Lesson Five
Shining as Lights in the Night
Philippians 2:12-30

Memory Text: "Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world" (Philippians 2:14-15, NKJV).

Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life" (John 8:12, NKJV). He has also said, " 'You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden' " (Matt. 5:14, NKJV) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matt. 5:16)

We can not generate that light. But we can absorb Christ's light and let it shine through us.

Remember Moses on the mountain talking with God, when he came down he had absorbed so much of God's light that the people were afraid "for the glory of his countenance" (see 2 Cor. 3:7)

2 Cor. 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts, the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Phil.2: 12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Work out your own salvation??? Why would Paul write those words?

Christ's awesome LIGHT is available to all. To absorb that light we need to "come into the light" and fully expose our minds to that magnificent Light and have a real relationship with the bearer of that Light.
God will work in you both to will and to do His good pleasure, while we work out what He places in us with fear and trembling keeping the connection secure with daily surrender to Him.

Lesson Six
Confidence Only In Christ
Philippians 3:1-16

Memory Text: "That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead" (Philippians 3:10-11, NKJV).

Why is there something about us that remains suspicious about salvation by faith alone, apart from the works of the law.
There are several reasons -- from wanting to be in control of our own lives, not trusting or knowing God , and not understanding what "faith alone" means.
We've all met people on both sides of the road. The legalistic who think their works earn them merits that they must achieve in order to obtain salvation, and the cheap gracers who think just saying they believe is all it means, and they are now free to live a worldly lifestyle, its all covered.

So how do we apply the truth that salvation is only in Christ?

In verse Philippians 3:2 we find three things of which Paul admonishes us to beware.
3:2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.
1. Beware of those dogs: (People barking to get you to do or believe something not based on truth)
2. Beware of People who do evil
3. Beware of people who insist on a ritual that supposedly gives the confidence they are right with God, even though they practice worldliness.

What should we do instead:
1. Rejoice in the LORD, praise His name, worship God by the Spirit of God who glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh. (3:2)

2. Know Christ! and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own by following a set of rules, but that righteousness which is through faith in Christ -- that comes from God.

3. Know the power of His resurrection.
You were dead in your sins gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature, BUT GOD, because of His great love for us made us alive with Christ ..it is by grace you have been saved and God raised us up with Christ. (See Eph. 2:1-8)

4. Share in Christ's sufferings and death,
"All of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death. buried with Him through baptism unto death..Our old self was crucified with Him. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him. Count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Jesus. (Romans 6)

5. And someday soon now -- the dead in Christ will rise, they will live again and meet Him in the air to be forever with Him

Just one thing to know CHRIST

Phil. 3:8 Without a doubt I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord:

Phil. 3:10 That I may know him,

John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Acts 4:10, 12 By the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth... Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Phil. 3:14 Press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Phil. 3:20 look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body,



Matt. 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

"Surely there is nothing more important than knowing Christ, which guarantees in the end that He will know us and acknowledge us before the Father."

What is the "mark" or goal of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus?

The goal is to see our Savior face to face and live with Him forever.
And to encourage as many people as possible to make this their goal as well.

The call to KNOW Christ goes far beyond a mere intellectual knowledge. It is an intimate relationship that molds us to be ever more like Him.
Mere profession with knowledge is lifeless without His Holy Spirit filling and guiding us in every aspect of life.

Lesson Seven
A Heavenly Citizenship

Memory Text: "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God" (Philippians 4:6, NKJV).

This week study Philippians 3:17 to 4:23

Heavenly Citizenship

As Christians, we are citizens of God's heavenly kingdom. And with that citizenship comes privileges, wonderful privileges. And responsibilities, too.
We won't just be guests in the everlasting kingdom -- we will be citizens!
Jesus has won for us a wonderful inheritance.

Philippians 3: 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ

1 Peter 1:4?And into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you.? ?

Titus 3:7 ?So that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.?

Ephesians 2:19 "So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God?s household,"

Colossians 1:12,13 Giving thanks unto the Father, which has made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated [us] into the kingdom of his dear Son:

Heb. 9:15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions ... they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

James 2:5 Listen, my beloved brethren, Has not God chosen the poor of this world, who are rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he has promised to them that love him?

Galatians 4:7 Wherefore you are no longer a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Daniel 7:27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom [is] an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.

Rev. 3:12 I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, [which is] new Jerusalem,

Philippines 3:17-21

......CITIZENS OF HEAVEN	....CITIZENS OF THE WORLD...
Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you...Our citizenship is in heaven and we eagerly await a Savior from there; the Lord Jesus Christ, 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....Stand firm in the Lord!	.....I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and there glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.

