Emmanuel Okoro (aka MrLift)

"Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved". (Phil.4.1) To stand fast is to stand firm. He says to stand fast in the Lord. This is very instructive because it did not say to stand fast in your financial strength, not in your connections, not in your skills and your know-how but to stand fast in the Lord. How does one stand fast in the Lord? To stand fast in the Lord is to stand firm in the word of God. The Apostle John tells us that the word of God is God and God is His word. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God". (John.1.1) The word of God is the person of God so to stand firm in the Lord is to stand firm in the word of God. But how does one stand fast in the word of God? To Stand fast in the word means to stand on what God's word says about you. If God's word says you are healed, you stand in that word until it becomes your

Spiritual things are just as real as physical things and can be learned and practiced. The physical world is parallel to the spiritual world. The Apostle Paul talked about the demonstration of the Spirit and power. (see 1 Cor:2:4) The Old Testament talks about the sons of the prophet. Elijah taught Elisha and afterward, Elisha had a school where prophets were mentored. (see 2 Kings:6) The Lord Jesus Christ had 12 disciples, and then 72 that he sent out in Luke 10, and also 120 that gathered in the upper room on the day of Pentecost. (see Acts 1:15) "Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example". (Phil.3.17) The Apostle Paul says the Philippians should pattern their lives after his. To pattern is not a day's job. It means to unlearn your previous way of life and then learn a new way of life. A pattern is established after a continuous relationship between the teacher and the student. Jesus himself said, w

When you practice all the truth you know, more truth will be revealed to you. When  God shows you the truth in His word, it is not just for you to know but much more for you to practice. And if you know anything about God, you will understand that He does not give you all the pictures all at once. It is on need-to-know bases. Imagine when God showed Joseph in his dream that his brothers were going to bow down to him, that God also showed him the processes. That he was going to be thrown into the pit, sold into slavery, and that he was going to go to prison? (See Gen:37) God may paint the picture of the end for you but the process will be on a need to keep bases. "But we must be sure to obey the truth we have learned already". (Phil.3.16) But when you act on that revealed truth of His word, that act of faith will open the next phase up to you. Our text says we must be sure to obey the truth we have already learned. God told Abraham to go and sacrifice his son,

Do you want everything God has for you? Then you will need to keep focused on the goal. That is the admonition of the Apostle Paul to us. Do not let anything take your eyes off the goal. Looking unto Jesus the author and the finisher of your faith. Keep the focus on Him. "So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision --you'll see it yet!" (Phil.3.15) Focus is a difficult thing in this day and age of weapons of mass distractions. Each look and turn you will find something to distract you. But if you want everything God has for you, you will find a way to distract your distraction and focus on the goal. Focus creates blindness a wise man has said. If you discipline yourself long enough to focus on your focus you'll be blind to every form of distraction. Our text says you need nothing less than a tota

I strain to reach It is never an easy road up the hill. The road up is always laden with additional effort. Going downhill is easy, going up requires effort. The Apostle Paul says "I strain to reach the end of the race". The end of the race is important. Notice he did not say I strain to become the first position but to get to the end of the race. The reason is simple. Everyone who gets to the end gets a prize. "I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven." (Phil.3.14 NLT) Strain is not a walk in the park. The end of the race is where the prize is. Jesus said it this way, 'he that endures to the end is the one that is saved. In other words, is the one that gets the prize. "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." (Matt.24.13) Do all that's in your power to fulfill God's assignments for your life. Your prize is at the end of th

My message to you today is straightforward, keep reaching. Whatever you have achieved is behind, there is still more ahead, stretch, reach, there is more ahead. God has more in store for you. Paul says I count not myself to have apprehended. In other words, I have come a long way, I have seen this and seen that but there is more ahead. Everything behind me is behind, I'm forgetting those things and reaching forward. If your most impressive achievements yesterday are what you're talking about today, you know you need to reach. "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before" (Phil.3.13) This is one thing I do... forgetting those things which are behind. Forget whatever you have achieved until now. There's more ahead, but you have to reach. Blind Bartimaeus had to let go of who he was to become who he could be. (see Mark:10:46-52

Our lives are progressively dynamic. It is on a tangent of constant change. Little wonder we wanted to become different things at different age brackets. Even when we became adults, there is a constant longing for progression. Our Christian life is not any different. The Apostle Paul showed us in our text, the longing for this progressive change. Change to become all we were called to be, to have all we were called to have, and to do all we were called to do. "I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection! But I keep working toward that day when I will finally be all that Christ Jesus saved me for and wants me to be." (Phil.3.12) He says that he does not mean to say that he has already achieved or reached perfection. Only those who wish to die mediocre make such claims. If you are truly worth your onion, you know there is yet another layer to unravel. There is more work to be done. He says I keep wo

