All Things

There are some verses in the Bible that just LEAP out as favorites.
I see them almost daily on a t-shirt, facebook post and etc..
There is one on my calendar right now. 

Philippians 4:13 ¹³ I can do all things through Christ^[b] who strengthens me.

***I asked for it - - To find deeper understanding in His Word..
Oh how the blessed changes have been happening!!
I've come to crave it: hunger / thirst for His instructions.
Ok.. we know this was written by Paul (probably while imprisoned) to the churches-where he had friends, fellow believers, and enjoyed fellowship with them.
Verse 1 - 3 shows Paul's emotion (God given) towards them. He calls them beloved, my joy and crown.

4 Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.

Be United, Joyful, and in Prayer² I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. ³ And^[a] I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.

These are people that he knew well, people that he loved, with a love that is God given.
He's their teacher & friend in Jesus Christ.
Next, he instructs them of Christ's way (that he'd been taught and practiced) of worship & fellowship. (vs 4-9) **these are some of my favorite verses to cling to. It tells us everything we need to know in just a short few sentences**

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
⁵ Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
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.

Meditate on These Things

⁸ 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. ⁹ The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
He tells us to REJOICE, let gentleness be known - - The Lord (Jesus) is at hand! Literally-at hand. He's right there. Always.
In several of his letters Paul lists "fruits" (basically characteristics that come naturally with the change)  that come from having the Spirit of Christ dwelling in us: gentleness is one of them.

Warns us not to be anxious for NOTHING! LITERALLY! NOT ONE THING!!! This tells us that - even though God already knows.. Jesus is right there, waiting for us to let Him know to take care of it.
That in prayer -supplication & with thanksgiving -  make our requests known to God and the peace of God (which is JESUS) will guard our hearts and minds!
***remember the verse in John where it says "no one gets to the Father but through me." - Jesus speaking. Yeah!! no joke.. *** we know He was speaking on salvation, but it totally fits for EVERYTHING!!! Jesus is the way and the life! We either follow Him or we don't know God. period.***

John 14:6New King James Version (NKJV)

⁶ Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Now.. what this means to those of us practicing service, faith, hope, and trust in the ONE true Lord, Jesus Christ, is that we have crystal clear instructions on what we are to be doing to serve Him here on Earth. Through my studies of Paul's letters, I have been discovering more and more of those ways that He loves us & His examples of being lead by the Spirit daily.

The next few verses are Paul sharing what he's endured as his days & thanking them for their support of prayer and even gifts to him & what it's meant to him - as his days as a believer, teacher, preacher, apostle unfolded. Paul gives first hand experience - witness testimony - seriously - hand picked by Christ Himself to do this. whoa!!

Philippian Generosity

¹⁰ But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. ¹¹ Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: ¹² I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. ¹³ I can do all things through Christ^[b] who strengthens me.
¹⁴ Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress. ¹⁵ Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. ¹⁶ For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. ¹⁷ Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. ¹⁸ Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. ¹⁹ And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. ²⁰ Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Greeting and Blessing

²¹ Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you. ²² All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar’s household.
²³ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.^[c] Amen.

Read in context - when he says I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me -- he is letting them (and us) know - that no matter what the state of his condition is he has full 100% complete confidence that all these things are as they need be for His plan, in which he gathers strength.
In verse 11 he states that he's learned to be content with whatever state he is in.That means - no matter what - because he knows he is following HIS plan, which in itself is enough for calming of the anxiety and feeling strength, confidence, and a deeper faith.

All things through Christ = meaning the teaching, the preaching, the testifying, the writing, AND the beatings, the hunger, the persecution and ultimately his execution..

Seriously --- all these things -- the things God through Jesus lead him to do.
Not all things he wanted to do - - or all things people told him to do - - but ALL THINGS through CHRIST -- who strengthened him. This is not physical strength. This is 100% Holy Spirit filled strength. The strongest strength there is.
Seriously -- powerful stuff.

This ONE single verse, which already meant a lot - - now has even more meaning.

ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST - who strengthens me.
Paul's testimony --- not one bit of credit is his own. He gives it ALL to Christ. For His glory, not his own.  All things through Christ.. not for Christ.. but THROUGH. . HOLY INSTRUCTIONS.

