TEXT: Philippians 1:3-11 (CSB) – “I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Indeed, it is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart, and you are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how deeply I miss all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment, so that you may approve the things that are superior and may be pure and blameless in the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.”
Have you ever wanted something to last forever? Have you ever come across something that breaks down – or falls apart?
We are constantly bombarded with the “temporary” in this life. That is why this story of a light bulb in Livermore, California caught my eye. The light bulb was turned on in 1902 at the Livermore, CA Fire Department. 71 years later it was still burning. By today’s standards, it should have burned out 852 times. But you see, this light bulb was made by Shelby Electric Co. They are now out of business for an obvious reason. Their bulbs lasted, and nobody reordered.
God gives us something that will last forever – and Paul talks about it in verse 6. The Amplified Version reads – “And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ – right up to the time of His return – developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.”
We are going to ponder on the unending security that we have. We will establish 4 principles from this passage over the next couple of days. Ready?
FIRST, LET US SEE THE PERSON OF OUR SECURITY.
Our security is not in ourselves. No matter how good, no matter how strong, no matter how sure of ourselves we are – we are incapable to hold onto our salvation.
In fact, if we seek to be the one to hold on to our salvation, we open ourselves up to all sorts of doubts, fears, and insecurities.
There is one and only one who is able to hold on – that is our precious savior, Jesus Christ.
o Heb. 7:25 –“Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because he always lives to intercede for them.”
o Jude 24 – “To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy - ”
We must learn to place our trust in the Secure One. “Being confident of this, that HE…”
o Not in ourselves
o Not in a preacher
o Not in a church
o Not in a creed
But in that Holy One, the One who said – “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (Jn.14:6)
The person of our security is Jesus – the precious Lamb of God!
So, let us develop Principle #1. That principle teaches us – The degree of our security is directly proportional to the degree we trust Christ – and Him alone to hold us.
Tomorrow, we will seek Principle #2. Ponder and grasp the first principle today.
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