What The Bible Says
Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice
The Apostle Paul writes a powerful and organized letter to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi. The adversity lining up against Christianity for 2023 requires that his remnant be well grounded in their Lord's instruction. Dr. McGee alliterates Paul's outline by chapter as Philosophy, Pattern, Prize, and Power of Christian living. The all important power, he says, comes from a Source (4:1-4), a Secret (vr.5-7), a Sanctuary (vr.8-9), and a Satisfaction (vr.10-23). The source of power is the joy that comes from standing fast, standing together, and standing behind the laborers. The secret of power is prayer and supplications with thanksgiving. The sanctuary holding that power for Christian living is his temple. In the OT God built a temple for his people, in the NT he builds a People for his temple. “What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you?” (1Cor.6:19).
A Christian must keep the temple holy and sanctified. We live in a vile and filthy society. Satan is using every avenue he can to control and destroy mankind and that can put some “stinking-thinking” in even a Christian's mind. His drive for a socialist/communist “utopia” invades the unregenerate mind like a plague. People all around us are surrendered to it as never before. Focus the renewing or your mind to make it God's sanctuary. “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?”(1Cor.6:9). So Paul charges us, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Phil.4:8). "Lord, in 2023, keep my mind stayed on thee.”
An Essay for week #2 - Jan 8, 2023
Msg in audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs230108.mp3
See the Genesis of Sin, Hamartiology www.GSBaptistChurch.com/theology
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A weekly 300 word essay- The Penny Pulpit
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