A Call to Fast

(I gave the latest version of this message at The Lighthouse Chapel on Sunday January 3, 2021. You can view the Facebook livestream of that service Here. The message begins at the 37 minute mark.

You may view the PowerPoint slides of this message on Microsoft OneDrive Here)

In his book, The Happen Stance How To Make Things Happen in Your Christian Life  Pastor K. Neill Foster includes a chapter on fasting. Here is the opening paragraph of that chapter.

 

"Fasting the delightful discipline. Is this a contradiction in terms? No! The practice of fasting is geared for results. Far from some somber truth dressed in drabness, fasting is a vibrant, radiant, yes, delightful Christian discipline."

 

Now, that might sound counter intuitive to some of us. Fasting is delightful? If we are honest some of us would respond to the thought of fasting with words like sacrifice, self-denial, hunger, self-discipline or hardship, rather than delight. 

 

One cannot go far in either the Old or New Testament before finding references to fasting. The incidents of fasting recorded in the Bible provide a wealth of information from which to understand what Biblical fasting is all about. 

 

This morning it is not my intention to present a comprehensive teaching on fasting but touch on some of the truths relating to God's call to fast. 

 

Note first of all, the mandate to fast. This answers the question "should we fast?" Let's turn to Jesus first for the answer. On at least two occasions, Jesus spoke about fasting. First, Jesus assumed his disciples would fast. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said,

 

“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." (Matthew 6:16-18 ESV) 

 

Twice, in this passage Jesus says "when you fast" not "if" you fast. It wasn't a matter of "if." It was a matter of "when." Jesus clearly taught that the day would come when his disciples would fast. 

 

Secondly, we are to fast in His absence. On another occasion He was asked why his disciples did not fast. Mark chapter two, verses 18-20,

 

"Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. And people came and said to him, 'Why do John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?' And Jesus said to them, 'Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. The days will come when the bridegroom is taken awayfrom them, and then they will fast in that day." 

 

Jesus expected that his disciples would fast after he departed from them.

 

Secondly, some thoughts on how to fast. Notice that, motive is key. Back to Matthew 6. Jesus exposed the hypocrisy of those who fasted to be seen by others; those who fasted to gain the attention of those around them. Remember he said, when you fast, don't look "gloomy." Don't "disfigure' your face, to be noticed by others. Rather anoint you head and wash you face. In other words, act and look normal. Don't draw attention to yourself because you're fasting. 

 

He went on to say, you should be fasting to be seen by your Father who is in secret. After all, He is the one who will reward you. You don't fast to embellish your reputation or to feed your spiritual pride and ego. On the contrary fasting is an act of humility. David said, "I put on sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting." (Psalm 35:13) 

 

Arthur Wallis, in his book His Chosen Fast, writes, "...fasting is a divine corrective to the pride of the human heart. It is a discipline of the body with a tendency to humble the soul." And one of the key spiritual principles repeated throughout Scripture, finds application here.  As Peter stated it, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." (1 Peter 5:5) Fasting is an opportunity to humble ourselves before God. When we come to Him in a spirit of humility, contrition, and repentance we position ourselves to receive an out-pouring of His grace. 

 

That's what fasting is all about. Getting in touch with God. Think of it this way. Through fasting we give God our undivided attention so He can do what He would otherwise not have the opportunity to do. Fasting is giving God a chance to do a work in our lives that only He can do, if we allow Him to do it. Andrew Murray said, 

 

"Fasting helps to express, to deepen, and to confirm the resolution that we are ready to sacrifice anything, to sacrifice ourselves to attain what we seek for the kingdom of God." (With Christ in the School of Prayer)

 

You see, fasting helps us focus on God. Fasting is a practical way of narrowing our focus. Here's what I mean by that. When we fast, we set aside a legitimate and very powerful biological and physiological desire, our appetite for food, so that we can focus on the spiritual. We set aside something that is tangible and physical to gain something that is intangible and spiritual. 

 

As you know, we live in material world. We relate to that world by what we see and hear- touch, taste and smell. We rely on these five senses to function in the physical world that we live in. But God lies beyond those five senses, beyond the material, beyond the empirical in the realm of the unseen. Ordinarily, we do not relate to him with these five senses. He is Spirit and can only be known by spirit. 

 

The apostle John put it this way, “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spiritand truth,” (John 4:24) hence the great value of fasting. Our appetite for food is one of the strongest of human desires that competes for our attention. 

 

Fasting helps us move from a fixation on the material and physical world that dominates our senses and life, and focus on the spiritual, which is unseen. Fasting gives our spiritual life the advantage as it were, as it competes with the physical. As Jentezen Franklin says, "Simply stated, biblical fasting is refraining from food for a spiritual purpose." 

 

Remember Dr. Foster's premise? Fasting is a delightful discipline. Are you beginning to see why? 

 

Fourthly, when we fast we should be led of the Spirit. We look at Jesus' example. Let me put Jesus 40 day fast in its context. I believe there were three things of great significance that took place before Jesus began his public ministry. First, He was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River where the Holy Spirit descended on Him and God's voice from heaven declared, "You are my Son, whom I love, with you I am well pleased." (Luke 3:21) Submitting to John's baptism was an act of consecration on the part of Jesus. As Arthur Wallis points out, "His baptism in the Jordan was His dedication unto death in anticipation of the cross." (His Chosen Fast) But his baptism was also where the Holy Spirit of God "descended" upon Jesus Christ "in bodily form," "like a dove" writes Luke. (Luke 3:22) This certainly speaks of the empowerment, of the Holy Spirit, and the call and anointing for ministry.  

 

Secondly, Jesus begins a 40 day fast. Luke writes, 

 

"And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan [where he was baptized] and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry.' (Luke 4:1,2) Notice that the text says Jesus was "led of the Spirit" to the wilderness for the 40 day fast. Mark's account is even more straightforward. After His baptism, Mark writes, "The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan." (Mark 1:12) Clearly Jesus began the 40 day fast in response to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Our motive for fasting has always been of great importance as we noticed when looking at Matthew 6.

