Monthly Archives: July 2026

PAUL’S HAPPY LETTER…PRAYER – 3b

Bible Study, ,

“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬-‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Wow! Have you ever prayed a prayer like that…for loved ones…for friends…or even, for someone who has hurt or offended you?

Paul’s prayers followed a pattern…he prayed this for that outcome. “So that…” was the bridge between what he asked of God and what and why he desired for his beloved fellow believers…and he expressed his desire in his prayers. 

Paul also prayed…examples are written in his letters…for spiritual outcomes…things that happened in their hearts and could not easily be seen or measured. Let’s examine what he prayed for these Philippian believers…

Paul prayed one prayer…

“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight…”

If I may paraphrase, Paul is asking God to give these people a love that was growing but also discerning.  The Greek words he used all point to the same thing…discernment. Knowledge…understanding…discernment. 

Discerning love…what is that?

In a world system under Satanic influence, the devil’s tools to control are all counterfeit, spurious, and deceptive. He even disguises himself as an angel of light. 

Believers need discernment, continually… to test the “spirits”…the motives and attitudes of the people who make up the body of Christ in which they function. This is not suspicion. This is wisdom…a spiritual filter that sifts out what may damage the fellowship…things like pride, division, competition, manipulation. selfish ambition etc. 

Paul often warned, as did John, against these subtle influences that creep in under the guise of “prophecy”, “the Holy Spirit”, and “love”. 

The Bible warns us not to be so “loving” that we miss the warnings signals. 

“Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. Do not scoff at prophecies, but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every kind of evil.”

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭19‬-‭22‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

How do we test the attitudes and motives of our fellow believers in our fellowship? Jesus said, “Look at their fruit.” 

“Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

So, Paul anticipates. three outcomes that flow from discerning love…

“…so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.”

…three outcomes of growing in love that focuses on keeping the lives of God’s people pure and fruitful. 

…discerning and dealing with what creeps in to poison the fellowship…

…pure and blameless lives…not perfect but mature…protecting love and promoting unity…

…fruitfulness that grows in lives that remain attached to the Vine…

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.”

‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

What a prayer! Imagine a fellowship of people who do life together…lovingly guarding and protecting one another from those who try to disrupt and destroy. They are always watching out for attitudes and behaviour in themselves and others that harm the body. They bear the fruit of union with Jesus…love, joy, and peace… and…Jesus gets the glory!

I need to add a postscript here.  Paul never allows or advocates that God’s people play “policeman” in each other’s lives. To do so would destroy the love that sees and expects the best of one another. Living in and walking by the Spirit would guard us against spying on and judging one another…which is never the role of believers in a fellowship. Our part is to walk in the light with one another, guarding our own hearts and lovingly lifting up those who have fallen. 

“Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

To be continued

PAUL’S HAPPY LETTER…PARTNERS – 3a

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“Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭3-‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Letter-writing to a group of people like the Philippians was, for Paul, pure joy. He had nothing to rebuke or correct in their behaviour or doctrine. He loved them…they loved him… and, best of all, they were partners in his mission to the world…partners, doing the work together, not passengers going along for the ride. 

In what way was the church in Philippi in partnership with Paul? 

Some were preaching the gospel in the city and region because Paul himself was in prison…restricted to a small congregation of Roman soldiers… while they were free to speak to the people around them and even further afield. This means that the gospel was being proclaimed by more than one person. Multiplied! Spreading further afield than what one person could reach. 

“And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear. It’s true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives. They preach because they love me, for they know I have been appointed to defend the Good News…But that doesn’t matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭14‬-‭16‬, ‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The fact that there were others preaching the gospel made Paul happy, whatever their motive. Why? God’s power to save is in the message itself, not in the messenger. 

“For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The Philippians also prayed for Paul. Praying for him was not incidental. It was pivotal. It was critical. Whatever his circumstances, they backed Paul up in prayer because he not only carried a vital, life-giving message to the world…but he was also vulnerable to both seen and unseen powers. Paul was aware of and valued their prayer backing as he moved from place to place, through test after test, and into one danger after another. They had his back in the very throne room of God and that mattered greatly to him. 

