Two Brothers Building up the Body

  We’re in Philippians 3 still and I’m only going to cover the next five verses as they are so packed. Just to remind us a bit of last time, Paul was counting all things “loss” compared to knowing Christ. He desired to “know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that [he] may attain the resurrection from the dead.” So now we’ll be covering verses 12 through 16, let’s read them now: “ Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do : forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will re...

  1 Chron 23:13, 27-32 The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses; and Aaron was set apart, he and his sons forever, that he should sanctify the most holy things, to burn incense before the Lord, to minister to Him, and to give the blessing in His name forever. For by the last words of David the Levites were numbered from twenty years old and above; because their duty was to help the sons of Aaron in the service of the house of the Lord, in the courts and in the chambers, in the purifying of all holy things and the work of the service of the house of God, both with the showbread and the fine flour for the grain offering, with the unleavened cakes and what is baked in the pan, with what is mixed and with all kinds of measures and sizes; to stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord, and likewise at evening; and at every presentation of a burnt offering to the Lord on the Sabbaths and on the New Moons and on the set feasts, by number according to the ordinance governing them, reg...

  We will be continuing through the book of Philippians. We finished chapter 2 last time at the end of which Paul was commending Timothy and Epaphroditus to the Philippian assembly, sending them on ahead of his hoped for visit. Before that he was extolling Christ and encouraging believers to live like Him. Our text this morning is going to be chapter 3 verses 1 through 11 so let’s read it now: " Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you. Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision; for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh, although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee;...

1 Chronicles 14:8-16 The Philistine army has gathered in a valley near Jerusalem. They could strike at any moment—threatening peace, destroying cities, murdering, and taking captives. How does David respond? What does God expect from him? What is our role in this story? God’s Affirmative Answer: The Call to Act vv8-12 David was a “man of war.” He knew how to fight, how to lead an army into battle, and how to face danger without fear. He was no coward. Yet he also carried a shepherd’s heart for his people. He understood that to march into battle without God’s direction would not only be futile but also reckless, needlessly risking the lives of those he led. The responsibility to defend Jerusalem rested on David’s shoulders. With the Philistine army so near, the natural choice seemed obvious—attack before they attacked him. Yet David did not presume. Even when the decision was urgent and looked straightforward, he did what every faithful follower of God should do—he sought counsel f...

  As a reminder, Paul wrote this letter while under house arrest in Rome, and unsure of what his future would hold. Even still he was reminding the believers in Philippi of the importance of Christ. He had reminded them that he could rejoice with the Gospel going out and towards the end of chapter one he encouraged them to “Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ … “ (v27). He opened chapter two extolling Christ and talking about who He was and is and then again encouraged them to obey the Word of God. Now we get to the part of the letter where he talks about some of his future plans as well as Epaphroditus, so let’s go to the text:   But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition. For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare.   For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus. But you know of his p...