Anything and Everything

October Passage: Philippians 4:2-9

I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the Gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.

Rejoice in the Lord Always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be know to everyone. 

The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 

What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.   (ESV)

If you are new to this reading plan, follow the instructions on the right side of this page or click here to read the "Why Just One Letter" introduction article.

Throughout each month, we will post short articles to give some depth of understanding regarding our text. Today we will discuss...

Anything and Everything

Most of us can nod in agreement and say “Amen,” when we hear a preacher tell us that the best is yet to come for you if you are a Christian. 

We have all heard and - to one degree or another - we have all understood that ALL THINGS work for the good of those who love God and are call according to His purposes. 

But, almost all of us have a “Yes, except for ___________.” or a "Yeah, but..." argument in the back of our minds or buried deep in our hearts. 

Yes, I can give everything up to God, except for my kids. I gotta hold onto that stress. If I don’t hover and keep the danger away, who knows what evil could happen…

Yes, I trust Jesus for my salvation, and I need to release things to Him, except for this political mess in Washington. I’m gonna’ fight to make it right and vote for a savior (politician or political party) for our country…

Yes, I believe God can save anyone, except for my friend. He’s too rebellious and proud. I fear for his eternal destiny…

Yes, everything WILL work out eventually, but I’m hurting right now!

Paul is greatly concerned for us. He knows that, if we are to live in freedom, we must NOT waste our time and emotion on worry.

At best, worry is a useless way to let our hearts and minds wander without ever moving toward action for a solution. 

At worst, worry points our hearts to a faithless action to solve a problem, which dishonors God, empowers Satan and usually creates bigger problems that we end up worrying about even more. 

In Genesis, we see Abraham and Sarah worrying about not having a child. Their worry led to a disastrous choice to have a child through adultery. The child spawned from this sinful fruit of worry is at the root of world tensions that are still around today. 

In the book of Isaiah, God judges His people because, when worried about a worldly enemy, they looked for worldly solutions to the problem. He said to them:

“Ah, stubborn children declares the LORD, 

who carry out a plan, but not mine,

who make an alliance, but not of my Spirit,

that they may add sin to sin…” (Isa. 30:1)

We are just as likely to follow the same road as our ancestors. Knowing that, Paul says, Don’t Worry!

But, Paul doesn’t say, like Bobby McFerrin, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.”

He doesn’t steer us toward ignoring our concerns or just closing out eyes, and whistling in the dark - hoping our concerns just go away somehow. 

No. Just like everything else, Paul soaks us in Gospel truth as an antidote for our worry. 

The Lord is at hand…

There is never a time in the Christian life when we are alone or abandoned. The longer we try to do things on our own, the more it may feel like we are alone, but the Lord is not far off. 

This is true for the not-yet-believer as well. If you are not a Christian yet, please call out to Jesus now. He is at hand, he will come to you. Receive Him now. You don’t have to go it alone.

With God’s presence established, Paul continues. Since Jesus is near, so…

…do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God…

Every word in the Bible is important, but sometimes we zero in on the “spiritual words” like holy and grace and propitiation while missing the other important words. 

To the point of this article: Don’t miss the words “anything” and “everything.”

There is no room for a “Yeah, but…” kind of faith. Either God is sovereign and in complete control of everything, or He is not sovereign at all. Which is it? If you are in Christ, you cannot be conquered. You cannot be defeated. That’s good for you. But His control of the universe also lets you off the hook for the responsibility of everyone else. 

World leaders may be out of their minds. Your children may not do what you think is wise or best. Your enemies may seem to have the upper hand. 

But you can breathe easy and lay your cares at the feet of Jesus. The Father defeated your worst problem of sin and death in Hell. Everything else is child’s play. God isn’t weak. God isn’t unaware. God is more powerful than whatever you are worried about. God is smarter than you. God has a better plan for the outcome of every single thing that is going on. The Lord is at hand, so don’t be anxious about ANYTHING…

…but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God…

Paul doesn’t say, "Don’t do anything about your concerns." 

He doesn’t tell us to just twiddle our thumbs until Jesus returns. He doesn’t tell us to numb our minds with the distractions of this world. He tells us to Pray. Pray about EVERYTHING.  

Prayer is the opposite of worry. 

Worry keeps us at the center of the problem. Prayer puts God in the center.

Worry drives us to sinful solutions to sin problems. Prayer drives us to faith-filled faith-fueled solutions to problems. 

Worry is impotent. Prayer is powerful. 

