Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living from Wordaction of The Global Church of the Nazarene Publishing House in Kansas City, Missouri, United States "Stand Firm" by Harold Wedel for Thursday, 21 July 2016 with Scripture: Philippians 1:18-30

Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living from Wordaction of The Global Church of the Nazarene Publishing House in Kansas City, Missouri, United States "Stand Firm" by Harold Wedel for Thursday, 21 July 2016 with Scripture: Philippians 1:18-30
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"Stand Firm" by Harold Wedel
Scripture: Philippians 1:118 But so what? All that matters is that in every way, whether honestly or in pretense, the Messiah is being proclaimed; and in that I rejoice.
Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that this will work out for my deliverance,[Philippians 1:19 Job 13:16] because of your prayers and the support I get from the Spirit of Yeshua the Messiah. 20 It all accords with my earnest expectation and hope that I will have nothing to be ashamed of; but rather, now, as always, the Messiah will be honored by my body, whether it is alive or dead. 21 For to me, life is the Messiah, and death is gain. 22 But if by living on in the body I can do fruitful work, then I don’t know which to choose. 23 I am caught in a dilemma: my desire is to go off and be with the Messiah — that is better by far — 24 but because of you, the greater need is to stay on in the body. 25 Yes, I am convinced of this; so I know I will stay on with you in order to help you progress in the faith and have joy in it. 26 Then, through my being with you again, you will have even greater reason for boasting about the Messiah Yeshua.
27 Only conduct your lives in a way worthy of the Good News of the Messiah; so that whether I come and see you or I hear about you from a distance, you stand firm, united in spirit, fighting with one accord for the faith of the Good News, 28 not frightened by anything the opposition does. This will be for them an indication that they are headed for destruction and you for deliverance. And this is from God; 29 because for the Messiah’s sake it has been granted to you not only to trust in him but also to suffer on his behalf, 30 to fight the same battles you once saw me fight and now hear that I am still fighting.
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Hymn for Today: "Standing on the Promises" by R, Kelso Carter
1.Standing on the promises of Christ my King, 
through eternal ages let his praises ring; 
glory in the highest, I will shout and sing, 
standing on the promises of God. 
Refrain: 
Standing, standing, 
standing on the promises of Christ my Savior; 
standing, standing, 
I'm standing on the promises of God. 
2.Standing on the promises that cannot fail, 
when the howling storms of doubt and fear assail, 
by the living Word of God I shall prevail, 
standing on the promises of God. 
Refrain: 
Standing, standing, 
standing on the promises of Christ my Savior; 
standing, standing, 
I'm standing on the promises of God. 
3.Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord, 
bound to him eternally by love's strong cord, 
overcoming daily with the Spirit's sword, 
standing on the promises of God. 
Refrain: 
Standing, standing, 
standing on the promises of Christ my Savior; 
standing, standing, 
I'm standing on the promises of God.  
4.Standing on the promises I cannot fall, 
listening every moment to the Spirit's call, 
resting in my Savior as my all in all, 
standing on the promises of God. 
Refrain: 
Standing, standing, 
standing on the promises of Christ my Savior; 
standing, standing, 
I'm standing on the promises of God.  
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Light is a beautiful thing. There is nothing more welcoming than hope of the day in the early morning sunrise after a long difficult night. The first theories of light came from the ancient Greeks as they sought to describe light as a ray. If light could be guided, it would circle the equator seven and half times every second, but that is not the strength of light. When light becomes focused, it becomes a laser.
The power of the laser is greater than we might imagine. When a laser beam is focused in one area, it can cut through the toughest metals. So where is the strength? Is it in the light? Or, is it in the focus?
When a community of faith becomes focused and everyone working together for the mission of Jesus Christ, nothing can defeat it. Jesus said, “I will build my church; and all the powers of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18, LB, emphasis added).
Nothing can defeat those who strive together as one for the faith of the gospel. Even if Satan uses all his powers against us, we can stand firm through the power of God's light.
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Thought of the Day: Proverbs 10:25 When the storm has passed, the wicked are gone;
    but the righteous are firmly established forever.
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Please Pray: That many people in Niger will come to know Yeshua the Messiah and receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
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