GRINDIT podcast

When we look at what Paul says about the church at Thessalonica, it puts the American church to shame. This church was facing severe persecution yet they worked hard and did loving deeds. The Greek word for “deeds” is kopos and it means they toiled and labored, even against opposition, to the point of exhaustion. They made such an impact for the kingdom that Paul said everywhere they go, people are talking about the church in Thessalonica. In America, we have turned “church” into big buildings with air conditioning, we come in and sing a few songs then listen to a preacher for a few minutes, while our kids are hanging out in youth ministry where they are entertained for a while. We soak it all in like a sponge, go home, and hardly mention Jesus, if at all, outside of that building. We expect people to just “come in” instead of us “going out” and bringing them in. What have we done?

The church at Thessalonica started in Acts 17. Paul and Silas made their way there after getting run out of Philippi. Luke says Paul reasoned with the Jews at the synagogue for three Sabbaths while most historians say Paul stayed there for about three months. He was run out of Thessalonica as well and went to Berea. However, that three month period made a huge impact there! The men and women who chose to obey the gospel took it to heart and wanted others to know about Jesus too! They were known in the region around them as people who did faithful work, loving deeds, because they put their hope in Jesus. May that be said of us!

This is a concept I have heard all of my life and it has been completely out of context. What does Paul mean when he says, “You reap what you sow?” Is he saying like these ministries today, “If you sow money into my ministry and make me rich, you will receive a big ole blessing from God later.”? 100% no! That is not what he is saying at all! He is telling the church at Galatia to quit being conceited and selfish, to sow into the lives of others and help pull them out of sin. He is saying we are to have such communion, fellowship with one another that we can share burdens with another so we can pray for one another and walk along side of each other to keep us from falling. That...that is the context of “reaping what you sow.” If we sow into others, when we need help, they will be here to help but if we stay focused on ourselves, when the time comes that we need help, it won't be there!

Every child dreams of becoming someone, something great, especially boys. We have a drive to hunt and conquer, to rescue the damsel in distress! We set out on a quest to become a hero, to win that battle! We set goals, we discipline ourselves and work hard to conquer them. Unfortunately, too many times we get so caught up in the quest and forget about the people around us. In fact, far too often, we use them to get a step higher on the ladder or to get us closer to the goal! Paul calls it being conceited, selfish, and the Greek word he uses says it is “empty glory.” No matter how much success we have, if we don't have Jesus we have nothing. It's all empty! So big shot, how did you get where you are? Following God as you let Him lead? Or did you cheat your way there? Did you commit a lot of sin to get you where you're at?

We were asked to speak at Authentic Church during the Joel series. This is part 2 of a 2 part sermon.

We were asked to speak at Authentic Church during the Joel series. This is part 1 of a 2 part sermon.

While talking about freedom and that freedom coming from Jesus, Paul issues a warning to the church at Galatia, “Don't use your freedom to gratify the flesh and its desires. He then posts a list of sins that gratify the flesh and in that list he says, “Those who do these and things similar, will not inherit the kingdom of God.” In the next breath, he lists the fruit of the Spirit and he says, “You're free to do these things as much as you want.” Why? Because they bring glory to God. When God is holding our leash, and the Holy Spirit is leading us, the fruit we produce will show it.

Paul says to the church at Galatia, “Christ has set you free” and “You have been called to live in freedom.” Over ten times in this letter, Paul uses some form of the word “freedom”. What does Paul mean by “freedom”? If we only have true freedom in Jesus, then what about those who are outside of Christ? They are in bondage, but so are those who are trying to follow the law or work their way to salvation. Why would anybody choose bondage after being set free?

Paul tells the church at Galatia, “Yall were running the race with all you had, exerting all the effort you could, but something happened and it has hindered your running.” What happened? Circumcision. It's hard to run when you've had a knife cut into private part! That is a lot of pain and it takes a little while to heal up! Paul uses two words in the Greek to explain what he means by “hinder” but we don't fully grasp it in the English translations. Check out this podcast to see what Paul means and ask. Yourself this question, “Am I giving my all for Jesus? For the kingdom? Or is something hindering me from fully serving him?

