Philippians: Paul's "Stairway to Heaven"?

[SilverFox7]

Philippians 4:4
One again you have inspired me to update an older panel...

Love it and honored to be a source of inspiration for your beautiful work!

 

[homwardbound]

I'm just a simple country boy at heart myself, brother. Soaking in God's Word, meditation, and prayer certainly draw us closer to God, and they stir up the Holy Spirit within us to think and live as Jesus did. Look at the all-out commitment from Paul to His calling:

Philippians 3:8-10

New King James Version


8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ

9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;

10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,

Just as Jesus had His focus on the Father and completing His work, Paul was laser focused on Jesus Christ and learning more about Him to deepen their relationship. Paul knew his "righteousness" was but "filthy rags" (Isa. 64:6), and the law was not going to save him. He needed "faith in Christ" to develop true righteousness that can only come from "God by faith."

Paul wanted to know the power of Christ's resurrection and was willing to share in His sufferings and even die for the sake of the gospel and the Church. While I have the knowledge, I am certainly not even close to Paul's level of conviction. Yes, I am willing to suffer and die for Jesus if it's His will, but I will certainly need to be empowered with His faith to accomplish this. No way could I do this through my own power - I am too selfish and weak at the core.

therefore, maybe, you reckon you dead to sin in the risen Son for you. accepting his death as done for reconciliation to the whole world of people. seeing self as you just said you see. Ask for the new life to be given thee, as I bet God has given this to thee. You are or might be caught up in works, as I see many this day are caught up in works of the flesh, to be in, stay in and not be kicked out. a gigantic mistake, as I see as Paul saw, sees. The candy is the risen Jesus to be given us to walk new in more abundantly, contently whether rich or poor, in sickness or health. To be willing for God to take me over, is the key, to be willing. Look at Jesus all the way to that cross willingly, without a fight back in the flesh, suffered all that pain, to stop him, he did not stop. Now is risen for you to be risen also, in God Father Spiritn and Truth for you. dead to the first birth of flesh, alive to God in the second birth, Spiritual birth, by belief to God, God does it, God did it for us by Son to us the two married as Won (One)
Which as is written no flesh can please God, but Son's that did that on the cross once for us all, to be made new in his risen Life leading us, we listen to God not self or others we, you, us in God Fathers' Spirit and truth
John 4:23-24

 

[Magenta]

Love it and honored to be a source of inspiration for your beautiful work!

Thank you so much for your words of encouragement! I am looking at some of my other Philippians panels now...

This one rarely gets posted...

Philippians 3:20-21

 

[Magenta]

Philippians 2:9-11

 

[Magenta]

From Philippians 2

 

[Pilgrimshope]

I'm just a simple country boy at heart myself, brother. Soaking in God's Word, meditation, and prayer certainly draw us closer to God, and they stir up the Holy Spirit within us to think and live as Jesus did. Look at the all-out commitment from Paul to His calling:

Philippians 3:8-10

New King James Version


8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ

9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;

10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,

Just as Jesus had His focus on the Father and completing His work, Paul was laser focused on Jesus Christ and learning more about Him to deepen their relationship. Paul knew his "righteousness" was but "filthy rags" (Isa. 64:6), and the law was not going to save him. He needed "faith in Christ" to develop true righteousness that can only come from "God by faith."

Paul wanted to know the power of Christ's resurrection and was willing to share in His sufferings and even die for the sake of the gospel and the Church. While I have the knowledge, I am certainly not even close to Paul's level of conviction. Yes, I am willing to suffer and die for Jesus if it's His will, but I will certainly need to be empowered with His faith to accomplish this. No way could I do this through my own power - I am too selfish and weak at the core.

“No way could I do this through my own power - I am too selfish and weak at the core.

“if so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

and be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:21-24‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth) proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5:6-10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: for which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

in the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.


But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:5-10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭5:20‬ ‭

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:17‬ ‭

 

[Magenta]

Philippians 3:13b-14
Another Philippians panel that I just updated...

The story connected to this one is that at my nine-year sobriety milestone in AA, my church family
presented me with a framed calligraphy of this verse... now I had never reached nine years before,
as a few months after reaching my first eight-year mark, I relapsed. Plus, I had never extended any
invites to anyone to attend my cakes, so this was very special in that regard also, plus, right after
this celebration at the end of 2019, the covid closures struck and I stopped attending meetings
to go through my cancer treatments and surgeries and recovery etc etc! Anywho, in 2020 I did
go through a bit of a "flapper" phase in my designs LOL which is well reflected in this panel .

