Philippians 2:13 ~ God is working

 

 

Philippians 2:13

For God is working in you, 

giving you the desire 

and the power 

to do 

what pleases Him

Yesterday, we spoke of Christmas with the famous quote from Charles Dickens about keeping Christmas in our heart every day. If we look for a Biblical example, we have found one with a friendship and working companion encompassing decades.

Philippians 2:4, 19-30

 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 

19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. 

20 For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. 21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know Timothy's proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel.

 23 I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, 24 and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.

25 I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, 26 for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 

27 Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 

28 I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. 29 So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, 30 for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.

Papyrus 133, Timothy 1

Housed at the University of Oxford, written in Greek,

3rd Century, with unusual handwriting

Timothy, must have done something good! 

2 Books of Paul, in the Holy Spirit, of the New Testament, books are written to Timothy. Timothy or Timothy of Ephesus, Greece, was the first Christian Bishop of Ephesus, died around the year AD 97 at 80 years old. Timothy was born of a Jewish mother, who became a Christian believer, and a Greek father. He traveled with Paul and Silas.

Timothy is shown what qualities God values and, probably, values Paul sees in Timothy.

Philippians 2

• Beloved friend
• Like a son to a father
• Genuinely interested
• The interests of others interest Timothy
• Values his salvation and considers this a work to value with such intensity to have reverence with fear of the loss of salvation, to have trembling
• God Himself works within, for His Pleasure
• Timothy doesn't grumble or dispute.
• Timothy is blameless and innocent
• God would see Timothy without blemish
• Moves withing a crooked, twisted generation looking at God
• Timothy shines like a Light in the world
• Holds fast to Scripture as the Word of Life
• Sees a Glorious Day when Timothy meets Christ
• A Day to have gladness and rejoicing

Paul speaks of his forthcoming martyrdom and does not ask for Timothy's.

Another interesting fact about Timothy's bones. They aren't scattered to the wind.

4th century, the relics of Timothy were transferred from Ephesus to Constantinople and placed in the Church of the Holy Apostles near the tombs of Andrew and Luke.

Later on in the 13th century, the relics are buried around 1239 in the Termoli Cathedral. The remains were rediscovered in 1945, during restoration work.

Romans 12:15 

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

1 Thessalonians 2:7-12 

But we were gentle in the midst of you, as when a nurse cherisheth

 her own children: 

even so, being affectionately desirous of you, 

we were well pleased to impart unto you, 

not the gospel of God only, 

but also our own souls,

 because ye were become very dear to us.

Matthew 6:33 

Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, 

and all these things will be added to you.

1 Corinthians 12:6

There are different ways of working,

 but the same God works all things in all people.

John 6:43

Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus replied. 

44 No one can come to Me

 unless the Father who sent Me draws him, 

and I will raise him up at the last day

Romans 12:2 

Do not be conformed to this world, 

but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Proverbs 4:18

The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, 

shining brighter and brighter until midday.

Daniel 12:3

 

And those who are wise shall shine

 like the brightness of the sky above; 

and those who turn many to righteousness, 

like the stars forever 

and ever.

Hebrews 10:23

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, 

for He who promised

 is faithful.

John 1

49 Nathanael answered him, 

“Rabbi, you are the Son of God!

 You are the King of Israel!” 

50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, 

‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? 

You will see greater things than these.” 

51 And He said to him, 

“Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, 

and the angels of God 

ascending and descending 

on the Son of Man.”

The heart of man plans his way, 

but the Lord establishes his steps.

Abba, Father,

Our Father, Who art in Heaven

Dwell in me and those I love,

now all of our hearts,

God of Love, God of encouragement.

Hallowed, Holy is the Name of the Lord.

Jesus, the Christ of God.

Beloved Son.

We remember John 17 

and ask us as we pray,

please,

You would pray with us.

Your Will be Done

Yes, Jesus is the exact nature of God.

Alleluia.

We want to seek You First, Father,

to see Your Will on earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us this Day.

The encouragement of Life as a gift and adventure

Fully worthy of our prayers and attention to blessing

Fully in Gratitude.

Give us day our daily bread.

Nothing without the Lord is meaningful

help the physical bread and the earned bread

to be Jesus, Living Bread.

Forgive us our Trespasses.