 

The prophet Isaiah wrote one of the most valuable passages in the Bible on fasting. In chapter 58, the prophet, among other things, deals with motive for fasting. He first indicts his readers  for their wrong motives. The people asked why God was ignoring their fast. "Why have we fasted, and you see it not?
Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?" (Isaiah 58:3) To which God replies, "Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure and oppress all your workers. Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high. 

 

Arthur Wallis, commenting on this passage writes, "God reminds his people that the acceptable fast is the one which He has chosen. Fasting, like prayer, must be God-initiated and God ordained if it is to be effective. Prevailing prayer begins with God; He places upon us a burden by the Spirit, and we respond to that burden. Prayer that originates with God always returns to God. So it is with fasting." (God's Chosen Fast)

 

You see, being Spirit led in our fasting helps guard against the temptation to try and gain merit from God by an act of self-denial. It prevents us from turning fasting into a "good work," a way of bribing God, if you will. John Wesley sounded the warning this way, 

 

"Let us beware of fancying we merit anything of God by our fasting. We cannot be too often warned of this; inasmuch as a desire to 'establish our own righteousness,' to procure salvation of debt and not of grace, is so deeply rooted in all our hearts." 

 

I trust you will not underestimate the significance of the sequence of events that took place in Jesus' life at this point. First, He submits to the baptism of John the Baptist in an act of consecration. Second, He is empowered by the Holy Spirit at his baptism. Third, the Holy Spirit- then led Him into the wilderness to begin a 40-day fast where he is tempted by Satan. It was only then that Jesus returned to Nazareth "in the power of the Spirit." to begin his public ministry. 

 

Notice it was during the 40-day fast that Jesus engaged Satan in spiritual warfare. May I suggest to you that this alone is reason to fast. Ephesians 6:12, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

 

Down through Biblical history Satan has opposed the redemptive purposes of God that ultimately led to the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ for the sins of the world. Time would not allow us to trace that thread down through the Biblical record. Suffice it to say, having risen out of those waters of baptism and consecration where Jesus received the affirmation of the Father and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, the only one who stood in the way of Jesus Christ carrying out the mission assigned to Him by the Father was Satan himself. Satan knew it. Jesus knew it. The Father knew it. And the Holy Spirit knew it. Hence Jesus was thrust into the wilderness to engage His enemy, not only His enemy, but our enemy; the enemy of every human being that has ever lived or will ever live on this earth. 

 

So, Jesus was in the wilderness forty days without food. And Luke says He was hungry. It was in that vulnerable state that he was tempted by the devil, the first temptation being to turn a stone into bread. That was predictable. Satan always tempts us at our point of weakness where we are most vulnerable. Please note, he was tempting Jesus with more than having lunch. As G. Campbell Morgan writes, "The suggestion behind the temptation is that all that humanity needs is the physical, and the material supply of that..."

 

By the way, nothing has changed. That is the big lie today. It's called secular humanism, and it's offspring moral relativism. This is the dominant philosophy - religion if you will - of our western culture today. Morgan continues, "Said the Devil: Man is only an animal, highly developed possibly; but bread is the one thing necessary." 

 

You see, that is the inevitable conclusion of naturalism, man's attempt to live apart from God, to live as if there is no God. That is social Darwinism. Matter is all there is. Life is all about the survival of the fittest, in a world without God, without the purpose, meaning and fulfillment, that come from knowing God through faith in Jesus Christ. If you are here this morning and have never trusted in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins could that be where you are spiritually?  

 

You're probably familiar with Jesus' response to the temptation to turn a stone into bread as well as the other two that followed. He stood his ground using the Word of God to overcome each of Satan's temptations. "It is written: Man does not live on bread alone," was Jesus' reply to the Devil. 

 

Again, G C Morgan, "Said Jesus: Man is not an animal. He does not live as animals live. His life cannot be sustained on that level." If we are ever tempted not to fast or for that matter not to seek the Lord, not to obey the Lord, not to worship the Lord, not to give our lives to the Lord, may I suggest that this could be at the root of the temptation. Living in a material world we are continually being tempted to buy into the big lie of Satan that what we can see and hear, touch, taste and smell is all there is to live for and all we need to find fulfillment and satisfaction as human beings. 

 

Jesus exposed that lie by refuting the first of the devil's temptations. He went on to resist two more temptations, and the devil left Him. Luke says, Jesus returned to Galilee "in the power of the Holy Spirit" (Luke 4:1) where, thirdly, He began his public ministry. Dr. Foster, writing of Jesus' 40 day fast says, "It is significant that He did this [the 40 day fast] before His ministry began and before the miraculous began to occur." Then he makes this observation, "The absence of the miraculous among many of today's Christians could be traceable to the lack of this forgotten discipline." As Arthur Wallis has written, "In New Testament times fasting was a channel of power." (God's Chosen Fast) 

 

In looking at how to fast, we’ve seen the importance of motive in fasting. Secondly, we’ve seen that fasting is an act of humility and thirdly that fasting helps us focus on God. 

 

Lastly, note that fasting is your telegram to God. Jeremiah 29:12,13, "Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart." 

 

Fasting is a means of declaring to God both the sincerity and urgency of your heart. By its very nature fasting expresses a deep sense of need on the part of the one fasting. As we noted, Pastor Foster wrote, "The practice of fasting is geared for results."

 

I don't know how many of you are old enough to remember the era when telegrams were used. I remember as a boy growing up in Japan in the 1950's and 60's that my parents used them. Remember, back then there was no internet, no Facetime, no Zoom, no skyping, no emails, cell phones or texting. It took several weeks to get an airmail letter to or from the States. There were telephones of course, but we rarely received or made phone calls to the States because it was cost prohibitive, about $25 a minute. So, telegrams were used to send a message of importance that were time sensitive. 