WHOA!!!

So this means - - the 'mystery' which is serving the Lord - revealed by Himself (Jesus) - taught, sought and bought by His blood -- all things HIM and the Father are the things that strengthen us, our relationship with Him, and the knowledge needed for humbly serving the Master of all masters to orchestrate His will.
W H O A !!! My mind is blown. Is yours?!

After digging a little deeper.. this verse means so much more.
So much! We can have full 100% committed confidence as our relationship with Christ grows closer- He's creating in us the strength to see His plan through. W H O A !!!
It's really our choice to tap into that kind of power & strength.
I urge you to take a deeper look into some of your favorite verses..
You may be surprised what else the Lord has in store for you.



Peace be with you all <3


 

A Little Deeper

One of my favorite songs by Andy Gibb (BeeGees) is How Deep is your love?
I heard it yesterday. Not going to lie - - I dig it.
I had no idea it would tie into the message I was inspired to write today..

God's love has no depth.
I'm coming to know the overwhelming love of God through Jesus.
There is no greater love than that of the Father through His Son.
There is NO OTHER WAY to know God.

God's love is a challenge for us. It's one like we can't experience with other people.
We can feel love and fellowship, friendship, and sense of family, but there is NO love like God's.
Totally a  challenge!

It's a challenge to BE DIFFERENT: be set apart from the rest (the world). Sets us up for ridicule and persecution amongst our environment. 

Psalm 4:3-5

New King James Version (NKJV)

³ But know that the Lord has set apart^[a] for Himself him who is godly;
The Lord will hear when I call to Him.

⁴ Be angry, and do not sin.
Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah
⁵ Offer the sacrifices of righteousness,
And put your trust in the Lord.

It's a challenge to be STRONG: be steadfast in His goodness amongst a wicked world and various trials we endure while here.

Psalm 112

New King James Version (NKJV)

The Blessed State of the Righteous

112 Praise the Lord!

Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,
Who delights greatly in His commandments.

² His descendants will be mighty on earth;
The generation of the upright will be blessed.
³ Wealth and riches will be in his house,
And his righteousness endures forever.
⁴ Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness;
He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.
⁵ A good man deals graciously and lends;
He will guide his affairs with discretion.
⁶ Surely he will never be shaken;
The righteous will be in everlasting remembrance.
⁷ He will not be afraid of evil tidings;
His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
⁸ His heart is established;
He will not be afraid,
Until he sees his desire upon his enemies.

⁹ He has dispersed abroad,
He has given to the poor;
His righteousness endures forever;
His horn will be exalted with honor.
¹⁰ The wicked will see it and be grieved;
He will gnash his teeth and melt away;
The desire of the wicked shall perish.

It's a challenge to be DEEPER: Challenges to love deeper, challenge ourselves to understand all the meanings of His word.

Proverbs 4

New King James Version (NKJV)

Security in Wisdom

4 Hear, my children, the instruction of a father,
And give attention to know understanding;
² For I give you good doctrine:
Do not forsake my law.
³ When I was my father’s son,
Tender and the only one in the sight of my mother,
⁴ He also taught me, and said to me:
“Let your heart retain my words;
Keep my commands, and live.
⁵ Get wisdom! Get understanding!
Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
⁶ Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you;
Love her, and she will keep you.
⁷ Wisdom is the principal thing;
Therefore get wisdom.
And in all your getting, get understanding.
⁸ Exalt her, and she will promote you;
She will bring you honor, when you embrace her.
⁹ She will place on your head an ornament of grace;
A crown of glory she will deliver to you.”

¹⁰ Hear, my son, and receive my sayings,
And the years of your life will be many.
¹¹ I have taught you in the way of wisdom;
I have led you in right paths.
¹² When you walk, your steps will not be hindered,
And when you run, you will not stumble.
¹³ Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go;
Keep her, for she is your life.

The latter challenge, being one I've accepted at a priority lately.
I was digging in His word: one verse at a time. Face value.
I was picking out verses to suit where I was in life, instead of seeking Him in all His word... I have come to realize there is a lot that I was missing. A lot of Him, His love, and His promises that I was missing.
God forgive me for being so blind!!!

