Thought On This Chapter
PHIL 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say,
Rejoice.
This was not penned by a man who never had trials and
tribulation. Quite the contrary. God did not choose a man who never
had trouble come his way. Instead God choose Paul to pen it. Paul
had been beaten, he had been stoned, he had been shipwrecked. Paul had
people forsake him. And yet Paul writes, "Rejoice in the Lord alway"
And then he hammers it home some by writing, "and again I say, Rejoice"
Rejoice when you are done wrong. Rejoice when you
are betrayed. Rejoice in the Lord always no matter what the circumstance.
Paul is talking from a life of experience and he tells us to Rejoice no matter
what. Paul had personal experience with this. He knew that it is
possible to still rejoice in the Lord no matter what storm is raging around you.
How is that possible? We can rejoice even in hard times because of God's
enabling grace. He never leaves us or forsakes us. Even when in a
fiery furnace He is there with us side by side (Dan Ch 3).
We can rejoice no matter what because our rejoicing is
in Jesus our Lord and not in the circumstances that surround us.
Thought On This Chapter
PHIL 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all
understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
A basic principal in Bible study it to take notice of
connecting words. For example verse 7 tells about the peace of God, which
passeth all understanding. It tells us that this peace shall keep our
hearts and minds. Think about that for a minute. Don't you ever have
problems, trials, and tribulations? Don't things come up in your life that
cause worry and stress? If you are honest I think you would have to say
yes. But God has a peace that He gives His children that can give them
peace no matter what the circumstances. I have seen Christians go thru
tough circumstances and they have this peace and I have seen others who were a
mess. So this peace is not given to everyone at all times. This is
where we need to take a look at the first word of verse 7. The word And.
Here it is used as a connecting word. It connects the result of verse 7
with the behavior in verse 6. We all want the result of verse 7 and to
have it we need to do what is in verse 6.
PHIL 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by
prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto
God.
Be careful for nothing in this case means don't be full
of care. Don't be fussing and fretting and full of worry. Instead
pray to God. Make all your requests known to Him. And it tells us to
pray for everything with thanksgiving. What we see here is a heart
attitude of thanks unto God. A heart attitude that trusts Him in all
things. A heart of faith that believes that He hears and that He answers.
Faith that enables you to give the problems over to God. Trusting that
however He decides to handle it will be for your best. Even if you don't
understand why He handles it the way He does.
First you pray with this kind of heart, then comes the
peace that passeth all understanding. You will have a peace in the storm
that others simply cannot understand. It is a wonderful thing. But
always remember. First verse 6 then verse 7.
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King James Bible Main Index:
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Philippians 4 |
[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
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PHIL 4:1 Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.
PHIL 4:2 I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.
PHIL 4:3 And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.
PHIL 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
PHIL 4:5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
PHIL 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
PHIL 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
PHIL 4:8 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.
PHIL 4:9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
PHIL 4:10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.
PHIL 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
PHIL 4:12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
PHIL 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
PHIL 4:14 Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.
PHIL 4:15 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.
PHIL 4:16 For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.
PHIL 4:17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
PHIL 4:18 But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.
PHIL 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
PHIL 4:20 Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
PHIL 4:21 Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you.
PHIL 4:22 All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar's household.
PHIL 4:23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
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General Information About the Book of Philippians.
In Philippians we see that Christ is to be our passion,
our pattern, our prize, and our power.
We see that we are to be living for Christ, laboring
for Christ, learning about Christ, and looking for Christ.
When reading this book look for these T's of the
Christian:
Testimony
Temperament
Treasury
Triumph
Thought on this Chapter
PHIL 4:14 Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye
did communicate with my affliction.
Communicating and helping those in need is a good thing
to do. Paul says well done to the Philippians.
PHIL 4:15 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the
beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated
with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.
It is sad but they were the only ones. They were
in the minority. It is the same today. Very few Christians want to
help.
PHIL 4:16 For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and
again unto my necessity.
The Philippians did not help only once. With them
it seems to have been a habit. They sent help again and again to help
Paul.
PHIL 4:17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire
fruit that may abound to your account.
Paul was glad to see it. Not because he desired a
gift. But because Paul understood that God would reward them for it.
Some of the fruit of Paul's ministry would go to their account because of their
involvement; because of their help. We are to lay up treasures in heaven.
PHIL 4:18 But I have all, and abound: I am full, having
received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a
sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.
Paul says that their help was a sweet smelling
sacrifice to God. He says that their gifts were acceptable and well
pleasing to God.
I hope that you understand this principal. Giving
gifts, help, and money to people who are getting the Word of God out is well
pleasing to God, and that some of the fruit of that ministry will go to your
account. You will be rewarded for it. I believe that most of the
reward will be given to you in heaven. Which is actually better than
getting it now if you think about it. A reward now lasts only a short
time. A reward in heaven lasts forever.
PHIL 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need
according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
And you do not have to concern yourself about not
having enough for yourself if you give some to God's work. He will supply
all your need.
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