 

[homwardbound]

Philippians 3:13b-14
Another Philippians panel that I just updated...

The story connected to this one is that at my nine-year sobriety milestone in AA, my church family
presented me with a framed calligraphy of this verse... now I had never reached nine years before,
as a few months after reaching my first eight-year mark, I relapsed. Plus, I had never extended any
invites to anyone to attend my cakes, so this was very special in that regard also, plus, right after
this celebration at the end of 2019, the covid closures struck and I stopped attending meetings
to go through my cancer treatments and surgeries and recovery etc etc! Anywho, in 2020 I did
go through a bit of a "flapper" phase in my designs LOL which is well reflected in this panel .

You go girl, continue, to believe God will get you through it, as I hear you are and do, and will.
I am an ex alcoholic, which is not recognized in AA, unless that motto has now changed, was not changed in my time, when I quit alcohol at age 26,27
I am 67 years old now. Been dry since 26,27.
How???????????? not by me, that is a fact. By me agreeing with God, it was not good for me to continue in.
I, from God saw the root cause of my over drinking, partying and carrying on as a happy go lucky drunk I was.
I had a past death of my youngest sister, that died on an overdose. She was 18, I was 14 when she past away.
I went to the funeral, I saw her as dead in that casket, I turned and ran out and would not accept her as dead, I would not believe it.
That was the root cause of my drinking and partying and using drugs. I began drinking right after her death.
I saw that, the reason in me from God to me, God said to me that is why I am an alcoholic. I saw it, accepted it, she has died and left it behind me. My celebration for stopping this was once a year at home on new years eve, I would drink in celebrating I quit. After the third year, I saw no use in it.
Then in 2011, I was surrounded by alcohol in my home, I could drink it. I saw it and it did not affect me in thought to drink it, and I am not proud over it either. I left that home and went to another state, on the way I ended up in the Hospital, with Foreigners Gangrene in 2012. Died 7 times on the operating table, per the doctors. I live, even if I died.
Whether I lived or died, I belong to the Lord, by choice given me to stick to this truth or not even whenever in any troubles. I trust God all in all, seeing Romans 14, so much deeper than just a food chapter as is said from religion is only that, so much deeper to me at least
That is my story and I stick to it.
So, therefore Sister, you go and continue as you have and are doing, seeing to be thankful and not proud, God has got your front, back and sides smothered and covered in God for you personally too

 

[SilverFox7]

Philippians 3:13b-14
Another Philippians panel that I just updated...

The story connected to this one is that at my nine-year sobriety milestone in AA, my church family
presented me with a framed calligraphy of this verse... now I had never reached nine years before,
as a few months after reaching my first eight-year mark, I relapsed. Plus, I had never extended any
invites to anyone to attend my cakes, so this was very special in that regard also, plus, right after
this celebration at the end of 2019, the covid closures struck and I stopped attending meetings
to go through my cancer treatments and surgeries and recovery etc etc! Anywho, in 2020 I did
go through a bit of a "flapper" phase in my designs LOL which is well reflected in this panel .

Congratulations on your sobriety, sister, and I love this panel and the flamboyant outfit especially. What's that expression she is projecting - boredom, "give me a break", "I just can't wait to get this performance over with?..."

My dad made me go to AA meetings with him when I was around 16 because he saw the path I was heading down. I was horrified by the stories I heard how alcohol had brought many of those people to the brink of death. It was so depressing and hard to take in as a hardened teenager. The experience really didn't settle in until after my dad's death when I was 21. I had hit rock bottom myself and threw myself into the Lord's hands: "forgetting the things behind and reaching forward to the things ahead" Amen!

 

[SilverFox7]

You go girl, continue, to believe God will get you through it, as I hear you are and do, and will.
I am an ex alcoholic, which is not recognized in AA, unless that motto has now changed, was not changed in my time, when I quit alcohol at age 26,27
I am 67 years old now. Been dry since 26,27.
How???????????? not by me, that is a fact. By me agreeing with God, it was not good for me to continue in.
I, from God saw the root cause of my over drinking, partying and carrying on as a happy go lucky drunk I was.
I had a past death of my youngest sister, that died on an overdose. She was 18, I was 14 when she past away.
I went to the funeral, I saw her as dead in that casket, I turned and ran out and would not accept her as dead, I would not believe it.
That was the root cause of my drinking and partying and using drugs. I began drinking right after her death.
I saw that, the reason in me from God to me, God said to me that is why I am an alcoholic. I saw it, accepted it, she has died and left it behind me. My celebration for stopping this was once a year at home on new years eve, I would drink in celebrating I quit. After the third year, I saw no use in it.
Then in 2011, I was surrounded by alcohol in my home, I could drink it. I saw it and it did not affect me in thought to drink it, and I am not proud over it either. I left that home and went to another state, on the way I ended up in the Hospital, with Foreigners Gangrene in 2012. Died 7 times on the operating table, per the doctors. I live, even if I died.
Whether I lived or died, I belong to the Lord, by choice given me to stick to this truth or not even whenever in any troubles. I trust God all in all, seeing Romans 14, so much deeper than just a food chapter as is said from religion is only that, so much deeper to me at least
That is my story and I stick to it.
So, therefore Sister, you go and continue as you have and are doing, seeing to be thankful and not proud, God has got your front, back and sides smothered and covered in God for you personally too

