Category: New Testament & Psalms 2019

Mike, Looking forward to your finishing this short series, and how to share it with both my wife and friends. So many don’t see the issues as you describe in the opening.

In the meanwhile, please send Paul, and if not him Timothy or even Epaphroditus…. but most of all, we need the risen Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Paul makes a point in v18 about the joy he has from knowing the preaching of Christ has not been in vain, despite his being in prison. And others doing it perhaps with the wrong motives.

Philippians 1:18  What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

It’s curious, Jesus made a somewhat similar point in Mark and Luke’s Gospels.

Mar 9:38  And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.
Mar 9:39  But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.
Mar 9:40  For he that is not against us is on our part.
Mar 9:41  For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.

Mike have you ever posted on those verses? Particularly in light of the various forms of the American Gospel being preach in today’s churches?

Thanks Mike. My wife suggested we read this book together every week for the year. She is stuck by the Joy and Rejoicing expressed in it. I’ve notice the frequent mention of the gospel and preaching. In your discussion perhaps a bit more on these verses would be valuable:

In vv 8,9 Paul gives us a list of things to fill our minds with that will inspire worship of God and service of others

Php 4:8  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Php 4:9  Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Thanks Mike as the Westminster Catechism starts out it is for His glory….
Q. 1. What is the chief end of man?
A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.

Btw, some of the best sermons on Revelation I’ve studied are on Sermon Audio by Dr. Steven Dilday, all of them are relevant, but you can find his on Revelation 3:7 beginning here: https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=1016101815254

It is noteworthy how John writes down the source of the message he is given:

Rev 1:1  The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
Rev 1:2  Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
Rev 1:3  Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

And the value of our reading it is confirmed as the book closes:
Revelation 22:7  Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

Time to take the book off the shelf, to read and keep. God’s word puts bookends of blessings around the text.