November 11th House Church

Today's gathering discussed Philippians 1:1-7

Paul and Timothy were bond-servants of Christ. A bond-servant serves voluntarily. Christ's bond-servants will believe in Him. John 14:12 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father."

We will do the works of Jesus as we believe in Jesus. Part of believing in Jesus is keeping His commands John 14:15 ^"If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." Jesus commanded us to love one another in John 13:34,35

In Jesus Name signifies being under Jesus' authority. 2 Cor 5:20 We represent Christ as ambassadors. Teaching others, (Christians especially because the book of 2 Corinthians was written to the church), to be reconciled to God. Christians are already reconciled to God but many times we don't live like it or think of ourselves that way.

We then talked about praying for each other in verses 3,4
It is important to keep alert in prayer with thanksgiving. There is a prayer of complaint and a prayer of thanksgiving. Faith grows with thanksgiving but usually doesn't with complaint. God answers prayers of faith so we want to stay alert by being thankful.

v5 in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now.
my NAS Bible has a note with participation = or sharing in the preaching of the gospel.
As we work together for the gospel prayer builds us up even more.
Amplified = fellowship, sympathetic co-operation and contributions and partnership - in advancing the good news . . .

v6 God will continue to build us up. Eph 2:10 talks of our purpose that we were made for.

v7 Paul not only prays but has the Philippians in his heart. This gets back to obeying the commands of Jesus to love one another. We can't help others if we don't love them. Paul served with love. Paul prayed with love. Paul lived with love.