Lessons from the Church at Philippi: The First Visit

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1 1 WHAT S INSIDE: THIS FILE CONTAINS ALL FOUR MESSAGES. OPENING SCRIPTURE(S): Isaiah 42:18-23, Romans 15:2-6, Philippians 1:1 NLT Will not even one of you apply these lessons from the past and see the ruin that awaits you? Isaiah 42:23 2 We should please others. If we do what helps them, we will build them up in the Lord. 3 For even Christ didn't please himself. As the Scriptures say, "Those who insult you are also insulting me. 4 Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. They give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God s promises. 5 May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other -- each with the attitude of Christ Jesus toward the other. 6 Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:2-6 1 This letter is from Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus. It is written to all of God's people in Philippi, who believe in Christ Jesus, and to the elders and deacons. 2 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. Philippians 1:1-2 Stephen refers to the Old Testament congregation of Israel in In Acts 7:38 KJV, as the church in the wilderness. This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us: Acts 7:38 KJV The NLT calls it the [assembly of God's people in the wilderness]. The NT church is called the assembly of believers. Failure to apply the lessons from the past not only assures us of personal ruin, it also denies us the hope and encouragement Romans 15 says they were written down to teach us! The past for us is not just the OT church in the wilderness, but the NT assembly of God s people in the early Church! Lessons from the Church at Philippi: The First Visit In this series of messages we re going to hang around the Church at Philippi to see what we can learn about our own church and about ourselves! Prayerfully, we ll learn: How to escape the rat race and live a worry-free life, What genuine humility looks like, The God-centered way to settle personal disputes as well as disagreements over the truth, How to avoid a self-serving life as a Christian, and Some of the marks of a healthy church. This will not be a line-on-line teaching, but rather a highlight of observations that can help us to grow. 1. This Church is very special to Paul. Look at verse 7: There is nothing impure or inappropriate about Paul s affection these believers. It is right [righteous, pure, and holy] that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a very special place in my heart It s right because I feel that way about ALL OF YOU ALL OF YOU have a special place in my heart! If this Church was special to Paul, think how much more special it must be to God who inspired Paul to write this letter for our benefit in the first place! We re commanded to be imitators of God. Clearly, while God has no favorites in the sense that we have favorites based on partiality or personal likes or dislikes. When the Bible says God has no favorites, it means He has no friends or family members who can get away with evil!

2 2 But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favorites who can get away with evil. Colossians 3:25 Acts 10:34-35: 34 Then Peter replied, "I see very clearly that God doesn't show partiality. 35 In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right. God does based on His perfect law of righteousness favor some and gives more grace to others! The LORD has declared today that you are his people, his own special treasure, just as he promised, and that you must obey all his commands. Deuteronomy 26:18 4 "After the LORD your God has done this for you, don't say to yourselves, 'The LORD has given us this land because we are so righteous!' No, it is because of the wickedness of the other nations that he is doing it. 5 It is not at all because you are such righteous, upright people that you are about to occupy their land. The LORD your God will drive these nations out ahead of you only because of their wickedness, and to fulfill the oath he had sworn to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 6 I will say it again: The LORD your God is not giving you this good land because you are righteous, for you are not -- you are a stubborn people." Deuteronomy 9:4-6 For the LORD has chosen Jacob for himself, Israel for his own special treasure. Psalm 135:4 And you will be to me a kingdom of priests, my holy nation.' Give this message to the Israelites." Exodus 19:6 By the time you get to the Book of Malachi, the last Book of the OT, God expands this special favor to all believing people to include the Gentiles: "They will be my people," says the LORD Almighty. "On the day when I act, they will be my own special treasure. I will spare them as a father spares an obedient and dutiful child. Malachi 3:17 And, in 1 Peter 2:9, we see the fulfillment in these verses referring to all His people Jews and Gentiles: You are a kingdom of priests, God's holy nation, his very own possession. This is so you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9 2. Not only is this Church special, but the blessing upon this particular congregation of believers is right up front in verse 2: May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. I believe this blessing of grace and peace had special significance to the believers at Philippi because of what Paul wrote to the believers at Thessalonica: You know how badly we had been treated at Philippi [of course, he was referring to the unbeliever s there in the city of Philippi] just before we came to you and how much we suffered there. Yet our God gave us the courage to declare his Good News to you boldly, even though we were surrounded by many who opposed us. 1 Thessalonians 2:2 The tenor of this verse suggests the message of the Good News was not welcomed by everyone in Philippi just as it was openly opposed by those at Thessalonica. Grace represents God s power and protection, and Peace represents God s presence in your present circumstances! 3. In verses 3-5 and verse 7, Paul honors and endears this church as an evangelical partner for whom prayers are always offered with both joy and thanksgiving. By the way, term evangelical is defined as one who is active and open in sharing their faith or beliefs. 3 Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. 4 I always pray for you, and I make my requests with a heart full of joy 5 because you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And, you know what it s right that I should feel the way I feel about ALL OF YOU because we ve been through some things together 7 It is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a very special place in my heart. We have shared together the blessings of God, both when I was in prison and when I was out, defending the truth and telling others the Good News.

