We read Philippians 4 today in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan. I find something very interesting about how many believers receive the instructions found here! Verse 4 tells us this:
4 Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, gladden yourselves in Him]; again I say, Rejoice!
We KNOW this verse! We SING this verse often! We ARE to rejoice in HIM in every situation! HE has already given us the victory, and the instructions and conditions for walking out that victory every day! We shout and sing, fully expecting HIM to "do His thing" so that we can be free from every trap of the enemy! The problem with this is that He has promised to deliver us in every situation, IF! That IF is a very BIG tiny word! JESUS has already defeated our enemy, satan! But in order to walk free in THIS life, we MUST put ourselves in position to receive this freedom by following HIS instructions! What am I saying? I am saying to go ahead and, ALWAYS, rejoice! BUT, do not neglect to follow His instructions, including, and ESPECIALLY His instructions to us right here in this chapter of Philippians! Verse 8 says this:
8 For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].
How can we possibly believe that we can walk in freedom if, KNOWING that He has said this specifically, we choose to allow our minds to think on whatever comes into it? "Oh, but He couldn't mean to NEVER think on these things, could He?" My answer? 'Only if you want HIS results!' We are completely free to decide to do this, or NOT to do this! BUT, we are NOT free of the consequences of doing things our own way! Every Word that HE spoke, everything that HE did, every INSTRUCTION that He gives, is ONLY out of LOVE for us, and is intended to get us in position to walk in THIS promise! John 10:10:
10 The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).
AMEN! Let's stop making excuses for why we are not DOERS of His Word, and start putting His Word as our #1 priority! I desire to live in John 10:10! How about YOU? Here is Hillsong UNITED with "Shadow Step":
Shalom in Him!
