minds through teaching and preaching Your Word. Amen.
The unsearchable riches of Christ
Scripture reading for August 27: Ephesians 3
“Of this Gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of His power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God Who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that He has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in Whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in Him.” Ephesians 3:7-12
To the majority of mankind, the knowledge of Christ is something that can be taken or left. Religion has been relegated to that which is optional and not essential. Man has been empowered to make his own choices about what is valuable or not necessary. Adam and Eve brought death on all mankind through their choice to disobey God and reject His wisdom and riches. The riches of Christ were hidden from man through sin and the resulting darkness.
But God’s amazing plan to bring salvation to the ends of the earth would succeed. Paul shared that God had made him a minister of the Gospel and empowered Him to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ as a light to the Gentiles and a revelation of the hidden mystery of those riches. God’s eternal purpose and plan was to reveal the manifold wisdom of God to the rulers and authorities in heavenly places. Commentators offer two possible interpretations of this purpose. These ruler and authorities are possibly the angels who serve God and mankind as the heirs of salvation. They observe the power of the Gospel in action through believers. An alternative explanation is that these are the fallen angels who are defeated at the cross and daily by the Gospel preached by Spirit-filled and redeemed mankind. It could be that both are true!
Have you ever taken time to search out these ‘unsearchable riches’ of Christ Jesus? God’s wisdom is ‘manifold’, or many-sided. Have you considered God’s purpose of revealing Christ’s manifold wisdom to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realm?
Prayer: Father God, Your wisdom is beyond my understanding and yet amazing. Thank You for sending believers to me to share the unsearchable riches of Christ and call me to repentance and faith. I offer myself to You to be given grace to share the message of the Gospel to the lost of this world. May the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realm marvel at Your wisdom. Amen.
Created! Made alive! Raised up! Seated!
Scripture reading for August 26: Ephesians 2
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved–and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:4-10
Paul continued to encourage the Ephesians with deeper understanding of Christ’s work for them and on their behalf. God’s mercy and great love moved Him to act on behalf of us, who as sinners were under a death sentence. In Christ, we were made alive with Him as He rose from the dead. In Christ, God raised us up with Him and In Christ seated us with Him at His right hand. In Christ Jesus, we were made a new creation and given good works to do that were prepared by God the Father to fulfill His will. We owe it all to Jesus Christ!
Paul goes on to say that we are God’s workmanship. God is a Master Craftsman and produces unique individual ‘masterpieces’ in us who are made in His image. God prepares each person with the giftings and abilities to do a particular assignment while passing through this world. He prepares the good works beforehand and it is our unique glory to search out God’s will and calling in our lives. We yield our lives back to God in repentance and faith and humbly walk with the aid of Christ’s Holy Spirit to fulfill His plans. We who were once dead in our trespasses are now made alive and given purpose and new vision to walk out our new destiny as God’s adopted children!
Have you ever considered yourself as a unique ‘masterpiece’ created by God? Have you taken time to search out God’s purpose and plan for your unique life? How do these revelations of Scripture expand your world view and bring you encouragement?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your amazing ‘workmanship’ in my own life. I marvel that You would shape me with a purpose in Your kingdom. By the Holy Spirit, I seek to daily walk out the good works that You have prepared uniquely for me. Let my life, gifts, and abilities fulfill Your will and purpose. Amen.
Chosen in Him!
Scripture reading for August 25: Ephesians 1
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us in all wisdom and insight, . .” Ephesians 1:3-8
According to Paul, those ‘in Christ’ are beyond blessed! God, our Father, chose us before the world was formed to be ‘in Christ’ and as a result to be holy and blameless as Christ is holy and blameless. God our Father has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places! ‘In Christ’ we are adopted as sons and daughters of God in His forever family. He placed us there in His amazing foreknowledge before the earth was formed. His gracious love was given on purpose to us in His Beloved Son through the shedding of His blood on the cross, purchasing our redemption from sin and resulting death. God lavished on us forgiveness of sins and opened our eyes and hearts to His glory and wisdom through the gift of His Holy Spirit.
Our response to God’s amazing love and lavish giving is to worship Him and bless His Name. All we can do is say ‘thank You’ Lord! By faith we say ‘amen’ to each act of grace offered to us ‘in Christ’. We often struggle to understand the amazing love of God our Father and Jesus Christ our Redeemer. As we worship and invite God to reveal His plans and purposes to us, He gives us heavenly vision and revelation of who we are and Who Christ is to us and all mankind. These declarations of God’s blessings ‘in Christ’ led Paul to pray for more wisdom and understanding of our inheritance and Christ’s resurrection power. (Ephesians 1:15-20)
As you look at your life, would you say that you are living ‘in Christ Jesus?’ What emotions are present when you think about God our Father choosing us ‘before the foundation of the world?’ How does this passage speak to orphans and those who may be without family and lonely?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for the many saints that You lavish Your love upon. Thank You for choosing us before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in Christ Jesus. Thank You for adopting us into Your forever family! Give us vision and renewed understanding of the mystery of Your will in Christ for us. Amen.
