Philippians 1 – Paul is thanking God for the Philippians, because when the gospel was preached among them, they began to live like Christ.
vs.3-11 – That good work begun in you, God will perform until the day of Jesus Christ.
vs.12-18 – Paul explains why he is going to Rome as a prisoner. It was to preach the gospel to Nero and his court.
vs.19-26 – “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” The work on earth is needful for the saints, by his heart’s desire, to be with Christ.
Philippians 2 – The Kenosis Passage.-emptying one self. What we can do. Vs.1-4 “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
What Christ does. vs.5-11 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Crain Blanchard.

http://www.joseph1637.com

Joseph1637@juno.com

Everybody want to be effectual in their prayers. We all want our prayers to be answered. But there are requirements for our prayers to become effectual. So how do we become effectual? I have heard all kinds of prayer. Some were loud and boisterous. Some were quiet and low. But what I have found is that none of that is required. You don’t even have to say a word out loud to be heard by God. God is all-knowing. That means He knows everything that is said or done in advance. Not to chase a rabbit, but God will get us to pray so that He will perform a miracle in our life or someone else’s, then give us the reward for praying. God isn’t looking for you to put on a show. When you pray, it becomes personal and private. This is where you talk to God about a situation. He never made it complicated to talk to Him. It is man trying to control the situation that makes it complicated. Now, how do you know that God will hear you? One thing is the He doesn’t listen to anyone that isn’t one of His children. The only prayer that God will listen to from a non-believer is the prayer of salvation. So, you must be a believer for God to listen to your prayers. This is the starting point with any Christian. You must believe that He is and a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.

Crain Blanchard.

www.joseph1637.com

joseph1637@juno.com

Everyone that prays, wants their prayer to be effectual. It doesn’t matter whether you are sick or praying for someone else, we want our prayers to work. For the longest time, I really didn’t know whether or not God even heard me. I would pray and it seemed that I was hitting a stone wall. I will tell you a truth, I was hitting a stone wall. Although God hears everyone, He only answer His children’s prayer. This doesn’t mean that God will not get one of His children to pray for a person who isn’t His own. Many times, God will use redirected prayer to get someone’s attention. God is His own person. And we, as outsiders, have to get to know God to enter into His family. Once we are in His family, we have that right to petition God for help. This is all in God’s plan. But being effectual in our prayer requires effort on our part. Prayer isn’t verbiage. God doesn’t hear our prayer because we repeat it over and over again. Have you ever walked up to your dad and began to talk excessively? His eyes glaze over and his thoughts go elsewhere. God is our father and He doesn’t want to listen to nonsense. Prayer is communication with God and God communicating with us. Don’t be surprised that God talks to us. It was a shock to me also. So, what I am saying is that prayer is two-way communication. You want to be effectual in your prayer, then get the two-way communication going with God. You must believe that He is and a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. This is effectual prayer.

Crain Blanchard.

www.joseph1637.com

joseph1637@juno.com

When I came to the Lord and found out that I had authority over spiritual things, I thought to myself that I have weapons to change things. I began to seek and destroy devils wherever I found them. I found that I could at the name of Jesus chase any devil out my presence. God stop me one day and asked what I was doing? I told him that I was casting out devils. He said to me, no what you are doing is following the devil. He said stop doing this and follow me. He said when you run across them then cast them out. So I stop following satan and began to following God wherever He led me. I learned that God’s tools can be used as weapons. Since the beginning of time, man has used everything to defend himself. It started with a rock, then sticks, stones, water, trees, axes, swords, spears, poison, rope, gunpowder, rifles and canons. Weapons of every shape and size has been used for whatever. There has been a nationwide debate about guns and gun control. It has been ongoing for 40 years. I don’t think people will ever make up their mind about the subject. But all these weapons can’t defend you against a spiritual attack. It is fought on a different plane. But it has some of the same results. People have gotten sick and died from these attacks. Yet most people don’t see or understand the battle. They cry out to God for help because they are under attack. I have had more people ask me to prayer for them. I have never refused anyone. But more than not, God wants the individual to pray through the situation. With all kinds of weapons, you must practice and use them to become proficient. God began to teach me to use prayer as a weapon. He started with small things, like a headache. Then I moved into larger things, like the weather. It came as no surprise that as I developed my prayer life, I could accomplish more in the kingdom of God. As the bible says in 2 Corinthians 10:4 “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds..” (KJV)  Again in Ephesians 6:11-12 “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”(KJV).

