Fighting Temptation

Matthew 4:4

It is written,

"Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God."

It is written,

"You shall not put the Lord your God to the test."

It is written,

"You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve."

Let’s march at the same PACE so as to fight as one. Philippians 2:1-11

"All that looks like reality to us is dependent on God. There is a creation and a creator, nothing more. And creation gets all its meaning and purpose from God." John Piper

Let's go over the gospel message

1. There is a standard.
   
2. You don't meet that standard.
   
3. Conviction from hearing that standard.
   
4. Repentance and forgiveness from the author of that standard.
   
5. Salvation and indwelling Spirit from the God of that standard.
   

   
    

    The concepts in Philippians are based securely on the unity you have with Christ upon salvation. Of which immediately following is a battle within you of light overcoming the darkness in your heart. The reality of the very spirit of God being in you is a bit overwhelming but this explains the transformation of your desires to God and righteousness. You have become an outcast to society and joined the brotherhood of believers, you now are a Christian.

Philippians has always been a family favorite around our home, there are allot of great themes and exhortations. The fact that they are very practical really helps. It is a good compass for the soul.

We left off with an encouragement to be mature Christians worthy of the gospel of Christ. Paul says we should be striving for the faith of the gospel. What comes next is a brief overview of just that.

Ph 2:1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from Love, any participation in the spirit, any affection and sympathy,

    What is salvation? Has it had any effect on you? The Gospel is not of this world it is supernatural! I say take joy in these things. You have got to take joy.

1. There is a kinship that runs deeper than any worldly host can know
   
   1. Mathew 12: 48He replied to him, "Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?" 49pointing to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. 50for whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."
      

>>--------Encouragement in Christ?-

            Important because –Ecclesiastes 4:10 – two are better than one...If one falls the other will lift him up. Paraphrase

As a young man I despised emotions, seeing them as a hindrance to good order and weakness to those controlled by them. Obviously we are not to be controlled by our emotions but they are indeed a gift of God. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that I indeed had emotions and not only that as I matured in Christ the more prominent they had become. I cry much easier now than before and it's for two things especially.

1. God's mercy 2. Children in need.
   

   "Rugged individualism may work for us being Americans; it doesn't work for us as Christians." Dr. Voddie Baulchum J.r.
   

When I read this it shouts to me take Joy in the Christian life! Very God of Very God suffered and died to purchase this for us. If you are awe struck by that then it is the Spirit of the living God in you.

I have heard this analogy –"emotions are like seasoning, you don't eat them alone --but they make a good steak a whole lot better."

1. Emotions are here for our blessing even our health. Proverbs 17:22 a merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
   
2. The world says joy is having what I want when I want it. They can't help but be self serving in their view. When they receive it then quickly they move onto something else: poor wicked heart - no contentment no peace.
   

1. Joy is a proper motivation for the Christian life.
   

           Hebrews 12:2. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
   

           The word joy here in Greek sounds like Ha-ra
   

2. Participation in the spirit
   
3. Affections and sympathy
   
4. Comfort of Love
   
5. Encouragement in Christ
   

   Let's march at the same PACE so as to fight as one.
   

    Do you hear the whisper? It's speaking of joy in Christ. When Jesus Christ is the object of your joy- It is immovable
inextinguishable
invincible

Romans 8:16 "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God"

Ph 2:2 Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

1. 
   Ha-ra- Paul says that this is his joy or – grace recognized (As Strong's concordance puts it)
   

See Paul's Heart? He desires to see Christ in us. These things are accomplished by the grace of God in you. The path to mature selflessness unto God is paved with love and humility.

>>-----------Comfort of Love

1. Love is multifaceted and always clothed in a proper attitude.
   
   1. Love is care and compassion that compels us to serve.
      
   2. Love is always righteous.
      

      Look at 1 Corinthians 13
      

          It's not just what we say, know, or do; it's the attitude and motivation coupled with it.
      

      Notice patience is first on that great list of love. This causes us to look at our motivations, then take our sin to the cross and serve in peace.
      

    Back to Philippians 2:2

1. Notice that it says same mind then love and then one mind. – Mind- love- mind. If we get this wrong we can go terribly wrong, remember the sixties? Debauchery abounded in the name of Love and Jesus.
   

But the key question is what this "same mind" is?

1. Romans 12:16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited
   
   1. If we simply followed this in the church a lot of problems would be gone.
      

          The problem is we're seeker sensitive and success oriented and not obedient to God – in the American church arena.
      

