A Good Work Begun

TURN to PHIL CH. 1....

BEGIN W/ READING the TEXT....

(T) THE SCRIPTURE SAYS,

Passage Reading:

Philippians 1:1–11 (ESV)

1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,

4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy,

5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.

6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.

8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.

9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment,

10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,

11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

------*OPEN in PRAYER*-----

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INTRO: Enjoy the Journey?

HELPFUL METAPHOR—CHRISTIAN LIFE = JOURNEY

FROM START of LIFE W/ CHRIST

UNTIL HIS COMING/OUR DEATH...

WE’RE ON a JOURNEY

JOURNEY ISN’T HARD to NAVIGATE:

CHRIST = the WAY

DESTINATION (HEAVEN,SALVATION) = SURE

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STILL in PROCESS//JOURNEY

**PERSONALLY GET MORE EXCITED ABOUT DESTINATION THAN the TRIP**

WE’RE on a JOURNEY—CHRISTIAN GROWTH

BEING MOLDED into the IMAGE of CHRIST

UNTIL FINAL RESURRECTION

THERE’S a DAY—JOURNEY WILL COMPLETE

BUT UNTIL THEN,, WE’RE in PROCESS

NEED:

ENCOURAGE: SURETY of DESTINATION

MOTIVATE: GET GROWING in PRESENT...

(T) BUT BEFORE WE BEGIN, I’D LIKE TO OFFER A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON THIS LETTER BEFORE WE SPEND THE NEXT NUMBER OF WEEKS DIVING INTO IT.

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BACKGROUND (PHILIPPIANS)

AUTHOR: PAUL

SITUATION: PRISON—PROBABLY ROME

DATE: 60-62 A.D. (ROMAN IMPRISONMENT)

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CHURCH @ PHILIPPI:

ESTABLISHED on 2ND MISSIONARY JOURNEY ((SEE P.P. SLIDE))

ACTS CH. 16

LYDIA—SELLER of PURPLE

PHILIPPIAN JAILER (JAIL BREAK!)

**HELPFUL REMINDER:

PAUL = REAL GUY

PHILIPPIAN CHRISTIANS = REAL PEOPLE

LETTER WRITTEN to THESE FOLKS

***WE GET to EAVESDROP!***

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PHILIPPI (CITY)

RENAMED AFTER PHILIP II of MACEDON (FATHER of ALEXANDER the GREAT)

IN PAUL’S DAY—ROMAN TERRITORY

IMPORTANT CITY in MACEDONIA (ROMAN PROVINCE)

NORTHEAST of GREEK PENINSULA ((SEE SAME P.P. SLIDE))

STOP ALONG the VIA EGNATIA (EGNATIAN WAY)…SUPER SIGNIFICANT ROMAN ROAD ((SEE P.P. SLIDES X2))

CONNECTED ITALIAN PENINSULA to ASIA,, OVER 400 MILES LONG

MOVED TROOPS & LATER TRADE

PHILIPPI = PRIMARILY GENTILE:

BELIEVED NO SYNAGOGUES @ PAUL’S TIME…PLACE of PRAYER = BY RIVER...

**SEE OTHER P.P. SLIDES —FORUM/PUBLIC SQUARE && 2ND: THEATRE

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PAUL WRITES,, FROM JAIL,, to YOUNG, GENTILE CHURCH:

MESSAGE of JOY—DESPITE TRIALS

ENCOURAGE UNITY in CHURCH THROUGH CHRISTIAN HUMILITY

PURSUING CHRIST = GOAL of LIFE

2X in LETTER—PAUL ADDRESSES CITIZENSHIP—HEAVENLY,, RATHER THAN ROMAN.

SERIES TITLE:

LIVING as HEAVEN’S CITIZENS…SUMS UP ALL THESE THEMES.

LOOKING to ANSWER the QUESTION:

“AS A CITIZEN OF HEAVEN, HOW OUGHT I TO LIVE THIS LIFE BEFORE GOD?”

A LOT to LEARN....

(T) AND SO LET US BEGIN THIS JOURNEY, IF YOU’D LOOK WITH ME AT THE LETTER TO THE PHILIPPIANS, CHAPTER ONE, WE’RE GOING TO BEGIN WITH VERSE ONE.