 

When the man came to the door and delivered the telegram, it wasn't set aside to be read at a later time. No, if a telegram came you knew it was important, perhaps even urgent. You opened it and read it immediately. I remember seeing some of those telegrams. Since you paid for a telegram by the number of words used, there was no concern for proper syntax, just the minimum number of words necessary to get the message across. When we fast, we are sending a telegram to God. Again, Arthur Wallis, "Fasting is calculated to bring a note of urgency and importunity into our praying, and to give force to our pleading in the court of heaven." (God's Chosen Fast)

 

As Ezra testified, having called a fast before he led the remnant on that dangerous journey from Babylon back to Jerusalem, "...we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayers." (Ezra 8:23) 

 

In January of 2016, I brought a message from 2 Chronicles 20 from the life of Jehoshaphat King of Judah. He and his people were facing this massive army headed their way from the south. Upon hearing the news of the approaching army, the King was "alarmed" and "afraid." Perhaps you remember that King Jehoshaphat's first response was to “proclaim a fast for all Judah.” He called his nation to prayer and fasting. You see, fasting communicates urgency of desire. Apparently, King Jehoshaphat was desperate in light of this threat to his nation so he and his people sought the Lord in prayer and fasting. Arthur Wallis, " When a man is willing to set aside the legitimate appetites of the body to concentrate on the work of praying, he is demonstrating that he means business, that he is seeking with all his heart, and will not let God go unless he answers." (God’s Chosen Fast)

 

How desperate are you for God this morning? Desperate to know His presence in a deeper, and more intimate way? Just this past week, the Lord impressed me with this thought. “Fasting is a pathway to intimacy with God.”

 

Perhaps, you're spiritually dry. The world and all it has to offer has left you empty and unfulfilled. Or perhaps you are in urgent need of victory over a besetting sin. You're in a struggle with the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes or the pride of life. Perhaps this morning, you need direction, guidance from the Lord for a decision you must make. Though it happened years ago when I was just a boy, I can still picture in my mind the image of my mother and father kneeling at the living room sofa seeking the Lord as they fasted and prayed over the noon hour.  I have shard this with you before; when I fast, this is what motivates me: "I need God more than I need food." 

 

Dr. Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade For Christ and a man of prayer and great insight- into fasting has written, "Fasting is the most powerful spiritual discipline of all the Christian disciplines. Through fasting and prayer, the Holy Spirit can transform your life."

 

King Jehoshaphat's father, King Asa, faced a similar crisis as his son as recorded in 2 Chronicles 14. As a vast army of Cushites threatened his nation King Asa called upon the Lord, "...Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. Lord, you are our God; do not let mere mortals prevail against you.” (2 Chronicles 14:11) After the Lord "struck down the Cushites," the prophet Azariah brought this word of encouragement from the Lord to King Asa, “The Lord is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you” (2 Chronicles 15:2) May I suggest to you that is the theological basis for fasting. 

 

Pastor K. Neil Foster, “Fasting is the quickest way to get yourself into the position where God can give you what He wanted to give you all along." 

 

As we enter the new year I believe there is no greater need than for the intervention of God in our lives, personally and in our families, in our nation and the world. I believe that will only come through repentance and seeking the Lord in prayer and fasting.

 

Yesterday morning as I was thinking of this message I believe the Lord brought some additional thoughts to mind. Fasting is not only a pathway to intimacy with God, it is a means by which we have access to His presence. It is a means by which we have access to His provision. It is a means by which we have access to His power. It is a means by which we have access to His gracious and merciful intervention.

This year, let’s take advantage of His call to fast.

 

_____________________________________

Message Outline

 

A Call to Fast

Matthew 6:16-18; Mark 2:18-20

 

1. The mandate to fast.

    a. Jesus assumed we would fast.

        Matthew 6:16-18

 

    b. Fast in his absence.

         Mark 2:18-20

 

2. How to fast.

    a. Motive is key.

        Matthew 6:16-18

 

    b. Fasting is an act of humility.

         Psalm 35:13

         1 Peter 5:5

 

    c. Fasting helps us focus on God.

        John 4:24

 

    d. Be led of the Spirit.

        Jesus’ example:

        

        Baptism - consecration & empowerment - Luke 3:21-22

 

40-Day fast - the defeat of Satan - Luke 4:1,2

 

        Begins three years of ministry - "in the power of the Spirit"

 

 

     f. Fasting is your telegram to God.

        Jeremiah 29:12,13;

        Ezra 8:23

 

“The Lord is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you.” 

 2 Chronicles 15:2b. (NIV)

 

 

© James P McGarvey All Rights Reserved

 

 

"Abortion, the Devil & the Church - Exposing the Spiritual Forces Behind Abortion" - Jim McGarvey - message given at New Life Romanian Baptist Church, Hollywood FL on Sunday Dec. 6, 2020 - Message begins at 7 minute 30 second mark.

Overcoming the World - James 4:4; Romans 12:1-2; John 17:13-21

 

(Most recently I gave this message at The Lighthouse Chapel in Port St. Lucie on November 8, 2020. You may view the PowerPoint slides that accompany this message on Microsoft OneDrive Here)

 

In June of last year I brought a message entitled, Understanding the Destructive Power of the World. We examined what the Bible says about the "world." In the Bible, the word "world," can refer to the physical world, the planet earth, the people living on the earth, or the spiritual reality in which the people of the earth live. 

 

We use the word in a similar way when we speak of the "world of finance", the "world of sports" or the "entertainment world." It is used in this sense when the Bible refers to "that system or worldview that opposes God satisfies self and serves Satan." 

 

We noted two things about the world. First, the world is ruled by Satan. Jesus called Satan "the ruler of this world" (John 14:30; 16:11, ESV) And the Apostle John writes that "the whole world is under the control of the evil one." (1 John 5:19 NIV) Secondly, the world is in conflict with God and His Church.  In 1 John 3:13, this is what John writes to believers, "Do not be surprised my brothers, If the world hates you." (NIV) 

 

Dr. John R. W. Stott summarizes, "'The world,' therefore, is an inclusive term for all those who are in the kingdom of darkness and who have not been born of God."

 

In 1 John 2:16, the nature of the world is defined for us. "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life—Is not from the Father but is from the world." (NKJV)

 

We noted three ways in which the world operates. First, the lust (desires) of the flesh, that natural inclination to be self-centered often at the expense of others. The natural drive to satisfy our physical and emotional appetites. It is what drives a person to indulge in sexual sin because it satisfies their sexual desires regardless of the consequences to others. 

