Philippians 3 : 12-13

Philippians 3:12-13 NKJV

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I  do,  forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,

Theme - sacrifice

In verse 12 I think Paul is talking about dying to self the highest sacrifice we can give to our Lord Jesus Christ. He knows that when he goes to heaven God the Father will see he as perfect, but to continue to sacrifice his whole being for the testimony of Jesus Christ. He says, "...but I press on...", no matter what happens to him he knows that it will be all worth it, because of what was waiting for him in heaven. So I tell you "press on" for Christ Himself is preparing a mansion for you in heaven.

In verse 13 it says, "... forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,...", when we accept Christ the book in heaven that had our sins written in it, is thrown into the fire, and doesn't come back. God sees as perfect, so when Paul says, "... forgetting those things which are behind...", I believe that is what we do. Plan and simple when it comes to the past, drop it, forget about it, only use it to share the testimony God gave you. Then Paul says, "...reaching forward to those things which are ahead,...". I can say it any better then, look forward to what God wants to in your life. Also, sometimes He will call you to do things that may be scary, I encourage you to look back at the testimony God gave you and see what He did for you, what He saved you from, and as a women from my church always told me, "Do it scared". Do it because God is the one calling you to do something.

Application - pray that when I'm faced with representing Christ, I stand firm

Philippians 3 : 11

Philippians 3:11 NKJV

if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Theme- sacrifice

With the theme of sacrifice, I look at this verse, and think that Paul is saying he will do anything (by any means), to attain the resurrection from the dead. To lay his sinful body down, lay all sins on the shoulders of Christ, all material things from this earth even his fleshly body, give it all to Jesus. That he may be resurrection by the Holy Spirit, and be perfect in the eyes of the Father in heaven. The whole point of living is to give it all to Jesus and live a life worth living. A life worth living, when I first heard it i was so utterly confused. Then I heard that a man that doesn't live a life for Christ will loose everything, but a man that lives a life for Christ will gain everlasting life, and a mansion is being prepared for those who believe in heaven, Christ said it Himself.

This is how this applied to my life, no earthly things is worth holding on to, not even people you hold dear to your heart, because if we don't love Christ first those relationships are pointless. So, if those relationships are above the relationship you have with Christ then you are in sin, and the bible says something like if something causes you to sin cut it off. So if becoming closer to God means breaking off a relationship you have with a friend, then do so because it can only benefit you in your walk with the Lord.

Application - when I get home say it God or the highway, because my life is for Him, and what you are doimg I can't except.

Philippians 3 : 10

Philippians 3:10 NKJV

that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,

Theme - sacrifice

The ultimate sacrifice, a perfect life given for an imperfect world full of sin. He took all sin, bore it all on His shoulders, in every single crack of the whip, He thought of you and I. God the Father knew the only way for people exactly like you and I to be saved, was to send His perfect Son Jesus Christ to die a gruesome death, pay the price we rightly deserved to pay. But instead He paid it Himself so that we may get the reward to go to heaven. Jesus conquered the grave so, that one day We may be with Him, and know the power of His resurrection,  also the fellowship of His sufferings. We know we will be able to experience these things becuase of His death.

For those reason what shall we hold higher then the One that thought of us throught His entire persecution. Through all the trials we go through we shall think of Him, and take joy in suffering for His great name. The name Jesus Christ, the One who died for us, we shall live every day for that name. James 1:2, "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials," it says in the bible that we should count in all joy, in the middle of the trials we face. So that we may take joy when we are being persicuted for His Name, because He died on the cross for us in love, and rose from the dead in joy that we may rejoice in heaven.

Application- so I ask God to give me joy in the times of sacrificing the flesh, and material for His great name.

Philippians 3 : 9

Philippians 3:9 NKJV

and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;

Theme - sacrifice

Philippians 3:8, "Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ" I'm verse 8 here, because it is a continues into verse 9.

