All Things
Pastor Dave Moore

Old Testament reading: Psalms 47:1-9 

Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. 

For the Lord Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth. 

He subdued nations under us, peoples under our feet.

He chose our inheritance for us, the pride of Jacob, whom He loved.

God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets.

Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises.

For God is the King of all the earth;  sing to Him a psalm of praise.

God reigns over the nations; God is seated on His holy throne.

The nobles of the nations assemble as the people of the God of Abraham,

for the kings[c] of the earth belong to God; He is greatly exalted.

The theme in today’s passage: Paul is at the end of his ministry and life. He loves the people of Phillipi and they love him, even while he is in jail.  Paul wants to leave them with memory of wisdom in living a Christian life of Ministry. 

New Testament reading: Phil 14:10-20

I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.  I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only;  for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need.  Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account.  I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.  And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Paul has learned the secret of being content, Paul keeps the main thing the main thing.  Jesus died for Paul and so Paul was good with God through what Jesus did. This was always in the forefront of Paul’s mind.  ~ D. Moore

– We need to be content, whatever the circumstances, and at the same time an open heart.  ~ D. Moore 

– Another component of being content no matter what the circumstance, is to minister out of our relationship with God. Paul’s relationship with God was the basis for everything he did.  ~ D. Moore  

The temptation is wanting to depend on our own power to get things done.  Our ministry is dependent on our relationship with God. No matter what happened to Paul, he doesn’t lose focus on the larger mission; to bring people to Christ.  ~ D. Moore

You focus on the depth of your relationship with God, let Him determine the scope of your ministry.  ~ Howard Hendricks

Romans 8:31-39:  What then, shall we say in response to all this?  If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all – how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?  Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? 

It is God who justifies.  Who is he who condemns?  Christ Jesus, who died – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?  As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long, we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Matt 16:18: And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not overcome it.

I think we can do all things together.  This is God’s church, God will provide.  He can use one or all to accomplish His mission on this earth.  We can be a part of that mission, depending on our relationship with Christ, to give what we need to in our life’s ministry. 

Dwell on these scriptures this week.  Pray over it, open your heart to Christ.

God bless you!