Amen Brother Philip!  Death is but a small matter!

      To the believer, Christ is the resurrection and the life. In our Saviour the life that was lost through sin is restored; for He has life in Himself to quicken whom He will. He is invested with the right to give immortality. The life that He laid down in humanity, He takes up again, and gives to humanity. "I am come," He said, "that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." "Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." "Whoso eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day." John 10:10; 4:14; John 6:54.   
      To the believer, death is but a small matter. Christ speaks of it as if it were of little moment. "If a man keep My saying, he shall never see death," "he shall never taste of death." To the Christian, death is but a sleep, a moment of silence and darkness. The life is hid with Christ in God, and "when Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory." John 8:51, 52; Colossians 3:4.
     The voice that cried from the cross, "It is finished," was heard among the dead. It pierced the walls of sepulchers, and summoned the sleepers to arise. Thus will it be when the voice of Christ shall be heard from heaven. That voice will penetrate the graves and unbar the tombs, and the dead in Christ shall arise. At the Saviour's resurrection a few graves were opened, but at His second coming all the precious dead shall hear His voice, and shall come forth to glorious, immortal life. The same power that raised Christ from the dead will raise His church, and glorify it with Him, above all principalities, above all powers, above every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in the world to come.   

God does hear and answer prayer!!  Thank you Dear Jesus!!

Tuesday        January 13
Being Confident

Read Philippians 1:23-24.

 1:23   For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: 
 1:24   Nevertheless to abide in the flesh [is] more needful for you. 

What does Paul mean when he says that "to depart, and be with Christ" is "far better"?

This passage has been greatly misunderstood through the ages. In this week's passage for study, Paul dealt with the contrast between living and dying. The Christian lives for Christ and may even die for Him. In that sense it is "gain" because our witness is that much more powerful and persuasive (Phil. 1:21). No doubt a person believes when willing to die for that belief.

But we must also recognize that the dead are really dead. They "know nothing." They rest in the grave till the resurrection (see Eccl. 9:5; John 5:28-29). That's why Jesus said of Lazarus, who had died, "Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep" (John 11:11).

If, when people die, they go immediately to heaven, imagine how that would be for Lazarus. After four days of Lazarus frolicking in Paradise, an angel comes with the "bad" news: "Sorry, Lazarus, but Jesus is calling you back to earth. You can't stay here."

Amen!  Those who truly went to heaven would have a report to give, like Ellen White who did not want to  come back.

When we follow error to its logical conclusion, we see how erroneous it is. Death is like a dreamless sleep from which Jesus will awaken His faithful followers at the Second Advent; then, together with the living saints, they will be caught up and taken to heaven to be with Jesus forever (see 1 Thess. 4:16-17).

Paul's "departing" from the present life to be with Christ means to be with Him in suffering and dying (2 Tim. 4:6) in order to "attain to the resurrection from the dead" (Phil. 3:11, NKJV). Also, he was no doubt aware that he would close his eyes in death and that the very next thing he would know, in the twinkling of an eye, would be seeing Jesus, who would take him, with all God's people, to the place Jesus has prepared for all who love Him (John 14:3, 1 Cor. 2:9).

Though willing to die for Christ, Paul knew it would be better for the Philippians if he would "remain in the flesh" (Phil. 1:24, NKJV). Interestingly, for the Christian, whether it is better to live for Christ or die for Him is not necessarily easy to answer. Paul was "hard-pressed between the two" (Phil. 1:23, NKJV), between staying alive or resting in the grave.

Again, however much no one wants to die, have you ever thought about how the moment you die, the next thing you will know is the return of Christ? How might that thought help you understand Paul's thinking here?

If one does not want to die, he does not understand death is but sleep, and he not yet figured out how wicked this world is. Who would want to stay here, unless Jesus wants us here. He knows best, so we express this to Him. What ever will bring glory to Him.

Sunday        January 11
"Christ Will Be Magnified"

Read Philippians 1:19-20.

1:19   For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 
 1:20   According to my earnest expectation and [my] hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but [that] with all boldness, as always, [so] now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether [it be] by life, or by death. 