So in verse 8 you can see it talks about whatever we go through, whatever we have to give up can't be compared to what we get when we get in Christ. So what I see here in verse 9 is not having any righteousness, and all the righteousness is for which is from God by faith. We don't deserve righteousness, because look at what we do, look at our sin. We are only cleansed when we have faith that Christ is in us. Which only came to us by the greatest sacrifice of them all. I see that the least I can do is sacrifice my pride, personally. I have a hard time throughing down my pride for the glory of God, and keep myself good in the eye's of men. When all I should care about is what God is seeing in my heart, and what others are seeing of Christ through my actions. We are called to be more like Christ everyday, and as I was reminded during bible study that all we must do, and the gospel will spread as the Lord leads me. I need less of people's acceptance, and more of Christ being happy how I'm proclaiming his name. There are multiple things I give righteousness to, and leave little for Christ.

Through people who God is using in my life, He has been showing me things I must sacrifice to Him, so that I will give Him all the righteousness. Like, Paul said in verse 8, he calls all of the things he lost, "rubbish", in other words its worthless. That's how I see it, so thinking about it why give righteousness to things that are worthless, it doesn't make sense.

Application- right down a list of things I need to stop giving righteousness to and burn it, just so I can see those thkngs become ash, and see them as worthless.

Philippians 3 : 8

Philippians 3:8 NKJV

Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ

Theme- sacrifice

The biggest thing that speaks to me in this verse is the line, "...and count them as rubbish. .." This speaks to me a lot, because I think of the missionary books we've read, and heard about. I think of what the gave up just so they could spread the gospel, and I hear about some missionaries saying things like why me, why do I have to do that, or oooh i can get out of that. Some even making excuses why they can't do what God is calling them to do, or because they are afraid of leaving something or someone behind. Then when Paul adds to that and says, "...that I may gain Christ." He didn't care that he had to give all those things, because he figured out that it all is pointless compared what he had gained. He gave up personal thing in exchange for something eternal, the relationship between himself, and Christ.

For me personally, I had no problem leaving home, and the people there, because I thought I knew I was going back. Then I started to learn that if my heart is truly after God's will, I don't know what I will be doing after this program. It's a little scary know that I think about it. To not know what your going to be doing. I've always had a plan to what I was doing, so when I had to do it, it would be done and I wouldn't have to worry about it. I didn't worry about my future until this very moment of writing this, but isn't that the point of being obedient, and willing to give up everything for Christ testimony. We as christians do this so that the gospel may be spread, not foe our comfort. We must be will to sacrifice everything.

Application - ask God to give not just me, but all people that is being called to do something that involves sacrifice, peace!

Psalms 133 : 1-3

Psalms 133:1-3 NKJV

Behold, how good and how pleasant it  is For brethren to dwell together in unity! It  is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments. It  is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the blessing— Life forevermore.

Theme - unity

Untiy holds things together, right? When you see unity, it's a beautiful thing. For example, when I was helping with children's ministry there were these three sisters, and they were just adorable. The coolest thing about them they were always together, they would help each other, and play with each other. When the girls were getting dropped off the youngest one didn't want her mom to leave. So her older sisters went to her, and comforted her so that she was ok to let her mom leave. The best thing was by the end of the day she didn't want to leave. But the whole point of this story is, so you can see the beauty in the unity these three girls had. They were so unified that they can be comfortable without their mom there with them.
This also makes me think of the apostles, they did everything together. Whereever they went the would be unified with the church, and it would produce fruit. Like a army, they would pair up divide, and conquer. God's army is called to do things together in unity, and shine a light into a perverse generation. We are in a team, so that there is accountability if you are with other believers there is a less chance of stumbling.

Applications - pray that team Guat has a unity like the apostles, and the three sisters had.

Acts 2 : 46-47

Acts 2:46-47 NKJV

So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

Theme - unity

This is a good ending to this chapter, because it shows the fruit that can come from unity. I think the two word  "continuing daily", are so important, because it references back to Acts 2:42 "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers." This is important, because one they talk about it twice so it shows you the importance. Two its a good reminder to be in our devotions daily. We must be in the word everyday, and night the bible says. We are like babies, every baby needs to be fed, and taken cared of. We are the same way, every day we need to read the bible so we can adjust our living style, and be fed the word of life.

I also think it is important to look at the atitude the people had in this verse, "...with gladness and simplicity of heart,..." this is important because it reminds us how we should be in time of rejoicing. Now I know it might sound weird when I say, "in time of rejoicing." But I feel that a lot of us has a hardened heart when it comes to rejoicing sometimes. One, because the attention might not be on ourself, but we need to remember that the attention should never be on us. Only on the one that is working through us, so we shouldn't be looking for our own glory but how that this may glorified God. Secondly, this is the attitude we should have in our everyday walk, and I know thats not always going to happen because we are all sinners. But its important to be able to look at something, and say, " I'm going to strive to do the best I can."

Lastly,  "And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved." So, I believe this is the fruit from this passage. When all this is present in our live, I believe we live out Philippians 2:15, "that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,". This tells us that we will, "shine as a light in the world. " So as these christians worshipped together in unity they shined a light so bright unbelievers couldn't deny Christ's testimony.

Application - sorry for doing the same as yesterday, but I liked it because it convicted me of a couple things that I said yesterday. So after prayer class I thought of what prayer was in Spanish and wrote it on my wrist. I did it in Spanish so I remember to pray for Guatemala, expecially Antigua, and it remindeds me of the 11 reasons to pray, expecially for untiy in a church family.

Acts 2 : 44-45

Acts 2:44-45 NKJV

Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.

Theme - unity

"Together", is such an amazing word. While I locked up the gate last night when I was walking back I thought how it might be to live alone. To live isolated and all by myself. As a believer I don't think anyone should live alone, and isolated from everyone. Now I understand if God calls you to live a single life, but I never heard of anyone to be called to live isolated completely by themselves. I said that the word together is an amazing word, I said that, because when you do something as a team it will turn out better because of all the other ideas that are being suggested. Like Charvel said, "I can tell when only one person does the editing." I think thats something we should always keep in mind, expecially as christians. Do you think you could run an entire church, or ministry completely on your own? I think not, when you see a good ministry or church being run there are a lot of different departments, being led by many different leaders. Now I'm not saying that every ministries that have a group of people leading will be successful, but it needs to have glue that holds it together. Think of a popsicle stick house you built when you were a kid, what held it together? The glue held it together, it the same thing for a church, or ministry. Jesus Christ need to be the glue of it, if you take Christ or the glue away from the house of God, it will fall apart.

Like we talked about in our IBS class, if you took all the students, and put them on a social map we would never think about hanging out with each other, but because Christ is our glue in the relationships we have it oddly enough works out.

Application - write together on the back of my hand to remember what this IBS

Acts 2 : 43

Acts 2:43 NKJV

Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.

Acts 2:43 NIV

Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.

Theme- unity

Acts 2:42 "They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." I wanted to start with yesterday's verse, because I believe if teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer continues in our daily walk with the Lord as a team or family, like the apostles. God will work wonders through us, Acts 19:11 "Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul,". God worked... is the most important part in the verse. Paul didn't do anything, besides staying faithful in the Lord. As a team if we stay faith to the Lord, and continue to do those four things listed in verse forty-three, I believe God will work through us.

As we were praying about broken families, I thought of unity and how it holds families together. My family didn't always have unity, and that's one of the reasons why a lot of our relationships fell apart. Like my brothers ex-girlfriend, we allowed her to overcome the unity, and friendship I had with my brother, and when she left it left our relationship in ruins. Nothing good comes out of ruins, unless God is the one rebuilding it. Trust me I know, its easy to tell apart a relationship that was built by man, and one by God. The one built by man falls apart, and there is no fruit from it. But the one's God puts together, there is much fruit, and a lot of glory go to God. And the relationship is built of unity, and nothing can separate it.

Application - take 20 minutes and pray for every person in class 8.

