Acts 16:35-40; Philippians 1:1-2

Acts 16:37 – Paul may have wanted their release to be as public as their punishment to establish their innocence publicly and prevent undue bad publicity for the church in Philippi.

Philippians 1:1 – The church in Philippi was composed of saints, including elders and deacons. Notice that saints were people who were alive at the time.

• Nowhere in the Bible is a person referred to using “Saint” as a title. The term was only used as a collective noun to refer to God’s holy people as a group.

• A saint is one who has obeyed God and is in Christ, which implies they have been baptized.

Philippians 1:2 – We should have this same kind of spiritual peace that Paul had and desired for the Philippians.

Isaiah 33:15-17

A righteous walk (Isaiah 33:16)

• Speaks with sincerity

  • James 1:1-8 – The tongue is very difficult to control.

  • James 3:2

  • James 1:26 – An uncontrolled tongue makes your religion vain.

• Rejects unjust gain

  • Romans 12:17

  • II Corinthians 8:21

• Hands hold no bribe

  • Matthew 26:15

  • I Samuel 8:3

• Stops his ears from hearing about bloodshed

  • II Timothy 4:3

  • Psalms 15:3

• Shuts his eyes from looking upon evil

  • II Samuel 12

  • I Corinthians 11:1

  • II Peter 2:14

• Luke 1:6 – Keep God’s commandments to walk with God.

An exalted walk (Isaiah 33:16 a)

• Ephesians 4:1

• Romans 3:23

• Acts 17:30

• Colossians 1:3

A safe walk (Isaiah 33:16 b)

• I Corinthians 10:4

• Matthew 7:21, 24

• Psalms 18:2

A well-supplied walk (Isaiah 33:16 c)

• I John 1:7

• This walk brings peace (Philippians 4:7) and joy (I Peter 1:8).

• Walking with God provides all spiritual blessings.

A walk of faith and hope (Isaiah 33:17)

• Hebrews 2:9

• I John 3:2

Those who so walk have the best in this life and a peaceful death before living with God in eternity.

Introduction

• What does it mean to follow and obey God’s will?

• John 8:42, 44, 47

• What does God require of us?

• How can we be faithful to God in everyday life?

Values taught in the Bible are often opposite of worldly values.

Christian values

• Ephesians 4:25-32

• II Timothy 2:22-26

Ten values or principles for living a Christian life

• Worship only God – Mark 12:29-30; Matthew 6:24

  • Anything that takes us away from our devotion to God becomes an idol or false god.

  • Colossians 3:5

• Respect all people – Mark 12:31; Luke 6:27-28, 31-33; Matthew 7:12

  • Love – “agape” love: respect, affection, benevolence, good-will, and concern for the welfare of others.

• Be humble – I Corinthians 10:23-24; Philippians 2:2-4, 5-8

  • Every soul is as valuable to God as our own.

• Be honest – Proverbs 12:22; 24:28; 20:10

  • Honesty and integrity are held as very important values throughout the Bible.

• Live a moral life – Mark 7:20-22; I Corinthians 6:9-10

  • Immorality comes in many forms.

• Be generous – Proverbs 28:27; Matthew 25:41-46; Acts 20:35; I John 3:17; James 2:14-17; II Corinthians 9:7; I Timothy 6:17-19

  • The Bible tells us to share generously with those in need.

• Don’t be a hypocrite – Matthew 23:27-28; 15:8; 7:1-5; Romans 2:21-24

  • If we claim to be Christians, but we do not let Jesus’ teachings guide our lives, we are hypocrites.

• Don’t be self-righteous – Romans 3:23; I John 1:8; Proverbs 26:12; Matthew 7:1-5; Galatians 6:1-3

  • No one is perfect; we are all sinners in one way or another.

• Don’t hold a grudge – Proverbs 15:11; 19:11; Romans 12:17-21; Ephesians 4:31-32

  • Jesus said there is no place for hatred, holding a grudge, or seeking revenge and retaliation in the life of a Christian.

• Forgive others – Matthew 6:14-15; Ephesians 4:32; Matthew 18:21-22; Colossians 3:12-14

  • In the same way that God forgives us, we must be merciful and forgive other people.

Psalm 22

Hebrews 6:18 – Lying is contrary to God’s nature, thus He cannot lie.

Forsaking someone who is doing His will is also against God’s nature.

Psalm 9:10; John 8:29; 16:32

Psalm 22 is metaphorical and hyperbolic. Much of it does not make sense if you take it literally. The Jews knew this psalm and understood it. Jesus called it to their attention on the cross. He was not telling the Jews that He had been forsaken. He quoted Psalms 22:1 to show that He had not been forsaken by God just like David had not been forsaken.

God had not forsaken him.

• Psalms 22:1, 11, 19, 20, 21, 24 – If these are taken literally, they cannot be harmonized.

Compare the prophecy and the fulfillment:

• Psalm 22:7; Matthew 27:39

• Psalm 22:8; Matthew 27:43

• Psalm 22:11; John 16:32

• Psalm 22:15; Job 19:28

• Psalm 22:17; Luke 23:35

• Psalm 22:18; Matthew 27:35

• Psalm 22:16; John 19:37