Episode 201 Show Notes
How Can I Learn to "Rejoice in the Lord Always"?
From the Show
How can I learn to "rejoice in the Lord always"?
Paul is writing this from prison, and he was well aware of the sufferings of this life…He isn't telling us "just have a stiff upper lip," "buck up," "pretend like life is easy," and "your pain doesn't matter." Paul's directive to rejoice in Philippians 4 follows the truth that he's explained in chapter 3. He's telling us to rejoice because of the surpassing worth of knowing Jesus, his Savior. Paul is saying, I'm no longer trusting in myself, my righteousness that I thought I had as a Pharisee, I'm no longer trusting in my circumstances, I'm not letting my circumstances tell me whether I am right before God or bad circumstances tell me that I'm not. I'm looking away from myself, away from my circumstances, and finding my confidence in the objective fact that whether I'm happy or sad, whether I'm prosperious or poor, in whatever circumstances I find myself, the objective rightousness of Jesus Christ is credited to me and cannot be diminished. — Michael Horton
Questions in this Episode
1. Philippians 4 says that we should always rejoice in the Lord. How do we do this? What advice do you have for believers who struggle to rejoice?
2. What exactly did Paul mean, or what exactly happened in 1st Corinthians 5:5, when he sent the sinful brother to Satan for the destruction of his flesh?
3. My question is one that perhaps a number of us that were born-again later in life have. Because we walked according to the ways of the world (Eph 2) for a long period of time, many of us have suffered the consequences of our own disobedience. We know that His promises are for us, so in Romans 8:28 we may see through that promise how He used our disobedience to humble us, and call us out of the world, and yet we may question why God did not call us out sooner as those who were raised in Christian homes and converted at a young age. We know that being raised in a Christian home is a great privilege. Not that it converts anyone necessarily but still a privilege. So I struggle with the question…. does God love me less, that He left me so long in unbelief?
4. I have heard you say that Satan can't place thoughts in our minds and that when we are confronted with Satan or attacked we should use God's word. What does it really mean to come in contact with Satan?
Resources
What You Need to Know About the Devil's Tricks
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