ThinkOnIt...Be anxious for nothing

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV

If you plan to memorize scripture, this is definitely one of the first verses you should try. It's so practical and when followed it is very enlightening. Paul says "Be anxious for nothing" just like Jesus said in Matthew 6:26-28 "Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?" Being anxious and worried does nothing helpful for you. Don't let anxious thoughts dominate your mind, but let your mind be renewed through the washing of the word ( Romans 12:2 ). But in everything by prayer indicates that we should maintain contact with our Lord constantly. It says in everything, not in a few things, not in most things, but in everything. If
we don't bring everything before Him in prayer we risk the relying on our own efforts and in doing so we deny the Lord. For those who might not know, supplication is a fancy way to say requests or needs. Bring your needs before the Lord, but don't forget to season your prayers with lots of thanksgiving, for when you pray always begin with thanking Him for all He has done for you. As you think about what He's done for you, there is a shift in your heart that releases you to pray for the impossible and believe that it will happen. For with God nothing is impossible ( Luke 1:37 ). As Jesus said when you pray believe you have already and you will receive it (Mark 11:23-25 ). Paul continues to say let your requests be made known to God. It's not because God doesn't know them, it's for your own benefit. We need to recognize our needs, turn to God in faith, for only He can meet our needs. This is the process that keeps us focused on God's sovereignty in our lives. Then in conclusion the peace of God that surpassed all human
understanding will guard your heart and mind through Jesus Christ. Have you known the peace of God mentioned here? I've have glimpses of it and it is more wonderful than can be described with mere words. Remember, Jesus said in John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

ThinkOnIt...Philippians 4:4-5 NKJV

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

To rejoice can mean a few different things. Strong's dictionary says it can mean "a cause for celebration", or "to exalt" or "to cheer or to gladden", "to make merry", and "to boast in God's glory". I think I prefer the last definition. To me rejoicing is all about what God has done, who God is and how God loves us. Paul is encouraging the Philippians to rejoice in the Lord always. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 "No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." The Paul goes on to say "Let your gentleness be known to all men." Gentleness in today's world is not a character trait you find must these days. But what a wonderful character trait it is. Jesus was gentle and humble. You never find Jesus forces himself on anyone in the bible. No. He was gentle. He didn't push his way on anyone. He gave everyone equal opportunity to know the truth. He was gentle. How about you? Are gentle in your dealings with others? Our gentleness comes from Christ Himself, dwelling in us. Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." God is near, so near He's in us. We can never find a place where God's love doesn't reach. The Lord is at hand that is cause for celebration.

ThinkOnIt...Philippians 4:2-3 NKJV

I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. And 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. Philippians 4:2-3 NKJV

We talked about unity some time ago. Here Paul is stressing that Euodia and Syntyche get along and be of the same mind in the Lord. 1 Peter 5:8 "Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour." We can't let a little argument get between us. Ephesians 4:27 "for anger gives a
mighty foothold to the Devil." Paul urges us to be involved in each other's lives. Galatians 6:1 "Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted." Paul asks his "true companion" to help these women who labored with him in the gospel. A true companion cares
about what God cares about. Paul says these ladies, Clement and the other fellow workers were true companions. Just so everyone knew he reminded them, their names are in the Book of Life. What good news that is knowing the nothing can separate us from the love of God! ( Romans 8:39 )

ThinkOnIt...Philippians 4:1 NKJV

Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved. Philippians 4:1 NKJV

Can you imagine receiving a letter from someone who calls you "my beloved, longed-for brethren, my joy and crown"? I can't. Well maybe my mother might think I am her joy when I'm being good as a little girl. In opening this chapter with those words, Paul is pouring out his love for the Philippians. He tells them he loves and longs for them. Wow! It is a wonderful, beautiful, exciting thing to have someone love and long for you. After all the world, tries to make us feel like we are not worth loving, that no one will ever really love us, that no one cares for us. All lies, the world conveys. But Jesus really does love us and long for us! Paul continues telling the Philippians they are his joy and his crown. Like when you work hard on a project and put much effort into bringing something forth, there is joy and admiration in the finished work. Perhaps that's what Paul is saying here. Like John said in 3 John 1:4 "I have no greater
joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." So Paul, builds them up and then encourages them "stand fast in the Lord, beloved". Don't we each need to be built up and encouraged? Stand fast, my fellow believer, you are loved, you are longed-for, you are my joy and my crown.

ThinkOnIt...Philippians 3:20-21 NKJV

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait

for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly

body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to

the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to

Himself. Philippians 3:20-21 NKJV

Although we live here on earth, our real home is heaven. Jesus taught us we are not of this world, just as He is not in John 7:14-16 "I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world." So we wait, not passively wait, but we eagerly wait, keeping our eyes on the things which are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18 "while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal." Remember in Philippians 3:14, Paul said "I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven.", well Jesus promises to transform us that we may become conformed to His glorious body. Our current body wasn't made to live forever, but we
have a new one waiting for us once we cross the finish line, when our work here is done. Jesus, who has all power and authority, will do this because he said he would. Titus 1:2 "in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began," Hebrews 6:18 "that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us." So know excellent things are waiting for us in heaven, be encouraged to keep the faith no matter what happens and remain in Him.