THE SCRIPTURE SAYS,

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PREACHING PASSAGE: PHIL. 1:1-11 ESV

THOUGHT 1: PAUL’S INTRODUCTION (V1-2)

Philippians 1:1–11 (ESV)

1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

LETTER WRITTEN BY PAUL

ACCOMPANIED: TIMOTHY

POSSIBLY SECRETARY

PROBABLY: PAUL’S ENDORSEMENT of HIM

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NORMALLY: PAUL BEGINS “APOSTLE”

HERE: SOLELY “SERVANTS”—SLAVES! of CHRIST JESUS!

JESUS SAID “GREAT WILL BE SERVANT,, GREATEST WILL BE SLAVE” (MK CH.10:43-44)

***ALL POSITIONS in the CHURCH = SUBJECT to the CHIEF-SHEPHERD***

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(V1B) LETTER WRITTEN to SAINTS @ PHILIPPI

GK: “HOLY ONES”

GOD’S CHOICE PEOPLE—SEPARATED FROM REST of WORLD

ISRAEL = LIGHT to GENTILES

CHURCH = LIGHT to WORLD & JEWS!

****DESPITE BEING GENTILES!!****

PHILIPPIAN CHRISTIANS = SAINTS

GRACE CHAPEL CHRISTIANS = SAINTS

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(V2) PAUL BEGINS WITH OPENING of GRACE-WISH & PEACE

GOD’S GRACE & PEACE (WHOLENESS) UPON the CHURCH

GRACE = FOREFRONT in LETTER:

SAINTS

“GRACE”

GOD,, “OUR” FATHER??!

(T) AND THUS, PAUL OPENS THIS GREAT LETTER TO A CHURCH THAT HAD BECOME VERY DEAR TO HIM.

WE’LL SEE WHAT HE HAS TO SAY TO THEM,

IF YOU’D LOOK WITH ME AT VERSE 3.

THE APOSTLE WRITES,

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THOUGHT 2: PAUL’S THANKSGIVING (V3-5)

3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,

4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy,

5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.

PAUL = THANKFUL FOR PHILIPPIAN CHRISTIANS:

EVERY REMEMBRANCE = THANKSGIVING

EVERY PRAYER = WITH JOY!

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BIG DEAL: READ THIS in LIGHT of the REST of PAUL’S LETTERS

GALATIANS—WOODSHED— “WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?!”

CORINTHIANS—WOODSHED — “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!”

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PHILIPPIANS = DOING GOOD...

(V5) DISTINGUISHED— PARTNERSHIP in GOSPEL...

in SHARING GOOD NEWS

**MOST DISTINGUISHED: A CHURCH THAT WAS GENEROUS

2 Corinthians 8:1–2 (ESV)

1 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia,

2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.

NOT OVERLY RICH—BUT VERY GENEROUS—WITHOUT PAUL’S ASKING

REALLY COOL NOTE: PARTNERSHIP in the GOSPEL

THEIR FINANCIAL SUPPORT = PARTNERSHIP

GREAT APOSTLE = SHARING CREDIT W/ SMALL POOR CHURCH

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LAST WK: SCOTT BROCK CAME

MISSIONARY WE SUPPORT—WE’RE PARTNERS in the GOSPEL W/ HIM!

**THOSE WHO GIVE TO CHURCH—

YOU’RE PARTNERS in the GOSPEL W/ US!

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PAUL = THANKFUL for PHILIPPIAN CHRISTIANS:

DOING GOOD

NO WILD SINS or DOCTRINES

GENEROUS

(T) AND IN LIGHT OF THEIR GIVING AND THIS AREA OF FRUITFULNESS IN THEIR LIVES,

PAUL GOES ON TO MAKE AN ASTOUNDING CLAIM:

LOOK WITH ME AT VERSE 6. THE SCRIPTURE SAYS,

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THOUGHT 3: PAUL’S ASSURANCE (V6)

6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

PAUL’S THANKSGIVING TODAY BEGINS W/ FOCUS on PHILIPPIANS’ WORK....

THEY HAD PARTNERED in GOSPEL W/ HIM...

IT WAS THEIR WORK && THEIR GIVING...

NOW PAUL SHIFTS: ADDRESSES GOD’S WORK...

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PHILIPPIANS HAD GOOD WORKS—BUT the ROOT WAS GOD!

GOD HAD BEGUN a GOOD WORK IN THEM!

GOOD WORK = REFERS to CHRISTIAN LIFE

THIS GOOD WORK = BEGUN BY GOD...

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OFTENTIMES CHRISTIANS CAN FOCUS MORE on CONVERSION SIDE of THINGS to NEGLECT of REGENERATION...