In everything pray. Pray, ask and thank God…

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

Notice that Paul doesn’t say that if you pray, then your money problems will all go away; your dog will come back home; your kids will stop acting foolish and the government will run smoothly for the people. He does say that as you submit all of your life - including your concerns - to God in prayer, then you will have a peace that can only be explained by a deep-rooted faith in Jesus Christ. 

It’s not just some calming worldview that shakes up when things really get tough. It is power. It is a strong fortress to protect our hearts from going astray. It’s a mighty guard to keep our minds reasonable instead of looking for easy-outs from the brokenness of the world. It is a gift of God. 

Will you receive the gift?

Will you use it today on that “Yeah, but…” concern? 

He’s waiting to give you peace.

Rejoicing in Evangelism and Discipleship

October Passage: Philippians 4:2-9

I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the Gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.

Rejoice in the Lord Always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be know to everyone. 

The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 

What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.   (ESV)

If you are new to this reading plan, follow the instructions on the right side of this page or click here to read the "Why Just One Letter" introduction article.

Throughout each month, we will post short articles to give some depth of understanding regarding our text. Today we will discuss...

Rejoicing in Evangelism and Discipleship

In our last article, we saw how important it is to lean into relationships within the church. We talked about helping to prevent and deal with conflicts between ourselves. We need to do this so that conflict won’t knock us off the course of mission and personal growth in the Gospel. To sum up that entire article in one sentence: Don’t allow conflict between Christians to hurt our chances for evangelism and discipleship.

The next section in this month’s passage gives us the flip side of the same coin. 

If Christians in conflict with each other HURTS evangelism and discipleship, 

then the flip side of the coin is that

Christians rejoicing with reason HELPS evangelism and discipleship.

Let’s unpack that. 

Rejoicing is a tried and true topic for Paul in the Letter to the Philippians. 

Paul prays with with JOY (1:4)…he REJOICES when Jesus is proclaimed (even when the proclaimers are full of themselves) (1:18)…Paul REJOICES because the church is praying and the Holy Spirit is helping to insure that even bad things will be used for Paul’s deliverance (1:18-19)…he says his JOY will be complete when the Philippian church is unified in Jesus (2:2)…he teaches that your and other Christians’ obedience to Jesus gives a cause to REJOICE (2:17-18)…we can REJOICE when God returns someone to health (apply that to physical, emotional or spiritual health) (2:28)… we can receive godly example setters or “heroes in the faith” with JOY (2:29)… And, Paul shows us the grand reason for JOY. We rejoice in the Lord (3:1).

After dealing with a conflict, Paul jumps right back to the main theme. Rejoice! Rejoice in the Lord! Then he repeats himself (in case you haven’t caught on to how important this really is) REJOICE!

And, not only should we rejoice, but we should give a clear reason for our joy. We should be so saturated in a Gospel life, and we should speak about Jesus’ perfect life in our place; His death to pay our sin-debt; His upcoming return; and our eternal life with Him - We should speak those things and live in that truth so deeply that ANYONE who sees our joy should respond, “Their JOY makes sense IF the Jesus they talk about is real.”

In this way, Our rejoicing is a God-given tool for evangelism. It will lead to opportunities that the Apostle Peter talks about when he tells us to: 

“...always be prepared to make a defense to ANYONE WHO ASKS YOU FOR A REASON for the hope that is in you…” (1 Peter 3:15) 

Do you live with so much joy and hope in Christ that people have to ask you for an explanation?

Could people ask you: 

When politicians fail to deliver on their promises, how can you still hold fast and rejoice in Christ? When the newest and best medicine still can’t save the people we love, how can you still hold fast and rejoice in Christ? 

When the stock market crashes, how can you still hold fast and rejoice in Christ? 

When education systems break down because of financial or political or philosophical barriers, how can you still hold fast and rejoice in Christ? 

When the next gadget (or what ever else advertisers tell our culture will make their life better) doesn’t make life better, how can you still hold fast and rejoice in Christ? 

When your community’s fan-favorite sports team drops the ball in the last moments of the playoffs, how can you still hold fast and rejoice in Christ?

When you keep trying to do the next right thing, but the world keeps knocking you back down, how can you still hold fast and rejoice in Christ?

Would anyone ask you a question like that? Or do those kinds of things steal your joy just like everyone else in the world? 

If we will follow this repeated command from Paul and be people of Joy because of JESUS, we can start to plant seeds in the hearts of those who are currently struggling to try to find joy in the lesser things. And, one day, those seeds may bring forth a harvest when it clicks in their brain and in their heart, “Hey, that Christian I know is always at peace when I’m freaking out.” 

But wait, our reasonable, unshakable joy will also be a benefit to our Christian brothers and sisters. 

