The Weekend Sermon -- "Philippians 2:5-11"

    Thanks for taking time to read the message. I hope that all are well this week. I have been doing better, and I thank the Lord for that and for the opportunity to post this message. 

     Over the course of the last few weeks, we've been studying what the Lord has to teach us in the book of Philippians. Beginning last week, we started to see how important it is for believers to be people who are humble. Those who follow Christ are not to think only about themselves. They are to consider the needs of others. In fact, the text from last week instructed us to consider others more important than ourselves. 

     Just as He is in all things, Jesus is our ultimate example of what a humble life looks like lived out in this world. Paul tells us that Jesus cared about others more than He cared about Himself. He was the epitome of humility. 

     Our section of Philippians for today is known as the Christ Hymn. That is because of its poetic nature in the Greek, and it is due to the fact that many in the earliest days of the church used these words about Jesus in songs that were sung during the worship service. 

     In this section, Paul demonstrates for us the way in which Jesus was humble. First of all in verse 6, Paul unequivocally lets us know that Jesus was God. Jesus is the Second Person of the Holy Trinity who took upon Himself human flesh. He became God with us. 

     Even though Jesus was the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, He did not grasp on to that. What this means is that Jesus was willing to come to this earth and humble Himself by becoming a man. This was done out of the Lord's great love for us. He wanted to redeem us from the fall and provide forgiveness and new life for all who would call upon Him. 

     The humility of Jesus reached its full expression when He was willing to die upon the cross. He was humiliated, mocked and scorned while He was on the cross bearing our sins in His body. Yet, He was willing to do this so that we might be saved.

     Because He was willing to humble Himself and become obedient unto death, God has highly exalted the Lord Jesus and given Him a name above every name. One day, when Jesus returns in power and great glory, every eye will see Him. Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. 

     Clearly, Jesus is our example of how to live a humble life. We are to care about others, and we are to be willing to sacrifice for others. We don't need to have our own way all the time. Life isn't all about us and having our wants and desires satisfied. Our life is to be lived under the Lordship of Jesus Christ in service to Him and to others. We truly serve the Lord and serve others when we are willing to tell others about the life changing power of a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus. 

     Jesus came so that whosoever believes in Him might have abundant life. He desires that all people everywhere be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. You can come to Jesus today. I hope that you will. Amen. 

Prayer Requests

     Please continue to pray that I will get to feeling better. Thank you. 

     Pray for an end to the heatwave that is gripping large portions of the US and Canada. 

     Keep praying for peace. Pray that the ceasefire holds between Israel and Iran. Pray for peace in Gaza. Pray for the release of the hostages. 

     I am thankful that there has been some advancement toward peace in Congo. 

     Let us keep praying for peace in Ukraine, Sudan and Yemen. 

     One thing that we need to pray about is the end to a lot of foreign aid that was helping some of the poorest and sickest people in this world. Unfortunately, the government of my nation and the UK have decided to stop funding many foreign aid programs in order to spend more on weapons. Let us pray that individuals, churches and those who are extraordinarily wealthy can step up and make sure that people still get the help that they need. 

     For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Bahrain and Cambodia. Pray that many will come to know Jesus. 

     Next week, we will continue with our current series. I will post the verses on Tuesday. May God bless you all. 

Verses For The Week

 John 16:33 -- "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

Matthew 5:9 -- "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God."

Weekend Sermon -- "Philippians 2:1-4"

      It is once again time for the sermon, and I am glad that you've taken the time to check out the message for the week. I am doing fairly well, and I thank you all for your prayers on my behalf. 

     We finished up chapter one in our study of the book of Philippians. We are going to begin chapter 2 this week looking in to what Paul is going to develop in this chapter on the subject of humility. We will see in this chapter that in all things, we are to look to the example that we have been given in the person and work of the Lord Jesus. 

     Philippians 2:1 begins by telling us, "Christ encourages you, and His love comforts you." I know that this is so true from what I've experienced in my own life. I've mentioned before that I think life is hard. I've had a lot of struggles with my health especially. It is during these times that I feel the Lord Jesus encouraging me in my spirit to keep on going and to not give up. 

