In so much, it is right I think this of you all, because I possess you in my heart.
Wow! What love Paul had for the Philippians. He felt this way for all true believers, regardless of the church, assembly, synagogue, etc. they attended or attend. He felt that all believers were his responsibility, to the point that they were actually a possession for which he was intimately responsible. That's a love, a commitment that all the Remnant has for each other. Notice that I didn't say, "… should have for each other.". It's not a forced commitment, but a natural outpouring of love, as a result of the Spirit of God, that is within all true believers. We all belong to each other as a possession of each of our hearts. Let's act that way. Let the Spirit naturally flow.
Philippians 1:7b
Also in my bond/chain and defense of the proclamation of the news of the grace of God manifested and pledged in Messiah, you all are partners of my grace.
Notice the word bond/chain. The Greek word used here is "desmos", which could mean chain or bond or obligation. The funny thing here is that it's also a singular noun. Therefore, to properly translate, it would be chain not chains. Obviously, Paul was in prison at the time of this letter and it is to directly imply his actual chains, but the word also could be used to convey his and our position in the Messiah...our bond or bond-servitude. So, what is the Holy Spirit trying to get across, if anything?
I believe that he is telling us that once we become Christians, Bond-Servants of Y'shua, the Messiah, we have an eternal obligation to his Gospel, his Good News. Why? Because Y'shua has paid that sin debt that we were unable to pay for ourselves. A debt that otherwise would have resulted in eternal damnation. Therefore, our natural obligation is to be grateful and wanting, not willing, to spread the Gospel, the Good News. To make the Gospel your own. As a result, you will defend it like your own, in the same way that Paul did. But, what is the Good News?
** As a quick side note, keep this in mind, the duality of "desmos" (bond/chain), when we get to verse 13.
What is the Gospel/Good News?
As you can see, if you compare this literal translation with others, such as NIV, KJV, etc., you'll notice that the actual Greek word, "euaggelion", actually means, "the proclamation of the news of the grace of God manifested and pledged in Messiah". It is my understanding that it was a new form of a Greek word, "euaggelizō", which means, "Good News". I think it's important to understand the distinction. The word, "euaggelion", actually says that the Good News is about the Grace, the Mercy of God made possible by the act of the Messiah. It's also says that this Grace was pledged. It was promised in the Tanakh, the Old Testament, long before the B'rit Hadashah, the New Testament was written or before Y'shua walked upon this earth.
*** As a side note, in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, the Apostle Paul tells us that the Gospel is the following:
...that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried; and that he hath been raised on the third day according to the scriptures.
Paul also tell us that we are partners, co-owners of his grace, which flows from God himself. This shows that the Grace of God is a Grace that is one within all believers, a theme that is a Jewish concept of Echad, onesness, constantly proclaimed by Y'shua, during his ministry on Earth. This is also iterated within the daily Schma of the Jews.
Hear Israel, Yahweh, Elohim is One. Yahweh!!!
Love Yahweh Elohim with your inner being, mind, will, heart, soul, spirit, understanding with all your might.
Philippians 1:8
For God is witness how I long for you in the compassion of Y’shua Messiah.
Finally, how we are to commit ourselves to one another is through the natural compassion within all true believers. The Compassion of Y'shua, the Messiah, which permeates our body, soul and spirit, by way of God's Holy Spirit, that dwells within us. That compassion comes from a internal yearning to be filled with the fullness of God, in the same way Y'shua was indwelled. We should long to be with each other, teach each other, be edified by each other, as we are committed to the spiritual and physical well being of ourselves.
Remember, We Are Echad, One With God Through His Son, Y'shua, the Messiah.
Finally, notice how many witnesses there are. Two. God and his Son, Y’shua. This fulfills the requirement of the Law, stated in Deuteronomy 19:15.
A matter is established by two or more witnesses.
I think we’ll be surprised when we stand before Jesus and our righteousness is shown to fall severely short of God’s Law. Praise God for Y’shua being obedient unto death on our behalf.
Good Post, Keith! I especially like the underlying implied meanings such as the bond/chain meaning. It just shows that our bible is truly a supernatural message from God.
ReplyDeleteI also like the oneness mesaage. It just shows how consistant is the message of the bible regardless of the messenger.
By the way, YouTube???
Hey Chris. Thanks and Praise God for your continued friendship and being a study partner with us. I really like the consistency and oneness message, also. I believe the church, even the Remnant, have a long way to go to truly understand and live a bond-servant existence. We are truly a flawed race. Again, Praise God, for Y'shua and his obedience to death, upon the cross and his righteous resurrection.
ReplyDeleteAs for YouTube, soon, my friend, soon. I promise.
Only messin’ with you about the YouTube even though it would be nice if you put this stuff out for a larger audience. I’ll stay around as long as you teach the bible for what it is not some “false doctrine” you made up in your head. Hee Hee Yes that was intended for our Australian friend.
ReplyDelete:-) LOL
DeleteAbsolutely One with YHWH through His Son Y'shua. The spiritual enemy is being defeated more and more as come together according to the truth of that Word.
ReplyDeleteSorry Keith for not coming over sooner. I can not believe how busy I have been lately. Also I am going through a trial at the moment so please pray for me regarding the promise of God to me being 'Yes' in Jesus.
