Morning Moments

Philippians Devotional Outline Continued

This amazing life of Christ in us that brings such power to live as we could not otherwise live, besides being a life of brotherhood and blessings is:

C. A Life of Burden 1:8-11

The hymn says burdens are lifted at Calvary, but burdens are given there too. Jesus said, "...take my burden upon you...". Paul said, "Bear one anothers burdens...", and "let each bear his own burden..."

1. Paul Travails - "long for you...affections of Christ" 1:8

What intensity! Paul both experienced and expressed this deep affection that was his for them because of Christ. This morning I received a call from a Christian brother who said to me, "I am so restless. My soul is in such turmoil." I asked one simple question, "Are you involved in sexual sin?" There was silence on the other end of the line. I continued, "There is only one burden you cannot carry and that is the burden of sin. It will take you to an early grave. You can bear the burdens of pain and love and a thousand other things. You can even help others bear some of their burdens, but you CANNOT bear the burden of SIN. NO ONE CAN! It is why Jesus did it for us and if we agree with (confess, say the same thing God says) about our sins and the Savior and His salvation from them, we become free of them.

I love my friend so much that I want him free. I know what the burden of sin will do and so do you, but it is foolishness not faith that keeps us burdened by them rather than free of them. When we become free of the burden of sin ourselves, we can truly help others become free too.

2. Philippian's Triumph 1:9-11

Seeing others "GET IT" is an exciting thing. My travail brings triumph to others. That is what we see here. Remember Paul's words to the Colossians, "I travail in birth until now that Christ be formed in you." That is what this incredible love of Christ in us for others does. It is astounding! It is amazing! It is Awesome! BUT to teach others to be free we must become free ourselves. To teach others to love we must love ourselves. To teach others to triumph we must triumph ourselves. AND triumph Paul did, which is why he could say, "what you have seen and heard in me, DO. As our love for Christ and one another grows (1:9), there are four things that will follow in direct proportion to that love:

a. Accumulate the facts - "knowledge" 1:9a

This knowledge is that which Paul describes in 3:10 AMP 3:10 [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope] 3:11 That if possible I may attain to the [spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body]. I absolutely love that free translation of the text. The key word being INTIMATE.

b. Assimilate the facts - "judgment" 1:9b

The word was used for testing the genuineness of precious metals and coins. The idea is that of testing for the purpose of approval. I like to think of it this way: If God's love motivates me to grow in intimate knowledge of Him, then my desire to "approve" or to test things so that they are things that meet His approval are much more important to me. Does my personal pride meet God's approval? NO! So I reject my personal pride by reckoning myself dead to self and alive to God in Christ. It is the same with the lust of the eyes or the lust of the flesh. I am sixty nine years old and my wife is younger:). The other day she received in the mail a Victoria Secret catalog. I have no interest in looking at young women in undergarments, so I put the magazine aside and she threw it in the trash. I could have looked through it but why? The knowledge I have received from loving God and myself and my wife is that I do not need to fill my mind with pictures of scantily clad women. It is a choice! Grace teaches us to simply say, "NO". God doesn't approve of this and we go in growing.

C. Activate the Faith - "sincere and without offense" 1:10

This process is a faith process that simply desires to please God for "without faith it is impossible to please Him". This is not a mere mental or emotional exercise, but a spiritual process that is sincere, pure, innocent, and free from impurity or selfishness. It comes from grace which teaches us "to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live sobermindly, godly, and righteously in this present world."

There is nothing about this process of faith that would cause another believer to stumble or to be offended, but would be an encouragement to them for there would be no trace of guilt is this process. It is free from blame and leads all to -

D. Appreciate the Fruit - "filled with fruits...until..." 1:11

The fruit of righteousness is sown is peace and there are no laws against righteous fruit. This is how we are to live until Jesus comes. It is how we can live and should live as we ABIDE in Christ, RECKON ourselves dead to sin, ALIVE to God, FORGIVEN and FILLED. That is the faith life and it is OUR live IN CHRIST.

BLESSINGS!