COL 4:3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:

COL 4:4 That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

Again we see a connection in the Word of God between prayer and God's work.  Paul writes and asks this group of believers to pray for them.  He asks them to pray that a door would be opened that he could preach Christ. 

God can open all kinds of doors of opportunity to preach Christ.  Doors that we can't even imagine.  And we are instructed to pray that He will open doors.  And in this verse we see specifically that we are to pray for those who are preaching the Word of God. 

Paul also asks that they pray for him to have the right words to speak.  We are to pray and ask God that He will give preachers the right words to speak.  Paul also writes, "as I ought to speak."  When you are preaching it is not only the words that you say, but how you say them.  The Word of God is to be proclaimed with power, but not out of meanness. 

As Christians we pray for a lot of things, as we should.  But please do not forget your preacher in your prayers.   

COL 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

COL 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Once you are saved you are a new creature in Christ.  Your attitude towards this world is to change.  Once you are saved, you are a son.  You have changed families.  You are no longer a son of Satan.  Instead you have become a son of God.  You are a citizen of another country.  You are only a pilgrim here just passing thru. 

Therefore you are to set your affection on things above.  Your affection is not to be on things on the earth. 

Our affection should not be on TV, football, new cars, jobs with more power, hording money or things.  Our affection is to be on things above.  

If your affection is truly set on things above, then you are going to become concerned with the souls of men.  You are going to become concerned with doing more and more for the cause of Christ and you will become less and less concerned about the things of this world and what you can get. 

COL 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

COL 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

COL 2:10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

As believers we are complete in Jesus.  Jesus is the head of all power.  Nothing else is needed.  In fact in verse 8 is a warning for us to heed.  God warns us to not be spoiled.  That is NOT spoiled as in pampered too much.  No it is spoiled as in ruined.

God warns us to not be spoiled through philosophy.  Christians do not need philosophy, Christians need Christianity.  We hear the worlds philosophy all the time.  It is taught in our schools and colleges.  We hear it on the news.  The world's philosophy is interwoven in the TV shows.  We are warned about this because it can easily creep into how we think and it can ruin us.  Before long we are thinking and acting like the world and our testimony is ruined.  We need to be on our guard against it. 

It is not only the world's philosophy that we have to be on guard against, but the context here is the philosophy of false teachers and their deceit.

They will use Bible verses but they will twist them and take them out of context.  When they do this they are teaching their philosophy instead of simply what the Bible teaches.  They add their philosophy to God's Word.

They will also add traditions to God's Word and thus spoil people.  The largest group that I know of that does this is the Catholics.  They teach that traditions of men are not only equal to but above God's Word even though God says otherwise.  They teach many things that are not in the Bible at all.  In fact a lot of what they teach actually goes against the Bible.  They teach traditions when God clearly says to beware and not be spoiled by traditions.  God says that we do not need traditions and rituals because we are complete in Christ.

We do not need Mary because we are complete in Christ. 

We do not need confirmation because we are complete in Christ.

We do not need their traditions that were made up by men because we are complete in Christ. 

You need to Beware.

COL 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

COL 1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

I want to mention three truths mentioned in this one verse.

1st As a Christian you should walk worthy of the Lord.  Our walk is to be pleasing to our Lord.  This is almost unheard of in Christian circles today.  Living in sin is not walking worthy of the Lord.  Drinking booze, smoking, gossiping, cheating, gambling, and the like.  Watching unmarried people having sex or even simulating sex on T.V. is not walking worthy of the Lord.  Almost every T.V. show today has something in it that a Christian should not watch.  To walk worthy of the Lord you must live separated from the world.

2nd As a Christian you are to be fruitful in every good work.  Christians are to be busy working for the Lord.  Christians are to be handing out gospel tracks.  They should leave them everywhere they go.  Leave them with the tip at the restaurant or leave one in the grocery cart for the next customer or the store clerk to find.  Christians are to be supporting missionaries.  Christians are to give a tenth to the Lord's work.  Christians are NOT to be just pew sitters.  Christians are to be fruitful in every good work.  

3rd As a Christian you are to be increasing in the knowledge of God.  A Christian is not to stay a babe.  You know it is a sad thing, but most Christians have never read the Bible thru from cover to cover.  Not even once!  That is more than sad.  How do you think that is going to go over at the judgment seat of Christ?  There really will be no excuse that can be given.  Some might think that I don't have time.  That is not going to fly.  Most Christians spend more time watching T.V. commercials or football games than reading the Bible.  Time is not the problem.  The problem is a heart problem.  The word of God is clear.  A Christian is to be increasing in the knowledge of God;  We are not to increase just a little and stop.  No, we are to be always increasing in the knowledge of God.  You should never stop learning and growing closer to the Lord. 

As Christians we are to walk worthy, be working, and be studying.

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

Communicating and helping those in need is a good thing to do.  Paul says well done to the Philippians.

PHIL 4:15 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.

It is sad but they were the only ones.  They were in the minority.  It is the same today.  Very few Christians want to help.

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

The Philippians did not help only once.  With them it seems to have been a habit.  They sent help again and again to help Paul.

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

Paul was glad to see it.  Not because he desired a gift.  But because Paul understood that God would reward them for it.  Some of the fruit of Paul's ministry would go to their account because of their involvement; because of their help.  We are to lay up treasures in heaven.

PHIL 4:18 But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.

Paul says that their help was a sweet smelling sacrifice to God.  He says that their gifts were acceptable and well pleasing to God. 

