BLESSINGS IN ADMONITIONS

My Dear Precious Child,
    While in prison the first time, Paul wrote letters of exhortation and encouragement to the Philippians in the church there.  In his letter to the believers in Philippi he complimented them for many things, as was his habit in his letter writing to the churches.  He reminded the believers that he never ceased joyfully praying for them, thanking Me for their fellowship in promoting the Good News from the first day of hearing it until the present time.  Because of their loyalty in advancing the Gospel, Paul told them that he was convinced that I, who began a good work in them, would continue until the day that Christ was completely formed in them.  He knew that they were partners with him in spreading the gospel, whether he was in prison or free.  He assured them that he longed to pursue them  in love and the tender mercies of Jesus Christ, Himself.
     Paul's prayers for the believers at Philippi were that their love would grow more and more until their love eventually extended to the full knowledge and greater depths of acquaintance with My Love so that they would have more comprehensive discernment in all matters.   He wrote that he wanted them to be untainted and blameless, not stumbling themselves or causing other people to stumble.  He wanted them to be filled with all of the fruits of righteousness so that My glory would be made visible in them because his imprisonment had worked for good and had served to advance the Gospel.   He reminded them that his imprisonment had  advanced the other believers, as well as himself, to speak more boldly with freedom and indifference to any consequences.    
     He was assured that there were some people who preached the gospel out of competition and others who preached from a pure heart.  Paul was not concerned with the motivations because he was just thrilled that the Gospel was being preached.  He surmised that some who preached the gospel were doing it to annoy him, supposing that they would make his imprisonment unbearable.  He knew that their bad motivations would actually turn out to enhance Paul's spiritual health and well-being toward the work of the Good News.  He proclaimed that he would not disgrace or shame his work of spreading the good news of Jesus Christ because he was determined that Christ would be magnified in him, whether in death or in life.  
    Paul assured the Philippians that whether he lived or died while in prison, that he was okay with either one.  He wrote that to live was gain and to die was gain; but if My will was for him to remain in the flesh, then he had no preference.  His heart wanted to depart and be free of this world, knowing that to be with Christ would be a better result.  However, living on in the world would be beneficial to the converts in the churches.
     Paul admonished the readers of the letter to remember that their citizenship was in My kingdom of God and that they needed to conduct their actions so that they would be worthy of the Gospel of Christ so that whether he was free to travel to see them or still be in chains, he wanted to be assured that they would stand firm, striving side by side for their complete salvation by being of one mind with other believers.   He told them not to be intimidated or frightened by their adversaries because to view them without fear would be a clear sign of the adversaries' own destruction but of the believers' salvation.  He wrote for them to consider it a privilege to suffer on behalf of Jesus Christ.  Paul wanted them to remember that his imprisonment was working for the good of the Gospel, not to its detriment.  (Philippians 1:1-30)   
     I made Paul's imprisonment work for his good and for the good of his spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  He had his own house and his own provisions even though he was in chains.  He had favor with his captors, another gift from Me.  I had opened prison doors for him in the past, but later his being imprisoned in chains was working to further the Gospel.  In your day, people are still learning My lessons and instructions in his letters to the churches.  Paul had time while in prison to hear from My Holy Spirit by not being involved personally in the problems confronting the bishops and deacons in the churches that he had established.  His admonitions in his letters served their purpose for them as well as for other churches and believers since then who study them.   My Holy Spirit makes them alive and filled with power to enhance the growth of Jesus Christ inside of My children while they come to a full knowledge of the truth.
      Your Father of Insightful Plans