OUTLINE:

Eph 4:1
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.

Lk 9:60
And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

Priorities
What you think about your limited time here on Earth sets your priorities in life. Priorities dictate where we spend our energy, and ultimately whether our fruit is good or bad. Being exhausted isn’t the litmus test, it’s how you ended up that way.

Competition When the Flesh Is Involved
- If you “win”: you become puffed up & arrogant
- If you “lose”: you become downtrodden & depressed
- REALITY: you LOSE in BOTH cases!

God is not a respecter of persons!

“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial”
One of our greatest tests is remaining humble (keeping the flesh from dominating us) when in direct contact with fleshly people who entice us into Satan’s economy, where creature credit is the currency.

“Let those of us who are mature think this way”
Paul has set before the Philippians the idea of an upward call (aka a “higher calling”) in Christ Jesus. He places the onus of meeting this call on their mindset/attitude.

God’s Grace
God is prepared to reveal to each of us, in the context of our own lives, ANYTHING that takes us away from Him, experientially. (ref. Php 3:15)

Eph 5:13-14
But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is
light.

“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial”
One of our greatest tests is remaining humble (keeping the flesh from dominating us) when in direct contact with fleshly people who entice us into Satan’s economy, where creature credit is the currency.

“God loves a cheerful giver”
This special love of God for cheerful givers describes blessings targeted for those with a good attitude about living for others, those whose eyes are so much on Christ that they can’t be on self.

God is glorified by blessing you out.

Heb 13:16
Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.