**TWO SIDES of SAME COIN

SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY:

CONVERSION = BEGINNING of CHRISTIAN LIFE (HUMAN PERSPECTIVE)

REGENERATION = BEGINNING of CHRISTIAN LIFE (DIVINE PERSPECTIVE)

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THERE’S TRUTH in:

“I HAVE DECIDED to FOLLOW JESUS”

“I CONVERTED to CHRISTIANITY”

BUT.... WE CAN’T LOSE SIGHT of ALL the GOD-CENTERED LANGUAGE in N.T.

BORN-AGAIN

BORN-FROM ABOVE

BORN of SPIRIT

REGENERATION

**NO ONE GIVES BIRTH to THEMSELVES...

NO ONE COMES APART FROM FATHER’S DRAWING

ONCE AGAIN: TENSION—DIVINE SOVEREIGNTY & HUMAN RESPONSIBILITY

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AFTER ACKNOWLEDGING PHILIPPIANS’ WORK...

---PAUL FOCUSES on GOD’S SIDE...

IT WAS GOD WHO BEGAN the GOOD WORK in US!!

GREAT NEWS:

...IF GOD BEGAN the WORK.....

(Q) DO YOU KNOW WHO WILL FINISH IT??… GOD.

WE DON’T KEEP OURSELVES SAVED…GOD DOES…

1 Peter 1:5 (ESV)

5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

DOCTRINE TITLES:

ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED

ETERNAL SECURITY

PERSEVERANCE of the SAINTS

I LIKE: PRESERVATION of the SAINTS...

POINT REMAINS:

GOD STARTED the WORK

GOD WILL FINISH IT...

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SUPER ENCOURAGING to ME....

BECAUSE: DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE:

UNMET GOALS....

OR UNFINISHED PROJECTS in LIFE????

**GREAT AT STARTING THINGS—NOT GREAT AT FINISHING**

COFFEE BAR WITHOUT DOORS

HALLWAY PARTIALLY PAINTED

STARTED TWO BOOKS,, LOTS of PROGRESS,, NOT FINISHED

(Q) ANYONE ELSE HERE?

**NO NUDGING**

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YOUR FINAL, END-TIME SALVATION.....DOESN’T DEPEND on YOUR FOLLOW THROUGH

IF YOU’RE TRULY SAVED,,

YOU DON’T KEEP YOURSELF,,

GOD FINISHES WHAT HE STARTS...

WE DO BELIEVE: TRUE SALVATION = RESULTS in GOOD WORKS/FRUITS

PAUL SEES FRUIT: PROOF in PUDDING

IN LIGHT of PROOFS— HE CONCLUDES: GOD’S BEGUN a WORK

&& WE KNOW GOD FINISHES HIS WORKS...

(T) AND PAUL CONTINUES, AND WRITES IN VERSE 7,

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THOUGHT 4: PAUL’S REASONING (V7-8)

7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.

8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.

CLOSING VALIDATION: PAUL’S CONCLUSIONS = RIGHT

THEY’RE HELD in HIS HEART

PARTAKERS of GRACE

LINKED ARMS...

PARTNERSHIP in GOSPEL

PARTAKER W/ HIM in GRACE...

BOTH in JAIL & IN GOSPEL-WORK

WE’RE ALL PARTAKERS TOGETHER—PART of GOD’S FAMILY

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(V8) PAUL CONCLUDES: GOD KNOWS HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU GUYS!

ENTIRE SECTION = CELEBRATION

of GOD’S WORK IN

& THROUGH the PHILIPPIANS

THEIR PAST WORKS —GIVING/GOSPEL PARTERSHIP

GOD’S FUTURE WORK—FINISHING SALVATION

(T) AND NOW, IN LIGHT OF PAUL’S GRATITUDE, IN LIGHT OF HIS CONFIDENCE, AND ALL THESE THINGS,

WE’RE GOING TO SEE THE CONTENT OF THE PRAYER THAT PAUL MAKES ON THEIR BEHALF,

AND ONE THAT WE SHOULD CERTAINLY PRAY AS WELL.

IF YOU’D LOOK WITH ME AT THE CLOSE OF THIS SECTION IN VERSES 9 THROUGH 11. THE SCRIPTURE SAYS,

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THOUGHT 5: PAUL’S PRAYER (V9-11)

9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment,

10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,

11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

PAUL’S PRAYERS CAN BE CONVICTING! PRAYS FOR BIG & INCREDIBLE THINGS...

