Philippians 1:9 And this I pray, THAT your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; 10 THAT ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till (with a view toward being ready for) the Day of Christ. 11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
Day 5—Those who minister the Word of the Kingdom will rejoice over all who enter the Kingdom. |
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As we pray, we are taking the revelation given to Paul and, as it were, praying it into effect in our own lives and in the lives of those we hold before God’s Throne. Nearly every writer of the New Testament told about the Day of the Lord. Paul told of it the most extensively in his Thessalonian Epistles. In these two Letters he made frequent mention of the Parousía of Christ Jesus.
See what he said here:
I Thessalonians 2:18-20—Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us. For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His Coming (His Parousía)? For ye are our glory and joy.
(MSG) 17-20 Do you have any idea how very homesick we became for you, dear friends? Even though it hadn't been that long and it was only our bodies that were separated from you, not our hearts, we tried our very best to get back to see you. You can't imagine how much we missed you! I, Paul, tried over and over to get back, but Satan stymied us each time. Who do you think we're going to be proud of when our Master Jesus appears if it's not you? You're our pride and joy!
Here again are two things for us to note. One is that Satan apparently did not want the people made ready for Christ’s Parousía. Another thing to note is that the people being ready for that Day would bring joy to Paul.
Seeing through this passage, we begin learning that whether someone is alive at His Parousía, or whether they have gone through death, makes no difference. This stirs us to pray much, even for those who seem close to Death’s door. What takes place in us before death prepares us for our inheritance in the Kingdom with Christ. You know, we do expect a resurrection.
HEAVENLY FATHER, here are these people all around me who are becoming quite old. I’m not sure all of them really know You as their Savior. I’m even less sure they know anything about Your Kingdom, or their place in it. Please move in my own heart. Teach me how to teach the elderly. Show me what they should know and what they should be if they are to inherit the Kingdom with Your Son.
God’s faithful people will tell about His glorious Kingdom to all generations.—Psalm 145:10-13
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