Encouragement

In Christ, Part II

/ Don McGarvey / Leave a comment

Paul gives us four important words in Philippians 2:1. They are encouragement, comfort, fellowship (common sharing) in the Spirit and tenderness and compassion, which I am treating as one.

Comfort. The world at the time of Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi was full of uncertainty. They suffered from earthquakes, disease, famines, and war. Sin was rampant and many Christ followers suffered great persecution.

Many turned to false gods, many turned to the use of ancient magic to control circumstances in their lives. But they found no comfort in these things.

Paul writes throughout this letter that circumstances must not be allowed to dictate joy or our attitude. We must always choose joy and never live “under the circumstances. We must always choose to serve rather than be served. We must always put Jesus first, others second, then ourselves. This was the formula for joy!

Paul was reminding the Christ followers in Philippi of the encouragement from being “in Christ.” He also reminded them of the comfort that was theirs. Since there was encouragement and since there was comfort found in Christ, they could rest easy knowing that a loving God was in control of the world around them. They could take comfort knowing that through Him, they would ultimately have victory. This was their and it is our hope.

This hope, found in Christ, would bring comfort to them. It also would enable them to bring encouragement and comfort to others in their time of need. Just as Paul took joy knowing that many were coming to Christ because of his difficulties, we too can take joy in being a source of encouragement and comfort.

The same God who was helping Paul and the Philippians is helping us. Always take comfort in the fact that God promised to never leave you nor forsake you. He has a plan for your life. He desires to bless you and to prosper you. His plan includes a future that is not based on your past and He plans no harm for you. Rest in His plan. Rest in the comfort that if your today!

Take comfort!

Always in Pursuit!

Don

In Christ, Part I

/ Don McGarvey / Leave a comment

Paul gives us four important words in Philippians 2:1. They are encouragement, comfort, fellowship (common sharing) in the Spirit and tenderness and compassion, which I am treating as one.

Philippians 2:1 “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,”

The use of the word “if” could and perhaps should be read as “since.” It is not a question of whether we have these things in our lives. They are present when we become a Christ follower. The only question is what difference will they make in our life?

Encouragement. Too often instead of being encouraged by the life Christ led while on the earth we become discouraged. Our attitudes are that Christ has really set the bar high for us and we will never be able to “measure up.” Part of the source for this is that we forget while He was on the earth, Christ lived fully as man.

He did not step in and out of being God. It wasn’t like he was God when He healed someone, like a man when He was tired or hungry. He came fully as a man. Paul establishes this for us in verses 5-11 of Philippians 2.

Luke gives us insight as to how He did this. Acts 10:38 “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.”

We should be encouraged by this. The same Holy Spirit that was with Jesus is with us. He has not changed. He is as powerful as He was when Jesus was walking the earth.

Take note of these three verses and be encouraged.

Hebrews 4:14-15—God understands our struggles

Ephesians 3:20—God will do more than we can imagine!

1 John 4:4–God, in you, is greater than the devil, who is in the world!

2 Kings 6:15-17—There are more with you than against you!

Psalm 118:6—The Lord is with you!

Be encouraged!

Always in Pursuit!

Don

To Live Christ, to die gain.

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This past Sunday, I taught out of Philippians 1:21 “For me to live Christ, to die gain.”

I’d never taught on this verse because it always bothered me. The reason is bothered me was that most everyone I heard teach on it, talked about how much they were looking forward to “the gain.” All I heard was that they were looking forward to dying. I wasn’t. I didn’t want to die. I still don’t want to die.

I love life. I love being a husband, a father, a pastor, and a friend. I love teaching the Word, writing a blog. I love eating good food, laughing with friends, I love taking walks with my wife and watching folks grow in their own walk with the Lord.

A few years ago, I discovered this verse was not about dying rather it was about living. Paul loved living too! I don’t think he wanted to die. He wasn’t afraid to die. He knew death had been defeated and was not to be feared. He knew that death meant he left this life and began a new life with Christ. Whatever it would be like, it would be gain.

But until the time came for his death, he was going to live. He was going to run the race. He was going to fight the good fight. He was going to press on toward the prize.

Paul wasn’t going to lay down and wait to die. He was going to live until the very last breath.