Then there was the matter of resources. As a free man, he was able to support himself with his hands but there, in prison, his hands were literally tied…to a Roman guard. He still had needs…covering…food and…perhaps the little extras that made his life more bearable. Yes, he had learned to take all the good and bad in his life in his stride…

“I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

One can only learn these lessons through real life experiences, not through reading books about contentment. 

But…let’s break this lesson down. 

Paul’s life in the main, from the moment of his conversion, was lived on the road. Apart from a few extended stays in one or another city, he was constantly moving from place to place. He was dependent on the goodwill of the people he knew or met for food and shelter. His circumstances were always uncertain. If he had money, he could pay his way. If he had no money, he went without. 

Paul acknowledged that his life  was full of uncertainty. How does one cope with this kind of life. One either accepts the situation and makes the best of it or one continually grumbles and is dissatisfied. Perhaps Paul began this lifestyle by complaining. We don’t know but…he had learned!

Every life lesson begins with some sort of difficulty. One must learn…either by kicking against the circumstances and, in the process, becoming resentful or bitter, eventually against God, or…one accepts the struggles as part of God’s molding process and rejoices in God’s sovereignty in all things. 

So, Paul was always on a learning curve…not only learning himself but also passing on the lessons to others by being the example…and that was a big one!

The Philippians’ generosity was not only a sacrifice of worship to the Lord…

“At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

…but it was also a sign. A sign of what? It was proof that God was doing a good work in them. God’s beginning always has an ending. 

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT

Partnership in these ways were the fruit of the gospel which showed that their faith in Christ was genuine. As James had so eloquently argued…

“You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless? So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone.”

‭‭James‬ ‭2‬:‭19‬-‭20‬, ‭24‬ ‭NLT‬‬

 Sure…good works cannot save us but…good works are the evidence that we have been saved. 

So, Paul was happy…delighted with the fellowship and faithfulness of his Philippian partners because of the real evidence that they had been transformed in the inside. 

Contentment, in the end, means that we have opened our hands and let go of every expectation, fulfilled or unfulfilled, that locks us into a certain mindset. Open-minded acceptance of all our circumstances, putting no heavy on God to do what we want, giving Him the right and freedom to be God, is one of the most liberating attitudes we can ever adopt. 

After all, whatever we may think, we have no power to control our own lives…but God does. When we drop this foolish idea, relax, and let God be God…He, not our circumstances, takes centre stage in our thoughts and in our trust…

…and that how it should always be and…that is what leads to the confidence that God will finish what He started!

To be continued

PAUL’S HAPPY LETTER…THANK YOU – 2

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“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬-‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Wow! Paul never lied! Every time he thought about the church at Philippi, he said “Thank you,” to God for them. Not “thank you, but…” or “thank you, if…” Just “thank you, God…”

Most of Paul’s letters were written to churches to rebuke them, or to teach or correct them about something that had gone wrong. Not this one! He wrote this letter out of pure joy because these people delighted his heart. They were loyal, generous, and faithful followers of Jesus and Paul’s teaching about Him. 

Imagine how Paul must have felt…shut up in prison…in a cold, filthy dungeon…chained day and night to a Roman soldier…knowing that his days were numbered…and yet, full of joy. Why? Was it because he knew that his recipients were truly on the road to eternal life? 

These people showed the evidence of the life of Jesus in them. Some of them were faithfully carrying on Paul’s work, preaching about Jesus despite the threat of persecution. They were generous, giving sacrificially to support Paul when he could not support himself. They were maturing in their faith and faithfulness. From the day that they had become a church, they stood with Paul in the dangerous work he was doing.  He had no reason to be anxious about them, only glad when he thought about them. 

So, he could reassure them with confidence…

“…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Throughout this letter, Paul’s joy had nothing to do with his circumstances. In fact, where he was and why he was there could have crushed him. “Where is Jesus in all this?” he could have complained…but, instead, he rejoiced…he celebrated.  He was writing to people who were steadfast in their faith and carrying on where he was forced to leave off. Paul knew that, with the calibre of the people of the church at Philippi, the gospel would continue to be preached and lived out to the next generation. 