3 3 4. Love, joy, and peace are themes throughout this letter so they must be important to the Lord. Verse 2: May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. Verse 3:1: Whatever happens, dear brothers and sisters, may the Lord give you joy. I never get tired of telling you this. I am doing this for your own good. Verse 4:4: Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again -- rejoice! On the subject of love, he writes: Verse 4:8: God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus. 9 I pray that your love for each other will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in your knowledge and understanding. And, in verse 2:1-2, he writes: Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and sympathetic? 2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one heart and purpose. CLOSING EXHORTATIONS 5. God has begun a good work in your Church. See verse 6: Paul see things the way God sees them: 6 And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again. God has begun a good work in you and he will continue it [FINISH THAT WORK] on the day when Christ Jesus returns! I wonder if way too many of us give up on God and people because we can t see what God is up to in people s lives? In other words, we can t see the finished product? INVITATION God s good work begins when people are born again! HAS GOD S GOOD WORK BEGUN IN YOU? CAN YOU SEE HOW GOD S GOOD WORK IS WORKING IN YOUR LIFE? STAY TUNED FOR THE SECOND VISIT ON LESSONS FROM THE CHURCH AT PHILIPPI

4 4 Lessons from the Church at Philippi: The Second Visit Again, in this series of messages we re going to hang around the Church at Philippi to see what we can learn about our own church and what we can learn about ourselves! Prayerfully, we ll learn: How to escape the rat race and live a worry-free life, What genuine humility looks like, The God-centered way to settle personal disputes as well as disagreements over the truth, How to avoid a self-serving life as a Christian, and Some of the marks of a healthy church. As before, this will not be a line-on-line teaching, but rather a highlight of observations that can help us to grow. 1. Christ must be preached. Preaching the Gospel under opposition has a divine purpose and an eternal value. 1:12-14 Why some are preaching. That Christ is preached is far more important than people s motives for preaching. 1:15-19 To summarize what Paul is saying: I m not going to let concern for other people s motive distract me from what matters most and that is that Christ is preached! I m not overly concerned about people s motive as long as I can discern truth about Christ in their message! 2. How to know if you re living a Christ-centered life. Let s begin with a question: Which is better going on to your eternal rest in Heaven or helping others get to Heaven? Are you ever conflicted between going to be with Christ and helping other Christians grow and mature in Christ? 1:20-26 Another aspect of a Christ-centered life is how we respond to the whatevers in life. See Chapter 4:1. How do you answer the whatevers in your life? o whatever happens in your own life? Whatever happens to me Does the focus remain on you? Or, does the focus remains about others? 1:27-30 o whatever happens in general? 3:1 Whatever happens to any of us for whatever reasons What is your testimony? What do say and how do you advise and counsel others? 3:1 3. How to know if you re humble. In chapter two, Paul cites two tangible benefits of humility: Unity and Promotion. These two benefits accrue to us and benefit us individually and as a congregation. First of all, what does genuine humility look like? We all have our own definitions of what we think humility is. o For most people, humility is only an internal quality or attribute. What God shows us through Paul are the outward signs or discernible fruit of genuine humility! o o Unity. Unity can be elusive and lost if we lose sight of /fail to discern the tangible outworking of humility. In chapter 2:1-4, God shows us how unity is attained and how it is maintained: Agreeing wholeheartedly with each other (2:2). Not agreeing to disagree. Loving one another (2:2). The basis for any good relationship. Working together (2:2) with one heart and towards the same common goal/purpose.