How about you? Is Christ being seen in your living? Are you fighting the good fight? Pressing on toward the prize? Are you running the race?

My friend Fredrick Aguilar posted on his Face Book page the following: “If you still have a pulse, God still has a plan. Your story isn’t over!” I don’t know if this is original with him, or if it is borrowed. But it’s good stuff, thanks Fredrick for sharing it.

Don’t quit! Keep going. God will help you to live so that one day, you will gain!

Always in Pursuit!

Don

REJOICE! Part II

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Sunday, July 5, 2020

Philippians 1:6, 21

Bible Reading for Sunday, July 5: Psalm 33:6-12

Acts 16—the start of the Philippians church

Ten years later, Paul writes this letter to the church at Philippi to thank them for the provisions they gathered and sent him.

Paul’s prison sentence–

Paul’s command to “Rejoice!”—15 times in this letter, Paul commands the Christ followers in Philippi to “Rejoice!” Paul was not going to allow circumstances, even a Roman prison, to rob him of his joy. Joy is not happiness. Joy is not based on circumstances. Joy is based on doing what God wants us to do no matter the circumstances.

Philippians 1:6— “He who began a good work in you…….”

God will complete the work of salvation—

God will complete the work of sanctification—

God will complete the “good works” established for us to do—

          Ephesians 2:10—

Philippians 1:21— “To live Christ, to die gain”

We are to live life to the fullest until God says it is time to work no more, this our joy!

Rejoice!

/ Don McGarvey / Leave a comment

Sunday, June 28, 2020

Text: Acts 16:11-40

Bible Reading: Psalm 58

The birth of the Philippian church is recorded for us in Acts 16:11-40

I. First Convert—Acts 16:11-15

II. Second Convert—Acts 16:16-24

III. Third Convert—Acts 16:25-30

Conclusion: The Great Question: What must I do to be saved?

Familiar Scriptures from Philippians: (NKJV)

Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;”

Philippians 1:21 “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain”

Philippians 3:12 “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.”

Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!”

Philippians 4:6 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;”

Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Verses from 6 PM Prayer

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I promised to post the verses I prayed during the TMCC Thursday night Prayer Time.

The theme chapter was Psalm 58. David is still running from Saul, who was trying to kill him. He expressed confidence that the Lord’s righteousness would eventually rule and reign on the face of the earth.

During my prayer, I referenced the following verses:

Psalm 118:6–The Lord is with me

2 Kings 6:15-16–More are with us than against us

1 John 4:4–Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world

Ephesians 3:20–God is able to do “immeasurably more” than we can imagine.

Let these words go deep into your spirit. The Word of God is alive; the Word of God is mighty to save; the Word of God is hope; and the Word of God will sustain us.

Be Blessed!

Always in Pursuit!

Don

Consecrate

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This past Sunday, I spoke from Joshua 3:1-5. Israel was getting ready to enter the Promised Land.

The final command of Joshua prior to crossing the Jordan River was to “consecrate yourselves.” (Joshua 3:5)

This word “consecrate” sounds ominous. It means to be “set apart for service to a deity.” Or in some cases it means to make something an object of honor or veneration. (The word veneration means to regard something as “holy” or to treat it with reverence.)

The command to consecrate yourself indicated that each one was to begin to think of themselves as being set aside for the purposes of God. They were to consider themselves as “holy” or to think of themselves with reverence and respect because they were now objects dedicated to the purposes of God.

Consecrating yourself was something only they could do. Joshua nor any of the elders could do it for them. It wasn’t a group effort. It was up to each one to determine they were going to be dedicated to the purposes of God.

For some it meant getting rid of their idols. For others it meant repenting of grumbling and murmuring. Some just needed a spiritual bath. Life had been tough and came with lots of challenges. It had hardened them and perhaps caused them to be callused to the voice of God.

Crossing the Jordan River and entering the Promised Land was a new season for Israel. Their lives were going to change. No more wilderness; no more manna; no more hot sun of the desert or cold desert nights. This was a new day.

We too are entering a new season. In some ways, every day is a new season. The command to consecrate yourselves is good advice for every day. It’s not just something we do on Sundays. It’s something we should do every day.

I love the promise made to them about why they needed to consecrate themselves. “For tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.”

