Philippians 1:1-11
Apostle Paul writes this epistle from his prison cell in Rome.
Paul was very appreciative of the Philippians church for all the help they had extended to him.
Philippians church brought special joy to Paul for their partnership in his ministry.
Even in prison, Paul has very fond memories of the church and its people.
Paul always thanks the Lord for this church.
6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
What is the Nature of that good work?
What Paul is talking about is God has begun a good work in every one of those people who accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
A Christian is someone in whom God has done a work that changed his/her life radically.
Bible refers to this change as being raised from the dead, or being transformed into a new creation.
II Corinthians 5:17
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a NEW CREATION; the old has gone, the new has come!"
Becoming a Christian is the deepest and most wonderful change that a person can ever know.
It is not a superficial and temporary change but a powerful work of God in the very center of our being that makes it a permanent change.
The Prophet Ezekiel describes it beautifully
Ezekiel 36:25-27:
"I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws…"
Somebody says that God performs a spiritual heart transplant.
God removes our hard old heart and gives us a new heart that loves Him and follows His ways.
Sometimes the fires of disappointment, heartaches, and trials are all part of God’s continuing HIS good work in us.
What is the purpose of that good work?
We are being prepared for the Day of Lord Jesus Christ.
What is the Day of Christ Jesus?
The day of the Lord is when HE comes for the believer what we know as rapture.
We have to remember that all that what we go through the experiences in life are all according to God’s design.
God permits everything that happens in our life.
He is shaping us and preparing us for the glorious future HE has in mind for us in eternity.
By the grace of God we are being prepared to meet our Lord Jesus Christ one day.
Apostle Paul’s confidence is based on the character of God Himself.
God never starts a work and leaves it unfinished.
That would be a contradiction of His character.
Everything rests upon the very fact that God would never have started the work in me or in you if HE had not decided to finish it.
The character of God guarantees the completion of the work.
Secondly we have to remember that God is working In us till our death.
It is the Holy Spirit living in us, living with us, changing us, molding us, and using us for His good pleasure.
We are indeed a work project in progress that God has started and still working.
God will not abandon the work but carries to completion when Christ comes back or our death.
Ruth Graham’s gravestone says “End of construction, Thank you for your patience”
As we step into 2014, we have to remember that we are God’s handiwork and HE has not finished yet.
We may have to face many challenges, situations, heartaches, temptations, and caught up at cross roads of life.
Remember that God allows all of that to break us, mold us, shape us, and transform us to make us ready to meet the Lord Jesus when the time comes.
We will face 2014 with confidence of the Holy Spirit’s partnership, counsel and power.
Apostle Paul writes this epistle from his prison cell in Rome.
Paul was very appreciative of the Philippians church for all the help they had extended to him.
Philippians church brought special joy to Paul for their partnership in his ministry.
Even in prison, Paul has very fond memories of the church and its people.
Paul always thanks the Lord for this church.
6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
What is the Nature of that good work?
What Paul is talking about is God has begun a good work in every one of those people who accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
A Christian is someone in whom God has done a work that changed his/her life radically.
Bible refers to this change as being raised from the dead, or being transformed into a new creation.
II Corinthians 5:17
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a NEW CREATION; the old has gone, the new has come!"
Becoming a Christian is the deepest and most wonderful change that a person can ever know.
It is not a superficial and temporary change but a powerful work of God in the very center of our being that makes it a permanent change.
The Prophet Ezekiel describes it beautifully
Ezekiel 36:25-27:
"I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws…"
Somebody says that God performs a spiritual heart transplant.
God removes our hard old heart and gives us a new heart that loves Him and follows His ways.
Sometimes the fires of disappointment, heartaches, and trials are all part of God’s continuing HIS good work in us.
What is the purpose of that good work?
We are being prepared for the Day of Lord Jesus Christ.
What is the Day of Christ Jesus?
The day of the Lord is when HE comes for the believer what we know as rapture.
We have to remember that all that what we go through the experiences in life are all according to God’s design.
God permits everything that happens in our life.
He is shaping us and preparing us for the glorious future HE has in mind for us in eternity.
By the grace of God we are being prepared to meet our Lord Jesus Christ one day.
Apostle Paul’s confidence is based on the character of God Himself.
God never starts a work and leaves it unfinished.
That would be a contradiction of His character.
Everything rests upon the very fact that God would never have started the work in me or in you if HE had not decided to finish it.
The character of God guarantees the completion of the work.
Secondly we have to remember that God is working In us till our death.
It is the Holy Spirit living in us, living with us, changing us, molding us, and using us for His good pleasure.
We are indeed a work project in progress that God has started and still working.
God will not abandon the work but carries to completion when Christ comes back or our death.
Ruth Graham’s gravestone says “End of construction, Thank you for your patience”
As we step into 2014, we have to remember that we are God’s handiwork and HE has not finished yet.
We may have to face many challenges, situations, heartaches, temptations, and caught up at cross roads of life.
Remember that God allows all of that to break us, mold us, shape us, and transform us to make us ready to meet the Lord Jesus when the time comes.
We will face 2014 with confidence of the Holy Spirit’s partnership, counsel and power.
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