ThinkOnIt...Philippians 3:18-19 NKJV

For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame who set their mind on earthly things. Philippians 3:18-19 NKJV

Do you hear the sorrow in Paul's voice as he says this? Paul says "for many walk" and "are the enemies of the cross of Christ". Paul is deeply grieved for these people, for he knows their end...destruction. Proverbs 14:12 "There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death." Matthew 7:14 "But the gateway to life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it." What are signs of being an enemy of Christ? Someone who makes their desires and pursuit of them the main focus in life could be described as "whose god is their belly". Someone who brags about their own sin could be described as "whose glory is in their shame" Isaiah 5:20 "Destruction is certain for those who say that evil is good and good is evil;". Anyone who thinks only of the earthly things and does not recognize God in anything is another sign. Remember, that we were once like them, before we knew Christ. Colossians 1:21 "And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled". Romans 5:10 "For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life." Does this compel you to share the message of love, mercy and forgiveness with others? It does for me!

ThinkOnIt...Philippians 3:17 NKJV

Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. Philippians 3:17 NKJV

Paul was a great role model of those who walk by faith. He lived out his faith, so anyone watching his life would be able to tell, he was lead by different motives than the rest of the world. Paul encouraged the Philippians to follow his example. We should to. Hebrews 12:1 "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us..." We all need role models. But the fact is we ARE all role models, whether we like it or not. People are watching us. If they know we are Christians, they will be watching even more. We represent Christ to the world. Jesus taught us that we are to be "flavoring or seasoning" of the world in Mark 9:50 "Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another." The way we live should be like salt is to food: it adds flavor, it preserves, and it causes thirst. We add flavor by making godly choices. We preserve by always speaking the truth in love. We cause thirst for God by living out a life of faith before the world.

ThinkOnIt...Philippians 3:15-16 NKJV

I hope all of you who are mature Christians will agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you. But we must be sure to obey the truth we have learned already. Philippians 3:15-16 NKJV

Unity of God's children is important. We are told we are "sealed in the Holy Spirit" (Ephesians 1:13), "we are the body of Christ" (Romans 12:5), "members of same body" (1 Corinthians 12:12), "we belong to each other"(1 Corinthians 12:12), and "be like-minded" (Philippians 2:2). The more we mature as Christians, I believe the more unity occurs. When we are young we don't always understand things, as their meant to be understood. But rather we understand things for how we "want" to understand them. As we learn to lay aside all selfish ambition (Philippians 2:3), pride, and anything else that causes division, we mature. Paul statement "I believe God will make it plain to you" is so relieving to me. I often feel I must help others to believe. That is not my job, but the Holy Spirit's job (John 16:8). I have learned to take that desire to help and turn it into prayer and then allow Him to work in their lives. Obedience is the other principle we guide our life by. We aren't obeying what we know to be true, then what does that say about what we believe? It tells the world we really don't believe it.

ThinkOnIt...Philippians 3:13-14 NKJV

No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven. Philippians 3:13-14 NKJV

Lest anyone think Paul is a perfectionist, he admits he is "still not all I should be". The later half of this sentence proves he's not a perfectionist because he says "but I am focusing all my energies" on looking forward. Speaking as a former perfectionist, failing to live up to ones high standards is very on hard on a perfectionist. In fact, it caused me to live in guilt, shame, bitterness, resentment most of the time and thus perpetuated the problem. Oh, we're not talking about my old life, we're talking about Paul (sorry). Paul knew he couldn't stay focused on all that he wasn't. He had to focus on forgetting the past and concentrate on what lies ahead. That's what God wants for us too. He has a plan and a purpose for our life. Jeremiah 29:11 says "For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." The enemy wants you to stay stuck in your messed up past, so you won't try living out God's purposes. Therefore, "we need to strain to reach the end of the race" like Paul did. Also we need to remember that it is God in us that causes us to will and act according to His purpose.

ThinkOnIt...Philippians 3:12 NKJV

I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection! But I keep working toward that day when I will finally be all that Christ Jesus saved me for and wants me to be.

