Philippians 2:12-30 The Working Out

My commentary explained that the “working out” of our salvation uses a word that is illustrated by working out a math problem or working a mine to get as much valuable ore out of it as possible.  That sure helps me to understand it better.

Paul wants us to understand that for all Christians there is a power to receive (it’s there in us, but we have to receive it).  “God had a special purpose for each one to fulfill … His commands are His enablements.”

The Word of God is an important part of receiving that power, but we need to do three things, my commentary said:  Appreciate it, appropriate it (receive it), and apply it. “We have to trust God’s Word and act on it for God’s power to be released in our lives … God’s Word has the power of accomplishment in it, and faith releases that power.”  I remember going through this myself when I heard God say in Svir Stroi, Russia, that I was to adopt, and that Word instilled me with faith that allowed me to act on that Word and endure such trials to get to my sons!

It said God’s third tool He uses in the working out is suffering, and I’ve seen that many times as well.  Suffering is where our faith is built up.

“The Word of God, prayer, and suffering are the three tools that God uses in our lives.  Just as electricity must run through a conductor, so the Holy Spirit must work through the means God has provided.  As the Christian reads the Word and prays, he becomes more like Christ, and the more he becomes like Christ, the more the unsaved world opposes him.  This suffering drives the believer back to the Word and prayer, so that all three tools work together to provide the spiritual power he needs to glorify Christ.  If we are to have the submissive mind, and the joy that goes with it, we must recognize that there is a purpose to achive (God’s plan for our lives), a power to receive (the Holy Spirit), and a promise to believe.”

That promise is joy as a present reality – not something we’ll get someday in heaven.  And it comes through sacrifice and service.

Father, please remind me often of Your purposes for my life.  Cause me to seek out the power to accomplish that purpose through Your Holy Spirit, and give me often that joy You promise.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Philippians 2:1-11 -- The Submissive Mind

More about the single mind today.  It is “the secret of joy in spite of circumstances.”  Verse 3 also says, “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”  My commentary said this speaks of having a submissive mind.  Humility must be understood as not thinking poorly of oneself, but simply not thinking of oneself at all.  “The truly humble person knows himself and accepts himself.  He yields himself to Christ to be a servant to use what he is and has for the glory of God and the good of others.”

It points out that a submissive mind doesn’t mean we place ourselves at the beck and call of others.  It isn’t being a religious doormat.  “If we have the single mind of Philippians 1, then we will have no problem with the submissive mind of Philippians 2.”

A person with a submissive mind thinks of others, not himself.  And simply thinking of others isn’t enough.  “We must get down to the nitty-gritty of true service” – putting the submissive mind in action.  It also requires sacrifice.  “The test of the submissive mind is not just how much we are willing to take in terms of suffering, but how much we are willing to give in terms of sacrifice… It is one of the paradoxes of the Christian life that the more we give, the more we receive; the more we sacrifice, the more God blesses.  This is why the submissive mind leads to joy; it makes us more like Christ … When love is the motive, sacrifice is never measured or mentioned!  The person who constantly talks about his sacrifices does not have the submissive mind.”

Finally, such a person glorifies God … The person with the submissive mind, as he lives for others, must expect sacrifice and service; but in the end, it is going to lead to glory … The joy comes … primarily from the knowledge that we are glorifying God.”

Father, help me to put myself aside, to serve others, and to know the joy of glorying You through service.  Don’t let it even fell like sacrifice.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Philippians 1 -- The Single Mind

I kept seeing a phrase show up in my commentary this morning – the single mind.  Paul had it, and it showed as “he lived for Christ and the gospel.”

“It’s an attitude that says, ‘It makes no difference what happens to me, just as long as Christ is glorified and the gospel shared with others.’  Paul rejoiced in spite of his circumstances, because his circumstances strengthened the fellowship of the gospel, promoted the furtherance of the gospel, and guarded the faith of the gospel.”

“When you have a single mind, you will not complain about circumstances because you know that difficult circumstances will result in the strengthening of the fellowship of the gospel.”

“This, then, is true Christian fellowship – a having-in-common that is much deeper than mere friendship.  ‘I have you in my mind… I have you in my heart … I have you in my prayers.’  This is the kind of fellowship that produces joy, and it is the single mind that produces this kind of fellowship.”

“When you have the single mind, you look on your circumstances as God-given opportunities for the furtherance of the gospel, and you rejoice at what God is going to do instead of complaining about what God did not do.”

“Criticism is usually very hard to take, particularly when we are in difficult circumstances, as Paul was.  How was he able to rejoice even in the face of such diverse criticism?  He possessed the single mind! … His only desire (because he had the single mind) was to magnify Christ in his body.”

“We are also soldiers defending the faith of the gospel, and the believer with the single mind can have the joy of the Holy Spirit even in the midst of battle … There is joy in our lives, even as we battle the enemy, if we live for Christ and the gospel and practice Christian teamwork … The single mind … produces in us consistency, cooperation, and confidence … as we strive together for the faith of the gospel.”

Father, please continue to sanctify me and to change my thinking toward the single mind I’ve read about today.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Haggai 1-2 -- What Hinders The Work?

The exiled Jews had returned home but had chosen to build not just shelter, but fancy houses for themselves, leaving the Temple in ruins.  They couldn’t see that their actions were causing their crop failures.  They had chosen not to put God first in their lives.