5 5 The 3 positives are followed by 3 negatives: (1) don t be selfish; (2) don t live to impress people; and (3) don t think only about your own stuff (1) Don t be selfish (2:3). All selfish attitudes undermine and erode unity! (2) Don t live to impress others (2:3). That makes us fakes and phonies! Instead, Be humble (2:3). Be humble and show it! God, through Paul, shows us 3 ways to know if we re humble two having to do with the way we think; one that shows us if our interactions are sincere: Show it by thinking of others as better than yourself (2:3). The world teaches us to think of ourselves as just as good as the next person and work hard at becoming better than them. God says you re humble if you think and regard others as better than yourself. Show it Don t think only about your own affairs the 3 rd negative (2:4). Such thinking delivers us from the self-serving, self-seeking trap of ME-MYSELF-AND I. Show it by being interested in others and what they are doing (2:4). It says be interested in others and NOT HOW they re doing but, WHAT they re doing! Taking a sincere interest in WHAT people are doing takes us beyond the superficial, hey, how you doing to genuine concern and caring: Hey, how you doing WHAT ARE YOU DOING? HOW ARE THINGS GOING? This kind of interaction gives us plenty to pray about! When people are humble, they don t need a mediator to settle minor disputes and petty differences. NOTE: We need to teach our young people to be humble. If you re humble, you don t need a gun or fight to settle your disputes and differences! o o In chapter 4:2-3, God inspires Paul to write about two women Euodia and Syntyche who had a dispute to highlight and underscore that even in a healthy Church there is apt to be problems. Because these two women couldn t agree, someone else a mediator or peacemaker had to get involved. NOTE: We need to teach our children who are Christians to be the peacemakers in their circle of friends. Enlisting the help of a mediator is preferred to allowing bitterness, resentment, and strife to divide us. And, it is preferred to taking unresolved differences to another congregation or to a secular court! 1 Cor. 6:1-8 1 When you have something against another Christian, why do you file a lawsuit and ask a secular court to decide the matter, instead of taking it to other Christians to decide who is right? 2 Don't you know that someday we Christians are going to judge the world? And since you are going to judge the world, can't you decide these little things among yourselves? 3 Don't you realize that we Christians will judge angels? So you should surely be able to resolve ordinary disagreements here on earth. 4 If you have legal disputes about such matters, why do you go to outside judges who are not respected by the church? 5 I am saying this to shame you. Isn't there anyone in all the church who is wise enough to decide these arguments? 6 But instead, one Christian sues another -- right in front of unbelievers! 7 To have such lawsuits at all is a real defeat for you. Why not just accept the injustice and leave it at that? Why not let yourselves be cheated? 8 But instead, you yourselves are the ones who do wrong and cheat even your own Christian brothers and sisters. Lastly, Promotion. When people are humble, God takes notice and either gives them favor where they are or promotion to something else. o God promotes individuals and He promotes entire congregations! Church at Philadelphia. Rev. 3:7-9 Paul cites Christ who is in charge of God s Church as a perfect example of a servant of God who was elevated or promoted on the basis on His humility. 2:5-11 NOTE: In the Kingdom, humility always comes before promotion! Haughtiness goes before destruction; humility precedes [or goes before] honor. Proverbs 18:12 CLOSING SCRIPTURE, EXHORTATION, AND INVITATION CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

