This poem is based on today's sermon
that was delivered to the Living Message Church by Pastor Brian Broadway. Hey Christian - What agenda do you push? What words come out of your mouth? Do you focus on the offense of the world, or do you tell everyone about the blessing that can only be found through Christ? Read Acts 15 and 16 to learn about Paul and how he ministered to the Philippi church. By the way, Philip is the father of Alexander the Great. It’s the name that was given to this beautiful place. The whole book of Philippians has four key themes: 1. Hold on to your faith in the midst of the struggle; 2. Unity through humility; 3. Remember the example that Christ set, 4. and be light in the middle of darkness. We must remember that true joy is based off of salvation, not off of our circumstance or our situation. Paul gives the truth that the gospel is safe - and tells them it’s not about labels or entertainment. We need to keep the message focused on Jesus! He says “beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of mutilation” - the vessels of people who work for Satan - those who don’t understand there is a new covenant as found in Hebrews 8 and in Hebrews 10. Hebrews 10 says “Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins. But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. There he waits until his enemies are humbled and made a footstool under his feet. For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy.” Hebrews 10:11-14 The flesh was an old principle that shows me how I am to be when I circumcise the heart inside of me. Paul states that we as Christians ARE the circumcision: 1. We worship God in Spirit 2. We rejoice in His Son 3. And have no confidence in the flesh. From this world we have been totally separated. Paul himself was a Hebrew of Hebrews. He was a Pharisee of God’s Law. He even persecuted the church of God. Paul was the most zealous of them all! But he finally came to the realization through Holy Spirit wisdom, that all of it was rubbish in the eyes of God! Paul said the Law was given to help man see that there is nothing he can do to live righteously. When Jesus called Paul he was brought to his knees. Paul responded to His voice and changed immediately. He said, “I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!” Philippians 3:9-11 Paul acknowledged that he was not perfected, nor had he been totally sanctified, but he found joy pressing towards the goal. He said, “I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” Philippians 3:12-14 Church - It is time to be a true vessel of God. It is time to live for the Upward Call! Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But you haven’t believed in me even though you have seen me. However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them. For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will. And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day. For it is my Father’s will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day.” John 6:35-40 This is the ministry of the Upward Call. This is the plan and the purpose that has been set for us all. Hallelujah and Amen. Praise be to God.
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