Philippians 1:9-11

And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
(Philippians 1:9-11 ESV)

This passage has been stuck in my head for several weeks now.  I keep going back to it.  I keep thinking of Paul's prayer for the Philippians.

The Philippians weren't exactly wealthy but they gave out of what they had to support Paul while he was imprisoned in Rome.  They weren't giving out of their excess, but giving out of what they had for the sake of supporting the Gospel.  They sacrificially gave so that Paul could continue to survive and defend the Gospel.  Paul wrote Philippians to encourage and thank the Philippians.

The amazing thing is, Paul didn't pray for them that they would be repaid or provided for.  He prayed that they would love one another more and more, live holy lives, and be filled with the fruit of righteousness.  Paul's concern for them was their spiritual well being.  The Philippians gave out of their lack for Paul's provision.  Paul prayed that they would continue to bear fruit.  This is the problem with Americanized Christianity.

Americanized Christianity tells us to give what we can, not what we can't.  Americanized Christianity tells us that we need to behave and follow the rules so that we don't get in trouble at church or look bad.  Paul tells us to love each other more and more and abound in righteousness (which we can only do when we live completely in Christ and in the good news of the Gospel).  Americanized Christianity prays that we would all have our needs met, our car payments will be reasonable, and that God will give us the means to buy the big house that we won't use for his glory.

Is this you?  Are you living the American Christian dream?  Do you look for security in your neighborhood, your home, and your income?  Or are you looking for security through loving your neighbors and abounding in righteousness and giving sacrificially?

1 Corinthians 5

I was listening to 1 Corinthians the other night while walking home from the church and some things stuck out to me and got me to thinking.  Thinking for me usually requires an outlet for me and to spare my wife of more of my ramblings and thoughts than need be necessary, I bring them here.  (By the way, I was listening to Jason Nightingale recite the book from memory.  If you haven't heard him speak, check out http://www.wordsower.org/store to download his stuff.  It's really good.)

So anyways, I was thinking about 1 Corinthians 5 and pondering verses 9-13.  In it, Paul is writing to the Corinthians telling them to not associate with those guilty of "sexual immorality, greed, idolaters, drunkards, or swindlers."  He is not telling the readers to avoid people who are not believers who fit those categories, but rather those in the church (professing Christians).  He even says that to avoid those who fit that bill outside the church would require leaving this world!  While it isn't the primary emphasis of what Paul is saying, we can realize and apply the concept of being around those who are not believers who fit those descriptions.

How many times in the last year have you intentionally gone to a place that you don't feel comfortable with the intention of reaching people with the Gospel?  Have you gone to a marketplace or restaurant to share Jesus with someone?  Have you gone to a bar or a pub to try to meet people to share Christ?  Have you gone to the gay/lesbian community and tried to involve yourself with the intention of lovingly sharing the eternally transforming Gospel?  Why not?

One of the areas that I really believe the church (worldwide, not just locally, although locally as well) has failed is to enter the world to not be of the world, but to engage the world with the intention of sharing Christ.  Jesus never commanded his disciples to leave culture and hide away from all things evil so that they wouldn't risk being influenced or 'led astray'.  Rather he went to the outcasts, the drunks, the prostitutes, and those in greatest need of a complete transformation of their lives.  Paul further writes how he 'became all things to all people so as to win as many as possible with the love of Christ.'  Are you doing this?

If you want to really start living the Gospel then get out in the world.  Engage culture with a mission-minded intention to show Jesus.  Use a guerrilla warfare mindset.  Slip into culture, engage culture, keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, and start showing the transformational aspects of Jesus.

Additionally, are there those in your life who fit that bill listed above who are professing believers?  If so, lovingly restore them.  Talk to them.  Encourage them.  Show them that they need to give that over to Jesus.  It is your job as a believer to show them what restoration looks like.

The Will of God

I read a good book the other day.  It's called "Just Do Something" by Kevin DeYoung.  It's a really easy read regarding how to make decisions and live within the will of God.  I recommend it.

The main premise that DeYoung is arguing is that God isn't too worried about where you live, what you do, who you marry (so long as they love the Lord), or what hobbies you do.  God is much more concerned in how you do those things.  How do you do your job?  Is it to His glory, or yours?  Does your job contradict the Gospel?  If not, then keep at it, unless you want to change.  In order to live the will of God in your life, you simply have to "be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God."  (Colossians 1:9-10).  If you live those verses out, you will be within God's will.

Do you like where you live?  If not, then move and glorify God elsewhere.  It will be within his will.  Do you like your job?  If not, then find a new one and glorify God at your new job and honor him with your work ethic.  Living within the will of God is an incredibly simple thing.  My friend's grandfather used to tell him regarding decision making to "draw as close to the Lord as you can, and then do whatever you want."  So long as you're staying close to the Lord, whatever decisions you make will be within his will.

Now there may be times that God has something certain in mind for you and he will cause events and roadblocks to occur in order to get you where he wants you, but those are rare I believe.

Also, if you're still struggling on understanding and hearing the voice of God, here is how to do it.  This is the number one way God speaks to us and reveals his will to us....you ready?  Here it is...read, study, and understand the Bible.  God has chosen the written word to reveal himself to us and to guide us.  Will we know which job to take from studying the Bible?  No, but you can understand wisdom comes from God (Proverbs, James) and that we need to worry most about pleasing the Lord.  After that, so long as your job doesn't contradict the Gospel, choose whatever job you want.

So, study your Bible.  Obey what it says.  And continue to share the Gospel with those in your life.

Thanks to Kevin DeYoung for writing a book that I summarized above.  I highly recommend reading it.