Crain Blanchard.

www.joseph1637.com

jospeh1637@juno.com

There are many kinds of prayer. God wrote about it from Genesis to Revelations. It depends on the circumstance as to what kind of prayer to use to speak to God. As Paul worked his way through Asia Minor, He left Timothy to be the first pastor of Ephesus. Paul wrote back to Timothy to encourage and teach him. Paul said “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;” So there are supplications, prayers, intercessions and giving of thanks to God. This is talking to God. Paul was trying to get Timothy to pray this way and teach the church to do the same. There are different types for different situations. I ask God about scriptures all the time. One day I was helping a friend move and I stopped to talk to God. I was sitting at the dining room table by myself. Their girls came in and asked what I was doing. I told them I had asked God a question and was waiting for the answer. The next question was, you talk to God? I said yes and He answers. They looked at me like I came from Pluto. I told them that they hear from God also. I explained to them how and they began talking to God. Their lives turned around. God help them to accomplish what He had for them in life. Talking to God does make a big difference in anyone’s life. Begin to talk to God about anything. And watch what happens to you. Let me know what happens.

Crain Blanchard.

www.joseph1637@juno.com

joseph1637@juno.com

When I began I always thought that prayer was hard and mostly impossible to reach God. But every time I asked God for something, it seemed to show up at my doorstep. The first time I prayed for someone, I was cornered into doing it. I didn’t know whether or not would answer me. I said, “Ok, God do something.”  Guess what happened, God healed the person immediately. It surprised me so much that I began to test God. I prayed for simple things, headaches, pains, shirts, and whatever came to mind that I needed. By the way, there are no dumb things when it comes to pray. God said He would give us the Kingdom here on earth as well as in Heaven. God kept answering me and showing me that He was listening. Then I wanted to hear His voice and to know it was Him. I like the King James English version bible. God would speak to me through a scripture in King James English. For a long time that was how I heard His voice. Then God spoke to me plainly. I heard that still small voice in my heart and knew it truly was God. My prayer began to change into a constant conversation with my Father. This is what I always wanted, a real relationship with my Father, my older brother, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. I am not usual or strange. God talks to everyone.

Crain Blanchard.

www.joseph1637.com

joseph1637@juno.com

The Promise. We have promised things before, and have or haven’t kept those promises. We know that the promise is only as good as the person. Some will keep them and some just promise to get their way. When Adam and Eve sinned, God promised them a redeemer. 4000 years later, Jesus was born. But in the mean time, God was with man, encouraged and helped them. Until His redeemer came. Jesus fulfilled the promise God gave to man. Now the promise is unto you. Whether you choose to accept the promise or not is your choice. It’s life itself. How long will you remain dead in your sins? Choose life. All that God promised is before you. And all you have do is to ask God for forgiveness.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Www.joseph1637.com

Crucified. A word that meant a horrible death in Roman times. But it has come to mean something different amongst Christians. It still means death, but to oneself. Why was Jesus crucified? There are several reasons why. Jesus died to pay for our sins. But Jesus has always been our example, on how to live and walk in this world. His crucifixion was an example to us. As Jesus, in the garden of gethsemane, accepted God’s will in His life. So, we are to follow Jesus in accepting God’s will in our life. Which means crucifixion. Dying to oneself is the prerequisite to salvation. As you pray and ask Jesus into your heart, you give Him your life. Crucifixion is the Reality of Christianity.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Www.joseph1637.com

Decisions. It’s the time of year to make decisions. What resolutions am I going to make? How long do resolutions last? But decisions have to be made. I know I gained weight. I need to decide what to do. Jesus and his disciples had finished the passover supper. They were headed to the garden of gethsemane. Jesus had to make a decision, whether or not to accept God’s will. When He did, the soldiers led Him away to be crucified. Peter followed and had to make a decision to be identified as a follower of Jesus. It is the same decision we have to make every day. What will you do? Will you walk away crying? Decisions are the Reality of Christianity.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Www.joseph1637.com

Vigilant. God gave us a free will. We can do whatever we want. As a follower, we are instructed by the bible on which way to go. If we don’t read the bible to find out for ourselves what God has said, we can be decieved. But as we read and learn the ways of God, we are without excuse. God is very specific about what He wants us to do. You can never learn too much about God. So, as we read the bible, we begin to work in the kingdom. This is to fulfill God’s will on this earth. As we work in the kingdom, God’s plan for us is revealed. God said the the harvest is plentious. But there are few laborers. So, watch therefore and pray always. This is the Reality of Christianity.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Www.joseph1637.com