God’s Word is full of commands and whatever God commands, He gives you a divine ability, according to his glorious power. That's what the Scripture says … a divine ability to do everything He asks us to do.
Philippians 4:4-8 – “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. 5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
We recently heard an outstanding sermon by Dr. David Gibbs, Jr. on Philippians 4:4-8 (sermon link below). Here are some of the lesson points:
Verse 4 – “Rejoice Alway” = ‘alway’ (not always) means all the time; perpetually; not just when things are going good, not just when we have some peace. Notice He repeats it … rejoice. God says, ‘I want you at all times to be a person who rejoices.’ ‘Rejoice’ = ‘to restore your joy.’ Joy is a fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5). The only person who can take your joy away from you is you.
Verse 5 - This is a powerful verse. Your moderation = what's got a hold of you. When is the last time you went up to someone and said, ‘I just want to tell you what (Who) has got a hold of my life?’ We want to send missionaries around the world (and we absolutely should) but we don't witness to our next door neighbor or the people we brush shoulders with!
Verse 6 - Be careful for nothing. The word ‘care’ means ‘worry, fear, apprehension.’ The root word has two real meanings; in Greek= what you used when you were choking the life out of something (i.e., This is killing me.) It also meant ‘to put hooks in something on two sides and tear it apart violently.’ (i.e., I'm all torn up over this.) Then God gives the third command: ‘but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.’ We are to pray without ceasing but when is the last time you tried to talk to God about everything? The word ‘supplicate’ means this is not just a passing whim; this is something you are truly talking to the Lord about. Most of us pray, “God, I can handle about eighty percent of it, if you would just kick in with the 20 percent I can't handle, what a dynamic duo we'd be!” But God says, ‘I don't want that partnership … I want in everything.’
Verse 7 - Don't confuse the peace of God and peace with God. This verse was written to spiritually-born believers who are heaven bound. The day you got saved you made peace with God. Nothing can take that away; that's yours for all eternity, you're secure. But peace with God doesn't mean that you have the peace of God, which is a peace that keeps your heart (emotions) and your mind (thinking). This is a promise of God as sure as your salvation. The peace of God is nothing you can produce humanly, it's impossible. It comes from a divine resource through Christ Jesus. Have the kids seen that peace in you? have your friends seen that peace?
Verse 8 - Whatsoever things … God says, ‘Be careful where you park your mind. If it's not lovely, pure, true, don't think on that.’ God created us with two access points: eyes and ears. Anybody who wants to reach you wants you to look at something or listen to something because that's how you get ‘in’ … watch this! listen to this! Be careful little eyes and ears what you see and hear! Wish they didn't talk like that on TV? They can't if you don't listen! Don't forfeit the peace of God because you're not careful where you put your eyes and ears.
The peace of God is irreplaceable and it changes everything! Think on these things!
