“Thanks and Prayers”
Pastor David Moore
Old Testament reading: Psalm 32:6-11 (NRSV)
Therefore let all the faithful pray to you while you may be found; surely the rising of the mighty waters will not reach them. You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you. Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him.
Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!
Theme today is about how Paul writes a joyful letter to the church in Philippi in spite of being in prison. And that all his letters point to the Savior of the world, Jesus.
New Testament reading: Philippians 1:3-11 (NIV)
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ.
It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in the knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
Anyone working for God, sharing, and spreading the gospel, has to have thick skin and a vulnerable heart. Ministry can be really tough, frustrating, and the people can be wonderful. ~D. Moore
When we look at David’s life, I said that everything in the Bible should point us to Jesus. And Paul does that better than almost anyone, even though he is in prison. ~D. Moore
Joy is the big secret of Christians. ~D. Moore
Joy comes from what we know deep down. We don’t deserve God’s love and yet he loves us. ~D. Moore
Joy is different from happiness, joy exists in spite of our circumstances in life. ~D. Moore
Joy is a deep and abiding confidence that regardless of our circumstances in life, all is well between the believer and the Lord. ~D. Moore
Paul is absolutely joyful and confident because he trusts Jesus no matter what position he finds himself in. Paul’s confidence is in Jesus for himself as well as the good work He (God) had begun in the Philippians. ~D. Moore
Romans 3:27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith.
One idea that John Calvin had about Christians is that we persevere. When we really meet Jesus, when we really commit our lives to Him, then we will persevere through whatever life throws at us until the end. ~D. Moore
Spiritual joy…is not an attitude dependent on chance or circumstance. It is a deep and abiding confidence that, regardless of one’s circumstances in life, all is well between the believer and the Lord. No matter what difficulty, pain, disappointment, failure, rejection, or other challenge one is facing, genuine joy remains because of that eternal well-being established by God’s grace in salvation. Thus, Scripture makes it clear that the fullest, most lasting, and satisfying joy is derived from a true relationship with God.
Paul mentions that the Philippians would be filled with the fruit of the Holy Spirit. The fruits are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. Many of these fruits are about how we interact with others in our lives. ~D. Moore
I pray for us today that as Christians our fruit would be present in this world and that we would allow God’s love to shape us and mold us into people who love others and God the most.
God bless you. Have a good week, full of joy!