Last words tell us so much about a person. As Paul is closing out his highly heartfelt letter to this little church that owned a special place in his heart, we find him moved by the Holy Spirit to express his gratitude for who they are and what they have done for him. Paul's life reveals to us the truth that power and anointing never elevate above the level of our humility and gratitude. As Paul calls the Philippians to remain true to the end of their race, we are helped by his words to know for ourselves what it means to live lives of contentment, generosity and partnerships in the Kingdom.
Prioritizing Peace
April 17, 2019 • Jeff Lyle
Most of the world thinks of peace as the absence of conflict. Beyond that, many of those same people assume that peace is unattainable unless that absence of conflict is their current reality. Wouldn’t it be terrible if that were true? That would mean that would be zero possibility of peace unless everything in our lives was pleasant, friction-free and easy on our souls. In this message, we will learn that peace is something that is to be prized, and especially when it is attained in the midst of real-life struggles. Because we live in a world conditioned by sin and brokenness, we will only experience spiritual peace to the degree that prioritize and pursue it. The Apostle Paul teaches us how to do exactly that as he instructs the Philippian believers to fight for peace in their human relationships, their relationship with God and their own minds.
Essentials For Victory-Part 2
April 10, 2019 • Jeff Lyle
Picking up where we left off last time in Paul's little letter to the Christians at Philippi, we receive two final essentials for us to embrace in order to experience regular victory. This type of victorious, abundant living never happens accidentally for Christians. While it is true that God is in full, sovereign control of everything that takes place in the universe, we should never allow that reality to rob us of living with purposed intentionality. We are responsible for living lives that are situated to bring glory to Jesus Christ. As we live those kinds of lives, we discover that we also live at high levels of fulfillment and pleasure. Paul’s words to the Christians at Philippi reveal to us some of the necessary mindsets and actions that all Christians must embrace in order to live in victory. From the hungers of our hearts unto our assurance about eternity, how we think and who we follow are essential elements that will help determine the level of victory we each experience as we follow Jesus.
Essentials For Victory-Part 1
March 20, 2019
Victorious, abundant living never happens accidentally for Christians. While it is true that God is in full, sovereign control of everything that takes place in the universe, we should never allow that reality to rob us of living with purposed intentionality. We are responsible for living lives that are situated to bring glory to Jesus Christ. As we live those kinds of lives, we discover that we also live at high levels of fulfillment and pleasure. Paul’s words to the Christians at Philippi reveal to us some of the necessary mindsets and actions that all Christians must embrace in order to live in victory. From the hungers of our hearts unto our assurance about eternity, how we think and who we follow are essential elements that will help determine the level of victory we each experience as we follow Jesus.
Sending Forth Our Best
March 6, 2019 • Jeff Lyle
A healthy church will eventually become a sending church. The heart of the father is not for churches to continue to balloon in numerical growth without sending forth some in the flock to help other assemblies of believers who need their assistance. Church revitalization and church planting are clear components of New Testament mission. When the time comes to send forth people to new works, whom do we send? From Paul’s letter to the Philippians, we learn that he believed in releasing his top-tier co-laborers to go and begin new works. What he says about Timothy and Epaphroditus will help modern believers understand some of what makes us valuable to the mission of Jesus in our generation. Not everyone can be an Apostle Paul, but none of us is prohibited from being like the two men that he mentions in this passage. Character, commitment and love are revealed as powerful traits for profitable servants of God. These are the types of people our churches need to send forth.
Spiritual Workouts
February 27, 2019 • Jeff Lyle
What does it mean to work out your salvation with fear and trembling? Why did Paul call Christians to that kind of lifestyle? In another place, he says that the Lord never gives us a spirit of fear, so why did he leave such an ominous assignment in the book of Philippians? This message highlights our call into deeper partnership with Jesus that will result in a life that is radically different from those who do not know Christ. In fact, Paul goes so far to indicate that, if our Christianity is flippant, casual and detached from holy life-change, then we might not be Christians at all. Keeping the Day of Lord regularly in view will help us to finish our race in such a way that will bring eternal reward and joyful peace throughout the days of our journey.