Paul says to the church at Galatia, “So Christ has truly set us free.” What did Jesus set us free from? What put us in bondage to begin with? And the answer to that question is found in Paul's letter to them, “The Law,” and in particular, they have listened to false teachers and have been convinced they, as Gentiles, need to be circumcised and follow the law. Paul makes it clear, if they follow the law, Christ is no effect to them, and they have been cut off from Christ. If you're cut off from something, you have been removed and there is a separation. It goes back to the Garden of Eden, when man chose to sin, they were separated from God, and man has tried to reconcile that relationship ever since but everything we do is not good enough. It can only happen in Jesus!

Paul calls the church at Galatia his “Dear Children” and then he says he feels as if he is going through labor pains over them again. Why would he say this? A man can't have labor pains because a man cannot have children. What did Jesus say to Nicodemus in John 3? “Unless a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Paul has labored, his life threatened everywhere he went as he travels around spreading the gospel, telling people how be saved. Those that hear the gospel and are obedient, Paul calls them his “Children” because their new birth took place under his ministry. The re-birth process was hard but well worth it because when he gets results, there is joy just like when a newborn baby comes into the world. And now they are believing someone else's teachings that is undermining everything he taught them and he says he is feeling those pains all over again.

Paul tells the church at Galatia, who is made up of Gentiles, “Before you Gentiles knew God, you were slaves to so-called gods that do not even exist.” Think back to early in the Old Testament when God came to Abraham and said “Leave Ur and go to a land I will show you.” Abraham was in a pagan land where people didn't worship Yahweh...they worshipped gods that didn't exist! Where did they learn of these gods? It all starts in the Garden of Eden, the fall of man, and man being kicked out. It wasn't until Seth had a son names Enosh when people started worshipping Yahweh by name. That was a period of around 240 years! Paul tells us that people had their own idea of God and they fashioned God into their own ideas and images. Think about it...when Moses challenged Pharaoh in Egypt, they had gods for everything yet they did not worship the One true God—Yahweh. Paul tells the Galatians, “You are known by the God that really exists!”

We hear people say, “Salvation is free” or “Salvation is a free gift from God and all you have to do is receive it.” That is true in a way but our salvation wasn't free...it cost Jesus everything. He willingly gave his life as a ransom, a payment, for our sin so that we could go free. Paul says he was born under the law, which made him subject to it, but he chose not to sin, yet he became sin when he hung on the cross. He was persecuted, hated, despised, rejected, beaten, crucified, buried, and came out alive holding the keys to death and hell...and he calls us his children...if...we have given our lives to him and been clothed with him, receiving his Spirit in our hearts! Have you?

Paul is explaining to the church at Galatia that they cannot have a relationship with God through following the law because the law puts them in bondage. He says, “As a child, we are under the elements of this world” meaning we grow up hearing the alphabet. The letters of the alphabet make certain sounds and that's the way it is. You cannot change the alphabet or the sounds. You are in bondage to it, and just like us, Jesus came in bondage to the law meaning he had the choice to sin but he didn't! He never sinned once and became our sacrifice so he could purchase our freedom. Now we are no longer under bondage to the law because we have freedom in Christ!

The law was good because it showed us what sin is however, it also held us captive because there wasn't any way to be set free from the bondage of sin...that is...until the way of faith came. That way of faith has a name, Paul says, and his name is Jesus, or Yeshua which means, “God is Salvation.” When Jesus came, he came with the authority from God and he would say, “You have heard it said (the law), but I say to you...” and the people were amazed at his teaching and hius authority. Paul tells the church at Galatia, you have a choice to make. Yo have been taught about Jesus, you believed in Jesus, but now you are putting your trust in yourself by trying to be obedient to the law. You can continue down this path but it will not turn out well for you. You can quit trying yourself and put your faith in Jesus like you were taught from the beginning and be filled with the Holy Spirit so he can take care of everything for you and you're guaranteed to be in with God. What's your choice? Faith or your works?

