Got Confidence?

Sunday   12-06-15  Home in Modesto 

Scripture reading:    Phil 1 - 4

S=Scripture  O=Observation  A=Application  P=Prayer  SOAP for the soul.

S.  Phil 1:6  And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again.  NLT

O.  The ministry of Paul and Silas to the city of Philippi started with Paul’s vision.  He saw a Macedonian man pleading with him, “Come over and help us.”  They immediately left for the principle city of Macedonia, Philippi.  Where is the man seen in Paul’s vision?  Apparently there was no synagogue so they assumed Jews would be gathered at the river’s edge for prayer on the Sabbath.  Here their first convert was Lydia.  Their second convert mentioned in the text was the jailer, who was baptized along with his whole family.  Now, eleven years later Paul, the prisoner in Rome, addresses the “elders and deacons” of this established church.  Paul mentions in vs 6 his confidence in God to complete the work He had begun.

A.  This verse has held great importance for Frances and me as we entered new territories to start churches.  In San Juan, Pastors Angel and Margarita Vega, stayed faithfully with the small group of new believers. It was not always easy.  Someone threw a great rock through the windshield of the only brother in the church who owned car, a little Fiat 600.  Our gospel crusade tent was torched and destroyed in broad daylight.  But a solid work was established and numerous other servants of God have been called into ministry.

P.  Lord, I thank You that I can have confidence that You will complete the work You have begun.  As missionaries we often have had to leave a fledgling church with new leadership and depend upon You to complete the work.  This confidence in You extends to souls that have been saved who often face persecution or rejection from their family members.  May we see them safely over on the other shore one day!  Amen. 

Ralph