HOW WE OUGHT TO BE LIVING IN THE FAITH

 
Newsletter  103                                                August 31, 2008  

Philippians 4:4-13

4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.

5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

6 Be careful for nothing; (Don’t worry about anything.) but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

8 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.

9 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.

10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.

11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

12 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.

13 I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.

King James Version

The apostle Paul wrote these touching words to the church at Philippi. We know a number of things about this church which might not even have come by had God not sent new instructions to him in a dream. Paul had been planning an evangelization trip to northern Galatia, but it seemed that nothing was working out, then he had a vivid dream while he was still at Troas, In this dream, he saw a man from Philippi who beckoned to him to come there. He wasted no time in making preparations and boarded a ship sailing that way.

All who trace their origins to Europe should be thankful that he did, for this was the very first church to be planted in Europe. The first converts were Lydia and her staff followed a few days later by the Jailer and his household. From this small beginning grew a church which flourished; a church which apparently remembered Paul for the rest of his life, sending time and again to his aid when they had the opportunity. Note his words, “I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.” In another Place Paul speaks of sending greetings to the church which met in Lydia’s home. These people cared, and shared that others also might be blessed as well.

Paul blesses them for their “moderation.” They were not carried away to extremes; not fanatical at one moment, and neglectful at the next. In other words, they were not led by their emotions, but by the Spirit of God, who works from the heart to change the whole being. This whole portion of his letter is a praise and thanks giving for the genuine way in which they are showing the faith that dwells within them. This is what the Lord wants us all to be like.

These were not like the Corinthians who battled with many problems, and this letter is not at all like the letters that Paul wrote to them. We need both kinds of letters, one to encourage us how we should live, and the other to warn us how not to live.
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I PLEDGE TO READ MY BIBLE THROUGH IN 2008
  AUGUST
31st. Sunday - 2Chronicles 35,36, 2Timothy 4, Psalm 104:26-35

  SEPTEMBER

1st. Monday - Isaiah 1,2, 2Corinthians 1, Proverbs 21:13-23
2nd. Tuesday - Isaiah 3,4, 2Corinthians 2, Psalm 105:1-11
3rd. Wednesday - Isaiah 5,6,7, 2Corinthians 3, Psalm 103:13-22
4th. Thursday - Isaiah 8,9, 2Corinthians 4, Psalm 105:23-38
5th. Friday - Isaiah 10,11 2Corinthians 5, Proverbs 21:24-31
6th. Saturday - Isaiah 12,13,14, 2Corinthians 6, Psalm 105:37-45
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THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE GEM

LORD OVER ALL NATIONS

Romans 10:8-13

8. But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

9. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thy heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

11. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

12. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

13. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
KJV
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JOKE

My wife and I went to a "Dude Ranch" while in Texas. The cowboy preparing the horses asked if she wanted a Western or English saddle, and she asked what the difference was.
 
He told her one had a horn and one didn't, she replied, "The one without the horn is fine. I don't expect we'll run into too much traffic."
 

GOD ♥ YOU