Thank you for sharing this testimonial! One phrase I remember from the AA meetings I attended with my dad back in the early 80's is "once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic." Once I crossed that line, I always consider myself as an alcoholic. It helps to keep me sober-minded and remember where I came from and where I can go again if I don't stay close to God.

 

[homwardbound]

Thank you for sharing this testimonial! One phrase I remember from the AA meetings I attended with my dad back in the early 80's is "once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic." Once I crossed that line, I always consider myself as an alcoholic. It helps to keep me sober-minded and remember where I came from and where I can go again if I don't stay close to God.[/QUOTE

Thank you for sharing this testimonial! One phrase I remember from the AA meetings I attended with my dad back in the early 80's is "once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic." Once I crossed that line, I always consider myself as an alcoholic. It helps to keep me sober-minded and remember where I came from and where I can go again if I don't stay close to God.

Thank you for sharing this testimonial! One phrase I remember from the AA meetings I attended with my dad back in the early 80's is "once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic." Once I crossed that line, I always consider myself as an alcoholic. It helps to keep me sober-minded and remember where I came from and where I can go again if I don't stay close to God.[/QUOTE
This is a long response, trusting you and whoever else will read-it through. God just loves us all
for me, I heard God tell me, I am an ex alcoholic, God delivered me from it. I only agreed with God on it. So I responded, and cannot explain it. I just knew. When I told my wife, she thought no way, and I said nothing and now she knows it is true.
i have had many bad experiences, never denied God, I believe from God’s view, God by Son took away sin, from his view for everyone.
so, the people can now enter God’s throne of grace in their time of need. My need 24/7. I do not always remember this. I from time to time get angry, instantly I hate it, accept it, and do not accept it. I do go to God with thank you. For at that cross of Son for me and the entire world, God took all sin away through Sons’ done work.. (John 1:29). John19:30) I believe God, by Son as risen, per 1 Corinthians 15. If isn’t risen, then from Daddy’s view, by Son for all, I am not forgiven. I know this truth now, I am forgiven, reconciled, Even though I mess up again, God continues in God’s forgiveness, reconciliation of Son as done, that floors me, is the last shedding of blood, for any more forgiveness to ever be given, to anyone. That is done by Son over two thousand years ago now. Wow!!!.
‘that is what has been changing me to see and agree with God, to not take away anyone else’s free wil, or manipulate anyone to think as I think, or even as I think God thinks.. I am undone.
once I started finalizing the cross, agreeing with God by God I am forgiven, reconciled ( 2 Cor. 5:17-20). I then learned, learning by trust it is done I see differently than the world of human flesh. Being dead to that first birth willingly. Thanking God, I sinned again, I need to learn how not to do that again, by you, Father. Then I got 2 Cor 12:7-10
‘then I heard, are you taking anyone’s free will away from them or manipulating anyone to any self gain of your own? No, then you are well in your soul, flesh is dead. Believe, receive and see
thanking God forever in this unfathomable love to any person-alive to their first birth still. Not born again yet. Many are born again in belief, just do not see it yet.
God is faithful to carry on the work, God starts in anyone, the very first day anyone tells God personally they believe God
it takes, not giving up on God, even if you are right now going to die.
‘willing is the key, and going all the way to death as Jesus did. Then three days later risen and seen by over 500 witnesses.
this world religion preaches Law you have to.
God preaches willingness is forgiveness in reality. That cannot ever be squashed. God just loves us all, otherwise, Son would not have gone to that cross willingly to die once for us all, to reconcile us all in God’s self. Left only one thing left.
to believe God 100% or not,
‘when I got God just loves me and all the world people God created. Everything changed, from my view to God’s view through Son to me and everyone else too.
1 John 2:1-2
just hang on y’all, continue to want to know God and when you see, you will willingly stop harming self and anyone else.
this is growing in God’s grace for y‘All.