6 6 CLOSING SCRIPTURE/EXHORTATION 6 He gives us more and more strength to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say, "God sets himself against the proud, but he shows favor to the humble." 7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, you hypocrites. 9 Let there be tears for the wrong things you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. 10 When you bow down before the Lord and admit your dependence on him, he will lift you up and give you honor. James 4:6-10 INVITATION Proud people need God but won t seek Him. Humble people seek God until they find Him. Humble Christians find God and spend the rest of their days humbly serving Him and admitting just much they need Him! STAY TUNED FOR THE THIRD VISIT ON LESSONS FROM THE CHURCH AT PHILIPPI

7 7 Lessons from the Church at Philippi: The Third Visit Again, in this series of messages we re going to hang around the Church at Philippi to see what we can learn about our own church and what we can learn about ourselves! Prayerfully, we ll learn: How to escape the rat race and live a worry-free life, What genuine humility looks like, The God-centered way to settle personal disputes as well as disagreements over the truth, How to avoid a self-serving life as a Christian, and Some of the marks of a healthy church. Paul s stunning confession. As before, this will not be a line-on-line teaching, but rather a highlight of observations that can help us to grow. Let s begin with Paul s stunning confession 1. Paul s stunning but humble confession. I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things Philippians 3: I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection! But I keep working toward that day when I will finally be all that Christ Jesus saved me for and wants me to be. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven. Pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. We know where we re going! Philippians 3: Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. 18 For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their future is eternal destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and all they think about is this life here on earth. 20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. READ THESE VERSES IN THE MESSAGE. Now, to summarize what Paul is saying: 1. Even though God chose me, appeared to me in in the person of His Son, and inspired me to pen 2/3 rd of the New Testament I m not perfect! Here, Paul humbly accepts his own imperfections, but as we ll see, he doesn t settle for complacency either! 2. Not only am I not perfect, but I haven t achieved everything I teach and preach either...but, I keep working! 3. I m not all that Christ Jesus saved me for and wants me to be...but, I keep working! 4. Each one of us is a good work and a work in progress. For this reason also I keep working! 5. I keep working and I m focused! I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead NOTE: Paul had a lot to forget: how he hounded and persecuted Christians before he became one, how he voted to have them killed, and how he tried his best to get them to renounce their faith in Jesus. We can focus on the past or we can forget the past and focus on being productive for God now and the glorious future that awaits us! 6. Paul understands that God, who began this good work in us, will in the end, make us what He wants us to be! God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey Him and the power to do what pleases Him. Philippians 2:13 2. Even in a healthy church loved by God and the apostles there is going to be problems! Sometimes, you re going to have to settle personal disputes; sometimes, you re going to have to settle misunderstandings over the truth. Oh, I was so looking for the church where there s no strife and everybody is just being good Christians! The only church where there are no problems whatsoever is the one in Heaven where Jesus is the Good Shepherd and Overseer! The church you have in mind is coming though! Listen to the apostle Peter: But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world where everyone is right with God. 2 Peter 3:13