The Apostle Paul had so much craving for God that he was looking forward to resurrection in his body - a resurrected body while he was yet living. If you do not look at the text carefully you may miss this point. We know Paul was not one we want to convince about resurrection - he was a proponent of it. So when he says "if possible" we should watch was he was talking about. "That if possible I may attain to the [spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body]. (Phil.3.11 Amp) He knows that one day his body will be resurrected. Here he says he wants to achieve spiritual resurrection - that is, his spirit coming to life. And moral resurrection - that is, his soul being completely regenerated. We know that at the new birth our spirit is saved instantaneously but our soul is being renewed daily "Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted wor

What does it mean to know God? To know God is not to know and be able to quote the Bible. To know God is to live in love. To the degree to which you love is the degree to which you know God. There is a dimension to knowing the word of God but that is knowing about God. Too many people know so much about God but know very little of God. You cannot claim to know God and not live in love. "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;" (Phil.3.10) The Apostle Paul has known about God since his youth but here he expresses a desire to know the person of God. That I may know Him. Do you know God? Little wonder the Apostle John says how can you say you love God that you do not see but your brother and your sister that you can see you do not love. "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he lo

"And be embraced by him. I didn't want some petty, inferior brand of righteousness that comes from keeping a list of rules when I could get the robust kind that comes from trusting Christ--God's righteousness." (Phil.1.9 MSG) The one thing that God had sought for all this while was for man to be found in His embrace. That was why He created man in the first place. But for that embrace to make sense man must and should be in a certain cast - mold. When Adam fell in the garden, that mold was tarnished so God had to wait. Every other mold was an inferior brand that would not sustain this embrace. That was what the story of the prodigal son illustrated. In Luke 15:11-32, we see a riotous young man who left the embrace of his father and went into a far country and we see how the Father in anticipation waited patiently for the return of his son. When he was still far off, the Father ran and throw His hands around him. "And he arose, and came to his fath

"Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ," (Phil.3.8) Very few people can make these assertions the Apostle Paul made in this verse. He said 'I count all things but loss'. Not Somethings but all things. Do you remember the rich young ruler!? He had come to Jesus for the same reason that Apostle Paul had given us here - to gain Christ. The Bible record that he left in sorry. (see Mark:1017-27) "And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions." (Mark.10.22) Another translation says, he left sad because he was holding unto a lot of things. Can you trust God with your stuff? Can you let go and let God? A lot of people are holding unto a lot of things, that have taken the place of God in their lives. Can you trust God enough to count all things but

Confidence is a good thing. And for one to excel in this life, one needs a healthy dose of confidence. But after a while, you'll realize that if your confidence is only in the flesh it will yield very little reward. This is so because, despite all your seeming achievements, your confidence pales to little or nothing when compared to spiritual verities. "For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh." (Phil.3.3) Paul says we are the circumcision that worships God In spirit". That is to say, circumcision is an achievement but that's not where our confidence lies. Though we are circumcised, our relationship with the Father is not based on our circumcision but our worship of God in the spirit. This is what God requires of us. Jesus said God is seeking those who will worship the Father in spirit and truth. (see John:4:24) Then he said, "We rejoice in Jesus". It was Nehem

I have seen the sign "beware of dogs" hanging on the gates of homes where they have guard dogs. It was not until recently that I notice it was a phrase taken from the Bible, though with a totally different meaning. Dogs have been used repeatedly to typify evil and related themes in the Bible. For example, we are told to not give that which is holy to dogs (see Matt:7:6). Not to return to our vomit as dogs do. (see Prov:26:11, 2 Pet:2:22) Rev.22.15 tells us "For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. Dogs are referred to as those who practice these things mentioned above. So the Apostle Paul warns us to beware of dogs. "Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision." (Phil.3.2) He says beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, of those who say you must be circumcised to be saved. In a nutshell, beware of those who say the death of Jesus on the cross i

The popular saying goes measure twice cut once. In the other quarter, it said, check, double-check and check again. That seems to be the message the Apostle Paul passes across in our text today. "Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe." (Phil.3.1) Finally, at the end of it all, he says rejoice in the Lord... Not because everything is going as planned and not because everything is going rosy and dandy but that, that is supposed to be our default seeing. Our default state is rejoicing. Let nothing steal your joy. He went further to say that I am repeating myself but it is for safety. He was saying that repetition was necessary for reinforcement. When God asked Moses to send Joshua out to battle, God asked Moses to rehearse the fact that the Amalekites were going to be blotted out. Every time we re-emphasize instruction to our children, our subordinate, it is to strengthen

Self-interest may be legitimate but selflessness is divine. You have probably seen people who will tell you that "God work, dem no dey carry am for head, na shoulders dem dey carry am, if e tire you, you throw am for ground". Meaning you don't commit fully to the things of God. This was the case in our text. Some people do the work of God out of convenience instead of out of commitment. If it does not answer the question 'what is in it for me' they do not do it. There is indeed a reward component to the work of God but it is not one born out of selfishness but selflessness which brings about a reward for the work well done "All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ". (Phil.2.21) Do you care only for yourself? Does what matters to Jesus Christ matter to you? All the others care only for themselves! Does this speak about you? Do you care only about yourself? I am reminded of one of the signs of the la

