Check out our latest Newsletter to see how people can be involved in reaching the forgotten this Christmas and year round.

Our prayer is that, as Christians, we would not view others’ differences in opinion regarding the scriptures as a personal attack. Our hope is that each of us would search the scriptures as the Bereans in Ac 17:11 did to see if these things were so and do the study for ourselves with an OPEN mind to what God says about Himself.  Our interpretation of what God says is far less important than what God actually says. It is important that we do not allow our personal opinions and views to shape our interpretation of scripture; rather, we should allow for scripture to shape our views. In the end, scripture must be allowed to speak for itself—God must be allowed to speak for Himself.

Acts 17:11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.

2Peter 1:19 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. (NKJV)

  1) To see the error of placing confidence in fleshly accomplishments    

   2) To understand the need to strive toward perfection in our desire to know and serve Christ                                            

   3) To be reminded of our true citizenship in heaven                     

   SUMMARY In this chapter we find a warning against those who place great confidence in the flesh (1-3).  If anyone had reason to boast about fleshly accomplishments, it was Paul with his Jewish heritage (4-6). But all such things were considered rubbish in relation to the         

1. BEWARE OF THE JUDAIZERS (1-3)
2. Rejoice in the Lord! (1) The Need to Rejoice                                  
3. The distinctive characteristic of the False Christian - vs 2 Their Conduct Beware of "dogs", Isa 56:10; Ga 5:2, Ga 5:15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!

Their Character evil workers 2Co 11:13

Their creed or beliefs - the false circumcision 1Ki 18:28 So they cried aloud, and cut themselves, as was their custom, with knives and lances, until the blood gushed out on them.  

Gen 17 the sign of it given De 10:16; 30:6;

3. The distinctive characteristic of the True Christian - For the true circumcision are those who... Ro 2:25-29

 Col 2:11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,

Eph 2:11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh--who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands--)                   

1. Our Character - Worship God in the Spirit - John 4:24

 Mt 15:8 'These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.    

1Pe 3:4 rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.

Ac 2:25 "For David says concerning Him: 'I foresaw the LORD always before my face, For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken. 26 Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad; Moreover my flesh also will rest in hope.

De 5:29 'Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!                       

1. Our Conduct - Rejoice in Christ
2. Our Creed - Have no confidence in the flesh (3)

Application

1. Don’t despair or be discontented - Rejoice in the Lord!
2. Beware of those that would lead you astray
3. Don’t trust in Works but Christ
4. Do you worship Christ with all your heart?

De 6:5 "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
      B. PAUL'S EARLIER CONFIDENCE IN THE FLESH (4-6)                      

1. Paul had many grounds for boasting in the flesh (4)
2. A list of things pertaining to the flesh in which he could have boasted (5-6)
3. PAUL'S DESIRE TO KNOW CHRIST (7-11)  
4. He counted all as loss for the surpassing value of knowing Christ v7

Hi, I'm Marty McKenzie with His Love Ministries. Are you going through a trial in your life?  There are some things we say that are not in the Bible, but are very true.  Every cloud has a silver lining and it is darkest before the dawn.  God does great thing in our lives through trials if we will just trust Him.  In Romans 8:28, it says God works all things together for good to those who love Him.  Just when things get the worst and you don’t think you can make it, just call on God and He will get you through and just like it is darkest before the dawn, you will be blessed greatly on the other side if you will just hang on to God.

Philippians 2:17 Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me. 19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. 20 For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. 21 For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. 22 But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel. 23 Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it goes with me. 24 But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly. 25 Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need; 26 since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. 27 For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful. 29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem; 30 because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me. (NKJV)

 Paul was a Jew, Timothy ½ Jew and ½ Gentile, Epaphroditus is 100% Gentile

 Paul was being poured out …Great and mighty

V20 Timothy was similar to Paul- Likeminded

V20 Timothy was sympathetic like Paul- He will naturally <really> care for your state (welfare)

V21 Timothy was single-minded like Paul He seeks the things of Christ

It is said we all live in either Chapter 1:19-20 to live is Christ, to die is gain, or chapter 2:21

In verse 21, "For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus

In 1Timothy where he says, "At my first defense no one was at my side, but all deserted me." In another place he says, "All in Asia have forsaken me."

V22The fourth thing about Timothy that makes him a good model for us is he was also seasoned

V22The fifth characteristic of this model servant, he was submissive

The word "serve" is to slave

"That he served with me in the furtherance of the gospel like a child serving his father

 Epaphroditus is the hero of the common man

We could say there are few Paul’s, there are some Timothy’s, there are many Epaphroditus. This is the people's model.

He gives him 5 titles

He is my brother. What does he mean by that? He means brother in the sense of spiritual birth.

The second title is how he related to the ministry, and he calls him "my fellow worker

We could also determine that he was a man with a heart of a servant. For him to go and to simply

Thirdly, he says "my fellow soldier." he is commendable in relationship to the enemies which fight against the ministry.

He was a man of great courage because he knew exactly what he was walking into.

If Paul's life was taken away, it would probably be a matter of course for them to at least consider taking the lives of those who served alongside of him.