**LOTS WE CAN LEARN && CAN FOLLOW THIS EXAMPLE**

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PRAYS: LOVE ABOUND—MORE & MORE

John 13:35 (ESV)

35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

REMEMBER: LOVE is THE THING!!

ABOUND—to HAVE in ABUNDANCE—GROW in CAPACITY—to OVER-EXCEED

PAUL PRAYS for LOVE W/ LEFTOVERS

??? YOUTH GROUP—

TAKE 1 PIECE of PIZZA

GUYS COULD EAT the WHOLE THING.

PAUL’S PRAYER: NOT JUST ENOUGH LOVE to GET BY.... BUT LOVE in ABUNDANCE W/ LEFTOVERS

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(V9B) LOVE ABOUNDING—W/ KNOWLEDGE & DISCERNMENT

LOVE ABOUNDING—BUT A LOVE THAT ACKNOWLEDGES RIGHT & WRONG

THAT OUR LOVE MIGHT COMPLEMENT WHAT GOD LOVES!

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(V10) LOVE ABOUNDS (KNOWLEDGE & DISCERNMENT)— SO THAT....

APPROVE WHAT is EXCELLENT

(GNT:) “CHOOSE WHAT is BEST”

LOVE

LOVE W/ DISCERNMENT (KNOWING RIGHT THING)

LOVE THAT DOES the RIGHT THING!

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CONCLUSION: BEING PURE & BLAMELESS on DAY of JESUS CHRIST!

NOT JUST POSITIONALLY, BUT in PART ACTUALLY!

FILLED W/ FRUITS of RIGHTEOUSNESS—COME THROUGH JESUS CHRIST...

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CHRISTIANS GROW in “FRUIT of SPIRIT”—WHAT GOD DOES in US---BUT WE PUT WORK IN.

??WE WORK to WATER & WEED, ETC…??

PAUL’S FINAL CONCLUSION: OUR FRUIT on FINAL DAY = TO GOD’S GLORY & PRAISE!!

(T) AND SO, WE CAN LEARN FROM THIS PASSAGE, THE IDEA THAT,

HOMILETICAL IDEA:

GOD’S WORK FOR US AND OUR RESULTING WORKS OUGHT TO BRING US TO GREAT CELEBRATION AND NOT STAGNATION.

CELEBRATING the PAST,,

BUT CONTINUING to GROW

GROWING in LOVE THAT OVERFLOWS

GROWING in LOVE THAT DISCERNS

GROWING FRUIT THAT GLORIFIES GOD!

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GOSPEL: THE FRUIT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS COMES THROUGH CHRIST ALONE

THIS PASSAGE SO CLEARLY SHOWS US WE HAVE REASON TO CELEBRATE.

CELEBRATING BOTH GOOD WORKS

MOST IMPORTANTLY: GOD’S WORK in US

**THE WORK THAT WILL BE FINISHED!!**

HE is the ONE WHO BEGINS the GOOD WORK!!

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WE HAVE ASSURANCE HE’LL FINISH the WORK ,,

BECAUSE IT is ALREADY FINISHED

JESUS on CROSS: “IT IS FINISHED”

WHEN JESUS DIED: OUR DEBTS WERE PAID

OUR SINS WERE FORGIVEN

IT’S ALL THROUGH CHRIST’S SACRIFICE—ONCE & FOR ALL

SALVATION = FREE GIFT

Ephesians 2:8 (ESV)

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

WE DON’T BRING ANYTHING to the TABLE

**WE CAN’T BIRTH OURSELVES**

SALVATION = GOD’S WORK---NOT a RESULT of OUR GOOD WORKS!!

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OUR SALVATION,, IT’S SECURITY = BOUND UP in GOD’S HANDS...

JESUS SAID NO ONE CAN SNATCH OUT....

HE AS GOOD SHEPHERD—LOSES NONE of HIS SHEEP...

***IF OUR SALVATION DEPENDED ON OUR ABILITY to STAY SAVED—WE’D HAVE NO REASON FOR HOPE…***

BUT WE’VE GOT a GOD WHO FINISHES WHAT HE STARTS

&& IF THERE’S FRUIT in YOUR LIFE,, IT’S a TESTIMONY THAT HE’S BEGUN a WORK in YOU...

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INVITATION & CALL:

HERE TODAY WITHOUT HOPE??

WITHOUT ASSURANCE of SALVATION??

UNSURE THAT HE HAS BEGUN a WORK in YOU?

