Paul cared deeply for the church at Philippi. They had been supportive of Paul’s ministry during his second and third missionary journeys, and especially during his imprisonment in Rome.   Unlike his other epistles, Paul didn’t write to correct the theology or the activities among the people in Philippi. He wrote the letter to the Philippians to encourage.   He started his correspondence by writing, “I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, always praying with jo

“Be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens. For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand” (

“In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed. The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance…” (Ephesians 1:13–14, CSB)   The New English Translation says it this way: “When you heard the word of truth (the gospel of your salvation)—when you believed in Christ—you were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit, who is the down payment of our inheritance…” (Ephe

“Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3).   Some “spiritual blessings” … no! Many “spiritual blessings” … no! “Every spiritual blessing!” … Hallelujah!   Allow me to put that sentence in my own words. “All praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has already freely gifted us with every spiritual advantage, assistance, and allowance in the heavens…”

While in a Roman prison, the Apostle Paul wrote letters to churches in Ephesus, Philippi, and Colossae. His inspired words contain Divine promises of power and protection, of riches and rewards.   He spoke of the “reward of an inheritance” (Colossians 3:24), “the immeasurable greatness of his power … the mighty working of his strength” (Ephesians 1:18-19). He promised “that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion” (Philippians 1:6), and that as sons

We’ve been remembering the events of Holy Week, the days between Palm Sunday and Easter. Now, let’s watch the Messiah’s final moments upon the cross.   “It was nine in the morning when they crucified him” (Mark 15:25). “From noon until three in the afternoon, darkness came over the whole land. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out with a loud voice … ‘My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?’ ” (Matthew 27:45-46).   For six hours Jesus bore our sin and shame. Aband

“At the place called The Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals, one on the right and one on the left” (Luke 23:33). The criminals were … criminals! They had committed heinous felonies and were presumably being punished in accordance with those crimes. Were they, like Barabbas, insurrectionists and murderers? Maybe.   As the Sinless Son of God hung upon the tree, gasping for each breath, He was overheard voicing a short prayer. “Father, forgive them, becaus

On Mount Moriah, God instructed Abraham to offer Isaac, but, by God’s grace, a lamb was “caught in the thicket” (Genesis 22:13). Isaac lived, but the lamb didn’t.   On the night before the exodus from Egypt, a faithful family sacrificed the Passover Lamb to save the life of the eldest son. God promised, “when the Lord passes through to strike Egypt and sees the blood on the lintel and the two doorposts, he will pass over the door and not let the destroyer enter your houses to