“It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Paul’s confidence lay in the truth that both he and they were held firm and steady by God’s grace at work in them. So, in this bond of love forged by God’s grace, he yearned for the fellowship they shared when they were together.   He had the promise of Jesus in his heart, later recorded by John…

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.””

‭‭John‬ ‭10‬:‭27‬-‭30‬ NIV

…and etched into his own conviction and experience…

“For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.”

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭3‬ ‭NIV‬

Paul’s “thank you” embraced the real things about the people in Philippi that made his heart glad. He forgot about his miserable circumstances and set his heart on the good things in which he could truly rejoice. 

To be continued

PAUL’S HAPPY LETTER…PEACE – 1b

Bible Study, ,

Paul’s greeting to the Philippian church sets the tone for his whole letter… “grace and peace to you!”

If grace is the motive for God’s goodness, peace is the outcome. 

God’s peace is much more than a feeling of tranquility, a kind of inner calm when things are going crazy outside. God’s peace is a powerful force that is continually active within us despite our circumstances. 

“In the Bible, shalom (Hebrew: שָׁלוֹם) is commonly translated as “peace”, but it means much more than the mere absence of conflict. Derived from a root meaning “to be complete, sound, or whole”, shalom represents a holistic state of flourishing, harmony, and well-being in all aspects of life—physical, relational, and spiritual.

To explore the richness of shalom in scripture:

  • Wholeness and Completeness: The root can refer to a perfectly shaped stone without cracks or a fully completed wall. Biblically, it describes a life where nothing is missing and nothing is broken. 
  • Relational Healing: To “bring shalom” frequently means to restore broken relationships, reconcile with an enemy, or provide restitution for a wrong. 
  • Divine Peace: True shalom is rooted in God’s presence and covenant. It is even used as a name for God (Yahweh-Shalom – “The Lord is Peace”) and points toward Jesus, who is prophesied as the “Prince of Peace”. 

(Source: Google AI)

When Adam decided to go it alone, he forfeited the three great “states” or conditions that prevail in God’s realm…in God’s presence…His love, joy, and peace. He was catapulted out of the “air” of heaven into the atmosphere of a life without God…chaos and confusion. 

On the other hand, Jesus promised His disciples, in the upper room, on the eve of His death, that He would leave a legacy for them…His love, His joy, and His peace, heaven’s “air” restored. Even now, in the midst of earth’s chaos, God’s people breathe the air of heaven. 

Now, let’s explore this peace…this state of “shalom” that we enjoy this side of heaven. 

What is its source? 

God is the source of true peace. 

“The God of peace be with you all. Amen.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭15‬:‭33‬ NIV

God’s peace comes to us through Jesus. 

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We can never enjoy this state of wholeness outside of God and what Jesus has done for us to restore us to fellowship with God…”peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…”

Jesus settled every issue that stood between us and God by His  death and resurrection. The great sin chasm has been bridged…atoned for by His blood, the debt paid, the blood sacrifice for sin accepted…once for all. 

The outcome is peace…between God and us and…between us and our guilty conscience. Peace instead of shame and fear…wholeness instead of brokenness emptiness, and loss. 

What does peace do?

Peace is not just a state of being. Peace has power in our lives. 

Peace is the referee that keeps us walking in the right direction. In the game of life, God leaves nothing to chance. When we step out of line, we lose the sense of wholeness. Something is out of sync inside. We feel that restlessness that tells us that our fellowship with God has been disturbed. 

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The way back to peace is through the blood of Jesus. 

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin…If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬, ‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

 Keeping short accounts with God…monitored  by the peace in our hearts…will keep us on track and protect us from drifting away from the truth that saves us. 

Peace also guards our hearts from the anxieties that neutralise our faith and drive a wedge between us and the awareness of God’s presence. 

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus…”

We can only have a 24 hour/7- day-a-week guard on duty around our minds when we choose to let our anxieties go and replace them with trust in God. We must make that deliberate exchange…in prayer…with God. 