Acts 2 : 42

Acts 2:42 NKJV

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Theme- unity

In the couple verses before they talk on about how a few thousand people who gave their selves to the Lord, were added to the church. So I'm going to take this as if I was a teacher. So the apostles were preaching the word of God,  and in the first part of this verse it says, "they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship". Teachers shouldn't just teach one thing, but do another. Thats called being a hypocrite, and I can tell you right now Jesus Christ was no hypocrite. We are called to preach His word, and spread His testimony. So if we are hypocrites, why in the world would those we are teaching do the things we teach, like follow Christ. Philippians 2 says something like we should stick out and be a light to a preverse generation. How does someone that does the things of the world stick out, I'll tell you how only if I knew. You just simply can't do it. So the disciples stuck to what the said, and were steadfast in the word. A teacher should always constantly study the information they are teaching, so they can continue to learn.

The first part also say, "fellowship", this is very important,  because if fellowship isn't there, and disciples can't be made. We are called to disciple others, so that they can disciple other, and so on and so on. And I believe the last part ties in with this perfectly, "fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers." "In prayer", so important prayer is the best thing you can do for someome, and if you do it with others, like the disciples did. It can create unity, and relationships. Which is the first step to discipling others, once you have a relationship with someone you can disciple them more effectively. The power of prayer cam create untiy, but if it's about a relationship with someone else check yourself at the door, and go into it looking at both sides. Asking God for change in your heart, because if our heart is changed then you can learn to do the hard things through Christ.

Application - take fifteen minutes to pray and talk with God to changed my heart, and make me do those hard thjngs

1 corinthians 9 : 19

I Corinthians 9:19 NKJV

For though I am free from all men,  I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more;

Theme - servant

I believe that when Paul wrote this he didn't really mean to a servant to like he was a servant to Christ. But a serbamt that brings food and water to his master when asked for it, so Paul brought them the gospel which is the blood of Christ representing the drink, and the flesh representing the bread at the Passover. I Corinthians 9:23 "Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you." Paul only did this for the sake of the gospel,  for the sake of Christ's testimony. And in 1 corinthians 9:20-22, talks about adapting to the different people he word preach the gospel to. Like in our culture, and perspective classes, we talked about things that mean different where we are going then we know them as in the States. Also, how you would talk to someone that has heard the word would be different then talking to someone that hasn't. So as a servant we should do anything we can for the sake of the gospel being spread, so that we may take part in the reward God gives us fpr doing so with those we spread it to.

So I see it as if God tells me to reach out to someone I will do whatever I have to, to give them the gospel. But make sure God is in the work, so I don't go into somethimg God isn't in, because that can be really bad and terrifying when Christ isn't in what your doing. So lets say you are trying to lift 2000 pounds, and you say to the Lord Almighty, "I got this, you just stand over there, and watch hpw it's done." Know that that when you try lifting that on your own with only your power, you will fail. This is the same thing if you try doing something for the Lord without Him wanting you to do so.

Applications - give 30 minutes to the Lord in pray

Luke 17 : 10

Luke 17:10 NKJV

So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’ ”

Theme - servant

‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’ we don't deserve anything, we aren't worth anything when we live for anything other then God. We simple do what we have to do to get by in this world, so we can go home to a house filled with our family. We think we are good people, so we think that we deserve something, but the bible says something like this, its not by works but by faith and faith alone. We can't do good and just think we deserve heaven. We do good works, because of what Christ did for us, and so that all the glory that is recieved from doing those works is given to Christ.

Philippians 2:14-16, "Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain." This is being a true servant of God, we don't complain or dispute,  because we think we deserve to do better a service then what has been given to you. But through these services we stick out, in a perverse generation, as of a lighthouse stick outs to ships passing by. And holding on to the word of truth through all of this so when the enemy attacks, we may fend them off with the truth. So that we may rejoice in the name of Christ, and that our labor or services do not go in vain.

Application - write this verse and put in my Bible as book marker, so I may see it every day.

Luke 17 : 9

Luke 17:9 NKJV

Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not.

Theme - servant

I say choose your master carefully. God should be are ultimate Master, but for me I know there are sometimes a lot of masters in my life at a time and if not righ now I can think back there was. And from personal experience, choosing God as a Master is a lot more rewardjng in all aspects of life. I say choose your master carefully, because even though it might not seem bad it could eventually become a bigger factor of your life that God, and that is the last thing you want to do. God doesn't like to share his glory anyway.

