Monday, December 14, 2009

The PROOF (test/trustworthiness) you serve others!

Philippians 2.22-30 (text at bottom)

I. Serve others that preach the Gospel

DO I serve others that have given of their lives to spread the Gospel?? It is NOT an option but a necessity! I NEED to help and they NEED my help!

II. Companion in labor; fellow soldier; minister to others' wants; messenger

AM I a "companion in labor" with those who ARE laboring?

AM I a "fellow soldier" realizing and seeing the warfare around me?

DO I minister to others' needs AND wants?

AM I a messenger of the Good News of the Gospel?!

III. Not regarding my own life for the work of Christ

WHAT do I tangibly DO to put the work of Christ before myself???

Do I consistently sacrifice to do the work of Christ?

“But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel. Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me. But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly. Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants. For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick. For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful. Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation: Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.” (Phil 2:22-30 KJVS)

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Putting the Things that are Christ's FIRST and NOT my Own Thi

Philippians 2.12-21 (text below)

Aim: To seek NOT my "own" things but the things which are Christ's

Subject Sentence: Seek what is Christ's and not my own.

I. WORK OUT!!! With the ENERGY He has put in me!

Work out (do/work/perform/cause) my salvation (rescue or safety physically or morally) with fear and trembling, knowing that it is God that is working (ENERGIO – providing ENERGY to be fervent/effectual/doing/showing forth) in ME to both WILL (decide) and to DO (ENERGIO – put ENERGY into!) His good pleasure (accomplish what delights HIM in our lives – the things that are GOOD!)

Application questions:

Am I WORKING OUT what He is working in ME to do – He has given me ENERGY to do things that are GOOD and what DELIGHTS Him – am I putting forth the ENERGY He has given me to be fervent, effectual, DO, and show forth His ways in my life today??!!

WORK IT OUT – am I working it out with fear and trembling, knowing I WILL give account if I let His energy lay waste?

II. Do all things without murmuring and disputing, holding forth the Word of life.

Appplication questions:

Am I irreproachable and innocent?

Do I hold forth, paying attention to, the LOGOS of ZOE – the Word of LIFE –

being a DOER of the Word and not just a hearer? It isn't doing any good just because He provided the energy to do good things if I don't PUT FORTH the energy to accomplish those things in my life!!!

III. Offer yourself for the sacrifice and service of others' faith – care for the state of others, seeking the things that are Christ's.

Application questions:

How do I seek the things which are Christ's and help others' faith and state?

What TANGIBLE things am I doing TODAY for others and their furtherance of faith, which is actually seeking the things which are Christ's heart?


“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me. But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.”

(Phil 2:12-21 KJVS)

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Being Under Satan's Yoke

Subject: Satan's Meeting



Satan called a worldwide convention of demons...

In his opening address Satan said,


"We can't keep Christians from going to church. We can't keep them
from reading their Bibles and knowing the truth.... We can't even
keep them from forming an intimate relationship with their SAVIOR."

"Once they gain that connection with JESUS, our power over them is broken.
So let them go to their churches; let them have their covered dish dinners, but

steal their time, so they don't have time to develop a relationship with JESUS
CHRIST."

"This is what I want you to do," said the devil. "Distract them from gaining hold

of their SAVIOR. Distract them from maintaining that vital connection throughout
their day!"

"How shall we do this?" his demons shouted.

"Keep them busy in the non-essentials of life and invent innumerable schemes to
occupy their minds," Satan answered... "Tempt them to spend, spend, spend,
and borrow, borrow, borrow. Persuade the wives to go to work for long hours and
the husbands to work 6-7 days each week, 10-12 hours a day, so they can afford
their empty lifestyles. Keep them from spending time with their children. As their
families fragment, soon, their homes will offer no escape from the pressures of work!"

"Over-stimulate their minds, so that they cannot hear that still, small voice. Entice them

to play the radio or I-Pod whenever they drive. Encourage them to Keep the TV, DVD's,
CD's and their PC's going constantly in their home and see to it that every store and
restaurant in the world plays non-biblical music constantly. This will jam their minds and
break that union with CHRIST."

"Fill the coffee tables with magazines and newspapers. Pound their minds with the news

24 hours a day. Invade their driving moments with billboards. Flood their mailboxes with
junk mail, mail order catalogs, sweepstakes, and every kind of newsletter and
promotional offering free products, services and false hopes."

"Keep skinny, beautiful models on the magazines and TV, so their husbands will believe

that outward beauty is what's important, and they'll become dissatisfied with their wives.
Keep the wives too tired to love their husbands at night. Give them headaches too! If
they don't give their husbands the love they need, they will begin to look elsewhere. That
will fragment their families quickly!"

"Give them Santa Claus to distract them from teaching their children the real meaning
of Christmas. Give them an Easter bunny, so they won't talk about HIS Resurrection or
HIS power over sin and death."

"Even in their recreation, let them be excessive. Have them return from their recreation

exhausted. Keep them too busy to go out in nature and reflect on GOD'S creation. Send
them to amusement parks, sporting events, plays, concerts, and movies instead."

"Keep them busy, busy, busy!"

"And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip and small talk, so that

they leave with troubled consciences. Crowd their lives with so many good causes they
have no time to seek Power from JESUS. Soon they will be working in their own strength,
sacrificing their health and family for the good of the cause."

"It will work! It will work! It is quite a plan!"

The demons went eagerly to their assignments causing Christians everywhere to get

busier and more rushed, going here and there. Having little time for GOD or their
families. Having no time to tell others about the power of JESUS to change lives.

I guess the question is, has the devil been successful in his schemes?

You be the judge.

Does "BUSY" mean: Being Under Satan's Yoke?