I can do anything!

I finished Philippians today reading both chapters 3 & 4. What a great way for Paul to end his letter and his encouragement to the church at Philippi.
In verse 13 of chapter 4 he says these very famous words, I can do everything through him who gives me strength
What a great verse, what a fantastic truth. We like Paul can take this verse and run with it. We can do everything through Jesus who strengthens us. When we get up in the morning we have the knowledge that we can do anything that we put our minds to because Jesus has given us the power and authority to do it in His name!
Let's remember that with Jesus strength there is nothing that we cannot accomplish for Him. We can be bold and courageous and show others Jesus through actions and words. We can pray for the sick and see them healed. We can give words of encouragement and knowledge to people through the Power of the Holy Spirit.There is nothing that we cannot do, because Jesus has given us the Spiritual gifts to get the job done. So let's do it - let's be strengthened today and go out showing the love of Jesus to others.

Why do we do what we do?

Why do we do what we do? Do we go to church because its a Sunday? Do we read the bible because we want to or because we feel obliged to? Do we spend time with God or just say a quick prayer and call it job done? Do we believe that Jesus died for us or do we just think its a nice story that we learnt at church?
In Philippians chapter 2, Paul says that we should do everything humbly, nothing out of selfish ambition or gain. We need to make sure that everything we do is for the right reasons - to glorify God and lead others into a relationship with Him.
In verses 5-11 Paul says this: 
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 
Jesus was humble, He was obedient, He came to earth to serve and to die. We need to make sure that everything we do, glorifies Him. He deserves our praise, our worship, our lives, He deserves and asks for our all - let's not let Him down, let's put everything into our lives for Jesus, so that His name will be lifted high. 

That I would decrease so that He would increase! 

 

Do you contend?

I started Philippians today. This once again is written by Paul, and like Ephesians he starts with some encouragement telling them that he prays for them.
The verse that jumped out at me was verse 27, Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel 
The word that really jumped off the page for me was CONTENDING. This word means to struggle, to fight, to engage in a competition or campaign in order to win or achieve.  
Do I contend for people? Do I contend for my family and friends? Do I get down on my knees and struggle for those that mean the most to me? 
We all pray for those that we love, we all pray for those who need prayer, we all pray for the lost. BUT do we fight for them? Do we fight for our churches? Do we fight for our leaders? Do we fight for our communities? I could continue with the questions, but what is the answer?
Personally, I don't think I fight enough. I pray for those I love but I believe that I need to fight for them, I need to struggle for them, I need to contend for them. Come on church - let's start to contend for our lost world. Let's fight for them, let's get on our knees and make a difference with our prayers.
 

Second best is not enough

Ephesians last chapter ends with encouragement for the readers and is full of advice and help for us today. 
In the previous chapter, Paul tells of how we should behave as Christians and he continues with this theme in chapter 6. In the first few verses he speaks of children honouring parents and salves honouring masters. In fact slaves are told to do everything to the glory of God. 
We should do the same. We need to make sure that whatever we do its done to glorify the Lord. 
How can we do this? 
The way to accomplish this is to make sure whatever we do whether big or small, we do in a manner that shows who we are in Christ. We must always do our best, we must never cut corners and think that will do, only our best will do for God, second best is not good enough.
When we behave in this manner, it will show others Jesus. When we get on with things without complaining it shows others Jesus. When we go the extra mile it shows others Jesus. 
Preach the gospel at all times, if necessary use words 

Unity in Christ

In today's chapter of Ephesians, chapter 4, Paul talks about Unity in the body of Christ. This is so important, and is something that we should have.
I do think though that Unity is not about agreeing with one another, or everybody having the same opinion. I believe its a group of people that all want the same thing that love each other enough that they will agree to differ. 
As Christians no matter what our opinions we should all want the same thing - that Jesus be Lord of our lives and the lives of those we meet. We should all want God's Kingdom to rule in this world and so our goal should be bringing the Kingdom into the lives of the lost. That is true unity.
The problem is that in a room full of people there are as many opinions are there are people, and so when there is a disagreement people start to think that there is no unity. We have unity in Christ, and through that unity in Him we need to give one another the grace to bare with them and allow them to have their opinion, even if it means that you agree to disagree.
Let's be united under one banner, the banner of Heaven. Let's make sure that Jesus is Lord of our lives and our opinions and allow one another to be who we are all called to be in His name. Let's cherish our differences and Praise God for the fact that even though we are different we serve the same God.  

We're all in if we want to be!

More from Ephesians today. In chapter 2, Paul encourages the Ephesians by telling them that they are all part of God's family, joined through the blood of Christ into the promise that was given to the people of Israel. This includes us - We are all one family - God's family.

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow-citizens with God's people and members of God's household - Verse 19

This is good news. Let's face it, in the Old Testament the gentiles were pretty much out of the plan, but after the cross - we're in!
We can be part of God's family and part of His plan and all we have to do is choose to be. God never pushes Himself on us, he chooses us, but we have to choose Him too. We have free will, and so have the choice as to whether we choose Him and therefore choose in or out. God's love for us is so much that He gives us the choice, and we can sum it up in one verse:

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

I've got the POWER!

Today I began the next book in the New Testament which is Ephesians. This is one of my favourite books in the bible and so I am looking forward to reading through the 6 chapters and seeing what God has to say over the next few days.
The whole of this first chapter is brilliant, but the thing that stood out for me the most is the Power that is within us! 
And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.
When Jesus becomes Lord of our lives He has promised us that we will receive the Holy Spirit as the seal of our Salvation. That we are His and His alone. 
There is more to this though, as the Holy Spirit that Jesus promised to us, that dwells within us is the same Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead! When I think about this it always blows me away. 
The very same Holy Spirit that raised the dead, healed the sick, hovered over the waters at the time of creation, breathed breath into Adam, changed the lives of the disciples, lives in me. I just feel so blessed when I think that God's Spirit chooses to dwell within me and all I have to do is ask. Thank you Jesus!