Philippians 4:6-7; NKJV
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.
Perhaps Philippians 4:6 is the hardest command of the New Covenant. "Don't worry." How am I to go about submitting to Philippians 4:6?
Pray. Instead of worrying about it, being anxious over it, being troubled by it, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving talk to God about it.
Instead of being full of anxiety, He will fill you full of His peace...
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Enemies of the Cross of Christ
Philippians 3:17-21; NKJV
17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.
18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame — who set their mind on earthly things.
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
Not everyone is receptive to the gospel of Christ. There are "enemies of the cross of Christ," folks who are actively hostile (Strong's). They live lives that are in opposition to the walk of disciples of Christ. They set their minds on earthly things, their glory is their shame, their end is destruction.
Let us follow the pattern of men like the Apostle Paul and walk in the footsteps of Jesus. How we live determines whether we are His friends or His enemies. "As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him" (Colossians 2:6; NKJV).
17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.
18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame — who set their mind on earthly things.
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
Not everyone is receptive to the gospel of Christ. There are "enemies of the cross of Christ," folks who are actively hostile (Strong's). They live lives that are in opposition to the walk of disciples of Christ. They set their minds on earthly things, their glory is their shame, their end is destruction.
Let us follow the pattern of men like the Apostle Paul and walk in the footsteps of Jesus. How we live determines whether we are His friends or His enemies. "As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him" (Colossians 2:6; NKJV).
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
I Press
Philippians 3:12-16; NKJV
12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.
16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.
Press – to pursue, to run swiftly
Goal – the end one has in view
Prize – the award to the victor
High – upward or on the top
Calling – invitation
12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.
16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.
Press – to pursue, to run swiftly
Goal – the end one has in view
Prize – the award to the victor
High – upward or on the top
Calling – invitation
Monday, February 25, 2013
That I May Know Him
Philippians 3:7-11; NKJV
7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.
8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ
9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;
10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
“…that I may know Him…” (Philippians 3:10; NKJV)
Paul, led by the Spirit, uses the Greek word (ginooskoo) that means to know by experience.
The entire focus of Paul’s life was to experience more of Jesus.
7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.
8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ
9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;
10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
“…that I may know Him…” (Philippians 3:10; NKJV)
Paul, led by the Spirit, uses the Greek word (ginooskoo) that means to know by experience.
The entire focus of Paul’s life was to experience more of Jesus.
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Hidden in My Heart
And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me,
and also of the king's words that he had spoken to me. So they said,
"Let us rise up and build." Then they set their hands to this good
work. (Nehemiah 2:18; NKJV)
Friday, February 22, 2013
Epaphroditus
Philippians 2:25-30; NKJV
25 Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need;
26 since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick.
27 For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.
28 Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful.
29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem;
30 because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me.
Epaphroditus was a member of the church in Philippi. He was sent by the Philippians to Paul to minister to his needs while he was in prison. While in Rome he became so sick he nearly died. As soon as he was well Paul sent him back to Philippi to ease the minds of his brethren.
Epaphroditus was a man who was to be held in high esteem because of work and heart. He loved the Lord and the Lord's people. He worked to glorify God and to edify his brethren. Follow his example and be held in high esteem among your brethren to the glory of God.
25 Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need;
26 since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick.
27 For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.
28 Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful.
29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem;
30 because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me.
Epaphroditus was a member of the church in Philippi. He was sent by the Philippians to Paul to minister to his needs while he was in prison. While in Rome he became so sick he nearly died. As soon as he was well Paul sent him back to Philippi to ease the minds of his brethren.
Epaphroditus was a man who was to be held in high esteem because of work and heart. He loved the Lord and the Lord's people. He worked to glorify God and to edify his brethren. Follow his example and be held in high esteem among your brethren to the glory of God.
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Work Out, Works In
Philippians 2:12-13; NKJV
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
My Part - Work out - katergazomai - work fully, accomplish, finish (Strong's)
God's Part - Works in - energeo - to be active (Strong's)
Do your part. He'll do His part. You will experience salvation.
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
My Part - Work out - katergazomai - work fully, accomplish, finish (Strong's)
God's Part - Works in - energeo - to be active (Strong's)
Do your part. He'll do His part. You will experience salvation.
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