We’ve Got Backup | Philippians 2:1-13

Takeaway Verse: Philippians 2:13

God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him.

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Transcription:

Purposely. Your life. God’s purpose. Listen at onpurposely.com.

Welcome to The Bible For Busy People. I’m Erica Parkerson. This is the place where we meet up to read half a chapter of God’s word together and remember how loved we are. Jesus extends an amazing invitation to us in the Bible. He says, come to me and I will give you rest. This is us RSVPing, “Yes” to that invitation. So, take a deep breath and let’s get started.

Erica Parkerson: The name of today’s podcast is You’ve Got Backup. You know, a flashlight cannot shine without batteries. You would try to turn it on, and nothing would happen. No light would come out. We need the Lord Jesus in our daily lives, if we wanna shine for him. If we wanna sing that song, this little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine… oh, we’ve gotta invite him into our daily lives for sure. We are about to dive into Philippians chapter two. We’re gonna cover the first half of this wonderful chapter that the apostle Paul wrote. The book of Philippians is a letter he wrote to the church in Philippi to encourage them.

Paul was in chains. He was in jail when he wrote this letter and that is always, especially significant to me. So, before we dive in, let’s give our time to the Lord. Father, we come to you in the name of Jesus, knowing you’re already with us, but wanting to invite you. Would you open our hearts and our eyes to what you want us to understand and see in your word today? Thank you. In Jesus name. Amen.

Okay, here we go. We’re gonna dive right into Philippians chapter two. Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Yes. Any comfort from his love? Yep. Any fellowship together in the spirit? Can I get an amen? Are your hearts tender and sympathetic? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another and working together with one heart and purpose. Don’t be selfish. Don’t live to make a good impression on others. Be humble thinking of others as better than yourself. Don’t think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others too, and what they are doing. Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had. Wooh! Though. He was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. He made himself nothing. He took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. And in human form, he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal’s death on a cross. Because of this, God raised him up to the Heights of heaven and gave him a name that is above every other name. So, that at the name of Jesus, every knee will bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth. And every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the father. Dearest friends, you were always so careful to follow my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away from you, you must be even more careful to put into action god’s saving work in your lives. Obeying God with deep reverence and fear. Here comes our takeaway verse, for God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him, and the power to do what pleases him.

God is the battery inside of the flashlight of our lives. He is putting in us the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him. There was a woman named Corrie Ten Boom, she is one of my favorite people who ever lived, and she and her very brave family hid the Jewish people in world war II.

And one of their neighbors turned them in, and Corrie and her father and her sister Betsy were arrested. Corrie and Betsy were treated very cruelly, like all of the other prisoners in the concentration camps. Their father lost his life before he even made it to the camp. And after the war, Corrie, having also lost her sister Betsy inside the camp, would go around and tell her story to various people.

And she was telling her story one night when she looked at the back of the crowd and saw the very Nazi who was so cruel to her sister, Betsy. And at the end of her speech, this Nazi came up to her, up to Corrie, wondering if God would forgive him. And Corrie said the only thing she could do was put out her hand. And God did the rest.

Corrie describes that she felt this electric force go down her arm. God gave her the desire to forgive this Nazi. This is the perfect illustration of our takeaway verse today. I’m gonna read it one more time for God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him. He is the one. He is the one who gives it to us. You don’t have to do it by yourself. You’ve got backup. You’ve got a battery in the flashlight of your life and it’s the holy spirit. He’s our helper, our comforter. He’s so wonderful. Okay, until we meet again tomorrow, once again, in Philippians chapter two, know this, you are loved.

Thank you so much for listening to The Bible For Busy People. If you need prayer or you’re ready to go a little deeper in your faith, we’ve posted some resources for you in our show notes. We’d love for you to share this podcast with a friend and leave us a review. It helps us reach even more people with the hope of Jesus. This podcast is part of Purposely, a podcast network designed with practical podcast, to help you find and live in God’s purpose for your life. Find more podcasts that will recharge you at onpurposely.com.