Fourth, He is your messenger

He is your minister to my need.

He was a priest doing sacred service and offering a sacrifice of money for the needs of Paul.

V26 Because you heard that he was sick." Now wait a minute. That's hard to believe. You heard he

Verse 27, "But God had mercy on him."

Verse 28 The Philippians are concerned with Epaphroditus, Epaphroditus with the Philippians, and Paul with both. But nobody with himself. There's that humility. Php 2:29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem;

Because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me.

To sum up James 1 it says we are going to have trials in our life, we are going to be tempted, and we need to follow God’s Word and work for Him.  If we keep our joy in trials, overcome temptation, clean up the sin in our lives, and reach out to those who afflicted and downtrodden, then God has mighty things in store for us.  James 1:27 says Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.  Do you want to be used mightily of God? If so, then follow these principles

Matthew 25:34 "Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 'for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 'I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.' 37 "Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 'When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 'Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' 40 "And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'

             James 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

 Marty McKenzie - Speaking about His Love Ministries as a whole – Minutes 1-12

1. Matt Gallant – Speaking about what we do in the Nursing Homes - Minutes 13-16
2. Brandon Beard - Speaking about what we do in Georgia Regional and Coastal Harbor Adult Treatment Facility - Minutes 16-21
3. Erik Lacanilao - Speaking about the Prison, Greenbriar, Nursing Homes, and being a Bible Teacher to the boys at the Youth Detention Center - Minutes 21-27
4. Billy Miller - Pastor of Isle of Hope Baptist Church Speaking about His Love Ministries over at John Wesley Assisted Living Facility and the part the ministry played in his life - Minutes 27-30
5. Ronnie Nichols - Speaking about his role as Bible teacher for Coastal Harbor Treatment Center Adult and Youth Facilities Minutes 30-40
6. Shelly McKenzie – How you can partner with His Love Ministries - Minutes 40-45

              Please help His Love Ministries reach out to those the World has forgotten.  Everyone we minister to is locked up in some way, shape, or form.  Some are locked up in bodies that don't work and in the Nursing Home facility or in the wheelchair or bed they cannot get out of.  We minister to children and youth who are locked up because of behavioral problems or their parents aren't doing right and their cry is we want to have a “REAL FAMILY”. Other kids are locked up because they have committed crimes.  We also minister to those locked up at the jail/prison; to those locked up in addictions to drugs, alcohol, depression, and suicidal thoughts and a variety of other things that keep them from becoming who Jesus wants them to be.  He came to give us life and set us free and these folks are not free that we minister to, but we can set them free through Christ Jesus at least in their minds and spirit.

In John 8:24 Jesus said, "You shall die in your sins for if you believe not that I am He, you shall die in your sins."  “John 3:16 says For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes should not perish but have everlasting life.” Did you hear that?  It says whoever believes, not whoever behaves or is baptized or takes communion or does good works.  You need to believe that Jesus is God, He died for your sins, turn to Him, repent of your sins and ask God to forgive you by because He said He would. Have you been made righteous because you have trusted Christ?

Passage Could be summed up in Do my Part, Depend on God, and Live Differently than the World

1. One of the things that interests me about Paul's writings is that he is intensely practical
2. He always relates...
3. Doctrine and duty
4. Creed and character
5. Faith and life ...to him, these are inseparable!
6. So, having described the example of Christ, he gives his exhortation to move forward in spiritual progress
7. In this passage, Paul exhorts Christians to "Work Out Your Own Salvation
8. THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF OBEDIENCE (12a)
9. THAT DONE ONLY IN THE PRESENCE OF OTHERS...

Paul did not want the Philippians' obedience to be of this sort

1. "eye-service" - cf. Co 3:22-23 Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eye service, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. 23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,
2. THAT DONE IN THE ABSENCE OF OTHERS...
3. Done to please God, conscience, and no one else!
4. IT INVOLVES THE WORKING OF BOTH MAN AND GOD (12b-13)..God either works in us or on us Heb 12:5
5. MAN HAS A ROLE TO PLAY IN HIS SALVATION...
6. He must "work out" his salvation.. This is a command in the Greek -1Ti 4:7, Eph 2:10
7. He must do it in "fear and trembling" – a proper sense of awe and responsibility

1 Peter 4:18 Now "If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?"

Humility and unity is demonstrated by obedience Phil 2:8

1Co 4:7, James 1:17 – All Good woks come from God – Daniel 4:31-34

1. There is a place for the right kind of fear in the life of a Christian

 1) The "fear of the Lord" is the beginning of knowledge - Pr 1:7

   2) The "fear of the Lord" will cause one to hate evil Pr 8:13

   3) The "fear of the Lord" will prolong life - Pr 10:27

   4) The "fear of the Lord" provides strong confidence and is a fountain of life - Pr 14:26-27

5) The "fear of the Lord" prompts one to depart from evil- Pr 16:6

 6) The "fear of the Lord" leads to a satisfying life, and spares one from much evil - Pr 19:23

7) The "fear of the Lord" is the way to riches, honor, and life! - Pr 22:4

1. But many never experience such love from God because they have not had the "fear and trembling" in the first place!

 B.v13 BUT GOD IS ALSO VERY MUCH INVOLVED IN OUR SALVATION!