When we do that, we not only get the peace from God but we also… when we choose to fill our minds with the right thoughts…have the guarantee of the awareness of God’s presence. 

“Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬-‭7‬, ‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I say “awareness” because, whether we feel His presence or not, God has promised never to abandon us. However, when we fill our minds with His word and refuse to give in to worry or anxiety, the God of peace actively works in our behalf…as He did for Joseph…

“The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭39‬:‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

…David

“In everything he (David) did, he had great success, because the Lord was with him.”

‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭18‬:‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

What a prayer to pray for family, friends…and even enemies! Instead of leaning on their problems and bewailing their situations, why not speak God’s promise of grace and peace over them! He will always make good on His promises. 

To be continued

PAUL’S HAPPY LETTER…HELLO – 1a

Bible Study, ,

“Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Have you noticed how much our protocols have changed over the last few years? I learned at school how to write a formal and an informal letter. There were rules and a structure to the way we addressed people…not only in our letters but also in our interaction with people…family, friends, strangers…in everyday life. Nowadays, for example, in American culture, I have noticed, that the most common way to greet is to say “Hey!”

Electronic messages have upgraded “snail mail”, often replacing the formal greeting “Dear So-and-so,” with “Hi!” I must confess…I prefer the more formal and polite way to start a letter, even if today, we use the shortened version. 

As with all Paul’s letters except for one, his letter to the Galatian church, Paul begins with a greeting and a prayer, which was the accepted way to write a letter in his day, it seems. 

Of course, as a believer in Jesus,  Paul’s greeting would have been God-centred. He was a messenger for the Lord, representing Him to the Roman world. So, Jesus was the core and focus of his entire existence.

What better way, then, to say “Hello” than to confer on Paul’s readers the highest, greatest, and richest of all God that could do for them, as a greeting and a prayer. 

Paul starts his missive by greeting his readers with the title that put them in the standing of who they really were in God’s sight…God’s holy people, and focusing on the one from whom all blessing and favour flow, putting his recipients into the mainstream of who God is… grace and peace. 

What is grace?

Let’s look at the summary of the meaning of grace that AI provides in Google. 

“In the Bible, grace means unmerited favor. It is God giving us His love, forgiveness, and blessings freely, even though humanity does not earn or deserve them. 

The Original Languages

To fully understand the meaning, we look at the original Bible languages:

  • Old Testament (Hebrew – Chen): Often translated as “favor” or “grace”. It denotes a gift of kindness given to someone who has no right to demand it. 
  • New Testament (Greek – Charis): Refers to kindness, goodwill, and unearned favor. It is where we get the idea of grace as a completely free gift from God. 

Key Aspects of Grace

  • Salvation: The Bible teaches that salvation is a gift. You cannot earn it through good deeds; it is entirely a result of God’s grace.
  • Empowerment: Grace is not just a free pass; it is also a transforming power. Biblical grace gives believers the strength to overcome sin and live a life that honors God.
  • The Person of Grace: In the New Testament, Jesus Christ is viewed as the ultimate embodiment and source of God’s grace. 

“Grace” is the atmosphere…the conduit…the pipeline… the motive…attitude…characteristic…God’s “bent”… from whom and through which He works, and provides the strength to be and to do for those who trust in Him. 

The word “grace” is sometimes accompanied by the word “freely” in Scripture. “Freely” means “without a cause”…for no reason at all except that gracious is who God is. 

His grace is the reason for, starts the process, and provides the means through which we receive all the blessings of His salvation. 

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬ ‭

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us…”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬-‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Through grace, God gives us the power to overcome all the issues that trouble us on our journey through life. Paul found out…

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Grace takes over and provides God’s strength in place of our weakness, whatever the situation. 

Just Imagine…Paul’s prayer for his readers answered…every moment of every day…God’s people experiencing ever-increasing wholeness…all the benefits of Jesus’ death and resurrection restoring what sin has broken…flowing increasingly because of God’s grace…His undeserved favour…just because that’s who He is…

…and Peter echoes Paul’s prayer with a promise…

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5‬:‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

To be continued