In the same way....that's how Paul put's it to the church at Galatia. What is he talking about? In the same way, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” Abraham believed God just like you did...by faith. He didn't receive anything in his own effort. In fact, Abraham struggled when he didn't trust God! He was fearful of dying when he was traveling through foreign land so he lied and said Sarah was his sister. Abraham was willing to let his wife be taken by another man just so he could live! Can you say, “Epic Fail!” Salvation comes from our faith in Jesus, not our own efforts.

Paul is upset with the church in Galatia because they have believed a false gospel. They have taken the faith they have put in God, in what Jesus has done for them on the cross, and put it in themselves, in their own works, their own righteousness because they are trying to win God's approval by following the law. Paul says, “You already had God's approval! How else do you think you were filled with the Holy Spirit? How do you think you were performing miracles?” It is because they had put their faith in God…just like Abraham.

The word Bewitched means someone has used something that is artificial, something fake to trick, to deceive…like a magician tricking our eyes and making us believe what they are doing is real. That's exactly what has happened to the church at Galatia. Paul says, “I came to you and painted a clear picture of Jesus and what he did on the cross, yet you have believed a fake.” It may look real and it may sound real, but it's 100% fake! I brought you the real deal because I got it from the mouth of Jesus himself and yet, you have so quickly removed yourself from God! Don't fall for the fakes!

Paul confronts Peter because of his sin, his choosing to not fellowship with the uncircumcised Gentiles when the circumcised Jews came into the room. Paul lets Peter know that he is in sin and his sin has led others astray as well! We take a deep dive into the seriousness of sin and who it effects beside us. What we see is it comes down to who do we chain ourselves to, who are we bound to? Ourselves? Our flesh? Or Jesus? Do we gratify our flesh or do we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us? If we say Jesus, then do we live like it or do we unholy lives deceiving ourselves thinking we are in good standing with God. Lord, break every chain that bounds us to the things that hinder our relationship with You!

Paul is going to talk about confronting Peter when he sinned by getting up from the table while he was fellowshipping with some uncircumcised Gentiles, and going to set with the circumcised Jews and not having any fellowship with them. Paul says he wasn't having that because sin is serious business and our sin could easily persuade others to sin as well, which is exactly what happened when Peter did what he did! Did Paul handle it right? What does Jesus say about the seriousness of sin and how do we handle it when a brother or sister in Christ sins?

Paul says some false believers tried to sneak into their meeting with the leadership at the church in Jerusalem to take away the freedom they have in Christ. These false believers wanted to make the Gentiles adhere to the laws God gave the Jews and Paul says, “No! They don't have to do that, in particular, they don't have to be circumcised!” We go on a deep dive in this podcast about “freedom” and what Paul means. Bottom line, God gives us His word...Do we trust Him?

Paul is rehearsing his story to the Galatians because he is proving to them that they can trust him. Why? Because he has been filled with the same Holy Spirit the apostles have and he has even had meetings with those apostles and they gave him their approval. He calls the apostles “pillars” which in the Greek means “Pillars of fire” and Paul says, “These pillars of fire accepted me and Barnabas as co-workers; therefore, I am a pillar of fire too! He even tells them in detail about a trip he took to Jerusalem to tell the apostles the message he was preaching to the Gentiles and Paul reassures the Galatians that they were all in unity. Again showing the church that they can trust what he is saying, but even greater than the apostles, Paul said he was directed by God Himself to go to Jerusalem.