TALK to ME AFTER SERVICE:

THROUGH FAITH & TRUST in CHRIST & WHAT HE DID @ CALVARY—YOU CAN BE FORGIVEN

CAN BE a PARTAKER of GRACE

THE WORK WAS FINISHED @ CALVARY

YOU CAN HAVE a SECURE HOPE TODAY...

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APP: CELEBRATION, NOT STAGNATION

TO THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN REDEEMED:

...OFFER CHALLENGE...

**SOMETIMES ETERNAL SECURITY CAN CAUSE BELIEVERS to BE LAZY**

GOD’S GOT ME—I DON’T HAVE to DO a THING

OR “I’VE DONE ENOUGH”

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WE CAN & SHOULD LOOK @ SECURITY & CELEBRATE...

WE SHOULD CELEBRATE WHAT GOD HAS DONE THROUGH US in the PAST

>>>BUT CELEBRATION SHOULD NEVER LEAD US to STAGNATION<<<

**WE SHOULD ALL BE ABLE to POINT to PAST FRUIT

CHRIST MAKES a CHANGE in US...

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PAUL DOESN’T SAY:

YOU’VE CHECKED the FRUIT BOX,, YOU’RE GOOD to GO!

HE RECOGNIZES PAST FRUIT & PRAYS FOR MORE!!

Paul’s Message:

“PAST GIVING = GREAT,

GOD’S CERTAINLY BEGUN a WORK!”

“NOW…I PRAY YOUR LOVE & DISCERNMENT GROWS & YOU BEAR MORE FRUIT!”

**REMEMBER: NOT WOOD-SHED....BUT BASIC CHRISTIANITY!

CHRISTIANS ARE to CONTINUE to GROW TILL CHRIST COMES!

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CHRISTIAN, HOW ARE YOU GROWING TODAY??

IS YOUR LOVE GROWING?

IS YOUR KNOWLEDGE of RIGHT & WRONG GROWING?

IS YOUR OBEDIENCE to this KNOWLEDGE GROWING?

CHRISTIAN,, ARE YOU TAKING YOUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH & HEALTH SERIOUSLY?

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INTERESTING PHENOMENON:

PRAYER REQUESTS/

PRAYER LINE/ ETC… ALMOST ALWAYS PHYSICAL THINGS

WE PRAY ABOUT PHYSICAL MALADIES ((& WE SHOULD!))

BUT WHEN WAS the LAST TIME YOU PRAYED ABOUT SPIRITUAL HEALTH & GROWTH??

IT’S a LIFE-LONG JOURNEY…THAT’S NEVER FINISHED TILL CHRIST COMES AGAIN...

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PROBABLY SOME HERE TODAY::

GRADUATED SCHOOL/COLLEGE

“I NEVER HAVE TO READ A BOOK AGAIN!”

RETIRED:

“I NEVER HAVE TO WORK AGAIN”

>>YOU NEVER GRADUATE/RETIRE FROM CHRISTIAN LIFE<<

YOU CAN NEVER SAY:

· I’VE SERVED ENOUGH

· I’VE LOVED ENOUGH

· I’VE READ MY BIBLE ENOUGH

· I’VE GONE TO CHURCH ENOUGH

· I’VE GIVEN ENOUGH

· I’VE HELPED OTHERS ENOUGH

· I’VE DENIED MYSELF ENOUGH

· I’VE FOLLOWED JESUS ENOUGH…

WE ALL NEED to CONSISTENTLY BE GROWING—OR WE’RE DYING...

GARDEN OR RUNNING/FITNESS EXAMPLE...

CAN’T WATER GARDEN ONCE

CAN’T GO FOR RUN ONCE

THINGS NEED to BE CONTINUAL

CHRISTIAN LIFE = SIMILAR… IF YOU WANT FRUIT YOU HAVE to BE INTENTIONAL

GOD BEGINS the WORK

GIVES US HIS SPIRIT

GIVES US WILL & POWER...

BUT WE HAVE to DO OUR PART...

OUR SPIRITUAL HEALTH & GROWTH SHOULD BE a MATTER of PRAYER REGULARLY

LIVING AS A CITIZEN OF HEAVEN MEANS THAT WE DON’T JUST CELEBRATE THE PAST AND DO NOTHING IN THE PRESENT. WE CELEBRATE, BUT WE DON’T STAGNATE.

WE’VE STILL GOT ROOM to GROW

BECAUSE ON THAT DAY WHEN CHRIST COMES,, HE DESIRES to SEE FRUIT on OUR TREE THAT ABOUNDS in GOD’S PRAISE…AMEN?

LET’S PRAY.