grab your Bibles turn to Philippians 4
for the last time verses 14 to 23 in
part three of our final installment in a
message entitled The Power of giving the
power of
giving we've been looking at this and
Paul ends it with his thanks and
accolades to both the Philippians and to
God he started this epistle as he ends
it he's imprisoned in Rome he's chained
to two Roman guards on either side of
them each of them on four-hour
shifts after their four hours they would
get up and go off onto the next detail
and another set of Roman guards would
come in and that would happen around the
clock a man chained or I should say
Roman guards chained to the Apostle Paul
Paul wasn't in
prison they were in
prison and he no doubt as we'll see
today shared with them to great effect
Church the power of giving if we think
about the real Christian Life the real
Christian life is about other people
it's not about us that's one of the
great liberating factors and powers to
the Christian Life the world would cause
you to think that the world is all about
you sometimes we have a tendency to
raise our kids thinking they think the
world has been created for them uh we
seem as though as parents we are here to
serve our children no we are to raise
our children up to be
servants and uh it's an amazing thing to
realize that true biblical Christianity
is all about serving others and by
serving others we're serving the lord
Jesus
Christ real life real Biblical
Christianity as I've said often as a
faith it requires of us it demands of us
better than that God in our hearts
prompts us to get involved in the things
of Life by way of introduction Jesus
said in John
15:12 this is my
commandment this is my commandment that
you love one another as I have loved you
is that a tall order or what how much
did God love us so we're to love one
another verse 13 Greater Love is no man
than this than a man laid down one's
life for his friends and no doubt is
Jesus speaking of himself but Jesus is
speaking about all those who would come
to faith in him you and I today as
Believers this is a mandate by Christ
This is a prayer request that you and I
offer up to God Lord help me to love my
fellow brother and sister in Christ more
and better and the opportunity
imagine on a day-to-day basis to lay
down our lives for the comfort and for
the well welfare of our husband our wife
our spouse our friends our children
neighbors
strangers and of course in John 3:16
it's all summed up with that great verse
John 3:16 the front end of that verse is
loaded with pure love for God so loved
the world that he gave gifted
bestowed his only begotten son what a
remarkable statement so church as we
wrap it up we saw in our opening throw
that the power of giving puts you and I
where the action is and we saw that in
verses 14 to 16 that by giving to
whatever God calls us opens our eyes up
to a need by us getting involved it puts
us right where the action is and being a
Christian in this world today is being
like Jesus listen to what the
former chaplain of the United States
Senate said Peter Marshall are you
listening this is going to
sting Peter Marshall says give according
to your income lest God make your income
according to your
giving you know he's got that right you
know God
does the second thing we saw in our
study was the power of giving puts us
there before God's Throne we studied
that last week that when you and I get
involved it causes Us in all that we do
to be actually operating living and
breathing Before the Throne of God the
reality Church Listen by serving
by by reaching out for example to the
homeless by reaching out to those in
need in the community by reaching out by
reading the local newspaper finding out
what has befallen someone in our
community may be it death Accident
Injury fire and you you go down to the
city and you ask our city uh Personnel
how can I help this person by getting
involved in life you're actually
operating before for the throne of God
because remember we saw that as you and
I are Servants of the Lord Jesus Christ
we're bringing our offerings to the Lord
in our love and our mercy and compassion
we don't we don't offer dead animals
anymore we don't offer up things
dedicated as it were to the temple or to
the altar of burning we make ourselves
as God decreed the priest in the
community husbands you are a priest to
your wife think of that
in
offerings and put that truth puts us
right before the Throne of God and so
today we end verses 20 to 23 and the
power of giving puts us nearer to one
another I don't know if that grammar is
correct I don't care I like what it
means it says there that the power of
giving puts us you and I near or
nearer to one
another as as Believers and we're going
to see it and see the power of that
verse 20 uh chapter 4 now to our God and
Father be glory forever and ever amen
greet every saint in Christ Jesus says
Paul he says there again the Brethren
who are with me greet you all the saints
greet you but especially those who are
of Caesar's household the grace of our
Lord Jesus Christ be with you all amen
and so now we enter into the final words
of the Apostle to the church at Philippi
and this is what's known as a doxology
it's the farewell it's the signing off
and so the first thing that we see here
in verse 20 and 22 is that it puts us
near to one another this way the power
of giving that together we hold the
glory of God in hand together Church
listen together I'm not going to ask you
like I normally do are you a Christian
today I'm going to make the grand
assumption you all are one of the great
indicating factors of us being Believers
is that we have this Holy Spirit within
us the spirit of God at work and he
combines us he uh collects us he unites
us so together we hold the glory of God
in hand what does that mean the hand
meaning insignificance by action by
doing Paul is saying that his ministry
life is something that is both active
outside prison and inside prison that
there's nothing as long as his mouth is
moving
that can keep him from ministering but
