SCRIPTURE:
“I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord.” (Philippians 4:2, NIV)

OBSERVATIONS:
I asked myself what does Paul want to see happen?
Paul wants Euodia and Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord.

I asked myself how does Paul go about that desire?
Paul makes two pleadings:

Pleading 1: I plead with Euodia to agree with Syntyche in the Lord!
Pleading 2: I plead with Syntyche to agree with Euodia in the Lord!

INTERPRETATIONS:
I asked myself the significance of Paul's pleadings?
It is interesting that Paul's pleading deals with ministry and Paul made his pleadings public regarding the dissension between Euodia and Syntyche. Paul does not want Euodia and Syntyche to live in dissension but agree with each other in the Lord.

INTERPRETATIONS:
I asked myself, why do you think Paul addressed them together and made his pleadings public?
Paul could have addressed them individually to resolve their differences but he writes the letter to the entire Philippians making a pleading to both of them. It is as if the Philippians are to hold them accountable or it is possible that Paul is indirectly stating to the Philippians that it is not good to have conflict in ministry such as Euodia and Syntyche were having. They just could not seem to agree in the Lord. I cannot help wonder if it was something that became serious because Paul makes a pleading for that to stop. Paul wants love, joy, and peace to rule instead of dissension.

IMPLICATIONS:
I saw important implications for my own life. Especially, when it comes to ministry, I need to find common ground and agree with others in the Lord. I need to realize otherwise if the dissension continues, I hurt the body of Christ to the point that others can be involved to hold me accountable for my own good and the good of the ministry. This involvement can be public instead of private.

HOW GOSPEL GIVES ME TESTIMONY REGARDING P.L.E.A.D:
There have been numerous times that I have not been able to agree with others in ministry causing a lot of conflict. It came to the point that others had to be involved because I was not agreeing. I just could not agree. In reality, I was the bad guy.

I think about how I hurt my friends Paul, Chloe, Oliver, and Tom in the past because I wanted to do things my own way instead of giving in. The whole point of ministry is to get the Gospel of Jesus Christ out in love. It defeated the purpose of me doing ministry when I let my personal conflict affect a compromise on my part. It would not have killed me to give in and agree to do Bible Study Leaders Training at Cedar Campus instead of being a stubborn mule and wanting to do EXEC Training only years ago.

I have come a long way since but others had to plead with me and even then I did not give in. Sadly, I was creating dissension in ministry that it was best that the Lord removed me from that situation.

Sadly, years later I repeated it again in ministry with Pastor Ed. It hurt our relationship but more than that it hurt the ministry I was involved in until I stepped down voluntarily and sought the Lord in that time.

Pastor Hugo, Edwin, and Phillip had to plead with me to let go of my stubborn ways and submit to my pastor. More than anything, it is God's Word that convicted me.I also seriously began studying 'Lord, change my Attitude before it's too late' after reading the 200+ page once already.

It helped me see through Scripture how important it is to replace a CRITICAL ATTITUDE with a LOVING ATTITUDE, COMPLAINING ATTITUDE with a THANKFUL ATTITUDE, COVETOUS ATTITUDE with a CONTENTMENT ATTITUDE, DOUBTFUL ATTITUDE with a TRUSTING ATTITUDE, and a REBELLIOUS ATTITUDE with a SUBMISSIVE ATTITUDE.

Majority of the time, I was at fault whether it was in the past or the recent present. I thank the Lord though for the restoration process my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has already begun in my life.

I am no different from Euodia and Syncthe because I have messed up badly and affected ministry but mostly the unity in the body of Christ. Lord forgive me!

Reading this verse made me think that it is not that uncommon for people to disagree even in ministry but that does not justify not agreeing with one another in the Lord. For that to happen I need to give in a little without expecting only the other person should give in.

I liked the way ‘in the Lord’ was included. I need to compromise in ministry in the Lord so agreement can be made realizing if I don't, I do hurt the body of Christ. That's why when Euodia and Syntche were having dissension, the Apostle Paul involved the Philippian church. But the key word is 'in the Lord' for me because that means a compromise will still not go against biblical principles.

For the Word of the Lord says, "It is better to obey God than man!"

Even in my life others had to be involved. I thank the Lord Jesus for Paul, Chloe, Oliver, Tom, and Pastor Ed. As I look back, I realize how much I have learned from them. I also thank the Lord for Pastor Hugo and Edwin who mentor me so that I can live my life in Christ to be a blessing to others as I serve in the Lord without holding on to my own ways. As Paul pleaded with Euodia and Syncthe, they have pleaded with me.

Pastor Hugo remarked the other day that I had come a long way from where I was. I am not perfect and I want Christ to be glorified in ministry as the Gospel goes out but that cannot happen if I do not walk in the Spirit because I will fulfill the lust of the flesh.

I thank the Lord Jesus that I can continue to serve in ministry in different capacities as a servant of the Lord in my church. It is by His grace that I stand. My favorite time was doing the VBS for the kids with Pastor Hugo and serving as care person at Living Acts small group among others such as maintaining the library, etc.

I need to plead with Jesus everyday to help me have the attitude, Jesus wants me to have. God's Word in Philippians 2 is so much for me. But, it is also for all humanity.

