Displaying Christian Sermons by tag: philippians

Kent Hovind - Watch Philippians Ch.3 - New Year Fresh Start. Get some Goals!

John Hagee (September-01-2022) Daily Devotional: Philippians 3:12 - Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me

How many of us smile on Sunday while hanging on to faith by our fingernails the rest of the week? Externally, we go through the motions while, internally, our faith grows cold.

Somewhere along the way, we have fallen for the enemy’s lie that if we cannot get it right, we might as well give up and stop embarrassing ourselves and the Lord. The byproduct of this belief that we must be perfect is that many will lose hope and desert their faith or put on a façade at church while living lives of quiet desperation every other day of the week.

Sometimes, we forget that we are in a long-term, committed relationship with Jesus. It is safe here. Grace gives us breathing room so that when we fall, we can get back up and try again.

We are not perfect.  Better than anyone else, we know just how much we need a Savior. The good news is that He does not require – or expect – perfection; He simply wants every piece of our hearts. Even when we fall short, keep pressing on in faith. Jesus has grabbed hold of us for His purposes, and He will not let go.

Today's Blessing: May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you and give you His peace. May you grow in grace and the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Be confident in a Father Who will complete the good work that He has begun in you!

Today's Bible Reading: 

• Old Testament - Job 40:1-42:17
• New Testament - 2 Corinthians 5:12-21
• Psalms & Proverbs - Psalm 45:1-17, Proverbs 22:14

John Hagee (July-21-2022) Daily Devotional: Philippians 2:14-15 - …become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world...

In the end times, Paul warned that humankind would be lovers of self, lovers of money, and lovers of pleasure – not lovers of God (2 Timothy 3:1-5).

We live in an all-about-me, get-rich-quick, have-it-all culture. Sacrifice for the benefit of another person has fallen by the wayside. Self-absorption leaves no room for responsibility or consideration of others.

This preoccupation with self runs exactly contrary to how Jesus’ followers will behave. He insisted that the greatest among us is actually the servant of all (Mark 9:35), that we are our brother’s keeper (1 Corinthians 8:12), that we should contribute generously and cheerfully (2 Corinthians 9:7), and that we should love goodness, justice, and common sense (Titus 1:8).

Jesus once wrapped a towel around His waist and washed the disciples’ feet. Why would a King behave like a common servant? He taught them to extend His mission here on earth, to follow His example of humble service. Like us, these men were commissioned to move into the world serving God, serving one another, and serving all people to whom they took the message of salvation.

And when we follow the blueprint that He designed, we will shine like stars in the middle of this dark and evil last-days generation.

Blessing: May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you and give you His peace. May you be filled with the light and love of Jesus to shine like the stars for the glory of the One Who sent you!

Today's Bible Reading: 

• Old Testament - 2 Chronicles 4:1-6:13a
• New Testament - Romans 7:1-14
• Psalms & Proverbs - Psalm 17:1-15, Proverbs 19:22-23

John Hagee (June-16-2022) Daily Devotional: Philippians 3:13-14 …forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

After you experience a trial, as things settle back into normalcy, you may look back at months marred by loss and disappointment.  

Jesus understands the longing and necessity for new beginnings. For every person that comes to Him in brokenness, He washes away the old and makes a brand-new creation. He continues to mold us into vessels He can use.  

Consider the man lying by the Pool of Bethesda who had been ill for 38 years. When Jesus asked if he wanted to be healed, his despair was evident. 

Jesus gave three commands: Rise, take up your bed, and walk!  If the man had remained on the mat, it could have tied him to his pessimistic state. He needed to get up and get moving forward.

Perhaps, this year’s events have left you hurting and longing for relief. Hope, help, and healing are found in Jesus alone. His mercies flow anew every morning.

Leave your burdens at the cross of Calvary, the tree of triumph. Let go of the things that weigh you down and prevent you from running your race well. Forget those things behind, and walk into the coming months with head held high.

Blessing: May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you and give you His peace. If things in your past have left wounds on your spirit, bring those burdens to Jesus for healing. Shake off the shackles of the past to press ahead free and filled with hope.

Today's Bible Reading: 

• Old Testament - 1 Kings 15:25-17:24
• New Testament - Acts 10:24-28
• Psalms & Proverbs - Psalm 134:1-3, Proverbs 17:9-11

John Hagee (March-16-2022) Daily Devotional: Philippians 3:13 - Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.