all of it translates into an action of
the hand meaning giving out together as
a church we unite and we give out we
give out the word of God through radio
broadcast TV things like that together
by hand we give out food together by
hand we we give out Mercy listen when
our pastors respond to a Hospital
visitation or uh an accident scene or an
injury listen you may not be there but
you are there
when we are united we are working
together that's a church that is a
church in action in power in giving and
so he says here when we think about
together we hold the glory of God in
hand look what he says he says now to
God our Father be glory you ought to
circle the word Glory forever and ever
amen then verse 21 greet every Saints
All of Us combined and he's going to
break that down for us in a moment in
Christ Jesus he talks about the Brethren
who are with me those that are near to
Paul those that are visiting on on a
daily basis they're in prison they greet
you in the front end of verse 22 he says
and all the saints greet you our giving
brings glory and honor and praise to God
that's what Paul is
announcing and the great thing about
what we're looking at is this that when
we give out from our lives as Christians
we're being like
Jesus we might pray the prayer how oh
Lord make me like you and don't be
surprised if God brings into your life
an opportunity to give care to give love
to give
concern sometimes the most difficult yet
the most god-ordained acts of love care
and concern is when we're called upon to
minister to family members we just think
that that's routine have you ever or are
you now loving on someone in
hospice maybe you're loving on an
elderly uh uncle or Aunt or mom or dad
or grandma or grandpa in the name of
Jesus you say it's so tough Pastor Jack
they're not Christians well that's why
you're
there yeah but they listen true it when
people are old losing their minds in
pain they sometimes they may be cursing
the very hand that is taking care of
their even their
hygiene and you might be thinking what I
don't need to put up with this of course
you don't you're not doing it for you
but the moment you realize I'm doing
this for Jesus Christ and I'm praying
over my lost grandmother my grandfather
my lost mom or my lost dad that's a
Ministry
people that's that's a that's an act of
caring and you and I can lose sight of
that because of the commonality of who
we're loving on it would be easier isn't
it always easier to love on Strangers
let's be honest it
is Jesus said a prophet has honor
everywhere he goes except where his own
house and Jesus said that about
himself everybody appreciates you
but maybe brother and sister do not
maybe Mom and Dad do not maybe Grandma
and Grandpa do not and yet for Christ's
sake we are to minister to them and so
by acting that way we are acting like
the Son of God we're acting like
representatives of Jesus Christ and
that's an awesome thing to hold the
glory of God in hand means that we as
Christians are practically and I'd like
to add authentically responding to life
around
us people are hurting
we all see heard and I'm going to lay
this challenge out before all of us
starting with
myself it would be right for us to end
this book today and take this away that
whenever you and I literally see some
need in some person's life that to some
degree we make a vow before God today we
will act to alleviate that need now that
means if we have nothing in our hands or
Pockets we can say to them listen I I
have nothing to give you but but Jesus
Christ I don't have any money in my
pocket I have no change I have no money
I have no food in my car I have got
nothing with me but I tell you what I'm
telling you right now young man or old
lady or whoever you may be Jesus Christ
loves you and the situation of your life
listen God didn't do this to you the
world has done this to you and you can
put your heart and your faith and your
trust in Christ today give them
something give them the ultimate but if
you see if I see some need in any way
I'm to
respond in doing so I'm taking as it
were the glory of God in hand to
minister to another person and that's a
tremendous
truth think about what you and I
possess we need to realize how rich we
are there's a great old book by the way
we ought to make it a book of a month
book of the month book of a month we
ought to make it a book of a
month and it is by Vance havner if I
remember right and it's called plain
marbles with
diamonds and he talks about who you are
and how little we live our lives in the
place where we ought to be living Our
Lives you're a Christian you're an
ambassador you hold the glory of God in
hand and we're to go out into the world
and Vance havner points out that we are
with our lives we don't we don't come to
the full expectation of what God's
called us to do we're living our life
we're like diamonds but we're playing
marbles with such things we we're not
taking it seriously pretty remarkable
think about what you and I possess as a
Believer we possess wisdom do we not all
the wisdom of God is available to us if
we will ask do you need wisdom I'm
looking across the sanctuary right now I
see people that are in need of
wisdom I see a young man right here
that's got a big uh decision to make
about even our County being a fected
there's politicians in this
room wisdom is needed there's moms and
dads needing wisdom about raising their
kids according to the word of God we
have wisdom available to us as Believers
what about power the Bible says we've
got the power of the Holy Spirit
available to us do you believe
that Jesus says all power I give to you
you see well I don't see it well you're
of course you don't see it because you
don't need it but if you step out he'll
bring it
what about this what about Grace one of
the great things of the Christian life
is going out and living grace upon other
people Grace biblical Grace what about
think about the light that you and I
hold light that we bring into
conversations light that we bring into