   2. Having this heart sets the stage for service of one another.
      

      Remember same mind has the strong sense of humility.
      

Paul uses phroneō 9 times and 5 of them are humility.

Ph 2:3 Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

>>----------Affections and Sympathy

1. We can kill joy (Grace) with rivalry. Competing for superiority. Consumed with self and rejecting the struggles of others.
   

           "Sympathy= two hearts tugging at the same rope."Charles E. Woodcock
   

   
    

2. We can kill joy (Grace) with conceit. - Thinking better of yourself than you ought.
   

       "The hardest of all is learning- to be a well of affection and not a fountain, to show them that we love them, not when we feel like it, but when they do." Nan Fairbrother.
   

   
    

           Both rivalry and conceit are built on Pride. Humility is paramount in our fight for joy!
   

   1. 2 Corinthians 10:12 b. But they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
      
   2. Jeremiah 17:9 The heart deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it.
      

      ---Let say for instance we had 2 great contractors building a supermall. Now the ladies are interested. These guys are diligent and just working hard on the grand scheme and lofty ideals. If they don't meet and agree on one small point, the most critical of all; nothing in the whole project will ever work. It's not plumbing, electrical or structural. It is more basic than that, they must agree on a standard of measurement. I'm just glad after all this time there is no argument that the English system is the best.
      

   3. We have 1 standard of measurement in two expressions. 1 the perfect law of God and 2 the Lord Jesus Christ – both of which drive us to repentance and not prideful self absorption.
      

 

Ph 2:4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

1. We normally look to our own interests, hopefully as diligent stewards, this is Godley.
   
   1. Proverbs 12:24 The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.
      
2. Matthew 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done [it] unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done [it] unto me.
   

We must balance these two verses and as we obey the first one then we can obey the second.

1. Act 4:32-35 32And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
   33And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. 34Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, 35And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
   

1.     Common - koy-nos = a sense in being stripped of specialness, treated as ordinary or mundane.
   

   Imagine if you will an old style scale. On one side you have your earthly goods (time & resources) and on the other side you have the family of believes in your circle of life.
   

   It's a matter of value,     
   

2. 
   Clement (from the early church) describing the person who has come to know God, wrote, "He impoverishes himself out of love, so that he is certain he may never overlook a brother in need, especially if he knows he can bear poverty better than his brother. He likewise considers the pain of another as his own pain. And if he suffers any hardship because of having given out of his own poverty, he does not complain."
   

   
    

   This is a far cry from the noxious concept of socialism that strips men of honor and sacred rights of property.
   

>>-------Participation in the spirit

Ph 2:5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,

Ph 2:6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,

1. This is the set up and the call to arms if you will. Have this mind among you is a plea for humility. Put aside all your ideals and earthly measurements, our lord and savior who is the lord of all became a servant and you stand there considering yourself better than others -- please. It's a grand call to humility, what else could God have done. Will you respond?
   

 

Ph 2:7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men

Ph 2:8 and being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Being a servant is not optional, it the way of God. God's enemies have no defense for it. Remember the greatest among you is the servant of all.

>>------Encouragement in Christ

1. Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus turned to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."
   

Ph 2:9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,

Ph 2:10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

Ph 2:11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the Glory of God the Father.

I think these words decry the truth and I dare not tarnish them with my feeble mind.

In the midst of the battle, is there any consolation in Christ? Indeed we are to press on and press hard.

Paul's resolve is unlimited even to death. Like runners in a race or soldiers in battle.

1. Phil 1:21 for to me to live is Christ and to die is gain.
   
2. Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy,
   

Here he is facing his future that would be imprisonment and death.

There is a Way- There is a Truth -There is a Life and it is all in Christ!

    If you are not in Him than you'll have none of it.

Colossians 3:1-17

1If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ who is your^a life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

5Put to death therefore what is earthly in you:^b sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6On account of these the wrath of God is coming.^c
7In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self^d with its practices 10and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave,^e free; but Christ is all, and in all.

12Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Amen.

When I was a child, I was born a twin #6 out of 8 children but –

    I was the "good twin".

When I was a little older some of my siblings would say that I was their

"Favorite brother".

These things having there negative effect, my grandmother who I had just met at age 11 told me that I had "Delusions of grandeur" so much for cuddles and cookies.

 

Not to be discouraged later as a young adult my families friends told me that I wasn't at all like my family I was "cool".