What seems to be Paul's expectation as to the outcome of his trial? What does he consider even more important than being acquitted?

That Christ be magnified. Is that the desire we have today? How can we magnify God today, and always? Eze, 36:23 tells us. "And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I [am] the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes."

Although Paul was no criminal, this was not the first time that he had been imprisoned, and he was no stranger to persecution. To the Corinthians, he detailed his sufferings up to that time: "in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness" (2 Cor. 11:23-27, NKJV).

But lest we think these sufferings were uppermost in his mind, Paul immediately adds, "besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches" (2 Cor. 11:28, NKJV).

Read 1 Corinthians 4:14-16; 1 Thessalonians 2:10-11; Galatians 4:19; and Philemon 10. What relationship does Paul have with the churches he established and the people he won for Christ?

Like Jesus, who spared nothing to save us, Paul was willing to "spend and be spent" for the sake of fellow believers (2 Cor. 12:15, NKJV). But, paradoxically, the more a person's actions resemble that of Jesus, the less they are loved or appreciated by some. "All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (2 Tim. 3:12). But faithful Christians remain perhaps the most powerful way to glorify God and to reveal the truth of the gospel (compare Phil. 1:7). "Paul's patience and cheerfulness during his long and unjust imprisonment, his courage and faith, were a continual sermon."--Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, p. 464.

Look at how you live and how you treat people, especially people who don't treat you nicely. What kind of witness for Jesus do you present?

What must I do in order to reflect the character of Jesus? If we want to be changed into His character (image) we need to spend a thoughtful hour each  day contemplating the life of Jesus. How can we do this? Study 2 Cor. 3:18.

Friday        January 9

Further Thought: "Many are unable to make definite plans for the future. Their life is unsettled. They cannot discern the outcome of affairs, and this often fills them with anxiety and unrest. Let us remember that the life of God's children in this world is a pilgrim life. We have not wisdom to plan our own lives. It is not for us to shape our future. 'By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.' Hebrews 11:8.

Amen!  It is easy to do after trusting in Christ with all we have and all we are.

"Christ in His life on earth made no plans for Himself. He accepted God's plans for Him, and day by day the Father unfolded His plans. So should we depend upon God, that our lives may be the simple outworking of His will. As we commit our ways to Him, He will direct our steps.

"Too many, in planning for a brilliant future, make an utter failure. Let God plan for you. As a little child, trust to the guidance of Him who will 'keep the feet of His saints.' 1 Samuel 2:9. God never leads His children otherwise than they would choose to be led, if they could see the end from the beginning and discern the glory of the purpose which they are fulfilling as co-workers with Him."--Ellen G. White, The Ministry of Healing, pp. 478, 479.

Amen!! ALL things work together for those who love the Lord our God with all of the heart!

Discussion Questions:

    Think about the past week and list things you are thankful for. Might you have more to be thankful for than you realize?

Can't remember them all. He is leading many who are seeking truth to us. What a joy that is.  And am very thankful that all of the tribulations I am going through work for my and God's glory!
 
   Dwell on the last line of the Ellen G. White quote above. That's a very powerful statement of faith. How can you learn to trust God in such a deep way?

The answer is always the same. We need to spend time with Him that we would trust Him with all we have and all we are!

    In light of Colossians 1:6, 23, discuss the following statement: "For forty years did unbelief, murmuring, and rebellion shut out ancient Israel from the land of Canaan. The same sins have delayed the entrance of modern Israel into the heavenly Canaan. In neither case were the promises of God at fault. It is the unbelief, the worldliness, unconsecration, and strife among the Lord's professed people that have kept us in this world of sin and sorrow so many years. Had the church of Christ done her appointed work as the Lord ordained, the whole world would before this have been warned and the Lord Jesus would have come to our earth in power and great glory."--Ellen G. White, Last Day Events, p. 38. In what ways might we today be guilty of the same things?

Jesus cannot come until He finishes His work in the Sanctuary. When can He leave? When He has a church that ceases to dirty the Most Holy Place. What is it that dirties the Sanctuary?

Have a blessed Sabbath dear friends.