 

Second, the lust (desires) of the eyes. The world has mastered the art of stimulating and arousing unholy desires through the eyes. John is saying that one of the dangers of the world is that it has access to our heart through our eyes. 

 

Thirdly, the pride of life or the “pride in possessions”. (ESV) This pride is linked with our relationship to others.  Simply put, we take pride in who we are and what we have. We seek the recognition and attention of others. The word translated "pride" is literally "vainglory" meaning to be pretentious, conspicuous, showy. In other words "the pride of life" takes satisfaction in being noticed by others, having more than others. 

 

We noted that these three areas are the context in which the world operates and influences the believer. 

Think of it this way – there are three ways in which we give the world access to our lives. Three doors through which the world can enter and influence our minds and heart. The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life.

 

This morning, I want to focus on how the believer can overcome the world in its influence and destructive power in our lives. Let's imagine that you were being introduced to fire for the first time. You have never heard of fire before. You know nothing about it. If that were the case there would be value in knowing the properties of fire. For fire to burn it must have fuel, that is, some kind of combustible material like, wood, gas, oil, etc. You would learn that fire needs oxygen to burn. You would want to know that fire is hot. Because it is hot, it can cook your supper, but it can also burn your hand, burn down your house or even kill you. You would soon learn that you do not play with fire. Hopefully, you would learn how to put out a fire. In other words, you would want to learn everything you could about fire so that you could live in a right relationship with it. That is what we will do this morning with regard to the "world”, that “system or worldview that opposes God, satisfies self and serves Satan”. We want to focus our attention on what the Bible says about overcoming the world. 

 

There are three responses that I want to share with you this morning. First of all, we overcome the world through separation from the world. James 4:4, “You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God." (NIV) 

 

James uses a very strong metaphor to describe the state of a person who is a friend of the world. He says a friend of the world commits spiritual adultery. Literally, the word is "adulteresses" a noun. It's translated as an adjective "adulterous people” in the NIV and ESV. Adultery is when a man or a woman who is married has sexual relations with someone other than their spouse. Note with me several things about adultery.

 

First, it is the breaking of a sacred agreement or covenant. The foundation of any marriage is a commitment to an exclusive relationship between one man and one woman for life. Adultery compromises that covenant and marriage relationship. 

 

Secondly, the act of adultery by definition is a voluntary act. One chooses to commit adultery. In other words, it is consensual. James says, in the same way when you become a friend of the world it is a choice you make. 

 

Thirdly, adultery is motivated by the desire to gratify self. It is an act of self-indulgence carried out at the expense of the marriage partner. "Adulterate" is the root meaning of the word "adultery." Webster's 9^th Collegiate Dictionary defines adultery as, "to corrupt, debase or make impure by the addition of a foreign or inferior substance." That is what happens in adultery. The marriage relationship is corrupted or compromised by the intrusion of a third party. 

 

A number of years ago, a pharmacist was arrested and charged with selling chemotherapy prescriptions that had been diluted or watered down. The prescriptions had been adulterated with some other solution, in order to make more money. Adultery is the image repeatedly used by God in the Old Testament in His dealings with Israel. For example, Jeremiah 3:20, "But like a woman unfaithful to her husband, so you have been unfaithful to me, O house of Israel, declares the Lord." (NIV) Israel repeatedly followed after pagan gods often practicing idolatry right alongside the worship of the Lord God of Israel. 

 

James uses the same imagery here of those who choose to be friends with the world. Notice in verse 4 that he defines this unholy relationship with the use of two words, "friend" and "enemy." These are mutually exclusive terms. You cannot be a friend and an enemy at the same time. James is saying, you cannot be a friend of the world, that “system or worldview that opposes god, satisfies self and serves Satan”, without being an enemy of God. 

 

Let me ask you a question. How do you end adultery? There is only one way. You separate yourself from the person with whom you are not married. In other words, you end the relationship with the persowho is not your spouse. That is the only way to end adultery. The Apostle Paul quotes the prophet Isaiah (52:12) in his warning to the Corinthian church about being unequally yoked with unbelievers, "Therefore, come out from among them, and be separate, says the Lord." (2 Corinthians 6:17a NIV) By nature, God is jealous of His love relationship with those who have become members of His family through faith in Jesus Christ. 

 

In the Song of Moses recorded in Deuteronomy 32:16, we get a glimpse of God's heart response when Israel turned away from Him in idolatry. "They made him jealous with their foreign gods and angered him with their detestable idols." (NIV) Just as the heart of a husband or wife is broken when their spouse commits adultery, so the heart of God is overcome with sorrow when one of his children reaches out in friendship, companionship and compromise to the world. He takes it very personally. James 4:4, "Don't you know that friendship with the world Is hatred toward God?" (“enmity with God” – ESV) 

 

But there is a practical problem here that has perhaps crossed your mind. While it is true that separation will end adultery, you might ask, does it change the desires of the heart? I was asked by my pastor to counsel a young man who had admitted to committing adultery. Though he told me he was no longer seeing the woman, it was apparent to me that he had not yet resolved the issue of his desire to be with her.

 

What will end our desire for friendship with the world? The need for separation from the world must be accompanied by a transformation of heart. Romans 12:1-2, "Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer yourselves as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is – his good, pleasing perfect will." (NIV) 

 

This is similar in principle to what James goes on to say in James 4:7, “Submit yourselves, then, to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you." and verse 8, "Come near to God and he will come near to you.” and in verse 10, "Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will lift you up." (NIV)

 

This is the pattern of God's grace. As we respond to Him in submission, humility and obedience, He empowers us. He does for us and through us what we cannot possibly do ourselves. Friends this is the Gospel message! God always empowers the one who surrenders to Him. Consecration and transformation always go together. First, "offer yourselves as living sacrifices…". In other words, surrender to God. That's implicit in the metaphor of a sacrifice. Make the decision to no longer be conformed to the world and God will transform you. Let's look at this for a moment.

