Living the Good Life (part seven)

Last week’s post concentrated on Philippians 2:1-4.  Living the good life does not pertain to our personal wants, feelings, or self-esteem.  Focusing on ourselves is what inhibits us from living the good life.  Living the good life means ‘taking up our cross and following Christ.

This week’s post explores how to follow Christ (Philippians 2:5-11).  We learn several truths for following Christ when we understand the details involved in Christ becoming a man.  Living the good life means that our motives and attitudes must mirror Christ’s.

Living the Good Life (part six)

In last week’s post (Philippians 1:27-30), we discovered that living the good life is not wealth, possessions, social status, or acceptance by men; it is living like a citizen of heaven.  The message of the Gospel that Paul puts forward is humility, the one indicative of Christ.  Paul exhorts the Philippian church to continue to rule their lives by the core principle of humility.  Being humble requires great effort and courage.

This week’s post moves to the next four verses, Philippians 2:1-4.  The word “therefore,” which goes back to the troubles and conflict experienced at the hand of oppressors, beings a Scripture passage which sets in place a specific truth for living the good life.  The good life is not satisfying oneself, it is “taking up one’s cross and following Christ” (Matthew 16:24).

Living the Good Life (part five)

Last week’s post (Philippians 1:12-26) used Paul’s life as an example of living the good life.  Living the good life is not the believer exalting himself, it is exalting Christ, reflecting Jesus Christ’s spirit in his.  While we go through problems, we ought to rejoice because God’s will is being accomplished in the world and in our lives as God’s children.

In Philippians 1:27-30, the apostle Paul turns from his own life to the lives of the Philippian believers, exhorting them to behave differently from the typical behavior of Roman society.  Conflict is one area in which the believer must show a distinct, different way of life from the culture around him.  This way of life was initiated by God and continues in the believer’s life until Christ returns for His saints.

Living the Good Life (part four)

Last week’s post (Philippians 1:9-11), stated that two goals every child of God must have in conflict is to behave before men in such a way that our actions bring praise and glory to God, and to behave in such a way that we have a flawless testimony before the Bema Seat of Christ.  Reaching these two goals requires a refining of love in the areas of knowledge and discernment, which leads to making right decisions about our attitude, thinking, and behavior.

This week’s post (Philippians 1:12-26), is a glimpse into the actual conflict Paul faced as well as his frame of mind.  These verses further exhibit Paul’s love in the areas of knowledge and discernment.

Living the Good Life (part three)

I stated in last week’s post that our biggest battle in the midst of conflict and problems is over our attitudes.  We can control our attitudes just as much as our actions. For twelve years, the church in Philippi had a good attitude.  Paul was not writing to the church just because he was given money, he was exhorting them to continue to be yielded to God and live a life marked by joy.

Today’s post delves into Philippians 1:9-11.  This passage reveals two specific goals every believer must have and meet in his life as he experiences conflict.

Living the Good Life (part two)

Last week’s post began a series of posts based in the New Testament book Philippians which is entitled, “Living the Good Life.”  When Christ stated in John 10:10, “I am come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly[.],” He was not referring to money, possessions, one’s status in society, or happiness.  Christ was referring to living a quality, principled life marked by joy.  The Philippians church was one example of this truth.

In the first seven verses of chapter one, Paul recollects the Philippian church’s twelve years faithfulness to the Lord in the Gospel ministry, thanking God for His work in their lives (1:3-5).  After the first seven verses, Paul exhorts the church to keep their attitudes right as they experience conflict.

Living the Good Life (part one)

This week’s post begins a new series of posts based on the New Testament book of a Philippians.  The series will be entitled, “The good life.”

Many times we associate the good life with money and possession.  We think that the good life has no problem.  These types of statements are Unbiblical.  Eternal life is a gift from God.  It is the child of God’s possession.  Many believers today only view eternal life as a “get into heaven” card which they give to Saint Peter at the pearly gates when he asks “why should I let you into heaven?” In reality, eternal life is not just a possession—a gift from God—it is a principled, vibrant quality of life.  Jesus told his disciples, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10).