Small, hard pressed, perhaps excluded or harassed, the Philippians are told simply to hold fast their hope in Christ, without being intimidated by those who oppose them, and implicitly without reacting in fear or hatred. Thirdly, the Philippians’ refusal to be intimidated by their opponents is a sign of both destruction and salvation. Paul explains that there are two things granted by God for a believer. The first is to believe in Him and the other is to suffer, “For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me” (1:29-30) Jesus say’s count the cost. Like in the book of Luke 14:25-33: Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters-yes, even their own life-such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’ “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. “Paul’s words: For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain;
Philippians Chapter 1:21-30
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me. Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved-and that by God. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.
{Lets Pray}
Father God, I thank You and praise You for this air I breathe and this life You have given me. It is a sensible thought to know that those who reject the gospel of Jesus Christ, bring judgement down on their own heads, and those that deliberately oppose Your purpose and plan, are under Your eternal condemnation since they have not trusted in the One Person, Who alone has power over death, and the giver of eternal life. Use me as a witness that points others to Jesus, and I believe that I may decrease so that Jesus may increase, until it is not I that live, but Christ that lives in me. This I ask in Jesus Precious Name Amen,
{Power Verse}
Without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved~and that by God. Philippians 1:28 (NIV)
"Only Life Changes" 