businesses or families or discussions
light what about
Holiness the Bible says for the believer
without Holiness no man shall see the
Lord we've been declared holy the Bible
says be ye holy for your father in
Heaven is holy God has declared you holy
you say I wish that was true I hope
maybe someday no God declares you to be
holy you hold the glory of God in hand
you're to get up and go into a culture
that is dying ladies and gentlemen I
have been I was born and raised in
California and the California that I was
born and raised in is not the California
of today look um don't let anybody know
this I'm going to be very brutally
honest with you if it wasn't for you I'd
be out of the state if it was wasn't for
this church I'd be gone but then I
realized California has exported lunacy
to all 49 other states so where you
going to
go all the indicators of what's
Happening Christ is coming look up your
Redemption draws near Jesus is coming
and in the mean time you and I are to be
extending Grace in
hand and the power and the glory of God
to others you and I can distribute love
the word Love Is A Verb it's doing what
do I what what do we have in hand Mercy
compassion look if the world is going to
see any Mercy compassion tenderness
caring and relief it's going to come
from God's
people
period verse 20 says look at it closely
now to God and Father be glory the word
glory is that word daxa the word means
ever increasing honor ever increasing
praise watch how we develop ever
increasing worship be added to him that
little for better word in the original
Greek daxa means ever increasing honor
ever increasing praise ever increasing
worship be added to God from our
lives the word doxology comes from
compounding two Greek words doxa you
heard the meaning of that a moment ago
and logos words or speaking of words so
a doxology is how this book ends and
it's Paul's saying that we speak the
words of praise to God
and that's quite of an amazing statement
because in trinitarian Doctrine which
you and I hold to what does that mean
trinitarian Doctrine it means that we
believe in God the Father God the son
God the holy spirit because that's what
the Bible reveals you might today say
the word Trinity is not in the Bible
correct neither is the word bible found
in the
Bible but there's God the son revealed
in the Bible there's God the Holy Spirit
there's God the Father revealed in the
Bible but the Bible says one God who
manifests him self in three persons go
figure the closest picture on Earth to
that statement is a family did you know
that a human family especially if
there's only three of you living in the
house one address one roof three
distinct personalities all having the
last name and all legally having the
authority manifested in one family name
as it were three distinct sovereign
personalities glory be to God we would
say we would
sing and
uh in 1656 Thomas Ken wrote and you know
it praise God from whom all blessings
flow Praise Him All Creatures here below
Praise Him above ye Heavenly Host praise
Father Son and Holy Ghost that's a
doxology it's a praise and worship the
Bible says in 1 Corinthians
10:31 therefore whether you eat or drink
you say can I eat or drink to the glory
of God yes that's your opportunity and
responsibility and
joy whatever you eat whatever you drink
do that to the glory of God so what does
that mean oh you pray about it you mean
you mean can I have a can I have a
martini to the glory of God doubt
it thank God for what you eat thank God
for what you drink or whatever you do
that's a lot is it not do all to the
what GL glory of God do everything you
do to bring God glory honor and praise
that's my big struggle it's yours too
I'm going to confess that for you it's
our big
struggle Lisa just stole me away a week
and a half ago to Monteray it was
awesome and leisurely right we didn't do
anything I think we got out of bed one
day at like
1:00 it was amazing
and uh even still you walk around and
it's just God you're amazing I mean
we're just walking along the beach and
there's otters goofing off and there's
seals barking on the shore if you've
been there you got to go there and
here's and you go there you go there to
the glory of God you say how can you go
how can you take a vacation like that to
the glory of God it's
easy look at his
creation and they're all out there doing
what they're designed to do hey man the
animal King think the Kingdom's got it
right the animals they're out there
doing they're doing what they're doing
it's us we're not doing what we're doing
right for
him little otter out there frolicking
around having a wonderful time obeying
God then some lunatic pulls up with a
net and tries to catch it you know what
a
goof honor
glory to him in that verse in
Corinthians he says give no offense
either to the Jews or to the Gentiles or
to the church of God in other words live
a Way live in such a way that your life
brings honor and praise to God isn't
that neat and Glory forever and ever
what does forever and ever mean listen
write it down it's a it's it means
forever and
ever the word means for
eternity there's a mystery in this
listen
carefully it's kind of cool it's going
to kind of challenge our thinking a
little
bit because eternity is Con constant did
you know eternity is a constant it's the
only constant that is because God dwells
in eternity it's his Abode and it's as
constant as God is constant he is in
fact Eternal
okay but it's in the singular what does
that mean it means god is eternal it's
in the constant but it is it is one we
would say day in eternity it's one day
you know how you and I have our 24-hour
day God has his eternity
how long is it
forever one day
forever think of
it and you and I need to entertain that
because it's going to be our home
somehow and in some way Heaven is when
and where you and I realize the
greatness of God forever I can't
understand it it's beyond me but in
eternity which is forever before God you
and I listen though he is a constant and
Eternity is a constant somehow you and I
will forever