 

First, there is a negative command, "do not conform" or "do not be conformed" to the world. Phillips translation reads, "Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold." 

 

You've heard of chameleon lizards. Some of them have the ability to change colors to blend in with the color of their surroundings. That is what Paul is talking about. When we conform to the world, we become indistinguishable from the world around us. We embrace the values and lifestyles of the world. We become worldly.

 

Secondly Paul calls for a complete change, " but be transformed" he says, "by the renewing of your mind." The Greek word for transform is "metamorpho" from which we get our word "metamorphosis".  Vines Expository Dictionary says that metamorpho or transformation is "…the obligation to undergo a complete change, which under the power of God, will find expression in character and conduct." (p. 148) It means to be made into something new. It speaks of a very visible and thorough change. 

 

Think of the metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly. You have seen caterpillars. An insect that crawls on many legs, not particularly attractive, though often colorful. But when it emerges from the chrysalis it is transformed into a graceful and beautiful butterfly. What emerges from the chrysalis is something distinctly different from the original caterpillar. Metamorphosis has taken place.

 

That is what Jesus Christ wants to do for us as we live in the world. Paul uses the same imagery in describing the transformation that takes place at conversion. 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come." (NIV) That is the Gospel message. God will change the heart desires of the person who separates himself from the world and calls upon the Lord.

 

Dr. A. W. Tozer, in his book The Root of the Righteous, writes, "The converted man is both reformed and regenerated. And unless the sinner is willing to reform his way of living he will never know the inward experience of regeneration. This is the vital truth which has gotten lost under the leaves in popular evangelical theology. The idea that God will pardon a rebel who has not given up his rebellion is contrary both to the Scriptures and to common sense. How horrible to contemplate a church full of persons who have been pardoned but who still love sin and hate the ways of righteousness. And how much more horrible to think of heaven as filled with sinners who had not repented or changed their way of living." (page 43)

 

So first, a negative command, “do not conform”. Secondly, a complete change, “but be transformed”. And 

Thirdly, this is a continuing transformation. Paul here used the present imperative, which implies a continuous action. Similarly in 2 Corinthians 3:18 he writes,"And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." 

 

The New Living Translation reads, “So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord--who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.” It is a continuing process. Remember the butterfly? It was transformed by the process of metamorphosis from a caterpillar to butterfly. Hopefully we can look back in our lives five years ago, ten years ago and recognize today, areas where we have been transformed as we walk with the Lord. 

 

A negative command, “Do not conform”. A complete change, “be transformed”. A continuing transformation, “but be transformed (present imperative) and fourthly, this requires a deliberate decision. It involves a conscious decision on our part. It is not just going to happen. It involves the renewing of our mind, the center of our thoughts, the place of reasoning where we make moral and ethical choices and decisions. It will require that we turn from the world. Turn off the sensual music or television program that fuels the lust of our flesh. Turn our eyes away from every kind of visual image that stirs up impurity and creates unholy desires within us. Refuse to be sucked into consumerism and materialism by the unrelenting message of the world that has nothing else to live for except the possessions, toys, position, prestige and power that can be accumulated in a lifetime. Instead pursue God. 

 

Dr. A.W. Tozer in his book Rut, Rot or Revival, writes, "To think God's thoughts requires much prayer. If you do not pray much, you are not thinking God's thoughts. If you do not read your Bible much and often and reverently, you are not thinking God's thoughts. Those thoughts you are having –and your head buzzes with them - all day long and into the night —are earthly thoughts —thoughts of a fallen race. They are thoughts of a lost society. They should not be your thoughts."

 

We overcome the world by separation from the world, by a transformation of the mind and heart and, thirdly, by incarnation. In John 17:13-21 Jesus prayed to His Father for us. 

 

“I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” (NIV)

 

Incarnation is the third step. What do I mean by that? Why did Jesus insist that his followers remain in the world? A world that hated them (vs.14) as it hated him? (15:18)? Because they were to continue the mission he had begun. He prayed to His Father, "As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world…May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me." 

 

Notice three things Jesus prayed for us two thousand years ago. First, He wanted us to remain in contact with the world. That is the premise of incarnation. John 1:14, "The word (that is Jesus Christ) became flesh and made his dwelling among us." Jesus was God incarnate. He became a human being, flesh and blood like us, so He could save us from our sins by dying in our place. Jesus wanted us to remain in the world so that we can reach the world for Christ. "As you sent me into the world," he prayed "I have sent them into the world." verse 18. 

 

Secondly however, He wanted us to be safe in the world. verse 15b and 17. Jesus did not mean the absence of opposition or persecution. He was talking about safety from the power and influence of the world, victory over “the lust of the flesh”, “the lust of the eyes” and “the pride of life”. He prayed, "protect them from the evil one” verse 15, the trinity of evil, the world, the flesh and the devil. Protection as we live in a world system that is opposed to God, satisfies self and serves Satan. Jesus wants us to be IN the world but not OF the world. 

 

What will keep us holy in that hostile and dangerous environment? Notice verse 17. Jesus prayed that God would "sanctify them by the truth." The root meaning of "sanctify" is to separate, to be separated from sin unto God. And God's Word is God's provision for our sanctification as we carry out the mission He has given us in an evil world. In Galatians 6:14, the belt of truth is part of the believer's spiritual armor. David testified that, "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." (Psalm 119:11 NIV) 

 

The Word of God is like a cleansing agent as we read it, digest it, memorize it, meditate on it and most important – obey it. What is your relationship with the Word of God today? The longer I live, the more I realize that my love relationship with God is inseparable from a love relationship with His Word. 

 

Jesus prayed that we would remain in contact with the world, be safe in the world and thirdly, He prayed that we might reveal Christ to the world. Why is our sanctification so strategic in God's plan? Today Jesus Christ is invisible to the world. In other words, He no longer has a physical presence in our world. God is counting on His Church, His body, you and I who are born again, to reveal Jesus to the world. He prayed, "May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” (vs. 21b) and "May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know you sent me and loved them even as you have loved me." (vs. 23b) (NIV)

 

The world will understand that Jesus is God when a holy or sanctified Church is one! Here is the sobering implication of Jesus' words. If the Church is worldly it is as though Jesus Christ is invisible to the world. 

