INTRODUCTION

Paul wrote the book of Philippians while in a Roman prison approximately A.D. 60.

The Philippian church sent Esaphroditus to Paul with a gift.  While Esaphroditus was inRomehe became ill.  After he was well Paul sent him back toPhilippiwith this letter to the Philippian church.

This letter is the most warm and personal letter that Paul wrote to a church.  His love for them is as a father to his child.  They were his spiritual children.

The word JOY and REJOICE is mentioned 14 times in this short letter.  Paul exorts them to harmony with others and obedience to God.

I.  PAUL’S SECOND MISSIONARY JOURNEY

a.  The saga opens inActs 15:1-2

Some men came from Judea to Antiochteaching that  “unless you are circumcised according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.”

Paul and Barnabas debated with them tell they were appointed along with other believers to go toJerusalemto see the Apostles and Elders about this question.

The Apostles and Elders debated this question of salvation and heard both sides.  They then decided  to send a delegation to other cities to tell others that this was a false hood.

b.  As we go toActs 16:1-34we see  Paul, Barnanbas and Silas journey north back towardsAntioch.  Paul wanted to go toAsia.

c.  In Derbe and Lystra (Turkeytoday) Timothy joins Paul.

d.  Timothy becomes Paul’s protégé.  Timothy’s mother was a jewess and his father was Greek.

e.  Paul circumcised Timothy because of the Jews who lived in that area.

II.  PAUL IS STOPPED

a.  When Paul and company tried to enterAsia“THE SPIRIT FORBADE US.”

b. We are not told in the scriptures HOW Paul received this message, but remember that the WILL OF GOD that STOPS are as VALID as STEPS.  How ever he was stopped Paul saw it as a clear guidance by the Holy Spirit.

c.  Paul went to Troas at theAegean Seaand while there we see in verse 9 ofActs 16that Paul has a vision in which he saw a Macedonian man saying ‘COME OVER AND HELP US.”

d.  Paul crossed over toMacedoniaand instead of a man that he saw in his vision  he found a group of ladies at the river PRAYING.

e.  Paul shared the gospel with them.  Many received the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior.  Among them wasLydia.  She invited Paul’s group to her home.  She and her household were saved- the PHILIPPIAN CHRUCH WAS BORN.

f. THE GOD WHO PURSUES US.  ACTS lays a foundation of how God begins the good work of salvation in us and then works together with his servants to complete it.

III.  AN ENCOURAGING EXAMPLE (Phil. 1:1-11)

a.  We are now 10 years later from Paul’s establishing  the Philippian church.  We find Paul in a Roman prison.

b.  Paul wrote the letters to Colossians, Philemon, Ephesians and Philippians while in prison.

c.  The Philippian church over the 10 years had continued to send gifts to Paul.  While Paul was in the Roman prison they sent Esaphroditus to Paul with a gift.

d.  Paul sent Esaphroditus back to Philippiwith this letter of encouragement and love.  As we look at the first 11 verses we are encouraged by his example to help people strengthen their Christian relationships as they encourage each other with AFFIRMATION, GODLY AFFECTION AND PRAYER.

IV.  JOY IN THE WORST OF TIMES (Phil.1:12-30

a.  Paul’s example in dealing with adversity helps us in a way that brings honor to Christ.

V.  PATH OF HUMILITY (Phil. 2:1-18)

a.  We discover how the humble service of Christ is an example for our Christian lives by being LIKE MINDED, AND BEING ONE IN SPIRIT AND PURPOSE.

VI.  ONWARD TO THE GOAL. (Phil. 3:12-4:1)

a.  Paul says “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus told hold of me.”

b.  We need to consider what goals we have set for our own lives and whether these goals are leading us toward heaven.

VII.  STRESS FREE LIVING (Phil. 4:2-9)

a.  We need to identify practices that have added stress to our lives and our Christian communities and eliminate that stress thru trust in God.

Paul wraps up Philippians letter with  REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS.  AGAIN I say REJOICE.

Ruth asks permission from Naomi  to glean the field.  (Pick up the left overs as provided by law the land owner was to leave some of the harvest for the widows and orphans to pick up.

Naomi was so absorbed in her grief that she says “God ahead my daughter”.

God leads Ruth to the fields of Boaz.  Unknowingly to Ruth Boaz is a relative on her husband’s side.