Our potential does not lie in our yesterdays. It cannot be found in what we have already accomplished – that’s ancient history.

Many of us allow the past to sabotage our potential. We replay old regrets, are paralyzed at the scene of personal tragedy, and waste away our days on what-might-have-beens. We fail to move forward because we have not dealt with the wounds of the past.

Conversely, some of us destroy our potential by resting on the laurels of one shining moment in the past. Did your company break all sales records last year? Keep working hard or you could be looking for a job. Did you make honor roll last semester? Do your homework; the challenge is still in front of you.

Paul encourages us to stretch into the future, reaching for the things that are ahead. Our potential lies in the grades that we have not made, the promotions that we have not earned, and the souls that we have not won.

The greatest tragedy is a life that fails to fulfill its God-given purpose and potential. Let’s forget about the things that lie behind us in the past to get moving towards all the potential God has packed into our future.

Blessing: May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you and give you His peace. May you have the courage to let go of the past and embrace your future. May the Spirit of the Lord transform you from glory to glory!

Today's Bible Reading: 

• Old Testament - Numbers 24:1-25:18
• New Testament - Luke 2:1-35
• Psalms & Proverbs - Psalm 59:1-17, Proverbs 11:14

John Hagee (December-27-2021) Daily Devotional: Philippians 3:13-14 - …forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Here at the end of the year, many of us may look back on a year marred by grief and disappointment.

Jesus understands the longing and necessity for new beginnings. For every person that comes to Him in brokenness, He washes away the old and makes a brand-new creation. He continues to mold us into vessels He can use.

Consider the man lying by the Pool of Bethesda who had been ill for 38 years. When Jesus asked if he wanted to be healed, his despair was evident. 

Jesus gave three commands: Rise, take up your bed, and walk! If the man had remained on the mat, it could have tied him to his pessimistic state. He needed to get up and get moving forward.

Perhaps, this year’s events have left you hurting and longing for relief. Hope, help, and healing are found in Jesus alone. His mercies flow anew every morning.

Leave your burdens at the feet of Jesus. Cast all your cares on Him because He cares for you. Let go of the things that weigh you down and prevent you from running your race well. Forget those things behind and walk into the new year with head held high.

Blessing: Heavenly Father, You know the wounds this year has left on my spirit. I bring these burdens to You. Heal me. Help me to shake off the shackles of the past. Let me walk into the new year free and full of hope. I press towards the prize by the power of Jesus…amen.

Today's Bible Reading: 

• Old Testament - Zechariah 10:1-11:17
• New Testament - Revelation 18:1-24
• Psalms & Proverbs - Psalm 146:1-10, Proverbs 30:33

John Hagee (October-28-2021) Daily Devotional: Philippians 2:3 - Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.

We move at warp speed, rushing through exhausting days to fall into bed with unmet demands still burdening our hearts.

With so many responsibilities and so much pressure to perform, it is easy to develop tunnel vision. We focus exclusively on ourselves and our dreams and desires. Others become resources to reach our goals or nuisances that impede our progress.

Jesus calls us away from a life of selfishness into a life of sacrifice. Following His example, we learn to look up and look around. When the disciples shooed away the children who clambered around Christ, He stopped them and pulled the children in for a blessing.

On a life-or-death mission, He stopped for the woman with the issue of blood. On the Sabbath day, while the Pharisees looked on scornfully, He healed the man with a withered hand.

In the middle of important work, He noticed and took time. In fact, the irritants and outcasts were His important work. Instead of pushing them to the fringes of society, He pulled in the prostitutes, swindlers, crippled, and poor.

Where can we swap our selfish ambition for sacrifice? How can we exchange our conceit for concern? In the middle of our important work, let us look up and look around.

Blessing:  May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you and give you His peace. May Jesus give you eyes to truly see those around you. Look up and look around. As you minister to the least of these, you do it as unto Him.

Today's Bible Reading: 

• Old Testament - Jeremiah 51:54-52:34
• New Testament - Titus 3:1-15
• Psalms & Proverbs - Psalm 100:1-5, Proverbs 26:18-19

John Hagee (August-23-2021) Daily Devotional: Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

Because sin will kill the plans that He has for us, God desires to stop sin before it stops us.

