14052012

Philippians 3

Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

Christ Is More Important Than Anything

And now, my brothers and sisters, be filled with joy in the Lord. It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again. I want to be sure that you are prepared.

2 Be careful of the dogs—those men whose work does only harm. They want to cut on everyone who isn’t circumcised. [a] 3 But we are the ones who have the true circumcision [b]—we who worship God through his Spirit. We don’t trust in ourselves or anything we can do. We take pride only in Christ Jesus. 4 Even if I am able to trust in myself, still I don’t do it. If anyone else thinks they have a reason to trust in themselves, they should know that I have a greater reason for doing so. 5 I was circumcised on the eighth day after my birth. I am from the people of Israel and the tribe of Benjamin. I am a true Jew, and so were my parents. The law was very important to me. That is why I became a Pharisee. 6 I was so eager to defend my religion [c] that I persecuted the church. And no one could find fault with the way I obeyed the Law of Moses.

Do not judge how's the spiritual growth with the responsibilities and the serving, and don't ever think that work hard for God can make him satisfied. God will watch all you done and unless you respond his love of his salvation,you would not get the reward.

7 At one time all these things were important to me. But because of Christ, I decided that they are worth nothing. 8 Not only these things, but now I think that all things are worth nothing compared with the greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of Christ, I lost all these things, and now I know that they are all worthless trash. All I want now is Christ. 9 I want to belong to him. In Christ I am right with God, but my being right does not come from following the law. It comes from God through faith. God uses my faith in [d] Christ to make me right with him. 10 All I want is to know Christ and the power that raised him from death. I want to share in his sufferings and be like him even in his death. 11 Then there is hope that I myself will somehow be raised from death.

We have to be alert that we cannot overlook of the past satisfaction that cause our relationship in Christ broken. How was my relationship with Christ? is that important to me? How I gonna adjust it? Paul give up all he has include his families, friend and freedom because he want to know God. Am I willing to give up something for God? Am I willing to spend sometime in a busy life to pray and read the words of God? Am I willing to give up the time in spending with friend or some entertainment or plan? No matter what you sacrifice, that's worth for it.

Trying to Reach the Goal

12 I don’t mean that I am exactly what God wants me to be. I have not yet reached that goal. But I continue trying to reach it and make it mine. That’s what Christ Jesus wants me to do. It is the reason he made me his. 13 Brothers and sisters, I know that I still have a long way to go. But there is one thing I do: I forget what is in the past and try as hard as I can to reach the goal before me. 14 I keep running hard toward the finish line to get the prize that is mine because God has called me through Christ Jesus to life up there in heaven.

Paul said his purpose in life is to know Christ and be like Christ and his heart is fill with Christ. He use his all effort toward the target, we should learn from him. We should not let other thing stop us from knowing the Christ. We will like the athlete, pay all the attention when practicing and leave all the thing that could shift our attention. Try to figure out which can be the barrier that stop us from becoming like Christ.

15 All of us who have grown to be spiritually mature should think this way too. And if there is any of this that you don’t agree with, God will make it clear to you. 16 But we should continue following the truth we already have.

17 Brothers and sisters, join together in following my example. Also, learn by watching those who are living the way we showed you. 18 There are many who live like enemies of the cross of Christ. I have often told you about them. And it makes me cry to tell you about them now. 19 The way they live is leading them to destruction. They have replaced God with their own desires. They do shameful things, and they are proud of what they do. They think only about earthly things. 20 But the government that rules us is in heaven. We are waiting for our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, to come from there. 21 He will change our humble bodies and make them like his own glorious body. Christ can do this by his power, with which he is able to rule everything.

Philippians 4

Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

Some Things to Do

My dear brothers and sisters, I love you and want to see you. You bring me joy and make me proud of you. Continue following the Lord as I have told you.

2 Euodia and Syntyche, you both belong to the Lord, so please agree with each other. 3 For this I make a special request to my friend who has served with me so faithfully: Help these women. They worked hard with me in telling people the Good News, together with Clement and others who worked with me. Their names are written in the book of life. [a]

4 Always be filled with joy in the Lord. I will say it again. Be filled with joy.

5 Let everyone see that you are gentle and kind. The Lord is coming soon. 6 Don’t worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks for what you have. 7 And because you belong to Christ Jesus, God’s peace will stand guard over all your thoughts and feelings. His peace can do this far better than our human minds. [b]

Don't worry anything, Pray and ask God. We always worry about our job, family and studies. Stop worry for that, just pray....When we start to worry, we must start to pray. Amen.

8 Brothers and sisters, continue to think about what is good and worthy of praise. Think about what is true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected. 9 And do what you learned and received from me—what I told you and what you saw me do. And the God who gives peace will be with you.

What we think decide what we speak and what we react. Praul taught us to be missing the real honorable righteous things. Are you often influence by the bad thought or daydream? Reflect it, from tv program, magazine, chit-chating, movie or newspaper is there any influences? Please remove those activities may bring you have this kinda influences, go work for the healthy things and that's important to have time with God and seek him.

Paul Thanks the Philippian Believers

10 I am so happy, and I thank the Lord that you have again shown your care for me. You continued to care about me, but there was no way for you to show it. 11 I am telling you this, but not because I need something. I have learned to be satisfied with what I have and with whatever happens. 12 I know how to live when I am poor and when I have plenty. I have learned the secret of how to live through any kind of situation—when I have enough to eat or when I am hungry, when I have everything I need or when I have nothing. 13 Christ is the one who gives me the strength I need to do whatever I must do.

14 But it was good that you helped me when I needed help. 15 You people in Philippi remember when I first told the Good News there. When I left Macedonia, you were the only church that gave me help. 16 Several times you sent me things I needed when I was in Thessalonica. 17 Really, it is not that I want to get gifts from you. But I want you to have the benefit that comes from giving. 18 I have everything I need. I have even more than I need. I have all I need because Epaphroditus brought your gift to me. Your gift is like a sweet-smelling sacrifice offered to God. God accepts that sacrifice and it pleases him. 19 My God will use his glorious riches to give you everything you need. He will do this through Christ Jesus. 20 Glory to our God and Father forever and ever. Amen.

21 Give our greetings to God’s people there—to each one who belongs to Christ Jesus. Those in God’s family who are with me send you their greetings. 22 And greetings to you from all of God’s people here, especially those who work in the service of the emperor.

23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

If we just focus on Christ we will learn to be unite, humble, joy, peace and faith in him and live for him alone. Because the grace of the Lord Jesus is with us. Amen.