Remember, conversions to Christ are AWESOME! But, Jesus’ command is not to just convert unbelievers, His command is to “…go and make DISCIPLES….”

Jeff Vanderstelt says Discipleship is the ongoing process of leading others to increasingly submit all of their life to the lordship and empowering presence of Jesus Christ. When we show new or immature believers that the Joy in Jesus REALLY IS BETTER than what the World tries to woo them back with, then it becomes easier and easier to turn away from the lesser idols of our culture for the true source of JOY, our risen and returning Savior. 

This article is done, but please stop and reflect for a minute: Where are you still having trouble rejoicing? Ask your closest friend or family member, if you seem like a joyous person. Where you see an area of lack, God wants to help you and grow you out of that so that you can be at peace and so you can be more faithful as an evangelist and disciple maker. 

Life Together with Gospel Unity

October Passage: Philippians 4:2-9

I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the Gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.

Rejoice in the Lord Always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be know to everyone. 

The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 

What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.   (ESV)

If you are new to this reading plan, follow the instructions on the right side of this page or click here to read the "Why Just One Letter" introduction article.

Throughout each month, we will post short articles to give some depth of understanding regarding our text. Today we will discuss...

Life Together with Gospel Unity

In the last article, we read that, “There is hardly anything as easy, yet neglected in our lives to help keep us from falling than Life Together.” 

It is vital that we find ways to stay close and involved with one another throughout the week — not, just on Sunday mornings.

But, just like our families at home, time together with broken people like us will sometimes lead to tension and conflict between one another. We are eventually going to be a perfected family, but right now we all still struggle with sin and sinfully respond to each other from time to time. 

Paul is not unconcerned with this and he is not surprised. As with every other obstacle in this broken world, Paul gives a Gospel solution when he sees conflict between to members of the Church family. Let’s unpack verses two and three to see how the Gospel helps here. 

“I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord.”

First, Paul “entreats” the two women. That means he pleads or humbly begs them to end their disputing. Begging is not out of line here. To call people to a new way of life while still living in the old sinful ways breeds the hypocrisy badge that so many not-yet-believers put on Christians. 

We cannot claim to be Christians, whom the Bible calls agents of reconciliation, while at the same time, arguing, holding grudges, gossiping and slandering one another, or refusing to break bread with one another. 

And Paul doesn’t beg the two women to agree about the conflict. At least one of them may be wrong. Paul is saying don’t let a trivial, forgivable matter derail a fruitful and effective life on mission. 

You may not agree with everyone in the church about politics, or worship music, or how to raise children, or what sports team to like or how to manage your money. But, please don’t defame the name of Christ with such little things. People are going to Hell and it is our life lived with love, grace and mercy to one another that broadcasts the message of Hope in Christ. 

You may not agree on everything, but for the sake of your souls and the sake of the lost community around you, put your conflicts to the side and “agree in the Lord.”

“Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women…”

Reconciliation is not only up to the two Christians, or the two families or the two groups involved in the conflict. In the Church, reconciliation is all of our business. If we are part of a local church and we see conflict, we aren’t supposed to turn a blind eye to it. We are not supposed to hope it goes away or hope that someone else deals with it. And, we are not EVER supposed to join in the conflict. 

If God allows you to see the conflict, God has positioned you to help resolve it. There’s too much at stake to let it continue to smolder or to burn out of control. 

If you don’t feel equipped for the task, ask for help (without gossiping). Pray for wisdom and gentleness in the way you approach the situation. Work with both sides at the same time. And bathe the entire confrontation in Gospel truth. 

“…these women…have labored side by side with me in the Gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.”

Finally, whether you are part of the dispute or if you are trying to help resolve it, remember who you were, what Christ has done and who you are now. At the beginning of the letter to the Philippians, Paul reminded us that we are NOW a “partnership in the Gospel.”

We used to live for ourselves. We used to live as enemies of Jesus and His Bride. We used to love hearing and spreading gossip. We used to love living an “Us verses Them” life. 

But, God, in His rich mercy, rich grace and rich kindness, has taken us from all of that and made us into a distinct and beautiful family. We now have the same power that raised Jesus from the dead working in us. There is nothing that is impossible for us. We can forgive anyone of anything, because Jesus has forgiven us for so much more, so many times. 

And now as sinners turned to saints, we are also now missionaries. We labor side by side, in the way of those who labored before us, working to reach others who do not yet know that their names are written in the Book of Life. 

There is nothing more important than that, and those who are His know it. 

I beg you, Christian brothers and sisters, no matter what the conflict is, agree together in the Lord. People are going to Hell today and there’s no time to lose with unnecessary conflict. And I beg you, true companions, help those brothers and sisters in Christ who are struggling.