One night while hanging out with friends his father told me I wasn't like the other guys; I was "going somewhere".

As a young Christian an older gentleman in the church told me that I was going to be "used by God".

And if that is not enough my wife is constantly reassured that she got the

"Best brother".

 

Pure Joy?

    James 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,^[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds

God is working Sanctification in your soul, praise God! Your trouble will temp you to put your focus on your idolatrous self. But God wants our focus on Him. You are in the process of learning to set your emotions and contentment on Christ. Idolatry is a wicked task master and will eat your emotions, desire and energy, your very life. Christ on the other hand will set you free to rejoice in all things. The focus is no longer you and what you get.

 

To meet the King

    There is an appointed time in the lives of all humanity when each one of us will come face to face with the creator. This is the most important meeting in all of time; this is when every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is lord. This lord is the one in who the very fabric of time bows down and the molecules of all flesh trembles. The sun, moon and stars never cease to obey Him; he is the author of life. This is where we get the concepts of glory, honor and justice. On that great and fearful day; everyone will be giving this King of Kings the greatest gifts they are able. One by one they will be pouring them out at His feet in reverent per-session.

    But wait there is a section of this great crowd with nothing in their hand to give. They have arrived at this "the grandest of all events" having consumed their lives with a depraved self-serving existence. Woe to you who on this day of honor and glory have nothing to give.

    So what are the gifts that are given? Are they Frankincense, Gold and Myrrh? No - While these gifts have the aroma of Frankincense the value of gold and the healing properties of Myrrh; it is none of the above.

    What we are talking about is what the savior was born in a manger for. The Lamb of God was born in the humblest of circumstances. He fully deserved the worship of all creation; He suffered himself to have none. The Lord of the universe was born to live humbly and die with great despair; to take the place in judgment for self-serving deceitful men. At the throne of judgment you will either be required to pay your own sin debt or it will have been paid by another. Here superstitious religious conjecture will amount to nothing. Here you will either have nothing to give or you will present your sanctified heart to him. What is that you may ask? When someone comes to Christ in this life and God confirms that total surrender by sealing you with the Holy Spirit; the journey begins. For at the cross of Christ; it's not merely a fire insurance policy or a ticket to heaven that was purchased by the God of all glory. He was born to purchase from among men any who would seek Him and be saved from the sinfulness of their hearts; from that which wages war against things pure, just and lovely.

    All men are born in sin yet salvation means being freed from that bondage to sin. Sanctification simply means going to war against the passions of the flesh and pursuing a selfless and self-controlled life; that is the unshakable foundation of liberty. Then at the end of your life when you stand on that day you will present to Him what he gave to you; the priceless treasure of a sanctified heart.

    So confess your sins to Christ and receive from Him the eternal gift that you will carry all the way to His throne.

Angels

    Angels are heavenly beings of strength, power, and an overwhelming force beyond our understanding. Beauty and glory are in their wings – these beautiful creations of God are undone and are compelled to glorify God in heaven; which is well pleasing to all of creation.

Luke 2:

    13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Selfishness

    Selfishness is a terrible wicked beast. Who if it

sees a glimpse of unrestraint from its proper cage

leaps forth devouring your life and family. When you

feed this beast it grows wilder and stronger so that its

former restraints will no longer hold. The only clear

answer is to put this beast to death. Though it be a

gruesome battle and you perhaps may suffer injury.

The only path to peace runs through this cage and

over the grave of this beast.

    Say no to the subtle desires of your heart and yes

to the tremendous beauty of your children.

Dear Son,

                                     

 

    As you grow and learn in our home, I'm sure you have noticed that your parents struggle and sometimes fail to live right before God. Some of this you know and some you don't notice. The choice is yours as you move forward in life. How will you respond to these facts? As you grow in Christ you will become aware of truths that I either don't know or am unwilling to act on. Please continue in a forgiving Spirit, considering yourself. Our desire is to be a support and blessing to you as you lead your family in Christ. When you realize our imperfections small and great, please don't allow pride a foothold in your heart. You don't know it but pride and unforgiveness are family traditions. They have caused us to wonder through history being part of the problem and not the solution. If we are going to fight the systems of Satan and replace them with the systems of Christ. Then we must get our relationships right one generation to the next. So that the strengths of one generation blesses the others. While the weaknesses of each generation are learned from and quickly forgiven.

            In Christ Dad