Hello again. Welcome to the program. We're talking about how to have the victory in difficult times. We're in Philippians chapter one. Have your Bible ready. In Philippians chapter one, verse number three, Paul said, I thank my God upon every remembrance of you. Of course, he's talking about the people back in the church at Philippi. In verse four, he says, always in every prayer of mine for you all, making requests with joy. And then in verse five, he talks about fellowship. He says, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now. Now Paul, found some Christians he could actually fellowship with. This was completely opposite to the Corinthians. Concerning the Corinthians, we read in Corinthians 3 verse 1, and I brethren could not speak unto you as unto spiritual but as unto carnal, even as babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk and not with meat, for hitherto you were not able to bear it. Neither yet are ye able, for ye are yet carnal. For whereas there is among you envy, strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? Paul could have no fellowship with these Christians, but he could have genuine fellowship with the Christians at Philippi. And so, in verse 6, we read, being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it unto the day of Jesus Christ. He could be confident that they would go ahead in the things of the Lord because they were totally opposite to those carnal Christians back at Corinth. He said, being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. The first time we find this word perform is back in Genesis 26 and verse 3. when God made a promise to Israel that was conditional. He said in Genesis 26 three, sojourn in the land and I will be with thee and will bless thee for unto thee and unto thy seed I will give these countries and I will perform the oath which I swear unto Abraham thy father. Well Israel rebelled, they didn't listen and so we read in God's mercy In 2 Corinthians 7 14, If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and heal their land. God's promises to us are also conditional. He said in Romans 12 verse 1 and 2, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, wholly acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove or discern what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Like Israel in these days of Laodicean fundamentalism, we say, no, I'm not going to do all that stuff you say here in Romans chapter 12 verse 1 and 2, I've got things to do on my own. Besides, I go to a fundamental church and I go three times a week. I'm a good Christian. Ha ha, really. And so, in this age of Laodicean fundamentalism, Jesus said in Revelation 3 20, Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him and will sup with him and he with me." We can still, as individuals, do what God says to do and have the blessings on our lives. In Philippians 1-7, Paul said, even as it is meat, that word has been translated right five times, Even as it is right for me to thank this of you all, because I have you in my heart, insomuch as both in my bonds and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, ye are partakers of my grace. Grace is a gift of God that is available for Christians like the ones at Philippi and not like the ones at Corinth. Grace is the desire and the ability to do God's work and to do it God's way. In James 1 and 22, he says, but be doers of the word and not hearers only. The Philippians were doers of the Word. And so Paul said in verse 8, For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. The bowels refers to the inward affection that Paul had for these Christians. In verse 9, Paul also said, In this I pray that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment. in loving, in knowledge, and in judgment. That is so necessary today. We'll look at it in our next program. Be sure to tune in.