God’s name wasn’t being honored.  My commentary noted how we say the Lord’s prayer, starting with “Hallowed be Thy name”,  yet it’s often the last thing we thing about as we seek to serve God.

“When God speaks to us by His Word, there’s only one acceptable response, and that’s obedience.  We don’t weigh the options, we don’t examine the alternatives, and we don’t negotiate the terms.  We simply do what God tells us to do and leave the rest with Him.  Faith is not believing in spite of evidence.  It’s obeying in spite of consequences.”

Haggai also had to get the people to see that working on the Temple didn’t make them holy.  In fact, their sin and defilement had contaminated their relationship with God.  Once their defilement was removed and they stood ready to work, they could trust “the Holy Spirit for the enablement needed to do God’s will.”  My commentary also quoted A.W. Tozer, who said, “If God were to take the Holy Spirit out of this world, must of what we’re doing in our churches would go right on, and nobody would know the difference!”

Father, help us to remain aware of our state before You.  Show us where we need to remove defilement.  Cause us to seek out Your Holy spirit rather than simply doing something for You.  Help us to remember that sin hinders Your work and robs us of Your blessings.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Ecclesiastes 11-12 -- A Wrap-Up Of How To Live Life

I’m preparing for Dnow this weekend, and I’ll have 6^th grade boys in my home.  I thought God’s timing was again incredible based on what I read during my quiet time today:

“Those of us who are older need to remember that God expects young people to act like young people.  The tragedy is that too many older people are trying to act like young people! … Young people who take care of their minds and bodies, avoid the destructive sins of the flesh, and build good habits of health and holiness have a better chance for happy adult years than those who “sow their wild oats” and pray for a crop failure!”

“We don’t own our lives, because life is a gift from God.  We are stewards of our lives, and one day we must give an account to God of what we have done with His gift… The fear of the Lord is that attitude of reverence and awe that His people show to Him because they love Him and respect His power and His greatness … An unholy fear makes people run away from God, but a holy fear brings them to their knees in loving submission to God.  The remarkable thing about fearing God is that, when you fear God, you fear nothing else; whereas, if you do not fear God, you fear everything else … God created life and He alone knows how it should be managed … When Solomon looked at life without God, everything was fragmented and he could see no pattern.  But when he looked at life from God’s point of view, everything came together into one whole.  If man wants to have wholeness, he must begin with God.”

Father, help me to impart Your wisdom to these young me this weekend.  Let them see in my life what You want them to do with theirs.  Show them the importance of living life in You and with You.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Ecclesiastes 10 -- Foolish Leadership

Solomon takes on politics as he discusses foolishness.  He’d likely seen a lot of bowing and scraping, but also knew what was really going on behind his back.

A key indicator of foolishness is an inability to control oneself.  “He who is slow to anger is better than the might, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city (Prov. 16:32).

My commentary differentiated between righteous indignation and simple jealousy and malice disguised as holy zeal for God, particularly in religious leaders, since they would be the ones claiming to be acting for God.

Solomon also thought that a ruler who was too pliable was also a fool, putting incompetent people in high offices and leaving competent people doing menial jobs.  “The best rulers and leaders … are tough-minded but tenderhearted, who put the best people on the horses and don’t apologize for it,” my commentary said.  (This was in reference to what Solomon’s son Rehoboam had done, choosing his young friends as advisors rather than the older and wiser men who’d served his father, actually making the older men walk while the younger men rode horses.)  “It is a judgment of God when a people are given immature leaders.  This can happen to a nation or to a local church.  It is wrong for a believer to be thrust into leadership too soon, having no maturity or experience.”

Father, we so desperately need to hear this.  We have let popularity overrule competence and we suffer greatly as a result.  Please give us wise leaders and restore what we are losing and have already lost.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Ecclesiastes 9 -- Death And Life

As cynical as Solomon starts to sound here, my commentary reminded me that we have to remember that Solomon is a preacher preaching this to his own citizens.  A preacher wouldn’t be cynical, so there has to be a deeper meaning.

My commentary listed two main points Solomon was pressing home here:  “Death is unavoidable and life is unpredictable.  That being the case, the best thing we can do is trust God, live by faith, and enjoy whatever blessings God gives us.”

Solomon speaks of the different ways people deal with the reality of death, and it’s revealed in how they deal with life:

They ESCAPE – They drink, fight, spend, and try anything to forget that death is not there.

ENDURANCE – Many simply grit their teeth, hold on, and hope for things to change.  “Life is not easy, but there’s more to life than simply enduring … Solomon was emphasizing the importance of seizing opportunities while we live, rather than blindly hoping for something better in the future.”

ENJOYMENT – He said, “Don’t sit around and brood!  Get up and live!  Yes, death is coming, but God gives us good gifts to enjoy, so enjoy them!”  Those things include “common experiences of home life:  happy leisurely meals, joyful family celebrations, a faithful, loving marriage, and hard work … Everything that’s really important is back home at the Father’s house.”

Father, thank You for helping me to get the most out of life, by helping others and enjoying my family.  Your truths here are real, and they make life enjoyable despite the hardships.  Keep reminding me of them and never let me get down on life.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford