Manual for Life

We have just spent 10 days at Holiness Camp Meeting. It was a week full of good music including the boys learning to play the tamborine as well as challenging messages. Over the next few posts I will share some of what I have been challenged with and hope to encourage you and challenge you as well.

When did you last take you Bible to church with you? or last read it? Going through life without reading the bible daily is like getting a new piece of equipment and not reading the instructions/manual then finding out that you can't make it work so you resort to the manual. Does your life work this way? You go on living life until you come to a problem then you decide that maybe you should bring it to the Lord and dive into His word.

The Bible is not a last resort but it is a manual for life. It has all the applications needed for life. We all need to get back into His word, reading it, memorizing it and allowing it to make a difference in your life and mine.

Today we are going to have a look at Philippians 2:1-18 and the applications it has for us.

Vs 1 – 4 – Unity application
1If there be therefore any consolation(encouragement) in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, (tenderness and compassion)
2Fulfil my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

Being like minded – that does not mean that we think the same on everything but that our intentions are the same. We have the same goal in mind. Having Christ as our common ground.

3Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory(conceit); but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

Christ came to humble us, he did not give you a spirit of pride. Do we think of others better than ourselves? I think we can honestly say that we don't. The world thinks "look after yourself".
Do you desire to be praised or do you give all the glory to God?

4Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

People think it is all about me rather than thinking of others. The truth is that is not at all about me but all about the One who made me.
Problems in churches arise because of selfishness. They want it their own way rather than God's will/way. The devil wants discord & disharmony in the church. The world expects people to fight. We Christians should not fight.

Vs 5 – 12: Humility Application
5Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Do our attitudes stink sometimes? Our attitudes should be the same as Jesus'. No arrogance but a humble attitude, total surrender.

6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
12Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

Vs 13 – 18 Shining as Lights
13For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
14Do all things without murmurings and disputings: (grumbling & arguing)

Ouch! All things? This doesn't just refer to an argument with another person but even grumbling to ourselves. I think we are guilty of this.

15That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

Remember that you are a light, be an example to those around you.

16Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

Are you holding forth the Word? Are you living by the Word? shining to the world around you?

17Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.
18For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.

I hope you will allow God's word to penetrate your heart. Apply it to your life today.
Let’s talk about Jesus (Phil 1:27) and share His love with those around us.