     I've also experienced times in my life when I feel that people don't really care about me too much. The only one who I feel truly loved me for who I really am was my friend Toby. That is why I write about him and talk about him so much. However, the love of Jesus for me is the greatest love that there is. I know that no matter how much other people let me down in this life, Jesus loves me. He is always there for me, and I can feel His love within my spirit helping me to make it through the ups and downs of this life as I attempt as best that I can to do His will in this world. 

     Paul goes on in verse one to say to the Philippians, "God's Spirit unites you, and you are concerned for others." Those who know Jesus as Lord and Savior are united one with another through the witness of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Jesus prayed that we all may be one. When those who are Christians work together to do the will of the Lord, that is pleasing to the Lord. Also, not always seeking our own way but being willing to join together with others is an important part of living a humble life. 

     Paul was pleased that the people were concerned about others. This is a big part of practicing humility. When we think about the things of others and not just on our own wants and desires, we are following in the footsteps of the Lord Jesus who was truly the man for others. 

     In verse two, Paul goes on to tell us about what humility is like and what he wants for the Philippians. He asks them to show love for one another. He asks them to be united as if they were a single person. A humble person will be a loving person. Love seeks what is best of the other. A loving and humble person is willing to do what is best for someone else even to their own detriment. 

     In verse three we read, "Don't be jealous or proud, but be humble and consider others more important than yourselves." Jealousy and pride are the opposites of true humility. A jealousy person is only thinking of himself because he thinks that he is more deserving of the good thing that has happened to someone else. Pride is the one of the sins that is declared in the Bible to be among the worst sins. Pride makes us think that we are better than other people, and that there are groups and classes of people that are less than us. This is so against everything that the Lord Jesus taught us. 

     We are to consider others as more important than ourselves, and Paul will tell us in verse four to care about others as much as we care about ourselves. This is in keeping with the words given to us by the Lord. Jesus told us to love our neighbors as ourselves. He also told us to do unto others as we would have done to us. We all need to focus on helping others and making sure that their needs are met. We need to treat others the way that Jesus treated people. 

     Jesus is our example of humility. We will see more about this next week. Let us all be those who love the Lord and love and care about others. We are able to to this as we experience the love of Jesus and the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Amen. 

Prayer Requests

      Please keep praying in regard to my health. I thank the Lord that I haven't had problems with the storms so far. 

     We really need to be praying for peace this week. Iran, Gaza and Israel all need peace. People on all sides need to stop the violence. We need to seek the peaceful way of Jesus. Aid needs to reach the people of Gaza, and people need to be safe as they attempt to access aid. The remaining hostages need to be freed. We need peace in the Middle East. 

     Also, keep praying for peace in Ukraine, Sudan and Congo. 

     Please pray for an end to the disease outbreaks in the world. Pray that the measles outbreak in the US will end and that the mpox outbreak will end. 

     For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Albania and Tunisia. Pray that many will come to know Jesus. 

    Next week, we will continue with our current series. I will post the verses on Tuesday. May God bless you all. 

Verses For The Week And Prayer Requests

      Please pray for peace. Also, please pray that we will not have bad storms and rain in my area in the next couple of days. I had problems with the last storm. Please pray. Thank you. 

I Corinthians 13:13 -- "And now these three remain, faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 

Romans 12:12 -- "Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer."

Weekend Sermon -- Philippians 1:27-30

      Thank you for once again reading the message for this week. I hope and pray that everyone is having a very good week. 

     Today, we are going to finish up chapter one in the book of Philippians. If you remember last week, we saw that Paul had a strong desire to go and be with the Lord. He wanted to be the Lord he loved and served. He had been suffering a lot. However, Paul knew that as long as he was on this earth, he still had the opportunity to tell others about the life changing power of Jesus. Whether he lived or died, he wanted his life to be all about serving the Lord and doing the best that he could to honor God. 

