"Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there I am with them." (Matthew 18:19-20)

Principle to remember:

"The first to present his case seems right, till another comes forward and questions him" (Proverbs 18:17)

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"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:3-6)

Observations:

Pauls' Prayer:

1. Thanking God every time he remembers the saints.

2. Praying with joy because of their partnership in the gospel.

Interpretations:

What can we learn about Paul?

1. Even though he is in jail, he still has a personal relationship with God. It is evident when Paul writes, "I thank my God...".

2. Even through his suffering, he does not wallow in his hardship but remembers the good things that are happening to thank God.

3. His mind is not on himself but he puts God first, others second, and himself last.

4. He knows God's promises and stands on them.

5. He always remembers to thank God for the brothers and sisters that he remembers.

6. His prayers are still with joy because of the saints partnership in the gospel even though he could be suffering in jail.

Application:

Many times we can have a tendency to make God our genie and expect Him to grant our wishes. When that does not happen, it is so easy to get frustrated and wallow in all the things that are going wrong in our lives.

When we focus on the negative things we allow the enemy to take control. Rather than focusing on what is going wrong, thank the Lord for the things that He deserves thanks for. No matter how bleak things in our life look, we all have things to be thankful for. Remember, you are special and precious in the Lord's sight whatever you feel or others make you think. This alone can be something to be thankful for. Jesus loves you so much. Have a personal relationship with the Lord. He desires that relationship with you and you will find so much peace in the Lord alone even when things are bleak. Each time you remember a brother or sister, bring them to the Lord in prayer. One of the best ways to protect each other from the enemies reach is praying for each other. God's Word is not just there to be read but applied. Start applying the principles you have learned from this passage. The Lord will start bringing everything into perspective.

Thank the Lord for those whose partnership in the gospel brought you to Christ. Each one of you have a story how you came to Christ. None of us come to Christ on our own, but it is the Lord's choosing whether He uses people or events to do the good work in our life.

Observation:

"Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus"

Interpretation/Application:

"Being confident" is a present confidence that Paul has even though he is in jail. This confidence lies in the fact that when God begins a good work in someone, He will finish it to completion. We all can take comfort in knowing that just coming to Christ is a good work the Lord has performed in our life. Since He began that good work, He will carry it to completion (our Salvation is secure in Him). You can be confident this very moment that the Lord will finish the work, he has started in you even in other areas of your life.

Paul is able to write this promise from jail!

Why is it we have such a hard time claiming God's promises?

One reason is because we do not spend enough time with the Lord to realize how much He loves us and cares for us. When things seem to go wrong in your life, don't automatically think that God is far from you or has abandoned you. Scripture reminds us we will have trials and tribulations but blessed is the one who perseveres till the end allowing God to finish the work He started. Please, please don't give the Lord second place in your life. Most of our sorrows and pain results because we give ourselves first place and give the Lord the meager minutes of the day if we even give him those minutes :( It is important to remember that Christ offers us forever infinite, daily, never-ending truth in his promises.

Christ Offers Now Forever Infinite, Daily, Everlasting, Never-ending Truth. (C.O.N.F.I.D.E.N.T)

Prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, it is hard when things are going wrong in our lives to be happy and thankful. Yet, we have seen the example that Paul, your servant has set. We ask you Lord for forgiveness for we have not served you with our whole heart. We have made service to you secondary whenever something that pleases our flesh comes along. We are sorry Lord. We are sorry when we have let anything come in the way of our relationship with you. We ask that you help us give you first place forsaking the desires of our flesh. Lord, your Word says that when we walk in the Spirit, we will not fulfill the desires of the flesh. We claim your promise. We thank you when we have a relationship with you that is unshaken, no matter what happens we can stand our ground. I pray this is the kind of relationship we all can have with you. I know Lord, I am not there yet but I desire to have that relationship. You say whatever we ask in your Name it will be done by your Father in Heaven. We pray that we can give thanks even through times of sorrow. We thank thee that you will finish the good work you have begun in us and are our Jehovah Nissi, the Lord our Banner. In Jesus Name We Pray, Father God! Amen! Thanks you hear us and answer us! We praise you and thank you for everything! Amen!

Love in Christ,

Ramesh

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Christ Offers Now Forever Infinite, Daily, Everlasting, Never-ending Truth. (C.O.N.F.I.D.E.N.T)