Philippians 3:12 NKJV

Paul is so practical. He knows as he writes, that some might misunderstand what he's trying to convey. Therefore, he assures them that even he hasn't attained perfection. He then goes on to say that he keeps working at it. There's another life principle to follow. We have an enemy who prowls around looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). All he wants to do is make your life in Christ miserable. He schemes to steal, kill and destroy any joy you get in following Christ. John 10:10 "The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness." Christ came to give us an abundant life, a real life, a life lived for God's glory. We can not allow the trials of this life to discourage us and weaken our faith. That would be letting the enemy have victory. But we have the victory over Satan. He is already done for. For when Christ died on the cross and was resurrected, He broke the power of death. So what can he, our enemy, do now that he can't steal our life away from Christ? He can sidetrack us by sending accusations and condemnation in your mind. Proverbs 23:7 "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he." We need to bring every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ.

ThinkOnIt..Philippians 3:10-11 NKJV

…that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Philippians 3:10-11 NKJV

We talked about how faith is key. We must believe that the Lord Jesus Christ paid for our sin through His death and gave us new life through His resurrection. The more we know Him, the more we allow His Spirit in us to transform our lives. It may start with changing the way we think. After all Isaiah 55:9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” As our roots go down deep into His marvelous love (Ephesians 3:16-18), more changes appear in our lives. We begin to put others before ourselves (Philippians 2:3) or maybe we stop trying to win the argument or prove a point. Maybe we start listening to others and meeting their needs instead of focusing on our own. One thing for sure, we are different than we used to be.

ThinkOnIt...Philippians 3:9 NKJV

...and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; Philippians 3:9 NKJV

Oh how I love this verse! After I spent my entire life (before knowing Christ) trying to keep the laws/rules to "be good", it left me rather unsatisfied. I always felt I needed to push myself harder to prove that I was good. It was so tiring. Here Paul is explaining what is pure joy to me now...to be found in Christ. Being in Christ we are covered by His righteousness and clothed in Him. Isaiah 61:10 "I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, And as a bride adorns herself
with her jewels." What joy there is in believing God's promise: John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." Notice this verse doesn't say "whoever works" or "whoever earns", it says "whoever believes". Jesus taught us to pray believing we have received already (Mark 11:24) and we shall have it.

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ThinkOnIt...Philippians 3:8 NKJV

Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ... Philippians 3:8 NKJV

Paul continues to say that of all his accomplishments of the past, he now considers rubbish compared to the excellent knowledge of Christ Jesus. Once Christ comes into your life, the old life is gone and the new life has begun (2 Corinthians 5:17). Paul's saying "for whom I have suffered the loss of all things" is like a sacrifice to the Lord because he no longer depends on them to define who he is. He gave all of his old ways to the Lord, that he may gain Christ and be made new. What are you depending on? What defines you? May it be Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

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ThinkOnIt...Philippians 3:7 NKJV

But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.
Philippians 3:7 NKJV

I can relate to this saying of Paul very well. Before I gave my life to Christ, I lived for myself. Everything I did was to promote me. I'd work hard, so I'd be recognized at work. I helped out where I could so people would say "she's really a good girl". I followed all the rules so that I would be good. Every certificate I earned boosted my ego and self-confidence. Every raise or bonus I received at work would cause me to puff up inside. I thank Jesus for coming into my heart and taking all that away. With Christ in me, all those things were worthless to me. All my precious awards I tossed in the trash. I no longer needed them. I have Christ. Galatians 2:20 "I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. So I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

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ThinkOnIt...Philippians 3:3-6 NKJV

For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. Philippians 3:3-6 NKJV

In Paul’s time one of the religious rituals was circumcision, but Paul is saying that the “true” circumcised are those who worship God in Spirit. We don’t have confidence in anything we’ve done because we are right with God through Jesus’ work on the cross (Titus 2:14). Paul was also telling them that if anyone had rights to brag about their accomplishments, he would be him. He followed all the strict laws his, before Christ knocked him off his horse on the Damascus road (Acts 9:3-9). What I find interesting in Paul’s list is “concerning zeal, persecuting the church”. This statement shows us how someone can have great passion and zeal for something, and be completely wrong. Paul thought he knew how to right with God and he condemned those who didn’t follow the religious legal system. That’s why we can’t rely on sincerity, because you can be sincerely wrong. John 17:17 says “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” So rejoice because God’s Word is true and it will set us apart for God.

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ThinkOnIt...Philippians 3:2 NKJV

Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! Philippians 3:2 NKJ

Paul lived in the day when the religious “elite” had made so many regulations as to how to be right with God that it was impossible to keep them all. Even if you did manage to keep all their rules and regulations, you still wouldn’t be right with God. Nothing has really changes for us in our day. We still have different religious organizations with all the rules to follow. However, God said it is not our sacrifice (our efforts) He wants. Psalm 40:6 says “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; My ears You have opened. Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require.” You couldn’t earn your salvation back then and you still can’t today. Romans 10:9-10 “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” The simple truth of the gospel is the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ (Romans 6:23), who paid our penalty for our sin, so we might live forever with Him. Believe Jesus Christ has saved you and you will be saved. Jesus taught us in Mark 11:24 “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”