In establishing his authority and defending it to the churches in Galatia, Paul makes a profound statement, “But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace.” Paul makes it clear that he did not choose this life that he lives, God chose it for him. He was a bad dude that loved God. He was a Pharisee, knew God's word, and he had a zeal for God like nobody else! However, it was misguided zeal for he took it and persecuted the church thinking he was doing God a favor. In his fleshly way of thinking, he thought he was defending God and keeping this blasphemous message about Jesus from spreading but God had a different plan. Jesus happened and it radically changed Paul's life!

When you want to confront someone about an issue, you better have some authority or you'll get laughed at to your face! In the episode of Andy Griffith where Barney confronts the two men for selling fruits and vegetables on the side of the road without a permit, they threaten to beat him up. Barney leaves because of fear but comes back to confront them pointing out that his badge represents a higher authority and they better obey it or pay the consequences. Paul tells the church at Galatia, “My authority doesn't come from any man but from Jesus himself and it is in your best interest to obey the gospel I preached to you and not some false gospel some slick talking person is speaking. If not, you'll pay the consequences.” This message we carry and share, the gospel, has our back because Jesus is our authority!

Paul was a prisoner in Rome because he spread the gospel and told people about Jesus. He was literally in chains! Onesimus was a rebellious, run-a-way slave who happened to find Paul and, while in chains, Paul shares the gospel with him, and his life is changed forever. Onesimus is a completely different person and Paul tells Philemon to accept him back because he will now be useful to him forever which is a play on his name, “Useful”. He wasn't useful to you in the past but now he will be because Jesus has changed his life. Regardless of your situation and why it happened, you have a choice to make: you can either sit, mope, cry, be depressed etc. or you can use it to grow your faith and trust God even more so He can use it bring Him glory. Your perspective matters!

We are introduced to a slave owner named Philemon and we have this tiny letter because one of his rebellious slaves, Onesimus, ran away and just happened to run into Paul. Paul shares the gospel with the guy while in prison and Jesus changes his life! He helps Paul spread the gospel there in Rome but Paul sends him back to Philemon with this letter. In this letter Paul describes Philemon and his family: strong faith, love Jesus, love people, kind, and very generous. Philemon's name means friendly and his wife's name mean fruitful as in complimentary. Together, they are a great couple who loves Jesus and are faithful servants in the kingdom of God! What do people say about me? How do people describe you when they are talking about you to others? Do you look like, sound like Jesus?

When reading the bible, people may have a tendency to skip through Paul's greetings. At the end of his letters, he starts telling the people “thank you” and “greet (fill in the blank), but there is some good stuff found in his greetings if we will take the time to read them and such is the case in the letter of Colossians. Yes, Paul greets a lot of people, some even from another church (Laodicea), but if you break down some of these people's lives from what he says about them, one can learn a lot! Like Epaphras for example. Epaphras was a prayer warrior and he interceded on behalf of the church at Colosse, and also for Laodicea and Hieropplis. But in this greeting, we find out that Paul wrote a letter to the church at Laodicea...Where is this letter?!?! We do not have it in our bibles because nobody has the original to copy from! What did Paul say to the church at Laodicea?!?! I guess we'll find out in heaven!

What does it mean to be “devoted” to something? I remember when I was a kid, sports players were “devoted” to a team. They played with one team their whole career. I don't know of any player today that can say that because they follow the money. Whoever pays the most is where they go. To be “devoted” to something means you endure, you continue, even when things get hard. You don't quit. Paul tells the church at Colosse to “devote” themselves to prayer and be watchful, with thanksgiving in their hearts. He is telling them to pray with expectation and to thank God for what is He is going to do when He answers their prayer! But if there is a delay, if the answer doesn't come as fast as you think it should, if the hardship continues, don't give up...keep grinding!

