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| | Meditating on the Word of God; God's key to prosperity and success!
Developing A Habit of Daily Bible Study, Journaling & Prayer
“How is your SOAP today?”
This is our last week in the Book of Philippians. As we mentioned previously, Paul had the most affection for the Church at Philippi. If there is one word which reveals Paul’s heart as he writes to his beloved Philippians, it would be “JOY”!
Note how many times the words “joy”, “rejoice” and “rejoicing” appear.
Paul remembers & prays for them “with joy”, 1:4; He “rejoices” whenever “Christ is preached, whether in pretence or in truth”, 1:18; He remains steadfast in suffering for the gospel, for their “progress and joy of faith”, 1:25; He is confident God will answer their prayer for their “rejoicing” when he is reunited with them, 1:26
He exhorts them to “fulfil his joy” by “being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind”, 2:2; He encourages them to “hold fast the word of life” so that he may “rejoice in the day of Christ”, 2:16; He is glad and “rejoices” with them if his life is to be “poured out as a drink offering” on behalf of their faith, 2:17; Instead of being sad for him in his present circumstances, he calls on them to “be glad and rejoice” with him for the same reason, 2:18.
In chapter 3, Paul begins again by reminding the Philippians to “rejoice in the Lord” (in the lordship of Jesus Christ) in the midst of false teachers seeking to undermine the true faith he had taught them, 3:1
In chapter 4, Paul reaches the climax on his message of joy. “Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice!”. Note Paul’s circumstances when he wrote this – a prisoner of Rome; chained, facing execution; receiving reports of the discouraged Philippians; hearing of those who preached out of envy to add to his affliction; carrying the burden of the sick Epaphroditus.; besides all these, “the deep concerns of the churches”, 2 Cor 11:28. Yet he ends on this triumphant note: “REJOICE . . .and again I say . . . REJOICE!” Why? The Lord is at hand!
Reading Plan: Week of 23 - 29 August 2010
23 Aug Phil 4:2 - 7 “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, rejoice!”
24 Aug Phil 4:2 – 7 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer . . . with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God”
25 Aug Phil 4:8 - 9 “Whatever things are true . . noble . .just . . pure . . lovely . of good report . . meditate on these things
26 Aug Phil 4:10 – 13 “I have learned in whatever state . . .to be content”
27 Aug Phil 4:10 – 13 “I know how to be abased . . . how to abound . . . I can do all things thru’ Christ who strengthens me”
28 Aug Phil 4:14 - 20 “Not that I seek the gift, but . . . the fruit that abounds to your account”
29 Aug Phil 4:21 - 23 “Greet every saint in Christ Jesus“
Example of SOAP
Scripture: “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand”, Phil 4:4, 5
Observations
1. The Philippians are to rejoice, not in their outward circumstances or Paul’s condition but “in the Lord always!” - the lordship of Jesus Christ.
2. “Again I will say, rejoice!”. Why “again”? Paul knew that the Philippians had forgotten & would forget again if they were not reminded.
3. Last, Paul gave them a test whether they were truly rejoicing “in the Lord” - “Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand”.
Application
1. What do I rejoice in? Is it in the outward circumstances of my life?
2. What about when things go “wrong” for me? When the business deal I have been working on bombs? When there’s disunity at home or a friendship breaks up? When the report from the doctor is bad? When I am the victim of those who are out to harm me?
3. Like every other Christian, I find that I am inclined to rejoice when my outward circumstances are blessed. However I am learning that these cannot be the source of true joy. It’s right and proper to rejoice in our outward blessings but I must realise that they can be taken away in a moment. Rather, I am to rejoice in the greater truth that “Our God reigns!”; He rules and over-rules all things for our good – both in the here and in the hereafter. He is the King of Love! In this I can rejoice!
Prayer: “O Lord, grant me Your Spirit of wisdom and revelation to know that You rule and over-rule all things for my good and the good of Your people. Help me to know this so that I learn to walk softly and gently before You and before men. Help me always to refrain from trying to take things into my own hands but to be led by Your Spirit. In Jesus name. Amen”
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