Philippians 4:4 (KJV) Help How To Rejoice

Philippians 4:4 (KJV)

Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

No question, there are days when this is a more difficult instruction to follow. Even the Apostle Paul had times when he was pressed in the spirit and burdened. It’s not like the Christian life is supposed to be one of endless celebration.

But in the LORD, there is always a reason to rejoice. If there is nothing else, we may always simply rejoice in thanksgiving that we are “in the Lord.”

This chapter not only tells us what to do – rejoice, it gives us help in how to do it.

Through prayer
Philippians 4:6-7 (KJV)
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Whatever it is that weighs us down must be brought to the Lord through prayer.

Through right thinking
Philippians 4:8 (KJV)
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.

Bringing our thoughts into captivity may be one of the most challenging things to do in life. It is essential if we would “rejoice in the Lord alway.”

Through biblical obedience
Philippians 4:9 (KJV)
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.

A person can learn all the lifelong, but if he never practices what he has learned, he will miss out on the peace of God and struggle with reasons to rejoice.

To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

Donate to Bible Baptist Church every time you make an Amazon purchase through this link, https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1265824

Donate to our cause of “Reaching a world of souls with the Word of God.”

For this and, more than 5600 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

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Philippians 4:4 (KJV) Help How To Rejoice

Philippians 3:1 (KJV) The Same Things

Philippians 3:1 (KJV)

Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.

There is some discussion among the commentaries over precisely what those “same things” Paul wrote might be. Some think it is what he wrote in his previous epistles. Some think he is speaking about things he had preached to Philippians while he was with them. I think it is a combination of both and that it is listed for us in this chapter.[1]

His testimony of salvation
Philippians 3:3-6

All true believers have a testimony of salvation. Believers enjoy hearing the testimony of others. Lost people are often brought to saving faith through the sharing of those testimonies. 

His Press Forward
Philippians 3:7-15

The Christian life is not about the past, or even the present. We recognize we have not attained and must constantly seek to grow in grace.

His Example to Follow
Philippians 3:16-19

Thank God for the example of Apostle Paul. Thank God also for those He has placed in our lives to aid us in spiritual growth.

His Reminder of Heaven
Philippians 3:20-21

If it were not for heaven, all would be in vain. The hope and the reward of the Christian is a heavenly one. We look for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Paul did not consider it burdensome to repeat himself. Further, writing them in this manner was a matter of safety in that it preserved these truths. This is an evidence that he recognized that what he was writing was inspired of God and would endure as a means of instruction and communication of the gospel far past the lifetime of the Apostles and penman of the Word.

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[1] At the very least. Perhaps in the rest of the epistle.

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To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

Donate to Bible Baptist Church every time you make an Amazon purchase through this link, https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1265824

Donate to our cause of “Reaching a world of souls with the Word of God.”

For this and, more than 5600 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi provides a means for those who appreciate my content to leave me a “tip.” I would be thankful for it.

Philippians 3:1 (KJV) The Same Things

Philippians 2:5 (KJV) This Mind

Philippians 2:5 (KJV)

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

The concepts of unity, love, and cooperation abound within the community of Christendom. People who would never darken the door of the church building confidently denounce what they view as an unChristlike spirit among Christians who take firm stands against what the Bible declares is evil.

Without question, the Word of God appeals for unity. Jesus said, “by this shall all men know that ye are my disciples if ye have love one for another.”[1] We are to “endeavor to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.”[2]

The way to have unity is to have the same mind that was in Christ. That is a mind of humility. But, more, His is a mind of sacrifice.

• Jesus demonstrated this mind by
• Making Himself of no reputation
• Taking the form of a servant
• Being in the likeness of man
• Becoming obedient unto death on the cross

The mind Christ had is one of love, humility, and sacrifice. The mind Christ had is one of service and obedience.  Ultimately and most importantly the mind Christ leads to the cross.

There can be no real unity until we gather at the cross of Jesus.

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[1] John 13:35 (KJV)
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

[2] Ephesians 4:3 (KJV)
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

Donate to Bible Baptist Church every time you make an Amazon purchase through this link, https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1265824

Donate to our cause of “Reaching a world of souls with the Word of God.”

For this and, more than 5600 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

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Philippians 2:5 (KJV) This Mind

Philippians 1:20 (KJV) Very Human Uncertainties

Philippians 1:20 (KJV)
According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

Paul found himself in a place almost no Christian in the history of the United States has. He faced the very real possibility of death for his faith. At the time of this writing, the verdict was still undecided. In one breath, he declared he was confident the prayers of the believers would result in his release. In the next, he confessed his desire to depart and be with Christ.

Paul also wrestled with what I believe are very

human uncertainties. If he were to face death, he would not want to shame the Lord in his behavior as a martyr. His earnest expectation and hope was to meet whatever his future held with boldness to magnify Jesus Christ. Sometimes living can be more difficult than dying. He trusted that the prayers of the believers would help him to magnify Christ either way.

