OUR FATHER WHO DESIRES UNITY AMONG THE BRETHREN

1 Corinthians chapter 1 verses 10 - 17 continues with the Apostle Paul imloring the people of the church at Corinth to maintain a deliberate unity where they all shared the same understanding of their brotherhood in Christ.

Paul had learned that the Corinthian church had been cultivating a differentiation among the believers based on who had baptized them. To Paulˋs chagrin, they had segmented themselves into sets by baptizer which revealed that the Corinthian church members had a fundamental misundrestanding of doctrine whereby they believed that there was something of eternal consequence that was attached to the person of value. 

Paul diagnosed this error and asked them if any of the apostles that they were claiming fraternity with them because of having been baptized by them had in fact been crucified for them or if they had been baptized into their names.

To Paul, the development of personality cults was so aggriegious that he regretted baptizing anyone because of the potential for it to be said that people were baptized into Paulˋs name.

10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name. 16 Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other. 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.

The apostle Paul demonstrated that baptizing people was important for them but not for the baptizer because he did not even maintain a clear memory of whom he had baptized and didn´t.  To him, his pivotal task was to preach the gospel and thus he concentrated on that and not on the baptisms of believers.

Paul then mentioned a principle where the gospel was effective when preached in its simplicity such that it carried with it the power of God unto salvation ( Romans 1 verse 16   For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. ) but when philosophical and rhetorical devices were employed in the gospelˋs preaching, the power of the cross was neutralized in its ability to transmit the urgency of salvation to the listener.

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OUR FATHER WHO GIVES US GRACE

1 Corinthians chapter 1 verses 1 - 9 captures the introduction of apostle Paul's first letter to the Corinthians.

Paul begins with a formal greeting where he introduces himself as a chartered apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ and then addresses the recipients of his letters as those at the town of Corinth who call on the name of Jesus as Lord.

1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,

2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, 5 that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, 6 even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, 7 so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Apostle Paul expresses his gratitude for the existence of the believers in Corinth who had encounters with God that gave them utterances, knowledge and internal confirmation of their experiences.

Their spiritual  growth brought them to a place of operating in all spiritual gifts and were hungry for more of the things of Christ.

Paul assured the Corinthians that the path they were on would commend them in the end and they would be presented blameless on the great day of judgement because of God 's faithfulness who called those who believed in Jesus into fellowship with Him.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHO CAN SUPPLY ALL OUR NEEDS

In his letter to the Philippians chapter 4 verses 10 - 23, the apostle Paul concludes by acknowledging the support that the Philippians were able to resume providing for him.  He assured them that even when they were unable to send anything, he continued to thrive because he had learned how to cope in times of plenty and times of lack.

Whatever his condition, it was Christ who strengthened him to be able to do all things but Paul wanted to receive what they were willing to give because all their gifts would be credited to their accounts and all their needs would be met according to the riches and glory of Christ Jesus.

10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

14 Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress. 15 Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. 16 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. 18 Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. 19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 20 Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you. 22 All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar’s household.

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

Paul warmly greets the saints there on behalf of himself and of those who were with him.

Paul then finalized his letter by wishing the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ on the Philippians.

Amen

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OUR FATHER WHO IS WITH US

As the apostle Paul begins to conclude his letter to the Philippians in chapter 4 verses 8 - 9, he counsels them to govern the things that occupy their minds so that the God of peace could be with them.

8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

The itemized list of the nature of things that we should meditate on;

• True
• Noble
• Just
• Pure
• Lovely
• Good report
• Virtuous
• Praiseworthy

Amen.

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 OUR FATHER WHO GIVES US PEACE BEYOND ALL UNDERSTANDING

Philippians chapter 4 verses 1- 6 records the apostle Paul love for the the people of the church in Philippi whom he called his 'crown' and he urges them to support the women and others who participated with him in the work of the gospel. Paul declares that these sincere participants were in the Book of Life.

As such, Paul emphatically tells them all to rejoice because of this 

1 Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.

2 I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Paul urges the Philippian church not to fret over what they need but rather to gratefully pray and doing so will draw the peace of God that surpasses all understanding and will guard their hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHO MAKES CLEAR

Philippians 3 verses 15 - 21 records the apostle Paulˋs exhortation to the Philippians to follow his example in how to conduct their lives. He deliniated maturity in Chirst as the destination that they sought for their earthly lives. Those who were already mature, needed  to endeavour to maintain the level of growth that they have reached. Paul pointed to his conduct and the conduct of those who lived like he did as the standard by which they could measure themselves against.

With emotion, he warned them about those who were in their midst who were enemies of the cross because they did not separate themselves from earthly things but rather focused on their appetites and  therefore, their ultimate end would be destruction.

Paul urges the readers of his letter to understand that they were already citizens of heaven and to remember that their Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, was from heaven  and that He had the power to bring all things under subjection to Him and that in the final stage, He will transform all those in Him from their low station in their temporal bodies into a glorious body that is like His own in heaven.

15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 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.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHO SET A PRIZE IN HEAVEN FOR EACH OF US TO WIN

The apostle Paul, in his letter to the Philippians chapter 3 verses 1 - 14, having commended Timothy and Epaphroditus to the Philippians who were faithful and trustworthy, gives warning about dogs, evil doers and those who mutilate the body.

Paulˋs reference to dogs, being those who return to their vomit, are those who, having been liberated from the requirements of circumcision, return to it as a source of attaining righteousness falsely believing that there is some fulfillment of the law through the practice of circumcision. Paul asserted that this teaching that was being circulated by evil doers, was false because those whose faith was truly in Jesus Christ and who had ascended to serving God by His Spirit, no longer needed to perform any kind of fleshly practice to gain righteousness before God.

1 Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. 2 Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.

7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

The apostle wrote to the Philipians who were exposed to the false doctrine of the need for circumcision that he, above anyone else, could claim righteousness by flashly practice because before he was a believer in Christ,  he was the quitescential practitioner of the law where he was circumcised on the eighth day as prescribed by law and he was a registered member of Godˋs chosen Hebrew race from the tribe of Benjamin and as well,  he was a highly trained student of the scriptures and a zealous defender of his religion even to the point of persecuting Christians and he was a careful observer of the behavioural standards of the law of Moses. 

Paulˋs point was that if there was a man who could claim righteousness from the law and the practices of the flesh, it was him and yet he counted it all as rubbish in the light of salvation acquired for him by Christ that was made obtainable by God through faith.

Paul then decribes his reaction to his realization that Christ Jesus was the ultimate fulfillment of all the law and the prophets. He wrote that his chief desire was to get to personally know Christ and to know the power of His ressurection and to share in the sufferings that are part of the setting up of the kingdom of God so that he could be like Jesus even unto His death and resurraction.

The Lord Christ Jesus grabbed Paul out of the world to fulfill a purpose that he had set for him and Paulˋs primary endeavour to take hold of that which he was obtained. 

Even at the stage of ministry that he had already reached, Paul did not consider himself as having attained what was set for him or that he had reached his goal but what he did do that he recommended for his readers was that he forgot what was behind and pressed and strugged and strained forward to what lay ahead for him so that he could win the top trophy that God sponsored on the marathon to heaven in Christ Jesus.

Amen. Help us Lord Jesus.

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