Just as Christmas is You, trusting us with Your Son,

You fully expect us to have loving and grateful hearts

God doesn't have to see as dark or sinful.

God sees us worthy of Eden to talk to.

As we forgive those who trespass against us.

God doesn't say SIN, He expects us

to treat each other as part of meaningful lives

to enjoy and create more of Heaven on earth.

Lead us not into temptation

of being demanding, unsatisfied,

to take our blessings and make greed

diminishing the goodness in life.

Deliver us from evil

God is clear there is evil in the world.

And God has hope those on the wrong path

will find their heart again.

For Thine is 

the Glory

of Life Given and Life to be Enjoyed

and Eternal,

For Thine is the 

Power

in The Name of Jesus

in Your Word

and in Your Faithful

Promises.

To change hearts and create Life.

We offer You, this prayer, every day:

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: 

"May those who love you be secure. 

May there be peace within your walls

 and 

security within your citadels." 

For the sake of my brothers and friends, 

I will say, "Peace be within you." 

For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, 

I will seek your prosperity!

Thank You, Father, 

Israel exists today,

Help Israel

have peace

and prosperity.

Lord Jesus Christ. 

And the Glory

The Glory of God

is to find His Goodness.

Giving us Jesus.

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Thank You Lord Jesus 

Luke 1 ~ The Tender Mercy of our God

 

 

Luke 1

Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us

It seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.

5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah,of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.

8 Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the Temple of the Lord and burn incense.

 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. 

11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. 

But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. 

16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”

18 And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” 

19 And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. 

I stand in the presence of God, 

and I was sent to speak to you 

and to bring you this good news. 

 And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak 

until the day that these things take place, 

because you did not believe my words, 

which will be fulfilled in their time.” 

21 And the people were waiting for Zechariah, 

and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. 

 And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them

 and they realized that he had seen a vision in the Temple. 

And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. 23 And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.

24 After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, 

“Thus the Lord has done for me 

in the days when He looked on me, 

to take away my reproach among people.”

26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. 

28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, 

the Lord is with you!” 

But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 

30 And the angel said to her,
 “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,

 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, 

and of his kingdom 

there will be no end.”

34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, 

and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 

 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 

38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; 

let it be to me according to your word.”

And the angel departed from her.

39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit

And she exclaimed with a loud cry,

 “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 

 And why is this granted to me 
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, 
the baby in my womb 

leaped for joy. 

45 And blessed is she who believed 
that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her

 from the Lord.”

46 And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God

 my Savior,

for He has looked on the humble estate of His servant.

For behold, 

from now on all generations will call me blessed;

For He who is mighty has done great things for me,

and Holy is His Name.

And His mercy is for those who fear him

from generation to generation.

He has shown strength with his arm;

he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;

He has brought down the mighty from their thrones

and exalted those of humble estate;

He has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich He has sent away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel,

in remembrance of His mercy,

as He spoke to our fathers,

to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

56 And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.

57 Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. 

58 And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. 59 And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, 60 but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” 

61 And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” 

62 And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. 

63 And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered. 64 And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. 65 And fear came on all their neighbors. 

And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, 66 and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.

67 And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit 

and prophesied, saying,

“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,

for He has visited and redeemed His people

and has raised up a horn of salvation for us

in the house of His servant David,

as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old,

that we should be saved from our enemies

and from the hand of all who hate us;

to show the mercy promised to our fathers

and to remember His Holy Covenant,

the oath that He swore to our father Abraham,

 to grant us

that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,

might serve Him without fear,

in holiness and righteousness before Him 

all our days.

And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;

for you will go before the Lord to prepare His Ways,

to give knowledge of salvation to His people

in the forgiveness of their sins,

Because of the tender mercy 

of our God,

whereby 

the sunrise shall visit us 

from on high

 

To give Light to those who sit in darkness

 and in the shadow of death,

to guide our feet 

into 

the way of peace.”

1 Corinthians 16:7 

 For I do not want to see you now and make only a passing visit;
 I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits.

 Proverbs 10:12 

Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.

1 Corinthians 13:13 

So now faith, hope, and love abide,
 these three; but the greatest of these is love. 

John 13:34-35

 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

 1 John 4:19 

 We love because he first loved us. 

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Thank You Lord Jesus