None of us know what a day may hold. Few of us face the doom of looking at the day and hour of our death. May God grant, through the prayers of believers, one for another that, whatever life hands us, we magnify Christ in it.

To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

Donate to Bible Baptist Church every time you make an Amazon purchase through this link, https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1265824

Donate to our cause of “Reaching a world of souls with the Word of God.”

For this and, more than 5600 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi provides a means for those who appreciate my content to leave me a “tip.” I would be thankful for it.

Philippians 1:20 (KJV) Very Human Uncertainties

Exodus 28:1 (KJV) One Wrong Choice

Exodus 28:1 (KJV)

And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons.

My wife and I believe we are highly blessed. Our sons have turned into fine men. They are hard-working, successful, and dedicated children of the living God. They have sweet families. They are good husbands and fathers.

We strove to raise our children purposefully. We did not do it perfectly, but we did read books by Christians on parenting. We observed Christian families who had raised children to be of good character, and we asked questions of them. It paid off.

But whenever someone compliments us about our children, or behaves in some way envious of us because of them. My wife is very quick to point out, “The verdict is still out on them.” We don’t know for sure what their end will be. She then just as quickly reminds them, “The verdict is still out on all of us.”  We’re Christians and can’t lose our salvation. In the end, we’ll go to heaven. But, just as with anyone, we’re one wrong choice away from ruining our testimony.

I can’t help but read the future into this chapter. God repeatedly gives instructions for the priestly family. At this time, that was Aaron and his sons, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. We know that in the not-too-distant future, Nadab and Abihu would offer strange fire and be struck dead.

There is in this a lesson of the nature of God. He obviously knew ahead of time what Nadab and Abihu would do. But God did not plan their life around what He knew. He gave them the same opportunities for serving the Lord as Eleazar and Ithamar had.

This, in my mind, debunks the Calvinist concept of election. Every human being, regardless of what God knows will be their eventual end, has the same opportunities to come to God, to be saved, and to glorify God forever.

To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

Donate to Bible Baptist Church every time you make an Amazon purchase through this link, https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1265824

Donate to our cause of “Reaching a world of souls with the Word of God.”

For this and, more than 5600 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi provides a means for those who appreciate my content to leave me a “tip.” I would be thankful for it.

Exodus 28:1 (KJV) One Wrong Choice

Ephesians 5:4 (KJV) Playing the Jester

Ephesians 5:4 (KJV)

Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

The word convenient means “appropriate, fitting, proper.” When a thing is not convenient, it doesn’t fit. It does not attain the standard that suits the situation or the measure of the man.

In some respects, it is like the definition of sin, which is “to miss the mark.” Foolish talking, jesting, is next door to sin. It may have crossed over already. Certainly, filthiness has.

Christians have been raised to a standard that is above worldliness and jesting. Sometimes we dislike that. We want the benefits of Christianity without the responsibilities.

Like Princess Diana, who was almost magically[1] raised to royalty status, she never liked the weight it placed upon her. Eventually, it killed her. So too, a professing Christian who wishes to play the role of the jester.

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[1] Isn’t it every little girl’s dream, to marry a prince?

To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

Donate to Bible Baptist Church every time you make an Amazon purchase through this link, https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1265824

Donate to our cause of “Reaching a world of souls with the Word of God.”

For this and, more than 5600 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi provides a means for those who appreciate my content to leave me a “tip.” I would be thankful for it.

Ephesians 5:4 (KJV) Playing the Jester

Ephesians 4:20-21 (KJV) Did You Hear Christ?

Ephesians 4:20-21 (KJV)

But ye have not so learned Christ;
If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:

There is a powerful, if subtle, lesson within this passage. The Word of God says they had not learned to walk as the other Gentiles walk IF they had heard HIM and had been taught of HIM.

• Paul did not say they had learned of Christ from Paul.
• He did not say that they had been taught about Christ from Paul.

If all they had was what man had taught them about Jesus, then they only had a religion, and it was anyone’s guess what was going on in them.

• Religious people can behave exactly like lost people
• Religious people can think exactly like lost people

But people who have heard Jesus, people whom Jesus has taught, they have learned things about Jesus that are transformative. They do not walk as other Gentiles in the vanity of their minds because they have learned entirely different things from Christ.

I can never see the heart of another soul, so I can never tell from whence they learned Christ. But I know that if they only heard from a man, their lessons have little eternal value. If they have heard Christ and been taught by Him, then they will walk a new life because they are, in fact, new creatures.

To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

Donate to Bible Baptist Church every time you make an Amazon purchase through this link, https://smile.amazon.com/ch/91-1265824

Donate to our cause of “Reaching a world of souls with the Word of God.”

For this and, more than 5600 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi provides a means for those who appreciate my content to leave me a “tip.” I would be thankful for it.

Ephesians 4:20-21 Did You Hear Christ?