Compromise with the world neutralizes the gospel witness. The whole mission of the Church is at stake at this point. 

 

At least twice, Jesus gave us His opinion of a worldly Christian. In the Sermon on the Mount, after He described the character of a Christian in the Beatitudes, He said, as recorded in Matthew 5:13, "…if the salt loses it saltiness…it is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men." (NIV)

 

In the Book of Revelation, chapter 3, verses 15 and 16, Jesus spoke these words to the church of Laodicea in Asia Minor. "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So because you are lukewarm – neither hot nor cold I am about to spit you out of my mouth." (NIV) Sobering words! May I to suggest that the primary cause of being spiritually lukewarm is worldliness. Jesus went on to say as much to the worldly church at Laodicea, "You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked." (NIV) 

 

Alan Johnson writes, "Observe the way this indictment is related to the general condition of the populace at large – rich in material possessions and self-sufficient. The spirit of the surrounding culture had crept into the congregation and had paralyzed their spiritual life." (Expositor's Bible Commentary, p 458) They were the victims of worldliness. That describes much of the American evangelical church today. 

 

I want you to notice, however, what the Lord went on to say to this church in Laodicea. I believe this is His word to the American Church as well. "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will go in and eat with him, and he with me." (Revelation 3:19-20 NIV) These words are often used in evangelism in giving an invitation for salvation. But these words were spoken to Christians, to the worldly church of Laodicea!  Jesus spoke these words of compassion and invitation to those who needed to come back to their first love. Those who needed to repent of their worldliness. 

 

Remember Jesus' ministry to the Samaritan woman. Speaking with this non-believer who was desperately seeking fulfillment in the world and coming up empty over and over and over again, He had but one thing to offer her, Himself! In Revelation 3, He speaks to a worldly church. Again, He has but one thing to offer,  Himself! 

 

Let me close with this word of encouragement. If you think being a Christian consists of keeping a list of rules and believing certain Biblical facts you have missed the point. While you do need to believe the truth about Jesus Christ to be born again. That he is the Son of God. That He died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. That He was raised from the dead and is alive today seated at the right hand of God the Father. And you need to call out to Him in repentance and faith for salvation and be born again. But the Christian life was never meant to be lived in our strength. When you are born again Jesus Christ comes and indwells you in the person of the Holy Spirit. Paul gives this personal testimony in writing the church at Galatia. Galatians 2:20 (NIV) "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me..." A few chapters later he wrote, "So I say, live [or walk] by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature." (5:16 NIV) To the Ephesian church, he wrote how God "...is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us..." (3:20 NIV) To the Philippian church, he wrote, "…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." (Phil. 2:12-13 ESV) God will give the believer both the desire and the ability or power to do His will.

 

The apostle Peter summarized it this way in 2 Peter 1:3-4 (NIV), ‘His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” That includes the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life.  You see, God will give us both the desire and power to do His will if we surrender to Him and allow Him to live His life through us. 

 

I close with this word from Dr. A. B. Simpson, a Canadian Presbyterian pastor who later founded the Christian & Missionary Alliance. "A precious secret of Christian life is to have Jesus dwelling within and conquering things that we never could over-come. It is the only secret of power in your life and mine. Men cannot understand it, nor will the world believe it, but it is true that God will come and dwell within us, and be the power and the purity and the victory and the joy of our life.' (Days of Heaven upon Earth)

 

© James P. McGarvey, All Rights Reserved

Responding to Challenging Times - Philippians 4:4-20

(See the video message, Responding to Challenging Times an exposition of Philippians 4:4-20 recorded at First Christian Church of Wilton Manors for the Sunday July 5, 2020 online message.)

                                                  

To say that we are living in challenging times would be an understatement. A time of political turmoil, the Covig-19 pandemic with its loss of life. The reshaping of our daily life, social distancing, stay at home orders, travel restrictions, 14 day quarantines school and church closures, online worship, working and studying from home, the cancellation or postponement of events and activities that have been a part of our daily lives. 

 

An unprecedented economic slowdown, business closures and failures, lost wages, unemployment, a volatile stock market, racial turmoil, protests and rioting, the destruction of businesses and private and public property. All of these can be the source of fear, anxiety, anger hardship,even suffering, and circumstances we've never faced before. Or you might be facing challenges unrelated to any of these events. 

 

This morning I want to share some thoughts with you from the Apostle Paul found in the fourth chapter of his letter to the Philippian church. You might remember Paul's first visit to the city of Philippi as recorded by Luke in Acts chapter 16. Luke writes that while in the city of Troas, in what is today Turkey, Paul had a vision of a "...man of Macedonia...urging him and saying, 'Come over to Macedonia and help us.'" 

 

And that is exactly what Paul did arriving in Philippi, a Roman colony and leading city of Macedonia where he planted his first church in Europe, in what is today the country of Greece. He met Lydia, a "seller of purple goods" there by the riverside and led her and her household to the Lord. He cast out a demon from a slave girl who was a fortuneteller and a source of income to her slave masters. This led to the arrest of Paul and Silas, his companion in ministry. They were beaten with rods and imprisoned. God then miraculously set them free by an earthquake. Subsequently, the jailor and his family came to Christ. And now years later towards the end of his life Paul writes a letter to the Philippian church while in Roman prison. 

 

Sean McDonough explains one of the reasons Paul wrote the Philippians, "He was...eager to thank them for their continued support. Imprisonment carried with it a social stigma, and it would have been easy for the Philippians to turn their back on Paul at this point. But they had remained faithful to him." This is the background of Paul's letter to the Philippian church. And as we look this morning at how we can respond to challenging times I want to focus our thoughts on four things from this text, Joy - Prayer - Contentment and Provision. What does joy have to do with facing challenging times? What role does prayer play in living in unprecedented circumstances? How is contentment important in these days of uncertainty? What provisions has God made as for those facing hardships?