I have found an example in Paul. I finished 1st and 2nd Timothy this week. I went through a rollercoaster of emotion: feeling stress to be an example, feeling disappointment knowing that I'd be persecuted even though my actions and intentions for His service were good, feeling bitter towards Paul's attitude towards women: even though he was correct (*you have to consider time frame and scripture that says about men and women submitting as to Christ: Ephesians 5 & Colossians 3*),
to feeling sadness for Paul - his urging for Timothy to greet him before his execution..
I've found a new found respect for Paul and his testimony of Christ and ministry. In the end, Paul literally had only his faith in Christ to lean on & comfort him.  W H O A!!! - meditate on that just a bit.


So, after the letters to Timothy, I felt led to 'backtrack' and start in Galatians. .
(*eventually I'm going to read most of the letters & want to start Revelation in July*)
**personal note** some of these things I'm reading "for the first time" because it has been TOO long since I really did a book/chapter/verse step by step study of His word.

I ended at Galatians 4:19-31.. Paul has brought attention to the enemy and it's attempts to persuade us away from FAITH (Christ). Calls the Galatians "little children" - basically saying they are spiritual weak or immature for allowing the elements around them cloud them of their inheritance.
He explains, once we're a believer we become sons (and daughters) of the SEED (Jesus) which is descendant of Abraham.. basically that we are of the chosen Seed. (*meaning we are of Christ, not flesh)
In verse 27 - Paul quotes OLD TESTAMENT (under the law) a passage from Isaiah. Let's expand on it just a bit..

Isaiah 54

New King James Version (NKJV)

A Perpetual Covenant of Peace

54 “Sing, O barren,(those w/out Christ)
You who have not borne!(those w/out knowing Him)
Break forth into singing, and cry aloud,(rejoice & testify)
You who have not labored with child!(even w/out seeing)
For more are the children of the desolate(there are more children w/out hearing)
Than the children of the married woman,” says the Lord.(than the children of God)
² “Enlarge the place of your tent,(think bigger. challenge to expand your area of knowledge)
And let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings;
Do not spare;
Lengthen your cords,
And strengthen your stakes.(give Him all you've got. Every bit of room to His service)
³ For you shall expand to the right and to the left,
And your descendants will inherit the nations,(descendants-His seed *of Christ*)
And make the desolate cities inhabited.

⁴ “Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed;(literally - do not fear!)
Neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame;
For you will forget the shame of your youth,(shame of your youth = testimony of time not knowing God)
And will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore.(no longer w/out salvation)
⁵ For your Maker is your husband,(bride - Christ)
The Lord of hosts is His name;
And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel;(Israel, becoming ONE through CHRIST, literally meaning that we -- as believers become part of Israel - symbolic of the ONE Church / ONE Body )
He is called the God of the whole earth.(the whole earth. literally - wants - everyone!)
⁶ For the Lord has called you(a holy calling to share the TRUTH - the gospel)
Like a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit,(brings emotion to God. the grief He feels when we don't believe)
Like a youthful wife when you were refused,”
Says your God.
⁷ “For a mere moment I have forsaken you,(mere moment: the Spirit leaving Christ's body on the cross - which had to be done b/c in Deuteronomy 21:23*law* states anyone hangs from tree be accursed by God and He can't accurse Himself.)
But with great mercies I will gather you.(gathering us for His testimony of mercy & faith)-fulfillment of the law to be saved.)
⁸ With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment;
But with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you,”
Says the Lord, your Redeemer.(EVERLASTING KINDNESS due to the mercy & goodness of our Savior - given to us by God, the Father. literally redeeming us from the sin)

It is no wonder why we sing "Amazing Grace"...

So.. I urge you - accept the challenge of God, the Father - to get to know the Son= the Seed.. the inheritance of father Abraham..

Dig a little deeper.. Find some depth to the love we should have for others and the ability we're granted to share a BIGGER, DEEPER love --the Love of Christ, The Father, and the love we find when The  Spirit takes over our lives. . .


It's a challenge... for sure!! But, the reward is a better payoff than anyone can fathom.

Peace be with you all..
<3