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Read Philippians 2
5 posts tagged “encouragement”
ATTITUDE
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Philippians 2:5 NIV
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Paul continues his words of exhortation for unity in the church at Philippi. These new believers have trusted in Christ for their salvation and are growing in faith. He reminds them that they don’t have to do it in their own strength: “...work out your salvation with fear and trembling,” he writes, “for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life.” (12b-16a)
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Lord, I praise You for the gift of Your Spirit to help me to will and act according to Your purpose. Forgive me when I complain or argue, and give me the encouraging, uplifting words of life that will shine like stars in the darkness.
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If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Philippians 2:1-2 NIV
DISAGREEMENTS
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Read Acts 15:36-41; 1Timothy 1; 2 Timothy 1:5–7
He came to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was a Jewess and a believer, but whose father was a Greek. Acts 16:1 NIV
1 Corinthians 4:17 NKJV
Read Acts 15:36-41; 1Timothy 1; 2 Timothy 1:5–7
He came to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was a Jewess and a believer, but whose father was a Greek. Acts 16:1 NIV
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Many of the believers in Antioch were taking on the responsibility of teaching and preaching, so Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing." (Acts 15:36) Barnabas insisted on taking John Mark along, but Paul sharply disagreed because Mark deserted them on the first journey. So Paul chose Silas, while Barnabas continued with Mark and they went their separate ways. God blessed the ministry of all these men.
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It must have been a heartbreaking loss for Paul to break fellowship with his friend, but soon after that, Paul met another man with the gift of encouragement, Timothy. Paul would later say of him, "Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel" (Philippians 2:22)
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Lord, sometimes we are saddened when believers disagree. But You are always faithful to provide the encouragement we need to keep going. Help us to trust in Your perfect provision.
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"For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church." 1 Corinthians 4:17 NKJV
SON OF ENCOURAGEMENT
Read Acts 11:19–30, 12:24–13:3
They sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. Acts 11:22-23 NIV
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Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, received a new Christian name from the apostles. They called him Barnabas, which means "Son of Encouragement." He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord through his ministry. (11:24)
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Barnabas went to Tarsus to find Saul, and brought him to Antioch, where the two of them ministered for a year. In later years Saul, also called Paul, would write of Barnabas and his cousin John Mark, saying "They have proved to be a comfort to me." (Colossians 4:11)
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Barnabas possessed the gifts of encouragement and discernment. He was quick to recognize the Spirit of the Lord in a new believer and slow to write him off when he failed. His cousin John Mark ran away during a time of persecution, but later rejoined Barnabas in powerful ministry.
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Lord, help me to be an encourager like Barnabas. Grant me the wisdom to teach our children how to encourage each other as well. As with Barnabas, fill us with the Holy Spirit and faith so that we can encourage other Christians to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. (11:23-24)
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The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. Acts 11:26 NIV
It has become an essential part of my Christian life to read and meditate on the Bible every morning. Fellowship and encouragement with other believers is also important, but even more we need the encouragement God gives in His Word.
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Yesterday morning I was feeling particularly burdened by the growing attacks on the Bible and on the Christian faith. These attacks are particularly hurtful since they are so irreverent and blasphemous toward the Lord I love and serve. But God has called me into the world of blogging and that is cause for rejoicing and praising Him. I have never had so much opportunity to share my faith with so many people all over the world.
* * *
The Bible makes no effort to be politically correct; and deals with absolutes of right and wrong, and that is why so many atheistic governments have set out to remove it from circulation – even throwing Bible teachers in prison. This is still going on in places like China where the Olympic Games will be held this year.
* * *
Unfortunately, our own government, (USA) particularly in our public schools, has allowed atheism to become the established state religion. The longer I post online the more evangelistic I see this religion to be. It is not enough to say they don’t believe in God or the Bible - It seems to be an active cause to attempt to destroy the faith of those who do. It is certainly a cause to remove any evidence of belief in the Bible from public places.
Well, the purpose of my Blog is to share God’s Word with all who would care to read it, and to model personal application of Scripture in a format of prayer. But today I just wanted to share a passage that was particularly encouraging to me. It is a familiar passage, but somehow it spoke volumes to me yesterday morning about the indescribable value of God’s Word in our lives.
Psalms 19:7-14
The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul;
The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;
The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;
The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold,
Yes, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey
and the honeycomb.
Moreover by them Your servant is warned,
And in keeping them there is great reward.
Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults.
Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins;
Let them not have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.
I have been looking through my personal journal over the past few months, since I have entered the world of blogging. Certainly it has been a blessing, far beyond anything I expected, and it has also been a challenge as I have interacted with those who oppose the message of God’s Word.
I thought I would share some of my entries in the hope that it may encourage other Christians to step out and share their faith. Some of these entries are direct from Scripture on a day when I needed it, and some are from writings by Oswald Chambers.
· Jeremiah 20:9 “His word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones. I was weary of holding it back and I could not.”
· 2 Timothy 1:2 “The gifts and calling of God are irrevocable.”
· Jeremiah 10:23 “O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.”
· Oswald Chambers – “There is no responsibility on you for the work; the only responsibility you have is to keep in living constant touch with God, and to see that you allow nothing to hinder your cooperation with Him.”
· Oswald Chambers – “God engineers everything; wherever He puts us our one great aim is to pour out our whole hearted devotion to Him in that particular work.”
· Oswald Chambers – “Spiritually we cannot measure our life by success, but only by what God pours through us; and we cannot measure that at all.”
· Acts 18:10 – The Lord said to Paul, “Dismiss your fears; go on speaking and do not give up, I am with you and no one shall attack you or injure you; for I have many people in this city.”
· Acts 11:23 – About Barnabas - “He encouraged them all to remain with fixed resolve, faithful to the Lord.”
· Acts 4:20b Weymouth – “As for us, what we have seen and heard we cannot help speaking about.”
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