I wonder what amazing thing God wants to do? I’m in……you in?

Always in Pursuit!

Don

Follow Well!

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Earlier this morning, I spoke in our church service from Joshua 3:1-5. These five verses contain the command to Israel about getting ready to enter the Promised Land.

There were three things I pointed out from these verses: First, we follow as God directs us; Second, we follow with caution; then we follow with great faith.

Following with caution means we don’t try get ahead of God; we don’t try to manipulate God; nor do we complain about where or how God is leading to us. We gladly follow Him because He has a great plan for us and He will lead us a shepherd (Read Psalm 23 and John 10 for more on that thought.)

I related a true story about a guest at our church who was following in his car as we drove to a restaurant for lunch. I knew he wasn’t familiar with the city so I didn’t bother to tell him where we were going. I just asked for him to follow me. His last words before getting into his car were, “I’ll follow you!” Not too far down the road I noticed him move over into the left lane and then watched as he drove past us and disappeared. He had no idea where the restaurant was. I hadn’t even told him the name of the restaurant. (And it was before the days of GPS). Not too far down the road we saw him pulled over on the side waiting for us.

Here are some things I’ve learned following someone in a car. Be alert! Watch for a turn signal; watch for brake lights; stay close enough you can keep up; stay far enough behind so you have enough time for adjustments. And for goodness sake, don’t pass the leader because they are the only one who knows where you are going.

With God as our leader, we can be confident He knows where we are going. He has a plan and it’s a good one.

Oh, the promise to Israel was to follow God and be prepared to see “amazing things!”

Get Ready!

Always in Pursuit!

Don

A View From Inside the Bear

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I had a great friend who frequently used some “pithy” sayings. He passed away a few years ago but periodically, one of those “pithy” sayings will pop into my mind. One of them was, “Lord, if you don’t help me, please don’t help that bear.”

My favorite was, “some days you eat the bear and some days the bear eats you.”

Ever had a day when the bear ate you? I know it does not sound very spiritual but most of us have had our share of those days and the view from inside the bear really is not something to write home about. But……it happens. And when it happens, we need to know how to handle it.

During this time of quarantine and a virtual shut down of life as we knew it a few weeks ago, stress levels have gone through the roof, fear lurks around every corner and the politics gets even nastier than it was before. Some days, the bear eats you.

I have always heard how the most successful people in the world are the ones who pick themselves up off the floor more than anyone else. Maybe, another way of putting is that they find a way to crawl out of the bear.

Pick yourself up; dust yourself off; learn from whatever caused you to be on the inside of that bear and make a commitment that this turn of events is not going to be permanent. At best, it is temporary. It does not define you. It is not a life sentence. It will pass. The sun will come up tomorrow and you will have another opportunity to be the one who eats the next bear that comes along.

Always in Pursuit!

Don

Glorified!

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The fifth and final word in the “sequence of salvation” is glorified. It is found in Romans 8:30. It is a fascinating word. It has both a “now” and “future” or “not yet” meaning.

For now, we are glorified because we have been adopted, or chosen. God chose us. He has called us by name and has given us a portion of His glory. Earlier in Romans 8, we read that it is part of God’s plan for us to be “conformed into the image of Christ.” (Romans 8:29) Being transformed into the image of Christ is a process called “sanctification.” This is an “on-going” work of God’s Spirit within us. It is a transforming work of the Holy Spirit as we give ourselves over to Him.

In 2 Corinthians 3:18, Paul refers to this process as going from “glory to glory.”

From “glory to glory” is a great description of what our lives should look like here on the earth.  From glory to glory describes the on-going process of spiritual growth and becoming conformed into the image of Christ. Then as we go from “glory to glory” there will come a God-appointed time where we will experience the ultimate glorification.

Ultimate glorification is when we take our final breath here on the earth followed by our first breath in the presence of God. This is the ultimate and final glory we will experience. It just will not get any better than that.

Salvation, which is described in these five words (foreknew, predestined, called, justified and glorified) found in Romans 8:29-30, is followed by Sanctification (glory to glory) which is followed by our glorification or eternity with God.

Glorification is our destiny here on earth as well as our destiny for eternity.

Always in Pursuit!

Don