be realizing the Grandeur and glory of
God as though it were happening every
day more and more every day but there's
no time there I don't know how that's
going to work and I'm glad I don't know
how because we all going to show up
there's like oh
and somehow that is going to last
forever it's
exciting the Bible tells us in 1
Corinthians 13:12 about eternity this is
encouraging it says for now that's Earth
time we see in a mirror dimly but then
that's Eternal time face to face can you
imagine now Earth time I know in part in
other words we're ignorant we're all
ignorant to some degree but then that is
eternal time I shall know just as I am
known what does that mean that means I
will know all that will be need to be
known just as Christ knows he will
impart that to me to you meaning you
will not show up in eternity and say God
I'm so glad I'm here I've got so many
questions to ask you about how weird
things were on Earth you won't have one
question all of your answers will be all
of your questions will be
answered now you're going to ask me but
Pastor my husband's a wretch he denies
Jesus he curses God and what if he dies
without Jesus and he winds up in hell if
I know that I'm going to walk around in
heaven all sad because he didn't make it
answer no you won't it's not because
you're glad he's
there it's because you never knew your
husband in eternity
he was never born again into the family
you won't be walking around saying oh
this is a great place but my kid didn't
make it you'll have no knowledge of your
kid there's no weeping there's no
sadness there's no bummer in heaven
because those who are born again are
those the Bible says will be in
heaven those who are not born again were
never brought into the family you'll
have you'll have no knowledge of the
person that you might share a life with
right now but they're Christ deniers
they don't want anything to do with
Jesus they will never never be known in
heaven they'll never be remembered
there'll be no recollection of them
they'll be as though they never existed
although tragically they do exist in a
place of Eternal Darkness how tragic how
ridiculous that somebody would be bent
on going there Psalm 84:10 says better
is one day in your courts than a
thousand elsewhere one day that's that
Eternal day it's awesome I'm going to
give you some verses I you're doing
great I'm I'm lagging behind and I'm I
this is going to be the last message of
Philippians if it kills
me uh write fast and I'll try to go
faster here's some great examples of
doxology in the Bible Revelation
4:8 Revelation 48 the four living
creatures having six wings and full of
eyes around and within that are freak
you out and they do not rest day or
night that means whatever they do they
do eternally this is what they say holy
holy holy notice three times Lord God
Almighty who was who is who is to come
and when the living creatures give glory
and honor and thanks to him who sits on
the throne who lives forever and ever
the 24 Elders representing the church
fall down before him who sits on the
throne and worship him who lives forever
and ever and they cast their crowns
Before the Throne and this is their
doxology you are worthy oh Lord to
receive glory and honor and power for
you created all things and by your will
they exist and were created
Revelation 511 another doxology then I
look says John and I heard a voice of
many angels around the throne the four
living creatures and the elders and the
number of them was 10,000 times 10,000
thousands of thousands that's the
English translation from a Greek
statement that means an innumerable
amount in other words there's going to
be a host of heaven so big you can't
count how fun and awesome is that you
say I don't like crowds let me encourage
you it is eternity I'm sure there's
going to be a tree somewhere for you to
hide
behind verse 12 saying with a loud
voice this is what heaven resonates
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to
receive power and riches and wisdom and
strength and honor and glory and
blessing Revelation
7:11 all the Angels stood around the
throne and the elders and the four
living creatures and fell on their faces
before the throne and worshiped God
saying amen that's true in Hebrew
truth blessing and glory and wisdom
Thanksgiving and honor and power and
might be to our god forever and ever
amen finally this and this is by no
means the only uh doxology verses in the
Bible but one of my favorites is Isaiah
6
verse1 in the year the king Uzziah died
Isaiah said I saw the Lord sitting on a
throne high and lifted up and his train
the Glory of his robe filled the temple
and above it stood a seraphim that's a
bizarre Angelic creature each one had
six wings and with two Wings he covered
his face because they were they could
not behold the glory of God and with two
they covered their feet and with two
they did fly and one cried to the other
and this is what they said holy holy
holy is the Lord of hosts the whole
earth is full of his
glory wow notice they look prophetically
into the Redemptive time of God true
biblical theology Christian is not
abstract or dislocated from reality when
you and I conduct ourselves walking as
it were with the glory of God in hand to
life around us true biblical theology is
personal it becomes practical it becomes
usable nobody wants to be ministered to
theoretically I want you to know I'm
thinking about helping you keep it to
yourself move on send somebody
think about the wounded man on the road
to Jericho or the J Jericho Road up to
Jerusalem Jesus talks about how the
religious walked by and said oh my my
goodness look that man's bleeding out
what a horrible how tragic and they just
kept walking that's that's Theology and
Theory who needs
it who needs the preaching and the
teaching of the word of God on a Sunday
or a Wednesday if there's no application
to do
it God knows and I say that reverently
all the opportunities that you and I
have to conduct ourselves practically
not theoretically personally to get
involved and usefully to make a
