Gene Cunningham - May 23, 2003
Profiles in Providence #5
Timothy came from a home with a Jewish mother and unbeliever father (Phi 2:19-24). Timothy had "proven character" - refined through testing. Epharoditus "a brother.... a fellow worker.... fellow soldier ... a messenger (courier) ... a minister" (Phi 2:25-30). Similarly, Abraham,, Moses, David have summaries (Ecc 7:1, Ecc 7:8) of their life (Heb 3:5, Gen 15:6, Act 13:22). The "end of the matter": the providence is necessary for a good name; no one is born with a proven reputation; the only way to gain a proven reputation is to seek the things of Christ; the only way to make us whole is by breaking us; God uses the crooked things of life for our humility; as we submit to God's refining process, we begin to "lay hold of that which Christ has layed hold of us" (Phi 3:12, Luk 19:10). Circumcision is separation from our flesh. Paul had to let go of his reputation in the law to gain the reputation of faith in Christ (Phi 3:9).
Conference notes for this series can be found [HERE]
Scripture References: Genesis 15:6, Hebrews 3:5, Ecclesiastes 7:8, Philippians 3:9, Ecclesiastes 7:1, Luke 19:10, Philippians 2:25-30, Philippians 3:12, Philippians 2:19-24, Acts 13:22
From Series: "Philippians - Profiles in Providence - Florida 2008"
Philippians 1:12 starts out "Now I want you to know brethren that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the Gospel". It's a key verse in the letter Paul wrote to those faithful believers while he was in chains.