Greater purposes!

(Authored by Roger Pedersen!)

I would like to share with you a revelation from God in Philippians chapter 1 Phil 1:12. NOW I WANT YOU TO KNOW, BROTHERS AND SISTERS, THAT MY CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE TURNED OUT FOR THE GREATER PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL

1] Brothers and sisters: I think it is vitally important that we be reminded especially when we are at a point in history where things seem to be in the upheaval that those of us who have truly given our lives over to the Lord Jesus Christ, we are adopted into His family Christ is our blood-bought brother. We are His blood-bought brothers and sisters. We are part of the FAMILY OF GOD ALMIGHTY HIMSELF. Think about that. We are not a group, We are not an institution, We are not a franchise, and We are certainly not a social club, We are brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ and sons and daughters of the Most High God. John 13:34,35 tells us that [my paraphrase] that we are to love one another as Christ has loved us and that by that love people will know that we are Christ's disciples. Challenging words especially when we know each other and our strengths and weaknesses. But still a Commandment, not a suggestion. 2] MY CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE TURNED OUT FOR THE GREATER PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL. This speaks to that no matter what circumstances we may find ourselves in, God is sovereign and providential and uses our circumstances to progress the gospel either in us or through us. If we are not careful with good intentions we can get ourselves in trouble by doing things that we think are helping God and people and slip away from the only thing God is concerned with THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. The gospel is everything. 2 Thes. 2:14 Paul says IT WAS FOR THIS HE CALLED YOU THROUGH OUR GOSPEL, THAT YOU MAY GAIN THE GLORY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. Note OUR gospel. Paul had taken possession of the gospel and made it his own. What is the gospel? The gospel is really the Bible. To put it in very simple terms the gospel is the good news that mankind through the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ can be brought back to being in the family of God for eternity rather than without what Jesus did be under eternal damnation for our rebellion against God. Or NO JESUS NO GOD, period, end of the story. How do we make the gospel ours, and how do we progress the gospel for others? Phil 1:27,28 ONLY CONDUCT YOURSELVES IN A MANNER WORTHY OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST, SO THAT WHETHER I COME AND SEE YOU OR REMAIN ABSENT, I WILL HEAR OF YOU THAT YOU ARE:

1] STANDING FIRM: This is an extension of verse 12. No matter the circumstances we stand firm on God and His word. Jesus died on the cross for our sin and rebellion against God and His purposes. He rose again defeating death and eternal judgment. He left behind His Holy Spirit to direct us and guide us. The Holy Spirit directs us justifies and sanctifies us and He inspired the Word of God which has guided the Christian to the Father through the Son and the Holy Spirit. To put it simply, the Bible is God Jesus and the Holy Spirit. We must stand firm on God's Word the Bible.

2] IN ONE SPIRIT: We must be in unity withv God's Spirit. I am amazed how God's family can be so disjointed confused and in strife with one another. There is only one spirit, one faith, and one love; yet we can get caught up in disunity, strife and division with our brothers and sisters.

3] WITH ONE MIND: In my experience in ministry, one thing that is interesting to me is how we can get at times so spiritually minded that we really aren't that earthly effective. God gave us a mind so we can think things through. Romans 12 tells us to renew our minds. ! Cor. 15 tells us that we have the natural first then the spiritual. It is imperative That we use our minds to reason together so we as God's family have the same mind preferably the mind of Jesus. If we have the bible and the author of the Bible The Holy Spirit The family of God should be of the same mind on the purposes of God and that is the Gospel and His Kingdom come His will be done. one of the hindrances of our one mind is we don't renew our mind through the accuracy and sufficiency of scripture, and we oftentimes have a listening problem. We can also walk in assumptions basing our minds on things that God has done in the past and not really listening to what God may be saying in the now. We can also have a double mind because we can resort to our old nature and get what I call the garden questions of Genisis: DID GOD SAY? DID GOD MEAN WHAT HE SAID? WO8ULDN'T YOU LIKE TO BE LIKE GOD? DOESN'T THAT LOOK GOOD? Satan isn't very creative but he is consistent. For these reasons in my opinion this is why we need to assemble as believers and be under the purposeful preaching of the scriptures without compromise or watering down.

4] STRIVING TOGETHER: This seems to be saying the same thing we have been already addressed but I think it is giving us an intensity and intentionality to make sure we are in unity both spiritually and naturally. We must strive to get on the same page with God and each other so the enemy can not get a wedge in the middle of what God is trying to accomplish in us and through us as His family.

5] FOR THE FAITH: It is impossible to please God with out faith, that He is and He is a rewarder of those who love Him. No matter the circumstances we must have faith in God, His word and His Love.

6] OF THE GOSPEL: I am amazed at how serious God is about the gospel. The truth is that we as His family are being prepared to be a vessel for the gospel. Everything we do, say, receive, and worship is centered around the gospel. I believe the two facets of the gospel are first LEADING PEOPLE TO Jesus, AND HELPING OURSELVES AND OTHERS TO BE COMPLETE IN CHRIST. That is our one and only purpose. If we truly focus on living, speaking, working and even resting in the gospel, God will take care of everything else.

7] vs 28 IN NO WAY ALARMEDBY YOUR OPPONENTS We can not get alarmed when we have opposition to what we are trying to accomplish for Christ when we follow His pattern to be part of His family. If we don't get opposition we probably aren't following His plan, remember " the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God.

8] WHICH IS A SIGN OF THEIR DESTRUCTION When we have opposition we must discern with wisdom and compassion whether the opposition is infiltration of Satan or an opportunity for the gospel. The gospel is for the destruction of the works of the devil.

9] BUT OF SALVATION FOR YOU Using our circumstances for the greater progress of the gospel is to be like Christ and it solidifies our salvation and through the Holy Spirit will lead others to salvation . This is the ultimate purpose of the Father building and strengthening His Family. OUR SALVATION.

10] AND THAT TOO FROM GOD: God wants His glory to be seen on earth as the waters cover the sea. God has chosen all of us, present and future brethren, to go through everything He has ordained, past

, present, and future; to quote a fellow minister " God will not bring one iota of pain in our lives that isn't absolutely necessary for our growth and sanctification. THIS TOO IS FROM GOD