When we “put on Jesus”, we put on all these things Paul mentions in chapter 3, tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. We are commanded to be like Jesus in everything we say and do, how we live, and Paul says we are to give God permission to work in our lives which means we must allow Him to chip away at the stone walls we have built around our hearts because someone has hurt us or wronged us in some way. Forgiveness is not an option, it is a must and Jesus is our greatest example. He was beaten beyond recognition, humiliated in public, and as he hung on the cross in pain and trying to breath with those who are looking at him denying him and challenging him, he simply says with the breath he could muster, “Father, forgive them...” Who do you need to forgive? Free yourself from that bondage...Jesus forgave you...you can forgive as well.

“What should I wear?” is a question my wife asks me when we are going on a date and I always answer the same way, “Beautiful, you know I have no idea about fashion so whatever you choose will look fine to me.” There's a clothing we need to wear every day that is very important and it absolutely matters. Paul says at least three times in Colossians 3 to “Put on” a certain type of clothing: Jesus, love, and a whole bunch of Jesus characteristics. He wants people to look at us and see Jesus so God will be glorified. What are you wearing?

Paul has made it clear that we have crucified the flesh, we have put it to death, buried the old man in the grave, and have come out a new creation in Jesus; We are filled with his Holy Spirit and have set our eyes on Jesus as we walk in this world. However, we must choose to do so everyday because Paul also makes it clear, even though we are filled with the Spirit, we will still be tempted and those desires still live in us. We have to make the choice to continue to walk with Jesus, to die daily, and to put on Christ like we put on our clothes every day.

People today want to be seen and they'll do anything to be seen. They'll sleep with whoever they need to, lie, cheat their way to the top, deceive and walk all over anybody to achieve their goal. They want to go viral, be known, because it's all about them. Paul says we are hidden in Christ and will be revealed when Jesus comes back. But again, who wants to be hidden? We want to be seen! When we come to Christ, our sins are forgiven, our old, sinful nature is put to death and buried, however, Paul says there is sin that still lurks within us and we must continue to follow Jesus and crucify these desires. He lists sins of the flesh that we must continually put away and he reminds us that Christ is coming back and when he does, he is coming with a vengeance! Therefore, living for Jesus has to be the most important goal in our life, to become like him must be the goal. Anything else is idolatry, greed, and sin.

When I was a skateboarding teenager, we didn't have internet or cell phones to order things. We had magazines and one magazine that I subscribed to was a skateboarding magazine called “Thrasher Magazine.” In Thrasher, there were ads selling skateboards and at the top of the add it would say, “Buy a complete for only $99!” which meant you could buy everything you need to skate from the ad: the deck, grip tape, trucks, riser pads, bearings, and wheels. When that thing came in the mail, you were ready to skate! Paul says, “When we have Jesus, we are complete.” We are ready! We have everything we need! We do not lack anything because we belong to Christ! Do you have everything you need?!?!

In Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, Hermey the Elf pulls the teeth of the big and bad abominable snowman therefore Rudolph and his friends no longer have to be afraid of him! Paul says Jesus has publicly disarmed the enemy therefore he has no power over us and we do not have to fear him! So do not let the enemy get in your head! When he reminds you of your past, you point to the cross and remind him of his future!

The word “continue” carries another option with it...don't continue. How many times has a parent said, “Stop doing (fill in the blank),” but you keep doing it. Then you hear, “If you keep doing that (continue), you're going to get a spanking (Or a time out)”? Then, since you continued to do the thing they said to quit doing, you get your punishment. The parent was implying “Do not continue doing what you are doing” when they said “If you continue doing that...” You had a choice to make...right? To continue or not continue. Paul tells the church at Colosse they have started strong in the faith, and now they have accepted Jesus, they must continue to follow him which implies you have a choice: continue to follow Jesus or don't continue to follow Jesus. Jesus said the same thing to his disciples in John 15, “Remain in me” which implies there is another option, “Don't remain in me...” Where are you? Are you continuing to follow Jesus?