Boaz returning fromJerusalemtalks with his field hands and then to his foreman.  He asks his foreman who Ruth was and is told she came back fromMoabwith Naomi.  He tells Boaz “she has worked steadily”

Boaz invites Ruth to come every day to his fields to glean.  Ruth is overwhelmed with Boaz’s kindness.  Ruth bows down to the ground and says “WHY HAVE I FOUND SUCH FAVOR IN YOUREYESTHAT YOU NOTICE ME – A FOREIGNER?”

Boaz begins to list her qualities that he had heard about her…2:11“you have been kind to your mother in law since the death of your husband, you left your mother and father  and your homeland.”

In 3:11, “You have not run after younger men” All the towns people know that you are a woman of noble character.”

Naomi wanting to find Ruth a home where she will be provided for suggests that since Boaz is a kinsman of theirs that Ruth go and lay at the feet of Boaz at the threshing floor.

By lying at Boaz’s feet she is offering herself to him for marriage.  Boaz responds “this kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier…..I will do all that you ask.”….but there is a kinsman-redeemer nearer than I.

Boaz protecting her reputation sends Ruth away early in the morning and then goes to the city gate and sat there.  When the kinsman-redeemer came along Boaz says “Come over here my friend, and sit down.”  He then calls ten of the elders of the city to come and sit down with them. 

Boaz then tells him that Naomi is selling the property that she is entitled to redeem.  The kinsman-redeemer agrees to buy the property but immediately back tracks because Ruth is part of the deal.  He does not want to endanger his own property.

Boaz must have been chuckling to himself….as he offers to be the kinsman-redeemer.

Boaz and Ruth are married and have a son…who they named Obed….they placed Obed in Naomi’s lap — Obed means Servant of the Lord. and in 4:15“The women said to Naomi…Praise be to the Lord who this day has not left you without a kinsman redeemer.  May he become famous throughout Israel.  He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age.  For your daughter in law who loves and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.”

Naomi goes from fullness to emptiness back to fullness – from Pleasant to Bitter back to Pleasant….She has been redeemed from her emptiness!

ONLY GOD RESTORES AND REDEEMS.

JESUS IS OUR KINSMAN REDEEMER.  THROUGH THE CROSS AND THE BLOOD OF JESUS WE ARE REDEEMED.

1. 1.     A way to talk to God
2. 2.     Recording our heart’s joys and sorrows.
3. 3.     Prayer – For our loved ones.  Ex.  Pics of husband and a prayer for him each day.  For children and other family members and others.  Use pictures
4. 4.     A place to lay down your memorial stones of remembrances.

          You can also use the margin of your Bible.

2 Chronicles 7 teaches that the cure for famine is to remain where you are and call upon God.  But Elimelech and his family went toMOAB.

In Psalms 108 God referes to Moabas His washpot, or Moab is my toilet bowl. 

In a sense Elimelech and Naomi were saying its getting tough here in the House of Bread (Jerusalem), the place of Praise (Judah), let’s go swim in the Toilet Bowl.

In Ruth verse 3 we see that Elimelech dies.

Verse 4 – Naomi’s two sons took Moabite wives, Oprah and Ruth.

Oprah means Youthful, or immature and Ruth means friendship.

They dwelt inMoabfor 10 more years.

Verse 5 – Both Mahlon and Kilion died leaving Naomi without her two sons and her husband.

Verse 6-21 Naomi hears that the Lord has provided food for the Israelites.

Naomi and her two daughter-in-laws leave the place they had been living, and set out to return to Bethlehem-Judah.

On the way Naomi tells the daughter in laws to go back to their homes.  They both wept – twice more Naomi tells them to return home as she is unable to provide husbands for them.  Oprah kisses her mother in law good-by but RUTH clings to Naomi.  Once again Naomi petitions Ruth to go home.

In a very devoted, loving, loyal and sacrificial statement Ruth says “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you.  Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay.  Your people will be my people and your God my God.  Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried.  May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.”

Ruth not only commits herself to Naomi, but she commits herself to Naomi’s God and her people.  Its not about a marriage for Ruth as she does not know whether the Israelites will accept her – a Moabite – or marry her.

Ruth and Naomi journey on until they come toBethlehemwhere the towns people greet them with great joy.  The women exclaim “CAN THIS BE NAOMI?”

“DON’T CALL ME NAOMI – CALL ME MARA. BECAUSE THE ALMIGHTYHASMADE MYLIFEVERY BITTER.   I WENT AWAYFULLBUT THE LORDHASBROUGHT ME BACK EMPTY.

Naomi went away with a husband and 2 sons, and returns without them.  Nor does she have a male child to carry on the name and  redeem their property.  Women were not allowed to own property.  Even though Elimelech had sold the property when they left forMoab, there is the right to redeem the property, or BUY BACK THELAND.

B.  THE JOURNEY – Chapter 1:1-22

Our story opens up during the time of the Judges.  The Israelites had turned to other gods, as a consequence of their sin God brought about a famine.

ELIMELECH (a lime a lech) and his wife NAOMI are from Bethlehemthe tribe of JUDAH with their two sons go toMoab to escape the famine.

Names were given that had meaning

Elimelech – God is my King

Naomi – Pleasant (becomes bitter then pleasant again – restoration)

Mahlon – Song

Chilion – Satisfaction

Bethlehem – House of Bread – meaning Word of God

Judah – Praise

John Courson – Applegate Fellolwship – “There is an intimate intricate correlation between the House of Bread which is the Word of God and Praise which ascends towards God.  David in Psalms 119 says, “I will praise thee O’Lord when I have learned thy statues.”  “A person who is learning about the ways of God and the character of God through the Word of God cannot help but to overflow in PRAISE to God.”

When we eat heavenly manna we experience earthly happiness (Psalms 1:1-3)

We can experience famine  – the Dry times in our life when we step away from the hearing the Word of the Lord.  (Amos 8:11) In our verse for this study – Psalms 63:1-5 “O God you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.  I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.  Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.  I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.  My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.”

There will come into our walk seasons of dryness and times of difficulty.

Do you still feel that you are hearing from God, or in communion with Him.  Are you still experiencing your first love – the passion – the excitement of knowing Jesus personally.

THE QUESTION IS NOT WHETHER TIMES OF FAMINE WILL COME. 

THE QUESTION IS WHERE WILL YOU GO WHEN THEY DO.

Falling In Love with Jesus Lesson 4 Ruth

1. A.    Significant Women in the bible

You might ask yourself, why was the book of Ruth written and what is its significance.

The book of Ruth is about Redemption – an introduction to our Kinsman-Redeemer, JESUS, and from emptiness to fullness. 

Ruth and Boaz are the grandparents to King David and are in the genealogy of Jesus.  There are 5 women in the genealogy of Jesus mentioned in Matthew 1:2.  YOU WILL NOTE THAT EACH WOMAN WAS REDEEMED.

TAMAR – had married 3 ofJudah’s sons who all died. Judah refused to give her his youngest son to bear her a son for inheritance.  It was a sin not to give a son until a son was born. Tamar trapsJudah into impregnating her.

          RAHAB – The harlot was redeemed through the spies that came to scope out the city.  She is the mother of Boaz.

RUTH – A detested Moabite.  She is the mother of Obed who is the father of Jesse who is the father of King David.  Ruth then is the great grandmother of David.

BATHSHEBA – Although not mentioned by name but of the wife of Uriah.  King David has an affair with and then has Uriah his soldier killed, marries Bathsheba, their first child dies and then they have Solomon.

MARY – The woman who gave birth to the child JESUS.  She was theChosen one.

          Mary’s answer to Gabriel as he brings God’s message to her that she will bear the Son of God is significant “I AM THE LORD’S SERVANT, MARY ANWERED, MAY IT BE TO ME AS YOU HAVE SAID.”

1. 1.     DO YOU WONDER HOW YOU WOULD HAVE ANSWERED?
2. 2.     Mary’s response shows belief, trust, and relinquishment and total obedience.

          HOW DO WE KNOW WHEN IT IS GOD’S WILL?

          As the story between Mary and Elizabeth begins to unfold we see the steps of KNOWING GOD’S WILL.

1. 1.     THE SPIRITUAL AWAKENING

          Gabriel, the messenger of God tells Mary she will bear the Son of God.  He benchmarks the date that it was being told in the 6^th month of her relative Elizabeth’s pregnancy.  (Remember Elizabeth’s age and that she has been in seclusion for 5 months)

1. 2.     THE TRUST & OBEDIENCE

          May it Be as you have said.  Mary submits to God’s will in the face of tremendous personal jeopardy. (vs.38)

1. 3.     THE CONFIRMATION FROM THE SAINTS

          Elizabeth’s baby – John the Baptist – leaps for joy in his mother’s womb upon Mary’s arrival.  (Remember no one knows yet of Mary’s pregnancy.)  There was a reason for Elizabeth & Mary being together the 1^st 3 months of Mary’s pregnancy.  We don’t know all of the reasons, but we do see specifically that it was to confirm to Mary that she was indeed carrying God’s son.