8 8 In the meantime, while we re here in this flesh sometimes, you re going to have to deal with personal disputes even between other believers. There were growing pains in the early church: 1 But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. Those who spoke Greek complained against those who spoke Hebrew, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. Acts 6:1-2 In our last message, we briefly mentioned Euodia and Syntyche two believers in the church at Philippi, who had a personal disagreement. The Bible does not tell us the specific nature of the disagreement between Euodia and Syntyche suggesting that whatever it was isn t the point. But, whatever it was, it was significant enough that it could have impacted the work of God so, it had to be dealt with! Paul writes about them in 4:2-3: 2 And now I want to plead with those two women, Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement. 3 And I ask you, my true teammate, to help these women, for they worked hard with me in telling others the Good News. And they worked with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are written in the Book of Life. It had to be dealt with in light of verses 4-5: 4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again -- rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Ironically, Paul, the one writing this epistle to us and the one who told us he hadn t achieved everything he preach and teach, had a sharp disagreement with another apostle in Acts 15:39 over another believer. Their disagreement caused them to separate. This severed relationship lasted for several years! And, while we re here, sometimes, you have to settle disagreements over some point of Scripture. 3: I hope all of you who are mature Christians will agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you. 16 But we must be sure to obey the truth we have learned already. If we disagree on some point of doctrine, Paul says God wants to give us understanding and He will make it plain for those who really want to know the truth! We should pray for this understanding and while we re waaiting, don t give up or quit but continue to obey the truth we already learned! 3. No more leaning on the flesh and no more trusting in our own goodness. Confidence in our own abilities and in our own goodness is part of our fleshly, fallen human nature of which we are warned and commanded way back in Proverbs 3: 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths. 7 Don't be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the LORD and turn your back on evil. 8 Then you will gain renewed health and vitality. Proverbs 3:5-8 In the Kingdom, our own goodness and our own efforts apart from God s help are of no more value to us. In fact, they frustrate and hinder what God wants to do in us and through us! As Paul is about to show us, in the Kingdom, 1. FAITH NOT BEING GOOD IS THE KEY TO PLEASING GOD. 3: THE KEY TO FINISHING WELL DEPENDS ON TWO THINGS: 1) Having the right focus, and 2) Putting into practice what we ve learned. a. HAVING THE RIGHT FOCUS, The right focus necessitates that we first have the right basis for our thinking! Philippians 4:8 Once we have the right basis for our thinking, we can focus on what really matters. Philippians 3:13-14

9 9 The other key to finishing well is found in Chapter 4, but it sounds a lot like something he said in chap. 3:16 b. KEEP PUTTING INTO PRACTICE WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED. Philippians 4:9 Putting into practice what we learn serves two purposes: (1) Keeps us from deceiving ourselves by being hearers only of the Word. James 1:22 (2) Assures us of God s peace NOW and FOR ALL ETERNITY! CLOSING EXHORTATION A church matures and becomes healthy in much the same way we do as human beings: o not only by WHAT IT GOES THROUGH, o but, also by WHAT IT LEARNS from what it goes through! o Disputes and disagreements are the cost of loving, living with, and serving alongside another flawed human being just like ourselves! Now, this is not an excuse for sloppy living, but o Hebrews 5:8 tells us that even Jesus learned obedience through the things He suffered. INVITATION Christ s suffering on the Cross made it possible for all of us to believe and to know God. Do you know Him? Have you given up everything dear to you to know Him? STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT VISIT TO THE CHURCH AT PHILIPPI! THE BELIEVERS COMMUNION

10 10 Lessons from the Church at Philippi: The Fourth and Final Visit? Again, in this series of messages we re going to take one more visit to the Church at Philippi to see what more we can learn about our own church and what we can learn about ourselves! Prayerfully, in this fourth and final visit, we ll learn: What generosity means to those who receive it, How to escape the rat race and live a worry-free life, and Eleven things that ought to be written on every church wall. As before, this will not be a line-on-line teaching, but rather highlights of observations that can help us to grow. Let s begin with 1. The blessing of generosity. Jesus taught His disciples the blessing of generosity. In Acts 20:35, Paul reminded the elders at Ephesus of Jesus foundational teaching on generosity and how he has tried to model that teaching: And I have been a constant example of how you can help the poor by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: It is more blessed to give than to receive. Question: How do you see it? Do you see yourself as more blessed to give or to receive? Too often we give mindlessly as instructed not considered the blessing in giving or the blessing to those who receive/benefit from it! Special thanks for their generosity or what generosity means to those who receive it. 2 Cor. 9:10-15, Imbedded in Paul s discussion on generosity is the the blessing and the secret to contentment in life. Here, he shows us how to escape the rat race, and how to have and live a worry free life. Phil. 4:10-18; Heb. 13:5 The God who takes care of me will take care of you glory to God forever! 4: The people of Philippi. A Church is nothing without the people! People make up the Church and give the church its personality and its reputation. Every Church has standouts. Not surprisingly, the Church at Philippi had its standouts standouts like 1. Let s start with Timothy. Timothy is the kind of selfless servant every Church needs. A church that is special to Paul and to God must be served and ministered to those who have a special attachment to that Church! Timothy was most likely dispatched by Paul to this Church because of his servant heart. Concerning Timothy Paul seems to gush with praise: 19 If the Lord Jesus is willing, I hope to send Timothy to you soon. Then when he comes back, he can cheer me up by telling me how you are getting along. 20 I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare. 21 All the others [and there are others] care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ. 22 But you know how Timothy has proved himself. Like a son with his father, he has helped me in preaching the Good News. 23 I hope to send him to you just as soon as I find out what is going to happen to me here. Philippians 2: Then, there was Ephaproditus (2:25-30). I believe Ephaproditus is representative of the kind of people that made this Church great. Paul spoke of Ephaproditus things that should be true and said of all God s people everywhere! o A true brother. 2:25 o A faithful worker. 2:25 o A courageous soldier. 2:25 o He was your messenger to help me in my time of need. 2:25 See also 4:18. o I m sending him home again because he has been longing to see you. 2:26 o He was very sick and almost died. He was distressed that you heard how sick he was. No doubt concerned you thought you would lose him. 2:27 o I know you ll be glad to see him. 2:28