difference remarkable verse 21 says I
love it greet every saint in Christ
Jesus the Brethren who are with me greet
you what does this mean well the word
greet means it's very sweet it mean it
means to envelop um to wrap up the word
means to wrap up in arm to just scoop
somebody
up to greet the the to greet the Saints
or the saints greet you hug have you
notice uh that's why we all get sick in
the winter season here everyone's
hugging each other around this place I
had a guest speakers some years ago say
I've never been to a church with More
Hugging people well that was a that was
a uh what do you call it compl yeah a
compliment that's what it is that was a
compliment greet one another that's a
great thing it means to wrap someone up
to swallow them up in your arms greet
them Paul says greet every saint in
Christ what's he saying he's saying hey
you you guys in Philippi way over there
in
Macedonia greet them for me scoop them
up give them a hug I love that he says
every saint think of this for a moment
every saint what does that mean well it
doesn't mean me because I'm no saint
well let me ask you this are you
trusting Jes Jesus Christ for eternity
are you trusting Christ that he died on
the cross for your sins the Bible says
you're a
saint the Bible says you've been
declared a saint by God don't let some
denomination or some religious group
tell you oh no no no no that's reserved
for a certain group of people after they
jump all through the hoops and do all
the pass all the no that's not true
ladies and gentlemen the Bible says to
the saints that are at Corinth to the
saints that are at Rome if you're a
believer in the Lord Jesus Christ the
holy spirit is is in you and he has
declared you a saint that's what the
Bible says can I say this lovingly so
act like
it no I mean that
lovingly stop walking around with your
head down kicking a can
um you know you you look at those that
are bound up in legalism I my heart goes
out for example to those in Islam
they're never good enough they'll never
be good enough they'll never make it to
Heaven because they'll never be good
enough because number one they're going
down the wrong path they got the wrong
Jesus and they've got no hope and
they're like this constantly in in fact
some Muslim sexs beat themselves
annually with blood on their back with
razor blades to atone for their sins
aren't you glad that your savior died in
blood once in for all 2,000 years ago so
you never have to do
[Applause]
that he did
that you don't earn sainthood you bow
your life to the one who declares his
children to be
Saints listen to The Great qualifier
this is awesome here's the
qualifier 1 Corinthians 1:2 says to the
Church of God that is in Corinth listen
to those Sanctified in Christ
Jesus that means they have been
dedicated to God how do you do that you
decide to do that number two called to
be
Saints why did you respond to the gospel
God was calling you why was God calling
you he wants you in heaven with
him third together or unified with all
those who are in every place in the
whole world throughout time do what
what's what's the qualifier it's right
there on the screen it's on your Bible
call upon the name of the Lord Jesus
Christ both their lord and ours call
upon the name of the Lord can you do
that Charles Spurgeon the great preacher
Prince of preachers Charles Spurgeon
read anything everything he's ever
written Spurgeon came to the Lord at the
age of 16 with a sermon out of
Isaiah look unto the Lord and you shall
be saved that's all the sermon was look
unto the Lord the man in the Pulpit
that's all he repeated look unto the
Lord and you shall be saved and Spurgeon
said I can look it doesn't cost anything
to look I'll look and you can do the
same tremendous
truth tremendous hope every saint Jesus
gives us that
example as we say goodbye to this book
what what is our takeaway to live a life
for Christ glory to the honor of God in
John 8: 29 the latter end of that verse
Jesus said I always do those things that
please him that should be our prayer I
always do those things isn't is that in
your heart don't answer ladies and
gentlemen though listen is that not in
the heart of every Christian I want to
do all those things that please
him if that's in your heart that's
because the holy spirit's in you now do
we fail at that all the time we fail at
that the great thing is now we hate when
we fail at
it but if we could we would do
everything we
could because it's what the father wants
us to do if that's not in your heart
it's because the holy spirit is not in
you
listen if that desire is not driving
you the holy spirit is not in you you're
not a
Christian I am so
I'm I am just so tired of even using the
title or the term Christian
anymore it's so abused it means nothing
anymore can somebody tell me what a
gentleman means I'll give you an example
what's a gentleman
come on do you not
know cond one who conducts himself
properly somebody else mannered
well-mannered keep going Statesman
Statesman you're all
wrong did you know that in England where
that word came out of a gentleman you
could be a drunk absolute ridiculous
fool wife beater horrible man and still
be a
gentleman did you know that do you know
what the word means it means to be a man
of blood blue blood you know Blue Blood
royalty and a landowner that's a
gentleman a gentleman is a landowner and
a blue
blood did you see how we in our modern
culture have changed it to he's such a
gentlemen we've ruined the
word go research
that John could be a gentleman and be a
horrible human being John could be a
landowner in England and be a terrible
man that's what the word
means today oh you know what I'm a bank
robbing child molesting wife beating
Christian that's where the world is
today the the word means nothing
anymore it means nothing anymore the
term Christian was invented by the
haters of God in Antioch
you know what they did you know what
they did in the book of Acts they were
looking at these people who were of the
way it's called the way they were
