Sunday September 11, 2022

Here’s the Thing

The abiding message of the book of Philippians concerns the nature and grounds of Christian joy. For Paul, the author of the letter, joy is independent of outward conditions and is possible even in the midst of adverse circumstances. His secret? The “thing” principle.

Chapter four can easily be nicknamed the “thing” chapter. In it, Paul gives us a pattern of victorious living through six things. If we follow this blueprint, peace, joy, and life abundant will be within our grasp,

The first thing is no thing. “Be anxious for nothing” (v.6). This is a command not just a suggestion. To be anxious is lacking trust and faith (Rom.14:23). The word anxious means “to give careful thought to.” In other words, anxiety comes when we think about something over and over and over again to the point that it begins to rule over our hearts.

Next is everything. “But in everything, by prayer and supplication..” (v.6) God already knows your need but we must ask God for it…in faith not anxiety. God hears our requests and always gives us an answer. His answer replaces our anxious thoughts with peace and trust. (See WORD WISDOM for a deeper study of ask)

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord (Jas.1:6-7)

Because we place our hope and trust in God’s response to our prayers, we can give thanks for “all things” with thanksgiving in our hearts. (v.6). If we can learn to be grateful for all the things that happen to us, both good and bad, God’s sovereignty and Lordship become paramount to the circumstance and blessing. God really is in control.

The fourth thing is good things.

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. (Phil.4:8)

Instead of allowing our imaginations and our thoughts lead us away from trusting God, Paul tells us to meditate on God’s goodness and greatness. If we think victoriously, we will live victoriously.

So now we must do the right thing. What are the right things? The first four things!

The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, practice these things and the God of peace will be with you. (Phil.4:9)

The word practice means, “to perform repeatedly or habitually.” These things have to become as natural an outpouring as breathing. But that only happens through a supernatural transformation with the help of the Holy Spirit.

And finally, when we understand and exercise all the other things we can make this bold declaration:

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Phil.4:13)

What Paul is saying is that he can do all the things…be anxious for nothing, pray about everything, be thankful for all things, think on good things, and practice the right things. And that is what leads to living a victorious life through all things! Amen! There will always be other things that draw our attentions and pull at our hearts. There will be things that bombard our minds with fear and doubt. We will even do things that offend God. But in the end, there is always the “Love” thing…it bears all things, hopes all things, and endures all things…it never fails! (1 Cor.13:7)

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Related Scripture

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

— Philippians 4:6

Word Wisdom

ask
Greek "aiteo" (ahee-the-oh) Strong’s #154

To request, petition. The word usually describes a suppliant making a request of someone in higher position, such as an individual asking something from God (Matthew 21:22), a subject from a king (Mark 6:25), a child from a parent (Luke 11:11), or a beggar from a person of substance (Acts 3:2). The word denotes insistent asking without qualms, not “commanding” God but solidly presenting a requisition whose items He longs to distribute.

So...

Learning to live only one day at a time is one of the most vital lessons of the Christian life. Yet how slow we often are to “learn it by heart!” A beautiful picture is given by William M. Strong in a recent bulletin of the Soldiers’ and Gospel Mission of South America, of which he is founder and director: “Only those who have lived in a country where fruits and flowers are dependent on irrigation,” writes Mr. Strong, “can fully comprehend the parable of God’s provision which we see every hour of every day in the green fields that surround Coihueco during the summer months. Central Southern Chile is a land of great rains for about seven months in the year, and the balance of the time is one of almost utter dryness. It is in these dry months that we see one of the Lord’s miracles at work. The snowcapped mountains in front of the house at Mission headquarters are the storehouses of one of God’s inexhaustible blessings. That heavenly mechanism which controls all nature here lets down each day only just enough water to supply that day’s need for the thirsty fields; so through these long, dry months of summer, every day in exactly the same quantity, comes flowing through the ditches that life-giving supply, without which an arid desert would form each year over the face of south-central Chile. What a striking picture this, to those of His children who have come to know Him well enough to walk with Him by faith, telling Him (and Him alone) of their need, and then seeing Him work with all His marvelous ways of supplying that need—many times from the most unexpected sources and, marvel of marvels, always quite enough! I think on these things and I am at peace.” —Sunday School Times