Philippians (Program #10) – Taking Christ as Our Pattern

The apostle Paul said for us to be an imitators of Christ in Philippians 2: 5-9 gives us a pattern to imitate. But how so we, fallen human beings, imitate the pattern of such an excellent Christ?

In the matter of taking Christ as our pattern, Philippians 2:5-9 says “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider being equal with God a treasure to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave, becoming in the likeness of men, and being found in the fashion as a man, He humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, and that the death of a cross. Therefore also God highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name.”

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Philippians (Program #9) – The Believers’ Support to the Apostle

The book of Philippians is concern with the experience and the enjoyment of Christ and this issue in our joy and rejoicing yet among the Philippians believers there were much dissension in their thinking.  Dissension which troubled the apostle Paul, he even asked them to think the same thing, even think the same one thing that in this way they may make his joy full.  Paul had given them such positive fellowship in the first chapter now he desires them to return this fellowship to support him in his imprisonment. This mutual fellowship in the Body of Christ is what we are looking at in today’s life study of the Bible in the book of Philippians.

The apostle is not nearly as bothered as it seems by his imprisonment in this Roman jail as it was by the fact the Philippians believers were not of the same mind, were not thinking the same thing. more…

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Philippians (Program #8) – Standing Firm in One Spirit Striving Together with One Soul

In Philippians 1:27 the apostle Paul says, “that you stand firm in one spirit with one soul striving together along with the faith of the gospel.”  We need to not only stand firm in one spirit for the experience of Christ but also to strive together with one soul in the faith of the gospel. To be with one soul for the gospel work is more difficult then to be in one spirit for the experience of Christ. This unique use of term would be our focus today on the life study of the Bible from the book of Philippians.

Concerning our standing it says we need to be firm in one spirit and then concerning our striving together we need to be with one soul. So this verse shows us an exercise of both the spirit and the soul. Many believers, many Christians may not realize or perceive the critical difference between these two portions or aspects of our being, the spirit and the soul. So, to clarify, to reveal this very basic and important understanding.

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Philippians (Program #7) – The Best Choice of Paul

When things are going well in our life and God seems to be answering all of our prayers for our practical living, how easy it is to rejoice in the Lord even to boast to other of how marvelous it is to be saved and to love Jesus. But what if rather then grand every request for a good job and a happy family life or even a new house, the Lord would to allow us to be thrown into prison or even beaten, then could we boast?  Will we then be full of rejoicing and be able to minister encouragement to others?  The book of Philippians shows us how the apostle Paul related to such a situation and it also gives us a way to be brought into the real experience of practical salvation.

We have seen now in our first messages in these life study of Philippians that it is very meaningful to understand the circumstances that Paul was in when he wrote this letter dealing with the experience of Christ. In virtually very verse he pointing us and bringing us to one thing and that is the genuine experience and the enjoyment of Christ.

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Philippians (Program #6b) – Magnifying Christ by Living Him (2)

In Philippians 1:20 the Apostle Paul says, “according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be put to shame but with all boldness as always even now Christ shall be magnified in my body whether through life or through death.”  The apostle Paul wrote these words as he was in prison in a Roman jail and his exhortation to the Philippines was to follow his pattern of experiencing and enjoying even magnifying Christ regardless of his outward situation.

As we continue our fellowship from yesterday, another message covering Paul’s experience, magnified Christ by experience Him even through sufferings. There are much more here as we are able to cover a message of remarkable depth and incredible insight and so much encouragement for us.

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Philippians (Program #6a) – Magnifying Christ by Living Him (1)

Philippians is a book that shows the reality of experiencing Christ. The apostle Paul presents himself as the living witness as the one who experience Christ in the depth of his being regardless of his outward circumstances or sufferings. Paul had learned the key not just how to endure hardship but how to allow every situation to become an opportunity for Christ to be magnified and expressed even in his body. A wonderful glimpse into the life of a person who was experiencing being one living with our Lord Jesus Christ

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Philippians (Program #5) – The Bountiful Supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ

The bountiful supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ is a crucial expression and it would be our focus on today’s life study of the the Bible from Philippians.

We want to discuss this bountiful supply which is Paul found out can cause negative situation to actually turn out to salvation.

We want to begin by looking at the meaning of the Greek word as we find it in the text here. It’s translated in the Recovery version of the Bible as “the bountiful supply”. The word in Greek refers to a chorus leader, the leader of a chorus.  In Greek term probably pronounce as “choragus” And this is the one who supply all of the needs of the chorus. In fact in ancient time this choir leader or ” choragus” supply not just the needs of the group in a general way, but also provided for every need of each individual chorus member. It is a marvelous example how the Spirit of Jesus Christ takes care of us.

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Philippians (Program #4) – The Different Preachings of Christ

In Philippians 1:15 the apostle Paul says, some indeed preach Christ even because of envy and strife and some also because of good will.  Our topic today on this life study program is the different preachings of Christ.

We all heard it said that as long as Christ is been preached everything is OK. But in this book, the book of Philippians there are quite a few different ways of preachings Christ and they are not ALL OK as we will find out.

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Philippians (Program #3) – Paul’s Suffering for the Gospel and His Enjoyment of Grace

Through out the ages many people had suffered for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Among these the apostle Paul stand prominently. In fact in many of his Epistles they are specific references and even details regarding not only his suffering but also the suffering we may experience as well. Philippians gives us such an account not just the suffering because of his willingness to preach the gospel in a general way.

Today on our life study of the Bible we will see Paul as an example not just of suffering but as one who also had the enjoyment of grace under suffering and the high gospel for which he had suffered.

This phrase” enjoyment of grace under suffering”, almost sounds like kind of contradiction to our natural ear…

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Philippians (Program #2) – The Church in Philippi

Have you ever wonder why there are so much dissension, division among genuine Christians?  It is not new among believers of Christ today, the apostle Paul addressed this problem in his Epistle to the Philippians as well as many other places. And we are going to visit Philippians today.  We promise you some new insights from God’s word.

Let’s look at Philippians 1:1, it says “Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the overseers and deacons”. Philippians is the only book in the New Testament that uses this phrase “to all the saints with the overseers and deacons”.  We are going to find out how this phrase is a window into God’s administration, His plan for administration for the church.

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