followers of
Jesus and the the antagonist
said watch them listen to them they're
little
Christ they're acting just like
Jesus they're speaking just like Jesus
they're conducting themselves just like
Jesus you know what we'll call them
we'll call them this derogatory term
will mock them we'll call them
Christians little Christ look at you
little Christ little Jesus is walking
around that's what the word means today
people say oh he's a Christian he
believes in God our culture is so
inverted and convoluted and diluted and
polluted you got to say wait a minute
God who what Jesus are you talking
about we've got to get to the
truth vitally
important 1 John 2:3 1 John
2:3 says and I'm reading that the New
Living Translation for this one and we
can be sure that we know him if we obey
his commands what is that love if
someone claims I know God but doesn't
obey God's Commandments that person is a
liar and he's not living in the truth
but those who obey God's word truly show
how completely they love
him that is how we know we are living in
him those who say they live in God
should live their lives as Jesus did
Matthew 7:18 are you guys okay can you
handle this Matthew 7:18 says a good
tree Jesus speaking a good tree we all
know this is true a good tree cannot
bear bad fruit nor can a bad tree bear
good fruit every tree that does not bear
good fruit is cut down and thrown into
the fire therefore by their fruits you
will know them did you know that
shakaron heads up did you know that
you're supposed to
judge what get over it listen the Bible
says we are to be fruit inspectors of
people's lives we are supposed to judge
according to the Biblical term we're not
supposed to condemn when Jesus says
judge not lest thou be judged it's a
brutality in the English Jesus said in
Greek do not condemn anybody and you
won't be condemned none of us have the
authority to condemn anybody but all of
us have been given the mandate to
inspect one another's
fruit did you know that and here he says
it therefore by their fruit you'll know
them not everyone who says to me Lord
Lord shall enter the kingdom of heaven
but he who does the will of my Father in
Heaven wow the second thing we see here
in our study the power of giving puts us
near to one another is the fact that
together we anticipate his effect this
is Ministry in my opinion
Ministry is when we all come together to
serve with the glory of God in
hand we anticipate God to show up listen
you may or may not have thought about
this but none of us want to go to a
church where God is
not have you been to a church where God
isn't there's more life in the
graveyard at least nobody in the
graveyard will deceive
you there's more ality in the
morg no the truth of the matter is when
we come together as Christians and when
we step out of this building in 20
minutes to go live our life we
anticipate God's
effect when you listen whatever you do
if you're going to do that to the glory
of God don't you expect God to show up
if he's not going to show up I don't
want anything to do with it that's why
we that's why we all pray about things
you get invitations to do this to do
that or you get asked to do this or to
that and said well let me pray about
that is this going to honor God is this
going to glorify
God I tell you when that's your target
all of our insecurities and all of our
inabilities go out go out the window
because the issue is will this glorify
God don't we all listen we all feel
grotesquely
inadequate all of
us make no mistake about it
Paul was in
prison and he anticipated God to
move why was Paul in
prison for preaching the gospel he's in
trouble for the right reason right look
we're all going to get in trouble but
you want to be in trouble for the right
reason he was impr prisoned for
preaching the
gospel
and look at verse 22 it says but
especially those who are of Caesar's
household
are you kidding me ladies and gentlemen
listen Paul how do you stop a man like
this and how do how does the devil stop
somebody like
you he can't because everything is
dedicated to God
Paul we're sending you to Rome you're in
prison
whatever and he goes you never see him
resisting he goes and they put him in
prison and Paul's thinking because we
know how he thinks okay well how's this
going to turn out to the glory of God St
sit here in fact you know what your
mouth is just too dangerous everywhere
you go people experience joy peace and
freedom we will not have that in our
government so we're going to chain two
Roman guards to you one on either side
arm to the
teeth what's your
name my name is uh let me see so it's
Rome home he's an he's a
centurion so it's good Italian name I
haven't I don't know any I don't know
any Italian
names Franco Franco is that Italian look
at better be for your sake I'm telling
you now no so Franco says so Paul what's
your name
Franco Franco did you know and he starts
witnessing and this other guy next to
him he's got to hear it all what's your
name Antonio or is that okay he shares
with him can you
imagine shift change they go home how
was your day honey at in the in the cell
how was your day in the jail I met this
guy he very famous some people say he's
crazy you know what he told me he told
me God BL me and he said all the gods of
Rome they're a bunch of bozos they're
down there in the Forum these
statues they're dead they're all dead
just a bunch of rocks carved he said
God's Alive that God Lives can you
believe this crazy guy and you imagine
they lay their head down at night well
what do do you think he's right they
began to become
Believers Hey listen I know these
sermons make it into prisons I know I
got letters from two prisons at least
from the prison in aahu in
Honolulu where a prisoner listens to
these broadcasts and and shares the
gospel with those in prison he's
probably listening right now okay and
the other the other place is a scary
place I've been in inside terrified me I
had done anything wrong but I felt like
I did and that's Ironwood prison uh just
on on the California Arizona border