Scientists tell us that the average person thinks about 70,000 thoughts per day, and approximately 70% of those are negative. After we confess sinful thoughts, we need to change the channel and bring every thought into obedience to Christ. When we recognize a thought that stands in opposition to God, we must put it to a stop.

When the temptation to complain arises, do not allow it to give birth to sin. Think instead about the blessings that God has liberally and richly poured into our lives. When tempted to undermine our relationships with harsh words and accusations, seek peace and unity instead. When tempted to gossip about another person, pray for them instead.

Tune in to this truth: those thoughts have no authority in our lives any longer. The people that we once were – before we met Jesus – are dead and gone. We are born again with a brand-new nature inherited from Jesus Christ. Change the channel to meditate on that good report!

Blessing:  May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you and give you His peace. May you meditate on all the praiseworthy things that God has done for you. May you rejoice in your salvation and every good and perfect gift that comes down from the Father of Lights. He has withheld no good thing from you…in His Son, Jesus.

Today's Bible Reading: 

• Old Testament - Job 4:1-7:21
• New Testament - 1 Corinthians 14:18-40
• Psalms & Proverbs - Psalm 37:29-40, Proverbs 21:27

John Hagee (August-05-2022) Daily Devotional: Philippians 1:20 - ...according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.

If our expectations are in others, they inevitably disappoint us. If we seek the approval of others, we end up disillusioned. We can never give enough to secure the hearts of others, and they can never be enough to fill ours.

Our expectations are powerful. When you come into God’s presence, do you anticipate a powerful encounter with an almighty God Who has the ability to change your mind, heart, and life?

Our expectations form our beliefs which shape our behaviors. Our behaviors settle into habits. When we believe God will fulfill His promises to us, that expectation draws on the power of the Holy Spirit. Our belief causes Him to shift in our direction and pulls Him into our situations. This holy expectation brings fresh encounters with Jesus which mold our behaviors.

Like a wildfire, we will not be able to contain it. We will be compelled to tell others of the goodness of God. It will spill out of us to impact this world for Christ.

Blessing:  May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you and give you His peace. May God stir up a hunger and thirst for Him deep in your heart. May you encounter Him in fresh and fuller ways so that you rush to share His goodness with others. Go out with boldness and courage in the power of His might!

Today's Bible Reading: 

• Old Testament - 2 Chronicles 35:1-36:23
• New Testament  - 1 Corinthians 1:1-17
• Psalms & Proverbs - Psalm 27:1-7, Proverbs 20:20-21

John Hagee (April-09-2021) Daily Devotional: Philippians 2:9-11 - Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father

When God saw the extent of Jesus’ sacrifice, our verse for today tells us that He exalted Him. He elevated and extolled Him. He gave Him a name that is above every other name. There is no one above Him or beside Him.

At the sound of that name, every knee in heaven bows. The book of Revelation tells us how the twenty-four elders will fall down before the Lamb. All the angels pause to revere the Great High Priest, the Victorious One.

At the name of Jesus, every knee on earth will bow. Every human being on earth will bow their knee to Him. Each person will choose to honor His sacrifice and humbly serve Him here now or will be forced later to bow to Him Who sits on the throne of a kingdom that has no end. Every one will worship the Almighty One, the Author and Perfecter of our faith.

At the mention of that name, every knee under the earth will bow. Every power and every principality that was already defeated at Calvary will submit to the Alpha and Omega, the Lord of All. Jesus is now at the right hand of God in heavenly places. He is far above these powers and principalities, all power, all might, and dominion, and every name that has been named not only in the present, but in the time that will come.

It is not a matter of if – but a matter of when – knees will bend. Every created being will, one day, confess that He is indeed the Lord of lords. He is incomparable and unrivaled. God has put everything under Jesus’ feet (Ephesians 1:20-22).

As Joshua of old declared: “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve” (Joshua 24:15).

Blessing:  Matchless and Mighty Jesus, I choose You today. Show me Your will for my life. I choose Your plans over mine. I invite You as Savior, and I submit to You as Lord. I choose to serve You now and every day until we meet face to face in heaven where I will bow before You in worship and honor. In Your name, I ask these things…amen.

Today's Bible Reading: 

• Old Testament - Deuteronomy 33:1-29
• New Testament - Luke 13:1-22
• Psalms & Proverbs - Psalm 78:59-72, Proverbs 12:25