Your life is the light. Jesus says we have the light of life. The expectation is for your life to be light and give directions to those around you. "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. (John.8.12) If you follow Jesus you will not walk in darkness because you shall have the light of life. When this happens, the Apostle Paul says that no one can speak a word of blame against you. "so that no one can speak a word of blame against you. You are to live clean, innocent lives as children of God in a dark world full of crooked and perverse people. Let your lives shine brightly before them". (Phil.2.15) We are to live clean, innocent lives in a dark world full of crooked and perverse people. So God knows the terrain in which you operate. It is not strange to Him. In the midst of it He says, let your lives shine brightly before them. One translation

Behaviour is the outward display of an inward attitude. While behavior is outward, attitude is inward. People see your attitude through your behaviour. The Bible says we have the mind of Christ or have the attitude same as Jesus. Jesus taught us that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. For it to spill from your mouth, it is only because it is spilling from your heart. Hence we are to guide our heart, for out of it flows the issues of life. Do not let things you do not want coming out of your mouth settle in your heart. If you dwell on them long enough on the inside, they will come out. The Apostle Paul showed us five deadly attitudes we do not want to be associated with "Do all things without grumbling and faultfinding and complaining [against God] and questioning and doubting [among yourselves] (Phil.2.14 Amp) He says to do all things - now this is very important to pause and mention. He says Do All Things - whatever it is you do, he says do it wit

"Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling". (Phil.2.12) When some people read this verse the thinking is to interpret it to mean you must work for your salvation. If you must be saved then you must work hard, working out your salvation with fear and trembling. But such thinking is so wrong on many levels. We know the Bible tells us that salvation is a gift of God. Rom.6.23  tells us that "the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." If it is a gift then you can't work for it. It is also true that the Bible says that by grace we are saved through faith, not by works so no one can boast. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Eph.2.8- 9) So when Paul says work out your salvat

"Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name". (Phil.2.9 NKJV) There is so much power in the name of Jesus the likes we have not experienced. We have not experienced it because we have not dared to put the name of Jesus to use. We have not because we ask not. The name was given to us to use. To use in the place of prayer. Jesus told his disciples that up until now they have not asked anything in my name. He says ask and receive that your joy may be full. "Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full". (John.16.24) Jesus said ask and you will receive. Your receiving is premised on your asking and your joy being full on your receiving. It is clear that God's will for you is to receive what you ask of Him but it must be in the name of Jesus. Our text tells us that God has given Him(Jesus) the name that is above all else. In the name of Jesus, answers a

How does one make himself nothing? One with no reputation, no status, lower than a slave. In today's parlance, it would be said that he had no airs, unassuming and downright humble. It is easy for a poor person to be humble but when a person has everything there is to have, is everything there is to become, and can do everything there is to do and yet is humble, that is true humility. "He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form": (Phil.2.7) To have taken on the human form was to take on failure and death. For Man had failed in the garden and in failing had begun to die. It should also be noted that death was separation from God and Christ Jesus had never been separated from the Godhead but now risk the very essence of His Godness. Christ Jesus saw passed our frailty to our possibilities. He is our prototype, a model for us to follow. How humble are you? There is nothing that you have, that you did not receive

"He had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what". (Phil.2.6 MSG) This verse makes it abundantly clear that there is a God status. That is the status at which or from which God operates. Another thing this verse makes clear is the fact that there are advantages attached to this status. We are also informed that that is the status that Jesus Christ shared with the Father. It is very instructive therefore that we realize that when the Bible says that we are seated with Christ in heavenly places, that's the status to which we were elevated. Where we share the attributes of God. Now like Jesus, we must not cling to the advantages but must humble ourselves and realize that is where we are. For as he is so are we in this world. "Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world". (1 John:4

A renowned author wrote a book titled 'The Battlefield of the Mind'. Truly the mind is where the battle is. Once the battle is won in your mind, the victory will follow naturally. In the mind is where the reasoning is, in the mind is where your thinking capacity resides. What type of mind do you have? "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus", (Phil.2.5) The Bible instructs us to have the mind of Christ. To think of ourselves as Christ thought of himself. To have the same attitude Christ had. "Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself." (Phil.2.5 MSG) "Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had". (Phil.2.5 NLT) What attitude does Jesus have? We will see the answer in the preceding verses The attitude of Jesus says, 'Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead". (Phil.2.3 MSG) It says "D

The Bible talked about suffering for Christ as much as the blessings of Christ. The Apostle Paul says all those that will lead a godly life will suffer persecution. Jesus said if you will follow Him, you must take up your cross - a symbol of Christ's suffering- daily. The disciple rejoiced to be counted worthy to have suffered for Christ's sake. "And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name".(Acts.5.41) Do you see that? Why? They understood that it was just as important to suffer for Christ as it was to trust Him. "There's far more to this life than trusting in Christ. There's also suffering for him. And the suffering is as much a gift as the trusting." (Phil.1.29 MSG) It says the suffering is as much a gift as the trust. If you suffer for him it is only because God could trust you with that suffering. Hence, they were counted worthy. Can Christ trust you w