The Highest Title Of Jesus
February 13, 2019 • Jeff Lyle
Scripture reveals no fewer than 150 different references and titles for Jesus. All of these were placed purposefully in the Bible to help convey the immeasurable identity of God the Son. Most of us were introduced to Him as being the Savior of Sinners. We were taught that we must personally accept Him into our hearts so that our sins will be forgiven and Heaven can become our etenral destination. While it is true that forgiven sinners will arrive in paradise after they die, many of us may be surprised that Jesus is only referred to as Savior 15 times, while He is called Lord over 600 times. The issue of the lordship of Jesus Christ is crucial for all of us. Scripture overwhelmingly presents Jesus as the LORD who saves, not a Savior who offers a bonus-level of discipleship to those who want to know Him as Lord of all. This message takes us through multiple passages which reinforce that Jesus Christ came as Lord of all, calls us to bow to Him as Lord of all, frames the Gospel message with Him being Lord of all and will be acknowledged for all eternity as Lord of all. The Church must get this vital doctrine right.
Rearranging Your Soul
February 6, 2019 • Jeff Lyle
We must be perfectly clear on this: to become a Christian is to enter into a lifelong process where everything continues to be changed by God. The idea that we can be brought from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of God without there being substantial change is spiritually impossible. We move from death to life, and then from life to deeper, abundant life. Because of this, our relationships with others change dramatically. We move from living for self to living in Jesus who calls us to serve others. Ultimately, God brings us into His deepest commitments to His own Son. He is set to establish the glory of His Son – and He invites us to live joyfully in that reality. Paul tells us in these verses, what that will look like in your own life.
Magnifying Jesus In Your Hour Of Trial
January 23, 2019 • Jeff Lyle
An accurate study of the New Testament leaves us with the conclusion that dedicated followers of Jesus will endure many hardships. The world and the devil intentionally oppose the faithful Christian. In many parts of the world, violent persecution is the unavoidable reality for those who are not ashamed of Jesus. As the Apostle Paul continues his little letter to the Philippians, he does not hide the reality of his suffering. With great encouragement, however, his words redirect our focus off of the temporary struggle and towards the glory for Jesus that results when we steward our struggles in faith. What good do we allow to come from our own hour of trial? These words from Paul equip us to follow in his footsteps as he learned to steer his struggles toward the throne of Jesus. When we do the same, there will be a beam of glory that causes many to gaze upon the goodness of Jesus.
Smells Like Kingdom In Here
January 16, 2019 • Jeff Lyle
Few places in scripture reveal the father-heart of the Apostle Paul more so than the verses in this passage in Philippians. Though Paul could operate in some of the most stunning power from the Holy Spirit, he also understood the importance of nurturing those whom he spiritually fathered. From his words in Philippians 1:3-11, we learn the deep value of intentionally encouraging others in the walks with God. Paul tells the Philippians that they brought him joy. He let them know that he was praying for them. He reinforced that their hope in Jesus must remain strong as they look for deep growth in the love of God toward each other. Before he finishes his empowering words here, Paul reminds them all that the return of Jesus must remain at the forefront of their thinking. The aroma Paul releases in this encouraging passage is the fragrance of the Kingdom. May we all breathe it in deeply.
Good News From A Dark Place
January 9, 2019 • Jeff Lyle
As we read the words of the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Christians in Philippi, it is difficult to picture him writing from a Roman prison. Paul, incarcerated for the crime of being an unapologetic missionary, is reaching out to the first church he established on the continent of Europe. From his opening words, we are able to sense flowing from the Apostle’s heart, the strong love, confident hope and earnest desire to minister to these believers. We can learn much about the relationship between leaders and followers from Paul’s opening words. Overshadowing Paul’s dark circumstances in prison are his powerful words meant to convey faith-building expectations over the entire group of believers in Philippi. Let us all be encouraged because Paul’s words to them have become God’s words to us today.
