Enduring With Christ

King James Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: Enduring With Christ
Date: Monday December 05, 2011
Chapters: The Book of Philippians
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://thesaviorjesuschrist.com/bible-reading-december-05
All Scripture quoted comes from the King James Version.

Hello My Friend,

There is nothing more exciting to the soulwinner than seeing a person bow their head and trust Christ as their Savior, even more exciting is watching a personal convert grow in their faith. “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”- James 1:12. We who are stronger in our faith need to encourage the weaker to keep growing, which in turn helps us grow as well. We all grow at different levels in our Christianity, but that growth comes through our ability to handle the situations we encounter.

As we allow Christ to work in our lives we become stronger in our faith, hence able to bare more situations. The true test comes when those situations are the result of our faith. Many Christian's have walked away from the faith because they couldn't handle the pressure of being persecuted for it. Jesus said, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you...If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.” -John 15:16,19,20.

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. He wrote this letter approximately 64AD from prison in Rome. The purpose of the letter was to bring Christian unity, to encourage them to keep going for the gospel of Christ, to caution them against judaizing teachers, and to express gratitude for their Christian bounty. 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.

The Church at Philippi in Macedonia was planted by the Apostle Paul about 53AD, The Philippians were greatly attached to Paul, and testified their affection by sending him supplies, even when laboring for other churches. When they heard that he was under confinement in Rome, they sent Epaphroditus, one of their pastors, to check on him, who then sent him back with this letter as a grateful acknowledgment of their kindness and to also encourage them to remain in the faith even though they would be facing persecution as well

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:..But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;..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. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you...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; And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.” -Philippians 1:6,12,20-24,27,28.

The person inside of every believer that allows us to grow in our faith is the Holy Spirit, many people are unaware that the Holy Spirit lives inside of them the second they get saved. This is often the result of them not getting baptized after they got saved. While you do not need to be baptized to be saved, it does help one stir up the spirit as they follow Christ's Commands. It is Christ, through the Holy Spirit, Who begins the good work in us; it is Christ Who carries it on in us, and it is Christ Who will ultimately complete that work by transforming us into His own likeness. As long as we let the Holy Spirit do His work we can rejoice in all our tribulations as witnesses to Christ, which turns others to Christ as well. Jesus said, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” - Matthew 28:19,20.

Paul stresses the importance of them to be in unity with each other. “Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:..Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;” -Philippians 2:2-5,12-15.

Being around other like minded Christian's is the key to growing in our faith and also strengthening our ability to handle stressful situations. Let's face it, not all Christian's think alike, some are more negative and depressing than people who live in the world. There is a little group that attends my church, when others see them coming they scatter because they never have anything good to say, they often talk through the service, and even cause some strife, especially when the one who heads up the group shows up. A brand new Christian cannot grow in Christ in a conflicting environment like that, I have seen many new Christians walk away from the faith because they are around negative, ungrateful, complainers, these being Christian's themselves. We need to get around positive people, we all have aches and pains in life, but we can find joy in all that we are faces with. Truthfully suffering brings us closer to God and joy. “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” - I Peter 4:12,13.

Paul encourages the Philippians to keep going forward. “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...For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.” -Philippians 3:13-15,20,21.

No matter what life you choose you are going to face some challenges, you cannot change today, but you can change how you handle tomorrow. The past is there for a reason, to help us learn and grow from it, but we must move forward and let all of the things that pull us back into the past go. Christ lives inside of you, the more you grow, the more He is seen through you, the stronger you become and are able to withstand all our tribulations. “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus...I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” -Philippians 4:4-7,13.

Today's Prayer: (Taken From Psalm 25)
Dear God,

Lord, as much as I want to live my life for You, there are times when I am so overwhelmed with things that I just want to walk away from everything. Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul. Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses. Give me the peace, joy, and happiness that I once enjoyed. Give me wisdom and guidance, help me see the light that shines through Your Son in me. I love You, Lord and ask these things in Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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