Paul uses a three letter word that is so powerful in his letter to the church at Colosse, “Let.” He says, “Let your roots grow down in him,” and “Let your lives be built on him.” In other words, we have to give God permission to work in our lives. He just doesn't overwhelm us, overpower us and say, “I am God and I am going to do this in your life whether you like it or not!” No, we have to give Him permission. Every day, we have a choice, Am I going to continue to follow Jesus? Am I going to allow Jesus to work in my life? Am I going to get in the word and let my roots grow deep into Jesus so I can stand strong when storms come? Am I going to build my life on the immovable stone, Jesus, so when the strong waves come against me, I will be protected and able to stand strong? Give God permission to work in you and through you, and you will be amazed at what Jesus will do!

Mary and I spoke at Authentic Church this past Sunday, February 2. We kicked off pastor's new sermon series out of 1 Corinthians called, "I Want What's Best For You." Here is part 2 talking about division.

Mary and I spoke at Authentic Church this past Sunday, February 2. We kicked off pastor's new sermon series out of 1 Corinthians called, "I Want What's Best For You." Here is part 1 talking about division.

Paul tells the church at Colosse to watch out for the false teachers that will soon come to their fellowship to try and persuade them that there is more to it than what Paul has taught them. They will come with fancy words and eloquent speech trying to convince the people they lack something even though they are following Jesus. It's the same message Satan used in the Garden of Eden, “God is withholding something from you, Eve...” Unfortunately, Eve fell for the lie and was deceived and we see so many people falling for the lie today. Jesus is everything we need to live now and for eternity. We lack nothing! So when the enemy comes in with lies, don't listen! Stay with the truth...stay with Jesus...and you will lack nothing!

Do you knit or know someone that does? You can take a single of strand of yarn that is not very strong, and make something that is superstrong! The person who knits will take yarn, thread it through the hook, and start knitting. When the product is done, like a blanket, it can be used because the single strand of yarn has been knitted together, twisted together, and has become strong. Paul tells the church at Colosse he wants them to be encouraged and knit together by the love of Christ. We need to be involved in one another's lives so we can be knitted together. When the thing knitted together has Jesus woven into it, it becomes unbreakable!

When we are traveling to a certain destination, we grab our phone, pull up the Maps app, punch in the address to our destination, and take off in the direction the voice tells us to go; We can even see a picture of a map with a blue line that shows us our future moves. What happens when we don't follow the directions the app is telling us? It freaks out and starts telling you commands on how to get back on track to reach your destination. Suppose you get a phone call and have to terminate your destination to go to a different one? That means you did not get to your destination! Paul says God has given us the coordinates to be able to reach Him in heaven, and many have chosen to punch those coordinates in and are traveling in that direction, but Paul says we must continue...

How many people have prayed and got nothing from God but crickets? They prayed with no response or get the response they didn't want? They get discouraged and quit praying, reading their bibles, they no longer show up for services, and the next thing you know, they don't want anything to do with God at all. Why does God not answer our every beckoning call? Doesn't He know we are in trouble? In a pinch? Desperate?!?! Yes! Yes He does and He hears every prayer you have prayed and He does care. I don't know why God chooses to answer and not to answer prayers...but this I do know...He is sovereign and without Him, we don't have any hope! Hang on, keep grinding, DO NOT GIVE UP!

Paul says that Jesus was the exact image of the invisible God. We can't see God, which is why many people choose not to believe in Him. They want someone, something they can see. It goes all the way back to the golden calf Aaron made while Moses was hanging out with God on Mount Sinai. When the angel told Mary she was going to become pregnant miraculously, and that the child would be God's Son, he said He will be called "Emmanuel" which means "God with us." Just as Jesus was the image of God, we are to be the image of Jesus in our every day lives! Listen to Radiate by clicking the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKo33z1Gse8

Carnivals have games to play and they put out the biggest prizes that catch your attention only to get your money, have the game rigged where it's hard to win, and if you do win, you get a much smaller prize than the ones they show. You have to play and win many times to get that big prize! But not with God! God paid the price for you to play the game, He makes winning easy, and you get the best prize ever—Jesus, and everything that comes with him, all the blessings, and eternal life in heaven! Step right up and play is the invitation and it's a game you cannot lose because God has taken care of everything! Mary Gamboa Music: Nissi Band Radiate https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKo33z1Gse8

