Opened Scriptures Bible Studies

The Supply of the Spirit of Christ. Philippians 1:19  For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,  Paul continued expounding on his prayers and desires for the believers at Philippi. He also expressed his thankfulness for their prayers on his behalf. It appears from the text that Paul was thinking about his upcoming Roman trial and their fervent prayers for his release.  The word "salvation" is the word most often  referring to being redeemed by the  blood of Jesus Christ. However , this same word can also mean being granted deliverance, safety or preservation from your enemies.  The context indicates the latter meaning  is how we understand the word "salvation" in this text. Paul's conversion to Christ on the road to Damascus was a historical event many years in the past, and could not be what he was hoping for at this point in time. Rather, he was hoping that God would deliver h...

  Here is the link to Pastor Mike's midweek sermon. We are getting around tog o to church as I write this, in order to hear him preach this sermon. I pray that God will mightily bless His word as it goes out all around the world. Bob

Paul was eager to share a good report! Philippians 1:12-14  But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;  13) So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;  14) And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.  After pouring out his heart in the preceding section of his letter to the church at Philippi, Paul had a great praiseworthy ministry note to share with those folks. Some of the Philippian believers  had heard about Paul's imprisonment and they were concerned both for his well being and for the gospel of Jesus Christ continuing to go out into the pagan lands.  The  apostle had certain things he wanted  them to "understand." The word "understand" means to begin to fully understand something that they did not previously know. He called them...

Paul explained what it means to approve the things that are excellent. We noted in our last post that it refers to using a test to determine the purity of a precious metal like gold or silver. Once the testing reveals what is pure or impure, we are to choose that which is morally pure.  Then, believers are to carry this through into our lives. This means making right choices day by day. In business terms, we might refer to it as a continuous improvement ethic . The believer in Christ should strive to yield to the Spirit of God more willingly today than we did yesterday.  We should seek to read more of the Word of God today than we read or studied yesterday. We should strive to spend more time in prayer this week than we did last week. It is a daily determination and desire to become more like Christ, as the Spirit of God uses the scriptures in our hearts to transform and shape us, day by  day. Filled with the fruit of righteousness.  Philippians 1:11  Bein...

  I pray that this morning finds each of us ready to hear from God. Here is the link to Pastor Alvis' Sunday sermon from John 16. It was an outstanding sermon full of truth and exhortation for the believer in Christ.  I hope that you are able to see/hear the sermon. May God anoint His Word as it is preached. Bob

Paul yearned for all believers to know Christ deeply.  Philippians 1:8  For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.  In our last post we looked at many of the reasons why Paul loved the believers at Philippi. The words "long after" mean that Paul was pursuing them with Christian love and desiring to see them again.  The word translated "bowels" has a few different meanings but in this context the meaning is clear. The Hebrews believed that the word "bowels" was the seat of all of our tender affections, benevolence, compassion or tender mercies.  The mutual love shared by Paul and the Philippians was based upon their relationship in Jesus Christ. The next thing Paul spoke of was three specific things he prayed for the Philippians to achieve as a church and as individual believers in Christ.  Paul continues using the little word "all" to remind them (and us today) that he included every single belie...

In our last post we noted that Paul used a very small word "all" in order to convey a wonderful truth that all believers were included in his letter to the Philippians. Paul used the word "all" twenty six times in four chapters.  We will see eight of these in Philippians 1. Paul had happy memories of the Philippian Christians.  Philippians 1:3-4  I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,  4) Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,  Paul expressed thanks to God. His heart was full of thanksgiving every time that he thought about the church at Philippi. He thought about Lydia each time he prayed "for you all" , as Paul prayed for this church.  The phrase "making request" means interceding in prayer to God for their specific needs. Paul's prayer time was filled with great joy as he remembered the sweet times of fellowship that they enjoyed together.  The word "joy" is used seventeen times in Paul...

  As we begin to study through the book of Philippians, I want us to remember that this is a prison epistle and Paul wrote it while sitting in a Roman prison. It is also helpful to remember that Paul was imprisoned twice and this period of incarceration is generally regarded as the first time he was imprisoned.  Paul in prison at Rome.  Acts 28:16  And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.  Acts 28:30-31  And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,  31) Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.  How was Paul treated and what were the conditions like? A Roman citizen was treated better than a non-Roman person. Luke recorded the conditions in Rome where Paul was sent prior to his ...