What is the pattern for living as a citizen of heaven which Paul and his fellow missionaries gave:

1. Set your hearts on things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Col. 3:1
2. Set your minds on things above not on earthly things. Col. 3:2
3..Remember you died to sin and your life is now hidden with Christ. Col. 3:3
4. Put to death your carnal nature: immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, greed. Col 3:4
5. Rid yourselves of anger, rage, malice, slander, filthy language, lying. Col. 3:8,9
6. Agree with each other, in the Lord. Phil. 4:1
7. Rejoice in the Lord always. Phil. 4:4
8. By prayer and petition with thanksgiving present your requests to God. Phil. 4:6
9. Think on things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, praiseworthy. Phil 4:8
10. Be clothed with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience. Col. 3:12
11. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Col. 3:13
12. Have love and unity. Col. 3:14
13. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you share it with others Col. 3:16
14. Sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. Col. 3:17
15. Submit one to another, be not overbearing.
16. Whatever you do, do to the glory of God, and do it with all your heart as working for the Lord. Col. 3.17,23

As Citizens Representing God's kingdom
-- Role Model--

"Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample." Philippians 3:17 (KJV)

"Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example." Philippians 3:17 (NLT)

Paul encourages them to "be followers together of me," a spiritual family "brothers and sisters" following Christ.
Later Paul admits he has "not yet arrived" (Phil 3:13) but he is pressing ever forward in his walk with Christ, and he wants those who have responded to his message of Christ, to walk with him in ever pressing forward in this walk with Jesus.

Paul is not taking the place of Christ as our ultimate role model, but is encouraging his converts to join with him, have the same goals, hope, and faith in Christ as he has, and says, "let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing."

Phil 4:9 Those things, which you have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Like any good teacher Paul has shown them what a walk with Christ looks like.
Just as a piano teacher shows her student how to bring notes to life in lovely music, so Paul was showing them what a life in Christ looks like. Then urges them to walk with Christ.


As citizens of heaven we too are role models, whether we like it or not.
When we surrender self to Jesus, and let Him appear in our character and conversation, we testify to His glory, power and honor.
When we let self rule and exhibit inconsistent, earthly, lives, we heap reproach upon Christ, and interfere with people realizing the love and power of our Savior.

Both I It Is Written and Mark Finley started the lesson with statements that our mind must be changed to what I understood as 'perfection' before the end when we face Christ and He transforms our bodies to perfection. Very interesting and eye opening to say the least.

Take a look and see if you also hear that in what they say...

I saw it as addressing our minds' focus. The utmost importance as to where our minds focus is centered.
Christ's followers focus on Christ and heavenly things, and bringing glory to Him.
The opposite is the carnal focus on earthly things, on self pleasing, self gratification, that leads further and further down.

As Christians we are to focuses on Christ and heavenly things and surrender our lives to Christ, placing our will under His will -- they are focused on a perfect model!
They are being changed more and more into a Christlike character.

Those whose mindset is on earthly things and self gratification and pursuits will continue to operate in a carnal manner, their pursuit of earthly achievements eclipsing everything else.

Yet, we will not become so perfect that we no longer need Jesus and His sustaining grace. Our minds will still be in our fleshly bodies right up to the time Christ transforms those bodies into incorruptible bodies.

Our mindset must always be focused on Christ and His Word, willingly and trustingly surrendered to Him. Not on self.
Then we can be assured that HE that began a good work in us, will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus return.

Lesson Eight

The Preeminence of Christ

Read for This Week's Study: Col. 1:13-19
Gen. 1:26-27; ; John 1:1-3; Eph. 1:22; 1 Cor. 12:12-27; 1 Cor. 4:9; Rom. 6:3-4

Memory Text: "He [Christ] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist" (Colossians 1:15-17, NKJV).

We find, in human interpretations, that this text is understood as either exulting the greatness and power of Christ or diminishing him to being just a created (or procreated) being.

Do we see the Preeminence of Christ over everything created, or should we believe this includes Christ as part of the created?

Paul is talking about the Preeminence of Christ!

"Clearly, Paul does not mean to suggest that Jesus was the first being created. In fact, he categorically excludes that possibility. Twice, in two different ways, he says Jesus created all things. They were created by Him and for Him (Col. 1:16). In both cases, Jesus is indicated as the personal agent through whom God carried out the process of creation."

Eph 3:9 to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Rev. 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

God in plurality of His oneness created:
Gen. 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: