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Philippians 2:12 NKJV 12 Therefore, my beloved, as you 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;

Philippians 2:12-13 NKJV 12 Therefore, my beloved, as you 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; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

You cannot work out your own salvation by yourself

Philippians 1:27 NKJV 27 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel,

Only in Christ are real unity and joy possible

Without humility, you cannot have unity and mutual concern. His ultimate example is Christ Himself.

Philippians 2:8 NKJV 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

Philippians 2:5 NKJV 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,

Philippians 2:12 NKJV 12 Therefore, my beloved, as you 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;

Greek word – means to work in order to bring something to completion or fulfillment

Philippians 1:27 NKJV 27 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel,

Salvation is not worked out in our lives, it has not been completed, until we are of one mind and spirit with our brothers and sisters in Christ

Philippians 2:14 NKJV 14 Do all things without complaining and disputing,

Ephesians 5:21 NKJV 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.

Philippians 2:13 NKJV 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

I John 3:14-18 NKJV 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. 15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

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Good to Grow

Good to Grow

2 Peter 3:17-18 NIV 17 Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To himbe glory both now and forever! Amen.

What is your current plan for spiritual growth?

1. Motivation for Growing

3rdTherefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position.

2. The Manifestation of Growing

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

Peter calls us to GROW IN GRACE We can’t just go to the Bible for INSPIRATION. We must go to the Bible for TRANSFORMATION. Peter also calls us to GROW IN KNOWLEDGE

Hebrews 5:12-14 NIV 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

Brokenness & Betrayal

Brokenness & Betrayal

Psalms 51:16-19 –> Contradiction from 16-19?…does God delight in sacrifices and offerings or no…
The answer is in v~17…sacrifices with a Broken and Contrite heart…

A-Broken and Contrite Heart
1. It is a crying out for Father in truth
a) it’s hard to fake cry
b) crying is humility
c) calls Father
2. Crying is Repentance
a) there must be a wanting to change
b) tears are a sweet worship to God
c) tears touches God’s heart
3. Brokenness and Contrite Heart
b) brokenness will want you to never go through what you went through
c) Mark 14:3–> Mary was broken enough to pour out tears and expensive perfume (more than a yrs wages)
d) brokenness is costly
e) contrite heart is honest
f) a contrite heart is humble which brings God’s Grace down
g) brokenness and a contrite heart brings value and meaning to the change of heart and brings Understanding to the Value of God changing your heart 💞💞💞
h) brokenness will be criticized as Christ was when He was Broken in Heart for Me
I) You will be hated but it’s ok Christ was hated
j) there’s a side of God that rises up when one is critical for His name’s sake…Glory to God
B- The Lord takes our Brokenness and Redeems
1. The Lord reveals Himself to the Broken and Redeemed- Jesus revealed Mary’s annointing of His feet was for His burial
2. You must be 100%…99% won’t cut it

*** Giving a little instead of All usually leads to betrayal…Judas was the one who complained about the value of the perfume and how it can be sold for money to the poor ***

The Cure for Bitterness Part 2

The Cure for Bitterness Part 2

Hebrews 12:14-15 NKJV 14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;

Acts 8:18-24 NKJV 18 And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! 21 You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. 22 Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.” 24 Then Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me.”

1. Marriage expectations

2. Job expectations

3. Fast food service expectations

4. Church expectations Many people expect only good from God.

I John 4:20 NKJV 20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?

Ephesians 4:32 NKJV 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Luke 12:13-15 NKJV 13 Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” 15 And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”

Job 2:10 NKJV 10 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

With that in mind – Jesus spoke

Matthew 5:41. 41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.

1. Ask forgiveness from God.

2. Forgive the person or people.

3. Pray good and blessings over them.

4. Ask God to help you to truly love them with God’s love.

The Cure for Bitterness Part 1

The Cure for Bitterness Part 1

Hebrews 12:14-15 NKJV 14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;

FIRST SIGN: Depression

Proverbs 14:10 NKJV 10 The heart knows its own bitterness, And a stranger does not share its joy.

SECOND SIGN: Distrust A bitter person has a hard time trusting people because they have been hurt by people in the past.

THIRD SIGN: Insensitive

FOURTH SIGN: Ingratitude

FIFTH SIGN: Temporal values

SIXTH SIGN: Self-rejection

Matthew 5:41 NKJV 41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.

The 1st mile is our responsibility.

The 2nd mile is where 2 things happen: 1. Bitterness leaves 2. People ask why we are going 2 nd mile and we get to tell them what Jesus has done for us.

Matthew 7:5 NKJV 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.