1. 4.     THE CONFIRMATION SCRIPTURALLY

          Elizabeth prophesizes and says to Mary – “the mother of my Lord.

a.  An idea or thought will come to us in our hearts and minds.

b.  Confirmation will come through His Word.  Never contradictory.

c.  Confirmation will come thru the saints.

d.  There will not be any red lights.  If you get a yellow it means caution, or wait.  Green light – YOU GO GIRL!

1. 5.     THE MENTORING RELATIONSHIP

          There are two types of mentoring relationships…formal and informal.

1. 1.     INFORMAL – Usually a friendship relationship.  But includes learning spiritual truths and sharing joys and concerns from one another.  Iron sharpening Iron.
2. 2.     FORMAL – A teacher, student relationship, mentor, mentee.  Always has a focus of maturing in their most Holy faith.  Growing from the milk of the Word to the Meat.

      Shows them how to walk in the Light –being filled with the Spirit.  Learning to apply God’s truths to practical living.

Zep. 3:17 – HE QUIETS US WITH HIS LOVE

IN ALL SITUATIONS ‘AM I NOT STILL GOD’S

Falling in love with Jesus Lesson 2

1.  RELATIONSHIPS

          A wonderful relationship between the Elizabeth, mother of John, and Mary, mother of Jesus.  We do see informal mentoring between the two women by their words and encouragements.

2.  ANTICIPATION (Days 1 and 2)

          1.  We should have a godly anticipation of seeing Jesus face to face.

          2.  Jesus made the world, but the world did not recognize Him (John         1:10)  WILL YOU RECOGNIZE HIM WHEN HE COMES FOR

                   YOU? 

1. 3.     We are drawn to Jesus thru His creation.  God draws and woos us thru His Holy Spirit.  In Psalms 8:3-4 “WHAT IS MAN THAT YOU ARE MINDFUL OF HIM?”
2. 4.     WHEN DID YOU BECOME AWARE THAT GOD WAS PERSONAL AND MINDFUL OF YOU?
3. 5.     C.S. Lewis says he was “Surprised by joy” at his conversion.  WHAT WAS YOUR RESPONSE.  DID YOU SAY THAT SOMETHING WONDERFUL HAPPENED IN MY LIFE.  OUR HEART OF HEARTS KNOWS!!!!
4. 6.     We are cautioned about losing that passion of our first love.  Rev. 2:4 says “YOU HAVE FORSAKEN YOUR FIRST LOVE.  REMEMBER THE HEIGHT FROM WHICH YOU HAVE FALLEN.  REPENT AND DO THE THINGS YOU DID AT FIRST.”

If you have believed in the Lord Jesus as your Savior with your heart, mind and soul, the OVERFLOW will be a confession of faith (Rom. 10:10)

You will want to tell others and share your JOY

3.  BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (Day 3)

          The study uses fairy tales to illustrate “Love’s Eyes”.  In Beauty and the Beast the illustration is simple.  She is gorgeous and he is beastly. 

As we walk in the light of God’s holiness we develop “Love’s Eyes”  We see

Jesus and others with eyes of love. Unconditional love, instead of conditional.

God always honors prayer – Have you asked Him to help you fall more in love with Jesus and to grow in confidence of His love for you?

INTRODUCTION

Palestine in Jesus’ day was 120 miles from north to south, there were three specific division of territory.  In the north was the province of Galilee; in the south Judea; and in the middle was the land called Samaria.

The Assyrians conquered Samaria and deported a large number of Jews.

Later King Assyria brought in pagan peoples to occupy Samaria and they intermarried with the remaining Jews.

A feud separated the Jews of north and south from the Samaratans.  Jews traveling from Judea to Galilee went around Samaria even though it was twice as long just to avoid contamination.

Jesus and His disciples left Judea and headed towards Galilee.

“NOW HE HAD TO GO THROUGH SAMARIA.”

We are not told why in scriptures that Jesus had to go through Samaria, but as he takes this journey we see that this became a Divine Appointment.

I.  FIRST STAGE OF CONVERSATION

A.  Upon arriving in Samaria Jesus sat down at Jacob’s Well to rest – while the disciples went into town to buy food.

B.  While they were gone a Samaritan woman approached the well carrying her water jug on her head.

This woman was an outcast, a woman of ill repute.

C.  Jesus wins the woman’s confidence when He asks her “Will you give me a drink?”

A rabbi was forbidden to ever greet a woman in public, not even if it is his wife, daughter, or sister.

Here we see Jesus speaking openly to the Samariatan woman, knowing is a woman of ill repute.

