Philip Dampier's Blog

Achieving Holiness We cannot achieve holiness by acting holy. Nor do we achieve holiness by incremental steps of obedience and faith. Then how do we achieve it? Where does it come from? To achieve holiness we must repent of sins but repentance does not within itself create holiness. We could…

Chapter 4, Verse 13 “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” This is Paul’s secret. His strength to overcome negatives in his life came from Jesus. He knew that Jesus was supplying his every need and so he had all he needed. Since Paul’s treasure was in his…

Chapter 4, Verse 12 “I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.” We eagerly await Paul’s explanation. How does he know these things that we struggle with on…

Chapter 4, Verse 11 “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned, in whatever situation I am, to be content.” Boy! Don’t you wish you could say this? If you can, you are definitely God blessed. It is most likely that Paul did need something considering…

Chapter 4, Verse 11 “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned, in whatever situation I am, to be content.” Boy! Don’t you wish you could say this? If you can, you are definitely God blessed. It is most likely that Paul did need something considering…

Alive in Christ Kenneth Boa in his book, Conformed to His Image, (p.270) wrote “Any dead fish can float downstream, but to swim against the current of our times, we must be spiritually alive.” Our cultural world defines us based on our achievements within that culture. How we measure up…

Chapter 4, Verse 10 “I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity.” Paul reminds them of his appreciation for their support in his present circumstance. They would have done more sooner…

Chapter 4, Verse 9 “What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” Paul has instructed them in the proper way to think and how it will affect their life’s outcome. Now, he turns to behavior. How…