10/08/2024
I love the Bible verse we will contemplate in Philippians this morning, It leads us into the promise of eternity in a wonderful way. But before we speak of it, we must first remind ourselves to concentrate on seeking Jesus more every day. Coupled with the idea of obedience and the increase in faith it brings, we should strive to live our lives just as verse 12 speaks...
“I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.”
Philippians 4:12 KJV
Yes, it seems that the fuller we become the hungrier we should be to experience our faith in Christ. Then, as we are conformed to the will of God, our faithfulness is ever increasing, and our obedience becomes more perfect in our lives, we will reap the power contained in the verse we are focusing on this morning... Philippians 4:13.
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
Philippians 4:13 KJV
Achieving and using this blessing is guided by our faith, and is not given to us as a means of satisfying any self-serving human need. It is meant to advance the kingdom of God. Of course, for those who are obedient and faithful, this goes without saying.
Pastor E.M. Bounds drilled into the heart of this matter of obedience when he wrote:
"Obedience to God helps faith as no other attribute possibly can. When a person recognizes the validity and supremacy of God's divine commands, faith in God becomes an easy task. Obedience to God makes it easy to believe and trust God." - E. M. Bounds
So our strength comes from our faith in Jesus and our faith comes from obedience to God's commandments. Obeying the rules is important in our earthly life too. It is hard to be great in sports if you don't obey the rules of the game, and it is impossible to have faith in Christ without first obeying God's commandments.
Pastor Bounds ties this thought to prayer as well when he says...
"The difficulty in prayer then is not faith, but obedience, which is faith's foundation." – E. M. Bounds
When I was a child I found it hard to look my parents in the eye when I had disobeyed. My infraction directly impacted my ability to have the free and open relationship I had before I committed whatever offense I had perpetrated. The same is true with God. We shy away from opening ourselves up in prayer because we have sinned. However, a wonderful relief comes once we confess and ask forgiveness, and our relationship is restored. It is at this moment that our power through Christ returns, and our thirst for Him abounds.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for allowing us to do all things through your Son Jesus Christ. Thank you for teaching us to be obedient, and for giving us the increase in faith and belief that comes as a result. Lord God, forgive us of our sins this morning; wash us clean and pure in the healing blood of your Son Jesus. Allow us to return to your presence Lord, having been restored by the strength of the promise we have in Christ... let us believe without doubting that we can do all things through Him once more. For this, and your mercy and grace, we thus give you praise, glory, and honor you above all things. We love you Holy Father, and our love prompts us to obey your commandments. We love you Abba and like a mother feeds her child, you feed us your Word and strengthens our souls. We love you Lord, and our love for you leads us in expectant prayer, prompts us to believe. We love you master, and our love for you allows us to face correction, and overcome our unbelief. Just as Jesus says He can do nothing except through you, we can do nothing except through Him. Thank you Father for abiding in your Son, and allowing Him to abide in you. Thank you Jesus for abiding in us, and us in you. Father… Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who was, and is, and is to come, Holy are you whose love has returned us through Christ to your bosom, where we are comforted and find eternal rest and peace. Your grace abounds, and flows through Jesus to overcome all our iniquities, and to make us perfect in our faith, and belief. Never let us falter Lord, but should we find ourselves doubting, or tempted to disobey, then draw us close, and give us your Word to strengthen us against that temptation, thus leading us back into your good graces. Let no temptation come that your Spirit will not reveal a defense against in your Holy Word, and that the Spirit will not give us a remembrance of, nor cannot lead us into an understanding of. Keep us safe in you Lord, and hear our prayers, witness our obedience, and revel in our faith and belief, as we love you with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. On our day of judgement Merciful Father let us stand before you cloaked in Christ, and in so being, see no sin in us that we have not confessed and been cleansed of by His redeeming blood. On that day we will humbly ask to be kept in your presence forevermore, and lean on our strength in Jesus to receive this that we ask in good faith.
In this, our belief, we will shout with the heavenly host… Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, and proclaim before the throne… Amen, Amen, Amen in the name of Christ Jesus!
Amen
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
Philippians 4:13 KJV
““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
John 3:16-17 ESV
““I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”
John 14:18 ESV
“He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”
Revelation 22:20 ESV
Rich Forbes