     Paul begins our section of Philippians today by instructing the people that they need to live in such a way that their actions bring only honor and glory to the Lord Jesus. That is what we are to do in our day and age too. We don't want to do anything that would cause someone to turn away from having a relationship with the Lord Jesus. Many people get turned off of Christianity because of the hypocrisy and meanness of those who say that they are believers. I believe that this is one of if not the major reason that so many people don't want to have anything to do with the Christian religion in the Western world. 

     We don't want to turn people away. We want to live in such a way that people see that we are people of love and goodness who follow the teachings and the commandments of Jesus. We want people to see Jesus is us. We need to be those who are loving God with all that we have within us, and we are loving our neighbors as ourselves. Also, we are following the rule that Jesus gave to His followers to do unto others as we would have done to us. 

     When we practice what we preach and follow the way of the cross, that will attract people to the message of Jesus. So many people would love to see those who say that they are Christians practicing a little bit of kindness in this world, instead of spewing out hate and acting like the devil. 

     Paul finishes out this chapter by telling the people in the church at Philippi to be brave in the midst of persecution. Jesus told us that in this world people would persecute His followers just as people persecuted Him. 

     When a believer faces persecution and criticism in this world, that is the time to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit who gives guidance, encouragement and comfort in and through all circumstances. 

     Whatever we face. Whatever we do, and wherever we go, we have the mission of telling people about Jesus. It is our mission to live in this world to glorify the Lord. Let us all serve the Lord and follow Him so that others will want to follow Him as well. Amen.

Prayer Requests

     Please keep praying for my health. I am having good days and bad. Also, please pray that the rains forecast this week in my area will not cause any problems. Thank you. 

     Please pray for peace on the streets of the US. 

     Pray for peace in Ukraine. Pray that aid will reach Gaza and that peace will come there. Pray for the release of the hostages. Let us also pray for peace in Sudan, Yemen and Congo. 

     Let us all pray for an end to the measles and mpox outbreaks. 

     For our prayer focus countries this week, let us remember to pray for those in the nations of Laos and Guinea. Pray that many will come to know the Lord Jesus. 

     Next week, we will start chapter 2 of Philippians. I will post the verses on Tuesday. May God bless you all. 

Verses For The Week

 Isaiah 43:18 - "Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old."

 Luke 1:37 -- "For nothing will be impossible with God."

Weekend Sermon -- Philippians 1:20-26

      Thanks for reading the message this week. I hope that all of you are well. I am doing some better, and I am thankful that I have been doing ok through all of the stormy weather that we've been having. 

     Today, we will be continuing with our series on the book of Philippians. In our message last week, we focused on the importance of proclaiming the message of Jesus. 

     In our passage today, Paul begins by expressing that it is his desire to never do anything of which he would be ashamed. It was his hope and prayer to always do the things that brought glory and honor to Jesus. 

     This is an important message for all of us. First of all, as followers of Jesus, we should all want to live in such a way that Jesus would be pleased with what we are doing in our lives. We should never want to fall into a sin that would cause others to be turned away from the message of Jesus as a consequences of our actions. Furthermore, we would not want to be engaging in some sort of sin at the moment of Jesus' Second Coming. That would be a horribly shameful thing. We all should strive to live in the way that Jesus told us to live. As the Bible says, we want to live in such a way that people will see our good works and give glory to the Father in Heaven. 

     In verse 21 Paul states, "If I live, it will be for Christ, and if I die, I will gain even more." This should be our attitude as well. As long as we are living on this earth, we need to be following the teachings and the commandments of Jesus. We need to be sharing the good news of Jesus' love. As ambassadors for Christ, we need to be living in such a way that people will see Jesus in our words and in our deeds. Our lives need to be controlled by Jesus. He is our Lord. We follow Him, and He is to be the center and focus or our lives. 

    At death, those who are in Christ will go to be with Him in the place that He has prepared for those who love Him. That will be a great day. To die is gain as Paul says. Those who die in Christ will be with Jesus forever, and there is nothing better in all of the universe than that. 

