I Eagerly Expect…

It was in high school I learned Philippians 1:20. If you go back and could look it up the verse is on my
senior tribute page in the yearbook when I graduated. It had become my life verse. It is hard to believe
that it’s been 20 years since I graduated high school.

I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage s
that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. –Philippians
1:20

The next verse is Philippians 1:21, a very popular verse of scripture.
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. –Philippians 1:21

Let’s look at verse 19 and the last part of verse 18:
Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of
the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.
–Philippians 1:18b-19

I want to exalt Jesus with my life at all times. Do I mess that goal up sometimes, YES (more
than sometimes). But as verse 20 says “I eagerly expect and hope I will in no way be
ashamed…” I look back at the sharing of my story. There’s no way I would have shared that
before. I would have been and still at times am too shy and a bit embarrassed to share the
story but as Philippians 1:20 reminds me, “…have sufficient courage…” Just as the beginning
of these verses in verse 19 says, “…God’s Provision…” I believe he has a purpose for our lives.
Are you watching for it? Are you like me and just go through the motions of life and not thinking
about his work? Do you know him?

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Let’s pause there and repeat that, do you know him?

I believe salvation is as easy as ABC. Admit You’re A Sinner, Believe Jesus Is Lord, Call Upon His Name (Confess).

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:23-24

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

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I just listened to Kristian Stanfill singing at the Passion Conference Agnus Dei. The video
shows a moment of worship from the 2024 Passion Conference. In this moment of
worship he reads Revelation 1:12-18. I think of my Lord, Jesus Christ, way too often as meek but am
reminded here “…And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” -Revelation 1:18. My savior,
Jesus, has conquered death and provides eternal life to us who believes in him. He reigns!

I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw
seven golden lampstands,   and among the lampstands was someone like a son of
man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his
chest. The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were
like blazing fire.    His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like
the sound of rushing waters.    In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of
his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its
brilliance.
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on
me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was
dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and
Hades. –Revelation 1:12-18

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him
shall not perish but have eternal life. –John 3:16

Here I am Lord, give me the courage to speak your name, to tell of what you’ve done in my life.
I want to live my life as an example of your love. I know as I am reminded here through your
word, “…what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance”. I thank you Lord for your
salvation and pray my life be an example to those around me of your grace. Thanks for the
encouragement from your word. Give us a boldness. I pray all these thing in the name of Jesus, Amen.

Worthy is the lamb!