Fresh Speaking
(Judy's notes from Lord's Day, August 29, 2010)
We have been in Philippians chapter 1 for the last couple of weeks. Today, many of us shared what has touched us:
Mike L. - To be headed up in Christ. After Christ got into us, we were put into Him. In all the things we encounter, we are in Him.
Paul O'B. - Paul had a view that his bonds will work out into something positive, even in what seemed to be a negative situation. We also see this in others such as with Martin Luther who translated the Bible while he was under house arrest, and Bro. Nee while he was imprisoned. This gives us hope that in our little situations, when we are dug into a hole and can't get out, somehow the Lord will prevail with the gospel.
Dave B. – I was in Texas due to my mother's health. I was apart from the saints here, but just as Paul, I realized that I need to learn to depend upon the petition of the saints and be supplied. Paul's imprisonment could not have been pleasant, but he knew that he could be supplied by the Body. In the same way, in our situations the Lord will supply us.
Jonathan - Being in Christ is amazing! Just as in our physical body, if an arm, or leg is separated from the physical body it is nothing, so too if we are separated and apart from His Body. If we are outside of the Body, we are nothing. In the Body, you will understand the love of Christ. It is in the Body that you will live and express His love.
Jim – I was touched with the headship. The headship is not something with the worldly view. I have a son who can be difficult. I could discipline him, but I have found that by spending time with him, his need is taken care of. This is like how the Head deals with the Body.
Linda – Yesterday, my husband and I went to deliver some things to our daughter who is in college. As we drove there, we fellowshipped and prayed for different ones and different situations that were upon our hearts. Later though, things got to me, and I was not under the "heading up". All my tolerance flew out the window and I broke down. I went to the bathroom and just cried. There the Lord said to me, "Okay, are you going to take me?" Somehow the Lord softened me. I don't know how He did it, but He had a way, He had a breakthrough. How He did it, I don't really know, but somehow He softened me to where what I wanted didn't matter, and I began to think and pray for others who have been upon my heart.
Jane S. - I am here today because of all of your prayers.
Bob B. - This week, I was considering, did Paul really do all the things he spoke of? Was he really praying all the time? To be headed up is to be in Christ, with the concern for all the saints. To be headed up is for the Body and in His care for the Body, praying for them constantly, unceasingly. Do you pray in such a way, constantly concerned for them? In chapter 3, Paul speaks to be "imitators of me", and to "observe those that walk as a pattern". We are not like Paul, but we take him as a pattern to pray for others. As we do, there will be the fullness and the being headed up so that the gospel can come out. Just follow him as a pattern and you will gradually come into his pattern according to your capacity, even if it is just for two minutes a day.
Mike P. – Last night, my wife, who was to be on this morning's snack, was very planned and organized. Then, this morning, our granddaughter called asking to come to the meeting. After that another sister also called requesting a ride to the meeting. We were running late. When we got to our granddaughter's house, she was nowhere to be found, and my wife was about to breakdown, but she began to call on the Lord. This had such an impact on me, and to me, Christ was magnified, and I was blessed. (Eventually we discovered she was outside playing with her friends, and we were able to pick up the other sister).
Bill – Last night my daughter had a sleepover at our house. I heard the girls talking, and normally I would say "Quiet down", but I heard them calling upon the name of the Lord, and it was so sweet.
Mike L. – My existence is for your sake. This was Paul's experience. Can we say this, that our experience, and that our struggling is for others? Can we say that our existence is for your sake?
Debbie P. - It is not that I have to make a checklist of what Paul did – of doing this, check, of doing that, check, but rather it is my desire. There is so much going on in our lives, but what is more important, to fill our lives with "stuff", or to be with the saints? I have such a feeling that I need to be with the saints, otherwise, my heart is cold. During the week, when there aren't any meetings, I would like to have my home open so that I can be with the saints. There is something so special here. The Lord is here, and His heart is so big.
Jonathan - What is killing the church today is independence from the Body. If you are independent, then you will die. We need, we must be dependant upon each other.
Barry – You can take Paul's writing as admonitions as "Okay, I'll do it!", but this was not Paul's living. We pick up things and then we do it out of our natural being, but what Paul was living, and what he was doing was not out of his natural person, rather, he saw Christ and he lived Christ. The result was Christ's dispensing which was worked out in Paul. What is central here is to discern and to see the things that differ and are more excellent! What a gospel! It is Paul's being in Christ and what is coming out of him is Christ! What Paul saw, is that Christ is the Body, it is not a support group. .Paul says, "I long after you all in the inward parts of Christ Jesus". This is the heading up, and this heading up is the dispensing. This is a different language! Lord, work Yourself into us. May our living not be an outward imitating. May You work Yourself into me and out of me!