When you tell someone you're going to pray for them...DO IT! Right then and there...Don't wait until later because you may forget! My own daughter who is in high school has told me how people would say to her they would pray for her but she knew they wouldn't, that they were just being nice. Epaphras was a prayer warrior, he was an intercessor on behalf of the church at Colosse as well as other churches. Paul says he literally wrestled with the enemy when he prayed. I want someone like that praying on my behalf! That's how we should be as the body of Christ! Wrestling with the enemy, fighting for one another, pushing back darkness so we can have victory!

Did you know Paul didn't start the church in Colosse? In fact, as far as we know, he never even visited them! So how did they hear the gospel? How did a congregation start filled with Gentiles who love Jesus? More than likely it started with a man named Epaphras who was a coworker of Paul. He had learned from the best and at some point, he went on a mission himself preaching the gospel in Colosse and the Holy Spirit did a mighty work through him! We only have a few verses about Epaphras but what we do have shows us what a man of God he was and how he inspires us to be like him!

Most people completely shut down when the preacher starts talking about needing money or when a missionary asks for support but even Paul knew how important money was to his ministry! He supported himself by selling tents as he traveled around the known world at that time but it wasn't always enough to make ends meet because he talks about being content, even when he was starving! He points out the generosity of the church at Philippi and how they supported his work by sending money to him. He tells ten that the same God that supplied his needs will supply theirs. The reality is, it takes money to do ministry and God promises blessings on us if we help supply those financial needs!

Paul says he has learned to be content in any situation he finds himself in? What does that mean? The dictionary defines it as being happy and having peace no matter what but is that what Paul means? Not hardly...Happiness depends on outside circumstances. If the outside circumstances are good, then I'm happy but if not, well then, I'm either mad, sad, worried, or some other emotion. Interestingly enough, God is not concerned about our “Happiness” but He is concerned about us and he knows that outside circumstances will affect us and make us like a rollercoaster. But...that doesn't have to be the case! We can be, like Paul, to learn to be “content”! No matter what the outside circumstances are, we can be at peace because we have Jesus.

Be anxious for nothing, but pray about everything and tell God what you need. But doesn't God already know what we need before we ask? That's what Jesus said! So why pray? Because we can verbalize what we need, which is admitting, “God, I can't do this (fill in the blank) on my own and I need you.” When we try to take control of things, we make a huge mess of it and it can cause all kinds of anxiety. We think it must be done yesterday and we have to have it NOW! But God doesn't work on our time table, He isn't bound by any time frame, but He does care about our needs and He wants to supply those needs and be glorified in our lives. God creates something from nothing so I'm sure He can provide whatever we need so quit worrying and put your faith in God!

One of Paul's big themes in all his letters is unity. He knows if the enemy gets the smallest chance to cause division and break the unity, he will take it and blow it up into something ginormous! There were two women who had some issues between one another and Paul tells them to work it out and get to work for Jesus! He said they worked very hard in the past to spread the gospel with him and others, but since there is this riff, the work isn't getting done. It has caused a problem within the church and there needs to be peace. So he urges the church to help these two ladies work it out and find peace. Do you need peace? What do you need to work out in your life and who do you need to make peace with for the sake of the gospel advancing?

People today online who have a following online are called “Influencers.” They have posted some kind of video, pictures, music, etc online and it has gone viral. They pick up followers who “Like” their content and these followers sometimes send money to support the “Influencer” and they are getting rich! Even if people don't send money, they tell others about the content they watch and how others can see it too. What are these “Influencers” doing? What are they teaching? Is it Jesus? More than likely, the answer is no. Paul says we should follow his example because he leads people to Jesus. Can you say that?