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Devotional, Faith, Hearing God's Voice, Hope, School of the Prophets, Steven R. Harrel for This Side of the Whirlwind, Walking with God
Memory Verse and Devotional: Philippians 4:4-7
MV-Level 3
Now, here are a few verses rich with meaning. At first blush, comprehending Philippians 4:4-7 is obvious. Understanding the English verbiage is rather straightforward. However, applying each verse conceptionally – in our lives – can present genuine challenges.
Philippians 4:4-7
4) Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I say, rejoice!
5) Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
6) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
7) and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Verse 4 does not present us with any great mystery to what the author is overtly trying to convey. He says, “Rejoice” or “be glad” or “happy” in the – Lord – at all times.
And why shouldn’t we? According to God’s Word, all things work together for good in the lives of Christians (Romans 8:28).
Okay, how can that be true?
Believe it or not… the statement is true because God, Who is all knowing and infinitely powerful, promised such an existence to those that love God and are called according to His purpose! (Romans 8:28)
Therefore, we can live our lives knowing God’s existence and promises warrant our rejoicing – in Him – at all times!
Of course…
To be able to continually rejoice in the Lord, we the practitioners, must trust the Lord with genuine conviction, in every situation. Such a state of being requires we BELIEVE a few things:
- A conviction about the Lord’s great power over all things perpetually. Yes, all things and at all times!
- Therefore, God, having such authority and power continually over all things… promised to employ divine faithfulness, goodness, mercy and forgiveness in every aspect of the practitioner’s, Christian’s life and that universally.
- Assenting to the idea, that without such trust being universally DESERVED – it would be impossible for anyone of sound-mind to, “Rejoice in the Lord – always”.
- And, without such deserved trust being EMPLOYED by the practitioner – it would also be impossible for someone to justly, “Rejoice in the Lord – always”?
Only a fool would rejoice in all things at all times if God/Jesus were not worthy of such convictions.
True observance to Philippian’s 4:4-7 requires us to walk with the Lord – trusting Jesus – believing Jesus’ commitment towards our wellbeing and that of the Kingdom of God among Men.
So again, the question is presented, how could we/you truly trust Jesus if He did not warrant universal confidence? In other words, if Jesus were not God! I do not believe an intelligent person could trust Jesus’ ability to fulfill such powerful and numerous promises otherwise.
Therefore, if you are having trouble living your life in a state of “Peace and Rejoicing,” ask yourself the following questions:
- Is your God, Jesus, God/Creator of the entire universe?
- Is He powerful enough to control our universe, and all that pertains to us? (Romans 8:28)
- More to the point, if you have confessed Jesus as Lord, as the Master/Boss of your life; (Romans 10:9-11)
- Have you committed your heart, mind and LIFE to the proposition that Jesus, as God, the Son of God, actually came to earth in the form of a human specifically to die for your/our sin;
- And that God, then, raised Jesus from the dead so we could be, will be, raised from the dead in God’s perfect timing?
The questions above appear deceivingly simple. They are not! They are not! They are not!
The above questions profoundly impact the lives of both believers and non-believers.
The answers to the above questions are easily found in God’s Word but require a lifetime of employment.
Here’s a sidebar: if you do not know the Word of God… how can you believe? (2nd Timothy 2:15) You cannot really believe what you do not know.
How do you employ what you do not believe? How do you believe what you do not know? (2nd Timothy 2:15)
I know the remaining three verses, 5, 6 and 7, carry their own volumes of meaning and or depth; however, today’s goal has been to express the individual Christian’s need for trusting who Jesus is as God/Son of God if they want to live a life of Rejoicing and Hope (Philippians 4:7) AND PEACE (verse 7). Primarily, we need to trust Jesus’ role as God/Creator and Savior, as well as, THE upholder of all God’s promises; such is critical to walking successfully and perpetually as a Child of God ~ REJOICING!
So, if you don’t live your Christian life, “Rejoicing,” then maybe you need to get back to the basics of who Jesus really is as Creator of the Universe? (2nd Timothy 2:15 & Colossians 1:15-27)
Or possibly you are not recognizing Jesus’ perpetual presence in your life?
One significant, if not missing, element in the lives of many Christians – those who struggle with fear and uncertainty – which is the anti-rejoicing drug, of course – is how they picture their God inadequate to the needs of the world around them.
Think about it… If in your mind… God is not big enough to handle all the world’s problems at one time… then how could He be big enough to handle your life’s catastrophes?
So, do you need to ask yourself: do I really believe God and His Word, Genesis, chapter 1?
Do you?
This Side of the Whirlwind 