 

I want to acknowledge this morning that Ifor one need this message! You will note that in verse 9, of our text, Paul encouraged the Philippians, and us, not only to practice his teaching but to follow his example. He writes, "What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me-- practice these things." (ESV) So let's focus on those four words, joy - prayer - contentment and provision as we consider how to respond to challenging times. 

 

First of all the word joy in verse four,"Rejoice in the Lord always, again I will say, rejoice."I think we all know what it means to rejoice, "be glad, be joyful" (The Analytical Greek Lexicon pg. 433). Here in verse four it is a present imperative, in other words, it is a command to continuously rejoice in the Lord. 

 

D. A. Hayes says the book of Philippians "...is the Epistle of Joy." (The Epistle to the Philippians,pg. 421) The title of A. T. Robertson's commentary on the book of Philippians is entitled,Paul's Joy in Christ. Writing about this letter to the Philippians, the German theologian Bengel said, "The sum of the epistle is, I rejoice; rejoice ye." In other words, I rejoice, you rejoice! 

 

Remember, Paul wrote these words while a prisoner in Rome! That fact alone is instructive, but not surprising. D. A. Hayes explains,

 

"Paul was a man whose spirits were undaunted in any circumstances. He might be scourged in one city and stoned in another and imprisoned in a third and left for dead in a fourth, but as long as he retained consciousness and as soonas he regained consciousness he rejoiced. Nothing could dampen his ardor. Nothing could disturb his peace. In Philippi he had been scourged and cast into the inner prison and his feet had been made fast in the stocks. His back was bleeding and torn; his ankles were swollen and paining him; he could not lie down; he could not sleep. It was too dark in the dungeon for him to see anyone, but he could hear the voice of Silas somewhere near him in the midnight gloom. Some men would have been depressed under these circumstances, and the prison damp and darkness would have chilled their very souls. It was not so with Paul. He began to sing hymns of praise to God, and Silas joined in. " (The Epistle to the Philippians, pg.421)

 

Under these dire and painful circumstances Paul and Silas held a midnight worship service! And Luke adds, "...and the prisoners were listening to them."

 

Beth and I had three new granddaughters added to our family last year, one in January, February and September. And it has been so easy to rejoice in the birth of these three precious babies. The joy experienced in meeting them, holding them, loving on them has been effortless. But Paul says rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS. While it is easy to rejoice in the birth of three new granddaughters, rejoicing in the midst of overwhelming even painful circumstances, as was the case of Paul and Silas, and perhaps some of us today is another matter. 

 

Jac Muller notes that Paul's instruction to "rejoice in the Lord always" is a command. He writes, "Not circumstances decide whether there will be joy, but 

 

No matter what our circumstances, good or bad, we are to take joy in knowing the Lord. Rejoicing in our relationship with Him! I believe to "Rejoice in the Lord always" is an act of worship. I believe it is a form of praise. May I suggest that rejoicing in the Lord sets the stage for facing difficult circumstances like we are facing in these unprecedented days. Listen to the words of the Psalmist in Psalm 100 (NIV), 

 

"Shout for joy to the Lord all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever, his faithfulness continues through all generations." 

 

Do you see why Paul instructs us to "rejoice in the Lord." The God described in Psalm 100 remains the same no matter what our circumstances are. Our circumstances can change but the character and faithfulness of God never changes. Please do not underestimate what we are to rejoice 

 

"Paul's joy was not grounded in earthly conditions but in Christ. No one could rob Paul of Christ or of his joy in Christ. Christ satisfied Paul's soul. Christ was his all in all. He needed nothing else to make his soul sing aloud and long for sheer joy." (

 

Let me ask you this morning. Can you rejoice "in the Lord"? You see there is a prerequisite to rejoicing in the Lord. First you must Jesus Christ "gave himself for me." That is, He died on the cross bearing the penalty for my sin and yours, our sin that separates us from God. When we repent of our sin and put our trust in Jesus' death and resurrection we are born again and Christ lives in us as Paul testified. Only then can you "rejoice in the Lord." 

 

Rejoicing in the Lord, giving praise to the Lord, sets the stage for giving thanks to the Lord in prayer. That is the second word we look at. Philippians 4:4-6. What role does prayer play in responding to difficult circumstances, facing unprecedented challenges? You will notice that thanksgiving is included in Paul's instructions on prayer, verse six, "do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication [or petition] 

 

Giving thanks is a part of our prayer life, and especially when we are struggling with anxiety. Paul says, don't be anxious but "in everythingby prayer and petition with thanksgivingmake your requests known unto God." (emphasis mine) As we have just noted, Paul says we are to "rejoice in the Lord always"meaning in every circumstance. And now he instructs us when faced with anxiety to pray with thanksgiving in every circumstance. 

 

Paul gave similar instructions to the Thessalonians found in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV). "Rejoice always; pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." Have the circumstances you are facing caused you to be anxious? Paul described some of his "circumstances". In writing the Corinthians.  (2 Corinthians 11:24-28 ESV) 

 

"Five times I received at the hands of Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. [one of those was in Philippi] Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers, in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches." 

 

Paul had multiple opportunities in his personal experiences to practice thanksgiving in prayer. In light of these experiences of Paul we see the need for him to write in verse five,  "let your reasonableness [or gentleness - forbearance] be known to everyone."  

 

I don't know about you but when I get anxious or worried about something I sometimes get on edge. Anxiety often produces inner turmoil that can spill over in our relationship to others. Hence the admonition to be reasonable toward others, to be gentle, forbearing. Notice that Paul then goes on to explain how to deal with anxiety. "Do not be anxious about anything", verse six. Standing on its own this would be a tall order if not an impossible order! "Do not be anxious about ANYTHING? Paul makes no room for anxiety! 

 

He however, does not leave us out on a limb. He continues verse 6, "...but in everything by prayer and supplication [petition] with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." 

 

Paul is challenging us to take our anxieties to the Lord in prayer and petition, and do it in the context of joy with thanksgiving! "Give thanks in ALL circumstances". Essentially, Paul is linking prayer with our daily living. And he links thanksgiving with prayer. Both are to be the practice of the believer. It is a call to Thanksgiving Living no matter what the circumstances might be. 

