God Refuses to Become a Debtor to Any Man!

Matthew 19:29 - And every one that hath forsaken houses ... or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

PULPIT QUIP: "God refuses to become a debtor to any man!"  (Missionary David H. Hillis)

Application: Giving / Tithing / Missions / Sacrifice / Loss within God's will, etc.

Same note at parallel Gospels, Mark 10:29-30; Luke 18:29-30.  Also at Philippians 4:19 (in context) and at Job chapter 42.

VM

Look on Others, Look to Yourself

Philippians 2:4 - Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

2 John 1:8 - Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

NOTE AT BOTH VERSES: We are to focus on our own spiritual walk, while looking to meet the needs of others. So often we reverse it: Look to meet our own needs while focusing on the spiritual walk of others. - VM

Notes in Genesis Chapter Thirteen

Genesis 13:7-8 - And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.  And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.

Note the importance of unity among brethren: (1) For protection against the Canaanite, etc, (2) For a testimony toward them.  We dwell "in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation" among whom we must shine as lights, Philippians 2:15, while united together, Philippians 2:1-4.  We need protection from them, Philippians 3:2, and a witness toward them, Philippians 2:16.

Genesis 13:9 - ...if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.

Example of voluntary submission by a leader, Ephesians 5:21; I Peter 5:5; Acts 6:1-6 (and see related note there).

Abram led in seeing need for change, but submitted to nephew's decision on the details.

Genesis 13:10 - And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.

Lot's downfall begins with the lust of the eyes, and walking by sight, not by faith.

Genesis 13:12 - Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.

Example of gradual decline: Lot at first only pitched his tent toward Sodom; then later he dwelt in Sodom (Genesis 14:12); then later still he is a civic leader sitting at the gate of Sodom (Genesis 19:1); by now he is completely ensnared in Sodom, calling the most wicked Sodomites his "brethren" (Genesis 19:7), giving his daughters in marriage to them (Genesis 19:14), unwilling to give up Sodom (Genesis 19:15-16).

VM

Psalm 27:4

Psalm 27:4 - One thing have I desired of the LORD....

"One thing." - See Luke 10:38-42, "One thing is needful"; Philippians 3:13-14, "This one thing I do."  Mary of Bethany and Paul both in pursuit of the same one thing as David the Psalmist: ever closer communion with the Lord.

VM

Philippians Notes Completed

I have completely entered on this blog all my notes on Philippians that currently reside in the margins of my two main Bibles.  Click on the Philippians label at the right or at the bottom of this post to access them all.

I still have a few more Philippians notes to enter later.  Some of these I hope to find in other people's Bibles that I can borrow.  Some of these are sermon notes I have taken fairly recently but have not yet transferred to my Bible margin.  Some of these are notes I have taken in my daily Bible reading and have not yet transferred.  I hope to get all of these on here soon and placed in my Bible at the same time.

Meanwhile, I will soon be starting on my margin notes for II Peter, which are MUCH more extensive than Philippians.

Please enjoy the Philippians notes, be edified and feel free to comment.

In Christ's Service,
VM

Philippians 4:19

Philippians 4:19 - But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Our reward is in this life as well as the next, v. 17.  (VM)

"My Master will fully repay you;  I cannot." - JFB*

* "Commentary on the Whole Bible" by Jamieson, Faussett & Brown

Philippians 4:18

Philippians 4:18 - ...the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.

V. 18 - Notice language here: Giving is an act of worship.

VM

Philippians 4:17

Philippians 4:17 - Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.

God is the best accountant, bookkeeper, etc.  He will settle all accounts; He pays big dividends.  Heb. 6:10.

VM

Philippians 4:16

Philippians 4:16 - For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.

"Even in..." - Thessalonica was Paul's very next stop after Philippi.  The Philippians supported missions right from the beginning!  See Philippians 1:5.

VM

Philippians 4:15

Philippians 4:15 - ...no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.

COMMUNICATED = PARTNERED

VM

Philippians 4:14

Philippians 4:14 - Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.

YE HAVE WELL DONE: Supporting missions is the right thing to do!  III John 5-8.  If we want to hear Christ say, "Well done..." then we support missions.

COMMUNICATE WITH = SHARE IN.  It is not just their grace that we share in when we support missions (Phil. 1:7), but also their afflictions.

VM

Philippians 4:11

Philippians 4:11 - ...for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

LEARNED: Contentment must be learned.  v. 12 - "I am instructed."

VM
Noted in the sermon series "Cornering Contentment" by Scott Reeves.

Philippians 4:10

Philippians 4:10 - But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again....

"Now at the last" - Remember, Paul is awaiting his sentence, which may be death, Phil. 1:20-26.

VM

Philippians 4:6

Philippians 4:6 - Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

V. 6 - See illustration by B. H. Carroll, p. 297 of his Philippians commentary.

("Interpretation of the English Bible" by B. H. Carroll).

Philippians 4:1

Philippians 4:1 - ...my joy and crown...

Cp. I Thess. 2:19-20

VM

Philippians 3:19

Philippians 3:19 - ...whose glory is in their shame...

Cp. Ps. 52:1; Hos. 4:7

VM

Philippians 3:13

Philippians 3:13 - ...forgetting those things which are behind...

Forgetting is obviously not purging the memory, or else no v. 4 ff.  Rather, it is a deliberate decision of where to place your focus.

VM

Philippians 3:5

Philippians 3:5 - ...of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews;

WORTHLESS CREDENTIALS: Cp. Luke 3:8; II Cor. 11:22

VM

Philippians 2:15

Philippians 2:15 - That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

Abraham & Lot, same dilemma: Genesis 13:7-8

VM

Philippians 2:10

Philippians 2:10 - That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow....

WORSHIP JESUS: Cp. Rev. 5:13

VM