Prayer sent! I know everything will work out ok for you and the family. No need for apologies. I get busy too sometimes. I like what you said about coming together and defeating our spiritual enemies as one.
ReplyDeleteThank You Keith, the trials I go through are regarding my trust in the Lord regarding my asking Him to teach me about sickness and healing many years ago, as I had experienced some healings and also a miracle through prayer. He told me not to go to the world for help (using the scripture 'Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help' as I am sure you know that Egypt spiritually means the world.
ReplyDeleteI understand exactly what you mean, Brenda. My wife and I discuss that all the time. I realize that God has given us medical advances and it’s alright to use them. However, I draw the line when addictive drugs are involved.
ReplyDeleteKeith, why do you think it is God Who has given mankind medical advances?
ReplyDeleteWhen I first asked the Lord to teach me about sickness and healing two of the scriptures He showed me in His Word when He began to encourage me to trust Him were
2 Chronicles ch.16 v.12:- 'In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Aza was afflicted with a disease in his feet. Though his disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the LORD, but only from the physicians' and Mark ch. 5 v.26:-
'And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse'
I believe that Word is a living Word and is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.
The recent trial I have been going through has contained really bad pain, and now after praying, asking my friend in Wales (who has also experienced healings from the Lord) and you to pray for me THAT PAIN HAS GONE!! Praise the Lord.
Hey Brenda, First of all, I give glory to and I praise our God in heaven for both your pain and your miraculous healing, for his will was done and we are edified.
ReplyDeleteAs for the medical advances, the Bible teaches us to give glory for and in all things. It also teaches us to be joyful in times of trials and tribulations and that all things will work to the good of those who are the called according to his purpose. That’s why I have been known to say things like that’s why God made a hammer or that’s why God gave us this ladder or that’s why God gave us the CAT scan. It’s not about who actually gave us these things but to whom we give the glory and credit and upon whom we lay our trust.
As far as your Chronicles reference, that is not a prohibition against physicians, but a condemnation of whom Aza put his trust. He put his trust in the physicians, not God.
As far as Mark 5 goes, which is one of my favorite stories, the woman was placed there as a model of the church. If you take a step back and look at the story as a whole, it is a story of Jesus going to heal a Jew but on the way there he heals a gentile woman. The doctors are symbolic of idols in our life. Again, not necessarily a condemnation of physicians.
God is not against doctors, for even Jesus said in Mark 2:17, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”, implying he had no problem with doctors , in general.
Now don’t get me wrong, I have no lost love for doctors, but I do believe God put them here on earth to help along with the natural healing process. I also believe that God gave us or allowed us technology here to test us concerning our faith. Do we trust technology or do we trust God? It’s not about whether we use physicians, technology or whatever, it’s all about who we trust.
In today’s world, the biggest problem with doctors is that they work hand and hand with what the Bible calls those who practice witchcraft, which in reality are elixir providers, drugs to alter our mental or physical state. By altering our mental or physical state, a spiritual Door is opened to Satan and his cohorts, demons and evil spirits. That is why I stay away from most prescription drugs. I pay close attention to what is actually in a pill before taking it.
As for miraculous healings, my personal belief is that miraculous healings are used by God for when the infliction is the direct responsibility of Satan intervening into your life. Otherwise, God allows either the bodies natural healing process to heal us or uses doctors to fascilitate. God is all about using us as partners in the performance of his will. He doesn’t need us, but he uses us anyway. That’s what prayer is about.
I think the 'physicians' of those times would have used herbal remedies Keith. I do not think it coincidence that these days the medical symbol is the staff and the snake.
ReplyDeleteI have not had time to read all of your comment as we have just got in and it is mid evening.
By the way, my friend from Wales prayed with me regarding the painful trial I have been going through, then I asked you to pray. All pain has gone praise God for His promise being 'Yes' in Jesus. There are many things that happened regarding this trial, and I may put up another post testifying to it.
By the way, I believe that Jesus was speaking Spiritually in Mark ch. 2 v. 17 as He said that His words are Spirit and life. (John ch. 6 v. 63).
ReplyDeleteI think it's funny that the doctors symbols was originally supposed to be Moses' staff, with a serpent. This was used for Rod of Asclepius, by the Greeks. You can see it on the World Health Organization website and materials. However, if you look at the American Medical Association, it two snakes on a staff, which is the staff of Caduceus, which the symbol for commerce.
ReplyDeleteI think you'd be surprised by what concoctions, they made up and fed to the people for remedies, in ancient times. When I find my notes, I'll pass it on. I can't wait to read about your trial post. As for Mark 2:17, I read everything on different levels, with the literal being the primary position. I hope you and the family have a Great Evening.
Hi Keith,
ReplyDeleteI find it no coincidence that there are snakes involved, the serpent was the one who said 'Did God really say'. He still says that, and brings in questioning of God's Word. There is much more that I would like to say, but it is not the right time.
I agree with the serpent symbolism and what you said. Satan started was a tried and true method and he hasn’t deviated from his methods.
ReplyDeleteI continue to do my best to trust in the gifts of the Spirit given by God to heal, because that is what I believe the Lord is pointing me to.
DeleteAs the Lord desires, so shall the remnant pursue.
Delete