 

H. A. Kennedy writes, "Thanksgiving is the background, the predominant tone of the Christian life." (

with our petitions and requests. This is the question I have to ask myself in light of Paul's admonition here. Is my prayer life characterized by thanksgiving? Dr. Mark Lee wrote, "Thanksgiving is a part of the formula of prayer. Thanks and praise are as necessary to prayer as salt and pepper are to food." ("Five Kernels of Corn" 

 

Note briefly these results. What is the opposite of anxiety? Paul makes mention of "peace" twice in this passage. In verse 7 he writes, "...the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus". He goes on to give us instructions about our thought life in verse 8-9, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me --practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." (ESV)

 

What could be more valuable than peace as we struggle with anxiety? What could be more valuable than peace in the midst of the challenging times of our day? Paul says in verse 7, "the...peace of God...will guard your hearts". A.T. Robertson, "This peace of God quiets both out hearts and our thoughts." (

 

"God is the God of peace (Phil. 4:9), and his peace is the inward peace of the soul that is grounded in God's presence and promise. Paul here assumes that we have made our peace with God in Christ and now we are enjoying our peace with God (Rom. 5:1)."(

 

Have you been reconciled to God through faith in His Son Jesus Christ? In other words, are you at peace 

 

The third word is contentment, verse 11. How is contentment important in a life of thanksgiving and as we face challenging times? Paul expresses his thanksgiving for the gifts of support he had received from the Philippian church. And in doing so, Paul shares what is apparently an important part of our response to difficult and challenging circumstances - contentment. 

 

According to verse 12 he experienced times of great need as we noted in his letter to the Corinthians, but also times of great plenty. And in verse 11 he says "I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content."May I suggest to you that contentment is part of the framework of thanksgiving.  J A Motyer writes it is, "...the 'restful contentment' of the Christian, the opposite of the desire for more." and in Paul's case, he writes "Circumstances no longer had power to touch him, for he was content." (Philippian Studies, page 176) 

 

Paul wrote the Romans, "...we rejoice in our suffering, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope..." (5:3-4 ESV)erse 12. Notice in verse 13 he testifies, "I can do all things through him who strengthens me." (ESV)For the born again Christian nothing God calls us to do or be depends on our own strength. And that truth is Paul's explicit testimony in this verse. The times of suffering, deprivation and need and the times of plenty were the context of Paul learning contentment, but it was the power of God that strengthened him making it possible for him to live in contentment not matter what the circumstances.

Remember the Thanksgiving celebrated by the pilgrims in 1621? What you might not remember is that this came after incredible suffering following their arrival in Massachusetts ten months before in December of 1620. Shirley Dobson writes,

 

"The pilgrims landed in Massachusetts on December 16, 1620. Lacking sufficient provisions and shelter for winter, most settlers became ill within weeks. Ten of 17 husbands and fathers died with the 'first infection', and of the 17 wives, only three were alive after three months. By April, more than half of the population had died of disease or famine. These bleak circumstances were punctuated by other forms of human tragedy. For example, William Bradford's wife drowned as they disembarked from the Mayflower, leaving him a widower with a 1-year old son." 

 

In spite of these overwhelming tragedies and unimaginable suffering, the Pilgrims that survived that first winter set apart time to give thanks to God. 

 

Paul's testimony, "...I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content." (vs.11b) and verse 13, "I can do all things through him who strengthens me." Paul's exhortation to us in verse 6 "Do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and supplication [petition] with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." (ESV)

 

The fourth and last word is provisionPaul was grateful for the gifts of the Philippian church helping him in his time of need. But note in verse 19 another truth that is important, if not foundational for us n these days of uncertainty. 

 

God's promise to supply our needs is echoed throughout Scripture, for example Matthew 6:33. In the context of discussing the futility of being anxious about the physical needs of life food, clothing and shelter, Jesus said, (ESV) "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." And notice the guarantee behind the promise of verse 19 of our text, "...my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." 

 

God can make this kind of promise because of whois inseparable from theglory of the One making the promise. It is the promise of a resurrected, ascended, exalted and sovereign Lord unlimited in power and resources. That is the foundation for thanksgiving! That allows us to "give thanks in all circumstances"and "to continue in prayer, being...thankful".

 

I close with this illustration. As I was thinking about this message I remembered the words of King David recorded in Psalm 63. I think most commentators believe David wrote this psalm after he fled Jerusalem when his son Absalom made an attempt to take the throne away from his very own father. David's life was endangered and his throne in jeopardy by an insurrection and rebellion of his own son! And so he fled to the desert and wilderness. 

 

In the midst of those challenging circumstances heartache and danger David faced, as I share his words, notice the praise that springs from David's heart in this face of his adversity. Notice the words that express his insatiable hunger for God in the midst of the challenges he faced. Notice the words that express his intimate fellowship with God in the face of his trials. Listen carefully to the metaphors and the word pictures that he used to describe his faith and trust in the Lord in these difficult circumstances. 

 

May I suggest to you as I close, that his words embody how we are to respond to God in the face of every challenge and adversity. As you listen to verses 1-8 of Psalm 63 (NIV)

 

David wrote, 

"Oh God, you are my God, Earnestly I seek you; 

My soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, 

in a dry and weary land where there is no water. 

I have seen you in the sanctuary 

and beheld you power and your glory. 

Because your love is better than life, 

my lips will glorify you. 

I will praise you as long as I live, 

and in your name I will lift up my hands.

My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; 

With singing lips my lips my mouth will praise you; 

On my bed I remember you; 

I think of you through the watches of the night. 

Because you are my help, 

I sing under the shadow of your wings. 

My soul clings to you;  

your right hand upholds me. " 

 

"Rejoice in the Lord always, again I will say, Rejoice.  Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand [or near], do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication [petition] with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  Philippians 4:4-7 (ESV)

 

"...I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content." Philippians 4:11 (ESV)

 

"I can do all things through him who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13  (ESV)

 

"And my God will supply every need of yours, according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory 

for ever and ever. Amen." Philippians 4:19  (ESV)   

 

© James P. McGarvey All Rights Reserved