King James Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: The God of Peace
For: Sunday December 05, 2010
Chapters: The Book of Philippians
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-december-5

Details of Today's Chapters: Paul prays for the Philippians, suffering for Christ, rejoicing in the Lord, to be abound and abased, and strength through Christ.

Hello My Friend/Guest,
The Book of Philippians is the eleventh book of the New Testament, the fiftieth book of the Bible, and contains four chapters. The author of this epistle (letter) is Paul and it was written to the church of Philippi. The purpose of the letter was to bring Christian unity, there was some strife going on in the church so Paul encourages them to just live for Jesus first and there will be unity. What we are to learn from the book is that unity with Jesus brings us joy in all that we do. “Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” - Philippians 2:2.

Jesus said, “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.” - John 15:12. As Christians no matter how much we try to love one another, it can be a little difficult to love certain people, especially when they are constantly trying to bring you down, even other Christians can do this. So, how do we love one another as Jesus commands without falling apart? Paul said, “I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” - Philippians 4:12,13.

To be abased means to humble yourself, let it go, even if you know you are right, sometimes you just have to let them say what they want, God knows the truth and it makes you free. To abound means to exist or occur in abundance, to be plentifully supplied. God is taking care of everything and one day you will see the blessings for stepping aside and not stooping to their level. “For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:” - I Peter 3:17,18.

Of course, we are going to fall from time to time, but the great thing about God is that He is right there to pick us back up. Paul explains what helps him overcome all the struggles he faces, “According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain...Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; ” - Philippians 1:20,21,27.

Paul's defense, to live for Christ. The truth is this, if we are not dwelling on our problems and focusing on others it lessens our burdens, what better person to focus on then Jesus. We do not even have to do much, just tell the Gospel to someone. You do not have to know the Bible to tell someone about Jesus, you just have to believe in Jesus and tell them what you believe. “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself:”- I John 5:10.


If there was ever anyone who had the right to fight back it was Jesus, but He was the most abased man there was. “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” - Philippians 2:5-8.

Jesus could have done anything He wanted, but He chose to humble Himself to a mere servant and take on every sin that was and will be committed by everyone and gave His life for them. However, death had no rule over Jesus, He arose three days later, proving that no one, not even Satan himself can defeat the power of God. “Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” - Romans 6:9-11. Praise God!

Paul gives us some encouragement, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.” -Philippians 3:13-17.

It is time to let by gones be by gones, we can not do anything about the past, but we can do something about now. Press forward, reach for some goals, forget about them, in fact, thank them. You have much more going for you, Christ. He is right there with you, encouraging you and giving you the strength you need to keep going. “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” - Philippians 4:8,9. Praise God!

Be blessed, enjoy the rest of your day/night and have a great week. P.S. Forgive me for being late sending this out.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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