Thank you for reading the message this week. I've noticed that the blog readership has been down the last few posts. I hope that you are not getting tired of going through Philippians. I have a couple more sermons on this book before we are finished, and then we are moving on to something else. I do pray for you all every day, and I hope that you are all doing well.
Last week, we ended the message discussing Paul's admonition to the people to be glad in the Lord. We can always be glad knowing that Jesus has redeemed us from our sins. We can be glad knowing that one day we will be with Him forever and forever. Thanks be to God.
Today, I want us to focus first on verse 5 that states, "Always be gentle with others. The Lord will soon be here." We always need to be gentle and kind to everyone that we meet. I believe that one of the aspects or behaviors of being a Christian that draws many people to want to know more about Jesus is when we who are His followers act in a gentle and kind manner. When we are bombastic and hurtful, that is a turnoff to others. It makes them not want to know more about the Lord Jesus.
We need to be gentle with each other and help one another. It really doesn't help to get down on people and have a condemning nature. It is always better to speak words that heal and not words that hurt.
One of the reasons that we should be gentle and kind and good witnesses of the love of Jesus is because the Lord will soon be here. Jesus could come back at any moment. We all who call Him Lord want Him to find us behaving in the manner that He did when He returns in power and great glory.
In verse 6, Paul tells us not to worry, but to offer up everything to the Lord in prayer. It is hard for me not to worry. I need to confess that I am someone who worries about things. I do try to get a handle on it, and the only thing that does any good is to put things in the hands of the Lord in prayer. There are many things in my life that are completely beyond my control. I have to pray that the Lord will work and move in my life for His honor and His glory.
When we have circumstances in our lives that bring worries and struggles, that is when we need to pray the most. The Lord is the one who has the power to do all that we can ask or imagine.
Finally, Paul tells us that when we pray and give things over to the Lord, we can have peace that no one can understand. That peace comes from the abiding presence of the Lord Jesus working in our lives. It comes from knowing that whatever we go through, Jesus will never leave us and He will not forsake us. No matter what happens here, we can have peace knowing that Jesus has prepared a place for us where we can be with Him forever and forever.
Let us all do good to one another and care about one another. Let us pray for God's will to be done in our lives. And let us live in the peace that only Jesus can bring. Amen.
Prayer Requests
I am working on a couple of book projects. Please pray for me as I work to get these done.
Please pray for those dealing with fires in Canada, the US and Spain. Pray that the fires will be brought under control.
Pray for those who in Afghanistan affected by the earthquake. Pray that they will get the aid and the help that they need.
Let us pray for peace. Pray for Ukraine. Continue to pray for peace in Israel and Gaza. Pray for the release of the hostages and pray that people will get the food aid that they need. Remember to also keep praying for peace in Sudan and pray for aid to come to Sudanese refugees.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Guinea and Comoros. Pray that many will come to know Jesus.
Next week, we will continue in Philippians. I will post the verses on Tuesday. May God bless you all.
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