Today in the Word for October 5th - 15th
Today in The Word
Monday Oct 5, 2020
If we say we follow Christ, should we live differently? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. In Philippians 3:18-21, Paul announces:
“…many live as enemies of the cross of Christ…Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven…”
It is easy to get focused on the plusses and minuses of living on planet earth. We can get tunnel vision chasing earthly wealth, fame, beauty, knowledge or power. But Paul reminds us as Christ-followers that we are citizens of heaven. God the Father has adopted us into his family through the work of Jesus, and we belong in heaven. Therefore, the applause or approval of humans is not what drives us. Earth is not our mind-set. Heaven is. That is the destination on our immigration papers. And if we are citizens of heaven, we will live differently. Rather than seek the human approval of people we do not necessarily like, and serve organizations and groups we do not necessarily respect, we keep our mind-set on heaven.
After all, we are citizens!
And that’s The Word from Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.
Today in The Word
Tuesday Oct 6, 2020
If we say we follow Christ, should we live differently? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. In Philippians 3:19-21, Paul contrasts Christ-followers with enemies of the cross:
“Their destination is destruction, their god is their stomach, and…the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”
The tendency of our earthly culture is to make a god out of our bodies. Paul mentions that in his time, people made a god out of the cravings of their bodies for food. I think body gratification can be widened to include the cravings of substances, and sex, and more. How much time do we spend looking at our bodies in the mirror-whether in awe or disgust? Either way it is body worship.
Christ-followers are to care about their bodies too, but do so in light of the fact that God will transform our bodies someday to be like Jesus’ body! Heaven is not a cloud with floating spirits but rather a 3-dimensional world which we will inhabit in our glorified bodies.
Christ-followers do not seek body gratification, but rather body transformation.
And that’s The Word from Pastor David of Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.
Today in the Word
Wednesday Oct 7, 2020
If we say we follow Christ, should we live differently? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. In Philippians 3:20-21, Paul contrasts Christ-followers with those who don’t:
“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”
Earthly cultural systems urge us to take control of our lives. We are to seek to control all we can. We spend great energy trying to figure out who is in control. And we often feel helpless because we do not feel like we are in control.
But Christ-followers are to look forward to the return of Christ someday when he will finally bring everything under his control. It isn’t our job to control everything, and we would be wise to recognize that our hands are a bit full trying to control ourselves. It is time to submit to God’s loving control of our lives. And it is also time to recognize that ultimate control is only possible by Jesus himself at the end of all things.
Are you a control freak? Does everything really depend on you? Isn’t that unrealistic and exhausting and frustrating? How about yielding control to someone who is truly up to the job?
And that’s The Word from Pastor David of Deer Lodge Assembly. Join our Wednesday adult Bible Study at 6:30 for more of the Word.
Today in the Word
Thursday Oct 8, 2020
If a person becomes a Christ-follower, does that mean that God will meet their every need? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. Doesn’t Paul tell us in Philippians 4:19:
“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of this glory in Christ Jesus.”
To understand what Paul meant, we need to back up to his statement in Philippians 4:12:
“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned to secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”
Paul plainly states that he has been in need several times. In fact, he is writing this letter from imprisonment. He has unmet needs. He has had too little to eat sometimes. Whatever the promise means, it cannot mean that Christians do not ever become needy. Paul was. Being spiritually mature cannot mean a certain level of prosperity, or Paul would have achieved it. Instead he says his situation has gone up and down, yet he is content. Being needy is not a badge of spiritual weakness.
And that is the Word from Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.
Today in the Word
Friday Oct 9, 2020
What drives our relationship with others? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. Paul is thanking the Philippian church for sending him money while he is in prison for preaching the gospel. He states in Philippians 4:11 and 17:
“I am not saying this because I am in need…you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. Not that I desire your gifts…”
Paul is grateful to the church for their help, but he wants to make it clear that need is not driving the relationship. When our needs (real or perceived) dominate our relationships, we blunder into many mistakes. We can get panicky and clingy. We can try to meet our needs through the manipulation of others. We can tell ourselves we have to take advantage of others to meet our needs. We can compromise our conscience to get what we need from those who have it.
Paul is in need, but wants to make it clear that need is not the boss. Our needs make a lousy boss. So, don’t let your needs drive your relationships.
And that’s the Word. You can enjoy more of the Word this Sunday at 10:45 at Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.
Today in The Word
Monday Oct 12, 2020
Is giving to others confusing for you sometimes? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. Paul helps a church who is giving to him in understand the ultimate object of giving in Philippians 4:17-18:
“Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. I have…more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received…the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.”
We can give to each other out of compassion and a genuine desire to help make a difference, and that is really valuable. But what Paul wants us to understand is that giving to others is ultimately a gift to God. It is not merely human. It has a spiritual value. When we give our resources away, God notices. Their generosity to Paul is an act of worship to God. It is a sacrifice unto him.
When we give, we do not just do something human. Giving carries spiritual power. We are ultimately worshipping and giving to God.
And that’s The Word from Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.
Today in The Word
Tuesday Oct 13, 2020
Do you want to know the secret to contented living? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. Philippians 4:
“…I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned to secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
Paul is clear that contentment does not come from controlling his circumstances. He has been through many ups and downs. But he states boldly that God can help him through anything. Whether his situation is desperate or in high clover, he is able to be content. This is because he believes that God will see him through no matter what. He trusts that God can supply him the strength to meet the challenge.
What is the secret of contentment? Stand on the truth that you can borrow God’s strength to get through any situation.
And that’s The Word from Pastor David of Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.
Today in the Word
Wednesday Oct 14, 2020
If a person becomes a Christ-follower, does that mean that God will meet their every need? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. Several days ago, I quoted Philippians 4:19:
“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”
Do we as parents give our kids everything they think they need--even when our daughter is certain she will die on the spot if she does not acquire a $110 pair of jeans? Of course not. Sometimes what our daughter needs the most is a lesson in greed and the value of patience. Doesn’t our Father in Heaven know what we need perfectly—even better than we do?
We can trust that God will meet all our needs, but we would be wise to let him define what we actually need. Genuine contentment does not spring from all our felt needs being met. Genuine contentment springs from trusting God in difficult situations because we believe he knows what we really need. He has our best interests at heart and is always working to that end. The promise quoted above hinges on trusting in God’s care and strength.
And that’s The Word from Pastor David of Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.
Today in the Word
Thursday Oct 15, 2020
What is the ultimate result of trusting God to meet our needs? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. In Philippians 4:19-20, Paul states:
“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
God’s work in our lives is ‘according to the riches of his glory’ and all this is to the glory of God the Father. When God works to meet our needs in a miraculous fashion, it is to bring glory to his Name. God’s power is on display. And equally, when we persevere in God’s strength through great difficulty and need, it is to bring glory to his Name. Others see our faith in him and our contentment in the face of difficulty and want to know who it is that has earned our trust.
In both miracle and perseverance, the ultimate goal is to give glory to God. Our purpose is to make God famous. That is the ultimate result of God meeting our need.
And that’s The Word from Pastor David of Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.