I responded to the plead asking Jesus to change me ways and transform me by His grace so I don't live for myself doing my own things especially when it comes to ministry. It is sad how Satan uses certain things in our lives to bring dissension with the aim to hurt the body of Christ. I don't want to be that cause. Help me Jesus. Thank you Lord! You don't want to be that cause too!

I ask you now dear friends, how do you respond to a P.L.E.A.D in life?
Dear friend, if that pleading was based for the glory of the Lord, I encourage you to go and revisit that pleading that was made. From personal experience I can tell you that if you are involved in ministry, the worse thing that can happen is dissension. I know for I have been there. Right now I am not even fighting for my own way. Imagine fighting in ministry which defeats the whole purpose of doing ministry for the glory of the Lord.

Friend, don’t be surprised when you have agreed with someone else for a long time and then boom everything starts to crumble. Don’t give up but try to find consensus.

Of course, if there are theological issues that are raised that are not for the glory of the Lord and are not in the Lord’s ways, then I see no problem with standing firm. It seems like Paul was addressing issues that both of them can agree upon in the Lord.

I do not know who you have disagreements with but I want you to know as we take our confusion and reasons for disagreeing to the Lord, He will help us. The Lord can help us in different ways through His Word, His Spirit, His Church, etc to find the solution. If you are having a disagreement with someone in ministry, hopefully a consensus can be reached to agree with one another so the ministry can move forward.

This hopefully is not wishful thinking but can happen in the Lord. In the Lord is emphasized because true unity cannot come apart from Christ and His finished work at Calvary for our redemption. Jesus bought us with His precious blood by paying the ultimate price of agonizing death for you and me. It is at the cross, we find our redemption because at the cross, Jesus justified us by His grace through faith. It is this same grace that will sanctify us daily in Christ.

We need to depend on Jesus daily realizing He is not only our Savior but our Lord. We need to give our complete allegiance to Him and Him alone so dissension can be nipped.

This principle does not have to just apply for ministry but other areas in our life too. May you depend on the Lord to guide you and lead you through the disagreements you may have with someone else so the light of Christ can shine.

“Pleading Lovingly Encourages Agreeing Decisions!” (P.L.E.A.D)/”How do you respond to a plead in  life?"

PRAYER:
Dear Lord Jesus, I read that Paul was pleading with both Euodia and Syntyche to agree with one another for your glory. You are the Lord and you have this verse in your Word for a reason. Help us Lord when we have disagreements, to come to the point of compromise with one another for your honor and glory whether it is in an area of ministry or another area as long as it is not in conflict with your Word. Help us to seek you for wisdom in knowing what to do. And Lord, help us to be unified as your children that the world may know that you are Lord. Forgive us Father God for many times we as your followers become the stumbling block for others because of our own quarrels and dissension among ourselves. We are sorry Lord. Please help us to live for you and serve you. Guide us and please lead us Lord. When you call us into ministry you call us to make a difference for your Kingdom so please help us to do that. I pray for each one Lord who has a disagreement with someone else that you would help them be willing to resolve it with that person/s. Help us to make time to do our part and leave the results in your hands. I thank you Jesus for hearing our prayers and answering us. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

You are my all in all. You are my Prince of Peace, Rock, Savior, and Friend. You are my Holy Father guiding me through to live a life of righteousness, holy righteousness. Oh God, I need you more than ever. I need to feel your hands around me holding me tight. I need your love to surround me so that you can glow in my life. Help me please Jesus. I desire in your presence. Thank you for guiding me to live a life of righteousness. Oh God you love me more than ever. You hear my voice when I cry out to you. When I seek your face, you fill me up. You are my all in all. Thank you Jesus so much for your help no matter what I face, your grace is available and you take my case. Thank you for hearing us and answering us. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! AMEN! (Most of the prayer is from a vineyard song called “All in All”)

You don't have to be locked away anymore for Christ is here to free you and give you peace to LIVE out your actions.

How do you look at GODISNOWHERE?

One of my pastors, Pastor Hugo SHARED this example one Sunday at the RESURRECTION DAY SERVICE in the combined worship service of Pittsburgh Chinese Church-Oakland & Oakland International Fellowship:

If you look at it as GOD IS NO WHERE, you will still be lost in your sin and be in bondage locked away in your sins and problems finding no peace.

But  as my pastor spoke to the congregation and spoke to me, I am here to tell you that GOD IS NOW HERE.

Yes, friend God is aLIVE and wants to bring a transformation in your life through the GRACE of our Lord Jesus Christ for He paid the penalty on the cross to rescue you and me and came back to life to save us and LIVE with us.

Yes, friend that is exciting to know that we can experience HIS SAVING GRACE & LIVING GRACE.

When we mess up, we can go to Jesus with our shortcomings and He will forgive us and RESTORE us to Him and we will find peace in Him.

^"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23, NIV)

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:7-9, NIV)

Friend, we need Jesus because we have been separated from God due to our sin. Because of our sin, Jesus had to pay the price to become our bridge so we can reach God now not of our own good works but because of the finished work of Christ, the Lord on the cross.

"For it is by GRACE you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV)

Come to Jesus as you are and pray this prayer to accept Jesus as your Lord and Personal Savior. He will transform your life around! Praise the Lord! You don't have to have all the answers! You can come as you are!