Hello friends!
Paul is one of my favorite of the 40 inspired authors who wrote the Bible. I think this is because he writes like an attorney presenting a case. Paul is straightforward and his thoughts tend to build on one another. Paul leaves little room for guesswork. He gives us the reason for his instructions and, at times, even seems to put living out our faith into easy to follow steps. Philippians 4 is a wonderful example of such teaching and the chapter where we will spend the next 2 weeks.
We have to start with the very first word in chapter 4, “Therefore.” Paul is about to give us instructions based on the promises of the first 3 chapters.
-In Chapter 1, Paul spoke to the blessings of eternal and supernatural joy that is given to us by the Lord and maintained by the Holy Spirit despite our circumstances.
-In Chapter 2, we learned of katergazesthe, the working out of our salvation. Much like the supernatural joy that is given as a gift, salvation is a gift that is given once and then pours out into every aspect of our time on Earth.
-In Chapter 3, we celebrated the changes that occur in our hearts, minds, and behaviors as we rest and re-center our lives around the gifts of Salvation and the joy that it brings.
None of the themes in the first 3 chapters of Philippians are works based, they are gifts given to us that are manifested in our lives by the Holy Spirit as we allow Him to transform our hearts to be more like His own.
Chapter 4 builds on these gifts and reminds us of the importance of our commitment to surrendering our lives to the power of Christ each and every day.
Therefore:
Verses 1-3 – Be steadfast in your faith.
Why?
Because…
- “I press on toward the one goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).
- “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will be faithful to carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus”(Philippians 1:6).
- “continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purposes”(Philippians 2:12b-13).
Verse 4 – Delight in God.
Why?
Because…
- “Christ Jesus…who, being in the very nature of God, did not consider equality with God something to be used for his advantage; rather, he made himself nothing, by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:6-8).
- “for I know that through your prayers and God’s provisions of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance”(Philippians 1:19)
- “I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ- the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith”(Philippians 3:9).
Verse 5 – Be an example of kindness and gentleness in the world.
Why?
Because…
- “I thank my God for you. In all my prayers for you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now” (Philippians 1:3-4).
- “do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4).
- “All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you” (Philippians 3:15).
Verses 6-7 -Avoid anxious and distracting thoughts
Why?
Because…
- “It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh” (Philippians 3:1b-2).
- “I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:20-21).
- “Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God, without fault in a warped and crooked generation” (Philippians 2:14-15a).
Verses 8-9 – Set your mind of God and the truth of His Word
Why?
Because…
- “that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and in-depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless in the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God”(Philippians 1:9-11).
- “if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and one in mind”(Philippians 2:1-2).
- “Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” (Philippians 3:20-21)
Just as the blessings in Chapter 1-3 are gifts, the instructions in Chapter 4 cannot be carried out in our own strength. I pray that as we study God’s Word this week, He will empower us to live lives that bring glory and honor to Him.
This week’s reading:
05/11-05/13: Philippians 4:1-3
05/13-05/15: Philippians 4:4-9
I will have some questions for your reflection on Wednesday.
Please be in touch anytime!
Love you all!
Hugs!
Kinsee
