May I Know, Suffer and Rise

This week's Fighter Verses are Philippians 3:10 and 11.  To gain a better understanding of what these verses mean, here is Philippians 3:7 - 11.

7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Verses 10 and 11 show some of the results that come from the realization that what was counted as gain was actually loss, because of Jesus Christ.  The three "may" statements in these two verses are very powerful and encouraging.

That I may know him and the power of his resurrection

Paul has a deep, intimate relationship with Jesus Christ which results in righteousness.  In this relationship, there is power to overcome sin, obtain victory in this life, and obey the Great Commission for God's glory. 

Jesus' resurrection most graphically shows Jesus' power.  This resurrection power saved Paul and enabled him to live life.

That I may share his sufferings becoming like him in his death

In this life, we are going to face trouble and suffering.  Suffering comes in many different forms (2nd Corinthians 4:8).  We are to suffer together (Galatians 6:2).  Suffering equips us for ministry (2 Corinthians 1:4).  Suffering prepares us for more glory (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).  (Taken from  www.desiringgod.org)

HERE is the John G. Paton biography I shared on Wednesday.  When Paton was challenged with the statement "You will be eaten by cannibals," he responded with the following statement "Mr. Dickson, you are advanced in years now, and your own prospect is soon to be laid in the grave, there to be eaten by worms; I confess to you, that if I can but live and die serving and honoring the Lord Jesus, it will make no difference to me whether I am eaten by Cannibals or by worms." 

That I may attain the resurrection from the dead

The dead in Christ will rise and receive a new body.  This future glory impacts the way we live in this world.  In verse 20 Paul writes that "our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself." 

Here are some additional resources:

• torchlighters.org - real-life heroes of the Faith stories for children

• The Hidden Smile of God.  This book is a great testimony of God's work through suffering.  HERE is a post about how God has used this book in my life.

• Visual Theology

For more about the Fighter Verses go to www.drodgersjr.com/p/fighter-verses.html

Chapter 13 Holiness

There haven't been posts related to chapters 11 and 12.  

They are great chapter.
Chapter 11, "Christ's Greatest Trophy," was especially challenging.

I will be posting about these at a later date.

Welcome to the 13th week of reading the book Holiness.

This week's chapter is "The Church which Christ Builds"

I want to encourage you to continue reading this great book 

or to start reading it today.

For general info about the reading schedule go to 

http://drodgersjr.blogspot.com/p/t4g2018.html

Here are the questions for this eighth chapter.

GENERAL (Questions for each chapter)

1.  What is a quote or two from Chapter 13 that stood out to you?

2.  What was something this chapter said about God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit?

3. What was something this chapter said about man?

4.  What was something this chapter said about how a Christian is to live?  

Think general and specific applications.

SPECIFIC (Questions specific to this chapter)

5.  What are some reasons the church is important?

FINAL QUESTION

6.  What is the most significant thing that you learned from this chapter?

Forfeiture: Application

This is the 4th of 4 Forfeiture posts.  
Part 1 is HERE
Part 2 is HERE
Part 3 is HERE

In the previous Forfeiture post, I used a couple of Paul Tripp quotes

Don't look horizontally for what can only be found vertically.

In his explanation of this quote Tripp writes, "

Don't allow yourself to be seduced into believing that life can be found in the people, possessions, situations, locations and experiences of everyday life.  Remember, the role of created things is not to give you life, but to point you to the One who is the Way, the Truth and Life. Refuse to try to satisfy your heart with things that will never offer you the satisfaction that you seek." (1)

Focus on the RIGHT thing - Jesus!

I want to plead with you to remember that God is trustworthy and that Jesus needs to be treasured.

I want to plead with you to get into your Bibles.

We are providing the Fighter Verses as a resource to help you treasure Christ and fight sin. 

If you don’t use this specific resource used something to be systematic in your reading, memorizing and meditating on God’s truth.

I want to plead with you to prayerfully consider why you do the things you do.

            Think about this saying:

I do what I do because I want what I want.

Throughout the month of February, there are going to be Bible-based resources made available for you to think about your motives.

Each small group leader is going to receive a copy of this book Motives by Edward Welch to help your group think about why you do what you do as a group and as individuals.

Two quotes from this booklet that struck me were:

Parents should care about WHAT children do and the WHY.

            Public actions tell one story.  Private intentions can often tell another.

There are going to be resources for individual and group Bible studies to help you grow.

As we go into February and a new fiscal year it is important for us to remember why we as a church do what we do.

I want to be found in Christ and as I pastor/leader of this church I urge you to treasure Christ and find your hope in Him.

For more about the Fighter Verses go to www.drodgersjr.com/p/fighter-verses.html