I hope that you understand this principal.  Giving gifts, help, and money to people who are getting the Word of God out is well pleasing to God, and that some of the fruit of that ministry will go to your account.  You will be rewarded for it.  I believe that most of the reward will be given to you in heaven.  Which is actually better than getting it now if you think about it.  A reward now lasts only a short time.  A reward in heaven lasts forever.

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

And you do not have to concern yourself about not having enough for yourself if you give some to God's work.  He will supply all your need.

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PHIL 3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

The young do not relish this great promise like Christians who are older.  The young do not understand the term vile body that is used in verse 21.  They have not experienced their eyesight going, or their hearing.  It does not yet hurt them just to get out of bed in the morning.  They have not yet had the experience of lingering a few moments longer on the couch just to gather up the strength to get up.  They have not had to deal with constantly aching joints and all the other medical problems that come with age. 

The old understand the term vile body.  They have bodies that have been going downhill for years.  The reason is that our bodies were made with a sin nature.  The wages of sin is death.  Sin is the great destroyer.  Everyone's body deteriorates and everyone dies because everyone has sin.  When you get saved your soul get eternal life, but not your body. 

But one day Jesus will  change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body.  A new resurrected body.  A body that is not vile.  A body that is not stained with sin.  A body that does not ache and hurt.  A body that will always respond correctly and quickly.  You older people know exactly what I am talking about.  Right about now the young are saying O.K. that will be nice.  But the old are shouting Praise the Lord.  I can hardly wait.

Jesus will have no problem in giving everyone who believes a new glorious body because, "he is able even to subdue all things unto himself."

Jesus can do it, because Jesus is God. 

PHIL 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Verse 5 makes it clear that the who in verse 6-8 is Jesus.

PHIL 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

Here is a simple truth.  YOU CANNOT BE EQUAL WITH GOD UNLESS YOU ARE GOD.  Jesus existed before He was born in a manager.  He was in the form of God and equal with God.  Jesus is God.  Mary is not the mother of God.  She was just a tool that the pre-existent Jesus used to become manifested in the flesh.

PHIL 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

Jesus left the glories of heaven.  He made Himself of no reputation.  Jesus became God manifested in the flesh. 

PHIL 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Jesus voluntarily humbled Himself.  He refused to use all His power or display His glory while He was manifested in the flesh.  He humbled Himself and hungered, and thirsted, and got tired, and felt pain.  He did something that only God can do.  He was 100 percent God and 100 percent man at the same time. 

No man took His life.  Jesus gave it freely.  With one word or even one thought He could have gotten off of the cross.  But He did not.  He became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 

The nails did not hold Him there.  Love held Him there.  He stayed on that cross, and died to pay for your sin.  Then He rose again 3 days later.  The payment had been made and accepted.  The wages of sin is death.  If Christ's sacrifice was not enough, then He would still be dead. 

But praise God it was sufficient.  If you are not saved, almighty God made payment for your sins.  All you have to do is repent of your sins and believe.

Paul had been called to go into Macedonia and the first place that Paul preached was Philippi.  It was the first place in Europe where the gospel was preached.

The first person that Paul preached to was Lydia and the Lord opened her heart.  Lydia got saved and a church was started in her house.  Paul then cast out an evil spirit from a damsel.  Paul and Silas then get thrown into jail.  At midnight, God interposed in a remarkable way with an earthquake.  The doors of the prison were thrown open, and the jailer and all his family were converted and then baptized.  

Later this church at Philippi sent aid to Paul when he was in need.

These are the people Paul is writing to in this letter. 

PHIL 1:3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,

Paul had many good things to remember about these people.  And he gave God the thanks for it.  He realized that without God he would never have met them.  It was God that sent Paul to them at Philippi. 

We should also give God thanks for the people that He brings into our lives.

PHIL 1:4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,

We should also remember the people God brings into our lives in prayer, and we should make requests on their behalf with joy. 

EPH 6:8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.

Once again we see the principal of reaping and sowing in the Bible.  What ever good thing you do, you will receive of the Lord. 

The Lord is debtor to no one.  You do something good for Him, you will be rewarded.  God is righteous and just.  His very nature demands that He rewards you for the good you do for Him.

God promises to reward you for your work.  However, He does not promise to do it immediately.  In His sovereignty He might wait several years, and some rewards are withheld until you get to heaven.  He knows best.  Be assured that whenever He chooses to reward you is the right time.

So be involved in good works for Him, and you will be rewarded for it.

And the best work that you can be involved in is getting souls saved. 

I ask you to pray about getting involved in the tracks for Phoenix project.  Help get the gospel on the doors of thousands of people.  One day you will be glad that you did.

EPH 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it.  Husbands are to love their wives like that.  That is a lot of love.  Men need to do some deep thinking on that. 

EPH 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

EPH 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Christ's Church (that He gave Himself for) is to be a glorious Church.  The Church is not to have any spot on it.  The Church is to be holy.  The Church is to be without blemish.

When you bring the world's fleshly music into the Church, It is no longer without spot.  It is no longer holy.  Singing songs in Church with the devil's beat to it puts a blemish upon the Church.  It is a sin.  It is a disgrace to Jesus. 

What music should be in the Church?  We do not have to guess.  The Bible tells us. 

EPH 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

It needs to be music that has melody.  Melody as opposed to beat.

It needs to be spiritual songs as opposed to fleshly songs.

God is not pleased when we are friends with the world, and that would include the worlds music.

Jam 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

If you think that rock-n-roll music is not of the world, then you certainly do not know much about rock-n-roll music.

We need to have godly music in our churches and not worldly music with godly words put on top of it, and the great old Hymns definitely fit the bill.