D.  We also see here that Jesus’ asking for a service immediately places Himself under a kind obligation to her.

E.  The woman replies (4:9)

“You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman.  How can you ask me for a drink?”

P.  By taking the initiative the Lord broke down all barriers and softened the woman heart.

II.  SECOND STAGE OF CONVERSATION (4:10-12)

A.  Jesus’ answer has 4 points:

1.  “If you knew the gift of God”

2.   “If you knew who I am”

3.   “If You would have asked Him for living

water”

4.   “I would have given you the living

water.”

Jesus alone has the power to give God’s gift of “living water” (fresh, flowing, spring water) not still or stagnant water.

The “Living Water” that Jesus gives to a person who asks is the Holy Spirit.

Spiritually “living water” symbolizes the inner spring of joy of the heart’s satisfaction that resides in the heart of the true believer.,

III.  THIRD STAGE OF COMMUNICATION

A.  Jesus explains the meaning of His offer of living water.

1.  Earthly water satisfies for only a moment (vs 13) and depends on external objects for conscious happiness.

So many people suffer from this kind of thirst.  They are alone, bored and miserable.  The Bible describes this thirst as the lust of the eyes (more things to own) and the cravings of sinful man. (more things to feel).  And the boasting of what he has (more things to be proud about)  SUCH THIRST IS A BOTTOMLESS PIT.

“For everything in the world, the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does comes not from the Father but from the world.    The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.” (I John 2:16-17)

2.  Spiritual water satisfies permanently (vs 14)

Key words are “eternal life” and “never thirst”.

3.  To drink of the living water Jesus promises to have one’s inmost needs met.  It is as though one had an eternal spring at the deepest core of our being.  The soul’s deepest thirst for love, peace, joy, and for a meaning to existence is immediately met.

Amid all of our trials and suffering that is part of every human being God’s gift of living water produces a profound contentment with God.

4.  The woman seemingly confused asks Jesus,

“Sir give me this water so that I won’t be thirsty.”

IV. FOURTH STAGE OF COMMUNICATION

A.  Conviction and Confession of Sin is a process.

Jesus tells the woman, “Go, call your husband”

That was Jesus’ way of revealing the woman’s deepest need.

He began opening the wound at the place where His cure was to begin.

The woman answers, “I have no husband.”

Her honest answer clears the way for a sincere confession.

Jesus brings everything into a clear light when he answers her “No husband, you have had five husbands….five divorces and now an illegitimate relationship.

Jesus used strong words that caused her to see her true state on her past life from God’s perspective.

BUT, in all this Jesus did not condemn her for her sin.  But awakened within her a heart hunger for God.  He leads her to know how to worship Him in Spirit and Truth.

THE FINALE….

The woman said, I know that the Messiah is coming.  When he comes he will explain everything to us.

JESUS DECLARED……

“I WHO SPEAK TO YOU AM HE.”

The woman went back to the town and said ‘COME SEE A MAN WHO TOLD ME EVERYTHING I EVER DID.”

Many of the Samaritans believed in Jesus because of the woman’s testimony.

1.  They went out to see Jesus

2.  They heard

3.  They believed

Looking back on this we see that Jesus broke down walls of separation by journeying thru Samaria.

There was no discrimination

MANY BELIEVED and were added to the household of FAITH

Women Growing In Faith

Speaker:  Leona M. Kidd

A DIAMOND AMONGST THE COAL

John 4:1-54

February 2, 2011

Everyone knew that Lazarus was dead.

“Lazarus, come out!” echoed in the still air as onlookers were terrified as Lazarus appeared in the entrance of the cave.  His face was still covered with the burial cloth and his hand and feet bound with grave bandages.

Are you there.  Do you see.  Imagine the awed silence as Jesus quietly commanded Martha and Mary to untie the headcloth and the other bandages and they watched Lazarus walk over
to his Friend, the Lord Jesus, to thank Him.

Mary undoubtedly wept with joy, and Martha probably hurried into the house to change the funeral meal to a banquet of thanksgiving to God.

The Effect on the Sign on the bystanders; Always  a work of God and words of God
will divide the audience into two camps.

a. Those who believe the sign points to the divine authority of Jesus stand in contrast to those who insist that it just happened as one of those things and that it proves nothing.

b.   Many believed; others in opposition, informed the Pharisees.
CONCLUSION:

The raising of Lazarus is the precursor to Jesus ‘ resurrection. It is the last Sign of what is to come.

The journey begins and ends at the cross!

“It is written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.” John 20:31