terrified me I was asked to go in there
it freaked me out man I want to talk
about it there are people in there who
have come to Christ they're born again
and they're sharing the gospel what
about the prison next door down the
street what about the prison in your
home what about your bedroom what about
your living room what about your family
prison could be a
prison they're chained to you you're not
chained to
them some in Caesar's household what
does that mean it listen it's a broad
term it it means those who serve Caesar
it doesn't mean Caesar's kid got saved
it's possible if you've been to Rome by
the way there are some amazing in the
catacombs there's at least I think four
Catholic uh popes that were in tuned in
the catacombs Christian catacombs in
Rome because they had accepted Christ in
their lifetime and they were
banished well think about the emperor of
Rome ruler of the world his attendant
were getting
saved think of that this morning in
Washington DC the vice president of the
United States is a born- again believer
reads his Bible every day loves the Lord
what does that mean he's listen he's got
access to Donald Trump Trump he's
telling probably I'm sure he's telling
Donald Trump Hey listen you need Jesus
here's the deal this is what the Bible
says go look go look go look at who's
surrounding Trump I don't know anything
about Trump except this there's a lot of
Christians that are surrounded Trump now
hey just like it was in Rome Caesar had
a bunch of people that had come to Faith
around him he didn't even know
it Paul says all those listen Caesars
those are hey Philippians I'm telling
you it's been awesome here
love
it those working for Caesar I've LED
them to the Lord they wanted me to tell
you hi
also is that
awesome what a great thing that is you
can anticipate God's effect when you
step out to serve the Lord maybe you're
in the halls of
power I think about Senator Mike Morell
from this
church I think about Shannon Grove up in
Sacramento and
others listen you're not chained to that
mess that mess is chained to you are you
a school teacher God help you no no I'm
dead serious I thought pastors would be
on the most dangerous front when the
society would turn crazy school teach
Christian School
teachers they have the worst job in the
world now in this
state
threats
intimidation okay can I remind you
you're not chained to this system you're
a
Christian your God is Judge the system's
chained to you for the furtherance of
the
Gospel keep that in mind anticipate God
to move anticipate God to act way back a
year and a half ago in Philippians
chapter 1:12 I actually looked the date
a year and a half ago Philippians 1:12
Paul says but I want you to know
Brethren that the things that happened
to me have actually turned out for the
furtherance of the Gospel so that it has
become evident to the whole Palace
guard and to all the rest that my chains
are in
Christ
wow that is
awesome there's some Notorious
sayings
right there's some Notorious sayings
like when in
Rome can I encourage you today tomorrow
morning you're going to get up and go to
work and the enemy is going to say now
now now now good good Christian boy good
Christian girl you leave your
Christianity you heard that that message
yesterday just you that's fine you can
think about all you want but you leave
it here in the parking lot before you go
in that
building can I listen people say things
like you know win in Rome what does that
mean well you know win in
Rome or how about how about how about a
modern day one what happens in Vegas
stays in
Vegas no it
doesn't well what about on the that on
the positive I'm a
Christian Christ in me that's our that's
our new thing right Christ in
me that should be our cliche that should
be our statement that should be our
declaration Christ in me well you know
when and Rome I don't know anything
about that but Christ in me look if I've
got to go to Rome for business Christ in
me goes to Rome in business is your
company having a convention in Vegas God
help you but go to Vegas because Christ
in you think about it don't leave your
Christianity at the
border truth sets us free
people and Christ is in
you and
uh I'm grateful for
that I was reminded this week of a
situation in dis
discussions listening to someone and my
mind went
off and so I made a mental note I'm
going to put that verse that passage in
my notes on
Sunday because listen do you remember
what Paul was before meeting Jesus very
wealthy
Pharisee he was of high Authority and he
was the most
zealous of them all highest grade of
Education in the ancient world the
Apostle Paul Saul of Tarsus was his
before Christ name was one of the most
highly educated individuals and he is
still to this day the greatest convert
to Christianity the world has ever
seen you remember what he
was compared to who he is and I
remembered who I
was compared to who I am today I am
nothing like I want to
be will someone say Amen
too but I'm nothing like I used to be
now you can really say
Amen if you don't like me now you would
have hated me
then and this is the passage that came
to my mind and I'm wondering if we can
stomach this in our pathetic culture
anymore I'm wondering if the quote
Church of Jesus Christ in America can
handle this
anymore and yet truth sets you free are
you ready are you sitting down all right
1 Corinthians 6:9 says do you not know
that the unrighteous will not inherit
the kingdom of
God you hear that I don't know I I don't
know if that can can you even legally
say
that do you not know that the
unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom
of God do not be deceived neither
fornicators you know what a fornicator
is
fornicator is a
person who has sex predominantly in the
single singles and singles having
sex you say well come on
man God says fornicators aren't
going idolators people who worship
things and that's their gods what does
that mean it means that's their identity
if they lose their money they kill
themselves because that that's not them
who live it's their money if their car