So when I say master it really means mentor,or a leader in your life. Like a role model you look up to. Because you must check your reasons to give that position to someone in your life, because only a believer that live after God's own hear should take that role. For me my mentor that I had at home was a guy a little younger named Ben. And whenever he had a problem he'd first give it to the Lord, then seek guience from fellow believers. I bring up Ben, because all of his decision consist of being a man after God's own heart. Lifting everything to Christ first, so he puts God firat givung Him the glory. Amd for that Gld blesses Him, in another way He thanks Ben for his faithfulness in Christ. And in verse 5 the apostles ask Christ ti make their faith stronger. This is exactly what Ben does go to his Father in heaven, so that he may have faith in Christ.

Application - write down a list of things I have to take off the platform, and leave God alone on the platform of my life

Luke 17 : 8

Luke 17:8 NKJV

But will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink’?

Theme - servant

So in yesterday's verse you see God's response, and what He would do to for His workers or servants. But here you see man's response to his servants. For man, its all about me how can I be served?, how can I feel better?, and how will I be most comfortable? Its always self centered when it comes to man. But look at it as the servants view, he is just doing his job, and wants to make his master proud. So doing what his master wishes is what the servant wants to do. We are called to be bondservants for Christ, bondservants choose there master. So when we accept Christ into our heart we are asking him to allow us to be bondservants for Him. So when Christ asks us to do something we shouldn't second guess Him, because all we are supposed to do is make our Master happy.

John 13:16-17 "Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them." We are not better than Christ, so we should ever question our Master. Being a bondservant is a big decisions, and the Master is supposed to take care of His servants, and God promises us this in John 13:17, "If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them." He say He will bless us as long as we know our position as a servant and under thay we aren't better then Christ. A bondservant only chooses to be a bondservant when he know verse 16. You know that you as a servant of God, aren't and never will be better than Christ.

Something that Pastor Art said hit me, and convicted me. When we serve we always look for a reward, we should never look for that reward, because we are not in the position to deserve a reward. But, when we serve the Lord whole heartedly, He says when we serve whole heartedly, we deserve eternal life.

Application - memorize this verse so that when I think my idea is better then Christ, I can remember this and know Christ is a whole lot smarter than me. And I just don't think about this as much as I should, and even though it seems so obvious I feel like a lot of us over look this fact way to much.

Luke 17 : 7

Luke 17:7 NKJV

And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’?

Theme - servant

Luke 17:5 And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith"
We should want God to increase our faith and this is convicting. God is a master willing to serve, and we should follow His example. Even though the servant is just doing his job, like when we just serve, and do what God tells us to do. But when we do listen to what He says, and we as servants do our job, He rewards us, by blessing us. Say your a boss of a huge  company and your at the top with all these people warking for you, and one day you just walk through and to see who is really working. So you see some people doing an ok job, some not doing anything, and then only a couple with some of the worst jobs working harder then ever to the best they can. What are you going to do? Well in John 13 Jesus prepared Himself and got on His knees to wash His disciples feet. Jesus prepared Himself I think that something important to remember, He prepared Himself so that He could do an amazing job. Then He tells us to do the same, I'm not saying to go around and wash people's feet. But to humble ourselves to serve everyone with the best we got. So to go back to the question I asked earlier, what are you going to do to the low workers that are trying thier hardest to do a good job? Now I know that if I was in a position like this I'd probably only think, he is a good worker. So I only pray that God would have me do differently. Like God would rewarded that faithful servant for doing his best to do a good job.

So I take three things from this as a person that will have responsibility over some people in the future, to do more than just think good of someone, but respect them. Maybe with a reward or a simple thing as saying good job, but what I want and pray I can do is build a relationship with a person that will be listening to me, and shine the light of God in their heart. Secondly, as a servant do the best I can at everything I'm doing to serve someone else, and give all the glory to God and keep nothing for myself. Lastly, wherever God leads me I pray that I will be obedient to what He has to say. So that if he leads me where I don't understand, I will just serve, and do the best I can to do what God has me to do.