Learning to live as a citizen of heaven is a secret to walking in the joy of the Lord. Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice!
Philippians 3:15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.
Philippians reveals the way to walk in the joy of the Lord; it is a book for those believers who desire to walk in maturity. Paul had just finished declaring he counted all things as rubbish to have the greatest prize of knowing Jesus Christ. Paul selflessness is an shining example of the pathway of walking in joy. Remember from the jail cell his desire was for Christ to be formed in every believer. Let us live in the intimacy that is found exclusively in Jesus Christ
Philippians 3:17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. 18 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: 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame; who set their mind on earthly things.
Paul was calling the body of Christ to follow his example of selfless faith. We should be warned of those who want to affect your faith for their own good. Those who try to set your attention upon your doing and not your trusting in Jesus Christ are called the enemies of the cross. Beware of those who bring your attention and mindset to dwell upon the earthly things. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness all the other things will be added unto you.
Philippians 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 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.
The believers are called to walk with the mindset that our citizenship is in heaven and live from that perspective. So glad to be an American citizen; however, for gaining the knowledge of Christ it is but rubbish. 1st and foremost I am a citizen of heaven. The Father has bestowed upon us great divine influence and we want to live from that influence by giving Jesus preeminence in our lives. God is in the transforming business and He will transform each of our lowly bodies that they may be conformed to His glorious body. We surrender to His working in us; Christ in me the hope of glory!
Philippians 4:1 Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.
Hear God’s heartbeat through the apostle Paul. Addressing the saints as the beloved twice in this one verse. Rise up and believe you are the beloved. Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us that we might be called the children of God. If we are seeking the love of the Father it is hard to stand fast; however as the beloved children of God we can stand fast. In the shadow of His love, acceptance, qualification, and reconciliation we can stand fast. It is no longer standing fast for approval; it is standing fast in the strength of the approval already given.
Philippians 4:2 I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 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.
God is once again rolling back the curtain on the new testament church. So many were laboring in the love of God to see the body of Christ encouraged and strengthened in the faith.
Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
This is truly a command of grace. Because of the goodness of God you can rejoice in the Lord! Indeed the major theme of Philippians is rejoicing. Paul from the jail cell is encouraging the church to rejoice! It was Paul’s rejoicing in God in a jail cell that brought salvation to a jailer and his family. Your rejoicing in the Lord will affect those around you. Have you ever had someone full of complaint affect you. Walking in the joy of the Lord has the opposite affect. We don’t want to hear the complaint because it is not life giving; we can affect peoples lives with the spirit of rejoicing in the Lord and it will bring life. Proof positive this is true. 2,000 years after Paul wrote “rejoice in the Lord” we the believer are affected by it! REJOICE.
Philippians 4:5 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;
Grace instructions is life giving and Paul is sharing the commands of this grace covenant. Let your gentleness be known to all men; the Lord is at hand. Our rejoicing has a basis; our rejoicing is firmly established upon the truth that the Lord is at hand. Jesus has promised not to ever leave us or forsake us. Be anxious for nothing. One of the most repeated phrases in the new testament is “fear not” The heart of God is for us to live anxious free without fear! If we will come with thanksgiving and rejoicing we have come under and into divine order. Take your cares, prayer request, and supplication and make them known to God!
Philippians 4:7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
When we come in the strength of this new covenant we have this blessed assurance from his word. The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. What a precious promise that God Himself will guard our hearts and minds. This truth is so great yet to many believers it is still hidden. May a spirit of wisdom and revelation knowledge come upon the body of Christ so we walk in an awareness of God’s abiding presence and peace. Sometimes we have let our soul rule instead of the peace of God. Our soul rules when we allow the raging emotions dictate our actions and our responses to the circumstances of our lives. Another way to allow our soul to rule instead of God’s abiding peace is leaning on our own understanding. We get caught up in how are we going to get this fixed, or how shall I react to this situation. Rejoicing in the Lord can bring our emotions and intellect under the reign of God. Without the rejoicing in the Lord the chaos of life rules in our life. Rejoicing in the Lord brings the divine order of God causing a peace that surpassing our understanding. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your steps.
Philippians 4:8 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.
This precious grace covenant teaches us to meditate. Our meditation is so important! What we meditate upon will determine if we will walk in victory or in defeat. Let the word of our mouth and the meditation of our heart be acceptable in the sight of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Here is a Holy Spirit breathed list of what we shall meditate upon. The truth, the noble, the just, the pure, the lovely, the good report, the virtuous, and the praise worthy.
Victory is brought by what we meditate upon; defeat is brought by what we meditate upon. What you meditate upon will be that which you speak; that which you speak is a reflection of what is in your heart. However, brethren “we chose” to meditate on the good, the truths of God’s word, the noble…
Proverbs 18:20 A man's stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth, From the produce of his lips he shall be filled. 21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.
How dangerous is complaint in our mouth; it brings death to our lives, circumstances, and people around us.
How precious is the harvest of our mouth speaking life? It will bring us the God expected end. Yes, it begins with meditating by the influence of the Holy Spirit; it will produce life giving words flowing through us. The joy of the Lord will abound!
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