11 11 3. Then, of course, there was Euodia and Syntyche who were instrumental in helping Paul and the others spread the Gospel about Christ and about whom we learned the importance of setting personal disagreements. Philippians 4:2-3 I believe Euodia and Syntyche are mentioned as typical believers everywhere who help us grow in the areas of love, and forgiveness, and reconciliation, and patient endurance! 4. Then, there are three greetings. NOTE: Greetings as opposed to goodbyes! (1) Greetings from me personally. Give my greetings to all the Christians there. 4:21 (2) Greetings from the brothers here. The brothers who are with me send their greetings. 4:21 (3) Not wanting to be left out...all the other Christians [who also love and care about you] send their greetings too especially those who work in Caesar s palace. 4:22 NOTE: Why mention the Christians who work in Caesar s palace? Some of these Christians may have been slaves belonging to Caesar at the time of their conversion. Others may have regarded the Christians who work in Caesar s palace as privileged because they work at the palace. The higher we go up in the world, the more we tend to lose touch with our spiritual roots. But, by sending their greeting, these believers still see themselves as rooted, grounded, and attached to the main Church even if they re forced to work at the palace! 5. Final blessing. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. 4:23 CLOSING EXHORTATION 3. Eleven exhortations that make a healthy Church or Eleven things that ought to be written on the walls of every local church. 1. Christian love should not remain stagnant or just full, but overflow. 1:9 I pray that your love for each other will overflow more and more, Keep on growing. 1:9 I pray that your love for each other will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in your knowledge and understanding. 3. We are in this fight together. 1:30 We are in this fight together. You have seen me suffer for him in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of this great struggle. 4. Understand what really matters. 1:10 For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until Christ returns. 5. Always be fruitful. 1:11 May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation -- those good things that are produced in your life by Jesus Christ for this will bring much glory and praise to God. 6. Always be full of joy. 4:4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again -- rejoice! 7. Stay away from complaining and arguing. 2:14-15 In everything you do, stay away from complaining and arguing, 15 so that no one can speak a word of blame against you. You are to live clean, innocent lives as children of God in a dark world full of crooked and perverse people. Let your lives shine brightly before them.

12 12 8. Don t worry about anything; instead, Pray about everything. 4:6 Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. a. When you pray tell God what you need; but don t be selfish pray also for others! b. And, when you pray give thanks thank God for what He has already done! 9. I am focusing all my energies. 3: I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection! But I keep working toward that day when I will finally be all that Christ Jesus saved me for and wants me to be.13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 10. I m a work in progress. 1:6 And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again. 11. You have a very special place in my heart. 1:7 It is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a very special place in my heart. God spoke these words to His people Israel: Others died that you might live. I traded their lives for yours because you are precious to Me. You are honored, and I love you. Isaiah 43:4 My hope and prayer is that we learned some things about ourselves and a whole lot more about areas we still need to grow and mature in in our congregation. God, who began this good work in us, promised to help us and perform it even until the day when Christ returns! INVITATION