Daily Reading: (Philippians 1:6, Proverbs 3:5-6, John 16:33) 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. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
One of the devil’s greatest tactics he uses to try and discourage us- having us buy into the lie that whatever God has called us forth into – we will never of will not accomplish our purpose. He plants these toxic thoughts- what’s the point- or even a what difference is that really going to make. Today the Word of God is going to rip those weeds out at the root through these four verses as we will see the value and the purpose even in what seems like a defeat or a discouraging word that you hear.
Philippians 1:6- “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.” #1 Your salvation is secure in Christ. 1 Timothy 2:5: For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity--the man Christ Jesus. Your reconciliation to God is complete by the finished work of Jesus Christ and He is the mediator assuring you of your salvation. #2 Christ is working in and through our lives and because of this, there is confidence in the Gospel going forward (Philippians 1:6).
In this letter Paul writes of His imprisonment (1:12-26). Discord and Division in the Church (2:1-18, 4:2-3) False Teachers (3:2-3). Paul is aware that he is in prison, that there is discord and division in the church, and even false teachers when he writes the letter. However, Paul still says “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.” Paul’s confidence is that God will finish the good work in you- your life in Christ will be one of purpose.
Paul’s confidence isn’t in employment, positive circumstances, reports from the church, His confidence is that because you are God’s holy people (Philippians 1:1) God will finish the good work in you.
“To all God’s holy people” (hagios) is the most holy thing, saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi. “In Christ” in the Greek is a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state).“Jesus and the Father made a covenant, and then by marriage (Romans 7:1-6) we received all that Christ received by covenant as our inheritance through His death, and then He came back from the dead to join us and make sure we got by inheritance everything He willed to us.” So, when Jesus made you a saint- you are a saint.
Trust in the Lord Hebrew word (batach)- trust in, have confidence, be bold, feel safe in the Lord. lean not on your own understanding. (sha`an) - stay, lean upon oneself, trust in yourself.
We always have two choices- we could lean on ourselves (our own power, understanding, our wealth, or even our friends etc…) or we can trust in and have bold confidence and feel secure in God. Those feelings of confidence, boldness, feeling safe in a difficult time can only come upon when we trust God.
If Paul would have leaned on his own understanding- his situation, the report of his friends in Philippi- there would be no confidence to be found. Paul chooses to lean not on himself, but on God.
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
God comforts us and gives us relief (relief can be translated as rest) in our afflictions. He does this by revealing more of Jesus to us. “Our comfort abounds through Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:5).
So as believers we can enjoy supernatural peace in times of trouble. We can have peace in our tribulation today. Take heart- lean not on yourself- trust God, have confidence, feel safe in Him, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.