gets stolen they don't know what to do
because their identity is their
car you're an idol
worshipper adulterers this is
interesting because it can be two people
married but having sex with someone else
or it means that one other person is
married and that's adultery on this
person's part and then fornication on
the other person's part like a married
person having sex with a single person
God says that's adultery nor homosexuals
that's exactly what it means the word
predominantly in the Greek means those
men or women women who act and conduct
themselves in a masculine way and Men
Who conduct or act themselves in a
feminine way then the next word is
sodomites that is the actual sexual act
sexual
activity
sodomites that's the actual function
that's the actual practice we we try to
make things we try to say well you know
what we're just we're fornicators and
we're ID idol worship God says you're
not
going now listen listen don't run out of
the building CU you'll miss the
wonderful sunlight that we're going to
break through the clouds on in a
moment nor
thieves thieves people who rip people
off or Covetous people or drunkards or
revilers or extortionists will inherit
the kingdom of God just when you're out
ready to run out of the building with
your hair on fire all upset let me tell
you this not all of those things pertain
to me before I came to Christ I mean
I've had no homosexual sodomite
Temptations it's just not my thing okay
maybe maybe you're the riddled with that
Temptation listen cheer up it's a
Temptation you fight it hello hello you
fight it maybe gambling's your deal it's
a sin fight it gambling is not my thing
I don't know what it's like to fight
gambling because I work too hard for my
money I'm not going to give it away
seriously but maybe you fight with that
fight it
resist in the power of God
resist these things that are
listed fight them and Paul says look
what he says this is so amazing verse 11
and such were some of
you man
yes that's how I came to Christ Greg
Lori June 20th 1977 a Monday night was
preaching a message from Revelation chap
20 and he his message was entitled how
do to inherit hell I'd never been to
church before in my life walked in sat
down heard his
sermon and I just went down that list
I'm doing that oh I'm doing that I've
thought about that well not that one oh
that one I'm
currently
doing and I knew I was in
trouble Hallelujah and such were some of
you if you're honest God's power wants
to set you free and transform your life
and make you into a little version of
him in this world through the power of
giving your life out to other people
such were some of you such were some of
us how what happened but you were washed
that implies the word of God using the
word of God the message of his Blood
Washed by the word Washed by his blood
you were Sanctified what does that mean
watch watch everyone that God picked you
up from the world and he put you over
here into his
world okay what's the next word
Justified what does that mean look
carefully just if I'd never
sinned that's what it means God looks at
you like that Christian but my past it's
your
past wake up grow up stand up this is
your future the past is gone it's hidden
in Christ it's over washed
away
done in the name of the Lord Jesus and
by the spirit
of God we end right here verse
23 the power of giving puts us near to
one another as together we confidently
leave all to Christ we leave all to
Christ by the grace of our Lord Jesus
Christ he says be with you all amen what
what does it mean by that I give All to
Jesus I stand as a Believer today and I
confidently leave my past I uh dedicate
my present life to Christ and the future
belongs to him we live like
this Dr Warren WBY writes in his great
commentary now that we have come to the
end of the book of Philippians and to
the end of our study says WBY what makes
it meaningful now is not what we've
learned but how we now
live the power of giving puts us where
the action is the power of giving puts
us there before the throne and the power
of giving puts us near to one another
and that is our mandate as Christians
I'm going to ask you to all
stand I'm going to ask you to put your
Bibles down if you can I'm going to ask
you to raise your
hands I'm going to commission you
today and I want your hands raised
because I want you to commission
me and we'll agree together in this now
if you can keep your hands up and close
your eyes without falling over okay be
careful but okay you ready ready I want
to bestow this
biblical blessing upon you that would be
practical and not a
theory may you be filled with the
knowledge of God's will in all wisdom
and spiritual understanding and that you
may walk worthy of the Lord Jesus fully
pleasing him and being fruitful in every
good work and increasing in the
knowledge of God so that you might be
strengthened with his might according to
his glorious power
that you would live a long and fruitful
life and that you would keep his word
like a necklace around your neck as a
reminder and to write his word deep
within your heart that you will find
favor with both God and man so trust in
the Lord with all of your heart do not
lean upon your own understanding seek
his will in all that you do and He will
show you which path to
take that he would Grant you according
to the riches of his glory to be
strengthened with all might through his
holy spirit in the inner man that Jesus
Christ May dwell in your hearts through
faith that you being rooted and grounded
in love may be able to comprehend with
all of the Saints what is the width the
length the depth and the height and to
know the love of Christ which passes
knowledge that you may be filled with
all the fullness of God for yours is the
kingdom and the power and the glory
forever may the Lord bless you and keep
you and may the Lord make his face face
to shine upon you and to be gracious
unto you may the Lord lift up his
countenance upon you and give you peace
and all God's people said
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