1. Notice that Paul writes, "for it is God who works in you” Eph 3:20
2. "to will" - God gives us our desire
3. "to do" - and motivation to do His will

1) At conversion, He begins a new work in us, and intends to complete it Ph 1:6 …God is the energy and he energizer

2) Through His indwelling Spirit and Son, He gives us whatever strength we need – Gal 2:20

Ep 3:16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, Ph 4:13

3) According to His Good Pleasure – means kind or benevolent intentions for us Ro 8:28 – It is the same word translated good will in Phil 1:15So that, whatever we may become in the Lord, it is by His grace! –

1Co 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

1. God can work (and is willing!), but only if we let Him!

III. DOING ALL WITHOUT MURMURING & DISPUTING (14) Do all is a command; it is first word in the Greek Text

1. MURMURING WAS THE DOWNFALL OF ISRAEL...

      1.10 times they complained- Notice 1Co 10:10-11 nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Ex 16:68, 1Sam 8:4-9

2. This can also be a problem among many Christians today whenever they face hardships
3. But we are told that God is ever ready to help us (1 Co 10:13), and that He is in us both to "will" and to "work" Ph 2:13), so why complain? 1Pe 4:9
4. Rather, rejoice for the opportunity such "tribulations" give us to develop spiritually! - Ro 5:3-5; Ja 1:2-4
5. DISPUTING FOLLOWS MURMURING... Emotions lead to Actions…1Co 3:1-4
6. Those who murmur are likely to be the same ones who begin disputing with others

Ex 16:8Your complaints are not against us but against the LORD."

1. SO THAT YOU MAY BE BLAMELESS AND HARMLESS –PURPOSE OF WHOLE SECTION
2. SO YOU CAN SHINE AS LIGHTS IN THE WORLD (15-16)
3. TO SHINE AS LIGHTS, WE MUST BE CHILDREN OF GOD WITHOUT FAULT...
4. Which is possible only if we "become blameless – look good to others, a life of integrity, because we deal with our sins as we should.

 And harmless – pure or unmixed, simple and innocent Mt 10:16 wise as serpents, Col 4:5, Shouldn’t fear us…2Tim 2:23-26

2. Which requires doing all things "without murmuring and disputing"
3. Which can only happen if we allow God to "work in" us as we "work out" our own salvation; in other words...
4. Allow God go forgive us in obedience to the gospel
5. Allow God to strengthen us through His Word and prayer
6. Allow God to change us in conformity to His Will
7. TO SHINE AS LIGHTS, WE MUST BE "IN THE MIDST" OF CROOKED AND PERVERSE GENERATION...

Can’t Shine with inconsistency and hypocrisy in your lives which is evident to all

1. Lights are valuable only if they are used to dispel darkness Mt 5:14-15
2. Though we are to "be separate" from the world (2Co 6:14-18), we must "not isolate" ourselves from it - cf. Jn 17:15, 18; 1Co 5:9-11
3. TO SHINE AS LIGHTS, WE MUST "HOLD FAST" THE WORD OF LIFE...
4. Some translations read "hold forth", Certainly we should do both...
5. hold fast the Word of life by paying attention to it by our study and obedience to it- 2Ti 2:15, Acts 3:5, Ezra 7:10
6. "hold forth" the Word of life (by offering it to those in the world) - Mk 16:15
7. In both ways, we are to be like "The Statue Of Liberty"
8. Showing the way
9. Offering hope to those in need …….Read 2Co 4:8-18
10. (16-18), so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain. He shifts the basis of appeal from the example of Jesus (2:3-15) to himself and to the judgment; he must face at the day of Christ. Therefore, he now asks them to do something for his sake.
11. WE MAY BE CALLED UPON TO SACRIFICE OURSELVES...
12. It may be in service to our own faith, or in the service of the faith of others
13. It may be a sacrifice of time, energy, money, or even life itself
14. But it is for a good cause, and this is how Paul viewed his possible execution for the cause of Christ
15. SUCH SACRIFICES SHOULD BE AN OCCASION FOR GLADNESS AND REJOICING!
16. This is how Paul viewed it- Be Glad and Rejoice are commands
17. For he knew his sacrifices were in the cause of saving others
18. And he knew that their salvation would ultimately bring him greater joy at Christ's coming - cf. 1Th 2:19-20

 As someone has suggested:  "Work as though it all depended upon you, but pray as though it all depended upon God"

CONTRASTS BETWEEN A HELPER AND A SERVANT

Lessons-

1. We need to act on the desires and want to’s that God puts in us
2. Need to be in awe and reverence of God
3. Need to Live a life of Integrity
4. Need to trust the Word and Share the Gospel
5. Need to have hope
6. Need to realize all is subservient to the Gospel
7. Need to realize that we Frustrate Gods plan for humility and Unity(Phil 2:5) when we complain and Grumble
8. We are either working out our salvation or complaining and grumbling….Are you doing YOUR part?