     In the remainder of our passage today, Paul writes about a dilemma that he is having that I can really relate to. Paul is in prison. He could be executed at any time. He longs to go and be with Jesus. Life isn't really easy at all for Paul as he is writing this epistle. He wants to go and be with Jesus, but he also knows that he has things to accomplish on this earth. As long as he is living and working on this earth, he can continue to spread the message of Jesus and help those in the churches that he has worked to establish. 

     I can really relate to what Paul is saying. I've had some bad health problems since the time I was born. It all really gets me down a lot of the time, and I often long to be out of this world and be with the Lord. I can't wait to be with Jesus. However, I know that that Lord has a reason for me to be here. 

     Whether the Lord calls me home or wants me to remain here, it is all about Him. It is up to me to do what Jesus wants me to do at all times. I have to follow Him. He knows what is best, and I want to be committed to His Lordship. 

     In all that we do, let us follow and honor the Lord Jesus. Let us be good representatives of His while we are on this earth. Let us do all that we can so that we will not be ashamed when we stand before Him face to face. Amen. 

Prayer Requests

     I am thankful that I am making it through all the bad storms. Thank you for your prayers. Please pray that I will continue to get to feeling better. 

     Let us pray for peace. Israel and Gaza need peace. Pray that aid will reach the people of Gaza, and pray that the remaining hostages will be freed. Keep praying for peace in Ukraine, Sudan and Yemen. 

     Pray for an end to the measles outbreak here in the US. Pray for an end to the Covid outbreak and pray for an end to the mpox outbreak. 

     For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Madagascar and Bosnia. Pray that many will come to know Jesus. 

     Next week, we will continue with our current series. I will post the verses on Tuesday. May God bless you all. 

     

Thinking About Traveling

       I've been wanting to go on a trip for a long time. I've been doing quite a bit of research trying to find the place that I would most want to go to. 

      Thinking about traveling and trying to plan out a potential trip has got me to thinking about some of the fun trips that I took when my friend Toby was with me. I've been thinking back and trying to decide what trip of all of the many trips that we took together was the most fun. It has been a difficult decision. However, I believe that our trip through South Dakota was the best. 

      When my Grandma was still living, we went each summer to visit her out in Wyoming. My Dad didn't like going back and forth on I-70 all the time, so we often planned alternate routes. One year, we decided to go up to and across South Dakota and see the sights before heading back down to Cheyenne, Wyoming. As always, Toby came along.

      Our first stop was in Sioux Falls. We planned for that to be just a stop over for the night, but we discovered the USS South Dakota monument and had a good time looking at that. Toby and I walked all the way around it and had a fun time in the park where the monument is located. 

     The next day, we went to Mitchell and checked out the Corn Palace. The exterior of the building is designed with grains to create a new image each year. It was pretty interesting. Years later, one of my cousins attended a college in this town. 

      From Mitchell we made our way to Chamberlain. This is a nice place next to the Missouri River. Toby and I explored all around the area and had a great time out in nature. 

      One of the things that you will notice if you travel in South Dakota are signs telling you how far you are away from Wall Drug in Wall, SD. We finally got there. Not too exciting. 

      Toby and I really enjoyed our time in the Badlands. The scenery is spectacular. In some ways, it reminds me of a planet in distant space. I highly recommend that you visit this area if you ever get the chance. The two of us walked around here some, but we were afraid of running into snakes.

     The area of the Black Hills is truly spectacular. We enjoyed being out in all the beauty of creation. We saw buffalo and pronghorn. My parents enjoyed Mount Rushmore, but Toby and I were not impressed. I do not recommend. If you are going to the Black Hills, concentrate on the natural beauty and not on people's imprint on the land. 

      From there we went down to my Grandma's house for a nice visit. I am so thankful to the Lord for allowing me to have so many good days with my friend Toby. 

Verses For The Week And a Prayer Request

      Please pray that we won't get flooding rains in my area today. Thank you.

Romans 5:8 -- "But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Ephesians 5:2 -- "And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."