Boasting in Christ’s Cross
Scripture reading for August 22: Galatians 6
“But far be it from me to boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them and upon the Israel of God. From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.” Galatians 6:14-18
In our world, pride of life, position, wealth, or power brings boasting and toasting! Even religious leaders boast in their theological knowledge, good works, or unique favor with deity. Boasting often causes strife and violence. Sometimes it causes envy, jealousy and factions. That’s why Christ’s church has splintered into thousands of denominations and religious cults. This leaves many in confusion and disillusion about the church and its message of love, mercy and unity.
In Galatia, Jewish false teachers had insisted on circumcision for believers, adding another boast in their ‘obedience’ to the law. Paul taught the church that circumcision or no circumcision did not matter at all to God. In fact, all who were adding circumcision to their body were under a curse. No one circumcised or not can keep the law. (Galatians 3:10-11) What really counted was a ‘new creation’ (2 Corinthians 5:17) that came from faith in the work of Jesus Christ on the cross in dying as a substitute for our sins. Unless a person is born-again, they cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3) Because of this, Paul stated that his only boast was in the cross of Jesus Christ where his sin nature was crucified with Jesus and he now considered himself crucified to the world. God’s grace was something to boast about! The marks of beatings, stoning’s and persecution testified to God’s mark inside of sonship through faith in Jesus and His work on the cross.
Have you ever been full of pride in something you have accomplished or that you possessed? Has boasting ever caused trouble in your life, either your own boasting or another’s? Can you identify with Paul’s statement of boasting in Christ’s cross?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for giving me something to truly boast about–Your sacrifice on the cross! May my life be marked by the cross and Your work on my behalf. Help me to live consistently dependent on Your grace and share Your mercy through the cross with a world full of boasting in itself.
Healthy spiritual fruit!
Scripture reading for August 21: Galatians 5
“But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Galatians 5:18-24
According to Paul, there is a spiritual battle between our human flesh and the Spirit-led life. Human flesh wants to do works and earn or achieve what we want, no matter what our conscience or God’s Word has said. The works of the flesh are evident to all, especially those who are under God’s law and conscience. We know that God has decreed no adultery or immorality to include all kinds of sexual perversions. Violence, murder, fits of anger and all factions and divisions are also warned against. Pride, envy and jealousy are specifically called out as works of the flesh. The law of God warns us that those who do things like these will die and not inherit God’s kingdom.
But God has provided a remedy to those caught in bondage to the flesh and its works of death. He has provided His Holy Spirit to lead us as His children in the fruits of His Spirit. God is love! Love heads the list of character traits growing as we are led by God’s Spirit. Love leads to joy and peace with God and man, overcoming the works of the flesh. We become patient and kind and gentle even to those who violently oppose us. We know that it is God’s goodness that leads us to repentance and so we are good, reflecting our Father. (Romans 2:4) We develop habits of faithfulness and self control and reflect God. Through the Spirit, we crucify the works of the flesh and its passions and selfish desires.
Can you describe a time in your life where you experienced the conflict between the desires of your flesh and the Holy Spirit seeking to produce fruit in your life? How is the cross of Jesus Christ a place of victory in this battle against the flesh? What fruits of the Holy Spirit is God wanting to develop in your life today?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for the indwelling Holy Spirit Who is leading me daily. Fill me with the Spirit today and help me to put to death the works of my human flesh. Let my life be filled with the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Develop the slow-growing fruit of patience and self-control that I often lack. Amen.
Not a slave but a son!
Scripture reading for August 20: Galatians 4
“In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.” Galatians 4:3-7
According to Paul, anointed by the Holy Spirit, the world view of those outside the faith is one of slavery to the elementary principles of the world. Those in that slavery don’t necessarily look at their lives that way. The god of this world has deceived them to think of themselves as free to do whatever feels good to them. Those practicing Judaism also were in slavery to those same principles but their religion gave them hope through keeping the law of God through human effort. But by the works of the law, no human flesh will be justified. (Galatians 2:16) But God has provided a remedy to deliver those in slavery to this world and to human effort to be good.
God’s plan was to send His Son, Jesus Christ, in the form of human flesh, born of woman, and born under the law. Jesus Christ would suffer temptation from every elementary principle of this world and from the evil one, Satan. He would in the power of the Holy Spirit resist sin and then offer Himself as the Redeemer of all in slavery. He, the Firstborn Son, would defeat the slave master, Satan and send all who would believe in Him a gift from the Father, the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God would bear witness inside each believer that they were no longer slaves, but sons of God through faith. “Abba! Father!” would be the cry of our reborn hearts as we were adopted back into the forever family of God!
In what ways do you now recognize that you were once a slave to the elementary principles of this world? How did you come to have a change in your world view and the need to make changes? Has religion ever been a hinderance to finding new birth and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit Who cries “Abba!”?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for sending Your Son Jesus Christ to redeem us all from slavery. I once thought I was in control of my destiny but was really a slave. When I humbled my heart and acknowledged my slavery and sins, Jesus forgave me and I was filled with a new world view of sonship in God’s family! Praise Abba! Amen!