Dear Weekly
Readers!
God’s Peace!
Today let us turn
to God’s Word and
prayerfully look into our Bibles at a few verses found in the book of
Philippines chapter 4, found between verse 1 and 8.
I would like to read
the first four verses to you without the names and personal references. We will then begin to look more closely at
this text.
Therefore, my
brethren, stand fast in the Lord, whose names are in the book of life, Rejoice
in the Lord away: and again I say, Rejoice.
These words are
verses 1-4 boiled down. How wonderful to
be able to share this with you today in this forum! My brethren, those that are my brothers in
Christ! We can share His Word together
today, all over the world! What a
blessing!
What are the
brethren to do? Stand fast in the Lord! Do not grow weary and weak; do not give way to
the devil. Rather, stand fast in the
Lord, and in the power of HIS might! He
is the Way, the Truth and the Life!
He has made His enemies and, yes, even the whole world His
footstool! He can handle our problems. Stand fast in the Lord!
Who are the
brethren? Those whose names are
written in the book of life!
Those people that have repented, died to self, turned from self to God,
and have been given the gift of life, the faith to believe, that Jesus is their
Saviour and Lord! Those whose
robes are washed and are made white in the Blood of the Lamb! All of these people all around the world are
Paul’s brethren, my
brethren, and the brethren of all other believers! We are one in Christ Jesus!
The church is the
bride of Christ! Each individual
believer is so precious in His eyes.
Just like the groom in today’s weddings looks at his bride, except
in even a so much more perfect way and in a wholly perfect love!
This is cause for
Rejoicing, is it not? This is why all
Christians have the right to Rejoice in the Lord! Their names are written in the book of
life! They have a spot reserved in
Heaven through no merits of their own, but rather only because of the sovereign
God who has granted the grace to believe, and written their new name in the
book of life!
Is this you, dear
believer? Rejoice in the
Lord! And again I say Rejoice!
Now we must go back
over verses 1-4. Here we can see that
there had been some issues between Euodias and Sytyche and others. Paul encouraged all to be united and work
together in the Gospel! Are we doing
that in our ministry? Do we work
together or fight between ourselves? Do
we forget we are one body, and that a body has many parts? We must use all parts of the body of
Christ!
Now let us briefly
go on to Verse 5. Let your
moderation be known unto all men. The
Lord is at hand.
The Lord is coming
soon. Let us watch and be ready. This verse is one of the most commonly
misused verses in scripture. The modern day version of this is moderation in
all things. There are many Christians
who believe that you can partake in anything as long as you do it in
moderation. Of course, they are thinking
of things like eating, drinking, etc. As long as you do not overindulge, then you
are doing fine.
Well, this type of thinking is not
only wrong but it is opposed to Scripture. This is the only place in scripture
where the word “moderation” is used. The Greek word behind “moderation” means “gentle, patient,
yielding.” In fact, it is used
in other verses in the Scriptures.
(1 Tim 3:3) Not given to wine, no
striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient,
not a brawler, not covetous;
(Titus 3:2) To speak evil of no man,
to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness
unto all men.
(James 3:17) But the wisdom that is
from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be
entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without
hypocrisy.
(1 Pet 2:18)
Servants, be subject to your masters with all
fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
Can we see, dear reader, that rather
than moderation becoming sort of a license for sin, it is actually a word that
gives glory to the One that moderates us!
We must not misuse the Bible to meet our own ends.
Verse
8 is very instructional to the believer. Finally my 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.
What
Paul is speaking about is the Christian’s thought-life
based on the great truths found in scriptures.
He is not talking about the power of positive thinking
which is pushed in the world today.
Proverbs 19:20-21 Hear counsel, and receive instruction,
that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end. There are many devices in a man's
heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.
Sin
begins and derives in or from the mind.... The Bible in many spots refers to
the mind or heart. Mark 7:20-23, for example. (Please read.)
Have
you ever thought that maybe what you are watching, reading, or daydreaming is
causing you to think and do bad things?
Whatsoever
things are true…
John
8:26 …. Jesus said: he that sent me is
true....
Romans
3:4 .… let God be true,
but every man a liar….
If
there be any praise…. Even in those
people that are not necessarily our friends, the acts of kindness that they do
are given and allowed by God. Take the beauty of a flower. We all agree that God created them and give
God praise and glory. Likewise when you
see good things in anyone else, believe
that it is God allowing those things.
Look at the good things in another and put the best construction on all
that he does.
Think
on these things…. Control what
comes into your mind. There is a saying
in the USA that says, garbage in garbage out. In other words, don’t expect good
results from living an ungodly life or thought-life. We reap what we sow, according to the Word.
Proverbs
4:23 Keep
thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
What
ought we to do then in order to combat the enemy on these issues of the mind
and the battle?
• We need the mind of Christ through
conversion (repentance).
• We must avoid evil and unclean things
from all sources.
• We must read God’s word.
• We should expose our
minds to the great Christians throughout history.
• Listen to Christian music especially
those that speak of our mighty God, Creator, Saviour.
• Pray and be still….
Some
years ago, there was a person on one of our city streets here in the USA that
would eat out of the garbage, was always dirty, and lived so very poorly. Finally, she was picked up by the police who
found out that she lived in an apartment that was overrun with trash and very
dirty. However, they also found in her
home almost one million USA dollars. “Bag Mary” was a wealthy
person, but she did not enjoy it or live that way. She instead wallowed in the dirt like a
pig. Too many Christians also do
this. We get involved with the filth of
this earth and this flesh. We spend our
time on those things of the world that are not edifying or beneficial to
Christians.
We
are the child of THE KING. We ought to
remember this and Stand Fast in the Lord and in the power of His might!
Rejoice in the Lord alway!
A
man was trying to explain to his son what the battle that rages in the heart of
man was like. He said they are like two
dogs fighting. The son asked the father,
“Which one wins?” The father said, “The
one that gets fed the most.”
Which
gets fed the most in your life, the flesh or the New Man? I pray that it is not the flesh, because that
only will lead one to destruction.
Rather, look to Jesus and you will be able to realize as stated at the
end of Philippians 4:
19
But
my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ
Jesus.
20 Now unto God and
our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
May
God Bless your week!
John
Ruotsala
