Most Read Bible Verses---#56---Philippians 4:19

Philippians 4:19  (NCV)

My God will use his wonderful riches in Christ Jesus to give you everything you need.

The fourth chapter of Philippians contains many very well-known quotable and memorable verses:

Verse(s)

4       Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

6-7    Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God and the peace of God that surpasses all understanding shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8       ……whatever is true….honorable…right….pure….lovely….good repute…..if there is any excellence and anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.

11     …….for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.

13     I can to all things through Him who strengthens me.

and this one in v. 19…….all of these Philippians chapter 4 verses offer many promises that give us great encouragement and hope.

What is the promise in 4:19?  All your needs will be supplied by your God who takes care of you.  What are your needs?  Notice that this does not state your “wants”.  Whenever you are praying for something, is that something a need or a want?  Some believe that this verse supports the “name it, claim it” teaching of some Christian pastors, but that is false teaching.  This verse does not say that your “greeds” will be met.  Your needs do include health, food, shelter, clothing and a few other material needs and, if you are lacking any of these, you should be asking God for what you lack.  But, your needs also include building Christlike character, being encouraged, being forgiven, Christian growth, and other mental, emotional, social, and spiritual needs (e.g. wisdom, assurance, faithfulness, strength, etc.).

Why may all your needs not be met yet?  God may be requiring you to learn a lesson or two first.  One great lesson we all need to learn is to trust Him.  Other lessons might be learning to love more, be more patient, or be more humble.

Remember and reflect on this great promise----God will supply all your needs, not just some of them (read also Psalm 37:24-27 and Proverbs 3:9-10).  He supplies your needs according to His riches---His limitless wealth—your finite mind cannot comprehend the cosmic view of God.  He blesses you through Jesus Christ, meaning that Jesus is your channel of blessing.  You ask God through Jesus; that’s why you should always end your prayers “in the name of Jesus”.

Is there any verse of the Bible any more precious and comforting than this one?  Is there any verse of the Bible that can give you more confidence that God cares about your greatest needs?  What are your current needs?  Make sure that they are not selfish wants.  Ask God for them, praying in the name of Jesus.  Then make a note of when those needs are met and thank Him.  See how much your faith will grow as a result of your trust in the Lord meeting/supplying all of your needs.

Most Read Bible Verses---#57---John 1:1-5

John 1:1-5 (NASB)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. 

Matthew wrote his gospel to the Jews, Mark wrote his gospel to the Romans, and Luke wrote his gospel to the Gentiles.  John wrote his gospel to everyone in the world.  John started his gospel with the same three words that Moses used to start Genesis---“In the beginning”. John describes Jesus as the Word (Greek: logos) that means “the spoken word”.  Note later in verse 14 that the “Word became flesh and dwelt among us” so it is clear that the Word (Logos) means Jesus Christ.  He is God in the flesh that lived on the earth and taught who God is and what His kingdom means. 

Note also in these verses that Jesus was also referred to as God (Word was God), life, and Light.  Whereas Matthew emphasized Jesus as King and the Promised Savior, Mark emphasized Jesus as Servant and the Powerful Savior, and Luke emphasized Jesus as the Perfect Man, the Perfect Savior, John emphasized Jesus as the Son of God, as our Personal Savior.  Jesus equated Himself with God several times in John’s gospel (5:17-18, 10:30, 8:58, 17:5, 17:21-24).

Jesus is life.  All things came into being through Him.  He said in John 10:10b that He came to give people an abundant life.  In John 14:6 He said that He is the “way, the truth, and the life”.  And in John 11:25 He proclaimed that He is the “resurrection and the life”.  In fact John use the word “life” 36 times in his gospel.  The Greek word use for life is “zoe” that has a deeper meaning than just life; it means “life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed, in the portion even in this world of those who put their trust in Christ, but after the resurrection to be consummated by new accessions (among them a more perfect body), and to last for ever”.  That is what real life means, not just to exist, not just to live each day like some kind of robot, but to live life full of vigor, full of devotion, full of blessings, and full of hope. 

Jesus is Light.  He is the Light of men.  His Light shines in the darkness.  Darkness cannot comprehend His Light.  The word for light is “phos” where we today use the world phosphorescence to describe illumination of light.  Jesus said that “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12).  Jesus also said in Matthew 5:13-16 that all His followers are lights of the world and your light must shine before others because of your good works.     

The word for darkness means “ignorance of divine things”.  Darkness in the Bible is the same as wickedness or evil.  So when John says that darkness did not comprehend the light, indeed he is affirming that wicked people are ignorant of divine things.

I think about the contrast between the light of Christ and the darkness of evil when the power goes out at night and I cannot turn on a light to see anything; when it is daylight at 9 pm in the summer and dark at 10 pm; when I cannot see anything dirty through a window when it is dark outside, but how dirty that window is when the sun shines through it.  If you know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior you are experiencing His Light.  If you have not invited Jesus into your heart, you are living in the darkness.  Decide right now to escape the world darkness and enter the life of light.  Choose to be a light for others in your life. 

Most Read Bible Verses---#58---I Corinthians 6:19

I Corinthians 6:19 (NIV)

…….your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you.

Pause---really pause---and contemplate this great truth.  Repeat this truth several times in your mind, “My body is a temple of the Holy Spirit”.

 

Think of the word “temple”; what is a temple biblically?  A temple is a sacred place.  There are many sacred places in Israel where the Lord lived and died.  Think of a place where you have been that naturally enables you to think of God, e.g. a view of the ocean, on top of a mountain, a flowing stream in the forest, a place where a beautiful sunrise or sunset is seen, even your garden or wherever you feel close to God.  Is there even “an altar” in your home where you can experience God more closely than anywhere else (or, if not, why not establish such a place?).

 

Have you ever thought of your body as a sacred place?  Your body is the place within which the Holy Spirit from God lives if you have invited Jesus Christ to be your Savior and Lord (Ephesians 1:13).  It is through your body that the Holy Spirit works.  However, if you do not worship as you should, if you do not sing during worship or pray or read the Bible or serve others, or, worse, you commit habitual sins, while your body may still be a sacred place and houses the Holy Spirit, you are quenching or grieving the Holy Spirit    (I Thessalonians 5:19 and Ephesians 4:30).

As you think through this truth, reflect also I Corinthians 3:16-17---“Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?  If any man defiles the temple of God, God shall destroy him; for the temple of God is holy, whose temple you are.”  Very serious words here, right?  I am not saying this, the Bible is.  The Bible says that God seriously cares about what you do with your body.  Natural laws from God exist that if you abuse or misuse your body, it can or will be destroyed.  The same is true with respect to spiritual laws, that if you continue to sin and ignore God’s Word, eventually you will be destroyed either within this world or the next.

The temple of the Holy Spirit is a body that is under complete control of God.  He has given you responsibility to rule over your thoughts, words, and actions.  How well are you doing with that responsibility?  You will make mistakes (sins), but who has predominant control over you---your own fleshly desires (e.g. lust, greed, pride, etc.) or the Spirit of God?  Ask for forgiveness, repentance, and strength to live your life from now on with a clear attitude that your body is a sacred place for the indwelling and filling of the Holy Spirit.  The fruits from such a life will be extraordinary and eternal.